Remould the Glory of Sword Art

"Xie Zhen... he's probably that kind of person."

Jiang Qihu recounted everything he had witnessed and experienced in Qing State and how he met and got to know Xie Zhen, without leaving any detail untold.

When he left the Imperial City this time,

his master only reminded him to take good care of Xie Zhen and to ensure that Xie Zhen must not be bullied... but as for other matters concerning his origins, he didn't issue more instructions.

It seemed that the encounters in Qing State were something he could talk about.

At least,

they were something he could share with his sister.

Jiang Miaoyin sat beneath the waterfall at Lotus Peak. She remained silent the entire time, quietly listening to Qihu narrate the story of Lichao City.

In fact, she had read the Qing State case files more than once.

But after all, those were just case files that wouldn't contain many of the details.

"So, you and Xie Zhen, all things considered, have only known each other for a month?"

After listening,

Jiang Miaoyin thought for a moment, then asked her first question.

"...That's right."

Jiang Qihu paused for a moment, and then seriously responded, "Actually, the second time we met was at Da Sui Sword Palace."

"Sister, Brother Xie Zhen is different from the others,"

Qihu scratched his head.

After thinking it over, he smiled and said, "At first, Xie Zhen and I had some misunderstandings, but as those were cleared up... we became more acquainted with each other, you could say it was 'a kindred spirit at first sight'."

"You fool... 'a kindred spirit at first sight' is not used that way,"

Jiang Miaoyin gently sighed and shook her head.

She then asked, "So, about the matter of Xie Zhen being the dark child in the library, did Master Jingxuan ever mention anything to you before?"

"He never mentioned it,"

Jiang Qihu honestly said: "The library has many dark children, all of whom only follow Master's orders. Qihu never asks too much."

"I'm not asking you to inquire about the library's secrets,"

Jiang Miaoyin said calmly, "Out of nowhere, there's suddenly this person; don't you find that curious?"

"Curious?"

Jiang Qihu was stunned for a second, first nodded, then shook his head: "Of course I'm curious!"

"It's just that there are too many 'strange occurrences' in the library, and Qihu really can't keep up with being curious about all of them."

Jiang Qihu said earnestly: "Sister, you don't know, our master, who governs destiny, knows everything, is omniscient, a deity among gods. Before father left, he instructed that, as long as it concerns his master, Qihu need not worry too much, just listen and believe."

"..."

Jiang Miaoyin silently looked at her younger brother before her.

A decade had passed.

Jiang Qihu could no longer be considered a "younger brother," but that stubborn and clumsy appearance was still the same as before.

Perhaps in front of others, he was the Deputy Director of the Imperial City, the future master of the Jiang Family in charge of Qing State, commanding respect from all around, not to be defied.

But in front of her,

Jiang Qihu would always look like this.

"That's good, then,"

Jiang Miaoyin said softly: "Master Jingxuan would never harm you."

"Of course not!"

Jiang Qihu chuckled, then curiously asked, "Sister, why are you interested in Xie Zhen?"

They hadn't seen each other for ten years.

When the two met, Jiang Miaoyin simply asked about the old master's health.

How the Jiang Family had developed over the years.

What Qing State had become.

She didn't ask at all.

Instead, it was "Xie Zhen" whom she uncharacteristically listened to quietly as Jiang Qihu rambled on for nearly the duration of half an incense stick, without showing any sign of boredom.

"Nothing in particular, just asking,"

Jiang Miaoyin said softly: "I feel somehow destined with this young man. How is the situation beneath Lotus Peak now?"

With this reminder,

Jiang Qihu suddenly slapped his thigh, realizing he had forgotten something important.

He hurriedly took out the Baihua Valley transmission order and contacted Ye Qinglian.

...

...

The Lotus Peak residence finally regained its tranquility.

Huang Su personally sent the command, making Si Qi run an errand.

The "dead asleep" Loose Cultivator lying on the lawn was carried away by the True Hidden Peak disciples.

Tonight's commotion came to an end at last... Jing Qingming had been beaten unconscious, and not to mention becoming a disciple of Golden Turtle Peak, it was likely he wouldn't even be able to participate in the upcoming Sword Qi ceremony.

"Nephew Xie, that was quite a harsh move,"

Si Qi, with hands tucked in his sleeves, stood beside Xie Xuanyi.

He observed the young man who had, upon their first meeting, dealt a warning to Prince Jiangning,

Average in appearance.

But not to be underestimated in strength.

"Not at all,"

Xie Xuanyi sat back in the wooden chair, relishing the echoes of the insects' chirping and the wind in the valley, letting out a contented sigh.

Although he was apologizing, his tone lacked any actual remorse: "My apologies for the trouble, Uncle-Master Si Qi, and for the inconvenience to the colleagues from True Hidden Peak."

"..."

Si Qi's expression was slightly stiff.

Trouble, indeed.

Everyone seemed satisfied watching tonight's drama,

but the aftermath had to be dealt with by True Hidden Peak.

Xie Zhen had exercised restraint; aside from the Sword Cultivators from the Silver Moon Sect who had set up the Sword Array, the other visitors weren't crippled, most were just knocked out.

But looking around, these unfortunate folks nearly filled half of the Lotus Peak lawn.

Seventy to eighty unconscious grown men.

"Speaking of which, where did Brother Xie Zhen learn his swordsmanship?"

Si Qi suddenly spoke.

The Silver Moon Sect's Thousand Jin Waterfall Sword Formation was indeed formidable.

The final battle was imposing, and surely many significant figures were observing through Divine Thought.

Xie Zhen's mastery of swordsmanship was indeed surprising.

With just a wooden branch, he shattered the Thousand Jin Waterfall Sword Formation!

Clean and swift!

That was complete domination at the level of "Sword Dao"!

Xie Xuanyi raised his head, closed his eyes to rest, and said softly, "Uncle-Master Si Qi, are you curious about how I managed to break through the Silver Moon Sect's 'Thousand Jin Waterfall' with a single sword strike?"

Si Qi didn't shy away from the topic.

"Da Sui Sword Palace has been sealed for ten years, and Nephew Xie has devoted ten years to the Library. Even if the Little National Master is deemed a 'Genius of the Era,' swordsmanship is still something he knows little of." He chuckled softly and continued, "Your sword strike must have caused many to lose sleep tonight."

"Uncle-Master Si Qi, what do you think of my Sword Dao?"

Xie Xuanyi slowly opened his eyes and looked at Si Qi.

"With only one sword strike, it's hard to see the depth."

Si Qi smiled and said, "Although Uncle-Master may not be the most learned in the arts, if Nephew wants to exchange a few moves, Uncle-Master would be willing to oblige."

"Uncle-Master jests."

Xie Xuanyi closed his eyes again, lying back comfortably, "You are a Yin God and I am but a mere Cave Heaven... This swordsmanship isn't worth mentioning. If those great figures truly had 'eyes like torches,' they should have seen that my ability to break the formation wasn't because my sword skills were superior."

"Oh?"

A glint of brilliance flashed in Si Qi's eyes.

If it wasn't for superior sword skills... then there was only one possibility left.

"I happen to know a thing or two about array patterns."

Xie Xuanyi said languidly, "As a matter of fact, this was mentioned in the Qing State case files... It should be quite normal for I, who come from the Library, to know some array patterns, shouldn't it?"

"So that's it."

Si Qi smiled and nodded, then asked again, "Nephew Xie, you truly are someone who was 'exceptionally admitted' by both Huang Su and Qi Lie... Could you speak to your Uncle-Master about the matter regarding the Lotus Jade Order?"

"Does Uncle-Master really want to know?"

Xie Xuanyi looked up, asking with a hint of a smirk.

The Lotus Jade Order was indeed related to the identity of "Disciple Xie Xuanyi."

Quite clearly.

Si Qi was still in the dark at this moment.

Si Qi cleared his throat with a light cough and said formally, "It's just a casual question; it's not that I 'really want to know.'"

"Indeed, who is Uncle-Master Si Qi?"

Xie Xuanyi said leisurely, "I've long heard that True Hidden Peak oversees all intelligence within and without the Da Sui Sword Palace; surely such a trivial matter couldn't have escaped Uncle-Master's attention even if Nephew does not mention it."

A chuckle escaped Si Qi upon hearing this, "Naturally..."

"If that's the case, I'll have to trouble Uncle-Master to use his own means and display his Divine Skills then."

Xie Xuanyi changed the tone, speaking earnestly, "Nephew just had a fight and is quite tired. Uncle-Master, please return?"

"???"

Si Qi's smile suddenly froze on his face.

With a hint of resentment, he glanced at the young man sitting on the chair. He hadn't paid attention for a moment and was placed in a high position; now, he didn't even have the chance to manoeuver the conversation.

Clever boy.

He likes to play the game of false flattery.

...

...

The disciples of True Hidden Peak thus departed.

In front of the small courtyard, quietness finally settled.

Xie Xuanyi sat in the wooden chair, yet he did not return to his residence.

At this moment, he stretched out a palm to prop up his chin, eyes closed, feigning sleep.

The world was in utmost silence, so was the Heart Lake.

He felt every wisp of wind that flowed across his cheeks, and each strand of Divine Thought high above Lotus Peak.

Xie Xuanyi slowly opened his eyes; his voice echoed among the mountains.

"Tonight's commotion is over, and all the onlookers... it's time to disperse."

His voice spread out.

The Divine Thoughts lingering near the residence hastily withdrew.

Xie Xuanyi stood up, his hands clasped behind his back, looking into the depths of the woods beside the courtyard.

"Fellow there, can't you hear?"

Xie Xuanyi spoke softly, "The excitement is over."

The evening's commotion on Lotus Peak had attracted many great figures with their Divine Thoughts, unabashedly taking on the role of spectators, enjoying the play before the grand ceremony of Sword Qi.

Others had personally come to the front of Lotus Peak.

Because they neither showed themselves nor released any hostility,

It would be improper for Xie Xuanyi to expose them all...

Now, those Divine Thoughts surrounding Xie Xuanyi's residence had all dissipated.

But the Divine Thought hidden deep in the woods not only did not disappear, it came even closer.

"What I'm waiting for is for the commotion to end."

A slightly immature but resolute voice slowly emerged from the other end of the forest.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi's brow furrowed slightly as he watched a boy with ragged clothes and a dirty face come out from the woods, but with a gaze that was extraordinarily lucid.

This boy was not very tall but carried a heavy sword on his back that was taller than him.

The sword taller than the person.

Such attire was indeed laughable.

But Xie Xuanyi didn't laugh.

Because this young fellow appeared to be only sixteen years old, a year younger than "current" himself.

But with a restrained Divine Soul and condensed Primordial Energy.

He had the presence of a Cave Heaven!

This was a very young Cave Heaven Realm Sword Cultivator!

Prince Jiangning, Xie Sheng, ascending to Cave Heaven at seventeen, had already shocked the entire Dachu Dynasty...

But this little fellow in front of him had achieved Cave Heaven Realm at the age of sixteen!

Upon closer inspection, Xie Xuanyi realized that this young man's aura had completely integrated with the heavy sword on his back... Just this alone was extremely rare. He seemed to be a pure Sword Cultivator. If he had truly achieved "Human Sword Unity," then this youngster's level of Sword Dao would be not just one level higher than Jing Qingming's earlier!

"Interesting."

Xie Xuanyi appraised the boy before him and smiled, "Your name doesn't seem to be on the Fangyuan Inn case file."

The Fangyuan Inn had listed thirteen individuals with the Cave Heaven Realm.

But this person was not among them.

"The news from Fangyuan Inn can never be trusted entirely."

The boy with the heavy sword shook his head, raised his head to look directly at Xie Xuanyi, and said seriously, "After all, your name isn't on that case file either."

With that remark.

Xie Xuanyi found it even more interesting.

He sat back in the wooden chair with a smile and asked softly, "So you've come to find me for what purpose?"

The young fellow took a deep breath.

He reached out his hand and clutched the heavy sword behind him.

"To ask about swords!"

"Naturally, to ask about swords!"