Chapter 16: Massacre of the Village

"How can I help?" Shili Changkong didn't question and asked indifferently.

"I have here a 'Heaven-singing Sword Jue' that Emperor Yintian cultivated, and the 'Three Talents Sword Formation' left by the Three Talents Great Emperor," Xu Zimei said slowly.

What Shili Changkong was lacking now was experience, the absence of a path laid down by predecessors.

Don't think that Xu Zimei could casually mention several Great Emperor's Techniques; their preciousness is unimaginable.

At least someone of Shili Changkong's realm had never come into contact with a Great Emperor's Technique.

This just conformed to the old saying, "Ten years of hard work can't compare to being born into a good family."

...…

"What are the conditions?" Shili Changkong naturally knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

"I'm planning to establish a power and would like to invite you to manage it," Xu Zimei said.

"Impossible, I will not be your subordinate," Shili Changkong shook his head decisively, "My Sword Dao is indomitable, and if I really were to submit myself to others, my heart would not be clear, and what then of the path of the Sword Dao?"

"The way of the sword should possess an unyielding sharpness but also the restraint of returning to the scabbard," Xu Zimei said with a smile. "Just like being a person, sometimes you have to stand upright, while sometimes you need to bow and scrape."

Watching Shili Changkong's contemplative gaze, Xu Zimei continued, "Perhaps for some people on the Martial Path, it truly is about moving forward bravely without backing down.

Just like the Great Emperor of the Three Blades from the past, he took an extreme path – for him, there was no such thing as defense.

Even if he were to fall under someone else's blade, he would never back down, and his blades never knew fear.

But you're definitely not an extreme person like the Great Emperor of the Three Blades, otherwise you wouldn't be hiding in this small village, content to be a blacksmith.

Your sword should be able to advance or retreat freely, its sheath ready to split the heavens with sharpness, and once returned, it should conceal its brilliance and return to simplicity."

Hearing Xu Zimei's words, Shili Changkong's inner resolve began to waver, and he pondered for a long time.

It felt as though he had grasped something, but at the same time, he was even more confused.

...…

"I will leave tomorrow. The opportunity is yours to take; to me, a Martial Artist of the Esteem Vein Realm is not overly scarce. It's just that passing by here, I lamented the waste of talent," Xu Zimei stood up and slowly walked towards the house where he was staying.

"But for you, such an opportunity is not often encountered.

Even if someone can bring out a Great Emperor's Technique, it's not necessarily better suited for you than these two of mine."

...…

Watching Xu Zimei's receding figure, Shili Changkong furrowed his brows even more and lowered his head into deep thought for quite a while.

In the dead of night, Shili Changkong stood up resolutely, picked up the iron sword he had just forged, and walked step by step towards the interior of the village.

The Mad Wind kicked up dust everywhere; his figure gradually disappeared into the wind, the once thunderous reputation of the Sword Venerable seemed to have returned.

...…

A quiet night passed, and early the next day, sunlight peacefully shone down. Xu Zimei had cultivated all night and felt full of energy.

"It's strange, nothing happened last night," Feng Buyu said.

"Do you still hope we run into danger?" Xu Zimei replied with a smile.

He stretched lazily and then walked out of the house together with everyone else.

No sooner had they stepped out of the house than they felt something was amiss.

It was too quiet; the entire Hundred Desolate Village had plunged into deathly silence.

There was a faint smell of blood in the air.

Feng Buyu kicked open the doors of houses along the street, and a particularly pungent smell of blood emanated from inside.

All of the villagers had been killed in their sleep the night before, including Village Chief Wang Ta who had hosted them yesterday; he too lay in a pool of blood on his bed.

"Everyone, they're all dead," Feng Buyu said after a moment of silence.

"I finally understand what is amiss," Xiao Yu shouted from the side, "Since we arrived here last night, we haven't seen any elderly, children, or women; all the villagers are young, robust men."

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, everyone else also came to a realization.

"These people are definitely not ordinary villagers," Feng Buyu said, frowning in thought, "But who killed them then?"

"Shili Changkong, it seems you have made your choice," Xu Zimei remained calm throughout.

Even seeing the whole village slaughtered didn't surprise him in the slightest.

He fetched a bucket of water from the village well for himself and washed up as if nothing had happened.

"Junior Brother Zimo, do you know something?" Feng Buyu asked, puzzled.

He felt that Xu Zimei was too indifferent, not even frowning upon seeing so many dead people.

"Why concern ourselves with these matters? They're insignificant and meaningless," Xu Zimei said with a smile, shaking his head and then walking towards the outskirts of the village.

"Let's hurry on our way and try to reach Heavenly Sword City by noon."

...

Each person, lost in their own thoughts, rode their Desert Flying Horses slowly out of the village.

As they were about to reach the village entrance, a man suddenly ran out from a house nearby.

"Save me," the man, gravely injured and spitting blood continuously from his mouth, was on his last breath.

Xu Zimei dismounted and walked over to the man. Noticing the pleading look in the man's eyes, he drew the Curved Blade, Tyrant Shadow, from behind him.

With one strike, he split the man's body in two.

The man still had a pleading expression in his eyes as he died.

...

Feng Buyu wanted to say something but opened his mouth and, in the end, fell silent.

He thought Xu Zimei was too heartless. If they had saved the man, they might have discovered who had slaughtered the entire village.

Xu Zimei killing the only survivor meant that they had lost their lead.

Or was it that Xu Zimei had killed these villagers himself?

But Xu Zimei had been in his room all of last night and hadn't gone out.

...

Xu Zimei glanced at the Tyrant Shadow, wet with blood for the first time, and sheathed it.

Then, he mounted his Desert Flying Horse and galloped out of the village at a swift pace.

Now, not only was Feng Buyu unable to comprehend, but Xiao Yu and Tang Huaiyuan were also utterly puzzled.

Black Thirteen followed Xu Zimei quietly; he wasn't concerned with these matters.

His only duty was to ensure Xu Zimei's safety.

Lin Ruhu, as usual, was just a spectator, unfazed by everything. He had a very relaxed attitude.

He had absolute faith in Xu Zimei, believing that whatever Xu Zimei did, there was a reason for it.

If Xu Zimei wanted to tell him something, he would naturally do so; if not, Lin Ruhu wouldn't ask.

...

Having just left Hundred Desolate Village, they saw a man waiting for them up ahead.

Shili Changkong, dressed in white, was riding a cracked brown horse, with a golden Longsword hanging at his waist.

His black hair was draped over his back, his eyes sharp as swords, their penetrating gaze making it difficult for anyone to look directly at him. From a distance, he carried himself with an elegant demeanor.

"The people from this village were all bandits," Shili Changkong explained casually.