86: A sudden farewell

It wasn't until night had completely fallen and he had finished the tenth jar of wine that Jiang Hanwen left, holding the Chixiao Sword given to him by Zhuang Kongming.

He didn't know that, just after he left, a black-robed figure appeared behind Zhuang Kongming.

The black-robed person fed Zhuang Kongming a Medicinal Pill, and in just ten breaths, Zhuang Kongming, who had just been slurring his words, sobered up and sat up straight.

"Have they caught the people?" Zhuang Kongming asked.

A hoarse voice from the black robe responded, "With our methods, it's unlikely we'll catch them."

"Catch them even if it's unlikely. Those two brothers have been with our Zhuang Family for six years; now they want to leave? It won't be that easy!

If they're not caught by morning, then seize everyone on the list and throw them into the dungeon. Interrogate them one by one."

"Yes!"

Whoosh!

The black figure stomped its foot and instantly vanished into the vast night.

Zhuang Kongming watched the direction where the black figure disappeared and gritted his teeth, saying,

"What a Wu Family!"

On his way home, Jiang Hanwen held the precious sword in his hand, opening it to look at it repeatedly, his eyes filled with unsuppressed joy.

This precious sword was different from those worn by the guards; it had scale patterns on it!

Although he wasn't clear on Artifact Refining, Jiang Hanwen understood this basic knowledge.

Just like Alchemy, Artifact Refining also had levels.

Above the most basic blacksmith was an apprentice, who was required to be able to forge the same piece of raw iron a hundred times without cracking it, removing ninety percent of the Impurities from the crude iron.

Further up was a First-Grade Master, who could forge raw iron tens of thousands of times, removing ninety-nine point nine-nine-nine percent of the Impurities, and only by using several special metals in composite forging would such dense and beautiful fish-scale-like patterns appear.

This Chixiao Sword perfectly matched Jiang Hanwen's aesthetic.

The blade was slender, with a spine along the centerline, gradually thinning into an edge on both sides, and converging into a point at the tip.

The hilt had a rounded base, wrapped in sturdy cured cowhide, and when gripped, it weighed about two hundred catties, feeling snug and perfectly fitted, as if it were naturally crafted for his hands.

On the brass-cast guard was an inverted lion's mouth, with two red jades inlaid as eyes, giving it an excellent appearance.

A typical scaled weapon cost one thousand taels. Jiang Hanwen estimated that his sword was worth more than that, at least over two thousand.

Coincidentally, he had previously obtained a copy of "Cangyun Sword Art" from the Zhuang Family's library. Now he had the movement technique, the flying knives for long-range combat, the close-quarters fist art, and with this weapon, he was all set.

As the old saying goes, Sword Qi spans thirty thousand miles, and one sword's light chills nineteen states.

Jiang Hanwen was a little impatient to wield the sword. Would he, one day, also achieve a feat where the sword severs the universe, revealing sun and moon, and the earth crumbles, showing its sharp edge?

Just as he reached his doorstep, Jiang Hanwen stopped, looking warily at the dark corner opposite him, by the wall.

"Crunch, crunch~"

The sound of crushed leaves echoed, and the footsteps grew clearer. From the shadows, a familiar face emerged from the darkness.

"Wu Shen?"

Jiang Hanwen asked, puzzled.

It was late at night, and today wasn't a day for sparring. What was this kid doing looking for him?

The footsteps continued, and immediately after, another figure appeared; Wu Cheng had also come.

Jiang Hanwen's heart sank. Had he been exposed?

That shouldn't be. Although that item was impervious to fire and water, making it hard to burn away.

But Xiao Bu Dian had already sent the item outside. Even if these two brothers could locate the sutra, they shouldn't be able to find him.

"Teacher, I've come to bid you farewell," Wu Shen said.

Farewell?

Jiang Hanwen blurted out, "Did the Family Head assign you a mission?"

Hearing the words "Family Head," Wu Cheng sneered:

"I'm afraid it's not an assignment, but rather to capture us."

Wu Shen glanced at Wu Cheng, who unhappily turned his head away, saying no more.

Wu Cheng walked up to Jiang Hanwen, holding six crystal-clear Jade Slips.

Jiang Hanwen had seen this item once; Old Du's Spirit Rain Technique had been passed to him via a Jade Slip.

"Teacher, actually, I'm not a farmer. I am a descendant of the Duke of Wu. My brother and I came to the Zhuang Family to find our Wu Family's 'Divine Breath True Scripture' that was stolen.

Before his death, a family Elder used a blood-tracing Spell to detect that the Cultivation Technique's direction was within the Zhuang Family, which is why my brother and I came here.

Unfortunately, the blood Spell shortens life. We each searched for six years, but found nothing."

"Stolen?" Jiang Hanwen asked, feigning ignorance:

"How could a Cultivation Technique that could be taken from your Wu Family's hands be hidden in the Zhuang Family? Are you mistaken?"

"Hmph!

If it weren't for a traitor in the family who led in the Dragon Family's running dogs, how could it have been stolen by the Mystic Ice Jade Lion in Dongxi!" Wu Cheng said, gritting his teeth.

The Dragon Family, of course, referred to the imperial family.

But, the Mystic Ice Jade Lion?

Jiang Hanwen secretly noted the name. Xiao Bu Dian had said it snatched the item from a tiger's mouth, which conflicted with what Wu Cheng said.

Was something being hidden from him, or did Xiao Bu Dian make a slip of the tongue?

"Wu Cheng!" Wu Shen glared at him, and a light yellow Spiritual Pressure emanated from him, pressing down on Wu Cheng.

Visibly, Wu Cheng's face turned beet red, and he looked as if he wanted to speak but couldn't, lacking even the strength to curse.

Although he wasn't the target, Jiang Hanwen nodded inwardly at this level of Spiritual Pressure. Indeed, he had hidden his strength, and so had the two Wu Family brothers.

Wu Shen was at least at the Peak of Qi Induction, or even a half-step into the Condensing Spring Realm.

"If you don't want to leave, I can leave you here to chat with the Zhuang Family Head!"

Wu Shen glared at his younger brother.

At these words, Wu Cheng instantly became docile. Although the anger on his face remained, he said nothing, fearing his Elder brother would actually do that.

Wu Shen turned back, sighing:

"Teacher, I've made you laugh."

"Standing around isn't going to solve anything. Let's go inside to talk."

Just in case, Jiang Hanwen called the two into the house.

He couldn't deal with Wu Shen, but Xiao Bu Dian could. If the two brothers truly were just saying goodbye, then they would each go their separate ways.

But if not, then that would be another matter. Today, this soil might just gain two more human-shaped fertilizers.

The three sat down. Wu Shen directly divided the six Jade Slips and one ring on the table into two piles. The darker colored Jade Slip was on the left, and the five slightly lighter colored Jade Slips and the ring were on the right.

Wu Shen pointed to the darker colored Jade Slip and said:

"Teacher, I came this time to trouble you with something.

If you see or hear of where the 'Divine Breath True Scripture' is, there's a method recorded on the Jade Slip to notify us.

The other five Jade Slips contain five Spells to help you Breakthrough Qi Induction and enter the Condensing Spring Realm.

This ring is a Storage Ring, with a space of one square zhang.

If you are willing, after you Breakthrough to the Condensing Spring Realm, you can also contact us and become a Guest Elder of our Wu Family.

At that time, whether it's Cultivation Techniques or Spirit Pills, or even the Legacy of the Four Arts, we can provide them to you."

"You can provide all of them?" Jiang Hanwen feigned surprise, looking eagerly at the six Jade Slips.

This was like receiving charcoal in the snow. He had already broken through Qi Induction, but had no connections. So far, he only had the Spirit Rain Technique for irrigation.

He was just worrying about his Dantian being full of Spiritual Qi but having no way to improve his offensive capabilities.

Now, this was good; a pillow had appeared when he was sleepy.

Moreover, he had only heard of the legendary Storage Ring in novels; when had he ever seen one with his own eyes?

"That's right. Our Wu Family has always been fair with rewards and punishments. It's just that my brother and I have urgent matters now, and you haven't yet broken through the Qi Induction Realm. Otherwise, we would definitely take you with us!"

Wu Shen spoke with certainty, not like he was faking it.

Jiang Hanwen mumbled to himself, what could be so urgent this time that the two brothers had to leave immediately after seeing him tonight?

As he was thinking, a flash of lightning crossed his mind. Suddenly, he remembered why he had gone to the ancestral hall for a meeting today, and he had a bold guess.

If that was the case, then he had to be even more careful!

"This gift of yours is too generous. I'm afraid I won't be able to repay it. If I can't find any trace of the 'Divine Breath True Scripture' then, I'm afraid I'll let you down."

Despite being extremely reluctant, Jiang Hanwen still refused.