People in Qin Dynasty: Opening the treasure chest, I took off!

Chapter 16 The Way of the Sword

Early morning, in the woods outside the city.

Jing Ni, holding the Jing Ni Sword, stood in front of a giant rock.

"Watch closely."

With a flash of sword light, dozens of sword marks instantly appeared on the boulder, neat and uniform in depth.

"This is the foundation of Jingni's swordsmanship—the Chain Sword." Jingni sheathed her sword and said calmly, "One sword strike, a hundred follow. An enemy can block one sword, but not a hundred."

Xia Bing stood aside, carefully observing her movements.

"One more time."

Without wasting words, Jing Ni drew her sword again.

The sword light was like a rainbow, so fast that its trajectory was almost invisible.

Xia Bing closed her eyes, listened with her ears, and felt with her body.

The sound of wind, the sound of swords, the sound of breathing...

He gradually grasped the rhythm of Jingni's sword technique.

"You have a good understanding." Jing Ni glanced at him. "It's your turn."

Xia Bing drew her longsword and imitated Jing Ni's movements.

The sword light flashed, though not as fluid as Jing Ni's, it already possessed some of the spirit of the sword.

"Too slow." Jing Ni frowned. "Your wrist is too stiff; the sword isn't flexible enough."

She stepped forward and reached out to grasp Xia Bing's wrist.

"Your wrist should be like this..."

She adjusted Xia Bing's posture, placing her palm on the back of his hand.

Xia Bing felt the warmth of her palm and was somewhat surprised.

Jing Ni immediately withdrew her hand and took a step back.

"Again."

Xia Bing didn't say anything more and continued practicing her sword.

……

One hour later.

Xia Bing has already learned most of the basic moves of the Jingni Sword Technique.

The Sacred Heart Technique operates automatically, absorbing the essence of these sword techniques and making them his own.

"Your learning speed..." Jing Ni was somewhat surprised, "I've never seen anyone like you."

"Talent," Xia Bing said.

He couldn't easily explain the existence of the Sacred Heart Technique, so he could only use talent as an excuse.

Jingni glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions.

"Your swordsmanship has reached a basic level," she said. "Next, I will teach you the true art of killing."

"Killing techniques?"

"A sword for killing is not for performance, not for sparring," Jing Ni said calmly. "A sword for killing has only one purpose—to kill the enemy in the fastest and most effortless way."

She raised her sword, the tip pointing at a rock.

"Look at that stone, and imagine it's a person."

Where is his weak point?

Xia Bing thought for a moment and said, "Throat, heart, brow..."

"Anything else?"

"Underarms, inner thighs, back of the neck..."

"Not enough." Jing Ni shook her head. "There are 108 fatal acupoints on the human body, each one capable of killing. The sword that kills doesn't strike the vital points, but rather the most vulnerable spot."

She flashed, and the sword flashed past.

The stone split open instantly, the cut as smooth as a mirror.

"This is a sword for killing." Jing Ni sheathed her sword. "Not for elegance, but for efficiency."

Xia Bing looked at the stone, feeling somewhat shocked.

Jingni's swordsmanship is devoid of any frills; it is purely a killing technique.

This sword technique may not be as effective as wide-ranging combat methods on the battlefield, but it is a deadly weapon in assassination.

"I understand," he said.

Jingni glanced at him and nodded.

"Next, you'll practice with your partner."

"Sparring?"

"Use your sword to kill me," Jing Ni said calmly. "Don't worry about hurting me; I've been injured for so many years, I won't die."

Xia Bing frowned.

"this……"

"Come."

Jing Ni had already raised her sword, the tip pointing at him.

Xia Bing had no choice but to draw her sword and meet the attack.

The two exchanged blows, their swords flashing.

Jing Ni's swordsmanship is ruthless, with each move aimed directly at a vital point.

Xia Bing's swordsmanship is more comprehensive. The Sacred Heart Technique has absorbed the essence of many martial arts, making his swordsmanship both as swift as Jing Ni's and as profound as other martial arts.

"Excellent swordsmanship," Jing Ni whispered. "Your swordsmanship is now on par with mine."

"It's because you taught me well."

Jing Ni remained silent, her sword flashing again, aimed straight for Xia Bing's throat.

Xia Bing dodged to the side, then swung her sword backhand, the tip of which stopped at Jing Ni's neck.

Both of them stopped fighting at the same time.

"You win," Jing Ni said calmly, sheathing her sword.

Xia Bing sheathed his sword and looked at her.

"Your strength is more than that."

"I know," Jingni said, "but just now, you didn't hold back."

Xia Bing remained silent.

He certainly didn't hold back with that sword strike just now.

But Jingni didn't either.

She was teaching him through practical experience.

"You are a good teacher," Xia Bing said.

Jingni glanced at him and said in a low voice, "I've never been a teacher."

"Now we have it."

Jingni remained silent for a moment, then turned and walked out of the woods.

"Let's go back, Xia Yan must be hungry."

……

On the way back, the two walked side by side.

"Xia Bing," Jing Ni suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"Why...why did you learn my swordsmanship?"

Xia Bing glanced at her.

"To protect the people I want to protect."

Jing Ni was stunned for a moment.

Who... do you want to protect?

Xia Bing didn't answer directly, but just looked at her.

Jingni met his gaze and remained silent for a moment.

"The Net won't let me go," she whispered. "If you save me, you're going against the Net. They'll send even stronger assassins... You can't protect me."

Even if we can't protect them, we must still protect them.

Jingni glanced at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Why?

"Because you need protection," Xia Bing said. "I told you, I would protect you and your daughter."

Jingni remained silent.

After a long silence, she whispered, "I'm an assassin, my hands are stained with blood... Aren't you afraid?"

"Don't be afraid."

"I've killed many people, including... people I've loved."

"That's in the past," Xia Bing said. "You are Xia Yan's mother now, a woman who needs protection."

Jingni looked at him without saying a word.

"I'm not afraid of the net," Xia Bing continued. "No matter how many people come, I will stand in front of you."

Jingni was startled.

She lowered her head and whispered, "You...you don't have to go to this lengths for me."

"I do," Xia Bing said. "You and the child are the people I want to protect."

Jing Ni was stunned.

She looked up and gazed into Xia Bing's eyes.

Warmth, steadfastness, and unwavering resolve.

"I……"

"I will become stronger," Xia Bing interrupted her, "strong enough that no one can hurt you."

Jing Ni remained silent for a long time.

Finally, she whispered, "I will help you."

"What?"

"You want to fight the Net? I'll help you." Jing Ni looked at him. "My sword can be used by you."

Xia Bing looked at her and nodded.

"good."

……

Evening, in the courtyard.

Xia Yufang sat in the courtyard with Xia Yan in her arms. When she saw the two of them return, a smile appeared on her face.

"You're back? How was your training?"

"It's alright," Xia Bing said.

Jingni walked over and took Xia Yan from Xia Yufang's hands.

"Aunt Xia, thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work," Xia Yufang said with a smile. "This child is very well-behaved, doesn't cry or fuss, and is much easier to take care of than Bing'er was when she was little."

Xia Bing said helplessly, "Mother..."

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore." Xia Yufang shook her head with a smile. "Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner."

At dinner, the three of them sat around the table.

Jingni held Xia Yan in her arms, eating while looking down at the child.

Xia Bing sat opposite her, her gaze fixed on her.

Under the light, Jingni's profile softened a bit.

Holding her child, she was no longer the cold-blooded killer, but a gentle mother.

"Jing Ni," Xia Bing suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"The Net will send more men," he said. "You must be prepared."

Jingni glanced at him and nodded.

"I know."

"No matter how many people come, I will stand in front of you."

Jingni was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Thank you."

Xia Bing shook her head.

"You're welcome," he said. "Protecting you was my own choice."

Jingni looked at him with a strange look in her eyes.

From childhood to adulthood, no one has ever been willing to do anything for her.

But Xia Bing... was willing to be an enemy of the entire Luo Wang for her sake.

"I will become stronger," Jing Ni whispered, "strong enough... to fight alongside you."

Xia Bing looked at her and nodded.

"good."