Life Seemed to Spend Forever Wandering the Humble Alleys

(The update was an hour late. Sorry, sorry. 23,000 characters.)

Chen Ping'an had met three sword cultivators who called themselves swordsmen: first A Liang, then Pu Rang in Ghost Realm Valley, and now the Great Bearded wandering knight beside him.

Liu Cha put more pressure on Chen Ping'an than the Dragon Lord, who had been his neighbor for years.

For one thing, Liu Cha's swordsmanship and sword intent were stronger. The Dragon Lord's body had never been whole, so he had never returned to the peak of his realm.

For another, the Dragon Lord was, after all, a human sword cultivator, while Liu Cha belonged to the Demon Race. The sewing art through which Chen Ping'an bore true names had a mysterious relationship of mutual suppression with Liu Cha.

Liu Cha studied the white-robed Yin Guan with interest. His eldest disciple, Zhu Que, had suffered a setback at this young man's hands. Just as well. It would keep him from thinking that, beyond the Sword Qi Great Wall, there were no sword cultivators left in Vast Heaven and Earth.

Chen Ping'an did not move a muscle. Only his Daoist Robe turned scarlet once more. "How is Ascension City?"

Liu Cha took out a flask of wine and tipped back a mouthful. He glanced at the young man, who seemed stirred yet remained as still as water. "You can still afford to worry about others?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. "I do have the heart for it, but not the strength."

The gray-robed Dragon Lord had just been slain by the Old Great Sword Immortal.

Chen Qingdu had said years ago that if the Dragon Lord dared take one step north beyond the city wall, he would die.

And so he had.

Unfortunately, Chen Ping'an had not seen the stroke that slew the