Chapter 9: Journey to Canglang

Amidst the howling wind and swirling snow, the ancestral stele outside the main gate of the Nan residence, inscribed with the character "Nan," was blanketed in thick, fallen snow. Hovering in the air above the stele was a resplendent, golden carriage; on either side of it, countless white silk banners fluttered violently in the gale.

The entire Nan estate was so silent that a falling needle could be heard. It was not until the heavy main gate creaked open that a tall, upright figure emerged, followed by two paulownia wood coffins.

Nan Xinjiu looked up at the silhouette faintly visible within the carriage, bowed in the manner of a junior, and said, "Junior Nan Xinjiu pays respects to the True Monarch. Last night—"

The person inside the carriage had no intention of letting him speak. The moment his voice rose, two rays of spiritual light erupted from the carriage. One light lightly scooped up the two coffins behind Nan Xinjiu and drew them inside.

The second ray of light struck toward Nan Xinjiu’s face with the force of a mountain-toppling blow; it was a blade of immense, suffocating pressure.

Caught off guard by Xiao Mingyin’s sudden attack, Nan Xinjiu’s body instinctively recoiled. Yet, in that flash of lightning, he remembered Xiao Chinan lying in the coffin.

His gaze darkened. He planted his feet firmly, preparing to take the blow head-on, when a white light suddenly ignited at his waist.

A small, snow-white blade, no larger than half a palm, flew out of thin air, transforming into a sky full of frost and snow to block the blade light. The light cleaved through the snowy screen, its momentum slowing, and when it finally landed on Nan Xinjiu, only half its power remained.

However, the semi-blade intent of a Nascent Soul stage master was like a thunderbolt—could the already severely wounded Nan Xinjiu withstand it?

The man was sent flying backward by the impact, crashing into the snow. He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, his complexion rapidly fading.

After intercepting the blade, the small snowy knife let out a mournful hum and fell to the ground alongside Nan Xinjiu.

Looking at the small knife lying on the ground, devoid of its spiritual light, both Xiao Mingyin and Nan Xinjiu were stunned.

It was Xiao Chinan’s blade.

The Xiao family of Yunshan was famous throughout Canglang for their weapon-refining arts. Four years ago, it was to give this knife to Nan Xinjiu that Xiao Chinan had arranged to meet him.

"This was forged by my younger brother for little nephew Huaisheng. It conceals a strand of my blade intent, enough to withstand a single strike from a Nascent Soul master."

Nan Xinjiu had intended to return this knife to Xiao Chinan’s foster daughter, Xiao Ruoshui, as a memento. He had not expected True Monarch Mingyin’s strike to trigger its automatic defense. Now that the blade intent was spent, the weapon's luster had vanished, rendering it nothing more than scrap metal.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Mingyin stared fixedly at the small knife and said coldly, "Four years ago, when your dao companion Xu Qingru was attacked, Chinan was filled with such unbearable guilt that he gave up the chance at Buzhou Mountain to stay in Canglang and find those who harmed your wife and child. He spent his life running for your sake. He wanted you to trust him, but you doubted him, resented him, and never once believed him, leaving my Xiao family to be splashed with all manner of rumors! Nan Xinjiu, even if my son’s death was not your doing, it was caused by you! That strike just now is what you owed me!"

Nan Xinjiu wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, picked up the knife, and staggered to his feet.

After Qingru was attacked, he truly had not dared to trust Junior Brother Xiao again.

That day, he had left at an invitation, and upon his return, his wife lay in a pool of blood, her core shattered and her meridians severed. Beside her, the infant—his Huaisheng—was bruised all over, looking like a dead child.

That was a scene Nan Xinjiu could never escape for the rest of his life.

He had wondered countless times: if he had never left the Xu ancestral lands, would his wife still be the stunning Qingshuang Sword of Yajian Mountain? Would his Huaisheng not have to suffer the torments of illness every day, where every day she lived was a gift?

He was trapped in that moment, wanting to find the person who harmed his wife and child, wanting revenge, wanting blood for blood. But he had not expected that this tragedy would trap not only him but also Junior Brother Xiao.

When they first entered Yajian Mountain, everyone waited to see them fight to the death, just like their ancestors, simply because one was surnamed "Xiao" and the other "Nan."

Back then, they were but teenagers. One was the only son of a Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Xiao family, the future head of the house. The other was the most talented disciple of the Nan family, the sole successor of the Heavenly Star Sword Art.

On the day the mountain gates opened, Xiao Chinan stood under the maple tree at the end of the Sword Intent Path and asked him gently, "Brother Nan, would you be willing to join me in ending the ancient feud between the Nan and Xiao families with our generation?"

Nan Xinjiu, having no intention of competing with him, raised his brows and smiled, "If I say yes, would you dare believe me?"

Xiao Chinan nodded, "I believe you, and I ask that you believe me as well."

They had honored that promise for decades, gradually becoming inseparable friends. It was a pity that this friendship and trust could not withstand a hunt orchestrated by a conspiracy.

That day, after he had cast the Life-Binding Curse to lock onto Qingru’s life force, Xiao Chinan had rushed to the Xu family. Amidst the blood, he had turned and asked, "Junior brother invited me today—was it truly just to give me that small knife?"

Xiao Chinan’s face had turned deathly pale. He left two bottles of medicinal pills, turned, and disappeared into the wind and snow.

In the four years that followed, there was no word, until last night.

Blood surged from Nan Xinjiu’s throat again, and two fine cracks appeared on the Golden Core within his dantian. Under the intense pain, he almost lost his grip on the small knife.

"Junior Brother Nan!"

A figure flew in from the snowy screen. Before his sword had even landed, the man frantically pressed a pill into Nan Xinjiu’s mouth while simultaneously using his fingers as needles to drive six ice-clear Spirit Needle Pointers into Nan Xinjiu’s dantian.

The newcomer was Ying Yu.

"Junior Brother Xiao was willing to seek the real culprit for Junior Brother Nan; that was their friendship. If True Monarch Xiao wishes to blame Junior Brother Nan for Junior Brother Xiao’s death because of this, it is surely biased. I believe the True Monarch has received the sword letter from Yajian Mountain; as for who is responsible for the deaths of Junior Brother Xiao and Junior Brother Zhu, the Law Enforcement Hall of Yajian Mountain will investigate. Until the truth is out, Junior Brother Nan owes neither you nor the Xiao family! The True Monarch’s strike just now was truly unreasonable. It was clearly bullying the young! Could it be that the Xiao family no longer cares for its reputation?!"

Xiao Mingyin narrowed her eyes at the newcomer and gave a cold laugh, "Is this the stance of Yajian Mountain?"

"As for Yajian Mountain’s stance, why doesn't True Monarch Xiao wait for the Law Enforcement Hall to arrive and ask them yourself? The one standing here now is Ying Yu of Qingyang County, not a direct disciple of Tangxi Peak of Yajian Mountain. If the True Monarch is unsatisfied, feel free to strike me with a blade as well! Ying Yu of Qingyang County stands ready with sword in hand!"

Ying Yu stood in front of Nan Xinjiu, staring coldly at the carriage in the air, his handsome features flushed with anger.

Xiao Mingyin snorted, "I don't care about the stance of the Ying family of Qingyang; I only care about Yajian Mountain’s stance! If Yajian Mountain dares to be biased in favor of one who killed a fellow disciple, my Xiao family will sever ties with Yajian Mountain from this day forth!"

As the words fell, the exquisite carriage in the air vibrated with golden light, transformed into a streak of light, and flew toward Yunshan County.

Nan Xinjiu watched the carriage fade into the distance, suppressing the metallic tang in his throat, and said in a clear voice, "Junior brother once told me that he wished for us to join forces to resolve the tens of thousands of years of feud between the Nan and Xiao families, hoping to end the strife and work together to survive the catastrophe of Canglang. Today, I have already requested to leave the family; I am no longer a disciple of the Muhe Nan family. I only hope that the True Monarch will not take out your anger on the Nan family due to the loss of my junior brother and my own downfall."

The man's sincere voice carried through the snow, but Xiao Mingyin acted as if she had not heard.

Behind her, a young girl dressed in rough linen, her face still full of youthful innocence, could not help but ask, "Why didn't you kill him? Why didn't you avenge Father?"

Xiao Mingyin looked back at her, "As the family head, I cannot let the Xiao family become a laughingstock in the Canglang world. The Xiao family is an affiliated clan of Yajian Mountain, and your father was a disciple of Yajian Mountain. If he truly killed your father, the Law Enforcement Hall of Yajian Mountain will handle it."

Upon hearing this, the little girl expressionlessly picked up the long blade at her side, looked toward the two figures in the heavy snow, and said, "Then in the future, I will kill him. If he is already dead, I will kill those he holds dear. I am not afraid of becoming a laughingstock."