The current scene of a young couple reuniting after a long separation was particularly stirring, especially with the young man single-handedly battling three experts at the Realm of Diamond level, even slaying one of them. Though he may have been defeated, his honor remained intact. Word of this feat alone would be enough to make waves across the Northern Marches. And then there was that peerlessly beautiful woman, arriving from the west atop a sword soaring through the air. With such a man and woman meeting in such a way, aside from the blind, anyone would find it spectacular—and even a little heartwarming.
Yet the woman’s words seemed somewhat enigmatic. Qinch’a was stunned by her beauty and her sword mastery. Behind him, over a hundred riders exchanged uncertain glances—what was there left to fight for? Without a word from Tuoba Chunsun, Duanbolihui, his rage reaching its peak, hurled his thunder spear once more into the sky. The weapon traced a sharp, murderous arc, aimed directly at Xu Fengnian’s head.
The middle-aged Confucian scholar in green robes, his temples flecked with frost, landed calmly on his feet. He extended a single hand and lightly grasped the thunder spear, which was vibrating violently through the air. With a simple clench of his fingers, he snapped it in two as though it were a child’s thrown stone casually flicked away by a strong man. Tuoba Chunsun’s expression darkened. After two throws, Duanbolihui’s internal energy churned wildly. Seeing the look in his young master’s eyes, bitterness filled his heart. He inhaled deeply, preparing to throw the spear once more to test the old scholar’s strength. But as the demonic servant gathered his energy at the cost of internal injury, Tuoba Chunsun saw the middle-aged Confucian in Southern Court attire wave his sleeve. The sky and clouds shifted; a dragon seemed to emerge from his sleeve. Duanbolihui’s entire energy field was as if struck by a thousand-pound boulder launched from a catapult against a city wall. He staggered backward, spat blood, and his internal sea was thrown into utter chaos. Yet Duanbolihui, ever the loyal servant, shouted in fury and desperation, “Young master, flee quickly! Don’t worry about me!”
Tuoba Chunsun’s feet were rooted to the ground, his body unmoving. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to escape—it was as though he were wrapped in infinite threads of fate, unable to budge. After the middle-aged scholar withdrew his sleeve, he spoke lightly, “I am Cao Changqing of Xichu. Many years ago, I accepted a disciple named Xu Qi in the Southern Court of the Northern Marches. I do not know how he came to be at odds with Prince Xiao Tuoba to the point of life and death.”
Qinch’a and his group nearly fell from their horses in terror. Cao Changqing, the Grand Master? The one who had entered the Southern Liyang Emperor’s Palace three times as easily as walking through a corridor?
Tuoba Chunsun sneered, “What a mighty warrior, ranking in the top five of the martial rankings! Why not go show off to my father instead of squabbling with a junior like me who hasn’t even come of age yet!”
Cao Changqing smiled and said, “Prince Xiao, don’t try to provoke me with words. If I get the chance, I will certainly fight Tuoba Boshi. But I believe Deng Tai’a has already passed through Gusaizhou heading north toward the royal court. If I were to go now, it might seem like I was taking advantage of his absence.”
Tuoba Chunsun suddenly grinned broadly, his tone turning flippant, “Uncle Cao, you flatter yourself. My father holds the ten warriors on the martial rankings in the highest regard, second only to Wang Xianzhi of Wudi City. He once said personally that Cao Qingyi is the only one truly worthy of the title Confucian Sage in the present world. If you two were to fight, it would be the fulfillment of a lifetime. I didn’t know this man was Uncle Cao’s esteemed disciple. If I’ve been rude or reckless, I hope Uncle Cao, being a great sage, will overlook it. No wonder he was able to kill my attendants. So his name is Xu Qi? A great teacher produces great students. Congratulations on the Southern Court producing a young prodigy who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Yelü Dongchuang and Murong Longjiang.”
Cao Changqing simply replied, “By chance, I’ve recently entered what the world calls the Realm of a terrestrial immortal. Within half a year, I will certainly have a match with Tuoba Boshi.”
Tuoba Chunsun was nearly furious enough to spit blood. He wanted to slap himself for being such a jinx. A terrestrial immortal? The real deal! The three teachings already had the Sage of the Nation, Qilin, and the Buddha, Longshu. He had been wondering why Confucianism, the most powerful of all, had lacked a terrestrial immortal. And now, here he was—none other than the teacher of that Xu Qi. Tuoba Chunsun calmed himself, his previous cold-bloodedness and arrogance gone. Bowing humbly, he asked softly, “Uncle Cao, may I return to the Northern Court?”
The woman, whose beauty seemed to rival the top three in the world, lightly leapt down from her great sword, the Lianglong Que, and faced Tuoba Chunsun coldly. “If you wish to kill him, I will kill you.”
The Lianglong Que, spiritually attuned, circled her like a loyal bird, gently soaring. The sight made Duanbolihui’s heart pound. How old could she be? Could she really be a sword immortal? A sword immortal in her twenties?
Tuoba Chunsun inwardly cursed Xu Fengnian’s luck—what a teacher to envy, and now a beauty to rival even his own jealousy. He quickly smiled and said, “Now that I know Xu Qi is Uncle Cao’s direct disciple, I naturally wouldn’t dare provoke him recklessly. Let us part ways here. When you arrive in the Northern Court, the Tuoba clan will surely receive you and your party with the utmost respect.”
With a solemn bow, Tuoba Chunsun took his leave.
Thus ended this grand, thunderous ambush and hunt in a most absurd manner.
Xu Fengnian’s vision remained blurred, like a fish thrown ashore, gasping for breath. Despite the pain, he managed a smile, “Xiao Nirén, speaking like that, people might think I’m living off your favors.”
Jiang Ni arched her brow, ready to strike him with her sword, but seeing his condition, she held back. She had no interest in kicking a man when he was down. Xu Fengnian slumped to the ground, his tension finally easing, blood still trickling from his mouth. Still, he summoned a flying sword to nourish its blade with blood. Cao Changqing chuckled and shook his head, sitting cross-legged before the young prince. Without interrupting Xu Fengnian’s secret Wujia sword technique, he waited until the sword returned to his sleeve before tapping sixteen acupoints with a single finger, stabilizing Xu Fengnian’s chaotic energy flow. With a gentle smile, he said, “Prince, to have just entered the Great Realm of Diamond, cultivating both Buddhism and Daoism—this is truly remarkable.”
Xu Fengnian’s face was pale, his brows furrowed in pain. “Great Realm of Diamond? Like Li Dangxin of Liangchan Temple?”
Cao Changqing nodded with a smile, “Though newly entered, it’s not far from a fully developed Realm of Diamond.”
Xu Fengnian glanced at Xiaoniren, who was deliberately turned away, and curiously asked, “How did she learn to fly on a sword?”
As Cao Changqing was about to speak, Jiang Ni gave a cold snort, as if reminding him not to explain. The Grand Master smiled and said nothing.
Xu Fengnian chuckled, “Let me guess—she skipped all the hard parts and only picked the most fun and showy one, Sword of Dominion, from Old Sword Saint Li, right?”
Jiang Ni turned angrily, “So what if I did? Even if I only know Sword of Dominion, I’m still better than you! You strutted into the Northern Marches like some high-and-mighty hero, but without your attendants and Northern Liang cavalry, look where you ended up!”
See? A single sentence had revealed the truth. Cao Changqing’s lips curled into a warm smile. No matter what, the princess could never outwit this Northern Liang prince.
With a chance to catch his breath, Xu Fengnian’s complexion slowly improved. The mark on his forehead shifted from black to deep purple. He held his chest carefully and asked, “How is Old Sword Saint Li?”
Cao Changqing sighed softly, “If he had forced himself, he might have had ten more years. But he chose to let nature take its course, not clinging to life. He felt that teaching swordsmanship to the princess for three or four years was enough.”
Xiaoniren’s eyes reddened, tears welling up, “It’s all your fault!”
Xu Fengnian remained silent.
Cao Changqing spoke gently, “Originally, my journey north was to contact several exiles from the Spring and Autumn Period who hailed from Xichu’s noble families. Before entering the Northern Marches, I stopped by the Northern Liang Prince’s Mansion and met the Great General. That’s when I learned your whereabouts had been exposed. I had originally promised to kill Chen Zhibao to repay a debt, but the prince refused to accept. Later, the Great General also declined. He only asked me to deliver one message to you.”
Xu Fengnian smiled faintly, “Say it.”
Cao Changqing flicked his fingers in the air, continuing to heal Xu Fengnian with a method akin to acupuncture. “The Great General wants the prince to return home soon.”
Xu Fengnian chuckled bitterly, “Easier said than done.”
Jiang Ni snapped, “You brought it on yourself!”
Xu Fengnian glared at her, and she glared back. A staring contest ensued.
Cao Changqing pretended not to notice. “After your trail was exposed, two people in the Northern Marches were hired to kill you. I only know of one—a blind female Luteist from the Ten Devils of the Cultivation World. She, like Han Renmao of the Southern Liyang Palace, is especially skilled in using the Finger-Sky Technique to slay Realm of Diamond experts.”
Jiang Ni sneered, “Make sure you run the moment you see her. Don’t get distracted by her looks and forget your life!”
Xu Fengnian snapped, “Men are talking. Women, shut up!”
Jiang Ni roared in fury, “I’ll run you through with a sword!”
Xu Fengnian gave her a sidelong glance, “That’s my sword. Do you have no shame? Three days without seeing each other, and now you’ve improved—your sword skills aside, your boldness rivals mine.”
Jiang Ni’s face flushed red. The Lianglong Que sword flew rapidly, creating a shocking display.
Cao Changqing felt a slight headache. Such flirtatious bickering between the two lovers was awkward for an outsider. But then he recalled the prince’s earlier, even more inappropriate confession, and he quickly let it go. “Only enemies become entangled like this,” he thought with a smile.
Xu Fengnian grinned, “Xiao Nirén, let me see your hands. If there are calluses, I’ll know you haven’t been slacking off.”
Jiang Ni retorted with the prince’s own catchphrase, “Shut up.”
But compared to Xu Fengnian’s “shut up,” hers lacked bite.
Cao Changqing said slowly, “It was the Northern Liang King who gave me the general route northward, allowing me to meet the prince in time. Otherwise, I would have carried this guilt for life.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head and smiled, “Congratulations on becoming a sage.”
Cao Changqing replied calmly, “It is all thanks to the princess’s calligraphy and sword flying.”
Xu Fengnian couldn’t hide his surprise. Xiaoniren gave a few cold snorts, her eyes sparkling with pride.
Xu Fengnian asked, “When will you depart for Gusaizhou in the Southern Court?”
The Confucian scholar, now a sage, smiled, “I will wait until the prince’s injuries are healed.”
Xiaoniren teased, “Master, master, great master.”
Xu Fengnian smiled without speaking. Cao Changqing’s eyes crinkled warmly, “The prince is indeed a master. Facing three Realm of Diamond experts, he fought valiantly and killed one. His swordsmanship, derived from the sword that opened the heavens, combined with the twelve swords gifted by Deng Tai’a, will surely astonish both martial worlds in the future.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head, “Even without mentioning Old Sword Saint Li or Master Cao, I’m still far behind Baihuer. Not to mention the Taoist riding the ox.”
Jiang Ni sneered, “Comparing yourself to Hong Xixiang and Nangong Pushe? Shameless!”
Xu Fengnian nodded solemnly, “If I wanted to be shameless, I’d say I like you. You’re no better—you flew here the moment I called your name.”
Jiang Ni was utterly defeated, her ears red, her mouth opening and closing without a word.
Cao Changqing wisely chose not to hear.
At the same time, both Xu Fengnian and Jiang Ni shouted, “I’ll run you through with a sword!”
Defeated again, Jiang Ni hastily flew off on her sword.
One sword flew west, another east.
Only Xu Fengnian and Cao Changqing remained.
Xu Fengnian asked, “Will she be alright leaving like that?”
Cao Changqing smiled, “No worries. Within a hundred miles, she’s under my control. You focus on healing.”
Xu Fengnian closed his eyes and concentrated.
A single breath carried her sword for ten miles. Jiang Ni stood atop her blade, her sleeves fluttering like a celestial being. She bit her lip, tears welling, and wiped her face roughly, muttering to herself, “Don’t cry!”
Cao Changqing remained calm, yet a quiet emotion stirred within him.
Since their parting on the Jiangnan Road, the princess and her “chess advisor” uncle had returned to the old lands of Xichu. Amid the picturesque mountains and rivers, she had half-heartedly practiced his unique breathing techniques, often skipping days. Instead, she busied herself tending a vegetable garden or lying on her bed, counting copper coins. It wasn’t until she met Li Chungan, the sword saint who once shattered two thousand armored soldiers with a single strike by the Guangling River that she finally smiled. Yet even then, she showed no interest in swordsmanship, only applying herself slightly to calligraphy. It was only when he mentioned a trip to the Northern Marches and possibly the Northern Liang Prince’s Mansion that she picked up the Lianglong Que sword and asked to train in swordsmanship. After a full day of haggling with Li Chungan, she chose only the most dazzling technique— Sword of Dominion. But her nature was lazy, and she had always feared heights. Even when she occasionally summoned the courage to fly, it was only a few feet off the ground. Her diligence in Sword of Dominion increased the closer they got to Northern Liang. But it was only after she learned that Xu Fengnian had entered the Northern Marches that she truly began to take swordsmanship seriously.
Flying over mountain peaks.
Gliding across great rivers.
Her momentum surged like a rainbow.
Her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, even astonishing Cao Changqing.
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