Chapter 006: Sword Sacrifice

"Ling'er, this is the Bi Geng porridge that Mother personally cooked for you. Try it and see if it tastes good."

With a kind smile, Ceng Shuiyue brought over a bowl of porridge that had a faint green hue. The Bi Geng porridge was made from green spiritual rice, with a rich and mellow aroma.

"Thank you, Mother!"

Chu Ling's face was adorned with a pure smile as she spoke happily.

"Mother, you are the best person in the world to me. I will never leave you and Father in this lifetime."

Ceng Shuiyue smiled and gently patted her head.

"Silly child, are you planning not to marry in the future?"

This statement caused Chu Ling to fall into a slight silence.

Marry?

Marry whom?

Lu Ye?

If she didn't marry Lu Ye, after witnessing his unparalleled brilliance, who else in the world could catch her eye? Who could replace Lu Ye's position in her heart?

"Ling'er won't marry. Ling'er just wants to stay by Father and Mother's side forever, to be with family." Chu Ling's smile was somewhat forced.

"Alright, alright, no marriage then. Drink the porridge quickly before it gets cold."

Chu Ling nodded and began sipping the Bi Geng porridge in small mouthfuls.

Ceng Shuiyue watched Chu Ling swallowing the porridge, her smile growing even more tender.

Now, her son was completely safe.

Originally, she had thought of making this girl her son's sword servant, but she never expected that the Demon Sword forged by the ancestor required a sacrificial sword bearer.

The sacrificial sword bearer also had very stringent requirements.

The only ones who met the requirements were her son Chu Shifei and her adopted daughter Chu Ling. She couldn't possibly let her son become the sacrificial sword bearer, could she?

After finishing the Bi Geng porridge in one go, Chu Ling said, "Mother, it's so delicious!"

"If it's delicious, have some more!"

After three bowls of Bi Geng porridge, Chu Ling touched her belly and said in a coquettish manner, "Mother, I can't drink anymore. I'm full."

"Silly girl, then rest for a while. If you're tired, lie down and take a nap."

"I know!"

After Ceng Shuiyue left, Chu Ling was still pondering the issue of marriage.

Not long after, she felt an intense wave of drowsiness wash over her.

Wait!

Chu Ling wasn't entirely useless after all. She was the one who had fought alongside Lu Ye the most, and the Nine Heavens Sword Maiden had also earned her reputation through sword battles.

This drowsiness was too sudden and unusual.

She quickly activated her cultivation technique.

The technique she practiced was called "The Great Slaughter Sword Scripture," a powerful scripture known for its offensive capabilities. She had been cultivating it ever since her rebirth.

Poisoned!

How could she be poisoned?

Chu Ling recalled all possible scenarios where she could have been poisoned and finally locked onto the millet porridge.

Her eyes widened, flashing with disbelief.

The millet porridge was poisoned?

How could that be?

Wasn't it the porridge her mother had made?

As the poison spread through her body, Chu Ling, being a powerful sword cultivator, naturally had means to suppress the potent toxin.

She used her true qi to suppress the poison, deciding to feign unconsciousness to investigate the truth.

"Knock knock knock... Ling'er, are you asleep?"

Chu Ling, pretending to be unconscious, heard Ceng Shuiyue's voice.

She did not respond.

There was a pause outside.

"Alright, she's poisoned. We can begin now." Ceng Shuiyue's voice was no longer gentle but had turned cold and ruthless.

"Click!"

The door opened.

A group of people filed in.

Ceng Shuiyue and Chu Xiongtian looked at the unconscious Chu Ling, their faces filled with joy.

"Take her away, to the ancestor!"

Two people stepped forward, grabbed Chu Ling, and headed towards the deepest part of the Chu Sword Manor.

"The Demon Sword can finally be forged successfully. The ancestor can break through his cultivation, and my crisis is finally resolved," Chu Shifei said with a lingering fear.

"Hmph, if she hadn't unexpectedly returned to die this time, you would have been the sacrificial sword bearer. If you don't cultivate properly and continue to be a wastrel, what will you rely on next time you face danger? Luck?" Chu Xiongtian scolded.

"Father, I was wrong. I will cultivate diligently!"

"After the Demon Sword is completed, you will go into seclusion for a year. You are not allowed to leave until you reach the fifth level of the Chu Sword Heart Technique!"

"Ah? The fifth level!"

"Mother, how can I reach the fifth level in just a year? I'll be stifled to death. No, no, I can't bear it."

"Isn't what your father said correct? This time, it was that dead girl who returned. Next time something happens, if you're not strong enough, you'll just be a lamb to the slaughter."

Chu Ling listened to the conversation of those she considered family, her heart sinking into an icy abyss.

She couldn't believe it, couldn't believe everything she had heard.

The sacrificial sword bearer?

Come back to die?

She was the sacrificial sword bearer?

She came back to die?

She...

"If I can cultivate to the fifth layer, I have one request."

Chu Shifei seemed to understand that this long period of seclusion was unavoidable.

So he took the opportunity to make a request.

"What request?" Ceng Shuiyue asked.

"I... I want to be alone with Chu Ling for half an hour. Since she's going to die anyway, and the ancestor only wants her innate sword body, why not let me use it in advance? It won't affect anything."

"Ah... Dad, don't hit me, don't hit me!"

"Bastard, what nonsense are you talking about? Chu Ling is practically your sister!"

"Practically, but not really. She's the daughter of those two dead slaves, just a servant girl. If it weren't for her good constitution, making her the sacrificial sword bearer, I would have taken her long ago."

"Anyway, I don't care. If you want me to go into seclusion, I want her for half an hour!!!"

Chu Shifei had already given up.

Chu Xiongtian was so angry he almost beat his own son to death on the spot, but Ceng Shuiyue stopped him.

"Otherwise, let our son be alone with her for half an hour..."

Ceng Shuiyue actually agreed!

In her view, since Chu Ling was going to die anyway, and as a mother, she knew how much her son coveted Chu Ling.

After fulfilling his wish, he would be able to cultivate properly.

Chu Xiongtian was furious, "No, at such a critical moment, how can we let him mess around? If anything goes wrong, he will be the one to die!"

"If you dare to argue with me again, I'll break your legs!"

Chu Xiongtian understood the seriousness of the situation and sternly reprimanded him.

Many guards kept their eyes downcast.

This family's affairs were not something they could comment on.

But Chu Ling was truly foolish. After returning, her own parents had disappeared, and she didn't care. Chu Si had died just because he kindly told her to leave, and she didn't notice anything.

It can only be said, when it's time for someone to die, it's destined by heaven!

At this moment, Chu Ling finally saw the true colors of the Chu family.

In her mind, countless memories flashed instantly.

"Young master, Ling'er misses home. When can I go back and see?"

"Not yet, wait a little longer."

"How long do I have to wait?"

"Until... a sword is completed!"

She thought the young master was referring to her own sword, but now she realizes he was clearly talking about the Demon Sword!

Once the Demon Sword was complete, she would no longer be needed as a sacrifice, and naturally, she could return.

...

"Young master, please, let me go home and see. I really miss my parents."

"Your biological parents, or your adoptive parents?"

"My adoptive parents are my parents!"

"Ling'er, biological parents are your real parents. Adoptive parents might sometimes have ulterior motives."

"Impossible! My parents treat me the best. How can you say that about them, young master!"

At that time, she had a fierce argument with the young master.

...

"Ling'er, the time has come. I'll take you home!"

But when they arrived, the Chu Sword Manor had turned into ruins, with everyone inside dead or injured.

"Those who harm others will eventually be harmed themselves!"

"Serves them right! Serves them right!"

"Lu Ye!!! It's all your fault!!!"