Jinyang City bordered the sea, and its city walls were white.
It was not the kind of white from whitewash, but because the stones of the walls themselves were quarried from Mount Baiya, thirty li south of the city.
When sunlight struck them, they gave off a cold sheen.
From afar, the city looked like a massive salt crystal set between the sea and the sky.
The tallest building in the city was called Wangchao Pavilion.
It was eight-sided and nine stories tall, adorned with flying eaves and interlocking brackets.
It was originally built a hundred years ago by a prefect to watch the ocean tides.
Later, when Sword God Lü took up residence in this city, he made Wangchao Pavilion his place of secluded cultivation.
From then on, the sword lamp atop the pavilion that never went out became the most prominent landmark of Jinyang City.
As long as the sword lamp burned, it signaled that the world’s second-ranked Sword God was still in the city.
Chen Zui cradled his long spear, leaning against the carriage shaft.
His gaze swept past the noisy crowd and landed on the towering Wangchao Pavilion at the center of the city.
The nine-story pavilion gleamed with a cold chill beneath the afternoon sun.
Even in broad daylight, the sword lamp at the peak of the pavilion remained lit.
The flame was a faint, ghostly blue. It was said that this was a life lamp Sword God Lü had ignited with his own sword intent.
As long as the lamp lived, the man lived; if the lamp went out, the man was dead.
“Sword God Lü is actually quite pitiful.
Even though my martial arts are meager, at least I can go wherever I want and eat whatever I want.
Grandpa Qi scolds me all the time, but he’s never locked me up in one place and forbidden me to leave.
Sword God Lü has stayed in that pavilion for over twenty years without stepping a single foot out of the city gate. How stifling must that be?”
A-Tong looked up at the pavilion, much quieter than usual.
Chen Zui glanced sideways at him, then turned his gaze back to the pavilion.
A few seabirds perched on the upturned eaves of Wangchao Pavilion.
From time to time, one would spread its wings, circle halfway around the pavilion top, and settle back down.
How could a mere Wangchao Pavilion possibly trap Sword God Lü, an Earthly Sword Immortal?
If he wished to leave, no one under heaven could stop him.
Even if the imperial court stationed a hundred thousand Imperial Guards outside Jinyang City,
they could not withstand a single strike from an Earthly Sword Immortal.
Chen Zui knew that Sword God Lü chose not to leave of his own accord.
If he stepped out, the imperial court would have a pretext to dispatch troops and eradicate the various martial sects.
When that time came, the common folk would be plunged into misery and suffering.
Those martial sects, already struggling to survive in the cracks, would be trampled into dust by the imperial court’s iron cavalry.
He remained in this pavilion not because he feared the imperial court,
but because he was unwilling to let the world’s martial artists pay the price on his behalf.
His shackles were not this pavilion, but the common people of the world.
Right then, the sound of steady footsteps echoed from across the street.
The footsteps were unhurried, yet landed on the bluestone slabs with exceptional clarity.
It was as though every step struck an invisible rhythm.
The newcomer was a man in his forties with an unremarkable face, thick eyebrows, a broad mouth, and coarse, tanned skin weathered by the sea breeze.
He walked over to the convoy and stopped.
His gaze swept over Furnace-Listening Pavilion’s black iron command flag,
lingered for a moment on the wrought bronze staff in Qin Tiegu’s hands, and then he gave a slight nod.
“Members of Furnace-Listening Pavilion?”
Qin Tiegu dismounted, straightened his lapels, and cupped his hands in greeting.
“Indeed we are. May I ask who you are?”
“Lu Yang.”
Hearing this, Qin Tiegu shuddered, his hands freezing mid-air in the cupped-fist salute.
Lu Yang.
A Boundless Realm Staff Grandmaster, a pinnacle figure on the Way of the Staff.
And he held another identity that was even more widely known to the world.
He was the sworn brother of Sword God Lü!
“So it is Brother Lu! I have long heard of your great name!”
Qin Tiegu’s voice trembled slightly with excitement.
He was a staff wielder.
The man standing before him was an existence that every staff-wielding martial artist under heaven looked up to.
“No need for formalities.”
Lu Yang waved his hand without the slightest air of superiority.
“You have all worked hard on this journey. Leave this sword to me.
Wangchao Pavilion has rules forbidding outsiders from entering without permission, and I cannot easily make an exception.”
Hearing this, though a flicker of regret crossed Qin Tiegu’s face, he nodded in agreement.
“You may stay in the city and find an inn to lodge at.
The duel between the two sword immortals will take place before long. When the time comes, you can observe the battle from atop the city walls.
There is no need to rush back.”
Hearing this, everyone from Furnace-Listening Pavilion beamed with delight in unison.
To witness the duel between Sword Immortal Shen and Sword God Lü with their own eyes was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any martial artist.
Qin Tiegu was so excited that even his tone warped.
“Thank you, Brother Lu!”
Afterward, Qin Tiegu added cautiously,
“May I ask, Brother Lu, is Sword Immortal Shen in the city right now as well?”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone present pricked up their ears.
Lu Yang shook his head.
“Sword Immortal Shen has not yet arrived.
However, since this sword has been delivered, Sword Immortal Shen will surely arrive soon.”
Qin Tiegu nodded and asked no further.
Compared to Sword God Lü in the city, they were actually far more curious about the elusive Sword Immortal Shen.
After all, Sword God Lü could be considered of the same generation as them,
whereas Sword Immortal Shen was a senior figure from the same era as Elder Qi and his peers.
At this moment, Lu Yang’s gaze moved past Qin Tiegu and landed on the young man standing at the rear of the convoy cradling a spear.
“Are you the spearman who took on Senior Gu’s request in Luoyan City?”
Hearing this, Chen Zui lowered the long spear from his arms.
He planted the butt of the spear onto the bluestone slab, producing a crisp metallic ring.
“This junior is indeed he.”
The moment these four words left his mouth, the expressions of everyone from Furnace-Listening Pavilion changed simultaneously.
Qin Tiegu tightened his grip on the wrought bronze staff in his hand, his feet unconsciously shifting forward half an inch.
The several martial artists in martial attire behind him also tensed sharply, their gazes darting swiftly between Lu Yang and Chen Zui.
They all knew that Chen Zui carried the verbal message left by Gu Yiyou for Sword Immortal Shen.
And Sword God Lü was Lu Yang’s sworn brother.
This duel concerned the life and death of the two sword immortals; any minor variable could tip the scales of victory.
If Lu Yang moved against Chen Zui at this moment, should they intervene?
If they intervened, could they defeat a Boundless Realm Grandmaster?
If they did not intervene, what about Elder Qi’s instructions before departure?
Seven or eight thoughts flashed through Qin Tiegu’s mind in an instant, and power was already gathering in his legs, ready at any moment to leap forward and shield Chen Zui.
However, Lu Yang merely nodded.
“I did not expect you to arrive together with the members of Furnace-Listening Pavilion.
Now that the Sheiru sword and you have arrived at the same time, Sword Immortal Shen will surely arrive soon as well.”
He paused, his gaze lingering on the long spear across Chen Zui’s shoulder for a breath, before turning around and waving behind him.
A young man dressed in a grey cloth tunic walked out briskly from a tea stall on the street corner.
He bowed deeply to Lu Yang.
“Take the members of Furnace-Listening Pavilion and Young Hero Chen to Laifu Inn on South Street.
Tell them it was arranged by me and have them prepare the finest upper guest rooms.”
The young man acknowledged the order, turned toward the convoy, and made an inviting gesture.
“Please follow me, everyone.”
Qin Tiegu was stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality.
“Th-thank you.”
Lu Yang nodded, walked over to the carriage, and placed his hand on the sword case sealed with three talismans.
The moment the sword case touched his hands, Lu Yang’s movements were exceptionally gentle and steady.
Holding the sword case securely in his hands, he turned and walked toward the tallest pavilion in the city.
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