Chapter 3: The Ancient Immortal in My Dream

Yue’er could clearly see from their sparring that Lady Hongfu hadn’t held back against Li Yi in the slightest. Every move was deadly, fierce beyond measure. Yet Li Yi had managed to break through each of her attacks! It was truly incredible, beyond anyone’s imagination.

Yue’er had often experienced Lady Hongfu’s prowess firsthand. Under her hand, she could only withstand two or three moves at most—any more, and she would be defeated instantly. But Li Yi and his mother had already exchanged nearly twenty blows, and he was still holding on!

“This... Young Master is unbelievably strong...” Yue’er’s heart was filled with astonishment, her bright eyes darting in amazement. Now she understood why Li Yi had seemed so dismissive of her before. “So my martial skills are nothing in Young Master’s eyes...” She blinked in disappointment, but soon her gaze grew determined and she bit her lip, vowing to herself, “I must work hard at my training—I can’t let Young Master down!”

Li Yi had been entirely misunderstood by Yue’er...

Meanwhile, Lady Hongfu was also quite surprised. She hadn’t expected her son to keep up with her for so many rounds. “Sanlang’s strange swordplay can actually use softness to overcome strength, and skill to borrow force—truly impressive!” she thought to herself as she continued her attacks, secretly marveling. What made her all the more curious was: where had Sanlang learned this sword technique?

After all, all of Li Yi’s martial arts had been taught by her and Li Jing. But the swordplay he now used—despite her years of adventuring with Li Jing—she had never seen its like.

Li Yi, oblivious to the astonishment of Yue’er and his mother, was inwardly crying out in misery, barely holding on. “Mother’s martial arts are just too powerful. Even with my Taiji Swordplay, her offense is only growing fiercer!” He couldn’t help but click his tongue in his heart.

The Taiji Swordplay, after all, was created by the martial arts grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng and was said to be invincible against any technique. But clearly, his skills still fell far short of Lady Hongfu’s. He was already drenched in sweat and couldn’t last much longer.

“Mother, I admit defeat!” Li Yi quickly took a step back and called out loudly.

Upon hearing this, Lady Hongfu immediately withdrew her attack. Looking over, Li Yi saw her face was still dry, her breathing calm and steady, not at all like someone who had just finished a fight.

This sight left Li Yi deeply shaken. “Mother’s martial arts are simply too formidable. She’s bullying her own son—I never stood a chance!” He sheathed his sword, pulling a face and feigning a complaint.

Lady Hongfu’s stern expression was instantly dispelled by his words, and she burst out laughing. “You child,” she said, shaking her head with a smile, “what, do you want Yue’er to spar with you instead?”

As she spoke, she gave Yue’er a meaningful glance, clearly hoping to draw the two closer together.

“Well...” Li Yi blinked thoughtfully, then grinned, stuck out his tongue and said playfully, “I wouldn’t say no to that.”

His answer delighted Lady Hongfu. In the past, Li Yi had always ignored Yue’er. But now, at his words, Yue’er gave a start, immediately shaking her head in panic. “Madam, Young Master, I wouldn’t dare. I’m no match for Young Master at all!”

She had witnessed the earlier duel with her own eyes. With Li Yi’s skill, how could she possibly compete? She was well aware of her own limits.

“Hmph, boring...” Li Yi muttered, twirling his sword in his hand at Yue’er’s timid response.

“All right, Sanlang, don’t tease her,” Lady Hongfu said, shaking her head with a smile. Then, growing curious, she asked, “Sanlang, where did you learn that sword technique just now?”

Li Yi had expected this question. After all, all his abilities had been personally taught by Lady Hongfu, and this Taiji Swordplay had never been seen in the Tang Dynasty—it was truly novel.

“Mother, I learned it from an old immortal who appeared to me in a dream,” Li Yi replied, fabricating a story on the spot. If he told her he was a transmigrator, would she believe him? She’d probably think he was mad...

Besides, Li Yi knew the people of the Tang Dynasty were superstitious about gods and spirits, and tales of old immortals imparting skills in dreams were not uncommon, so his story wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

“An old immortal in a dream?” As expected, Lady Hongfu frowned slightly, half-believing, half-doubting. “Which old immortal was it?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him, but rather that she was deeply curious—which immortal could have created such a formidable swordplay?

“Hmm... I think Master said his name was Zhang Sanfeng,” Li Yi replied after pretending to recall for a moment.

He figured saying so wouldn’t be disrespectful to Zhang Sanfeng—after all, Taiji truly was his creation. And, as it happened, Lady Hongfu’s maiden surname was Zhang, so in a sense, Zhang Sanfeng could be considered family. This thought put Li Yi at ease.

“Zhang Sanfeng...?” Lady Hongfu repeated the name to herself a few times, but it seemed she had never heard any legends of such an immortal. Still, since the name matched her own family name, she was quite pleased. As for who Zhang Sanfeng really was, she didn’t much care.

“Sanlang, did the old immortal say what this swordplay is called, and whether you can teach it to others?” she asked, testing his answer.

Hearing her question, Li Yi realized she was interested in the technique, and rightly so—it was extraordinarily powerful. Anyone who wasn’t interested would have to be a fool.

“The old immortal said I could pass it on to family, Mother,” Li Yi replied with a smile and a nod. “This swordplay is called the Taiji Swordplay, and the old immortal also taught me a set of skills called Taiji Boxing.”

He decided to offer Taiji Boxing as well. After all, it would help his mother stay healthy and beautiful, and Li Jing could benefit too—perhaps even extend his life by a few years. In the flourishing Tang Dynasty, with so few family members, why not share it?

“Oh? There’s also Taiji Boxing?” Lady Hongfu was deeply impressed. The swordplay alone was already formidable—if there was a boxing style as well...

It was simply unimaginable!

“Mother, wait a moment. I’ll go write down the instructions for both Taiji Swordplay and Boxing.” With that, Li Yi casually tossed his sword to Yue’er and ran off toward the study.

He left behind only a stunned Yue’er, clutching the sword, and Lady Hongfu, both standing dumbfounded.