The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 385 Duan Yu: Don't spread rumors about my father
The riverbank is lined with steep, rocky hills, making it difficult to traverse; there isn't even a decent path.

Even if a martial artist came here, they wouldn't check their surroundings, let alone notice the hidden cave entrance below.

With Li Qiushui's jade statue on her shoulder, Xu Xingchen led the distraught Duan Yu for seven or eight miles until they came across a wild peach tree covered with dense fruit.

The two stopped, ate a hearty meal, and then continued on their way.

They walked for another ten miles before finally finding a small path.

Walking along the path until dusk, I finally saw an iron chain bridge spanning the river, with the three large characters "善人渡" (meaning "Crossing for Good People") written on the stones beside the bridge.

The iron chain bridge has four iron chains: two at the top and two at the bottom.

The bottom two planks are laid with wooden planks for people to walk on; the top two are used as handrails.

When Duan Yu saw the kind man crossing the iron chain bridge, he stopped muttering to himself, slapped his forehead, and said, "I remember now, Miss Zhong said that once we cross this iron chain bridge, we won't be far from her home!"

Xu Xingchen, having endured Duan Yu's constant buzzing all the way, was already quite impatient. He laughed loudly and said, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's cross the bridge quickly. Once we're across, we'll go our separate ways and pursue our own futures!"

Having said that, he strode onto the iron chain bridge, letting it sway gently as he walked steadily.

Upon hearing the words "we will part ways after crossing the bridge," Duan Yu became anxious and hurriedly followed. Just as he was about to speak to persuade them, he felt a sway beneath his feet. In a panic, he quickly grabbed the iron chains on both sides and looked down at the rapidly rushing and roaring river below, feeling a wave of dizziness.

Amitabha! Amitabha!

Duan Yu chanted Buddhist mantras in a low voice as he moved his feet shakily, inching his way across the iron chain bridge step by step.

Before he could catch his breath, Xu Xingchen, who was waiting to the side, said, "Brother Duan, we've been friends for a while now, and we've shared both wealth and hardship. Let's part ways here today, and meet again someday!"

Having said that, he was about to turn and leave when he felt his left leg being tightly grabbed. He turned back to look at Duan Yu at his feet and said helplessly, "Brother Duan, what are you doing?"

"Brother Xu, don't go." Duan Yu's mind raced, trying to think of a reason to keep Xu Xingchen here. He quickly put on a pleading expression: "I feel it's a bit dangerous for me to go find Miss Zhong's father alone. Please help me, Brother Xu."

Xu Xingchen asked with a smile, "How is it dangerous?"

Seeing that Xu Xingchen was willing to listen to him, Duan Yu quickly got up from the ground, still not daring to let go of Xu Xingchen's arm, and explained, "Miss Zhong once said that her father hates people with the surname Duan the most. If anyone with the surname Duan comes near his house, he will kill them."

Xu Xingchen thought to himself, "Now you've remembered this? But I remember when you entered Zhong Ling's house, you forgot Miss Zhong's instructions and exposed all your family's secrets in front of Miss Zhong's stepfather."

Thinking of this, he suddenly became interested and wanted to go and stir things up.

So he said, "Alright, since Brother Duan says so, I'll accompany you on this trip."

Duan Yu immediately beamed with joy, glanced at the jade statue on Xu Xingchen's shoulder, and thought to himself, "Fairy Sister, I can spend a little more time with you now."

The two wasted no time and followed the path Zhong Ling pointed out. After walking for half an hour, they arrived at a dark forest.

Duan Yu counted down from the fourth of the nine large pine trees in a row, then went around to the back, parted the weeds, and found a tree hole.

After the two went inside, they pulled out a copper ring from the withered grass, lifted a wooden plank, and revealed a stone staircase leading down.

After entering the underground passage and walking for a while, and turning several times, we finally reached a grassy area on the ground via another set of stone steps.

Ahead was another row of pine trees, and a path appeared and disappeared in the woods.

One of the pine trees had a large piece of bark stripped off its trunk and painted white with paint. Nine large characters were written on it: "Anyone with the surname Duan who enters this valley will be killed without mercy."

The other eight characters were all black, except for the character "杀" (kill), which was covered in blood and exuded a murderous aura.

Upon seeing this line of text, Duan Yu muttered, "Why does this Valley Master hate people with the surname Duan so much? Even if someone with the surname Duan has offended him, there are millions of people with the surname Duan in the world. He can't kill everyone!"

Xu Xingchen carried the jade statue and stood aside, carefully examining the inscription. He could almost feel the resentment and anger in the heart of the person who wrote it.

He said slowly, "Brother Duan, have you ever thought about this? If the Valley Master here could take revenge on his enemies, why would he need to stand here in such a powerless and furious manner, leaving behind this inscription?"

"So what?" Duan Yu looked over, puzzled.

Xu Xingchen pointed out, "I've heard you say that Zhong Ling's father should also be a renowned martial arts master; there aren't many people with the surname Duan in Dali, Yunnan, who could be so powerful that even a martial arts master couldn't defeat them; and who else could it be but a martial arts master with the surname Duan, besides the Duan family of Dali?"

His words were made entirely from the perspective of an omniscient and omnipotent reader, making a "prediction".

Anyone in this situation would never have made these connections.

Duan Yu was indeed bewildered by these words. After a long while, he shook his head and said, "Brother Xu, your words are a bit far-fetched. There are many martial artists with the surname Duan besides the Dali Duan family. Perhaps there are also Duan families from Jiangnan." Xu Xingchen smiled and further revealed, "I've heard that there's a man in your Dali Duan family named Duan Zhengchun. He's naturally charming and romantic, and in his youth, he was a ladies' man with countless female admirers. He was truly the envy of many."

Before Duan Yu, whose brows were furrowing even more, could utter a rebuttal, Xu Xingchen smiled meaningfully: "Brother Duan, do you think the Valley Master here harbors resentment because Duan Zhengchun stole his wife?!"

Duan Yu said angrily, "Brother Xu, don't talk nonsense. My father is indeed Duan Zhengchun. He has always loved my mother the most and has never had a concubine. How could he have so many female confidantes and be unfaithful everywhere?"

"Oh, so your father is Duan Zhengchun? My apologies! My apologies!" Xu Xingchen said, feigning surprise, then said apologetically, "I was very rude. I apologize to Brother Duan and ask for your forgiveness!"

Duan Yu was a mild-mannered scholar, and upon seeing this, his anger immediately dissipated. He said, "Brother Xu, please don't speak ill of my father in the future."

Xu Xingchen nodded, thinking to herself, "Was I talking badly about your father? It's all true; and there's even more shocking news to come, like your father sleeping with your fairy sister's daughter and even having your fairy sister's granddaughter. Tsk tsk tsk."

Duan Yu picked up the small hammer hanging on the tree trunk and tapped the character "Duan" in the line of text three times.

A metallic sound was heard, very loud.

After waiting a while, Xu Xingchen heard a woman's footsteps approaching quickly from behind the tree, followed by a cheerful girl's voice: "Miss, you're back!"

Duan quickly responded and recounted the incident of Miss Zhong's encounter with danger.

The young woman said somewhat flusteredly, "Please wait a moment, gentlemen, while I go and inform the madam!"

After saying that, he left in a hurry.

After a while, the girl's footsteps approached hurriedly again, and she turned around the tree trunk and came to the two of them.

The young girl, dressed as a maid, was about to speak to the two men when she saw a life-sized jade statue on the shoulder of one of the young men, and she froze in place.

She carefully examined the jade statue's perfect face, feeling both amazement and admiration, thinking to herself, "What a beautiful jade carving of a woman."

After a while, she composed herself and said to the two men, "Gentlemen, the lady invites you!"

She led the way, walking along a path through the pine forest for a while until they arrived at a wooden cabin.

The wooden house contains screens, calligraphy and paintings, as well as tables, chairs and benches.

The girl served tea to the two of them and then withdrew.

Xu Xingchen placed the jade statue next to the chair she was sitting in, glanced back at Duan Yu whose gaze was still fixed on the jade statue, picked up her teacup, and began to drink.

Amidst the tinkling of jade pendants, a middle-aged woman emerged from the back hall.

She was wearing a light green silk dress, and looked to be about thirty-six or thirty-seven years old. She had a round face and delicate features. If she were young, she would definitely have been a petite and lovely girl.

Upon hearing the voice, Duan Yu finally came to his senses. Seeing that the newcomer's features resembled Zhong Ling's, he quickly stood up, bowed, and clasped his hands, saying, "Junior Duan Yu greets Aunt!"

Xu Xingchen also stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "I am Xu Xingchen, greetings to Madam Zhong!"

As soon as Madam Zhong entered the hall, her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the jade statue beside Xu Xingchen. She was marveling at the beauty and lifelike appearance of the statue when she heard Duan Yu's words. She turned around and looked at Duan Yu, scrutinizing his face. Her voice was somewhat dazed as she asked, "You, your surname is Duan?"

Duan Yu regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. Now that Madam Zhong was asking him a question, he could not lie and respectfully replied, "Yes, my surname is Duan!"

Madam Zhong's expression became even more unusual, and she asked softly, "Where does the young master live? How is your father addressed?"

Xu Xingchen saw Duan Yu's brows furrow slightly and knew that the other party was going to lie. How could she let go of this opportunity to watch the show? So she spoke first: "He is from the Duan family of Dali. His father is called Duan Zhengchun!"

"Ah?!" Madam Zhong exclaimed in surprise. The change in her expression was so drastic that even Duan Yu, who was slow to react, could see it clearly.

When he saw that Madam Zhong's gaze had become unfocused as she looked at him again, and that she was slowly lost in memories, with her cheeks beginning to flush slightly, his heart skipped a beat.

The words Xu Xingchen had said earlier resurfaced in his mind, leaving him somewhat bewildered and uncertain.

Xu Xingchen watched from the sidelines with amusement; this memorable scene certainly did not disappoint.

Seeing that the two of them had fallen silent and remained silent for a long time
Xu Xingchen's eyes flickered slightly, and she said in a low voice, "I heard that when Duan Zhengchun was young, he was handsome, dashing, and had countless female admirers."

"Could it be... that Madam is also one?!"

(End of this chapter)