Indeed, Tang Xin stood there, restricted by her body, unable to launch a strong attack or even dodge. She could only stand there and passively defend with her sword. She couldn't even make any violent movements. She relied solely on her amazing ability to anticipate the enemy's moves to see through all of his attacks!
It's a pity she can't align her thoughts with her actions! If only she could...
Chen Xiao's heart sank. If that were the case, just how strong would this delicate girl be?
"Chen Xiaojun, there's no need to be so modest." Tang Xin's breathing was still a little rapid, and the way she gently furrowed her brows made one feel a pang of heartache. She said softly, "With your strength, if it were a real battle, you could knock my sword away in the very first exchange. I simply cannot bear the word 'defeat'."
Chen Xiao thought for a moment, then smiled nonchalantly: "Neither of us needs to be modest. Miss Tang Xin, I admire you!"
As he spoke, he slowly took a few steps and came to Tang Xin's side. Tang Xin was stunned for a moment, wondering what Chen Xiao was going to do. But Chen Xiao had already quickly reached out and gently pinched Tang Xin's left wrist.
This sudden action startled Tang Xin! She looked up at Chen Xiao with surprise, her eyes revealing a hint of reproach and shyness.
Chen Xiao blushed slightly, but shook his head and said, "I didn't mean any disrespect. Please relax. Look me in the eyes!"
Tang Xin was taken aback, but her hand was suddenly grasped by this young Chinese man, and her heart, which had been as calm as a still well for nineteen years, began to feel a little uneasy.
Then, Chen Xiao's eyes suddenly became calm, as if they had transformed into a deep pool, dark and unfathomable, yet possessing a subtle suction that drew one's mind in. The more one looked, the deeper it seemed to go.
As soon as he was distracted by this thought, the excitement and exhilaration he had felt after the sword fight quickly dissipated.
It was as if there was a magic in those eyes, gradually soothing one's spirit, again and again, like a warm current slowly washing over the entire mind and consciousness, gently smoothing out every wrinkle, leaving no ripples.
In just a few breaths, Tang Xin felt her heartbeat, which had been beating too fast, quickly calm down. The knot in her chest caused by the rapid heartbeat dissipated, her breathing became steady, and the heaviness in her body disappeared!
She took a deep breath and turned her head away with difficulty. She dared not meet Chen Xiao's gaze again, but was somewhat curious: "Huh? Chen Xiao is actually skilled in mental manipulation?"
Chen Xiao touched his nose somewhat embarrassedly. He possessed multiple superpowers, but his control over his mental consciousness was the weakest.
This ability to manipulate consciousness was originally absorbed from the Black Knight Qiu Yun. Besides the ability to explode metal molecules, the Black Knight Qiu Yun also possessed the ability to create mental illusions, but his level in this area was very low. After Chen Xiao absorbed it, it was further reduced, becoming almost negligible.
At most, it can only use mental power to interfere with the thoughts of others while they are asleep, causing them to have a few dreams.
Such an ability is practically useless in combat.
However, after devouring the giant serpent in that ancient ruin in the sea, Chen Xiao's various supernatural abilities all increased due to his bloodthirsty devouring, giving him more room to use his mental illusion abilities.
Chen Xiao's mental illusion manipulation has now reached level C or above, and he can barely create some illusions for people. In battle, this can confuse the enemy's mind. Of course, if the enemy is mentally strong, it will be useless.
However, it won't work if you try to confuse people's minds. But if you look at it another way, it can have a calming effect.
Gently holding Tang Xin's hand, he used his mental illusion ability to slowly influence Tang Xin's emotions at this moment, releasing a tranquil thought that naturally calmed Tang Xin's mental fluctuations.
Although it was just a small trick and not very useful, it was the best way for Tang Xin to recover from her illness at this moment.
Tang Xin's expression was slightly surprised, but then she suddenly noticed that her wrist was still being held by Chen Xiao, and her face couldn't help but turn red again—this time it wasn't the sickly blush of excitement and a rapid heartbeat, but rather a simple girl's shyness.
Chen Xiao noticed Tang Ying's unusual expression, paused for a moment, then quickly came to his senses, gently released Tang Xin's hand, took a step back, and smiled calmly, saying, "I apologize for being so abrupt."
"...Thank you." Tang Xin's voice was low at this moment, and she seemed unwilling to look Chen Xiao in the eye.
This girl, with such a pitiful background, lived on the mountain for nineteen years without ever stepping down. She was completely untouched by the mundane world, and her serene and otherworldly temperament possessed a unique and extraordinary charm.
Perhaps her looks weren't exceptional, but the serene, untouched quality she possessed was something Chen Xiao, raised in the mundane world, had never encountered before. He stared, momentarily stunned, then quickly realized what she meant and turned away, clearing his throat. "Miss Tang Xin, may I ask..."
Tang Xin calmed down and her calm smile returned: "Chen Xiaojun, I know what you want to ask... I asked you to stay here for two days because I have something to ask of you."
"You don't just want to spar with me, do you?" Chen Xiao smiled deliberately.
Tang Xin's eyes showed a slight strangeness, but then she sighed—this time, her sigh was not so heavy, but rather carried a hint of relief: "Chen Xiaojun, in your opinion, what do you think of the techniques I have learned?"
She asked in such a formal tone. Chen Xiao felt embarrassed to answer casually, so he thought about it seriously and said solemnly, "I haven't met many Japanese kendo masters, but Mr. Takeuchi Bunzan is one of them." Tang Xin was being so polite. Chen Xiao also toned down his tone and didn't feel comfortable using the title "Old Man Takeuchi" anymore.
He continued, "...Mr. Takeuchi Bunzan is one, Ms. Takeuchi Yako is another, Miki, ah, that is, Tang Ying is another. Finally, there's Mr. Jingu Heihachiro. In terms of strength, Mr. Takeuchi is naturally the strongest. I had the honor of sparring with him on the ship that day. I greatly admire his swordsmanship. Even in a real battle, his strength would be above mine!! As for the others... it seems that Mr. Jingu Heihachiro is second, Ms. Tang Ying is next, and Ms. Yako's strength is the weakest."
He talked for a long time but didn't mention Tang Xin. Tang Xin didn't seem to be in a hurry either, and just calmly smiled at Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao finally took a breath, his expression becoming even more solemn: "But if we disregard actual combat strength and only look at the mastery of swordsmanship, in my opinion, Miss Tang Xin is probably no less than Mr. Takeuchi Bunzan!"
Chen Xiao's gaze was solemn, but in his mind he recalled the sparring match he had with Takeuchi Fumiyama on the ship.
I myself had once used instantaneous teleportation against Takeuchi Bunzan's sword, but he had anticipated my move. No matter how I teleported, he could always calculate my location immediately!
It seems that Tang Xin is using the same method as Takeuchi Fumio.
However... upon closer reflection, it seems that Tang Xin's ability to anticipate the enemy is even superior to Takeuchi Bunzan's!
Because when he fought Takeuchi Bunzan, he went all out! And even though Takeuchi Bunzan could predict his location after teleporting several times, his sword was just "chasing" after him!
But Tang Xin seemed to have calculated his location the moment he teleported! The moment his body finished moving, Tang Xin's sword was already there, waiting!
One is "chasing," the other is "waiting"—the difference in their approaches is obvious!
However, Tang Xin, who was only nineteen years old, actually defeated Takeuchi Bunzan, the number one swordsman in Japan, in the Heart Sword incident? Although she will never reach the level of a true master in her life, even so, it is still too shocking to say out loud!
Tang Xin smiled slightly and readily agreed!
However, Chen Xiao did not think Tang Xin was too arrogant; on the contrary, he felt that the girl was completely genuine.
Tang Xindi's smile was solemn; although she was smiling, the weight in her eyes gradually deepened.
“When I left the Sword Pavilion, my grandfather said that my talent had surpassed his. He was right about that, and I never underestimated myself. As a child of the Takeuchi family, my only thought was to surpass my predecessors and carry forward the Shangchen School. Unfortunately… when I was diagnosed with a serious heart disease, the one who was most affected was not myself, but my grandfather.”
Tang Xin sighed softly and said slowly, "After my illness was diagnosed, my grandfather locked himself in his room and didn't go out for three days. Later, he came to my bedside and said something to me. That sentence was more like a sentence to himself than to me."
At this point, a hint of pride flashed in Tang Xin's eyes. In that instant, she seemed no longer to be that delicate and weak girl, but a true leader of a top-tier sect!
“My grandfather’s exact words at my bedside were: ‘I thought that my Shangchen family could finally produce a true sword saint. With your talent, I originally thought that you would be able to comprehend the profound meaning of the Heart Sword at the age of twenty, and create a new sword style after the age of thirty! Japan has not produced a true sword saint for hundreds of years! I originally favored you, but alas… destiny is not on my Shangchen family!… Yes, that’s what my grandfather said back then.’”