Firmament Sword

”Phew!”

Inside the carriage, Xu Luo and Lin Luo looked at each other and breathed a secret sigh of relief.

”We finally got away!”

Xu Luo sighed softly, then looked at Lin Luo and said in a low voice, ”When we get to the next town and stop to rest, I’ll slip away quietly. I won’t say goodbye then, so... you take care of yourself.”

”Okay.”

Lin Luo responded softly, pursing his lips. A hint of reluctance flashed in his beautiful eyes. Then, he took a ring from his person and handed it to Xu Luo. ”You’ll be carrying a lot of things when you leave later,” he said quietly. ”Take this. You can put your things inside. It’ll be... more convenient that way.”

”This is...” Xu Luo’s eyes flashed as he stared at the plain-looking, bright silver ring Lin Luo was offering.

”It’s a Storage Ring! Put it on and try to open it with your Spiritual Power.” Lin Luo hesitated for a moment, then smiled. ”I swiped it from Du Ke when I was stealing the sword!”

Xu Luo couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. A Storage Ring. A treasure he had only ever heard about but never seen. For it to be in the possession of someone like Du Ke... Just who was Du Ke?

’A disciple from a major sect? Why would a disciple from a major sect be mixed up in a small-time gang like this? My own mother came from a major sect, and even she spoke of Storage Rings with a look of longing.’

’This thing... could it really have been Du Ke’s?’

Xu Luo was skeptical. He shook his head and said to Lin Luo, ”This is too valuable. I can’t take it. You should keep it for yourself.”

”What’s a mere object compared to your life?” Lin Luo looked at Xu Luo, his face stern. ”If you look down on me and don’t consider me a brother, then forget it.”

”How could I look down on you? It’s just that this thing...” Before Xu Luo could explain further, Lin Luo grabbed his hand and slid the ring onto his finger.

Xu Luo stared blankly at the ring on his hand, a strange feeling welling up inside him.

Even though Lin Luo had spoken of it so casually, Xu Luo knew perfectly well that even a Spatial Ring that could only hold the contents of a large backpack was worth a fortune!

According to legend, things like this only existed in major sects. In the secular world, they were priceless items you couldn’t buy even if you had the money!

No amount of money could buy one!

Seeing Xu Luo accept it, the girl looked at him happily and declared, ”Xu Luo, from now on, you’re my man! This is a token of my love, haha! Come on, give your master a smile!”

”Get lost!” Xu Luo rapped Lin Luo on the head.

Not to be outdone, Lin Luo fought back, and the two couldn’t help but start roughhousing in the carriage.

The carriage was already more than ten *li* out of Black Wind Town. There were few pedestrians on the road, so the carriage moved quickly, and its soundproofing was excellent. Thus, their roughhousing was quite unrestrained.

As an ambiguous atmosphere began to rise between them, Lin Luo suddenly felt a bit strange. ’This blockhead has always thought I’m a boy, but the way we are now... He... he couldn’t possibly be... into men, could he?’

’Oh god, if that’s really the case, then... then that would be terrifying!’

”Hee hee...”

A soft chuckle suddenly echoed through the carriage, scaring the two roughhousing youths and making their hair stand on end.

”Who’s there!” Lin Luo barked coldly, a scimitar appearing in his hand.

Xu Luo was even more direct. His sword, Shui Lan, flew from its sheath, and he stabbed straight down at the thick floorboards of the carriage!

With a CLACK, the floorboard flipped over, and a figure appeared before them. Just as Xu Luo was about to channel Breaking Army Seven Kills, he got a clear look at the person and froze, stopping Lin Luo from attacking.

”How can it be you?”

The person before them was none other than the one who had spoken up for Xu Luo in the Black Forest and had betrayed the Black Wind Gang just a few days ago—the Female Hall Master, Nangong Yu Yan!

”And why can’t it be me?” Nangong Yu Yan smiled at the two of them, her gaze lingering on Lin Luo, who looked rather guilty when their eyes met.

”Luo...” Nangong Yu Yan looked at Lin Luo. She had just uttered the first syllable when Lin Luo cut her off.

”Sister Nangong, don’t be so mushy, okay? Just call me Lin Luo!” Lin Luo said.

”Oh, alright then. Lin Luo. I never would have thought you’d disguise yourself like this. Tsk tsk, you’re actually quite handsome. You even make this big sister feel inadequate.” Nangong Yu Yan smiled, reaching out to gently pat Lin Luo’s cheek.

”There you go, teasing me again!” Lin Luo slapped Nangong Yu Yan’s hand away, then turned to Xu Luo. ”Now you know how I found out you were being hunted by the Black Wind Gang, right?”

Xu Luo nodded, looking at Nangong Yu Yan. ”You and Lin Luo... you’ve known each other for a long time?”

”Yeah, Sister Nangong has always taken good care of me!” Lin Luo quickly answered.

Nangong Yu Yan gave Lin Luo a meaningful look, then said to Xu Luo, ”You’re a lucky one, kid. And bold, too, daring to enter Black Wind Town.”

”Sister Nangong, he’s the one who saved me. Otherwise, I would have been a goner this time!” Lin Luo said.

Nangong Yu Yan glanced at Lin Luo with a hint of reproach. ”You were too reckless this time. If something had happened to you...”

Nangong Yu Yan didn’t finish her sentence, turning her gaze to Xu Luo. ”What are your plans now?”

”I’m heading back to the Imperial Capital. I was going to leave anyway, but I was a little worried about him. Since you’re here and you two are on such good terms, I can leave without any worries.”

As he spoke, Xu Luo placed his bags from the carriage into the Storage Ring. After a moment’s thought, he took a Jade Pendant from his waist and handed it to Lin Luo. ”This is my token. Take it to any Government Office in the Imperial Capital, and you’ll be able to find me.”

”Okay.” Lin Luo took the Jade Pendant, turning it over and examining it for a long while before happily putting it away.

Then, he glanced at Nangong Yu Yan and nodded at her. ”We’ll meet again someday! Lin Luo, goodbye!”

”Yeah, goodbye...” Lin Luo’s voice was tinged with reluctance. After spending the past few days together, she had developed a very good impression of her clever but sometimes dense savior. Parting was always sad.

When she looked up again, Xu Luo was already gone from the carriage. Only the soft click of the carriage window closing, as if blown by the wind, remained.

Lin Luo pursed her lips and grumbled under her breath, ”That damn guy, leaving so heartlessly.” Then, the girl’s face filled with sorrow as she added, ”But... he still doesn’t know I’m a girl...”

”Luoxue, you haven’t fallen for that kid, have you?”

Nangong Yu Yan casually sat down beside Lin Luoxue and said softly, ”His background is probably not simple. If you fall for him, it might not be a good thing.”

”Fallen for him? How could I? It’s just that he saved my life, and he doesn’t even know I’m a girl. That blockhead!”

As Lin Luoxue spoke, she recalled Xu Luo’s dense expression and couldn’t help but let out a giggle. In her heart, however, a faint ripple spread, but she quickly suppressed it.

”Hahaha, that’s hilarious! Who told you to spend all day pretending to be a boy? Now you’re in a bind, huh.”

Nangong Yu Yan was laughing so hard she was doubled over, completely beside herself with glee.

”You’re laughing at me too! Hmph, Uncle Lin is better. He’s just focused on driving the carriage, not laughing at me at all!” Lin Luoxue huffed, glaring at Nangong Yu Yan. ”You’re still laughing!”

Just then, Master Lin’s voice came from outside. ”Ahem, Young Miss, this old servant didn’t hear a thing.”

”You...” Lin Luoxue’s face flushed crimson. She whined, ”I give up! You’re all terrible!”

”Haha, alright, no more teasing. Luoxue, you’ve suffered these past few months. It’s all because your big sister was incompetent and couldn’t retrieve that sword. I even put you in danger. Thank goodness you escaped safely. Otherwise, even dying ten thousand times wouldn’t be enough to atone for my failure,” Nangong Yu Yan said.

”Sister, what are you talking about? Do we need to be so formal with each other? In any case, the sword has been retrieved. This time, the Sect Leader shouldn’t give you any more trouble.”

At that moment, an expression of maturity completely at odds with her age appeared on Lin Luoxue’s stunning face.

”It’s just that once you’re back at the sect, Sister, you’d better think about how you’re going to deal with all those buzzing admirers!” Lin Luoxue said with a grin, a teasing look on her face.

”If those outstanding young men heard the Dubhe Saintess describe them like that, they would surely be heartbroken,” Nangong Yu Yan replied with a casual smile.

”Like I care if they drop dead!” Lin Luoxue pouted, speaking with disdain.

Nangong Yu Yan rolled her eyes at Lin Luoxue and said somberly, ”Even if you like that dense goose of yours just a little bit, it would be best to forget him! Otherwise, you’ll only bring him harm!”

Lin Luoxue hadn’t expected Nangong Yu Yan to bring the topic up again. She rolled her eyes, leaned back lazily against the carriage wall, and laughed casually. ”You’re really overthinking it, Sister. I don’t actually like him!”

”Not even a little?” Nangong Yu Yan looked at Lin Luoxue. ”He saved your life!”

”Does saving my life mean I have to marry him in return? So annoying!”

Lin Luoxue whined coquettishly. Then, thinking of Xu Luo, she couldn’t help but smile knowingly. ’I wouldn’t say I like him, but I don’t dislike him either. That blockhead... he’d be a pretty good friend!’

It was unclear what Nangong Yu Yan was thinking, but she smiled and said, ”Unless... unless he can truly step out of the secular world and become a true Absolute Peak Powerhouse. Only then could he take you, the Saintess, away from the greatest sect in this world! But... an Absolute Peak Powerhouse... forget him, even the most outstanding disciples from the major sects...”

”Sis, I’m begging you, can we please not talk about this?” Lin Luoxue leaned on Nangong Yu Yan’s shoulder and said in a wheedling tone, ”You’re just trying to escape the reality you’ll have to face when you get back. Why do you have to drag me into it?”

Lin Luoxue suddenly sat up straight, her eyes scrutinizing Nangong Yu Yan as if in sudden realization. ”Ah... I get it! Sister, you’re the one who’s fallen for that kid, aren’t you? That’s why you keep bringing him up!”

Nangong Yu Yan froze, then her eyes went wide as she denied it. ”Nonsense! How is that possible? Are you kidding? It’s not like he saved my life...”

But in her mind’s eye, she recalled the fleeting but stunningly brilliant footwork Cultivation Technique Xu Luo had displayed in the Black Forest... and the death of Li the Fourth.

”Agh, you’re so annoying! Does saving a life mean you have to pledge yourself in marriage? One of these days, I’m going to set a trap and find a handsome man to come ’save’ you. We’ll see what you say then!”

”You wouldn’t dare!”

”Hmph, just watch me!”

”I’ll teach you to provoke me...”

”Aaaaah... Sister Nangong, don’t touch me there, it tickles...”

”Still feeling brave?”

”I don’t dare! I don’t dare! I’ll never dare again...”

”Hmph, that’s more like it!”

The sound of silvery laughter drifted out from the carriage, scattering along the road.

...