Sword Canon

At nine o'clock, Chen Ming rode in a carriage that swayed and jolted its way to the gates of Huo Manor.

The carriage had been specially bought for him by his elder brother, Chen Rui. It was the most ordinary kind of carriage for getting around, and together with the worn-out horse, it had cost around a hundred taels.

In truth, he did not need a carriage. But his elder brother had insisted on buying one, believing that Chen Ming was now a man of standing. If he went out without even a carriage, people would think him shabby.

Chen Ming did not refuse. He had given the money to his elder brother, and he would not interfere with however it was spent.

The moment he stepped down from the carriage, he saw that Huo Manor's main gates stood open, with the old steward and gatekeeper waiting outside. He immediately knew that an honored guest was coming today.

Normally, he entered through the side gate.

When the main gates were opened, it meant an honored guest was about to arrive.

So he climbed back into the carriage and said to the driver, "Old Zhang, let's go to the back gate."

"Right away."

Old Zhang turned the horse around and headed for the back gate.

Before they had even left the alley, Chen Ming heard a burst of hoofbeats. There seemed to be several riders.

He lifted the carriage curtain and poked his head out to look behind him. He saw five riders slowly approaching from the other end of the street—two women and three men, longswords hanging at their waists, all of them looking travel-worn.

At their head was an elderly woman with graying hair and a face weathered by wind and frost. Her gaze flashed like lightning. One look was enough to tell that she was an expert.

These must be the honored guests coming to call.

Sure enough, Chen Ming watched the five stop outside Huo Manor. The elderly woman said to the old steward who came forward to greet them, "Take me to see Huo Chengkun."

The moment she opened her mouth, she was distinctly impolite, calling him by name outright.

It felt like the visitors had come with ill intent.

Just as he was thinking that, the carriage suddenly turned into a narrow alley, and he could no longer see what was happening at the gate.

Who exactly are those five?

He felt somewhat curious.

Chen Ming had wanted to ask Hong Mingquan, but when he reached the training grounds, both Hong Mingquan and Zhang Mingyu were absent. Only a group of trainees was there to welcome him.

Within Huo Manor, in Huo Qianqian's courtyard.

Before dawn had even broken, she had risen to practice. Having just stopped, she took a towel from her maid Chunmei and wiped the sweat from her face.

"Miss, Seventh Young Master has come again," Chunmei reported softly.

"Oh."

Huo Qianqian did not seem to care.

Summoning up her courage, Chunmei said, "Miss, are you still angry with him?"

"Chunmei."

Huo Qianqian put the towel back in her hands and said, "You are sixteen this year too. I should let you return home and marry."

"I don't want to marry. I only want to stay by your side, Miss."

"You truly do not want to?"

Chunmei's face turned deathly pale in fright. With a thud, she dropped to her knees and begged, "Miss, I won't dare do it again. Please don't send me away..."

In the end, Huo Qianqian could not bear it. "From now on, do not say such things in front of me."

As she spoke, she saw her grandfather push open the door and walk in. He said to Chunmei, "Leave."

As though granted a great pardon, Chunmei hurried away with her head lowered.

Huo Chengkun frowned. "Qianqian, in the future, you need to rein in your temper..."

Huo Qianqian cut him off unhappily. "Grandfather, did you come here first thing in the morning just to lecture me?"

Helpless inside, he got to the point. "Have you thought over what I told you last night?"

"What matter?"

"Sending you to the Xiao River Sect..."

"Oh, that. I'm not going. I'm doing perfectly well here. Why should I go to that damned Xiao River Sect and acknowledge someone else as my master?"

Huo Chengkun said, "Grandfather's martial arts are not suitable for you. The Xiao River Sect is entirely women. Only there can you learn martial arts suited to you. Besides, the Xiao River Sect is a renowned major sect. Your grandmother was once a disciple there, and with that connection, they will naturally keep you safe."

"I said I'm not going."

"This time, it is not up to you!"

Huo Chengkun suddenly slapped the table. With a crack, he actually split the solid wooden table apart with that single blow. He shouted, "You will go whether you want to or not!"

Huo Qianqian froze. Her face turned pale, and tears welled in her eyes. "You're yelling at me—"

Huo Chengkun hardened his heart. Keeping a stern face, he said stiffly, "This time, your Second Senior Sister will escort you there. Leave immediately. Juan'er, come in."

A woman around thirty entered from outside. She wore white, with a white flower tucked by her temple, showing that she had not long lost her husband. She was Du Juan, his second disciple.

"Pack your things now and set out at once. Juan'er, keep an eye on her."

Du Juan answered, "Yes, Master."

Then Huo Chengkun left.

Du Juan looked at Huo Qianqian expressionlessly. "Junior Sister, please do not make things difficult for me."

A sense of foreboding rose in Huo Qianqian's heart. She asked anxiously, "Second Senior Sister, did something happen?"

"Nothing happened."

"Impossible. Something must have happened. Otherwise, Grandfather would not treat me like this."

Du Juan fell silent for a moment before saying, "Martial Aunt has come."

Martial Aunt?

Huo Qianqian was stunned.

In her memory, it had been many years ago, when she was perhaps seven or eight. Her grandfather's junior sister had come once before. She had been a fierce, nasty old woman.

After that, for a long time, her grandfather had seemed somewhat unhappy.

But she had been too young then and did not know what had happened between them.

"What has she come for?"

"I don't know." Du Juan said solemnly, "Junior Sister, I promised Master that I would get you to the Xiao River Sect. He said that if necessary, I could knock you unconscious."

"Master."

The moment Huo Chengkun stepped out of the small courtyard, the old servant hurried over to report, "They have arrived."

His expression grew grave. They had come so quickly.

He had only received the news yesterday, yet they had reached his home early this morning.

He had not even had time to send Qianqian away.

Huo Chengkun said, "Take me there."

The old servant led him to the main hall. There, he saw the elderly woman seated in the center and a blue-clad young woman standing beside her.

Huo Chengkun smiled. "Eight years since we last met, yet Junior Sister's bearing remains as impressive as ever. Is this the new disciple you have taken in? One can vaguely see your grace from those days in her. She is far better than my few disappointing disciples."

The elderly woman remained seated and did not move. The tea before her had not been touched. She merely looked at him coldly, without saying a word.

Huo Chengkun waved a hand, dismissing the old servant.

The blue-clad young woman beside the elderly woman also withdrew.

Only the two martial siblings remained in the hall.

At last, the elderly woman spoke. "In the eight years since, among the disciples you have taken, has anyone cultivated the Iron Horse Stance to the fifth level of completion?"

Huo Chengkun sighed. "Junior Sister, you are already seventy-five. Why cling to this obsession?"

The elderly woman snapped, "Huo, you can forget the hatred of our sect's destruction and cling to life like a turtle hiding in its shell. But I will not forget! I live in this world for one purpose: revenge!"

"If I do not kill those mongrels and avenge my father, brothers, husband, and children, then I am unworthy of being human."

Her voice was shrill and mournful, every word painted thick with blood and hatred.

Huo Chengkun's cheek twitched.

How could he not hate them as well?

Nearly all his family had also died in that catastrophe.

But their enemies were simply too powerful—so powerful that it inspired despair. He could not even defeat one of their subordinates, and the injuries he had suffered back then had yet to heal.

How could he take revenge?

"Junior Sister..."

Before he could finish, the elderly woman interrupted him. "I know you still have a precious granddaughter. I will not force you. But you must hand over the Sword Canon."

"I already told you long ago, the Sword Canon is not with me..."

"Hmph!"

The elderly woman snorted coldly and said in an icy voice, "Today, you will hand it over whether you want to or not. Otherwise, do not blame me for disregarding our old ties as fellow disciples."