The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 64: Chapter 62: Qingshui Lake

A series of calls came from the outside world. Zhang Deming no longer hesitated, flying directly out of the Spirit Nurturing Technique’s Rune Ball space and leaving his Dantian.

”Senior Brother? Senior Brother? Senior Brother Zhang!”

”Hm? Ah, what is it?” Zhang Deming was pulled back to his senses by Pei Xiaoxiao’s calls.

”What is it? I should be the one asking what’s wrong! You were walking along, then you suddenly froze and started giggling like an idiot. I almost thought you’d lost your mind!” Pei Xiaoxiao said, exasperated.

”Oh, it’s nothing. I just remembered something. Let’s keep going,” Zhang Deming said evasively.

”Oh!” Pei Xiaoxiao replied. After walking a short distance, she turned back and saw that Zhang Deming was frozen to the spot. She called out, ”Are we still going? Can you hurry up?”

Zhang Deming said awkwardly, ”I’m afraid we can’t go today.”

Pei Xiaoxiao looked utterly confused. ”Why?”

’What other reason could there be? That little session of Divine Travel just now left my Spiritual Power dangerously low!’

Zhang Deming explained, ”I ran into a bit of trouble on the way here and got a minor injury. It was nothing serious at first.

But since we’re heading into combat now, I think it’s better to rest for a night and go tomorrow when we’re fully prepared.”

Pei Xiaoxiao looked at Zhang Deming dubiously. ’That’s not what you were saying just a moment ago!’

Although she suspected it was just an excuse, they had just met, and she was, after all, the one asking for his help.

So, Pei Xiaoxiao reluctantly agreed to Zhang Deming’s suggestion. The two of them turned around and headed back, planning to return the next day.

They spent the night at the town’s only inn.

...

Early the next morning, the two of them set out.

Qingshui Lake was located about five li from Qingshui Town, situated between Qingshui Town and Yushui Town.

The lake wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small either—it was about half the size of Qingshui Town.

The lake was bordered by sheer cliffs on one side, a dense forest on another, and vast plains on the remaining two sides.

The Qingshui River, which fed into and out of the lake, flowed from Qingshui Town and out toward Yushui Town.

When the two arrived at Qingshui Lake, they found the view before them beautiful.

Zhang Deming remarked, ”This would be a nice place for a vacation.”

”My great-grandfather’s old home is on the cliffs over there. I lived there for over half a year,” Pei Xiaoxiao said, pointing to the precipice ahead.

Zhang Deming asked in surprise, ”A Cave Mansion?”

Pei Xiaoxiao nodded. ”Mhm.”

”Senior Brother Pei was quite old-fashioned.” Zhang Deming’s eyes glinted. ’I’m almost certain there’s something off about this place.’

’Otherwise, in such a nice location, an Outer Disciple from the Celestial Spirit Sect would have built a house right where we’re standing now.’

’A beautiful house with a scenic lake view.’

’Why go through all the trouble of digging a cave?’

’It’s not like this is one of the Sect’s Inner Sect Spirit Vein Mountains and Rivers. What’s the point of digging a cave here?’

Pei Xiaoxiao ignored Zhang Deming’s teasing remark and continued, ”After I’d been living there for a while, a Shocking Water Snake that must have been hibernating in the lake woke up and discovered me.

We fought at first, and neither of us gained an advantage. Then it started harassing me nonstop, day and night.

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore and had to leave the Cave Mansion.”

As she spoke, Pei Xiaoxiao led Zhang Deming along the edge of the lake, approaching the cliff side.

A moment later, they reached the base of the cliff, where Zhang Deming spotted an extremely precarious path carved into the rock face.

’This girl was really brave, finding her way here back then.’

’After all, when she first came, she didn’t have a shred of Cultivation—she was just a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl.’

The Light Wings at his heels trembled slightly. Zhang Deming tapped lightly against the cliff face and glided effortlessly forward.

”Hey, take me with you, Senior Brother!” Pei Xiaoxiao shouted from behind him.

”Help yourself. You survived here alone for half a year, didn’t you?” Zhang Deming replied from ahead without turning his head.

Pei Xiaoxiao stomped her foot in frustration, then gathered her energy and sped onto the cliff path herself.

Zhang Deming cautiously drifted down to the cave entrance. Spiritual Light flickered in his eyes as he gave the dim Cave Mansion a quick scan, but he didn’t see the Shocking Water Snake.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the cave.

Actually, it couldn’t really be called a mountain cave; ”Cave Mansion” was a more fitting term.

It was clear that Pei Qingfeng had put a great deal of effort into this place.

What was originally a solid block of rock had been hollowed out by Pei Qingfeng into a space of several dozen cubic meters.

It was dozens, if not a hundred, square meters in area, and three to four meters high.

He had even carved out a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a training chamber.

Much of the furniture was carved directly from the stone, seamlessly connected to the cave itself.

He had spent a great deal of effort polishing it, and it had a certain unique charm.

All these details showed at a glance just how much care Pei Qingfeng had poured into it.

Moreover, it was so elegant, completely unlike the rough persona Pei Qingfeng was said to have.

Even for an Advanced Apprentice who practiced the Sword Technique, creating such an exquisite place would have taken at least half a year, if not more.

No wonder Pei Xiaoxiao had decided to live here after finding it.

This place was better, more exquisite and luxurious, than most homes in Qingshui Town, let alone Pei Xiaoxiao’s own rundown house.

And once she had her Cultivation, getting in and out was no longer an issue. This place was truly a cliffside vacation villa.

At the entrance of the Cave Mansion, on the ceiling, was a specially carved plaque. On it were inscribed two powerful words—Qingshui Prefecture!

’Heh,’ Zhang Deming thought. Even though he’d never met him, he could tell from the plaque alone that Senior Brother Pei Qingfeng was a respectable man of culture.

’Completely unlike the rough-and-tumble Swordsman described in the files.’

’With this layout alone, if he had just added a few Arrays, he could have passed it off as the lost ruins of some great master to fool people.’

”So, what do you think? My place is pretty nice, huh!” Just then, Pei Xiaoxiao came in as well.

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Yes, it is quite nice.”

As they spoke, both of their expressions shifted. Pei Xiaoxiao instantly drew the sword from her waist, while Zhang Deming’s hands flew through the gestures for a Spell, tossing out several seeds.

They had barely finished their preparations when a snake head the size of a washbasin appeared at the cave entrance.

Pei Xiaoxiao was clearly experienced, charging directly at the snake’s head and slashing down with her sword.

”CLANG...”

A crisp metallic sound rang out, accompanied by a shower of sparks.

”HISSS...”

The Shocking Water Snake let out a hiss, and with a flick of its head, it sent Pei Xiaoxiao flying.

Pei Xiaoxiao used the momentum, pushing off the cliff face a few times to land gracefully on the shore. From her familiar movements, it was clear she had fought this beast many times.

The Shocking Water Snake’s eyes blazed with hatred as if seeing an old nemesis. It ignored Zhang Deming in the cave and charged straight for Pei Xiaoxiao.

Vines swayed around Zhang Deming. He stared after the two, who had already disappeared from the entrance, feeling a bit dumbfounded.

Immediately, the surrounding Vines wrapped around his waist. Like a spider, Zhang Deming controlled the Vines to climb out of the cave.

When he got outside, Pei Xiaoxiao and the Shocking Water Snake were already locked in a heated battle.

The Shocking Water Snake’s scales were extremely tough. Every one of Pei Xiaoxiao’s slashes only produced a metallic CLANG and a burst of sparks.

However, due to its massive body and heavy scales, the Shocking Water Snake wasn’t very agile. Pei Xiaoxiao managed to dodge every one of its attacks.

No wonder their previous encounters had only been harassment. One was a tank with heavy defenses, the other was agile. It was obvious at a glance that this fight would be a long stalemate.

Neither could get the upper hand unless one of them made a major breakthrough or a fatal mistake.

Zhang Deming glanced at the battle, and the Vines all over his body moved like spider legs, scurrying rapidly across the cliff face.

In a few bounds, he arrived at the edge of the battlefield.

The moment he landed, the Vines on his body dropped to the ground. Unlike in the stone cave, these ones quickly took root.

In just a moment, several of the Vines swelled rapidly, lashing toward the Shocking Water Snake like giant serpents.

”CRACK... CRACK...”

The sound of several whips cracked as they struck the Shocking Water Snake, but they failed to break its scales.

However, the immense force successfully sent the Shocking Water Snake tumbling.

Pei Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. The instant the Shocking Water Snake tumbled away and exposed its belly, she charged after it.

Spiritual Light flashed on her sword as she brought it slashing down.

”PFFT...”

With a soft sound, Pei Xiaoxiao, to her delight, managed to break through the Shocking Water Snake’s defense for the first time.

Although she had only just barely broken through its scales without even piercing the flesh beneath, she had at least drawn blood.

”HISSS...”

The Shocking Water Snake let out an enraged hiss. But its anger wasn’t directed at Pei Xiaoxiao, who had cut it, but at Zhang Deming, who had sent it flying.

It whipped its tail rapidly at Pei Xiaoxiao, who dodged it with practiced ease.

The Shocking Water Snake then immediately charged toward Zhang Deming, who was standing off to the side.

Several enormous Vines around Zhang Deming whipped rapidly at the approaching snake.

Having already suffered from them once, the Shocking Water Snake was careful to dodge.

In a few moments, the Shocking Water Snake was right in front of Zhang Deming, ramming its head straight at him.

”You know, just because I use vines doesn’t mean I’m a stationary turret Mage,” Zhang Deming muttered to himself with a smile.

A pair of miniature Light Wings appeared at his heels and trembled slightly, allowing Zhang Deming to dodge swiftly out of the way.

At the same time, the surrounding Vines wrapped themselves around the Shocking Water Snake.

The entangled snake also twisted its body, constricting rapidly. In an instant, the snake and Vines were locked in a wrestling match, twisting together like a thick rope.

The Vines didn’t loosen, and the Shocking Water Snake couldn’t move.

Seeing this from the side, Pei Xiaoxiao was overjoyed.

She ran up, sword in hand, and started hacking away at the snake’s belly.

Seeing her excitement, a teenage girl wildly hacking away with a sword... the sight was a bit too much to take in.

After several more slashes, she once again broke through its scales, and the flesh beneath was instantly mangled.

”HISSS...”

The twisted-up Shocking Water Snake suddenly writhed. Its body rapidly stretched several feet longer, and as it stretched, it also grew thinner.

It slipped right out of the Vines’ grasp.

Before Zhang Deming could command the Vines to move, the snake whipped its tail, shattering them into several pieces.

Zhang Deming looked at the snake and grinned.

’I’ve prepared plenty of special seeds. My ammo is more than sufficient.’

Several more seeds flew from between his fingers. His hands flashed through a series of gestures, and he activated the Growth Technique.