Chapter 50 Using Stones from Other Mountains to Polish Jade
"A-Jiu," Lou Cangyu stammered, "if you were me, what would you do?"
Ajiu smiled generously, "Use your own advantage to attack his weakness, avoid his strength, and let him reveal his edge. You don't need to be nervous. That time with the Meteor Sword, if I hadn't been lucky, I would have lost an eye to you."
The others laughed. Lou Cangyu's cheeks flushed red. When she looked up, she saw the scar on Ajiu's brow bone, and her face was filled with remorse. "About that time... I thought... you would blame me."
“Between brothers, we don’t talk about this.” Ajiu handed the sword back to him. “Get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow we’ll send you to the inner quarters. When you win a great victory, we’ll celebrate with you until we’re drunk.”
"We won't leave until we're drunk!" Feng Shisan roared, startling Ji Fang.
“We can definitely stay in Rongdu.” Xiao Ma looked up at the sky. “Look, although Canglang Island and Rongdu both see the same moon, for some reason, the moon in Rongdu is brighter than anywhere else.”
"Nonsense." Feng Shisan curled his lip. "They're all the same moon, how can one be brighter than the other? To me, they're all the same."
The moonlight shone brightly, illuminating Guan Ye's innocent face. Ajiu glanced at her sideways, momentarily lost in thought. The wind blew and the clouds shifted, obscuring the bright moon in the night sky. Guan Ye looked slightly dejected. Ajiu took in her gaze and whispered, "The wind has picked up tonight; tomorrow will surely be a bright and sunny day."
"Really?" Guan Ye asked expectantly.
Ah Jiu lowered her head, not wanting Guan Ye to see her smiling, coughed, and then raised her head again, "Really."
Ji Fang cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, glancing one last time at the group gazing at the sky as he left. There was something he didn't dare say: why was the moon in Rongdu so bright? To be honest, no moon anywhere could compare to the one he saw in his own courtyard on Canglang Island. The moonlight reflecting off the flames Ah Yuan was burning was truly dazzling. It was just a pity… he didn't know when he could go back. Perhaps… once Lou Cangyu won tomorrow's sword trial, and Xingguo Ward established itself… the ward master would allow him to return!
Ji Fang felt a surge of joy—"Ajiu is right, tomorrow will definitely be a sunny day. Lou Cangyu, you have to win, or else you'll have to throw up all the noodles you ate today!"
Guan Ye and A Jiu looked at each other and laughed. For a moment, Guan Ye felt as if they were still on Canglang Island, with Ji Yuan bringing over a fragrant stewed fish, and everyone sitting around the fire, chatting and laughing happily. When they looked for Ji Fang again, he had already walked away with his bowl and chopsticks, his figure gradually becoming blurry.
Rongdu Inner Quarters
Hearing that there would be a sword test today, many people came to watch the excitement. Early in the morning, a large crowd gathered outside the inner workshop to welcome the carriage from Xingguo Workshop. Everyone looked at the people in the carriage and pointed and guessed who would be the swordsman today. The inner workshop has held the power of casting for many years. Will it really be taken away by the visitors from the deserted island?
"I'm afraid it's unlikely," an old man said, stroking his beard and shaking his head.
"The swordsmen from Xingguofang looked very spirited, so why did they fail?" someone asked, puzzled. Before the words were finished, the onlookers chimed in, "Yeah, what about Meteor Sword?"
The old man looked puzzled, but seeing that most of the people standing were from Xingguo Ward, he stroked his beard and said nothing more.
At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the inner gate of Xingguo Ward was finally opened. Pei Yuan strode out, followed closely by Lou Cangyu. The guards at the gate blocked Pei Yuan's steps, indicating that only one swordsman could enter the inner ward.
"It has always been the case to test swords before the emperor." Shen Ao stepped forward with his fists clasped and greeted Pei Yuan with a smile. "It is not surprising that Master Pei is new here and does not know this rule. Apart from the swordsmen, everyone else from each workshop can only wait outside."
“It’s alright.” Pei Yuan nodded to Lou Cangyu, his gaze deep and lingering.
Pei Bi handed the sword box to Lou Cangyu, his lips parted as if he wanted to say something but then stopped. Lou Cangyu held the sword box tightly and said, "Manager Pei, Cangyu will be careful and will never let you down."
As Lou Cangyu spoke, he turned back and glanced at the crowd in Xingguo Ward outside the gate. Ji Fang waved his fists a few times, Xiao Ma smiled and nodded slightly to him while holding his sword. Feng Shisan looked on with some reluctance, but still couldn't take his eyes off them. Lou Cangyu lowered his eyes and smiled, his eyes overflowing with gratitude. Just as he was about to take a step forward, he couldn't help but turn back to look for Ajiu.
Ajiu disappeared into the crowd with his arms crossed, his dark eyes gazing intently into the inner chamber, his indifference tinged with intense passion. His thin lips were tightly closed, as if they were filled with admonition. When he saw Lou Cangyu looking at him, he touched the scar on his brow bone with the hilt of his sword, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"Lou Cangyu!" Guan Ye squeezed to the front and called out his name, mimicking his actions from yesterday, raising two fingers and tracing them across her forehead, hissing as she spoke.
Lou Cangyu let out a breath, finally turning his back decisively, raising the sword box high above his head, the curved blade pattern on his dark green brocade robe faintly visible.
A gust of autumn wind stirred, ruffling Guan Ye's tightly bound hair. The red ribbons fluttered, outlining her clear features. Guan Ye stood on tiptoe, gazing at the endless eaves of the inner courtyard. Perched on the eaves were various mythical beasts and birds she didn't recognize, their lifelike eyes fixed on her face. Guan Ye stared, mesmerized, wondering if she should whistle once; would the birds flap their wings and take flight?
Shen Ao looked towards the end of the long street again and again, estimating that the palace carriage would arrive soon. He approached Pei Yuan and whispered, "After the Emperor and the Crown Prince enter the inner workshop's sword-testing platform, would you mind inviting Master Pei to our villa for tea? It's too sunny, and I can't keep you waiting outside." Seeing that Pei Yuan didn't respond, Shen Ao wasn't annoyed. After looking at the group from Xingguo Workshop, he persisted, "The inner workshop has already prepared tea and refreshments. We can't go to the Lingbo Platform for the sword-testing, but we can still enter the foundry. I was thinking of visiting your workshop sometime, but if you don't do me the honor, I can't bring myself to ask."
Having said that, Pei Yuan couldn't be ungrateful, so he could only clasp his hands and nod to Shen Ao in agreement. Shen Ao smiled awkwardly, then suddenly perked up his ears, his face tightening, "They're here, they're here, the Emperor and the Crown Prince are here."
Pei Yuan straightened up, heavily dusted off his newly made dark green satin robe, and stared intently at the group in Xingguo Ward. Pei Bi understood and stepped forward to stand in front of them.
"Is it really the Emperor?" Ji Fang's voice was a mix of excitement and nervousness. "We can actually see the Emperor?"
"Dream on." Feng Shisan said disdainfully, his big eyes uncontrollably glancing at the street. "The emperor is not someone we can just see whenever we want. If we can see him, great; if not, I, Young Master Shisan, don't care."
Seeing that Guan Ye was still staring at the divine bird on the eaves of the inner courtyard, A Jiu leaned closer and blew a breath behind her ear. Guan Ye felt a chill and glared at him as she came to her senses.
"Did you hear the carriage?" Ajiu raised an eyebrow. "They're all hoping to see the Emperor's face. Aren't you curious and want to see him too?"
Guan Ye didn't even look up. "I envy those of noble birth. To me, they're not as interesting as the bird on the roof. I'd rather not see it."
Ajiu looked up and saw that the sculptures were so lifelike, just as Guan Ye had said, that they were much more interesting than living people.
Stepping into the inner ward of the main hall was like entering a new world for Lou Cangyu. The bluestone path beneath his feet resembled Xingguo Ward on the island, but the sense of groundedness he felt with each step was something he had never experienced before. Lou Cangyu recalled the day he returned to the ward after completing his studies. The billowing smoke parted for him, and at the end of the mist, he could vaguely see a red sail approaching him. Now, he was on a path even more impressive than before. The road to success lay before him; it was up to him, Lou Cangyu, to see if he could follow it.
On the sword-testing platform, the inner swordsmen had already stood with their backs turned. Lou Cangyu looked up at the "Lingbo" plaque hanging high. Zhuang Ji wrote in "Lament for the Times": "I cannot cross the waves, nor do I have wings to fly high." The name "Lingbo" comes from this.
A hundred years ago, the Pei family was born at the wrong time, far from the turbid world. They lamented that people could not wield swords, and they resented that they could not bring prosperity to the country despite their skills. Like phoenixes hiding in the clouds and dragons concealing themselves in the sea, the wise knew that the bait was too tempting and that it was better to swim freely in the clear water. But the Pei family was unwilling to keep their weapons hidden, and Lou Cangyu was even more unwilling.
Lou Cangyu had heard his father mention that his great-grandfather was originally a foundry master in Xingguo Workshop. He followed Pei Chong, the ancestor of the Pei family, to build the Heavenly Furnace, which made him famous. He also forged many weapons and was highly valued by the Pei family.
Then why was Father a forger? Father said that ever since he came to Canglang Island with his ancestors, he had stopped forging weapons. It wasn't until his deathbed that Father told Lou Cangyu that the broken sword in Jian Ge was forged by your great-grandfather himself.
—The Golden Sword, the broken Golden Sword… was forged by my great-grandfather.
When the Golden Sword broke, your great-grandfather, unable to bear the humiliation, committed suicide by striking his head against the sword. From then on, the Lou family stopped forging weapons.
The Lou family may cease forging weapons, but Lou Cangyu must not wallow in self-pity. After a century of change, he will return to the Sword Testing Platform in place of his great-grandfather and Pei Chong. The Lou family's shame and disgrace will surely be washed away by his sword. Lou Cangyu gazed at "Lingbo" for a long time, his eyes turning bloodshot.
If they lose... Lou Cangyu looked down at the sword box, then he would make the same choice as his great-grandfather.
Hearing the noise, Wushuang on the sword-testing platform turned around leisurely and stared at the slender swordsman holding the sword box. Perhaps it was different from what she had expected, a hint of confusion appeared in her eyes. The swordsman from Xingguo Ward was stunned and fearful. The Pei family had cultivated to leave the island for a hundred years, yet they dared to choose a swordsman to fight at will? Either they were confident in their own precious sword, or this swordsman must have a unique skill.
Lou Cangyu sighed and wiped the corner of his eye. He took a deep breath and stepped onto the Lingbo Platform. Upon reaching the top, Lou Cangyu saw the inner swordsmen clearly. His pupils suddenly contracted, and he exhaled a spasm of turbid air. A thunderclap exploded in his mind, and his legs suddenly took root and stopped. He dared not go any further.
"You are..." Lou Cangyu seemed to be drawn by something again, uttering the words uncontrollably, staring at the swordsman in green robes in front of him, his eyelashes trembling and somewhat dazed.
"Haven't you ever seen a female swordsman before?" Wushuang smiled, waving her sword as she walked toward him.
"No...I've never seen her before." Lou Cangyu's ears were ringing, his lips moved slightly, and he stared intently at the female swordsman who was walking towards him. The doubt on his face gradually disappeared, and he was stunned and couldn't look away.
"I am Wushuang, what is your name?" Wushuang was like an innocent fairy, her delicate beauty making every word irresistible.
"My name is Lou Cangyu."
"The stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade." Wushuang lightly shook the hilt of his sword. "Your name is quite nice. May I take a look at your sword?"
His peerless, dark eyes swirled with a thousand thoughts, like a tide about to burst forth. Lou Cangyu's vision blurred, and he could no longer see anything clearly. He handed her the sword box.
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