Firmament Sword

Over half a month had passed since Xu Luo and Master Mao returned to the fiefdom. Only then did Xu Su and Guo Ying, leading a group of women, quietly appear in Xu Luo’s territory.

”Big Brother!” Xu Luo rushed forward and threw his arms around Xu Su in a tight hug.

Tears welled up in Xu Su’s eyes. He pressed his lips together tightly and clapped Xu Luo hard on the back. His voice was choked with emotion as he said with a laugh, ”Kid, you’ve gotten a lot stronger!”

”Hehe...” Xu Luo gave a goofy laugh. ”Of course! Just look whose little brother I am!”

Xu Su released Xu Luo and took two steps back, his eyes still filled with a trace of disbelief. He had, of course, always hoped his younger brother would become powerful—ideally, far surpassing him.

But what happened at the Obstinate Rock Sect was simply too staggering.

That was a sect!

Even if it was just a third-rate sect, a vassal to a super-sect... it was still an existence that the secular world had to look up to.

’And my little brother took them all down... by himself?’ A look of gratification flashed in Xu Su’s eyes as he looked at his brother.

Nearby, Guo Ying stood watching with a gentle smile. With her charming and delicate appearance, she looked just like an ordinary noble girl from the secular world. Among the people present, besides Xu Su and the group of rescued women, only Xu Luo truly knew the extent of her real strength.

”Xiaoluo, this... is Miss Guo Ying. You can call her Big Sister,” Xu Su said, suppressing the emotion in his heart as he made the introduction.

Xu Luo beamed at Guo Ying and greeted her, ”Hello, Big Sister!”

Guo Ying’s face flushed slightly. She looked at the handsome, bright young man before her and nodded gently. After a moment’s thought, she took a long sword from her person and offered it to Xu Luo. ”We’ve just met, so I don’t have a proper gift for you. This sword has been with me since I was a child. I’d like you to have it now.”

Xu Luo had seen Guo Ying in action at the Obstinate Rock Sect and knew that her sword was a rare treasure. More importantly, it was her cherished possession from childhood, which gave it a special significance. He naturally couldn’t accept it and was about to refuse.

Xu Su spoke up from the side, ”Since it’s a welcoming gift from your big sister, just accept it. Otherwise, it will be awkward for her to ask you for a favor later.”

Guo Ying shot Xu Su a look and said peevishly, ”To hear you talk, it sounds like the only reason I’m giving our little brother a gift is so I can ask him for a favor.”

Xu Luo thought to himself, ’Looks like they’ve developed some feelings for each other after spending all this time together. I just wonder how Big Brother is going to explain this to Sister-in-law Mu Yao?’

With that in mind, Xu Luo reached out and accepted the long sword from Guo Ying. He thought for a moment, then glanced at Xu Jie, who gave a slight nod.

Xu Luo retrieved ”Water Blue” from his Storage Ring and said, ”Since Big Sister gave me a gift, I should give you one as well. This dagger was forged by my second brother, Xu Jie. It’s a fine weapon. A dagger... is perfect for a woman to use.”

Guo Ying was slightly taken aback and subconsciously accepted ”Water Blue.” Hailing from a major sect, her knowledge far surpassed that of an ordinary person. She immediately infused her True Essence into the seemingly unremarkable dagger.

BUZZ!

”Water Blue” let out a soft hum, and its short blade suddenly erupted in a deep blue glow. The color was magnificent and dazzling; one look was enough to know this was a true treasure.

Guo Ying couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment. ”This... Is this a dagger forged from Water Blue Refined Gold? This is far too valuable! It’s worth much more than the sword I gave you. I—I can’t accept this!”

”A moment ago, Big Sister gave me her cherished possession, something of great personal significance, without batting an eye. Why are you being so modest now that it’s my turn?” Xu Luo said with a smile. ”The item may be precious, but it can’t compare to the value of our friendship. If you don’t accept it, then I can’t accept your gift either.”

Guo Ying’s eyes shimmered as she looked at Xu Luo. She parted her red lips and said, ”Do you have any idea... that Water Blue Refined Gold is a rare treasure even in the major sects? Adding just a tiny bit of it to an ordinary weapon can increase its value immensely, let alone a sword like this, which is forged almost entirely from it. Even the Elders of a major sect would be tempted to seize it for themselves...”

Only then did Xu Su finally understand the dagger’s true value. He was a bit dumbfounded. He already considered his brother’s immense transformation in just over a year to be an anomaly, but he never expected him to possess such a priceless treasure.

According to Guo Ying, this dagger... would absolutely be considered a legacy treasure, even in a typical sect!

Xu Su was about to say something when Xu Luo’s playful, teasing voice reached his ears, ”Big Brother, just let her accept it. When she becomes my sister-in-law and you two have children, this sword will end up back in the Xu Family anyway...”

”...” Xu Su’s mouth twitched violently. Xu Luo had been frail since childhood, so he had never been in the habit of hitting his little brother. But right now, he really wanted to kick Xu Luo’s ass and send him flying.

Across from them, Guo Ying’s gaze was fixed on the two brothers. Seeing the strange smile on Xu Luo’s face, she glanced at Xu Su, whose mouth was twitching. Her pretty face flushed crimson, and she lowered her head, murmuring, ”In that case, I’ll accept it.” In that instant, she seemed to have understood something.

Xu Luo just chuckled. Xu Su, however, furrowed his brow slightly. Xia Muyao was known as a goddess of commerce, so she was obviously intelligent. But this woman from a major sect, Guo Ying, also seemed exceptionally bright. With her staying by his side now, who knew what kind of sparks would fly when the two women eventually met...

Of course, Xu Luo couldn’t care less about any of that. So what if his big brother married eight or ten women?

Afterward, Xu Luo introduced Guo Ying to Huangfu Chongzhi, Xu Jie, Liu Feng, Sui Yan, Mo Yun, and the others.

Mo Yun was now several months pregnant. Although it wasn’t especially obvious, it was still noticeable at a glance.

As the only other woman in the fiefdom, Mo Yun naturally took on the task of keeping Guo Ying company. Especially since Mo Yun had also studied in a sect in her youth, there was no fear they would lack common ground.

Meanwhile, Xu Luo and the others accompanied Xu Su to the reception hall in the fiefdom’s castle.

Xu Su surveyed the tall castle and said to Xu Luo with a smile, ”Not bad at all!”

Xu Luo grinned proudly. In front of his big brother, he would always be this way.

Once inside, Xu Su looked at the castle’s decorations and remarked, ”Xiaoluo, it looks like you’ve struck it rich these past two years!”

Xu Luo glanced at his brother and said, ”If you need it, Big Brother, your little brother can certainly spare some wealth.”

”Hahahaha!” Xu Su burst out laughing. ”I’m a soldier, spending all my days in the army. What would I need wealth for?”

”True... your future sister-in-law has plenty of money...” Xu Luo muttered, intentionally bringing up the sore subject.

Xu Su shook his head with a bitter smile. He still hadn’t figured out how he was going to face Xia Muyao, especially since... the saber Xu Luo had someone deliver to him was the very treasure saber Xia Muyao had given him!

As he thought about it, Xu Su touched the saber hanging at his waist, his heart a tangle of complicated feelings.

”You don’t have to make it so difficult, Big Brother. I can see that Big Sister Guo Ying has deep feelings for you. Just marry them both,” Xu Luo whispered from the side.

”What does a kid like you know about it?” Xu Su shot his brother a glare, annoyed that he was making things more chaotic.

Knowing the two brothers had things to discuss, Xu Jie and the others stayed in the reception hall for a little while before making excuses to leave, until only Xu Luo and his brother remained.

Xu Su looked at Xu Luo and said, ”That day... was it really you?”

Xu Luo smiled. ”What, you still don’t believe it, Big Brother?”

”I believe it, but I also find it hard to believe!” Xu Su replied.

Xu Luo nodded. He knew what his brother was thinking and said softly, ”I’ve been through a lot this past year or so. At the same time, I’ve also improved a great deal.”

”Yes. You’re no longer the little boy who needed his big brother’s protection...” Xu Su sighed softly. ”Instead, you’re the one protecting me now.”

”There’s no need for such words between brothers,” Xu Luo said with a smile. ”But more importantly, Big Brother, what are your plans now?”

”The Da Han Empire has retreated. For the time being, Hao Liancheng has his hands full and definitely won’t have the energy to attack us again. So, I think I’ll be returning to the Imperial Capital,” Xu Su said, his expression gradually turning serious as he looked at Xu Luo.

”Things in the Imperial Capital have been quite turbulent lately. Many noble families that used to keep a low profile have started making moves in the shadows. Most of them are part of Prime Minister Wei’s faction. Right now, because of you...” Xu Su couldn’t help but look at Xu Luo with admiration. ”Because of you, his position at court has started to waver. And if Prime Minister Wei falls, countless families will be implicated. Now, they’re scared!”

”Oh? Where did you hear that?” Xu Luo asked his brother. ”This information should still be quite confidential for now.”

”So you knew all along. As a member of the Xu Family, now that the fighting at the front has temporarily ceased, I naturally have to go back and see for myself.” Xu Su snorted coldly. ”It must be because I’ve been away from the Imperial Capital for too long, and with Father also absent year-round, that many people have forgotten the true strength of the Xu Family!”

”But before that, I want to take you somewhere with me,” Xu Su said softly. ”You should know that the reason I was captured by that sect was because I discovered some Ancient Ruins. Now, I have the key to open them. If we don’t explore those ruins soon, I’m worried... Guo Ying’s sect will intervene. If that happens, we’ll lose any chance we have!”

Xu Luo nodded. He wasn’t surprised by his brother’s request.

Xu Su continued, ”Only by securing what’s inside those ruins can we become truly powerful. And only by keeping it in our own hands can we have a voice of our own when facing those overbearing sects.”

”I see. In that case, what’s your plan for Big Sister Guo Ying?” Xu Luo asked.

Xu Su rubbed his temples, looking troubled. ”She wants to open up an entertainment establishment in the Imperial Capital... to gather intelligence and to give the women we brought back from the Obstinate Rock Sect a place to stay.”