Chapter 26: The Qi Family Saber? So Do I.

Wang Lu was not exactly short on money, but he wasn't exactly wealthy either; once his blade was forged, he didn't have many major expenses left. However, he had managed to entangle himself with Zhou Miaotong again. Seeing her—including the cost of wine and food—would set him back at least five taels of silver each time. Yesterday, Guo Zhen had given him forty taels, Lu Wenzhao had given him ten, and adding the fifty he extorted from Master Jinghai this morning, he had a hundred taels in hand.

When one did the math, it was only enough for about twenty visits to Zhou Miaotong's place. Who would ever complain about having too much money? Once the current affairs were settled, he still needed to redeem her, find a place for her in the south, and support her—all of which would require significant funds. Thus, hearing how cooperative Guo Zhen was, Wang Lu was in a fairly good mood.

What pleased him most, however, was not the money, but the tasks that activated the moment Ding Baiying and her group entered the Jinling Pavilion.

[Current World: Brotherhood of Blades (Integrated)]
[Identity: Son of Wang Chaoju, a Hundred-Man Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; Wang Lu, a Hundred-Man Commander of the Northern Guard Bureau]
[Main Mission 1: Game of Thrones (Ready for Settlement)]
[Description: You have arrived in the late Ming Dynasty. Take your shot and experience the rise and collapse of power.]
[Reward (Special): Determined by the degree of power ultimately achieved.]
[Main Mission 2: Jinchinyi Jinchinyi (Ready for Settlement)]
[Description: Utilize the full strength of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to sniff out and eradicate traitors.]
[Reward (Special): Determined by the quantity and significance of spies captured or killed, directly or indirectly.]
[Side Mission 1 (Ready for Settlement): Resolve Karma]
[Description: After Yan Junbin's suicide, Zhou Miaotong lost her will to live and finds no joy in this world. As an officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, rewrite the course of her life.]
[Reward: Deduction Points 2~10 (3)]
[Side Mission 2 (Time-Limited Settlement): The Chu-Han Boundary]
[Description: As a key figure in the drowning conspiracy, Guo Zhen holds the fate of Prince Xin’s plot and the trajectory of world events. You may use Guo Zhen to gain the trust of either Prince Xin or Wei Zhongxian. Rewards are granted based on your choice.]
[Settlement Time: Three days later]
[Reward 1: Save Guo Zhen and hand him over to Wei Zhongxian. Reward: Deduction Points *2]
[Reward 2: Kill Guo Zhen and pledge loyalty to Prince Xin. Reward: Deduction Points *4]
[Reward 3: Save Guo Zhen and remain independent of both factions. Special Reward: Enchantment - Resilience (Increases the durability of the bound weapon by 200%)]
[Current Deduction Points: 0]
[Current Martial Arts: Xinyou Saber Technique (Mastered)]

The existence of Guo Zhen had presented Wang Lu with three choices, one of which even offered a special enchantment reward. Wang Lu was absolutely delighted.

Pure deduction points were important, but it was the special reward that truly piqued his interest. To his credit, the system didn't play any games and threw the reward details right in his face. "Enchantment: Resilience" was self-explanatory, and the system's display confirmed his understanding.

Judging by the rewards, the three choices were ranked from low to high difficulty. The only ironic part was that killing Guo Zhen to join Prince Xin’s faction was objectively the easiest, as Guo Zhen was incredibly easy to kill. Yet, the reward was more substantial than saving him from Ding Baiying and her two disciples. Did this mean that if Wang Lu pledged loyalty to Prince Xin, the Prince would find a way to have him killed within three days? If he pledged to Wei Zhongxian, he wasn't sure where the danger would come from—would it be a vengeful pursuit by Prince Xin, or a "clean-up" by Wei Zhongxian after being fooled by the Prince's acting? Wang Lu trusted neither of them.

The distinction didn't matter much. His saber skills were now good enough to fight Shen Lian to a four-six split without risking their lives. With the weapon enhancement, he was confident he could trade blows with Shen Lian on equal footing. As for Ding Baiying, once Shen Lian saw through her style, he had completely suppressed her. Even without his weapon being enhanced, Wang Lu knew enough of Shen Lian's methods to leave her utterly bewildered.

So, what to choose? Obviously, close his eyes and pick C!

However, according to the Law of Conservation of Happiness, when Wang Lu was happy, someone else was bound to be miserable. The smile had shifted from Ding Baiying's face to Wang Lu's, though he was wearing a black face mask, so no one could tell. Well, perhaps the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes betrayed him slightly. After all, this body was twenty-six years old—rounding up, that was thirty.

"Whose side are you on?" Ding Baiying asked cautiously, not immediately launching another attack after her blade rebounded.

A true expert can tell a master by a single move. Both Ding Baiying and Wang Lu felt the other’s mastery of the Qi Family Saber technique, as both had intended to use the rebound force from their clashing blades to launch a counter-strike. But when they both assumed the same posture, Ding Baiying halted her momentum. It was like fighting an enemy who suddenly pulled out a weapon you recognized and performed a routine you had mastered yourself. You couldn't help but wonder if there was some misunderstanding.

Ding Baiying’s mind raced through everyone she knew—her master, her fellow disciples, her clansmen. Wang Lu didn't attack immediately mostly because he didn't intend to kill her just yet.

"Don't ask such stupid questions next time. I'm masked—do you think I’ll tell you who I am? Your saber technique is decent, but your brain is a bit slow," Wang Lu said, intentionally pitching his voice into an exaggerated, gravelly growl—the kind that was insufferable to hear, yet addictive.

As he spoke, he grabbed the back of Guo Zhen’s collar. Guo Zhen, usually so cunning, was now as docile as a chick, not daring to utter a single word. The ferocity he’d shown yesterday when holding a blade to Wang Lu’s throat had completely vanished.

"I'm taking him," Wang Lu said.

Ding Baiying let out a frustrated sigh, gesturing to her two disciples behind her. "I was giving you a chance at life by asking. Since you don't cherish it, I won't be polite."

Wang Lu smiled slightly, tightening his grip on Guo Zhen. "I don't like owing people, especially women. I'll give you one last chance: let me leave, and I won't make things difficult for you. Otherwise, I take no responsibility for the consequences."

"Looking down on women?" Ding Baiying gripped her saber with both hands, her lips curling into a look of stubborn defiance and mockery. She seemed to be envisioning exactly how she would cut him down.

Facing her starting stance, Wang Lu pulled Guo Zhen to his side and held his blade with one hand. "Then use your blade to show me why I should think otherwise."

*Clang!*

Ding Baiying’s long blade sliced through the air, aiming straight for Wang Lu’s neck, while she barked at the restless Ding Tai and Ding Chong, "Stay back! I'll handle this!"

The ruthlessness of the strike clearly marked it as a battlefield technique. To Wang Lu, who had mastered the Xinyou Saber technique, he didn't just see the enlarging blade; he saw inexplicable lines tracing through the air.

"Hmm?"

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

In the moment of Wang Lu's surprise, his blade rose automatically to parry the lethal strike. Ding Baiying’s attack was blocked, and she quickly utilized the rebound force to pivot her body, spinning around to strike from the opposite side. Wang Lu seemed to have been waiting for it; he was already in a defensive posture before she had even finished her follow-up.

As the blades clashed again, Ding Baiying frowned, pulled back, and stepped forward with a fierce downward slash. Regardless of the school, anyone who stood in her way had to die. She had already given him his chance.

Yet, Wang Lu swung his blade upward, meeting the kill strike once more.

"Qi Family Saber? Me too!"

With a cold laugh, Wang Lu’s blade rebounded, and he flicked it upward in a strike that brushed dangerously close to Ding Baiying’s... chest.