First Immortal of the Sword

Ma Shanwei didn’t recognize Su Yi or Ning Sihua, but he recognized the Cloudlight Marquis, Shen Jiusong, at a glance.

He immediately relaxed his grip on Huang Qianjun’s throat, straightened up his uniform, and clasped his fist in greeting. “Vice-Commander Ma Shanwei of the Greenplate Army greets you, Marquis Shen!”

The soldiers present quivered as they realized who Shen Jiusong was, and all of them greeted him solemnly.

Shen Jiusong nodded subtly. “You needn’t be so polite.”

It was then that Zhang Yiren rushed over. First, he smiled and greeted Shen Jiusong. Then, he turned and whispered to Su Yi, “Young Lord Su, I didn’t expect you to come too.”

Su Yi ignored him. From the moment he first arrived at the training groups, his gaze was focused on Huang Qianjun.

He naturally saw Ma Shanwei holding him aloft as if he were a chicken, his right hand wrapped tight around his neck.

He saw Ma Shanwei raise his left hand to slap Huang Qianjun across the face, too.

“What’s going on here?” Su Yi ignored everyone else, stared directly at Huang Qianjun, and asked flatly.

In the face of Su Yi’s gaze, Huang Qianjun couldn’t help but look ashamed. “Brother Su, I…. I embarrassed you again.”

He suddenly wanted nothing more than a hole to crawl into.

When they first parted ways back in the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, he silently swore to himself that he’d make a name for himself in the Greenplate Army so as not to waste all the care and training Su Yi had put into him.

Who’d have thought that, just as he was getting bullied, Su Yi would show up out of nowhere?

By now, Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong sensed that something was amiss. They both instinctively glanced thoughtfully at Huang Qianjun.

Ma Shanwei’s gaze focused. Then, he smiled and clasped his fist. “Marquis Shen, might I ask who this young lord is?”

Shen Jiusong’s gaze had already frosted over, and he said expressionlessly, “First, tell me what exactly was going on just now.”

When Ma Shanwei saw Shen Jiusong’s attitude change, his heart clenched. He could already sense that this wasn’t looking good for him.

Zhang Yiren couldn’t help but say, “Ol’ Ma-zi, you’d best explain yourself. Otherwise, if you displease Young Lord Su, not even the marquis himself can protect you!”

Ma Shanwei’s expression shifted. He could tell that Zhang Yiren was warning him.

He instantly realized that whoever that young man in blue they called “Young Lord Su” was, his identity wasn’t simple.

Ma Shanwei took a deep breath, then said solemnly, “Huang Qianjun is a battalion leader of our Greenplate Army. Of late, he’s repeatedly achieved great success on the battlefield. His performance has been truly exceptional; he’s a rare good seedling."

After saying all this, his tone abruptly changed. “But it seems to me that his attitude has changed recently.

“They say that even jade needs polishing before it’s worth anything. I worry that he’ll become too arrogant and forget himself. That’s why I, in the name of sparring, have taken it upon myself to teach him a lesson. My goal is to reduce his arrogance and bluster. I want him to cool his head and gain self-awareness. That will benefit his future growth-”

When he reached this point, Huang Qianjun suddenly laughed coldly and cut him off. “Vice Commander Ma, can you really say that in good conscience? Do you dare say that everything you just said is true, and that it all came straight from the heart?”

Ma Shanwei’s expression shifted, and he growled, “I’m a vice-commander. What possible reason could I have to bully a young man like you?”

Then, he said solemnly, “When the marquis first led you to our camp, he ordered that you were to be held to the most stringent of standards. It’s true that I used a lot of force now, but it was for your own good.

“But look at you! It’s bad enough that you don’t understand gratitude, but now you’re making unfounded and malicious attacks on others’ character? You’ve accused Nan Ying and I of having an illicit affair. Who wouldn’t be angry after all that?”

From beginning to end, Ma Shanwei spoke with an air of righteousness, with the upright and plainspoken air of an elder.

This left Huang Qianjun so angry, he almost laughed. I’ve seen shamelessness before, but never anyone as shameless as this!

“Nan Ying?” Su Yi’s brow knit together. He swept his gaze across the crowd, and he quickly discovered Nan Ying hiding among the masses.

Nan Ying’s scalp instantly went numb, and she felt the urge to slap Ma Shanwei across the face. Did you just have to go and bring up my name?

Beneath the weight of Su Yi’s gaze, Nan Ying had no choice but to feign calm. She forced a rigid smile and said, “Senior Apprentice Brother Su, long time no see.”

Everyone was stunned. This young man in blue is Nan Ying’s senior apprentice brother?

Even Ma Shanwei felt a bit bewildered. What’s going on here?

Su Yi ignored the crowd’s strange gazes and paid Nan Ying no further heed. Instead, he asked, “Is the Spiritmartial Marquis out?”

Zhang Yiren hurriedly said, “The marquis ventured into Bloodthistle Yao Mountain five days ago, but he’s yet to return.”

Su Yi nodded. “In that case, I’ll just have to resolve this matter myself.”

As he said this, he glanced at Ma Shanwei, then said calmly, “Come on then. Let’s spar. I’ll make an exception just this once and teach you how to behave.”

It was just a few light, airy sentences, yet the entire grounds instantly fell deathly silent.

Zhang Yiren’s heart clenched, and he said hurriedly, “Young Lord Su, I trust that when the marquis gets back, he’ll make this up to Huang Qianjun. You’re a guest from afar. How about…”

“Commander Zhang, I’m doing this for his own good.” Su Yi glanced at him. “Why are you trying to stop me? Don’t you want me to act in his own best interests?”

Zhang Yiren grimaced, sighed, and fell silent.

“Young Lord, Huang Qianjun’s matter is, ultimately, Greenplate Army business. Don’t you think recklessly intervening would be a bit inappropriate?” Ma Shanwei’s eyebrows knit together, and he spoke gravely.

He could tell at a glance that Su Yi had yet to step into the Grandmaster Realm; his aura only had the barest trace of Astral Force. This was characteristic of the late-stage Qi Accumulation Realm.

Su Yi’s status might be extraordinary, but if it came down to a fight, Ma Shanwei wasn’t afraid.

Shen Jiusong snorted coldly, “It’s just a sparring match. How could you call that interfering in the Greenplate Army’s affairs? Ma Shanwei, you’d best not throw such accusations around carelessly.”

This rebuke left Ma Shanwei with a bellyful of fire. He took a deep breath and said gravely, “Young Lord, if you wish to spar, I’ll accompany you! However, swords and sabers have no eyes. Don’t take offense if I inadvertently harm you!”

His words were utterly cold.

As a vice-commander of the Greenplate Army, someone immersed in bloody combat against the mountain’s spirit beasts year round, Ma Shanwei’s temperament was extremely fierce and ruthless.

When he saw that Su Yi didn’t know what was good for him, he couldn’t be bothered to be polite anymore.

But when she heard Ma Shanwei’s words, Ning Sihua couldn’t help but grin, while Shen Jiusong shook his head. The corners of Zhang Yiren’s lips twitched, but he said nothing.

Huang Qianjun was moved, but this also made him feel even more ashamed of himself.

As for the ordinary soldiers spectating, all of them looked excited. It seemed they’d realized that they were in for a show.

The crowd all stepped back, clearing space for Su Yi and Ma Shanwei.

“Young Lord, if you please.”

Ma Shanwei’s cold gaze was sharp as the edge of a knife, and his aura soared around him. A vicious wave of energy swept forth like the tide.

“Since I’ve decided to teach you how to conduct yourself, I’ll give you a chance to attack first,” said Su Yi flatly.

Ma Shanwei’s eyes flashed with cold light. “Then I won’t hold back!”

He suddenly leaped and swung his fist like a hammer.

Boom!

The dazzling force of the punch carried solidified Astral Force as it cut through the air.

The air exploded around it, producing a series of low booms reminiscent of thunder.

The force of that punch was incomparably despotic, fast and sudden to the extreme!

Even Shen Jiusong was stunned. This subordinate of the Spiritmartial Marquis sure knows a thing or two!

He could tell that although Ma Shanwei was only a first-level Grandmaster, spending his days immersed in bitter combat in the perilous Bloodthistle Yao Mountain meant that his actual combat prowess far surpassed most others of his level.

Take the punch he’d just swung. It showed clear signs of mastery.

From this, it was also clear that Ma Shanwei was quite clever; he knew better than to hold back because of the low cultivation Su Yi had on display. He went all out right from the start.

Alas, Ma Shanwei had no idea just how terrifying of an existence he was up against…..

Shen Jiusong had only just thought this when…

Bang!

Su Yi casually waved his hand through the air, and the dazzling fist force popped like a bubble. Su Yi’s fingernails had cut right through it.

One light, casual movement.

The nearby Greenplate Army Soldiers were stunned. They almost thought they were hallucinating.

Huang Qianjun, Nan Ying, and Li Moyun’s hearts shook. How strong!

Before the crowd could react, Su Yi disappeared from view.

A moment later, he was already right in front of Ma Shanwei. He gently pressed down with his palm.

Ma Shanwei had already realized that something was amiss, and his heart shook. When he saw this, he didn’t hesitate to call upon his full power and block with both arms.

Crunch!

The sound of cracking bones rang out.

Beneath the crowd’s disbelieving gazes, Su Yi’s palm shattered both of Ma Shanwei’s arms. They went limp as cotton and swung back like a pair of dead snakes.

And Su Yi’s palm took advantage of the gap, tearing open the space between them without any loss of power. He pressed directly against Ma Shanwei’s shoulder.

Bang!

Ma Shanwei’s knees slammed into the ground and held him fast, stirring up the dust and dirt.

His face was red with anger and panic.

Just one palm strike had effortlessly suppressed him?

The entire venue fell silent.

Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong were just as calm as before, but the others’ eyes widened. This direct, clear-cut, effortless smackdown left them completely stunned.

It was downright unbelievable!

Su Yi had blocked Ma Shanwei’s fist and suppressed him in the mere blink of an eye!

“How was that slap?” asked Su Yi.

Ma Shanwei’s expression shifted erratically before he gnashed his teeth and said, “Earlier, I was blind. Your slap has won me over, completely and utterly!”

Bang!

Su Yi kicked him, sending Ma Shanwei flying. He coughed up blood and struggled to rise to his feet, but his injuries were so heavy that he fell back into the dirt.

The onlookers gasped; this ruthless scene left them dumbstruck.

Su Yi asked again, “How was that kick?”

Ma Shanwei’s breathing was ragged, and his voice was raspy as he said, “Young Lord, your kick taught me just how weak and lowly I really am. I will never dare be as impudent as I was earlier ever again. From this day forth, I'll be sure to carve your teachings deep into my heart and repent.”

Su Yi walked over, then stepped directly on Ma Shanwei’s head and gazed down at him. “I’m doing this for your own good. Do you appreciate my kindness?”

Ma Shanwei’s face distorted beneath the pressure, and his mouth was right up against the dirt as he shouted between gasps, “This benevolence is as vast as the heavens, no different from granting me rebirth. My appreciation comes straight from the heart. So long as I live, I shall never forget this kindness!”

The crowd was dumbstruck.

First, because Su Yi’s ruthless, clear-cut methods terrified them.

Second, because they were stunned at Ma Shanwei’s behavior. It seemed he’d been beaten into complete submission. His every word completely overturned their prior understanding of him!

Who would have guessed that the vice-commander the soldiers of the Greenplate Army called “the Cold-Faced Butcher” would yield so thoroughly and so quickly?

He was acting just like a criminal who’d suddenly seen the light and realized the weight of his sins.

But Shen Jiusong’s eyes narrowed. This Ma Shanwei is slippery and adaptable. He’s one tough customer!

That, and a madman with no concern for his dignity or reputation.

For the sake of living on, he’s willing to throw anything and everything away.

People like him have always been the most dangerous of all!

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