Sword Among Us

Panda Novel

Just as the major pre-tournament sparring session went on near Lovely Land’s headquarters, Happy, who was the sect master, brought Wind Chimes and an indifferent looking girl to appear in front of a grass lodge in a valley, and it was as beautiful as something that came out of a portrait.

Behind him was his loyal and honest-looking follower, Thousand-faced Human Fox. He was still in the appearance of an old servant. The thief currently stood respectfully behind him with his head bowed and his hands by his sides.

To the left of the grass lodge was a vegetable patch surrounded by thin bamboo sticks and vines. An old man with a hunchback and white hair was currently bending his body while he watered lush Chinese cabbage. His honest expression and attentive gaze made it easy for others to think of him as a normal citizen who lived in paradise.

But Wind Chimes had been given a reminder about what was going to happen by Happy beforehand, and she did not dare to underestimate the old man in front of her.

“Is this old man the sect master of Zither Sect?”

When she remembered that this old man was in the dao of heaven and was the sect master of Zither Sect, who was even stronger than Six-fingered Demonic Zither, Wind Chimes became really nervous. She chose to send a private message tentatively. She was afraid that he would hear her and that she would end up offending him.

“Yeah. I’ve already told you who he is. Now, it depends on your own luck as to whether you will be acknowledged by the sect master and obtain his legacy.”

Wind Chimes gave Happy a look that said, “Don’t worry about me when it comes to me doing something.”

She sat down not far away from the grass lodge and brought out a simple but grand-looking casket from her Universe Bag.

Happy might be acquainted with the sect master of Zither Sect, but he did not immediately go up to meet up with him. Instead, he took one step back with Xu Yao and gave up some space for Wind Chimes to display her abilities.

The sect master of Zither Sect was someone in the dao of heaven. Normal methods would not be feasible if they wanted to activate his quest.

They could only rely on Wind Chimes’ superior zither skills and the extraordinary nature of Nine Yin Blocked Pulses!

Wind Chimes naturally knew that this was an unusual test. She calmed down and sat down seriously. She then placed the casket on her knees.

Thud.

With a soft thud, she opened the casket, revealing the black and domineering Sky Demon Zither within.

At the moment she opened the casket, Happy had his expression change a little. He immediately sensed a powerful, restrained, and grim presence from the casket.

It was incredibly strong.

“This Wind Chimes… She has been practicing a lot usually.” Happy quickly noticed that Wind Chimes had improved by leaps and bounds over the past month. She might have received a stimulus from Wild Wolves and had practiced even harder and more diligently over the past month.

When he thought of this, Happy instantly calmed down.

If Wind Chimes had such firm beliefs, then even if they failed this time and she did not obtain the sect master’s acknowledgement, she could still improve by leaps and bounds when she had a chance in the future. She would become a peerless elite who could fight independently on her own in the game.

“You regard her highly.”

During their way here, Xu Yao had not spoken a lot. Now, she finally did, but her tone was flat, as if she was talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

Happy naturally did not believe that she was jealous.

After going through certain things, they could understand some of their gazes and actions. It was impossible that Xu Yao did not know the meaning behind his actions.

Happy immediately nodded and answered, “After I woke up, I went to understand Nine Yin Blocked Pulses. The first year is pure torture, and the usual person will not be able to endure it. Wind Chimes has the tenacity, and she’s pretty lucky. She also knows how to appreciate her blessings. All these are praiseworthy.

“Wind Chimes is indeed pretty good. Nine Yin Blocked Pulses might have allowed him to improve very quickly and the physical constitution will also provide its own attributes when she practices whatever martial arts it is, if she makes a mistake, she will fall into the depths of hell. The usual person will have a hard time taking up this responsibility.

“That’s why Wind Chimes can only be an elder in Lovely Land instead of a vice sect master…”

“In truth, even if there is no Wind Chimes, you still have a lot of friends you can use. You don’t need me to help you.”

Xu Yao’s tone was indifferent.

Ever since his body recovered, Xu Yao was convinced by Happy and the young nurse to buy a new VR Helmet and returned to World of Martial Arts. Over the month, she managed to reach Moksha Realm.

Right now, Xu Yao was a normal leader in Lovely Land.

But Xu Yao and Happy knew very well that Xu Yao did not enter World of Martial Arts to play. Instead, she joined because Happy needed someone he trusted to help him. After all, the responsibility to take care of Lovely Land was getting bigger, and no matter what, Happy could not take care of everything on his own. Since Xu Yao was the one he trusted the most, he hoped that she could help him share some of his burden.

“The burden from Lovely Land is too great. I only have a few people to help me, and that’s not nearly enough. I need you!”

Happy turned his head around to cast a glance at Xu Yao. His tone was very serious.

“There are plenty of talented people in Lovely Land…”

“They have their own things to do.” He paused for a moment. Then, Happy’s tone became gentle. “I know what you want to say. There are indeed a lot of famous people in Lovely Land. We have four vice sect masters, and one of them is One Emperor, currently the strongest swordsman in the world. It’s a pity that his whole focus is on practicing the sword, and he can’t help me when it comes to managing the sect. That’s why I sent him away from the Chinese plains and asked him to organize the Imperial Army to attack the Wild Wolves. Hero of Wisdom Ji Feng contributed greatly when the Wild Wolves descended in the Chinese plains. Right now, he’s among the top ten in the Famous People Rank. He has indeed helped me a lot, but he has a lot of tasks he has to do every day, and he doesn’t even have the time to train. I don’t even have to mention Vice Sect Master Wandering Know-it-all, I’m already showing him great respect by giving him the title of vice sect master in Lovely Land. I have no reason to make him work for me, because I don’t have the money to pay for someone who is worth so much money. The last candidate for vice sect master will be even more ridiculous than they are.”

When she heard this, Xue Yao’s lips had already curled into a smile, because she could not help herself with it. Even so, she still forced herself to prevent from turning into a full blown grin.

“What about Phoenix Dances or your three best friends? When you were unconscious, they did everything they could to help you take revenge on Class One Hall and Blood Alliance. With them helping you, what is there for you to worry about?”

When Xu Yao mentioned the Three Lonely Wolves, Happy sucked in a deep breath and smiled as he said, “Did you actually think I didn’t ask them?

“Those three guys said that they stirred up the people in the University of South China, and these people sacrificed too much for me. Now, their full attention is on taking care of those people. I agreed to it, and I gave them a resource point near Baokang. They’re going to manage it so that everyone can rest and recuperate.” He stopped talking for a moment before he explained, “The Three Wolves mentioned that right now, I’m in the spotlight, and they, too, want to get to Inaction Realm and learn some ultimate techniques so that they can be awesome as well. Now, all of them have gone into isolated training. Can’t I fulfill their wishes a little? Do I really need to drag them over to help me work?”

Happy sounded a little anguished and resigned.

In truth, he did not ask for his friends to help him because with their current strength, they could not control Lovely Land. If he forced them into a position that was too high for them, it would not be good.

Xu Yao instantly found herself with nothing to say.

“Of course, right now, Tea Words and Phoenix Dances are in charge of certain tasks in Lovely Land. But they used all sorts of reasons to refuse being the vice sect master. I just can’t think of a suitable candidate for the fourth vice sect master.”

“If they’re not suitable, did you actually think that I would be suitable?”

“Of course you are!

“I refuse to believe that there is anyone who will not listen to the wife of the sect master.” When he said this, Happy smiled.

Xu Yao rolled his eyes at him and pretended as if she did not hear him.

At that moment, zither notes rang ahead of them.

Right when the zither notes rang, the white-haired old man who had his back hunched as he tended to the juicy-looking Chinese cabbage in the vegetable patch froze for a moment. It was as if something had tugged at his heartstrings. A brilliant flash shone in his eyes, and his ears perked up a little.

Even though the white-haired old man’s movements were very minute and he quickly returned to continue tending to his Chinese cabbage, to Happy, who had a very sensitive spirit sense, this slight change in the old man’s movements was enough to tell him everything.

Happy no longer spoke. He cast his gaze on Wind Chimes while he paid quiet attention to the sect master’s reaction.

He refused to believe that an old man who was in his sixties and did not have a successor would not be tempted when he faced someone with such great Comprehension and had the unique Nine Yin Blocked Pulses.

‘But I wonder whether Six-fingered Demonic Zither’s legacy will clash with the sect master’s legacy…’

Right now, Happy’s only worry was that their legacies would clash.

Wind Clash knew this as well. However, when she remembered seeing how smooth the sect master’s zither forces were in the battle replay Happy sent her and how relaxed he was when he executed them, she could not help but come over to visit him.

Laughing at the mundane world was the song Wind Chimes played.

The excited notes contained the chivalrous and kind nature of wanderers. With Wind Chimes’ white clothes, which made her look refreshing and otherworldly, the valley instantly looked as if it belonged in another world.

The sect master of Zither Sect listened to it for a while before he continued to tend to his Chinese cabbage. He looked as if he did not understand what was being played at all

After Wind Chimes finished playing the piece, the sect master gave no reaction.

Wind Chimes did not give up just because of that.

She frowned a little. When the last note was about to fade away, she lifted her pinky, and a note that caused souls to shudder rose into the air.

Clang!

The trees and flowers in the valley swayed and shuddered.

“…What is Wind Chimes doing?” When Xu Yao noticed the change in Wind Chimes’ presence and the change in her song, she was shocked.

A light crease appeared on Happy’s brow, he explained softly.

“Wind Chimes wanted to use her zither skills to move him and allow the sect master to witness her skills. But it’s clear that it didn’t work.”

More excited notes appeared in the air. The aggressive will in them were connected together, and it felt as if a storm was approaching.

Xu Yao’s face turned pale. “And what is she doing now?”

Because no matter how she looked at it now, Wind Chimes seemed to be using aggression to test and provoke the sect master of Zither Sect…

And he was someone in the dao of heaven!

Right after she finished speaking, Xu Yao saw the sect master straightening his bent back while he remained in the vegetable patch. He gave off a presence that could cause people to shudder in fear.

The weather changed!

In an instant, the sky above the valley was enveloped by a matchless force. The white-haired old man, who had seemed to be incredibly weak, now looked like a god who would not allow anyone to offend him.

He gave a slight glare, and that allowed him to give off an awe-inspiring presence that made him seem as if he stood supreme to everyone in the world!

Everything in the world would have to shudder before him.

Even Happy and Xu Yao were affected.

However, Happy was someone who had ample experience in all sorts of situations. When he saw this, his expression remained the same as ever while he instinctively activated his true origin aura to envelope both himself and Xu Yao. He fought against it with his Willpower, and in an instant, he recovered.

Xu Yao stood behind Happy and felt the power on her shoulders instantly disappear without a trace. The threat of someone from the dao of heaven seemed to be a distant thing right now.

She felt incredibly at ease.