Chapter 24

Liu Ruyan smiled.

Ning Chang'an's eyes shifted. "I guess it's a sword."

"So stupid!"

Liu Ruyan shot Ning Chang'an a look. When she untied the silk wrapping, a dark, gleaming longsword was indeed revealed. With a flick of her wrist, the sword fell into Ning Chang'an's hand.

Ning Chang'an's eyes lit up. The sword felt icy cold and heavy in his hand, weighing at least seventy or eighty jin. With a shake of his arm, clear sword hums rang out in waves. He immediately praised, "A fine sword!"

Liu Ruyan said, "Extreme Cold Profound Iron, Black Fire Steel forged through a thousand hammerings and hundred refinements! The Gloomy Cold Soul Severing Sword—do you like it?"

Ning Chang'an said in astonishment, "Extreme Cold Profound Iron? Black Fire Steel?" For a moment, he was so shocked that he could not close his mouth. Calling this sword priceless would not be an exaggeration in the slightest; it was an invaluable treasure, something ten thousand gold could hardly buy. First, this Extreme Cold Profound Iron was a type of meteorite iron from beyond the heavens, rare beyond all ages. It did not grow hot in fire and froze water upon contact. Combining hardness and flexibility, it was the supreme material for forging divine weapons and treasured blades. Then there was Black Fire Steel. The method of refining this steel had always been a supreme secret art pursued by master swordsmiths throughout the martial world, and there were only a handful of people under heaven who understood it. Once Black Fire Steel encountered flames, it turned the fire pitch-black. This was its most distinctive trait, and the origin of its name. Black Fire Steel was highly elastic; it bent without yielding and was exceedingly difficult to deform. Thus, it was the ultimate steel for forging longswords. Black Fire Steel was more than ten times as precious as Cloud Pattern Steel, practically unheard of in this world.

A longsword of Black Fire Steel forged from Extreme Cold Profound Iron—its value was already beyond estimation!

Ning Chang'an found it somewhat difficult to accept.

Liu Ruyan seemed to have anticipated this reaction and smiled faintly. "Just consider it a loan from me! The predecessor of this Gloomy Cold Soul Severing Sword was a saber, one that was very important to me. But it could no longer remain in this world, nor was it suitable to keep by my side. Back when you lost to Lu Jing and the Dragon Head Sword was taken, I asked someone to recast that saber into a longsword. This Gloomy Cold Soul Severing Sword has been with me for some time now. Now that I've placed it in your hands, I can rest easy! This is a token of my feelings. You are not allowed to refuse!"

Ning Chang'an gently stroked the longsword, feeling its intricate, crisscrossing patterns and icy touch. His gaze finally settled on the point of snow-bright sharpness at its tip, and he could not help sighing. "With this sword in hand, who would dare stand in my way?! Wherever its point passes, souls shall be severed without fail! This is Master Yi's forging method—great skill appearing artless..."

Master Yi was named Yi Xuan, a grandmaster craftsman renowned throughout the martial world. His forging methods could be described with the words "mysteriously profound." No weapon produced by Master Yi was ordinary. Some famous heroes spent half their lives seeking nothing more than to ask Master Yi to forge them a weapon.

Holding a weapon forged by Master Yi was not merely a symbol of strength, but also an enviable honor.

The more he handled it, the more reluctant he was to put it down.

Liu Ruyan smiled. "Suyi asked me to tell you that when you go to Green Willow Manor, give Lu Sheng a good lesson for her!"

Ning Chang'an was startled. "Suyi and Lu Sheng do not have any irreconcilable grudge, do they? What is that girl thinking?"

Liu Ruyan said, "Lu Family Manor has already proposed marriage to Miao Chengfeng. Suyi rushed home in a panic to refuse, which was why she left so hurriedly. I don't know what Lu Family Manor is thinking either. Old Manor Lord Lu Feixin personally came forward to seek this marriage between Lu Sheng and Miao Chengfeng. It seems that ever since Lu Dong, foremost of the Young Three Heroes of the Lu Family, lost to you, the Lu family has begun focusing on cultivating the youngest, Lu Sheng. Before Suyi left, she stamped her feet in anger and repeatedly told me to pass on the message: you must teach Lu Sheng a proper lesson and make him give up! Hehe, Suyi calls you Brother Ning all day long, sweet as honey. Don't break the little sister's heart!"

Ning Chang'an nodded. "Naturally. With Lu Sheng and Suyi's temperaments, even if they were forcibly twisted together, there would be no good outcome. I must obstruct this marriage. So long as Suyi does not agree, neither will I."

Liu Ruyan's face was full of smiles.

Ning Chang'an suddenly said, "As for your marriage to that Young Master Tang, even if you agree, I will not. Ruyan, with me here, you will not be able to marry anyone!"

Liu Ruyan froze, then said reproachfully, "Why must you do this again?" Yet warmth filled her heart.

Ning Chang'an carried the sword and said, "I'm going to practice my swordsmanship!"

Before the echoes had faded, Ning Chang'an had already shouldered the sword and strode away.

Ning Chang'an's acceptance of Lu Sheng's challenge was naturally unwise, but with his forthright character, there was indeed no way he could retreat or refuse. Thus, he was now in a carriage bound for Green Willow Manor.

Green Willow Manor was an asset of Lu Family Manor, the base of one of Lu Family Manor's escort agencies. Green Willow Manor lay deep within a willow grove forty li south of Mohe City.

The carriage headed toward the willow grove at an unhurried pace. Driving it was a gaunt old man specially assigned by Liu Ruyan. The old man spoke little throughout the journey. No matter what Ning Chang'an instructed, he carried it out without the slightest hesitation and never raised any objection.

The willow grove's hanging branches drifted like smoke.

Chang'an sat quietly inside the carriage, its curtain drawn very low.

"Old Man Mu, slow down!"

Ning Chang'an said as he lifted the curtain.

The old man driving the carriage was called Old Man Mu. Everyone called him Old Man Mu. Perhaps apart from Liu Ruyan, no one knew his actual name anymore. Ning Chang'an even deeply suspected that Old Man Mu himself had forgotten what he was called. If anyone asked how to address him, his answer was always only two words—Old Man Mu.

Old Man Mu seemed somewhat senile. No matter what Liu Ruyan arranged for him to do, he never refused, and he carried it out with a meticulousness so extreme it was alarming. For instance, Chang'an had once seen Old Man Mu bathing the Chasing Lightning horse, wiping it down one mane hair at a time. He washed the horse for half a month, practically living together with Chasing Lightning. Other than something being wrong with his mind, Ning Chang'an could think of no other explanation.

Old Man Mu rarely spoke, but this time he said, "But the time is almost up!"

His voice sounded like a fly buzzing, unpleasant to hear.

Ning Chang'an lowered the curtain. "The scenery in the willow grove is quite good. I want to enjoy it. Just make sure the carriage arrives on time. Not early and not late, understand?"

Old Man Mu said, "No problem!"

The carriage curtain had not been lifted, so Ning Chang'an could not possibly see the willow grove's fresh branches. What he was actually listening to was the sound of hoofbeats.

Quite a few horses had galloped past the carriage. He had already heard the hoofbeats of at least twenty fine steeds capable of traveling a thousand li, mounts worth a thousand gold, while the hoofbeats of inferior horses were even more numerous.

There were many martial artists heading to Green Willow Manor.

Chang'an stroked the Gloomy Cold Soul Severing Sword, his eyes gradually narrowing.

The carriage slowly came to a stop, arriving exactly on time.

Old Man Mu had said there would be no problem, and indeed there was no problem.

A fighting platform had long been erected in the martial training ground of Yangwei Escort Agency at Green Willow Manor. People stood packed around the platform, beginning a zhang away from it. Directly opposite the platform stood Yangwei Escort Agency's two-story main building. Tables and chairs filled the railing-lined upper floor, where people of status had already taken their seats. They quietly sipped tea, occasionally tilting their heads to exchange a few low words with those beside them. What they discussed was unknown.

Lu Sheng stood ready on the platform, sword in hand.

Ning Chang'an stepped down from the carriage. The one who received him was Lu Dong, foremost of the Young Three Heroes of the Lu Family.

Lu Dong looked despondent. When he saw Ning Chang'an as he was now, he froze, then gave a bitter smile. "You should not have come!"

Ning Chang'an said, "But I am here!"

Lu Dong's expression turned ugly as he said in a low voice, "Watch yourself." Lu Dong turned and led the way ahead. Pair after pair of eyes looked toward Ning Chang'an. Ning Family's Chang'an had become fat?! Though they could scarcely believe their own eyes, they had no choice but to accept the truth.

This was a valuable fat man.

No one was unaware of that.

Across the two provinces of Changshan and Longyuan, the most valuable head in the martial world now rested upon this fat man's shoulders.

Ning Chang'an remained calm as he walked to the edge of the circular platform and leaped onto it.

Lu Sheng gave a cold smile. "I thought you wouldn't dare come!" The moment he saw Ning Chang'an, hatred surged within him. The image of Miao Suyi leaning on Ning Chang'an's shoulder, laughing and smiling freely, rose in his mind, and inner demons immediately sprang up in tangled profusion as countless flames of fury began to burn.

Clearly, his marriage arrangement with Miao Suyi had fallen through. Even his grandfather's personal intervention had not succeeded.

Miao Suyi had refused in a single breath, with a decisiveness beyond question.

If he truly had even a sliver of hope left, then that hope lay with Ning Chang'an. Miao Suyi had said that if he won this match, she might consider it.

Might consider it meant there was a chance.

Lu Sheng had become possessed by Miao Suyi, so for this battle, he believed that man could conquer fate. He would vent all the resentment in his heart upon Ning Chang'an.

Ning Chang'an smiled. "My courage has always been great."

Upstairs, Lu Sheng's grandfather, Old Manor Lord Lu Feixin of Lu Family Manor, slowly rose to his feet. His sharp eyes swept across the area, and wherever his gaze reached, silence immediately fell.

He was about to announce the beginning of the match.

There was no need for any formalities in a contest like this.

"Wow, how could the Great Devil be such a big fat man? A fat man..."

A voice rang out at the most inappropriate moment. It was not only crisp, but exceptionally loud. Lu Feixin had been about to speak, yet could only swallow his words.

Everyone was startled.

Lu Feixin's seniority was immense. He had been one of the Two Heroes of the Lu Family before the Three Heroes of the Lu Family, and after a lifetime of escort work, his friends and old acquaintances were spread throughout the martial world. Yet someone had openly interrupted him just as he was about to speak. They were simply courting death.

Everyone followed the sound and saw a young woman in green sitting on the rooftop, swinging her legs as she peeled and ate pine nuts, utterly unconcerned by the angry stares of the crowd.

The moment Lu Feixin raised his head, he saw those carefree feet. No one had known there was a young girl on the roof, and no one recognized her.

Lu Feixin said in a deep voice, "Little girl, what are you doing climbing onto the roof?" He could only see those little feet still swinging, while pieces of pine nut shell fell before his eyes.

The little girl on the roof said impatiently, "Are they fighting or not? Grandpa, hurry up and tell them to start!"

Lu Feixin's expression darkened. "Little girl, what kind of behavior is this, sitting on the roof? Come down at once." Seated upstairs were all prominent figures of the martial world. How could they permit someone to remain above their heads?!

The little girl looked thoroughly unwilling, then giggled. "It took me so much trouble to climb up here, and now I can't get down! Sitting up here so high, I can see everything clearly. What's wrong with that?!"