Fairy, Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Blind

Chapter 43: Battle Against Wu Cheng

The sun rose in the east, painting the sky with golden hues as the mountains seemed to roll up their fog curtains. In Chuyun City, crowds surged toward the city lord’s mansion, eager to secure a good spot to watch the highly anticipated battle.

Surrounded by his supporters from the mortal world, You Su was cheered on by the crowd. To these people, You Su was a powerful cultivator who treated them with kindness and humility. Now, facing Wu Cheng, who represented the lofty and untouchable cultivators, it felt as though You Su was fighting on their behalf.

As they passed through the breakfast street, everyone wanted to offer him food, but You Su politely declined, accepting only an oil pastry from Granny Wang.

When they passed by the Zhaiyun Clothing Store, the shopkeeper saw him heading to such an important event still dressed in his plain black robe. Furious, she dragged him inside and tried to force him into a new outfit. Unable to refuse, You Su reluctantly accepted a slightly flashy silver belt embroidered with the words “Zhaiyun” in delicate script.

After a challenging journey, You Su finally arrived at the city lord’s mansion. City Lord Liu and the others were already seated there. At the other end of the arena, Wu Cheng, dressed in a low-key white robe, stood silently, his gaze fixed on You Su.

Seeing that both participants had arrived, City Lord Liu stood up to quiet the noisy crowd. He delivered a speech filled with formalities, praising the two for their exceptional strength and expressing how remarkable it was that they had made it this far. He reminded them that the final match should be fought with honor and that they should concede if they were outmatched.

Gu also stepped forward and promised that regardless of the outcome, anyone he deemed to have performed exceptionally would receive a gift from him. This reignited hope in many of the participating cultivators, as gifts from an elder of the Mystic Firmament Sect were not easily obtained. However, those who had underperformed or given up looked even more discouraged.

With a command, You Su and Wu Cheng slowly made their way to the center of the arena. For the first time, You Su felt a wave of unease.

When facing others, You Su had never doubted his victory. Many cultivators were mere pretenders, destined to remain stuck at the Meridian Opening or Spirit Platform Realm due to their lack of dedication to the Dao. But Wu Cheng was different. You Su could sense his unwavering pursuit of the Dao, and standing opposite him now, You Su felt a faint threat.

However, no matter what, even if You Su didn’t need the disciple quota, he couldn’t allow himself to lose to Wu Cheng. From their childhood squabbles to Wu Cheng’s recent provocations, You Su had had enough. Today, in this arena, he was determined to shatter Wu Cheng’s inexplicable arrogance.

Wu Cheng was sizing You Su up too, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. Finally, the day had come for him to face You Su head-on. He couldn’t explain why he despised You Su so much. While he was polite to others, his hatred for this blind boy only grew stronger.

Since childhood, Wu Cheng had been his family’s young master, personally chosen by the sect leader of the Guardian Firmament Sect as a direct disciple. Until the day his master first sent him to challenge You Su, his life had been smooth sailing. That day, for the first time, he experienced the bitterness of rejection.

He hated that feeling. As a young boy, he had stubbornly hoped that You Su would agree to fight him. Why wouldn’t You Su agree? Wasn’t it just a matter of fighting and admitting defeat? Others could do it, so why couldn’t this blind boy?

Over time, this became his obsession, his inner demon. It gave him a dark side beneath his glorious exterior, something that both terrified and gratified him. He was no longer just the shining puppet used to bring glory to his family and his sect. Now he had his own hatred, and he directed it all at You Su.

Sometimes, Wu Cheng even felt like one of those desperate fools in the brothels, endlessly pursuing the unattainable courtesan. But he was different from them. He had finally caught his “courtesan,” and he was about to trample her underfoot, severing his obsession and paving the way to greater heights.

With a loud bang from the copper drum, the crowd held their breath, their eyes fixed on the two figures in the arena – one in black, the other in white. The long-awaited battle had finally begun.

You Su was more focused than ever, using all of his senses to track Wu Cheng’s every move. Wu Cheng was no pushover; he wouldn’t leave himself open like Sheng Ziling had done. You Su had to carefully plan his moves. As a blind man, he was at a natural disadvantage, and attacking recklessly wasn’t the best strategy.

Wu Cheng was also ready. He gripped his sword with both hands, one in front of the other. This was the most challenging opening stance from the Guardian Firmament Sect’s Guardian Firmament Sword Scripture, a technique only Wu Cheng had mastered among the younger generation. It concentrated all his sword intent into a single, devastating strike.

“You Su, today you finally won’t run away,” Wu Cheng suddenly smiled.

“I don’t talk before a fight,” You Su replied, quietly gathering his strength.

Wu Cheng’s smile widened. “What a coincidence. Neither do I.”

As soon as the word left his lips, a blur shot forward. Wu Cheng, carrying an overwhelming sword intent, charged at You Su, his sword unstoppable.

Those who had been defeated by Wu Cheng before were shocked. The seemingly invincible attack they had faced was far from Wu Cheng’s full power. At this moment, they were certain that You Su was doomed.

But You Su wasn’t about to lose so easily. The two swords clashed with a resounding clang, and You Su was forced back a meter, his shoes leaving deep marks on the ground. His right hand trembled from the force of Wu Cheng’s strike.

You Su remained calm. He knew that such a powerful, concentrated strike had one major flaw – a long recovery time. Without hesitation, he released his right hand, twisted his body, and caught the falling Black Pine Sword with his left hand, thrusting it toward Wu Cheng’s chest.

This move was incredibly risky. If he misjudged Wu Cheng’s sword trajectory even slightly, he could be cut down instantly.

Wu Cheng was startled by You Su’s counter. It was easy to attack, but hard to recover. Blocking You Su’s strike would be difficult now. Instead, he quickly chanted an incantation, summoning a shock wave to deflect You Su’s sword.

Feeling the resistance, You Su didn’t force the issue. He withdrew his left hand, spun around, and launched a flying kick at Wu Cheng’s face. You Su didn’t specialize in leg techniques, but this kick was powerful, infused with profound energy, and hardened like steel using the Iron Transformation Technique from the Comprehensive Selection of Five Elements Spellcraft.

Wu Cheng hadn’t expected You Su to use spells, assuming that he was purely a swordsman. Caught off guard, he had no time to react properly and could only block with his elbow, taking the full force of the kick.

The impact sent Wu Cheng flying several meters. Comparing the distances both had been forced to retreat, the crowd was shocked to see You Su slightly ahead.

Seeing the two fight as if their lives depended on it, City Lord Liu looked worried. “Brother Gu, this…”

However, Gu smiled calmly. “It’s fine. I have it under control.”

In a real fight, enemies would not hold back, and Gu admired those who fought with such ferocity and determination. While there were those on Divine Mountain who kept to themselves, Gu had no respect for them.

Returning his attention to the battle, Gu watched intently.

Wu Cheng brushed off his sleeve, his expression serious. You Su was a disciple of the Mandarin Duck Sword Sect, and Wu Cheng had intended to crush him in swordsmanship, forcing him to admit defeat. But You Su wasn’t just confined to swordsmanship, and Wu Cheng’s overconfidence had nearly cost him dearly. Now he decided to go all out, wielding his sword in one hand and forming seals with the other. This was his true strength.

You Su felt the pressure emanating from Wu Cheng and adjusted his stance, bending slightly like a willow in the wind, flexible yet unbreakable.

In the next instant, the two charged at each other, their swords clashing repeatedly, the sound of metal ringing through the air.

While it seemed evenly matched, keen observers could see that You Su had the slight upper hand. His sword techniques weren’t aimed at immediate victory, but at tangling Wu Cheng’s sword, forcing him to constantly defend and leaving him no room to cast spells.

Gu’s eyes gleamed with interest. He could see that this blind youth’s swordsmanship was exceptional, and his application of techniques was masterful, far beyond his years. Recalling his encounter with the Lotus Sword Venerable the previous night, Gu couldn’t help but wonder about her connection to You Su.

The Lotus Sword Venerable was a leading figure among the female sword cultivators of the five continents. With her self-created Lotus Sword Technique, she had carved out the Thirteenth Peak within the Mystic Firmament Sect’s territory, becoming its Thirteenth Elder-a true sword immortal. In her century of fame, she had only taken one disciple. For her to reappear after eight years and ask him to protect a young man suggested that she had taken an interest in You Su’s sword talent and might want to take him as her second disciple.

With this in mind, Gu made a decision.

Back in the arena, the two were still fighting, but Wu Cheng was clearly struggling. What had once been an even match was now a retreat. He had always prided himself on his swordsmanship, but it paled in comparison to You Su’s mastery.

You Su had practiced his sword techniques since childhood, swinging his sword tens of thousands of times a day without fail. His dedication was unparalleled, and it showed.

With another clash, Wu Cheng’s rhythm broke, leaving him open. You Su seized the opportunity, thrusting his sword forward.

But this was a trap. Wu Cheng had deliberately left himself open, and although he was grazed on the waist, he used the moment to cast a spell. A fiery dragon erupted from his palm, forcing You Su to retreat. The flames scorched his black robe, leaving several burnt holes.

Seeing Wu Cheng bleed, Qi Daodong, his master, frowned. He considered stopping the increasingly intense battle, but held back, unwilling to believe that his prized disciple could lose.

You Su’s heart sank. He was now on high alert. Wu Cheng’s strength far exceeded his expectations. The fire spell was far more powerful than anything You Su had learned, and it was clear that Wu Cheng excelled in spellcasting. Determined not to give him any breathing room, You Su charged again.

Wu Cheng, however, discarded his sword without hesitation and began chanting with both hands. Gu, recognizing the movements, nearly stood up in shock. Wu Cheng was casting two spells at the same time!

This was only possible for someone with the rare Voice Dao Body, a constitution that granted them exceptional sensitivity to sound and made them natural spellcasters. In the past, such a person had even been able to cast five spells at once. For Wu Cheng, at the lower Spirit Platform Realm, to already be able to cast two was astonishing.

Gu marveled at how a small town like Chuyun could produce two such prodigies, both hidden in plain sight.

Even City Lord Liu looked stunned, while Qi Daodong sat confidently, certain of his disciple’s victory.

You Su’s sword was already upon Wu Cheng, but Wu Cheng didn’t dodge. His lips moved, then abruptly stopped as his hands came together. A tangible chain wrapped around You Su’s legs, yanking him to a halt. You Su tried to break free, but the chains were laced with electricity, paralyzing him.

Wu Cheng, exhausted from the spellcasting, panted heavily but looked triumphantly at the immobilized You Su. He summoned another fiery dragon, holding it in his hand.

“You Su, concede,” he said arrogantly.

You Su had never encountered such a binding spell before. Even Elder Ling’s immobilization techniques at the Water Condensation Realm weren’t this potent. He felt as though he were sinking in quicksand, unable to move.

The crowd thought that the battle was over.

But You Su refused to give up!

The Black Pine Sword hummed softly, as if more determined than its wielder. You Su felt the weight of the sword in his hand, and at that moment, everything fell silent. Only the words of his master’s wife echoed in his mind: “Believe in the sword you have swung countless times.”

You Su looked up, his empty eyes radiating an intense focus. He twisted the sword’s blade, activated the Wind Step Ladder Technique, and leaped high into the air, ignoring the blood dripping from his torn calves. The sword descended like divine punishment, a thunderstorm on a clear day.

The entire audience was spellbound, forgetting to breathe.

Realizing what was happening, Gu rushed into the arena to save Wu Cheng, cursing inwardly: Damn it, he’s only eighteen and he’s already comprehended sword intent! Do you want to become a sword god?!

Facing the descending sword, Wu Cheng didn’t flinch. Instead, he smiled satisfied.

“I concede.”