The Life of a Necromancer as a Swashbuckler

Chapter 3: Gu Yuntian of Xiaoyao Valley

The figure blocking my path was a young man. Judging by his silhouette, he was in his twenties, of average build. Though his clothes weren’t luxurious, they exuded a certain dignity. As he leaped in front of me, he radiated an air of grace and nobility, and his agile movements made it clear he was no ordinary person. “Who are you?” The bandit leader clearly sensed that the newcomer meant no good. “I am Gu Yuntian, a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect,” the man replied in a clear, resonant voice. The Xiaoyao Sect? What kind of sect is that? I found myself wondering. But it was obvious that this Xiaoyao Sect was quite formidable—the four bandits, who had been looking so fierce just moments ago, immediately lost their swagger the moment they heard that name. “My friend,” the stranger ignored the four bandits and turned to speak to me. I was startled—in my current condition, I certainly wouldn’t stand a chance against him. But upon closer inspection, the young man had a face as fair as jade, eyes as bright as stars, and delicate, refined features. He wore a gentle, kind expression, and an aura of righteous integrity radiated from him. It seemed he wouldn’t cause me any trouble. “You don’t seem to know martial arts, yet you were brave enough to save someone—I’m truly impressed, Gu. May I ask your name, brother?” “Huh?” I was taken aback. Those four bandits were still there—how could he be making small talk now? The problem was, I didn’t even know my own name; I’d been transported here by a soul-capturing spell. Before I could answer, my instincts told me something was wrong. The four bandits across from us, seeing that Gu Yuntian had introduced himself and was ignoring them, sensed an opportunity. One of them grabbed a ghost-head sword and swung it down at Gu Yuntian’s back. “From behind!” I gasped, trying to push Gu Yuntian out of the way, but it was too late. Just as the blade was about to strike, everything went blurry for a moment, and I heard a loud “thud.” The thug who’d tried to ambush Gu Yuntian was sent flying backward; his blade was knocked from his hand, and his body slammed into a tree, knocking him unconscious. “Xiaoyao Martial Arts!” The other bandits gasped in surprise and scrambled backward. At that moment, Gu Yuntian turned back to the bandits but still addressed me: “Sneaking up on people just won’t do, my friend. How about we finish off this gang of bandits first, then have a proper chat?” “Oh,” I was at a loss for words. By now, I felt that Gu Yuntian was only talking to me to show off. “Mr. Gu, we of the Thirteen Swallows of Yanbei are here today simply to ask Miss Shi to come with us to retrieve an item—we don’t want any trouble,” the bandit leader said, backing away as he spoke. It seemed he, too, feared the Gu Yuntian standing before him. “The Thirteen Swallows of Yanbei—you’ve killed government troops and plundered homes, and now you dare to raid Zheng Family Village? Do you think the Xiaoyao Valley has no one?” Gu Yuntian replied in a booming voice. “Since you’re here, you’re not leaving. Hand yourselves over to the authorities.” Realizing this wouldn’t end well, the three bandits decided to fight to the death. The other two henchmen swung their swords and charged together, but with two more “thuds,” their bodies were sent flying, while Gu Yuntian remained unscathed. This time, however, I saw clearly that as the bandits swung their blades, Gu Yuntian delivered two kicks at lightning speed, striking them squarely in the chest. Because his movements were so fast and his force so great, his attacks—though launched later—reached their targets first, sending the enemies flying. Technically speaking, it was similar to my bare-handed takedown—the difference was that Gu Yuntian had strength, while I did not. Such is the power of martial arts. It gave me a quiet jolt of surprise. Seeing that all three of his men were finished and realizing he likely couldn’t escape either, the bandit leader decided to go all out. He tossed the knife aside, drew his breath deep into his lower abdomen, and his muscles suddenly swelled by more than a full size. He raised both arms, spreading them like the wings of a sky eagle, and his fingers cracked like eagle’s talons. “The Heavenly Eagle Technique,” Gu Yuntian thought to himself in surprise. The Heavenly Eagle Technique was a martial art of the prestigious orthodox schools—how could a lowly bandit master it? And judging by the look of it, he’d been practicing it for many years. While Gu Yuntian was still hesitating, the bandit leader had already finished channeling his energy, “Gu, come and get what’s coming to you!” With a furious roar, the bandit leader lunged at Gu Yuntian with a clawing strike. Gu Yuntian dodged to the side, and the two clashed. Although I couldn’t remember who I was, I knew this must be the first time I’d ever seen people fighting with martial arts. This was martial arts—these two had clearly transcended the realm of ordinary people and were now clashing using a form of inner energy. Their moves were perilous and immensely powerful at every turn. If I could learn them, they would be of immense benefit to me—though I wasn’t quite sure what that benefit would be. As the two fought fiercely, neck and neck, I felt someone brush against me. Who was it? I turned around and saw that it was Miss Shi, the one who’d been attacked earlier. At some point, she’d come to stand beside me. “Thank you for saving me, young master,” she whispered, her expression of gratitude making her look pitifully vulnerable. “It’s the least I could do.” Seeing the beautiful young woman thank me, my spirits lifted involuntarily. A faint, delicate fragrance wafted toward me—perhaps the natural scent of a young woman—which put me at ease. Saving her had made this journey worthwhile. “My name is Shi Jingyu. May I ask your name, young master?” Miss Shi asked. “Hmm.” The question I hated most right now was “What’s your name?” How was I supposed to know? I hesitated for a moment, unable to answer. Miss Shi, being a woman of refined sensibility, saw my dilemma and assumed I couldn’t say—she didn’t press the matter. “Who do you think will win between these two?” Miss Shi asked, sounding slightly concerned. “Brother Gu’s moves are steady and solid, while the bandit’s techniques are sharp and vicious. For now, they’re evenly matched, but consistency wins in the long run. I expect Brother Gu will come out on top.” Although I’ve never studied martial arts, I do have some eye for these things. In fact, I feel that right now I’m simply held back by my lost memories and an unfamiliar body; once I’m fully recovered, it’s anyone’s guess who would be stronger between these two and me. Just as we were chatting, we heard another loud thud—the fight had already been decided. The bandit leader was sent flying and landed on the ground. Gu Yuntian stepped forward and tapped him a few times; the bandit leader immediately became immobilized. Looking at Gu Yuntian, he was panting heavily, drenched in sweat, and had several claw marks on his arm—it seemed his opponent was indeed ferocious. Miss Shi and I hurried over to congratulate him and thank Gu Yuntian for saving us. Just as I clasped my fists in a bow—before I could even speak—we heard waves of sinister laughter echoing from all around the woods, sending a chill down our spines. “Gu Yuntian, as the top disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect, you’re having such a hard time defeating a mere bandit? This truly brings shame upon your Senior Uncle. Come, let me teach you a lesson!” Upon hearing this, Gu Yuntian’s face turned ashen, and Miss Shi’s expression also changed drastically. She asked in a trembling voice, “Could it be the Poison Sovereign, Xuan Yin Zun?” As for me, my only thought was: Today sure is dragging on…