Claiming the Credit
A mass of black mist came rolling in, outlining a hazy figure beneath the moonlight.
But the mist had not flown far before it suddenly fell to the ground. When it was visible again, the mist was gone. Only a black-robed man remained, crashing heavily to the ground and turning his head to spit out a mouthful of blood.
His blood was like molten lava. Wherever it splashed on the nearby flowers and plants, the vegetation instantly turned charred black.
The pitch-black crow landed on his shoulder once more and tilted its little head, as though wondering why its master had fallen and could not get up.
Cold Crow Devil Lord wiped the blood from his lips and struggled to his feet, continuing onward. He had taken a real tumble this time. He had thought she was just a minor figure and had planned to take her back to use as a medicine subject. He had never expected her to be someone who kept her true abilities so well hidden!
He raised his eyes toward the edge of a towering city wall visible not far away. That was White Foothill City.
Cold Crow Devil Lord's injuries were not enough to kill him, but they had damaged his internal organs. In his current state, any Golden Core cultivator could probably take his life.
Fortunately, White Foothill City was close at hand. Once he entered the city, he could...
He never got to finish that thought, because the crow he had sent ahead to scout the way had been cut in two and fallen to the ground.
Warm blood splashed across his face, carrying a fishy stench.
"Senior brother, look! Isn't that Cold Crow Devil Lord's precious crow?!" A sweet young woman's voice reached his ears, followed by a patter of footsteps.
Cold Crow Devil Lord instinctively wanted to hide, but he was already badly injured and could no longer move as nimbly as before. Before he could conceal himself, he came face-to-face with a group of young cultivators carrying all sorts of musical instruments.
The male cultivator leading them wore dark robes and had cold, stern features. The presence of a Golden Core cultivator was unmistakable about him.
Cold Crow Devil Lord could not help sucking in a sharp breath. He felt he had reached the end of the road!
Sang Ying had not been mistaken. Today was indeed the day Cold Crow Devil Lord would meet his end.
In the original book, Cold Crow Devil Lord had encountered this group of cultivators out on a training journey while he was at the height of his power. He had killed everyone except the male cultivator leading them and forced him into a cave, where the Devil Lord had then been injured by Sword Qi and died at the male cultivator's hands.
Now the situation had reversed. When the two sides met again, Cold Crow Devil Lord was already at a disadvantage.
Even though there was only one Golden Core cultivator in the group, and even though Cold Crow Devil Lord had several life-saving Law Artifacts, he still ended up falling in a pool of blood beneath their combined assault. Not far from him lay the crow he had raised for many years.
The sound of a flute, filled with waves of killing intent, slowly died away. The young male cultivator casually tucked his jade flute back into his robes. Several disciples in his group had been gravely injured by Cold Crow Devil Lord, but fortunately, they all carried medicinal pills and were in no danger of losing their lives.
The female cultivator who had been protected throughout the fight came forward and said with a beaming smile, "Senior brother, you killed the famous Cold Crow Devil Lord just after entering the Golden Core realm. If word gets out, your fame will surely soar!"
The male cultivator smiled. "How could I be as formidable as you say? If someone hadn't gravely injured him first, and you all hadn't helped hold him back, how could I have killed him? If anyone is to become famous, it should be all of us together."
The others' expressions brightened considerably at his words.
The female cultivator did not notice their expressions and said dismissively, "Why be so modest, senior brother? Even without us, you surely could have killed him. As for the person who injured Cold Crow Devil Lord, they've probably already died at his hands!"
The male cultivator did not respond to her, but after she voiced her guess, he let out a faint sigh of relief. After all, he was somewhat tempted by the glory of killing a Devil Lord above his own realm!
He could only hope that the person who had gravely injured Cold Crow Devil Lord really had already departed for the Yellow Springs.
At that moment, Sang Ying did not know that someone was hoping for her early death for the sake of fame. She had just finished regulating her breathing and changed into a fresh set of robes, intending to catch up with Nan Gurong and the others.
As for the Sword Qi left behind by the Sword Master Gu Wangchuan, which had developed sentience, she had temporarily sealed it inside the tree branch.
The Sword Qi had naturally thrown a tremendous tantrum over this. In its view, even the Ice Soul Sword Sang Ying had once used was merely passable, barely good enough for it to reside in for a while. But what was this tree branch supposed to be?!
In the end, Sang Ying had to swear to the heavens that she would find it a spirit sword as soon as possible before she coaxed the Sword Qi into entering the branch to rest.
According to the Sword Qi, it had wandered outside for so many years that if it did not find a place to reside and recuperate soon, it would probably disappear.
Fortunately, Sang Ying had infused the branch in her hand with a great deal of Spiritual Qi, and that astonishing sword strike had also imbued it with a faint trace of Sword Qi. Only then could it enter the branch to recuperate.
On her way to find Nan Gurong and the others, Sang Ying did not forget to chat with the Sword Qi. "Come to think of it, what should I call you? I can't keep calling you senior, can I?"
"What's wrong with calling me senior? At my age, am I not worthy of being your senior?!" The Sword Qi was still angry that it had not received the best treatment, and its words were barbed.
Sang Ying was not angry. She explained gently, "Of course you're worthy, senior. I just think someone as special as you should have a name of your own."
A strand of Sword Qi developing sentience as it had was probably the only instance of its kind in the world. Though Sang Ying had partly spoken to coax it, she had also meant what she said.
The Sword Qi was the sort that yielded to gentleness but not force. Hearing Sang Ying's words, its attitude softened somewhat. "Hmph, of course I know I'm extraordinary. But when the Sword Master left me behind, he only told me that when I met a suitable person, I should stay in their sword and teach them all of his swordsmanship. He didn't have time to give me a name."
That was naturally a lie. In truth, Gu Wangchuan had never even considered giving it a name. After all, no one could have expected a strand of Sword Qi to develop sentience.
The Sword Qi had been abruptly abandoned by its master, and it had an unruly temperament to begin with. During the long wait that followed, it found fault with everyone it saw. Even when it encountered young cultivators with reasonably good aptitude, it could not help looking down on them.
As time went on, the legend of Gu Wangchuan slowly faded from people's minds, and the hidden Sword Qi drew even less attention, until Sang Ying came across it.
It was also because the Sword Qi was on the verge of dissipating that, although Sang Ying did not entirely satisfy it, she was its last choice, and it had no choice but to yield.
"If you don't mind, senior, how about I give you a name?" Sang Ying asked tentatively.
The Sword Qi fell silent for a while. Just when Sang Ying thought it was angry, it finally spoke bashfully. "Then... then I suppose I can give you this chance!" The anticipation in its voice was impossible to hide.
Sang Ying quietly curved her lips into a smile. "You are the sword intent left behind by the Sword Master, senior, so why not take his surname, Gu? And since you're so extraordinary, the only one of your kind in the world, how about using the character Shu for your name? What do you think of Gu Shu?"
The Sword Qi savored the name for a moment, then said happily, "That's a good name. From now on, I'll be called Gu Shu!"
And so the Sword Qi's new name was decided.
At the same time, Sang Ying noticed that the traces left by Nan Gurong and the others were becoming clearer. She supposed the group could not be far from her now.