To tell the truth.
Zhang Yuan had not actually known whose sword it was. The situation had been urgent; a second's delay might have let Xie Jingxin reach him with her sword. Once his divine sense swept over the blade and confirmed the strength of its material, he had drawn it straight to him without paying particular attention to its owner.
And so, after the battle ended, he had no idea who owned it. Even if he wanted to return it, he could not. He might as well keep it.
Besides, the sword was plain in design, the sort most commonly seen on the streets. Its material was also excellent, capable of contending with the Sword Saint's blade. It made a fine temporary waist sword, and he did indeed lack a weapon that suited his hand.
Hearing that Zhang Yuan had picked it up, Wei Jianxing and his four companions chose to believe him.
With White Tree City devastated like this, there were bound to be plenty of belongings left behind by cultivators fleeing the disaster. They had seen quite a few along the way themselves, but simply had not picked them up. Besides, the four-foot-seven-inch sword on Zhang Yuan's back looked quite plain, nothing unusual.
Wu Qing had only asked in passing. He then offered a well-intentioned reminder:
"Daoist Zhang, this is a two-handed sword. You've only just begun learning swordsmanship, and the Long Waterfall Sword Manual you're studying teaches a one-handed style. I'm afraid it might not be suitable. You would be better off finding a pawnshop to sell it and buying a one-handed sword instead."
Zhang Yuan waved a hand and smiled. "No need. I have a fair bit of strength. Though this sword is long, it felt quite comfortable when I used it earlier. Besides, who