Chapter 132: Darkness: Please don't chop Kazuma, if you must chop, then chop me!
「 "I'll let you make three moves." Jingliu's voice was like a needle prick, making Yanqing's neck involuntarily chill, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on the sword in his hand.
...His gaze slowly returned, but his pupils dilated in an instant.
That was... her sword?
Yanqing saw that the sword was not forged from ordinary iron, but condensed from a section of solid ice. The sword's body glowed with a faint cold light, as if holding a line of moonlight in his hand.
"What are you waiting for?" The battle was about to begin, and it seemed impatient. Jingliu urged coldly from the side, "Draw your sword. It's very impolite to keep a senior waiting." 」
「 .....」
〜Type-Moon World, Carnival Phantasm Worldline〜
Emiya household—
"Can solid ice also be used as a sharp sword?"
Emiya Shirou was puzzled. In his opinion, although ice could be very sharp and pointed, its hardness was ultimately inferior to ironware, and it could easily shatter upon impact.
Even though Emiya had only slightly entered the world of swordsmanship, he knew that the quality of a sword was also extremely crucial to the swordsman himself. In a battle between strong individuals, the weapon could never make a mistake.
"If viewed by worldly standards, this act is indeed risky."
Sasaki Kojiro extended a finger and said leisurely,
"But there is a prerequisite—if a person can reach the realm of man and sword as one, then this act is no longer risky. Because her realm is no longer limited to the sword itself, but grass, trees, bamboo, and stones can all be swords."
"Then, according to Mr. Kojiro's meaning... Jingliu has already achieved man and sword as one?"
"No..."
Kojiro gently shook his head,
"In my humble opinion, her realm is even beyond that."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned for a moment, and they all cast puzzled glances at him.
"Although not many people have reached the realm of man and sword as one, I was fortunate enough to see a few in that chaotic era hundreds of years ago."
Sasaki Kojiro smiled slightly,
"But ever since Jingliu appeared, I discovered that the sword is not only a part of her body, but also the ebb and flow of her walking and sitting, the inhalation and exhalation of her movements. Her sword... is not bound by her body, but returns to nature."
"In short... her sword has long been one with heaven and earth."
"At this realm, every move and stance no longer bears the mark of carving, but is all naturally expressed."
Kojiro looked at the white-haired woman holding a sword with one hand, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh:
"...This is also the realm I have yearned to reach throughout my entire life."
—
「 Yanqing charged with his sword, and for a moment, six flying swords were like meteors crossing the wilderness, instantly causing considerable damage to the Mara-Struck.
This blow had enough force, but unfortunately, it was not a fatal blow.
Jingliu's piercing, sharp criticism quickly sounded in his ears: "Hesitant and weak. Where did your confidence from just now go?"
Yanqing cursed "Damn it" in his heart. Since his debut, apart from the General, he had rarely encountered such a master. Provoked, the sword energy in his hand became even more vigorous.
"Again!"
A series of "clangs" rang out, and several flying swords directly struck the armor of the Mara-Struck, clanging like metal and cracking like jade, as fierce as a storm. The sharp, trembling sound of the sword blades echoed throughout the Artisanship Commission.
"...It's my turn."
As the voice faded, Yanqing heard a gust of wind beside his ear.
The scent of blood seemed to drift in the wind.
By the time Yanqing regained his senses, the previously towering Mara-Struck had already fallen to the ground, transforming into countless ginkgo leaves fluttering into the air. It didn't even have time to make a sound before it forever lost the chance to speak.
"The answer is: There is no difference. The sword pierces the body and severs its life."
When she said the words "severs its life," Jingliu enunciated them very heavily, her killing intent seemingly barely suppressed. 」
「 .....」
〜Demon Slayer World〜
"This sword... doesn't seem as fast as I imagined?"
Shinazugawa Sanemi scratched his head in confusion. Compared to the battle between Jingliu and Jing Yuan, her attack speed today was much slower, as if she deliberately wanted a certain young swordsman to clearly see her movements.
Compared to Yanqing's storm-like offensive, Jingliu's sword had no superfluous movements. And it was very quiet... so quiet that it was as if a snowflake had fallen on a plum branch. Everything happened naturally, and even the death of the Mara-Struck was a harmonious part of it.
If slaughter were a piece of music, then the piece she composed indeed had no impurities, flowing like water.
Thanks to Yanqing, the Pillars finally saw her sword, which had been refined through countless trials and then simplified.
"Fortunately, Miss Jingliu had the intention of guiding Yanqing; otherwise, we still wouldn't have had the chance to see her sword."
Kanroji Mitsuri sat on the ground, saying with some relief.
Iguro Obanai nodded,
"Hmm, I hope this grandmaster will teach her grand-disciple a few more moves so that we can also benefit. But I just heard her tone... it seems a bit off?"
—
「 After eliminating the Mara-Struck, Jingliu stood with her back to Yanqing and slowly said, "Your final move... was the only one that didn't disappoint."
Yanqing finally saw the gap between them and lowered his eyes in disappointment, "...I lost."
"Our contest has not yet come to a conclusion... for I have yet to make my final move, and the field has no opponent..."
The atmosphere suddenly solidified. Beads of sweat rolled down Yanqing's forehead. His gaze was fixed on the white-haired woman in front of him, the oppressive feeling almost turning into a tangible, large hand, gripping him tightly, unable to breathe.
"Hehe...Unsheathing this sword without merit is to blaspheme the divine will of the Reignbow Arbiter, and invite calamity." Jingliu looked up at the sky, her laughter seemingly carrying a hint of madness.
Yanqing clenched the sword in his hand, "You..."
"With your strength, even if you see the blade, it would only be a dead end." Jingliu said indifferently, "Compared to dying in an instant, I'll give you a more dignified choice— to die as a swordmaster having witnessed the perfection of my technique — refined a thousand times over."
Having said this, Jingliu's lips curved slightly upwards.
"What say you to that, Little brother, do you want to take a sword from me?" 」
「 .....」
〜KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!〜
"NOOOOOO—!"
Darkness's voice echoed like a bomb in the tavern. The high-pitched sound almost burst the eardrums of the adventurers, her desperate wail sounding as if she were about to face the pain of losing her husband.
"Jingliu, he's your grand-disciple, wuwuwu! Shouldn't a talented junior be cherished?"
"Yanqing is so cute, how can you lay a hand on him!"
"Didn't we agree on doting on grandchildren? Why cut Jing Yuan and then cut Yanqing? General Jing Yuan, save him! Wuwuwu..."
"Nee, nee, nee, is that really how you use 'doting on grandchildren'? If you're unsure how to use it, maybe don't!"
Kazuma complained helplessly. He looked around the tavern and quietly leaned closer to the blonde girl,
"By the way, Darkness, can you keep your voice down? So many people here are looking at us..."
"Let them look."
Darkness wiped away a tear. Although she was crying so hard she couldn't speak clearly, she still didn't forget to let out a desperate plea:
"Jingliu, please don't cut Yanqing, cut me instead!"
Kazuma: "???"
So that was your real goal?!
A super beautiful white-haired, red-eyed older sister personally doing the cutting, wouldn't that make you, a perverted masochist, feel good?!
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