Le voyage d'un mendiant à travers le monde

Chapitre 64

Wei Heng raised an eyebrow and said, "Young Master Lian, I originally intended to invite Miss Lian Junqiu over to discuss this matter. I wonder why your sister has stopped showing up in recent years? Is there some unspeakable change happening on Seven Star Island?"

Lian Junchu calmly replied, "My elder sister is, after all, a woman. In the past, because I didn't live on the island, she was forced to show her face. Now that I've settled on Seven Star Island, my elder sister can naturally live a leisurely life. Why should she continue to walk on the edge of a knife?"

Wei Heng nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "So, in today's matter, can Young Master Lian speak on behalf of Seven Star Island?"

Lian Junchu calmly replied, "I am currently in charge of Seven Star Island. Master Wei, please feel free to speak your mind."

"Since that's the case..." Wei Heng suddenly took a step back, stretched out his arm and pointed at the group of girls behind him, saying, "Young Master Lian, please apologize to the Emei Sect in public for the mistakes your subordinates have made."

"Insolence!" The girl named Danfeng suddenly raised her eyebrows and scolded. At the same time, the sword-wielding boy raised his arms and drew his sword, which flashed with light.

As soon as he made that move, everyone from Tingyu Manor and the Emei disciples drew their swords, and for a moment, only faint dragon roars could be heard, and cold light shone in the snow.

Lian Junchu's brows furrowed, and she whispered a reprimand to the boy, "Chongming, sheathe your sword!"

The boy glared fiercely at the crowd with his bright eyes and said, "Young master, they have been rude to you!"

Lian Junchu didn't speak, but just glanced at him again. The boy gritted his teeth and sheathed his two swords, looking aggrieved.

Wei Heng sneered and said, "Young Master Lian, you've come all this way, do you really intend to take your men away without doing or saying anything?"

Lian Junchu coldly replied, "Master Wei, it is true that my men injured someone, but the Emei disciples were rude first. If you insist that I apologize, shouldn't these two Emei ladies serve me tea first?"

Yin Xiurong retorted, "Lian Junchu, what evidence do you have that my junior sister spoke rudely?!"

"Danfeng," Lian Junchu called out, and the girl unfurled the scroll in her hand, saying, "This contains what your junior sisters said and did at the time. It's clear they attacked first, and our disciples only retaliated afterward. Below are the seals and handprints of the shop owners and employees present. You can take a look yourself!"

Yin Xiurong was completely taken aback by their tactic. Her face flushed red, and she shouted, "Who doesn't know the Lian family's methods? The boss and the employees have already been bribed!"

Lian Junchu smiled and said, "Danfeng, you lost the bet I made with you."

Danfeng angrily slammed the scroll shut, tucked it into her robes, and said, "Young Master, how could I have imagined that the dignified Emei Sect would be so shameless!"

Upon hearing this, Yin Xiurong's fiery temper flared up. She cursed and leaped forward, slapping Danfeng across the face.

Danfeng's figure floated back as lightly as if stepping on clouds, but she still held the paper umbrella in her hand, making it inconvenient to make a move. The young man in green, Chongming, stepped in front of Yin Xiurong and crossed his palms, aiming straight for her wrist.

Yin Xiurong flicked her wrist, leaped up, and drew her longsword, pointing it at Chongming's throat. Chongming flipped backward, about to draw his sword, but suddenly stopped, retreating repeatedly to dodge her sword strike.

Yin Xiurong showed no mercy, each sword strike aimed at Chongming's vitals. Chongming retreated to Lian Junchu's side and cried out, "Young Master, are you still not allowing me to draw my sword?"

Lian Junchu smiled and said, "Draw your sword."

Chongming then quickly drew his sword, leaped high into the air, and amidst the swirling snowflakes, crossed his swords left and right, coiling them around Yin Xiurong's shoulders like serpents.

Yin Xiurong swept her longsword horizontally, meeting Chongming's twin swords head-on, a cold, sharp light flashing instantly. She felt a gentle force strike directly from the tip of Chongming's sword; her wrist went numb, the tip of her sword trembled slightly, and she forced herself to attack, unleashing several sword strikes with fierce energy.

Chongming's twin swords flashed, his movements agile. He bent over, leaped, and launched a counterattack, his sword tip stabbing sharply at Yin Xiurong's right leg. Yin Xiurong raised her right leg to kick at him, but unexpectedly, his other sword slashed diagonally. She was only focused on kicking, but the sword struck her left leg, causing her to lose her balance and stagger back several steps.

Liang Yingxue rushed forward and caught her, her face full of anger. At this moment, Wei Heng pressed down on the stone table, suddenly drew his sword, leaped into the air, and with a sword-like momentum, swiftly thrust it towards Chongming.

As Chongming parried Wei Heng's sword with his twin swords, he sensed that Wei Heng's inner strength was far greater than that of Yin Xiurong. Danfeng, seeing Wei Heng's posture, knew he wasn't as flashy as he appeared. Just as she was about to step forward to help, Lian Junchu stepped forward, deflecting Wei Heng's sword strike with a flying kick, and stood in front of Chongming, saying, "If Master Wei truly intends to resolve this matter by force, then please find an opponent of equal standing."

Wei Heng's sword was kicked by him, causing his wrist to tremble slightly. Displeased, he raised an eyebrow and said, "So, Young Master Lian wants to fight me?" He paused, glancing at Lian Junchu's sleeve, and said, "I've long heard of the Lian family's ruthless 'Forgetful Twin Swords' techniques, but it seems I won't be able to experience them today."

Lian Junchu's expression remained unchanged, and his eyes showed no emotion. He gave Danfeng a look, and Danfeng understood and stepped forward to remove his cloak.

His pale blue lined robe, made of some unknown fabric, seemed to shimmer with silvery hues even in the gloomy weather. The empty lower half of his sleeve fluttered in the wind, not wildly, but merely gently. The cuffs, in particular, appeared slightly heavy. Even so, his disability was clearly visible to the onlookers. These people had only ever heard that Lian Junchu had no hands; now, seeing him in person, they couldn't help but show various expressions—surprise, disdain, or curiosity—just like ordinary people.

When Yue Ruzheng saw his familiar figure again, it was as if she had been struck on the head, but she could only bite her lip tightly and lower her eyes. Her hand was still being held by Shao Yang. She wanted to pull it back, but Shao Yang was worried that she would act impulsively, so he held on tightly.

At this moment, Lian Junchu had already ordered all his subordinates to retreat, and stood alone at the end of the stone steps. The wind and snow gradually intensified, and the swirling snowflakes drifted onto his shoulders, each one resembling shattered jade.

Wei Heng removed his cloak and tossed it casually; someone caught it for him. He drew his sword, his tone arrogant: "Young Master Lian, before the duel, I must confirm whether you truly wish to fight me. I, Wei Heng, am not one to bully the weak and fear the strong."

Lian Junchu smiled calmly, showing no anger, and said, "Although I am disabled, I have practiced martial arts since childhood. Master, you need not show mercy."

"Very well! If I can defeat you by even a single move today, would you be willing to kneel down and apologize to the Emei Sect girls in front of everyone?" Wei Heng waved his left arm, pointing at the Emei disciples behind him.

Lian Junchu nodded and said, "I will never go back on my word. But if I am fortunate enough to win, I must bring back those men who were previously imprisoned by your manor."

"Then let's see if you have the ability!" Wei Heng said, and then leaped down, his ancient sword flashing with a light as bright as the sun, aiming straight for Lian Junchu's throat.

Lian Junchu was already standing below him, and now the tip of his sword was falling, unstoppable. Just as the sharp sword tip was about to pierce Lian Junchu's throat, everyone felt Lian Junchu's feet shift, and before they could even see his footwork, he had already retreated more than two zhang away. Wei Heng's flying figure could not catch up with him even half a step.

As Wei Heng landed, he lightly touched the stone steps with his right foot and leaped forward, his sword flashing like a butterfly, whipping up wisps of sword energy amidst the wind and snow. Each move was fluid and powerful, relentlessly pressing towards Lian Junchu. Lian Junchu, in a flash, darted to the side of the cliff, bracing her feet against it to meet Wei Heng's sword strike head-on.

Wei Heng swung his right arm, the ancient sword drawing an arc as it slashed towards Lian Junchu's left shoulder. Lian Junchu lightly touched the ground with his foot, using the momentum to somersault and kick towards the tip of Wei Heng's sword. Knowing that he would need to find a way to exert force, Wei Heng deliberately created an opening. After Lian Junchu stepped onto his sword, Wei Heng lowered his wrist, suddenly withdrawing the sword and striking out with his palm, aiming straight for Lian Junchu's chest.

Lian Junchu was in mid-air when she suddenly fell backward, her shoulder slamming into a rock, her right foot landing squarely on Wei Heng's left palm. Wei Heng felt as if his entire left arm had been struck by a thousand-pound piece of wood or stone, but he endured the excruciating pain, brandishing his ancient sword with his right hand and sweeping it diagonally towards Lian Junchu's lower body.

Lian Junchu suddenly flicked her right sleeve, sending the energy back towards the rocks. She leaped into the air, her legs forming a straight line, and abruptly slashed diagonally towards Wei Heng's neck. Wei Heng parried with his sword, but Lian Junchu spun around, her toes sweeping towards Wei Heng's elbow. Wei Heng dodged, then unleashed several more attacks, all to close the distance and prevent Lian Junchu from leaping away.

A smile suddenly appeared between Lian Junchu's brows. Seeing Wei Heng approaching on the stone steps, his sword tip almost touching his shoulder, she abruptly jolted her left shoulder. Her previously fluttering sleeve coiled around Wei Heng's sword like a snake. Wei Heng's brow furrowed, and he swiftly twisted his wrist, trying to sever the sleeve. Unexpectedly, the sleeve remained unharmed, instead tightening its grip. Lian Junchu's left shoulder slumped back, and before Wei Heng could release his grip, he was pulled forward two steps.

Lian Junchu swung her right arm swiftly, her sleeve sweeping across Wei Heng's shoulder and instantly tearing his clothes. Seeing that he couldn't break free from the sleeve's restraint, Wei Heng hardened his heart and charged straight at Lian Junchu's chest, using his body and sword as a shield.

At that moment, Lian Junchu's right shoulder jolted, and a bright light suddenly burst forth from his previously empty sleeve, accompanied by a sudden gust of cold wind. Before Wei Heng's sword could pierce Lian Junchu, he felt a chill at his throat. He quickly stopped, only to discover that an extremely narrow and sharp short sword had emerged from Lian Junchu's right sleeve and was pressed against his throat.

Wei Heng's face was pale. The spot on his shoulder where Lian Junchu's sleeve had brushed against him throbbed with pain, and blood was slowly seeping out. He glanced sideways at Lian Junchu's sleeve and noticed the fine, dense silver thorns on the cuff. No wonder they hadn't scattered wildly when the wind blew. He sneered, "I never expected that Young Master Lian would even have a trick up his sleeve, concealing a sword to catch his opponent off guard."

Lian Junchu withdrew his left arm, and the sleeve of his robe suddenly loosened, hanging down at his side. But the thin sword in his right sleeve was still pressed against Wei Heng, and although only the tip of the sword was exposed, it still exuded a bone-chilling coldness.

"Master Wei, weren't you just lamenting that you couldn't experience the power of the Forgetful Sword?" The wind and snow brushed against Lian Junchu's face, yet he still smiled calmly. "Actually, I forgot to tell you earlier that even a person without hands can wield a sword."

Wei Heng gritted his teeth, looking at the seemingly humble yet arrogant man before him, but he could sense a deep-seated contempt and coldness in his eyes.

Danfeng stepped forward, holding a paper umbrella to shield Lian Junchu from the wind and snow, and said to Wei Heng, "Master Wei, you won't refuse to admit defeat, will you?"