Sword Among Us

“I can see the essence of Shaolin’s Long Fist in your form. Not bad.”

Uncle Rong praised Happy in a calm tone before he suddenly shuffled forward. He went at Happy like a mountain and pushed his fingers tightly together before he went to strike Happy’s side with a seemingly slow attack that was actually very fast. Happy’s eyes lit up. He immediately deduced that this was Wudang Cotton Palm and moved his feet to execute a Warrior Monk’s Hand Flip.

Boom!

Their palms clashed firmly against each other in the air.

Golden Dragon Stretches Claw!

Happy instinctively used his chain attack. He was prepared to use the momentum to destroy Uncle Rong’s balance, but the latter just smiled faintly, brought his arm up, and tapped Happy’s arm while completely unbothered by Happy’s attack.

His arm trembled. The strength in his right hand as he stretched it to the butler instantly vanished, and Happy’s heart froze. He lowered his body without hesitation and delivered a front sweep kick that was quickly followed by a Combination Kick!

He had no idea what sort of realm Uncle Rong had reached, but he was definitely very powerful. Regardless of how great it was, his smile never vanished. When he was faced with Happy’s swift attack that was born from his quick wit, he remained relaxed. As if he had predicted this beforehand, he moved back, and Happy’s attack instantly landed on thin air.

‘He’s good.’

When his Combination Kick missed, Happy felt gloomy. Once he noticed that Uncle Rong used the chance to draw close to him again, Happy used a Python Flip in a moment of desperation and retreated several feet away. He put on a defensive stance.

In his previous life, Happy had sparred with his teachers before he finished his apprenticeship, but he was in Shaolin Temple at that time, and his sparring partner had been a normal young monk in charge of sweeping floors. This meant that Happy had never run into someone as difficult to handle as Uncle Rong.

With just three strikes, he was forced into a defensive stance. And earlier, he had arrogantly imagined what would happen if he won in a few exchanges.

Once his mindset changed, Happy instantly became solemn.

“You use your Shaolin’s Long Fist pretty well,” Uncle Rong praised him.

Then, he clenched his fists, and a fierce and strong presence exploded from him. His gaze focused, and he moved close in again. When Happy saw Uncle Rong’s skill, a great chill crept up his heart. Uncle Rong… used Shaolin’s Long Fist this time!

It was Shaolin’s Long Fist against Shaolin’s Long Fist.

“Perfect timing!” he cried out, and Happy raised his fists to receive his attack with his spirits roused!

There were no flamboyant moves whatsoever.

Bang!

His body trembled, and a power that did not lose to his own surged into his body from Uncle Rong’s body. He quickly changed his technique halfway through and executed a Sea Swallow Drinks Water to neutralize the attack. However, he did not expect that Uncle Rong would unclench his fist and strike him with abnormal nimbleness.

Uncle Rong changed to Wudang Cotton Palm, and the strength in his arm was once again struck away, scattering its power. Before Happy could react, Uncle Rong seized his right forearm in a tight grip.

It was the Golden Dragon Stretches Claw he had executed just moments ago!

Happy could not say anything about this. When he saw Uncle Rong’s profound smile close to his face before he suddenly disappeared, Happy suddenly had an idea and jumped into the air. He made it in time to avoid Uncle Rong’s front sweep kick, which he had copied from Happy, because immediately after that, he saw the shadows of his legs coming at him. It was the Combination Kick!

The chain attacks he had used before had been completely copied by Uncle Rong to deal with him.

However, Happy’s understanding toward Shaolin’s Long Fist was very great. In the face of the fierce shadows of the kicks coming at him, he did not move too quickly, but neither did he move slowly. He tapped one of the shadows and executed a Fish Backflips, followed by a Birds Enter Forest to land several feet away. He was relaxed and calm, and even Uncle Rong put on a faint surprised look when he saw this.

Together with Wudang Cotton Palm, they had exchanged more than ten moves, but no clear-cut result could be seen just yet.

Uncle Rong finally put away his smile.

“Again!”

He used Wudang Cotton Palm and Shaolin’s Long Fist while mixing in the occasional Emei Sect’s Thousand Leaves Palm. Uncle Rong’s offense became even fiercer, but Happy had already come to an understanding during their two encounters that they could change their techniques as they liked and form new combinations as they pleased. Hence, he no longer restricted himself to just Shaolin’s Long Fist.

“Ha!” Happy let out a cry that sounded like a dragon’s roar.

He moved using Eight Trigram Steps and executed Black Tiger Fist to get close to Uncle Rong. Once they exchanged a blow, Happy’s Warrior Monk’s Hand Flip was up against Uncle Rong’s gentle but strong Cotton Palm. Happy’s power was neutralized, but he went to seize Uncle Rong with his left hand…

The people watching by the sides discovered that Uncle Rong, who had always had the upper hand, had his arm seized by Happy.

The Murong Clan Lady’s eyes lit up.

However, Happy’s luck did not last long. Uncle Rong’s hand was like a snake whip. He easily removed himself from Happy’s grip, and with a gentle palm strike, he pushed Happy several steps away.

Once he regained his footing after considerable effort, Happy quickly calmed down his surging blood and qi. His eyes sparkled. He was so excited that it was reflected on his face. He had become completely serious. Even though he had combat experience from his previous life, this was the first time he lost to someone in terms of skills. How could he not be excited?

“Again!”

The two of them moved at the same time.

Boom!

More people came to watch the fight, but they noticed that it was very difficult for them to see the techniques Happy and the butler used during their spar. The two of them moved extremely fast, and their attacks were growing fiercer by the blow. They would constantly change their techniques and attack multiple times. If one of them lowered their guard even for a moment, that someone would be at a disadvantage.

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Uncle Rong had unknowingly used a few martial arts from a few sects. The variations in his attacks were great, but every single time he gained a slight upper hand, that advantage would be immediately resolved by Happy. In fact, there was a danger that his moves would be countered and he would be suppressed.

The surprise on Uncle Rong’s face became greater, and he attacked more frequently while holding back even less.

Soon, they had exchanged more than fifty moves!

There were now a few palm prints on Happy’s blue robes. There was also blood at the corner of his lips, and his clothes were much wetter than before, as if he had just came out of water. However, the excitement on his face did not decrease; it only became greater.

Uncle Rong did not stop.

“This feels great!” Happy cried out, and he did not show any intention to stop as well. He changed between Black Tiger Fist and Shaolin’s Long Fist to handle different techniques and situations.

The more they fought, the more they enjoyed the fight!

More than ten minutes passed.

The people watched the fight with sparkling eyes, well aware that the two had exchanged fifty moves a long time ago. Their gazes went to the Murong Clan Lady, who stood outside the sparring circle with a gratified smile.

Finally, when Uncle Rong laughed, praised Happy, and told him that he passed the test, the two of them exchanged one last attack before jumping back several feet away from where they originally were.

Happy’s blue robes were already in tatters. There were a few claw marks and blood spots on them, along with a few foot marks. Uncle Rong was clean, but he was also panting slightly.

“Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Rong!”

In truth, the moment Uncle Rong jumped backwards, the system gave Happy multiple notifications to tell him that his Shaolin’s Long Fist and Black Tiger Fist had reached the highest level, Grandmaster Realm.

This unexpected surprise made Happy stunned for a moment before he quickly came to a realization and thanked Uncle Rong.

The man smiled and nodded slightly.

“Your Shaolin’s Long Fist and Black Tiger Fist have now reached a high and profound realm. I only agreed to the lady’s request to give you some pointers and train you. You should thank the lady.”

“Thank you, My Lady.” Happy turned around and faced the Murong Clan Lady.

“Alright.” The Murong Clan Lady was all smiles. “I personally taught you your martial arts, so you can be considered my disciple. This is something I should do, but I did not expect that you would pass Uncle Rong’s test so soon. When you go back, understand and digest what Uncle Rong told you. Also, this is your reward.”

As she spoke, she brought out a hollowed out silver box that exuded a faint refreshing fragrance as if she had performed a magic trick. “There is a Spirit Storing Pill in there. It was created by the master of Five Terrace Mountain. It has the amazing effect of improving your innate affinity and developing your wisdom. I will give this to you.”

‘Spirit Storing Pill?!’

Happy quivered, and shock appeared on his face.

“Thank you, My Lady.”

Under the crowd’s surprised and envious gazes, he received the hollowed out silver box while unable to calm his heart.

The Spirit Storing Pill was a sacred medicine that was rumored to be able to strengthen innate statuses, and it had actually appeared as a reward during the early stages of the game for a new player? Was it because of how blessed the Murong Clan was due to their status as a famous clan, or was it because of Uncle Rong?

“Come with me to the backyard. It is time for you to understand some of Murong Clan’s martial arts.” The Murong Clan Lady turned around and left.