Song of Adolescence

Chapter 426 The Sword of Hymn to the Fallen

Su Muyu, who was hidden in the crowd, suddenly smiled.

It was rare for him to show an overt expression on his face. So many years of his life was spent as a killer and his heart had long gone cold. Not to mention smiling, even expressions such as anger, sadness or surprise would never appear on his face. But, he suddenly smiled. He looked at the insufferably arrogant Wushuang, a long sword in his hand and twelve flying swords floating beside him, and couldn't help releasing a soft chuckle. He even murmured softly, "Good boy."

Wushuang faced Luo Qingyang and raised his eyebrows. "Mister Luo, how about it?"

Luo Qingyang nodded. "Good sword befitting a peerless swordsman. You are very good. Worthy of me drawing my sword."

"It's said that only the First Unrivaled Citymaster has ever been able to use the twelve flying swords together with the Bright Vermilion Phoenix. Back then, the Great Xuan remained undefeated even in the face of an army tens of thousands strong. But, once these thirteen swords came out, they cut a hole right through their defences. How fortunate are we to witness such a peerless sword reappear in the world." Xie Xuan flung aside the teacup he was holding. "Owner, wine!"

"Mister Xie, is your interest piqued?" Xiao Se said with a smile.

Xie Xuan laughed aloud. "Not just my interest. I even want to play my sword and sing out loud. This trip today was not in vain."

Lei Wujie also laughed and said, "I knew this guy was no ordinary fellow. But, I didn't expect that after we parted ways so long ago, he would become so powerful. I thought that after we came down from the First Tower Under Heaven last time, Li-xiong and I would be the most powerful among those in the younger generation who practised sword arts. I'm just a frog at the bottom of the well."

"Who cares if we're frogs at the bottom of the well? Anyway, what we're seeing today is really eye-opening." Li Fansong's tone was also full of excitement.

How could any swordsman who witnessed such an incredible duel restrain the emotions and excitement in his heart?

Yan Zhantian's eyes dimmed slightly and he sighed. He turned to Xiao Chong and said, "Chong'er, this Unrivaled Citymaster's swordsmanship is at least above that of mine."

Xiao Chong was stunned. Wushuang had indeed displayed a strength that was truly amazing, but he did not expect that even the extremely arrogant and conceited Wrath Sword Immortal would admit that he was inferior to this eighteen-year-old youth.

"Such a young sword immortal," Yan Zhantian said, somewhat moved.

Xiao Chong turned his attention back to the people in the square. If Wushuang was, as Yan Zhantian said, really more powerful than him, then it was not impossible for him to defeat the Solitary Sword Immortal if he went all out. If that really happened, then the status of the White Prince Residence in Heavenly Revelations City would change in an instant. He clenched his fists hard, his palms already sweaty.

"Will this person win?" Xiao Yu frowned.

Su Changhe's breath had also become lower. If this was before, no matter how incredible Wushuang's twelve flying swords were, defeating the Solitary Sword Immortal Luo Qingyang was nothing short of a fantasy. But now, he managed to draw the Bright Vermilion Phoenix. Was it really possible? He chuckled and remarked, "What a frightening idea."

Xiao Yu turned the teacup in his hand, and said faintly, "There are many frightening things in the world, all stemming from a frightening idea. This thing cannot be allowed to happen. If he wins, I'm certain he will have expended most of his energy. I ask Mister to kill him at all costs."

Su Changhe nodded. "Alright."

At this time, Long Ye suddenly turned to one side, bowed his head respectfully and said, "Grand Eunuch."

Xiao Yu and Su Changhe turned around as Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan walked into the room.

"Grand Eunuch, you're here," Xiao Yu said.

Jin Xuan nodded. "Actually, I arrived much earlier and have been watching from a distance. But, now something seems to have happened and I have no choice but to come closer so that it's more convenient."

"What do you mean?" Xiao Yu asked.

"If this kid really wins, whatever the cost… kill him!" Jin Xuan said sternly.

Xiao Chong suddenly pressed down on the hilt of the sword.

Wrath Sword Style, Sword Drawn with Fury.

Yan Zhantian frowned. "Chong'er, what are you…"

"If Wushuang wins, half of the people here will not let him leave," Xiao Chong said solemnly.

In the teahouse upstairs, Lei Wujie and Xiao Se exchanged a glance and they tightened their grips on their weapons.

Li Fansong sensed the sudden change in the surrounding atmosphere and couldn't help but remark, "It's just two people downstairs duelling with their swords, but all I can sense are the various powers in Heavenly Revelations City competing for dominance. How meaningless."

Xie Xuan patted Li Fansong on the shoulder. "They can compete as they please. We'll watch the swords as we please. What is meaningful or meaningless depends on your own viewpoint."

Su Muyu looked at the umbrella in his hand. To his left, in the teahouse upstairs were the people from the Yong'an Prince Residence. They might not save Wushuang, but they would definitely not kill him. In the teahouse downstairs were the White Prince Xiao Chong and Yan Zhantian. Although Yan Zhantian was not bleeding, his internal energy was disrupted and it was impossible for him to take action rashly. Xiao Chong was taught by both Jin Yu and Yan Zhantian, and had mastered both his calm and wrath-based martial arts. He would definitely step out and help. As for the teahouse on the other side, besides Su Changhe, another powerful expert had just appeared. That should have been Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan. They would definitely kill Wushuang at all costs.

How long could his own eighteen-blade array hold out against them?

How could he take Wushuang away successfully?

Su Muyu lowered his head and ran through the scenarios quickly. He was the most powerful assassin in the entire Hidden River but a killer's plan could be used in reverse. He could also save someone.

Luo Qingyang finally used his sword again.

"According to the order, the next sword dance is The River Earl?" Li Fansong asked, "But why is the power so… abundant!"

Xie Xuan was also shocked, and then he shook his head. "That's not The River Earl! That’s Hymn to the Fallen. Luo Qingyang has gone straight to Hymn to the Fallen!"

"Is this Hymn to the Fallen?" Almost everyone who was there was shocked.

The sword wind danced wildly, and a howling sound started! It was as if inside the sword wind, thousands of warriors were crying out an elegy!

"We grasp our battle-spears: we don our breast-plates of hide. The axles of our chariots touch: our short swords meet.

Standards obscure the sun: the foe roll up like clouds. Arrows fall thick: the warriors press forward."

Xie Xuan flicked his sword and recited the words softly, accompanying the howling sound.

The sword wind rose suddenly, followed by the sword power.

How could one describe the sword power? It was as if tens of thousands of warriors were hiding among the clouds, beating their drums with huge hammers and singing out loud. Their voices turned hoarse, filled with sorrow and desolation. The tens of thousands of warriors were already dead, but their patriotism could never be extinguished.

They were angry.

They were mournful.

They were unwavering!

"This is the sword of Hymn to the Fallen, the pinnacle of the Sword of Desolation, Luo Qingyang's most powerful sword move."

"Why is it named Hymn to the Fallen?"

"On the battlefield, those who "died without courage", as a rule, were not allowed to be buried in a coffin, nor interred in a tomb. They were known as the "casualties of war" and were ghosts with no master. Do you know why Luo Qingyang chose Admirable Desolation City? The former Admirable Desolation City was a border city in the west and there used to be 100,000 soldiers of war buried there. Their country was defeated in war, the survivors fled in a hurry, and left the warriors who died in the war behind. There was no one to bury them and their corpses were exposed to the elements, until a hundred years later, they turned to dust. This elegy became the Hymn to the Fallen."

"How desolate was it, to encompass the desolation of a whole country?"

Wushuang raised his left hand and he was surrounded by his twelve flying swords. He leapt into the air and a blood-red light suddenly appeared on the Bright Vermilion Phoenix!