The Legendary Journey in My Heart

After parting ways with Lu Xi, I embarked on my journey back to Grandfather Pan's house alone. My delay in the Orc Cave had set me back by a full day, making me anxious about Xiao Han's condition. I double-checked the detoxifying ingredients in my Qiankun Bag. After ensuring everything was in order, I quickened my pace.

By nightfall, I stopped beside a massive boulder and built a campfire. Taking some dry rations and the remaining venison from my Qiankun Bag, I sat down to eat. As I reminisced about the past ten days, everything felt like a dream. From the Nine-Life Cat Demon to the Orc Clan, then the enormous spiders, bloodthirsty bats, skeletal monsters, and the chilling Blood-Red Skeleton—everything seemed manipulated by a mysterious force, as if some dark power was awakening to consume this land. Could this be a sign of the demonic race's return to the Tianyuan Continent? What other horrors lay ahead?

Thinking about this, my muscles and bones ached faintly once more.

"Sigh… No matter what, I have to master this damned sword technique. Otherwise, if the demonic race truly returns, I won't even have the ability to protect myself and my loved ones." I sighed and pulled out Attack and Slay Swordsmanship. Though I had read through it countless times, I still couldn't grasp its mysteries—especially the sections on sword energy and heavy strikes. Whether in practice or actual combat, I just couldn't sense them.

"I wonder if Zhang Yi has arrived at Ginkgo Valley and begun learning magic. How's Da Xiong's recovery? When will I see Lu Xi again after this departure? Besides the cat demon, does Border Village face other threats? How are my parents doing?"

As my thoughts spiraled, I gradually drifted off to sleep.

By the time I woke, daylight had already broken.

It had taken us more than two days to reach our destination, yet my return journey was noticeably quicker. In less than two days, Grandfather Pan's house appeared before my eyes. Despite feeling mentally and physically exhausted, my stamina had undeniably improved.

Stepping into the courtyard, I noticed Grandfather Pan was absent. Instead, the yard was piled with wood, charcoal, and various minerals—some black iron ore, others yellow copper ore.

"Grandfather Pan, I'm back!" I called as I walked into the house, only to find it empty.

"Strange, Grandfather Pan isn't here. And with Xiao Han poisoned, she wouldn't have wandered off either."

I suddenly recalled the doubts Lu Xi had raised back in the Skeletal Cave—was there something suspicious about Grandfather Pan?

"What is that old man up to?" A surge of frustration rose in me. I hated being played with. Squatting down in the yard, I was overwhelmed by swirling thoughts. Where had Grandfather Pan gone? Why had he deceived me? Who was he, truly? What was his purpose? The more I thought about it, the more irritated and restless I became.

"Ah Zheng, you're back?"

Grandfather Pan's voice suddenly came from the courtyard gate.

"Where have you been? What about Xiao Han?" I asked, my tone unfriendly.

Grandfather Pan flinched at my attitude but soon chuckled as he walked up to me.

"Oh, I went out on some errands. Xiao Han—I've sent her to her aunt's place. As for this…" He glanced at the cluttered courtyard, hesitated for a moment, then fell silent.

His response seemed calm, yet there was an unmistakable hint of something unsaid. Had I misunderstood him?

"Xiao Han has an aunt? Why haven't you mentioned her before? And what's with all this stuff in the courtyard?" I pressed further.

With a sigh, Grandfather Pan slowly recounted the past few days' events.

As it turned out, shortly after we had left, the HuYong Chieftain of the Greatwood Forest's Orc Clan had come to Grandfather Pan's house—first to apologize for kidnapping Xiao Han, and second, to request that he forge a batch of weapons for them. Although Grandfather Pan had previously traded with them in small amounts, it was always for hunting tools. This time, however, the Orcs demanded a massive quantity, and all of them were weapons—swords, axes, and the like. Suspicious of their intent, Grandfather Pan outright refused the deal.

Yet, in the following days, the Orcs continued to transport large amounts of black iron ore and yellow copper ore into the courtyard—materials essential for forging weapons. Grandfather Pan tried to stop them, but they ignored him entirely, persistently unloading the supplies. Concerned for Xiao Han's safety, he decided to send her to Baiqi City, where her aunt lived.

Xiao Han's aunt—Grandfather Pan's daughter—owned a Protective Gear Workshop in Baiqi City. She was financially stable, had never married, and adored Xiao Han dearly.

"I see." I roughly grasped the situation, though doubts about the Orcs' intentions remained. For now, my primary concern was whether Xiao Han's poison had been cured.

"How is Xiao Han's condition?" I asked.

"Still the same," Grandfather Pan replied. Then, noticing I had returned alone, his expression shifted. "Huh? Where's Lu Xi? Why are you back by yourself? What happened?"

I recounted our entire experience in the Natural Cave, sparing no details.

Grandfather Pan showed little reaction when I mentioned the Daoist Sanctuary, the bloodthirsty bats, the Cave Grubs, or the scorpions. He merely frowned slightly. But when I described the Blood-Red Skeleton and the ritual inside the stone coffin, his face turned grim, as if he were facing a dire threat.

"What's wrong?" I asked urgently. "Grandfather Pan, do you know what that Blood-Red Skeleton is?"

Grandfather Pan remained silent for a moment before merely shaking his head without answering.

"The sky's dark now. I'll cook something to eat. You've been through a lot these past days." He stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Though filled with questions, I had no choice but to hold them back.

After enduring days of sleeping in the wild, I could finally enjoy a proper meal. Though Grandfather Pan's cooking skills were average, I ate heartily. Afterward, exhaustion overtook me, and I soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, when I awoke, I found Grandfather Pan meditating in the courtyard.

"Meditating?" I was surprised. I hadn't expected him to practice such things.

I walked over, and upon seeing me, Grandfather Pan smiled and stood up.

"Ah Zheng, have you noticed any changes in nature's energy over the past few days?" he asked.

"Energy?" I took a deep breath, trying to sense something unusual, but felt nothing out of the ordinary.

"Hehe." Grandfather Pan chuckled warmly, patting my shoulder. "It's alright. It's normal that you can't feel it yet."

Then, he pinched my shoulder and arms, nodding in approval. "Not bad, not bad. In just a few days, you've made noticeable progress."

"What exactly is going on, Grandfather Pan?" I asked, puzzled.

"Sigh." Grandfather Pan let out a heavy sigh. "Perhaps… the demonic race truly is returning. It is said that when the demonic race descends, the world's spiritual energy surges. As the two forces intertwine, demonic creatures grow stronger. However, humans also benefit, as the abundant spiritual energy makes it easier to cultivate body techniques, Taoist arts, or magic. Look at you—you've barely fought a few battles, yet your physique has improved significantly."

"The demonic race? What's really going on?" I asked.

"I don't know the details myself," Grandfather Pan shook his head. "By the way, how's your swordsmanship coming along? Let me see."

Standing before a wooden training dummy, I wielded the short sword Grandfather Pan had given me and executed the Five Consecutive Slashes from my basic sword techniques. To my surprise, I actually left four or five deep sword marks on the dummy. Before my journey, I hadn't even been able to make a single scratch.

"Not bad!" Grandfather Pan said with a satisfied smile.

"But I still can't grasp the essence of Attack and Kill Sword Technique," I said in frustration.

Grandfather Pan chuckled. "It's just not the right time yet. Don't rush it—take your time. Once your body is strong enough to carve deeper marks on the wooden dummy with Five Consecutive Slashes, you'll naturally understand it."

"How do I make myself stronger?" I asked.

"Training. Real combat!" Grandfather Pan's tone suddenly turned firm. "You need constant combat experience to build up your strength. Remember, sword techniques are merely skills, and the sword is just a tool. What truly matters is the person—the strength of your body and mind. Only when you are strong enough will swordsmanship truly be yours to wield."

I nodded half-understandingly, then teased, "So, Grandfather Pan, according to you, weapons aren't that important? A wooden sword should be enough? Doesn't that mean no one would want the weapons you forge?"

"Haha, you little rascal," Grandfather Pan laughed. "You're both right and wrong. A true warrior can use anything as a weapon—even a simple twig or a blade of grass. However, if they wield a powerful weapon, their strength will reach an even greater level. Speaking of which—swords, sabers, axes, staffs—which do you think is best?"

"I've never really thought about it," I scratched my head. "Personally, I prefer sabers. Swords feel too light—not manly enough. Axes seem too reckless. As for staffs, do those even count as weapons? But since I've been learning swordsmanship, I don't really know how to choose."

"Haha," Grandfather Pan smiled helplessly. "In truth, weapons are external forces—you can use whatever suits you. The sword techniques you've learned are just one way of wielding a weapon; at the same time, they also refine your own abilities. Whether you use a saber or an axe, it won't stop you from applying those sword techniques. As for staffs—or rather, staves—you may encounter them in the future."

His knowledge made me wonder—was he really just a blacksmith? How could a mere blacksmith understand so much about swordsmanship?

"I'll go prepare some breakfast first. After eating, we'll each go our own way," he said, just as I was about to ask more questions.

"Go our own way?" I was confused.

"Yes, we'll talk after breakfast," Grandfather Pan replied without turning back.

After breakfast, Grandfather Pan asked me to bring him the Bat Guano and other materials I had gathered. Once he confirmed everything was in order, he handed me a letter along with the materials, instructing me to deliver them to Xiao Han's aunt in Baiqi City. She would know how to neutralize the poison upon reading the letter, and she would also take care of me. However, Grandfather Pan still hoped that I would venture out on my own to grow stronger.

At the same time, Grandfather Pan packed a bundle of his own. He didn't say where he was going—only that he was visiting an old friend and would probably be gone for a few months. When he returned, many things would become clear.

I asked him about all the wood and ore piled up in the yard. He told me not to worry—some Orcs would come to collect them in a couple of days.

Before parting, Grandfather Pan handed me a short, earth-toned saber. The blade had a slight curve at the tip, with a thick spine, making it feel heavy in my grip. Swinging it required considerable effort. He told me this saber was called the Pioneer's Blade—a weapon that symbolized carving paths through the wilderness. However, with my current strength, I wasn't yet capable of wielding it effectively. I would need to become even stronger before I could truly use it.

The journey from Grandfather Pan's home to Baiqi City would take about a day and a half. Knowing that I'd have to camp out at night, I grabbed a piece of tattered cloth from the yard and picked two sturdy branches from the Orcs' woodpile to use as tent poles, stuffing them into my Qiankun Bag. It was fine during the summer, but if I encountered rain or cold weather, things could get rough. It seemed like I should find a proper tent in the future.

The journey was smooth, and along the way, I even managed to catch a deer while passing through the forest. I wondered if I could sell its meat in Baiqi City to earn some money for food.

By the morning of the second day, I finally reached the moat surrounding Baiqi City.

This was my first time seeing the city. The first thing that struck me was the towering walls and grand city gates. The walls, constructed from massive stone blocks, stood seven to eight meters high, exuding an unshakable sense of security. The city gate itself was ten meters wide, bustling with people—some pushing wheelbarrows, others guiding horse-drawn carts, riding on horseback, or simply walking. Men, women, and children filled the entrance, coming and going in an endless stream.

Standing at the gate were armored soldiers gripping large sabers. The moat, about ten meters wide, had a wooden bridge extending across it, suspended by chains from the city gate. Pedestrians continuously crossed over, entering and exiting the city.

As I stepped into Baiqi City, an inexplicable feeling stirred within me.

Perhaps this was where my journey would truly begin.