Chapter 98: Sword Immortal

Out of Jun Tian Prefecture City, it didn't take long before the surroundings were filled with fields and trees. In the lush greenery, the chirping of birds gradually drowned out the city's noise.

Unlike Chunhui Prefecture's bustling waterways, the farmlands outside Jun Tian Prefecture City were quite spectacular, even if Ji Yuan could only perceive them dimly.

The name Yuanzi River always reminded Ji Yuan of Yuanzi Workshop in Chunhui Prefecture and the unforgettable taste of Thousand-Day Spring. He occasionally took out his wine bottle for a few sips, and before he knew it, he had reached the banks of the Yuanzi River.

It was a clear, small river. In the distance, along the river, there were some residential houses, a small settlement of about twenty households, making it hard for Ji Yuan to tell if it was a village or something else.

After walking leisurely for about fifteen minutes, he approached the residential area, clearly hearing the rhythmic hammering from a blacksmith's shop.

This was the only blacksmith's shop near the city by the Yuanzi River, so Ji Yuan didn't need to ask for directions; he simply followed the sound.

"Ding, ding, ding..." "Clang... clang... clang..."

The hammering was frequent, suggesting more than one blacksmith. A quick look at the shop's scale revealed four forging rooms. The metal and charcoal in the peak summer heat made the atmosphere feel even hotter.

Ji Yuan realized that the surrounding residences were likely the homes of these artisans.

Pondering some trivial matters and what he would say soon, Ji Yuan saw a muscular master, bare-chested, fanning himself on a lounge chair in the outermost section, where farming tools and knives were displayed. Ji Yuan promptly walked over to inquire.

"Excuse me, master artisan, do you forge swords here?"

The master, still fanning himself, looked up at Ji Yuan, a refined man in a long-sleeved green robe. His gaze then lingered for a moment on the rod-like object on Ji Yuan's back.

"If your sword is broken, our Yan family shop can repair it for you. We guarantee it will be as good as new, or even better. But we don't forge new swords or blades."

"Oh, then what about making a scabbard?"

The artisan sat up from the lounge chair and put his fan aside.

"Yes, we can do that. We can make wooden scabbards or leather scabbards. If you prefer a sturdy one, we can even make an iron scabbard. If you're willing to pay for the materials, a bronze or silver scabbard is also possible! Which type would you like, sir?"

"Just a wooden scabbard will do. No intricate carvings, just simple and durable."

The artisan stood up.

"Alright. I'll take you to another room to measure the sword's width, thickness, and length, weigh it, and then you can choose the wood."

Ji Yuan nodded and followed, entering another room that was open at both ends. Through the open front and back doors, he could see the vigorous blacksmithing activity in the rear.

Inside, two other bare-chested elder masters were sitting, drinking water and resting. Although they appeared to be over sixty, their muscles were considerable.

"Sir, please unstrap your sword so I can see it."

Ji Yuan glanced at the two elder artisans, unstrapped the cloth-wrapped long sword, and placed it on the table. He then removed the blue cloth, revealing the full appearance of the Green Vine Sword.

Though the Green Vine Sword's blade was now rust-free, it still wasn't perfectly bright. Its overall subdued appearance only gave way to a sharp, cold glint at the edge. The hilt was even stranger; it had no guard and resembled a verdant green vine, yet it was perfectly intertwined and integrated with the long sword.

The artisan couldn't resist reaching out to touch the vine-like hilt. Before his fingers even made contact, a tingling sensation emanated, giving him an odd reluctance to touch the sword itself.

Forcing down the absurd panic in his heart, the artisan bravely reached out and touched the hilt. Fortunately, nothing happened; the hilt's texture was merely like a tender green vine, flexible and cool.

The two elder masters, who had been resting nearby, had already stood up and leaned closer, looking at the sword with curiosity.

"Sir... does this sword of yours have a name or a story?"

Ji Yuan offered a seemingly casual smile and spoke in a calm voice.

"This sword indeed has some history. About eighty years ago, it was forged right here in the Yan family shop..."

Ji Yuan paused slightly, his smile becoming enigmatic. To ensure that all the artisans, both near and far, could hear him, he spoke again, his voice imbued with a subtle power.

"Its name is Clear Shadow!"

Instantly, the noisy clanging within the Yan family shop ceased completely.

Ji Yuan simply looked at the strong figures in the forging rooms at the back, then scrutinized the expressions of the two elders and the middle-aged man in the room.

"Uh... hehe... A good name, a very good name. Perhaps it was forged by a master from our great-grandfather's generation," the middle-aged artisan chuckled awkwardly.

The middle-aged artisan gave an awkward laugh, took out a ruler, and prepared to measure the blade. The two elder masters sat back down, though their gazes kept drifting towards the long sword. The hammering sounds from the back courtyard did not resume for a long time, and Ji Yuan could hear faint whispers.

"Master artisan, you haven't heard of this sword's name?" Ji Yuan asked with a smile.

"Never heard of it, no. But since you say it was forged here, perhaps it was. You see, the items from our shop are always sturdy and durable; it still looks like this after eighty years..."

Listening to the middle-aged artisan regain his conversational fluency from his initial awkwardness, Ji Yuan felt they might have misunderstood something again. It seemed that without revealing something, he wouldn't change their minds. Perhaps a benevolent lie would be better.

"Oh, indeed, eighty years is a long time. You've all forgotten, even if this was once Zuo Li's weapon..."

When Zuo Li's name was mentioned, Ji Yuan distinctly felt the middle-aged artisan's hand, holding the ruler, tremble slightly. But Ji Yuan had not yet finished speaking.

"But while you may have forgotten, it has not, right?"

Ji Yuan's "it" referred to the long sword on the table, and at the very moment his words faded.

"Oommm..."

The long sword on the table began to hum on its own, causing a slight ringing in their ears.

"Crack... crack, crack..."

The wooden ruler in the middle-aged artisan's hand splintered inch by inch from the sharp aura, startling him into quickly withdrawing his hand.

"Gentlemen, I am not an enemy of the Zuo family, nor do I covet anything. Zuo Li once showed me kindness, and I am not one to forget a favor. Therefore, I wish to know if any descendants of the Zuo family are still alive, so I might offer what little help I can."

An old artisan stood up, looked at the Green Vine Sword on the table, and suppressing his shock, declared emphatically:

"Since you have obtained the Clear Shadow sword, you must also have Zuo Sword Immortal's secret manual. Why are you still looking for the Zuo family's descendants? The Zuo family has caused our Yan family enough trouble! We don't know if they are all dead or not; it's best if they are, and if not, they have nothing to do with us!"

"Exactly! It's clear your martial arts are unfathomable. That display just now was beyond our imagination. We wouldn't dare hide anything from you. The Zuo family must be completely wiped out!"

The middle-aged artisan echoed this.

"That's right, the Zuo family should have died long ago!" "Precisely, they must all be dead!"

"Anyway, it has nothing to do with our Yan family shop!" "Right..."

Unbeknownst to Ji Yuan, a crowd of blacksmiths and apprentices had gathered outside, shouting, everyone filled with righteous indignation. They all appeared to be members of the Yan family, and the atmosphere was quite tense.

Ji Yuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahahahahaha..."

He looked around at the people, and his clear, resonant voice rang out.

"No wonder the Zuo family was so close to your Yan family back then. Decades have passed, yet you are still protecting the Zuo lineage. Truly admirable!"

After saying these seemingly inexplicable words, Ji Yuan solemnly bowed deeply to all the Yan family blacksmiths around him, front and back, leaving many of them bewildered, astonished, and somewhat uneasy.

"Rest assured, I am not some martial artist seeking fame and fortune, nor do I wish to gain anything from the Zuo family..."

Smiling as he said this, Ji Yuan couldn't help but inwardly chuckle, amused that he too had to resort to using the cultivation world's "chain of contempt." With this thought, he continued speaking.

"Mortal martial arts hold little meaning for me. I seek the Zuo family's descendants merely to provide Zuo Li with an explanation, decades overdue."

As these words, which invited some speculation and suspicion, fell, the Green Vine Sword on the table floated up. Like a living thing, it rotated once around Ji Yuan, then positioned itself point-down, hovering before him.

"Oommm..."

The sword hummed continuously, its light subtly appearing and disappearing. The hum rose and fell, as if the long sword itself was expressing its feelings.

The onlookers were either wide-eyed or clutching their trousers. Everyone held their breath, speechless, with only one thought in their minds:

'Sword Immortal!'