Token

"Brother Li Mu, you're very diligent. But without guidance, it's hard to grasp such a superior sword art. A sword manual alone isn't enough."

"Since the Third Manor Lord has spoken up, you might as well ask Senior Brother Ye later. Perhaps he'll give you a few pointers. From what I know, he's quite a decent person. Back when he was still a formal disciple, he even came over and served as an instructor for a few days, giving me guidance."

Seeing Li Mu reading so earnestly, Bu Zheng could not help but remind him.

He had chatted with Li Mu all the way and felt that Li Mu had a good temperament, so he offered him some advice.

"Thank you, Brother Bu. I'm just taking a look." Li Mu smiled without saying much, then asked, "Brother Bu, do you know what level of strength that Wu Chen counted as in Azure River City?"

"In all of Azure River City, there are fewer than thirty martial masters above the eighth Blood Qi Gate on the surface. He and Senior Brother Ye are already one-in-ten-thousand experts."

Azure River County had a population of more than three hundred thousand. Calling them one in ten thousand was no exaggeration.

"The eighth Blood Qi Gate, one in ten thousand." Li Mu's heart stirred slightly. He was still quite far from that level.

Although his talent had improved and he had the aid of Clear Sword Eyes, he still could not clearly follow the two men's exchange, nor could he catch Ye Puyuan's movements.

The gap was simply too great. He had not opened his "Eye Gate."

Fortunately, perhaps because his talent had improved, he could now see the two men's information.

Only the Third Manor Lord's information remained beyond his reach.

His Blood Qi value was probably far above eighty, perhaps even over a hundred...

One could imagine how terrifying his strength was...

Li Mu had only just achieved minor success in the Water-Questioning Sword Manual and broken through a Blood Qi Gate. He was merely a frog at the bottom of a well!

He weighed the sixty taels of silver in his purse, hoping to gain something from the black market this time. If he wanted to rapidly improve his Blood Qi, obtaining low-tier sword manuals and acquiring sword qi was the fastest way.

Besides, he was also quite interested in Faceless Blade Wu Chen's disguise technique.

Such a method would surely come in handy someday...

There were no more mishaps along the way.

After walking for more than half an hour, the sword transport convoy finally arrived safely at Azure River City.

The towering city walls were built entirely from blue bricks, gleaming beneath the sunlight.

The broad moat outside the city rippled with waves.

Merchant caravans of every kind arrived along the various roads and entered the city, alongside all sorts of civilians.

Two squads of city guard soldiers clad in finely made black armor stood at the gate. Some carried broad, heavy swords on their backs, some held great spears, and some gripped long sabers. Their murderous aura was dense and solemn.

They were checking people's identities, letting some enter from time to time while occasionally driving others away.

There were even wanted criminals who had fled here from other counties. Once discovered, they were knocked to the ground, stripped of their belongings, detained, and taken away.

"So many first-gate martial artists."

Li Mu swept his gaze over them and found that even the weakest of these city guards had opened one gate. With their excellent equipment, they were probably much stronger than ordinary martial artists.

Yet many of them, though carrying heavy swords, had mediocre talent. Their Blood Qi showed, "Foundation damaged, difficult to improve." This meant many had piled up their Blood Qi and broken through with medicine and similar methods, leaving them unable to advance any further.

"It is the military, after all. They live on imperial pay and have ample resources..." Li Mu's heart stirred, though he also knew that joining the army required strict household registration qualifications and a rigorous round of selection.

Unlike sects, the military did not place talent first when recruiting soldiers. What mattered was loyalty, background, and obedience to military discipline.

These ordinary soldiers had given up their martial futures in exchange for a certain status and resources. They held more standing than ordinary servants of Hidden Sword Manor.

But the city guards were not something one could join just by wanting to. A respectable household registration was the first requirement.

For example, three months ago, Li Mu had still been a sallow, emaciated refugee. Such lowly people were categorically rejected by the city guards.

When it was Hidden Sword Manor's convoy's turn, the two lines of city guards immediately stepped aside and opened the gates wide.

"Martial Master Ye, was the journey smooth today?" A city guard who appeared to be the captain clasped his hands and asked with a smile.

Ye Puyuan smiled and handed him a silver ingot. "Buy the brothers some drinks."

The city guard captain accepted the ingot with a beaming smile and returned the salute.

This appeared to be the final procedure. The convoy could finally swagger through the city gates...

What greeted them was not bustling prosperity, but an oddly empty silence.

Around the gate of Azure River City's outer district, many houses along the road had their doors tightly shut. Only a few stalls were set up, and pedestrians were sparse.

Several intersections even bore official seals.

"The times are troubled. There was another epidemic some time ago, and the infected areas were sealed off. That drove away quite a few more people." Bu Zheng sighed. "I heard the city has also been somewhat chaotic lately. Quite a few small gangs and factions have emerged to fight over territory, frightening many people into keeping their doors shut."

Only after they entered deeper into the streets did the number of shops and pedestrians gradually increase.

But most of these people wore plain clothing, with little light in their faces. Very few smiled with ease and freedom.

The times had changed, and life was far worse than before. Like Li Mu's former self, many had suffered countless separations through life and death, their families fallen into ruin, their livelihoods impossible to find.

From afar, the streets were filled with hooligans in short, sleeveless work clothes, their expressions unfriendly as they sized up everyone around them.

At nearly every intersection, thugs dressed differently and carrying murderous looks could be seen.

However, after merely glancing at Hidden Sword Manor's convoy, those thugs' faces changed sharply. They turned away, seemingly afraid of drawing Li Mu's group's attention.

Given its reputation, there truly were not many who dared provoke Hidden Sword Manor within the city.

The convoy continued all the way to Azure River County's government office, where officials and soldiers immediately came forward with smiling faces to unload the goods.

Only after the weapon chests were opened did Li Mu realize that they contained not only swords, but also sabers, spears, bows, and staffs.

Though Hidden Sword Manor was famed for forging swords, it also took on military weapon orders from the city guards to keep the manor running.

The white-haired, middle-aged Third Manor Lord, Ye Wei, stepped down from his carriage with a sorrowful expression and entered with Ye Puyuan.

They were going to negotiate the price for this batch with the county magistrate and settle the next round of business.

After traveling such a long way, Li Mu silently calculated that Azure River City should not need so many weapons. They might be transported elsewhere by the authorities.

He looked at Ye Wei's back. The Third Manor Lord was already so strong. What about the Second Manor Lord and the First Manor Lord?

"Brother Bu, have you ever seen the Manor Lords fight?" Li Mu asked.

"No. How could the Manor Lords be so easy to meet? Only after becoming a formal disciple and entering the inner court can you see them more often. But the First Manor Lord is unfathomable and is still in seclusion.

Once he emerges, that Mountain-Holding Vulture will probably flee with its head in its hands. After all, the First Manor Lord was once an outer disciple of the Sword Pavilion and possesses the Sword Pavilion's supreme arts!" When Bu Zheng mentioned the words "Sword Pavilion," a deep yearning appeared in his eyes.

"Next midsummer, the Sword Pavilion will hold its once-in-a-decade Sword Pavilion Opening Ceremony. Sword geniuses from across the realm will gather there. I wonder what a grand sight it will be."

"The Sword Pavilion Opening Ceremony." Li Mu could imagine the hidden dragons of the Great Qian's sword path converging from every corner of the land. It would indeed be a magnificent spectacle.

Bu Zheng looked toward Ye Puyuan's figure inside the government office and said with feeling, "Brother Li Mu, we haven't even become formal disciples of the manor. I'm afraid we won't even have a chance to go watch. People's fortunes truly differ. Perhaps only core disciples like Senior Brother Ye Puyuan have any hope of standing out among Jiangnan Commandery's many geniuses at the Sword Pavilion Opening Ceremony."

Li Mu found it hard to imagine what kind of scene that would be.

Great Qian was simply too vast. He had not even left Azure River yet, much less visited Jiangnan Commandery.

Bu Zheng gave a faint sigh. "Never mind the Sword Pavilion Opening Ceremony. Even our Hidden Sword Manor's Famous Sword Tournament requires one to be at least a formal disciple before being eligible to register. Next spring, if you and I can watch the Famous Sword Tournament within the manor and see the martial masters from all across Jiangnan, that will already be quite good."

"The Sword Pavilion... really is too far away." Li Mu nodded.

But... next midsummer was still a long time away. Perhaps he did not have no chance.

Core disciples like Ye Puyuan possessed extremely high talent, but was his own talent any lower now?

First, he had to stand out during the martial exhibition at the end of the year.

While Li Mu and Bu Zheng chatted, the formal disciples and servants nearby formed groups among themselves, preparing to go have some fun.

"Want to go drink with courtesans later? The pleasure houses and gambling dens have plenty of amusements." Bu Zheng asked casually. He had no hope of breaking through his Blood Qi Gate, and with no family of his own, he only wanted to enjoy himself.

Li Mu politely declined. He had many matters to handle during this trip into the city.

Remembering Zhao Tuo's instruction to look after Li Mu, Bu Zheng reminded him since they would not be traveling together now, "I heard the Azure Dragon Gang and the White-Robed Society have been clashing fiercely lately. Stay away from them."

Li Mu nodded. Zhao Tuo had also carefully reminded him to avoid getting drawn into gang disputes whenever possible.

Ye Wei and Ye Puyuan soon came out. All six sword transport carts were left under the government office's care.

After the convoy traveled several hundred paces, it arrived at the Celestial River Inn beside the government office to settle in, and everyone was allowed to go their separate ways.

Li Mu returned his copied version of the Spirit Peak Sword Manual.

"Finished reading it? What did you think?" Ye Puyuan asked with a smile as he put away the sword manual.

"As expected of one of the manor's superior sword arts," Li Mu said.

Ye Puyuan smiled. "Remember this: excess is as bad as deficiency, and what is too rigid breaks easily. It is not that stronger martial arts are necessarily more suitable for you. You must progress step by step. Before breaking through the ninth gate, only by cultivating martial arts suited to each stage can you open your Blood Qi Gates as quickly as possible and build a solid foundation."

"You are clever and diligent. The fact that the Third Manor Lord spoke up for you proves that your talent is not bad. If there is anything you do not understand in your cultivation later, you may come to the inner court and ask me."

He handed Li Mu a token.

Li Mu saw the words "Ye Puyuan" inscribed on it. It was his identity token. With it, Li Mu could enter and leave the inner court!

"Senior Brother..." Li Mu appeared somewhat at a loss.

"Junior Brother, if I'm giving it to you, take it." Ye Puyuan pressed the token into Li Mu's hand, looking every bit the good senior brother who deeply cared for his junior. Lowering his head, he whispered into Li Mu's ear, "Junior Brother Li Mu, I heard that Junior Sister Leng values you highly. For the sake of your spot, she even carried her sword into the Forging Sword Tower and went to argue with my younger sister."

Li Mu's expression changed slightly. He could not tell what Ye Puyuan meant, but the latter immediately said, "In the future, I'll need you to help me ask around about certain matters concerning Junior Sister Leng."

Seeing Ye Puyuan's expression, Li Mu suddenly recalled Hui Zhen mentioning that this Senior Brother Ye seemed deeply enamored with Leng Shuangyu. It now appeared to be true...

Since it was an exchange, Li Mu felt relieved. He pretended to be overwhelmed with excitement and immediately gripped the token. "Rest assured, Senior Brother. Just give the word, and I, your junior brother, will do my utmost."

Ye Puyuan smiled in satisfaction and patted his shoulder.

Li Mu suddenly grabbed him and asked quietly, "Senior Brother, can this token be used to borrow sword manuals from the Sword Canon Tower?"

"It can. I only need to inform them later. But you are not a Hidden Sword disciple. Even if you borrow my identity token, you can only move around on the first floor." Ye Puyuan paused in surprise, then nodded before adding, "However, those low-tier sword manuals are probably not as profound as the Dripping Water Swordsmanship you are cultivating. Do not scatter your focus and delay your training. More sword arts are not necessarily better. The martial arts of Hidden Sword Manor have always been easy to learn but difficult to master, and they form a complete system of their own. No one in all of Azure River can compare with us."

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother." Li Mu saluted him.

Ye Puyuan turned and left. Li Mu gripped the token and barely managed to suppress the wild joy in his heart, not letting it show.

The Sword Canon Tower was forbidden to anyone who was not a formal disciple!

And servants generally came from humble backgrounds, making it difficult for them to become formal disciples. After all, Hidden Sword Manor bore the Ye family name! Formal disciples were basically all members of the Ye family! This was another way of controlling the circulation of superior martial arts. If you were not family, you did not enter the house, and superior arts were not passed on!

Those with other surnames needed to break through three gates as a basic requirement, and they also had to render meritorious service! As for how great that merit had to be, the three Manor Lords had the final say...

But now things were different. With the token of Ye Puyuan, a "core disciple," and with him personally putting in a word, Li Mu could finally borrow manuals.

Even if it was only the first floor! There were still many low-tier sword manuals he could cultivate!

Rapid Blood Qi accumulation seemed to be right before his eyes.

"The day I return to the manor will be the day my strength soars..."

Li Mu put away the token and calmed himself. He still had important business to handle.

After finding an inn attendant and asking for directions, confirming the route once more, he set off.

Ye Puyuan walked to a heavenly-grade guest room. After knocking, he entered.

Inside, the rich fragrance of milk tea filled the air. A small pot of milky white tea simmered over the heat.

"Puyuan, how did it go?"

Ye Wei ladled out two cups of milk tea and placed one before him.

Two small dishes sat on the table, holding fine salt and white sugar. There was also a small jar of honey and several pomelos from the Western Regions.

"Third Martial Uncle, why do you only add salt to your milk tea?" Ye Puyuan looked at Ye Wei, unable to understand.

He added sugar and swirled the steaming milk tea. "I think we still need to observe him. His eyes were very calm. I don't think he understood nothing at all."

"Honey pomelo tea only tastes good with salt." With his sorrowful expression, Ye Wei added the ingredients and slowly tasted the tea.

"Then continue observing him. My Silent Sword and your master's Heart Sword still lack inheritors. If he truly is a born sword seed, you can bring him to Thousand-Jun Cavern to observe. There is still time before the Sword Pavilion Opening Ceremony. But we must confirm his character. Better to lack than accept the unworthy. In the end, he is not a member of the Ye family, so we cannot pass things on lightly..."

"As for your Second Martial Uncle's West River Swordcraft, that depends on whether your younger sister or Shuangyu can win your Second Martial Uncle's favor... After all, this is a sword art only women can cultivate. They are the only two in the manor qualified for it."

"Are you selecting candidates for the Sword Pavilion Opening Ceremony? I understand. But... are the sword arts of you three really something ordinary people can comprehend?" Ye Puyuan was speechless. He then handed over a slip of paper.

"Today's intelligence on Wu Chen. It has been confirmed that Mountain-Holding Vulture has swallowed a demon core and taken another path. The remnants of Sacred Buddha Temple appear to be stirring things up behind the scenes. The city guards, aristocratic families, and martial schools are divided in purpose. The campaign to encircle and suppress them will come to nothing."

Ye Wei remained as sorrowful as ever, without much reaction. It seemed that the things in this world that could make him most sorrowful, that could stir his emotions intensely, had all ended long ago.

"Let them do as they please... As long as Eldest Brother lives and the Sword Pavilion stands, there is nothing to fear."