Floating Boat Market (Please Bookmark)

"Li Rulong greets you, Senior!"

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

Although Fang Qing looked several years younger than him, he was clearly some old monster skilled at preserving his youth and could not be taken 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 simple-minded grin. "When I was little, I fell off a cliff and found the inheritance of a senior. There was also a red fruit tree beside it, and after I ate its fruit, my strength increased greatly..."

This was the background he had fabricated for himself. The image of an honest, simple boy could make others underestimate 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 an As If in the Calculation effect. He feared neither investigation nor divination.

"So... that was it?"

Li Rulong felt as though he were listening to a story from a popular novel, yet something stirred within him. But this man revealed his background the moment we met. He really does seem inexperienced in worldly affairs...

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

Their group had originally consisted of seven people—seven children of martial arts aristocratic families from Ancient Shu. They had all been kindred spirits, so they had sworn brotherhood and called themselves the Seven Swords of Shu Mountain!

Unfortunately, in today's battle to root out the strong and aid the weak, three of them had died outright!

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

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

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

Liu Wansu wore green robes and looked like a refined young gentleman of jade, but he was presently drenched in blood. Zhu Zhenheng had lost an arm, and only Guo Tianhong was somewhat better off, though her face was pale as gold paper and she had suffered serious internal injuries.

"No need to be polite..."

After exchanging a few courtesies, Fang Qing saw the mistress of the household walk over from within the caravan. "This humble woman is Pu Feiling, of the Yulin Pu Clan. Many thanks to all of you for saving us."

With that, she gave a graceful bow.

She immediately ordered the physicians to tend to everyone's wounds, had the corpses cleared away, and continued the journey. Everything was handled in perfect order.

The Seven Swords of Shu Mountain—no, the Four Swords now—were all wounded. 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 fell, and moonlight flowed like water.

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

After spending these days together, he was certain that this Brother Fang Shui was indeed a fortunate young man who knew nothing of the world.

Moreover, he had lofty ambitions.

"You wish to seek immortality?"

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

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

Fang Qing answered honestly.

"I've read the Immortal Calendar too... I've heard that some great clans and aristocratic families possess secret versions..."

Longing filled Li Rulong's eyes as well.

After all, who did not wish to become immortal?

"To be honest... the seven of us brothers ventured through the martial world because we, too, wished to seek immortality. I never expected..."

Li Rulong's expression dimmed as he spoke.

The two drank themselves thoroughly drunk, then each returned to his carriage to rest.

Little did Li Rulong know that the instant Fang Qing lowered the carriage curtain, his expression became utterly clear-headed, with a faint smile at the corners of his lips.

He condensed his mana into his ears, instantly sharpening his hearing.

In a distant carriage.

Pu Feiling sat cross-legged, with a young girl sitting across from her. The girl had a round, slightly plump face that made her look as full and smooth as a pearl.

"Mother... is that Fang Shui truly all right?"

The girl spoke with uncertainty.

"He... should be just as he claimed, a worldly martial artist who swallowed a spiritual fruit through sheer good fortune!"

Pu Feiling's expression was certain. "I deliberately announced the name of the Yulin Pu Clan to test him. If he were truly a cultivator, he could not possibly be unaware of the renowned Purple Mansion Immortal Clan... And over these past few days, I deliberately tested him as well, but found no flaw."

Hearing this, Fang Qing's lips twitched slightly.

He truly knew nothing about cultivation in this world. All he could do was act naturally, so her probing had amounted to probing empty air...

"So that was it... This time, when our family met with disaster, the Seven Swords of Shu Mountain and Fang Shui both helped us. We should repay them somehow..."

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

"No!" Pu Feiling's expression immediately turned grave. "Your mother is only from a collateral branch of the Pu Family. I married early in those days; what standing do I still have in the main clan? I specifically changed your surname to Pu this time so that you could return and acknowledge your ancestry... If you possess aptitude and can cultivate through Qi Ingestion, then every spiritual resource 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 clan must painstakingly gather qi for years, even over a decade, before obtaining a single strand... You can barely look after yourself, yet you still want to support someone else?"

The girl fell silent at once.

Then Pu Feiling said, "Besides... I don't think the Seven Swords of Shu Mountain necessarily possess the aptitude for immortality. But that foolish boy encountered such an opportunity in childhood; perhaps he carries some fate upon him. We may as well form a good bond with him."

"What do you mean, Mother?"

"We lack the ability to help anyone enter the Dao... but offering a little guidance is not difficult. Calculating the days, Floating Boat Market will soon open, and it happens to be nearby. We can let them try their luck there... As for spiritual resources? Naturally, we will not provide a single one."

Pu Feiling spoke 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 can sparrows know the ambitions of a grand swan? And they want to tempt me with a rotten rat?"

Though there were several spiritual items in the caravan, they did not catch Fang Qing's eye.

No matter how rare they were, how could they compare to quietly and smoothly integrating himself into this world's cultivation community?

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

"That Floating Boat Market, though, seems like a good place to visit..."

Cloudflower City.

This city lay at the southern end of Ba Commandery. Further south lay the boundary beyond Ba Commandery.

The closer they came to the city, the more Fang Qing felt that order was gradually being restored.

Outside the city.

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

Watching the Pu mother and daughter's caravan queue to enter the city, he directly spoke his farewell.

"Benefactor, we can never repay your life-saving grace."

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

"Hmm?"

At this, Li Rulong and the other three swordsmen also became interested. "Please enlighten us, Madam Pu. We too have the aspiration to seek immortality."

"Not far from this city lies a Floating Boat Market. I hear that cultivators conduct certain businesses there..."

Pu Feiling took out a wooden token. It was bright yellow throughout, seemingly carved from wood, with the character "Pu" engraved on its face. "Although Floating Boat Market is not open to mortals, if you present this token, it should grant the Pu Family some face."

"Thank you, Madam."

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

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

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

"I never expected... Madam Pu looked so delicate and frail, yet she knew of an immortal opportunity."

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

There was obvious resentment in her voice.

"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 onward.

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

"Floating Boat Market... So it refers to the clouds here resembling a floating boat?"

Fang Qing had long since converted his mana and was now merely a mortal. Gazing at the clouds in the heavens, he sighed.

"I wonder whether we can become immortals?"

With the immortal opportunity they had dreamed of so long nearly within reach, Li Rulong and the others tried to remain calm, but their hearts were nearly leaping from their chests.

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

Just then, an aged voice suddenly rang out from nearby.

Fang Qing looked over and saw a slovenly old Daoist strolling toward them, mockery on his face. "Even after becoming immortals, you still must toil like oxen and horses for the immortals above... No, they are not immortals at all, but demons! Some spread pestilence, while others slaughter people for their blood qi... Look what they have made of this once-prosperous land of Ba Commandery?"

"Spreading pestilence? Could he mean the Black Blight Sect? And slaughtering people for blood—could he mean those rebel soldiers?"

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

There seemed to be another hidden reason why Ba Commandery had remained unsettled for so long and so many people had died.

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

After struggling for three years in the Azure Sea Sect, Fang Qing naturally knew some of the details behind the Dragon King Festival.

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

He was only grateful now that those who accepted the missions had merely been Qi Refinement disciples, unable to release their divine sense and perceive every detail. The watchers on the island back then naturally would not have discovered anything wrong with him.

"And... even when the Azure Sea Sect needed to feed its demon beasts, it only occasionally killed a few mortals, and even had to conceal it behind the pretense of worshipping the Dragon King... Unlike this place, where they massacre entire cities so openly?"

A thousand thoughts flashed through Fang Qing's mind before he heard Li Rulong shout, "Who are you?"

"Hahaha... The world knows that immortals are good, yet only conscience cannot be forgotten. Where are the emperors, generals, and ministers of old? A pile of dry bones, and even their graves are gone..."

The slovenly old Daoist looked at Li Rulong, seeming to pity him. He walked into the thick mist without another word.

In an instant, his figure vanished from sight.

"He was actually an immortal too."

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

"Perhaps immortals have their own sense of beauty."

Fang Qing remained alert as he took out the Pu Family token and entered the thick mist.

Before long, an archway appeared before the five of them.

The three words "Floating Boat Market" were written upon it in bold, soaring strokes, with layers of indistinct buildings behind it.

A man in coarse hemp clothing leaned against the archway, dozing. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Fang Qing and the others. "Mortals? What are you doing at my Floating Boat Market?"

"We have come seeking an immortal opportunity. Please, Immortal Elder, make things convenient for us."

Fang Qing stepped forward and handed over the token.

"The Pu Family?"

The hemp-clothed man's expression changed before he spoke. "You should know that although this market has immortal opportunities, you are mortals. Even with the Pu Family's face, if you wish to enter, you must first verify your means."

"That is no issue. My family possesses considerable wealth."

Li Rulong said confidently.

"Not worldly gold and silver, but spiritual resources—spiritual items!"

The hemp-clothed man shook his head. "If you have no spiritual items, you cannot conduct any transactions after entering the market. You might as well return wherever you came from..."