Chapter 25: Give Me the Sword

Bang!

A powerful wave of energy burst out from the two at the center, spreading rapidly and shaking loose the leaves from the trees. Jade True Master was sent flying backward in disarray, gouging a long track in the earth before he managed to steady himself. His sword hand trembled uncontrollably.

Where once his hair was neatly bound, it now fell in disarray. Beads of sweat covered his brow, with several strands of hair clinging tightly to his forehead. His once pristine Daoist robes were now tattered, stained red where blood streamed from his wounds and pooled beneath him.

The potent and vigorous aura that had surrounded him was now greatly diminished, exhausted by the fierce battle. Jade True Master could honestly say this was the most humiliating moment of his life.

Yet he felt no regret. As the old saying goes, “To die beneath the peony is still a romantic fate.”

With this thought, he forced himself to focus, casting his gaze on Crane Among the Clouds.

The latter stood poised with his sword, left hand clasped behind his back, exuding the bearing of a martial grandmaster. His own robes were also ragged, but his aura remained powerful and undiminished, as if the previous battle had left him wholly unscathed.

In comparison, the difference between them was like heaven and earth.

Seeing Jade True Master’s sorry state, satisfaction flickered in Crane Among the Clouds’ eyes—the power of the Extinction Crossblade had exceeded his expectations.

But since it was a blade technique, he needed to find a suitable blade soon; he couldn’t keep wielding a sword as a substitute. It simply wouldn’t do—there would be no prestige in it. If word got out, he’d become a laughingstock. How could Crane Among the Clouds hold his head up in the martial world?

Right now, the most important thing was to kill Jade True Master. The iron sword in his hand was the token of the Iron Sword Sect. Acquiring it would allow him to trade with Mu Sang for the secret manual of the Ever-Changing Divine Steps.

Jade True Master kept a close eye on Crane Among the Clouds’ every move. Noticing his gaze fall on the iron sword, he grew even more vigilant. His sword hand ceased trembling as he gripped the hilt with both hands, exuding the fierce resolve that no one would take the sword from him unless they stepped over his corpse.

Crane Among the Clouds’ martial skills were simply too formidable; Jade True Master was no match for him. Dragging this out would only lead to his inevitable death.

The thought flickered through his mind, and he began to consider retreat.

Moreover, Jade True Master had a vague sense that Crane Among the Clouds’ motives went beyond avenging Ah Zi. It seemed he wanted something from him.

Of all the things on his person, nothing was more valuable than the Iron Sword Sect’s leadership token.

After much deliberation, Jade True Master finally chose to yield. He looked at Crane Among the Clouds, cupped his hands, and said, “Brother Crane, I was in the wrong today. Here, I offer my apologies to Miss Ah Zi.”

With that, he bowed respectfully to Ah Zi.

“Jade True Master, a true man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. You’ve taken that to the extreme today,” Crane Among the Clouds said mockingly, seeing that Jade True Master was seeking a way out and no longer wished to tangle with him.

Jade True Master wished it could be otherwise. If anyone of lesser skill had come, he would have killed them outright without another word. But that was not the case today. If he didn’t show weakness and yield, his life would be forfeit.

And then how could he enjoy the pleasures of life in the afterlife?

Crane Among the Clouds cast a sidelong glance at Jade True Master. “You bullied my woman, and you must pay the price. Otherwise, if word gets out, where would my reputation be?”

His meaning was clear—he wanted compensation.

Jade True Master seethed with anger but dared not show the slightest discontent. There was no choice; under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head.

Given the chance in the future, Jade True Master swore to repay today’s humiliation a hundredfold.

The problem now was that he didn’t know exactly what Crane Among the Clouds wanted. He dared not speak rashly, lest the other demand something outrageous.

Seeing Jade True Master’s silence, Crane Among the Clouds understood his calculations but did not call him out.

Whatever he wanted, he would take—willingly given or not.

That’s just how domineering he was.

He had the strength to back it up, after all.

“I see you have a fine sword in your hand. I happen to be lacking a weapon myself. Give me the sword as a token of apology.”

Jade True Master’s expression tightened. His earlier suspicions were right—Crane Among the Clouds’ true aim was the iron sword.

He immediately turned a wary gaze on Crane Among the Clouds, shifting into a defensive stance.

“So you refuse.”

Crane Among the Clouds showed no anger at the refusal, only an inscrutable smile.

“I can agree to any other conditions, but you’ll never get this sword!”

Jade True Master’s gaze darted around, searching for a chance to escape.

From the start, his feigned submission had been a ploy—to buy time for his inner power to recover, and to lull Crane Among the Clouds into lowering his guard.

“In that case, I’ll have to take it myself.”

Crane Among the Clouds lifted his sword and strode slowly toward Jade True Master.

“Wait!” Panic flashed in Jade True Master’s eyes. Even at his peak, he was no match for Crane Among the Clouds. Now, with less than half his strength recovered, he had no hope at all.

Crane Among the Clouds paused as requested.

Nearby, Ah Zi saw through Jade True Master’s ploy—he was only stalling, hoping to escape. She cried out, “Brother Crane, he’s just buying time! Hurry and deal with him!”

Crane Among the Clouds turned to her with a faint smile. “What are you worried about? His skills are far beneath mine. Do you really think he could escape from me?”

Ah Zi was momentarily stunned, realizing that Crane Among the Clouds had seen through everything and was merely enjoying a cat-and-mouse game.

“Sorry about this,” Crane Among the Clouds said, spreading his hands helplessly. “I was going to play along a while longer, but Ah Zi ruined the mood. Do try to cooperate—you’ll only suffer less that way.”

He wore a mocking grin, completely indifferent to the darkening expression on Jade True Master’s face.

With things as they were, Jade True Master had no choice but to fight with everything he had.

His gaze fell on Ah Zi beneath the tree. Since Crane Among the Clouds cared so much for her, using her as leverage might be his only way out.

In a flash, Jade True Master became a blur, his hand curved into a claw as he lunged for Ah Zi.

He was too fast. Ah Zi’s pressure points had been sealed, leaving her unable to move. She could only close her eyes, waiting to be taken hostage, forced to become a bargaining chip.

She wondered if Crane Among the Clouds would really compromise for her sake.

But the pain she anticipated never came.

Slowly, she opened her eyes