# Chapter 770: Arranging Affairs
Whether what Zhang Ruochen said was true or not, Huang Yanchen felt her mood improve slightly. She probed, "Actually, I can feel that Xingling loves you deeply. It's only because of me that she deliberately keeps a certain distance from you. Can you tell me what you two have experienced in the past year?"
For some reason, the scene of that night when he deeply kissed Mu Lingxi immediately surfaced in Zhang Ruochen's mind.
Although that kiss involved many factors that reason could hardly control, Zhang Ruochen still felt a deep sense of guilt in his heart.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Huang Yanchen. Reason told him that he absolutely could not tell her about this matter; otherwise, any explanation would be futile.
So then, Zhang Ruochen glossed over the important matters and told Huang Yanchen about his experiences over the past year—how he met Mu Lingxi, how he killed Di Yi, how he came to Liangyi Sect, and so on.
Huang Yanchen listened very attentively. Unconsciously, she had nestled into Zhang Ruochen's arms, resting her crystal-clear face against his chest, closing her eyes, revealing only two rows of fine eyelashes.
Her features were extremely delicate, her skin lustrous, her sapphire-blue hair scattered on the ground, as if she had fallen asleep. However, her rosy lips parted slightly as she said, "Zhang Ruochen, Xingling is a good girl. You must not let her down."
"Mm."
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "She is indeed a woman who dares to love and hate, with deep passion and true nature."
Huang Yanchen's already closed eyes immediately opened, and she said, "So, something must have happened between you, right?"
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned grave. His hands clenched tightly together, unable to bear deceiving her any longer.
Some things, since they had already happened, there was no need to continue hiding them.
However, just by looking at Zhang Ruochen's expression, Huang Yanchen guessed that he and Duanmu Xingling were probably no longer just simple friends.
So, before Zhang Ruochen could speak, she said first, "Forget it, pretend I didn't ask."
And so, the two fell into silence.
Morning arrived. A gentle ray of sunlight shone from afar, sprinkling down upon the two of them.
Hanxue, carrying a sword on her back, walked over from a distance and appeared behind Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen. Her voice was somewhat youthful as she said, "Master, Grandmaster asked me to tell you that he wants to see you alone. There are some things he needs to discuss with you."
Zhang Ruochen stood up and was about to leave.
Behind him came Huang Yanchen's voice: "Zhang Ruochen, tonight... come to my room. I'll be waiting for you."
Zhang Ruochen paused slightly in his steps. He naturally understood the meaning in Huang Yanchen's words. He just replied with an "Mm" and continued walking, leaving the place together with Hanxue.
When Zhang Ruochen saw Xuanji Sword Saint again, he found that the old man had become even more plain and unadorned. Sitting on a wooden stool, he was weaving a bamboo basket using bamboo strips, like a simple country bamboo craftsman, without any trace of the sharpness befitting a peerless sword saint.
This was a temperament of returning to simplicity.
Xuanji Sword Saint's hands were covered in wrinkles, and every movement was very smooth. He wove every piece of bamboo extremely evenly, and the bamboo basket he finally produced was quite exquisite.
"Xiao Xue'er, take it."
Xuanji Sword Saint had a smile on his face as he handed the bamboo basket to Hanxue.
"Thank you, Grandmaster."
Hanxue took the bamboo basket and left.
Xuanji Sword Saint's aged eyes watched Hanxue's departing back, squinting with a smile: "Thousand Bone Constitution, a sword prodigy. Ruochen, this female disciple you took in has already cultivated Sword One to the seventh level at such a young age. Her talent is even higher than yours. Her future achievements are unimaginable."
Zhang Ruochen stood beside Xuanji Sword Saint and said, "Xue'er's talent is truly the best I have ever seen. She learns any sword technique as soon as she is taught. It was only recently that I gave her the insights on 'Sword One.' I never expected that she had already cultivated it to the seventh level."
After a long while, Xuanji Sword Saint asked again, "Have you already told Yanchen the truth?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "Since she has already guessed, I don't want to continue hiding it. I can only let things take their natural course. Who can say whether it's a blessing or a curse?"
Xuanji Sword Saint was also very calm. "You two have indeed had a difficult fate. Experiencing more of life's bittersweetness and various states of being may not be a bad thing for you."
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I feel that Master's realm seems to have reached another level, giving a feeling of returning to simplicity. Could it be that Master has already broken through to that realm?"
Xuanji Sword Saint smiled and shook his head. "Breaking through to that realm is easier said than done? However, after adjusting recently, my mindset has indeed changed. I have come to view victory and defeat, life and death, very lightly."
"Perhaps when you reach my realm, you too will understand that step. When things that should come appear before you, accept them gladly. When things that shouldn't come appear before you, also accept them gladly."
"Enough of this. The reason I called you here is mainly to discuss three matters."
After saying this, Xuanji Sword Saint first sat down on the ground. Zhang Ruochen flicked his robe and respectfully sat cross-legged in the opposite position, listening attentively.
Xuanji Sword Saint sat upright, and the aura around him suddenly became somewhat sharp. "The sword you used on Book Mountain, was it Qiangu Nüdi's Void Sword?"
"That's right," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xuanji Sword Saint said, "Do you know that there is a legend about the Void Sword? During the Middle Ages, Qiangu Nüdi fought against a deity in the Eastern Domain and ultimately used the Void Sword to kill the opponent."
"But after that battle, Qiangu Nüdi also disappeared."
"Later, within the Fallen God Mountain Range, a mysterious and unfathomable Fallen God Tomb Forest appeared. It is said that someone saw Qiangu Nüdi enter the depths of the Fallen God Tomb Forest and never come out again."
"The Underworld?" Zhang Ruochen said.
The depths of the Fallen God Tomb Forest were the legendary Underworld.
It was a place from which no one who entered could ever emerge.
"Exactly, the Underworld."
Xuanji Sword Saint nodded. "Some speculate that Qiangu Nüdi must have discovered something back then, which is why she charged into the Underworld alone with her sword, to prevent some unknown hidden danger."
"Others say that the deity killed by Qiangu Nüdi back then had escaped from the Underworld."
"Opinions vary. No one knows what is true and what is false. However, one thing is certain: the fact that the undead and evil spirits of the Underworld cannot escape the Fallen God Tomb Forest is certainly greatly related to Qiangu Nüdi."
Zhang Ruochen frowned, then nodded. "It seems only Qiangu Nüdi could suppress the undead of the Underworld."
Xuanji Sword Saint said seriously, "But the Void Sword has appeared in your hands. This shows that Qiangu Nüdi has likely already fallen. If so, the Fallen God Tomb Forest becomes an uncertain factor. Those undead and evil spirits could escape at any time. If that happens, the prosperous and flourishing Eastern Domain might turn into a hell on earth overnight."
Zhang Ruochen drew in a breath of cold air, finally realizing that something was amiss.
"Of course, these are just your master's speculations. No one can clearly say what the situation is in the depths of the Fallen God Tomb Forest."
Xuanji Sword Saint smiled slightly, lightening the heavy atmosphere. "The reason I tell you this is just to give you a warning. The Void Sword is a supreme sacred artifact, full of spiritual nature. Its appearance in your hands is no accident. It likely came to you on its own."
"If one day the undead of the Underworld really escape, the only solution is to bring the Void Sword back to the Fallen God Tomb Forest and find Qiangu Nüdi. If you can find her, you might be able to avert a disaster."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Disciple will definitely remember Master's words."
Xuanji Sword Saint said no more and continued, "The second matter: since your master is going to have a life-or-death battle with Jiuyou Sword Saint on the ninth day of the ninth month, I naturally need to arrange my affairs in advance."
"Master..." Zhang Ruochen said.
Xuanji Sword Saint raised a hand to stop Zhang Ruochen from speaking, then raised both hands, gathering them toward the center of his brow.
A silver light spot appeared at the center of Xuanji Sword Saint's brow.
A sacred sword flew out from between his brows and hovered in the air between the two of them.
The sacred sword was four feet long and three inches wide, but the sword body was irregular, like a carpenter's square.
The sword body was very smooth, as if forged from pure silver, with streaks of white patterns flowing slowly across its surface.
"This sword is called 'Skyward.' It has been passed down for sixteen generations since the founding patriarch. Each generation has been guarded by a sword saint, who also defends a great secret."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What secret?"
Xuanji Sword Saint smiled and shook his head. "Your master doesn't quite know what the secret is either. Because in the entire Kunlun Realm, there are six similar swords, divided into six lineages, held by six people. When the time is not right, even the six sword-bearers won't know the purpose of the six sacred swords."
"If I am unfortunately defeated and die in the battle with Jiuyou Sword Saint, you will be the next sword-bearer of the Skyward Sword. Take your master's corpse and the Skyward Sword to the Nether King Sword Grave in the Central Domain, and bury your master together with the successive patriarchs. When you get there, someone will naturally tell you everything."
"Nether King Sword Grave."
Zhang Ruochen repeated the words, memorizing them, then said, "During the Sword Discussion Assembly, Master will definitely not lose. You will surely defeat Jiuyou Sword Saint."
"Your master's state of mind has already surpassed his by a margin. I have at least seventy percent confidence of winning. Arranging affairs in advance is just a precaution. The lineage of the Skyward Sacred Sword must never be broken."
Xuanji Sword Saint seemed very confident in his sword path, a confident smile appearing on his aged face.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Then what is the third matter Master mentioned?"
Xuanji Sword Saint smiled faintly, put away the Skyward Sacred Sword, and said, "The third matter is to help you cultivate the Formless and Featureless Thirty-Six Transformations, so that in the future, when you encounter some old monsters, you won't expose your identity."
In the following time, Zhang Ruochen focused on cultivating the Formless and Featureless Thirty-Six Transformations under Xuanji Sword Saint's guidance, until night fell before the two stopped.
Zhang Ruochen returned to his stone chamber for seclusion, planning to continue cultivating the Formless and Featureless Thirty-Six Transformations alone.
Suddenly, he stopped. The words Huang Yanchen had said came to mind.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Ruochen finally stood up, left the stone chamber, and walked through the beautiful moonlight toward Huang Yanchen's room.