Chapter 144: Taiji Swordsmanship

Qin Xuan met countless changes with unwavering calmness; the heavy sword sheath felt as light as a feather in his hand as he swung it horizontally.

Whoosh!

Watanabe’s bamboo sword struck the sheath, scattering flickers of red light that gave off an eerie glow.

Qin Xuan sensed the strike carried twice the strength of the previous one, yet his expression remained unchanged. After the sheath blocked the bamboo sword, he lightly flicked it aside.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The bamboo sword was instantly pushed away, and Watanabe staggered back three steps, his face pale with shock.

The crowd erupted. Twice Watanabe’s attacks had failed.

Before, no matter the challenger or opponent, Watanabe had always defeated them with a single decisive strike, leaving them powerless to retaliate.

Even the martial arts club president of Jinling University and the nunchaku club president had been defeated by Watanabe in one blow.

His reputation soared throughout Jinling University, cultivating a devoted fanbase and cheer squad.

But now, Watanabe had launched two consecutive attacks at Qin Xuan and both had been repelled, even forcing him to retreat three steps!

“Haha, Brother Zhu, I knew it. Watanabe is no match for Brother Jian!” laughed the student who had bet a thousand yuan, “Now I’m taking home three thousand with interest, hahaha!”

Since the bets on Watanabe outnumbered those on Qin Xuan by threefold, and considering the stakes and odds, a victory for Qin Xuan meant those who wagered on him would receive double their money.

“What’s there to be so smug about? It’s not over yet. Watanabe is definitely testing the waters,” said a tall young man stubbornly. As a member of the martial arts club, he found it hard to believe Qin Xuan could be stronger than their club president—who had himself been defeated by Watanabe in a single strike.

The crowd’s chatter grew louder.

Leading Watanabe’s cheerleaders, Luo Yinghua shouted again, “Come on, Watanabe! Victory is yours!”

Not to be outdone, Shen Yina’s group of girls responded, “Go, Qin Xuan!”

Compared to Watanabe’s supporters, Shen Yina’s side drew more attention. Why? Because she was the campus belle. Watching her slender, fair legs, many male students swallowed hard and joined in.

“Come on, Brother Jian! Victory is yours!”

The atmosphere surged with energy.

Neither Qin Xuan nor Watanabe was swayed by the crowd. Qin Xuan smiled and beckoned him, “The sword technique I’m using now is the Tai Chi Sword Style. Care to try again?”

Watanabe, refusing to believe his luck, swung his heavy bamboo sword again. This time, Qin Xuan noticed the scattered red glow actually emanated from within Watanabe’s body, converging at the tip of the bamboo sword.

“This Watanabe’s constitution is somewhat unique...” Qin Xuan frowned slightly.

The world was vast and diverse; beyond the mysterious Yin Shadow Physique of Qing Wan, there existed many other wondrous constitutions. Watanabe’s seemed to harness the power of the red glow, though Qin Xuan couldn’t discern its nature.

Of course, Watanabe’s constitution was barely developed—perhaps only partially awakened—so it exerted minimal effect.

Qin Xuan wore a faint smile as his sword sheath slowly danced.

When Watanabe’s powerful bamboo sword struck the sheath, it was deflected sharply aside, causing Watanabe himself to sidestep.

Tai Chi swordsmanship was a time-honored foundational health technique of ancient China. In the hands of a master like Qin Xuan, mastering its subtleties could unleash formidable power.

Its essence lay in the theory of Yin and Yang and the Great Ultimate, focusing on perfect control of force—whether generating power, dissipating it, or redirecting it against the opponent.

Though Qin Xuan and Watanabe exuded vastly different auras—one fierce and imposing, the other resilient and supple—their duel revealed Watanabe’s attacks were utterly ineffective, while Qin Xuan remained untouched.

Qin Xuan moved with grace and ease, exuding the demeanor of a grandmaster, drawing cheers from the surrounding students.

Watanabe launched more than a dozen strikes, all deftly neutralized by Qin Xuan’s skillful redirection. Apart from Luo Yinghua’s cheering squad, only the bettors on Watanabe still supported him.

“Damn, if only I hadn’t bet on that guy Watanabe. Now I’ve lost two hundred yuan,” one muttered.

“Two hundred? I bet two thousand! Damn that traitor,” another cursed.

“Haha, fools. Serves you right for not being patriotic,” someone teased.

Tai Chi swordsmanship’s power and control allowed Qin Xuan to effortlessly dismantle Watanabe’s relentless assault.

Watanabe’s expression darkened, a hint of apprehension flickering on his handsome face. “Hmph, Qin Xuan. Your sword style is indeed defensively impressive, but defeating me won’t be so easy.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Qin Xuan replied lightly, the answer implicit.

Tai Chi swordsmanship wasn’t merely defensive; its offensive capabilities were even more remarkable.

Watanabe seemed to dismiss Qin Xuan’s swordsmanship as lacking attack power and ceased his offensive maneuvers, assuming a stance to face Qin Xuan head-on.

Qin Xuan was unsurprised. With a slight smile, he stepped forward, naturally executing a sword-thrusting motion, the tip of the sheath slicing swiftly along his right arm.

Clang!

Watanabe raised his bamboo sword and easily blocked the strike.

“Try again,” Qin Xuan invited.

A trace of disdain flashed in Watanabe’s eyes, convinced the sword style was all defense and weak offense.

Qin Xuan remained unhurried, sidestepping and drawing his sword sheath in a graceful arc, followed by a sweeping strike.

The two movements came so fast that Watanabe could barely react, hastily raising his bamboo sword to defend—but before he could, Qin Xuan’s sheath struck his waist with a soft “pop.”

“More?” Qin Xuan asked with a faint, enigmatic smile, casually wielding the sheath to launch wave after wave of Tai Chi sword techniques—seemingly gentle but lightning-fast, soft yet deadly.

Parrying, slicing, lifting, blocking...

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Each strike landed with precision, Watanabe powerless to resist under Qin Xuan’s relentless onslaught.

Had Qin Xuan not withdrawn the Tai Qing sword sheath, Watanabe would have been struck to death many times over.

The watching students gaped in disbelief.

What was this? The esteemed president of the Kendo club was being overwhelmed without a single counterattack? Was this really the same dominant, arrogant Watanabe they knew?

Watanabe grew increasingly alarmed, cold sweat streaming down his body.

He had never imagined that this Chinese swordsman before him could be so formidable.