Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 52 - 48 Sword Demon

Chapter 52: Chapter 48 Sword Demon

The child who had fallen into the water was rescued by a maid.

His face pallid with shock, he trembled in fear, his gaze towards Jiang Shouzhong filled with particular dread.

Looking at her trembling son, the woman felt as if her heart was being cut with a knife. Though she harbored deep hatred for Jiang Shouzhong, under her husband’s cautionary look, she could only grit her teeth and swallow her grievances.

The corpulent man had quite the depth of mind. After a brief spell of fear, he regained his composure and respectfully said to Mr. Yan:

"Esteemed senior, I, Luo Xiu, have been negligent in disciplining my disciple, leading to misunderstandings. I will remember your admonitions, senior, and will strictly discipline my son upon returning and will also reflect on my own actions."

He paused, then added, "If senior does not mind, would you honor my humble dwelling with a visit? Though I cannot promise riches, I would certainly not mistreat the senior."

Hearing the words "Luo General," Mr. Yan sighed, "So you are a descendant of General Luo."

The Luo family ancestor was one of the founding heroes of the Dazhou Dynasty and had been granted the title of Lord Wen Yu. Now Luo Xiu, the title’s fifth generation, continued undisturbed.

Although the title remained, its status, reputation, and power had long since declined.

Luo Xiu’s words clearly showed he had noticed Mr. Yan’s extraordinary nature and sought to form a good relationship with him.

Winning him over could bring great benefits to his family.

Before Luo Xiu could speak again, Mr. Yan waved his hand, saying, "I, this humble countryman used to a life of freedom, thank you, Lord, for your kindness."

Luo Xiu was quite disappointed but dared not insist. He apologized to Jiang Shouzhong and then left the place with his resentful wife and child, and the maid.

He had not spared a glance for Fang Ziheng.

With Fang Ziheng in this state, there was no longer any need for his son to take him as a mentor.

Mr. Yan, looking at the lifeless Fang Ziheng, said solemnly:

"The path of the Sword Dao is fraught with thorns and obstacles. To falter at a setback and to lose heart, does this honor the Fang Family’s ’Seek the Sword Without Shame’ or Famous Sword Villa’s ’In all the world’s Sword Dao, only the Famous Sword stands supreme,’ the effort of several generations?"

Fang Ziheng was profoundly shaken and bowed deeply to Mr. Yan, who looked like an ordinary scholar, "Senior, your reprimand is justified."

Fang Ziheng stood up straight, his expression still desolate, but his eyes now held a hint of light.

At this moment, this proud luminary of the Sword Dao felt somewhat bewildered.

He reflected on his life’s journey in cultivating the great Dao and the Sword Dao, smooth and unobstructed, people flattering him and all his desires easily fulfilled, never facing significant setbacks, which led to his arrogant and conceited nature, eventually culminating in his own downfall.

From good comes ascent, from evil collapse; all were his own doing.

Now, with his state of mind nearly shattered, his life’s cultivation of the Sword Dao would likely end here.

Fang Ziheng felt sorrowful and prepared to leave.

"Bring White Smoke to me for a look," Mr. Yan suddenly said.

Without any hesitation, Fang Ziheng tenderly and respectfully presented the treasured sword of Famous Sword Villa with both hands.

Mr. Yan drew the sword from its scabbard.

The silver-white blade shimmered with a chilling light under the evening twilight, its surface smooth as a mirror.

Enveloping the blade, a faint white mist swirled as if it were the chill within coalescing in the air, or as if it were celestial vapors that had traversed from beyond the clouds.

Mr. Yan lightly tapped the blade with a finger and said softly:

"Formless, breathless, godless, heartless, Fang Hongyuan that old fellow handed over the sword too early. This sword is dead. When you return, bury it within your Sword Mountain, giving it a final resting place."

Fang Ziheng was shocked, "Dead... does senior mean... the sword’s heart is dead?"

Mr. Yan sneered, "A famed sword has a soul; you treat it as a dead object, thinking it lifeless. Then it has no need to be alive."

Fang Ziheng staggered, his expression frantic, shaking his head while muttering, "Impossible! This cannot be! When I wield the sword, I can feel the Sword Qi and spirit within."

"Did the spirit always persist?" Mr. Yan countered.

Fang Ziheng opened his mouth, then closed his eyes in despair, gently shaking his head, "It did not persist."

Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, his eyes sparkled with hope,

"Senior, can I perhaps nurture it in Famous Sword Villa’s Blood Sword Pool? In the past, when our swords ’Quiet Affection,’ ’Myriad Lights,’ ’Dragon Death’ lost their Sword Qi and spirit, we ’revived’ them this way!"

Mr. Yan was silent for a moment. His fingers gently brushed the icy sword body and sighed, "The phoenix tree stands tall, but its heart is hollow. Intended to thrive in spring, it’s actually buried in winter."

Like one struck by lightning, Fang Ziheng felt overwhelmed.

Tears fell from his eyes, filled with regret and remorse.

Mr. Yan returned the treasured sword to him and spoke lightly, "If you wish, share your heart with it. From now on, where the person is, there the sword will be; if the person dies... the sword shall be destroyed!"

"You mean..."

Fang Ziheng suddenly lifted his head, his voice trembling, "the person and the sword as one?"

Mr. Yan smiled, "Do you have the confidence? If not, bury it. If you do, trade your life for it. Whether it’s worth it or not is up to you."

Clenching the long sword firmly, Fang Ziheng’s gaze was resolute, "Though the road is long, without traveling, one cannot reach. Elder, I am willing to take the risk!"

"Go."

Mr. Yan smiled and waved his hand.

After Fang Ziheng performed a grand bow, his eyes glinted vibrantly, sweeping away his previous dejection, and he apologetically said to Jiang Shouzhong:

"Jiang, I was previously arrogant and overbearing; I was wrong. If you ever visit Qingzhou and encounter any troubles, come find me at Famous Sword Villa. I will help if I can, without any hesitation!"

Jiang Shouzhong gave a faint smile but did not speak.

After Fang Ziheng left, the two men stared each other down.

"Young man, why aren’t you thanking me?"

Mr. Yan was quite displeased.

Jiang Shouzhong replied coldly, "Speak. What is your true purpose in approaching me? I do not believe in coincidences or luck."

Picking up the wine jug, Mr. Yan unscrewed the cap, indulged in its scent with a smile, and said merrily, "Well, I am, of course, here especially to save you. To prevent someone from draining you dry."

Drained dry?

Jiang Shouzhong was utterly confused.

Mr. Yan screwed the cap back on, his eyes casually sweeping across the lake, and said with a smile, "You better go home now. I’ll come explain everything to you when it’s time."

...

At the other end of the lake.

Li Guanshi and the red-robed Snake Demon gazed from a distance.

The red-robed woman, still terrified, said with a pale face, "The Sword Intent on that man was so strong, had I been a moment later, I might have been obliterated."

"You are alive because I appeared."

Li Guanshi, slightly annoyed, rubbed his temple and said lightly, "Your master is that Jiang Mo from the Liushan Division. No one else can sense the death aura on him, but you should feel it distinctly."

The Snake Demon nodded, "That boy is indeed strange, seeming both dead and alive."

She turned her head toward Li Guanshi, "If it were not for that man, I could have hidden inside Jiang Mo without anyone noticing, but now... I dare not."

"Don’t worry, I will discuss it with him."

Li Guanshi said sarcastically, "He’s just a coward."

Yet the next moment, the woman unusually made a bitter face, "That damned fool filled up just to meddle? He infuriates me to death!"

There weren’t many who could trouble Li Guanshi, but Mr. Yan was one of them.

Li Guanshi toyed with a jade hairpin flying sword, his tone becoming elusive, "Do you know who that man is?"

The Snake Demon shook her head.

Li Guanshi tilted his elegant white neck upwards, looking into the sky as he murmured,

"In this world, countless cultivators enter the Sword Dao. Some achieve great mastery, some glimpse the true essence, some can split rivers with one sword, and some shatter the heavens with a thousand swords. Some ascend to become Sword Immortals, some proudly turn into Sword Gods."

"But there is only one who has turned to the sword demon—higher than the path by one level, higher than the heavens by one length!"

"Among the million Sword Immortals of the world, none dare unsheath their swords in his presence."

"He is the Sword Demon Yan Changqing!"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.