Remould the Glory of Sword Art

At sunset, Xie Xuanyi returned to the mansion.

Huang Su had been waiting in the courtyard for a while.

"Although you are the Lotus Peak Master,"

Before Xie Xuanyi even pushed the door, he sensed the chilling Sword Qi that was out of place with the surrounding environment.

He sighed helplessly and asked earnestly, "but after all, this mansion is given to me... Even if it's just a temporary stay, you should have knocked on the door before entering."

"I did knock, and she opened the door."

As expected, Huang Su was in the courtyard.

But unexpectedly... Jiang Huang had woken up already.

The little girl's face looked haggard, her cheeks deathly pale; seated in a wheelchair, she appeared frail and sickly, invoking pity in those who saw her.

"Is she someone you picked up?"

Huang Su pushed the wheelchair, walking slowly around the courtyard, stopping now beneath a tree where Jiang Huang was counting the falling leaves, one by one.

"... What about it?"

Xie Xuanyi acted as usual, closing the door while observing Huang Su's expression.

This Lotus Peak Master, who hated evil, did not show any anger on her face, nor was there a sharpness in her eyes. Instead, she looked at Jiang Huang with a hint of pity.

Perhaps the word 'picked up' touched some memories from her past.

"Nothing much."

Huang Su shook her head and spoke softly, "I just used Divine Thought to check her over; she was born weak, and her Divine Soul seems to have been damaged. It's a congenital injury, almost incurable, and besides that..."

Xie Xuanyi paused for a moment as he was closing the door.

"Besides that?"

"Besides that, I also felt a vigorous vitality brewing and spreading at the position of her Dantian."

Huang Su looked at Xie Zhen somewhat puzzledly and said, "Is this your doing? Can you heal a Divine Soul injury?"

Xie Xuanyi fell silent for a few moments, his heart slightly at ease.

He knew that Jiang Huang splitting her Divine Soul into two was a brilliant idea, not only capable of contending against the Nine Deaths Forbidden but also of shielding against heavenly secrets.

But this place was, after all, Da Sui Sword Palace.

Ten years had passed.

It was likely that some extraordinary people could sense what was happening.

However, at this moment, Xie Xuanyi was completely reassured.

As he had guessed, the Soul Splitting Technique had hidden the main Divine Soul and the demonic aura deep within.

If Huang Su hadn't noticed it, then the vast majority in the Yin God Realm wouldn't have either!

"This, of course... is not my doing."

Xie Xuanyi sat down, and without any hesitation, said, "It all relied on the intervention of the gentleman from the Book Collection Pavilion."

"That's also true."

Huang Su glanced at Xie Zhen and spoke indifferently, "This doesn't seem like something you could accomplish. But Chen Jingxuan is indeed more formidable than I had imagined."

"After all, he is a gentleman." Xie Xuanyi dismissed it with a smile.

"You've already told me all about it," she added seriously.

Changing the subject, Huang Su sincerely said, "Xie Zhen, I didn't expect you to have such a compassionate Bodhisattva's heart."

Xie Xuanyi's expression stiffened slightly.

He looked toward the little girl in the wheelchair.

She cooperated very well, softly calling him brother.

Huang Su said with emotion, "In such times, it's hard enough to take care of yourself, let alone to raise her..."

Wait, raise her to adulthood?

Xie Xuanyi rubbed his temples... What exactly did Jiang Huang say during his absence?

"Sword Palace does not permit family members when accepting disciples, but there are exceptions."

Huang Su spoke earnestly, "Once things are settled, I will explain to the other senior brothers and keep her at the Sword Palace... You don't have to worry about breaking the rules, if her Divine Soul disease can be resolved, her talent shouldn't be poor."

"Even if she only remains an external sectarian disciple, at least she can stay under Lotus Peak."

"If things go smoothly, in a few days, I will, as the Peak Master, take her to the Sword Washing Pool at Yu Ping Peak to see if we can heal her Divine Soul injury."

Xie Xuanyi opened his mouth, about to speak, then stopped.

Although he didn't know what Jiang Huang had said, the outcome seemed quite favorable so far.

"The younger sister is frail; I appreciate the Peak Master's effort," Xie Xuanyi sighed lightly, stepping forward to take hold of the wheelchair's handles, "but it's getting late now, she should rest."

"... I just woke up, though."

The little one murmured a protest in a low voice, looking at Huang Su with eyes full of unwillingness to part.

During their short interaction,

she had felt the righteous Sword Qi from Huang Su.

This Sword Qi, utterly lethal against enemies, was like the gentle breezes of spring to friends.

"Your brother is right; with a spiritual ailment, you should sleep a bit more."

Huang Su crouched down, patted Jiang Huang's head softly, and said, "Rest well."

After sending Jiang Huang to the inner room,

Xie Xuanyi returned and stood in front of Huang Su again.

"Peak Master, you must have something else to say, coming here this time?"

Xie Zhen knew, Huang Su was straightforward and never beat around the bush.

Since she came to his mansion, she most likely had already sought Si Qi—

"Last night, late at night, I had a drink with Si Qi... Your information was correct, just before he fled, Si Qi had delivered a letter for him."

Indeed.

Huang Su sat down openly and shared the events of the previous night in detail.

After finishing, she took out a Jade Scroll and placed it on the table.

"What is this?"

Xie Xuanyi listened silently, now frowning at the Jade Scroll.

"This is the complete archive from Jiangning to Da Sui recorded by Si Qi using Divine Soul Power. It has been ten years, but it still retains 'image preservation.'"

Huang Su spoke calmly, "This Jade Scroll can prove that what he told me last night was sincerely from his heart."

Xie Xuanyi hesitated for a moment, then picked up the Jade Scroll.

His Divine Thought swept over it.

The images inside the Jade Scroll jumbled,

starting from the wilderness of Jiangning and ending at the mountain gate of Da Sui, verifying the "story" Si Qi had told while drunk.

Indeed correct.

"After delivering the letter, Si Qi informed the people of Lotus Peak about its contents."

Huang Su slowly said, "Not many knew the truth, apart from Si Qi, there was only Zhou Zhiren from Xiao Chong Mountain, Jiang Miao Yin from Yu Ping Peak, Qi Lie from Golden Turtle Peak... and the Law Enforcement of Tongtian."

"Of course, that includes both you and me now."

Ten years had passed.

The contents of this secret letter, in fact, had no meaning in remaining confidential anymore.

"Tongtian Law Enforcement?"

Xie Xuanyi murmured softly with a frown.

When the secret letter was sent out, he had urged that it not be spread.

"Correct, Qi Lie revealed the letter's contents to the Law Enforcement."

Huang Su calmly said, "That's why I visited Golden Turtle Peak again today."

"As far as I know."

Xie Xuanyi slowly raised his head and said, "The Tongtian Law Enforcement seldom meets outsiders."

"But I am the Lotus Peak Master, not an outsider," Huang Su said.

"That's also true."

Xie Xuanyi paused, and though he said verbally, he unconsciously shook his head.

Back then, his relationship with the Tongtian Law Enforcement was quite poor...

He had been turned away several times when he visited.

And the reason was precisely that he was the Lotus Peak Master.

However, it seemed that Tongtian Law Enforcement's objection was not against the Lotus Peak Master per se, but rather against the self-assured man he had been at the time.

Xie Xuanyi asked with a smile, "What happened then?"

"Then... I was refused."

Huang Su's expression turned slightly unsightly. She paused and then said earnestly and seriously, "But you needn't worry. I am serious about investigating this case. Since I've said I would find out the truth, I will indeed do as I've said. If the Law Enforcement won't meet with me today, I'll go again tomorrow!"

After these words were spoken, the entire courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Xie Xuanyi's expression became complex.

He looked at Huang Su, as though he was seeing himself from years past.

He probably understood why Tongtian Law Enforcement wasn't seeing Huang Su.

Whether in terms of conduct or principles, she was just too similar to how he had been.

After a moment of staring at each other.

Huang Su suddenly spoke, "Actually, there's another matter today."

Xie Xuanyi also spoke up at the same time, "Actually, there's something I want to say."

The two statements spoken at once cast silence over the courtyard again.

Xie Xuanyi raised his hand, gesturing for Huang Su to speak first.

"Although I didn't see the Law Enforcement at Golden Turtle Peak today, I did meet Qi Lie."

Huang Su spoke gravely, "If nothing unexpected happens, he will be the next master of Golden Turtle Peak, taking over the position of Law Enforcement. This Sword Qi ceremony will be overseen by him."

"That's a good thing."

Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "The teacher once said, Qi Lie is upright and should hold the position of Law Enforcement. Since he's presiding over the ceremony, I suppose there won't be any 'favoritism and corruption.'"

"This isn't a good thing."

Huang Su looked at Xie Xuanyi and said seriously, "Because the jade token in your hand, in a sense... is a 'product of favoritism.'"

Xie Xuanyi was at a loss for words.

"Someone reported you for having obtained the jade token without going through the grand competition."

Huang Su said with a headache, "With Brother Qi Lie overseeing as the main examiner, he cannot tolerate any 'favoritism.' He demanded that I give him an explanation: either return the jade token or clarify why it was issued ahead of time."

"Reported? Who has the time for that?"

Xie Xuanyi, who had never experienced such things, couldn't help but laugh, "It's only the first day, and the Sword Qi test isn't even over... How does accusing me benefit him?"

"From the moment you entered the mountain gate, countless eyes have been watching you," Huang Su sighed.

"According to the rules, there's no issue with giving you this jade token... after all, you are Disciple Xuanyi, but how do I even begin to explain this identity?"

Actually, from the moment Huang Su began talking,

Xie Xuanyi had understood her predicament.

In Huang Su's eyes, their recognition of each other was a gesture of great trust and courage, especially since 'Xie Zhen' had previously been just a Dark Child in the book tower, surviving the chaotic times—not an easy feat.

This identity, even if revealed, should be revealed by himself.

If he revealed his cards now, how could the case continue?

"Peak Master, no need to explain, I understand," Xie Xuanyi said with a low chuckle.

He took out the jade token and caressed it slowly, his gaze lingering on the lotus engraving on the token.

"If I can't clarify the origin of this jade token, then I must return it, right?"

Xie Xuanyi placed the jade token on the table.

Huang Su looked helpless. Out of curiosity, she asked, "The people from Golden Turtle Peak might come knocking soon. What are you planning to do?"

"I'll secure the jade token well. This was given to me by Lotus Peak, within the rules, and I won't let anyone take it away."

Xie Xuanyi slowly pressed his palm onto the jade token.

"I want this lotus jade token."

"I want this mansion too."

"Although I don't care about my rank in the Sword Qi competition, I care about... my master's reputation, and the ownership of Xuanshui Cave Heaven. I won't allow anyone trying to meddle in this matter, and everything that belonged to 'Xie Xuanyi' back then, I intend to take it all back."

Huang Su stared blankly at the young man in front of her.

Although this Xie Zhen was quite plain-looking compared to his master from back then, and his demeanor was calm and steady, far from his master's domineering presence,

at that moment, she seemed to see her master from years past in Xie Zhen.

Was it her own illusion?

Or was this the proof of a Direct Disciple?

"Perfect."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, "Before the people from Golden Turtle Peak get here, there's something I want to tell the Peak Master... about 'investigating the case.'

Huang Su quickly regained her composure, sitting upright and awaiting further discussion.

"I think we can put the investigation on hold for now. The Peak Master need not visit Law Enforcement anymore, nor go to Golden Turtle Peak."

"???"

This brief statement left Huang Su stunned again.

Today I went to the Book Collection Pavilion," Xie Xuanyi said deliberately, "Regarding the 'truth' of the case from back then... I think I already have some answers."

...

...

(Okay, I'm half an hour late, I still overestimated myself TAT)