Chapter 369: The Weeping Blood Sword

Chapter 369: Sword of Weeping Blood

After Wang Chengying finished speaking, his face still showed traces of lingering fear.

Ding Luo and the others also looked uneasy.

Clearly, his words had reminded them of that past experience.

Zeng Chou, however, knit his brows:

"Every plot has a purpose.

"Young Master Wang, were those silkworm farmers truly ordinary?

"Could there be a deeper connection we don’t know about?"

Wang Chengying shook his head:

"We’ve dealt with them for years and had regular business.

"They were indeed just ordinary, honest silkworm farmers. Because they worked with the Bo Hai Association, even local pirates left them alone.

"I’ve already sent word to the Bo Hai Association. They’ll investigate this thoroughly."

"Hmm..."

Zeng Chou paused thoughtfully, as if remembering something.

Su Mo glanced at him:

"Captain Zeng’s spent his life at sea and must know things we don’t.

"If you’ve got any ideas, why not speak up?"

"Oh?"

Wang Chengying also glanced at Zeng Chou and said:

"Captain Zeng, if you’ve got any insights, please share them.

"If it proves useful, I might go easier on today’s events when reporting to the Chief."

Zeng Chou hesitated.

Pirates don’t mess with big merchants lightly—unless there’s something huge at stake.

Unless their power had grown so great that they answered to no one.

Otherwise, there were always bounty hunters on the seas, chasing pirates for the reward money.

The reason he’d hit the Bohai Trading Company was for the Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture.

With that scripture, he’d never need to scrape a living at sea again.

Selling it once would let him live out his days in luxury.

That was why he’d taken the gamble.

Besides, if this deal succeeded and they got the Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture, no matter the fallout, Zeng Chou was ready for it.

Here’s the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Not only did this deal fall through, but he was also captured by Su Mo.

There are even two different theories about whether the Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture was ever on the Bohai Trading Company's ship.

Now, even if he manages to escape alive from Su Mo's grasp...

He would still have to deal with the bounty from the Bo Hai Association.

It can be said that his situation has become extremely dire by now.

Thus, Wang Chengying's words appealed to him. After a brief contemplation, he finally spoke:

"Actually, these matters are just rumors.

"Take this with a grain of salt, and you can listen casually.

"I wonder if any of you have heard that, as the legend goes, there are ten renowned swords in the world, three of which belong to the South Sea."

Hearing this, Su Mo couldn’t help but pay closer attention.

The legend of the ten renowned swords started with the Tian Shu Academy.

Wei Ziyi once told them that the Tian Shu Academy ranked martial artists worldwide, but was eventually wiped out by the jianghu.

Many of its records were subsequently lost.

Though rumors of the ten renowned swords have been around, even today, few can name all ten.

To Su Mo’s knowledge, there are only two: the Longing Sword and the Heaven-Slaying Sword.

Ceng Chou’s mention of the ten renowned swords immediately got everyone’s attention.

Then, Ceng Chou continued:

"However, while this legend has been around forever, very few in the entire South Sea know where these three swords actually are.

"Even fewer can name all three swords.

"But legend has it, I once heard something.

"Many years ago, there was a powerful faction in the South Sea.

"They ruled the seas in force, their influence immense.

"Wherever they went, whether merchant ships, pirates, or even the three major factions, none dared cross them."

"Old Ceng, are you perhaps referring to the once-dominant Hanhai Gang?"

The one who asked was Ding Luo.

Ceng Chou nodded. "That's the one."

"Indeed."

Ding Luo knitted his brows. "The Hanhai Gang was untouchable in their day, to the point where even the three major factions were hardly worth their time.

"It is said that the Hanhai Gang's leader created the Hanhai Dominion Technique, which was unbelievably powerful. "Back then, he once faced the Hall Master of the Dragon King Hall at sea. After trading just one blow, they came out even."

"Yet some say the Dragon King Hall Master came up slightly short in that encounter."

"This propelled the Hanhai Gang Leader's fame to even greater heights."

"Back then, the entire South Sea believed they would become the fourth great power over those waters."

"But none could have imagined... such a mighty force would fall to ruin in a single night."

"The flagship and all capable lieutenants vanished without trace, the Hanhai Gang Leader disappearing like morning mist."

"What truly transpired remains unknown to this day."

"Those who survived the Hanhai Gang would only speak in riddles about it."

"Never revealing even a fragment of truth."

"A power that once shook the seas simply dissolved like morning mist."

Here the speaker sighed heavily:

"Such is the impermanence of human affairs—utterly unfathomable."

Zeng Chou gave Ding Luo an appraising nod:

"Truly worthy of the Scholar of Three Tomes—your knowledge runs deep."

"Yet I know this: that flagship wasn't lost, but torched by the Hanhai Gang's own hands."

"Sent blazing into the depths, leaving no trace."

"And every soul aboard was slaughtered."

"Including their leader—all met gruesome ends."

Ding Luo's brow furrowed. He nearly cried "Impossible!"

This was a man who could trade moves with the Dragon King Hall Master and gain the upper hand.

His Ocean-Sovereigning Hanhai Technique defied mortal limits—how could anyone have cut him down so easily?

But something in Zeng Chou's tone stayed his tongue, and he listened in silence as the tale continued:

"Legends say during their heyday, the Hanhai Gang left countless corpses in their wake."

"Naturally, many ached for their downfall."

"That fateful night, a figure came striding across the waves, gripping a sword the color of fresh blood."

"The gang might have scoffed at such a lone figure, yet couldn't simply dismiss him either."

"When they demanded his name, he answered only by raising his eyes."

"They say those eyes pooled with blood—"

"—that meeting their gaze would seize one's very soul, drowning men in crimson tides of slaughtered dead."

"By the time any shook free of the vision, the stranger already stood among them on the deck."

"Wherever the sword was aimed, death followed.

"No one in his path could withstand even a single strike.

"Gripping his sword, he used only one move—yet it was as if forged through countless trials. No matter how he struck, the blade always found its way to the heart.

"One thrust, and their bodies were nearly drained of blood.

"He started killing on one ship, then leaped to the next.

"Back then, the Vast Sea Gang was mighty, its ranks countless, yet none could stop him.

"They could only stand by as he cut them down at will.

"His inner power seemed limitless, his endurance inexhaustible.

"He slaughtered every soul aboard seventy-three ships before boarding the flagship, showing not a trace of fatigue.

"The Vast Sea Gang’s leader confronted him at once, only to find his famed 'Ocean-Subduing Art' useless against a casual thrust.

"One strike later, the gang leader was dead.

"Only then did the stone-faced killer tip his head back and howl with laughter.

"The flagship was packed with the gang’s elite fighters. With their leader dead, how could they tolerate such arrogance?

"They rushed to attack, only to find his swordplay had turned chaotic, as if he’d lost all discipline.

"A sword style straight from hell unfolded before them.

"Where his sword swept, not a single body was left whole.

"That night, nearly all who witnessed this hell-forged swordplay went mad.

"Consumed by that nightmarish frenzy, they even lost all memory of it afterward.

"Those who didn’t go mad couldn’t speak of it—couldn’t even bear to think of it—for the mere thought made them feel that sword hovering over their hearts.

"One wrong thought, and that sword would claim them.

"Once the flagship ran red, he fled across the waves.

"Though the Vast Sea Gang had many members, not one dared to stop him as he left.

"He melted into the night like a specter over the sea, never to be seen again after that night.

"In the end, the gang torched all seventy-four ships, including the flagship, burying the incident deep beneath the sea."

As Ceng Chou finished speaking, a heavy silence settled over them.

This wasn’t a martial tale—it was something out of legend.

Wang Chengying and his companions understood the jianghu’s depths held endless mysteries—anything was possible.

So they kept their doubts to themselves.

But the Wang family’s little girl wasn’t buying a word of it.

She couldn’t help curling her lip: "Liar, liar, pants on fire."

But Ceng Chou overheard her and chuckled, shaking his head:

"Now, I’ve no reason to spin tales to fool you all.

"Still, it’s merely hearsay—no need to take it seriously.

"If the lady thinks I’m lying, so be it."

"My sister is young and doesn’t know the dangers of the martial world or how vast it is. Don’t mind her, Brother Ceng."

Wang Chengying gave a slight bow.

Ceng Chou waved it off and continued:

"After hearing of this back then, I took it upon myself to look into it.

"After all, we pirates must stay sharp and know a thing or two.

"Or we’d toss out priceless loot, thinking it’s junk.

"Especially a sword capable of erasing a behemoth like the Hanhai Gang—

"if one could get their hands on it, it’d sell for a fortune beyond reckoning.

"Digging deeper, I uncovered something even I found shocking.

"Just before the Hanhai Gang vanished, the seas ran red with blood.

"Smaller incidents struck merchant ships and pirates; larger ones wiped out island towns. The dead were countless, but from what records remain—

"the toll was well over several thousand!

"When I plotted all the deaths alongside the Hanhai Gang’s disappearance, they formed a straight line."

He stood, dipped his finger in wine, and traced a path across the table, connecting the points.

"This can’t be a coincidence."

He looked at Su Mo and the others. "No one knows where he came from. But his bloody trail led straight to the Hanhai Gang’s doom.

"After destroying them, he disappeared completely.

"That sword was never seen again.

"Ah, right—it was called ‘Weeping Blood.’"

“‘Weeping Blood’?"

Su Mo raised an eyebrow.

Ceng Chou nodded.

"That’s right. The man who told me this tale said the Weeping Blood Sword is one of the Ten Famous Swords of the world.

"Once you hold this sword, you become its slave."

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

"It's not the man who wields the sword, but the sword that wields the man."

"Everything in sight is fair game for killing—the more you kill, the sharper it gets, the stronger your Martial Arts become."

"Once enslaved by the sword, until death, you can only accomplish one thing you truly desire."

"Likely, the one who obtained the Blood-Weeping Sword back then aimed to slay the leader of the Vast Sea Gang."

"So after killing the gang leader, they were consumed by the sword's dark power and perished."

"This sword's evil nature is truly rare in the world. No wonder it ranks among the top ten."

"Hearing Young Master Wang speak today reminded me of this tale."

"So I thought I'd share it with everyone."

"Just thinking out loud. If anything's off, don't take it to heart."

"Don't be so modest."

Wang Chengying nodded. "I never imagined a sword this evil existed. Truly unexpected."

Su Mo breathed out quietly:

"If this really is the Blood-Weeping Sword, I'm curious..."

"If that generation's sword slave sought to kill the Vast Sea Gang leader..."

"Then what's the current one seeking, adrift on the open sea?"

"And why does it kill?"

The question left everyone silent.

No one had an answer, at least not right away.

In the silence, Su Mo turned to the empty sea and told Ceng Chou:

"Your crew must've noticed by now you're not on board."

"Oddly enough, no one's come to get you."

"......"

Ceng Chou had no reply. He glanced where his pirate ship had gone, his brow furrowing.

Though naturally ruthless, he was decent to his crew when possible.

They wouldn't just abandon him.

But who could say for sure?

The thought weighed on Ceng Chou.

Su Mo stood up:

"Well, this has been quite a feast." "With no ship coming for you, Captain Ceng," he added, "why not stay on my ship for a while?"

"Once we find Old Ceng's ship, how about heading back then?"

"...Fine."

Ceng Chou didn’t dare argue.

Just then, Ding Luo spoke up for Wang Chengying, inviting Su Mo to Pingyang Island.

Since Pingyang Island was a required stop on their route, Su Mo didn’t decline.

So the two ships sailed together.

After all the commotion, things finally settled down temporarily.

Though Ceng Chou was called a guest at the Ziyang Escort Agency, his qigong and martial arts were restricted, and he was stuck sharing a room with the two disciples of the Canglan Divine Blade.

There was a funny incident about this arrangement.

Ceng Chou complained there was still a woman in the room and asked Su Mo to assign him another one.

Su Mo obliged him and gave him a bigger room.

But he'd have to share it.

Between two roommates and three, the choice was obvious.

Ceng Chou thanked Su Mo profusely and followed him.

But when the door opened, Ceng Chou almost had a heart attack.

A huge-ass white tiger lay sprawled there, eyes half-closed as it snored.

Just its aura was enough to make anyone tremble.

Ceng Chou never expected this on the ship.

His scalp was crawling with fear.

Without thinking, he pleaded with Su Mo to take him back, saying he'd rather room with the other two.

At least they wouldn’t get a craving for his muscles.

He'd be done for if the tiger decided he looked tasty.

Now in the room, Ceng Chou and the two strangers—a man and a woman—just stared at each other.

After a long silence, Ceng Chou coughed, strode over like he owned the place, and looked down at the young man on the bed.

"Get up."

The guy didn’t budge.

Though he didn’t know who they were, they were all Su Mo’s captives now.

They might be stuck together for who knew how long.

So he had to show who's boss.

Here’s the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Where there are people, there is the jianghu, for wherever there are people, there will be conflict.

Now that things have come to blows, the tone has been set, making how we deal with each other going forward much clearer.

At this point, he’d given up hoping that Su Mo would spare his life.

As long as he wasn’t thrown to that tiger, anything else was acceptable.

The young man lifted his eyes to meet Ceng Chou’s gaze, waved his hand, and said:

"We’re both caught in this trap—why stir up more strife?

"There’s only one bed in this room. The three of us can take turns using it."

Ceng Chou, however, sneered coldly:

"I’m telling you to get up."

No sooner had he spoken than he reached out to grab him.

Though his internal energy was restricted, his raw strength was intact. This strike was executed with an extremely cunning technique, deadly precise as a viper’s lunge.

Seeing this, the seated young man sighed again, lashed out with a finger strike.

Initially aimed at Ceng Chou’s fingertip, at the last instant it struck an acupoint beneath his wrist.

As the finger’s force hit, Ceng Chou felt half his body instantly go numb.

His face went ashen with recognition.

After a stunned moment: "The Canglan Finger? "How are you connected to the Canglan Divine Blade?"