Remould the Glory of Sword Art

"Why lock yourself away at Jade Screen Peak, and why abandon your Lifebound Flying Sword?"

Until the very end, Jiang Miaoyin did not provide an answer. She called for the female disciple who had guarded the mountain gate earlier to escort Xie Zhen down the mountain.

As they left the mountain of Jade Screen Peak, the female disciple named "Ling Yu" took the initiative to comfort him.

"There's no need for Young Master Xie to be disheartened,"

Ling Yu said softly, "Although our master may seem cold, she has a kind heart. Her sending you away was not out of dislike; she was simply exhausted from the prior Sword Qi clash with Young Valley Master Ye."

In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ling Yu's attitude had noticeably changed.

After all, the misunderstanding about the founding of Da Sui Sword Palace was well known to everyone.

Because of their master, they had always disliked Prince Jiangning.

With the impression from the mountain gate incident, this otherwise unremarkable Xie Zhen had grown increasingly likable.

"When you return, please inform Valley Master Jiang that I was presumptuous."

Xie Xuanyi understood the reason.

The reason for being sent away was naturally because he had asked questions that should not have been asked.

However, Jiang Miaoyin's reaction in front of the Sword Washing Pool made Xie Xuanyi realize that there might be some unspeakable difficulties.

Jiang Miaoyin restrained herself.

"These ten years, has Valley Master Jiang been in seclusion at Jade Screen Peak?"

The path down the mountain was long, and Xie Xuanyi deliberately slowed his pace to inquire about the old affairs.

"Indeed, my master spends her days in meditation, honing her sword heart."

"Honing her sword heart?"

"As Young Master Xie saw earlier, the flying sword in the Sword Washing Pool represents her 'chronic ailment.'"

Ling Yu spoke with a complex expression, "The disciples under Jade Screen Peak must 'wash their swords' daily. The pain of 'washing the sword,' which pierces through the Heart Lake, is unbearable even for those with a resolute Dao heart—lasting hardly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea... Yet, my master threw her Lifebound Flying Sword directly into the ink pond for a full ten years. If this continual pain isn't for honing the sword heart, what else could it be for?"

Xie Xuanyi fell silent.

He then asked, "Besides meditating, does she no longer cultivate?"

"My master no longer practices her swordsmanship."

Ling Yu sighed deeply, "As the master of Jade Screen Peak, she needs to manage the 'Sword Qi Decree' and guard the Da Sui Cave Heaven. Over these ten years, my master has been refining the decree, claiming she will only manage Jade Screen and no longer venture out or concern herself with worldly affairs."

Xie Xuanyi's voice was hoarse, "Because of Xie Xuanyi?"

"Shh, do not speak rashly,"

Ling Yu widened her eyes, quickly raising a finger to signal Xie Xuanyi to be cautious with his words.

"Perhaps it has something to do with Uncle Xuanyi..."

Ling Yu clenched her fists and sighed, "These years, my master visibly lost much weight. The reason she threw the 'chronic ailment' into the Sword Washing Pool, we all guess, was due to cherishing the memory of someone."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi opened his mouth to speak but then hesitated.

"After Uncle Xuanyi died in battle, my master was once deeply depressed."

"Later, after Da Sui sealed the mountain, the maids sent by the Jiang Family, who had grown up with her, were all dismissed."

Ling Yu murmured, "Since that day, my master secluded herself in Jade Screen Peak... These are all I know."

Xie Xuanyi silently lowered his eyes, remembering every word Ling Yu had said.

He spoke softly, "Thank you, Fairy."

"You're welcome,"

Ling Yu escorted Xie Xuanyi to the mountain gate and respectfully bowed, "This bow is on behalf of all the brothers and sisters of Jade Screen Peak. Having heard of the unique beauty of the Lotus Miracles in Xuanshui Cave Heaven, unmatched anywhere in the world, I hope Young Master Xie's wishes will come to fruition."

The meaning of her words was clear.

Throughout the Dachu Dynasty, it was known in all four realms—

Xie Sheng made a high-profile entry into the Sword Palace, aiming to climb Lotus Peak and seize Xuanshui Cave Heaven.

This bow from Ling Yu carried significant weight.

"Thank you..."

Xie Xuanyi's expression was solemn as he slowly returned the courtesy, "I shall certainly do my utmost."

...

...

"You lad, you've finally come out!"

Jiang Qihu had been waiting in front of the mountain gate for a long time, and when he saw Xie Zhen finally descending the mountain, he quickly caught up to him, grumbling, "What did you previously tell me? Just a stroll, and how did you end up at Yushan Peak? Xie, confess honestly, are you plotting something?"

"Lord Jiang, Yushan Peak is a forbidden area of Da Sui."

Seeing the anxious appearance of the buffoon, Xie Xuanyi couldn't help but joke, "How could I ascend it if Lord Jiang didn't invite me?"

This light retort left Jiang Qihu at a loss for words.

"You, you, you..."

Jiang Qihu glared fiercely, "I poured my heart out to you, and this is how you treat your brother?"

What truly angered him was not that Xie Xuanyi had climbed Yushan Peak.

It was.

After Xie Xuanyi descended the mountain, feedback came from the Ruyi Order.

Jiang Miaoyin told him that she was tired today and would climb another day!

This mountain, Xie Zhen could climb, Ye Qinglian could climb, but his own brother could not!

"Lord Jiang, please be understanding, it was due to the investigation."

Xie Xuanyi sighed deeply.

He knew that this climb, even if it was a coincidence, could no longer be explained.

Having no choice, he had to bring up Chen Jingxuan.

"You might think... this visit to Lord Jiang was by the teacher's order." Xie Xuanyi looked at Jiang Qihu seriously, "Everything was arranged by the teacher."

These words proved useful.

Jiang Qihu's anger dissipated significantly.

"Everything was arranged by the teacher..."

He frowned slightly, gazing at Xie Xuanyi, and asked, "Truly?"

"Genuine as can be." Xie Xuanyi nodded solemnly.

Both men returned to the True Hidden Peak Manor, and as the night fell, they heard the sound of Sword Qi tearing through the air.

A broad figure in black robes, riding a Flying Sword, landed in front of the manor.

Huang Su was about to knock on the door.

But as the Flying Sword touched the ground, a voice came from inside the manor.

"Valley Master, you've finally arrived."

The gate opened slowly.

In the courtyard, fallen flowers littered the ground, and the candle flickered before the stone table.

Jiang Qihu had been waiting with the door wide open for quite some time.

"Lord Jiang, Master Xie."

Huang Su raised an eyebrow slightly, "Did you calculate that I would come tonight?"

"Just a coincidence."

Xie Xuanyi stood up and performed a courteous gesture, smiling, "It was also thanks to Lord Jiang's reminder, saying the Valley Master dislikes trouble, once the affairs of True Hidden Peak are settled, it was estimated that you would come."

"Oh?"

Huang Su looked at Jiang Qihu.

She was rather familiar with the man… Regarding her own information, it was highly likely that Jiang Qihu had provided it, but the open door did not seem like his idea.

"I am merely interested in the events of the day."

Huang Su smiled, "You, are you Xie Zhen?"

"... Yes."

Xie Xuanyi gazed at the young woman before him.

Perhaps it was because of the Sealing Mountain retreat or perhaps it was due to the advancement to the Yin God Realm afterward, that her appearance hardly changed over the decade.

The publicly known age of Xie Xuanyi was seventeen.

If he remembered correctly, Huang Su should be twenty-seven now, merely ten years older than himself.

A decade had flashed by in an instant.

Jiang Miao Yin had grown much more haggard, whereas Huang Su... showed little change.

"Interesting, at a casual glance one can't see anything extraordinary, upon a closer look still mundane."

Huang Su circled around Xie Xuanyi, sizing him up from head to toe, "You, who had quelled the turmoil at Qing State and pacified the North Sea Ling... indeed possess some skills."

Xie Xuanyi could only smile helplessly.

Over the years, Huang Su indeed hadn't changed.

Even her style of conducting matters was the same as before—

Had it been someone else, they might have underestimated themselves because of the difference in realm.

But Huang Su believed that he must have had some skill, to have deceived her sight.

"It's just a pity..."

Huang Su stared at Xie Xuanyi, shook her head, and in the end left a sigh.

"A pity for what?"

Jiang Qihu couldn't hold back, and asked.

"It's a pity that Da Sui Sword Palace is now all buzzing with rumors."

Huang Su spoke indifferently, "It's said that today at the mountain gate, the Prince Jiangning was disgraced and humiliated publicly... The upcoming contest of Sword Qi in Xuanshui Cave Heaven will likely have a formidable opponent, and this opponent is none other than you, Xie Zhen."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qihu scoffed with laughter.

He had always disliked the Prince Jiangning and said with annoyance, "So what? What's there to pity about that?"

"The pity lies right here."

"Many are hoping to see you two fight, with some even wishing you emerge victorious."

Huang Su shook her head, saying with regret, "Young Master Xie's aura from the Cave Heaven seems weak, it appears you've just advanced, maybe you have two or three trump cards up your sleeve... but to face Xie Sheng, it's far from sufficient."

"You..."

Jiang Qihu abruptly stood up, furiously shouting, "The Sword Qi Decree hasn't started yet, how can you boost the morale of others and undermine your own prestige?"

"Who said we're on the same side."

Huang Su glanced at the foolish tiger, "You are a member of the Jiang Family, a member of the library, a Deputy Director of Imperial City, but you are definitely not one of Sword Palace. Step back ten thousand steps, hasn't Miao Yin just shut you out of her door today?"

Jiang Qihu was rendered speechless, especially by the last sentence, which almost shattered his Dao heart.

Grudgingly, he sat back down.

"Today at True Hidden Peak, I met that Prince Jiangning."

Huang Su said calmly, "Although I dislike him, I must admit, he does possess some skills, his Sword Qi Cave Heaven is at great success, his Divine Soul Realm is also nearing perfection. Just a few years ago they said he was just beginning to make a mark, but now it seems, he has indeed 'started to show his potential'."

Having said that,

She straightforwardly spoke, "Xie Zhen, with your current realm, you're no match for him."

"The Peak Master saw me today, surely not just to say these words?"

Xie Xuanyi laughed lightly, not taking it to heart, "Moreover... If I remember correctly, at the mountain gate, I did not directly challenge that Prince."

In just one day, so many rumors had escalated,

Seemingly everyone was anticipating.

His clash with Xie Sheng.

"The news was spread by my order." Huang Su paused, then said, "You and Xie Sheng are bound to fight eventually."

"Oh?"

Xie Xuanyi raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

Huang Su frowned and asked, "Don't you want the Xuanshui Cave Heaven?"

"Naturally, I do."

Xie Xuanyi sighed helplessly, correcting slightly, "What I want to ask about the 'why' is regarding the previous part of your sentence, why did you release this news?"

"The reason I let the news fill the entire Sword Palace, is because I want to see the two of you fight."

Huang Su said with a slight smile, "To be precise, I want to see you win, and him lose."

Xie Xuanyi silently regarded Huang Su.

Huang Su spoke in high spirits, "Today, I have come here to accept you as a disciple before the start of the Sword Qi Decree, and then to help you defeat Xie Sheng in the Xuanshui Cave Heaven competition."

"..."

After a long wait,

The mansion was silent for a long while.

Huang Su did not receive the reaction she had anticipated.

Jiang Qihu, however, showed a look of joy,

But there Xie Zhen was, his face calm as he looked at her, and upon closer inspection, his eyes seemed to hold a complex emotion.

"Aren't you happy?" Huang Su was somewhat puzzled.

"Happy, but not that happy."

Xie Xuanyi sighed, "Does the Peak Master think I should be very happy?"

"Otherwise?"

Huang Su's tone carried a hint of anger.

You are still too young after all.

"Sorry, please forgive my refusal."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head, speaking indifferently, "This matter of accepting a disciple seems a bit inappropriate."

"???"

Huang Su raised her brows, her sleeves swept lightly, and a gust swept across the entire mansion.

Thunderous!

The next moment.

She sat opposite Xie Xuanyi.

Jiang Qihu reached out to stop her, but was directly pressed down by Huang Su's hand.

"You'd better give me an explanation."

Huang Su stared at Xie Zhen, her voice stern, each word coming out sharply.

This fierce voice caused the atmosphere of the entire courtyard to freeze.

Xie Xuanyi lightly picked up his teacup, gently taking a sip.

"Would Lord Jiang please step aside."

He looked towards Jiang Qihu, speaking placidly, "I have a few words for the Peak Master."

Why is it always me...

Jiang Qihu shivered,

Coming to Da Sui Sword Palace had been nothing but misfortune, having already experienced a misunderstanding at the gate,

Having just been chased out from Jade Screen Peak,

And now, back at his own mansion, he still had to leave.

"...So should I leave?"

He tentatively looked at Xie Zhen, then at Huang Su, both of whom were locked in eye contact, obviously not bothered about him.

Jiang Qihu sighed deeply and left alone, feeling desolate.

...

...

(PS: Brothers, don't tease me anymore, after so many years, this is the first time I've been baited like a fish.)