Chapter 5
The Sword Trials began in earnest.
The heir found a good place to watch well in advance.
Onstage, the fighters produced one strange move after another.
He kept exclaiming that it was a revelation.
Then a man well into middle age took the stage.
He surveyed the crowd.
And called out,
“I have Wenjian Manor’s sword manual. Defeat me, and it’s yours.”
An uproar broke out.
Someone soon stepped forward.
“I’ll try.”
Within a few moves, he was knocked off the platform.
The older man remained at its center.
His first attack had made the depth of his skill plain to everyone.
For a while, no one dared step up.
The heir gave a slight cough and ordered one of his protectors to fight.
After exchanging several hundred moves with the man,
the fighter, too, was knocked to the ground.
Clutching his chest, he retreated behind the heir.
“Sir, his inner strength is unfathomable. I am no match for him.”
The heir sent several more fighters up.
Without exception,
they returned wounded.
At last, his gaze settled on me.
“Can you beat him?”
I shook my head.
He looked at the sword in my hands.
“Take that up there. Can you win with it?”
I drew the sword, took the stage, and exchanged a few moves with the man.
He laughed.
“Little girl, those sword moves look very familiar!”
I gave a soft laugh.
Then raised my sword and met him again.
His strikes were heavy and powerful, each carrying the force of wind and thunder.
Mine were light and swift, seeking out the openings in his defense.
Several hundred moves later,
we stood still, our swords lowered.
The flashing blades had vanished. Only the sound of two people breathing remained.
“I concede.”
He took a book from inside his robe and tossed it to me.
“The manual is yours. Practice well.”
Laughing, he left.
I returned to the heir and offered the sword manual with both hands.
Everyone’s eyes followed the movement and fixed on the book.
Greed. Wicked thoughts.
Everyone wanted it.
A man leaped forward and saluted the heir with clasped hands.
“I am the leader of the Martial Alliance. Might you be willing to part with the manual and sell it to me, sir?”
The heir shook his head.
The Alliance leader gave a small smile.
“You know no martial arts. What use is it to you?”
The heir’s expression darkened.
“Whether it’s of use to me is my business. None of yours.”
Ignoring the Alliance leader’s ugly expression,
he left with his people.
Back in the room,
he made me kneel on the floor.
Just as on the day we first met.
He lifted my chin with the sword’s point.
“With skills like yours, how can I feel safe keeping you beside me?”
“My life is yours to dispose of, my lord.”
He brought the sword closer to my neck, inch by inch.
Blood ran down the blade and dripped onto the floor.
“Never mind. I’ll kill you after I’ve finished the tattoo. Otherwise, that skin would go to waste.”
I bowed and withdrew.
I went to another room.
The moment the Second Young Lady saw the blood at my neck,
she took out a handkerchief and pressed it against the wound.
Leaning close to my ear, she whispered,
“When do we act?”
“Tonight.”