Embers of Sword

Chapter 173: Washing the Sword and Examining the Conscience

After Duan Zhao left Xuanshui Cave, he lived at the foot of Lianhua Peak and found a small courtyard not far away.

This little guy would come to Xie Xuanyi every day to ask about the sword.

It's not so much asking for the sword.

It's better to say it's asking about boxing.

The boxing manual of Wangyou Island has long been engraved in his heart. It must be said that the island master is very good and has trained this kid into a top martial artist.

What Xie Xuanyi has to do is very simple.

The boxing manual of Wangyou Island in Duan Zhao's mind was unconsciously transformed, bit by bit, into the general principles of the swordsmanship of the Dashui Sword Palace.

Martial artists and sword cultivators actually have something in common in essence... Duan Zhao's boxing skills are extremely fierce, and he uses advance as a retreat, which is very similar to sword cultivators. By seeing the big picture from the small, it is not difficult to guess the island owner's character and daily style of doing things.

Put aside the personal instructions of that Yangshen warrior.

Xie Xuanyi also has some favor for this little guy.

This young boy is very obedient.

Ever since he started learning swordsmanship from Xie Zhen, he has taken the initiative to "take on a lot of responsibilities", carrying all the trivial tasks of watering the flowers and sweeping the yard of Lotus Peak on his own shoulders, under the euphemism of keeping the wealth within the family, and saying that this small job should not be left to the menial disciples of Xiaochongshan... Judging from the swiftness with which he works on weekdays, one would never have thought that this young boy would be the young master of Wangyou Island.

Also.

Not everyone is like Xie Sheng, who was born in a family of luxury and never knew what human suffering is.

In fact, from Duan Zhao's ragged appearance when he first entered the Sword Palace, it can be seen that this little kid suffered a lot on the way from Wangyou Island to the Sword Palace. His father, Yangshen, was really "willing to give up". With such a wealthy family background, he still had the heart to follow behind and watch the child wandering all the way.

Days like this didn't last long.

……

……

Dashui Sword Palace welcomed the first snow since the beginning of winter.

Jiang Huang also experienced the first complete attack of the "Nine Death Forbidden" spell. The half drop of Immortal Spring that Xie Xuanyi gave her was finally powerless to fight against the chill that covered the entire lake of her heart... The murderous intent of the Nine Death Forbidden spell enveloped the entire lake of her heart. The little girl's face was pale, and her entire face was shrouded in death. She curled up in a thick cotton robe.

Zhao Chunyang, who had disappeared for more than ten days and no one knew what he had been doing, reappeared on this day and returned to the courtyard.

The head master blocked the outside world's perception of the aura of this small courtyard and took Xie Xuanyi and Jiang Huang to Yuping Peak. When the mountain was closed due to heavy snow, Yuping Peak was extremely deserted. Xie Xuanyi did not see the disciples guarding the mountain gate. The Yuping Waterfall, which was a thousand feet high, was also frozen today, like a long ice cone sword hanging high in the sky.

There is only one person in the entire Yuping Peak.

Jiang Miaoyin.

After the Sword Qi Ceremony ended.

Jiang Miaoyin took off the veil that she had worn for ten years and no longer covered her face.

The disciples under his command speculated that it was because the dust had settled in Xuanshui Cave Heaven... Master Miaoyin had resolved the knot that had troubled him for ten years, and decided to face the regrets of ten years ago calmly.

They don't know.

The knot in Master's heart was caused by Xie Xuanyi, and only Xie Xuanyi can solve it.

"Master."

Jiang Miaoyin had received the message early on, and had been standing respectfully in front of the Sword Washing Pool on Yuping Peak, waiting. At this moment, she bowed in awe towards the tall figure in the lotus robe.

then.

She looked at the young man in black in front of her with a complicated expression.

In front of Jiang Miaoyin.

Xie Xuanyi doesn't need to disguise himself.

She took off her veil, and he took off his appearance.

Their eyes met. After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Miaoyin bowed again and said softly, "...Senior Brother."

"Okay, no need to be polite."

Zhao Chunyang's eyes were gentle. He stretched out his hand, and with his powerful energy, he lifted up the unconscious girl and slowly came to the sword washing pool.

Today, the Sword Washing Pool is clear and bright.

The "chronic disease" that had been buried there for ten years has been removed.

Because her natal flying sword was no longer affected by the thunder sound, Jiang Miaoyin's complexion improved a lot. It was no longer as pale as before, but as white as mutton-fat jade with a hint of redness.

Add this touch of red.

Jiang Miaoyin's eyes and eyebrows seemed to "come alive". She was no longer cold and beautiful, but like a banished angel from heaven, with both immortality and worldly air.

"Nine Death Forbidden Rules?"

Jiang Miaoyin stared at the thin body hanging in the air, feeling a little confused.

Rays of murderous intent emanated from the center of the eyebrows of this delicate body, making the already dense frost on Yuping Peak even more intense.

After Xie Xuanyi's identity was revealed, she naturally noticed the little girl named "Jiang Huang".

The origin of this little girl was extremely strange, but as the evil intention of the "Nine Death Forbidden" spread, wisps of demonic energy also swept over Yuping Peak... Jiang Miaoyin immediately understood the identity of this little girl. This was the phoenix-blooded demon that Xie Xuanyi had hunted back in the north! Now it has transformed!

"Yes, it is the 'Nine Deaths'."

Zhao Chunyang said calmly: "This phoenix demon has been cast into a 'forbidden spell' by someone in the imperial city, and is on the verge of death... If you want to break the 'Nine Deaths Forbidden Spell', you must risk your life. At its weakest moment, use your most refined strength to attack it."

Zhao Chunyang was not in a hurry to take Jiang Huang to the Sword Washing Pool.

etc.

It was the outbreak of the Nine Death Forbidden Order——

Because of that half drop of the Immortal Spring, the murderous intent of the Nine Deaths Ban can be continuously accumulated and reach the highest peak.

It is right now.

The little girl hanging above the sword-washing pool was seen with pale flames all over her body. She groaned in pain and, out of her survival instinct, released all her Phoenix Fire, hoping to use it to fight against the "Nine Death Forbidden" that was deeply engraved in her heart... This was Jiang Huang's last resort.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

A ball of violent light and fire was reflected in the dark water of the Sword Washing Pool.

A pair of flaming wings spread out.

Jiang Huang curled up into a ball, opened his arms in pain, and made a final stand against the Nine Deaths Ban.

Zhao Chunyang watched this scene quietly. He did not rush to take action, but watched the "death battle" between Jiu Shi Jian and the host. If a miracle happened... then it would be the best.

But after only a dozen breaths, Jiang Huang was completely at a disadvantage.

Those bleak phoenix fires withered under the cover of frost.

Both the main soul and the secondary soul fell into a "frozen" state. The little girl lost all her strength and fell into the sword-washing pool with a plop.

Seeing this, Zhao Chunyang shook his head.

The headmaster looked at Xie Xuanyi and said meaningfully: "Jiang Huang is lucky... If it weren't for you, she would probably have died an ugly death."

Zhao Chunyang stretched out his hand, palm facing up, and gently clenched his five fingers.

next moment.

Wow!

The entire Sword Washing Pool began to boil, with countless pool water splashing up into the sky. In the thousand years since the Sword Palace was established, many people had tried to take the water from the Sword Washing Pool away... but they all ended in failure. Due to the sword energy command from Yuping Peak, the water in the Sword Washing Pool was heavier than black iron.

At that time, Dasui Sword Palace donated a bowl of sword-washing pool water to Nanli Fanyin Temple.

It took ten Golden Body Realm masters from Fanyin Temple to move this bowl of water, but they were exhausted and still failed to do so.

now.

Zhao Chunyang just casually flicked his sleeves and raised his hand. The entire sword-washing pool was emptied, and countless pools of water connected to each other, turning into a huge water drop.

Jiang Huang, who was almost in a state of extinction, was drowning in it.

"Buzz!"

The moment Zhao Chunyang clenched his fist, rumbling thunder spread out and exploded in the sky above the Yuping Peak Taoist temple.

Even standing behind the headmaster.

Xie Xuanyi and Jiang Miaoyin still took a step back uncontrollably.

In an instant.

The thunder sound disappeared.

The water in the sword washing pool fell again, and beads of different sizes fell on a jade plate. The thin and small figure in the air slowly floated in front of Xie Xuanyi.

More than 90% of the "evil intent" between Jiang Huang's brows was dispelled.

"It's not difficult to completely remove the Nine Deaths Ban."

Zhao Chunyang glanced at Jiang Huang and said calmly without any hesitation: "But now, it is better to leave a trace of 'evil intent' as a warning."

After experiencing such a shock.

Jiang Huang's transformed human body was already exhausted and now fell into a deep sleep.

But Xie Xuanyi knew that this did not prevent the main soul from paying attention to the outside world... The master's words were deliberately spoken to the main soul.

"Master Master, do you want to keep this Phoenix Demon in the Sword Palace?"

Jiang Miaoyin watched from the side from beginning to end without saying much.

Now that the Nine Death Ban had been lifted, she spoke cautiously.

Jiang Miaoyin looked at the old man in confusion: "The Dasui Sword Palace has an ancient precept that sword cultivators and the demon race cannot coexist. If the demon country moves south one day, the Dasui sword cultivators will stop them outside the Great Wall of the Northern Border even if they die in battle."

Dasui Sword Palace attaches great importance to rules.

All sword practitioners who join the Sword Palace will remember this ancient instruction.

Since ancient times, there has been no coexistence between men and monsters.

It was hard for her to imagine that the headmaster would personally take action and use the Sword Washing Pool to save the life of a demon.

"You don't understand why I went against ancient teachings and saved her."

Zhao Chunyang smiled and said softly, "In fact, saving a monster is nothing. This Phoenix monster has a very strong bloodline and is very young... In order to avoid the 'Nine Deaths', it forcibly opened up a second soul. This second soul is no different from a human child, and has almost no evil thoughts. If we don't save it, it will die with it."

Jiang Miaoyin was confused by these words.

"If there is a desire for good, why can't it be saved?"

Zhao Chunyang said slowly: "The ancient teachings of the Taoist sect are more severe than those of the Sword Palace, but there are already several mountain beasts guarding the mountain gate. If a war really breaks out with the demon clan, it is the 'great immortals' under the Taoist sect who will be the first to betray. What distinguishes humans from demons is not blood, but the heart."

"..."

Jiang Miaoyin seemed to be thinking about something.

"Those bald asses in the Southern Dynasties said that if you put down your butcher knife, you will become a Buddha right away."

Zhao Chunyang said meaningfully: "Although I don't agree with this point of view...but for all the wrong things in this world, as long as they don't cause a big disaster in the end, there should always be some room for redemption."

This sentence is the clearest hint.

"Master."

Jiang Miaoyin took a deep breath and raised her head.

During this period of time, after recovering from her chronic illness, she has been thinking hard.

The clouds of the past are rolling over the lake of my heart.

The mountain is closed for ten years, and the heart is locked for ten years.

Now... Jiang Miaoyin examined herself sincerely and had something to say. She had been waiting for a long time, just waiting to see her master today.

Jiang Miaoyin stretched out her hand and took out the sword decree that symbolized the position of the master of Yuping Peak.

She held up the imperial edict with both hands and said sincerely, "These days, Miaoyin has figured it out... I have been closed off for ten years, and my sword heart has been tainted. I am ashamed of my master's teachings."

Zhao Chunyang looked at Jiang Miaoyin calmly without saying a word or extending his hand.

"If possible, Miaoyin would like to continue climbing the avenue and complete what she had not accomplished that year."

Jiang Miaoyin raised her face and said seriously, word by word, "Master, please take back this imperial decree for the time being."

"If you want to continue practicing, then continue practicing."

Zhao Chunyang smiled and said, "What do you mean by returning the Yuping Peak Sword Qi Imperial Order? Do you not want to be the mountain master anymore?"

"It's not that I don't want to, but I'm not worthy."

Jiang Miaoyin shook her head in self-mockery and said, "Miaoyin's sword skills have not improved much in the past ten years. If I continue to be trapped in Yuping Peak, I am afraid that even after another hundred years, I will not have the chance to see the Yang God..."

Speaking of which.

She couldn't help but look at Xie Xuanyi.

Ten years ago.

Xie Xuanyi has already stepped half a foot onto the pinnacle of swordsmanship that everyone is looking forward to.

She admired Xie Xuanyi's talent in swordsmanship and his world-renowned talent.

But now, she figured it out.

This road can be climbed by millions of people in the world.

Jiang Miaoyin made up her mind.

She looked away and stared directly at the headmaster of Chunyang: "Miaoyin... wants to escape to the back mountain and borrow the sword power of the thirty-three cave sages to train both her mind and her sword."

“This may take a long time.”

Zhao Chunyang asked calmly: "Have you figured it out?"

"Once you speak, you won't regret it."

Jiang Miaoyin smiled and continued to present the imperial decree: "Master, please help me."

Zhao Chunyang shook his head and said, "Take back the imperial decree..."

Jiang Miaoyin was stunned and stood there blankly, not knowing what to say.

"I will not take back the sword energy decree from Yuping Peak."

A complicated look flashed across Zhao Chunyang's eyes.

to him.

Ten or twenty years are just a blink of an eye.

Be it Xie Xuanyi or Jiang Miaoyin.

No matter how grown up.

It is always the boy or girl sitting under you.

"Silly boy."

The headmaster stretched out his hand, gently patted Jiang Miaoyin's head, and said softly: "No matter how long it takes, when you come back, you will still be the mountain master."

(End of this chapter)