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Sword Brothers: Swords and Oaths Under the 'Harmony' Character

From Rivalry to Reconciliation: The Sword-Casting Journey of Two Brothers

By Beck_MoultonPublished 13 days ago 7 min read
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The broken knife and halberd were inserted diagonally into the ground, and the unextinguished red flames licked the uncoagulated blood.

A fierce battle has just ended.

The wind blows, and at the end of the smoke, young Chang and Pu stand on both sides of the master.

Many years ago, the master defeated the stubborn enemy and massacred Pingye. Now the master holds the commander's seal again, severely injuring the enemy, and the leader's head falls to the ground. The victory seems certain, but when the master draws his sword and wants to charge, the enemy's minions shoot a rusted arrow, flying crookedly and cutting the sword in the master's hand into two pieces. The army is in chaos, and the enemy counterattacks. The master is seriously injured but still tries his best to resist and fight, and the final battle ends in a tie.

The master sighed repeatedly. This sword was made by the master uncle, with animal face patterns and blue glass inlays. It was claimed to be able to cut jade and rhinoceros, but it collapsed at the touch. The master and the master uncle have always been at odds. It seems that the master uncle held a grudge and refused to concentrate on forging the sword, so he hastily settled the matter. However, Chang and Pu, who assisted him, were too playful to notice anything suspicious. The master was tired of defending against the enemy and neglected to distinguish.

The three master and apprentice returned to the place where the swords were forged. On a stone platform, the sound of copper and iron usually filled the ears, but now it was as silent as darkness, and the master was nowhere to be found.

The master pondered for a long time before saying, "The enemy's general will suffer losses and will inevitably experience turmoil and suffering. Our commander's sword will also reveal the weakness of our dynasty. Ten years later, once the situation stabilizes, he will make a comeback! At that time, the important task of guarding the border will be handed over to you two."

Ten years, a long time. "Chang and Pu Nian's recklessness has not faded. Although they were injured in this battle, their expressions are still calm.

A faint sigh escaped from the master's mouth: 'Disciple, I am intelligent and talented, but as a teacher, I have a kind heart and cannot bear to strictly control myself. Do you know that without elite weapons and heavy weapons, our dynasty would be in danger!'

Before the words fell, the master was already standing unsteadily, like a decaying grass in the north wind.

Chang and Pu were startled and shed tears.

The setting sun was reflected in the master's eyes, and he said, "I will sweep this casting platform again." His voice was dim, as if it were his last words. He held a bamboo broom and stumbled onto the high platform. The rustling sound sounded, and the endless falling leaves rustled down, as if to bury the master.

Chang ran up, grabbed the broom, and said with a crying voice, "Master, let me sweep it!"

Master said, 'No need.' He gathered Chang's shoulders and whispered a few words. After hearing this, Chang's whole body trembled and a cold light sparked in his eyes, shooting towards the cattail under the high platform.

Master added a few more words, and Chang reluctantly calmed down, standing in a corner with his neck stuck.

Pu Zheng was surprised when his master waved at him. Pu climbed onto the high platform and leaned close to his ear. After only half a sentence from his master, Pu's face changed color and he raised his hand to angrily point at Chang.

Master patted Pu's arm and advised him a few times. Pu's arm slowly drooped and his fists clenched.

The master looked at his two disciples with reluctance, sighed "Go away", waved his sleeves, and disappeared into the yellow leaves.

Chang and Pu went their separate ways from then on.

Zhang Chang packed his luggage and searched hard all the way to Zhanlu Mountain. He found a huge meteorite, built a stove, filled it with charcoal, and smelted it day and night.

Pu went barehanded, crossed mountains and rivers, reached Qixing Well, dug mountains to get tin, dried up streams to get copper, refined and polished.

Control of heat, removal of impurities, proportion of materials, modulation of quenching liquid... Over the years, residual edges and broken edges have penetrated the riverbank, like countless calamus water plants.

Thinking that the other party may have already made a divine sword and taken their own lives in an instant, Chang and Pu's necks felt a chill. The two did not dare to slack off, and their swordsmithing skills were improving day by day.

So ten years.

Almost at the same moment, two long swords lifted their heads from the whetstone, blooming with clear brilliance, reflecting into the eyes of one in the south and one in the north.

Two exclamations also sounded at the same time: 'Good sword!'

Returning home thousands of miles away, the two of them didn't say a word. They jumped onto the casting platform and set up a posture. As the sword qi reached, their clothes swelled like sails, and the thick fallen leaves scattered one after another.

Just as I was about to make a move, the setting sun shone horizontally, and a huge character appeared under my feet.

Surprised upon closer inspection, it is actually the character "he".

Originally, before the master passed away, he used the excuse of cleaning the forging platform and exhausted the last bit of internal energy to etch this character. He was troubled by the cleverness and lack of ambition of his two disciples, so he deliberately created conflicts, making them fear each other and afraid of being surpassed. Therefore, he did his best to create a peerless sword.

At that time, there was also a rift between the master and the uncle, which eventually brewed regret.

Family and country are in the heart, standing tall and firm.

A few days later, the smoke of wolves rose, and as the master had expected, the strong enemy who had regained his vitality once again invaded the border.

On the battlefield, Chang and Pu waved their swords to the sky. The blade of the sword was like the top of a snow-capped mountain. In the moment it touched the white sun, it shone like lightning and could not be looked at directly. With one strike, it flew down with a sharp whistle like an eagle, and a wisp of flowing clouds in the sky shattered in response.

Wherever the flag went, the armed forces shouted and killed, and the mountains and rivers trembled.

The enemy was frightened and fell off their horses one after another. They fought with both legs and knelt down for a long time without daring to lift their heads.

" General , let us harvest their heads like a melon, and then burn their city into a brazier!"

Chang and Pu clenched their swords tightly, and the army was gearing up, waiting for a command.

The two of them stopped the war drums at the same time. Every stroke of the huge "He" character was like a burning ravine, burning their eyes.

"I want to..." Chang hesitated to speak.

Pu took over Chang's words and said loudly, 'What Master seeks is the'harmony' of brothers, as well as the'harmony 'of living beings and the'harmony' of fate. '

Zhang Chang nodded in agreement.

The enemy leader fell to the ground and kept making promises.

The two sides drank together.

Chang and Pu said, 'The sword is the emperor of weapons and the ruler of a hundred weapons. The technique of forging swords is already in my heart.' The two ordered their subordinates to set up a forging furnace, blow the wind and burn it, throw the double swords in front of everyone, and melt them into water.

The enemy leader also took off his sword and presented it with both hands.

Since then, the border has been peaceful for more than 300 years. The two sides have traded and married each other, living and working in peace. Sooner or later, Chang and Pu will learn that they were actually brought back by their master from the arms of a dead foreign woman when they were clearing the battlefield years ago

Short StoryMicrofictionFantasyAdventure
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Beck_Moulton

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