Within the Shou Clan, bamboo forest.
The courtyard was wrecked.
Deep grooves made from the rampaging of the bonfire-like Sword Qi riddled the ground and walls of the Heart Mind Pagoda.
Yet, now the rampaging Sword Qi had stopped.
The killing intent which was infused within it, was restrained.
Sitting within the calm flickering flame, he slowly opened his eyes.
Liu Gang held his breath.
Shou Xin looked ethereal.
Hair smooth as silk and eyes dotted with stars.
Yet, the most eye-catching was his sword.
It's hamon was as though someone had engraved the night sky into it's edge and the hilt bore a print of a Flood Dragon's shadow curling around it.
The spine had many runes engraved on it, to others it could not be discerned but to Shou Xin, he sensed it immediately.
The Sanguine Sword Law.
Because it was so heavily involved in the creation of the artifact, it had engraved itself into the sword itself, giving it unparalleled affinity with Shou Xin.
The spine was dark, like an empty sky as though all the stars had escaped to the hamon at the edge, trying to drip off.
The sheath was transformed into a coiling dragon sheath.
As he held it in his hand, he saw his reflection in it, his face white, his eyebrows sharp yet also slightly bent as though a flowing river.
He sensed the immense Sanguine Sword Qi within his body, it was so powerful that even just standing there, he could not contain it causing waves of it to diffuse into the surroundings putting immense pressure on everyone who felt it as though a thousand blades were pointed at their hearts.
He seemed to slowly swing the blade, yet if one blinked they would have missed it, his previous little errors and mistakes removed so no useless movements remained.
The blade seemed to fall slowly as an immense power gathered on the very tip of the sword, drawing a line through the air like a thin brush stroke.
The instant the blade's tip pointed at the ground, the slash exploded forward into Elder Yu's barrier, leaving a thin sword crack in it's interior!
As though the delayed sound of thunder, the blade rang in a low hum as though to slice through weak minds!
Shou Xin slowly raised the blade such that his eyes were reflected in it's blood gutter, and they were cold like a winter morning.
His lips parted and words crept out slowly, a sharp aura advancing up his stomach and through his mouth as he did so.
"Fukkatsu."
OOOOMMM!
The area beneath the Shou Xin wave cut to small pieces instantly!
A small grin lit his face.
"We will be together for a long time, partner." In a single swift motion he sheathed Fukkatsu, the once known Sea Spring Sword.
He looked at Fukkatsu affectionately.
Though it had been seven days in the real world, within his Inner Sea it felt like an eternity of battle with no morning nor night, only battle.
"You Sword Aura has increased by leaps and bounds, Little Master Shou." Elder Yu stepped forward with a gentle smile, "You look like a true sword cultivator now."
Shou Xin smiled.
"Uncle Yu, you've helped me once again. Please, ask of me anything."
"Hooo! For the Little Master Shou to call me as Uncle is enough. I am appreciative of your humoring of a simple old man." Elder Yu raised a hand and ruffled Shou Xins hair, who did not resist, "You've done beyond what anyone would expect of you."
"And I will continue to do so!" Shou Xins ethereal air cooled down as he seemed a little more like a child, seeking compliments.
"Good. Though," Elder Yu took a step to the side revealing the path through the bamboo forest, "You are not the only one deserving of praise."
Shou Xin's gaze passed over those who had rushed here.
Liu Gang had such bags underneath his eyes that one would wonder if he had ever slept a day in his life, whilst Yui Luo looked terribly haggard.
Guo Long on the other hand, sat on a chair with a table laid out and some tea, a smile on his face as he quietly nodded.
Shou Xin swiftly appeared before them, his strength clearly having grown substantially.
"Are you… well… l...or...d…?" Liu Gang's eyes began to shiver and his eyelids fall as he did.
"You've achieved above what was expected," Shou Xin took a half step forward, catching Liu Gang, Shou Xin's mouth just by his ear, "I am proud."
Liu Gang had a small smile light his face, but it was much like a dying flame, as he fell away to darkness within a blink.
Shou Xin quietly picked him up.
"Come in."
Guo Long nodded and Yui Luo followed in step silently.
As they arrived at the fifth floor, Shou Xin put Liu Gang on one of the beds, making sure to be careful.
He deserved at least that much.
"Master, your clothes are prepared. I recommend putting them on before going to meet the Elders." Yui Luo who was standing at the side shifted her gaze to a robe which was neatly laid out, the emblem exactly that of the new Shou Clan, it's color white and the emblem shaded with some black making it pop.
Shou Xin silently went off to do exactly that, whilst Yui Luo vanished down the stairs.
After leaving Liu Gang to rest, Shou Xin went back to the first floor, where the tea had already been set out.
Guo Long sat across Elder Yu, and Yui Luo stood at the side of the last chair.
"Little Master Shou, we have much to discuss." Guo Long said from his seat with a gentle smile, his gaze focused on Elder Yu who had a similar smile.
"Hoo, that's right." Elder Yu took a sip of his tea, his gaze focused on Guo Long from just slightly above his tea cup.
Shou Xin's empty eyes passed over them as he found his seat.
"Uncle Yu, this is Elder Guo, he is an honorary elder of the clan. I apologize I did not notify the Tai School in advance, it is a secret," Shou Xin then looked to Guo Long, "This is Elder Tai Yu, of the Tai School of blades. Vienna had prior ties with their Grandmaster, and sought an alliance, Elder Yu is the intermediary."
"Hohoho, the Sea Spring Merchant Union? I see." Elder Yu looked Guo Long up and down, "It has been quite a long time."
"Indeed. The last time myself and a disciple of the Tai School sat down, I was almost robbed." Guo Long said benignly, "But, the past is in the past. All is well."
"Is that so? Then it is good. Those supplies stolen from our Tai School back then will be considered a gift of friendship then." Elder Yu smiled courteously.
Shou Xin who sat in between took a sip of his tea, though he respected both men, he did not get involved for they had both helped him greatly and would not take sides.
The two stared at one another for a while longer, their kind smiles almost crushing, yet in the end the two acquiesced without a word, the two of them experienced negotiators they realized nothing would be gained through talking of it more instantly.
"Miss, the young lords are causing trouble again!" A disciple with a sword at his hip rushed over shouting, but froze on the spot and almost fainted the instant he saw the white robe which the entire clan had been talking about for days!
"Patriarch!" The disciple bowed deeply, cold sweat trickling off his face.
"Lead the way." Shou Xin smiled easily as he stood up, leaving his tea to sit, "This will be quick."
Elder Yu and Guo Long glanced at once another and then smiled.
"No need to worry, Little Master, we will be fine." Guo Long said as he calmly took a sip of tea.
"Young Master, it will be fine. Go ahead." Elder Yu agreed as he sipped on tea.
Shou Xin took a second to look at the two before walking out of the Heart Mind Pagoda.
The disciple walked closely behind him, Yui Luo on his otherside.
"Master, the young lords of the various clans were behaving well for the first few days, however as more of them fought and some lost and some won, rivalries began to appear which is causing ego's to rise outside the ring and fights to break out. The damages cost has reached a hundred gold serpents, luckily the betting rewards more than covered it."
Shou Xin swiftly arrived at the courtyard where the duels were to be settled and put underway.
A large crowd had gathered here, as the Shou Clan was open during fight days to the people to come watch for a small fee, which would be returned, it was only used a method to keep them from acting up violently or else they would not receive it back.
In the courtyard which was slightly sunken so as to allow the spectators seats without building rafters, two groups starred at one another with their Law Qi spiking!
"Your Shu Clan is a disgrace! To use such tricks against Mao Lu!"
"Tricks? Do you believe there are tricks on the battlefield? He was weak."
"You!"
"Me?"
They were about to explode.
Yet, something caught their attention.
The crowd watching had begun to split.
They watched carefully for who would appear.