Chapter 3

Chapter 3

At Mu Yuan’s agonized cry, Ji Haitang moved to attack me outright.

She was probably betting on the fact that I had no sword in hand and was heavily wounded besides.

But she had conveniently forgotten one thing.

When it came to talent in inner force, I was number one too.

Ignoring the wound still gushing blood, I drew power from my dantian and met Ji Haitang’s killing move with a palm strike.

My reckless, life-for-life approach left Ji Haitang stunned.

Gritting her teeth, she unleashed her full strength, but she still couldn’t withstand me.

Just as she was about to fall into a disadvantage, a deep, powerful sword intent cleaved straight down between us.

The abrupt interruption sent a backlash through me.

I immediately turned my head and swallowed down the blood surging up from my organs.

Lose the fight, never lose face.

Even if I died today, I was going to keep up the act until the very end.

Ji Haitang turned to look at the newcomer, her face lighting up with delight.

“Father!”

Ji Lianchuan stared at us with a stern expression.

“What is all this commotion?”

“Haitang, this is entirely out of line. How could you bully an injured person?”

Ji Haitang stuck out her tongue, hooked her arm around Ji Lianchuan’s, and wheedled for mercy.

“Father, Senior Sister and I were only sparring.”

“Besides, Senior Sister was the one who used the Contract-Burning Technique to torment Mu Yuan first. That’s why I stepped in.”

Ji Lianchuan stroked his beard.

Thoughtfully, he looked at the Muyuan Sword lying on the ground.

Then, in a tone that seemed perfectly fair, he said, “During the Battle for First Seat, Mu Yuan was indeed at fault first.”

“But Qiu’er, you were far too overbearing and willful as well. How could you treat your own lifebound sword like this?”

I watched the father and daughter echo each other coldly.

It was like watching the same old play performed for the thousandth time.

Ji Lianchuan was always like this.

He would appear to mediate fairly, saying a few words for each side.

But in the end, he would always reveal his true colors and side completely with his daughter.

I was sick of it.

So I said directly, “Sect Leader, get to the point.”

Ji Lianchuan’s face stiffened a little after I exposed him.

He cleared his throat.

“I have simply thought of a good solution.”

“A divine sword has a spirit and will choose its own master.”

“Qiu’er, you merely had the opportunity to obtain a divine sword, but you did not have the fate to possess one.”

“In my view, the Muyuan Sword’s temperament matches Haitang’s. Why don’t you give the Muyuan Sword up to her?”

“After all, something that doesn’t belong to you will do you no good even if you forcefully keep it.”

Ji Lianchuan smiled as he stroked that little mustache of his.

The sight annoyed me.

So with a snap of my fingers, I sent the flame on the sword contract flying onto his little mustache.

Ji Lianchuan was so frightened he nearly jumped.

He had just extinguished the fire on his beard and was about to take me to task when I spoke first.

“Fine.”

He froze.

“I said fine. I agree to give up the Muyuan Sword.”

Joy instantly bloomed across Ji Haitang’s face.

“Really, Senior Sister? Are you… are you delirious from your illness? Let me make one thing clear first. If you come to your senses later and want the Muyuan Sword back, I won’t return him.”

I laughed.

“No. I’m perfectly clearheaded.”

I only said half of what I meant.

The other half, I did not tell Ji Haitang.

In the years I had used the Muyuan Sword, I hadn’t even been able to bring out seventy percent of my true ability. It really was time to change swords.

I wasted no time. A drop of blood fell onto the sword contract.

The contract instantly began burning from the spot where the blood landed, until it turned into a wisp of ash and drifted away.

A golden mark flashed between Mu Yuan’s brows.

From that moment on, he became a masterless sword.

He probably had not expected me to let go so easily.

So he asked tentatively, “Are you only saying this in anger?”

“Now that you’re willing to release me, it won’t be so easy if you want to form a contract with me again in the future.”

Ji Haitang looked at him with a hint of displeasure.

“Don’t tell me you don’t want to form a contract with me right away. Are you still thinking of leaving with Senior Sister?”

Mu Yuan immediately withdrew his gaze from me.

With every trace of ingratiation, he said, “Of course not. To form a contract with you… that is more than I could ask for.”

I watched the scene unfold.

It was utterly disgusting.

All I could do was silently pray for this matched pair of sword-scum.

I hoped they wouldn’t regret it too soon.

After all, the Muyuan Sword wasn’t really much of a divine sword.

At most, he was a slightly above-average sword that had given birth to a sword spirit.

The reason he had become famous throughout the world…

Was because he had once been in my hands.