Ling Tian Sword God

”Is the fragment of the Sword Immortal Poetry really in your Qingcheng Palace?” Ling Chen couldn’t help but ask.

It would be impossible for Tang Long and his men to go to such great lengths, even wiping out the entire Qingcheng Palace sect, without a valid reason. If the Sword Immortal Poetry truly was an heirloom from the Taibai Sword Immortal, the actions of the Tang Sect would hardly be surprising. It was rumored that the Taibai Sword Immortal’s swordsmanship had reached a mystical level, the essence of his swordsmanship all contained within his poetry. Even Saints would desire swordsmanship of such caliber.

”I really don’t know.” Luo Xian’er shook her head. ”My father never mentioned the Sword Immortal Poetry to me. I don’t know why the Tang Sect is targeting our Qingcheng Palace, or why they’re convinced the fragment of the Sword Immortal Poetry is with us.”

However, Ling Chen was doubtful. Tang Long and his men slaughtered the entire Qingcheng Palace but spared only her. There was likely a reason for that. His eyes glittered as he looked at Luo Xian’er and asked, ”Did your father give you any heirlooms before he died, or instruct you to go somewhere or find someone?”

Since Tang Long and his men were convinced the fragment of the Sword Immortal Poetry was on Luo Xian’er, then it was highly possible the fragment was indeed on her person.

”An heirloom?” After a brief moment of thought, Luo Xian’er shook her head. ”’No heirlooms. Wait.’ Her eyes suddenly lit up as though remembering something. ’My father told me to find my Senior Brother Shen Qianlang, give him the message ’Big River, Incense Burner Purple Smoke,’ and tell him that he absolutely must endure humiliation and strive to restore our sect.’”

”I see.” Ling Chen stroked his chin and nodded thoughtfully. In that case, the fragment of the Sword Immortal Poetry was likely in her Senior Brother Shen Qianlang’s hands. Or rather, the clue to the fragment had to be with him. The key to this should lie in those eight words: ’Big River, Incense Burner Purple Smoke.’

Ling Chen then showed a dawning understanding. ”However, this is purely my conjecture. We’ll have to find your Senior Brother to know for sure.”

”My Senior Brother is a free spirit and unpredictable. Those who wish to find him will not find it easy,” Luo Xian’er said with a worried look.

At that point, Ling Yin came over, took Luo Xian’er’s arm, and said cheerfully, ”It seems the treasure of your Qingcheng Palace is with your Senior Brother! Sister Xian’er, you should come with us; my brother and I will definitely help you find your Senior Brother.”

”Right, Brother Ling Chen?” Ling Yin looked directly at Ling Chen, blinking deliberately as she spoke.

”I never said that,” Ling Chen shook his head.

Hearing this, Luo Xian’er’s eyes dimmed slightly. She reasoned that Ling Chen truly had no obligation to get involved in this messy affair. After all, they were strangers. Ling Chen and Ling Yin had already saved her life, an immense kindness. How could she dare ask for more?

”However, Miss Luo, if you truly have nowhere else to go, my sister and I will naturally see things through and help you find your Senior Brother,” Ling Chen said after observing the change in Luo Xian’er’s expression and contemplating for a moment.

He’d already saved her and offended the Tang Sect. At this point, helping a little more or a little less wouldn’t make much of a difference. Besides, they were new to this Central Dynasty and didn’t understand it well. It wasn’t the time to visit the Liu Family yet. First, they needed to understand the situation in the Nine Provinces Land, gather more information about the Liu and Ling Families, and then plan their next move.

”Thank you, noble savior!” Luo Xian’er finally showed a hint of a smile. She bowed deeply to Ling Chen and was about to kneel before him.

Her sect had been annihilated, and the Tang Sect’s members still hadn’t given up on her. If she were to part ways with Ling Chen and Ling Yin now, she truly didn’t know what she would do.

Ling Chen quickly helped her up, then glanced at the sky and said, ”It’s getting late. Let’s rest here for tonight. We’ll continue our journey tomorrow.”

”Miss Luo, try to get some rest. Also, think about places your Senior Brother might have gone. Otherwise, finding one person in the vast Nine Provinces Land would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.”

”Yes.” Luo Xian’er nodded. ”The Core Disciples of Qingcheng Palace have ways of communicating with each other. Although my Senior Brother’s whereabouts are unpredictable, he is somewhat famous in the Jianghu. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find him.”

At this thought, a sharp glint appeared in Luo Xian’er’s beautiful eyes. She had to find her Senior Brother Shen Qianlang as soon as possible. In Yi Zhou, the Tang Sect’s power was vast enough to overshadow everything, and Shen Qianlang probably still didn’t know that Qingcheng Palace had been annihilated. If he encountered anyone from the Tang Sect, he would likely be in grave danger. The fragment of the Sword Immortal Poetry might be Qingcheng Palace’s only hope for restoration.

「As the sun set and the sky gradually dimmed」

The three of them set up camp in the mountain forest. Ling Chen, having roamed extensively, was used to sleeping in the open, treating the wilderness as his home. However, Ling Yin and Luo Xian’er were clearly not accustomed to it. Luo Xian’er, in particular, seemed to have rarely endured such hardship; by nightfall, she was almost in tears. But to Ling Chen’s surprise, Luo Xian’er quickly composed herself and appeared even more resolute than before.

CRACKLE... CRACKLE...

Ling Chen sat by the bonfire. In his hand was a wild rabbit, pierced by a wooden stick, roasting over the fire.

Golden grease dripped from the rabbit into the bonfire. After sprinkling some seasonings, the rabbit soon emitted a tantalizing aroma that made Ling Yin’s and Luo Xian’er’s mouths water.

Once the rabbit was cooked, Ling Chen tore it in half. After letting it cool in the air for a moment, he gave one half to Ling Yin and the other to Luo Xian’er. ”Eat.”

Ling Yin could hardly wait. She took her half of the roast rabbit from Ling Chen and began to wolf it down, completely disregarding her image as a beautiful young lady. She looked just like a little gluttonous kitten.

As for Luo Xian’er, she hesitated for a moment before accepting the other half. After a soft ”thank you,” she used her slender fingers to tear off a piece of rabbit meat, placed it in her delicate mouth, and began to chew slowly and gracefully.

Just then, Ling Chen stood up and walked over to the cold iron coffin.

Reaching the coffin, Ling Chen opened the lid, glanced at the beautiful face inside, and then closed the lid again.

Seeing this, Luo Xian’er couldn’t help but feel curious. It was her first time noticing this cold iron coffin. ”Who is in the coffin? Why is Young Hero Ling Chen carrying a coffin with him as he travels through the Jianghu?”

”’That’s a story you don’t know,’ Ling Yin said, wiping her greasy little mouth. Then, like someone recounting a familiar treasure, she told Luo Xian’er the story of Ling Chen and Xia Yunxin.

”I didn’t expect Young Master Ling to be such a devoted person.” After hearing the story of Ling Chen and Xia Yunxin, the way Luo Xian’er looked at Ling Chen changed; there was a peculiar emotion in her eyes. For such an outstanding man to also be so deeply devoted was truly rare.