Chapter 16: Sword Pavilion - Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

### Chapter 16: Sword Pavilion **Dustless Sword**: Forged from wind-eroded steel, inscribed with twelve magical arrays, light and swift. Produced in Gluttonous City, priced at three hundred sword coins. **Mountain Breaking Sword**: Crafted from earth mother steel, inscribed with fourteen magical arrays, solid and resilient. By renowned swordsmith Xuanchengzi, priced at five hundred sword coins. **Mystic Yin Sword**: Forged from millennium cold iron, inscribed with thirty-six magical arrays, cold and sharp. Origin unknown, priced at eight hundred sword coins. ... It felt as if an autumn breeze swept through, chilling one's heart like fallen leaves in the wind. Chu Liang stood before the counter of the Sword Pavilion, lost in thought. He had never visited the Sword Pavilion before. It was only after witnessing Fang Ting's Thunder Sword that he entertained the idea of buying one for himself. He thought he had stumbled upon a small fortune, only to realize, in comparison to the prices of these treasured swords, how insignificant it was. Upon seeing these prices, he suddenly felt... The standard flying sword bracelet from Mount Shu seems quite sufficient. It would last for several years. Typically, a disciple at the Divine Intention level who undertakes missions frequently might struggle to earn even a hundred sword coins monthly, considering the expenses on other magical tools, elixirs, talismans, and powers... How long would it take to afford even one sword? Just as he was about to leave, a steward disciple at the counter noticed him and warmly approached. This was a tall female disciple, her face beaming with a smile as she grabbed Chu Liang's hand, "Junior brother, are you looking to buy a flying sword of your own?" "Yes." Chu Liang nodded. "Which one caught your eye?" the steward asked. "I'm just browsing. I can't afford any." Chu Liang said calmly, unfazed. "Not necessarily! How about telling me your budget, and I can help advise you?" the steward suggested with a smile. "I only have fifty sword coins," Chu Liang replied. "But the cheapest one costs at least three hundred..." The steward's expression was indeed momentarily troubled, but she quickly brightened up. "That's not an issue. Haha, you came at the right time. The Sword Pavilion has just launched a new installment payment plan." "Installment payments?" Chu Liang blinked. Wow. Even Mount Shu has adopted this practice now? "You can make a down payment of fifty sword coins and pay the remaining amount in installments of ten sword coins per month, finishing in fifty months. Isn't that thoughtful?" the steward explained. A down payment of fifty sword coins and a balance of two hundred and fifty. Paying ten sword coins monthly over fifty months totals five hundred sword coins... Chu Liang quickly did the math in his head. Essentially, it's a four-year loan with doubled interest... Quite the hefty charge. "It does sound intriguing, but I'll pass for now," Chu Liang smiled. "I'll come back to check next time." Forget it, better to hunt more monsters; maybe a sword will drop. "Oh, don't let the price deter you. This is your first personalized flying sword, a significant milestone, so what's a little extra cost?" the steward disciple tried to persuade him. But Chu Liang had already turned away. His stance was firm. As he was about to leave, he was caught off guard by someone entering, nearly bumping into him. "Oh." The newcomer was a pretty girl in a light green silk dress, who, upon seeing Chu Liang, exclaimed happily, "Senior Brother Chu?" "Junior Sister Xu?" Seeing her, Chu Liang was a bit surprised. This wasn't just anyone; it was Xu Zi Qing, the little junior sister from Jade Sword Peak, with whom he had just completed a task. "Fancy meeting you here. Such a coincidence," Xu Zi Qing laughed, her eyes bright. "Indeed. Are you here to buy a flying sword too?" Chu Liang asked kindly. "Yes! I succeeded on my first mission, and my brother said he would reward me with a flying sword, so he let me choose one myself," Xu Zi Qing replied with a smile. Chu Liang thought to himself, the White Pagoda's rewards require hard work slaying monsters, yet her brother's reward comes so simply and directly. "That's wonderful," he said sincerely. "Hey, which sword did you buy, Brother Chu?" Xu Zi Qing asked. "I haven't bought one yet. The swords here are too expensive, and I don't have enough sword coins," Chu Liang answered truthfully. "Huh?" The girl tilted her head and suddenly said, "Which one do you like? I'll buy it for you." "How could I?" Chu Liang immediately refused, waving his hand. "Flying swords are too valuable; I can't accept such a gift." Wow. This girl is really generous. An ancient Shu sage did once say, "Women only slow my sword-drawing speed... but a wealthy lady could get me a better sword." The wisdom of the ancients. "No worries, we’re good friends, aren’t we?" the little rich girl said as she held his arm. "No, I can't accept something for nothing," Chu Liang firmly shook his head. Things like Qi-Gathering Pills, he could accept on occasion, but such an expensive flying sword was not something he could take for free. "Alright then..." Xu Zi Qing pouted slightly, seemingly a bit disappointed. "Take your time picking, Junior Sister Xu. I'll head back first," Chu Liang said his farewell. "You're still calling me Junior Sister Xu? You’ve said we're friends. You should call me Zi Qing like the others do," the girl replied. "Alright, Junior Sister Xu," Chu Liang agreed plainly. While they conversed, another figure descended the stairs. Seeing Xu Zi Qing, he greeted her immediately, "Sister Zi Qing!" Turning to see, it was a slender young disciple with high cheekbones and narrow eyes, wearing a scholar's robe but lacking any scholarly vibe. Behind him were two similarly dressed senior brothers, resembling a pair of sidekicks. Upon seeing this person, Xu Zi Qing's petite eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she reluctantly acknowledged, "Senior Brother Shang." Though her demeanor was cold, she couldn't match his enthusiasm. Senior Brother Shang quickly moved ahead to stand before Xu Zi Qing, grinning, "Encountering you here, what a coincidence!" "Yes, you're here for a flying sword too?" Xu Zi Qing replied, looking elsewhere. "Hey!" Senior Brother Shang puffed his chest, "Just the other day, while leading a team to eliminate the flower carp river monster, my dad said he'd reward me with a new flying sword, letting me pick one myself." "Not bad..." Xu Zi Qing nodded without expression, seemingly intending to leave. Senior Brother Shang hurriedly stopped her, asking cheerfully, "What sword did you buy?" "None yet, just browsing," Xu Zi Qing replied. "Really?" Senior Brother Shang clapped his hands. "Which one do you like? I'll buy it for you." "How could you?" Xu Zi Qing frowned deeply, shaking her head repeatedly. "Flying swords are too valuable; I can't let Senior Brother Shang spend on me." "It's nothing at all, we're... good friends, aren't we?" Senior Brother Shang chuckled slyly. "No! I can't accept it without reason," Xu Zi Qing replied emphatically. "Alright then..." Senior Brother Shang relented. "Well, Senior Brother Shang, if there's nothing else, we're leaving!" Xu Zi Qing, not purchasing a sword, promptly turned and left with Chu Liang. From behind, Senior Brother Shang continued to call out, "You're still calling me Senior Brother Shang? We’re such good friends, you should call me Brother Zi Liang!" "Got it, Senior Brother Shang!" Xu Zi Qing tossed the word over her shoulder as she walked away with Chu Liang... "Sigh..." Shang Zi Liang sighed heavily. "You tell me, isn't it unreasonable that a dashing and handsome young talent like me can't win over Sister Zi Qing?" "Unreasonable!" "Absolutely unreasonable!" The two sidekicks quickly gave their agreement. "Then why is that?" Shang Zi Liang gazed skyward. "Boss, do you think there's a possibility... that Sister Zi Qing already has someone she fancies? That would explain her cold attitude towards you," suggested Sidekick A. "Hmm?" Shang Zi Liang's brow furrowed. "Is that so?" "I find that guy beside her quite suspicious," said Sidekick B. "She definitely had a different look in her eyes when she saw him." "More than just a look, I caught a strange scent on them," Sidekick A mumbled, reluctant to elaborate. "Hmph..." Shang Zi Liang pondered, then instructed, "Find out who that guy is—his name, his affiliation. I must see what kind of person dares compete with me for Sister Zi Qing..."