Chapter 77: Great Xia Dragon Sparrow

Chapter 77: Great Xia Dragon Sparrow

What they called needing Zhao Changhe and Cui Yuanyang as witnesses to the incident seemed utterly pointless here; no wonder no one had bothered to ask them for details of the journey. The crux of the matter had nothing to do with them anymore, and asking for more specifics would change nothing.

The simplest and most straightforward solution now was to summon the Qinghe Sword. Whoever harbored the darkest thoughts in their heart at this moment would surely be struck down by it—wouldn’t that settle everything?

Cui Wenjing, who had remained silent all along, finally spoke slowly: “I agree to summon the Qinghe Sword, but one issue must be clarified first.”

All present bowed respectfully: “Please enlighten us, Patriarch.”

Cui Wenjing swept his gaze around and said coldly: “I don’t understand why all the discussion has centered on the suspicions of Yuanyong and Yuancheng, as if none of the other cousins, brothers, or even uncles and elders could possibly be guilty... Who started this trend, leading a bunch of fools astray?”

Everyone was taken aback, and quite a few faces flushed red.

Of course, many had deliberately steered the conversation, whether openly or covertly. If both of the eldest branch’s sons were suspects, wouldn’t that open opportunities for others?

With so many voices steering the narrative, many had indeed been led astray, never even considering others as suspects.

Cui Wenjing sneered: “A clever scheme indeed. But how many in this world can claim they have never done evil or harbored dark, petty thoughts? If only Yuanyong and Yuancheng undergo the divine sword’s test, the sword will not speak—it will simply choose one to kill. Who would know why it killed him? I would lose a son in vain, and even in death, he would bear unjust shame!”

The elder who had earlier explained the situation nodded: “Wenjing’s words are reasonable. I hadn’t thought of that before.”

Cui Wenjing said: “Therefore, summoning the Qinghe Sword is acceptable, but everyone must undergo the test. Whoever harbors the darkest thoughts at this moment—that is the culprit!”

Cui Wenjue couldn’t help but interject: “Brother, is that not inappropriate? As you just said, the Qinghe Sword’s judgment of good and evil may not necessarily be based on this matter...”

Cui Wenjing glanced at him sidelong, staring until he grew restless, then burst into laughter: “At this moment, the darkest thoughts in anyone’s heart would be about this very matter, most easily exposed for the divine sword to perceive. If we only test Yuanyong and Yuancheng, even if they are innocent, the sword would have no choice but to kill the relatively more evil one—pointless. Only by testing everyone can the truth be laid bare. You govern a prefecture—can’t you grasp such a simple truth?”

Cui Wenjue had no choice but to concede: “Brother is right. But the bronze hall is so small; we can only enter in batches. How will we determine who is most problematic?”

“I can control the sword. It will only erupt after everyone has touched it.” Cui Wenjing was too lazy to elaborate. He looked around and said calmly: “Is everyone willing to take the test?”

Cui Yuanyong and Cui Yuancheng both shouted: “Willing!”

The others could only say they were willing too. Who would dare refuse at such a moment and openly admit to having a guilty conscience?

“Very well.” Cui Wenjing smiled faintly and stood up: “Most of the clan’s younger generation are not here. You may go summon them and gather outside the bronze hall. Yuanyang and Changhe, come with me first. As the victims, you must be present to witness.”

With that, Cui Wenjing left the ancestral hall. Cui Yuanyang and Zhao Changhe exchanged glances and followed.

The bronze hall was indeed very small—about the size of an ordinary room, too cramped for even a dozen people. After all, it was made entirely of bronze; such a size was already impressive. The Cui family did not treat money like mud.

Inside, it was pitch black, but everyone had some night vision and could make out two altars on either side, enshrining a blade and a sword.

Before they could get a clear look, Zhao Changhe and Cui Yuanyang both shuddered simultaneously, feeling an extremely sharp killing intent envelop them—yet it was majestic and dignified, unfathomably vast.

The Qinghe Divine Sword was indeed extraordinary. No wonder it needed a bronze hall to guard it; if placed in an ordinary location, its constant spill of killing intent would make it impossible for anyone to live nearby.

“Damn... I always feel like I’m muddling through in a low-martial world, but when it turns mystical, it’s truly terrifying.” Zhao Changhe muttered inwardly, not daring to look at the divine sword, his eyes fixed instead on the blade, burning with intense desire.

He didn’t even need to draw the blade to test it... If the precious blade bestowed upon the Cui family by Xia Longyuan was on par with this divine sword, or even slightly inferior, it was still top-tier among the top—a mystical, peerless treasure!

Moreover, its shape and weight suited him perfectly. For the first time, Zhao Changhe understood what it meant to “dream of something.” Heaven knows, others thought he had many romantic entanglements, but in truth, he had never felt such longing for any woman he had met as he did for this blade!

At that moment, Cui Wenjing stood with his hands behind his back before the sword stand, head bowed as if lost in thought. Cui Yuanyang looked at her father, then at Zhao Changhe, and a sudden realization dawned on her.

What her father had told her earlier... He wanted her to take this opportunity to let Zhao Changhe secretly test the blade. There was no need for her to rack her brains over how to deceive the bronze hall guards to steal it—that was never a feat she could accomplish.

No wonder Brother Zhao called him a sly old fox. How had she never noticed how cunning her father was... well, how brilliant...

She quietly tugged at Zhao Changhe, whose eyes were burning with desire, and stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear: “Go touch the blade. If it rejects you, we’ll forget it. If not, we’ll talk.”

Zhao Changhe was startled and looked at Cui Wenjing: “Your father...”

“It’s fine. He doesn’t know.”

“...” Zhao Changhe glanced at Cui Wenjing, who indeed seemed preoccupied with the sword, paying no attention. He had some idea now. Carefully stepping forward, he reached out and gently grasped the hilt.

Cui Yuanyang watched nervously. The moment his hand touched the hilt, Zhao Changhe seemed to shudder. Her heart leaped into her throat, fearing he would be flung away at any moment...

But after that initial tremor, there was no further sound. Instead, Zhao Changhe closed his eyes, as if in contemplation.

A surge of ecstasy spread across Cui Yuanyang’s face. She turned to look at her father. Cui Wenjing still appeared lost in thought, staring at the sword, but a faint smile curled at the corner of his lips. He said slowly: “It’s fine. Let him grasp his opportunity. Go see if they’ve arrived. Have your uncles and grandfathers come in to witness. Let the younger generation enter one by one for the test.”

Cui Yuanyang hurried out to summon everyone. Soon, several respected clan elders entered to witness. Seeing Zhao Changhe standing by the blade, hand on the hilt, they were taken aback. They looked at Cui Wenjing, who stood calmly holding the sword: “Our guest is just looking at the blade. Don’t be petty. Let them in.”

The elders, their minds elsewhere, said nothing. The test for the Cui family’s inner traitor officially began.

The first to enter was the most suspicious, Cui Yuancheng. Without a word, the young man approached his father: “How is the test done? Do I touch it, or do I need to cut myself and draw blood?”

His eager demeanor showed he was desperate to clear his name.

Cui Wenjing extended the sword: “Just touch it anywhere. The divine sword has a spirit; it will record your aura and compare it later.”

Cui Yuancheng practically caressed it repeatedly, as if urging the sword to remember him well. The elders watching couldn’t help but chuckle. Just from this behavior, his suspicion was halved.

Next came Cui Yuanyong, who was more composed than his younger brother. He entered, bowed to everyone, then touched the sword, also reluctant to let go.

Cui Yuanyang breathed a sigh of relief. She knew it couldn’t be her two brothers!

As long as it wasn’t them, the others didn’t seem so important. Her mind wandered again, and she secretly glanced at her lover. It had been a while—how was he doing?

Zhao Changhe had not fallen into some profound illusion as expected. Instead, he was experiencing the blade’s intent.

At first, he felt a repulsive force, but instinctively, he channeled his inner energy to grasp it. The moment his energy touched the hilt, the blade seemed to rejoice, almost exultant.

It wasn’t the sentient “sword spirit” or “blade spirit” he had imagined, but the “intent” of the divine weapon itself. Its innate spirituality thirsted for blood and longed for the battlefield, unwilling to remain enshrined in this dark, sunless little hall, useless.

But not just anyone was worthy of wielding it. How dare common mortals touch “Us”?

Majestic—imperial. The mountains and rivers vast, commands unyielding, the blade’s edge pointing where thousands clash in battle.

Dragon—the Azure Dragon, rising in the east, heart-fire blazing like the sun, spring nurturing plants, summer approaching.

Sparrow—the Vermilion Bird, ruling the south, flames raging to the heavens, all things burned to ash, yet life hidden within the destruction.

The Azure Dragon governs life; the Vermilion Bird commands death. Life and death exchange in secret, sun and moon revolve.

Thus, heaven and earth converge, forging the Great Xia.

Great Xia Dragon Sparrow!

Zhao Changhe suddenly felt... the killing intent of the divine weapon he had sensed upon entering might not have been from the Qinghe Sword, but from the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow. Could it be that the Qinghe Sword had no special properties?

If the Qinghe Sword was indeed ordinary, then his father-in-law’s test was merely a bluff—to prevent those in the know from realizing the Qinghe Sword had a problem?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a faint killing intent emanated. The Azure Dragon turned its head; the Vermilion Bird fixed its gaze.

What petty creature dares to touch the majesty of heaven?

Zhao Changhe opened his eyes and looked sideways. It was a young Cui clansman he didn’t recognize, undergoing the Qinghe Sword test. But the young man’s eyes were darting toward Zhao Changhe, a hint of murderous intent hidden within, quickly concealed.

The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow trembled violently. Who? Such great disrespect—even nine deaths would not atone for the crime!

Everyone in the hall was startled, looking over. The young man also staggered back half a step.

The long blade in Zhao Changhe’s hand quivered incessantly, but his eyes locked onto the man, a cold smile curling his lips: “Are you angry that I thwarted your plot to harm Yuanyang? Is that why your killing intent is aimed at me?”

The young man continued retreating: “What nonsense are you spouting!”

“Roar!” A dragon’s cry and a phoenix’s shriek—the blade howled!

Zhao Changhe did not answer. The broadsword in his hand had already surged, slicing through the cramped space, aiming for the man’s head!

Whether his father-in-law’s Qinghe Sword was useful or not, the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow had already judged the killing intent. For Zhao Changhe, what more evidence did he need? Since you want to kill me, I’ll kill you first! Wait for your father?