Who is right and who is wrong, it is very clear.
Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed with light, and a Golden Palace Heart Sword slashed out. It went straight into the black-clothed man’s sea of consciousness, splitting his divine soul into two parts. Then the sword energy twisted, and it shattered his soul.
The black-clothed man died in an instant. His vital energy and blood collapsed, his hands loosened, and the silver flying sword was about to pierce his throat.
“Ding!”
With a light clink, the Red Jade Sword knocked the silver flying sword aside.
“Do not let it draw blood, it is hard to clean up.”
Xu Yihong’s eyes widened. Then he felt a blackness before his eyes, and he flipped over and fell.
…
The next day.
Xu Yihong felt the mottled sunlight shining on his eyes. He slowly opened them and found himself lying on a bed.
Blue bricks and white walls, a paulownia wood bed frame, silk bedding, wafting sandalwood incense.
He sat up abruptly and subconsciously circulated the true qi in his body. He found that although his true qi was a little weak, it flowed smoothly. The poisonous smoke had been completely expelled, with no hidden injuries or aftereffects left at all.
Then the scene from before he fainted last night flashed into his mind.
“That scholar is an expert!” Xu Yihong’s eyes flashed. “And he is also a sword cultivator?”
“You are awake?”
A faint voice sounded by Xu Yihong’s ear. “If you are awake, come out and wash up, then we can have breakfast together.”
“Thank you, brother, for saving my life.” Xu Yihong cupped his hands. Then he lifted the quilt and pulled over the clothes nearby.
Moments later, Xu Yihong was dressed neatly. He pushed open the door and went out. He saw Lu Zheng leisurely drinking tea on a recliner under the persimmon tree in the backyard. Uncle Li had already brought a basin and towel, all prepared.
After washing up, Xu Yihong formally saluted Lu Zheng. “Xu Yihong of Lonely Goose Peak in Huilong Mountain greets this dao friend.”
Lu Zheng stood up and returned the salute with cupped hands. “Layman Lu Zheng of the outer sect of Baiyun Temple greets Dao Friend Xu.”
“Baiyun Temple?”
Xu Yihong blinked, a bit confused. He had thought Lu Zheng was a disciple of some sword sect.
He invited Xu Yihong to sit down. Uncle Li brought steamed buns and small dishes, then bowed and withdrew.
“Please!”
Lu Zheng made an inviting gesture with his hand. “I have already had breakfast, Dao Friend Xu. Please help yourself.”
Xu Yihong was indeed hungry, so he did not stand on ceremony. He took a bun and ate it. While eating, he said, “I did not expect Brother Lu to be a cultivator too, and with such profound cultivation. You had already discovered us, so it was I who made a fool of myself.”
“Not at all, not at all. Brother Xu acts with chivalry and justice, tracking the thief. It just happened to coincide with us this time. If they were ordinary folk, would they not have been harmed by that thief?”
Lu Zheng smiled and said that. Then he turned and asked, “I wonder if Brother Xu knows the origin of that thief?”
After killing the black-clothed man yesterday, they had searched his body. Besides some banknotes and aphrodisiac drugs, there was only some poisonous sand and antidotes. There was nothing else of value.
Xu Yihong shook his head. “I do not know. I discovered him in Yuhe County and fought him twice, but he escaped. I chased him through Dingshan County and into Tonglin County. This man knows disguise techniques, but he cannot control his lower parts, that two taels of flesh. Every time he enters a city, he commits a crime, so I did not lose track of him.
This time, I saw Brother Lu’s female companion with such a beautiful face. And this man often wanders the county in disguise after changing his appearance. He would surely notice that girl, so I followed in advance. As a result…”
Lu Zheng nodded. “So it was fated for him to die and vanish from the dao.”
“Exactly.” Xu Yihong replied. “I must thank Brother Lu for the rescue. Otherwise this time, I fear I would have perished together with him.”
Lu Zheng smiled. “With your strength, if you abandon killing him and withdraw, you naturally have the means to expel the poison and recover later.”
Xu Yihong’s expression turned serious. “But that would mean one more innocent death.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed. He nodded slowly.
After chatting a few words with Xu Yihong, Lu Zheng learned that Huilong Mountain was a famous mountain in Junzhou of the Eastern Sichuan Circuit. There were several sword cultivation sects on the mountain. Each occupied one or two peaks, but they were all small, with only a few dozen people per sect. Usually, they each passed on their traditions and exchanged with one another. Their relations were good. And Xu Yihong was a disciple of Lonely Goose Peak.
Xu Yihong had graduated at the beginning of this year. His cultivation was sufficient, so he decided to go down the mountain to wander. He planned to search for fine gold materials to refine a suitable flying sword for himself.
While searching for materials, he could also travel the world, act with chivalry and justice, temper his heart more, and advance his cultivation and dao.
“Refining a flying sword?”
Lu Zheng could not help asking. “Do you not have a flying sword already?”
“This one?” Xu Yihong raised his hand. A silver flying sword about a foot long flew out from his sleeve and landed in his hand. With a shake of true qi, the flying sword grew with the wind. In a blink, it became a silver sword two feet and three inches long, with only the blade shining silver.
“Yes?”
“This sword was given by my master. The materials are mostly mundane iron, with only a small amount of spiritual materials. So the sword qi does not flow well, the power is not great, and it is hard to shrink. At most, it can only go to just over a foot, which is not easy to carry.” Xu Yihong explained.
Lu Zheng nodded as if he understood, but he did not. These things, he did not know. The Flying Feather Riding Mist Sword Scripture did not mention them!
“Does Brother Lu not also have a flying sword? And I thought Brother Lu was a sword cultivator too.”
Seeing Lu Zheng a bit confused, Xu Yihong asked curiously.
“My sword scripture came by chance. It is just a bit of side cultivation. Actually, I do not know much either.” Lu Zheng explained.
Then he roughly told the story of how he had unintentionally obtained the sword controlling scripture.
“So I only got a sword cultivation technique and sword controlling methods. Other knowledge about sword cultivation, I do not know.”
While speaking, Lu Zheng inwardly complained that Yan Hongxia back then had not been considerate. She had not told him anything.
Actually, he had misunderstood Yan Hongxia. Back then, everyone’s cultivation was not high. And Lu Zheng clearly treated sword controlling as a side practice. With the Red Jade Sword in hand, it was enough. What was there to say?
“I see.” Xu Yihong understood.
“Each sword sect, because the cultivation methods differ, the refining methods for flying swords also vary.” Xu Yihong said. “After all, to make the flying sword suitable for oneself, it must be refined with the sect’s methods. Only then can it maximally bring out the power of the sect’s sword arts.”
Lu Zheng nodded.
“Since Brother Lu learned the sword controlling scripture of Feiyu Mountain in Guanglin Circuit, why not find time to visit Feiyu Mountain? Once to return the scripture, once to seek the dao.” Xu Yihong said.
Lu Zheng nodded again.
Going to Feiyu Mountain was something he had prepared for back then. But later he went to Jinhua Sect. His combat methods increased. And Feiyu Mountain was quite far. So he put it aside.
If not for meeting Xu Yihong again, Lu Zheng would almost have forgotten about it.
Moreover, the Red Jade Sword was after all just the nail of a hundred-year fierce ghost. Its power was very limited. The amplification of sword qi was limited. Not only was it weak in breaking defences, but even six against one often could not match others’ weapons. It indeed needed replacing.
However, to refine a suitable flying sword for himself, he first needed to go to Feiyu Mountain and learn sword refining. Then he would need to search for suitable materials. Only then could he complete it.
Why did it feel just like playing a game?
