Who taught him to practice swordsmanship like this?

Su Baichen carried a large basket of seafood back that day, intending to clean it and prepare a sumptuous seafood feast for his master.

The senior woman they met on the shallows was called Mizukage-hime. She didn't make things difficult for this kid who dared to come to her territory to pick seafood. She just asked him who his master was and then let him be.

"Where did you get this?"

Master Xuan Yin asked in surprise.

Su Baichen honestly replied, "I found it at Uncle Shuiyin's place. Uncle Shuiyin said I can visit often in the future."

Master Xuan Yin's face twitched slightly: "Junior Sister Shui Yin... never mind, if she tells you to go often, then go and visit often."

His expression seemed a little off as he spoke, as if he were in a daze... Something's not right. Is there a story behind this?

Su Baichen blinked, his eyes taking on a gossipy look.

He asked curiously, "Does Senior Shuiyin have a good relationship with Master?"

Master Xuan Yin gave him a flick on the forehead, annoyed: "Go cook your meal. Kids shouldn't meddle in adult matters!"

Su Baichen's forehead was hit hard, and he could only cover his head and continue working.

That night, he made garlic oysters, salt-baked prawns, and seafood with a shovel... basically, he just ate.

Su Baichen was just glad that cooking these seafood dishes didn't require much trouble. As long as they were cleaned and cooked, they would taste good no matter how they were prepared.

His days that followed seemed to mirror that day; he would occasionally go to the shallows to collect seafood and also deliver some of his master's cooking to the Water Princess.

Xuan Yin Zhenren unexpectedly possesses excellent culinary skills... perhaps this is related to his choice to anchor his own humanity through his love of food.

When Su Baichen secretly delivered the dishes made by Xuan Yin Zhenren to Shui Yin Ji, even though he never explained where they came from, and even though they were from the previous day, Shui Yin Ji was visibly delighted.

He became quite popular in these shallow waters, and Shuiyin Ji would even go into the water to catch a few palm-sized abalone for him to try.

Occasionally, Su Baichen would go fishing, but of course, he dared not go to the old man's fishing spot, lest another ideological conflict arise.

But to his surprise, every time he cast his fishing rod, the old man would come running over like he had radar, and then start hurling insults at him...

Su Baichen felt helpless, but he didn't give up fishing. After all, he found that the old man was actually enjoying it... Oh well, he would just consider it a way to care for elderly people living alone.

While he was strolling around, he ran to the very end of the covered bridge, the spot closest to the depths of Yinfeng Gorge.

No one actually lives here; there is only a sentry post that constantly observes the situation inside Yinfeng Gorge.

Su Baichen came here purely out of curiosity, to "explore the map".

Unexpectedly, there was a stern-faced 'sentinel' on the outpost. He was dressed as a military general, with snow-white hair and beard, and his eyes were fixed on Yinfeng Gorge without blinking. He was completely unaware of Su Baichen's arrival.

Su Baichen bowed respectfully from afar and then did not disturb them.

He was simply curious whether there was any good seafood in Yinfeng Gorge.

So he set off to fish from under the watchtower.

However, at that very moment, the old fisherman who always appeared whenever someone went fishing suddenly appeared, as if teleporting to the spot.

He said irritably, "What are you doing fishing here at Ice Face's place?"

"There aren't any good fish here. The yin energy is too heavy; no living thing can withstand it."

Su Baichen reached out and pulled on the fishing rod, suddenly lifting up a long, dark, strip-shaped thing.

This is a huge eel!

The old fisherman said irritably, "You're using illusion magic to fish again!"

Su Baichen said with a strange expression, "No, I haven't had a chance to use it yet."

At this moment, the 'old general' standing ramrod straight on the watchtower said calmly, "This is a ghost eel. It will eat anything. When it saw you put down the hook, it probably thought it was food."

Su Baichen immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Senior, is this fish edible?"

The old fisherman scoffed, "Go ahead and eat it if you're not afraid of getting a stomachache. I wonder what these things that live in Yinfeng Gorge eat to grow up."

The old general said, "Don't listen to that fisherman's nonsense. Although the ghost eel eats dirty food, its meat is delicious and has strong medicinal value. Eating its meat can, to some extent, help your Yin Sect disciples refine Yin energy."

Su Baichen asked in surprise, "Aren't you a senior from the Yin Sect?"

The old fisherman said solemnly, "Although this Ice Face isn't very powerful, his loyalty is commendable. He is the last defender of Yinfeng Pass."

Upon hearing this, Su Baichen immediately became respectful.

But then the old fisherman chuckled and said, "The problem is, this Yin Feng Pass hasn't had any problems for over a thousand years. I bet he won't see any ghosts coming out of Yin Feng Pass when he reaches the end of his life."

The old general said calmly, "Isn't that better?"

Su Baichen suddenly bowed and kowtowed respectfully to the old general, then said solemnly, "Senior, your righteousness is beyond my comprehension."

The old fisherman then fell silent.

The old general suddenly realized and said, "Is this the lad you chose to inherit my 'Guardian Sword Technique'?"

Su Baichen looked up in surprise, somewhat bewildered.

What kind of gate-guarding sword technique is this?

However, the old fisherman spoke up quietly, "I hadn't planned on this before, but now it seems like it might not be a bad idea... Do you think he'd be suitable?"

The old general said, "It's not easy to inherit this sword technique; one must gain the approval of each guardian spirit."

"He's still too young."

The old fisherman said nonchalantly, "Give it a try. Anyway, this sword technique will be passed down after you die."

Then he looked at Su Baichen and said, "Kid, your time has come."

"This Ice Face is the last guardian of Yin Wind Pass. Previously, the guardian clan had always lived next to our Yin Sect disciples, but their lineage has finally faced the risk of extinction. Therefore, our previous sect leader made an agreement with this Ice Face that he would leave his legacy to our Yin Sect before he passed away."

"In exchange, his responsibility of guarding the pass will be taken on by our Yin Sect."

"In other words, if something happens at Yinfeng Pass, our Yin Sect will be the first to bear the brunt, and we will not retreat even if we fight to the last man!"

"And you, as the one who has received the inheritance, must be at the forefront of the battle... Are you willing?"

Su Baichen's expression changed; he had no idea such a thing existed.

What a joke! He hasn't had enough fun yet, how could he possibly tie himself to this place and become a gatekeeper?

Ha, he'd never agree.

So he said, "I might not be able to do it..."

Before he could finish speaking, the old general suddenly threw a large, black sword at him...

"Don't rush to agree. Let's see if you can handle this kind of situation first!"

Su Baichen's pupils contracted; the greatsword was already in his hand.

Only then did the old general realize that Su Baichen seemed to be refusing, and an awkward expression appeared on his cold face.

However, the trial of inheritance had already begun the moment Su Baichen's hands touched that black greatsword...