Sharpening the Blade Again

Sharpening the Blade Again

A hungry blade needed blood; a hungry man needed meat.

The meat came from the Yang family. To let the blade and himself satisfy their hunger together, Du Chengfeng simply found a fat pig raised by the Yang family and killed it with one stroke—though slaughtering a single pig surely could not satisfy the blade. Still, after Du Chengfeng used that familiar Butcher's Pig Dissection, the blade quieted down.

Could a blade feel nostalgia too?

Du Chengfeng was not sure whether it was the blade that was nostalgic, or him.

Perhaps it was both.

As for whether the Yang family would object, Du Chengfeng had never considered it. Earlier, when they had called him over to sharpen their blade, he had nearly been killed on the spot. The fact that he had not drawn his blade and slaughtered every last Yang family member was already giving Carpenter Li face. Now he had merely killed a pig to eat. So what?

Yet the Yang family seemed pleased by it. Not only did they say nothing about the pig being slaughtered, they even sent someone to invite Du Chengfeng to the victory feast after the battle.

Du Chengfeng did not go. The Yang family did not mind either, instead sending over several jars of fine wine and several boxes of exquisitely prepared dishes.

Du Chengfeng did not touch a single bite or sip.

"Brother, I suggest you do not touch them either."

After returning to his little courtyard, Du Chengfeng saw that Carpenter Li's eyes had already been hooked by the food and wine. He simply tossed it all outside, spilling it onto the ground beyond the courtyard gate.

Stray dogs from the roadside caught the scent of food and came over, quickly devouring every dish that had fallen to the ground.

And Carpenter Li finally understood why Du Chengfeng had done it.

"You don't trust Elder Yang?"

"Is that what you usually call Yang Xuan?"

Only after watching the dogs that had eaten the dishes wander away did Du Chengfeng pick up his great blade and begin cutting the pork.

Many people knew that Fatty Yang's pig-slaughtering skills were unmatched, but few knew that Fatty Yang was also exceptionally skilled at cooking pork. Only his family had ever tasted those dishes; outsiders had not even laid eyes on them.

But outsiders not having seen it did not mean this great blade had not.

And if the blade had seen it, that was more or less the same as Du Chengfeng having seen it.

He cut the streaky pork into one-inch cubes and put them into the pot, added scallions, ginger, and spices to remove the gaminess and bring out the fragrance, then poured in all the cheap wine he had gotten from Carpenter Li. The signature braised pork dish he had learned from Fatty Yang was beginning to take shape.

"This is the best I can do. I'm still lacking far too many other seasonings."

Thinking of that, Du Chengfeng could not help sighing.

Forget seasonings—even his courtyard was lacking in furniture and furnishings. Of course, it had not been lacking before. Kindhearted Carpenter Li had once sold him quite a few tables, chairs, stools, cabinets, and other furnishings at a low price. But once the Hu people came and everyone withdrew into the fort, no one was left to look after the courtyard. Those Hu people had rummaged through everything and smashed the furniture to pieces.

Fortunately, Du Chengfeng had previously wanted to build a heated brick bed, so he had simply set the iron cooking pot into the stove. Otherwise, even getting a hot meal now would have been a problem.

"But why aren't you using the Yang family's wine?"

Just as Du Chengfeng was silently cursing those Hu people, Carpenter Li suddenly spoke.

"Brother Du, I mean, Elder Yang is actually a good man. How could he possibly poison you...?"

"I know."

Though he said so, Du Chengfeng merely shook his head.

He knew Yang Xuan was not a bad man. On one hand, that knowledge came from the blade's memories; on the other, it came from his own experiences. As an outsider and a displaced refugee, he had come to this village named after a single clan. Not only had he earned himself some property, he had even gained a small courtyard of his own and put down roots. Most of that had come from his own hard work, but Yang Family Fort's acceptance of outsiders had also been a crucial part of it.

And the source of that atmosphere was that frail old man. Yang Xuan might not possess the ruthless decisiveness expected of a clan head, but his peacemaker's temperament made more people willing to do things for him.

Like Carpenter Li before him. He could not even stand the sight of blood, yet when the Hu people came, he had still climbed the watchtower leaning on a spear.

But that goodwill had nothing to do with the present Du Chengfeng anymore.

The Hu people were enemies, yes, but the Yang family were not friends either. That night, he had nearly died in the Yang Family Ancestral Hall. That debt could not simply be written off. He still remembered it: when he had first awakened, the ground around him had been littered with broken throwing spears, arrows, and darts. Clearly, there were quite a few people in Yang Family Fort who wanted him dead.

In this unfamiliar, chaotic world, perhaps the only one he could trust was the straightforward Carpenter Li before him.

And the blade in his hand.

He had seen the blade's memories, and the blade had used his body. They understood each other completely. Neither would betray the other.

If there had to be a problem...

It was that this blade was not his.

"Could you return the treasured blade to my Yang Clan?"

Just as the meat in the pot had finished simmering, the elderly Yang Xuan arrived in the little courtyard with several Yang Clan members.

"Hero, from the very beginning, it was indeed my Yang Clan that was in the wrong. The Yang Clan is willing to make amends to you. But this blade is, after all, our Yang Clan's ancestral treasured blade, and it holds extraordinary meaning for us. So, Hero, do you think you could..."

"No."

Du Chengfeng refused Yang Xuan's request without hesitation.

"Even if I gave it to you, would you dare take it?"

The ruined little courtyard fell deathly silent.

Cold sweat had already beaded on the foreheads of those Yang Clan members who had come to reclaim the treasured blade.

When they heard that Du Chengfeng had just awakened, they had all said that if they persuaded him gently, perhaps the matter could still be resolved. And when they heard that the Yang Clan's treasured blade had actually been used to slaughter pigs, they had furiously condemned him for wasting a priceless treasure and not knowing how to cherish it.

That was the Yang Clan's ancestral treasured blade. It should have been returned to the Yang Clan ancestral hall and properly worshipped. How could it be used to slaughter pigs?

But only now did they realize that what they faced was no ordinary pig-slaughtering knife.

It was a blood-soaked vicious blade that had just killed over two hundred people.

They had actually wanted to reason with someone holding such a vicious blade?

"Then... the treasured blade should remain with you, Hero. Please treat it well."

In the end, the elderly Yang Xuan was still the one who forced himself to step forward.

"Also, if there is anything you need, please tell the Yang Clan. Hero, you held off the Hu people and spared Yang Family Fort the ravages of war. You are the benefactor of the Yang Clan. So long as it lies within our abilities, whatever you ask of us, the Yang Clan will surely see it done."

"...Fine."

Du Chengfeng thought for a moment, then unexpectedly nodded.

"Then bring me the whetstones."

"Of course, of course."

Yang Xuan hurriedly nodded. With a wave of his hand, a servant carried over a small box and opened it before Du Chengfeng.

The box was packed full with a complete set of whetstones, along with tools and oil for maintaining blades and swords.

Even if Du Chengfeng had not mentioned it, these things would have been sent over anyway. After all, the Yang Clan's treasured blade required regular maintenance, and at present, Du Chengfeng was the only person in Yang Family Fort capable of doing that work.

But just as Yang Xuan set the items down and thought he could take his people and leave, Du Chengfeng spoke again.

"One more thing."

This time, Du Chengfeng narrowed his eyes.

"All the weapons left behind from that battle—send them to me."

"I want to sharpen my blade."

The contract matter has been settled. Also, this is a new author with a new book—please bookmark and recommend it. Thank you, everyone.