It is morning. On the Jiangnan trade route that is full of dust under the summer glare, a caravan is stopped in the middle of the way by the officials.
âStop! What are you selling? Get down here for inspection.â
The officials that stop the caravan all look exhausted. They must have been waiting for the whole night on this road. The strange thing is, there are two middle-aged men dressed in cultivatorâs garbs behind them. These two men donât accompany the officials. They just sit cross-legged from afar, seemingly aloof from all worldly affairs.
The manager of the caravan hastily gets down from his horse and bows deeply. âYour Excellency, we purchase leather from the North and transport it here to resell. Everything is legal. PleaseâŚâ
He deftly takes out a money pouch from his sleeve and discreetly gives it to the official.
Greed flashes on the face of the chief official. As he is about to take the money pouch, he appears to remember something and hesitate. He furtively turns his head and looks at the two cultivators that are not far from there, then grits his teeth and pushes the money pouch back, saying harshly, âWhat are you doing? You dishonest merchants, why are you giving bribes instead of doing your business properly? Get lost!â
He waves his arm. âSearch them!â
The manager trails behind the officials with a frown. âPlease, Your Excellency, please be gentle. If these are torn, we canât sell themâŚâ
The several wagons of the caravan indeed carry leather as he reported. As the officials canât find anything, the face of the chief increasingly darkens. He turns and points at an overly large carriage at the back of the caravan, asking, âWhatâs in there?â
The manager quickly replied, âYour Excellency, thatâs the personal carriage of our young master.â
âYoung master?â The chief snorts. âWhat kind of young master that takes up such a big carriage all by himself? Even the royal princes arenât that ostentatious. Step aside!â
The manager canât stop the officials from surrounding that unusually large carriage.
The chief takes out a palm-size wooden sword from his robe and waves it around as if to cast a spell, babbling like a spirit medium. A mortal isnât like a cultivator. If he wants to activate the charm, he has to recite fully the password of that charm. The charms that arenât meant to be used by mortals wouldnât have that kind of backdoor, and thus can only be circulated among the cultivators.
It takes a while for the charm on the wooden sword to be activated. A green light flares up on the tip of the sword as it points at the carriage.
The chief excitedly shouts. âThere are indeed banned goods inside that carriage. Open it!â
The so-called âbanned goodsâ are charms and cultivational artifacts that are traded in the black market by commoners.
The imperial government demands all charms and cultivational artifacts have to be inspected and approved by the Celestial Divination Bureau before being circulated in the market, so that they wonât be abused by those without morals, causing troubles for society.
That rule makes sense. However, the artifacts that are submitted to the Celestial Divination Bureau, besides the necessary bribery to avoid hassles, take forever to be looked at. What is more, most of them donât get approved, but are actually embezzled by the officials and the royal family. Thus, in the market, a legal cultivational artifact may cost a fortune.
When it comes to the smugglers, the imperial government canât control the slippery cultivators. They can only get at the mortals. Thus, the law is extremely harsh. Anyone who trades in illegal cultivational artifacts will be considered a traitor of the realm, and will be executed alongside their entire family.
Nevertheless, the black market for cultivational artifacts is highly active despite such bans. There are always some daredevils who are willing to risk their lives for immense profits. In recent years, a figure with the nickname âMoney Hunting Young Masterâ, who claims to âneed money more than lifeâ, emerges. This person is the bold yet elusive leader of a smuggling ring for banned goods.
Some say this character has connections with corrupted officials. Some claim he is obviously a cultivator.
As unrests and rebellions plague the realm, many of the rebels are in possession of banned goods from the black market, causing many troubles to the imperial government. Thus, the current emperor hates these criminals who risk their lives for profits to the bone. The inspections keep getting stricter. Officials are posted on every trade route, and a group of powerful Celestial Divination Bureau members cast their net everywhere.
At the order of the chief official, the two cultivators look at each other and come forward. That carriage is indecently large, occupying more than half of the road. Before the manager can stop it, the chief official pulls open the curtain of the carriage, just as the person inside looks up.
It is a young man in his early twenties. Dressed in rich clothes, he is languidly reclining in the carriage and holding a book in his hand. His half-shut eyes glancing at the outside, he looks like a fox immortal in folk tales. The chief official canât help staring dazedly on the spot.
The interior of the carriage is even more luxurious than the outside. In the summer heat, there is ice in the carriage, chilling a glistening bottle of apricot wine.
As soon as he sees the chief official, this seductively beautiful young man immediately frowns and hides his face behind his book, saying angrily, âWhere is this thing from? Chase him away! What an eyesore!â
This insult is aimed at the chief official, who opens the curtain of the carriage. He wakes up from his daze and finds his words with much difficulty. âI- in- insolent! You dare to transport banned goods, which is a traitorous act to be punished by beheading! Get down here and turn yourself in!â
âBanned goods?â The young man raises his eyebrow. âYou mean this?â
There is a strange ring on his slender finger, the mounting of which is in the shape of a coin. Before the official can see clearly what this ring is made from, a white shade appears from the square hole in the middle of the coin, and solidifies into the upper body of a youth. Such an unusual artifact makes the official gape.
Then, with an expressionless face, the youth raises his hand and slaps the official, then smugly disappears into the air.
The young man glances from above and says without any sincerity. âAh, sorry, Your Excellency. Youâre standing too close. This isnât banned goods, just something I made for fun. To be honest, itâs making me depressed. I donât know which strokes to make, in order to make this dearest hold a conversation with me. He currently only slaps people.â
The two cultivators that accompany the officials finally start talking, as they coldly stare at the young man. âAre you a cultivator too?â
The young man in the carriage acts like he didnât hear anything. With an arrogant expression, he leans deeper into the soft cushions, not even bothering to straighten his back.
The official that was slapped raises his hackles. âLords Immortal, he looks suspicious to me. Maybe he is that âMoney Hunting Young Masterâ!â
The cultivator from Celestial Divination Bureau asks, âDaoyu, may I ask why you take the trouble and travel with these mortals?â
The young man replies as if itâs the most obvious thing in the world, âI like it. To show off, you know.â
The cultivator is stunned speechless. Taking a deep breath, he probes again. âThen may I ask who your master is?â
The young man snorts. âWhy do I have to tell you? Are you done yet? Step aside!â
As soon as he says that, the young man slams his hand on the table. A small sword-shaped mark flashes on his forehead, then a ray of powerful sword will charges at the two cultivators.
The young man looks lethargic to the point of lifeless. However, that appearance unexpectedly hides great power. He is at least at the level of forming a sword from his primordial spirit and controlling it smoothly.
Being suddenly attacked, the two cultivators that block the carriage hastily rush to the sides, not daring to counterattack. That busybody chief official has already passed out.
Although they have cultivated for centuries, the two cultivators donât want to mess with this sword cultivator. They look at each other then both walk away. âSenior, apologies for disturbing you. Please go on.â
For a sword cultivator to reach this level, he would enjoy respect from even the most powerful cultivators. This person must have a steely determination, who would be regarded as a venerable elder and be waited on hand and foot in any sect. Why would such a person do such a shameless thing like smuggling and trading in the black market?
The immortal lords have made their decisions; the underlings have to obey, no matter how unwillingly. The officials all withdraw in a blink of the eye. They even re-arrange the leather goods neatly for the caravan before seeing them off.
It isnât until they have made a good distance that the manager breathes out in relief. He timidly approaches the window of the carriage, then makes a deep bow and speaks in a tone of flattery. âIt was said that this route was seldom inspected, but our luck is unexpectedly bad. Itâs all thanks to you taking the trouble to accompany us today, Young Master.â
The person from inside the carriage casually says, âDonât be a stranger, Manager Li. I just happen to travel in the same direction. If you really want to pay us back, then please do us a little favour and give us good prices in the future.â
Manager Li hastily replies, âYouâre talking us up, Young Master. Itâs us who need you to be favourable to us.â
At that moment, a sharp whistling sound suddenly rises in the air. A moving sphere of fire drops on to the top of the carriage, making a thud. Then it flares up and a young lady appears.
This lady has fine features, with almond eyes and a graceful face. She is beautiful, but the way she dresses is very eccentric, with colourful feathers sticking out from the back of her head. From the front, she is a beauty, but from the back, she is actually a prancing pheasant!
She sweeps a glance at the gaping mortals surrounding her. Then, dusting her hands, she jumps down from the top of the carriage and unceremoniously gets inside, greeting, âMost senior brother, Iâm here!â
The sword cultivator inside the carriage, who does the unprecedented thing and travels in a trading caravan with mortals, is none other than Yan Zhengming.
A hundred years pass by in a blink of the eye. Back then, together with his disciple brother and sister and his servant, Yan Zhengming crossed the Eastern Sea and travelled thousands of miles back to his family, only to see the mournful ruins. Eight years before, the Yan family had been accused of crimes and harshly punished. From the wealthiest and most powerful family in the region, all that was left of them was weeds on the graves.
Yan Zhengming and the others had to claim the world as their home, and embarked on the endless and challenging journey of cultivation. They seized dens of the yao, took shelter in abandoned mystic sites, smuggled banned goods for the black market, relying on no one but themselves to survive in a tough spot throughout the years.
It isnât until a couple of years ago that there is a place for Sect Leader Yan to enjoy again the comforts of his youth.
Before Puddle can settle in the carriage, Yan Zhengming already raises his hand and blows away the chicken feathers in her hair, which fall down all over the place. Puddle cries mournfully. âHey, my feathers! How can I show up in public anymore!â
Yan Zhengming says, âItâs me who canât show up in public. What are you doing here? Trying to blind me?â
Feeling that she is wronged, Puddle picks up the feathers, blows away the dust, and carefully puts them away like great treasures. She says, âRecently there are many rumours from Shuzhong. In the beginning, it was said that a demonic cultivator left some kind of artifact. Then we just heard that a practitioner of the ghost path showed up there. Second Brother was impatient, so he left first and sent me here to inform you.â
Hearing that, Yan Zhengming frowns. They have still been looking for Han Yuan, who went missing without a trace after running into the sea. However, their search has been all in vain. Whenever they hear rumours about a demon appearing somewhere, they will go there, even if they feel little hope for actual result.
Yan Zhengming is aware that they are going to have yet another unsuccessful trip, but there is no other way. He signs and finishes the apricot wine in his cup. âLetâs go. Goodbye, Manager Li.â
Shuzhong, Mingming Valley.
In the early morning, Cheng Qian uses the excuse that Tang Zhenâs body is weak to chase away Nian Mingming, who has been in an enthusiastic discussion about swordplay with him.
Nian Mingming doesnât use a sword. This person, who canât see his own feet, uses shorter weapons, because theyâre safer. But the lord of the valley still loves swordplay for some reason.
Cheng Qian guesses that in his heart, Lord Nian thinks of himself as a handsome youth dressed in a fluttering white robe, so he dreams about what he doesnât have.
Like swordplay⌠and a trim waist.
After he agreed to pay a visit to the towns that pay offerings to the valley on behalf of its lord, Cheng Qian sees off Nian Mingming and Tang Zhen. When he is completely alone in this place of extreme cold, where he was in seclusion for fifty years, he takes out from his robe the memory orb Tang Zhen returned to him.
He knows that his flesh and blood body already died, and that as Fate willed it, his soul entered the Spirit Collection Jade and got stuck in there for decades before Wen Ya Zhenren found him.
Tang Zhen is a straightforward person. Back then, he sent his primordial spirit into the Spirit Collection Jade, and in front of Cheng Qianâs eyes, took away all of the latterâs memory about his life and death. In the present, Cheng Qian has left his seclusion. The memory of the life before, which urgently wants to return to him, is already in his hand. However, he gets a little cold feet.
In the recent years, some trivial fragments would appear in Cheng Qianâs mind. Such as he suddenly felt he should have a sword in his hand, there should be a bamboo grove where he lived, or the mattress and blanket of his bed should have the mind-calming scent mixed with the orchid fragrance, and so on.
The sphere of memory Tang Zhen returned to him doesnât have a strong light, but it isnât gloomy either. Cheng Qian turns it around in his hand and looks at it closely. There isnât a single crack on it.
The white light seems cold, but it actually feels warm in the hand, the sensation of which is even stronger in this icy place.
Cheng Qian takes a deep breath and blinks, causing the frost that gathers on his eyelashes during his moment of daydreaming to fall down. As soon as his fingers loosen just a little, the memory of the past that has been floating around outside immediately enters his forehead with even more haste than its owner, like a tired bird that longs to return to its nest.
Immediately, the memory of his adolescent years crosses the hundred years of life and death and crashes over him. He feels as if he has just woken up from a long dream. The vague impressions in his heart all become vivid, as if they just happened yesterday.
His climb up Fuyao Mountain, his journey to Azure Dragon Island, picking up Shuang Ren, putting down the silver knife, his enlightenment on the wild island, the scent of orchid on his disciple brother, his sufferings in the Spirit Collection Jade...
These events arenât a previous life at all.
When Cheng Qian opens his eyes again, the sun has risen outside. His eyes are burning with tears. The ice lake has forged his heart to be as calm as still water, but it canât stop the relentless homesickness caused by a hundred years of longing.
No wonder Tang Zhen and Nian Mingming believe that he will leave, once he receives the memory after getting out of seclusion.
Cheng Qian rises and walks to the ice lake. He raises his hand and curls his fingers. The completely still water of the lake suddenly rises up and freezes in the air into an ice sword, which flies into his hand. The ground around the ice lake is as tough as the thousand-year permafrost, but it canât resist the unmatched sharpness of this sword.
Cheng Qian fluently draws a ring of highly complicated spells around the ice lake. When the ring of spells is completed, the ice sword canât handle the spiritual energy anymore and breaks into pieces. Then the fragments melt, as the cold of the ice lake has been sealed off.
In case no one will control the ice lake once Cheng Qian is gone, this ring of spells can seal off the coldness for about twenty years. After that period, if that geezer doesnât know to imitate it, Cheng Qian will return and reinforce the seal himself.
From the beginning to the end, he doesnât want to ignore people who have shown him grace.
When Cheng Qian goes to the tower of the valleyâs lord to say goodbye, the grandfather and grandson who came to ask for help the day before have been taken home. There is only Nian Mingming, who looks at him like a father about to send his daughter to her new husbandâs house. He dabs his sleeve on his eyes and says in a low voice. âOnce youâre gone, hard to tell when weâll meet again.â
What an eyesore. Cheng Qian feels itâs better that they donât ever see each other again.
Nian Mingming continues. âIf you arenât happy outside the valley, feel free to return here. You wonât have to stay by the ice lake either. Iâll have quarters be prepared for you.â
Cheng Qianâs heart softens. However, before it is completely melted away, the geezer says, âIâve told the disciples in the valley that if they are bullied when travelling outside, they should call on you. My young friend, you must take care of them!â
Cheng Qian: ââŚâ
He turns to leave, preparing to immediately sever all connections with this place. Nian Mingming hastily calls him back. âWait, my young friend, Iâve prepared a sword that suits you!â
As Cheng Qian turns his head, he is nearly dazzled to the point of going blind. In the hand of Lord Nian is an indescribably shiny sword. Its scabbard is made of gold inlaid with jewels. That can be given a pass, but there are also ostentatious carvings of the four noble plants, one next to the other: plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. These ânoblesâ look more like four nouveau riche lords congratulating each other for their wealth.
The corner of his mouth twitching, Cheng Qian pretends to be polite. âYou should keep it, my lord.â
Nian Mingming sighs and shakes his head. âThatâs unsurprising. You leave here after undergoing seven rounds of heavenly tribulations. Of course, you should be considered one of the greats. A humble family like mine has nothing worthy for youâŚâ
Before he finishes, his hand has become empty. The nouveau riche sword has been taken by Cheng Qian. Saying âThank youâ, he rides the sword into the sky, leaving behind him a golden ray that shines on Mingming Valley like the sun.
The young servant sticks out his head from the door and asks Nian Mingming, who is smiling brightly, âMy lord, has the Elder of the Dark Lake left?â
âYes,â Nian Mingming cheerfully says, then comments with some feelings. âAlas, talented people like him will perform great deeds in the outside world, but they have to undergo many hardships too. Those with good luck but no talents like us have to stay behind and enjoy our happiness. Kid, do you need something?â
âOh,â The servant says casually, âI come here to report to you that my young disciple uncle has run away again!â