On the lakeshore, Ling Feng picked up a small stone from the ground and, with a slant of his body, flung it out.
Biubiubiu…
The small stone skipped across the lake's surface, propelled forward, until its momentum was exhausted and it slowly sank to the bottom.
Ling Feng clapped his hands in satisfaction.
"Not bad, seven skips."
"By the way, Kirito, are you preparing to return to the front lines?"
Kirito hummed in response. He looked at the combat gloves on his hands, clenched his fist, and said solemnly,
"As long as this death game hasn't ended, I won't stop moving forward."
"Don't speak too soon. Perhaps in a few days, you'll be here on vacation too."
As he said this, Ling Feng raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth curling into a mysterious smile, as if he had foreseen something amusing.
"That will never happen."
Kirito shook his head earnestly and replied.
Ever since he was forced to participate in this death game, he had been striving to become stronger every day just to survive.
Especially after Sachi died before his eyes, he had desperately hunted monsters and leveled up. During that period, his level was the highest on SAO, even surpassing Ling Feng, the ultimate grinder.
If not for Sachi's last words to him, which helped him step out of the shadows, he would likely still be desperately leveling up now, instead of chatting and laughing with Ling Feng here.
Even so, he continued to strive for strength daily. Although he occasionally helped others, it was only sporadic.
Now, there was almost nothing that could make him stop his pursuit of strength and come here for a vacation.
"Oh? Don't be so sure."
"When you do come, we can spar from time to time."
Ling Feng said with a charming, confident smile.
You say you won't come, but who decides?
Who laid down that rule?
I'm the one who's seen the script!
Come obediently and be my punching bag.
Seeing Ling Feng's resolute attitude, Kirito shook his head and changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, Ling Feng, your swordsmanship is already so powerful, yet I feel like you're still searching for something. Why is that?"
This point greatly puzzled Kirito. Ling Feng's swordsmanship was arguably unparalleled in SAO, so he should have been content with his current state.
But Ling Feng was not. As a swordsman, his intuition told him that Ling Feng seemed to be searching for something.
However, he didn't know what that something was.
Hearing Kirito's words, Ling Feng looked at him in surprise, disbelieving that Kirito had noticed.
But he soon relaxed, slowly drawing Fen Ji from his back, wiping its blade, and laughing.
"As expected of you, to even notice this."
Kirito was startled; Ling Feng's words confirmed his intuition was correct.
But the more it was so, the more curious he became about what Ling Feng was looking for, especially since Ling Feng's swordsmanship was already so formidable.
"Then what exactly are you looking for?"
To Kirito's question, Ling Feng sheathed Fen Ji and said with a serious expression,
"Do you know what Sword Intent is?"
"Sword Intent? You mean that mythical thing?"
"The world is vast and full of wonders. You haven't seen it, but you cannot deny its existence."
Ling Feng spoke with actual basis.
Before his transmigration, many people in his world believed that cultivation and immortality were not real, and that ghosts and the like were just superstitions.
But he never thought so. Since such claims existed, they must have existed; it was just that humans had not yet witnessed them.
After his transmigration, he embarked on the path of cultivation, which affirmed his thoughts.
The world is vast and full of wonders. Things you haven't seen don't mean they don't exist. You can believe they don't exist, but you cannot deny their existence.
"Then I wish you success in finding it."
Seeing Ling Feng's serious demeanor, Kirito smiled slightly and offered encouragement.
"Mm."
After a brief chat, Kirito saw that time was getting late and took his leave, leaving Ling Feng alone on the lakeshore.
Ling Feng looked at the lake's surface, recalling the hints the system had given him, and fell into deep thought.
Why does one draw their sword?
What is the meaning of the sword?
Only by finding these answers could he possibly comprehend Sword Intent.
Everyone's answer was different.
Some for the sake of survival.
Some to become the strongest.
Ling Feng looked at the lake's surface and asked himself,
"What is my reason for drawing my sword?"
…
A few days later, in the spectator stands of the duel arena on the 75th floor of Korinya, Ling Feng, clad in a cloak, slowly took his seat.
The surroundings were a sea of people, the stands filled to capacity. The reason for such a crowd was:
"The Living Legend" Heathcliff vs. "The Black Swordsman" Kirito.
A few days prior, after leaving Ling Feng, Kirito had returned to the 74th floor to continue leveling up.
And the plot had unfolded much as it had originally.
Under the life-or-death crisis posed by the boss on the 74th floor, Kirito had utilized his dual-wielding skill.
Because he had been somewhat prepared after his encounter with Ling Feng, Kirito was even stronger than before.
Although he still defeated the boss with critically low HP, he had a bit more health remaining than in the original timeline, about 5%.
At that time, Ling Feng had secretly visited. Seeing that there were no unexpected developments, he had quietly returned home.
Today's duel, however, was a consequence of information about Kirito's special skill, dual-wielding, being leaked.
Furthermore, Heathcliff (Kayaba Akihiko) had become interested in Kirito, leading to this duel.
Ling Feng was not surprised by this. He watched the two men standing in the duel arena, quietly awaiting their battle.
Ling Feng was aware of Kayaba Akihiko's strength, placing him on par with PoH, the leader of Laughing Coffin.
Six months prior, Kayaba Akihiko had approached him, wishing to invite him to join the Knights of the Blood.
Naturally, he had refused.
Kayaba Akihiko had no reason to force him to join, so he had proposed a duel.
Since it was a duel, he had naturally accepted and fought Kayaba Akihiko privately.
The result, of course, was his victory.
For reasons unknown, during their confrontation, Kayaba Akihiko had not used the system's power, but rather his own strength.
Although Ling Feng was somewhat puzzled, he had learned Kayaba Akihiko's true strength.
However, he still wanted to know what the power of the "system" was like. Watching this duel today was for that very reason.
In the arena, Kirito had already engaged Heathcliff in a fierce battle.
Initially, as it was his first time facing Heathcliff, Kirito was somewhat bewildered by his skill, Holy Sword.
However, he quickly adapted, his twin swords slashing and cutting, his attack speed increasing with each swing.
Just as Kirito's speed was a step ahead of Heathcliff's, and his sword was about to strike Heathcliff's head,
Ling Feng saw Heathcliff's speed suddenly increase.
Concurrently, he experienced a peculiar sensation, one he couldn't quite name.
However, as he had expected, that sensation was likely the auxiliary ability of the "system."
From the sidelines, Heathcliff suddenly seemed to be cheating. Although Kirito sensed something was wrong, it was too late. He was struck by Heathcliff's sword in a vital spot and sent flying, his HP dropping to half.
The duel concluded.
After Heathcliff's victory, the players in the audience erupted in cheers, rising from their seats and shouting.
Ling Feng, however, quietly departed.
He had "seen" what he wanted to see, and there was no longer any need for him to stay.
"Asuna should have lunch ready at home. I wonder what delicious dishes there are."
…
Five days later.
Ling Feng was still sound asleep on his soft bed when a knock on the door suddenly roused him.
Ling Feng, half-asleep, walked from the second floor to the front door on the first floor. Rubbing his eyes, he slowly opened the door.
"Who is it? So early in the morning."
As he opened the door, two people he was very familiar with stood outside.
Seeing these two, Ling Feng's still-hazy eyes immediately widened, and his mouth curved into a broad smile.
"Yo, isn't this Kirito?"
"Huh? Why aren't you wearing your combat gear?"
"Dressed in casual clothes like this, are you here for a vacation?"
Ling Feng's smiling gaze and teasing tone caused Kirito to blush instantly, feeling like his words had been proven wrong.
Just a few days prior, he had said he would never come for a vacation.
Who knew that man's plans were no match for heaven's will?
In just a few days, he was here.
This goes to show, never make definitive statements!
The "true fragrance" theorem is always divine.
"Ahaha, yes."
"Since I live nearby, I thought I'd come and say hello to the neighbors."
Kirito said with an awkward laugh, scratching his head subconsciously.
"Oh, it's Ling Feng."
Asuna, standing behind Kirito, looked at their neighbor, Ling Feng, with disbelief.
Initially, when Kirito mentioned a familiar person lived nearby, she had been curious who it was.
Who would have thought it was Ling Feng?
She understood why she hadn't seen Ling Feng on the front lines for several days; he had come here for a vacation.
Looking at Ling Feng's relaxed demeanor, he must have been enjoying himself.
"Good morning, Asuna."
"Yes, good morning."
"Come in, don't stand outside. Come in and have some water."
Kirito and Asuna didn't refuse. Saying "excuse us," they slowly entered the wooden house.
Kirito and Asuna sat together on a sofa in the living room. Ling Feng poured them both a glass of water and then sat down opposite them.
Asuna's gaze swept around the room, searching, but she couldn't find Sachi, who always stayed by Ling Feng's side.
"By the way, Ling Feng, is Sachi still with you?"
"Of course. She's still sleeping. She might have been busy too late last night."
Ling Feng looked up at the ceiling, indicating Sachi was sleeping on the second floor.
"Busy too late? Could it be that you and Sachi also..."
Asuna heard this and, thinking of a possibility, asked with surprise,
"Also what?"
"Got married?"
"Huh?"
Ling Feng and Kirito were both stunned, exclaiming "Huh?" in unison.
"Weren't you?"
Ling Feng smiled and shook his head.
"Of course not. Sachi and I aren't even dating, let alone married."
"But, you just said busy too late... I thought you two were..."
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng suddenly understood and explained with a smile,
"When I said 'too late,' I meant she stayed up too late drawing last night."
"I'm sorry, I misunderstood."
Asuna realized she had misunderstood his meaning and quickly stood up, bowing to apologize.
"It's okay, it's normal to misunderstand. After all, Sachi has been with me for over a year, it's easy for anyone to misunderstand."
"By the way, are you two already married?"
Ling Feng waved his hand, his gaze falling on the rings worn on Kirito and Asuna's fingers as he inquired.
"Yes, we just got married recently."
Kirito nodded with a smile, his gaze towards Asuna filled with affection.