Chapter Thirty-Nine: Nameless-Demon Slayer Across Worlds(The Simplicity of Simplicity)

If one follows Xue Lie’s reasoning—that the sword known as Dragon Slayer can be obtained by anyone with the opportunity to kill the Dragon Emperor—it implies that the sword will continue to be passed down until the Dragon Emperor is finally slain.

Xue Lie shook his head slightly and said in a low voice, "Do not underestimate the Dragon Emperor. While destiny is a formidable power, it does not mean the Dragon Emperor cannot defy the heavens."

"Besides, beyond the weapons known as Warfire and Dragon Slayer, there is also the sword called Nine Heavens."

Shen Chang'an felt a stir in his heart and could not help but ask, "What is the significance of this sword, Nine Heavens?"

Xue Lie whispered, "He who grasps the Nine Heavens does not truly master it; rather, he receives the authority granted by the heavens. That sword is merely a prestigious blade bestowed by the divine. No matter how powerful its might may be, it remains an authority granted by another."

Shen Chang'an suddenly understood; so that was the meaning behind the Nine Heavens.

"Then this Nine Heavens..."

Xue Lie sighed softly, "Naturally, the Dragon Emperor used some methods to acquire it. Since Zhang Hongyu is a man of absolute loyalty to the Dragon Emperor, it is only natural that the Nine Heavens would fall into his hands."

Shen Chang'an calculated silently, feeling that the web of relationships was chaotic. At the same time, he felt an inexplicable shock regarding this Dragon Emperor he had never met. He had previously assumed that the Great Qian dynasty had rotted to its current state mostly because of this Emperor's mismanagement. But now, it seemed the Great Qian was likely doomed long ago, and if not for the Dragon Emperor holding it together, the nation would have already disintegrated.

He feared this man was not a foolish ruler; on the contrary, he was undoubtedly a monarch of immense capability. Of course, based on what Shen Chang'an had heard, he was likely not a benevolent ruler either. Among the common people, the Dragon Emperor was infamous for his bloodlust; while he had saved the Great Qian, the number of lives lost by his hand was beyond counting.

"Daoist, I have told you these secrets. Could you tell me the name of your sword?" Xue Lie suddenly changed the subject, inquiring about Shen Chang'an’s withered wood sword.

Shen Chang'an was left between laughter and tears. "I truly do not know the name of this sword."

Xue Lie’s expression turned displeased, and he snorted, "Daoist, if that is the case, then this is no fun."

Shen Chang'an sighed, "You are the same, and Yu Qingxian was the same before you. I do not understand why your swords have names. Since I obtained this withered wood sword, it has not spoken a word. How would I know what it is called?"

Seeing that Shen Chang'an’s expression did not seem feigned, Xue Lie asked with curiosity, "When you first held the sword, did no name emerge in your mind?"

"It did."

Xue Lie’s eyes lit up. "And what was it?"

"Wooden sword," Shen Chang'an answered earnestly.

Xue Lie’s expression collapsed instantly. After a long silence, he said, "If... if you are not lying, Daoist Shen, could it be that this sword simply has no name?"

Shen Chang'an’s heart jolted, suddenly feeling that this was a distinct possibility. According to Xue Lie, whoever held Warfire would incite war; whoever held Dragon Slayer would have the chance to kill the Dragon Emperor; and whoever held the Nine Heavens was ordained by heaven to protect the Dragon Emperor.

What about himself, someone who did not even belong to this world? How could a sword that reached his hands have a name?

Since Shen Chang'an arrived in this world, he had possessed no goals or objectives of his own. How he acted, what he did, and how he handled problems were all unknown variables. Had it not been for the missions from the ancient animal-hide book, he might have been content just drifting through life in this world.

If he was such a person, then his sword would naturally have no name. Because he did not intend to accomplish anything, nor did he intend to incite any revolution. His arrival was merely an unknown variable. Without any name, he could still easily trigger earth-shattering changes.

"Perhaps, you are right," Shen Chang'an said.

Xue Lie scoffed, "Who knows? I still feel you are not being honest with me. The sword in your hand must have a resounding title."

Shen Chang'an ignored him and instead said, "Chief Xue, meeting is a matter of fate. After we finish this meal, let us go our separate ways."

Xue Lie looked at Shen Chang'an with a faint smile, so intense it made Shen Chang'an’s skin crawl. Only then did he say slowly, "It seems you truly do not wish to have any contact with me."

Shen Chang'an waved his hand and sighed, "I have developed an allergy to monsters and demons lately. I beg you, stop trying to engage with me. Consider it a good deed; let this humble Daoist leave in peace."

Xue Lie, however, lacked the calculating nature of Yu Qingxian. He merely smiled and said, "Very well. I know not if we shall meet again, but this meal is on me."

"That would be lovely." Shen Chang'an could not be bothered to argue over the bill; it was just a meal, not worth the entanglement of karma or grudges.

Before long, the dishes were served. Without further pleasantries, the two picked up their chopsticks and began to eat.

Qingyang Town was indeed a prosperous place, and the small tavern’s food was quite good. After a few bites, Shen Chang'an felt the fatigue of the past few days begin to dissipate.

Just as they were eating, a loud "bang" echoed from outside, startling both Shen Chang'an and Xue Lie.

"Your doing?"

They asked almost simultaneously, followed by—

"Not my doing."

Both denied it in unison.

"How can trouble arise just while eating a meal?" Shen Chang'an scratched his scalp, his brow twitching. He must not have checked the almanac today; just as he was about to rest, trouble followed.

Xue Lie also frowned slightly, saying, "This shouldn't be. I haven't even made a move yet. Where did the trouble come from?"

Shen Chang'an nearly choked on his own breath; it seemed he really had been planning to cause trouble.

At that moment, they saw a figure rushing by in the distance. Upon closer inspection, it was a man in black carrying a sack. The man wore a mask, concealing his true face.

"There is a person inside the sack," Xue Lie immediately noted.

Shen Chang'an spread his hands and scoffed, "What does it have to do with me? Even if it were a dragon inside, I wouldn't care." He suspected this was Xue Lie’s ruse, a setup to see if he would follow, only to be betrayed by him later.

"Fine, you don't care, but I do."

Driven by curiosity, Xue Lie leapt into the air and chased after the masked man.

Shen Chang'an cursed under his breath, "Damn it! Curse you, Xue Lie!"

That fellow had jumped out so brazenly that even a fool could see there was trouble. Shen Chang'an had been sitting with him; if he stayed behind, he would inevitably be interrogated. If it were anyone else, it might be fine, but the leader this time was that idiot Zhang Hongyu, and Shen Chang'an did not want to deal with him.

He had no choice but to follow, vaulting out and adjusting his pace to tail Xue Lie and the others.