"Really?" He Lingchuan took it, his expression a mix of doubt and surprise. "Is this written by Sun Fuping?" he exclaimed as he recognized the handwriting.
"Yes," He Chunhua replied, waving the notebook in his hand. "It's spoils of war, taken from him."
With the help of the Great Wind Army's spirits and the demons, the Blackwater City army had eliminated Sun Fuping. He Chunhua was not about to miss the chance to collect the former National Master's belongings.
He Yue asked curiously, "What else is written in the notebook?"
"Divine spells, elixirs, rare items – what people call 'demonic arts'," He Chunhua said as he put the notebook away. "I was hoping to find some secret military records in it."
He Lingchuan was also curious: "Were there any?"
"No."
After eating his fill, He Lingchuan stood up and excused himself.
As soon as he stepped out of the garden, Uncle Hao followed him and said sincerely, "Thank you, Young Master."
He Lingchuan knew Uncle Hao was thanking him for killing Nian Songyu and avenging the Harrier demon. He waved his hand dismissively. "It's a small matter! That Nian scoundrel wanted to kill me too, but thankfully, he didn't get his wish."
The following days were calm and peaceful.
He Lingchuan reverted to his carefree existence as a rich young idler. He was constantly invited to meals and entertainment, surrounded by a host of dubious friends. Whenever he went to tea houses or entertainment venues, people would inevitably flock around him, praising Young Master He's unparalleled bravery: how he had entered restricted zones, saved teammates, and killed traitors – all feats beyond ordinary people's capabilities.
In the past few days, Zeng Feixiong and the other soldiers who had returned from the adventure received generous rewards. With money in hand, they naturally went to the market to spend it, as shared joy is greater than solitary pleasure. Consequently, the story became increasingly bizarre and fantastical as it spread by word of mouth.
Naturally, Sun and Nian were portrayed as despicable, cunning, and utterly repulsive. The He father and son, on the other hand, were depicted as wise and mighty, leading the Blackwater City army to challenge the Mad Sand Season, battle the vengeful spirits of Panlong City, and ultimately return triumphantly.
He Lingchuan was certain that the number of young women and wives batting their eyelashes at him on the street had more than tripled.
Heroes love beauties, and what beauty doesn't love a hero?
Unfortunately, the cultivation method he practiced did not allow for such indulgences.
One day, Zeng Feixiong introduced him to a blacksmith shop. It was said that this shop had been passed down for five generations, and all Blackwater City military officers had their weapons custom-made and maintained there.
He Lingchuan went in and immediately laid out the broken saber. "Can this be repaired?" he asked.
The owner of the shop was a red-faced, bearded man. He picked up the broken saber and was immediately impressed. "What a fine saber, and so fierce!" he exclaimed. "I've been in this trade for over ten years, and this is the first time I've seen such a formidable weapon. Even broken in two, it still feels like it wants to devour someone."
Seeing their puzzled expressions, he explained, "This is the saber's spirit, still alive. It's like a toothless tiger; it still has its claws and its physique, and an ordinary person still can't defeat it."
He didn't touch the blade, but sniffed it twice. "This saber has claimed at least a few hundred lives," he stated.
"Probably five or even seven hundred," He Lingchuan laughed. "This is Zhong Shengguang's saber, the Commander of Panlong City."
Zeng Feixiong finally managed to interject, "This is the eldest young master of the He Residence."
Young Master He's heroic deeds had spread like wildfire throughout Blackwater City. To his surprise, the blacksmith seemed unaware of this, and even after hearing it, he kept waving his hands. "My apologies, but I cannot repair this treasure," he said. "Not just me; I doubt anyone in Blackwater City—no, in the entire Qiansong Commandery—could do it."
He Lingchuan's expression darkened. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Perhaps due to a shared aura, he liked the saber more and more the longer he looked at it and didn't want it to remain idle.
To be pragmatic, simply the label "Zhong Shengguang's Former Collection" would make it priceless once repaired.
"Legend has it that divine artifacts possess spirits," the blacksmith explained. "While this saber hasn't reached that level yet, it has drunk much human blood, and its fierce aura has enveloped it, gradually developing a nascent spiritual essence. This is called the 'saber heart' or 'saber eye'." He picked up the precious saber, pointing to the broken edge for them to examine closely. "Look at the cross-section," he said. "Isn't it smooth and lustrous, as if mercury is flowing within?"
He gently shook the blade twice.
Zeng Feixiong watched without blinking, then nodded repeatedly. "Indeed!"
He had handled dozens of weapons, but this was the first time he had seen a cross-section like mercury.
"When people say 'swords and sabers have no eyes', they are referring to ordinary weapons," the blacksmith explained with a wry smile. "If they break, they break. You can reforge and mend them, or at worst, melt them down and recast them. But if your precious saber is melted down, the 'saber heart' it developed will be lost. And if you only repair it, it will never accept ordinary metal. It would require not only the owner's blood but also Kunwu Gold."
"Kunwu Gold?" He Lingchuan found the words somewhat familiar. After carefully searching his original self's memories, he actually found relevant information. "The legendary Kunwu Gold, said to be found only on the wondrous Kunwu Mountain and used exclusively for forging divine weapons?" he mused.
His original self had heard storytellers mention it in tea houses more than once or twice.
"Precisely," the blacksmith confirmed. "As for such a treasure, I haven't heard of it being found anywhere in Qiansong Commandery."
He Lingchuan tapped his fingers on the table a few times, a troubled expression on his face.
Just as Zeng Feixiong thought he was about to give up, Young Master He pulled a short scepter from his robes. "Take a look," he said, "would this be suitable?"
Zeng Feixiong was greatly surprised. "Isn't that National Master Sun's personal staff?" he exclaimed. Was this young master intending to damage one perfectly good treasure to repair another?
He cautiously reminded him, "Young Master, this staff is priceless. Even the Commandery Governor was reluctant to part with it when he gave it away."
He Lingchuan scoffed. "What if it's priceless? If I can't use it, why keep it?"
Both he and He Yue had carefully read and tried the instructions He Chunhua had provided, but the staff was too haughty and completely unresponsive to any commands.
Its former owner was the National Master, and its standard for choosing a master was naturally high. Given Sun Fuping's abilities, if his National Master status hadn't become invalid, if the Panlong Secret Realm hadn't suppressed his cultivation, if He Lingchuan and others hadn't continuously ambushed him with city-guarding ballistas, and if the Great Wind Army spirits hadn't joined the battle, how could He Chunhua's Blackwater City army have possibly defeated him?
When a treasure seeks a new master, it clearly didn't want these two weaklings as its masters.
He Lingchuan, of course, wouldn't tolerate such haughty behavior.
If he couldn't have it, he'd destroy it. Wouldn't it be better to use it on the broken saber, which felt more kindred to him?
He thrust the scepter into the blacksmith's hand. "Look closely," he said, "is this beast head made of Kunwu Gold?"
On the journey, Sun Fuping's attendants had proudly boasted that the National Master's staff head was forged from Kunwu Copper, a treasure money couldn't buy. He Lingchuan guessed this was probably Kunwu Gold.
Of course, these attendants had already been killed by He Chunhua, but their words still echoed in his mind.
The blacksmith was also astonished by Young Master He's wealth; something casually produced by him was a minor fortune that commoners would struggle for generations to achieve.
He took the precious scepter and examined it carefully. He then produced a liquid from somewhere, dripped a few drops, and repeatedly rubbed it. After half a day of appraisal, he finally looked up and said, "Young Master, this is indeed Kunwu Gold, but I can't use it here."
"Are you messing with me?" He exclaimed. "First you said it couldn't be repaired without Kunwu Gold, and now I have Kunwu Gold, and it still can't be repaired."
[1 hour ago] Chapter 329
[2 hours ago] Chapter 1155: Mutiny
[2 hours ago] Chapter 1689: Mixed Origins, Earth Sinks
[4 hours ago] Chapter 575: Reading Books
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