By Flower-Washing Creek

Beside the official road, outside a tea stall,

A merchant caravan flying the Lin banner slowly came to a stop.

Two young women stepped down in turn from an elegant carriage.

They were a pair of lovely sisters.

The elder looked to be in her early twenties, dressed in a pale violet gown, with capable sharpness between her brows. The younger was three or four years younger, dressed in a short goose-yellow jacket, looking quite mischievous and adorable.

"Sis, how much farther is Flower-Washing City? This damned place is hot and stuffy—I'm dying of discomfort."

The younger sister, Lin Weiyue, pouted as she complained, clearly miserable.

"Soon, soon. Once we cross that mountain ahead, we'll be there."

Her elder sister, Lin Shuying, could only soothe her helplessly. By chance, her gaze swept over the scholarly young man in robes nearby, drinking tea alone.

"Hmm?"

That scholar was rather handsome. She could not help praising him silently to herself.

Clang!

Suddenly, a freight wagon in the caravan, loaded to the brim, let out a humming groan!

"Hm?" Lin Shuying was startled.

The rune formation on the wagon dimmed. Its body abruptly sank, yanking the horses pulling it into a stagger and nearly making them fall to the ground.

"What happened? What's going on?"

The guard captain roared at the top of his lungs.

"Captain, it's no good! The weight-reduction talisman formation on the wagon has broken!"

"We're done for! What do we do now?"

Several people hurried over, scrambling to support the cargo wagon with all hands at once.

Seeing this, Lin Shuying could not help worrying.

Just what she feared had come knocking!

How could manpower possibly haul such heavy goods through this wilderness, with no village ahead and no inn behind?

As she was at a loss, a voice rang out.

"Perhaps I can take a look. I know a little of talisman formations, though only the barest scraps."

The scholar set down his teacup and slowly walked over.

"You? You can do it?"

The guard captain had intended to snap at him, but seeing his refined bearing—and being stopped by Lin Shuying's glance—he held back.

"Then let him give it a try!"

For some reason, Lin Shuying felt a sense of trust toward this stranger. She did not know whether she had been bewitched.

"Then we shall trouble you, young master."

Shen Qingzhou crouched down and examined the runes beneath the wagon. After pondering for a moment, he pointed out one of the nodes.

"The spiritual power has been completely cut off. Perhaps the runes here went wrong, causing the formation to fail and lose its support."

"This..."

He spoke so convincingly that the guards were left dazed, able only to stare blankly at one another.

"Is there any way to remedy it?"

Lin Shuying hurriedly asked. Out here in the wilds, had they actually encountered a Talisman Master?

"Redraw it with spirit stones or demon beast blood, and it'll be fine. If you have neither, a hard piece of wood carrying wood spiritual energy will do."

Shen Qingzhou stood and dusted the dirt from his hands. After a moment's thought, he said, "Carve a wedge and set it into that node. It'll temporarily reconnect the spiritual power. It should be enough to hold until we enter the city."

Lin Shuying immediately gave the order. A guard fetched a piece of lightning-struck wood, carved it into a wooden wedge as instructed, and carefully fitted it into the node.

Then Shen Qingzhou brushed his hand over it. The previously dim rune array glimmered again, and the sunken wagon body rose slightly as well.

It worked!

Lin Shuying's eyes lit up. It had actually worked?!

"Wonderful! Thank you so much for lending us a hand, young master."

Lin Shuying walked forward with delight written across her face and gave him a solemn bow.

"My name is Lin Shuying, and this is my younger sister, Lin Weiyue. We are heading back to Flower-Washing City. May I ask where you are headed, young master? If you do not mind, why not travel with us? That way, we can repay you properly."

On one hand, she wished to offer her benefactor a modest reward. On the other, she also harbored a few thoughts of recruiting him.

"Han Li."

Shen Qingzhou hesitated briefly, then nodded.

"I too am headed for Flower-Washing City. Then I shall impose upon you."

Traveling with the caravan would make for good cover.

For the rest of the journey, Shen Qingzhou was invited into a comparatively comfortable carriage.

Lin Weiyue had a lively nature and was quite curious about this "Brother Han," who seemed to know so much yet spoke so little. From time to time, she struck up a conversation with him.

"Brother Han, are you going to Flower-Washing City for the Union Festival too?"

"The Union Festival?" Shen Qingzhou feigned ignorance and asked curiously.

"That's right! You didn't know?" Lin Weiyue's eyes sparkled.

"It's the liveliest festival of the year in our Flower-Washing City! On the day of the Union Festival, the powers of the lunar yin and great sun meet above Heartmoon Lake, harmonizing yin and yang. They say it brings tremendous benefits to cultivation!

Many cultivators come rushing here, hoping to use the opportunity to break through their bottlenecks or find suitable Dao companions."

Lin Shuying added from the side, laughing, "Haha... my little sister is exaggerating somewhat. But the Union Festival truly is a grand ceremony hosted by the Plain Maiden Sect! Many cultivators come drawn by its fame. I imagine many of them are also seeking a destined match."

Shen Qingzhou's heart stirred. As far as he knew, the Plain Maiden Sect primarily cultivated the two lineages of [Heart Moon] and [Chamber Sun].

The former belonged to lunar yin, the latter to the great sun. Both were exceptionally superior Dao arts.

However, the Plain Maiden Sect had once fallen into decline. Elders within the sect rebelled, and it had nearly been destroyed by a demonic force known as the All-Beings Formless Sect. It could be said to have stood on the very brink of collapse.

But three hundred years ago, an incomparably gifted great cultivator emerged from within the sect—the current Supreme Elder of the Plain Maiden Sect. She first suppressed the internal turmoil, then settled the external crisis.

Building upon the foundations laid by her predecessors, this great cultivator emphasized the theory that "the harmony of yin and yang is the foundation of the Great Dao," and used it to create a secret ritual. Since then, the Foundation Establishment success rate of Plain Maiden Sect disciples had risen by several tenths, allowing the sect to rise again and firmly claim one of the three great sects' seats.

The harmony of yin and yang... Foundation Establishment...

Shen Qingzhou's gaze deepened as he pondered inwardly.

Abyss-Hiding Sword Essence was formed by the fusion of the metal and water elements, and it inherently contained a kind of balance.

Thus, he developed a strong interest in the Dao arts of the Plain Maiden Sect.

He knew well that cultivation could not consist solely of burying one's head in one's own lineage. Only by embracing all streams and drawing in their strengths, making connections by analogy, could one travel farther.

This Union Festival might be a fine opening.

The group chatted idly like this, and time flew by.

Once the caravan crossed the mountain ridge, the outline of a huge, prosperous city of jade appeared on the horizon.

Shen Qingzhou felt it was somewhat familiar. Like Peace River City, this place too fell under the jurisdiction of the Great Gan Dynasty.

Unlike the chill seclusion of sects or the savage wilderness of marshes, this place was brimming with the warmth and bustle of mortal life.

At the city gates, groups of armored soldiers were inspecting travelers passing through. Among them were no lack of cultivators with cultivation.

Sects stood lofty above the mundane world, differing in purpose from dynasties responsible for overseeing common mortals.

The imperial family and many high officials of the Great Gan Dynasty were themselves disciples of the major sects, tied to them by countless threads and strands. This was known as Joint Rule by Immortal Court and Dynasty.

"Brother Han, our Lin Clan has a residence in the west of the city. If you have nowhere to stay, why not come with us?"

After observing and probing Shen Qingzhou throughout the journey, Lin Shuying had become deeply impressed by his broad learning.

Thus, she now offered the invitation in complete sincerity.

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Lin. However, I have some private matters to attend to after entering the city, so I will not trouble you."

Shen Qingzhou declined with an apologetic smile.

He had other arrangements and naturally would not grow too close to a mortal power.

The caravan entered the city without incident. The streets were filled with a roaring crowd and endless carts and horses, presenting a scene of thriving prosperity.

Lin Shuying still wanted to persuade him, but Shen Qingzhou had already risen.

He cupped his fists toward the two sisters. "Thank you both for your care along the way. Farewell, ladies. Until we meet again."

"Hey, hey..."

With that, he stepped down from the carriage. His figure flashed, vanishing into the surging tide of people.

Lin Weiyue leaned out, wanting one last glimpse, but the street was packed with passersby. Where could she find any trace of that scholar in blue robes?

"Sis, why did Brother Han leave so quickly?" She was somewhat disappointed. She had not even had time to ask him to stay.

Looking at the crowd, Lin Shuying said thoughtfully, "Forget it. Perhaps we were never meant to walk the same road."

In that instant just now, he had seemed to melt into the crowd from thin air, leaving not the faintest trace behind.

This Han Li was no ordinary scholar.

Meanwhile, in a swamp dozens of miles outside Flower-Washing City.

"Fuck your immortal grandmother!"

With one foot deep and the other shallow, Lu Chen yanked his leg out of the mud. The filth on his boots could have been earth-dragon venom or swamp water... his face was black as thunder.

He felt as though he were about to go mad!

Ever since leaving Sunken-Sand Fort, he had not spent a single peaceful day.

On the first day, he got lost.

On the second day, he was chased three hundred li by a swarm of bloodthirsty demon mosquitoes.

On the third day, after finally killing a lone young earth-dragon and just when he wanted to catch his breath, a whole pack of larger ones charged out of its nest.

For the past dozen days, he had either been fighting or on the way to a fight.

His once neat robes had long since become a pile of tattered strips.

"Turtle Elder! What kind of shitty route did you point me down?! If I keep going, before I even see the fairies of the Plain Maiden Sect, I'll get swallowed alive by the demon beasts in this swamp!" Lu Chen roared within his sea of consciousness.

"Hehe... what are you in such a hurry for, kid?" Turtle Elder's unhurried voice sounded, carrying a hint of lecherous amusement.

"This is called tempering, understand? Without weathering wind and rain, how can you see a rainbow? Besides, aren't you alive and well? Your cultivation has even improved a little."

Lu Chen ground his teeth in fury.

These dozen days of fleeing for his life had indeed made his spells more proficient and his command of sword intent much more precise.

But he would rather not have this kind of improvement!

He had come to Blackwater Marsh for training, and incidentally... incidentally to catch a glimpse of the legendary, captivating fairies of the Plain Maiden Sect! He had not come here to become some wilderness savage!

"You're just lusting after those girls' bodies! Disgusting!" Lu Chen snapped.

"You make it sound as if you aren't lusting after them too." Turtle Elder chuckled, thoroughly at ease.

"This old man is helping you! Think about it—standing there looking weathered by countless hardships, don't you have far more manly charm than those slick-haired pretty boys? The girls of the Plain Maiden Sect will absolutely fall for that!"

Lu Chen froze. It seemed... there was a little logic to that?

"Ah, I wonder how Shen Qingzhou is doing. He must be having a hard time too..."

Thinking of this, he felt a measure of sympathy, as though they were fellow wanderers fallen to the ends of the earth.

"Enough nonsense. Flower-Washing City is not far ahead. This old man can already smell that refreshing maiden's fragrance. Hurry, hurry!" Turtle Elder urged.

Lu Chen's spirits rose. He could not even be bothered to clean the filth off himself, immediately taking flight and accelerating.

"We're here!"

Half an hour later, when a city of jade appeared before him, Lu Chen was so emotional that he nearly burst into tears!

He had finally... finally escaped this damned swamp!

He rushed toward the city gate in three strides that became two.

In his mind, he had already planned to find somewhere to bathe and change clothes, then head to the finest tavern to reward his five viscera temple.

"Stop!"