Volume One, Chapter 16: The Crown Princess's Swordsmanship Is Fierce!

The stunning martial arts demonstration in the Condensation Hall sent ripples through the entire capital, lingering in the air throughout the night until the crowing of roosters at dawn gradually settled the storm.

The noble families spent the night dissecting the crown prince’s displayed strength and cunning, speculating on the future of the imperial succession; meanwhile, common folk spun the extraordinary event into fresh tales, with storytellers vividly portraying Crown Prince Li Xuan as a celestial being capable of both governing the nation with wisdom and securing it through martial prowess, his reputation soaring like never before.

Yet, at the heart of this tempest, the Eastern Palace remained peculiarly tranquil.

As first light broke, Li Xuan stood alone upon the familiar, abandoned training ground. Bare-chested, his bronzed skin shimmered faintly in the morning glow, muscles flowing with strength and explosive potential. After this period of rigorous training, the once frail body had been utterly transformed, reborn anew.

“Ha!”

He drew in a sharp breath, his chest and abdomen contracting instantly. Then, from deep within his throat, chest, and belly, a profound sound erupted—a low growl like a tiger and leopard, yet piercing like thunder. The very air trembled, and his tendons, skin, and even his internal organs resonated with this unique sonic force, undergoing deep refinement and fortification.

This was the secret art of his past life’s martial tradition—the Tiger-Leopard Thunder Roar.

Completing a sequence of punches, he slowly lowered his stance and exhaled a long breath that crystallized into a sharp, arrow-like mist in the chill air, lingering for a long while.

“A rare method to temper the internal organs.”

A cool voice sounded behind him, devoid of any worldly warmth, yet it caused a subtle widening of the smile on Li Xuan’s lips.

He turned to see Xiao Ningshuang. Today, she had shed her elaborate court attire for a sleek white martial uniform, a slender three-foot longsword in hand, standing quietly beneath a willow tree. Morning dew dampened her hair, and though her exquisitely beautiful face still carried a layer of frost, her clear phoenix-like eyes no longer bore the hatred and disdain of before. Instead, they held a complex mixture of curiosity, inquiry, and a faint admiration even she herself had yet to fully admit.

Last night, in the Condensation Hall, Li Xuan’s miraculous martial display had struck her the hardest.

As the daughter of a general, she had trained since childhood and understood the hardships of martial cultivation. She had witnessed countless formidable warriors—including her own father, Xiao Yuan, and the savage generals of the army—but none wielded martial skill like Li Xuan’s, which transcended mere technique and subtly touched the realm of the Way.

It was not a skill to kill, but an absolute mastery over force, timing, and space.

“The crown princess rises early as well,” Li Xuan said, casually picking up a jacket from a stone bench and draping it over his shoulders as he walked toward her.

Xiao Ningshuang did not respond to his greeting. Instead, her gaze burned into him as she asked bluntly, “What was that technique you used to defeat those three royal guards last night? I have never witnessed such a way of releasing and redirecting force.”

Her directness was typical of warriors communicating. For those truly devoted to martial arts, a refined theory of combat held far more appeal than worldly power or wealth.

Li Xuan smiled. He knew this might be his best chance to truly enter her heart.

“That is not a specific technique,” he said, stepping before her and fixing his gaze on the sword she held. “The essence of martial arts is force. Ordinary fighters seek to make their power greater and faster. What I pursue is how to use the smallest force to dismantle, guide, or even borrow the opponent’s strength.”

He traced a circle with two fingers in the air. “See this circle? Within it, you and I battle. His spear thrusts and his sword slashes all carry force and trajectory. What I must do is not to meet his force with stronger force, but to find the most fragile point along his trajectory and gently nudge it. His power will lose control, his path will shift. As one diminishes and the other grows, the outcome is decided.”

In modern terms, this was leveraging principles of physics—levers and action-reaction—to find structural weaknesses in force. To Xiao Ningshuang, however, it was as though a door to a new world had opened, profound and yet striking at the core.

Frowning in thought, she murmured, “The most fragile point... the trajectory...”

“Exactly.” Seeing her grasping the concept, Li Xuan continued, “Just like your sword technique, Crown Princess.”

Suddenly, he reached out and grasped her wrist holding the sword.

Xiao Ningshuang’s body tensed sharply, a shock like electricity pulsing from her wrist, instinctively making her want to pull away. But Li Xuan’s palm was warm and steady, holding firm without any hint of impropriety—only the mutual exchange of warriors, guidance and challenge.

“Your sword is quick and sharp, and carries a deadly aura,” Li Xuan whispered close to her ear, his breath warm. “But your sword only moves forward; it never returns. Every strike uses all your strength, charging straight ahead. This is a life-or-death style suitable for battlefields, but fatal among experts.”

He guided her hand, tracing the sword’s tip slowly through an arc in the air.

“See, once the sword strikes, the force is released. But if you keep three parts of your strength in reserve during the thrust, those three parts can instantly change your move at the last moment—deflecting, parrying, or withdrawing. The sword is an extension of the arm; the qi is the source of power. Your qi flows to the tip but disperses instead of condensing, so while your strikes are fierce, they lack spirit and flexibility.”

Xiao Ningshuang was fully captivated, forgetting to resist. Under Li Xuan’s guidance, her sword seemed to come alive, each subtle twist containing endless potential for follow-up and variation. Such a sensation was unlike anything she had experienced in over a decade of sword training.

Seeing her absorbed, Li Xuan released her wrist, stepped back, folded his arms, and smiled softly.

“The sword is both a deadly weapon and a confidant. If you are too harsh upon it, it will naturally hold back from you. Only when your heart and sword are in harmony can your swordsmanship be truly complete.”

“Heart and sword in harmony...” Xiao Ningshuang lowered her gaze to the longsword, her eyes dreamy and lost in thought.

She had never imagined anyone could explain martial arts with such philosophy and clarity. What other secrets did this man conceal?

The courtyard fell silent. A morning breeze stirred a strand of her dark hair beside her temple, gently brushing Li Xuan’s cheek and bringing a faint, elusive fragrance.

Long moments passed before Xiao Ningshuang finally returned from her reverie. She looked up at Li Xuan with eyes completely changed—those of a disciple gazing upon a true master.

She solemnly performed a warrior’s salute, clasping her fists. “Thank you, Your Highness, for your guidance. Ningshuang... is honored.”

This was the first time she had willingly addressed him as “Your Highness.”

Li Xuan accepted the salute calmly, a great weight lifting from his heart.

The iceberg had finally begun to thaw.

At that moment, Wang Fugui came running into the courtyard, his expression a mix of excitement and nervousness. He glanced at the suddenly charged atmosphere between the crown prince and princess, then bowed deeply.

“Your Highness, there is a visitor at the palace.”

He lowered his voice, “The Emperor summons you immediately for an audience.”

Li Xuan and Xiao Ningshuang exchanged a glance, each seeing understanding in the other’s eyes.

The prelude was over.

The true test was about to begin.

As Li Xuan turned to leave, Xiao Ningshuang suddenly spoke, “The technique you practiced this morning places great strain on the body. This is our Xiao family’s secret ‘Tendon Renewal Ointment,’ excellent for promoting blood flow, dispersing bruises, and repairing muscles and sinews. Please... take it.”

She drew a small white jade porcelain bottle from her sleeve and placed it firmly into Li Xuan’s hand before swiftly turning away, as if lingering another moment would dissolve her carefully maintained icy facade.

Li Xuan watched her somewhat hurried retreat, then looked at the bottle in his hand, still warm and faintly scented with her essence, and laughed softly.

This woman was truly... utterly endearing.