The long sword gradually took shape through repeated forging.
Under the coverage of the extraterrestrial cold iron, the blade turned into a black that could devour everything.
Only then did Feng Tingliu put the long sword aside and sit on a chair to rest for a moment.
His muscles were covered with a thin layer of sweat, and his skin was dyed crimson in the steaming fire. He took a handkerchief from the side to wipe the sweat from his face and looked up at the patio to observe the sky outside Jianya Pool.
The full moon was hanging in the sky, and it was already nightfall.
"Lord Feng, you've been soaking in Jianya Pool for a whole day. I thought you were going to forge in the sword furnace for forty-nine days and then ascend to immortality."
A teasing laughter came from behind. Feng Tingliu put down the handkerchief in his hand and turned to look.
Yu Ji was standing not far away. It seemed that he disliked the sword furnace that was spitting flames and was unwilling to take a step forward. He also frequently pulled at his collar, trying to cool down.
"What are you doing here?" Feng Tingliu stood up, loosely put on his inner garment, and walked towards a cooler place inside. He waved to the people at Jianya Pool, and someone promptly ran out to prepare tea.
"To find out some news." Yu Ji glanced at the kiss mark on his neck and snorted.
The two sat down in a shady place, and someone also served tea, which gave Feng Tingliu a chance to rest.
"There's nothing to find out." Feng Tingliu said indifferently, sipping the tea.
"Yu Chi Feng has regained his memory." Yu Ji said with certainty.
Feng Tingliu's movement paused, and the cold tea splashed out, landing on the back of his hand. But in the next moment, Feng Tingliu calmly wiped the water on the back of his hand but said nothing.
Seeing him like this, Yu Ji gently sighed and said, "After all, that's my Gu worm. I'm naturally the first to know."
"Don't tell him." Feng Tingliu suddenly said.
"I really don't understand what you two are thinking. He regained his memory and ran out of Liudu City, but you just let him go like this? Why did you use the Gu on him back then?"
Feng Tingliu gave him a casual glance. Although there was no displeasure in his crimson eyes, it still made Yu Ji shiver all over: "I'm not meddling. I'm just worried about you."
"I've achieved my goal now, so just let him go." Feng Tingliu shifted his gaze, looking at the blazing fire in the sword furnace, and said softly.
"You trust him quite a lot."
"He is originally the most trustworthy person in this martial arts world, but the people in the martial arts world don't trust him."
After hearing this, Yu Ji chuckled: "But now, he has seen through the martial arts world and still wants to return to the Zhu Xie Association."
"That's precisely the reason why he is trustworthy." Feng Tingliu turned his head, his burning gaze filled with determination.
Yu Ji helplessly spread out his hands and shrugged: "I can't manage the affairs of Lord Feng. But if you need a new Gu, I've just developed one. This time, I guarantee it won't let him regain his memory so easily."
"There's no need for that."
Feng Tingliu put down the teacup, turned to pack up the tools, put on his clothes, and prepared to leave Jianya Pool.
"Just in case! Hey - wait for me, it's too hot here. I'll go out with you!"
-
The sound of forging in the depths of Jianya Pool never stopped.
The forging of the long sword had reached the final stage. It no longer required vigorous forging but only meticulous carving and decoration.
Feng Tingliu held the sword and, facing the sunlight shining down from the patio, carefully carved the vivid willow branches on the sword bone.
The willow branches spread upwards, entwining the sword guard, as if growing with the sword or binding and entangling it.
If one looked closely, there were several maple leaves entwined by the willow branches on the sword guard, with a special meaning.
Feng Tingliu was so absorbed in the carving that he also noticed the footsteps coming from behind. Without stopping his hand movements, he asked, "What's the matter?"
"Master, Young Master Yu Chi went to Tian Gong Pavilion." Bai Zhong stood not far away and said slowly.
"I've said that there's no need to report to me where he goes from now on."
"He went to Tian Gong Pavilion to ask Xie Zicun if there is any way to prevent you from staying in Jianya Pool every day."
"..." Feng Tingliu's movements paused for a moment. "Mind your own business."
"But you've really been here for half a month. Master, being so hard on yourself is not good for your health." Bai Zhong sighed and persuaded earnestly, "I watched you grow up, and naturally, I can't let you torture your body like this."
"Did Xie Zicun ask Yu Chi Feng to come to you?" Feng Tingliu put down the sword, looked up at Bai Zhong, and his eyes became a few degrees colder.
"They are also for the master." Bai Zhong's tone was helpless but also full of love.
Feng Tingliu was silent for a long time and sighed deeply before standing up.
"Well, then I'll go out of the city for a walk. The extraterrestrial cold iron has a unique texture and color. I just want to choose a jade that matches it and inlay it on the sword sheath."
"Master..." Bai Zhong's smile was helpless. He didn't expect that although he had successfully persuaded Feng Tingliu, Feng Tingliu's purpose was still to forge this sword.
"The final stage, how can it be abandoned halfway. Prepare the carriage."
"Yes. Should we ask Young Master Yu Chi to go with you?"
"No need. I think he and Xie Zicun are quite idle, so just send them to the study to organize the account books."
Bai Zhong couldn't suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth and chuckled: "Yes."
-
Feng Tingliu went out of the city for personal matters and didn't bring too many people. He only brought Qin Qichao and two subordinates and quietly left the city.
Unexpectedly, Feng Tingliu's itinerary this time was exposed by someone, and he was ambushed when he was returning.
Feng Tingliu returned seriously injured.
The blood-stained white cloth was carried out of the bedroom by the servants. Clean water was carried into the room, and soon what was carried out turned into a pool of blood.
Yu Chi Feng paced restlessly at the door, occasionally looking through the window gap at the pale Feng Tingliu inside. He was originally busy in the room with others, but Yu Ji found his worried appearance too annoying, affecting his acupuncture to stop the bleeding, so he drove him out.
Qin Qichao also stood by his side, tightly biting his teeth, and covering his shoulder with one hand, trying to stop the blood that was also gushing out.
Yu Chi Feng glanced at his injury and said in a deep voice, "You should also go and bandage. What are you doing just standing here?"
"It's my fault for being too weak to protect the Lord..."
"If you lose your life, you won't be able to protect him even more." Yu Chi Feng put on the air of scolding his subordinates on usual days and said coldly.
"I..." Qin Qichao gritted his teeth and lowered his head, his face looking even more unpleasant.
"Qi Chao, what are you dazed for? Don't you want your life!" Xie Zicun was also helping, but when he saw Qin Qichao standing there covered in blood, he quickly came forward to lead him away.
Yu Chi Feng looked into the room. Yu Ji was still busy and sweating profusely, and there was nothing he could do to help, so he followed behind Xie Zicun and watched Qin Qichao being bandaged.
"Why did you follow?" Xie Zicun was a bit surprised to see Yu Chi Feng.
Yu Chi Feng pointed at Qin Qichao with his chin, "I want to know what happened. What kind of person could hurt the young master to such an extent." There was a sense of ruthlessness and murderous intent in his words that neither Qin Qichao nor Xie Zicun had ever seen before.
Qin Qichao looked at the bedroom behind him and lowered his head, slowly saying:
"Originally, the few of us were more than enough to deal with them, and the Lord could solve it without even needing to make a move. But a woman on the other side suddenly took out a bone and blew out a very strange tune. After the Lord heard that tune, he suddenly had a headache but was still able to defend against the enemy. Who would have thought that the woman actually had another move, and the Lord actually lost consciousness due to the pain..."
"What?" Yu Chi Feng asked in surprise.
Qin Qichao shook his head: "I don't know. I just smelled a fragrance, and the Lord collapsed."
Yu Chi Feng's face was heavy, and he fell into deep thought.
"It's a medicine Gu that triggered the Gu worm to become active."
Yu Ji's voice rang out from behind, and several people turned to look. They saw that Yu Ji's red dress was stained with a deeper red color, and his whole body emitted a bloody and herbal bitter smell.
Yu Chi Feng saw him and quickly took a step forward: "How is the young master!"
"No major problem." Yu Ji shrugged. "With me here, why are you so nervous? The injury is not serious. Just rest for a while and he'll be fine. As for the Gu worm, I've also temporarily suppressed it."
"Has this happened before?" Yu Chi Feng frowned and asked.
"Never. Well, perhaps the woman from the Zhu Xie Association found the herbal medicine as an antidote... It seems that I have to think of some ways to prevent it." Yu Ji also looked worried as he said, "It seems that in the future, Feng Tingliu needs to be more careful when going out."
"I'm going to see him." Yu Chi Feng couldn't wait any longer. He walked past Yu Ji and quickly walked towards the room.
"Hey, be gentle. Don't wake him up."
Only when Yu Chi Feng reached the room door did he lighten his footsteps and slowly pushed the door open. As soon as he pushed the door open, he smelled the blood and herbal fragrance that had not yet dissipated. The strong smell made his heart involuntarily tighten.
He walked to the bedside and looked at Feng Tingliu, who was pale and covered in wounds. He felt very uncomfortable.
When Feng Tingliu was hurt, he wasn't by his side and couldn't protect him.
Not only that, but the person who hurt Feng Tingliu was actually someone he once considered a comrade.
Yu Chi Feng sat by the bedside, his fingers trembling as he brushed away the long hair on Feng Tingliu's cheek. He wanted to touch but was afraid of disturbing the person's sleep.
"Um..." Feng Tingliu moved restlessly, frowning and letting out a painful moan.
"Master?" Yu Chi Feng felt uneasy and reached out to hold Feng Tingliu's cold hand, rubbing it repeatedly to try to comfort him.
And it seemed that Feng Tingliu was really soothed by the temperature coming from the palm. Gradually, he quieted down, but his brows were still tightly furrowed, as if he was uneasy.
Yu Chi Feng leaned down and gently kissed Feng Tingliu'sAjna, trying to smooth it out for him bit by bit.
At this moment, Yu Chi Feng made a decision in his heart.
He suddenly stood up, then piously knelt on one knee in front of the bed, holding Feng Tingliu's hand and pressing it against his cheek.
"Master, the obstacles on your path will be cleared by me."
This was the final decision he made.
For Feng Tingliu, he would return to the Zhu Xie Association and regain power.