Chapter 121

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Chapter 121: The Little Sword

The blacksmith seemed to have found a kindred spirit and, with a beaming face, said: “Alright, brother, since you’re so straightforward, I can’t help but reluctantly part with this. I’ll consider you a friend. Seven taels it is, and you should come by the shop more often in the future.”

He Tianshu smiled and replied: “Of course. I have a few more brothers back there. If I bring this back and they like it, I’ll definitely bring them over. But, boss, you’ll have to give me a discount next time.”

The blacksmith chuckled: “No problem. The more familiar we become, the better the benefits. If you become a regular customer, there’ll naturally be perks.”

At that moment, Zhang Xiaohua tugged at He Tianshu’s sleeve. He Tianshu turned to see Zhang Xiaohua holding a small sword and said to the blacksmith: “My little brother really likes this small sword. How about letting him take it and play with it?”

The blacksmith was not bothered and waved his hand, saying: “No problem. As I mentioned earlier, just treat this toy as a gift for your little brother. Just make sure to bring more people to the shop in the future.”

Everyone was delighted. He Tianshu paid the silver, asked for directions back to the inn, and then left the weapon shop with Zhang Xiaohua.

Throughout the way, He Tianshu was very pleased. It was great to have found such a fine sword at such a low price. It was much better than practicing martial arts in the forest. It seemed he would need to get out more often in the future.

Zhang Xiaohua was also very happy. Holding the small sword in his left hand, he kept swinging it as if his arm had suddenly grown longer. However, he didn’t notice that it was quite late. The streets were already empty. As he walked, he started to feel drowsy, and before long, he closed his eyes and lay down on the ground, still tightly gripping the small sword with his left hand.

He Tianshu, meanwhile, was very amused, continually admiring his precious sword. After walking for a while, he realized he no longer heard Zhang Xiaohua’s footsteps behind him. When he turned around, he couldn’t find any trace of him.

He Tianshu was suddenly alarmed. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Could an expert have come by and taken him without his noticing? Were there such highly skilled individuals in the Jianghu who could slip past him so easily?

When He Tianshu went searching with his sword, he saw Zhang Xiaohua lying motionless on the ground from a distance. His heart tightened with anxiety, and he carefully surveyed the surroundings. Seeing that there was no movement, he cautiously approached. He felt a pang of sorrow, thinking about how the child had been fine just a moment ago, and in the blink of an eye, due to his own lack of attention, he had ended up in this state. How would he explain this to his older brother?

When he reached and examined him closely, he found no visible injuries. He began to wonder: “Could this be the legendary technique of striking acupoints from a distance? Has someone hit his vital points?”

In his distress, a very familiar sound suddenly came from Zhang Xiaohua’s nose. He Tianshu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, realizing that he had worried for nothing, as the boy had merely fallen asleep!

However, as He Tianshu stepped forward and kicked Zhang Xiaohua a few times, He Tianshu was troubled to find that he couldn’t wake him up. Did he have to carry him back?

The next morning, as the sun rose above the horizon, Zhang Xiaohua opened his eyes as usual and looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. He then remembered that he was not in his familiar little room.

He noticed that his left hand was still firmly gripping something. When he looked at it, he realized it was a small toy sword. He recalled the events of the previous night but was puzzled as to how he had gotten back. It was truly strange.

Seeing He Tianshu still asleep on the opposite bed, Zhang Xiaohua quietly got out of bed, still holding the small sword.

Stepping outside, the sky was already bright, but it was still early, and no one was up yet. Only a couple of disciples from the Piaomiao Sect were stationed in a hidden corner, dutifully guarding the area. They ignored Zhang Xiaohua as he left the house, continuing their vigilant watch of the surroundings.

Zhang Xiaohua walked to the center of the courtyard and carefully examined the small sword in his hand. The shop’s lighting had been dim the previous night, so he hadn’t had a good look at it. Now, he discovered that it was merely a toy. The sword was short, about four or five inches long, and two fingers wide. The hilt was also very small, perfectly fitting in Zhang Xiaohua’s small hand. The entire sword was jet black, seemingly made of a single metal, and felt cold to the touch. Despite being held for some time, it remained cold. The dark blade couldn’t be seen, but Zhang Xiaohua could distinctly sense blood flowing within it. The blade was blunt, and if not for its considerable weight, Zhang Xiaohua might have thought it was just a toy for children.

Zhang Xiaohua’s left hand was quite strong, so the weight of the small sword was negligible. He casually swung the sword from side to side, finding it very comfortable and feeling quite happy in his heart. He couldn’t help but wonder, if he used this small sword as a practice sword to train his swordplay, wouldn’t it certainly be better than using a branch every day?

With thoughts of sword techniques in his mind, Zhang Xiaohua’s hands itched to practice. He had not practiced his sword technique since the morning of the previous day, and now that he had a toy sword that was sturdier than a branch, he was eager to show off his skills.

In fact, the courtyard was quite spacious and suitable for practicing both boxing and swordplay. However, Zhang Xiaohua didn’t want others to see him practicing his fist techniques. So, he decided to leave the small courtyard.

The inn was located at the end of a street, next to a small river and bridge. Zhang Xiaohua walked to the riverbank and looked around. Behind the inn was a pond, and on the other side of the pond was a small bamboo grove, just like the one near his home in Guo Village. Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes brightened, and he walked towards the bamboo grove.

As Zhang Xiaohua had hoped, there was an open space in the bamboo grove, and no one was around at the moment. He assumed a stance and practiced his Big Dipper Divine Fist nine times, feeling his body becoming increasingly vigorous as the flowing energy moved throughout his body. Only then did he stop his practice.

Next, Zhang Xiaohua carefully checked his surroundings to ensure no one was watching before he began practicing with the small sword. He performed the sixteen variations of sword technique. Whether it was due to the replacement of the branch or Zhang Xiaohua’s improved mood, he found the variations flowing smoothly. A nameless warm current joyfully surged from somewhere in his shoulder to his left hand. Previously, this warm current would dissipate when it reached his left hand, but now it did not. Instead, it all flowed into the small sword in his hand. As Zhang Xiaohua wielded the sword, it gradually began to emit a faint, thin black glow, though it was not very noticeable.

As Zhang Xiaohua practiced, he became more and more engrossed in his swordplay. Just like that night at the villa, he performed the moves with enthusiasm, thrusting the sword at a bamboo stalk about the thickness of a small bowl. In Zhang Xiaohua’s mind, he thought that although a branch could make a small hole in a large tree, the bamboo was hollow but much harder than the tree. Even with the small sword replacing the branch, he expected only to make a small hole at best. However, the result greatly exceeded his expectations. When the blunt tip of the sword struck the hard bamboo, the outer layer of the bamboo seemed as fragile as paper, breaking through with little resistance. The small sword pierced through the bamboo and emerged on the other side.

Zhang Xiaohua was astonished and quickly withdrew the small sword, staring at the bamboo in disbelief. However, The hole in the bamboo remained, leaving no room for doubt. He approached and stroked the bamboo carefully, confirming that it was indeed as solid as it had seemed. Only then did he look again at his left hand and the small sword.

When had he become so powerful?

Although Elder Yu was very powerful to pierce through a large tree with a long sword, he actually pierced through hard bamboo with a small, stick-like sword. While it didn’t quite reach Elder Yu’s level, wasn’t it far… far better than others? Zhang Xiaohua didn’t dare believe it, as he had never seen others practice swordplay or know their sword’s power. At the very least, he knew that he had far exceeded his own expectations.

By now, there were already voices and noise near the bamboo grove. Zhang Xiaohua quickly exited the grove, remembering that this was not the villa. Checking the time, he thought that perhaps the people at the villa had finished their preparations and were ready to set off.

When Zhang Xiaohua hurried back to the inn, most people had already eaten breakfast and were getting ready. He Tianshu was standing there frowning, and when he saw Zhang Xiaohua enter, his frown eased. He asked with some irritation: “Zhang Xiaohua, where have you been so early in the morning? Making everyone wait for you?”

Zhang Xiaohua quickly apologized, saying: “Captain He, didn’t you say that ‘The fist should never leave the hand, and the tune should never leave the mouth’? I went out early to practice martial arts.”

He Tianshu looked at the small sword in Zhang Xiaohua’s hand and couldn’t help but smile inwardly. He knew that he was a child at heart and would likely play with the toy. He then said seriously: “Practicing is good, but it’s important to be mindful of the occasion. We are traveling, so we need to be cautious and avoid causing trouble. It’s best to keep this toy in your bag rather than carry it around all the time, or people might laugh at you. Alright, hurry up and have breakfast. The Villa Mistress has already finished and is getting ready to depart.”

Zhang Xiaohua, following instructions, tucked the small sword into his chest pocket. He quickly ate breakfast and then packed up his belongings before getting on the carriage.

As the four carriages gradually moved farther away, the plump innkeeper still stood there, reluctant to see them go. What excellent guests! They only stayed one night and didn’t even eat at the inn, yet they paid so much silver. If he had customers like this every day, it would be hard not to become rich.

The plump innkeeper thought he would keep this beautiful memory in his heart to savor later. However, before noon had even passed, a richly dressed man on a fine horse arrived at the inn, inquiring about the group’s whereabouts from the previous day. Tempted by the gleam of silver, the innkeeper couldn’t resist recounting the wonderful events of the previous day in detail.

After the man in fine clothes left with satisfaction and rode on, the innkeeper once again marveled at how wonderful these guests were. Even after they were gone, they still brought him a fortune. He felt truly blessed by his ancestors.

Meanwhile, the group from Huanxi Villa was unaware of all this as they continued on their journey.

However, today lacked the excitement of the previous day. Even someone like Zhang Xiaohua, who hadn’t traveled much, was losing interest in the scenery outside. They had only traveled a day’s distance from Pingyang City, but the landscapes and culture along the way were not much different from where he lived. Seeing the same things repeatedly naturally made them less appealing.

Moreover, Shi Niu, whose voice was as loud as a giant bell, was still going strong. He had been singing since yesterday, and his voice remained as booming as ever. The same few lines of lyrics kept echoing in their ears. It seemed that the inn’s wine from last night had done a good job of soothing his throat. A few disciples secretly whispered that when they lodged at the next inn tonight, they should reduce the Shi Niu’s wine intake, hoping to make his voice hoarse. The singing might be good, but if they had to keep hearing the same lines over and over, how could they endure the days to come?

Zhang Xiaohua and He Tianshu were sitting in the third carriage, along with several other disciples. The group was chatting casually about various things. However, Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t paying much attention; his left hand was playing with a small sword, while his right hand held a book that he was engrossed in reading.

Zhang Xiaohua’s right hand had not fully recovered. On the surface, it looked much the same as when he had just returned to the villa, but Zhang Xiaohua knew very well that his right hand was not as irreparably damaged as Elder Yu had said, with its bones and meridians destroyed by internal strength and unable to return to their normal state. He could feel that his hand was healing at a noticeable pace. Moreover, he often found himself consciously or unconsciously trying to use his right hand. He believed that one day, he would give everyone an unexpected surprise.

He Tianshu was sitting inside the carriage with his eyes closed and concentrating. He also had a book in his hand and seemed to be pondering something. After a while, a smile appeared on his lips, and he opened his eyes. He glanced out the window, frowning slightly. Although they were still some distance away from Shi Niu, the singing carried far, and he could hear it clearly.

When his gaze fell on Zhang Xiaohua, a smile appeared on his face. Seeing the small sword in Zhang Xiaohua’s left hand, he said with a smile: “Zhang Xiaohua, that toy isn’t bad, is it? You seem to like it quite a bit.”

Zhang Xiaohua put down his book, looked at the little sword in his hand, and said sincerely: “Yes, Captain He, I really like this little sword. Thank you for giving it to me.”

He Tianshu waved his hand dismissively and said: “I didn’t spend any money on it. It was just a free gift. I had no use for it, so naturally, I gave it to you. Fortunately, the toy doesn’t have a sharp edge, so there’s no risk of you getting hurt.”

Zhang Xiaohua said: “But didn’t you still buy a real sword? I see you already have one, so why did you buy another?”

He Tianshu laughed and said, “The sword I had before wasn’t anything special, just an ordinary, low-value consumable that needs to be replaced from time to time. I noticed the steel swords in that shop were well-made. In Pingyang City, they would sell for at least fifteen taels of silver, but I got it for seven taels, so it was a good deal. And the shopkeeper was offering a free item with the purchase. Although the free item was just a toy, it made me quite happy, so there’s no need to thank me specifically.”

Little did they know, in a distant small town, a blacksmith was swaggering into a butcher’s shop. He generously threw a few coins to the butcher and shouted: “Old Liu, here’s the money I owed you from a few days ago. Now give me a few offal cuts quickly. I still need to go buy some wine!”

The butcher, surprised, asked: “Old Tie, why are you so generous today? Did you get some business?”

The blacksmith replied proudly: “Yesterday, a big spender came out of nowhere and paid seven taels of silver for a steel sword. Wouldn’t you say I’m having a stroke of good luck?”

The butcher clicked his tongue and said: “What a fool that customer was! Your steel sword usually doesn’t even sell for two or three taels, yet you managed to trick someone into paying a good price.”

As he spoke, the butcher quickly prepared the food for the blacksmith without delay.

Then, as if the blacksmith suddenly remembered something, he added: “Oh, right, that little toy your son picked up on the mountain three years ago, I gave it to that customer yesterday. Remember, I mentioned that if I sold it, I would give you the money, but since I included it as a freebie, I’ll give you five copper coins for it.”

The butcher, however, wasn’t too pleased and said: “The customer probably bought your sword for a high price because of that free gift. How can you dismiss me with just five coins?”

The blacksmith angrily retorted: “That toy was something your son picked up randomly, and it sat in my shop for three years without anyone showing any interest. If you don’t want the five coins, I’ll go chase that customer and take it back.”

The butcher, now smiling apologetically, said: “Five coins seem a bit too little. Could you add a bit more?”

The blacksmith laughed and cursed: “I knew you’d say that. Fine, I’ll give you fifteen coins, consider it payment for your son’s trip up the mountain.”

With that, he pulled out a handful of copper coins from his pocket and laid them on the meat counter.

The butcher swiftly scooped up the coins and, smiling, said: “Since it was found by chance, this money is free anyway. If my son picks up anything else, I’ll let you sell it again.”

The blacksmith waved his hands repeatedly and said: “No, thanks. Better take it to a pawnshop next time. That little toy sat in my shop for three years, and I don’t want to deal with such things anymore. Hurry up with the offal, I still need to buy some wine. It’s a fine day today, perfect for drinking until I’m thoroughly drunk.”

After grabbing the meat, the blacksmith hurried off, while the butcher returned to his usual business.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaohua remained completely unaware that the small sword he cherished so much was worth only fifteen copper coins.

Zhang Xiaohua, still grateful to He Tianshu, said: “Captain He, I won’t say thank you again, but if you ever need anything in the future, just let me know.”

He Tianshu smiled, raised the book in his hand, and waved it slightly. Zhang Xiaohua got the hint and responded with a chuckle, saying no more.

After a while, He Tianshu asked: “Zhang Xiaohua, why did you sleep on the street last night?”

Zhang Xiaohua, surprised, replied: “Really? Captain He, I was going to ask you the same thing! When I woke up this morning, I only remembered what happened at the weapon shop, but after that, I had no recollection of anything. So I slept on the street?”

He Tianshu smiled and said: “Yes, you were originally walking behind me, but suddenly you disappeared, which gave me quite a scare. When I turned back to look for you, I found you lying on the ground, fast asleep. You really didn’t know?”

Zhang Xiaohua, embarrassed, replied: “I really didn’t know, Captain He. My brother said that once I’m asleep, it’s impossible to wake me, but he never mentioned that I would suddenly fall asleep like that. Besides, I’ve never been out so late before.”

He Tianshu frowned and said: “That could be a problem. I wonder if you fall asleep at midnight every night. If that’s the case, it could be troublesome.”

Zhang Xiaohua asked curiously: “Why would it be troublesome?”

He Tianshu explained: “Midnight is the time when yin and yang alternate. Many internal energy techniques require training at that exact time. If you fall asleep like this, how could you practice those internal techniques?”

Zhang Xiaohua, a bit anxious, asked: “Oh no, what should I do then?”

He Tianshu smiled and reassured him: “No need to worry so much. There are plenty of internal techniques that don’t require training at that specific time. When you find the opportunity to learn internal martial arts, you can deal with it then.”

Zhang Xiaohua thought about it and realized that made sense, so he didn’t ask any further questions.

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