Ling Tian Sword God

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Just as Ling Chen was about to leave, a series of knocks echoed from outside the door.

”Come in.”

Ling Chen opened the door and found Shen Qianlang and Luo Xian’er standing before him.

”You’re here. I was just about to look for you two.”

Ling Chen gestured for them to enter. After sensing no one else was around, he closed the door behind them.

Shen Qianlang had barely stepped inside when he unexpectedly knelt before Ling Chen.

”What are you doing?”

Surprised, Ling Chen hurriedly helped him up, perplexed by his actions.

”I’ve learned about the matter of the Sword Immortal Poetry Fragment. Thank you, Brother Ling Chen, for everything you’ve done for us. I, Shen Qianlang, will never forget your immense kindness.”

Shen Qianlang remained determined to kneel. He had only recently learned about the Sword Immortal Poetry Fragment. This item, so crucial to the rise and fall, the very rebuilding of Qingcheng Palace, was something he had lost. Had Ling Chen not risked his life to retrieve it from Hanmei Villa, he, with his own strength, would likely never have recovered it. If he had truly lost this item, he would undoubtedly have become the eternal sinner of the Sect.

”So it’s about that,” Ling Chen chuckled, shaking his head with a helpless shrug. ”Who can I blame but myself for being naturally meddlesome? Please, get up.”

He hadn’t wanted to get involved in these Jianghu disputes, but since he was already entangled, he might as well see it through. Besides, he was also curious about the secrets the Sword Immortal Poetry held.

”Now that the item is retrieved, did you find what you were looking for in it?” Ling Chen asked once both were seated.

”We have it, yes, but we haven’t found any clues.”

Shen Qianlang, looking troubled, took out the Daoist Robe and spread it before Ling Chen. ”No matter how we examine it—soaking it in water, heating it over charcoal—the Daoist Robe shows no change.”

”Is that so?”

Ling Chen nodded thoughtfully. ”If that’s the case, ordinary methods are likely ineffective.”

”Miss Luo, I recall you mentioning that your father, before he passed away, entrusted you with eight characters to relay to Brother Shen?”

Ling Chen only recalled Luo Xian’er mentioning eight characters; as for which specific eight, he couldn’t remember them clearly.

”Are you referring to the eight characters: ’Big River’s Water, Incense Burner’s Purple Smoke’?” Luo Xian’er pondered. ”But what could these eight characters possibly mean?”

”Perhaps these eight characters are the key to unlocking the Daoist Robe’s secret.”

Ling Chen mused for a moment before saying, ”’Big River’s Water’... This ’Big River’ should refer to a well-known river. Is there any river in the Yi Zhou region known as the Big River?”

”It doesn’t seem so.”

Shen Qianlang and Luo Xian’er thought for a moment, then both shook their heads.

”No?” Ling Chen frowned. Could it be that the meaning of these eight characters isn’t as straightforward as I imagined?

”Master was too careful! Why couldn’t he have been direct? Why leave such an enigmatic message?” Shen Qianlang stomped his foot in frustration. Possessing the Daoist Robe yet being unable to decipher the meaning of those eight characters felt no different from not having it at all.

Ling Chen shook his head. ”If he had stated it plainly, the secret might have easily fallen into others’ hands. I imagine your master understood this well, hence leaving such a riddle to prevent any mishap.”

”It seems we won’t be able to unravel its secrets anytime soon. For now, put the item away. Perhaps you’ll figure it out eventually.”

Although somewhat disappointed, Ling Chen wasn’t in a rush. The Sword Immortal Poetry was, after all, said to belong to the legendary supreme expert, the Taibai Sword Immortal. Naturally, obtaining it wouldn’t be easy. This current hurdle was merely a small bump in the road.

”It seems that’s all we can do for now.”

Luo Xian’er and Shen Qianlang nodded. There was still a long road ahead; no matter how anxious they felt, they could only suppress their impatience and wait.

”Now that the Tang Sect is targeting us, Hanmei Villa is no longer a safe haven. I’m afraid there’s no place for us in all of Yi Zhou.” Ling Chen looked gravely at the two. ”My intention is for us to set out and leave tomorrow.”

The entirety of Yi Zhou is Tang Sect territory. While Hanmei Villa is a significant sect in the Martial World, its influence cannot compare to the Tang Sect’s. Ling Chen worried that staying at Hanmei Villa for too long would not only be unsafe for them but could also implicate the people there.

Luo Xian’er and Shen Qianlang exchanged a look, then nodded lightly. ”We’ll listen to you, Brother Ling Chen.”

Previously, Luo Xian’er had addressed Ling Chen as ’Young Hero Ling Chen,’ but now she called him ’Brother Ling Chen.’ This was because she hadn’t initially trusted Ling Chen completely; after all, his background was unknown, and it was uncertain whether he was friend or foe. But now, after everything that had happened, she had come to trust him fully.

”Ling Chen!”

Just as Ling Chen and Luo Xian’er were discussing their next move, a woman’s voice suddenly came from outside the door. Ling Chen recognized it—it was Xuan Yu.

”What happened?” Hearing the urgency in Xuan Yu’s voice, Ling Chen quickly stepped out of the room and asked.

”Your enemies have tracked you down! And from the looks of it, they’ve come with ill intent!” Xuan Yu had a delicate hand pressed to her chest, her bosom heaving as she gasped for breath. Clearly, she had rushed all the way here to inform Ling Chen.

”Enemies?” Ling Chen frowned. ”Which enemies?”

I’m new to the Nine Provinces Land. As for enemies, besides offending the Tang Sect over the Qingcheng Palace matter, I shouldn’t have any others. Even the Tang Sect likely wouldn’t come calling on me specifically as an ’enemy.’

”It’s Luo Yutang, the Second Disciple of Capture God, known in Jianghu as ’Iron Hand Yama’!” Xuan Yu’s pretty face was grave. ”He’s claiming you killed his junior brother, Bai Shaochuan, and he’s here to avenge him!”

”That’s absurd! Brother Ling Chen didn’t kill Bai Shaochuan at all! How can he make such baseless accusations?” Luo Xian’er was clearly incensed. She had been right there when Ling Chen fought Bai Shaochuan and had seen everything clearly; of course, she knew the truth.

”Be that as it may, that’s what Luo Yutang is saying. And it’s true that Bai Shaochuan is dead; word has already spread throughout Jianghu.” Xuan Yu shook her head, then looked urgently at Ling Chen. ”None of that matters now. Luo Yutang has come aggressively. Master has already intercepted him in the front courtyard. You three, quickly follow me and escape through the secret path on the back mountain!”

”Thank you for your concern, Miss Xuan Yu. However, a man must answer for his own deeds. Since this trouble is aimed at me, how could I possibly flee at a time like this?”

Given my nature, I wouldn’t just run off and leave my problems for others to handle. Besides, there’s no need for me to flee. If Capture God himself had arrived, I might have considered lying low for a while. But since it’s merely one of his disciples, what do I have to fear?