This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable-Chapter 1556 - 31: More Than Just 1 Sword Hidden (Part 2)

"Roaming through Qingshan, the person remains youthful, and the scenery here is uniquely splendid," the woman pondered briefly, nodding in praise, "It's a good name."

She then cast a peculiar gaze over Lu Qingshan, finally resting her eyes on his face, earnestly saying, "Also a good appearance."

The man beside the woman secretly rolled his eyes.

"My name is Ming Yu, this is my husband..." The woman named Ming Yu nudged the man beside her.

"I'm Cang Xiu," the man reluctantly said, "Xiaojian is our daughter."

Ming Yu, Cang Xiu...

Inner wisdom, outward grace.

Just from their names, they seem like a very well-suited couple, although reversing their names might feel more fitting.

Lu Qingshan thought to himself.

"I'm friends with Xiaojian, it's my first time visiting the island. It's quite large and eye-opening, but I wonder if there are any customs or stories?" He said aloud.

"You're a friend of Xiaojian, that makes you a guest of the Cang family."

"As for customs and stories..." Ming Yu smiled gently, "We're just a humble family, without too many rules."

If this is called a humble family, what can be considered a wealthy family?

Such "modesty" is unmatched by others.

The young woman turned to Qin Yitian, suddenly asking with a smile, "Girl, you're quite nice too, how should I address you?"

Zang Xiaojian could see the uniqueness of Qin Yitian, so how could Ming Yu, her mother, not see it as well?

"You can call me Yitian," Qin Yitian replied with a gentle smile, though hers was more deeply ingrained compared to Ming Yu's gentle assertiveness.

"Xiaojian has good judgment; I like her friends," Ming Yu said with a smile and then led Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian inside.

Lu Qingshan felt the woman before him was exceptionally courteous, probably a woman skilled in handling affairs seamlessly, though the young woman seemed gentle, she always had high standards. The reasons for her courtesy towards Lu Qingshan were numerous.

One reason was due to Qin Yitian.

A famed sword goes with a hero; since Qin Yitian saw something in Lu Qingshan, it indicated that Lu Qingshan wasn't lacking.

Another reason was the perceptive Cang Xiu, who realized upon seeing Lu Qingshan, the five Life-bound Swords hidden in the void around him, confirming he wasn't just a minor sword user constrained by Flying Swords, but rather a Great Sword Cultivator capable of commanding boundless Sword Intent.

Of course, there's also consideration for Zang Xiaojian.

The young woman always prioritized "respect" in her interactions with her daughter.

Even if Zang Xiaojian had merely brought home a minor Sword Cultivator today, she would still uphold proper manners.

Ming Yu casually chatted with Lu Qingshan as she walked, talking about the famous swords in the Sword Pavilion earlier, catering to his interests.

Lu Qingshan had just admired the famous swords on Lingye Island in the Sword Pavilion, familiar with their general history; yet what's displayed on walls is only well-known information, Ming Yu instead narrated some secrets and anecdotes.

For instance, one famous sword named Concubine wasn't due to the Swordsmith treating the sword as a companion, but because, during the forging process lasting a century, he neglected his Dao Companion, causing her displeasure—"Is the sword your wife, or am I your wife?"

Upon the sword's completion, the Swordsmith named the new sword "Concubine," to declare his heartfelt resolve to his wife....

Compared to the epic tales embellished in scrolls with literary and artistic flair, these genuine anecdotes seemed even more captivating to Lu Qingshan.

From start to finish, as the master of the Cang family, Zang Xiaojian's father, Cang Xiu remained silent, only occasionally glancing at Lu Qingshan.

His gaze was peculiar too, yet differed from Ming Yu's strange gaze.

The exact difference was something Lu Qingshan couldn't quite articulate at the moment.

Leading ahead, Ming Yu finally brought Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian into a tea room.

The group sat down, the tea not yet served, that man squinted his eyes and spoke for the first time, "Your Human Race and the Demon Race have faced each other across the sea for millennia, while our Lingye Island lies upon the Heavenly River Sea, making it hard to find, and one might encounter the Demon Race on the way.

You are so young, yet your cultivation isn't low, evidently a rare talent among the Human Race, taking such risks to come here, it couldn't be just to see Xiaojian, right?"

Hidden subtleties, questioning Lu Qingshan's intent, also having a hint for his own daughter.

"Certainly hoping to engage with both of you too," Lu Qingshan replied with a cheerful smile, without any embarrassment, quite candidly.

The young woman rolled her eyes at her husband, then spoke to Lu Qingshan, "Xiaojian told me about her experiences on Jiaolong Island."

"Xiaojian grew up on this island and it was her first time leaving it, naive and inexperienced, luckily you took care of her and she didn't suffer."

Lu Qingshan shook his head, "Madam Ming, you're too courteous, she's very clever, it wasn't about taking care, just mutual assistance."

Hearing Lu Qingshan's praise, Zang Xiaojian's eyes instantly lit up with pride and joy.

As they spoke, an elderly woman served freshly brewed aromatic tea, Lu Qingshan took a sip, finding it not remarkably flavorful, but with subtle mystery, it had a peculiar numbing sensation yet cleared the mind, making thoughts flow freely.

Ming Yu nodded, not denying Lu Qingshan's evaluation of Zang Xiaojian, then continued chatting with him for a while, before efficiently rising, "You young folks chat, us old ones won't be an eyesore here, to avoid restricting you."

Unexpectedly, Cang Xiu remained unmoving, acting as if he hadn't heard Ming Yu's words.

Ming Yu frowned, secretly stepping on her husband's foot, finally prompting the man to rise with a hollow laugh, then allowing Ming Yu to leave.

.....

"Your father and mother are indeed very loving," witnessing the last scene, Lu Qingshan smiled at Zang Xiaojian after the couple Cang Xiu and Ming Yu left.

"My grandfather was the most famous Swordsmith on the island at the time, he succeeded in crafting a Pseudo Dao Sword, the Guanyin you just saw in the Sword Pavilion... then grandfather sent my mother to deliver the Guanyin to my father," Zang Xiaojian chuckled mischievously, revealing her father's shortcoming without reservation, "Unexpectedly, my father 'became infatuated,' falling for my mother at first sight."

"However, my mother wasn't willing, feeling they were mismatched...

Zang Xiaojian didn't elaborate on the development that followed, yet Lu Qingshan's mind already conjured a romantic drama of 'she escapes, he pursues, neither able to fly away.'

"Of course, eventually my father won over my mother, but regarding the family status..." Zang Xiaojian blinked her bright eyes, leaving much unsaid.

Lu Qingshan smiled, shifting the topic, "Your family is so affluent, with countless Swordsmiths, how did you end up on that ship sailing out to sea, following me in search of the Three-feet Edge?"

This question had lingered in his mind since he arrived on the island.

"Appearing on Jiaolong Island was due to some unexpected events! However, my father surely won't allow me to disclose the specifics, sorry..."

Zang Xiaojian scrunched her nose, adding, "As for the Three-feet Edge, at the time my cultivation wasn't high, unable to wield swords of higher grade, also uncertain when my father would find me, I needed to improve my cultivation to ensure my safety but didn't want to settle for any sword...."

"So, when you mentioned your father sensing a formidable Sword Artifact near the South Sea and seeking a Life-bound Sword, it was all to deceive me, wasn't it?" Lu Qingshan gazed at Zang Xiaojian with a half-smile.

Zang Xiaojian boldly puffed her chest, unabashedly, "I had no other choice at the time, plus wanted to follow you.

But if I didn't provide some useful information, how would you agree to let me follow?

"Although I did deceive you, true, but we weren't friends back then, my father always said, when out in the world, don't be too honest with strangers or you'll suffer losses."

It seemed the previous assessment of Zang Xiaojian was indeed correct.

This young girl was truly clever.

Lu Qingshan mentally noted, also noticing an important message revealed in Zang Xiaojian's earlier words.

"Improving cultivation, seeking a sword?" Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment, promptly reaching a conclusion, "Can the sword help you enhance your cultivation?"

"Yes." Zang Xiaojian nodded in confirmation.

"Therefore, your swift cultivation improvement is also due to the sword."

Zang Xiaojian nodded again.

"Is this the talent of your Cang family?"

Zang Xiaojian earnestly pondered for a moment, feeling the topic shouldn't fall under the category of "mustn't speak of things" instructed by her father.

Thus, she nodded once more.

"Yes."

"This is the talent of our Cang family."

"Cang Qi."