NOVEL NEXT Chapter 376: King of the Desert
Before Zhang Junbao could answer, Xu Qing softly said, "Because Master Xiao has died."
"Brother Xu knows too?" Zhang Junbao exclaimed in surprise.
Xu Qing sighed, "If I'm not mistaken, Master Xiao forged the sword with his life to defeat Madam Xu."
Zhang Junbao slowly nodded, "Indeed."
Gao Yana couldn't help but say heavily, "Then Master Xiao should win this round."
For a master swordsmith, if one forged with life, then the only way the other could turn the tables was to also stake their life.
Evidently, Madam Xu didn't gamble her life, and thus she lost.
This also explains why Madam Xu was unwilling to forge a sword again.
Because her dedication to sword forging wasn't as sincere as Master Xiao's.
Sincere to one's own path, even at the cost of one's life, is easy to say but hardly anyone can achieve it.
Since ancient times, the only hardship has been death.
She then curiously asked, "Why was Madam Xu persuaded by the Daoist?"
Zhang Junbao shook his head, "I don't know either. But in this world, it seems there's nothing the Daoist can't do."
Gao Yana: "Hearing Daoist Zhang say this, I really want to meet this Nameless Daoist."
Xu Qing smiled, "Maybe you've met him before and just forgot."
Gao Yana: "Why do you say that, Daoist Xu?"
Xu Qing said leisurely, "Because I think this Daoist is an immortal who roams the world, and being an immortal, may be everywhere."
Gao Yana: "Then if I can't remember, it's like I haven't met him."
Xu Qing grinned.
He then asked Zhang Junbao, "What is the name of the sword forged by Master Xiao?"
"Tear Mark Sword," Zhang Junbao replied softly.
Xu Qing: "Later, Madam Xu forged the Heavenly Sword. She must want to know which is better, the Heavenly Sword or the Tear Mark Sword."
Zhang Junbao: "Unfortunately, the Heavenly Sword is now in the hands of the Mongol Prime Minister Bo Yan."
Bo Yan is now the number one disciple of Meng Chixing in Mongolia, and also a confidant of the Great Yuan Emperor.
Both Ba Siba and Meng Chixing are spiritual pillars of the Mongol Yuan Emperor Kublai, especially the latter.
After the previous Mongol Great Khan Mongke was killed by the Divine Eagle Great Hero outside Xiangyang City.
The current Mongol Yuan Emperor Kublai held a Kurultai in Kaiping to announce his inheritance of the Mongol Great Khan position, which was met with dissent from the Mongolian kings.
At this time, Meng Chixing personally intervened, suppressing the dissenting Mongolian kings, and later helped Kublai defeat his rival Ariq Böke in the struggle for the Great Khan position, securing Kublai's position as the Mongol Great Khan.
Ba Siba, on the other hand, as the leader of the Mongol Yuan religion, strengthened Kublai's prestige, allowing this Mongol Great Khan to establish a dynasty and become the Great Mongol Yuan Emperor.
Moreover, these two top-tier figures of the time shielded Kublai from countless open and covert attacks.
Thus, Kublai became the longest-reigning Great Khan in Mongolian history.
Xu Qing: "When we return from the Western Regions, I'll help you retrieve the Heavenly Sword, so you can use it to please Miss Guo."
Zhang Junbao: "Brother Xu, don't joke with me."
Xu Qing sighed, "Then don't you want to retrieve the Mystic Iron Order now?"
Zhang Junbao coughed, "I have seen the Divine Eagle Great Hero, so I am interested in the Mystic Iron Order."
Xu Qing smiled, "If you said you weren't interested, I would surely have dragged you along."
Gao Yana: "Daoist Xu, Daoist Zhang, are we going to snatch the Mystic Iron Order now?"
She seemed a little excited.
This trip, there hadn't been anything particularly entertaining yet.
Xu Qing: "Lady Gao, mind your words, we're retrieving it."
"Yes, yes," Gao Yana nodded rapidly.
…
…
Although the local gangs in the Northwest were quite fierce, upon encountering Xu Qing and the others, they all became very polite after a friendly exchange.
Not only did they let Xu Qing and his companions take the fiercely contested Mystic Iron Order, but they also gave them plenty of travel expenses.
In fact, the local gangs didn't know about the Mystic Iron Order, but rumors had suddenly arisen in recent days, causing many Northwest local gangs to come, fighting to death over the Mystic Iron Order.
After all, although the Divine Eagle Great Hero is no longer in the worldly society, his legend has always persisted.
Additionally, there is something odd.
The Divine Eagle Great Hero killed the former Mongol Great Khan, yet the Mongols did not trouble him.
Gao Yana posed the question and received an explanation from Xu Qing.
Because if Mongke hadn't died, how would there be the current Kublai as the Mongol Yuan Emperor?
Moreover, Kublai and the Divine Eagle Great Hero were old acquaintances.
The key is, compared to Mongke, Kublai values the interests of Chinese landlords more, so the confidant Chinese ministers around Kublai are quite satisfied with Mongke's death, naturally not advising Kublai to avenge his brother's death.
After Xu Qing explained, he toyed with the Mystic Iron Order and asked, "Junbao, who do you think spread the news about the Mystic Iron Order?"
"Officials," Zhang Junbao pondered for a moment and replied.
Xu Qing: "That's what I think too."
Gao Yana immediately understood, "Looks like the Court wants to use these things to make the people of the worldly society kill each other."
Throughout history, heroes have clashed with lawbreakers.
Therefore, how to handle people of the worldly society has been a major issue for successive Courts.
Xu Qing: "So, us taking the Mystic Iron Order has actually offended the Officials. Lady Gao, you did introduce yourself back then."
Gao Yana's face darkened.
No wonder Xu Qing used a pseudonym back then.
This cunning Taoist even claimed to be a Taoist from Wudang Mountain; he's too sly!
Xu Qing taught Lady Gao a lesson: when moving in the worldly society, having a disguise is crucial.
Zhang Junbao didn't mind; he's always loathed the Tatar conquerors.
Xu Qing played with the Mystic Iron Order for a while, then tossed it to Zhang Junbao: "Junbao, you can have this. I heard Miss Guo plans to establish a sect, and this Mystic Iron Order would make a fine gift."
Zhang Junbao wanted to say something but quietly accepted it.
After all, if Miss Guo received this gift, she would surely be pleased.
But why is Brother Xu's seemingly mocking gaze so unsettling!
Old Xu always seems to be subtly ridiculing him, making Zhang Junbao too embarrassed to often think about Miss Guo.
Now, Zhang Junbao's greatest wish is for an immortal maiden to descend and captivate Brother Xu, turning his soul upside down.
…
…
The three continued westward and arrived outside a stretch of desert.
Before entering the desert, they had to make some preparations.
Even though Xu Qing and Zhang Junbao possessed unparalleled martial arts, they would still be helpless against natural disasters.
After all, having come to this world, one must abide by the rules of this world.
Xu Qing always conducted himself honestly.
"Entering the desert, it is best to find a guide," Xu Qing suggested.
Gao Yana: "Then surely we need the help of Zamuhu, the King of the Desert, and he doesn't get along with the Court."
Zamuhu's ancestor, also named Zamuhu, was once a sworn brother with Genghis Khan, later turning against him, becoming his captive, and ultimately being executed.
As a descendant of Zamuhu, the current King of the Desert Zamuhu has always opposed the Mongol Yuan Court.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.