Chapter 685: Freedom and Far Travel
Liu Cha, with a sword on his back and a dagger at his waist, looking like a bearded wandering swordsman, approached the gray-clad old man and asked, "Not going to touch those words on the city wall anymore?"
Half of the Sword Qi Great Wall had already fallen into the Barren Wilderness World, and it would soon be completely refined by the Grand Ancestor of Tuoyue Mountain, adding another portion to his Great Way.
The gray-clad old man smiled and said, "Let them be. The mountain immortals of the Haoran World don't know how to respect the strong. We'll handle it."
The sword immortal Shou Chen arrived on his flying sword, reporting respectfully, "The hundred sword immortals of Tuoyue Mountain have all been properly arranged. A few sword cultivators not on the roster were dissatisfied due to their minor battle merits. I killed three of them before they settled down."
Several sword immortal prodigies from the Jia Shen Tent, including Li Zhen, also came to join the excitement.
Li Zhen laughed and said, "Bad habits can't be indulged. Sword Immortal Shou Chen killed well."
Besides Li Zhen, there were Zhu Qie, Yu Si, Yun Tan, and that female sword cultivator with a new set of skin, Liu Bai, all gathered here.
On the city wall belonging to the Barren Wilderness World, this group of the most talented genius sword cultivators each found a spot to nurture their flying swords, striving to obtain as much as possible of the ancient sword immortals' pure sword intent and increase their own sword fortune. Those intangible sword immortal spirits were the purest; later generations who learned the sword and aligned with their sword path would gain opportunities. Over the past ten thousand years, visiting sword cultivators from other lands had obtained them, and on the previous battlefield, some lucky ones among the Barren Wilderness World's demon sword cultivators had as well.
To help these hundred sword immortals of Tuoyue Mountain, the great monsters had already begun processing the battlefield to avoid excessive contamination of sword fortune, which would hinder the prospects of those chosen prodigies.
Besides, the fiercely contested battlefield ruins beneath the city wall had other great uses. They could be moved to the site of the former Inverted Suspension Mountain to change the seasonal timing of a certain place in the Haoran World.
Li Zhen proposed, "If anyone kills a Flying Ascension cultivator in the Haoran World, they can carve one character on the north side of the city wall. How about that?"
The gray-clad old man nodded and said, "Fine."
Liu Cha laughed and said, "It will look ugly."
Li Zhen lightly stamped his foot and asked, "The Grand Ancestor can only refine this but can't put it away into his own possession?"
It was rumored that long ago, the Dao Ancestor had ridden a bull through this pass to travel in the Barren Wilderness World.
The gray-clad old man smiled and shook his head, "Chen Qingdu couldn't do it, and neither can I. The Sword Qi Great Wall can be broken or shattered, but it cannot be tucked into a sleeve. Just as a sword immortal can die but cannot be humiliated. Of course, there are many old stories behind this. In short, if Chen Qingdu hadn't intended to open the heavens with his sword, lift the city to ascend, and send away the sword cultivators, even if I struck with all my might, focusing entirely on Chen Qingdu and the Sword Qi Great Wall, it would have cost the Barren Wilderness World a tremendous amount of mountains, rivers, and fortune. That would have been a great loss, not something I would have wanted."
Li Zhen held the back of his head with both hands, gazing at the opposite city wall. That fellow was already far away, or else he would have liked to greet the Hidden Officer and strike up a friendship. "No matter. We'll practice swords here, break through realms one by one, and then go to the Haoran World to challenge with our swords."
Shou Chen said, "That Inverted Suspension Mountain also ascended and departed. But with a decree from that Number Two Daoist to clear the way, and the three city lords of the White Jade Capital personally intervening to receive it, the Confucian Literary Academy didn't block it, so everything went smoothly."
Liu Cha said in a deep voice, "If Chen Qingdu's sword had actually fallen on the battlefield, even with the Grand Ancestor's intervention, our casualties would have been extremely heavy."
Li Zhen sighed, "Senior, that's boosting the enemy's morale and dampening our own."
Liu Cha couldn't be bothered to exchange even half a sentence with someone like that.
Liu Bai came to her senior brother Shou Chen's side and asked softly, "What's with that person?"
Shou Chen shook his head and said, "You'll have to ask the Grand Ancestor."
The gray-clad old man looked at Liu Bai and smiled, "This Hidden Officer has merged his Dao with the Sword Qi Great Wall. He also used the 'sewing clothes' method to bear many true names from the front ranks of the 'Mountain Search Illustrations,' thus mutually suppressing the Barren Wilderness World. His current situation is rather pitiable. From now on, there will be no more yin spirit out-of-body travel or yang spirit external body. The three have been completely fused into one. In short, he's spent half his life. As the closed-door disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage, obtaining a Confucian innate character has also become a luxury. As for why he looks like this now, it's because Chen Qingdu forced him to merge his Dao. His physical body can't sustain it, but it's not a big problem. If he reaches the Mountain Summit realm, there's hope for recovery. Besides that, Chen Ping'an himself has probably received some form of recognition from the Sword Qi Great Wall, beyond just bearing true names. An ordinary sword immortal, even with the right realm, wouldn't be able to merge his Dao."
Shou Chen felt slightly reassured.
The Grand Ancestor was clearly in a good mood today, or else he wouldn't have spoken so much.
Yun Tan was speechless for a moment.
That poor wretch—did it seem like they didn't need to take revenge anymore?
The boy cautiously glanced at Sister Liu Bai.
Liu Bai's expression was complicated as she asked softly, "Can he be killed?"
Liu Cha shook his head and said, "You can't kill him exhaustively, and you can't kill him completely. Because the enemy is no longer Chen Ping'an, but half a section of the Sword Qi Great Wall."
Shou Chen caught a glimpse of the black shadow dragging down an Jade Purity realm demon's scene and asked doubtfully, "Immortal realm?"
Liu Cha shook his head and said, "After merging his Dao, it's a false Jade Purity. One person occupies half the Sword Qi Great Wall, taking full advantage of the heavens, the earth, and the people."
A figure in a gray robe came to the cliff edge of the city wall—it was the Dragon Lord.
He had once, along with Chen Qingdu and Guan Zhao, challenged Tuoyue Mountain with their swords.
The Dragon Lord spoke hoarsely, "Once we completely extract the sword fortune here, that half section of the Sword Qi Great Wall will become water without a source and a tree without roots. There will be a chance to shatter it."
The gray-clad old man nodded and said, "Like a fishbone stuck in the throat, very annoying."
A little girl with two horn-like buns leaped from the ground all the way to the city wall and came to the Dragon Lord's side.
The girl was dragging a very long rope, tying two large demon heads rich with killing intent. As she climbed the city wall, the heads kept bumping against the wall, sounding like a drum beaten several times.
Two sword immortals from the former Hidden Officer lineage, Luo Shan and Zhu An, followed on their flying swords and landed gracefully.
Li Zhen said with a grin, "Are we watching a monkey show? That Chen Ping'an isn't even here."
As the boy finished speaking.
The black shadow flashed in an instant.
Xiao Xun threw a punch, shattering the black shadow on the spot.
The next moment, the black shadow coalesced in place, its face completely unreadable but vaguely revealing a mocking demeanor.
The power of each of Xiao Xun's punches far exceeded the full-force strike of an ordinary sword immortal's flying sword.
The sword immortal prodigies of the Jia Shen Tent had to retreat, staying far away from that famous lunatic with her awe-inspiring momentum. Liu Bai, whose physical body was still weak, needed to be shielded by her senior brother Shou Chen.
The gray-clad old man smiled and said, "Stop fighting. If you keep going, you'll just help him temper his body for free, and if he breaks through to the Mountain Summit realm, it might cause a little trouble. This guy deliberately provoked you into throwing punches."
Xiao Xun simply kept punching, treating the words of a master of the Barren Wilderness World like a passing wind.
Finally, when she got bored of fighting, Xiao Xun withdrew her fists and asked, "Why didn't you stop me?"
The gray-clad old man said, "I'm not Chen Qingdu. I don't have so many rules specifically to constrain the strong. For a pinnacle powerhouse like you, Tuoyue Mountain cherishes you greatly."
Xiao Xun shook the rope in her hand, and the two heads leaped high, crashing heavily onto the city wall. "Inside that rat hole, I used the bodies of two Flying Ascension monsters to build a throne. It's a bit high."
The gray-clad old man smiled and said, "Very good. As long as Zhou Mi and Liu Cha don't mind, it's fine."
Liu Cha said, "I don't mind."
The gray-clad old man said, "Let's not worry about that A Liang for now. The entire Tuoyue Mountain is used to suppress one person—it's not so easy to break out."
Liu Cha nodded and said, "When I have free time later, I'll go find him for a drink."
The gray-clad old man smiled and said, "Your swordsman style is enviable to others."
Xiao Xun said, "Boring. I'll go have fun on my own."
She leaped off the city wall but didn't continue dragging the two Flying Ascension monster heads. Annoyed, she left them on the city wall. No one dared to touch them anyway.
As she walked forward, the city had already been lifted from the ground, and many sword immortal residences had been reduced to ruins.
Nothing was left.
Wherever Xiao Xun passed, the surging tide of demon armies parted on their own.
Otherwise, they would die.
That old gate at the site of the former Inverted Suspension Mountain was being torn wider and wider by two throne-level monsters, Yao Jia and the Golden Armored Divine General.
As for Yang Zhi and Fei Fei, who had first entered the Haoran World, they were both water-affinity and began paving the way as assembly points for the Barren Wilderness World's armies. Then they needed to create three roads, leading to the nearest continents: Po Suo Continent, the southwest Fu Yao Continent, and the southeast Tongye Continent.
Furthermore, a large number of mountain-moving monsters assisted the two throne-level monsters in smashing refined miniature mountain peaks into the sea. Then demon cultivators laid down mountain roots, causing those suddenly towering peaks to become extremely stable footholds.
The other throne-level monsters also went to the sky curtain one after another to trouble the Confucian sage stationed there.
The sword-bearing man had always been sitting on the nearby hitching post, but the post had been moved to where the little Daoist boy's cushion used to be.
A demon cultivator spat on the ground, grinned widely, and cursed, "What kind of lousy great sword immortal is this? I've seen those who died in battle or were beaten back by the great monsters, but I've never seen a guy who doesn't even draw his sword and just obediently guards the gate."
The great sword immortal Zhang Lu ignored this.
Then that demon was casually struck by Xiao Xun, who was swaggering through the gate. His head was shattered, and his golden core and nascent soul exploded together, causing collateral damage to a large group of demons at the gate. What an undeserved disaster.
A camp overseer in the distance noticed the culprit but pretended nothing had happened.
Xiao Xun went over to the hitching post and tossed a jar of fine wine from a secular dynasty in the Barren Wilderness World. Zhang Lu caught it, removed the clay seal, sniffed it, and said, "Good wine."
Xiao Xun asked, "Zhang Lu, don't you want to come with me for a look? South Po Suo Continent, Tongye Continent, Fu Yao Continent—pick any one. Let's go find some drinks together. There are plenty of immortal breweries over there."
Zhang Lu smiled and said, "I'm not going anywhere. I'll just stay here and watch. I'm naturally lazy and can't muster any spirit for anything. In the past, I worked hard to break through realms just to increase my lifespan. Hidden Officer, remember to send me some wine whenever you break into a sect."
Xiao Xun complained, "You do nothing yourself, and you still expect me to send you wine? Quite the airs you have."
Zhang Lu smiled and said, "The lazy have more blessings."
Xiao Xun frowned and asked, "Where did my disciple go?"
Zhang Lu teased, "I really don't know about that. The Hidden Officer can ask the Hidden Officer about it."
Xiao Xun said angrily, "Just seeing him annoys me. I gave him a few dozen punches when we met, and that kid holds grudges. I probably won't get an answer out of him."
Zhang Lu rubbed his chin.
Back then, the boy with a sword case on his back and straw sandals had left Inverted Suspension Mountain, then returned and became a Hidden Officer. After that, Chen Ping'an never traveled through this old gate between the Sword Qi Great Wall and Inverted Suspension Mountain's Spring Banners Studio again. The other wasn't stupid, and Zhang Lu wasn't either. The other hoped Zhang Lu would change his mind and deliberately reminded him in this way, while Zhang Lu pretended not to know anything, which was also a form of reminder.
Whether this gate had Zhang Lu or not was the same. Whether the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Barren Wilderness World had Zhang Lu as a great sword immortal was also the same. In the end, Spring Banners Studio's sword immortal Shao Yunyan came here, drank a jar of wine with him, confirmed Zhang Lu's thoughts, then left with Lu Zhi. Shao Yunyan and Lu Zhi did not challenge Zhang Lu with their swords.
Back in the day, during that Thirteen-Group contention, Zhang Lu lost. He was outmatched, and he had no resentment. On the earlier battlefields of the Sword Qi Great Wall, killing back and forth, life and death, Zhang Lu didn't care either. In the end, Zhang Lu, in his capacity as a sinner, was assigned to guard the gate, and he did hold some grudge against the Haoran World. From the moment he volunteered to watch this gate, Zhang Lu had long foreseen today's scene.
Xiao Xun asked, "The nearest one is that large sect with the character 'Zong,' the Rain Dragon Sect?"
Zhang Lu smiled and said, "Too late. A throne-level monster has already beaten you to it."
Xiao Xun frowned and said, "That sissy who likes to peel people's faces?"
Zhang Lu nodded, "The Rain Dragon Sect has quite a few female cultivators."
Xiao Xun said, "Forget it. When Chen Chun'an leaves South Po Suo Continent and seeks his own death later, I'll send him off."
Zhang Lu took a deep drink of wine and said regretfully, "The one who truly kills Chen Chun'an will be the accusations of ten thousand people."
A handsome man with a sword-nurturing gourd at his waist landed on the peak of a statue of the Rain Dragon Sect. He twisted a strand of hair by his temple with two fingers and smiled, "So many to choose from—it's making my eyes blur."
Ten thousand years later, the gray-clad old man revisited the old grounds, arriving once more in the Haoran World.
He hovered high in the sky and laughed loudly, "All you Flying Ascension cultivators, Immortal cultivators, and all you attained Daoists of the Haoran World, listen up! You walk too slowly; you've never had true freedom! Since you've reached the summit, you should be free from the constraints of heaven and earth. Otherwise, what's the point of cultivating the Dao, seeking truth, and attaining immortality and longevity?! It's like a strong young man being bound by rules day after day, year after year, shuffling through the world like an old man or woman. From now on, there will only be one world. Whether human or demon cultivators, free in speech, free in cultivation, free in slaughter, free in life and death, free in the Great Way!"
Zhang Lu sighed, "Chaotic times have truly arrived."
Xiao Xun sneered, "An era of freedom for the strong has come."
Around two years ago.
The Haoran World was still that peaceful and prosperous world for ten thousand years.
Three people had left the territory of the former Great Li Dynasty in Vase Bottle Continent and had already traveled ten thousand miles by wind across the sea, still far from the Central Earth Divine Continent.
They were Gu Can, Liu Chicheng, and that Dragonbo brother who was addicted to realm-dropping, Chai Bofu.
The poor nascent soul cultivator was now just a Spectating Ocean realm cultivator.
When they first arrived at the locust yellow county town at the site of the former Pear Blossom Cave Heaven, Chai Bofu was still a Dragon Gate realm qi refiner after Liu Chicheng slapped him. Then, after being glanced at by someone, for some unknown reason, he inexplicably fell straight down to the Cave Dwelling realm. During this long journey by wind, Chai Bofu gritted his teeth and cultivated hard, barely managing to crawl back to the Spectating Ocean realm.
After breaking through the realm, Chai Bofu felt no joy. Instead, he might lose it again if he wasn't careful, and no one was willing to give him even a half-decent reason.
Crossing continents without taking an immortal ferry, relying solely on a cultivator's wind travel, not only consumed spiritual qi but was also extremely risky. There were many dangerous creatures in the sea, and one careless mistake could lead to death with no one to collect the body. Take the Treasure-Swallowing Whale, for example—it could swallow islands and ferries whole, and it had an innate refining ability. Eating a few cultivators was nothing. Once inside its belly, it was like being trapped in a small-world cage—how could you escape?
Moreover, in the vast seas, killing and robbing people of their wealth and treasures was much easier to do without anyone knowing than on land. This kind of business was typical: no income for three years, then enough income to last three years.
Thus, even Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators, who were considered earthly immortals in the eyes of commoners, were unwilling to take on such thankless tasks. Of course, if someone was specifically out for money, that was a different story.
The Haoran World had vast seas, even larger than the land area of the nine continents. Besides island immortals, there were many profitable ventures that forced cultivators to take risks. For example, the pearl divers of Reed Flower Island harvested extremely valuable clam pearls. Moreover, on land, emperors, generals, dukes, and marquises had a huge demand for ambergris, which always had a price but no supply. Flood dragons and their descendants were considered ambergris and could be refined into incense, though they were graded into different qualities and prices.
Besides ambergris, dragon fish and other exotic creatures often had treasure pearls in their bellies. These pearls, due to their innate absorption of moonlight, were often as bright as the moon, capable of lighting up rooms. They could also be used in places with heavy evil energy to clear a path and drive away ghosts. They could be refined into water-repelling pearls, dust-repelling pearls, and other immortal treasures—excellent aids for cultivators in seclusion, purifying the spiritual qi of heaven and earth and helping to focus the mind.
The real opportunities, however, were the many secret pavilion remains on overseas immortal mountains. If a qi refiner got their hands on them, it was a mountain of gold and silver—immense wealth. And compared to immortal mansion ruins on land, there was less competition, with fewer forces getting entangled. If the immortal mansion was hard to open and had many restrictions, at most two or three sects that knew each other well would form an alliance, quietly take it, and split the heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Gu Can, who had been silent all along, suddenly asked, "Master hasn't shown himself for a long time."
Compared to Gu Can's exhausted wind travel, Liu Chicheng, dressed in an eye-catching pink Daoist robe, looked very elegant and carefree.
But the most suffering was still that Dragonbo brother. Only Liu Chicheng didn't care, Gu Can didn't mind, and no one pitied him.
Chai Bofu was also happy that the two paid him no attention. One was heartless, the other ruthless—having them pretend he didn't exist was already a blessing.
Liu Chicheng smiled and said, "My senior brother is a celestial being. It's normal not to see him. In White Emperor City, your senior brothers and sisters sometimes don't see their master for a hundred years. That's not strange at all. If they see him several times within a hundred years, they'd actually be worried—they'd be afraid they weren't themselves anymore."
Chai Bofu thought of that person and felt that this bit of hardship on the path of cultivation was nothing. As long as he could become a registered disciple of White Emperor City, even just being a direct disciple of that wolf cub Gu Can would be acceptable!
The matter of Gu Can's seniority in White Emperor City had always been a mystery.
Gu Can always performed the disciple's etiquette toward that person.
But that person and Liu Chicheng seemed to treat Gu Can as a junior apprentice brother, though there was no clear statement. Liu Chicheng often called him "younger apprentice brother" or "junior apprentice nephew" at random.
Gu Can's expression was indifferent, and he casually asked, "Is Master visiting friends at sea?"
Liu Chicheng sneered, "Are you kidding? Who's worth my senior brother visiting in person? Going to sea to visit immortals? Visiting a fart. My senior brother is the most immortal-like person under heaven. Those who seek out the mountain immortals of White Emperor City come like a flood of fish every year, but they can only stand by the great water and look up at the sky. How many of them can stay in the colorful clouds for even a moment? Let alone White Emperor City, where my senior brother lives alone."
Gu Can asked doubtfully, "Uncles, aunts, senior brothers, and sisters—don't they cultivate in White Emperor City?"
Liu Chicheng suddenly realized he had forgotten to tell Gu Can about the situation in White Emperor City, so he slapped the Dragonbo brother on the forehead, sending him plummeting into the water.
Liu Chicheng smiled and explained, "In all of White Emperor City, besides my senior brother, there are only some puppets serving as maids and officials—not gods, not immortals, not humans, not ghosts. The rest of us junior apprentice brothers and sisters, as well as our respective direct disciples, all have our own cultivation caves above the colorful clouds. For example, I have a world-famous Glazed Pavilion. So the real White Emperor City, in fact, has only ever had one cultivator: your master, my senior brother. Everyone else is his burden."
Gu Can nodded, "Impressive."
Liu Chicheng burst out laughing, "Not impressive? If my senior brother, as the world's recognized demonic cultivator, couldn't have a White Emperor City standing firm in the Central Earth Divine Continent?"
A drenched chicken flew back into the sky, not daring to speak or complain.
Liu Chicheng gently patted the boy-faced Chai Bofu on the forehead and praised, "Such a big forehead—it could be a drying ground for grain."
Liu Chicheng suddenly made a sound of concern and asked, "Dragonbo brother, why are your ears and nose bleeding?"
Chai Bofu wiped away the blood and forced a smile at the feigning culprit, "It's nothing."
The three landed on an island in a region dotted with islands. The spiritual qi here was thin, and the landscape seemed dry and boring—not suitable for opening a mountain and establishing a mansion for cultivation.
Gu Can drifted down, let out a light breath, and asked, "If this overseas island is big enough, would there be a local earth god stationed here?"
Liu Chicheng shook his wide sleeves and rolled his eyes. "No. Even if there were, they'd starve to death. For large or small mountain and water deities, once they lose the incense offerings of believers, their so-called indestructible golden bodies become a joke."
Gu Can looked around and asked, "In this great sea, are there water-affinity beings similar to river deities? Of course, they'd be unlicensed deities, but can they dominate a region in the sea? For example, near the Inverted Suspension Mountain, there's that Dragon Raccoon Trench, where many flood dragons and their kind gather and linger—it's like a sect without being one."
It was said that if you looked down into the Dragon Raccoon Trench, the clear green water allowed you to see flood dragons and their kind swimming like hanging threads.
Liu Chicheng shook his head and said, "Gu Can, now that you're a direct disciple of White Emperor City, you don't need to think about these boring things. If you can beat them, kill them. If you can't, just state your pedigree."
Gu Can said, "Old habits are hard to break."
Before Gu Can left home, Zhu Lian found the Gu residence in the state capital, holding a charcoal basket, saying it was returning the item to its owner.
Gu Can hesitated for a moment but still took the charcoal basket. At the time, the ghost creature Ma Duyi, who wore a fox fur talisman, and Zeng Ye, who practiced ghost Dao secret arts, were visiting Gu Can's home.
Zhu Lian then said a strange remark, claiming he was happy to go down the mountain, but there were many trivial matters in the mountain that kept him busy, so he wouldn't disturb Young Master Gu's doorstep.
Because the mountain master had said that whenever Gu Can returned to his hometown, this item should be returned to him.
The condition was that Gu Can had Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi by his side. If not, the charcoal basket would stay in Falling Mountain, and it would be as if it had never happened.
So Gu Can carried the charcoal basket and escorted the stooped old man all the way to the street corner.
Later, when Gu Can returned to the study in his house, the master appeared, pulled out a small loach that didn't seem to have developed intelligence from the charcoal basket, sneered, and threw it back in.
Gu Can was expressionless at the time.
Later, when Gu Can left his hometown, he didn't take the charcoal basket with him. Instead, he asked Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye to deliver it to a mountain god temple north of the Great Li capital.
His mother urged Gu Can to go north himself, saying his father was now a high-ranking mountain god lord. That mountain god temple had previously been the mansion of the former Great Li's Grand Peak mountain lord and had just been promoted to the position of the heir of the Northern Peak Cloudy Cloak Mountain. It was like an official being promoted one rank in the Great Li court—he should at least be considered a deputy minister. It wasn't something a prefect or supervisor could compare to. You couldn't blame your father for not coming home to see you. His responsibilities were heavy, and he couldn't leave his post. Besides, there were many rules in the mountains, taboos about mountain and water clashing, and so on. So as his son, you should visit both to pay respects and offer congratulations.
Gu Can remained silent and refused to nod.
The woman then wept silently, not daring to persuade further. She dabbed her tears with an embroidered handkerchief, secretly glancing at her son's expression, and truly didn't dare to urge anymore.
By the seaside, that person appeared.
Chai Bofu's heart tightened, and he didn't even dare to breathe.
Liu Chicheng also didn't want to get close.
The senior brother was a divine being; it was best to observe from a distance.
Gu Can flew alone to that side and found the White Emperor City lord crouching by the sea, cupping a handful of water.
Gu Can asked doubtfully, "This is?"
The man said, "Measuring the sea with a dipper."
Gu Can asked again, "What's the point?"
The man smiled and said, "Does there have to be a point?"
He released his hand and stood up.
A moment later, Gu Can vaguely saw a lone white horse appear on the endless sea, treading the waves, rushing like the wind, trailing an extremely long stream of colorful light.
On the horse's back was a suit of red armor, rising and falling with the horse's movements, but there was no body inside.
The rider came toward the island and suddenly stopped. When the rider stood still, it seemed the sea itself also froze.
Liu Chicheng couldn't hold back and came to his senior brother and Gu Can's side, smiling, "Lucky. In the vast sea, to meet a South Sea Lone Rider—this is as rare as 'fishing a needle out of the sea.'"
Gu Can had never heard of a South Sea Lone Rider.
But he saw a golden spear appear in the rider's hand, pointing at the island, as if inquiring about their origin.
Then, in an instant, the South Sea Lone Rider put away the spear, turned the horse around, and galloped away.
Gu Can found that the man beside him had already vanished.
Liu Chicheng smiled and said, "That great monster in Verdant Water Pit is in trouble. The restrictions that Fiery Dragon True Person couldn't forcibly break, my senior brother can charge right through."
Gu Can asked, "Does Master have a feud with the great monster of Verdant Water Pit? Or is killing the great monster purely for accumulating merit?"
Liu Chicheng said, "Don't guess randomly. My senior brother does things as he pleases."
Gu Can frowned and said nothing.
Liu Chicheng said with schadenfreude, "Your state of mind is too suppressed by Chen Ping'an's principles. Be careful not to anger my senior brother."
Gu Can ignored him.
The three rested briefly on this island. Chai Bofu barely managed to accumulate some spiritual qi before he had to follow them on the road again.
Back when he was at the Nascent Soul realm, his cave dwelling orifices were like a wealthy mansion, and spiritual qi was like gold and jade filling the halls—inexhaustible. Now that he was in a small household, he really couldn't afford to be extravagant anymore.
The water route was endless. Passing a certain place, Liu Chicheng was overjoyed, "Gu Can, Gu Can, you really have great fortune! Following you around, there's no shortage of wonders. First we met the South Sea Lone Rider, and now we see this."
Chai Bofu was confused. As far as the eye could see, there was only vast sea, nothing mystical.
After Liu Chicheng waved his hand to break a barrier, a island appeared in Gu Can's vision—barren, with jagged rocks.
Liu Chicheng smiled and said, "This is a Dragon Resting Stone. It moves with the water and doesn't take root. In ancient times, there were four. One was shattered, one was refined away. In the Green Underworld World, besides the Stork Tower at the Year's End Palace, there's also one in the middle of a great water, stabilized by secret arts. In the Haoran World, this is the only one left. It's too big and heavy for even immortals to move. Mountain-moving creatures could move it bit by bit, but no one dares. After all, it has an owner. This place is considered a forbidden preserve of that Verdant Water Pit fellow. He's not easy to deal with. He fought with Fiery Dragon True Person, who commands both water and fire, and the battle turned heaven and earth upside down. Fiery Dragon was only slightly better, so the other retreated to his undersea lair. If it were me fighting Fiery Dragon True Person, I'd have no choice but to wait to be captured. However, some immortal cultivators follow behind the Dragon Resting Stone. If they're lucky, they can pick up some rare ambergris that rolls off the cliffs into the sea—a huge windfall."
An ancient saying goes: "The dragon lurks in Verdant Water Pit; fire aids the Sun God Palace."
Verdant Water Pit, once a summer retreat for an ancient water god, still existed, but the Sun God Palace had disappeared, said to have been completely shattered.
Gu Can stared intently at that Dragon Resting Stone.
There were no tired flood dragons or their kind coiled on the stone.
But once the restrictions were opened, the atmosphere changed dramatically. At the junction of mountain and water, something like thick, viscous matter seemed to flow from the shore into the sea, its fragrance spreading far. Occasionally, a spark of light bloomed on the stone and disappeared just as quickly, as if pearls had fallen into the crevices.
Liu Chicheng smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? Go closer and look. My senior brother has already charged into Verdant Water Pit, and I'm here to protect you. What are you afraid of? You should be thinking about how to take this thing for yourself! Don't forget that in the Colorful Clouds of White Emperor City, we have 'The Yellow River water comes from the sky' and the magnificent scene of 'Carp leaping over the dragon gate.' If you move this thing there as a resting place, how many water creatures will remember your great Dao kindness?"
Gu Can said, "Just observing from a distance is fine. An external object, coveting so-called incense sentiment, will only hinder my cultivation."
Liu Chicheng said helplessly, "Look at the cultivation path. So many attained Daoists still pick one or two things—fine wine, beautiful women, or qin, chess, calligraphy, painting—to spend the boring, monotonous years."
Gu Can said, "Then I'll talk about that after I attain the Dao."
Chai Bofu said cautiously, "It seems no one is guarding this Dragon Resting Stone. So many heavenly materials and earthly treasures—if heaven gives it and you don't take it..."
He was a wilderness cultivator. If he saw money and didn't open his eyes wide, he'd be blind.
Besides, Chai Bofu practiced the water Dao. The coiled dragon pattern on his white jade belt, along with the long string of jade pendants, bottles, and jars hanging from it, were all substitutes for a Dragon King Basket he'd never had the chance to obtain.
Liu Chicheng pushed Chai Bofu and said with a grin, "Dragonbo brother, you go. Gu Can brought the fortune, I opened the door with all my strength, and you get to pick up treasures easily. How we split later is up to Gu Can. We're old friends; I'm sure Gu Can won't treat you unfairly."
Chai Bofu was disgruntled. When the three were together, he had plenty of courage, with the backing of White Emperor City. But if he was alone, he wouldn't dare set foot on any ancient Dragon Resting Stone ruins.
Gu Can said, "Go."
Chai Bofu's knees went weak, but Liu Chicheng grabbed him by the neck and tossed him onto the peak of the Dragon Resting Stone.
Shaking off a cloud of dust and debris, Chai Bofu felt a headache. Even when he was at the Nascent Soul realm, he'd only dared to try catching a small flood dragon or something. Now he'd been dropped right into a dragon nest. What was this all about?
Still, the boy-faced Dragonbo brother followed a trace of treasure light that flickered and disappeared. Lunging like a starving tiger, he leaped over ten zhang and dug out a pearl the size of a jujube pit from a crevice. Chai Bofu stood frozen, rubbing the pearl vigorously with both hands to clean off some dirt, then gently breathed on it, using water techniques to draw out the pearl's light. It immediately bloomed, filling the air with water vapor, refreshing his mind and spirit. Chai Bofu stared at the treasure in his hand, his expression joyful as he murmured, "It's truly a flood dragon pearl—very high grade. If sold to an emperor for a crown, it'd be worth at least one Grain Rain coin! If used as the eye-catching gem on a dragon girl's immortal dress and Xiang River robe, female cultivators would likely pay two Grain Rain coins. If we get a dozen or so and make a water-attribute treasure bracelet called 'Pearl in the Palm,' I hear it's especially favored by female immortals in the upper five realms..."
Liu Chicheng clicked his tongue and said, "Good move—like a starving dog eating shit. Though it's a bit disgusting to look at."
Chai Bofu began frantically scouring the mountain for pearls, even knocking on the stone textures of different cliffs to confirm their quality.
Gu Can said, "The path of a wilderness cultivator is hard, with hardships that outsiders can't understand."
Liu Chicheng smiled and said, "Shared suffering?"
Gu Can shook his head, "Just stating a fact."
Liu Chicheng asked, "When we split later, give a bigger share to Dragonbo brother?"
Gu Can shook his head again, "Not a single coin."
Liu Chicheng laughed heartily.
Gu Can asked, "Since there are sea immortals who can use mountain secret arts to find Dragon Resting Stones for windfalls, now that the restrictions are open, won't someone come soon?"
Liu Chicheng smiled and said, "Probably."
Upon hearing this, Gu Can flew toward the Dragon Resting Stone.
Liu Chicheng traveled alongside him. "Over three thousand years ago, flood dragons and their kind were still the prestigious beings in charge of wind, rain, and harvest. They would go to the mainland to dispel clouds and rain, return exhausted, and rest here halfway, cooling off and recuperating. Often, hundreds or thousands of tired dragons would coil on it. But I've never seen it myself. My senior brother has."
Gu Can said, "There's a Daoist scripture called the 'Tai Shang Dong Yuan Jing' that records 116 Dragon King names in detail, along with their respective duties and divine powers."
Liu Chicheng nodded, "On the sixth day of the sixth month, the common people air their clothes, and the dragon palaces also air their dragon robes. The dragon princesses of various water mansions often choose this day to go ashore and pick lovers. Most are fleeting romances. Lucky men can even marry into the dragon palace. Too bad—the world no longer has such blessings."
Gu Can asked, "After opening the door to this Dragon Resting Stone, is it just there for outsiders to take as they please?"
Liu Chicheng shook his head, "Of course not. Verdant Water Pit specifically sends a 'Fish-catching Immortal' to guard this place. Jade Purity realm cultivation, plus being near water, gives him strong combat power. But with me here, he won't dare act rashly. Besides, Verdant Water Pit doesn't really care about these pearls and ambergris. They might even prefer some cleverly crafted items of spiritual tools grade over these. Every hundred years, Verdant Water Pit holds a summer retreat banquet. These water items have probably already piled up like mountains there. After a long time, they just let them yellow and discard them."
The two landed on a cliff top of the Dragon Resting Stone. Gu Can crouched down, touched the rock, and familiarized himself with the geography as much as possible.
Liu Chicheng sighed, "If you think of this world as simple, then human hearts and human nature are thin as paper—that's all there is to it. But if you think of it as complicated, you're asking for trouble. There's endless knowledge, pursuing the boundless with the finite. Whom do you choose to imitate? Why must you imitate that Chen Ping'an?"
Gu Can said, "In this world, ten Liu Chichengs, a hundred Liu Chichengs—they're all the same. But whether he exists or not makes a huge difference. At least to me."
Liu Chicheng didn't want to discuss Chen Ping'an too much with Gu Can; it was easy to incur resentment.
Liu Chicheng suddenly laughed, "A group of immortals has arrived. Oho, and two pretty sisters."
Gu Can glanced at Liu Chicheng.
Liu Chicheng sneered, "If there's even a one-in-ten-thousand chance something happens, I'll be Dragonbo brother's ox and horse every day from now on!"
And that Dragonbo brother was still on the mountain searching for treasures, working diligently but destined not to earn a single Snowflake coin.
Xun Yuan and Jiang Shangzhen, the old and new patriarchs of the Jade Gui Sect, left the mountain together and arrived at the border of the Grand Spring Dynasty in the central part of the Tongye Continent.
Both concealed their auras, landed, and walked on foot toward the inn near Fox Child Town.
Xun Yuan clicked his tongue, "Willing to sever one tail herself. Strange."
Jiang Shangzhen said regretfully, "I never imagined that Lady Huan Xi was right under my nose without me noticing. Guilty, guilty. Damn, damn."
Xun Yuan said, "A nine-tailed celestial fox is best at concealing its aura. I didn't notice it either before. But the Grand Fu Academy had long detected traces, which is why the gentleman Zhong Kui came to stay here all those years ago."
Jiang Shangzhen glanced at the small inn still some distance away and smiled, "A roadside tavern has three good things: a beautiful landlady, few drinkers, and local home-brew."
Xun Yuan also showed a trace of nostalgia, stroked his beard, and smiled, "A pretty widow, knockout drops, long benches, and small knives."
These two old and new patriarchs naturally had many stories.
Making such a big move—a Flying Ascension and an Immortal realm cultivator arriving at the Grand Spring Dynasty at the same time—was naturally to confirm Lady Huan Xi's true intentions.
If she could be used by the Jade Gui Sect, that would be best. That's why Xun Yuan brought Jiang Shangzhen along. Dealing with women was practically Jiang Shangzhen's innate talent since birth.
Xun Yuan suddenly changed his mind and said, "I'll go to the Grand Spring capital first."
Jiang Shangzhen didn't mind. After the old patriarch shrank the earth and moved away, he took an oil-paper umbrella from his storage item. After a few steps, the sky became overcast, and a light drizzle began.
He walked with the umbrella.
As he walked, the spiritual light on his Dharma robe shifted, transforming into a green scholar's robe.
Scholars have many romantic encounters—he wasn't lying.
Outside the inn hung a worn-out sign.
Jiang Shangzhen felt a bit nostalgic for that Lotus Flower Blessed Land.
He wondered if his friend Lu Fang had finally resolved his inner knot.
A hunchbacked old man sat at the kitchen curtain door, smoking a pipe with a smack of his lips. When he saw the guest enter and close his umbrella, the old man narrowed his eyes.
A young man with a limp was wiping tables, a bit surprised that the old stray dog outside was napping. He muttered that a guest had arrived but the dog didn't even bark; it might as well be slaughtered for stew. But when he noticed the oil-paper umbrella in the guest's hand and looked out at the drizzly curtain, he cursed again about the fickle weather. Facing the guest, the young man immediately put on a smiling face and said, "Esteemed guest, will you be stopping for a meal or staying for the night? Our green plum wine and roast whole lamb are top-notch, with fair prices. The wine comes in three grades: drink the half-year brew and you won't lose out; drink the three-year brew and you won't want to leave; drink the five-year brew and no other wine in the world will compare."
Jiang Shangzhen directly ordered a jar of five-year brew, a roast whole lamb, and a plate of each appetizer to go with the wine.
The young waiter beamed with joy.
The hunchback pulled aside the curtain and went into the kitchen.
As the waiter brought the wine to the table, Jiang Shangzhen smiled and asked, "I hear this place isn't peaceful. There are dirty things near town?"
The waiter was startled, then remembered those years long ago, and laughed, "Guest, you mean Fox Child Town? No dirty things anymore. It's very peaceful now. Besides, the Armored Army Town is nearby, a place full of strong yang energy. So back when Fox Child Town was haunted, no one died. Why do you ask, guest?"
Jiang Shangzhen pointed at himself and said, "Can't you tell?"
The young man tentatively ventured, "You're not short on money?"
Jiang Shangzhen laughed, "I'm a mountain cultivator. Wherever there are demons and monsters, I go."
The young man's eyes lit up. "A cultivator? Can you do immortal magic? Can you walk through walls? How about giving us a demonstration right now?"
Jiang Shangzhen touched his forehead and said, "Immortal arts shouldn't be shown lightly. The method isn't to be transmitted casually."
The young man immediately lost interest.
Nonsense. That told him nothing.
Besides, he'd never seen a "immortal" who bragged so much.
If this guy was spinning tales but dared not pay, he'd cut him down with one knife.
Jiang Shangzhen asked, "Where's the innkeeper?"
The more the young man looked at this guy, the more he seemed like a con artist. He'd already started calculating how much the man's clothes could fetch at the pawnshop. He said, "The landlady went to Fox Child Town this morning and hasn't come back yet. There's a temple fair there—very lively. But with this weather, she'll probably be back early. If you stay the night, guest, you'll surely see her."
After a full meal, Jiang Shangzhen belched, patted his belly lightly, and turned to look.
At the door, a beautiful woman had borrowed an oil-paper umbrella from Fox Child Town and was jogging back. She wore a yellow robe with a floral pattern and a front-opening jacket, with embroidered shoes on her feet. She was scraping mud off the soles on the threshold.
Jiang Shangzhen waved and said, "Ninth Lady, Ninth Lady, sit here."
The woman asked doubtfully, "Do we know each other? I remember all the guests I've had drinks with, especially those as handsome as you."
Jiang Shangzhen said with a roguish grin, "You don't know me, but I know you, Ninth Lady. I'm a good brother of Chen Ping'an. My name is Zhou Fei."
The woman squinted, her moist eyes full of fox-like charm. She called out "Brother Zhou," hurried across the threshold, tossed the umbrella to the distant waiter, sat down at the table, poured herself a bowl of wine, and drank it in one gulp. "Brother Zhou is being too polite. You should call me 'sister-in-law.'"
If there's nothing, feel free to fabricate. If there's something real, it's often hidden in the heart, not to be touched.
Jiang Shangzhen smiled slightly, "Still, it's better if Ninth Lady treats me as an 'outsider.'"
The woman looked puzzled.
Jiang Shangzhen sighed, "My other name is Jiang Shangzhen. Ninth Lady broke one tail, so even when you're in Fox Child Town, you couldn't detect the presence of this immortal."
Then Jiang Shangzhen grinned, "Lady Huan Xi—it's not as intimate as 'Ninth Lady.'"
For an instant.
Heaven and earth fell silent.
The woman's eight tails swayed behind her, her eyes cold, with no trace of drunken seductiveness left. "Does Patriarch Jiang come all this way to kill a demon or to capture one?"
Jiang Shangzhen picked up his wine bowl, gently clinked it against Ninth Lady's bowl, and took a sip. "If it were just that old Xun coming alone, Ninth Lady would be right to ask that."
The woman frowned and said, "Patriarch Jiang, please speak plainly."
Jiang Shangzhen put down the wine bowl and said, "Old Xun's intention is to have you agree to become a guest elder of our Jade Gui Sect. I think it's a bit too abrupt to impose on a beauty like this. Let's just say Ninth Lady is going to the Jade Gui Sect as a guest. When true peace returns to the world, when it's suitable for the host to sell wine and guests to drink, Ninth Lady can come back here to do business. I guarantee that when you leave the Jade Gui Sect then, no one will stop you. If you're willing to stay, focus on cultivation, and return to being a celestial fox, that's even better."
This nine-tailed celestial fox, or rather Lady Huan Xi, sneered, "And if I refuse?"
Jiang Shangzhen said, "Then you die."
Her face blurred, then became clear again, but it was no longer Ninth Lady's face.
Jiang Shangzhen didn't look away; he stared at her face, shook his head, and laughed, "Your fox enchantment divine ability, against me and against Chen Ping'an, isn't very effective."
She slowly reverted to "Ninth Lady's" appearance and said, "Jiang Shangzhen, I'll go with you to the Jade Gui Sect, but you must promise me three things."
"First, hide my identity. Except for you and Xun Yuan, no one in the Jade Gui Sect may know my background."
"Of course."
"Second, Third Master and the little lame boy must be properly settled, but not in the Jade Gui Sect."
"Fine. The Jade Gui Sect's lower sect, the True Mirror Sect, is in Vase Bottle Continent. It's a chance for them to take a long trip and enjoy the scenery. As for the Grand Spring capital, better not."
"Lastly, I want to go to the Grand Spring capital."
"Delighted. I have an old acquaintance there."
A knife sharpener, Liu Zong.
She asked, "How can I trust you?"
Jiang Shangzhen said matter-of-factly, "I'm Chen Ping'an's friend."
That day, Ninth Lady closed the inn and went with Jiang Shangzhen to the Grand Spring capital.
In the imperial palace of the Grand Spring Dynasty, a woman leaned against a corridor pillar, tears streaming down her face.
There were truly no seductive or bewitching acts, no improper fox-like behavior.
But the entire literary world of the Grand Spring Dynasty refused to let her go. The privately printed erotic books in the market that were repeatedly banned grew even more vulgar.
These men, who had read the books of the sages, only knew how to bully a woman, didn't they?
Around the time the young Hidden Officer was first thrown into jail and met the seamstress trimming the wick.
Pei Qian was about to go on a long journey.
And it was the kind of long trip where the master wasn't around—truly leaving home for thousands of miles.
Early in the morning, Chen Nuanshu and Zhou Mili began helping Pei Qian pack. Zhou Mili carried the small golden carrying pole and asked if she should bring it along. If they ran out of money, they could pawn it first, then redeem it when they had funds. But the black-clad little girl didn't forget to remind Pei Qian that exchanging gold for silver had a premium, so the pawnbroker shouldn't be allowed to cheat them. Pei Qian verbally praised her, pinched Mi Li's cheek, and said, "Look at you, so clever." But Pei Qian refused; she said she had enough money. Carrying a golden pole around the Jianghu was improper; it would attract envy and resentment.
This time, Pei Qian was traveling with Li Huai to visit the North Juzhou Continent. They had agreed to meet at the Yang Family Shop in town and then go together to the Ox Horn Mountain ferry to take the Hemp Garment Sect's cross-continent ferry. Unfortunately, their own dragon boat, the "Overturning Ink," couldn't travel as far as the North Juzhou Continent.
The old cook took one Small Summer coin and three hundred Snowflake coins from the sect treasury and gave them to Pei Qian, startling her. She only took a few Snowflake coins—after all, it was the master's and Falling Mountain's savings; borrowing too much wouldn't be good. The old cook said it wasn't a loan but a gift. Any Falling Mountain disciple going on a long journey would have a sum of immortal coins in their pouch. According to the young master, it would attract wealth luck.
Pei Qian said, "I'm the senior disciple. Am I the same as others?"
The truth was, she was afraid that the more she took, the more she'd lose. The old cook had the nerve to call her a "money-loser." Did he know how many times he'd said that over the years? Seventy-two times!
Besides, over the years, she'd followed her master eating well and drinking well, receiving gifts everywhere. She was frugal and a notorious cheapskate, so she'd actually saved up quite a bit of private money. For this trip, she'd specially prepared a small packet of gold leaves and a packet of silver fragments.
The walking stick her master had given her now housed the golden silk given by Sword Immortal Zhou Cheng. The old cook had specially invited Mountain Lord Wei to take a look, who said it was fine—a good thing—and didn't need refining. Just practice the Mad Demon Sword Art a few more times.
There was also the small bamboo box made by the white goose, along with bamboo swords and bamboo knives, but Pei Qian didn't dare wear them at her waist. Since she wasn't on her own mountain and her master and little senior brother weren't around, she didn't have the courage. She was afraid of being mistaken for a real Jianghu person. If unnecessary conflicts arose, and someone saw her age, they might just curse a few times and let it go. But if they saw her bamboo knives and bamboo swords, they'd insist on settling things the Jianghu way. What if they wanted to spar? Playing around was no fun.
Pei Qian went to the mountain god temple at the peak to say goodbye to the mountain god.
Chen Nuanshu and Zhou Mili followed as little sidekicks. Now that Pei Qian was growing taller quickly, they looked even more like little girls.
The mountain god was named Song Yuzhang. The county annals of Locust Yellow County mentioned him, but only briefly, recording that he had served as a kiln supervisor for many years. Strictly speaking, back when her master was a kiln apprentice in the dragon kiln, Supervisor Song had overseen him for years.
Pei Qian knew that Mountain God Song had never had a good relationship with Falling Mountain and had even had a bad falling out with the old cook and Mountain Lord Wei.
But her master had once told her that Mountain God Song was, in life, a loyal minister and pure scholar. After death, he became a god who protected the region. Not everyone who didn't get along with Falling Mountain was a bad person.
Pei Qian returned to the bamboo building and stood at the entrance of the second floor for a while.
Mi Li had initially wanted to follow Pei Qian to the second floor, but Nuan Shu stopped her, leading her to the stone table at the cliff to eat melon seeds.
Pei Qian went down to the ground floor. Between the bamboo building and the stone table, there were two additional small paths, not long.
When her master traveled to the North Juzhou Continent, he had obtained thirty-six green bricks. Before going to the Sword Qi Great Wall, he had laid six small paths, each with six bricks spaced at intervals, to help pure martial artists practice the Six-Step Stance. Initially, the master had intended one path each for himself, his senior disciple, the old cook, Zheng Dafeng, Lu Baixiang, and Cen Yuanji.
Later, the white goose felt wronged, so the master gave his path to the white goose.
Pei Qian's path was next to the path shared by her master and little senior brother—they were neighbors.
The old cook gave his path to Cao Qinglang, saying that even though he wasn't a pure martial artist, occasionally practicing martial moves could calm the mind.
Zheng Dafeng also didn't keep his bricks; he gave them to the boy Yuan Lai, who was serious about practicing boxing but preferred reading.
Lu Baixiang gave his to his senior disciple Yuan Bao.
Cen Yuanji laid a brick path in her small courtyard but still liked to go up and down the mountain to practice the Six-Step Stance.
To the north was the Gray Haze Mountain, a vassal territory of Falling Mountain. It wasn't as tall as Falling Mountain but had more area, and its geography was quite different.
Only three people lived there: a foreign young master who couldn't speak the local dialect, only the official Great Li language. His surname was a compound one, Dugu; his real name unknown, he went by the alias Shao Poxian. He was always accompanied by a maid named Meng Long, who had high pride. There was also a sister named Shi Qiu, with a gentle nature and even gentler heart. Pei Qian naturally preferred the latter.
On the westernmost Sword Worship Platform, a man named Cui Wei practiced swords there. He didn't like to talk and never came down the mountain. Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu occasionally helped at the Qilong Alley shop.
Cui Wei was a golden core bottleneck sword cultivator, from the Sword Qi Great Wall, brought back by the white goose. Pei Qian now knew very well how much a golden core earthly immortal sword cultivator meant in the Vase Bottle Continent mountains.
Sister Xiu Xiu's Dragon Spring Sword Sect was a Zong-ranked immortal sect. Master Ruan had taken two batches of disciples but currently only had one golden core who had held a peak-opening ceremony, and that Dong Gu wasn't even a sword cultivator.
Of course, that was because Sister Xiu Xiu didn't like to show off.
But Cui Wei was always very polite when dealing with the old cook—polite to the point of respect, even fear. That was strange.
Had the old cook put arsenic or laxatives in his food or wine, or what?
Although the old cook had indeed dressed down the Embroidery River Water Goddess quite harshly, Cui Wei, as a golden core sword cultivator, didn't seem to need to be so cautious.
Liu Chongrun, along with the direct disciples of the sect moved from the Pearl Hairpin Island of the Book-Simple Lake, had rented Turtle Shell Ridge from Falling Mountain, and the two sides had a very harmonious relationship.
Pei Qian admired Aunt Liu a lot. According to the old cook, she was a genuine 'long princess' who had ruled from behind a curtain—something Pei Qian had only read about in books, but Liu had actually done it.
In recent years, Liu Chongrun had even personally become the manager of the dragon boat ferry, selling immortal goods brought from Spring Dew Garden to Ox Horn Mountain. Aunt Liu was loyal, dedicated, and made a lot of money!
According to Nuan Shu, the Falling Mountain treasury received a large amount of immortal coins every quarter. The earnings were second only to the profit-sharing from the Ox Horn Mountain ferry with Mountain Lord Wei. Compared to the two shops on Qilong Alley, it was much, much more profitable. Sometimes, when Pei Qian went to Qilong Alley and saw Shi Rou, she couldn't help but sigh. She felt embarrassed for Shi Rou—how could she be the manager of the Lucky Year Shop?
And every festival, Nuan Shu would visit the Dragon Spring Sword Sect's Divine Show Mountain, Gray Haze Mountain, Sword Worship Platform, and of course Turtle Shell Ridge, to deliver gifts—Falling Mountain specialties. Light gifts but heavy sentiment. The sisters on Turtle Shell Ridge would also return gifts.
Pei Qian would go with Nuan Shu. In the past, Mi Li also liked to join the fun, but now her courage was smaller than a pinhole. She just liked to stay on Falling Mountain and not move. Every time, she would find an excuse—sprained ankle, toothache, etc. Later, her little brain that didn't like to think probably really ached, so she secretly went to find the old cook. The result was a large sheet of paper filled with excuses: "According to the almanac, today's water-attributed great monsters should not travel far or climb mountains." This made Mi Li very happy. Every day, she would wait eagerly, asking Sister Nuan Shu why they weren't going down the mountain to visit.
One day, Pei Qian secretly hid that sheet of paper. The little girl, who liked to look at it before bed every night, was dumbfounded. She was so anxious that she searched the entire Jise Peak sect hall square, the main road up Falling Mountain, and every big and small secluded path. In the middle of the night, the black-clad little girl widened her eyes, staring at the road. Pei Qian "kindly helped" her. Mi Li didn't dare say what she had lost. Anyway, Pei Qian followed Zhou Mili around. Although Mi Li had short legs, she ran very fast. In the end, Zhou Mili was in tears, saying to Pei Qian, "Let's search again." But soon she changed her tune: "Patrol leader, if you're sleepy, sleep first. I'll search by myself. I know the way well."
Pei Qian then made a hand seal, stomped her foot, blurted out some nonsense about "Urgent as the decree," and then lightly shouted a character, twisting her wrist. In her hand appeared that sheet of paper.
Surprised, Mi Li opened her mouth wide, then clapped vigorously. She hopped up, snatched the paper, and tucked it into her sleeve. On the way home, she chattered endlessly, circling Pei Qian, asking what kind of immortal art that was, so effective. Could it summon money to come home as a guest? If so, then Patrol Leader, please use your great divine power to decree the mountain master home as well.
In Yellow Lake Mountain, there was a big snake. Chen Lingjun often went there to play. Jiu'er's master, the old Daoist Jia Sheng, had originally left the Grass Hut Workshop and built a thatched hut at Yellow Lake Mountain for cultivation. It was said that he inexplicably broke through a realm. According to Chen Lingjun, the old Daoist was so happy that he kept howling by the lake, startling countless birds from their branches and sending fish diving deep.
When Daoist Jia came to Falling Mountain, the old cook gave him a congratulatory gift. The old Daoist refused several times, saying, "I can't, I can't. It's not a golden elixir. We're family; no need for such expense."
Pei Qian's sharp eyes noticed that when the old cook seemed about to go along with the refusal and not give the red envelope, the blind old Daoist seemed to have opened a celestial eye. He took the red envelope containing two Small Summer coins, stroked his beard, and chuckled, saying, "It's hard to refuse such kindness."
Pei Qian took a deep breath, turned to her two good friends, and said, "Don't see me off."
Holding her walking stick in one hand and the bamboo box strap in the other, she sprinted, leaped high, and jumped off the cliff.
As the mountain wind whistled past her ears during the fall, Pei Qian thought about when she would be able to step from Falling Mountain directly to the Gray Haze Mountain in the north.
The girl yawned.
She bent her knees slightly and landed heavily, raising a cloud of dust.
Her fist stance contracted, and she crouched on the ground. With the tips of her five fingers lightly touching the ground, the dust that had just been stirred up obediently returned to the earth.
Practice made perfect; nothing worth mentioning.
Zhu Lian came to the stone table, and Wei Pi appeared soon after.
Mi Li waved vigorously at the cliff, regardless of whether Pei Qian at the foot of the mountain could see her farewell.
Chen Nuanshu worriedly wondered if the small dried fish, melon seeds, and pastries in the book box were enough for Pei Qian on the road.
Zhu Lian rubbed his chin and said, "Only a Sixth Realm martial artist, traveling such a long distance—it's hard to feel at ease. And her route is different from Chen Lingjun's."
Wei Pi sighed, "Only?"
Zhu Lian laughed.
Chen Nuanshu and Zhou Mili bowed to Mountain Lord Wei.
Wei Pi smiled and nodded.
Zhou Mili fumbled in her sleeve for a long time, only managed to hand a small handful of melon seeds to Mountain Lord Wei, and felt a bit embarrassed. Hospitality lacking, hospitality lacking indeed.
She was the Right Protector of Falling Mountain, the Deputy Patrol Leader, the Great Water Monster of Mute Lake, the former Protector of Qilong Alley, and the self-appointed Fifth Manager of the Lucky Year Shop. Zhou Mili it was!
Wei Pi suppressed a smile, waved his hand, and said, "Forget it."
Chen Nuanshu took her leave and went back to work; there were many trivial matters on Falling Mountain. Zhou Mili carried the small golden carrying pole, munching on melon seeds. Although she was worried about the patrol leader walking the Jianghu, as the deputy patrol leader, there was nothing she could do.
After the two little girls had gone far away, Wei Pi continued the previous topic: "With Li Huai, it shouldn't be a big problem. Besides, as she walks, Pei Qian might just break through to the Golden Body Realm. Let's worry about those blind-eyed Jianghu martial artists and goblins instead. I can't make heads or tails of her martial arts and boxing anyway—it doesn't follow any logic."
Zhu Lian said, "When younger ones travel far from home, elders always worry whether they'll have enough to eat and wear. But it's true that things learned from experience are different. It's time for Pei Qian to walk her own Jianghu."
Wei Pi asked, "If you're so worried, why not follow her? I'll take care of Falling Mountain."
Zhu Lian rubbed his hands and said, "No, no. Brother Wei, you should focus on preparing the Night Travel Banquet. Finally finding a 'Reserve Mountain'—there's no reason not to throw a big party. Look at that Mid-March Mountain Lord Jin Qing; didn't he make a grand affair of it?"
Just thinking about it made Wei Pi's heart weary. He asked, "Other than the mountain and water spirits within the Northern March domain that have to come, how many qi refiners are willing to come now?"
Nowadays, a funny saying was spreading among the mountains of the Great Li Dynasty: "Within the Northern March domain, all you hear is the sound of smashing pots and selling scrap iron."
Wei Pi suddenly said, "That Shao Poxian, who carries both national fortune and sword Dao fortune—if you're willing, I can help make the connection. Don't worry, Jin Qing is also good at keeping secrets, and he still feels nostalgic for the Zhu Ying Dynasty. In a critical moment, Jin Qing might lend Falling Mountain a hand, and without any thought of repayment or benefit."
Zhu Lian shook his head and said, "For some things, to achieve the goal, you can't be too particular about the means. But for other things, one must still be upright."
Wei Pi nodded and said, "Brother Zhu is truly perceptive."
Zhu Lian spat and cursed, "Perceptive my ass. I'm talking big now because I'm not feeling the pinch. That little bastard who dares to scheme against Falling Mountain? I'm only holding back because of the master's and Miss Shi Qiu's friendship. But if something really happens, for the sake of Falling Mountain, you'll see me make Shao Poxian sell his ass!"
Wei Pi pretended not to hear.
Zhu Lian extended two fingers and rubbed the corners of his mouth.
If a big accident really popped up, distant water couldn't quench a nearby fire in time.
Sword Worship Platform's golden core bottleneck sword cultivator Cui Wei—in a critical moment, Falling Mountain could use him, but before he breaks through to the Nascent Soul realm, it's better to keep him still.
That refugee from the fallen Zhu Ying Dynasty, the sword cultivator pseudonym Shao Poxian, was even less suitable for being in the spotlight. Otherwise, it would be like Falling Mountain slapping the Great Li Song Clan in the face.
Lu Baixiang, Sui Youbian, and Wei Xian—the three pure martial artists—each had their own paths to walk.
Brother Dafeng was no longer on the mountain.
Cen Yuanji and the siblings Yuan Bao and Yuan Lai—the three martial arts seedlings—were still too young, with a long way to go.
Moreover, compared to the older generation of Lu, Sui, and Wei, they were still far behind in both talent and temperament.
Zhu Lian scratched his head and sighed, "Our Falling Mountain's foundation is still too thin. For the sake of that Lotus Blessed Land, we're even more stretched. When I think of little Nuan Shu secretly returning the three New Year red envelopes—each of those three little girls only kept the envelope—my heart aches. Do you know? Even that stingy Pei Qian has started taking Nuan Shu and Mi Li to quietly sort through the family assets: which items can be moved to the Falling Mountain treasury, which can wait—all categorized."
Zhu Lian stamped his foot and said, "I am ashamed before the master. I have no face to go to Jise Peak's sect hall to burn incense."
Wei Pi, hand on forehead, said, "Enough, enough. I'll just organize another damned Night Travel Banquet, alright? I, the mountain lord, will just shamelessly do it, alright?"
Zhu Lian grabbed Wei Pi's arm and said, "Brother Wei, you are noble!"
Wei Pi sighed, "Easy to get on a pirate ship, hard to get off."
Wei Pi suddenly frowned and said, "Qingfeng City spy. Little Snotty. Shake Mountain Fist?"
Zhu Lian asked, "Did someone burn incense and pray to you, the mountain lord?"
Wei Pi nodded, "Three sticks of incense. The first two were ordinary, so I ignored them. The last one was high-grade mountain incense, and with those three statements, I took notice."
Zhu Lian smiled and said, "Most likely a piece that Gu Can has buried for many years. He thinks the time has come, so he's paying respects to the mountain. Coincidentally, I was just thinking of trying my luck at the Qingfeng City Xu Clan. It's tiresome to always be disgusted by others; it's time I disgusted someone else."
Wei Pi said, "Don't rush. I'll go meet this person first."
Zhu Lian smiled and said, "Thank you, thank you. I'll ask Nuan Shu for some melon seeds for you later."
Wei Pi turned into a wisp of breeze and vanished in an instant.
Zhu Lian looked at the sky. It looked like snow. He murmured, "Poetic thoughts come from a donkey's back in the wind and snow of the Ba Bridge. I haven't recited poetry for a long time. Poetic thoughts are always there, wind and snow are common, but there's no donkey. And even if there were, Pei Qian would probably have led it away into the Jianghu."
Zhu Lian smiled with understanding.
Next time the young master returned home, he probably wouldn't be so willing to spar with Pei Qian.
Li Huai's packing was simple: he carried a large bamboo box with bottles, jars, dried food, and pickled vegetables. He didn't bring his precious treasures. The Jianghu was a mix of fish and dragons; it was better to keep a low profile.
He went to the herbal shop to say goodbye to the old man. Yang Old Man gave Li Huai a set of gear: a green long gown, a bamboo-silk-like thing, a jade plaque with no inscription, and a pair of boots.
Li Huai initially didn't want to accept them. The shop's business was terribly slow. The old man worked hard to make a meager living and probably hadn't saved much over the years.
His father wasn't in the shop, Uncle Zheng had traveled far, and the two new disciples, Su Dian and Shi Lingshan, had also left. Li Huai was really worried. How could he bear to take the old man's things?
But the old man said, "If you, Li Huai, don't want them, fine. Then please give them to the guy who sits behind the counter in the front room."
Li Huai almost flew into a rage. If it weren't for being a Confucian disciple and needing to show some scholarly demeanor, that guy outside with his sour face—Li Huai really wanted to beat him up in a sack.
Pei Qian came to the Yang Family Shop for the second time and met Yang Old Man for the second time.
The girl sat respectfully on the opposite bench.
Her figure was beginning to slim out, a bit slender and thin, with slightly dark skin. She truly wasn't a very pretty girl.
When Pei Qian first entered the backyard, she saw the old man sitting on the steps, with Li Huai squatting beside him, an arm around the old man's neck, muttering something.
Pei Qian remembered her master's teaching: unless necessary, do not casually probe others' minds.
Yang Old Man looked at the girl and slowly said, "This bench has been sat on by Qi Jingchun and by your master."
Pei Qian nodded gently.
Then Li Huai slapped the old man on the head, imitating little Zhou Mili's voice, "What's this, what's this? Playing mysterious and pretending to be important. Old age isn't impressive. Scaring my friend, huh? Huh?"
Pei Qian glared at Li Huai.
Li Huai immediately rubbed the old man's head, smoothing his hair.
The old man was long used to it and didn't care. Of course, Li Huai was the only exception. Let someone like Heavenly Lord Xie Shi or Sword Immortal Cao Xi try it.
The old man said, "You can set off now."
Li Huai and Pei Qian walked toward the bamboo curtain. Li Huai turned and said, "Old man, I bought a big bag of good charcoal. I put it in the side room. It's winter; don't be stingy. It's not your money."
The old man nodded.
Pei Qian slightly bowed, cupped her fists in salute.
The old man nodded again.
This year, this month, this day.
In the night, on the half section of the Sword Qi Great Wall's city wall.
That black shadow had gradually become clearer. A pair of golden eyes remained the most striking feature. A bright red robe billowed around him, and a slim blade hung at his waist.
This half section of the Sword Qi Great Wall no longer had any suicidal demons climbing or flying over.
So those scroll sword immortals had temporarily hidden themselves.
The black shadow had been pacing back and forth along the city wall, appearing suddenly, leaving abruptly, leaving no trace.
At this moment, the shadow took down Zhan Kan, came to the cliff at the broken end of the wall, leaned on the blade, and looked down at the earth. Below, there were still countless demon armies surging northward.
He withdrew his gaze and looked up.
Now, in the Barren Wilderness World, there were only two moons.
I'm still fine. But I wonder if all those traveling far away are safe and sound.