While Hestia was sitting in the inn, reflecting on the visions she had seen the previous day, elsewhere, Feng Jianxue was engaged in a long-distance communication using an expensive trans-galactic device to talk to someone in the Flying Feather Starfield.
“Little White Swan, I met a really beautiful girl yesterday. You know, that kind of beauty—like an undiscovered black crystal, tranquil and transparent…” Feng Jianxue rambled on, though due to the transmission delay between galaxies, his words would only be heard a few minutes later.
Sure enough, the image of his conversation partner appeared on the projection soon after.
“So noisy! And who gave you the right to give me a nickname? You’re always trying to provoke me, huh?” On the other side of the projection was a silver-haired girl who responded irritably, clearly fed up with Feng Jianxue’s antics but unable to escape them.
“Have you been bothering people again? I’ve told you before—don’t mention my name when you’re out and about. It’s embarrassing! You’re always so carefree…” The silver-haired girl crossed her arms and launched into a tirade, venting her frustrations endlessly.
“Ah, my sister is as adorable as ever! Even when scolding people, you’re utterly charming~” Unfortunately, Feng Jianxue didn’t seem to be listening, which only made her angrier.
“Argh! You’ll drive me mad one day. Fine, enough of that. Who did you meet yesterday?” She rubbed her hair furiously, momentarily ruining her otherwise graceful appearance, though the gesture made her seem more approachable.
“Oh, right! I met an adorable girl named Hestia. She’s really cute. I think she might be the daughter of Gu Yongrong, a direct descendant of the Azure Lotus branch.”
“Wait, Gu Yongrong? Oh, I remember—she was in some old Sword Palace records. But wasn’t she rumored to have died over 20 years ago? That caused a split in Thousand Towers City, leaving the ‘Divine Generals’ to dominate.”
“That’s what I thought too. Initially, I came to Thousand Towers City just to confirm whether that sword was still here and to see if I could steal it. After all, the Divine Generals didn’t inherit the secret techniques.”
“Forget the Divine Generals. Based on later investigations by the Sword Palace, even Gu Yongrong herself probably didn’t fully inherit the legacy. At best, she learned some superficial techniques. The Azure Lotus branch lost its heritage centuries ago. Otherwise, the Sword Guardians wouldn’t have declined to the point of obscurity.”
“During the Fifth Epoch, wars forced the descendants of major sects to flee across the constellations with their tomes and techniques. Many vanished without a trace, and only a handful of connections remain today.”
“There used to be organizations and factions interested in these legacies, but as time passed, much of it became obsolete, and fewer people cared,” the silver-haired girl sighed, a mix of melancholy and detachment in her voice. She herself came from such a lineage, but any pride she once had was now tinged with nostalgia.
“Under the barrage of battleship cannons, all are equal… Ah~” She gestured helplessly.
“No, Little Yuan,” Feng Jianxue said, his tone turning serious.
“While the impact of individuals may diminish under giant warship cannons, the industrial system they support still relies on individuals. If we can unearth ancient techniques to improve advancement success rates, it could greatly enhance a nation’s power—scientifically, socially, and industrially. That’s a force we can’t afford to give up.” He shook his head.
“Well, when you put it like that, I can’t argue with you.” The girl sprawled across her desk, resting her head on her arms as she gazed at Feng Jianxue’s projection.
“But honestly, you’re usually so frivolous. You don’t seem like someone who worries about the nation.”
“That’s just my facade to confuse others. My true, sincere heart is reserved for a select few,” Feng Jianxue said, fanning himself dramatically, as if he alone saw the world’s truths.
“Anyway, back on topic. Where was I? Oh, right—Gu Yongrong’s daughter. To my surprise, her mother seems to have told her nothing about the past. I initially tried probing for clues.”
“At a glance from over 100 meters away, I could tell this girl was extraordinary. And as expected, she’s a descendant of an old acquaintance.”
“You’re just smitten with her, admit it,” the silver-haired girl retorted, rolling her eyes.
“Yet you can’t deny my radar-like ability to spot gifted girls. It’s an essential skill for an excellent star-seeker,” he quipped.
“My plan is to earn her goodwill and recruit her into our group. Since your codename is ‘White Swan,’ I’ll name her ‘Black Swan’…”
“Stop right there. Aren’t you supposed to be looking for the Azure Lotus sword? Also, what if she finds you unreliable and rejects you? Honestly, if you weren’t my brother, I’d have blocked you ages ago,” she said, glaring.
“Cough, cough. I’m working on it. But yes, Thousand Towers City is too conservative; it’s hard for outsiders to blend in.” Feng Jianxue suddenly looked thoughtful.
“Maybe if I try this…”
…
At noon, after lunch, Hestia arrived at the place where she had agreed to meet Feng Jianxue. She deliberately avoided eating lunch with him.
Under a giant stone lion, three to four times her height, the white-robed Feng Jianxue stood out conspicuously. He waved to Hestia in greeting.
“Good afternoon, Miss Hestia,” he said, walking toward her with large strides.
“Hello, Mr. Feng Jianxue,” Hestia replied, taking half a step back.
“Ahem, no need to be so guarded, Miss Hestia. Did you review the memory card from yesterday?” he asked.
“I did. It clarified some things but raised more questions,” Hestia nodded and then shook her head.
“That’s fine. As long as we keep investigating, everything will become clear.”
“By the way, the ‘Divine Generals’ will finish their city procession today. Tomorrow, they’ll perform a sword dance in front of the Red Pavilion. Would you like to join me to watch?”
“This year’s sword dance again?” Hestia considered briefly before nodding in agreement.
“Then it’s settled,” Feng Jianxue said with a wave of his fan.
“By the way, have you ever heard of some of the Eastern legends?”
“I know about the legend of the Five Virtues Phoenix but not much else,” Hestia replied.
“Knowing the Five Virtues Phoenix is enough. In ancient times, the Five Phoenixes awakened wisdom and brought about a golden age. Their legacy persists to this day, including here in Thousand Towers City,” Feng Jianxue began explaining.
“Just like how modern mega-corporations dominate the star seas, the Eastern transcendents of old had their organizations and sects. Among the most powerful were the Thirty-Six Great Clans and the Seventy-Two Sub-Sects.”
“After entering the interstellar era, these great clans gradually expanded into the cosmos, establishing branches across the stars and once wielding significant influence.”
“But during the Fifth Epoch’s wars and calamities, many sects were destroyed. A few escaped with their texts and traditions. Even now, some are part of the Rose Federation.”
“Are you saying…” Hestia began to guess.
“Exactly, Miss Hestia. Your mother was one of the direct inheritors of such a lineage, entrusted with its legacy,” Feng Jianxue confirmed.
“No, my mother didn’t inherit any of that,” Hestia countered. She knew her mother’s methods weren’t anything extraordinary and that she hadn’t kept secrets from her.
“Well, perhaps the lineage was severed. Such things are unavoidable after centuries or millennia,” Feng Jianxue conceded.
“In fact, based on my investigations, your mother likely had a falling out with your uncle. She inherited the ‘Sword Guardian’ lineage, while he inherited the ‘Divine General’ lineage.”
“Traditionally, this was a master-subordinate arrangement: the sword as the master, the general as the subordinate. But after the Sword Guardians’ lineage was lost, the Divine Generals rose to prominence.”
“Are you saying my uncle is still alive?” Hestia asked curiously.
“Yes, he’s likely the true power behind Thousand Towers City now. But he… might not be easy to get along with. I don’t know the details, but your mother definitely had a major conflict with him before leaving Thousand Towers City,” Feng Jianxue said confidently.
“If you want to learn about the past, you could ask him. But the aftermath might not be so simple,” he warned.
“Would he kill me?” Hestia asked, confused.
“Probably not. Despite the conflict with your mother, you’re still his relative. However, he might keep you in Thousand Towers City permanently, unable to leave,” Feng Jianxue speculated.
“To placate the city’s elders and preserve certain traditions, he might make you take over your mother’s position and even arrange a marriage for you in a few years,” Feng Jianxue added, shaking his head.
“I see,” Hestia sighed, her excitement over having a living relative quickly dampened.
“Let’s not dwell on that. Let’s watch the sword dance tomorrow and see how they’ve organized it. Honestly, since your mother left, the sword dances in Thousand Towers City have only gotten worse year after year.”
That afternoon, after a long conversation, the two parted ways. Hestia went to city’s library or second-hand shops selling old books and memory cards to seek more information about the past, while Feng Jianxue set his plans into motion.