Chapter 26: Sword Manual
At nine o’clock, Chen Ming swayed along in a carriage, slowly arriving outside the gates of the Huo Residence.
The carriage had been specially bought for him by his elder brother, Chen Rui.
It was a very ordinary carriage for daily use.
Together with the old horse pulling it, the total cost had been about one hundred taels.
In truth, he didn’t need a carriage. But his brother insisted on buying one, saying that Chen Ming now had a status to maintain. Going out without even a carriage would make others look down on him.
Chen Ming didn’t refuse.
He had given the money to his brother and wouldn’t interfere with how it was spent.
As soon as he got off the carriage, he saw that the main gate of the Huo Residence was open.
The old steward and the gatekeepers were all waiting at the entrance, which immediately told him that an important guest was arriving today.
Normally, he entered through the side gate.
The main gate being open meant a distinguished guest was about to arrive.
So, he got back into the carriage and said to the driver, “Old Zhang, let’s go to the back gate.”
“Alright.”
Driver Old Zhang turned the horse’s head and headed toward the back gate.
Before they even left the alley, Chen Ming heard the sound of hooves approaching—several riders.
He lifted the curtain and peeked out the back, seeing five riders slowly coming from the other end of the street.
Two women and three men, all with longswords hanging at their waists, looking weathered and travel-worn.
Leading them was an old woman with graying hair and a face etched by the wind. Her eyes were sharp like lightning. One look, and it was clear she was a master.
“These must be the guests coming to visit,” Chen Ming thought.
As expected, he saw the five stop in front of the Huo Residence and speak to the approaching old steward, “Take me to see Huo Chengkun.”
She was blunt the moment she opened her mouth, directly calling him by name.
It didn’t feel like they were here with friendly intentions.
Just as he was thinking this, the carriage turned into a small alley, and he could no longer see what was happening at the gate.
“Who exactly are those five?”
He felt a little curious.
Chen Ming had originally wanted to ask Hong Mingquan, but when he arrived at the training field, both Hong Mingquan and Zhang Mingyu were not there.
Only a group of students were waiting to greet him.
…
Inside Huo Qianqian’s courtyard at the Huo Residence.
She had gotten up before dawn to practice and had just finished.
She took a towel from her maid, Chunmei, and wiped the sweat from her face.
“Miss, the Seventh Young Master is here again,” Chunmei whispered.
“Oh.”
Huo Qianqian didn’t care much.
Chunmei gathered her courage. “Miss, are you still angry with him?”
“Chunmei.”
Huo Qianqian handed the towel back to her and said, “You’re sixteen this year. I’ll let you go home and get married.”
“I don’t want to get married. I only want to serve you, Miss.”
“Do you really not want to?”
Chunmei turned pale with fright. With a thud, she dropped to her knees and pleaded, “Miss, I won’t dare again. Please don’t send me away…”
In the end, Huo Qianqian couldn’t bear it. She said, “From now on, don’t say things like that in front of me again.”
Just then, she saw her grandfather push open the door and walk in. He said to Chunmei, “Leave us.”
Chunmei, as if receiving a great pardon, bowed her head and quickly left.
Huo Chengkun frowned and said, “Qianqian, you need to work on your temper…”
Huo Qianqian cut him off, displeased. “Grandfather, are you here this early just to scold me?”
He sighed internally and got to the point. “About what I told you last night—have you thought it over?”
“What thing?”
“About sending you to the Xiaoshui Sect…”
“Oh, that thing. I’m not going. I’m doing just fine here. Why should I go to that damn Xiaoshui Sect and take someone else as my master?”
Huo Chengkun said, “Your grandfather’s martial arts aren’t suitable for you. The Xiaoshui Sect is composed entirely of women. Only there can you learn techniques that truly suit you. Besides, the Xiaoshui Sect is a renowned and prestigious school. Your grandmother was once a disciple there. With that connection, they will naturally protect you well.”
“I already said, I’m not going.”
“This time, you don’t get to decide!”
Huo Chengkun suddenly slapped the table—crack!—and the solid wooden table split from the force. He shouted, “You’re going whether you like it or not!”
Huo Qianqian was stunned. Her face turned pale, and tears welled up in her eyes. “You’re yelling at me—”
Huo Chengkun hardened his heart. With a stern face, he said coldly, “This time, your Second Senior Sister will escort you there. You’ll depart immediately. Juan’er, come in.”
A woman around thirty walked in from outside.
She wore a white robe and had a white flower tucked into her hair, symbolizing recent widowhood.
She was none other than his second disciple, Du Juan.
“Pack your things now and prepare to leave. Juan’er, keep an eye on her.”
Du Juan responded, “Yes, Master.”
Then Huo Chengkun left.
Du Juan looked at Huo Qianqian with a blank expression. “Junior Sister, please don’t make things difficult for me.”
A sense of foreboding welled up in Huo Qianqian’s heart.
She asked anxiously, “Second Senior Sister, did something happen?”
“Nothing happened.”
“That’s impossible. Something must have happened. Otherwise, Grandfather wouldn’t be acting like this.”
Du Juan fell silent for a moment, then said, “Master’s junior sister is here.”
Master’s junior sister?
Huo Qianqian was stunned.
In her memory, many years ago—she must’ve been seven or eight—her grandfather’s junior sister had visited once.
She was a fierce old lady.
Afterward, her grandfather had remained in a foul mood for a long time.
But she had been too young then to understand what had happened between them.
“What is she here for?”
“No idea,” Du Juan said seriously. “Junior Sister, I promised Master I would take you to the Xiaoshui Sect. He said if all else fails, I can knock you out.”
…
“Master.”
Just as Huo Chengkun stepped out of the small courtyard, the old servant hurried over to report, “They’ve arrived.”
His face turned grave.
They had come so quickly.
He had only received the news yesterday, and they had already arrived this morning.
He didn’t even have time to send Qianqian away.
Huo Chengkun said, “Take me to them.”
The old servant led him to the main hall, where he saw an old woman seated at the center, and a young girl in blue standing beside her.
Huo Chengkun smiled and said, “Eight years have passed, but Junior Sister, you are still as elegant as ever. This must be your new disciple? She carries some of your bearing from back in the day—much better than my disappointing disciples.”
The old woman sat motionless, the tea before her untouched.
She stared coldly at him without speaking a word.
Huo Chengkun waved his hand, signaling the old servant to leave.
The girl in blue beside the old woman also withdrew.
Only the two former sect siblings remained in the hall.
The old woman finally spoke. “It’s been eight years. Among all the disciples you’ve taken, has a single one managed to master the fifth level of the Iron Horse Stance?”
Huo Chengkun sighed. “Junior Sister, you’re already seventy-five. Why cling to this obsession?”
The old woman snapped, “Huo, you may have forgotten the annihilation of our sect and live like a coward, skulking around to survive. But I have not forgotten! I still live in this world only for revenge!”
“If I don’t kill those bastards and avenge my father, brothers, husband, and children, I don’t deserve to live!”
Her voice was shrill and piercing, each word soaked in blood and hatred.
Huo Chengkun’s face twitched.
How could he not hate?
Nearly all his loved ones had also perished in that catastrophe.
But their enemies were far too powerful—so powerful it was hopeless. He couldn’t even defeat one of their subordinates.
The injuries he suffered back then still hadn’t fully healed.
How was he to take revenge?
“Junior Sister…”
The old woman cut him off before he could finish. “I know you have a precious granddaughter. I won’t force you. But—you must hand over the Sword Manual.”
“I told you before, the Sword Manual is not with me…”
“Hmph!”
The old woman let out a cold snort. Her voice turned icy. “Today, you’re handing it over whether you want to or not. If you don’t, don’t blame me for forgetting our past sect ties.”