An Old Guy's Tomb

*Multiple POVs*

***

(Yao Ya POV)

With a smile I drew my sword and I think of the first form of Flowing Swordsmanship: Steady Stream. It's the first and foremost form shown, which functions as the name implies. When in the form there is a rate at which I am to attack is required to be constantly the same while in use and also a small amount of mental power to keep it going. If the speed is ever changed throughout the entirety while I'm using it, the form will be broken.

Once the form breaks the additional effects granted shall disperse as well. Such as battle fluidity, an effect which helps guide me throughout the battle, like changing targets and defending attacks as long as the steady speed I've set is never exceeded nor lowered. Also another effect is active which reduces my overall energy consumption for each attack by a third which really helps in drawn out encounters.

Regaining the form once broken isn't as easy as just continuing to swing at that speed once more. First, a new mental constraint is added throughout the rest of the battle or until rest, which will require 10% more effort to use a form. Second, the mental requirements for using the shattered form will increase 3 fold until rest. Finally, the previously mentioned adverse effects will stack up on top of each other, 10% will increase to 20% effort and 3 fold can easily increase to 9 fold.

As long as my form isn't broken by during my attacks I could easily reset my stance by moving away to avoid any shattered forms from occurring. At which I could also change forms if I'd like to.

But considering my current opponents I'm sure my form won't break and this form alone should be sufficient for taking them down, besides I need more practice with this form.

With a quick dash over I readied my form. I decided to use a speed of one and a half attacks a second. When I bore down on them they were already a little prepared it seems as they deflected my attack. Without missing a beat he counterattacks and I deflect his attack as well.

It seems he didn't handle that deflect as well as I did though and seeing the opportunity present itself, I attacked with the same constant speed yet he was still recovering from my deflect. My blade sliced through part of his upper chest and neck.

Feeling the change to his body he dropped his weapon and tried his best to stop the bleeding from his neck. Seeing that he dropped his weapon I no longer payed attention to him and instead raised up my weapon to my right side.

*Tang!*

One of the other men appear on my right with his weapon rebounding away from me. This is why that battle fluidity is so good. Using that slight amount of force transferred to me from the man on the right I swing my sword down to my left.

*Clang!*

The remaining man appears of my right and the weapon he held now lay on the ground near my feet. As the man is now defenseless a single stab which pierced through his chest was all it took. Without a whole heart he'll be gone in a bit anyway, so back to the man on the right.

*Tang!*

His weapon once again clashed with mine and an extremely distressed expression could be seen on his face as he looked at my bloody blade and the man who now lay dying from the newly formed hole in his heart. Comparing the clear fear on his face with the ominously joyful smile on my own, it must of made him feel very uneased.

Pushing his weapon away with a little force I then twist my weapon to it's side before I begin my torrent of attacks upon him. With the speed I chose to use I wouldn't be able to attack him quick enough to bypass him defense. Instead whittling him down little by little should do the trick. With his every block of my sword a little bit of his energy was depleted.

Although my own also drained with his I was confident to be able to last at least 5 minutes total. He was completely on the defensive against my barrage.

Every five deflects or blocks from him also gained a new step for me to advance. The tenth consecutive hit on him made his arms shake a bit. The twentieth made his legs wobble from the weight upon him. And the thirtieth finally broke his guard, pushing his weapon out of the way enough for a fatal wound to appear.

And a fatal wound that would appear, one which completely severed his head. It fell on the floor and rolled a bit before the body realized it had lost all motor functions, falling to the floor. Blood spurted from the neck and careful not to get too much on me I took a step to the side.

His blood flowed out onto the stone brick floors and followed the crevices between them. A little came from the head as well, but not nearly as much. On his face now is the final expression he had. His eyebrows raised, eyes widened, and mouth agape.

*Boom*

'Oh, that must be him!'

Looking at the sounds origins were in fact Ip Cheng and the two which were his challenge. One already lay on the ground helpless to his fellow disciple. The other had just slammed his sword down on the floor with cracks visible on the brick flooring.

Just at that moment a small movement near his mouth doesn't escape my view. And soon after a drop of blood was running down the corner of his lips.

'That's my darling! Although this person just burned some of his blood essence to fight you, I believe in you!

He should have only burned around 30%, he probably thinks he'll be able to escape from here. I suppose that's probably for the best, after all if he burnt all 100% of it even I would have a fairly tough time with him.

I'll only save you if you are about to die, after all this is my challenge for you! Now what should your reward be? Maybe something lewd would peak your interest, I shouldn't over do it though.

I wonder if you are still the pervert you once were as a child and you've hid it really well. Or is it that you actually aren't one anymore? Heheheh, I'll find out eventually.'

A second later I could feel as I began to drool. Quickly wiping it away with my sleeve I focus back on the fight at hand.

***

(MC POV)

Looking down at my work I felt a sense of accomplishment and an extremely unnatural tiny fraction of pleasure. This isn't a natural feeling is it? Is this some kind of blood lust? I have to keep it in control I don't want to become some kind of psychopathic manic who always wants to kill others.

But maybe the exhilaration of the task is exactly what I need. Soon my internal thoughts were interrupted as something clings to me.

Yao Ya had appeared bearing a joyful smile, her hands wrapped around my neck and two mounds pressed against my chest. The previous feelings from the battle dispersed as I now gazed at the woman hugging me. In their place new feelings emerged which slowly encompassed my body.

A warm heat radiated from my chest throughout the rest of my extremities. A hand abruptly held the back of my head as it lowered it down. Soon a soft and warm set of lips greeted me for a second before separating.

"Congratulations on beating them! Did you like your reward?" Peering down at her, a mischievous air seemed to surround her. I almost answered before seeing in the corner of my eye, the remaining few people awkwardly looking at us in the distance.

"*Ahem* Uh they're looking at us." I said shifting my eyes between her and the rest of the group.

"Hmph, fine." She gave a little pout before releasing me from her hold. Instead she held my hand and brought me over with her.

"Br-Brother Cheng we discovered what they were doing here. Apparently this was an old expert's tomb. From the note's they should have been a narcissistic Foundation Establishment realm expert(Fourth stage). But since they already cracked the code why don't we go in and check out what's inside?" Chen Huang acted as if nothing happened, explaining a note he held onto while we walked into the oddly lit passageway they opened.

Soon we made it into the main room and saw the wonders of it. A large red carpet lay in front of us leading up a few steps to a throne with a skeleton atop it. Priceless objects surrounded us as we looked at all of the...

...Trash around.

The large room we had entered were filled with statues lining either side of the red carpet. The figure is what we could only assume as the "expert" in question. Each statue was posed in a different position, yet all of them looked like it was probably made to inflate his ego.

The materials of the statues ranged from all different types of materials from wood to iron, yet not one of them were made of any precious metals. Even the throne was only made of iron, albeit a more polished and shiny iron than the statue version it was still iron nonetheless.