127: I found a wolf-like swordsman! [Explosive update, please give me a small gift]

He was an extremely kind person; since his debut, he had fought hundreds of battles, but he only killed 48 people in total, injuring but not killing the others. The people he saved with his flying dagger far outnumbered those he killed.

He simply couldn't imagine such malevolence: a nine-year-old child who enjoyed killing for pleasure, and had killed more than ten people. What kind of wickedness was that?

"Enjoyed killing for pleasure... more than ten people..." Li Xunhuan repeated, each word weighing a thousand catties, almost suffocating him.

He couldn't imagine that the child, described by Shiyin as well-behaved, intelligent, cute, and still young, would be associated with such words.

"Second Brother Sun, is there... any proof of this?"

Li Xunhuan's voice was hoarse and dry. He instinctively wanted to deny it, but Hunchback Sun had guarded Li Garden for fourteen years; his character needed no further explanation, and he was certainly not one to speak idly.

Hunchback Sun slowly nodded, "This isn't some secret; many people know about it."

Li Xunhuan's face grew even paler.

If... if what Hunchback Sun said was true... then Long Xiaoyun's death wasn't Lu Jiuyuan senselessly killing the innocent, but rather... acting on behalf of Dao?

As this thought arose, Li Xunhuan felt a dizzying sensation, his heart filled with a tremendous sense of absurdity and deeper pain.

He had always believed he was pursuing justice, avenging his brother, and settling a grudge for his nephew.

But if the truth was so unbearable, then what did his previous pain and struggles, Shiyin's grief and accusations, even count for?

"I... I need to be alone for a moment." Li Xunhuan staggered, leaning against a cold pillar nearby, his fingers pressing so hard they almost dug into the wood.

Seeing this, Hunchback Sun sighed, "Detective Li, the world is complex, and the human heart is unfathomable. Take... good care of yourself."

...

As dusk fell and the sun set in the west, Lu Jiuyuan, feeling a bit awkward after coming out, walked slowly and alone.

The brief confrontation with Bai Tianyu just now was, for him, a trivial interlude. The current Bai Tianyu's heart was not grand enough, not strong enough.

Just then, his steps paused slightly.

Not far ahead, under a withered tree, a young man was sitting.

The young man's clothes were tattered, and he appeared slightly younger than Lu Jiuyuan. His face had sharp features, carrying a beast-like keenness and arrogance.

Most striking was the weapon in his hand, which could hardly be called a complete sword. It was merely a piece of iron, about three feet long, with neither a sword edge nor a sword guard, and not even a hilt. Only two pieces of soft wood nailed to it served as the handle.

Only the sword tip had a hint of sharpness.

However, when such a simple, rudimentary sword was held tightly in the young man's hand, it exuded a chilling Sword Qi that made one's heart tremble.

As Lu Jiuyuan looked at the young man, the young man also raised his head, his gaze meeting Lu Jiuyuan's.

His eyes were terrifyingly bright, like a starving wolf in the snow, filled with pure vigilance, wildness, and a distrust of everything in the world.

Their gazes met in the air; they both saw similar presences this time.

No words, no probing.

An extremely pure, extremely condensed Sword Intent, like the coldest wind on an ice plain, silently emanated from the crude iron piece, locking onto Lu Jiuyuan.

This Sword Intent was not as vast and overbearing as Bai Tianyu's Saber Intent, but it was more focused, more extreme, carrying a pure will of going forward without hesitation, born only for slaughter.

Lu Jiuyuan stopped, "A Fei!"

"Your sword is very good, very interesting, very much like mine!"

The young man said nothing, only tightening his grip on the sword. The vigilance in his eyes remained undiminished, as if he could erupt at any moment with a fatal strike.

He was like a wary lone wolf, trusting no approaching presence.

Lu Jiuyuan paid no mind to his silence and hostility, his gaze sweeping over his simple sword as he continued calmly:

"Whether a sword is sharp or not depends not on its form, but on its heart. If your heart is sincere enough, focused enough, then even this piece of iron is the sharpest sword in the world."

The young man's cold eyes flickered slightly. It seemed no one had ever said such words to him. Everyone he had met mocked his sword rather than praised it.

This was the first person he had met who said his sword was good.

"Do you really think it's a good sword?"

"It is a good sword!"

"It is indeed a good sword!"

"Young man, do you want to be famous throughout the world?" Lu Jiuyuan asked with a slight smile on his face.

A Fei suddenly looked up, "Yes! Can you help me become famous throughout the world?"

"Yes!" Lu Jiuyuan extended his hand, looking into A Fei's eyes.

A Fei's gaze was sharp and fierce, fixed on Lu Jiuyuan's outstretched hand.

Those hands had distinct knuckles, clean and slender. His survival instincts in the wilderness made him extremely wary of any approach, especially from someone who felt unfathomable.

"Help me?" A Fei asked, "Why?"

His sword, his path, had always been solitary. Becoming famous throughout the world was a goal, but he only trusted the sword in his hand.

Lu Jiuyuan's hand remained extended, his expression still calm. A Fei's vigilance was entirely expected.

"Because you and I are destined, because your sword deserves to be seen by everyone in the world. And also, "

He paused, "This Jianghu is too dull; it needs a new voice."

These words sounded arrogant and casual, but coming from Lu Jiuyuan's mouth, they carried a strange, compelling power that made one believe them.

A Fei fell silent.

He had ventured into this tumultuous Jianghu alone, with nothing but the sword in his hand. To achieve fame, to prove himself, the road ahead was incredibly difficult.

This person before him was undoubtedly a shortcut, but it could also be the most dangerous trap.

His gaze moved from Lu Jiuyuan's hand to his calm, unruffled eyes.

Those eyes were as deep as an ancient well, showing no malice, nor much enthusiasm, only a detached indifference that transcended worldly things.

"How will you help?"

"Follow me. You will see what you want to see, and encounter what you are meant to encounter. As for becoming famous throughout the world,"

His gaze fell on A Fei's simple iron sword, "Follow me, and you will become famous throughout the world!"

His words carried absolute confidence.

A Fei stared at him, seemingly weighing the truth in his words.

"Good."

Lu Jiuyuan nodded slightly, "My name is Lu Jiuyuan."

"A Fei," the young man responded, his tone still stiff.

"Let's go."

Lu Jiuyuan turned, his sky-blue cloud-patterned robes gently fluttering in the deepening twilight, as if he had never noticed the lone wolf-like young swordsman following behind him.

A Fei silently followed, maintaining a distance of about three steps, his footsteps light and soundless.

The twilight deepened, and the last ray of sunset in the distant sky was swallowed by the grey-blue clouds.

Lu Jiuyuan in front, A Fei three steps behind, the two walked silently, one after the other, along the desolate path, as if it was meant to be.

Suddenly, A Fei quickened his steps, drew level with Lu Jiuyuan, and then pulled something from his tattered clothes, handing it over.

The object shimmered with a soft, unique golden glow in the faint light, felt slightly heavy in the hand, and had a strange texture, neither silk nor leather. It was woven with extremely fine golden threads, forming intricate and tough patterns.

"For you," A Fei's voice was still devoid of emotion, "I picked it up. Many people were fighting over it; it's trouble."

Lu Jiuyuan looked down,

"Golden Silk Armor?"

"This thing is impervious to blades and spears; it's a good item! It's considered a treasure in the Martial Forest. You're just giving it to me?"

A Fei nodded, his eyes pure and frank, "I don't need it; it would slow down my sword draw."

His logic was simple and direct: this item was good, many people wanted it, but it was useless for his Sword Dao, rather a burden.

And this person in front of him, he felt he could give it to, so he did.

Lu Jiuyuan looked at A Fei's clear yet wild eyes, then suddenly chuckled softly. Without declining, he casually rolled up the Golden Silk Armor and tucked it into his sleeve.

"Alright, this thing is indeed troublesome, and useless trouble at that! Since you're giving it to me, I'll accept it."

The two walked back to the small courtyard where they were temporarily staying.

Before entering, Lu Jiuyuan's steps paused, and A Fei, who was following behind him, immediately tensed up.

His wolf-like eyes sharply scanned inside the courtyard gate, his hand already on the simple iron sword.

In the air, there was a faint but undeniable scent of blood, and a cold, killing aura.

The courtyard gate was ajar, but inside, it was eerily silent.