V1: Chapter 13: Women, Too, Can be Excellent Swordsmem

"Classmates, His Highness Gael's swordsmanship is renowned throughout the kingdom, far surpassing his peers. Therefore, today's lesson will be taught by His Highness Gael, who will share his advice."

Liang Lin was quite disdainful.

She had already changed into riding trousers and plopped down on the ground, cross-legged, propping her head up with her hand, staring listlessly at the incessantly chattering Gael.

Was his purpose in coming just to show off his swordsmanship? Impossible.

Why hadn't he ever come before? And why did he only come after Auston and Doris's conspiracy? There must be a scheme involved.

"Classmates, these are my suggestions. Now, you can practice sparring with me."

Sparring?

The battle-crazed Liang Lin was immediately intrigued. She straightened her back, but the moment she saw Gael's face, her interest waned again.

Besides, the opponent was His Highness the Prince. What if she didn't control her strength and accidentally hurt him?  The other students should also…

“Me!”

“Your Highness, I do!”

“May I spar with you?”

Hmm…? This is turning into a marriage proposal; Liang Lin didn’t expect so many people to be so eager.

Next, Liang Lin finally understood what acting was.

The boy from the Pips family, whose head she had previously beaten into a pig's head, after two rounds with Gael, dramatically clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, praising Gar as “so strong” and “completely no match for him.”

The other noble young masters were all the same; some knelt in submission, while others lay on their backs, sobbing uncontrollably.

Liang Lin: speechless.jpg

Fine, fine, so this is how you play it? Such flattery, it’s contemptible.  "Haha~"

Gael let out a hearty laugh. "Is there a particularly skilled student among you? Or has the strongest already sparred with me?"

All eyes turned to Liang Lin, who was sitting on the grass.

Why are you all looking at me?

Liang Lin instantly became alert, meeting Gael's surprised gaze.

"You mean... this beautiful young lady is the strongest among you?"

Everyone fell silent, then nodded.

The teacher nearby whispered a few words, essentially acknowledging that Liang Lin was the best student in swordsmanship class.

"Then..."

Gael slowly walked towards Liang Lin, extending his hand politely, "Miss Liang Lin, may I have a swordsmanship spar with you?"

Liang Lin was reluctant, but due to her status, she had to agree.

"Yes, Your Highness Gael."

It's better to deliberately lose.

If she were to win now, Gael would likely hold a grudge.

She hadn't yet secured the position of head of the Langwendi family; if she were to incur the wrath of a prince, her chances of becoming head of the family would become even slimmer.

Liang Lin absentmindedly swung her arms, blocking Gael's attacks one after another. After ten rounds, she timed it perfectly, and just as Gael's sword struck hers, she released it.

Clang!

The sword fell heavily to the ground. Liang Lin's eyes were filled with unyielding indifference.

She bowed slightly to Gael. "Your Highness Gael, I have lost. I am ashamed."

She had expected Geal to boast or offer some words of comfort, but instead...

"Haha~ Indeed, women can never truly master swordsmanship. Miss Liang Lin, women are better suited to learning to dance and enjoying afternoon tea. Swordsmanship is not suitable for women, a group whose bodies and minds are inferior to men's."

What...was he saying?

Liang Lin's mind went blank.

Before her rebirth, her swordsmanship was entirely taught to her by her older sister, Hilary. However, being a swordsmanship prodigy, she had learned much more and surpassed Hilary. Yet, in terms of agility, she still couldn't match her sister.

Now, Gael was spouting things like "weak group" and "inferior to men," looking down on her and her sister.

Whether Liang Lin was a male marquis before her rebirth or a noblewoman after, she had never disrespected any gender.

"I say, someone as arrogant and conceited as you..."

Liang Lin slowly raised her head, a hint of ferocity flashing in her blood-red pupils. She bent down, picked up the longsword from the ground, and arrogantly pointed it at Gar.

"If I cannot defeat you, I am willing to cut off my own head and hang it on the highest rooftop of the academy."

A clamor erupted around them.

These words were tantamount to issuing a declaration of an all-out war; this was no longer a simple sparring match.

“As for why I say that… because I won’t die, and I certainly won’t lose,” Liang Lin’s blood-red pupils rolled upwards, looking at Gael with utter contempt. “I am, after all, a genius in swordsmanship.”

Gael paused for a second, then burst into enthusiastic laughter.

He clapped his hands, stroking his chin with interest. “You’re too weak; the sword slipped from your hand. Don’t push yourself too hard, Miss Liang Lin.”

Push yourself too hard?

Leaving aside whether it was truly pushing herself, even if it were, for the sake of Hilary, she had to teach this despicable prince who looked down on her and her sister a lesson.

Liang Lin ignored his mockery, combing her long, flowing hair into a high ponytail, then ripped off her coat and tossed it casually to the ground.

“Your Highness Gael, please.”

“Since Miss Liang Lin is still not giving up, then I’ll have no choice but to continue sparring with you. However, this time, I can give you three rounds.”

Gael smiled, his hands behind his back.

"Heh, trash. If you weren't a prince, would you even dare use the word 'spar' with me?"

The longsword pierced the air, emitting a series of sword cries, and a blood-red vortex surged around it. Amidst the whistling sound, the sharp edge of the blade reflected Liang Lin's face—beautiful yet cruel.

Too fast.

Only one thought crossed Garr's mind; he barely had time to react. He dodged Liang Lin's sword, but was still drenched in a cold sweat.

The sword's momentum was swift, like lightning striking the sky. Liang Lin showed no mercy; every strike was a precise thrust and sweep, forcing Gael to retreat repeatedly.

"Pick up your sword and fight me," Liang Lin said.

Three rounds had already passed.

Was Gael unwilling to retaliate? No, he simply had no chance. If his attention wavered even slightly, her sword would pierce his chest.

"Raise your sword!"

Liang Lin roared.

Fine beads of sweat covered Gal's forehead. Startled by the shout, he instinctively raised his longsword and swung it in retaliation. Sword energy shot out, producing a crisp metallic clang, followed by the sound of metal hitting the ground.

The surroundings were utterly silent.

In the center.

Liang Lin's longsword rested on Gal's shoulder; just one centimeter more and she would sever his head.

Liang Lin coldly surveyed the crowd.

"I told you, I have the right to be arrogant. The title of 'woman' is nothing but your fear of me, your delusions, and your insults."

"I won."

"Women, too, can be excellent swordsmen."