Chapter 687: A Sword Immortal on Fallen Mountain
Walking into the Wind Snow Temple mountain range on a snowy night, the scenery was breathtaking.
The night was deep and the snow heavy; from time to time, the sounds of pine and cypress branches breaking and bamboo snapping could be heard.
From start to finish, Wei Jin had not sent a flying sword message to the Wind Snow Temple's Patriarch Hall. As for the Wind Snow Temple's Immortal Terrace, there was even less need, because Wei Jin was the sole inheritor of the Immortal Terrace lineage. The old mansion within the mountain had only a symbolic mountain-and-water restriction set up, just enough to prevent collapse and keep outsiders from needing to tidy up. It had no intention of gathering spiritual qi or seeking the auspicious feng shui of wind and water.
Earlier, even when he had reached the Wind Snow Temple's territory, Wei Jin still had no intention of greeting his sect. He went straight into the mountains to visit the graves. After offering wine at the Immortal Terrace, he would leave immediately, naturally not thinking of stopping by the Patriarch Hall for a visit.
The scenery at the Wind Snow Temple was exceptionally beautiful, and the Immortal Terrace was the crown jewel of the temple, a famed scenic spot known throughout the continent. The mountains were filled with ancient pines and giant cypresses thousands of years old. Tonight, snow covered the green hills, and several eminent cultivators were lying under the pines to sleep. They were presumably from other branches of the Wind Snow Temple, who had come to enjoy the snow, arrived with great enthusiasm, and were unwilling to leave just yet, so they had simply begun cultivating on the spot. When they encountered Wei Jin, a white-robed recluse under the pines, they did not speak but merely rose and bowed from afar.
Wei Jin acted as if he hadn't seen them.
Mi Yu, on the other hand, an outsider, smiled and waved goodbye to the immortal under the pines. This left the latter quite uncertain about who this extraordinarily elegant young gentleman was, that he could travel into the mountains with Wei Jin. After all, Wei Jin hated anyone greeting him with pleasantries during his grave-visiting trip, let alone bringing friends along to visit the Immortal Terrace.
Wei Jin didn't like talking about old affairs of the Wind Snow Temple, but that was fine. Mi Yu had Wei Wenlong by his side, a man who bought up all the mountain-and-water gazettes. This accountant from the Spring Banner Studio was an expert at searching out and collecting secret records. Now he knew more about the various mountain clan genealogies in the Jeweled Bottle Continent than even the registered immortal masters of the continent. So Mi Yu had learned that the Wind Snow Temple, one of the founding temples of the Military Strategists on the Jeweled Bottle Continent, had six branches. Later, Ruan Qiong, who had established his own sect and was now a fellow townsman of the Hidden Official, had once been from the Green Water Pond branch. He had left behind that long-distance sword furnace for the Wind Snow Temple, and his parting with his old sect was a typical case of "good friends parting amicably." The Wind Snow Temple was considered half of the natal home of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect. Ruan Qiong was the Jeweled Bottle Continent's number one sword forger. He had once clashed with the Great Ink Manor of the Water Talisman Dynasty over sword forging. That great ink manor's sword immortal had been imprisoned by the Wind Snow Temple for fifty years and was still a prisoner.
Occasionally, Wei Wenlong would chat with Mi Yu about various tidbits from the Wind Snow Temple's Wenqing Peak and the Giant Salamander Gully. For instance, the Patriarch of the Qin Clan from the Giant Salamander Gully lineage and an elder from the Eternal Spring Palace had traveled the martial world together in their youth—a story with much to tell, but regrettably they had not become a pair of immortal lovers.
Wei Jin couldn't help but ask casually, "Is that true?"
Wei Wenlong then presented evidence, saying that there were several mountain-and-water gazettes from history that could corroborate each other. Moreover, every time the Eternal Spring Palace had a peak-opening or realm-breaking ceremony, the various branches of the Wind Snow Temple would mostly send direct disciples to congratulate the Great Li. And hadn't the Qin Clan Patriarch from Giant Salamander Gully always gone in person?
Wei Jin was speechless. He had never spoken a single word to those so-called Land Immortal cultivators of the Giant Salamander Gully lineage; how would he know such things?
What was even stranger was that Wei Wenlong would flip through piles and piles of mountain-and-water gazettes from decades or centuries ago every day without getting bored. He would also make excerpts and notes, often asserting which mountain sects were "putting up a front" and had to grit their teeth and scrape the bottom of the barrel every time they held a banquet, and which mountain sects were clearly raking in gold every day but liked to hide their light, secretly getting rich while constantly strengthening their foundations.
There were also several groups of young boys and girls from Wenqing Peak carrying immortal porcelain bowls. They had been ordered by the sect to come specifically to the Immortal Terrace, using secret techniques and treasures to select snowflakes for brewing Cold Crisp Wine and carving Instant Flowers. The former was used to entertain guests, the latter as gifts. This snow-collecting business was full of intricacies. They mostly placed bottles and jars on the gnarled branches of ancient pines by the cliffs. Different times required different places to collect snow. Matters of the immortals on the mountain were indeed matters of heaven to the mundane world.
These children saw Wei Jin, who had an extremely high seniority in the Wind Snow Temple, but none of them greeted him. It wasn't that they were unwilling, but rather that they dared not.
However, joy was written on every face. This famous Sword Immortal Wei, Patriarch Wei, had finally returned to the mountain.
Earlier, Wei Jin had seemed to look down on that earth immortal under the pine, as if he looked down his nose at him. But when he encountered these children of the Wind Snow Temple, he would say something similar, generally meaning to remember not to send messages to your elders. The Immortal Terrace is full of cliffs and precipices; collecting snow is not easy, so be extra careful.
By the time Wei Jin and his party had walked far away, some of the snow-collecting children jumped up and shouted loudly that Sword Immortal Wei had spoken to them. Soon another child argued, saying that Patriarch Wei had spoken to him instead. The children's quarrels mingled with the sound of wind and snow.
Mi Yu turned his head to look at Wei Jin and asked with a smile, "The Wind Snow Temple's reputation, both on and off the mountain, has always been pretty good. Why are you so full of resentment?"
Wei Jin had no intention of speaking. Every immortal mountain sect in the Hao Ran world had its own hard-to-read scriptures. If you really wanted to hold a grudge, it might not involve clear right or wrong, but if you wanted someone to not hold a grudge at all, it was ultimately hard to pass the heart's test.
Mi Yu then said, "Wenlong."
Wei Wenlong said via mind voice, "The content recorded in the Jeweled Bottle Continent's mountain-and-water gazettes is full of intricacies and rules. They dare not casually discuss the family affairs of major sects like the Wind Snow Temple. The customs and folkways here are very different from our Sword Great Wall. Especially since Sword Immortal Wei broke through his realm so quickly and was the sole seedling of the Immortal Terrace. Meanwhile, the alchemists of the Wind Snow Temple love to wander the four directions and are clannish. This is very different from the True Martial Mountain's military cultivators who enlist in the army and could belong to different dynasties or camps. So the writers of the mountain-and-water gazettes only dare to record the Wind Snow Temple cultivators' demon-slaying deeds during their trials down the mountain. As for Sword Immortal Wei, they at most wrote about him and one of the former 'Golden Boy and Jade Girl' of the Divine Proclamation Sect..."
Wei Jin coughed.
Wei Wenlong immediately shut up.
When they reached the gravesite, Wei Jin offered incense, then took out three jugs of wine: one was the Chikhai Cave Heaven wine from the Sword Great Wall, one was the Forget Sorrow wine from the Daoist Dream Wine Shop on Inverted Suspension Mountain, and one was the osmanthus brew from the Old Dragon City.
Wei Jin crouched by the grave, muttered to himself, and poured the three jugs of wine in front of him.
Before the group left the Immortal Terrace, during their descent, a person arrived flying on a sword, looking like a young boy. This was the patriarch of the Wind Snow Temple.
Wei Jin cupped his fists in salute. The patriarch did not urge Wei Jin to stay in the mountain, only spoke of some sect affairs related to Wei Jin.
Finally, the Wind Snow Temple patriarch voluntarily brought up that incident from years ago. The dispute between the sword cultivators of Zhengyang Mountain and the Wind Thunder Garden had taken place at the summit of the Immortal Terrace. At the time, the Wind Snow Temple had not informed Wei Jin, who was wandering the jianghu, which was an improper act on the temple's part.
Wei Jin shook his head, saying that the Immortal Terrace was, after all, a lineage of the Wind Snow Temple. There was nothing improper about such matters; it was only right.
With that, they parted ways, without any dragging of feet.
After the three left the Immortal Terrace, the Wind Snow Temple patriarch, still in the form of a young boy, flew on his sword to the gnarled branch of an ancient pine. He put away his sword and gazed into the distance, seemingly worried.
The Qin Clan patriarch of the Giant Salamander Gully lineage appeared beside him and asked softly, "Wei Jin was able to return to the mountain alive, and his sword immortal aura is even heavier, almost to the point where he couldn't hide it. This is a great auspicious omen. Why is the patriarch worried instead of happy?"
The boy lifted his chin. "Those two people beside Wei Jin—can you see their depths?"
The old man from Giant Salamander Gully said, "The one with the ordinary appearance is a Core Formation earth immortal, isn't that right?"
The boy nodded.
The old man said, "As for the one who is even better-looking than Wei Jin, forgive my poor eyesight, but I cannot see through him."
The boy said, "Earlier, you were far away. When I arrived on my sword, that person instantly revealed a trace of hostility. His sword intent at that moment was extremely astonishing, but he withdrew it very quickly, so seamlessly that it was even more formidable."
The old man asked suspiciously, "The patriarch is a veritable sword immortal, not like those cowardly Nascent Soul cultivators from Zhengyang Mountain who hide their tails. On your own mountain, do you need to be wary?"
Those who could associate with sword immortals were not simple.
The boy said gravely, "Let alone whether that person is a hidden cultivator of the Dao. What truly makes me wary is that after that person revealed that trace of hostility, Wei Jin's attitude was—unconcerned, normal, not stopping him. You must know that no matter how outwardly distant Wei Jin seems from the Wind Snow Temple, deep down he is someone who extremely respects his teachers and the Dao. But after that outsider showed hostility toward our Wind Snow Temple, Wei Jin's reaction—don't you find it strange?"
The old man asked cautiously, "Could it be a... sword immortal from over there?"
The old man then clicked his tongue in wonder. "Such a good-looking sword immortal, I can hardly believe it. And Wei Jin, really, keeping good things to himself, not even bringing a friend to sit in my Giant Salamander Gully."
The boy sighed. "Forget it. That fleeting hostility seemed to be directed at my identity as a sword cultivator, not at the entire Wind Snow Temple. That's enough. Consider this matter heard and forgotten."
The old man nodded.
The boy chuckled. "Little Qin, I no longer care about that person's identity. I'm just worried about your big mouth—it's bound to leak. Today you'll have a wonderful talk with a wandering sword immortal on a snowy night; tomorrow you'll be like old friends at first sight, sworn brothers; the day after, that sword immortal will be your Giant Salamander Gully's perfect son-in-law."
The Qin Clan patriarch from Giant Salamander Gully looked disgruntled.
After leaving the Wind Snow Temple mountain range, the heavy snow was indeed no small matter. For a thousand li, the world was vast and white, wind and snow boundless.
The three did not deliberately raise their altitude. They chose to fly through the wind and snow. Wei Jin rode his sword, while Mi Yu, also a sword immortal, preferred a slower method of wind-riding, euphemistically calling it "taking care of Brother Wei."
The world was large, and immortals few. They traveled far with no one in sight.
Wei Wenlong said with a smile, "We're not too far from Luopo Mountain."
Mi Yu grinned. "You're the one the Hidden Official has designated for the Luopo Mountain Patriarch Hall. I'm still uncertain. Remember to look out for your brother when you become a temporary elder, don't turn your back on an old friend and start ordering me around."
Wei Wenlong grimaced. "Sword Immortal Mi is joking."
According to the plan, Wei Jin would deliver Mi Yu and Wei Wenlong to Luopo Mountain. Wei Wenlong would settle there, while Mi Yu was supposed to take a cross-continent ferry to the Taihui Sword Sect in the Northern Julu Continent. Given Mi Yu's realm and cultivation, and the two connections—the Sword Great Wall with the Taihui Sword Sect, and the young Hidden Official with the new sect master Qi Jinglong—Mi Yu becoming a member of the Taihui Sword Sect's Patriarch Hall was reasonable.
But Mi Yu had heard that Wei Jin was going to the Northern Julu Continent to challenge Heavenly Lord Xie Shi again. So he asked Wei Jin to send a message to the Taihui Sword Sect: Mi Yu would shamelessly ask for an unlisted elder position. If it was difficult, please don't feel obliged. Agreeing would be a favor; refusing would be proper. Mi Yu didn't have the face to force the Taihui Sword Sect to nod. His words were not entirely the jocular banter of the self-proclaimed "embroidered pillow" Mi Yu; he genuinely respected the Taihui Sword Sect.
Wei Jin didn't like to affirm or deny others' life choices. Mi Yu was a genuine Jade Perfection realm cultivator. The "mere façade" was only in comparison to the top swordsmen of the Sword Great Wall. Besides, Mi Yu was no child. So since Mi Yu was so insistent, Wei Jin agreed. Wei Wenlong said that Luopo Mountain and Cloak Cloud Mountain each owned half of the Cinnabar Horn Mountain ferry. Besides the cross-continent ferries to the Northern Julu Continent, there was also a long-distance trading ferry called the Spilled Ink Ferry, whose true ownership had not been revealed to outsiders. Its current interim manager was Liu Chongrun, formerly the island lord of the Beaded Hairpin Island on Letter Sea Lake. She was a princess from a fallen great dynasty. That dynasty's secret treasury had once contained dragon boats and water palaces, all treasures of the mountain world. That Spilled Ink Ferry was likely one of those dragon boats.
If Sword Immortal Wei didn't mind the delay, they could take this ferry to Cinnabar Horn Mountain. Wei Wenlong also wanted to see the ferry's passenger flow and the loading and unloading conditions at the various ports along the way.
Wei Jin had no objection. Mi Yu was even more eager, rubbing his hands together in excitement. Home, home, finally found a backer and won't have to worry about food and drink.
The southernmost stop of that Spilled Ink Ferry was at the Yellow Mud Slope Ferry in the central-northern part of the Jeweled Bottle Continent. The ferry's name had no immortal aura whatsoever, and its origin was untraceable. The nearest neighboring ferry was no better, called the Village Makeup Ferry. The Village Makeup Ferry had a mountain sect with mostly female cultivators, Fisherman's Song Mountain, which cultivated water arts. Many female cultivators were beautiful. Fisherman's Song Mountain had long ago renamed the Village Makeup Ferry to the Green Straw Cloak Ferry, but all the cultivators on the mountain refused to accept it, still calling it the Village Makeup Ferry.
Thus, when the female cultivators of Fisherman's Song Mountain—the "village makeup village girls"—went out on trials, and the disciples of the Invincible Divine Fist Sect went down the mountain to travel, the mutual indignation in their hearts had a similar subtlety.
Near the Yellow Mud Slope Ferry, Wei Jin encountered another group of immortal masters who had a generations-old friendship with the Wind Snow Temple. Wei Jin ignored them, and an old immortal master roared loudly enough to shake the heavens. Wei Jin had to stop his flying sword, but Sword Immortal Wei sent them off with just a few words.
A solitary sword immortal, with no intention of founding a sect, had no need to consider worldly obligations.
Moreover, those immortal masters on the mountain who had barely avoided being shut out didn't feel that Wei Jin was at all unsociable. On the contrary, they felt that Sword Immortal Wei's demeanor was precisely befitting a mountaintop sword immortal. Being able to exchange a few words with Sword Immortal Wei was enough to boast about to outsiders.
Naturally, Mi Yu had to tease Wei Jin about his wide connections, great face, and imposing presence, and along with that, drag out Sword Immortal Shao from the Spring Banner Studio to sun-dry.
As various mountain-and-water gazettes recorded Wei Jin's return home in increasing detail, Wei Jin parted ways with Mi Yu and the others at the Yellow Mud Slope Ferry. Wei Jin neither took the Spilled Ink Ferry nor boarded the Hemp-Bearing Sect's cross-continent ferry. He headed straight for the Northern Julu Continent, choosing to fly his sword across the continent.
Who could stop him from flying his sword? Then they could talk about pleasantries.
Boarding the Spilled Ink Ferry, the young ladies receiving guests on board were all very young. Their realms might not be high, but their smiles were truly beautiful.
Mi Yu felt as if he was home.
The Hidden Official, you have not deceived me.
Wei Wenlong kept to his old routine, first buying mountain-and-water gazettes from the ferry, both old and new.
Once, a flock of birds flew past the ferry. Not only that, but a group of female cultivators from Cloud Mist Mountain, draped in colorful robes, riding various immortal birds, accompanied the ferry for over a hundred li.
Wei Wenlong was no stranger to Cloud Mist Mountain. Cloud Root Stone, shipped from this mountain to Old Dragon City and then to Inverted Suspension Mountain, appeared frequently in the Spring Banner Studio's ledgers.
Wei Wenlong left his most ordinary cabin room. It was a shame for Sword Immortal Mi, who had the same kind of lodging. It wasn't exactly crude, but neither was it luxurious. It was plain yet elegant, with many paintings, calligraphy, and curios to decorate the place. The Spilled Ink Ferry had clearly put thought into it everywhere, with delicate little touches like a woman holding a round silk fan half-covering her face, standing gracefully under a tree. Not a great beauty of a noble family, but a modest maiden with a certain charm of her own. Wei Wenlong came to the gathering of passengers at the bow, listening to the onlookers talk about the teachings and realms of the various immortal maidens from Cloud Mist Mountain.
Further away, Wei Wenlong saw Mi Yu leaning against the railing, chatting and laughing with a female qi cultivator who was not a female cultivator of the ferry. Anyone who didn't know them would have thought they were a pair of immortal lovers traveling together. And this female cultivator, with all her charm on her face and waist, when talking with Mi Yu about something enjoyable, would reach out and lightly pat him. Only her eyes didn't seem to like looking directly at people. When someone passed by, she would glance sideways, only looking at robes, jade belts, hairpins, ornaments, and the like, very precise and experienced. The reason she now seemed to have eyes only for Mi Yu was probably because she had first given him a once-over from head to toe and estimated that Mi Yu was some rich sucker of a registered immortal master worth cultivating a relationship with.
If the young Hidden Official were here, he would probably say something like "a dog can't stop eating shit," cursing both of them.
But Wei Wenlong soon felt that it wasn't very likely. The young Hidden Official was very tolerant of worldly people and affairs.
One thing Wei Wenlong had never understood was Sword Immortal Mi. Mi Yu actually had very high standards when it came to women. How could he chat with all kinds of women, and so sincerely, as if all the flirtatious talk between men and women was about discussing the Great Dao?
Mi Yu spotted Wei Wenlong and pointed, saying to the woman with a smile, "Sister Jiaolan, I told you before—that dashing, distinguished, wealthy, and powerful Master Wei is right there. See him? All my expenses on this trip rely on him. Don't be fooled by Master Wei's youth; he's a Cave Abode realm immortal master. I plan to work for Master Wei as an assistant first, and later I'll try to get a registered identity."
The woman followed Mi Yu's finger and saw the stolid Wei Wenlong. She smiled and nodded, chiming in with a few words. After that, her conversation with Mi Yu became less enthusiastic, and she quickly found an excuse to leave.
No matter how good-looking a man's skin, he couldn't stand being a half-baked waste from a small mountain sect coming to seek immortals.
Wei Wenlong saw Mi Yu wave, so he left the crowd and came to Mi Yu's side.
Mi Yu leaned on the railing and waved vigorously at a female cultivator from Cloud Mist Mountain riding a white luan bird. The latter covered her mouth with a titter and whispered to her fellow disciples, then more and more female cultivators looked toward the Spilled Ink Ferry.
Wei Wenlong said via mind voice, "Sword Immortal Mi, remember to use an alias."
Wei Wenlong himself was unknown, except within the Spring Banner Studio, and not famous even on Inverted Suspension Mountain, so there was no need. But Mi Yu, as a sword immortal whose fame far surpassed his strength, should be careful.
Mi Yu took off his wine gourd "Haoliang" and drank some osmanthus brew, saying, "Do you really think I'm an idiot?"
Wei Wenlong apologized, "I was being presumptuous."
Mi Yu smiled and said, "What's there to apologize for? Even if you really thought I was an idiot, I wouldn't be angry, let alone when you mean well."
Mi Yu patted Wei Wenlong's shoulder. "Wenlong, from now on, don't be so formal with me. There's no need, it's too distant."
Wei Wenlong became even more formal.
Mi Yu leaned on the railing again and said via mind voice, "Wei Wenlong, those years at the Spring Banner Studio, you earned the recognition of the Hidden Official, Yan Ming, and Nalan Caihuan with your true skill. So don't look down on yourself. Stepping back a bit, if you do that, how am I supposed to face myself?"
Wei Wenlong was at a loss.
Mi Yu didn't force him. "Forget it, do whatever. Whatever makes you comfortable."
Wei Wenlong asked curiously, "Sword Immortal Mi, on this journey north, why does the Hidden Official and his Luopo Mountain seem to have no reputation at all? Especially the Hidden Official. He didn't even make it onto the lists of the Top Ten Young Talents from either the Northern Julu Continent or the Jeweled Bottle Continent. Not only that, at every immortal ferry, when various cultivators talk about the Hidden Official's hometown, they only mention the Northern Peak Cloak Cloud Mountain and Wei Shanjun's Night Tour Banquet. Why does it seem like the Jeweled Bottle Continent has never had a person like the Hidden Official?"
Wei Wenlong grew more puzzled as he spoke. "Even if the Hidden Official is only thirty years old now, he was in his twenties when he came to our place last time. With his abilities, how could the Jeweled Bottle Continent's mountain sects not know anything? If I remember correctly, when the Hidden Official first arrived at the Sword Great Wall, he passed three trials in a row and defeated prodigies like Qi Shou and Pang Yuanji. Shouldn't such strength, in this little Jeweled Bottle Continent, have earned him a reputation similar to Sword Immortal Wei's back then?"
Mi Yu said, "If he doesn't want people to know, they cannot know. If he wants them to know, they cannot not know."
Wei Wenlong deeply agreed. Just consider what happened when Lin Junbi of the Central Earth Divine Continent returned home. Through cross-continent ferries, the Spring Banner Studio had heard something—unanimous praise. From the Confucian temples and academies, to the 'Zong' level immortal sects of the Central Earth Divine Continent, to the court and commoners of Shaoyuan Dynasty, Lin Junbi was indeed blessed by heaven and earth at that time.
But Mi Yu added, "The real reason is that he felt that once he was at the Sword Great Wall, away from his hometown, he could truly act without restraint."
Wei Wenlong murmured, "A dragon lurking in the abyss."
One day, even a lion would use its full strength to fight a rabbit.
Mi Yu said, "Wenlong, with this talent of yours, once you're at Luopo Mountain, I guarantee you'll thrive!"
Wei Wenlong asked, "Why does Sword Immortal Mi say that?"
Mi Yu grinned. "Doesn't the Hidden Official often say, 'Treat others with sincerity'?"
Wei Wenlong nodded. "That's true."
Mi Yu turned to look at Wei Wenlong. "Wenlong, your lack of luck with women is not without reason. You don't even have one-tenth of the Hidden Official's skill."
Wei Wenlong said sheepishly, "Of course. The Hidden Official holds himself upright, is understanding, puts himself in others' shoes, and can restrain himself and follow propriety. It's normal that many women like him."
Mi Yu laughed and cursed, "Damn it, you must have a fate-born ability too. What a saying: 'Life is full of Luopo Mountains.'"
Wei Wenlong, the future money-man of Luopo Mountain, was completely baffled.
After the dragon-boat ferry docked at Cinnabar Horn Mountain, Mi Yu found Liu Chongrun and said in impeccably fluent Jeweled Bottle Continent elegant speech with a smile, "Manager Liu, my real name is not worth mentioning. My jianghu nickname is 'Out of Rice.' Manager Liu, I'll soon be a registered immortal master of Luopo Mountain. Let's keep in touch from now on."
Liu Chongrun had no idea why this man was talking such nonsense, so she perfunctorily exchanged a few polite words. A guest was a guest; in business, one doesn't strike a smiling face. If this man really turned out to be a registered disciple going to burn incense and bow to portraits at the Luopo Mountain Patriarch Hall, that would be fine. Human relations could be handled later, no rush. But Liu Chongrun felt that this man in front of her was just too good-looking. In the future, at her Turtleback Mountain, there would be many young women with little experience. She would have to be cautious. She didn't want some messy trouble just because of this frivolous-talking man, turning her Turtleback disciples, who should be diligently cultivating, into lovesick women pining for another man, or worse, squabbling like shrews and jealous wives. She, Liu Chongrun, would probably be furious enough to die.
Wei Wenlong stood to one side, utterly perplexed. On this whole trip, Sword Immortal Mi seemed very distant from the female cultivators on the Spilled Ink Ferry, never striking up conversations. Even when some female cultivators took the initiative to talk to him, Mi Yu kept his distance.
Mi Yu and Wei Wenlong, following local customs, walked toward Luopo Mountain.
They took a detour to the main gate, passing by the foot of a cliff. Mi Yu stopped and smiled, saying, "Interesting, interesting."
Wei Wenlong could only see a large area of ground with traces of being filled in. Looking up, he asked, "Sword Immortal Mi, is this from some pure martial artists jumping off the cliff to play? They should be at the Golden Body realm, right?"
Mi Yu shook his head. "It's all from the same person, and not yet at the Golden Body realm."
Wei Wenlong also shook his head. "The depths vary, the differences are not small. It shouldn't be the same person. If it were the same person, over time, the traces of the large pits wouldn't be so obvious. It can't be that they broke through realms in such a short time. Even the Hidden Official couldn't do that."
Mi Yu asked, "Want to make a bet?"
Wei Wenlong shook his head vigorously. "No bet. Someone who deals with ledgers must avoid gambling at all costs. I cannot betray the Hidden Official's and my master's trust. From now on, on this mountain, I must strictly adhere to my duties in all matters, big or small."
Mi Yu didn't mind.
As for why Wei Wenlong had it wrong, it was simple: his realm wasn't high enough.
Mi Yu's Jade Perfection realm was still a Jade Perfection realm, not fake.
When they reached the main mountain gate of Luopo Mountain, Mi Yu and Wei Wenlong looked at each other.
The gatekeeper was a young boy. After hearing that the two were friends of the mountain lord, he noted down the names "Wei Wenlong" and "Out of Rice" and let them pass.
Then Mi Yu and Wei Wenlong had just taken a few steps up the stairs when they spotted a little fellow, finger-high, running up the stairs all the way, sighing but not slowing his limbs at all.
Wei Wenlong explained softly to Sword Immortal Mi that this was an incense-fire little man from the Hao Ran world. Not every wealthy household or mountain temple had one; it was quite rare.
The little guy climbed the stairs again and again, very hard work, no different from crossing mountains and ridges.
But there was no way around it; the helmsman was not on the mountain, but the rules still applied. So every time he visited Luopo Mountain, he had to obediently enter through the main gate.
He didn't look up when he passed the two guests. After he was more than a dozen steps above them, he turned around, stood still, put his hands on his hips, and said, "Do you know who I am?"
Probably feeling that he was being rude, he quickly put down his hands and made a bow. Then he raised his head to announce his name, saying he was the incense-fire lord of the Dragon Prefecture City God Pavilion, the second-in-command, and also the Right Protector of the Qilong Lane. He wasn't sure which seat he held, but he definitely had a chair to sit on. He had come today to punch in for duty. Then this incense-fire little man solemnly repeated his earlier question.
Wei Wenlong didn't know how to answer. This little fellow seemed quite clever and mischievous. Could this be what the Hidden Official called the "underworld talk" of mountain visits?
Mi Yu took a couple of steps up, crouched down, and said with a smile, "I've heard of you, of course I have. I'm a follower of the Luopo Mountain mountain lord. He's told me about the Right Protector of the Qilong Lane—hardworking and very competent."
The incense-fire little man, whose home was the Dragon Prefecture City God Pavilion, was shocked and said with great envy, "You actually know our Luopo Mountain mountain lord?! I've never even seen the venerable elder! There are so many official ranks between me and the helmswoman Pei, the current Luopo Mountain Right Protector Zhou Mili's master's master, the mountain lord. I've even specially consulted Helmsman Pei about whether I could take the initiative to greet the mountain lord if I ever had the good fortune to meet him on the road. Helmsman Pei said I have to clock in at the mountain gate a full hundred times before I'm barely qualified."
Like bamboo shoots being poured out of a tube, the little guy rattled off a series of official titles without taking a breath.
Mi Yu smiled brilliantly. Look, this was the unique family style of their Luopo Mountain. To hell with the Northern Julu Continent!
Then a girl came down from the mountain, practicing punches and walking on stakes. She saw the two but didn't greet them, just focused on her practice and headed toward the mountain gate.
Wei Wenlong felt that Luopo Mountain was full of hidden mysteries. No wonder it was the Hidden Official's cultivation ground.
Those pits made by someone jumping off the cliff, the gatekeeper who was a young man reading a book, the incense-fire little man climbing the stairs, the girl practicing punches with single-minded focus...
Mi Yu reached out his hand. "Stand on my shoulder, I'll give you a ride."
The incense-fire little man shook his head. "No, that's not sincere. It's easy for Helmsman Pei to keep a record. Lord Mili is very impartial."
The little guy continued climbing higher.
Mi Yu and Wei Wenlong slowly ascended after him. Soon, two little girls came running down. One wore a pink dress, the other black clothes, and the latter carried a small golden carrying pole on her shoulder.
Wei Wenlong was a bit impressed.
Chen Nuanshu brought Zhou Mili running down the stairs. They stopped on the same step as Mi Yu and Wei Wenlong. Then Chen Nuanshu bowed and said, "Welcome, two honored guests. Earlier, Sword Immortal Wei of the Wind Snow Temple passed by and mentioned this matter to Wei Shanjun. The rooms on the mountain have already been prepared."
Wei Po appeared beside them, smiling via mind voice, "Nuanshu, Mili, you two don't worry about this. I'll be in charge of entertaining the guests."
The two little girls didn't stand on ceremony with Wei Shanjun and took their leave.
Wei Po said, "Sword Immortal Wei only said that two honored guests would be visiting, but he didn't give details. May I ask who you are?"
Mi Yu smiled. "Sword Great Wall, Mi Yu. Inverted Suspension Mountain Spring Banner Studio, Wei Wenlong, direct disciple of Shao Yunyan. According to the Hidden Official's wishes, we can become registered members of Luopo Mountain at any time."
Regarding Wei Po, the Mountain Lord, the young Hidden Official had spoken little, but his words carried great weight: "You can trust him with your heart."
So Wei Wenlong followed suit, taking out a confidential letter that was like a family letter and handing it to this Northern Peak Mountain Lord of the Jeweled Bottle Continent.
After Wei Po opened the confidential letter, mist swirled around the letter. After reading it, he put it back in the envelope, his expression strange. After a moment's hesitation, he smiled and said, "Sword Immortal Mi, Chen Ping'an says in the letter that you are very likely to shamelessly stay at Luopo Mountain..."
Mi Yu sensed something was wrong and was about to talk nonsense, or if that failed, just throw a tantrum.
Wei Po continued, "The letter says that if you want to stay, then stay. First, take the position of an unlisted temporary elder. I'm sorry to wrong the great Sword Immortal Mi."
Mi Yu sighed in relief. "Mi Yu has a good affinity with Great Mountain Lord Wei. The first thing upon ascending the mountain is such great news."
Wei Po smiled and nodded, but inwardly he was shocked. Chen Ping'an's description of Mi Yu in the letter was simple: a sword cultivator of the Sword Great Wall, at the bottleneck of the Jade Perfection realm, trustworthy.
A Jade Perfection realm sword immortal at a bottleneck.
Wei Po turned to Wei Wenlong and said with a smile, "Wei Wenlong, from today onward, you are the person in charge of Luopo Mountain's finances. Later, Nuanshu will hand over all the account books to you."
At this point, Wei Po paused briefly. "I have an impolite request. Even after you take over the account books, I hope you will not prevent Nuanshu from looking at them. This is not because I don't trust you, but because on Luopo Mountain, Nuanshu has always managed all financial matters, big and small, without any mistakes. However, now that the business has grown, Luopo Mountain really should have a dedicated person to manage money and accounts. After all, Nuanshu has many duties. Zhu Lian and I don't want her to overwork herself. Of course, none of this is written in Chen Ping'an's letter. If you feel resentful about this, then Chen Ping'an has misjudged you. When he returns to Luopo Mountain, he should blame himself."
Wei Po concluded, "You are all family now, so I won't speak with two tongues."
Wei Wenlong smiled and said, "Managing accounts is all about clarity. How can one person monopolize the account books and not let them see the light? Mountain Lord Wei, you need not worry."
Wei Po smiled knowingly and nodded. "No wonder Chen Ping'an has such high hopes for you. Leaving aside everything else, when it comes to making and managing money, Chen Ping'an's judgment and skill are indeed excellent. Anyone he sincerely admires is certainly not bad. I'll leave it to you from now on."
Wei Wenlong cupped his fists and nodded.
From that day on, Mi Yu and Wei Wenlong were considered to have put down roots at Luopo Mountain.
Wei Wenlong's residence became Luopo Mountain's accounting office.
After Chen Nuanshu handed over all the account books, she never managed money matters again. At most, whenever money needed to be spent, she would go and ask Mr. Wei for approval. Each time, she would bring a piece of paper detailing the reasons and destinations for every expense. Not only that, presumably worried that visiting too often would delay Mr. Wei's important work, she would often pay for trivial expenses out of her own pocket with Zhou Mili, compile them onto one sheet of paper, and then reconcile the accounts with Mr. Wei.
Wei Wenlong didn't find this annoying; rather, he felt a bit embarrassed. Although he hadn't been on the mountain long, he knew how busy Chen Nuanshu was every day, from morning till night, always having things to do. So Wei Wenlong had to take the initiative to ask the little girl if she liked keeping accounts and doing math. The little girl in the pink dress nodded, looking a bit shy.
Wei Wenlong then split Luopo Mountain's accounts into two parts: the big money transactions, including the Cinnabar Horn Mountain ferry and the Spilled Ink Ferry, belonged to him; Luopo Mountain's daily accounts continued to belong to her. But the little girl could learn from all the major business transactions, and she could ask if she didn't understand.
At Luopo Mountain, Wei Wenlong had become the de facto accountant.
As for Mi Yu, he just wandered around every day, followed by the little girl Mili carrying the carrying pole.
Mi Yu couldn't really talk about the Sword Great Wall, but he had finally found out why the Hidden Official's wine shop sold a kind of wine called "Mute Lake Wine."
It was because of this little girl.
Mi Yu truly didn't find life on the mountain boring. It was very interesting. Having Zhou Mili by his side every day made it anything but dull.
Today, Mi Yu was sitting with Zhou Mili at a stone table by the cliff, cracking melon seeds, listening to the little girl tell her little stories of roaming the jianghu. A sword immortal, listening with great interest.
That incense-fire little man came to the mountain to clock in again. He was very diligent, running around on the stone table, tidying up the melon seed shells.
The big steward of Luopo Mountain, Zhu Lian, had gone down the mountain for a long journey, according to Wei Po in private.
Mi Yu understood perfectly. As for that talisman puppet in the form of Zhu Lian, Mi Yu had seen through it with one glance.
Today, Zhou Mili's jianghu stories had moved from yesterday's Red Candle Town to the Chongdan River, the Jade Liquid River, and the Embroidered River, detailing which rivers had which good spots. Finally, she told "Corn Elder" that he absolutely had to go play at the Chongdan River and the Embroidered River. It was just that the water incense at those two water god temples was a bit expensive. They could buy from the nearby Iron Symbol River Water God Temple; it was more economical. Either way, burning water incense didn't violate the taboos. Both water god lords were quite easy to talk to. Mi Yu smiled and asked why the Jade Liquid River was missing. The little girl immediately furrowed her sparse, faint eyebrows. "I've told you about that, haven't I? Didn't I?" she said. "Corn Elder, you must have forgotten. No way. I've got a famously sharp little head. I wouldn't have left it out." Finally, seeing Corn Elder smile and say nothing, the little girl waved her hand vigorously and said that there was no hurry to visit all three rivers. They could go play together later, after Pei Qian and Chen Lingjun both returned home from their travels. They could fool around however they wanted.
That incense-fire little man held back for a long time, then said sullenly, "To hell with the Jade Liquid River. That bad woman almost made Lord Mili..."
Zhou Mili got agitated. She slapped down with her hand, arched her palm, and covered the little guy. Then she leaned on the table, lifted her palm a crack, and squinted at the incense-fire little man. She frowned, lowered her head, and warned in a low voice, "Don't gossip behind people's backs."
Then the little girl looked up and laughed loudly, then covered her mouth and mumbled, "Corn Elder, tomorrow I'll check the almanac. If it says it's a good day to go out, I'll take you to play at the neighboring Gray Mist Mountain. I know the place well!"
Mi Yu let it go with a smile, but he made a mental note of that Jade Liquid River.
He turned his head and saw an uninvited guest.
Not a stranger, but not familiar either.
Apparently, this person was now shamelessly cultivating at the Sword Worship Platform?
Whether he was a Core Formation or Nascent Soul sword cultivator, if he wasn't a beautiful woman, Mi Yu couldn't be bothered to look twice. After all, the criticism Mi Yu faced was about his skill among sword immortals, and about his brother Mi Hu having such a brother who squandered talent and didn't strive for progress. It wasn't even about his battle achievements in killing demons. In fact, before reaching the Fifth Realm, whether it was striking from the city wall or fighting outside the city, Mi Yu had been on par with Nalan Caihuan and Qi Shou in demon-killing style—a veritable senior.
And a Core Formation sword cultivator from the Sword Great Wall like Cui Wei, who had run off to the Hao Ran world early, what right did he have to earn Mi Yu's glance?
So before Cui Wei could even speak, Mi Yu said, "Get lost and die."
Zhou Mili was a bit flustered. She whispered, "Corn Elder, don't be like that. Senior Cui is one of us. He's very good."
Mi Yu smiled and nodded, then turned to the silent Cui Wei and said, "Then please roll far away."
Zhou Mili crossed her arms, a little angry. On Luopo Mountain, you weren't allowed to talk like that.
Mi Yu had no choice but to raise his hands and laugh. "Alright, alright, Brother Cui, please sit, please sit. Have some melon seeds."
Cui Wei silently sat down and asked via mind voice, "Sword Immortal Mi, my master, the venerable elder..."
Mi Yu said, "You have the nerve to ask; I don't have the face to say."
Cui Wei nodded, then stood up and walked away dejectedly.
Mi Yu stood up, took off the Haoliang wine gourd from his waist, and stood by the cliff, drinking slowly.
Should he, while he wasn't yet a fully registered immortal master of Luopo Mountain, first kill a few Jade Perfection realm cultivators who were hostile to Luopo Mountain?
Not to mention the power of a full-powered sword strike, but in terms of concealing his tracks and assassinating with a flying sword, Mi Yu was actually quite good at it. Though he couldn't compare with the Hidden Official and Su Chen, he didn't consider himself inferior to ordinary sword immortals.
Mi Yu looked down with a smile. It turned out that Zhou Mili was tugging at his sleeve. She stood on tiptoe and pulled out a handful of melon seeds, holding them up high.
Mi Yu crouched down, took the melon seeds, and said softly with a smile, "Little Mili, in my hometown, many people have heard the story of the Great Water Monster of Mute Lake. And among those 'many people,' many are no longer here, which is a pity. As for that Senior Cui, he's even worse than me, so I'm quite angry with him."
Zhou Mili frowned hard, then nodded hard, indicating that she absolutely did not pretend to understand.
Finally, the little girl sat with the sword immortal who called himself "Corn" by the cliff. The little girl thought his name was really good—they both had the character "Mi" (rice). It was fate.
So Zhou Mili gave all her melon seeds to Mi Yu. Her head and shoulders bobbed as she laughed. "Let me tell you a little secret. I've always been waiting for a good person to come back. For example, I squat by the mountain gate and say I'm watching Cen Yuanji the silly practice punches. I stand by the railing on the mountaintop and say I'm chatting with the mountain god. And I sit here and say I'm watching the clouds and birds pass by my doorstep. So Pei Qian and Sister Nuanshu still don't know about this."
Mi Yu hummed in response. "So that's how it is. If you hadn't told me, I definitely wouldn't have known."
The little girl had a tiny grain of worry. "Why hasn't he come home yet? Even if your hometown is better, it's not his hometown."
Mi Yu said, "Yeah, who knows."