Chapter Ninety-Six: The Famous Sword Manor

The second floor of the Happy Forest Inn remained stifling, yet the oppressive air was so taut it seemed ready to burst, for Jin Mailang’s words had made Zhang He and the others nearly unbearable to endure.

Zhang He furrowed his brow and asked, “Is the master of the manor determined to secure four-fifths?”

His tone was equally confrontational, as if unwilling to concede.

Zhong Shuman had witnessed many grand occasions before, but none more tense than this one, for at any moment, their opponent might leap up and send them back to the city with a single sword strike.

She had clearly seen Jin Mailang’s earlier chop with the chopsticks. If Jin Mailang decided to take matters into his own hands, she knew well that neither she nor Zhang He would be a match—they might already be lying on the ground.

Jin Mailang’s demeanor suddenly softened. In a calm tone, he said, “This isn’t a matter of whether I get it or not. Someone like you should understand that.”

Indeed, Zhang He understood. This was not about Jin Mailang wanting to seize the Xie Family Post for himself, but about the sect’s prestige and honor. Since the map dividing the territory into four-fifths had already been sent to the Hidden Sword Manor, it was tantamount to a command issued. If Jin Mailang retracted it now, his authority would be utterly lost. How would his disciples regard him? How would other martial artists see him?

Perhaps even Zhang He himself would look down on him.

Was such a man worth contending with? Worth Qi Shiqi’s concern?

Yet Zhang He did not give up. He faintly sensed a glimmer of hope and slowly produced from his bundle the once world-renowned “Wooden Bronze Sword.”

“This is Young Master Qi’s token of respect to the manor master. I hope you will accept it graciously. Should you and Young Master Qi unite once more, the glory of the three manors in Yuezhou will surely be restored. Moreover, the disciples of both manors will feel comforted in their hearts and gain greater confidence to dominate Yuezhou.”

His expression was sincere, his words concise and sharp, his confident tone making it impossible for anyone to refuse.

The Wooden Bronze Sword was taken by an attendant, and Jin Mailang stared at it for a long time without speaking. Yet Zhang He could not miss the subtle changes in his eyes, expression, and even the faintest twitch of his facial muscles.

First, a flicker of fevered passion flashed across his eyes, but it quickly calmed.

This sword bore too many memories. Almost anyone could wield it, but not everyone could wield it in a way that the whole world would know.

After a long gaze, Jin Mailang said to the attendant, “Go next door to the bank and invite the Fourth Miss to come here. Tell her to bring her most treasured possession.”

The attendant promptly left. In the time it took to finish a cup of tea, a flamboyantly dressed female player sashayed up the stairs. She was somewhat attractive, but her heavy makeup gave her a worldly, somewhat tawdry air.

She did not seem like a “miss,” but more like a “lady of leisure.”

The Fourth Miss looked coquettish, but upon seeing Jin Mailang, she promptly fell into line, standing obediently aside.

Jin Mailang glanced at her and said, “Give your most cherished item to this friend from Hidden Sword Manor.”

Without hesitation, the Fourth Miss took from her bundle a short rod. The rod’s length was barely longer than chopsticks, slender and sturdy with a polished sheen. It resembled a dagger, its handle adorned with a pink peach blossom.

It was like a finely crafted rolling pin.

Zhang He took it and examined it. The attributes were peculiarly rare.

Peach Blossom Rod (Rare Grade), Requirements: Level 65, Attack Power: 200, Attributes: Strength +30, Courage +15, Fortune +5.

Like the Wooden Bronze Sword, the rod’s attributes were oddly unique. Zhang He had never seen a weapon attribute that included Fortune before.

Fortune was the player’s luck value, influencing monster drop rates, experience bonuses, equipment requirements, various reputation gains, chances of triggering major quest events, and rewards upon quest completion. Fortune could not be gained through leveling alone. Thus, though the rod was unusual, it was clear its attributes were slightly better than the Wooden Bronze Sword’s, though only marginally so.

At that moment, Jin Mailang spoke astonishingly, “This was the personal weapon used by He Yuejun during his victory over the Wudang Sword Guards’ Two Rivers Fat Dragon in Jiangdu City.”

Though Zhang He’s face was expressionless, his heart was deeply shaken. He suddenly felt a newfound respect for Jin Mailang, whose stature far exceeded his expectations.

By having the Fourth Miss present this weapon, Jin Mailang had conveyed three clear messages.

First, that Qi Shiqi was strong, but Jin Mailang was certainly not inferior.

Second, Jin Mailang’s discernment was not only keen but also appreciative. Since you offered the Ghostly Shadow Sky Sword as a gesture, I return the favor with He Yuejun’s rod, symbolizing the shared lineage of the two families tied to the Divine Sword Manor. Outsiders best not interfere.

Third, and most crucially, the Peach Blossom Rod’s attributes were slightly better than the Wooden Bronze Sword’s. This meant Jin Mailang was unwilling to take advantage of Qi Shiqi, but that did not imply that the Divine Sword Manor would yield on the Xie Family Post issue. In fact, it reinforced the four-fifths territorial claim, meaning a conflict was inevitable, bound to erupt sooner or later.

If Zhang He persisted in attempting to negotiate peace on this matter, it would be not only tedious but laughable.

Zhang He said no more, for his heart had grown cold. This “negotiation” should end here.

Yet, as with all things, there was an unexpected turn. The Fourth Miss, who had been standing silently, suddenly said, “Brother Jin, the silver notes have been retrieved, and Steward Yan has returned from the capital. Is there anything else you need to purchase?”

Jin Mailang neither replied nor looked at her, but Zhang He noticed a fleeting glint of pride in his eyes—a genuine satisfaction and ease.

Though brief, Zhang He keenly caught it.

Jin Mailang mused, “Tomorrow is the wedding day of the third young lady of Divine Sword Manor. You two have come a long way as guests. Stay and share the celebration drinks; it would be a courtesy to me, Jin.”

The unspoken meaning was clear: “If I were to chase you out now like fat mantises, how would the guests at tomorrow’s wedding view Divine Sword Manor?”

Zhang He rose and cupped his hands, “Thank you, master of the manor, for your kindness.”

Only then did Jin Mailang turn to the Fourth Miss, “Show these two guests to the manor for rest and proper hospitality. They are my honored guests.”

The Fourth Miss smiled brightly, “Very well, I’ll make sure everything is arranged properly.”

Thus, Zhang He and Zhong Shuman followed behind her, their spirits weighed down.

The Divine Sword Manor was entirely different from the Hidden Sword Manor, just as Jin Mailang and Qi Shiqi were two men of distinct styles.

Divine Sword Manor was built on a broad plain. It resembled more a grand estate than a manor, nestled amid a riot of pear and peach blossoms. To either side, verdant hills rolled on, with a babbling stream at the entrance, evoking the image of a celestial paradise, a hidden utopia.

Arriving at Hidden Sword Manor, one felt desolation and solemn antiquity; here, one found birdsong, floral fragrance, and the warmth of spring.

A broad red carpet stretched from the gate to the riverbank, as if welcoming the guests who had come to celebrate. The garden walls were festooned with red “double happiness” characters, radiating joyous festivity. The couplets on the gateposts inspired an indescribable pleasure:

“Blossoms bloom in hues of purple and red, clouds embrace the rosy glow;
Green waters and blue mountains lie far from the dust of the world,
Soft as water, the tender petals pink as cast wax,
Deep in the peach grove, accompany your beloved fair!”

So poetic, so tender and sweet, even Zhong Shuman was deeply enchanted. If the game “Dynasty” fulfilled countless male players’ dreams of wandering the martial world sword in hand, then innumerable female players awaited this pastoral, immortal couple’s dreamlike romance.

Only Zhang He remained troubled.

He now understood that Jin Mailang’s invitation to witness tomorrow’s wedding carried deeper meaning.

At the gate, many came and went: NPC servants busily moving things, players arranging decorations, guests arriving from afar to offer congratulations.

The Fourth Miss acted as hostess at the entrance:

“Boss Tie, please come in, please come in.”

“Ah, Protector Bai has arrived too, welcome, welcome. Third Miss, quickly brew tea for our two esteemed guests.”

“Oh, Brother Fei graces us with his presence, so polite! The gift is far too precious, far too precious.”

“The mighty hero Niu Chun of Yangzhou City has arrived—”

...

The Fourth Miss greeted an endless stream of guests, many of whom were unknown faces, yet among them Zhang He recognized some distinguished figures by their sect emblems: the third-turn sect master of Kongtong Sect, the ninth elder of the third turn of the Beggar’s Sect, the second-turn sword guard of Wudang...

Most astonishing to Zhang He was a fourth-turn Shaolin ascetic player among the guests.

Shaolin disciples were the easiest to identify in “Dynasty,” for aside from first-turn lay disciples, all others wore monastic robes, and senior monks draped in kasaya robes—a clever rule of the AI system. Buddhist disciples needed to look the part; otherwise, how could one chant “Buddha’s mercy” while indulging in worldly pleasures, enjoying feasts and favors? That would violate the strict Buddhist code. Moreover, they learned peerless martial arts and earned substantial system rewards—no one in the world could get such benefits without merit.

Zhang He and Zhong Shuman had clearly underestimated Jin Mailang’s standing; he had even invited a Shaolin monk. The depth and reputation of Divine Sword Manor were thus manifest.

In contrast, at Hidden Sword Manor, when player residents were killed, even minor sect players found excuses to slip away. Zhong Shuman now grasped Jin Mailang’s sinister intent: this was no genuine hospitality from the Fourth Miss, but a show of force. By allowing Zhang He and his companion to witness the manor’s splendor, they would carry the tale back to Qi Shiqi, increasing his psychological pressure until he capitulated without a fight. That was the true mastery!

No matter how exquisite one’s swordsmanship, it was merely a martial skill. But the supreme strategy was to win the mind—a principle of military tactics. Martial arts could defeat hundreds; strategy could conquer thousands. How could the two be compared?

The battle between the two manors had yet to truly begin, but the first encounter was over. Clearly, Zhang He, representing Hidden Sword Manor, had fallen behind. He now fully understood Qi Shiqi’s feelings of gloom—the jealousy, anger, helplessness, and sorrow that no words could adequately express.

Thus, all Zhang He could do now was wait and endure, standing at the gate, trailing behind the Fourth Miss.

He trusted that the tide would turn.

A brief note: In the game, the system does not reveal the killer’s name when a player is slain unless the killer voluntarily reveals themselves. Similarly, right of self-defense does not expose names. To learn an opponent’s name, one must participate in system quests, trade, voluntarily show it, or use team or sect channels or name cards. Therefore, please do not fault Hidden Sword Manor for the deaths of eight disciples as a bug; the game’s design has not yet been fully disclosed. Further explanations will be provided later. Your understanding is appreciated.