Chapter 50: Gift of a Famous Sword
"What's going on?" Shen Bingsi looked a little angry. He stared at Rong Xie's arm and then suddenly lowered his head.
Rong Xie felt the stinging pain on the outside of his arm replaced by another sensation, a warm, heavy one. He was surprised to see Shen Bingsi burying her face in his arm, sucking away the blood that had flowed out.
“Bing Si…” Rong Xie’s heartbeat became heavy and fast again, just like when he ran over just now.
Finally, Shen Bingsi raised his head. He held Rong Xie's injured arm and lifted it up while rummaging through his golden fish-patterned pouch. Soon, a bottle of medicine appeared in his hand. He bit off the red velvet bottle stopper with his teeth, poured the pill into his palm, and in the blink of an eye, the pill turned into a sticky mess. Shen Bingsi applied it to the outside of the wound.
"This is a sacred healing medicine from the Yunshan Sect. It will be healed in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Do not get it wet or touch it with your hands. Just let it air dry." Shen Bingsi put the stopper back in the bottle.
"Okay." Rong Xie kept his arm raised, feeling the wound was hot and itchy, as if it was growing together. "Yunshan Sect, did Miss Cui give this to you?"
“I bought it,” Shen Bingsi paused, looking somewhat dejected, “but I can’t buy it now.”
"..." Rong Xie glanced at him, then looked away. "Then will you regret it?"
"Regret? What do you regret?" Shen Bingsi asked, puzzled.
Judging from this reaction, she doesn't regret it at all.
Rong Xie didn't know whether he should be happy or sad.
"Oh...you mean you can't buy medicine? What's there to regret? It's not like Yunshan Sect is the only one in the world with healing medicine...but this kind does work faster. Don't underestimate this small cut; it was dangerous. It was caused by that jade shard that flew out earlier, right? It contains my spiritual energy, and cuts like that don't heal easily. Luckily, it's only on my arm. Sigh." Shen Bingsi looked restless and grabbed Rong Xie's arm to examine it.
"It's not that serious," Rong Xie chuckled. "If you had applied the medicine a little later, it would have healed completely. I used my spiritual power to block it just now; surely that should have been enough to block the spiritual power in that small fragment?"
“That’s not necessarily true.” Shen Bingsi frowned. “I still need to make you a protective magic artifact, or I can use my protective spiritual energy to make you a talisman. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.”
"Then I've actually turned misfortune into a blessing in disguise," Rong Xie said with a smile.
"What kind of blessing is this?"
"The 'talisman' in amulet."
Shen Bingsi was taken aback, then laughed, her anxious feelings easing somewhat: "My Rong'er is truly clever."
Rong Xie's cheeks flushed slightly. That nickname was really burning his ears. Sometimes he wondered whether Shen Bing Si was sensitive or not. It should be said that she was selectively sensitive. He would have turned on others long ago if they said such sarcastic things, but she herself could say it so fluently.
After this little unexpected interruption, the two of them calmed down considerably and were able to sit down and analyze the matter.
On the beach, next to the Zhenhai Stone, Rong Xie took out a stiff, waterproof sheet. Shen Bingsi spread it on the fine white sand, and the two sat side by side on it to talk.
Waves of seawater wash over the beach, churning up white foam and occasionally bringing up colorful seashells and coral fragments, leaving them there before receding to accumulate for a new wave.
The sound of waves crashing on the beach is very soothing and pleasant, rhythmic and unhurried. Listening to such a sound seems to soothe any worries you may have.
"When did it start? I remember I could still contact you when we were at Xiangji Temple." Shen Bingsi traced back, "Was the last time it was at Xiangji Temple?"
The two began to work out the timeline from earlier in the story.
“It should be.” Rong Xie had a deep impression of that contact. He was standing outside the small courtyard where Bai Shui Shan Ren lived in seclusion when his jade pendant suddenly rang, and the golden light illuminated the lintel of the house. He felt like he had been caught red-handed eavesdropping, even though he didn’t mean to.
"What did we do after that?" Shen Bingsi pondered. "We went to Lanyuan Villa... stayed at Fanshige for a few days... went to Xiangji Temple... and finally the Flower King Competition, huh?"
Rong Xie was also thinking that this short period of time felt like half a year, especially those few days at the Prosperous Pavilion...
Rong Xie's cheeks flushed as she thought about Fanshige, then she suddenly realized that everything around her was quiet except for the sound of the waves crashing. Shen Bingsi had just made an "eh" sound and then stopped talking.
Rong Xie turned to look at Shen Bingsi and found that Shen Bingsi had a dark expression on her face, her hand resting on the bridge of her nose, seemingly lost in deep thought.
"What's wrong?" Rong Xie asked.
"Have you noticed... that there's one person who appears particularly frequently?" Shen Bingsi's voice was somewhat heavy.
"who?"
"Bai Shui Shan Ren!" Shen Bing Si said through gritted teeth.
Rong Xie had initially thought Shen Bingsi had come up with something, but this was exactly what he had seen, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Shen Bingsi turned her head and looked at him with great displeasure.
“How is that possible? How could Bai Shui Shan Ren affect the sound transmission jade pendant?” Rong Xie shook his head. “Even Elder Yun Feng wasn’t affected, so how could Bai Shui Shan Ren possibly be?”
"...?" This time it was Shen Bingsi's turn to be confused. "What does this have to do with Elder Yunfeng?"
“You two often fish and chat together, and he even delivers poultry and livestock to your home,” Rong Xie reminded her. “In terms of friendship, he’s much more impressive than Bai Shui Shan Ren.”
"You care about this?" Shen Bingsi immediately perked up.
"No, not at all," Rong Xie said gently. "I am very grateful to him. Without his care in the Elders' Council, you would have suffered a lot of hidden losses."
For some reason, Shen Bingsi seemed a little disappointed upon receiving this answer.
“If it’s not Bai Shui Shan Ren… then it must be the Flower King Competition.” Shen Bing Si paused, her tone becoming serious. “You still haven’t forgiven me.”
“I forgive you,” Rong Xie said immediately.
That incident happened so long ago, and Shen Bingsi has made many efforts to make amends. Rong Xie has seen it all, so how could he not forgive her?
“It’s okay, actually it’s a good thing, I can know what you really think,” Shen Bingsi continued, “I will solve this problem.”
In Shen Bingsi's view, all problems can be solved.
Rong Xie remained skeptical.
“Remember when I said I’d give you a gift?” Shen Bingsi regained his confident demeanor and sat up straight. He took off the golden fish-patterned bag, placed it in front of him, and resumed his cross-legged sitting posture. “I promise you, once you receive this gift, you’ll forget all the unpleasantness of this trip.”
"That's amazing?" Rong Xie's curiosity was piqued, and he sat up straight. "So... what exactly is it?"
"You can guess, I've already given you a hint." Shen Bingsi enjoyed the feeling of having all his best friend's attention on him, and deliberately kept him in suspense.
“Is it… a treasure from the bottom of the sea? The inner core of a sea monster?” Rong Xie thought of a few possibilities, but Shen Bingsi shook her head and denied them all. “I can’t guess.”
"Idiot, I gave you such an obvious hint." Shen Bingsi changed his hand gestures, and a ray of white light burst out from the golden fish-patterned bag. He placed one palm on top and the other on the bottom, making a gesture of embracing the primordial energy of heaven and earth. The ray of white light spun rapidly between his palms, extending from a spot of light the size of a silver ingot to a pillar of light a foot long.
Rong Xie's eyes widened, his heart pounding: "It's... a flying sword?!"
Shen Bingsi smiled at him: "My Rong'er is almost at the Foundation Establishment stage, she should have her own flying sword."
Rong Xie's ears felt hot.
As she spoke, Shen Bingsi stood up from the ground.
He strolled to the middle of the beach, facing the boundless sea.
As the sun set and the sky was ablaze with red clouds, the vast universe stretched out before Shen Bingsi, who stood alone before the waves, slowly extending her arms.
A sharp wave of energy traveled from his elbow to his wrist, and the pillar of light in his palm suddenly unfolded, transforming into a two-foot-long silver sword.
This small silver sword is narrow in shape, with an indistinct guard. The hilt and blade are integrated, resembling a long silver thorn or the leaf of a gladiolus.
Shen Bingsi twirled her sword in the air, and the small silver sword instantly danced with dazzling moves. The material used to forge the sword, Lu Silver, showed its effectiveness at this moment. The blade was flexible and swirling, bending and rebounding with the momentum of the sword dance, presenting a dazzling effect.
What would be considered a display of skill by others was merely a casual attempt by Shen Bingsi, much like a highly skilled musician testing the tension of the strings before playing. The melody she casually plucked was already enough to amaze everyone present.
After testing the sword, Shen Bingsi returned to the starting stance, holding the sword and pushing it forward, staring intently at the blade, her posture still and unyielding.
Suddenly the sword turned, the wind swirled and the snow fell, the sword light danced gracefully in the air, the silver light turned into speckled afterimages, and the dark blue robe fluttered in the wind, making a sound.
Then, stepping into the void, he leaped up, his flying sword flying out of his hand, piercing straight into the sky. The sword light, amidst the crimson clouds, was like several bright streaks of light, slowly blooming in the air like giant orchids.
With a whistle, the flying sword returned to her hand. Shen Bingsi danced a set of Sword Immortal's Drunken Style in the air. Her steps were unsteady, and she stumbled and fell repeatedly, sometimes reversing the flow of stars. Suddenly, she performed the Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers Style, coming and going like lightning, leaving behind a sky full of afterimages but never revealing her true form.
After a spectacular sword dance, Shen Bingsi used a meteor strike, falling headfirst to the ground. Her silver sword touched the ground, and the impact bent the blade into a terrifying arc, like a fully drawn bowstring.
The next moment, the sword tip twisted, the blade sprang up, and emitted a long "clang" sound. The accumulated power burst forth instantly, sending Shen Bingsi flying back into the air. He spun halfway through the air, dissipating the force of the sword's rebound, adjusted his body, and landed gracefully like an immortal descending to earth, sheathing his sword.
brush--
brush--
The sound of the waves crashing against the beach seemed endless.
Rong Xie stood up from the ground at some point, his hands hanging at his sides, his shoulders trembling slightly. He looked at Shen Bingsi walking towards him step by step in the twilight, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
Shen Bingsi stepped across the beach, the setting sun sinking completely into the sea behind him. The last rays of the setting sun fell on his shoulders. In the backlight, his eyes were brighter than the afterglow, filled with a cheerful smile, fixed on Rong Xie's face.
As they approached, the two were only a step apart. Shen Bingsi drew her flying sword with a "whoosh," reversed the blade, and pointed the tip at herself while the hilt faced Rong Xie. She said, "Rong'er, this is the gift I want to give you. The moment I saw it in the 'Sword Forging Manual,' I thought of you."
"A gentleman is like an orchid, it is called the 'Light-Electrifying White Orchid'. 'When it dances, it is like lightning breaking through the sky, and its afterimage is like the leaves of a sword orchid.' The sword dance I just performed was a set of moves that I created myself by combining its characteristics. Isn't it beautiful and elegant? You are just like that in my heart."
Rong Xie's lips moved slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word. Shen Bingsi smiled and said, "Go on, there's no need for thanks between us."
Under Shen Bingsi's burning gaze, Rong Xie slowly raised his hand, spreading his stiff fingers to grasp the sword hilt that Shen Bingsi had warmed up.
So this is what the hilt feels like to hold. Did Shen Bingsi hold it like this back then? How did he manage to do that?
Rong Xie's hands trembled uncontrollably, and the luminous white orchid in his hand seemed to be dancing. He didn't know if it was because his hands were shaking or because some force was tempting him. Terrifying thoughts kept churning in his mind—if Shen Bingsi could do it, he could do it too. As long as he pushed the hilt forward slightly, the blade could pierce Shen Bingsi's chest.
Just like what Shen Bingsi did to him in the Book of Fate.
That's right, this sword is the same one Shen Bingsi used in her precognitive dream to kill her beloved in order to defeat the Heavenly Demon and prove her Dao.
It was Rong Xie who personally chose this end for himself, and the reason he chose it was that Shen Bingsi would be in a better mood if she used this sword.
He didn't know whether Shen Bingsi was in a good mood or not, but when he saw this sword, he would have difficulty breathing, feel dizzy and nauseous, and even have a terrible impulse when he held it in his hands.
Kill Shen Bingsi. As long as Shen Bingsi is killed, Shen Bingsi will not kill him, he will not die, and he will not feel heartache because of Shen Bingsi's ruthlessness. He will no longer have to struggle between whether to stay by his side as if nothing happened or to openly express his feelings and be kicked out.
Once Shen Bingsi is killed, the suffering will end, and everything will be over...
"Hmm? Are you that excited? How come you can't even hold the hilt of the sword?" Shen Bingsi laughed, seemingly unconcerned that Rong Xie's sword was pointing at him. After the handover, he lowered his hand, still standing at a low position on the beach, his chin slightly raised, his expression lost in memories.
"Do you remember back then... you were so confident that you would soon reach the Foundation Establishment stage? I thought that once you reached the Foundation Establishment stage, you would definitely need a flying sword. This flying sword had to be compatible with your character so that you could progress faster in your cultivation. My initial idea was to buy one, but after traveling through the three sects, I couldn't find a suitable one. By chance, I saw the 'Sword Forging Manual,' and there was a page called 'Light and Light White Orchid.' For some reason, just looking at that name, I had a feeling that I had found it, that I had found your destined flying sword."
As Shen Bingsi recounted his journey in forging the sword, a smile playing on his lips, he described the difficulties he encountered, how no swordsmith could forge it, and how, after finding a friend willing to help him, he discovered that the raw material, Lu Silver, had been extinct for a long time. Even after finally finding the material, his swordsmith friend admitted he was just boasting and wasn't nearly as skilled as he claimed… Fortunately, in the end, the Guangdian Bailan sword was successfully forged, perfectly matching the blueprints. To promote Guangdian Bailan and to help his impoverished swordsmith friend, Shen Bingsi instructed him to organize an auction at the Swordsmith Alliance, where he purchased the sword for 30,000 spirit stones.
“Silly Rong’er, back then when I asked you to come to the auction with me, your attention was completely focused on the fact that if I bid again, it would cost 30,000 spirit stones. Afterwards, you even threw a tantrum at me, saying that you never wanted to see that sword again…”
At this point, Shen Bingsi's eyes filled with laughter as she looked at Rong Xie once more.
"This is terrible now. You have to keep looking at this sword, keep looking at it. When you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, we'll use it to practice sword control. When you reach the Core Formation stage, we'll ride it to the heavens and the earth... Rong'er, what's wrong with you?"
Rong Xie finally lost his grip on the sword, and the white orchid fell to the ground, sinking into the white sand.
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