Little Blackie

New Year's Day.

Snow as thick as goose feathers swept through the sky.

Yet the atmosphere in the Inner City was blazing with excitement, with residents everywhere carrying gifts as they darted from house to house.

As the foremost powerful aristocratic family in Fengcheng, the Wang Family received a constant stream of visitors.

Lu Changfeng donned a straw rain cape to keep the snow off, then led a horse out of the Wang Residence.

First, he went to an incense and candle shop to buy some spirit money and incense.

Afterward, he hurried all the way to Grave Mountain in the Outer City.

When he reached Zhang Desheng's grave,

Lu Changfeng unexpectedly discovered someone familiar.

His former Senior Disciple Brother, Sima Ming.

Sima Ming, who had lost an arm, had fallen asleep before Zhang Desheng's grave.

Several wine flasks lay scattered beside him.

Sima Ming had not appeared on the day Zhang Desheng was buried either. Perhaps he felt that, having lost an arm, he had no face to see his master off.

Lu Changfeng shook his head slightly, offered incense to Zhang Desheng, and burned some spirit money.

After hesitating for a moment, Lu Changfeng took out a packet of Silkworm Meat and stuffed it into Sima Ming's arms.

Then, Lu Changfeng turned, mounted his horse, and left.

When he reached the restaurant they had agreed on,

Chun Zhu had already prepared the Silkworm Meat.

Lu Changfeng briefly explained the arrangements for going to Luocheng, and the two inevitably spent some time entangled together in the restaurant.

Afterward, Chun Zhu was still somewhat disappointed.

That was because Lu Changfeng had no intention of having children with her.

"Don't overthink it. As things stand, we're not suited to having children."

"Once life settles down, having a whole bunch won't be a problem."

After soothing Chun Zhu, Lu Changfeng returned to the Wang Residence. He cultivated the Heavenly Body Tempering Blade Technique while quietly waiting.

Early on the third day of the New Year,

Lu Changfeng appeared at the gate of the Wang Residence as promised.

At this point, Lu Changfeng stood more than two meters tall, with three weapons on his back.

A two-hundred-jin great saber of raw iron.

A refined-iron saber.

And a treasured weapon—the Autumn Water Longsword.

Old Luo arrived shortly afterward.

He clicked his tongue in amazement at the weapons on Lu Changfeng's back, though he wisely refrained from asking any untimely questions.

The last to arrive were the Wang Yue siblings.

The youth beside Wang Yue was her biological younger brother, Wang Shao.

Lu Changfeng swept his gaze over Wang Shao's bone structure and talent.

Name: Wang Shao

Bone Structure: Grade B Middle

Talent: Mid-grade Talent [Swordsmanship].

A mid-grade Sword Technique Talent. He truly did possess some talent in swordsmanship.

What Wang Yue had said was true.

If he could join the Xuanyuan Sword Sect, he might indeed become an outstanding swordsman in the future.

"Then let's set off!"

"We'll be relying entirely on the two Attendants to protect us on this journey!"

"Don't mention it, don't mention it!" Old Luo waved his hand.

Four people and four horses set off at a gallop.

This was Lu Changfeng's first time leaving Fengcheng.

The heavy snow had stopped, and beneath the warm winter sun, riding at full speed had a flavor all its own.

They proceeded along the stone road.

They could still see quite a few vagrants along the way.

These vagrants had fled from the three prefectures farther west.

That region was even more chaotic than Qingshan Prefecture. At least Qingshan Prefecture had formed a three-way balance of power.

The three western prefectures, however, were still embroiled in constant warfare. Sect forces and martial aristocratic families took turns dominating the stage, creating a picture of a world in turmoil.

Their destinations were the depths of Yunyang Prefecture, or the Capital Region to the north. Some also built houses nearby on the spot, preparing to establish villages and seek a stable life.

The four of them stopped at noon to rest briefly.

Then they continued on their way until evening, when they reached a predetermined small town, dismounted, and stopped to rest.

They encountered no trouble along the way.

The four of them were plainly powerful Martial Artists.

Especially Lu Changfeng and Old Luo, both over two meters tall.

What bandit without a death wish would dare come looking for trouble?

Nothing happened at the small-town inn that night.

They continued traveling as usual the next day, and by dusk, they had reached Luocheng.

The mountain gate of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect stood on a mountain thirty li north of Luocheng.

The four decided to rest in Luocheng for one night and visit the Xuanyuan Sword Sect's mountain gate early the next morning.

Unlike Fengcheng, Luocheng was not divided into an Inner City and an Outer City. As the headquarters operated by the Thousand Swords Sword Sect, the Xuanyuan Sword Sect, Luocheng was far more prosperous than Fengcheng.

The Inner City's boundaries had expanded again and again. By now, it could accommodate several million people.

Luocheng lay far from the turmoil in Qingshan Prefecture. Although its people knew that the situation in the Song Kingdom was chaotic, under the Xuanyuan Sword Sect's protection, they felt none of the atmosphere of a troubled age.

Seeing this atmosphere, Lu Changfeng felt that if Yunyang Prefecture truly fell into chaos,

the Xuanyuan Sword Sect could immediately seize control of Luocheng and raise a rebellion, while the people of Luocheng would flock to support it.

The following morning,

the four of them dressed and rode toward the place thirty li north of Luocheng.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, they could clearly see a gigantic stone-carved longsword rising from the mountainside.

Wang Shao's breathing quickened. He was obviously extremely excited.

"Let's go!"

The four followed the winding steps upward.

Halfway up, they saw a guest pavilion.

Inside the guest pavilion, several Xuanyuan Sword Sect disciples were sparring in Swordsmanship.

Lu Changfeng swept his gaze over them. The bone structures of these Xuanyuan Sword Sect welcoming disciples were all Grade B Upper. One of them was even Grade A Lower and possessed Low-grade Swordplay Talent.

Seeing Lu Changfeng and the others, one of the disciples came forward.

"Guests, may I ask why you've come to our sect?"

Wang Yue cupped her hands and said, "We've come to the Xuanyuan Sword Sect for my younger brother."

Wang Yue pointed at Wang Shao. "My younger brother has considerable talent in the sword arts and wishes to become a disciple of your sect."

"We're from the Wang Family of Fengcheng."

The welcoming disciple had a discerning eye. Even without Wang Yue's final sentence, he could tell that anyone escorted by a Muscle Tendon Realm expert had no ordinary background.

With status and connections, one naturally received different treatment.

Thus, he said, "Ordinarily, our Xuanyuan Sword Sect recruits a batch of disciples every spring, but the registration period hasn't arrived yet."

"However, I can see that you have traveled a long way and are quite sincere, so I'll introduce you. Whether it succeeds or not isn't up to me."

Wang Yue brightened. "Thank you, young sir!"

"You're welcome."

The welcoming disciple called out to his fellow disciples, then led Lu Changfeng and the other three up the mountain.

At the mountaintop, the Xuanyuan Sword Sect's towering buildings came into view, and the ancient aura of a thousand-year-old sect spread through the air.

Among the many sects of the Song Kingdom, the Xuanyuan Sword Sect's overall strength ranked among the top ten.

Lu Changfeng noticed that Old Luo's eyes beside him had grown slightly moist. Clearly, the sight had stirred old emotions.

The welcoming disciple led Wang Yue and the other three into the guest hall.

Before long, a Xuanyuan Sword Sect steward in his early forties strode out.

Lu Changfeng glanced at him. This man's bone structure was Grade A Lower, and he possessed Low-grade Swordplay Talent.

This steward was also at the Muscle Tendon Realm.

"So you're from the Wang Family of Fengcheng. Who is it that wants to join my Xuanyuan Sword Sect?" The steward's tone carried a distinct air of arrogance.

Since she was asking a favor, Wang Yue did not dare lose her temper. She was just about to speak when Wang Shao stood up first.

"Senior! I'm the one who wants to join the Xuanyuan Sword Sect!"

The steward looked Wang Shao over and said, "Come here."

Wang Shao stepped forward. The steward felt along his bone structure from head to toe, then frowned. "Do you think my Xuanyuan Sword Sect takes in beggars?"

The moment he said this, Wang Shao's expression changed drastically, and Wang Yue's face also turned ugly.

Wang Yue still took a deep breath and said, "Senior, isn't it sword talent that the Xuanyuan Sword Sect values?"

"Hmph. Sword talent is intangible and impossible to test. Who knows whether he truly has talent in the sword arts? But his bone structure is poor—that much can be seen."

"Leave. If you truly wish to enter the Xuanyuan Sword Sect, wait until spring and participate in our sect's entrance ceremony. Once you pass the test, you can naturally join the Xuanyuan Sword Sect."

The steward turned and was about to leave.

At that moment, a voice rang out: "Little Blackie, who taught you to be so overbearing?"