Chapter 48: Awake Without a Sword, First Learn to Walk

Jiang Che woke up and found he could barely sit up.

This was stranger to him than any enemy.

He had once been hunted to the Broken Temple.

He had once defended Han Zhou, drenched in blood.

He had once severed the Heavenly Patrol's crown at Tian Duan Cliff.

But back then, he could still hold his sword.

Now, he could barely lift his arm.

When Xie Tingxue helped him sit up, her movements were gentle.

Jiang Che winced, sweat breaking on his forehead.

Xie Tingxue frowned: "Don't force it."

Jiang Che exhaled, smiling bitterly: "I thought I'd wake up and walk right away."

Xie Tingxue said coolly: "Did you think you were made of iron?"

"Wasn't I?"

Xie Tingxue looked at him.

Jiang Che fell silent at once.

When the others outside the tent heard Jiang Che had woken, they hurried over.

Chen Shanhe burst in, eyes red, but forced a stern face.

"Young Master, if you didn't wake up, I'd have sent Gu Chongming and his lot to Tian Duan Cliff to wail over your grave."

Jiang Che smiled: "Uncle Chen, don't let Lord Gu hear you say that."

Shen Wanjin squeezed in, still clutching his ledger.

"Young Master, you've woken just in time. The battle at Tian Duan Cliff cost a fortune—herbs, grain, coffins, compensation…"

Xie Tingxue glared at him coldly.

Shen Wanjin snapped the ledger shut at once: "Of course, the Young Master's health comes first. The accounts can wait."

Jiang Che smiled: "Remember—not a single copper short on compensation."

Shen Wanjin said solemnly: "Rest assured, Young Master. The Wan Tong Merchant Association will advance payment for the fallen; the Council Hall will reimburse later."

Lin Xiaoman arrived too.

He held a thick stack of ledgers, standing at the tent entrance, hesitant to enter.

Jiang Che waved him over.

"Finished?"

Lin Xiaoman nodded: "The first draft is done."

Jiang Che said: "Read a passage."

Lin Xiaoman opened the ledger, his voice trembling slightly:

"At Tian Duan Cliff, on the thirtieth day, at dawn, the Heavenly Punishment first fell. One nameless Sword Cultivator, age around twenty, died in the first sword ring. His hilt was carved with 'Big Sister'—likely had kin; pending investigation."

He stopped there.

Jiang Che closed his eyes.

"Keep investigating."

Lin Xiaoman nodded: "We've already sent people to look."

Jiang Che said: "If you find nothing, carve 'Nameless' on the tombstone."

"Even the nameless deserve a tombstone."

Lin Xiaoman nodded firmly.

After everyone left, Jiang Che looked at the Green Bamboo Sword.

It still rested beside the bed.

The blade was no longer emerald green, but dull and gray.

Jiang Che reached out and gripped the hilt.

No familiar sword hum.

No vitality from Green Bamboo.

Empty.

Jiang Che fell silent for a long time.

Xie Tingxue said: "The sword spirit is asleep, not dead."

Jiang Che whispered: "I know."

"I'm just not used to it."

From the Wooden Sword in the Broken Temple, to the Green Bamboo Sword in Burying Sword Valley, then to the Sword of Establishing the Human Realm at Tian Duan Cliff.

He had always had a sword in hand.

Now, waking up, it felt like a part of himself had been suddenly taken away.

Xie Tingxue looked at him: "Then don't practice swordplay for now."

Jiang Che looked up.

She said: "Learn to walk first."

And so, Jiang Che began the most humiliating period of his life.

On the first day, he stood with Xie Tingxue's support.

He stood for only three breaths before nearly collapsing.

The next day, he walked three steps out of the tent.

Chen Shanhe watched from the side, his eyes red-rimmed, yet he dared not step forward to support him.

On the third day, Jiang Che walked to the cliff's edge, took one look at the Sword Vein, and upon returning, was nearly completely drained of strength.

By the seventh day, he could finally walk ten zhang on his own.

That day, many people at Tian Duan Cliff secretly came to watch.

The Northern Garrison Army pretended to be on patrol.

The Sword Pavilion Disciples pretended to be polishing their swords.

Shen Wanjin pretended to be inspecting grain supplies.

Lin Xiaoman simply took out his notebook and wrote:

"Today, the Sword Master walked ten zhang alone without falling."

Upon seeing this, Jiang Che was torn between laughter and tears.

"You're recording even this?"

Lin Xiaoman replied seriously, "Of course."

"Future generations always think that once a hero awakens, they should immediately remain invincible."

"I must tell them that heroes also need to relearn how to walk."

Jiang Che paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then record it."

Ten more days passed, and a letter arrived from the Capital City.

Gu Chongming had written:

"The Council Hall has just stabilized, but undercurrents remain unsettled across the regions."

"There is unusual activity in the East Sea."

"It appears the Upper Realm Remnants are colluding with the Sea Race, intending to open the Water Gate."

After reading the letter, Jiang Che's brows furrowed slightly.

Xie Tingxue said, "You cannot go now."

Jiang Che gazed into the distance.

"I know."

He lowered his head to look at the Green Bamboo Sword, which remained silent.

For the first time, he clearly realized:

The Human Realm cannot rely solely on Jiang Che as its single sword.