"Master!"
In the early morning, Zhang Luobai, with his satchel slung across his shoulder and the sword Liu Cheng on his back, performed a Confucian bow to Lin Zhao. "Today, I want to eat something different. Sister Dongcang can make eel noodles tomorrow. Today, I want something fresh!"
Beside them, Zhuang Yirong stood just as straight and chuckled, "Mountain Master, Mountain Master, Zhang Luobai was stuttering when reciting the Analects in the academy yesterday and got spanked!"
"Huh!?"
Zhang Luobai retreated several meters in an instant, his body straight. He beckoned to Zhuang Yirong with one hand. "Fellow Daoist Zhuang, you're tattling on me. Are you challenging me to a fight? Come, come, if I, Zhang Luobai, so much as frown, I'll no longer be the legendary Zhang Jianxian!"
"When did you become a sword immortal?"
Lin Zhao directly flicked the mischievous boy's forehead. "What fresh thing do you want to eat?"
"Unusual noodles!"
Zhang Luobai rubbed his head, grinned, and said, "Master, last time Sister Dongcang cooked sand mandarin fish and made a delicious white broth. Do you think it would be super tasty to pour that fish broth over noodles?"
"I don't know..."
Lin Zhao laughed heartily. "But it's alright, we can arrange it and try the taste."
With that, he rolled up his pant legs and went with Chen Ben to the lotus pond to collect the fish traps. As usual, the traps held a motley assortment of fish, from tiny shrimp to whitefish weighing two pounds, and sand mandarin fish only an inch long. Lin Zhao knew this fish, called "tiger-head shark" by his hometown folks. Sand mandarin fish had extremely high environmental requirements; they wouldn't grow in water that wasn't very clean. However, using sand mandarin fish to make a white broth was indeed superb, with an extremely fresh and delicious taste.
So, Lin Zhao picked out more than a dozen sand mandarin fish and began to wash his hands to make the soup. Before long, a pot of fragrant sand mandarin fish soup was ready. Meanwhile, Dongcang had already cooked the noodles. After Lin Zhao ladled out several bowls of noodles, he poured the white broth of sand mandarin fish over them, added some segments of green pointed peppers, and thus, a bowl of noodles that looked incredibly appetizing was created.
Those who wanted to eat, each got a bowl. Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong ate with sweat beading on their foreheads. Lin Zhao also found the taste good, and even Xi Zhi smiled and nodded, "Adult, the taste is indeed excellent."
"Mm, as long as it's delicious."
Lin Zhao said with a smile, "We can have slight changes in taste from now on."
Dongcang nodded with a smile. She had already memorized the process of Lin Zhao making the sand mandarin fish broth, and she could take charge next time. In fact, Dongcang had the best cooking skills in the entire mountaintop villa, followed by Lin Zhao. This was a fact. Although that boy Zhang Luobai always shouted, "My master's swordsmanship and cooking are both number one in the world," everyone knew the truth.
There was also another person, the fan-wielding goddess Liu Liying, who also felt Lin Zhao's cooking was the best in the mountaintop villa. Perhaps this was related to her having traveled the martial world with Lin Zhao in the Hundred Flowers Realm.
After the meal, Lin Zhao personally escorted Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong down the mountain. Tong Yu followed behind. Afterward, the two children went to the academy to study, while Lin Zhao practiced his boxing on the stone bridge. Tong Yu sat on the railing nearby, smiling as she watched Lin Zhao practice his boxing, while she herself silently cultivated her sword intent.
In fact, Lin Zhao was quite envious of Tong Yu's talent for swordsmanship. It was truly exceptional; she could possess such transcendent sword intent without deliberate practice. Moreover, Tong Yu was quite diligent in her sword cultivation. The sword intent taught by Lin Wanhua and the "Thirty-Six Vertical and Horizontal Swordsmanship" taught by Old Daoist Wang were both of the highest caliber. Although Tong Yu was currently only a Golden Core sword cultivator, stepping into the Upper Five Realms in the future was almost a certainty.
...
Fusu Great Wall, Jian Ge, Lin Wanhua's residence.
Golden sword intent light flickered in the air, followed by a figure gracefully descending onto the platform in front of the Jian Ge. It was a Confucian sword cultivator dressed in a grey and white scholar's robe, Jing Chu, a great sword immortal of the thirteenth realm of Confucianism.
"City Lord Lin."
Jing Chu looked ahead and was about to step forward when he felt strands of sword qi rising, preventing his foot from landing. Clearly, the other party did not wish him to approach.
For a moment, Jing Chu felt a bit awkward. He touched his nose and retracted the foot he had extended, saying, "Jing Chu of the Confucian literary world seeks an audience."
"Mm."
Lin Wanhua, clad in white as snow, walked slowly out of the Jian Ge, carrying her sword Jing Hua. This Jian Ge was a place she had cordially created for herself to cultivate in seclusion. Apart from herself, only Lin Zhao had ever entered. Lin Wanhua refused all others. Although this place could not be called a boudoir, it was her dwelling, and did anyone else have the right to enter? Even Jing Chu did not.
"Jing Chu."
Lin Wanhua looked at the somewhat awkward Confucian sword cultivator and smiled, "Are your Confucian sect's gold coins and supreme magical treasures free? To be able to support you descending to the lower realm repeatedly, this foundation is probably something even many fourteenth realm cultivators cannot achieve."
"City Lord Lin, why mock me?"
Jing Chu smiled and said, "Although Jing Chu is a thirteenth realm sword cultivator, among the thirteenth realm sword cultivators, I am considered relatively weak. I cannot defeat Yan Beichen, nor Lu Xun, and City Lord Lin, I cannot defeat you either. Therefore, the weaker one's cultivation foundation is, the less spiritual energy and foundation are consumed for traversing the upper and lower realms. You say that the literary world is about to act, and if I, Jing Chu, don't descend, who will?"
"The words are rough, but the meaning is not wrong. It's like that."
Lin Wanhua raised her hand and tossed a pot of peach blossom wine over, smiling. "Have some wine, then let's get down to business."
"Good."
After taking a large gulp of wine, Jing Chu said in a deep voice, "I have come for West Shu."
"West Shu?"
Lin Wanhua's brows furrowed slightly. "Isn't Shuzhou firmly controlled by the Great Shang Dynasty? One of the nine provinces of the world. Have any clues appeared in West Shu?"
"Mm."
Jing Chu nodded. "Although there are no overt signs yet, Elder Dong of the literary world has deduced some things and predicts that West Shu will inevitably face a great upheaval. Therefore, the Confucian sect intends to strike first and make arrangements in advance, so as to avoid the situation in West Shu becoming unmanageable, which would inevitably lead to a scene of shattered mountains and rivers."
"That serious?"
Lin Wanhua frowned. "What do you need me to do?"
"Simple."
Jing Chu said, "I will not leave Fusu Great Wall on this trip. I will travel around Fusu Great Wall and drink the bitter wine of Fusu Great Wall. When the time is ripe, City Lord Lin will need to accompany me to the Monster Race realm to retrieve a supreme treasure with a special purpose."
"Oh?"
Lin Wanhua smiled slightly. "The two of us, thirteenth realm cultivators, going to the Monster Race realm together? If I may be so bold, the Monster Ancestor's fourteenth realm is not made of paper. Coupled with the thirteen realm great monsters like Ning Yuansheng and Fu Sheng, killing the two of us might be a bit tricky, but killing one of us would be no problem. I suspect, it would likely be me who dies."
"No."
Jing Chu smiled. "Our Confucian sect's plans always seek completeness. When the time is ripe, Master Dong will also descend to help us maintain some presence. Even if the Monster Ancestor attacks, there will be no major problems. This step cannot be considered risky; I only ask for your cooperation."
"Understood."
Lin Wanhua nodded. "I can tour Fusu Great Wall, but you must abide by some of Fusu Great Wall's rules. Don't put on the airs of a thirteen realm Confucian sword immortal. Otherwise, if I am unable to manage, I will have to refuse the Confucian sect."
"No."
Jing Chu smiled. "Your humble servant Jing Chu is a scholar, the most benevolent, respectful, frugal, and modest."
"Hmph!"
Lin Wanhua turned with a smile. "Then I shall not accompany you further. Sword Immortal Jing, please take your leave."
"Alright."
Lin Wanhua returned to Jian Ge to recuperate her sword intent, while Jing Chu gracefully descended into Fusu Great Wall. He looked at a sparsely patronized tavern ahead and walked up boldly. "Waiter, a pot of good wine, a plate of pickles, and a plate of peanuts."
"Certainly, honored guest!"
The waiter looked up. The sword cultivator was wearing a grey and white long robe, which even had patches on it, and he didn't know how many years he had worn it. The accompanying dishes for his wine had no meat at all. At first glance, he looked like a poor scholar. Such a person would likely be so scared of the demon race in Fusu Great Wall that he would wet himself. Yet, he knew to buy wine to bolster his courage, which showed some self-awareness.
...
Early morning.
Ling Huan Valley, a new map that emerged south of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool a few days ago. Ling Huan Valley had high-level monsters and good drop rates, making it a holy land for players between levels 155-165. But not long ago, a PK occurred in Ling Huan Valley. More than ten solo players were instantly killed. The PKers were a guild called Brothers Alliance, led by Ling Renfa, Ding Chunqiu, and their group. It was the same old gang in new packaging.
"Rustle..."
Another group of people stepped into the forest. At the front were two heavy-armored players, Ding Chi and Roman. Behind them were over 90 people, forming a top-tier leveling team from the Scarlet Moon Knights. Roman rode his warhorse, sword in hand, and walked ahead, looking at the still-un-refreshed corpses and remains on the ground. "Killing over a dozen three-turn players in a few seconds, to what terrifying extent has the combat power of these players from the northern four races expanded?"
"Mm."
Ding Chi frowned, raised his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone enter alert status, strictly guard against sneak attacks!"
Everyone tensed up.
But at this moment, a figure descended from the sky like lightning. It was Gu Ke Wu Ming. He unleashed his life-bound flying sword, and immediately, a sky full of sword qi poured down with him, striking the crowd with crackling sounds. Then, a figure rushed out of the snow, unleashing a blood-red flying sword, and laughed, "Silence, all of you!"
As the sword light swept past, the hundred-person team of the Scarlet Moon Knights fell into a state of silence.
"It's Gu Ke Wu Ming and Ding Chunqiu! Everyone counterattack immediately!"
Ding Chi leaped forward, and a cage of sword qi enveloped Gu Ke Wu Ming. But before he could even swing his sword, a magpie feather appeared at his feet – it was the life-bound magical artifact of Ji Mo Zhi, the magpie feather. Immediately, he produced a blood-red skull in his hand and laughed, "Burn, burn them all!"
A sky full of fire rained down.
"Attack!"
Chang Ye Yu Huo, Ling Renfa, and others all charged forward. Ten members of the Brothers Alliance dared to directly ambush a hundred-person team from the Scarlet Moon Knights!