41: Chapter 41 Swordsmanship Genius

Su Yu took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the bamboo forest.

Passing through a quiet, cobblestone path, the view before him suddenly opened up.

An ancient, and perhaps even somewhat dilapidated, courtyard house appeared before his eyes.

A rickety plaque hung from the lintel, with the three large characters "Jinglin Garden" written on it.

However, these three characters were written with wild, sweeping strokes, exuding an uninhibited air, as if they might burst out from the plaque at any moment.

Su Yu pushed open the wooden door, which let out a creaking sound.

The furnishings in the courtyard were very simple, one might even say crude.

A water well, an old locust tree, and a few chickens pecking at rice.

And under the old locust tree, there sat a paint-chipped rattan chair.

A short, elderly man wearing large shorts, a white undershirt, and flip-flops was sprawled ungracefully on the rattan chair, holding a cattail fan in his hand, with a copy of "Playboy" covering his face, snoring loudly.

The snoring was deafening, and drool was even running from the corner of his mouth.

This is... the Star-Lord level Dean?

Su Yu's mouth twitched, and he began to suspect he had walked into the wrong place.

"Um... Junior Su Yu, greetings to Dean Hong."

Su Yu called out tentatively.

No response. The snoring continued.

"Ahem! Junior Su Yu! Here to report for duty!" Su Yu raised his voice.

Still no response.

"The old man is playing dead!" Little White couldn't watch any longer.

It hated it most when people acted pretentious in front of it.

It leaped from Su Yu's shoulder, turned into a white blur, and jumped directly onto the old man's stomach, preparing to use its claws to pull at the old man's sparse beard.

"Hey! Old man! Wake up and greet your guest!"

However.

Just as Little White's claws were about to touch the beard.

The old man, who had been "sound asleep," suddenly opened his eyes.

There was not a hint of sleepiness in those eyes; instead, they twinkled with a mischievous, childlike glint.

"Oh? Where did this little wild cat come from? And quite fierce, too?"

The old man's hand speed was as fast as teleportation.

Snap!

Before Su Yu could see clearly, the arrogant Little White was already held by the scruff of its neck by the old man's single hand, dangled in mid-air like a chick.

"Let me go! You stinking old man!" Little White struggled desperately, its four paws flailing in the air.

"It can talk?"

The old man chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, "Daring to pull this old man's beard? Is this your greeting gift?"

"Smack!"

The old man was unceremonious, backhanding a slap onto Little White's furry bottom.

The force was controlled perfectly; it didn't break any bones, but it definitely hurt!

"Awooo—!!"

Little White let out a shrill scream, tears streaming from its eyes.

It had grown this big, and no one had ever dared to spank it!

"Do you yield?" The old man landed another slap.

"I don't! ...I yield, I yield! Spare me, Grandpa!"

A wise man doesn't fight when at a disadvantage; Little White immediately conceded, clutching its red, swollen bottom with its paws, looking as aggrieved as a child.

Su Yu watched from the side, stunned, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

"Alright, little guy, go play elsewhere."

The old man tossed Little White aside into a pile of hay in the corner, then slowly sat up, scrutinizing Su Yu from head to toe.

"Su Yu, right?"

The old man picked at his foot and said nonchalantly, "You look quite spirited."

"Junior..." Su Yu just wanted to be humble.

"Don't give me all that formal, flowery talk."

The old man waved his hand and pointed at the alloy saber at Su Yu's waist.

"You practice the saber? Come, draw it."

The old man stood up; he was only 1.6 meters tall.

"Attack me. Use your saber. Let me see."

"Yes!"

Su Yu's eyes narrowed, his expression instantly becoming solemn.

He knew this was a test, and also a way to put him in his place.

If he didn't show some real ability, he feared there would be no good days ahead under this unserious Dean.

"Dean Hong, excuse my offense!"

Boom!

The Qi and blood of an Early Stage Grandmaster erupted without reservation.

Su Yu drew the long saber at his waist.

"Three-Fire Thunder Blade" — Opening Stance!

Although he hadn't practiced this Martial Skill to the Perfection Realm as his father had, under Su Wu's personal instruction, Su Yu had already grasped some of its essence.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

The blade vibrated; although it didn't manifest the distinct three-colored thunder and fire, a scorching and violent aura was already attached to the edge.

"Slash!"

Su Yu gave a low shout, his figure moving like lightning, crossing ten meters in a single step, the saber descending upon the old man with the force to split mountains and crack stones!

This strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless! And it carried a faint, elusive trace of Saber Intent!

"Oh?"

A flash of surprise passed through the old man's eyes.

Facing this heavy, powerful strike, he did not dodge, nor did he even move his feet.

He simply extended two withered fingers.

Clang!

A crisp metallic ringing sound.

Su Yu's saber, which was capable of cleaving a tank, was actually caught by the old man with two fingers in a nonchalant manner!

It didn't budge at all!

"Good strength. To have such monstrous power at the Early Stage Grandmaster level, it seems you also have a special Physique."

The old man commented, then flicked his wrist slightly.

Hum!

A soft yet irresistible force traveled along the blade; Su Yu felt his web between thumb and index finger jolt, and he was forced to take three steps back uncontrollably.

"Again!"

Su Yu's unyielding spirit flared up.

"Void-Breaking Blade" — Chaotic Dance!

Since he couldn't win in strength, he would compete in speed!

Swish, swish, swish!

Su Yu's figure turned into afterimages, unleashing saber strikes frantically around the old man.

A hundred strikes per second! Every strike aimed at the old man's vital points!

However, the old man acted as if he were strolling through his own backyard.

He kept one hand behind his back, using only the other to wave casually.

Slapping, parrying, tapping, pressing.

Every move precisely disrupted Su Yu's attacking rhythm.

Three minutes later.

"Stop!"

The old man gave a sudden, light shout, his finger pointing one inch from the center of Su Yu's forehead.

Su Yu froze, cold sweat instantly breaking out.

If that finger had made contact, his head would have burst open.

"Hoo... hoo..." Su Yu retracted his saber and stepped back, panting heavily, his eyes full of admiration, "Junior has lost. Dean, your divine techniques are unmatched."

"Less flattery."

The old man withdrew his hand and lay back down on the rattan chair, but the admiration in his eyes could not be hidden.

"Not bad, really not bad."

The old man picked up the cattail fan to fan himself, clicking his tongue in wonder, "I didn't expect your saber technique Foundation to be so solid, even stronger than my own at the same stage; you can be considered a saber technique Genius."

Su Yu scratched his head and smiled, "Dean, you flatter me; Junior just practices a bit more diligently."

"From today on, you are the Disciple of this old man, Hong Tianyang!"

"Yes! Master!"

Su Yu bowed respectfully in the Master-Disciple ceremony.

"Alright, alright, enough with the formalities. Go over there and pick up that white fur-ball of yours that's playing dead!"