Chapter 127
Chapter 127
“—Oh?”
The moment they heard it, both Chen and Yan, who had been intently focused on the conversation, snapped to alertness, immediately turning around. Sure enough, a figure entered the gate. He was slightly stooped and very thin, moving with an unmistakable air—that very talisman cultivator of the Martial World Alliance!
At the sight of him, Chen Shu reacted as if confronting a deadly enemy. She took a step forward, positioning herself protectively in front of the other two, facing the old man squarely. Her expression serious, she demanded, “Are you the owner of this place?”
“You waltz in uninvited, stand in my courtyard for hours, and still ask if I’m the owner? That’s stretching ignorance a bit far.” The old man snorted, utterly unconcerned by their reactions. He walked right past them as if they were invisible. Slowly, he knocked on the cellar door, seemingly confirming that the hoard of valuables within was untouched and intact, then finally turned to face the three stunned individuals.
To say all three were stunned wasn’t entirely accurate. Shen Jie wasn’t as taken aback as the others, having anticipated something like this, and wasn’t flustered by the cultivator’s air of indifference. Seeing Chen Shu’s stance, she calmly patted her shoulder and motioned for her to step aside, intending to handle the conversation herself.
But Chen Shu would have none of it. While agreeable on minor matters, when facing potential danger—like now, or like that fire outside Yingqiu City—she would always be the first to charge forward. Not even Shen Jie’s persuasion would sway her, much less anyone else’s.
Therefore, Shen Jie’s touch only prompted Chen Shu to reach an arm out protectively, shielding her completely. She addressed the talisman cultivator directly: “Since you prefer straight talking, you must know why we’re here, right?”
This drew a laugh from the old man. “And how would I know your purpose in seeking me out? If it’s important, just state plainly what grand business requires three such important personages to grace my humble courtyard and stand here half the day?”
“You!” Chen Shu instantly flared up at the sarcastic tone. Her short temper surged, and she subconsciously took another step forward. Yet, in that split second, unable to find a sharp retort, her face flushed red with fury. Shen Jie patted her shoulder again, holding her back.
Shen Jie stepped forward two steps and first bowed respectfully. Seeing that Old Man Lian’s expression improved quite a bit, she then said:
“I wonder what your honorable surname is?”
“My surname is Lian,” Old Man Lian said, raising his eyebrows and deliberately glancing at Chen Shu who was fuming, before declaring proudly. “So, do you seek me to inquire about matters or to get talismans? Prepare paper, pen, and silver coins; whatever talisman you want is negotiable.”
“Primarily to inquire about matters,” Shen Jie said, paused for a moment, gave a knowing smile, and added, “Of course, after asking, naturally, I’d also trouble you, Old Man Lian, to grant some talismans for good fortune.”
Upon hearing this, and it was only until Shen Jie said the latter part, that Old Man Lian grunted twice and said, “Then ask!”
“I wonder if you just returned from Ping Chao Kou?”
“Yes.”
“Did you bring some… goods?”
“Naturally, I brought them. Not just a little, mind you; there were nearly ten chests of treasures entrusted to me by Xu Yuan for safekeeping,” Old Man Lian said, pretentiously patting his own waist. “Sure made my old back ache—”
“You’re lying!” Chen Shu immediately stepped forward, pointing at him and angrily rebuking. “Clearly you stole Xu Yuan’s mansion’s belongings—and even stole my sect’s jade!”
“Oh?” At this, Old Man Lian finally dropped his arrogant expression, looked directly at Chen Shu, and said, “Seems you aren’t completely foolish, huh? Did your sword see it and tell you?”
Chen Shu choked back her words.
“I… what concern is that to my sword, you stealing my jade?”
“Is this stealing your jade?” Old Man Lian sneered. “If I hadn’t lent a hand, who knows if you might have lost an arm or leg? Taking a piece of your jade is nothing! I see you sword cultivators are all the same—stupid, strong, stubbornly inflexible, not an ounce of adaptability!”
“You—you can scold me, but why scold us sword cultivators?!” Chen Shu was infuriated. If Shen Jie hadn’t been quick-eyed and grabbed her arm, she almost rushed forward; at that moment, she nearly fought to the death with this talisman cultivator.
“Well… since the jade has been found, whether to return or give it away can be discussed later; no need to quarrel now, right?” Shen Jie forced a laugh and hurriedly changed the topic. “So, did you truly lend a hand during the flood, ‘saved the entire city,’ and this flood had nothing to do with you, wasn’t it?”
“What could it have to do with me?” Old Man Lian responded. “I didn’t save the entire city—if not for honoring the senior in this brat’s sect to keep her safe, why would I willingly use such precious talismans? Took centuries to draw just three! That one piece of your jade isn’t nearly enough compensation!”
“Who—who asked you to save me!” Chen Shu blurted out, feeling both shy and annoyed, not even thinking properly about what senior in her sect or keeping her safe; she retorted directly. “I alone could have saved the entire city!”
“Truly an identical stubborn mule,” Old Man Lian said, shaking his head and not pursuing it further. He turned back to ask Shen Jie. “So why exactly did you lot come? Just to ask these unimportant questions? And where is that girl’s sword? Hmph, after a trip to Yubei, really lost your sword?”
“…You knew all along that Yun Shen was her… sword?” Shen Jie asked.
“Only a blind man wouldn’t see that,” Old Man Lian retorted; perhaps realizing calling someone blind to their face might invite trouble, he trailed off, mumbled some complaints, waved his hand, and said. “Not just me; I told Xu Yuan about it two days ago. I said, though you are a sword cultivator, not recognizing your own sword is one thing, but how could you cause others to mistake it too? Then he took that fake sword as a treasure and brought it to me—”
“Wait, you told Xu Yuan about this…” Shen Jie seemed still uncomfortable calling Yun Shen a sword; she closed her eyes briefly before forcing the words out. “About Yun Shen’s identity?”
“Of course,” Old Man Lian frowned, impatient at the question, and waved his hand dismissively. “More than that; I told him all about swordsmithing and sword-suppression. That lad is quite studious and well-mannered—never comes without gifts, unlike some sword cultivators who can’t pull a copper coin from their pockets—”
“—Oh no.”
Shen Jie turned to Chen Shu. “When did you two separate? Did Yun Shen ever mention where he was going?”
“N-not at all,” Chen Shu said, affected by Shen Jie’s expression; she shifted from anger to sudden nervousness. “Why, might something happen to him?”
“Whether anything befalls him isn’t for me to say,” Shen Jie stated sternly before turning again. “Do you know where Xu Yuan would go if he returned to Diancang Pass?”
Perhaps the question came too abruptly; for a moment, even Old Man Lian failed to respond, uttering only a confused murmur.
So the baffled Yan Ji finally seized the chance to interject: “Wait, wait—isn’t Alliance Leader Xu still in Xian City? What connection does this have with Alliance Leader Xu? What’s more, what does that ‘last half circle’ even mean? I wasn’t part of your investigation and have barely understood since earlier—”
“Oh! That’s perfectly clear to understand,” Chen Shu replied rather impatiently. “Big sister means that the mastermind behind this is Xu Yuan!”
This booming response was like a thunderclap, not only startling Yan Ji but also rousing the usually indifferent Old Man Lian from his complacency.
“The half circle—anyway, you’re not too informed—refers to that suspicious murder case I discussed earlier with big sister, the one in the secret room of Valley of Villains. We originally thought the killer used the fake sword, then discarded it and fled. Xu Yuan later found it, but now it’s obvious that Xu Yuan himself used that sword, mistook it for a valuable item, and took it away. Then he deliberately staged The Bride’s Blade Challenge to have me verify it—truly shameless—”
“Wait a minute, what? Mastermind behind this?” Old Man Lian frowned and asked, “Wasn’t this sword something he just happened to stumble upon?”
“It’s more likely he went to the secret room looking for the sword, happened to encounter someone holding the fake sword, then turned ruthless and killed them to seize it. That Bride’s Blade Challenge wasn’t meant for your confirmation at all—it was designed to lure you in, knowing the sword’s origins!” Shen Jie declared. Noticing Old Man Lian’s expression shift, she followed up quickly, pressing, “Therefore, he definitely knows the sword’s true identity—that’s dangerous… This matter is urgent. I implore you to carefully recall any frequent acquaintances Xu Yuan had around Diancang Pass, or secluded spots where he could act without notice.”
Old Man Lian stroked his chin, thinking for a long moment, before finally saying unhurriedly, “I’m afraid I wouldn’t know…”
“You don’t know? Then guess a few!” Chen Shu urged impatiently.
True to form, Old Man Lian shot her a dirty look and chided, “Here we go again. Why the rush? I merely said I don’t know Xu Yuan’s whereabouts—not that he can’t be found.”
“How pray tell does one find him?” Shen Jie inquired again.
“Simplicity itself. Just one piece of Talismanic Paper will do.”
Before the words fully landed, the old man resumed his grandiose posture, flamboyantly rolling up his sleeve and reaching toward a worn pouch at his waist resembling a purse. He patted around for a while as the three before him held their breath in hopeful silence. But nothing emerged, leaving him momentarily frozen. He gave a dry cough.
True to her nature, the impatient Chen Shu spoke first:
“What’s wrong now?”
“… Sold them all out a couple of days ago.” The old man answered, scratching his arm. He then turned and strode away toward the cellar like a man fleeing, calling over his shoulder, “Never mind, I’ll scribe a fresh one for you now!”
“—Will that be in time?” Shen Jie quickly called after him.
“Worry not! A half-hour delay won’t kill anyone!”
“Yun Shen is a sword. Obviously, he can’t be killed.”
Chen Shu mumbled under her breath. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned to Shen Jie, her curiosity piqued. “… But Sister, you didn’t know the details of this theft either, nor had you confronted this old man… How did you deduce to rush to Diancang Pass just from hearing about the Bride’s Blade Challenge?”
“A suspicion has been growing in my mind for a while,” Shen Jie replied with a faint smile. “It didn’t start with the challenge itself, but when I heard he’d found the sword and intended to use it as bait in the challenge to lure the ‘Strategist’ into the open.”
“Because finding the sword made him suspicious?” Yan Ji asked.
“Or was it because the idea of using the sword to bait the ‘Strategist’ was clearly a flimsy cover anyone could see through? Who could guarantee the ‘Strategist’ would risk himself for some broken sword? At most, it only lured me there!” Chen Shu questioned.
“Both reasons played a part. Plus, there was another clue.” Shen Jie looked at Chen Shu, speaking deliberately. “Do you recall what I said about the challenge? I said if protecting your life was the goal, he wouldn’t choose the final bout—he’d pick an earlier one. No one could guarantee you’d keep winning every round. The logic holds true for most. But there is one sect, always ranked first in the Sword Discussion Platform contests, boasting of its righteous orthodoxy, which proudly announces every duel participant well in advance. Before I learned of the Xu family connection, I hadn’t considered it. But once the details of this Bride’s Blade Challenge emerged…”
She didn’t need to finish. Chen Shu’s face drained of color, astonishment written large. She drew in a sharp, frigid winter breath, freezing her in place.
Not even the sound of Old Man Lian returning, rustling and grumbling, could pull her from the depths of her shock.
“All right! The talisman’s done!” the old man announced. “Simply tear the paper, focus your thoughts on someone connected to him, chant that person’s name onto it, then burn it. The ash will naturally point toward the subject’s location—works the same for the sword.” He glanced up, his gaze settling directly on Chen Shu, and beckoned impatiently. “Been explaining for ages! Get over here, little stubborn donkey!”
“… Fine.” Chen Shu finally snapped out of it, though a trace of nervousness lingered. She took two steps to stand before him but still asked, “… How do I focus on him? Think about when I first came down the mountain and met him? Or the days traveling to Diancang Pass… or at Valley of Villains? Or under the cliff…”
Shen Jie couldn’t suppress a light chuckle upon hearing this. Yan Ji, lacking any gossip, just folded his arms and shook his head, mildly disappointed. Only the old man lost patience, snappishly stopping her short:
“—Focus! Think! I didn’t tell you to narrate it out loud!”
—