Unsheathed

Chen Ping’an shut his book and took out a picture scroll. He had already fed nine grain rain coins to this picture scroll, yet the founding emperor of Southern Garden Nation was still yet to come to life. This caused Chen Ping’an to feel somewhat exasperated.

Chen Ping’an unfurled the picture scroll and held a single grain rain coin in his hand.

This would be the final grain rain coin. He would have no choice but to give up if this still failed to bring the person in the picture scroll to life.

Chen Ping’an’s wealth hadn’t fallen from the sky, so he naturally wouldn’t waste his grain rain coins to fill a bottomless pit.

When Chen Ping’an tossed the final grain rain coin into the picture scroll, there was the same reaction as always: the grain rain coin vanished into thin air. Clouds and mists drifted across the picture scroll as usual, and that was it.

Pei Qian had already put her damaged and bent book on the table and walked over to stand beside Chen Ping’an. Chen Ping’an hadn’t tried to purposely conceal this matter, so Pei Qian had already seen this picture scroll “eating” grain rain coins a few times before. Seeing Chen Ping’an’s disappointed expression once again, she giggled and asked, “Will it be better if I change my surname to Zheng?”

Pei Qian—lose money. Zheng Qian—make money.[1]

Chen Ping’an sighed and was just about to put the picture scroll away.

Turning around and looking back, he saw a white cat standing beside the window, which he had opened to get some fresh air. The white cat didn’t look at Chen Ping’an, and it instead looked at Pei Qian and jeered, “Go and eat shit, little girl.”

It then disappeared in a flash, jumping next door to shit on the table.

Pei Qian was completely stumped, while Chen Ping’an didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. This white cat was truly a being that bore strong grudges. In fact, this was identical to Pei Qian.

However, Chen Ping’an’s heart suddenly jolted at this moment, and he immediately stood up and dragged Pei Qian behind him.

A young Daoist priest carrying a huge golden gourd diagonally across his back was sitting on the windowsill and looking at Chen Ping’an with a wide smile. The white cat jumped onto his shoulder before sitting down and curling up.

Back in the capital of Southern Garden Nation, Chen Ping’an had caught a glance of this young Daoist priest from very far in the distance. Afterward, he had roughly learned of this young Daoist priest’s identity during a conversation with Zhong Qiu. He referred to the old Daoist priest as “my master,” and he was the person responsible for beating the drum and allowing people to ascend from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

The young Daoist priest stole a glance at the Sword Nurturing Gourd on Chen Ping’an’s hip before sneering, “Its quality is only so-so, it’s not really a top-notch Sword Nurturing Gourd. It’s far, far inferior to my Sword Nurturing Gourd.”

“Is something the matter?” Chen Ping’an asked expressionlessly.

The young Daoist priest sidestepped the question, and he instead asked, “Aren’t there two of the highest-quality Sword Nurturing Gourds in Eastern Treasured Vial Continent? How come you didn’t manage to obtain them?”

He was referring to the golden purple gourd that Celestial Maiden Su Jia had once owned before becoming a shell of her former self.

He was also referring to the silver-white gourd once owned by Wind Snow Temple’s Sword Immortal Wei Jin. A’Liang had obtained the Sword Nurturing Gourd and gifted it to Li Baoping.

The young Daoist priest propped his arms on the windowsill and swung his legs back and forth, explaining, “There are seven Sword Nurturing Gourds in the world that came from a single gourd vine personally planted and cultivated by the Dao Ancestor.

“These are the most precious Sword Nurturing Gourds, and one can nurture the most flying swords, one can nurture flying swords the quickest, one can nurture the most indestructible flying swords, one can nurture the sharpest flying swords, one can nurture flying swords that are the best at tempering their master’s physique, and one can nurture the smallest flying swords that can genuinely kill people in an undetectable manner.

“As for the last of these seven Sword Nurturing Gourds, it’s none other than the one that I’m carrying on my back right now. Do you know what’s so mysterious about it?”

Chen Ping’an didn’t reply.

Hiding behind Chen Ping’an, Pei Qian didn’t dare to poke her head out even though she was extremely curious.

The young Daoist priest lost interest when he saw Chen Ping’an playing deaf and mute, so he nimbly jumped down from the windowsill with the cat still on his shoulder. He walked over to the table and pointed at the rolled-up picture scroll, saying, “My master wants me to deliver a message to you. He feels a little bad about picking the five people for you and shooing you away so quickly, so he’s chosen to make an exception for you and asked me to tell you some things.

“Firstly, you should take care of that oil-paper umbrella and make sure not to randomly throw it away. The umbrella can help conceal your aura. Secondly, I’ll give you one hint regarding the first picture scroll that you’ve chosen. However, this is the only hint that you’ll get. I’ll tell you the number of grain rain coins that you need to feed it. For example, this picture scroll with Wei Xian requires…”

The young Daoist priest smiled and raised both hands.

The white cat on his shoulder lazily raised one paw, after which the young Daoist priest smiled and continued, “…Eleven grain rain coins.”

After saying this, the young Daoist priest couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment. At the same time, he also felt a sense of delight at Chen Ping’an’s misfortune. It was the old Daoist priest who had determined the total number of grain rain coins required for the four picture scrolls. However, it was he who had decided how many grain rain coins each specific picture scroll required. Of course, Chen Ping’an was completely unaware of these internal machinations.

The young Daoist priest had initially thought that Chen Ping’an would definitely pick Martial Arts Maniac Zhu Lian first, so he had left a huge surprise in place that would have certainly caused Chen Ping’an much angst and grief.

Unexpectedly, however, the little lotus spirit had interfered in his plans and helped Chen Ping’an pick Wei Xian first.

“Then why are you only telling me this now?” Chen Ping’an asked.

The young Daoist priest chuckled and replied, “I won’t have broken the rules as long as I tell you the answer before you feed the final grain rain coin to that picture scroll. My master won’t scold me either.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t flare up in rage, and the young Daoist priest felt even more bored and uninterested. He waved a hand and said, “That’s all there is. Let’s hope we won’t have the opportunity to meet again in the future. Just looking at you makes me feel annoyed.”

Chen Ping’an was unfazed, and he asked, “Are there any immortal ferry stations that will allow me to travel to Eastern Treasured Vial Continent?”

The young Daoist priest was extremely unwilling to answer Chen Ping’an’s question, yet he had no option but to do so upon recalling his master’s temper. He didn’t dare to disobey his master.

The young Daoist priest humphed coldly when he saw that small head sticking out from behind Chen Ping’an’s back, and was seemingly very dissatisfied and unwilling to give Pei Qian so much as another glance. With a backward leap, he jumped out of the window with the white cat on his shoulder, vanishing without a trace.

Chen Ping’an unfurled the picture scroll again, feeding it the eleventh grain rain coin.

He didn’t hesitate at all.

Mist suffused into the surroundings and eventually enveloped the entire room.

Chen Ping’an tugged Pei Qian back with him, retreating five or six paces from the table. First and Fifteenth were primed and ready to burst out from his Sword Nurturing Gourd at any moment.

A short man wearing a dragon robe rose from the picture scroll and stood on the table. He then stepped onto the chair before stepping down to the floor. Looking at Chen Ping’an, the founding emperor of Southern Garden Nation said with a stern expression, “Wei Xian pays his respects to Master. Feel free to command me against enemies in the future.”

Chen Ping’an nodded in acknowledgment.

Afterward, the two of them looked at each other in silence, causing the atmosphere to become heavy and slightly awkward.

“Such a powerful and domineering aura,” Wei Xian suddenly remarked.

Chen Ping’an didn’t know how to respond.

Meanwhile, Pei Qian felt as if she had learned something new. Good heavens, this person was far too shameless, was he not?

Wei Xian looked around and asked slowly, “Master, do you have an outfit that isn’t so eye-catching? I want to get changed and wander around outside tonight. I want to appreciate the impressive mountains and rivers of Majestic World. I’ll naturally return when Master plans to set off again.”

Chen Ping’an retrieved a brand-new outfit and handed it to Wei Xian. After Wei Xian changed out of his dragon robe and put on the ordinary-looking clothes from Chen Ping’an, he rested a single hand on the windowsill before leaping out and landing on top of the wall. He then bounded away and vanished into the darkness of night.

“It’s so late at night, so what mountains and rivers are there to appreciate?” Pei Qian asked.

“How would I know what he’s thinking,” Chen Ping’an replied in helplessness.

An uneventful night passed by.

Pei Qian returned to her room, and she gritted her teeth in seething anger when she saw the pile of shit on the table.

They set off the next day, and sure enough, Wei Xian met up with Chen Ping’an in front of the inn.

Afterward, Wei Xian didn’t say anything else.

Wei Xian was even shorter than Chen Ping’an, and this made it very difficult to believe that he was the founding emperor of Southern Garden Nation. Not only that, but he had also been the strongest superior grandmaster during his time. His martial arts prowess was outstanding, and the following generations referred to him as someone powerful enough to face an entire army of tens of thousands by himself.

As time went on, Pei Qian gradually grew accustomed to Wei Xian’s presence in their group. This was because she could treat him like thin air.

The end of winter was near, and the three of them approached a small town located on the border of the nation. If they traveled further north, they would arrive in the Great Quan Empire, a relatively powerful empire in Parasol Leaf Continent. The immortal ferry station that the young Daoist priest had mentioned was located in the northernmost regions of this Great Quan Empire.

Before seeing the small town, Pei Qian begged Chen Ping’an about something as they walked along the border of the nation.

“Can you give me another talisman? The one that glows with golden light? It was able to block that giant azure buffalo!”

However, Chen Ping’an remained silent as he mulled over something else.

Pei Qian was unwilling to give up, and she nagged, “I’m not asking you to necessarily give it to me. However, I can walk faster if I stick the talisman on my forehead. Please, I’m begging you. Aren’t we in a hurry to arrive at our destination? Don’t you want me to walk quicker so you can arrive at the Great Li Empire’s Dragon Spring Prefecture or whatnot sooner?”

There was a loud slap.

Sure enough, the talisman was slapped onto Pei Qian’s forehead.

It was slightly crooked, and it coincidentally didn’t obstruct her vision.

A wide smile immediately bloomed on Pei Qian’s face. Sure enough, her footsteps also became light and swift like the wind.

There was a large residence in the capital of Southern Garden Nation stuck on her forehead, so how could she still feel tired? Walking around with this talisman on her forehead was like taking a leisurely stroll in the large courtyard of her own residence!

Wei Xian took a glance at Pei Qian as he walked behind her and Chen Ping’an. Right now, he was most likely feeling the same emotions as that white cat from back then. He felt like there was something wrong with this little girl’s brain.

The sword Deep Infatuation and the saber Halting Snow were hanging by Chen Ping’an’s hips, and he grabbed the Sword Nurturing Gourd from his waist and took a swig of wine.

Walking behind them, Wei Xian’s footsteps had appeared slightly heavy in the beginning. Now, however, they were very light and relaxed. Pei Qian didn’t notice anything, yet Chen Ping’an was naturally well aware of this.

When the three of them arrived on the top of a hill, they discovered that there was swirling dust and debris not far away from here. A hundred or so soldiers on horseback were fighting as they retreated, and several dozen corpses were strewn across the ground. It looked like these soldiers were risking their lives and fighting tooth and nail to protect an old man.

However, Chen Ping’an was more focused on the two cultivators chasing the small army of cavalrymen, especially the sword cultivator among them.

In contrast, Wei Xian was more focused on the army of mounted troops. There was a hint of approval and appreciation in his eyes as he murmured, “Soldiers hardened by one hundred battles, elite infantry on foot, and formidable cavalrymen on horseback… This is most likely the Yao Clan’s border army belonging to the Great Quan Empire.”

Pei Qian was no longer afraid of this short man, so she asked in puzzlement, “How do you know all these things? Do you always wander around just to gather this kind of information?”

A fervent look appeared in Wei Xian’s eyes, and he paid no heed to Pei Qian’s question.

Southern Garden Nation had once been renowned throughout the world for its powerful army of mounted troops. In fact, these mounted troops had forced the horse soldiers of the grasslands to retreat and leave the cities. In the end, the rulers of the grasslands had almost surrendered to Southern Garden Nation.

Wei Xian deserved all of the credit for this feat.

Chen Ping’an suddenly turned around and asked in a solemn voice, “The Yao Clan’s border army? Are you sure?”

There was a stern expression on Wei Xian’s face as he remained completely silent, showing no signs of wanting to answer this question. Answering this question would be a complete waste of his breath.

The hill shuddered as Chen Ping’an immediately shot up before plummeting down between the cavalrymen and the two cultivators.

He made a promise to Mr. Qi. More precisely, he made a promise to that sole locust leaf that had been willing to flutter down and land in his palm.

Thus, Chen Ping’an stopped upon encountering the Yao Clan today.

1. Another pun on Pei Qian’s name. In this case, changing her name to Zheng Qian (郑钱) will cause it to become a homonym with making money (挣钱). ☜