Firmament Sword

The City Lord’s Mansion had sent word to the Xia Mansion, officially informing them of the events that had transpired at their own residence the night before.

To many, Xu Luo was like a god who had saved them from disaster. But to a certain few, he was a plague god. He had just been passing through Hongcheng, yet he’d wiped out one powerful family and incidentally altered the future of another...

Several miles outside Hongcheng, Xia Muyao and an elderly man were waiting quietly. A discreet carriage was parked in the distance.

They had come alone to see Xu Luo off, without alerting anyone.

When she saw Xu Luo, a smile graced Xia Muyao’s face. She walked over and said in a gentle voice, ”Xu Luo, thank you!”

Xu Luo smiled and waved his hand dismissively. ”You’re my sister-in-law. Of course I couldn’t let anyone bully you. Don’t worry. If anyone from that minor sect dares to come to Hongcheng and cause you trouble in the future, just tell them to come find me. If they lay a single finger on any of you, I won’t let them off the hook!”

Xia Dade walked toward Xu Luo and said with a smile, ”Xu Ji certainly raised a fine son!”

”Grandpa Xia,” Xu Luo said, coming over to pay his respects.

Xia Dade laughed. ”Our entire Xia Family owes you their thanks for this. But we’re family, so I won’t waste words. If there ever comes a day you have need of the Xia Family, you have only to ask!”

Xu Luo smiled and nodded. ”I will!”

Just then, Xia Muyao picked up a wooden box from beside her. It was long and appeared quite heavy. She held it with some effort as she handed it to Xu Luo, saying, ”Inside is a saber. It’s for your brother.”

As she spoke, a faint blush graced Xia Muyao’s cheeks. She had only met Xu Su twice, and each encounter had left a profound impression on her.

The first time she saw Xu Su was on a street in the Imperial Capital. He was in the middle of a brawl, fighting like a ferocious tiger with seemingly endless strength, beating his opponents so badly they were crying for their mothers and fathers.

Then, with his foot on one of the men, Xu Su had demanded, ”Will you dare to insult my younger brother again?”

’My future husband... is a brute?’ That had been Xia Muyao’s first impression of Xu Su. He seemed incredibly fierce, but also... a bit reckless, all brawn and no brains. He was just too good at fighting!

Her second impression of Xu Su came when she had just taken over some of the family businesses. She was heading north to personally negotiate a major deal and happened to pass by the military camp where Xu Su was stationed. On a whim, Xia Muyao secretly had someone ask about him.

The reports she received, however, painted a picture completely at odds with her first impression.

”General Xu Su? His wisdom is unmatched!”

”What? You don’t believe it? Let me give you some examples. All of them are battles where Xu Su won against overwhelming odds...”

”General Xu Su had his men disguise themselves as mountain bandits to infiltrate that notorious group of brigands... Later, in one fell swoop, he annihilated the very group that had plagued Cangqiong’s northern territories for more than a decade...”

”On the border, General Xu Su isn’t famous for his strength. In fact, there are plenty of men in the army stronger than he is, but they all willingly follow his orders. Why? His intellect!”

It was only then that Xia Muyao finally understood. Xu Su, her future husband, only transformed into a brainless brute who solved problems with his fists when it came to his younger brother, Xu Luo. In reality, he was a soldier of exceptional intellect!

In the future, he was destined to become a celebrated general of his generation, one whose fame would be no less than that of the Grand General of National Guardian, Xu Ji!

”Then I’ll thank you on my brother’s behalf, sister-in-law.” Xu Luo smiled as he accepted the wooden box. It was incredibly heavy. Without even needing to open it, Xu Luo knew the weapon inside was no common blade.

”Tell your brother to take good care of himself,” Xia Muyao said, her face flushing slightly. She then looked at Xu Luo. ”I hear you’re rolling in money these days, so I don’t really have a fitting gift for you. You’re not angry, are you? You won’t accuse me of playing favorites?”

”Of course not. Just take care of yourself, sister-in-law, and focus on marrying my brother!” Xu Luo said with a laugh. He nodded to Xia Dade and Xia Muyao, waved to Li Hong in the distance, then turned around. Activating his Shaking Light Step, his figure vanished into the distance in the blink of an eye.

Xia Muyao gazed at Xu Luo’s receding figure, his parting words echoing in her mind: ’Just take care of yourself, sister-in-law, and focus on marrying my brother!’ For some reason, her face slowly began to blush.

Then, seeing her grandfather’s teasing smile, Xia Muyao stomped her foot lightly with a girlish pout. ”Grandpa, let’s go home!”

Xia Dade laughed heartily. ”Alright, let’s go home!”

After exchanging greetings with Xia Dade and Xia Muyao, Li Hong stood there quietly for a long time before sighing and murmuring to himself, ”Boss, I really envy Second Brother Xu and the others. They’re your true brothers, able to follow you with unwavering conviction. But me... I carry the heavy expectations of my family. This is as far as I can go with you...”

Xu Luo raced onward, the giant black tiger close behind him. As the scenery blurred past, his heart finally settled.

Much of the foul anger that had been festering in his chest since his ordeal in Merak had finally dissipated with the destruction of the Wei Family in Hongcheng.

’The power of sects is far beyond anything in the secular world. Even a disciple from a third-rate minor sect can be so disgustingly arrogant and domineering. In hindsight, it’s no wonder those people from Tianquan behave so tyrannically.’

’They possess immense power but have no restraints to match. It’s no wonder that, since ancient times, the Royal Families have never liked powerful Martial Artists, and they despise sects even more...’

’But do the Royal Families of the various nations, especially a powerful Empire like the Cangqiong Kingdom that’s over a thousand years old, truly have no connection to the sects at all?’

Xu Luo pondered these questions as he traveled. He thought about how easily Qiqi had entered a sect. While her exceptional talent was certainly a factor, he suspected a greater reason: the sect itself must have close ties to the Cangqiong Royal Family!

’Otherwise, why would a high-and-mighty sect care about the wishes of a secular monarchy?’

’In the secular world, Qiqi is a lofty Princess, but in a sect, she’s nothing more than an ordinary disciple! She might even be ostracized by other disciples from worldly backgrounds!’

’My mother also came from a sect, but I don’t know its name, nor do I know what her standing was within it.’

’Qiqi joined a sect, Phoenix is in a sect, and that tomboy I know, Lin Luo... she seems to be from a major sect as well...’ Xu Luo muttered, a wry smile suddenly appearing on his face. ’And here I am, someone who’s never had a good impression of sects, only to realize I’m already connected to them in so many ways.’

At that moment, Xu Luo was still unaware that the woman most important to him had also been taken away by a sect. If he were to learn this truth, one could only imagine what his feelings toward those high-and-mighty sects would become.

For the rest of the journey, Xu Luo didn’t stop, racing onward. He yearned to return to the Imperial Capital at once, to the warmth of his home, where Lianyi was waiting for him.

’I haven’t seen Lianyi in so long,’ Xu Luo thought. ’I wonder if she’s doing okay? She’ll be so happy when I get back, won’t she?’ The thought only made his desire to return home more urgent.

...

The majestic, ancient walls of the Imperial Capital finally came into view. Though still far in the distance, Xu Luo completely forgot his travel-weariness and could not help but let out a long cry, his voice booming like a great bell that shook the very sky.

The giant, black-striped tiger beneath him roared in response, its beast-king’s cry deep and domineering, shaking the heavens.

Xu Luo’s heart surged with emotion as he gazed upon the walls of the Imperial Capital City. ’Imperial Capital,’ he thought, ’I, Xu Luo... have returned!’