Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 104 Scent of a Sable

Azi grabbed Jiang Mingzhe and jumped out of the window to escape. Without stopping, they ran straight out of Wanjie Valley and saw Zuo Zimu, Xin Shuangqing, and more than ten Wuliang Sword masters standing outside the valley with gloomy faces.

A quick glance revealed that almost everyone was injured, but thankfully no one was dead.

Jiang Mingzhe stopped abruptly, surprised, and asked, "Have you all gotten into a fight with the number one villain?"

Zuo Zimu looked to his left and right, but everyone there was looking down at the ground. Left with no other option, Zuo Zimu had to answer himself, nodding awkwardly: "That fellow came out injured, saying that Prince Duan had allowed him to leave. We fought with him and found that what he said was mostly true, so we let him go."

Azi laughed heartily, and Jiang Mingzhe quickly covered her mouth, saying with relief, "Thank goodness you all let him go. If we had killed him directly, people would have said that the Prince of Zhennan was untrustworthy."

The members of Wuliang Sword all smiled and said, "Yes, that's exactly what we think. What's the big deal about sparing his life? It's a big deal if we tarnish the Prince's reputation."

Jiang Mingzhe said admiringly, "With such insight, you all will surely rise to high positions in the future, which will be a blessing for the common people."

After a few words, everyone was happy. Jiang Mingzhe claimed he had something to do and took his leave.

Once they were out of sight, Azi pulled her hand away and laughed so hard she almost passed out: "Hahahaha, big ginger, no wonder Master likes you... Oh dear, this is bad!"

Mentioning Ding Chunqiu, Azi suddenly remembered something and said pitifully, "Little Ginger is still at that brat's house, we forgot about him."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhong Ling laughed and said, "That girl Zi is incredibly stupid. Luckily, I thought of everything. Don't you think so, Brother Jiang?"

Azi turned around sharply and saw Zhong Ling carrying the double-layered basket that Jiang Mingzhe had specially made, chasing after her with great joy.

Azi tugged at Jiang Mingzhe and shouted, "Big Ginger, let's go!"

Jiang Mingzhe pulled her along and laughed, "Little Jiang, don't you want it?"

Azi pouted and stood still. Zhong Ling ran up to her, tugged at Azi's sleeve and said with a smile, "Little Zi, your father asked me to tell you that he wants Brother Jiang to take you to Jianhu Palace. When he comes back, he will take you to Zhennan Prince's Mansion and you will also meet the Emperor of Dali Kingdom."

Azi pursed her lips and shook her head, saying, "I'm not going. My mother isn't a princess. If I go to the palace, what will the real princess think of me? If I anger her and she poisons me, everyone will be unhappy."

Jiang Mingzhe laughed and said, "If you don't want to go, then don't go. But your father, although he hasn't fulfilled his responsibilities as a father, I don't think he doesn't love you. Today he risked his life to help you release your pressure points. If you weren't his daughter, would he have been such a fool?"

Azi said unhappily, "If he loved me, my sister and I wouldn't have been given away."

Jiang Mingzhe spoke gently and slowly, “So I won’t tell you that just because he’s your father you have to forgive him. You’ve been hurt, of course you have the right not to forgive. But sometimes, when people are young, they are full of vigor and always think they have many important things to do, so they inevitably neglect the people and things around them. When they get older, they regret many things in the past, but often it’s too late to regret.”

In this era, the mainstream values ​​were the hierarchical relationships between ruler and subject, father and son. Even a villain like Ding Chunqiu was deeply proud of his ancestral home, Qufu. Jiang Mingzhe's words sounded perfectly ordinary to later generations, but to Azi and Zhong Ling, they were heretical.

Both girls were in their adolescence, and upon hearing such a rebellious declaration, they felt their blood boil. Azi murmured, "He's my father, do I have the right not to forgive him?"

Zhong Ling nodded firmly: "Brother Jiang is definitely right, but when I think about your father, who is so old, sitting on the ground crying, I feel sorry for him. I think he must regret it now."

Azi pouted and said, "Hmph, let him regret it for a few more days then. They haven't cared about me for over ten years, they can't just regret it for a little while. I'll just let it go and let him regret it... regret it for seven days. Big Ginger, what do you say?"

Jiang Mingzhe smiled and said, "You can decide."

Zhong Ling looked at him admiringly: "Brother Jiang, you're not that old, how did you come up with those ideas?"

Azi said smugly, "He's a talented scholar from Qufu! Do you think he's some wild girl from the mountains like you? Big Ginger, where shall we go for these seven days?"

Jiang Mingzhe said, "There's a blacksmith shop at the foot of Wuliang Mountain. I had the blacksmith forge a fan sword for me. This Seven Child Sword is too conspicuous. I'll just use that sword normally. Let's go get the sword first, then go catch Little Jiang's friend, and finally go to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion in Dali to see your father, okay?"

He now wrapped the Seven Swords in several layers of silk, then covered it with an ordinary cloth and tied it to his back.

Zhong Ling clapped her hands and said, "Great! Great!"

Azi rolled her eyes at her: "We didn't say we were going to take you."

Zhong Ling smiled ingratiatingly, "Take me with you, I'll help you catch snakes, okay?"

Ah Zi remembered that she had activated all her acupoints and was about to catch the snake and neutralize its venom. After struggling for a moment, she finally nodded.

Having made their decision, the three decided not to go to Sword Lake Palace, but instead headed straight to the town where the blacksmith Dugu lived. They found an inn to stay at, spending their days catching snakes in the mountains and their evenings practicing their martial arts. On the appointed day, Jiang Mingzhe led the two women to Dugu's blacksmith shop. Upon arriving at the shop, they found the signboard gone. Just as Jiang Mingzhe hesitated, the young blacksmith emerged, exclaiming joyfully, "Great Hero Long, it's you..."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly saw two beautiful young girls with bright eyes and white teeth beside Jiang Mingzhe. She blushed and couldn't speak. She stammered twice, then turned and ran away, shouting, "Dad, Master Long is here!"

Upon hearing the commotion, the blacksmith came out with a beaming smile and said, "Master Long, your sword and scabbard are both ready. Please take a look and see if they fit you well."

Jiang Mingzhe then stepped into the courtyard and said with a smile, "I didn't see the sign at the gate. I thought I had come to the wrong place."

The blacksmith chuckled and said, “Master Long, you may not know this, but my father and I are originally from the Hebei region. Back when I was young and hot-blooded, I refused to forge a knife for a local bully, and he forced me to leave my hometown. We’ve been wandering here ever since. But a couple of days ago, I met a fellow villager who was doing business, and I learned that the bully had died a few years ago. That’s why I had the idea of ​​returning home. We’ll be heading home after we’ve finished handing over the work to you, Master Long.”

As they entered the house, they found that all the utensils and furniture were gone, presumably sold off in the past few days.

There was only a bed and a table left. Several neatly packed packages were piled on the bed, and on the table were the fan sword and scabbard made by Jiang Mingzhe.

The blacksmith took out a sword and fan and handed them over: "Master Long, take a look and see if they're suitable."

Jiang Mingzhe took the sword and practiced a few strokes. He found that the length, weight, and style were all just right for him. Upon closer inspection, he found that the material and workmanship were also extremely fine. He nodded with a smile and said, "Good craftsmanship, good craftsmanship. With such a good master gone, it will be difficult for the disciples of Wuliang Sword to use a good sword in the future."

As he spoke, he looked at the scabbard again, which was exactly what he had requested. The workmanship was extremely meticulous, with two compartments, one light and one dark, and a leather strap.

He placed the iron fan sword on Mingge, slung it across his back, and said with a smile, "Thank you both."

The father and son exchanged a glance, both beaming with smiles. The blacksmith said with a simple, honest smile, "I'm glad you're satisfied, I'm glad you're satisfied."

Jiang Mingzhe clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I also wish you and your son all the best. Okay, I'm off."

He walked out of the courtyard, but before he had taken two steps, the boy suddenly chased after him. Jiang Mingzhe stopped, and the boy, blushing, handed him a mask. It was probably carved from bamboo root and depicted a ferocious Zhong Kui, with a long beard made entirely of natural bamboo root.

Jiang Mingzhe put it on his face, and it fit perfectly. He exclaimed happily, "For me?"

The young man nodded vigorously, his face solemn, and said, "You gave me the money for this precious sword, but I have nothing good to give you in return, only this mask, which I think isn't too ugly. Great Hero Long, when I return to my hometown this time, my father will ask someone to introduce me to a sword-making school!"

Jiang Mingzhe laughed and said, "Very well, then I'll be waiting for your wine in the Jianghu."

The boy chuckled, scratched his head, nodded vigorously, and ran back into the house.

Zhong Ling immediately started chattering, asking, "What 'jianghu' and 'wine'? Brother Jiang, did you make plans to drink with that kid?"

Jiang Mingzhe, still wearing his mask, began to recount his experience at the blacksmith's shop last time. Before he had taken more than a few steps, the lightning weasel suddenly emerged from its leather bag, sniffed around a few times, and let out a sharp squeak.

Zhong Ling's expression changed, and she immediately said, "Oh dear, Diao'er seems to have smelled a familiar scent. Could it be my parents?"

Before she could finish speaking, the sable leaped to the ground, took a few steps, and turned back to chirp. Zhong Ling asked, "Where are you taking us?"

He asked the question, but his feet had already followed.

Azi said happily, "There must be something fun going on. It would be best if that brat's parents came to take her back and beat her up for me to see."

She was unaware that Zhong Ling had chased after them because she was inspired by her mother, who imagined Zhong Ling getting beaten up and dragged Jiang Mingzhe along in pursuit.

The three turned two corners and saw the lightning sable jump onto a carriage, which, along with more than ten horses, was tied outside a restaurant.

Azi asked curiously, "Is there a snake on the carriage? Otherwise, why would the lightning weasel come here?"

After saying that, she suddenly sniffed and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, isn't that the smell of the wooden figure? The wooden figure is on the carriage! And that horse, Zhong Ling, look, isn't that black horse the wooden figure's?"

Wooden figure?
Jiang Mingzhe was slightly taken aback, then realized that it was Mu Wanqing!
I thought to myself, I had forgotten about this girl. I was thinking of reminding her before, but now it seems too late. Without Duan Yu's help, she will most likely fall into the hands of Granny Rui and Granny Ping. I just don't know if there is a person or a corpse on that carriage.

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(End of this chapter)