First Immortal of the Sword

Humble Tranquility Cottage.

“Master Su, I’m here in part to express my gratitude, and in part because many of my fellows entrusted me with their treasures to deliver to you as compensation.”

It was already late at night when the head of the Yuan Family, Yuan Wutong, came calling. Yuan Luoxi and Yuan Luoyu had come with him.

They were followed by several attendants carrying two massive treasure chests.

Yuan Wutong had an elegant, bookish air, and when he faced Su Yi, he was modest, polite, and well-spoken. Just talking to him was like being bathed in a spring breeze.

Su Yi thought nothing of it. “When I saved your daughter, I did so in passing, and it was no trouble at all. You needn’t be so polite.”

As he spoke, he gestured for Yuan Wutong and company to take a seat within the courtyard.

“And what’s this talk of compensation?” Su Yi pointed toward the two treasure chests.

Yuan Wutong smiled. “After what happened today at the Qingding Military Drill Grounds, many of the city’s clans and factions felt they owed you a debt. Thus, they decided to offer up some of their treasures in hopes that you won’t pursue any past grievances.”

“Oh.” Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “It seems my warning was rather effective.”

When he saw Su Yi laugh, the others laughed too. At first, Yuan Luoxi worried that her father’s sudden visit would displease Su Yi, but now it seemed she’d worried for nothing.

Yuan Wutong removed a piece of paper from his sleeves and passed it to Su Yi. “Here’s a list of who contributed what. Please look it over.”

Su Yi took it and skimmed it. He couldn’t help but feel surprised.

The list was rather long, and aside from the prefectural government and the Zhang Family, there was also Blueriver Sword Manor, the Qian Family, the Huo Family, the Liu Family, and several other clans both big and small.

At the top was written:

“The Zhang Family offers one stalk of tier-three spiritual medicine, ten stalks of tier-two spiritual medicine, one hundred stalks of tier-one spiritual medicine, three hundred tier-one spirit stones, ten tier-two spirit stones, thirty types of spiritual materials….”

“Blueriver Sword Manor offers one stalk of tier-three spiritual medicine…..”

This was a long inventory list of treasure. The densely-packed text covered the whole page, and included a dazzling array of spiritual herbs, materials, and spirit stones.

From the list, he could also see the difference between the city’s peak-level factions and the more ordinary ones.

Take tier-three spiritual medicines. Ordinary families couldn’t produce such rare and precious treasures. They might manage tier-two spirit stones and medicines, but in terms of numbers, ordinary clans were still far inferior to the peak-level factions.

But of course, Su Yi didn’t care about that. He’d never even considered reaping benefits from this incident, so receiving so many “apology gifts” already came as a surprise.

Since reaching the Qi Accumulation realm, ordinary tier-one spiritual medicines are no longer of any use to me, and I’ve already used up all the tier-two medicines I had on hand. Obtaining these treasures will actually resolve my immediate need…. Su Yi thought to himself.

It wasn’t just medicinal herbs; he was practically out of spiritual materials too.

It was fair to say that if Yuan Wutong hadn’t brought him compensation from the city’s various factions, he’d have had to start considering how to “earn a living.”

Su Yi quickly put the list away. “I’ll have to trouble you to tell them that I have no plans to pursue any prior grudges with anyone. That is, of course, unless they seek trouble with me again.”

Yuan Wutong smiled and nodded. “I trust that when they hear that, they’ll rest at ease.”

Then, he suddenly rose, took out a palm-sized jade box, and proffered it with both hands. “Master Su, this is a token of my Yuan Family’s appreciation. I hope you’ll accept it with a smile.”

Yuan Luoxi and Yuan Luoyu hurriedly rose as well.

Su Yi furrowed his brow, somewhat displeased. “Your daughter and I are already acquainted, so what need is there to bring out external objects like this? Do you think me greedy, head of the Yuan Family?”

HIs tone was a bit cold.

The expression on Yuan Luoxi’s pretty face shifted, but just as she was about to say something, Yuan Wutong hurriedly explained, “Master Su, please don’t misunderstand. Today, my Yuan Family didn’t help you in any way, but because of our relationship with you, our collective power has risen to a whole new level. Now, even Zhang Zhiyan speaks to me with newfound respect, and he dares not be impolite.

“I am well aware that all of this is due to your prestige. That’s why I prepared a humble gift as a token of the Yuan Family’s gratitude.” When he said this, he bowed.

Su Yi watched him bow, then glanced at the visibly anxious and unsettled Yuan Luoxi. In the end, he nodded. “I roughly understand your intentions, but there’s something I have to make clear.”

“Please instruct me, Master Su,” said Yuan Wutong gravely.

“I acknowledge this bond with the Yuan Family,” said Su Yi flatly. “But you are not to use my name as you conduct your affairs.”

“Of course.” Yuan Wutong agreed without hesitation.

Su Yi lifted his teacup and took a sip. “Family Head Yuan, have you thought this through? A connection with me means that in the future, my business will implicate you.”

Yuan Wutong’s expression was increasingly solemn. “I already understand that. The Yuan Family and everyone in it are willing to accept that risk. We’ll share both fortune and disaster and live or die alongside you.”

Su Yi set down his teacup and nodded, but he said no more.

Yuan Wutong inwardly sighed in relief. He carefully set the jade box on the table beside Su Yi. The jade box was only the size of a fist, but it contained a tier-four spiritual medicine! Its value far exceeded any number of tier-three medicines!

Yuan Wutong was confident that when Su Yi opened the box and saw its contents, he’d understand just how sincere the Yuan Family was about this.

They chatted a bit longer, then Yuan Wutong bade farewell and left.

On their way back home, Yuan Luoxi couldn’t help but worry. “Father, Master Su’s personality is just like that. You’re not angry, are you?

Yuan Wutong couldn’t help but laugh. “Angry? No, I’m too busy being thrilled. Why would I be angry? You! You’re too young. You don’t understand the implications of our conversation.”

Yuan Luoyu asked in confusion, “Father, might you explain?’

“How lofty is the Sixth Highness? How unique is his status? Yet all he could do was help Master Su clean up his mess. From this alone, you ought to be able to tell just how fortunate we are to have established a bond with Master Su!”

Yuan Wutong’s gaze was as deep and profound as the seas. “I have a premonition that Master Su will one day possess enough power and prestige to influence the entire Great Zhou. The stronger he gets, the more helpful he’ll be to our Yuan Family!”

Yuan Luoxi was suddenly enlightened. “They say that when someone achieves the Dao, even his dogs and chickens ascend to the heavens. It’s like that, right?”

“Little Xi, how can you compare us to dogs and chickens?” said Yuan Luoyu in displeasure.

“Hahaha, she might have chosen her words poorly, but she’s not wrong!” Yuan Wutong laughed heartily.

Yuan Luoyu couldn’t help but say, “But if Master Su encounters trouble, it’s sure to implicate us as well. Aren’t you worried?”

“That’s what it means to share in both fortune and disaster, and to live or die together! In this world, how can you hope to gain anything without paying a corresponding price?” Yuan Wutong took a deep breath and said, “In any event, our Yuan Family now stands upon the ‘grand vessel’ that is Master Su. Will we ride the waves, or will the ship sink and drown us all? Only time will tell!”

Those who didn’t consider the whole picture were unfit to rule, and those who didn’t consider the long term were unfit to plan the present!

……

Humble Tranquility Cottage.

“Brother Su, I’ve already organized everything in accordance with your instructions.”

Huang Qianjun pointed to the neatly seperated piles of treasure. “That’s seven stalks of tier-three herbal medicine, seventy-nine stalks of tier-two medicine, and four hundred and thirty stalks of tier one medicine. Then, there’s five hundred and forty tier-one spirit stones and fifty-five tier two spirit stones. Added together, you received a total of sixty-four types of spiritual materials.”

Huang Qianjun’s eyes glowed with excitement.

Even if you added all of the Huang Family’s wealth together, it amounted to less than ten percent of this mountain of treasure!

“Take the tier-one spirit stones and medicines away and split them with Junior Apprentice Brother Feng. Send the rest to my room.” As Su Yi said this, he rose and began practicing the Pine and Crane Body Refining Technique in the courtyard.

His expression was calm and focused, without the slightest negligence.

Huang Qianjun stood there in a daze.

Some time later, he suddenly took a deep breath, repressed the warmth welling in his heart, and silently got to work on the treasure.

After running though the entire Pine and Crane Body Refining Technique, Su Yi returned to his room. By then, the treasures were already laid out inside. Su Yi waved his sleeves, gathering all of them within the black jade pendant.

He paused to think, then suddenly said, “Qing Wan.”

A wisp of white smoke emerged from the Soul-Nurturing Gourd. Immediately afterward, a pretty but slightly ditzy looking girl in a red dress floated into the air.

Qing Wan curtsied slightly and batted her big eyes. She said timidly, “Greetings, Mystic Master. Do you have orders for me?”

Su Yi looked her up and down, his gaze sharp and discerning as a master appraiser’s. He didn’t overlook even the slightest detail.

Having him scrutinize her so closely left Qing Wan deeply uncomfortable, but she dared not avoid his gaze. She just lowered her pretty head until it was practically buried in her chest. Her lashes quivered slightly, and her fair white face burned bright red.

Meanwhile, Su Yi noticed that Qing Wan had changed a lot!

Her petite soul body was more concentrated. Her skin was the color of suet, but it looked ruddy and healthy. Her face was still slightly chubby with baby fat, but her phoenix eyes were bright, and her every movement carried a newfound, natural charm.

Pure yet charming, cute but a bit dorky. This unique beauty was a shock to the eyes.

Some time passed before Su Yi finally looked away and nodded. “So, you’ve already metamorphosized into a ‘haunt.’ Not bad! Not bad at all!”

Yin Spirits were the lowest class of ghost. Haunts were one step above them.

At this stage, the soul body solidified, and from the outside, the ghost looked little different from a normal person.

In the past, Qing Wan’s face had been pallid and transparent, and she had an ethereal quality about her. Anyone could tell at a glance that she wasn’t human. Now, there was no way ordinary mortals would recognize her for what she was.

Furthermore, her transformation into a haunt instilled her with a unique charm.

Alas, this wasn’t enough to infatuate Su Yi.

He remembered a peerlessly beautiful yao he’d known in his past life, a fox spirit born in green hills. Her charm was so enormous that even masters of the Buddhist way, men with hearts of stone, couldn’t resist her.

She once expressed willingness to become Su Yi’s wife, or even his concubine. He was fully immersed in cultivating the sword, yet she foolishly thought she could move his heart.

In the end, Su Yi severed all nine of her tails, sending her scampering off in panic.

From that day forth, everywhere the fox spirit went, she was sure to spread rumors. She openly cursed the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s name, saying he wasn’t really a man, that he was the biggest scumbag in the world of cultivation, and that all women beneath the heavens ought to spit upon him….

In the Wilds, this wound up a well-known joke.

Of course, not just anyone could compare with Qing Wan in terms of potential. Hm, this was one of the reasons Su Yi chose her as his future dual cultivation partner.

“Mystic Master, please rest assured. I’ve never slacked off in my cultivation.” Her voice was soft and a bit sticky. She lowered her head bashfully and stared at Su Yi’s feet; she dared not meet his gaze.

Su Yi nodded, then flipped his hand and took out some tier-two medicines suitable for ghost cultivators. “Take these and keep working hard.”

Qing Wan was stunned, but then, she hurriedly accepted them. “Many thanks, Mystic Master!”

Her voice revealed a hint of joy and intimacy.

Su Yi smiled. Qing Wan really had changed a lot.

Suddenly, Su Yi recalled something. I’ve already resolved those lingering grudges and dispelled all latent threats. Now, it’s time to pay that girl, Lingxue, a visit…