C11 Guest Sword Crafting Master

The Lin Yu you're looking for isn't our Lin Yu!

In that moment, Hong Lin spoke with unwavering certainty.

"Why are you so sure?" Yao Wanli inquired, puzzled.

"Though it pains me to say it, our Lin Yu is an utter failure. He joined the Outer Sect of the Profound Heaven Sect three years ago and it took him all that time just to barely reach the third level of the Yellow Rank. Recently, he confessed to Mo Yunxi from the Inner Sect and was rejected right then and there. I heard he fainted for days before he came to. How could such a failure possibly be the sword-crafting prodigy Uncle Yao speaks of?" Hong Lin said, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I see... Then it truly can't be the same person," Yao Wanli said, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. "Is there another Lin Yu in the Outer Sect?"

"I doubt it... If there is, he's likely changed his name by now..." Hong Lin replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"That does make sense. So, if the Lin Yu who dueled with Xi isn't from the Outer Sect of the Profound Heaven Sect, where could he have come from? Was he just passing through?" Yao Wanli sighed. If that were the case, with the vastness of the world, the chances of crossing paths again were slim.

"Grandfather, don't worry. We're bound to encounter Lin Yu again..." Yao Xi offered words of comfort, though she too felt a hint of disappointment.

"Let's hope so... Little Hong, sorry to have troubled you. You go on with your business," Yao Wanli said, gesturing dismissively.

"Grandpa, we should head back..." Yao Xi began, intending to support her grandfather on their return. However, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure desperately weaving through the crowd and called out loudly, "Lin Yu..."

The figure halted abruptly, then pretended not to hear and slipped into the throng of people.

The elusive individual was indeed Lin Yu. He had whimsically decided to attend the class, but soon after, he spotted Yao Xi and her companion. Lin Yu was acutely aware of his past actions, having once disparaged the other's Sword Crafting Technique, earning their deep-seated animosity. Thinking Yao Xi had come seeking vengeance with backup, he assessed their relative strengths and chose to evade a direct confrontation. Yet, he was too late; before he could blend into the crowd, the sharp-eyed loli had spotted him and was quickly closing the distance.

"Why does fate always seem to deal me such a cruel hand?" Lin Yu muttered with a wry smile. With no time to hide, he reluctantly made his way out into the open. As a 'celebrity' of sorts, his presence in the Martial Training Field was like a magnet for gossip, prompting everyone to pause their activities and look on with interest.

"Chi Chi, isn't she adorable? Could it be Lin Yu is about to make another confession?"

"Seems likely. Look, she's even brought an elder with her. Poor Lin Yu, his luck doesn't look good. Amen."

"What a spectacle! That old man doesn't look like he's here to play nice. Imagine if he just took Lin Yu down, how thrilling that would be!"

Amidst the hushed whispers of the onlookers, Lin Yu could only offer a bitter smile. Their fascination with his misfortune was unsettling. Stepping forward as if resigned to his fate, he greeted, "Miss Yao, it's been a while..."

"A while? Didn't we just see each other yesterday?" Yao Xi replied with an innocent blink.

"Is that so? Haha..." Lin Yu chuckled awkwardly, momentarily at a loss for words.

"When I called you earlier, why didn't you respond?" Yao Xi inquired.

"Ah, with the crowd and all the noise, I must not have heard you. Did you need to see me about something, Miss Yao?" Lin Yu asked, his voice tinged with apprehension. He was puzzled, as Yao Xi's demeanor was strikingly different from the willful and relentless attitude she had displayed at their first meeting the day before. Today, her tone was gentle and sweet, which Lin Yu found surprisingly pleasant.

"Of course, there's a matter to discuss. This is my grandfather..." Yao Xi began.

"Senior..."

"Ah, so you're the young Lin Yu? Wonderful! I've been looking forward to meeting you. My name is Yao Wanli..." Before Lin Yu could get another word in, the man had taken over the conversation, introducing himself nonstop. Lin Yu was momentarily taken aback; this was not the behavior of someone looking for a quarrel.

"Senior... This isn't the best place to talk. Shall we find somewhere more private to continue our conversation?" Lin Yu suggested with a smile, aware of the curious glances from the crowd, which added to the oddity of the situation.

"In that case, let's head to my Myriad Mile Sword Crafting Pavilion. It's a tranquil place where we won't be disturbed," Yao Wanli proposed, quickly picking up on the uneasy vibe.

"No problem at all," Lin Yu agreed, unfazed by the prospect.

Why did everyone leave? Weren't we promised a spectacle? As Lin Yu was led away, a wave of disappointment washed over the onlookers.

The Myriad Mile Sword Crafting Pavilion's exclusive guest room, typically reserved for esteemed visitors from major sects, was rarely open to others. Yet today, Yao Wanli had not only opened it but also presented tea leaves he'd previously been too sparing to enjoy. His high regard for Lin Yu couldn't have been clearer.

The tea's aroma was enchanting, captivating the senses.

"Senior… is there something you wanted to ask me?" Lin Yu broke the silence.

"Little friend Lin… um…" Yao Wanli, the formidable Iron Blood Eagle, was uncharacteristically hesitant, almost like a bashful bride. This sight would shock anyone who heard of it, but it was indeed happening.

"Senior, are you inquiring about the Flame Profound Iron?" Lin Yu, cutting to the chase after noticing the elder's reticence, was no fool. The evidence pointed to this man being the head of the Myriad Mile Sword Crafting Pavilion. For such a renowned figure to seek him out, Lin Yu surmised it must relate to the sword he'd encountered the day before.

As expected, the old man nodded eagerly, like a pecking hen, "Yes, yes..." Yao Xi, listening intently, brightened at the conversation. But then Lin Yu asked, "Miss Yao, where is the sword?"

"It's mine..." Yao Xi blurted out, her fondness for the sword evident. As a fire-element cultivator, possessing such a blade could significantly amplify her combat prowess. Misinterpreting Lin Yu's intent, she instinctively shielded the sword, determined not to relinquish her prized possession.

"I'm aware it's yours; I merely need to borrow it for a moment..." Lin Yu said, a grin spreading across his face.

"You promise... you're not going to trick me..."

"Of course, I promise..."

With a smile, Lin Yu accepted the sword. Drawing it from its sheath, the ancient sword body appeared deceptively simple. Yet, as Lin Yu channeled spiritual energy into the blade, it thrummed with life, radiating an intense heat. With precise manipulation of his energy, Lin Yu revealed a compact array to the onlookers.

"This array concealed within the sword contains a fire-element sword skill—Flame Slash. The Sword Master can activate it by infusing their spiritual energy..." Lin Yu explained, fully unveiling the array to the two before him.

Yao Wanli and Yao Xi were lost in contemplation, their gazes fixed unblinkingly on the array before them. They had previously probed it with their divine sense, yet now it was clear their understanding was but a drop in the ocean. The shimmering patterns of the array were intricately linked, refined to the utmost degree.

Yao Xi's eyes soon grew dry and she could no longer bear to look; the array's complexity was beyond her grasp. She understood less than a tenth of it. Her respect for Lin Yu deepened—what precision and subtlety must be required to control spiritual energy and maintain such intense focus?

Yao Wanli's eyes were filled with a fervent admiration, as though he were beholding a rare work of art. He occasionally uttered soft exclamations of awe. After an hour, even Yao Wanli had to relent, rubbing his eyes and letting out a long, impressed sigh. "This is divine craftsmanship... Little friend Lin, it truly is! I've grasped less than half of it. The intricacy of the design is breathtaking; it's like pulling at a single thread and affecting the whole tapestry. I've dedicated decades to sword crafting, thinking I had achieved some level of mastery, but today I've realized I've merely been scratching the surface."

"Senior, there's no need for such modesty..." Lin Yu replied with a smile.

"May I ask who your master is? To possess such skill..." inquired Yao Wanli.

"Master?" Lin Yu paused, a trace of sorrow crossing his face as he was reminded once again that he was in an entirely new world.

"Lin Yu... what's troubling you?" Yao Xi asked, feeling an unexpected twinge of heartache upon seeing his momentary sadness.

"Oh, my apologies, I was just a bit distracted. My master passed away quite some time ago," Lin Yu explained softly.

"That's truly unfortunate. We've lost the chance to witness the unique grace of such an esteemed figure," Yao Wanli expressed with regret. After a thoughtful pause, he proposed, "Little Friend Lin, with your exceptional Sword Crafting Technique, how about you join us as a guest Sword Crafting Master?"