NEBM Chapter 11: Sword

“How did Senior Brother Yan Jin manage to succeed in soaring up to the sky?”

These ordinary disciples were unable to directly call Shen Zhixian their master. As a result, they could only pretend to be friendly to Senior Brother Yan Jin while gossiping about all kinds of things about him behind his back.

“Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since Senior Brother Yan Shen went up to the summit.”

“Elder Shen avoided his daily greetings and hadn’t instructed him in swordsmanship in a long time now.”

“Ah? Is it like that? I’ll just say… ”

“Okay, lower your voice. Senior Brother Yan Shen might be nearby. ”

Someone soared up, and someone was trampled. In this world, this kind of thing happened all the time. Why else would these young disciples flatter Yan Shen in the past? Now, they had to switch target and try to earn Yan Jin’s goodwill.

Yan Shen was hidden behind the shadow of a tree, watching as these disciples walked by, gossiping, until they disappeared. His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, his cheerful temperament of the past completely gone. The hand on the tree’s trunk pressed down hard, leaving behind clear fingerprints on the rough bark.

Yan Jin!

He grinded his teeth back and forth, his dark mood expanding bit by bit, like poisonous mushrooms growing in a secret corner.

After an unknown amount of time, he flicked his sleeves and headed in a certain direction without looking back.

It was not the way back to his house, nor to the training field, nor to any place he should go.

…..

Shen Zhixian, who was the subject of all kinds of discussions, was very calm. He didn’t care about the gossips about himself. He was more worried about whether Yan Jin would mind it.

As a result, Shen Zhixian began to try to coax a certain person.

However, Yan Jin was extremely guarded against him. Every time he appeared, the young man’s whole body would instantly tense up and his spirit would tighten, as if it were a string that was being stretched to the extreme and would snap with a single touch.

Shen Zhixian felt that his position in Yan Jin’s heart was probably not as good as that of the rebellious grass bud.

At least that little grass bud only had to pester Yan Jin several times before it finally got permission to swing freely on his sleeve.

Shen Zhixian decided to use a roundabout tactic to soften and appease his disciple.

This 16-year-old child’s heart will surely soften!

Shen Zhixian used his finger to count the items in the room.

A medicinal pot from Fourth Elder meant for purifying the spirit root; a large batch of high quality brocade cloth; fifth peak’s new dishes…

This elder, who was not short on money, waved his hand. Buy buy buy! Do do do! Eat eat eat!

The young disciple accepted the spirit stones and very respectfully backed out the door. Before leaving, he quietly looked toward Yan Jin, who was practicing his swordplay in the yard.

Yan Jin’s movement was very powerful. He circled his sword around his body, then noticed the disciple’s gaze, and stopped to look back at him calmly.

“Hello, Senior Brother Yan!” Feeling as if he’d been seen by a spirit, Ming Yi could only straighten and call out.

He was one of the two disciples Shen Zhixian had summoned to clean up the house that day. The other disciple was called Ming Li. Perhaps because they were quick and nimble, they caught Shen Zhixian’s eyes and were promoted into running errands for him.

After the two disciples went down the mountain that day, they donated pocket money and small snacks to ask their fellow brothers and sisters about Shen Zhixian and Yan Jin.

Then, they at once became stunned stupid.

Elder Shen and Senior Brother Yan Jin had a bad relationship?

Senior Brother Yan Jin suffered such a serious injury from Elder Shen?

Elder Shen’s favorite disciple was Senior Brother Yan Shen?

No, they clearly felt that Elder Shen and Brother Yan Jin had a good relationship!

As for Senior Brother Yan Jin…Even though they had just arrived and hadn’t had much contact with him, they still saw him every day.

Seeing Elder Shen’s attitude, it was clear that he valued Senior Brother Yan Jin very much. Every day, he would have things delivered to Senior Brother Yan. The fruits must be the sweetest, the vegetables the freshest, and the meat with the utmost quality, even sending up plates of fragrant steamed buns and repeatedly instructing that they be kneaded into various shapes.

Purportedly, in order to permit Senior Brother Yan Jin to eat more.

The disciples all said that Elder Shen was no good but they clearly felt that Elder Shen was…kind of cute.

Ming Yi also wanted to be a personal disciple, and he also wanted to eat pig-shaped little buns. He was even born in the year of the pig! Therefore, he cleverly stood in front of Yan Jin, holding a bag of spirit stones. It was unfortunate that he was too average. With Senior Brother Yan in front, Elder Shen probably wouldn’t even take a second glance at him. Therefore, he might as well foster a good relationship with Senior Brother Yan!

Perhaps, Senior Brother Yan would also ask him to eat a pig-shaped bun when he was happy.

“Senior Brother Yan, would you like some water?”

Yan Jin shook his head awkwardly and politely as he sincerely declined. His gaze quickly swept over the bag of spirit stones before sifting away to look down at his sword in hand.

Ming Yi said “goodbye” and went away happily.

As soon as he left, the silence returned. The little grass bud, Xiao Caoya, was asleep and rarely came out to make noises. Yan Jin condensed the sword in his hand, his eyes moody and unclear.

This was about the time that the event in the previous life happened.

But, today’s Shen Zhixian was completely different from the Shen Zhixian of his past memory. Masters in various appearances repeatedly appeared in his mind, and he often pondered day and night, completely unable to guess Shen Zhixian’s thoughts.

In these past days, living here had been pure torture. He closed his eyes and when he finally opened them, his eyes were dark-red. The scent of blood drifted over his nostrils, and with it, came the vision of Shen Zhixian’s blood-stained hand indifferently gripping his wrist.

Agonizing pain radiated from his spirit root, and Yan Jin’s consciousness fragmented. The hand holding the sword hilt tightened until his fingertips turned white.

When the sword flashed out of the sheath, it emitted a sharp, cold light.

It was obviously only an ordinary sword. But, in Yan Jin’s hand, the sword released a biting cold chill. As he practiced, his swordplay was radically different from the previous times.

His eyes had completely turned blood red, the color tainting his vision of everything around him and making his nerves screamed with a cold and cruel pain.

The shadow of Shen Zhixian seemed to be everywhere. Yan Jin panted, his figure flashing and his sword quick like a demon, as he slashed at every single phantom like a madman.

With every move of the sword, the blade trembled, sounding like a black crow screaming on a moonless night. The sword cut through the dead leaves, scattering them up in a desolate cloud all around him.

But these phantoms were endless, continuously separating and reappearing before him.

In the end, Yan Jin was only just a sixteen-year-old boy. He had long-term malnutrition and a thin body. He’d also been seriously injured. His body couldn’t withstand such domineering sword moves and soon became exhausted. But he couldn’t stop.

There was a voice echoing in his mind, tempting and dragging what little reason he had left toward the dark abyss.

“Kill him…Kill everything…No one could deceive you or stop you…”

Blood surged frantically in his body, and his spiritual power condensed in his spirit root. But it was too fierce. His still fragile spirit root could not bear the pressure and soon displayed faint marks of fragmentation.

Zzng!

Just as Yan Jin was on the brink of collapse, another sword flew out of its sheath, brilliant like the pale moon emerging from behind dark clouds. The thin sword gently but powerfully broke through the chaos and firmly intercepted Yan Jin’s sword.

“A’Jin!”

The soft and flexible sword intentionally and easily resolved the ruthless and savage sword move. Distantly, Yan Jin heard anxious shouting, and he instinctively turned toward it, the red in his eyes dispersing a little.

“Wake up! A’Jin, wake up!”

The call came again.

Yan Jin had never heard anyone call his name in such an anxious and concerned voice, as if he was a treasure and if he was harmed, someone would hurt and worry.

He’d always heard derisive taunts and slanderous gossips, followed by sharp laughter heavy with invisible spikes.

At first, he was unprepared and was easily bloodied. But, later, he learned to build a high wall of indifference, shutting himself inside in order to prevent further injuries.

Yan Jin stood awkwardly, his eyes dazed and unfocused. Shen Zhixian couldn’t tell whether he was looking at him or if he was just was looking in his general direction. After hesitating for a moment, he tentatively called, “A’Jin?”

With this final call, the weird redness in Yan Jin’s eyes gradually receded and the sword in his hand fell to the ground. Brows furrowing, he suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood. Then, his feet softened, and his body fell forward.

Shen Zhixian was shocked. He could only throw his sword to the ground and hurriedly took a step forward to catch the exhausted youth into his arms. Patting his back, he tried to comfort him, “It’s all right, it’s all right…”

Yan Jin lay motionless in his arms, looking as if he was unconscious. But Shen Zhixian knew he wasn’t unconscious and that he was gradually recovering.

Because that familiar, extreme guardedness had returned.

Shen Zhixian released the person before he could reach out and push him away. After standing, he leaned down to pick up Yan Jin’s sword.

This was just an ordinary sword, the kind that ordinary disciples usually carry. Yan Jin was clearly not valued. Even as a personal disciple, he didn’t even get a decent sword.

Shen Zhixian sighed. Just now, when his sword had resisted Yan Jin’s fierce flow, Yan Jin’s sword had broken into pieces and fallen to the ground.

Shen Zhixian, “…”

He coughed casually, trying to move the topic. “What was the sword technique you used just now?”

The sword technique was extraordinarily fierce and obviously did not belong to Qingyun Sect. Ordinary sword wouldn’t be able to withstand this fierceness. It made him wonder where Yan Jin had learned it from.

However, Yan Jin didn’t care about this problem. He hadn’t completely recovered from the emotions that had flooded him earlier.

Everything that happened just now was unexpected and strange. He seemed to be in control but there were unfamiliar emotions surging in his heart. His swordplay also was involuntary, as if forcibly guided.

That mysterious, hoarse voice…

Kill whom? Who was that voice telling him to kill?

Kill Shen Zhixian? Or anyone who insulted him?

Yan Jin thought about the voice again and again, and the more he thought, the more the chaos in his mind churned. From his heart came the pervading sense of despair, as if his soul was desperately screaming deep inside.

No!

You can’t kill him!

Don’t!

The despair was crushing, and every single words seemed to be entrenched in blood.

Yan Jin was suddenly agitated. His hands fiercely fisted, fingertips digging hard into his palm. The little bit of pain brought awareness, and he finally heard Shen Zhixian’s question. But he only shook his head, his face still pale, and said nothing.

Seeing that he was reluctant to answer, Shen Zhixian no longer pursued the matter. Maybe it was something that Yan Jin had inadvertently created himself. After all, he was the protagonist. Even if he managed to cut a mountain in half, it wouldn’t be too surprising.

Shen Zhixian sighed, threw the sword hilt away, and turned back to recover his frost sword. “That sword can no longer be used. I’ll find a good one for you in the future.”

As he was thinking about this, he silently turned away and didn’t see the hint of bewilderment and vulnerability that flashed across Yan Jin’s eyes.