832 Chosen (1/2)
Qiu Jingfeng opened his eyes wide. He had joined Heaven Dao Pavilion since a long time ago, and he was a senior brother to most of the disciples.
However, he had never attracted too much attention in Heaven Dao Pavilion, until a while ago when Mu Qingfeng suddenly summoned all the disciples below 30 years old.
At that point in time, Qiu Jingfeng knew that the opportunity he spent so many years waiting for had finally arrived.
It was time for him to shine.
Not everyone could do it even if they were given the chance. It required day after day and year after year of hard work and perseverance. Qiu Jingfeng was the best at doing that.
Although he was unheard of, he had never given up on entering Sage State even when he faced despair.
On that day, all his hard work paid off.
Mu Qingfeng chose him.
He was chosen out of almost 100 genius disciples, and he didn't let Mu Qingfeng down. He eventually succeeded and entered Sage State, a feat that most of the people could never achieve.
He thought he had made it. At the very least, he felt like he could finally be proud of himself when he became a Sage.
However, now…
As he gazed at the longsword in front of him, he could no longer hear anything. He couldn't hear the wind or the snowflakes falling, or even Mu Qingfeng yelling at him.
He could only hear his own heartbeat.
Thump, thump…
It sounded a little rapid and panicky, but it was mostly fear. The fear of helplessness and unwilling to accept his fate. He truly wasn't able to accept this outcome.
”Ahh!!!” Qiu Jingfeng screeched and stabbed at Nangong Mu with the short blade in his left hand.
Mutual assured destruction!
This wasn't the move of a calm man. However, it was indeed the best way for someone to release his pent-up emotions.
Slash! Blood gushed out as the sword entered his chest.
Time seemed to have stopped.
Qiu Jingfeng stood there quietly. There was a sword on his chest which was exuding a faint, snow-white aura.
It was cold.
It was so cold that his hand turned rigid.
Clang! The sword in his hand fell to the ground.
The short blade stopped in mid-air and didn't advance any further. It was stopped by a crystal-clear flower which as pure as snow. Its petals were intoxicatingly beautiful.
”You've lost.” Said Nangong Mu. Then, Qiu Jingfeng felt the sword in his chest being pulled out rapidly, accompanied by a sharp and intense pain.
”Yeah… I've lost…” Qiu Jingfeng replied softly and fell onto the ground.
”My sword was at half an inch above your heart. Your Small Dimension is sealed for… Seven days!” Nangong Mu spoke again, and his voice was emotionless just like before.
”Half an inch? Seven… Seven days…” Qiu Jingfeng was startled before he felt pleasantly surprised. However, that was replaced by disbelief very quickly.
That was right, he couldn't believe it.
It wasn't because he didn't trust Nangong Mu.
He simply didn't think that Nangong Mu was able to control the position of his sword so precisely in such a heated battle.
Unless Nangong Mu was so much stronger than him that he could defeat him so easily and even manage to control his attacks precisely even though he was aiming for mutually assured destruction.
”Why?” Qiu Jingfeng didn't understand why Nangong Mu spared his life because he didn't think that he was worth it.
”I think that you'd know about a person.” Nangong Mu raised his head a little.
”Who?” Qiu Jingfeng asked without thinking.
”Fang Zhengzhi.”
”Fang Zhengzhi?! Yeah… I know about him, but we are not acquainted, and I've never spoken with him before…”
”He's my friend.” Nangong Mu didn't wait for Qiu Jingfeng to finish his sentence.
”Friend?!”
”Yup. This friend of mine has always said that he isn't a killer, especially during a martial arts competition. That's because he believed that a competition is nothing but a competition. Everyone is simply fighting for his own personal gain rather than settle a grudge. Hence, you just have to defeat your opponent. Isn't that a hilarious ideal?”
”Hilarious…” Qiu Jingfeng was dazed before he smiled bitterly.
If someone told him about this ideal 15 minutes ago, he would have scoffed at his naiveness.
In this world where strength was respected, the powerful people were in charge of everything.
On the other hand, the weaklings…
Their fates lied in the hands of the powerful ones.
However, it was this naive man and his hilarious ideal who managed to change Nangong Mu, and in turn, save Qiu Jingfeng's life.
”I owe him my life…” Qiu Jingfeng clenched his fists and something light up his eyes. It was way too complicated to be described by words.
”Yup. Actually, I owe him something too, something which I feel is more valuable than life.” Nangong Mu nodded and took five steps back before he went silent again. He just stood there and waited.
The disciple hosting the competition finally reacted and bolted towards Qiu Jingfeng and carefully helped him up.
”Senior brother Jingfeng, he…”
”I'm fine. I'd just lost my strength temporarily for seven days.” Qiu Jingfeng shook his head.
”Seven days?” The disciple was a little puzzled, but he reacted quickly and looked at Nangong Mu with a complicated expression. After a brief moment, the disciple paid his respect to Nangong Mu and said, ”Thank you.”
Nangong Mu didn't say a word or respond to that disciple. He was like a tree that grew in the snow and wind. He was so calm and collected that no one could tell what he was thinking.
”The victor of the first round between Heaven Dao Pavilion and Nangong Nobles is… Nangong Mu!” The result was quickly announced because it was so obvious.
However, all the disciples went silent from shock because they couldn't see the last attack clearly.
'Why was it so fast?'