Unwavering Resolve

"Strike while the iron is hot—use your sword technique, now!"

The swordsman urged him without pause.

Rain nourished all things; fledgling swallows returned to their nests; green shoots broke through the earth. Heaven and earth burgeoned with life, their endless vitality surging and trembling without rest.

Liu Yunshen closed his eyes and carefully sensed that intent. Suddenly, he opened them, drew his rusted iron sword over six feet long, and, without using the superior sword technique taught by the Strange Daoist, merely gave a light thrust. The Sword Qi that had once been less than several feet long abruptly swelled to two zhang and five chi, blasting the riverwater into the air!

"This! My inner power clearly isn't this strong! What is going on?!" Liu Yunshen was overjoyed, but the swordsman roared, "Do not stop halfway!"

"Yes!" Liu Yunshen moved with his sword, Sword Qi crisscrossing in every direction. Though he used only slashes, thrusts, upward flicks, sweeps, collapses, hangs, points, and interceptions, their power was more than five times greater than before. In his exhilaration, his sword intent grew ever more solid. His Sword Qi rose from two zhang and five chi to three zhang, then three and a half, then four. With a roar like crashing thunder, five zhang of Sword Qi shot into the sky!

"I used the Overcoming Realm to provoke him, yet I unexpectedly helped him comprehend the Life Realm instead!" The swordsman stared deeply from the side. Liu Yunshen continued wielding his sword, swept up in a frenzied state of excitement. Half an hour later, his realm had completely stabilized, and he slowly sheathed his sword.

"Good! Exchange a few moves with your foolish elder brother! Use that swordsmanship of your seven stars!" The swordsman's voice turned cold. "Of course, if you dare underestimate me or hold back, then if you die beneath your elder brother's sword, you can blame no one else!"

"Yes!" Liu Yunshen did not dare be careless in the slightest. Stepping through the ritual paces, he gathered the Seven Stars! A fifty-zhang Sword Qi whistled forth and shot straight at the swordsman! With a casual wave of one hand, the Sword Qi that could have split mountains and severed rivers shattered on its own. "Not bad! But you still lack polish!"

Liu Yunshen was shocked and filled with admiration. He stepped forward. "This junior is no match for you, Senior. This one move today has already been enough!"

"You still dare call me Senior!" The swordsman flew into a rage and raised his palm. Liu Yunshen smiled. "Elder Brother! I still do not know how to address you!"

"Others call me the Yellow River Hero. I dare not accept the title of hero, and I have long since forgotten my own name!" The swordsman looked delighted, only for loneliness to surface in his expression again. After a long while, he sighed. "Second Brother, just call me Brother Huang!"

"Big Brother Huang!" Liu Yunshen bowed respectfully. The Yellow River Swordsman laughed and helped him up. "Tell your foolish elder brother honestly—how deep is your Qi Refining cultivation?"

"Master, forgive me. Big Brother Huang is this disciple's elder brother. There is no reason for this disciple to conceal it from him." Liu Yunshen first prayed toward the north. The Yellow River Swordsman shook his head and smiled to himself. This boy is truly old-fashioned, but he is trustworthy as well!

"Big Brother, to be honest, I am only at the third stage of the first Qi Refining realm, but I can break through to the fourth stage at any time!" Liu Yunshen's expression was solemn. The swordsman was greatly startled. "You are only at the third stage of the first realm, yet the gang qi throughout your body is as formidable as that of someone at the fourth or fifth stage of the second realm. Even among the core disciples of the seven great sects, there has never been a monster like you!"

The swordsman pondered briefly before continuing, "You must never tell anyone else about this, not even your brothers Hu and Zhao. It is not that I do not trust them, but with your current cultivation, it would be all too easy for a profound cultivator to disguise himself as an ordinary person, approach you, and spy upon you. For example, the Buddhist Mind-Reading Art, the Daoist Heart-Penetrating Art, the demonic Six Desires Evil Art, and your foolish elder brother's Domain. If you tell others, you will not only invite disaster upon yourself, but may even bring calamity upon your brothers!"

Liu Yunshen nodded repeatedly.

The Yellow River Swordsman looked toward the horizon, where the pale belly of dawn seemed faintly visible. He immediately said, "There is little time left today, so your foolish elder brother will explain simply. Worthy Brother, you have already comprehended the first level of the Domain. With the might of the Domain, your martial arts and inner power can increase tenfold! Within that tenfold range, you may adjust it as you please—strong or weak, all with a single thought. It happens to make up for your lack of inner power. If anyone asks, you can simply brush them off by saying your cultivation is at the first stage of the second realm, so as not to draw covetous eyes!"

"Thank you for the reminder, Elder Brother!"

"Hurry back!" The Yellow River Swordsman smiled. Liu Yunshen was reluctant to leave. Tears also filled the swordsman's eyes. "Your foolish elder brother cannot bear to part with you either, but you now face hardship upon hardship. I fear that before many days pass, great numbers of experts from every sect will swarm here because of the Heavenly Pivot Sword Technique you exposed while saving someone! Besides, you will still have to marry your junior sister in the future, so you should all the more hasten your cultivation!"

The Yellow River Swordsman blinked and laughed at him.

Liu Yunshen's face reddened.

Inside the military camp, Hu Lieshan, Zhao Dingjiang, and Ouyang Qingcang paced anxiously around the command tent!

"General, what exactly did you say to Brother Liu yesterday?!" Ouyang Qingcang nearly roared.

Hu Lieshan was sweating profusely with anxiety. "I'm going out to find Big Brother Liu!"

"Brother Hu, sit down first!" Zhao Dingjiang soothed them both.

Ying Hua sighed softly, picked up his weapon from a corner of the tent, and put on his helmet. "This is my fault. Perhaps I should not have spoken so harshly!"

Gong Liefeng, Lei Zhaoye, and Cao Langao hurried over. "Brother Liu is gone? Where did he go?!"

"I am right here in the camp!"

A voice rang out. Everyone was overjoyed and rushed from the command tent at once.

Liu Yunshen stood before the camp gate like a sharp sword, his sword intent faintly carrying the force to pierce straight through the heavens!

"Brother Liu has improved again!" Lei Zhaoye was overjoyed, yet also deeply troubled. He hurried forward. "Brother Liu, you must bring me along whenever you practice your swordsmanship from now on, so you can guide your little brother too!"

Liu Yunshen was taken aback. "Brother Lei is several years older than me. This little brother would never dare call you brother—"

"Brother Liu! It's settled, then!" Lei Zhaoye narrowed one eye and grinned at him, revealing a rare trace of slyness.

The young men all crowded forward and warmly surrounded Liu Yunshen. Gong Liefeng laughed loudly. "Brother Liu, you truly make people jealous. If I were as diligent as you, I would have become an Earth Immortal long ago!"

"My big brother is obviously amazing!" Hu Lieshan hugged Liu Yunshen tightly.

Ying Hua came over last and gave Liu Yunshen a slight cupped-fist salute. "It seems I worried for nothing. I presume Nephew Liu gained some insight and has already seen clearly the road ahead!"

"Many thanks for General Ying's guidance yesterday. Without General Ying's words, Yunshen would never have gained today's insight!" Liu Yunshen's eyes brimmed with tears, his gratitude plain for all to see!

Ying Hua was also deeply moved. He tightly grasped Liu Yunshen's hand and pulled him aside once more. Hu Lieshan and Ouyang Qingcang frowned and stepped forward.

"General, don't go talking my Big Brother Liu away again!"

Ying Hua laughed heartily. "The two of you can rest assured!"

"It's fine!" Liu Yunshen patted Hu Lieshan on the shoulder. His eyes only reached the other man's chin as he laughed. "You brat, you used to be so much shorter than me when we were children. Now you've grown into a black iron tower!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Young Hero may not know this, but in my younger days, this old man was once a hot-blooded youth who roamed the world with a sword in hand. Yet after my sworn brother died tragically, my heart turned to ash and I lost all spirit. Thus, two graves have always stood in my heart! One belonged to my dearest friend; the other held this old man, who lived like a walking corpse!"

Ying Hua drew out that broken sword, no longer than a dagger, and hot tears rolled over its shattered blade!

"But after seeing Young Hero these past two days, those two graves in this old man's heart seem to have vanished! Thinking of these past years, scurrying about like flies and dogs, keeping company with treacherous ministers—I truly squandered my days!" A trace of grim resolve appeared on Ying Hua's face!

Liu Yunshen was startled. "So most of what Big Brother Huang said was true."

"Young Hero Liu, I hope you can inherit this resolve. Do not allow the rotten vapors of this world to burden you. Hold fast to your original heart, and perhaps you may yet turn heaven and earth upside down!"

"Could it be that the old general has resolved to die?!" Liu Yunshen's face changed drastically. Ying Hua took his hand and shook his head. "Someone in this world must make sacrifices. Since this old man has made up his mind, I will not change it, just as you will not, Young Hero! Besides, this old man has cards up his sleeve. Those lackeys in court may not dare do anything to me! But Young Hero, you must be exceedingly careful. You have thoroughly offended the demonic sects! Unless they destroy you, they will never let this rest!"

"Thank you for the warning, General!" Liu Yunshen nodded.

"Take this!" Ying Hua handed Liu Yunshen a small locked box. Without further explanation, he smiled, cupped his fists, and returned first.

That afternoon, after everyone had eaten their fill, they bade farewell to Old General Ying and set out for the Four Swords Sect's main headquarters several hundred li away, escorted by five hundred elite iron cavalry.

Meanwhile, in Weiyang Palace of the Han Court, Yang Qingchan was drenched in cold sweat and struggling continuously. "Senior Brother! No! Don't go! Don't go!"

After one heart-rending cry after another, the young girl awoke and clutched her heaving chest tightly. "Will something happen to Senior Brother?!"

"That demon can enter dreams in person. He must be an extraordinary evil cultivator!"

"Should I leave the palace?"

"But if Mother finds out, she definitely won't allow it!"

"Ah! My head is such a mess!"

Yang Qingchan's heart was in utter turmoil. After getting up, she looked at the sundial and realized it was already past the hour of the dragon. Fear quietly rose within her. Something is wrong! Mother calls me up every day at the hour of the rabbit. Why has there been no movement today?

After Yang Qingchan finished dressing and grooming herself, she crept out of the palace doors. Only after questioning several palace maids and eunuchs did she learn that the Empress was discussing matters with the Han Emperor in the main hall. She immediately ran toward Jianzhang Palace. When she reached the palace gates, the Central Attendant was waiting outside the hall. Seeing the princess arrive, he hurriedly pulled her aside.

Famous for her willfulness, Yang Qingchan grinned at the Central Attendant. Ignoring his attempts to dissuade her, she pressed her ear to the hall doors and eavesdropped! The Central Attendant sighed bitterly and knelt beside her.

"Have the three of you investigated everything clearly?"

"This subordinate has investigated thoroughly! That youth is named Liu Yunshen. He is from Hu Family Village north of Yucheng County in the Great Zhou. His mother was driven to death by Zhou Kingdom officials. He now travels through the various kingdoms with several young sect masters of the Four Swords Gate. His cultivation is around the peak of the first Qi Refining realm to the initial stage of the second realm, and his swordsmanship is exceptional. He rivals the core disciples of the major sects!"

"Anything else?" The Han Emperor's deep voice sounded.

"That youth's courtesy name is Xi Bai!"

"Xi Bai!" The Han Emperor sprang to his feet in shock!

"'Nine dusks, double pupils illuminate the Han palace gates' speaks of the child with double pupils; 'the Xi carriage drives backward, burning the dragon steps'—and this child's courtesy name is Xi Bai! If he is not the one to seize my empire, then who is he?!"

"Receive my order! Dispatch men at once—kill him!!!"