Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

This is simply because of the prevailing trend brought about by the big iron hammer.

The entire martial arts world of Jicheng has fallen into chaos.

This day.

Big Hammer received a challenge.

If it's just a challenge, it's not really anything strange.

Just as the giant hammer gained fame by stepping on the Korean wave, many people also want to gain fame by stepping on the giant hammer.

But this challenge is different.

It originated from the Crown Prince's residence.

It was delivered by Yan Dan's people.

Having been in Jicheng for so long, Big Iron Hammer has learned quite a bit about the capital of Yan.

King Xi of Yan rarely interfered in state affairs.

When he ascended the throne, he was quite ambitious, but later, because the Yan state suffered repeated defeats, he began to give up and rarely cared about state affairs. On the other hand, Crown Prince Yan Dan ruled a region on behalf of the King of Yan and enjoyed a very high reputation in the Yan state.

He never expected that the Crown Prince's residence would send him a challenge.

After seeing the challenge, Big Hammer was somewhat bewildered.

Despite his cold and aloof swordsman persona to outsiders, he is actually quite simple-minded and lacks any independent judgment. Everything he has done recently has been done according to the arrangements of Xu Qing and Tian Guang.

Therefore, after receiving this challenge, he was at a loss and quickly sought out Xu Qing.

"Mr. Xu, what should I do?"

"Big Iron Hammer asked earnestly."

Recently, he has enjoyed the benefits of fame.

This is a completely different feeling from when I was in Baiyang Village.

Although Baiyang Village was where his master lived, the villagers there didn't actually like him.

But things are different in Jicheng.

Although some people in the martial arts world disliked him, they came to accept him after he defeated the Korean wave.

This sense of belonging gave Big Hammer a reason to live.

"Of course, we choose to fight!"

Xu Qing spoke to the large iron hammer.

"Since this Crown Prince of Yan has sent a challenge, it means he wants to get involved in the affairs of the martial world. We might as well accept the challenge and see what he's up to."

Big Hammer didn't understand the deeper meaning behind Xu Qing's words, but he still nodded.

……

On the day of the decisive battle, just as dawn was breaking, Big Iron Hammer left his residence carrying the Thunderclap Sword.

Xu Qing followed behind him, wearing the bronze mask. The patterns on the mask gleamed coldly in the morning light. He raised his hand and tightened the straps of the mask, his fingertips tracing the curve of the mask's edge. He had learned this trick from Yan Ri. With the mask on, no one could guess his identity.

The guards of the Crown Prince's residence led them inside, through a courtyard filled with sycamore trees, to a spacious training ground.

The training ground was paved with bluestone slabs, with faint sword marks still visible on them, indicating that people often practiced martial arts here.

Yan Dan, dressed in a moon-white casual robe, stood in the center of the training ground. When she saw Xu Qing, she frowned slightly: "And who is this?"

"Who I am is unimportant." Xu Qing stepped forward, blocking Big Iron Hammer's path, his gaze behind the mask sharp as a sword. "But Your Highness, did you choose the mansion as the location for the duel to kill Big Iron Hammer silently?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an imposing aura.

Yan Dan subconsciously took a half step back, secretly surprised. He had investigated Da Tiechui before and only knew that he was highly skilled in martial arts, but he had not discovered that there was such a person behind him.

Yan Dan composed himself and spoke sincerely, "I have no ill intentions towards the Great Swordsman. Recently, the martial world in Ji City has been in chaos, and the people are suffering. I would like to ask the Great Swordsman for help in maintaining order. However, I also know that this request is too abrupt, so I would like to have a match with the Great Swordsman. If we win, Great Iron Hammer will follow my rules. On the contrary, if we lose, whether it is fame or fortune, I can grant the Great Swordsman's request."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the big iron hammer, his eyes full of anticipation.

Chapter 149 Xu Qing makes his move, and Jing Ke is a disappointment!

"I see, then we agree."

Big Iron Hammer didn't speak, but Xu Qing, who was standing behind him, spoke first.

This made Yan Dan give Xu Qing another deep look.

However, in the end, he still didn't say much.

Judging from Big Hammer's lack of rebuttal and Xu Qing's presence behind him, it's clear that this masked man is unusual.

"In that case, let's begin!" Yan Dan said upon hearing this.

Xu Qing then asked Yan Dan, "So, Your Highness, are you preparing to fight the Great Iron Hammer?"

Yan Dan shook his head and laughed, "I am not a martial artist and do not understand martial arts, so of course I am not here to fight the great swordsman."

If his words were heard by someone unaware of the situation, they might be believed.

But Xu Qing couldn't believe a single word of it.

Xu Qing knew that Yan Dan was not weak.

"Brother Jing, come out!"

As soon as Yan Dan finished speaking, a figure in black emerged from behind the locust grove on the east side of the training ground.

The newcomer had his black hair tied up in a high bun, with a few wisps of hair fluttering in the wind. His handsome face was adorned with a nonchalant smile, and the simple scabbard hanging at his waist exuded a carefree air.

Xu Qing had already sensed the presence of the hidden figures when he stepped into the training ground, but he did not expect that the person hiding there was an old acquaintance.

Several years have passed since they parted ways at Xinling. Now, after all the twists and turns, the other party has actually come together with Yan Dan.

Is it a coincidence? Or is it destiny?

"The one who will be fighting the great swordsman today is my good friend."

As Yan Dan spoke, her gaze swept back and forth across the faces of Da Tiechui and Xu Qing, clearly trying to glean something from their expressions. However, Da Tiechui's face remained ashen and iron-like as ever, while Xu Qing's expression was completely concealed by his mask, with only two sharp glints of his eyes peeking out from the slits in the mask, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.

Private duels don't require formalities, so Xu Qing and Yan Dan quickly retreated to the edge of the arena, leaving the square space in the middle for Jing Ke and Da Tiechui.

Big Iron Hammer unsheathed the Thunderclap Sword from his back, appearing as fierce as he had when fighting the other swordsmen before.

Jing Ke slowly drew his sword, but the moment Xu Qing saw the blade, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

As the world's top swordsmith, he can identify the material of a sword with just one glance.

At this moment, Jing Ke was holding a wooden sword that was extremely similar to the one Han Liu had used before.

Clearly, this is a weapon specifically designed to counter the Thunderclap Sword.

Wooden swords are unaffected by magnetism. Although they lack the sharpness of metal swords, they can overcome the core advantage of the Thunderclap Sword.

Although the Korean wave was defeated initially, it severely damaged Big Iron Hammer with a wooden sword, which is enough to prove that this plan is feasible.

However, since they could not find a special material to replace metal in time, they had to make do with a wooden sword. After all, for a true master, a wooden sword can also kill.

So, was Jing Ke considered a master?

I'd say I'm barely half a [something].

But he definitely didn't reach the level of Gai Nie in the original work.

At this moment, the use of a wooden sword seemed to Xu Qing more like it was specifically prepared to counter the giant iron hammer.

In addition, he did not use the "Mountain-Slaying Sword," a move that displeased Xu Qing.

"and many more."

Just as the hand gripping the sword with the giant iron hammer exerted slight force, and Jing Ke assumed his starting stance, Xu Qing's voice suddenly rang out, like cold iron clashing, interrupting the impending battle intent.

Big Hammer turned his head in confusion, and Jing Ke and Yan Dan also turned their gazes toward the masked figure.

“Let me do it.” Xu Qing stepped forward, his gaze falling on the big iron hammer. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable power. “Your injuries from the battle with Han Liu have not yet healed.”

This was not an excuse; there was indeed an unhealed sword wound on Big Hammer's left shoulder, but with his powerful physique, this injury did not affect his combat strength at all.

However, when these words reached the ears of Yan Dan and Jing Ke, their expressions changed drastically.

Yan Dan frowned, her fingers unconsciously clenching her sleeves: "What does this gentleman mean?"

"It's nothing." Xu Qing's gaze turned to Yan Dan, his voice even colder. "I just feel that it's unfair to Da Tiechui that the challenge was issued by His Highness the Crown Prince, yet someone else is fighting on your behalf. Why don't I fight in his place? In any case, regardless of the outcome, we will agree to the conditions you proposed earlier."

Although the reasoning was correct, Yan Dan's mood instantly sank to the bottom.

Having fought many battles, he had already figured out the strength of the Great Iron Hammer. It was precisely because he was certain that Jing Ke could win that he dared to set up this duel.

But Xu Qing suddenly intervened. This person was wearing a mask, and his strength was unknown. If we rashly agreed, all our previous plans would be in vain.

Just as Yan Dan hesitated, Jing Ke spoke first: "Alright, you can do it."

For him, it didn't matter who he fought; he could both hone his skills and find out the opponent's strength. Why not?

Xu Qing nodded slightly and took the Thunderclap Sword from the big iron hammer.

The heavy sword, weighing over a hundred pounds, felt as light as nothing in his seemingly frail hands; he simply gripped it casually and steadied the blade.

This scene caused Yan Dan's pupils to suddenly contract.

Everyone knows the weight of the Thunderclap Sword; it's impossible for anyone but someone with superhuman strength to wield it. The Great Iron Hammer was able to sweep through the Yan Kingdom's swordsmen with this sword precisely because of his brute force. But this masked man before us can wield the Thunderclap Sword so easily—could he also possess superhuman strength?

What alarmed him even more was that Big Hammer had no objection to it at all.

Clearly, this person's status in Big Hammer's heart far surpasses that of ordinary people.

Jing Ke didn't think much of it. He agreed to fight Yan Dan partly because of the latter's sincerity and partly because he wanted to spar with a master from Yan. He had originally heard that Han Liu was quite strong and wanted to compete with him, but now that he had a stronger opponent, it actually made him more eager to fight.

As Yan Dan instructed, the Thunderclap Sword's magnetic force was strange, and the only way to break it was to use speed to overcome slowness and to finish the battle quickly.

Although wooden swords don't feel good to hold, they can avoid magnetic interference, so if you seize the opportunity, you might still have a chance of winning.

Although his opponent could wield the Thunderclap Sword, its weight meant his swing speed was inevitably slow, which presented an opportunity for him.

The thought had barely formed in his mind when Jing Ke lightly touched the ground with his toes, his figure drifting out like a willow catkin, the wooden sword in his hand turning into a blur as it pierced straight at Xu Qing's heart.

The sword strike was as fast as lightning, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air; it was clearly a strike delivered with all one's might.

But in the next instant, the sound of wind and thunder suddenly exploded.