Chapter 357: The Sword Dao Ancestor’s Guidance
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Lu Chao Chao stood outside the Lou family’s grand gate.
She pounded on the door loudly.
“What did you steal from the Ming family? Master Ming was wailing so miserably he almost fainted!” Xie Yu Zhou peered curiously into her bag.
Lu Chao Chao grinned. “How can you call it stealing?”
“It came with me willingly, didn’t you, Jiu Jiu?” She pulled out a tiny, palm-sized bird from her bag.
The little bird was covered in fluffy feathers, its belly round and plump, its bright eyes filled with affection as it gazed at Lu Chao Chao.
“So chubby…” Xie Yu Zhou muttered.
“Little fat bird, aren’t you afraid she’ll roast you for a meal when she gets hungry? How could you follow her so easily?” Xie Yu Zhou attempted to scare the tiny creature.
Lu Chao Chao replied nonchalantly, “I placed the soul of the Mystic Swallow inside.”
Thud.
Xie Yu Zhou’s knees buckled, and he knelt in submission.
“Mystic Swallow Patriarch, I was wrong! My tongue is too loose! Treat me as a mere fart and spare me!” He pleaded, before cautiously standing up again.
You really dare! You stole their ancestor!
No wonder Ming Xian was crying so terribly.
“How did the Mystic Swallow Patriarch agree to leave with you? Its bloodline is noble—why would it be willing to stay inside a little fat bird?”
Lu Chao Chao casually pulled out a handful of spirit rice. The tiny bird pecked at it without lifting its head.
“I don’t know. Maybe we just had an instant connection,” she said, proud of her newly learned vocabulary.
After feeding it spirit rice and giving it a few sips of spirit spring, the little bird’s belly puffed up even rounder.
Xie Yu Zhou whispered, “It doesn’t look like you stole it. More like you swindled it away.”
Heavens! You won’t just steal people’s ancestors whenever you visit their homes, right?
The Lou family’s servant opened the door, having evidently received prior instructions.
“Master is in the training grounds. Princess Sunshine, please wait a moment.”
Even the gatekeeper had some martial training.
“Training grounds? Can I go watch?”
The servant hesitated. “The training grounds are filled with men practicing martial arts. You might get hurt, Your Highness.”
Lu Chao Chao, looking like a delicate doll at just three or four years old, seemed likely to be frightened into tears.
“I’m not afraid. Lead the way.”
Seeing that he couldn’t stop her, the servant relented and led the two children and the dog toward the training grounds.
The Lou family, despite failing to summon the War God Xing Hui for years, still held an unshakable position.
They were the guardians of the Southern Kingdom’s borders, after all.
And every Lou family man was born with immense strength, earning them the deep respect of the people.
Before they even reached the training grounds, they could hear the synchronized, heavy footsteps shaking the earth. The loud, fervent training chants echoed with an unmistakable sense of authority.
At the center of the grounds stood a statue.
It was an imposing figure, gripping a long sword, towering over the field. Its eyes were half-closed, clad in silver armor, and wearing a half-mask, exuding an air of fearsome might.
“That is the War God Xing Hui, the guardian spirit of the Lou family.”
“When he responds to their summons, his statue’s eyes will open, and he will demonstrate techniques for the Lou family to learn.”
“The family benefits greatly whenever that happens.”
In the field, General Lou stood with his hands clasped behind his back, observing the warriors.
He barked sternly, “Again!”
The fallen warriors scrambled to their feet, muscles taut, gripping their swords.
“Again!” They roared in response.
The gleam of their sword tips caught Lu Chao Chao’s eye.
This sword technique…
It looked familiar.
When General Lou spotted Lu Chao Chao approaching, his brows furrowed.
“Why did you bring the distinguished guest to the training grounds? Escort her out at once!”
“Swords and spears have no eyes! What if the princess gets injured?”
The servant sighed helplessly. “The princess insisted. I couldn’t stop her.”
General Lou waved the servant away.
“Princess Sunshine, this is no place for you. Why don’t you let Yun Zheng take you to admire the flowers or watch the birds instead?”
General Lou glanced at Lu Chao Chao, noting that she barely reached his thigh.
If she starts crying, what will I do?
Ming Xian had told him to treat Lu Chao Chao well, but as a hardened general, he had no idea how to entertain children.
Besides, Lou family girls were all raised as warriors—not delicate little blossoms like this one.
Perched on Lu Chao Chao’s shoulder, the little fat bird blinked innocently.
“Watch the birds? She’s the one making her ancestors take a walk…” Xie Yu Zhou muttered.
Lou Yun Zheng, the eldest son, was drenched in sweat, his bronze skin glistening.
He wiped his face and said, “Father, how about letting Jin Tang accompany the princess? They are about the same age.”
“I’m not good at dealing with little girls.”
“The clan competition is approaching. I’d like to train one more time.”
Besides, the little girl looked so soft and adorable that he didn’t even dare to raise his voice, fearing he might scare her.
General Lou sighed at the difficulty of entertaining their delicate guest.
“Tang’er, the princess is not like your roughhouse sisters. Treat her gently.”
“Yes.”
Lou Jin Tang, around six or seven years old, wore a practical outfit and carried a small, worn-out sword.
“Can I call you Sister Sunshine?” she asked, smiling.
Lu Chao Chao’s voice was soft and sweet, her smile as bright as a New Year painting doll.
“Tang Sister, of course you can!”
“Do you also practice swordsmanship?” Lu Chao Chao asked curiously.
Lou Jin Tang led her toward the courtyard gate, followed closely by Xie Yu Zhou and their little entourage.
At that moment, the Lou family still had no idea how serious this was going to be.
Lou Jin Tang chuckled, a hint of admiration in her voice. “I’m not very good… Every year we have competitions, but I can’t even get on the stage.”
She seemed a little dejected.
“Every Lou family member dreams of receiving War God Xing Hui’s guidance. Unfortunately, he hasn’t responded to any summons in years.”
“His ultimate technique, All Swords Return to One, is a secret he never passed down. If I could see it just once, I’d die happy.”
Lu Chao Chao froze.
All Swords Return to One?
The last time she had seen that technique…
Was when she sacrificed herself.
Back then, the Three Realms were in chaos, and the Heavenly Dao was unstable. She had offered herself as a sacrifice to the heavens.
Xing Hui had stood with his sword, his figure towering between heaven and earth.
Yet, even with that technique, he could not save their master. He had watched helplessly as their master’s soul shattered, dissolving into the Three Realms.
Lu Chao Chao snapped a twig from a garden tree.
“Tang Sister, how about I teach you? You’ll definitely beat them all!”
Lou Jin Tang blinked, then burst into laughter, almost to the point of tears.
“Sister Sunshine, you’re adorable!” She gently pinched Lu Chao Chao’s cheeks—they were soft and smooth, utterly cute.
“You’re only three and a half. Your sword’s probably taller than you.”
“How could you possibly know swordsmanship?”
Lou Jin Tang held no contempt, just amusement. Her grandfather, the great general, had trained his whole life and still couldn’t claim dominance over the Lou family.
Lu Chao Chao scratched her head.
“I don’t know much about swordsmanship. But I once had a disciple. He turned out… decent, I suppose.”
She pondered.
Xing Hui…
His talent was mediocre, but he was diligent.
He had learned a thing or two from her.