Chapter 84 The Last Sword of Faith

Daytime.

A large hall.

Liu Ziwen sat upright, holding a white cloth in his hand, squinting carefully as he wiped the sword sheath.

He would occasionally turn his head and glance calmly outside the lobby, as if waiting for something.

The young master of the Liu family held a short sword.

The exact condition of the sword blade inside the sheath is not visible.

However, just looking at the scabbard, it is inlaid with jade, agate, pearls and gemstones, which is already extremely luxurious.

Not to mention the exquisite tassels woven with colorful ribbons on the hilt.

It is naturally of great value and extraordinary quality.

Finally, footsteps were heard outside the hall, followed by the sound of Liu Zian talking and laughing with a stranger.

"Mr. Li, this way please. My elder brother specially arranged for you to have Chang'an white tea, which is your preferred flavor."

"Haha, you're too kind, First Boss and Second Boss. I'll accept your offer without hesitation."

This is a pure and fluent speech in the elegant language of the Great Zhou Dynasty, with some Guanzhong accent.

But when Liu Zian led the owner of this elegant speech into the hall, he saw clearly that the man was a Persian with a mustache and dressed like a shrewd merchant.

"Mr. Li, it's been a long time."

Liu Ziwen suddenly broke into a bright smile, stood up, handed the short sword and white cloth to the maid, and went to the door to greet them personally.

After exchanging pleasantries, the three returned to the hall and sat down again.

Unrelated people withdrew one after another, leaving only Liu Ziwen, Liu Zian, and the Persian merchant, along with a young maidservant holding a sword and looking down.

The Persian merchant, who had taken the name Li Li, took a sip of the white tea popular in Chang'an, smiled slightly, and casually remarked:

"Boss Liu, a new batch of goods has arrived. Remember to check it."

Liu Ziwen and Liu Zian exchanged a glance.

The former nodded, "My younger brother has already sent someone there. Thank you for making the trip, Mr. Li."

Li Li shook her head and muttered:

"It's alright. We're all doing this for important people. There's no hardship involved. It's just our duty. If we have to talk about hardship, then it's Chief Liu who has been guarding this place for so many years. He's the one who has had the hardest time."

Liu Ziwen smiled but remained silent.

The Persian merchant put down his teacup, glanced at the Liu brothers before him, and at the familiar short sword in the hand of the maid beside him, and sighed with emotion:

"Come to think of it, how many times has this happened?"

Without hesitation, Liu Ziwen replied, "Thirty-seven trips."

Li Li sighed:

"Yes, that's thirty-seven trips already. I make at least three trips every year without fail. It's been ten years now. Although I'm a regular customer, I haven't really explored Longcheng County properly yet. This place is a land of outstanding people and resources, producing talents like the First and Second Bosses. It's a wonderful place."

Liu Ziwen nodded: "A good place is one that can help the benefactor."

Liu Zian said, "Once this matter is settled, I will personally take Boss Li on a tour of Longcheng."

The red-haired, hook-nosed Persian merchant nodded.

"The boss is right. A good place is one that can catch the eye of important people."

A hint of a smile appeared in his light green eyes, and he teased Liu Zi'an again:

"I'm just afraid that when the two leaders rise to prominence, they'll forget about me."

Liu Zian forced a smile onto his sickly face:

"Mr. Li is joking. If anyone is to rise to prominence, it is Mr. Li who will rise to prominence first. Over the years, so many things have come in without any leaks or anyone noticing. Mr. Li deserves the most credit."

"I'm destined to be a hard worker, so don't joke around, second-in-command."

The Persian merchant chuckled and shook his head, not taking it seriously.

In the eyes of the noble Wei family, the greatest credit would naturally not go to him, because it was the Liu family who earned this immense wealth.

Of course, the corresponding enormous risks are also borne by the Liu family.

He was just a gofer, a mere white glove for the Wei family nobles. He just needed to be obedient and sensible. Why did he have to take on such a huge risk?

As for white gloves, ask fewer questions and do more.

Moreover, he is a businessman, and although he has a gambling streak, he doesn't like to go all in.

As for the Liu brothers in front of him, Li Li, who had seen countless people, could tell that they really liked playing all-in poker.

That's what makes him so different.

The Persian merchants were well aware of this and observed it with indifference.

But this does not preclude the familiarity, politeness, and close friendship on paper.

They are simply different roles under the feet of the powerful, with different ways of surviving.

Everything depends on the final outcome. Before the benefactor's patience runs out, we need to see if what the Liu family offers or what they achieve will satisfy him.

This is the true barometer of the friendship and loyalty between the two sides.

Li Li understood, and he knew that the Liu brothers in front of him also understood.

Over the years and through so many interactions, we have always followed this tacit understanding.

However, although I have been here many times and know Penglangdu Wharf very well.

However, Li Li was still secretly surprised by what the Liu family was doing in secret, using the Guyue Sword Shop as a cover.

Because far too many resources have already been consumed.

Over the past ten years, he has brought thirty-seven batches of goods.

The lists that the Liu family submits each time are indeed not long, but they cost an astronomical amount of gold and silver, and many of them involve rare materials that even money cannot necessarily buy for Qi cultivators.

Persian merchants were not unsophisticated.

Having traveled extensively throughout the Western Regions and the South China Sea islands for many years, he has earned considerable renown even among the top merchants in Chang'an and Luoyang, despite his low-key demeanor.

What rare treasures haven't I examined? What bizarre constructions haven't I seen? What ingenious skills haven't I heard of?

He had witnessed two and a half of the top-level Qi cultivators who were like dragons, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

But the few unremarkable sword-making furnaces by the river in this small county town in Jiangnan opened the eyes of the merchant Li Li.

It's like a gluttonous beast, its insatiable mouth constantly swallowing up countless resources, yet all it manages to produce is a sound.

Moreover, the Persian merchant remembered that during a previous delivery, while drinking tea, he overheard the Liu brothers mention that when the sword blank was found, it was already a semi-finished product, just one step away from being successfully forged.

And it was this final step that consumed so much of the effort and time of the top noble forces of the Great Zhou Dynasty behind him.

This occurred during its golden decade, when it was at the height of its power.

Of course, this is also related to factors such as the need to conduct this matter secretly to avoid being discovered by political enemies, and the need to transfer resources covertly and gradually.

But it's still astonishing enough.

In any case, over the years, Li Li has gained more and more resources and authority from the vast power behind him because of his assistance in this matter, which has even made him, as a businessman, feel a little guilty.

If the Liu family of Longcheng hadn't behaved so well over the years, showing no intention of expansion, their business outside Longcheng County would have been entirely under the watchful eyes of Li Li and the forces behind them.

He even began to suspect that the Liu family had embezzled resources and were playing tricks on the important person...

Li Li recently heard from a colleague that the struggle in the highest levels of the imperial court in Luoyang, the capital, had reached its most intense and agonizing stage.

Even those retainers and advisors standing in the 'shade' of power could feel the scorching sun and the rustling of the trees.

Therefore, before coming here, Li Li had taken the initiative to ask his superiors whether or not to temporarily tighten the resource investment here.

The result was that a certain Prince Wei's instruction was... to intensify the efforts.

The Persian merchant felt a sense of awe.

At this moment, in the Liu family's reception hall, the three seated people each lowered their heads and drank tea in silence.

"Good tea, Chief Liu, you're very kind."

Li Li was the first to regain her senses, put down her teacup, and recited a line with a smile:

"Is this list a bit long again? Haha, it's okay, they're all old acquaintances. Just take them out. I'm a busybody and used to running errands."

Unexpectedly, the young master of the Liu family in front of him gently shook his head.

Liu Ziwen glanced at Liu Zian, who took out a nearly blank piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to the Persian merchant.

This was given to him by the old craftsman.

"Huh, why is there only one?"

Li Li looked surprised, staring at the single line of text on the paper, and read it aloud:

"The Mo Family Sword Box..."

He paused, then his expression suddenly changed: "Boss, you mean... just one sword case?"

The Persian merchant seemed to vaguely realize something, gripping the armrests of the wooden chair tightly with both hands and leaning his upper body forward.

Liu Ziwen's expression was a mixture of relief and melancholy.

He nodded and gestured to the Persian merchant towards the luxurious short sword held by the obedient maid beside him:

"Boss Li, take this last token back and give it to the Prince. Once the Prince sees the sword, he will understand what to do."

Having just finished drinking tea, Li Li suddenly felt a bit thirsty, but she made no move to pick up the teacup.

His green eyes, as green as the beady eyes of a greedy old tortoise, widened as he stared intently at the short sword held in the maid's hand. He knew, of course, what signal this 'last token' in Liu Ziwen's words represented.

The Persian merchant's lapse in composure amused Liu Ziwen, but it wasn't entirely unexpected.

Today, as he wiped his short sword while waiting for guests, his hands trembled slightly.

Liu Ziwen calmly extended his hand to the maid holding the sword:

"Give me the sword, you may leave."

The maidservant handed over the sword with both hands.

He turned and left.

Liu Ziwen received the sword.

He weighed it in his hand.

Draw the sword with a reverse grip.

He got up and walked away.

Blood splattered all over his face.

She was still moving.

Stab again.

The two-foot-eight-inch blade was level with the ribs, piercing the chest of the fallen maid who was still slightly heaving.

That's it.

In front of the other two, Liu Ziwen drew his short sword for the second time.

Hot blood from the heart slid down the cold spine of the sword, dripping from the maid's chest to her forehead.

The exquisite sword tassel was meticulously wrapped around the palm of Liu Ziwen's hand, yet it remained unstained red.

He reached out and took the white cloth from Liu Zian, carefully wiping the slightly warm sword blade, then spread out the still snow-white cloth and gestured to the Persian merchant.

There wasn't a single trace of blood on it.

Liu Zian's expression remained unchanged.

Li Li's eyes widened, her expression quite interesting.

It wasn't because there was a cold corpse at his feet, but because after a simple demonstration, he discovered that the short sword in front of him was sharpened!

As previously agreed.

Every time a Persian merchant delivered goods, he would take a short sword prepared by the Liu family as a token to present to the important person.

This can be considered a kind of... ritual.

Over the previous ten years, he had made thirty-six deliveries and retrieved thirty-six token daggers.

But none of them are sharpened.

Because once the short sword that was given back is sharpened, it means... that the sword is about to be repaired.

Li Li carefully took the newly sharpened, luxurious short sword with both hands, his eyes burning with admiration.

All you need to do is bring this short sword back, and when the last special delivery person brings the Mo family sword box, you can take away a sword that the Wei family nobleman can't forget!

The Persian merchant, looking satisfied, stroked his mustache and nodded in agreement.

"Very few exquisite sword cases made using the Mo family's mechanical techniques still exist. Each one is a unique and rare item. However, I have heard of the whereabouts of a certain one. I will definitely obtain it."

Liu Ziwen and Liu Zian both nodded.

However, when faced with Li Li's bright smile, the solemn and serious expressions on the two brothers' faces did not disappear; on the contrary, they became even more... grave.

This strange occurrence naturally caught the eye of the Persian merchant's shrewd and perceptive eyes.

He glanced at them and asked directly, "What's wrong with the First and Second Bosses? It's supposed to be a joyous occasion, so why do you look so worried?"

The Liu brothers exchanged a glance.

Liu Ziwen sighed, and Liu Zian, who was standing beside him, spoke up for him:

"When Boss Li brought his caravan to Dragon City, did he notice anything different?"

Li Li nodded, narrowing her eyes:

“I’ve noticed that a new waterway is being dug, and it looks quite impressive… What’s wrong, is this a bit of a headache for you two?”

Liu Ziwen lowered his eyes and suddenly said:

"The tricky thing for now is not the new river channel, but the one who is building the river channel... the newly arrived magistrate."

"oh?"

...

(End of this chapter)