Chapter 1070: Who will Han Yunxi take as master? (2/2)
In those same three days, the two Honored Elders fixed the sword-sealing platform and suspended a quality imitation Ganjiang above it.[4] They also took up guard positions on both sides and exerted their efforts to have sword qi circulate around the area. While it might not trick Bai Yanqing, it could at least interfere with his judgment.
The group also discussed the matter of sword forging within these three days. The saying went that “one good sword comes from ten years’ work,” so was it possible to make a fine blade within a year? Moreover, Moye’s sword spirit had vicious tendencies that made it a bad fit for “good” blades. This would be a difficult task. No matter how capable the swordsmith Ye Xiao might be, “the cleverest housewife can’t cook a meal without rice.” They needed to find the best metal for forging a sword as well as an appropriate flame.
“Feiye, forging the sword is more important. It’s best to delay the northern expedition,” Master Jianxin urged earnestly. The two Honored Elders nodded in agreement, hoping Li Jianxin could convince his disciple.
Long Feiye didn’t speak, having long decided with Han Yunxi not to delay the rescue mission or the northern expedition any further. They owed it to East and West Qin--as well as the Ning siblings and Mu Linger.
After some thought, Han Yunxi exclaimed, “Celestial fire! If speed is of the essence, then forge it with celestial fire. As long as we can find a material capable of withstanding its flames, we’ll be able to cast the Moye sword shortly!”
“Yunxi, where are you going to find something like that?” Master Jianxin asked instantly.
“The Earthly Fire Kun Furnace! It’s a waste to leave it lying around when we can use it to forge a sword!” Gu Qishao’s voice cried out outdoors.
Han Yunxi sprang up in delight. “Right! That furnace can take it!”
Gu Beiyue was thrilled as well. “It’s all thanks to Qishao for remembering. The copper of the kun furnace is the most suitable choice!”
Since the Earthly Fire Kun Furnace had withstood the celestial fire unharmed, the flames wouldn’t destroy it. Furthermore, it had lost its earthly fire and other powers, making it susceptible to melting down from celestial fire flames. Long Feiye nodded wordlessly as Master Jianxin and the Honored Elders both rejoiced.
However, Master Jianxin quickly followed up, “For this, would Pill Furnace Master be willing to...”
“Leave it to me!” Gu Qishao declared. “Long Feiye, send Ye Xiao to Medicine Requesting Cave as soon as you can! The faster the better!”
Gu Qishao had walked in with a guqin slung across his back. Combined with his tall stature, red robes, and devastating looks, he resembled a wandering musician who travelled the world at ease with his instrument as his companion. But everyone present knew that he had concealed Ganjiang inside the guqin, so it wasn’t easy to haul himself around. Even the two Honored Elders would find it difficult to bear the treasure sword’s weight. The only exception to the rule was Long Feiye, Ganjiang’s owner. He was also the sole man capable of unsheathing the blade. Gu Qishao was ready to have them forge Moye as soon as possible so it could leave his body. Before then, he wouldn’t dare offend Long Feiye, because him unsheathing Ganjiang left him witless.
With Gu Qishao doing the talking, Pill Furnace Master would definitely agree. Han Yunxi even felt embarrassed by it all since she’d gifted the Earthly Fire Kun Furnace to him first. Now she not only wanted it back, but might even destroy it in the process. It was rather awkward all around.
In the end, Han Yunxi prepared a grand gift to be delivered to Pill Furnace Master that was none other than the snake dan she’d recovered from the nest near the East Qin army camp. This was an excellent ingredient for cultivating dan pellet pills, something that many practitioners could only dream of but never have. That very same day, Long Feiye wrote a letter to Xu Donglin so he could deliver the goods.
The plans for forging the sword were set. Now Bai Yanqing might know of Gu Qishao and his possession of the Moye sword spirit, but he’d never be able to guess where it came from, or that a person like Ye Xiao existed. However, Long Feiye remained prudent and ordered men to spread rumors that he and Han Yunxi had already left Celestial Mountain to head for the western deserts in hunt of metal to forge the sword. At the same time, Han Yunxi had others spread false rumors that she and Long Feiye were heading for Northern Li, Jiangnan, or even still staying at Celestial Mountain. All of the fake news was enough to mess with Bai Yanqing’s calculations!
After settling matters, Granny You came to meet them at Nine Xuan Hall. She had successfully imprisoned all of the traitorous disciples and made an inventory of losses from the Sword and Scripture Depositories. She also appointed temporary heads to take charge of the two places.
Master Jianxin had always intended to leave Long Feiye the position of sect leader, but he was far too busy to sit around Celestial Mountain and take care of its matters. They currently lacked a suitable successor to the post, making Granny You fret that internal strife would plague the sect as soon as Long Feiye’s group departed. After all, the disciples of the 55 lower depositories would only feel a chill in their hearts after experiencing this trial. Meanwhile, the one Courtyard and two Depositories located at the peak were all like headless dragons--groups of people lacking a leader--which would only intensify struggles between the remaining disciples.
“Feiye, why not stay a couple extra months to oversee the conclusion?” Granny You coaxed.
“No can do!” Han Yunxi spoke first. How could these elders of Celestial Mountain understand why they were in such a rush? Explaining any more was useless, so Han Yunxi simply offered Master Jianxin and Granny You a suggestion.
1. Aww...okay, I’m feeling a little misty. This is wholesome stuff, man. :’)
2. Wholesome I tell you! This makes up for my ragefest at 1068!
3. Man, if HYX’s body was already so outstanding, I can’t even began to fathom how the original host would have made it through her life if not for the handy transmigration thing. Sure, our HYX had some cheats along the way, but I think personality and soul makes a big difference in driving people forward. But now I wish we knew a little more about original!HYX. What was her likes and dislikes? If she awakened her powers and managed to stand on her own, who would be her ideal guy? LFY, just like our HYX? The gentle GBY--a relationship that could only work if neither of them discovered her West Qin origins and pesky master-subordinate issues got in the way? The dastardly GQS, whom I can totally see sweeping a meeker, more timid HYX off her feet? Then again, would our GQS even be interested in original HYX if she didn’t have our HYX’s feisty, strong-willed ways? There’s also Ning Cheng, Long Tianmo, Mu Qingwu, and even Jun Yixie with a stretch and a long list of “what-ifs” + “maybes.” It’s an interesting AU to consider, especially as we approach the end of this “canon” timeline…
4. Okay bear with me here: who the heck made these fakes and why? Was it fanboyism? A feint to trick their enemies? And if Ganjiang blinds people with its sheer power and light every time it came out of its sheath (remember how the Heretical Sword Sect elders couldn’t even look at it head-on), how the heck did they know what it looked like before making it? Just by estimating the blade from its sheathed state? Or consulting ancient diagrams that somehow survived to present day? Or was it made by other smiths in the past who could take Ganjiang deadly sword sparkles? I’m also imagining disciples going to the depository and saying “hey so, can I borrow Fake Ganjiang #2 for a day? I wanna go down to town and impress my family when they visit.” “You liar, you just want to impress the innkeeper’s daughter that you’ve been crushing on since Mid-Autumn Festival.” “Well yeah okay, but do a brother a favor, will you?” “Yeah sure, just call me Long Feiye and kowtow to me thrice.” Hahaha, hilarious~