I Stepped on a Bug, and the System Says I Slayed a Dragon?-Chapter 53: So What if He’s the Grassland Sword Saint? Why Do I Have to Fight Him?

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: So What if He’s the Grassland Sword Saint? Why Do I Have to Fight Him?

Under the moonlight, the pine forest undulated with the whistling wind.

Qin Yang stood tall in the center of the peak, the rustling sea of trees at his back.

As he appeared, the Sword Intent on Broken Peak Mountain seemed to come alive, circling around him in a display of perfect, natural harmony.

"Teacher!"

Li Zixuan raised a hand to cover her mouth, her pupils trembling, unable to believe the scene before her.

’It’s really him! Teacher!’

The one she had longed for day and night had finally appeared.

For a moment, Li Zixuan was completely flustered, her hands twisting the hem of her clothes.

But she couldn’t hide her excitement, and her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Calm yourself, my disciple."

Seeing Li Zixuan’s agitation and her heaving chest, Qin Yang spoke slowly.

"Your Dao Heart is unstable. This isn’t the state you were in when I accepted you as my disciple..."

As his words fell.

It was as if he had roused her from a dream.

’Teacher is incredible. He saw what was wrong with me at a glance.’

Li Zixuan tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, "A lot has happened to me recently, and my state of mind has indeed been a bit unstable."

"Just an unstable state of mind?"

Qin Yang took a single step, crossing several meters in an instant as if traversing empty air. He appeared by Li Zixuan’s side, his expression grave.

"Do you realize how dangerous your current condition is, my disciple?

You are standing on the edge of a bottomless abyss. If you take another step, I fear you will suffer cultivation deviation and fall into a state beyond redemption!"

"What?!"

At his words, Li Zixuan’s face turned deathly pale. She hurriedly clasped her hands and pleaded, "Please, Teacher, I beg for your guidance."

"Do not be anxious, my disciple."

Qin Yang released his Spiritual Power to soothe her and said with a faint smile,

"I have appeared here for you, of course... Come, tell me. What’s been troubling you lately?"

His gentle words seemed to carry an indescribable power.

They instantly calmed Li Zixuan.

"Teacher, I... In just a few days, I have to duel the Sword Saint’s disciple..."

Li Zixuan said, her voice full of grievance, as she recounted everything she had been through these past few days.

Her voice held the faint trace of a sob.

"Everyone is counting on me. This match is incredibly important—it’s about the pride of all of Jianghai City. I absolutely cannot lose... The pressure is just too much, Teacher..."

By the time she spoke the last word,

her eyes had already misted over, and her voice choked with sobs.

She was like a deeply wronged child.

Too many grievances had built up in her heart, just waiting to burst forth.

When she was alone, she could endure it, feigning strength.

But now, the one person she could confide in had appeared.

All her pent-up negative emotions erupted at once, overwhelming her like a tsunami!

Under the moonlight, Li Zixuan’s shoulders shook.

Unbidden tears streamed down her face, falling to the ground.

Qin Yang watched this unfold, completely dumbfounded.

???

’Why is she crying?’

’All I did was ask a single question!’

’How could it have such a devastating effect?!’

Qin Yang watched the sobbing Li Zixuan and started to reach out to comfort her, but on second thought, he stopped.

’Sometimes, crying is a good way to let it all out.’

’A good cry can be more cathartic than a thousand words.’

Qin Yang waited patiently for Li Zixuan to release her emotions. His expression was calm, but inwardly, he understood.

’Sometimes, a person can break in a single instant.’

Under the tranquil moonlight, Li Zixuan’s sobs grew fainter, eventually carried away by the wind that swept through the valley.

「A moment later.」

She finally composed herself, wiping the tears from her face. "I’m sorry, Teacher, I..."

"Say no more. I understand the pressure you’re under, my disciple."

"Life is never easy."

Qin Yang said slowly, then added, "But from now on, if you are wronged, you need not fear anyone. As long as I am here, I will protect you always."

"This world is vast, and you were born to be free."

At these words, the hand Li Zixuan was using to wipe her tears froze.

Her tears abruptly stopped, and her hand ceased to tremble.

Seeing her emotions stabilize, Qin Yang breathed an inward sigh of relief.

’If I let Li Zixuan keep crying like this, I wouldn’t know what to do either.’

’Right now, I have to stabilize her condition and pull her back from the brink of cultivation deviation.’

With this in mind, Qin Yang knew what to do.

He raised his hand, and a dark, round stone flew into his palm. Condensing Sword Intent at his fingertip, he began to carve upon its surface.

"From what you’ve told me, I understand the situation. Ultimately, it all comes down to a single word: ’Calm’."

"I am living in seclusion now and have no worldly possessions to give. I can only use this stone as a vessel, a gift for you to comprehend."

As he finished speaking, the last of the stone fragments fell away.

The single, powerful word "Calm" was now etched upon the stone’s surface. It radiated majestic waves of Spiritual Power that flowed outward like water.

Li Zixuan reached out and accepted the inscribed stone. She immediately felt a sense of peace settle over her.

Her previous anxieties vanished, and all thoughts of greed, obsession, and anger faded away. It was as if she had entered a meditative state, serene and undisturbed.

"Take this stone with you, my disciple. Meditate on its mysteries, and you will surely have a breakthrough."

Qin Yang said softly, simultaneously checking Li Zixuan’s mental state.

Her mind was as still as the water in an ancient well, a complete transformation from moments before.

Seeing this, Qin Yang was finally able to relax.

’This stone I gave her is infused with powerful Spiritual Power.’

’Any living creature that comes near it can find eternal peace.’

’And the Sword Intent I used to carve it provides the exact insight into the Sword Dao that Li Zixuan needs right now.’

’The two in combination...’

’...should be more than enough to see her through this trial!’

"Thank you, Teacher."

Li Zixuan gazed at the stone in her hand as if it were a priceless treasure before carefully putting it away.

"Now that your inner turmoil is resolved, it is time for me to leave."

Qin Yang said coolly, preparing to use the Seven-Star Dragon Roaming Step.

But just then, Li Zixuan suddenly spoke up. "Teacher, wait! There’s something else I need to tell you."

Qin Yang paused. "Oh? What is it?"

"Teacher, this is extremely important. We just received news that the Grassland Sword Saint, an expert at the Peak of Grandmaster realm, is coming to Jianghai City soon. And his target this time..."

"...is you."

Li Zixuan stared intently at Qin Yang, her expression full of worry.

Hearing this, Qin Yang’s expression remained composed, but inwardly, he was stunned.

’The Grassland Sword Saint?’

’Who the hell is that?’

’I don’t think I’ve ever done anything to provoke him, have I?’

’Why is he challenging me? Does he have nothing better to do!?’

Seeing Qin Yang’s calm expression, Li Zixuan assumed he was completely unfazed and couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration.

’As expected of my teacher!’

’He doesn’t even bat an eye at the mention of a Sword Saint at the Peak of Grandmaster realm!’

’Could it be true, just as Senior Brother Lin said? Has Teacher already reached a Realm beyond Grandmaster?’

However, Qin Yang had no idea what she was thinking. He wasn’t even sure if he was a match for an expert at the Peak of Grandmaster realm.

’But it’s not a big deal.’

’Whatever.’

’As long as I don’t show my face, what can the Grassland Sword Saint do to me, no matter how powerful he is?’

’Besides...’

’Is there any benefit in accepting this challenge?’

’Why should I accept if there’s nothing in it for me?’

At that thought, Qin Yang lost all interest in the matter. He offered Li Zixuan a few more words of advice on her Cultivation, then gracefully departed.

Beneath the moonlight, Li Zixuan watched Qin Yang’s retreating figure, her gaze resolute.

"Rest assured, Teacher. I will not let you down!"