Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 72
“Young friend, you have a good eye!”
“You actually recognized that this blade is forged from Mysterious Iron.”
“However, it’s flawed Mysterious Iron, not the pure, impurity-free kind used by the authorities.”
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare to bring it out, even if I had ten thousand times the courage.”
Seeing Lu Xuan’s surprised expression, a trace of pride appeared on Liu Yi’s aged face.
Clearly, this blade was his treasured masterpiece!
Satisfying the curiosity of this martial arts genius finally gratified Liu Yi’s vanity.
This flawed piece of Mysterious Iron was something he had acquired at great cost from someone else years ago.
“No wonder. So it’s flawed Mysterious Iron?”
The doubt in Lu Xuan’s heart was finally answered.
Mysterious Iron was strictly forbidden for civilian use by the authorities. How could Liu Yi, the owner of a smithy, dare to possess it otherwise?
Lu Xuan took the silvery-white broadsword from Liu Yi’s hands, examined it carefully, and pressed his right hand against the blade to test its strength.
After a short while, he lowered his right hand and spoke with satisfaction.
“Even though it’s flawed Mysterious Iron, it will suffice.”
“Shopkeeper Liu, I’ll take this blade. Name your price.”
Although forged from flawed Mysterious Iron, its sturdiness far surpassed that of broadswords made from fine iron.
With this Mysterious Iron blade, Lu Xuan wouldn’t need to change weapons so frequently from now on.
Liu Yi stroked the white beard on his chin with one hand and said nonchalantly,
“No need. This is my gift to you, young friend!”
“Earlier, to satisfy my curiosity, your valuable blade was damaged.”
“I feel truly sorry, so I intend to give this blade to you as compensation.”
“Oh?”
He was giving him the blade for free?
Lu Xuan had thought it would cost him a great deal to acquire this blade.
He never expected the smithy owner to offer it to him free of charge.
“In that case, I thank Shopkeeper Liu!”
Since the other party had said so, Lu Xuan saw no reason to refuse and accepted it without hesitation.
County Government Office!
The back hall of the Dengfeng County Government Office was just like yesterday.
Zhao Sheng and Qian Hao were still seated in the main positions in the hall, while Li Daren was not present.
As for the county officials, only Magistrate Zeng Fan was present today.
Because Li Daren had lost his right arm and was weakened, requiring a period of recuperation, he was no longer able to participate in the mission to eliminate the Face-Stealing Specter.
Zhao Sheng’s expression was grim, his brows tightly locked.
Especially when he thought of Old Li’s arm—lost because of his own misjudgment.
However, now was not the time for self-reproach; he still needed to figure out how to deal with the Face-Stealing Specter.
That specter had killed another family last night, and its power had grown significantly.
Even he, a martial artist at the peak of the Blood Refining realm, couldn’t confidently say he could easily eliminate it.
Fortunately, they had encountered a mysterious and unfathomable senior expert last night.
Who would have thought that in Dengfeng County, there existed someone even stronger than the three of them?
Moreover, that senior expert, like them, had come to deal with the Face-Stealing Specter.
So, immediately upon returning to the government office, Zhao Sheng had Magistrate Zeng Fan verify the contact address left by that senior.
It turned out that the Shen Residence mentioned by the senior was located very close to the Black Tiger Gang leader’s mansion.
No wonder that senior had suddenly appeared at the Black Tiger Gang leader’s mansion last night.
Zhao Sheng glanced ahead inadvertently and noticed Magistrate Zeng Fan’s distraught appearance. He then spoke unhurriedly.
“Magistrate Zeng, there’s no need to worry. We, the Xuanniao Guard, will take care of that thing.”
“What you need to do now is cover up last night’s incident.”
With that senior expert stepping in, dealing with the Face-Stealing Specter was practically a sure thing.
“Yes, Lord Zhao. This official has already sent people to seal off that area. No one is allowed to enter.”
As for how those people died last night, Zeng Fan didn’t dare to ask Zhao Sheng and the others.
He only knew that when he personally led people to the Black Tiger Gang leader’s mansion,
the grounds were marked only by some charred traces and ashes that hadn’t completely burned away.
After witnessing this chilling scene, Zeng Fan couldn’t care less about any supposed familial relation with the Black Tiger Gang leader.
If he weren’t the magistrate of Dengfeng County, he would have fled the county town himself.
Even a Blood Refining realm martial artist from the Xuanniao Guard had lost an arm.
And this monstrous thing killed without blinking an eye. Who knew if tonight it would be his turn?
He hadn’t lived long enough!
Thinking of this, Zeng Fan quickly stood up, a smile plastered on his face. He clasped his hands in salute and addressed Zhao Sheng.
“The safety of Dengfeng County now rests in your hands, my lords.”
“This official will await here for your victorious return!”
Evening. The horizon was tinged with golden hues as the setting sun cast its final rays.
Shen Residence!
In a side hall of the Shen Residence, Lu Xuan was seated around a large table.
The table was laden with various exquisite dishes and fine wine that wafted a delightful aroma.
Sitting across from Lu Xuan was the patriarch of the Shen family, Shen Yunwei.
Lu Xuan drank cup after cup of the wine Shen Yunwei offered, his complexion showing no change.
“Xuan, you certainly can hold your liquor.”
Shen Yunwei, who was already three-tenths drunk, couldn’t help but sigh in admiration seeing that Lu Xuan across from him showed no sign of intoxication.
Truly worthy of being Qingqing’s elder brother. Not only was his martial talent exceptional, but his alcohol tolerance was even better than his own, a known drunkard.
Halfway through drinking, Shen Yunwei suddenly remembered something and put down his wine cup.
“Xuan, you’ve traveled all the way from Qingyun County to here. You must have experienced a lot.”
“Judging by your demeanor, you seem even better than before. What step has your martial arts reached?”
“Xuan, wanting to go alone to the prefectural city of Baidao Prefecture… the dangers on that road will far exceed those from Qingyun County to Dengfeng County.”
Shen Yunwei was still somewhat worried about Lu Xuan traveling alone to the prefectural city.
So he wanted to seize this opportunity to see exactly what level Lu Xuan’s martial arts had reached.
Shen Yunwei’s question gave Lu Xuan pause.
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Xuan also set down his wine cup and spoke calmly.
“Elder, with my current martial arts level, as long as no unforeseen changes occur, I should be able to reach the prefectural city of Baidao safely.”
“Is that so?”
“Xuan, how about a spar with me? Let me see what level you’ve truly reached.”
Shen Yunwei didn’t quite believe Lu Xuan’s answer, thinking it might be the arrogance of youth.
“Oh?”
A strange expression flickered across Lu Xuan’s face as he looked at the insistent Shen Yunwei.
However, he didn’t refuse the old man’s proposal.