In the pre-dawn hours, just before the sky began to lighten.
At Tian Ran Ju.
Lin Zhao placed the octagonal shrine in the center of the living room. Mu Ya, Chen Ben, Zhu Zhi, and others sat beside him, while Tong Yu, Wang Yue, and Chu Yu sat opposite. Tong Yu’s palm radiated a wisp of sword dao spiritual energy as she truly grasped Wang Yue’s hand. Upon touching Wang Yue’s spiritual body, she was already in tears, for who knew when they would meet again after this parting.
Chu Yu gently held Wang Yue’s shoulder. Chu Yu had only one disciple, yet she was killed by the demon race. Chu Yu’s self-reproach and guilt were no less than Lin Zhao’s, but she was helpless. Her strength was limited, and even if she refused to accept fate, what could she do?
“Brother Lin Zhao.”
Su Qing Jiu leaned against the windowsill, arms crossed, her beautiful eyes looking at Lin Zhao. “Have you decided? Taking Wang Yue’s soul south on a journey through the martial world is no small matter. How about… I accompany you?”
“No need.”
Lin Zhao shook his head. “Little Jiu’er, you are the Lord of Chang Ming Mountain. Your cultivation has now been restored, and you should return to Chang Ming Mountain. Do not be too preoccupied with Xue Yu Tian Chi, or the disciples on Chang Ming Mountain will inevitably say you are too biased.”
“Oh…”
Su Qing Jiu was slightly displeased. “Then you must think carefully. Even with this shrine protecting her soul, it will still be too conspicuous to travel the martial world with the shrine. Moreover, Wang Yue’s soul power is not very strong. She will fear sunlight, wind, thunder, heaven and earth spiritual energy, and so on. Have you thought about how you will travel?”
“I have.”
Lin Zhao revealed a gentle smile. “I will travel by night, hiding by day, only moving at night. This way, I can avoid many troubles. She doesn’t need to stay in the shrine all the time. When I leave, I will bring a Flying Fish Talisman Stone. If any unforeseen circumstances arise that I cannot resolve myself, I will seek help from Xue Yu Tian Chi. By then, Zhu Zhi will descend with her sword, and no problem will be insurmountable.”
Zhu Zhi nodded with a smile. “Yes, my Lord.”
Su Qing Jiu frowned. Although what Brother Lin Zhao said was correct, it still made her a little upset that she would be called upon for help in times of danger, not him.
“Little Jiu’er.”
Lin Zhao continued to explain, “In fact, there are three reasons for this southward journey. First, it is to fulfill Wang Yue’s wish, as I had promised her before. Second, this southward journey is also to mend some of the flaws in my own state of mind. This journey is imperative. Third, as the Lord of Xue Yu Tian Chi, I cannot just stay in Xue Yu Tian Chi. I should see what this world is truly like. Only then can I make the best considerations and arrangements for Xue Yu Tian Chi in the future.”
Mu Ya’s eyes lit up, and he cupped his fists. “My Lord’s words are indeed wise!”
Chu Yu also nodded. “Yes!”
Su Qing Jiu naturally had nothing more to say. “Then… when do you plan to depart, Brother Lin Zhao?”
“After sunset tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
Su Qing Jiu nodded and smiled. “When Brother Lin Zhao heads south with Wang Yue, it will also be my time to return to Chang Ming Mountain. We will travel together.”
Lin Wan Hua watched from the side, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Su Qing Jiu, as the Lord of Chang Ming Mountain and one of the most powerful Sword Immortals in the human world, was indeed too dependent on Lin Zhao. However, it was not necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps Su Qing Jiu’s current cultivation level was greatly related to the seeds Lin Zhao sowed in the past.
…
The next evening.
Tian Ran Ju prepared a sumptuous dinner, inviting Su Shan Jun and Han Bu Yu to attend and bid farewell to Lin Zhao, Su Qing Jiu, and Wang Yue. After sunset, Wang Yue finally emerged from the shrine, dressed in a deep blue long dress, exuding grace. However, her complexion was slightly pale. A soul, to mortals, was but a wandering ghost; to cultivators on the mountains, it was simply a soul, nothing to be feared.
After dinner, everyone saw them off to the Sword Unsheathing Stone in front of the Mountain Lord’s Shrine. Lin Wan Hua turned into a beam of sword light and bid farewell first.
Lin Zhao shouldered a scholar’s travel bag, similar to how he had roamed the world at sixteen a hundred years ago, only larger. The bottom of the bag was covered with a woven bamboo net. In the lowest compartment was the not-too-large octagonal shrine, Wang Yue’s soul’s temporary abode. The larger space above contained a venison leg, several dried rabbits, a few wild pheasants, and some cooking oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and a pot—all the provisions Lin Zhao needed for his journey. He was already proficient in such matters. On the topmost layer of the bamboo box were a few Confucian classics, just for appearances. The overall look was that of a Confucian Sword Cultivator traveling the martial world, and an eighth-realm peak Sword Cultivator at that, already possessing a certain presence.
“Brother Lin Zhao.”
Su Qing Jiu tugged at his hand and led him to the roadside to have a private word.
“What is it, Little Jiu’er?” Lin Zhao asked with a smile.
Su Qing Jiu pursed her red lips, then rested her pretty face on Lin Zhao’s shoulder. After less than three seconds, she moved away, smiling, “Alright, Little Jiu’er will miss Brother Lin Zhao at Chang Ming Mountain.”
“Do not slack off!”
Lin Zhao assumed an elder’s demeanor. “Little Jiu’er, you are now the Lord of Chang Ming Mountain, and Chang Ming Mountain is one of the foremost sword sects in the southern human world. You must be diligent at Chang Ming Mountain. You should guide young disciples with suitable aptitude and comprehension, and cultivate more sword cultivators who have entered the Upper Five Realms for the human world. Only then will you not fail the expectations of your master, Sword Immortal Lin Qing’er.”
“I know, I know.”
Little Jiu’er had already ascended on her sword, laughing, “Brother Lin Zhao is so nagging. I’ll be leaving now.”
With that, Little Jiu’er turned into a streak of rainbow light and disappeared into the horizon. The crowd burst into laughter.
“Alright.”
Lin Zhao felt a little embarrassed, touched his nose, and smiled at the young woman in the deep blue dress, Wang Yue. “Wang Yue, let’s go too. Let’s fulfill your wish sooner, and then we can think about how to arrange things for the future.”
“Mm.”
Wang Yue descended the mountain side by side with Lin Zhao. As they walked further down the mountain path, Lin Zhao did not look back, raising his arm to wave goodbye to Zhu Zhi, Mu Ya, Chu Yu, Tong Yu, and the others behind him. “You all go back. Guard Xue Yu Tian Chi well. Don’t panic in case of any major events. Miss Lin Wan Hua of Fu Su Great Wall will help you guard Xue Yu Tian Chi.”
Everyone dispersed with smiles.
Finally, only two deities remained standing where they were, watching the figures of Lin Zhao and Wang Yue about to disappear into the night.
“What will happen on this journey?” asked Old Sword Immortal Han.
“You’re asking me?”
Su Shan Jun raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I am at the eighth realm, you are at the eleventh. You’re asking me?”
Han Bu Yu touched his nose. “Who else can I ask?”
Su Shan Jun replied with a hint of smugness, “What else? If all goes smoothly, Lin Zhao’s state of mind will be perfectly mended. He might return as a Nascent Soul realm Sword Cultivator. Hehehe… perhaps he will also be the strongest ninth-realm Sword Cultivator in the world!”
Han Bu Yu narrowed his eyes. The future was promising. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like when Lin Zhao ascended step by step to become a thirteenth-realm Sword Immortal. He would surely be the very best thirteenth-realm Sword Immortal in the world?!
…
The stars were silent, the night serene.
Lin Zhao, with Wang Yue, walked on foot along the official road from Xue Yu Tian Chi leading to Xi Jian Jiang. Wang Yue’s soul was at its most vigorous during the night. She opened her beautiful eyes wide, looking at the surroundings on both sides of the road. Everything was so novel. As the daughter of an official family, she had rarely gone out since childhood. Apart from the humiliating procession north years ago, this was actually her first time traveling the martial world.
It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that pedestrians finally appeared on the road. It was a Mohist Sword Cultivator carrying a long sword, at the sixth realm, dressed in a dark black short tunic. After they passed each other, nothing seemed amiss. However, the Mohist Sword Cultivator quickly realized that the woman Lin Zhao was escorting was a female ghost, and he couldn't help but look back.
Lin Zhao and Wang Yue turned back almost simultaneously.
The next second, Lin Zhao cupped his fists and smiled gently under the starlight.
The Mohist Sword Cultivator did not recognize Lin Zhao, but he saw nothing unusual. Traveling with a ghost seemed strange, but for mountain cultivators, it was not an uncommon occurrence. Everyone had their own circumstances and hardships. Thus, the Mohist Sword Cultivator also cupped his fists and smiled at Lin Zhao. Wang Yue was taken aback. After all, she had been a female martial artist in life, and instinctively cupped her fists. The Mohist Sword Cultivator smiled knowingly and parted ways with them.
After the Mohist Sword Cultivator had gone far, Wang Yue said softly, “Brother Lin Zhao, is this what the martial world feels like?”
“It’s a small glimpse.”
Lin Zhao smiled faintly. “In the martial world, there is the law of the jungle, and there is the righteousness of aiding the weak. There are villains who cannot distinguish right from wrong, and there are kind-hearted people. Both have always coexisted.”
“Mm.”
Wang Yue nodded with a smile.
Continuing forward, they passed a town called Ting Ma Town. At this time, lanterns hung outside several inns in Ting Ma Town, but it was still early, so Lin Zhao did not plan to stay there. He continued forward with Wang Yue. Not long after, they heard the sound of horseshoes from behind. A group of about 20 large merchant cavalry appeared in the night. The leader was a young cavalryman wearing a Hundred-Rider Captain’s insignia, his face filled with youthful innocence, yet he was already a third-realm martial artist.
“Young hero!”
The young Hundred-Rider Captain could not discern Lin Zhao’s realm, so he stopped Lin Zhao. “Demon cultivators have been appearing from here onwards, even some extremely powerful cultivators in the Middle Five Realms. How about… you stay overnight in Ting Ma Town, young hero, and travel with the merchant caravan tomorrow after daylight? You will receive protection from a Middle Five Realm escort, which will be safer.”
“It’s alright. Thank you for your kindness, sir.”
Lin Zhao cupped his fists gently and smiled. “I know what I’m doing, and everything will be fine.”
“Alright.”
The young Hundred-Rider Captain smiled and nodded, cupping his fists at Lin Zhao. “Since that is the case, I will not persuade you further. I wish you and the young lady a safe journey!”
“Thanks!”
Lin Zhao turned and continued on his way with Wang Yue. A faint smile played on Wang Yue’s lips. Although it was just a small snippet of the martial world, it was quite heartwarming.
Lin Zhao glanced at Wang Yue and muttered to himself, *Hmph, does this silly girl really think all people in the martial world are this amiable? That’s because I’m a Golden Core Sword Cultivator! He couldn’t discern my realm. Otherwise, that kid might have long since shouted at me to get back to Ting Ma Town and wait until daylight. However,* Lin Zhao still smiled faintly, and his gaze fell upon the second Yun Jian Lake. The long crack in the Flying Sword Hao Ran seemed to have healed more than halfway!
Instantly, his heart rejoiced. Just as his teacher’s teacher had said, the Flying Sword Hao Ran was the Confucian Sage’s sword. It had been nourished by Mr. Qin’s vast knowledge and principles. Although it had flaws before, as he mended his state of mind, he was also repairing the cracks in the Flying Sword Hao Ran!