Monarch Night
Chapter 55 - 20: Win or Lose, We Are Friends

Chapter 55: Chapter 20: Win or Lose, We Are Friends

Fang Che nodded repeatedly and said, "Thank you, Brother Ding, for valuing and understanding me."

He sighed deeply and said, "Regarding the incident with Ximen Xuri before, I will not offer any defense. Right or wrong, true or false, it’s completely pointless to talk about it now. But I sincerely do not wish for such bloody events to happen again."

He turned solemnly and faced the two instructors, his voice deep and heavy: "Teachers, I have a blade technique that, if pushed to the extreme, will instantly evaporate all the blood energy in my body and increase my combat strength several times. However, once this move is used, I cannot control its power!"

"I cannot completely control the outcome."

Fang Che looked at the two instructors earnestly and expectantly.

The instructors exchanged glances and nodded, saying, "Rest assured, if Brother Ding is overwhelmed, we will intervene immediately and prevent any tragedy."

Fang Che nodded gratefully and bowed, "Thank you, teachers."

He then turned to Ding Jie Ran, apologizing, "Brother Ding, please don’t mind me. I don’t look down on you. It’s just that this move is truly sinister and overbearing, and my current cultivation is quite weak."

Upon hearing this, Ding Jie Ran felt even more of Fang Che’s sincerity, and nodded slowly, his face stiff, "I don’t blame you."

After thinking, feeling that he had been too cold while Fang Che had always been friendly, he spoke again: "If it really comes to that moment, I will admit defeat. However, I might not necessarily be unable to withstand it!"

That sentence was quite lengthy.

Fang Che guessed this must have been the longest sentence Ding Jie Ran had said in a year.

Thus, he nodded and laughed heartily, saying, "Brother Ding, remember, regardless of winning or losing..."

Ding Jie Ran’s stern face broke into a slight smile as he continued, "We are friends!"

As he said this, his usually silent eyes suddenly brightened.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Fang Che laughed loudly, his arms shaking, and his black cloak with dark golden patterns flew out like a dark cloud.

A flash of sword light.

A long sword in hand.

Opposite, a clanging sound as sword qi surged.

Fang Che’s eyes flashed, immediately recalling the information given by Sun Yuan: Ding Jie Ran, Innate Sword Bone, cold personality, difficult to approach, seldom smiles, usually goes a whole day without speaking.

Ding Jie Ran’s sword was exceptionally sharp.

But having observed several of Ding Jie Ran’s battles, Fang Che always felt there was something off.

In his past life, he had experienced countless battles, and at a glance, he could see that Ding Jie Ran definitely had something hidden.

Because he had seen many people with Innate Sword Bone.

Ding Jie Ran’s swordsmanship was indeed outstanding. However, compared to the breathtaking and peer-pressure-dominating presence of Innate Sword Bone, there was still a gap!

"If he really is an Innate Sword Bone, it’s impossible for him to have only this level of skill. If not possessing Innate Sword Bone, it’s not so easy for a common Shi Family youth to cultivate to this extent!"

"So if something is abnormal, there must be monsters!"

Fang Che gathered up his spirits.

He unsheathed Sun Yuan’s Juan di Blade Technique, impervious to wind and rain.

Below, everyone’s faces looked somewhat strange.

They all had a look that seemed to say, ’Have I seen this episode before?’

Because the current situation was exactly like the previous battle between Fang Che and Ximen Xuri.

Almost identical.

Fang Che again found himself at a disadvantage.

Once again being suppressed.

The same three parts offense to seven parts defense, struggling to hold on.

Many senior martial artists of Grandmaster Realm and even higher levels of General Level and Marshal Level murmured to themselves: This kid, he’s not going to play out the last episode again, is he?

Endless streams of sword light and chilling, bone-piercing sword qi!

The two tumbled and rolled, and in the blink of an eye, hundreds of moves were exchanged on the platform.

Suddenly, with a loud clang,

Sword and saber collided, sparks flying everywhere.

Fang Che, indeed relying on brute force, forced a strike and opened the distance. Then with a loud shout, he leaped into the air.

His saber light suddenly expanded, spilling down like quicksilver.

It was the renowned ’Flying Heaven Saber Technique’ developed by Sun Yuan.

From this set of techniques came the name ’Flying Sky Saber King!’

"The blade technique is exquisite, but the potential of this technique is average, not counting as a high-level Combat Skill. However, it’s mastered extremely proficiently. Regarding this set of blade techniques, it has reached the pinnacle of perfection."

The two instructors stared at the field, internally assessing.

Clang, clang, clang...

A series of sounds of weapons clashing rang out, their swords colliding countless times.

Sparks continuously sprayed out.

The situation reversed in an instant.

Fang Che took a dominating nine-level offensive position, while Ding Jie Ran struggled desperately on the ground!

With a clang, the weapons collided again and Fang Che once again soared with his saber light, spiraling in mid-air.

The saber light was piercingly cold, like a long dragon descending from the sky.

"Well done!"

Ding Jie Ran roared, his usually stern and stiff face flashing with a trace of fervent combat excitement.

The long sword trembled, and a burst of sword flowers suddenly bloomed.

With a clang, Fang Che’s body soared again, plunging downwards.

Fang Che, resembling a flying bird, kept falling and rising repeatedly for half a quarter of an hour without his feet touching the ground!

It was merely the force of touching with the tip of the saber that was enough for him to take off and strike again!

Like a nimble eagle continuously attacking a rabbit on the ground.

The chilling saber light, at every moment, was a disaster of bloodshed!

He fiercely suppressed Ding Jie Ran.

Whenever Ding Jie Ran’s sword light showed a surge, he immediately pressed down with stronger force!

Fang Che dived, then dived again, and again.

He had to force out Ding Jie Ran’s hidden cards!

Otherwise, it would always be a concern on his mind.

Boom!

Another loud noise rang out as Ding Jie Ran staggered backward, his long sword now sporting a notch.

A long sword is ultimately a light and agile weapon, not suited for blunt, heavy clashes.

It was because Fang Che forcibly engaged in such brute competition, using a sword!

He had a natural advantage.

In a straight clash, the sword prevails over the blade.

Ding Jie Ran retreated, moving straight back fifteen zhangs until he reached the edge of the platform!

Then he suddenly switched actions: the sword shifted to his left hand!

With a push from both feet, the sword light suddenly soared into the sky.

The air hissed sharply as sword qi slashed across the void!

As Ding Jie Ran surged upward, he became like a bright sword bursting forth as if to pierce the white clouds!

Fang Che hovered in the sky, his eyes flashing momentarily.

Indeed, my guess was right. The trump card is here!

I knew that if this kid truly had an Innate Sword Bone, it couldn’t possibly just be the combat skill he’s shown now!

So, it’s the Left Handed Sword.

He’s a leftie!

Now that he had drawn out his opponent’s last resort, Fang Che no longer held back.

As the sword light soared, Fang Che roared, "Sword Performance Floating Tower!"

Controlling the sword light as well, he flew into the sky, shooting straight up seven zhangs!

Then he spun in the air!

The sword light traced a large circle in the air, leaving a clear mark, then flipped upside down, a towering mountain of swords formed in front of him, like a precious pagoda!

The tip of the pagoda kept forming below, while the body above grew thicker and sturdier!

A fierce murderous aura spread wildly.

With the might of thunder descending upon the earth, it crashed down ferociously!

The power of this strike even reached the level of the Wuzhong!

This sword technique, Floating Monastery Three Sabers, was learned by Fang Che in his past life; he had never used it because he had always wielded a sword.

Today, he executed the first move!

Even with an Innate Sword Bone, how could Ding Jie Ran stand against Fang Che, whose cultivation was now many times stronger? Moreover, this sword technique, brimming with killing intent, nearly engulfed Ding Jie Ran completely!

When the sword light and sword light collided, there were only two tinkling sounds before the long sword snapped.

The Floating Monastery Sabers fiercely crashed down!

Ding Jie Ran, holding the broken sword, staggered backward, his lifeless eyes bursting with fighting spirit, waving the broken sword to fend off the sword energy.

But clearly, he was already outmatched.

A trace of blood appeared on his body—signs that the sword energy had cut into his skin.

Soon, the broken sword was completely engulfed in the sword light.

Just as Ding Jie Ran seemed about to be utterly destroyed by Fang Che’s relentless assault,

Suddenly, a figure flashed by, an instructor appeared behind Ding Jie Ran, grabbing him by the collar and throwing him out, while stretching a hand forward.

He reached right into Fang Che’s sword light, two pale fingers, like a young girl playfully capturing butterfly wings, delicately pinched the sword tip.

Clang!

The long sword twisted in mid-air, like a snake with its vital part grasped.

The sword light suddenly vanished.

Fang Che, holding the sword, stopped upside down in mid-air.

The sword tip in the hands of the instructor.

After a brief standoff, Fang Che flipped and fell, his face covered in heavy sweat. He first exhaled deeply, dispelling the sword intent in his chest, and gratefully said, "Thank you, Teacher!"

The instructor released the sword tip with a smile, "The move you said was uncontrollable, it was this one, wasn’t it?"

"Yes."

Fang Che nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes filled with fervor as he looked at the instructor, "Teacher, you are amazing, just pinching it with two fingers... Thinking back on what I said before the fight, I feel quite embarrassed."

The instructor laughed, "How long have you been practicing Martial Arts? To have reached such a level of cultivation and mastery of this deadly combat skill, it’s clear you’ve really put in the hard work; at your age, I wasn’t as impressive as you."

"Teacher, you are too modest, there is still so much I need to improve!"

Fang Che said.

Then he turned to look at Ding Jie Ran, striding quickly over, "Brother Ding, are you alright?"

Ding Jie Ran, still unsettled, nodded, "I couldn’t withstand that strike."

"Good to hear you’re okay."

Fang Che said, laughing heartily, "Don’t forget our agreement. Regardless of winning or losing..."

Ding Jie Ran’s eyes flickered with struggle and hesitation, then he smiled and said, "Certainly, I won’t forget... Regardless of winning or losing, we are friends! In times of peril, we assist and shield each other!"

Unlike Fang Che’s sincerity and enthusiasm when saying these words; Ding Jie Ran, while saying ’regardless of winning or losing, we are friends! In times of peril, we assist and shield each other!’ paused at every word, his expression serious, his voice stiff and solemn.

Especially when speaking the last four words ’shield each other’, his voice was heavy, almost like making a vow.

And his lifeless eyes, as he uttered these words, ignited suddenly like flames.

This added a touch of color to his usually rigid and lifeless face.

Amidst Fang Che’s hearty laughter, there was a slap sound.

Two palms met in the air.

Fang Che’s face was openly sincere and cheerful.

Ding Jie Ran’s expression was stiff, with a hint of a forced smile.

It was somehow oddly warm.

Below the stage.

Mo Gan Yun jumped up and screamed, "Count me in!"

Followed by hearty laughter.

...