Karmic Entanglement from a Past Life

Liu Yunshen joined Gong Liefeng and Cao Langao's group, escorting the merchant caravan all the way across the borders of the Great Zhou Kingdom and into the Heavenly Capital of Han Kingdom. For a moment, he was captivated by the bustling splendor before him and could not help stopping to take it all in.

The others had long since grown accustomed to it.

"Brother Liu, is this your first time in Han Kingdom?" the young Lei Zhaoye asked. Liu Yunshen lingered amid the sea of flowers in the city, then looked toward the weapon shops in the distance and sighed with a smile. "I used to stay home and study. I'd never traveled far!"

"Perfect," Cai Yuelin said with a grin. "Once we deliver our client, we can properly explore the Heavenly Capital."

"Perfect!"

Liu Yunshen was overjoyed. He had hit it off with the young men at once, and during their journey, they spoke of everything under the sun. In only a few days, they had forged a deep friendship.

"Junior Sister, shall we go have a look around?" Gong Liefeng asked softly, his face flushed red. Before Cao Langao could answer, a woman's voice rang out from behind them. "Oh my, how embarrassing! My darling, darling Senior Brother!"

Cao Langao was both embarrassed and furious. She threw a punch at him. "Cai Yuelin! You're imitating me again! I'll beat you to death! Stop right there! Don't run!"

Cai Yuelin ran off laughing.

Liu Yunshen and Lei Zhaoye could not help secretly laughing as well.

"Brother Cai's vocal mimicry is truly astounding. If one did not listen carefully, one simply could not tell!" Liu Yunshen exclaimed in admiration. Gong Liefeng laughed and cursed, "This fellow puts all his thoughts into crooked paths. If he devoted three more parts of diligence to cultivation, he'd have broken through to the second realm of Qi Refining long ago! Master Qi! We're nearly at your estate ahead, so we'll be taking our leave first!"

Qi Hong nodded with a smile. "Many thanks!"

Gong Liefeng and Cao Langao departed first.

Cai Yuelin, Liu Yunshen, and Lei Zhaoye continued accompanying the wealthy merchant Qi Hong.

"Young heroes, thank you for protecting me all along the way. My old estate lies just ahead, and I have already ordered a banquet prepared!"

The merchant's face was piled high with smiles as he thanked them repeatedly, yet his eyes seemed veiled by a layer of grayish-white haze.

"Master Qi, there is no need for such courtesy. We are pressed for time this trip. Our father has been urging us to return early, and we still need to discuss establishing another sect..." Cai Yuelin was simple and guileless, nearly letting the secret slip. Lei Zhaoye hurriedly tugged his sleeve and said with a smile, "Master Qi, time is pressing, so we won't stay for wine!"

"Very well! Please accept this bit of silver, then. Consider it funds for purchasing pills!"

"Master Qi! You have already paid us. How could we possibly..."

"Take it, haha!"

Qi Hong forcibly stuffed a money pouch into each of their hands and instructed Lei Zhaoye to give the other two pouches to Gong Liefeng and Cao Langao. As for Liu Yunshen, who did not belong to the Myriad Swords Sect, Qi Hong personally tucked that bundle of wealth into his left sleeve. He pulled him aside and solemnly thanked him. "Young hero, you are upright and selfless, and your features are most extraordinary. I have never seen the like in all my life!"

"Elder Qi, you jest! I am merely an ordinary commoner. Joining a sect in the future would only be to earn a bite to eat!" Liu Yunshen thanked him and accepted the pouch, his left arm immediately sinking from its weight.

"Wow, Cai Yuelin, Master Qi gave you one more piece of silver than he gave me. Treat us! Treat us!"

"If you think yours is too little, take some from Senior Brother Gong and Junior Sister Cao's pouches. Just don't blame me when they beat you up!"

The boys in the distance had not yet shed their childishness, chasing and roughhousing without end.

Liu Yunshen's double pupils stared deeply at the money pouch. It was stuffed full of gold!

"Master Qi, this is far too valuable. Forgive this junior, but I cannot accept it!"

"Brother Liu, these are merely worldly possessions. To me, they are already as plentiful as dung. If you wish to accomplish something in the future, perhaps they may offer you a little support!" Qi Hong stroked his jade-white hand, seemingly brushing over the lines of his palm by accident. Smiling, he said, "Three seals and three stars gather in the Hall of Fame; the sun and moon halls each bear a seal! Extraordinary! Extraordinary!"

Liu Yunshen was startled and did not know how to refuse. Yet Qi Hong had already cupped his hands in farewell and entered through the closed gates with the support of his servants.

"Wealth must not be displayed!" Liu Yunshen hurriedly stuffed the pouch of gold into the deepest part of his traveling pack, then turned to rejoin the others.

"Brother Liu, how much silver did Master Qi give you?" Cai Yuelin asked with a mischievous grin, stepping forward to drape an arm over Liu Yunshen's shoulders.

Lei Zhaoye frowned as he smiled. "Even blood brothers keep clear accounts. Who asks a question like that?"

"I know, then. I should have just robbed you directly, haha!" Cai Yuelin formed sword fingers and jabbed at him. Liu Yunshen smiled and dodged, chopping down with his palm like a blade to intercept Cai Yuelin's wrist.

Cai Yuelin was startled, and his left index finger shot out as well! Liu Yunshen still used only his left palm to fend off both fingers. After several dozen exchanges, they actually ended in a draw!

"Who would have thought Brother Liu was this formidable! Brother Lei, hurry and join in!" Cai Yuelin grew more anxious the longer they fought, laughing loudly. "Today, I have to see what treasures Brother Liu has in that pack of his, haha!"

Liu Yunshen smiled bitterly. "This little brother truly cannot hold out any longer!"

"You can't hold out any longer, yet you're still using only one hand!" Lei Zhaoye laughed heartily as two more sword-finger strikes shot toward him! Liu Yunshen sighed, his left palm and right fist circling back and forth. With one light strike, he sent both men reeling, while he himself staggered back three steps and swayed.

Lei Zhaoye and Cai Yuelin caught him, their faces full of delighted surprise. "Brother Liu, you truly are formidable!"

"You let me win." Liu Yunshen smiled and cupped his hands. Just as he was about to look for Gong Liefeng and Cao Langao, a tender sight entered his view.

"Miss! This is the perfect time to admire the flowers!"

"Rou'er only knows how to wag her tongue!"

"You two are talking nonsense again. When we return, you'll each copy the Treatise on Lyrics a hundred times! We'll see if you dare do it again!"

"Ah! Mercy!"

The three women laughed together. Two wore red and green, and judging by their clothing, they were likely maids. The woman between them wore a robe of azure, her spirit as clear and noble as the purest water!

In that instant, the young man's and young woman's gazes met.

Liu Yunshen stared at the young woman, unable to control himself.

The young woman returned his gaze, unwilling to leave!

"Miss, could it be..."

"That man truly suits our young miss, but judging by how he's dressed, he seems to come from a poor family!"

The two maids did not dare disturb them and hid to one side, giggling.

"Miss! Master has urgent business with you!"

Two men approached, one tall and thin, the other powerfully built.

The woman looked back at Liu Yunshen, more than ten paces away, before leaving with boundless reluctance.

The tall, thin man walked across the street and stared at Liu Yunshen. He gave a cold snort. "Boy, don't think that just because you have a handsome face, you can set your sights on my young miss. If you know what's good for you, get lost and stay far away!"

Never before had Liu Yunshen felt such fury. The black staff on his back erupted with killing intent that soared into the heavens!

The man gave a sinister smile and flicked open his right palm. A terrifying Sword Qi rose with a howl!

"He has already reached the realm where Qi condenses into form!"

"This man is at least an expert of the third realm of Qi Refining!"

Though Gong Liefeng and Cai Yuelin were afraid, they still stepped forward and stood before Liu Yunshen, glaring angrily at the tall man.

"You've got some nerve!" The tall man did not press them further, merely saying coldly, "Boy, let me tell you plainly: if you do not possess a family worthy of my Li Clan of Longxi, give up that thought while you still can. A toad lusting after swan flesh! Get lost!"

Lei Zhaoye and Cai Yuelin watched the departing man, both filled with indignation. "He only looked at her once. What's so great about that? Our Myriad Swords Sect isn't afraid of your Li Clan either!"

Liu Yunshen stood there woodenly. His pack fell to the ground, revealing its contents—gleaming gold, bright yellow and dazzling, stabbing at the eyes and filling every passerby's gaze with greed!

Lei Zhaoye and Cai Yuelin were horrified. They hurriedly gathered the gold, stuffed it back into the pack, and pulled Liu Yunshen into an alley!

"Brother Liu! Brother Liu!" Lei Zhaoye vigilantly watched their surroundings as he kept shaking Liu Yunshen by the shoulders.

Cai Yuelin looked at Liu Yunshen, whose tears and snot streamed down his face, his own eyes full of astonishment. "Brother Liu, don't tell me you really fell for that young miss of the Li family?"

"No, I only hate myself!!" Liu Yunshen gritted his teeth and clutched Benevolent Heart Ripples tightly to his chest!

Cai Yuelin sighed and gently patted his back. Just then, Gong Liefeng and Cao Langao happened to be heading their way. Lei Zhaoye sent them a voice transmission. "Brother Gong, Junior Sister Cao, come quickly!"

"What happened? Who bullied Brother Liu? Who? Watch me destroy him!" Gong Liefeng roared in fury, drawing his sword halfway from its sheath and frightening the passersby into fleeing in panic.

Cai Yuelin gave a wicked grin. "The Li Clan of Longxi bullied Brother Liu. How about it, Brother Gong? Shall you go wipe out the entire Li Clan?"

Gong Liefeng's eyes went wide and his face turned red. Cao Langao smiled as she pushed her senior brother's sword back into its sheath. Cai Yuelin giggled. "Senior Brother Gong must be thinking, isn't that a flood washing into the Dragon King's temple?"

"Get lost!" Gong Liefeng laughed and cursed, saying no more, though his fists clenched until they crackled!

Liu Yunshen wiped away his tears and gave a bitter smile. "This little brother acted rashly and dragged everyone into trouble. Let us part ways here!"

Gong Liefeng was greatly alarmed. He grabbed Liu Yunshen and angrily said, "Brother, do you take us for outsiders? Or are you afraid we covet your money? We'll leave the city now. Along the way, we'll clear a path when demons bar the way and sweep aside dragons when waters block us! It's no big deal!"

"Brother Liu, if you wish to leave, we will not stop you. But we cannot watch you act on impulse and send yourself to your death over a woman!" Lei Zhaoye said solemnly.

Cai Yuelin urged, "Brother Liu!"

"Everyone..." Tears filled Liu Yunshen's eyes, leaving him speechless for a moment.

"Let's find an inn first! Even if the Heavenly Capital is a chaotic mix of fish and dragons, those demonic sects cannot possibly rob us openly in broad daylight!" Cao Langao pointed to the Black-Armored Guard of the Han Empire flying through the sky on sword flights!

"Good! We'll do as everyone says!"