Floating Boat Market (Please Bookmark)

"My name is Li Rulong. Greetings, Senior!"

Li Rulong had a square face with resolute lines. He stepped forward solemnly to offer his thanks.

Although Fang Qing appeared several years younger than him, he was clearly some old monster skilled at preserving his youth and could not be treated lightly.

"Senior?"

Fang Qing touched his own face. "I'm about the same age as you. Just call me Fang Shui..."

"About... the same age?"

Li Rulong's eyes widened.

Fang Qing scratched his head with a foolish grin. "When I was little, I fell off a cliff and found the legacy of a senior. There was also a red-fruited tree beside it, and after eating its fruit, my strength increased greatly..."

This was the background he had fabricated for himself. The image of an honest, simple-minded boy could make others look down on him, while also explaining why he basically knew nothing.

More importantly, the identity of "Fang Shui" was protected by the Dao-Born Pearl and layered with the effect of As If in the Calculation. He feared neither investigation nor divination.

"So... that was it?"

Li Rulong felt as though he were listening to a tale from a storybook, yet his heart stirred. Still, this man revealed his background the moment we met. He truly seems inexperienced in the ways of the world...

The two returned to the caravan together, and Li Rulong introduced everyone to Fang Qing one by one.

Their group had originally consisted of seven people, all descendants of martial aristocratic clans from Ancient Shu. Like-minded and high-spirited, they had sworn brotherhood and called themselves the Seven Swords of Shu Mountain!

Unfortunately, in today's battle to uphold justice and aid the weak, three of them had died outright!

Only Li Rulong, the eldest, remained, along with the second brother Liu Wansu, the sixth brother Zhu Zhenheng, and their youngest seventh sister, Guo Tianhong.

Every one of them was wounded now, while Li Rulong was instead in the best condition among them.

"Thank you... Brother Fang... for saving us."

Liu Wansu wore a green scholar's robe and looked every bit the jade-like young gentleman, but he was currently bathed in blood. Zhu Zhenheng had lost an arm. Only Guo Tianhong was somewhat better off, though her face was still the color of gold paper, and she had suffered serious internal injuries.

"No need to be so polite..."

After Fang Qing exchanged a few courteous words, he saw the mistress of the caravan approach. "This humble woman is Pu Feiling, of the Yulin Pu Clan. Thank you all for saving us."

With that, she gave them a graceful curtsy.

She immediately ordered the physicians to tend to their wounds, had the corpses cleared away, and instructed the caravan to resume its journey. Everything was handled in perfect order.

The Seven Swords of Shu Mountain—no, the remaining Four Swords—were all injured. Under Madam Pu's earnest invitation, they could only board the carriages to recuperate.

Fang Qing also agreed to escort them to the next city.

Several days later.

Night had fallen, and moonlight flowed like water.

Beside the campfire, Li Rulong was drinking with Fang Qing.

After spending these days together, he had become convinced that this "Brother Fang Shui" was truly a fortunate young man ignorant of worldly affairs.

And one with lofty ambitions besides.

"You wish to seek immortality?"

Li Rulong took another sip of wine, his gaze fixed directly upon Fang Qing.

"Of course... My family even has an Immortal Calendar. Immortals must exist, but I just can't find them..."

Fang Qing answered honestly.

"I've read the Immortal Calendar as well... It is said that some great aristocratic clans even possess secret versions..."

Longing also filled Li Rulong's eyes.

After all, who did not wish to become immortal?

"To be honest... the seven of us brothers ventured through the martial world with the same intention of seeking immortality. I never expected..."

Li Rulong's expression dimmed as he spoke.

The two drank themselves into a stupor, then each returned to his carriage to rest.

Little did anyone know that after Fang Qing lowered the carriage curtain, his expression instantly became utterly clear-headed, a faint smile playing around his lips.

He concentrated his mana in his ears, and his hearing immediately sharpened.

In a distant carriage.

Pu Feiling sat cross-legged, with a young girl seated opposite her. The girl had a round, slightly plump face and looked as smooth and full as a pearl.

"Mother... Is that Fang Shui really all right?"

The girl asked doubtfully.

"He... should be exactly as he claimed, a mortal martial artist who luckily swallowed a spirit fruit!"

Pu Feiling's face was full of certainty. "I tested him by announcing the name of the Yulin Pu Clan. If he were truly a cultivator, he could not possibly be unaware of the renowned Purple Mansion Immortal Clan... And these past few days, I deliberately tested him. I found no flaw."

Fang Qing, eavesdropping, twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth.

He genuinely knew nothing about cultivation in this world. All he could do was play his true self, so her probing had been utterly pointless...

"I see... Our family suffered disaster this time, and both the Seven Swords of Shu Mountain and Fang Shui contributed their strength. We ought to repay them in some way..."

The girl pondered for a moment. "Mother, could we?"

"No!" Pu Feiling's expression immediately turned solemn. "Your mother is only from a branch of the Pu Family. I married early, and what standing do I have left in the main family? I deliberately changed your surname to Pu this time so that you could return and acknowledge your ancestors... If you possess the aptitude to cultivate through Qi Ingestion, then all Spirit Assets must be prepared for you. Do you know how precious the first strand of True Qi upon entering the Dao is? Even cultivators of the main family must painstakingly gather qi for years or even over a decade to obtain a single strand... You can barely look after yourself, yet you still want to support someone else?"

The girl immediately fell silent.

Then Pu Feiling continued, "Besides... I do not think the Seven Swords of Shu Mountain necessarily possess the aptitude for cultivation. But that foolish boy encountered a fortuitous chance in his youth. Perhaps he bears some destiny upon him, so we can form a good connection with him?"

"What do you mean, Mother?"

"We lack the ability to help people enter the Dao... but offering a little guidance is not difficult. By my calculation, Floating Boat Market is about to open, and it happens to be nearby. We can let them try their luck there... As for Spirit Assets? Naturally, we will not provide a single one."

Pu Feiling said with certainty.

Yet neither mother nor daughter knew that Fang Qing had already heard every word of their supposedly secret conversation.

After hearing it all, he suddenly smiled. "How could sparrows understand the ambitions of a grand swan? And they dare use a rotten rat to tempt me?"

Though the caravan held several spirit items, they did not catch Fang Qing's eye.

No matter how precious they were, how could they compare with quietly and smoothly integrating himself into the cultivation world of this realm?

"The Yulin Pu Clan? Purple Mansion? It sounds like a major power. I need to avoid them as early as possible..."

"That Floating Boat Market, however, sounds like a fine destination..."

Cloudflower City.

This city lay at the southern end of Ba Commandery. Going farther south would take one beyond the commandery's borders.

The closer Fang Qing came to this city, the more he felt order gradually being restored.

Outside the city.

"I'll escort you no farther than this."

He watched the Pu mother and daughter's caravan queue to enter the city, then directly bid them farewell.

"Benefactor, we are endlessly grateful for your life-saving grace."

Pu Feiling bowed with her daughter. "My daughter and I will remember this great kindness. Benefactor, you previously said that you wished to seek immortality? This humble woman does know some clues..."

"Hmm?"

At this, Li Rulong and the other Four Swords became interested as well. "Please enlighten us, Madam Pu. We too have the aspiration to seek immortality."

"Not far from this city lies a Floating Boat Market, where cultivators are said to conduct certain dealings..."

Pu Feiling took out a wooden token. The entire token was bright yellow and seemed carved from wood, with the character "Pu" engraved upon its face. "Although Floating Boat Market is not open to mortals, if you present this token, they should give the Pu Family some face."

"Many thanks, Madam."

Fang Qing did not stand on ceremony. He accepted the token, turned, and left without the slightest hesitation.

"Thank you for your guidance, Madam. If we succeed in seeking immortality, we will surely repay you someday."

Li Rulong clasped his fists in salute, then hurriedly led the other three swords of Shu Mountain after Fang Qing.

"I never thought... Madam Pu looks so delicate and weak, yet she knows of immortal opportunities."

On the road, the youngest, Guo Tianhong, finally could not hold back. "Perhaps when we saved them back then, she was secretly laughing at us."

There was clear resentment in her tone.

"Seventh Sister, do not be so rude."

Li Rulong hurriedly stopped her. "I know the deaths of Third Brother and the others weigh heavily on you, but the dead are gone..."

The group immediately fell silent and continued on their way.

At last, a mountain peak shrouded in dense mist appeared before Fang Qing.

"Floating Boat Market... So the clouds here are shaped like a floating boat?"

Fang Qing had long since transformed his mana. At present he was merely a mortal, and as he gazed at the clouds in the sky, he sighed with emotion.

"I wonder whether we can become immortals?"

Seeing the immortal opportunity they had dreamed of lying right before their eyes, Li Rulong and the others tried their best to remain calm, but their hearts nearly leaped from their chests.

"Become immortal... Hahaha, what is so good about becoming immortal?"

Just then, an aged voice suddenly came from nearby.

Fang Qing turned and saw a ragged old Daoist strolling toward them, mockery in his expression. "Even after becoming immortals, they still must toil like oxen and horses for the immortals above them... No, they are not immortals at all, but demons! Some spread pestilence, while others kill people to harvest their blood qi... What have they turned the fine lands of Ba Commandery into?"

"Spreading pestilence? Could he mean the Black Blight Sect? And those who kill people for blood... could he mean those rebel soldiers?"

Unlike the utterly bewildered Li Rulong and the others, Fang Qing knew some of the truth and immediately made the connection.

The reason Ba Commandery had remained unrestored for so long, with so many deaths among its people, seemed to lie in another hidden cause.

"The cultivators of Ba Commandery seem more inclined toward... the demonic path?"

After struggling along in the Azure Sea Sect for three years, Fang Qing naturally knew something about the Dragon King Festival.

After all, the missions were posted in the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs.

He was only grateful now that those accepting the missions had all been Qi Refinement disciples, unable to release their Spiritual Sense and discern every detail. The watchers on the island back then naturally would not have noticed anything amiss about him.

"And... even when the Azure Sea Sect needed to feed demon beasts, they only occasionally killed a few mortals, and still had to hide it behind the pretext of sacrifices to the Sea Dragon King... How could they be like this place, slaughtering entire cities so brazenly?"

Fang Qing thought of many things in an instant before hearing Li Rulong shout, "Who are you?"

"Hahaha... The world knows immortals are good, yet only conscience cannot be forgotten. Where are emperors, generals, and ministers now? A heap of withered bones, and even their graves are gone..."

The ragged old Daoist looked at Li Rulong, his eyes seeming to hold a trace of pity, then walked into the thick mist by himself.

In an instant, his figure vanished.

"He was actually an immortal too."

Liu Wansu of the Four Swords of Shu Mountain said in surprise, "Why was he so unkempt? No... so unconventional?"

"Perhaps immortals have immortal tastes."

Fang Qing remained vigilant as he took out the Pu Family token and entered the dense mist.

Before long, a ceremonial archway appeared before the five of them.

The three bold, dancing characters "Floating Boat Market" were written upon it, with shadowy buildings beyond.

A man in coarse hemp clothing leaned against the archway, apparently dozing. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Fang Qing's group. "Mortals? What business do you have at Floating Boat Market?"

"We have come seeking an immortal opportunity. Immortal Master, please grant us some convenience."

Fang Qing stepped forward and handed over the token.

"The Pu Family?"

The hemp-clothed man's expression changed, and then he said, "Let me make this clear: although this market has immortal opportunities, you are mortals. Even with the Pu Family's favor, if you wish to enter, your assets must first be inspected."

"That will not be a problem. My family possesses considerable wealth."

Li Rulong said confidently.

"I do not mean mundane gold and silver, but Spirit Assets—in other words, spirit items!"

The hemp-clothed man shook his head. "Without spirit items, even if you enter the market, you will have nothing to trade with. You may as well return whence you came..."