DHMB - Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Jiang Tu now felt apprehensive whenever he saw Kai Yun smile. Seeing her stride forward with an arrogant swagger, he thought she was about to make a move and quickly raised his hands defensively, saying, "Wait, they're my classmates. I withdrew from the team voluntarily back then."
After the competition, they still had to interact, and he didn't want things to get too ugly.
...Besides, he had no reason to cause trouble.
"I know. Classmates should be harmonious, friendly, and help each other. Although I don't have classmates, my master always taught me this." Kai Yun spoke with utter sincerity. "Your classmates are my classmates. It's precisely because they rejected you that we were able to cooperate so well. I just saw them stuck at this stage, looking a bit pitiful, so I approached with concern to ask if they needed any help."
Jiang Tu looked at her doubtfully.
Lei Kaiding said bluntly, "Like hell I believe you!" There's no one with a darker heart than you!
Kai Yun smiled, pushed Jiang Tu's hand down, and approached to greet the group.
The six members of the other team didn't respond. They didn't look pleased, frowning and muttering softly:
"Jiang Tu joined a new team? Why did he deliberately choose this path? To show off to us?"
"Just three people, but they cleared the previous stages quite quickly."
"Look at that girl's uniform, she should be from our school too. Have you seen her before?"
"I'm sure she's not from our school. Probably a borrowed examinee."
"The guy at the back has a very stable stance, well-proportioned muscles, and no weapon. Maybe he's a fistfighter. Did he lead them here?"
"Everyone stay alert, don't let your guard down."
As Kai Yun approached, the group immediately fell silent. The leading guy made a stopping gesture, indicating she shouldn't come closer.
Kai Yun didn't seem upset by their strong rejection. She simply stopped and peered inside, then noticed the training rules posted by the door.
This stage was actually quite simple: just get the key. Not far ahead was the exit of this training building.
But these rules...
Kai Yun asked, "There's only one key?"
"That's right," the leader said. "It's unfortunate, but I advise you to change paths sooner rather than later."
Kai Yun turned back and said, "I've never liked backtracking."
A guy in the back row laughed. "Big talk, little miss. Unfortunately, it's an Alliance Military tradition not to show mercy just because someone's pretty. Please be careful with your words, otherwise, swords have no eyes. It wouldn't be good if one accidentally slipped and hurt someone."
Lei Kaiding, seeing her being threatened to her face, was secretly delighted, just waiting for Kai Yun to explode so he could enjoy the show.
But Kai Yun remained good-natured. "I heard from Jiang Tu that you all are very capable people from the Alliance Military University. A complete team composition, experienced, and strong. Key figures in this competition."
The other side stated confidently, "Then he should have told you that you can't beat us."
Kai Yun shook her head. "He really didn't."
Jiang Tu leaned close to Lei Kaiding and whispered, "What on earth is she planning?" He felt this scene shouldn't be so harmonious.
Lei Kaiding suppressed his voice, yet sounded excited, "If I knew—" I wouldn't be far from a mental hospital!
The other side didn't want to waste time arguing and coldly threw out two words: "Go back!"
Kai Yun said calmly, "We've already come this far. Wouldn't it be too regrettable to turn back now?"
"Regrettable or not, there's no other way." The leader glanced at the time, growing impatient. He stretched his neck and shouted across to Jiang Tu, "Jiang Tu! For the sake of being from the same school, if you turn back right now, I can pretend nothing happened!"
Kai Yun gestured towards them with her finger. "But looking at you all, it seems you can't manage it."
They all bore some injuries, evidence of the fierce battle they had endured. Yet they were still standing here, indicating they hadn't succeeded.
The faces opposite darkened. "What do you mean?"
Kai Yun raised her hand and pointed into the training area.
The key hung from a small flying robot that moved incredibly fast, darting erratically around the room. Its trajectory was chaotic and unpredictable.
On the ground were over a dozen robots similar to those in the first-floor examination room, but larger, with fewer attackable weak points.
The simulation system didn't care about machine wear and tear; they would always maintain a fixed number to interfere with the examinees' actions. They couldn't be destroyed, only contained.
But containing them wasn't easy, which was why the six were trapped here, unable to break through for so long, struggling to find the trick to pass the stage.
Repeatedly fighting and failing, then fighting again.
"This stage definitely favors swordsmen. Swordsmanship is more flexible and agile. With cover, one could easily flick the key off that small robot," Kai Yun pointed at Jiang Tu. "Looks like we only have one swordsman here."
Mentioned by name, Jiang Tu's expression turned serious. The gazes of the six opponents focused on him, making him feel uneasy, like needles on his back.
Then, a flat-topped guy scoffed.
"Little sister, just holding a sword doesn't make you a swordsman. You teamed up with him, haven't you tested his skills?"
"I have. I know he's very skilled, which is why I came to talk things over," Kai Yun said. "Our team only has three people. If we get the key, we can give you half the spots."
The leader immediately retorted, "Impossible. We were here first."
"Is there a first-come, first-served rule in Sanyao's regulations?" Kai Yun said magnanimously. "But I'm a reasonable person, so I offered to give you three spots for free."
The person opposite seemed clear-headed. "To hell with your free spots!"
Kai Yun turned back to Jiang Tu. "See! They're being unreasonable."
The opponents adopted combat stances. "Are you looking for trouble?"
Kai Yun shouted again, "Look! They're about to turn their blades on someone who extended a helping hand!"
As she spoke, she reached behind her back, gripping her saber hilt tightly.
Jiang Tu: "??"
The confrontation was about to erupt.
Only now did Lei Kaiding understand, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Could such a shameless person exist in this world?
She was trying to frame them!!
Jiang Tu was completely bewildered, but urged on by Lei Kaiding's nudges and hints, he still drew his weapon, preparing to respond.
"Wait!"
The leading guy called a halt to both sides.
Starting a fight here was clearly not a good choice. If they both ended up badly injured, no one would get out.
Their intention was to pass the trial grounds to gain an early advantage. Getting seriously injured here would be counterproductive.
Moreover, he couldn't gauge Lei Kaiding's strength, which made him wary.
After a moment's pause, the guy said to Kai Yun, "Alright. I'll give you five minutes. Since you've made such bold claims, you shouldn't disappoint us, right?"
Kai Yun made a gesture indicating it was settled.
The six exchanged glances, communicating with their eyes, then nodded and stepped aside, clearing the path.
Kai Yun waved. "My dear friend, come here."
Lei Kaiding jumped forward first, grabbing her arm. "Don't fall for it, just fight them! If they attack us while we're trying to pass, we'll be caught between two fronts. There's no gentlemanly conduct in the tournament; shamelessness can be called tactics! They just have faces that... resemble yours!"
Kai Yun: "But I'm an upright person. How can I go back on something we've agreed upon?"
Lei Kaiding clutched his chest as if about to have a heart attack. "Can I ask you for a favor?"
Kai Yun said generously, "Go ahead."
Lei Kaiding: "You..."
She took a deep breath, then added, "So I know how to refuse you."
Lei Kaiding: "..."
This team was impossible!
Seeing him fuming, Kai Yun finally showed some mercy and offered a comforting word. "Don't rush. Trust me."
If they fought now, Jiang Tu would have a hard time facing his classmates after the competition. Although social interaction was limited on the Rebuilt Barren Star, her master had clearly taught her the necessity of having a "just cause for action."
One was the vented anger of "Damn it, the opponent dared to ambush me!", the other was the self-reproach of "Damn it, I ambushed the opponent and still couldn't beat them!"
—One could be shameless, but not obviously so. Otherwise, you wouldn't make any fat friends.
Besides, even if they didn't get the key, the other team wasn't completely out of options. They wanted to advance and had more concerns than her side. If a real fight broke out, her side would have the advantage anyway.
"You guard the door, we'll be out quickly." Kai Yun patted his shoulder with utmost seriousness. "Lei Kaiding, you are an irreplaceable member of our team. It's because you're here that I'm confident we can succeed!"
Lei Kaiding was taken aback by her words, then surprisingly felt a little touched.
How long had it been? Kai Yun finally said something human to him!
Before his touched feeling could fully register, Kai Yun bypassed him, ran to Jiang Tu's side, and instructed, "When we enter, use wide-range sword techniques, the flashier the better. Try your best not to let the robots get close. I'll cover you."
"But big moves consume a lot of internal energy. I can't sustain them for long, and my precision isn't good," Jiang Tu said. "Also, these training robots won't approach if they sense sword qi that's too dense."
"They will, I'm here," Kai Yun said with a smile. "My dear friend, just go boldly. I've got everything covered. I'll make sure the spotlight shines right on you!"
Lei Kaiding: "..."
A double-standard dog is still a double-standard dog. Miracles are impossible.
"Are you done discussing?" The guy opposite crossed his arms, annoyed. "Three and a half minutes left. You can keep chatting."
Kai Yun ignored him, nodded at Jiang Tu, signaling him to go.
Pressed for time, Jiang Tu gripped his sword and charged in.
The dozen or so robots stationed inside immediately straightened up, exiting standby mode, and attacked him from all directions without any blind spots.
This ferocious scene still made Jiang Tu, caught in the middle, feel a jolt in his heart, secretly nervous.
His Adam's apple bobbed. He mentally repeated Kai Yun's instructions, clenched his jaw, and decided to go all out; there was no turning back now. He channeled his internal energy and began swinging his sword without restraint.
His sword, imbued with internal energy, traced streaks of silver light that flew chaotically into the air. Like several missed attacks, yet without any correction. The sword in his hand moved faster and faster, denser and denser, until only an afterimage remained.
The wind from the sword howled, like the wail of a gale before a storm.
Then, the sword qi spun into an internal energy barrier around him, enclosing him in the center. Occasional flashes of silver light resembled pear blossoms battered in a downpour.
What a beautiful set of Pear Blossom Storm Sword techniques!
Truthfully, Jiang Tu's swordsmanship had reached a level that could be called exquisite; few among his peers could match him in this regard. He never lacked effort. Unable to progress, he continuously honed his technique, thinking he could break through that way.
But he couldn't. The great door before him remained tightly shut, unmoved by his efforts.
It was precisely this—giving his all yet achieving nothing, watching others' gazes shift from amazement to shock, and finally to mockery—that left him deeply frustrated.
However, as Kai Yun had said, his sword lacked killing intent. No matter how flashy the moves, they couldn't defeat an opponent.
A group of training robots surrounded Jiang Tu, eager to attack but staying clear of his sword qi, patiently waiting for him to exhaust himself.
Such powerful moves would quickly drain the internal energy of an average student.
The flat-topped guy pursed his lips and muttered, "Can't hit anything. What's the use of just swinging the sword? Have they never seen flashy but useless techniques before?"
The team leader raised his hand, signaling the guy to be quiet, his expression grave as he watched the center of the training room.
At this moment, Kai Yun joined the battle.
Her appearance attracted the attention of a nearby training robot. She sidestepped, leading the robot in front of Jiang Tu's sword qi, then used the back of her saber to knock it under Jiang Tu's sword.
Struck by the sword wind, the training robot stuttered briefly, exposing a gap at its neck. Kai Yun seized the chance, slashing with her saber and severing its head.
"It's useless, you can't kill them all by force. The training robots here respawn infinitely. Otherwise, we would have passed long ago," the flat-topped guy muttered. "Jiang Tu can't last much longer. Captain, should we..."
The leader glanced at Lei Kaiding, signaling to wait. Once Lei Kaiding entered to help, and those three were stretched thin, they would make their move.
The flat-topped guy nodded.
"My dear friend!" Kai Yun shouted from the field. "Hold steady!"
Internal energy surged from her saber strike.
Her internal energy was clearly far more powerful than Jiang Tu's. If Jiang Tu's sword qi was a sharp, thin blade, Kai Yun's was a hurricane in spring and summer.
Over a dozen robots were hit by the impact, knocked back into Jiang Tu's sword formation. Jiang Tu was also affected, pushed back slightly, but quickly regained his footing.
Kai Yun systematically slit the throats of the robots, one by one. Her precision was simply terrifying.
In the blink of an eye, more than half of the robots surrounding Jiang Tu were gone.
Training robots would regenerate, but they spawned in the corners of the room and had a restart time of five to ten seconds. This window was their opportunity.
Kai Yun looked up and finally spotted the robot still flying randomly with the key. She took a two-step running start and leaped.
The flying robot's programming differed from the training robots; its purpose was evasion. Detecting Kai Yun's presence ahead, it immediately changed course, flying downwards. But below was Jiang Tu's sword formation... its high-speed flight mode prevented it from turning again.
The next second, the small, poorly defended flying robot crashed squarely into the sword qi, was instantly slammed into a corner, and the key hanging from it fell off due to the impact, landing on the ground.
The training session ended. All machines in the room ceased movement, and an eerie silence fell.
The flat-topped guy suddenly snapped awake.
"What the hell?!"
Kai Yun dashed over with her Lightness Skill, grabbed the key, tossed it to Jiang Tu, and didn't forget to shout, "Lei Kaiding!"
Lei Kaiding turned sideways, blocking the path in front of the six opponents. Kai Yun immediately stood beside him, the two of them intercepting the entrance together.
The six opponents drew their weapons simultaneously, fully alert.
They held their breath, not daring to be careless, only to see Kai Yun make a fist with her left hand, hold it out flat to the side, and then give a thumbs-up.
She grinned with immense satisfaction. "Thanks, my dear friend."
Behind her, Jiang Tu, slowly recovering his breath from exhaustion, tightly clutched the key in his hand. Hearing her words, he also broke into a smile.
Kai Yun's gaze shifted forward, her smile gradually fading.
"Weak people always like to shift responsibility and harm onto others, as if doing so can make themselves stronger." Kai Yun said, "I'm certainly not afraid of 'strong' people like you."
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