Chapter 294: Sword Controlling
(Two things: first, the first issue of the periodical—friends who like "Sword Comes" and "Snowy" must go check it out. Second, I have a lot of things to do this month, so I can only strive for about 120,000 words of updates. There are always helpless matters in the world; one can only exhaust one's efforts. However, since starting "Sword Comes", a saying has deeply resonated with me: "Just ask about the cultivation, not about the harvest." Let us encourage each other.)
The young lady of Flying Eagle Fort, Huan Shu, had feelings for Lu Tai. Chen Ping'an wasn't blind, so naturally he could tell.
As for the gloom that the brother and sister couldn't shake off their brows despite being polite and warm, Chen Ping'an could also see it.
It seemed that the ghosts and goblins haunting this place were almost recklessly harassing the common folk, bringing immense hidden worries and troubles to Flying Eagle Fort.
In the martial world down the mountain, no matter how powerful a clan or sect you were, dealing with such matters was still beyond your strength.
The group headed to the main building of Flying Eagle Fort. The building was constructed with imposing grandeur—name plaques and couplets by famous figures, painted door gods as tall as a person, and white jade crouching lions on both sides—all showcasing the former glory and foundation of the Huan clan of Flying Eagle Fort.
In the guest hall, lights were brilliant. Thick red candles as thick as an infant's arm were placed, along with many old artifacts: large landscape paintings, paired screens depicting immortal scenes. Fort Master Huan Yang and his wife, the old steward He Ya, and several Huan clan elders stood at the entrance to welcome the two young men visiting Flying Eagle Fort for the first time.
Behind them stood many outstanding clan members and branch descendants. These people were all curious about Lu Tai and Chen Ping'an, after all, putting on such a grand spectacle was rare.
Lu Tai sent a voice transmission to Chen Ping'an: "A smiling face doesn't invite a fist. If you ask me, if the Huan clan of Flying Eagle Fort is smart enough, they'll take the initiative to confess and apologize to us after a few rounds of wine."
Soon, Lu Tai stopped being serious. Looking around, he said to Chen Ping'an in his mind: "Plenty of old antiques here. The Huan family of Flying Eagle Fort was quite wealthy in the old days. For a family down on Tongye Continent, they're pretty good. If they hadn't encountered trouble and been forced to hole up here, they probably wouldn't have needed us to show up. They would have hired immortal masters from Chenxiang Kingdom or nearby areas long ago to deal with those yin creatures."
Lu Tai had mentioned before that among the merchant families of the Haoran World, there was a saying about "old money" and "new money."
Banks and silver shops were divided into old and new. There were long-established brands that had stood for centuries or even millennia, as well as new forces that rose due to circumstances. The silver notes they issued and circulated naturally had a difference in age.
Before sitting down, Chen Ping'an keenly noticed something strange about the fort master's wife. Her entire aura seemed shrouded in clouds and mist, and it was the kind of ominous black fog, clearly stained with filthy energy. The woman appeared resplendent and well-preserved, but in reality, her vital energy was exhausted, on the verge of burning out.
Lu Tai didn't glance at her even once.
The evening banquet wasn't exactly a feast of delicacies from land and sea—just wild game, river fresh, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Huan Yang didn't put on airs from start to finish; his attitude was very humble. Even Chen Ping'an could clearly feel the discomfort of the Huan clan descendants. Their toasts and eating were perfunctory; they only moved when the fort master proposed a toast.
But Lu Tai was wrong. Even as the banquet neared its end, Fort Master Huan Yang didn't mention their stay in the odd alleyway. He only said that Flying Eagle Fort was a poor place with harsh surroundings, that their hospitality was inadequate, and hoped the two young masters would be magnanimous. However, after finishing the last cup of wine, the outsiders rose and dispersed. Huan Yang and his wife personally led Chen Ping'an and Lu Tai on a tour of the main building. When they reached a terrace on the top floor, everyone climbed high to look into the distance. Huan Chang and Huan Shu each brought a gift, both packed in wooden boxes. Huan Yang said they were heirlooms of Flying Eagle Fort, not worth much but still rare. A small token of welcome, not a proper gift. He hoped the two young masters would visit Flying Eagle Fort often in the future; they would surely welcome them with open arms.
Lu Tai handled the social niceties flawlessly.
He touched the railing and murmured, "A good place."
Thus, host and guests parted happily. Huan Shu wanted to escort the two to the alley, but Huan Chang found an excuse to hold her back. Although Huan Shu was displeased, she ultimately didn't insist on leaving the main building. She watched the two figures walking side by side on the wide street. Huan Chang said softly, "Xieyang was so seriously injured. Why don't you go visit him?"
Huan Shu frowned. "Father and Grandpa He both said not to act rashly. He's still so reckless. If it weren't for the immortal master arriving at Flying Eagle Fort tonight, how would they clean up the mess? Tao Xieyang is a grown man who manages half the affairs of Flying Eagle Fort. How can he still be so impulsive? Just because he's spent a few days in the outside martial world, he thinks he's invincible..."
Huan Chang said angrily, "No matter what, Xieyang was seriously injured for the sake of Flying Eagle Fort. Stop with the sarcastic remarks! If Xieyang hears this and leaves Flying Eagle Fort in a huff, no one would have the face to stop him! Do you really not know how many famous sects have been eyeing his martial arts talent and economic skills over the years?"
Huan Shu pouted. "Then the temple is too small for a big Buddha, right? What can Flying Eagle Fort do? Beg and plead for Tao Xieyang to stay?"
Huan Chang turned and scolded harshly, "Huan Shu, the more you talk, the more senseless you become! Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?! Xieyang grew up with you like family, and he's a good brother to me..."
Huan Shu's eyes turned red. She felt wronged, seeing her brother so angry for the first time. Her voice trembled, "But I don't want to marry him. He likes me, but I just don't like him. What can I do?"
Huan Chang sighed. Every family has its own difficult scriptures. This matter was a hard knot to untie.
Just as Huan Chang couldn't understand why such an outstanding martial arts fairy would fall in love at first sight with Tao Xieyang, yet Tao Xieyang didn't like her.
Why Tao Xieyang had liked his sister for so many years, a match that should have been smooth and natural, but his sister couldn't like him back.
As for whether, if Tao Xieyang married his sister, with the old steward's tacit support, after so many years of traveling north and south, and with everyone inside and outside Flying Eagle Fort respecting Tao Xieyang, the fort's name might one day change. Huan Chang didn't think much about that, or rather didn't want to dwell on it.
The autumn night was cool. The starry river was brilliant, dots of light like all the sorrows of the mortal world.
That night, before Chen Ping'an and Lu Tai reached the alley, a transcendent figure arrived on the road outside Flying Eagle Fort's main gate.
Only Fort Master Huan Yang and the old steward He Ya went out to welcome him, standing respectfully with hands folded. The atmosphere wasn't lively, but compared to the banquet welcoming the two young men, it was clearly more substantial.
The approaching man was tall, with sharp light shining in his eyes. He led a snow-white horse. He appeared to be around forty years old, holding a horsetail whisk, with a peachwood talisman plaque hanging at his waist, drifting along.
On both sides of the saddle hung two bundles of pine and cypress branches—quite strange.
On the whisk were carved two characters: "Quyou" (Dispelling Worry).
Fort Master Huan Yang and the old man He Ya quickly bowed. "We welcome the immortal master of Taiping Mountain."
The middle-aged man smiled and nodded. "No need for formalities. Descending the mountain to vanquish demons and eliminate evil is the duty of us mountain folk."
Before Huan Yang could speak, the man leading the horse looked up at the sky above the fort. "The yin-sha energy is indeed very heavy. If I'm not mistaken, Flying Eagle Fort just had a heavy rain. You should know that was no ordinary autumn rain. It was the evil spirits and demons entrenched here casting spells and setting formations, aiming to cut off your Flying Eagle Fort's lineage."
Huan Yang and the old steward exchanged glances. Huan Yang cupped his fists. "If the immortal master can save the five hundred-plus lives of Flying Eagle Fort, we will build a living shrine for the master, hand over the heirloom treasure sword 'Tingxue' (Stopping Snow) that our ancestor accidentally obtained, and the Huan descendants will serve Taiping Mountain and the immortal master for at least a hundred years, doing our utmost to repay the master!"
The man smiled freely, shaking his whisk. "Let's talk after I save them. Otherwise, a good karmic connection would turn into a merchant transaction—too reeking of copper."
Huan Yang was deeply moved, sobbing uncontrollably. "The immortal master is noble! Huan Yang has been rude..."
The man paid no attention and continued leading his horse forward, fully displaying the demeanor of an immortal.
That same night, another travel-worn and disheveled old man came to visit Flying Eagle Fort. He almost couldn't get the gate opened. Later, Tao Xieyang's friend, the young Daoist Huang Shang, hurried over upon hearing and brought the old man into the fort, settling him in an alley. Huang Shang was full of apologies. The old man didn't mind, walking around in the deep night. At one point, he leaned over a well mouth and sniffed the water from several wells.
After the old man settled in, he let out a soft "eh?" and, with a tap of his toe, leaped from the courtyard onto the rooftop. He looked intently in one direction, scrutinized for a while, then returned to the yard. "Does Flying Eagle Fort already have a master in residence?"
The young Daoist was startled. "I'm not sure if they're masters, but I know Flying Eagle Fort had two young gentlemen arrive a couple of days ago. One was elegant and graceful, truly a fine appearance. The other carried a sword on his back and didn't talk much."
The old man asked, "When you and Tao Xieyang encountered danger earlier, didn't those two come to help?"
Huang Shang smiled bitterly. "The old steward saved us. Those two didn't appear."
The old man nodded. "He Ya does know a bit of Daoist arts, but compared to that talisman those two pasted on their door, he's far off."
The young Daoist froze. "Those two are about the same age as me. Could they already be immortal masters of profound Daoist magic like you, Master?"
The old man snorted with a laugh. "What does age matter? It's the ones who can move mountains and overturn seas at a young age who are true immortal masters. In the eyes of real mountain immortals, half-baked ones like your master, who rely on old age to scrape together meager cultivation, aren't even considered peers."
Huang Shang still didn't quite believe it. He always felt that his master was a truly modest and indifferent transcendent, not one to boast about his immortal cultivation.
The old man didn't say more. Compared to those immortals who ride clouds and travel on the wind, he himself had basically lived his long years in vain—not exactly a pleasant thing to dwell on.
Over there, Chen Ping'an had pasted another Pagoda-Suppressing Demon Talisman outside the courtyard gate.
Neither of them felt sleepy, so they chatted idly in the yard.
Chen Ping'an's expression was grave. Lu Tai continued sitting in his chair, fanning himself with a smile.
Just as Chen Ping'an was about to speak, Lu Tai raised his hand to stop him. "If you say it, it won't work."
Lu Tai changed the subject, teasing, "A Gold Liquor Dharma Robe, two flying swords in the Nourishing Sword Gourd, a Binding Demon Rope of Dharma artifact rank. Once you break into the Seventh Martial Realm, wouldn't that be something?"
Chen Ping'an smiled knowingly, cheerful. "The bitterness is not for outsiders to know."
Lu Tai sighed. "Are you surprised that I never consider myself a sword immortal?"
Chen Ping'an snorted. "What's there to be surprised about? It's just because you're afraid of heights, right? When you went from Old Dragon City to Daoxuan Mountain, you took Guihua Island's transport. When you came from Daoxuan Mountain to Tongye Continent, it was on a Treasure-Swallowing Whale. Have you ever ridden a Kun ship?"
Lu Tai's face flushed red. He threw his bamboo fan at Chen Ping'an. Chen Ping'an extended two fingers together and gently twirled. The bamboo fan, as if pulled by invisible threads, spun rapidly, flew around Chen Ping'an once, and returned to Lu Tai. Lu Tai caught the fan, clicking his tongue. "Learning fast, applying fast, aren't you?"
The sword master's art of controlling the sword might be mysterious in the martial world, but for Chen Ping'an, who had entered the Fourth Martial Realm...
One method mastered, ten thousand methods mastered.