Chapter 56: The Infinite Sword

Overwhelmed with shame, he suddenly dropped to his knees and said,
“I’ve wronged everyone. It was I who brought the man from Fusang here. I nearly got us all into trouble!”
“I was deceived by him—he told me he wanted to do charity and donate money to our country, and that’s why I brought him to attend.”
He suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face,
“I deserve to be punished! I am willing to accept any penalty!”
Madam Xu rushed over, embracing her husband and sobbed,
“Husband, you didn’t know—this isn’t just your fault. I am willing to bear the punishment with you.”
Xu Chenyi also knelt hurriedly, pleading on his father’s behalf.
Gu Xiangnan looked at the family’s sincere apology and regret,
and could not help but be moved.
He recalled Xu Feng’s conduct in the past, which truly did not resemble a heartless tycoon.
Turning to Song Jinlong, he pleaded,
“Master Song, this was only an accident. I believe Mr. Xu is genuinely remorseful. Could you give him another chance and let him off this time?”
Song Jinlong pondered for a moment and said with authority, “Considering your usual diligence and the fact that my benefactor has pleaded for you, I will grant you one opportunity.”
Xu Feng kowtowed repeatedly. “Thank you, Master Song!”
Song Jinlong continued, “You may be spared the gravest punishment, but you cannot escape lesser ones.”
“I sentence you to serve as a teacher for one year in the most impoverished village school. Once your term is over, you may return to your position.”
“I hope you will truly repent and contribute something meaningful to society.”
Xu Feng had not expected such a light sentence.
He was momentarily stunned,
then immediately kowtowed in acceptance.
Madam Xu was moved to tears of joy and cast a grateful look at Gu Xiangnan.
Xu Feng stood up and, hand in hand with his wife, walked toward Gu Xiangnan, with Xu Chenyi following closely behind.
“Mr. Gu, thank you for pleading on our behalf just now,” the couple said, bowing deeply.
Madam Xu secretly rejoiced—the godparent relationship she had just established had already proven useful.
She smiled at Gu Xiangnan and said,
“Mr. Gu, could we arrange my son’s recognition ceremony soon? It would be best to hold it before my husband leaves for the village school.”
Xu Chenyi pouted in protest, “If I acknowledge him as my godfather, what will become of my reputation? How will I show my face at school?”
He turned away, disgruntled, “If you want to do it, go ahead. I refuse!”
“If your mother recognizes me as her godfather, doesn’t that make me your god-grandfather?” Gu Xiangnan said with a laugh.
“You—!”
Xu Chenyi’s face flushed with indignation.
“I’m not one to force anyone. Even if you wanted to acknowledge me, I might not agree!” Gu Xiangnan turned and walked away.
Yun Lengyue was chatting with Su Hanyan when Gu Xiangnan approached.
Earlier, they had been busy with the rescue and had not had the chance for a proper conversation.
“Fifth Senior Sister, how did you find this place?”

“I have my own intelligence network. If I want news of you, it’s not difficult!”
Lengyue’s expression softened somewhat.
Gu Xiangnan felt that his Fifth Senior Sister was quite different from the girl he remembered.
Back on the mountain, though she was strong-willed, she had been little more than an inexperienced girl.
Now, after years of trials and battles, she had grown sharper and more resolute, with a touch of mature grace about her.
“Senior Sister, are you planning to stay for a while after returning this time?”
Lengyue shook her head,
“I can’t stay yet—there are still matters I must handle. Give me a few more days.”
Gu Xiangnan felt a pang of regret. “Senior Sister, since it’s rare for you to come back, let me host a welcome dinner for you tonight!”
“Chief!”
Wang Mei ran over excitedly, saluted Lengyue, and said solemnly,
“Wang Mei has completed her mission and requests permission to return to the team!”
Lengyue saluted in return and patted her on the shoulder,
“You’ve looked after my junior brother well. I’m very pleased—you’ve worked hard!”
Thinking of her time with Gu Xiangnan—especially the incident when he had taken liberties with her—Wang Mei’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
She quickly straightened and replied like a soldier,
“It was my duty, Chief!”
Lengyue frowned slightly—could this girl have fallen for her junior brother?
She quickly dismissed the thought and said to Gu Xiangnan,
“Xiaonan, our return this time is a covert operation. If I hadn’t been worried you were in danger, I wouldn’t have revealed myself.”
“I have urgent matters to attend to now and must leave immediately.”
She turned to Su Hanyan, “Elder Sister, you and Xiaonan take care of yourselves. I’ll come back to visit in a few days.”
She squeezed Su Hanyan’s hand gently.
Su Hanyan nodded almost imperceptibly.
Just before Gu Xiangnan arrived, the two women had been discussing matters concerning his parents.
Lengyue had cautioned Su Hanyan, “For now, don’t tell him about his parents. Otherwise, he might act rashly and seek revenge.”
Su Hanyan asked hesitantly, “He’ll find out sooner or later—we can’t keep it from him forever.”
“Keep it from him as long as you can—until he grows stronger.”
“Very well, I’ll follow your advice,” Su Hanyan agreed.
With Song Jinlong and all the guests bidding her farewell, Lengyue quickly left with Wang Mei.
Gu Xiangnan and Su Hanyan also said their goodbyes and returned home,
where, fatigued, they each showered and retired to their rooms for rest.
Gu Xiangnan began sorting through his gains from the day.

A snuff bottle, a sword, and the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron.
He picked up the sword—at the banquet, he had been too occupied speaking with Suzuki Genkurou to examine it closely.
Now, in the quiet, he studied it carefully.
The sword’s blade was slender,
yet surprisingly heavy.
Gu Xiangnan was strong enough to manage, but for an ordinary person, it would be difficult to wield.
The scabbard was crafted from rare black meteoric iron, intricately carved with patterns and inlaid with a few small gemstones.
“It certainly looks like a fine sword,”
Gu Xiangnan murmured, a desire to test its edge stirring within him, for a good sword was always sharp.
He drew the blade—
and stopped,
for the scabbard was empty; there was no blade within.
“Could it be… I’m opening it the wrong way?”
He stubbornly sheathed it and tried again.
Still nothing.
Gu Xiangnan stared blankly at the empty scabbard, full of doubt.
Could the blade have broken off inside?
He shook the scabbard vigorously, but there was no sound.
He ruled out that possibility.
“What… what’s going on? Is this sword useless?”
Gu Xiangnan felt disappointed. Suzuki Genkurou had treated it like a treasure—was it all a trick?
What use was a hilt with no blade?
Dejected, he was about to toss the hilt into the trash.
Suddenly, he noticed two characters inscribed on the grip.
Leaning in, he saw that they formed two words,
but the script was so unusual he couldn’t recognize it at first.
After some effort, he finally made them out: “Infinity.”
Infinity?
His heart stirred as a thought struck him.
“‘Infinity’… Could the secret of the sword lie hidden in these two words?”