Chapter 53 – So What If It's the Grassland Sword Saint? If He Comes to Challenge Me, Do I Have to Fight Him?

Under the moonlight, the pine forest swayed with the whispering wind.

Qin Yang stood firm at the mountain’s peak, the roaring sea of trees behind him.

As he appeared, the Sword Intent around Broken Peak Mountain seemed to gain sentience, swirling naturally around him.

“Teacher!”

Li Zixuan raised a hand to cover her slightly parted lips, her pupils trembling as she struggled to believe the scene before her.

It was really him—her teacher!

The person she had longed for day and night had finally appeared before her.

For a moment, Li Zixuan was at a loss, hurriedly clutching the hem of her clothes.

Yet she couldn’t suppress her agitation, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

“Calm your heart, disciple.”

Seeing Li Zixuan’s emotional state and her heavily rising chest, Qin Yang spoke slowly:

“Your Dao Heart is unstable now… This isn’t like the state you were in when I accepted you as my disciple……”

His words fell.

Like a sobering splash of cold water!

“Teacher is amazing, seeing my imbalance at a glance.”

Li Zixuan brushed the hair beside her ear and whispered, “There have been too many matters around me lately, my mindset has indeed been somewhat unsteady.”

“Just somewhat unsteady?”

Qin Yang took a step, crossing several meters through empty space in an instant to appear beside Li Zixuan, his expression grave:

“Do you know how dangerous your current state is, disciple?

Ahead lies a bottomless abyss. If you continue like this, you risk Qi Deviation, falling into eternal damnation!”

“What?!”

Hearing this, Li Zixuan’s pretty face instantly paled with fright, and she quickly bowed with clasped hands: “Please guide me through this confusion, Teacher.”

“Don’t rush, disciple.”

Qin Yang released his spiritual energy to soothe Li Zixuan’s heart, smiling faintly:

“I appeared before you precisely for your sake… Tell me, what troubles have you encountered recently?”

As his gentle words faded, an indescribable power seemed to emerge.

Instantly calming Li Zixuan.

“Teacher, I… I’m scheduled to duel with the Sword Saint’s Disciple in a few days……”

Li Zixuan spoke grievously, recounting her recent experiences.

A faint sob tinged her voice.

“Everyone expects me to fight. This match carries great significance—it concerns the reputation of all Jianghai City. I absolutely cannot lose… The pressure is truly overwhelming, Teacher……”

By the last word.

Her eyes had misted over, her voice choked with sobs.

Like a child burdened with grievances.

Too many sorrows had accumulated in her heart, waiting to erupt.

When alone, she could tough it out and feign strength.

But now, the person she could confide in had appeared.

All the pent-up negative emotions burst forth in an instant, like a tidal wave or collapsing mountain, engulfing her completely!

Under the moonlight, Li Zixuan’s shoulders shook.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face, like raindrops on pear blossoms.

Witnessing this, Qin Yang was dumbfounded.

???

Why is she crying?

I only asked one question!

Could the impact be this great?!

Qin Yang watched the sobbing Li Zixuan, reaching out to comfort her, but after a moment’s thought, he withdrew his hand.

Sometimes, crying is a powerful release.

A thousand words can’t compare to the relief of a good cry.

Qin Yang patiently waited for Li Zixuan to vent her emotions, his expression calm, understanding in his heart.

Sometimes, a person’s breaking point arrives in a single moment.Under the tranquil moonlight, Li Zixuan’s sobs gradually faded, carried away by the valley’s gusting winds.

A moment later.

She finally composed herself, wiping the tears from her face as she said, “I’m sorry, Teacher, I…”

“No need to say more. I understand the pressure you’re under, my disciple.”

“Life has never been easy.”

Qin Yang spoke slowly, then added, “But from now on, you need not fear anyone who wrongs you. Since I am here, I will surely protect you for life.”

“In this vast world, you were born free.”

Hearing this, Li Zixuan’s hand, which was wiping her tears, paused slightly.

Her tears suddenly stopped, and her hand steadied.

Observing that her emotions had stabilized, Qin Yang breathed an inward sigh of relief.

If Li Zixuan had continued crying like that, he wouldn’t have known what to do.

Now, he needed to stabilize her condition and help her escape the danger of qi deviation.

With this thought, Qin Yang understood.

He raised his hand and summoned a dark, round stone, gathering Sword Intent at his fingertips to carve upon its surface.

“From your words earlier, I’ve grasped the essence—it ultimately comes down to the character for ‘Calm.'”

“Living in seclusion now, I possess nothing worldly. I can only offer you this stone as a vessel for your comprehension.”

As his words fell, the stone dust settled.

A steady and powerful character for “Calm” appeared distinctly on the stone’s surface, emanating waves of immense spiritual energy that spread outward like water.

Li Zixuan reached out to take the inscribed stone and immediately felt inner peace.

Her former troubles vanished, greed and delusions faded, as if she had entered a state of Zen meditation—untroubled and undisturbed.

“Take this stone back with you, disciple. Contemplate its mysteries on your own, and you will surely gain insight.”

Qin Yang spoke softly while checking Li Zixuan’s mental state.

Serene as an ancient well, she was a completely different person from before.

Seeing this, Qin Yang felt reassured.

The stone he had given her was infused with powerful spiritual energy.

Any living being near it could attain eternal tranquility.

Moreover, combined with the Sword Intent used in the carving, it offered the Sword Dao insights she currently needed.

With these two combined,

It was enough to help her overcome this hurdle!

“Thank you, Teacher.”

Li Zixuan gazed at the stone in her hand, treasuring it like a precious gem, and carefully stored it away.

“Now that your heart is at ease, it is time for me to depart.”

Qin Yang said indifferently, preparing to activate the Seven-Star Dragon Step.

But at that moment, Li Zixuan suddenly spoke up, “Teacher, wait. There’s one more thing I must tell you.”

“Hmm? What is it?” Qin Yang halted.

“Teacher, it’s a matter of great importance. We’ve just received news that the Grassland Sword Saint at the Peak Grandmaster Realm level is soon arriving in Jianghai City, and his target this time…”

“Is you, Teacher.”

Li Zixuan stared directly at Qin Yang, her brow furrowed with worry.

Hearing this, Qin Yang maintained a steady expression, but inwardly, he was taken aback.

Grassland Sword Saint?

Who is that?

I don’t think I’ve offended him, have I?

Why challenge me for no reason!?

Seeing Qin Yang’s calm demeanor, Li Zixuan mistook it for indifference and couldn’t help but feel admiration.

As expected of her Teacher!

To remain unfazed even upon hearing about a Sword Saint at the Peak Grandmaster Realm level!

Could it be true, as Senior Brother Lin said, that Teacher has already reached a realm Above Grandmaster?However, at this moment, Qin Yang was unaware of her thoughts and even less certain whether he could match a Peak Grandmaster Realm opponent.

But it didn’t matter.

It was of no consequence.

As long as he didn’t show himself, what could the Grassland Sword Saint do to him, no matter how powerful?

Moreover.

Were there any benefits to accepting this challenge?

Without any gains, why should he bother?

With these thoughts, Qin Yang felt disinterested. After imparting some cultivation insights to Li Zixuan, he drifted away gracefully.

Under the moonlight, Li Zixuan watched Qin Yang’s receding figure with a resolute gaze.

“Don’t worry, Teacher. Your disciple will definitely not disappoint you!”

(End of Chapter)