The stomach rumbled as before. For the time it took an incense stick to burn, Lin Zhao poked his head out from under the covers, carefully observing the bare walls of his home. Everything was as it had been. He presumed the strange sword had remained on Tianchi Lake, and he was safe.
He rolled out of bed, his bare toes peeking out from his worn cloth shoes. He walked directly into the courtyard, looking around eagerly for something to eat. In the yard stood a giant jujube tree. From past memory, he knew it was left by his father and had been growing for many years. Every year during harvest season, it bore a multitude of sweet dates. Dried, these dates were Lin Zhao's primary food source, or he could sell them for a small income. It could be said that from the age of seven to fourteen, this jujube tree had played a crucial role in Lin Zhao's survival.
Unfortunately, the season was wrong. In the scorching heat of summer, the dates on the tree were still unripe and small, completely inedible.
...
He walked out of the courtyard and onto the street. This street was known by the townspeople as the "Back Street." It was home to all sorts of people, from all walks of life. However, most of them came from impoverished backgrounds—farmers, hunters, or those who did odd jobs for the Tianchi Army. In short, everyone was struggling to survive.
"Lin Zhao!"
Not far away, a tall, sun-tanned, and handsome man walked over.
Guo Dongyang.
The name, so familiar, leaped into Lin Zhao's heart. Guo Dongyang was Lin Zhao's best playmate in town. He was three years older than Lin Zhao. Both were orphans. However, Guo Dongyang was resourceful and full of ideas, living a comfortable life since childhood. The skills Lin Zhao possessed in fishing, archery, trapping rabbits, and catching fish with ground traps were almost all taught by Guo Dongyang. Now, Guo Dongyang, with his skilled craftsmanship in making bows and arrows, had been employed by the Tianchi Army as a legitimate bow maker, earning a considerable income.
Guo Dongyang walked over, swaying as if he were still the carefree big boy from their childhood in town. He carried a fishing rod made of green bamboo on his right shoulder and a string of fish threaded with willow branches in his left hand. There were crucian carp, white fish, and yellow catfish, their tails swaying enticingly. In addition, he carried a few steamed buns and a pot of wine.
"Did you eat today?" Guo Dongyang asked.
"No..."
Lin Zhao felt a little embarrassed, shaking his head and smiling. "My luck hasn't been very good today, and I've eaten all my previous provisions."
"Alright, alright."
Guo Dongyang chuckled and handed over the fish, wine, and buns. "Hurry and start a fire, roast the fish. I'll have a couple of drinks with you before I have to go back to the army."
"Okay, good!"
Lin Zhao didn't stand on ceremony. He had treated Guo Dongyang like an older brother since childhood, and Guo Dongyang had always been good to him. So, he started a fire in the kitchen to roast the fish. Before long, the aroma filled the air. The two sat down at a wooden table made from a sawed-off tree stump in the courtyard, with a plate of fish, a plate of buns, and a pot of wine.
Lin Zhao was starving. He devoured a bun in a few bites, and when he ate the fish, it felt like the most exquisite delicacy in the world.
"I'll be working for the Tianchi Army soon," Guo Dongyang said with a slight smile after taking a sip of wine. "Lately, the demons and monsters from the north are stirring again. Commander Chu has issued a conscription order, and the consumption of arrows by the army will be tremendous. I might not be back for a long time. After making the bows, I'll also have to help transport them. You..."
He looked with helplessness and smiled. "Can you take care of yourself?"
Lin Zhao was stunned, then gritted his teeth. "Yes!"
"That's good then."
Guo Dongyang pointed at the green bamboo fishing rod nearby and smiled. "I'm giving you the fishing rod, line, and hooks. The weather is about to get warmer. There's not much else to say. Live well."
Lin Zhao looked up. "Guo Dongyang, don't worry. I will live well. I am no longer the person I was yesterday."
Guo Dongyang paused, seeming not to understand. Then he smiled, took another sip of wine, didn't eat any food, and stood up, patting Lin Zhao on the shoulder. "Alright, I'm leaving. I'll see you again in a month at the earliest, or maybe I don't know when. I hope I don't encounter any demons, or I might not get to drink wine again..."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Be careful."
"Yeah."
Guo Dongyang strode away. Lin Zhao looked at the food on the table, understanding Guo Dongyang's intentions. In truth, Guo Dongyang had left all the food for him. He had only had a few sips of wine. Out here in Tianchi Ridge, it was freezing cold. What use were a few sips of wine?
...
Lin Zhao didn't dare to eat his fill for this meal. He only ate one and a half buns and half a plate of fish. The remaining food was all placed in a wooden bucket used for drawing water. He then submerged the bucket in the well water and closed the well cover. Children of poor families mature early. He knew the bottom of the well was cool, and this was the only way to preserve food in the summer, otherwise, it would spoil by the next morning.
He silently calculated that he couldn't go to Tianchi Lake to dig for Songmo Stone tomorrow. He needed a new way to make a living!
He would go to bed early tonight to rest, and tomorrow he would properly try to earn a living!
He closed the door and turned to go back inside. But after only a few steps, his feet suddenly stopped. It was as if he had seen a ghost, because behind him, an ancient sword hovered in mid-air, its tip about ten centimeters from the ground, as if glaring at Lin Zhao!
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao had never seen such a bizarre occurrence. He quickly took half a step back, gritting his teeth. "You, you, you... What kind of spirit are you? Why are you pestering me? I was wrong, okay?"
The ancient sword seemed to understand his words, and with a "swish," it flew forward about a meter, continuing to approach Lin Zhao. The young man became even more panicked, scrambling and rolling on the ground to evade it. Seeing his state, the ancient sword seemed disappointed. With a "thud," it fell to the ground, like a worthless piece of kindling.
Lin Zhao leaped up, picked up the ancient sword, and threw it over the courtyard wall.
"Done!"
He clapped his hands and was about to go back inside to sleep again. But as he turned, he felt a chill down his spine. Sure enough, the ancient sword had silently reappeared behind him, staring at him sternly.
"Is this going to go on forever?"
Even a clay Buddha has some temper. Lin Zhao's anger flared instantly. He kicked out heavily, and the ancient sword flew over the wall again.
Lin Zhao turned to leave. After only a few steps, he felt a chill behind him. He looked back and, as expected, it had followed him in, and he had no idea how.
The ancient sword "looked" at the young man, seemingly more disappointed. With a "thud," it lay flat on the ground again.
"..."
Lin Zhao was utterly bewildered. He recalled what had happened at Tianchi Lake. Although a hand had emerged from this sword to knock Zhao Jin unconscious, it had ultimately not attacked him, right? This meant the ancient sword held no hostility towards him. And the fact that it had followed him from Tianchi Lake all the way home... what did that signify? Gradually, two words emerged in Lin Zhao's mind.
Pledge of allegiance!
That's right, besides the ancient sword pledging allegiance, there was no other possibility!
At this moment, Lin Zhao let out a cheer and stepped forward to embrace the ancient sword. It felt a little uncomfortable, so he chuckled, "Since that's the case, I'll just have to ask for your guidance for the rest of my life!"
The ancient sword trembled slightly, as if trying to shake off goosebumps.
...
Lin Zhao cradled the sword. Before he could return inside, there was a knock on the door.
"Lin Zhao, open the door!"
It was an adult male voice.
When Lin Zhao opened the door, he saw a burly middle-aged man holding a heavy bag. Following him was Zhao Jin, his face bruised and swollen. Lin Zhao recognized him immediately: Zhao Tai, one of the blacksmiths on the Back Street, Zhao Jin's father. He had been recruited into the Tianchi Army as a blacksmith. He was back now?
"This is the sword?"
Zhao Tai stared intently at the ancient sword in Lin Zhao's arms, his expression somewhat suspicious. He turned to Zhao Jin. "Jin'er, are you sure you're not mistaken? This sword looks like a pile of rusty iron. Is it really worth so much flour?"
"Dad!"
Zhao Jin frowned. "Trust me, this sword is definitely extraordinary. If we can get it, it might bring immense fortune to our Zhao family. We must get it!"
"I know."
Zhao Tai turned back to Lin Zhao, raising the bag in his hand. He smiled. "Lin Zhao, I know you dug up some junk. It's probably useless. Here, I got ten catties of flour from your aunt. This is a great deal for you. Ten catties of flour for your piece of junk. At least it'll keep you from starving for half a month. What do you say?"
Although his words were polite, his eyes were full of intimidation, as if he would immediately stomp the poor boy into the mud if Lin Zhao refused.
Lin Zhao's brows furrowed. Firstly, he had just confirmed that the ancient sword was "pledging allegiance." Secondly, having survived in this town until today, he hated being threatened the most.
"No exchange."
The young man shook his head. "Uncle Zhao, I want to keep this sword as an heirloom."
"Hahahaha~~~"
Zhao Tai burst into laughter, almost tears streaming down his face. He had already concluded that the sword was indeed junk, and Lin Zhao must be starving mad. He sneered. "This? An heirloom? Alright, Lin Zhao, keep it if you want. Our Zhao family won't take what someone else desires."
With that, he turned and said, "Jin'er, let's go home!"
"But... Dad!"
"Go!"
"Yes..."
Zhao Jin reluctantly followed his father.
...
Lin Zhao clutched the sword tightly, afraid Zhao Tai would try to snatch it.
Back in his room, Lin Zhao examined the sword again. He held the scabbard in one hand and the hilt in the other, trying his best to draw the sword, but it wouldn't budge. He couldn't pull it out at all. He sighed. The sword was already strange; its inability to be drawn didn't seem surprising.
That night, Lin Zhao dared not be careless again. He placed the ancient sword horizontally under his pillow and fell asleep, "pillow" on the ancient sword. In his dream, he saw a wisp of white light rising from the ancient sword, soaring and winding in the courtyard. Within the white radiance, he seemed to see a white dragon, its body crystal clear and translucent.
The white dragon was exceptionally beautiful. After flying in the courtyard for a while, it transformed into a beam of white light that streamed towards the window. From the white light, a pair of delicate feet emerged. With a flowing white skirt, a woman of unparalleled beauty appeared before Lin Zhao.
She was radiant. Her beautiful eyes looked at Lin Zhao and she smiled, "Pledge of allegiance? Am I pledging allegiance to you, or are you pledging allegiance to me? Have you thought it through?"