Chapter 78: The Luxurious Hotel

After I felt better, I picked up my blade and went at him again. This time, I forced myself into the state of Wing Shadow Swordplay, remembering Second Uncle’s words: “Learn to grow in adversity.” The man’s movements were hindered, his speed much slower, and I managed to enter the swordplay state smoothly.

I had practiced this swordplay many times, and now, wielding it felt effortless—like a fish gliding through water, every movement fluid and precise. The Snow Blade left afterimages in the dim underground garage, its gleaming arc strikingly beautiful.

“Go, Brother Yao! Beat the hell out of that bastard!” Li Zijian stood by, cheering me on, seemingly more excited than I was.

This was the first real test of the Wing Shadow Swordplay, and its results were unexpectedly impressive. The technique itself was already elegant, but with my dazzling Snow Blade, it was even more stunning.

The man was forced back, sustaining injuries in several places from my strikes. By the time I reached the seventh form, I suddenly sensed the afterimage of the Snow Blade growing larger, ushering in a state I’d never experienced before.

With every slash, a faint blade of blue energy shot forth—small, yet still potent enough to wound. Seeing this, I attacked with even greater fervor, swinging several times until I reached the ninth form.

In the ninth form, I noticed an ethereal blade occasionally materializing, mirroring my movements for a few seconds before fading away. With the final slash, a half-meter-wide blade of energy burst forth, aiming straight at the man’s waist.

He failed to react in time and was severed at the waist.

I took a deep breath, slowly sheathing the Snow Blade.

“Damn, Brother Yao, are you cheating? Did you get some legendary manual or something?” Li Zijian’s questions came one after another, but I had no real answers for him, so I brushed them off.

Just then, Li Zijian’s father walked over and clasped his hands in respect. “Young hero, your skills are impressive. I am humbled.”

I returned his salute with a smile. “Li Zijian is a good brother of mine. Helping him is only natural, nothing worth mentioning.”

Only now did I truly understand what the world of martial artists meant: heroes recognize and respect each other, and justice is served with the edge of a blade. Today’s events left me deeply moved—it was exactly as I imagined.

Li Bo nodded with satisfaction and invited us to dine at a restaurant. Since he needed to tidy up the aftermath, he asked Li Zijian and me to go ahead.

Unable to refuse, I followed Li Zijian into the car.

“Brother Yao, what was that move just now? Looked incredible!”

I was wounded from the earlier fight, so I closed my eyes to recuperate, dodging Li Zijian’s question by turning it back on him.

“Your father is a practitioner—he must know some Daoist priests. That was a finger technique, basic Daoist skill.”

My implication was for his father to find someone to teach him.

But Li Zijian scoffed and replied, “My dad doesn’t know anyone that good. Only you can teach me.”

...

Before long, we arrived at the city’s largest restaurant—a place I’d only heard of, never visited, and even Li Zijian said he seldom came here.

Li Bo had already booked a private room for us. We walked in unhindered; no one dared stop us.

The room was the grandest, labeled ‘Heaven Number One,’ its luxurious décor dazzling and resplendent.

No sooner had I sat down than someone pushed open the door and entered.

He was dressed fashionably, wore sunglasses, and his hair was dyed red—he looked like a popular celebrity.

“You all get out. I’m eating here,” he demanded arrogantly. I could sense he possessed first-tier Leaf Spirit strength, likely from a family of cultivators.

“Who are you? Don’t you know this is our private room?” Li Zijian, still flushed with excitement from the earlier fight, challenged him.

“My name’s Xin Ji. Now get lost.”

I realized why he acted so cocky: first, his cultivation was shallow, so he didn’t recognize my Flower Spirit realm strength; second, although Li Zijian had spiritual energy, he hadn’t fully matured, so Xin Ji looked down on us.

With people like this, I had to reveal my true power.

With a thought, a small flower appeared on my forehead.

Xin Ji squinted, startled, ready to flee but hesitated. Instead, he bowed and said nervously, “I sincerely apologize for my offense. Please forgive me for not recognizing greatness, senior, I…”

I cut him off, retracting the flower from my forehead. “There’s always someone greater—never underestimate anyone. Now go.”

“I’ll remember that,” he replied, then left, closing the door behind him.

I couldn’t help but laugh—the little flower had such an effect on Leaf practitioners, its mere presence intimidating them.

Li Zijian doubled over in laughter, muttering, “What an idiot…hahaha.”

After a while, the dishes were served and Li Bo finally arrived.

“I’m late—penalty drink!” he announced.

I quickly stopped him. “Uncle, today’s just a meal, no drinks. Alcohol causes trouble.”

Li Bo laughed heartily, “You’re more sensible than I am, haha!”

The food here was exceptional, with dishes I’d never seen before—even a cucumber carved into a flower. Still, I tried to remain composed, so as not to seem unsophisticated.

“Lin Yao, there’s something I’d like to ask,” Li Bo suddenly inquired. I agreed, signaling him to continue.

“You and Zijian are about the same age, but you’ve already broken through to the Flower Spirit realm. So, who is your master?”

I gave him Second Uncle’s name directly. “Cai Ming.”

Second Uncle had been my guide on the path of cultivation, always helping me in life. He was not only kin but also my teacher.

Li Bo pondered, perhaps realizing he’d never heard of this name in the martial world.

“My master has long lived in seclusion, hidden away in the mountains,” I explained.

Li Bo understood, taking my master for a hermit. “I see…”

The meal went quickly. During it, only Li Bo and I chatted, while Li Zijian kept his head down, wolfing down food like a starving man.

Afterward, I insisted on taking a taxi home. Seeing my stubbornness, the father and son relented.

On leaving, Li Bo gave me a storage ring—the one dropped by the man I’d slain earlier. He hadn’t touched its contents; everything was left for me.

It was my second ring, this one clearly superior to the one I already wore. Though both were black, this one was adorned with a smooth gemstone instead of a stone.

I slipped it onto my finger and immediately explored its contents.

There was quite a lot inside: several bottles of healing ointment, a few decent-looking weapons, several thousand in cash, and a bank card.