I will Bury the Gods

As Lin Shouxi and Xiao He emerged from the room, their companions Wang Erguan and Ji Luoyang cast curious gazes their way.

“You were in there for a long time for someone who was just getting food. What were you two doing all morning?” Ji Luoyang asked.

“I was teaching her swordsmanship,” Lin Shouxi replied.

“Swordsmanship? You’re skilled in swordplay?” Wang Erguan shook his head.

“Did you have to lock the door, close the windows, and draw the curtains to teach her swordsmanship?” Ji Luoyang joked. “Or is your ‘swordsmanship’ a euphemism for something else?”

Wang Erguan looked at them warily. “Please tell me you didn’t do anything that would get us in trouble with Perfected Yun.”

Xiao He shook her head vehemently. “Senior Brother Lin really was teaching me swordsmanship,” she said earnestly. “He just closed the room to prevent anyone from watching.”

“Senior Brother Lin?” Ji Luoyang and Wang Erguan exchanged glances. “How did he become your senior brother?”

Xiao He smiled mysteriously and said, “Let’s just say proper decorum needs to be upheld when teaching swordplay. Suffice it to say, Lin Shouxi is now my senior brother. And anyone who bullies him or speaks ill of him will face my retribution.”

Ji Luoyang looked at Xiao He with a helpless expression and said, “When I first met you, you were gentle and quiet, but now you’ve become so willful in just a few days. What happened?” he asked.

Wang Erguan glared at Lin Shouxi and said, “It’s because bad company corrupts good character!”

Xiao He couldn’t help but smile and cover her lips lightly. She had learned the White Snow Drifting Cloud Swordplay from Lin Shouxi, and it was indeed exquisite. Her excitement at learning it had made her a little arrogant.

Feeling a little embarrassed, she tidied up the strands of hair that had fallen on her temples and looked at Lin Shouxi. “Have I really become so willful, Senior Brother?” she asked carefully.

“You have nothing to worry about. It’s just a natural result of our closeness, which is actually a good thing,” reassured Lin Shouxi in a calm tone. However, there was a hint of pampering in his voice.

“Senior Brother is the best,” Xiao He exclaimed, flashing a grateful smile. “Hey, when can you teach me that second stance? I’m itching to learn it!”

“This afternoon,” he replied.

Xiao He’s face lit up, but then a sudden thought crossed her mind. “Hold on, how many stances are there?”

“Eighty-one,” Lin Shouxi replied.

Xiao He’s mouth slightly dropped. “How am I supposed to learn that many?”

“You can’t. Seventy-two of them have been lost,” Lin Shouxi continued.

Xiao He let out a sigh, “You always know how to make your junior sister happy,” she said with a hint of sarcasm. However, her eyes betrayed her true feelings as they sparkled with joy. From beginning to end, Lin Shouxi’s expression never changed.

As the afternoon sun beat down, the sky was filled with swirling flocks of birds, like black sand tossed by the wind.

Once Xiao He returned to her room, she immediately reviewed the swordsmanship she had learned that morning. Despite encountering some difficulties during her practice, she was able to sense the profoundness of the swordsmanship due to her extensive experience. When she last consulted Lin Shouxi, he reassured her that the problem wasn’t with the swordsmanship itself, and that everything would be solved after she learned the first six levels.

With her concerns temporarily quelled, Xiao He felt a sense of relief. Suppressing her excitement, she made her way to Lin Shouxi’s room and knocked on the door.

Lin Shouxi was in a squat, in the midst of refining his fist technique.

“Senior Brother, your martial arts skills are impressive,” Xiao He marveled as she watched him practice. “I’m becoming more and more curious about our sect’s whereabouts.”

“Our sect is right here,” Lin Shouxi replied.

“Here?”

“Yes. Before I was brought here by the divine altar, our sect was destroyed by an opposing sect,” Lin Shouxi explained. “In other words, the divine altar saved my life.”

Xiao He’s lips tightened. “Well, you’re not alone anymore, Senior Brother,” she said, clenching her fists. “I, as your Junior Sister, will help you revive our sect.”

“Do you think we’ll be enough?” he asked.

“I believe we will,” she said with a smile.

Lin Shouxi’s expression softened, moved by her words. He stopped his punches and said, “Thank you, Junior Sister.”

In the afternoon, Lin Shouxi taught her the second stance.

“Mastering the core method in such a short time is not an easy task,” he said, “but with consistent practice and a clear understanding of each move, you can overcome each level. With your natural talent, you should be able to reach the fifth level within three years.”

Xiao He nodded with determination. “I will put in my best efforts.”

“Excellent. The future of the Joyous Union Sect is in our hands,” Lin Shouxi replied with a smile.

Xiao He hesitated before asking, “Is Joyous Union Sect the only name we have?”

“Some refer to us as the Demon Gate,” he replied.

Xiao He felt uneasy. “Let’s keep using Joyous Union Sect.”

After two hours, Lin Shouxi taught Xiao He the core sword technique, and she practiced it for a while. She was fascinated by the intricacies of the swordsmanship but struggled with some of the finer details.

Lin Shouxi then dropped into a squat and resumed practicing his fist technique. Xiao He observed him for a while before asking, “Senior Brother, can we spar?”

An inexplicable smile tugged at the corner of Lin Shouxi’s mouth before quickly disappearing. “I am concerned about hurting you,” he said, feigning hesitation.

Xiao He smiled, “I am worried I might hurt you too.”

Lin Shouxi raised an eyebrow, “Do you have martial arts experience, Junior Sister?”

“I have some,” she answered in a flat tone, suddenly reminded of her aunt’s grave expression.

She had not lied to Lin Shouxi when she told him that she had grown up in the mountains where evil monsters roamed freely. But she had not told him the complete truth either. Growing up with her aunt had not been as rosy a time as she had described.

Her old witch of an aunt had trained her in martial arts with ruthless veal. From making her walk barefoot through swamps teeming with venomous insects, trekking through icy snow, and crossing river banks with stones as sharp as knives, to beating her until her skin split open for any imperfection observed in her technique, no mercy was ever shone.

On many nights, she was thrown into a forest full of fierce beasts, to struggle against the endless dangers in the dark with only a blunt knife for protection.

Even now, she remembered the scene of her first kill, a black wolf whose hot blood sprayed onto her clothes, marking the bleak night she grew up…

“I want to do this,” she said, pulling her thoughts back, a soft smile ornamenting her lifted head. “Go easy, now.”

“I know how far to go and when to stop,” Lin Shouxi replied calmly, deliberately provoking her.

Xiao He’s smile remained on her face as her fighting spirit was indeed stirred… ‘Humph, you know how far to go? I will teach you to underestimate me!’

The sparring between the two began quickly, their elbows colliding.

They had agreed to only use techniques and omit true energy.

Xiao He’s steps were light, her body moving like a butterfly fluttering around flowers. Her punches and kicks were swift and fierce, and her movements followed her breath, with every move making a whooshing sound. Lin Shouxi stood like a wooden post, relying on his body’s instincts to dismantle, defend, and counterattack Xiao He’s attacks with a strange boxing style she had never seen before.

As they grappled with each other, their bodies intertwined in a flurry of motion, their hands and legs striking and then separating, causing a rhythmic “pāpāpā” sound to echo through the room.

Soon, Xiao He realized that she had underestimated her opponent. Despite her sharp and endless attacks, Lin Shouxi was always able to defend against them using a strange and unfamiliar style of boxing.

Lin Shouxi maintained a balanced stance, with his feet grounded and his body in harmony with both yin and yang. His movements were fluid and gentle, alternately blocking and punching with a soft and flexible force that allowed him to dissolve his opponent’s attacks through the push and pull of his fists and palms.

Just as she hesitated whether or not to use her true strength, Lin Shouxi seized the opportunity to transition from defense to offense, pivoting his body and delivering a powerful strike to her wrist with a burst of energy that resonated through the air with a crisp sound.

Surprised, Xiao He instinctively took a step back while utilizing her boxing technique to block. However, retracting her punch proved difficult, and as their fists collided, Lin Shouxi’s explosive force transformed into a soft force that adhered to her like glue and caused her entire body to be pulled back.

At the same time, Lin Shouxi shifted his weight to the side, his foot simply tapping and hooking Xiao He’s, making her unable to maintain her balance. He pushed her lightly on her shoulder, causing her to lose her footing and fall on his bed.

“I… “

Xiao He looked confused, unable to comprehend how she had lost. “Senior Brother is really amazing,” she praised with a smile.

Despite being knocked down, she wasn’t ready to give up just yet. Xiao He stood up, her body straight like a carp, assuming an even more aggressive stance. She charged forward, striking relentlessly, but to no avail. Lin Shouxi effortlessly blocked her attacks and then found her weak point, striking fiercely and causing her to fall to the ground once again.

Xiao He rubbed her sore arm, her expression even more confused.

His boxing technique was incredibly unique, particularly when it came to his offensive maneuvers. At times, his movements resembled that of a fierce tiger or a strong bear, while at other times he seemed to imitate the posture of a sneaky snake or graceful eagle. His unpredictable movements made it difficult for her to anticipate his next move, adding to his already impressive fighting style.

“How could this be… “

She had confidence in her martial arts skills. At ten years old, she even killed the leader of a wolf pack in the snowy mountains and skinned it to make a skirt.

The boy in question was still in the early stages of body refinement and was even nursing some injuries, yet his martial arts skills were exceptionally high. One couldn’t help but wonder who he was and how he had acquired such impressive abilities at such a young age.

Xiao He was unaware of the fact that in Lin Shouxi’s original world, cultivation was not practiced. Instead, individuals focused on refining their bodies. Every martial arts skill that was passed down was a result of intense training and experience in life-threatening situations, making each technique a valuable and honed skill.

Lin Shouxi had completed the refining of these peak martial arts skills before the age of seven.

This world was different, where swordsmanship and magic were everything, and martial arts were relegated to a lowly status, despised by even immortals.

Although Xiao He was a blooded warrior, in a battle of pure technique, she was outmatched.

But her competitive spirit was sparked, how could she easily admit defeat?

Xiao He stood up again, her eyes blazing with determination, like a fierce snow leopard ready to pounce. Her cheeks were flushed with anger.

With a powerful push of her calf, the young girl leaped like an arrow towards Lin Shouxi.

Lin Shouxi swiftly dodged to the side with an emotionless expression, and using one hand, he delivered a sharp blow to her neck, causing her to crumple to the ground.

Despite being repeatedly beaten down by Lin Shouxi, Xiao He refused to give up and struggled to stand up again, launching repeated attacks on her opponent. However, each attempt resulted in further defeat, and Xiao He’s losses came more and more quickly.

When she made her final charge towards Lin Shouxi, the snow-haired girl was surprised to find that he did not attempt to evade her. Instead, he opened his arms and caught her as she barreled towards him, enduring the barrage of punches to his chest without flinching.

After a moment, she froze, looking up at Lin Shouxi with her slightly reddened eyes.

“Why aren’t you fighting back?” she asked, biting her lip.

“Because this is no longer a fight,” he replied.

Xiao He’s movements faltered. Suddenly, she understood that she had lost her fighting spirit. Her actions no longer resembled someone testing their skill against a better one in order to learn, but more like… the acts of a petulant child.

“Did I hit you too hard? Should I go easier on you next time?” Lin Shouxi asked.

“No, Senior Brother, that was perfect. I don’t want you to hold back just because I’m your junior.” Xiao He replied earnestly.

“I see. Well, you’re already very strong, Junior Sister.” Lin Shouxi smiled.

“Don’t mock me.” Xiao He said, still recovering from the pain and feeling frustrated and angry. She then asked, “Senior Brother, why are you so strong?”

“Can’t you tell?” Lin Shouxi retorted.

“What do you mean?” Xiao He was taken aback. “Is it because you’ve been studying martial arts since you were young?”

After saying that, she shook her head. This answer was too vague and unsatisfactory.

“When we were sparring just now, I didn’t just use boxing techniques. I also used moves from the White Snow Drifting Cloud Sword Scripture.” Lin Shouxi clarified.

“Moves from the sword scripture?” Xiao He’s eyes suddenly lit up with understanding. “You mean the White Snow Drifting Cloud Sword Scripture?”

As she thought back, many of the moves did indeed have similarities to the sword technique Lin Shouxi had taught her.

“Yes.” Lin Shouxi nodded. “They are all killing techniques, and there are similarities between them.”

“But the sword…” Xiao He began.

“The arm can also be a sword,” Lin Shouxi answered, knowing what she had been about to ask.

Xiao He fell silent. The fierce glare and anger on her innocent face slowly dissipated. She asked, “If I complete the White Snow Drifting Cloud Sword Scripture, will I be as strong as you, Senior Brother?”

“No, you will be stronger.”

Xiao He’s last trace of doubt regarding the sword scripture vanished in an instant.

Lin Shouxi’s willingness to impart such a formidable technique showed that he trusted her completely. Xiao He had no reason to doubt him anymore, did she?

She thanked Lin Shouxi with all her heart.

Although she had taken a beating today, she harbored no resentment. Instead, she treated her senior brother with more respect. During dinner, she even gave him all the meat in her bowl, saying it was her gift for accepting him as her teacher.

Lin Shouxi didn’t refuse; he needed to eat well to aid in his recovery.

However, Wang Erguan and Ji Luoyang’s gazes became more and more strange.

“What were you doing in the room this afternoon?” Wang Erguan asked impolitely.

“Teaching swordplay,” Lin Shouxi said.

“Don’t lie to us! Even though you locked the door and closed windows, I clearly heard Xiao He moaning in there,” Wang Erguan said sternly, not wanting to continue.

“I heard it too. It sounded like she was in pain,” Ji Luoyang said, looking at them. “What exactly were you doing?”

“Hey, what are you guys thinking?” Xiao He shot to her feet, blushing.

Wang Erguan reddened. “What are we thinking? How could a normal teaching session cause such noises? I even heard you cry out in pain! What kind of lessons are you learning?”

Xiao He, being a girl, didn’t want to answer. She recalled her embarrassing defeat earlier and glared at them.

Lin Shouxi continued to eat calmly, as if everything happening around him didn’t concern him.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? You were shameless and unbridled in the afternoon, but now you’re shy? No, you’re scared, right? Afraid that Perfected Yun will kill you!” Wang Erguan’s voice rose in pitch with each word.

Xiao He slammed the table. “Shut up!” she yelled.

Wang Erguan had never seen Xiao He so intimidating before and was taken aback.

Then, he caught a glimpse of the bruises beneath her white sleeves, and his eyes widened. He was well-versed in the ways of the world and immediately thought of something terrible.

“What were you doing in there?” Wang Erguan pulled his hair in frustration.

“You guys… really know how to have fun,” Ji Luoyang added with a sigh.

Xiao He’s chest heaved. She was so angry she wanted to stab someone with her chopsticks. She bit her lip until it turned red and then turned to Lin Shouxi. “Senior Brother, don’t just sit there and eat. Explain it to them!”

“What is there to explain? We’ve done nothing wrong,” he replied, taking another bite.

“Done nothing wrong? Her skin is black and blue all over!” Wang Erguan said, fuming. “She is so young, and you don’t even know how to treat her properly.”

“You became senior brother and junior sister in the morning and were rolling around in the sheets by the afternoon?” Ji Luoyang snorted. “I think you should call your sect the Joyous Union Sect and be done with it.”

“Brother Ji speaks the truth.” Wang Erguan commended him with a thumbs up, impressed by his eloquence.

Xiao He’s mouth hung open, and she blinked before turning her gaze back to Lin Shouxi once more.

Feeling her gaze, he finally stopped eating.

“The Joyous Union Sect, you say,” he said, shrugging indifferently. “I like it.”