Chapter 26: Yan Qingying and the Ghost Head Seven Ring Greatsword
“It’s good to be back early. I heard the Sect Leader will also participate in this Heavenly Offering Ceremony.”
“Oh, by the way, Senior Brother Ye.”
Yan Qingying smiled mysteriously and said, “Li Bayuan is back too. He’s carrying his hammer and looking for a fight with you.”
“…”
Ye Yang frowned, “That silly boy is really strong. I just kicked his butt when we were kids. How can he still hold a grudge now that he’s an adult?”
Among the various Disciples of Flying Heaven Gate, there weren’t many people Ye Yang paid attention to, but Yan Qingying was definitely one of them.
She came from a poor farming family. Her original name was Yan Funan, meaning a prosperous male lineage. She had an older brother and a younger brother, and her family favored sons over daughters. From the time she could remember, she had to carry water and serve the family, doing farm work and washing dishes.
Even if there was an opportunity to study and improve, it was given to her older brother and younger brother. By the age of fifteen or sixteen, she still couldn't read a single character. Later, her parents sold her to a wealthy family to raise a dowry for her brother.
On her wedding night, she ran away, traveling west. She unexpectedly encountered Flying Heaven Gate recruiting Disciples, so she joined Flying Heaven Gate and started learning anew.
She learned one character, two characters, three characters each day, gradually becoming able to read widely. She gave herself the name Yan Qingying.
In Flying Heaven Gate, if Ye Yang was the first in diligent cultivation, then Yan Qingying was absolutely the second.
Therefore, she, a farm girl from a humble background who couldn't read a single character at fifteen or sixteen, was able to firmly remain in the first echelon among Flying Heaven Gate Disciples and was known as Yanzi Sword when traveling outside.
Honestly, Ye Yang greatly admired Yan Qingying.
He could see his own cultivation progress, so he made a little progress each day, accumulating it over time without giving up.
Yan Qingying, however, relied entirely on sheer willpower.
“The Sect’s Heavenly Offering Ceremony is imminent. It’s a pity that even after exhausting my entire fortune, I could only exchange for one protecting meridian pill.”
Yan Qingying sighed softly, and Ye Yang deeply empathized.
Poverty!
It was a common affliction for both of them.
…
Bidding farewell to Yan Qingying, Ye Yang led his Tuo Yun Horse to Bai Zizhen’s large courtyard.
Seeing Ye Yang arrive, Bai Zizhen limped over with a set of bowls and chopsticks, inviting Ye Yang to eat and drink with him.
When Father Ye was still alive, he and Bai Zizhen were long-time friends. At that time, Father Ye was the Protector of the Protector Hall and took great care of Bai Zizhen.
Later, when defending Flying Heaven Gate, Father Ye died for the Dao, and Bai Zizhen had one leg crippled. Remembering their old friendship, he took great care of Ye Yang as he grew up.
“Uncle Bai, this is Pear Blossom White that I specifically brought for you from the Wind and Snow Tavern. Please try it.”
Ye Yang pulled out two bottles of finely brewed Pear Blossom White from his satchel, lifted them by the straw ropes around them, and placed them on Bai Zizhen’s table.
Bai Zizhen was an old drunkard and sniffed at the bottles.
Immediately, he smelled that the wine was sweet, fragrant, and had a long aftertaste, truly as pleasant as blooming pear blossoms in spring.
“It’s rare that you still remember me. Open it, open it, quickly open it.”
Bai Zizhen’s heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat, itching. What kind of wine hadn’t he drunk in his life?
But to have a Junior specifically bring him wine, that truly made him happy from the bottom of his heart, and he unconsciously became excited.
The two of them, with their dishes, savored one bottle, leaving the other for later.
Ye Yang also took the opportunity to tell Bai Zizhen about what happened at the Wind and Snow Tavern.
As for the matter of the Elephant Demon Fist, he didn't mention a single word.
The two of them, with two bottles of Pear Blossom White and a few small dishes, drank to their hearts' content.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes.
Bai Zizhen, with a slightly flushed face, limped into the room. A moment later, he emerged carrying a long gray linen bag.
“Do you remember what I told you? There’s still a reward waiting for you after you complete the mission.”
“This is?”
Ye Yang looked on curiously.
Bai Zizhen opened the long bag, and with a clang, the sound of a saber echoed out.
“This Ghost Head Seven Ring Greatsword is four feet long, with a seven-inch handle. There is one ring every three inches and five fen, for a total of seven rings.”
“I am not skilled with blades. Today, I give it to you as a reward for completing this mission.”
The long bag opened, and the blade gleamed menacingly in the sunlight.
This saber had a thick back and a wide face, not silver, but a greenish-rainbow color, over four feet long, with a straight back and a straight edge.
The handle was a hollowed-out ghost head, with a green face and fangs, a pair of ghost eyes flashing red light. Behind the ghost head, a red tassel was attached with a copper ring.
Seven resonant copper rings adorned the back of the blade, and the blade surface shimmered with a cold light. With a shake, a sound like striking metal reverberated, disturbing the mind.
Its exaggerated design made Ye Yang think it must be a Thousand-Forged Divine Weapon.
If a Divine Weapon could be thousand-forged, it would already show cloud patterns, second only to Magical Artifacts, and very expensive.
“My good friend originally forged a High Grade Magical Artifact for someone, but the forging failed, leaving a large piece of Geng Metal scrap. He then used that scrap to forge a Ghost Head Seven Ring Saber and gave it to me.”
“This item is useless to me. You completed this mission very well, so I’m giving it to you as a reward.”
“This is too precious; I can’t accept it.”
Bai Zizhen smiled.
“Try picking it up first. If you can’t wield it, I’ll have to take it back.”
Ye Yang placed his hand on the handle. With a slight lift of his wrist, his expression couldn't help but sink. This Ghost Head Seven Ring Saber was very heavy.
However, after cultivating the Elephant Demon Fist, his arm strength had greatly increased, and his physical strength was astonishing. With a slight breath, he was actually able to lift the saber.
“Good strength.”
Bai Zizhen’s eyes flashed with a hint of brilliance. When this Ghost Head Seven Ring Saber was forged, it was mixed with scraps of Geng Metal, the main Material for High Grade Magical Artifacts, so it was incredibly sharp and surprisingly heavy.
The seven rings on its back, when attacking, would collide and resonate, which could disturb one’s mind. The red eyes on the ghost head would flash, and could even absorb the enemy’s essence. The more people it slayed, the more evil the blade became.
Ye Yang lifted the Ghost Head Seven Ring Saber and chopped forward, and the piercing clang of copper rings sounded.
The blade had already sliced into a round stone the size of a human head on the ground. Like a knife cutting tofu, the round stone split into two, with a smooth cut.
“What a sharp blade!”
Ye Yang sighed. If he had this Ghost Head Seven Ring Saber when fighting against Lu Qi, the Fast Sword, he was confident he could have cut off the opponent’s soft sword and taken his head.