Chapter 348 His extraordinary talent fills his wife with pride; among heroes of all ages, only my beloved stands out.
Wen Caishang said, "Ghosts are mysterious and difficult to explain. But according to my reading of ancient history books, the places where ghosts breed must have unique terrain. Either the sky is covered with yin energy, or the terrain is very different. These ghosts also have regional characteristics and cannot be easily moved to other places."
"If the turbid garment you described truly exists, and it can conceal a ghost within its embrace and transform it for one's own use, its power is secondary; its unpredictability and strangeness are what truly make it difficult to resist. However, this matter is entirely speculative, and I cannot make a definitive judgment. Throughout history, while methods to subdue and control ghosts have existed, methods to contain and exorcise ghosts are extremely rare."
She pondered inwardly, guessing that Li Xian might possess a second Turbid Robe, and that it concerned supernatural abilities. Her expression remained calm, but her heart was in turmoil, filled with astonishment. The "Perfect Appearance" and "Double Pupil Appearance" were already considered unparalleled; with the "Pure Qi Robe" and the mysterious Turbid Robe, the combination of these abilities would make his future power unimaginable. She felt an overwhelming sense of pride. Throughout history, countless geniuses and heroes had emerged… yet all paled in comparison to her young man. Such a young man, with whom she shared nights of intimacy and physical closeness, was truly rare. Leaving aside his natural talent, his diligence, diligence, and aptitude were also exceptional. To have such a man was truly a stroke of divine fortune. But thinking of his virtues inevitably brought to mind his flaws. A complex mix of love and hate, affection and resentment, surged within her.
Li Xian seemed to be deep in thought: "What you said makes sense, but there is very little information on this matter, and it is ultimately just speculation. If there is an opportunity, we may be able to try it out."
After finishing discussing all the matters concerning Zhuoyi, Li Xian put away the jade table, lay down on his bed, wrapped his right arm around Wen Caishang, and leisurely enjoyed the snow. He rarely had such a peaceful moment in his life, and he cherished every second to the fullest.
Wen Caishang, trapped in her predicament, was also deeply troubled by this moment. Leaning her head against Li Xian's chest, she longed to possess his heart, to devour it whole. Suddenly, she bit him hard. Li Xian cried out in pain, questioning Wen Caishang's audacity—how dare she resist in this situation? Then they playfully teased each other, their laughter, scolding, and pleas for mercy never ceasing.
She rested on the pillow like this, and before she knew it, night had fallen. Li Xian gently stroked Wen Caishang's beautiful hair, then wrapped her arms around her waist, massaged her feet, brushed her hair, and rubbed her shoulders...
Wen Caishang sensed that Li Xian harbored a mixture of desire, love, and fear towards her, a desire filled with endless exploration, and she was overjoyed. This beautiful figure was meant to be used here. She was even more willing to display it, but on the surface she scolded, "You brat, you're messing around like this! Are you going to let me sleep or not?"
Li Xian said, "Madam, please go to sleep."
The night passed sweetly. The next morning, birds greeted the dawn, and fish frolicked in the lake. The yin and yang energies converged on the snow-covered lake, bringing about a warm and humid alternation, which in turn spurred the growth of many flowers and plants. Clumps to the east and clusters to the left, vibrant with color, grew extremely lushly.
Sunlight slants into the valley, making everything around vivid and bright. All people suffer, and few get a peaceful night's sleep. The closer we get to parting, the harder it is to let go, and the more we cherish what we have.
Wen Caishang was exhausted last night and only fell asleep around dawn. She was now in a deep sleep. Gentle yet fierce, even in her sleep, her eyebrows were slightly raised, as if she were still commanding the world, breaking swords and hearts with a laugh. Li Xian woke up and helped her cover herself with the blankets. He then closed the four walls of the carriage, restoring it to its original state, making it able to defend against enemy attacks.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Although the lady won't shout or scream, it's best to keep her mouth shut. She's incredibly capable. Even without any cultivation, she can use just one finger to touch tiny pebbles and unleash a 'flower-picking finger' attack, catching people off guard. I mustn't be careless. If she falls into my hands, she'll beg for mercy repeatedly. But if I fall into her hands, I won't have the chance to beg for mercy."
He then performs the "Returning Clouds and Sending Joy" move from the "Soaring Clouds Hands" technique. While the Soaring Clouds Hands is a basic martial art, its core principles are "throwing," "throwing," "striking," and "stealing." The preceding move, "Exploring Clouds and Retrieving Mist," is swift and light, allowing the user to extract a wisp of white smoke from a cloud of black mist, preserving it within its curling motion. The subsequent move, "Returning Clouds and Sending Joy," is the opposite, deftly returning the object to the user.
Stealing for valuables and returning them is a simple matter of give and take. Now, in this context, Wen Caishang, still fast asleep, had two jade walnuts stuffed into her mouth. Influenced by the Yin-Yang Sword Technique, and bound by numerous silken garments, restrictions, and ropes, she could barely move, and knowing Li Xian wouldn't harm her, she was enjoying a rare and comfortable sleep. Her vigilance was extremely low, and she hadn't even noticed.
Li Xian caught a faint fragrance, picked up the lost gold hairpin, and placed it beside the jade table. After searching the carriage and finding some silver, she tiptoed out. Seeing that it was still early, she wandered around the woods, observing the terrain and the path. There were no snow wolves, snow tigers, or snow bears, but there were long-tailed cats, foxes, and other small animals, preying on the birds and beasts in the forest.
The small animal is cunning, with sharp claws.
Li Xian then tried to drive them away, so he ran further away and captured a tiger. He collected its urine and sprinkled it near the snow lake. The foxes, long-tailed cats, and other animals were frightened away. He then released the tiger back into the distant mountains and forests.
It took half an hour in total. Li Xian thoroughly explored the surroundings and thought to himself, "Without guidance, even a hundred years might not be enough for anyone to reach this place. The elders of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance knew the risks of the duel, which is why they carefully chose this location. They've actually helped me out."
Seeing that it was still early, Li Xian found an open space, held his green sword, and practiced swordsmanship. The setting sun and fading blood sword warmed his body and invigorated his bones, and then he switched to practicing the Remnant Demon Spear Technique. Remnant Demon Playing in Water, Remnant Crow Defeated Moon, Upside-Down Withered Corpse, Gale-Struck Resilient Grass... He practiced again and again, without feeling tired or weary.
[Proficiency +1]
[Proficiency +1]
...
[The Remnant Spear]
[Proficiency: 7122/35000 Perfect]
[Description: The spear flashes like a ghost, its power unleashed. It stirs up ghostly energy, turning clouds into rain.]
Since arriving in Flying Dragon City, Li Xian had neglected his practice of the Remnant Spear. However, his battles with powerful enemies had given him a profound understanding of the spear technique. Now, in quiet practice, he applied his insights to real-world situations, verifying and solidifying them.
His progress was rapid; in just over half an hour, he had accumulated [89] points of proficiency with the Ghostly Serpent Spear. He was diligent and tireless, full of energy, and practicing with great enthusiasm. Suddenly, he leaped forward and thrust, the Ghostly Serpent Spear piercing through the tree trunk with a "bang."
[Proficiency +2]
The spear gleamed with silver light, and the tree snapped and fell with a crack, the notch perfectly smooth, a testament to its sharpness. Li Xian withdrew his spear, quite satisfied. "This spear technique, though flawed, is actually quite formidable. Back when I faced Zheng Dechun, although his martial arts evolution was strong, his moves were not refined. Moreover, he was too eager for quick success, willing to trade his life for another, which was tantamount to suicide. Many of my powerful moves were unable to be used."
He paused abruptly, then unleashed the Remnant Spear once more. Simultaneously, he focused his breath and activated "Iron Copper Body." His entire body erupted with dark light, and a layer of faintly visible bluish-red scales covered his surface. It seemed both real and illusory, yet undeniably present. When attacked, the scales could withstand some of the killing force.
In their past battle against Zheng Dechun, Li Xian used his "Iron Copper Body" to block a deadly attack, and he vaguely sensed something amiss: the Iron Copper Body had become 30% stronger. Now, using it again, his doubts were confirmed. It turned out that the basic martial art "Iron Copper Body" had a subtle connection with the "Remnant Demon Spear."
Li Xian gleaned the "Ghostly Possession" property from the Broken Demon Spear. Combined with his Iron-Copper Body, it subtly transformed into the "Ghostly Copper Body." However, while the two showed some compatibility, it was entirely accidental, and the degree of compatibility was not high.
As the sun rose high and the weather warmed, Li Xian returned to his carriage. The snow from the previous night had melted. He found Wen Nuanchang fast asleep on the bed, seemingly having a nightmare. Her brows were slightly furrowed, she was shaking her head and making soft whimpering sounds. She seemed unable to speak, whether in her dream or not. He closed the carriage door, drove straight to a nearby path, and rode his white horse back to Flying Dragon City.
In the yamen (government office), Lin Aoshan, Han Qingxiao, and Qu Baitong were discussing important matters. Li Xian arrived to pay a visit, and the three greeted him with smiles. Han Qingxiao joked, "Brother Li, have you taken care of your wife yet?"
Li Xian laughed and said, "Of course, she's been tamed by me. I left early this morning, and she didn't dare say a word." Lin Aoshan lightly scratched her cheek and said playfully, "Shameless, bragging. I think you're the one who's been tamed. I wonder what conditions were promised to let you go out. At such a young age, you're not learning good things, but instead becoming a gigolo."
Li Xian wasn't annoyed and said, "Whose male concubine is as imposing as me?" Qu Baitong laughed and said, "Last night Li Xian said he would treat us to a meal. The time is almost here. Have you prepared enough money? The three of us suffered your humiliation last night for nothing. We've already discussed it and will get our revenge at the dinner table."
Lin Aoshan patted her belly and said seriously, "For this meal, I only ate water yesterday and this morning, so my fighting power is still strong." Li Xian said, "Don't worry, don't worry, everyone can eat to their heart's content. If we can finish Jieyoulou, I'll sell everything I own to buy it."
Han Qingxiao said cheerfully, "Brother Li is magnanimous." Lin Aoshan said, "Anyone can brag. The Jieyou Tower has collapsed, and you're the only one who dares to brag about it."
The group went out together. Qu Baitong, wearing a mask, accompanied them to a nearby restaurant. Li Xian booked a private room, which was luxuriously decorated, with a round table in the center. In the middle of the table were rock formations, a stream, and a waterfall. It was like a small world in the palm of your hand.
Li Xian instructed the waiter to bring one of each dish from the menu. The menu included dishes like Yellow Croaker in Soup, Bird's Nest in Clear Broth, Snow Country Heart, and Dragon Over the Ridge… Lin Aoshan, Han Qingxiao, and Qu Baitong, with their discerning palates, noticed that several dishes were extremely expensive, ranging from tens to hundreds of taels of silver—a truly staggering expense. Knowing that Li Xian genuinely felt apologetic and that this gesture was a gesture of remorse, they were truly going all out.
He couldn't help but feel even more favorably disposed towards Li Xian. Li Xian, never one to put on a show, ordered twelve dishes, using all the money he had saved and the money he had swindled from his wife.
The dishes were served in this manner, each one exquisite in appearance and flavor. Dishes such as "Dragon Over the Ridge" and "Heart of the Snow Country" were specialties of Flying Dragon City. The former was made by cooking forty-eight rare delicacies from the snow. The latter was made by stuffing the hearts of various animals, including snow bears, snow leopards, snow foxes, and snow tigers, according to their size, and then simmering them in a rich broth.
These are all extraordinary items, demonstrating that Li Xian spared no expense.
Li Xian cupped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, my funds are limited, so this is all I can order. If you want more, I'm afraid we'll have to wait until next time."
Han Qingxiao said, "Brother Li, you're too kind! We said we'd eat you out of house and home, but we never meant to actually do it." Qu Baitong also said, "No need for any more. If we can't finish it all, all this money will be wasted, and it'll really break our hearts."
Lin Aoshan felt even more sorry for Li Xian, knowing that Li Xian came from an ordinary family. Although he had a special relationship with Madam Zhejian, she kept a close eye on him, and he was not allowed to squander money. At this moment, he was paying for most of the food and drink himself, which represented several months' salary.
She whispered to Han Qingxiao, "Boss, how about we settle the bill secretly?" Han Qingxiao didn't really care, but he wanted to tease Lin Aoshan, so he said, "You settle it if you want. I'm not the matriarch of the Lin family. I don't have that much money."
Lin Aoshan glared and said, "You take 70% of your monthly salary, that's about right." Han Qingxiao pretended not to hear. Lin Aoshan cursed, "You miser! Fine, I'll pay then." She pulled out a small purse from her sleeve, intending to secretly pay for the meal.
Han Qingxiao grabbed her wrist and laughed, "Aoshan, Aoshan, last time I asked you to treat us to a meal, you stubbornly refused. Why are you being so proactive this time?"
Lin Aoshan blushed and didn't answer, about to leave. Han Qingxiao said seriously, "Alright, why do you need to worry about this? You underestimate this Brother Li too much. Since last night's events, can't you see that Brother Li plans carefully before acting, and is very shrewd in handling matters? At his age, such behavior is rare. He must have learned a bit from Madam Zhejian. Since he made this arrangement, firstly, he is determined to apologize, and secondly, he respects us. If you go and pay the bill first, although your intention is good, you will be looking down on Brother Li."
Lin Aoshan carefully considered it and found it to be true, so she readily accepted it. Li Xian punished himself by drinking a few cups of wine, and then enjoyed a hearty meal and drinks with everyone. Li Xian was very curious about the affairs of the Sky Patrol Division, so he brought it up intentionally or unintentionally.
Han Qingxiao said, "Brother Li is truly a rare talent. If I had the ability, I would definitely recruit you into the Sky Patrol Division. That would be much better than the Flower Cage Sect." Qu Baitong said, "Ah? Brother Li is a member of the Flower Cage Sect? How is that possible?"
Lin Aoshan said, "The Flower Cage Gate is mostly full of thieves, but Little Li is definitely different. Yes, Little Li, you said there's a hidden story behind this. How about you tell us about it in detail?" Li Xian smiled bitterly and said, "This matter is quite convoluted. Since Aoshan wants to hear it, I'll just tell you directly." He then told the three of them the cause and effect of how he entered the Flower Cage Gate, with slight modifications.
Lin Aoshan, Qu Baitong, and Han Qingxiao said knowingly, "I see." Although Li Xian had no intention of joining the Sky Patrol Division, he was very curious about the political situation and asked, "Yes, how does one join the Sky Patrol Division? I'm very curious about that."
Han Qingxiao was gentle and refined in his demeanor and speech. He spoke slowly and deliberately: "The Heavenly Patrol Bureau is responsible for patrolling the world on behalf of Heaven. In the past, when the Great Wu Dynasty was powerful, the position of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau was hard to come by. Only the most outstanding talents could obtain it. Now the court is in chaos and the country is in decline, but the Heavenly Patrol Bureau is still not a small matter. There are only two ways to enter the Heavenly Patrol Bureau."
"Hereditary succession and recommendation. Both Aoshan and I hold the position of 'Celestial Inspector,' which is considered a celestial official. Even though the nation's fortunes are declining, we can still use our influence when traveling around the country and stay in government residences. However, we do not have the power of recommendation."
"Only the 'Lintian Official,' who is one level above the court, has the right to make recommendations. My cousin is at the Lintian Official level, but she hates evil and is very straightforward. Knowing that Brother Li comes from the Hualong Sect, she will definitely not be able to coexist with you, let alone make a recommendation. She will even harm your life."
Lin Aoshan said, "Ah, Boss Han...you mean that one..." Han Qingxiao nodded and said, "I haven't brought this up intentionally, but she is indeed my cousin. Although she is only a few months older than me, she is several times stronger than me. Her abilities and methods are beyond my reach."
Li Xian asked, "I see. I am by nature carefree, and even without the identity of the Flower Cage Sect, I might not be able to get used to staying in the Sky Patrol Division. By the way, the matter of Flying Dragon City has been settled. What are your plans?"
The three men looked grave as they discussed the matter. Lin Aoshan said, "This is a very difficult situation to handle. If the powerful clans in the city learn of He Wentian's affairs, it will likely cause further turmoil. We have decided to escort him out of the city tonight. Qu Baitong will stay here, impersonating He Wentian, to stabilize the situation in the city."
Li Xian thought to himself, "This trick of 'stealing the sky and changing the sun' is quite well done. It punishes the villains and stabilizes the situation in the city. By the time the powerful families in the city realize what's happening, the situation will have already changed drastically." He said regretfully, "In that case, we haven't had a chance to talk in detail since we met today, and we have to part again. There are so many beautiful sights in Flying Dragon City that I would like to share with you all and let you experience them one by one!"
Lin Aoshan said in a long voice, "Yes, there's nothing we can do. Before, the situation was unclear, so we were cautious and didn't have much time to play. Now that everything has settled down, we have to leave for important matters." Han Qingxiao cupped his hands and said, "Aoshan and I originally wanted to take this opportunity to say goodbye to Brother Li. After this banquet, we will part ways."
Lin Aoshan sighed softly, "Since we parted ways in the martial world, I don't know when we will meet again. Alas."
Li Xian smiled and said, "If we're destined to meet again, we will." Lin Aoshan casually asked, "What if we're not?" Li Xian casually replied, "If I really miss you, I can come to see you. But by then, I won't be able to afford this feast."
Lin Aoshan was in a slightly better mood and said with a smile, "If you come looking for me, I will invite you. I'm just afraid that you, you thief, will go and kidnap some girls, get caught, and be beaten to death along with them."
"If that's the case, you might as well take me back. At least it'll count as a merit."
Li Xian said, "Alright, so that's what you're planning." Lin Aoshan deliberately said fiercely, "Of course, I'm here to catch little thieves like you. From now on, when you see me, you'd better call me 'Grandma' three times. Otherwise, I'll have someone arrest you."
Li Xian laughed and said, "What a coincidence, I specialize in catching beautiful women like you. I wonder who has the better skills."
...
...
The three ate and drank their fill. Qu Baitong was the first to take his leave. Lin Aoshan and Han Qingxiao summoned the constables, who escorted He Wentian to the prison cart and out of the city. Li Xian watched them go from afar, and after they were out of sight, he sighed inwardly, "The martial world is full of partings and reunions, gatherings and separations. Although the city is still bustling, seeing the Sword Sect leave and Aoshan leave inevitably adds a touch of desolation. I do miss the lively scenes of the past."
He strolled through the city, sensing that his wife had already woken up, but could barely move. Her struggles were futile, yet she remained restless, trying to break the ropes with something, but how could she not know the strength of the Jade Silk Rope? Finally, she gave up resisting, utterly bored, and let out a muffled, angry hum. The muffled sounds seemed to be cursing Li Xian. Li Xian knew he was about to leave and cherished this peaceful time. After purchasing the ingredients, he rode back to Snow Mountain.
Leaving the horse on the mountain path, he hurried back to Snow Lake. Pushing open the carriage door, a wave of heat rushed out, revealing the lady's rosy complexion and glistening sweat. It turned out that Li Xian, worried that Wen Caichang might catch a chill, had added two handfuls of yellow jade incense charcoal before leaving. Today the temperature had risen, and the enclosed carriage felt stuffy.
Wen Caishang covered herself with blankets, unable to kick them or lift them. She remained covered, enduring the scorching heat.
When Wen Caishang saw Li Xian, she immediately glared at him fiercely, thinking, "This little rascal went out to fool around early this morning, making me wait in vain, sweating all over. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was trying to kill me with heat. When did he gag me and give me those nightmares? He's utterly despicable!" Li Xian immediately took out the jade walnut, and under the candlelight, the emerald green walnut looked even more lustrous.
Even though Wen Caishang could still speak, a trace of tears remained at the corner of her mouth. After calming her breathing, she glared at him and gritted her teeth, saying, "You bastard!" Li Xian chuckled and said, "Please don't be offended, Madam. I just ran into He Wentian!"
Wen Caishang was taken aback and said, "He Wentian, what happened to him? If he finds you, you'll be in danger. Quickly help me untie him, I can protect you." Li Xian said, "Madam, don't worry, why don't you guess?"
Wen Caishang said, "If the Five Mountains Sword Alliance is unharmed, it must be because He Wentian has been defeated and his fate is tragic. And nothing has happened in the city; there's no sign of troop deployment, martial law, or any action from the aristocratic families. The matter of He Wentian must not have been leaked; the people and aristocratic families in the city are unaware. If my guess is correct, he should be secretly being controlled." At this point, her pretty face flushed, thinking of herself.
Li Xian praised, "Madam is astute, just as you predicted. At that time, Flying Dragon City was in chaos, with members of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, the Flower Cage Sect, and the Sky Patrol Bureau involved. They suspected something was amiss in Flying Dragon City, so they secretly investigated. Later, the Five Mountains Sword Alliance handed He Wentian over to the Sky Patrol Bureau for disposal."
Wen Caishang said knowingly, "I had a feeling that He Wentian might be plotting a rebellion." Li Xian said, "Madam, you have a brilliant insight. Please enlighten me."
Wen Caishang glared at him resentfully, then slowly said, "He cultivated a good reputation and made friends in the martial arts world. He built the Worry-Relieving Pavilion. If he wasn't inherently benevolent, then he must have a grand scheme... The most crucial point is that in the early years of the Great Yu Dynasty, the nation's fortunes were declining, similar to the current Great Wu Dynasty. At that time, a remote city-state also rose to power. This matter has troubled Great Yu for a long time. If it cannot be resolved quickly, countless heroes across the land will follow suit. How can the world be at peace? Great Yu will collapse in an instant. If we want to resolve it quickly, the two places are far apart, and sending troops to conquer them would cost a fortune, undoubtedly adding insult to injury. Moreover, that city-state is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If we cannot conquer it in a short time, we will only strengthen its power and be caught in a dilemma. I guess He Wentian wants to emulate this person." She paused, then continued, "But saying this now is somewhat like hindsight. He hasn't shown his true colors yet, so this is just speculation."
Li Xian crawled into the quilt, hugged Wen Caishang, and asked, "And then?" Wen Caishang smiled and said, "The Great Yu Dynasty was already weak at that time. It forced itself to send troops to conquer, but failed to achieve a great victory. Its national strength plummeted, and the various warlords saw that there was profit to be made, so they all set up their own territories and started their own power struggles, plunging the world into chaos."
Li Xian said, "If the Great Yu hadn't sent troops, perhaps they could have held out longer." Wen Caishang said, "Now it seems you're right. But back then, no one knows who was right or wrong." Youyou said, "It's like when I appointed you as commander, I never imagined this day would come. Ah... you brat, you've been restless ever since you came back."
Li Xian smiled and said, "Thank you for your favor, Madam. I am where I am today because of your cultivation. I will repay you well." Wen Caishang blushed and sighed, "I have only myself to blame. This is how you repay me. You...you..." She wanted to say something but swallowed her words.
After Li Xian told Wen Caishang about everything that had happened in the city, he said, "The Star-Picking Division is very powerful. Qu Baitong disguised himself as He Wentian, and I couldn't see through it either." Wen Caishang said, "The Great Wu Star-Picking Division is indeed an extremely mysterious force. If I'm not mistaken, its predecessor should be the Star Cloud Palace."
Li Xian was taken aback and asked, "Nebula Palace?"
In the past, the Pure Yang Hermit stored the "Jingbao Tiankui" in the Xingyun Palace.
...
...
(End of this chapter)
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