IDWBE -Chapter 100 The Swordsman Without Rank

After finishing the drink, Hong Ying even smacked his lips like Lin Yi—under the astonished gazes of Shen Chu, Mingyue, and the others.

For a moment, they even had the illusion that their Chief Steward was truly a simple-hearted and kindly man.

Lin Yi waved his hand. “Alright, all of you go back and sleep. There’s no need to deliberately keep me company. The only good thing about this ship is that there are no mosquitoes. Even sleeping out here isn’t a big problem.”

What troubled him most about Sanhe was the overwhelming swarm of mosquitoes in summer.

If there were fewer mosquitoes, there would be fewer epidemics.

Yet Mingyue and the others didn’t move.

Helpless, Lin Yi rose and went into the cabin. If he didn’t sleep, no one around him would dare to sleep.

Perhaps he was too tired—he lay down on the wooden bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

When he woke up, the blazing sun had turned the cabin into a steamer.

He was drenched in sweat.

Freshwater aboard was limited. He hastily washed his face and ate a little.

Though they hadn’t put out to sea, the deck was still bustling. Sailors were scrubbing it down, many of them dark-skinned and small in stature.

Lin Yi took a closer look.

They definitely weren’t tanned.

“These are natives from the southern islands,”

Du Yinniang suddenly appeared before him, smiling. “They reject royal civilization, but they’re good enough for rough work.”

“They look capable enough,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “I’ve heard that in recent years of war, many people fled to the southern islands. Is that true?”

Du Yinniang nodded. “Your Highness is well-informed. It is so. They went to make a living. Life is hard there, but at least there’s less exploitation.”

Lin Yi nodded, when suddenly a small sampan approached from the sea.

Ships dotted the waters everywhere—but this one stood out.

A young man in white stood on it, sleeves fluttering.

No sail.

No oars.

Yet it moved straight toward them at no slow speed.

“Ye Qiu…”

Du Yinniang’s brows knit together.

Wen Qian and the others looked as if facing a great enemy.

Shen Chu and the rest glanced at Hong Ying beside Lin Yi. In the end, they made no move, only watching coldly.

Before the sampan even fully neared, the young man leapt lightly onto the large ship, landing softly.

He held his sword across his chest and stared straight at Du Yinniang without blinking.

As a man, Lin Yi noticed something strange—

There was no lust in his eyes.

This was not how a man looked at a woman.

“The Ye family’s illegitimate son, Ye Qiu—Sanhe’s number one swordsman,”

Qi Peng explained. “A famous sword fanatic.”

Lin Yi grinned. “With that flashy look of his, his rank must be high, right?”

Qi Peng shook his head. “He has no rank.”

Lin Yi blinked. “No rank? Then how can he be considered a master?”

“Because he doesn’t cultivate internal arts. He has no true qi. Only swordsmanship.”

Lin Yi was stunned and looked at the young man again.

What an oddball.

Martial ranks were determined by internal cultivation. Without it, classification was difficult.

“I have sword intent. That is enough,”

The young man smiled faintly at Qi Peng. “Would you care to test it?”

Qi Peng’s expression changed. It felt like thorns at his back. He rolled his wheelchair behind Lin Yi.

After a moment, he exhaled slowly and forced a smile. “I am but a cripple. Unworthy of your blade.”

Ye Qiu planted his sword tip on the deck and looked again at Du Yinniang.

Her face darkened. “Ye Qiu, have you made enough of a scene?”

He shook his head. “Five years now. Every time I see you, my sword still wavers.”

Du Yinniang bit her lip. “What does the steadiness of your sword have to do with me?”

“You are of peerless beauty,” Ye Qiu replied calmly. “You disturb my sword heart.”

“And when,” Lin Yi suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance between them, “will your sword finally become steady?”

Hong Ying followed closely behind him.

“When the day comes that I can stab her without hesitation,”

Ye Qiu’s gaze shifted to Hong Ying. His grip tightened around his sword.

“Because of her mere appearance, my heart is unsettled each day. That should not be. Don’t you agree?”

“Have you ever heard this: Form is not different from emptiness; emptiness is not different from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form?”

Lin Yi felt he had truly broadened his horizons meeting such an eccentric.

Ye Qiu smiled. “You are an interesting man. I am enlightened. But I have no intention of entering monastic life.”

Lin Yi clasped his hands behind his back. “In my opinion, your swordsmanship isn’t that impressive.”

Ye Qiu did not grow angry. Instead, he lifted his chin proudly.

“Five years ago, my sword heart was forged. I traveled the world. To this day, I have never been defeated.”

Lin Yi snorted. “Then you’ve beaten the Grandmasters of the world too?”

Ye Qiu shook his head. “There are seven Grandmasters in the realm. I have only heard their names, never seen them.”

Du Yinniang coldly interjected, “Defeating my father is enough for you to boast.”

“You defeated Du Sanhe?”

Lin Yi stared in disbelief.

This guy looked like a delusional youth. How could he possibly be that strong?

He even had the absurd feeling he could knock him down with a single punch.

Just look at that frail frame!

Ye Qiu neither confirmed nor denied. “My sword is faster than you imagine.”

“That’s all?”

Lin Yi sneered. Unable to stand the man’s flamboyant demeanor, he scoffed.

“I have a friend. His name is the Sword Demon.”

“Sword Demon?”

Ye Qiu’s brows twitched. Only matters related to swords could stir him.

“For over thirty years he roamed the martial world, defeated every hero beneath heaven. In his lifetime he sought a worthy opponent but found none.”

Seeing Ye Qiu’s growing excitement, Lin Yi became even more pleased.

“His first sword was the Azure Light Blade—fierce and unyielding, invincible in sharpness. Before the age of twenty, he used it to challenge the heroes of Liangzhou. His second sword was the Ziwei Flexible Sword—used before thirty. It accidentally harmed a righteous man. In deep remorse, he cast it into a ravine. His third sword was the Black Iron Heavy Sword. Heavy, blunt-edged—great skill appears clumsy. Before forty, he relied on it to dominate the world!”

Ye Qiu’s breathing grew heavy.

Not just him—everyone present stared at Lin Yi.

To defeat all heroes under heaven—what audacity!

“Would you like to hear more?” Lin Yi asked with a grin.

“Please enlighten me!” Ye Qiu bowed respectfully.

“After forty, he ceased being bound by material form. Grass, wood, bamboo, and stone—all could serve as swords. Thus he advanced further, entering the realm where having no sword surpasses having one!”

After finishing, Lin Yi clasped his hands behind his back and gazed out toward the boundless sea.

“Not bound by material form…”

Ye Qiu murmured to himself.

Suddenly he let out a great shout, threw back his head, and laughed wildly.

“Then what need have I for this sword?!”

Under everyone’s stunned gaze, he hurled the sword into the sea.

Then he leapt off the ship, landing back on his sampan.

All watched as the small boat drifted farther and farther away.

They stood frozen in shock.

What… just happened?