Iron Cavalry

After entering the pass from Fengsui City and crossing into Azure Prefecture, the journey had been smooth and unimpeded all the way.

No longer did barren mountains and wild ridges meet the eye, but orderly cities instead.

Within the Great Chu Dynasty, there were no roaming bandits or demon scourges. Every so often, dazzling streaks of white light could even be seen cutting across the sky.

This perfectly ordinary practice of "traveling by sword" in the Great Chu Dynasty was an awe-inspiring spectacle that came only once in a thousand years to Deng Baiyi, who had only just entered the martial world. Northern Prefecture was simply too desolate. Not to mention sword cultivators, even seeing a Qi Refiner was an exceedingly rare occurrence... Thus, whenever the convoy stopped to rest, Deng Baiyi would often tilt her head up at the sky, her eyes filled with yearning.

She kept every word Xie Xuanyi had said firmly in her heart.

To ride a sword, to fly.

At the very least, one had to cultivate to the Qi Guiding Realm!

Even cultivators of considerable talent needed ten years to reach that step. As for those without talent... they had no hope of it for their entire lives.

She did not know where her aptitude stood. Xie Xuanyi had never praised her. Now, after cultivating for nearly half a month, she seemed only able to draw a few talismans. The so-called Foundation Establishment Realm still lay far beyond her reach.

No matter what.

She only hoped that one day, she could become one of those white streaks that flashed through the sky like shooting stars.

"Another two hours, and we'll reach Taian City."

Xie Xuanyi sat in meditation with his eyes closed, silently sensing his own heartbeat.

Over the past few days, he had already condensed two strands of Golden Qi!

At this rate...

Without relying on a blessed grotto-heaven, he truly did not have even the slightest chance!

Helpless, he cast these distracting thoughts aside and looked out at the scenery beyond the carriage window.

According to the original plan.

After entering Azure Prefecture, he should have taken Deng Baiyi and the others directly to Carp Tide City.

But Shen Yan had now boarded the carriage.

And the eastward road to Carp Tide City happened to pass through Taian City.

Stopping in Taian City, completing the transaction, and obtaining five Azure Origin Pills had thus become something conveniently done along the way.

"The closer we get to Taian City, the more unsettled my Heart Lake becomes..."

Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Is it because of Shen Yan?"

Xie Xuanyi knew that this woman definitely had secrets.

But he had no interest in Shen Yan's secrets.

He had allowed Shen Yan onto the carriage only because he wanted to know whether something unclean had set its sights on him during this eastward journey.

If so... then "it" had better have the courage to show itself.

Of course, there was another reason—

The five Azure Origin Pills Shen Yan had promised!

His cultivation speed was far too slow now, and Azure Origin Pills could solve his most pressing need.

Ordinary cultivators all cultivated by absorbing the Qi of heaven and earth... But in some places, the amount of Qi was simply too scant, and so "Qi pills" specially made to aid cultivation came into being.

Different grades of pills contained different quantities of Qi.

Besides that.

Different cultivators had different conditions, so their efficiency in digesting the Qi from pills also differed.

Generally speaking, if one savored and consumed it slowly, a single Azure Origin Pill was enough for a Qi Refiner to digest over the course of a month.

True geniuses could advance without the need for pills.

But those with slightly poorer aptitude needed to rely on some additional methods...

For cultivators with poor talent but ample family wealth, taking pills was nothing shameful.

Xie Xuanyi let out a long sigh.

In the end, he had still become the kind of person he had once despised most.

Thinking back to those days, even a personal conferment from the Great Chu Dynasty imperial household could not make him bend his back and bow his head...

Yet now, for the sake of a mere five Azure Origin Pills, he had lowered his noble head.

"Young Master Xie."

As they neared Taian City, Shen Yan returned. This time, she was different from before. She was no longer deliberately intimate, and her clothes and accessories were much more "neat and clean."

"We're almost at Taian. I came specially this time to thank you."

Shen Yan sat beside Xie Xuanyi and said softly, "No matter what, thank you for taking me into the city..."

"It was nothing, merely lifting a hand."

Xie Xuanyi smiled faintly. "If Miss Shen truly wishes to thank me, then simply pay the agreed reward."

"Of course."

Shen Yan said earnestly, "Taian City's deputy city lord, Xu You, is my father's friend through life and death, a friendship forged in blood. Earlier on the road, I borrowed the Deng Household Head's brush and ink to send a letter by carrier pigeon to Taian City. If nothing unexpected happens... it won't be long before Taian City sends someone to receive us. The road ahead will no longer be dangerous."

She looked utterly certain, as genuine as could be.

Even Deng Baiyi, who had always doubted Shen Yan, was beginning to believe her.

The road ahead would hold no danger?

Xie Xuanyi merely smiled without speaking.

He knew very clearly that the road ahead was where the true danger began.

The closer he came to Taian City, the stronger the sense of danger in his heart grew.

Xie Xuanyi was truly curious what secrets and hidden cards this "frail woman," whom he had met only by chance, possessed.

Sure enough.

About an hour later, the thunder of exceptionally fierce hoofbeats came from afar.

Deng Baiyi narrowed her eyes and saw a squad of iron cavalry charging over the distant horizon.

This was her first time seeing such a formation.

Although she had seen the Bronze Scale Guard and halberd soldiers in Fengsui City before, once they had revealed their identities, those men had not shown any killing intent. But the iron cavalry in the distance radiated a biting chill from head to toe!

Deng Baiyi immediately grew tense!

"No need to worry."

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "They aren't enemies."

Though they were separated by a li.

Through Qi, Xie Xuanyi could clearly sense the spiritual auras of these iron riders. Cold light gleamed from their iron armor. There was no doubt that they were warriors who had truly endured bitter life-and-death battles. Yet their frightening momentum as they galloped forward was merely for the sake of speed; they had no intention of drawing their blades.

Of course.

Even if these people intended to make a move, there was nothing to fear.

These people alone were not enough to make Xie Xuanyi sense "danger."

In other words, they were not the true source of danger.

Sure enough.

Once the iron cavalry approached the Deng Estate convoy, they began to slow down. Their leader was a handsome young man in green armor and a green helmet. With a raised hand, he sharply reduced the entire troop's speed. In the end, they "amicably" stopped the whole convoy. Deng Chicheng got down from the carriage nervously, intending to greet him, but the leader ignored him outright. He strode quickly to the last carriage and lifted its curtain.

The first person he saw was Xie Xuanyi.

The handsome young man remained expressionless. After meeting his gaze, he quickly shifted his eyes away and looked at the woman beside Xie Xuanyi. In a low voice, he asked, "Miss Shen?"

"It's me."

Shen Yan said in delight, "Brother Jing, you came! It's been so long. Have you been well?"

"I'm in Taian City, so naturally I've been very well."

The young man smiled, his words carrying another meaning. "But you, you've suffered on this journey. Have you been wronged along the way?"

What kind of thing was that to say?

Deng Baiyi, who had always had a fiery temper, raised her willow-leaf brows and was about to flare up.

But Xie Xuanyi pressed down on her shoulder with Qi from afar, leaving her unable to rise.

"Of course... not."

Shen Yan paused before hurriedly introducing them. "Young Master Xie, this is Xu Jing, Mister Xu You's adopted son. We have known each other since childhood."

"Young Master Xie?"

Xu Jing's gaze toward Xie Xuanyi was far from friendly.

"Brother Xu is a fine-looking man, a dragon and phoenix among men."

Xie Xuanyi spoke with a smile. "Brother Xu and Miss Shen grew up together. That makes you childhood sweethearts, does it not? I think the two of you are quite well matched."

One did not strike a smiling face.

As soon as he said this, Xu Jing's expression eased considerably. This Xie fellow spoke rather pleasantly, didn't he? It seemed the situation here was not quite what he had imagined.

"Brother Xie flatters me."

He took the initiative to extend his hand and lightly shook Xie Xuanyi's. A flicker of surprise immediately appeared in his eyes.

There was no Qi in this Young Master Xie's body?

Had he sensed wrongly?

He looked so young. Could it be that he had not begun cultivating yet?

"Peak of the second realm. With a single moment of enlightenment, he could immediately step into the Qi Guiding Realm."

At the same time, Xie Xuanyi had also determined Xu Jing's cultivation realm... At such a young age, his cultivation was fairly decent. No wonder Shen Yan treated him so well.

The letter Shen Yan had sent had successfully reached Taian City's city lord's residence.

Xu Jing had naturally read it. After receiving his orders, he had spurred his horse at full speed and led men here to receive them.

Now that they had finally met, he hurriedly offered a round of concern.

Upon learning that Shen Yan was unharmed, he stopped wasting time.

"Lingluo Mountain was attacked. All of you were willing to lend a hand and save her. By that deed alone, you are honored guests of Taian City."

He mounted his horse again and raised a hand. "If you do not mind, then please come with Xu and return to the city together."

The iron cavalry formed ranks and surrounded the Deng Estate convoy.