Martial Cultivator

The group from Blue Moon Mountain was about to arrive at Straw Sandal Market when the young woman following behind Gan Caocao finally could not hold back anymore. She lowered her voice and asked, “Aunt Gan, is it really just because that young martial artist looks like your late husband?”

This question had been bottled up inside her for the entire journey, and now she simply could not keep it in any longer.

Gan Caocao turned her head to glance at the young woman and smiled, “Wanru, what other reason do you think there might be?”

The young woman named Wanru hesitated for a long time, but still murmured, “It’s just… I don’t think you’re that kind of person, Aunt Gan.”

Gan Caocao was the undisputed second-in-command of Blue Moon Mountain—decisive, bold, and forceful in her actions, possessing the demeanor of a man. How could she behave like a lovesick young girl, as she had back there? That was what she could not understand.

“Silly girl.”

Gan Caocao gave her a glance and said softly, “No matter how strong a woman may be, before a certain man, she’ll always become soft. When I look at him, I just remember my husband, who met a tragic end so early. That’s all genuine emotion showing through.”

As she spoke, her eyes still carried deep sorrow. Her husband had died under mysterious circumstances, and to this day, she still did not know who the killer was.

All these years, she had never stopped searching for the culprit, but it had always been fruitless.

Over time, her mindset had gradually settled. She no longer clung to the matter the way she once did. After all, there were always more mountains in the world, why keep herself trapped in one place forever?

If not for seeing that young martial artist who bore a resemblance to her late husband, her heart would never have rippled again.

In truth, she thought that the young man only bore a slight resemblance to her husband in appearance. But his eyes, those beautiful eyes, were almost a perfect match.

She had never seen such beautiful eyes in anyone else, except her husband.

And just like that, all the memories she thought buried came rushing back, and she lost her composure. It was only natural.

“Aunt Gan, I spoke out of turn and made you sad. I’m sorry.”

The young woman looked at Gan Caocao with guilt. She had only asked out of curiosity and had not meant to bring up painful memories; it was something she genuinely regretted.

Gan Caocao smiled and waved it off as nothing serious. She looked affectionately at the young woman before her, then glanced at the other women behind them, and finally said in a low voice, “I only hope none of you end up like me - shallow in fortune, deep in affection.”

After saying this, Aunt Gan softly called out to dismount. The Straw Sandal Market was on the mountain, and all cultivators had to dismount and ascend on foot to show respect after arriving at the foot of the mountain.

Blue Moon Mountain might not have been small in scale, but it truly was not a first-rate sect. Compared to the likes of Cloudglow Cave and Tri-Pure Mountain, there was still a gap. Naturally, they could not break the rules.

They tied the horses in a patch of forest nearby, beside a small stream. There was grass and water, so there was no need to worry about the horses going hungry.

After tying the horses, just as Aunt Gan raised her head, a streak of flowing light suddenly shot toward her. She instinctively reached out and grabbed it. As the light dispersed, she opened her palm and saw a small slip of paper.

She unfolded it. There was only a single line of text.

”The killer is He Hu.”

Aunt Gan frowned slightly. Just as she was in a daze, she felt a burning sensation in her palm. Looking down, she saw the slip of paper had already self-immolated.

Aunt Gan’s expression turned complicated.

Someone asked, “Aunt Gan, what’s wrong?”

Aunt Gan exhaled gently and shook her head as she said softly, “It’s nothing.”

......

......

Originally, the Straw Sandal Market was scheduled to open in ten days, but for some unknown reason, it was moved up to three days later.

Thus, by the time Chen Chao and Xie Nandu arrived at this market where itinerant cultivators gathered, it was already bustling with activity, cultivators coming and going everywhere.

Their carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, and the two walked up the path on foot.

There were not many people on the mountain path, but anyone who passed by and saw Xie Nandu’s appearance would pause to look. Some with thinner skin knew to avoid eye contact with Xie Nandu and Chen Chao, while others with thicker skin simply did not care at all.

The gazes that Xie Nandu received were mostly filled with admiration and envy. As for Chen Chao, about seventy to eighty percent of the looks he got were filled with jealousy. It was likely that people were all wondering how such a guy could be walking alongside such a beautiful girl.

But they all agreed on one thing: these two absolutely were not Dao companions. Definitely not!

Chen Chao was a little angry. When those gazes fell on him, the disdain in them was practically undisguised. This made the current number one martial official of the present Great Liang Dynasty very upset.

What, even with Your Father’s current cultivation and status, I’m still not worthy of the girl at my side?

Your Father can match her eight hundred rounds without even taking a turn!

Though that was what he thought, when Chen Chao looked at Xie Nandu, his heart was filled with worry.

Such a fine girl, if one day she were no longer by his side, he feared he would be heartbroken to death.

After climbing the mountain, the two entered the Straw Sandal Market. The place had clearly been built up into a prosperous town. The streets crisscrossed in all directions, and there was everything for sale. Things one would never see in ordinary markets were displayed here in dazzling variety, brilliant and dazzling. Anyone without experience in the world might just stop in their tracks at the sight of it all.

Chen Chao held Xie Nandu’s hand, constantly keeping an eye on their surroundings. If it were discovered that someone dared to take advantage of the crowd to try something indecent, they would immediately be met with a fierce glare from him.

Itinerant cultivators were used to being cautious. None of them would risk making an enemy over something so petty. Moreover, that young man looked entirely unafraid, and with such a beautiful woman by his side, he probably had a significant background.

Although the Straw Sandal Market was a place for itinerant cultivators, that did not mean only itinerant cultivators showed up. Who knew if someone was secretly a disciple of a sect?

Even if one looked like a mere martial artist and was not valued within their sect, when outside, they were not necessarily someone who could be easily provoked.

After all, these sects were all tangled in connections. How could itinerant cultivators like them afford to provoke such people?

So, along the way, no one really dared to lay a hand on Xie Nandu.

Later, Xie Nandu stopped in front of a jade stall. The shop did not look big. Outside were all sorts of jades in different shapes and colors, a wide variety, though most of them were just common goods.

The shop assistant had originally been listless. Plenty of people had come and gone all morning, but few truly intended to buy. But the moment he saw Xie Nandu, his eyes lit up.

Such a beautiful girl, even if she did not buy anything, just standing here for a little while was already an enormous blessing.

He instantly became enthusiastic and started going on and on, introducing the jades, where they had been mined, their histories, almost everything he could say, he said.

As for Chen Chao standing beside her, he was naturally ignored by him selectively.

Chen Chao shook his head. Damn it, if I bring Xie Nandu out with me from now on, I guess no one will ever pay attention to who I am again.

A black robe and a saber, this was such an easily recognizable look. Yet at this moment, no one paid him any attention.

”Miss, the ones outside are all common goods. Inside the shop, we have all kinds of jade pendants and little trinkets carved with care by masters. Some of them are made from fine materials and have calming effects; very beneficial for cultivation. How about coming in for a look?”

The shop assistant looked at Xie Nandu, nearly blurting out what was truly on his mind: Just take a look, don’t buy anything from inside, it’s insanely expensive!

Xie Nandu nodded, then turned to Chen Chao. “Want to go in and take a look?”

Only then, did the young shop assistant notice the man at her side. But with just one glance, he was full of disdain.

This girl looked like a celestial beauty. If the man beside her had also been extraordinarily handsome, maybe it would have made sense. But as it turned out, he was just... like that.

Barely considered to have a clean look, but no matter how you looked at it, compared to the young lady beside him, he was leagues behind.

Chen Chao nodded his head.

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