Zhou Qingmei tried everything she could think of to get Fang Shuwen to tell her why he was laughing.

But Fang Shuwen simply wouldn’t tell her, leaving Zhou Qingmei to give up in frustration.

Chatting and laughing, the two soon arrived at the lodgings Zhai Xing had arranged for Fang Shuwen.

Zhou Qingmei didn’t leave right away. She walked around the room, inspecting it inside and out, and only sat down after feeling that nothing was missing.

Her gaze fell upon the sword on Fang Shuwen’s back, and she asked with some curiosity:

"How did you end up with another sword?"

"Who are you planning on giving it to this time?"

Fang Shuwen found her question a bit odd, but he answered honestly,

"Back in Flying Snow City, I ran into a man named Shangguan Ying..."

"The ’Blood-Crying Sword Demon,’ Shangguan Ying!?"

Zhou Qingmei was taken aback.

Although she already knew Fang Shuwen must have faced many dangers on his trip to Flying Snow City,

hearing a specific name still made it impossible for her to suppress her shock.

"The Blood-Crying Sword Demon?"

Fang Shuwen nodded.

"That was probably him... He never mentioned his title to me."

Zhou Qingmei frowned.

"That man is known for his arrogance, but he’s also incredibly ostentatious. He didn’t even state his title when facing you?"

"He probably didn’t get the chance..."

Fang Shuwen said, looking slightly sheepish,

"I was in a rush to find the Seven-String Ancient Chapter, so I didn’t waste words on him. I just killed him."

"But you know, his Martial Arts were quite impressive. It took me a full three palm strikes to kill him."

"..."

Zhou Qingmei was suddenly at a loss for words.

The very name "Blood-Crying Sword Demon" was enough to make children stop crying at night throughout the Jianghu.

’Quite impressive’ didn’t even begin to cover it.

Aside from the Three Immortals, Two Kings, and One City Madman, and the Seven Great Sect Leaders, this Shangguan Ying feared almost no one!

Yet to Fang Shuwen, he was merely given a "quite impressive" rating, as if it were a great achievement to have survived until the third palm strike.

’This guy really can be infuriating sometimes.’

But after snapping out of her daze, she suddenly realized something.

"You killed him and took his sword?"

"So... this is the Blood-Sinking Demon Sword!?"

"That’s right."

Fang Shuwen nodded. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Zhou Qingmei’s expression grew serious.

"I’ve heard that the Blood-Sinking Sword is one of seven Demon Swords forged by the great Forging Master Feng-Huo Lan Shan. It’s said they can shatter a person’s sanity... Are you all right?"

"Do I look like I’m not all right?"

Fang Shuwen said with a hint of resignation,

"I don’t know where those rumors came from. It’s possible the sword really does have some effect on other people."

"But for me, it’s useless."

"Although, I do remember that when the Black-faced Rabbit of the Sang Mountain Seven Face stole this sword, he didn’t dare to touch it directly. He dragged it away by its strap."

Zhou Qingmei froze. ’I didn’t expect the Sang Mountain Seven Face to be involved in this, too?’

Since they had nothing else to do, Fang Shuwen recounted his journey for her.

Zhou Qingmei listened, lost in fascination...

’Fang Shuwen’s experiences are so rich and varied.’

’Compared to him, my own life is so dull.’

Traveling with her Master, under the banner of the Zhuji Pavilion, she faced no obstacles wherever she went.

"So, once I’m done with my current business, I plan to find the Golden Bell Tower and sell this sword."

"While I’m there, I’ll have them introduce me to a few clients..."

"Are you planning to make a bigger name for yourself in the guard business?"

Zhou Qingmei propped her chin on her hand.

"How about you take me with you?"

"Huh?"

Fang Shuwen was taken aback.

"Take you with me to do what?"

"To be guards together, of course."

"...Stop joking. You’re a dignified True Disciple of the Zhuji Pavilion. If you ran off to be a guard, wouldn’t your Master come settle accounts with me?"

"You just helped her heal her wounds. How could she have the nerve to come after you?"

Fang Shuwen shook his head repeatedly.

"No, no, absolutely not!"

"Why not?"

"Because you’re a True Disciple of the Zhuji Pavilion. I’m just a minor disciple from the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall."

"It’s perfectly normal for me to be a guard, but for you... it doesn’t fit your station."

"...What are you talking about?"

Zhou Qingmei’s expression darkened.

"Your Martial Arts are leagues beyond mine. If you can be a guard, why can’t I?"

"Your Sect would never agree to it."

Fang Shuwen used the Zhuji Pavilion as his excuse.

Zhou Qingmei’s eyes darted around.

"Then if my Sect agrees, you can’t object!"

"???"

Fang Shuwen was stunned. ’It’s true I did the Zhuji Pavilion a great service,’ he thought, ’but now their new generation of disciples is suddenly short two experts.’

’Among the younger generation, only Lu Xiaoqing is left to hold down the fort.’

’But in two months, Zhou Qingmei will obtain a Yuqing Fruit. Her Inner Strength will advance by leaps and bounds, and she’ll likely jump to become the top True Disciple in the Zhuji Pavilion.’

’She could even be groomed as the next Pavilion Master.’

’How could the Zhuji Pavilion possibly agree to let someone like that follow me around as a guard?’

Thinking of this, he nodded.

"Fine. If you can actually get your Sect’s permission, then I won’t object."

"Good! A gentleman’s promise!"

Zhou Qingmei held out her hand.

"Is unbreakable!"

Fang Shuwen tapped his palm against hers.

Seeing this, Zhou Qingmei let out a long sigh, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Fang Shuwen, on the other hand, was curious.

"Why do you want to be a guard with me?"

Zhou Qingmei looked up at Fang Shuwen, her face suddenly turning a little red.

However, she quickly adopted a serious expression and said,

"I think being a guard would be great! And traveling far and wide like you do, seeing all the sights of the Jianghu... it sounds like a lot of fun!"

"..."

Fang Shuwen fell into thought.