Obtaining Top Art on Family's Extermination Night

He found Fang Shuwen’s gaze still fixed upon him, a feeling like thorns on his back and a bone in his throat... He couldn’t help but look back, only to find Fang Shuwen still watching him with that same detached expression.

"Fang... Brother Fang?"

Zhao Ziying spoke softly, his eyes filled with questions.

"Walk with me. Let’s talk."

Fang Shuwen eased up on him and continued walking forward.

Zhao Ziying breathed a sigh of relief and quickly caught up, keeping pace with Fang Shuwen—daring neither to fall behind nor pull ahead.

As for the group up ahead... nothing had changed.

Zhao Ziying couldn’t help but be amazed.

’Fang Shuwen has them completely terrified, all on his own.’

Then again, remembering the guy Fang Shuwen had just thrown off a cliff, it made perfect sense.

’Just seeing him covered in blood tells you how many people he must have killed to get here... These people are probably scared to death.’

’I wonder why they’re still here. Why haven’t they run away yet?’

’Unless... they have an ace in the hole?’

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Fang Shuwen speak:

"You said that practicing the Seven Emotions and Seven Sins Heaven-Slaying Saber turns a person heartless and treacherous. What did you mean by that?"

"Huh?"

Zhao Ziying froze, then quickly said:

"I... I was just spouting nonsense. Actually..."

"Hm?"

Fang Shuwen turned to look at him.

Zhao Ziying immediately changed his tune:

"Brother Fang, there’s something you may not know. The so-called Seven Emotions and Seven Sins Heaven-Slaying Saber is an extraordinary Divine Technique. It’s more than just a Saber Technique; it’s also a unique art for cultivating one’s mental state."

"Elaborate."

Fang Shuwen said casually, still walking upward.

Beads of sweat formed on Zhao Ziying’s forehead:

"This... This is a secret of the Zhao Clan. It’s forbidden to share it with anyone outside the clan."

Fang Shuwen asked:

"And what happens if it is?"

"You die."

Zhao Ziying said bluntly, without a moment’s hesitation.

Fang Shuwen nodded.

"Close enough."

"Huh?"

Zhao Ziying froze.

"What’s close enough?"

"If you don’t tell me, you’ll die too."

Fang Shuwen smiled at him.

"Pretty close, isn’t it?"

"..."

Zhao Ziying thought about it for a moment. He had to admit, it was pretty close.

In his heart, he viciously cursed the group from the Jianghu who had pushed him toward Fang Shuwen.

’I’d already gotten away from this guy Fang, so how did I end up right back in front of him?’

As the thought crossed his mind, his eyes darted, and his lips began to move.

A voice, faint as a mosquito’s buzz, reached Fang Shuwen’s ears.

Fang Shuwen paused, slightly surprised, then realized what it was: a Secret Transmission technique.

The world of Martial Arts is vast, with an endless variety of techniques. Secret Transmission was one such Martial Art, allowing a person to send their voice directly into someone’s ear, bypassing everyone else.

Once mastered, one could even conspire right in front of an enemy, and they would be completely oblivious.

It wasn’t considered a powerful ability, but its applications were certainly ingenious.

Though Fang Shuwen’s Martial Arts were formidable, he lacked such a technique.

Zhao Ziying was quite skilled in this art. Though the voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, it was perfectly clear, and Fang Shuwen could hear and understand every word.

According to him, the key to the so-called Seven Emotions and Seven Sins Heaven-Slaying Saber wasn’t the saber itself, but the words "Seven Emotions and Seven Sins."

Ultimately, it could be summarized in a single phrase: ’The seven emotions are threads of silk, the seven sins a saber’s blade. Wield the seven sins to sever the seven emotions. When the heart is broken, even heaven can be slain!’

"What I told you outside the Chaotic Stone Forest... it was all true.

"The Martial Arts practiced by the Zhao Clan turns a normal person into a cold-blooded, ruthless monster.

"First, they cultivate an ’emotion,’ then they wield the Seven Sins Saber to cut that emotion away. By doing so, they comprehend the sin of severing emotion, using that sin to sharpen their saber and temper their heart.

"The heavier the weight of sin upon their heart, the more vicious and unforgiving their Saber Technique becomes."

Zhao Ziying continued to send his words via Secret Transmission.

Fang Shuwen’s brows furrowed slightly as he glanced at him.

"In that case, your so-called ’Sentimental and Righteous Red Dust Saber’ is real too?"

He didn’t know Secret Transmission, so he had to ask out loud.

Zhao Ziying nodded, continuing via Secret Transmission:

"I’ve known since I was a child how vicious that Saber Technique is. It’s just like a Demon Technique.

"Of course I refused to learn it... especially... especially..."

He seemed to struggle with his words, but after a moment’s hesitation, he continued:

"Especially after my father killed my mother to practice the Seven Emotions and Seven Sins Heaven-Slaying Saber. Ever since then, I’ve felt nothing but pure hatred for this Saber Technique.

"That’s why I created my own, the Sentimental and Righteous Red Dust Saber. But... compared to the Seven Emotions and Seven Sins Heaven-Slaying Saber, my technique is nothing."

As Zhao Ziying said this, his eyes filled with bitterness. He hated his own lack of talent and insight.

Fang Shuwen’s head snapped toward Zhao Ziying.

’He saw the sincerity in Zhao Ziying’s expression, and the hatred was palpable. His story was probably true.’

He let out a soft sigh.

"So, that’s the story.

"Then Zhao Wuji’s self-imposed exile in Cold Valley Town..."

"Hmph."

Zhao Ziying sneered.

"I don’t know why you’re suddenly asking about this, but this whole ’self-imposed exile for love’ story is complete nonsense.

"Seven Emotions, Seven Sins. The sin is the saber. The greater the sin, the more vicious the blade.

"Zhao Wuji isn’t in self-imposed exile in Cold Valley Town. He’s there ’sharpening his saber.’"

Hearing Zhao Ziying’s explanation, Fang Shuwen finally understood.

’He had been wondering how the Grand Sect Leader of one of the Northern Domain’s Five Great Forces could be so inexplicably tormented by love.’

Based on what Zhao Ziying said, after twenty years in Cold Valley Town, Zhao Wuji’s ’saber’ must have been honed to a terrifyingly sharp edge.