Unsheathed

In the central region of the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent, at an immortal ferry station that was located near the southern border of the Luminous Vermilion Empire…

Liu Qingshan purchased a large pot of wine and took swig after swig as he sat on a riverbank.

Liu Boqi knew that this day would come, yet she hadn’t expected it to arrive so early.

They had first run into a conflict with a Qi refiner, but that had only been a minor matter. The bigger nightmare came afterward, and this was news regarding the farce taking place in the Azure Phoenix Nation.

Liu Boqi snatched the pot of wine from Liu Qingshan’s hands and said in a solemn voice, “I’ve barely read any books, so I can’t tell you any lofty principles. You’re also a scholar, so you might not want to listen to me. Regardless of this, I still hope that you can know one thing!”

The Daoist nun from the Daoist Saber Room held the pot of wine in one hand and pressed on the hilt of her saber, Jing God, with her other hand as she said with an intense expression, “There are vast numbers of people in the world who are both stupid and evil. This has got nothing to do with how many books they’ve read, and they’ll feel a strong sense of resentment whenever they come across a person or matter that’s slightly good. They yearn to either possess or destroy these things. If you’re willing to expound your principles to such kinds of people in the future, then feel free to do so. However, if they’re ultimately unwilling to listen, then it will be my turn to speak my principles.”

Liu Qingshan continued to shake his head vigorously, saying, “I understand all of these things. However, I simply want to know why my big brother is doing this. I want to tell my big brother, the person whom I respect the most, the principles of being a dutiful son. What should I do? I understand that I’m inferior to my big brother in all respects, but I still want to return home to discuss this single matter with him. Can I?”

Liu Boqi shook her head and rejected his request in a rare display. She always accommodated Liu Qingfeng, yet she refused to accommodate him regarding this specific matter. “Don’t talk about these things. It’s best that you endure it.”

“Why?” Liu Qingshan murmured.

“I’m unclear about the reasons and principles behind this matter, and I’m not willing to make things up in order to reassure you either,” Liu Boqi replied. “However, I know that your big brother is definitely feeling even more pained than you right now. If pouring salt on his wounds will make you happy, then go on, I won’t stop you. However, I’ll look down on you and think that Liu Qingshan was actually such a hopeless person and even weaker than a woman!”

There was a dazed look on Liu Qingshan’s face.

Liu Boqi felt slightly uneasy as she directly asked, “Did I go overboard?”

Liu Qingshan dazedly stared at her for a long time before suddenly starting to smile. He roughly wiped the tears and snot from his face as he replied, “No, it was fine.”

Only then did Liu Boqi return the pot of wine to Liu Qingshan and say, “You can drink now.”

Liu Qingshan didn’t hold back, and he accepted the pot of wine and started to drink in large swigs again.

He drank all the way until he lay down on the riverbank and started to vomit.

Liu Boqi softly patted his back and said, “If you still want to drink, then I can go and buy more for you.”

Liu Qingshan gently shook his head.

In the end, Liu Boqi carried Liu Qingshan on her back and walked through the streets under the watchful gazes of everyone else.

————

Outside a county city of the Azure Phoenix Nation, there was a road that was filled with mud and puddles after a bout of heavy rain.

An old man from the county office was driving a horse-drawn carriage, and he slowed the carriage down for a moment before speeding up again as he hurried to the county city.

Wang Yifu was sitting inside the carriage with County Magistrate Liu Qingfeng, and he shot a glance at the young man who was resting with his eyes closed at this moment.

Wang Yifu was one of two people whom Imperial Preceptor Cui Chan had secretly sent to the Azure Phoenix Nation, and a county lieutenant on the surface but a martial secretary in reality. He was staying by Liu Qingfeng’s side to guard against any assassination attempts.

Judging from this, it was abundantly clear just how much Cui Chan valued this seemingly measly county magistrate of a small nation.

Wang Yifu knew that there were several women and children stumbling along the muddy road behind them.

He also closed his eyes.

As a general from the destroyed Lu Empire, he finally started to feel a sense of anticipation regarding this scholarly official of the Azure Phoenix Nation. He was curious about just how high up he could climb in the imperial court of the Great Li Empire.

————

On the northern border of the Luminous Vermilion Empire…

Chaos was abound.

There were several official immortals from a small immortal force concealing their identities and pretending to be vagrant cultivators on a mountain path, and they had already set their eyes on a convoy of officials fleeing south for a long time.

Ma Kuxuan coincidentally came across them, and one of the Qi refiners was dragging a woman in extravagant clothes by her hair, pulling her out from a carriage. He announced that he was going to have a taste of the prefectural overseer’s wife.

Ma Kuxuan didn’t want to interfere in the beginning, so he continued to walk forward without paying any heed to the commotion. However, one of the offending Qi refiners blocked his path, so he decided to throw two punches to kill one and a half of them. The sole survivor fled in terror, and Ma Kuxuan didn’t show the slightest bit of care.

The pitiful Qi refiner who had half a life remaining was lying on the ground, and Ma Kuxuan stomped on his chest and said with a faint smile, “Is this how one should commit evil? Even if you want to commit evil, at least have some observation skills, okay? Do you need me to teach you?”

After saying this, Ma Kuxuan drove his foot through the Qi refiner’s chest.

He stepped over the corpse and was just about to continue on his way.

Unexpectedly, there was a young boy among the disheveled woman’s relatives who felt utterly humiliated, and he furiously interrogated Ma Kuxuan and asked him why he hadn’t killed the other Qi refiner as well. Was this not a case of nurturing a deadly opponent and asking for trouble?

Upon hearing this, Ma Kuxuan directly killed the young boy with a single punch. Only then did he make his way through the deathly silent convoy, remarking, “Fools engaging in foolishness are even more deserving of death than evildoers engaging in evil.”

After he walked far away, the Militarian cultivator from True Martial Mountain finally appeared and said with furrowed brows, “The mistakes of that naive young boy didn’t warrant death.”

Ma Kuxuan smiled and replied, “All of them were going to die in the beginning, so should they not thank me for my rare act of righteousness?”

The woman in extravagant clothes wailed in anguish as she lay on her son’s corpse, with her heart full of hatred and resentment toward that lunatic young man who showed no regard for human life. Of course, there was also a deep sense of fear.

————

At the Palace of Eternal Spring, the immortal force located closest to the capital of the Great Li Empire…

The entire area was tightly guarded.

Prince Song He was standing atop the mountain with his mother, and he asked with a smile, “Is Imperial Uncle trying to seize the throne?”

However, Song He quickly shook his head and said, “But does he need to go to so much trouble? Can’t he directly plan an assassination? There are spies of the Great Sui Nation and remnant evils of the Lu Empire, so can’t he simply use some of these people? Mother, to say nothing of the Great Li Empire’s border army, I surmise that many people in the imperial court are urging Imperial Uncle to seize the throne as well right now. On the other hand, it’s mostly the scholarly officials who support me and Mother. However, they’re not useful in a conflict.”

The concubine who had lost all of her power in the Great Li Empire smiled faintly and replied, “He’er, don’t look down on your imperial uncle like this. He has lofty ambitions, so he won’t give a second glance to the imperial throne.”

Song He was slightly doubtful of this.

Whether or not he cared about it was one matter, but who in the mortal empires would complain about the imperial throne hurting their bum?

“The imperial court of the Great Li Empire can use the will of the people,” his mother consoled.

“The will of the people?” Song He turned around and asked. “Didn’t you always refer to the people as foolish and ignorant ants?”

The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, replying, “It’s okay to mention these matters between mother and son. However, you must remember to avoid revealing your true thoughts in other situations. When you become the paramount emperor of the continent in the future, you also need to learn how to play stupid sometimes. You need to play stupid in front of your wise and powerful imperial uncle, and you also need to play stupid in front of the scholarly officials and martial officials in the imperial court.”

“Then what about those from the mountains?” Song He asked.

His mother unexpectedly appeared a little hesitant.

“In fact, there’s something that I’ve never been able to understand,” Song He continued. “Why did Father always insist on competing with those immortals? If I were a Qi refiner, especially one at a high cultivation base, I wouldn’t want to be suppressed by a mortal emperor either. If I genuinely become the emperor in the future, and if I change the current strategy of the empire, do you think more immortal forces will serve me and express support for me? Will they surround themselves around my imperial throne? Perhaps I can leverage this to gradually contain the imperial preceptor and Imperial Uncle?”

The short but extremely shapely woman in palace attire sighed and replied, “He’er, don’t say such foolish things again in the future. It’s best that you don’t even think about them.”

“Oh, okay then, I’ll listen to Mother,” Song He said.

The woman smiled in response.

This was her favorite thing about He’er. He was clever and obedient, and it was because of this that they could always work together and agree with each other.

As for her other son…

She purposely stopped herself from thinking about him.

————

At the Dragon Spring Sword Sect located in the Dragon Spring Prefecture…

Ruan Xiu stood in her courtyard and ate desserts that she had purchased from Dragon Riding Alley.

The chicks in the courtyard had already grown into hens and given birth to new broods of chicks, resulting in there being more and more hens and chicks in the courtyard.

Meanwhile, the dog that had become a spirit and gained intelligence was showing signs of becoming the ruler of the area. It did as it pleased in the mountains in the western region, but it thankfully didn’t act too wantonly thanks to the lessons that Ruan Xiu had taught it in the past. It would obediently walk around with its tail between its legs when it came across people in the streets.

After finishing her desserts, Ruan Xiu folded up her embroidered handkerchief and patted her hands.

She then soared into the air with a hop.

She arrived at the mountain face where some unknown person had carved the characters “Heaven Creates Divine Elegance,” and she started to make her way down from the top of the mountain.

After arriving at the bottom of the mountain face, she turned around and returned the same way that she had come.

————

On this day, Chen Ping’an brought Li Baoping and Pei Qian with him to wander around the capital of the Great Sui Nation.

Cui Dongshan was standing inside his study, and he took a glance at the immortal picture scrolls that were casually stacked on the table. He then looked at the books that Chen Ping’an had borrowed from the scripture library.

There was also Chen Ping’an’s carving knife and a few bamboo slips on the study table, and it was for ease of copying phrases from the books that he hadn’t put them away.

Cui Dongshan was feeling quite happy.

Li Baoping, Pei Qian, and Li Huai treated this place as their own territory.

In fact, was Chen Ping’an not showing the same signs as well?

However, Cui Dongshan was also feeling a little unhappy today. There was no reason for this unhappiness, and this caused Cui Dongshan to feel even more helpless.

He had already done everything that he could do, whether that be in the open or in secret.

However, the situation still appeared very difficult.

He left the study and walked to the verdant green bamboo corridor, sitting down cross-legged and placing his palms on the floor. He smiled faintly and said, “Come on out, little guy.”

Cui Dongshan then forcefully raised his sleeves.

A small creature was dragged out, appearing very dizzy as it stumbled around.

Upon seeing that it was Cui Dongshan, the little lotus spirit quickly tried to flee back into the ground.

However, it soon discovered that it couldn’t run away no matter how it hopped and jumped. Since this was the case, it wanted to run out of the corridor to try its luck in the courtyard.

This was also to no avail, and it was as if the little lotus spirit had run into a brick wall as it fell back into the corridor.

Cui Dongshan laughed loudly and chortled, “Little idiot.”

The little lotus spirit hung its head in dejection as it sat on the floor.

Cui Dongshan looked at the little creature.

…And he was reminded of himself.

When seeking knowledge back then, he had accompanied the impoverished old scholar and lived in a destitute alley that was yet to be developed. Even though he wasn’t a lofty person back then, he had actually been a Qi refiner already. Thus, if it weren’t for the multitude of cumbersome rules that the old scholar had established in the very beginning, would they, master and disciple, have ended up in such a miserable state? Would they have starved?

One day, he had finally decided that he wanted to make some money. As for whether he would be expelled by his master according to their agreement, he no longer had the time to care about that. After all, he couldn’t stifle himself to death! However, when he eventually returned with a large pouch of silver, the old scholar had expressionlessly said two things. The first thing was that they were no longer master and disciple. The second thing was that he hoped Cui Chan could return the silver to wherever he had obtained it from, since this was silver that his disciple had obtained through illegitimate means.

Afterward, however, the old scholar had said that Cui Chan could do whatever he wanted in the future. He could lie, cheat, or steal if he wanted. The old scholar wasn’t even able to teach his opening disciple properly, so he naturally wouldn’t be able to control his actions in the future. He didn’t possess such immense abilities.

Back then, the young Cui Chan had silently sat there and hung his head in dejection, just like the little lotus spirit was doing right now.

Perhaps their thoughts were different, but their pitiful figures were identical.

Cui Dongshan remembered that the young Cui Chan hadn’t cried or made a fuss, nor had he begged the old scholar to keep him as a disciple. Instead, he had simply said two things. Firstly, he could return the silver, but he hoped to keep one or two taels of silver since he still owed his master half a year’s worth of education fees. That way, he wouldn’t owe his master anymore.

Secondly, the young Cui Chan told the old scholar to buy a few decent calligraphy brushes with the silver. After all, his master’s calligraphy brush was completely worn already, so how could he write any essays regardless of how much knowledge he possessed?

That day, the old scholar had asked Cui Chan to wait in the bare and dilapidated house.

After walking out, the old scholar had secretly sighed in the rundown alley for a while before shamelessly borrowing some money from a neighbor. The shrew woman had disliked his impoverished lifestyle to begin with, so she had scolded him severely and unleashed a torrent of abuse. The old scholar hadn’t talked back, and he had simply smiled in response.

In the end, the old scholar had spent all of the money to buy half a roast chicken before swaggering back home. He didn’t mention expelling Cui Chan anymore, and he had instead beckoned for Cui Chan to sit down and eat some chicken.

They sat opposite each other at the crumbling table, and Cui Chan ate for a while before asking the old scholar why he wasn’t eating.

The old scholar had replied that his teeth were hurting, so he couldn’t eat any greasy food for the moment.

The young Cui Chan had lowered his head and continued to eat, asking at the same time, “Did you buy a calligraphy brush with the money you borrowed?”

The old scholar had patted his belly and replied, “It’s all in here, and it won’t run away. It’s only a matter of how early or how late I put it on paper. In fact, the later I leave it, the more I’ll be able to write at once.”

However, the young Cui Chan had been well aware that the impoverished scholar speaking bold words was actually concealing the loud growling of his stomach.

In the end, the old scholar had said in a quiet voice, “Little Chan, both you and I can simply spend some money to buy half a roast chicken. However, regarding the knowledge not necessarily appropriate for the current society at the current time, you can take as much of it from me as you want. You don’t need to spend any money. Of course, it doesn’t seem to be worth a lot of money to begin with. For scholars like us, each day that we don’t starve to death is a day where we need to adhere to principles and etiquette.”

In reality, it was on that day that Cui Chan had left the scholarly lineage of the Scholarly Sage for the first time, even though it was only for a measly two hours.

However, his future junior brothers in Zuo You and Qi Jingchun, as well as the other official disciples and unofficial disciples of the Scholarly Sage, were all unaware of this matter.

Cui Chan never mentioned it, and the old scholar never mentioned it either.

————

Today, Cui Dongshan tapped the little lotus spirit’s head with his finger and said with a faint smile, “I want to discuss some proper matters with you, something that pertains to your master. Do you want to listen?”

The little lotus spirit hesitated for a long time before nodding in response.

“My master owns a mountain called Downtrodden Mountain,” Cui Dongshan began in a slow voice. “There’s a creek atop the mountain, and there’s a golden lotus seed resting in the lake. It’s extremely likely that this golden lotus seed is your Dao attainment catalyst. For example, you might break through to the Nascent Tier and become the first Upper Five Tier spirit in the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent.

“At that time, Downtrodden Mountain will also reap huge benefits because of this. Through you, Downtrodden Mountain will be able to stabilize and gather a huge amount of spiritual energy and fated opportunities. When it comes to cultivation, there are some matters where it’s first come first served. Those who are late won’t even get an opportunity.”

The little lotus spirit blinked and raised its only arm, clenching its hand into a fist as if it were pumping itself up.

However, Cui Dongshan shook his head and continued, “But I have one thing to ask of you. One day in the future, if someone mentions these things to you when my master isn’t by your side, and if you’re also feeling very useless at that time, thinking that you should do something to help my master…”

Cui Dongshan’s voice became solemn as he stressed, “Don’t do it!”

The little lotus spirit became increasingly confused.

Cui Dongshan pointed at his heart before pointing at the little lotus spirit and saying with a smile, “In my master’s mind, you’re the embodiment of an otherworldly paradise.”

The little lotus spirit cocked its head to the side, expressing its confusion at Cui Dongshan’s words.

Cui Dongshan turned around and looked up, explaining, “Looking at you, my master believes that he has seen the most pleasant scenery in the world. Mhm, at the very least, one of the most pleasant sceneries. How should I put this? It’s as if my master was looking back at the hardships he experienced during his youth, only to discover a blooming flower. My master will feel at ease when he sees you, thinking that he isn’t lonely in this world, and that there’s also someone who’s equally as foolish as him. And in a stroke of good fortune, the two of you were actually able to meet each other.

“In fact, due to the complexities of the world and all kinds of forced decisions, my master might one day change as well. At that time, if he sees that you still haven’t changed, then he might feel slightly more at ease and change a little slower and a little less.”

Cui Dongshan retracted his gaze and said, “But you’ll lose a huge fated opportunity if you follow my proposal.”

The little lotus spirit vigorously shook its head.

It was seemingly saying that it didn’t mind.

There was a dazzling smile on Cui Dongshan’s face as he leaned forward and extended his pinky finger, saying, “Then let’s make a pinky promise.”

The little lotus spirit raised its arm and made a pinky promise with Cui Dongshan. Of course, the huge size disparity between their pinky fingers was quite interesting.

Still leaning down, Cui Dongshan smiled faintly and said, “You can’t go back on this promise for one hundred years. Mhm, if it’s possible, you shouldn’t go back on it in one thousand years or even ten thousand years.”

The little lotus spirit nodded vigorously in response.

Cui Dongshan suddenly put on a ferocious expression and threatened, “I’ll beat you to death if you dare to go back on this promise, and I’ll put you on a chopping board and… crack! I’ll cut you into eight pieces and make you into a soup, adding some garlic, spring onion, oil, salt…”

Cui Dongshan chuckled in amusement before he could finish speaking, and he pulled a face at the little lotus spirit. Seemingly unsatisfied with just this, he used his hands to pull his mouth wide open and push his nose up, making a very strange face indeed.

The little lotus spirit giggled upon seeing this, and it eventually decided to lie down on the ground and swing its arm and legs around as it laughed.

Cui Dongshan also roared with hearty laughter.

In the many years to come…

…There would be a little spirit on Downtrodden Mountain.

It would be untroubled and carefree, innocent and pure.

Regardless of how high Chen Ping’an’s cultivation base became in the future, he would always have some one-on-one time with the little lotus spirit after returning home from long journeys. Their interaction would be simple, and Chen Ping’an would speak some of his mind.