Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Among Confucian scholars today, apart from Xunzi who lived in seclusion, his senior brother Fu Nian is the most powerful.

However, even someone as powerful as the eldest disciple was easily defeated by Xu Qing in a sword duel many years ago.

If Xu Qing had appeared as "Mr. Qing," a middle-aged man, it would have been somewhat acceptable, since he looked older and stronger than them, which was not surprising.

But right now, Xu Qing looks like a young man.

However, the more this is the case, the more it demonstrates how terrifying Xu Qing's talent and strength are.

Just like before, he had silently tricked his junior brother Zifang. Facing such an enemy, Yan Lu really had no confidence.

Besides, he believed in the doctrine of the mean, and he was able to let go of the grudge against his master from back then. If it was not necessary, he would naturally not make enemies with Xu Qing out of thin air.

Xu Qing had also reminded him of this before.

Of course, if Xu Qing really endangers Zifang's life, he will still take action.

The two then had some more conversation, and they both instinctively avoided talking about Zhang Liang.

Yan Lu took the initiative to speak and inquire about Jing Ni.

Back then, Jing Ni, as an assassin of the Luo Wang organization, was ordered to hunt down Yan Lu and his master, Wu Ming. In the end, Wu Ming died at Jing Ni's hands to settle their old grudge, which became a long-standing obsession for Yan Lu.

It wasn't until Xu Qing brought Jing Ni to the Confucian school last time that Yan Lu's inner demons were resolved, and the obstacles in Yan Lu's heart finally disappeared. Since then, his meditation technique has made rapid progress, but this does not mean that he has forgotten Jing Ni.

In any case, Jing Ni was an extremely complex person to him.

Xu Qing answered without hesitation, briefly recounting Jing Ni's recent situation.

Upon learning that Jingni had also completely given up her life as an assassin, Yan Lu felt that everything his master had done back then was right.

There is no grudge that cannot be resolved, nor any obsession that cannot be let go.

It can only be said that, because he was unknown, Yan Lu was an extremely open-minded person.

Perhaps some of his mental states are difficult for ordinary people to understand, but only in this way can he comprehend the meaning of "sitting in oblivion" and cultivate the sitting in oblivion mental technique to a profound level.

Therefore, Yan Lu still chose the wrong sect.

His mindset is best suited to Taoism, not Confucianism.

While Confucianism does have the doctrine of the mean, as a prominent school of thought in the world, it is difficult for Confucianism to truly ignore world affairs and focus solely on studying the classics. Many upheavals will inevitably still come upon Confucianism.

Yan Lu, hiding here, naturally could not remain uninvolved.

The situation is different for Taoists.

Taoists renounce the world, hide in deep mountains to cultivate themselves, and do not concern themselves with worldly affairs, so naturally they are not affected by worldly affairs.

Of course, Xu Qing couldn't directly persuade Yan Lu to switch sects.

The two chatted back and forth, their conversation ranging from Jing Ni's recent situation to the changes in the martial arts world over the years, and the stability of the Qin state after unifying the world. The tension and embarrassment caused by Zhang Liang earlier seemed to have never happened, and the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.

Yan Lu was gentle and modest, and Xu Qing had also shed his previous coldness. The two chatted happily, without any of the restraint and probing they had when they first met.

After chatting for about half an hour, Xu Qing slowly suppressed his smile, his expression becoming more serious. He looked at Yan Lu and said bluntly, "Master Yan Lu, I came to the Confucian school today not only because I happened to be traveling here and wanted to visit you, but also because I have something I want to ask of you."

Upon hearing this, Yan Lu quickly cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Qing, you are too kind. You have done a great favor for our Confucian school by gifting us four famous swords. Please feel free to ask for anything. As long as our Confucian school can do it, we will not refuse."

So Xu Qing didn't stand on ceremony and said directly, "I would like to borrow the Han Guang Sword from Chief Yan Lu for a look!"

Yan Lu was taken aback.

The Han Guang Sword was left to him by his master.

When Xu Qing visited the Confucian school last time, he deliberately reminded him that the sword had some hidden dangers. Therefore, after Xu Qing gave him the "One-to-One" technique, he hid the Han Guang sword and rarely took it out again.

Unexpectedly, Xu Qing would become interested in the Han Guang Sword.

After some thought, Yan Lu did not refuse, but agreed directly, saying, "Since Mr. Qing wants to see Han Guang, there is naturally no problem."

As he spoke, a jade sword hilt slid out of his sleeve with a flick of his wrist.

Although Xu Qing gave him a sword called "Yi Guan Zhi" back then, and he later hid the Han Guang sword, hiding the sword did not mean that he would not carry it with him. This sword was of great significance to Yan Lu, as it was a relic left to him by his master.

He treated it as an ornament and always carried it with him.

After all, without the infusion of internal energy, this sword is just a jade hilt.

Even if it weren't for the fact that it's a sword, it would be difficult for outsiders to associate it with Han Guang, one of the "Three Swords of Kong Zhou".

Xu Qing took the Han Guang sword, but did not inject any internal energy into it; he simply gripped it tightly.

Under Yan Lu's puzzled gaze, Xu Qing had already secretly begun to comprehend the sword.

Previously, during his journey, Xu Qing found the low-grade Xiaolian among the three swords of Kong Zhou. Although it was low-grade, as a sword that existed since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the history it carried was incomparable to that of ordinary swords.

Even the "Qinglu Sword" that Xu Qing unearthed from the ruins cannot compare to the Xiaolian Sword in terms of its profound heritage.

Han Guang, at present, is ranked as a superior-grade sword among those three swords.

In an instant, Xu Qing saw many completely different things in this sword.

Even though his sword-making skills have now reached their peak, and he can forge the Shadowless Sword with a similar shape and power to the Han Guang Sword, he still cannot replicate the history and years that this sword carries. It is the inheritance of the three swords of Kong Zhou passed down for thousands of years, the accumulation of the blood and sweat of countless swordsmen, and the soul that no exquisite forging technique can create.

Xu Qing quietly pondered the mysteries of the Han Guang Sword, and his aura gradually became more and more restrained.

Yan Lu stood aside, still unable to see through what Xu Qing was doing, just as he hadn't understood how Xu Qing had attacked Zifang before.

But staying by your side is never a bad thing.

After an unknown amount of time, Xu Qing slowly opened his eyes, a hint of vicissitude flashing in them. Holding the jade hilt of the Han Guang sword, he uttered words of praise: "The Han Guang sword truly lives up to its name. It is indeed a top-grade sword among the three swords of Kong Zhou. I have benefited greatly from seeing it today."

"It is an honor for Han Guang that you have gained some insights, sir," Yan Lu said with a smile. "If you wish to continue your study, please feel free to take it. You can return it to me when you have finished studying it."

Xu Qing nodded and did not refuse: "Since that's the case, then I will trouble you, Master Yan Lu. I find the Little Sage Manor to be quiet and elegant, suitable for quiet contemplation. I wonder if I could stay here for a few days, and return the sword after I have thoroughly understood its mysteries?"

“Of course,” Yan Lu replied hastily. “Sir, you have done a great favor for the Confucian school. It is an honor for our school to have you stay here temporarily. I will instruct my disciples to prepare a quiet courtyard for you.”

And so, Xu Qing temporarily settled down at Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

Every morning, he would take his Han Guang sword and meditate quietly by the bamboo path and pond in the manor. Occasionally, he would chat with Yan Lu for a few words, always avoiding the topic of Zhang Liang and only talking about the changes in the martial world and his understanding of the way of the sword.

Days passed by, and several days went by in the blink of an eye.

For the past few days, Zhang Liang has remained indoors, his door tightly locked, and no matter how much Yan Lu knocks or calls out, he receives no response.

Yan Lu couldn't help but feel worried, fearing that Zhang Liang might do something drastic and destroy himself. So every day, he would quietly come to Zhang Liang's residence to listen to the sounds inside.

Fortunately, he could always hear the sound of turning pages of ancient books coming from inside the room, and occasionally he could hear a soft sigh. Although he couldn't tell Zhang Liang's state of mind, he could be sure that his junior brother was not in any trouble and had no tendency to self-destruct.

Yan Lu's worries gradually dissipated. He knew that Zhang Liang needed time to sort out his mindset. Perhaps after some time, Zhang Liang would step out of the room and appear before them in a completely new light.

Xu Qing continued to study the Han Guang Sword every day, and his understanding of Kong Zhou's three swords became increasingly profound, giving him a deeper understanding of that era a thousand years ago.

However, he was not in a hurry to leave. Firstly, the history contained in the Han Guang Sword was long enough for him to savor. Secondly, he was keeping an eye on Zhang Liang's movements in secret.

Although Zhang Liang had been enlightened, I still wanted to see what choice this genius, blinded by his obsession, would ultimately make.

Several days later, Xu Qing finally fully understood the mysteries of the Han Guang Sword, and then sought out Yan Lu to return the sword to him.

Meanwhile, deep within the Xiaoshengxianzhuang residence, Zhang Liang slowly opened his eyes.

The room was in a mess, with books scattered all over the floor. He was dressed in rags, his hair was disheveled, his face was haggard, and his eyes were bloodshot. Clearly, he had not rested or eaten properly for the past few days.

For the past few days, he has stayed indoors, confining himself to his room, repeatedly recalling his experiences in the illusion, and reflecting on his past obsessions and mistakes.

The scenes of his fellow disciples and teachers who died because of him, the innocent civilians who perished tragically, and those who followed him but met with bad ends, replayed in his mind. Each recollection filled him with guilt and remorse.

Although they were just a series of illusions, they were so real that Zhang Liang kept deducing them and came to the conclusion that it was a possible future.

Therefore, after spending quite some time, he finally figured it out.

Letting go may not be the most satisfying choice, nor the best way to repay South Korea or the Zhang family ancestors, but it is the most correct choice.

Only by letting go of his obsessions and hatred can he stop implicating those around him, live up to the expectations of his senior brothers and teachers, and prevent Confucianism from falling into crisis because of him.

The moment Zhang Liang understood all of this, the weight and pain that had been weighing on his heart for so long finally dissipated, leaving only relief and guilt.

He slowly got up, staggered into the courtyard, fetched a basin of clean water, carefully washed away the dust and fatigue from his body, changed into a clean moon-white scholar's robe, and combed his messy hair.

Although he still looked haggard, his eyes had gained a clearer and more determined look, and the anger and stubbornness of the past were gone.

After tidying up, Zhang Liang headed straight for the courtyard where Xu Qing was staying.

His steps were slow, his expression complex, a mixture of gratitude for Xu Qing's wake-up call, guilt for his past stubbornness, and a sense of indescribable relief.

Before long, he arrived outside the courtyard and saw Xu Qing sitting at a stone table in the distance, holding a piece of cloth in one hand and a brush in the other, writing something on it.

Zhang Liang took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Xu Qing. His voice was hoarse but extremely sincere, carrying a mix of emotions: "Mr. Qing, thank you!"

This simple thank you carries so much meaning.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing slowly raised his eyes and looked at Zhang Liang, his expression calm: "If you can understand this, then you don't need to thank me. In the end, you saved yourself."

Chapter 393 Secrets

Xu Qing possesses the ability to see through people's hearts.

When Zhang Liang said these words, he also subtly sensed Zhang Liang's emotional fluctuations to determine whether he was sincere or not.

At least from what he perceived at the moment, Zhang Liang spoke these words with genuine sincerity.

Of course, this is Zhang Liang's current thought.

Xu Qing didn't know whether Zhang Liang would change in the future.

It just goes to show that people change.

Of course, if Zhang Liang really changes in the future and remains stubbornly unrepentant, embarking on that path of reckless revenge, Xu Qing can't control that far ahead.

All he cares about is the present moment.

I chatted with Zhang Liang again, but it was just a brief chat.

After all, Zhang Liang had just sorted out his thoughts, and there were still many chaotic ideas in his mind. Talking too much was not a good thing.

After that, Zhang Liang left again.

It was as if he had come to Xu Qing's place today merely to thank Xu Qing.

After Zhang Liang left, Xu Qing continued to peruse the bamboo slips in his hands.

Xiaoshengxianzhuang has a large collection of books. When Xu Qing first came to the Confucian school, he showed curiosity about the Confucian books. Later, through Fu Nian's connections, he also entered the Confucian library and browsed through the books, and even found some special things among them.

However, the time spent there was not very long.