Chapter 4

Weapon Shop.

The crowd gathered around, discussing and pointing, with no one giving Qin Haidao a chance.

A shop assistant came out from the back with a sword. The scabbard was ancient and heavy, exuding a sense of沧桑 (沧桑 means "vicissitudes of life" or "the passage of time"). The shopkeeper took it and suddenly drew the sword. A red streak shot out of the scabbard, the blade as red as blood, like a flame burning, giving off an inexplicable sense of pressure. Everyone felt their breath catch, and they instantly cheered up.

"Good, good sword!"

"Better than the reputation!"

"Definitely going to win!"

…

The shopkeeper took in everyone's expressions, smiled in satisfaction, and agreed to the challenge. The purpose of bringing out the Crimson Blood Sword was to show off the Cui family's strength, raise their prestige, and as for the thousand taels bet, did the Cui family lack money?

The noble families and military aristocrats had long-standing grievances, and Qin Haidao was the legitimate son of Qin Qiong, representing the military aristocracy in a certain sense. The thought of successfully suppressing them and receiving rewards from the master made the shopkeeper extremely excited. He urged, "Draw your sword! You're not afraid, are you? If you don't want to fight, just kneel and admit defeat."

Cheng Chumo was full of worry. The bet was trivial, but they couldn't lose face. Otherwise, how would the military aristocracy hold their heads high in Chang'an? But now, if they didn't fight and admitted defeat, it would be even more embarrassing. He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Shopkeeper, I bet you lose, and my brother wins. The bet is one hundred taels, one to one. Dare you take it?"

The shopkeeper responded disdainfully, "A mere hundred taels, you dare to put it on the table? Fine, I know you nobles are poor. Since you want to give money to the Cui family, how can the Cui family refuse? I'll take it."

Qin Haidao didn't expect Cheng Chumo to place a bet. Clearly, he was extremely worried and didn't think Qin Haidao would win, yet he still bet on him. This was a significant gesture, so he said, "Brother, thanks for your trust. Why don't we play a bit more?"

Cheng Chumo smiled bitterly and whispered, "This bastard talks rudely, but he's right. I want to bet more, but one hundred taels is all I have."

The shopkeeper sneered, "You can owe it. As the son of the Duke of Lu, you should be worth at least a thousand taels. The question is—dare you?"

"Damn, I'll play with you." Cheng Chumo's face changed, and he shouted in anger. It was about the reputation of the Duke of Lu's household. Even if he knew he would lose, he had to fight, losing the battle but not the war!

"Good, let's write it down." Seeing Cheng Chumo fall into the trap, the shopkeeper proudly signaled the official standing by. The official nodded in understanding and immediately wrote the document.

With the document, there was no fear of the Duke of Lu, Cheng Yaojin, reneging. A double win, suppressing both the Qin and Cheng households, would surely earn him a higher regard from the master, possibly even a promotion. The thought made him tremble with excitement, eager to start the match.

The document was quickly written, and Cheng Chumo signed it, his heart pounding. His eyes were red as he looked at Qin Haidao, not because he couldn't afford to lose, but because the impact of losing was too great to bear.

"Brother, wait for the money," Qin Haidao consoled him.

"No, just a draw would be a relief. We are descendants of military men, and we play with swords and spears. You should know that we can lose anything but not in a duel. If we must lose, don't lose too badly," Cheng Chumo said with a serious expression.

"Such a lack of confidence?"

"Obviously, that's the Crimson Blood Sword."

"Then why did you bet?"

"You're my brother, and if you die, I die with you."

"Good, I accept you as my brother."

"Damn, you only recognize me now?"

Qin Haidao smiled, not explaining, unable to say that he was no longer the "him" of the past.

The shopkeeper, growing impatient, urged, "Hurry up, if you're afraid, just admit defeat."

"As you wish."

"Clang!"

Qin Haidao decisively drew his sword. The blade trembled, humming like a dragon's roar, exuding a regal and domineering aura.

At that moment, everyone felt a chill, their hearts racing.

The entire venue fell silent!

But no one still gave him a chance; the reputation of the Crimson Blood Sword was too great.

An official came forward to officiate, "Both parties have voluntarily agreed to the weapon duel. The document has been written, the bet is a thousand taels, and the method of the duel is to cut each other's weapons. The match begins now."

"Clang!"

The two weapons clashed fiercely. The shopkeeper was also a skilled fighter, with great strength. To establish his authority, he used all his might to slash, trying to cut through Qin Haidao's sword in one go, creating a visual impact and a complete victory.

Qin Haidao had extreme confidence in the weapon he had forged and also used all his strength to slash. To win, he had to win decisively and thoroughly.

"Clang!"

Sparks flew, and the heavy Crimson Blood Sword's blade flew out of the shopkeeper's hand, embedding itself in the wall, the hilt trembling, and a large, obvious notch appeared on the blade.

In contrast, Qin Haidao's sword was intact.

Everyone gasped, surprised by the force Qin Haidao used to knock the shopkeeper's sword away. They stared at the notch on the Crimson Blood Sword, their eyes full of disbelief, even the shopkeeper was stunned, staring at the notch, completely dumbfounded.

"Is this... a win?"

Cheng Chumo couldn't believe what he saw, blinking hard, looking at the notch on the Crimson Blood Sword and then at Qin Haidao's sword, still not believing it. He snatched the sword, examined it up and down, and then burst into excited laughter, "Ha ha ha, we won, brother, we won."

"Of course, collect the money, don't let him run away," Qin Haidao reminded, extremely confident in his weapon.

"Does he dare?!"

Cheng Chumo roared, staring at the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, pay up, or I'll bring my troops to tear down your shop. No one in Chang'an dares to cheat me, hurry up."

"You... how did you do it, this is impossible?" The shopkeeper, regaining his composure, stared at the sword, a greedy look in his eyes, and immediately said, "Would you sell this sword to me for ten thousand taels?"

Cheng Chumo skillfully twirled the sword, mocking, "The Crimson Blood Sword is worth ten thousand taels, and this sword easily cut through it, making it a divine weapon. Ten thousand taels to buy it? Dream on, pay up quickly."

"Eleven thousand, how about that?"

Qin Haidao sheathed the sword, a mysterious look on his face, and loudly said, "This sword was obtained from an ancient cave in the Kunlun Mountains. Inside the cave, there is a stone inscription, stating that it was the cultivation cave of a pre-Qin alchemist who attained enlightenment and left this sword for a worthy person. Now, the Qin household is in need of money, and we are willing to auction it off. In three days, at the Jufu Wine House, we'll see who is the worthy person. Now—pay up."

When selling something, of course, you need a story, just like in the Pan family courtyard.

For modern people, pre-Qin alchemists, cultivation caves, and enlightenment are just jokes, but for the Tang Dynasty, they are highly attractive, especially given the sword's sharpness, which cut through the famous Crimson Blood Sword.

This statement was not only for the shopkeeper but also for the surrounding crowd, believing that it wouldn't take long for all the wealthy people in Chang'an to know about it.

"Is the young Duke of Qin really willing to auction it off?" The shopkeeper asked excitedly. As for the auction, would the noble Cui family lack money? What a joke.

"Of course, look closely, there is a flying black bird on the sword, clearly an alchemist's dedicated weapon. Who would engrave a symbol on a sword?" Qin Haidao drew the sword and continued loudly.

"Black bird?" The shopkeeper's heart tightened, quickly leaning in to look. As a noble family member, he knew that the black bird was the emblem and totem of the Wang family of Taiyuan. Once they heard the news, the Wang family would go crazy.

Qin Haidao ignored the shopkeeper's thoughts, deliberately showing it to the surrounding crowd, making sure the trap was perfect.

"Let me see, let me see, it's really there." Cheng Chumo curiously leaned in.

"Nephew, let me see." A powerful voice came from behind.