This kind of thing called a “legacy” appeared quite frequently in the cultivation world. Most of them were real legacies, but some were just people who had practiced some mysterious techniques of unknown origin and wanted to legitimize them by falsely claiming they came from an elder’s inheritance.

Normally, Xie Liufeng wouldn’t pay special attention to such things—unless the so-called “elder” being used as a cover in the topic was himself.

Xie Tinglan said: “Because of this, your martial nephew even came to ask me. He asked whether you were really dead. If you truly were, the Beiyue Sword Sect could hold a proper funeral for you.”

Xie Liufeng’s martial nephew was the current sect leader of the Beiyue Sword Sect. Back when he had just been the senior disciple of the sect, he had always worked diligently and tirelessly, and was praised as a management genius the sect hadn’t seen in a thousand years. As soon as he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, he had been unanimously pushed into the position of sect leader by a bunch of sword cultivators who only knew how to fight. It had already been three hundred years since then.

Xie Liufeng felt a headache coming on: “…I remember he had my message talisman. Why didn’t he just come and ask me directly?”

Xie Tinglan explained: “It expired. Your soul lamp expired long ago too. He was afraid of disturbing the dead.”

Xie Liufeng: “…”

It was his first time being considered a dead person—he truly didn’t know what expression he should wear.

Xie Tinglan added: “Oh right, he also went to ask Shang Ling. Shang Ling was delighted for a long time and claimed you were indeed dead. I reckon if your martial nephew keeps asking your old friends, he’ll receive even more news confirming your death. You know how it is—you’ve always had great connections when it comes to this sort of thing.”

Xie Liufeng: …

He had no choice but to admit—his old friends really were that kind of people.

Xie Tinglan wrapped up the summary, then asked: “So, are you actually dead or not?”

Xie Liufeng looked numb and a little uncertain: “I think… I’m probably not dead?”

Xie Tinglan sighed, looking a little disappointed: “Alright, I’ll go back and tell your martial nephew. Honestly, ever since I entered the cultivation world, it’s been ages since I got to attend anyone’s banquet. I thought I might get to join in the fun this time.”

Xie Liufeng no longer wanted to speak at all.

After their banter ended, Xie Tinglan became serious and reminded him: “I saw that junior surnamed Qin a few days ago. The sword moves he used did have a bit of your style. I’m not a sword cultivator and can only judge by appearance, so I can’t be sure whether it’s your sword technique. But if you truly haven’t left behind any legacy out there, you’d better keep an eye on that person.”

Xie Liufeng frowned slightly.

He nodded: “Got it, cousin. Thanks for this.”

…

After Xie Tinglan left, Chu Xinghui was quiet for two days.

On the third day, he brought his spiritual sword, just like usual, and went to the same place at the same time to practice swordsmanship.

Just as he always believed in his own survival principle: No matter what happened, life still had to go on.

Even if one day he would inevitably face a terrible outcome, at least before that day arrived, he could accumulate strength and gain more control.

Xie Liufeng stayed close to him for a few days, following him around under various excuses. Only after confirming that his mood had fully recovered did he finally relax and went off to tinker with other things.

That day, when Chu Xinghui came back from sword practice, he saw that Xie Liufeng—who had been gone for several days—had finally returned to the courtyard.

He held a finely crafted silver-white spiritual sword in his hand, carved the last line of a formation on the hilt using spiritual power, then turned to greet Chu Xinghui: “Back already? Good timing—I have something for you.”

Chu Xinghui walked over as instructed, curiously staring at the spiritual sword in his hand.

Xie Liufeng made a final adjustment to the sword’s detailing and finally felt satisfied: “That sword of yours is barely decent for beginners. Now that you’ve broken through, it’s no longer suitable. Time to replace it.”

A black bird that had been sleeping soundly on a nearby tree suddenly picked up on a certain keyword and woke up in shock.

It jumped out of its nest, crept to the edge of a branch, and warily observed the two people in the courtyard—especially the spiritual sword in Xie Liufeng’s hand.

The black bird stared at the energy-rich, beautiful sword for a while and got so mad it snapped a branch with its foot.

The falling branch briefly caught the two people’s attention.

They looked up and saw the black bird pretending to stroll on the branch.

The bird behaved oddly at least eight days out of ten, so Xie Liufeng and Chu Xinghui couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to it.

As soon as their eyes moved away, the black bird readied itself, gently grinding its claws on the branch.

Xie Liufeng handed the sword to Chu Xinghui: “Take it and see if it suits you. If not, I’ll make you another.”

Chu Xinghui had just taken the sword and hadn’t even infused it with spiritual power when a black shadow swooped down from the sky and snatched the sword from his hands.

He instinctively looked up and saw the black bird pinning the sword under its claws like prey, then lowering its head to peck at the blade.

No one knew how it managed it, but in a flash, the entire spiritual sword disappeared into the bird’s belly.

It all happened in a split second. Xie Liufeng and Chu Xinghui exchanged glances and fell into silence.

Chu Xinghui couldn’t hold it in and immediately charged at the black bird to fight it.

Xie Liufeng grabbed him just in time. He watched the bird thoughtfully for a moment, as if something had occurred to him, and then pulled out another spiritual sword and made a show of offering it to Chu Xinghui.

The black bird panicked like it faced a mortal enemy and swooped down again.

In the next moment, Xie Liufeng grabbed its neck.

The black bird’s beady eyes widened in terror, and it struggled frantically.

Xie Liufeng held it by the neck, turned to Chu Xinghui, and smiled: “How about we eat this for lunch today?”

Chu Xinghui was silent for a moment, then immediately found the cage they used to imprison the bird last time.

The black bird was quickly tossed into the cage for temporary confinement.

It crouched in the corner, weakly lamenting its fate.

Still brooding, Chu Xinghui poked the cage and couldn’t help but ask again about the bird’s species: “…What exactly is this thing?”

Xie Liufeng glanced at the cage and said meaningfully: “Who knows? Maybe it’s your spiritual sword form.”

Chu Xinghui: …

He stepped back with extreme disgust.

….

That night, Chu Xinghui couldn’t sleep. He got up, opened his door, and walked into the courtyard, raising his head to look at the birdcage hanging on the tree.

The black bird had no idea what he was planning and warily backed into a corner of the cage.

But Chu Xinghui really didn’t seem to be planning anything. He just fetched a stool and sat in front of the cage, watching it.

The black bird gradually relaxed. Sleepiness came over it again, and it lay down, preparing to nap.

Just as it was about to drift into dreamland, Chu Xinghui reached out and shook the cage.

The black bird woke with a jolt and looked at him in hesitation.

But Chu Xinghui ignored it again, continuing to sit in the chair.

After a while, the black bird couldn’t resist sleep again.

Chu Xinghui shook the cage once more.

…

After several rounds of this, the black bird was completely hopeless, lying in the cage barely breathing and too scared to sleep again.

Chu Xinghui kept stubbornly staring at it, seemingly determined to stay up until dawn.

Hearing the noise in the courtyard, Xie Liufeng opened his door and leaned on the frame, watching the boy and the bird still awake in the middle of the night: “What’s wrong? Still mad?”

“It ate my spiritual sword,” Chu Xinghui said, still brooding: “You gave that to me.”

He had long gotten used to his own worn-out spiritual sword and didn’t care much about getting a new one—but… that was something Xie Liufeng gave him.

Seeing his expression, the black bird suddenly felt a bit guilty. It quietly shrank into the cage.

Xie Liufeng hadn’t expected this reason, and was momentarily stunned before laughing.

He walked over and said: “How about I make you another one next time?”

Chu Xinghui said nothing and shook the cage again.

The black bird looked like it had given up on life.

Xie Liufeng chuckled and patted his head: “Alright, I don’t mind you tormenting it, but you still need proper rest. Go back to sleep.”

Chu Xinghui looked at him for a while, then softly said: “Mm.”

By now, he had mostly let go of his anger and obediently returned to his room.

*

After coaxing Chu Xinghui away, Xie Liufeng didn’t leave right away.

He lowered his eyes and stared at the bird in the cage for a while, then knocked on the cage and asked: “Where is your true body?”

The black bird acted like a normal, clueless bird, innocently shaking the feathers on its wings.

Xie Liufeng reasoned with it: “You don’t provide your real body for him to use, and you won’t let him use another sword—this is sabotaging your own partner.”

The black bird looked guilty and began glancing around.

Seeing it still unwilling to speak, Xie Liufeng sighed: “Fine.”

A phantom of a sword slowly appeared in his hand.

It was an icy blue longsword, and even as a mere illusion, it exuded a bone-chilling coldness.

The black bird sensed the threat from a kindred weapon and puffed up all its feathers.

The illusion flickered for a moment, then vanished from Xie Liufeng’s hand, as if it had never appeared.

He withdrew his hand and continued negotiating: “If you won’t speak, I’ll just give him this sword.

You don’t have a real body right now, and although you’ve formed a contract with him, if a complete sword of equal grade shows up, I doubt your bond is all that stable.”

The black bird felt the threat and froze stiffly, deep in thought.

Finally, after pacing a few steps inside the cage, it made a painful decision and spat out the sword it had swallowed earlier.

Fine, he could use it—just not in front of the bird’s face, and it would pretend not to see it.

Xie Liufeng: …

He cast two cleaning spells, reclaimed the spiritual sword, and more or less figured out the bird’s situation: “So you don’t know where your real body is sealed, do you?”

The black bird guiltily lowered its head.

If it knew, it wouldn’t have ended up like this—locked up and treated as backup food.

Xie Liufeng laughed out in exasperation: “And you still dared to form a contract like this?”

The black bird widened its eyes and looked around wildly, once again pretending to be a clueless, ordinary bird.

Xie Liufeng couldn’t be bothered to interrogate it further—and added it to tomorrow’s lunch menu.

 

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