A Good-for-Nothing

94. The Shadow Sword Acknowledged Him as Its Master (2)

 

Translator: Dragon Rider

 

Yilan, in particular, was struck dumb with astonishment. This sword, which she had always regarded as a worthless training sword, had been with her for years and it had never shown any signs of its preciousness, but on this day, at its first meeting with He Zheng, it automatically revealed its edges!

Nothing could have been more hurtful than this!

Yilan almost grew jealous of He Zheng.

He Zheng could indeed be counted as the God’s favored one. If this came to Zu Zhichong’s knowledge, he would definitely jump and curse the God for his favoritism.

It would be understandable, though. After all, this kind of serendipity was not something common people could have.

Even He Zheng himself was astounded.

An astonished look flashed across the depths of Li Zong’s eyes. Looking at the guy in front of him who had just had a fortunate stroke of beginner’s luck, he opened his hand at He Zheng and said, “Give it to me. This kind of treasure has to be registered first. Then I’ll help you apply for the right to use it.”

Of course He Zheng didn’t raise any objections. He casually handed the sword to Li Zong.

However, strangely enough, Li Zong was just about to take the sword when the blade of the Shadow Sword abruptly vanished, leaving only the hilt. Against the sunlight, the sword cast a shadow on the ground, which was disappearing and reappearing alternately. In that instant, dark thunderclouds were churning and twisting in the sky. He Zheng had an inkling that something bad was going to happen.

As expected, the next instant, countless flashes of lightning struck down from the sky, as if some powerful supernatural being was undergoing a heavenly calamity.

He Zheng slightly frowned and gave the sword back to He Zheng. With that, the thunderclouds in the sky stopped roaring and everything returned to normal.

After a few moments’ thinking, Li Zong casually cast an enchantment on the Shadow Sword. When he took the sword again, no visions were seen. He Zheng was thrown into perplexity, having no idea what was going on.

“Magic treasures forged with faith and sincerity usually develop psychic energy over time. This precious sword has witnessed the rises and falls of numerous dynasties and been through the baptism of the essence of the sun and that of the moon. I think a sword spirit has come into being inside it. Now that the Shadow Sword has acknowledged you as its master, it seems hardly anybody else would be allowed to wield it.”

He Zheng, who had never expected this kind of amazing connection with the sword, was at a loss for words.

Li Zong put away the Shadow Sword.

Tan Lubai flicked He Zheng a deep look. Though a few moments ago, He Zheng had nearly been struck by lightning, it didn’t change the fact that he had indeed successfully invoked heavenly lightning. It had never crossed Tan Lubai’s mind that He Zheng would be able to achieve such a great improvement in such a short time. “My judgement was right. He Zheng is indeed uniquely talented. The Shadow Sword wouldn’t acknowledge an average cultivator as its master.”

She patted He Zheng on the shoulder. “Make a greater effort, young man.”

He Zheng felt overwhelmed by an unexpected favor, which he didn’t feel often.

Yilan was quite aggrieved. “Mother, I think He Zheng just had a stroke of super-good luck, didn’t he?”

Director Tan softly cast a glance at her. Yilan instantly shut up and didn’t dare to say another word.

“The Shadow Sword has acknowledged you as its master. I’d like you to take this sword as an apology to you for Yilan’s recklessness. Don’t let me down, He Zheng.” Tan Lubai looked at Old Master Zhu, then glanced at Li Zong and gave a bob of her head at him. “I’ll take Yilan back home first.”

After Tan Lubai and Yilan left, Li Zong and a couple of others were the only ones left in the training field. He Zheng, who had not had the time to ask them why they had come, looked at his grandfather and said in a somewhat displeased tone of voice, “Grandfather, why didn’t you give me a call before coming to Coastal City?”

Old Master Zhu replied with a big smile, “I was asked to come here on short notice. Your second uncle is waiting downstairs. We’ll go back to the Shen City very soon.”

Then he added, “My grandson is indeed the God’s favored one. He Zheng, others may not believe you if you tell them about this good luck of yours.”

He Zheng was still unhappy about his grandfather’s going to leave so soon.

Old Master Zhu patted He Zheng’s hand. “I heard that you were inducted into the Qingwei Sect. The Qingwei Sect is a large sect. With Supt. Li taking care of you, I believe there’s no need for me to worry about anything, but Li Zong told me that you wanted to join SMB. Is it true, dear?”

“Yeah.” He Zheng inclined his head, flicked a glance at Li Zong and observed, “Everybody knows that there’s a good-for-nothing in He family. If I were born incapable of cultivating exorcism skills, I would have reconciled myself to it, but I’ve already found out that someone victimized me, so I would never resign myself to my fate.”

“But you have no cultivation base whatsoever, which means that this path will be a lot more difficult for you than it is for normal people.”

“Indeed it won’t be easy. So what? I’m not afraid!”

He Zheng raised his chin in a conceited way, a grim and solemn look on his face, as if nobody on earth could beat him.

On hearing his words, Old Master Zhu felt that He Zheng had become someone totally different from the childe who had been indulging in a life of pleasure and comfort. Involuntarily, his eyes brimmed with tears. “Good, good. Since you have this aspiration, I think I have nothing to worry about.”

“Grandfather, I got Li Zong at my back. What could possibly concern you?”

Old Master Zhu dissolved into laugh. He Zheng was also in a much better mood. He looked at Li Zong and failed to notice that a worried look flashed across his grandfather’s eyes.

“We should get out of here. Your second uncle must’ve got anxious after such a long wait. Let’s go downstairs.”

He Zheng’s face darkened again as he recalled that Old Master Zhu was leaving. Seeing the unhappy look on his face, Old Master Zhu was resigned. With an affectionate expression in his eyes, he remarked, “I wonder if anybody could stand your willfulness.”

Li Zong smiled, “He Zheng’s very good company.”

Old Master Zhu couldn’t help laughing. After they went downstairs by elevator, He Zheng greeted his second uncle. And then Old Master Zhu got into the car. Though they were unwilling to part, Old Master Zhu’s car still slowly drove out of sight.

He Zheng watched as the car left. He was not a fool, and neither did he forget about the divinatory symbols found in the cinerary casket of her mother, which he believed was the very reason why his grandfather and Director Tan had come here this day, but he didn’t ask any questions about it, because he knew there was nothing he could do.

Someone gave him a pinch on the cheek and with that He Zheng twisted his head around and saw Li Zong’s hands against his face. He Zheng had no idea how scary he looked with his ghastly pale face.

“Remember to bring Tun Shanhai with you the next time you come here to practice. If it weren’t for the fact that your grandfather and Director Tan on a whim decided to come here to check on you, there could have been disastrous consequences.”

He Zheng vaguely answered “Um”, raising no objection to Li Zong’s suggestion.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the office. You need to get changed.”

He Zheng’s clothes were dirty all over.

Watching the broad back of Li Zong who was walking ahead, He Zheng slowed down with an increasingly heavy heart. ‘Only by getting strong enough as soon as possible will I be able to keep pace with this man and do everything I want to do, rather than being taken care of all along like a flower in a greenhouse.’