Chapter Fifty-Seven

The broadsword Zhou Yu carried was the kind once used by ancient executioners for beheadings. He tossed all the cold weapons he had into the car and turned to another shop. Zhou Yu had frequented this area before and knew that this particular shop sold especially high-quality goods—at especially high prices. The broadsword he used to wield had been purchased here.

After searching for a while, Zhou Yu picked out a silver spear, a suit of soft armor, and a pair of gloves. In these times, few people paid much attention to soft armor; most preferred bulletproof vests. Zhou Yu didn’t quite know why—though he liked firearms too, he still had a special preference for cold weapons.

He returned to the car again. After tossing the items inside, he went back into the shop. The silver spear was for himself; he felt it wasn’t suitable for Nian Yu. Not to mention the spear’s weight, but both ends of the weapon were bladed—hardly suited for a novice like Nian Yu.

Zhou Yu knew that in these black market shops, each had a small secret room. The best items were hidden there. It took him quite some time to find the secret mechanism. It turned out to be behind the calligraphy painting directly opposite the main entrance.

Inside were only a few cold weapons, and beneath each was an introduction. Zhou Yu glanced over them and was startled—most were legendary weapons.

There was the Heavy Sword of Giant Que, the Fish-Gut Dagger, the Demon Blade Muramasa, the Hundred-Forge Dagger — Pure Steel, the Hundred-Forge Dagger — Dragon Scale, and the Great Xia Dragonfinch. The only item without an introduction was a spear set aside. Its shaft was wooden, the spearhead a deep purple, engraved with two traditional characters: “Serpent Spear.”

Zhou Yu picked up the Serpent Spear and tried it out. The shaft was flexible, and the spearhead could slice through iron as if it were mud. Zhou Yu had been wondering what weapon to bring back for Nian Yu, but seeing this spear, how could he not take it?

He didn’t stop at the spear—he took all the legendary weapons in the room. With arms full of priceless artifacts from legend, he returned to the car and found Zhao Kui already waiting by the vehicle. Zhou Yu said nothing, tossing all the treasures into the camper van and driving off.

He went to a clothing store, picked up several coats and some women’s undergarments, then stopped by a bedding store next door for a few mattresses and quilts, before finally heading back to the supermarket to find Nian Yu and the others.

Once he found them, Zhou Yu invited Nian Yu and Xiao Jie to look at the cold weapons he’d brought back. He handed the Serpent Spear to Nian Yu and a Tang sword to Xiao Jie. Nian Yu fiddled with the spear, clearly delighted. But Xiao Jie didn’t take the Tang sword Zhou Yu offered. Instead, her gaze fixed on the Demon Blade Muramasa.

Zhou Yu frowned. "You want that blade?"

"Yes," Xiao Jie replied. "I feel like it's calling to me."

"Do you know what it is?" Zhou Yu pressed.

She shook her head. "No. Isn’t it just an ordinary sword?"

Zhou Yu nodded. "Far from ordinary. It’s the infamous Demon Blade Muramasa of the Wokou nation."

Xiao Jie’s brow knit. "So it’s that one. Wasn’t it lost long ago?"

"I don’t know," Zhou Yu admitted. "I found it in the black market. Judging by the murderous aura it gives off, whether or not it’s the real Muramasa, it’s not far off."

Seeing the longing in Xiao Jie’s eyes, Zhou Yu continued, "Since you want it, take it. But keep the Tang sword too. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t use the Muramasa. It’s said everyone who wields it is overcome by the murderous energy within and becomes bloodthirsty."

Xiao Jie nodded, accepted the Tang sword, and picked up the Demon Blade Muramasa. The instant she grasped it, her aura darkened with a sinister edge. Zhou Yu sensed the change in her, and realized it must be the influence of the Muramasa. In response, Zhou Yu released a chill of deathly energy.