Chapter 1 - Shadow Sword Villa

We gladly announce, after the ready of a few month, we finally finish the re-editing of the early chapters.Now, we officially re-release this novel. Enjoy reading, my guys!!!

The snow fell silently, and the horseshoe stepped on top of the snow, making a creaking noise, which seemed particularly silent. The faint sound of admonishment originating from the carriage was drowned by the sound of the creaking wheel.

“Junior Brother, I had asked you to continue practicing throughout the journey. How long did it last before you dozed off again? With your talent, you should have broken through to the Transcendent Mortal realm. Alas… it has already been three years, and you’re still in the Marrow Cleansing realm.. If you are to continue like this, your talents will be wasted by your own hands..”

“Ouch! Senior brother, we had a deal! A gentleman uses his tongue not his fists! So, don’t hit me! The truth is, the carriage is shaking so much it’s easy to doze off.”

“A gentleman? No one can remain a gentleman to a brat like you!! Junior Brother, I warn you! If you can’t break through to the Transcendent Mortal realm within three months, I’ll break your leg!”

“Oh! Why did the carriage slow down? Senior Brother, look! We have arrived at the Shadow Sword Villa! Let’s get off, I’m already starving to death.”

The carriage gradually came to a halt and the duo lifted the curtain. Wu Chi hurriedly jumped out and diverted the topic.

“Senior brother, is this the Shadow Sword Villa? It looks very magnificent. Compared to our small school, this place looks way better.”

As it stood amidst the snow, the villa emanated an imposing loftiness. And the room that was once adorned with white yarn, had now changed into plain white along with the lanterns at the door.

“Do you remember what Master told you before? Shadow Sword Villa has been taking care of us. Today, Shadow Sword Villa is mourning. Although we, the Iron Sword Group, only have mediocre ability, we still have to help them with our utmost ability.” Frowning, Liu Yu could not help but warn Wu Chi.

An angry Wu Chi pouted and shot back. “Come on, Senior Brother! What kind of person is the Master of the Shadow Sword Villa? Dignified and powerful? It’s all in the past, he’s already dead. What kind of help can we offer to them? We are here just to give our condolences superficially.

“We’re here to eat and drink for free, if there is trouble, we should be the first to flee.”

“Brat! It is obvious that you have an excellent talent. But you are always lazy and unambitious. When can you focus on practicing the sword?” Seeing Wu Chi’s shameless demeanour, Liu Yu really had a headache. Their Master was a strict person, Liu Yu wondered how such a person had accepted a rascal as a closed door disciple during his final days.

“Stop joking, Senior Brother. You know the kind of school we, the Iron Sword Group, are. Nobody has ever issued a challenge to us. Or, do you want me to issue a challenge to all other schools? I, your Junior Brother, who has zero ambitions? I just want to live a peaceful life while helping you pass on the Iron Sword Group.”

“Stop with that nonsense! Be careful, if you bring disgrace to our school, I’ll punish you by having you copy a book hundred times when we get back,” Liu Yu said helplessly, while knocking on Wu Chi’s head.

As he marched forward, Liu Yu respectfully handed over his card* and said in a low voice, “Disciple Liu Yu of Iron Sword Group, accompanied by his junior brother, Wu Chi, here to pay respects to Suzurain Zhou.”

[* a card here is a calling card, like our modern day visiting card to announce one’s identity.]

“Please come in, the mourning hall is located in the inner courtyard. I’ll bring you there.”

Wrapped in a white robes, the disciple who stood at the gate of the villa took a glance at the card, bowed, and guided them inside.

“Please accept my deepest condolences over your Master Zhou’s demise. May I ask who’s in charge of your villa now?”

“Master Zhou has one daughter, and she is the sole heir. Now, it is her who presides over everything. It’s just that since she is still young, there are several uncles who are helping her for the time being.”

After getting the information he wanted, Liu Y replied with a nod, he had an idea of how things stood here at the Shadow Sword Villa.

Zhou Yuanting only had one daughter, Zhou Boyan who was in her early twenties. At this age, even if she was more mature than her peers, she alone was not enough to support a big school like the Shadow Sword Villa.

Zhou Yuanting was a hero his entire life, and in the Shadow Sword Villa, his strength was ranked the highest. Now, as soon as Zhou Yuanting had passed away, troubles came knocking at the doorstep.

Most importantly, Zhou Yuanting had a divine sword named Shadow in his possession. Now that he was gone, those left behind couldn’t handle the sword.

Entering the mourning hall, Wu Chi’s eyes were instantly glued to the girl in front of him. He couldn’t help poking Liu Yu and whispering. “No wonder people say that if you want to be attractive, you should wear a mourning dress. Such a beautiful girl she is!”

Following Wu Chi’s line of sight, a girl who looked about sixteen or seventeen, in a white mourning dress was kneeling in the middle of the hall, crying like pear blossom bathed in the rain– a weeping beauty. That beautiful complexion seemed to have been integrated into the bone, making people’s eyes involuntarily fall on her body.

“Silence!” Liu Yu shot him a fierce glare. Ignoring his mischievous brother, he bowed and mourned in accordance with etiquette.

“Miss Zhou, please accept my condolences.”

“Thanking you both for taking the time to come here.” Zhou Boyan’s eyes were red and her voice was hoarse.

Such a face evoked pity in all those who saw.

During the conversation, a loud banging of footsteps reverberated and several young people barged into the mourning hall.

Suddenly, a harsh ironic voice resounded in the hall, turning everyone pale with it.

“Wow, what a crowd! Zhou Yuanting is dead, but I didn’t expect so many people to mourn for him. It is hard to say they are after the divine sword or here to truly mourn?”

Although they had anticipated trouble from the beginning, when trouble actually knocked on the door, Liu Yu couldn’t help but be slightly shocked.

The legend of Shadow was not only for its strength, but for the set of powerful sword techniques that was stored within it. When Zhou Yuanting was alive, no one dared to have thoughts about it, but now that he was no more, the sword naturally became an object without ownership and attracted countless greedy beings.

In fact, even if the Iron Sword Group had come in goodwill, they would also want a chance to receive this divine sword.

However, no one thought that trouble would come so quickly.

Zhou Yuanting was still to be buried, many of his old friends had yet to come to mourn… but the troublemakers were the first to arrive, undisguised, with the blatant intent of stirring disharmony.

“Who are you? My Shadow Sword Villa only welcomes friends! If anyone wants to make trouble, even if we have to shed blood until the last member, we will never give in.” The middle-aged man who was standing beside Zhou Boyan stepped out one step at a time, asking coldly.

“I am not here to make trouble! I respect the hero, Zhou Yuanting. I don’t see any problem with offering him an incense. But the Shadow falling into the hands of an unworthy person is disheartening, it’s better to hand over the sword to a worthy person, like me,” the youth stepped forward in front of the crowd, and said with a proud face.

“The Shadow is the property of the Shadow Sword Villa, you don’t have the right to take it.” The middle-aged man took another step while meeting the youth’s eyes, and spoke threateningly.

“Unless you have the ability to protect it. Don’t end up sacrificing the lives in the Shadow Sword Villa.” The youth replied.

“Whatever your status is, the Shadow Sword Villa does not welcome you, please leave!” With one hand on his sword hilt, the middle-aged man icily exclaimed.

“Not welcome? Just because I spoke a few words of truth? Well, I’m afraid you don’t have the qualifications to drive me away!”

During the conversation, the young man casually took out a sword talisman, and displayed it silently in front of him, revealing a horrifying sword intent. More importantly, on this sword charm, four big blue words emerged slowly – Sword Of Tian Shan!

In an instant, everyone in the room could not help but suck in a breath of cold air.

Dao From Kun Lun, Sword Of Tian Shan!

The strength of Kun Lun and Tian Shan could be seen from this simple sentence. Presently, many disciples of Tian Shan were here. Even if Zhou Yuanting were alive, he would still treat them with caution. What’s more, now that Zhou Yuanting was gone, others were not qualified to expel the Tian Shan disciple.

“Dao From Kun Lun, Sword Of Tian Shan! Heavens! What a great school! But I don’t see any glory in oppressing the young and old.” Dissatisfied, Wu Chi lowered his head and sneered. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NøᴠᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“Shut up!” Liu Yu caught hold of Wu Chi, a cold bead of sweat emerged on his forehead. These were the disciples of Tian Shan, it was never the small schools’ disciple’s turn to ridicule them.

Although Wu Chi’s voice was low, it was still heard by everyone.

Fortunately, Wu Chi deliberately bowed his head, and there were too many people in the mourning hall. Except for the people who were very familiar with them, no one found out who had actually spoken.

As soon as the young man heard that, his eyebrows twitched, and the eyes of the young man which were like a sword gradually swept around those gathered. He slowly said, “Who said that? Since you are not satisfied with Tian Shan, could you stand up again and explain more clearly?”

These words were too serious.  Even if you were joking, you would be immediately killed.

“Sir, I don’t know what I should call you?”

Seeing the situation becoming more intense, Zhou Boyan stepped out from behind the crowd.

As the young troublemaker’s eyes fell on Zhou Boyan, a glimmer adorned them. “Well, my name is Luo Kun, disciple of Tian Shan! Are you the sole daughter of Zhou Yuanting?”

Zhou Boyan said quietly, “Nice to meet you, Young Master Luo.”

Without waiting for a reply, Zhou Boyan kept on talking.

“Since long, I’ve heard a lot about Tian Shan, the world’s leading school. You are a disciple of Tian Shan, who came to mourn for my father. Not only I, but also all the Shadow Sword Villa members are grateful to you. However, my father’s bones are not cold, yet, you ask about the whereabouts of the Shadow… is this the characteristic a Tian Shan disciple must possess?”

These words were neither haughty nor humble, but implied that Tian Shan disciples were bullying others with their power.

Tian Shan had its own characteristics, there were some things that could be done, but words could never be said.

“I don’t know about that.” Luo Kun was startled. “But now that Zhou Yuanting is gone, I’mjust afraid that you can’t keep the Shadow. I want to remind you out of good intentions! Please don’t misinterpret me, Miss.”

“Thank you for your kindness! So, if you would like to mourn  my father, the Shadow Sword Villa will certainly remember this benevolence from Tian Shan.

“What an amazing lass!” Glancing at Zhou Boyan, Wu Chi praised her softly. Her words effectively shut Luo Kun’s mouth, his facade has started to crumble. Now after mourning, I am afraid that there will be no more troubles, at least before the burial of Zhou Yuanting.”

Wu Chi received a slap on his head, and Liu Yu spoke while grumbling.

“What lass?! That is Miss Zhou, the master of Shadow Sword Villa. You can’t be rude to her.”

“Ouch! I’m just talking to you! However, by contrast, the Tian Shan disciple’s conduct is really ugly. The great Tian Shan amount to only this?!” His last words were intentionally spoken in a low voice, such that even Liu Yu was barely able to hear him.

With a sigh, Liu Yu shook his head and said, “After all, Tian Shan is a powerful school, and things have escalated to a situation where the Shadow Sword Villa will not be able to keep the Shadow.”

Suddenly, Liu Yu seemed to have thought of something, he stared at Wu Chi and warned. “Junior Brother, you have to keep silent, do not make any ruckus! After all, the disciples from Tian Shan are not people we can afford to provoke, do you understand?”