A Man in the Snow: Starting with a Sword Challenge to the Northern Liang Prince's Palace

Timing is of utmost importance.

After staying in the town for a long time, Ye Yun finally decided to go see that person.

He may seem to be doing nothing, but he is actually waiting for an opportunity, waiting for that opportunity to be ripe, waiting for that person to be willing to see him.

For Li Huai to appear beside him so unexpectedly, that person must have his eye on him.

Li Huai was his precious darling.

Now, the time has come.

Ye Yun got up, walked out of the dilapidated little house, and headed towards the Yang family's pharmacy.

There is a small pharmacy at the entrance of the alley. The shop is old, the door is worn, and the words on the sign are blurred.

Inside the shop sat a gaunt old man, dozing against the counter. He wore a faded blue cotton-padded jacket and held a pipe in his hand, the embers in the pipe flickering.

Ye Yun pushed open the slightly ajar door and went inside.

The old man didn't move, his eyes still closed, as if he were asleep.

Ye Yun stopped in front of the counter and gently tapped the table.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Third tone.

The old man opened his eyes.

Those were cloudy old eyes, yellowed and bloodshot, looking no different from any other old man on his deathbed.

But the moment he opened his eyes, those cloudy eyes suddenly became clear, so clear that they seemed to see through all the illusions of the world.

He stared at Ye Yun for a long time.

Ye Yun did not avoid his gaze, but met his eyes directly.

"I didn't expect you to come after all. You're not from this world," the old man said, his voice hoarse, like the scraping of rusty iron.

Ye Yun's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface and nodded, saying, "Yes, I greet you, senior."

The old man stared at him and continued, "What are you looking for?"

Ye Yun remained silent for a moment, then truthfully replied, "I want to see the pinnacle of swordsmanship and resolve a karmic debt at the same time."

"The pinnacle of swordsmanship?" The old man scoffed, tapping his pipe on the counter.

"I thought you were here to seek opportunities like everyone else, but you chose the greatest opportunity of all."

Ye Yun did not answer.

Old Man Yang continued, "That sword isn't something just anyone can wield."

Ye Yun looked at him and said, "I don't want the sword, I want its Dao."

The old man was stunned.

He stared at Ye Yun, a complex look flashing in his cloudy old eyes.

"Interesting. There are countless geniuses in swordsmanship in the world. Do you know what it is?"

Ye Yun nodded: "I know."

The old man looked at him: "You already know, yet you still want it?"

Ye Yun continued, "Give it a try."

The old man remained silent for a long time.

He put the pipe back into his mouth, took a few puffs, and the smoke filled the dimly lit shop. Through the smoke, he looked at Ye Yun, his eyes filled with a mixture of scrutiny and admiration.

"You're quite decisive and carefree," he suddenly said.

The old man continued, "These days, honest people are few and far between. You've come to me with something to say, haven't you?"

Ye Yun didn't speak, he just looked at Old Man Yang.

This former deity.

The old man stood up and walked up to Ye Yun.

He was short and thin as a twig, but standing there, he exerted an invisible pressure on Ye Yun.

That wasn't pressure from a higher level of understanding, but something much older and heavier.

"I can introduce you," the old man said with a smile.

Ye Yun was startled and looked at him.

The old man waved his hand, interrupting him: "Don't be too happy yet. I'll help you, but you have to promise me one thing."

Ye Yun asked in confusion, "What is it?"

The old man stared into his eyes and said, word by word, "If you can truly make it that way in the future, do me a favor."

Ye Yun asked, "What kind of busyness?"

The old man shook his head: "I can't say now, it would be pointless if I did. You'll know when you actually get to that point."

Ye Yun was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "If I can do it, I will definitely not refuse."

The old man stared at him for a few moments, then suddenly laughed.

The smile looked somewhat eerie on his gaunt face, but his eyes revealed sincerity.

"Just because of your statement 'if you can do it,' I believe you."

He turned around and walked back to the counter, took out a palm-sized wooden plaque from the drawer, and tossed it to Ye Yun.

Ye Yun took it and looked down at it.

The wooden sign was old, its surface worn smooth and shiny, and it bore a strange rune that he didn't recognize.

Old Man Yang laughed and said, "Take this, it will save you a lot of trouble when you travel in the Lizhu Cave Heaven in the future."

Ye Yun gripped the wooden plaque tightly and said solemnly, "Thank you for your help, senior."

Old Man Yang waved his hand: "Don't call me senior, just call me Old Man Yang. That's what everyone in town calls me."

Ye Yun nodded and put away the wooden sign.

Just as he was about to take his leave, Old Man Yang suddenly said, "Young man, I have a question for you."

Ye Yun stopped and turned around, saying, "Please speak, senior."

Old Yang looked at him, his cloudy old eyes revealing a deep meaning: "You are clearly not from this world, so why are you so concerned about the people and things here? You've seen that kid from Mud Bottle Alley, that guy surnamed Liu, and those other little brats."

What do you want to do?

Ye Yun remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "I also want to see if my appearance will change anything, given the cause and effect involved."

Old Yang frowned slightly: "That's it?"

Ye Yun nodded and said, "That's it."

Old Yang stared at him for a long time, then suddenly sighed.

"I don't care what you're up to or what your purpose is, just don't ruin my plans, and I'll let you go."

Ye Yun cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, senior."

He turned and walked out, but as he reached the door, he suddenly heard Old Yang's voice behind him:

"Kid, that kid from Mud Bottle Alley, you'll go far in the future, but that road won't be easy. Some people will protect him, and some will harm him."

If you want to watch, then watch. Don't interfere.

Ye Yun paused and turned around.

Old Yang had leaned back against the counter, his eyes closed, puffing on his pipe as if he had fallen asleep again.

Ye Yun didn't disturb them, gently pushed open the door, and went out.

The sunlight felt warm and cozy on my skin.

Ye Yun withdrew his gaze and looked down at the wooden plaque in his hand. The runes on the plaque gleamed faintly in the sunlight, as if they had come to life.

He carefully put the wooden sign away from his body, then turned and walked towards the east end of the town.

After walking for a while, he suddenly stopped and looked back at the pharmacy.

The shop was still dilapidated, the door was still ajar, and the gaunt old man was still dozing in his recliner.

Everything was the same as before, yet it felt different.

Ye Yun withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

He knew in his heart that from this day forward, his connection with this town had taken another layer of karmic ties.

Old Man Yang is Qing Tong Tian Jun, one of the oldest beings in this town.

He agreed to help not because he admired him so much, but because he was still useful.

But it's okay.

If it's useful, then it's useful.

His goal was to meet the sword spirit, but if he went to see it rashly, he would probably be ignored. With Old Man Yang's introduction, he would have a better chance.

As Old Man Yang said, there are countless sword cultivators in the world, so why does the sword spirit want to see him?

Even if he possesses an innate sword physique, it doesn't matter if he doesn't develop it.