After sending off Shuanzi with his family at the village entrance, Qin Yi bid farewell and headed to the West Courtyard of the village.
Entering the usual training yard, he found neither Elder Huang nor his master present. Only a boy of similar height in teal brocade stood there, unfamiliar.
The boy was strange—startled at Qin Yi's sudden appearance, his brocade fluttered slightly as if moved by an unseen wind.
"Who are you? Where's Elder Huang? Where's Master?" Qin Yi asked, frowning with a guarded tone, ready for any threat.
"I'm Qin Wei," the boy replied.
Qin Wei had already guessed Qin Yi's identity. This must be the talented sword disciple his uncle had taken in after arriving at Qinjia Village.
No big reputation, just a nickname—Da Tou. Hmph. He's just a lucky kid to have caught his uncle's eye, and not even a martial artist yet.
"Who cares about your name? I asked you—where are Elder Huang and Master?" Qin Yi demanded, crouched and tense, ready to strike at any moment.
Seeing Qin Yi's stance, Qin Wei squinted. His brocade stirred more fiercely, and he was about to awaken his martial will to teach the intruder a lesson.
Just then, the door opened.
"Ahem…"
Qin Xu stepped out, supported by Elder Huang. He smiled at the two tense youths. "Ah, you're both here. Let me introduce… Qin Yi, this is my nephew Qin Wei. Qin Wei, this is my sword disciple Qin Yi. From now on, you two will train together—consider each other as senior and junior brothers. Qin Wei, you're older, so you're the senior; Qin Yi, you're the junior."
Qin Yi shot a displeased glance at the arrogant boy. Why am I the junior? By arrival order, I should be the senior…
Though irritated, Qin Yi knew it was Master's instruction and reluctantly accepted.
"Senior brother," Qin Yi offered a very awkward, half-hearted bow.
Qin Wei merely nodded in return, impolitely. Qin Yi's anger flared at the insolence.
Qin Xu watched their petty rivalry and thought, perhaps taking on an additional disciple wasn't so bad.
"Da Tou, change your clothes."
Qin Yi did so, taking his bronze sword. He saw Qin Wei standing respectfully before Master, responding formally.
Hmph, he can bow properly, but not to me? How arrogant! Qin Yi thought. I'll teach him a lesson when I get the chance.
As Qin Yi approached, Qin Wei finished speaking—something about the Qibing Sword Technique—and Qin Xu chuckled. "Perfect timing. Little Wei has practiced the Hundred Battles Sword Technique. Da Tou, you two spar using it."
At the mention of sparring, the two boys locked eyes, a fiery spark passing between them.
Sparring, huh? Perfect—I can use this chance to deal with this annoying little brat. Both thought.
They fastened their swords at their waists, lightly tapped them, crossed hands in front, and bowed: "Please."
Maintaining eye contact, they stepped to the center of the yard, about three zhang apart, and stopped. Simultaneously, they said, "Please teach me."
At the words, they uncrossed hands, left hand on the scabbard, right hand on the hilt, and drew their bronze swords. Qin Yi struck first with the opening move of Hundred Battles Sword Technique.
Qin Wei's parry was slower, losing initiative, but he blocked the attack with a single, measured move.
He pushed hard—the force was too much for Qin Yi, who had to retreat a step to stabilize.
Not wanting to lose, Qin Wei seized the advantage and launched an attack, while Qin Yi defensively blocked with moves from Basic Sword Technique, barely holding the sword a half-foot away.
They entered a tense deadlock.
Elder Huang and Qin Xu exchanged knowing smiles.
Observant eyes could see their differences:
Qin Yi, having trained Basic Sword Technique to instinct, had faster reaction speed and could initiate attacks first.
But Qin Wei, already a postnatal martial artist, had far superior physical strength and speed.
Additionally, Qin Wei had mastered the Hundred Battles Sword Technique, giving him a clear advantage over Qin Yi, who had just begun learning it.
Experience-wise, Qin Wei was more seasoned, having trained with other martial artists at the Marquis' estate. Qin Yi had never sparred at this level before; Qin Wei was his first real opponent.
Thus, Qin Wei initially took the lead but soon lost the initiative.
However, Qin Yi had an edge Qin Wei lacked: reflexes honed by instinct-level Basic Sword Technique. Even when losing initiative, Qin Yi could instinctively block using basic moves.
This allowed him to retreat while barely holding the sword a half-foot away from Qin Wei's strikes.
Elder Huang remarked telepathically: "Master, the path of innate martial arts is truly supreme. Da Tou has only reached the first step and can already contend with a postnatal martial artist."
Qin Xu laughed and objected: "Qin Wei hasn't activated his martial will. Da Tou can only match him in technique, not true martial prowess."
Elder Huang rolled his eyes at Qin Xu's teasing smile.
Qin Yi had trained only two years, was still a normal human, and not yet a martial artist.
Qin Wei became a postnatal martial artist six months ago.
A martial artist versus an ordinary person—just one realm apart—but the gap is vast.
Even without using martial aura, postnatal strength encompasses physical fitness, combat will, and postnatal qi.
For Qin Yi to perform at this level was already remarkable.