Supported by Chunyan, Liu Yunche followed Wan Shan slowly toward the weapon rack.
The morning sun slanted down, falling over rows upon rows of cold, hard weapons and casting a faint metallic gleam. The air still held the lingering scent of sweat and wood from the earlier martial practice.
Looking at the neatly displayed weapons, Liu Yunche's expression remained calm and unruffled. Only the fingers hidden within his sleeves curled ever so slightly, while his heart was already surging beyond restraint.
The first thing he saw was a standard ring-pommel saber, its blade plain and its iron guard unadorned.
Wan Shan's voice sounded beside him at just the right moment:
"Young Master, this is an Azuresteel Saber, the most common saber weapon in Verdant Grain County. Most of the household guards are equipped with them."
Liu Yunche nodded slightly and slowly extended his hand.
He had only recently recovered from a long illness, and his fingertips still carried a trace of chill as they lightly rested on the rough wooden hilt. Yet his mind had completely sunk into the light screen within his sea of consciousness.
The next moment, the empty groove in the Equipment Slot actually lit up with a faint pale glow. Its patterns flowed gently like living water, as though sensing something, as though responding.
Liu Yunche's heart tightened as he focused, awaiting the next change.
Yet that faint glow suddenly dimmed, and the flowing patterns froze in an instant. No matter how intently he urged it, there was no further response.
The fingers pressed against the hilt stiffened sharply, and a nearly imperceptible flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. Clearly, this outcome had exceeded his expectations.
But having lived through two lives, his state of mind had long since settled. In the blink of an eye, he concealed every trace of abnormality.
His face still wore that sickly, peaceful look, and neither Wan Shan nor Chunyan noticed the slightest thing amiss.
He slowly withdrew his hand and walked step by step along the weapon rack.
Seeing how interested he was, Wan Shan softly explained as they went. This was an iron-forged spear, that was a broad-backed hand axe, and there were also the eyebrow-height iron staffs commonly used by ordinary courtyard guards.
Liu Yunche reached out and touched them one by one—the icy iron blades, the coarse spear shafts, the solid weight of the staffs...
They possessed, without exception, the heaviness and simplicity that ordinary weapons ought to have.
Yet the Equipment Slot within the light screen remained as silent as before. Not once did that faint glow flow again.
Liu Yunche did not feel discouraged, though a trace of disappointment inevitably passed through his heart.
It seemed that the Equipment Slot could not be fitted with ordinary weapons. There must be restrictions involving rank or spirituality.
He did not test any more. Nodding slightly at Wan Shan, he said, "Many thanks, Instructor Wan. Today has been quite an eye-opener."
Wan Shan hurriedly clasped his hands. "Young Master, you jest."
Afterward, Liu Yunche turned and left under Chunyan's careful support.
The morning sun gradually warmed, spilling over his somewhat thin back.
Along the way, the household servants bowed and stepped aside. His pace was slow and gentle, his expression calm, as though that string of disappointments had never brushed across his heart at all.
One month later, within Cloud Perch Courtyard.
The first rays of dawn had just risen. Liu Yunche stood beside an ancient tree, the clear breeze stirring his drifting sleeves.
Over the past month, he had taken his medicine on time every day, regulated his breathing, and practiced boxing. His internal organs had gradually stabilized, and his qi and blood had grown much fuller than before.
His frame was still rather slender. He raised his hands to gather the clouds, sank his waist and lowered his palms, each movement slow, smooth, and rounded as he punched and paced.
After half an incense stick's time, he slowly withdrew his fists and exhaled a breath of turbid air. With steady steps, he walked over and sat beside Liu Wangzhou.
Liu Wangzhou's gaze fell upon Liu Yunche's still-thin shoulders and back. There was relief in his eyes, but also a lingering thread of worry.
Only after seeing that his breathing remained stable during his practice did he slowly speak.
"Not bad, not bad. It seems Doctor Yun truly has real skill."
Liu Yunche drained the tonic medicine beside him in one gulp, set down the cup, and praised, "Father, this Nourishing Life Fist Doctor Yun taught me is quite good. After practicing it for some time, I feel refreshed in spirit, and my body has grown much lighter as well."
"As long as it's working."
Liu Wangzhou let out a light breath, and the tension between his brows eased somewhat. "After all, he is a physician from the Prefecture City. It is only natural for him to possess such medical skill."
After a moment of silence, Liu Wangzhou's fingers paused before he slowly spoke, his tone carrying both inquiry and concern.
"Some time ago, I heard Wan Shan say that you had taken quite an interest in martial arts. What, your body has only just recovered, and already you are thinking of practicing martial arts?"
Liu Yunche had been reborn, and he possessed a golden finger like the Equipment Slot, so perfectly suited for martial training. If he did not step onto the martial path, would that not be like casting pearls before swine?
Moreover, the person who had poisoned him remained hidden in the shadows and had yet to reveal themself. Even for the sake of protecting himself, he needed to practice martial arts.
"That is correct, Father. After going through this ordeal, my thoughts have changed. I do not wish to remain idle like this any longer."
"I have heard that the martial path can strengthen the body and improve one's health. At profound levels of cultivation, it can even extend one's lifespan. Your son longs for it greatly. If I gain martial skill, I will also be able to protect our family."
Liu Yunche spoke earnestly. Looking at his father, his eyes were filled with resolve.
For a time, the two looked at each other. After quite a while, Liu Wangzhou seemed to sense Liu Yunche's determination and sighed softly.
"Very well."
"Since you have such aspirations, how could I, as your father, fail to support you?"
Liu Wangzhou praised him. "These past days, you have borrowed and studied all sorts of martial arts manuals. I suppose that was all preparation for practicing martial arts?"
"It seems you have made up your mind. That is good. This is not a passing impulse, but something you have prepared and thought through."
Liu Yunche smiled calmly. "Father sees clearly."
Liu Wangzhou looked at Liu Yunche and sighed. "You... you have had a gentle temperament since childhood, but no one knows a son better than his father. I have long known about that stubborn streak in your bones."
As he spoke, Liu Wangzhou gazed into the distance, as though he had fallen into old memories and recalled the time when he had first begun practicing martial arts.
Back then, when he had first learned martial arts, he trained through the bitter cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer. He had no idea how many times his flesh had been worn raw, and being in too much pain to sleep at night was commonplace.
Just the horse stance alone had required him to stand stiffly beneath the blazing sun for months on end, until his legs swelled so badly that he could barely walk steadily.
Remembering this, Liu Wangzhou smiled.
"When I first entered the martial path, I suffered untold hardships. Even if I tell you now, you will find it hard to truly understand."
Pointing at Liu Yunche, Liu Wangzhou laughed and scolded teasingly, "You brat, there is plenty of suffering waiting for you."
Longing for the martial path filled Liu Yunche's voice as he said firmly, "Rest assured, Father. Your son is prepared."
Seeing the fervor in his son's eyes, an indescribably complicated emotion flickered through Liu Wangzhou's gaze. He sighed inwardly, and his tone softened in a way that was difficult to detect.
"As expected of my son. You are exactly like I was in my younger days."
"Yunche, what do you wish to learn?"
Liu Yunche did not answer at once, instead bringing up another matter. "Father, I heard that Grandfather once left behind his personal saber and had us enshrine it."
After a brief pause, he continued, "I want to take a look at Grandfather's saber."
Over this past month, Liu Yunche had touched every weapon in the Liu Household, yet not one had caused any change in the Equipment Slot.
Upon careful thought, only the saber left behind by his grandfather, which was being enshrined, had not been touched by him.
Liu Wangzhou pondered for a moment. Seeing the hope in his son's eyes, he finally nodded in agreement.
"Come. Since you have the heart for it, you may as well accompany me to pay respects to your grandfather."
The two walked one before the other, talking as they made their way deeper into the Liu Household.
"I once heard Instructor Wan say that our household is famed throughout Verdant Grain County for its saber arts?" Liu Yunche raised his eyes slightly, his tone tinged with curiosity.
Hearing this, Liu Wangzhou fell silent, and a trace of complexity flashed deep within his eyes.
Only afterward did he slowly say, "The Liu Household is indeed famed throughout Verdant Grain County for its saber arts."
A flicker of confusion passed through Liu Yunche's eyes. He could clearly sense that Liu Wangzhou's words held something more. Keenly, he noticed that his father had said "the Liu Household," not "our household."
Liu Yunche lowered his eyes in thought, his gaze pausing. The difference of a single word set his thoughts racing.
Yet he did not ask further, merely waiting quietly for what would follow.
After a brief pause, Liu Wangzhou frowned slightly, reined in the complexity in his heart, and continued.
"If you wish to learn saber arts, Yunche, I have the foundational Gale Swift Saber, the more advanced Thunderclap Saber Art, and more besides."
"These saber arts come from the same lineage. You need not worry about anything missing, and they can save you from taking many detours."
Afterward, Liu Wangzhou spoke at length about many tricks for cultivating saber arts, as well as his own insights and experiences.
The two talked as they walked. Before long, a secluded courtyard came into view.
The furnishings inside were ancient and simple.
An incense burner sat atop the writing desk in the main hall. Yet what was enshrined was not an ancestral tablet, but a Goose-Feather Saber stained with pitch-black blood and bearing a somewhat damaged blade.
Liu Yunche's gaze was involuntarily drawn to that bloodstained Goose-Feather Saber.
"This is the personal saber your grandfather left behind. This Goose-Feather Saber accompanied him through a lifetime of campaigns and drank the blood of countless enemies," Liu Wangzhou said slowly.
As he spoke, Liu Wangzhou casually inserted three sticks of incense into the burner. "Your grandfather once said that this Goose-Feather Saber was like his own brother, and that his descendants were to enshrine it."
Following his father's example, Liu Yunche wore a respectful expression and offered three sticks of incense as well.
A trace of hesitation passed through Liu Yunche's heart. After wavering for a moment, he still asked, "Father, may I touch this saber?"
"Oh?" Liu Wangzhou gave Liu Yunche a surprised glance. Seeing the anticipation in his eyes, he pondered for a moment before nodding. "Go on."
Watching Liu Yunche's back, Liu Wangzhou could not help recalling how he had been handling weapons everywhere over the past month. Though he did not understand it, he had not interfered too much.
Liu Yunche stared fixedly at the damaged Goose-Feather Saber, his face as calm as a still lake without a ripple.
His steps were slow, one after another, without the slightest impatience. The countless disappointments of the past month had long since made him accustomed to it.
Yet being accustomed to it did not mean giving up. Quite the opposite—it made him even steadier. If this Goose-Feather Saber could not activate the Equipment Slot either, then he would simply continue searching.
When Liu Yunche stepped close, the instant his fingertips touched the hilt, he felt a cold, sinister aura seep through the gaps between his fingers and into his body. It was as though a force weighing a thousand jun struck straight at his mind, carrying the smoke of war with it.
In an instant, heaven and earth overturned, and the scene before him shattered and rewove itself.
"Kill!!!"
A deafening roar of slaughter exploded beside his ears. Bladelight and sword shadows crisscrossed the sky, while arrows tore through the air like dense rain, piercing layer after layer of armor before falling into pools of blood.
This was a cruel battlefield. The setting sun was like blood, staining the endless corpses and scorched earth red.
Soldiers in cloth armor held long spears, their momentum like a rainbow. Cavalry in dark armor charged on galloping warhorses, dust flying beneath their hooves.
Countless figures surged and fought. Battle cries, the clash of weapons, and agonized screams intertwined into a grim war song.
And this Goose-Feather Saber left behind by his grandfather had, under the activation of the Equipment Slot, actually brought him into the deepest memories contained within its blade.
Liu Yunche's eyes fell upon a figure at the edge of the battlefield, and a bloodstained Goose-Feather Saber entered his sight.
Though that blade gleamed brightly, Liu Yunche recognized it at once as his grandfather's saber.
Then the person wielding it needed no explanation—he was Grandfather himself.
Grandfather's saber arts were incomparably fierce. Chop, slash, thrust, lift—there was not the slightest wasted motion, and the wind of his saber carried the savage aura of the battlefield.
Wherever he passed, enemy soldiers were separated from head and body before they could even cry out. Light and shadows churned continuously, the Goose-Feather Saber opening and closing in broad, sweeping movements. Though it held no elaborate techniques, every strike was deadly.
Worthy indeed of saber arts honed upon the battlefield!
When the shifting light and shadows suddenly vanished, Liu Yunche abruptly came back to himself. His fingertips still rested on the hilt, yet only a single breath had passed.
Without drawing attention to it, he glanced toward the lower left. The groove was already shining with flowing radiance, spinning without pause, as though yearning for something.
A gleam lit Liu Yunche's eyes as he thought, So that was it. The Equipment Slot does not accept ordinary items.
Before you continue