True Solution of the Sword Dao

Tianjing, inside a suite of a certain hotel

A middle-aged man with seaweed-like long hair stood gloomily in front of the window, looking down at the streets below the hotel.

In the bustling passersby on the street, a young woman carrying a small shoulder bag calmly made her way within his line of sight.

The woman wore a loose red T-shirt exposing half her shoulder, her long hair reaching her shoulders, and a small tuft of bangs in front. Overall, she looked very much like the meek and delicate girls from a certain island nation often portrayed in TV dramas.

However, her expression was consistently cold and indifferent.

"Is she the one?" the long-haired man asked in a deep voice. "She seems a bit old." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

A shadow in the back of the room revealed a figure sitting in a high-backed wooden chair, resting a hand on his head.

"But there’s no one more suitable than her."

"Let’s wait and see," the long-haired man said noncommittally.

Suddenly, the woman in his vision entered the hotel.

"Ding Ning, one of the unfortunate outcomes of a recent battle between the Wu Family and Jinneng Temple. Her family of four, her father, mother, and brother, were all consumed as replenishing food by people from Jinneng Temple. On this count, she has an extreme thirst for strength and bears a bone-deep hatred for Jinneng Temple. Plus, she’s not lacking in intelligence. So despite being slightly older in age, all other conditions are more than suitable," said the figure in the chair with a smile.

"Alright, you help me twice more according to our agreement, and a sliver of divine artifact’s light will be yours," the long-haired man said gravely.

"That’s a deal!" The excitement in the sitting man’s voice could not be concealed. "In that case, I’ll take my leave. I trust you’ll be pleased," he said as his figure suddenly dissipated into countless wisps of black mist.

Not long after the man had left,

a slow, rhythmic knock at the door filled the room, suggesting the good upbringing of the person outside.

"Come in," the long-haired man said softly. "The door is unlocked."

The door was gently pushed open.

The red-dressed woman from before slowly walked in.

She glanced around the room, noticing no one other than the long-haired man, which caused a slight hint of surprise in her eyes.

"No need to look, close the door," the man said calmly.

The red-dressed woman quietly shut the door and stood at the entrance.

"I’m Ding Ning, introduced by the Nine Lives Cat Demon," she said respectfully.

"I know," the long-haired man turned around, appraising her.

Pretty face, a figure that wasn’t amazing but had some curves, and a stubborn determination faintly visible on her face. Her eyes occasionally showed a hint of vigilance.

"Fairly pretty," was the long-haired man’s first verdict.

"Nine Lives sent you here; do you know what you’re supposed to do?" he asked evenly.

The woman shook her head.

"As long as it helps me avenge, I’m willing to do anything!"

"Your enemies are not as simple as you think. Jinneng Temple is a top-level force even on a national scale. Do you think revenge is that easy?" the middle-aged man said indifferently.

"If I can kill the Taoist Lama, that’s enough for me; I wouldn’t dare to hope for the whole Jinneng Temple," the woman replied calmly.

"If it’s just that, I can give you an opportunity. After this matter is settled, you can get the compensation you deserve and kill whoever you want," the long-haired middle-aged man finally showed a hint of a smile. "You’ve heard of me, right? Or perhaps Nine Lives has given you some hints?"

"Yes, Red Hand," the woman said quietly.

"Then come with me. If you meet the standards, this deal is on."

*****************

Tianjing, on the second floor of a teahouse near a window, a young male student with neat short hair sat at the innermost table.

The second floor of the teahouse was somewhat noisy, with the clanging of Beijing opera on the central TV set. Some elderly men and women gathered in front of the TV, chatting while watching. Only a few people sat in a corner seeking some peace.

The young man was one of them.

This teahouse’s main clientele were the older generation, so it was extremely unusual to see a young person like him in such a place.

Not far from the young man, two elderly gentlemen were absorbed in playing Go, encircled by two other seniors draped in sweatsuits.

The student sat alone in the corner, casually flipping through a stack of photos on the table, all depicting beautiful girls with varying demeanors.

At that moment, among those ascending the stairs to the teahouse, a middle-aged long-haired man accompanied by a young woman made their way slowly to the second floor.

The long-haired man glanced over the second floor, his gaze locking on the student in the corner. He then walked over decisively.

The young woman followed behind him, also displaying some nervousness.

"I’ve brought the person," the middle-aged man said softly as he reached the young man’s side.

"Oh," the student responded casually, continuing to sort the photos in his hands.

Ding Ning, standing behind, felt some tension. As she glanced at the photos in the student’s hand, she noticed her own photo among them.

"They must be used for selection," she speculated.

Being brought here by Red Hand was strange enough for her; given Red Hand’s power and status, he still needed to take someone to meet another person. Evidently, the individual they were meeting was no ordinary character.

Ding Ning nervously stole glances at the sitting young man.

He was probably in his early twenties, with an ordinary face and a slightly above-average build. He wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans — a common style among young men on the streets of Tianjing. From his brief response earlier, his voice was somewhat deep, conveying a sense of gravity. But no matter how she looked, he seemed like an ordinary young man.

"Sit down," the young man said with a smile. His tone was quite gentle.

The Crimson Hand and Ding Ning sat down opposite each other at the table.

"This assignment could be quite dangerous, and it might take a considerable amount of time. Ding Ning, is it? Are you mentally prepared for this?" The young man asked with a smile.

Ding Ning quickly nodded.

The young man smiled contentedly, "Although you’re a bit older, in other respects you truly are the most suitable. I’ve looked for several others before, but none were as suitable as you."

"Then that settles it," the young man said, turning his face toward the Crimson Hand. "I appreciate your efforts."

"Serving you is my honor," the Crimson Hand replied gravely.

"You still have to make a trip to Europe, right? I hope you have a smooth journey," the young man said with a smile.

The Crimson Hand quickly nodded, "I will return as soon as possible."

"If you need any help, just say the word. Your friends are our friends," the young man said smiling.

"Yes," the Crimson Hand replied solemnly.

"Then that’s all," the young man nodded. "I’ll take my leave first."

He picked up the tea on the table, sipped it gently, stood up, and slowly walked away, descending the stairs.

The Crimson Hand gathered a stack of photos from the table and slipped them into his trench coat pocket. He stood up and took the seat where the young man had been sitting, facing Ding Ning.

"You’re still studying at Tianjing University, aren’t you?" he suddenly asked.

Ding Ning nodded.

"Yes, majoring in fashion design."

"Go and handle either dropping out or applying for early graduation. You’ll need to go to another place for a long time. The choice is yours."

"No problem. But I need a guarantee," Ding Ning said calmly. "I’m currently working temporarily for a fashion company using my status as a college student. If I’m going to another place, I need a stable source of income to maintain my livelihood. Also, how will I know that you’ll truly help me with my revenge?"

"Just a Taoist Lama," the Crimson Hand said disdainfully. "As long as you complete the task for us, you might even be capable of seeking revenge yourself."

"You guys?" Ding Ning asked, puzzled.

"Yes, us," the Crimson Hand replied with a smile. "Now, you need to learn about the specifics of the task and assignment."

*****************

"There are more sources of True Force," Lin Fei sensed as more than a dozen new connections emerged within her. This indicated that over ten more people had absorbed the True Force seeds. The continuous True Force flowed into Lin Fei like a river.

Today marks the official start of classes.

Sitting in the classroom surrounded by fellow students, a middle-aged woman lectured into a microphone. A white projection screen stretched behind her displayed the lecture content directly.

Seating was chosen haphazardly, whoever arrived first could pick their seat. Unlike high school, things were much more relaxed in the university.

This was a Calculus class.

However, the book on Lin Fei’s desk was not Calculus, but one for Fluid Dynamics. The textbook was nearly fully perused, signifying that she was close to finishing it.

"It seems Lin You is ready for preliminary involvement. Then Ding Ning can join in as a Barrier Master. After all, the Dream Eater and the Barrier Master are very similar, and their powers are almost identical in origin."

****************

Three days later

Ping City, Southwest Province (Xining Province)

Noon.

Lin You had just finished class and was quickly walking along the usual route to her regular training spot.

"Even at noon, you must not relax. Do not waste a single moment that could make you stronger," Feil’s voice echoed from Lin Fei’s shoulder.

The latter firmly nodded.

"I’ve never won in the several consecutive battles we’ve had. I don’t want to keep on like this," Lin You resolved.

"Then you must work twice as hard," Feil urged.

"Yes!"

The pair continued along the usual path, passing through the alley behind the school, which led to an old warehouse located between the third and first middle schools.

The alley was somewhat dim, but with small shops open on either side and a few passersby around, it did not feel too deserted.

Just after rounding a corner, which led to some concrete steps, a few more steps would take them to the warehouse used for training, the one Chris had rented.

However, someone was blocking Lin You’s way.

"Excuse me, are you Lin You?" a pleasant female voice reached Lin You’s ears.

"Who are you?" she looked up.

Standing in front of her was a blonde girl with brown eyes and very fair skin, who seemed to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, though her body was well developed. She was slightly taller than Lin You and looked down at her with a hint of superiority, repeating her question in fluent Chinese.

"Are you Lin You?"

"Yes, but who might you be?" Lin You asked, puzzled. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)