Martial Cultivator

More than half of Ying Prefecture’s territory bordered the sea. As such, this northeastern prefecture of the Great Liang Dynasty had a great many harbors and ferry crossings. In ordinary times, large ships traveling to and fro almost always took sea routes.

However, although sea routes were convenient, the risks were also great. If a vessel was not large enough, it could easily capsize. Even if a ship was sufficiently large, aside from the ordinary big fish in the sea, there were also sea demons that frequently attacked fishing boats and devoured flesh and blood. Because of this, many merchants whose resources were not particularly ample would abandon the more convenient sea routes and instead choose to take ferries along rivers. Although this was slower, it was considerably safer.

That said, within Ying Prefecture, there were not many river ferry crossings.

The largest ferry crossing was called Fengling Crossing. There was also an interesting anecdote associated with this place. It was said that long ago, a young girl once encountered a great cultivator whose name shook the world here. She fell in love at first sight and from that day onward never felt her heart stirred by anyone else. Later, when that woman herself became a great cultivator, she again encountered a young man at this very place. That young man likewise fell deeply in love with her, yet the woman remained unmoved. In the end, that young man too became famous throughout the world, becoming an extraordinary great daoist sage of Daoism, but he likewise never again felt affection for any other woman.

It was said that more than a hundred years later, that great daoist sage returned to this ferry crossing. Standing at the spot where he had once met the woman, thinking of her, he finally let out a long sigh and suddenly realized that the events of that day had already taken place more than a century ago.

At this moment, a ferry boat was slowly approaching Fengling Crossing. On the ferry, figures were everywhere. Just at the bow alone, there were more than ten people.

Their auras were mixed and uneven in strength; clearly not from the same sect.

Yet they all appeared extremely familiar with one another. At this moment, groups of two or three were gathered together, chatting and laughing animatedly.

In the largest cabin on this side of the ferry, two people were seated across a low table. On it lay a chessboard, black and white pieces locked in constant struggle.

The person seated facing south wore a vivid crimson robe, like a sea of blood. A head of dark hair fell casually over his shoulders. Even seated cross-legged, one could tell that he was tall and slender. But most striking of all was his appearance - far too handsome, unlike someone of the mortal world.

The current young temple master of Infatuation Daoist Temple was already praised by the world as having the extraordinary bearing of an immortal, but if one spoke purely of looks, even he did not compare to the person before them.

By contrast, the person opposite him looked far more ordinary, appearing like nothing more than a commonplace middle-aged scholar.

At their sides stood two maidservants, both tall and graceful, with strikingly beautiful features. At this moment, each held a tray. On the trays were white jade porcelain bowls, and inside the bowls was plum soup.

Even so, despite the red-robed man’s almost transcendent bearing, he was inferior to the middle-aged scholar in the way of chess. He was holding the white pieces, and at this moment, his disadvantage was already hard to conceal.

However, the middle-aged scholar holding black did not hurry to slaughter this white dragon. Only after placing a move unrelated to the larger situation did he softly ask, “Just how much chance of success does this matter have?”

The red-robed man glanced at the chessboard and said somewhat casually, “Right now, fifty percent. In fact, ever since he agreed to meet with us, it’s been fifty percent. As for why it’s only fifty percent, it’s because whether this succeeds or not depends on whether he says one word, or two.”

The words were somewhat roundabout. If it were someone else, they would likely have found it hard to understand, but the middle-aged scholar nodded and said, “After waiting so many years, the timing has finally arrived, yet in the end we’re still constrained by others. It really is difficult.”

The red-robed man did not mind. “There’s never been a single major matter under heaven that was simple. It should be difficult. Look at it another way, being able to reach this step already isn’t easy. But since we’ve come this far, then it has to be done.”

The middle-aged scholar asked suspiciously, “Aren’t you afraid he’ll demand an exorbitant price?”

The red-robed man smiled. “An exorbitant price? I’ve thought about it. It would actually make sense. Because no matter what he wants, to us it’s all profit, it’s just a matter of profiting more or less.”

As he spoke, the red-robed man placed another piece. Although he had long known that victory and defeat were already decided, he still did not concede. He was only trying his best to seek out that faint sliver of a chance at victory.

Indeed, it was vanishingly small.

“Then where is your bottom line?”

The middle-aged scholar looked curiously at the red-robed man before him. Some matters had to be done, but surely one could not disregard everything just to see them through, could one?

The red-robed man nodded and said, “Of course there is a bottom line. Otherwise, why go to such lengths to do this? Alone, roaming freely between heaven and earth - where could I not go?”

The middle-aged scholar nodded. “That is how it should be.”

Although he still had not heard the red-robed man clearly state where that so-called bottom line lay, with those words, there was no need to rush.

The red-robed man glanced at the chessboard and sighed. “Fuchen, how is it that your skill at chess is so high?”

The middle-aged scholar said irritably, “If I can’t beat you elsewhere, can’t I at least pin you down and slaughter you on the chessboard? If even that’s not allowed, then you really have no sense of reason at all.”

The red-robed man burst into laughter, picked up a white stone, and pondered for a moment. Before he could place it, he heard the middle-aged scholar ask again, “Later, should I speak more, or speak less?”

When negotiating business, having one person go and make the final call was often not as effective as having two people go together, covering for each other.

“But it should go fairly smoothly. After all, he’s just a martial artist. Presumably there won’t be that many twists and turns.”

The middle-aged scholar thought for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. “But that might not be a good thing either. Rumor has it that this person has an extremely bad temper and is quick to wipe out entire sects. If a single sentence goes awry and he drags things to some extreme...”

The red-robed man smiled with narrowed eyes and had yet to speak when someone outside the cabin called out, “We’ve arrived.”

They had reached Fengling Crossing.

The red-robed man stood up and smiled. “Fuchen, let’s go.”

The middle-aged scholar nodded.

The two then walked out of the cabin and slowly disembarked. Behind them, the cultivators all stood in place, silent and unmoving.

After disembarking, one of the maids wanted to follow along, but the middle-aged scholar waved his hand to indicate there was no need. Only then did the maid remain where she was, while the two of them walked to a pavilion not far from the ferry.

The red-robed man stood there without speaking, while the middle-aged scholar gazed into the distance, hoping to see the figure he wanted to see.

But the result was naturally disappointing.

All the way until two hours later.

“I have to say, this Lord Warden Commander really has quite the airs. We waited over half a month on the Huangliang Commandery side. Now that he’s notified us to come here to discuss matters, he still hasn’t shown himself.”

The middle-aged scholar sighed as he spoke, his words carrying a trace of dissatisfaction.

The red-robed man smiled and said, “In the world today, there are only a handful of people who can truly make decisions stick. He is the most influential among that handful. Having some airs is only natural. Fuchen, why are you in such a hurry?”

“But some things still have to be feigned, don’t they?”

The middle-aged scholar let out a complaint but quickly fell silent, because not far away, two figures had finally “arrived.” When he saw them, he couldn’t help but pause for a moment, because among the two figures, one was a monk dressed in black.

Actually, it wouldn’t have been strange no matter who was beside that young martial man, but seeing a monk there made him feel a bit puzzled.

______