Volume One: Tian Nan ? Xuan Qing Chapter 12: Again Encountering Tian Xuan, Crazy Rain Forging Swords

  Ye Lanmo and Lian Tian both smiled silently, not speaking a word. They only nodded slightly after hearing everyone burst into laughter.

  He had been smiling all along, but what he was looking at was another sword. The last sword. To be precise, it couldn't be counted as a sword: the blade was yellow with black stripes, the texture was messy and mottled, like iron but not iron, like wood but not wood, only three feet long, three inches wide, dull and unremarkable. Moreover, it could only be said that it barely had a sword body and hilt, and both sides were blunt, rather rough.

  Lian Rong suddenly appeared and saw Gu Baiyun's gaze also shifted over, saying: "This last sword is somewhat unusual."

  "What's so strange?"

  Lian Ri Feng walked to the front of the sword and said, "Tian Er told me that he still has a younger martial brother who cannot obtain the sword this time. He asked if I could think of a way, begging me pitifully. I have always known some of the rules of Cang Gate, so I definitely couldn't privately cast a sword for him."

  Gu Baiyun smiled silently, Lu Lun couldn't help but feel bewildered. If it was impossible to privately cast a sword, then where did this sword come from?

  "But then I thought about it and remembered that in the sword pavilion at home, there are a few pieces of Tianxuan wood that are neither wood nor iron. My master got them from somewhere, but they were passed down to me. They're quite sturdy, ordinary swords can't hurt them."

  Gu Baiyun smiled and said, "However, I also remember that when the old master of the previous generation obtained these few pieces of Tianxuan wood fragments, it was after going through layers of fierce battles! These wood fragments are indeed extremely precious!"

  Ye Lan Mo smiled and said: "These few pieces of Tian Xuan Su Mu wood are indeed the only ones left in the world, but if they can only be stored away, it's such a waste, why not try casting a sword!"

  Lian Ruo nodded, looking at his wife and said: "I remembered again, the legendary number one sword in the world, Tianxia Mixuan's ancient sword, has been circulating in Jianghu for decades. It seems that it is not made of metal according to legend, so I want to try my luck and see if I can cast a unique sword with those few pieces of Tianxuan wood."

  Lian Wanrou grew up in "Shenmang Mountain Villa" since childhood, and saw many fine swords. Now seeing this broken wooden sword, she felt uneasy in her heart and couldn't help but ask: "Father, what about this sword?"

  "As a result, this sword is a laughing stock. It seems that the reputation of Lian Mou has been tarnished. The technique of casting swords is not yet mature. Now, this Xuanmu has only slightly taken on the shape of a sword, without edge or blade, but it has taken shape and cannot be recast." Lian Rifu said with a smile, but everyone knew that he was the number one sword-casting master in the world, and these words were likely just modesty, no one laughed along.

  Gu Baiyun said: "This is not the case, having a sword is always better than being a useless piece of wood!"

  Lian Ri Feng also nodded and said, "Fortunately, it's for Tian Er's little junior brother to use, no harm done. If it were given to one of the top ten senior disciples of Dian Cang, wouldn't that be like taking a stone and smashing their own signboard?"

  For several days, he had been wearing his chest open and his sleeves were wide, although he was self-deprecating with his words, he didn't regret the least bit about the Tianxuan shattered wooden sword that he had forged, after finishing speaking, he let out a long laugh.

  Ye Lan gently looked at her husband: "You've already done a great job, that day the fragments of wood were hard and tough, yet flexible, and there were six pieces, all different in shape and size. In this world, probably only you can cast these wooden fragments into a sword."

  She paused, looked at Lian Tian and continued: "Besides, Tian Er said that his little Shidi has a lively and lovely personality, but is also very innocent and pure in nature. He's definitely not an ordinary person, maybe he's the one who can make good use of these strange materials that are like wood but not wood, like iron but not iron!"

  For days, Feng had been feeling uncomfortable, but when his wife said this, he felt extremely relieved. After more than 20 years of marriage, a simple compliment from his wife was worth more than the praise of thousands of people. At that moment, he felt sweet in his heart.

  Gu Baiyun didn't say a word, stood up, walked over slowly, gently touched the Tianxuan shattered wooden sword, plucked it, and the wood seemed thick but was actually clear and transparent. The sound that came out was pleasant to hear.

  He put it down again, walked back and sat down on the chair, sighed: "Twenty-nine years ago, Mount Emei's decisive battle, Lian Xiongdi was still young, may not have seen the Tianxuan Hundun ancient sword, but I've seen it, indeed not made of metal."

  Because, the Demon Sect Master Leng Xilou held in his hand was one of the three great treasures of the Demon Sect, the Kanyu Ancient Sword, which was an ancient famous sword and a divine sharp weapon. However, when it collided with the Tianxuan Mixed Chaos Ancient Sword, it did not break, showing that the Tianxuan Mixed Chaos Sword was also a divine object. What made all the heroes in the world astonished and puzzled was that when the Tianxuan Mixed Chaos Ancient Sword met the Kanyu Ancient Sword, everyone could only hear the sword energy of the Kanyu Ancient Sword like frost and its sound like thunder, but the Tianxuan Mixed Chaos Ancient Sword had no sword energy or sound at all. Therefore, everyone guessed that the Tianxuan Mixed Chaos Ancient Sword was not made of metal, but this was just a guess, and there was no one to verify it.

  But everyone knows that when there is a collision in this world, can metal long swords make no sound?

  Among the crowd, only Gu Baiyun knew that twenty-nine years ago at Emei Peak, although no one knew how that battle became a legendary tale. However, everyone listened very seriously, and it surprisingly involved the number one sword in the world, the number one master, and the leader of the demonic sect over the past few decades. This was a huge deal for anyone in the Jianghu, so they all couldn't help but focus their attention and listen quietly.

  Gu Baiyun stood up, lightly exhaled a breath, as if also intoxicated in the decisive battle of that year, and slowly said: "Some people say that it was the predecessor of the former Demon Cult Master Leng Xilou's martial arts that covered the world without equal, using any sword would be the same, and the Tianxuan Hunyuan ancient sword had nothing special about it. Unfortunately, after that shocking battle, the two peerless good swords disappeared together, even the Demon Cult Master Leng Xilou fell off a cliff, his corpse was gone! We can no longer see the divine weapon, what a pity!"

  Everyone listened to the great war of that year, as if it were right in front of them, and they all felt a sense of longing. Then, hearing that the master of the demonic sect, Leng Xilou, had fallen off a cliff and his body was nowhere to be found, although they knew he was a member of the demonic sect and his death was not worth mourning, they couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

  Eighteen years ago, in the eleventh year of Hongwu, after Xian Cheng mastered the "Tian Can Seven Styles", he led a large group of high-ranking demonic cultivators to the Central Plains with Sheng Gu to search for Kan Yougu and Leng Xilou. The Demonic Sect firmly believed that Leng Xilou had not died, but ultimately failed to find him. A great battle ensued between the Demonic Sect and the top masters of various schools in the Central Plains, resulting in casualties on both sides. In the end, evil was defeated by righteousness, and the Demonic Sect retreated back to the East Sea's Xiantian Holy Butterfly Island, where they have remained ever since.

  Some say that the Demon Sect has always had people lurking in the Central Plains, but there is no way to verify this. The battle at Emei's summit 29 years ago and the battle on the banks of the Yangtze River at Wushan 18 years ago were so grand, now thinking back, Gu Mou still has lingering fears, the major sects in the Central Plains suffered heavy casualties, Gu Mou's four... three... junior brothers' deaths seem to be still before his eyes, heartbroken and grieving, but it also brought about these peaceful days on the Jianghu.

  When Gu Baiyun mentioned "the predecessor of the former Demon Cult Master Leng Xilou, whose martial arts were unparalleled in the world", he bowed to the northeast and made a gesture of respect, as if paying homage to his senior from afar. The junior disciples naturally didn't understand the meaning, but Ye Lanmo thought that Gu Baiyun's reputation as "White Cloud Wandering Guest, Emerging from the Vast Expanse with Chivalrous Righteousness" was truly well-deserved, and even after so many years and being far away from the mountains and rivers, he still spoke of his senior in the martial arts world with such humility and courtesy!

  Although Lian Ri Feng did not participate in the decisive battle at Emei 29 years ago, he personally experienced the great battle between good and evil 18 years ago. He let out a sigh: "Every time a storm brews on the Jianghu, it only leads to chaos throughout the land. Eighteen years ago, the orthodox sect of Wulin was in great danger, and many masters from various schools and factions were lost. Fortunately, the demonic cult retreated in the end. Although the specific reason is still debated within Wulin, Lian Ri Feng hopes that this peaceful era can last forever."

  He paused for a moment, then continued: "My master told me when he was alive that since the great Ming dynasty had not yet opened its doors, and at the end of the Yuan dynasty, two of the world's most famous swords and one of the world's most famous knives went missing. The three famous swords in the world are now the Tianxuan Hundun Sword, the Kanyu Ancient Sword, and the Hainan Sword Sect's Fen Guang Cheng Ying Snake Pointing Sword. My master had never seen these three precious swords in his lifetime, I don't know if I can fulfill my master's wish in my next life, as long as I see one of them, it will be enough to satisfy my wishes!"

  Luozhi Han heard the name of Hainan Jianpai and Fen Guang Cheng Ying She Zhi Jian, his heart felt sad and cold, he slowly stood up from the chair, and suddenly knelt down between Gu Baiyun and Leng Rongfeng: "Please ask Master Gu and Grandmaster Lian to avenge my family..."

  Everyone in the house was shocked except for Cang Yu Baiyun, Lu Zihang and Lu Lun. Even Yan Ruo was more shocked and hid into Ye Lanmo's arms.

  Lian Ri Feng had already noticed Luo Zhi Han's deep sorrow, but hadn't found a good opportunity to ask about it before. Gu Bai Yun had also been looking for a chance, and now that Luo Zhi Han was kneeling down, Lian Ri Feng helped him up with both hands: "Luo Xian nephew, get up and speak!" He then looked at Gu Bai Yun.

  Gu Baiyun took over the long sword that killed Zhao Yinfeng from Lu Lun's hands, which was wrapped in cloth last night by the black-clothed man, and placed it on the desk.

  He sighed and carefully told the story of what happened at Yunlai Inn last night, as well as Zhao Yin's final words about the disappearance of Hainan Jianpai and the Fangguang Chengying Shezhijian.

  Lian Rong Feng, Ye Lan Mo listened quietly, husband and wife of the same mind, looked at each other, both felt that this matter actually involved nearly thirty years ago, so thorny, and neither had thought that Luo Zhi Han was so pitiful.

  He lowered his head again to examine the sword carefully. The sword was three feet six inches long, three inches wide, solid and unadorned, cast from pure iron, without any ornamentation, but extremely sharp, truly a deadly weapon for killing people.

  Listening to Shifu's words for days on end, I was also inexplicably moved. Seeing Luo Zhi's chest heaving up and down without stopping, but although his eyes were shining brightly, not a single tear fell, it seemed he had forcibly held them back. In my heart, I secretly sighed: truly, what a fine young man.

  Lian Wanrou was even more shocked, never expecting that the seemingly gentle and elegant young man in front of her would bear such a huge responsibility. She had not noticed it before, but his quiet and calm demeanor hid such deep hatred and desire for revenge, and beneath his slender body lay a powerful force of vengeance.

  She thought that from the moment she was born, she had grown up under the care of her parents and older brother, and even the various masters and senior brothers were very caring. Even Lin Meng'er, who was the most mischievous, and Xiao Jiu, the youngest master, were like this. Without mentioning any grievances, they couldn't bear to have even a little bit of dissatisfaction.

  She had never seen such a man before, and she couldn't help but be moved to tears, her eyes fixed on him in a daze.

  "This is a fine long sword forged in the Crazy Rain Sword Manor of Liangzhou City, Gansu Province." Lian Feng lightly plucked the sword and a clear hum spread from the blade, although not as lingering as the previous ten swords, it still had a pleasant aftertone.

  "But," said Lian Feng, "the fine swords in the 'Crazy Rain Forging Sword' are only for the wealthy and aristocratic families, or those from famous schools that forge swords. Since Liangzhou City is close to the Congtou School, we can go there later to ask around, maybe we'll get some news. It's just strange that people from Gansu Province would appear in Dali, especially in the area of Diancang. Zhihan, did your master and the Nanhai School have any conflicts with Congtou or any other grudges? Did your master ever tell you..." Lian Feng added.

  He was about to say more when he suddenly noticed that Gu Baiyun's eyes flickered, as if she wanted to stop him from continuing, so he swallowed the rest of his words.

  "Master, my brother and I have been close to Mount Kongtong several times, but Master said that the swordsmanship of the Kongtong Sect is ruthless, poisonous, and sinister, using murder to practice swords. In this way, judging people by their swords, it's not a high-quality thing. So, neither I nor my master or brother have ever gone to the Kongtong Sect to find our Master Uncle." Luo Zhihan recalled his master with endless sorrow, speaking slowly.

  "What a" swordsmanship is ruthless and sinister, killing with the sword, judging people with the sword, not top-notch at all. "I didn't expect your master's understanding of the sword to be so clear and far surpassing those so-called famous swordsmen. If you came to my 'Shenmang Mountain Villa', you would definitely be my honored guest, unfortunately, you died young! Ah, ah, ah" Lian Rong let out three sighs in a row.

  Gu Baiyun knew that what he said was absolutely true. He had spent half his life forging swords, and his feelings towards them were complicated. It was even more difficult to find a sword friend, which is why it was sad.

  "What did your master say about the sheepskin map when he was dying, and how did those black-clad men know? Moreover, after your master left, you didn't have the sheepskin map either. How did you find the Split Light Shadow Snake Sword later?" Lian Wanrou asked softly, her big black eyes staring at Luo Zhihan with concern.

  Gu Baiyun thought for a moment, then said: "I reckon it's those two black-clad swordsmen who know about the sheepskin map," The Five Wolves of Liangzhou are just being used as tools. As long as we can find out their identities in the end, we'll be able to get to the bottom of this. Zhi Han, you really haven't seen any sheepskin map that belonged to your master?

  The first two sentences were said to everyone, but the last sentence turned around and asked Luo Zhihan, so everyone waited for his answer together.

  "Our master would often shake his head, feel sad and cry whenever he saw a mountain peak in a new place. My senior brother and I didn't dare ask him about it either. All we knew was the rough shape and distribution of the mountains from what our master had told us before. It seemed like once when our master got drunk, he told us that he didn't leave any maps behind because he was afraid others would come to steal them, so they were destroyed. He didn't want my senior brother and me to know about it either, because if we knew, there would be an extra danger." Luo Zhihan replied.

  But he paused, hesitated for a moment, and added: "Later, Master got really drunk and said that the map was actually on me all along. I never found it on my body or in my luggage, though. I just thought Master was drunk and didn't say anything."

  A moment of silence, Lian Rong handed the sword back to Luo Zhihan: "You take this sword, and avenge yourself in the future!"

  Day after day, Feng pushed the bookcase again, and twelve swords and eleven scabbards were hidden behind it. He said: "The day after tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival, Gu brother and Zi Hang, Lu Lun and Tian Er, Zhi Han will return to Dian Cang, preparing for the grand ceremony of the Dian Cang sacrifice on August 19th and the sword-granting ceremony. We'll set off again in two days. This sword will be taken up the mountain by Bai Yun tomorrow, but it can only be distributed to you on August 19th. I must follow the rules of the Dian Cang sect, and now I cannot give it to you. Even my Tian Er is the same, and it's also the first time he sees his own sword."

  For days on end, he was impartial and selfless, and only he and his wife knew about the progress of refining the sword.

  Lian Tian and his sister would sneak into the Sword Pavilion together, not to secretly admire their own swords, but because they were worried about the Tian Xuan Suo Mu sword of their younger brother, Xiao Jiu. Lian Wan Rou was also worried about the sword of her younger sister, Ming Er. So, she and her older brother would often sneak into the Sword Pavilion during their sword training sessions.