"My name is Zuo Qiu," Sun Tong murmured, then smiled brightly. "Fellow Daoist’s name is very similar to that of a Daoist prodigy among the Hundred Clans, differing by only one character."
Zuo Mingqiu smiled faintly and said nothing.
"There is a young genius in the Great Xia Kingdom who wields a sacred relic, and his name is also very similar to this young man's," Si Ling'er said, twisting her body and leaning towards Xu Mu, her perfume filling his nostrils.
"Cough, cough, cough, so pungent..." Xu Mu stumbled back two steps in pain.
In his life, the most unbearable thing for him was the scent of women's makeup. Some light, elegant ones were fine, but the strong makeup of Su Ling'er only made him feel suffocated.
"Ling'er, don't be rude. You've startled young brother Mu Xu," Sun Tong stepped forward, pulling Su Ling'er back slightly. Then, he grinned at Xu Mu.
He thought Xu Mu was recoiling because he was embarrassed to be too close to Su Ling'er, never imagining that Xu Mu was not from Zhou and had very different standards for women.
Xu Mu preferred those with clean features, delicate and small faces, yet possessing grace, like Nangong Huaitian, or the heroic spirit of Yin Shuier with eyes like mountains.
However, in recent days, the women he had seen in the Great Zhou Dynasty were mostly heavily made up. While they were beautiful and had their own charm, Xu Mu simply couldn't bring himself to like them and could only keep his distance.
"May I ask, do the two of you have any particular targets for this trip to the Sword Pavilion?" Sun Tong asked curiously, sizing up Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu.
Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu exchanged glances and did not answer.
Seeing this, Sun Tong leaned closer and asked, "Could it be that you are also here for that New Sun?"
Xu Mu took a breath and replied to Sun Tong, "You are mistaken. We are not here to take..."
"That's right, our target is the New Sun." Zuo Mingqiu interrupted Xu Mu and said.
Xu Mu looked at Zuo Mingqiu in surprise, then smiled at Sun Tong and said, "Fellow Daoist Sun has extraordinary wisdom. Our target is the foremost among the nine newly forged swords from the Sword Pavilion, the New Sun."
Sun Tong breathed a sigh of relief, then waved his hand and said with a smile, "What wisdom or not. Most people who come here are after the New Sun. I just guessed correctly."
"But I am different from them. The sword I want is named White Fish."
Zuo Mingqiu frowned upon hearing this and said, "As far as I know, none of the nine swords forged by the Sword Pavilion this year are named White Fish. However, there was one two years ago, measuring two feet and three inches. Its tip was thin as a cicada's wing, and its middle section was as thick as a fish, hence its name, White Fish."
"Fellow Daoist Zuo is well-informed. I am impressed," Sun Tong said, cupping his hands in a salute. "The sword I desire is the White Fish forged three years ago."
Xu Mu asked curiously, "A sword from three years ago has not been claimed yet?"
Sun Tong shook his head and said, "Of course not."
"I have studied this sword for a long time. Although the White Fish resembles a fish, its sword spirit has always referred to itself as a noble dragon-fish. Therefore, this sword is not only light and agile but also displays a ferocity no less than any sword focused on power when unleashed with full force, its might akin to a saber."
As Sun Tong spoke, a flicker of desire appeared in his eyes. He clenched his fists and said excitedly, "The immortal swords forged in the same batch as the White Fish have all been claimed, leaving only this one, stored in the high reaches of the Sword Pavilion's mountain."
"Many swordsmen have attempted to claim the White Fish, but regardless of their exceptional talent or immense power, they were all rejected by that arrogant sword spirit."
Hearing this, Xu Mu also asked with some curiosity, "Since it is so difficult to obtain the White Fish, why do you specifically choose this one?"
Sun Tong smiled sheepishly.
Si Ling'er, standing beside him, crossed her arms and covered her mouth as she chuckled, "Young brother Mu Xu, you wouldn't know this, but Senior Brother Sun actually attempted to have the White Fish sword acknowledge him two years ago. However, he had just broken through to the third stage then, and the White Fish sword did not recognize him."
Another young man also said with a smile, "It was because of that incident. Senior Brother Sun touched the hilt of the White Fish once, and though it was only for a brief moment, he raved about how wonderful it was upon his return. Thus, to obtain that sword, Senior Brother Sun has been preparing for nearly three years."
"He has made further progress this year and has also learned many sword-controlling techniques. The chances of success are quite high."
Sun Tong, hearing this, was so delighted that he couldn't stop smiling. Like a man who had just married a new bride, he raised his hands and gestured to Xu Mu, saying with a grin, "The hilt of the White Fish, ah, it feels like a woman's breast, soft and smooth, warm and fragrant, making one's heart flutter."
"Although I was rejected by the sword spirit, that brief moment of contact was enough for me to know that I had found the sword I wanted most in my life."
Xu Mu found it somewhat amusing, thinking, *To be so devoted to a sword based on a fleeting sensation, is that not a bit far-fetched?*
Unaware of Xu Mu's thoughts, Sun Tong continued solemnly, "It's not just that. The moment I touched the White Fish, the sword spirit flashed through my sea of consciousness, stirring my soul. I perceived the sword's entire forging process and the sword spirit's thoughts, which perfectly aligned with my own daily training and experiences in the martial world."
"For me, the White Fish is not just a sword, but also a kindred spirit I have never met. Therefore, even though many swords of far superior quality have been forged this year, and there is even the world-renowned immortal sword, the New Sun, I care not for them."
"My heart and soul are solely for the White Fish."
"This is my singular sword path for the next hundred years."
Xu Mu raised his eyebrows in surprise at the end. He had misunderstood Sun Tong earlier. To be so infatuated with a sword after a mere moment of contact, even integrating it into his future sword path for a century, seemed like extreme obsession at first glance.
But after hearing Sun Tong's explanation, he understood. And then he thought that most of the passionate pursuits and difficult decisions in life were not born from careful deliberation.
The most crucial thing was that momentary tremor of the heart.
Sun Tong's sword path, with the White Fish as his sword heart, was certainly not a misguided one.
Xu Mu turned to exchange a glance with Zuo Mingqiu, seeing a look of approval in each other's eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Sun Tong will undoubtedly achieve greatness on his sword path," Xu Mu said with a slight smile, cupping his hands. "I wish you success in achieving your heart's desire and claiming the White Fish!"