An invincible heart makes an invincible sword

Dark clouds blanketed the sky, Thunderclap shook the heavens, and immense tornadoes rampaged overhead, whipping up endless wind and sand.

Fragments of stone, timber, bricks, and tiles swirled among them. Some ancient buildings buried in the desert seemed to have been torn up as well.

No one knew how far this desert "Whirling Dragon," which appeared only once every sixty years, had spread. As far as the eye could see, the entire desert lay beneath a dark shroud of windblown sand.

Conditions were somewhat better in the wilderness at the desert's edge, not far from Dragon Gate Pass. Though the terrifying tumult ahead remained audible, the storm had not swept this far. They could only faintly feel gusts of fierce wind striking their faces.

The West Depot agents, Embroidered Uniform Guards, and martial experts who had retreated from the desert were gathered here, gazing in horror at the apocalyptic spectacle that blotted out the sun and sky.

They might not witness such a terrifying sight even in several lifetimes!

"The Desert Black Sandstorm really does live up to its name! No wonder it only appears once every sixty years!"

Someone sighed in awe.

Everyone else nodded instinctively, wholeheartedly agreeing.

Such a terrifying, soul-shaking spectacle lay utterly beyond human power. Only the awe-inspiring might of heaven and earth could produce it. Naturally, it was a rare sight.

After recovering from their shock, quite a few people suddenly grew excited.

"Once a sixty-year cycle, the Whirling Dragon comes; the sea of sand offers up Dragon Gate!"

"Since this 'Whirling Dragon' has appeared, that saying must be true! Once the Black Sandstorm passes, we'll be able to see the capital of the Great White Upper Kingdom!"

At these words, everyone else grew excited as well, their hearts filling with anticipation.

Although some had not come for the treasure, a journey into the desert was rare enough. Witnessing the reappearance of the Great White Upper Kingdom's capital after more than three hundred years underground would make the trip worthwhile.

Some, however, kept glancing toward the West Depot group, strange expressions flickering in their eyes.

The Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure rivaled a nation's wealth. They did not dream of claiming it all, but even a small portion would let them live extravagantly for the rest of their lives.

Yet a tiger still barred their path-the imperial court!

Ordinarily, they would not dare provoke the West Depot or the Embroidered Uniform Guard. But with treasure before them, as the saying went, men died for wealth as birds died for food. With enough profit at stake, they could take a desperate risk.

At worst, they could seize some treasure and immediately flee to another dynasty. Then even the imperial court would be powerless against them.

With this in mind, quite a few people slowly gathered and began discussing in hushed voices.

"As soon as the Black Sandstorm ends, we'll charge in under cover of the chaos and search for the treasure. Once we get it, we'll head straight west to the Great Song Dynasty. Even if the court finds out, they won't dare pursue us there!"

"Exactly! The Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure rivals a nation's wealth. Even a tiny share would last us a lifetime!"

"That's settled, then!"

One man looked worried and whispered, "But there are so many West Depot agents and Embroidered Uniform Guards. If they seal off the treasure, how will we slip inside?"

A man beside him with a saber on his back sneered disdainfully. "Yu Huatian, the West Depot's director, still hasn't come out. He might already be dead in there."

"Without Yu Huatian keeping them in line, those court lackeys will probably be even more excited than us when they see the treasure. How would they have time to bother with us?"

The others found this reasonable and nodded.

Just then, a white figure flashed out of the dust-filled storm ahead, followed by two men. It was Yu Huatian and the West Depot's two division chiefs.

The West Depot agents and Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately brightened and hurried forward to greet them.

"Director!"

"First Division Chief! Second Division Chief!"

The martial artists who had just been discussing how to seize the treasure amid the chaos instantly darkened at the sight.

Yue Buqun, who was mingling with the crowd, was no exception.

He stared fixedly at the figure in silver-white python robes surrounded by the others, his eyes filled with venom and resentment.

Yu Huatian had arrogantly chosen to duel Yan Shisan in the storm.

In Yue Buqun's view, even if Yu Huatian defeated Yan Shisan, the Black Sandstorm would swallow him. Either way, he was certain to die.

He had never expected Yu Huatian to emerge alive!

And since Yu Huatian had come out, Yan Shisan had probably met a grim fate...

"What a useless fool!"

Yue Buqun's gaze darkened. No one knew that he had paid Yan Shisan to kill Yu Huatian and avenge Linghu Chong.

Though he was not particularly fond of Linghu Chong, the young man had still been the Mount Hua Sect's senior disciple. By killing him before so many witnesses, Yu Huatian had undoubtedly slapped Yue Buqun in the face.

If he did nothing after his disciple was killed, he would inevitably become the laughingstock of the martial world.

Yet he did not dare openly offend the imperial court. Thus, he had hired Yan Shisan, a renowned assassin of the northwest, to kill Yu Huatian. Even if Yu Huatian died, no one could trace it back to him. He could avenge Linghu Chong and regain his lost dignity, killing two birds with one stone.

But he had never expected Yan Shisan, an assassin, to appear in broad daylight and block the West Depot procession alone with his sword. The man must have been out of his mind.

Moreover, Yu Huatian had not overwhelmed him with numbers, choosing a one-on-one duel instead. With the Black Sandstorm sweeping in as well, Yan Shisan had enjoyed every advantage of timing, terrain, and circumstance, yet he still failed to kill Yu Huatian.

And this man had the nerve to call himself the "Life-Taking Swordsman"?

Such a useless fool deserved to die!

Yue Buqun drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger and resentment. He stopped looking at Yu Huatian to avoid attracting his attention.

But the moment he turned toward the storm, his gaze froze.

Another man emerged from it, tall and dressed in black, carrying a black sword. Who else could it be but Yan Shisan?!

"What... is going on?"

Yue Buqun stared at Yan Shisan, then turned to glance at Yu Huatian among the crowd, his eyes full of confusion.

The others were equally puzzled.

Hadn't Yan Shisan been dueling Yu Huatian?

How had Yu Huatian emerged without Yan Shisan dying?

"Director, watch out!"

Ji Xueyong and the others did not know what had happened inside, but they had witnessed Yan Shisan fight Yu Huatian earlier and knew he was immensely powerful and dangerous. The moment they saw him emerge as well, they led their men forward to block his path, their expressions wary.

"It's fine. Stand down."

Yu Huatian waved them aside, then walked straight through the crowd toward him.

Though Yan Shisan's face was slightly pale, his eyes burned with fervor. Anticipation filled his face as he stared intently at Yu Huatian.

Yu Huatian understood what concerned him and concealed nothing. He said calmly, "The Fourteenth Sword is life. Death reaching its extreme and transforming into life-that is the essence of this sword."

"Death reaching its extreme and transforming into life..."

Yan Shisan murmured softly. Then a sudden gleam appeared in his eyes.

"At the end of death lies life!"

"Everything beneath heaven reverses course upon reaching its extreme. Swordsmanship is no different!"

"The Thirteen Life-Taking Swords are filled with slaughter, leaving their victims no room to survive. They're too sinister and vicious. Though the purpose remains killing, killing intent needn't lurk in every movement..."

"So that's it! I understand! I finally understand..."

"Hahaha..."

Yan Shisan threw back his head and laughed, his voice brimming with excitement. All his previous doubts vanished. No wonder he had always felt that the thirteen swords were not the end of this sword art, yet had never found a path forward.

He had fallen into a mistaken line of thought, focusing only on creating a killing move that combined all thirteen swords, surpassed them in strength, and was impossible to guard against. Yet he had overlooked the essence of the sword art.

If its essence was killing, why must it overflow with slaughter and deathly stillness? Why could it not brim with life, allowing victims to fall beneath the sword before they even sensed danger?

Wouldn't a sword move filled with vitality, one that gave no sense of danger, be just as impossible to defend against?

Yan Shisan tightly gripped his sword, already impatient to find somewhere to study this life-filled sword move. Though Yu Huatian's explanation had not yet enabled him to comprehend it, he was certain that, given enough time, he could grasp the earth-shaking Fourteenth Sword through his own ability!

But suddenly, as though something had occurred to him, his smile froze. He looked at Yu Huatian, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes. "Your Fourteenth Sword could clearly have killed me earlier. Why did you suddenly change targets? I came to kill you."

Yu Huatian said calmly, "You're a pure swordsman. Your world contains nothing but the sword. Even your work as an assassin is merely a means of making a living, so you can better pursue the way of the sword."

"It would be a pity for someone like you to die. That's why I never intended to kill you."

Yan Shisan paused, then narrowed his eyes. "You want to recruit me? Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I've spent my entire life wandering freely. I have no intention of living under someone else's roof. If you regret your decision, you can take my life now."

"Don't be so quick to refuse."

Yu Huatian glanced at Ding Xiu, who stood nearby looking indolent. "He was just like you at first-a wanderer with nothing in his heart but his saber. But in a lifetime, a man should have pursuits beyond his blade."

"For instance, devotion to home and country, and duty to one's people."

Yan Shisan paused again. "Devotion to home and country, and duty to one's people..."

Yu Huatian looked at him. "In all your travels through the martial world, have you never witnessed the suffering of ordinary people? Do you feel no dissatisfaction with this unjust world?"

"As a swordsman, shouldn't you use the sword in your hand to cut down all evil beneath heaven and right every injustice?"

"Isn't that the conviction a swordsman should pursue and uphold?"

Yan Shisan fell silent.

"Sometimes, cultivating the heart is itself a form of cultivation."

Yu Huatian gazed at him. "A swordsman shouldn't pursue only strength in sword technique, but strength of heart as well."

"An invincible heart makes an invincible sword!"

"The pinnacle of swordsmanship should be a sword within the heart, unbound by material things. All things, every flower and blade of grass, can serve as a sword!"

All things, every flower and blade of grass, could serve as a sword!

Yan Shisan shuddered and instinctively lowered his head to look at the blue-black longsword in his hand...

Seeing this, Yu Huatian hurriedly added, "Of course, cultivating the heart isn't something you can accomplish overnight. Every path must be traveled step by step. Before reaching the realm of the heart's sword, you should constantly improve yourself, cultivating your heart while practicing your swordsmanship."

It was the first time Ma Jinliang and the others had seen Yu Huatian like this, and they exchanged glances. Somehow, he reminded them of the superiors who had constantly brainwashed them and dangled grand promises before them when they first joined the imperial court...

Ignoring everyone else, Yu Huatian kept his gaze on Yan Shisan and continued coaxing him patiently. "Besides, when I comprehended the Fourteenth Sword, I had a feeling that it might not be this sword art's limit either. Beyond it, there should be a Fifteenth Sword, a sixteenth sword..."

Before he finished speaking, Yan Shisan abruptly raised his head. "Say no more. I'll follow you!"

Ma Jinliang and the others: "..."

--

Yan Shisan would also become one of the protagonist's formidable generals, so I devoted a little more ink to him.

(End of chapter)