42: The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Chu Qing looked at the two-handed sword with a satisfied expression.
This two-handed sword was a total of 1.5 meters long: a foot for the hilt, and four feet for the blade.
The blade was three fingers wide, and the edge had cloud patterns.
Chu Qing had modified the blade's shape, bearing the shadow of the eight-sided Han sword from his previous life.
Because the gold coins were sufficient and the Materials used were quite precious, the long sword was of very good quality.
When struck with a several dozen-jin iron hammer, the blade hummed, and after bouncing the hammer away, it showed no sign of bending.
The hilt was hollow, capable of holding a liter of fierce fire oil; by twisting a mechanism on the hilt, the fierce fire oil would flow through pre-reserved channels within the blade.
After a strong collision or high-speed swing, the fierce fire oil would ignite, turning it into a flaming sword.
At that time, it would not only inflict physical damage but also fire damage.
It was terrifying.
What was even more interesting was that due to the use of special Materials, each time the fierce fire oil burned, it would stimulate the special Materials tocreeping, which was equivalent to being re-forged, repairing hidden damage on the blade.
“What a treasure!”
Chu Qing was happy.
After paying the blacksmith generously with silver and buying more than a dozen portions of fierce fire oil, sword oil, and other maintenance supplies, he left happily.
On the muddy road:
Chu Qing held the sword with both hands, moving like a dragonfly, running swiftly.
“Sword Wielding +1”
“Sword Wielding +1”
Under normal circumstances, to Cultivate two-handed Swordplay, one would need to practice a hundred times daily, taking three hundred days to achievegetting Started.
However, now, he only needed to wield the two-handed sword for three days, and then use ten portions of Mantis Secret medicine to achievegetting Started.
Chu Qing repeatedly experimented and learned:
The profession panel broke down the condition of wielding a sword for three days into every minute.
As long as he wielded the sword for one minute, his progress would increase by one point.
When the total sword-wielding time reached 4320 minutes, the first condition would be considered complete.
“The first condition is easy to achieve.”
“The second condition is even simpler.”
“The only trouble now is: how can I openly carry this sword?”
The blade was wide and long; it was difficult to conceal.
“Should I hide it during the day and grind progress at night?”
“However, if I do that, the time to achievegetting Started will double.”
Chu Qing pondered continuously, coming up with various plans, but he discarded all of them because they would delay his Swordplay'sgetting Started.
Walking to the place where he last found the purple flower, Chu Qing searched around and found another purple flower.
He carefully preserved the purple flower and sped up.
Unconsciously, he returned outside Shiji County.
Looking at the dense crowd of disaster victims outside the city wall, being picked like livestock by various Fortified Manors, the Powerful, and gangs, he smiled with relief:
“Swordplay'sgetting Started will make me stronger.”
“As long as I am strong enough, let alone carrying a sword, even if I kill someone on the street, who would dare to reprimand me?”
“I am no longer the hooligan I used to be.”
“If anyone is foolish enough to cause trouble or question me, then—kill them.”
Possessing 180 Iron Tendons and knowing many Martial Dao secrets.
Chu Qing's mindset had changed.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Tapping his toes on the ground, he passed through the refugees and approached the city gate.
The soldier guarding the gate was about to stop him when Chu Qing glared at him.
In an instant:
The soldier felt as if he was being stared at by a fierce beast: his body stiffened, and he felt a chill down his spine.
After a long while, he came to his senses, only to find himself covered in cold sweat.
“That person just now… so terrifying!”
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Strolling through the streets, there were few pedestrians, only the grain shops were crowded.
Grain prices were rising three times a day.
“If more refugees gather, Shiji County will also fall into chaos.”
“I hope it doesn't affect the Martial Arts Academy's preliminary examination.”
“Also… the He family is gone, why is there no reaction from the county town?”
“Could it be that no one has discovered He Qi’s death yet?”
Unconsciously, Chu Qing walked to the Jin family mansion:
A minute later:
Madam Jin and Xiao Tao Hong were completely stunned when they saw him.
Xiao Tao Hong secretly gestured and found that the sword in Chu Qing's arms was taller than herself.
Madam Jin did not notice the long sword.
She noticed his temperament.
Before:
Although Chu Qing was an adult, he was still green, like a young man, with a hint of immaturity on his face.
But, overnight, this young man had matured.
His temperament was confident, his eyes opened and closed, bright and full of spirit.
As he walked, his figure was tall and straight, with an air of looking down on everything.
In a trance, she seemed to return to the Prefecture City, seeing the Prodigy who had looked down on all sides when she was young.
And she was just a yellow-haired girl following behind those Prodigies.
Swish!
A violet swaying in the wind filled Madam Jin's vision.
She joyfully took it, handed it to Xiao Tao Hong, and then tightly embraced Chu Qing, saying:
“Qing’er has grown up.”
“But it’s dangerous outside the city, please don’t pick flowers for me again.”
She thought Chu Qing had specifically traveled hundreds of miles into the deep mountains to pick it for her.
Xiao Tao Hong, beside her, looked at the violet in her arms, then at Madam Jin, and sighed to herself:
“Madam… pay more attention!”
A few minutes later:
Madam Jin said to Chu Qing:
“Someone from the Blood River Gang came looking for you this morning and said that when you arrived, you must go to the gang.”
Chu Qing nodded.
But he didn't take it to heart.
Killing Hall Master Liu and wiping out He Qi’s entire family.
This caused a huge change in his mindset.
The former Blood River Gang was a part of his identity, even a protective umbrella; but now, the Blood River Gang was his shackles.
“I will handle it.”
Madam Jin no longer asked questions, instead chattering about the mountain scenery and the situation outside.
Chu Qing recounted it in detail.
Madam Jin was initially delighted to hear about the misty and beautiful mountain scenery.
However, after hearing that there were disaster victims everywhere, roads had collapsed, and farmland was submerged, her mood became three points heavier.
She stood up and paced back and forth, saying, “This is a natural disaster, and also a man-made one.”
“Shiji County, and even the surrounding counties, are probably going to fall into chaos.”
Chu Qing wondered, “It’s just some disaster victims, if they are settled, how chaotic can it get?”
Madam Jin shook her head and said, “Who will settle the disaster victims?”
“The yamen won’t care; how many can Fortified Manors, Powerful families, and gangs absorb?”
“Shiji County has higher terrain, so if the wind and rain don’t stop, more disaster victims will gather here.”
“At that time… if there are rebels inciting them, it will definitely lead to great chaos.”
Chu Qing secretly shook his head and said, “This kind of thing has little to do with us.”
“If it really gets chaotic, I will protect you.”
After speaking, he patted the long sword in his arms.
Madam Jin felt a warmth in her heart and was very touched.
“Qing’er is much better than Jin Yiren.”
Bathing, eating, reading, copying calligraphy.
Chu Qing spent the entire afternoon at Madam Jin’s place.
What Madam Jin found strange was:
No matter what he was doing, even when massaging her shoulders, Chu Qing always held that sword with one hand.
She mumbled, “This sword…”
Chu Qing smiled and said, “I used a knife to kill people before, and it felt too low-grade.”
“Then, I thought about getting a sword.”
When killing people was mentioned, Madam Jin’s expression darkened.
She had advised Jin Yiren to kill Butler He, but it ultimately failed.
“Did Qing’er get this sword because he wants to kill Butler He?”
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted in the city.
There were urgent hoofbeats; cries; and screams.
Madam Jin’s face turned pale, and she exclaimed, “Could it be that the rebels have broken in?”
Chu Qing quickly grabbed her arm and said seriously, “It’s nothing!”
“You go hide in the room, I’ll guard here.”
At this moment:
A servant ran in, exclaiming in panic, “The sky has fallen! The sky has fallen!”