Remould the Glory of Sword Art

On the day of the winter solstice, the Imperial City welcomed a heavy snow that was rare for a decade.

In the streets and alleys, except for the sound of the wind, there was silence.

Except for a few night watchmen and the Imperial City guards responsible for night patrols, hardly anyone went out.

Due to the strong wind, the lanterns they carried had to be pasted with talismans in order to ignite a faint candlelight.

The streets of the Imperial City, squared and perpendicular, were covered in heavy snow, a blanket of silver white.

Perhaps due to the heavy snow, this night felt unusually long.

But amidst the darkness, suddenly there was a burst of fire – this fire was different from the candlelight of lanterns.

This fire was very bright.

Very dazzling.

Whether it was the night watchmen or the Imperial City guards, anyone who saw this burst of light from afar would retreat, and those who could not retreat in time... would kneel on one knee or dismount their horses as a sign of respect.

This was not just a fire, but a person.

A person engulfed in flames.

This stream of light, like a long sword, headed straight toward the imperial palace after entering the Imperial City and finally stopped outside the palace walls.

At the main gate of the palace, there was a figure just leaving, sitting atop a horse, neither dismounting nor kneeling.

Eventually, the two stood ten paces apart, gazing at each other.

"Envoy, you've returned?"

The man on the horse spoke first.

"Lord Yuan, it's been three years since we last met. I hear you've taken the chief position in the Imperial City management."

The fire gradually got blown away by the wind, and a suit of gleaming black armor gradually appeared as the flames faded.

This armor, composed of countless dark scales and a belt carved with a ferocious beast's head, exuded a chilling aura of slaughter—

As the flames died out, the armor almost merged with the long night.

The man in armor grinned, revealing his snow-white teeth, and said with a radiant smile, "...Truly, congratulations."

"Tick."

"Tick."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries.

Mixed with the howling wind was the sound of droplets hitting the ground.

The chief of the Imperial City, Yuan Jimo, frowned, uncertain whether it was because of the fire or the menacing black armor, but his mount suddenly became restless, snorting loudly and shifting its hooves uneasily.

The next moment.

He understood the reason—

The air was thick with a cold, bloody scent.

The armored man crossing the Imperial City was carrying two heads in his hand.

The people were already dead.

But the blood was still warm, melting pits in the snow where it fell.

Yuan Jimo pulled on the reins, turning the horse in a full circle, and asked from his high seat, "Do you wish to enter the palace?"

"Indeed."

"The Imperial City has been rather restless lately."

"So?"

"The empress is in a foul mood, are you sure you want to see her now?"

"You are mistaken."

A long sigh.

"It is the empress who wishes to see me—"

The armored man lifted the two warm heads, raised his face with a smile, and said, "This is the gift I brought for the empress. Lord Yuan, how do you find it?"

Thus, the previous sigh was actually a boast.

"Heh."

Yuan Jimo glanced at the heads, unimpressed, and simply rode away.

...

...

In the dimly lit hall, only one candle was lit.

After the armored man entered the hall, he set down the two heads.

He knelt on one knee and reported earnestly, "Empress, this trip has been fruitful. The miasma of South Border has begun to spread eastward, soon reaching the borders of Li Kingdom."

Behind the jade screen, there was no response.

The armored man continued, "South Border harbors deep grievances, with the major sects fighting among themselves. However... Yin Mountain and Heavenly Puppet Sect have recognized the situation. White Ghost and Mo Taoist are willing to swear an oath on their Divine Souls, abandoning darkness for light, willing to serve the empress with a nod of your head."

At this point.

A questioning voice finally came from behind the jade screen.

"What about Paperman Sect?"

The four words echoed in the hall for a long time.

In the past, the three great Evil Sects of South Border dominated, but in recent years they've been reduced to a sorry state, with Yin Mountain even being forced towards Sealing Mountain to take refuge—

The reason for this was the abruptly emerged "Paperman Sect!"

"I have investigated it thoroughly, it's merely trivial."

"Although this sect can stir up storms in the secluded parts of South Border, its foundations are weak and not worth considering."

The armored man raised his head and spoke loudly, "During my trip to the south, I confronted powerful members of Paperman Sect... specifically decapitating two Yin Gods, as a gift for the empress!""

Upon hearing this, a soft chuckle came from behind the jade screen.

The delicate silhouette reflected in the candlelight waved a sleeve.

A blue-robed eunuch emerged from the shadows, holding two large wooden boxes, skillfully removing the heads.

A moment later.

The woman behind the screen studied the boxes for a moment and murmured, "I don't see how these are different from other Yin Gods… What about the so-called 'Daoist Master'?"

"Daoist Master..."

The armored man seemed slightly embarrassed as he reluctantly said, "Empress, I've been lying low in South Border for many years but have never encountered this so-called 'Daoist Master of the Paperman Sect.' White Ghost told me that the cultivators of Paperman Sect are elusive and stealthy, hence even though they reside in South Border, they have never met this Daoist Master."

"Oh?"

The woman behind the screen became interested.

"Over the years, the title of Daoist Master has been widely known throughout South Border... yet no one has ever seen him in person."

The armored man seriously stated, "In my view, Paperman Sect merely plays with plots and schemes, a sordid sect that shuns the light. Perhaps this so-called 'Daoist Master' does not exist at all, or has too trivial a mastery, thus he dares not show himself."

The hall fell into silence.

"Let's put aside matters of Paperman Sect for now."

The woman waved her sleeve, dismissing the attendants.

As the few eunuchs left, the hall became even colder and quieter.

The woman stood up.

With a "ding"!