Chapter 10: In Burying Sword Valley, Mother's Heirloom

Burying Sword Valley lies deep within the snow plains.

The valley entrance is shrouded in black mist year-round, with broken swords stuck all around.

Some say this was once a battlefield of an Ancient Sword Sect, where a hundred thousand Sword Cultivators died.

Others say Burying Sword Valley connects to the Human Sword Vein, and anyone who enters will have their mind and spirit devoured by Sword Evil.

The Northern Garrison Army camps outside the valley.

Chen Shanhe did not approve of Jiang Che entering the valley.

"Young Master, your injuries have not healed, and the Wooden Sword is broken; entering the valley now is too dangerous."

Jiang Che looked at the Wooden Sword in his hand, now only half its length.

"What my mother left behind is inside."

"I must go."

Xie Tingxue said, "I will accompany you."

Jiang Che did not refuse.

The Sword Spirit, however, said, "Boy, be careful once you go in. This place holds more than just Sword Evil."

"What else?"

"The dead."

"Nonsense."

"Not ordinary dead."

The Sword Spirit's voice grew slightly heavy: "They are Sword Cultivators who died yet refused to close their eyes."

The two entered the valley.

Black mist surged forward, and countless whispers immediately sounded in their ears.

"Draw your sword..."

"Kill..."

"Unwilling..."

Illusions floated before Jiang Che's eyes.

He saw Hou Manor engulfed in flames, saw his father die in battle, and saw his mother's back as she turned to leave.

That back was very blurry.

He had few memories of his mother.

He only remembered she always wore a Green Robe and carried a faint scent of bamboo.

Xie Tingxue suddenly stopped, cold sweat seeping from her forehead.

She too fell into an illusion.

Jiang Che reached out and pressed his hand on her shoulder: "Guard your heart."

Xie Tingxue snapped awake, her face pale: "Thank you."

The deeper they went into the valley, the more broken swords there were.

Some swords had rusted into iron sheets, while others still radiated a chilling light.

Suddenly, a Broken Sword flew up from the ground, thrusting straight at Jiang Che's brow.

Jiang Che sidestepped to avoid it.

Immediately, dozens of broken swords trembled at once.

Xie Tingxue drew her sword; Sword Qi like snow pushed the broken swords back.

Yet the broken swords grew in number.

A hundred.

A thousand.

It seemed countless dead Sword Cultivators in the valley sought to stop their advance.

The Sword Spirit said coldly, "Do not fight them head-on. They do not seek to kill you; they seek to ask you."

Jiang Che frowned: "Ask what?"

"Ask on what right you enter."

Jiang Che stopped.

A thousand broken swords hung suspended in midair, their tips pointing at him.

Jiang Che took a deep breath and raised the Broken Wooden Sword.

"My name is Jiang Che."

"Son of Jiang Xuan."

"Son of the Young Master of the Green Robe Sword."

As his words fell, the black mist in the valley churned violently.

The four words "Young Master of the Green Robe Sword" seemed to unlock some ancient seal.

The thousand broken swords slowly parted to make a path.

Xie Tingxue said in surprise, "Your mother is the Young Master of the Green Robe Sword?"

Jiang Che shook his head: "I only learned this today as well."

At the valley bottom stood a solitary grave.

There was no stele before the grave, only a stalk of Green Bamboo.

The Green Bamboo remained emerald green amidst the wind and snow.

Jiang Che walked to the grave, and suddenly pain struck his heart.

The grave held no body.

Buried within was a sword.

A long sword, entirely green, its blade like bamboo.

Beside the sword lay a letter.

"Che'er."

"If you have come here, it means you have taken up the sword."

"That I could not accompany your growth is my fault."

"The meridians in your body are blocked; they were not born broken, but sealed by your mother."

"Because you were born connected to the Sword Vein, if you had revealed it early, the Heavenly Gate would surely have killed you."

"Now that you have entered the game, draw the sword."

"This sword is named Green Bamboo."

"It will lead you to find the true Human Sword Vein."

Jiang Che finished reading the letter and remained silent for a long time.

So he was not a waste.

He had simply been hidden by his mother for over ten years.

Xie Tingxue said softly, "She was protecting you."

Jiang Che reached out and grasped the Green Bamboo Sword.

Boom!

The entire Burying Sword Valley trembled.

Countless broken swords bowed their heads together, like subjects meeting their ruler.

The Soul of the Sword within the broken Wooden Sword smiled faintly.

"Boy."

"This is the sword your mother gave you."

Jiang Che drew the sword.

Green Light shot into the sky.

The black fog above Burying Sword Valley scattered completely, revealing the long-absent sunlight.

Outside the valley, Chen Shanhe and others saw the Green Light and knelt down together.

"We welcome the Young Master to obtain the sword!"

Holding the Green Bamboo Sword, Jiang Che's aura began to change.

It was no longer borrowed wildness.

But a sharpness awakening from his very bones and blood.

He turned and looked north.

The next stop: White Bone Pass.