A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

An old man stood outside the door at the Daxia Sword Sect’s station, gazing up at the night sky with a worried expression.

He murmured, “It’s already so late... why isn’t Sui’an back yet?”

Qin Xian thought for a moment, then said softly, “It’s the Lantern Festival in the mortal world today. There are fairs and lantern displays. It’s normal for the little girl to be out playing late.”

Qin Xian smiled. “Don’t worry so much. She’s only seven, but she’s already reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement.

“Ordinary folks in the city can’t hurt her. Don’t worry.”

Li Nanting nodded faintly, but a nagging unease lingered in his heart—an ominous sense that something was about to happen.

Time passed quickly. Inside the room, Li Guanqi continued his quiet cultivation.

The old man looked up at the sky. It was already past midnight and approaching the hour of the Ox[1].

Even the festive noise from Heavenly Tiger City had quieted; the crowds had long since gone home.

Still uneasy, Li Nanting began pacing the courtyard, taking anxious puffs from his dry tobacco pipe. When the last wisp of smoke faded, he could no longer hold back. He said firmly, “Wake the disciples—now! We’re heading into Heavenly Tiger City to search for her!”

Only then did Qin Xian realize things weren’t as simple as he’d thought. Yu Sui’an might be a little mischievous, but she knew her limits. She had never stayed out so late before.

Soon, more than twenty disciples from the Daxia Sword Sect had been roused from their sleep.

Everyone gathered in the courtyard. After hearing what the old man had to say, their hearts sank. Heavenly Tiger City was a chaotic place, teeming with all sorts of people.

Yu Sui’an often ran around the sect’s eight peaks, so every disciple knew her well. The moment they learned she’d gone missing, they sprang into action, taking their swords and speeding toward the city.

Li Nanting hesitated for a long time before finally saying in a low voice, “No... I have to go search myself!

“Take care of Guanqi. I’ll come back once I find Sui’an.”

With a slight nod, he turned into a streak of purple light and soared away from Heavenly Tiger Mountain.

The sects participating in the Tournament of a Hundred Sects were stationed around the Heavenly Tiger Mountain, which was some distance from Heavenly Tiger City.

Li Nanting’s arrival above Heavenly Tiger City naturally drew a lot of attention. Upon recognizing his Daxia Sword Sect robes, the onlookers immediately cast interested glances.

“Looks like one of the Daxia Sword Sect’s elders. What’s he doing here at this hour?”

Soon, more people noticed disciples of the Daxia Sword Sect scouring the city. It was obvious they were searching for something.

As the shouts spread, the crowd caught on—they were looking for a little girl. The city buzzed with speculation. No one knew the full story. But despite searching through the entire night, there was still no trace of her.

The next morning, everyone returned to their lodgings.

Li Nanting slammed his palm down, shattering the table beside him. He said coldly, “We must find Yu Sui’an! A living person can’t just disappear without a trace!

“Did anyone find any clues?”

All the disciples shook their heads. Ye Feng, with a grim expression, spoke up. “I heard that some disciples from the Purple Sun Pavilion were drinking last night. One person said they’d seen a little girl matching Sui’an’s description on that street.

“I don’t know if the two are connected.”

Li Nanting immediately got up to leave.

Behind him, Tu Kui frowned and shouted, “Old Li, where are you going?”

Li Nanting shook off Tu Kui’s hand, a cold light flashing in his eyes. “Where else? I’m going to demand an explanation from Purple Sun Pavilion!”

“Enough!” Qin Xian cut in sharply. “Don’t panic!

“You still have her life jade slip, don’t you? Check it first!”

Li Nanting slapped his forehead, realizing his oversight in his worry. He quickly pulled a palm-sized, milky white jade slip from his storage ring.

The characters for “Sui’an” were carved on either side, and a deep crack split the center of the jade slip.

Li Nanting’s hand tightened around the slip. “She’s severely injured!”

Qin Xian’s eyes flashed as he said in a deep voice, “You don’t have the status for this. I’ll go to Purple Sun Pavilion myself.

“Tu Kui, stay here and watch over Guanqi. The rest of you—keep searching. Expand the perimeter!”

Li Nanting knew Qin Xian was right. He turned into a streak of light and shot toward the Heavenly Tiger City again. The others followed, speeding off.

Qin Xian, meanwhile, teleported directly to Purple Sun Pavilion’s lodgings. A disciple blocked his way at the entrance. Qin Xian’s face darkened. “Inform your elders that Qin Xian of the Daxia Sword Sect is here.”

The disciple sneered and said, “The Grand Elder said that we’re not receiving visitors for the next three days. Please leave.”

Anger flared up in Qin Xian’s heart. He said coldly, “Tell Elder Miao that I must see him!”

At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped out from within. He had a tough face and a cold air about him.

He said, “Grand Elder Qin, the two sects have their duel in two days. What could be so urgent? If it’s important, you can tell me.”

Qin Xian stared him down and asked, “I just want to know... did any of your disciples see a seven-year-old girl in a red floral jacket last night?”

The man pretended to ponder for a moment, then smiled and said, “No. The disciples returned early yesterday. No one said anything about such a girl.”

Qin Xian nodded grimly, unwilling to waste more time.

But from the man’s demeanor, it was obvious he knew something. He was clearly trying to brush Qin Xian off. As he turned to leave, Qin Xian said coldly, “You’d better not be lying. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what the Daxia Sword Sect will do.”

The man smiled indifferently, watching Qin Xian leave.

Once Qin Xian was out of sight, the man spat on the ground and muttered, “What a joke! Just because you climbed a few ranks with that blind brat, you think you’re equal to us?”

Just as he turned around, he saw an old man with white eyebrows standing behind him.

It was the Purple Sun Pavilion’s Grand Elder, Miao Chuanjiang.

Miao Chuanjiang watched Qin Xian’s distant figure thoughtfully, then disappeared with a flash.

Back inside, he angrily berated the disciples, saying, “All you do is cause trouble! Did you at least kill her?”

The disciples, the same ones scheduled to fight in the final match two days later, exchanged uneasy glances.

Zhao Beichen stood up and said lightly, “Hmmph, a bunch of useless trash.”

1. Between 1 AM and 3 AM. ☜