Chapter 21

Recruited as a Sword Servant

Ruan Ci had obtained the sword for more than three years. The first half-year was the most painful; the sword intent pierced her body, and the visualization diagram was torn apart so many times that it felt as if she had died as many times. Looking back now, Ruan Ci did not know how she had survived it then. But after the visualization diagram took shape, life became much easier. The Donghua Sword changed in length and size according to her will, and its weight was very comfortable in her hand, but she could never pull it out. Wang Panpan said it was probably because she had no magic power. How to break this situation would have to wait until she was admitted into a sect and the experts of those prosperous sects could carefully study it.

Although she could not pull out the sword, she could not help but pay attention to various sword arts. In the Altar City, all mortal martial arts were common goods and very easy to obtain. Ruan Ci did not feel they were rare; she could learn any sword art at a glance and master it upon practice. The people in the Altar City did not pay attention to these mortal things, and no matter how fast she learned, they just treated it as a bit of fun. The people in the trading firm treated her well. Seeing that she started with a wooden sword, several assistants and refiners discussed it and casually forged a sword for her from the scraps of magic tools. They even said that when she left the Altar City, this sword would be enough for her to protect herself, and it could even serve as a family heirloom for a mortal martial arts family.

Ruan Ci was naturally unwilling to be admitted into the Taibai Sword Sect, but it was not convenient to reject Uncle Li's kindness. After thinking about it, she brought out her sword, cupped her hands, and said, "I have recently practiced a set of Sun-Piercing Sword Art. The manual is here; please give me your guidance, Immortal Master."

This "Sun-Piercing Sword Art" was quite famous in the mortal world. From the perspective of a mortal martial artist, choosing this sword art was already very thoughtful. However, in truth, Ruan Ci spent most of her time after her shift practicing the visualization diagram, gradually deepening her connection with the Donghua Sword. She had only flipped through the manual of this sword art a few times and had not practiced it yet. When she brought out her sword to perform it now, even though she was very serious, it was inevitable that there were still some omissions. Uncle Li cheered loudly, and Immortal Master Lu stroked his beard and smiled, but the two disciples behind him, a man and a woman, were both unimpressed. The female disciple said, "Uncle-Master, is the sword art of the people down the mountain all like this?"

Ruan Ci's sword momentum was not yet finished, but hearing this, she withdrew her sword with a trace of embarrassment. Immortal Master Lu laughed. "Forget it. You are young and have the heart to improve, which is not easy. Take this piece of black gold and let the shopkeeper forge a sword for you. When you leave the Altar City in the future, you will have something to protect yourself with."

This was a polite refusal, but giving a piece of black gold was quite generous. Immortal Master Lu was worthy of being a person who traded outside for an Immortal Sect; everything he did was appropriate. Ruan Ci cupped her hands in thanks, and the old shopkeeper also came out to greet them. Immortal Master Lu naturally went upstairs with him to discuss business. Uncle Li and Ruan Ci could not just leave, so they both stayed in the shop to help.

"Hey, come here."

Even immortals had to calculate accounts and haggle over prices. The two disciples were bored upstairs and came out to walk around. The female disciple enthusiastically called Ruan Ci over and pointed out, "The sword art you just practiced is wrong. I saw thirteen flaws. Do you want to hear them? If you do, I will tell you one by one."

Her face was round and very cute. Ruan Ci did not feel aggrieved that she had spoken bluntly just now, and teaching her now was just a whim. Ruan Ci did not expect that she had performed a sequel to her performance just now, so she had to come over, cup her hands, and smile, "Please instruct me, Immortal Fairy."

These two disciples should both be within the Foundation Establishment stage—if they were cultivators in the Qi Condensation stage, Ruan Ci would naturally have a sense of them. She could not clearly explain what this sense was; if she really had to say it... it was a feeling that the other party was not her opponent, or even more, a feeling that she could kill them.

Her nature was actually not bloodthirsty, and she was often scolded by Wang Panpan for being weak. She could not bring herself to kill even slightly cute demonic beasts, so Ruan Ci was also a bit awkward about this sense. She only used it to confirm that both disciples were at least in the Foundation Establishment stage. Thinking about it, since Immortal Master Lu was an elder of a flourishing sect, he must have Golden Core stage cultivation. However, he had a worldly-wise appearance, while these two disciples were both full of greenness. The male disciple, Changyuan, was better; he was cold-faced and silent, standing on the corridor, arms crossed, looking at the courtyard in a daze. The female disciple, Shuangcheng, blushed even at being called "Fairy" and waved her hands. "Don't call me Fairy; that's what you call the senior sisters. Hmm... you can call me Senior Shuangcheng."

She put her hands behind her back and tried hard to act old-fashioned. Ruan Ci laughed inwardly. The national situation in the Song Kingdom was turbulent; children from ordinary families had to go out to work at nine or ten, and noble daughters from great families also had their own worries. The innocence of childhood almost did not exist. How could it be like this Shuangcheng, who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage and was at least several decades old, yet still acted like a teenager?

She cupped her hands and said, "Senior Shuangcheng." Shuangcheng was very proud, put her hands behind her back, and said in an old-fashioned way, "How long have you been practicing the sword? Ten years? Twelve years? I can see that your basic skills are very solid. You haven't practiced your horse stance less, have you? It's just that you are ultimately lacking a bit of thought. What's the use of only knowing how to practice sword moves? The sword is meant to be used. The transition between moves is not smooth at all. You are dancing a sword dance; is it enough just to show off each move?"

When it came to the sword, all her greenness vanished, and she was full of spirit, as if talking about her favorite thing. She casually took down a sword hanging on the wooden wall and smiled, "Come and spar with me. Don't be afraid; I won't use a shred of magic power. See if you can stab me?"

Ruan Ci had been practicing the sword for a long time, which the assistants knew. However, businessmen were peace-loving and not people who liked to fight. She practiced a few flashy moves by herself, and no one sparred with her. Hearing this, Ruan Ci could not help but hesitate. Shuangcheng urged, "Don't be afraid; I really won't hurt you—don't look at me as young; I'm already in Foundation Establishment!"

Ruan Ci said, "Swords have no eyes..."

"No matter," that Changyuan did not know when he had flipped down from the second-floor corridor, as if stepping on stairs, walking down step by step from the air. He was already exceptionally handsome, and now moving by controlling his aura, his manner was even more dashing. Halfway down, he stood with his hands behind his back, stepping on the void, and said in a deep voice, "With me watching, nothing will happen. Just make your move."

Both of them had looked down on the Sun-Piercing Sword Art just now. Shuangcheng was straightforward and said it out loud, while Changyuan was faintly disdainful. Ruan Ci also always felt that his expression toward her was wrong. If it weren't for the fact that the Donghua Sword seeds could sense each other, and she was very sure that Changyuan was not a sword seed, she would have almost thought that Changyuan had seen through her identity. She was more wary of Changyuan than of Shuangcheng. Hearing this, it was not convenient to refuse again. "Yes, Senior Shuangcheng, please forgive me."

As she said this, she bowed to Shuangcheng, drew her sword from its sheath, set up her starting stance, and paced around Shuangcheng, looking for an opportunity. Shuangcheng was full of smiles and even turned her back to show she had no defense. Ruan Ci frowned, bit her lower lip, and circled for a while, appearing hesitant and unsure where to attack.

Several assistants stood around the courtyard watching, and by now they were a bit impatient and wanted to urge her, but were stopped by Changyuan with a wave of his hand. He had been very impatient with the Sun-Piercing Sword Art Ruan Ci performed just now, but now he was the opposite, his eyes burning, staring at Ruan Ci without letting go. He said softly, "She is building up her momentum; don't urge her."

Ruan Ci could not care about the thoughts of the onlookers. Before drawing her sword, she had thought it through well. This sword fight was naturally going to end with Shuangcheng winning. The flaws in the fusion of sword moves she mentioned were actually not wrong. Ruan Ci had only looked at the sword manual once, and being able to get the comment of "proficient in sword style" was actually something to be overjoyed about; to fuse sword moves, one would have to practice at least three times. This time, she only needed to follow the pattern, and next time, after listening to Shuangcheng's guidance, she could finish the task. However, she never expected that after drawing her sword, a violent and impulsive emotion would surge into her mind, just like... just like before she drew her sword to kill a demon in the mountains and forests. She had developed a murderous intent toward Shuangcheng.

Shuangcheng was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and she certainly could not be killed by one sword strike. But to say it was impossible to kill her was not necessarily true. The jade pendant hung around her neck, and the sword intent hidden inside only needed to be revealed a sliver and attached to the tip of the sword to be sent into Shuangcheng's body, and she would end up like the incarnation of Young Master Yue that day. But Ruan Ci was perfectly fine; why would she want to kill someone? She could not bear to kill even slightly cute demonic beasts, and Shuangcheng was innocent and romantic, and they had no grudges; why did she want to kill her?

She also knew this thought was wrong and could still suppress it, but being stimulated by this emotion, it was difficult to hide her light. Her mood fluctuated, and her aura rose and fell accordingly. Not only Changyuan, but after a while, the assistants also gradually sensed it and could not help but show shock, whispering, "Mortal martial artists also have such aura?"

Shuangcheng was in the middle of the situation. Although she was still facing away from Ruan Ci and had not turned around, her smile gradually faded. Although she said "not to use a shred of magic power," her Foundation Establishment spiritual sense was not sealed. She only felt that Little Ci's aura behind her was sometimes strong and sometimes weak, like a fierce beast lurking on the side. The two auras gradually locked onto each other, rising and falling, growing and waning. If she could not launch an attack at the point where her own aura was weakest, once Ruan Ci's aura rose to the highest point, that sword strike would not be something the mortal Shuangcheng could withstand!

Her fingers trembled slightly, and she tried her best to endure not reaching for her waist. She could not help but feel a bit of wariness, only feeling that Little Ci's aura was constantly rising, and the impending sword strike seemed unstoppable. Although she knew it was absurd, Shuangcheng was indeed terrified, as if her life was threatened—

She suddenly turned around and dodged the sword strike Little Ci thrust out. The tip of the sword brushed past Shuangcheng's nose and 'dinged' into the pillar. Little Ci's eyes were deep, she looked at Shuangcheng, withdrew, cupped her hands, and said, "This 'Sun-Piercing Sword Art' was not practiced skillfully. Just now, when breaking the moves, I was led and suppressed by the senior's aura, and I inadvertently used the 'murderous sword' I used when I was mixing in the martial arts world in my youth. Please forgive me, Senior."

In a duel between two parties, it was normal to be unable to stop when the fight was in full swing. The aura guidance Ruan Ci mentioned seemed mysterious, but everyone present had a clear feeling. At that moment, they all said, "Fairy has good means; without using a single move, you actually made Little Ci unable to even use the Sun-Piercing Sword Art."

This was giving Shuangcheng a way out, and it was also the decency of businessmen taking care of guests. Who actually lost in the aura guidance, both sides naturally knew in their hearts. Shuangcheng bit her lip, her face not looking very good, and she said loudly, "No need for that; I lost just now. Your 'murderous sword' is very powerful—have you killed many people?"

The "murderous sword" Ruan Ci mentioned was of course just a casual lie. This sword was thrust out plainly, without any moves to speak of; she had only used it to kill a demonic pig.

"Senior perhaps grew up in the Sword Sect since childhood. The world down the mountain has not been peaceful these years," she blinked. "I have seen many dead people. If I hadn't been a bit ruthless, I would have died long ago."

It was all the truth, and Shuangcheng could naturally see it. She held the hilt of her sword at her waist, somewhat lost in thought. "So, good sword art can only be honed between life and death..."

She walked up again and pulled Ruan Ci. "Come, come, tell me in more detail. When was the first time you used this 'murderous sword'? How did you get your skills? Is it a family tradition..."

Little Ci looked about fourteen or fifteen, but she had no Adam's apple. In fact, everyone already knew. Immortal Master Lu had exposed her female identity just now, so Shuangcheng had no scruples about being intimate with her now. She pulled her to the back of the shop. Changyuan stood in the air, watching their figures disappear, and turned to find Immortal Master Lu. Immortal Master Lu laughed. "You're back? Where did Shuangcheng go? Don't let her run around; there are too many outsiders this time, and the Altar City is very chaotic."

"She is very compatible with the little assistant just now, and they went to practice sword art together." Changyuan lowered his eyes. "Uncle-Master..."

He looked at the old shopkeeper. "I want to recruit a sword slave; please give me your instructions."

Immortal Master Lu said in surprise, "Who is it?"

He looked at Changyuan carefully. "Could it be that Little Ci just now? But her sword art is crude, and her sword heart is not pure. Didn't you look down on her just now... Changyuan, you have always been single-minded, with nothing but the sword. Why today, do you have floating thoughts about a mortal woman?"

Changyuan raised his eyebrows, thought for a while before understanding Immortal Master Lu's meaning, and shook his head. "Uncle-Master is talking about that... it's not like that, but I felt close to this person the moment I saw her, as if there was something I needed on her."

Cultivators valued affinity the most, so Immortal Master Lu could not help but hesitate. "If you recruit a beautiful maid here with me, I'm afraid your master will come to trouble me."

Changyuan seemed to disdain to argue at all. In fact, Shuangcheng and Little Ci were compatible, and it was the same for him to let Shuangcheng come forward, or perhaps it was even better than him saying it himself. But Changyuan did not think of these things at all, and even if he did, he would not care. He just continued to talk about his own thoughts. "Furthermore, her 'murderous sword' is also very interesting. Although it has no moves or stances, it forced Shuangcheng to lose a move. Although she is a mortal, if she follows me, her future will be better than here."

As he said this, he looked at the old shopkeeper, the implication being self-evident: he wanted the old shopkeeper to give Little Ci to him for the sake of their many years of friendship.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Third update of the VIP release ends. I will open a three-day lottery mission with a 100% subscription rate as a condition. If I open it again later, it may also be based on comments.

Because it was a scheduled release, I cannot report what I am eating at this time tomorrow. However, after eating chili-fried cuttlefish today, I ate Shine Muscat grapes. Shine Muscat grapes are delicious, and what's even better is that I didn't have an allergic reaction after eating them. I am allergic to some grapes and ordinary grapes, but I don't know why I'm not allergic to Shine Muscat grapes.

. Thank you to the little angels who cast Overlord Votes or irrigated nutrient solution for me between 2020-07-09 12:43:33 and 2020-07-09 12:45:56!

Thank you to the little angel who irrigated nutrient solution: Tian Tian Family (1 bottle);

Thank you all very much for your support; I will continue to work hard!