Sword Among Us

Once he received the quest from the master of Purple Bamboo Forest, Happy hurriedly left Sword of Heavenly Lake Faction and left Heaven Mountain.

When he came in search for the method to nurture Heaven Crystal Heavenly Lake, he had been prepared for a long, drawn-out battle with the faction leader in the form of a string of quests, and he was even prepared to carry out quests near Heaven Mountain, but he did not expect that the quest from the master of Purple Bamboo Forest would not even be in the area.

What made him feel even more resigned was that the person who stole Sword of Heavenly Lake Plate was a peerless elite Happy would never have imagined. He was even an elite to whom many martial arts maniacs had gone crazy over in the past!

He was a swordsman who symbolized loneliness and noble character!

He always appeared in white.

His clothes were as white as snow, his sword was as white as snow, his side profile was as white as snow, and his loneliness was as white as snow. He was a man who cast himself entirely on the path of the sword, and he was someone who was close to godhood.

Ximen Chuixue!

But based on Happy’s understanding of Ximen Chuixue, he was a man who would regard stealing something like Sword of Heavenly Lake Plate with scorn, because this man did not have anything he regarded as important which could form any sort of ties with him in his heart. Everything about him was the sword, and when it came to the moment he killed, most of the time, that moment was equal to the moment he drew his sword, that was all.

But since the clue was Ximen Chuixue, Happy can only search for the plate based on this clue.

Even though this matter might involve other powerful martial artists such as Lu Xiaofeng, Ye Gucheng, and even the palace as well as the elites at the Forbidden Palace, Happy can only keep searching.

Ximen Chuixue.

‘I wonder just how fast he is compared to One Emperor…

‘And just how profound is Ye Gucheng’s Heavenly Flying Immortal?’

While Happy went down the mountain, he was hesitant, but also filled with endless expectations. Excitement could be found in his smile.

Even though there might be plenty of ups and downs during the quest, and it will heavily affect the days he could nurture Heaven Crystal, if he could meet up with Ximen Chuixue, Ye Gucheng, and other peerless elites like them, Happy felt that the trip was worth it.

*****

In Beijing was an alley that was near the corner of the city wall, and few people visited it. There were a few martial arts elites who had extraordinary presences staying there, and they seldom ventured out of the place.

A long time ago, there were rumors saying that there was a matchless elite staying there, because the players who passed by can hear the sounds of swords being drawn from the courtyard inside. It was very clear, and that sound of the sword being drawn from its sheath could clear minds. It gave off a sharp feeling that could destroy everything.

Unfortunately, the courtyard was located deep within the mansion, and there was also a pavilion built, so outsiders had a difficult time looking inside even if they wanted to.

And the people inside never came out. Even if they did, no one ever saw them. They kept an incredibly low profile, and slowly, as time passed, the martial artists in Beijing were used to this, and they no longer found it strange.

But on this day, a person stood outside the alley.

He was a handsome man who stood tall, and he was dressed in a well-balanced brocade robe with black borders, giving him an extraordinary presence. He stared at the door where the sound of swords being drawn came from with a clear gaze, and while he listened to the sounds inside, excitement and delight that came from the bottom of his heart rose in him.

“That’s an outstanding sword technique. I should be able to learn something from this trip.”

After listening for a while, the man walked on the stairs and knocked on the door.

The few martial artists who passed by looked at the person curiously, and someone could not help but tell him, “You should stop knocking ’cause it’s useless. The people inside won’t come out.”

The man said nothing. He just turned his head around and cast a glance at the person who spoke.

That person also managed to see the man’s face clearly because of it. He shuddered, and he could not help but widen his eyes as he stuttered, “O-One Emperor…”

The players nearby stopped moving. Shock could be seen on their faces.

One Emperor!

“It’s really him!”

“Why is he in Beijing?”

“Is it a hidden quest?”

“Is it related to the people inside the courtyard?”

Countless players discussed among themselves, and their eyes were filled with curiosity and expectations toward One Emperor’s arrival in this place.

One Emperor was unperturbed by the gazes of the people on him. His eyes were locked on the person who spoke to him just now, and he asked, “What do you mean by them never coming out?”

“Urk…” The slightly plump player became nervous. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and he answered tentatively, “Many people knocked on the door in the past, but no one ever answered.”

One Emperor frowned.

He turned his head around to listen, and it was just as the plump player said, the sounds of swords being drawn in the courtyard continued. There was no sign of it ever stopping or of anyone coming to open the door.

“You refuse to open the door, huh?”

No hint of displeasure could be seen on One Emperor’s face.

Just when the players around him began speculating whether One Emperor will give up or will do something else, they saw One Emperor calmly bring out a longsword with a golden sheath.

The players on both sides were so shocked that they sucked in sharp breaths.

‘Does One Emperor intend to force his way in?’

The latter used his actions to answer the questions in the hearts of the players around him. He held his sword hilt in his right hand, and when a clear and airy sword whine rose, he slowly drew half of his sword out.

A cold and ghastly sword glare mixed with a sword will that filled the air caused the people in the alley to sense a great pressure. They held their breaths and did not even dare breathe loudly as they just stared at One Emperor’s actions.

At that moment, those who were observant finally noticed as One Emperor made that sword whine when he drew his sword, the sounds in the courtyard suddenly vanished, and soon, the sounds of footsteps rose.

Clang!

The door that had been shut for one year suddenly opened from within.

Whoosh!

Countless gazes were gathered on him like spotlights, and they were fixed on the teenager who looked no older than eighteen years old.

There were still a few droplets of sweat on the teenager’s face, and his clothes were drenched. Once he opened the door, he surveyed the area with an incredibly indifferent gaze. In the end, his eyes landed on One Emperor, who had already sheathed his sword. “You’re the one who drew the sword?”

His voice was cold, crisp, and also held a faint hint of hostility.

One Emperor smiled faintly and said, “Is this Senior Ximen’s abode?”

“I don’t know what you mean Ximen or whoever it is you’re referring to.” The teenaget was a little impatient. He interrupted One Emperor and said, “My master said that the sound you made when you drew your sword is too grating to the ears, and he told me to come and fight against you.”

His words were very simple.

“You’re Senior Ximen’s disciple?”

“Duh!”

One Emperor did not treat this as a sign of disrespect. Instead, he smiled. “Since you’re Senior Ximen’s disciple, then you have the right to fight against me. Let me see just how great is the disciple taught by the legendary Sword Demon.”

“Attack.”

“Me?” One Emperor laughed. He could naturally tell that this teenager should be a player, not an NPC, and the number of players who could make him attack first could be counted on one hand.

But the teenager in front of him asked him to draw his sword first…

The teenager’s gaze was incredibly determined and serious!

One Emperor drew his longsword casually with a resigned sigh.

Yet right when he drew his longsword, the teenager’s eyes suddenly turned incredibly sharp.

“That’s not how you draw the sword!”

Clang!

They could not see the teenager’s movements at all. A dazzling snowflake instantly arrived in front of One Emperor.