Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan
"Master, that Meng Fan is a lowly fellow; he doesn't even have the qualifications to offend Senior Disciple Qian. Why would Senior Disciple Qian pay any attention to him?" Yang Fei asked with a hint of curiosity.
Steward Wang chuckled, "Because of Li Xuerou, the Chosen Beauty!"
Li Xuerou?
A look of surprise flashed across Yang Fei's face.
This young lady always ranked first in every assessment. Not only did she advance from a Menial Disciple to an Outer Sect Disciple early on, but she also rose to become an Inner Sect Disciple.
There were even rumors that Li Xuerou might be promoted to a Core Disciple!
Could such a Chosen Beauty have something to do with Meng Fan?
Steward Wang continued, "Qian Lechi has liked Li Xuerou for so long, yet she has never given him the time of day. Do you know why?"
Yang Fei frowned, asking with some suspicion, "Does it have something to do with this Meng Fan?"
"Exactly. Li Xuerou and Meng Fan grew up together as childhood sweethearts. When Qian Lechi found out that Li Xuerou's affections were for Meng Fan, that's why he wanted to make a move against him."
Yang Fei said in disbelief, "Impossible, how could Li Xuerou like a waste like Meng Fan?"
Steward Wang shook his head, "Li Xuerou and Meng Fan's village was massacred by the Skyhawk Demon Sect, and only the two of them survived."
"Before they joined the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, they had always relied on each other, naturally forming a deep bond."
"If Qian Lechi wants to win over Li Xuerou, he must remove the stumbling block that is Meng Fan!"
***
Meanwhile, Meng Fan, holding the token of a Guarding Sword Disciple, arrived at the Sword Pavilion.
As he entered, he saw an old man in tattered clothes sitting on a small stool at the entrance.
Meng Fan immediately felt a sense of respect.
In novels and stories, such a figure in such attire was invariably a master among masters!
The old man glanced at Meng Fan and said emotionlessly, "Kid, you're in the wrong place. This isn't where you belong."
Meng Fan quickly presented his Guarding Sword Disciple token with all due respect.
"Senior, I am a new Guarding Sword Disciple of the Sword Pavilion."
The old man took the token, glanced at it, then tossed it back to Meng Fan, sneering, "Who have you offended to be sent here as a Guarding Sword Disciple?"
"Ah?" Meng Fan was somewhat helpless.
He guessed that Steward Wang wouldn't be so kind as to arrange a cushy job for him.
"What do you mean by that?" he quickly asked.
The old man shook his head and sighed.
"It doesn't matter what I mean. Since you've accepted the token, you are now a Guarding Sword Disciple of the Sword Pavilion.
Even if you regret it now, it's too late. Backing out would be treated as treason against the Clan, punishable by death!
Since you're here, settle in and perform your duty well.
Oh, and don't call me Senior; it's annoying. Just call me Senior Disciple Luo from now on."
Senior Brother? Meng Fan looked at the man's white hair and aged appearance, slightly confused.
Still, he nodded and obediently said, "Alright, Senior Disciple Luo."
Senior Disciple Luo gave Meng Fan a chilling smile and stood up from the stool.
"Come with me!"
The old man gestured to Meng Fan and then led him through the hall doors.
Beyond the doors lay a vast hall.
Inside the hall were rows of wooden racks, each lined with rows of long swords.
At a glance, there were at least thousands of swords.
Some swords looked plain and unadorned, while others emitted an intimidating presence.
Just a fleeting look was enough to send a chill through Meng Fan's heart.
It was as if streams of Sword Qi were about to burst forth from the swords, aiming straight at him.
The most terrifying was a sword in the corner, brimming with Malevolent Aura, which suddenly unleashed a pitch-black Sword Radiance towards Meng Fan.
The Sword Radiance moved with incredible speed, like a bolt of lightning.
In just an instant, it was before Meng Fan.
But when it was less than a foot away from Meng Fan, the Sword Radiance abruptly dissipated.
"Your mindset is not bad; you didn't collapse in fear, which is pretty good!" Senior Disciple Luo looked at Meng Fan with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Senior Disciple Luo, what was that just now?" Meng Fan asked, still a bit shaken.
"That was Crimson Moon challenging you!" Senior Disciple Luo explained, "Crimson Moon is the most Evil Natured sword on this level of the Sword Pavilion. Anyone who steps into the Sword Pavilion will be challenged by it.
That Sword Radiance was purely a challenge and intimidation, not a real attack.
If it had really struck you, you'd be a corpse by now!"
Meng Fan's heartbeat quickened slightly, feeling nervous.
The swords in this Sword Pavilion were more terrifying than people?
Listening to Senior Disciple Luo's introduction, it seemed as if the swords were alive!
This was indeed a world of cultivation, where all sorts of strange things existed.
"From now on, the first floor of this Sword Pavilion is under your care."
"Your task is to wipe down these swords every day."
"Of course, you're not expected to finish in one day; cleaning them all within a year is fine."
"That comes down to about twenty swords a day, which isn't too much!"
Hearing Senior Disciple Luo's words, Meng Fan nodded.
It wasn't much!
But his instincts told him that things weren't that simple.
After all, many of these swords looked quite sinister.
"What about the other floors?" Meng Fan asked Senior Disciple Luo.
The Sword Pavilion had five levels.
Senior Disciple Luo had only mentioned the first level.
"You don't need to worry about the other levels. If you don't want to die, don't be curious," Senior Disciple Luo said with a stern face.
It seemed the other levels were very dangerous!
Meng Fan made up his mind not to step onto the second level of the Sword Pavilion, let alone the third.
To be honest, Meng Fan was already regretting his decision.
From his brief interaction with Senior Disciple Luo, he felt that the job of a Guardian of the Sword was more dangerous than it seemed.
That Steward Wang was indeed setting him up!
Senior Disciple Luo laughed, "Scared? It's useless to be scared. As the saying goes, make the best of your situation. Besides, Guarding Sword Disciples of the Sword Pavilion receive a monthly stipend of one low-grade Spirit Stone.
That's the treatment for an Outer Sect Disciple. I see your Cultivation Level is almost zero; you must be a Menial Disciple, right?
Do well, and although being a Guarding Sword Disciple is dangerous, fortune favors the bold!
If you can survive a year of duties as a Guarding Sword Disciple, you can become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.
If you can last ten years, you'll be a Steward.
Last thirty years, and you become an Elder!
And if you can last a hundred years, well…
Heh, that would be a dream!"
Is it really that mystical?
The treatment for a Guarding Sword Disciple of the Sword Pavilion is so high?
But the greater the opportunity, the greater the risk often is!
Meng Fan instinctively asked, "Senior Disciple Luo, how long have you been here?"
"Two years!"
Senior Disciple Luo gave a time that greatly surprised Meng Fan.
He thought that Senior Disciple Luo must have been in the Sword Pavilion for at least a decade.
After all, he looked the part!
Senior Disciple Luo chuckled at Meng Fan, "Kid, do you know why I don't let you call me Senior?"
"Why?" Meng Fan followed up.
"Because I'm only a few years older than you!"