"Thank you, young heroes, for saving my life."
Covered in blood and grime, the rescued Sun Zhenjiang cupped his fist in salute. He had never imagined that the little Taoist who told fraudulent fortunes at the crossroads would be this formidable.
Had he known, he should have befriended him long ago. Even if they had not sworn brotherhood, simply asking him to tell a few more fortunes and paying him a little extra would have forged a bond.
If they had formed that friendship earlier, how could the Dry Flood Dragon Gang have come to this?
He was filled with regret. The Dry Flood Dragon Gang was gone, and rebuilding it would take considerable effort. With so many people dead, there would be more trouble when the imperial court started asking questions.
Unless he left for distant parts and stopped making his living in Sanjiang Town.
The two young heroes were highly skilled, but why were they so aloof? They would not even respond when he spoke to them.
Ah, they simply were not close enough.
Thinking of his second brother, he was the one who had really latched onto a powerful backer's thigh.
Contrary to Sun Zhenjiang's assumptions, neither of them was being aloof.
Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao did not want to speak because they were reviewing their experience and digesting their insights.
Geniuses improved so quickly not only because of their freakishly extraordinary talent, but also because they frequently reviewed their experiences, corrected their shortcomings, and improved their abilities.
They were like those geniuses at school who seemed never to do homework or review anything after class. In truth, whenever they went home, they secretly read books, consolidated their knowledge, and figured out the problems they did not understand or frequently got wrong, secretly outcompeting everyone.
If you asked why they could score so well without studying, they would invariably say, "I didn't really study. I understood it after one look..."
In his previous life, Zhang Qingyuan had been the one getting outcompeted, foolishly believing their claims that they understood everything without studying.
Now he was the one secretly outcompeting others. Shameless.
Once geniuses started working hard, they really were freaks.
When the three of them found Zhao Pengju, Brother Ju's entire family was still eagerly awaiting their return. Auntie Li, in particular, was the most worried.
Seeing Zhang Qingyuan and the others return in one piece, she hurried forward. The old lady's enthusiasm blazed like fire as she fussed over them.
Sun Zhenjiang walked over to Zhao Pengju with a look of grievance, like a deceived young wife, the nine-foot man fidgeting bashfully.
"Big Brother, are you all right? Did you suffer internal injuries?" Zhao Pengju had no idea what was happening. Is he blaming me for not going to save him?
Sun Zhenjiang pulled Zhao Pengju aside, glanced back at Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao being fussed over by Auntie Li, and said, "We had two mighty figures hiding in our town. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I..."
Before Zhao Pengju could explain, Sun Zhenjiang continued without giving him a chance. "When I passed the crossroads back then, I thought he was a swindler and treated him coldly. Who knew that young hero was just roaming the mortal world for amusement? How am I supposed to... show my face now!"
His face was full of embarrassment. He wanted to apologize but did not even know how to begin.
Differences in status created different impressions.
Without martial arts, Zhang Qingyuan was a wandering swindler.
With martial arts, Zhang Qingyuan was roaming the mortal world for amusement.
When rich people wore cloth shoes, they were returning to simplicity and keeping a low profile.
When poor people wore cloth shoes, they were poor and slovenly.
Feeling wronged by his big brother's reproaches, Zhao Pengju leaned closer and whispered, "Sworn Brother, would you believe me if I said I didn't know they knew martial arts either?"
"You didn't know?"
"No." Zhao Pengju nodded. Half a year ago, those two had not even figured out their meridians.
He did not say that, nor did he intend to. After all, it was simply too unbelievable.
"Then why did they save me?"
"They went to save my mother," Zhao Pengju said. "Qingyuan is close to her. Saving me was just something they did along the way."
"Well..." Sun Zhenjiang glanced at his godmother Li, struggled for a long time, and finally managed, "Godmother is truly blessed."
"She is."
After resting briefly, they began discussing whether to stay or leave.
Sun Zhenjiang felt that with all the experts in Sanjiang Town gone, this was the perfect opportunity to rally his forces and rise to glory again.
His reluctance to leave home was one reason. Another was that he could not abandon his businesses.
Zhao Pengju felt that with six members of the Blood Lump Sect dead and the Twelve Fiends reduced by half, returning would inevitably invite retaliation from the Blood Lump Sect. He therefore wanted to take his family somewhere else to lie low.
Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao had no intention of staying in Sanjiang Town. It had only ever been their beginner village, a temporary place to stay.
Now that their beginner period was over, it was time to travel and experience the magnificent mountains and rivers of Great Qian.
As Zhang Qingyuan put it, reading ten thousand books was not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.
Things were simple for Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao. They could just leave.
Zhao Pengju, however, did not want his big brother to return and fall into danger again.
Unfortunately, kind words could not persuade a ghost bent on dying. Sun Zhenjiang insisted on staying.
He told Zhao Pengju, "The Blood Lump Sect is a major sect. Would they really bother going after me? Besides, they were hired for the job. Since when does failing a mission mean killing people to vent your anger?"
Unable to bear this, Zhang Junbao told them about the Water-Parting Sword, explaining that Sanhe Town would become a whirlpool in the days ahead, drawing all manner of ox demons and snake spirits.
But Sun Zhenjiang could not bear to abandon his property and insisted on returning, so the three parties could only go their separate ways.
Before they parted, Zhang Junbao gave Zhao Pengju a sword manual: the Purple Firmament Thunder Ultimate Sword Technique he had created.
Zhao Pengju treasured it and decided to head north to seek refuge with his senior brother.
Returning to Sanhe Town once more, the two brothers tidied up their home and settled the rent refund.
There were over forty scriptures, some bought by Zhang Qingyuan and others gifted by nearby Taoist temples. Along with a few martial arts manuals, they packed them neatly into a trunk.
Clothes, bedding, pots, bowls, ladles, and basins-aside from those, there was nothing else.
Early the next morning, Zhang Qingyuan bought two donkeys in town, loaded their luggage, and officially set off on their pilgrimage for scriptures... er... their travels.
It was not that they could not afford horses. Great Qian had no shortage of horses and allowed commoners to use them, but there truly were none for sale in Sanhe Town.
Donkeys were the best choice.
Once outside town, Zhang Qingyuan sat sideways on his donkey, writing and sketching.
Zhang Junbao was reading a Taoist scripture on the other donkey. Looking back and seeing his senior brother chewing his brush while deep in thought, he reminded him, "Brother Yuan, you're getting ink in your mouth."
"Huh? Oh, right."
Zhang Qingyuan put down the brush and wiped his mouth.
Zhang Junbao was more cheerful than usual. Taking in the countryside scenery left him relaxed and refreshed.
He asked curiously, "You've been writing for ages. What are you writing?"
Zhang Qingyuan handed over the notebook. Zhang Junbao took a look and saw the names of various provinces and counties, along with many famous mountains and rivers.
"What's this?"
Zhang Qingyuan put away his brush, stretched, and straightened up. "We're traveling, aren't we? We can't just wander aimlessly, so I made some plans."
"I see you've marked all nine provinces. Are we going all the way around Great Qian?"
"If we're going, we should see every place without missing a single one. Who knows whether we'll ever have another chance?" Zhang Qingyuan said, raising his eyebrows.
Zhang Junbao would certainly follow Brother Yuan. His senior brother would decide their route. "True. Great Qian is vast, with all sorts of famous mountains and rivers. Visiting them all will probably take several years."
"What, worried you'll get tired?"
"Of course not. Wherever you go, I'll go," Zhang Junbao said with a smile. He actually wanted to have a good look around himself.
A person only lived a hundred years or so. However one lived, one still had to live; what mattered most was living freely and with clarity.
Zhang Qingyuan had considered a little more than that. In his previous life, he had never properly toured his country's magnificent mountains and rivers. In this life, he did not have to worry about a house, a car, or betrothal gifts. How could he not travel around?
Moreover, this world's nine provinces differed somewhat from those of his previous life. Some places were the same, while others were different.
This world had originally consisted of only nine provinces. Through successive changes, its territory had grown larger and larger, so Zhang Qingyuan had to experience the specific differences between this world and his previous one.
"We'll head east from Central Province. Ahead lies Divine Province, where the greater and lesser Qin Plain stretch eighteen hundred li. The ancient capital of Chang'an is there. We can experience the atmosphere of those ancient divine rivers.
"Then we'll head southwest, experience Shu Province's natural fortifications, and have a look at its fiery girls. Who knows, we might find you a wife."
"Hehe." Zhang Junbao blushed again, but deep inside, he also felt a sense of anticipation. "I've heard the girls in Shu Province are feisty. Is that true?"
Zhang Qingyuan smiled. "I don't know whether they're feisty, but I've heard the girls there believe in Taoism and especially revere the Celestial Worthy of Great Purity."
"Really?" Zhang Junbao asked doubtfully. "How come I've never heard that?"
He thought it over carefully. Shu Province had many local sects, large and small, skilled in poisons and gu curses. He had never heard that people there followed Taoism.
"You'll know when you get there," Zhang Qingyuan said with a smile. Back in college in his previous life, he had had a Taoist girlfriend. Her frequently proclaimed Taoist title was, "Laozi's counting to three."
Zhang Junbao nodded thoughtfully. "Mm, when the time comes, I must have a proper exchange with them."
Go ahead. Sichuan girls are adorable. Zhang Qingyuan continued, "After leaving Shu Province, we'll head straight west to the sacred birthplace of the gods, experience Mount Kunlun's grandeur, and get a taste of the local martial arts culture. They say the region is vast, with sects as numerous as hairs on an ox. It also has the greatest number of Taoist sects.
"We'll enrich ourselves properly in Kunlun and stay at least a year or two to thoroughly experience the cultural traditions of different Taoist sects."
"Mm, I'm looking forward to it very much too."
"From Kunlun, we'll head south into Tibet. The Tibetan Region isn't part of the nine provinces. Great Qing incorporated it into its territory twelve hundred years ago. Its Buddhist traditions are well preserved, but we won't need to stay there long.
"From the Tibetan Region, we'll head straight southwest, back into Yun Province. I hear banditry is rife there. People exiled by the imperial court, along with those hunted through the martial world with nowhere to hide, supposedly all flee to Yun Province."
"Yes, that region has been unstable since ancient times. They also say the Heavenly Cloud Holy Fire Cult is there, and Heavenly Sword City has long been famous."
"When we get there, let's visit Heavenly Sword City and save up some money to buy two fine swords."
"All right. We'll save up."
"Heading east from Yun Province brings us to Ning Province. It borders the sea, so we'll have some seafood before heading back, passing through Fu Province and Jiang Province straight to the capital.
"We'll explore the capital and its surroundings, see Jiangnan's scenery and Yang Province's beautiful sights, and have a look at the land of fish and rice.
"That'll count as a complete circuit of Great Qian. If we want to visit any places we missed, we can go another time."
After listening to Zhang Qingyuan's plans, Zhang Junbao could roughly picture the route in his mind. He agreed, "I'll follow your lead, Brother Yuan."
"You can't go wrong listening to me," Zhang Qingyuan said, patting his chest.
"Oh, right. There's something else I wanted to ask. If you hadn't met me, what would you have done?" Zhang Qingyuan asked again, very seriously.
"If I hadn't met you..." Zhang Junbao looked a little lost. Remembering himself half a year earlier, he thought and thought before saying wistfully, "If I hadn't met you, Brother Yuan, I might have hidden away somewhere to think about a few things."