Remould the Glory of Sword Art

The wind swept through the courtyard, where withered leaves spun and fell, tumbling and fluttering in several circles before plunging into the small pond.

A ripple instantly spread across the calm surface of the water.

"Plop," a sound echoed.

Xie Xuanyi's fingertip gently touched down.

Jiang Huang closed her eyes, her body trembling slightly, but the chill in her Heart Lake did not spread further. After the touch of his fingertip, familiar warmth, like a spring breeze, brushed through her meridians, past her acupoints, and also smoothed out the lake in Jiang Huang's heart.

Confused, Jiang Huang slowly opened her eyes.

Xie Xuanyi did not retrieve that half drop of warm Undying Spring Water.

He merely tapped his forehead lightly.

Looking at the girl in front of him, twisted to extremes, he scoffed.

"Since I gave it to you, then keep it," he said.

Xie Xuanyi, with hands clasped behind his back, indifferently spoke, "In the future, such words, you should not say again."

"Xie Xuanyi..."

Jiang Huang clenched her teeth, her voice choked.

After the return of the Undying Spring, her vision suddenly became a bit blurry, as if veiled by steam.

With a smack!

A crisp knock on the head hit her forehead, bringing tears to the girl's eyes from the pain!

"How many times have I told you, at the Sword Palace you must call me 'Brother'..."

Xie Xuanyi scolded with irritation, "Hurry up and change it, what if it slips out by accident?"

"???"

Jiang Huang was stupefied.

A knock on the head made the little gratitude that had just arisen in her heart dissipate instantly.

She reached up to touch her smooth, snowy forehead.

There was now a swollen red spot.

The furious girl, baring her teeth and claws, charged at Xie Xuanyi.

"Xie you bastard, I'll kill you!"

...

...

Indeed, it was a lively night.

At sunrise, dew condensed on the leaves. Xie Xuanyi slowly pushed open the chambers and stretched lazily.

Behind him, Jiang Huang was sleeping profoundly on the bed.

Last night, this little rascal had charged at him with full force, shouting furiously, then fainted... As the saying goes, loud thunder, but little rain.

The rest of the night.

Xie Xuanyi didn't meditate but instead leaned against the bed and rested with his eyes closed.

It had been a long time since he had slept.

Perhaps it was because he was back at the Sword Palace...

In just a short one or two hours, not only had he fallen asleep, but he also slept soundly.

In his dream, he returned to the past, to his initial days of cultivation at Lotus Peak.

His eldest senior brother, Miao Yin, Qi Lie.

These faces.

Now they are not just fantasies appearing in dreams.

Xie Xuanyi had already met them all once again.

He pushed open the doors of the mansion.

A young man with a straight back, sitting in meditation, came into view.

"You finally came out?"

The young man opened his eyes and turned back, looking at Xie Xuanyi excitedly.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi was silent for a moment, "You haven't gone back yet?"

"Going back is boring; it's more interesting here with you."

The young man patted his backside and stood up, ready to draw his sword, "Come... continue!"

Xie Xuanyi glanced at him casually, noting the boy's robust constitution.

Or perhaps, it's that the recovery speed of Martial Artists in the Golden Body Realm is extraordinary. The traces left by his fingertip Sword Qi last night had already completely healed.

The fact that he could stand indicated that Xie Xuanyi had been too gentle last night.

"I don't have time to fool around with you."

Xie Xuanyi closed the doors of the mansion and strode off in the direction of Golden Turtle Peak.

He had no intention to bother with Duan Zhao.

It must be said, although this youngster was clingy, there was one thing commendable about him: abundant "Martial Virtue."

Seemingly persistent, but unless Xie Xuanyi said to fight, he truly wouldn't strike.

Duan Zhao, carrying his heavy sword, jogged along side Xie Xuanyi, chuckling softly, "What's the matter, are you scared?"

Xie Xuanyi gave the boy a look as if he were looking at a fool.

This youngster, he couldn't actually think that this low-level provocation would work on him, could he?

For some reason...

In Duan Zhao, he faintly seemed to see the shadow of the 'Stupid Tiger' from back then.

Where exactly did this youngster grow up? Only sixteen, yet already in the Golden Body Realm. Beyond that, his whole being was as plain as a blank sheet of paper.

Only those who have been well protected have such "character."

But... the young man looked shabby and ragged.

He didn't seem to be from a rich and noble family.

"I have comprehended the sword technique you spoke of last night," Duan Zhao said with his spirits high, "If you target my Kan position, I will change moves to block it, channeling the Sword Qi into the sword tip."

"... And if I switch to targeting the Li position?" Xie Xuanyi asked, without a twitch in his brow.

"I've thought about that too."

The young man grinned, still brimming with confidence, "If you target the Li position, it would indeed be a deadly move. The Sword Qi of the heavy sword would be completely blocked, but no problem, at that moment I will abandon the sword and attack, both fists striking out, straight for the victory."

Xie Xuanyi laughed, "And you say you're not a Martial Artist?"

"Sometimes, Martial Artist tactics are more useful than those of Sword Cultivators. As long as you can win, you shouldn't be too concerned with the rules—"

Duan Zhao added earnestly, "Those words were said by Xie Xuanyi, I am merely following your teachings."

"???"

Xie Xuanyi was dumbfounded.

When had he ever said such a thing?

"Xie Zhen."

The youth reinserted the heavy sword back onto his back; he didn't insist any further but asked curiously, "Thank you for your guidance last night. I truly had some insights. My mother was indeed right."

Xie Xuanyi stopped in his tracks.

He squinted his eyes and sized up Duan Zhao from head to toe, asking curiously, "What did your mother say?"

The youth smirked, "My mother said that if you come to Da Sui Sword Palace, you should look for the Xie family to spar with, and you'll definitely gain a lot."

"Your mother was really not wrong."

Xie Xuanyi smiled, "But you are a bit stupid. You got the wrong person."

"Oh?" Duan Zhao looked puzzled.

"You should have looked for the renowned Prince Jiangning, Xie Sheng!" Xie Xuanyi earnestly offered his advice, "That Princely Heir is highly skilled in swordsmanship and has achieved Perfect Cave Heaven. The entire Da Sui Sword Palace is waiting for his debut with the sword... So, you should go to him for a fight, and remember to use the 'Straight to the Dragon' move."

"I won't!"

Unexpectedly, the seemingly not-so-smart youth was now shaking his head quite resolutely.

"I've seen Xie Sheng from a distance. That guy is boring, not as interesting as you," said Duan Zhao earnestly. "The treasure gifted to me by my mother only reacts to you, so I'm only seeking guidance from you and listening to your tips."

Xie Xuanyi asked warily, "What treasure?"

The youth rolled up his sleeve to reveal a silver bracelet, showing it off with a shake that created an echoing roar of wind and thunder.

Xie Xuanyi examined it for a moment but couldn't deduce its mystery.

"...What treasure, what reaction, it's all nonsense. Your mother was deceiving you."

He shook his head helplessly, "I'm begging you. Please, don't block my doorway anymore, can you?"

"Of course, I can."

The youth laughed naively, "Are you inviting me to stay with you?"

Seeing Xie Zhen silent,

Duan Zhao blinked and asked tentatively, "How about you teach me two moves tonight, make them harder than last time, and I won't bother you for the next few days."

Xie Xuanyi exhaled.

He stopped, Golden Turtle Peak was nearby, and the crowd was gradually gathering, with eyes already turning in his direction.

Last night's commotion hadn't really "ended."

Many people were still awaiting the investigation results regarding the Lotus Peak Jade Order.

Today was the second day of the Sword Qi ceremony, which was still for aptitude testing and the "matches" for those who passed the test the previous day.

In a short while, it would be the time for Golden Turtle Peak's event to begin, when several Law Enforcers would show up, and by then, the chief examiner Qi Lie would surely make an appearance...

The appearance of these individuals meant that the investigation into last night's incident with the Lotus Peak Jade Order would be announced.

"One move. I'll only teach you one move."

Xie Xuanyi held up a finger and said, somewhat irately, "No bargaining. Take it or leave it."

"Deal! Cross my heart!"

The youth tiptoed to seal the promise with Xie Xuanyi, then, with the heavy sword on his back, darted into the crowd and vanished in a flash.

Xie Xuanyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The youth's identity... was probably not simple.

He vaguely had some guesses in his mind but wasn't quite sure yet.

One thing was certain, though.

After the youth left, it became much quieter around him.

Unfortunately, this quiet didn't last long. As the crowd gathered at the base of Golden Turtle Peak, many noticed Xie Zhen's presence.

The spectacle under Lotus Peak from the night before had already spread throughout Da Sui Sword Palace.

Several audacious young Sword Cultivators and children from prestigious families came over, starting conversations with Xie Zhen.

Prince Jiangning indeed had a significant background.

Nevertheless... there were always those at odds with Jiangning.

Xie Xuanyi didn't dismiss these people outright but engaged in brief chats, forming some "connections."

With his past life's temperament, of course, he would rather not engage in these superficial gestures.

However, now under the alias "Xie Zhen," his actions had to align with the historical records kept in the library.

This Sword Qi ceremony, Prince Jiangning was clearly using public opinion as a tactic to "suppress" him... Although Xie Xuanyi was proud, he wasn't about to slap a smiling face for no reason, especially not at a time like this, accruing ill-repute for himself.

Yet unexpectedly,

Just by chatting briefly, he attracted more and more Sword Cultivators seeking to make his acquaintance.

Although Prince Jiangning's influence was immense, it wasn't absolute—

The Xie Family only held power in Jiangning.

Da Chu was vast.

Before long, the area around Golden Turtle Peak where Xie Xuanyi stood became a bustling hotspot.

Many approached, eager to mingle and observe the fierce man who had gravely injured Jing Qingming with a single wooden stick the previous night.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please make way!"

Just as the voices of discussion were spreading loudly,

Suddenly, a drumming sound came from the top of Golden Turtle Peak!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three sonorous and majestic drum beats thundered out, reverberating and spreading far.

The array patterns of the mountain gate lit up with dazzling golden light, and through the mist, more than a dozen figures slowly descended from the sky on their swords, landing before the mountain gate.

The crowd instantly fell silent.

Qi Lie, dressed in resplendent golden robes, leading the Golden Turtle Peak Law Enforcers, approached the crowd at the mountain gate.

The Law Enforcers arranged themselves in an orderly fashion, and without saying a word, merely by standing there, they exuded an invisible pressure that sent shivers down the spine.

Qi Lie looked around.

His gaze, passing over the sea of people, fell on the black-robed youth encircled by countless people at the foot of the mountain.

The noise of the crowd was drowned out by the drumming.

More precisely... it was cleared away by the drumming.

Everyone's attention was on Qi Lie, and then, following Qi Lie's gaze, they turned to Xie Zhen.

Everyone knew.

If nothing unexpected happened, then Qi Lie's appearance here with so many Law Enforcers was likely to announce the results of last night's "Lotus Peak Jade Order" investigation.

...

...

(PS: Finished the third installment, sorry to keep you waiting. Since there's quite a bit of updating, it takes me a while to write, and I have to stay up late. A vote for monthly support would be appreciated~)