First Immortal of the Sword

The riverbank was lined with willows.

It was noon, right on the dot, and the blazing sun hung overhead.

Off in the distance, Dragon Ford Ferry Crossing was full of ships. They were tightly packed, and travelers were as numerous as carp in the river. It was an extremely lively scene.

Not long after Su Yi reached the shore, a Swiftlight Sparrow descended from the skies, carrying a sealed letter and a cloth pouch in its sharp claws.

Then, beneath Fu Qingyuan and Gu Caining’s stunned gazes, Su Yi took the letter, opened it, and read its contents:

“Young Lord, after you arrive in the Jade Capital, you can proceed to Auspicious Lane on the west side of the city. You can take up temporary residence in the third courtyard on Peach Glyph Alley, a place called ‘Pinewind Villa’. It’s been empty for years. Please, accept it with a smile.

“The Jade Capital is the imperial city, and its borders include one hundred and eight star towers. Each is manned by an expert of the Shadow Dragon Guards, who keep watch for disturbances within the city to prevent disasters from arising. Young Lord, as you conduct your affairs, stay on guard, or the Shadow Dragon Guards will set their sights upon you.

“We cannot send messages via Swiftlight Sparrow within city limits. If you have business with us, please shatter the ‘Goldenbridge Talismans’ we included within the cloth bag. The Ten Directions Pavilion will send our people to meet with you right away.”

“Finally, we’d like to congratulate you in advance on a successful trip to the Jade Capital.”

The note was signed by Monk Hongji.

When he finished reading it, Su Yi casually destroyed the letter, then opened the cloth bag. There were ten golden talismans inside.

These were the so-called Goldenbridge Talismans.

Su Yi thought for a moment, then removed two. He passed one to Fu Qingyuan and the other to Gu Caining. “If, after entering the city, your association with me implicates you, you can crush these to request aid.”

Before they could respond, he pressed them into Fu Qingyuan’s hand.

“Many thanks, Young Lord!”

Fu Qingyuan and Gu Caining glanced at each other. They were moved, and deeply grateful.

They wouldn’t have guessed that a lofty existence like Su Yi would consider their safety at a time like this.

Su Yi smiled and thought to himself, If the Ten Directions Pavilion knew I’d given two of their Goldenbridge Talismans away so casually, I wonder what they would think…

He dared guarantee that, should Fu Qingyuan and Gu Caining truly request aid, the Ten Directions Pavilion wouldn’t refuse.

“Then let’s part ways here. Farewell.” With that, Su Yi turned and left.

He’d always been that way; he hated dragging out goodbyes.

They watched as Su Yi’s tall, lean figure disappeared into the distance, then inexplicably sighed in relief, as if freed from enormous pressure.

It was obvious that they hadn’t been at all relaxed as they traveled with Su Yi on the back of a giant softshell turtle. They’d been reserved and uneasy the whole time.

But when they truly parted ways, although they felt relieved, they also felt somehow melancholy.

This was a man like a fallen immortal, someone they could gaze upon but never reach!

“Senior Apprentice Brother, I wouldn’t have guessed that someone like Su Yi would stop to consider whether or not he’d implicate us. It’s truly unexpected,” said Gu Caining. Her eyes sparkled like gemstones, and she sounded delighted.

“This is the bearing of a true expert. Perhaps, only those of such magnanimity can obtain such lofty and inscrutable attainments in the Dao.” Fu Qingyuan felt emotional too.

Before long, the two of them carefully put away their Goldenbridge Talismans, then proceeded toward the port.

Halfway there, they heard a voice from the river. “Qingyuan, Caining, you two sure got here awfully quick. You even beat us to Dragon Ford Ferry Crossing.”

They then saw a ferry approaching from the distance. A group of people stood on deck.

Their leader was a graying, aged but hale and hearty man in wide-sleeved robes. He seemed as tall as a mountain and as tranquil as a deep pool.

This was none other than the grand elder of Starcliff Academy, Pu Yi!

“Martial Uncle!” Fu Qingyuan and Gu Caining waved. Both were visibly excited.

After everything they’d been through, seeing Pu Yi felt like finding someone they could safely lean on. They were beside themselves with happiness.

Before long, the ship neared the shore, and Pu Yi led his companions onto the deck.

“Let’s go. If we leave now, we’ll reach the Jade Capital by dusk,” said Pu Yi with a smile.

For this year’s Autumnal Martial Arts Competition, the grand elder of Starcliff Academy took the initiative to lead a whole group of disciples to the Jade Capital.

Fu Qingyuan hesitated, then said in a low voice, “Martial Uncle, I have something I need to report. Might we… Might we talk in private?”

Pu Yi was stunned, but he nodded. “Come with me.”

He then led Fu Qingyuan into a distant stretch of willow trees and said warmly, “What is it? Did something happen along the way?”

Fu Qingyuan took a deep breath, feeling a bit uneasy. “Martial Uncle, my junior apprentice sister and I might have… caused a disaster…”

He lowered his head, not daring to meet Pu Yi’s gaze.

Pu Yi knit his brow. “Don’t be afraid. Just tell me the truth.”

Fu Qingyuan dared not hide it. He told the whole story, starting from their first meeting with Su Yi, including everything that happened on the tower ship.

When he described how Su Yi revealed his identity, Fu Qingyuan felt guilty. As a result, he didn’t even notice when Pu Yi’s expression changed. The grand elder he relied on and respected was now looking at him strangely.

When he described how Su Yi took to the skies and clashed with Shi Fengliu above the Qinglan River, Pu Yi couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air, and his expression changed dramatically. Young Lord Su has already become strong enough to force Shi Fengliu to flee?

Pu Yi’s heart shook.

When Fu Qingyuan saw this reaction, he only felt even guiltier, and his expression filled with shame. “Martial Uncle, I would never have guessed that the youth we bumped into by chance would be someone terrifying beyond imagination. Had I known…”

Pu Yi couldn’t help but laugh and interrupt. “Silly child. How can you call this ‘causing a disaster’? You’ve obviously chanced upon an enormous stroke of fortune!”

“Ah?” Fu Qingyuan was instantly bewildered. And here he’d thought the grand elder was going to curse him out.

Who’d have thought that nothing of the sort would happen? Or that the grand elder would praise him instead?

“You! You’re still too young,” said Pu Yi ruefully. “In the eyes of true cultivators, the opportunity to get acquainted with Su Yi is the fortune of three lifetimes, no, something you couldn’t earn with eight lifetimes of accumulated karmic merit!”

“This….” Fu Qingyuan felt increasingly bewildered. He just didn’t get it. Isn’t the grand elder worried that knowing Su Yi will implicate us?

Remember, a lot of people now saw Su Yi as a harbinger of disaster.

Pu Yi thought for a moment. He could roughly guess what Fu Qingyuan was thinking. “But then, that makes sense. Perhaps this happened precisely because you and your junior apprentice sister are young and acted out of righteousness. It might well be that your youthful dispositions are the reason Young Lord Su was willing to travel with you.”

For a moment, he couldn’t help but envy the two of them.

It’s worth noting that he’d racked his brains for ways to establish a connection with Su Yi. In the end, it was only through Mu Xi’s guidance that they’d established an alliance, allowing Pu Yi to join Su Yi’s camp.

Who’d have thought that juniors like Fu Qingyuan and Gu Caining could, relying on nothing but their good dispositions, be fortunate enough to travel alongside Su Yi…?

When he compared himself with them, Pu Yi couldn’t help but lament.

“Martial Uncle, before he left, Young Lord Su gave us each a jade talisman. He said that if his business implicated us, we could request aid by crushing the talismans.”

As he said this, Fu Qingyuan took out the talisman he’d received. He was just about to pass it over when Pu Yi hurriedly said, “Quick, put it away. Young Lord Su gave you that; how could you possibly reveal it lightly?”

Although he said this, inwardly, he couldn’t help but sigh. Does fortune truly favor the ignorant? Isn’t Su Yi looking out for these two a bit too much?

Something suddenly occurred to Pu Yi, and he asked, “Right, where is Young Lord Su, anyway?”

Fu Qingyuan hurriedly answered, “He left not long ago. Maybe… about as long as it would take to brew a cup of tea?”

Pu Yi pondered for a moment, then said, “Don’t discuss this with anyone else. In a bit, tell Caining too: neither of you are to reveal the jade talismans Young Lord Su gave you to anyone.”

Fu Qingyuan solemnly agreed.

Pu Yi smiled and patted his shoulders, his gaze suddenly gentle. “Qingyuan, no matter what rank you achieve in the upcoming Autumnal Martial Arts Competition, I’m willing to accept you as my closed-door disciple. Are you willing?

Fu Qingyuan was instantly delighted, and he hurriedly agreed. “Of course I’m willing!”

Pu Yi nodded in satisfaction. “Let’s go. We’ll reconvene with the others, then proceed to the Jade Capital.”

Inwardly, he was already planning his next steps. When I get to the Jade Capital, first, I’ll contact the Mountain-Subduing King. Then, we can find a chance to visit Su Yi together.

The nation’s attention was almost entirely focused on the Jade Capital. Everyone knew that when Su Yi arrived, he’d bring a massive storm with him.

At a time like this, as a member of Su Yi’s camp, how could he possibly remain uninvolved?

……

Dragon’s Gate Pass.

This was one of the four gates outside the Jade Capital. It was their first line of defense, and it protected the city’s borders.

The walls were a full thousand feet high and made entirely out of stone infused with liquid spiritual materials. The walls were also the fulcrum of a grand formation.

Rumor had it that when the formation circulated, Dragon’s Gate Pass would become an utterly terrifying killing formation; it was enough to threaten even Earthly Immortals!

Currently, there was a bustling crowd of people outside Dragon’s Gate Pass. They’d already formed a long line.

And competent, vigorous-looking guards were stationed on both sides of Dragon’s Gate Pass.

There was even a mighty middle-aged man in brown robes standing atop the thousand-foot walls. He had a saber on his back, and his cold gaze swept the line of people.

Ten days ago, the famous general of the Great Zhou stationed at Dragon’s Gate Pass, Qi Lianjue, received an imperial decree. His orders were to make every last person that passed through the gates undergo a thorough inspection.

Apparently, numerous spies from the Great Wei and Great Qin had attempted to enter the capital lately, and they had no choice but to increase their security.

Su Yi was waiting in line too. He wouldn’t have guessed he’d encounter something like this just trying to enter the Jade Capital.

“Next.”

Before long, it was Su Yi’s turn.

A soldier in heavy armor approached carrying a stack of portraits. He looked Su Yi up and down, comparing him to the images.

Su Yi noticed that the images included a mixture of men and women. They were obviously people the Great Zhou suspected were foreign spies.

“Do you have proof of your identity?” After a moment, the soldier put away the portraits and asked.

Su Yi shook his head. Why would he prepare something like that?

“If you don’t have identification, we’ll need to take additional steps to prove your identity,” said the soldier with a faint frown. He took out a bronze mirror and said firmly, “Stand up straight and don’t move.”

As he spoke, he raised the mirror into the air and pointed its surface at Su Yi.

The smooth reflective surface instantly surged with misty spiritual light.

But a single breath of time later—

Bang!