Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

The Qi Blood Martial Arts World.

Anxi Prefecture.

Near Wann City, there was a dilapidated temple.

Old trees leaned against its walls, vines climbed its structure, Buddha statues were broken, and stone bricks lay scattered. The ruined temple had long been forgotten.

In a side hall, roofed with only a little thatch, a woman with a large red birthmark on her face was busy brewing medicine with her head down.

”Young Master.”

She looked up and asked in surprise,

”Should these two herbs be added as well?”

”Chuanwu is highly toxic and acrid-hot. Gansui is usually used externally or raw, and it clashes with the licorice root you just added.”

”Add them.” Leaning against the wall, the pale-faced Zhu Ju, dressed in tattered clothes, spoke slowly.

”My condition is special. I need a potent, aggressive medicine.”

”You don’t need to worry about whether the decoction is poisonous. Even if it kills me, I will not blame you in the slightest.”

”No.” Bai Fu’s face flushed, and she said in a low voice,

”I was just asking casually.”

Despite her words, she couldn’t help but wonder, ’Is this kind of highly restorative and highly toxic medicine really for human consumption?’

’Something won’t actually go wrong, will it?’

Once the medicine was ready, she carried it carefully to Zhu Ju, unable to resist offering a reminder,

”Young Master, you mustn’t take medicine recklessly. It would be best to test it on a pig or a sheep first.”

”Don’t worry.” Zhu Ju took the bowl and offered a smile in return.

”I know what I’m doing.”

”Hmm...”

He pondered for a moment, then took out two pieces of broken silver, one large and one small, from his robes and placed them in Bai Fu’s hand.

”Thank you for your trouble. This is for the medicinal herbs and your hard work. When you go back, please thank your master for me.”

”Yes.”

Bai Fu acknowledged. Seeing him down the medicinal soup in one gulp, her mouth opened and closed, but in the end, she slowly backed out of the room.

「Main Hall」

The Buddha statue’s gold paint was peeling, its clay body was shattered, and it was densely covered in cobwebs—a scene of utter decay.

However, a Buddhist shrine in the corner was still mostly intact, and a rotund, middle-aged, wealthy merchant was kowtowing before it.

The wealthy merchant had a pious expression, muttering continuously as if troubled by unresolved worries.

”Bai Fu.”

Beside the merchant, Che Yunxiu, whose eyes were bright and lively, saw her personal maid return and quickly beckoned her over.

”How did it go?”

”Miss.” Bai Fu moved closer and presented the two pieces of broken silver.

”This is for the medicinal herbs and... for my trouble. Just as the master said, that man is no beggar.”

”Tsk!” Che Yunxiu raised an eyebrow, took the broken silver, and bit it, her face filled with surprise.

”It’s real!”

”How generous!”

The two pieces of broken silver were worth about five or six taels, enough to buy more than ten portions of the same medicinal herbs, and he just gave it away.

’And there was even a ’fee for my trouble’?’

”Miss,” the butler, Elder Qian, said in a low voice from the side,

”That man is likely from the Martial World. His injuries were probably caused by a fight.”

”Someone from the Martial World?” Che Yunxiu pursed her lips.

”I wonder how his strength compares to Nursing Director Zhang’s?”

”Heh...” Elder Qian chuckled lightly.

”Miss, don’t be fooled by storybooks. Ordinary members of the Martial World live hand-to-mouth and find it difficult to achieve anything in their martial arts training. Nursing Director Zhang, however, is a Martial Artist who has succeeded in Body Tempering. He’s considered top-tier even in Wann City.”

”Only the great powers of the Martial World, those top factions with resounding reputations, can cultivate true experts.”

”Correct.” At this moment, the middle-aged merchant who had been praying to the Buddha statue also rose and walked over, saying,

”Martial Arts begin with Qi Blood, and Qi Blood nourishes the body. If you can’t even nourish your body properly, how can you achieve anything great?”

”However...”

He looked toward the side hall and murmured,

”People from the Martial World are well-connected, and most of them are ruthless. If used correctly, they can be a sharp blade.”

”Master.” Elder Qian’s expression shifted slightly.

”Are you thinking...”

”No!” Master Che waved his hand lightly.

”I have always been cautious and rarely associate with people from the Martial World. This kind of person is a deadly weapon if used well, but can harm you if used poorly. We don’t need to disturb him; just treat him with courtesy for the next few days.”

”Yes.” Elder Qian nodded.

”You are right, Master.”

「A short while ago」

The Che Family’s merchant caravan was passing through a dense forest when they came across the badly injured Zhu Ju. Out of kindness, they brought him along.

But one must always be on guard against others. Naturally, they had to be cautious with a stranger.

”Sigh!”

Master Che sighed softly with his hands behind his back.

”Ever since my elder brother was dismissed from his official post, life has become harder and harder for the Che Family. I wonder if this trip to Yuang City will bring a change in our fortunes.”

”Yunxiu.”

”I am here, Father.” Che Yunxiu stepped forward upon hearing her name.

”Our family has been on good terms with the Zhao Family since your grandfather’s time. Your marriage to Zhao the Third has long been arranged,” Master Che said.

”If nothing unexpected happens, we will finalize your marriage in Yuang City. There’s no need to wait until after the new year to get married.”

Che Yunxiu’s face turned pale.

She wasn’t actually opposed to her marriage. It had always been this way: a matter decided by her parents’ command and the matchmaker’s words.

But to rush into the marriage so hastily... it was clearly a move to bind the Che Family and the Zhao Family together using her.

It felt more like a transaction.

What her life would be like after the marriage was truly hard to predict.

”Don’t worry,” Master Che consoled her.

”Zhao the Third is handsome and gentle. If you marry him, you definitely won’t be mistreated at home.”

”Yes.” Che Yunxiu lowered her head.

”I understand, Father.”

”Bai Fu.”

”Here.”

”For the next two days, you will take care of that Young Master Zhu. There’s no need to deliberately curry favor; just treat him as an ordinary guest.”

”Yes.”

”As soon as the rest of the caravan catches up, we’ll leave immediately.” Master Che looked up at the sky.

”It should only be a day or two.”

*

*

*

After finishing her duties with the young miss, Bai Fu suppressed her exhaustion and carried a wooden tray to the side hall.

Zhu Ju sat cross-legged in the corner, not making a sound.

”Young Master.”

Bai Fu’s heart skipped a beat, and she called out anxiously,

”Are you all right?”

”I’m fine.” Zhu Ju opened his eyes. Annoyed at having his healing meditation interrupted, he sighed helplessly.

”You don’t need to worry about me.”

”As long as you’re all right.” Bai Fu breathed a sigh of relief and put down the wooden tray.

”The master had me bring you some food.”

”Thank you.” Zhu Ju stretched his muscles and bones, picked up his chopsticks, and put a piece of meat into his mouth to chew.

”Not bad. It’s roasted very well.”

”If lean meat isn’t cooked properly, it can easily become tough and dry. This level of tenderness is just right.”

”Thank you for the compliment, Young Master.” Bai Fu bit her lower lip, looking shy.

”I cooked it.”

”You’re quite skilled!” Zhu Ju praised, then lifted a wine pot, took a swig, and asked with narrowed eyes,

”You’re from Jizhou. You must know of Saint Head Mountain, right?”

”Of course, I do.” Bai Fu nodded.

”’Within Saint Head Mountain lies Saint Head Peak; within Saint Head Peak hides a true saint.’ Every adult and child in Jizhou has heard this saying.”

”Mm,” Zhu Ju said.

”How do I get to Saint Head Mountain?”

Over a hundred years ago, after the Unparalleled Grandmaster Fu Xuan became unrivaled in the world, he sought to break through to the legendary Celestial Human Realm. The last place he went was Saint Head Mountain.

Or more precisely,

Saint Head Peak!

In the end, he failed to break through, but on his deathbed, he left behind a painting containing True Intent for his descendants in the Fu Family.

It was from that very painting that Zhu Ju comprehended the Five Peaks True Form Force, which brought him to where he is today.

The Five Peaks True Form Force was something no Martial Artist from this world should have been able to comprehend, so he was very curious as to how Fu Xuan managed it back then.

’Did he have some other fortuitous encounter?’

’Or,’

’Does Saint Head Peak hold some kind of secret?’

Now that he had come to this Qi Blood Martial Arts World, he didn’t plan on returning anytime soon. He would stay for at least a month.

While he was healing, he might as well go and investigate.

”It’s a very long way to Saint Head Mountain.” Bai Fu rubbed her chin, found a twig, and began to sketch in the dirt.

”You first need to go to Muyun City, then take the main road south. After passing Ling Pass, head west and continue for over a hundred li, and then...”

”You’re there!”

Zhu Ju looked at the map on the ground, lost in thought.

”You draw well. Can you read?”

”Yes,” Bai Fu said with a smile.

”I’ve been by my young miss’s side since I was a child. When she was learning to read and write, I learned along with her, so I’m literate.”

”Is that so.” Zhu Ju withdrew his gaze.

”It seems your young miss treats you well.”

”Of course.” Bai Fu nodded, touching the palm-sized birthmark on her face, and said in a low voice,

”Miss has never once made fun of me because of my birthmark. She treats me... like a sister.”

”Oh!” Zhu Ju said.

”Then is the fee for your trouble in your hands?”

”...” Bai Fu’s expression changed slightly.

”I... My allowance has always been given to me by Miss, and taking care of you, Young Master, was also the Master’s order.”

”Of course the money isn’t mine to keep.”

”I see. Thank you for the food.” Zhu Ju put down his chopsticks and resumed his cross-legged meditation in the corner to regulate his breathing.

At some point, a fine, drizzling rain began to fall outside.

Bai Fu squatted at the doorway, hugging her knees, her eyes staring blankly at the curtain of rain. After a pause, she reached out and touched the longsword by her side.

Ordinarily, she would be practicing her sword technique right now, but now...

Glancing at Zhu Ju, who was meditating with his eyes closed, Bai Fu pursed her lips, picked up her longsword, and moved to a corner of the side hall.

’Flying Cloud Sword Technique!’

She brandished her longsword, trying her best not to make too much noise as she practiced the moves one by one in an orderly fashion.

「After a long while」

Bai Fu stopped, breathing heavily. When her gaze fell upon Zhu Ju, she couldn’t help but jump in fright.

”You... you’re awake?”

”Just woke up.” Zhu Ju looked out at the curtain of rain, his gaze distant.

”The sword technique is very beautiful.”

”It is, isn’t it?” Bai Fu wasn’t worried about the technique being leaked, since the most important part of any sword technique is its method for generating force. She explained,

”This is the Flying Cloud Sword Technique that Nursing Director Zhang taught Miss. She had me practice it too, so I can protect her in the future.”

”Young Master.”

She blinked and asked curiously,

”You’re from the Martial World, so you must have seen many skilled people. What do you think of my sword technique?”

”...” Zhu Ju smiled and spoke slowly,

”This sword technique is very beautiful. It looks good when performed and its power is decent, but it’s not suitable for you.”

”Ah!” Bai Fu said, a little indignantly,

”Why not?”

”People are different,” Zhu Ju said, watching the rain.

”Your young miss probably has a lively and active personality, and she’s very smart. This kind of sword technique is well-suited for her. You are different.”

”Miss is very smart,” Bai Fu said with a bitter smile.

”Compared to her, I really am stupid. It takes me a week to learn the characters she learns in a day. She learned this sword technique in a few days, while it took me a month.”

”Learning slowly doesn’t necessarily mean you’re stupid.” Seeing her dejected look, Zhu Ju couldn’t help but smile.

”You have a straightforward personality, but you can easily calm your mind and focus on cultivation. At your age, to have already succeeded in Blood Coagulation... your talent for Martial Arts is definitely not poor.”

’In fact, it’s quite good!’

Bai Fu’s eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.

It was true. Although her sword technique wasn’t outstanding, because she practiced every day, it wasn’t actually that much worse than her miss’s.

Moreover, her Qi Blood Martial Arts cultivation was even stronger than her miss’s.

After all, as Miss Che of the Che Family, Che Yunxiu often took Great Medicine to strengthen her Qi Blood, whereas she had none.

”How about this.”

Zhu Ju shifted into a more comfortable position against the wall and said,

”Of those nineteen forms in the sword technique you just practiced, you should only cultivate the third, seventh, eleventh, twelfth, and seventeenth.”

”Ignore the others.”

”But...” Bai Fu thought for a moment and asked,

”Those forms don’t connect with each other.”

”A sword technique is nothing more than thrusts, sweeps, upward flicks, and chops. What is there that can’t be connected?” Zhu Ju shook his head.

”At the end of the third form, raise the tip seven inches, and you can connect to the eleventh form. When the eleventh form ends, follow the momentum with a horizontal sweep...”