Fang Xuan's Flaw

Inside the sect's training hall, Xiao watched as Fang Xuan swung his new great sword with elation. With every arc that the sword would take, it would release a sound akin to the wind being severed. What's even more impressive is his compatibility with the weapon, it was as if he had bonded to it, allowing him to recall the weapon from a distance.. Fang Xuan couldn't believe that such high-quality weapon was given to him for free.

Recruiting Xiao was truly the best decision he has ever made.

As soon as he was done with his daily sword routine, his elder's praise graced his ears.

"You've improved. What realm are you in right now?"

Fang Xuan beamed with pride, "Dao Challenger, 5 stars, Elder Xiao."

"Well done, looks like the spirit stones I've given you didn't go to waste." Xiao's hunch was correct. Like her, the boy was talented, he simply needed the resources to properly cultivate.

"Of course, I'm not going to stop cultivating until this sect is as lively as it used to be."

Naturally, Xiao had no inkling as to what Fang Xuan was talking about. She left this province for a better sect in the city after all. She had to give Fang Xuan some credit, any young master would have immediately bolted instead of going through the grueling path of restoring the dignity of a sect from the ground up.

"Fang Xuan, have you ever thought about leaving this sect?"

Fang Xuan was able to discern from Xiao's sombre tone that she meant no disrespect. He understood her question quite well, because it's something he ruminated on every night.

"I have. You know, my father said to me once…" A bitter smile etched on Fang Xuan's face. "...that he would understand if I left and moved to the city. He was basically giving me a free pass. But if I left this sect then that would've been the end of this place. I refuse to let it be so."

Since he was a child, the sight that he was accustomed to was their sect busy with disciples sparring against each other at the training hall, cultivating in the garden, and concocting pills in the alchemy room.

It might be the dream of the child in him to see his sect restored to its former glory, but it was a dream too pure for himself to deny. So held on.

That gloom on his visage was morphed into determination as he cupped his hands, bowing lower than one is supposed to.

"So please, Elder Xiao. Help me prove to everyone that this sect can still produce worthy cultivators."

Technically, Xiao wasn't from Transient blades originally and she was planning to leave as soon as her debt was repaid, but she didn't want to sully Fang Xuan's impassioned speech.

Xiao flashed Fang Xuan a resolute smile.

"Leave it to me."

Suddenly, their session was interrupted by a disciple catching her breath.

"Master Fang Xuan, Elder Xiao, the thugs near the market are harassing us again!"

+++

In broad daylight, a group of no less than 20 sinister men gathered.

The thug's ringleader was once again forcefully dragging a girl by the wrist, a woman from the transient blade's sect.

Yet something about the thug seemed different, the pristine azure robes they wore were in stark contrast to their ugly hearts. They had now become disciples of the Northern vanguards.

"No, let go!"

The woman shouted as she resisted with all her might but the thug kept his firm hold with a creepy grin.

"Don't worry, we're just going to give you a tour of our sect, see firsthand how garbage that sect of yours is when compared to ours. Come peacefully and, I promise nothing bad is going to happen to you."

The ringleader's unsavory mug along with his forceful invitation betrayed his true intentions. Only a fool would take his words at face value. Luckily for her, his karma would be delivered right this instant.

His grin faded as soon a massive bagua dao flew past his vision. Then, confusion assailed the thug as the woman was suddenly able to run away. How was she able to do that? His hold should be…The thug looked at his wrist, cleanly severed from the wrist down, blood sputtering.

The thug screamed in horror as the delayed pain of losing a hand assailed him.

The weapon whizzed past them again, but this time in reverse. Their eyes trailed it as the massive sword landed on Fang Xuan's hand. And right next to him, was someone they would never forget, their sole reason for entering the northern vanguard so they could have their revenge, the woman that rained down ice stakes upon them.

"FANG XUAN, YOU DARE!? I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD AS PAYMENT FOR MY HAND!"

The thug howled as the pain of dismemberment was suddenly replaced by his rising fury. He was so blinded by his rage that he failed to detect the change in the young master, a folly that could cost him his life since he was now a cultivator himself.

"Oh, I dare. Want me to cut your other hand, make it even?"

As the fruits of his training manifested, the power that coursed through him made him feel good after being stepped on and disregarded as a weakling for too long. Delivering a blow to the man that severely beat him on numerous occasions stroked his ego that a cocky part of him he never knew he had surfaced.

Naturally, this newfound bravado enraged the thug even more. How is such a man, who existed only for their group to bully, brimmed with confidence?

The ringleader's eyes turned to the woman next to Fang Xuan. His grin regained, he now understood the situation.

"Hiding behind the skirt of a woman? How shameless of you, Fang Xuan!"

Xiao laughed at the accusation, "You were literally harassing a woman mere moments ago, I don't think you have the right to lecture anyone about shame."

"SHUT UP! ONCE WE'VE DEALT WITH FANG XUAN WE'RE GOING TO KILL YOU NEXT!"

Hearing insignificant thugs shout death threats at her infuriated Xiao, in contrast to her qi, her chest starting to seethe. She had given them a warning the first time, yet Xiao held back, for the sake of Fang Xuan.

"Fang Xuan, I know this is your moment and all, but if you don't take care of those thugs this instant, I'm going to massacre them myself."

Massacre? Wasn't her elder a bit too extreme? It doesn't matter. Fang Xuan stretched as he swept the thoughts of his elder's cruelty under the rug. His grin grew wider as he thought of a brilliant plan, basically, he just needed to give them a beating they will never forget. Once he showed them how powerful he is, that would deter them from ever messing with him, or their sect once again.

With his sword brandished, Fang Xuan charged at the group.

"EVERYONE, GET HIM!" The ringleader ordered. His men, equally dumb as they are fearless, rushed Fang Xuan.

Even as he was surrounded, Fang Xuan's newfound agility let him evade all of their attacks, wounding them in the process. A man tried to get in his range to deliver a punch only for him to evade and retaliate with the flat of his sword, knocking the man out in an instant. Fang Xuan slowly whittled their numbers with kicks and blunt strikes.

Soon, the ringleader was surrounded by the unconscious bodies of his men. Fang Xuan walked up in his face, flashing the livid man a smile. The man tried to speak, no doubt he was about to shout profanities again. But Fang Xuan was one step faster, he knocked the man out with one

punch.

Fang Xuan approached Xiao after laying the one sided beatdown.

"What do you think, elder Xiao?"

"Well done. Like I've said before. You've improved. But there is one major flaw in you…"

Fang Xuan's cheery disposition faded. Major flaw? He knocked all of his opponents without taking a single hit! Fang Xuan swallowed his ego. It was his elder that provided him with the necessary spirit stones to reach his current cultivation level in the first place.

"What flaw is it?"

The tone of Xiao's anwer was serious, indicating the gravity of the matter.

"You refuse to kill."