Ning Wushuang stood with his hands behind his back, ready to speak.

Swish!

Dongfang Mingyue’s eyes narrowed, suddenly drawing her sword, the fierce blade aimed directly at Ning Wushuang’s face.

Ning Wushuang’s figure retreated swiftly, like a ghost; even the ferocious Demon Sword couldn’t touch half an inch of his body.

Dongfang Mingyue’s sword speed increased suddenly, fast as a torrential storm.

Ning Wushuang, light as a swallow, moved with ease through the impenetrable sword light, as if strolling leisurely.

Cyan Mountain Ultimate Skill — White Clouds Drifting Leisurely!

"Flowing Water Sword!"

Dongfang Mingyue relentlessly pursued, the Demon Sword in her hand emitted a low hum, the sword’s body silently covered in a faint blue watery glow, like a clear spring under the bright moon.

The Demon Sword swung lightly, slashing towards Ning Wushuang, carrying with it a stream of sparkling, crystal-clear water.

"Enough."

Ning Wushuang used his finger as a sword, seemingly piercing with an invisible blade, as water splattered around, gently tapping Dongfang Mingyue’s brow.

"This swordsmanship... How is it possible?"

Dongfang Mingyue felt a slight coolness emanating from her brow, involuntarily raising her eyes to see a man standing there, his gaze calm and deep, like a tranquil lake without wind. Her previously tense and poised figure, akin to a tense leopard, froze on the spot.

Their four eyes met.

They fell into a dead silence.

Only Dongfang Mingyue’s chest, beneath the black battle uniform, was still heaving violently, her heart pounding like a drum, clearly audible.

Ning Wushuang slowly withdrew the finger from Dongfang Mingyue’s brow, shaking his head lightly, with a touch of bewilderment and calmness in his voice, "Why do you all like to ambush?"

Upon hearing these words, Dongfang Mingyue finally snapped out of her shock, disbelief written all over her face, "You are conscious, you’re still maintaining conscious awareness?!"

Ning Wushuang nodded, "Yes."

Seeing that Ning Wushuang harbored no murderous intent and was capable of normal communication, Dongfang Mingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, a question rose in her heart, "Are you the Hidden Blade Sword? Did you mentor Flying Swallow Thirteen?!"

"Yes." Ning Wushuang’s voice was very calm, "Ah Feng is indeed my disciple."

"Your disciple? You taught him swordsmanship?!" Upon hearing this, Dongfang Mingyue instantly became alert, "Why did he fall into madness, slaughtering all the swordsmen in Ronghe County in Wilderness Breath?"

"Ronghe County..."

Ning Wushuang looked at Dongfang Mingyue’s wary expression on her oval face and guessed the reason, pondering for a while, "Ah Feng did not fall into madness."

Dongfang Mingyue was filled with suspicion. The words of the Demon Sword were doubtful.

This Ancient Sword Saint, after falling, his consciousness was able to remain within the Demon Sword for so long, having endured countless whirlpools of "desire," how could his nature not be warped?

Even those swordsmen with outstanding ranks could hardly resist the corrosion of desires and unknowingly fall into them. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Dongfang Mingyue cautiously spoke: "If that is so, senior, could you let me leave this True Realm?"

"You don’t believe me."

Ning Wushuang said calmly,

"Under my guidance, Ah Feng’s swordsmanship reached great success, gaining some fame outside. Often swordsmen came to challenge Ah Feng, and many County Swordsmen were defeated by him until in Ronghe County, a young man was defeated by Ah Feng holding a top-grade Mortal Artifact, whereupon he drew his sword and killed himself."

"His family came, Ah Feng did not kill, his friends came, Ah Feng did not kill, then countless swordsmen from Ronghe County coveted Ah Feng’s swordsmanship, came under the guise of revenge, banking on Ah Feng’s refusal to kill, wanting to kill him."

"Ah Feng’s life was threatened, so to protect himself, he killed the first person. After that, it spiraled out of control, being attacked collectively by the swordsmen of Ronghe County."

"The version circulated outside, isn’t like this." Dongfang Mingyue frowned slightly. At just sixteen she had already ranked as a high-tier swordsman but was still inexperienced and unworldly.

"Listen to me."

Ning Wushuang continued, "Later, two people died in the battle, one was his friend, the other his lover, and he couldn’t accept such pain, he enlightened."

"Why is it that only you can kill me, but I cannot kill you?"

"Since those alive cannot cope with the pain of losing friends, life becomes endless suffering... Then, having empathized, he slaughtered all those swordsmen’s friends and family, wife and children, completely killed them."

"Thus, naturally, no pain exists in this world."

"Therefore, he resolved in Wilderness Breath, to use the sword in his hand, to end all sorts of pain."

The plain and unruffled tone made Dongfang Mingyue’s heart involuntarily chill.

Ning Wushuang then asked: "Miss Ming Yue, if you were in Ah Feng’s position, what would you choose?"

Dongfang Mingyue took a deep breath, understanding, responding slowly: "I wouldn’t just stand by."

Hence, only others would die; this is the swordsman’s principle.

Ah Feng was targeted by many because he was not strong enough, did not have a strong background, lacked sufficient power; he wasn’t someone who could crush the world.

"May I ask your honorable name?" Dongfang Mingyue was somewhat curious about this suspected Ancient Sword Saint.

"Wushuang." Ning Wushuang replied, "You are already the sword holder for this sword, best not to attempt to destroy it. I will suppress the desire’s influence on the outside world within the sword."

Dongfang Mingyue raised her brow, slightly bowed, behaving courteously: "Mr. Wushuang, upon first meeting, Ming Yue has been presumptuous, I hope for your forgiveness."

[Dongfang Mingyue kept her promise, went to Ronghe County to investigate the truth, and I did not stop her. She found everyone evading the topic of "Flying Swallow Thirteen’s" alleged misdeeds, speaking ambiguously.]

[Flying Swallow Thirteen’s indiscriminate killing, apart from the young swordsman’s family, regarding the others were merely rumors with no substantial evidence.]

[Dongfang Mingyue then went to Beixuan County, at Beixuan Academy heard that Flying Swallow Thirteen had obtained the broken sword "Hidden Blade Sword" in his youth, dedicated himself to practicing swordsmanship for six years, showing no signs of madness.]

[It was clearly not caused by the "Hidden Blade Sword."]

[Dongfang Mingyue finally eased her mind, frequently dreamt and conversed with "Mr. Wushuang" in the sword about Sword Dao, from her mouth, I learned a lot of modern occurrences.]

[Over five years, Dongfang Mingyue and I traveled across Dongzhou, in the crossing of sword shadows, her swordsmanship steadily improved.]

[During this period, she was at the brink of death, facing imminent peril, I timely intervened to snatch her back from Death’s grasp.]

[After this incident, we became close friends.]

[I entrusted Dongfang Mingyue with Cyan Mountain Transmission, discussed swords thousands of times within the Demon Sword.]

[She comprehended "True Meaning of Cross and Vertical" from "Unrivaled Heavenly Sword," in one breath, can strike out three hundred swords at one place, Sword Intent interrupts waterfall flow, named "Severed Water."]

[Another five years passed and Dongfang Mingyue tirelessly gathered rare materials, also sought out a master swordsmith to reshape the sword, further engraving "Unrivaled Bright Moon" on both sides of the sword’s body.]

[Dongfang Mingyue unified Seven Stars to become the "Sword Saint," delighted in spirit, sharing her joy with "Mr. Wushuang" in the sword through their discussions.]

[This has been her habit for many years, though apart from discussing swords, I’m quietly listening to Miss Ming Yue’s thoughts.]

[Soon, the Emperor of Dongzhou sent a letter, summoning Dongfang Mingyue to Shaking Light City.]