Chapter 31: The Unremarkable Demon-Repelling Sword Technique

Chapter 31: The Ordinary Bixie Sword Technique

Let us open two flowers, each telling its own story.

The head of the Songshan Sect, Zuo Lengchan, concealed his movements and quietly descended the mountain, heading toward Fuzhou.

It was still the Fortune Escort Agency. Watching the moon slowly disappear behind the clouds, Zuo Lengchan’s lips curled into a faint smile as he slipped into the rear courtyard of the agency.

To verify the authenticity of the “Bixie Sword Manual,” Zuo Lengchan decided to begin with the chief escort, Lin Zhennan.

Inside, Lin Zhennan had just lain down, preparing to rest with his wife, when suddenly a shrill scream rang out. By the sound, it was unmistakably his only son, Lin Pingzhi!

Lin Zhennan and his wife were both shocked, hastily dressing and rushing outside. There, in the courtyard, a figure swathed head to toe in black was holding Lin Pingzhi in front of him as a hostage.

“Ping’er!” Madam Lin’s vision went black, and she fainted cleanly away.

“My dear, my dear…” Lin Zhennan was speechless for a moment. Fortunately, escorts and maids, alerted by the commotion, had begun to arrive. Lin Zhennan handed his wife to a maid, then demanded, “Who are you, sir, and why have you broken into my escort agency at night, holding Ping’er hostage?”

Zuo Lengchan rasped, “Chief Lin need not ask who I am. My purpose is simple: I wish to witness the famed ‘Bixie Sword Technique’ that has shaken the martial world. That is all. Please, Chief Lin, show me your true skill, or else tonight may be the night your Fortune Escort Agency perishes altogether.”

Lin Zhennan’s heart trembled. “Could you first release Ping’er? Whatever your demand, I shall meet it! I promise!”

He had no choice but to be anxious; Lin Pingzhi was his only son. Should anything happen to him…

Zuo Lengchan laughed aloud and casually tossed Lin Pingzhi aside. As the master of Songshan, he held no interest in holding a young gentleman hostage. Now he only wished to see the Lin family’s “Bixie Sword Technique,” to judge the authenticity of the manual he possessed.

“Chief Lin, let us begin!”

Even so, Zuo Lengchan, confident in his status, was unwilling to strike first.

Lin Zhennan drew a deep breath; now that the mysterious visitor had released Lin Pingzhi, relief washed over him. Accepting a longsword from a nearby escort, he declared, “Then forgive me, sir!”

He thrust his sword forward, attacking Zuo Lengchan.

A flicker of disappointment flashed across Zuo Lengchan’s eyes—yes, disappointment. He could see that Lin Zhennan was indeed employing moves from the “Seventy-two Methods of the Bixie Sword Technique,” but in Lin Zhennan’s hands, they were utterly ordinary and lacked the power of the legendary swordplay that had once stunned the martial world.

Nonetheless, Zuo Lengchan persisted, exchanging a dozen moves with Lin Zhennan, growing ever more speechless. Lin Zhennan’s martial skill was so poor that Zuo Lengchan felt he was bullying a child.

“Lin Zhennan, Lin Zhennan—the ‘Bixie Sword Technique’ that Lin Yuantu once used to dominate the world was renowned far and wide, yet in the hands of his descendants it has been utterly degraded. It pains me deeply.”

Zuo Lengchan fought with effortless ease, commenting as he moved.

Lin Zhennan, meanwhile, was terrified. He had done his utmost, yet could not even graze the mysterious man’s sleeve. He realized the visitor’s martial skill was unfathomable—and wondered only why he had not struck back.

Hearing Zuo Lengchan’s faint mockery, Lin Zhennan suffered in silence, focusing solely on attacking.

After another twenty moves, Zuo Lengchan understood: he had now seen nearly half of the seventy-two sword techniques, and, indeed, they matched those in the manual. Lin Zhennan simply lacked the proper method.

With this knowledge, Zuo Lengchan ceased to delay. Suddenly, he extended his left hand, lightly flicked Lin Zhennan’s sword aside, and seized Lin Zhennan by the throat.

“Enough! I tire of playing with you. Lin Zhennan, tell me—where is the ‘Bixie Sword Manual’? Otherwise, tonight your Fortune Escort Agency will be wiped out to the last soul!”

Lin Zhennan was terrified. He had long suspected the mysterious man’s target was the manual. Now, struggling to breathe, he turned his head with difficulty and looked at Lin Pingzhi. “Ping… Ping’er, quick, run…”

Lin Pingzhi stood frozen, a young gentleman with little martial skill, never having witnessed such scenes. He was so frightened he could not move, his legs leaden.

Zuo Lengchan laughed. “Lin Zhennan, Lin Zhennan—how far has Lin Yuantu’s great reputation fallen! Look, I haven’t even acted, and your son stands rooted to the spot, lacking the courage to flee. Since you won’t speak, I’ll cripple your son’s hand first!”

He tossed Lin Zhennan three yards away, making him land hard and struggle for breath. In the next instant, Zuo Lengchan seized the stunned Lin Pingzhi, gripping his right hand coldly. “Watch closely!”

Lin Zhennan’s eyes nearly burst; he cried out hoarsely, “Stop! I’ll speak, I’ll speak!”

Zuo Lengchan, contemptuous of Lin Zhennan’s weakness, nonetheless paused. “Speak.”

Seeing his son unharmed, Lin Zhennan felt as if he’d been given new life. “If I tell you, will you promise to spare my son?”

Zuo Lengchan laughed wildly. “Do you have any right to bargain with me?”

Lin Zhennan fell silent. Indeed, he had no right to negotiate—he was but a fish on the chopping block.

Zuo Lengchan paused, then said, “Yet I truly am loath to kill such insignificant people. Very well—if you reveal the whereabouts of the ‘Bixie Sword Manual,’ not only will I spare your son, I’ll spare everyone in your Fortune Escort Agency. But I want the genuine manual, not your worthless, half-baked swordplay.”

Lin Zhennan, dejected, could only reply, “The manual has always been hidden in the old Lin family residence in Xiangyang Lane, within the Buddha hall…”

Zuo Lengchan’s heart stirred. “Then, Chief Lin, lead the way.”

Lin Zhennan had no choice. He knew that even if he risked everyone in the agency, none could stand against this man. He had to comply.

Lin Zhennan and Lin Pingzhi walked ahead, Zuo Lengchan following at leisure. He had no fear of tricks; indeed, there were few in the world who could attempt such before him.

Along the way, Lin Pingzhi remained dazed. He simply could not understand why his family’s ordinary sword technique could attract the covetousness of such a powerful figure. Moreover, it seemed his ancestor Lin Yuantu’s reputation was immense, yet as the young chief, he had never known it.

Lin Zhennan, of course, knew why the sword technique seemed so mundane, but he would not speak, quietly leading the way.

Soon, the three arrived at the old Lin residence in Xiangyang Lane. Gazing at the dilapidated estate, Lin Zhennan felt even more despondent.

“Don’t dawdle—hurry up and go in,” Zuo Lengchan urged impatiently.

Lin Zhennan had no choice but to go in first.

Inside the Buddha hall, Lin Zhennan pointed at the beam overhead. “The manual has always been hidden here. If you wish to see it, take it yourself…” As he spoke, his expression changed dramatically. “How can it be gone?”

The beam was empty.

…

First update delivered, asking for votes. More to come tonight.

(End of chapter)