The deepest affection in Gu Long's world

Chapter 9 Sword Name: Lingxiao

The Lingxiao Sword has a legendary story in the martial arts world.

It is three feet and seven inches long, and the blade is forged from black iron from the Western Regions and cold crystal from the South China Sea, with the whole body resembling ice and frost.

Seven natural blood-red lines are embedded in the spine of the sword, winding like the branches of a trumpet vine. Under the sunlight, the red lines flow like living creatures.

Its hilt is cast in the shape of layered cloud patterns, with a pigeon blood stone embedded in the center. When the sword is swung, a red light emanates from it, reaching a height of three feet. The most extraordinary feature is its scabbard—carved from a thousand-year-old piece of dark wood into the shape of a coiled dragon, with a jade bead in its mouth. When the scabbard is drawn, the bead falls to the bottom of the scabbard with a sound like a phoenix's cry.

Legend has it that the first person to wield this sword was the sword immortal Yu Xiaozi.

He wielded this sword during the decisive battle against the Yuan army at Yaishan. Where the sword's wind passed, the sea fog froze, and historical records state that "arrows within ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) all fell like rain." Later, he took the sword and went into the sea. A hundred years later, a fisherman found the scabbard in his net.

It later fell into the hands of the painting master Shen Zhou.

After unexpectedly acquiring a sword, he used it as a pen to create the "Lingxiao Sword Intent Post".

Until more than a decade ago, the Yellow River dredging revealed submerged wood sheaths.

Following ancient records, Xue Yiren discovered a sword embedded upside down in a rock on a cliff in Huangshan. At that time, bloodstains had spread to the tip of the sword, and the surrounding rock crevices were covered with red trumpet creeper flowers.

From then on, the sword was hung in the sword hut of Xue Family Village, becoming one of Xue Yiren's most prized possessions.

More than a year ago, Xue Yiren gifted this sword to Fang Yunhua, causing a huge stir in the martial arts world. As a result, many skilled swordsmen flocked to Xue Family Manor to ask for the sword, but they were all driven away by his sword servants without even seeing Xue Yiren's face.

Meanwhile, the story of how Fang Yunhua obtained the sword was shrouded in mystery, and because of his reputation as a romantic young master, rumors circulated that Fang Yunhua had won over Xue Yiren's daughter, Xue Honghong, who was to marry into the Shi family, in order to be bestowed with the sword.

Consider it a gift for the male concubine that my daughter is raising.

"Shit!"

Upon hearing Chu Liuxiang jokingly recount this rumor, Fang Yunhua nearly broke down.

"I admit that I did get some help from Sister Xue's connections."

"Oh?" Chu Liuxiang became interested, after all, the current incident of gifting the Lingxiao Sword could already be regarded as one of the top ten unsolved mysteries in the martial arts world.

"First of all, you have to admit that it is not easy to visit Senior Xue Yiren, who is known as the number one swordsman in the world. Even with my background in the Huashan Sect, it is not enough."

Chu Liuxiang nodded.

"So naturally I needed to rely on some connections at the beginning. In fact, judging from the rumors in the martial arts world, there are quite a few misunderstandings about me. Think about it, I've only become famous in the last few years. How could I possibly have offended so many chivalrous ladies?"

After thinking for a moment, Chu Liuxiang nodded in agreement, because many people had also spread rumors that he had an unusual relationship with a certain person, but in reality, he had never even met that person.

"Of course, some of the gossip circulating about them is quite accurate."

Fang Yunhua's sudden change of tone nearly strained his back.

"For example, Shi Yin, who can help you meet with Senior Xue?"

Fang Yunhua imitated Chu Liuxiang's habitual gesture and touched his nose.

Not only Shi Yin, but also Zuo Mingzhu. As the key figure who triggered an important chapter in the original work, "Ghost Love and Heroic Romance", Fang Yunhua directly took over the two people who were resurrected. It is conceivable that this plot in the original work was completely cut off as a result.

"I am a swordsman, and it is normal for me to want to meet Senior Xue, who is known as the number one swordsman in the world. Yinyin has the ability to do so. After learning about my thoughts, she took the initiative to help me make arrangements for the meeting. This is also reasonable."

As for Sister Xue...
If Chu Liuxiang met her, he would realize that winning her over wouldn't be difficult at all. With our looks and demeanor, a few kind words would be enough to win her over. Chu Liuxiang remained silent.

Although he had never met Xue Honghong, he had heard that she had a donkey-like face and was extremely infatuated with girls. He suspected that the kind words Fang Yunhua spoke of were not so simple. This made him less envious of Fang Yunhua's ability to obtain a precious sword from Xue Yiren.

However, she quickly realized that Xue Honghong probably wouldn't play a crucial role. At most, she could help Fang Yunhua meet Xue Yiren. Otherwise, if she could so easily persuade Xue Yiren to give her the sword, no matter how unsightly she was, the threshold of Shi Family Manor would be worn down by countless swordsmen.

"Meeting Senior Xue Yiren is only the first step," Fang Yunhua sighed.

"What about the second step?"

"As a swordsman, it's normal to want to see the strength of the world's number one swordsman."

"normal."

"As a young man, even though I was overwhelmed by the opponent's strength, I still dared to shout the words 'Don't underestimate a young man'. That's normal, isn't it?"

Chu Liuxiang did not answer; he silently looked at Fang Yunhua.

Logically speaking, there's nothing wrong with that statement, but it's problematic when applied to the other person. In the short time he'd spent talking with Fang Yunhua, he felt that the other person didn't seem like someone who could possess such youthful energy.

Seeing the other party's reaction, Fang Yunhua sighed again.

Awakening past life memories will still have some impact on him. In fact, just over a year ago, he was a person with such youthful spirit.

Furthermore, because he had always been the genius who cracked down on his scumbag senior sister, and had also spearheaded the reform plan that made the Huashan Sect prosper, Fang Yunhua's spirit of high spirits had long been overflowing from within.

"In short, you have to believe that this trend is normal. That's why Senior Xue Yiren gave me a test. Every six months, I need to go to Xue Family Village to test my sword skills. If my progress doesn't reach the standard he expects me to meet, I will be deemed worthy of being called a 'don't underestimate a young man'."

At this point, Fang Yunhua paused, then looked at Chu Liuxiang with a serious expression.

"He will just kill me."

Chu Liuxiang originally wanted to say whether the other party was joking, but looking at Fang Yunhua's serious face, he fell silent again, because as everyone knows, Xue Yiren also has a nickname: Blood-Clad Man.

"So, that's why he gave you the Lingxiao Sword?"

"It's not a gift, but temporary possession. Of course, I prefer to see it as the price that must be paid to use this sword."

Fang Yunhua stroked the Lingxiao Sword placed on the wooden table. He also liked this precious sword very much. After all, for a swordsman, the sword in his hand is like his life, and he is unwavering in his commitment to it!

Chu Liuxiang, however, found this transaction somewhat incomprehensible.

Because he is not a swordsman.

"Senior Xue Yiren is truly remarkable."

"In fact, this is his true nature. As the world's number one swordsman, he is both lonely and stubborn."

Based on some information from the original work, Fang Yunhua gained a deeper understanding of this senior. He probably really wanted to cultivate him and hoped that one day he could reach the heights he envisioned, and then kill him without any mercy.

Of course, in return, besides receiving some guidance every six months after being assessed by Xue Yiren, the other party tacitly approved of Fang Yunhua's practice of using his name to intimidate others.

(End of this chapter)