Chapter 105: The Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate

The sudden arrival of thunder unleashed a terrifying display of power. Faced with such an abrupt upheaval, everyone revealed their true nature. The haughty Bai Yushuang, the refined Bai Yucheng, and the somber Bai Dishan—all were unable to hide their shock. Bai Yushuang, in particular, displayed not only astonishment but a hint of frantic unease, her vulnerability laid bare. The other members of the Bai family fared even worse, their faces pale with terror; some even shrieked in loss of composure as they retreated.

Shang Qingjun was startled as well, but her attention remained fixed on Gao Wu. Seeing the electrical arcs dancing around him, her first instinct was a worried prayer that nothing would happen to him. Zhou Hongying, conversely, watched Gao Wu with unconcealed excitement, clearly delighted by the extraordinary spectacle. She took note of Song Mingyue, who stood in such close proximity to Gao Wu that she was partially enveloped by the scattering sparks. Oversized sunglasses shielded Song Mingyue’s eyes, but they could not hide the subtle, water-calm expressions on her face, nor the elegance of her posture. The sudden thunder seemed to have no effect on her, which deeply intrigued Zhou Hongying.

Of course, the most uncomposed of them all was undoubtedly Bai Yushuang. Having been the provocateur, she had arrived full of bluster and arrogance, only to be left pale and speechless by the fright. She had come to trade blows with Gao Wu to wash away the humiliation of her loss at the Xue Tao Cup. While summer thunderstorms were common, what truly terrified her was the way the lightning seemed to obey Gao Wu’s command. She was shaken by this inconceivable transformation, and the fierce fighting spirit she had brought with her was utterly shattered by the thunderclaps.

The lightning, which had struck the Yangtze River in a straight, heaven-spanning line, lasted less than a second. The electrical brilliance, stretching for thousands of meters, dissipated simultaneously, leaving behind only the howling of the north wind. Bai Yushuang was a martial artist, after all, and she quickly regained her composure, though she knew there was no way to mask the loss of poise she had just displayed. She felt deeply awkward, unsure how to make a dignified exit.

"Playing tricks!" Bai Yushuang sneered, forcing the words out. "I'll see you in the arena!"

"See you in the arena," Gao Wu replied with a side-glance, a faint smile on his lips as he waved.

After delivering her threat, Bai Yushuang beat a hasty, somewhat disheveled retreat. Bai Yucheng, having regained his calm, nodded politely to Gao Wu and the others before leading the rest of the Bai family away.

As Gao Wu watched the Bai family depart, the smile on his face slowly faded. It had been nothing more than his Yin Spirit sensing the fluctuations in the electric field between the clouds, allowing him to anticipate the lightning strike—it was hardly a feat of true skill. It had startled the Bai family and blunted Bai Yushuang’s edge, but that was all. It had no real significance.

Song Mingyue, aware of the friction between Gao Wu and Bai Yushuang, understood his current state of mind. "Pay no heed to such trifles," she said softly.

Though Shang Qingjun did not know the details, she could roughly guess the situation. She comforted him as well, saying, "Xiao Wu, there's no need to concern yourself with her."

With his two closest companions offering such counsel, Gao Wu nodded. In truth, it wasn't Bai Yushuang’s arrogance that bothered him; he was simply feeling frustrated. Given his current physical condition, he was far superior to Bai Yushuang in every respect. He had even brought his Swimming Dragon Palm and sword techniques to the minor success stage. If Bai Yushuang could advance to become a martial artist, why couldn't he? He could easily sense source energy with his Yin Spirit and even command it to catalyze the Vermillion Bird Divine Light Spell, so why couldn't his physical body command that same energy? Was it simply because his innate foundation was insufficient?

Gao Wu felt a sense of resentment, fueled largely by the competitive spirit ignited by Bai Yushuang’s mocking remarks. He possessed a fiercely competitive nature, even if he didn't like to show it.

The north wind grew stronger, and the raindrops began to fall like a deluge, driven by the gale. There was no shelter on the bridge; although Shang Qingjun and Zhou Hongying held umbrellas, their dresses were quickly soaked through. Song Mingyue, wearing a trench coat, fared slightly better, though her trousers were soaked and darkened by the rain.

"The rain is too heavy. You two should head back," Gao Wu said.

"You aren't coming?" Shang Qingjun asked, unable to fathom why he would stay on the bridge in such a storm.

Gao Wu wiped the rain from his face and flashed a grin. "I’ve had a sudden realization. I want to meditate on the Tao here."

Shang Qingjun said firmly, "Then we will stay with you." Both she and Zhou Hongying were high-level martial artists; the wind and rain were nothing to them, save for the discomfort.

Zhou Hongying nodded vigorously. "If you're meditating, we'll stay and learn a thing or two. Broaden our horizons."

"This is my own path; it won't be of any use to you..." As he spoke, Gao Wu handed the Destiny Sword to Song Mingyue. A smile remained on his lips, but his eyes were exceptionally resolute.

Song Mingyue understood what Gao Wu intended to do. She hesitated for a moment but did not stop him. Shang Qingjun and Zhou Hongying were both perplexed, sensing a deeper meaning in his words but unable to grasp it.

Gao Wu looked at the surging river beneath the bridge. The wind and rain had turned the water turbid and violent; waves rose one after another with immense, sweeping momentum. With a sense of emotion, he said to Shang Qingjun, "Sister Jun, you know the story of the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, right?"

Without waiting for her reply, he continued, "Only by swimming against the current and leaping over the Dragon Gate can a fish sprout scales and horns to transform into a dragon. This bridge is called the Dragon Gate—it truly feels like fate!"

Shang Qingjun began to understand, and she was alarmed. "Xiao Wu, don't do anything reckless!"

The river was thick with silt and churning with massive waves. It was only May; the ice and snow from the upper reaches were melting, and combined with the storm, the water temperature was barely ten degrees Celsius. A person would suffer from hypothermia and shock after only a short time in the water. Even a martial artist was, in the end, a creature of flesh and blood; how could one contend with the forces of nature? Not to mention that Gao Wu was not yet a martial artist. The river was filled with debris—logs, fishing nets, and the like. If he were unlucky enough to get tangled, even with his abilities, he might not be able to escape. In such a vast expanse of water, the consequences of running out of strength were unthinkable. Even with a boat following, safety could not be guaranteed in such a storm.

Gao Wu smiled at Shang Qingjun to signal that she shouldn't be nervous. He then leaped gracefully onto the bridge railing and stood firmly. Looking down at the surging river, a surge of heroism flooded his heart. He shouted, "Breathe in the wind and thunder, strike the waves in mid-stream, the swimming dragon leaps over the abyss—the time is now!"

Shang Qingjun had intended to grab the hem of his trousers, but hearing the resolve and courage in his voice, she sighed, knowing he would never change his mind. Zhou Hongying, however, watched with eyes glowing with excitement. Those words were soaring and heroic, carrying an inherently stirring power.

Gao Wu’s blood boiled; he did not want to wait any longer. With a long whistle, he pushed off, his head diving straight into the churning, turbid river. The bridge was forty or fifty meters above the water. Shang Qingjun and Zhou Hongying gripped the railing and looked down, catching a glimpse of the splash Gao Wu made as he dove in. The murky water instantly swallowed him and the spray he had created.

"Xiao Wu!" Shang Qingjun cried out in alarm.

Zhou Hongying was, conversely, thrilled. She grabbed Shang Qingjun’s hand and shouted, "Don't bother! He can't hear you!"

Without the umbrellas, the torrential rain soaked Shang Qingjun and Zhou Hongying’s faces. Their voices were largely drowned out by the wind and rain. Fearing that Shang Qingjun might act impulsively, Zhou Hongying shouted through the storm, "Xiao Wu isn't stupid! He'll be fine!"

But Shang Qingjun remained worried, leaning over the railing to search the river for a glimpse of him.

"There he is..." Zhou Hongying, having sharper eyes and a calmer head, spotted Gao Wu surfacing.

Through the heavy curtains of rain and the impact of the turbulent waves, Gao Wu could clearly see Shang Qingjun, Zhou Hongying, and Song Mingyue holding the railing. Song Mingyue still held her umbrella, her expression calm. Their eyes met, and Song Mingyue felt a connection; she gave a slight nod, signaling her support for his actions.

Gao Wu stabilized himself in the water, waved at the three women on the bridge, and then turned to face the surging, turbid waves head-on...

His body, strengthened by numerous potions, was already incredibly robust, far exceeding that of a junior martial artist like Bai Yushuang. Combined with the endurance and vitality granted by his fifteen points of Constitution, and the super-perception from his fifteen points of Spirit, he was able to control his strength with extreme precision. Integrating the power of his entire body, Gao Wu moved like a great fish swimming against the current, pushing forward against the rolling waves.

The three women on the Dragon Gate Bridge all had excellent vision. They could see his figure as he broke through the waves. The surf was violent, and the white shirt he wore flickered in and out of sight amidst the swells, but he swam with great speed, pushing against the current, and remained clearly visible from the bridge.

Shang Qingjun’s eyes were filled with worry, completely unaware that she was drenched to the bone by the rain. Zhou Hongying gripped the railing, leaning out to watch Gao Wu swim away. Her wet face was filled with undisguised excitement as she shouted, "Go, Xiao Wu! Charge! Break through the wind and waves to leap the Dragon Gate!"

Shang Qingjun glared at her in annoyance. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy! Don't you think this is cool?" Zhou Hongying’s eyes sparkled with charm. "Our little brother is just too cool! So much passion! I love it!"

"Madwoman!" Shang Qingjun muttered, using a local Nanzhou curse.

"Hahahaha..." Zhou Hongying wasn't offended; she only laughed more wildly.

The Bai Yushuang party was nearing the end of the bridge, but as martial artists, they had keen ears and heard Gao Wu’s long whistle over the wind and rain. Bai Yushuang sensed something was wrong and looked back, catching sight of Gao Wu leaping from the bridge.

She froze. "It's Gao Wu!"

Bai Yucheng and Bai Dishan, also sharp-eyed martial artists, saw him as well. Both were filled with confusion. What madness was this boy indulging in, jumping into the river to swim in such a gale? The weather was atrocious, the wind and waves too fierce; a person would lose all sense of direction, and the water temperature was far too low. If anything went wrong, the boy could very well drown...

The wind intensified, the rain poured harder, and the water rushing down from the upper reaches gathered into waves seven or eight meters high. Gao Wu, struggling and fighting the water amidst the heavy swells, was nothing more than a tiny white speck in the vast, churning expanse of muddy waves. Had the members of the Bai family not possessed such keen sight, they would never have seen him at all.

The storm soon soaked them all to the skin, but no one cared. Everyone’s attention was fixed on that small, defiant figure swimming against the current.

Gao Wu swam with incredible speed. With the wind, rain, and surging waves, most of the Bai family lost sight of him. Bai Yushuang could still barely make him out. Seeing him push through the crashing waves without a hint of rest or retreat, she couldn't help but mutter, "What a lunatic!"

"He's certainly got guts!" Bai Dishan remarked from the side, filled with emotion. He thought Gao Wu’s actions were incredibly foolish. And yet, that tiny figure displayed a heroic courage, striking the waves in mid-stream, defying heaven itself. Regardless of everything else, he couldn't help but admire that heroism.

What impressed him even more was that Gao Wu was actually managing to fight the waves and split the river, showing terrifying physical strength and a powerful will! Seeing such a crazy act, he found it strangely captivating.

He paused and sighed. "But, man... that is just incredibly badass!"

The other Bai family members, including Bai Yucheng, nodded in agreement. Bai Dishan had spoken what was in all of their hearts.