Chapter 59

Yan Zhengming hesitates a little.

Although he doesn’t say anything. Cheng Qian already sees the doubt in his heart. The fact is, Cheng Qian is good at reading people’s expressions most of the time. He just doesn’t usually mention it, or takes notes of what he sees.

Noticing that his most senior brother is hesitating, Cheng Qian suggests. “If you want to check it out, let’s go find the others now.”

Yan Zhengming sits without moving in silence for a while. Then he suddenly says out of nowhere. “Our disciple grandfather was devoted to our sect until death. Even if his body and soul were shattered, he sent his three souls into the coins, to shield our sect from disasters. The battle in the Valley of the Yao, the destruction of the Soul-Consuming Lamp… Even if he went mad from qi deviation, he didn’t look like a cruel criminal. If you were our Master, for the sake of those sentiments, would you bury him under a tree too?”

After a moment of silence, Cheng Qian doesn’t answer the question directly, but asks Yan Zhengming back, “What about Xiao-Yuan? If we really find him in Nanjiang, what are you going to do?”

Yan Zhengming frowns, as he falls back to silence.

Whatever path Han Yuan took afterwards, back then he didn’t kill Cheng Qian out of his own will. A victim of the ‘soul drawing’ technique would cut himself apart without being aware of it. Han Yuan had no way to resist. Yan Zhengming is aware of all that, but he still can’t get over the incident.

At this moment, a small voice in his heart asks, “What about the other way around? What if the victim of the ‘soul drawing’ technique had been Xiao-Qian?”

As soon as this thought appears, Yan Zhengming can’t resist thinking so deeply that he falls into a trance.

He slowly turns his gaze to Cheng Qian. To tell the truth, Cheng Qian doesn’t look very different from his teenage years. He is just a bit taller, his face and figure more mature, but his features are the same. However, a strange feeling rises in Yan Zhengming’s heart whenever he looks closely at Cheng Qian.

Initially he thought it was unfamiliarity caused by the long separation, but then he realises that isn’t really the case. Whenever he closes his eyes, he regrets that he can’t recall precisely how many eyelashes Cheng Qian has.

Theoretically, shouldn’t people stop reacting to the people or things they are familiar with?

Yan Zhengming on the other hand realises that as time goes on, he no longer dares to stare directly at Cheng Qian, lest his eyes are burnt.

“If it had been Cheng Qian back then, I wouldn’t let him run into the sea and disappear,” After a long while, Yan Zhengming comes to that conclusion. He inwardly sighs and feels a bit guilty, because he is being really unfair.

As Yan Zhengming thinks everything through, his eyes can’t help being a little dim. Cheng Qian is reminded of how the demon of the heart flashed on his forehead in the bamboo grove that day, and suddenly feels upset.

“He shouldn’t have to carry these troublesome matters,” Cheng Qian thinks. “Whatever problems that may occur, I can deal with it. Why should he trouble himself like this?”

It’s enough that his most senior brother went through such sufferings for a hundred years. Cheng Qian decides, from now on Yan Zhengming can relax and enjoy himself, then act like a sect leader and boss everyone around whenever he feels like it. Cheng Qian has survived seven rounds of heavenly tribulations, why shouldn’t he be able to carry the shaky foundation of the Fuyao Sect?

“Let’s go. With the ‘earth’ layer in the sect leader seal, we’ll have to visit Vermillion Bird Tower sooner or later anyway,” Cheng Qian says, as he stands up and pulls Yan Zhengming along.

Because of that unspeakable reason, every time Cheng Qian’s hand passes by his face, Yan Zhengming can’t help tensing up, so he instinctively stops Cheng Qian’s hand by grabbing it.

Cheng Qian’s fingertips are cold, only his palm has a faint warmth, but the touch feels like it can burn.

Wearing a straight face, Yan Zhengming trembles a little, feeling unwilling to release Cheng Qian’s hand.

Cheng Qian pays no attention to that. With a ‘tsk’, he seizes the hand that wears the ring with the coin mounting of ‘Money Hunting Young Master’, then forcefully pulls out that absurd ring and puts it in his sleeve. He says with a sigh. “Fine, fine, no one is slapping you this time. To make such an imitation spirit to carry with you, you really have too much time on your hands.”

His hand suddenly becoming empty, Yan Zhengming feels a sense of loss in his heart, while Cheng Qian gets up to leave the tavern.

Being left behind, Yan Zhengming longingly moves his fingers, as the cool sensation from the past minutes still lingers on his fingertips. He senses that he isn’t acting normally.

Can it be that the weather is too hot, while Cheng Qian’s hand is cool, so Yan Zhengming can use that to avoid the heat?

Cheng Qian is already at the door. Seeing that Yan Zhengming is staying on the spot, he confusedly turns and asks, “Senior brother, what are you doing there?”

Yan Zhengming hesitantly says, “I… uhm, it’s a bit too hot…”

He curses himself for his inability to talk properly. Xiao-Qian is no stranger. When they were young, that boy would roll on his bed after practicing swordplay without even taking a bath first for so many times. Why can’t he be straightforward and say ‘Come here and lend me the cool aura’?

At most Cheng Qian would just give him a glare!

However, Yan Zhengming can’t get these words out of his mouth. His inability to say anything is only a small problem, compared to how his heart is like a wild horse that escapes the reins. His thoughts uncontrollably race to increasingly strange scenarios, and he has the vision of him pulling Cheng Qian into his arms.

That vision seems so real!

Yan Zhengming can’t help trembling inside. This is too unusual. Can’t it be that the demon of the heart he encountered the last time he cultivated his energy still hasn’t gone away?

Right then, a mysterious longing surges in his heart.

He is really full of disquiet, which makes him want to tear his hair out.

“Damn it, why am I acting like a girl longing for spring in those legends?” Yan Zhengming feels like he is struck by lightning, and his soul has left his body. He stands on the spot for a long while, as his heart lets out a feeble scream. “By the heavens, I must be entering qi deviation.”

His soul having fled from his body, Sect Leader Yan follows Cheng Qian, as they leave the small town and follow the mountain vein in the wilderness to find the place with the most spiritual energy on the mountain. Before they can find Li Yun, they hear voices arguing in a distance.

From afar, they can see an ostentatious carriage with flying horses. The carriage is decorated with countless treasures and fluttering silk curtains, making the surrounding feel like a rain of flower petals is about to pour down.

Ordinary people can’t afford to keep flying horses like this. Only wealthy sects like Mingming Valley have the resources for them. Furthermore, cultivators who reach ‘concentrate the mind’ level can ride on objects. It’s normal for powerful cultivators to travel thousands of miles a day, ignoring the cold winds in the sky. To sit in a flying horse carriage like this to travel, the person either has too low cultivation to ride on objects, or wishes to show off.

Whatever the case, the one in the carriage is certainly nothing special.

The cover of the carriage is very thin, with silk curtains embroidered with spells hanging. Inside is a young man, who is languidly leaning to one side. He has handsome features, but his beauty is of an indecent kind. On his left eyelid is a mole of cinnabar colour, which gives him an indescribable air of aggression.

The flying horse carriage is followed by at least a dozen cultivators. At first glance, they don’t seem to be weak. In addition, there are two older men, whose hair and beard are all white, on the left and the right of the carriage. Their sleeves fluttering, these two men are surrounded by a formidable aura. They are likely at the level of having formed their primordial spirits or higher.

The person who is being surrounded by these people like a prey stalked by a tiger is none other than Li Yun, who looks like a barefoot herbalist.

Li Yun is intelligent. However, he is unfortunately too easily distracted, which is not good for cultivation. In the past, he was spurred by Cheng Qian’s presence a little. Later, when he followed Yan Zhengming in their wanderings, he became completely focused on creating all kinds of artifacts. Therefore, his cultivation is always mediocre, neither good or bad. He has been stuck at the threshold of nearly forming his primordial spirit for ten years without making any breakthrough, but he doesn’t seem to mind that at all.

Floating on his head, Puddle puffs up her feathers and yells at the rich young man in the carriage, “Who is ‘that bird’? It’s you who are a bird with your wizened face! Even if I were a real bird, I have my own family. You dare to bring your household here to rob other people, how shameless!”

It can be seen that the young man in the carriage isn’t a reasonable person. However, he really thinks that Puddle is a little bird that can talk rudely, so he doesn’t mind her insults. On the contrary, he finds it amusing, and says to Li Yun with a smile, “Daoyu, you follow the path of medicines, don’t you? I heard that path requires concentration the most, any disturbance would be bad. Won’t this bird just make noise around you? Besides, the path of medicines isn’t easy. It costs a lot to buy herbs. Daoyu, you must be regularly embarrassed because your money pouch is empty, right?”

Although Li Yun is actually good looking, his clothes are quite shabby. Furthermore, he has been wandering in the wilderness of Nanjiang for quite a while. At this moment, he carries a worn basket on his shoulders, and the legs of his pants are rolled up unevenly, with mud splattered all over him. He really looks like a penniless sod.

“I’ll give you a thousand tael of gold and three powerful talisman bases,” The one in the carriage, who must be the scion of a wealthy family, says, “The Vermillion Bird Tower is about to open. Many cultivators have gathered here. If you need any materials, you can exchange these three talisman bases for what you want with them. Just sell this bird to me.”

Hearing that, Li Yun doesn’t reply, as if he is really swayed by this price.

Puddle immediately panics. Her Second Brother is spineless on top of having no principle. He can really sell her off. Thus, she raises a storm on his head. “You! If you dare sell me, our sect leader will break your leg!”

Scions of rich families aren’t all the same. With those like her most senior brother, although they may commit domestic violence, they’re still reasonable most of the time.

The one in this carriage is completely different. Although he acts friendly, the fact is that he doesn’t give them any opening. He has already ordered his underlings to surround Li Yun and her, ready to commit robbery if the sale doesn’t go through.

Li Yun glances around and groans inside.

He grabs Puddle, who is sputtering, and whispers, “Little sister, how about I sell you first, then return to find reinforcement and take you back?”

He isn’t too worried for Puddle. Although she isn’t very smart, she knows her limits very well. For example, when her most senior brother is absent and she has no one to protect her, she won’t intentionally anger other people.

As Puddle angrily pecks him, Li Yun says with a sorrowfully thoughtful expression, “Forget it, you aren’t worth a thousand tael of gold. Alas, why do I have to be a senior brother?”

He touches Puddle’s beaks so that she won’t talk, then clasps his hands and says as if facing a tough dilemma, “Young master, you are very generous. The problem is, you already see what my little beast is like. It’s difficult in both personality and upkeep. If it angers you… Alas, it’s still a living being.”

The rich young master in the carriage seems to get impatient, as Li Yun keeps refusing to give up the bird. As if unwilling to waste time with Li Yun further, he urges, “I spend so much money to buy it, of course I’ll treat it well. Just say yes or no.”

Before he even finishes, Puddle sees something. She struggles to escape Li Yun’s hand and flies away.

Seeing that, one of the cultivators wants to stop her. As he raises his hand, a sphere of spiritual energy forms in the air.

At this moment, a chill runs along that cultivator’s spine, as a flash of sword energy sweeps by him with perfect precision. The sword user doesn’t seem to go for a sneak attack, because that cultivator isn’t injured at all. Only his sphere of spiritual energy is crushed. Then the sword energy dissipates, which chills even the summer sun rays around it.

All of them turn their heads. From afar, two people are approaching, and reach the spot in a blink of an eye. The two elders that accompany the flying horse carriage suddenly harden their face. Moving to the front of the group, they ask warily, “Daoyu, where are you two going?”

Since before she can talk, Puddle the bird has the special talent to “find the most reliable person when in trouble”. She goes straight into Cheng Qian’s hand. All of her earlier mouthy aggression is nowhere to be seen, as she recounts her sufferings. “It’s that asshole who set the net to catch me that day, making me end up like this. Now he clings like a bad ghost and follows me here. That Li vagabond is tempted by money and plans to sell me!”

The Li ‘vagabond’: “…”

Cheng Qian covers Puddle, as he glances through the one in the carriage, then stops his gaze on the two elders in the front.

As Li Yun is worried that Cheng Qian will say something needlessly aggressive, he nods slightly to the group in greetings. Although his attitude can’t be considered warm, he is at least courteous.

“Thank you for your kind regard for our little bird,” Cheng Qian says slowly, “However, it has been with us for a long time, in addition to being sentient. To us, it is pretty much a family member, not a pet. Therefore, we can’t sell it. Apologies.”

Next to him, Yan Zhengming doesn’t say anything. He observes carefully that expensive-looking carriage, and quietly decides to acquire some flying horses once they return to their estate. Although the horses won’t be actually useful, they are still good for riding around and showing off.

In the past, Cheng Qian used to be ready to pick a fight if he was annoyed by someone’s words. Nevertheless, that didn’t mean he loved fighting. He just didn’t know any other way.

In the present, his cultivation is enough to do what he wants in the Nine Provinces. With Shuang Ren in his hands, he isn’t afraid of anything. Thus, he becomes more courteous in dealing with other people. His words are devoid of flattery or arrogance. His tone is apathetic, as he carefully shelters the mouthy bird in his hand, but what he says is reasonable.

The young man in the carriage looks down at Cheng Qian and frowns. “You people want to try your luck at Vermilion Bird Tower too?”

With just a glance, Cheng Qian can already tell that this one is likely stuck at ‘concentrating the mind’ level. He thinks, “Think you can control us?”

However, to avoid more trouble, he still replies. “Our destination is Nanjiang. We are just passing by this place. If we have the chance to pay a visit to Vermilion Bird Tower, it’ll be a pleasant surprise.”

Seeing that the young man in the carriage doesn’t seem to be aware of their situation, one of the elders in front of the carriage can’t help turning back and advising him something in a low voice.

However, perhaps it’d be better if the elder didn’t say anything at all. Before he even finishes, the young man is already pissed off. He points at the elder and says, “What’s the point of my family keeping you? Being afraid of even vagabond cultivators on the road! I want that bird, so what!”

That cultivator is rich in age and a powerful cultivator in his own right, so he is used to being respected and flattered anywhere he goes. His face darkens, as he is shouted at by a mere whelp in front of everyone like that.

After pulling Puddle, who is enjoying some coolness in summer, out of Cheng Qian’s hand, Yan Zhengming finally feels relaxed again. Taking the time to look around, he comments in a low voice. “It’s rare to meet an even bigger asshole than I.”

No one can find any word to respond to such self-awareness from him.

Having said that, Yan Zhengming signals Li Yun, then raises his voice. “As he said, we won’t sell it. Everyone, let’s go.”

Then, he doesn’t even bother to ride his sword. His spiritual energy directly turns into a sword and takes him into the air, his sword will emanating from his body.

The two elders at primordial spirit level exchange glances with each other, looking wary. There are many cultivators who use swords, but not everyone can claim to be a cultivator of the sword. A true sword cultivator can turn his primordial spirit into a powerful sword, which can’t be distinguished with a real one when sent outside.

It is very difficult for a sword cultivator to form their primordial spirit. Heavenly luck, favourable environment, and personal ability, they can’t lack anything. A hundred years may not be enough for that process. This person is still young but already has such an achievement. His potential is probably immeasurable.

Sword cultivators are rare. Those who have had some success are usually wildly arrogant. Someone who has Yan Zhengming’s ability but is still willing to talk properly to his juniors is already very courteous. However, this rich young master who can’t even ride a sword is born unwilling to see anything. Feeling slighted, he angrily says, “If you’re all so useless, I’ll do it myself.”

Before the two elders can stop him, a small flag, which is full of garish spells on it like a spirit-summoning flag, already flies out from the young man’s sleeve. Whatever sacred artifact it is, it seems to not require the user to have high cultivation. Within seconds, it swallows the whole place around it and forms a small world of its own!