Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to Secular Life Chapter Seventy-Six: Meeting Li Bai Again...

Three figures hurried through the darkness, their movements swift and furtive. Among them, a bald head gleamed conspicuously, a beacon in the night. Beneath that shining dome was a robe, garishly colored in the style of a monk, like a firefly in the blackness.

Walking along the street, Qin Xuanxuan’s gaze was instantly drawn to the bald head. Her brows knit together as she muttered under her breath, “Xiao Yan? What’s he doing?” Without hesitation, she followed after them. Her skilled bodyguard, ever vigilant, trailed behind her.

Ahead, the trio vaulted over a wall and came to a halt before the Lin family’s granary. “Could they be planning to steal grain? That’s impossible… Even the great hero Li Bai would need dozens of top-tier experts to attempt such a thing…” Qin Xuanxuan whispered anxiously, hurrying after them.

The little monk, robed in a riot of colors, approached the wagon. A faint smile played on his lips as he brandished a wooden spoon. “Yuanfang, you joined us a bit late. Tonight, your master will teach you a secret technique from our family of dung diggers!” Xiao Yan declared solemnly, spoon in hand.

“Alright!” Chen Buqun nodded gravely, eyes shining with excitement. Chen Shuwan watched Xiao Yan with anticipation, recalling how in the brothel Xiao Yan had defeated a skilled black-clad assassin with nothing but his sharp tongue. Clearly, his martial prowess was formidable.

“This move is called ‘Dancing Wind Soaring Sky’! Watch me—left hand, right hand, slow movements!” Xiao Yan raised the spoon, scooped a generous amount from a wooden bucket, and swept it in a half circle.

Chen Buqun, perplexed, mimicked him. Yet the action felt strangely embarrassing. The next moment, the spoon in Xiao Yan’s hand seemed to ignite…

“This is the moment when utmost caution is needed. If you’re not careful, the contents will fly onto others… Your senior brother Lin Dong washed clothes for days after learning this…” Xiao Yan continued, swinging the spoon forcefully.

With a thunderous burst, the spoon’s contents shot forth like a fiery phoenix, heading straight for the granary.

“Master… you still managed to spill it on me…” Chen Buqun protested.

“Oh, that was intentional. Fairness, after all—I can’t let you miss out.” Xiao Yan replied.

“…”

………………………

“Idiots! What are you doing?” At last, Qin Xuanxuan stepped out, pinching her nose and cursing.

“Damn… Miss, you’re relentless…” Xiao Yan muttered quietly.

“What is this nonsense? That’s food for people! Why would you do such a thing?” Qin Xuanxuan pointed angrily at the now-yellowed grain, her fury uncontained.

She gestured toward Chen Shuwan and Chen Buqun. “You two are joining his madness? Have you lost your minds?”

“Haha… It’s true, the grain is meant for people. But by doing this, only some will eat it! At least, not the families of power…” Xiao Yan replied with a smile.

“You… you’re impossible! The great hero Li Bai has already set out. He has his ways! There’s no need for you to waste food like this!” Qin Xuanxuan strode over, scolding furiously.

“Oh… Li Bai… We saw him just now…” Xiao Yan frowned, continuing, “He seemed to be fighting some arrogant fellow… looked pretty formidable…”

“You… What do you know?” Every time Qin Xuanxuan encountered Xiao Yan, she felt a near-irresistible urge to strike him—so smug and self-assured.

“Haha, believe it or not, go over there and see for yourself.” Xiao Yan nodded toward the distant rooftop. Then, as if recalling something, he awkwardly produced an object from his robe and handed it to her. “Here, I’m returning this… Sorry, my hand was quick and grabbed too much…”

A pink garment fluttered in Xiao Yan’s hand, drawing everyone’s gaze.

“What is…” Qin Xuanxuan frowned, recognizing the missing undergarment she’d been searching for days. Instinctively, she reached for it—but paused.

The eyes around her burned with intensity. The atmosphere was painfully awkward.

Her hand froze mid-air, torn between propriety and necessity.

Chen Buqun widened his eyes, silently giving Xiao Yan a thumbs-up.

“Idiot! You…” Qin Xuanxuan finally snatched the pink undergarment and hastily tucked it away, her anger barely contained.

Just then, a commotion sounded from the rooftop.

Xiao Yan pointed, “Look!”

Not far away, the clash of weapons rang out. As expected, a white-robed hero soared through the night, leaping across rooftops. His opponent was a burly man wielding a blade as large as a person, blocking attack after attack.

The sword strikes grew ever fiercer. Yue Batdao could only defend, his laughter echoing despite the strain: “Haha… The world’s greatest swordsman lives up to his reputation! That’s the ‘Green Lotus Sword Song,’ isn’t it? Excellent!”

Li Bai remained silent, knowing he needed to end the fight quickly, lest Chen Bufan’s side falter.

“Quite the lion’s potential… haha… Too bad you’ve chosen the wrong opponent!” Yue Batdao sneered coldly, hurling his massive blade aside.

With a thunderous crash, the giant blade smashed a hole into the rooftop.

Yue Batdao then drew a small, silvery-gray knife from within his robe—a dagger about twelve inches long, shaped like a miniature sword.

His form flickered, now far more agile, and in the next instant, he was behind Li Bai.

A hiss—the dagger traced a deep wound across Li Bai’s back. Blood erupted like fireworks, painting the night crimson.

“Haha… Everyone thinks I only wield big blades. But the night suits me best. The Yue family isn’t meant for the spotlight; only in darkness do we thrive, stalking our prey… The big blade is just a façade…” Yue Batdao said softly, darting to Li Bai’s side again.

Between masters, internal strength hardly mattered; their limits were capped, neither possessing the kind of force-altering techniques Chen Bufan wielded.

Thus, victory depended solely on the superiority of their skills.

“Green Lotus Sword Song—Sunset!”

Li Bai’s sword pointed directly at Yue Batdao’s heart.

A killing move within a killing move; when the enemy thinks they've evaded or blocked the attack, that's when death strikes. Hence, its name: “Sunset,” the despair of the end.

Since switching to the small knife, Yue Batdao’s eyes sharpened like a hound’s.

The dagger sliced through the night like a meteor.

Yue Batdao hadn’t faced such a formidable opponent in ages; his hand trembled with excitement.

A final move marks respect for a worthy adversary. Yue Batdao dared not hold back: “Haha, everyone knows me as Yue Batdao, but they don’t realize this is the name of my little knife—none have ever seen it. Li, you’re the first!”

His movements were light as air; even the famed assassin Ge Luocha would be insignificant before him.

Sparks and blood flew.

A scream of agony pierced the tranquil night.

The moon was cleaved in two by Batdao’s blade, and a bloodied arm spun through the air, left alone and forlorn.

Blood stained the moonlight; moonlight blurred the blood.

The duel of the world’s greatest warriors…

Yue Batdao stood atop the eaves, bent and battered, a gaping wound slashed across his chest. Blood streamed down, dripping onto the tiles and trickling along the rooftop.

Li Bai’s face was deathly pale; his left arm gone, his right sleeve vanished. The sword-wielding hand plummeted into the brook below, dyeing the waters red.

Yue Batdao had severed his entire arm.

The right hand was his sword hand—without it, Li Bai was finished.

Both hand and sword lost to the water, vanished from sight.

Perhaps, henceforth, the world’s greatest swordsman would fade from history as well.

“Haha… Li, you truly are unparalleled!” Yue Batdao pressed his wound, speaking coldly, “But from now on, the martial world will no longer know Li Bai. Yue Batdao will be first under heaven…”

The wind rattled the tiles. Li Bai’s face was ashen; he stepped forward, but blood loss and the absence of his arm threw off his balance and he collapsed onto the roof.

“I acknowledge defeat! My skills are lacking—I accept this without regret. Just promise me, Batdao, that you will save as many lives as possible. My own death means nothing!” Li Bai ceased struggling, his gaze calm as he addressed Yue Batdao.

Yue Batdao nodded and went to support Li Bai. “Very well! I give you my word!”

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