Chapter 29: The Iron Sword Sect

Zhang Heng’s words confirmed Ning Xiu’s earlier suspicions precisely: if he wished to swiftly strengthen himself, he must obtain that mysterious gray crystal. For now, it appeared that only those spectral creatures carried such gray crystals. The chance for ordinary people to encounter a Black Calamity was exceedingly rare; for Ning Xiu, joining one of the Four Great Gangs seemed the best path forward.

While others did their utmost to avoid the Black Calamity, Ning Xiu was compelled to seek it out wherever he could.

The events at Gujia Village served as another warning to Ning Xiu. He had believed that he possessed at least a modest ability to protect himself, but from Zhang Heng’s account, he learned this was merely the lowest level of the Black Calamity. This realization reignited his sense of urgency. The time of that scene from his previous life drew nearer with each passing day, and safe methods for cultivating strength no longer suited him.

The following day, Ning Xiu bid farewell to Ning Mingfeng and set out alone for Lingnan. Officially, he claimed to be expanding the Ning family’s medicinal business in Lingnan County. Conveniently, the manager originally responsible for Lingnan’s affairs had died unexpectedly. The Ning family’s footing in Lingnan was exceedingly shallow—just a single medicine shop—so when Ning Xiu volunteered to leave Shouchun, members of both the main and secondary branches were eager to facilitate his departure.

Now, the only question left was which of the Four Great Gangs Ning Xiu should choose. Though he had a connection with Bamboo Grove Society through Zhang Kuo, Ning Xiu refrained from making a hasty decision. In subsequent conversations, Zhang Heng had subtly hinted that Bamboo Grove Society was not a suitable place for Ning Xiu. Ultimately, some matters could only be understood by witnessing them firsthand.

Seated atop his horse, Ning Xiu lowered his head in deep thought. Suddenly, he looked up and caught sight of a familiar banner—a flag belonging to the Four Seas Escort Agency. He glanced over and saw a group of unfamiliar faces among the escorts, but he recognized their leader: it was Liu Hui, the young mistress of Four Seas. Yet now, things had changed irreversibly.

He did not approach her, merely smiled faintly, and rode off into the distance.

The road from Shouchun to Lingnan was neither particularly long nor short. Ning Xiu rode slowly along the winding mountain path, observing how the snow on the ground was gradually melting and spring was quietly emerging.

At that moment, Ning Xiu suddenly pulled the reins and came to a halt. The sound of wind slicing through the air echoed, and a dozen figures appeared, lightly stepping across treetops and rocks as they swept in from afar. Each bore an iron sword and moved with an air of effortless elegance.

Ning Xiu studied them and noted their matching dark uniforms and standardized swords. Only one young man, dressed in luxurious attire and bearing a precious sword, stood out among the group.

The group stopped when they saw Ning Xiu.

“Have you seen anything pass through here?” a middle-aged man asked in a deep voice.

Ning Xiu frowned slightly, displeased by their rude behavior. “No,” he replied.

With that, he tugged at the reins, ready to leave. But the well-dressed, handsome young man looked up at Ning Xiu, said nothing, and suddenly drew his sword. With a single move, “Immortal’s Guidance,” he thrust it straight at Ning Xiu’s face.

Ning Xiu’s expression turned cold. He reached out with his right hand, lightning-fast, and gripped the blade.

“Courting death!” The young man sneered inwardly. His sword, crafted by a master blacksmith at his father’s request, was famed for being able to cut hair blown across it and slice iron as if it were mud. This fool dared to catch the blade bare-handed—by twisting the sword, he could sever Ning Xiu’s fingers with ease.

He thought so and attempted to do just that. Yet the gruesome scene he anticipated never occurred. Ning Xiu’s fingers remained unscathed. No matter how much strength he applied, he could not budge the blade—it was as if it were locked in iron.

Now, the young man realized he had run into an immovable force. Despite his youth, he was already ranked and confident that even an ordinary second-rank expert could not embarrass him so.

Ning Xiu, meanwhile, was furious and ready to kill. He had never met this group before; there was no enmity between them, yet the young man had immediately sought to cripple him for life. Such vicious intent at such a young age—what would he become as he grew older?

From the young master’s actions, it was clear that this was not the first time he had done such a thing.

“Release the young master!” a middle-aged man in the group saw his young master at a disadvantage and drew his sword, lunging at Ning Xiu. The blade had not yet reached him, but its threatening aura was already upon Ning Xiu.

“Second-rank level…” Ning Xiu exerted a bit more force with his right hand, snatching the young master’s sword. At the same time, he slapped his mount’s flank, launching himself into the air and dodging the deadly strike. The startled horse bolted forward in a panic. Ning Xiu flipped lightly in midair and landed perfectly on the distant horse’s back.

“After him! I want him dead!” the young master roared.

Before his words faded, a long sword streaked through the air. The young master’s vicious expression froze; a gleaming blade protruded from his throat.

Ning Xiu, who should have departed, had returned.

The rest of the group finally reacted, drawing their swords and charging at Ning Xiu with furious shouts.

A flash of blood.

The curved blade emerged, slicing through necks like a spirit snake. Blood sprayed, and in an instant, several lives were lost—including the second-rank expert, who never even had the chance to fight back.

Ning Xiu’s movements were swift and decisive, no hesitation at all. He quickly mounted his horse and sped away.

From the moment he saw these men, Ning Xiu recognized them as members of Iron Sword Gate, one of Lingnan’s Four Great Gangs. Now that hostilities had escalated beyond reconciliation, Ning Xiu resolved to leave no survivors. He had nothing to fear for himself, but he had to consider the Ning family. Against the formidable Iron Sword Gate, the Ning family was far too weak; if they sought revenge, they could be wiped out at any moment. Ning Xiu could not afford to give them that chance.

Not long after Ning Xiu departed, the Four Seas Escort Agency happened to pass by the scene. Seeing the ground strewn with corpses, their faces darkened—especially those young escorts who were new to the trade and had never seen blood; some turned pale as ghosts, others even vomited on the spot.

Out in the world, Liu Hui understood well that less trouble was better than more. She was about to lead her group around the carnage when suddenly, there was a rustling sound from the nearby grass.

She hesitated, but curiosity ultimately got the better of her. She dismounted and went to investigate.