The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 454 Duan Yu: I have another little sister.
Xu Xingchen sheathed his sword, looked at the smooth, mirror-like surface of the stone table where it had been severed, and gently shook his head.

He thought to himself, "This testing method is no longer effective in determining just how much the power of this sword beam has increased."

However, being able to integrate the sword energy of the Six Meridians Divine Sword once again is ultimately something to celebrate.

Xu Xingchen returned to the house, closed the door, and extinguished the candles in the four lanterns.

Back on the bed, I sat cross-legged and quickly entered a state of tranquility.

Silent all night.

The next morning, the same maid from the previous day brought breakfast again.

After finishing her meal, Xu Xingchen didn't waste any time and went straight to the Langhuan Jade Cave to begin reading the martial arts manuals on the bookshelf.

Whether it was Wang Yuyan or Murong Fu, they all carefully read, studied, and memorized the martial arts manuals in the Langhuan Jade Cave, one by one. Murong Fu, in particular, also practiced them diligently.

Murong Fu's mastery of martial arts from all schools and sects was not only due to his exceptional martial arts talent, but also to his extraordinary effort and diligence.

It is a process of building the foundation of martial arts step by step, from the bottom up.

Xu Xingchen, on the other hand, had accumulated and studied martial arts over several worlds, reaching an extremely high level and gaining a deeper understanding of some of the ultimate principles and essence of martial arts.

Now, when we look at the martial arts manuals in the Langhuan Jade Cave again, we have a comprehensive understanding, and many things become clear at a glance.

Therefore, he read very quickly, just like yesterday, skimming through ten lines at a glance, and each book took him very little time to read.

Throughout the day, he read nearly a hundred martial arts manuals.

Very little of it could offer him any insight.

By the third day, Xu Xingchen's reading speed had increased even further, and by evening she had read through all the books in the Langhuan Jade Cave.

On the morning of the fourth day, when Xu Xingchen bid farewell to Madam Wang, Madam Wang was stunned.

"Master Xu, you...you've seen all the martial arts techniques in the Langhuan Jade Cave?"

"I've skimmed through it and gained some insights. Thank you for your hospitality these past few days, Madam Wang."

"It's good that Master Xu has made some gains!"

Madam Wang personally saw Xu Xingchen off at the courtyard gate, watching her descend the steps and jump onto the small boat, her face filled with sighs and lamentations.

Although she had overestimated Master Xu's martial arts skills, the speed at which he could peruse all the martial arts manuals in Langhuan Jade Cave within three days still far exceeded her expectations.

Clearly, what they were so proud of, the Langhuan Jade Cave, might not be anything special in other people's eyes.

As for Master Xu's pretense of mystery, she only pondered it for a moment before discarding the impossible idea.

In the waterways of the reed marshes.

Xu Xingchen stood on a ferry and said with a smile to the boatman, "I didn't expect that you would be the one to take me back. It's fate!"

The boatman surnamed Wang was noticeably more respectful than when he picked up Xu Xingchen at the lakeside dock a few days ago, and humbly said, "It is my honor to be able to pick up and drop off Master Xu."

Xu Xingchen watched the reeds receding slowly on both sides and asked curiously, "That day, after I left, did Young Master Murong and the Tibetan Grand Preceptor Kumārajīva both want to return to Canhe Manor with me?"

The boatman surnamed Wang said, "Yes, the two of them returned to Canhe Village together."

"Have you seen your young lady at Canhe Village?"

"After returning, I happened to see Miss."

"Is your young lady very worried about Young Master Murong?"

"."

The boatman surnamed Wang did not remain silent, nor did he answer this somewhat inappropriate question.

Xu Xingchen then asked, "A few days ago, Young Master Murong declared that he would host a banquet in Suzhou to entertain the martial arts heroes who came looking for trouble, saying he wanted to give them an explanation? Has there been any result regarding this matter?"

The boatman, surnamed Wang, said, "This should have happened yesterday; I'm not entirely sure."

Xu Xingchen seemed to be deep in thought, and after a moment, they started talking about other topics.

The two exchanged questions and answers as the ferry leisurely moved forward on the lake, passing through several reed beds and turning through several waterways.

An hour later, the ferry emerged from the reeds, and the lakeside dock could be seen in the distance.

Today, the dock has returned to its former tranquility, with only a few small boats moored and rocking.

All those densely packed martial arts figures from a few days ago have vanished without a trace.

A third of an hour later, Xu Xingchen went ashore, bid farewell to the boatman surnamed Wang, and turned to leave. He did not return to Dayu Manor, but instead went to Suzhou City.

I intended to find a random restaurant, have some tea and a meal, and perhaps inquire about how Murong Fu entertained the group of martial arts heroes yesterday.

Unexpectedly, I saw a familiar figure at the second-floor window of a restaurant.

As soon as you stepped across the threshold of the restaurant, a waiter came forward and called out loudly, "Sir, please come in. Would you like to dine in the main hall or on the second floor?"

Xu Xingchen said, "Let's go upstairs!"

"Please follow me, sir!" The waiter called out and led the way, taking Xu Xingchen to the second floor.

Under the waiter's surprised gaze, Xu Xingchen walked to a table near the window and smiled at the white-robed young man sitting opposite him, saying, "Brother Duan, it's been a long time. I didn't expect to run into you here."

Duan Yu, who was drinking alone in sorrow, heard this familiar voice that left a deep impression on him. He quickly looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "It's Brother Xu!"

Xu Xingchen sat down opposite and said to the waiter who had followed her over, "Bring me some of your restaurant's signature dishes, both meat and vegetables, both hot and cold, and a pot of good tea."

"Alright, sir, please wait a moment, it'll be right there!" The waiter bowed and quickly went downstairs.

Xu Xingchen shifted his gaze to Duan Yu. Although he had some guesses in his mind, he still asked curiously, "Brother Duan, did you come to Suzhou alone?"

Duan Yu swallowed the wine in the white porcelain cup in one gulp, put the cup down, and said with a wry smile, "I didn't come here for sightseeing. I was captured by the Tibetan national teacher, Kumārajīva, and brought all the way from Dali to here."

"The world's ability to repair the storyline is truly tenacious. Even though I changed some things, Duan Yu was still brought to Suzhou by Kumārajīva." Xu Xingchen's thoughts flashed through his mind, but he continued to ask, "Then why did Kumārajīva capture you? Where is he now?"

Duan Yu said, "Kumārajīva captured me for the Six Meridians Divine Sword of my Duan family; he should still be at Murong Fu's residence."

Then he briefly recounted what had happened.

It turned out that Duan Yu had been taken to Canhe Village by Kumārajīva, who threatened to burn him in front of Murong Bo's grave.

Two young women in Canhe Village, seeing that Duan Yu was handsome and had a pleasant voice, felt sorry for him and devised a plan to rescue him. They then temporarily settled him on a small island.

Yesterday, I just brought it back to Suzhou by boat.
While Duan Yu was narrating, the restaurant waiters brought up the dishes and tea that Xu Xingchen had ordered.

Xu Xingchen poured herself a cup of tea, took a small sip, and nodded in appreciation of its mellow aroma and sweet aftertaste.

After listening to Duan Yu's story, Xu Xingchen asked curiously, "Now that you have broken free from the control of the Tibetan national teacher Kumārajīva and regained your freedom, why do you still look so worried?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Yu's face grew even more bitter. He picked up the wine jug, poured himself a cup of wine, and gulped it down. Then he looked up at Xu Xingchen opposite him, his gaze filled with extreme resentment and complexity: "Brother Xu, I...I've seen another...sister."

"Another younger sister?" Xu Xingchen feigned surprise. "Is this the third younger sister besides Zhong Ling and Mu Wanqing?"

The deep sorrow between Duan Yu's brows was almost palpable. He nodded with difficulty and said, "That's right, it's the third sister, and, and that sister looks exactly like a fairy sister."

He had expected his hesitant words to elicit surprise and further questions from Xu Xingchen, but to his surprise, Xu Xingchen calmly replied, "Oh, so you've met Miss Wang before!"

Duan Yu's eyes widened in surprise, and he asked, "Brother Xu, you...you've also seen the Fairy Sister?"

Xu Xingchen laughed: "I have indeed met her, but Miss Wang should be younger than you, so you should call her 'little sister.' Even if you still can't let go of your fairy sister, you should still call her 'fairy little sister.'"

Duan Yu murmured the words "fairy sister" to himself, and after a long while, he smiled bitterly and said, "It doesn't matter, they're all my sisters."

Xu Xingchen picked up her chopsticks and ate a couple of bites of food. She could clearly feel that the chef at this restaurant was quite skilled, and his food was in no way inferior to that of Mantuo Manor.

After putting down his chopsticks, he looked at Duan Yu meaningfully: "You should know that you can marry your three younger sisters."

Mentioning his complicated birth, Duan Yu's sorrowful expression was instantly tinged with an unspeakable sadness.

"Brother Xu, stop talking, I...I..."

He uttered the word "I," but ultimately didn't say the rest.

Because he didn't know how to evaluate the matter, who was right and who was wrong among his biological father, his biological mother, and his "stepfather".

But he knew that he was the most innocent one.
Xu Xingchen didn't rub salt into his wounds. While eating, she changed the subject: "What are your plans next? Where are you going?"

Duan Yu downed two more cups of wine, the overwhelming intoxication making his face slightly flushed: "I don't know where I should go either. The world is so vast, yet there's nowhere left for me to belong."

Xu Xingchen comforted him, "Don't be so discouraged. You are destined to become the emperor of Dali!"

Duan Yu, his eyes still blurry with drunkenness, said, "Brother Xu, given my background, how could I still become the emperor of Dali?"

Xu Xingchen said, "Of course, your father Duan Zhengchun only has you as his son, your uncle has no children, and your biological father's hopes are on you; in the future, if you don't become the emperor of Dali, who will?!"

Duan Yu smiled wryly, said nothing, and kept drinking.

After a while, Xu Xingchen, having eaten and drunk his fill, suggested, "Why don't you stay at my villa for a while?"

(End of this chapter)