At the same time, David Thompson and John Thompson had already become alert—one drew two short swords, while the other raised the staff from his back to guard his chest. Yet what happened next was a replay of the earlier scene. The blunt whiteboard sword struck heavily against their weapons, and the sword’s trajectory veered wildly, like a kite with a broken string, slashing across each of their chests and thighs.

After that, the two curled up on the ground like shrimp balls, retching uncontrollably.

Emily Thompson stared in shock. “You—what did you do to them!? Is your sword poisoned?”

“Pah!” Henry Martinez uncharacteristically cursed. “Poison my exquisitely beautiful self? Why don’t you try eating carrots with your nose?! I just tapped their vital points. The three of them must have practiced some kind of external body-protection technique, but none of them have mastered it—their vital points are even bigger than your face.”

“Hey!?” The petite Emily Thompson covered her cheeks with her hands, her face flushed, and she was inwardly puzzled.

The body-protection technique these three practiced wasn’t exactly a top-tier art, but it was still an external secret of the The Thompson Family, one of the best in the martial world, nearly at the level of immortal arts. How could their vital points be so large? Besides, who puts their vital points on their waist and legs?

No, with this kind of hard qigong that moves qi and blood, unless you reach the minor perfection of the ninth level, aside from the fixed vital points, as the qi and blood circulate, the eight extraordinary meridians occasionally have intermittent points—but these fleeting moving vital points vanish in an instant. Even cultivators at the Wind-Rising stage of immortal arts can barely catch them, let alone strike them perfectly with such a slow sword movement…

Looking again at the plain, unremarkable blunt whiteboard sword at her waist, Emily Thompson felt a bit dizzy, and couldn’t help but ponder a question.

Could it be that this blunt whiteboard sword… is just incredibly lucky?!

If she let it help draw lottery tickets, could she become fabulously wealthy in no time!?

Chapter 005: Learn the Stance from Me

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have doubted your strength.” (Even though you’re just a blunt whiteboard sword…)

“Heh.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have wanted to use you to draw the lottery.” (I’ll definitely find a chance to trick him into helping me draw next time.)

“Hmph.”

“Sorry, I also shouldn’t have thought about selling you to Qian Laoda, the richest man in Qingyun.” (With your looks, you probably wouldn’t sell anyway.)

“Oh.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have thought about buying a top-quality sharp blade to replace you after I get rich.” (Even if I get rich, I still have to save money.)

“Mm.”

“I promise I’ll never think about these things again.” (Ahh, let’s just get this over with, I’m starving.)

“Oh?” The sword spirit’s tone was full of contempt, as if talking to an idiot. “Did you forget the basic function of the master-servant contract again?”

“……” (……)

At this moment, the girl’s thoughts and her reaction were exactly the same—utterly dumbfounded, inside and out.

Then came a torrent of apologies, like a tsunami: “Sorry, sorry, sorry! I really didn’t mean it, it’s just—I really can’t control myself! Especially when I think about how I’ll only have greens and carrots for dinner again, it’s like I’m possessed by a heart demon. Those weren’t my real thoughts, you mustn’t take them seriously!”

Henry Martinez sneered, “I remember yesterday you were full of praise for greens and carrots.”

“T-that was just a moment of confusion…” The girl grew more and more embarrassed as she spoke, and finally gave up altogether. “Do you really think I like carrots that much!? Don’t I like eating meat!? Of course I do! Tender, juicy lamb, rich, sweet pork belly… But I have no money! After paying for cultivation, I even have to buy discounted cabbage and carrots! Fine food is just too much of a luxury for me!”

These words were truly heartfelt, and seeing the girl on the verge of collapse, the sword spirit forgot its earlier displeasure and asked curiously, “Aren’t you the daughter of the clan head Andrew Thompson? How are you living in such poverty? Is the The Thompson Family in dire straits now?”

Emily Thompson explained helplessly, “The The Thompson Family is doing just fine. In Xiangzhou, there’s one sect, three academies, and seven great clans—the The Thompson Family is one of the seven. Although we’ve declined a bit over the past century, we’re still a major family dominating Qingyun City. My situation is just special. My relationship with Andrew Thompson and Ashley Parker isn’t good, so I have to rely on my own strength for everything. But… in the family assessments the past two years, I couldn’t even get a B grade, so my living standards and allowance have been cut again and again. That’s why it’s just greens and carrots for me.”

“Hmm, I don’t really understand human affairs, but generally speaking, someone from a prestigious family with top bloodlines shouldn’t be living so miserably… Are you sure you’re not an idiot?”

“You’re the idiot! Anyway, the outer sect’s regular assessment is in half a month. If I can’t master the Thirty-Six Wind-Chasing Sword Forms, I won’t pass the last test for the outer sect. If I get expelled, my stipend won’t even be enough for food.”

“What, not even enough for food?” Henry Martinez fell silent for a long time, then said, “By the way, about that Qian Laoda, the richest man in Qingyun, that you mentioned earlier—what’s his deal? Tell me about him.”

“…You’re not thinking of abandoning me, are you?”