Chapter 121: 116 Sword Hut

The sun slanted westward, and wisps of mist began to condense along the edge of the marsh, shrouding the reeds in the water and drifting onto the wooden boardwalk built over the surface.

Tang Zhao and Xue Yeyu walked side by side along the wooden boardwalk, stepping on the creaking planks to go see Tang Zhao's Sword Hut.

Although he had been here for several days, Tang Zhao had been staying next to Xue Xianyun's workshop and did not yet have a place of his own to live.

A True Jade Disciple certainly had the qualifications to possess a private Sword Hut; although Xue Xianyun had not yet held an apprenticeship ceremony, it was only a matter of time, and it did not hinder Tang Zhao from enjoying the treatment in advance, which Xue Yeyu also enthusiastically helped him arrange.

The two walked toward the edge of the marsh, and Xue Yeyu pointed out to him, "The brothers and sisters who live along this bank are all our fellow disciples. The two Junior Uncles live deeper inside; one of them loves to focus on research, and the other is often traveling outside. You generally won't see them. How about it, do you feel it's a bit lonely?"

Tang Zhao looked toward the bank; the marsh was shrouded in mist, and one could vaguely see sporadic tall shadows in the fog—they might be cliff walls, a row of large trees, or perhaps the Sword Hut of some senior brother.

"It is indeed a bit lonely."

Tang Zhao was not particularly fond of liveliness and could stay alone, and he could appreciate the beauty of quiet elegance, but this place... it wasn't just lonely, it really lacked human vitality; one would imagine it would inevitably be dark and eerie once night fell.

Xue Yeyu said, "Our research as Talisman Sword Masters requires quiet, and living here to study allows one to calm the mind. However, after living here a long time, one will feel a bit of silence. The White Jade Disciples on the opposite side are actually very lively, and there is an atmosphere of daily life. If you feel lonely, you can go to the other side to play. In a few years, you can also take on follower disciples or apply to attend advanced classes. Of course, you can also come to Senior Sister's place to visit."

Tang Zhao nodded and said, "I will certainly visit often."

The two passed by a house hidden in the mist; the house was square and very neat. Xue Yeyu pointed it out, "That is the Eldest Senior Brother's Sword Hut. Senior Brother Shi was Father's first disciple. I wasn't even born when he was with Father. When I was little, he often took me to the water's edge to play, just like a second father to me."

Tang Zhao said, "Eldest Senior Brother, huh..." Mentioning the Eldest Senior Brother, he seemed to have heard some stories. However, in the stories, a junior sister would not consider a senior brother a "father."

After walking for a while longer, they saw a Daoist temple built by the water. As the white mist dispersed slightly, the temple appeared solemn and tidy, possessing a sense of purity. Xue Yeyu said, "That is the Second Senior Brother's Sword Hut; he comes from a Daoist background and specializes in the study of pure cultivation and health preservation. He has now gone down the mountain. I originally thought that since the Second Senior Brother is away and not returning, you could just live in his Sword Hut first? But Father wouldn't allow it, saying I was stingy. I thought about it and Father was right; otherwise, if the Second Senior Brother returned and didn't even have a place to stay, wouldn't that be too pitiful?"

Tang Zhao nodded repeatedly; compared to living in a large mansion renovated by someone else, he still wanted a house of his own, even if it were just a thatched cottage.

He asked, "The Second Senior Brother went down the mountain? Has he finished his apprenticeship?"

Xue Yeyu said, "No. He had a bit of a falling out with Father and went down the mountain. It seems he went to Jingcheng to become an official."

Tang Zhao went "Ha?" and said, "Isn't he into pure cultivation?"

Xue Yeyu laughed, "You sound just like Father; Father scolded him for being obsessed with officialdom and 'cultivating a ghost's path.' He wrote a letter before, saying he was like a fish in water in Jingcheng, rising step by step. Father was so angry he tore up all his letters."

Tang Zhao: "..."

Immediately after, Xue Yeyu pointed out that they were passing the Third Senior Sister's Sword Hut.

If one could say the Eldest Senior Brother's Sword Hut still had a shadow, the Third Senior Sister's didn't even have that. Tang Zhao strained his eyes to look, only seeing thick, dense fog; it seemed not just to be mist from the water, but mixed with something else, giving the fog a faint purple hue.

This kind of purple made Tang Zhao feel a sense of familiarity.

On the lawn in front of the clouds and mist grew many strange flowers, exotic grasses, and small mushrooms; there were even more shadows in the mist, as if that place were a fertile land.

Xue Yeyu said softly, "Third Senior Sister doesn't like to see people; she hasn't stepped out of her door for several years. Since the Sixth Junior Brother, no one has even seen her once, and I have only seen her a few times. I don't know if she is willing to see you."

Moving further ahead was naturally Xue Yeyu's Sword Hut. Her Sword Hut was not built in the shape of a large owl as Tang Zhao had imagined, but was a large Huayuan, where flowers were in full bloom, vegetation was lush, and several elegant buildings were dotted among the trees. The only strange thing was that the roofs of those buildings were all fluffy, looking like owl wings.

Tang Zhao praised, "Senior Sister's home is truly like a paradise."

It was better here at Senior Sister's place, and normal, too.

Xue Yeyu said proudly, "Of course. Do you see that pine forest? I raise several hundred owls there."

Actually, it wasn't that normal either.

There were faint bird calls in the pine forest, but they were not noisy; owls are not noisy birds.

"Senior Sister, do your owls deliver letters?"

"Deliver letters?" Xue Yeyu asked in confusion, "Why would they deliver letters? If you really want them to deliver letters, they need to be trained."

Then, they passed the Sword Huts of the fifth, sixth, and seventh True Jade Disciples. The three of them had Sword Huts with their own clever designs, and they were relatively normal; Xue Yeyu introduced them casually, just stating their names. It seemed that since his daughter, Xue Xianyun had only taken in normal people.

As the two chatted, they walked further and further into the outskirts, the sun sinking lower and lower, until at sunset, they reached the end of the wooden boardwalk.

Stepping off the boardwalk, there was a stretch of wasteland; the beach was overgrown with weeds, strewn with scattered stones, and filled with pits and pools of water here and there. The setting sun shone on the rocky beach, casting long, slanted shadows and reflecting shimmering, dancing light on the pools, making it look exceptionally desolate and bleak in the twilight.

Xue Yeyu felt slightly embarrassed and said, "The marsh is only this big, and the good spots were all taken by the senior brothers in front. However, there are still several empty Sword Huts here, and no one lives in them. You can choose whichever one you want."

The so-called Sword Huts were nothing more than thatched cottages scattered across the rocky beach, with bamboo fences and white walls—the most primitive form of a Sword Hut. As for the Sword Huts in front with their exaggerated styles, whether bizarre or magnificent, they were all modified bit by bit by the Talisman Sword Masters. Like the later disciples who hadn't been initiated for long, their renovation projects were not yet complete, and their Sword Huts remained in a half-finished state, like a tiger's head with a snake's tail.

Suddenly, a different Sword Hut finally appeared on the beach.

The thatched cottage was the same, the fence was the same, but behind that house were two wing-like decorations spread out, looking from afar as if it were about to take flight.

Tang Zhao couldn't help but laugh, "That is—Jiang Shixiong's Sword Hut, right?"

Xue Yeyu laughed along, "Yes, very easy to recognize, right? He hasn't been here long either; he was about your age when he came up the mountain, so counting it, that's only three years. The Sword Hut didn't have time for any major renovations, so he installed two wings first. That's just his personality; he must be the most dazzling one."

Tang Zhao hammered his palm; he seemed to have found the Talisman Sword Masters' decoration style—regardless of the style, first you must choose a mascot, then install the mascot on the roof, wear it on your body, or carry it on your back; it is imperative that everyone remembers it.

Xue Yeyu chatted, "I heard he brought you up the mountain? And there was a bit of a misunderstanding?"

Tang Zhao said, "It doesn't count as a misunderstanding," and then told her about what happened before.

Xue Yeyu laughed after hearing it, "Typical of him; this personality of being obsessed with face never changes. You should return the token to him later; after all, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Remember to return it secretly when no one is around. As long as it's not in front of others and doesn't affect his face, he is actually quite easy to talk to. But don't go now; he isn't home during the day, he must be wandering outside."

Tang Zhao remembered that Li Zhijing had also said this, and asked, "Does he wander around every day?"

Xue Yeyu said, "He just wanders aimlessly. Father only arranged for him to do some reception work because he saw he was too idle. He is famous for not practicing and not studying, but his strength is exceptionally outstanding. His martial arts should be the strongest, and he knows a great many Rune Formulas; he is a heaven-sent talent, and his natural aptitude should be no less than yours."

Tang Zhao said, "How could I compare to Senior Brother."

Although he said that, a small flame in his heart "flickered" to life.

That seemed to be... a youth's competitive spirit.

Although Tang Zhao was considered to have mediocre aptitude for martial arts when he was young, and he had accepted it peacefully, after being affirmed by several senior masters in turn, he had gradually become more confident.

Since he was confident, how could he not have a competitive spirit at his age?

He actually wanted to see for himself: just how miraculous was that genius who could be first in every subject without studying?

Was he... was he even more powerful than him with his cheat?

"Senior Sister, I will choose the Sword Hut next to Senior Brother's."

Xue Yeyu nodded and said, "Good. There are only the two of you here, so it will be safer living closer."

The two pushed the door and entered the thatched cottage, seeing only simple furniture like tables, chairs, and a wooden bed inside. There was no dust, as if a Rune Formula for maintaining cleanliness had been carved at the time of construction. Talisman Sword Masters were truly convenient in every way.

Xue Yeyu lit the Artifice Lamp that was already on the table, turned over the pouch she used to carry things, and poured out many items.

The most conspicuous were naturally a few quilts, followed by various daily necessities and a few sets of spare clothes. Xue Yeyu said that Zhuoyu Villa had a place specifically for disciples to purchase daily necessities, and if Tang Zhao was still lacking anything, he could go buy it himself.

Then, there were several thick volumes of introductory Fu Formulae.

She introduced, "These are must-reads for every Talisman Sword Master. Father has them, and you must have your own as well, for the convenience of taking notes. The Enlightenment Chapter contains thirty-seven Talismans. Besides the Empty Original Fu, there are eight Base Fu under the four elemental Talismans of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. Once you have learned these thirty-seven Talismans, you are considered to have the foundation of Talisman Art and can begin learning proper Fu Formulae. Ninety-nine percent of Fu Formulae are composed of these thirty-seven Base Fu."

Tang Zhao did some mental math; thirty-seven items arranged and combined would be a massive number. He had heard Chen Zong say that some languages only had twenty-some letters that were rearranged, yet they could still express everything in the world, couldn't they?

Xue Yeyu said, "After finishing the Enlightenment Chapter, if you can recite the thirty-seven Base Fu backwards and forwards and craft them at a moment's notice, you can be promoted from a Moyu Disciple to a White Jade Disciple. A generally clever Disciple who does no chores and studies with peace of mind will need about a year. If they do chores, then it will take three years. Of course, there is no upper limit for fools."

"Then you continue to study the Primary Chapter. The Primary Chapter contains over a hundred common Fu Formulae; once you have learned them all, you can step-by-step craft simple Art Tools. Most of the Art Tools that can be bought with money on the market do not escape these Primary Fu Formulae. This process takes three to five years for those who are focused, and perhaps ten years for those who are not."

"Further up is the Intermediate level, where you learn Intermediate Fu Formulae, learn the variations and derivations of Fu Formulae, learn Fu Formula arrays, and craft complex, comprehensive Art Tools. Once you have reached this step, you can call yourself a Talisman Sword Master who can stand on their own. If you can achieve this in ten years, your natural talent is considered quite good. At that time, ordinary Disciples will choose to complete their apprenticeship and descend the mountain. As for learning Fu Formula arrays or even forging Dharma Artifacts later on, you can only pursue advanced studies if you become a True Jade Disciple or are valued by other Junior Uncles and taken as a personal disciple. At that point, it is not just about learning, but about breaking away from convention, crafting Art Tools with your own style, or even creating unique Fu Formulae to blaze a new trail. By that time, you can go out and build a small power of your own."

"Of course, with your natural talent, you certainly won't be delayed for ten years at the Primary stage. Looking at Father's intentions, he wants you to catch the Spring Talisman Assembly three years from now, so you only have three years."

Tang Zhao asked, "Manor Master... Master said there is an assessment in three years; does he mean this Talisman Assembly?"

Xue Yeyu said, "Exactly. The Talisman Assembly is held every four years in 'Jianzhou', the Shengdi of us Sword Smiths. It is a grand gathering where young Sword Smiths from all over the world assemble. Actually, small sects like our Zhuoyu Villa usually only go there to show our faces and receive some benefits. I have participated before, but my performance was mediocre, and nothing came of it. It was just that last time it was held, the Sixth Junior Brother and Seventh Junior Brother went to participate; it is said that not only did they fail to show their faces, they made a huge fool of themselves. Father was filled with suppressed anger, so he made a note to settle the score. He originally insisted that the Eighth Junior Brother must stand out, and now you have been added as well. With the natural talent of you two, let alone Father pinning his hopes on you, even I feel there is great hope. I think that in terms of strength, you are certainly stronger than those two were at the time, but this requirement is too low for you. Just do your best; you must at least become a proper Talisman Sword Master."

Tang Zhao nodded. The minimum requirement was to become a formal Talisman Sword Master in three years; he did not know how difficult that would be.

But if his Senior Brother could do it, he himself shouldn't be any worse, right?

The two chatted for a while, and Xue Yeyu left first.

After she left, Tang Zhao spread out his quilt and looked around the simple Sword Hut, suddenly feeling a burst of happiness.

With a cheer, he jumped onto the bed and rolled a few times on the quilt.

From today on, he had his own doghouse again!

Although it was a thatched cottage with straw eaves, it was a house that belonged solely to him. The small hut at Black Spider Villa, the grand mansion of Xue Fu, the luxurious upper room of the inn—they all had different flavors, but they were all temporary stopping points, not his home.

Ever since his family passed away, he had drifted through the Jianghu and never again had a single inch of land that belonged to him. Now, after wandering through many places and experiencing dangers, he had finally obtained a house of his own on the rocky beach by the great mountains and waters.

With eaves above to shelter from the rain, four walls around to block the wind, and a three-foot bed in the middle to accommodate his body, what more could he ask for?

Work hard to make the house more beautiful!

And, work hard to make himself better!

Three years of time—since there is a clear goal, let's start by making a plan.