Borrowed Sword

Chapter 91: If You Wish to Kill Him, Then Kill Him

“Earth-rank technique?” Chu Huaixu looked at the few pages in his hand, surprise flashing across his face.

As far as he knew, Heaven-rank techniques in this world were incredibly rare.

“Don’t be fooled by the many Heaven-rank cultivation methods Han Shuangjiang and I could choose from at the Scripture Pavilion. That was only because we were in the First Level. Those were techniques for lower realms.”

“But techniques and cultivation methods are different. A good technique could be used for a lifetime.”

In this context, Earth-rank already counted as a very precious technique.

What was even more notable was that this 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】 was currently incomplete, yet it still rated as Earth-rank?

“That’s a bit terrifying.”

Chu Huaixu glanced at the system’s “Skill Description,” which indicated that this 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】 was currently 82% complete.

“In Borrowed Sword, some techniques and methods aren’t 100% complete for two main reasons.”

“One, they’re genuinely missing a few pages.”

“Two, the creator hadn’t fully grasped the method themselves—meaning it’s still a semi-finished product.”

Usually, if a skill’s completeness was over 70%, it was considered learnable.

However, it likely came with obvious flaws and might even have negative side effects after use.

“In fact, many techniques are classified as semi-finished precisely because of these side effects.”

According to the system, this 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】 had power that nearly reached Heaven-rank technique levels.

But—there was a price to pay.

“This is a bit like the ‘Seven Wounds Fist’ that harms a thousand enemies but injures oneself by eight hundred,” Chu Huaixu thought.

In Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, Seven Wounds Fist was described as: one practice, seven wounds.

—Harming oneself before harming the enemy.

This 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】 was similar.

When circulating spiritual energy, wherever the energy passed—whether flesh or meridians—would suffer varying degrees of damage.

But the final burst of power would be astonishing!

For someone like Chu Huaixu, who hadn’t learned any technique yet, this was a pressing need.

“Though this 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】 has clear flaws, it’s undeniably fierce.”

“It could serve as a last-resort killing move,” he quickly assigned it a role in his heart.

Moreover, overall, it actually fit him quite well.

Due to the Dao Canon, his self-healing ability was continuously improving.

“It’s just... Am I really walking further and further down this path of self-abuse?” Chu Huaixu sighed inwardly.

“System, can you please give me back my 【Pain Regulation】 feature?” he lamented in his heart.

Chu Huaixu put down the papers and looked up at the visibly nervous Xu Ziqing.

Little Xu was clearly offering a gift voluntarily, yet he wasn’t sure if his senior would like it.

He wanted to repay his senior but had no idea if this offering was enough.

As someone new to cultivation, he had little idea of what tier this 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】 truly belonged to.

“If senior doesn’t think highly of it…” Xu Ziqing felt it would be quite awkward.

At last, Chu Huaixu spoke, “Where did you get this technique?”

“It was when my family and I went hiking on a mountain. I stumbled upon it by sheer luck,” he answered honestly, providing a few details.

Chu Huaixu listened carefully. Though the specifics were somewhat cliché, he couldn’t help but muse to himself, “The World Protagonists truly are blessed with great fortune.”

But suddenly, a thought flashed in his mind: “Doesn’t Little Xu also have a revenge subplot?”

With that thought, he looked again at the papers in his hand, and a faint suspicion arose in his heart.

He began to feel as if these pages were stained with blood.

“Do you know this is a sword technique?” Chu Huaixu asked again.

Upon hearing that, Xu Ziqing clenched his fists, his nails digging into his flesh, and lowered his head. “At first, I didn’t know. But later, I found out.”

“Oh? How did you find out?” Chu Huaixu kept probing.

“Because a thief broke into my home, slaughtered my entire Xu family, and stole that booklet! I wasn’t home that day—I had been dueling with a friend in the city the night before and stayed over at his place. That’s how I survived.”

The handsome young man’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice filled with gritted fury.

Chu Huaixu didn’t press further, nor did he ask why a thief would know his family had obtained a mysterious sword technique.

Because, in this world, there were simply too many fools who couldn’t keep their mouths shut.

Many times, the carefully laid plans of villains paled in comparison to one stupid moment of indiscretion.

The Xu family was a large clan with many members—it wasn’t unusual.

If he dug too deep into the details now, it would only add to Xu Ziqing’s pain and drag him back into those memories.

Chu Huaixu had developed a habit from his time as a seasoned play companion—he was very mindful of others’ emotions.

After some thought, he looked at him again and asked, “Little Xu, did you memorize the sword technique and then write it down?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me ask you: your entire family died because of this. Are you sure you want to give it to me?”

“Senior saved my life and changed my fate. Without your help, I would’ve never stepped into the path of cultivation!” He raised his head, eyes red, his voice full of emotion.

The young man continued, “I know I’m dull and probably can’t keep up with senior’s steps for life. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to repay your kindness someday.”

“I have nothing else but this technique I came across by luck.”

“I hope senior won’t dislike it!”

At that, Xu Ziqing hurriedly added, seemingly afraid he had said something wrong:

“I know your kindness isn’t something a sword technique can repay. I never meant to offset my debt with this.”

“I’ll remember senior’s kindness for life!” His attitude was deeply sincere and earnest.

Seeing this boy pour his heart out like that, Chu Huaixu actually felt a bit overwhelmed.

“Damn it, kid, are you messing with me? Now I feel guilty as hell,” he muttered inwardly.

He’d always disagreed with that saying—“Sincerity is the ultimate killer move.”

Chu Huaixu believed sincerity was a suicide move.

Well, he’d just witnessed it today.

The boy wept with trembling shoulders, tears streaming down as he cried out, “Please rest assured, senior. I’ll give my all in cultivation, never disappoint your teachings. Whatever you command, I will do!”

Chu Huaixu was stunned.

“Damn it, stop talking! The more you say, the more I look like a scumbag,” he muttered to himself.

He looked at the boy and said, “Little Xu, you do realize this technique is no ordinary street-tier rubbish.”

“Though I saw at a glance that it has severe drawbacks and obvious flaws…”

“But its power is astonishing. Its rank is not low—this is a highly valuable technique in the cultivation world.”

Chu Huaixu felt he had to be honest with him.

Upon hearing that, Xu Ziqing became even more excited. “Senior, truly?”

A smile quickly bloomed on his face. “Then it’s good that you don’t mind it.”

“What I mean is—it’s truly precious.” Chu Huaixu was speechless.

“Still not as precious as senior’s kindness!” The boy remained stubborn.

Chu Huaixu had originally planned to mold him in his own image. Now that he really had, he felt a bit ashamed.

Felt a little like getting schooled by his own pupil.

He looked down at the paper that, though unstained, suddenly felt heavy. “But… your whole family died because of this.”

Xu Ziqing gave a relaxed smile and quickly said, “Don’t worry, senior. I’ve already asked them.”

“Hmm?” Chu Huaixu froze.

Asked? How?

What the hell—can this kid commune with the dead? Or did they appear in his dream?

Seeing his senior so puzzled, the young man felt embarrassed to mention he used a silk pouch. So he glossed it over and said, “Anyway, senior, just keep it with peace of mind.”

Having said that much, Chu Huaixu nodded and stopped refusing, already planning to give Little Xu something nice in return.

He looked at the boy who had just shed tears over his painful memories and asked, “Little Xu, do you know who your enemy is?”

“Senior, I don’t.” He shook his head.

Then quickly added, “But if anyone ever uses the 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】, they might be my enemy!”

“Hmm. If this technique really was lost long ago, then very few people would know it. When the time comes, it’s possible to investigate.” Chu Huaixu nodded slightly.

He actually knew who Xu Ziqing’s enemy was.

Because when he played Borrowed Sword, his main character had apprenticed under one of the Four Great Sects—Spring and Autumn Mountain. And Xu Ziqing’s enemy… was someone from Spring and Autumn Mountain.

Chu Huaixu had watched Xu Ziqing seek revenge in-game with his own eyes!

To be precise, four World Protagonists had shown up together!

That enemy had deep roots in Spring and Autumn Mountain.

But so what?

By that time, both Xu Ziqing and Han Shuangjiang were True Disciples of the Dao Gate.

The other two World Protagonists? One was a royal of Moon Country.

The other came from the largest noble clan in Moon Country.

In Mirror Country, the Four Great Sects stood above the court, but Moon Country was different—there, the royal family reigned supreme!

Chu Huaixu had seen it all—the moment Xu Ziqing avenged his family.

At this moment, he asked, “So your desire to cultivate comes from this hatred in your heart?”

“Yes.” The boy nodded firmly.

“Then let me tell you—it won’t be easy. You’ll suffer much along the way.” Chu Huaixu knew well that World Protagonists grew through hardship.

“This vengeance is irreconcilable. No matter the cost, I must see it through!” the boy growled through clenched teeth.

“No matter how strong your enemy is? No matter how deep their background?” Chu Huaixu pressed.

“Yes. I must kill him!” the boy answered with unwavering determination.

Chu Huaixu looked at him, gently patted his shoulder, and decided to discreetly drop him some clues when the time was right. He said aloud:

“Train hard. You can do this.”

“If you wish to kill him, then kill him.”

A few minutes later, Xu Ziqing had packed up everything by the water pool.

“Senior, we can go now,” he said.

Unexpectedly, Chu Huaixu replied, “No rush.”

He pulled something from his Storage Token and tossed it to Xu Ziqing.

“Eat it,” he said.