Volume One, Chapter 125: A Person’s Love for the Sword, Part Two

“There’s a hint of an affair~”

“For the first time, gossip is about a sword—it feels a bit absurd, but in the master’s livestream, suddenly it makes sense.”

“Hope it ends well! Please no tragedy! I’ve been stunned by so many tragic endings these past days!”

*Whoosh*

Qin Yu suddenly felt a strong gust of wind by her ear.

She watched the longsword swaying back and forth beside Azhi and thought to herself: ...

This sword, usually so cold and aloof in front of her, she had assumed it was always like this; never expected it had such a clingy side...

The sword was momentarily stunned, and Qin Yu sensed a chill approaching.

Feigning indifference, Qin Yu tilted her head.

She had forgotten that she and Chang Yi shared a telepathic connection.

“You still say you’re not disgusted by me, but you don’t even want to show me your true form!”

Azhi turned her back, wiping tears with the hem of her skirt.

Her pitiful tone could melt anyone’s heart.

Chang Yi didn’t know how to explain and just shook its blade vigorously; Qin Yu feared it might break itself.

Thinking of something, the sword tugged lightly at Azhi’s gauze dress, signaling her to wait a moment.

Then it flew to Qin Yu’s side.

A calculating gleam flickered in Qin Yu’s eyes. She took advantage of the moment and said, “I can help, but you have to promise to listen to me from now on.”

Azhi sobbed quietly, her slender shoulders trembling, and even Qin Yu felt a pang of sympathy watching her.

She shook her head regretfully, clicking her tongue, “If you don’t agree, fine. But it’s such a pity for such a delicate beauty…”

Qin Yu seemed to hear the grinding sound of a sword being sharpened in the air.

The next second, the sword slashed fiercely, and the camphor tree by the roadside fell with a crash.

Qin Yu knew this meant it had agreed and was wisely stopping while ahead.

Chang Yi transformed into a streak of golden light and entered Qin Yu’s body.

Her aura changed instantly.

“Lian’er! Stop crying!” he ran up, explaining, “It’s not that I don’t want to see you! I’m sealed inside the sword, and my wielder is too weak. I can’t materialize!”

Tears still glistened in Lian’er’s eyes. Seeing Chang Yi flustered, she suddenly broke into a smile through her tears, “You’re still the same as before—whenever I cry, you’re helpless.”

---

Chang Yi reached out to stroke his former lover’s head, but she stepped back, striking a painful chord in his heart.

Lian’er looked down anxiously, “Bai Zhan, don’t touch me—I’m dirty.”

“Lian’er, you’re not dirty! It’s those people!”

Bai Zhan reached out again but was dodged.

Lian’er shook her head apologetically, “I’m sorry, Bai Zhan! I can’t accept this version of myself! It’s my problem! If I can see you one last time before I go, I will die without regrets.”

Bai Zhan clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth, “I’ll kill those people!”

Lian’er shook her head, “No, they don’t have much time left. Don’t soil your hands over me.”

When heavy industry began to develop, a factory was established upstream of Pingshui Town in response to national policy. The factory discharged its wastewater into the small creek...

That creek was the water source for all Pingshui Town’s residents. They drank from it for years, their bodies long contaminated...

Even after the factory was ordered to rectify, the seeds of cancer had already been sown.

Buddha exploited this to deceive those who had left home for Pingshui Town to return.

“But...” Bai Zhan’s molars were nearly worn down from clenching, “I’m not willing to accept this!”

“The extinction of all Pingshui people—this outcome is enough!”

“But—”

“Bai Zhan, my time left is short. Just let me quietly watch you, alright?”

Bai Zhan swallowed his words and only answered, “Alright.”

Lian’er tilted her head and smiled softly.

Bai Zhan recalled their first meeting.

“Do you remember the scene of our first encounter?”

“Our first meeting...”

They seemed to sense each other and spoke in unison.

“Bai Zhan, we’re still so in sync.”

“Of course! We’re the most synchronized pair!”

Lian’er lowered her eyes, sighing, “From now on, you belong to someone else.”

Bai Zhan thought of Qin Yu, his face darkening, “She can’t compare to you. You should have realized—I accepted her as my master only because of that!”

“No matter what, accepting her as your master is a recognition of her. I know you well—once you accept a master, you will be devoted. That’s good. I won’t have to worry you’ll despair over my leaving.”

---

Bai Zhan opened his mouth to speak but saw Lian’er gesture for silence. She leaned close, whispering in his ear, “From the very first time I met you, I liked you...”

*Shhh*

A sound of disappearance echoed in the air.

The radiant beauty vanished just like that.

Bai Zhan covered his face, tears slipping through his fingers, “Lian’er, actually I also...”

Words caught in his throat—there was no one left to tell.

Mu Ling came back to find “Qin Yu” covering her face, crying bitterly, and slid over to her in alarm.

“You’re crying?”

“Qin Yu” scowled and turned away.

Fearless Mu Ling pressed on, “You really are crying?”

“Qin Yu” looked even angrier, fists clenched.

Meanwhile, a certain ghost, as if discovering a new world, gesticulated excitedly, “What happened to make you so sad? Tell me and cheer me up~”

---

“Waaah, Xiao Yu, can’t you control your lousy sword? Look what it did to me!” Mu Ling clung to Qin Yu’s thigh, sobbing pitifully.

Qin Yu cupped water to wash her face.

Seeing no reaction, Mu Ling cried even harder, “Xiao Yu, you have to stand up for me! I’m your most capable little helper! If you protect that lousy sword, you’ll break this old servant’s heart!”

Qin Yu lifted her head from the water, clenching her fist, “Shut up!”

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Time froze for three seconds, then Mu Ling erupted into thunderous laughter.

Qin Yu’s delicate face was scribbled on with a black marker: a turtle on the left, a tortoise on the right, and a circle in the center.

Mu Ling clutched his belly, “Hahaha, turtle tortoise bastard!”

Qin Yu smiled—a smile that sent a chill down one’s spine.

Mu Ling stammered out a dry “haha” before swallowing hard.

“That lousy sword is really something! It dared to draw on our beautiful Xiao Yu’s face like this! Absolutely heartless, an outrage against gods and men! A rat crossing the street—everyone calls to beat it!”