The Qingyun Guild wasn't far from the Kunlun Guild.
At this moment, Jiang Kai was lying on a bed. The doctors in the guild had already treated his injuries.
"Ahh…" A sigh came from inside the room.
Jiang Kai looked utterly hopeless.
He had just come for a matchmaking meeting, yet somehow, things had spiraled into a direction he had never imagined.
The ancient martial arts world was indeed powerful—the Seven-Star Formation used by that Wu Sheng had completely opened Jiang Kai's eyes.
Maybe, someday in the future, if he had the chance, Jiang Kai would like to learn some ancient martial arts techniques himself to improve his combat ability.
But the problem was—this time, he had come to fight for his own happiness, and yet, the Qingyun elders had directly withdrawn him from the competition.
And now, he was even impersonating "Han Yi."
If this were discovered, he would probably be hunted down by the entire ancient martial world.
"I knew Brother Zhu would get me into trouble, but I didn't expect him to screw me over this badly!" Jiang Kai sighed.
Just then, there was noise outside the door. A group of over a dozen people pushed the door open and came to Jiang Kai's bedside.
"Master, Han Yi used the Nine Heavens Execution Sword—the strike that breaks through the Nine Heavens!" Elder Wan said excitedly.
The man they called "Master" looked to be in his sixties. His age showed, but his face was kind and gentle.
Jiang Kai noticed—there was no Temple of War badge on his chest.
"Yi'er, you used the strike that breaks through the Nine Heavens?!" the old man stared hard at Jiang Kai, his voice trembling. "Is that true?"
Jiang Kai's head ached terribly—how was he supposed to answer that?
After thinking it over carefully, he decided to tell the truth.
The matchmaking was over anyway. There was no reason for him to keep impersonating someone else.
Especially when he saw the excitement and hope in these Qingyun Sect members' eyes—he couldn't bear to lie to them anymore.
Once he'd decided, Jiang Kai got out of bed, stood before everyone, and said to the old man, "You must be the Qingyun Guild's president. Senior, elders—my apologies. I'm not Han Yi. I only used his identity to participate in the martial arts matchmaking."
The moment Jiang Kai finished speaking, the entire room went silent. The disbelief in everyone's eyes made the pressure on him almost unbearable.
Elder Wan stared at him in shock. After a long moment, he finally spoke in a trembling voice: "You really… impersonated him? Then… why would you impersonate a fellow sect member?"
Elder Wan likely thought at least Jiang Kai was a member of Qingyun Sect.
But since he had chosen to tell the truth, Jiang Kai couldn't deceive them any further.
"Elder Wan, I'm not from Qingyun Sect," Jiang Kai said solemnly. "I'm sorry for using one of your disciples' identities to compete, and thank you for treating my injuries."
"Impossible!" an elder suddenly shouted, startling Jiang Kai.
"You must be from Qingyun Sect! Otherwise, how could you use the Nine Heavens Execution Sword? Everyone saw it with their own eyes! Didn't he use it?"
"Yes! Though the form was a bit different, that final strike was definitely from the Nine Heavens Execution Sword!"
"The moves themselves don't matter. Disciples from other sects can mimic the gestures—but they can't capture the essence!"
Jiang Kai was speechless.
"Everyone, I… I secretly learned a few moves from the Nine Heavens Execution Sword, but the last attack I used wasn't from it!"
"If it wasn't the Nine Heavens Execution Sword, then what was it?"
"I used the Moonlit Immortal Trace Sword!" Jiang Kai said anxiously. "I learned it from Ghost Star."
"How could that be! Your explanation is too far-fetched—how could a sword technique from Ghost Star be identical to our Qingyun Sect's sword art?" the elders protested.
"This sword style was created by our ancestor, the 'Three-Sword Master.' The Qingyun Sect's lineage has lasted for hundreds—if not a thousand—years!"
Jiang Kai felt helpless. He didn't understand either—why was the Moonlit Immortal Trace Sword he used so similar to Qingyun Sect's Nine Heavens Execution Sword?
With so many elders confirming it, they couldn't all be wrong.
"I—I really can't explain it. I just obtained this sword technique and learned it. As for why it resembles your sect's sword art, how would an outsider like me know?"
At that moment, the Qingyun Master, who had remained silent the whole time, raised his hand, stopping the elders' debate.
"You all leave first. I'll speak with him alone. Guard the door. No one is to approach."
Hearing this command, though reluctant, the elders withdrew one by one. The last one closed the door behind him.
Only Jiang Kai and the old man were left in the room.
After a long silence, the old man sighed deeply.
"I thought Qingyun Sect had finally produced a true genius… what a pity. Little brother, sit down."
Jiang Kai sat down and looked at him.
The old man said, "We haven't introduced ourselves yet. My name is Zhou Chu. I'm the sixty-eighth-generation master of the Qingyun Sect—and also the president of the Qingyun Guild here on Ghost Star."
"President Zhou, I'm Jiang Kai."
"Jiang Kai… that name sounds familiar." Zhou Chu seemed not very up-to-date with current affairs—he just muttered the comment casually. "Well then, little brother, can you tell me why you impersonated Han Yi?"
By now, Jiang Kai could only explain his motives honestly.
Of course, he left out the part about Zhu Hai arranging things behind the scenes.
After finishing, Jiang Kai took off the monkey mask on his face. "President Zhou, I was wrong to use your sect's disciple's identity. I'm willing to accept your punishment. But I truly am not one of your people, and I don't want to keep using this identity to deceive you or take advantage of Qingyun Sect." He spoke sincerely.
Zhou Chu, after all, knew Han Yi personally. When Jiang Kai removed the mask, everything became clear.
"Put the mask back on. To everyone else, you're still Han Yi. Otherwise, even if Qingyun Sect forgives you, the other sects won't." Zhou Chu said calmly.
"But… I don't want to keep pretending to be Han Yi," Jiang Kai said awkwardly.
Zhou Chu smiled slightly. "You came for that young lady, didn't you? If you reveal your identity now, won't all your efforts go to waste?"
Jiang Kai froze.
Zhou Chu went on, "Besides, even if you're not a disciple of our current generation, you are still one of Qingyun Sect's people. Naturally, I must protect you."
"Ah?" Jiang Kai was completely stunned.
Seeing his confusion, Zhou Chu explained, "You don't understand? Then try using your Moonlit Immortal Trace Sword again. No need to charge up your energy—just a few moves."
Jiang Kai nodded and stood up, performing the technique once.
After watching for a moment, Zhou Chu fell into thought. When he finally spoke, his tone was firm.
"As I thought—the Moonlit Immortal Trace Sword and the Nine Heavens Execution Sword share the same origin."
"You said you found this technique in the Hidden Map of Area 18, in the Valley of Immortal Traces, where you saw someone dancing with a sword under the moonlight, and then discovered the complete Moonlit Immortal Trace Sword manual?"
"That's right."
"Then look—like this."
Zhou Chu stood, drew his sword, and began to move gracefully across the room.
Jiang Kai was shocked as he watched.
The swordsmanship Zhou Chu used was strikingly similar to what he had seen back then! And Zhou Chu's movements felt almost the same as that moonlit figure's.
When the demonstration ended, Zhou Chu stopped and looked at Jiang Kai.
"It's really similar!" Jiang Kai couldn't help exclaiming. "But with all due respect, the person dancing under the moon—their moves were even smoother than yours, Senior."
Zhou Chu smiled. "Of course. The Moonlit Immortal Trace Sword is superior to the Nine Heavens Execution Sword."
"Then that settles it!" Zhou Chu said. "The one you saw dancing under the moon was a member of Qingyun Sect. Since you learned swordsmanship from him, that makes you a disciple of Qingyun Sect as well."
Jiang Kai's eyes widened. The Moonlit Immortal Trace Sword… came from an ancient martial sect?
"But, Senior, do you know who that person dancing under the moon was?"
"I don't. But it must have been a senior of our lineage."
"Your senior?"
Zhou Chu nodded. "Likely an ancestor from a few generations back. After all, ancient martial culture had already fallen into decline long before Ghost Star appeared. Take the Nine Heavens Execution Sword, for example—by this generation, it's little more than form without essence. It's the emergence of Ghost Star's true energy attributes that has given ancient martial arts new life."
"The true Nine Heavens Execution Sword was lost long ago. The swordsmanship you saw—so far beyond mine—must belong to one of our earliest predecessors."
"That's impossible!" Jiang Kai said. "Ghost Star has only existed for fifty years, while Qingyun Sect has been around for centuries. There shouldn't have been a Ghost Star back then."
Zhou Chu replied, "That's what puzzles me too. But tell me—why do you think it's called 'Ghost' Star? Perhaps it's not simply because of the demonic beasts and monsters found here."
"Our understanding of Ghost Star… is still far too limited."
Jiang Kai froze, lost in thought.
[T/N: I have released a new novels set on Type-Moon universe: "Playboy Watchman of Camelot". Search it by name, it is not in this account. Do give it a try. Have a great read~ I have also pinned it below.]
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