A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

Clang!

The woman was blasted over a hundred zhang back by Li Guanqi’s strike. The force tore the skin between her thumb and index finger.

She narrowed her eyes. She hadn’t expected him to be so strong.

A blue light flickered in her eyes, and a dozen demonic holograms appeared around her.

Li Guanqi frowned. He had no idea who she was or why she had attacked him the moment she saw him.

Just then, the young girl flew in front of him and yelled anxiously, “Sister Lan Xun! Stop! He’s not a bad person! He killed the men who were hunting me, and he even helped me treat my wounds!”

Lan Xun froze. She hadn’t expected Li Guanqi to have saved the girl’s life. She had acted rashly.

She quickly sheathed her sword, dispelled the holograms, and bowed. Looking at him apologetically, she said, “I’m sorry. I thought you were... It was my fault for not asking first.”

Nine Heavens let out a thunderous roar that shook the heavens.

Lan Xun trembled as its dragon’s might crushed her down into the water. The roar grew louder, and Nine Heavens pinned her beneath the river with its tail. She couldn’t move at all. The surrounding water, a hundred zhang in every direction, sank over ten zhang under the pressure.

It was clear just how furious Nine Heavens was at her.

Li Guanqi patted its neck. “That’s enough.”

Nine Heavens looked at him, then relented. It exhaled into the water, releasing a surge of dragon breath.

Boom!

A deafening explosion sent tall waves crashing down. Lan Xun coughed blood as she struggled to her feet, trembling.

She stared at Li Guanqi fearfully. The dragon’s obedience to him was unbelievable.

Dragons were arrogant by nature. She had never heard of anyone truly taming one.

Who is this guy?!

Lan Xun knew she stood no chance against the dragon, and perhaps not even against him. She stood up and bowed again. “I apologize.”

Li Guanqi waved her off. She sighed in relief, then turned to glare at the girl. “Xuan Qing! I’m telling the elders about this when we get back!”

The girl burst into tears.

She cried louder and louder. Between gasps, she said, “I just... wanted to see... the outside world... Why must we... hide... from the moment we’re born...”

Li Guanqi asked curiously, “You may be demons, but as long as you don’t harm humans, you should be fine. Why live in hiding?”

Lan Xun looked at him in surprise. Before answering, she checked on the girl’s injuries. Seeing they weren’t serious, she finally turned back to Li Guanqi. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided he probably meant no harm. After all, he had a dragon as a companion.

She sat down across from him. “We’re... a minor branch of the Spiritfish clan.”

Li Guanqi frowned. “So what if you’re demons? Why would the Mo family want you dead?”

Lan Xun sighed bitterly. “Because...”

She trailed off, turned around, and lifted her hair. On the back of her neck was a small protrusion, like the girl’s, but shaped almost like a sword hilt.

Letting her hair fall again, she looked at him. Though Li Guanqi’s eyes were pure white, she felt like she could read his thoughts. She smiled bitterly. “It looks like a sword hilt, doesn’t it?”

Li Guanqi nodded silently.

“You guessed right. Everyone in our clan carries a sword within them—a bone sword. It can be used to forge a sword seed. That single feature could spell our extinction.”

Li Guanqi was stunned. “You mean... if someone pulled that bone sword out, you’d die?”

Lan Xun gave a bitter smile. “That’s right. And the sword within us can be used to forge a sword seed of any element. That’s why people hunt us.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at him. “You must be wondering why I’d tell you something so important, right?”

Li Guanqi was caught off guard by how easily she could read him. Even without visible emotion, she saw through his thoughts.

Lan Xun smiled. “The Spiritfish clan can deduce a person’s general thoughts based on their scent.”

Then, she paused and looked at him. “Since the beginning of our conversation, there has been no killing intent or malicious thoughts in your heart. If you did have any, Xuan Qing could have turned into her true form and entered the river the moment she woke up.”

Li Guanqi now understood why she would tell him such an important secret. He was even concerned about how casually she told him everything.

Lan Xun rose slowly and gave him a Wanfu[1] Salute.

“Thank you for saving Xuan Qing. If anything had happened to her, I wouldn’t know how to face the elders.”

She smiled. “You’re a good man. The Spiritfish clan is small, so I won’t trouble you with an invitation. I wish you a smooth path on your journey to immortality, Esteemed Cultivator.”

Li Guanqi rose and gave her a fist salute. “In that case, I bid you farewell. We shall meet again if the fates allow.”

Lan Xun smiled and took a long look at him. She turned to the river, suppressing the emotions in her heart.

She had been born in the river and was destined never to leave it.

When she raised a hand to part the river and bring Xuan Qing back, her eyes dimmed.

Li Guanqi sighed and looked at the brightening sky. “Nine Heavens, let’s go. It’s time for us to go too.”

As Lan Xun glanced back at him, a sudden flash of light streaked across her vision.

Her eyes widened. She barely had time to push Xuan Qing away before a sword pierced her shoulder.

“Pfft! Cough... cough!”

Li Guanqi turned around in shock.

The sky roared with thunder, and a cold, arrogant voice echoed, saying, “You think you can leave after killing my men?”

1. The Wanfu Salute (万福礼) was the official gesture for greeting women in the Tang Dynasty, set by Emperor Wu Zetian. The woman places her palms horizontally in front of her chest, looks down slightly, and bends her knees slightly like a curtsy. Refer to the Translator’s Note below for a picture. ☜