The Unlikely Swordsmith

Heart-Burying Sword

In the rainy season, which is continuous and abundant with rain, I have to organize everything and keep them in a dry place; otherwise, they might all get moldy. One time during the rainy season, I forgot to store the rice in a dry place. When I opened the jar after the season, it was all covered in mold. My master scolded me, and the beating made me question life. He then took me around the town for three months.

However, the rainy season is not all bad. Shortly after it stops, the plums ripen. My master's favorite is the plum wine freshly brewed by Widow Bai at the end of the street. I once asked my master if he liked Widow Bai. He slapped me and told me to go away. But seeing his face turn red, I thought he might actually like her.

"Hey, little one, what are you thinking? Are you thinking about some girl in the town?" Widow Bai skillfully took two jars of wine from the nearby shelf and handed them to me. My master liked drinking, but I wasn't a fan. At first, I couldn't handle even a small cup. My master said, "You, little rascal, can't even handle a two-liang wine, so embarrassing." Therefore, I only ran errands to buy wine for him. The only time I got really drunk was the day of his funeral.

But I like plums. They are sour and sweet, delicious. "Your master has been gone for some time now. I miss hearing him yelling in the streets," Widow Bai said, a bit lonely. She pushed the wine towards me. "Little one, when you visit your master, give him a message from me."

"I'm going back." I felt that Widow Bai also liked my master. Although my master was robust, like a big black bear, and Widow Bai was a beautiful and clean woman, I wondered why she would be interested in him.

"Where are you going?" My mind didn't catch up for a moment. But Widow Bai just smiled and shook her head. "Little one talks too much, go play somewhere else." I didn't fully understand, but I had to convey Widow Bai's message.

Back in the shop, after some preparations, I packed the wine and food into a box and grabbed two umbrellas. I was ready to go to Plum Grove.

"Going to pay respects to your master?" When I opened the door, I saw the Divine Sword standing there with an umbrella. I nodded without denying it. "Let's go together."

The Divine Sword's words were always scarce. Since he returned, he spoke even less, but sometimes, when the two of us were silent, he would initiate a conversation.

"How did you and your master meet?" I had always been curious about this question, but the Divine Sword rarely mentioned his past.

"Your master?" The Divine Sword smiled. "Outside Jiuyun City, during the wine competition, he drank seven tables by himself, including mine."

... It sounded like something my master would do.

At the master's grave, there was always grass growing. Every month, I had to pull the grass out. After pulling it out, the grass would grow tall again the next month. I thought it was too much trouble, but Dr. Wang from the medical hall told me it was a rare herb. It only fed on wine and not dew. If I ever found that herb, he would buy it all from me. If I told him that I had burned all those herbs as firewood before, Dr. Wang would probably hit me with his medicine scale.

I hung an umbrella on a bamboo pole and placed it on the side to shield the rain from the grave. Then, I lit three sticks of incense and paid my respects, placing them on the incense burner in front of the grave. Next was pouring a jar of wine, provided by Widow Bai, and arranging the dishes that my master liked in front of the grave.

"Master, I've come to see you." I spoke sincerely. "I went to see Widow Bai today. I took some wine from her, and she asked me to convey a message."

"She said she's going back."