Frost Edge

Frost Edge

Lu Zhaojin did not return to Shiqiao Town.

He did not much like the sorrow of parting.

But he did not intend to leave without a word either, so he found someone in Qishan County to write a letter to Lu Jinlin, informing him of his itinerary.

At the same time, he had not expected to run into Niu Hang at the inn.

Niu Hang was also planning to set out for Luoshui Commandery today. His injuries had yet to fully heal, and he was so delighted to see Lu Zhaojin that even tugging at his wounds made him bare his teeth in pain.

The two ate and talked at the same time.

When Niu Hang learned that Lu Zhaojin was also headed to Luoshui Commandery, a glint flashed through his eyes. He patted his chest with one hand and said happily, "If Hero Lu does not mind my meager cultivation, you may travel with me."

Niu Hang suddenly felt those words sounded strangely familiar.

Lu Zhaojin figured that however he went to Luoshui Commandery, he would still be going there. Traveling with Niu Hang was not a bad idea, so he nodded in agreement.

Niu Hang was overjoyed. He called for the waiter to bring fine wine and good food, then said to Lu Zhaojin, "That batch of medicinal herbs is nearly all loaded. We can set off at the hour of Wei. If Young Hero Lu has any other instructions, I can delay for a few hours."

Niu Hang had not come to Qishan County alone. He had brought a group of men here to purchase medicinal herbs produced only in this region.

Lu Zhaojin had no plans regarding the time. He had nothing to deal with in Qishan County either. As for Zhao Jinzhi, he had no idea where he was hiding and had not seen him again. "As you wish."

Still, Zhao Jinzhi presumably would not be hiding on Mount Qi.

Because Zhao Jinzhi knew that if Lu Zhaojin found him, death would be impossible to escape.

Lu Zhaojin sat inside Niu Hang's carriage. The road was somewhat bumpy, leaving him slightly uncomfortable, but after leaving Mount Qi, they reached the city closest to it.

Luoshui Commandery.

Luoxia City.

Though this place lay at the border of Luoshui Commandery and neighbored Mount Qi, it was vastly larger than Qishan County.

Niu Hang accompanied the guards at the city gate as they inspected the carriage. He explained that it was carrying medicinal herbs, presented the travel permit, and quietly slipped them a tael of silver before they were allowed to enter the city early.

Otherwise, they would have had to wait in a very long line.

Through a gap in the curtain, Lu Zhaojin looked at the long queue outside and found that most of them had come out of Mount Qi.

Lu Zhaojin withdrew his gaze just as Niu Hang came in. Niu Hang said, "Young Hero Lu, this is Luoxia City. We plan to rest in the city for one night, then travel another two days before reaching Luoshui City."

Lu Zhaojin nodded to show that he understood. "Thank you."

Niu Hang asked, "Does Young Hero Lu have somewhere to go?"

Lu Zhaojin said, "No. I came to Luoshui Commandery to travel and, incidentally, see the world beyond Mount Qi. You are in a hurry to return to Luoshui City, so there is no need to mind me. I will make my own way there."

Niu Hang knew he could not keep Lu Zhaojin. Cupping his fist in salute, he said, "Then we shall part ways with Young Hero Lu in Luoxia City."

Then he said solemnly, "When the day comes that you visit Luoshui City, Young Hero, do not forget me, Niu Hang."

Lu Zhaojin said, "Naturally not."

Niu Hang had a familiar place to stay in Luoxia City.

Lu Zhaojin did not go with him. Instead, he chose an inn to settle down in, then planned to wander around this unfamiliar place.

He mainly wanted to find a blacksmith's shop and forge himself another good sword.

But he was unfamiliar with Luoxia City, so it was truly difficult to find one.

However, he spotted a grand and imposing pavilion along the way, with people constantly going in and out. It should have been a place of trade.

As Lu Zhaojin approached, he saw the plaque above its entrance: Brocade Merchant Guild.

Two guards stood at the door, stern and battle-ready. There was none of the usual looking-down-on-people nonsense, but they showed no mercy to anyone who caused trouble here.

Lu Zhaojin entered the merchant guild. The hall was filled with a dazzling array of goods: sabers and swords, all kinds of rare treasures and exotic herbs, cultivation manuals, martial arts techniques, and more.

However, none of those longswords caught his eye.

Ever since comprehending the Gale Sword Intent, he seemed to have developed a special sense for swords. He could perceive the strength of the power contained within them.

It was as though swords were no longer cold weapons, but had come alive, with heartbeats and vitality. By listening to those heartbeats, he could tell how strong a sword was.

The heartbeats of the longswords outside were faint, little different from that of his Hundred Refined Sword.

Yet amid those heartbeats, he heard one powerful pulse, like the pounding of a drum, drawing his gaze.

Following that drumbeat, Lu Zhaojin arrived at an open area within the building. Many people had gathered here, all of them martial artists of the jianghu.

At the front stood a platform. Upon it was a graceful middle-aged woman in an elegant, pale gown. Within this dim space, she was like the only light, drawing every gaze.

Of course, it was not merely that mature middle-aged woman who attracted these people, but also the auction item on the table before her.

This was clearly the Brocade Merchant Guild's auction hall.

The middle-aged woman onstage lifted the cloth covering the item, revealing its true appearance.

In truth, some clues could already be seen from its shape.

This auction item was a sword.

It was also the source of the drumbeat Lu Zhaojin had heard.

The middle-aged woman noticed Lu Zhaojin, who had only just entered, but gave him merely one glance before paying him no further attention. "This sword is named Frost Edge. It was forged from West Sea Profound Ice Iron. Its blade is a deep blue and carries an aura of cold. Should the wielder's constitution be too weak, the cold may enter the body and endanger their life. However, this sword was crafted by Sword Forging Master Wu Yezi. Master Wu Yezi's personal seal is engraved upon the guard, and everyone may inspect it."

Her voice was gentle and soft. Her slender, scallion-white fingers pointed toward the guard, where everyone could clearly see the place engraved with the three characters Wu Yezi.

In an instant.

The jianghu crowd grew restless, shouting one after another for the middle-aged woman to announce the price quickly.

Lu Zhaojin did not know who Wu Yezi was, but from these people's reactions, he knew the man had to be extraordinary. Moreover, the woman had called him a Sword Forging Master. He wondered whether Wu Yezi could forge a sword even stronger than Frost Edge.

Lu Zhaojin wanted to meet Wu Yezi, and even more, he wanted to ask him to forge a sword that belonged to him alone.

The middle-aged woman raised both hands and pressed them down lightly, signaling everyone to quiet down. "Though Frost Edge cannot compare to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Famous Swords, it is still a rare and precious sword. Therefore, the starting price is one thousand taels of silver."

One thousand taels of silver.

That was no small sum.

Lu Zhaojin had eight thousand taels in Silver Notes on him, all taken from Chen Kang and the others. He did not know whether that would be enough to win Frost Edge.

The moment the middle-aged woman finished speaking, someone called out, "One thousand five hundred taels."

"Two thousand taels."

"Two thousand one hundred taels."

"Two thousand five hundred taels..."

Before long.

The price of Frost Edge had risen to five thousand taels.

But the bidding had also begun to slow.

At first, many people had been bidding. Now, only one or two remained.

Presumably, they either did not have that much silver on them, or felt Frost Edge was not worth such a high price.

After all, the middle-aged woman had said that Frost Edge could not compare to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Famous Swords. Once they considered it and made the comparison, they no longer continued bidding.

At that moment, Lu Zhaojin called out, "Five thousand five hundred taels."

His voice carried through the auction hall.

For a moment, many people turned to look at him, their eyes carrying either schadenfreude or pity.

Lu Zhaojin had no such thoughts. Right now, he only wanted to win Frost Edge.