Transmigrated as the Villain’s Sword - Chapter 11

The third round of the competition followed a drawing system. Before beginning, candidates were categorized into levels based on their strength, followed by random pairings.

Most of the new applicants were at the Qi Refining stage, with a few reaching Foundation Building. Guan Luowei had suppressed her strength to the middle stage of Foundation Building—neither so strong as to attract undue attention, nor so weak as to be bullied.

Guan Luowei knew that in her current state, she couldn’t kill Mu Yunze yet. She planned to blend into the Lingxiao Immortal Sect first, locate the imprisoned demon disciples, and then stage a rescue. If possible, she would also steal the Deceptive God Zither.

On the high observation deck, aside from the presiding elders, many inner disciples were watching.

“I wonder who’s unlucky enough to be paired with Senior Brother Li Xiu this year,” one said.

“Yeah, Senior Brother Li Xiu is a real menace,” another added. “He looks gentler than anyone, but his moves are lethal. During my entrance exam, I was deceived by his appearance and got beaten so badly it was tragic.”

“True,” one disciple’s lip twitched. “Before our match, he told me he wouldn’t hurt me. Then, during the final move, I barely dodged. I looked back and found the protective barrier behind me had been shattered to pieces.”

“That’s nothing. If the opponent is a sword cultivator, it’s a total nightmare.”

The disciple shuddered, clearly traumatized. Those victimized by this “Senior Brother Li Xiu” all shared a deep sense of solidarity—but while they felt for the next victim, they were equally excited to watch the disaster unfold.

Guan Luowei’s opponent happened to be a sword cultivator as well. He was handsome and elegant, with a refined air. Before they started, he said to her, “I am Li Xiu. I have no wish to harm you, lady. Since we are both sword cultivators, why don’t we spar with our blades?”

Guan Luowei didn’t think much of the young man’s cultivation, but when he mentioned sparring with blades, she looked down at the sword at her waist.

The meaning in that glance was clear. Ling Chenyan thought to herself that if they were alone, Guan Luowei would probably be calling her a “delicate crybaby” right about now.

Perhaps because Guan Luowei’s gaze made her feel her dignity as a sword was being challenged, Ling Chenyan tugged at Guan Luowei’s sleeve before the woman could decline. I can do it. I’m not a delicate crybaby.

Guan Luowei raised an eyebrow. Looking at the “heroic” silver sword, a smirk of a successful scheme appeared in her eyes. She accepted the request: “Please grant me your guidance, Senior Brother.”

Ling Chenyan dared to agree partly because of Guan Luowei’s provocation, and partly because the boy looked so scholarly and gentle. Surely his strikes wouldn’t be too excessive?

However, once the battle began, Ling Chenyan watched the boy turn into a completely different person. He controlled his sword to slash at her with vicious intensity. She realized then: Lies! All lies! This sword cultivator is a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

Meanwhile, the disciples on the deck had found the match. Before their laughter could break out, their eyes widened as they shouted, “Holy crap!”

“Holy crap, is that even a legal move?” one disciple stammered.

The moment Li Xiu’s sword slashed down, Ling Chenyan decisively chose a “strategic retreat.” The crowd watched as Li Xiu’s sword chased the girl’s silver sword all over the arena, while the silver sword dodged at bizarre angles at the very last second every single time.

Dodging was one thing, but after every dodge, the silver sword would provocatively spin in place and tilt its tip toward Li Xiu’s blade, as if taunting him.

As inner disciples, they knew Li Xiu was a sword fanatic. His blade had once gained sentience during a lucky encounter. It seemed the girl’s sword had also awakened a soul.

But… they looked at the silver sword and fell into deep thought. In their experience, sword spirits were either chaotic, innocent infants or profound, ancient elders. This silver sword… had introduced a personality type they hadn’t expected.

On stage, Li Xiu’s sword spirit was so angry it was practically vibrating. It broke free from Li Xiu’s control and lunged at Ling Chenyan.

A gust of wind blew past. The disciples on the deck were dazed, watching the two swords chasing each other while the two cultivators just stood there like bystanders. “This scene… why does it look so weird?”

Li Xiu had never encountered this in all his years. He looked at the cold, indifferent girl and stammered, “Lady, your sword… also has a spirit?”

Guan Luowei watched the sword having the time of its life. Though she didn’t want to admit it, she said, “…Yes.”

Li Xiu was caught between laughter and tears. He could feel his own spirit’s rage, but seeing the two swords looking quite comical, he shook his head. Three moves had passed; he should recall his sword.

When the longsword returned to Li Xiu, it was both furious and aggrieved, trembling in his arms as if filing a complaint. Li Xiu comforted it helplessly.

On the other side, Ling Chenyan rolled into Guan Luowei’s arms and collapsed. Too tired. Today’s exercise quota has been exceeded.

Guan Luowei held the silver sword, whispering with a touch of helplessness, “Played enough?”

Ling Chenyan snuggled close to her face and said, “That little sword spirit is so silly, hehe.”

Guan Luowei’s lips curved into a smile, though she didn’t mention that Ling Chenyan’s behavior just now was also quite silly.

Because the match was so absurd, it drew a lot of attention. Now that it was over, people were curious how the elder would judge it. After all, it looked less like a duel and more like two swords playing tag.

The elders on the deck discussed it for a while. Finally, the elder with the half-severed beard stepped forward and looked at Guan Luowei. “Has your sword awakened a spirit?”

Guan Luowei looked at that familiar half-beard and couldn’t help but look at the sword in her arms. “Yes.”

“Good.” Venerable Chenxu instinctively went to stroke his beard, but his hand stopped mid-air. His face darkened as he realized what he was doing, and he tucked his hand behind his back. “In that case, are you willing to enter my tutelage and call me Master?”

Guan Luowei’s eyes shifted. She had only joined the sect to save the demon disciples, but by a stroke of fate, she had been noticed by Chenxu. If she joined him, wouldn’t she be Mu Yunze’s sect-sibling?

That would make taking Mu Yunze’s life much easier.

While other disciples looked on with envy, Guan Luowei remained calm. She looked at the sword in her arms and said to the elder, “This disciple is willing.”

The competition continued, but Guan Luowei, having been accepted by Chenxu, followed several senior disciples back to their mountain peak. The young men and women swarmed around her and her sword, chatting incessantly.

“Junior Sister Luo, your sword is so interesting. It’s the first time I’ve seen anyone make Senior Brother Li Xiu look so helpless.”

“Yeah, yeah! Junior Sister Luo, you’re amazing.”

“Can we have a look at the sword? We promise just one look.”

Though Guan Luowei was annoyed by the chatter, she didn’t act out. She kept a cold face and remained silent.

Li Xiu intervened helplessly: “A sword cultivator views their blade as their wife. You can’t just show it to anyone. You all should talk less and not scare our new sister.”

The disciples laughed and quieted down. Guan Luowei breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at her sword.

Li Xiu’s phrase “views their blade as their wife” reminded her of something. Clearly, the sword in her hand remembered it too.

The System mocked her in her head: [That Li Xiu really hit the nail on the head. Though I doubt he expected a sword to actually offer itself up and propose to its master.]

Ling Chenyan: […Whatever. I’ll just pretend I can’t hear you.]

Guan Luowei watched the silver sword “lying flat” in total resignation and smiled silently. But before the smile reached her eyes, it shifted into a cold, mocking smirk.

Li Xiu stopped in his tracks and bowed to a man and woman approaching them. “Eldest Brother, Senior Sister.”

Mu Yunze stood at the mountain gate. He nodded. “Junior Brother Li Xiu, you’re back early today.”

Before Li Xiu could answer, the disciples behind him moved aside, revealing Guan Luowei. “Eldest Brother, you left early. You didn’t see how exciting it was today…”

The disciples chattered away, telling Mu Yunze what happened. Mu Yunze found it amusing and looked down at the girl who had “tamed” Li Xiu. He said gently, “So you are the new Junior Sister?”

Guan Luowei stared at him coldly, her eyes shimmering with an unreadable light. She didn’t speak.

Li Xiu quickly explained, “Junior Sister’s name is Luo Yan. She was just accepted by Master today. She’s cold by nature and doesn’t like to talk—she isn’t intentionally targeting you, Brother.”

Mu Yunze understood, assuming she was just nervous. His tone became even gentler. “Junior Sister Luo, don’t be nervous. We are all family now. If you have any problems, you can always ask your brothers and sisters for help.”

As he spoke, his gaze turned to Guan Luowei’s sword, interest sparking in his eyes. “Junior Sister’s sword is quite interesting. May I have a look?”

Mu Yunze was very interested in swords with souls. Such weapons were rare, and most cultivators wouldn’t lend them out. However…

He was confident in his looks. Many female disciples in the sect were swayed by his gentle act. If possible… it would be best if this girl offered the sword to him herself.

Under everyone’s gaze, just as Guan Luowei was about to coldly refuse, the sword in her hand suddenly floated toward Mu Yunze.

Mu Yunze was delighted but kept a calm face. He saw that the girl wanted to refuse, but the sword had flown to him on its own! Didn’t this mean the sword preferred him over the cold girl?

That was his thought, and it was the thought of all the other disciples present. Only Guan Luowei’s heart tightened, her gaze darkening as she watched the sword fly away.

Someone couldn’t hide their envy and blurted out, “As expected of Eldest Brother. A natural sword-bone! This sword…”

Before the sentence was finished, a silver light flashed from the sword that was supposed to land in Mu Yunze’s hand. It then drifted back to Guan Luowei’s side with leisurely grace.

When they turned back to look at their Eldest Brother, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.

Holy crap, where did Eldest Brother’s pants go?!

Author’s Note:

And thus, the legend of the “Pants-Slicing Hero” began to spread through the pugilistic world—

Crowd (with sparkly eyes): Thank you, Pants-Slicing Hero.

Ling Chenyan: …Don’t be ridiculous.