I had no intention of entering the martial world.

Chapter 37 Sword Inquiry Pavilion

Her martial arts skills are unfathomable, her identity is shrouded in mystery, and... she also possesses sword energy.

It's neither Azure Nether Sword Qi nor Purple Lightning Sword Qi; it's something else entirely.

Older, more obscure.

"Young Master Lu seems quite curious about me?" Yuehua suddenly spoke, without turning her head.

"Yes." Lu Chenzhou readily admitted, "I was wondering what the Pavilion Master's status is in the Jiangling Prince's Mansion."

Yuehua smiled:

"I am the cousin of the Prince of Jiangling, and also a guest retainer of the Prince's residence. Is this answer satisfactory, Young Master Lu?"

"I'm not satisfied," Lu Chenzhou said, "because you're lying."

Yuehua stopped and turned to look at him:

"Oh? How so?"

"Your eyes." Lu Chenzhou looked directly into her eyes. "When you said the word 'cousin,' your eyes flickered. That wasn't a memory, it was... a disguise."

The smile on Yuehua's face disappeared.

She stared at Lu Chenzhou for a long time, and finally sighed:

"Young Master Lu is indeed extraordinary. Alright, I admit it, I am not the Prince of Jiangling's cousin. I am merely using the Prince's residence to handle some private matters."

"What personal matter?"

"I can't tell you that." Yuehua turned and continued walking. "Everyone has secrets, don't they?"

Lu Chenzhou did not ask any further questions.

Because he knew that pressing for answers would be useless.

---

The interior of the Sword Inquiry Pavilion is even more luxurious than the exterior.

The floor was paved with white jade, so shiny it reflected light. The walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings by renowned artists, and antique jade artifacts sat on the tables; even the candlesticks were made of pure gold. A faint sandalwood scent permeated the air, mingling with the aroma of books and the aura of swordsmanship, creating a unique atmosphere.

Yuehua led the two up to the third floor and into a quiet room.

The quiet room was large, with bookshelves on all four sides, filled with ancient books. In the center was a rosewood wooden table, on which sat a tea set and a pot of orchids, in full bloom.

"Sit down." Yuehua sat down at the table and began to brew tea.

Chu Xueya and Lu Chenzhou sat down on the chairs opposite each other.

"What brings Miss Chu here?" Yuehua asked as she washed the tea set.

"I want to know two things," Chu Xueya said. "First, the whereabouts of the White Rainbow Sword. Second, the truth behind the Heavenly Gate seal a hundred years ago."

Yuehua paused in her movements.

She looked up at Chu Xueya, then at Lu Chenzhou, and suddenly smiled:

"It seems you two already know quite a bit. The Azure Nether Sword, the Purple Lightning Sword, and now you're looking for the White Rainbow Sword... You want to gather all three swords together?"

"Yes," Chu Xueya readily admitted, "but not to open the Heavenly Gate, but to save people."

"Save whom?" Yuehua looked at Lu Chenzhou. "Save him?"

"Yes." Chu Xueya nodded. "The Azure Nether Sword Qi within Young Master Lu's body has awakened and is eroding his mind. Only by gathering the three swords together and resealing the sword spirit using the Three Talents Formation can he be saved."

Yuehua was silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"Miss Chu, do you know what it means for the three swords to come together?"

"I know," Chu Xueya said. "The Heavenly Gate will open."

"Then why..."

"The Heavenly Gate can be opened and then closed again," Chu Xueya interrupted her, "but once a person dies, they can never come back."

Yuehua stared at her for a very long time.

Finally, she sighed:

"Miss Chu, you are too naive. Once the Heavenly Gate is opened, it cannot be closed. A hundred years ago, the three sword masters risked their lives to seal it, and the price they paid was far beyond your imagination. If it is opened now, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"But……"

"No buts." Yuehua's tone turned stern. "Miss Chu, you are the hope of the Emei Sect and the beloved disciple of Master Qingwei. You shouldn't disregard the fate of the world for the sake of a man."

Chu Xueya's face paled, but her eyes remained resolute:

"Master, you misunderstand. I saved Young Master Lu not only for personal reasons, but also for the greater good."

"Oh?"

"The Azure Sword has already appeared in the world, and all the forces—the Immortal Seeking Society, the Shadow Hall, the Imperial Court—are searching for it," Chu Xueya said. "Even if we don't look for the White Rainbow Sword, others will. Rather than letting the three swords fall into the hands of evil people, we should find them first and seize the initiative."

Yuehua's eyes changed.

She re-examined Chu Xueya as if she were meeting him for the first time.

"Go on."

"If we find the White Rainbow Sword, and all three swords are in our hands, we can decide whether the Heavenly Gate opens, when it opens, and how it opens," Chu Xueya said. "But if the three swords fall into the hands of the Immortal Seeking Society, they will immediately open the Heavenly Gate, and then the world will be in chaos, and all living beings will suffer."

She paused, then her voice became even more resolute:

"Therefore, the search for the White Rainbow Sword is not for personal reasons, but for the sake of all living beings."

The quiet room was completely silent.

The only sounds were the bubbling of boiling tea and the faint sound of wind outside the window.

Yuehua looked at Chu Xueya for a very long time.

Then she smiled.

The smile was complex, containing admiration, regret, and a hint of... emotions that Lu Chenzhou couldn't understand.

"Miss Chu, you have more courage than your master," Yuehua said. "But have you considered that even if you find the Three Swords, can you protect them? The Immortal Seeking Society, the Shadow Hall, the Imperial Court... any one of these forces could easily wipe you out."

"That's why we've come to you," Chu Xueya said. "The Sword Inquiry Pavilion is the foremost intelligence organization in the martial world, and also the most neutral force. We want to cooperate with you."

"Cooperation?" Yuehua raised an eyebrow. "How would we cooperate?"

"We'll find the swords, and you'll provide intelligence and protection," Chu Xueya said. "After it's done, the three swords can be handed over to the Sword Inquiry Pavilion for safekeeping—I believe that with the strength of the Sword Inquiry Pavilion, they can protect these three swords."

Yuehua fell silent.

She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and looked deep into her eyes, as if she were contemplating some important decision.

Lu Chenzhou remained silent, simply listening quietly.

He never expected Chu Xueya to say such a thing.

It wasn't for personal reasons, but for the sake of all living beings.

This girl... is more mature and responsible than he imagined.

Perhaps Master Qingwei is right; she truly is the hope of the Emei Sect.

"Miss Chu," Yuehua finally spoke, "your proposal is very tempting. But I have three questions. If you can answer them, I will consider cooperating."

"Speaking."

"First, what makes you believe that I will keep my promise and not embezzle the three swords?"

Chu Xueya thought for a moment and said:

"Because you're not that kind of person. I've heard of your reputation in the martial world—Yuehua, the Master of the Sword Inquiry Pavilion, though mysterious, is a man of his word and never betrays his allies. Besides, if you really wanted to keep them for yourself, you could have killed us right now and taken the Azure Nether Sword and the Purple Lightning Sword. But you didn't."

Yuehua nodded and then asked:

"Secondly, even if I agree to cooperate, what makes you believe that the Sword Inquiry Pavilion can protect the Three Swords? The Immortal Seeking Society, the Shadow Hall, the Imperial Court... these forces are simply too powerful."

"Because the Sword Inquiry Pavilion is more than just the Sword Inquiry Pavilion." Chu Xueya looked directly into her eyes. "Pavilion Master, if I'm not mistaken, there's an even greater force behind the Sword Inquiry Pavilion, isn't there?"

Yuehua's eyes flickered.

Why do you say that?

"Intuition," Chu Xueya said. "An ordinary martial arts organization couldn't possibly possess such a vast intelligence network, nor could it remain neutral in this chaotic world. Unless... someone is behind it all."

Yuehua smiled:

"Miss Chu is indeed intelligent. Indeed, there is someone behind the Sword Inquiry Pavilion. But I cannot say for sure who it is right now."

"I understand," Chu Xueya nodded. "Everyone has their own secrets."

"Third," Yuehua looked at Lu Chenzhou, "Young Master Lu, what is your attitude? Miss Chu has done so much for you, what do you plan to do?"

Lu Chenzhou raised his head and looked at her:

"I will take my revenge. And if I'm still alive after I've taken my revenge, I will help her protect the Three Swords."

"It's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

Yuehua stared at him for a long time, then suddenly asked a very strange question:

"Young Master Lu, do you love Miss Chu?"

Lu Chenzhou was stunned.

Chu Xueya was also stunned, her face turning bright red instantly.

"Sect Master, you..." Chu Xueya wanted to say something, but Yuehua stopped her by raising her hand.

"I'm asking him," Yuehua said, looking at Lu Chenzhou, "Answer me, do you love her?"

Lu Chenzhou remained silent for a long time.

Then he said:

"I have no idea."

"have no idea?"

"I don't know what love is," Lu Chenzhou said frankly. "After my parents died, I forgot how to love. Now, with the sword energy eroding my emotions, they are fading more and more, and I can't distinguish them anymore."

He paused, then looked at Chu Xueya:

"But I know that if she dies, I will be very sad. If she is hurt, I will be very angry. If she needs me, I will be by her side."