Read Daily Updated Light Novel, Web Novel, Chinese Novel, Japanese And Korean Novel Online.
Sword of the Yue Maiden (Published Novel) - Chapter 9
Chapter 9
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Xue Zhu said, “After one year, Feng Huzi became too fatigued to continue, so he told Wu Zhixu my name. Wu Zhixu readied lavish gifts and asked Feng Huzi to invite me to work for him as well. I remembered the hatred between Wu and Yue. If Wu’s sharp swords could kill the people of Ji and Jin, they could also kill the people of my home, so I counselled Feng Huzi not to return to Wu.”
Goujian nodded in approval, “You have foresight.”
Xue Zhu said, “Thank for your praise, Your Majesty, but he didn’t listen to me. That night he slept in my home. In the middle of the night, suddenly he put his sword at my neck, then he chopped off four of my fingers so I’ll never forge another sword.”
Goujian became angry, “If he fell into my hands, I would chop him into meat paste!”
Wen Zhong said, “Master Xue Zhu, even though you cannot forge swords by yourself, but you can teach our sword smiths. We, too, can make as many sharp swords as the Wu sword smiths.”
Xue Zhu said, “Minister Wen, both Yue and Wu produce the necessary iron needed for sword blades, but Yue produces copper and Wu produces zinc.”
Fan Li said, “Wu Zhixu is guarding the zinc mines and forbids any private mining, is that right?”
Xue Zhu showed surprise on his face, “So you knew already.”
Fan Li smiled, “No, I am merely speculating. Now that he’s dead, his order may not be followed anymore. We now can purchase zinc, if we’re willing to pay for it.”
Goujian said, “But a source of water far away cannot extinguish a nearby conflagration. By the time we gather all the materials, train the sword smiths and start production, at least two or three years would have passed. That’s not counting any setbacks along the way. If Fuchai died before we’re ready, wouldn’t that be the greatest regret in our lives?”
Fan Li and Wen Zhong bowed deeply, “Yes, we will find another way.”
Fan Li walked out of the palace, thinking, “His Majesty couldn’t wait two or three more years? Why, I can’t even wait one more day…” A dull pain came to his chest as he remembered the image of that unmatched beauty which could stun the world.
She was Xi Shi from the banks of Huansha brook. He found that woman who gathered all the beauty of the land of Yue into her person and he had to send her away into the palace of Wu.
The road from the capital of Yue to the capital of Wu was not long, only a few days by river, but that was long enough for love to grow beyond control. The white face of Xi Shi was full of pearl-like tears and her voice was soft as a whispering stream, “Young Sir, promise me that you will come and get me as soon as possible. I will wait for you, day and night. Say that you will never forget me, forever and ever.”
Vengeance against Wu could wait, as far as Fan Li was concerned, but Yiguang, was in the embrace of King Fuchai. Love and jealousy gnawed at his heart. He must find to way to make as many sharp swords as possible, even sharper than those wielded by the invincible Wu swordsmen….
He walked aimlessly on the street. Eighteen armed guards followed him faithfully. Suddenly someone was singing a Wu song, “My sword is sharp! My enemy has no courage! My sword is sharp! My enemy has no head!”
