Firmament Sword

Xu Luo emerged from Fengyue Building, his figure melting into the deep night as he walked on in silence.

From inside his pocket, Master Mao’s voice piped up. ”What, having regrets? It was just killing a couple of wenches. I told you before, if you couldn’t bring yourself to do it, just let me…”

”I don’t regret it,” Xu Luo sighed softly. ”I just don’t understand. I have no quarrel with them, so why were they so dead set on killing me? Is it just because I’m friends with Phoenix?”

In truth, when Xu Luo had infiltrated Fengyue Building, his original intention wasn’t to kill anyone. He had only meant to warn Crystal to stop causing trouble for him and the Xu Family.

Blame should be placed where it’s due. The one who framed Xu Ji and caused the Wansong Town massacre was Crystal’s master, Leng Yu Lian, not Crystal herself.

Although Crystal had sent assassins after him multiple times, Xu Luo had always assumed she was just following orders. He had never intended to kill her outright.

But he never expected Crystal’s desire to kill him to be so intense—so intense it was baffling.

He couldn’t figure it out. There was no direct enmity between them, so why was Crystal so bent on killing him?

Master Mao sneered. ”Just a classic case of jealousy. That wench was obviously envious that Phoenix is prettier and more talented than her, and that even her friends are so exceptional. She was completely blinded by hatred. The only reason she wanted to kill you was to get back at Phoenix.”

”Is that really it?” Xu Luo sighed softly and fell silent.

Crystal was dead now, so there was no point dwelling on it. His heart felt a little heavy, but her death wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

For one, he had solved a major problem for the master and disciple duo, Li Wenxi and Phoenix. With Crystal dead, Fengyue Building would surely fall back under their control.

Second, it saved him a lot of trouble. Otherwise, there would always be someone lurking in the shadows, plotting against him. While Xu Luo himself wasn’t afraid, the Xu Family was vulnerable.

As Xu Luo left Fengyue Building, it was still full of clamor. Patrons clinked glasses in toasts, and the courtesans smiled their enchanting smiles…

...

「The next morning」

At the crack of dawn, Xu Luo finished packing his belongings, stored them in his Storage Ring, and prepared to depart.

Su Qianqian appeared beside Xu Luo, beaming. ”Xiaoluozi, are you trying to ditch me and go have fun on your own?”

Xu Luo gave her a wry smile. ”I have to go take care of some business. Say, Qianqian, don’t you miss home at all?”

”What’s that supposed to mean? Are you trying to get rid of me?”

Su Qianqian raised an eyebrow and pouted. ”You’ve got some nerve. No loyalty at all! We’re supposed to be friends, aren’t we? Look at you! You never include me in anything fun. What were you sneaking around doing last night? And now you’re trying to ditch me to go out alone, not to mention trying to send me home. Is that any way to treat a friend?”

Xu Luo shrugged and held up his hands. ”It looks to me like you’re having plenty of fun on your own. Once you’ve had your fill, you should head home. If you stay out too long, your family will start to worry.”

”Hmph, that’s none of your business!” Su Qianqian glared at him, fuming. ”If you don’t want to take me with you, just say so!”

”It’s really not a suitable place for you to be,” Xu Luo said after a moment’s thought. He still didn’t want her to tag along. This was a personal family matter, and he didn’t want to drag anyone else into it.

”I get it. You’re definitely going to see your secret lover!” Su Qianqian’s eyes twinkled as she looked at him, her expression screaming, ’I’ve got you now! You’re scared, aren’t you?’

The corner of Xu Luo’s mouth twitched. He forced a smile. ”Stop talking nonsense. I really do have important business to attend to. Besides, my brother is leaving too. Since we’re friends, why don’t you stay here in the Imperial Capital and watch the house for me?”

”What?” Su Qianqian’s hackles rose instantly. She stared at him, incensed. ”You want *me*... to housesit for you?”

”Yeah. You said it yourself, we’re friends. And since we’re friends, we should help each other out, right?” Xu Luo said.

”Help you my ass!” Su Qianqian snapped, glaring at him. ”Do you take me for an idiot? Who in the entire Imperial Capital would dare to cause trouble for your family now?”

”Alright, I’ll tell you the truth. I’m going to a sect in the South Sea to bring my mother home...”

Xu Luo briefly explained how his mother, Luo Xinlan, had been forced to accept a sect’s harsh terms in order to obtain medicine for him.

Su Qianqian’s eyes reddened as she listened. ”I’m sorry,” she said, looking embarrassed. ”I misunderstood.”

She then added, ”But if your mother promised her sect she’d stay for five years, and it’s been less than two, they definitely won’t agree to let her go. You’re going to have trouble if you just show up at their door!”

Xu Luo said, ”No matter what, I have to bring my mother home.”

Su Qianqian’s eyes darted back and forth. ”Then isn’t it perfect for me to go with you? You know how strong I am. I can be a huge help!”

”...” Xu Luo looked at Su Qianqian, exasperated. ’Didn’t you say the Ancient Race isn’t supposed to interfere in the affairs of sects and the mortal world?’ he thought.

Just as Xu Luo was about to speak, he suddenly sensed an incredibly powerful aura approaching from the distance.

”Hm?” Su Qianqian also looked up, her beautiful, black-gem-like eyes widening as she stared in that same direction.

A figure tore through the sky, moving as fast as lightning, heading straight toward them.

A jolt went through Xu Luo. The person’s aura was terrifying, shaking him to his core.

’Who is this powerhouse?’ Xu Luo wondered. ’Could someone be here for revenge already, because I killed Crystal and the others last night?’

Just as he raised his guard, he heard Su Qianqian gasp beside him.

”Grandpa Nine?”

The old man dropped from the sky and landed before them, stumbling slightly.

He was dressed in gray robes, his face weathered from travel. His complexion was a sickly, sallow yellow, and a closer look revealed large patches of dried, dark bloodstains on his clothes.

”Grandpa Nine, you... what happened? Are you hurt?” Seeing that something was clearly wrong, Su Qianqian rushed to his side, her face etched with concern.

”Qianqian, something terrible has happened!” the old man rasped, his voice raw and dry.

”What is it? What happened?” Su Qianqian asked frantically.

The old man glanced at Xu Luo, who took the hint and began to step away. This was clearly a private family matter, and it wasn’t his place to eavesdrop.

”Don’t go...” Like a frightened kitten, Su Qianqian grabbed Xu Luo’s arm. She looked back at the old man. ”Grandpa Nine, he’s my friend. It’s alright, you can speak freely.”

The old man sighed. ”I’m afraid of dragging him into this, Qianqian... Our family... is gone!”

As he spoke, tears streamed down his wrinkled face.

”What... What are you saying? I... I don’t understand.” Su Qianqian’s grip on Xu Luo’s arm tightened as she stared at the old man, her voice fraught with tension.

Through his tears, the old man explained, ”A few days ago, a large group of peerless experts stormed the Su Family estate. They demanded our family’s heirloom. They were incredibly powerful and arrogant. The Patriarch was enraged and confronted them, and as a result...”

”What was the result?” Su Qianqian’s hand, still clutching Xu Luo, was trembling. She could barely stay on her feet.

The old man choked back a sob. ”The Patriarch was killed by a single sword strike. Then, those people began to massacre our family. The entire Su Family, hundreds of us... all slaughtered. Two of the ancestors who had been in seclusion for many years emerged, but even they couldn’t stop them. Even... even the two ancestors were killed...”

At this, the old man could no longer contain his grief and broke down into wracking sobs, spitting a mouthful of blood from the corner of his mouth.

”When the two ancestors emerged, they placed the Su Family heirloom in my care. They told me I had to get it to you, no matter what. Their final instruction was to not even think about revenge. Those people are terrifyingly powerful. We’re no match for them...”

The old man continued, weeping, ”The ancestor said... that you must preserve the Su Family’s bloodline. When you marry in the future, one of your sons must be given the Su name.”

”That’s impossible... Grandpa Nine, you’re lying. It’s not true. It can’t possibly be true!” Su Qianqian looked utterly lost, slumping against Xu Luo for support. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she mumbled to herself.

”I wish it were a lie! I wish it were all a lie!” Tears streamed down the old man’s face. With trembling hands, he took a fiery red, crystal-clear jade from his robes and held it out to Su Qianqian. ”Hide this. Don’t let a single soul know you have it. Then run. Flee as far as you can and go into hiding. Never show your face again, and don’t even think about revenge. Remember, *never* come out!”

The old man turned to Xu Luo, his voice pleading. ”Young man, Qianqian is a good girl. Please, don’t betray her. If you can, please... help her...”

Although Xu Luo didn’t know the full details of Su Qianqian’s family, he knew they were no simple clan. They had many powerful experts in the Sword King Realm. He never imagined that such a formidable family could meet such a tragic end.

”Elder, rest assured,” Xu Luo said solemnly. ”Qianqian is my friend. I will definitely help her.”

”They’re hunting me. I’m gravely injured and won’t live much longer. I have to go back now and hold them off. Remember this, from now on, you must conceal your identity. Don’t tell anyone—*anyone*—who you are!” The old man stared at Su Qianqian, then gave Xu Luo a long, deep look.

’Can the divination the ancestor performed before his death really be trusted? This boy seems remarkable, but at the end of the day, he’s just an ordinary kid from the mortal world. Can he really help Qianqian escape?’

If the Su Family Ancestor hadn’t performed that divination before dying and passed on instructions to him, Su Qianqian’s Grandpa Nine, he would never have allowed Xu Luo to overhear any of this. To prevent Su Qianqian’s identity from being exposed, he might have even killed Xu Luo on the spot.

But the ancestor’s dying words had been an urgent plea: he had to trust the young man at Su Qianqian’s side. He had said that this young man could certainly guide her out of danger, and might even, in the future, avenge the Su Family.

So, despite his reservations, the old man chose to honor his ancestor’s final wish.

”Grandpa Nine... is it all really true?” Su Qianqian asked through her tears, her eyes still filled with utter disbelief as she looked at the old man.