Remould the Glory of Sword Art

"So the saying goes, a disaster leaves its mark for a thousand years!"

Qin Baihuang leaned over the jade desk, moving closer, "What if, just what if Xie Xuanyi isn't dead?"

But Chen Jingxuan only remained silent.

"Chen Jingxuan, stop pretending. I know you care a lot about Xie Xuanyi."

Qin Baihuang noticed Chen Jingxuan's peculiarity and said with a frown, "I've always thought that once you succeeded the State Preceptor and took his place, you would start to settle the old cases from ten years ago—now you're just one step away from the title of 'State Preceptor,' and the Primordial Instrument is already in your hands, what exactly are you waiting for?"

Chen Jingxuan was forced into a corner, locking eyes with Qin Baihuang.

He opened his mouth.

In the end, unusually, he couldn't speak.

"I come to you today, asking for your help, not to overturn a verdict. I just want to know, where on earth did that guy Xie Xuanyi die."

"With the Primordial Instrument at hand, why not take a look at Xie Xuanyi's whereabouts, even if it's just to find the whereabouts of his body… at least that would be an answer."

Qin Baihuang clenched his teeth, "I know that checking the Primordial Instrument consumes lifespan. I can't make up for that, but I can exchange the [Thousand Mechanism Umbrella] for it, I only need you to help me with divination once, and as soon as the [Thousand Mechanism Umbrella] is made, I will send it to the library at once!"

This string of words was still met with silence.

Chen Jingxuan remained unmoved.

Qin Baihuang sighed, this reaction was as expected.

The silence between the two continued like this.

For a long while.

After a long while.

Qin Baihuang pretended to regain his composure.

"Chen Jingxuan, we've known each other for more than twenty years, I remember you weren't like this before."

Qin Baihuang asked disappointedly, "When I come to you for help, are you afraid of trouble, of losing face, or are you afraid of losing the title of State Preceptor?"

"Baihuang brother, it's not like that."

Chen Jingxuan sighed inwardly, how could he not know why Qin Baihuang came to him.

From the moment this guy pushed open the door.

He already knew what would unfold.

Up to now, he had seen through Qin Baihuang's "provocation strategy."

But sometimes, seeing through it is one thing, dealing with it remains difficult.

Chen Jingxuan rubbed his brow, revealing the divine secret, "Your visit to the library to find me, it's because of the fairy Jiang of Yuping Peak, isn't it?"

Qin Baihuang's face stiffened a bit.

"The Ruyi Order was made by you. I had Qihu deliver one to her."

Chen Jingxuan sighed, "You must have contacted the fairy Jiang through that token, right?"

"Although Yuping Peak refuses to see people, you are after all the head of the Refining Department, with a noble status..."

Chen Jingxuan continued, "Besides, when Xie Xuanyi fled north, you helped him in secret all the way; the fairy of Yuping Peak, no matter how heartless, should not ignore the benefactor of Xie Xuanyi. Presumably, you're seeking me out this time actually to probe the whereabouts of Xie Xuanyi's remains on behalf of Miss Jiang, right?"

"You better retract your Divine Skills, stop talking."

Qin Baihuang said irritably, "The whole Imperial City knows I fancy Miss Jiang Miaoyin. With or without Xie Xuanyi, I am still the same, I swear on my conscience, as witness to heaven and earth..."

He took a sullen sip of tea, uncertain if it was his imagination, but he seemed to taste a hint of alcohol.

That's the trouble with spending time with Chen Jingxuan.

It's tedious!

Too tedious!

Suddenly,

this head of the Refining Department remembered something intriguing.

He leaned in, winking playfully and asked, "By the way, how are things between you and Tang Fengshu of the Taoist World Pavilion? I've heard that the Pavilion Master, who's unwavering and even more devoted to cultivation than Jiang Miaoyin, abruptly ended her seclusion a few days ago. Could it be that someone sent a Divine Thought and arranged a meeting?"

"What are you babbling about?"

Chen Jingxuan's forehead creased with lines of annoyance.

"My relationship with Tang Pavilion Master is not what you all think, and moreover... she's a Taoist."

Chen Jingxuan said very seriously, "Don't spread rumors in the Imperial City, it would cast a very bad influence on Tang Pavilion Master's reputation."

"So what if she's from the Taoist sect..."

Qin Baihuang mumbled to himself, feeling silly, "It's not like there aren't many Taoist masters who have happily wed... At Incense Fire House, they even have the sinful bond of marrying a Buddhist Bodhisattva."

"You know it's a sinful bond?"

Chen Jingxuan glared fiercely.

Qin Baihuang dared not say more.

"If you really want to know Xie Xuanyi's whereabouts..."

"I have already used the 'Primordial Instrument' to check once."

Back to the matter at hand, Chen Jingxuan said each word pointedly, "Although Chen may not have much lifespan left, this price, I can still afford."

"Hmm?" Qin Baihuang's eyes lit up.

"Ten years ago, Xie Xuanyi died in the North Sea. I have verified this point with the Primordial Instrument, beyond doubt."

Chen Jingxuan said quietly, "If Baihuang brother truly wishes to see Xie Xuanyi, you can set off for the North Sea now..."

Qin Baihuang's expression subtly shifted.

To the North Sea?

He hadn't been there before!

The North Sea was so vast, finding Xie Xuanyi's remains within it was no different from looking for a needle in a haystack!

"State Preceptor, what you just said, is it the truth?"

After listening, Qin Baihuang's eyes dimmed somewhat.

He indeed came to probe.

However, he wasn't here solely due to the entrustment of Yuping Peak.

In his life, he was a loner and had few friends; Xie Xuanyi could barely be counted as half... half a fair-weather friend.

Such a death was truly a pity.

"Chen Jingxuan swears by his destiny, everything said before was true, every word of it."

Chen Jingxuan said indifferently, "However, Baihuang brother, regarding your previous offer about the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella, I wonder if Jingxuan may take it seriously?"

"???"

Qin Baihuang was stunned for a moment, then coughed dryly and said seriously, "State Preceptor, please be patient, the development of the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella... will take some time."

Chen Jingxuan scoffed.

Qin Baihuang stood up to take his leave.

"Wait a moment——"

Halfway through, Chen Jingxuan spoke again, calling him to a halt.

Qin Baihuang turned back, somewhat puzzled, "Anything else you'd like to instruct, State Preceptor?"

"No need to give me the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella anymore."

Chen Jingxuan said softly, "Make me a sword scabbard instead, the very one Xie Xuanyi once wanted."

Qin Baihuang readily agreed, elated and happy as he left.

The library returned to its quiet, desolate state.

Chen Jingxuan took out a Ruyi Order.

This token was used by Chen Jingxuan specifically to contact Jiang Qihu.

Not long ago, it had added a second person.

The Ruyi Order at this moment was very dull on the surface, having lost all the luster it once had...

The reason for this was that the two individuals it was meant to contact were in a "locked" state; even if Chen Jingxuan transmitted his Divine Thought, the token could not receive it.

Chen Jingxuan caressed the token, his gaze revealing a trace of reminiscence.

He chuckled and waved his hand.

"Rumble!"

The entire library began to tremble, and from the niches, more than one streak of light flew out.

Items similar to the Ruyi Order, one after another, flew before Chen Jingxuan.

There was the "Liu Ye" from Baihua Valley.

There was the "Soul Jade Ring" from Demon Country.

There was a brightly colored red sword tassel.

There was also a square copper mirror with bizarre patterns carved on it.

Chen Jingxuan stood up and hesitated a long while before he took down the square copper mirror from the array of numerous items hanging before him.

"Tang,"

He injected a strand of Divine Thought into it and spoke warmly, "Jingxuan takes the liberty of disturbing you."

The copper mirror shone with a brilliant light.

"Ha."

From the other side came a slightly cold laugh, "Little National Master, you really won't show up unless there's something important."

This title was clearly tinged with mockery.

Chen Jingxuan's eyes showed a hint of guilt, but after a sigh,

he said earnestly, "I'd like to ask you for a favor."

This time, the voice from the other side of the mirror didn't hide the mockery at all.

"Chen Jingxuan, are you still a man!"

Tang's voice contained not just mockery but also anger, "You said you wanted to take me to watch the tides, is this the kind of tide you meant? Now Lichao City is completely enveloped by the Demon Array, and you use the copper mirror to contact me... are you really asking for my help or plotting against me!"

"A bit of both."

Chen Jingxuan was not good at lying; after thinking long and hard, he sincerely said, "If you help me this time, I'll grant you a request."

The other side of the mirror fell into a brief silence.

Tang Fengshu said, "Any request?"

"As long as it doesn't violate the laws of Da Chu."

Chen Jingxuan paused for a moment and said seriously, "As long as I can do it."

...

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(This chapter has 4K words, there's more tonight~ asking for monthly tickets~~~)