"Master, this is everything the group leader told me. What should we do next?" Elina Jade blinked her wide, innocent eyes at the three nuns before her, seeking guidance.
"Hmph, all of this must be nonsense. The idea that the entire Fortune Escort Agency was wiped out by the Qingcheng Sect is already absurd enough but that the so-called Gentleman Sword of Mount Hua, Yue Buqun, has turned into a despicable man? And on top of that, this ridiculous Evil-Resisting Sword Manual that requires castration to practice? Utterly preposterous," Serena Tranquil said, unable to hold back her raised voice.
"Enough, Junior Sister. Don't be so hasty. The truth of these things will become clear in time," Mother Silent Mercy soothed Serena Tranquil gently.
"I just think all of it sounds too outrageous. As if none of the Five Mountain Sword Sects has any decent people left," Serena Tranquil huffed indignantly.
"Whether these things are true or not, we must verify them for ourselves," said Mother Serene Grace in her usual calm and even tone.
"Verify? How? Just wait and see if the Fortune Escort Agency actually gets wiped out? But there's no exact date mentioned, is there? How long are we supposed to wait to prove this one way or the other?" Serena Tranquil snorted.
"Junior Sister, while many events can only be confirmed after they unfold, there is one thing that already exists and can be examined right now," Mother Serene Grace replied with a slight shake of her head.
"You mean... the Evil-Resisting Sword Manual?" Serena Tranquil blinked, then caught on.
"Exactly. If we go to Fuzhou and check the Lin family's old residence in Xiangyang Lane, we can find out whether the manual is real, and whether it truly requires self-castration to cultivate," said Mother Serene Grace.
"But the manual belongs to the Lin family" Mother Silent Mercy frowned.
"Elder Sister, if that manual is as vile as Elina Jade describes, something that demands self-mutilation to master, it would be better for us to retrieve it, seal it away, or even destroy it. It would be for the greater good of the martial world," Mother Serene Grace shook her head firmly.
"In that case... let me go. Amitabha," Mother Silent Mercy sighed.
Elina Jade watched as her three masters discussed the Evil-Resisting Sword Manual, blinking in confusion. She didn't fully understand, but since her masters had made a decision, it must be the right one. That was enough for her. With that thought, she bowed her head and resumed silently reciting her sutras.
The Three Mothers of Mount Heng Serena Tranquil, Mother Serene Grace, and Mother Silent Mercy specifically instructed Elina Jade not to mention anything about the chat group, or anything related to the so-called Swordsman's Tale, to anyone. Elina Jade nodded obediently and resolved to keep the secret.
Later that same day, Mother Silent Mercy quietly left Mount Heng alone. To avoid any accidents, she took no disciples with her and disguised herself as an ordinary elderly woman.
The Three Mothers of Mount Heng were not unknown in the martial world. If word got out that she was heading to Fuzhou, it could cause all sorts of trouble.
Especially if Swordsman's Tale turned out to be real. In that case, the Qingcheng Sect, Mount Hua Sect, or even the Songshan Sect might already be watching over Lin Weiyuan's escort agency in Fuzhou.
…
"@Elina Jade, you little nun you've fallen for Linghu Chong, haven't you?" Uchiha Izumi teased her in the group chat.
She had good reason. In Swordsman's Tale, Elina Jade was such an adorable young girl gentle, kind-hearted, and sweetly naive. Her voice was always soft and timid, the kind that stirred a natural instinct to protect her.
Compared to her, the other women in the story had their charms, but none were quite as lovable. The Sacred Maiden Ren Yingying was no doubt fascinating daughter of Ren Woxing and raised in the Sun and Moon Cult but her upbringing had made her sharp and ruthless, not above gouging out eyes or taking lives. Yue Lingshan, the little junior sister from Mount Hua, was cute in her own way, but she eventually fell for Lin Pingzhi, who castrated himself. Not nearly as endearing.
Most of the other female characters had limited screen time and didn't leave much of an impression. After watching Swordsman's Tale, Uchiha Izumi had taken a liking to girls like Elina Jade perhaps because she herself had gone through so much, it made Elina Jade's simplicity and warmth especially appealing.
"Ah? I-I don't like Senior Brother Linghu! I haven't even met him yet! How could I possibly like him? Besides, I'm a nun. How could I have romantic feelings for anyone?" Elina Jade stammered, flustered.
"Elina Jade, don't forget you promised to be my wife. So technically, you're not a nun anymore," Kevin Cross chimed in teasingly.
"Eh?! I-I… I understand," Elina Jade whispered, cheeks turning red.
"Group Leader, even if she promised you, it's obvious the one she really likes is Linghu Chong," Izumi kept poking fun.
"No! It's not like that! I mean, yes, Senior Brother Linghu saved me in the story, but I-I don't like him! I really don't!" Elina Jade was so anxious she didn't know how to explain herself, her eyes welling up with tears.
"You'd better not like him. You've already promised to be my wife. If you're going to like anyone, it'd better be me. Got it?" Kevin said, half-joking, half-serious.
Elina Jade's face flushed even deeper. "Got… got it."
Though Elina Jade didn't have any real feelings for Kevin Cross yet in fact, they hadn't even met in person she was the type who couldn't lie, and once she made a promise, she wouldn't go back on it. So after agreeing to the engagement, even without knowing Kevin, she had already reserved a place for him in her heart.
Girls like that from the old days… were really easy to win over.
(Among all the versions of Elina Jade, He Meitian's portrayal remains the most adorable. If you've seen it, you'll know. If not, it's worth watching. The costumes and props might not match modern standards, but the story is genuinely compelling. Even Linghu Chong in that adaptation is actually likable.)
"You really are such a sweet girl. Anyway, Group Leader, Uchiha Sasuke and Kakashi Hatake have just left the Hidden Leaf. I'm about to make my move. Want to join me?" Izumi asked.
"Of course I do. I'm actually curious how exactly do you plan to handle Sasuke?" Kevin replied, his interest clearly piqued.