8 En Garde!

She felt a gust of wind graze by her ear since she was still oblivious to everything that had happened. The wind seemed to carry along feelings of love. 

"Ping'er, follow me as your master from now on. You need not suffer any longer. As your master, I will not subject you to any form of pain. I will instruct you in the art of the swordsman, and you will never live the life of a civilian."

"Master…"

She felt conflicted, as she felt a strong urge to embrace her master tightly.

She felt that at this moment, she was the most blessed and fortunate of all the handmaidens in the entire realm. She had received a lot of favor from her master in the form of such grace and protection.

Similarly, Zhou Yan was excited as well

"Master, you seem to be prodding me with your sword."

As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to understand what was going on. This prompted her to let out a startled scream and she fought to free herself from his embrace.

"Yes, it seems that my little Ping'er is too beautiful. I have only noticed it today."

Zhou Yan laughed seductively as he spoke. It seemed that his worries and problems had all evaporated as soon as this awkward moment occurred.

"Oh... Master, you're naughty," Ping'er said, as she blushed nervously.

Zhou Yan teased her further and laughed. "Well, which do you prefer, Ping'er, a naughty master, or a prim and proper master?"

"Master…"

Flustered by his comment, the young woman looked up almost instantly. Nervously, she spoke, "I… I prefer Master in his current state."

"Hahaha, that's more like it. Come on then, let your master give you a kiss. It will get boring if we wait any longer."

Thus, Zhou Yan's mood was lifted as he felt much better after the encounter they shared. Despite the severity of his father's condition, he felt optimistic about his future, and confident about his chances of saving him. Not a single concern, nor worry crossed his mind.

"Master."

Without any hesitation, Ping'er inched closer to her master,keeping her head lowered as she blushed slightly. It was an adorable sight to watch as she shuffled closer towards her master.

It was impossible for Zhou Yan to have the heart to abandon nor to ignore a woman so adorable and beautiful like her. In what way was she ever inferior to Zhou Lingyi other than her status as a lowly handmaiden?

Zhou Yan could no longer understand his previous feelings and perspectives about things. Ever since he inherited the collective memories of the ancient sage, he felt that all relationships between people should be equally regarded. It was like the way he treated Ping'er, with absolutely no gap between their social status. It would be undeniable for a person as honest as Ping'er to feel her master's sudden intimacy. 

…

"Hmph… The apple never falls far from the tree to have borne such a b*stard son. It's so bold of you to even dare lay a finger on a lowly handmaiden. You disgust me!"

Before Zhou Yan could even embrace Ping'er, a high-pitched voice echoed through the air.

Without even looking, he recognized that voice.Zhou Yan knew it was none other than Zhou Lingyi!

She had actually come.

"How inappropriate. Here we are, doing everything in our power for his father, and yet here he stands, lecherous. This is why trash like you will always be trash. How utterly useless."

At that moment, another woman's voice filled the air.

This voice was laced thick with mockery and judgment, the tone dripping with resentment and envy. 

The very same resentment could be felt even more keenly through her piercing gaze that glared into Zhou Yan's soul.

Zhou Yan paid no mind to any of her judgment since he knew what Zhou Shuangshuang's purpose was for being here.

"My dear sister, I've said countless times in the past that a lowly, worthless servant like her is the embodiment of bad fortune. Look at her, how shameless must she be to act inappropriately in public. She needs to know her place. She must be punished!"

A manly voice spoke.

This man was none other than Zhou Cheng, Zhou Shuangshuang's brother. The very man who had repressed desires toward Ping'er. He was the infamous spoiled scion of the Zhou family. Judging from his raw strength alone, it seemed he had ascended to rank one Blade's Cardinal.

As he spoke, Zhou Cheng's gaze was focused entirely on the young woman, who stood close by Zhou Yan's side, as he completely ignored Zhou Yan. His predatory gaze struck fear in Ping'er's heart, stopping her from explaining herself.

She inched closer to Zhou Yan's side, utterly terrified of facing these practitioners of the blade's art.

"Are you deaf, Zhou Yan? We're speaking to you." 

At the same time, Zhou Xian took a step forward. As he glared at Zhou Yan, it almost seemed like he was taking pleasure out of Zhou Yan's suffering.

A sunken, weighted look showed in Zhou Yan's eyes as his arm reached for the hilt of his sword at his waist. Although his palms were crusted in freshly dried blood from the wounds that he inflicted upon himself earlier, he was unaffected as his reflexes were incredibly nimble.

With inhumanly fast speed, he drew his sword. He was so quick that nobody noticed it. 

"It would seem that you, too, are capable of anger. I thought you had permanently destroyed your mind through your selfless action of pushing your body beyond its limits! Know your place if you know what's coming! I was sent by the Grand Elder himself to make sure you did not take any more training resources that rightfully belongs to the family than you deserve. Trash like you are unworthy of anything, have I made myself clear?"

Seemingly sensing the impending danger, Zhou Xian's pupils constricted. However, Zhou Cheng was still mockingly provoking Zhou Yan.

That was not the end of it. Zhou Cheng was not just provoking Zhou Yan. In his gaze there was a glint of a challenge as he started confidently at the sword in Zhou Yan's hand. A palpable, sinister wave of intent radiated from his gaze.

It was an invitation to a challenge. He hoped that Zhou Yan would take the bait and strike first, thus formalizing the duel. However, judging from its looks, Zhou Yan, as a practitioner of the blade's art, was wielding a broken sword. A tool of such high regard and importance was broken by the hands of this lad. It was an absolute act of disgrace.

The only people who harbored any grievances towards him would be the group that was gathered here at this moment. Not a single person was left out.

Through the perspective of the collective memories from the ancient sage, his personality changed. He was no longer bothered by the squabbles of these children who stood before him. Completely unfazed, a firm and cold resolve crept into his eyes. He glared imperiously at each and every one of them until his eyes rested upon Zhou Lingyi.

Zhou Lingyi frowned as she felt threatened by Zhou Yan's menacing gaze. Not backing down from her stance, the girl stared back at him while holding back her anger, unwilling to show any emotion.

"Well, then! I understand now, they may both leave."

"Leave? You may leave this lowly scum of a servant behind! Do not ruin the good name of our Zhou family!"Zhou Cheng retorted aggressively.

A flash of menace radiated through Zhou Yan's gaze. The pure, unbridled menace pierced Zhou Cheng's soul in an instant.

"Ping'er will be coming with me."

At this moment, a maiden draped in a white, silk cloak approached the courtyard. She seemed exceptionally skilled, judging from her appearance alone. However, it seemed unfortunate that she looked as though she were plagued by an unknown ailment as her face was pale. This unknown ailment made her look weak, almost delicate.

However, Zhou Cheng dared not oppose this maiden's orders.

"Lady Ning'er, this matter does not concern you, Ping'er is a handmaiden of the Zhou family. Forgive my insolence my lady, but I cannot comply…" Zhou Cheng spoke with no intention of backing down.

"The Zhou family...How disappointing."

Ning'er merely glanced at Zhou Cheng as she noticed this man was adamant of not complying with her orders. She glanced over to Zhou Yan, a look of disappointment in her eyes as she thought about the lack of action this man showed in defense of his own handmaiden. However, this woman hid her emotions well.

"Master… I am merely a lowly servant of no status. Knowing that I have a place in your heart, master, I have no regrets.

"Master, you are the most admirable man in my life. If there's a next life, I will follow you once more. I will be your handmaiden for all eternity."

Ping'er dissolved into a puddle of tears as she slowly walked out. She was not ready to cause any more trouble for her master, completely submitting to them.

The maiden cloaked in white merely stood idle, looking on at the scene as she did nothing to intervene. However, the glint of elegance and beauty that was present in her eyes earlier had faded away. Her eyes were now dim and lifeless.

"Huff…"

Zhou Yan sighed heavily, and his respect and bond with the Lord of his family completely vanished. 

He refused to believe that these men who possessed such vast power had no knowledge of the events that were currently transpiring.

'Would they rob him of the resources of his final year? His personal handmaiden, someone who had grown up alongside him, would they too rob her from him?' thought Zhou Yan. 

"Ping'er, there would be no need for you to wait for our next life, just serve me well in this life."

Zhou Yan suddenly extended his arm to grab Ping'er's cold hands.

At that very moment, he could feel the violent trembling of Ping'er's body. He felt the silent encouragement and motivation given to him by the lady in white. It was also at this moment, the dimmed, lifeless pupils of this mysterious maiden clad in white whose name was Ning'er, a woman that feared nothing with an unknown past lit up instantly.

"What's the matter? Can't bear to let her go?"

Zhou Cheng provoked him further.

Zhou Xian simply chuckled mockingly.

Zhou Shuangshuang however, simply stared at Ping'er with an envious look, as she was unable to contain her emotions.

Zhou Lingyi only had an arrogant look on her face as she seemingly looked down on them, placing herself on an unreachable pedestal. She almost seemed like a fool gazing down a bridge, tempted to take a leap of faith.

"If you can defeat me in combat, then it proves my own inability to defend Ping'er. Hence, you may have her!" said Zhou Yan with a cold tone.

"Hahaha, trash like you dare to demand something so outrageous!" Zhou Cheng chuckled like a mad man.

"Master, don't fight him. Can't you see that they're looking for a reason to fight?" replied Ping'er frantically as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Without saying a word, the blade in Zhou Yan's palm morphed into a silver light, one that pierced the heavens and the very earth with a single 'swoosh.' This light was filled with a vast, ancient menacing aura.

This attack was merely a basic form of the 'Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven's Blade.' However, with this basic attack alone, it seemed as if a veil of water surrounded them. This scene alone was enough to shock anyone.

Zhou Cheng was stunned by this attack. Before he could even respond with a riposte of his own, with a sudden 'swoosh,' a ghastly, almost god-like energy pierced through his defensive Qi energy, deflecting the silver blade he just unsheathed out of his hands, as it pierced straight through his chest!

"Urgh…"

A fountain of blood gushed out his gaping wound as it shot out as far as three miles away. Zhou Cheng was instantly thrown into the sky above, then was smashed onto the ground upon landing.