Chapter 80: Eighty-Three: The Last Letter Sword

Eighty-Three: The Last Letter Sword

Daylight.

A grand hall.

Liu Ziwen sat seated, fingers pinching a white cloth, squinting closely as he wiped the scabbard.

He occasionally turned his head, calmly glancing outside the hall, as if waiting for something.

The short sword in this young master of the Liu family’s hand.

The blade’s exact appearance within the scabbard was invisible.

Yet even just the scabbard, inlaid with jade, agate, pearls, and gems, was extravagantly luxurious.

Not to mention the intricate tassel woven with colored ribbons on the hilt.

It was undoubtedly precious and extraordinary.

Finally, footsteps sounded outside the hall, followed by the laughter and chatter of Liu Zi’an and a stranger.

“Boss Li, this way, my elder brother specially had Chang’an white tea prepared for you—your favorite flavor.”

“Hahaha, the chief and second chief are too kind; then I shall not refuse.”

It was pure, fluent Dayou court speech, tinged with a Guanzhong accent.

But when Liu Zi’an brought the speaker into the hall, it became clear: the man was a Persian Hu, with two curled mustaches, dressed as a shrewd merchant.

“Boss Li, long time no see.”

Liu Ziwen suddenly broke into a bright smile, rose, handed the short sword and white cloth to a maid, and went himself to the door to greet him.

After exchanging pleasantries, the three returned to the hall and sat again.

Unrelated personnel withdrew one by one; only Liu Ziwen, Liu Zi’an, and the Persian merchant remained, along with a young maid bowing her head, holding the sword.

The Persian merchant named Li Li sipped the popular Chang’an white tea, smiled faintly, and mentioned casually:

“Chief Liu, the new batch of goods has arrived; please check and receive them.”

Liu Ziwen and Liu Zi’an exchanged glances.

The former nodded. “My younger brother has already sent someone. Thank you, Boss Li, for making the trip again.”

Li Li shook his head, muttering:

“No trouble at all. Serving noble patrons is no hardship—it’s my duty. If I must say hardship, then it’s Chief Liu who has endured the most, staying here all these years.”

Liu Ziwen smiled but said nothing.

The Persian merchant set down his teacup, glanced at the two Liu brothers and the familiar short sword in the maid’s hands, and sighed:

“By the way, how many trips has this been now?”

Liu Ziwen answered without hesitation: “Thirty-seven.”

Li Li sighed:

“Indeed, thirty-seven shipments already. At least three every year without fail—ten years now. Though we’re old acquaintances, I’ve never properly toured Longcheng County. This place produces talents like you two; it’s a fine land.”

Liu Ziwen nodded: “A place that can serve the noble patron is a fine place.”

Liu Zi’an praised: “Once this matter is settled, I’ll personally show you around Longcheng.”

The Persian merchant with red hair and hooked nose nodded:

“Chief Liu speaks truly. Only a place worthy of the noble patron’s notice is truly fine.”

His pale green eyes flickered with amusement as he teased Liu Zi’an:

“Still, I fear that when the two chiefs soar to glory, you’ll forget me.”

Liu Zi’an, with his sickly face, forced a smile:

“Boss Li, you jest. If anyone is to soar, it’s you who will soar first. All these years, every item delivered has slipped through unnoticed—Boss Li is the true hero.”

“Just a hardworking soul. Don’t joke, Second Chief.”

The Persian merchant laughed, shaking his head, not taking it seriously.

The true hero in the eyes of the Wei noble patron would never be him, for this immense wealth was earned by the Liu family.

Naturally, the corresponding great risks were also borne by the Liu family.

He was merely a courier merchant—just a white glove for the Wei noble patron: obedient, discreet, no need to shoulder such risks for nothing.

A white glove: ask little, do much.

And he was a merchant; though he had a gambler’s nature, he disliked all-in bets.

Yet this pair of Liu brothers, after observing countless people, Li Li could tell—they loved all-in bets.

That was very different from him.

The Persian merchant understood this clearly and watched coldly from the sidelines.

But that didn’t hinder the surface familiarity, polite courtesies, and quiet rapport.

They were merely different roles beneath the noble patron’s feet, living by different rules.

Everything ultimately depended on one thing: before the noble patron’s patience ran out, could the Liu family deliver something—or achieve something—that satisfied him?

That was the true barometer of their relationship and loyalty.

Li Li understood. He knew the Liu brothers understood too.

All these years, all these trips, had followed this unspoken understanding.

Though he had come many times and knew the Penglang Ferry docks better than his own home,

Li Li was still quietly astonished by what the Liu family concealed beneath the ancient Yue sword shop.

Because the resources consumed had been too vast, too immense.

Over ten years, he had delivered thirty-seven shipments.

Each time, the Liu family’s inventory list was short—but the silver and gold spent were astronomical, and many items involved rare qi-refining materials money couldn’t even buy.

Li Li was no stranger to the world.

From the western deserts to the southern islands, after decades of traveling, even among Chang’an and Luoyang’s top merchant circles, his quiet demeanor had earned him considerable renown.

What rare treasures had he not inspected? What strange crafts had he not seen? What peculiar arts had he not heard of?

He had even witnessed two and a half top-tier qi-refiners—those elusive, unseen masters.

Yet these ordinary, unremarkable forges by the river in this small Jiangnan county town had opened Li Li’s eyes wide.

They were like a gluttonous beast, a ravenous mouth endlessly swallowing countless resources—yet producing only silence.

And the Persian merchant recalled that on a previous delivery, over tea, the Liu brothers had mentioned: the sword blank had already been a half-finished product when found, just one final step from completion.

And that final step had consumed so much time and effort from the Zhou dynasty’s top-power noble faction.

Even during the faction’s golden decade—the peak of its expansion.

Of course, this was also due to the need for secrecy to avoid political rivals, and the necessity of discreet, gradual resource transport.

But it was still astonishing.

Over these years, Li Li, for assisting this matter, had gained ever more resources and privileges from his powerful backer—so much so that even as a merchant, he felt a pang of guilt.

Had the Liu family not behaved so obediently these years, shown no ambition to expand, and had all their business beyond Longcheng County remained under Li Li’s and his patron’s watchful eyes,

He might have suspected the Liu family of embezzling resources, deceiving the noble patron…

Recently, Li Li had heard from a colleague that the struggle at the top of the imperial court in the divine capital Luoyang had reached its fiercest, most agonizing phase.

Even those of us, mere retainers sheltered beneath the patron’s shade, could feel the scorching sun and the rustling trees.

Thus, before this trip, Li Li had proactively consulted his superiors, suggesting a temporary reduction in resource input here.

The reply from a certain Wei prince was… increase the effort.

The Persian merchant’s expression turned solemn.

Now, in the Liu family’s reception hall, the three seated men each lowered their heads, sipping tea in silence.

“Fine tea. Chief Liu, you’ve thought of everything.”

Li Li broke the silence first, set down his cup, and smiled:

“Is this list longer again? Haha, no matter—old friends, just bring it out. I’m a hardworking soul; I’m used to running errands.”

Unexpectedly, the young master of the Liu family gently shook his head.

Liu Ziwen glanced at Liu Zi’an, who pulled from his sleeve a nearly blank sheet of paper and handed it to the Persian merchant.

It had been given to him by the old craftsman.

“Huh? Only one?”

Li Li’s face showed surprise as he read the single line on the paper, murmuring:

“Mo Family Sword Case…”

He paused, then his expression changed: “Chief Liu, just one sword case? You mean…”

The Persian merchant seemed to sense something, gripping the wooden armrests tightly, leaning forward.

Liu Ziwen’s face held a mix of relief and melancholy.

He nodded, gesturing toward the maid beside him holding the luxurious short sword:

“Boss Li, take this last letter sword back. Deliver it to the Prince. When he sees the sword, he’ll know what to do.”

Li Li, having just finished his tea, suddenly felt parched—but made no move to pick up his cup again.

His green eyes, like greedy old turtle eyes, widened, fixed on the short sword in the maid’s hands—he knew exactly what Liu Ziwen meant by “this last letter sword.”

The Persian merchant’s lapse startled Liu Ziwen into a quiet laugh, though he wasn’t surprised.

When he had polished the sword today, waiting for his guest, his own hands had trembled slightly.

Liu Ziwen extended a calm hand toward the maid holding the sword:

“Give me the sword. You may go.”

The young maid presented the sword with both hands.

She turned and left.

Liu Ziwen took the sword.

He weighed it in his hand.

He drew it with a reverse grip.

He rose and walked forward.

Blood splattered across his face.

She still stirred.

Stab again.

The two-foot-eight-inch blade aligned perfectly with her ribs, entering without the hilt, as the fallen maid’s chest still rose slightly.

Done.

In front of the other two, Liu Ziwen drew the short sword a second time.

Hot beads of blood from the ventricle slid down the cold blade spine, dripping from the maid’s chest to her forehead.

The exquisite sword tassel was neatly wrapped around Liu Ziwen’s gripping palm, untouched by blood.

He reached out to take the white cloth Liu Zian offered, carefully wiping the blade, now slightly warm, then spread the still-pristine cloth toward the Persian merchant.

Not a single drop of blood remained.

Liu Zian’s expression remained unchanged.

Li Li’s eyes widened, his face a spectacle of shock.

It was not because a cold corpse now lay at his feet, but because, after this simple demonstration, he realized the short sword was sharpened!

As per the longstanding agreement.

Each time the Persian merchant delivered goods, he took one of the Liu family’s short swords as a token to present to the noble.

It was a kind of… ritual.

In the past dozen years, he had retrieved thirty-six such token swords.

But all of them were unsharpened.

Because once a returned short sword was sharpened, it meant… that sword was ready.

Li Li carefully accepted the newly sharpened luxurious short sword, his eyes burning with admiration, murmuring in awe.

All he needed to do was bring this sword back; when the next and final special “delivery” arrived, the Mo family’s sword case would contain the very blade the Wei noble could not forget!

The Persian merchant nodded, satisfied, stroking a corner of his mustache:

“Few Mo family mechanical masterpieces still exist; each is a rare treasure. But I’ve heard rumors of one’s whereabouts. I will obtain it.”

Liu Ziwen and Liu Zian both nodded.

Yet before Li Li’s radiant smile, the two brothers’ faces remained solemn, even growing… heavier.

This oddity did not escape the Persian merchant’s sharp, observant eyes.

He glanced at them and asked directly: “What’s wrong, Elder Brother and Second Brother? This is good news—why the grim faces?”

The Liu brothers exchanged a look.

Liu Ziwen sighed. Liu Zian spoke for him:

“When you brought your caravan to Longcheng, did you notice anything unusual?”

Li Li nodded, narrowing his eyes:

“I saw a new canal being dug—quite grand… Is this causing you trouble?”

Liu Ziwen lowered his gaze and said suddenly:

“The new canal isn’t the problem—for now. It’s the new County Magistrate overseeing its construction.”

“Oh?”

…

Came, didn’t sleep! This chapter is nearly four thousand characters—sorry, brothers, I couldn’t stop writing, it’s late (pouts). By the way, Bai Mao’s plot is being written in these two chapters, rest assured. Also, the protagonist’s first blood will be spilled in this volume—no delays… Ugh, I just don’t get you guys.

(End of Chapter)