Naked Sword Art

Chapter 427: DeathLock

There was something about Xiao Fang. Something unknown. And for now, that mystery was worth betting on more than her own.

Following Li Qin's line of sight, all eyes turned to Xiao Fang.

The Matriarch remained silent for a moment, studying him. Then, without looking back to the stage, she spoke.

"Do you truly believe you can win?"

"I do," Xiao Fang answered without hesitation.

The Matriarch closed her eyes and sighed. She could feel he was telling the truth, and something more—as if he needed to be there. She didn't know what he was planning, but it didn't matter now, it was enough that he thought he could win.

"Okay. Go prepare yourself. I will authorize the substitution."

Her words caused ripples of murmurs and disbelief among the elders, but no one dared oppose her now. The only one itching to see Xiao Fang fight was Supreme Elder Song.

Xiao Fang stepped forward—but paused.

"There's one thing I'll need."

When he told them what he wanted, the Elders exchanged baffled looks. It was an odd request, to say the least.

Still, they granted it.

As he turned to leave, one of the Elders murmured under their breath:

"…Can this really work?"

No one had the answer. But something in the air had shifted—and everyone felt it.

Exiting the Matriarch's viewing platform, Xun Wei smiled faintly beside him.

"What's your plan now?" she whispered.

Xiao Fang smirked. "I'll fight."

.

.

.

Xiao Fang walked in silence, his footsteps echoing down the corridor as he descended toward the preparation halls. From high above, the crowd still hadn't found their voice. Whispers flitted here and there, but none dared speak too loudly.

Then the announcement echoed from above, loud and clear:

"There has been a change in participants. Representing the Black Paradise Sect in place of Li Qin. He is a young disciple, only at the age of nine-teen. Everyone, welcome him to the stage, Long Wang!"

A wave of gasps swept through the crowd.

…

"What?"

"Li Qin backed out?"

"Who's Long Wang? He wasn't even in the bracket!"

"Does it even matter who they bring? That Chu Piao is untouchable."

"Hey, look! He's blindfolded. Is he really going to fight with that blindfolded on?"

…

It quickly became clear—not even the disciples of the Black Paradise Sect knew who Xiao Fang truly was. Those who did recognize him kept their mouths shut, because their knowledge of him came from... questionable sources.

In the stands, Zhao Pan and Bai Fan stood frozen, eyes widening in disbelief the moment his name was called.

Their mentor, Yu Qiuyan, let a faint smile tug at the corners of her lips, her eyes gleaming with intrigue.

"Well, now—that's a surprise."

"Wait... Wang is fighting?" Bai Fan said, his voice tight with disbelief.

Yu Qiuyan tilted her head slightly. "Looks like your quiet teammate is about to challenge a monster. Feeling nervous?"

Bai Fan glanced at Zhao Pan.

She didn't answer.

Arms crossed, her gaze followed Xiao Fang as he walked calmly toward the stage, her expression tense.

'How did he get strong enough to stand up there...?' she wondered. 'When did I fall so far behind?'

For a long time, she had believed she could catch up to him—that somehow, they were still on the same path.

But now, watching him approach the arena under so many eyes, she could feel it in her bones.

Xiao Fang wasn't just ahead, he was in a league of his own.

In the Matriarch's viewing balcony, the Elders murmured among themselves, clearly puzzled. They had expected Xiao Fang to remove his blindfold by now. The fact that he hadn't only deepened their doubts. No matter how composed they tried to appear, none of them could completely hide how little they expected from him.

All except Supreme Elder Song.

She sat quietly, grinning—like someone watching a long-awaited plan unfold.

Below, Xiao Fang stepped onto the stage, tapping the ground lightly with his scabbard as he walked. Whether it was out of habit or a deliberate act to seem blind, none could say. Maybe it was to conceal his strength from the many eyes watching. But there was one person he couldn't deceive:

Chu Piao.

That familiar tapping echoed like a phantom from the past. It didn't make Chu Piao lower his guard. Quite the opposite—it sent a chill down his spine. His hands trembled faintly.

"Fang… the last time we fought, you were only thirteen," Chu Piao said, his tone oddly nostalgic. "I've always wondered how much stronger you've gotten since then."

"The Core Court exam…" Xiao Fang replied. "I remember. How many times did I cut you before you finally landed one back?"

"647…" Chu Piao muttered.

His eyes swept over Xiao Fang with renewed focus. A moment ago, he'd thought of this as just another match. But now? Now he saw the truth. Xiao Fang stood tall and composed, every step of his approach measured and calm. His body had matured, hardened by countless battles. He looked nothing like the boy Chu Piao remembered—and everything like a true cultivator.

For the first time, Chu Piao considered the frightening possibility:

'If we were to fight for real... would I win?'

Xiao Fang, sensing the intensity of Chu Piao's stare, tilted his head.

"If you couldn't beat me then," he said, "what makes you think you can beat me now?"

Chu Piao narrowed his eyes. "Back then, we fought in the dark," he replied coolly. "There's no shade for you to hide in this time."

Xiao Fang smirked. "Isn't there?"

Chu Piao's instincts buzzed. That grin. That tone. He was planning something.

And while Chu Piao puzzled over what it could be, Xiao Fang decided to do a bit of inspecting of his own.

[ Spirit Perception ]

His eyes, unseen beneath his blindfold, glowed faintly blue. Qi came into view—streams, pulses, and, most importantly, the tightly wound knot of energy binding Chu Piao's heart.

A deathlock.

A condensed Qi-binding thread, intricate and volatile. One wrong move could set it off—and whoever cast it would feel the moment it dissolved.