Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 4 Trouble at the Sword Washing Pool

Ning Fusang remained quiet and obedient, which, to put it bluntly, meant she was completely unresponsive. Yu Wanwu's anger was trapped inside, feeling stuck and frustrated.

He issued an ultimatum: "The three-year punishment is over. Once the new disciples are accepted into the sect, you must attend classes with them!"

"Ning Fusang." Yu Wanwu's voice was deep, but his tone had softened considerably. "Your choice to join the Southern Star Sword Sect shows that you want to learn swordsmanship. Since you want to learn swordsmanship, then learn it well and don't waste your talent."

"The disciples who joined the sect at the same time as you, except for a few, have all reached the second level of cultivation. At this time, the gap in cultivation level is small, and you can still catch up. But when the gap widens, the effort required to catch up will be far beyond what you can see at a glance now."

After Yu Wanwu finished speaking, Ning Fusang said calmly:

"I understand. I will attend classes with them starting today."

"I hope you truly understand," Yu Wanwu sighed, put his hands behind his back, and left.

Ning Fusang withdrew his gaze and walked towards the Sword Washing Pool.

Before entering the inner sect, all disciples of the Southern Star Sword Sect use Xuan Tie swords. After class each day, these swords are sent to the Sword Washing Pool and cleaned by the handyman disciples.

Ning Fusang was punished to go to the Sword Washing Pool three years ago. She has washed countless swords, and now, even with her eyes closed, she can wash a long sword until it shines.

Bang-dang——!
A rusty iron sword was thrown onto the mountain of swords piled up beside Ning Fusang, and the unstable stack of longswords clattered and shattered all over the ground.

Some of the iron swords slid into the sword-washing pool, splashing water all over Ning Fusang.

She opened her eyes, her gaze cold and indifferent, and looked at the person who had thrown the sword.

Across from the sword pool stood a young girl in plain white clothes. She grinned, her eyes filled with mockery: "I accidentally threw the sword off course. Junior Sister Ning shouldn't hold it against me, right?"

After such an incident, how could the other disciples continue washing their swords? The sound of sharpening swords by the pool came to an abrupt halt.

Ning Fusang's face was frosty, and everyone was afraid that the two would start fighting on the spot, so they held their breath and dared not breathe.

The atmosphere was heavy, but Ning Fusang suddenly smiled.

Everyone's tense hearts suddenly tightened.

Ning Fusang made a sword incantation with her fingers, and the rusty iron sword flew into her hand, waded through the water, and pierced the girl's left shoulder.

"Of course I'll hold a grudge." Ning Fusang's voice was indifferent as she glanced at her. "I, Ning Fusang, am vengeful. Is this the first time you've known that?"

He released his sword and walked straight outside.

A gust of wind from a sword grazed Ning Fusang's cheek, but the girl ignored the wound on her shoulder and thrust her sword toward Ning Fusang's heart.

Ning Fusang's gaze turned cold, and he casually summoned an iron sword, holding it in front of him to block.

It's sizzling!

Sparks flew!

Swords clashed, the clang of metal echoing through the cliffs.

"Knowing that Ning Fusang has a bad temper, why does Cai Lian still keep provoking her!"

Everyone had seen who started the trouble earlier, and seeing the two fighting right there in the Sword Washing Pool, they couldn't help but feel resentful.

Their commotion is wasting everyone's time. When will they be able to wash all these swords? He wants to finish washing the swords as soon as possible so he can start cultivating.

As a disciple engaged in menial tasks, he didn't have much time to cultivate.

Some people gleaned a vague impression: "It seems that when they were still in the outer sect, Cai Lian and Ning Fusang already had a grudge against each other."

"Weren't they the same year they entered the sect? What kind of conflict could they possibly have in the outer sect?"

Someone remembered this clearly: "Cai Lian entered the sect eight years ago, and Ning Fusang three years ago."

"Cai Lian was not in good condition during the outer sect competition and failed to achieve good results. She became an inner sect disciple but continued to stay in the outer sect. All the newly admitted disciples were assigned to the outer sect. It was probably around that time that the conflict arose."

"Regardless of their past grievances, Ning Fusang went too far by directly injuring her." "Cai Lian only threw a sword; she didn't actually hurt her. Why make such a fuss about it?"

“If Cai Lian hadn’t insisted on provoking Ning Fusang, would Ning Fusang have bothered with her? Giving her a lesson will teach her a lesson so that the Sword Washing Pool won’t be peaceful.”

After hearing the second half of the sentence, those who had spoken up for Cai Lian didn't say anything more.

They just wanted to clean their swords quietly, and ideally, nothing else would happen on a daily basis.

Amidst the flurry of swordplay, someone couldn't help but speak:
"Cai Lian has been a disciple for eight years. Can Ning Fusang possibly defeat her?"

One of them sneered, "Cai Lian at least spent a few years in the outer sect, while Ning Fusang only entered the sect a short time ago before being punished and sent to the Sword Washing Pool. How could she possibly defeat Cai..."

Before the last word was even uttered, the outcome was already decided.

Cai Lian was knocked away from his sword and fell into the cold sword-washing pool, looking disheveled.

"Ning Fusang actually won?"

Many people were surprised by the result, but the facts were undeniable.

bang-

The longsword was thrown to the ground. When everyone came to their senses, they saw Ning Fusang walking out, so they called out to her.

"Junior Sister Ning, where are you going? You haven't finished washing your sword yet."

If she leaves, wouldn't all those swords end up in the hands of other people?

This is not okay.

The man shook his head inwardly.

Ning Fusang didn't even turn his head: "I won't wash my sword today."

She left gracefully, leaving the crowd somewhat bewildered.

"Ning Fusang just left like that?"

"She's stopped washing her sword?"

"This is a complete disregard for the sect's rules! Ning Fusang is acting far too arrogantly!"

"Hmph, if Ning Fusang knew the rules, why would she have been punished by being sent to the Sword Washing Pool!"

"She just abandoned her post and left today. I'm definitely going to tell Steward Mo!"

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation and did not notice the arrival of a middle-aged female cultivator in a black robe.

The female cultivator glanced around, her brows furrowed tightly, but she had more important things to do now, and she could ask about these things later.

Hearing everyone talking about Ning Fusang, the female cultivator asked, "Are you all talking about Ning Fusang? I happen to need to speak with her. Where is she?"

Everyone quickly stood at attention and said in unison, "Greetings, Steward Mo."

Immediately, someone looked up and replied, "Reporting to Steward Mo, Ning Fusang just left, saying she's not going to wash her sword anymore."

Mo Guihua's brows twitched. She thought to herself that since Ning Fusang had left the Sword Washing Pool, she must know that the Sect Leader had pardoned her. She hadn't expected Ning Fusang to be even more well-informed than she was.

Mo Guihua looked at the messy scene, her eyes narrowed, and she was angry without being intimidated: "What happened to all these swords lying around and the signs of a fight?"

Someone recounted the whole story without taking sides. Cai Lian turned pale and knelt down abruptly to defend herself:
"This disciple only intended to throw the sword to Jin Xue, but my aim was off, and I accidentally bumped into the pile of swords next to Ning Fusang. Please understand, Steward, Cai Lian had absolutely no intention of causing trouble!"

The girl named Jin Xue, Cai Lian's best friend, stepped forward upon hearing this: "Steward Mo, you are wise. Cai Lian really only wanted to give me the sword. It was Ning Fusang who stabbed Cai Lian first, and only then did Cai Lian draw her sword to retaliate."

Mo Guihua had worked her way up in the sect to reach her current position through hard work and struggle. She had seen too many framing and schemes, and she could see through Cai Lian's tricks at a glance.

(End of this chapter)