Chapter 471: So You Wanted to See the Sword Embryo

When Zhang Xiaohua, under Nie Qianyu’s guidance, arrived in the courtyard, he saw that lavish food and wine had already been arranged on the tables at the head and along the sides. The leaders of the Yuli Alliance were all already seated.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua and Nie Qianyu arrive, everyone stood up to greet them.

Not daring to let Nie Qianyu continue leading him forward with small steps, Zhang Xiaohua quickly sped up a few paces and stepped ahead to salute first: “Senior heroes, I must apologize for being late. I spent a bit more time just now learning a couple of extra tricks from Miss Nie, and kept you waiting. My apologies.”

Si Yakong and the others didn’t treat Zhang Xiaohua as a junior. Returning the salute, Si Yakong said: “I am Si Yakong of the Weapon Forging Sect. Young Hero Ren, you’re too modest. You acted chivalrously and lent your sword in time of need, rescuing the people of Spring Rebirth Valley. We are all deeply grateful. However, we feared the enemy might not let the matter rest and might come to cause us trouble, so we never got the chance to thank you properly until now. Meeting you today, the first thing we must say is—thank you.”

Now familiar with the relationships between the various factions within the Yuli Alliance, Zhang Xiaohua no longer felt any suspicion toward Si Yakong’s involvement with Spring Rebirth Valley. Smiling, he said: “Valley Master Nie has already thanked me countless times. He even allowed me to see the pill formulas—my costs have already been repaid. You really don’t need to say any more, senior. To be honest, I don’t even dare listen to Miss Nie talk about pills anymore.”

Hearing Zhang Xiaohua put it this way, Si Yakong was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing: “Young Hero Ren, you truly are a frank and refreshing person. Come, let me introduce you to everyone.”

With that, he proceeded to make introductions all around. Zhang Xiaohua greeted each one respectfully: “I have heard of you for a long time, I have heard of you for a long time.”

As for how exactly he had “long admired” them—only he himself knew the truth of that.

When he saw the short and small-statured Tong Ba, Zhang Xiaohua was a little surprised. How could someone this skinny be the strongest among the Yuli Alliance?

Tong Ba cupped his hands with a smile: “Young Hero Ren, I’ve long heard Lu Meng singing your praises to the heavens. Now that I’ve seen you, it’s true—you’re indeed extraordinary. Later, I hope you’ll give me some pointers and let me witness your legendary strength firsthand.”

As he spoke, his eyes glanced around Zhang Xiaohua’s sides, and he looked a little disappointed.

Zhang Xiaohua blinked, then understood and laughed: “I’ve long heard that Senior Brother Tong is the number one in strength among us. I’ve been hoping for a chance to witness it myself.”

Valley Master Nie saw this and laughed heartily: “Alright, you heroes admiring heroes can talk more later. For now, let’s all sit and enjoy ourselves.”

At his words, everyone returned to their seats. Zhang Xiaohua sat next to Valley Master Nie’s table.

Valley Master Nie glanced at Zhang Xiaohua and said, “Virtuous Nephew Ren, you’ve been at Spring Rebirth Valley for a few months now. You’ve probably been to most places in the valley by now, but I suppose you’ve never been to the Martial Arena, have you?”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded: “Exactly. The herbs and pill formulas here in Uncle Nie’s valley are so abundant that I was completely captivated. I’ve had no spare energy for wandering around elsewhere.”

Valley Master Nie shook his head and said: “In the martial world, martial skills must always come first. Pills and the like are merely auxiliary. One must not neglect the root and pursue the branches.”

Zhang Xiaohua understood these were heartfelt words and nodded with a smile.

Not long after, the banquet began. Everyone raised their cups frequently, chatting and laughing. Ma Fuhu and Zuo Siqing—being a little younger—often came over to clink cups with Zhang Xiaohua.

Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t particularly fond of drinking, but the Hundred-Flower Brew of Spring Rebirth Valley was genuinely delightful. It had a mild flavor and wasn’t too alcoholic. Moreover, since Nie Qianyu had accompanied Zhang Xiaohua on the journey, the attentive young girl already knew his tastes well. She had specifically instructed the disciples to serve him the mildest kind, so Zhang Xiaohua raised his cup quite gladly.

The best part was that these people only chatted about romance and the amusing happenings of the martial world. No one probed into the details of Zhang Xiaohua’s Big Dipper Sect, nor did they ask about his reasons for heading to the Incense-Spreading Sect. This made Zhang Xiaohua’s impression of the Yuli Alliance improve again and again.

After more than three rounds of wine—though the dishes remained limited to five flavors—Si Yakong cleared his throat and said: “Everyone, we had our last alliance competition just last year, and it’s been a long time since things have felt this lively. Back then, right here in Spring Rebirth Valley’s Martial Arena, my Weapon Forging Sect’s disciple, Tong Ba, earned the title of the Yuli Alliance’s strongest in divine strength. Ah, this title…”

At this point, he turned to ask Zhen Xuan: “Old Fourth Zhen, how many years has our Weapon Forging Sect held this title now?”

Zhen Xuan curled his lips and said: “Boss Si, how would I know that? It’s your sect’s honor. If you Weapon Forging folks don’t keep track, why make the rest of us remember it for you?”

He finished the remark with a disgruntled swig of wine.

Si Yakong chuckled and looked around at everyone: “My disciple has always been competitive. As soon as he heard there was a Young Hero Ren with strength even greater than his, he’s been pestering me nonstop, hoping for a contest of strength.”

“Of course, our Weapon Forging Sect makes its living forging weapons—put plainly, we’re blacksmiths. In terms of martial skills, we’re certainly no match for Young Hero Ren—that goes without saying. But when it comes to pure strength, I believe Tong Ba may be able to stand toe-to-toe with him. So I agreed to the match.”

“Also, I’ve heard that Young Hero Ren is interested in the art of weapon refinement, so I’ve brought out a manual containing some of our sect’s secret forging methods as the wager for this contest. If Young Hero Ren can defeat my disciple, this secret manual will be his. Furthermore, if he has any questions while studying it, he may consult anyone from our Weapon Forging Sect at any time—we guarantee a thorough answer to every query.”

What Tong Ba had said yesterday, Zhang Xiaohua had already heard. And Nie Qianyu had passed it on to him as well. But now, hearing Si Yakong speak these same words again—this time as the Sect Master of the Weapon Forging Sect—carried a different weight. Or rather, a different sincerity. It made Zhang Xiaohua feel a trace of… not emotion, but strangeness.

Yes, it wasn’t touching—it was peculiar.

There seemed to be something behind all this… Just as the ancients said: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

What was the real purpose behind offering this weapon refinement secret?

Zhang Xiaohua unconsciously rubbed his chin in thought.

But when he saw that even Valley Master Nie’s expression held a hint of surprise, he thought to himself: “So even Valley Master Nie wasn’t informed… That makes it even more mysterious. But all my belongings are in my money pouch—I’ve got nothing to fear. Let’s see what their next move is.”

At this moment, Si Yakong spoke again: “However, since this match was proposed by our Weapon Forging Sect without first obtaining Young Hero Ren’s agreement, you don’t need to offer any wager of your own. Simply participating in the contest is enough.”

Valley Master Nie opened his mouth as if to say something, but after trying a few times, he still couldn’t find the right words. He glanced at Zhang Xiaohua, then fell silent.

Zhang Xiaohua saw this, stepped out from behind the table, and smiled: “Since Sect Master Si is being so generous, I won’t stand on ceremony. Truth be told, I don’t have many possessions to begin with—nothing fit to wager. Sect Master Si’s arrangement is just right.”

At his words, Nie Qianyu beside him lowered her head and chuckled softly.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua step forward, Tong Ba leapt out as well and cupped his fists: “Then I must ask Young Hero Ren for your guidance.”

Zhang Xiaohua returned the salute: “The feeling is mutual. I only ask that Senior Brother Tong go easy on me.”

Then he added: “May I ask—how do we test strength in our alliance contests?”

Tong Ba smiled and replied, “First, we see who can lift the most stone locks. Second, we take a rope and see who can pull the other across the line. But I heard that last time you and Junior Brother Lu came up with a new kind of test. Why don’t we use that longsword of yours this time?”

Zhang Xiaohua pondered for a moment and said: “That’s fine. But I didn’t bring that longsword with me. Please wait a moment, Senior Brother Tong, I’ll go fetch it.”

Tong Ba grinned: “We can have the disciples go get it for you. Young Hero Ren should stay and enjoy a few more cups of wine.”

Zhang Xiaohua waved his hand: “I’d better go myself. I’ll drink more later.”

Seeing Nie Qianyu about to rise, Zhang Xiaohua gestured for her to stay seated, then turned and left on his own.

Once outside the courtyard, he stepped into the shadows—and with a twist of his body, slipped into the earth. He emerged in the attic of the peach grove, retrieved the longsword, and then burrowed back through the ground. When he reappeared at the gate, he was already carrying the longsword, entering with a smile on his face.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua return, Ying Zhezhu burst into laughter and said: “Virtuous Nephew Ren really knows how to keep his cool. Just now, when I saw him sitting there quietly without a word, I thought he wasn’t interested in competing with Junior Nephew Tong. But now, seeing how urgently he went and how quickly he came back—it’s clear he’s got a competitive heart after all!”

Zuo Siqing nodded, “Exactly. That’s just how a young man ought to be.”

Only Valley Master Nie and Nie Qianyu wore expressions of shock on their faces—they, after all, knew exactly where the longsword had been stored, and just how far that attic in the peach grove was from here!

When they saw the longsword in Zhang Xiaohua’s hands gleaming with a dark sheen under the bright torchlight of the martial arena, not only Tong Ba, but even Si Yakong and Zhen Xuan had eyes that lit up with fervent intensity.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but mutter inwardly: “Aiya, I totally forgot—both the Artifact Refining Sect and the Weapon Forging Sect make their living by forging weapons. Who knows how many materials they’ve seen in their lives? A sword like this—so unnaturally heavy—is bound to attract their attention. Of course, Lu Meng might have overlooked it at the time, but if he mentioned it to a refining master afterward, then… Ah, careless, too careless!”

Still, what was done was done, and there was no point regretting it now. In truth, he himself was quite curious—just what was this longsword, really?

As expected, Tong Ba glanced back at Si Yakong, then stepped forward and said, “So this is the longsword that humbled Junior Brother Lu Meng? I see Young Hero Ren holding it with ease—would you mind letting me give it a try?”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and handed it forward: “Of course. If Senior Brother Tong can raise it above his head with both hands, then I’ll consider this match lost. What do you think?”

These words were spoken generously—but they also carried a hint of challenge. Still, with Lu Meng’s previous failure fresh in mind, Tong Ba dared not take him lightly. He simply nodded: “As you say, Young Hero Ren.”

With that, he extended both hands, preparing to receive the sword. Zhang Xiaohua saw that he had already gathered his strength and couldn’t help but laugh as he reminded him, “Careful, Senior Brother Tong—I’m letting go now.”

Tong Ba held his breath, not daring to speak, and just nodded rapidly.

Zhang Xiaohua loosened his fingers, and the sword dropped into Tong Ba’s hands.

At that moment, the entire arena went dead silent—only the crackle of the torches could be heard. Under countless watching eyes, that seemingly modest longsword, as soon as it touched Tong Ba’s hands, immediately dropped straight toward the ground. Tong Ba’s hands were dragged down with it, and though his face flushed bright red as he tried to resist, he couldn’t stop the momentum. Seeing that it was about to crush his hands and feet, he quickly let go and jumped aside.

With a deep clang, a muffled boom echoed through the arena—as though the entire Martial Arena had trembled. The longsword struck the ground.