First Immortal of the Sword

I just don’t know how to go about obtaining the full True Interpretation of Spiritmist from Su Yi. Qing Jin fell silent for a while, then sighed in her heart, feeling a bit despondent.

“Martial Aunt Qing Jin, what did Su Yi say?” Zhou Zhili walked over, accompanied by Zhang Duo and three other attendants.

“In his heart, he’s definitely unhappy about it.” Qing Jin gently pursed her red lips, and her bright, knife-sharp eyes were calm as the surface of a lake.

The sect behind her was strong enough to influence the politics of the entire Great Zhou dynasty, and many of her seniors in the sect doted on her.

She was confident that even without borrowing Su Yi’s power, she could carve out a place for herself along the path of the Martial Dao!

“After we finish this operation, we can find a chance to seek Su Yi out. No matter what, I have to help you try and get your hands on the full text,” said Zhou Zhili solemnly.

“He might look young, but he’s enormously proud. I refused to agree to his conditions, so I’m afraid he now carries a grudge. If you go ask him for help, you’ll leave empty-handed. Worse, you’ll only make him look down on you.” Qing Jin stretched her slender, flexible waist, looking languid. “But then, we both owe him a favor. If he encounters trouble in the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, we can lend a hand.”

Even as she spoke, she continued ahead.

…..

“Master Su, yesterday I received a messenger pigeon from the marquis himself. He ordered me to express my gratitude once more.” Zhang Yiren personally came to see Su Yi off, his tone hearty and forthright. “He also said that, before long, he plans to visit the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital as well. Apparently, he intends to recruit a new group of talented youths from Blueriver Sword Manor to join the Redscale Army. If the timing works out, he’ll pay you a visit in person.”

Before Su Yi could speak, Huang Qianjun exclaimed, “The Spiritmartial Marquis is going to recruit in the prefectural capital?"

Zhang Yiren nodded. “Indeed. Our Redscale Army recruits new blood every other year to replenish our ranks.”

Huang Qianjun’s eyes filled with irrepressible longing. “Ever since I was a little boy, it’s been my dream to fight on the battlefield, to laugh and feast and drink the blood of spirit beasts. If there’s an opportunity to join up, I’ll have to try my luck.”

Zhang Yiren burst into laughter. “That’s what a man of the Great Zhou is supposed to be like! If I weren’t leaving so soon, I’d insist on treating you to a few rounds of hard drinking!”

Huang Qianjun grinned, but Yuan Luoxi’s bright eyes turned toward Su Yi. She whispered, “Master Su, where will you be staying after we reach the city?”

Su Yi pondered, then said, “Deep within Willow Alley.”

“What kind of place is that?” Yuan Luoxi asked Cheng Wuyong

Cheng Wuyong seemed a bit uncertain. “I vaguely recall that that’s…. An alleyway where the poor gather. It’s near the southern corner of the city.”

‘A place where the poor gather’? You mean a slum? Yuan Luoxi was stunned, but she knew better than to pry. She just silently committed the name to memory.

As they conversed, a voice as stern as iron emanated from further down the pier. “Luoxi, Elder Cheng, we’re over here!”

The pier was densely packed, but one line-up was particularly eye-catching. Over a hundred armored guards stood in a neat formation, leading horses and standing at attention.

A quietly graceful, beautiful woman stood at the front of this grand procession. Her dark hair was tied up in a bun, displaying her long, slender neck. Her thin waist was upright, and she had the unique charm only time could give a woman.

The one who just spoke was the youth beside her. He was tall and well-built, with broad shoulders and a thin waist. He wore warrior’s robes, and he had a fierce, valiant air. He stood out from the crowd, like a crane among chickens.

“Why are my mom and second brother here?” exclaimed Yuan Luoxi.

“When their children are far away, mothers worry. She’s probably here because she missed you too much. I’m more surprised to see the second young master. Hasn’t he been training in the Redscale Army?” Cheng Wuyong said in a low voice. The sight of that stalwart youth surprised him too.

The beautiful older woman was none other than Yuan Luoxi’s mother, Leng Yuqiu, the official wife of the head of the Yuan Family.

And the one beside her was her second older brother, Yuan Luoyu!

Within the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, Yuan Luoyu was a monster of the Martial Dao; he had innate divine strength that members of the same generation struggled to match.

At thirteen, he’d relied on nothing but his fists to dominate the entire Yuan Family's younger generation, revealing his dazzling sharpness.

At fifteen, he’d been sent to Shen Jiusong, the Cloudlight Marquis’ Redscale Army for further training. A few years later, he already had an outstanding record of military accomplishments, and at just seventeen, he assumed command of ten thousand men. He was the youngest officer of such rank in the entire Redscale Army.

Even the Cloudlight Marquis praised him as “the Redscale Valiant, one with the talent of a king or marquis”!

“Uncle Yong, don’t forget our agreement,” whispered Yuan Luoxi at top speed.

Cheng Wuyong’s expression was suddenly strange.

Last night, Yuan Luoxi told him that she hoped he wouldn’t tell their friends and relatives in the family about Su Yi. She wanted Cheng Wuyong’s lips sealed tight.

Her reasoning was that she feared her family would, upon learning of Su Yi’s skill, attempt to investigate him, and that in doing so, they might disturb him. If so, it might result in unpredictable consequences.

Her motivations were partly selfish, too: she didn’t want her clan’s intervention to change the nature of her relationship with Su Yi.

Cheng Wuyong already had a certain degree of understanding of Su Yi’s nature, and he knew that although this enormously capable young man might seem as calm as a stagnant pool, in reality, his pride was bone-deep.

If the Yuan Family investigated him by force, it would likely win them Su Yi’s displeasure and aversion. That was why, after thinking it over, Cheng Wuyong agreed to Yuan Luoxi’s request. Still, he was well aware that they could only keep this under wraps for so long.

So long as the Yuan Family willed it, they’d discover everything that happened both in Guangling City and on board the tower ship, right down to the slightest detail.

“Commander Zhang, we’re going to take our leave.” When he saw that Yuan Luoxi’s family was already waiting at the docks, Su Yi cupped his fist and decided to leave.

“Just as mountains are constant, the flow of the river never ceases, and neither shall our gratitude. Master Su, take care of yourself!” Zhang Yiren waved with a hearty smile.

Su Yi nodded, then turned and disembarked. Yuan Luoxi and the others followed shortly after.

When they reached the pier, the stalwart, valiant Yuan Luoyu grumbled irritably, “Girl, didn’t you notice that mom and I were waiting for you? You sure took your sweet time. In the past, I’d have smacked you!”

Although he said this, he smiled with his eyes, his gaze completely doting and affectionate.

“Who asked you to wait for me?” Yuan Luoxi rolled her eyes and said irritably, “And why did you bring so many attendants? Don’t you think that’s a bit attention-seeking?”

Then, she whipped around and pulled her mother, Leng Yuqiu, into a two-armed embrace. She immediately smiled. “Mom, you actually came all this way to welcome me? That means you must have missed me, right?”

The rims of Leng Yuqiu’s eyes were bloodshot, but her words were cold and harsh. “You’re so young, yet you snuck out of the prefectural capital? How would I face your father if something happened to you?”

Yuan Luoxi stuck out her tongue, not the least bit concerned. “I’m back, alive and in one piece, aren’t I? Don’t worry so much!”

Leng Yuqiu looked around, and her gaze landed on Su Yi and Huang Qianjun. “Elder Cheng, who might these two young lords be?”

From the pier, she sensed that Yuan Luoxi and Su Yi had exchanged quite a few words. Add that to Su Yi’s handsome good looks and calm aloof temperament, and it was obvious he was extraordinary. As a mother, how could Leng Yuqiu not notice him?

Cheng Wuyang said solemnly, “Ma’am, this is Young Lord Su, and this is Young Lord Huang. The young miss and I paid a visit to Guangling City’s Mother Ghost Ridge, and the two of them helped us avoid numerous dangers.”

Cheng Wuyong paused, then continued, “They’re in the prefecture capital to travel and temper themselves, so we wound up traveling together.”

Ah, so they’re from that backwater, Guangling City? Leng Yuqiu’s gaze was suddenly much calmer, and she said in a prim, reserved tone, “Elder Cheng, have you thanked the two young lords appropriately?”

“Please rest assured, Ma’am. I naturally wouldn’t dare forget to repay their kindness.”

Yuan Luoyu’s gaze lingered on the two of them; he was sizing them up too. Suddenly, he said in a low voice, “Friends, you helped Luoxi, and that makes you our family’s distinguished guests. If you run into problems in the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, you are welcome to call upon the Yuan Family name. I trust it will be useful.” He spoke with obvious confidence, but also disdain.

Hearing him, Cheng Wuyong and Yuan Luoxi couldn’t help but feel guilty. They glanced at Su Yi and Huang Qianjun, as if trying to say, “Please don’t take offense.”

Su Yi smiled faintly, not the least bit concerned. Huang Qianjun, meanwhile, was stunned by the sheer size of the Yuan Family’s procession; he was in no place to notice minor details like that.

“It’s been a long time, and your father is still waiting for you at home. We should go back.” Leng Yuqiu took Yuan Luoxi’s arm and said gently.

Yuan Luoyu somersaulted onto the horse and shouted, “Ride!”

The hundred-plus armored guards all took action. A procession of that size and grandeur made many of those gathered on the pier gasp.

Su Yi and Huang Qianjun seemed to have been forgotten.

When Huang Qianjun watched the grand procession pass through the pier and disappear through the city gates, he finally reacted.

“Brother Su, why were Miss Yuan and Senior Cheng so cold just now?” he said with a frown. “It seems they deliberately failed to introduce us properly?”

“Tell me,” said Su Yi. “What would the Yuan Family do if they knew that I’d saved Yuan Luoxi’s life? What would they think?”

“Of course they’d treat you as their distinguished guest!” Huang Qianjun said without hesitation, but then he said sheepishly, “No, wait. That doesn’t sound right. The higher someone’s position, the more thought they tend to give such things. There’s no way they’d believe that so easily.”

“That’s why Yuan Luoxi’s behavior was actually quite considerate. She’s undoubtedly worried that if she tells her family about us, they won’t be able to resist investigating, which would likely lead to conflict.” As he said this, Su Yi pointed to the nearby riverbank and said, “Look. See that old man fishing over there? He’s actually a hidden Martial Dao Grandmaster.”

Huang Qianjun instinctively looked over and saw a bare-footed old man in a conical hat. He was bending over to wash a worn-out fishing net, and his gaunt, weathered face was dark and covered in wrinkles.

“It doesn’t seem like it!” Huang Qianjun furrowed his brow, but Su Yi said no more.

Huang Qianjun immediately realized what he was trying to convey. “You’re right; if you say something like that out of nowhere, even someone like me won’t believe it, much less the higher-ups of the Yuan Family.”

“Remember this: as people live out their lives, regardless of whether they live in the mundane world or the world of cultivation, differences in breadth of vision, strength, and position will inevitably lead to prejudice and conflict. It’s been like that since the ancient era, and it’s still that way today.”

“I’ll bear your teachings within my heart. I won’t forget for the rest of my life!” said Huang Qianjun with a solemn bow.

But Su Yi merely smiled drily, “It’s easy to know but hard to put into practice. Even if you understood more of such principles, what good would it do you? So long as you’re strong enough, there’s no need to concern yourself with such things anyway.” He then put his hands behind his back and walked off.

Huang Qianjun hurried after him.

But although he didn’t notice it, the old man in conical hat, the swarthy, wrinkled fisherman washing his nets, looked stunned. Did that boy in blue just see through my identity?

Seth's Thoughts

Huang Qianjun’s line about laughing and drinking blood comes from a real poem, Man Jiang Hong, by the Song Dynasty poet Yue Fei.

The main difference is that Yue Fei was talking about the Xiongnu, not yao…