Chapter 30#
Below the inn, the previously leisurely flow of people suddenly became chaotic. Mortals fled inside in terror, while brave cultivators stepped out with swords, seemingly wanting to see what had happened.
Xie Zhefeng was still inside the room, showing no movement.
On the high gallery of the building, the surrounding turmoil seemed isolated; only An Wuxue and Qin Wei stood facing each other in the long corridor.
Qin Wei stared fixedly at the person holding him, forgetting even to blink.
His expression went blank for a moment. He opened his mouth, his lips trembling slightly, and his eyes were filled with doubt.
Another roar erupted!!!
The Zhaoshui Sword shuddered once more.
Below, Song Buwang hurried into the inn. Moving against the crowd, he tapped the ground and soared directly up to the gallery: “Master—”
He saw An Wuxue and Qin Wei standing face-to-face, motionless, and came to a sudden halt.
Qin Wei didn’t even look at his disciple; his gaze remained fixed on An Wuxue from beginning to end.
He finally spoke: “…What do you mean?” His tone was trembling.
An Wuxue held onto the other man tightly.
By speaking those words just now, there was no turning back for him in front of Qin Wei.
The surrounding clamor could not enter his ears; his heart was a pool of dead silence.
He took a deep breath and said, one word at a time, “Xie Zhefeng won’t wake up for a while. Qin Wei, the lives of Zhaoshui are all within your single thought. Trust me one more time—just once.”
Behind them, Song Buwang couldn’t make out what they were saying, so he stepped forward with his sword held in a salute: “Master, the Zhaoshui Sword is acting up. Is it related to the disappearing turbid energy from the Yunjian Sect? We…”
Qin Wei raised his hand, cutting off Song Buwang’s words.
He asked in a raspy voice, “Does Xie Chuhan… Does Xie Zhefeng know?”
An Wuxue lowered his eyes: “He doesn’t.”
“You…” Qin Wei suddenly pushed An Wuxue away. “You truly have great skill.”
An Wuxue didn’t stand firmly and stumbled back into the long railing.
He didn’t explain anything.
Qin Wei’s surprise subsided slightly, his eyes full of complexity.
His eyes seemed tinged with red, bloodshot veins faintly visible, and his voice grew raspier: “Fine, truly fine. How could you… how is it possible…? Since you’re still alive, aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
He paused, tilted his head slightly, and finally let out a breath, instantly suppressing the stormy waves within him. He said solemnly, “What do you mean by a Great Demon suppressed under the Zhaoshui Sword? Why have I never known about this?”
“If this is false, won’t one look at the Zhaoshui Sword Array expose my lie?” An Wuxue didn’t want to look at him, turning his face away and saying in a low voice, “The suppressed Great Demon has reached the realm of being half a step into immortality. Back then, none of us had ascended, and no one could destroy a Great Demon half a step into immortality; it could only be suppressed here.”
“Although the turbid energy from the Yunjian Sect’s destruction cannot shake the Zhaoshui Sword, it is enough to damage the sword array. As long as the turbid energy is sent into the array and the suppressed Great Demon can absorb it, it can break through from within.”
“Time is urgent. If you are willing to trust me, we will talk about the past once this is over.”
An Wuxue lowered his eyes, looking at the panicked crowd below. “Shuiming probably… wouldn’t want anything to happen to Zhaoshui either.”
“You’re mentioning Shuiming to me?”
An Wuxue did not respond.
Qin Wei gave him another complex look, finally swallowing his thousands of words. He walked forward quickly, saying as he passed Song Buwang, “Something big is likely to happen to the Zhaoshui Sword Array. Take all the disciples and seal off all sides of the Zhaoshui Sword Array. If any suspicious person approaches, detain them immediately. The rest of you, follow me.”
“Yes.”
Qin Wei paused in his steps and looked back at An Wuxue, who was still standing there with his back to him.
“Take him with us.”
An Wuxue appeared to be only a cultivator at the Fasting stage. Song Buwang was puzzled, but Qin Wei had already flown away first.
He had no choice but to quickly go to An Wuxue’s side.
“This…”
“Su Xue.”
“Mr. Su, please follow me.”
The giant Zhaoshui Sword shuddered again.
This time, the shuddering actually sparked a surge of spiritual energy, the vibration spreading outward from the center of Zhaoshui City. In the lobby, side tables and chairs toppled, and cups and dishes shattered.
Outside the inn, there were no mortals to be seen on the long street that had been crowded just a moment ago. Luoyue Peak disciples stood in a line, holding their swords in salute.
Qin Wei simply waved his hand to pull them up, soared into the air on his sword, and headed straight for the Zhaoshui Sword Array.
An Wuxue followed Song Buwang to those disciples. The wind was howling on the street, leaving a mess scattered everywhere.
Song Buwang gave instructions as Qin Wei had ordered. His every word and action was meticulous and steady, fully displaying the style of a disciple from a great sect.
Zhaoshui City was suddenly facing a great disaster, and with no Tribulation-stage master stationed in the city, it instantly fell into chaos. Spiritual energy surged, and amidst the rustling cold wind, the other Luoyue disciples before Song Buwang nodded and obeyed his orders; no one questioned him.
No wonder that female disciple at the Frost Sea had told him that Senior Brother Song was the disciple of this generation most likely to seize the position of Chief.
Unfortunately, while he had more than enough steadiness, he lacked a bit of boldness and still needed more experience. No wonder Xie Zhefeng wouldn’t allow him the position of Chief.
Wait, this had nothing to do with him; he was truly wronged to the extreme.
In front of the inn, the Luoyue disciples dispersed as ordered, their sword lights heading in all directions.
The Lord of Zhaoshui City had also arrived at some point.
“Buwang!” The Zhaoshui City Lord looked anxious. “What’s wrong with the Zhaoshui Sword? Since Luoyue has stepped in, I will naturally follow your sect’s commands. Is there anything I can do?”
Song Buwang asked with a stern face, “Are there any other Tribulation-stage masters in the city?”
“There was originally a cultivator from Beiming, but a few hours ago, Beiming suddenly sent an urgent message, seemingly about something important. The person is likely already on their way back to Beiming now…”
This clearly referred to Jiang Qing.
An Wuxue’s brows furrowed.
Jiang Qing had hurried back to Beiming. Before Xie Zhefeng woke up, the only Tribulation-stage master in the entire Zhaoshui City was Qin Wei…
Song Buwang said, “City Lord, try your best to keep the citizens of Zhaoshui away from the vicinity of the sword array. Erect a barrier and do not approach the Zhaoshui Sword! If something truly happens to the magic array, we at the Great Success stage will be powerless to turn the tide. We must ensure the safety of the mortals. If other immortal cultivators have free time, please look for suspicious people or demonic cultivators in the city. The Zhaoshui Sword Array has likely been tampered with by someone with ill intentions. This array was not easy to establish; my Master and I will certainly not let Zhaoshui fall back into the crisis of those years.”
An Wuxue watched the two of them talk; they were very familiar with each other, clearly knowing one another.
Did Song Buwang have a history with Zhaoshui City?
In the distance, the Zhaoshui Sword that reached into the clouds shuddered more and more violently. The clear sky above Zhaoshui City was suddenly covered in dark clouds. Even before everyone approached the Zhaoshui Sword, they could already sense a faint surging of turbid energy within the array.
The disciples and the Zhaoshui City Lord all dispersed. Song Buwang turned back, quickly performed a hand seal, soared into the air on his sword, and pulled An Wuxue onto the spiritual sword, saying only: “Mr. Su, excuse me.”
The two of them drew closer and closer to the Zhaoshui Sword against the flow of spiritual energy. The shadow of the giant sword’s shaking covered everything within sight. Song Buwang landed steadily, held his sword in a reverse grip, and said in surprise, “I was in a hurry to come and help my Master, and the sword-riding was very shaky. Mr. Su is only at the Fasting stage, yet you are so steady.”
An Wuxue nodded without speaking.
The fierce wind made his hair messy and his robes flap loudly.
He stood under the Zhaoshui Sword, watching the familiar array patterns ahead netting the chaotic spiritual energy. The turbid energy emanating from somewhere was hidden within it, seemingly increasing.
The nearby mortal houses had collapsed into a mess, with sand and stones flying, but Qin Wei had reacted in time, and there were no people around.
He thought of the old events and people of those years. Looking at the youth before him holding his sword and cupping his hands in a salute, that sense of familiarity arose again.
He suddenly understood.
Surnamed Song. Could it be…
Song Buwang was…
Suddenly—!
An explosion sounded ahead.
Qin Wei was seen retreating in mid-air. Countless sword shadows fell from the Zhaoshui Sword Array, but the sword shadows were not clear and sharp as in the past; instead, they were wrapped in wisps of black energy.
Qin Wei’s face was cold as he swept his sword out. The pressure of the peak Tribulation stage poured down, and a massive amount of spiritual energy collided with the thousands of sword shadows.
The spiritual energy collided, and the sword shadows carrying turbid energy were abruptly cut off. Qin Wei was pushed back by the impact, landing after a flip, kneeling on one knee with the tip of his sword piercing into the ground.
The fierce wind never ceased. Song Buwang couldn’t look after An Wuxue and immediately used the force to rise, acting to stop those fine sword shadows that had slipped through the net.
These were clearly the sword lights of the Zhaoshui Sword Array, yet they were now tainted with turbid energy.
An Wuxue was almost knocked back by the fierce wind. He hurried to Qin Wei’s side, took out an ordinary spiritual sword, infused it with the little spiritual energy he had, and stabbed the tip into the ground to steady himself.
“Qin Wei,” he gasped, “turbid energy has been poured into several array eyes here, and it has already entered the heart of the array—”
“As expected, someone is behind this to cause chaos in Zhaoshui City… there truly is turbid energy in the array,” Qin Wei turned his head to look at him, his voice low. “Just what is going on? The sword array was established by us spending months together back then. The great demons of Zhaoshui City have all fallen; where did this demon half a step into immortality come from!?”
“An Wuxue.”
An Wuxue was startled.
Since he woke up, everyone had called him Su Xue. The name An Wuxue had only ever appeared in others’ casual conversations, or he would simply be “that Chief.”
Under the Zhaoshui Sword, hearing Qin Wei call him that way, a long-lost sense of bitterness welled up in his heart.
He hurried to lower his head, not wanting Qin Wei to find out that his eyes were red.
Qin Wei asked him, “Just what did you hide from me back then!?”
He avoided the question and suddenly asked, “Is Song Buwang Shuiming’s child?”
“You certainly have a sharp eye—”
“Make him leave,” An Wuxue said decisively. “He absolutely cannot see the thing suppressed under the sword array. I will stay here. You are not good with arrays; I will tell you the mysteries of the sword array.”
“I have already trusted you once.”
An Wuxue said in a deep voice, “Make him leave!!!”
In his sudden urgency, his hand holding the sword loosened. Under the vibration of the sword array’s spiritual energy, his Fasting-stage spiritual energy was powerless.
He felt as if his internal organs were vibrating from the fierce wind carrying spiritual energy, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Qin Wei instinctively wanted to support him. He had just reached out his hand when his expression twitched, and he immediately withdrew it.
At this time, Song Buwang had blocked those fine sword shadows and was about to come over.
An Wuxue gripped the sword hilt tightly, his voice raspy: “Make him leave.”
Qin Wei stared at him for a while.
The moment Song Buwang approached, he gritted his teeth and still said, “The turbid energy to the southeast is the thickest; I fear there may be an accident. Buwang, go and guard over there.”
“But Master, Mr. Su is only at the Fasting stage. Won’t it be dangerous for him to stay here? And the Zhaoshui Sword…”
“Go!”
“…Yes.”
The silhouette of the youth riding his sword in mid-air disappeared to the southeast. The fierce wind became even more terrifying.
Dark clouds covered the sky above the entire Zhaoshui Sword. Within the range of the sword array, countless sword lights flickered, and the sword array shuddered!
A pillar of turbid energy soared into the sky!
Within the turbid energy, the silhouette of a woman in red seemed to be vaguely visible.
The woman in red did not look like a living person but rather a divine soul.
The soul was faint, as if stepping on the void. The graceful silhouette walked slowly out of the turbid energy.
Every step shook open the barrier technique Qin Wei had just placed nearby.
—The Great Demon half a step into immortality!
Her true body seemed to still be suppressed under the sword array, but her soul was already able to manipulate the surrounding turbid energy for her own use.
The world shook.
An Wuxue had already anticipated this.
He let out a sigh.
Qin Wei stood up abruptly, staring at her without blinking, his expression both shocked and stunned.
The woman in red walked closer step by step, and her features gradually became clear.
They were features sixty percent similar to Song Buwang’s.
An Wuxue lowered his eyes, looking at the sand and stones blown past his feet, as if seeing the fine sand of a thousand-year-long river.
Fortunately.
Fortunately, Qin Wei was willing to trust him one last time, dispersing the mortals and ordinary cultivators from all sides of the Zhaoshui Sword and sending Song Buwang away.
Beside him, Qin Wei looked straight ahead, gazing at the woman’s face, murmuring in disbelief, “Lady Lou…”
About one thousand one hundred years ago.
Zhaoshui City.
Layers of barriers shrouded the entire city. Spiritual energy drifted on the barriers, blurring the dark sky.
Outside the City Lord’s Mansion, the spiritual array was operating, and cultivators moved swiftly past.
An Wuxue sat at a stone table in the courtyard, casually holding a small stone and drawing array patterns on the stone table.
The Four Seas Ten Thousand Sword Array was still just a concept. Using ten thousand swords to replace the damaged Heavenly Pillars was an attempt that ancestors had never made. No ancient texts or scrolls could be found with any magic array that could be copied. He had to drop the first sword in Zhaoshui City and had been studying arrays for a long time.
He lowered his head, pondering, and heard someone’s footsteps approaching.
He knew who it was without looking up and asked Qin Wei, “Where is Shuiming?”
Qin Wei sat down nonchalantly and said, “That childhood sweetheart junior sister of our Lord Lou has finished her training and come down the mountain. Him? He’s off to pick up the beauty.”
Before the words had finished, another man and woman arrived in the courtyard.
The man was tall and slender, wearing a simple gray dharma robe, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and a smile on his face.
Behind him followed a woman in red, vibrant and bright, also smiling.
“Chief, Brother Qin.”
Lou Shuiming led the person to the stone table, stepped aside, and pushed the woman before An Wuxue and Qin Wei.
“This is my junior sister, Song Wu.”
Song Wu smiled gracefully: “Chief An, Peak Master Qin.”
An Wuxue’s brows furrowed.