"Legendary treasure?" Yun Jin's eyes lit up with excitement.
When it came to treasures, nothing interested her more.
Yu Songnian found her reaction amusing. He couldn't help but say, "It's been so many years, and no one actually knows what that so-called treasure is. Maybe it was just something that senior said offhand. Even without the treasure, the sword domain itself is an excellent place to temper one's sword techniques. Over several generations, the Yu clan has grown far stronger than it once was, all thanks to that sword domain."
Yun Jin nodded along eagerly, then asked without thinking, "Can the sword domain be moved?"
Yu Songnian's expression darkened. He answered in a low voice, "It's a grand formation. If you move it, it won't function anymore."
"Oh." Yun Jin blinked, then nodded in disappointment.
Yu Songnian couldn't help feeling a little helpless. What was that supposed to mean? If it could be moved, would she really have tried to take it? Bringing this Little Sister down the mountain felt like tossing a starving wolf into a flock of sheep.
It should be fine… right?
After a while, Yun Jin asked again, "Third Senior Brother, if I do reach the center of the sword domain and manage to get that treasure, then what? Will the Yu clan just hand it over?"
She looked genuinely hopeful.
Yu Songnian gave her a glance and chuckled. "The Yu clan has always said that if anyone reaches the center and retrieves the treasure, no matter what it is, it will be split evenly between them and the clan."
"Split evenly?" Yun Jin muttered, then reluctantly agreed. "Fine, I guess."
Yu Songnian felt yet again at a loss.
From the way she was acting, she already seemed to consider that treasure hers.
And strangely enough, it wasn't just Yun Jin. Even Yu Songnian felt that if anyone could reach the center of the sword domain, it would most likely be Yun Jin.
The flying boat traveled for several days without incident. Before long, the two of them arrived safely outside Lin City.
Flight was prohibited within city limits, so they landed at the gates. Yun Jin casually stored away the flying boat artifact.
Lin City.
Yu Songnian looked up at the plaque above the gate, his expression growing complicated. This was the place where he had grown up. It should have been the most familiar place in the world. Yet now, standing before it, he felt only emptiness.
"Third Senior Brother, let's go in." Yun Jin tugged him toward the city. But as soon as they reached the gate, the two were stopped.
The guards stood expressionless.
"To enter the city these days, it's one hundred top-grade spirit stone per person. For the two of you, that'll be two hundred."
Yun Jin: "???"
Was this a robbery?
Just entering the city cost that much?
And from the way the guard spoke, it sounded like this toll wasn't refundable!
Yu Songnian frowned. "A hundred spirit stone just to enter? Since when was that a rule?"
The guard gave him a cold glance and replied flatly, "This rule was implemented recently. Is there a problem?"
His tone was arrogant to the extreme.
Yu Songnian's gaze dropped to the badge on the guard's chest. His expression shifted. "You're from the Yu clan. So this toll is the Yu clan's idea?"
The guard puffed up his chest proudly. "So what if it is? Lin City belongs to the Yu clan now. You outsiders just want to enter so you can take a look at our sword domain, right? Maintaining its operation costs resources. Taking a bit of compensation is only fair!"
Yun Jin peeked at Yu Songnian.
Normally calm and composed, Yu Songnian was now trembling with fury. His voice was low and cold. "The formation runs by absorbing spiritual energy from the heavens and earth. What resources are you even spending? This is extortion! When Clan Head Yu Feng was still alive, there was never such a rule!"
Yu Songnian was not someone who liked to argue. But now, he was going back and forth with a mere gate guard, which showed just how unsettled he was.
"Clan Head Yu Feng?" the guard sneered. "That old clan head was useless. He never figured out how to use the sword domain to benefit the clan. If he hadn't died, we'd never be living the good life we are now. Enough nonsense. Pay the fee or get lost!"
The way the guard spoke of the former clan head, full of disdain, said everything about what the Yu clan had become.
A dark light flickered in Yu Songnian's eyes. His hand moved instinctively toward the hilt of his short sword. His composure was slipping.
"What, you want to make a move? This is Yu clan territory. Go ahead, try it!" the guard jeered, full of arrogance.
Yu Songnian's eyes narrowed, and his sword was just about to leave its sheath.
"Third Senior Brother," Yun Jin said cheerfully, placing a hand on his.
Her touch was cool and calm, and in that moment, the rage that had nearly consumed Yu Songnian abruptly receded.
Shame washed over him.
He had left the sect determined to look after his Little Sister, to keep her from acting impulsively and stirring up trouble.
Now it seemed he was the one causing trouble instead.
Yu Songnian took a deep breath.
Forget it. There was no need to start a fight with the Yu clan right at the gate. He opened his mouth to speak. But before he could say anything, the gate guard's gaze landed on his partially drawn sword. His eyes narrowed.
"The Qingshuang Sword. That's the Yu clan's Qingshuang Sword! Back then, it was taken out of Lin City by that traitor Yu Songnian. You… you're that useless traitor Yu Songnian!" the guard suddenly shouted.
Useless?
Yu Songnian?
His shout drew the attention of everyone nearby.
Several more Yu clan disciples quickly surrounded them.
"I saw it clearly earlier. That was definitely the Qingshuang Sword! Yu Songnian, don't think putting it away fast means we didn't notice," one of them said sharply. "You dare show your face in Lin City again? I'm taking you back to the clan for judgment!"
"That's right! Capture the traitor, and we'll be rewarded handsomely."
According to rumors, Yu Songnian was a complete waste. Just a useless man. With so many of them here, could they not handle one person?
Bringing him back, reclaiming the clan's sword—maybe they would even earn praise from the Sect Master.
The group of Yu clan disciples quickly surrounded Yu Songnian and Yun Jin.
Yu Songnian's gaze turned cold. He looked at Yun Jin and said apologetically, "Little Sister, looks like I've dragged you into trouble."
Yun Jin smiled. "Third Senior Brother, do you know why I stopped you earlier?"
Yu Songnian blinked. "Why?"
Wasn't it because she didn't want him to stir up trouble?
Yun Jin smiled, and Tai'a appeared in her hand. "I meant that for trash like this, there's no need to waste your hidden sword."
The longer Third Senior Brother kept his sword hidden, the more powerful it became.
The last time he drew it was when they faced Ruan Jun.
To use it again now would be a waste.
"And who are you? You really intend to fight us? Don't blame us for being ruthless!" a Yu clan disciple barked.
There were seven of them in total. Each one was at least at the Golden Core stage. As for Yu Songnian and the girl next to him, they were also Golden Core cultivators.
Seven against two. There was no way they could lose.
"How about I take care of this alone?" Yun Jin glanced at Yu Songnian.
She looked ready to fight, barely restraining herself.
Yu Songnian was silent for a moment, then quietly took a step back.
With that look on her face, someone was about to have a very bad day.
And those Yu clan disciples? Well, they had just walked right into it.