Chapter 24: First Entry into Jile City — Meeting Acquaintances
Refining the Spirit Restoring Pill required a total of eighty-one types of medicinal herbs. Among them, three had to be hand-picked by Su Huan himself: the Void Spirit Flower from Tingmeng Continent, the Red Heart Root from Liujin Continent, and finally, the Spirit Nourishing Grass from Huayao Continent.
The Xuanji Sect was the main sect of Huayao Continent. With a little inquiry, they discovered the latest news—Spirit Nourishing Grass had appeared in a Secret Realm called “Yuejin” (Moon Ash), located in the southeast of Huayao.
After receiving this news, Su Huan packed his bags in high spirits, ready to set off. Xiao Jianming stood hugging his sword under the mountain gate. Seeing his figure, he summoned his sword and extended a hand to him. “Get on.”
Feng Jiangyue had wanted to go along, but Master Zihuan pulled her aside and whispered a secret to her. Feng Jiangyue looked at her Junior Brother in astonishment, her eyes filled with pain as if looking at a “silly sweet younger brother” who ignored family opposition and resolutely chose a punk. She hated iron for not becoming steel, yet felt helpless, so she had to let her brother go.
Her hostility toward Xiao Jianming increased instead of decreasing, but she no longer mentioned accompanying them. She simply stuffed many defensive magical artifacts and various spirit pills and talismans into Su Huan’s hands. Glancing with disgust at the person waiting nearby, her eyes couldn’t help but redden as she instructed, “If he treats you poorly, just run back. Senior Sister will take you to find those medicines herself.”
Su Huan accepted them in confusion, moved to a mess by his Senior Sister’s generosity. He nodded solemnly, tears nearly flowing from the corners of his mouth.
Here, Xiao Jianming waited impatiently. With a light click of his tongue, he pulled Su Huan onto the spirit sword, and the conversation ended there.
Near the mountain gate, there were also many sect disciples going down the mountain for training or missions. Among them, some disciples dressed as sword cultivators looked on with envy.
Sword cultivators treasured their natal swords extremely. Those invited to ride the sword could only be their wives. However, few people would choose sword cultivators who fought desperately; most would choose gentler medicine cultivators or spell cultivators to avoid hearing the bad news of their Dao Companion falling in battle one day.
Therefore, sword cultivators who had Dao Companions and were so affectionate were extremely rare. Once they appeared, it was extremely easy to attract various envy, jealousy, and hatred from fellow cultivators.
Damn it, did that sword cultivator just click his tongue? How dare he treat such a beautiful wife like that!
The surrounding single sword cultivators were red-eyed with jealousy.
Xiao Jianming knew nothing of this. He smiled at Feng Jiangyue. “Senior Sister can rest assured. I will take good care of Shixiong and absolutely won’t let Shixiong suffer any grievances outside.”
After speaking, the spirit sword turned into a stream of light and headed southeast.
At this moment, someone recognized Feng Jiangyue’s identity and exclaimed in shock, “Heavens, that’s Senior Sister Feng from Lichen Mountain who broke through to Divinity Transformation at three hundred years old!”
The single sword cultivators heard this and shouted in surprise, “What?! She is Senior Sister Feng?! Then the couple just now… aren’t they the parties involved in the rumor of forced love earlier…”
A disciple heard this and sneered, “What outdated news is that? They broke up long ago. I heard that when Senior Brother Su came back that day, his Golden Core was destroyed by that person. Although it was caused by demonic energy, a rift developed after all. Now it’s just the Sect Master’s order for that person to atone for his crimes by searching for the herbs to refine the Spirit Restoring Pill for Senior Brother Su.”
“Then why did Senior Brother Su go with him?”
“This… could it be they reconciled?”
The sword cultivators’ eyes widened. “No way, they can reconcile even after this! Why does he deserve it!”
Yes, why does he deserve it.
Feng Jiangyue wanted to ask this too.
Why was this bastard bound to her Junior Brother’s soul?
Earlier, Master Zihuan had told her: “When I diagnosed Martial Nephew Su a few days ago, I found his soul was extremely weak. Someone stabilized it for him, but their souls were bound together because of it. So I checked Martial Nephew Xiao and found it was indeed him.
“Once souls are bound, they share life and death. Even Dao Companions who cultivate the Life and Death Contract are not this intimate. Martial Nephew, they are destined not to be separated. Don’t interfere anymore, alright?”
Thinking of this, Feng Jiangyue couldn’t help but feel a surge of bitterness and regret. Master was always obsessed with seclusion and doing business, knowing nothing about raising children. Eldest Senior Brother was always out training. Second Senior Brother loved drinking and was unreliable. Over the years, she had raised Fourth Junior Brother and Fifth Junior Brother single-handedly.
She hadn’t known when her Junior Brother’s soul became so weak.
It was she who hadn’t taken good care of her Junior Brother.
Feng Jiangyue gripped the sword in her hand tightly, swearing secretly in her heart that this time, if that guy named Xiao dared to hurt her Junior Brother again, she would definitely kill him for her Junior Brother!
Here, Xiao Jianming was riding his sword, sinking into deep thought. Since the mastermind used Su Huan’s special opportunity with the Heavenly Book to know his identity and tried every means to cover up the aura of evil delusions on Su Huan to set a trap and trick him, presumably, they wouldn’t let this bait die easily. Perhaps he could find a chance on the road to bluff them and force them to reveal themselves.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jianming remembered something else. In the illusion, when he tried to forcibly place the forbidden plaything mark on Su Huan, the forbidden barrier he encountered deep in his soul was probably placed by that mastermind. It was precisely this forbidden barrier that reminded him that behind Su Huan’s vanishing evil delusions, someone might be manipulating everything.
He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Guarding the person so tightly, presumably, they were afraid that Su Huan, the bait, would truly fall in love with him and break free from control.
What a pity, this person’s painstaking efforts were destined to be wasted.
At the end of the boundless mountain forest, a city with flags blotting out the sky appeared. Xiao Jianming flew down on his sword.
He said with a smile, “Shixiong, the journey is long, and it’s getting late. Why don’t we rest here for a night?”
Although using an inquiring tone, Xiao Jianming had already flown off the sword. He turned back and smiled, extending his hand to Su Huan, gesturing to help him down.
Su Huan felt a chill run up his spine. He involuntarily took a step back and hurriedly said, “You swore an oath not to kill me. Don’t forget.”
After speaking, his hand was grasped involuntarily. Xiao Jianming put away his sword and pulled him toward the city gate, his tone sounding rather hurt. “Why does Shixiong say that? I know my mistakes; of course, I won’t kill you.” Saying this, he turned back to look at him and smiled. “If I wanted to kill Shixiong, I wouldn’t have brought Shixiong here.”
Directly in front of them, above the towering city gate poured from black iron and bronze, were three prominent golden characters on a plaque—Jile City (City of Extreme Bliss).
Jile City, a territory belonging neither to the Xuanji Sect nor any other faction, focused mainly on commerce. Those entering the city were not allowed to fight privately. If anyone killed someone in the city, they would lose their life. Thus, almost all cultivators were willing to come here to do business. Over time, it became one of the three major cities in the Central Huayao Continent.
In the original novel, the Black Lotus often came here to bid on items and pick up hidden treasures. Su Huan breathed a sigh of relief, followed Xiao Jianming to pay the entry fee to the city guards, and entered the city.
When passing through the protective array, ripples appeared on the array. Su Huan felt his body sink, and the spiritual energy in his body vanished completely. In the original novel, every time the Black Lotus came here, this situation occurred. It was a major feature of Jile City.
Xiao Jianming kindly explained to him, “Is this Shixiong’s first time here? Don’t panic. This is a restriction specially set by the City Lord to prevent high-level cultivators from fighting and destroying the people’s houses. It will be fine once you leave the city.”
Su Huan nodded, remembering that in the original novel, the author had hinted through a passerby that the Lord of Jile City was a loose immortal who couldn’t ascend because a God had fallen. Therefore, even Mahayana cultivators entering the city would be affected by the restriction and become ordinary people without spiritual energy. If a Mahayana cultivator killed someone, they would die on the spot.
In the past, when the cultivation world hadn’t declined yet, a sect master relied on his Mahayana cultivation to act wildly in the city, wanting to take treasures from the auction house for free. He killed an attendant and immediately exploded and died on the spot. From then on, no one dared to provoke the rules of Jile City.
Of course, as long as the rules weren’t violated, the Lord of Jile City never killed anyone indiscriminately.
In the later stages of the original novel, the Black Lotus used this point to exploit a loophole and take most of Jile City’s spirit stones. Although he left the city safely, he became the first person in history to be banned from Jile City.
The comment section howled with excitement over this plot, and Su Huan had read it with relish too. He couldn’t help but be extremely curious about this city.
Xiao Jianming had already walked ahead. He hurriedly followed, but his eyes couldn’t help looking around.
The streets here were extremely wide, lined with stalls selling various goods. They were orderly and neat, with about six or seven rows. The width left in the middle could still accommodate three carriages driving side by side. There was still distance between the vendors, allowing five or six people to walk abreast. Further ahead, it narrowed, and buildings like inns, restaurants, and auction houses appeared.
It was dinner time now. The first row on the street sold spiritual artifacts and had few visitors. The second row sold spirit talismans and had a few more people. The third row sold various unprocessed spiritual materials and had even more people. The fourth row sold spiritual pills. Further back sold various foods; right now, it was crowded with people, and the aroma spread through the streets and alleys.
Su Huan smelled the food too, and his stomach craved it. But Xiao Jianming had turned into an inn without looking sideways. Su Huan hesitated for a moment and followed him in.
Well, when away from home, safety first.
“Two guests, please come in! Are you… eating or staying?”
Xiao Jianming threw him a bag of spirit stones and said, “Two superior rooms. Send some food to the rooms later.”
“Alright! Two Sky-grade rooms!”
“This lowly one will lead the way for you.” The waiter took the storage bag and weighed it. The smile on his face became a little more sincere, and he hurried to lead the way diligently.
Su Huan looked at the decorations around him. Aside from the illusions of fish shadows flying in the air, flower branches growing upside down on the roof swaying slightly, and immortal mist paving the floor, it wasn’t much different from the inns in TV dramas.
“Guest, watch the steps.”
Seeing him looking around curiously, the waiter thoughtfully reminded him to watch his step. Who knew that as soon as Su Huan turned his head, he really accidentally bumped into someone.
Su Huan hurriedly bowed repeatedly to apologize: “Sorry, sorry, it’s all my fault for being careless and bumping into you. Are you okay?”
A melodious and pleasant voice came from above: “No harm done. Fellow Daoist need not be so panicked.”
Su Huan only felt the voice sounded familiar. Looking up, he saw the other person was gentle as jade, carrying a broad sword on his back. He reached out to support Su Huan’s bowing hands, saw the red tip of his nose from the bump, and chuckled while pointing, “Fellow Daoist, you bumped it red here.”
Su Huan stared blankly.
The unruly youth beside him snorted, “He deserved it. Who told him to walk without eyes? If not for the Young Sect Master’s good temper not holding it against him, anyone else would have beaten him up lightly.”
Su Huan stared blankly at the two people in front of him, muttering involuntarily, “…Nangong Yi, Yue Jiusi?”
Nangong Yi was startled and asked, “Fellow Daoist knows us?”
Su Huan subconsciously said, “More than know, we are friends…”
Nangong Yi looked puzzled. Yue Jiusi beside him heard this and sneered, “I say, your pick-up line is too ridiculous. We’ve never met you; what kind of friends are we?”
Su Huan came back to his senses, guessing in his heart that the Heart Tribulation Illusion Dream was actually a prophetic dream. He couldn’t help smiling, “No, no. You don’t know me, but I met you long ago.”
Yue Jiusi: “Is that so? How come I don’t know? Don’t tell me you want to say we met in a dream? Truly laughable. Alright, alright, make way quickly. Don’t block the Young Sect Master’s path.”
Su Huan nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. “Yes, yes, we met in a dream!”
Xiao Jianming, who had already gone upstairs, saw that he hadn’t come up for a long time. He frowned and shouted, “What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and come eat.”
Su Huan hurriedly responded, then smiled at Nangong Yi, “Fellow Daoist Nangong, we will meet again. When the time comes, let’s renew our former bond!”
Nangong Yi was startled. Looking at the back of the youth bounding upstairs, he couldn’t help shaking his head and laughing, thinking the other party was just a reckless youth who pursued him after hearing of his reputation.
He was completely unaware that a long time later, the youth would become a wisp of cloud that made his heart flutter but remained out of reach.
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