Unsheathed

In a premium courtyard at Kingfisher Inn…

Peace and tranquility returned following the tense standoff.

The lotus flowers were fragrant, and the lotus leaves swayed.

Chen Ping’an and Qi Jinglong sat on a long bench together, while Sui Jingcheng sat by herself on a chair beside them.

“Congratulations on advancing to the third tier,” Qi Jinglong said.

Chen Ping’an nodded in acknowledgement.

Sui Jingcheng’s eyes lit up.

Only the third tier?

She stood up and walked over to squat in front of the lotus pond, plucking another lotus leaf before returning to her seat.

Chen Ping’an and Qi Jinglong both fell silent and quietly gazed at the lotus pond.

“Is that pair of mandarin ducks bred by the Spring Dew Garden?” Chen Ping’an suddenly asked.

Qi Jinglong was in no hurry to answer, and he leaned forward slightly and took a glance at Sui Jingcheng.

There was a look of admiration on her face, and she was presumably impressed by her senior’s vast experience and knowledge?

Qi Jinglong quickly sat down, using his mind’s voice to say in a puzzled voice, “I didn’t feel this way before, but now I’m starting to think that Rong Chang’s worries are indeed founded and reasonable.”

After advancing to the third tier of Qi refinement, Chen Ping’an could already exert some effort to speak using his mind’s voice. He smiled and replied, “There’s no need to think about these things right now. We’ll wait for Duckweed Sword Lake’s sect leader to arrive first.”

“That female sword immortal is called Li Cai,” Qi Jinglong said. “She’s not a bad person, but her temper…”

“She was able to become close friends with the Profound Dawn Primordial Lord, and the Profound Dawn Primordial Lord was able to raise a disciple like Gu Mo. I know what to expect,” Chen Ping’an replied in helplessness.

Qi Jinglong didn’t say anything else.

Sui Jingcheng didn’t want to become an outsider in the courtyard, so she looked to start a conversation as she asked, “Mr. Liu, you mentioned before that reason isn’t determined by one’s fists, but you still relied on your superior cultivation base to talk over Rong Chang. In the end, you even mentioned your immortal force, the Great Emblem Sword Sect?”

Chen Ping’an and Qi Jinglong exchanged a smile.

However, neither of them said anything in response.

Sui Jingcheng felt slightly embarrassed and angry. What was this? Was she the only ignorant fool here?

She then started to feel slightly aggrieved, lowering her head and lightly twisting the lotus leaf in her hands.

In the past, the senior sword immortal would always explain things when she didn’t understand. But now? He was unwilling to do so after coming across Qi Jinglong.

Fortunately, Chen Ping’an smiled and replied, “Mr. Liu’s principles are actually targeted at the entire Profound Dawn Branch. In fact, it can even be said that these principles were targeted at Spiritual Master Fire Dragon.”

Sui Jingcheng understood this explanation, so she looked up and asked, “Rong Chang said that his master was going to come, so Mr. Liu purposely revealed that he was from the Great Emblem Sword Sect to let that sword immortal from Duckweed Sword Lake know? Rong Chang will pass this information along and cause that sword immortal to feel a sense of apprehension?”

After pausing for a brief moment, Sui Jingcheng asked in an uncertain voice, “Can it be said that Mr. Liu’s so-called principle is causing powerful people to feel doubt and apprehension even though they’re clearly strong enough to kill someone? And this will allow weaker people to say a few more things? In fact, they’re essentially speaking reason even if they remain silent? However, if the gulf between their strength is too great, it’s ultimately up to the more powerful person whether they fight or not?”

Sui Jingcheng’s eyes became brighter as she continued, “And can it also be said that this is essentially verifying Senior’s remark about there at least being an extra possibility?”

Chen Ping’an nodded in response.

Qi Jinglong smiled faintly and said, “Ignoring exceptions, and only focusing on the typical situations, why don’t powerful mortals dare to wantonly break into people’s houses to steal? Why do the profligate descendants in mortal empires still need to commit evil deeds in secret? Why don’t they act as they please and forcefully snatch all of the gold and silver from the wealthy clans in the cities and massacre their victims?

“I’m only at the Nascent Tier, so why do I dare to stay here with you and Mr. Chen to await the arrival of a powerful Unpolished Jade Tier sword cultivator? Which is to say, being powerful is naturally very impressive. This is neither a compliment nor a criticism. However, those who can restrain these powerful cultivators are naturally even more impressive.”

“Be careful of your words,” Chen Ping’an reminded him.

Sui Jingcheng smiled faintly upon hearing this.

Qi Jinglong hesitated for a moment before gazing at the lotus pond and continuing, “Taking a step back, however, we have to concede that these are rules and regulations for places that accept reason. They’re ineffective in areas without law and reason. The world continues to move forward, and casting one’s gaze over history, and judging from the current situation, we still need to travel from a state of disorder to a state of order.

“Afterward, everyone needs to work together to correct the surface-level orders that aren’t necessarily correct, transforming them into positive regulations in the mountains and positive laws outside the mountains. The world will slowly go from speaking reason to being reasonable in a very general sense, striving to let more people enjoy the benefits. Perhaps an equilibrium that isn’t bound by the Three Teachings and Hundred Schools of Thought can be found, eventually allowing everyone to walk a path of…”

“Let’s not talk about these things first,” Chen Ping’an interjected in a quiet voice.

Qi Jinglong stopped speaking.

“Gu Mo’s temperament is very commendable,” Chen Ping’an suddenly said.

Qi Jinglong nodded and concurred, “The world needs many cultivators like this from the mountains, but they can’t be the only type of cultivator in existence. So, we don’t need to be too hasty now that we’ve encountered Gu Mo, nor should we ask too much of her.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and replied, “That’s correct.”

Sui Jingcheng looked at the two men in azure before humphing coldly and grabbing her lotus leaf, standing up and returning to her room to cultivate.

I’m an eyesore for the two of you, okay? I’ll leave the two of you alone, okay?

“This…?” Chen Ping’an asked.

“Don’t ask me — you’re the expert here,” Qi Jinglong replied in helplessness.

“What expert?” Chen Ping’an asked in confusion.

However, Qi Jinglong had already changed the topic, asking, “Do you want to hear some tips regarding cultivation at the third tier?”

Chen Ping’an glanced at the pot of wine in Qi Jinglong’s hand and said, “You can piss off and return the pot of wine to me if you don’t want to drink it. It’s immortal wine that costs several snowflake coins.”

Qi Jinglong chuckled in anger and retorted, “Do you think I don’t know what glutinous rice wine is? Have you forgotten that I come from a mortal city as well? Even if I’ve never drunk glutinous rice wine before, could I have not seen it before?”

Chen Ping’an pondered for a moment before replying, “I must have grabbed the wrong pot of wine then.”

Sui Jingcheng had purposely slowed down, but after hearing this exchange, she quickly entered her room and violently slammed the door shut, causing a deafening bang.

Qi Jinglong felt confused again.

“You can’t guess the thoughts of women,” Chen Ping’an explained.

Qi Jinglong nodded in understanding and remarked, “You clearly speak these words of wisdom from experience.”

They started to chat casually, and Chen Ping’an no longer referred to him as Mr. Liu. Instead, he started to call him Qi Jinglong.

“Qi Jinglong, is there a girl whom you like?” he asked.

“No, there isn’t.”

“How pitiful.”

“…”

“You’re still not going to drink wine? You’re almost one hundred, yet you still don’t have a girl whom you like.”

“Shut up.”

“How about I give you a legitimate pot of immortal wine?”

“Chen Ping’an, can you change the topic if I drink some wine?”

“…”

Qi Jinglong started to gulp down the wine, not even needing Chen Ping’an to encourage him.

“Qi Jinglong, why don’t we chat as we drink? Your looks aren’t too bad, and your cultivation base is also very high. I’m sure that a lot of girls are attracted to you.”

“Piss off!”

————

The inn at Dragon Head Ferry Station was very tranquil and peaceful for the past few days.

However, more and more guests arrived, and it was starting to get very busy.

This was because news had spread that a female disciple of Spiritual Master Fire Dragon had appeared at the inn. Moreover, she was accompanied by a sword immortal of unknown origin.

They had fiercely faced off against another group of people.

However, it was a shame that they hadn’t engaged in a fight. At the same time, it was fortunate that both sides had remained peaceful.

This was the reason why cultivators from all over the region dared to stay at the inn to watch the entertaining show, after all. Otherwise, wouldn’t they be seeking death?

Chen Ping’an asked Qi Jinglong about many key watchouts regarding cultivation at the Lower Five Tiers.

Qi Jinglong naturally answered these questions to the best of his ability, telling Chen Ping’an everything that he knew.

The two of them had a lot to talk about regarding talismanic Dao as well.

However, neither of them chose to casually teach their secret talismans to the other.

It wasn’t because they were unwilling to.

Rather, it was because they couldn’t.

For example, the Ghost Axe Palace’s Snow Soil Talisman that Chen Ping’an had drawn on the wall before, and the restriction talismanic formation that Qi Jinglong had casually drawn on the ground before.

Even so, their Great Dao had good affinity, so exchanging knowledge and experience regarding talismanic Dao was actually more beneficial to their cultivation than learning a few specific talismans.

Of course, Qi Jinglong was already a mighty figure in this area, so a lot of the discussion was him answering questions and clearing up confusions for Chen Ping’an.

Qi Jinglong was stunned into silence when he learned that Chen Ping’an had more than three hundred yellow paper talismans hidden inside his two sleeves.

Was Chen Ping’an trying to become a small merchant who sold talismans?

Qi Jinglong only offered a short and sharp conclusion regarding the assassination attempt from Deer Cutter Mountain.

“Incredibly dangerous.”

When Chen Ping’an retrieved the spoils of battle retrieved by Sui Jingcheng, Qi Jinglong gave a rough appraisal of the Divine Dewbearing armor, the gigantic bow, and so on. When he saw that pair of short sabers engraved with the characters “Morning Dew” and “Evening Glow,” however, he couldn’t help but exclaim with emotion, “You’re this fortunate?”

The reason for this was very simple.

This wasn’t because Qi Jinglong was extremely knowledgeable of Deer Cutter Mountain’s secrets, nor was it because he recognized that female cultivator.

Rather, Qi Jinglong had once come across these two short sabers when reading an ancient immortal text. These sabers had a long history, and the female assassin from Deer Cutter Mountain had simply been lucky to obtain these immortal weapons that had already gone missing for a very long time. However, she was also unlucky in the sense that she had failed to master the essence of refining and using the two short sabers. And thus, Qi Jinglong relayed what he had read in the immortal text to Chen Ping’an.

Sui Jingcheng smiled widely as she listened.

Afterward, Gu Mo and Rong Chang visited the lotus pond courtyard one after another, with Rong Chang speaking with Qi Jinglong about the Sword Dao.

Meanwhile, Gu Mo asked Qi Jinglong about the veracity of some events and rumors. For example, had Qi Jinglong truly slain that demonic Nascent Tier cultivator when he was still at the Golden Core Tier? Did he truly have a close relationship with Celestial Maiden Lu from Water Scripture Mountain? Qi Jinglong answered her questions one by one, not avoiding any question. Gu Mo felt satisfied after hearing Qi Jinglong’s responses, but felt slightly disappointed at the same time. She felt like her senior sisters had very bad taste, actually admiring someone as incredibly dull as this cultivator from the Great Emblem Sword Sect.

Chen Ping’an and Sui Jingcheng sat nearby the entire time, snacking on roasted seeds as they enjoyed the entertaining show.

They exchanged a glance when they heard Gu Mo ask about Celestial Maiden Lu.

After Gu Mo left, Sui Jingcheng saw the senior sword immortal signaling to her with his eyes. She immediately understood his intention, and she hurriedly stopped snacking on roasted seeds and patted her hands, preparing to ask Qi Jinglong some tough questions. In any case, she was also curious about whether or not that female cultivator from Water Scripture Mountain was good-looking. Regardless of whether it was Gu Mo or the two female cultivators who had stood behind the old man on the small boat, none of them was as beautiful as her.

However, Qi Jinglong sat down and closed his eyes, saying, “I need to cultivate now.”