Martial Cultivator

She looked at the old man before her, then slowly unrolled the painting on the ground. Taking out a jade brush from her robe, she muttered to herself, “Back then, you said you didn’t like me. I said it didn’t matter, that I only wanted to paint a portrait of you. You agreed, but your patience was too short, you left before I could finish even half the painting. I’ve thought of it all these years, wanting to complete it. Now that we meet again, good, you can’t run this time. I’ll finish it.”

The old man had not cared much at first, but upon hearing her words, he truly recalled that incident from long ago. He remembered that there had once been such a woman, a fine painter, who had said she liked him. But he had been devoted to the sword, naturally feeling nothing for her. So she had compromised, saying she only wished to paint him once. He had thought it no big matter and agreed. Yet after half an hour, he grew bored, mounted his sword, and left. He had never expected that such a trivial event would linger in this old woman’s heart for half a lifetime.

“You’ve thought about this your whole life?”

The old man was somewhat curious.

The old woman softly said, “Yes. A painting left unfinished, of course it must be completed. My son says I’ve spent my life thinking of you, that it’s because I liked you. That’s true. But what I really wanted was to finish this painting. I’m a painter. How could I be at peace with an unfinished painting?”

The old man said nothing, finally spitting out two words: “Then paint.”

The old woman lowered her head, glancing at the old man from time to time. In the end, tears streamed down her wrinkled cheeks. Her hand trembled as she held the brush, muttering, “No... no, you’re no longer the Luting of back then. I can’t finish that painting anymore... Luting, this painting, I’ve paused it for half a lifetime, and I can’t continue drawing it...”

The corners of the old man’s mouth twitched. He originally intended to say something mocking, but when the words reached his lips, they turned into a quiet, “I’m sorry.”

Yet those words made the old woman instantly lift her head. She looked at the old man, her gaze complicated, studying him for a long while before suddenly bursting into laughter.

“Hahaha...”

The old man was utterly confused and asked, “What are you laughing at?”

“Luting would never say something like that. Since you speak this way, it means you’re no longer you. And if you’re not you anymore, why should I keep holding onto this obsession?!”

Those words “I’m sorry” seemed to clear the haze in the old woman’s heart. She stood up, not even glancing at the painting on the ground, and instead took her granddaughter’s hand, smiling as she walked out.

The old man looked at her back and muttered, “Crazy old woman.”

To him, she was utterly incomprehensible.

Watching her leave, the old man lost interest. Just as he was about to turn back and sit under the eaves, two more people arrived.

One he recognized, the other he did not.

Yu Xiyi glanced at Chen Chao without speaking, thinking to himself, Didn’t you say everything was taken care of? Why didn’t you bring this elder brother’s sweetheart?

Chen Chao gave Yu Xiyi a reassuring look.

Yu Xiyi was still completely puzzled.

Chen Chao stood before the old man, cupped his hands, and said, “Junior Chen Chao, Lord Warden Commander of Great Liang, greets Senior.”

The old man did not even lift his eyelids, saying to himself, “So you’re the one who wants to kill the Demon Emperor, and even made that kid think it’s possible, and now you’ve come to ask me to draw my sword?”

Chen Chao froze. Kill the Demon Emperor?

He turned to look at Yu Xiyi, who had a face full of I already know written all over it.

The corners of Chen Chao’s mouth twitched, feeling a headache coming on, but he quickly said, “Let’s not speak of that for now. I only wish to ask Senior one question.”

The old man raised his brows but said nothing.

“Senior has done good deeds all your life. A full sixty years ago, you nearly met your end. Since then, have you no longer wished to do good? Or perhaps... have you come to regret having done so many good deeds in your life?”

Chen Chao looked calmly at the old man before him.

The old man frowned. “Nonsense. Is that what people outside are saying now?”

Chen Chao smiled. “Of course not. If that is not the case, then this junior has nothing more to say.”

After saying this, the young martial artist said no more and turned to leave.

That left Yu Xiyi utterly baffled, and even the old man did not immediately react.

When Chen Chao truly walked off without looking back, Yu Xiyi gritted his teeth, clasped his hands, and said respectfully, “Sorry to have disturbed you...Senior.”

Right now, he only wanted to catch up to Chen Chao and ask what on earth that was supposed to mean. What kind of nonsense was that?

But just as he turned to leave, the old man suddenly spoke. “Stop.”

Yu Xiyi turned back, looking completely lost.

The old man sighed, clicking his tongue. “You’ve got a friend who’s sharp as a blade, but you yourself haven’t much of a brain, have you?”

Yu Xiyi grew even more confused.

What was that supposed to mean?

The old man continued, “That kid’s single question was for one purpose only, to ask whether this old man regretted the things I once did. If this old man don’t regret them, then I am still the same Yang Luting as before.”

“Since this old man is still that same Yang Luting, why shouldn’t I, before my final breath dissipates, lend a hand once more to a promising junior of the Sword Dao?”

The old man gave a self-mocking smile. “Doesn’t matter whether you’re really going to kill the Demon Emperor or not. But if this old man drawing my sword once more can help this world gain another great sword immortal, then why shouldn’t I draw it?”

Yu Xiyi suddenly understood. Turns out that what Chen Chao said earlier, that everyone carries one or two lingering thoughts in their heart, wasn’t about women at all.

It was about one’s original heart.

Through all the years and hardships, never forgetting one’s true intent.

“Kid, this friend of yours is quite something.”

The old man smiled and said softly, “If not for him, this old man truly would have almost missed the last good deed I could do in this life.”

Yu Xiyi clasped his hands, wanting to say much, but in the end only said, “Awaiting Senior’s sword.”

The old man slowly straightened his back and said softly with vicissitudes of emotion, “In this old man’s life, I have indeed done many good deeds, but not every one of them was done right. Just like that woman, had this old man waited a little longer back then, perhaps she would not have carried that longing for so many years. But good or bad, what this old man has done has been more good than bad. Since that’s so, this life has not been in vain.”

“Crossed swords with him twelve times, lost every single time. After each defeat, this old man thought only of surpassing him the next time. The obsession grew too deep, and this old man became even less than him. This thirteenth time will be my last strike... perhaps... the result no longer matters. But this old man hopes that this strike of mine will truly allow you to step into the Great Sword Immortal Realm... And you...”

The old man looked at Yu Xiyi and said with a smile, “Since you, kid, are thinking of killing the Demon Emperor, then you can’t be all that bad. This sword of mine is worth drawing!”

After saying this, the old man took a deep breath and said softly, “Lend me your sword.”

At Yu Xiyi’s thought, the flying sword Wild Grass appeared at his side.

The old man looked at that flying sword, full of admiration. As expected of Sword Qi Mountain’s Hundred Year Sword. Not bad, the craftsmanship of Sword Qi Mountain still endures.

However, he did not take hold of this flying sword.

He thought to himself: since this will be my final strike, for Yu Xiyi or otherwise, I shall also bestow a fortune upon all the sword cultivators who have come to this town today!

With the old man’s thought, a vast sword intent shot straight into the heavens. The terrifying sword qi rose beside him, soaring upward and stirring the sea of clouds.

“This old man, Yang Luting, hold a slight reputation in this world. In this life, I have never committed evil, and have helped many others. Now, as I near the end of my days, I still wish to draw my sword once more and ask that Sword Sect’s Sect Master, are you truly the sovereign of Sword Dao, invincible among all sword cultivators in this world?!” ”Fellow sword cultivators, if you are willing to lend this old man a hand, release the sword in your hands!”

The old man’s voice broke through the clouds, audible across the entire town.

All the sword cultivators felt that terrifying sword qi, and after hearing those words, many immediately released their flying swords.

“Sword Immortal Luting, of great virtue and revered by all, this junior is willing to lend my sword!”

“This junior is willing to lend my sword!”

“This junior is willing to lend my sword, wishing Sword Immortal Luting great victory in return!”

Voices rose one after another as countless sword cultivators released their flying swords.

At that moment, countless flying swords swept into the air, forming a vast dragon of swords.

The old man laughed heartily and leaped upward, treading upon the sword.

“Everyone, for the Sword Dao to have all of you is a blessing. For this old man to meet you all today is an even greater fortune!”

The old man followed the sword dragon as it ascended.

After sixty years, the thirteenth duel to challenge the Sword Sect’s Sect Master!