Chapter 11 Sword Saint

The land of Yellow Springs had no distinction between day and night. When Suren woke up, the sky still held that gloomy, ghastly gray moon.

He felt refreshed after a good sleep.

Even the physical trauma from the previous hormonal rampage had healed considerably.

Suren glanced at Chitiao, who was still sound asleep beside him, and raised an eyebrow slightly. This gambling addict was truly unguarded around him, her limbs spread out in a sprawling sleeping position that made him smile.

Melee-type professionals needed more rest, so he didn't wake Chitiao. After getting dressed, he set up a stove in the dilapidated hall and prepared to make something to eat.

Food from this cursed space was inedible, but fortunately, Suren always had plenty of provisions on hand.

Having spatial abilities was convenient; he didn't have to worry about running out of storage space in his ring.

He took out a bunch of beef cans and began to concoct a beef stew. Mafa's military rations were superior to ordinary restaurants in both taste and quality.

Outside, snow was still falling, and the cold wind howled.

Before long, the aroma of slow-cooked meat filled the entire hall.

In her sleep, Chitiao's nose twitched instinctively. Without opening her eyes, she sat up. The loose cotton white clothes couldn't hide her shapely figure. One side of her collar drooped off her shoulder, and the deep-V neckline revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her snowy peaks.

"Something smells so good..."

Chitiao muttered dreamily. As if sensing a gaze, she suddenly opened her eyes.

Then she saw Suren's mischievous grin.

She glared at him, annoyed, and wordlessly adjusted her clothes over her shoulders, concealing the exposed flesh. Her expression seemed to say, "What's there to see?"

Suren didn't avoid her gaze at all, and chuckled. "Come and eat."

Chitiao looked at the meat in the pot and immediately perked up, moving closer. "Tsk, I knew that being with you, kid, I'd never go hungry."

Suren was a little surprised to hear this.

Wasn't preparing food a basic skill for traveling adventurers?

He casually asked, "Chitiao-jie, have you ever gone hungry?"

Chitiao didn't blush in the slightest, and admitted, "Sure, I have. Once, when I was at sea, we didn't calculate our supplies properly and ran into a storm. We couldn't even catch fish. We only ate two meals every three days. I almost didn't make it back to shore..."

Suren's lips twitched, then he chuckled.

Chitiao didn't seem to think there was anything wrong, and happily began scooping up the meat, enjoying it immensely.

Outside, the wind and snow blew, but the two of them huddled around the stove, eating the hot stew and chatting idly.

It was quite pleasant.

Soon, they were both full and content.

They were both still injured and didn't plan to wander around, so they decided to stay at Asakusa Temple for a day or two.

Chitiao seemed bored and stared at the wooden Buddhist statues for a long time. Then she wrapped her chest with gauze, changed clothes, and began practicing her sword in the snowy courtyard.

Suren, on the other hand, carefully explored the "Asakusa Temple," examining everything he could with his All-Knowing Eye.

But to his slight disappointment, he didn't find anything special, nor did he find any clues to help them escape.

The surroundings were barren mountains, with not even a large tree in sight.

Fortunately, no monsters approached, so it was quite safe.

.......

"Swish," "Swish," "Swish..."

The sound of the sword slicing through the air never ceased.

In the courtyard, Chitiao repeatedly swung her sword with a serious expression, leaving streaks in the snow.

Suren sat cross-legged in meditation under the eaves, where the snow couldn't reach. He had gained a lot from the previous battle and needed time to digest the vast amount of information.

This [Death Novel - Land of Yellow Springs] was very different from ordinary cursed spaces. The NPCs were identical to real people, the known map was endless, and the laws didn't seem to have any flaws...

There were too many things that Suren couldn't figure out.

He needed a lot of time to piece together the scattered clues and see if he could find any hints to help them leave.

The two of them were busy with their own things, and time passed leisurely, not at all like a T-level cursed space.

The land of Yellow Springs seemed to have no concept of time, and the moon in the sky hadn't moved an inch, always hanging in the same spot.

When Chitiao grew tired of practicing, the two of them ate another hearty meal.

Then she resumed practicing her sword, and Suren meditated, each busy with their own affairs.

Around what his watch indicated was evening, a black crow perched on a dead branch suddenly cawed.

Suren abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the outside of the temple. He said softly, "Someone's coming!"

Chitiao looked alert and asked, "A monster?"

"No. It seems to be a human soul."

Suren saw the scene through the eyes of the crow. It was a hunched old man in hemp clothes, carrying two huge tree stumps on a shoulder pole, walking slowly along the narrow path outside the temple.

Suren guessed what was going on from his attire and added, "It seems to be the 'Buddha sculptor' who used to live here."

Chitiao was immediately interested and said eagerly, "The Sword Saint?"

"Yes."

Suren thought it should be him, and his expression grew slightly serious.

The man was getting closer, and the fire of his soul was much stronger than that of ordinary ghosts.

Moreover, he was very perceptive. When Suren found him, he immediately spotted the crow in the tree.

Chitiao became even more excited. "Let's go! Let's go take a look!"

.......

Asakusa Temple was a rare safe place in this land of Yellow Springs, so Suren and Chitiao wouldn't leave it easily.

Besides, Chitiao was very interested in the mysterious "Buddha sculptor."

So they went to the courtyard to wait for him to come.

Before long, the old man walked in through the temple gate. He didn't seem surprised to see two more people in the dilapidated temple. He walked in as if he were returning to his own home, familiar with the way. Then he placed the two sections of tree trunk under the eaves.

Suren sensed that he was indeed a "ghost."

But judging from the strength of his soul, he was only around fourth or fifth order, which didn't seem strong. But the calm and unwavering aura he possessed gave people a strange sense of oppression.

Suren didn't underestimate him at all. Even though he was a ghost after death, and his cultivation would be rebuilt, this was, after all, a "Sword Saint."

Chitiao went straight up to him and gave him a swordsman's salute with her sword, "Senior, I'm sorry for disturbing you."

This dilapidated temple was, after all, the other man's first, so their presence was indeed a disturbance.

The old man glanced at them and said faintly, "You two are the humans who escaped from the city yesterday?"

Chitiao didn't deny it when her origin was revealed. "Yes, Granny Ajuju guided us here. We're disturbing you, Senior."

The old man was easy to talk to. He seemed to know that they were here to take refuge, and didn't show any hostility. "If you really can't find a place to stay, it's fine to stay here. This is a Buddhist temple, not my house, so it's not a disturbance. But the land of Yellow Springs is not a place for the living. You've come to the wrong place."

Suren was relieved to hear this attitude.

It seemed that their previous judgment was correct. This "Buddha sculptor" wasn't like those evil ghosts who were always thinking about eating people. It seemed like they could get along.

The old man didn't seem to mind the presence of two more people at all. As if there were no one else around, he sat down on a small stool under the eaves, picked up his carving knife, and began to work on the two pieces of wood he had brought back. He seemed to want to carve a new Buddhist statue.

Seeing this scene, Suren had a very strange feeling.

As soon as the old man sat down, he seemed to merge with the surrounding environment. Like the stone pagodas, wooden stakes, and dead trees, he became part of the environment, rather than an out-of-place person.

It gave one the feeling of "a person in a painting."

"Is this the Saint Realm..."

Suren murmured in his heart.

Gu Zhi</span> The Saint Realm can't be measured solely by professional level, but usually, "entering the Saint Realm" in terms of understanding the laws is about the level of a seventh-order professional.

There are also poetry, magic, art, music... all paths that can condense divine status have such a high bar.

Chitiao, who was on the side, had obviously noticed this as well, and her eyes were filled with respect.

She bowed again and said straightforwardly, "Mr. Akutagawa, I would like to ask you to teach me the art of swordsmanship."

That's right, this was the famous Akutagawa Ryuichi, the only Sword Saint in Yamigakure in the last twenty years.

Previously, Chitiao had observed the sword intent left on the wooden Buddha carvings in the hall and felt that it was very familiar. After comparing it, she realized that it was almost the same as the sword intent on the carving knife given to her by the blind female musician she had met in Edo Castle.

Chitiao came to Yamigakure for this man.

Unfortunately, Akutagawa Ryuichi had already passed away.

But coincidentally, she met his ghost in this land of Yellow Springs.

The old man didn't seem surprised at all when he heard Chitiao's words.

He glanced at the sword marks in the courtyard and saw that she was practicing the slashes of the Akutagawa One-Sword Style. He said faintly, "Since Kaoru gave you the carving knife... the person she chose must not be bad."

Suren was completely relieved when he heard this.

But as he said this, he suddenly shook his head and changed the subject, "However... the One-Sword Style is not used that way."

Suren raised an eyebrow when he heard this. Chitiao's swordsmanship was not bad, and she was considered a master anywhere she went. But in this old man's tone, she was as worthless as a beginner swordsman?

He was also curious about how strong the so-called "Sword Saint" really was.

Chitiao wasn't bothered by being rejected, but was instead overjoyed. "Please enlighten me, Senior."

Since the old man had said this, he was willing to impart his swordsmanship.

.......

Akutagawa Ryuichi's reactions seemed to have the slowness common to the very old.

When he heard these words, he seemed to react slowly, and leisurely put down the carving knife in his hand. He then looked at the knife in Chitiao's hand and asked, "Are you now in a state of confusion, wondering why your weapon is already very good, and your swordsmanship has been honed to the point where it is difficult to improve, but you still feel weak when facing high-level enemies?"

"Yes! Please enlighten me, Senior."

Chitiao was stunned. These words immediately revealed her greatest confusion.

She had suffered a great loss in the battle yesterday.

When facing the Lotus Hellfire of Shuten-doji, she didn't lose in terms of skill or her sword, but not only did she not gain an advantage, she almost died there. She knew very well that her understanding of swordsmanship didn't match the sharpness of the sword, so she couldn't exert the power that a Twelve Supreme Grade Sword should have.

Moreover, it was even more difficult to slash at spiritual entities. Other than using the demon sword's own demonic energy to scorch the spiritual body, it was difficult for sword energy to cause effective damage.

She knew what the problem was: she needed to condense her domineering aura with swordsmanship.

But she didn't know how to break through.

If she couldn't take that step, she would only be a transcendent.

The old man didn't seem to be in a hurry to talk about swordsmanship, but looked at the sword with the white scabbard in Chitiao's hand. "The sword in your hand is 'Onimaru Kunitsuna', isn't it?"

Without waiting for an answer, he answered himself, "I once held this blade of Hell as well. Unfortunately, it was unwilling to acknowledge me as its master. I didn't expect it to fall into your hands. It must be fate."

Chitiao was slightly surprised. What a coincidence.

"Fate..."

The old man's tone was somewhat emotional. Seeing that sword was like seeing an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

In truth, it was also a farewell between life and death.

He didn't expect to see it again in Yellow Springs.

After pondering for a moment, a gleam of light flashed through his cloudy eyes, and he asked, "Then... have you ever seen the scenery of Hell under this blade?"

Chitiao said solemnly, "I have. It's awe-inspiring."

The old man smiled noncommittally, as if he were finally getting to the point. He asked, "Then, what do you think your swordsmanship is?"

Hearing this, Chitiao's eyes seemed to burst forth with an incomparably sharp sword aura. She said firmly, "After I draw my sword, I can cleave mountains, sever rivers, split seas, and kill gods and demons."

The old man shook his head when he heard this. "Your sword heart is not bad, but that's not your swordsmanship. Swordsmanship is the spirit in your heart. Before you draw your sword, what do you think you're holding in your hand? That is what your swordsmanship is."

"This..."

Chitiao was lost in confusion when she heard this.

She gripped the demon sword Kunitsuna in her hand, seemingly unable to understand. After thinking about it, she asked, "Senior... what is your swordsmanship?"

"Mine...?"

Hearing this, the old man's wrinkled face revealed a smile, and his aura suddenly became unfathomable.

As he spoke, he held the carving knife in his hand and made a drawing motion. "Like you, I also practice the path of Hell."

.......

A great swordsman and a Sword Saint were discussing swordsmanship. Suren's current realm was far behind, and he was confused by what he heard.

Besides, this was no longer a topic of "skill." Hearing it in advance wouldn't necessarily be beneficial.

Suren listened on the sidelines while tinkering with his alchemy.

But as soon as the old man said this, the harmonious atmosphere suddenly changed.

Suddenly, Suren's goosebumps stood on end.

It was like... the oppressive feeling of facing a desperate situation when he was surrounded by countless evil ghosts in the city before.

Suren turned his head to look, with a complex expression: What a terrifying aura!

In front of him,

Not far away.

The old man held the handle of the carving knife backwards, as if he were slowly drawing a long sword.

It was clearly an inconspicuous carving knife, but it seemed to have a more terrifying aura than when Chitiao drew the demon sword Kunitsuna. It gave people an indescribable sense of terror. Every time he pulled it out an inch, his aura increased a level.

Behind him, it was as if people could see a sea of blood.

Akutagawa Ryuichi's eyes flashed like lightning, and his voice seemed to come from the depths of the netherworld. "When I draw my sword, it is Hell."

This casual sentence sounded like thunder, "This is my swordsmanship."

One side was Buddha, and the other was a monstrous killing intent that could kill enough to make the blood of Hell flow like a river.

In his heart was Buddha, behind him was Hell.

Even Suren, an outsider to swordsmanship, vaguely felt that he had understood something. He looked at the wooden Buddha carvings behind Akutagawa Ryuichi and understood something.

It seemed to be talking about swords, but more about the "Dao."

Chitiao's face changed drastically when she heard this, as if she had seen a scene that shocked her beyond compare.

She just stood there blankly.

She couldn't come back to her senses from the shock for a long time.

......

Chitiao stood in the courtyard as if she had been frozen in place.

A quarter of an hour, an hour, half a day... without moving.

Large snowflakes fell from the sky, gradually accumulating a thick layer on her shoulders.

Suren had been paying attention to her condition, and felt that she was in a strange state, similar to when she had tamed the demon sword Kunitsuna. It was as if she were a butterfly struggling to break free from its cocoon.

However, Suren knew that he couldn't help.

He wasn't idle either. He sat down next to Akutagawa Ryuichi, who was carving a wooden Buddha statue, struck up a conversation, and asked, "Mr. Akutagawa, do you know the master of Yellow Springs?"

Since he had encountered a deceased who could communicate well, he naturally wouldn't let go of any opportunity to leave this space.