Chapter 454 – The Story of Bear Cubs and Swords (2/2)
Tang Thirty-Six sneered, ”On a normal day you won't admit, but now for the sake of an old sword, you're only too willing to become a grandson. If anyone says that you bears are honest and sincere, I'll worry for his sake.”
Xuanyuan Po was no match for him, so he could only huff in silence. But he held the Mountain Sea Sword to his chest even more tightly.
”What do you want to say?” Chen Changsheng asked.
Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”If an infant stuffs some precious treasure into his pocket and walks the streets with it, what problems do you think will occur?”
Chen Changsheng followed his gaze. Xuanyuan Po's sturdy body was like a small mountain. The originally weighty and massive Mountain Sea Sword being hugged to his chest did not seem to tower over him at all.
But Tang Thirty-Six had spoken truly. In this perilous human world, Xuanyuan Po was an infant, a bear cub.
Chen Changsheng was currently the Principal of the Orthodox Academy, the Pope's appointed successor, so he clearly understood that no one, barring a scant few people, would ever dare to take the treasures he carried on him through anything less than legal means.
Not so for Xuanyuan Po. Neither the Orthodoxy nor White Emperor City would be willing to go to war for some ordinary demi-human youth.
”If he really was just some bear cub, then I really wouldn't be too concerned about his life or death. The problem is that this kid's recent performance hasn't been too bad.” Tang Thirty-Six proposed, ”I think that this way is better: this Mountain Sea Sword, I will safeguard it for you. When you can defeat me, that will serve as proof that you have the ability and qualification to grasp this divine weapon, and then I will return the sword to you.”
As he said this, he looked at Xuanyuan Po, his expression very natural and his tone very casual.
Xuanyuan Po was almost fooled, but he cottoned on to it when he saw the smile on Chen Changsheng's lips and gave two low and angry roars. Tang Thirty-Six's little idea had been uncovered, but he wasn't angry. With a smile, he got up and pulled a paper fan from somewhere. As he waved the fan, he said, ”I've said nothing but the truth. If you want to carry around the Mountain Sea Sword every day, recklessly waving it around, there will be some day when some guy is going to knock you out with a black bat.”
Xuanyuan Po's expression flickered with uncertainty. He knew that Tang Thirty-Six spoke the truth, but he wasn't willing at all to hand over the Mountain Sea Sword to Tang Thirty-Six for protection. It would be better to hand it over to Chen Changsheng.
”In any case, I won't give it to you, but I also won't let other people know.”
Xuanyuan Po carried the Mountain Sea Sword out of the library. Not long after, he returned, but the Mountain Sea Sword was no longer with him.
”Where'd you hide it?” Chen Changsheng was truly very curious.
Xuanyuan Po was not going to hide it from them. ”The pile of firewood in the kitchen.”
Chen Changsheng thought about it, then praised, ”That's really not bad. Even if someone else saw it, they would just think it was a poker for stirring the fire.”
Ultimately, Tang Thirty-Six was not the child of some ordinary family. The Wenshui Sword at his side was not one bit inferior to the famous swords of the Sword Pool. After realizing that it was impossible for him to get the sole sword that interested him, the Mountain Sea Sword, into his hand, he was no longer very interested. However, upon hearing the exchange between Chen Changsheng and Xuanyuan Po, he suddenly thought of a very interesting possibility. ”Do you guys think that several thousand years in the future, there will be some person who discovers the secret of the metal sword in the Orthodox Academy's pile of firewood, comprehends the path of the sword, and then immediately becomes a peerless expert in one stroke?”
Xuanyuan Po thought, even I haven't become a peerless expert, and in the future, I plan to return to my tribe. How could I possibly leave this sword behind in the Orthodox Academy?
Chen Changsheng thought, that really is a very interesting thought, like a story out of a book. The problem is that several thousand years later, none of us will be around, so how can we know what comes after?
The more Tang Thirty-Six thought about it, the more he found the matter amusing, and his eyes began to shine abnormally bright.
”Just this one sword isn't interesting enough, we should hide a few more in the Orthodox Academy, no, dozens, or even hundreds of swords. Hide a few in the stones by the lake, stash a few in the holes of the trees, at the bottom of the lake, in the beams of the buildings…ah, right, isn't there a big bird's nest on top of the great banyan tree? …tsk, tsk, think about it, the students of the Orthodox Academy, several decades later, finding a famous and exceptional sword in some place, that scene…”
He got more excited the more he talked about it, but Chen Changsheng could only feel more helpless the more he listened. He thought, we can disregard the fish in the lake, but just what have the birds in the trees done to offend you?
What Tang Thirty-Six said, he did. He began walking over to the mountain of swords, preparing to pick out a few of the more heavily damaged swords and hide them all over the Orthodox Academy.
He had even thought of where to hide them. He wouldn't tell anyone, not even Chen Changsheng. Only this way would their future discovery be interesting.
At this time, Zhexiu's voice rose up.
His voice was rather weak, but there was a faint ridicule within it.
”Weren't you going to let me choose a sword? Why is it that I feel that this matter has nothing to do with me?”
Chen Changsheng and the other two realized just then that from the start of this episode to its end, Zhexiu had said nothing.
To be more precise, the three had carried on such a lively conversation that they had long forgotten the original purpose.
The atmosphere was rather awkward but Tang Thirty-Six still persisted in lifelessly sighing a few words.
”This thing called presence is really quite miraculous. Clearly you're the fiercest one of us, but now you're in such a miserable state, really…”
Chen Changsheng saw Zhexiu's complexion and hurriedly stopped Tang Thirty-Six from going any further. With great care, he asked, ”Which sword do you want?”
Zhexiu raised his arm and pointed at a certain place on that mountain of swords.
Because of his injuries, his actions were rather laborious and slow, but very resolute.
Chen Changsheng and the other two followed his finger, and their expressions subtly shifted.
”You're sure it's this sword?”
”Yes.”
”But…that sword's origins…it might provoke some discussion in the future.”
”Since Zhou Tong says that I'm a spy for the demons, it's only natural that I use a demon's sword.”
The sword Zhexiu wanted was ancient and slightly damaged, but an everlasting demonic Qi and bloody scent still pervaded its surface.
It was the Demon Commander's Banner Sword.