Martial Cultivator

Before going down the mountain, Chen Chao met the Grotto Heaven Sage who had been in seclusion.

The Grotto Heaven Sage had originally been cultivating in seclusion, but by a coincidence of fate, he broke through the seclusion and emerged. Although he did not advance to a new realm because of it, he still took a few steps forward. Upon learning that Chen Chao, the Lord Warden Commander, was on the mountain, he immediately rushed over. After hearing about what Daoist Zhanyuan had done, he instantly flicked his whisk and sent Daoist Zhanyuan flying.

Daoist Zhanyuan, a dignified mountain lord, did not immediately get back up after being struck away by the Grotto Heaven Sage. Instead, he lay in the distance, letting out soft groans.

”Zhanyuan, Your Father really want to split open your head and see just how much water is sloshing around inside!”

The Grotto Heaven Sage was tall, walking barefoot, his anger visibly raging.

After reprimanding Daoist Zhanyuan, the Grotto Heaven Sage then clasped his hands toward Chen Chao, saying somewhat helplessly, ”Zhanyuan this fellow has always been good at scheming. Scheming against others would be one thing, but trying to treat this penniless daoist’s precious disciple like merchandise, that will not do!”

”Lord Warden Commander, could the agreement between you and Zhanyuan be voided? The Mountains and Rivers Sect does not need Great Liang to give anything. Since Xinyue likes His Highness the Crown Prince, the two of them being together is enough. Why would there be any need for betrothal gifts?”

Chen Chao was momentarily speechless, then quickly returned the salute, smiling as he said, ”Old Sage, the matter has already been settled. I am afraid it cannot be changed. However, Old Sage, please understand that Great Liang is willing to do all this not because Daoist Zhanyuan demanded so much, but because Great Liang sincerely wishes to give these things. After all, Fellow Daoist Wu will become the empress consort, and such rites are only proper.”

The Grotto Heaven Sage let out a long sigh. After calming himself, he leaned closer to Chen Chao and asked in a low voice, ”Can Lord Warden Commander guarantee that this penniless daoist’s disciple will not suffer any grievances in Great Liang?”

Chen Chao looked at the old daoist sage, so deeply affectionate toward his disciple, and nodded with a smile. ”Since she is the empress consort whom Great Liang is marrying over with betrothal gifts, there is naturally no reason to let her suffer any grievances.”

The old sage thought for a moment, then said, ”If one day Great Liang no longer needs Xinyue, could she be sent back to the Mountains and Rivers Sect? Whatever price must be paid then, this penniless daoist is willing to accept.”

Chen Chao was startled. He truly had not expected the old daoist sage to speak this way. It also meant that the old daoist sage genuinely regarded Wu Xinyue as his own daughter.

Only an old father would worry whether his daughter, after being married off, would suffer grievances or be unhappy in her husband’s household.

For a moment, Chen Chao did not know how to reply.

The old daoist sage’s gaze grew desolate.

Only then did Chen Chao say, ”If in the future the Emperor and Empress are not in harmony, this official will persuade His Highness to let Fellow Daoist Wu leave.”

The Grotto Heaven Sage nodded and said gratefully, ”Then this counts as this penniless daoist owing Lord Warden Commander a favor. Should Your Excellency ever have need of me, this penniless daoist would not dare refuse.”

”There is no need for that.”

Chen Chao returned the salute solemnly, then led his disciple He Liang down the mountain.

On the mountain path, they encountered the two people who would be accompanying him to Mt. Tai Xuan.

One man and one woman, both familiar faces.

The man was the young daoist Chen Yi, while the woman was Wu Xinyue’s close friend, Xu Qiu.

Chen Chao stood on the mountain path as the two of them saluted him. ”Lord Warden Commander, we have received the mountain lord’s orders to accompany my lord to Mt. Tai Xuan.”

Chen Chao gave a soft grunt and asked curiously, ”Did you two volunteer for this?”

Xu Qiu smiled and said, ”This lowly self was selected.”

On the other hand, Chen Yi looked a little embarrassed. He scratched his head before saying, ”This lowly daoist has always admired Lord Warden Commander, so I asked the mountain lord for this assignment. I wanted to properly behold Your Excellency’s bearing.”

Hearing this, Chen Chao became a little curious. He looked at the young daoist before him and asked, ”Why do you hold this official in such esteem?”

These days, there were many martial artists in the world who regarded Chen Chao as an idol. That did not surprise him. But for a young daoist like this, if he were to admire anyone, it should probably have been that young temple master of the Infatuation Daoist Temple.

Chen Yi thought for a moment and rattled off a long string of praise, but in the end, Chen Chao still extracted a few key words from the fellow’s rambling.

Swift vengeance and clear grudges.

Chen Chao teased him, ”With your temperament, you would actually be better suited to becoming a martial artist rather than cultivating the Dao in pursuit of longevity.”

Chen Yi awkwardly reminded him, ”The Mountains and Rivers Sect belongs to the Great Peace Dao lineage.”

Chen Chao gave an oh in response and did not really mind. He simply asked casually, ”Fellow Daoist Xu, Fellow Daoist Chen, do you know much about Mt. Tai Xuan? Along the way, could you talk about it?”

If he had not brought these two young cultivators along, Chen Chao could have reached Mt. Tai Xuan at great speed by simply carrying He Liang and handled the serious business there.

But when it came to collecting a debt, it was naturally more proper to bring the creditor along.

Xu Qiu thought for a moment and asked, ”Does Lord Warden Commander know Lu Chu?”

”Is he very famous?”

Xu Qiu chuckled lightly. ”He was on the Latent Dragon Ranking in his early years, a genuine young genius. He is now already a sword immortal and is among the top ten in Xinliu Prefecture, though he is certainly no match for Lord Warden Commander. Many female cultivators in Xinliu Prefecture secretly admire that Sword Immortal Lu and wish they could become his dao companion.”

”And what about Fellow Daoist Xu?”

Chen Chao glanced at Xu Qiu.

Before Xu Qiu could speak, Chen Yi interjected, ”Senior Sister Xu likes him. In the early years, she even spent a huge sum of money to buy a portrait of that Sword Immortal Lu.”

Chen Chao casually joked, ”Why was it not this official’s?”

One had to know that over in the Divine Capital, among ten households, probably five or six would have daughters who harbored feelings for Chen Chao, the Lord Warden Commander.

”Lord Warden Commander, this lowly daoist actually has Lord Warden Commander’s portrait hanging in his room.”

Chen Yi looked utterly sincere. He did not merely hang Chen Chao’s portrait in his room; he truly gazed upon it day and night.

Chen Chao kept a straight face. ”Fellow Daoist Chen had better go back and burn it.”

“Eh?”

Chen Yi was thoroughly baffled.

Chen Chao could not be bothered to explain. A grown man hanging his portrait and gazing at it day and night... damn it, the thought alone made a chill creep up his spine.

Xu Qiu suppressed her laughter and said, ”Just youthful infatuation. I’ve long since gotten over it. But Your Excellency, do you and that Sword Immortal Lu know each other?”

Chen Chao smiled mildly. ”Hardly known each other. In my early years, I once crossed hands with that Sword Immortal Lu and shattered a sword repository between his brows. At the time, I even thought that Sword Immortal Lu would never become a sword immortal in this lifetime.”

Back at that court session, in front of both the old and new Great Generals and His Majesty the Emperor, Chen Chao had not held back at all and had shattered Lu Chu’s sword repository. He truly believed then that Lu Chu had no chance of becoming a sword immortal. He never expected that after so many years, Lu Chu would prove so resilient and force his way into the Nepenthe Realm.

It was also because of that great battle in the imperial capital that Chen Chao, being without a saber at the time, had suffered a disadvantage. As a result, the Great Liang Emperor had given an order, granting Chen Chao the authority to carry a saber. From then on, wherever Chen Chao went in the world, he no longer needed to unfasten his saber.

Xu Qiu said, ”Then it seems Lord Warden Commander and that Lu Chu are life-and-death enemies.”

She was extremely perceptive and quietly adjusted her form of address.

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