Chapter 239

Chapter 239: Returning the Magical Weapon

Although Shui Lingluo tried to speak very softly, Wen Hou beside her still heard it. However, he remained expressionless, secretly glancing at Shui Lingluo from the corner of his eye. Naturally, he saw the flash of anger on her face, which only made the questions in his mind grow bigger.

Lou Yun held Xia Zhilan without speaking any further, merely gently wiping the tears streaming from her eyes with his fingers.

Lou Yun understood that Xia Zhilan must have endured deep grievances in her heart, so he let her cry to vent that sorrow.

Helian Kuang simply sat down on the ground nearby, placing the cicada-wing-thin sword he had been gripping tightly onto his knees, waiting for his nephew Helian Tiebi to return.

At that moment, Helian Tiebi had found Xiao Tong and said urgently, "Xiao Tong, quickly give me that girl’s magical weapon!"

Xiao Tong was still drowned in grief over losing his nephew. Hearing Helian Tiebi’s words, he looked up with a cold smile and said, "What do you mean?"

"My uncle is angry and told me to give that girl’s magical weapon back to her immediately!"

"Hmph, since when does your uncle’s anger concern me? Listen, I won’t return this girl’s magical weapon. Soon, I’ll snap it inch by inch right before Lou Yun’s eyes, making him feel the agony of seeing his beloved die helplessly before him! Hahaha!" By now, hatred had entirely consumed Xiao Tong’s mind.

Hearing Xiao Tong refuse, Helian Tiebi instantly grew alarmed. With a sharp "clang," he drew his common weapon and pressed the sword tip to Xiao Tong’s throat, shouting, "Xiao Tong, I warn you, hand over the magical weapon willingly—don’t force me to act! Surely you know you’re no match for me!"

Xiao Tong seemed resolute. Despite the threat, he stayed silent, maintaining a cold sneer while staring at Helian Tiebi, yet holding Xia Zhilan’s magical weapon firmly in his grasp.

His intent was clear: if Helian Tiebi dared attack, he would crush Xia Zhilan’s magical weapon without hesitation. This would bring no direct harm to Helian Tiebi, but Lou Yun, losing his beloved, would surely go mad. From Xiao Tong’s judgment, Lou Yun would unleash a terrifying, frenzied revenge on the nine clans! The Helian family could never escape it!

Helian Tiebi fully grasped Xiao Tong’s aim, so he didn’t dare kill him outright. Yet he had no idea how to make Xiao Tong surrender Xia Zhilan’s magical weapon.

Just as they were locked in stalemate, Jiang Wuyue’s voice suddenly rang out: "What are you two doing? Have you lost your minds? Lou Yun isn’t dead yet, and you’re slashing at each other! Remember, we’re all in this together!"

Jiang Wuyue walked over with her sister Jiang Yingyue, and Han Tianfang trailed silently behind them.

So Helian Tiebi and Xiao Tong each laid out their stubborn arguments. After hearing them, Jiang Wuyue pondered briefly and said, "Xiao Tong, first hand the magical weapon to Helian Tiebi. Both of us know Helian Kuang’s temper well, and given his power, if he truly rages, he won’t care if you’re from the Xiao Family—could you defeat him? Besides, once you give up the magical weapon, Helian Kuang will fight Lou Yun and end him for sure. Then, you can snatch the magical weapon back from that girl just before Lou Yun dies, making him feel even more torment."

Upon reflecting on Jiang Wuyue’s advice, Xiao Tong nodded firmly and said, "All right, I’ll follow your word!"

With that, Xiao Tong indeed passed the magical weapon to Helian Tiebi.

Helian Tiebi accepted it and sighed deeply in relief, saying, "I’ll go ahead; the rest of you catch up quickly!" Before his voice faded, he rushed off.

Watching his retreating back, Jiang Wuyue shook her head and murmured, "Why call him out if he’s this afraid of Helian Kuang? The Helian family isn’t short of other strong cultivators."

…

Helian Kuang opened his eyes and looked at Helian Tiebi holding the magical weapon, saying, "Why give it to me? Take it back to that girl!"

"Yes!"

Helian Tiebi hurriedly offered the magical weapon to Xia Zhilan. With no need to lift a hand, through a flick of her spirit sense, she reclaimed it into her own body.

At the same instant, Lou Yun used his spirit sense to inspect it inside Xia Zhilan, checking for damage. Luckily, the magical weapon was perfectly intact.

Having confirmed this, Lou Yun said softly to Xia Zhilan, "Little Lan, I’ll take you to my friends. You’re too weak now—rest and recover there first. After we leave this place, I’ll find a way to restore your health."

By then, Xia Zhilan was fully wrapped in blissful joy, so of course she didn’t object. She nodded gently and murmured, "All right, I’ll listen to you."

Lou Yun tightened his arms and lifted Xia Zhilan up. Just as he started to step forward, he paused, turned, and called to Helian Kuang, "Rest easy, I won’t flee. I’ll be back soon!"

Helian Kuang threw his head back with a booming laugh and answered, "Good, I’ll wait here!"

Only then did Lou Yun carry Xia Zhilan straight to Wen Hou and Shui Lingluo. He set her down gently and said with a smile to them, "Let me introduce you—this is my fiancée, Xia Zhilan."

"Little Lan, both of them are my dear friends. This is Wen Hou, this lady is Shui Lingluo, and the one lying over there is Tie Sha. Without their aid, I’d never have been able to see you again."

Wen Hou nodded at Xia Zhilan with a soft smile, while Shui Lingluo strained to curve her lips upward too, though her eyes were almost spitting flames.

Since Xia Zhilan was already Lou Yun’s fiancée, she naturally had to be warm to his friends, especially since these two had come to help Lou Yun save her. So she struggled to stand up and bowed deeply to them, saying, "Xia Zhilan thanks you both for saving my life!"

"Don’t be polite!" Wen Hou was just about to speak when Shui Lingluo beside him rushed to talk first. Not only that, she hurried over to help Xia Zhilan up: "Sister Little Lan, hurry and get up. You’re weak now; focusing on recovery is what matters. Come, sit down!"

Xia Zhilan smiled at Shui Lingluo and said, "Thank you, Sister Shui!"

This call of "Sister Shui" made Shui Lingluo sneer inwardly. She thought, "Your tongue sure is sweet—no wonder Lou Yun is so taken with you!" With her mind blinded by hatred, her thoughts had already become twisted.

Yet Lou Yun, seeing Shui Lingluo and Xia Zhilan interacting so harmoniously, felt deeply grateful to Shui Lingluo. After all, Xia Zhilan was a girl, making Wen Hou an unsuitable caretaker, and Shui Lingluo’s presence brought much-needed convenience.

"Miss Shui, then please take care of Little Lan for us!"

Shui Lingluo smiled charmingly at Lou Yun and said, "You’re really not being polite with me! But fine, I’ll treat Little Lan as my own dear sister!"

Lou Yun nodded in relief, took out a spiritual crystal, and handed it to Xia Zhilan, saying, "You’re far too weak right now; absorb the spiritual energy from this spiritual crystal to replenish yourself!"

"Okay!" Xia Zhilan took it obediently.

"Enough from me!" Lou Yun stood up and said to the three of them, "Now, be careful yourselves. Jiang Wuyue and Xiao Tong are likely nearby, so stay alert for surprise attacks."

"We know; you take care too!" All three, including Shui Lingluo, urged Lou Yun with concern.

Lou Yun smiled slightly at them and finally turned toward Helian Kuang, who still sat on the ground.

Arriving before Helian Kuang, Lou Yun halted and said to him, "Alright, we can start now!"

Helian Kuang nodded, rose from the ground, and let the sharp sword in his hand hang low beside his right thigh. Lou Yun looked at the sword and couldn’t help but praise it: "That’s a fine sword—it seems forged from some special kind of ice, isn’t it?"

At these words, a flicker of surprise crossed Helian Kuang’s face. "I didn’t expect you to have such sharp insight or study common weapons. Well, this sword is called ‘Ice Skin,’ crafted with Eternal Ice crystals!"

"Oh! Ice Skin—what a great name!"

Lou Yun had deduced the sword’s material mainly by feeling the chilly temperature from the wisps of mist it emitted, realizing they were actually cold energy. That under the current sunshine, the sword still expelled cold air proved it wasn’t ordinary ice at all.

"Draw your sword!" Helian Kuang told Lou Yun.

Indeed, Lou Yun had recently focused on training his body without practicing magical weapons or weapon techniques. After a pause, however—out of respect for Helian Kuang—he was about to draw his common weapon Xiang Tian.

Suddenly, Chang Xiang warned him: "Don’t use Xiang Tian. Switch to your Dream Emperor Sword now. With Xiang Tian, you might lose, but with the Dream Emperor Sword, victory is certain!"

"Why would I definitely win with the Dream Emperor Sword?" Lou Yun asked, puzzled.

"Quit asking about such a simple reason. Can’t puzzle it out? Then give it a try and you’ll know!"

Though Lou Yun genuinely didn’t understand, he skipped further questions and drew his magical weapon Dream Emperor Sword as Chang Xiang advised.

Gazing at Lou Yun’s Dream Emperor Sword, Helian Kuang paused momentarily and asked, "Your magical weapon is a sword too?"

"It is!"

"Good!" Helian Kuang laughed heartily. "In my view, those who wield swords alone can become true masters—no other weapon rivals them in power!"

Lou Yun couldn’t agree. Real strength wasn’t judged solely by the type of magical weapon; even as a sword-lover himself, he’d never claim swords were supreme.

Lou Yun, of course, wouldn’t debate this with Helian Kuang. He simply raised his Dream Emperor Sword, readied for battle, and declared: "Begin!"