Secrets

Forging Sword Tower.

Bellows blasted the furnaces, hot air rushing into their faces. Dozens of bare-armed men swung hammers fiercely, the clanging never ceasing.

Yet these men were not servants. They were all household guards dressed in white trousers.

Meanwhile, the servants were resting off to the side.

Of course, some servants were constantly hauling things about, but in Myriad Swords Tower, the ones resting and chatting were always the household guards...

Cao A-Man stood at the entrance, somewhat stunned.

This was rather different from what he had imagined.

"What, think it's too hard?" Liu Yi, the Forging Sword Tower instructor beside him, suddenly asked.

"I just don't understand. Why do household guards still have to forge iron?" Cao A-Man scratched his head.

Liu Yi smiled. "Because servants aren't qualified to take the stage. This is the Iron-Forging Aperture-Piercing Method, something only our Forging Sword Tower possesses. It is suited only for people like you, those born with strong constitutions. Ordinary people simply cannot endure it.

"Yet this method can help people like you rapidly open your apertures and build up your qi and blood. Combined with nourishment from meat and medicine, your speed of breaking through can exceed that of ordinary people several times over."

"Iron-forging aperture-piercing? Faster breakthroughs?" Cao A-Man's eyes lit up. No matter how dull he was, he understood that although this method was arduous, it held hidden mysteries—and it could speed up his cultivation.

"Correct. That is why our Forging Sword Tower always gets priority when selecting servants. And in our assessments and selections, we would rather have too few than accept inferior candidates. Still, the servants here already have good foundations, and there are also naturally strong people from registered commoner families in Azure River City who come to take the test. Thus, Forging Sword Tower has the most openings for newly promoted household guards, as well as the strongest potential."

Liu Yi stroked his two long mustaches and spoke leisurely.

The household guards of Forging Sword Tower had always been the backbone of sword-delivery assignments.

"Hehe, doesn't that mean I can break through much faster than Li Mu?" Cao A-Man chuckled foolishly. He remembered how the pretty stewardess had risen for Li Mu, yet had not risen for him, the first-place winner. He had felt rather upset about it. Now that he had come to Forging Sword Tower, he wanted to thoroughly surpass Li Mu and make the stewardess regret not paying him more attention back then.

"What is Li Mu worth? One look at his physique tells you that his qi and blood accumulation is far inferior to yours..." Liu Yi snorted. "You were born with divine strength. You should have belonged to Forging Sword Tower from the start, but Myriad Swords Tower stole you away. Now you've merely returned to where you were meant to be."

There were only four newly promoted household guards in Myriad Swords Tower. He had reviewed their records and observed them during the assessment. After discussing it with Steward Ye Wanqing, he had only poached Cao A-Man. He had no interest in considering the others, nor in training those with foundations that were too poor.

He had seen countless people born with insufficient qi and blood who only broke through the first barrier by desperately piling on medicine.

Li Mu was one of that kind.

Though such people could successfully break through the first barrier, their drug resistance would continue to rise afterward. Ordinary medicines would no longer suffice, and the difficulty of accumulating qi and blood would multiply. In the end, without the silver to purchase powerful medicines, breaking through the second barrier would be as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Cao A-Man was different. He was a natural martial arts prodigy with excellent talent.

"That fool Zhao Meng simply doesn't understand how to awaken your potential. Work hard, and I will certainly make you shine brilliantly in the year-end martial exhibition." Liu Yi grinned, revealing a row of gold teeth.

"Here, this is Steward Ye's reward for you."

A tray was handed over from the side.

Three taels of silver, a pound of dried Red-Scaled Python meat strips, and a packet of Meridian-Loosening Powder.

"Well? Myriad Swords Tower doesn't offer benefits this good, does it?"

"Hehe, thank you, Instructor Liu! Thank you, Steward Ye!" Cao A-Man beamed. He stuffed the silver and medicine packet into his pocket, picked up the snake meat, and took a huge bite, grease covering his mouth.

Coming to Forging Sword Tower had truly been the right choice.

"Your qi and blood are abundant. You should break through in less than ten days. Once you do, I'll secure you a sword-delivery spot and take you out to see the world."

Though Liu Yi said this, he secretly frowned. The foundation was good, but the boy was a bit too foolish...

[Water-Questioning Sword Manual: 35/100 (Not Initiated)]

[Qi and Blood: 9.8↑ (Medicinal power being digested, exotic beast meat being digested)]

Li Mu slowly sheathed his sword and let out a light breath.

This green-grade second-tier sword art truly placed an enormous burden on the body.

Such simple movements required fully mobilizing every aperture in both arms. Yet several of Li Mu's apertures had not been opened, making it especially strenuous.

Still, at this rate, he should reach the qi and blood bottleneck tomorrow.

"Open the door. Night Watch Tower business."

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

Night Watch Tower? Li Mu's heart stirred as he rose and opened it.

He saw two unfamiliar household guards with Night Watch Tower badges hanging from their waists. Their hands rested on their sword hilts as they stared coldly at him.

"A flying thief was discovered last night. We are conducting a full search from top to bottom, without exception. Please cooperate."

After one of them spoke, the two moved to push past Li Mu and enter.

Then they caught sight of the black-sheathed sword on the table inside, as well as the dried Red-Scaled Python meat strips placed on a tray.

Their hands immediately froze.

They then cupped their fists, their tones turning earnest.

"This is the Third Manor Lord's order. Please forgive any offense, brother, and allow us to go in and take a look."

Li Mu had nothing to feel guilty about, but seeing their attitudes instantly shift from cold to warm, and noticing where their gazes had landed, he immediately understood.

So the rewards from Steward Leng and Zhao Meng had let him show off...

Ordinary household guards could only carry common iron swords. The swords these two wore were just like the flimsy Azure-Edge Sword Li Mu had held before.

As for the Black Frost in Li Mu's room, even without being drawn, its scabbard patterns and materials alone made it clear that it was no ordinary item!

It had undoubtedly been bestowed by some important figure.

And the dried Red-Scaled Python meat strips were even more precious. What household guard could afford to eat such things? Yet Li Mu had more than a full pound in his room—two complete strips!

One could tell from the cuts alone that whoever had sliced the meat had done so with extreme care.

Most people would treasure such two items beyond measure, yet Li Mu had simply left them casually on the table.

The two Night Watch Tower household guards had only glanced at them, but their imaginations began running wild... Who knew whether this man before them was exceptionally gifted and highly valued, or had latched onto some great figure in the manor, to the point that he did not even think much of such valuable items.

Even though Li Mu still appeared not to have broken through the qi and blood barrier.

All these signs proved that this young new household guard was someone they absolutely could not afford to offend!

The two had been ordered to search the entire manor and carried the authority of the Third Manor Lord and the Night Watch Tower steward, but they were not foolish enough to think that meant they could offend anyone they pleased.

Thus, their attitudes changed at once.

"What are you saying, brothers? I occasionally handle night duty as well. If we happen to work together in the future, I'll be relying on your care. Please come in." Li Mu smiled and stepped aside, then went to pour them each a cup of water.

The two immediately gained a favorable impression of Li Mu. They only gave the room a cursory look before sitting down with smiles, asking Li Mu's name and clearly seeking to befriend him.

The Night Watch Tower controlled patrols throughout the manor, internal law enforcement, and many other matters. Li Mu would inevitably have plenty of dealings with them in the future, so he naturally took the opportunity. They exchanged names and began chatting.

One was Xing Yuanjia, with eyes like bronze bells and a booming voice. He had just broken through the second qi and blood barrier and was one of the Night Watch Tower's six deputy captains.

The other was Tian Zeyi, who had just broken through the first qi and blood barrier and had become a household guard last year.

"Captain Xing, Brother Tian, where did last night's flying thief come from? Could you tell me a little, so I can be on guard as well?"

Li Mu sliced two pieces of Red-Scaled Python meat and placed them in their bowls.

The two exchanged looks, not expecting Li Mu to be so generous. One slice of this meat was worth a chunk of braised pork...

Xing Yuanjia swallowed the slice in one bite, a look of enjoyment appearing on his face. Then he said, "Brother Li Mu, the two of us feel like old friends upon first meeting you, so we'll tell you a little. But you must keep it confidential."

"Rest assured, Captain Xing." Li Mu nodded.

Only then did Xing Yuanjia lower his voice.

"It was not a flying thief. Last night, someone from Sacred Buddha Temple died here."

"The entire manor is searching for any remnants of Sacred Buddha Temple that may have infiltrated us! Or anyone secretly carrying tokens and worshipping them!"

So it was indeed this... Li Mu said, "To be honest, I killed that Sacred Buddha Temple follower."

Xing and Tian were both stunned. They had not expected the person who had rendered meritorious service to be right before them.

Tian Zeyi could not help saying enviously, "Brother Li Mu, though you have not yet broken through the qi and blood barrier or learned the Water-Questioning Sword Manual, with this Black Frost, ranked 961st on the 'Hidden Sword Manor Famous Sword Register,' killing that Sacred Buddha Temple follower must have been easy."

I didn't rely on this sword... Li Mu smiled without replying.

Still, he had not expected Leng Shuangyu to give him a "famous sword."

The illustrated records he had studied did not include such rankings, so he had not known.

It seemed Leng Shuangyu was truly generous. Black Frost was likely worth far more than several dozen taels of silver.

"In that case, the two of us need not worry. Steward Leng and the others surely instructed you as well." Xing Yuanjia was visibly relieved.

"This matter is of great importance. To avoid stirring unrest, it was concealed under the name of a flying thief."

"What exactly is Sacred Buddha Temple?" Li Mu was genuinely curious.

"We do not know the details either. We only know that Sacred Buddha Temple came from the Western Regions and established the Azure River Branch Temple, calling upon the people to worship it devoutly. They claimed the Holy Buddha would grant all living beings a pure land, but it was actually extremely strange.

"Ten years ago, it ordered a group of followers to storm the Azure River City government office in an attempted rebellion. Those followers were supposedly ordinary commoners—farmers and laborers who had never practiced martial arts—yet they suddenly possessed strength nearly equal to first-barrier martial artists. They felt no pain even when blades and spears pierced their bodies, causing enormous trouble for the city guard.

"Later, it took many experts working together to suppress them and destroy Sacred Buddha Temple's Azure River Branch Temple. Afterward, similar rumors seemed to emerge throughout Jiangnan. Great Qian dispatched iron cavalry to purge the Buddhist sects across the nation, and the traces of those evil Buddhas nearly vanished."

"Back then, some people in Hidden Sword Manor seemed to have been deceived as well, causing considerable trouble. With something like this happening now, it is only natural for the entire manor to be placed under strict guard."

Xing Yuanjia spoke slowly, deep apprehension in his eyes.

"In short, Sacred Buddha Temple is strange, and its so-called blessings from gods and Buddhas are not a righteous path. Brother Li Mu, never touch it. If you encounter it, do not alert them either—report it immediately."

"Thank you for the warning. I saw it myself: that man worshipped the Buddha, then went mad..." Li Mu nodded, recalling Fan Rong's crazed appearance with lingering fear.

"But why? How could merely worshipping a wooden Buddha statue and chanting scriptures produce such supernatural effects?"

"We do not know that either. The secrets involved are only hearsay to us. We have never even come into close contact with it like you have, Brother Li Mu."

The two shook their heads repeatedly.

By this point, they had both drained their cups of water and risen to take their leave.

"Brother Li Mu, we truly hit it off. Let us meet again another day. If anything urgent comes up, come find me at the Night Watch Tower." Xing Yuanjia cupped his fists.

He still thought highly of Li Mu.

"Brother Meng and Brother Tuo are my good brothers too. If there's drinking or anything else, call me." Tian Zeyi said with a smile.

Li Mu returned the gesture and watched the two leave, then sat down in thought.

It seemed Sacred Buddha Temple was far from simple... Li Mu felt that some extremely profound mystery lay behind it, but it was not something he could uncover at his current level.

This was merely the tip of the iceberg in this world. There were likely many more dangers and secrets...

"Why is this world dangerous everywhere..." Li Mu felt deeply insecure.

He had to grow stronger faster. Otherwise, what if Sacred Buddha Temple truly made a comeback and attacked the manor?

At the very least, he first had to break through the first qi and blood barrier. Only then could he easily handle ordinary Buddha-worshipping mutants like Fan Rong without being injured.