Lu Xiaofeng was startled and immediately turned to look.
Young and beautiful!
This woman was actually ranked tenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking?
Someone who surpassed Ximen Chuixue?
How could this be?
"You are Song Yuhua, ranked tenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"
At that moment, Ximen Chuixue stood up from the table and walked forward.
He asked directly.
"Ximen Chuixue? I've heard of you. A renowned prodigious swordsman in the Ming martial world!"
"You have the potential to become a Sword God!"
It wasn't Song Yuhua who replied, but You Ruo who giggled and spoke instead.
"Compared to the two of you, I'm not worth mentioning!"
"Miss Song, may I ask for a demonstration of your swordsmanship? I wish to understand the gap between us."
Ximen Chuixue shook his head slightly, then looked at Song Yuhua and issued a direct challenge.
"Ximen Chuixue, don't be reckless!"
Lu Xiaofeng hurried over to stop him.
Who knew what kind of temper these two women had?
If they were provoked, the consequences could be disastrous.
He no longer dared to underestimate the Hidden Dragon Ranking in the slightest.
Even a genius swordsman like Ximen Chuixue was unqualified to be on the list. That alone spoke volumes about how terrifying it was.
"Early Great Grandmaster realm, sword intent pure and refined. Your reputation is well-deserved."
Song Yuhua gave him a quick glance, nodded slightly, and a flash of admiration appeared in her eyes.
"One strike."
"Whatever you gain from it is up to you."
She spoke calmly.
Then, she took a chopstick from the holder.
With a gentle flick…
A sharp burst of sword intent materialized.
Its target was Ximen Chuixue.
In that instant, everyone in the restaurant felt a chill in their hearts and stood frozen in place.
The fear in their eyes was indescribable.
Even Lu Xiaofeng and Chu Liuxiang instinctively went on guard.
Their expressions were full of shock.
"Good!"
Ximen Chuixue showed no fear, his eyes instead burning with determination.
He suddenly drew his sword and met Song Yuhua's sword intent head-on.
Everyone expected a terrifying shockwave to erupt.
But unexpectedly, the entire restaurant remained eerily quiet.
There were no accidents.
Everyone in the building let out a sigh of relief.
They all turned to look at Ximen Chuixue and Song Yuhua.
They saw that Ximen Chuixue stood still, sword in hand, motionless.
"Miss Song, what's happening with Ximen Chuixue?"
Lu Xiaofeng asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, he's fine. He's just resisting the sword intent I released."
"He will wake up after a cup of tea's time."
After finishing her explanation, Song Yuhua stood up.
"You Ruo, our whereabouts have been exposed. Let's go."
"Alright."
As they watched Song Yuhua and You Ruo leave, Lu Xiaofeng and the others didn't try to stop them.
Even if they wanted to, they couldn't.
They would only provoke someone they couldn't afford to anger.
"That was terrifying. Did you feel it just now?"
"Yes. Thankfully, that sword intent had no killing intent. Otherwise, we wouldn't have survived."
"So this is the strength of someone ranked in the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"
"Yes, they're in a completely different league from the bottom twenty."
Even Lu Xiaofeng was left speechless.
Perhaps the only one in the Ming Dynasty who could match her was that mysterious Emperor.
This world, this martial world, was becoming more and more unfathomable to him.
After a long time…
Ximen Chuixue suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Though his face was slightly pale, his eyes gleamed with an intense light.
"Ximen Chuixue, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. In fact, I'm very good. It seems I owe Miss Song a great debt."
Ximen Chuixue couldn't help but sigh.
"What do you mean?"
"I've found the future path of the sword."
At those words, even someone as cold as Ximen Chuixue trembled slightly in his voice.
It was clear just how much he had gained from that brief clash of sword intent.
"Ximen Chuixue, if you were to fight Miss Song for real, how long could you last?"
Lu Xiaofeng and the others were extremely curious.
"One strike. This tenth-ranked person on the Hidden Dragon Ranking is even more terrifying than I imagined."
"Even though we are only two minor levels apart, the difference in our strength is like night and day."
"I still have a long road ahead of me."
Ximen Chuixue's eyes were firm and resolute.
There wasn't the slightest hint of discouragement from his defeat. Only boundless determination and pride.
He silently vowed in his heart.
One day, he would possess the strength to stand before Song Yuhua again.
"Did none of you notice the woman beside Miss Song?"
Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose and asked.
"She might be just as strong as Song Yuhua."
"Could she also be ranked in the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"
"We'll have to wait and see."
==========
[Hidden Dragon Ranking – Rank 9]
[Lin Shiyin]
[Identity: Daughter of Demon Blade Gate of Ming Dynasty]
[Cultivation: Late Great Grandmaster]
[Technique: Purple Lotus Blade Art]
[Reward: Heaven-Grade Low-Tier Pill – Spirit Body Pill. Improves physique and may transform one into an innate spirit body, greatly enhancing martial comprehension and affinity]
The Hidden Dragon Ranking has been updated.
Ranked ninth: Lin Shiyin?!
"Who is Lin Shiyin? I don't think I've ever heard of her."
"Another unfamiliar name?"
"My god, how are there so many hidden experts in this world?"
"Wait, the Ming Dynasty's Demon Blade Gate… Didn't that sect recently get annihilated?"
"I remember now. That woman beside Little Li Scouting Flower, Li Xunhuan, isn't her name also Lin Shiyin?"
"That's ridiculous. They can't possibly be the same person."
"I agree. No way they're the same."
==========
Li Courtyard.
Li Xunhuan was drinking heartily at a table with a young man.
The gloom from Long Xiaoyun's death had long vanished.
Recently, he had made a new friend he greatly admired.
The young man's name was A Fei.
In just a few days, they had formed a close bond.
Though they had not formally sworn brotherhood, Li Xunhuan already regarded him as one.
"Brother Li, congratulations on making it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking. I wonder when I'll be able to do the same and make my name known throughout the land?"
A Fei spoke with a face full of admiration.
There wasn't a trace of envy.
"Brother, with your age, talent, and strength, you'll definitely be on the list one day."
"I'll take that as a blessing from Brother Li."
"Hmm? The Hidden Dragon Ranking just updated! Ninth place, Lin Shiyin!"
"Brother, didn't you just say your cousin's name is Lin Shiyin? Could it be her?"
At that moment, even Li Xunhuan was stunned.
He never imagined that his seemingly delicate and weak cousin Lin Shiyin was actually a Late Great Grandmaster.
And she was ranked ninth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.
Her strength was far beyond his.
At that thought, a deep bitterness welled up in his heart.
Whatever pride he had just felt, instantly vanished.