Chapter 38

"In this world, there are still many people who can leave me at a loss. For example, if you want to deal with me, I can't resist either." Bai Yufei took a sip of the green ant wine, which was sweet upon entry, and the taste of the wine lingered on his tongue.

He then smiled and said, "This turns out to be rice wine, made from some old spring, I wonder which one."

"It's just a clear spring in the mountains, how can I tell its origin? Brother Bai, don't avoid the topic, who injured you?" Shen Lian kept rotating the wine glass, and not a drop of the new green ant wine spilled out.

"My martial arts are not very good, but as you said, my saber skills are decent, and I have some talent in lightness skills. Since I got the title of 'Thief Saint,' I haven't been very proud. After all, there are always people better than me in the world. But the reputation is a burden. The Lost Dust Fragrance was stolen from the Famous Sword Manor, and they said I stole it. I was chased from Yanzhou to Qingzhou by the sword slaves of the Famous Sword Manor. Later, the young master of the Famous Sword Manor arrived, and I didn't even see his face clearly. I lost my saber and was hit by his unique hidden weapon, nearly losing my life. Thinking of the rumors in the martial world that you are a great martial artist and a skilled doctor, and since I was in Qingzhou, I had no choice but to come to you for help, hoping you would take me in."

"Once in the martial world, life and death are predestined. You came here, aren't you afraid I might not help you?" Shen Lian said slowly.

"At the end of the road, one can't think too much. Fortunately, you don't seem to be that kind of person." Bai Yufei was still a bit frightened. This unexpected disaster was indeed the most dangerous one in his life.

Actually, he wasn't very confident that Shen Lian would save him. After all, in the martial world, people not only ignore the dying but also take advantage of others' misfortunes.

"An eye for an eye, if I save you, your life belongs to me. Do you agree? If not, you can leave now. Of course, the money you paid for your life must be repaid in the future." Shen Lian wasn't a bad person, but he wouldn't give away his kindness recklessly. He believed that kindness should be repaid, and he didn't think it was a good thing.

In this world, truly selfless sages are few, and most people expect something in return for their kindness, which is also in line with the natural order.

Bai Yufei smiled bitterly. "I am alone in the world. If you find me useful, take my life."

"Then stay and work as a waiter. The pay is the same as others, with meals and lodging provided, but no alcohol. With your physical condition, you should be able to do some heavy work now. You can start tomorrow."

"Only now do I confirm that you are indeed the innkeeper." Bai Yufei smiled. At this point, he didn't care about money or the lack of good wine. What truly interested him was Shen Lian himself.

In the world, it is rare to find someone who truly understands you. Even if they haven't become close friends, they are not petty.

After Bai Yufei left, Shen Lian slowly opened the window. This building was the highest, offering a view of the green mountains outside the city. The mountains were already covered in snow, and the bright moon was high in the sky. Unconsciously, he had been in this world for almost three years.

He didn't leave any means to control Bai Yufei, not because he trusted Bai Yufei to be a man of his word, but because he didn't care if Bai Yufei would go back on his word.

In life, many people come and go. Even if a few people are misjudged, so what?

What he needed to think about was what gift to give Xin Shisiniang. Since she was an extraordinary being, she wouldn't care about mundane things. To meet an extraordinary person, one must have something extraordinary, or it wouldn't be interesting.

******

The moonlight shone on the snow, making the road as bright as daylight.

On the snow, there was a long shadow, which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be a sedan chair.

The sedan chair was light blue, and the two bearers were dressed in light blue, not very old, but with excellent lightness skills.

The footprints in the snow were of the same depth, and each time the bearers leaped, they landed at the same time, covering about five to six zhang (about 16 to 20 meters) each time.

In less than a quarter of an hour, they had traveled ten miles.

The sedan chair suddenly stopped at the foot of Jialan Mountain. Beyond Jialan Mountain was Qingzhou City.

"Here is Jialan Mountain, where Ling Chongxiao killed Yang Xuan. There is only one path up and one path down. To go around this mountain, you have to take a long detour," the front bearer said in a deep, resonant voice, like metal striking stone. He stood straight, with a green steel sword hanging from his waist.

In the snowy night, he didn't shiver at all, and the same was true for the rear bearer.

"Ling Chongxiao is said to be almost enlightened, and his junior brother Yang Xuan was also a formidable expert, daring to offend even the Khan of the Shibi in the northern desert. Ling Chongxiao could kill Yang Xuan, but I can't even kill Bai Yufei. It seems I can only surpass him after I enter the immortal gate. But by then, Ling Chongxiao probably won't be a concern for me."

The voice from the sedan chair was clearly that of a man, with a deep sense of loneliness in his words.

"Bai Yufei's martial arts are not high, but his lightness skills are innate. You couldn't kill him, but it wasn't because of your martial prowess. At your age, Ling Chongxiao was far inferior to you. Besides, you will eventually seek immortality, surpassing him by far."

"Sword Thirteen, you are good at speaking. Sword Fourteen, what do you think of what Sword Thirteen said?" the man in the sedan chair asked, clearly indicating that Sword Thirteen was the front bearer and Sword Fourteen was the rear bearer.

"I don't know." It seemed like the three words were squeezed out of a stone. After saying these three words, he seemed to have finished his daily quota of words and wouldn't say another.

"Sword Fourteen, you are always so quiet. No wonder you can't find a wife." The man in the sedan chair found it amusing to tease his subordinates and seemed a bit more cheerful.

"Are we going up the mountain and entering the city tomorrow?"

"Let's rest on the mountain tonight and go to get the item from the Green Bamboo Gang tomorrow, and deal with Bai Yufei on the way."

"The Green Bamboo Gang in Qingzhou City is not significant, but the young master of the Shen family, Shen Lian, is said to be very powerful despite his young age. He learned his martial arts from Yang Xuan and has already surpassed him. Do you want to meet this young prodigy?"

"I've heard of Shen Lian. He is said to be graceful and elegant, making people forget the mundane world upon seeing him. Since we are here, it would be a shame not to meet him." The man in the sedan chair chuckled.

The mountain path was steep and slippery, but Sword Thirteen and Sword Fourteen carried the sedan chair as if it were flat ground.

Soon, they saw a temple, Jialan Temple.

The stone steps were covered with fine snow, and the moonlight was bright, making it a delightful sight.

There was a faint light inside, like a small flame in the ancient temple, deep and mysterious.

"Someone seems to be inside. I'll go in and scout, Sword Fourteen, stay here."

Sword Fourteen grunted, and the man in the sedan chair had no objection.

Sword Thirteen followed the snowy stone steps into the ancient temple and saw a beautiful woman in a red silk scarf walk out.

It was Xin Shisiniang.

"Are you here to stay the night? You can go to the back courtyard."

Sword Thirteen replied, "Yes, we are here to stay the night. Thank you, miss."

While he responded, he noticed that Xin Shisiniang, walking out of the main hall, didn't leave a single footprint.