Chapter 2
I followed the swords’ trails and chased after them.
The closer I got, the colder my heart grew.
How was this any different from a crime scene?
A heap of immortal swords lay scattered on the ground, their light dimmed, no better than scrap metal.
Dead. They were all dead.
Just as I was praying in terror that my precious Zihan wasn’t among them,
Zihan rose shakily out of the pile of corpses and flew to my side, shedding fragments all the way.
I counted. My baby had thirteen notches in its blade.
My heart, which had been in my throat, finally gave up and died.
Overcome with grief and rage, I charged into the crime scene, sword in hand.
If I could beat the killer, I’d kill him.
If I couldn’t, I’d die for love.
Spiritual energy surged around me, rocks tumbling down the surrounding slopes. Clearly, a great battle had taken place.
Where the spiritual energy was strongest, someone lay motionless on the ground, his chest rising and falling faintly.
He seemed to have passed out from exhaustion.
I crept over furtively.
His features gradually came into focus.
Brows like distant mountains, a high nose, red lips and white teeth, a face as flawless as polished jade, and a red flame mark between his brows. He was too beautiful to be mortal.
I took in his sumptuous robes.
I did the sums in my head.
A cultivation prodigy.
Good-looking.
Rich.
Damn you. So you’re the one who stole my life!
And if you had it so good already, why did you have to destroy my flying sword?
I took out my wreck of a sword and gave a cold laugh. “Heh. Time you tasted the wrath of the poor.”
The blade was already at his throat when his eyes opened.
He froze, then asked after a brief silence, “Here for revenge? Are you from the Yunxia Sect, whose spirit herbs I took?”
I shook my head.
“Then the Xuanheng Sect, whose Void Insight Pill I stole?”
I shook my head again.
“So you’re from Miaoyin Mountain, whose guardian divine beast I stole?”
Seriously, man. How did you have so many enemies?
Would killing you count as a public service?
Seeing me still shaking my head, he considered for a moment. “Oh, then you must be—”
I couldn’t listen anymore. “I’m Fushuang, the owner of this ruined spirit sword.”
“One of the spirit swords you wrecked with Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source.”
Understanding dawned on him. He patted my shoulder, his face full of sorrow. “My condolences, fellow cultivator. I am Yun Che of the Tianxing Sect. There was a celestial demon before me. Had I failed to destroy it, all life for a thousand li around would have perished. Your flying sword bravely volunteered to sacrifice itself for a righteous cause. It truly moves one to tears!”
I pressed the sword closer to his throat. “Say it volunteered one more time. Go on.”
Yun Che’s handsome face tightened. “It was all to save the world…”
I saw red. “Save the world? Buddy, save me first!”
“Do you know what I went through for this spirit sword? Mountains of blades, seas of fire—I’d have had an easier life selling my body!”
“What the fuck is there to save in this world? Let it burn!”
Yun Che hurriedly waved his hands. “Calm down! Calm down! I’ll pay you back!”
“I’ve got money!”
I still refused to lower the blade. “You think this is just any spirit sword? No! This was my first spirit sword. You can’t begin to understand what it means to me!”
“Then I’ll pay you extra?” Yun Che suggested.
“For the emotional distress as well.”
“How many spirit stones did this sword cost you?”
I thought for an instant, then turned my face toward the sky. “Th-three hundred million.”
Yun Che looked perfectly at peace. “Why don’t you just kill me?”
I tried again. “A little less, then? You were saving the world, after all. Two hundred million will do.”
Yun Che leaned his neck into my sword. “Come on. Kill me. Right now.”
…
I gritted my teeth. “One hundred million. I can’t go any lower!”
“Thirty million,” said Yun Che. “I can’t go any higher!”
“Deal!” I said without hesitation.
Two tears slid from the corners of Yun Che’s eyes. “Shit. I didn’t bargain hard enough.”