NOVEL WEB chapter 123
123. The Phoenix Twin Swords
Lin Nuo has turned into a scavenger, collecting rare stones to bring back. Although his luck isn’t as good as Su Kexin’s, only finding bits and pieces, it’s better than nothing. Little by little, it adds up. He picks out some larger, more deceptive-looking stones, hoping to bluff his way in the market and perhaps sell them at a good price.
As an outstanding antagonist, one should have excellent scavenging and bluffing skills.
After circling around the vicinity of the “Heavenly Fire” meteorite, Lin Nuo and his group return to Hucheng.
Although the annihilation of the alien army was due to a natural disaster, it just so happened that the meteorite struck right at Lin Nuo’s stronghold, which had been occupied by the alien army. But Lin Nuo had snatched it back and held it firmly for a long time. In a sense, Lin Nuo and his group played a significant role in using the disaster to annihilate the alien army.
Hucheng is a place rich in myths and legends, where the townspeople hold their beliefs. There’s a legend in Hucheng that Lin Nuo is a messenger sent by the heavens to save them, and the brutal alien army ultimately suffered divine retribution.
The legend about Lin Nuo spreads like wildfire, from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and in no time, he becomes the savior and myth of Hucheng. The people even consider sculpting a statue of Lin Nuo to worship as a divine envoy.
Lin Nuo strongly condemns such feudal superstitions as unacceptable. What savior, what messenger of the gods? If one were to be a god, it should be a god of destruction!
If it weren’t for Lin Nuo’s inconvenience in movement, he would have left this cursed place long ago.
Today, Lin Nuo is again sitting in the courtyard on a grandmaster’s chair, sipping tea and eating pork floss buns. After a few days, his body has mostly recovered, and he’s almost ready to leave.
But sitting around won’t do, especially for someone recovering from semi-disability like him—he needs to take a few steps now and then.
Walking a few steps in the courtyard.
“Senior brother! Senior brother!”
Su Kexin runs in excitedly, startling Lin Nuo nearly causing him to stumble.
By now, he has developed a conditioned reflex; whenever he hears Su Kexin’s excited shouts, his heart skips a beat. Su Kexin is a simple and naive girl, with shallow schemes, and her thoughts are easily revealed through her words and actions.
So, when she shouts excitedly, it must be good news.
According to the conservation law of protagonist and antagonist events, if the protagonist has good news, then the antagonist has bad news.
Damn it, what good fortune have you stumbled upon now!
Lin Nuo maintains his composure, his exterior calm as an old dog:
“What’s up?”
“Senior brother, senior brother, didn’t I say I wanted to forge two swords? They’re ready! Let’s go check them out together.”
“Hmm? Have you seen them yet?”
“Not yet, I just ran into the master smith who forged our swords on the way here. He said they’re ready and asked us to come for the inspection. So, I ran back to tell you.”
“Inspecting swords is something you can do on your own.”
“No, no, this requires both of us to inspect. Besides, my research on swords is far inferior to yours, senior brother. Come on, let’s go together. It’s not often we forge swords together, let’s inspect them together~”
Suke Xin, clinging to Lin Nuo’s hand, cooed in a voice so soft and tender it was almost unbearable for him.
“What kind of protagonist needs someone to accompany them just to verify a sword? Surely you’re not going to pull out the sword and stab me here and now?”
He bet she wouldn’t dare. If she did, he, Lin someone, would eat this grand master’s chair right here on the spot!
“Then let’s go.”
Lin Nuo still chose to make the trip, thinking of buying some snacks along the way since the house was running low on treats.
Suke Xin and Lin Nuo made their way to the weapon shop, and as they walked, the people of Hu City cast respectful and envious glances their way. The pair had been dubbed the ‘Divine Couple’ after returning safely from their last mission guarding the outpost, a title that had spread throughout Hu City.
The more Lin Nuo heard, the more absurd it seemed. What’s wrong, the sculpture doesn’t deserve a name? Or did you bunch of sand sculptures steal it?
Upon arriving at the weapon shop, a friendly and affable weapon master approached them.
“Young Master Lin, Miss Su, greetings to you both! I have prepared the items you requested for today, please have a look.”
The weapon master received Lin Nuo and Suke Xin with utmost politeness, leading them inside to two gleaming sword boxes, each holding a longsword with a silver-white hilt.
In Hu City, they were known as the ‘Divine Couple,’ deserving of VIP service. Swords were crafted and presented in golden boxes, with packaging done just right.
“Please see if they meet your satisfaction.”
The weapon master beamed as Lin Nuo approached one of the longswords, giving it a cursory inspection. The sword shone brilliantly, its craftsmanship impeccable in every detail, and even the choice of stone was perfect. He could feel an extraordinary spiritual energy with just a light touch of his finger.
Lin Nuo grasped the sword hilt and gave it a slight swing. The spirit sword felt incredibly smooth to handle, certainly better than his own. It was indeed forged with the aid of rare stones. He had estimated it to be a fifth-grade sword, but now it seemed to verge on the sixth.
Suke Xin picked up the other sword, mimicking Lin Nuo’s movements with a slight swing.
It felt just right in her hand, and she was quite pleased with it.
She looked down at the hilt and saw a character: Lin.
Good, this sword was hers now.
Lin Nuo felt that the two swords were almost identical, which was understandable since they were made together, as similar as possible to save some effort.
However, there was a bird’s head on the hilt, which, upon closer inspection, was quite finely crafted.
This type of sword looked somewhat familiar.
It seemed to have a character on it.
He looked closer and found a character: Su.
They even marked it.
“Sister, this sword is yours.”
“No, no, this sword is yours, brother.”
“It has your surname, Su.”
“That’s right, and my sword has your surname, and your sword has mine, it’s all correct~”
Suke Xin smiled sweetly.
Lin Nuo was utterly confused.
What’s this? Engraving our surnames on each other’s swords, are you alright?
“What’s going on?” Lin Nuo asked.
“Master Lin, these are the Phoenix Twin Swords, made from the same material, forged in the same way, suitable for a pair of cultivators.”
“What?”
“The Phoenix Twin Swords, when used by a pair of cultivators with high compatibility, combined with the secret manual ‘Twin Dance Sword Technique,’ can produce unexpectedly powerful effects. Moreover, these were forged by splitting a large piece of Fire Candlestone and Black Forgestone in half. And since these stones are very pure, without any impurities, their power is several times greater than that of ordinary Phoenix Twin Swords.”
The weapon master also respectfully presented a copy of the ‘Twin Dance Sword Technique’ to them, which contained a sword technique tutorial suitable for two people to practice.
Lin Nuo was stunned. Had he really forged the Phoenix Twin Swords while crafting?
So, he was to use the Phoenix Twin Swords with Su Kexin?
A formidable alliance between the antagonist and the protagonist?
What a joke, how could that be possible!
However, Lin Nuo thought, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, the superior power of the Phoenix Twin Swords lay in the cooperation of two people. In other words, for Su Kexin to exert her full strength, she would need his, Lin Nuo’s, cooperation, and a high degree of compatibility, which was impossible.
Thus, he was also restraining her.
“Alright, I understand.”
Lin Nuo accepted the sword. From now on, he would practice the ‘Twin Dance Sword Technique’ with Su Kexin, making the Phoenix Twin Swords accustomed to their cooperation, so she couldn’t go solo.
How clever.