Martial Cultivator

Mount Xi, a remote place, had a waterfall with only a small flow. The creek water fell from above, landing on a piece of bluestone with a crisp sound, like pearls dropping onto a jade plate.

Not far from the waterfall stood a small house built of yellow clay.

In front of the yellow clay house grew a willow tree, now full of branches and leaves, swaying gently in the breeze.

Compared to Infatuation Daoist Temple, the daoists of Myriad Heaven Palace were much more casual. Great Peace Dao and Longevity Dao had fundamentally different principles, otherwise the two sides would not have argued for so many years, constantly debating who was the orthodox.

However, in terms of cultivation, the daoists of Infatuation Daoist Temple were far simpler. Most only opened a single cave dwelling to cultivate, unlike Myriad Heaven Palace, where daoists often built their own residences. For example, the palace master of Myriad Heaven Palace currently had a thatched hut in front of a cold pond, raising a group of snowfish.

This yellow clay house was the residence of Daoist Li Yu from the Disciplinary Hall. This daoist who was responsible for enforcing rules in the mountain, was the junior brother of the Myriad Heaven Palace Lord and deeply trusted by him.

Almost every time the palace lord went into seclusion, all matters on the mountain were entrusted to this Daoist Li Yu, who never made a single mistake.

Recently, the mountain had been quiet, and since the palace lord was not in seclusion, Li Yu enjoyed a rare moment of peace. Listening to the sound of the flowing water outside, he rose and opened a large wooden chest, taking out a scroll of painting he had treasured for a long time. He spread it out and carefully admired it to himself.

Li Yu had cultivated for many years; his mind was gradually calm and patient, and he had lost interest in many worldly things. Yet he remained obsessed with painting. This scroll was the work of a painter he greatly admired, painted so vividly it seemed alive. Whenever he had free time, he would take it out to carefully appreciate it.

But just as the painting was unrolled, a gust of wind blew in through the window, and a figure suddenly appeared.

Li Yu’s eyes and hands were quick; he rolled up the scroll and took it into his hands.

Seeing this, the visitor froze and then laughed in disbelief, saying helplessly, “Junior Brother, why do you always keep the scroll away so carefully like this whenever I come? Can’t you let your senior brother have a look too?”

Li Yu’s face grew stern. “Senior Brother, you do not understand the Dao within this. Even if you look, it would be a waste. Looking at it that way would truly defile the painting.”

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord was momentarily taken aback, but then simply smiled.

He knew that over the years, his junior brother had been casual in almost everything else, but only in this matter did he behave differently from usual.

Yet the Myriad Heaven Palace Lord did not press further, treating it as a personal quirk that caused no harm.

“Senior Brother, if you are not in seclusion, you should go see the mountain. You cannot be palace lord and do nothing, can you?”

Li Yu held the painting scroll, a bit helpless as he looked at his senior brother.

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord looked surprised. “Have you forgotten what day it is today?”

Li Yu furrowed his brows and probed, ”What day is it?”

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord sighed. “Today is the summer solstice!”

Li Yu was somewhat puzzled. After years of cultivation, such solar terms were no longer in his mind; he had no reason to remember exactly what day it was.

“Zhu Xia that lass went into seclusion on the beginning of summer, and now, it’s already the summer solstice...”

Myriad Heaven Palace Lord laughed, “By right, she should emerge from seclusion today.”

Li Yu furrowed his brows, saying worriedly, “Although that girl has been diligently cultivating these days, I still feel that breaking through the realm won’t be so easy for her.”

Li Yu had no doubt about Zhu Xia’s talent. This Saintess of the Myriad Heaven Palace was undoubtedly the most outstanding disciple of the current era, with extremely high aptitude. It was just that this girl was entangled by emotions, and her character was far too innocent, which was extremely unfavorable for cultivation.

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord nodded with a sigh. “Back when the old sage was alive, there was someone whose words she could listen to. Now, the old sage has passed on...”

Mentioning that great daoist sage who had long since passed, the Myriad Heaven Palace Lord’s lips trembled slightly, full of regret.

Li Yu moved his lips, just about to speak, but before he could utter a word, he sensed a strange fragrance in the world.

Li Yu peeked out the window, sniffing. “This is...”

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord’s expression changed, frowning. “Quick, go see Zhu Xia!”

Li Yu did not hesitate. In an instant, he transformed into a streak of light and left his small house. Even the painting scroll fell to the ground.

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord smiled faintly, not leaving immediately. Instead, he bent down, picked up the scroll, spread it carefully, and froze, his old face slightly flushed.

“Damn thing, this penniless daoist thought it was some refined work of art!”[based on context, might be lewd painting]

......

......

Li Yu’s figure stopped in front of a bamboo tower. He then looked around, but did not find his senior brother. He was somewhat puzzled. The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord had just arrived here.

“Where did senior brother go?”

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord’s cultivation had long reached the end of Nepenthe. He should not have arrived later than himself.

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord smiled faintly, half-serious, half-amused. “I thought to fetch some pills. In case the girl encounters any trouble, I could be prepared immediately.”

Li Yu nodded, not thinking much, and looked at the bamboo tower before him. The fragrance was coming from inside. Previously, it had been too far away to discern clearly. Now, standing in front of the tower, he smelled it clearly. The fragrance was unusual, seeming like floral scent, yet also like some other kind of incense, and yet it felt refreshingly pleasant.

”See that?”

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord suddenly pointed to a nearby patch of wild grass. Previously some of it had been withered, but now, visibly, countless shoots had sprouted. Soon, the area was full of green.

And not just the wild grass, all the surrounding flowers and plants, even the trees, now became lush and verdant.

The scene before them was filled with greenery.

In fact, it was not just the immediate scene, Mount Xi itself, at this moment, was the same.

Li Yu spoke softly, “All things return to spring.”

Myriad Heaven Palace Lord nodded with a smile, remaining silent. Among the cultivators of the world, only an extremely rare few geniuses, when breaking through into the Nepenthe Realm, would trigger heaven and earth phenomenons. Yet the exact manifestations varied from case to case.

“Still, I’ve always thought that when this girl breaks through, there should be a red sun enveloping the heavens and earth.”

The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord smiled faintly. Zhu Xia, was that not summer?

Before Li Yu could say anything, the door of the bamboo tower was pushed open, and a girl who had already grown up stepped out, still drowsy, complaining, “What’s all the noise? Can anyone let me sleep?”

Li Yu was startled and turned to glance at the Myriad Heaven Palace Lord, who only gave a faint smile.

......

......

At Mount Xi, in a medicinal garden, the daoist responsible for guarding the place was napping under the shade of a tree and had not seen what had just occurred here.

All the medicinal herbs in the garden, in that brief moment, whether newly planted seedlings or those that had been growing for some time, suddenly bloomed.

The entire medicinal garden now exuded a fragrant aroma.

It was as if someone’s breakthrough had caused a heavenly rain to fall upon Mount Xi.

All things received their nourishment.

......

......

Desolate north.

A woman, unarmored, wearing only a thick azure robe, led a cavalry of several thousand, departing from the Northern Frontier Great Wall, heading toward the endless snowy plains.

The riders behind her were solemn, each clad in armor and with a saber at their waist.

Upon closer inspection, their sabers were no longer the standard military sabers of the border troops; there were some differences.

Although the riders maintained solemn expressions, all eyes at this moment were fixed on the back of the woman in the azure robes, filled with admiration.

Some women in this world evoke pity. Some women evoke tenderness. Some women inspire no desire to possess them whatsoever. With a single glance, many would feel ashamed of their unworthiness.

Clearly, the woman before them belonged to the last category.

On the city wall, Gao Xuan stood armored, beside him the great general whose face carried a smile, though his temples were slightly white.

Ning Ping smiled. “Gao Xuan, looking at her now, don’t you feel you have to tilt your head back?”

Gao Xuan said calmly, “Not to that extent. I know she is excellent, and I like her very much too, but I also know she will never like me, so there is no sorrow or regret. Besides, compared to our Lord Warden Commander, this is natural. In this world now, who could compare to him?”

Ning Ping clicked his tongue. “You have a clear mind, but if that brat knew what you were thinking, he’d probably give you a lesson or two.”

“Why? Is he still so petty?”

Gao Xuan was somewhat curious, wanting to understand why. The woman was destined to like only him in this lifetime, what was there left to worry about?

What did he still need to worry about?

Ning Ping shook his head and smiled. “That’s because you don’t understand. Some people, once they like someone, feel uncomfortable even if others so much as look at her one more time.”

Gao Xuan gave an “oh” and said calmly, “Then this subordinate won’t indulge him. The scholars all say, ‘A graceful lady is the proper match for a gentleman.’ This subordinate is only looking a few times and won’t do anything else. If I’m not even allowed to look at a wife because he’s unhappy, there’s no such reasoning.”

Ning Ping laughed it off and had no intention of saying more, since it was just a trivial matter, merely a joke earlier.

As for Chen Chao, Ning Ping knew him well enough. Although he was not necessarily a broad-minded person, in this sort of matter, even if the kid wanted to pick a fight, he would still feel unable to bring himself to speak up.

The woman in the distance was no longer visible. Only then did Gao Xuan withdraw his gaze. He looked at Ning Ping and suddenly asked curiously, “What is the thing the Great General most wants to do now?”

Ning Ping glanced at Gao Xuan and scolded with a smile, “You already know, yet you still ask.”

Gao Xuan smiled without speaking.

Only then did Ning Ping say, “Actually, to accomplish that matter will probably still take a long time. I reckon I won’t live to see it. I just hope that one day, when I’m about to die, whether it’s you or that girl, no matter who it is, someone can take my place, so that I can be like Great General Xiao and, when I die, be able to return to my hometown.”

Ning Ping lamented with vicissitudes of emotion. “I really do feel a bit tired. I guess I’m old.”

Gao Xuan remained expressionless. “They say a turtle lives a thousand years, a tortoise ten thousand, and they also say good people don’t live long, disasters live for a thousand years. In this subordinate’s view, Great General won’t die so early.”