Martial Cultivator

Hearing that fellow at the reins speak, the young man’s heart shattered into pieces.

How could this girl already be married at such a young age?

It simply was not right!

But the young man quickly came back to his senses. His face still red, he said to Chen Chao, “I was being presumptuous.”

After saying this, he took one last, reluctant glance at Xie Nandu, then spurred his horse and rode off.

Chen Chao watched that punk’s retreating figure and spat on the ground with a scowl.

Out of all the thoughts he could have had, he just had to set his sights on Xie Nandu. If not for the fact that the kid was still relatively polite, he would already have been kicked flying by now.

Xie Nandu chuckled softly and said, “What’s there to get worked up about with a youngster?”

Chen Chao replied as a matter of course, “And I’m not a youngster too?”

Xie Nandu glanced at Chen Chao but said nothing, perhaps not quite understanding.

Chen Chao said bluntly, “Some things might seem like a trivial matter, but they’re still aggravating. Next time, you ought to say it to someone’s face, take the initiative to tell him you’re already married, tell him to stop dreaming.”

Xie Nandu asked, “When did I get married?”

Chen Chao was dumbfounded, at a loss for words. After a moment, he let out a long sigh.

Xie Nandu changed the topic and asked, “This group’s a mixed bunch. Clearly from the same sect, yet their cultivation auras are different, obviously they don’t cultivate the same technique. What’s the reason?”

“Naturally, they are itinerant cultivators. They’ve got no orthodox legacy, so they’re left fumbling around on their own. Their auras are chaotic, and their killing power is naturally limited. That’s why, even if itinerant cultivators reach high realms, orthodox cultivators still look down on them.”

Chen Chao said, “To put it bluntly, these itinerant cultivators look down on martial artists, and martial artists look down on them too. They just don’t see eye to eye. But what they have in common is that they’re both looked down on by orthodox cultivators.”

Xie Nandu smiled and said, “Sharing the same plight, they ought to band together.”

Chen Chao shook his head. “That’s hard.”

Among kindred spirits in this world, it was actually rare to become allies because they share the same enemy. Only when they want the same thing can they truly be on the same path.

Hence, kindred spirits have always been rare since ancient times.

“Straw Sandal Market.”

Chen Chao suddenly said, “That group of people should be heading there.”

Xie Nandu asked curiously, “What is this ’Straw Sandal Market’?”

Chen Chao smiled and said, “Though there are many factions among the indignantly up north, they understand that they’re nothing more than scattered forces. Only by joining together can they gain any bargaining power. Thirty years ago, they once had the heads of several itinerant sects band together, trying to elect a nominal spokesperson. But you know how these things go, it’s always difficult. In the end, those holding power were all unwilling to give way, so the matter never succeeded. But ten years ago, they did manage to accomplish one thing: each side made some compromises and established a market at the border of Xinliu Prefecture, called the Straw Sandal Market. Once every year, there’s a grand gathering that brings many itinerant cultivators together. Some disputes are settled there, and beyond that, it serves as a place for itinerant cultivators to bond, exchange insights, and strengthen their ties.”

Xie Nandu nodded, smiling as he asked, “Who came up with that name? Straw Sandal Market, it sounds particularly modest.”

Chen Chao thought for a moment and said, “Seems it was to honor an itinerant cultivator named Daoist Straw Sandal. This man held quite a bit of prestige among the itinerant cultivators up north. Of course, the main reason was his cultivation realm, but besides that, it was also because he had helped many itinerant cultivators. Since he liked to walk the world wearing straw sandals, he came to be called the Daoist Straw Sandal. Quite an interesting figure.”

Xie Nandu let out an “Oh,” and said no more.

Chen Chao did not say anything further either. He simply gave a light tug on the reins, and the white horse continued to walk forward slowly. After that, they encountered more and more itinerant cultivators, all heading in the same direction.

Later, they came across a group of female cultivators; more than a dozen of them. Aside from the one leading them, who was a still-charming woman of mature years, the rest were all young girls.

As the dozen or so passed by the carriage on horseback, the leading woman glanced at the black-clothed martial artist driving the carriage. Her eyes lingered for a moment, and then she took the initiative to smile and say, “Fellow Daoist, you’re truly good-looking.”

Chen Chao was taken aback. In all his years wandering the world, this was probably the first woman he had met with such discerning taste.

Chen Chao gave a small smile. “Fellow Daoist is also as fair as a flower, as lovely as jade.”

It was a proper return of courtesy. Of course, the woman truly was very beautiful as well.

The woman slowed her horse to match the pace of the carriage, riding alongside it. “Fellow Daoist, that mouth of yours is quite something. So, do you belong to any sect? If not, how about coming up the mountain with me? Either way, my husband passed early, and this elder sister gets awfully lonely at night.”

As soon as she spoke, many of the young girls behind her burst into laughter.

The woman turned her head to glance back and feigned anger, saying, “You young lasses don’t understand a thing. Once you’re my age, then you’ll know just how important men are.”

Chen Chao sized the woman over and found that she indeed was not only amply endowed in the chest, but also...riding on horseback like that...Well, in short, she looked like someone who would be easy to bear children.

Younger guys might not like this kind of woman, but only men who had tasted many women would understand, women like her were truly top-tier.

However, Chen Chao had no interest in this.

Chen Chao shook his head and said, “If Fellow Daoist finds yourself unable to sleep at night, you could recite the Heart Calming Sutra nightly, it helps soothe the mind.”

The woman laughed in exasperation. “So it turns out you’re an inexperienced fledgling.”

Hearing this, Chen Chao shook his head. Damn it, how could this old hag say something so vicious?

But what followed hurt Chen Chao even more. One of the female cultivators suddenly spoke up.“Aunt Gan, how is this Fellow Daoist even good-looking?”

Her voice was not soft, Chen Chao heard it loud and clear.

Goddammit...

Don’t aim for the face when hitting someone. He already got slapped once, now a second time. Was this how people behaved?

The woman quickly spoke a word of fairness, “You little girls don’t understand. What’s important in a man is never about the looks, but somewhere else. Forget it, it’s pointless talking to you all. When your flowers bloom, you’ll understand.”

Words like a tiger or wolf - truly shameless!

Chen Chao was getting a headache just listening. He only wished this group of women would hurry up and leave.

But who would’ve thought that the woman called Aunt Gan had no intention of leaving? Instead, she turned to look at Chen Chao and asked, “Fellow Daoist, are you also heading to the Straw Sandal Market?”

There were still a few hundred miles left along this road; they were almost there.

Actually, the Straw Sandal Market happened to be not far from the main road, and Chen Chao was heading north along this official route, which naturally brought him closer to that place.

Chen Chao opened his mouth, then shook his head. “I’m not.”

Aunt Gan gave the young martial artist before her a surprised glance. In recent years, quite a few martial artists had already gathered around the Straw Sandal Market. What, was this guy still so cautious?

Afraid of being looked down upon?

Aunt Gan thought for a moment, then spoke a few sincere words. “These days, martial artists are also recognized as a type of itinerant cultivator. Don’t worry, when you get to the Straw Sandal Market, no one will look down on you. And if anyone does, just give them my name. Aunt Gan of Blue Moon Mountain isn’t someone to be taken lightly.”

Chen Chao nodded in thanks. “Thank you, senior. But I’m really not headed for the Straw Sandal Market. I’m continuing north, going further up.”

Aunt Gan nodded, gave an “oh,” and said with some regret, “I was thinking we could travel together. Looks like it was my wishful thinking.”

Hearing this, Chen Chao did not know whether to laugh or cry. He really could not understand why this woman, who had just met him once, seemed to treat him with special regard?

Chen Chao thought for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. “Senior, this junior really doesn’t have any thoughts like that toward you.”

Aunt Gan clutched her chest with a pained look and teary eyes. “You bastard, how can you say something so hurtful?”

Chen Chao opened his mouth, but this time, truly could not find anything to say.

All his life, he had rarely lost when it came to dealing with people. But in the face of this seasoned woman who had long since cast aside the restraint of ordinary girls, he really could not gain the upper hand in a battle of words.

Aunt Gan looked at the young martial artist before her, then quickly smiled again. “I haven’t even asked your name yet, Fellow Daoist.”

Chen Chao thought for a moment, then softly replied, “My surname is Chen.”

______