Chương 47: Is This Girl a Little Too Naive?

The sword light faded. As if that flawless killing strike—the White Deer Sword—had never appeared at all.

"You're being overly cautious. Relax."

"I already told you: the Flood Dragon Art was deliberately leaked by Martial Uncle Jadebody. It isn't some terrible secret. And I have no ill intentions toward you."

"However, when I watched you forging earlier, the strength you displayed was far beyond anything the Blacksmiths' Guild's three martial arts could provide. That naturally made me curious." Li Shanyun sheathed the Young Phoenix Sword and looked at Su Zhe with a sincere expression. Su Zhe remained silent. Moments ago, she had completely cut off every avenue of escape. He had only found an opportunity to counterattack by using the Flood Dragon Movement Technique.

With eyesight as sharp as hers, any attempt at denial would be meaningless.

"I hope that's true." Su Zhe sighed softly. At this point, all he could do was pray that Li Shanyun had been telling the truth. If the Flood Dragon Art involved secrets far greater than he imagined, then he was in serious danger. And against Li Shanyun, he had virtually no means of survival.

"If I intended to harm you, I would have captured you already."

"Martial Uncle Jadebody values geniuses with exceptional physical talent. If I confirm your potential and report it back, I'll likely receive a reward myself." Li Shanyun let out a light laugh, seemingly amused by Su Zhe's caution.

"From what I observed, your Flood Dragon Movement Technique has already reached the Small Success stage and is close to Major Success. At your age, such comprehension truly is extraordinary." Then she frowned. A puzzled look appeared on her face as she stared at Su Zhe. The Flood Dragon Art was a Treasure Art. Even Mad Shark, after obtaining it and cultivating for years, had barely managed to reach the entry level. Reaching Small Success would still have required considerable time.

The fact that Su Zhe had already achieved it demonstrated astonishing talent and aptitude. In truth, ever since killing Mad Shark, one incident after another had occupied his attention. He had barely found time to focus on cultivating the Flood Dragon Art. Otherwise, he likely would have already stepped into the Major Success stage.

"But... why do you possess the strength of an entire flood dragon when your Flood Dragon Art is only at Small Success?" Li Shanyun's delicate brows nearly knitted together. Her voice was filled with disbelief. While watching Su Zhe forge, she had noticed his terrifying strength. Naturally, she had assumed he had cultivated the Flood Dragon Art to Major Success, the stage where one gained the power of a flood dragon. But now she had confirmed that his technique was only at Small Success.

Which created an even greater mystery. How could someone at Small Success possess the strength granted by Major Success? It made no sense. Her beautiful eyes widened, and her slightly parted lips looked as though they could fit an entire apple. One mystery had been solved— Only to reveal an even bigger one hidden beneath it. Like opening one box only to find another inside.

"I honestly don't know," Su Zhe replied calmly.

"When I reached Small Success, I suddenly gained the strength of a flood dragon and another fifty thousand jin of force."

"You're an inner disciple of Sword-Casting Manor. Your knowledge far exceeds mine. Why are you asking me?" Naturally, he had no intention of revealing the existence of the Creation Immortal Cauldron. The divine cauldron contained an immortal aperture capable of equipping treasures and granting their talents. His flood-dragon strength came from the Flood Dragon Silk Scroll itself. If that secret ever became known... Su Zhe didn't need much imagination to know the outcome.

There would be nowhere left in the world for him to hide.

"A physique capable of reshaping one's innate foundation truly is miraculous..." Li Shanyun slowly examined him from head to toe.

"Could it be that you were born with a beast aspect similar to Rising Phoenix, Soaring Dragon? Such an affinity with the Flood Dragon Art, combined with your unique physique, might explain these abnormalities." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. She even unconsciously licked her lips. As though she were studying some rare and priceless specimen. Li Shanyun had always been fascinated by the hidden mysteries of the human body.

Now a monster like Su Zhe had suddenly appeared before her. How could she not be intrigued? In her eyes, Su Zhe had become a living treasure. Su Zhe felt distinctly uncomfortable. That kind of gaze between men and women certainly existed. But usually it was men looking at women that way. Why was this woman staring at him with such greedy possessiveness? Truly strange.

"Coming to Luzhou this time and meeting you has been an unexpected harvest."

"I was sent here to evaluate the talents recommended by the sects of the Eighteen Counties, but I don't actually have the authority to decide who receives a place at Sword-Casting Manor."

"Still, your talent is simply too outstanding. You far surpass Yu Yi and the others. Anyone with half a brain would choose you." She paused.

"And if Martial Uncle Jadebody learns that you already possess the strength of a flood dragon, he may personally come to Luzhou and accept you as a direct disciple." Li Shanyun exhaled slowly.

"Your aptitude is already top-tier. Add your Foundation-Reshaping Physique, your apparent natural flood-dragon affinity, and your talent in the Smithing Path..."

"Even compared to the Core Inner Disciples—the one-in-a-thousand geniuses of Sword-Casting Manor—you would not be inferior." She clasped her hands respectfully.

"This humble girl offers her congratulations in advance, Brother Su. Your future is bound to soar." Core Inner Disciples? One-in-a-thousand geniuses? Su Zhe quietly committed those terms to memory.

"The future remains uncertain. You flatter me, Shanyun." After a brief pause, he added:"Still, the matter of this Treasure Art is rather complicated. The circumstances surrounding how I obtained it—""Don't worry." Li Shanyun immediately understood.

"I'm not someone who enjoys meddling in other people's affairs. The only reason I confirmed you possessed the Flood Dragon Art was because of Martial Uncle Jadebody's reward."

"As for whatever conflicts exist between the factions of Lu County, I have absolutely no interest in becoming involved." Only then did Su Zhe relax. Just as she had said— If Li Shanyun truly wanted him dead, he would already be a corpse. Given the current situation, whether he trusted her or not hardly mattered. All he could do was act as though he did.

"Martial Uncle Jadebody accepting disciples is a serious matter."

"You already possess exceptional smithing talent. Consider my little test earlier a greeting gift."

"You've fused several martial arts before reaching the Third Rank. With your talent, it won't harm your foundation, but it does make your cultivation somewhat mixed."

"I left several strands of sword qi inside your body. They can help temper your blood and transform it into internal force."

"You already gained insight while forging that peak-grade mortal weapon. Given enough time, you would naturally cultivate a strand of Wild Ox Force within a month or so."

"With my assistance, it should take less than three days." She pointed toward his body with a smile.

"My White Deer Sword Qi contains medicinal energy. Later, when you cultivate Tiger Fiend Force, Spirit Serpent Force, or even Flood Dragon Force, you'll progress with half the effort."

"Consider it my gift." Su Zhe steadied himself. Circulating his blood and qi through his meridians, he immediately sensed eight strands of milky-white sword qi residing quietly within his extraordinary channels. Whenever his blood energy flowed past them, it was tempered and refined, becoming even purer.

"Incredible..." His eyes widened.

"Your sword qi remains intact even after leaving your body. That's unbelievable."

"A minor trick, nothing more." Li Shanyun smiled shyly.

"I'm not particularly skilled at fighting. These are merely little methods for healing people—or protecting myself." With the Young Phoenix Sword in hand, she turned gracefully.

"Come. Since I've confirmed that you meet Martial Uncle Jadebody's standards, I need to return to Sword-Casting Manor as quickly as possible."

"Brother Su, walk me out."

"Of course." After a few steps, Su Zhe finally couldn't suppress his curiosity.

"May I ask... what rank are you?"

"Barely... Sixth Rank, I suppose." She waved dismissively.

"Don't ask any more. I've never been particularly interested in martial cultivation, so reaching Sixth Rank was actually quite difficult for me."

"Medicine, on the other hand—I know quite a bit about that." A faint giggle drifted back toward him. Su Zhe stood speechless. He had assumed she was merely a Fourth-Rank martial artist. Instead— She was Sixth Rank. Sword qi that could leave the body without dissipating. Graceful as a startled swan. Elegant as a soaring dragon. Such miraculous abilities... This was the power of a Sixth-Rank martial artist. Su Zhe shook his head bitterly.

"Judging from her appearance, she can't be more than a few years older than me. She's not even twenty."

"At that age, she's already Sixth Rank."

"The fight earlier was clearly just a test."

"If she had genuinely wanted my life, even if the Blacksmiths' Guild's three leaders had joined forces to protect me, I'd still have died a hundred times over."

"A genius like this actually claims she dislikes martial arts."

"That's absurdly boastful."

"When I reach twenty, will I be able to stand at the same height?" His understanding of Sword-Casting Manor's true geniuses deepened once again. And so did his longing. Choice was often more important than effort. Birth determined one's starting line. The strongest figures in Lu County would scheme and kill for years—sometimes decades—for a single Treasure Art. All in pursuit of breaking past the Third Rank and reaching the Fourth. Yet Li Shanyun, not even twenty years old, had already reached the Sixth Rank.

To her, these so-called overlords of Lu County were little more than summer cicadas— Interesting to observe for a moment, but hardly worth taking seriously. Such transcendent figures were the goal Su Zhe truly wished to pursue. Soon afterward, Li Shanyun departed. Naturally, the Blacksmiths' Guild came to see her off. The three guild leaders arrived together. Yang Dingtian wore his usual warm smile and escorted her courteously. Sun Tiexin looked smug enough to float.

Only Wang Shan remained silent, his face dark and unpleasant. Just as she reached the gates, Li Shanyun turned around and lifted the Young Phoenix Sword.

"I truly like this sword."

"It rivals some of the weaker treasure weapons."

"A true treasure weapon requires considerable cultivation to unleash its full power. If I give this sword to a junior brother or sister with lower cultivation, it would make a wonderful gift."

"However, I carry responsibilities from my sect, and Sword-Casting Manor has strict rules. We must not take advantage of the sects of the Eighteen Counties."

"So I cannot simply accept this sword for free." She looked at Sun Tiexin and Su Zhe.

"What would the two of you value it at?" Throughout the entire journey, she had carried the sword openly. No one dared ask for it back. In truth, both Su Zhe and Sun Tiexin had already resigned themselves to losing it. After all, the sword might serve as evidence of Su Zhe's smithing talent. Asking for it back could cost far more than it was worth.

"Well..." Su Zhe glanced at Sun Tiexin. It was his first time forging a peak-grade mortal weapon. He genuinely had no idea how much it should cost. Sun Tiexin saw that Li Shanyun was determined to pay and did not wish to insult her integrity. After stroking his black beard, he said:"Peak-grade mortal weapons are usually priced in gold. Since Lady Li has honored our guild with her presence, we naturally shouldn't charge too much."

"Su Zhe, you forged it yourself, so the final price is yours to name. But my suggestion is..." He raised four fingers. Su Zhe nodded.

"Then we'll go with Master's suggestion." Li Shanyun tapped her fair chin thoughtfully.

"Forty taels of gold?"

"That's much fairer than those fellows at Forging Heart Hall."

"Very well. Otherwise people might start saying I, Li Shanyun, like taking advantage of others." With a flick of her finger, a bulging money pouch flew into Su Zhe's hands. Sun Tiexin froze. He stared blankly at the four fingers he still had raised. Four... He meant four taels of gold. Just enough to recover the material costs. How had that become forty taels? This girl... Was she missing a few screws? Or simply too innocent for her own good?