"No need, I've brought them," Li Man'er said.
Brought them?
Lu Liang's expression was filled with doubt. Even Li Nian couldn't help but remark, "Is this girl confused? She didn't bring her long saber."
Before coming, Li Man'er had deliberately left her usual long saber behind to project an air of authority. However, just in case, she had tucked a pair of Emei daggers at her back. These were small and easy to carry, and since it was getting late, many people hadn't noticed.
And now they had come in handy.
Li Man'er twirled an Emei dagger in her hand and said, "You use dual sabers, and I'll use Emei daggers. Both are paired weapons, so it's fair."
Zhang Jingfeng asked Lu Fang, "What are Emei daggers? Have you heard of them?"
Lu Fang shook his head, "I don't know what they are."
"You say, could she be like Old Lu and also like to study weapons? Look at Old Lu, his eyes are practically glued to those two daggers."
Lu Fang glared at him in annoyance, finding him too noisy. Zhang Jingfeng then shut his mouth and stopped talking.
In the center of the arena, Lu Liang looked thoughtfully at the Emei daggers in her hand. "Miss, please go first."
Li Man'er had already fitted the loops onto her fingers, gripped the Emei daggers with both hands, and lunged towards Lu Liang.
The Emei dagger resembled a spear, thick in the middle and thin and flat at both ends. Gripped tightly, it could be used to block, stab, pierce, lift, push, hook, and lock. When released from the hand, the Emei dagger would spin at high speed around the palm, possessing a degree of deceptive technique.
Lu Liang dared not be careless. As the Emei daggers thrust towards him, he blocked with his dual sabers, performing a parrying motion.
With a clang, a crisp collision sound echoed.
Lu Liang steadied himself, a curious thought arising in his mind. He had initially assumed that Li Man'er's small and exquisite weapon would be at a disadvantage against his dual sabers. To his surprise, those two iron daggers were incredibly hard, forged from an unknown material. They met his sabers with no inferiority.
Li Man'er slashed and thrust with her left hand, while her right hand lunged towards Lu Liang's chest. Lu Liang reacted quickly, his dual sabers opening and closing to deflect Li Man'er's attack.
What he hadn't expected was that Li Man'er had a follow-up move. With a flick of her wrists, the Emei daggers began to spin rapidly. Li Man'er thrust her hands forward, the two swiftly spinning Emei daggers like twin silver wheels, lunging directly at Lu Liang's face.
If they had grazed him, his entire face would likely have been ruined.
Lu Liang reacted swiftly, leaning back and arching his body to narrowly dodge this wave of attack.
"That was close, I thought Old Lu was going to lose his other eye."
"Speak less," Lu Fang felt a sense of foreboding. Li Man'er's weapons were too exquisite. Old Lu, obsessed with weapons, might be distracted. Even if he weren't distracted, he might hold back in order to inquire about the origin of these weapons.
Actually, Lu Fang was overthinking. Lu Liang's advantage lay in his understanding of every opponent's weapon. Because of his understanding of weapons, he also had a certain grasp of their corresponding techniques. However, Li Man'er's Emei daggers were unknown in this era. He had never seen them before, so he could only react to whatever came his way, rendering his advantage effectively nullified.
Li Man'er was not a true sheltered noblewoman; her combat experience was extensive, making it difficult for Lu Liang to defeat her. Most importantly, the top experts of the Xuan Yi Sect were semi-cultivators, with one foot already in the realm of cultivation, possessing immense internal energy far beyond that of ordinary martial arts masters.
Lu Liang hadn't expected Li Man'er to be so formidable. He had employed all sorts of tricks with his weapons, and one of his eyes had already suffered some disadvantage. Moreover, Li Man'er possessed immense strength and surging internal energy. He could not suppress her whether through weapons or internal energy.
At this moment, Lu Liang suddenly felt something flying towards him. Someone exclaimed, "Watch out!"
Lu Liang's gaze sharpened. He saw a small, gleaming silver rod flying towards him. It was Li Man'er's Emei dagger.
Had her weapon come loose?
Lu Liang had no time to think and quickly dodged to the side. Yet, the Emei dagger seemed to have a will of its own, chasing after him.
What was happening?
Lu Liang blocked with his curved saber, deflecting the Emei dagger again. It was then that he discovered Li Man'er's Emei daggers were connected by a thin silver chain.
What had previously been short-range weapons had now become long-range, with a wider attack range and more diverse techniques.
Had she always carried this chain?
Lu Liang knew his weapons were now at a disadvantage. He intended to combine his two curved sabers, but Li Man'er had already anticipated his move. The chained projectile in her hand shot out, entangling one of his curved sabers.
Li Man'er gave a forceful tug, and the curved saber flew away, its location unknown. The silver chain danced like a silver snake, wrapping tightly around Lu Liang's neck, as if fitting him with silver shackles. Frankly, if Li Man'er tightened the chain in her hand, Lu Liang's life would be forfeit.
"Oh dear," Zhang Jingfeng felt that their efforts had gone to waste. Lu Fang, however, could see that their skill levels were not the same. Although Li Man'er was young, her martial arts prowess was unfathomably high. He wondered who her master was, to possess such terrifying combat strength.
"I concede," Lu Liang said.
Li Man'er gave a gentle flick, and the silver chain, with the Emei dagger, obediently returned to her hand.
"It was my trickery, taking advantage of the weapon's superiority."
"Losing is losing, regardless of the reason."
Li Man'er shook her head. "What you said is incorrect."
"Oh?" Lu Liang was puzzled, not understanding what he had said wrong.
"On the battlefield, when two armies clash, there is only one objective: to win. Warfare is the art of deception! Be it through stratagem or overt tactics, it is a contest of intellect between the commanders. Some may possess the perfect timing and advantageous terrain, achieving victory with fewer forces; others may scheme endlessly, only to become petty villains and ultimately lose." Li Man'er continued, "Duels are different. They require adherence to rules and righteousness, without resorting to trickery."
Her words were effectively tearing off Feng Wuyun's fig leaf. Many people had witnessed his previous despicable tactics.
Lu Liang nodded. "I am enlightened." He cupped his hands, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.
"Young lady, your skills are admirable. I am impressed." Lu Fang finally stepped forward, accompanied by a silent middle-aged man who had not uttered a single word throughout.
The main event was always saved for last, as the grand finale.
Li Man'er looked at Lu Fang. "General Lu, are we competing in unarmed combat or with weapons?"
Lu Fang, however, shook his head. "A scholarly duel."
Huh?
"How does one duel scholastically?" Not only was Li Man'er bewildered, but even Li Nian and the others were confused.
What was this little fatty planning?
"You just said, 'Warfare is the art of deception!' I believe your words are excellent, young lady, and that you are well-versed in military strategy." Lu Fang continued, "You have already fought two matches. To compete in martial arts again at this point would be somewhat unfair. Therefore, I wish to determine the victor with a duel of strategy."
Li Man'er frowned. I want to fight you, but you want to play the Thirty-Six Stratagems with me?