Chapter 88 - The Blade Forged in Xuanfeng

"Alright."

Stormqueller nodded and handed the bundle over to Shi Wufeng.

Shi Wufeng didn’t reach out to take it. Instead, he clapped his hands, and two servants quickly entered from outside.

The Valley Master signaled for one of them to take the bundle and turned to Ye Beizhi, saying, "Deep Sea Profound Iron is the hardest material in existence. This is also my first time using it to forge a blade, so I don't know how long it will take.

"Stay in the valley for now. When the blade is complete, I’ll have someone inform you."

Stormqueller Ye Beizhi nodded.

Shi Wufeng instructed another servant, who was standing empty-handed, to boil water and burn incense.

"I’m going to bathe first. Inform everyone in the valley that the Sun Seizing Pavilion is closed until further notice, and no one is allowed inside except to bring us supplies for daily necessities."

The servant nodded in acknowledgment and went upstairs.

Shi Wufeng glanced sideways at Stormqueller and found that he hadn't moved from his original location. He had no choice but to step aside, gesture at him, and say, "Please."

Stormqueller looked at him uncomprehendingly.

Shi Wufeng pursed his lips helplessly, pointed at the young man, then at the door, and said, "I’m going to forge the blade. You. Out."

Stormqueller thought for a moment before he said, "Alright." He headed outside.

Boom!

A heavy gate slammed shut behind Stormqueller. He looked back, and saw a beast head snarling at him on the door ring, holding a curved blade in its mouth.

Everything inside the Sun Seizing Pavilion was now hidden by the heavy gate.

The young man said nothing and sat down on the steps outside the door.

He pulled a stale bun from his coat, thought for a moment, and then broke it in half. He put one half back into his coat and began eating the other.

The sun set over the western valley, and dusk approached.

Stormqueller Ye Beizhi gazed at the distant mountains, dyed a deep orange by the setting sun, his thoughts wandering.

Tock—

A crisp sound came from beside his hand.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The young man's thoughts were interrupted by the sound. He turned his head and noticed that a box of food was placed next to his hand. A servant stood nearby, hands lowered.

Seeing the young man looking over, the servant bowed his head and spoke softly, "The Valley Master ordered that we must not neglect our young hero. We have prepared your sleeping quarters. I’m here to lead you there."

The servant opened the lid of the food box, and the aroma of the food wafted out. Stormqueller didn’t stand on ceremony, picking up a cornbread roll from the box, slowly chewing on it.

"Young hero, I’ll take you to your room," the servant gently reminded him.

"No need." The young man waved his hand and looked back at the tightly closed door. "I'll wait for him here."

The servant showed a troubled expression, as if he wanted to dissuade their honored guest from camping outside. "About that—"

"You can go." Stormqueller didn’t even lift his head and continued eating the cornbread in his hand.

The servant pressed his lips together. Seeing no other option, he said, "Then I'll take my leave."

The stubborn young man didn’t respond this time either. He just stared at the distant mountains. By now, the sun had completely set, and a hazy darkness had fallen over the valley.

The sun rose and the moon set in a constant cycle, and Stormqueller counted each and every day. On the fifty-fourth sunrise, the gate behind him finally opened.

Stormqueller sat on the steps in front of the Sun Seizing Pavilion, and just as he was about to turn his head, a blade was tossed into his arms.

He looked down at the blade he held. It was about three feet long and jet black. The joint where the hilt and the scabbard met was perfectly seamless. Stormqueller gripped the hilt and slid it out a few inches.

As soon as the blade was drawn, a chilling cold emanated. The blade itself had an understated design. It only had two deep blood grooves, and fine water-like patterns dazzled the eyes like swimming dragons upon closer inspection.

The young man's eyes gleamed. This was a weapon made for killing...

As Stormqueller was absorbed in the blade, a hoarse voice sounded from within.

"I’ve done what I promised. When will you fulfill your end of the deal?"

Stormqueller looked up and saw Shi Wufeng leaning against the doorframe, disheveled, unshaven, and reeking of sweat.

"You..." Stormqueller opened his mouth, somewhat astonished. "Aren't you going to rest first?"

"Rest?" Shi Wufeng glared at the young man. "What if you run off while I rest? What can I do then?"

"I won’t." The young man shook his head. "We have a deal."

"

Hmm?

" The Valley Master arched his brow. "Young man, are you that confident? Think carefully. If you lose, that blade will be mine."

Stormqueller looked into the Valley Master’s eyes and said seriously, "You can't beat me."

Valley Master Shi Wufeng burst into laughter instead of getting angry. He stared into the young man’s eyes. "You're like a calf unafraid of a tiger! How audacious!"

Shi Wufeng narrowed his eyes and his Martial Grandmaster's aura grew stronger and stronger with each passing moment. Stormqueller fearlessly met his eyes.

"

Hmph

... You've got some courage." The Valley Master flicked his sleeve and turned his back to Stormqueller, saying, "Go to the martial stage and wait for me. I'll freshen up and come."

Led by the servant, Stormqueller arrived at Xuanfeng Valley's martial stage, which was actually the flattened peak of an independent mountain.

It was already noon by the time the servant brought them to the peak and left. Alone on the empty martial platform, Stormqueller sat on the ground, pulled out a cornbread roll from his coat, and ate his leftovers from a few days ago.

Before he could finish the cornbread, someone ascended the platform. It was none other than the Valley Master of Xuanfeng Valley, Shi Wufeng. He held a curved blade in each hand and declared, "I’ve already instructed the people in the valley to stay away from the martial stage so that when you lose the precious blade, you won’t lose face too."

Stormqueller stuffed the rest of the cornbread into his mouth in three bites, stood up from the ground, and said, "

Mm

, let's begin."

Shi Wufeng shook his hands and unsheathed the two curved blades. They started spinning in his hands like miniature hurricanes.

"The male blade is called Yuan. The female blade is called Yang. Losing to my twin blades won’t be a disgrace for you... Watch carefully!"

With that, the Valley Master swung his left arm, and the male blade spun toward Stormqueller Ye Beizhi!

The male blade came at him fast, and Stormqueller Ye Beizhi immediately sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blade as it grazed his shoulder. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, the blade paused in mid-air like it had a mind of its own, then swiftly turned and sliced toward his neck!

This strike came even faster than before. At the critical moment, Stormqueller Ye Beizhi rolled on the ground and narrowly avoided it. But, before he could stand up, the sound of the wind being cut above him came again!

"You don’t even know where to look!" A thunderous shout exploded in Stormqueller’s ear. He jerked his head up to see Shi Wufeng, his right hand gripping the female blade in a reverse grip, swooping down from mid-air!

"How can someone like you... dare to fight me?!"

Clang!

The sound of a blade being drawn out rang like a dragon's roar, lingering for a long time. In that sound, a barely audible sentence was mixed in.

"

Ahh

, feint to the east and strike to the west... Interesting."