Wen Li turned her head. Oh boy, caught red-handed by the master of the house.
Not just the little one, but the big one too.
Wen Li immediately slipped the kitchen knife behind her back. “Just kidding around! I noticed the wall looked a little dirty, so I was cleaning it off.”
Gu Linshu couldn't fathom anyone being poor enough to pry spirit crystals off a wall. Taking her words at face value, he nodded rather politely.
“Oh. Th-then I'll have someone ch-change your cave abode to another one.”
Yan Jingyu, who had accompanied her son, merely smiled without calling Wen Li out. “It is our lack of hospitality. We shall trouble fellow Daoist to move to a different cave abode shortly.”
Wen Li waved her hands. “No need, no need! I just remembered I have pressing matters to attend to, so I shouldn't linger any longer. Many thanks for Senior's gracious hospitality, but there's no need to trouble you.”
Before Yan Jingyu could respond, Gu Linshu grew anxious.
“Y-you're leaving?”
“Ah, it is like this. My son is obsessed with the sword Dao. Regrettably, no one in the Wangyue Sect can catch his eye, and neither his father nor I are adept in swordplay to instruct him. Earlier today, fellow Daoist mentioned being skilled in the sword Dao and offering to guide my son, so he wished to come and seek your counsel.”
Seeing Gu Linshu flush red with anxiety, Yan Jingyu gently patted his shoulder to soothe him before explaining on his behalf.
“I noticed that the... artifact fellow Daoist held just now seemed extraordinary. Might it be an immortal sword in disguise?”
She had deliberately chosen to call the “kitchen knife” an artifact—truly fitting for the mistress of the sect.
“It is indeed an immortal sword.”
Wen Li's heart stirred. She generously brought out the kitchen knife and, with a flick of her wrist, it instantly transformed into a slender, sharp sword. The blade gleamed with cold light, while the hilt was forged from gilded black iron, with flowing golden threads coiling like a pair of serpents unsheathing themselves.
The blade was entirely silver, bearing a dark red vein down its center.
There was a groove on the hilt, currently empty.
The sword appeared utterly ordinary at a glance.
Yan Jingyu's eyes flickered. This sword...
She couldn't resist reaching out to touch the blade, but Wen Li dodged aside. “Apologies, but my lifebound weapon has developed spiritual intelligence. It dislikes strangers touching it, and if it throws a tantrum, it might run away from home.”
“My apologies. I have never seen such a sword before and grew curious.” The playful excuse was a gracious out, and Yan Jingyu chuckled as she gathered herself. “Since it possesses spiritual intelligence, having a bit of temper is only natural.”
“For fellow Daoist to nurture spiritual intelligence in this sword shows you possess profound attainments in the sword Dao. I have an audacious request: could fellow Daoist please instruct my son? The Wangyue Sect will surely reward you handsomely.” Her gaze couldn't help drifting back to the sword in Wen Li's hand. Concealing a trace of suspicion beneath her eyes, she smiled gently.
“Guidance is too strong a word; junior's cultivation is still shallow. If I can enlighten your esteemed son in some small way, it would be my honor.” Wen Li naturally jumped at the chance to abduct—er, recruit—delivered right to her door, especially with compensation involved.
Afterward, Yan Jingyu left Gu Linshu behind and departed first.
Wen Li watched her departing figure, her expression unreadable.
She told Gu Linshu to sit down. “I hear you possess exceptional talent in talismans. Why are you so bent on pursuing the sword Dao?”
According to the original plot, Gu Linshu possessed only talent for talismans in his youth, eventually reaching the grandmaster level as an adult. His first awakening in the sword Dao occurred during his wedding, when he wielded a demonic sword and slaughtered his beloved, his parents, and his entire clan.
After waking from his madness, he lost his mind and never touched a sword again, dedicating himself solely to talismans.
“A sword cultivator can, can settle the universe with a single sword. When person and sword become one, one can comprehend the, the supreme truths of heaven and earth.” The moment Gu Linshu opened his mouth, he spoke with the scholarly, refined elegance of a well-bred youth; it was obvious his parents had raised him well.
Wen Li shook her head. “Not enough. That reasoning applies to other magical treasures too. It fails to reflect your determination and comprehension.”
Pausing for a moment, Gu Linshu honestly added:
“A-and also... holding a sword looks r-really cool!”
Though he carried a scholarly air and the gentle manners of a man of letters, the youth's sparkling eyes were dazzlingly bright, exuding an inexplicable touch of youthful melodrama.
“...”
Wen Li was momentarily at a loss for words. The next second, her eyes lit up as she slapped Gu Linshu on the shoulder.
“A kindred spirit!”
“Back then, I also thought striking a pose with a sword in hand was way too cool—far more impressive than any other artifact. I searched everywhere for a suitable immortal sword. Your reason is rock-solid and deeply convicted. I support you!”
“R-really?”
Hearing this, Gu Linshu's worries melted away. He had feared that, like the cultivators who taught him swordplay in the past, she would scoff at such a vulgar and childish reason. To his surprise, she shared his profound vision.
Wen Li patted his shoulder. “Of course it's real! I never lie. There's a famous saying: Every sword cultivator loves to show off, strutting proud even if struck by heavenly lightning. Sword cultivators specialize in offense and pack unmatched lethal power among their peers. Master it, and you can show off all you want.”
“What is your cultivation level right now? Can you ride a flying sword?”
“I-I'm at Early-Stage Foundation Establishment. I can.”
“As long as you can ride a sword, that's enough.” Wen Li nodded, then asked, “Do you know what has mattered most to sword cultivators over the past tens of thousands of years?”
“Comprehension of the, the sword Dao?” Gu Linshu pondered earnestly. “O-or... having an un-unrivaled divine sword?”
“Nope.” Wen Li wagged her finger. “That's important, but not the most important.”
“The most important thing for a sword cultivator is...”
Gu Linshu waited in anticipation.
“To be rich,” Wen Li stated truthfully.
“Huh?” He was baffled.
Wen Li explained, “Go out and take a look. Which sword cultivator isn't dirt poor? Any spare coin they get goes straight toward nourishing their sword. They'd rather starve themselves than let their blade suffer the slightest mistreatment. Maintaining a sword is ridiculously expensive.”
“However, since you're so filthy rich, you don't need to worry about money. So in terms of prerequisites, you're actually cut out for the sword Dao. Others become sword cultivators despite being broke; you've already won half the battle.”
These words made Gu Linshu's eyes gleam. This was vastly different from anything his previous masters had ever told him.
Seeing that he took it to heart, Wen Li rolled her eyes thoughtfully and tapped her chin. “You have spirit crystals on you, right? If you don't believe me, let me demonstrate.”
“Is this enough?”
Gu Linshu actually produced five spirit crystals. Wen Li still wasn't used to having someone so wealthy sitting casually right in front of her. Oh well, he had Soul Formation parents—she couldn't touch him.
“If it's not enough, you can take out more later.”
Wen Li hastily placed Hold On on the table and tossed all five spirit crystals into the hilt's groove, dreading that he might change his mind.
Boom!
The blade abruptly vibrated with violence, radiating an eerie blue luminescence. The entire sword shone with renewed brilliance, dancing with joy like a famished child finally granted a feast.
Gu Linshu stared intently at Hold On, his affection for it plain to see.
“It's so beautiful.” He was obsessed with the sword Dao. Though he lacked talent for it, his parents had amassed an entire pavilion full of immortal swords for him—High Grade and even Supreme Grade Rank 3—yet none were as enchanting as this one.
Buzz!
As if understanding the compliment, Hold On promptly hovered up from the table, flew in front of Gu Linshu, and nuzzled against his arm.
“I-it... it's doing what...?” At a loss, Gu Linshu wanted to touch Hold On but feared offending it.
“I've starved it for too long. You gave it spirit crystals to replenish its spiritual energy and even praised it, so it's letting you touch it.” Wen Li was speechless. This money-grubbing blade was acting like the high-grade spirit stones she usually fed it were counterfeit!
“Okay.” Overjoyed, Gu Linshu couldn't resist reaching out and grasping the hilt. The moment his hand gripped it, a burst of cold light flared around Hold On.
“Aaaah?!” Hold On dragged Gu Linshu straight out of the cave abode, flying into the sky.
“Oh crap.” Startled, Wen Li hurriedly gave chase.
...
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