Unsheathed

Elsewhere in the inn, Sui Youbian actively sought out Cui Dongshan and asked, “Do you have secret techniques for nurturing flying swords?”

Cui Dongshan smiled and didn’t say anything.

“Do you want something in exchange?” Sui Youbian directly asked.

Cui Dongshan sat down beside the table and looked at the beautiful woman standing at the door with a sword strapped to her back. He smiled faintly and replied, “My ask is very simple. Don’t forget your roots.”

Sui Youbian frowned and asked, “Care to elaborate?”

There was a look of disdain on Cui Dongshan’s face as he waved a hand to shoo her away. “You can’t even understand this, yet you still dare to dream about nurturing a bonded flying sword as a pure martial artist?”

Sui Youbian’s expression became ice-cold as she turned around and walked away.

Cui Dongshan paid no heed to this, and he pondered for a moment before walking to Wei Xian’s room.

Zhu Lian was strolling around the Hundred Flower Garden, meaning that he was coincidentally away from the room that he was sharing with Lu Baixiang and Wei Xian. The door of the room wasn’t locked either, so Cui Dongshan directly pushed open the door and entered.

Wei Xian was reading some local county chronicles and unofficial historical texts that he had bought along the way, and he put them down upon seeing the young boy and asked, “Is there something you need?”

Cui Dongshan casually strolled into the room, after which the door automatically closed by itself.

Cui Dongshan extended a hand and gently clenched it into a fist, replying, “You, Wei Xian, are someone who doesn’t care about the process and only cares about the results. You’re the worst Go player, yet you’ve inadvertently become the closest to the core principles of Go at the same time. There will eventually come a day when your fist will smash into my master’s weak point. That being the case, why don’t I kill you first? Why don’t I kill you right here and right now?”

“One can always trump up a charge against someone,” Wei Xian replied in a calm voice.

Cui Dongshan flicked his sleeve, causing a picture scroll to land on the table beside Wei Xian. There were also three gold essence copper coins.

Cui Dongshan strode forward, with one hand clasped behind his back and one hand clenched into a fist. “If I kill you by mistake, then I kill you by mistake. I’ll kill you until your cultivation base can’t fall any lower. When my master makes a full recovery from his injuries and subsequently breaks through to the next tier, you’ll already be too weak to harm my master even if you want to.”

Wei Xian chuckled coldly and said, “Then let’s see whether my cultivation base falls lower or whether you suffer more after being disowned by your master. Do you truly think I’m unaware that this picture scroll is nothing more than an illusion technique that you, Cui Dongshan, have set up? Just what kind of person is Chen Ping’an? I’m sure that you know as well as I do.”

Cui Dongshan was slightly surprised, and he slowed down and remarked, “I underestimated you. You’re the founding emperor of the Southern Garden Nation, after alm. Go on, tell me about it. You, Wei Xian, are the true threat among the four people, so why have you waited for so long and been unwilling to act? I’m very curious. Is it because of… Pei Qian?”

Wei Xian was expressionless, and he didn’t respond to Cui Dongshan’s question.

Cui Dongshan smiled and sat down, continuing, “While playing Go with Master and helping him review the games, I asked him everything about the Lotus Flower Blessed Land regardless of how significant or minor the matter was. Regarding the backgrounds of you and the others from the picture scrolls, I know everything about you that Master knows. Master didn’t notice the subtle clues, but I paid very close attention to them.”

Cui Dongshan pointed at an unofficial history book on the table and explained, “For example, according to the unofficial history books written by later generations in the Southern Garden Nation, their iron-fisted founding emperor was the fondest of his young daughter who died at a very young age. In fact, for the sake of this young daughter, he even dispatched all of the scholars from the palace to search for immortals in the mountains to revive her.

“Wei Xian, in your eyes, how similar is Pei Qian to your daughter? Will you be able to revive your daughter in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land if you kill Chen Ping’an? Or perhaps you can have her attach herself to Pei Qian’s body? That way, you can reunite with your daughter in the Majestic World?

“Mhm, perhaps you, Wei Xian, will still die, but at least your daughter can live again, right? As for whether she lives in the Southern Garden Nation or somewhere, that doesn’t matter anymore, does it? After all, all of her relatives are dead, and it’s entirely possible that she’ll achieve more and reach greater heights in the Majestic World.

“Because of this, you’re choosing to wait silently and hoping to pave a better path for her? Are you hoping to accumulate more wealth and resources to prevent her from dying early again? Thus, it’s necessary for you to kill Chen Ping’an, and it’s also important for you to obtain all of his numerous treasures. That way, you can give everything to the new Pei Qian and allow her to cultivate with bountiful resources?”

Wei Xian clenched his hand into a fist under the table.

Cui Dongshan clicked his tongue in wonder and remarked, “Master described things very well. That old senior possesses paramount Dao power, and he was able to plan everything perfectly and also stay within the rules at the same time. He gave Chen Ping’an, Pei Qian, and you, Wei Xian, enough freedom to make your own choices. You were allowed to pursue the Great Dao within the constraints of some certain rules.”

“Even though I don’t understand Go, I can say with confidence that you Go skills are truly brilliant,” Wei Xian praised in a sincere voice.

Wei Xian then smiled and asked, “However, what if I refuse to admit this to Chen Ping’an? What can you do then, Mr. Cui?”

Cui Dongshan laughed heartily and replied, “Wei Xian, do you truly think you understand Chen Ping’an? Disregarding the unique secret techniques I possess that can ensnare your soul and force you to speak truthfully, I dare say that as long as I recount this conversation to Chen Ping’an and tell him my deductions, your fate will most likely be… me drawing a perimeter with my flying sword and blocking out the outside world.

“Afterward, Chen Ping’an will use his current cultivation base to kill you three times over. However, these aren’t the most important things. The most important thing is that you’ll fail to reunite with the person whom you want to reunite with the most.”

Wei Xian unclenched his fist under the table and replied in a calm voice, “That’s indeed the case.”

This was probably the first time that Cui Dongshan had directly uttered Chen Ping’an’s name in front of one of the four martial artists from the picture scrolls.

After using his flying sword to draw a golden circle, Cui Dongshan retrieved the Fleeting Glance Picture Scroll and unfurled it in the air. He plucked out a section of the river of time and chuckled, “We can accumulate wealth in peace, and there’s no need to fight and kill each other. Your temperament is quite good, but you’ve stumbled because of your narrow vision.

“Come on, come over here you old bumpkin. Let me tell you how I used a large pile of shattered and useless bonded porcelain to craft an exquisite and lively person while I was in the Jewel Small World. Open your dog eyes wide and look carefully. I’ll show you that the stinky old Daoist priest from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land isn’t the only person who can help you. I, Cui Dongshan, also have an opportunity to grant you your wish. I don’t dare to guarantee that I’ll succeed, but the chances of success are definitely far greater than you trying to make risky moves right under my nose. What do you say, o founding emperor of the Southern Garden Nation?”

Approximately seven to eight minutes later…

Wei Xian stood up, lowering his head and silently cupping his fists in respect.

Cui Dongshan also remained silent after putting away the Fleeting Glance Picture Scroll.

Wei Xian looked up, his fists still cupped in respect as he asked, “Mr. Cui, you’re the imperial preceptor of the Great Li Empire, Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan, right?”

Cui Dongshan raised an eyebrow and replied, “As expected of someone who was once an emperor—you can pick up small clues and discover the truth. You’re quite a bit smarter than Lu Baixiang.”

There was a fervent look in Wei Xian’s eyes as he asked, “Imperial Preceptor, can you tell me how the Great Li Empire, with their initially small territory, managed to conquer half of the entire continent?”

Cui Dongshan smiled in amusement and replied, “What right do you have to make such a request?”

Wei Xian put his hands down and sat back down in his seat, saying, “Because Imperial Preceptor is willing to sit in this room and waste his breath with me, someone who’s destined to lose. Since you’re willing to do this, it means that I have something that you view as valuable. And even if I don’t have it today, I’ll eventually have it someday in the future.”

Cui Dongshan nodded and sighed with emotion, replying, “Old Man Wei, you’re a fairly smart person. Talking with you isn’t too tiring.”

Wei Xian hesitated for a moment, and he was just about to speak.

However, Cui Dongshan waved a hand and said, “I already know what you want to say. This is the true reason why you’re still alive. Pei Qian is Master’s opening disciple, so if you genuinely steeled your heart and tried to harm her, treating her as nothing more than a puppet and a host body, then you would have been killed long ago, once you revealed any clues. It wouldn’t have been me killing you, but rather Chen Ping’an.”

There was a deep and solemn look in Cui Dongshan’s eyes as he continued, “You’re waiting for an opportunity, while Chen Ping’an is waiting for you to make a move. Well, maybe that’s not the case, but I am fairly sure it is.”

“I beg to disagree,” Wei Xian said with a shake of his head.

Cui Dongshan wrapped his hands behind his head, gazing up at the ceiling as he replied, “That’s because you’re unaware of which people Chen Ping’an has engaged in a mental tug-of-war with before. And that’s why I said you, Wei Xian, have a narrow vision.”

“Imperial Preceptor, do you want something else now?” Wei Xian asked.

Cui Dongshan sighed and said, “It’s hard to say. I’ll have to wait for a while before deciding. Also, remember not to call me Imperial Preceptor in the future. I’m somewhat enemies with myself now.”

Cui Dongshan stood up and flicked his sleeves, causing a map of the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent to appear on the floor. This was the map of the continent before the Great Li Empire’s Imperial Song Clan had conquered the Lu Empire. Cui Dongshan walked to the northernmost point of the map, appearing full of spirit and vigor as he laughed heartily and said, “I’m bored and have nothing better to do right now, so let me tell you about my glorious achievements in the past. I’ll tell you how we marched south, and I’ll tell you how the Great Li Empire will transform an entire continent into its own territory in the future!”

————

After Pei Qian left the room…

Chen Ping’an sat by himself, closing his eyes and resting his mind. He appeared to be slightly exhausted.

After a while, he opened his eyes and stood up, walking over to the window.

Another spring was about to end.

Chen Ping’an rested his arms on the windowsill, smiling as he looked outside.

————

There was a newly built immortal residence in Dawn Cloud Mountain, and this was the cultivation home of Celestial Maiden Cai Jinjian.

The immortal residence was located close to a mountain cliff, giving it a wide field of view and the ability to see far into the distance.

Cai Jinjian dismissed her maidservants, who had decent cultivation talent, leaving her alone in her room. She sat down cross-legged on a straw mat, and she held up a picture scroll that she had never shown anyone else before.

Cai Jinjian enjoyed great reputation and fame in Dawn Cloud Mountain now, and she had even become a young prodigy who had the right to enjoy an equal standing with earth immortals from more senior generations. There were numerous immortal forces and immortal clans in the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent, yet few young cultivators could enjoy such a privilege.

Apart from her explosive rise in cultivation base after her return from the Jewel Small World, there were also many other secrets that were unknown to the outside world. For example, she had a very good relationship with Old Dragon City’s Fu Nanhua.

After experiencing some huge ups and downs—especially that life-and-death situation that she hadn’t even told her master and sect about—Cai Jinjian had undergone comprehensive transformations in both her cultivation base and her temperament. These transformations astonished and amazed everyone.

A few years ago, Cai Jinjian would often leave the mountain to travel around outside. For the past two years, however, she would often cultivate in seclusion.

Cai Jinjian unfurled the picture scroll in her hand, revealing a Confucian scholar who had graying sideburns and was dressed in an azure robe.

She had illustrated this herself.

In the eyes of others, Cai Jinjian was someone with an increasingly firm Dao Heart and someone who the Great Dao within reach. At this moment, however, she lowered her head, with her eyelashes quivering slightly as she whispered in a soft voice, “Mr. Qi.”

She slowly rolled up the picture scroll and held it against her chest. Meanwhile, her mind had already wandered off to a faraway place.

After she had come back to life at that time, Mr. Qi had said that he wanted to make a request before parting ways with her.

Cai Jinjian had naturally been willing to accept his request.

Mr. Qi had asked her to deliver a Fleeting Glance Picture Scroll to the Sword Qi Great Wall which was located beyond Stalactite Mountain.

Afterward, Mr. Qi had asked for her help in sending out several other picture scrolls.

The subject of the picture scrolls were none other than that young boy from Clay Vase Alley, and the contents of the picture scrolls reflected Chen Ping’ans life in the Jewel Small World, his long journey to the Great Sui Nation, and his solo trip south to deliver a sword to the Sword Qi Great Wall. The final picture scroll reflected the time period before Chen Ping’an had arrived at the Colorful Garment Nation. After delivering this picture scroll, Mr. Qi had thanked Cai Jinjian and bade farewell to her.

Cai Jinjian had once mustered her courage and asked in curiosity whether she could view these picture scrolls.

Mr. Qi had smiled warmly before nodding and saying that of course she could.

Mr. Qi appeared in the final picture scroll, and he left his last messages before passing away.

These were messages for that person at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

“I have an unreasonable request that I sincerely hope you can consider, Miss Ning.

“Chen Ping’an is willing to treat the world and its people with kindness, so I wish that you can also treat Chen Ping’an with kindness.

“If you eventually decide that you still don’t like Chen Ping’an, then this is okay too. But please don’t make my junior brother feel too brokenhearted because of romantic attachments. Qi Jingchun sincerely thanks you in advance.”

At this moment, Cai Jinjian looked up and dazedly stared into the distance.

Mr. Qi always made people feel like they were bathing in the refreshing spring wind.