"Mr. Bai Luan, are you referring to the promotional video?"
"Yeah, I think it's about time."
Yanqing couldn't help but want to remind Bai Luan.
You haven't even been learning the sword for half a month.
And if you subtract the time spent on making songs, filming videos, and various miscellaneous tasks back at the Space Station, the time you've actually spent practicing the sword is probably less than a week.
Judging by the level of swordsmanship corresponding to the questions Bai Luan asked last time, facing him directly would likely be a bit strenuous...
Was he supposed to believe that Bai Luan had improved his Swordsmanship enough in that pitifully short amount of time to hold his own against him?
But when the words reached his lips, and Yanqing swallowed them back down.
In his eyes, Bai Luan wasn't the type of person to propose something if he wasn't confident.
Since Bai Luan said he felt the time had come, it meant he had a certain level of confidence.
And Bai Luan himself was a genius; the shocks he had given him before were everywhere, and it had indeed been a few days since the last consultation...
Well, he believed Mr. Bai Luan had already raised his level enough in those few days to face him... right?
When Yanqing reached this ridiculous conclusion in his head, his own gaze became clear.
Practicing the sword for a few days and then facing him without any problems?
Is that right?
That can't be right, can it?
Can this even be explained?
I'm clearly doing a serious analysis, so how did I reach such a ridiculous conclusion?
Yanqing glanced at Bai Luan.
He... He wouldn't have really improved to the point of being able to face him in that time, would he?
Damn it, even though it's clearly absurd, why does it feel like he can actually do it!?
Bai Luan noticed Yanqing's gaze and returned a harmless look.
He certainly knew what was going on in Yanqing's head, but he didn't plan to explain.
Or rather, he didn't need to explain; by keeping his mouth shut, his identity as a genius would explain everything for him.
At the thought of his decades of painstaking sword practice in the Little Black Room, only to be called a natural talent by outsiders who didn't know the truth, he wanted to laugh.
Can I even be called a natural talent?
Bai Luan had no doubt that if Yanqing were given the same amount of time, Lan would appointed him as a general...
It was precisely because he knew how hard it was for him to achieve these things that Bai Luan maintained a sense of awe for those who could do it all in a shorter time.
To put it bluntly,
They are the real natural talents, okay?
And the existence of the Little Black Room allowed him to face this gap calmly and catch up in his own way.
Although the Little Black Room had caused him some mental exhaustion at first... but that topic was in the past.
It's all thanks to the great Knight of Beauty, Argenti; a few short words directly cured my mental exhaustion.
Bai Luan coughed a few times, pulling his attention back to reality, and spoke:
"I know what you're thinking. No need to worry too much; I know what I'm doing."
As he spoke, Bai Luan held not white and, casually performed a set of sword moves.
The sword light flowed, and the sound of the blade cutting through the air was constant. The movements were smooth and sharp, fast and steady, without any of the awkwardness of a beginner.
Then, with a neat flourish, he swung not white behind his back.
"Good!"
A crisp sound of clapping rang out.
Yanqing and Bai Luan looked towards the sound and saw March 7th clapping her hands vigorously with a look of admiration, her eyes shining.
Yunli, beside her, had her arms crossed and was looking at her with a half-smile:
"Where are your eyes looking while you're practicing?"
"Uh..."
March 7th's clapping instantly froze.
Seeing Yunli begin to re-educate the distracted March 7th on the grounds that focus is the foundation of the way of the sword, while March 7th had a distressed expression as if saying 'Master, please stop.' Yanqing and Bai Luan tacitly looked away.
"Anyway."
Bai Luan continued.
"Our goal is to film a promotional video that can attract people to the Martial Arts Ceremony. That was also my original intention for practicing the sword, not to truly compete for superiority with you. With my current level, it should be enough for the filming; there's no need to blindly pursue depth and refinement anymore."
Yanqing stared at Bai Luan for a while without speaking.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I just feel that the 'enough' in Mr. Bai Luan's words might be different from the 'enough' I'm thinking of."
"Then let me unify the standard."
Hearing this, Bai Luan spread his hands and said:
"My 'enough' means—even if you go all out, you won't be able to hurt me."
Yanqing was silent at first, then a smile of relief mixed with sharpness appeared at the corner of his lips, and the confusion and hesitation in his eyes were entirely replaced by a soaring fighting spirit.
"Although Yanqing had a vague inkling of this, I never dared to confirm it. Now that Mr. Bai Luan has said it himself, I feel much more at ease."
Even though Bai Luan reaching this level in such a short time was a heavy blow to his worldview, he wasn't discouraged especially after all beating he took not long time ago...
The talent of others is their own light; it cannot be envied or taken away.
For oneself, only the path beneath one's feet and the sword in one's hand are real and true.
So... Yanqing took a deep breath, his aura quietly rising, his eyes as bright as the morning sun.
"It seems Yanqing will have to go all out."
Seeing Yanqing's full-of-energy appearance, Bai Luan couldn't help but laugh twice.
"No need to think too much; a swordsman only needs to think about swinging their sword."
The process of applying to General Jing Yuan to use the Jing Feng Warship as a filming location was exceptionally smooth.
The General approved it decisively and even asked if he needed some hands to help.
After all, Jing Yuan had truly experienced the benefits brought by Bai Luan's videos in the past few days.
After boarding the Jing Feng Warship, Bai Luan installed some cameras on the ship under the pretext of needing to film from multiple angles to select the best shots for the promotional video.
He installed some openly and some secretly, basically covering every corner of the Jing Feng Warship.
Later, when Hoolay brings his little cubs onto the ship, he can just share the camera intel with Jing Yuan and be done with it.
The part about having full vision before starting a team fight.
After a period of busy work, all the preparations were finally finished.
Bai Luan and Yanqing stepped onto the arena on the Jing Feng Warship. The spectator stands were empty; only the two of them were on the entire arena.
Yanqing looked at Bai Luan not far away.
Bai Luan waved to him and then put a pitch-black mask on his face.
Bai Luan had mentioned this to him, so Yanqing wasn't too surprised.
Bai Luan also explained the purpose of wearing the mask to Yanqing—under the mask, it could be anyone.
Yanqing looked at the sword in his hand.
A swordsman only needs to think about how to swing their sword?
What a pure sentence. I like it.
Yanqing smiled, gripped the sword in his hand tightly, took a stance, and looked at Bai Luan.
Covered by the mask, the electronic expression display was turned off, leaving only the smooth black mirror surface reflecting the cold light.
The originally gentle and smiling temperament suddenly changed, merging with the profound black clothing, emitting a certain pressure that made other tremble slightly.
Yanqing's brow furrowed slightly.
Could a mere mask bring such a completely different impression?
Whatever, why think so much.
Yanqing focused his mind, discarded distracting thoughts, lightly pressed the scabbard with his left hand, and gestured with his right. It was a simple and solemn starting salute, indicating he was ready.
Bai Luan's masked head gave a nearly imperceptible nod.
At the very moment that nod was completed—
Yanqing's aura suddenly solidified, and a sharp light burst from his eyes, as if a sword that had been sealed for a long time had suddenly been unsheathed, its cold glint flashing.
With that the match, begins...