Chapter 063: A String of Good Fortune

A sword? Yes, it was indeed a sword. A dull, withered, blunt little wooden sword, no larger than an adult man's middle finger.

It was so small—was it really not just a child's toy?

Though questions lingered in his heart, Su Jingxing maintained a calm expression.

“Ahem—”

Zhang Shanfeng looked slightly embarrassed and spoke in a low voice. “Well, Xiao Su, it may not look like much, but this thing is strange. Blades can't cut it, fire can't burn it, water can't wet it, and earth can't rot it. My grandfather got it over fifty years ago, and it's never changed, always looking exactly the same as the day he found it!”

“Is that so?” Su Jingxing's interest was piqued. “How did Old Master Zhang acquire it?”

“Fished it out of the water,” Zhang Shanfeng’s father interjected.

“Fished it... out of the water?” Su Jingxing echoed.

“To be precise, it was found in the belly of a fish,” Zhang Shanfeng explained. “It was by the southern bank of the Tianshui River. My grandfather caught a giant fish, nearly two meters long, and when he gutted it, he discovered this little trinket inside.”

“Of course, maybe the fish just swallowed the thing, and it simply stayed in its stomach, neither digesting nor decaying, until now!”

“Then it's truly impossible to estimate how long this thing has existed,” Su Jingxing mused.

“Exactly.” Zhang Shanfeng nodded. “It's peculiar, but it serves no purpose—at least, not one we know. For fifty years, it’s been like this. Xiao Su, take it. Maybe you can uncover its secret. I believe, in your hands, it will reveal something extraordinary!”

“Uncle Zhang, you flatter me. I don’t have such abilities,” Su Jingxing replied with a smile, declining. “Even if it’s useless, as you said, it’s been in your family for over fifty years. After all that time, it’s more or less an heirloom, full of sentimental value. I think it’s best if you keep it...”

With a thud, Zhang Shanfeng dropped to his knees without another word.

The old man did the same, kneeling beside him.

Seeing this, the others followed suit.

“Hey, hey, don’t do this!” Su Jingxing was exasperated—who ever forced a gift like this?

He wasn’t being insincere. The little wooden sword was odd, but after more than fifty years in Zhang Shanfeng’s family, they hadn’t discovered its secret. Why should things be any different just because it was in his hands?

But from their actions, it was clear that if he refused, they wouldn’t get up.

Left with no choice, Su Jingxing nodded. “Very well, I’ll accept it. Please, get up.”

“Good, good.” Zhang Shanfeng beamed and started to rise.

Smack—

The old man suddenly slapped him across the back of the head.

Zhang Shanfeng shuddered and quickly stayed kneeling. “Um, Xiao Su, there’s another matter. I heard you’re renting a place, right?”

“...Yes, why?” Su Jingxing asked, puzzled.

“Ahem—” Zhang Shanfeng cleared his throat and assumed a serious tone. “Here’s the situation. My old house has been empty for years, located on the south bank of the Tianshui River. The reason I fell in the river this time was because I went back to fix it up and stumbled upon a monster in the water.”

“After that fright, I’m planning to sell the old house. When I heard you were renting, my father and I immediately decided to give it to you, as thanks for saving me.”

“But, you’ve already given me the wooden sword,” Su Jingxing tried to refuse.

He did want a place of his own, but he couldn’t just accept someone’s ancestral home.

“That’s different,” Zhang Shanfeng waved his hand dismissively. “That little thing is just an extra. The house is the real token of our gratitude. Xiao Su, don’t overthink it. We moved to the city almost twenty years ago, and the old house has been empty ever since. If we leave it unattended, it’ll fall into ruin. But if we maintain it, it costs a lot every year. Giving it to you saves us the trouble...”

Smack—

The old man slapped Zhang Shanfeng on the head again.

“What are you saying?” the old man scolded, eyes wide. “What do you take Xiao Su for? Huh? Trouble? Is this how you show your gratitude? Are you trying to kill me with anger?”

Smack, smack, smack!

The old man, growing more furious as he spoke, grabbed Zhang Shanfeng and gave him a good beating.

Su Jingxing hurried to intervene, placating the old man as he reluctantly agreed.

Fine, he’d take the old house.

Though Zhang Shanfeng’s family wasn’t rich, they weren’t destitute either. As far as Su Jingxing knew, their family lived above a shop on a pedestrian street in the western district—a typical arrangement with living quarters above, a shop below, and a small courtyard in back.

So losing the old house meant little to them.

Especially lately, with the river monsters causing havoc and many deaths, hardly anyone wanted to live near the southern bank. Those little houses at the foot of the mountain weren’t worth much even in peaceful times, let alone now. By accepting the place, Su Jingxing was actually helping Zhang Shanfeng.

And Zhang Shanfeng meant it—he transferred the deed and full ownership to Su Jingxing.

With the house in his possession, Su Jingxing finally had a place he could call his own.

To others, a courtyard at the mountain’s foot was nothing but a burden. To Su Jingxing, it was perfect.

The old house was less than five hundred meters in a straight line from the crematorium.

Secluded and quiet, it was just right for his cultivation.

If he could get a pet to watch the house, that would be even better.

For instance, that giant white goose from the valley in the Qingyun Mountains!

Thinking of the white goose, Su Jingxing took out the “bonus” little wooden sword.

Zhang Shanfeng’s family had tried every way they could think of to uncover its secret, but never succeeded. Su Jingxing doubted he would fare any better.

However, if he took it to bask in the strange silver light of the white goose’s innate power, perhaps he’d discover something?

The secret hidden in the “Eight Steps Ascending Dragon” manual had only been revealed thanks to that mysterious silver light.

Su Jingxing pondered for a moment, then decided to give it a try.

Of course, there was no rush. After all, it had waited more than fifty years already.

Wan Rong would be back soon.

Su Jingxing planned to finish his business, resolve his predecessor’s lingering obsessions, and then head to the valley.

...

Now that he had his own place, Su Jingxing moved in the very next day.

Zhang Shanfeng had just finished refurbishing the old house, complete with new furniture and bedding, so it was ready for him.

Originally, Su Jingxing had planned to buy such a courtyard using lottery winnings, after hacking the lottery center’s system.

But now he had a house, so there was no need.

Unexpectedly, even though he’d given up on hacking, the lottery ticket he’d bought actually won!

He really was on a lucky streak.

Third prize—after tax, over a million Dayu coins!

Su Jingxing was overjoyed.

There was no reason not to take the money. Of course, he’d need to disguise himself when claiming it.

Had it not been for Zhang Shanfeng’s old house, he would have gone in person to claim the prize.

Now, things were much simpler.

...

And when luck comes, it cannot be stopped.

The very next morning, just after Su Jingxing woke up, he received a notification from “Rainbow Sword Immortal” that the draw was about to begin.

He quickly turned on his computer and logged in to Big Fish Forum, one of the three major social websites in the nation.

The “Rainbow Sword Immortal” giveaway was being held on this forum.

Half an hour after the announcement, the draw began.

Su Jingxing, well prepared, hacked into the forum’s backend to influence the process.

The result—

He won!