Three riders and a donkey skirted Taoshu Town, arriving at the foot of Wudang Mountain beneath the grand archway. Xu Fengnian, Fan Xiaochai, and Chen Tianyuan dismounted together, while Deng Tai’a patted the old donkey’s back and muttered something under his breath.
Chen Tianyuan looked up at the four characters inscribed by Lü Zu himself—”Wudang Shall Prosper”—unlike most swordsmen who would gaze upon them with reverence, he instead brimmed with ambition and fighting spirit.
Xu Fengnian suddenly turned to Fan Xiaochai and said, “Head southeast to Liyang. If you can find that guy within two years, pass him a message for me—tell him he still owes me money from back then, and it’s time to pay up.”
Fan Xiaochai frowned. “According to Fushui Fang’s intelligence, the villages and towns there are scattered like stars, with dialects changing every ten miles and customs shifting every hundred. Based on the fragmented clues we have, it won’t be easy to locate him.”
Xu Fengnian nodded. “Like finding a needle in a haystack—it’ll depend on fate. Just do your best. Honestly, I don’t expect you to actually find him.”
Fan Xiaochai’s expression remained rigid. “Can’t you send another spy? I excel at killing—that’s all I’m good at. For tracking someone down, Fushui Fang has many better-suited agents.”
Xu Fengnian grinned. “No.”
A flicker of anger stirred in Fan Xiaochai’s eyes, swaying like waterweed in a clear autumn pond. Though furious, she dared not voice it.
Xu Fengnian teased, “Who knows? Maybe you’ll hear news of my death within two years. Wouldn’t that save you the trouble?”
Fan Xiaochai replied stiffly, “Nothing in this world is more satisfying than severing the head of one’s enemy.”
Xu Fengnian sighed helplessly. “You only dare show your true feelings like this in front of me. If Lu Qiuer were here, would you have the guts?”
Fan Xiaochai smiled sweetly and countered, “Is Chu Lushan here?”
Xu Fengnian scoffed. “See? Only the wicked can tame the wicked.”
Fan Xiaochai gave the young Prince of Liang a deep look before remounting her horse. Hesitating for a moment, she gripped the hilt of the saber at her waist. “This ‘Crossing the River’ saber…?”
Xu Fengnian smirked. “Just a loan. It still needs to be returned!”
Fan Xiaochai galloped away.
Chen Tianyuan, who had been immersed in the majestic sword intent of Lü Zu’s inscription, snapped back to reality at the fading sound of hoofbeats. Puzzled, he asked, “Why did she leave?”
Xu Fengnian replied casually, “I sent her to the Central Plains on an errand.”
Chen Tianyuan gave a noncommittal “Oh.” Only when the rider and horse had completely vanished from sight did he mount his own steed. Gazing in the direction she had gone, he declared with heroic fervor, “In this world, may only three things know my sword—the green mountains, the flowing waters, and Fan Xiaochai!”
Xu Fengnian sneered. “If you’ve got the guts, say that to her face.”
Chen Tianyuan adjusted the famed sword at his waist. “Why would I say something that’d annoy her?”
Xu Fengnian retorted, “Well, neither I nor your half-master want to hear it either.”
Chen Tianyuan, now wearing his rooted mask, tossed back, “Not my problem,” before spurring his horse and riding off.
Deng Tai’a chuckled. “I don’t mind it much.”
Xu Fengnian rolled his eyes. “I truly can’t stand that young exiled immortal’s attitude.”
Deng Tai’a mused unexpectedly, “Perhaps Li Chun’gang was just as insufferable when he first emerged. From what I’ve heard, the heroines and fairies of the martial world seem to adore that type.”
Xu Fengnian grimaced skeptically. “No way, right?”
Deng Tai’a merely smiled.
Xu Fengnian exhaled deeply and muttered, “Right now… I’m feeling a bit melancholic.”
Deng Tai’a asked, “Are you waiting for someone?”
Xu Fengnian hummed in affirmation. “Though Song Nianqing once came at me with fourteen new swords, that doesn’t stop me from holding Dongyue Sword Pool in high regard. As for Chai Qingshan, who took over the Sword Pool, we became acquainted through combat. In this world, there are people you simply can’t bring yourself to hate, whether friend or foe. Chai Qingshan is one, Wang Mingyin outside Xiangfan is another, and even Han Shengxuan, the ‘Human Cat’ outside Shenwu City, falls into that category.”
Deng Tai’a remained silent.
The ancestral elder of the Wu Family Sword Vault, who shared deep ties with both him and the young Prince of Liang, had already returned to the Central Plains after delivering the swords—likely marking his final retirement from the martial world.
As if realizing belatedly, Deng Tai’a asked curiously, “Why send that woman away from Northern Liang now? Hoping she’ll drag that bothersome exiled immortal along to the Central Plains?”
Xu Fengnian grinned. “Mainly to find someone, but it’s a bonus if she takes him along. Two birds with one stone.”
The young Prince of Liang rested his hand on his saber’s hilt, standing beneath the archway as the breeze brushed his face, lending him an ethereal air.
The Peach Blossom Sword God stood beside him, gazing into the distance, the legendary Taichi sword hanging at his waist—the foremost sword immortal of their era.
Xu Fengnian asked softly, “The old man in sheepskin, Wang Laoguai, and Cao Changqing all left traces of their legacy in this world. Old Huang even left me a sword manual. Deng Tai’a, what about you?”
The Peach Blossom Sword God, whose swordsmanship had elevated him to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lü Zu and Li Chun’gang, replied calmly, “I, Deng Tai’a, care not for what happens after death while I yet live.”
Xu Fengnian said enviously, “Truly carefree.”
Spotting Chai Qingshan’s group approaching in the distance, Deng Tai’a clearly had no intention of waiting with Xu Fengnian. Tugging his donkey’s reins, he turned and began ascending the mountain.
Chai Qingshan walked alongside Qi Xianxia, while the divine fist of the Central Plains, Feng Zongxi, and the fairies of Piaomiao Peak had also joined the gathering. Notably absent were the Spear Saint of Snow Hut, Li Houzhong, and his disciples—a clear statement of their principles.
Xu Fengnian’s left shoulder was suddenly slapped hard. He turned—no one. He looked the other way—still no one.
Feigning surprise, he soon heard a giggle as a young girl, who had been crouching, sprang up. “Did I scare you?” she laughed.
Xu Fengnian’s eyes crinkled with a smile, his lips curling into an especially tender expression.
Every time he saw her—from their first meeting to their reunions—he felt nothing but joy.
He reached out and ruffled her hair. “Oh? You’ve grown taller.”
She planted her hands on her hips, tilting her chin up proudly and puffing out her chest, basking in her achievement.
Xu Fengnian asked with a smile, “Where’s Little Monk Nanbei?”
She rolled her eyes. “Stupid Nanbei’s blabbering with some little Daoist named Yu Fu. I didn’t feel like playing with them—you’ve no idea how boring it is. One little bald head and one little pedant together, talking past each other like chickens and ducks. Even worse than when the big bald heads and old bald heads back home used to argue over scriptures.”
“And your parents?”
“Ugh, don’t get me started. Not long ago, a female pilgrim from Jiangnan somehow recognized my dad on the mountain. She cried buckets—all pearly tears and delicate sobs—and Mom got so mad she nearly exploded. Dad’s been doing laundry for days to make it up to her, but it’s no use. Yesterday, he even borrowed some coins from the Wudang Taoists, saying Mom should go buy some makeup…”
“And she refused?”
“Are you kidding? You know Mom—she’d never turn down makeup. She took the money, went down to the town, and came back loaded. Spent nearly two hours in her room dolling up before she’d let anyone see her.”
“Did your dad freak out?”
“Pfft. He just kept saying how stunning and heavenly she looked. Too bad—just when Mom was finally calming down, that pilgrim showed up to say goodbye. When she saw Mom’s makeup, she didn’t say anything, just gave her this sidelong glance, smirked, and then ignored her, only making small talk with Dad. As she left, I caught her sneering at Mom again. And then… well, you can guess.”
“Li Zi, your mom met her match this time.”
“Sigh, I didn’t realize it then, but looking back, it was pretty brutal. Honestly, it’s partly my fault—I didn’t pay much attention when Mom was slapping on that makeup. If I’d helped, she might’ve looked even better.”
“Don’t worry. As long as your dad thinks she’s beautiful, that’s what matters.”
“Yeah, but then there’s Stupid Nanbei. When Dad was at his wit’s end, he asked, ‘Nanbei, don’t you think your shiniang is the most beautiful woman in the world?’ Guess what that dummy said? ‘Shifu, you taught us that monks don’t lie.’ Next thing I knew, Mom was yanking Dad’s ear, and Dad was yanking Nanbei’s. Honestly, those three are like a bunch of kids—it’s exhausting. Xu Fengnian, why don’t you take me to Qingliang Mountain for fun? The meat buns in Liangzhou City are delicious, though a bit pricey.”
Xu Fengnian looked at the girl, torn between amusement and reluctance to disappoint her. He gently tapped her forehead with a bent finger. “You can go to Qingliang Mountain, but only if your parents agree.”
She nodded eagerly, then tugged his sleeve and whispered, “When we see Dad on the mountain, if he turns back toward the house, you’d better run.”
Xu Fengnian was baffled.
The girl chuckled awkwardly. “These past few years, Dad’s taken to sharpening his knives in his spare time.”
Xu Fengnian had no reply.
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