“Why? Why did you stop Sword Immortal Shen?” Chen Zui asked, puzzled.
“The Emperor of Grand Zhao would not allow him to act. Because at that time, the two countries were in peace negotiations. The Emperor feared that if my master acted, it would provoke Grand Shuo and cause the negotiations to fail. If my master had gone, regardless of whether he won or lost, he would have been sucked into the vortex of courtly power struggles. The Emperor of Grand Zhao would not have let him off, and Grand Shuo would not have let the matter rest either. The martial world's fortune in Grand Zhao was already on the decline. In my view, it simply wasn't worth it for my master to do that.”
Gu Yiyou closed his eyes as if recalling an extremely painful memory.
“So, I did not draw the sword for my master. That was the only time I ever disobeyed his order. Perhaps you find it strange—is it really that important whether I draw the sword or not?”
Chen Zui nodded slightly; he was indeed wondering about that.
“I can only say I was born under a lucky star. My master let me hold and draw his sword only to give me a reason to stay by his side with a clear conscience. But my master’s talent in the Way of the Sword was simply too high. Under his subtle influence, even a servant like me reached the peak of the Second Rank, a level unreachable by common men. In fact, half of my master’s sword intent actually resides within me.”
Chen Zui couldn't help but gasp upon hearing this.
Half the sword intent of an Earthly Immortal!
This meant that although the sloppy old man before him was stuck at the peak of the Second Rank in terms of martial cultivation, he actually possessed the strength of an Earthly Immortal!
What amazed Chen Zui the most was that Sword Immortal Shen, despite having half his sword intent outside his body, could still firmly hold the title of number one in the martial world across both lands!
How terrifying was that?
“The man who uses the saber is still alive.”
A sharp light suddenly burst from Gu Yiyou’s cloudy old eyes.
“So, your trip to Grand Shuo this time is to deliver that strike from all those years ago?” Chen Zui asked.
“Exactly. Regardless of whether I can return alive, I must deliver this strike on my master’s behalf.”
Luoyan City was incredibly quiet.
The distant, rhythmic sound of a night watchman’s clapper echoed through the empty night of the border fortress...
Gu Yiyou slowly looked at Chen Zui.
“Lad, there is something I want to ask your help with.”
“Please speak, Senior,” Chen Zui said solemnly.
Gu Yiyou took a deep breath.
“If you ever meet my master one day, please pass a message to him. Tell him that he doesn't owe the martial world of Grand Zhao a single thing. If there is any debt to be paid, then I, his servant, will pay it in his stead.”
“That’s all?”
Chen Zui didn't quite understand the logic behind those words.
“That’s all.”
“But Sword Immortal Shen’s whereabouts are elusive. Where would I find him?” Chen Zui asked.
“If you meet him, it is your fortune. If you don't, then it is my, Gu Yiyou's, fate. You don't need to force it.”
“Alright.”
Chen Zui suddenly smiled slightly.
“Since you’ve spoken first, Senior, I also have two favors to ask of you.”
Gu Yiyou laughed. “You lad really aren't one to take a loss. Two favors in exchange for one? Fine, tell me, what do you need help with?”
Chen Zui looked inside the inn.
“The reason Miss Ye came to Luoyan City was to observe you drawing your sword to comprehend the Dao. Could you show her once, Senior?”
Gu Yiyou narrowed his eyes slightly.
“And the second?”
“The second is that the beggar boy wants to return to Grand Shuo. Since you are also heading there, please protect him along the way.”
“Is that it?”
“That’s it.”
Gu Yiyou looked at Chen Zui and said seriously, “Lad, aren't you going to ask for something for yourself?”
Chen Zui smiled faintly.
“No need. I have nothing to ask for right now.”
“What a fine ‘seeking nothing from without.’ Lad, for that alone, I’ll grant these two requests.”
Chen Zui cupped his fists. “Thank you, Senior.”
“Tell that boy to get a good night's sleep. We leave the pass together tomorrow.”
“Then... about drawing the sword.”
“You don't really think Qiu Baisheng would be so stupid as to do nothing, do you? I'm afraid he has already secretly informed Grand Shuo of my departure. As soon as I leave the pass, there will definitely be people from Grand Shuo coming to intercept me. When that time comes, I don't know if this rusty sword of mine can still cut people. Tomorrow, you just take that little girl to the city wall and watch. As for how much she can comprehend, that depends on her own talent.”
“Understood. Thank you, Senior.”
Gu Yiyou waved his hand.
“Stop acting all formal with me, you brat. If I’m not mistaken, you’ve probably been planning to have me do these two things for a while now, haven't you?”
Chen Zui rubbed his nose and didn't deny it.
“Fine, get lost. Don't disturb my rest.”
Gu Yiyou laughed and cursed before entering the inn and heading upstairs to rest.
When Chen Zui returned to the inn, Ye Zhibai and Xiao Chengyan were still sitting in their original spots.
The food and wine on the table had gone cold, yet neither of them had the heart to pick up their chopsticks.
Seeing Chen Zui enter, Xiao Chengyan was the first to stand up. Though Ye Zhibai didn't rise, her gaze immediately turned toward him.
“Brother Chen, what did Senior Gu say to you?” Xiao Chengyan asked.
Chen Zui walked to the table and sat down, pouring himself a bowl of wine and gulping it down before briefly explaining Gu Yiyou’s plan.
“Tomorrow, Senior Gu will leave the pass for Grand Shuo. Xiao Chengyan, you will go with him.”
Xiao Chengyan froze for a moment, then was overjoyed.
He had been worrying about how to cross the border and return to Grand Shuo. Now, with a Second Rank peak Sword Attendant personally escorting him, there were likely very few people in this world who could stop them.
“That’s wonderful! Brother Chen, you come with me—”
“I’m not going,” Chen Zui interrupted him, his tone very flat. “I have other things to do.”
Xiao Chengyan opened his mouth, but the words he was about to say were swallowed back down.
In the time he had known Chen Zui, he had already figured out this man’s temperament. Once he made a decision, no one could sway him.
“Alright then.”
Xiao Chengyan picked up his wine bowl and solemnly raised it toward Chen Zui.
“Brother Chen, I will remember the care you've shown me on this journey. If there is ever a time you need me, just come to Grand Shuo and find me.”
Chen Zui smiled and clinked bowls with him.
He put down the bowl and turned to look at Ye Zhibai.
“Miss Ye, Senior Gu promised me that there will be a battle when he leaves the pass tomorrow. He wants us to observe his sword from the city wall.”
Ye Zhibai’s fingers tightened around her sword hilt.
She had come to Luoyan City specifically to witness this Sword Attendant draw his sword and gain an opportunity to comprehend the Way of the Sword. She had thought the chance had slipped away, but she hadn't expected it to be placed before her again—and under even better circumstances than she had imagined.
But she knew that she only had this chance because Chen Zui had spoken up for her.
That day outside the ruined temple, Chen Zui had used a withered branch to point out the flaws in her swordsmanship. Today, he had secured a chance for her to observe the sword.
“Thank you,” Ye Zhibai whispered, her voice much softer than usual.
“Why thank me? I’m not the one drawing my sword for you.”
Chen Zui waved his hand and poured himself another bowl of wine.
“Watch closely and comprehend well. If you can't figure anything out after seeing Senior Gu’s sword, then your title as the genius of the Frost-Sigh Sect will have been for nothing.”
Ye Zhibai didn't get annoyed by his words as she usually did. She simply picked up her wine bowl and downed a large gulp.
The liquid burned her throat, making the corners of her eyes turn red.
As the night deepened, the three of them returned to their respective rooms.
Rate on N.U.
