Unsheathed

“Throw me a chair, Fan Er,” Fan Junmao yelled. “And make sure it’s a chair, not a stool.”

Fan Er gave an affirmative response from inside the shop, then really did carry a chair to the entrance of the shop before tossing it to her.

Fan Junmao caught the chair, then set it down next to the wall across from the medicinal shop. She leaned back onto the two rear legs of the chair, swaying back and forth as she said in a lazy manner, “Zheng Dafeng is most likely unaware that Fu Qi was completely oblivious to Fu Donghai’s plan. Fu Donghai is nothing more than a useless idiot whose ambitions far outweigh his abilities.

“Unlike him, Fu Qi is aware of some of the secrets of Jewel Small World, so he’s determined to try and win over Zheng Dafeng. He had even personally paid a visit to Zheng Dafeng in the past, accompanied by a woman with long legs. I think her name was Fu Chunhua. Unfortunately, Zheng Dafeng turned down his offer back then.

“Even so, Fu Qi still didn’t want to get on Zheng Dafeng’s bad side, so his intention was just to leave Zheng Dafeng alone. However, Fu Donghai had to cook up that little plot of his, thinking that he had outsmarted everyone, and to further compound Fu Qi’s woes, that old maidservant from the Cloud Forest Jiang Clan got swept up in the matter as well when she swooped in to save Fu Donghai.

“As a result, what could’ve been a conflict that Fu Qi could settle behind closed doors became an all-important matter that concerned the dignity of the Jiang Clan. Hence, he had no choice but to challenge Zheng Dafeng to a battle to the death on the Dragon Scaling Platform.

“Otherwise, he would essentially be slapping the Jiang Clan in the face right after the marriage alliance between the two clans was established. What would you do in that situation if you were the patriarch of the Cloud Forest Jiang Clan?”

“My descendants must learn to fend for themselves sooner or later,” Chen Ping’an replied. “One cannot go against facts and principles just because they feel offended.”

Fan Junmao was stunned into silence by the naivety of this answer, and she removed her wine gourd from her waist as she exclaimed, “Thank heavens I didn’t drink any wine just now. Otherwise, I would’ve surely choked to death!”

Chen Ping’an sat down onto the doorstep, then said, “Even though I have some personal differences with Sun Jiashu, I still think the Sun Clan does the best business out of all of Old Dragon City’s major clans.”

“Oh? Does that mean that you’re not a fan of the way that our Fan Clan conducts our business?” Fan Junmao asked with a faint smile as she took a sip of wine.

Chen Ping’an smiled as he replied, “The fact that the Fan Clan was able to nurture a future heir like Fan Er clearly tells me that it’s a clan with good traditions and values. However, there are too many authoritative figures in the Fan Clan’s ancestral hall, and as the saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth.

“As the clan leader, Fan Er’s father has to take everyone into account, so it’s very difficult for him to do the right thing. In fact, I’m willing to bet that there are many occasions where he’s forced to do the wrong thing, despite knowing that it’s wrong. I’m not so foolish and naive that I can’t understand something so basic, and in my opinion, the Fan Clan has severely mishandled this matter regarding Zheng Dafeng.

“If I were to ever do business with the Fan Clan, I would only do so if Fan Er is the one personally overseeing proceedings. In contrast, if I were doing business with the Sun Clan, then I would feel more reassured if Sun Jiashu remained uninvolved.”

Fan Junmao cocked her head to the side as she mused, “You’re not so stupid, after all. Why is it that Old Man Yang likes to say that you’re not very bright?”

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but burst into laughter upon hearing this.

“It’s been many years since I left home, surely you can’t expect me to have only grown in height and not intelligence.”

“You’ve definitely become a little more intelligent, but you’re still not very smart when it comes to important matters,” Fan Junmao mused.

Chen Ping’an remained unfazed, cutting straight to the chase as he asked, “Can we get down to business now?”

“Just by looking at the list, I could already tell that your bonded item refinement is definitely going to fail,” Fan Junmao scoffed. “Not only are you a complete novice at this, your ambitions are even loftier than the heavens. If I’m not mistaken, the water-attribute bonded item that you’re refining is an item of a very high caliber, right?

“And the item refinement mantra and the cauldron you’re using are also quite exceptional, right? Not only are you setting yourself up for failure, are you aware that failure will result in long-lasting negative consequences that will affect you for the rest of your cultivation journey?”

A grim look appeared on Chen Ping’an’s face upon hearing this.

Fan Junmao smiled as she continued, “I know you’re not the type of person to be swayed once you’ve made up your mind on something. This is just business, so I couldn’t care less whether you succeed or fail with the things that you’ve purchased from our clan. Rest assured, I’ve already brought everything on your list with me.

“However, in exchange, I want the golden core of that Nascent Tier flood dragon from the Flood Dragon Trench. I must admit that such a priceless treasure is quite alluring, even for someone like me. Otherwise, I would’ve sent Fan Er to see you on his own instead of coming here myself.”

Fan Junmao took a large swig of wine, then continued, “If you’re thinking that this is daylight robbery, then yes, you’re right! That’s exactly what I’m doing! I’m aware that I’m asking for far too much, but under these circumstances, can you afford to turn me down?”

Chen Ping’an offered no response, merely tossing out the porcelain container that contained the old flood dragon’s golden core for Fan Junmao to catch.

“I heard from Zheng Dafeng that you can control the sea of clouds above Old Dragon City. If I can bring out something even better than that golden core, would you be willing to intervene and ensure Zheng Dafeng’s survival regardless of the outcome of the battle on the Dragon Scaling Platform?” Chen Ping’an asked.

“Fan Er has a minimization treasure that I gave him, and he’s most likely already pulling out the things that you requested as we speak. As a member of the Fan Clan, I value integrity greatly when it comes to business, so you can rest assured that everything is high quality. The only real downside is that it’s a little expensive, but even if you go to the Fu Clan, they’ll only be able to provide you things of a similar quality.

“As for whether I can save Zheng Dafeng, even if I break the rules and choose to intervene, there’s only a fifty percent chance that I can save his worthless life, and I really don’t want to do that in the slightest,” Fan Junmao replied with a smile as she gently tossed the porcelain container in her hand up and down.

Chen Ping’an was just about to speak when Zheng Dafeng stepped out of the shop, then sat down onto the doorstep, and it appeared as if he and Chen Ping’an were serving as the door gods of the Dust Medicinal Shop.

He smiled as he said, “Begging her isn’t going to amount to anything.”

Fan Junmao nodded in agreement, and the porcelain container vanished with a flick of her wrist as she confirmed, “He’s right.”

Chen Ping’an opened his mouth to speak again, but this time, Zheng Dafeng shook his head at him with a stern expression, warning him not to bring out the golden core of the twelfth tier great demon.

Fan Junmao’s eyes immediately lit up upon seeing this, and she asked, “Do you actually have something more precious than this golden core? Show me! If I deem it to be worth the trouble, then perhaps I really will get involved. After all, getting some exercise every once in a while isn’t a bad thing.”

“That’s enough!” Zheng Dafeng snapped as he rose to his feet. “Fan Junmao, is there really no chance that Chen Ping’an could successfully refine his bonded item?”

It was clear that he was forcibly changing subjects to curtail Fan Junmao’s curiosity.

Fan Junmao was a little deflated upon hearing this, and she leaned back against her chair while swirling around the wine gourd in her hand as she scoffed, “Do you really think that refining a bonded item is something that any cultivator of the Lower Five Tiers could pull off anytime that they please? Do you know what environmental, timing, and human conditions are required to accomplish such a feat?

“Is he hoping that he’s blessed by the heavens and could successfully refine a bonded item on his first try without any experience, knowledge, or preparation? Chen Ping’an, if you can pull this off, I’ll gouge out my own eyeballs and give them to you as a present!”

Zheng Dafeng turned to Chen Ping’an and said in a solemn manner, “Don’t do it, Chen Ping’an! You hear me?”

Seeing Zheng Dafeng so serious was an extremely rare occurrence.

Chen Ping’an could only nod in response.

“In that case, I’ll pass for now. I know how terrible my luck is.”

Fan Junmao rose to her feet as she said, “Alright, that’s about all that I have to say. Fight well, Zheng Dafeng. I’ll be watching overhead, so make sure to die a heroic death to impress me.”

Zheng Dafeng immediately reverted back to his usual self, rubbing his hands together with a perverted smile as he asked, “What color dress will you be wearing on the sea of clouds on the day, Young Mistress Fan? This green dress of yours is spectacular, but you should change things up every once in a while.”

Fan Junmao was completely unfazed by Zheng Dafeng’s flippant remarks, and she smiled as she replied, “On the day, I’ll stand on the Dragon Scaling Platform completely naked. You’ll be too distracted looking at me, and Fu Qi will stab you to death with his sword, then stomp your head into mush.

“Your eyeballs will pop out of their sockets and fly up from the Dragon Scaling Platform into the sea of clouds, where I’ll catch them and crush them with my hands!”

“Can’t you ever have something good to say about me, Young Mistress Fan?” Zheng Dafeng sighed in a sullen manner.

Fan Junmao burst into laughter as she departed from the alley.

Only after he was certain that Fan Junmao was far away did Zheng Dafeng turn to Chen Ping’an with a stern expression, then said, “Do not bring out that demon core in front of anyone unless you absolutely have no other choice, regardless of whether it’s Fu Qi, or anyone from the Cloud Forest Jiang Clan. Even an Immortal Tier cultivator could be susceptible to the allure of such a priceless treasure!

“That thing could save your life in the future, but if you give it to Fan Junmao, you won’t get anything in return! So what if she intervenes? There’s only a fifty percent chance that she’ll be able to save me, and even then, it’s not like that’ll be the end of our troubles. Even if I’m saved, how are you and the others going to leave Old Dragon City?”

“I never wanted to be your Dao mentor,” Chen Ping’an suddenly said with a smile.

Zheng Dafeng rolled his eyes and sat back down onto the doorstep as he scoffed, “You think I want you as a Dao mentor? How am I ever supposed to look Li Er in the eye now?”

Chen Ping’an tucked his hands up his sleeves as he cast his gaze toward the wall up ahead, then continued, “However, I’m very happy to serve as your Dao guardian right now.”

All of a sudden, Fan Junmao reappeared on the chair with a gleeful expression as she exclaimed, “It sounds like you have an even more incredible demon core! Is it the beast core of an eleventh tier great demon? No, it has to be a twelfth tier one! It must be the golden core of that great demon that wreaked havoc in Parasol Leaf Continent’s Planchette Writing Sect! How did you get your hands on that thing?”

Zheng Dafeng’s expression changed drastically as he stared intently at Fan Junmao and warned, “Don’t even think about that beast core! I’m serious, Fan Junmao!”

Fan Junmao extended a finger forward before twirling it around in a circle in the air, and wisps of mist seeped out of the wall behind her before converging to form a tiny cloud in front of her fingertip.

If she hadn’t prepared this in advance, she wouldn’t have been able to hear these words that had come from the bottom of Zheng Dafeng’s heart.

It was an extremely rare display for Zheng Dafeng to be so earnest with anyone, and she couldn’t help but turn to Chen Ping’an with renewed intrigue in her eyes.

She took a sip of wine, then said with a smug expression, “The golden core of a twelfth tier great demon can be refined in three different ways, namely advanced refinement, standard refinement, and basic refinement. Advanced refinement is no less difficult than refining a bonded item, so I suggest you don’t even consider it.

“Instead, you should give it to me, and I’ll make sure to keep the sea of clouds above your heads in check. The Fu Clan is essentially nothing more than a caretaker that can use the sea of clouds a little when I’m away. However, now that I’m here, I can ensure that the sea of clouds is completely inaccessible to them.”

A look of longing appeared in her eyes as she continued “If you give me that demon core, I’ll be able to devour the water fortune of the sea on all three sides of Old Dragon City. All I’ll need to do is pick a good date, and I’ll have all of the environmental, timing, and human conditions required! How about it?

“If you give me the demon core, I can ensure a fifty percent chance that Zheng Dafeng will survive. He’s going to lose this worthless life of his anyway, so I can save him once, and it won’t matter much.”

“What about standard refinement and basic refinement?” Chen Ping’an asked with a smile.

Fan Junmao raised an eyebrow as she replied, “Basic refinement is quite simple, just soak the demon core in wine for a while, then drink it. As for the effects, you’ll know once you drink the wine.”

Chen Ping’an nodded in response.

“I see. In that case, I’ll take the standard refinement route. Thank you for telling me all of this, Young Mistress Fan.”

Fan Junmao rose to her feet with an unfriendly expression.

Zheng Dafeng hurriedly rose to his feet as well, and he warned in a confrontational voice, “Fan Junmao! Don’t forget that I have a yin soul here! If you dare to do anything to Chen Ping’an, I’ll make it so that your cultivation base stagnates for at least a century!”

Fan Junmao began pacing back and forth through the alley in front of the Dust Medicinal Shop while glowering intently at Chen Ping’an, and in the end, she stomped a foot down onto the ground, launching herself up into the air and into the sea of clouds.

She was feeling extremely agitated, and she began yelling in frustration as she swung her sleeves through the air, sending clouds crashing violently into one another.

After venting her fury for a while, she laid down onto the sea of clouds and murmured to herself, “If I can use that thing to brew wine for basic refinement, I won’t have to worry about anything for the rest of my life!”

She wiped the drool that was trickling down from the corner of her lips as she began rolling around on the sea of clouds in frustration.

Inside the alley, Zheng Dafeng wiped the sweat from his forehead, then turned to the calm and collected Chen Ping’an as he praised, “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that!”

Chen Ping’an’s expression remained unchanged as he said, “Take a look at my back.”

Zheng Dafeng really did step over the doorstep to take a look, and sure enough, Chen Ping’an’s back was drenched in sweat.

Zheng Dafeng sat back down onto the doorstep with a grin on his face as he sighed, “Never did I think that the annoying little boy from back then would grow up to become who you are now.”

“I never anticipated this myself,” Chen Ping’an said as he removed the Sword Nurturing Gourd from his waist and took some small sips of wine out of it.

After a brief silence, Chen Ping’an turned to Zheng Dafeng with a smile as he asked, “Have I changed for the better or for worse?”

Zheng Dafeng considered the question momentarily, then replied, “I think it’s a positive change.”

He then slapped himself across the face as he grumbled, “I’ve only been staying with Pei Qian and Zhu Lian for one day, yet I’ve already learned to suck up to you from them!”

Zheng Dafeng was still grumbling to himself as he rose to his feet and entered the backyard of the medicinal shop, where he called out to Wei Xian and the others to continue their sparring. This time, all four of them could sense immense pressure from Zheng Dafeng, and it felt more like he was going to use them as punching bags to vent as opposed to sparring with them for training purposes.

“Your stuff’s all inside,” Fan Er said as he ran out of the shop before sitting down beside Chen Ping’an with a wide smile on his face.

Chen Ping’an nodded as he replied, I don’t think I’ll refine a bonded item for now, but I do want to refine something else. Go back before anyone sees you. If you stay here for too long, you could attract trouble for your clan.”

“Alright, I’ll find another time to come visit you then,” Fan Er said, then departed without any hesitation.

Chen Ping’an rose to his feet and accompanied Fan Er to the entrance of the alley, where there was a horse-drawn carriage waiting for him, and the coach driver was the Golden Core Tier swordsman from the Fan Clan’s Osmanthus Island, Ma Zhi.

For normal Qi refiners, reaching the Cave Abode Tier at sixty was considered to be slow, yet a Cave Abode Tier swordsman would still be considered young even at a hundred years of age.

During Chen Ping’an’s time on the Osmanthus Island, Ma Zhi had made a rare display of bitterness, complaining to Chen Ping’an that if the Fan Clan were willing to dedicate half of its wealth to wholeheartedly supporting him, then he would be able to reach the Nascent Tier.

Chen Ping’an remained in the alley as he smiled and waved at Ma Zhi, who smiled and nodded at him in response.

That night, Chen Ping’an was laying on the rooftop of the Dust Medicinal Shop, holding a jade tablet that was glittering and translucent under the moonlight, staring at it in an absentminded manner.

At the moment, Chen Ping’an didn’t have much immortal currency, but that didn’t mean that he was lacking in wealth, and this jade tablet was one of his earliest pieces of valuable belongings, something that had been in his possession even before his journey to Great Sui Nation.

He chose not to refine the water seal.

In the walk of life, there were some things that one had to do, even if doing so would place them in great peril. However, at other times, there were certain temptations that had to be resisted at all costs.

Chen Ping’an set the jade tablet down onto his chest, then gently folded his hands over it and closed his eyes.

He had already lent Deep Infatuation to Sui Youbian, but even if the sword wasn’t with her, it was still nowhere near enough for him. Unfortunately, he had left Lasting Qi back in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land. Otherwise, he would be able to use it in the upcoming battle.

If only someone could lend me a sword…

Business was extremely slow for the Dust Medicinal Shop leading up to the day of the battle, and even up to the day prior, it still hadn’t received a single customer.

In contrast with the shop’s lack of customers, the ferry station on the island outside the city was graced by the presence of an intercontinental ship.

At this moment, City Lord Fu Qi, the old Nascent Tier maidservant from the Cloud Forest Jiang Clan, and the direct disciple of Parasol Leaf Sect, Du Yan, were all standing side by side, waiting for the only passenger of the ship to disembark.

It was an unremarkable looking old man, yet if the three people who had been sent after the great demon who had wreaked havoc in Planchette Writing Sect were present, they would immediately be able to identify him as the patriarch of Parasol Leaf Sect.

The old man was dressed in very simple and modest clothing, and he disembarked from the ship before greeting everyone at the ferry station in an amicable fashion before making some small talk, displaying none of the domineering arrogance that Jiang Shangzhen often accused him of.

However, as soon as the old man turned his gaze to Old Dragon City and began talking about the important matters at hand, everyone was immediately struck by a sense of mountainous pressure.

“He’s a ninth tier martial artist, right?”

“That’s right,” Fu Qi replied with a wry smile.

The old man nodded in response, then said, “Your Fu Clan has gifted our Parasol Leaf Sect four ships that can travel between our Parasol Leaf Sect and Stalactite Mountain. That’s quite a significant offering.”