Chapter 208: Off He Goes
Chen Ping'an turned his head and saw a familiar face.
The man no longer wore a bamboo hat.
Chen Ping'an stared blankly at this man, momentarily unable to speak.
The two maidservants, Chunshui and Qiushi, were greatly startled, and for a moment they were annoyed at this man's disregard for the rules—far too reckless.
A Kun ship was a "small world" of its own, with its own set of rules. For example, private fights were forbidden; if disputes arose, they had to be reported to the Kun ship's stewards. Unauthorized use of techniques or divine powers was prohibited. Mortal passengers were not to be bullied or disrespected. There were many such regulations, which could be considered tedious formalities. However, the sects that could afford to purchase Kun ships for cross-continent trade were, without exception, among the foremost mountain powers. Each ferry was generally staffed with high-tier cultivators and pure martial artists, and a large number of rogue cultivators skilled in combat were hired as well—this was the key. In the end, rules were dead, but fists were alive.
Therefore, along the corridors, decorative pink and green branches on the walls housed spirit creatures called Time Cicadas, which never slept day or night. They could store captured scenes in their memory, and even the slightest ripple of energy could not escape their perception. If a Time Cicada was killed, it would emit a piercing, mournful chirp. Thus, Kun ships used them to monitor thieves and petty criminals.
One must understand that among Qi refiners, there were all sorts—the good mixed with the bad. Moreover, the practice of cultivation could amplify the ripples in one's heart lake. For rogue cultivators lacking superior orthodox techniques to calm their minds, they often tended toward extremes of good and evil, acting solely on impulse. Furthermore, cultivation itself was a bottomless pit, draining mountains of gold and silver. Without ill-gotten gains, one could not become wealthy, and with wealth came risk. Naturally, there was no shortage of people with dark hearts and deceitful schemes.
Chen Ping'an let out a "heh" and then grinned with joy.
It was A Liang.
The man looked travel-worn. He was barefoot, his sleeves rolled up, with a hint of exhaustion in his expression, but his eyes sparkled with fighting spirit.
This was very different from the man who had once led a donkey and carried a bamboo sword at his waist. Back then, the man who called himself A Liang had been lazy and carefree, speaking in frivolous tones, always giving the impression of a braggart and an unreliable rogue. But now, the man had shed his traveling bamboo hat, his silver gourd for nurturing swords, and even his bamboo sword. When he suddenly appeared before Chen Ping'an, back when Chen was at the second realm, Chen could not see through A Liang's depth—he even felt that Zhu He and A Liang could have exchanged a few blows.
But from the second realm to the third realm—just a single realm difference for a pure martial artist—looking at A Liang now, Chen Ping'an felt that this A Liang was at least as strong as Elder Cui Chan in that bamboo building, if not stronger. Yet just how much stronger A Liang was, Chen Ping'an still could not tell.
But what did that matter? To see A Liang again so soon, Chen Ping'an smiled... he really wanted a drink.
A Liang stood on the wide observation deck, spotted the twin sisters Chunshui and Qiushi, and his eyes lit up. He immediately leaned against the railing, striking a pose he thought was supremely suave, pressed his hand to his forehead, and then swept it upward, slicking back his hair. "Hello, young ladies. My name is A Liang. I am a swordsman."
Chunshui, being steady and composed, said nothing. Her younger sister Qiushi, however, had a sharper temper. Moreover, this man had broken the rules first. The slender girl named Qiushi spoke with confidence, frowning. "I don't care who you are. On this Kun ship, unless there is an emergency in the sea of clouds, no passenger is allowed to use techniques, let alone break into someone else's room!"
After saying this, the girl sneered, "And who are you, 'A Liang'? What, are you the great immortal who fell from the sky? If you really are that, would you be willing to accept me as your disciple? I beg you!"
A Liang grinned wickedly. "In all my years roaming the world, I've never taken a true disciple. Unfortunately, my sword techniques are a bit too high—easily making people feel ashamed of themselves, so much so that they don't even dare think of studying under me. Young lady, you're the first to ask so directly. I like you!"
Qiushi was about to retort when her sister Chunshui gently grasped her arm. Qiushi, after all, was a well-trained maid of the top-tier rooms. Though she was angry at the man's disregard for rules and his glib tongue, she held back the words on the tip of her tongue. Chunshui was much more meticulous than Qiushi. This man, after all, was a friend of their honored guest Chen Ping'an. He hadn't done anything truly heinous. Of course, the rules of their Dajiao Mountain Kun ship had to be enforced, but not rigidly. Otherwise, this lucrative business of Dajiao Mountain would have been snatched away by others long ago. When away from home, harmony brings wealth—that was an unbreakable truth.
Chunshui first looked at Chen Ping'an and asked with a smile, "Young master, is this... A Liang your friend? Is he a guest staying in another room on the ship?"
Even as she said the name "A Liang," Chunshui felt a little awkward.
As for the idea that this A Liang might be *that* A Liang, Chunshui would sooner believe that a man in a filthy alley named after a continent's richest man had come knocking on the door to visit—who would think he actually was that unattainable tycoon?
Chen Ping'an simply said, "He is my friend."
Noticing that Chunshui was still waiting for an answer to another key question, Chen Ping'an had a flash of insight and smiled. "He is also a friend of the Dali Northern Peak True Deity, Wei Bo."
The riddle pressing on the two maids' hearts suddenly became clear.
So it was the Dali Northern Peak True Deity acting as the intermediary. No wonder even Dajiao Mountain would give them face.
Because Dali had annexed the entire northern territory of Bottle Gourd Continent, revealing its hegemonic posture—even Torch Dragon Continent had heard of it. Moreover, before the Kun ship established a ferry at Wutong Mountain in Dali, it had to pass over Dali's territory. Chunshui and Qiushi, as maids carefully cultivated by Dajiao Mountain, were less trained in cultivation and more as one of Dajiao Mountain's public faces—to interact with people flawlessly, build good connections. Perhaps one day, some mountain immortal would take a fancy to them and accept one as a beautiful concubine, forming a bond of goodwill between sects. That was one of Dajiao Mountain's original intentions.
Thus, Chunshui knew quite a bit about the state of the Dali dynasty.
She understood the weight of the Dali Northern Peak True Deity, and even her more impulsive sister Qiushi knew it too.
With such a connection, the already flexible rules of the Kun ship could be loosened even further. Chunshui pulled Qiushi into an elegant curtsy, and together they excused themselves, heading toward the main hall, leaving the observation deck to Chen Ping'an and the uninvited guest. As Qiushi stepped over the threshold of the study, she whispered, "Sis, should we inform Steward Ma?"
Chunshui shook her head. "No need. Don't add unnecessary complications. If Steward Ma thinks this relationship can be leveraged, he will certainly make a big show of it. And if that man truly is a friend of the Dali Northern Peak True Deity, he might get along well with the ship owner, but he'd probably dislike us for being too meddlesome. Think about it—who likes a gossip?"
Qiushi caught the implied meaning and said gloomily, "Sis, do you want to leave Dajiao Mountain?"
Chunshui's gaze was gentle as she pinched her sister's delicate earlobe. "Water flows downhill; people strive for the heights. When we become someone ourselves, we can repay our sect's nurturing more. Otherwise, spending every day serving tea, making beds, and washing clothes for all sorts of strange people—that's not really a life. Have you forgotten? We are also Qi refiners."
Qiushi slumped onto the table with a face full of worry, sighing, "Sis, I'll listen to you. I don't want to think about it too much."
Chunshui leaned in and whispered something in her sister's ear—embarrassing words, it seemed—making Qiushi's face turn bright red. Embarrassed, she straightened up and started tickling her sister's armpits. The two sisters began to play and tease, occasionally glancing back toward the study to make sure Young Master Chen hadn't caught them messing around. Even in their genuine emotions, they were gentle and demure, like soft water.
At the observation deck.
A Liang peeked his head around the doorway, seemingly searching for the enticing figures of the two sisters. Even just a look would satisfy.
Chen Ping'an suppressed a smile and asked, "Fighting someone?"
A Liang grunted. "Yeah, a shameless fellow. Among the Daoist sect, besides the Dao Ancestor, he's the most formidable old turtle. Tch, relying on favorable circumstances and protective artifacts. No matter, I'll go back and return him a punch!"
All the words Chen Ping'an had stored in his heart were startled away.
A Liang withdrew his sneaky gaze, turned, and walked to the railing. He looked Chen Ping'an up and down, clicking his tongue. "Kid, it's only been a few days, and you've already got a thousandth of my charm. Not bad, not bad! Impressive, impressive!"
Chen Ping'an didn't know what to say. He finally managed a polite reply: "Feel free to come down and hang out anytime?"
A Liang was taken aback, then said in exasperation, "Screw you..."
So you don't have much faith in me, huh? What, in your mind, I'm only capable of getting beaten? You don't know—that old Daoist in the feathered robe, I punched him so hard he plowed through countless outer-realm heavenly demons. But A Liang didn't bother to mention those details. After all, currently he had lost that round. He wasn't that old scholar, so he didn't have the nerve to brag about this and that. He would wait until he beat his opponent and then talk!
Then he'd tell this kid: "Back in the day, I beat that old sect leader so bad he pissed his pants. Chen Ping'an, I'm not lying—I never brag."
But come to think of it, that shameless old Daoist, who had actually accepted the title "True Invincible" as the Dao Ancestor's second disciple—A Liang might dislike him, but when it came to fighting, he really couldn't find fault. Seeing that A Liang didn't bring his sword, he too abandoned one of the four great immortal weapons. The two of them fought purely with fists and Dao techniques, high above the Azure Sky World, fighting each other while slaying heavenly demons. How exhilarating!
Sooner or later, he would make that stinky Daoist admit he was "Truly Have an Enemy."
A Liang noticed the vermilion wine gourd hanging at Chen Ping'an's waist and laughed heartily. "Oh? You can drink now?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Still not very good at it. I can only drink a little each time."
A Liang glanced at the sky. "Chen Ping'an, we can still chat for a while. Tell me the important stuff."
Then Chen Ping'an gave a rough account of his recent experiences.
A Liang gave a thumbs-up. "In that case, head south with confidence. Walk this journey of the jianghu well. Get stronger quickly. One day, come up and play. The mortal world is good, but the heavens above, with enemies as numerous as a forest, are also very exciting!"
Chen Ping'an felt somewhat guilty. "A Liang, even though I'm carrying a sword, I haven't officially started practicing swordsmanship."
A Liang grinned. "Punching to the extreme is the same as practicing the sword. Don't rush!"
Chen Ping'an wanted to say more but stopped.
A Liang patted Chen Ping'an's shoulder. "Don't think like that. Regarding the old sword strip on the stone arch bridge, it was indeed Qi Jingchun who first sent me word. But later he changed his mind, saying he'd chosen someone more suitable than me. I wasn't angry—I know Qi Jingchun's temperament better than anyone. But of course, I was curious: who could be that sacred being that made Qi Jingchun, that blockhead, have a change of heart? That's why we met later. Afterward, I let it go because I realized one thing: even if I had gone to that stone arch bridge in your town, she might not have chosen me. That time on the hillside, when I said the words 'something in the bag'—that was me bragging!"
Chen Ping'an was dumbfounded.
Even A Liang bragged?
A Liang squinted, his whole face crumpling together as if folding a beam of warm sunlight, and he laughed heartily. "What, not allowed to brag once? Like this time, when someone punched me down to the mortal world—isn't that embarrassing? Damned embarrassing! But I still came to see you, Chen Ping'an. Why?"
Chen Ping'an was completely confused. "Why?"
A Liang pointed at the sky. "A true strongman isn't about being invincible; it's about staying alive. No matter how badly you lose, don't die. Get up every time, and then throw your fists and swords in fury again!"
A Liang pointed south and said cheerfully, "Beyond that stinky Daoist's Daoxuan Mountain, at the Sword Qi Great Wall, I've honed my sword path for many years. Do you think I was always glorious and invincible? Absolutely not. I've been chased worse than a stray dog more times than I can count! Of course, in one-on-one combat, I fear no one under heaven. But those big demons shamelessly ganging up on me—I had to run when I needed to, curse when I needed to, and after barely escaping, I'd sneak back, take their heads, and swagger away. Then I'd toss those demon heads in front of the little bastards on the Great Wall—without me saying a word, they'd all start howling. You don't know how the girls and beautiful women over there look at you—their eyes could eat you alive! It's a bit embarrassing..."
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but call him out. "I believe everything before that. But that last part—I'm not too convinced."
A Liang said awkwardly, "You could have just not pointed it out."
For a moment, they were silent.
A Liang looked up at the big hole torn in the western sky, which was slowly closing.
Chen Ping'an suddenly shouted, "A Liang, want a drink?!"
A Liang paused, then laughed. "Put it on my tab!"
"Let's leave it at that for now. One day, when you reach the Sword Qi Great Wall, if some little bastard makes fun of me for this embarrassment, tell him that A Liang guarantees he'll soon punch that second disciple of the Dao Ancestor so hard that he'll crash into the Azure Sky World!"
A Liang let out a light cry, "Off I go!"
The Kun ship shook violently, sinking over a dozen zhang before finally stopping its descent.
A rumbling sound erupted above, and then a rainbow light rose to a peak that even the Kun ship's Qi refiners couldn't see, exploding with an even more startling crack. For hundreds of miles, the sea of clouds was completely obliterated. A Liang vanished utterly, appearing the next moment above the sea between Bottle Gourd Continent and the Middle Earth Divine Continent. With another loud boom, he shot past the eastern coast of the Middle Earth Divine Continent and past the towering, sky-piercing Sui Mountain, where a golden-armored deity sitting cross-legged in the void opened his eyes. He also passed by the White Emperor City above the Yellow River Little Cave Heaven, where a giant of the demonic path stood atop the city wall, watching the fleeting figure.
Over and over again, beneath the hole in the sky, he surged upward. The instant before the sky sealed shut, A Liang came and went, thus breaking through the void.
Chen Ping'an stood on the observation deck, unwilling to move for a long time.
Whether A Liang was invincible or not was yet to be seen, but he was truly unrestrained.