Chapter 76

When Cheng Qian arrives back at Fuyao Estate, he sees that no one in the estate is working, as they all gather and stare at something.

There is a crowd of people and carriages in front of the estate’s gate. Two lines of silent soldiers stand parallel with each other by the gate like stone pillars. A carriage is parked near them. Although the two horses look nothing extraordinary to mortal eyes, Cheng Qian realises with just a glance that they are flying horses of decent quality.

In front of the flying horse carriage are two cultivators of fairly advanced levels. They have both formed their primordial spirits. One of them, who has the face of a youth, is shrouded in a special chilly aura.

That one is definitely a sword cultivator.

Countless people visit the estate in recent times. It’s on Li Yun to deal with them. Cheng Qian doesn’t care enough about them to stop. However, he raises Shuang Ren, as there is only one reason for him to slow down: a group of people who dress all in black with their faces covered stand behind the carriage, which bears the flag of the Celestial Divination Bureau.

The older cultivator is asking to be let in. He talks very politely and presents very reasonable arguments, such as the state of the realm or civilians' lives. The person who is watching the gate of the estate must be Puddle, as the distinctive True Fire of a vermillion crane flashes over the nameplate made from stone of the estate.

Puddle is very good at using one method to deal with everything that comes at her. No matter which reason is brought up, she uses the exactly same reply: “Please leave.”

If Cheng Qian didn’t recognise her voice, he’d think that an automaton had been installed to play that response.

The older cultivator looks a bit helpless. The younger sword cultivator beside him hugs his sword to his chest and says without any reservation. “Senior Brother, why are you wasting your breath with them? These people have been hiding themselves from the world. I suspect their chief the sword cultivator isn’t amount to much. It seems that the person who creates the array surrounding this estate hasn’t even formed their primordial spirit. Even if we force our way in, who can stop us?”

“Shut up,” The older cultivator interrupts him. As he turns to admonish the other one, his gaze suddenly freezes, as he can’t help but place his hand on his great sabre.

The young sword cultivator follows his gaze. Someone is standing on the top of the great tree not far from there.

That person’s feet only touch the tree lightly. His sleeves billow in the wind like grey flags.

None of them notices his arrival.

This person is none other than Cheng Qian.

He looks down with an apathetic face that isn’t quite of a living human. The young sword cultivator can’t help feeling threatened. “Who are you?”

Before he even finishes his line, Cheng Qian suddenly aims his gaze at them.

Within seconds, Cheng Qian flies down from the tree and lands in front of the sword cultivator. A frosty energy quickly spreads, as killing intent emanates from his every move. All of the cultivators around instinctively fall back a good distance.

Not bothering to sparing them a glance, Cheng Qian says with a disdainful smile, “You still dare ask who I am while blocking the way into my home?”

Hearing that, the older cultivator quickly steps forward and salutes. “I am Wu Changtian, a humble official of the Celestial Divination Bureau. I come here to request a meeting with your esteemed sect’s leader. Daoyu, may I ask how I should address you?”

Cheng Qian has been prepared to flex his muscles against these people since a long time ago. He says immediately. “What the hell is a Celestial Divination Bureau? Piss off!”

He doesn’t wait until he finishes talking to strike. Even if Wu Changtian has quickly moved to avoid it, he is still hit in the chest by a gust of frosty spiritual energy. Feeling like half of his body has frozen, he staggers back and crashes into the carriage.

Cheng Qian coldly sweeps his gaze across him. “Who is your Daoyu?”

“You!” The young sword cultivator angrily draws his sword and prepares to charge forward.

There is a loud clang from Shuang Ren in Cheng Qian’s hand. “You want to fight? This Cheng Qian is ready to grant you that wish.”

Hearing the casually tossed out name, Wu Changtian immediately knows who he is. He hastily shouts at his companion. “You Liang, step back.”

Cheng Qian sweeps his mocking glance across the group dressed in black like a murder of crows in front of him. A cruel smile breaks out on his face as he speaks, “You are here because of Han Yuan the demonic dragon?”

Wu Changtian pushes an unwilling You Liang behind him, then smiles reconciliatorily. “Indeed, that villain is well on track to become the Lord of Demons. The demonic cultivators who have been in hiding all listen to his orders. If our side can’t cooperate, a great disaster will happen, so…”

Wu Changtian looks at Cheng Qian and sees his mocking gaze. He is unable to continue.

“Han Yuan the demonic dragon.” Cheng Qian quietly repeats then smiles, “Official Wu, do you know why he fell into the demonic path?”

Wu Changtian is unable to reply.

“The reason is, when he was a teenager, his mind was controlled by the ‘soul drawing’ spell of your senior at the Celestial Divination Bureau Zhou Hanzheng. Do you know what karmic retribution means?” Cheng Qian says in a very low voice, as if in dealing with these people, he doesn’t even want to spend his effort talking. “Sir Official, what did you just say? Your side?”

His voice suddenly turns frosty as Shuang Ren is drawn from its sheath with a flash. The sword energy strikes out like a tidal wave, which leaves a long mark on the ground. The cultivators of Celestial Divination Bureau standing nearby are all hit by this attack. Both humans and carriage fall into a messy heap.

Cheng Qian’s gaze is even colder than the sword’s flare. “Take your dogs and scram! If you dare cross this line, pray that your next life will be better than this one.”

At that moment, the gate of the estate opens from the inside with a loud creak. Assuming the manners of a well-bred young lady, Puddle walks out and delicately salutes the people outside. “Third Brother, our sect leader and senior brother says you should come in quickly and stop causing trouble. Gentlemen, our sect leader has been in seclusion recently. He can’t receive guests. Please forgive us. Have a safe trip back.”

It is obvious that Puddle isn’t used to this kind of talk. She was a wild child that flew everywhere as she wished. It doesn’t fit her at all, having to imitate the flowery manners of society. A thought flashes by Cheng Qian’s head and makes him sigh.

Not only their sect’s fortune has been downhill, they are always at the center of the storm.

Winking to make a signal to Puddle, he arrogantly turns his back to the group outside, seals off the gate of Fuyao Estate, and strides inside.

Puddle breathes out in relief. She runs after him and rambles. “Third brother, why are you back so fast? Have you found a way to help our most senior brother wake up? Listen, a few days ago, the mark of the heart demon on his forehead became shorter for some reason. What do you think? Is that a good sign?”

Cheng Qian simply nods and says, “Hmm, I have to be in seclusion for about one hundred days. It’s best to stop those people from disturbing us.”

“Okay, I’ll go tell Second Brother. He always has lots of ideas,” Puddle nods repeatedly. Then, as if remembering something, she says, “Oh, Third Brother, you don’t know this yet. It seems our most senior brother can hear us!”

Cheng Qian pauses his steps.

Puddle cheerfully continues, “What do you think? Will it help if I chat with him regularly? Hey, Third Brother, what’s wrong?”

Cheng Qian can’t help recalling how he and Tang Zhen talked without watching their words by Yan Zhengming’s bed. He suddenly feels awkward. Avoiding Puddle’s eyes, he covers his mouth with his hand and pretends to cough. “Nothing.”

At the same time, Cheng Qian turns things over in his mind. Their most senior brother has never been the academic type. Sitting through their Master’s lectures has caused him to feel sleepy just from seeing the written words. Besides their sect’s scriptures and cultivation methods, he never touches any book. He… won’t have some strange thoughts?

Under Puddle’s surprised gaze, the person who has just wrought terror with Shuang Ren suddenly becomes embarrassed and runs off like there was fire under his feet.

The next day, as if angered by the Celestial Divination Bureau’s non-stop harassment, the defensive array of Fuyao Estate completely changes. Something full of aggression has been added into the ‘eye’ of the defensive array, which causes the formerly calm array to emanate a cruel killing aura. The intent is clear: no one in thousands of miles around is welcome inside.

All of the servants in the outer quarters of the estate have been sent away. Being hung high in the building, Shuang Ren is indeed the ‘eye’ of this defensive array.

Li Yun wipes his sweats, then salutes Tang Zhen next to him. “Tang-xiong, it’s all thanks to your guidance. You have our gratitude.”

“Daoyu, no need to be on ceremony. All I did was just rambling,” Tang Zhen glances at the bright blade of Shuang Ren and comments with emotions, “The Sword of Terrible Deaths. Perhaps only someone like your esteemed junior brother can control this killer weapon.”

Li Yun clasps his hands and vents, “It’s a great worry of mine that he is overly stubborn. Those who act too tough usually end up being brittle.”

Tang Zhen smiles, “Daoyu, you’re thinking too much. A cultivator has to struggle against the Heavens to shape their fate. Those who aren’t stubborn usually can’t get far. Wouldn’t his temperament, one who refuses to give up until the very last moment, be better?”

The worry on Li Yun’s face deepens as he speaks, “Cultivation is just a minor thing. What I fear is… In case things don’t work out as we wish and something happens to our most senior brother. Would Xiao-Qian…”

Hearing that, Tang Zhen raises his eyebrow a little.

Would he what?

However, Li Yun swallows the rest of the line.

As if he just realises that he is talking to Tang Zhen, Li Yun hastily acts like he lost his concentration, and makes a salute. “Oh, I’ve been talking too much again. Tang-xiong, it’s just trivial affairs of our sect. I won’t bother you with that anymore.”

Tang Zhen says, “It’s no problem. It’s just that, our young Cheng-Daoyu suddenly goes into seclusion without any explanation. I’ve no idea what he is planning. Daoyu, do you think he overestimates his strength and intends to make a sword himself? If he is unsuccessful, Sect Leader Yan won’t last much longer. In that case, Daoyu, what will you do?”

Seemingly without any calculation, Li Yun shows Tang Zhen the face of a truly helpless weakling. Fear written all over his expression, he smiles ruefully, “About that, I don’t know. To be honest, our sect leader and senior brother is like our spine. If the spine breaks, we will… Alas, we must look like a joke to you, Tang-xiong.”

Tang Zhen looks closely at him for a moment. His impression is that, among members of Fuyao Sect, Li Yun is indeed the weakest link if they really have to fight. However, this person’s mind is like a rat’s nest, full of turns and watching eyes. He is both suspicious and clever. They have talked for a good while, but neither side detects a single honest word from the other.

At that moment, Cheng Qian returns to the second Qing An Abode in the middle of the bamboo grove for his seclusion. He is holding in his hand a regular wooden sword of average size. The sword is very light, its wooden veins are gentle and pretty, without any aggression.

Cheng Qian stands by one end of Yan Zhengming’s bed. Recalling Puddle’s words that ‘he can hear us’, he feels that he should say something to him. However, as he goes through the many things he wants to say, he feels that most of them aren’t appropriate.

Seeing that there is a strand of hair on Yan Zhengming’s face, Cheng Qian instinctively raises his hand to brush it to the side. As he wonders if Yan Zhengming can feel it too, his hand pauses in the air. After a long while, he still dares not make the gesture.

In the end, he assumes a business-like tone, unaware that it sounds even more awkward than normal. “Senior brother, Puddle said you could hear us, so I’ll keep it short. In the next few days, it’s likely I’ll have to send my awareness into your mind and sword energy reserve. It’ll probably be uncomfortable. Please do your best not to hinder me. Give me space to work. It’ll be cold, but staying alive is more important. Do you hear me?”

Having let it out all in one go, Cheng Qian feels like he has just accomplished an important mission. Placing the wooden sword on his knees, he calms himself and enters meditation.

Fuyao Estate has only a few regulars. Yan Zhengming can tell who comes just with the sound of the door opening and footsteps.

Since Cheng Qian finally returns after disappearing for a long while, Yan Zhengming is figuratively tearing his own hair out in his impatience to know where Cheng Qian went. Unfortunately, all he gets for his waiting in the inside of his mind is only a chilly order. Taking advantage of every opportunity, the demon of the heart gathers itself and takes up a variety of Cheng Qian’s appearances, but it is all chased away by Yan Zhengming’s primordial spirit.

The primordial spirit that was requested to ‘stay out of the way when the time comes’ mournfully thinks. “What kind of asshole junior brother is this?!”

At that moment, Yan Zhengming’s sharp senses realise that his body is being surrounded by a very familiar sword will. He can realise what it is even with his eyes closed.

Fuyao Wooden Sword?

What on earth is Xiao-Qian planning again?

Cheng Qian can concentrate his mind very fast. He pushes aside all of the earlier distractions and lets his awareness sink into his own mind.

As if energised by something, the wooden sword on his knees slowly flies up in the air above Cheng Qian’s head. A faint light emanates from the ordinary wood of the sword.

Cheng Qian’s primordial spirit in his own mind holds a sword formed by his will. Imitating how Muchun Zhenren taught them swordplay back then, he very slowly goes through the first form “The roc travels ten thousand miles”. Just like in the past, the sword will is gradually created in response to his sentiments.

Cheng Qian moves according to the first form time and time again, as he opens up his recollections to find his state of mind when he first learnt swordplay.

Having just joined the sect, he was accidentally carried off by Puddle, who didn’t understand human speech, to the clouds over the mountains. From high above, he could see the countless relics on the mountains and hear the voice of his forefathers through the countless years. His heart unconsciously expanded, which fit the title of “Fuyao”. Thus, he entered the Tao. Like a curious child dazzled by the fantastical, ever-changing scenery in front of him, he held the naive ambition of knowing more and more, beyond what he could understand.

After who knows how many days, the movements of Cheng Qian’s primordial spirit through the form “The roc travels ten thousand miles” keep getting faster. Swayed by Cheng Qian’s state of mind, his primordial spirit suddenly takes the appearance from his teenage years.

The sword will of this form has been created!

However, a “sword” has its spirit, and the sword will is invisible. These two elements have no vessel. How can they be bound to the wooden sword?

On his way back, Cheng Qian already carefully considered this issue. Living up to what other people expect of him, this asshole came up with an incredibly brutish method.

As his primordial spirit moves like an eagle along with the sword in his primordial spirit, the sword will of the form “The roc travels ten thousand miles” has been fully received by his spirit. In a blink of the eyes, an aggressive gust of spiritual energy rises inside Cheng Qian’s mind. It flies straight to his primordial spirit and slashes at both the primordial spirit and the sword.

The sword will that is still a part of Cheng Qian’s primordial spirit is cut off together with part of his primordial spirit. He pushes it into the wooden sword above him. One end of the wooden sword lights up as if given life.

However, how can it be a trivial thing to cut off one’s primordial spirit, no matter how small that part is?

Pain floods Cheng Qian’s mind and awareness. He recklessly swallows down a groan. A mouthful of blood rises to his throat but is pushed down.

Without any rest, Cheng Qian’s primordial spirit once again creates a sword and begins the form “Seek and pursue”.

Afterwards, it’s “Not according to wish” then “Decline from the peak”. Five years in which they bore all kinds of humiliation on Azure Dragon Island. The coin buried deep in the ground. The demonic dragon that met his eyes across the whole sky. Gu Yanxue whose body and soul both perished. Tong Ru who has been rotting alongside the forest...

He quickly goes through all eighty one parts. For the final ‘Return to Trueness’ form, Cheng Qian can’t help but choose the ‘Dried wood meets spring’ move. The sword will from his mind flies through the spiritual energy base and enters the wooden sword, which is shining so brightly it dazzles the eyes.

Alongside the fresh spring flowers, all living beings wake up again from the deep snow of winter to start another year of growing.

Unfortunately, that flush of life is only a flash. Right away, Cheng Qian’s suicidal action of cutting off his own primordial spirit without a care meets its retribution. The wooden sword in the air suddenly loses its support and falls down, as he coughs out a mouthful of blood that chokes his throat. The blood splashes on the wooden sword.

The flowers and plants that were placed in an effort to create some elegance in the second Qingan Abode all wilt in a blink of an eye.

In the place where all lives terminate, the sword is formed.