Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Trial

Knowing that Mei Yinghan was alright, Bai Zhengliu’s mood stabilized, and he began considering what to do next.

After all, he still didn’t know Mei Yinghan’s exact condition, so he didn’t want to move rashly… but the surrounding environment was so terrible. During the previous battle, he hadn’t noticed, but now, looking again at the skeletal chains nearby, Bai Zhengliu took several deep breaths, still unable to suppress the unease.

He slowly exhaled and began gathering the surrounding bones.

During this process, if he came across any talismans or small objects, he also collected them.

Perhaps their owners had been dead for twenty or thirty years, and the family members who once cared for them had passed away during that time. But what if someone still remembered them? What if they were still at home, waiting for news of a long-lost relative…

Bai Zhengliu’s mood gradually became serious and calm.

When his gaze landed on two tassels—one red, one black—he exhaled deeply, and three words slowly emerged in his mind:

Such sin…

…

…

Now, Mei Yinghan.

The moment Ling Shuangzi and Ling Kongzi touched him together, Mei Yinghan felt as if he had fallen into a sea of ice and snow.

This was not a metaphor—it was a real experience. When he opened his eyes, he saw not the dark, freezing mountain cavern, but a vast expanse of white snow.

Mei Yinghan’s mind went on alert, and he instinctively reached for the sword at his waist. Yet the moment his fingers touched his side, he suddenly realized: no, Zhenxing had been thrown far away by those wandering souls… huh?

He looked down in astonishment.

The longsword, which should not have been by his side, had once again appeared next to him.

At the same time, a drifting, ethereal voice reached his ears.

It was Ling Shuangzi and Ling Kongzi speaking together:

“We committed a wrong before. Now, we say we forged the sword spirit with our own lives to help our junior disciple slay that old ghost, yet it is still our junior disciple who contributed the most. We dare not take credit.

“But as those who are already dead, what more could we do? Our strength is limited.

“Upon careful thought, the only small thing we can do is to lend our junior disciple a hand in this minor matter.

“Junior disciple, remember this: now you have a foundation, and the surrounding spiritual energy is boundless. If you wish to guide the energy into your body, the only thing missing is the integration of this spiritual energy with your existing martial arts inner strength.”“If you want to achieve this, the best method is, naturally, the same as your friend’s—use a weapon infused with spiritual energy. Over time, this will naturally awaken perception and insight. Unfortunately, the sword that suppressed the old ghost has endured too long, leaving only one path shattered. Master’s ‘Zhenxing’ has been dormant too long; its spiritual light has already dispersed. Given this, the path available to you, junior disciple, is another one.

“With your soul, forge the spiritual energy! Once the energy flows into your meridians and every move guides the light as naturally as breathing, success will follow. By then, infusing Zhenxing with spiritual energy will not be difficult either…

“Remember! The weapon you are using now is not Zhenxing—it is formed from your consciousness. Its strength is proportional to how much spiritual energy you can channel. Retrace the path Master took; you, junior disciple, will certainly succeed.”

After these words, Ling Shuangzi and Ling Kongzi’s voices faded. Mei Yinghan looked ahead and saw a black figure fleeing through the snow.

At first, he was stunned, then he focused. Noticing the color and style of the clothing on the figure, Mei Yinghan’s pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately stepped forward, chasing after it.

If he was not mistaken—

That figure ahead was the old ghost from before!

…

…

Bai Zhengliu spent a full two days gathering all the skeletal remains in the mountain cavern.

During this time, a growing radiance surrounded him, shimmering and scattering in all directions.

It gently enveloped the bones. While Bai Zhengliu hesitated, unsure how to send the remains out of the cavern, the light carried each bone and piece of clothing upward.

Bai Zhengliu was slightly taken aback, watching the scene with a complex expression. After a long moment, he exhaled slowly and said softly, “I know the hardships and suffering you endured before. Now, I have avenged you…”

As he spoke, the skeletal remains rose higher and higher, until hidden within the mountain walls. Though he could not see where they went, he knew the spiritual light was continuing to lift them, until they were laid to rest in Tianshan.

For the owners of these remains, it may not truly be “returning home,” but it was far better than being consumed by the old ghost and forged into weapons used to harm others.

Bai Zhengliu understood this, but his mood remained heavy. He couldn’t help thinking: “Besides the lotus pickers, there must be missing merchants, wandering martial artists… When the lotus pickers disappeared, their families at least knew they were in the mountains. But for those outsiders, their families didn’t even know where they went.”

With that thought, he exhaled deeply. Lowering his gaze to the small pouch in his arms filled with various items, Bai Zhengliu found it hard to look away.

Life and death are unpredictable.

Melancholy and reflection swirled in the swordsman’s heart. He nearly sank into it, but at that moment, a sound came from behind.

If his thoughts had previously ebbed away like a tide, Bai Zhengliu instantly regained calm and alertness, turning around—remembering, of course, the danger behind him. Wasn’t Mei Yinghan there?

Thinking this, Bai Zhengliu relaxed again. Especially when he fully turned and met Mei Yinghan’s gaze.There was no need for many words; a single glance was enough to make Bai Zhengliu’s face break into a smile.

“Brother Mei,” the swordsman immediately asked with concern, “how are you feeling? I was hesitant to call you or move you earlier because I didn’t know your condition.”

Mei Yinghan blinked slowly and said, “I’m fine.”

Bai Zhengliu detected hesitation in his tone.

He immediately felt concerned again. But then, Bai Zhengliu couldn’t help but realize with a wry smile: Brother Mei’s hesitation seemed only because he himself didn’t know what condition he was in right now.

The swordsman spread his hands in front of him, as if carefully tracing the lines of his palms with his eyes, yet also seeming to see something beyond his hands. Then, he closed his fingers, and Bai Zhengliu heard a sudden, sharp rush of wind.

Following the direction of the sound, what appeared before him was both unexpected yet unsurprising: Mei Yinghan’s Zhenxing Sword!

In an instant, the longsword was in his hand. The swordsman’s palms grasped the hilt, and he slowly exhaled. During this time, Bai Zhengliu clearly saw the blade gradually light up, like the brilliance of the Twenty-Eight Generals appearing whenever he faced an enemy.

He instinctively held his breath, unsure whether he was more surprised or more delighted, and asked, “Brother Mei, what is this?”

Mei Yinghan lifted and held the longsword… repeating this a few times, as if finally adapting to the weight and feel of the blade. Then he raised his head and sighed: “Uncle Ling Shuangzi and Uncle Ling Kongzi took me to witness the scene when our ancestral master chased the Daoist Yunxu…”

He paused, then recalled something and added an explanation:

“Daoist Yunxu is the old ghost from before. He really did come from the previous imperial court and was one of the demons using the Zhaixing Record to manipulate the foolish emperor. The title ‘Daoist’ was merely borrowed to gain face. In truth, no one knows which twisted, evil sect he learned from.”

Upon hearing the first part, Bai Zhengliu’s expression tightened; by the latter part, he furrowed his brow.

Mei Yinghan continued: “Now that I think about it, the two uncles must have set up an illusion for me, so I could carefully feel the state of spiritual energy within me and learn to control it.”

Technically, Ling Shuangzi and Ling Kongzi shouldn’t have known the scene back then, but who says two souls can’t glimpse it once inside the suppressed and sealed sword? Combining the information they obtained from the sword with the scattered rumors he had heard before, Mei Yinghan had seen what he had.

At this point, Mei Yinghan suddenly smiled and said: “This move, ‘Summon the Sword by Hand,’ is something I observed from our ancestral master. Brother Bai, if you wish, you can coordinate with the Twenty-Eight Generals in the same way.”

Bai Zhengliu: “…Huh?”

The swordsman, still pondering the whereabouts of other demons from the previous dynasty and worried about how the Zhaixing Record had been scattered, felt his fingers itch slightly upon hearing this.

He wanted to try.

And indeed, Brother Mei’s earlier move with the hand really was rather graceful and heroic.

Although martial artists usually don’t care about flashy movements—only whether a move is practical—Bai Zhengliu was still eager to try and learn a new move that was both elegant and effective.

Mei Yinghan noticed that the young man’s face was still tense, yet his eyes clearly brightened.He paused slightly, and involuntarily a memory flashed through his mind—of a black panther he had once encountered in the southwestern forest.

At that time, the panther had been just like the swordsman: jet-black, tense muscles, sleek and graceful body, exuding immense, explosive power. But after he tossed some meat to it, its eyes suddenly brightened, and the gaze it cast on Mei Yinghan became noticeably friendlier.

Yet there were some differences. Brother Bai, though wearing dark clothes, had a fair, handsome face—truly befitting his surname…

Next, Mei Yinghan explained to Bai Zhengliu the method of summoning his weapon from afar. At the same time, the two continued to share their observations and experiences from the time Mei Yinghan had spent training in the illusion.

Bai Zhengliu relayed the completely different last words of Ling Shuangzi and Ling Kongzi to Mei Yinghan. As expected, Mei Yinghan fell into hesitation, just as he had.

Bai Zhengliu saw this and first smiled, then shook his head with a sigh, advising him: “If you ask me, we might as well just mention Senior Ling Shuangzi. As for whether we can bring up Senior Ling Kongzi, that’s for the other seniors to decide.”

Mei Yinghan raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at him amusedly. Seeing this, Bai Zhengliu winked at him.

One wink… two winks.

Huh? Why did Brother Mei avert his gaze?

In front of him, Brother Mei: “……” Oh no, why is my heart suddenly beating so fast? This is a bit overwhelming.

Author’s note:

Little Mei’s golden finger is in place~

See you tomorrow.