Chapter 105: The Blind Swordsman

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Xu Mo said, “Sir, I apologize. He’s still young and inexperienced, and speaks bluntly. Please don’t be angry.”

After speaking, Xu Mo glanced at Qin Mutou and slightly shook his head, signaling him not to say anything more.

The blind old man fell silent for a moment, then asked again, “So, are you going to buy the sword or not?”

Xu Mo replied, “Sir, fifty guan for a broken sword—no matter how I think about it, that seems a bit expensive.”

The blind old man immediately showed some displeasure. “Expensive? Do you even know this is the Purple Rainbow Sword once wielded by the sword master Li Tianyi!”

“Sword master Li Tianyi? Purple Rainbow Sword?” Xu Mo had never heard of such a figure and asked Qin Mutou, “Have you heard of them?”

Qin Mutou shook his head in confusion, “No.”

The blind old man, unwilling to waste more words on Xu Mo and Qin Mutou, waved his hand impatiently. “Go, go, go...”

Qin Mutou disapproved of the blind old man’s attitude and quietly said, “Boss, let’s go.”

“No rush.” Xu Mo shook his head, then asked the blind old man, “Sir, may I take a closer look at this sword?”

The blind old man sneered coldly, “You don’t even know who sword master Li Tianyi is, what’s the point of looking? Do you understand swords?”

Xu Mo remained calm and smiled, “Sir, it’s rare to meet a customer genuinely interested like me. Are you really willing to chase me away?”

The blind old man asked, “From what you say, you want to buy it?”

“I do want to, but fifty guan is no small sum. I need to examine it carefully first,” Xu Mo said.

The blind old man had been selling swords in the city since early morning, initially going door to door. Tired and fed up, he finally sat down here to set up his stall.

“Fine, have a look! But I warn you, be quick. Don’t waste my time. If you’re not buying, leave!” the blind old man said.

“Understood.”

Xu Mo smiled in response, then squatted down and picked up the broken sword, scrutinizing it carefully.

Xu Mo’s examination confirmed that the broken sword was indeed of exceptional quality.

First, the patterns on the blade were clear and fluid, and the cutting edge showed no signs of rust.

Second, the edges on both sides were perfectly symmetrical, and the spine formed a straight line.

Furthermore, the blade had no chips and was remarkably straight.

Most importantly, the sword felt comfortable in the hand, with a weight just right for Xu Mo.

He stood up, waved the sword, and asked, “Sir, may I test its sharpness?”

“Of course, but be careful. This Purple Rainbow Sword cuts through iron like mud. Don’t hurt yourself!” the blind old man warned.

Hearing the phrase “cuts through iron like mud,” Xu Mo’s heart immediately brightened with excitement.

He then asked Qin Mutou to fetch a bamboo stalk about half a person’s height and as thick as a calf, and began testing the sword.

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After testing, Xu Mo’s expression was filled with delight—the Purple Rainbow Sword was extraordinarily sharp. The bamboo was effortlessly sliced through cleanly, leaving a perfectly flat cut.

“Fine sword!” Xu Mo couldn’t help but praise.

The blind old man proudly said, “I told you, this is the Purple Rainbow Sword once wielded by a sword master. It’s an unparalleled fine blade! If I didn’t need money urgently, I wouldn’t sell it!”

Xu Mo nodded, then asked, “Sir, such a fine sword—why is it broken?”

The blind old man immediately frowned and replied irritably, “Hey! What’s your problem? Are you here to buy the sword or just to hear stories?”

“I’m just curious, sir. I’m only asking casually,” Xu Mo said.

The blind old man thought for a moment and said, “Alright, if you pay me fifty guan now, I’ll tell you.”

Xu Mo promptly said, “Fine, I’ll buy the sword!”

He took out his money pouch to pay.

Qin Mutou shook his head repeatedly, thinking his master was too extravagant with money.

Xu Mo had plenty of silver notes but less than fifty guan in actual silver coins, and the blind old man refused to accept paper money.

With no other choice, Xu Mo accompanied the blind old man to the nearby remittance office to withdraw silver.

On the way, Xu Mo asked, “Sir, may I know your name?”

The blind old man replied indifferently, “Just a nobody. Call me Sword Blind.”

Xu Mo immediately said, “Senior Sword Blind, I’m Xu Mo, and this is Qin Mutou.”

“No need to tell me your names. Just hurry and get the silver. The sword is yours, the money’s mine. We won’t meet again in the martial world,” Sword Blind said.

Not long after, Xu Mo withdrew fifty taels of silver from the Four Seas Remittance Office and handed it to Sword Blind.

Sword Blind was delighted upon receiving the money. He weighed and bit the coins to verify they were genuine in no time.

Xu Mo asked, “Senior, can you tell me now?”

Sword Blind tucked the silver into his bosom and said, “Back then, sword master Li Tianyi fought a duel with a martial arts expert. Li Tianyi was outmatched and lost. In frustration, he broke the Purple Rainbow Sword himself and then vanished from the martial world.”

Xu Mo curiously pressed, “Senior, who was the martial arts expert who defeated the sword master? What was their name?”

“How should I know? I wasn’t there,” Sword Blind shrugged.

Then Sword Blind said, “That’s all I have to say... Gentlemen, farewell!”

With that, Sword Blind leaned on his cane and walked toward the street, soon disappearing into the crowd.

Qin Mutou finally couldn’t help himself and asked, “Boss, you spent so much silver on a broken sword. What use is it?”

Xu Mo raised the Purple Rainbow Sword, turning it over and over as he said, “I plan to modify it into a dagger.”

Since their last encounter with bandits, Xu Mo had been considering making a self-defense weapon.

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This Purple Rainbow Sword was of superb quality and exceptionally sharp—just what Xu Mo needed.

Of course, there was another important reason.

Back in high school, when Xu Mo read “The Deer and the Cauldron,” he greatly admired Wei Xiaobao’s iron dagger that could cut through iron like mud. That dagger was made by reshaping a broken iron sword.

Qin Mutou thought fifty guan was too steep for a broken sword and murmured in disapproval, “Fifty guan could buy a whole lot of daggers.”

Xu Mo had planned to visit the blacksmith who repaired copper hammers last time, but since it wasn’t on their way and noon was approaching, the two decided to return first to the Fragrant Skin Specialty Shop and have lunch before going to the blacksmith.

Inside the Fragrant Skin Specialty Shop, the accounting room.

Chen Miaoyi and Ning Yaxin had finished the accounts half an hour earlier.

Since Xu Mo hadn’t returned yet, the two women sipped tea inside and chatted leisurely.

At first, they talked about the soap workshop and the affairs of Gushan Village, then gradually shifted to other topics, mostly those that interested women.

Throughout the conversation, they maintained a mutual flattery, complimenting each other’s beauty and temperament to keep the atmosphere harmonious and their relationship pleasant.

After a brief pause, Ning Yaxin suddenly asked, “By the way, Mrs. Xu, I heard your family moved to the capital city?”

“Yes,” Chen Miaoyi nodded, wondering how she knew that. Could it be that her husband told her?

Actually, it wasn’t Xu Mo who had disclosed it, but rather Ning Yaxin’s inquiry team had uncovered it when investigating Xu Mo’s background.

Ning Yaxin smiled and asked, “Mrs. Xu, now that the Peony brand soaps sell well, have you considered visiting your parents in the capital with Mr. Xu?”

Chen Miaoyi was slightly taken aback and looked at Ning Yaxin.

Ning Yaxin hastened to add, “Mrs. Xu, I mean, Mr. Xu was previously schemed against, causing him to stray and make mistakes. Now he has founded the Peony brand, not only returning to the right path but also achieving some success...”

“I’m sure your parents would be happy and relieved to hear this, and they wouldn’t worry so much in the future. What do you think, Mrs. Xu?”

Mentioning parents made Chen Miaoyi feel melancholic. She shook her head wryly and said, “Miss Ning, the soap workshop is busier every day, and I still have to help with bookkeeping. I don’t have time to go to the capital.”

“Besides, even if I had the time, my husband wouldn’t,” Chen Miaoyi added quietly.

Ning Yaxin said, “That’s not necessarily so. Why don’t you ask Mr. Xu when he returns?”

Chen Miaoyi immediately declined, “No, no. There’s no point in asking. The capital is so far away, I don’t even want to go myself!”

Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock at the accounting room door.

Then Xu Mo’s voice rang out, “Wife, Miss Ning, I’m back!”