Chapter 595: Ten Peak Sword Immortals of the Sword Qi Great Wall
Fan Dache was covered in fine cuts and bruises today, drinking alone in the tavern, staring blankly into space.
Chen Sanqiu wasn't much better off; he had his fair share of injuries.
They had agreed on a five-man team effort, cornering and killing the sword immortal Nalan Yexing within the mustard seed small world of the Ning Estate's training grounds.
But in the end, aside from Chen Ping'an, Chen Sanqiu, Yan Zhuo, and Dong Huafu, plus the most burdensome Fan Dache, not a single one of them had come out unscathed. It was just a matter of how many wounds each had.
Fatty Yan went home to continue sword practice. Dong Charcoal was off wandering somewhere again, eating and drinking, buying this and that—all charged to Chen Sanqiu and Yan Zhuo's accounts.
Fan Dache said, "Sanqiu, I'm suddenly a bit scared of becoming a Golden Core sword cultivator. Once I'm Golden Core, I won't have a sword master as an attendant."
Chen Sanqiu laughed. "Then I'm better off than you. I was born into a good family, a big surname, with money and people at home. Even after reaching Golden Core, I'll still have clan sword masters helping guard my formation. Happy, truly happy. Let me drink to that."
As promised, Chen Sanqiu raised his bowl and took a gulp.
Chen Sanqiu had come to realize that with a meticulous friend like Fan Dache, it was better to speak directly rather than beat around the bush. There was no need to be overly mindful of his feelings.
Fan Dache chuckled along. "Chen Ping'an promised that next time a big battle breaks out, I can follow you all off the city wall. That means he's my sword master, right?"
After so many sparring sessions, even a fool like Fan Dache could see some of Chen Ping'an's intentions—not only helping Fan Dache refine his realm, but also training everyone to work in harmony, striving to survive the next battle while killing as many demons as possible.
Chen Sanqian raised his wine bowl and clinked it. "Then you, Fan Dache, are something special. To have such a privilege, getting Chen Ping'an as your attendant."
Fan Dache poured himself another bowl of wine and wiped his mouth. "Thinking about it that way, I'm willing to become a Golden Core sword cultivator after all."
Lowering his voice, Fan Dache said, "Chen Ping'an is already a Fifth Realm Qi Practitioner, and he broke through right here on our Sword Qi Great Wall. Why isn't he in the tavern bragging about it?"
Chen Sanqiu laughed. "Probably too embarrassed to make a big deal out of it, seeing as he's not even at the Dwelling Realm yet."
Fan Dache shook his head. "What does he have to be embarrassed about?"
Earlier, when they were drinking here together, Chen Ping'an had stood up and toasted all the guests, delivering a heartfelt speech. "All you sword immortals," he'd said earnestly, "why haven't you broken through yet? Don't be polite with me! What's there to be polite about? You drink our Sword Qi Great Wall's cheapest wine, eat our best plain noodles, take free pickled vegetables, yet you dawdle and don't break through. That's like squatting in the latrine without shitting! Do you deserve my tavern's wine? Do you deserve the couplets and horizontal scroll on my tavern's door? If you don't get your act together, from now on, any bachelor who comes to drink here will be charged extra!"
At the time, all the drinkers were stunned. They felt something was off, but if they tried to argue, say, about that "squatting in the latrine without shitting" bit, they'd end up losing out anyway.
Actually, that wasn't the worst part. The thing that really made people jump and curse was the bet about Dong Huafu paying up voluntarily. Almost no one won money on that. At first, everyone was pretty happy, since the second manager and that little fatty Yan were also losing a ton of money. Later, Pang Yuanji, the only one who made money on the surface, came to the tavern grinning and drinking. Then people gradually started to catch on, and that bastard Nascent Soul old thief who ran the book—wasn't he the same asshole who'd inexplicably written that poem before?
Damn it! Such a familiar scheme!
So today, Chen Ping'an didn't go drinking with Chen Sanqiu and Fan Dache. Instead, he went to the Sword Qi Great Wall.
On the way, Chen Ping'an, who'd earned several Grain Rain coins after splitting the profits, decided that next time, he'd have to find someone else to run the book. Maybe the sword immortal Tao Wen—he seemed pretty honest.
On the city wall, Chen Ping'an didn't directly pilot his talisman boat over to his senior brother. Instead, he walked an extra hundred-plus miles.
During that time, he encountered a group of lower-fifth-realm child sword cultivators practicing under the guidance of a Nascent Soul sword cultivator.
Watching such practice sessions wasn't forbidden.
So Chen Ping'an sat on the city wall, watching from afar. Not far away, a half-dozen brats were lying on the wall, arguing about how many Lin Junkis it would take to beat a single Second Manager.
The children who could come up onto the city wall to play weren't ordinary—they were either wealthy or noble, or naturally talented in sword practice.
Kids from places like Beauty and Ugliness Alley or Spiritual Connection Alley didn't come here. For one, the city was too far from the Sword Qi Great Wall for ordinary street kids to manage the journey. For another, the city wall was heavy with sword intent and dense with sword qi—children with weak physiques couldn't withstand the ordeal. That was life. Some people thrived from childhood, while others struggled more as they grew up.
One child noticed Chen Ping'an sitting nearby and shouted, "Second Manager, tell us the truth—can you take on five Lin Junkis with one hand? If you nod, you'll be my friend Yuan Zaohua from now on!"
Chen Ping'an didn't turn his head; he just waved his hand to shoo them away.
The kid, whose name carried no small significance, wasn't willing to give up. "Then three? Three is okay, right?!"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Never fought him, so I don't know."
Yuan Zaohua yelled, "Then I'll go deliver a challenge for you! I'll say the Second Manager intends to take on Lin Junbi, Yan Lü, Jiang Guancheng, and everyone else—with one hand!"
Chen Ping'an stood up, walked over to the hands-on-his-hips kid, and paused. It turned out to be a tomboy. He pressed down on her head, twisted it gently, then kicked her on the butt. "Get lost. Do you even know how to write? And you want to deliver a challenge letter?"
Yuan Zaohua steadied herself and snapped, "I know a ton of characters! Way more than you!"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Can you write the phrase 'bragging without a draft'?"
Yuan Zaohua said, "I can write it, but I won't. Actually, you can't write it yourself and want me to teach you, right? Dream on!"
She was clearly the leader of the group. The other children, in solidarity, all chimed in with her.
Chen Ping'an plopped down, facing north toward the city. He twisted his wrist, took out a bamboo leaf, and began to play a tune.
After hearing it, Yuan Zaohua dismissed it. "Not good."
The other children had no choice but to nod along like chickens pecking rice.
When Chen Ping'an didn't respond, Yuan Zaohua felt a little let down. He was just patting his knees lightly with his hands, gazing northward. Beyond the city, further north, was the bustling, mixed-bag mirage of a market city.
Chen Ping'an suddenly asked with a smile, "Who do you think are the ten most powerful sword immortals right now? No need for ranking."
Yuan Zaohua rolled her eyes. "Without a ranking, what's the point? Boring. Go figure it out yourself."
Chen Ping'an got up to leave. Time to practice his sword.
Training with his senior brother these days was relatively easy—just use four flying swords to fend off sword qi, and try to die fewer times.
Yuan Zaohua reached out a hand. "Chen Ping'an, if you give me a folding fan, I'll reveal a heavenly secret to you."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "You've got quite the scheme going."
Yuan Zaohua spread her arms to block Chen Ping'an's way, her eyes stubborn. "Hurry up! It has to be the fan with the best and most calligraphy!"
Chen Ping'an didn't want to bother at first, but then he remembered something. He sat back down. "You talk first. I'll decide based on my mood."
Yuan Zaohua spilled the beans like bamboo shoots from a broken tube: "The greatest sword immortal, Dong San'geng, A Liang, the Hidden Officer, Chen Xi, Qi Tingji, Zuo You, Nala Rash Weed, the Old Deaf Man, Lu Zhi. That's the ten! Give me the fan!"
Chen Ping'an stood up, took out a jade bamboo folding fan from his inch object, and slapped it into the tomboy's hand. "Keep it safe. It's worth a ton of immortal money."
Yuan Zaohua opened the fan. She liked it, but there were too few characters on it, and she couldn't recognize most of them. She got angry. "Swap it! I want one with more characters!"
Chen Ping'an pressed down on her little head again, twisted it gently, and turned her head to the side with a smile. "Little girl, trying to haggle with me? Take what you get, or I might change my mind."
Yuan Zaohua closed the fan she'd acquired and tucked it behind her back. She reached out her hand again. "Then I'll buy another fan from you—the one with the most characters!"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Got any money?"
Yuan Zaohua said seriously, "The greatest sword immortal, Dong San'geng, A Liang, the Hidden Officer, Chen Xi, Qi Tingji, Zuo You, Nala Rash Weed, the Old Deaf Man, Lu Zhi. From today on, add Second Manager Chen Ping'an! That's our Sword Qi Great Wall's strongest eleven sword immortals!"
Chen Ping'an was thoroughly amused. He gave her another fan, one with a lot of characters indeed, and said with a grin, "Little girl, you're pretty good. You're the first one on the Sword Qi Great Wall to swindle money out of me."
Yuan Zaohua didn't care about such "empty fame." She now had fans in both hands and was overjoyed. Suddenly, she lowered her voice and asked in a negotiating tone, "Give me another one. Fewer characters is fine. I can rank you in the top ten, even the top five!"
But that silly Second Manager just walked away laughing.
Before he left, though, he took out a small seal, breathed on it, had Yuan Zaohua hand him the fan with fewer characters, stamped it lightly, and returned the fan to the little girl.
The group of kids watched in stunned confusion.
The old Nascent Soul sword immortal, having finished his sword teaching session, came over to the children after Chen Ping'an had walked far away.
Yuan Zaohua was lying on the wall, the two fans spread out before her, struggling to recognize the characters. Of course, she preferred the fan densely packed with writing—it looked more valuable.
But the old man bent down and examined the fan with fewer characters, chuckling to himself.
"Most fine things are not durable; colored clouds easily scatter, glass is brittle."
"Colored clouds scatter but return; the heart is like glass—shattered or not."
The first line was a very famous verse from the Bright World.
The second line was a poor sequel—total nonsense, the meaning a million miles off. It must have been made up randomly by that young man himself.
Still, the intent was good, altering the first line's desolate and bitter tone. It showed some thought, and that was all.
The old sword cultivator let out a soft "oh," crouched down, and looked at the inconspicuous vermilion seal. He smiled. Interesting.
The seal inscription read: "In the human world, there is much parting and separation, but even broken mirrors can be reunited."
Thinking of Yuan Zaohua's background—her father, who had been poised to enter the upper fifth realm, died fighting on the southern front, leaving her and her mother alone—the old sword cultivator looked up and gazed at the distant figure of the young man walking away.
Regardless, it was different from the scholars from the academies and schools of the past.
Not that the former were unwilling to do something, but they almost always hit dead ends. Over time, they naturally grew disheartened and returned to the Bright World in dejection.
Chen Ping'an reached Zuo You.
Zuo You asked, "So soon you've broken through?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "I'm already a Fifth Realm Qi Practitioner."
Zuo You said, "In governance and cultivation of the heart, you must not slack off."
Probably only a senior brother like Zuo You would not worry about his junior brother's low realm but would instead worry about breaking through too fast.
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "With you watching over me, I wouldn't dare slack off even if I wanted to."
Zuo You sneered, "Why not say, 'I wouldn't dare want to die a few more times under the sword qi'?"
Chen Ping'an knew he was in for a rough sword practice session.
—
The osmanthus maiden Jin Su on the Osmanthus Island ferry boat was actually the only direct disciple of Madame Gui. Ten years ago, she was at a certain realm, and she still hadn't progressed, as breaking through a bottleneck was difficult. So this time, when the transcontinental ferry docked at Inverted Mountain, Madame Gui deliberately let Jin Su stay longer to relax. Mountains and seas adjacent—this was a uniquely blessed feng shui treasure land. Not only that, but Madame Gui also gave Jin Su a Grain Rain coin as pocket money this time, telling her with a smile, "When you see those beloved items you've been thinking about for nearly twenty years, don't hesitate." It gave Jin Su a big surprise. She wanted to refuse, but Madame Gui waved her hand and also instructed Jin Su, "Mr. Qi and his disciple are both boarding Inverted Mountain for the first time. Remember to help them as much as you can."
Jin Su didn't think much of it.
Qi Jinglong and his disciple Baishou hadn't reported their sect affiliation, so Jin Su just took them for a Confucian scholar and his book boy on a study trip.
North Juju Continent was famous for having as many sword cultivators as clouds, but the master and disciple didn't carry any swords.
This time, they took the Osmanthus Island ferry far away to Inverted Mountain. Because they were said to be friends of Chen Ping'an, they stayed in the Gui Mai courtyard that had already been registered under Chen Ping'an's name. Jin Su didn't interact much with the master-disciple pair. Occasionally, she accompanied Madame Gui to visit the courtyard for tea or something. Jin Su only knew that Qi Jinglong came from North Juju Continent, traveled south on the Hemp-Clad Sect ferry from Skeleton Beach, stopped midway at Dragon Spring Prefecture in Great Li, then went straight to Old Dragon City. Just when the Osmanthus Island ferry was heading to Inverted Mountain, they ended up staying in the unoccupied Gui Mai courtyard.
Since her master Madame Gui didn't mention the other's cultivation level, Jin Su didn't bother asking about his background. She just saw him as an ordinary ferry passenger she'd meet once and never see again.
What did his family background, cultivation level, or character have to do with her, Jin Su?
But she dared not neglect the task her master had assigned. The Osmanthus Island ferry was still docked near Catch and Release Pavilion this time. She introduced the origin of the pavilion to Qi Jinglong. Unexpectedly, that oddly named boy, after seeing the plaque personally inscribed by the Second Dao Ancestor, lost interest in visiting the small pavilion. Instead, Qi Jinglong insisted on standing inside the pavilion. Jin Su didn't care either way. The boy Baishou was impatient. Only Qi Jinglong slowly squeezed through the crowd and lingered in the bustling Catch and Release Pavilion for a long time. Finally, he left the most uninteresting of Inverted Mountain's eight scenic spots, then looked up at the plaque, as if he could actually see some hidden meaning. This made Jin Su slightly displeased—such pretentiousness, it was hardly comparable to Chen Ping'an back in the day.
Fortunately, Jin Su was naturally a cold-tempered woman; no signs showed on her face.
Besides, standing nearby were several osmanthus maidens close to her. They would explore together for the next three days. Jin Su thought of the Grain Rain coin she had carefully hidden away and allowed a faint smile.
That Baishou, on the other hand, was so simple-minded it bordered on oblivious. He grumbled all the way, complaining that "that Liu guy" was delaying him from visiting Thunder Marsh Terrace.
The boy didn't address Qi Jinglong as master or Mr. Qi; he kept calling him "that Liu guy," which was actually quite strange.
Having a disciple like this, who didn't know respect and lacked manners, traveling with him—Jin Su thought Qi Jinglong was even stranger.
Leaving the crowded Catch and Release Pavilion, Jin Su routinely asked Mr. Qi if he had a preferred inn. The Lingzhi Studio Inn had the best view but was expensive, so many regulars of Osmanthus Island usually stayed at the Crane and Sparrow Inn. Chen Ping'an had done so before. However, that inn was small, nestled deep in a shabby alley, not very noticeable, and not much of a good inn, but the price was affordable. Qi Jinglong smiled and said, "Please trouble Miss Jin Su to lead us to the Crane and Sparrow Inn."
Baishou was a hundred percent unwilling. He was about to shout something when Qi Jinglong turned his head and looked at him. The boy swallowed the words that had reached his lips and only dared to mutter inwardly.
The group arrived at the Crane and Sparrow Inn, truly hidden in a shabby alley. Baishou looked at the cheerful young innkeeper and felt like he'd been led into a pigsty to be butchered. So after sitting down in a room with "that Liu guy," he started complaining, "Hey, Liu, don't all us sword cultivators from North Juju Continent stay at Spring Pennant Studio, one of the four private residences on Inverted Mountain? Why stay in a dump like this? What, are you coveting the beauty of those osmanthus maidens?"
Qi Jinglong poured two cups of tea. Baishou took his and downed it in one gulp, then continued rambling, "Hey, Liu, I need to speak my true heart to you. Even the prettiest one, Jin Su, isn't as good-looking as Fairy Lu, who's devoted to you, right? Oh, by the way, I heard the owner of Spring Pennant Studio almost became a Daoist couple with Fairy Lu's grandmaster from Water Sutra Mountain ages ago. Are you afraid someone will tip off Fairy Lu and she'll rush to Inverted Mountain to block your way? No way. That Fairy Lu isn't like the master of Colorful Sparrow Manor, Sun Qing. But if you ask me, among the women who like you, Lu Sui has the best looks. As for temperament, I like Sun Qing the best—generous but with a little subtlety. That one from Third Prince Temple is a bit too enthusiastic, with fierce eyes. When she sees you, Liu, it's like a drunkard seeing a good bottle of wine. I can tell you two have no future; you're not on the same path at all."
Qi Jinglong smiled. "When we return to Grand Emblem Sword Sect in the future, should we make another trip to Dragon Spring Prefecture's Desolate Mountain?"
Baishou immediately shut up, feigning deafness. Still feeling unsafe, he forced himself to courteously pour a cup of tea for "that Liu guy."
What else could he do? Every time he thought of that ruthless and pretentious charcoal, his scalp went numb and his liver ached.
Who would've thought that I, the great sword immortal Baishou, on my first outing, would have my glorious reputation destroyed in one fell swoop!
To hell with Desolate Mountain. I'm never going there again in this life.
That damn Chen Ping'an and his fine disciple!
The place called Desolate Mountain—he, Baishou, figured they had incompatible fates. The name alone sounded unlucky. Not going. Even if I'm beaten to death, I'm not going.
Qi Jinglong thought of some personal matters and felt a mix of helplessness and sadness.
This departure from North Juju Continent was partly because Qi Jinglong had nothing pressing to do—he had successfully received all three sword challenges from sword immortals to the Grand Emblem Sword Sect—so he wanted to travel through the other eight continents of the Bright World. Also, it was under the covert instruction of his grandmaster Huang Tong, who said the sect leader had ordered him to go immediately to the Sword Qi Great Wall. The sect leader had words to convey to him. How could Qi Jinglong not know the sect leader's intention? He wanted Qi Jinglong to take advantage of a relatively stable period between major battles to go to the Sword Qi Great Wall, maybe even directly pass the position of sect leader to him. Then, for at least the next hundred years, Qi Jinglong would no longer have to participate in demon-killing and city defense on the Sword Qi Great Wall in his own name, purely as a new sword immortal from North Juju Continent.
As for other matters of the Grand Emblem Sword Sect, Han Huaizi alone would suffice.
Baishou dared not mention romantic matters again. He tactfully changed the subject. "Can't we really stay at Spring Pennant Studio? I really want to see that gourd vine with my own eyes. Back at the mountain, I promised many junior brothers and nephews that I'd see those future sword-nurturing gourds for them. If I don't see them, when I return to Grand Emblem Sword Sect, I'll lose all face. Am I supposed to just hide on Leisurely Peak? If I lose face, in the end, won't you lose face too?"
Spring Pennant Studio was one of the four private residences on Inverted Mountain.
The most famous, of course, was the Ape Rub Mansion of the great wealthy man Liu from Snowy Coast Continent—a mountain of gold and silver built purely with immortal money. The feud between the young head of the Ape Rub Mansion Liu family and that Daoist grand celestial was a widely spread joke.
The Plum Garden, built by a Central Earth Continent sect cultivator, was rumored to house an upper fifth realm spirit essence that had lived for untold years. When the garden's owner moved that ancestral plum tree from his hometown to Inverted Mountain, he directly hired an entire transcontinental ferry. The amount of money spent was unimaginable.
Spring Pennant Studio was built by a disheartened sword immortal from North Juju Continent. It often hosted sword cultivators from his homeland, but the studio's owner never showed his face.
The last one, Water Spirit Mansion, was a branch courtyard of a maritime sect. Word was that in recent years, by being near the water, they had absorbed the residual heritage of Dragon Crocodile Trench, and the sect's reputation had soared.
People like Grand Emblem Sword Sect's sect leader Han Huaizi, the patriarch hall's law-keeping patriarch Huang Tong, and later, the Duckweed Sword Lake's sect leader Li Cai, who rushed to Inverted Mountain, had all stayed at Spring Pennant Studio. Inside Spring Pennant Studio was planted a gourd vine. After generations of immortal cultivation, the studio's owner obtained this great fortune. He continued to irrigate it with spiritual qi for a thousand years, and it had nurtured fourteen gourds of varying sizes that had the potential to become sword-nurturing gourds. If successfully refined, their quality would be at least magic treasures. The best-looking gourd, once refined into a sword-nurturing gourd, was rumored to be a half-immortal weapon.
Mountain magic treasures or half-immortal weapons, even of the same rank, had differences, sometimes vast—a difference like cloud and mud.
A half-immortal weapon sword-nurturing gourd could almost rival the sword-nurturing gourds left behind by the Dao Ancestor back then, so it should be regarded as an immortal weapon.
That sword immortal from North Juju Continent, far from home, brought the gourd vine here to take root. The Spring Pennant Studio, under the protection of Inverted Mountain, was free from external disturbances—a very wise move.
But out of those fourteen not-fully-ripe gourds, if even half could be refined into sword-nurturing gourds, that would be quite good. The Spring Pennant Studio would become famous across the world, raking in pots of gold. Most importantly, with seven or more sword-nurturing gourds, they could befriend at least seven sword immortals. Perhaps with these ties of goodwill, the studio's owner might even have hope to establish his own sect in any continent of the Bright World, becoming a founding patriarch.
That was why Baishou was so fixated on Spring Pennant Studio.
Besides, that vermilion wine pot of Chen Ping'an's was a legendary sword-nurturing gourd. Back on Leisurely Peak, it had made the boy extremely envious.
If only he could have a sword-nurturing gourd like his brother Chen to carry wine and drink, how impressive would that be when traveling the martial world?
But Brother Chen was still a bit thin-skinned—he hadn't taken Baishou's advice to carve the three characters "Sword-Nurturing Gourd" on the pot.
Qi Jinglong nodded. "We'll go. Let's first visit the other seven scenic spots. It's extremely difficult for outsiders to go from Inverted Mountain to the Sword Qi Great Wall these days. We need Spring Pennant Studio to arrange connections and provide guarantees."
Baishou, who had been thoroughly dejected on Desolate Mountain, perked up a bit when he heard there was a chance. He said excitedly, "Then can you help me reserve one of Spring Pennant Studio's sword-nurturing gourds? I'm not asking for much—just the lowest-quality one—and it can be your disciple-acceptance gift! The Grand Emblem Sword Sect is such a big sect, and you're a Jade Marrow sword cultivator now. Your disciple-acceptance gift can't be shabby. Look at my brother Chen—when Desolate Mountain's patriarch hall was completed, he gave gifts left and right, and every one was priceless! Hey, Liu, can't you learn a little from my brother Chen?"
Actually, the boy was just rambling. He didn't expect Liu Jinglong to really agree. Sword-nurturing gourds were priceless treasures for sword cultivators, hard to buy even with money. Especially high-quality ones—even sword immortals might not own them. Such rare items were even more awkward than square-inch objects or inch objects. When a sword cultivator's realm was high and the gourd's quality was low, it would actually hinder the nurturing of the life-bound flying sword. But gourds good enough for a sword immortal to desire were incredibly rare.
But Baishou never expected the slowly sipping man to nod and say, "I'll put in a word and try. I won't guarantee success or failure. If you get your hopes up too high after hearing this and end up disappointed, and take it out on me but can't hide it well enough that I notice, that would mean I've failed in my teaching. In that case, we'll both need to cultivate our hearts."
For the first time, Baishou didn't dislike "that Liu guy's" nagging. Overjoyed, he exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, Liu! You're really willing to speak up for me?"
That Liu guy was full of bad habits, but he had one good point: he always kept his word.
Qi Jinglong asked back, "In the patriarch hall, you bowed as my disciple, and I accepted you as my student. As your teacher, it's only right that I give you a disciple-acceptance gift. You are a direct-lineage sword cultivator of the Grand Emblem Sword Sect's patriarch hall. Owning a decent sword-nurturing gourd will benefit your great path, allow you to nurture your sword faster with proper methods, and free up time to cultivate your heart. Why would I be unwilling to speak? It's not like I'm forcing anyone or trying to snatch a gourd from Spring Pennant Studio."
Baishou was stunned for a moment, then muttered, "I just thought that since you never carry money when you go out, you don't seem like a generous person."
Qi Jinglong smiled. "Whether a person is generous or not is not only seen in matters of money. The key in that phrase is the word 'only.' Principles in the world, when taken to extremes, are rarely good things. I'm not making excuses for myself; I'm telling you to think more when you meet everyone besides me. Otherwise, on your future path of cultivation, you might miss friends you shouldn't miss, or befriend those you shouldn't."
Baishou said doubtfully, "Are you just saying all this because you know Spring Pennant Studio won't sell you a sword-nurturing gourd, and you're using this opportunity to lecture me with these big principles?"
Qi Jinglong laughed. "For a cultivator, especially one with Dao, time is long. As long as you're willing to open your eyes and look, how many times can you see the truth revealed? Do you need to ask about my intentions? If I tell you, will you believe me?"
Baishou covered his head with both hands and wailed, "My head hurts! Not listening, not listening. It's like a turtle chanting sutras."
On Desolate Mountain, the boy had picked up a few countryside sayings.
Qi Jinglong wasn't angry. He just smiled and sipped his tea.
Baishou suddenly asked, "Hey, Liu, do we have to follow Jin Su and the others shopping from now on? How boring. Those sisters are even more tireless about shopping than we are about cultivation. I'm scared."
Qi Jinglong said, "The Fu family ferry from Old Dragon City is also docked at Inverted Mountain. Madam Gui is probably worried that they might run into trouble while sightseeing here. The Fu family children act arrogantly, treating their family rules as city laws—we saw it with our own eyes in Old Dragon City. This time, we're staying in the Gui Mai courtyard, traveling across the sea without spending a single Snow Flower coin on food and lodging. We should reciprocate."
Baishou crossed his arms and said, "In that case, I'll accompany the sisters more. If those Fu family people try any tricks behind the scenes, don't blame me for showing off my sword immortal style."
Qi Jinglong asked with a smile, "Tell me, how do you show off your sword immortal style?"
Before the Hemp-Clad Sect ferry docked at Oxhorn Mountain dock, the boy had been equally confident. Later, at the top of Desolate Mountain's steps, when he saw a row of three little heads cracking melon seeds, he still thought he'd win a martial fight easily.
Baishou said indignantly, "Hey, Liu, am I really your disciple or not?!"
When he said this, a shadow passed over the boy's eyes.
That talkative, infuriating charcoal girl was Chen Ping'an's first disciple. He, Baishou, was also "that Liu guy's" only direct disciple.
Chen Ping'an's Qi Practitioner realm was still far behind "that Liu guy's."
But he, Baishou, had suffered so badly on Desolate Mountain. He had lost face, and to some extent, that also made "that Liu guy" lose face.
Qi Jinglong said softly, "I don't think my disciple is inferior to anyone."
Baishou flushed red and said angrily, "Hey, Liu, don't flatter yourself! I haven't really taken you as my master yet!"
Qi Jinglong said seriously, "When contending with others on the path, there are always wins and losses. When contending with oneself, it's only about winning more or less. So, how should we choose, Baishou? What do you think?"
The boy slumped over the table, sighing deeply. He truly envied that dark-skinned, even darker-hearted little girl. Her master was always running off somewhere and wouldn't nag her all the time.
But that wasn't the worst part.
The most terrifying thing was that at their parting, that charcoal loss-maker had been overjoyed, saying that she might also go to the Sword Qi Great Wall to see her master, depending on when Master Zhong set out. She didn't care whether Baishou was willing or not; she directly decided for him that next time, they'd only have a battle of wits, not a fight of force.
Just thinking about it made Baishou fume and feel miserable.
—
Ning Yao was still in seclusion.
During his Qi cultivation breaks, Chen Ping'an would go to the training ground and fight Nalan Yexing one-on-one, going all out.
Without Fan Dache and the others present, Chen Ping'an, throwing punches and wielding his sword with full force in the mustard seed small world, presented a completely different scene in that blue robe.
Old Nanny Bai was now used to watching from the pavilion. No matter how she looked at it, she felt that their young master was the most handsome young man on the Sword Qi Great Wall, followed by the martial genius that had appeared only once in a hundred years—no, a thousand years. As for his cultivation of Qi and the Dao, what was the rush? The young master was clearly someone who gained the upper hand later. Wasn't he already a Fifth Realm Qi Practitioner? His cultivation talent wasn't much worse than their young lady's.
That day, at a street corner not far from the tavern, Chen Ping'an sat on a small stool, cracking melon seeds, and finally finished telling a landscape story about a certain sword immortal who loved to drink, Qi the Sword Immortal.
Feng Kangle found it somewhat unsatisfying and asked Chen Ping'an if that old sword immortal had any other strange legends. Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and decided he could make up a few more. He said there were more—stories by the basketful. So he started a new tale: a young sword immortal traveled at night to a desolate, ancient temple in the wilderness where crows flapped their wings. He lit a campfire and was just about to drink heartily when several graceful women arrived, wafting fragrant breezes, their voices like orioles, their sleeves fluttering, drifting into the ancient temple. The young sword immortal raised his head and frowned. As a cultivator, he focused his gaze, activated his divine abilities, and saw behind those women the tails of foxes, one after another. So the young sword immortal downed a pot of wine and slowly stood up.
Having said this, Chen Ping'an stopped and delivered the most annoying line: "Tune in next time for the rest of the story."
Chen Ping'an still didn't drink at the tavern. Mainly because Fan Dache and the others weren't there. As for the other drunkards and gamblers, they were now looking at him with unfriendly eyes. Getting a free bowl or half-bowl of wine would be difficult. No reason for it—I sold you the wine; I don't owe you money. Chen Ping'an crouched by the roadside and ate a bowl of plain noodles. But he suddenly felt a bit sorry for Qi Jinglong. The story didn't seem good enough. Helpless—he wasn't a real storyteller after all. He had tried his best.