「第一百二十三回對陣:彥卿、景元。」
「將軍,咱不比了吧!彥卿好累……」
「不是手中握劍,便有立足不敗的信心嗎?怎麼虛了?」
「哪有侍衛對著要保護的對象動刀動劍的?萬一傷著了……」
「你的身手若有你嘴皮子一半利索,眼下我已輸了。讓你一隻手,趕快。」
「不行,得兩隻手!將軍要不讓個神君也行!」
「你當是天舶司的買賣,還能討價還價麼?唔,讓我想想……」
「有破綻!看招!」
「一早料到了。破!」
「痛痛痛!可惡,彥卿可是等這機會好久了……」
「兵不厭詐,偷襲是個好法子。可惜,你出劍太重氣勢,藏不住形。這就是所謂的少年意氣吧?」
「將軍,再來再來!這回我儘量悄沒聲地動手…」
景元花費了許多精力栽培彥卿,有人揣測他是想栽培後繼,也有人說不過把這孩子當成秘密武器使喚。景元從未予以回應。
隨著彥卿的技藝日漸精深,成為羅浮仙舟上罕有匹敵的戰士,景元逐漸開始考慮如何收斂彥卿的鋒芒,給予他失敗的考驗卻又不至於摧折他。
Character Story: Part IV
• Unlocked at Character Level 80
"Bout #123: Yanqing, Jing Yuan."
"General, let's call it a day! I'm exhausted..."
"Didn't you say you have the confidence to remain undefeated as long as you hold a sword? Why are you acting so weak?"
"What kind of retainer would take up arms against the person they vowed to protect? What if I accidentally hurt..."
"If your sword is half as quick as your mouth, I'd already have lost. I'll keep one hand behind my back. Now, be quick!"
"No no, two hands please! Or maybe you can consider not using the Lightning-Lord, general?"
"You think is like the Sky-Faring Commission's business, where you can barter your way out? Hmm, let me see..."
"Aha — a weakness! Watch this!"
"I knew you'd do that. Counter!"
"Ow-ow-ow, darn it! I'd been waiting for ages for my shot."
"All's equal in war, and sneak attacks are a good idea. It's too bad your sword is so focused on the flourish and can't conceal its form. Is this what they call youthful vigor?"
"General, let's go again! This time I'll try to be as inconspicuous as possible..."
Jing Yuan spent much time and energy in raising Yanqing. Some speculated that he was cultivating an heir, others claimed he only kept him around just to use this kid as a secret weapon. Jing Yuan never offered a response.
Yanqing became an unrivaled fighter aboard the Xianzhou Luofu as his skills grew more and more advanced. Jing Yuan gradually began thinking about ways to restrain Yanqing's edge, to take him down a peg without curbing his confidence.
Too solid and it can shatter. Too sharp and it can blunt. More than just a sharp edge — a sword also needs a scabbard that can restrain it. In Jing Yuan's view, Yanqing has grown up exceedingly fast — beyond expectations. What Yanqing needs right now is not more strength, but the ability and experience of curbing that strength — something that can only manifest by the passage of time.