Naked Sword Art

"No reason, I just wanted to wish you luck. May the best girl win."

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Bai Fan understood Xue Li's words as she looked up at her. Supreme Elder Xue was not only Xue Li's grandmother, but also her Master, Bai Fan had no chance of beating her when it comes to inscriptions, but she wasn't the only one with a grandmother who was a Supreme Elder.

Leaving the Inscription Club, Bai Fan entered a different swordsman's club next. Zhao Pan saw her walk in but they exchanged no words.

'Something's different,' Zhao Pan thought.

Walking straight into her grandmother's office, Bai Fan saw no one but Chu Yan in the room. Seeing that Supreme Elder Song wasn't there, Bai Fan immediately asked Chu Yan where her grandmother was.

"You just missed her, she left maybe an hour ago."

Bai Fan's brows became knitted. She knew her grandmother wasn't the type to enjoy staying in the sect, but Bai Fan was impatient when she thought of Xue Li's words.

"Junior Bai, would you like me to pour you some tea?" Chu Yan asked.

"No, but please draw your sword. I would like to exchange pointers with you."

Chu Yan nearly choked as she drank, since when did Bai Fan become so brazen.

"Very well."

Chu Yan calmly took out her sword then reduced her cultivation to match hers. Seeing that, Bai Fan picked up one of the swords littered around the room then took on a battle ready stance.

"Come," Chu Yan said.

In the next moment, Bai Fan was in her face attacking as soon as she could.

"Impatient girl," Chu Yan said as they clashed.

Twisting her wrist, Chu Yan easily created an opening on Bai Fan, but instead of striking her, Chu Yan simply pushed her back.

"Steady blade, steady heart. That's what your grandmother likes to say," Chu Yan said.

As the fight continued, Chu Yan noticed Bai Fan making fewer mistakes.

'Seems she was just a little rusty earlier,' Chu Yan thought.

Bai Fan was getting quicker, stronger, and a little more precise. From the way she was fighting now, Chu Yan was nearly convinced Bai Fan was good enough to join the official swordsmen team. But then it happened…

Suddenly, Bai Fan blew a narrow stream of cool air through her lips, then her eyes became sharp.

Chu Yan was a swordsman prodigy, even if she made a slight error, her body would instinctively correct it. However, at that moment she felt as if she was full of openings, and her body didn't move.

A smirk appeared on Chu Yan's face as she was closing her eyes and thought,

'I don't get many opportunities to practice this, but now's as good of a time as any.'

Bai Fan didn't know what changed but despite having her eyes closed at the very last moment, Chu Yan seemed like an immovable mountain, while she herself was nothing but an ant.

Bai Fan let out a torrent of attacks, but every single one was blocked, no advantage was gained, but worst of all Chu Yan hadn't even taken a step, she didn't even open her eyes.

She always knew the gap between them was great, but she didn't know what to make of this. Bai Fan finally understood why she took Chu Yan as her direct disciple.

However, just as Bai Fan was starting to acknowledge Chu Yan as a peerless genius, she suddenly made a mistake, or rather, she didn't react as quickly as she should have.

Unable to block the attack with her sword, Chu Yan finally took a step back, the blade just barely grazed her face, but it did cut a single strand of her hair.

Chu Yan finally sheathed her sword then clasped her fist at her before opening her eyes again.

"She fights well," Chu Yan said.

Bai Fan was confused, but understood when she heard the next words coming from behind her,

"I taught her everything she knows. But it seems she's been neglecting her training."

"Grandmother!" Bai Fan said as she turned around to face her.

"Chu Yan, leave us. I wish to speak to my granddaughter alone."

Chu Yan clasped her fists again then took her leave.

"Little Fan, what brings you here?" Supreme Elder Song asked.

"Grandmother, I wish to become your disciple again, I want to be strong like Chu Yan."

Supreme Elder Song had no problem making Bai Fan her direct disciple, but Chu Yan wasn't an ordinary girl. Even now, there were many things about her that were still a mystery.

"Little Fan, you know I have no problems making you my disciple, but I don't want you comparing yourself to Chu Yan. She's a couple years older than you, and her talents are unlike anyone I have ever encountered before."

Bai Fan had experienced it herself so she knew her grandmother wasn't exaggerating.

"I used the [ Flutter step ] technique once on her, but she blocked it without even looking. How was she able to do that?" Bai Fan asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine. I've been trying to figure it out for some time now, but it seems as though even she herself has no idea how she's able to do it. Some people are just born different I suppose."

[ Swordsmen instinct is a passive Divine Sword method skill that is gained through experience. ]

Thinking about it, Bai Fan remembered that Xiao Fang would always fight with a blindfold on, even today in Ancestral Training Ground he wore one while fighting alongside her and Zhao Pan. What Bai Fan didn't realize was that her Grandmother was thinking about the same person at that moment. Looking around her room, she finally realized his clone wasn't there.

"Wait, where did that boy go?" she said next, realizing Xiao Fang's clone was missing.

Leaving the office room to find Chu Yan, Supreme Elder Song quickly asked where Xiao Fang's clone was.

"He returned back to his guildhouse. He said he had stuff to do," Chu Yan replied.

"That damn boy," she cursed under her breath.

She wanted to go find him, but she didn't have a lot of time till she needed to meet up with Supreme Elder Quan again in an hour. Thinking about dropping the matter, Bai Fan suddenly interjected.

"Mother, could you be talking about disciple Long Wang?"

"Little fan, do you know him?"

"I do, if grandmother would like, I can take you to his guild."

Supreme Elder Song found Bai Fan's reaction a bit strange. She was starting to think there was something more to the matter, but she didn't let her suspicions show.

"My little granddaughter is so well informed about her fellow disciples. Good, good. Lead the way, and tell me everything you know about that man."

Chu Yan was also curious so she tagged along.

Bai Fan didn't know why she spoke up so suddenly, but she couldn't deny the part of her that wanted to go see Xiao Fang again.

Seeing them leave, Zhao Pan decided to leave as well. Bowing to her sparring partner, Zhao Pan took her leave. Yao Yin saw that and then decided to do the same.