Chapter 91: Sword and Destiny

"Hmm?"

"You know about it too?"

Xu Xiaoshou was a bit surprised, but then he thought that since Su Qianqian had come to find him so quickly, she must already know everything.

"That guy is here for me," Su Qianqian said something shocking.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. If you know he's after you, how can you still be so optimistic?

At the same time, he felt a bit intimidated. Tian Sang Ling Gong had actually mobilized nearly the entire palace's forces to protect this little girl in front of him?

Su Qianqian put on a "relax" expression, raised her hand to pat Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder, and comforted him:

"The mainland's famous swords number twenty-one. Besides the ones that are missing, they're basically guarded by specific sword holders."

"The previous generation's holder of 'Mu Ming Cheng Xue' was my grandfather."

"When I was little, on average, three waves of assassins came to our house every night to steal the sword. Of course, they all died without exception."

"This kind of thing has long become routine," she said with a completely nonchalant face.

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked; this was the first time he'd heard this little girl talk about it.

Su Qianqian looked like a know-it-all, hands behind her back, clearly imitating her grandfather.

"That year when I was ten, my grandfather got sick, and everyone in the family started to interact with 'Mu Ming Cheng Xue'. The famous sword would automatically choose the next holder."

"Everyone favored my father; he had prepared for it for decades."

"A year later, the one who was recognized was me. I became the eleven-year-old sword holder..."

Xu Xiaoshou could sense the bitterness beneath the little girl's optimistic tone and asked, "Did the number of assassins surge?"

"Mm." Su Qianqian nodded, her eyes suddenly turning red. "Father, he died in battle..."

"If the sword holder had been him, he definitely wouldn't have died. He had prepared for so long..."

The giant sword on her back suddenly trembled, and the air temperature dropped noticeably. Xu Xiaoshou quickly touched his head to comfort her.

"Everyone has their own opportunities, good or bad."

"This sword chose you, so you're destined to bear more. Don't be sad."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed deeply.

This is fate; when it decides to arrive, it doesn't matter if you're prepared or not.

Dwelling on the past won't help anything.

What matters is whether you can endure it, overcome it, and turn it into your own opportunity.

Su Qianqian is like that, and so am I?

If others discover that thing in my mind, or even notice something unusual about me, would they capture me, dissect me, or study me?

Xu Xiaoshou felt a chill in his heart, thinking of Sang Lao, the masked man...

This trend has already begun!

But for now, I'm still in the shadows; even if others notice something, I can brush it off with words like "genius" or "hard work."

Su Qianqian is different.

As a sword holder...

This is an identity destined to always be in the spotlight; she faces the greed of the entire refining spirit world!

Perhaps this isn't just "fate," but "destiny"!

Some people are born to carry certain burdens.

Xu Xiaoshou hugged the little girl to comfort her, but to the onlookers, the action completely changed meaning.

"Damn! Xu Xiaoshou... you beast!"

"Su Qianqian is so young—how could you lay hands on her?!"

"Xu Xiaoshou, you can't! You haven't entered the inner court yet—how can you harm the inner court's female disciples?"

"Ahhh, I want to be hugged like that too..."

Xu Xiaoshou awkwardly let go, and the little girl's cheeks flushed red.

"Come on, let's go up to the sky; these ordinary folks..."

He waved his hand, and the reverse sword technique reappeared, lifting them into the sky.

Everyone looked up as the two flew higher and higher, with clear question marks on their faces.

Bullying us because we can't fly?

That damn Xu Xiaoshou!

"Received curse, passive value +112."

"Received jealousy, passive value +69."

"..."

The two chatted as they flew, and before they knew it, they were nearing the inner court.

Su Qianqian also took her leave; her purpose for this trip—to warn her little beast brother to watch out for the people in the inner court—was accomplished.

After seeing off the little girl, Xu Xiaoshou's passive value in his mind had already surpassed the 5000 mark.

He happily landed on the ground.

Indeed, this is another path; when there are no fights, I can just wander the streets more often.

Just the act of flying alone can stir up envy and resentment from the outer court crowd.

Nothing else—just because others can't fly.

His thoughts returned, and Xu Xiaoshou gazed at the inner court gate, standing there for a long time.

It was just an ordinary threshold, no barrier, no guards, because there was no need.

In principle, outer court disciples weren't allowed to enter; discovery would lead to severe punishment.

However, Xu Xiaoshou stepped inside.

With one step, it was like entering another world; the spiritual energy concentration here was very high. Xu Xiaoshou had already upgraded the "Breathing Method" to the innate level, but he still felt somewhat unadapted.

His body felt itchy...

Very comfortable, yet very uncomfortable...

This was the reason he was extremely reluctant to upgrade the "Breathing Method"—changing environments meant readapting.

But he had to accept it all.

Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fists. Hold on!

"Ah~"

He couldn't hold back in the end.

After letting out a groan, he felt much better.

He relaxed, and in his mind, he recalled the scene of the sun rising in the east and paying respects to Sang Lao...

It was very dreamlike and unreal.

Sang Lao was indeed an extremely eccentric person; after the apprenticeship, the first thing he did was set three rules.

First, don't call him Master.

Second, don't actively reveal their relationship.

Third, must go to Ling Zang Ge to find him within three days.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't mind the first two, but the third one gave him a headache.

Just thinking about taking the initiative to see that old man made him anxious, even though Sang Lao was now his master.

But the old man had included this in the three rules, showing how important it was.

If he followed his heart and sneaked around building a house at home, he'd probably be tracked down, and that would be disastrous...

"Forget it, better to get it over with; after seeing Sang Lao, I can go to the Spirit Affairs Pavilion to take on a task."

Thinking this way, he quickened his pace, and in no time, he saw that simple and unadorned three-story pavilion.

Ling Zang Ge!

Before he even approached, the barrier had already opened, and the door swung open by itself.

Xu Xiaoshou clicked his tongue in wonder; indeed powerful—he knew I was coming without even seeing me.

He braced himself and walked in.

Familiar bookshelves, one row after another...

Xu Xiaoshou casually reached out and touched one.

"Come to the third floor!" A voice full of impatience echoed in his mind.

Third floor?

Xu Xiaoshou pulled out an ancient book and shook it; as expected, nothing happened.

He remembered that last time, Xiao Qixiu had specially emphasized that the third floor of Ling Zang Ge was off-limits, very mysterious.

At first, he thought it housed master-level spiritual skills, but now it seemed Sang Lao was there?

Well, an exclusive floor for the guardian made sense.

Thump thump thump!

Xu Xiaoshou quickly went up to the second floor and was immediately attracted by the large light circles inside.

Last time he came, he wisely stayed only on the first floor and didn't even glance at the second; he didn't expect it to look like this.

No longer bookshelves, but these light circles...

What were they?

He curiously walked over.

"Third floor!!" The voice in his mind rang out again.

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

Why so urgent? In a hurry to go to the third floor and reincarnate?

The three rules said within three days to find you!

Can't I read for two days?

Having lived two lives, it's rare to have such a studious moment...

Of course, he didn't dare say these words out loud.

Xu Xiaoshou hurriedly ran up to the third floor.

"I'm here, I'm here!"