A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

“Leave the maps to me! I’ll get you two of the most detailed ones you’ve ever seen!”

Then Tang Ru’s expression turned solemn. He looked at Li Guanqi and said quietly, “You still have time to reconsider. My second brother’s connections and resources run deep, so he’ll definitely find someone powerful. Maybe even someone who can fight above their level.”

He continued, “If you’re uneasy, I won’t press you. And even if you fail, I’ll still give you what I promised. Your safety comes first; money can always be earned back.”

Li Guanqi smiled. To him, spirit stones weren’t just currency but cultivation resources. The purer the spirit qi, the longer they could sustain him. A high-grade spirit stone could last him three to five days, and escorting one person out of the city for one thousand of them was a deal well worth it.

Furthermore...

He looked at Tang Ru for a moment. He’d given Li Guanqi a great impression. This was likely the most important test in Tang Ru’s family, yet he still told Li Guanqi to prioritize his own safety. His words had carried no hint of guilt or insincerity. They came from the heart.

Li Guanqi said, “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best. I’ll take my leave for now, and I’ll be back in three days.”

As Li Guanqi left, Tang Ru bowed deeply. He knew Li Guanqi wasn’t driven by greed. If not for their connection, even a larger reward might not have convinced him.

Li Guanqi was a man who knew what he wanted.

Tang Ru fell silent for a long while.

“Old Qian,” he finally said, “get me two maps—the most detailed you can find. And prepare the spirit stones.”

The old man gradually appeared from the shadows, frowning. “Young Master, why are you in such a hurry to prepare the spirit stones? He hasn’t even completed the job! What if the kid dies? I think I should do it instead. I can get an old friend to protect you while I’m gone.”

Boom!

Tang Ru’s aura burst forth as he gave Qian Feng a cold look. “Old Qian, I hope that’s the last time you say something like that.”

He turned away slowly and added, “I don’t need anyone making decisions for me. As for him... I trust him. The moment he accepted the task, it was already as good as done. What I need to think about now is how to repay my dear second brother.”

Tang Ru’s confidence only grew once Li Guanqi agreed to the job.

Meanwhile, after Li Guanqi left the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, an inconspicuous old woman glanced up from the crowd. She looked perfectly ordinary, and Li Guanqi paid her no attention.

Late that night, in a tower within the Southern Territory, a young man in purple robes swirled a cup of wine in his hand, enjoying the silence.

Buzz!

The shadow beneath his feet stirred, coalescing into a man in black robes. The figure stood motionless behind the youth until he raised a hand, permitting him to speak.

“Second Master,” the black-robed man said, “Tang Ru has found someone to help him. A blind man.”

The youth sitting in the chair frowned slightly. He opened his eyes and stood up. His face was handsome but thin, and his gaze cold and predatory.

“A blind man?” he murmured, deep in thought.

He tapped his finger against his wine glass, then turned toward the black-robed man. “A blind man... Could it be Li Guanqi from the Northern Territory? I heard he showed up at the Phoenix Lightning Sect in the Eastern Territory recently, even serving as a ceremonial elder for a time. But he left two months back. The timing fits.”

The man in black was inwardly shocked by his master’s memory. He bowed and replied, “He wasn’t seen with his usual sword box, but based on your deductions, it does sound like him.”

Boom!

Tang Yan grabbed the man by the neck with his left hand and drove a lightning-fast punch into his gut with his right. The man bent over like a prawn, blood spraying from his mouth.

Pfft!

Tang Yan narrowed his eyes, glaring at the man and lifting him up again. “Don’t ever bring me half-baked information again. I don’t keep useless men. If you can’t even identify someone, what use are you?”

He flung the man aside, who shot out like a cannonball and crashed into a wall, leaving a deep crater.

The man crumpled to the ground, trembling, coughing blood. But he didn’t dare move. He lay on the ground like a dog. “Y-yes... I... I will confirm his identity right away!”

Tang Yan grunted and looked out the window. He muttered, “He’s already reached Wuzi City, hasn’t he? Tell him to act. Success is imperative. If he fails, he ceases to exist.”

The man’s heart pounded. The person Tang Yan had mentioned was a renowned prodigy from the Eastern Territory, but it seemed he was Tang Yan’s lackey.

The man gave a trembling nod before vanishing into the darkness.

Tang Yan stood by the window, gazing at the gray clouds above.

“My dear brother,” he whispered, “why can’t you just enjoy life as a prodigal son?”

Tang Yan smirked, then downed his cup of wine. A fierce, secret struggle was about to begin.

Li Guanqi had seen through it all, yet still joined in.

In the absolute darkness, Li Guanqi stood half-naked, practicing with his bright red sword. Even without a hint of vital force, his movements carried a terrifying sword force.

With his eyes squeezed shut, Li Guanqi silently withstood the spatial distortions around him, continuing to swing his sword. Wounds opened and healed in endless cycles.

Three days passed in that darkness. He spent nearly all of them tempering his body against the pull of space.

It was agony, but he welcomed it. He could finally command every ounce of his physical strength. Each swing grew faster and sharper, with each stroke strong enough to cleave a mountain in two.