Unsheathed

Chapter 417 (2): The Happiness, Anger, Sorrow, and Joy in Autumn

Over at the bamboo building in Downtrodden Mountain, the little boy in azure had just had a farewell drink with a friend in a restaurant in the small town.

The little girl in pink was sitting on a small bamboo chair and snacking on roasted seeds, and after discovering the low spirits of the little boy in azure, she asked, "You didn't drink to your heart's content with your river god brother from the Imperial River? Or perhaps the wine is too expensive?"

The little boy in azure plonked down on the bamboo chair beside her, resting his cheeks in his hands as he replied, "You don't understand the matters pertaining to the cultivation world."

The little girl in pink reached over and poured him some roasted seeds, and the little boy in azure didn't turn down her offer.

Just then, the river god of the Yellow Court Nation's Imperial River had successfully obtained an incredibly valuable Peace and Safety Tablet from the little boy in azure.

He then received permission from the imperial court of the Yellow Court Nation to leave his jurisdiction and cross the border to the Great Li Empire, allowing him to visit Downtrodden Mountain.

The little boy in azure had brought his best friend and brother to many places, and the little girl in pink was sure that he hadn't held back when boasting to the river god.

After finishing his roasted seeds, the little boy in azure wailed and moaned in gloominess for a moment, scratching his cheeks and ears before suddenly falling silent. He straightened his legs, appearing completely dispirited as he slumped back into his bamboo chair and said slowly, "The formal gods of rivers are also divided into different grades, and when we were drinking just then, my brother told me that he came across the highest-grade river god from the Iron Talisman River when he was making his way over. He felt extremely envious, and he asked me to put in some good words for him in the imperial court of the Great Li Empire, hoping that some branch rivers can also be included into the jurisdiction of the Imperial River."

"Then did he give you any immortal coins to forge relationships with?" the little girl in pink asked.

"No," the little boy in azure replied.

There was a strange look in the little girl's eyes.

The little boy in azure shot a glare at her and said in annoyance, "My brother wasn't being stingy, and he said that it appears insincere if brothers always talk about money and business. I felt like his assessment was very reasonable. Right now, I'm simply concerned about which temple I should enter and which Bodhisattva I should offer incense to. You're also aware that Wei Bo has never been welcoming of me, and the last time I asked him for help, he kept finding excuses to push back and delay. He doesn't show any friendship or loyalty at all.

"However, the mountain god with a golden head atop this mountain isn't influential enough to help me. As for Prefectural Overseer Wu Yuan and County Magistrate Yuan, I didn't have any luck with them either. In the end, it's surprisingly Xu Ruo, the swordsman who gave us a Peace and Safety Tablet each, who I think I stand a chance with. However, I'm unable to find him."

The little girl in pink continued to snack on roasted seeds as she asked in a quiet voice, "Even if you find him, do you have anything to offer him in return?"

The little boy in azure was slightly lacking in confidence as he replied, "Xu Ruo might not ask me for any money. After all, just how good is Xu Ruo's relationship with our master? Can he bring himself to accept our money? Even if he does, I can pay him in the future and borrow the money from from Master when he returns. This will also work, won't it?"

This little girl in pink flared up in anger in a rare display, and she scolded in fury, "What's wrong with you?! Why are you always thinking about Master's money?"

"Being short a single copper coin can stop a gallant hero in their tracks!" the little boy in azure grumbled in response. "What's so hard to understand? Who doesn't become low-spirited from time to time? In any case, isn't this place called Downtrodden Mountain? It's Master's fault for choosing a mountain with such an inauspicious name."

The little girl in pink became even angrier, and she scolded, "You're even blaming Master for something like this now? Has your conscience been eaten by a dog?!"

If she dared to speak to the little boy in azure like this under any other circumstance, he would have already burst into anger. Today, however, the little boy in azure wasn't even in the mood to become angry. He didn't have the energy to become angry.

Right at this moment, Wei Bo, who had seldom visited Downtrodden Mountain in the past year, appeared on the mountain path and slowly walked over.

The little boy in azure immediately jumped up and sprinted over, appearing excessively obsequious as he said, "Esteemed Formal God Wei, what brings you to our mountain today? Are you tired from walking here? Do you want to sit down on a bamboo chair and have me massage your shoulders and legs?"

Wei Bo reached over and placed a hand on his head, replying, "You can go away and play by yourself."

The little boy in azure clung to Wei Bo's sleeve with both hands, and he was eventually dragged all the way to the pond located behind the bamboo building.

The little girl in pink shook her head upon seeing this. He was truly bringing shame to their master.

Wei Bo squatted down beside the small pond that was so limpid that one could see the bottom, and he saw that the golden lotus seed was already starting to sprout.

The little boy in azure squatted down beside him and asked, "Esteemed Formal God Wei, can I discuss something with you?"

Wei Bo gazed intently at the extremely precious lotus seed in the pond. After all, this was a "relic" that Daoist Branch Master Lu Chen had left behind in the Majestic World. At the same time, it was also the matter that kept alive the Divine Water Nation's remnant fortune even though the nation had already been destroyed for so long. Of course, it was also the reason why Wei Bo had set his sights on Yang Hua, the formal goddess of the Iron Talisman River.

Wei Bo was the only surviving deity from the Divine Water Nation, and there was naturally an intangible will of the heavens that had allowed him to flee with his life and live until today, even becoming the formal god of the Great Li Empire's Northern Mountain. Wei Bo's ability to remain patient and endure hardships was obviously of critical importance as well. After all, the heavens wouldn't help those who didn't help themselves.

Wei Bo's voice was indifferent as he directly shattered the hopes in the little boy in azure's mind, saying, "The river god of the Imperial River took you for a fool, but you seem very happy to play the part of the fool, no?"

The little boy in azure stood up in anger and walked a few steps forward. After turning around and seeing that Wei Bo was still squatting there with his back facing him, he randomly punched and kicked the air in the direction of that big eyesore. Only after doing this did he hurriedly run far away.

Before leaving Downtrodden Mountain, Wei Bo smiled at the two children who were sitting on the bamboo chairs and said, "Your master will return very soon."

He then swaggered away.

The little girl in pink was overjoyed, yet when she turned around, she was surprised to discover that the little boy in azure wasn't equally as overjoyed as her. Instead, he appeared slightly adrift as he sat there in a daze.

"What's the matter?" she asked in a soft voice.

"You're already so foolish, yet I was still called a fool by Wei Bo. Will Master feel very disappointed when he sees us this time?" the little boy in azure murmured in reply.

The little girl in pink was fuming as she stood up, and she paid no more heed to the little boy in azure who was treating her good intentions as ill will instead. She grabbed a bucket of water and a towel and started to meticulously clean the bamboo building.

The little boy in azure leaned forward and held his cheeks in his hands. He had dreamed about a certain scene before, one where he could sit on the side and confidently drink wine as his river god brother visited Downtrodden Mountain. Chen Ping'an would express earnest regret about not having met the river god of the Imperial River earlier, and the two of them would start to refer to each other as brothers as they exchanged toast after toast.

He would feel very proud about this, and after the banquet concluded, he could boast to Chen Ping'an about his achievements in the cultivation world and his glorious time in the Imperial River as they returned to Downtrodden Mountain together.

Now, however, he felt like this was a little difficult to achieve.

The little boy in azure felt slightly dejected, and as he looked down at the seed husks on the ground, he discovered that there were a few that had seemingly slipped through the cracks. Being as bored as he was, the little boy in azure picked them up and started to snack on them. However, he was surprised to discover that they tasted better than normal?

The little girl in pink coincidentally caught sight of this as she wiped the stairs of the bamboo building, and she asked in astonishment, "You've become this poor already? You didn't give all of your wealth to your river god brother from the Imperial River, did you?"

The little boy in azure was already in a much better mood than before, so he rolled his eyes at her and said, "I'm not stupid, so do you think I'll give away the money I set aside for my future marriage? I certainly don't want to become old and single like Old Man Cui! Youths not knowing the preciousness of money, obediently living alone in old age. When Master comes home, I need to explain this principle to him as well, lest he's still a charity who likes to give valuable items to everyone else..."

There was a loud thud.

The little boy in azure was sent flying off a cliff.

The little girl in pink was already accustomed to this, so she wasn't worried about his safety at all.

An azure snake suddenly appeared in the distance, slithering through the clouds and mists before making its way up the steep cliff and transforming back into the little boy in azure. He swaggered toward the bamboo building and remarked, "Sincere advice is often unpleasant to the ear, so it's no wonder that loyal officials are rarely afforded a peaceful death..."

There was another loud thud.

The little boy in azure was sent flying for the second time.

When he returned to the peak of the mountain again, he saw an old man dressed in Confucian robes standing barefoot on the second storey of the bamboo building. "Old Man Cui, I'm not saying anything this time!" he immediately yelled.

However, he was sent flying down the cliff yet again.

The little girl in pink was already wiping the railings of the second storey, and she couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

Old Man Cui smiled faintly and explained, "His skin is itchy, so I'm giving him a beating to make him remember the lesson."

The little girl in pink was unable to retort this, so she didn't try to plead for the little boy in azure anymore.

The little boy in azure continued to curse as he sprinted up the mountain path of Downtrodden Mountain.

————

On the lone island near the Middle Earth Divine Continent...

The man in Confucian robes turned away another visitor today, the mountain master of a Confucian school belonging to the branch of the Second Sage.

In the past, the man in Confucian robes would have at least shown his face even if he were unwilling to "open the door." This time, however, he didn't even show his face to the visitor.

The mountain master of the Confucian school could only leave in disappointment. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy in the depths of his heart.

He didn't know why this scholar was so unreasonable.

The man in Confucian robes was standing in the thatched cottage where Zhao Yao had lived before. There was a path through the mountain of books.

He was standing in a certain spot and flipping through a Confucian text that he had casually grabbed. The author of this text was a Confucian sage whose scholarly lineage had already been severed, and this was because the Confucian sage had unexpectedly died at a very young age. His disciples had failed to master the essence of his teachings, so his scholarly lineage and scholarly fortune had eventually died out in just one hundred years.

The man put down the book and walked out of the thatched cottage, making his way to the top of the mountain where he continued to gaze at the vast sea.

How had Zhao Yao arrived here back then? It was because a wisp of remnant soul had protected him and brought him here.

Otherwise, even an external Great Heavenly Master from Mount Longhu and the mountain master of a Confucian school needed to knock first, so how could Zhao Yao possibly drift with the current and arrive here by coincidence?

He retracted his gaze and looked at the cliff. This was where Zhao Yao had wanted to step forward and commit suicide back then.

He naturally couldn't care less.

However, a middle-aged Confucian scholar with white sideburns had gestured to him with his eyes.

Only after seeing this had he opened his mouth to dissuade Zhao Yao.

After Zhao Yao left the island, he had engaged in a single conversation with the Confucian scholar who had guided the young boy here.

"Since you care so much, why didn't you show yourself in front of him?" he asked.

"Zhao Yao is still young, so he would have only felt guiltier if he saw me," the person replied. "There are some knots in his heart that he needs to untie by himself. By traveling far and traveling wide, there will eventually come a day when he manages to think things through."

"Then Qi Jingchun, are you not afraid of Zhao Yao not realizing your thoughts even until death?" the man in Confucian robes asked. "Zhao Yao's aptitude is quite good, and it won't be difficult for him to establish an immortal force in the Middle Earth Divine Continent. You extracted your kindred character from the scholarly fortunes, using the purest aura of righteousness of heaven and earth to conceal it inside that wooden dragon paperweight, waiting for the day that Zhao Yao's mental state experiences a new spring. However, are you not afraid of Zhao Yao ultimately benefiting another scholarly lineage or even the Daoist Sect?"

"This doesn't matter, and I'm content as long as my disciple is able to live on," Qi Jingchun replied. "Compared to Zhao Yao being able to seek knowledge in peace, whether or not he inherits my scholarly lineage isn't very important."

"Qi Jingchun, it's a pity about you," the man sighed with emotion.

Qi Jingchun had simply smiled and remained silent.

At this moment, the scholar from the Middle Earth Divine Continent who had once split apart the Yellow River Small World with a single sword strike felt like another like-minded person had disappeared from the world.

————

In the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent's Dawn Cloud Mountain...

Cai Jinjian already possessed her own peak and residence, and she was now sitting on a straw mat and cultivating by herself. After opening her eyes, she stood up and walked to the observation deck where her view suddenly opened up.

She was soaring forward in leaps and bounds on the path of cultivation, and the increasingly aloof Celestial Maiden Cai suddenly smiled faintly as she recalled some matter.

Back then, the scholar whom Cai Jinjian had admired and respected the most had done something earth-shaking in her view when giving her the first Fleeting Glance Picture Scroll.

Mr. Qi, who was flawless and profoundly knowledgeable in her eyes, had surprisingly appeared like a student and sincerely asked her a question: "Will we be gilding the lily if you deliver this picture scroll to the Sword Qi Great Wall? Will this make things imperfect instead?"

Even until today, Cai Jinjian could still clearly remember her feelings at that moment. It was as if she were a Nascent Tier cultivator facing a heavenly tribulation, with bolts of lightning raining down on her from the sky.

Upon seeing her dazed expression, Mr. Qi had smiled and said, "Regarding romantic relationships between men and women, I must admit that I know nothing at all."

Cai Jinjian had maintained a stern expression and tried her best to suppress her true emotions.

"Laugh if you want to," Qi Jingchun had said in exasperation.

Cai Jinjian hadn't laughed in the end, and she had instead felt a slight sense of sadness in the depths of her heart. She had stared at Mr. Qi in a trance, and after coming to her senses, she had replied, "If she doesn't like him, then doing this might not reap any benefits. In that case, it's not important whether we're gilding the lily or not. If she already likes him a little, then she might like him even more after seeing these picture scrolls."

After hearing Cai Jinjian's reply, Mr. Qi had immediately smiled as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Mr. Qi's smile had made Cai Jinjian feel like he was still someone in the human world regardless of how profoundly knowledgeable he was.

Cai Jinjian leaned on the railings and smiled widely. She was clearly gazing into the distance, yet she wasn't actually enjoying the magnificent scenery outside the observation deck.

Cai Jinjian felt like secretly liking such a man — even if she was clearly aware that her feelings wouldn't be reciprocated — was the most wonderful thing in the world.

As she traveled on the path of cultivation, Cai Jinjian was willing to think about him when she was alone in a tranquil place regardless of whether one hundred years or one thousand years had passed.