Chapter Thirty-Three: The Wind-Riding Sword Technique

Niu Ben had not paid much attention until Lei Yan spoke, then he noticed that standing beside the village chief was a stranger from out of town. He sized Lei Yan up from head to toe and, realizing they were about the same age, finally asked, "Who are you?"

Hearing the question, Lei Yan smiled. He had already prepared his answer and said slowly, "I am a traveler who has roamed the four seas. This time I passed through your Niujia Village and found the environment quite pleasant, so I thought I'd stay a few days. Listening to your conversation, I think we could become partners."

"You’re a martial artist, right?" Niu Ben pointed at Lei Yan's gloves. "Beat me, and I'll follow you."

"Niu Ben, this young man is a guest of our village," the old village chief quickly intervened. He had taught Niu Ben his skills and knew well his true ability. As for Lei Yan, after looking him over, the chief saw only an ordinary man. He truly worried that Niu Ben might injure Lei Yan.

"Village chief, no need to worry. I have learned a bit of hand-to-hand combat," Lei Yan said with a smile.

"Young brother, Niu Ben has already reached the peak of innate skill; I think you should reconsider," the village chief advised.

"No problem, no problem," Lei Yan chuckled. "Brother Niu Ben, don’t hold back—use any technique you have."

"Youngsters are always competitive. They only regret it after suffering losses," the village chief shook his head, thinking to himself, "I’d better stay alert."

Just as the village chief took a step back, Niu Ben charged at Lei Yan. A straight punch, accompanied by a whistling sound, aimed at Lei Yan’s face. Before the fist arrived, the wind it carried had already reached Lei Yan. He smiled faintly, placed his left hand behind his back, and his right hand shot out like lightning.

Lei Yan easily blocked Niu Ben’s palm with his own.

"An expert," Niu Ben’s expression changed. Although his punch was partly a test, he had exerted about thirty percent of his strength, yet it had no effect on Lei Yan whatsoever. He was stunned.

"Brother Niu Ben, is that all the strength you have?" Lei Yan said lightly.

That remark undoubtedly provoked Niu Ben’s pride. He leapt back a step, lightly tapped the ground, and launched another attack at Lei Yan.

"Pom! Pom! Pom!"

In one breath, Niu Ben unleashed over a hundred punches. Shadows of fists appeared in the air, but each was effortlessly blocked by a single palm. Suddenly, Niu Ben stopped, panting as he stared at Lei Yan. To him, Lei Yan was like a mountain—no matter how he struck, it would not budge.

The village chief knew well how powerful Niu Ben’s punches were—each carried the force of hundreds of pounds. He was momentarily stunned as well. "To block all of Niu Ben’s punches so easily, without moving an inch—that even innate martial artists cannot do so effortlessly."

Just as Niu Ben was about to concede, the village chief tossed him his smoking pipe. "Use the sword technique I taught you," he said, wanting to see just how strong this young man really was.

Niu Ben glanced at Lei Yan, who extended his right hand forward to signal him to go ahead.

Niu Ben was not skilled in fist techniques; his specialty was the sword style taught by the village chief. Grasping the pipe with one hand, his aura instantly shifted. If the previous Niu Ben seemed ready to strike, now he was like a drawn sword, tense and alert.

"Spring Breeze Sword," Niu Ben called out quietly. His figure flashed as the pipe swept toward Lei Yan’s throat like a gentle breeze. The village chief, as if an announcer, explained beside them, "This Wind-Commanding Sword Style consists of four forms. The first is the Spring Breeze Sword, named for its breezy, gentle strike."

As the village chief finished speaking, Lei Yan suddenly felt a warm, gentle breeze graze his neck. He extended his right hand and flicked his fingers, striking the pipe’s tip, instantly dispersing Niu Ben’s sword momentum.

"Summer Breeze Sword." Undeterred, Niu Ben thrust the sword toward Lei Yan’s chest. The tip radiated a scorching summer heat, revealing the exquisite nature of the sword style. Still, it failed to harm Lei Yan. With a flick of his right hand, he sent the pipe flying back.

"Autumn Breeze Sword." Niu Ben lightly tapped the ground, leapt high, and brought the pipe down in a heavy strike. A desolate cold wind swept from above, but Lei Yan raised his hand once again to neutralize the attack.

"Winter Breeze Sword." Niu Ben landed with force, using the rebound to charge at Lei Yan. The tip of the pipe carried a biting chill. Lei Yan waved his hand, and an even stronger gale swept the pipe aside.

All four sword forms were easily countered. Niu Ben lowered his head, his grip on the pipe turning pale. After a moment, he said, "I lost."

The village chief also looked at Lei Yan with astonishment. This Wind-Commanding Sword Style was not only fully mastered by Niu Ben but even surpassed the chief’s own skill. Yet, it was so effortlessly deflected. He began to doubt whether this sword style was still capable of slaying innate masters as it once was.

"This sword style is indeed excellent, but unfortunately..." Lei Yan had to admire the technique. It was very close to the "Way," yet had not entered its realm. Even a slight integration of the "Way" would multiply its power manifold.

"Unfortunately, what?" the village chief and Niu Ben asked in unison.

"Unfortunately, you’ve only mastered a fraction of it," Lei Yan said bluntly.

"Impossible. I have fully mastered this sword style, and Niu Ben has received my true teachings, surpassing even me. How could it be only a fraction? Ridiculous," the village chief said incredulously.

"Village chief, I think he might be right. Every time I practice this Wind-Commanding Sword Style, I feel its mysteries are like an ocean, but I can only sense a drop of water," Niu Ben pondered.

"Is that so? Then why can’t I sense it?" the village chief said skeptically.

"That’s talent," Lei Yan said solemnly.

"Talent?" The village chief’s eyes grew misty, as if recalling something. Niu Ben looked at Lei Yan and asked, "How can I improve this sword style?"

"You may already be very skilled. Now, the most important thing is to truly immerse yourself in the sword style. When you can integrate the winds of the four seasons into your technique, your swordsmanship will reach a new level," Lei Yan explained.

"I’ve made up my mind," Niu Ben’s eyes brightened. "I’ve decided to follow you." Lei Yan’s words had inspired him greatly; he was determined to roam the world alongside Lei Yan.

"What’s your name?" Niu Ben asked.

"Lei Yan," Lei Yan replied.

******

Inside a guest room in Niujia Village, Li Lie and the others remained quietly inside. After discovering Lei Yan, they felt it was inconvenient to leave. Fortunately, cultivators could endure without food or water for long periods, but Yu Yang was growing restless. He muttered, "What’s this kid up to? Isn’t he here for the treasure map? Why bother with someone else’s fight? The worst part is he’s fighting with that Niu Ben fellow. Hmph, if he’s so tough, let him fight me."

"Quiet, can’t you be silent for a moment?" Flower Fairy said impatiently. She then cast a mental charm on the more than twenty people in Long Ba’s group. Her spiritual senses only reached a short distance around; beyond that, she could feel nothing.

"He does have a point. This kid seems to have no intention of looking for the treasure map. Now he’s laughing and chatting with that Niu Ben guy—what’s going on?" Li Lie felt uneasy.

"Amitabha," the previously silent monk suddenly spoke. "I think we should keep a close watch on this kid. If he leaves, we follow; if he stays, we stay."

"That’s the only way," Li Lie nodded and closed his eyes again.

******

To the north of the village, Lei Yan and Niu Ben quickly became familiar, chatting and laughing. Seeing Niu Ben’s smiling face, the village chief felt some relief. It had been many years since he’d seen Niu Ben truly happy.

"You two," the village chief said, "stop chatting and go inside my house to get some food. You must be hungry by now." He looked up at the sky.

Lei Yan nodded, and Niu Ben headed straight for the village chief’s house. Seizing the opportunity, Lei Yan walked beside him and whispered through transmission, "Niu Ben, there’s something I need to tell you."

Before Niu Ben could reply, Lei Yan hushed him, "Don’t speak, just listen. This is very important for you, for this village, and for your village chief. If you’re careless, you, this village, and the village chief will all die. Stay calm. I’ll tell you as we walk, but do not say a word."

Niu Ben looked at Lei Yan and softly replied, "Mm." Since it involved the village chief, he knew he had to be cautious.

"Some time ago, someone entrusted you with something to keep safe. That person died because of it. Now, four people are in Niujia Village, and they came for that thing. I tell you not to speak because they are watching us and don’t know the item is with you. If you reveal it, this village will suffer. Don’t try to fight them—that’s a death wish. Each of them is several times stronger than I am. We must leave quickly, or this village will be destroyed sooner or later. If you understand, keep moving; if not, stop."

Though full of questions, Niu Ben understood Lei Yan’s words. With Lei Yan’s strength, wiping out the village would be easy; with enemies even stronger, it was certain doom. He nodded slightly and continued toward the village chief’s home.

"Good, very good. Discuss with the village chief. After we eat, we’ll leave," Lei Yan transmitted again.

(P.S.: Two chapters finished. I’ve been writing all day. Time to sleep.)