Unsheathed

According to Chen Ping’an’s instructions from before, Du Yu stood beside Chen Ping’an as if they were two good friends who had met in the cultivation world and had known each other for many years. His senior was called Chen Haoren, and he was a vagrant cultivator who traveled all around the world.

Before entering the temple, Chen Ping’an had asked Du Yu whether the canal master of Algae Stream and Yan Qing were able to use immortal observation techniques.

Du Yu had almost spat blood in shock upon hearing this. After all, even the old ancestors of the Ghost Axe Palace needed to use extremely rare and valuable treasures of the immortal force to channel such types of immortal techniques.

Apart from the city lord of Yellow Axe City, the esteemed master of Yan Qing, and perhaps the lake lord of Verdant Bamboo Lake and the formal gods of the Five Mountains, which cultivator in the ordinary immortal forces dared to claim that they could channel immortal observation techniques through their palms?

Chen Ping’an smiled and added to Du Yu’s introduction, saying, “Forgive Brother Du Yu and me for visiting without prior notice, but we have a small matter that we want to ask Lady Canal Master about.”

The canal master smiled faintly and replied, “Since you’ve already admitted that it’s a small matter, then there’s no hurry to discuss it straight away. On the other hand, drinking tea with Celestial Maiden Yan Qing tonight is a very important matter. How about you and Esteemed Immortal Du visit again tomorrow?”

Du Yu didn’t dare to show any emotions, or else he would have raised a thumb at the canal master of Algae Stream.

She was truly a very impressive and outstanding woman. Her heroic aura was no inferior to what he had displayed when confidently telling Chen Ping’an that he would give him a free hit.

However, this was very reasonable and understandable, seeing that she was hosting an esteemed guest right now.

Just who was Yan Qing?

Moreover, this shrine was also located on the bank of Verdant Bamboo Lake.

There were also the esteemed immortals of the Treasure Basin Immortal Realm visiting the dragon palace at the bottom of the lake as guests right now.

On the flipside, just how important could a vagrant cultivator who referred to Du Yu as his brother be?

Du Yu stood there silently with his eyes lowered, not drawing any attention to himself. However, his eyes moved slightly as he glanced up at the sky.

Right now, he was afraid of the sky collapsing on them.

Of course, the sky collapsing might also be a good outcome.

If the senior beside him truly hit Yan Qing lightly one or two times, then the force of his strikes wouldn’t matter at all. The old ancestor of the Treasure Basin Immortal Realm was renowned for being protective of their disciples, so they definitely wouldn’t let the matter slide. At the same time, the lake lord of Verdant Bamboo Lake would also feel obliged to do something instead of watching on from the sidelines…

All hell would break loose at that time, and it would be a mob beating against the mighty senior with dazzling and fearsome immortal tools blotting out heaven and earth.

However, Du Yu still felt very solemn, with little joy or anticipation in his heart.

He was afraid that the Treasure Basin Immortal Realm and Verdant Bamboo Lake would join forces to attack the mighty senior, yet in the end, their two forces would wind up being challenged by a single person instead.

In reality, Du Yu knew that his worries were preposterous and laughable.

Regardless of how powerful the person standing beside him was, he would, logically speaking, struggle immensely against just the old ancestor of the Treasure Basin Immortal Realm. That being the case, it was very difficult to say if he could even manage to escape alive after being surrounded by powerful cultivators from the Treasure Basin Immortal Realm and Verdant Bamboo Lake.

Even so, Du Yu had a stubborn intuition that told him that the least likely possibility was perhaps how things would play out in the end.

Chen Ping’an was very forthright as he replied, “When I was at Imperial Accompanying City, I learned that the secret letter sent out by the prefectural overseer before he suffered a violent death was personally opened by you. Not only that, but you even accompanied the messenger to the capital of the Silver Screen Nation. Am I correct?”

Celestial Maiden Yan Qing’s expression was aloof, and she paid absolutely no heed to these mortal matters.

Du Yu was certain that the mighty senior’s words were going in one ear and coming out the other.

This was because his parents had told him that true cultivation prodigies like Yan Qing and He Lu viewed mortal matters as if they were Snow Soil Talismans. Their minds were like flawless mirrors.

The canal master of Algae Stream remained calm and nonchalant as she replied with a faint smile, “You’ve asked your question and I’ve also heard it, so can you and Esteemed Immortal Du take your leave now?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Lady Canal Master naturally acted according to your duties back then, so I’m not here today to accuse you or condemn you of anything. I simply feel like things have already come to this, and chaos is about to engulf Imperial Accompanying City, so it doesn’t affect the grand scheme of things to pick out these… minor matters and revisit them again. I hope that Lady Canal Master can…”

An expression of fury suddenly spread across the canal master’s face, causing her to appear incredibly mighty and forbidding as she stepped forward and directly cut the vagrant cultivator off, ordering, “Get out!”

Chen Ping’an was unfazed as he responded, “As an outsider, I admit that I’m being nosy by mentioning these ancient matters again, and I understand that this is making things slightly difficult for Lady Canal Master as well. If Lady Canal Master is worried about the lake lord, then I can…”

The canal master of Algae Stream suddenly raised her arm, with her large sleeve sweeping through the air as she scolded in a stern voice, “Piss off! Just who do you think you are? You dare to make such bold claims here? Are you not afraid of polluting Celestial Maiden Yan’s ears?! If it weren’t for me giving face to Esteemed Immortal Du, could a pathetic vagrant cultivator like you have even set foot inside my shrine? Just what kind of place do you think my water deity shrine is?!”

Chen Ping’an turned around to look at Du Yu, asking, “Brother Du Yu, were you only focused on looking at Celestial Maiden Yan when you entered the shrine just then?”

Du Yu felt grief-stricken as his mind churned in tumult. However, he didn’t dare to let this show, so he could only force himself to maintain a serious expression the entire time, causing his face to appear slightly contorted.

There were many buildings inside the shrine.

Right at this moment, a handsome young man appeared on the curved eaves of a building with his hands clasped behind his back. His large sleeves billowed in the wind, and he appeared like an ethereal immortal as he stood there with a yellowing bamboo flute tied to his waist.

“Lady Canal Master, be lenient where there is room to do so,” he said in a soft voice.

Yan Qing’s eyes lit up, but she quickly put on an aloof expression again.

Du Yu was extremely sharp-eyed, and the sight of this made him feel as if he had eaten shit again. Not only that, but the shit was still fresh and steaming.

Sure enough, everything was as the mighty senior beside him had predicted.

Back at the water immortal shrine, it was very likely that He Lu had been coincidentally wandering around the nearby mountains, waiting for a good opportunity to meet up with Yan Qing. As such, he had possibly witnessed some events and become privy to some secrets. However, he hadn’t wandered too close to the water immortal shrine from the beginning to the end.

A huge battle was imminent, after all, so meeting up with the person whom he liked was naturally the most important matter.

As for everything else, He Lu would simply spectate them as an observer regardless of how close or how far away he was.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said to Du Yu, “He’s much better at concealing his presence than you were.”

The canal master immediately changed her demeanor after seeing the lofty young man, curtsying to him with her slender body and saying in a gentle voice, “Greetings, Esteemed Immortal He.”

Chen Ping’an patted Du Yu’s shoulder and said, “Brother Du Yu, tonight’s matters have nothing to do with you anymore. I’ll take responsibility for my own actions, so there’s no need for you to get involved.”

Du Yu almost wanted to die at this moment.

He was already knee-deep in the situation now, so he wouldn’t be able to extract himself from these matters even if he wanted to. Regardless of whether “Chen Haoren” fled or died tonight, Du Yu would definitely suffer severe consequences in the end. Perhaps he might even become something akin to a scurrying rat in the eyes of the cultivators in the Silver Screen and the dozen or so surrounding nations, someone who was shunned and punched down on by everyone else.

Du Yu tried his best to put on a stern expression as he replied, “I won’t leave, Brother Chen. Your matters… are naturally my matters as well!”

The corners of the handsome young man’s lips curled up into a seemingly derisive smile.

However, his gaze immediately became gentle and soft when he turned around to look at the slender and graceful Yan Qing.

Chen Ping’an looked up, once again glancing at the golden plaque as he read, “Flowing Rivers Never Dry.”

The characters were ordinary, but the words were auspicious and worth ruminating on.

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “Lady Canal Master, how about I offer some immortal coins to buy information about that past matter? Of course, we can include the anger and punishment from the lake lord of Verdant Bamboo Lake in this deal as well.”

Du Yu’s eyelids twitched slightly.

Here it was. It was happening again.

Right now, what Du Yu was most afraid of was this mighty senior employing his unpredictable business negotiation tactics again.

Perhaps He Lu’s comment just then had been very effective.

Even though the canal master of Algae Stream still appeared displeased, she no longer spoke in a harsh and combative manner as she waved a hand and said, “We can discuss this matter later. My shrine isn’t accepting other guests tonight.”

Du Yu remained silent.

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment before saying, “Then we’ll visit again tomorrow.”

He had specifically used the word “we.”

Du Yu felt utter despair when he heard this.

Holding a hiking pole in his hand, Chen Ping’an legitimately turned around to leave.

There was still some time until things became serious at Imperial Accompanying City, so Chen Ping’an didn’t want to cause too much commotion over here.

However, Chen Ping’an still felt slightly curious.

Up until now, why hadn’t the lake lord of Verdant Bamboo Lake or the old ancestor of the Treasure Basin Immortal Realm channeled their immortal observation techniques to secretly observe the matters over here?

These two individuals surely couldn’t be more skilled than the old ancestor of the Flax Robe Sect, rendering him unable to detect their immortal observation techniques, right?

However, Chen Ping’an stopped in his tracks.

Du Yu felt slightly puzzled.

Chen Ping’an turned his head and glanced back.

The canal master of Algae Stream purposely frowned and put on a puzzled expression, asking, “What else do you want? Are you truly going to stay here and refuse to leave?”

Chen Ping’an started to chuckle.

If the canal master were only a cultivator and not a water deity, then perhaps the words that she had secretly spoken to Chen Ping’an using her mind’s voice just then would have been vaguely detected by He Lu and Yan Qing, both of whom possessed a higher cultivation base than her.

She had chuckled when secretly saying something to Chen Ping’an just then.

“You’re a bastard vagrant cultivator, so you already soiled the land of my shrine by walking over here. Remember to bring a bucket of water when you come again tomorrow, or else you can forget about entering my shrine.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t feel especially angry, and he simply found this slightly irritating and tiresome.

This was similar to Du Yu’s remark about a so-called “brief moment of intimacy.”

Calling someone a bastard was presumably an insult anywhere in the Majestic World.

He Lu furrowed his brows.

A look of slight impatience also appeared on Yan Qing’s face.

All of a sudden…

The entire water goddess shrine shuddered violently.

A huge web of cracks suddenly formed on the small square in front of the building with the golden plaque.

Chen Ping’an had already arrived on the steps, still holding his hiking pole in one hand as he grabbed the canal master by the neck and slowly lifted her into the air.

Looking up, the godly body of the canal master who no longer appeared refined and regal convulsed as if she were being struck by lightning. Her divine aura was scattered, and she was unable to gather it together no matter what. Instead, she could only use her hands to furiously smack the young man’s arms.

Yan Qing had already dashed sideways to increase the distance between herself and Chen Ping’an.

She flicked her wrist, causing a streak of light to slide out of her sleeve and a scabbardless short sword to appear in her hand.

Meanwhile, He Lu grabbed his bamboo flute and said in a solemn voice, “I’ll still say the same thing as before. Be lenient to other people where there is room to do so.”

Chen Ping’an turned around to look at the two people. One was up high on the eaves, and one was down low standing in the building, but they were both standing in the same general direction relative to Chen Ping’an.

He smiled and said, “The canal master isn’t technically a human person. Also, isn’t it better for cultivators like the two of you to avoid getting involved in mortal matters? Your immortal forces might be well aware of the two of you meeting up here, but Yellow Axe City and the Treasure Basin Immortal Realm might simply be tacitly agreeing upon treating the water goddess shrine of Algae Stream’s canal master as a neutral area. Perhaps the two of you want to stop me? Be careful of shattering this tacit agreement and giving your immortal forces no path of retreat.”

The canal master was struggling with all her might, a pitiful expression on her face.

Du Yu surprisingly felt a slight hint of satisfaction.

After speaking reason — regardless of whether the reasons were truly reasonable or not — it seemed like throwing fists thereafter would feel more forceful and satisfying?

He Lu smiled faintly and said, “I encourage you not to seek death.”

There was a blur in front of Yan Qing’s eyes.

She wanted to attack and slash down with her sword.

However, she retreated instead after hesitating for a brief moment.

She summoned a valuable defensive treasure of her immortal force and used it to shield herself.

As for the canal master who had been casually thrown over, Yan Qing couldn’t be bothered to spare her so much as a single glance after putting her short sword away.

When it came to life-and-death battles between cultivators, the one who became distracted would be the one who got killed first.

However, Yan Qing’s heart strings suddenly shuddered, causing her to look around.

A streak of azure appeared near the curved eaves, seemingly striking He Lu’s neck with a palm attack and causing him to fly backward through the air. The so-called vagrant cultivator then stalked the flying body like a shadow, placing his palm on He Lu’s face and violently pushing down, causing He Lu to crash through the roof ridge and slam into the floor below. Judging by the impact sound, He Lu’s body seemingly bounced on the floor before crumpling into a heap.

He won’t die… He definitely won’t die…

He Lu is wearing a high-grade Dao robe…

Yan Qing’s mind was a complete jumble at this moment.

Seemingly using a land-shortening immortal technique, the vagrant cultivator suddenly arrived beside her in an instant.

Yan Qing was just about to attack with her sword.

Chen Ping’an flicked his finger and accurately struck the blade of her sword. Yan Qing became slightly pale and was just about to make another move.

However, Chen Ping’an had already brushed past her and stepped on the forehead of the canal master who had just regained consciousness. He unleashed a sudden burst of energy, and it was as if there were howling winds and crashing thunder.

He stomped down again.

The canal master’s head and upper body sank deep into a crater.

Still holding the hiking pole in his hand, Chen Ping’an stood at the edge of the large crater and said to Yan Qing, “You’re not going to head over there to check on your lover?”

Yan Qing was just about to stand up and dash over, yet she immediately stopped and retreated another step when she saw that person standing there with his hiking pole. She waited for a good opportunity to flee, thinking that she would definitely return with her immortal force to encircle and kill this fearsome person once she fled back to Verdant Bamboo Lake and informed her seniors of the situation!

Chen Ping’an looked at Du Yu and scoffed with a smile, “Are you blind? How can they be considered as a pair of bullshit Golden Boy and Jade Girl or whatnot? How are they a pair of immortal Dao partners made in heaven?”

Yan Qing’s expression was ice-cold, and for the first time, a look of intense hatred and killing intent appeared in her beautiful eyes.

The young vagrant cultivator wearing a bamboo hat stomped his foot lightly, causing the canal master to bounce out from the huge crater. He then kicked her toward the direction of the entrance, following which he strode over with his hiking pole and completely exposed his back to Yan Qing and her sword. He waved his hand and said, “You should head over to check on him.”

In the end, the young vagrant cultivator dragged the canal master behind him as he left the water goddess shrine. He was seemingly heading toward Verdant Bamboo Lake…?

Du Yu was slightly hunched over as he giddily ran after Chen Ping’an.

Yan Qing was transfixed with shock.