Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 14

“The Blink Sword Technique?”

“That’s right. What connection do you think there is between blinking—the act of closing your eyes—and swordsmanship? It’s a funny name, isn’t it?”

“Senior Brother, have you ever tried to learn this sword technique?”

“Of course not. Who would waste time on a martial art that doesn’t even use internal energy? It’s just for show. Besides, I’ve never heard of anyone who has mastered it.”

Lu Feiyu continued, “I heard that the elder who created this sword technique saved the Seven Fiends Hall from many crises back then. Before he died, he insisted that the Blink Sword Technique be included among the seven unique skills of the Seven Fiends Hall. Otherwise, how could it be considered one of them?”

After listening to Lu Feiyu’s story, Han Li realized this was the martial art he had been searching for.

“Senior Brother Lu, could you get me a copy of the Blink Sword Technique?”

“Haha! No problem. If you had asked for another sword technique, it would have been difficult, but this Blink Sword Technique is just gathering dust in a corner of the Seven Fiends Hall, and no one cares about it. I’ll bring the original, and after you copy it, will you return it? Then, if you put it back in its place, no one will know.”

Only then did Han Li feel relieved.

“Then, I should go now. If I’m late, the chief manager of the Seven Fiends Hall might find out that I sneaked out.”

Lu Feiyu put on his clothes and prepared to leave. Then, he slowly crawled out of the cave entrance.

Han Li stared blankly as Lu Feiyu disappeared from the cave. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression.

* * *

Not long after Lu Feiyu left, Han Li also returned to the Divine Medicine Valley. As soon as he arrived, he noticed a man wearing a bamboo hat, completely covered up, seemingly unaffected by the hot sun. He was guarding Master Wen’s side, showing no signs of fatigue.

Han Li had tried to befriend him several times, but the man never responded. He seemed fine on the outside, but if you looked closely, he appeared like a puppet being controlled.

No matter how hard he tried, Han Li couldn’t find any flaws. However, sometimes his back view gave him a familiar feeling. Even after searching his memories, he couldn’t remember who he resembled.

Han Li went straight to his room and lay down on the bed. He closed his eyes and slowly reviewed the martial arts he had learned that day. He never forgot anything he had seen once, an ability he had gained while practicing the Eternal Spring Arts [a cultivation technique].

Whenever he had time, he organized and stored any martial arts in his mind. Countless techniques were piling up there. That’s why Lu Feiyu praised Han Li’s skills so much.

Two months ago, Han Li had broken through to the 4th level of the Eternal Spring Arts with the help of two kinds of elixirs. And now, he had reached the 5th level. The effects of the Yellow Dragon Pill and the Golden Marrow Elixir were so strong that they far exceeded Han Li’s expectations. He had saved some of these elixirs to use again at the 6th level.

There were less than six months left until the deadline he had promised Master Wen. Although he was learning martial arts from Lu Feiyu, without the right internal energy, it was no different from just learning plausible body movements.

It might work against those with weak martial arts, but it was far from enough to face Master Wen. When Han Li’s thoughts reached this point, he suddenly got a headache. The only hope left for him was the Blink Sword Technique. That sword technique was his only chance.

* * *

A few days later, Han Li secretly slipped out of the Divine Medicine Valley to meet Lu Feiyu. Master Wen knew that Han Li was sneaking out, but he didn’t seem to care where he went.

It was probably because he was worried that if he restrained or interfered with him, it would disturb his mind and hinder his training. Although he had Han Li’s weakness in his grasp, he wanted him to focus on his training rather than threatening him with it.

Han Li tried to avoid running into other disciples while passing through the path. Finally, he reached the secret place in the cave.

When he went inside, he saw Lu Feiyu splashing around like a child. He turned around at the sound of Han Li’s footsteps and said in a sulky voice, “Junior Brother Han, you’re getting later and later. I wait for half a day every time. Can’t you come earlier even once?”

“I’m sorry, Senior Brother. I…”

While Han Li was hesitating, Lu Feiyu threw a huge bundle at him.

“What is this?”

“What do you mean? What else would it be but the Blink Sword Technique that you asked for and I had a hard time getting?”

Lu Feiyu looked at him and said seriously, “Is this really that sword technique? You didn’t put a whetstone in here to tease me, did you?”

Han Li tried to estimate the weight by lifting his arms, but he almost fell over.

“Hahaha!”

Lu Feiyu couldn’t help but laugh at Han Li’s appearance. At first, he just laughed quietly, but later he fell to the ground, his whole body covered in dirt.

Han Li left him laughing like a madman and gently touched the bundle. His fingers flickered over the knot, and it loosened on its own.

Clap clap clap!

As the bundle was untied, a cheerful clapping sound echoed. Lu Feiyu stopped laughing and now clapped for Han Li with a flushed face.

“Looking at how skillfully you handle the Entangling Silk Hand [a martial art], it seems like this martial art was made for you. It’s only been two months since I taught you this martial art, and you’re already handling it so freely.”

“You didn’t bring this whole bundle just so I could show off this martial art, did you?”

“Of course not. You’ll know what I mean when you open the bundle.”

Lu Feiyu wiped the smile off his face and said seriously. Then, Han Li used his fingers again to untie the entire bundle. Only then did all the items inside become visible.

“This is…”

Han Li’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

“How is it? Are you surprised?”

“I don’t know if there’s something wrong with my eyes or if you’ve gone crazy. Did you steal half of the Seven Fiends Hall’s library? If this gets found out, you and I are dead.”

Han Li touched the huge pile of books and asked excitedly. But Lu Feiyu didn’t seem to care.

No matter what Han Li said, he was still smiling nonchalantly. Seeing that, Han Li wondered if he had misunderstood something.

“You’re not an idiot, and you’re definitely not a madman. If you risked your life to do this, there must be a reason.”

Lu Feiyu was a little disappointed when Han Li calmed down and returned to normal. Then, he said as if he was wronged, “How can there be such an unfair thing? I was just about to explain, but you didn’t give me a chance. You didn’t even listen to me and you’re blaming me. That’s really too much.”

Han Li didn’t listen to him and urged him again, “Stop saying strange things and explain yourself. What would your fellow disciples say if they saw you like this? They would be very disappointed.”

Lu Feiyu had no intention of arguing. He wanted to tease him a little more, but he noticed Han Li’s worried expression and threw him a book, gesturing with his hand, “You’ll know everything if you open it and look.”

“Why are you being so sneaky when you could just tell me?”

Lu Feiyu’s incomprehensible actions gave him a headache, but he was surprised when he turned the cover. On the first page, it was clearly written in black ink, ‘Blink Sword Technique’.

“It’s too early to be surprised. Why don’t you take a look at the other books?”

Lu Feiyu then handed over a few more books. The same words were written on those books as well.

“Senior Brother Lu… Please don’t tell me that all of these are the Blink Sword Technique.”

“Unfortunately, that’s the correct answer.”

Lu Feiyu spread out his hands and shrugged his shoulders as if it was something he couldn’t help.

“That’s impossible. There seem to be at least 100 books here, how can they all be the Blink Sword Technique?”

Han Li said as if he couldn’t believe it.

“How would I know if you ask me? I really didn’t know there were so many Blink Sword Techniques.”

He laughed loudly again. It was rare to see Han Li so surprised and shocked.

Usually, Han Li was always calm and thoroughly prepared for everything. Seeing Han Li’s expression, he felt that the trouble he had gone through to bring the books was not in vain.

“Have you looked through these books? How many are there in total?”

“There are 74 in total. I counted them several times. They all have the same name written on them.”

Lu Feiyu said without hesitation when he heard Han Li’s words.

“I need to know how many there are so I can put them back. It would be a big problem if even one book was missing.”

* * *

Han Li slowly began to examine the yellowed pages of the books. Every time his eyelids lowered, he read ten lines or so.

The thick pages were already halfway through. And when Lu Feiyu, who was practicing with his saber, glanced over, Han Li was already reading another book.

He sometimes paused to think while flipping through the books, but his gaze never left them.

Time flew by like an arrow, and he quickly read through the Blink Sword Techniques one by one. When he had seen all eleven manuals, he suddenly stopped reading.

Then, he threw the books into the bundle and began to circulate the Eternal Spring Arts. He was trying to store the dozen or so books he had just read in his mind.

Not long after, Han Li’s face changed from moment to moment. It went from a happy face to a frowning face, and then to a disappointed one.

…

How much time had passed? Han Li opened his eyes and was startled by the sight that came into view.

Lu Feiyu’s face was so close that if he moved even a little, they would almost touch.

“What are you doing while I’m practicing my saber technique?”

“Junior Brother Han, do you know how much time has passed? Look around you.”

Lu Feiyu said with a pout. Only then did Han Li realize that he was surrounded by darkness.

“Huh! Time has passed like the wind. I didn’t realize it had passed like this.”

Han Li said as he stood up.

“How is it? Did you find anything interesting?”

Lu Feiyu asked, staring at Han Li with eager eyes.

“Yes. It’s a martial art that’s perfect for me.”

“What’s so good about it? Tell me more specifically.”

“These manuals are all mixed up. It’s hard to find a common point to tie them together.”

Han Li said leisurely.

“Then what does the Blink Sword Technique mean? Is such a sword technique really possible?”

“The Blink Sword Technique really exists. But it’s only a small part of these books. A really small part.”

“You’re teasing me. Don’t be so frustrating and tell me at once.”

He was frustrated by Han Li’s leisurely and carefree tone and urged him.

“According to the sword technique, you can defeat and win against an enemy by causing errors in their vision or light. It’s called the Blink Sword Technique because you can take their life in the time it takes for them to blink.”

“Is there such a strange sword technique? There are really many amazing things in the world.”

“But there are three types of people who cannot learn this sword technique. Those whose internal energy has surpassed the minor achievement stage cannot learn it, those with weak will cannot learn it, and those without talent cannot learn it.”

Lu Feiyu immediately gave up on the idea of coveting this martial art after hearing the first condition. His internal energy had already reached a high level.

He couldn’t learn a martial art that hadn’t even been verified for its power, even if it meant abandoning his own internal energy.