Chapter 1118: Sword Shack

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Dad, I’m back. The job’s done in Shangguan Feiyun’s area.”

In a gloomy hall, with the only faint light coming from some candles, a bored voice sounded.

A charming youth waltzed in towards the center as he spoke, the same Beast King that met Shangguan Feiyun blow for blow more than three hundred times. 

“Eh? Dad’s not here again?”

“Palace Lord left two weeks ago, wandering the world.” A magnetic voice replied and a middle-aged man with a split mustache walked out of the gloom with a smile, “Young Sanzi, since the work’s done on Shangguan Feiyun’s side, I have another task for you. Only there’s trouble over there and you’ll have to sort it out.” 

Gu Santong gave a bored wave, “Please, Uncle Dong, I just got back and haven’t even seen dad or Qiao’er. I want to look for them. Do you know where they went?”

The face reflecting in the faint candlelight was Serene Sh.o.r.es Trading’s chairman, Wu Randong, only a more mature version of him. His rash and impulsive nature subdued, but now he was in his prime. 

“Out there, you’re one of the Five Dharma Kings, protectors of the palace, right below Palace Lord. You should know better than me as to where he is. While privately, you are Palace Lord’s son, even more reason you should know where your father went. Why ask me?” 

“True, I usually know where dad would go on most occasions. He’s either looking in the horizon, standing on the North Sea sh.o.r.e as he grieves for mother, or in seclusion, or… right! The Sword Shack!” 

Clapping, Gu Santong laughed, “I’ll go see them right now!”

“Wait, what is the Sword Shack? What about my task?”

Pausing in mid run, Gu Santong looked back with a stern face, “Uncle Dong, you may be my elder in private and I should help you, but this is a public matter. Do you find it wise to give me tasks then, as your superior?” 

“Palace Lord gave me the right to mobilize two Dharma Kings!” Wu Randong looked respectful, “Palace Lord said you’re all grown now and strong enough to handle work before you make a mess of things and ruin Palace Lord’s affairs.”

“Uncle Dong, watch it! In the hundred years working together, when have I ever stirred things up?” 

“Palace Lord said you’re a magnet for trouble and need to be shaped up!”

Gu Santong’s face twitched, glaring at him then walking out, “I’ll have dad explain to me just how I am a magnet for trouble! I might have to trade a few blows with the old man. Don’t try to stop me…”

“Stop, don’t think about running!”

Wu Randong grabbed his arm and sighed, “Fine, since you’re so dead set on it, I’ll have someone else do the job. I bet the only reason you even took the job in Shangguan Feiyun’s area was because of your grudge with him.” 

“You’re the best, Uncle Dong…”

“Don’t get too excited. I do have a request though.”

“Name it. So long it’s not getting bored to death staking out some place for half a year!” 

Wu Randong turned grave and sighed, “Could you ask the Palace Lord something for me? When will we go against the Sword Star Empire? Every time I raise the topic, he just says the time isn’t ripe and just to wait.”

“Then wait. Dad must’ve had a good reason to say that. Don’t you believe him?”

“I trust the Palace Lord’s judgment. I’m just sick of waiting.” Wu Randong clenched his fists, his eyes burning with hatred, “A hundred years, that’s how long my clan has been hunted down. As long as this hatred festers within me, I can never focus on Dao and cultivate in peace. I fear that I’ll have to wait until old age takes me. Baili Jingwei has restored the empire in this century and I see no hope in taking him down. That’s why I kept asking the Palace Lord but always got the same answer, to wait and wait…” 

Wu Randong gnashed his teeth at the end.

Gu Santong stared hard at him, then patted his shoulder, “Uncle Dong, dad won’t lie to you. He’s just telling you to wait for the very best moment. The Sword Star Empire isn’t the only one growing. We have been bolstering our power even faster!”

Wu Randong squeezed a nod.

“Sure, I’ll ask dad about it, don’t worry. Then, I’m off!”

Gu Santong patted his shoulder and turned to leave, but not before showing him a smile, “Also, Uncle Dong, as an envoy, you shouldn’t search for Palace Lord’s location. Breaking Devil Palace’s rules is a serious offense. I can overlook it for you, but you owe me, he-he-he…” 

Gu Santong was gone, leaving Wu Randong to shake his head, his eyes deep in sorrow…

A month later, a town lay on the border between western lands and the central area, Swordfall. It had a spa.r.s.e population, but with how obscure it was on the border, not even a war would reach it. 

But with the coming of one man, its fate changed. None knew who he was or where he came from. Thus the people came to call him the blind swordsmith.

The white ribbon never left his eyes, yet his refining skills were awe-inspiring. Many refining masters came to test their skills from leagues beyond, only to leave with hung heads from a mere glance at his spiritual sword.

In his stay here, the only refining he did was of spiritual swords.

That was how he got his nickname. He even led to the town changing its name all because of one man. For the many master refiners coming here, all found that their spiritual swords paled in comparison to his.

Many renowned clans and dignitaries came upon hearing the rumors, and met the grandmaster. But the man was obscure and hardly ever saw guests. Even meeting him did not guarantee an answer and threats didn’t work too well. All that got a bit too pushy ended up missing. It drove respect and fear in all the rest. 

In time, those that got nothing, others that suffered too much, and those that had enough trouble for a lifetime decided to call it quits. The rumors around the blind swordsmith subsided to the level of a local attraction.  

He usually stayed in a small hut, with the words Sword Shack carved into a board on top.

Ding!

Crisp and short ringing sounded from the countless spiritual swords hung in the bamboo house. A girl of around sixteen, with long purple hair, held a chilling white blade, taping it, “Dad, is this your latest work?” 

“It’s called Icepine, a meter long, 9.5 kg, 5th grade spiritual weapon with a constant icy edge, like an evergreen. Hence the name.” 

A youth with covered eyes smiled as he spoke.

“Qiao’er, it’s something I made right after deepening my understanding of the Heaven Sealing Sword’s art. Sealing isn’t as savage like sundering and soaring. It has a gentle nature that overcomes brute force and forces on countering attacks. It is not dangerous head on, but soft, making it most suitable for women.” 

Qiao’er lip up, “Dad, did you make it for me then?”

“Uh, well…”

Zhuo Fan paused, chuckling, “Qiao’er, as strong as you are, 5th grade spiritual weapons hardly matter, acting more like decorations. Also, I feel that your nature is more blunt when using spiritual weapons. You’re better off with male types.”

Qiao’er’s face twitched, “Dad, I’m a girl. Don’t you have any tact?”

“Uh, in that case, I find a butch sword much better suited for you. You have a male air about you, ha-ha-ha…” 

Pouting and whining, Qiao’er stared daggers at him, hugging the sword to her chest, “I don’t care, dad. I want it. I’ve been around for a hundred years now but only a few years ago reached adulthood. I am no different from a sixteen year old human girl. This sword should be father’s gift to me for coming of age.”

“Your childhood sure is long, a hundred years at that, ha-ha… But the sword still won’t fit you.”

“I don’t care! I want it and that’s that. At least it’ll prove to others I’m a girl.”

“There’s an easier way to go about that. Just don’t move.”

“Dad~” Qiao’er whined, to which Zhuo Fan burst out laughing.

A leisure voice then broke their father-daughter moment, soothing and sweet, “Is senior Blind Swordsmith here? Could I ask that we meet?”