The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

#356 - Stable

“Twelve years ago, I was defeated by Han Shi's One-Mind Sword. Although I was fortunate enough to survive because of timely treatment, it left this scar. More fatally, his sword energy damaged my lungs and a large portion of my meridians. Not only could I only exert 50% of my strength, but I also had to rely on medicine to sustain my life from then on.”

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“This… Please accept my condolences, senior,” Lu Jing said.

“There's no need for condolences,” the old blind man shook his head. “Having roamed the martial world for so many years, I naturally know how to live longer and better. It's nothing more than seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages.

“Don't provoke masters who are stronger than yourself, try to befriend those famous sects, and retreat when things are impossible… Heh, I've lived like this for fifty years, accumulating many friends and a good reputation, but the more I lived, the more I felt it was meaningless, like a shopkeeper in a store, constantly using an abacus to calculate gains and losses.

“But we are people of the martial world, practicing martial arts for the sake of joy and freedom. Why is it that the higher our martial arts become, the more constrained we live, not living as ourselves?”

“So from then on, I only asked about right and wrong in my actions, regardless of the background or status of the other party, the level of their martial arts, and without considering the consequences. As a result, I felt refreshed, and my whole person became much younger.

“Later, I got involved in a martial world case, killed two disciples of the Sword Washing Pavilion, and defeated an elder of the Sword Washing Pavilion, which ultimately led to Han Shi taking action. I was no match for him, and ended up in this state, but I don't feel any sadness, let alone regret.”

“Senior is truly open-minded,” Lu Jing praised.

“Having lived for so many years, it would be truly pathetic if I couldn't understand even this much,” the old blind man said, “However, there is one thing that does bother me.”

“I wonder what Senior is worried about?”

“Although there is no definitive answer to the question of who has the highest martial arts in the current martial world, the Sword Washing Pavilion Master Han Shi is indeed the first answer that most people in the martial world think of.

“He is the most terrifying opponent I have ever encountered, and the One-Mind Sword is the most terrifying sword technique I have ever seen. Most people who fight Han Shi lose before they even see his sword drawn, but…”

The old blind man changed the subject, “My martial arts are not bad either.”

Lu Jing felt a little awkward upon hearing this.

Although he couldn't see Lu Jing's expression, the old blind man seemed to be able to guess what the latter was thinking, and added after a pause, “I'm not boasting. If there is any martial art in this world that can restrain the One-Mind Sword, it would be my Four-Square Stability.”

“…”

Because there were too many things to complain about, Lu Jing didn't know where to start.

Whether it was the strange name of this martial art that sounded completely unattractive, or the old blind man's so-called restraint, yet being instantly killed by the opponent's sword, it gave people the feeling of watching a 'Happy Comedian' show.

But considering that the other party was a senior and had a rather bumpy experience, Lu Jing didn't want to say anything harsh. After hesitating for a moment, he could only reluctantly say.

“Then wouldn't Senior's Four-Square Stability be the number one martial art in the world?”

His intention was to subtly remind the old blind man that he was exaggerating too much, but he didn't expect the old blind man to nod upon hearing this, and then utter four words, “That's exactly right.”

He didn't even blush when he said these four words, which really made Lu Jing look at him with new respect.

“Not in my hands, but in your hands… it really is the number one martial art in the world,” the old blind man added, looking more and more like a swindler in a TV shopping program shouting that he had made a decision that violated his ancestors.

Lu Jing took half a step back imperceptibly, and then said, “Senior thinks too highly of me.”

“No, you are the most suitable successor to my martial art, no, it should be said that my martial art was born for you!” The old blind man's face was full of excitement.

He knew that thousands of words were not as convincing as a practical demonstration, so he stopped talking nonsense, grabbed the bamboo cane in his hand, and pointed it at Lu Jing's chest again.

Lu Jing didn't move, and the bamboo cane was unexpectedly bounced away as soon as it touched his body.

However, this time Lu Jing also deliberately controlled the rebound of his inner force, so that the old blind man would not be sent flying again. Then he sighed, “Senior, you…”

“You're so young, can you please stop standing still and using your inner force to directly block my bamboo cane? Otherwise, I can't show you how to use Four-Square Stability,” the old blind man frowned.

“Okay,” Lu Jing nodded, “Then I'll just dodge the next move.”

“Whatever you want. You can also attack, just don't use too much power,” the old blind man instructed, but first took two steps towards Lu Jing's direction, and then the bamboo cane was thrust out diagonally from his hand again.

This move of his was indeed true to its name. To put it nicely, it was Four-Square Stability, but to put it bluntly, it was mediocre. It didn't look like it could break the One-Mind Sword at all.

It was even far from Lu Jing's Mad Demon One Hundred and Eight Staffs.

However, when Lu Jing was about to use his lightness skill to retreat, he was shocked to realize that he had no way to retreat at all, because his movements were like being locked. It was clear that the bamboo cane was coming slowly, but no matter which direction he retreated, it seemed that he couldn't avoid this bamboo cane.

This feeling was very strange and evil.

Lu Jing remembered what the old blind man had said before, and thought that since it was not good to retreat, he might as well try attacking.

He first used the Palm of Splitting Stele, which had reached the minor success realm, but only used 10% of his power.

As a result, he fought back and forth with the bamboo cane in the old blind man's hand. However, after fighting for a while, Lu Jing found that he still could not escape the range covered by the bamboo cane, so he decisively switched to Wind and Cloud Changes.

The first four forms of Wind and Cloud Changes had already been cultivated by him to the perfect realm. Although the power of this martial art was slightly weaker than the Mad Demon One Hundred and Eight Staffs, in terms of the exquisiteness of the moves alone, it was already the best of all his martial arts.

However, he still failed to get rid of the entanglement of the bamboo cane that almost only went straight.

After a few more moves, Lu Jing couldn't help but feel a little irritable, so he simply ignored the bamboo cane and attacked the old blind man directly. Seeing this, the old blind man simply and slowly retracted the bamboo cane in front of him, easily resolving Lu Jing's attack.

And once he sensed that Lu Jing had the idea of withdrawing, the bamboo cane would immediately entangle him again.

After fighting for a while, Lu Jing gradually understood what this skill called Four-Square Stability was all about, and his expression became more and more strange.

“Have you noticed it?” The old blind man's voice also sounded at this time, “No matter how powerful your martial arts or lightness skills are, once you are stuck by my Four-Square Stability, there is only one way to break through, and that is to compete with me in inner force!”

The chapter "Immortal Pill for You, Poison for Me" will continue to be updated.