Fairy, Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Blind

Chapter 49: Sword Intent

Without hesitation, You Su immediately bowed in apology.

Gu was stunned for a moment as he looked at the young man’s deeply lowered head, completely puzzled. “Do you know how many cultivators dream of becoming an official disciple of the Mystic Firmament Sect? Accepting would bring you countless benefits and no harm.”

You Su was well aware of this fact. However, it was his master who had found him when he was abandoned and raised him. When he was young, fragile, and weak-willed, it was his master who saved him from thoughts of suicide due to his blindness. Before Junior Sister arrived, his master had been his greatest emotional anchor. Even if his master were here now and ordered him to switch sects, You Su would refuse.

Moreover, the Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Harmonious Mandarin Duck Sword Sect had not always been in decline. In the distant past, it had been a flourishing sect, which meant that its cultivation techniques and books were sufficient to lead its disciples to the great Dao.

There was also another important point: becoming an official disciple would require him to stay on Divine Mountain, and it was unlikely that he could bring his family with him. This would make it extremely difficult for him to take care of Junior Sister and Master’s wife.

“I understand, Immortal Gu. But my master saved my life, raised me, and taught me cultivation. I have long vowed to revive our sect and repay my master. I have never considered leaving the sword sect, nor will I ever do so. Please forgive me,” You Su said, his head still lowered, his words sincere.

Gu, who had initially been somewhat angry – not because You Su had refused, but because the young man had so decisively abandoned the broad path right before him, a path that could even lead to the world-renowned Lotus Sword Venerable – now fell silent after hearing You Su’s words. This young man’s talent, intellect, and character far exceeded his expectations, and he couldn’t help but hold You Su in even higher regard. At the same time, he grew more and more concerned about Lotus Sword Venerable’s desire to take him as a disciple.

“I understand your feelings. Your master… has truly found a good disciple,” Gu sighed, his gaze meaningful. “The great Dao is not limited to Divine Mountain. One day, I hope to hear the name of the Mandarin Duck Sword Sect on Divine Mountain as well.”

You Su raised his head, meeting Gu’s gaze without flinching. “You will.”

Gu smiled and stood up. “Then I won’t bother you anymore. Come to the city lord’s mansion for the banquet tonight. Let’s share a few drinks.”

“I will definitely be there,” You Su said, also standing up to see him off. He was relieved that Gu had not discovered anything amiss by the end of their conversation. The formation really had some effect.

When they reached the door, Gu turned around and took out another item with a smile. “You can stop here. This is a bottle of True Spirit Pills. If you ever feel your cultivation stagnating or your spiritual energy drying up, take one. It will have a remarkable effect. Don’t refuse – this is the reward for coming in first.”

With that, he tossed the bottle to You Su, who had no choice but to catch it. He was about to express his gratitude when he realized that Gu was already gone, having vanished without a trace.

Holding the two gifts in his hands, You Su sighed inwardly, feeling that his performance that day had not been in vain. Gu was not a flawless paragon of virtue, but he was certainly not a bad person.

Quietly putting the treasures away, You Su finally relaxed his tense mind and closed the door, returning to his contemplation of that mysterious sword technique.

By the time the sun was setting, You Su felt that he was on the verge of grasping that elusive spark of inspiration again, but he was still just short of fully capturing it. The feeling was deeply mysterious. Debating whether to ask Gu or Master’s wife for guidance, You Su ultimately decided to approach Master’s wife first.

Standing outside the main hall, he always had to mentally prepare himself before disturbing Master’s wife. Whether it was her status or her demeanor, she always gave him the impression of being unattainably lofty.

Clearing his throat, You Su knocked on the door. “Master’s wife?”

After a moment, the cool, ethereal voice of the master’s wife drifted out, sounding strangely distant to You Su. “What is it?”

“I encountered some problems while practicing my sword today. I was hoping you could enlighten me.”

“Ask.”

“During my match yesterday, there was a moment when I performed a sword technique that felt incredibly profound. At that moment, my mind was completely empty, and my only thought was that I had to unleash that strike. My body and my sword responded in unison, as if all of my power had been unleashed. But this technique wasn’t from the Mandarin Duck Sword Manual-it came to me naturally. If I hadn’t held back, I felt that the person who received the blow would have died. When I tried to recall that feeling today, I couldn’t grasp it. I don’t understand what happened, so I wanted to ask you.”

There was a short silence.

“That was the sword intent, though it’s not complete yet.”

“Sword intent?” You Su had heard the term before, but didn’t fully understand what it meant.

“Your master has never taught you about it?”

“Uh, no.”

“On the northern wall of the library, in the third row, there’s a book called An Introduction to Sword Cultivation. Starting from page sixty-nine, have your Junior Sister read it to you. She should read it as well.”

You Su felt the frustration of being blind. His knowledge of the sword was limited to what his master had read to him from the Mandarin Duck Sword Manual.

Master’s wife probably found the question too simple and didn’t bother to explain it further.

“Thank you, Master’s wife.”

“For someone your age to understand sword intent is quite impressive,” Master’s wife added unexpectedly.

The slight displeasure in You Su’s heart instantly dissipated. Feeling like a child tasting candy for the first time, he said happily, “Thank you for the praise, Master’s wife.

“Hmm.”

Master’s wife’s voice remained cold, but You Su left with a spring in his step.

In the evening, Ji Lingruo had also woken up. You Su quickly took her to fetch the book and had her read it to him. Only then did he understand what “sword intent” was: When a cultivator wields a sword, their strikes carry a certain aura, a resonance formed by their spiritual energy. Sword intent is the pinnacle of this aura, the ultimate expression of the wielder’s personal sword path.

Some people nurture their sword on snowy mountains for a hundred years, gaining frost and snow sword intent that freezes everything in its path. Others, lonely and melancholic, wield a sword intent that is inevitably sorrowful and bitter…

Different people have different sword paths, and therefore different sword intentions. But few can take their sword path to its extreme, which is why so few can comprehend sword intent.

According to the book, You Su realized the stage he was at: the aura in his sword was nearing its peak, but he had yet to determine what his true sword path was. Only by fully understanding this and consistently embodying it could he attain his own unique sword intent.

You Su didn’t feel overly excited. He believed that this was simply what he deserved. As a blind person, the only thing he could truly trust was the sword in his hand. Countless hours of practice had made the sword trust him in return. This had nothing to do with talent or luck – it was the fruit of his own labor.

Once he understood, You Su prepared to leave for the banquet. As he was about to go, Ji Lingruo stopped him and insisted that he change into an outfit she had carefully put together. Although it was still made from You Su’s old clothes, he looked considerably more presentable now.

Ji Lingruo watched You Su’s departing figure with satisfaction, thinking to herself: As the champion of the Ascension Assembly, her senior brother should not only excel in skill, but also in appearance and bearing.

Under the ambiguous light of the setting sun, You Su’s figure grew increasingly indistinct. Ji Lingruo found it strange. Her eyesight was excellent, and You Su hadn’t gone far, yet it felt as if… a mist was spreading?