Sword Pavilion

Sword Pavilion.

Today was the grand ancestor-worship ceremony.

Word had already spread that Xia Wuji had stolen the Crimson Blood Sword and fled in fear of punishment, not daring to return.

Some even said that Xia Wuji had hidden in the Monster Suppression Mountain Range, but because he had committed too many sins, Heaven had opened its eyes and the rampaging Fierce Beasts had torn him to shreds.

In short, everyone believed that Xia Wuji could not possibly appear today.

Madam Liu had carefully dressed up her son, Xia Wudao.

To be honest, Xia Wudao was broad-backed and thick-waisted, with dark skin and a rugged face. After Madam Liu's efforts, he looked utterly incongruous.

Madam Liu, however, wore a beaming smile. "Wudao, not only are you exceptionally talented, you're also handsome and refined. Who knows what family's daughter will be worthy of my good eldest son in the future?"

Xia Wuhui also said with a smile, "Brother Wudao is the most handsome man I've ever seen!"

Xia Wudao chuckled.

Just then, an old man from the Sword Pavilion hurried over. "Young Master Wudao, hurry, hurry! The Pavilion Master wants you to meet the father and daughter from the Lin Family!"

Madam Liu froze. "Which Lin Family?"

The old man said excitedly, "Naturally, the most renowned Lin Family in the Great Chu Dynasty! The Lin Family's head, Lin Zhengyuan, has brought his daughter, Lin Piaoxue. What's more, the father and daughter came specifically to visit Young Master Wudao!"

Upon hearing the names Lin Zhengyuan and Lin Piaoxue, Madam Liu and Xia Wuhui both froze for a moment, then became extremely happy.

Madam Liu said, "It seems the reputation of my good eldest son's genius has spread far and wide, attracting the attention of the upper circles of the Great Chu Dynasty!"

Xia Wuhui blinked. "I've heard that Lin Piaoxue is extremely beautiful, known as one of the Great Chu Dynasty's Ten Beauties. Her cultivation talent is excellent too. She was even specially recruited by an expert from the Azure Star Academy and is about to become a disciple there!"

"Brother, could it be that Lin Piaoxue heard some news about you and fell for you?"

Xia Wudao laughed heartily. "Mother, Wuhui, calm down."

"In the future, you'll meet even more grand occasions because of me. More people with identities and statuses greater than the Lin Family's head will come to visit the Sword Pavilion!"

"I'm going to meet the Lin Family's head now. If his sincerity is sufficient, and his daughter Lin Piaoxue is reasonably pretty, I won't mind making a small sacrifice and taking Lin Piaoxue!"

The Sword Pavilion's main hall.

Lin Zhengyuan and Xia Xuan were engaged in a lively conversation.

Lin Piaoxue, however, remained silent at the side.

She knew that her father was merely exchanging pretty pleasantries.

The Sword Pavilion's master, Xia Xuan, gave her a very bad feeling.

It had nothing to do with strength.

The Sword Pavilion had once enjoyed a period of immense glory in the Great Chu Dynasty.

Though it had since declined, the Sword Pavilion was still a place with deep foundations.

Yet Xia Xuan, the master of the Sword Pavilion, had no bearing whatsoever. He was like some street peddler, fawning over her father in every word.

Xia Xuan had no idea what Lin Piaoxue was thinking.

He was in an excellent mood!

From their conversation just now, he had learned that Xia Wudao had once saved Lin Piaoxue, and that the father and daughter had come to the Lin Family specifically to express their gratitude.

As for when Xia Wudao had done such a thing?

Xia Xuan did not pursue the matter. He merely assumed it had happened during the three years he had been in seclusion recovering from his injuries.

Since Xia Wudao had saved Lin Piaoxue's life, everything would be easy.

The Lin Family was an illustrious clan in the Great Chu Dynasty, with foundations no weaker than the Sword Pavilion's. More importantly, the Lin Family was still flourishing, and would soon rise to even greater heights.

"Father!"

Just then, Xia Wudao strode into the main hall.

The next instant, his gaze was completely drawn to Lin Piaoxue.

In his entire life, this was the first time he had seen such a beautiful woman.

Lin Piaoxue's brows knitted slightly.

Xia Wudao's gaze was exactly like that of the Black Wind Bandit when he looked at her, and she found it extremely unpleasant!

"Cough!" Xia Xuan gave a light cough. "Wudao, hurry and pay your respects to the Lin Family's head."

Only then did Xia Wudao withdraw his fixed stare from Lin Piaoxue. He perfunctorily cupped his hands and said to Lin Zhengyuan, "Greetings, Lin Family Head."

Lin Zhengyuan gave Xia Wudao an indifferent nod, then looked at Lin Piaoxue.

Lin Piaoxue shook her head.

Lin Zhengyuan immediately realized that they had found the wrong person!

An awkward look appeared on his face. He then said politely to Xia Xuan, "Pavilion Master Xia, your son is truly handsome and extraordinary. Given time, he will surely shoulder the Sword Pavilion's burden and restore its former glory."

"But... there was a misunderstanding just now. The person who saved my daughter's life was not Nephew Wudao."

The expression on Xia Xuan's face instantly stiffened.

Lin Zhengyuan continued, "Pavilion Master Xia, I'm in a hurry to take Piaoxue back to the Lin Family. We'll take our leave for today. When there's an opportunity, we'll certainly visit the Sword Pavilion again!"

"Wait!" Xia Wudao shouted coldly.

Lin Zhengyuan looked at Xia Wudao and smiled faintly. "Nephew Wudao, meeting one another is fate. I happen to have a bottle of the Lin Family's unique high-grade treasured pills, which will be quite beneficial to cultivation in the Sea of Qi Realm. I'll give it to you now."

Although he had mistaken the person, Lin Zhengyuan was still being quite courteous, hoping to bring this misunderstanding to a dignified close.

"Who wants your lousy pills?" Xia Wudao sneered disdainfully.

"I, Xia Wudao, am now the young master of the Sword Pavilion. Do you think I'm someone you can summon at will and dismiss whenever you please? You want to brush me off with a bottle of pills? Your Lin Family sure is impressive!"

Xia Wudao had been spoiled by Madam Liu since childhood. His temper was explosive. A few days ago, when the Sword Pavilion's Xia Family ancestor had manifested and passed judgment on him, he could not bear it, cursing the ancestor and even drawing his sword to slash at him.

Now, his violent temper exploded once again.

Lin Zhengyuan withdrew the pills and looked coldly at Xia Wudao.

Disgust appeared on Lin Piaoxue's face.

Though the father and daughter had caused a misunderstanding, they had been courteous and dignified from beginning to end. Yet in Xia Wudao's mouth, they had become the Lin Family bullying him?

"Wudao, don't be rude!" Xia Xuan hurriedly stopped him. He rushed to Xia Wudao's side, grabbed his arm, and cupped his hands toward Lin Zhengyuan. "Family Head Lin, my son was somewhat out of line. I hope Family Head Lin will be magnanimous... and not hold it against him!"

Xia Wudao flung his arm away, shoving Xia Xuan aside.

"Father, you're too spineless!"

"You've completely humiliated me!"

Xia Wudao roared.

Then he looked at Lin Zhengyuan. "I, Xia Wudao, possess heaven-defying talent. I'll soon enter the Azure Star Academy and embark on an invincible path!"

"You'd better lower your stance now. Otherwise, the future me will be someone you can't hope to reach!"

The corner of Lin Zhengyuan's mouth twitched. He had weathered countless storms and met all kinds of people, but this was the first time he had encountered someone so arrogant and rude!

"You? You think you can join the Azure Star Academy?" Lin Piaoxue spoke.

Xia Wudao stared directly at Lin Piaoxue. From her gaze, he sensed contempt and disdain.

He immediately flew into a towering rage!

"Lin Piaoxue, you only got your special-recruitment slot because you were lucky enough to be discovered by the Azure Star Academy."

"But I am a pearl lost beneath the sea. When my radiance truly shines, heaven and earth will tremble because of me!"

"You won't get into the Azure Star Academy!" Lin Piaoxue said bluntly.

"You have no right to define my life!" Xia Wudao shouted. "Looking down on me means you're blind! Since that's the case, I'll ask this specially recruited genius of the Azure Star Academy for a few pointers!"

"Wudao!" Xia Xuan's head felt ready to explode.

Xia Wudao glanced at Xia Xuan. "Shut up!"

"If it weren't for your incompetence and weakness, how could I, the Sword Pavilion's young master, be looked down on like this?"

"I don't want to be as useless as you!"

"If you want to challenge me, I'll grant your request!" Even clay figures had three sparks of temper. As the Lin Family's young lady and a woman of considerable talent, Lin Piaoxue naturally could not remain unmoved after Xia Wudao provoked her so repeatedly.

"I'll use only thirty percent of my strength!"

"I'll use only one sword!"

Lin Piaoxue said indifferently.

Xia Wudao roared, "Take this!"

As his voice fell, a greatsword was drawn. It was as wide as a door panel, and it swept viciously toward Lin Piaoxue.

"Boom!" Sword light erupted violently.

Lin Piaoxue still had residual poison in her body, and her injuries had only received preliminary treatment. But without even looking, she casually drew her sword and swung it. With a clang, she shattered Xia Wudao's sword light.

Xia Wudao's greatsword flew from his hand.

Lin Piaoxue's sword had already arrived before Xia Wudao's throat.

Cold sweat instantly broke out all over Xia Wudao. His Adam's apple rolled up and down with difficulty, and he did not dare even breathe too loudly.

"Swish!"

Lin Piaoxue returned her sword to its sheath.

"Your foundation is hollow."

"Your swordsmanship is crude and shoddy."

"Someone like you can't even touch the threshold of the Azure Star Academy."

With that, she turned and walked out of the main hall.

"Father, let's go."

The father and daughter left the main hall, then gathered the Lin Family's guards and prepared to leave the Sword Pavilion.

But at that very moment—

A radiance soared into the sky in the distance.

A sharp sword light swept over like a sea of flames!

"Anyone who stands in my way dies!"

A cold shout rang out.

Seeing that fiery sword light and hearing that icy roar, Lin Piaoxue froze. Her feet seemed rooted to the ground, and she could no longer move.

"Piaoxue, what's wrong?" Lin Zhengyuan asked.

"Father, it's him!"

"That's his sword qi!"

"That's his voice!"

"I definitely didn't mistake him!"

Lin Piaoxue spoke excitedly.

She had thought it was Xia Wudao, only for a misunderstanding to emerge.

Lin Piaoxue had believed that she and that young master would truly miss each other forever, with no further fate between them. Her heart had felt empty and desolate.

But suddenly, the mountains turned and the road wound onward!

They had found him!

That young master had also come to the Sword Pavilion!

Lin Zhengyuan was naturally very interested in the young man who had killed the Black Wind Bandit despite being in the Sea of Qi Realm—and who was also his daughter's savior. He immediately said, "Let's go take a look!"

Lin Piaoxue nodded heavily and gave a soft "Mm," then hurried impatiently toward the place where the sword light had erupted.

"Pavilion Master!"

"Young Master Wudao!"

"Xia Wuji... Xia Wuji has returned!"

"He's at the entrance to the ancestral temple..."

A member of the Sword Pavilion rushed into the main hall to report the news.

Xia Wudao, whose confidence had just been crushed by Madam Liu, once again had a brilliant light flare in his eyes.

"That wretch actually dares to come back!" Xia Xuan roared.

Then he looked at Xia Wudao, who seemed to have lost his soul, and said with concern, "After you defeat that unfilial son and take back our Sword Pavilion's Crimson Blood Sword, then bring out the Azure Star Token. You can still enter the Azure Star Academy."

"Father believes that once you enter the Azure Star Academy, you'll surely soar to the heavens!"

"That's right! I, Xia Wudao, have never been inferior to anyone in my life. I still have a chance!" Xia Wudao growled. He immediately picked up his greatsword and hurried toward the Sword Pavilion's ancestral temple!