Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 114: Red Daoist

Their faction was filled with large-sized warriors, yet Baijian's presence dwarfed them all. And when this red warrior would arrive, even Baijian looked small in front of him.

Baijian fastened his mask and grinned. "Not many dare to engage me in combat," he said, trying to calm his nerves when he realized he would not be facing the young master but this red, unknown, menacing giant.

When asked about the name of his red warrior, Yun Ming had told all subordinates to address the Red Giant warrior as Red Daoist and never to get in his way. The Red Daoist did not distinguish between friend or foe; he just listened to the young master's orders.

Their young master had such powerful Dao Protector? This revelation piqued the curiosity of his subordinates about their enigmatic young master even further. It also led them to realize that if anyone had answers to the mysteries surrounding their young master, it would be Yun Ming. They were aware that Yun Ming and Tumu were among his first subordinates.

Tumu seized every opportunity he got to remind everyone of this fact. Yet, even Tumu had no knowledge of the Red Giant. He, too, feared the Red Giant. The only individual who did not fear the Red Giant was Yun Ming.

In the training yard, the Red Daoist flexed his right arm, gauging his range of motion. Around him, all the warriors had paused their drills.

Wuyi had seen Baijian spar before. The man relied on his immense size to shatter and overwhelm opponents' defenses. Wuyi himself could defeat Baijian if he wanted. He just had to be nimble; he knew Baijian's fighting style very well.

And as the old saying went, "A skilled swordsman not only seeks victory but seeks it in his own unique style. Understand that style, and he becomes predictable." But he was too fatigued to try to entertain this giant.

Baijian himself was quick despite his size. He brandished his sword, preparing for the duel. In contrast, the Red Daoist picked up a blade casually in one hand, its tip grazing the ground. All the warriors realized that the Red Daoist was not taking this spar seriously because the Red Daoist's weapon was not the blade. The weapon they had seen him holding was a halberd.

With a shout of "Prepare!" that reverberated across the yard and the fortress walls, Baijian assumed a high guard stance, aiming to split the Red Daoist in half.

The Red Daoist shifted his footing and suddenly gripped his sword with both hands, yet still kept it trailing behind him. Baijian circled to his opponent's left, trying to find an opening. Seizing the moment, the Red Daoist lunged, aiming a horizontal slash at Baijian's head. Baijian countered with a powerful downward strike, intending to force the Red Daoist's sword to the ground.

But the Red Daoist was a step ahead. Using the momentum from Baijian's strike, he rotated his blade, pivoting at the wrist, and maneuvered it under Baijian's sword. Grasping the tip of his own blade with his left hand, he lightly tapped it against Baijian's head. His stance and grip left Baijian completely at his mercy.

"One," Wuyi announced from the side, loud enough for all to hear.

Baijian gave a nervous chuckle. "Well played!" he exclaimed, stepping back to offer a salute. The Red Daoist reciprocated and quickly sidestepped as, in the middle of the salute, Baijian lunged forward with a powerful downward slash. The Red Daoist effortlessly parried the strike.

"An excellent move," Wuyi commented.

Baijian chuckled heartily. "That one was supposed to startle him," he claimed. Wuyi couldn't help but join in the laughter. Mimicking Baijian's earlier move, the Red Daoist launched an attack. Baijian tried to deflect it, but before he could regain his stance, he found himself face-first in a puddle of muddy water. Both his hips and neck ached from the fall.

"Planning to taste the earth, are we?" Wuyi quipped, eliciting laughter from the spectators.

Both warriors saluted and resumed their stances. By now, each had demonstrated their prowess, and they circled each other cautiously. Baijian sought an opportunity to close the distance, but the Red Daoist countered with powerful strikes whenever he came near. It was evident that Baijian's brute strength was no match for the Red Daoist's might.

Baijian was panting heavily, while the Red Daoist moved with a fluid grace, seemingly unfazed. Given his advantages in reach and size, he was able to dictate the pace of the duel, forcing Baijian to maintain distance.

Deciding he'd rather lose with valor than fatigue, Baijian made a bold choice. He shifted his weight back, releasing his left hand from the sword's hilt, adopting what swordsmen called 'The Single-Handed Guard.'

The Red Daoist unleashed another powerful, sweeping blow from his right shoulder. A blow that would have exhausted any ordinary man, but not the Red Daoist.

On this occasion, Baijian opted for a counter-defensive strategy known as "Yinghuan" – his sword swiftly arcing upward in a one-handed grip, aiming to intersect just behind Red Daoist's blade, as quick as a hawk swooping for its prey. He managed to catch Red Daoist's sword and accelerated its trajectory while sidestepping and advancing, aiming to catch his opponent off guard.

His free left hand shot out to punch Red Daoist's right wrist, and then his hand found its way between Red Daoist's grip, attempting an arm lock while twisting, seemingly gaining control over both the sword and his opponent's posture.

However, nothing transpired as he'd hoped. Red Daoist remained unyielding, his forward momentum transforming into a sweeping arc. Baijian found himself hanging off Red Daoist's elbow, swinging in the air as the giant pivoted to the left. Baijian realized that letting go would result in a clumsy fall. It was a comical sight, one colossus swinging from the elbow of another.

Baijian understood that Red Daoist could have ended the duel at any moment but was allowing him to maintain some semblance of dignity by mimicking his swordplay.

Everyone present was already aware of Red Daoist's formidable prowess; after all, he was the esteemed Dao protector of the elusive young master.