Ancient Sword Tomb Chapter Thirty-Two: An Old Acquaintance?

As Luo Chen's voice echoed through the space, a shower of blossoms drifted down from the sky, clear and serene. With the fall of the first petal, Xueluo felt dozens of Luo Chen’s presences appear within the formation, each one indistinguishable from the others. A breath later, dozens of Luo Chen’s figures materialized in succession.

The spectators in the distance were momentarily stunned. The Palace Master frowned slightly and glanced at the elder beside him.

“Elder Bai, have you ever seen a technique like this?”

After observing for a moment, the elder shook his head gently. The Palace Master glanced back at the arena. If this was a movement technique, why did it require such a specific space to be performed? Could it be a formation technique? Yet, so few formation arts had been preserved, and he had no recollection of any like this. A host of doubts rose in the Palace Master’s mind.

“Miss Xueluo, forgive me for what I am about to do.”

The many figures spoke in unison, then all surged toward Xueluo. For a moment, she couldn’t tell which one was the real Luo Chen. There was a hint of fear in her expression, but mostly astonishment—she hadn’t expected her opponent to have mastered the power of wood elements.

“Bihua: Traceless Steps in Snow!”

Xueluo tried to conceal her own presence as well, but the petals she summoned merely floated down in vain. Only then did she realize she was unable to command the wood element in this space at all. Panic rising, she stumbled back a few steps. Suddenly, she felt a finger press against her back, and Luo Chen’s voice sounded.

“You’ve lost, Miss Xueluo.”

As he spoke, the six-petaled flower in Xueluo’s hand fell to the ground. All the images of Luo Chen vanished in an instant, and the petals scattered throughout the space converged at the center, gradually forming a humanoid figure. As the force at her back disappeared, a single petal brushed Xueluo’s cheek and was drawn into the figure.

A breath later, all the petals dissipated, and Luo Chen stood revealed at the center. He then walked toward Xueluo, who now understood: all those figures had been real, mere manifestations of his divided self. Luo Chen picked up the fallen flower and handed it to her.

“I’m sorry to have defeated you.”

With a gentle smile, Luo Chen spoke, and after Xueluo took the flower, he turned to leave the dueling platform. Seeing this, Xueluo bit her lip.

“May I know your name, sir?”

Luo Chen paused and glanced back at Xueluo, then looked down at his chest.

“I have no name,” he replied.

With that, Luo Chen leaped away toward the Skyspire Academy. Xueluo looked down at the flower in her hand, then gazed at Luo Chen’s distant silhouette.

“Truly nameless?” she murmured, then turned and left the arena as well.

“Platform One: Hundred Blossoms Palace versus Skyspire Academy—Skyspire Academy is victorious!”

Hearing the announcement as he landed beside Qing Xingyue, Luo Chen smiled at the others. However, he noticed that everyone seemed slightly dazed, staring at him in astonishment, which left him a bit embarrassed. Glancing at Qing Xuan Yu and Luo Xiaoya out of the corner of his eye, he sat down quietly and looked gravely at Qing Xingyue.

“Elder Yue, is what I seek truly connected to this tournament?”

Qing Xingyue merely smiled at Luo Chen and rose, turning his back.

“Some things, how could an old man like me know for certain? I can only tell you there may be a connection.”

Luo Chen pondered this, then walked over to Xiaoya, gathered her and the others, and left. He glanced at Qing Xuan Yu, who still stood rooted, then looked back toward the arena. He understood Qing Xingyue’s meaning. What began as a plan to quietly wait for the competition to end had now become something he had to involve himself in. Even the faintest clue meant he was closer to the truth.

At dusk, with the oppressive orange glow of the setting sun and the city’s lively clamor filling the air, Luo Chen and Qing Xuan Yu walked side by side along the street. Luo Chen stared straight ahead, while Qing Xuan Yu gently held his arm, watching his ever-changing expression. Though a trace of confusion lingered in her heart, she chose not to disturb him.

“Stop right there! Don’t run!”

Suddenly, an urgent voice rang out behind them. Luo Chen and Qing Xuan Yu paused and turned. A little girl was running down the street, glancing fearfully over her shoulder. Several meters behind, a short, weary-looking middle-aged man chased after her through the crowd. Luo Chen and Qing Xuan Yu exchanged a puzzled glance.

The little girl, not watching where she was going, ran straight into Luo Chen’s arms. He looked at her curiously, and she looked up at the two of them. Before Luo Chen could speak, she quickly stepped back, flustered.

“I’m sorry, big brother, I got your clothes dirty.”

Her childish apology made Luo Chen smile. Qing Xuan Yu knelt before the girl and gently tidied her messy hair. Luo Chen noticed her tattered clothes. When the little girl finally raised her head, her big, bright eyes met his, and she recoiled in fear. Qing Xuan Yu shot Luo Chen a glare.

“Don’t be afraid, little sister. Big brother won’t hurt you.”

Hey, what’s going on? Am I really that scary, or am I just ugly? Luo Chen touched his face, but it was still the same handsome visage as ever. Satisfied, he nodded and stepped forward—only to see the girl shrink back again. Luo Chen was left speechless, about to say something when Qing Xuan Yu stood and turned, scolding him.

“Look what you’ve done! You’ve frightened the child. Back up, three steps.”

Seeing her shield the girl with her hand, Luo Chen could only sigh and obediently step back. The middle-aged man, panting and hunched over, finally caught up, stopping a couple of meters away. Luo Chen found his frail appearance rather odd. After a few moments, the man straightened with a fierce glare at the girl.

“You little brat, hand it over!”

At his harsh words, the girl pressed closer to Qing Xuan Yu, clutching a small pouch behind her. Qing Xuan Yu protectively placed a hand on her shoulder, and the man’s gaze shifted menacingly to Qing Xuan Yu.

“And who are you? If you don’t want to die, stay out of this. Get lost!”

Luo Chen hadn’t intended to intervene, but the man’s words infuriated him. In a flash, the man was sent flying several meters back, and Luo Chen now stood before Qing Xuan Yu and the girl. Without turning, he watched as the man struggled to rise, then strode toward him. The man looked at the masked youth approaching and was seized by terror.

“Who are you? Why meddle in others’ business?”

Luo Chen merely smiled, too lazy to answer. His gaze sharpened; a breeze stirred, and he seized the man by the throat. The man struggled, blood trickling from his mouth, until Luo Chen tossed him aside.

“Telling my woman to get lost? You’d best consider your own worth first. Now get out of my sight!”

With Luo Chen’s icy words, the man dared not look back, scrambling away as fast as he could. Watching his stumbling retreat, Luo Chen smiled and turned to the others. He noted the flush on Qing Xuan Yu’s cheeks, then knelt beside the little girl.

“Little sister, why was that man chasing you? Did you do something naughty and take something that wasn’t yours?”

The girl hesitated, glancing at Qing Xuan Yu. When Qing Xuan Yu smiled and nodded, she slowly brought the pouch from behind her, eyes glistening as she looked at it, and handed it to Luo Chen. Curious, he opened it and found a few spirit stones inside.

“These were given to me by Sister Siyu. That bad man accused me of stealing them…”

Her voice faltered as she began to cry softly. Luo Chen gently retied the pouch and placed it back in her hands, considering her words.

“Tell me, little sister, is the Siyu you mentioned named Wang Siyu?”

“You know Sister Siyu, big brother?”

Her reaction confirmed it for Luo Chen. He smiled and patted her head.

“Then, could you take big brother and big sister to see her?”

The girl looked at Luo Chen, hesitated, glanced at Qing Xuan Yu, then nodded. The two followed her as she led them away.