Unsheathed

There was an old spiritual master with the demeanor of a transcendent being from the talismanic branch.

There was Cloudtop City’s Xu Xingjiu who had been struck by a saber.

There was Zhao Qingwan who had launched a knife strike but failed to achieve her goal.

There was also a young man who appeared very redundant, dressed in azure and carrying a large bamboo bookcase on his back.

“Why does Shopkeeper insist on getting involved in this troublesome matter instead of peacefully looking after your business?” Huan Yun asked. “Knowing to quit while you’re ahead, leave after you’ve reaped benefits, and to make money in peace is the proper way.”

Wu Qun had relied on a black Dao robe to recognize this person, so Huan Yun was naturally able to recognize him as well.

It wasn’t that Chen Ping’an wasn’t careful enough, but rather that the mountain-refining great demon had used a very unexpected strategy, directly instructing the divine maiden in white and the deity in green to unfurl the mountain and water picture scroll and reveal its contents to all of the people who were visiting the mountain to look for treasures.

Of course, Huan Yun was only guessing the identity of this young man, speculating that he was the vagrant cultivator and wandering merchant who had set up a stall to sell talismans at Cloudtop City. After all, of all the people visiting the mountain, the only person who presumably knew his status and still dared to step forward and save that person was most likely the strange and cagey old man wearing a black robe. Only he possessed the courage and ability.

Once cultivators in the mountains had their suspicions, whether or not their suspicions were true would no longer be very important.

Chen Ping’an smiled and replied, “Vagrant cultivators from the mountains and marshes… Doesn’t this imply that they’re busy traversing mountains and crossing waters every single day? Scooping up clean water to drink, and wading through murky water to advance — is there anything strange about this?”

Xu Xingjiu suddenly interjected and said, “Spiritual Master Huan, there’s still some wiggle room to talk and negotiate things.”

Huan Yun shook his head and replied, “There was already no path of retreat the moment that I decided to hunt you down. You’re a very smart person, Xu Xingjiu, and smart people shouldn’t purposely say dumb things.”

Indeed, Xu Xingjiu was already well aware of these matters.

If Huan Yun were truly a moral and righteous person from head to toe, not harboring any personal desires or greed, then he wouldn’t have rushed over to pursue him and Zhao Qingwan.

Those who possessed great desire were intolerant and had a narrow mind, so narrow that the small and winding path could only fit a single person: themself.

Sticking to the facts, Xu Xingjiu understood that he had also made big mistakes in his decisions before. When Huan Yun had handed over the white jade brush shaft at the time, he shouldn’t have speculated on Huan Yun’s intentions in the most negative light possible. After discovering the disappearance of the two paramount treasures, the immortal body and the Dao robe, from the pocket treasure, he shouldn’t have kept this a secret either. He should have chosen to be open and honest instead. If Huan Yun had explained the complicated matters at that time, perhaps the relationship between them wouldn’t be as strained as it was right now.

In reality, however, the human heart and worldly matters were nowhere near as simple as this. Guest Elder Xu of Cloudtop City had carried out an intricate and deadly plan, causing Xu Xingjiu to jump at shadows as he became fearful and alert. Moreover, as their Dao guardian, Huan Yun’s choice of inaction throughout the ordeal had in and of itself been a form of hidden killing intent. Indeed, his concealed killing intent had perhaps come in the form of using Guest Elder Xu as a borrowed blade. Guest Elder Xu would kill Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan to snatch the treasures, allowing Huan Yun to be the ultimate victor who swooped in afterward. Moreover, his hands would be completely clean of the crime.

Huan Yun was in no hurry to make a move.

Seeing this, Chen Ping’an was in no hurry either.

There were many situations in which many people would feel like they had no way of turning back. Contrary to their beliefs, however, there were indeed ways of turning back.

Huan Yun was actually facing the most awkward situation right now. Cloudtop City’s Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan naturally needed to be disposed of, but how he should deal with that wandering merchant who liked to change his disguise all the time was a dilemma that was rife with dangers. This was because Huan Yun couldn’t confirm that person’s cultivation base. In fact, he couldn’t even decipher whether that person was a Qi refiner from the talismanic branch or a sword cultivator, the most troublesome type of person from the mountains.

There could only be two possible outcomes when everything was finally revealed. Either Huan Yun was killed, causing him to finally understand the lofty cultivation base of his opponent, or the wandering merchant died at Huan Yun’s hands, allowing him to enjoy great fortune as he obtained all of the fated opportunities and immortal treasures.

“If I remember correctly, the Daoist Sect has always said that only cultivating one’s longevity but not cultivating one’s character is the first mistake of cultivation,” Chen Ping’an suddenly remarked.

“That’s easy for you to say,” Huan Yun replied with a chuckle.

“It’s precisely because this is easy for everyone to say that it’s so difficult to actually adhere to. If one successfully adheres to this principle, then one would have obtained a paramount treasure, having moral and virtue as one’s foundation.”

This pertained to the principles of joint cultivation of one’s inner nature, vital force, and of the myriad spiritual forces.[1] Those who attained great mastery would become the so-called seamless towers of the Daoist Sect and revered untainted fruits of the Buddhist Sect.

Huan Yun shook his head and said, “I’m aware that you’re not very old, and I also know that you’re not a member of the Daoist Sect. That being the case, there’s no need to speak in riddles and appear deep and intricate in front of me. Why don’t the two of us discuss something more tangible, just like we did when discussing business at Cloudtop City’s market?”

Chen Ping’an also shook his head, replying, “The transaction between us won’t be possible as long as you’re still intent on killing these two people. Since we’re speaking openly now, I’ll say that Old Spiritual Master hasn’t truly committed any disastrous mistakes apart from developing greed and killing intent. However, are the treasures and fated opportunities in Xu Xingjiu’s pocket treasure more valuable than the Dao Heart that you’ve cultivated and nurtured with difficulty for your entire life?

Huan Yun couldn’t help but chuckle in speechlessness, sighing and asking, “What’s this? You’re going to rely on your tongue alone to convince me to stop?”

“Spiritual Master Huan, I’m willing to give up all of the treasures in my pocket treasure in exchange for my life,” Xu Xingjiu said. “After Spiritual Master Huan looks over them, I humbly ask that you leave a single treasure for us so that we have something to show our master. In addition, I’m willing to make a heavy vow using a secret technique of our ancestral hall. I, Xu Xingjiu, won’t say a single word about Spiritual Master Huan’s actions, and Spiritual Master Huan will remain an esteemed guest of Cloudtop City in the future. In fact, Spiritual Master Huan can even become a guest elder of Cloudtop City.”

Xu Xingjiu had already pulled the hidden blade out from his body, one that was still a token of love. He wiped the blood from the blade and placed it inside his sleeve, after which he casually wrapped his wound and ingested a precious pill from Cloudtop City.

The wound wasn’t on his back, but on his heart.

However, Xu Xingjiu didn’t mind this.

Chen Ping’an heaved a faint sigh.

The smarter Xu Xingjiu appeared right now, able to assess the situation and see the bigger picture, the more of a hidden threat he would appear in Huan Yun’s eyes.

This couldn’t be helped.

That being the case, he could only use another method, one that was more in line with the style of the Northern Complete Reed Continent.

Otherwise, Huan Yun would charge forward to commit murder, choosing to gamble big to win big.

Two flying swords that were yet to be completely tempered into bonded items dashed out from two critical acupoints and hovered to the left and right of Chen Ping’an. One was slender and white, while the other was dark green.

“Huan Yun, do you insist on making mistake after mistake?” Chen Ping’an asked.

Huan Yun’s sleeves billowed and expanded, with countless talismans hovering out to form a protection formation around him as he exclaimed in a quivering voice, “You’re the person who released his sword together with Liu Jinglong at the Sacred Lotus Nation?!”

“What do you think?” Chen Ping’an asked.

“No wonder,” Huan Yun heaved a long sigh and said.

Chen Ping’an turned to Xu Xingjiu and asked, “What are you going to do now?”

“Senior, I’ll bring my junior sister back to Cloudtop City,” Xu Xingjiu replied.

Zhao Qingwan sobbed and shouted, “I’m not going! Just kill me, Xu Xingjiu!”

Xu Xingjiu smiled tragically and said, “Let’s stop doing stupid things, okay? There’s no hurdle that we can’t overcome. Qingwan, if you trust me, then leave this place with me. Whatever our relationship was like in the past, it will still be the same in the future. I don’t have anything gnawing at my mind, so as long as you’re able to untie the knot in your heart as well, then everything will be the same as before. In fact, things might become even better. Qingwan, everyone makes mistakes, so don’t be afraid. We’ll learn from our mistakes and do better in the future.”

However, it was as if Zhao Qingwan were possessed, with her face as pale as a sheet and the rims of her eyes bright red as she murmured in reply, “I can’t go back. There’s already no way for me to go back. Either you kill me, or I’ll kill you. Otherwise, we can die together and become husband and wife in our next life. We’ll definitely love and cherish each other forever. Okay, Xu Xingjiu?”

Xu Xingjiu was expressionless as he retrieved the hidden knife and lightly tossed it to Zhao Qingwan. He then looked around at the dense forest surrounding them, smiling in self-deprecation and replying, “Couples are like birds from the same forest, yet they each fly their own way when great calamity befalls. However, we’ve already experienced this even though we haven’t even become Dao partners yet. Qingwan, you can stab me again. Otherwise, I’ll bring you back to Cloudtop City even if that means having to tie you up. I already said before that I would become Dao partners with you in this life, and I, Xu Xingjiu, am a man of my word.”

Zhao Qingwan held onto the hidden knife and dazedly stared at Xu Xingjiu. She suddenly started to smile, with tears still streaming down her face as her lips moved slightly and seemingly mouthed three words in silence.

Xu Xingjiu’s vision became blurry with tears.

It had always been like this. He had always been most fond of her eyes that could speak.

When his master brought a young girl to Cloudtop City back then, the young boy had looked at her, and the young girl had cocked her head and looked back with her round eyes wide open.

The young boy had pulled a face.

The young girl had immediately burst into tears in fright.

Year after year, they had lived together amid the lofty sea of clouds.

Zhao Qingwan furiously drove the knife into her chest.

Xu Xingjiu arrived in front of her the next moment, grabbing the bloody hilt of the hidden knife with his hand.

He smiled and said in a gentle voice, “Qingwan, both of us have essentially died once now, so can we start from the beginning again now?”

Zhao Qingwan let go of the blade and squatted down on the ground, covering her face with her hands.

Xu Xingjiu tossed the hidden knife away and squatted down beside her, gently holding her in an embrace. He was just about to pat her back, yet upon seeing the fresh blood on his palm, he turned his hand around and lightly rubbed her back in a tender manner, murmuring, “Don’t be scared. Didn’t you always complain about me not saying that I liked you back then? There’s no need to ask this again in the future. After all, what man will express their sincere love all the time?”

There was a complicated expression on Huan Yun’s face.

“Huan Yun, I believe you’ve left a child behind at Cloudtop City?” Chen Ping’an asked.

“Don’t drag my family into this mess!” Huan Yun exclaimed in rage.

“I’m planning to learn from you and eliminate all possible future hindrances,” Chen Ping’an replied.

“Are you forcing me to go down the path of mutual destruction?” Huan Yun asked.

“Are you worthy?” Chen Ping’an asked in response.

It was as if Huan Yun aged one hundred years in an instant, appearing geriatric as he conceded, “So be it. My lofty reputation has been ruined in an instant. From today onward, I won’t take a single step into Cloudtop City, and it will also be a consequence of my own actions regardless of how Xu Xingjiu and Shen Zhenze target me in the future.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “It doesn’t matter whether you see me as a good person or a bad person. However, it would be best that you don’t take me for a fool.”

Huan Yun gritted his teeth and spat, “What in the world do you want?! Are you truly hellbent on killing my grandson? Is this how it is? I refuse to believe that you can act on this threat…”

Chen Ping’an cut Huan Yun off and said slowly, “I’ll accompany you on a journey to examine your conscience.”

Huan Yun was completely dumbfounded.

“Do you have a talismanic boat?” Chen Ping’an asked. “It’s best that we take a boat together back to Cloudtop City.”

In the end, two precious talismanic boats that were as large as mortal ships slowly rose into the sky, sailing toward Cloudtop City.

One talismanic boat carried four passengers, while the other carried a gigantic caisson ceiling that someone had retrieved from a deep pool. Moreover, Huan Yun had placed illusion talismans on both of the incredibly valuable talismanic boats.

Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan sat side by side on one end of the talismanic boat.

Meanwhile, Chen Ping’an and Huan Yun sat opposite each other on the other end of the boat.

Chen Ping’an was sitting cross-legged, with his back resting against his large bamboo bookcase as he turned his head and said to the young woman, “You need to cherish this kindness and goodwill that’s not easy to come by. When interacting with each other in the future, this event should serve as a warning to the two of you, and you shouldn’t try to avoid talking about it on purpose. Otherwise, you’re bound to face more troubles in the future, and that will be a tragic moment when you wish you could have died earlier. If both of you can overcome this mental barrier, then you and Xu Xingjiu can become genuine immortal Dao partners at that time.

“There are hundreds upon thousands of different hardships and challenges on the path of the Great Dao, with examining one’s heart and conscience being the most difficult. Perhaps this is a tribulation pertaining to mental cultivation that the two of you were fated to come across. As for whether you can obtain fortune from this misfortune, this depends on whether or not you’re willing to properly contemplate the gains and losses pertaining to this tribulation.”

Chen Ping’an then turned to Xu Xingjiu and said, “Even if you truly don’t mind today’s events, her wrongdoings can’t be swept under the rug because of this. Her significant wrongdoings will remain just that, so don’t use empty and meaningless words to console her, Xu Xingjiu. You need to properly understand these matters yourself first, or else you’ll only cause her to feel increasingly guilty and ashamed, feeling like she isn’t worthy of you. At that time, the two of you will either become enemies again, or you’ll gradually drift further apart and become like strangers to each other. To put things bluntly, Xu Xingjiu, it’s ultimately the case that you haven’t done well enough. This can’t be helped. Since you want to act like a good person, you’ll naturally have to pay a corresponding price.”

Xu Xingjiu held Zhao Qingwan’s hand and nodded with a smile.

It was as if his mental state were welcoming a glimmer of hope after a difficult period, with the skies clear and blue after a grueling storm. He could vaguely sense that he was about to break through that barrier.

Zhao Qingwan was seemingly able to untie some other knots in her heart after hearing this.

Her grip on Xu Xingjiu’s hand became a bit firmer.

Huan Yun remained silent the entire time, keeping his eyes closed as he rested his mind.

Since Chen Ping’an had made clear his identity as the so-called sword immortal who had released his sword together with Qi Jinglong, there was no need to purposely conceal his appearance any longer. He tore off his face mask, revealing his true appearance under the guise of the young man. He then put on his Hundred Eye Taotie Dao Robe, which was currently brimming with spiritual energy.

Afterward, Xu Xingjiu proposed a strategy to deal with the current situation, one that would neither be detrimental to his master, Shen Zhenze, nor be damaging to the vested interests of Cloudtop City. At the same time, Spiritual Master Huan Yun could also safeguard his good reputation.

In fact, there would even be an unexpected but completely reasonable explanation for Xu Xingjiu’s wounds.

This was a flawless and logical strategy.

Chen Ping’an didn’t have any objections.

Huan Yun simply nodded lightly in response, still not opening his eyes.

1. This is a reference to the text Principles of the Joint Cultivation of Inner Nature and Vital Force and of the Ten Thousand Spiritual Forces from the Ming Dynasty, a text on self-cultivation that draws on the Three Teachings. ☜