Because Zhong Shan was in a period of weakness, his speed had slowed somewhat. It was not until two days later that he emerged from the mountains and arrived near Zhong Shan Manor.
"Zhong Shan, is your house really here?" Tian Ling'er asked from atop Red Silk in the sky.
Tian Ling'er had now returned to her lively, adorable self. It was as though she had cast the events of that day to the back of her mind.
"Mm, we're here. Once we arrive, wash up properly and rest for a day before we continue on our way. But for now, come down," Zhong Shan said.
"Why?" Tian Ling'er asked in confusion.
"We're about to enter the mortal world. Do you want countless people chasing after you every day just to stare? Even those who don't chase after you will be scared and hide far away. If you want to blend in with the mortals, don't reveal your cultivation method," Zhong Shan explained.
"Oh." Tian Ling'er flew down, and with a turn of her hand, she stored Red Silk inside the Storage Bracelet.
Following Zhong Shan, she hopped along toward a manor in the distance.
Carefree Mountain Villa!
Four large characters were engraved on a huge stone at the very front of the manor. Just as Zhong Shan brought Tian Ling'er there, a butler-like man suddenly ran over.
"Master," the butler called out.
"Mm." Zhong Shan nodded.
Zhong Shan was somewhat different from a year ago. He looked only to be in his thirties by mortal standards. The butler had recognized him at a glance because Hidden Body had already come here and given the butler the relevant memories. That was why he could recognize him immediately.
Tian Ling'er, however, paid no attention to any of this. She looked around, seemingly curious about everything.
After entering Carefree Mountain Villa, they found a guest room. The maids had already heated water and brought it over for Tian Ling'er to bathe and change.
Zhong Shan, meanwhile, took his bundle from Tian Ling'er and entered his own main chamber.
Hidden Body was sitting inside the main chamber, waiting.
When Zhong Shan opened the door, Hidden Body rose at the same time. After all, they were the same person. Hidden Body was akin to a magic treasure, allowing their minds to communicate with each other.
Zhong Shan took out the Void Spirit Pearl from his bundle and handed it to Hidden Body.
Following the method, Hidden Body quickly controlled the Void Spirit Pearl, forming the mold of a long sword about one point six meters long. Zhong Shan, meanwhile, opened the cabinet beside him.
Inside lay a Broken Blade—the Sect Blade that contained the inheritance of the Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture and that Hidden Body had retrieved.
It had now been split in two. Hidden Body stored one half inside the long sword, while the other half fused into the great blade "Nightmare" belonging to his main body.
"The blade shall be named for vengeance, and the sword shall be named for immortality. From this day onward, this sword will be called the 'Undying,'" Zhong Shan said, looking at the long sword in Hidden Body's hand as he gave it a new name.
Undying Sword! Nightmare Blade!
After completing the handover, Hidden Body left a thick stack of banknotes behind, then took a train underground and departed.
On a broad road, Zhong Shan rode a chestnut-red horse, Nightmare strapped to his back as he galloped along. Tian Ling'er, meanwhile, rode Red Silk and flew beside him.
"Zhong Shan, where are we now?" Tian Ling'er asked somewhat boredly as she flew atop Red Silk.
"The mortal kingdom, the Great Song Kingdom," Zhong Shan replied.
The Great Song Kingdom was not far from the Great Kun Kingdom. This place lay within Great Song territory, and Zhong Shan was spurring his horse onward, hurrying along without pause.
"If we follow this road, can we reach the next city?" Tian Ling'er asked.
"That's right. We'll be there soon. Two days ago, I received intelligence that a large number of Immortal Sect disciples had appeared within Great Song. I think there may be traces of Hao San. We'll hurry over and take a look," Zhong Shan said.
"Was it that pigeon that flew over that day? How did it know you had returned?" Tian Ling'er asked like a curious child.
"It didn't know that I had returned. I made arrangements long ago. At regular intervals, news from all directions is sent to Carefree Mountain Villa by carrier pigeon," Zhong Shan explained.
"Oh." Tian Ling'er nodded.
As the two galloped onward, they found an inn to rest in that night. Two days later, they saw a city in the distance.
Tian Ling'er immediately flew down, while Zhong Shan dismounted and led the horse toward the distant city. Tian Ling'er disliked riding a large horse, saying it was too bumpy and hurt her backside, so Zhong Shan could only accompany her on foot toward the city gates.
Bian City!
Two large stone-carved characters stood above the city gate.
"Bian City?" Tian Ling'er read aloud.
Then the two led the horse toward the city gate. When they reached it, Zhong Shan ignored the guards and flicked a silver ingot toward the captain.
"Smack!"
The captain caught it with one hand. At the same time, the tremendous force made his body sway backward. He managed to steady himself without moving, but his right hand, which had caught the silver, was completely numb.
The captain quickly stood straight and did not continue searching them like the others.
Zhong Shan swaggered into the city with Tian Ling'er.
"Captain, this man is really loaded. Should we stop him and squeeze a little more out of him?" a young guard immediately asked.
The captain glared at him.
"Shut up. Do you want to die?" the captain hissed angrily.
The captain had seen that casual toss just now. It had seemed light and effortless, yet hidden within it was a dark force that had shaken his right hand until it was numb and senseless. That person was at least at the eighth layer of the acquired realm. Even without a powerful background, he was still an unparalleled expert. Rush up to him? Was he tired of living?
Tian Ling'er hopped along. After entering the city, her eyes never stopped moving. When had she ever seen so many people back at Kaiyang Sect?
There were so many street stalls, with all kinds of strange and unusual things laid out on them. They immediately caught Tian Ling'er's eye.
According to what Zhong Shan had told her, in the mortal world, as long as one had silver, one could exchange it for anything one wanted.
"I want this." Tian Ling'er pointed at a ghost-face mask.
Then she flipped out a silver ingot, handed it over, took the mask, and happily put it on. She turned and ran toward Zhong Shan without even waiting for her change. The mask vendor burst into a grin on the spot. That one silver ingot was enough to buy more than ten of his stalls.
"Zhong Shan, look, look! Isn't it fun?" Tian Ling'er put on the mask and made a ghost face at Zhong Shan.
Zhong Shan looked at Tian Ling'er and shook his head. If she wanted to play, then let her play. That little bit of money was not worth mentioning to him.
Along the way, Tian Ling'er bought anything she liked right away.
"This is called candied hawthorn? Can it be eaten? I want it. Here." Tian Ling'er excitedly took a skewer of candied hawthorn, handed the vendor a silver ingot, bit into it, and ran toward Zhong Shan.
"Zhong Shan, of the hundred silver ingots you gave me, only ten are left," Tian Ling'er said with a sigh when she reached him, still biting her candied hawthorn.
Zhong Shan had just sold his chestnut-red horse for fifty silver ingots. As soon as he received the money and turned around, he heard what Tian Ling'er had said.
Ninety silver ingots, gone just like that?
"Here, take this. Spend it slowly. Also, those banknotes from before can be used to buy things too. One banknote is equivalent to a thousand silver ingots." Zhong Shan shook his head with a laugh.
Ninety silver ingots—enough to buy a small courtyard in the city—had been exchanged away by Tian Ling'er in the blink of an eye for candied hawthorn, masks, and other little trinkets?
"Don't worry. I'll use it carefully this time." Tian Ling'er actually patted her chest as she spoke.
"Mm." Zhong Shan nodded.
The horse had been sold, and Zhong Shan needed to find a restaurant to eat something. He looked around and happened to spot a huge restaurant in the distance.
"Let's go get something to eat." Zhong Shan looked at the restaurant and spoke to Tian Ling'er.
"Mm." Tian Ling'er nodded.
When no one was paying attention, he flipped his hand and stored away the fifty silver ingots.
Only after reaching the building did Zhong Shan realize that it was not merely a restaurant.
Gold Brick Building!
At a glance, Zhong Shan knew it was a gambling den. Gold Brick Building? Still, large gambling dens generally had places to eat and drink. Since he had already brought Tian Ling'er here, Zhong Shan did not intend to change locations. As long as there was food, that was enough.
The two had just entered.
"Honored guests, what service do you require?" a man at the entrance immediately asked respectfully.
"Take me to eat," Zhong Shan said lightly, flipping out a silver ingot and tossing it over as a tip.
"Of course. This way, please. We have private rooms and a main hall on the second floor, as well as the finest delicacies," the man at the entrance said ingratiatingly.
"Mm." Zhong Shan nodded and continued inward with Tian Ling'er.
As soon as they entered, noisy, clamorous sounds flooded their ears. Tian Ling'er widened her eyes and looked at the groups of people gathered below, having no idea what they were doing. Her eyes were filled with curiosity.
"Zhong Shan, what are they doing?" Tian Ling'er asked, pointing at the people whose faces were flushed from shouting.
"They're gambling," Zhong Shan said.
"Gambling?" Tian Ling'er's eyes lit up. Clearly, she had not encountered anything like this since entering the city.
"Come on. After we eat, I'll take you to have a look," Zhong Shan said.
"Mm." Tian Ling'er suppressed her intense curiosity and followed Zhong Shan upstairs.
Once they reached the second floor, Zhong Shan directly chose a spot on the terrace. They could eat and drink there while also seeing the gambling den below.
P.S. A new week has begun. I urgently need recommendation votes to keep up appearances. Please, I beg you.
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