The Reticent Blade

Baili Gucheng clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, but he needed to take this chunk of Deep Sea Profound Iron with him no matter what. If lifting this chunk was all he needed to do, then he was all too ready.

Baili Gucheng stretched out his arms, opened his palms, and grasped the bundle with both hands.

It was only at this moment that he realized the bundle was wrapped in leather woven from the hide of some unknown beast. It was remarkably tough, likely chosen to compliment the absurdly heavy strange iron.

Baili Gucheng focused his breath and calmed his mind, thinking no further. With a loud "Ha!", his arm muscles tensed instantly, and veins on his forehead throbbed!

The bundle weighed no less than two hundred jin. Baili Gucheng's face flushed red, but he finally managed to lift it slowly. However, it was uncertain how far he could actually go if he were to carry it on his back and walk away.

Standing by the door, Xue Qiming clapped his hands in delight, clearly enjoying watching Baili Gucheng struggle.

"Amazing! I'm a man of my word. This lump of iron is yours. Take it away."

Baili Gucheng deflated instantly, letting the bundle drop back to the ground. He gave a wry smile and said, "Brother, you don't need to make fun of me. I'm afraid I can't take this with me after all."

Xue Qiming grinned. "As long as you can lift it, it's yours. Don't worry—I have an idea for you." With that, he turned and went into the courtyard.

Before long, Xue Qiming came back out, pushing a wooden wheelbarrow.

"Use this."

Xue Qiming pushed the wheelbarrow before Baili Gucheng's feet.

"It was left behind by a delivery hand from the town below when they brought rice to the temple. Since I like your attitude, consider it a gift, free of charge."

Under the noonday sun, Baili Gucheng trudged forward, pushing the cart with unsteady steps. He had arrived gracefully like a carefree wanderer but was leaving like a laboring porter.

Leaning against the doorframe, Xue Qiming waved at his retreating figure and called out loudly, "The green mountains remain, the flowing waters endure! Let's meet again in thejianghusomeday!"

Once Baili Gucheng had disappeared from sight, Xue Qiming, who had never set foot in thejianghu, finally reflected on the events of the day. He felt that his righteous and honorable actions today had been quite in line with how he imagined thejianghuto be.

"Goddamn," Xue Qiming muttered, "I'm really badass!"

A year after the old monk had passed away, someone from thejianghucame to disturb him a second time.

That day, Xue Qiming had just returned from the town at the foot of the mountain, carrying a roast chicken and some buns. By the time he made his way up the mountain, the sun was already setting.

Humming an unknown tune, Xue Qiming swung his arms as he strolled toward the Lesser Arhat Temple. As he stepped out of the small grove, he noticed a man standing by the temple's broken gate, looking around furtively.

In that brief moment of surprise, the man also spotted Xue Qiming.

Xue Qiming shouted, "Hey, you! What are you up to?"

The man froze for a moment before coming to his senses. He drew a gleaming broadsword from his waist and shouted back, "What are you doing here?"

The flash of the blade dazzled Xue Qiming's eyes, causing his confidence to falter slightly. His eyes darted around as he quickly responded, "I'm from the town below, just up here to gather firewood. I've never seen you before. What are you doing here?"

The man had a fierce and menacing look. He waved his sword and cursed, "And I'm here to behead people! Why the hell would I report to you?! Get lost, or I'll take your life!"

Cursing inwardly, Xue Qiming calmly threatened, "Do you even know who resides in this temple? How dare you come here looking for trouble?"

"Pah!" The burly man spat on the ground and sneered. "Isn't it just that Sky-supporting Arhat, Xue Yinlong? That Xue Yinlong has long kicked the bucket! Don't try to fool me! My brothers and I couldn't get our revenge while he was alive, so today, we're digging up his grave to flog his corpse!"

Xue Qiming's fury erupted. "You dare?!"

The man's expression shifted, a mix of shock and suspicion flashing across his face. "Who the hell are you?!"

Before he could get an answer, a voice rang out from inside the courtyard, "Heizi, who's out there?"

The burly man, now identified as Heizi, turned his head and responded, "Second Brother, there's a young brat here. It seems like he knew Xue Yinlong!"

The moment Heizi finished speaking, Xue Qiming exploded into action like a crouching panther. A sudden blast rang through the air as he lunged forward.

As Heizi turned back, Xue Qiming was already upon him. Their eyes met—Xue Qiming's were bloodshot and filled with murderous intent!

Through Xue Qiming's clenched teeth, he spat, "Courting death!"

Those were the last words Hezi heard. In the next instant, a hand slammed over his face.

Xue Qiming's single hand clamped tightly onto Heizi's face. Heizi could almost hear the bones beneath his cheeks creaking. With a violent effort, Xue Qiming hurled him like a sack of grain. Heizi's body smashed through the remaining half of the temple gate and crashed into the courtyard.

Boom!

Heizi landed amidst the wreckage, motionless.

The man approaching the courtyard entrance halted mid-step. He first glanced at Heizi's unmoving form before turning his gaze toward Xue Qiming, who stood in silence, his head lowered.

The man frowned slightly, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "It's... you?"

Xue Qiming narrowed his eyes slightly, as if recalling something. "You... Cloud-soaring Jiao, Zhang Dongyun?"

The man had a more weathered face than before and carried a sword on his back, but Xue Qiming still recognized him. He was the same person who had once come to fight the old monk.

Zhang Dongyun also recalled Xue Qiming.

"You're the kid who used to follow behind Xue Yinlong back then?"

Xue Qiming remained silent.

Zhang Dongyun's lips curved slightly.

"Xue Yinlong was your master? Are you his disciple?"

Xue Qiming still didn't respond, but he stepped into the courtyard and picked up the gourd.

Zhang Dongyun saw it clearly and nodded with a smile.

"With strength like that, you must be his disciple."

Xue Qiming shook the iron chain in his hand, producing a clattering sound.

The setting sun gradually sank below the horizon, taking its last traces of light with it.

Zhang Dongyun turned his gaze toward the rear courtyard's Buddhist worship hall.

"A son will repay his father's debts. I was troubled that my great revenge remained unfulfilled, only for my enemy to die first. Today, I'll use you and this wretched temple to honor the spirits of my brothers."

As soon as he finished speaking, flames erupted from the rear courtyard!

Xue Qiming gasped sharply and immediately bolted toward the back courtyard!

"Where do you think you're going?!" Zhang Dongyun sprang forward, blocking Xue Qiming's path. He drew his sword and thrust it straight at Xue Qiming's face!

Zhang Dongyun's face twisted into a ferocious snarl.

"I'll kill you!"

Xue Qiming completely ignored him, rolling on the ground to dodge before continuing his sprint toward the rear courtyard. Two figures suddenly sprang out as he rushed through the moon gate. Caught off guard, he was kicked straight back into the front yard.

Xue Qiming tumbled but quickly got back on his feet. In front of him stood three men who were all familiar faces from years past.

Zhang Dongyun's voice was chilling.

"Aside from my elder brother, fifty-seven men from Seven Dragons Stronghold are waiting for vengeance. Today is the day we settle this debt!"

The flames in the rear courtyard burned ever brighter.

"Get out of my way!" Xue Qiming shouted anxiously.

"Hah! Sure, we'll let you pass," Zhang Dongyun sneered maliciously, "but leave your head behind!" With that, he swung his sword down.

Xue Qiming hurriedly ducked to evade the slash, but from the side path, another man lunged forward, sword aimed straight at his unguarded ribs.

Xue Qiming's eyes burned with rage like he had gone beserk. Instead of dodging, he charged straight into the incoming sword!

His stance sank, body leaning forward as an overwhelming aura of raw power erupted from him!

"I'll send you all to hell!"

His right knee bent, right shoulder dipped. Xue Qiming burst forth in a single explosive instant!

"Overlord Suppresses Mount Hua!"