Sword of Coming

Seeing Cai Jinjian in low spirits, Fu Nanhua decided to take her for a stroll. They walked shoulder-to-shoulder, making small talk with some stories about the East Aquarius Continent. Cai Jinjian still had to put on a facade of happiness, but her mood had improved.

She began to have a better impression of the young master of Dragon City. 

Dragon City possessed incredible strength, teaming with talents. It was only a tad inferior to the first-rate sects. It held a higher position than a second-rate sect like Alpenglow Mountain. However, people from Alpenglow Mountain, which was a well-established orthodox sect with a long history, could not help but have a sense of superiority over the southern barbarians of Dragon City. 

Cai Jinjian said bitterly, “Although cloud stones are the foundation of Alpenglow Mountain, I will not go back on my word. Even if I go into poverty, I will pay back this debt.”

Fu Nanhua comforted her. “Don’t give up so soon. There is still a chance.”

Cai Jinjian’s face turned grim. She shook her head. “River Severing True Monarch Liu Zhimao has a notorious reputation. He is ruthless and his skill is real. Otherwise, he would not have established himself in Shujian Lake. I cannot be rash. If I provoke Liu Zhimao, I would be met with the wrath of a senior of the unorthodox sects. I might have already provoked his ire. Once I leave the town, Heaven only knows what sort of action Liu Zhimao would take, no longer being bound by the saint’s rules. You must have some idea of the people who followed me on this treasure hunt. They are not strong enough to face him.”

Fu Nanhua smiled and said, “Don’t worry, for those ten cloud stones, Dragon City will escort you back to Alpenglow Mountain safely.”

Cai Jinjian turned her head and flashed a charming smile at him. She looked at him with affection.

Fu Nanhua was absentminded and went to touch the jade pendant. After feeling it was missing, he realized he had already given it to Song Jixin.

Cai Jinjian breathed a sigh of relief. While she walked, she moved slightly to the left. Her shoulder touched Fu Nanhua’s.

Fu Nanhua reminded, “If that boy who lives next to Song Jixin was chosen by one of the outside powers and has natal porcelain, your actions will cause trouble. They can easily trace it back to you and come for you. Song Jixin, his maid, and Liu Zhimao may have also noticed.”

Cai Jinjian smiled and said, “You may have been too focused on finding clues that lead to fortune and did not notice the unwritten rules of this place. In this town, when a boy turns nine, if they are not taken away by the waiting ‘porcelain buyer’, it means they do not have good enough bone quality. They are no longer worth much. The older they get, the cheaper they will be. The sects will no longer pay the ‘adoption money.’ The money would be better spent training their direct children.” Cai Jinjian made another face of disdain, as if the mere mention of the boy irked her. “Mortals should know their place!“

Choosing his words carefully, Fu Nanhua replied, “I see, I see, but the boy is just a boy. He knows not of the prestige of Cai Jinjian of Alpenglow Mountain. Even if he offended you, you could have just disciplined him once. Why act twice?”

Fu Nanhua sensed that there was something amiss with Cai Jinjian’s inexplicable attack. When things go awry, a certain demon may be pulling to the strings. Or maybe she attacked twice because she knew a secret he did not. He prodded her with questions in hopes of getting some clues. 

As of now, he regarded her as his prey. He wanted to avoid the roles being reversed.

Dragon City had paid a far greater price than True Sun Mountain or Alpenglow Mountain to obtain some fragmented clues. Fu Nanhua knew that after the legendary tragic clash that happened three thousand years ago, the ancestors left behind treasuries. There was more to this town than just talented children in this town. However, since this blessed land was on the verge of collapse, things were never simple.

With collapse comes birth. Perhaps a treasure will emerge to usher in a new age.

Cai Jinjian sulked. “Stop talking about him, it makes me sick just thinking about him.”

Her eyes flickered with discontent. She just would hate to ruin her image of a graceful fairy in Fu Nanhua’s mind, so she did not express what was really on her mind.

If she met that bastard outside the town, she would happily kill him. She hated the boy’s eyes. An obsession took control of her mind.

Those pure eyes haunted her. She had cultivated for years in Alpenglow Mountain, which was famous for being “pure,” but had never seen such a pure thing. What right did this beggar have to possess such a beautiful thing?

Cai Jinjian tilted her head and rubbed her eyes. 

Fu Nanhua looked at her and joked, “In Dragon City, there’s a saying that when the left eye twitches, wealth comes, when the right eye twitches, disaster befalls, so which eye is twitching?”

Cai Jinjian retracted her hand and glared at him. Angry. Her right eye was twitching.

Fu Nanhua, who was begging for trouble, tried to make amends. He smiled awkwardly, “Oh, just some nonsense said by mortals. Can’t be taken too seriously.”

Cai Jinjian smirked, turned to the side, and stared at Fu Nanhua’s side profile. She leaned in and asked, “Did you think I was actually mad?”

Fu Nanhua paused and looked at the flirty Cai Jinjian. This provocative action actually influenced him.

His intention to kill her began to waver. Would it be more conducive to Dragon City’s expansion if he became Daoist partners with her? If Cai Jinjian succeeded in obtaining good fortune, once she returned to her sect, her status would definitely rise. If things went well, it was not impossible for her to become the sect leader of Alpenglow Mountain. In the long history of Alpenglow Mountain, it was not unprecedented for a woman to take the lead. With this, Dragon City would have justification to expand to the north of the East Aquarius Continent. One in the north, the other to the south, they held power across the continent. This could solve Dragon City’s problem of being ostracized from the other sects despite its power.

Not far ahead, there was an intersection between two alleys. When he saw the fork in the road, Fu Nanhua suddenly woke up from his reverie.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. His heart became firm.

Anyone who upsets my heart shall be killed. I must strengthen my Dao Heart.

Fu Nanhua looked at Cai Jinjian again and returned to his usual relaxed state. He treated her beauty as a picture. Just a few more glances. Once this was all over, it was destined to disappear from this world by his hands.

The road to fortune is paved in the blood of others.

Fu Nanhua’s complexion brightened.

Cai Jinjian tilted her head and said softly, “Nanhua, whatcha thinking? You look so happy.”

She addressed him intimately.

Fu Nanhua shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed a dark shadow flash from the corner of his eye.

The thin boy took a step from the other alley, in front of Cai Jinjian. In one motion, he slashed upwards with his left hand and hurled his right fist into the stomach of the bleeding immortal of Alpenglow. The blow was crushing. 

Crack!

The woman buckled forward, her head bent low.

Although the strength of the boy’s right hand far exceeded that of his peers, he was actually left-handed. 

The sharp shard held in his left hand had sunk into Cai Jinjian’s throat completely, piercing through to her mouth.

The boy did not rest. He hurled another punch at the buckled woman’s chest. His left hand was still raised, guarding against any surprises that might thwart his ambush.

Blood gushed out of the fair woman’s neck.

The boy then turned his waist and threw his body forward. His shoulder rammed into the woman’s upper chest. Her body smashed against the alley wall.

Fu Nanhua stood rooted to the ground. The mind of Dragon City’s young master went blank.