Naked Sword Art

Meanwhile in the Divine Sword sect's Core Court, Core Court disciple Chu Piao had adopted an unconventional approach to training Xiao Jing, the step-sister of Xiao Fang. After drawing a small circle on the ground, he challenged her to make him step out of it, or land a strike on him. The reward being that he would take her to see Xiao Fang.

Far up in a beautiful pavilion, Supreme Elder Chu spectated the two of them fighting while his maids served him tea. Unexpectedly, the maid eventually stopped, but when he turned to find out why, his eyes widened when he saw the man standing behind him.

"Patriarch... If I had known you were coming, I would've prepared something for you," Supreme Elder Chu said before trying to bow, but the Patriarch stopped him.

"Hey now. You're like an uncle to me. I just came to enjoy the view," Patriarch Xiao Jianhong said before finding a seat across from him.

"It's not bad, all the changes that boy brought back to this sect," Xiao Jianghong said admiring the floral pavilion, referring to the designs and architect his mother Wu Yue made with Xiao Fang's ideas.

"Mn, it's not bad. It's perfect for an old man like me," Supreme Elder Chu agreed as he looked around with a hint of admiration in his eyes as well.

"Oh? If I remember correctly, you voted against making the changes."

Chu Piao took a sip of his tea then said,

"I said it would be perfect for me, but if the disciples here become softer because of it, what are you going to do then?"

Xiao Jianhong simply smiled lightly as he looked out to the distance where Chu Piao was training his daughter. Supreme Elder Chu knew that Xiao Jianhong was a genius like his father, the late Patriarch, but sometimes, he really wondered if he was making the right decision.

"Chu Piao is training her well. He's a smart boy. What do you think he agreed to give her if she wins?" Xiao Jianhong suddenly asked.

Supreme Elder Chu choked on his tea hearing that question.

"He agreed to take her to see Xiao Fang, but there's nothing to worry about, I'm sure he won't let her win," he replied.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. She isn't just my child, she's also my wife's. She's not just as ferocious as a Divine Swordsman, but also as tenacious as a demon. Sooner or later, she'll win."

Supreme Elder Chu frowned when he turned his head to continue spectating the fight. Although it was hardly noticeable, Xiao Jing was indeed striking harder and faster every passing second. Every attack she threw was becoming more precise and her senses were becoming sharper. No matter how good Chu Piao was, there was only so much he could do while he was blindfolded and trapped in a small circle.

"Forgive me. I will be sure to discipline that boy when he gets home," Supreme Elder Chu said when he realized Xiao Jianhong was right.

"Let him be, a clever man's true intentions are never so simple, I'll be keeping a close eye on him," Xiao Jianghong said before putting his cup of tea down before leaving.

…

The fight was a long one, but even though Chu Piao was blindfolded, it still took Xiao Jing all day and night to force him to take a step outside of the circle.

Xiao Jing laid on the ground way past the point of exhaustion, while Chu Piao stood there relaxed, as if he had been doing nothing but stretching. She didn't care that she only beat him out of luck, Chu Piao was a Core Court disciple in the Divine Sword sect, so she was extremely proud of herself.

Eventually catching her breath, she eventually sat up and wiped the sweat off her head before saying with a grin,

"I win. A deal is a deal."

Chu Piao simply smiled at her then said,

"Stand up, I'll take you to him."

Standing up with an excited look on her face, Xiao Jing followed Chu Piao, feeling as if she was finally being let it on a secret only a few people knew about in the sect.

…

After some time, Xiao Jing was able to see a cave in the distance with the word 'Prison' inscribed on the mountain over the entrance.

"Is he in there?" Xiao Jing asked.

"He is, not many people know about this place. Do you still want to go in?"

Xiao Jing didn't want to turn back, but she couldn't help but feel a threatening aura coming from deep within the cave. It was dark in there, but not just a little dark, but almost completely void of any light.

Xiao Jing didn't look up at Chu Piao, nor answer him with her words. Seeing her simply nod, Chu Piao continued to walk, and Xiao Jing followed a bit closer behind.

The guards at the prison remained hidden when they saw Chu Piao and Xiao Jing coming. It wasn't their place to stop people from entering, their only job was to keep the things inside from exiting.

Soon after they entered the cave, Xiao Jing noticed her sight quickly leaving her. Even seeing Chu Piao just a meter in front of her became a difficult task. Pinching his robes, she stayed close so as to not get separated.

"How much longer till we reach him," Xiao Jing asked.

"Not much longer," he replied truthfully.

Xiao Jing wanted to turn back, but not when she was already so close. To distract herself she began to ask more questions about Xiao Fang, and Chu Piao answered them the best he could.

'Seeing without seeing,' she thought as she recalled looking up at Xiao Fang's blindfolded face just a few days ago.

Thinking about Xiao Fang and how strong he might've been, despite only being a few years older than her, Xiao Jing asked,

"You know that game we played, if you were to play it against my brother, would you win?"

"Without a blindfold, I would win," Chu Piao replied.

"What if you were both wearing a blindfold?"

Hearing Xiao Jing's question made Chu Piao smile wearily. As prideful as he was like any other swordsmen in the sect, there were some things he couldn't hope to achieve.

"Little Jing, no one can beat your brother in the dark."

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