Before Zhang Junbao could answer, Xu Qing softly said, "Because Master Xiao has died."
"Brother Xu knows too?" Zhang Junbao exclaimed in surprise.
Xu Qing sighed, "If I'm not mistaken, Master Xiao forged the sword with his life to defeat Madam Xu."
Zhang Junbao slowly nodded, "Indeed."
Gao Yana couldn't help but say heavily, "Then Master Xiao should win this round."
For a master swordsmith, if one forged with life, then the only way the other could turn the tables was to also stake their life.
Evidently, Madam Xu didn't gamble her life, and thus she lost.
This also explains why Madam Xu was unwilling to forge a sword again.
Because her dedication to sword forging wasn't as sincere as Master Xiao's.
Sincere to one's own path, even at the cost of one's life, is easy to say but hardly anyone can achieve it.
Since ancient times, the only hardship has been death.
She then curiously asked, "Why was Madam Xu persuaded by the Daoist?"
