Chapter 385: Cutting Hair to Refine the Sword

Jiang Yun walked into the courtyard and stood in front of the thatched hut. With his left hand, he gently caressed the hut’s door. Although it was just a simple wooden door, in Jiang Yun’s eyes, it was as solid as the gates of the heavenly realm.

He gently pushed the door open. The hut was small, barely covering a few square meters. Inside, there was only a simple wooden table and a chair. On the table sat a teapot and two cups, while on the wall hung a Gu Qin. Everything inside was extremely simple, yet it gave off a feeling of tranquility and elegance.

Jiang Yun did not step in. He just stood at the doorway and gazed at everything within the hut. His eyes held a hint of nostalgia, as if he were seeing something from a distant past.

“Senior Brother, I’m here to see you.”

Jiang Yun’s voice was very soft, but it echoed clearly throughout the quiet courtyard. There was no response from within the hut. Jiang Yun didn’t seem to mind. He continued to stand at the doorway, quietly observing the scene.

Time passed slowly. It was as if time had frozen in this courtyard. Jiang Yun stood there for a long time, his gaze fixed on the objects in the hut.

Finally, he sighed lightly. “Senior Brother, I know you’re inside. Why don’t you come out to see me?”

Still no response. Jiang Yun remained silent for a moment, then spoke again. “Senior Brother, I’ve brought you some wine. It’s your favorite kind.”

He reached into his storage bag and took out a gourd of wine. He gently placed it on the ground outside the hut.

“I’ll leave the wine here. If you want to drink it, just come out and get it.”

After saying this, Jiang Yun turned around and prepared to leave. However, just as he took a step, a voice suddenly came from within the hut.

“You’re here.”

The voice was very calm, without any hint of emotion. Jiang Yun’s body stiffened. He slowly turned his head and looked at the hut.

A figure slowly walked out from within. It was a man dressed in simple linen clothes. His face was ordinary, but his eyes were incredibly deep, like ancient wells. He had a long beard that reached down to his chest.

This was the senior brother Jiang Yun had come to see.

Jiang Yun looked at the man and a complex expression appeared on his face. There was respect, nostalgia, and a hint of sadness.

“Senior Brother,” he said softly.

The man nodded slightly. His gaze fell on the gourd of wine on the ground. “You still remember my favorite kind of wine.”

“Of course, I remember everything about you,” Jiang Yun replied.

The man was silent for a moment, then he stepped out of the hut. He walked towards the gourd of wine and picked it up. He opened the stopper and took a deep breath, savoring the aroma.

“It’s been a long time since I last drank this,” he said.

“Senior Brother, why have you been hiding here? What happened?” Jiang Yun asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

The man took a sip of the wine, his eyes closed. After a while, he opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Yun. “Some things are better left unsaid.”

Jiang Yun felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He knew that his senior brother was hiding something, but he also knew that he wouldn’t force him to tell.

“Senior Brother, I’ve come to ask for your help,” Jiang Yun said.

The man looked at him, a hint of curiosity in his deep eyes. “What kind of help?”

“I need to refine a sword,” Jiang Yun replied.

The man’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “Refine a sword? You know I don’t refine weapons.”

“I know, but you’re the only one who can help me,” Jiang Yun said. “I need to refine a sword using my hair.”

The man’s expression changed slightly. He looked at Jiang Yun intently. “Refine a sword with your hair? That’s a forbidden technique. It’s extremely dangerous.”

“I know, but I have to do it,” Jiang Yun said firmly. “It’s the only way.”

The man was silent for a long time. He looked at Jiang Yun, his gaze filled with a mixture of emotions. Finally, he sighed.

“Alright,” he said. “I’ll help you.”

Jiang Yun’s heart leaped with joy. “Thank you, Senior Brother!”

The man didn’t say anything else. He took another sip of wine, then turned and walked back into the hut.

Jiang Yun followed him inside. The hut felt even smaller with two people in it. The man sat down at the wooden table, and Jiang Yun sat opposite him.

“Tell me about this sword you want to refine,” the man said.

Jiang Yun explained his idea in detail. He told his senior brother about the hair sword he wanted to refine, its properties, and the purpose it would serve.

The man listened quietly, his expression unchanging. When Jiang Yun finished, he was silent for a while.

“It’s a daring idea,” he finally said. “But it’s also very dangerous. You’re essentially using your life force to refine this sword.”

“I know,” Jiang Yun replied. “But I’m willing to take the risk.”

The man looked at him, a hint of admiration in his eyes. “Very well. If you’re determined to do this, I’ll help you.”

He then began to explain the process of refining a hair sword. He spoke about the materials needed, the steps involved, and the precautions that had to be taken. Jiang Yun listened attentively, absorbing every word.

The refining process was complex and dangerous. It required not only skill but also immense concentration and a strong will. Jiang Yun knew that he was embarking on a perilous journey, but he was not afraid.

With his senior brother’s guidance, Jiang Yun began the refining process. He cut a strand of his hair and placed it on the table. The man then produced a small, ancient-looking furnace.

The man began to chant incantations and perform intricate hand seals. The furnace glowed with a faint light, and a warm energy filled the hut.

Jiang Yun watched in awe as his senior brother worked. He had always known that his senior brother was powerful, but he had never seen him perform such a complex refining technique.

As the refining process continued, Jiang Yun felt his energy being slowly drained. It was as if his life force was being channeled into the strand of hair. He gritted his teeth and endured the discomfort.

The man continued to work, his face focused and serious. The furnace glowed brighter and brighter, and the energy in the hut became more intense.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the man stopped. The furnace’s glow subsided, and the energy in the hut returned to normal.

Jiang Yun looked at the strand of hair on the table. It had changed. It was no longer just a simple strand of hair. It had become imbued with a faint metallic sheen, and it felt surprisingly heavy.

“It’s done,” the man said, his voice weary. “The hair sword is refined.”

Jiang Yun reached out and picked up the hair sword. It felt strange in his hand, both light and heavy at the same time. He could feel a powerful energy emanating from it.

“Thank you, Senior Brother,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude. “You’ve helped me greatly.”

The man simply nodded. He looked tired, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

“Remember, this sword is connected to your life force,” he said. “Use it wisely.”

Jiang Yun nodded solemnly. He knew the responsibility that came with possessing such a weapon.

He stood up and bowed deeply to his senior brother. “I won’t forget your kindness.”

The man smiled faintly. “Now go. You have important things to do.”

Jiang Yun nodded again, then turned and walked out of the hut. He carried the hair sword carefully, feeling its power and its connection to his own life force.

As he walked away, he looked back at the thatched hut. His senior brother was still inside, sitting at the table, slowly drinking his wine.

Jiang Yun’s heart was filled with a mix of emotions. He was grateful for his senior brother’s help, and he was also worried about him. He hoped that one day, his senior brother would be able to resolve whatever was troubling him.

With the hair sword in hand, Jiang Yun left the courtyard and stepped back into the world outside. He knew that his journey was far from over, but now, he had a powerful new weapon to aid him.

He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.