Sending a Sword Blessing

Night.

The city was brightly lit.

Since the first year of the You Sheng era, laws had become lax. Except for the capital, the curfew in other places was merely a formality.

Establishments like brothels and music halls naturally operated at night.

Along the banks of the Flowing Gold River, lanterns were hung every ten paces, tended to by dedicated watchmen.

Many merchants were selling goods from the north and south.

Zhang Yu took a fancy to a beautifully crafted, elegant folding fan.

"How much is this?"

"Fifteen taels of silver."

"Too expensive."

"Not at all. Sir, please look closely. This is an authentic southern Suzhou sandalwood brocade fan. These twelve ribs are made of purple bamboo and sandalwood glued together, with incredibly fine craftsmanship. The fan surface is even more remarkable, using Shu brocade, with the finest Suzhou female artisans embroidering the 'Preface to the Orchid Pavilion' and the 'Gathering of the Orchid Pavilion' painting."

"I'll look around elsewhere first."

The shopkeeper's lips curved slightly as he sized up the two of them. "Then please, sir, go and look."

Zhang Yu put down the folding fan.

Yue Lingshan said, "If you become the son-in-law of the Lin family, you can buy all the fans at this stall and tear them up one by one while fanning yourself."

Zhang Yu chuckled. "I'm not some little man or woman who needs to vent their frustrations by tearing up fans."

Yue Lingshan looked at him and asked, "Then what do you want?"

As they walked onto a bridge, Zhang Yu stopped. He shouted towards the river, "I want this beauty to not grow old! I want this land to forever be like a painting!"

Before everyone's attention could be drawn to him, he quickly descended the stone bridge and reached the east bank.

Yue Lingshan hurried to catch up, her face flushed. "Such boastful words! Aren't you afraid the Imperial Guards will arrest you?"

"If I'm fortunate enough to end up in the Northern Commandery Investigation Department's Imperial Prison, I'll have to trouble you to bring me food."

"Have your Miss Lin bring it!"

On the east bank of the Flowing Gold River, at the head of the bridge, was a stall where an old woman sold hair ribbons, hairpins, and combs. They were exquisitely made, and compared to the monotonous machine carvings of later generations, they possessed a deeper warmth and meaning.

Zhang Yu's hair was casually tied back with a rope. When he first arrived, he found it troublesome and even considered cutting it back to a buzz cut. But he didn't dare to be too conspicuous on Blackwood Cliff, and over time, he got used to it.

He asked the prices of a few items. The cost of living in Pingyang City was indeed high; even the cheapest Vermilion Bird jade hairpin cost eight taels of silver.

"If you want a beauty, why not become the Lin family's son-in-law?"

Ever since they left the Drunken Immortal Tower, one out of every five sentences Yue Lingshan spoke was about Lin Youlan. Zhang Yu's ears were about to get calluses from hearing it.

"I don't know her at all. What if she's an ugly monster? Wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

"Then you're mistaken. I've already inquired. Miss Lin Youlan is the most beautiful woman in Pingyang City, her fame spreading far and wide. Every year, young talents from the martial arts world travel thousands of miles to attend the Lin family's martial arts competition for marriage. You boast of your intelligence, yet now you regret it, don't you?"

Zhang Yu looked behind Yue Lingshan, his gaze suddenly becoming extremely sharp.

Yue Lingshan was startled. "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Zhang Yu's gaze gradually softened. He smiled and reached out, touching her face.

"You pay so much attention to this Lin Youlan. Could it be you're jealous?"

"What a narcissistic Demonic Cult scoundrel! I'm trying to persuade you not to return to Blackwood Cliff, but to abandon evil and embrace good."

The two sat down at a shop on the east bank.

A bamboo pole held up two dim lanterns, and the sign read "Liu Family Wontons."

There was a thatched shed, a stove, and six small wooden tables.

A family of three—a grandparent, a parent, and a child—worked diligently: one tended the fire, one cooked the wontons, and one washed the dishes.

The environment was simple, but the business was thriving, and the tables were almost always full.

Two customers were quietly discussing the major event in Pingyang City that day.

"I was delayed by something during the day. Brother, tell me quickly, how was the Lin family's martial arts competition for marriage? Was it inconclusive like last year?"

"Now that the Wild Wolf Gang is gone, the Lin family's young lady can finally get married this year."

"That's good news. Miss Lin is quite pitiful. Now that she has a good match, she won't have to endure all those rumors."

The other person sneered. "Heh heh, the competition for marriage has a winner, but a good match is not guaranteed."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The winner of the martial arts competition for marriage is Zhong Zhen, the 'Nine-Bend Sword' from the Mount Song Sect."

"Since Zhong Zhen comes from a reputable sect and is skilled in martial arts, why do you say 'a good match is not guaranteed'?"

"Heh heh, I just heard that Zhong Zhen is forty-five years old, and he used to call Lin Kun 'brother'..."

Two bowls of wontons were served. Zhang Yu quickly returned to the table, slightly out of breath from running.

Yue Lingshan asked curiously, "Where did you go?"

"Going to the outhouse."

"Why are you rushing off like that?"

"Eating with Heroine Yue, everything disappeared in the blink of an eye. I'm afraid the boss will clear the empty plates."

Yue Lingshan chuckled, knowing he still remembered the beef dish from the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Unlike elsewhere, the Liu Family Wontons had abundant and fresh filling. The combination of meat, dried tofu crumbs, and fennel created a unique flavor when chewed together.

After eating the wontons, the two walked back. Tonight, they wouldn't have to sleep in the wilderness in Pingyang City. Zhang Yu had already booked a superior room at the Ping An Inn.

"Lingshan."

Zhang Yu stopped walking. They were standing under a lantern, and looking at a beauty under the lamplight made her seem even more stunning the longer he looked.

A hazy light fell upon Yue Lingshan's face, much like the beauties captured by Director Wong Kar-wai in later generations, possessing a captivating allure within her youthful innocence.

"You are so beautiful and charming, I'm reluctant to hand you over to Blackwood Cliff."

Yue Lingshan's eyes darted nervously under his gaze, and she lowered her head, "Then let me go."

Zhang Yu smiled, "I haven't restricted your freedom."

Yue Lingshan paused slightly. It seemed true. Ever since they entered Pingyang, he hadn't restrained her, and she had many opportunities, yet she hadn't even considered escaping.

"Then... then what about the antidote for the Three Corpses Brain God Pill?"

Zhang Yu took out a small black wooden box from his embrace.

She took the wooden box, surprised, "You're really giving it to me?"

Zhang Yu smiled, "For you, but don't open it yet."

Yue Lingshan nodded and asked again, "Are you really letting me go?"

"Do you really want to go to Blackwood Cliff to be a concubine for the Eastern Cult Master?"

The lantern swayed gently, its light flickering across Zhang Yu's face. She stared, momentarily entranced, and quickly lowered her head.

Yue Lingshan was silent for a long time, then mustered great courage and looked up at the young man, "Will you come back to Mount Hua with me?"

Zhang Yu smiled, "Why would I go back to Mount Hua with you?"

"I'll ask Father to take you as a disciple, and then you'll be the eighth disciple of the Mount Hua Sect Master. If that doesn't work, I'll be a junior sister and give you the position of the seventh disciple. How about that?"

Yue Lingshan's voice grew softer as she spoke.

Zhang Yu raised his right hand and pushed up his sleeve.

A black scorpion, brandishing its pincers, its tail stinger emitting a cold, blue glow.

"Names can be changed, appearances can be altered. But some paths, once chosen, can only be walked to the end. Some marks, once branded, are difficult to erase."

"The Mount Hua Sect's century-old reputation will not accept a disciple of the Demonic Cult. The path I must take can only be within the Sun Moon Divine Cult."

Yue Lingshan knew he was right. How could her father possibly accept a disciple of the Demonic Cult?

Zhang Yu looked at the girl in the green dress, carefree at this moment. Thinking of her future experiences, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pity.

Her father, her husband, the people she thought she could rely on for life, all ended up using her, humiliating her, and abandoning her without mercy. Even when she died by the sword of Lin Pingzhi, who had fallen into demonic ways, she still begged Linghu Chong to look after her husband.

Yue Lingshan always faced this cruel, gu-raising-like martial world with kindness and love.

Before crossing the stone bridge.

Zhang Yu said softly, "Lingshan, I'll give you this Azure Water Sword. You can continue to face this martial world with kindness, but—never let go of the sword in your hand. No matter who you face, no matter what you encounter, you must protect yourself."

Yue Lingshan took back the Azure Water Sword that rightfully belonged to her.

They crossed the stone bridge, the girl in the green dress walking ahead, the man in plain cloth behind. When they reached the middle of the bridge, the girl stopped.

"If you don't want to go to the Mount Hua Sect, as long as you don't go back to Blackwood Cliff, I..."

Yue Lingshan suddenly turned around. People were coming and going on the stone bridge, but the man was nowhere to be seen, as if he had vanished into thin air.

"Zhang... Liyu."

She realized then that she hadn't even asked for his name, only knowing the obviously fake name, Zhang Liyu.

She frantically looked around, tears welling up in her eyes.

Yue Lingshan walked off the stone bridge in a daze, only to see a figure in a blue robe standing by the bridgehead, sword in hand.

"Father."

Yue Buqun's expression was displeased, "What a cunning rogue! He didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"No, let's go back to Mount Hua quickly. I miss Mother."

Yue Lingshan threw herself into Yue Buqun's arms, tears streaming down her face instantly.

"Lingshan, it's alright, it's alright. You have Father here. No one can harm you."

Yue Buqun let out a sigh of relief and looked towards the dark river surface.