Chu Xinghui rested for two days and finally regained some energy, able to get out of bed.

Xie Liufeng had given him good medicine, but the injury could not fully heal in just one or two days, and he did not have that much time to wait. Moreover, he understood his own physical condition well, as long as the coming days were not as thrilling and dangerous as before, there should be no further problems.

He packed up the few things he had and planned to leave this place first.

After packing, Chu Xinghui suddenly remembered Xie Liufeng.

…No matter what, he had to say goodbye to the owner of this place before leaving.

He stepped out the door to look for Xie Liufeng.

Because Xie Liufeng had to take care of the child he had picked up these past two days, he had not gone fishing. Today, he was in the courtyard holding an old fan and was simmering red bean porridge in a clay pot.

Chu Xinghui stood at the door, watching him from a distance—not too far, not too close.

This man seemed to have nothing to do and no one to meet. He mostly lazed around this small courtyard and occasionally went out to find some amusement that normal people couldn’t understand.

He was truly a very strange person.

Xie Liufeng, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, threw the fan beside him and turned to ask the boy standing at the door: “You’ve stayed here for two days, and I still haven’t asked your name.”

Chu Xinghui was stunned for a moment and replied: “Chu Xinghui.”

Xie Liufeng lifted the lid of the clay pot to check the porridge, casually asking: “Xinghui was born… in the twelfth lunar month?”

Chu Xinghui nodded: “Sort of, on New Year’s Eve.”

Actually, New Year’s Eve was the day he was found, he did not know his exact birthday.

Xie Liufeng sensed something from his words but did not ask further. Smiling, he changed the topic: “The porridge is ready. Want a bowl to try?”

Chu Xinghui did not refuse and silently sat beside him.

Xie Liufeng set two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table in the courtyard and filled a full bowl of porridge for Chu Xinghui. He subtly asked about his background: “It’s rare for someone your age to have cultivated to the level of Qi Refinement. Do you have a Sect or come from a prestigious family?”

There was no need to hide such things so Chu Xinghui answered: “I have no Sect, nor am I from a prestigious family. I’m just a lone cultivator.”

Xie Liufeng confirmed the most important information again: “No master?”

Chu Xinghui nodded: “Yes.”

Xie Liufeng felt relieved but kindly reminded him: “With your talent, even big sects would accept you. If I remember correctly, the Lingxiang Sect is currently recruiting disciples. If you’re interested, going there wouldn’t be bad.”

He was ready, if Chu Xinghui said he wanted to go, he had plenty of dirt on the Lingxiang Sect from top to bottom—leaders, disciples, history, and prospects—nothing left out.

Chu Xinghui did not know about his messy little plans and explained: “I want to apprentice at the Beiyue Sword Sect.”

Xie Liufeng was surprised: “Although I think that’s a very wise choice, I must remind you the Beiyue Sword Sect won’t recruit disciples for another two years.”

Chu Xinghui shook his head: “It doesn’t matter.”

Xie Liufeng laughed: “Few people would pass up an immediate choice and willingly waste two years.”

Chu Xinghui said: “It’s not a waste. I’m just a newcomer to the cultivation world and don’t understand it deeply. Two years of settling in is good. I’m young, I have plenty of time.”

He looked clearly at the person in front of him: “Besides, the meaning of a choice isn’t to make it immediately. An important choice is worth waiting for. I’m a sword cultivator, so naturally, I want to go to the Beiyue Sword Sect to see the Sword Sovereign’s sword.”

Since ancient times, no martial art had a clear second best. Even the strongest sword cultivators had challengers. Historically, few Sword Sovereigns had lived more than a hundred years, but the Beiyue Sword Sect’s Sword Sovereign was different. He was called the Sword Sovereign and had been alive for over five hundred years.

Because five hundred years ago, he had killed a god with just one sword.

Although the Sword Sovereign disappeared after killing the god, no one ever questioned his title afterward.

Upon hearing this name, Xie Liufeng’s expression changed oddly. He casually joked: “You want to see the Sword Sovereign? That guy has long left the sect. He might have died in some remote corner. New disciples might not even know he existed.”

Chu Xinghui was displeased and insisted: “He didn’t die.”

Even if he was his lifesaver, he shouldn’t say that about the Sword Sovereign.

Xie Liufeng tried to reason with the boy: “Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural. No matter how powerful, everyone faces death. He hasn’t ascended, so it’s normal if he died.”

Chu Xinghui said nothing but looked up at him.

Xie Liufeng cleared his throat and immediately surrendered: “…Alright, he’s very lucky, so he should still be alive.”

Chu Xinghui was somewhat satisfied and lowered his head to drink the porridge.

Xie Liufeng was quiet for a moment but couldn’t help teasing. He poked Chu Xinghui’s arm: “You like the Sword Sovereign, huh?”

Chu Xinghui found his wording improper and corrected him: “Just admiration.”

How many sword cultivators didn’t admire the Sword Sovereign?

Xie Liufeng made a sound and concluded: “So, you like him.”

Chu Xinghui thought about it and found it more or less true. He didn’t bother to correct him further and nodded in agreement.

Xie Liufeng amused himself for a while.

Chu Xinghui did not know what he was laughing about and watched him in confusion before giving up.

After all, Xie Liufeng’s mental state was never something normal people could understand.

He carefully drank all the porridge in his bowl, then told Xie Liufeng: “I plan to leave.”

Xie Liufeng paused: “If you asked me, I’d suggest you rest two more days. Although you’re young and recover fast, messing around during recovery might leave lingering problems.”

Chu Xinghui explained: “I won’t mess around, but the commission’s deadline is near. I have to return to the city first.”

Xie Liufeng asked: “Commission?”

Chu Xinghui glanced at him and answered calmly: “I’m poor and destitute, I need to eat.”

Xie Liufeng pondered for a moment: “A cultivator isn’t supposed to be able to go without food, right?”

Chu Xinghui slightly doubted that he was really a cultivator: “…Have you ever seen a Qi Refining stage cultivator able to go without eating?”

Xie Liufeng was unusually stuck for a moment.

Back then, he hadn’t stayed long in the Qi Refining stage and had not guided many lower-level disciples, so his impression of that stage was not deep.

Thinking about this, Xie Liufeng suddenly realized something: “Then these two days you…”

Chu Xinghui was silent for a moment, then took out an empty fasting pill bottle from his storage bag and showed it to Xie Liufeng.

For a moment, Xie Liufeng felt he was somewhat despicable.

He had picked up this person but hadn’t given him food, which was truly a great sin.

Feeling guilty, he couldn’t help but take a spoon to add another bowl of porridge for the little poor guy in front of him.

Chu Xinghui didn’t know what nonsense Xie Liufeng was imagining again, refused the second bowl of porridge, tidied the bowls and chopsticks on the table, and confirmed again: “So, I’m leaving?”

Xie Liufeng had been a lonely old man for many years. Having finally caught an interesting kid, he was not very willing to let him leave so easily.

It was as if the kid was difficult to get along with.

But after thinking for a while, having no reason to keep him for now, he could only click his tongue: “Ungrateful kid, I gave you so many good medicines, and you don’t even say thank you before you leave?”

Chu Xinghui blinked and felt what he said made sense, so he politely thanked him: “Thank you.”

Xie Liufeng sighed resignedly: “Wait a moment, I’ll pack some things.”

Chu Xinghui looked at him in confusion.

Xie Liufeng’s tone was sincere and straightforward: “It’s like this, I suddenly remembered I have some business to do in the city, want to go together?”

Chu Xinghui was a bit suspicious.

But he couldn’t tell if Xie Liufeng was joking or really had business, so he nodded: “Okay.”

It didn’t matter anyway.

*

After packing, the two of them quickly arrived in the city.

Chu Xinghui went ahead to the Wanbao Trading Company to hand in his task, while Xie Liufeng had no urgent matters and casually strolled around the city.

Heavy clouds covered the sun, making the day somewhat gloomy.

It had been years since he last entered the city, many things had changed compared to before.

He randomly found a general store to buy some daily necessities. Just as he was about to leave, he caught a sweet aroma mixed with a hint of cooking smoke.

On the street, a hawker was selling candied hawthorn and was bending over to boil the syrup.

Xie Liufeng inexplicably recalled Chu Xinghui’s expression when taking medicine.

He walked over and bought a bag of candied hawthorn.

After buying the items, he walked down another street and finally arrived at his destination, stopping in front of a large gate.

This was the back courtyard of the Wanbao Trading Company.

If he remembered correctly, one of his old friends should be auditing accounts here these days.

He knocked on the door, handed over a visiting card to the guarding cultivator, and entered smoothly.

As the largest merchants’ guild in the cultivation world, Wanbao Trading Company was always wealthy and extravagant. From the courtyard to the parlor, everything was luxurious and opulent.

Even though he was used to his friend’s style, Xie Liufeng was nearly blinded by the brilliance.

In the middle of the parlor sat a young man dressed so extravagantly that he seemed more like a nobleman from the mortal world than a cultivator.

He was Shang Ling, the true owner behind the Wanbao Trading Company and the current head of the merchant family.

Shang Ling had a book covering his face and was snoring loudly.

Xie Liufeng walked forward and unceremoniously lifted the book off his face.

Shang Ling was woken from his nap and opened his eyes angrily, intending to scold, but when he saw Xie Liufeng’s face, he knew he couldn’t win.

He swallowed the curses unwillingly and sarcastically said: “Yo, isn’t this the great Sword Sovereign, busy as always? Haven’t seen you come out in years, why do you have time to visit me today?”

Xie Liufeng ignored his teasing and took out a pre-written list: “Prepare some things for me. The list is here.”

Shang Ling, still a bit sleepy, yawned and took the list.

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment and added: “Also pick out a few spirit swords for practice, the better quality ones… No, I have some good materials here. You take them to your guild’s swordsmith and have him forge according to these blueprints.”

Shang Ling roughly looked over the list and found it strange: “These are all low-level cultivator items, why do you need these?”

He looked at Xie Liufeng suspiciously.

Was this old guy finally giving up on the Dao and going to reincarnate?

Xie Liufeng explained: “I found a disciple.”

Shang Ling was surprised: “Really rare to hear you want to take a disciple.”

Xie Liufeng half-jokingly said: “After getting old, wanting to take a disciple to pass on teachings, and after death, someone to burn incense for you, it’s quite normal.”

Shang Ling somewhat understood the situation from this and hesitated, then concernedly asked: “Your problem… hasn’t been solved yet?”

Xie Liufeng smiled and pretended not to hear: “Huh? What problem?”

Shang Ling rolled his eyes: “…Forget it, I must be crazy to care about you.”

He carefully checked the goods and said: “Some things will take a few days. When it’s all ready, send it directly to Beiyue Sword Sect?”

Xie Liufeng took out a bag of supreme spirit stones and gave Shang Ling the address of Wanling Valley Cottage: “Here’s the money first. Just send the goods here once you have everything.”

After finishing the business, Xie Liufeng didn’t linger and quickly took his leave.

Shang Ling called after him: “Hey, since you’re out of seclusion, want to go stir up trouble over at Wanchun Mountain?”

Xie Liufeng didn’t turn his head, casually waved his hand: “No thanks, I’m shy and don’t like crowds.”

 

Support translation: