In the tent, Lily sat next to the bedridden Hestein, feeding him medicine spoon by spoonful.

"My father had been in seclusion and thinking about how to use swords to deal with spirits for almost twenty years," she said. "You know, he wasn't like this before."

Lily was blind, and the spoon could not be accurately placed into Hestein's mouth. Hestein could only take the initiative to lift up, slowly swallow the medicine she fed, and let out a vague response from her throat.

"My father's swordsmanship has reached its peak, and everyone knows this. But there is a doubt that I have never used to figure it out until now - that is, he is not afraid of magic for some reason. He has been attacked by various magics. Sometimes, the deadly magic should have fallen to him, but he is not injured at all. I don't know how he did it. Every time I ask him, his answer is always 'Because your swordsmanship is not high enough, you can't resist magic'. I don't understand, Hestein, do you understand?"

Hestein stared at the top of the tent and slowly shook his head.

"Sure enough, you don't understand. My father's attainment in swordsmanship is not comparable to that of our juniors." Lily sighed, "That is why he is obsessed with thinking about the inexplicable question of using swords to drive out spirits. Once he thinks, he thinks for twenty years."

"Actually, I'm thinking about the same problem now." Hestein said slowly, "and, the fifth element seems to be much more difficult than a spirit."

"Don't think." Lily put down the medicine bowl and hugged Hestein's face. "I don't want you to stay in seclusion for twenty years."

"Twenty years."

Hestein was silent for a long time and asked:

"Sword Saint... Didn't he figured out that problem in the end?"

"It must be figured out, I don't understand."

Lily groped and picked up the medicine bowl again, gently blew the wind in.

"I captured the man named Dust back to Antilia. There are actually many despicable swordsmen who pretended to be a lie to discredit our clan's swordsmanship. My father was too lazy to see him, so he let me throw him into the cave. But strangely, he walked out of the cave without any damage."

"My father became a little curious and called Dust in front of him and asked him how he did it. Do you know how he answered?"

Hestein lay on the bed and shook his head.

"He replied that it was based on his own swordsmanship."

"At that time, I pointed out for my father: He must have relied on swordsmanship, but other strange methods. My father also thought I was right."

"But that Dust replied confidently: 'This is part of my swordsmanship'."

"My father refuted him angrily, saying how could this be a sword technique?"

"Often people are afraid of being questioned by their father like this. However, Nadust asked my father calmly: 'Then what do you think is swordsmanship?'"

"My father said: 'Sword technique is a killing technique.'"

"Dust asked again, 'Then can't kill people with my skill?"

"The father added: 'Sword technique is the technique of killing people with swords.'"

"Dust replied, 'I also used a sword when I used this magic to drive away the spirits.'"

"My father was angry: 'Do you think the sword is the main factor in the technology you use?'"

"But Nadust replied: 'You can't kill people without using a sword. Is your swordsman such an inconvenient thing?'"

"I listened aside, feeling that this was completely arbitrary. But his father was silent and didn't say another word for a long time."

"My father set up a banquet to entertain him and asked many questions about swordsmanship at the banquet. In fact, to me, his '100-style swordsmanship' is not a swordsmanship at all. Do you know? The starting style of the 100-style swordsmanship actually teaches people to ride a carriage and hit people."

"But my father listened very seriously. As a swordsman, he knew every genre of swordsmanship. But that night, my father was completely like an apprentice who had not yet learned about swordsmanship."

"After the banquet, I asked my father and said, 'Don't you think he is a total liar?'"

"He answered me like this: 'For you, he is indeed a liar. But for me, what he shows is a broader new world of swordsmanship."

"After that, my father often called Dust and had a long talk in the room. Before that, my father had learned about the Almany Federation and was about to intervene in this matter. I have been preparing for it and not paying attention to what they were talking about."

"But one night, my father entered the cave alone with his sword."

"He didn't tell anyone about this. When we found out where he was, it was the next night. According to the person next to him, my father sat upright in the cave with a broken sword in front of him."

“'It's over'—he told me that."

"'Twenty years have passed, and I have finally defeated this abominable spirit."

"He laughed loudly over there, I've never heard him laugh so happily."

"He really laughed for a long time, for a long time, for a long time. From night to the early morning."

"Then he suddenly asked me: "Lily, after I die, can your husband take over this position as the Sword Saint?"

"At that time, I didn't know what my father asked, so he said 'death'. I didn't want him to die, so I shook my head."

"And my father said, 'Yes, he is not good yet. Let him go out and broaden his horizons and learn more. Before he surpasses me, the position of this sword saint will be handed over to Dust."

"I listened and felt very scared. My father's tone sounded like he was about to die."

"And his voice is indeed gradually fading."

"He suddenly asked me, "Lily, which one do you think is better, swordsmanship or magic?"

"In front of my father, I naturally answered 'sword'."

"But my father said, 'Wrong, wrong, wrong.'"

"I was surprised and asked him: 'Is it magic'?"

"But my father said again: 'Wrong, wrong, wrong.'"

"He said: 'Swordsmen rely on themselves to sharpen sword skills, magicians rely on gods to improve magic; swordsmen control swords, and gods control people. This is what I have always believed, the most fundamental difference between magic and swordsmanship."

"But if magic can be used like a sword, not by relying on gods, but by yourself, then what is the difference between magic and swordsmanship?"

"There is not only one road, but all roads end up with one end! Because magic does not use swords, it is not sword art? How can a sword be such an inconvenient thing!"

"He laughed again, his voice getting weaker and weaker, and then stopped completely."

"It's been a long time, he didn't say another word."
Chapter completed!