Section 1
Huang Dajia collapsed to the ground, desperately trying to circulate his energy to alleviate his internal injuries. However, a gust of wind swept behind him, and he was immobilized at his acupoint. A hand reached from behind, pried open his mouth, and stuffed a pill inside. Then, a small porcelain bottle was thrust into his bosom. Huang Dajia could only discern from that hand that it belonged to another person. The sword thief had accomplices.
After gazing at it for a long time, Master Langyue let out a long sigh: "The one who wields the sword must possess a nature as cold as ice; those who harm the world become mere slaves to the sword."
Forty-nine days have passed, and on the final night of achievement, Master Langyue of the Good Quality Weapons was invited by Huang to witness the forging of the sword.
The snowy night is clear and cloudless, the world is bright and serene
He has decided to present this seemingly sentient sword to King Xuan. Only King Xuan can wield such a precious sword. Moreover, he has decided to name this sword "Jinghun," as he foresees that it will astonish the world
Huang Qian tightly grasped the silk scarf. It was evident that the other party had ulterior motives, using this method to coerce Shijian Lu.
Huang did not see him off. He gazed fascinatedly at the oblivious sword. The blade was as clear as a thin sheet of ice under the moonlight. He had never felt so exhausted, nor had he ever felt such joy in books. This was the most fulfilling moment of his life. This sword would surely be able to compete with the roaming dragon, and his name would be passed down along with it
In the snowy field, the wind rises gently. Huang Dajia grips the hilt of his sword, lightly shaking it against the wind, as a clear and bright whistle carries across the plains. The moonlight and the snow's radiance intertwine, illuminating the flickering and elusive shadows of the long sword.
Upon seeing that piece of iron, Huang was overwhelmed with excitement. During the campaign to the East Sea, he had witnessed the Dragon Sword used by King Xuan, which could sever jade with its sharpness and coil around one's fingers with its softness. In the sea breeze, it sang with a dragon's roar; reflecting the sunlight, the sword's light flickered and danced as if it were alive, captivating his heart and mind.
Three days later, at the wedding of his second grandson, Lei Ting, Lei Wanchun, the leader of the Pili Hall in Changzhou, was stabbed. The assassin, having used a substitution trick, disguised as the bride and infiltrated the Pili Hall. At the moment of the ceremony, they suddenly attacked, using a poisoned hairpin to stab Lei Wanchun in the instep. Lei Wanchun decisively severed his injured left foot to save his life. Being elderly and weakened, this severe injury left his health significantly diminished. The Pili Hall took all necessary precautions to guard against further attacks from the assassin and began investigating the origins of the assassin who had bitten down on the poison hidden in their mouth before committing suicide. Consequently, they were unable to attend the birthday celebration at the Tianji Mansion and could only send a gift through an intermediary.
At the moment the furnace was opened, the birds and beasts dwelling in the nearby forest screeched and scattered in flight, and the heavens and earth dimmed. When the blazing red long sword became clear and cold in the snow water, and was fitted with its hilt, they all felt the chilling aura that spread like water, slowly and quietly penetrating through their clothing, seeping into their skin, and further into their bones.
Someone is gently laughing in the forest
In the early winter of the eighth year of the Xianchun era, the owner of the Kuaiji Sword Testing Lodge, Master Huang, was preparing to personally forge a small axe as a gift for the seventieth birthday of the esteemed Mr. Fang Tianji of the Taihu Tianji Mansion when he unexpectedly came into possession of a piece of mysterious Yin iron
The one who brought the iron was a disciple named Long Qian, who had just returned from Jiangbei. He obtained this piece of iron from a Goryeo merchant, said to be an ancient sacred object of a tribe, which reportedly fell from the night sky many years ago
Huang Dajia gently touched the cold, gloomy iron, his hand involuntarily trembling slightly
Having said this, he stood up and left
How can he save his father while avoiding falling into the other party's trap? He couldn't help but think of that piece of Xuan Yin iron, which he felt was an ominous object upon first seeing it. Indeed, it has proven to be so; that sword, which his father firmly believed would astonish the world and move the spirits, brought disaster the moment it came into existence
He will forge a sharp sword that can contend with the world
The red glow of the furnace dims even the brightness of the moon. Master Huang listens to the sounds from the furnace, as if he can hear the sorrowful weeping of the iron: I was once a stone used to mend the heavens, yet I have fallen into the mortal realm, subjected to countless forges, held captive by the mundane world, unable to attain freedom. In his heart, Master Huang murmurs to comfort it: There is no path to mend the heavens, but you will never be reduced to a mere object in the hands of mortals.
It was a sword from a foreign land, and for a hundred years, no one knew its forging method—except for Master Huang. After examining the sword meticulously, he realized that he could forge it himself, but it was difficult to find a good piece of iron
On a moonlit night, Huang gathered everyone to stoke the fire. He would harness the essence of the moon and the stars to achieve the sword's ultimate yin quality. Therefore, he instructed his disciples to prepare the birthday gifts for the following year and not to disturb him
Huang Dajia was taken aback as the two young attendants guarding the furnace rushed into the forest. However, he sensed a rustling sound behind him and instinctively thrust his sword backward. A white figure, accompanied by a faint, cool fragrance, suddenly appeared beside him, evading the sword's edge, and reached out to grasp the sword's hilt, attempting to forcibly snatch the treasured sword from Huang Dajia's hand. Huang Dajia quickly pulled back with his right hand and pushed forward with his left palm, but the figure gracefully dodged, its icy fingers still gripping the hilt, while the other hand surprisingly grasped the cold, jade-like blade. The flexible blade bent under the pressure of the figure's palm, its tip pointing directly at Huang Dajia's lower abdomen. Huang Dajia swiftly sidestepped and struck towards the masked person's chest. The figure suddenly flipped and leaped, still not releasing the hilt, while the other hand struck towards Huang Dajia's face. Huang Dajia tilted his head to meet the attack, but the masked person, as supple as a willow, flipped in mid-air, landing both feet on the top of Huang Dajia's head, delivering two completely different forces—one hard and one soft. Huang Dajia felt a wave of dizziness before nearly collapsing, and the masked person seized this opportunity to exert more force and snatch the sword away. With a foot on Huang Dajia's shoulder, the figure used the leverage to spring up and flew into the forest. Huang Dajia, furious, hurled an iron hammer and pliers, but the figure did not look back, instead swinging the sword in a reverse motion. A faint white light flashed, and the heavy hammer and pliers could not withstand the gentle sweep of the slender sword, clattering to the ground. The figure then vanished into the woods.
Huang Dajia's eldest son, Huang Qian, hurriedly called his junior disciples to carry his father back to his bedroom, while simultaneously sending someone to quickly summon a doctor. The white porcelain bottle in Huang Dajia's arms fell to the ground. Upon picking it up, he noticed two characters written on the bottle cap: "Antidote." He unscrewed the cap and pulled out a thin silk scarf, which detailed the method of administering the antidote, stating that nine bottles must be taken consecutively to completely neutralize the poison.
And today he finally met.
The longevity banquet at the Tianji Mansion had not yet begun, but it was already shrouded in a layer of shadow
In the early hours of the morning, the disciples came to congratulate Master Huang on the forging of the treasured sword, only to find his cold, stiff body sitting in the snow, with only a trace of warmth remaining in his chest. Two furnace attendants had also perished in the forest.
Due to such a significant event, the Huang family was unable to send someone to the Tianji Mansion to celebrate the birthday, and could only use a carrier pigeon to inform them of everything that had transpired here. The birthday gifts were entrusted to the nearby Tian family to be taken to Taihu.