The Turmoil Settles

Facing the black-clad assassins scattering in all directions, Xie Jinghan stood rooted to the spot, his posture as unshakable as a mountain. He had no intention of pursuing them.

Why use a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken? Wu Hen was dead; the remaining lackeys were not worth another stroke of his sword.

He let them flee the Xie Residence courtyard in panic and vanish at the end of the streets and alleys.

As the dust settled on the great battle, the devastated hall sank once more into dead silence.

Xie Xuanyuan gently pressed a hand to his chest, his surging emotions refusing to subside for a long while. He gazed at the youth before him, his expression complicated—shock, relief, guilt, and gratification, countless emotions intertwined.

Xie Huaijin's taut expression also eased, though he remained steeped in the grief of losing his son, unable to let it go.

Gathering his thoughts, Xie Xuanyuan slowly spoke, his steady voice resounding through the hall. "The turmoil has been settled. Everyone, do not panic. An old grudge from the martial world disturbed our honored guests; I hope you will excuse us."

He then looked toward the shattered red silk and overturned tables and chairs strewn across the floor, continuing, "Fortunately, the disaster has passed. The banquet will proceed as planned."

The servants of the residence quickly stepped forward, each attending to their duties. They cleared the wrecked hall, removed broken weapons, wiped away the bloodstains covering the ground, then laid out fresh wine and dishes and restored the banquet tables.

Wang Zhongze strode forward, his face filled with guilt and anxiety. Cupping his hands toward Xie Xuanyuan, he apologized, "Elder Xie, the situation was perilous just now. It was not that I was unwilling to help; rather, the younger members of my clan were being held hostage, and I feared smashing the rat might break the vase. Fortunately, Second Young Master Xie possessed peerless talent and turned the tide. I am worried about the younger generation of my clan, so I must take my leave first. Another day, I will come to your door to beg forgiveness."

Xie Xuanyuan's gaze remained placid as he said lightly, "Clan Head Wang, as you please."

Wang Zhongze felt as though he had been granted amnesty. Not daring to linger, he immediately led the Wang Clan members away in haste.

A short while later, the chaotic and wrecked hall had been restored to order. Ceremonial music rose once more, and the shattered birthday banquet was barely able to continue.

The guests all returned to their seats.

Yet after such a life-and-death slaughter, none of the guests retained their earlier relaxed, festive mood. The laughter and lively conversation at the tables had all faded away, and everyone's eyes kept quietly drifting toward the richly dressed youth among them.

Liu Chengyu looked ashamed. Rising to his feet, he cupped his hands and sighed. "Second Young Master Xie truly hid his brilliance well. His swordsmanship reaches the heavens, and he has actually attained Acquired Grade One cultivation. Earlier, I was narrow-minded and made reckless assumptions. I am truly ashamed."

"Second Young Master's swordsmanship is extraordinary."

"Second Young Master's cultivation is peerless."

Everyone at the banquet nodded in agreement. No one dared show the slightest hint of disrespect again.

"No matter, no matter."

"Fine yourself three cups," the crowd shouted in jest.

"Very well, very well. I'll fine myself three cups at once."

After this day, the Xie Household of Heaven-Bearing Prefecture, and its Second Young Master Xie Jinghan, would shake the martial world with a single sword and see his great name spread across Central Province.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Heaven-Bearing Prefecture City remained as prosperous as ever, with carriages and horses streaming endlessly through its streets and alleys.

Rain-Listening Tower, the most renowned establishment in the city, stood at the heart of the bustling market district. With blue brick walls, dark tiled roofs, and soaring upturned eaves, it bore a black-lacquered, gold-lettered couplet above its entrance. The brushwork was vigorous and free-spirited, expressing all the open-heartedness of the martial world—Leaning on the tower, listening to wind and rain; smiling as one watches the roads of the martial world.

This was a favorite place for wandering martial artists and cultured scholars alike to linger, and the restaurant's fame had spread far and wide.

Even during the day, the tower was packed to the brim, voices roaring within. Merchants and travelers from north and south, martial heroes, and scions of great households all gathered here, raising cups and exchanging drinks, chatting about romance and worldly pleasures. The entire place was bustling with noise and brimming with the warmth of everyday life.

Since the battle at the Xie Residence birthday banquet, all of Heaven-Bearing Prefecture City had been abuzz with discussion. The focus of everyone's conversations had never strayed from a single name—Xie Jinghan.

In only three days, the tale of the youth killing Acquired Grade One expert Wu Hen with a single sword had swept through the thirteen prefectures of Central Province like a great wind crossing the land. There was no one who had not heard of it.

The once obscure illegitimate son of the Xie Household had drawn his sword in a single day, completely overturning the world's understanding and becoming the most talked-about rising martial talent in all of Central Province.

On the raised platform of Rain-Listening Tower's second floor, a storyteller in a long robe of blue cloth held a wooden clapper and looked down at the hallful of guests with a smile. Once the clamor had eased somewhat, his fingers suddenly brought the clapper down.

Pa!

The crisp crack drowned out the din filling the hall and instantly gathered every gaze in the room.

The storyteller's voice was deep and sonorous, rising and falling with measured rhythm as he slowly began. "Honored guests, today we shall not speak of secret tales from the martial world, nor discuss the shifting winds of the imperial court. Today, this old man shall tell you of a young prodigy who has recently shaken all of Central Province!"

The moment those words fell, a low commotion swept through the crowd. Countless eyes focused on the platform, filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"You all know that the Xie Household of Central Province has been a great family for a hundred years. Since the previous generation's Grandmaster of the sword fell, however, their house has declined by the day. The world said the Xie Household had no worthy successors and no more outstanding talents. But who would have thought that a hidden dragon lay concealed in the deep courtyard of the Xie Household!"

The storyteller paused, thoroughly whetting the crowd's appetite before declaring loudly, "That man is the Xie Household's Second Young Master—Xie Jinghan!"

"This Second Young Master Xie comprehended the sword at a young age and possessed exceptional talent. Since childhood, he had practiced the sword alone, and his temperament far surpassed that of ordinary men. No one knew the origin of his master or the depth of his cultivation. They knew only that, despite his youth, his attainments in the sword were unfathomable. He had long surpassed martial artists of his generation in Central Province and was the most dazzling young genius to emerge in the martial world in recent years!"

Silent until he spoke, then astonishing the world with a single cry!

He struck the clapper again, raising his voice several notches and driving the atmosphere to its peak. "It is said that when this youth faced an enemy, he never used flashy techniques. He only drew one sword! One sword tore through the air, its cry resounding through the heavens like thunderclap splitting the sky! At the Xie Household birthday banquet three days ago, it was this supreme sword that slew Acquired Grade One master Wu Hen in a single strike!"

The listeners in the tower felt their blood boil. They whispered among themselves—some praising, some shocked, some doubtful, some unwilling to believe—and all of Rain-Listening Tower erupted into a frenzy.

Deep within the Xie Residence lay a secluded little courtyard rarely visited by anyone. There were no elaborate sights within it, only a single ancient and vigorous parasol tree. Its luxuriant branches and leaves covered half the courtyard, and the breeze rustled through them, shutting out all the bustle and noise of the Xie Residence.

This little courtyard was Xie Jinghan's new place of solitary cultivation.

At this moment, Xie Jinghan sat cross-legged atop the Bluestone Platform beneath the parasol tree. His eyes were lightly closed, his posture upright yet relaxed, and his aura as calm and indifferent as water.

A brand-new yet ancient-looking longsword lay steadily across his knees. Its blade was dark and lustrous, its natural patterns fine and intricate. The scabbard had been carved from millennia-old wood and was paired with a plain sword tassel—neither ostentatious nor gaudy.

This sword was called Thunderclap. It had once been the weapon of Xie Zhonghua, the previous generation's Grandmaster of the sword from the Xie Household, and it was also a supreme Treasure Weapon.

After the birthday banquet turmoil had been quelled, Xie Xuanyuan and Xie Huaijin had specially given him this clan-guarding treasured sword, which had been sealed away for many years.

It was clear how greatly they hoped for him.

After entering the Sword Intent Realm, Xie Jinghan's method of cultivation had already quietly transformed. The Sword Intent Realm was no longer confined to refining techniques; it emphasized tempering one's true heart of the sword and nurturing the source of sword intent.

Ordinary Common Iron weapons could no longer keep pace with his progress in the sword. A treasured sword with profound foundations like the Thunderclap Sword could gather qi, nurture intent, resonate with the mind, help him temper his thoughts and hone his sword intent, allowing his advancement to far surpass what it had once been.

Xie Jinghan cherished and loved it deeply in his heart.