Entering a low stance, she became ready as the whole world became blurry, with the only visible figure Yanqing standing before her.
Yanqing, who saw this, entered his own stance as the swords sheathed in his back began to hover and stood around him.
With both side acknowledging their readiness, a long standstill overcame the field as both stood waiting to see who would strike first.
The spectator held their breath and became tense. The sheer pressure from both sides suffocated them and made them wonder who this newcomer from Yaoqing truly was.
General Jing Yuan, who arrived at the scene quickly, assessed the situation with a hint of amusement.
"Say, who do you reckon will win this duel?" Jing Yuan overheard two Cloud knights who were quietly talking to each other.
"I believe Lieutenant Yanqing will win this; he is a once-in-a-millennium genius and an aide to the General." One side proclaimed
"But who knows who that girl is? Maybe she is also a genius from Yaoqing, transferred here to show off their power." Another asked. "Look, the pressure that girl is giving off is similar to Yaoqing's."
"I guess that's true; it's anyone's guess at this point."
"Wanna bet who wins?"
"Heh, sure I'll bet my three monthly allowance that Lieutenant Yanqing wins."
"Confident are we, sure I'll bet the same."
"Well, I'm not one for favoritism, but I'll bet on Yanqing as well." Jing Yuan commented.
"Oh, seems like favor is stacked against me-" Hearing a new voice, they turned to see the General himself smiling at them.
"G-General!" Before they could properly greet him, Jing Yuan stopped them from making a ruckus. "No need for formalities, I'm merely another spectator."
"Y-Yes, sir."
Though still nervous, they looked back on the field to see Sushang and Yanqing still in their position.
Second, and another, they stood still.... but then.
A faint breath exhaled, Yanqing thrusted his free hand as if drawing in the air, and 5 swords shot out of his back, flying towards his opponent.
Sushang, who saw this, reacted quickly, dashed sideways to create a room, and swung her sword at the flying swords nearest to her.
Clink Clink Clink
Sword clashed as Sushang deflected and dodged.
Jing Yuan, who watched with interest, raised an eyebrow at her unknown swordsmanship. It was not the standard issue cloud knight swordsmanship, yet the essence of it could be spotted here and there.
'Yaoqing's swordsmanship? no.' Jing Yuan tried to recall if there was any swordsmanship resembling her's, but it escaped him; it felt so familliar yet foreign.
After the first exchange, Sushang suddenly shifted her center of gravity and dashed towards Yanqing as he reacted by controlling the grounded flying sword to come alive again.
Sushang, who felt danger from her back, blindly slashed in panic, but due to the unforeseen trajectory, the sword managed to cut her shoulder slightly.
"Did you forget about me?" Yanqing thrust his sword at Sushang, who was facing away from him.
'Reckless.' Jing Yuan mentally reprimanded.
Clink
Sushang reacted fast enough and spun around, meeting his blade with hers, and in a quick succession, Sushang struck again.
'!?' Yanqing, who was slightly surprised by her swiftness, got his guard broken but, with quick thinking, managed to defend her riposte.
Now in range, Sushang began relentlessly attacking without giving Yanqing a room to breathe.
Several times Yanqing tried to control his sword, but Sushang didn't let him, cutting his only advantage and putting him on the back foot.
In desperation, Yanqing quickly made a solution and tried something drastic. A thrust he made, Sushang deflects him, making her defenseless for a split second. On the other hand, he quickly drew one of his flying swords from the ground and sent it to Sushang.
Sushang, who noticed it from the corner of her eyes, panicked and backed off, but quickly realized her mistake.
And soon, all the grounded flying swords came alive again and began striking at all sides.
'This is bad.' Sushang, who lost her advantage, began to panic, and sweat started to accumulate. 'Think, Sushang, think. What you need is defense, but the speed style won't last you long. I need defense...defense... right!'
Sushang, who had forgotten her whole swordsmanship, mentally berated herself for forgetting.
'But can I do it?' A sudden voice of doubt seeded in her mind as the world slowed down. Seeing the sword flying towards her, hesitation filled her body. She spent many hours learning this swordsmanship, yet the speed style, only one-third of the swordsmanship.
'No, it's now or never.' Determination steeled her as her stance instantly morphed into something new.
Tink
As the swords met, like a flowing river, the flying sword was guided by her sword and redirected.
Resolve grew.
Jing Yuan, who witnessed this, couldn't help but widen his eyes a little, thinking if he had seen things. Last time, Sushang only swatted the swords away, but now she is simply guiding them and letting the swords dance around her.
'How.' Jing Yuan mused, recalling the movement Sushang performed multiple times in his mind, and a theory formed in his mind.
'A two-swordsmanship that could shift between and call it one swordsmanship.' A sudden chuckle escaped Jing Yuan as he wondered which madman made this thing. But Jing Yuan realized from Sushang's clumsy movement that she was not yet proficient with this style, but seeing her rapid refinement in the style, Jing Yuan decided not to step in yet.
This battle is now a battle of attrition, which one will give up, Sushang's physical strength or Yanqing's Spell?
Seeing the standstill, anticipation grew as everyone sensed this battle would end, deciding which one would be the victor.
"Huff, huff." Sushang's heartbeat drummed fast, adrenaline still rushing through her body, but fatigue was starting to set in.
Looking at the other side, she could guess he is also running out of fuel. 'Come on, just a little more!'
With several more rounds exchanged, both sides began to slow, yet the martial spirit was reaching its peak.
"Ugh," Yanqing grunted as he struggled to keep the energy consumption and momentarily faltered.
'A chance!' Not letting this moment pass by, Sushang instantly switched stance and slipped through the encirclement, reaching Yanqing instantly.
"Yah!" With one final cry, Sushang gave it her all in this swing, and in return, Yanqing mustered up all remaining strength to retaliate.
Tink
With one last sword clash, Sushang's sword flew out of her hand, leaving the victor clear as day. Both looked each other in the eye for a moment as if a sense of agreement before Sushang collapsed on the ground.