Huo Piaoyao rose, cupped his fists, and smiled, "So it's Sword Immortal Su of Changming Mountain. A pleasure to meet you! May I ask why Sword Immortal Su is looking for me?"
"Saint Huo guards the Sword Suppression Tower..."
Su Qingjiu frowned slightly and said, "You are like a sage protecting a land, so... Su Qingjiu is bold enough to ask Saint Huo to also keep an eye on my Brother Lin Zhao. His reincarnation is not easy, and Su Qingjiu's journey west is also perilous. If I truly cannot return, please Saint Huo to look after him more..."
"Understood."
Huo Piaoyao nodded with a smile, "Sword Immortal Su, please rest assured. Although Lin Zhao and I are not close, I truly approve of Lin Zhao's character. If that time comes, I, Huo, will not stand idly by. I will help in any way I can."
"Thank you!"
Su Qingjiu cupped her fists and smiled, "If there is a chance in the future, Changming Mountain will repay Saint Huo's kindness generously."
"No need for that."
Huo Piaoyao waved his hand gently and smiled, "You, Su Qingjiu, are willing to suppress your cultivation at the twelfth realm for many years and are willing to accompany Lin Wanhua south. This alone is enough to give face to our Military Ancestral Hall. Let alone that Lin Zhao is the sect leader's junior brother, even if he weren't, I would still take special care of him. Rest assured, with me here, no one can touch Lin Zhao."
"Thank you!"
Su Qingjiu nodded with a smile, "Then... I shall not disturb Saint Huo's cultivation. This humble one takes her leave."
"Farewell!"
Su Qingjiu merged with the sword light and disappeared into the heavens and earth. The Military Sage then sat back on the rooftop of the Sword Suppression Tower, continuing to gaze in the direction of the Northern Demon Ancestral Court. He came to the mortal world to guard the Xueyu Tianchi area and keep an eye on these demons. It could be said that as long as Huo Piaoyao was here, the demons would not dare to be too presumptuous.
Not long after, another surge of potent sword intent arose, immediately causing the young Military Sage to frown and rise again.
Amidst the clouds, a woman in snow-white robes appeared, standing on a flying sword. She cupped her fists towards him and smiled, "Lin Wanhua of Fusu Great Wall, Commander of the Great Wall, pays respects to Saint Huo."
"Mm."
Huo Piaoyao smiled and nodded, "City Lord Lin visits late at night. Is there something?"
"Mm, a small matter."
Lin Wanhua hesitated, her pretty face filled with difficulty. After a few seconds, she gathered her courage and said, "I am about to journey west, and I do not know if I will be able to return alive. However, I have too many concerns in the mortal world. Fusu Great Wall... is guarded by the Fusu Sword, so the problem will not be too great. I am just a little worried about a friend in Xueyu Tianchi."
The young Military Sage asked, "Could it be Lin Zhao?"
"Ah?"
Lin Wanhua's delicate mouth parted slightly, and a blush instantly spread across her pretty face. "Saint Huo is indeed a sage, with foresight. My intention is actually very simple. I hope that while Saint Huo guards the Sword Suppression Tower, you can also look after Xueyu Tianchi a bit, at least to ensure Lin Zhao's life is not in danger. Someone like him should not die."
"???"
The young Military Sage felt complex emotions. What was going on? Was that fellow's romantic luck so good? It was one thing for Su Qingjiu to plead, but now even Lin Wanhua, the Lord of Fusu Great Wall, came in person to plead. How much face did that man have?!
"Mm."
He calmed his emotions and said, "Don't worry, I will look after things."
"Thank you!"
Lin Wanhua smiled, her dimples showing, "Saint Huo, after you finish dealing with matters in the north, if you have free time, you are welcome to visit Fusu Great Wall. Our wine at Fusu Great Wall may be a bit strong, but it is flavorful. Our sword cultivators and warriors at Fusu Great Wall, though a bit hot-tempered, are all eager to fight demons."
"Mm."
Huo Piaoyao nodded and smiled, "I definitely will, I definitely will!"
Lin Wanhua bowed and retreated.
The young Military Sage sat back on the rooftop. He truly hoped no one else would come, otherwise, he would not care anymore. He would directly find that fellow in the mountain villa and give him a beating first. Why was his romantic luck so good?
...
The next morning.
A dragon boat slowly approached Xueyu Tianchi and stopped outside the mountain. Then, two beams of light descended to the foot of the mountain villa. Cao Ying and Huang Qingning had finally arrived, and all seven twelfth-realm cultivators from the human race's westward expedition were present.
Lin Zhao had been busy since early morning, making bowls of egg and scallion noodles for everyone with Dongcang, and giving each person ten jars of wine as a "send-off." By the time Cao Ying and Huang Qingning arrived, everyone had already finished breakfast.
"Pavilion Master Cao, Director Huang!"
Xu Shuo cupped his fists and bowed to the two experts from the Great Shang Dynasty.
Cao Ying and Huang Qingning returned the greetings one by one, and then they saw Su Qingjiu and Lin Wanhua, two true great sword immortals. Instantly, Cao Ying's sword heart buzzed. With just a glance, she could almost confirm that she was no match for these two. She might still have a chance against Xu Shuo, Xu Zhan, and the others, but against Su Qingjiu and Lin Wanhua, surviving more than a hundred moves would be quite dangerous. Fortunately, they were not enemies on this journey.
"Since that is the case, let us prepare to depart!"
Xu Shuo said solemnly, "The plum rain season is approaching, and Xi Jian River will soon be flooded. The downstream Ku Song River will surely have prosperous water transport. The sooner we get there and resolve the issue, the better. If we are later than the demons, it might be difficult to handle."
"Mm."
Cao Ying nodded, "Yes, let's go early and return early!"
"Let's go!"
Everyone rose into the wind one by one.
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "Xiao Jiu'er, come here, I have something to tell you."
"Oh!"
Su Qingjiu ran over quickly, took Lin Zhao's arm, and smiled, "What is it?"
Lin Zhao pulled her to the lotus pond and, from a safe distance from everyone, said, "This journey may be quite dangerous. You must pay attention to your own safety!"
"I know."
Su Qingjiu frowned and smiled, "Brother Lin Zhao, I am a twelfth-realm sword cultivator now. I am no longer the ignorant little Jiu'er. You have told me this eight hundred times!"
"I don't care."
Lin Zhao reached out and tidied her hair, securing the peach wood hairpin, and smiled, "In any case, you must take care of yourself. And also..."
"And what else?"
Su Qingjiu blinked, looking forward to his next words.
Lin Zhao pursed his lips and said softly, "Miss Lin has always been very kind to me. So, if you encounter danger over there, while ensuring your own safety, please help Miss Lin more. I don't want anything to happen to you, and I don't want anything to happen to Miss Lin either."
"Understood."
Su Qingjiu nodded.
In the distance, Lin Wanhua, who was already standing on her flying sword, trembled slightly. The knot in her heart instantly untangled. She was determined to return alive from this journey, no matter what.
A short while later, seven rays of auspicious light rose into the sky and headed west along Xi Jian River. Lin Zhao looked up for a long time. He could not help at all. The only thing he could do was probably to silently pray for everyone in his heart. Whether it was Su Qingjiu or Lin Wanhua, or the Mohists and the people of the Great Shang Dynasty, these twelfth-realm cultivators were fighting for the fate of the human race. Lin Zhao hoped they would all return safely.
...
Fusu Great Wall, misty and drizzling.
A group of scholars, pulling donkeys and carrying book boxes, passed through Fusu Great Wall. Leading them was Gu Lingyu from the Confucian Academy lineage. After entering the city, they found the cheapest inn and settled down. After unloading and arranging the bamboo slips and other items from their book boxes, Gu Lingyu, holding an oil-paper umbrella, led his disciples to the city wall to experience the legendary Fusu Great Wall.
On the Great Wall, strong sword intent and martial intent permeated the air. Fusu Great Wall had always valued martial arts.
Gu Lingyu held the oil-paper umbrella, his posture remarkably steady. The sword qi and martial intent on Fusu Great Wall did not disturb him at all. Instead, the disciples behind him frowned, some already circulating their cultivation to resist the chaotic, crisscrossing sword qi.
The true form of Fusu Great Wall was actually the Fusu Sword, the personal sword of the Military Sage Ding Muchen.
There was nowhere in the world with denser sword intent. Therefore, it was also a sacred place in the hearts of sword cultivators. Although Gu Lingyu was a Confucian cultivator, not a sword cultivator, he was still extremely eager to visit it. After all, Fusu Great Wall had protected the human race from many calamities throughout history. In fact, without Fusu Great Wall, the human world might have long since become history, and the demons would have been the rulers of this land.
On the city wall, not far away, a sword cultivator with a scholarly air strode over. He wore a white robe, and the rain in the air could not wet his sleeves, all being blocked by his sword intent.
It was none other than Qin Yu, a peak eleventh-realm sword cultivator of Fusu Great Wall.
"I am Qin Yu!"
He cupped his fists respectfully, "Greetings, sir."
Gu Lingyu smiled, "So it's Sword Immortal Qin. You recognize me?"
"This..."
Qin Yu felt a bit embarrassed. It was one thing for others to call him Sword Immortal Qin, but for the all-knowing Gu Lingyu to call him that too, made Qin Yu feel he could not bear it. He said with a helpless expression, "Mr. Gu is a wise and noble person from the lineage of the Supreme Sage, just one step away from becoming a Confucian sage. He also previously served as the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy of the Great Shang Dynasty. Who in the world would not know you?"
"You flatter me."
Gu Lingyu smiled, "Recently, I have been leading my disciples on a tour of the world, visiting famous historical sites. We have just arrived at Fusu Great Wall and brought my disciples to the city wall to see it."
"I see!"
Qin Yu nodded and smiled, "Then... I shall not disturb your travels?"
"Mm, Sword Immortal Qin, please feel free."
...
Demon Ancestral Mountain.
The great demon Yu Zhi lay languidly on an ivory bed, her graceful, undulating figure incredibly captivating. She had her eyes closed, resting, but suddenly her heart stirred, and she immediately said in her mind, "Lord Ning Yuan?"
"I am here."
Ning Yuan Sheng, a thirteenth-realm cultivator practicing in the mountains, said in a deep voice, "Your subordinate is here, please give your orders, Lady Yu Zhi."
"The humans have already set off. Su Qingjiu and Lin Wanhua are leading the expedition. They are clearly heading for the grand waterway of Ku Song River. You should depart immediately as well. Whether Liu Bai can enter the fourteenth realm depends on you."
"Yes!"
Ning Yuan Sheng smiled and said, "Please rest assured, Lady Yu Zhi. On this journey, Su Qingjiu and Lin Wanhua will not return alive."
Ye Zi's certain Douyin account is now active. If you play Douyin, you can follow it. Search for Shi Luo Ye, and the one you think it is, is it.