C59 The Secret of the Four Character Sword Technique(2)

Woo Zhengyang approached the four elders to pay his respects. Two of them responded with cold indifference, merely grunting in acknowledgment. Another elder nodded with a smile, while the last one offered words of encouragement, reminding Woo Zhengyang of the day he faced Liu Tianli in a life-and-death duel, where this elder had served as a witness.

Since his change in character, Woo Zhengyang understood that his future path would be fraught with challenges and indifference. The elders' attitudes did not disturb him. The journey of martial arts was his own, and as long as he stayed true to his principles and followed his heart, others' opinions mattered little.

After bidding farewell to the elders, Woo Zhengyang glanced around the room, noticing that most seats were occupied. Only one table had a single occupant—the young man with a sword on his back, Dao Wuming, whom he had seen before.

Woo Zhengyang, now the current "Outer Sect Number One Madman," walked toward the former titleholder, creating a tense atmosphere as people anticipated what might happen when these two sat face-to-face. Woo Zhengyang had heard the whispers about Dao Wuming and felt intrigued rather than intimidated. He understood his own transformation and suspected that Dao Wuming had experienced something similar.

The dishes on the table remained untouched, and the wine glasses and jug were in their original places. Dao Wuming had somehow procured a whole jug of wine and occasionally took a sip. Woo Zhengyang, who had never really drunk before, didn't aim for bravado. He picked up the jug, poured himself a glass, and downed it in one go.

The wine was a special brew, smooth and aromatic as it entered, with a slight burn down the throat and a fiery warmth in the belly, almost as if it set the whole body ablaze, speeding up his energy flow significantly.

"Is drinking like that any fun?" Surprisingly, Dao Wuming, who rarely spoke, initiated the conversation with Woo Zhengyang.

"Drinking isn't supposed to be fun, is it?" Woo Zhengyang replied, pouring himself another glass and finishing it in one gulp.

As he said, drinking held no real interest for him, so the manner of drinking was irrelevant.

Dao Wuming paused at Woo Zhengyang's response, then chuckled softly, "Maybe."

Woo Zhengyang had assumed Dao Wuming would be quite persistent, but he was taken aback by his response. Given his demeanor, it was hard to believe this was the same Dao Wuming who was rumored to draw his blade at the slightest provocation and kill without hesitation.

After this brief exchange, both men fell silent, each drinking on their own, as if the rest of the world had nothing to do with them.

One madman is embroiled in controversy, but two madmen coexist peacefully, much to the disappointment of those who had hoped for a clash between them.

As Woo Zhengyang had anticipated, the banquet was rather dull. After finishing the wine in his flask, he closed his eyes, contemplating how to channel both his strength and energy into his longsword simultaneously.

However, Zhengyang's thoughts were soon interrupted.

"I heard you took down Liu Tianli. I'm Yuen Tianshan, the third-ranked disciple of the outer sect. I'd like to challenge you."

Opening his eyes, Zhengyang saw Yuen Tianshan standing with his arms crossed, looking eager.

Yuen Tianshan held the third spot in the outer sect, a rather awkward position. He lacked the commanding presence of Zhongli Huo, the unrivaled beauty of Lyi Huamei, and the mysterious aura of Dao Wuming. Although ranked third, he didn't have much fame compared to the others.

It was one thing to be overshadowed by these three, especially since Zhongli Huo and Lyi Huamei were likely to advance to the inner sect soon, naturally making him the top of the outer sect. But he hadn't expected Woo Zhengyang to suddenly emerge, a newcomer with no humility, earning the title of Outer Sect Number One Madman despite his relatively low skill level. Even if Zhongli Huo and Lyi Huamei moved up, the top spot in the outer sect seemed out of his reach.

Despite his frustration, Yuen Tianshan wasn't reckless. The strength Zhengyang had displayed made him cautious. Just yesterday, Yue Liqing approached him, claiming to have paved the way for him to test Zhengyang's abilities today.

Yuen Tianshan initially hesitated to accept. Woo Zhengyang's fierce reputation was well-earned. If Yuen won, it might seem like an unfair victory; if he lost, it would be embarrassing and only boost Woo Zhengyang's status. It would also dash his hopes of becoming the top disciple of the outer sect.

However, Yue Liqing offered Yuen an irresistible deal: a pill that could quickly enhance his skills, helping him reach the Martial Master Stage. Achieving this level was a requirement to become an inner sect disciple. Yuen and Zhongli Huo had joined the sect at the same time, and if Yuen advanced to Martial Master first, he would have an edge over Zhongli Huo, even if he didn’t become the top outer sect disciple. The status of an inner sect disciple far surpassed that of the top outer sect disciple.

"What's in it for me if I spar with you?" Woo Zhengyang asked, looking somewhat disinterested at Yuen Tianshan's earnest expression.

In the past, Woo would have eagerly accepted a challenge from Yuen to improve his combat skills. But after his fight with Huang Ruoshan, Woo had identified his weaknesses and knew where he needed to focus. He hadn't yet mastered the Four-Character Sword Technique, and a match with Yuen seemed like a waste of time. He'd rather spend that time refining his understanding of the sword technique.