Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Since Xu Qing was only making a copy, it was obviously impossible for him to use peach wood to make the sword.

Therefore, it can only imitate a similar appearance.

Of course, this sword does indeed possess a trace of lightning power.

That was a characteristic he incorporated into it, which perfectly matched the sword's name, "Awakening of Insects."

The power of thunder endows this sword with immense destructive force and swift speed.

And because it is a short sword, it can be hidden on one's person.

It can be pulled out when necessary to deliver a fatal blow.

"I thought that after seeing that Springborn Sword, I had gained some understanding of Mr. Xu's sword-making skills." Zhu Jia stroked the cold, piercing spine of the sword, which faintly crackled with electricity, his voice behind the mask filled with admiration, "But seeing it today, I realize how short-sighted I am."

Even he, who rarely used a sword in his life, could sense the extraordinary nature of this sword, let alone swordsmen throughout the world.

Especially considering that the sword was custom-made by Xu Qing according to his own physique and requirements in just a few days, Zhu Jia felt that the item was of inestimable value. Previously, he thought that even if Xu Qing had forged a piece of scrap metal, he would still cherish it and regard it as a precious gift from a friend.

However, he ultimately underestimated Xu Qing; the value of this unique "Awakening of Insects" sword far exceeded his imagination.

"I am not skilled with swords, so it would be a waste for such a divine weapon to fall into my hands." Zhu Jia said in a low voice, intending to put the short sword back into its scabbard, "I fear that such a gem would be wasted."

“Since this sword was forged by Master Zhu,” Xu Qing smiled calmly, his eyes leaving no room for doubt, “I have no further right to interfere. However, I haven’t had a proper rest for several days while forging this sword. During this time, I’ve been constantly by the furnace. Therefore, if Master Zhu doesn’t accept it, I will…”

He deliberately dragged out his words, but Zhu Jia understood what Xu Qing meant.

The comical mask on his face blurred for a moment, turning into an exaggerated "sorrowful" mask. It was unclear what kind of martial art this was.

However, the Zhu family does indeed possess many strange abilities.

In the original work, during the battle of Four Seasons Town, he even used a technique similar to "shadow clones," but unfortunately, Tian Yan saw through it with her pupil technique.

"Since Mr. Xu has said so, I have no choice but to accept it. I will definitely practice my swordsmanship diligently when I get back, and strive not to let Mr. Xu's sword be tarnished." In the end, the Zhu family put away the sword.

"That's exactly right!" Xu Qing laughed loudly, then said seriously, "Since Master Zhu is willing to accept this, please sign a... sword contract."

"This is just one of my personal little quirks."

As he spoke, he flipped his palm, and the sword contract appeared in his hand.

He handed it to the Zhu family.

Zhu Jia unfolded the scroll and took a look. The clauses written on it were quite interesting, but irrelevant.

Perhaps, as Xu Qing said, it's just a personal quirk.

What token? A witness, is needed by a swordsmith to deliver their masterpiece?

He smiled slightly and readily signed the agreement.

After the Zhu family left with their swords and their figures disappeared into the distance, Situ Wanli beat his chest and stamped his feet, rushing to Xu Qing with a heartbroken expression: "Brother! You were so foolish!"

"Hmm?" Xu Qing raised an eyebrow.

"You've only met Master Zhu a few times?" Situ Wanli almost slapped his thigh. "I know you value loyalty and friendship. But even if you get along well, a mere two meetings shouldn't be enough to hand over such a... such a divine weapon!"

The flash of lightning that tore through his vision just now flashed through his mind, and then he thought of Xu Qing's description of the thunderous power contained in this sword.

This is clearly a rare treasure worth thousands of gold pieces!

He was a firsthand witness to the immense popularity of Xu Qing's sword at the two auctions held by the Korean Qianlong Hall.

Although the Jade Tiger ruined the deal, this divine weapon will surely fetch an astronomical price in the more prosperous Chu Kingdom in the future.

Thinking of this, Situ Wanli felt his heart was bleeding.

"Does my brother think I did something wrong?"

“This is extremely inappropriate!” Situ Wanli blurted out.

“But in my opinion, Master Zhu is a good person!” Xu Qing said sincerely.

The moment Zhu Jia signed the sword contract, a mysterious message flowed into Xu Qing's heart. It was Zhu Jia's secret technique—the Three Hearts and Two Minds Acupoint Strike!

This method is incredibly accurate in identifying acupoints and possesses unpredictable finger strength. It can instantly manifest the four emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness through finger force, piercing through stone from a distance, causing those struck to lose their composure. For Xu Qing, such extraordinary skills are far more valuable than a famous sword. Therefore, making friends with the Zhu family was truly worthwhile.

Of course, he understood Situ Wanli's heartache. This man had gathered people for profit, regarding the Jingzhe Sword as a gold mine, only to feel that he had lost everything.

“Brother, even if Zhu Tang’s principles are as lofty as the heavens,” Situ Wanli said earnestly, as if admonishing an ignorant brother, “how do you know that all the people in the world are such gentlemen? To give such a precious treasure to someone you’ve only met by chance, what will you do if it attracts covetousness and brings disaster upon you in the future?”

He spoke to Xu Qing with a show of "concern," but in his heart he valued this sword-making prodigy even more.

Whether it was the sword Xu Qing had tailored for Tianze before, or the sword he forged for the Zhu family this time, both were top-notch masterpieces, ranking among the best in the sword manual.

Although Situ Wanli himself did not use a sword.

But as a businessman, he does have a keen eye.

He was certain that, based on the swords' extraordinary abilities, they could definitely fetch a high price.

"I will keep your advice in mind!"

Xu Qing responded calmly, not intending to expose his little scheme.

"That would be best!" Situ Wanli said, stopping short of commenting.

If Xu Qing really gets into trouble because of this in the future, he will take action when it is within his power and profitable.

After a brief pause in the conversation, Situ Wanli suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought of something.

Something's not right! Brother Xu has already tailored swords for Tianze and the Zhu family, whom I've only just met! I, Situ Wanli, have shared so many joys and sorrows with you, so why am I left out?

We can't accept this loss!

Thinking of this, an embarrassed smile immediately appeared on his chubby face. He rubbed his hands together and leaned closer: "Well... brother, seeing how extraordinary each sword you forge is, I... am also thinking about learning swordsmanship. What kind of sword do you think I should use, given my physique?"

Xu Qing glanced at him, already understanding, and deliberately asked, "Then it depends on what style you prefer, brother?"

"A heavy sword is good for slashing, a light sword is agile and swift, a long sword has a wide and imposing presence, and a short sword is unpredictable and hard to defend against? Or perhaps..." he smiled mischievously, "a soft sword that stays close to the body, as gentle as silk?"

“This…” Situ Wanli was speechless. He had never thought of these things.

So he quickly passed the buck back: "Brother, you're very insightful. Whichever style you say suits me, I'll practice that one!"

Xu Qing looked Situ Wanli up and down with a half-smile before slowly saying, "Brother, your burly physique is definitely not as petite as Master Zhu's. You can wield a heavy sword and a long sword with ease. Concealing the edge of a short sword is also a clever use. A soft sword coiled at your waist is also quite a sight... However..." He then changed the subject and gave his answer.

"I think, as a man, of course I want it all!"

As he spoke, he said what Situ Wanli most wanted to hear.

"When I have some free time, I'll have a custom-made sword made just for you, brother!"

"Oh dear... How could this be! How could I trouble you with your efforts, brother..." Situ Wanli looked flattered, but his eyes shone brightly.

"Yes, yes." Xu Qing smiled.

……

Because of the changes in Xinzheng, South Korea.

Xu Qing and Situ Wanli quickly packed their luggage again.

They traveled directly from Nanyang in South Korea to the State of Chu via the farmers' channels.

It is worth mentioning that about a hundred miles from the border of Nanyang in South Korea is actually the old capital of the Chu state—Chencheng, or Chenying.

Just as Lingyin was the exclusive title used by the State of Chu for the prime minister.

Ying was the exclusive name of the capital city of the Chu state.

Throughout the history of the Chu state, there were several capital relocations. The most famous of these relocations was to Ying, which indirectly led to subsequent capitals of Chu being called "Ying." Ying was captured by Qin general Bai Qi many years ago, forcing King Qingxiang of Chu to move the capital to Chencheng in Huaiyang. Chenying served as the temporary capital of Chu for 37 years, but due to its flat terrain and lack of natural defenses, it was constantly threatened by the Qin army. Therefore, several years ago, Chu moved its capital again to Shouchun, which was renamed Shouying.

This is because the State of Chu had only moved its capital a few years prior.

Chenying, the former capital of the royal family, remains bustling with activity and its prosperity undiminished.

Xu Qing and Situ Wanli's first stop in the Chu Kingdom was a local farmhouse.

After settling in, Xu Qing didn't rush to start forging swords. After all, he had come to a new country and should take a look around first.

He strolled out of the stronghold's gate and blended into the bustling yet unfamiliar city and countryside of Chenying.

What greets you is the unique Chu culture and style, quite different from that of the Central Plains and Shanxi.

Although the Three Jin states were divided into three kingdoms, they shared the same bloodline and had been influenced by the Zhou rites for hundreds of years. Whether it was food, daily life, marriage, or funerals, one could find similar rigorous and even restrained imprints of order.

Xu Qing was still unaware of the state of Qin.

But this Chu state seemed to have torn away that restrictive veil, flowing with an almost wild vitality.

The shamanistic atmosphere was intense, permeating almost every inch of the land. On street corners, one could see old women burning incense and praying, their expressions solemn and devout. In small temples in the countryside, shamans wearing ferocious masks often performed bizarre sacrificial dances, chanting incantations. This place rarely had the suffocatingly complex web of rituals and laws of the aristocratic families of the Central Plains.

Villagers, their chests and bellies exposed, worked on the ridges of the fields, their shouts hearty and straightforward; young girls washed clothes by the stream, their laughter as clear as silver bells, their bold gazes sweeping over passersby without a hint of shyness.

A kind of freedom and romance, almost like that of a primitive era, spreads freely across this land.

Chapter 98 Forging the Nine Swords with Heavenly Questions, Reuniting with Tian Guang!

Stepping into the land of Chu, everything before Xu Qing exuded a sense of novelty and mystery.

The local customs and people were so different from other places that this land, steeped in witchcraft and wildness, captivated his curiosity.

However, besides the novelty, there were also occasional situations that surprised him.

"Goose, goose, goose..."

From the depths of the nearby grassy waves, a rhythmic murmur could be faintly heard, which at first glance sounded quite like that famous line about geese that would only come out in the future.

Xu Qing was slightly taken aback, then understood and chuckled.

Luo Binwang lived a thousand years later, so how could he have written a poem about geese? This is merely a manifestation of the unique customs of the Chu region.

In the countryside, men and women openly engage in sexual intercourse in the open, without any restraint.

People often say that the State of Qi is bold and unrestrained, but little do they know that the State of Qi in this era has been influenced by Confucianism and has become more respectful of etiquette and rules. On the other hand, the State of Chu simply considers itself a barbarian state, with its own set of rules of conduct that are completely different from those of the Central Plains. Its wild and bold customs are also quite remarkable.

"How many times have I run into him now?" Xu Qing wondered to himself.

Having traveled through the countryside of Chu for several days, I have already encountered this kind of clandestine encounter several times.

Those wild mandarin ducks in the grass, confident that the dense undergrowth would make them hard for others to spot, were unaware that Xu Qing had extraordinary hearing, and not a single slight movement could escape his perception.

He discreetly walked around the bushes, not wanting to disturb anyone's enjoyment.

These days he lingered in Chenying, the former capital of Chu, a place that suited his tastes quite well. Firstly, although the old capital was not as prosperous as it once was, its foundation remained and it did not show signs of decay; secondly, Chu had moved its capital to Shouchun several years ago, and the top nobles there had long since left. Although there were still many wealthy people who remained, there were fewer powerful figures who could control everything, so he could act with much more freedom.