My Disciple Wants To Tease Me Every Day Chapter 39

39: Spirit Dispersed

As the first pair of contestants to take the stage, and a face off against Han Hai Pavilion's most outstanding disciple, nearly everyone gathered to watch this match.

The crowd around the platform was several layers think and all the seating mats were full. Ning Guang looked over and saw that s.h.i.+fu had been squeezed into a little corner on the very edge. She craned her neck as much as she could to see eyes like water looking softly at her, melting her very heart like the warm sun of spring days.

Ning Guang subconsciously walked forward a step. But, just then, the clock began to chime. At the same time, Sui Ying drew Luan Feng, one sword manifesting ten million sword glares, locking up the arena platform without a single leak.

To avoid missing the time limit, Sui Ying let loose her strongest attack right off the bat.

The phoenix spirit swept towards Ning Guang with the sword glares, its clear cries echoing into the heavens.

Sui Ying's sword cultivation was the strongest among those of her level. As soon as she used this technique, everyone around the arena platform sighed in surprise and admiration.

The Sect Leader of Tiandao Sect saluted the Han Hai Pavilion Sect Leader, expression carrying hints of flattery difficult to detect. "Congratulations, congratulations, this youth will likely be known across the whole land in the future. Han Hai Pavilion has obtained a good disciple!"

The Sect Leader stroked his beard. He swept his gaze over Ji Xian out of the corner of his eye, then smiled modestly. "It's nothing, it's nothing, Sui Ying still has much to learn. She is still young. She first obtained the Luan Feng sword, then broke through to Nascent Soul Grand Completion, I only fear that she has grown arrogant and it will obstruct her future progress." The Sect Leader appeared to be refusing the praise, but that satisfied look made Ji Xian clench his teeth.

How much a heaven-sent talent could benefit a certain side, it was obvious without a thought.

His Ji Family was the largest, but no peerless talents had appeared among the youth for many years in a row, it really made him worry. A powerless next generation was something which could not happen, especially after his old adversary had gained a genius. Ji Xian gave him a couple of laughs, but his eyes moved to the arena platform.

This Sui Ying really was irritating to look at. If he could eliminate her, that would be best. Unfortunately, Han Hai Pavilion held her as their treasure, and acting against her was not easy. Then, the only thing to do was pour fresh blood into the Ji Family.

Ji Xian turned his eyes to Ning Guang. This was someone who could match up against Kong Chen, yet her skeletal age was really and truly only fifteen.

A genius like this, no matter devil or witch, he absolutely could not let her go.

So, Ji Xian motioned to his unexpecting daughter. When she walked over to him, he patted her head and said, "Your taste is quite good, daddy will think of a way to a.s.sist you." Saying this, he suddenly saw Ning Guang stumble. She raised her hand, but her spiritual energy dissolved in the air before it could gather in her palm.

Had someone sabotaged her?

Ji Xian could see, and of course the Ning Guang standing in the middle of the battlefield would know as well. She was not a stupid person, and seeing that smug face hidden behind the sword glares, she understood right away.

----Someone had sabotaged her. It was someone from Han Hai Pavilion, but not Sui Ying herself. This woman's cultivation was not enough, she definitely could not hide it from her. Then, there was only one possibility: that middle-aged cultivator had done something just then when they were drawing lots.

Ning Guang thought, then immediately tossed away the number plate at her waist.

The number plate still held a few remnants of the spell, but the main part had already disappeared without a trace. It had probably entered her body. Spells were not hard to remove as long as one had demonic cultivation, she could eat these trifling tricks for breakfast. But now, under everyone's stares, and with these ten million sword glares like shadow taking shape, Ning Guang could not, and did not have the time to use demonic cultivation.

Something was wrong with Ning Guang, and the Di Jiufeng who had been watching her the whole time had also found out.

Seeing her disciple completely unable to use any spiritual energy, she grew anxious like her heart was being baked over a fire. She flew to her feet, hurrying to the judge's side, and seized his lapel in a single grab. Like flames were licking at her heels, she cried, "Something is wrong with her, can't you see?! Tell them to stop! Tell them to stop!" Using all of her strength, the judge stumbled forward a step under her pull.

He furrowed his brow, reaching to bat away Di Jiufeng's wrist with a strike that made her whole wrist swell up red. Then, he leisurely straightened his collar and said, "She knows something is wrong and still does not concede defeat, she's looking for death. Why should I stop her?"

He spoke haughtily, but his voice was soft enough that only they two could hear.

He had been ordered, he must think of every way to let Sui Ying's opponent be seriously injured. The spell was only one of them, he had interfered with even the barrier. It would obstruct Ning Guang's voice until she retreated, heavily injured.

"Is the judge's area somewhere you are allowed to go? Han Hai Pavilion does not welcome lawless things like you. You get over here, chase her out." Knowing she was with Ning Guang, the judge planned to chase her out first to avoid causing a scene.

But before she could act, he heard some cries of shock from far away.

"Si, is she looking for death?! Running straight into the sword glares?!"

[T/N: 嘶 (si1) is like a hiss of breath sucked in between the teeth, idk how exactly to render it in English.]

"This isn't looking for death, this is fighting for life on a field of death!"

[T/N: 置之死地而后生 (zhi4 zhi1 si3 di4 er2 hou2 sheng1), 'place one on a field of death and he will fight to live', a saying based on The Art of War. Basically, someone put into mortal danger will fight desperately for survival.]

"It really is remarkable, so young and she can see through this sword formation's vital weakness, could she be some secret n.o.ble family's young mistress? If not, how could she be so accomplished at a mere fifteen years of age!"

These rippling sighs of admiration sounded from the crowd. The judge looked up to see that the Ning Guang entrapped by the sword glares had not only not retreated, she had even rushed over on her physical strength alone. 

Like a fine willow branch waving in the wind, her figure was lithe and agile, like dancing rainbows and feathers bursting open in the midst of the sword glares.

Ning Guang swam upstream, not using a bit of spiritual energy, yet avoiding the sword glares falling like rain. She pressed right up to Sui Ying's face, then drew her sword and stabbed down.

Though Sui Ying's character was nothing impressive, her sword cultivation was among the best. Now, meeting this attack, her sword moved as one with her heart. With a bend and snap of her arm, her sword moved to parry this blow.

With a "clang", the sword in Ning Guang's hand broke into two pieces.

This was the spiritual sword ranked second among the Heavenly swords, how could a normal high-grade spiritual device hope to compare? Luan Feng broke the sword, yet its momentum did not decrease. Flas.h.i.+ng with frigid light, it dropped towards Ning Guang's slender neck.

As Luan Feng could cut iron without a sound, if this blow struck true, Ning Guang would have no way to survive.

[T/N: 削铁无声 (xiao1 tie3 wu2 sheng1), 'cut iron without a sound', is an idiom to describe a blade that is very sharp.]

Seeing this scene, red flashed before Di Jiufeng's eyes. Her hands twisted in her hem and she cried with all her might, "Ning Guang, concede defeat, quick, concede defeat!" Before her voice had floated over, Di Jiufeng had already disappeared from the spot. Her right hand holding Hong Shang, her left stuffed the experience pill into her mouth, cras.h.i.+ng towards the arena platform like a shooting star falling to earth.

As long as Ning Guang lived, what did it matter if they offended Han Hai Pavilion. She had long been prepared to become the enemy of the entire cultivation world. Even if now was not the right time, as long as Ning Guang was alright, even if she fell into the abyss, what did she have to fear!

Scarlet-red robes snapped in the wind like a fiery phoenix, bravely cras.h.i.+ng towards the arena platform.

Di Jiufeng struck out with her sword. With rising puffs of breath and red clouds hiding the sky, the barrier over the arena platform shattered into pieces like flowers in the mirror and the reflection of the moon on the water.

Thin streaks of light fell to cover the arena platform like stardust. For a split second, it was an unreal scene like the heavens on earth.

Things had erupted suddenly and everyone was struck to the spot. When they finally came to their senses, a mournful phoenix cry began to sound.

Sui Ying howled, "FENG." Lurching over in a panic, she cradled the Luan Feng sword that had been thrown down by Ning Guang. "Feng! Feng!!" With Sui Ying's cries, Luan Feng's sword spirit circled twice in the air, looked at her softly, then melted into a cloud of smoke with a poof. 

Sui Ying fell to her knees. When she felt that breeze fall onto her body, cold like fall rain, in that instant, a chunk was taken out of her heart.

Luan Feng, the Luan Feng that had accompanied her for nearly ninety years, had dispersed just like that. There wasn't even a chance to save it before it had returned to the heavens and earth, scattering in the wind.

Sui Ying couldn't quite come to her senses. She knelt miserably on the ground, looking towards the sky with an unfocused gaze.

Her character was not good and her temper was mean, but towards sword cultivation, she held the devotion of a servant to their master. She loved the sword, loved sword cultivation, loved the flying sword Luan Feng who had accompanied her, both teacher and friend. But on this day, in this split second, Luan Feng had dispersed.

The years flashed blearily through her mind. Like a wisp of frigid smoke, it made Sui Ying violently s.h.i.+ver.

She immediately came to her senses and stood back up, both hands tremblingly holding the crippled sword. "You b.i.t.c.h, you dare destroy my Luan Feng!" Her poison-dipped eyes crushed down on Ning Guang, but at this time, Di Jiufeng had also dropped down.

Middle-Stage Deity Transformation cultivation filled her whole body with power. With a casual flick of the sword in her hand, she carved a great gouge across the arena platform too deep to see the bottom.

After blocking Sui Ying, Di Jiufeng didn't give her a second look. Turning to face Ning Guang, she slowly took her hand. "Ning Guang, you scared me to death!" She was angry, she was furious, and she was worried. Looking at the wound on her palm nearly cutting through bone, Di Jiufeng felt waves and waves of late-hitting fear.

"If you couldn't use your spiritual power, why not just concede defeat! If you can't win this compet.i.tion you can't win, why do you have to fight her so stubbornly? If you had not grabbed the blade in time, if her sword had not suddenly dispersed, what would be on this arena platform right now would not be you, but your corpse!" Frightened to the extreme, Di Jiufeng couldn't suppress her temper. But, as she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer.

Her throat choked up, her eyes red.

"Do you know how scared I was just then… Ning Guang, when you rush into action, why can't you think of me…"

Her fear built to the extreme, making her whole person tremble uncontrollably. Though she was safe now, she still felt dizzy with fear.

Ning Guang focused on her for a while, nearly drowning her in the overflowing love in her gaze. "s.h.i.+fu, it was my fault. I will not do it again, I just could not allow someone's name to be the same as yours, even a sword is not allowed. You are unique, my…" mine alone. 

Ning Guang squeezed her hand, hiding the last few words in her heart.

Though she knew s.h.i.+fu liked her too, she was still afraid that too much burning pa.s.sion would scare her away. Perhaps it was because she loved her to the extreme that she would worry about gaining and losing her, living in fear every day, not allowing her to leave for half a moment.

"Forget it, there are many people here, I will not hold this against you. Let's go." Ning Guang had sincerely admitted her wrong, so Di Jiufeng would not refuse to let go. She was not angry in the first place, just so worried, she could not bear seeing her do this sort of dangerous thing. Using a spell to stop the blood flowing from her wound, Di Jiufeng was about to pull her down the arena platform when she saw a few streaks of flowing light fall by their side.

It was four elders of Han Hai Pavilion, of various cultivation levels from Early-Stage Deity Transformation to Middle-Stage Deity Transformation.

Before, Di Jiufeng would have weighed the benefits and consequences, but now, having seen her disciple be sabotaged and injured, an angry flame grew in her heart. These people's bullying was too much.

She could not endure it any more. Hong Shang exited its sheath with a clang, chopping down on the elder reaching to grab Ning Guang like a bolt of lightning.

Di Jiufeng shouted, blocking in front of Ning Guang with the manner of a bodyguard. "WHO DARES TRY TO KILL HER WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME FIRST!"

Notes:

This chapter was translated by Lily. "Dancing rainbows and feathers" is an allusion to 霓裳羽衣舞 (ni2 chang2 yu3 yi1 wu3), 'Raiment of Rainbows and Feathers', a Tang dynasty song. We're trying the all-caps train today, I've seen some other translators do it and I want to test out how it looks. There's no punctuation in the original Chinese that would indicate this, just choosing lines that are supposed to be SHOUTED VERY LOUDLY.