Chapter 79: Intense Training
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in warm, golden twilight. Su Tianhao's courtyard told a different story—the air charged with tension, alive with the distinctive ring of clashing steel and the heavy, labored breathing of two warriors who had been pushing themselves relentlessly toward their absolute limits.
Su Tianhao and Su Lei moved without pause, their swords flashing like captured lightning in the fading light. Both fighters dripped with sweat and burned with adrenaline, their breathing ragged as they exchanged techniques in rapid succession—each move flowing into the next with barely a heartbeat's pause between them.
Slash, Thrust, Cleave, Parry.
The fundamental techniques cycled endlessly, each repetition slightly sharper, slightly faster than the one before.
"Slash!" Su Lei's blade carved outward through the evening air, drawing a brilliant silver arc that seemed to linger for an instant like a brushstroke across paper.
Swish!
Su Tianhao moved with lightning reflexes, intercepting the attack with a perfectly-timed parry before flowing immediately into a counterattack—a textbook riposte that forced Su Lei backward. His movements carried fluid grace that made the deadly exchange appear almost choreographed.
CLANG! Swish! Slash!
The battle continued with relentless, mounting momentum. To any observer without cultivation experience, they could easily be mistaken for two swordsmen fighting to the death rather than training partners engaged in mutual growth.
Then Su Tianhao propelled himself forward with explosive speed. Shadowfang blurred in his hand, arriving at Su Lei's exposed left flank in the blink of an eye.
Su Lei's battle-honed instincts kicked in immediately. His silver sword moved in a defensive blur, slashing outward to intercept what appeared to be a committed attack.
But at the last possible instant, Su Tianhao's entire movement twisted with unnatural grace.
Shadowfang seemed to vanish—as if the dark blade had somehow melted into the gathering shadows of dusk. Su Lei's pupils constricted to pinpoints as alarm bells rang through his consciousness.
Feint.
The realization struck him like cold water.
The very next second, sharp coldness pressed against his exposed neck—a sensation that sent involuntary chills cascading down his spine.
Su Lei swallowed hard, his throat working against the blade's edge as he slowly, carefully lowered his own sword in surrender. Only then could he see clearly: Shadowfang rested casually yet precisely against his jugular, the dark metal seeming to drink in what little light remained.
He had been defeated. Again.
Su Lei turned his head slightly—carefully, given the blade's position—and regarded Su Tianhao with a rueful, bitter smile. "I lost," he admitted with a heavy sigh that carried equal parts frustration and grudging admiration.
Su Tianhao's expression softened into a faint smile as he withdrew the blade and sheathed Shadowfang with a satisfying click that seemed to punctuate the conclusion of their bout.
"That makes seven consecutive victories for me," Su Tianhao said softly, though his golden eyes still burned with undiminished fighting spirit despite hours of intensive training without meaningful rest.
Su Lei smiled wryly upon seeing that relentless look—the look of someone whose hunger for improvement could never be fully satisfied.
"You're an absolute monster," he muttered, though his voice carried genuine respect and even a trace of awe rather than resentment.
He moved to settle against the massive oak tree's trunk, practically collapsing into a seated position. His breathing came in ragged gasps, chest heaving. His once-elegant silver robes had been thoroughly stained with sweat and bore several shallow cuts from near-misses during their exchanges. His distinctive silver hair hung wild and disheveled, falling across his face in damp strands.
Yet despite his obviously exhausted state, his eyes carried an unmistakable gleam of satisfaction and burning determination—the look of a swordsman who had just returned from battle and found the experience worthwhile. A testament to the weariness of the body, and the enlightenment of the mind.
Su Tianhao appeared only slightly better off. His long black hair had come completely loose from its binding, hanging down his back like dark silk threads that clung slightly to his sweat-dampened skin. His breathing, while hurried, remained far more controlled than Su Lei's desperate gasps.
His golden eyes gleamed with hard-won enlightenment and quiet anticipation—carrying that same unmistakable will for growth that seemed to define his very existence.
"It was an exhilarating training session," Su Tianhao said with genuine warmth as he moved to join Su Lei against the oak's solid trunk. "I learned considerably more than I expected. Thank you for your dedication today."
"I'm merely returning a favor," Su Lei replied with a casual shrug, though his smile suggested the words didn't capture his full feelings. "Yesterday, I gained profound insights simply from watching you train. That observation brought me measurably closer to comprehending Sword Sense—a breakthrough I've been chasing for months."
He paused, then added with complete honesty, "Besides... this training benefits me tremendously as well. Fighting someone who forces me to my limits teaches lessons no solo practice ever could."
"I see..." Su Tianhao said with a knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. He settled into a comfortable position beside Su Lei, resting his back against the ancient oak's firm, reassuring solidity as he tilted his head to gaze upward at the evening sky. His golden eyes flickered with reflected twilight, appearing almost to glow in the dimming light.
"Hahahaha!" Su Lei suddenly laughed with booming enthusiasm that seemed to shake off his exhaustion through sheer force of will. "Let's continue pushing ourselves beyond our limits! Let's surpass what we think is possible!"
Even though he had lost every single bout throughout their day-long training—seven consecutive defeats without a single victory—Su Lei wasn't discouraged in the slightest. If anything, the losses only fueled his burning desire to improve. Defeat was simply information about where growth was needed.
As he spoke, Su Lei reached for the earthenware gourd nestled between two thick oak roots. Within it rested the precious Willfire Wine—the miraculous elixir that had enabled both young swordsmen to push through an entire day of unrelenting training without rest or proper meals. Without its stamina-restoring properties, they both would have collapsed from sheer exhaustion hours ago.
Su Lei uncorked the gourd with a practiced twist. The rich, complex aroma of Willfire Wine bloomed immediately into the evening air—that sophisticated blend of aged herbs and exotic spices that somehow both sharpened the senses and soothed accumulated tension simultaneously.
Without further ceremony, he took a small, measured sip before extending the gourd toward Su Tianhao.
"Thanks," Su Tianhao said with a small, appreciative smile. He accepted it and took a deliberately tiny sip—even smaller than Su Lei's conservative portion—before carefully corking the container and passing it back.
Now that he had experienced firsthand the true value of Willfire Wine through their training session, Su Tianhao understood better than to carelessly savor it like an ordinary beverage. This was a precious cultivation resource. Every drop represented significant value.
After taking their respective sips, both warriors felt a powerful wave of revitalizing energy wash over their bodies like a cool, refreshing tide—allowing accumulated physical stress and mental fatigue to dramatically subside in mere moments.
"Aaah..." Su Lei released a heavy sigh of profound relief, his entire posture relaxing. He felt as if he'd been doused in perfectly-temperatured rain, washing away layers of exhaustion he hadn't fully realized he'd been carrying.
Su Tianhao smiled knowingly, his own body responding similarly. "The Willfire Wine never ceases to amaze. It's truly a remarkable creation."
"Hehe," Su Lei grinned with obvious satisfaction, clearly pleased that his gift had proven so valuable to their mutual training.
The two young swordsmen sat in companionable silence for several long minutes, gazing upward at the evening sky. The heavens had transformed into a masterwork of warm crimson and molten gold—an inspired painting across an impossibly vast canvas.
The peaceful moment stretched. Neither felt compelled to fill it with unnecessary words.
---
Several long minutes later, Su Lei stirred and slowly rose to his feet. His sheathed silver sword dangled at his waist as he reached down to collect his precious gourd, carefully securing it to his belt.
"Guess I should be heading home now..." Su Lei said softly, stretching in a series of movements that produced audible sounds of crackling bones and popping joints—satisfying releases of built-up tension.
Su Tianhao also stood fluidly to escort his training partner out. It was simply proper courtesy.
As they began walking toward the courtyard exit, Su Lei suddenly stopped mid-stride. He turned to face Su Tianhao directly, his expression shifting to one of intense, burning curiosity.
"Hey, Tianhao... can you tell me something?" Su Lei's voice carried genuine puzzlement mixed with undisguised fascination. "How did your Slash technique improve so dramatically—so fundamentally—in just a single night of training?"
The question had clearly been threatening to consume his thoughts throughout their entire session. No matter how he'd analyzed it internally, the sheer magnitude of improvement in such an impossibly short timeframe seemed beyond what cultivation theory suggested should be possible.
"So you finally asked!" Su Tianhao chuckled with mild amusement, his golden eyes twinkling. "I honestly thought you hadn't noticed the difference."
Under Su Lei's intense, expectant gaze—practically radiating curiosity—Su Tianhao recognized he had little choice but to offer at least some explanation. Even though Su Lei had framed his assistance as merely repaying a favor, Su Tianhao couldn't help but feel genuine gratitude for the dedication and insights he'd gained through their exchanges.
Su Lei deserved something in return.
"I'll share what I learned, but what you can comprehend from it will depend entirely on you," Su Tianhao said carefully, his tone shifting to something more serious. "I can give you the words, but only you can unlock their meaning."
"What I can comprehend from it?" Su Lei repeated slowly, his silver eyebrows rising as his analytical mind worked to process the phrasing. He seemed to be mentally assembling puzzle pieces.
His eyes suddenly brightened—like a lantern being lit in darkness. "Wait... is it some kind of profound insight?"
"A sword dao insight from my master," Su Tianhao clarified with a small, confirming nod.
Naturally, what Su Tianhao planned to share were the precious insights his mother Tian Yuexin had imparted about the fundamental nature of Slash. However, he deliberately said 'master' rather than 'mother' for obvious reasons.
After all, Su Tianhao was publicly known as an orphan before his adoption into the Su family. That aside, he had long ago accepted Tian Yuexin as his Master in his heart—even though she was his biological mother. The profound insights and vast knowledge she'd left sealed within his inherited memories represented guidance that surpassed what most masters could ever hope to provide their disciples.
In Su Tianhao's heart, Tian Yuexin occupied both roles completely: simultaneously his Mother and his Master. Both titles carried equal weight and meaning.
Of course, Su Lei's perspective was entirely different. When he heard the word "master," his mind immediately connected it to the mysterious Martial Lord that Su Tianhao had fabricated as his supposed teacher—the phantom figure everyone in Oakwood City now whispered about with equal parts fear and awe.
"Sword insights... from a Martial Lord..." Su Lei's breathing quickened at the implication, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His eyes burned with almost feverish anticipation as he stared at Su Tianhao with the intensity of someone who'd just been offered a priceless treasure. 'If I can truly comprehend the deeper truths contained within this insight, how much could my own Slash technique improve? What heights might I reach?'
Seeing the naked hunger for knowledge blazing in Su Lei's eyes, Su Tianhao decided not to delay any longer.
"Listen very carefully..." Su Tianhao said, absolute seriousness settling over his refined features. His voice dropped slightly, taking on an almost ritualistic quality as he began reciting Yuexin's words exactly as she had spoken them—word for word, inflection for inflection.
"Slash is not merely a horizontal cut involving the swing of the arm... It is a dance of the waist."
The words hung in the evening air between them, carrying weight beyond their simple construction.
"A dance of the waist..." Su Lei repeated slowly, almost reverently. His voice dropped to a thoughtful mumble as his mind worked to unpack the deceptively simple phrase. His eyes carried a sense of dawning comprehension mixed with profound awe.
"Let me demonstrate," Su Tianhao offered.
With those words, he shifted his stance deliberately. His feet planted firmly against the stone tiles, weight distributed with perfect precision as his hand moved to grip Shadowfang's hilt. He drew a deep, centering breath—feeling his awareness sharpen and focus down to a single point.
His golden eyes fixed on a single leaf that had just begun its lazy descent from one of the oak tree's highest branches, carried on the gentle evening breeze.
With a smooth, fluid motion that seemed to flow like water, Su Tianhao drew his sword. The blade flashed in the fading twilight, catching and reflecting the sunset's dying light.
He rotated his waist—not his shoulder, not his arm, but his waist—generating tremendous power from his body's core. The movement transferred seamlessly through his frame as he swung the sword in a perfect horizontal arc.
The leaf drifted lazily downward through the air, unaware of the lethal precision approaching.
As Shadowfang's edge sliced through the space it occupied, the leaf was cleanly bisected. The two perfectly-cut halves continued floating separately, drifting gently to the ground on either side of where Su Tianhao stood.
The cut had been so clean, so perfect, that the leaf hadn't even realized it had been severed until gravity pulled the two pieces apart.
Su Lei's eyes widened dramatically. His jaw dropped slightly. "That's incredible!" he exclaimed, his voice carrying intense awe that bordered on disbelief. "The precision—the power generated without any visible strain—"
Su Tianhao smiled faintly, sheathing Shadowfang with practiced ease as he turned back to face Su Lei. "That is the key to the Slash technique," he explained, then continued reciting Yuexin's teaching:
"To cut without forcing. To strike without disturbance. When sword, body, and will become one unified whole... even the world itself must part before your blade."
"To cut without forcing..." Su Lei repeated in an almost trance-like state, his voice barely above a whisper. "To strike without disturbance. When sword, body, and will become one... even the world itself must part before your blade."
His eyes remained fixed on the spot where the bisected leaf had fallen, as if he could still see the technique's execution playing repeatedly in his mind's eye.
"Such profound wisdom..." Su Lei murmured in a visible daze, his consciousness turned inward as he attempted to internalize the concepts. "As expected of a Martial Lord's teaching! The depth of understanding required to distill such truth into so few words..."
"Martial Lord?"
Su Tianhao's lips twitched slightly. 'This guy actually mistook Mother's teaching for insights from the fabricated Martial Lord master I invented?'
'If he knew he just received the sword dao wisdom from a Sword Saint who has ascended to the Immortal Realm—I wonder what his expression would be like,' Su Tianhao thought with mild amusement.
Even he himself had not yet truly comprehended the full, deepest meaning layered within those deceptively simple words. But he understood instinctively—through the resonance in his inherited memories—that they contained profound, fundamental truths about the nature of swordsmanship itself.
With all the insights and knowledge that had been gifted to him, Su Tianhao knew with certainty that the day he finally, completely comprehended these teachings would be the day he entered an entirely new realm of sword dao mastery—a qualitative leap that would transform his entire understanding.
"I understand now..." Su Lei said suddenly after a long stretch of contemplative silence, his voice carrying newfound clarity. "I see exactly why your Slash technique improved so dramatically. You didn't just practice the physical motion—you internalized a fundamental principle that elevated the entire technique."
Su Tianhao only smiled without offering verbal confirmation, but his expression spoke volumes. The slight curve of his lips and the knowing glint in his golden eyes communicated more than any words could have conveyed.
"I should be going now..." Su Lei finally said, beginning to walk slowly toward the courtyard exit. The weight of Su Tianhao's profound teaching seemed to rest visibly on his shoulders—not as a burden, but as a treasure he was carefully carrying.
Su Tianhao escorted him in companionable silence, both warriors lost in their own thoughts. He paused naturally after reaching the courtyard entrance, allowing Su Lei to pass through before they exchanged brief farewells.
Su Tianhao watched his training partner's silhouette slowly diminish and eventually disappear into the gathering dusk, swallowed by shadows and distance.
After Su Lei had completely vanished from sight, the silver-haired swordsman's expression shifted dramatically. His hand clenched into a tight fist at his side, knuckles whitening with determination as his mind replayed the perfect Slash Su Tianhao had demonstrated with such effortless mastery.
"So he was deliberately holding back his true capability..." Su Lei murmured softly, dawning understanding washing over him like cold water. "Well, I suppose that's only natural since it was just training rather than true combat. Of course he wouldn't use his full strength."
His expression turned somewhat bitter as the realization settled in his chest.
"I would have died multiple times today if he had executed those sword slashes with genuine killing intent behind them," he thought with complete certainty, a rueful smile playing across his sweat-dampened features. "Every single bout would have ended with my death rather than just defeat."
The sobering thought didn't discourage him—instead, it ignited something fierce and determined within his chest.
"I have to train harder. I have to grow stronger, faster," Su Lei declared quietly to the empty path before him, his voice carrying iron resolve. "I won't lose tomorrow. I can't afford to."
His eyes narrowed with focused intensity as strategy already began forming in his mind.
"I will achieve victory. I just have to remain constantly vigilant for those perfect Slashes of his... if I can see them coming, if I can read the preparatory movements, perhaps I can find a way to counter them before they fully manifest."
With renewed determination burning in his heart like banked coals fed fresh air, Su Lei continued his journey home through the darkening quarters—already planning tomorrow's approach, already visualizing potential strategies.
Behind him, unseen in the shadowed courtyard, Su Tianhao smiled faintly before turning back toward his residence.