A Record of Pleasure

Chapter 13

Pei Jin raised an eyebrow, "You knew I didn't like you killing people, yet you still helped me kill Tang Weiyu?"

Tan Huan twisted her hands and said hesitantly, "I want to help you with something."

Pei Jin stared at her blankly, then suddenly sighed deeply, his feelings incredibly complicated. What should he say about this child? He rubbed her head, his voice slightly nasal, "Silly girl."

Tan Huan leaned closer to him, inhaling his refreshing scent, and chuckled, "Call me a couple more times."

Pei Jin said helplessly, "You're so happy to be called a stupid kid?"

Tan Huan rubbed her head against his chest, feeling so comfortable and warm. "I like whatever you call me."

Tan Huan was in a great mood, better than ever before. She skipped home, humming a little tune as she went to sleep. Wu Qingfeng, seeing her return so late, wanted to put on his brotherly demeanor and scold her. But when he saw her smile at him, Wu Qingfeng couldn't help but take a step back. It was too eerie; was this girl possessed by a ghost?

The next day was a bright and sunny day, and the Wu siblings both got up early. The first match was Wu Qingfeng's, and Tan Huan lazily asked, "Who is your opponent today?"

Wu Qingfeng's expression was grave. "Ba Ying."

Tan Huan was walking slowly with her hands behind her head when she suddenly stopped and opened her eyes wide. After a moment, she laughed heartlessly, "You're doomed. Your opponent is Ba Ying. You're destined to miss out on the top four."

Wu Qingqiu asked worriedly, "Tan Huan, do you think Ba Ying is more powerful?"

Tan Huan gloated and nodded repeatedly, "Wu Qingfeng is not even in the same league as him. Wu Qingfeng, for the sake of our many years of friendship, I advise you not to compete. You don't want to lose an arm or a leg, do you?"

Wu Qingfeng glared at her hatefully, "Do you think I'm weaker than Ba Ying?"

Tan Huan wanted to provoke him a bit more, but a small bit of kindness suddenly surfaced in her heart, so she refrained from speaking. "Putting aside strength, your moves aren't as ruthless as Ba Ying's. Every move Ba Ying makes is like he's going to kill his opponent. This mindset allows him to strike without any hesitation, which makes him faster. As for you, your moves are like dancing. They're pretty, but unfortunately, they're all show and no substance."

"You're saying I'm all looks and no substance?" Wu Qingfeng's face darkened as he approached Tan Huan and glared at her.

Tan Huan's gaze darted back and forth, then he sighed, "Brother, your face is practically touching mine. There's a difference between men and women." "I was referring to your martial arts skills, not you as a person. Besides, it was just a metaphor."

"Hmph." His heavy breath sprayed onto her face as Wu Qingfeng turned away with an air of refined elegance, "What if I win?"

"If you win, you win," Tan Huan shrugged. "Miracles do happen sometimes."

Wu Qingfeng gripped his longsword tightly, veins popping on his forehead. "If I win, you have to promise me one thing."

Tan Huan asked in surprise, "What does it matter to me whether you win or not?"

"As long as you still bear the surname Wu, this is none of your business!"

Whether or not one indulges in pleasure remains to be seen.

Dressed in white brocade, with a face as handsome as jade. If one didn't know Wu Qingfeng's character well, one could easily be deceived by his appearance. Tan Huan stood below the stage, chin in hand, thinking back. Wu Qingfeng was polite to everyone else, except for her. Were they enemies in a past life? What a tragic fate—how did she end up as his sibling?

Ba Ying was still dressed in all black, exuding an imposing aura. Once on the stage, his gaze was fixed on Wu Qingfeng, and he drew his sword. After Alliance Leader Pei said "Begin," the two attacked almost simultaneously. A loud "clang" rang out as weapons clashed. Their speeds were evenly matched, though Wu Qingfeng was slightly weaker in strength; however, he could compensate with superior technique.

Tan Huan watched the match intently. If his opponent hadn't been Ba Ying, Wu Qingfeng would have had a much better chance of winning. Unfortunately, Ba Ying's moves were all deadly; all techniques were useless against him. There's a big difference between killing techniques and martial arts techniques. Personally, Tan Huan preferred killing techniques, but the Wu family was a prestigious and righteous sect, so she couldn't be too presumptuous.

Time slowly passed, and Wu Qingfeng's face was covered in sweat, his expression solemn. Ba Ying's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, his gaze like that of a leopard eyeing its prey, poised to strike.

This man, judging by his young age, must have killed many people already. Tan Huan looked at Ba Ying with considerable interest.

Wu Qingqiu grabbed her clothes and said anxiously, "Tanhuan, is something bad happening to your brother?"

"Not bad, Qingqiu actually saw through it?" Tan Huan smiled and said, "I said before that Wu Qingfeng was no match for Ba Ying. He didn't believe it and insisted on going up to compete. This time he's learned his lesson."

Wu Qingqiu said, "I don't think my brother is weaker than Ba Ying. Their speeds are about the same, so why can't my brother win?"

After a moment of silence, Tan Huan said, "The two of them have different experiences."

"Brother has a lot of experience in martial arts; he's definitely no worse than that man in black!"

“Well, Wu Qingfeng has plenty of experience in martial arts competitions,” Tan Huan said calmly, “but Ba Ying should have experience in killing people.”

Wu Qingqiu timidly released his hand, remaining silent. Seeing Wu Qingfeng's increasingly critical situation on stage, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Tanhuan, what do you think we should do?"

He was indulging in pleasure and it was none of his business, so he said, "Make him admit defeat."

Wu Qingqiu said anxiously, "But my brother will never admit defeat."

"...Then I don't know."

"Tan Huan, your father clearly told you to protect your brother well," Wu Qingqiu blurted out in a panic. "If anything happens to your brother, your father will not let you off the hook."

Tan Huan's expression froze for a moment, but then she smiled again, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have really forgotten."

Wu Qingqiu said guiltily, "I...I...I just hope you can save my brother."

Tan Huan glanced at her, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "I know."

Wu Qingfeng was suddenly knocked to the ground on the stage. Looking at the curved blade coming towards him, he calmly closed his eyes. So what if he died? There was nothing to be afraid of.

"The Wu family concedes defeat." Tan Huan's voice reached Ba Ying's ears before his blade touched Wu Qingfeng. Ba Ying raised his eyes, expressionless. "Alliance Leader Pei, is this kind of surrender useful?"

Pei Gumo gave Tan Huan a deep look and shook his head, saying, "It's only useful if your opponent admits defeat himself."

Tan Huan's gaze was threatening. "Wu Qingfeng, you'd better admit defeat."

Ba Ying waited for Wu Qingfeng to speak, the blade still pressed against his neck.

Wu Qingfeng turned to look at Tan Huan, and after a long while, he actually smiled, "No, I won't admit defeat."

"Fool, fool, fool! Hopelessly foolish!" Tan Huan silently questioned the heavens. Was winning or losing more important than life itself? Sigh, if her father found out she had made a move in public, nothing good would come of it. However, Pei Jin's words echoed in her mind. It wasn't that she didn't want to compete, but that she dared not. She had long coveted the Lingfeng Sword Tournament, and an opponent like Ba Ying was exactly what Tan Huan had been hoping for. Her hands were itching; it was good to make a move now, and she would have a perfectly legitimate reason to explain to her father.

Ba Ying stared coldly at Wu Qingfeng, intending to stab him through the collarbone. Suddenly, a flash of silver light appeared, followed by a loud clang. He felt a slight numbness in his hand, sensing danger, and immediately took three steps back with agility.

At this moment, Tan Huan stood in front of Wu Qingfeng, holding the Lonely Dust Sword, with a sweet smile, "Please show mercy."

A single sword strike forced Ba Ying back, something that had never happened before in previous matches. Ba Ying's movements had always been all about attack, yet now he was forced back three steps by a little girl. The entire arena was stunned.

Tan Huan's hand swung back and forth, the Lonely Dust Sword circling around her wrist, its light forming circles before her eyes as if in a playful manner. Tan Huan blinked at him, "Want to continue?"

Ba Ying squinted, "Get out of the way!"

Tan Huan laughed innocently, "No way."

Ba Ying's expression remained as cold as ice; he didn't care about anything else, he would kill anyone who stood in his way. For a sixteen-year-old boy, it was an absolutely earth-shattering strike, the kind of force that could cleave a person in two.

Tan Huan's expression hardened. She parried with her Lonely Dust Sword, and before the blade even touched the saber, she slid downwards, sweeping across Ba Ying's legs. If Ba Ying didn't dodge, his leg bones would surely be broken. So, he leaped upwards, his curved saber attack unchanged, first slashing Tan Huan, then Wu Qingfeng.

Tan Huan frowned in displeasure, gathered his inner strength, and thrust out a slanted sword. His footwork was that of the Wu family, but his swordsmanship carried a hint of Pei Gu Mo, the Grand Alliance Leader. This pieced-together move, displayed by Tan Huan, surprisingly seemed remarkably harmonious.

Ample internal energy, and a fierce swordsmanship.

The silver light slid into my heart like a tricky diagonal line.

This time, Ba Ying retreated more than three steps. He could no longer afford to attack and retreated rapidly with fluid footwork. As long as he retreated, Tan Huan would naturally pursue him. If one sword strike failed, another would follow; if the heart failed, he would stab the neck.

He was ruthless, and she was even more ruthless in her moves!

Ba Ying's breathing was erratic, his eyes fixed intently on Tan Huan. There were bloodstains on his neck, and his clothes were torn at the chest. His voice was low and menacing as he asked, "Why didn't the Wu family send you to participate?"

Tan Huan raised his eyebrows, smiled, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Thank you for the compliment." He then added, "You mean to praise me, right?"

Ba Ying said no more, his face grim, unsure whether to continue the match. He looked at Pei Gu Mo and asked, "Alliance Leader Pei, who is the winner of this match?"

When Tan Huan made her move, everyone below the stage watched intently. Those with less discerning eyes only noticed the girl's impressive moves and superb martial arts skills. Those with better eyesight, however, were filled with questions: How could this girl know Alliance Leader Pei's kung fu? Could she be Alliance Leader Pei's disciple in seclusion? If so, it would explain why such a young girl's martial arts were so formidable.

Pei Gu Mo was also startled, his mind racing. His first reaction was to turn to look at Pei Jin, his eyes questioning: Did you teach her?

Pei Jin met his gaze, nodded slowly, then shook her head, whispering in a low voice, not wanting others to hear: she learned it herself.

What do you mean she learned it herself? How could she learn it without anyone teaching her? Pei Gumo was also sending the message from afar, without moving his mouth at all.

She watched it, and then she knew how. Pei Jin appeared calm, but there was a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Pei Gu Mo's eyes widened. "What?" he blurted out, his emotions running high. As soon as he spoke, he realized his loss of composure and glanced deeply at Tan Huan on the stage. His gaze grew increasingly profound. After a long while, he stroked his beard and smiled meaningfully. "Jin'er, you certainly have good taste."

Pei Jin remained expressionless, offering neither words nor explanation.

Just then, Ba Ying asked who the winner of the match was. Pei Gu Mo chuckled and waved his hand, not giving a direct answer, "Ba Ying, even if I declare you the winner, if you don't defeat such a young girl, who in the martial arts world will respect you?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Jin frowned, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. "Father, what are you trying to do?"

"Nothing." Pei Gu Mo's gaze remained fixed on the stage. If everything Jin'er said was true, then this little girl was truly a prodigy. He wanted to see just how skilled she had become.

Why don't you declare the Eagles the winner?

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Pei Gu Mo glanced at him. "I know what I'm doing and won't let Ba Ying hurt your sweetheart."

Pei Jin was both amused and exasperated, but her cheeks flushed slightly. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Pei Gumo glanced at his beloved son with a smile, then said nothing more.

Ba Ying felt that Alliance Leader Pei's words made perfect sense; if he couldn't even beat such a young girl, he certainly had no reputation. However, after those few moves, he naturally dared not underestimate his opponent and asked, "What's your name?" For the first time in his life, he wanted to know his opponent's name.

"Wu Tanhuan".

Ba Ying nodded. "If you step aside now, I can let you go."

Tan Huan laughed and said, "I'll return your words to you. Now step aside, and I'll let you off the hook."

Wu Qingfeng had already sat up, but his internal injuries were quite severe, and he couldn't fight for the time being. He looked at Tan Huan unwillingly and said irritably, "I don't need you to stand up for me."

“My dear brother, don’t flatter yourself.” Tan Huan pointed the Lonely Dust Sword forward, the blade reflecting the sunlight into her eyes, its cold light gleaming. “I’m not doing this for you.”

Ba Ying was also getting excited and said in a deep voice, "Then, please enlighten me."

Seemingly noticing a gaze upon her, Tan Huan turned around and smiled, meeting Pei Jin's gaze. Her smile was as radiant as spring blossoms, and she even waved. With everyone watching, this one gesture should surely let everyone know that she and Pei Jin had a close relationship, right? Tan Huan thought to herself, feeling quite pleased with herself.

Ba Ying wielded his curved sword with deadly precision. Although he had been the most ruthless fighter in the previous match, he had already been quite cautious and restrained. Facing Tan Huan, an evenly matched opponent, he couldn't help but feel excited. Despite his generally cold nature, his eyes burned like fire.

Sparks flew as the blades clashed.

The sound of weapons clashing was deafening, loud and pleasant to the ear.

Both of them moved with incredible speed, their afterimages blurring across the stage. Tan Huan never played by any rules; she would attack any opening she saw, targeting whatever weakness you had. Don't even think about showing mercy; you should consider yourself lucky if she didn't kick you when you're down.

Ba Ying is no saint either; he would never give way just because his opponent is a little girl. Whether she's male or female, old or young, as long as she's an opponent, she should be ruthlessly eliminated.

Although Tan Huan's breathing was rapid, the rhythm remained steady. A slight smile played on his lips, but his dark eyes were as cold as water. The longsword sliced through the air, each glimmer of light a sharp edge capable of taking a life.

Ba Ying used three parts of his strength for defense and seven parts for offense, but unfortunately his offense didn't gain any advantage, and his defense was often broken by Tan Huan. Although he was slightly at a disadvantage, the two were still deadlocked for the time being.

They're too eager for quick pleasure and lack patience, wanting a quick and easy victory.

Tan Huan's moves were always a mix of feints and real attacks, with real attacks within feints and feints within real attacks, constantly alternating between the two. This was the exact opposite of Ba Ying's fighting style, where every move was a killing blow, leaving no room for retreat. The biggest difference between Tan Huan and him lay in strength—the difference in strength between men and women, and the difference in strength between four-year age gaps.

This time, however, when Ba Ying attacked, Tan Huan didn't dodge at all. The Lonely Dust Sword emitted a low hiss, like the excited shouts of a victor. The Lonely Dust Sword and the curved blade in Ba Ying's hand met in a real collision. The silver light was dazzling. With a "bang," both of them used all their inner strength, neither willing to retreat.

Suddenly, the scimitar emitted a strange sound. Ba Ying frowned slightly, took a step back, and looked up at the crack on the scimitar. Slowly, he shifted his gaze to Tan Huan.

Greedy smile remained unchanged.

"A draw!" Pei Gumo announced. He had seen what he needed to see and knew what he needed to know, so there was no need for the two to continue their contest. He smiled gently and kindly, "Tanhuan, your weapon had a great advantage. The Lonely Dust Sword is a famous sword among swords, which is why Ba Ying's scimitar broke." Of course, this was only part of the reason; the young girl's internal strength was also quite profound.

Tan Huan raised her eyebrows, still resentful. Even if she weren't wielding the Lonely Dust Sword, she was confident of victory. She simply lacked the patience to linger and wanted a swift victory, which was why she resorted to a direct confrontation.