As Zi Qing finished grinding the ink, Wan Yun Ting reacted, picking up the Xuan paper and spreading it on the desk. He smiled and said, "Senior Sister Zi Qing, why don't you write a piece of calligraphy for me to admire first?"
"Alright."
Zi Qing nodded, not refusing. She took a suitable brush from the brush holder, dipped it in ink with practiced ease, and scraped the tip. What surprised Wan Yun Ting even more was that she was left-handed. The next moment, her naturally dazed phoenix eyes shot out two sword-like beams. As the brush touched the Xuan paper, it instantly transformed into a long sword, displaying various sword stances on the paper.
"Good calligraphy..."
Standing by and watching, Wan Yun Ting couldn't help but nod in admiration at her calligraphy technique and the flowing, wild cursive script.
If Zi Qing had participated in the Lanting Prize calligraphy competition, she would probably have been a dark horse.
When Zi Qing finally lifted her brush from the Xuan paper, her original poem was complete. Her sharp phoenix eyes returned to their dazed state. Wan Yun Ting quietly read her poem and nodded with a smile, saying, "Senior Sister Zi Qing is not only the number one in martial arts, but her talent is also astonishing."
"You flatter me."
Zi Qing put down the brush and carefully examined her calligraphy. Her willow brows slightly raised, and she said softly, "The sword intent is a bit shallow; it's still not as profound as yours!"
Wan Yun Ting was taken aback and smiled, "Are you referring to the sword intent within the calligraphy?"
Zi Qing nodded, turned to look at him, and asked, "How did you manage to infuse sword intent into your writing?"
Wan Yun Ting smiled and said, "It's very simple. When I write, I imagine I'm practicing sword techniques, and the words naturally embody sword intent."
Zi Qing raised an eyebrow, her dazed phoenix eyes fixed on Wan Yun Ting. Although he spoke of it lightly, Zi Qing herself had tried countless times and still could not integrate the true meaning of the sword path into her calligraphy.
Perhaps, this was talent!
Wan Yun Ting picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and scraped the tip. He held the paperweight to flatten the Xuan paper on the desk. Instantly, his gaze changed, and a powerful aura emanated from him, which Zi Qing beside him immediately sensed. Her phoenix eyes couldn't help but focus on him.
The next moment, Wan Yun Ting pressed down with his brush, like a long sword on the Xuan paper. Each stroke was imbued with powerful sword intent, and every character exuded an aura. The fullness of the sword intent made Zi Qing's eyes unconsciously gleam. She stared intently at the brush in Wan Yun Ting's hand, which moved freely on the Xuan paper like a long sword, her gaze gradually becoming entranced and dazed by the spirit of the characters.
Hoo~~
Wan Yun Ting had only written two lines of bold poetry. He lifted his brush from the paper and exhaled a breath of turbid air. Turning his head, he saw Zi Qing beside him frozen in expression, her phoenix eyes staring blankly at his calligraphy. He smiled and asked, "Senior Sister Zi Qing, how is it?"
Her eyes flickered slightly. Zi Qing came back to her senses, looked up at Wan Yun Ting, and said, "Can you give it to me?"
"Of course."
Wan Yun Ting picked up the calligraphy, let the ink dry, and handed it to Zi Qing. He smiled and said, "Keep your piece as well, for mutual exchange."
Zi Qing nodded slightly, accepting his calligraphy. Her phoenix eyes were deeply captivated by the full sword intent emanating from his writing, unable to extricate herself. She remained silent, prompting Wan Yun Ting to scratch his head and break the silence with a laugh, "Senior Sister Zi Qing, did you come to Hua Du City just to discuss swordsmanship with me?"
Zi Qing turned to look at him and said, "If you have something to say, just say it directly!"
... Wan Yun Ting's expression froze. Facing Zi Qing's naturally dazed phoenix eyes, he felt as if a sharp sword light was piercing his internal organs. He shook his head and smiled, saying, "It's nothing, I was just curiously asking."
Zi Qing carefully rolled up the calligraphy and looked at Wan Yun Ting, saying, "Come back to the Wudang Sect with me!"
"What?"
Wan Yun Ting was stunned by her words. Zi Qing said blankly, "With your talent, you shouldn't stay at the Boundless Taoist Temple. If you return to the Wudang Sect with me, you will surely become the number one in the world!"
Wan Yun Ting, who had recovered from his surprise, waved his hand with a smile, "Thank you for the compliment, Senior Sister Zi Qing. However, I'm not interested in being number one. Moreover, I am currently the Abbot of the Boundless Taoist Temple. How can I be faithless and run off to your Wudang Sect? If I did, I'm afraid you would be disappointed."
Zi Qing listened to his words, thought carefully, and nodded in agreement. But then she shook her head and said, "No harm done. I won't force you to leave the Boundless Taoist Temple. You just need to return to the Wudang Sect with me and observe the Sword Cliff. It will allow you to become the number one in the world of swordsmanship!"
"Sword Cliff?"
Wan Yun Ting looked puzzled. Zi Qing nodded, her soft voice very pleasant, saying, "The Sword Cliff is the sword intent left by the Wudang Sect's Sword Ancestor. To this day, only I have been able to comprehend a trace of sword intent from it. If you wish to see it, I can take you to see it, which may help you break through!"
This time, Wan Yun Ting was astonished and said, "There's such a thing? But even so, your Wudang Sect wouldn't casually allow others to view it, would they?"
Zi Qing shook her head and said, "All martial arts in the world are for those who are destined to obtain them. For thousands of years, no one has inherited the sword intent of our Wudang Sect's Sword Ancestor. I have only inherited a mere trace. My master, in order to let everyone in the world receive the Sword Ancestor's intent, has opened the Sword Cliff to outsiders. Anyone from any sect can observe and learn from it!"
"Wow, I didn't realize your Sect Leader had such a broad vision. Truly worthy of being the number one Taoist sect in the world!"
Wan Yun Ting couldn't help but give a thumbs up. After all, the competition between various sects was fierce. They would hoard their supreme martial arts and not easily make them available to the public. Only disciples within the sect with talent could practice them.
But in contrast, the Wudang Sect publicly displayed the Sword Cliff, solely for the purpose of allowing people from all over the world to inherit the legacy of their Sword Ancestor!
"Senior Sister Zi Qing, I'm temporarily busy and don't have time to go to Wudang Mountain. I'll come after the new year. I'll visit and see your Wudang Sect's Sword Cliff when I have the chance." Wan Yun Ting smiled.
"Alright."
Zi Qing nodded and said no more.
Wan Yun Ting checked the time and smiled, "It's getting late, Senior Sister Zi Qing. Let's go upstairs and rest early."
Zi Qing nodded slightly, holding Wan Yun Ting's calligraphy, and followed him out of the study and upstairs. Wan Yun Ting stopped on the second floor and watched Zi Qing go up to the third floor before shaking his head with a slight smile.
From their brief exchange, Wan Yun Ting could be sure that Zi Qing and Lan Xin, the master and disciple, had come to Hua Du City solely to spar with him, with no other intentions!
Wan Yun Ting was relieved about this. He returned to his bedroom, grabbed his pajamas, and went to take a bath. Afterward, he went to the study to continue writing his thesis and心得 on treating sagging skin.
It wasn't until one in the morning that Wan Yun Ting finished his thesis and心得, neatly placing them on a corner of the desk. He put away his pen, checked the time, stood up, stretched, and left the study. He went upstairs to his bedroom, preparing to go to bed.
"Who?"
The next second, Wan Yun Ting's eyes instantly changed. He turned his head and stared directly outside the east balcony of his bedroom. The curtains, which were not fully drawn, fluttered in the wind. He vaguely saw a dark figure on the balcony, leaning against the railing, wearing a black mask!
He had sharp, fierce eyes, and was bald. His build was average, and his age was indeterminate. He was dressed entirely in black. He stood with his back against the railing, meeting Wan Yun Ting's vigilant gaze from inside the room. The air was filled with a tense, oppressive atmosphere, with only the curtains on either side gently swaying in the cold night wind.
Wan Yun Ting frowned. His sharp eyes met the man's fierce gaze. The fact that this person could silently infiltrate the villa and enter his bedroom without even Zi Qing upstairs noticing indicated that he was a powerful individual. The aura emanating from him was definitely not that of an ordinary strong person!
Then, the man lifted the floor-to-ceiling window curtain and walked into the room. His eyes revealed undisguised murderous intent, and his deep, hoarse voice slowly said, "I'm here to kill you!"
Wan Yun Ting remained quite composed, a smile playing on his lips. "So, no matter how I ask, you have to abide by your rules and won't tell me why you want to kill me, right?"
The man stared intently at Wan Yun Ting and said, "Here, I make the rules. But unfortunately, I'm doing this for money and don't know who hired me. Otherwise, I would definitely let you die with a clear understanding!"
Arrogant, so arrogant... Wan Yun Ting narrowed his eyes. From this person, he sensed the oppressive aura of a strong individual. He definitely had the capital to be so arrogant, and Wan Yun Ting suspected he was no match for him!
"We're done talking. I'll send you on your way."
As soon as the man finished speaking, his fierce gaze suddenly intensified, like a tiger eyeing its prey. His hands transformed into fists, unleashing a powerful aura. He moved as if a tiger descending from the mountain, pouncing towards Wan Yun Ting. His fist, as large as a sandbag, instantly appeared before Wan Yun Ting's face!
Wan Yun Ting's eyes widened in shock. Before he could fully process his astonishment, he quickly dodged. The fist wind, carrying an aura, whistled past his ear like the roar of a tiger.
But before Wan Yun Ting could react, he felt as if his chest had been hit by a giant iron hammer. With a muffled sound, he spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward, crashing through the bedroom door with a bang. He tumbled twice on the living room floor before stopping. Half-kneeling, Wan Yun Ting clutched his chest, coughed out another mouthful of blood, and looked up with wide eyes at the man who walked out of the shattered door.
Wan Yun Ting felt as if his insides were churning, his vital energy surging chaotically through his meridians. His brow furrowed, and his gaze towards the man became exceptionally heavy. Forcing back the urge to vomit blood again, he gritted his teeth and muttered, "Gang Jin realm!"
In the bedroom on the third floor, Zi Qing, who was lying on the large bed, instantly opened her phoenix eyes upon hearing the commotion downstairs.