Bitter Realm: My Feet Step Through the Flames of War

Chapter 431 The Three Great Strengths of the Sword Clan

The garden behind Yousentai was filled with murderous intent.

Gu Su pointed her sword to the innermost corner of the garden, where a pitch-black coffin sat.

"Xi Xueyi, today it's either you or me who dies."

"Bringing your coffin to battle, returning your sword to Gusu, I feel your determination."

"We've grown impatient, let's begin!"

Gu Su returned the sword, her long, messy hair whipping around. The sword, Dream Back to Gu Su, was suddenly drawn, leaving a streak of green across the sky.

At the same time, the snow-covered crane with its pine-like bones let out a clear cry and suddenly soared into the sky.

A pair of famous swords, two swordsmen, embark on a life-or-death duel.

Gu Su returned the sword and unleashed the ultimate move: "The Broken Sword at Dawn, the New Moon at Dawn, and the Rising Wind!"

The wind rises, the moon shines, and the snow falls. A sword brings back the prosperity of Suzhou in those years, like a dream of the past. In an instant, the snow-covered clothes are enveloped in a melancholy yet resolute sword intent.

"The three swords of the Sword Clan are indeed extraordinary; the brave warrior drew his sword, startling Huaisu!"

Gu Su Huan Jian and Xi Xue Yi are strikingly different in appearance and personality; one is rugged, the other refined. But in their sword intent at this moment, the rugged Gu Su Huan Jian is tender and affectionate, while the refined Xi Xue Yi is fierce and passionate.

The two swords stirred up a storm, then collided with a thunderous crash.

After exchanging a single move, the two realized that their opponent was a formidable opponent.

Gu Su Huan Jian laughed loudly, "Good, good, good! Only with such an opponent can we fight to our hearts' content! Second Watch Bright Moon - Brave Waves, drink!"

With a long shout, the sword intent transformed into waves, surging forth like a tidal wave, seemingly threatening to engulf everything.

"The crane's cry echoes throughout the heavens!"

Amidst the giant waves of sword light, the white crane soared high, lingering for a moment before swiftly descending, unleashing boundless sword intent.

boom!

Another earth-shattering collision occurred. In an instant, the waves subsided and the clouds dispersed, revealing the Crane Cloud Sword. Its unparalleled move forced both of them to retreat.

Gu Su, caught up in the heat of battle, shifted his sword intent and let out a long howl, a sound that was both a song and a cry, instantly moving the entire world.

"The moon shines bright at midnight, a long song of sorrow!"

The intense sword intent and the unforgettable song seemed poised to steal one's soul.

"Heaven does not spare the Lanting Pavilion!"

Suddenly, huge ink characters appeared in the air, floating like clouds, graceful as dragons, powerful and beautiful, instantly diluting the sword intent of Suzhou.

With ink flowing freely and swords flashing, Xi Xueyi poured out the pent-up emotions that had been hidden in her heart for so long, like an endless river, laughing at the world and looking down on the past and present.

Click!

The two swords clashed fiercely, sparks flying everywhere, and the attack swept across the garden like a hurricane, leaving it cracked in every direction.

"puff!"

Gu Su returned the sword but was defeated and retreated, vomiting a mouthful of crimson blood.

At that moment, Xi Xueyi swung her sword back again, arriving in an instant and thrusting it straight at Gu Su Huanjian's throat.

Without a moment's hesitation, Gu Su Huan Jian raised his sword to block, and with a loud bang, although he managed to block it, Gu Su Huan Jian was knocked back several steps.

He returned the sword to Gusu with his snow-white robes, but made no further moves.

"Was it precisely this move that caused Zhang Chou Wuqi to lose back then?"

Gu Su returned the sword, clutching his aching wrist, and asked.

"Indeed, what just happened was a replay of that day, but that time, Zhang Chou Wuqi's sword broke, so my sword pierced his throat."

"How?"

Xi Xueyi took out a broken sword from her bag and handed it to Gu Su to return the sword.

Gu Su returned the sword and carefully examined it, then lightly flicked his fingers to listen to the sound of the sword.

"Indeed, it is my friend's Full Night Snow Howl. It was personally crafted by the master craftsman Nie Han. It is said that Nie Han forged this sword with rare and exceptional iron, the Hundred-Toughness Steel. It can withstand strong attacks and break through hard ones. It can be broken but will never break."

At this moment, a figure hurriedly entered the back garden of Youxiantai.

"Let me explain the mystery."

Gu Su Huanjian glared at the unremarkable and somewhat unkempt man and demanded, "Who are you? Are you perhaps an accomplice hired by Xi Xueyi?"

"I am Nie Han, the one who forged the Night Snow Howl. I have come here at the invitation of the Eight-Colored Confucian Crane to explain the story of this sword to the great hero of Gusu."

"Since you are Nie Han, I will listen to what you have to say. If it is because of the sword, then Gusu will not be polite to you, the one who forged it."

Nie Han wiped the cold sweat from his brow, took the remaining part of the Night Snow Howl from Gu Su Huan Jian, and explained the problem with the sword to the two of them.

"Although the Night Snow Howl is made of Hundred-Tough Steel, it has its nemesis. Crimson Scale Water can completely change, or even destroy, the properties of Hundred-Tough Steel, making it brittle from the inside out, just like ordinary iron."

"Ok?"

With a gentle twist, Nie Han managed to break off a small piece of the sword and handed it to Gu Su to return the sword.

Sure enough, the sword shard was very fragile and showed faint red lines. These lines were obviously not recently forged, but formed naturally over a long period of time.

"What is Red Scale Water?"

Nie Han recalled, "I learned about how Crimson Scale Water can overcome Hundred-Toughness Steel from a long-lost book called 'Ten Volumes of Ancient and Modern Creations.' I never imagined that anyone in the world would know about this method."

"So someone tampered with Zhang Chou Wuqi's sword, causing him to die in battle with Xi Xueyi when the sword broke."

After Nie Han's explanation, Gu Su Huan Jian finally believed what Xi Xueyi had said before: there were hidden reasons behind Zhang Chou Wuqi's death. Gu Su Huan Jian certainly wanted to avenge his friend, but if there were other people behind his friend's death, he would also investigate.

"I have explained this matter clearly. I hope you can also find out the truth behind it. I still need to go back to forge iron. Goodbye."

"please."

After Nie Han left, Gu Su Huanjian plopped down on the coffin, took out a wine flask from his robes, and began to drink.

Xi Xueyi sheathed her sword, walked to his side, and said in a deep voice, "Regarding the death of Zhang Chou Wuqi, I suspect it is related to my sworn sister, Wen Shumei."

"Hmph! Isn't she already dead?"

Mentioning this woman, Gu Su Huan Jian was furious. His close friend had not only lost his life for her, but also his lifelong reputation. How could he not be enraged?

"The one who came to report her death was her close friend Langhuan. Langhuan died of grief afterward, but not long ago, I saw her at Youxiantai. The details are as follows..."

Xi Xueyi revealed the true identities of Zuo Qiumo and his sister to Gu Su Huanjian. He originally wanted to cover for Zuo Qiumo, but since it concerned the death of Zhang Chou Wuqi, Gu Su Huanjian would not give up if he did not explain.

"What?! They're a brother and sister spies from the demon clan!"

Gu Su Huanjian jumped up from the coffin in surprise.

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out: "Is this the truth you refuse to tell us?"

The two turned around and saw a scholar carrying a birdcage, walking in with a gloomy face. It was none other than Young Master Xiaona.

After Xi Xueyi left Yibi Chunqiu, Xi Yan'er disappeared. Ting San Tie was busy searching for her, and Xi Ru was in chaos. Gongzi Xiao Na couldn't stand it anymore, so he followed Xi Xueyi to Youxiantai.

"This concerns the Ghost Clan and Xueyi. How dare you conceal your knowledge of this matter?"

Faced with the young master's accusation of accepting the blame, Xi Xueyi lowered her head in protest, while Gu Su Huanjian coldly shouted, "Mind your own business!"

Chapter 432 Friend's Resurrection

Young Master Xiao Na doesn't talk much normally, but once he does, he talks a lot and is quite annoying.

For some reason, Gu Su Huan Jian just couldn't stand his arrogant attitude of having Xi Xueyi completely under his thumb.

He immediately added, "Moving your mouth and teasing the birds, is this the style of the Confucian school?"

Young Master Xiao Na naturally accepted without hesitation: "The Western Confucian Star who once amazed everyone at Taihe Palace abandoned his school without cause and failed to live up to the Court Master's high expectations. I have serious doubts about Xi Xueyi's sense of responsibility. Besides, only someone with Xi Xueyi's brain would believe that Miss Wen Shumei."

"Let's settle this with our swords!"

Having dispelled his suspicions about Xi Xueyi, Gu Su Huan Jian unknowingly found himself on Xi Xueyi's side, immediately drawing his sword and pointing it at the young master, Xiao Bao.

Xi Xueyi had no choice but to step forward and stand between the two.

"I do have some questions about my sworn sister, but the most important thing now is to find the Myriad Demon Desolate Rock, which is one of the three seals that seal the Yama Ghost Prison."

"What are the other two?"

Gu Su Huan Jian did not participate in the war between the Sword Clan and the Ghost Prison, so his understanding of the matter is not as good as that of Xi Xueyi.

"The second one is the Six Precepts Divine Seal of Zhang Qiu Wuqi, and the third one is the Seven Purification Immaculate Seal of the incantation personally set up by the Venerable Buddha."

“My friend possessed a special sword soul transformation technique. After his death, his soul should have been able to break that seal… So, only the seal of the Venerable Buddha remains unbroken?”

Xi Xueyi looked worried: "Although the Venerable Buddha has long since passed away, it cannot be ruled out that someone in the Western Buddhist Realm has obtained the Venerable Buddha's mantle and can break this seal."

"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and head to Westford to report this."

Gu Su's idea of ​​returning the sword was simple: to inform the Western Buddhist world of the seriousness of the matter, so that as long as the people of the Western Buddhist world did not break the seal, the Ghost Prison would not be able to escape.

Young Master Xiao Na coldly replied, "Didn't you connect all of these things?"

"If you have something to say, say it quickly, and if you have a fart, hurry up!"

The bird that the young master accepted was similar in color to Xi Xueyi. Judging from the way he teased the white bird, Gu Su Huan Jian always felt that he was secretly targeting Xi Xueyi.

"The fact that Zhang Chou Wuqi's sword was tampered with proves that this is a conspiracy. So who wants him dead? And who can benefit from his death?"

"Yama's Ghost Prison!"

"Zuo Qiumo and his younger sister are undercover agents in Ghost Prison. What about Wen Shumei?"

"It's inextricably linked to the Ghost Prison!"

"Since Langhuan once appeared at Youxiantai, the relationship between Youxiantai and Ghost Prison becomes quite intriguing, don't you think, Xi Xueyi?"

Xi Xueyi pondered and said, "The Wanxiao Desolate Rock was also lost at Youxiantai. Back then, I booked a room, but in reality, I hid the Wanxiao Desolate Rock in another room."

“The people from Ghost Prison must have been searching here for a long time, and their undercover agents may even be from Youxiantai.”

The young master accepted the conclusion with a smile.

The three pondered the suspicious figures in Youxiantai. The madam, Mang Susu? Such a greedy and despicable person didn't seem like it.

The musician, the maid, the servant... none of them seem like it.