Volume One: The Emperor’s Sword Chapter Ninety-One: The Toolman’s Benefit Day

When Cloudless took his leave and departed the great hall with the sword art in hand, Xue Ziyi was left only with deep regret.

Regret for her junior brother's buried gift.

"If he had a spiritual root, not only would the Northern Court have hope of renewal, but he would surely hold a place within the Upper Sect," Xue Ziyi murmured softly, cursing fate's injustice in her heart.

But there was nothing to be done.

A spiritual root was innate, beyond the will of any person to alter. It was destiny, impossible to resist and impossible to change.

Xue Ziyi did not know that her junior brother was exactly the sort of person who did not believe in destiny, and who could even defy heaven and remake his fate.

Back at his quarters, Cloudless spotted Little Rain Lu brewing medicine in the courtyard at a glance.

Even from afar, the bitter smell of the decoction reached him.

"Senior Brother Cloudless, here's your dagger back!"

Seeing him return, Little Rain Lu took out the low-grade dagger he had lent her yesterday in the mine pit, intending to give it back.

"It's yours now, and take this one too."

Not only did Cloudless refuse it, he even gave her the other low-grade dagger.

From the two blood barbarians he had encountered in the market district, Cloudless had obtained two low-grade daggers and two mid-grade long sabers. Little Rain Lu was slight and delicate; daggers suited her best.

"I-I only need one dagger," Little Rain Lu said, waving her hands repeatedly.

"Take it," Cloudless said, tossing it straight over.

Little Rain Lu fumbled clumsily and nearly failed to catch it, then broke into a silly grin, her face full of satisfaction.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Cloudless!"

"Why be polite? You earned it."

In the depths beneath the mining site, if not for Little Rain Lu, that Thousand-Leaf Sword would not have come so easily into his hands.

By feeling and by reason, she had contributed no small share of effort, and a reward was only proper.

Overjoyed at receiving two magical artifacts, Little Rain Lu did not forget her medicinal decoction. She picked up a bowl and said, "I had another nightmare last night. Senior Brother Cloudless probably didn't sleep well either. Hurry and drink a bowl to calm your nerves!"

Seeing the trademark calming soup she offered, Cloudless's stomach turned.

That stuff was not fit for human consumption. It was far too bitter, practically like poison.

"In a few days, the contest for the Sword Heir begins. When that time comes, prodigies from every court will gather. We need to prepare more contingencies. Come, I'll take you to the market district for a look around."

Casually emptying the medicinal soup away, Cloudless led the delighted Little Rain Lu toward Willow Street.

He had long intended to repair his inner armor, but there had never been time. Today was free, so it was perfect for a trip to the market.

Besides, he still needed to buy some flying swords.

As for the three hundred flying swords in the Sword Palace treasury, it was better not to use them if he could avoid it.

Because the Gate Elder was unreliable.

That fellow was much like an old scoundrel, using the treasury's goods to curry favor, and yet somehow remaining unkillable. Even if the Sword Palace discovered that he had embezzled flying swords, they would likely be powerless against him.

Cloudless, however, could not afford to be so carefree.

If the three hundred flying swords were returned intact, that would be one thing; if he swallowed them all, then should the Sword Chief investigate, wouldn't they take him for the Gate Elder's accomplice?

The Gate Elder was not afraid of death. After all, he had already been dismembered. Cloudless, however, did not possess an immortal body.

Besides, if he truly ended up like the Gate Elder, he would rather die outright.

As for the three hundred flying swords, Cloudless had never intended to claim them for himself. They were fine for use in battle when idle, but it would not be wise to absorb their sword qi.

Ill-gotten gain had to be handled with care.

Cloudless had to guard against the Gate Elder setting a trap for him.

As for the spirit stones needed to buy flying swords, Cloudless currently did not have a single one, but he knew exactly where to get them.

The spoils from the seizure of the Mu manor were still piled up in the temporary marquis residence.

There was so much there that it was simply taking up space; it was perfect for exchanging for spirit stones.

Besides, the Mu family still owed him one hundred million taels of silver. Taking a little interest first was surely something Mu Qingzhou would not mind.

After returning to the marquis residence, he did not see Old River.

When he asked the maidservants, he learned that Old River had been running out frequently lately and sometimes would not return for several days.

Cloudless knew Old River was gathering clues about the barbarian clans. Once there was news, Old River would naturally inform him.

From the Mu family's property, he selected two cartloads of jewelry and ornaments and took them to a pawnshop on Willow Street. The appraisal came to five million taels of silver, which he exchanged for five hundred spirit stones.

Watching two huge carts of glittering jewelry become a small pouch of spirit stones in the blink of an eye, Little Rain Lu felt heartbroken.

"What beautiful pearls! When I was little, I used to dream of having just one. Later, I found a round stone on the mountain, polished it smooth, and treated it like a pearl, playing with it every day. It's still in my pocket now, and it's even developed a patina."

Little Rain Lu kept looking back every few steps as she left the pawnshop.

"What is so great about pearls? Wealth is only an external thing. Now that you're a cultivator, you should play with something more advanced," Cloudless instructed earnestly.

"Oh, right! I have cultivation now! Senior Brother Cloudless, what do cultivators usually play with?" Little Rain Lu asked with curiosity.

"A great many things: alchemy, artifact refining, talisman making, formations, beast taming, spells and divine powers, all kinds of magical artifacts. Many, many things," Cloudless said.

Little Rain Lu listened with a dazed look.

She had never before imagined that one day she would touch the mysteries of the cultivation world. Now that she could cultivate too, she could finally experience the profundity and wonder of the world of immortals.

"How about alchemy! I've been brewing medicine since I was little, so I should pick it up fastest!" Little Rain Lu said, her face full of hope.

Cloudless's steps inexplicably faltered.

"Aside from alchemy, you can try everything else," he said.

"Why? I like alchemy," Little Rain Lu said.

Cloudless sighed and looked toward the distant horizon, lamenting.

"Because all beings under heaven also like to live..."

He truly could not bear to say it plainly. With Little Rain Lu's skill in brewing medicine, if she applied it to alchemy, who knew how many people she would poison into oblivion.

Little Rain Lu listened in confusion, not understanding what her alchemy had to do with all beings under heaven.

Willow Street was bustling beyond measure, a sea of voices.

With the Sword Heir contest imminent, the number of Sword Palace disciples coming to the market was as numerous as hairs on an ox. There were those buying flying swords, those choosing spirit pills, and those making spirit talismans everywhere.

Cloudless did not go elsewhere. He made his way familiarly to the end of an alley and arrived at the shop of the artifact refiner, Lady Si Ruonan.

He entered the quiet courtyard and called out several times, but no one answered.

"Not at home?"

Cloudless pushed open the door and stepped into the main hall. Still there was no sign of Si Ruonan, though all kinds of magical artifacts arranged inside were intact and in place.

It did not look like she had gone out.

"So many magical artifacts!" Little Rain Lu was drawn in by the room full of them, looking left and right.

"Where is she?" Cloudless walked toward the back courtyard, calling as he went, "Senior Si, are you home? Business has come to your door!"

Rounding a side gate, he entered the back courtyard. It was empty save for a small wood-shed.

With a creak, the shed door opened and closed quickly, and Si Ruonan slipped out.

"Senior Si, I plan to buy some magical artifacts," Cloudless said, stating his purpose.

He noticed that her complexion was somewhat flushed and her breath disordered, as though she had just gone through something unspeakable.

"If you want anything, choose for yourself first. I'll be right over," Si Ruonan said, leaning against the wooden door.

Cloudless answered and, as he turned, glanced at the wood-shed before returning to the front courtyard.

It should not have been an illicit tryst.

Although Si Ruonan's courtyard was not large, it still had a bedroom and side rooms. Since she lived there alone, if she were meeting a lover, there would be no need to do so in that cramped wood-shed.

That shed must be hiding some unknown secret.

Cloudless had little interest in other people's secrets. Returning to the front courtyard, he began selecting magical artifacts.

First he chose a nimble flying sword for Little Rain Lu, a mid-grade one.

Then he chose a low-grade defensive inner armor and handed it to Little Rain Lu as well. With her spiritual energy, she could barely support it.

Little Rain Lu had assumed Cloudless had bought them for himself. When she learned they were for her, she was instantly overjoyed, clutching the inner armor and flying sword with delight.

At the first level of Qi refinement, her cultivation was truly too meager to amount to much. Cloudless intended to arm this junior sister to the teeth.

He would simply treat today as a welfare day for the tool person.

After all, it was all Mu family wealth, so spending it did not hurt in the least.