The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 123 A Master is Here (10,000-word chapter)

Chu Xun left the temple at midnight and returned before 1 AM.

It's just killing a few underworld deities; it won't take too long.

Qin Shuang also asked Wei Youyou for some radish leaves, but the little girl felt that she had just been supporting her to walk, so she only gave her a small piece of radish.

Even so, Qin Shuang still ate with great relish.

It tastes completely different from the carrots I usually eat; it's sweet, crispy, and more like a pastry.

Upon seeing Chu Xun return, He Jinghong immediately stood up: "Senior."

Chu Xun gestured with his hand, saying, "There's no need for such formalities."

He Jinghong really wanted to ask him what he had gone out to do, but seeing that Chu De didn't seem inclined to say, she didn't press him further.

Such extraordinary masters always have a reason for everything they do.

Asking too many questions might cause displeasure, which would be counterproductive.

Moreover, she was grieving the loss of her father and was also affected by the yin energy, causing her to fall silent for a moment.

They rested for the night until dawn.

He Jinghong vaguely heard the sound, instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword, and opened his eyes to look.

Chu Xun had already packed his things, and Wei Youyou was carrying them into the car.

Seeing that she had woken up, Chu Xun said, "You still haven't told me where that dragon perished."

He Jinghong quickly recounted what he knew, and Chu Xun wrote it down, saying, "You exchanged the longsword for that bone before, and now you should reciprocate with this information."

He Jinghong was about to say no need, but then he saw Chu Xun grab two pieces of wood from a distance.

The originally unremarkable dark brown rotten wood turned fiery red after he stroked it with his palm.

Chu Xun tossed the log over, and He Jinghong and Qin Shuang caught it, feeling a warm sensation.

My whole body felt warm and comfortable, and I immediately felt much better.

"You still have residual Yin energy on you. Wear this with you at all times, and it will be fine in a few days," Chu Xun said.

He Jinghong hesitated, then asked, "Senior, aren't you coming with us?"

"You need to go home to fulfill your filial duties, so you'll probably leave much faster than I can. Traveling together will only take up your time," Chu Xun said.

He Jinghong could easily tell he was being politely refused, and sighed inwardly.

Seeing that Chu Xun and Wei Youyou had finished packing everything, they jumped onto the carriage.

Without any guidance, the horse turned the carriage around on its own and headed towards Kyoto.

He Jinghong gripped the piece of wood in his hand, hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help himself and ran over to say, "Senior, please don't be offended. He Jinghong is just a name I use when I travel the martial world. My real name is Xiao Shuying."

Qin Shuang was startled. How could she reveal her real name!

"Sparse shadows slant across the clear, shallow water; a faint fragrance drifts in the twilight. This is a nice name."

Chu Xun offered a few brief comments, and the carriage slowly departed.

Wei Youyou clung to the carriage and waved to the two of them, "Let's go!"

He Jinghong, no, Xiao Shuying, gazed in the direction the carriage had gone.

With a sigh, I realized that such a person, once parted, might never be seen again.

"My senior acts in unconventional ways, so why should I hide anything from him? But he didn't seem to think much of it."

"It's also possible that he thought of it but didn't take it seriously. How many people in the world could catch his eye?"

Just as Qin Shuang was about to say something, Xiao Shuying shook the piece of wood in her hand and said, "Put your things away, we need to get going."

Qin Shuang nodded. This piece of wood was indeed comfortable to hold. She wondered what methods the senior had used; it was truly extraordinary.

Xiao Shuying looked in the direction the carriage had gone; it was already gradually disappearing into the distance.

"Sparse shadows slant across the clear, shallow water; a faint fragrance drifts in the twilight." So this is how the phrase "sparse shadows" can be used to describe something?

'

A slight smile played on her lips; this was the only thing that brought her any joy since learning of her father's passing.

On the carriage, Wei Youyou sat on the carriage shaft, her legs dangling outside and swinging back and forth.

The road was still rugged, but the train carriage remained smooth.

When I visited the nearby City God Temple, the local City God explained that there were too many vengeful spirits there.

They have tried their best to clean it up, but they still can't finish.

Some fish have slipped through the net, and we can only leave them be for the time being.

That makes no sense at all. If you can't finish clearing it, you can ask other City Gods for help.

Even if its strength is weakened by crossing realms, it is still more than enough to deal with some vengeful spirits and evil ghosts.

However, based on years of observation, there seems to be very little connection between the City Gods.

It's a bit like only sweeping the snow from your own doorstep, ignoring the frost on other people's roofs.

In this light, it seems that those old, immortal beings not only stole human merit, but also had very rigid thinking.

If such deities were to handle human affairs, things would be fine when the world was at peace, but if chaos were to break out, who knows what might happen?

When Emperor Taizu ended the chaotic era, Chu Xun was just a few years old.

Furthermore, since Pinecone Village was a barren place and no major disturbances occurred, it was naturally unclear whether there were any ghosts or monsters causing trouble outside at that time.

But judging from the current situation, it is clear that there are, and quite a few at that.

Come to think of it, if there were no ghosts or monsters causing trouble, where would the talk of demons and monsters come from?

A few days later, the carriage passed through Tonghu City.

There is a large depression outside the city. It is said that this area was originally a large lake, and the city's residents mostly draw water from here.

However, the previous emperor's tyranny caused widespread resentment and anger.

One day, the emperor passed by this place and wanted to get some water.

The Lake God, who was in charge of the local water source, advised the emperor to prioritize the people's livelihood and not to let them continue to live in misery.

The emperor ignored his advice, and in a fit of rage, the Lake Lord drained the entire lake.

That's why this huge depression was left behind.

Whether this is true or not is a matter of much debate among the local people.

Some say they heard the older generation's confident assertions and witnessed it with their own eyes.

But the older generation has all died, so there's no way to prove it.

Some people say that this is hearsay and not to be believed.

Chu Xun stood at the edge of the depression, while Wei Youyou had already jumped off the carriage and run off to play.

Although there wasn't much to do, the unique terrain and the cracked mud underground brought her some enjoyment.

They jumped around on lumps of clay of different sizes and shapes.

Some local children were also playing the same game.

It's unclear who first got competitive, but the boys put in all their effort and jumped as far as they could.

Upon seeing this, Wei Youyou jumped up and down more than ten meters.

The children were stunned.

After a long while, she finally got tired of playing and came back to drink water.

"Master, do you really think it was the Lake God who drained the water?" Wei Youyou asked curiously.

Chu Xun remained noncommittal, saying, "It's also possible that someone disliked the Lake Lord and beat him to death."

"Oh!" Wei Youyou's eyes widened as she demanded, "Who killed him!?"

"I was just saying maybe."

"Who dislikes the Lake God?"

"it's me."

"Yo!"

As they chatted, the carriage passed through Tonghu City.

This area has experienced war, and with water resources scarce, the people have suffered greatly.

The government did come up with a solution: dig more wells.

But even drilling hundreds of meters underground, you might not find water.

If there are no surprises, the groundwater in the entire area should have dried up.

Some have suggested digging canals from water-rich areas to bring in water.

On the one hand, it helps the people, and on the other hand, it can revitalize the local economy.

However, the canal was a huge project, and Jing State had been at war for the past two years, so the matter was put on hold.

As Chu Xun passed through the city, he saw that many people looked pale and thin, with dry and shriveled skin, clearly suffering from severe dehydration.

If this continues, it will probably take only a few years for everyone in Tonghu City to move away.

Although it was unrelated to me and I couldn't even call them acquaintances.

Chu Xun still used a little magic to bring down some rain.

When the people saw it was raining, they hurriedly brought bowls and basins to catch the water.

Even more extreme, some people looked up and opened their mouths wide, as if trying to catch more.

A little rain made them cheer with joy.

Wei Youyou looked on curiously and asked, "Master, are they going to die?"

According to the custom in Songguo Village, if it rains when someone dies, it means that God is seeing them off and they will be reborn into a good family.

Chu Xun shook his head. "A tree dies when moved, but a person thrives."

Even if it doesn't rain, it's not that easy to die of thirst.

Wei Youyou suddenly seemed to have thought of something, her eyes sparkling: "Oh! Is this what it means to uphold justice?!"

Chu Xun smiled and said, "I guess you could say that."

"So they owe the master a favor, and when the master is about to die, they must bring him to their home!" Wei Youyou shouted.

Chu Xun's smile froze for a moment, and he said with some helplessness, "Master won't die so easily."

"Oh!?" Wei Youyou looked puzzled.

Chu Xun didn't want her to ask any more questions, so he casually picked up a carrot and handed it to her: "Have some."

Wei Youyou took the carrot, but didn't put it in her mouth. Instead, she sat on the carriage shaft, swinging her legs and shouting excitedly:

'

You owe the master a favor!

Her voice was clear and resonant, and could be heard for hundreds of meters around.

The people who were receiving rain looked up and were quite surprised by the huge carriage.

As for the little maid's claim of owing the master a favor, naturally no one took it seriously.

Chu Xun was both amused and exasperated. With this girl around, he certainly wouldn't feel bored.

It's just a bit socially awkward.

Fortunately, having lived for nearly a hundred years and experienced countless events, both big and small, I don't care too much about them.

Thus, the carriage passed Tonghu City.

More than ten days later, they arrived in Xiangnan Prefecture.

This place is famous for its woodblock New Year pictures, embroidery, and flower drum opera.

Every year, a theatrical performance is held, attracting people from all over the country, making it a very lively event.

Unfortunately, Chu De arrived at the wrong time and missed the excitement.

However, the famous chopped chili fish head and smoked cured meat in the city taste quite good.

The fish is tender and the spiciness is rich; it looks very appetizing.

Dipping it in the broth and putting it in your mouth makes it even more delicious with rice.

Wei Youyou couldn't finish it; after taking a bite, she jumped around in the restaurant for almost half an hour.

This caused the diners to burst into laughter.

The only thing Chu Xun regretted was that the restaurant didn't have any good wine.

Neither Baijia Laopu's Yu Nian Niang nor Fenggu City's Wan Ting Yue are as good as the wine here.

It's not surprising, given the scarcity of resources here; it's not unusual that there isn't much good wine.

After finishing their meal, Chu Xun even took Wei Youyou to buy clothes.

The embroidery of Xiangnan Prefecture is famous throughout the country, especially an old shop with a black wooden plaque that reads "Yunxi Embroidery Shop".

Generations of people have devoted their efforts to embroidery, employing over seventy stitches and more than a hundred colors of thread.

The store displays some finished products, each with its own unique features, which are quite beautiful.

Wei Youyou clung to the counter, pointing at a bib embroidered with a little deer, her eyes shining.

The aftertaste of the spiciness hadn't yet faded when she lightly poked the silk with her fingertip, then quickly withdrew it, afraid of damaging this precious item.

Chu Xun's gaze fell on a piece of plain-colored soft satin, embroidered with bamboo shadows in silver-gray silk thread, the stitches neat and understated.

So she ordered two pieces: one was a lotus embroidery with colorful threads, and the other featured a little deer that Wei Youyou really liked.

The other piece is embroidered with half a clump of green bamboo, and its shape is based on the size of Wei Youyou as an adult woman.

Because there were too many customers in the store, and because it was a matter of taking time to do things properly, Chu Xun paid the deposit and then left with Wei Youyou.

After spending the whole day sightseeing in Xiangnan Prefecture, the two finally left in a carriage as night fell.

Once outside of Hunan Prefecture, the roads gradually improved.

The closer you get to Kyoto, the better the roads become.

More than ten days later, a majestic pass could be vaguely seen ahead.

It could be called a pass, or it could be called a city.

However, most of the people living here are military households, and there are very few civilians.

As the last line of defense protecting the capital, the battles fought there were exceptionally fierce.

Although this kind of thing may not happen to you, in the long run, it is not suitable for ordinary people to live here.

Therefore, besides military households, the city was mostly filled with branches of major merchants and caravans.

With so many officers and soldiers, they still need to eat, dress, and have fun.

With nowhere else to go, the money could only be spent here, so business was pretty good.

As you get closer, Hulao Pass becomes clearly visible.

The entire structure was built of gray stone blocks, and it was over ten feet high. Banners fluttered on the city wall, and armor gleamed in the sunlight. Even from half a mile away, one could smell a chilling aura.

The three large characters "Hulao Pass" are engraved on the city gate, with strokes as sharp as if they were carved by a knife or axe.

Armored soldiers stood guard at the pass, while those coming and going were mostly bodyguards with long swords at their waists, as well as merchant caravans escorting grain carts and cloth carts.

The sounds of hooves, commands, and wheels grinding on the ground mingled together, devoid of the gentle warmth of Hunan Prefecture, leaving only a harsh and piercing atmosphere.

Looking up, one could see that the entire Hulao Pass was permeated with a somber atmosphere.

What ordinary people cannot see, Chu Xun sees clearly.

Those were streaks of blood-red energy, like long, dancing snakes, quite terrifying.

Wei Youyou rarely saw such a stern atmosphere, and subconsciously leaned closer to Chu Xun, her small hands gripping his sleeve tightly.

Chu patted the back of her hand to reassure her.

The soldiers guarding the city gate were fully armored, their eyes sharp as hawks, checking each person's travel permit without the slightest ambiguity.

Those who occasionally tried to smuggle in their own goods and slip through the cracks were immediately dragged aside for questioning after a stern shout.

Upon arriving in Chuxun, he took out the token that Zhang Jingheng had given him years ago.

The military officer who came to inquire saw the token and immediately showed respect, taking a step back and bowing, saying, "So it is the Prime Minister's carriage. My apologies for my rudeness."

He then waved his hand and said, "Let them through!"

When Zhang Jingheng was still a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, he worked with Tang Shijun to secure funds for the Jing Kingdom's army.

Later, he personally took command at Hulao Pass to fight against the refugee army.

With the implementation of national policies, the people were able to live in peace.

He and Liao Shouyi were the most prestigious people in Jingguo over the past few decades.

Even several emperors sometimes couldn't compare.

Fortunately, the Jing Kingdom was not completely corrupt, and the emperor was not foolish enough to resort to any plot devices like "meritorious officials overshadowing the ruler."

Otherwise, the Jing Kingdom today would probably be facing a real dynastic change.

After passing through the checkpoint, the streets in the city were straight and wide, and the houses on both sides were mostly made of blue bricks and simple tiles, with few fancy decorations.

At first glance, they are as orderly as soldiers in battle formation.

Children from military households chased and played with wooden swords and guns.

The women were mostly quick and efficient, and spoke crisply and clearly, with a certain straightforwardness they had developed in the military.

Restaurants, inns, cloth shops, and blacksmith shops lined the street, their signs clearly visible.

The liquor, coarse cloth, ironware, dry rations, and horses were all sold to military households.

Wei Youyou didn't care much about these things; she preferred things that looked good and were fun to play with.

The huge carriage, with an elderly man and a young man inside, attracted the attention of some people.

Chu Xun was oblivious to these gazes, whether they were well-intentioned or malicious.

In the present state of Jing, the only beings who can truly harm him are the underworld deities such as the City God of the Prefecture and the City God of the Capital.

Two hundred li further on past Hulao Pass lies the capital city.

At this time in Kyoto, Emperor Changning's funeral was not yet completely over.

According to the laws of the Jing Kingdom, when an emperor dies, the country observes a three-month period of mourning.

The court and the public wore mourning clothes, and drums and music, weddings, and banquets were prohibited.

Even taverns and restaurants in the city were required to hang half a white banner and refrain from making noise.

Two figures slowly walked towards the imperial mausoleum.

The guards protecting the imperial tomb immediately stepped forward to stop them: "Who dares to trespass!"

However, after recognizing the two men, the leading officer quickly shouted, "Don't be rude! Step back!"

The general, dressed in white armor and wielding a pair of short hammers, stepped forward and struck the hammers together with a dull thud.

"Your subject Han Jingde greets Princess Yunshu!"

Xiao Shuying, holding a long sword, walked slowly towards them.

Looking at the imperial mausoleum ahead, her beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow.

She did not lie to Chu Xun; her father had indeed suddenly fallen seriously ill.

However, it was not mentioned that her father was the emperor of Jing Kingdom.

Xiao was the surname of a royal family.

Upon arriving at the imperial mausoleum, tears welled up in Xiao Shuying's eyes.

From childhood to adulthood, she was the most unrestrained among all the princes and princesses.

If you want to learn martial arts, then learn martial arts; if you want to roam the martial world, then roam the martial world.

Emperor Changning once said, "The royal children, though seemingly high above others, are actually trapped within this vast palace, a place from which they cannot transcend."

"It's not a bad thing if someone can go out and see the beautiful landscape and the common people of Jing Kingdom."

He was a good emperor and a good father.

Even on his deathbed, he was thinking about clearing obstacles for the crown prince and making him a peaceful emperor.

Upon hearing that the dragon bone could prolong her father's life, Xiao Shuying risked her life to search for it.

After going through countless hardships, they found a small piece, but before they could retrieve it, they heard the devastating news of the emperor's death.

Standing before the seemingly grand but actually still unfinished imperial mausoleum, Xiao Shuying slowly knelt down.

The maid Qin Shuang also immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

"Father, I'm late."

The following day, inside the palace.

Emperor Yongxiang, who had been on the throne for some time, looked at his younger sister, who had reverted to her daughter's attire and was dressed in mourning clothes.

Her beautiful eyes were already a little swollen, clearly from crying for quite some time.

Although it's just mourning clothes, as the saying goes, if you want to look good, wear mourning clothes.

Xiao Shuying was already stunningly beautiful, and now that she has returned to her daughter's attire, she looks even more like a fairy, pure and ethereal.

"Yun Shu————"

Before Emperor Yongxiang could speak, Xiao Shuying interrupted him, asking, "I heard that before Father passed away, he instructed us to win the war in the northern deserts?"

Emperor Yongxiang nodded: "That's true."

His eyes showed some hesitation; he had no choice but to obey the late emperor's command.

However, in recent days, all the officials have been opposing the court sessions.

Perhaps because Emperor Changning had passed away, they were even more convinced that there was no benefit in conquering the northern desert.

On the contrary, losing the Ma tribe as a buffer will lead to direct conflict between Jing and Yue in the future.

In that case, it will be the common people who suffer.

Therefore, they believe that they should withdraw from northern Mongolia and preserve this natural barrier.

Moreover, the Ma tribe has been decimated, leaving only the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled.

Are we really going to exterminate their entire race?

In that case, even the gods and immortals would probably blame Jingguo for being heartless.

Emperor Yongxiang was not in favor of war, and now that his ministers were against it, he subconsciously began to consider whether to take the opportunity to withdraw his troops.

"The battle in the northern desert must be fought. And not only must we conquer the northern desert, but we must also take over the Yue Kingdom!"

The voice, sharp as a sword's edge, entered his ears, and Emperor Yongxiang was slightly taken aback, looking up.

The princess, who usually roamed the martial world, now wore a solemn expression: "This battle concerns the future of the Jing Kingdom for centuries. Having paid such a high price, we absolutely cannot retreat!"

Emperor Yongxiang frowned and said, "You don't understand such important military matters."

"I don't understand military strategy, but I understand the big picture! Father has set a good precedent. If we press on and conquer the northern deserts and Yue, then in twenty years, Wu will be ours too!"

"If we do not do this, we will fail our father's good intentions and miss the opportunity."

"Once we withdraw our troops, the surrounding countries will be on guard against us, and it will not be easy to attack so easily again."

Emperor Yongxiang frowned even more deeply; he didn't like hearing these words.

Is war something that can be fought just by talking about it?

So much food and fodder, so many soldiers killed and wounded.

How long does it take to recover after a battle?

When Emperor Taizu established the country, it was for the sake of all the people, not to become a hegemon who conquered other countries.

Otherwise, why has the country never launched any wars against other countries after defeating the Ma tribe?

He waved his hand and said, "You've come from a long journey, you must be very tired, you should rest first."

Xiao Shuying could tell that he didn't want to talk about these things, or rather, he disagreed with her.

Before he could say anything more, Emperor Yongxiang had already left.

When she tried to chase after him, she was stopped by the emperor's personal eunuch.

"Your Highness, please rest as ordered," the eunuch said.

Xiao Shuying was slightly taken aback, only then realizing that her elder brother was no longer a prince.

Instead, he was the Jing Kingdom Emperor, whose word was law and whose pronouncements were decrees.

His order for you to rest is no longer a sign of sibling affection, but rather an imperial decree.

I may never be able to call him "elder brother" again.

The imperial family is the most ruthless place; it has always been so.

Having also reverted to her female identity and changed into a maid's attire, Qin Shuang tugged at her and whispered, "Princess, this is a matter of military importance; you'd better not speak of it."

The laws of Jing State follow those of the previous dynasty, and the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics.

Princesses are the same; they are not allowed to have private dealings with court officials, interfere in court discussions, or get involved in the succession struggle or court decisions like princes.

What Xiao Shuying just said has already gone too far.

She gritted her teeth slightly. Her father knew he was in poor health, yet he still wanted to conquer the northern deserts.

This is for the sake of the country's future; can't Your Majesty understand this?

She turned around and said, "Let's go!"

"Where to?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Go find Zhang Xiang!"

Not long after, Xiao Shuying arrived at the Prime Minister's residence.

The doubts in my heart were answered sexually.

"His Majesty isn't that he doesn't understand; rather, he has things he considers important."

Zhang Jieheng, leaning on a cane, sat in a chair, his eyesight failing and unable to see clearly.

Xiao Shuying said disappointedly, "Could it be that Prime Minister Zhang intends to withdraw his troops?"

"This old minister replied to the late emperor, this war must be fought to the end. Moreover, the late emperor granted this old minister the authority to make all decisions on his own, so I believe Your Majesty will give him some face," Zhang Jieheng said.

"What about the Yue Kingdom?" Xiao Shuying asked again.

Zhang Jie remained silent, but he knew in his heart that this battle would at most end in the northern desert.

A new emperor brings a new court; I have lived from the time of Emperor Taizu to the present day, serving five generations of emperors.

In the entire court, there was no one with more seniority than him.

But what use is your seniority if His Majesty the Emperor doesn't support you?

In the end, the emperor still has the final say in this world.

Xiao Shuying understood his meaning and felt somewhat disappointed.

Zhang Jieheng said, "Let's not talk about that. This old minister remembers that the princess took some martial arts alliance leader as her master. Has she made any progress lately?"

Qin Shuang said proudly, "Of course! The princess already possesses the strength of a second-rank martial artist. A few more steps and she will be invincible!"

"No, not just two more steps, but right now I'll be invincible!"

Zhang Jieheng responded with an "Oh," and asked, "Why?"

"Because the princess received a peerless expert who gifted her an unparalleled sword, far more powerful than our master's Qitian Sword!"

"With this sword in hand, the princess will naturally be invincible."

Zhang Jieheng chuckled upon hearing this: "I see."

Qin Shuang isn't stupid. Although she's hot-tempered and straightforward, she can't be too stupid to be a princess's personal maid and accompany her on her adventures in the martial world.

From Zhang Jieheng's tone, one could tell that the old prime minister did not take the so-called unparalleled sword seriously.

Or rather, it's not considered a particularly powerful sword.

Even Xiao Shuying could tell, and asked, "Does Prime Minister Zhang think Shuang'er is lying? That sword is indeed very powerful, perhaps comparable to the Dragon-Slaying Saber that has been making headlines in the last two years."

She paused, then corrected herself: "It must be even more powerful than the Dragon-Slaying Saber."

Zhang Jieheng smiled and said, "It's not that this old minister doesn't believe it, but I know a very powerful person. The weapons he forges are truly divine weapons."

"Is Zhang Xiang referring to the reclusive strategist who sent a crow to deliver divine weapons?" Xiao Shuying asked.

Everyone in the world knows that back then, Zhang Li, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, sent assassins to kill Zhang Jie, who was then the Minister of Revenue, and also the seventh prince who had not yet become emperor.

The situation was extremely dangerous, and he almost succeeded.

As a result, a flock of crows dropped divine weapons from the sky. Minister Zhang, wielding these weapons, led his men directly into the palace.

Forced to flee to the southwest with the fourteenth prince, Zhang Li found himself unexpectedly taken to the government office by a江湖人士 (jianghu person).

Zhang Li and his guards, including the martial arts practitioners, were all killed.

Nobody knows what happened in between.

Some speculate that the martial arts practitioner who sent the fourteenth prince to the government office was probably the one who forged the divine weapon.

But he was masked and left quickly, so no one knew his background.

These divine weapons are exactly the same as those of Liaoyuan City back then, and are revered as legends.

Xiao Shuying knew about this, but she had never actually seen the divine weapon.

I've only heard that those divine weapons can't be used for long; they'll break if used too much.

Zhang Jie did not deny it, saying, "The weapon that he forged is the best in the world. The weapon that the princess met by chance on her journey and was given to her casually may be good, but it may not be as good as his."

Xiao Shuying raised her beautiful eyebrows. She greatly admired the senior she had met by chance in the dilapidated temple, even to the point of respecting her master to some extent.

After all, the leader of the martial arts alliance is only unrivaled in the martial world, but that senior can kill ghosts and evil spirits with a single sword strike.

It's obvious who is stronger and who is weaker.

Xiao Shuying felt a little unconvinced by Zhang Jieheng's statement.

"The person Zhang Xiang mentioned, could he possibly slay ghosts and evil spirits?" Xiao Shuying asked.

Zhang Jieheng replied from the beginning: "No."

The man who lived far away in Songguo Village, and was nominally his nephew, only liked blacksmithing; he had never actually seen him use his skills.

They may have some skill, but ghosts and evil spirits are not something ordinary people can easily deal with.

Even if he approves, he wouldn't dare say such a thing.

Xiao Shuying raised her head slightly and said, "The senior I met could do that. With a single sword strike, all evil spirits were vanquished!"

Zhang Jieheng was astonished: "Such a person exists? Could he be an immortal wandering the mortal world?"

"I asked him, and he didn't admit it. Even if it's not true, it's not far off," Xiao Shuying said.

Zhang Jieheng nodded and said, "If that's true, it's indeed extraordinary. Unfortunately, this old minister's eyesight is failing, I can't see clearly, and I can't walk fast enough to witness it."

"However, if it's convenient, Your Highness, you can bring me the sword you mentioned when you have some free time. I'd really like to see it. What kind of sword is it, and is it truly more powerful than a divine weapon?"

"I will return to the palace to pay my respects to my mother and elders, as well as my brother. When I have some free time in a few days, I will take the sword and ask Prime Minister Zhang to examine it," Xiao Shuying said.

Zhang Jingheng smiled and said, "Alright, alright, then I'll trouble you, Princess."

After chatting for a while, Xiao Shuying got up and left.

Zhang Jieheng's cloudy eyes gazed in the direction the princess had left.

He secretly sighed, "What a pity."

A few days later, Chu Xun's carriage finally arrived outside the capital city.

Looking up at the city walls of Kyoto, Yan Tou felt that the grandeur of the city far surpassed that of other cities.

Chu Xun smiled and patted Wei Youyou, who was fast asleep, curled up on the carriage shaft.

"We've arrived in Kyoto."

Wei Youyou rubbed her eyes and got up, still a little dazed: "You—Kyoto City—where?"

Chu Xun chuckled.

Within the city of Kyoto, commoners were not allowed to ride horses or drive carriages.

Although Chu Xun had connections and misunderstandings, he did not violate this rule.

He understood the principle of adapting to local customs.

He then got out of the carriage and led the horse forward by the reins.

Wei Youyou followed suit, jumped down, and ran to the side to take the reins on the other side.

His old and ghostly appearance made passersby chuckle.

Compared to my last visit, Kyoto is now significantly more prosperous.

The shops on both sides haven't changed much, except that they're more ornately decorated and have more elaborate signs.

This place is incredibly valuable, and merchants and artisans from all over the country have set up branches here, or simply moved their headquarters here.

Some came here to make a living, dreaming of soaring to great heights.

However, Kyoto is full of talented people, and it is not easy to make a name for yourself here.

Chu Xun couldn't help but think of the name of a certain poet, which was quite fitting to use here.

"Rice is expensive, and living here is not easy."

Upon hearing this, Wei Youyou immediately poked her head out from in front of the horse's nose and exclaimed, "Yo!"

"What do you mean?"

Chu Xun smiled and said, "It just means that things are very expensive here, and it's not easy to settle down here."

"Wow! That's expensive!!"

"Our family still has some money, but it's too expensive for others."

"Wow! That's expensive for other people!!"

A passerby overheard this conversation and glared angrily at Chou Chou.

I've seen people show off before, but I've never seen anyone show off this blatantly.

Chu Xun had no way to explain himself and could only pretend he hadn't seen it.

As Wei Youyou walked down the street, she was soon drawn to the trinkets sold by vendors on both sides of the road.

He immediately released the reins and ran around looking east and west, touching things here and there.

Here was a straw basket decorated with plain white and light blue silk flowers. The flower buds were made so delicately and realistically that when she gently touched one with her fingertip, Ye Caizi's eyes lit up: "Wow!"

The small bamboo cricket cage next to her was exquisite and delicate, emitting a faint bamboo fragrance. She leaned over and smelled it: "Wow!"

The sugar-painting master guarded his workbench, only daring to boil plain white sugar during the national mourning period, carefully outlining the shapes of little rabbits and bamboo leaves.

She watched as the sugar threads slowly solidified, then stood on tiptoe and exclaimed, "Wow!"

The mud-brick storage room is filled with sculpted little mud tigers and civil official figurines, their adorable expressions endearing.

She squatted down and poked the clay figurine's cheek, letting out another soft "Yo!"

There were also plain-colored purses displayed in the embroidery workshop, peach-carved safety buckles, sugar puffs made from maltose syrup, and sachets filled with delicately fragrant dried flowers.

As she walked along, she kept exclaiming "Wow!" She was amazed by every little gadget.

Chu Xun held the reins, and Shi followed slowly behind.

Seeing Wei Youyou and Xi'er, he stepped forward, took out his silver, and bought them.

Silver isn't of much use to him now, but it brings him some joy, which is good enough.

She was happy, and the merchants were happy too.

why not.

Before long, Wei Youyou was carrying a bunch of things, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she smiled.

Having made their way to the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, they had so many things that they could hardly carry them all.

When the gatekeeper saw the huge carriage stop, he quickly stepped forward and asked what was wrong.

Only after Chu Xun showed the token did he learn that it was a beggar from the Prime Minister's hometown who had come.

He hurriedly sent someone to fetch the horse to the stable, but Chu Xun shook his head and said, "I'll fetch it myself."

It wasn't that I was worried the coachmen here weren't skilled enough, but rather that the things inside the carriages were too much for ordinary people to handle.

Seeing that he was holding a tomb, the gatekeeper didn't say much and sent someone to report to the Prime Minister first.

After Chu Xun led the carriage to the stable and tied it up, he casually waved his hand, and the carriage door was sealed shut.

Even if you try to chop it with a knife or axe, you still can't open it.

The steward of the Prime Minister's residence rushed over and, upon seeing Chu Xun, immediately bowed and said, "Mr. Chu, it's such a small matter that Huan Yao has come personally. Quickly, the Prime Minister's men are already waiting in the hall."

Chu Xun nodded and called to Wei Youyou to walk together.

The housekeeper glanced at Wei Youyou, who was carrying a bunch of things, and asked curiously, "Is this your granddaughter?"

"I am Wei Youyou, the old friend of the master, the craftswoman!" Wei Youyou called out.

She remembered it ever since Chu Xun introduced it that way.

The butler was slightly taken aback. The old craftswoman?

But he naturally couldn't ask too many questions about the Prime Minister's relatives.

A moment later, we passed through the courtyard, archway, stone bridge, and garden.

Upon entering the hall, they found Zhang Jieheng already waiting for them.

Zhang Jie is much older now than before.

The child who used to carry a basket and sell roasted nuts and seeds, as I remember him, is no longer there.

Standing before him now was the prime minister who had dedicated his life to the liberation of the country.

The steward whispered, "The Prime Minister's eyes are a little... You should go forward and speak yourself."

Zhang Jieheng laughed and said, "Although my eyesight is failing, my hearing is still good. You like to say such things about me in front of your relatives."

This wasn't a reprimand; Geng Ye was joking.

Chu Xun stepped forward, looked at his full head of white hair, and sighed, "Huan has aged so much."

C

These words were completely inappropriate for a junior to speak to an elder, but Zhang Jieheng didn't take them to heart and opened his mouth to say, "Look, all your teeth have fallen out. I had some dentures made for you the other day, otherwise you couldn't even bite a steamed bun."

Chu Xun laughed: "If you're going to do it, you have to do it properly, otherwise you'll spill even your porridge."

"Absolutely, absolutely." Zhang Jieheng laughed as he bought the item.

Their conversation was so ordinary, yet the people in the Prime Minister's residence looked at each other in bewilderment.

Ren Chou inquired, "Who is this person who dares to speak to the Prime Minister like this?"

Even His Majesty the Emperor treated the Prime Minister with utmost courtesy and deference.

Hearing from the steward that he was a relative of the prime minister made him even more puzzled.

Since they are relatives of beggars, they should be even more mindful of etiquette.

But Zhang Jieheng didn't care; what others said didn't matter.

Zhang Jie was about to pull Chu Xun into the house when suddenly someone grabbed his clothes.

A voice came from beside her ear: "I am Wei Youyou, the old friend of the master, the craftswoman."

Zhang Jie looked down in surprise and vaguely saw a small figure, but couldn't make out its features.

I felt as if I were bathed in a spring breeze, and my body was filled with more energy.

Chu Xun explained, "My friend's child is now living with me."

Zhang Jieheng was surprised: "Anyone you call a friend must be an extraordinary person."

Chu Xun thought for a moment and said, "It is indeed remarkable."

Even with the spiritual energy of the old locust tree, being able to shake off his remnant soul and accompany his wife for over twenty years is not something an ordinary person can do.

This obsession is astonishing.

"Speaking of which, Princess Yunshu came to my place a few days ago and also mentioned that she had encountered a remarkable and powerful figure," Zhang Jingheng said casually.

"Oh? How amazing is it?" Chu asked curiously.

"They didn't say anything specific, only that he could slay ghosts and evil spirits, and was probably an immortal who traveled the mortal world," Zhang Jieheng said.

Chu Xun was even more surprised and curious.

Immortals who travel the mortal world are rare; he had only seen one in his nearly 100 years of life.

Unexpectedly, I heard about another one here.

Adding Huang Shigong, whom Princess Yunshu mentioned, that makes three people.

"Princess Yunshu is truly lucky," Chu Xun said.

"It's really good," Zhang Jieheng echoed.

Once the two entered the hall, Zhang Jieheng naturally asked about Songguo Village, as well as Pingshui Town, Zhangnan County, and so on.

Chu Xun recounted everything, big and small.

"Did you bring any crows with you this time?" Zhang Jieheng asked.

Chu Xun began by saying, "The journey is too long, and they are too conspicuous, making it inconvenient to come to the capital."

The main problem is with the poultry and livestock in the yard, which have been spiritually impaired for quite some time.

Chu Xun was unsure whether the City God would harm these animals, so he naturally didn't bring them.

Zhang Jingheng sighed, "What a pity, I haven't seen the crows for many years. I still remember going to your yard to play before, they loved to eat the roasted peanuts I peeled."

He was reminiscing about the past, while Chu Xun, displaying his supernatural ability to read the air, looked at Zhang Jie.

His official career was successful, his influence profound and substantial, and he rose to the highest ranks of the court.

However, its life force and vitality are extremely weak.

Like a candle flickering in the wind, it won't last long.

Wei Youyou leaned closer, glanced at Zhang Jieheng who was rambling on and on, then looked at Chu Xun and asked in a low voice, "Master, are we taking him home?"

>