The child called Gou Dan slowly crawled forward, but suddenly, upon smelling the blood on the Chidao, he instinctively became cautious and hid in the bushes like a wary wolf cub. It seemed he would need to observe carefully for a while longer.
Big and Small Eyes obviously understood his nature, smiled slightly, didn't mind, and called out to the others,
"Let's head into the mountain first."
Thus, the other six youths also got up one after another, wiped the sweat off, and gradually followed Big and Small Eyes, the leader, into the forest. The squinting swordsman, who was bringing up the rear, no longer looked at the two of them, pressed the hilt of his sword, and turned away from the path.
Jian Jia was still staring blankly at the white horse's corpse. Meanwhile, Young Master Luu Yue watched as the group turned and disappeared into the forest, one by one, causing a sudden chill to run through his heart. He quickly collected himself, snatched the Stone Box from the girl, and with gritted teeth, rushed over with the Sword Box, shouting loudly at the mountain gate,
"Ancestor Shen Huai! Beichen Sword Sect disciple! Cultivating beneath Nine Yin Mountain! Granted a flying sword! The proof is here!
Disciple Luu Yue, along with my cousin Jian Jia! Pursued by enemies, we wish to enter the Immortal Mountain to seek the Dao!
Humbly beseech Immortal Master to take pity on us and accept us into your sect!"
After speaking, he held the Stone Box, knelt down, and knocked his forehead against the ground three times with clear thuds.
Fortunately, his gamble was correct. Just as he dismounted, the squinting eyes did not draw the sword to slay him. It was just that the other party didn't pay him any attention and proceeded on their way inside the mountain gate.
For a moment, Luu Yue's heart felt as if it had fallen into an abyss, sinking to the bottom of the valley. It seemed that in this instant, something invisible and intangible slipped through his fingers, and he'd never have the chance to grasp it again...
Suddenly, Luu Yue felt a lightness in his hand. The Stone Box had flown into the air. Looking up, it was Big and Small Eyes again, holding a sword, dragging his feet, swaying back leisurely like a street rogue, and tucking the Stone Box into his sleeve,
"Come on."
Luu Yue was overjoyed, turned his head, and said,
"Jian Jia! Quickly come and salute..."
"Hey, hey, only one accepted."
Luu Yue was taken aback, turned his head to look, only to see Big and Small Eyes leaning lazily against the tree trunk, casually looking at the cautious little one in the bushes like a wary wolf.
"The spots for disciples are full; you're allowed one sword at most, which means you can only take one more."
"What..."
Luu Yue was stunned for a moment.
Jian Jia, however, reacted quickly, cautiously leading the carriage to the mountain entrance, handing over the reins,
"Young Master, if that's the case, you should enter the mountain. You have the aptitude and grace of a Dao bone, with many Heavenly Materials Treasures prepared by the Marquis for you; achieving Sword Immortal status is not a difficult matter.
We shall part here. I will travel to Jindu City, to reunite with mother and the concubine. Once you become an immortal and attain the Dao, there will be a day for us to reunite..."
Luu Yue frowned, suddenly thinking of something, got up and fetched a box from the carriage, placing it in front of Big and Small Eyes swordsman,
"Brother, here are fifty Soldier Repelling Coins, thirty taels of Fish Tail Gold, Bone Strengthening Foundation Establishment Pills, Bone Strengthening and Blood Melting Pills, Tongxuan Returning Spirit Pills, Ganoderma Life Returning Pills, Snow Lotus Soul Reviving Pills—all refined above the sixth turn, exquisite Spirit Pills. I implore you to grant us a favor..."
Big and Small Eyes glanced sideways without looking directly,
"Huh. You think of going up the mountain to enjoy life, even bringing a maid to serve?"
Being a Young Master and a youth, Luu Yue, had never faced such humiliation before, especially with derogatory words towards Jian Jia. Blood rushed to his head, he was about to erupt, but then noticed the big eye of the opponent was still intently looking at the other side.
Luu Yue turned his head, following the line of sight. By this time, the others had entered the mountain, so naturally, the sight landed on the beggar-like youth at the end.
This Gou Dan, still dog-like, crouched in the bushes, had yet to enter the forest, and Big and Small Eyes was obviously waiting for him. Clearly, this one bore a Linggen and had a Dao fate.
Having seen many things in the Marquis Mansion, Luu Yue was quick-thinking, straightening his back, clenching his fists together, he pointed at the young kid,
"I've long heard of Beichen Sword Sect's renowned reputation. Within the sect, disciples competing for Immortal Fate duel with real swords, regardless of life or death!
Since Guangxia Mountain is an outer mountain of the Sword Sect, I assume the same rules apply!
If I were to defeat this kid, would I be able to seize his Immortal Fate and enter the mountain for cultivation?"
Big and Small Eyes turned both eyes towards him, looked at him, nodded,
"Yes."
Seeing the straightforward reply, Luu Yue nodded back, cupping his fists,
"Good! In that case, the Sword Fate of this ancestral sword will be handed to cousin Shen Jianjia. I shall duel my way into the mountain!
I won't rely on magic treasure to bully, so let's have the Sword Sect witness the true skills of this Marquis!"
Jian Jia suddenly realized,
"Young Master, Immortal Fate is destined by the heavens. How could it be forced..."
Luu Yue turned back, a glint of warm light shone in his starry eyes, gazing into the girl's pupils, he softly said,
"Jian Jia, I am no longer a Marquis. Through the trials and tribulations along this journey, I've come to understand.
No matter how perilous the path ahead, the storms and hardships that follow, the matters of life and death, we must face them together."
"Young Mas... Yuelu, you, you be careful..."
Jian Jia, suddenly being gazed at like that, blushed deeply, so flustered that she couldn't even speak, her heart sweet as if tasting honey.
Big and Small Eyes, "Tch."
With Immortal Fate before him and pursuers behind, Luu Yue hesitated no longer, decisively shed the straw raincoat, removed his fur robe, handed over a pile of Jade Pendants and Bracelets to his cousin for safekeeping, wore only a single garment, holding a sword.
The sword measured two feet seven inches, covered in scabbard of dragon scale python skin. With a crisp sound, the sword unsheathed, resonating in the autumn wind. The blade was thin as a cicada's wing, its edge as brilliant as a star, performing a sword flower dance in the wind, slicing falling maple leaves in half and turning the dew into ice, truly a rare Divine Weapon.
Luu Yue gathered Inner Strength, shook the sword, and the treasure sword responded immediately. The spine of the sword hummed like a dragon's low roar, blade condensed into a layer of white mist-like sword energy, and he walked towards the kid in the bushes with the sword,
"This young brother, I carry a deep vendetta, holding my parents' expectations, I must bring glory to the Luu family's name, never tarnishing the reputation of the Marquis Mansion.
This occasion is a convergence of fate, truly helpless by situation. If you willingly forfeit, take all this gold and silver, and leave fulfilled as a rich man, otherwise, blades and swords are merciless, and I will have to rely on my hard-earned skills to seize your opportunity..."
Before he finished speaking, the lad in the bushes was the first to strike!
Locked by murderous intent and breath! Like a bristled beast, like an arrow leaving the string, like a lone wolf, lunging straight for Luu Yue's chest! Exhaling all the breath held since crawling to Guangxia Mountain!
"Ha!!"
Although he came quickly, Luu Yue also utilized his strength, his body tense, instantly sprung diagonally using the Shen Family's inherited sword moves, swinging the cicada-wing-thin treasure sword with energy, drawing three rapid sword flowers aiming at the beggar youth's face.
Then the beggar youth flung a handful of mud in Luu Yue's face.
Momentarily blinded, the sword point, like light and shadow, was caught in the lad's mouth!
With vision lost, sensing the resistance from the sword, Luu Yue's heart skipped a beat, immediately gathered his Qi, exhaling a "Hiss—", his body accelerated mid-air, dodging like a fluttering butterfly!
Simultaneously, the sword flashed white, sword energy surged, Inner Strength vibrated, shattering teeth with one strike, splitting the beggar youth's mouth, drawing the sword back, carving a huge wound on his face. Another half inch deeper, half a brain might have been cleaved off!
At this moment, the two exchanged blows, passing each other.
The beggar youth got his face disfigured, bloodied, head spinning from Inner Strength, just lay on the ground coughing blood, spitting out blood and teeth fragments, looking severely injured.
Luu Yue stood under the maple tree, back facing everyone, holding the sword.
Big and Small Eyes sighed,
"Good sword energy."
Hearing his praise, Jian Jia's tense heart finally relaxed, looking at the lad's face scarred by the sword energy, couldn't help but advise,
"Hey, you should just give up. The Young Master has exceptional talent, diligent in his studies, practicing sword since age six, refined Qi for ten years, already nurtured a Qi Sea, cultivated sword energy, you won't win!"
Big and Small Eyes nodded in agreement.
"Let's go, Gou Dan."
The Gou Dan youth spat another mouthful of blood, shook his head, and followed Big and Small Eyes, crawling into the Fenglin.
"Hey, hey?"
Jian Jia stood stunned, turned back, only to see the beloved boy, lying face up under a tree, lifeless.
A streak of bright red blood spread from the chest on the brocade robe, with a sword wound piercing the heart, mirroring a leaf of red maple.