The Sword Courtyard lay at the eastern edge of the Inner Sect — a wide plateau surrounded by cliffs, once home to the sect's greatest swordsmen.Now, it was little more than an overgrown ruin.
Broken pillars leaned against cracked stone walls. Rusted sword racks stood half-buried in moss. The training dummies had long since rotted into splinters.A thousand swords had once sung here.Now, only silence remained.
Shen Liang stepped through the gate with his broom slung across his back, Zhao Fei trotting nervously behind.
"So this is where the legends trained?" Zhao Fei muttered. "Looks more like where they died."
Shen Liang smirked. "Every great sword starts as rust, Zhao Fei. The trick is knowing how to polish it."
The System chimed.
[Quest Activated: Keeper of the Sword Courtyard – Stage 1.][Objective 1: Clear the ruins and restore spiritual flow (0 / 3).]
[Objective 2: Recruit at least 3 Inner Sect disciples.][Reward: Courtyard Reputation +20%, Minor Qi Formation Array Unlocked.][Hidden Quest: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect – Stage 2 Progress: 2 / 10 → 3 / 10.]
Shen Liang twirled his broom and grinned. "Well, System, time to start sweeping Heaven again."
He swept once.
Qi flared.Golden ripples burst from the broom's bristles, racing across the courtyard. Dust and debris lifted like a storm, spiraling into the air before vanishing in a shimmer of light.
Zhao Fei shielded his eyes. "You call that sweeping? That's a battlefield technique!"
"Efficiency is enlightenment," Shen Liang said cheerfully.
By the time the glow faded, the entire courtyard floor gleamed like polished jade. Faint sword marks on the tiles glowed with ancestral resonance.
[Objective 1 Complete: Ruins Cleared. Spiritual Flow Restored.][Sword Resonance Density +10%.]
[XP +120. Qi Condensation Stage 9 (240 / 2000 XP).]
Just as he admired his handiwork, a cold voice echoed from above.
"So the rumors were true. A broom cultivator?"
Several inner sect disciples landed gracefully from their flying swords.At their front stood Nie Cheng, a senior disciple famed for his arrogance clad in white with a silver sword on his back.
Behind him were Lan Ruomei, a quiet girl known for her sword precision, and Wei Han, a burly fighter with fiery temperament.
Nie Cheng's eyes narrowed. "You're the one Elder Su took in? The laborer?"
Shen Liang smiled lazily. "Promotion through hard work and sweeping excellence."
Snickers spread among the disciples. Wei Han spat to the side. "You're mocking the Inner Sect!"
Lan Ruomei, however, tilted her head curiously. "Wait. This courtyard... the qi flow feels alive again."
Nie Cheng frowned, sensing it for the first time — faint pulses of sword qi weaving through the air. "Hmph. Coincidence. Anyone can wave a broom."
Shen Liang's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Care to test that theory?"
Nie Cheng sneered. "Fine. One strike. If I win, you leave the courtyard."
"Deal," Shen Liang said, planting his broom. "But if I win, you'll sweep under me for a week."
Gasps erupted. Zhao Fei nearly dropped his bucket. "You're going to die, senior!"
Nie Cheng's Sword flashed, releasing a sharp wave of sword qi the signature Cloud Piercer Technique. The air screamed as it cut toward Shen Liang.
But Shen Liang didn't move.
He simply raised the broom and swept.
A golden arc exploded outward. Wind and sword qi fused in a storm of shimmering light, meeting Nie Cheng's strike head-on.
BOOM!
The impact shook the entire plateau. Dust erupted, then cleared to reveal Nie Cheng stumbling backward, his sword trembling in his hands.Shen Liang stood unharmed, broom humming with divine resonance.
The System blinked.
[Skill: Wind Sword Sweep Lv.3 Activated. Effective Power +60%.]
[Combat Result: Victory.][Sect Reputation +8%.][Hidden Quest Update: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect – Stage 2 Progress 3 / 10 → 4 / 10.]
Nie Cheng stared, mouth dry. "You... used a broom to deflect Cloud Piercer...?"
Shen Liang spun his broom once, pointing it casually at the floor. "Correction. I cleaned your technique."
Zhao Fei couldn't hold back a laugh. "He swept your sword clean!"
Even Lan Ruomei's lips twitched.
Nie Cheng flushed crimson, but before he could retort, Su Qinglan's voice drifted down from the sky.
"That's enough."
All disciples bowed immediately. "Elder Su!"
She descended gracefully, eyes briefly meeting Shen Liang's. "It seems the courtyard has found its keeper."
Turning to the others, she said coldly, "Any who wish to learn the true sword may stay. The rest may leave. From this day forth, the Sword Courtyard is reopened under my disciple's care."
The disciples exchanged uncertain glances. One by one, they bowed.
Lan Ruomei stepped forward first. "Elder Su, I... wish to stay."
Wei Han grunted. "Me too. Let's see what sweeping can teach."
Even Nie Cheng hesitated... pride warring with curiosity before finally bowing stiffly. "I will remain. For now."
Shen Liang's grin widened. "Welcome, my first batch of janitor swordsmen."
Su Qinglan sighed softly. "Shen Liang... at least call them disciples."
"Yes, Master. Disciples of the Broom."
She pressed a hand to her forehead. "Heaven help us."
The System flickered with satisfaction.
[Objective 2 Complete: Recruited 3 Inner Sect Disciples.][Quest Complete – Keeper of the Sword Courtyard (Stage 1).] [Reward: Minor Qi Formation Array Unlocked. Courtyard Reputation +20%.]
[Hidden Quest Progress: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect – Stage 2 Progress 4 / 10 → 5 / 10.]
As night fell, sword qi began to hum faintly through the newly restored courtyard, gentle, alive, resonating like an awakening heartbeat.
Shen Liang gazed over the glowing field and whispered with a satisfied smile,"Good morning, Falling Sword Sect. Time to wake up."