Chapter 70: Assassins in the Shadows—Wherever We Meet

As long as one can stay optimistic, life will be happier than others’. (Gu Long)
……
Liu Yi stared at the black sword in Leng Jian’s hand. “Sorrowful Dream” seemed to possess an invisible allure, tempting him. Gradually, Liu Yi reached out to take the sword, getting closer and closer…
Leng Jian watched Liu Yi’s actions with a mysterious smile on his lips.
Suddenly, Liu Yi pulled his hand back and shook his head fiercely. “No, why take the sword? I’m just an ordinary person.”
Seeing Liu Yi’s reaction, Leng Jian seemed furious. “What are you talking about? Without the sword, how can you protect those you love? Without it, how can you protect your family and friends? Do you plan to hide among them for the rest of your life? Take the sword! It belongs to you.”
“Do you really think your books of wisdom can protect your woman, or that your skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting can protect your family?” Leng Jian continued, his tone turning icy and filled with sarcasm.
Liu Yi’s heart trembled. Yes, he was right. Books of wisdom couldn’t save people, nor could arts protect them. If he was being hunted, why not fight back with a sword?
Liu Yi reached desperately for “Sorrowful Dream.” The moment his hand touched the hilt, darkness rushed before his eyes. The figure holding the sword vanished in an instant, then appeared again— a man holding a sword, cradling a woman on a high cliff. What was that? Liu Yi shook his head violently… A sense of sorrow emanated from the sword, a feeling so familiar… What was it? Love, lost love, that sorrowful feeling.
The sorrow spread throughout Liu Yi’s body, eventually settling in his heart. Suddenly, that feeling turned warm, transforming into boundless strength. With this sword, he felt as if he had the whole world.
Leng Jian observed Liu Yi’s expression and stood up. “Well, I’ve done what I came for. It’s time for me to go.”
King of the Great Sword exclaimed, “Leaving already? My rabbit meat is ready! Try my cooking first.”
Leng Jian smiled and shook his head. “If fate brings us together again, we’ll meet soon.” With that, he raised his hand, and “Flowing Cloud” soared into the sky. Thus, this extraordinary man disappeared into the night.
King of the Great Sword watched Leng Jian vanish, shaking his head and sighing, “Ah, masters truly are masters—even in flight, they’re so graceful!”
Liu Yi stared at “Sorrowful Dream” in his hand, strange thoughts constantly flooding his mind. He held the sword horizontally before him, gently turning the hilt before pulling it out.
A silver light flashed, revealing a three-edged sword. A layer of black, solid-like gas surrounded the blade. Liu Yi didn’t know what it was, but he found it beautiful. The sword reflected his face, showing a pair of eyes. Through those eyes, he saw a dragon—a black dragon soaring within the sword. That dragon carried endless sorrow, pouring into Liu Yi’s body.

Suddenly, Liu Yi was pulled out of his hallucination by the Great Sword King. He quickly sheathed his sword. The Great Sword King looked at the sword in Liu Yi’s hand and said, “This ‘Sorrowful Dream’ sword is really strange. It’s like a stick—so long, and a three-edged sword at that. It must be very difficult to use. No wonder it has such a low reputation among the Eight Divine Swords.”

Liu Yi planted the sword in the ground beside him, stood up straight, shook his head to clear his thoughts, and said, “Well, is the rabbit ready? I’m starving. Let’s eat quickly. After that, I want to sleep. I’m going to look for Jili’er tomorrow.” Without waiting for anyone’s reaction, he snatched a rabbit leg and started eating voraciously…

The others watched Liu Yi’s gluttonous behavior and decided not to bother him. They picked up their own meat and began eating as well.

Perhaps time slips away unnoticed, but as it passes, it will surely bring you either joy or sorrow.

The sun was high in the sky, and everyone started looking for water to wash up. Fortunately, not far below the place the Great Sword King had chosen was a mountain spring.

Liu Yi picked up the ‘Sorrowful Dream’ sword planted in the ground. Suddenly remembering something, he took out a small dark red jade piece from his clothes and then another jade piece from his neck. As they got closer, the two pieces suddenly merged together. Liu Yi’s vision went dark for a moment before returning to normal. Looking at the now complete jade piece, he shook his head, sighed, and put the jade back into his clothes.

Liu Yi gazed at the sword in his left hand, filled with emotion. Just a few months ago, he had hated martial arts greatly, but now he was already holding a sword. People truly are unpredictable creatures, capable of changing very quickly.

By now, everyone had finished packing up. Liu Yi said, “I want to go to Lotus Town first, and then to Miaojiang. I want to see if Jili’er has returned home. What do you all think?”

Shi Jie nodded and said, “I’ll follow you, boss.”

A Jiu looked at Shi Jie and said, “Our emperor ordered me to stay with Shi Jie.”

Liu Yi glanced at the Great Sword King, who quickly shook his head and said, “Don’t look at me. I have nothing to do anyway. I’ll just treat it as a trip.”

Liu Yi shook his head, amused inwardly. Even when looking for a wife, he needed friends to accompany him. It seemed he was truly incompetent.

The group crossed the mountains and soon arrived in Lotus Town. They asked around everywhere but found no news of Jili’er. Liu Yi even drew a picture there, but still no one had seen Jili’er.

Dejected, they bought horses in Lotus Town and headed toward Miaojiang, Jili’er’s home, hoping to find her there. Judging by Liu Yi’s expression, if he couldn’t see Jili’er, he might go crazy.

Just as they left Lotus Town and were about to ride fast, suddenly a group of people flew overhead. In the blink of an eye, ten people appeared in front of them—no, eleven, because there was one more person behind them. This person was Weitian Tuo, who had once captured A Jiu. The ten people behind him were the four-star assassins of the Secret Sect. It seemed Weitian Tuo had come with full confidence, otherwise he wouldn’t have shown up in person.

Liu Yi and the others sharply pulled on the reins of their horses and stopped. The Great Sword King, upon seeing Wei Tian Tuo, snapped angrily, “Are you even a man? You show up now? What, do you think you can just destroy your own hole and have a say in it?”
Wei Tian Tuo looked at the Great Sword King and smiled too, but it was a fake smile, an ugly one. With a shrill voice, he said, “Oh… isn’t this the Great Sword King who picked up my sword? Tsk, tsk, your hairstyle is really nice. Where did you get it done? I want to get one too.”
Shi Jie swung his fist and shouted, “No need to find anyone else. I’ll give you a nice one right now.” With that, he leaped up abruptly, and the “Heavenly Spear” technique from “Tian Gang Dou Quan” was hurled at Wei Tian Tuo in front of him…