Chapter 418: Afraid of What (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Xu Fengnian was confused and hurriedly asked the gap-toothed servant: "Lao Huang, what's going on? How did you get involved with Wudi City?"

The old groom scratched his head and said: "Years ago, I sparred with the old monster Wang Xianzhi in Wudi City. I lost to him by one move, and left the 'Yellow Furnace' sword there."

A flash of lightning struck Xu Fengnian's mind: "You mean that giant sword stuck on the city wall of Wudi City? The 'Yellow Furnace', ranked ninth among the ten great famous swords?"

Lao Huang chuckled and nodded: "I haven't been able to let go of that sword all these years, thinking about going back to claim it."

"So it was you."

Aside from Murong Tonghuang of 'One Sword Brightens the Heavens' and the 'Peach Blossom Sword God' Deng Taie, there was only one nameless nobody from Western Shu left among the top-tier sword masters of the last fifty years—a Sword Artisan who traveled the world alone, collecting famous swords of the world into his sheath, fought a battle with Wang Xianzhi, and left a sword stuck on the city wall.

Who could imagine that a swordsman whose single sword could stir forty provinces would look like this, able to be happy for half a day just by drinking a pot of yellow wine and eating two sweet potatoes.

Xu Fengnian's eyes lit up: "Lao Huang, tell me, how many swords are in this sword box? Everyone in the world is guessing."

Lao Huang said naively: "The sword box has three layers and six slots. Originally it held six of the world's ten famous swords, but right now there are only five."

Only five?

Xu Fengnian was speechless.

Lao Huang, you are a master among masters, can you be even more of a master?

Lao Huang laughed: "If the young master wants to play with swords, I'll just leave three or four in front of Wudi City when the time comes."

"Really—no, wait, you interrupted me, Lao Huang, I forgot the main point..." Xu Fengnian slapped his forehead, rolled his eyes, and said: "Heavenly Venerable Murong, you said Lao Huang would die if he went to find Wang Laoguai."

"Correct." Yu Liancheng nodded.

"That shouldn't be." Xu Fengnian asked, very confused: "Lao Huang fought Wang Laoguai before and only left a sword behind. Now his martial arts are even more formidable than before, and he has even practiced Sword Nine; there's no reason he would lose his life in Wudi City this time."

"It is precisely because of the ninth sword that he must die," Yu Liancheng said calmly.

Xu Fengnian asked cautiously: "Why is that?"

"Wang Laoguai always fights opponents at the same level and often holds back; rarely do masters who challenge him die in Wudi City. The reason Sword Nine Huang was able to leave back then was mostly due to this."

Yu Liancheng explained simply: "But the power of Sword Nine is extraordinary; I'm afraid Wang Laoguai won't be able to hold back even if he wants to. In a battle where he goes all out, your old servant will likely end up with his meridians severed and die."

Lao Huang thought for a moment and nodded naively: "That seems to make sense."

Xu Fengnian finally realized: "Then, Lao Huang, are you still going to Wudi City?"

"Of course I have to go, young master," Lao Huang said without hesitation.

"Go to hell, why go there to die?!" Xu Fengnian's expression was heavy as he shook Lao Huang's shoulders hard.

This gap-toothed servant was one of the people closest to him; how could he watch him go to his death?

Lao Huang just giggled.

Xu Fengnian was silent for a long while, then said: "Lao Huang, is it very boring to be with a spoiled brat like me, a frog in a well?"

Lao Huang shook his head and said happily: "It's very interesting, really. Doesn't the young master often say that I speak the honest truth?"

Xu Fengnian said crossly: "Then why don't you think about feeding the horses for your young master, instead of going off to die."

Lao Huang couldn't speak, revealing a gap-toothed, silly grin.

Yu Liancheng said calmly: "For a swordsman, having his sword taken and hung on a wall is a feeling no more comfortable than death."

Xu Fengnian sighed inwardly.

He, as he was now, did not yet fully understand this pride that belonged to a swordsman.

But he knew that when a person is determined to do something and has the courage to lay down their life for it, there is absolutely no way to stop them.

For such a person, life is merely a matter of time; they have long since cast life and death aside.

Xu Fengnian's eyes turned: "Heavenly Venerable Murong has vast supernatural powers; I wonder if there is a way to help Lao Huang and save his life?"

"There is."

The Beiliang Heir had asked casually, but he hadn't expected the other party to actually have a method, and to answer so quickly. He immediately said excitedly: "What is the method?"

Yu Liancheng was quite simple about it: "Just create a Sword Ten; even if it can't defeat Wang Xianzhi, it will be enough to save his life."

Xu Fengnian was stunned.

Lao Huang scratched his head: "Sword Ten? There's a Sword Ten?"

Yu Liancheng casually picked up a withered branch and thrust it forward. The entire process was natural and perfect, possessing a divine charm that resonated with heaven and earth.

When this sword was fully thrust out, the withered branch suddenly shattered, and before it even hit the ground, it had turned into powder.

"This sword, this sword..." Lao Huang widened his eyes, as if a bolt of lightning had pierced through his mind.

"Ponder it yourself." Yu Liancheng turned and left, taking the two beauties in flowing white clothes with him.

Xu Fengnian looked at the dazed Lao Huang, then at the three people with Yu Liancheng, and immediately chased after them: "Wait, wait, how about we make a deal..."

No matter what, he had to lure these three guys to the Wang Mansion; even if not for his own safety, he had to think of Lao Huang.

What's more, with such a master guarding his side, wouldn't dealing with that guy on Wudang Mountain be as easy as waving a hand? From now on, he could hit whoever he wanted—how majestic that would be.

Beiliang Prince Mansion.

Tingchao Pavilion.

The Great Pillar Kingdom, short and slightly limping and hunched, arrived at the eighth floor of Tingchao Pavilion.

Bamboo slips and ancient books were scattered everywhere. On a long sandalwood desk sat a dim, flickering lamp, and a green gourd for wine rested on the corner of the desk, with a red thread tied between the mouth of the gourd and the withered, thin arm of a person.

This person sat on the floor, hair disheveled, face as pale as snow, with a touch of light red between his brows, resembling an inverted phoenix eye. He wore a hemp robe and his writing flew across the page.

The Great Pillar Kingdom Xu Xiao picked up a dozen bamboo slips and placed them neatly, only then finding a place to sit: "Yishan, Fengnian is coming back. Two people left, but five are returning."

The man, withered as a ghost, only let out an "En," his voice like metal and stone.

The Great Pillar Kingdom chuckled: "I forgot, your speed in getting news is faster than mine. Murong Wuzhu and Nangong Pushe are nothing, but Murong Tonghuang is a big trouble."

"Oh? How is he trouble?" the decadent man said calmly.

"The Guangling King is, after all, one of the Feudatory Kings, and he died just like that. This person is even more overbearing than Cao Guanzi, who entered the Imperial Palace three times." Xu Xiao laughed, looking very much like a leisurely, wealthy old man: "The Imperial Court will not let this rest. If those damn civil officials find out, the impeachment memorials will probably crush the desk."

The man known as "Yishan" said: "And would the Prince be afraid?"

Xu Xiao laughed heartily; at this moment, he finally possessed a trace of the Beiliang King's heroic spirit.

"Afraid of a fart."

PS: Seeking monthly votes, still short by about eighty, which is 40 votes.