Martial Cultivator

Yang Furen looked at the young martial artist who had climbed to the mountaintop, still carrying that green bamboo, and could not help but feel both amused and exasperated.

However, seeing Chen Chao appear here did surprise him. It was not unusual for someone to try and drive him away without his knowledge. Although Sword Qi Mountain had many swordsmiths, it did not mean the entire mountain lacked cultivators. In fact, swordsmiths who interacted with swords daily had a more advantageous position than other sword cultivators. Sword Qi Mountain had its own sword immortals; albeit few in number. However, this time, the sword immortals did not intervene. Even so, the numerous sword cultivators on the mountain actually failed to stop this young martial artist from climbing up?

Yang Furen smiled and said, "My apologies."

Chen Chao got straight to the point and asked, "Is it really that troublesome?"

Yang Furen pointed to the swordsmiths and said softly, "They say that helping you forge a saber would bring destruction upon Sword Qi Mountain. Although this old man doesn't think it would be that drastic, I can't convince them otherwise."

"People, the hardest thing is to convince another person."

Yang Furen felt rather emotional, though it was not entirely unacceptable.

Chen Chao probed, “How about you let this junior give it a try? This junior is quite good at arguing.”

Before Yang Furen could respond, Chen Chao asked again, “If I manage to win the argument, can the saber be reforged?”

Yang Furen chuckled, “We can give it a try together.”

Chen Chao put down the green bamboo he was carrying on his shoulder, took a few steps forward, and looked at the group in front of him. “Seniors, shall we have a chat?”

Wen Hu answered coldly, “There's nothing to talk about. You'd better leave the mountain right now, or don't blame Sword Qi Mountain for not being hospitable!”

Chen Chao replied in surprise, “So, Senior, driving people away is Sword Qi Mountain's way of treating guests?”

Wen Hu who had already had an unpleasant encounter with Chen Chao at the mountain gate found himself at a loss for words, his face turning extremely ugly.

“Our Sword Qi Mountain only forges swords and nothing else. Commander Chen, you've come to the wrong place."

One of the swordsmiths said expressionlessly. Though it was an excuse, the meaning was clear.

Chen Chao laughed, “Why doesn't Senior just say that Sword Qi Mountain doesn't have the ability?”

"Shut up!"

"How dare you insult our Sword Qi Mountain like this?!"

"Mountain Lord, chase this person off the mountain at once!"

Chen Chao's words immediately triggered reactions from many of the swordsmiths, stirring up emotions in front of the great hall.

Yang Furen glanced at Chen Chao with some helplessness. How could this kid dare to say anything?

The truth might be somewhat close, but saying it outright was clearly a direct slap in the face of Sword Qi Mountain.

Chen Chao shook his head and asked, "So, was this junior wrong to say that Sword Qi Mountain is unwilling to help because it's afraid of the foreign lands, fearing retaliation, and even the possibility of Sword Qi Mountain no longer existing in this world?"

Upon hearing this, the swordsmiths fell silent. Compared to the previous question, the answer to this one was even more severe. Nodding to this would be a greater insult to the pride of Sword Qi Mountain.

Yang Furen silently sighed. This young martial artist's skill with words was indeed more formidable than his martial arts.

“How dare you speak such nonsense?!"

"Sword Qi Mountain has many friends, and there are countless sword cultivators who have received our flying swords. Sword Qi Mountain stands strong in this world, and no amount of storms can shake it!”

A swordsmith from Sword Qi Mountain refuted Chen Chao's words in a cold voice.

Hearing this, Chen Chao suddenly felt somewhat tired. After a long silence, he said, "Seniors, actually, you're wrong."

"Sword Qi Mountain exists not because it has many friends or because it has made flying swords for many sword cultivators. It exists because the sword cultivators in this world need Sword Qi Mountain, and that's all there is to it."

Chen Chao shook his head. After saying this, he moved to stand beside Yang Furen and said, "This junior will be going down the mountain now."

Yang Furen was still immersed in Chen Chao's last remark. Hearing this, he snapped back to reality and asked, "Not going to reforge the saber anymore?"

Chen Chao smiled, "Since it's not possible and no one is willing, why make things difficult for Mountain Lord?"

Yang Furen sighed and asked, "So you struggled to get here just to say a few words?"

Chen Chao responded candidly, "Since there's no willingness, this junior won't insist on it. But if the mountain wants to drive me away, this junior should at least say a few words, right? Otherwise, how would it look for the imperial court if word got out?"

“Your thoughts are quite meticulous. This old man actually wants to help you, it's just that...”

Yang Furen glanced at Chen Chao, a hint of admiration in his eyes. But even more so, there was a sense of regret.

……

……

Early summer, in the palace, the sound of cicadas could be heard.

Li Heng stood outside the Imperial Study, listening to the cicadas that were not annoying. He could not help but recall the days many years ago in that Prince Manor. Back then, the Princess Consort was still around, and His Majesty was not yet the Emperor. One day, when Princess Consort was taking a nap and got disturbed by the cicadas, she remarked how annoying they were. Then, he saw His Majesty spend the entire day catching cicadas outside her window with an insect net.

At that time, the Princess Consort's health was still relatively good. She would even occasionally go horseback riding and hunting with His Majesty. Whenever His Majesty mentioned the Princess Consort, there would always be a smile on his face. He never hesitated to say in front of the servants that marrying the Princess Consort was the greatest fortune of his life, a fortune he would not trade for the entire world.

But later, as the Princess Consort's health deteriorated, she gradually became unable to ride horses. His Majesty also started to hunt less frequently. When the weather was good, they would sit in a sunny spot in the Prince Manor, basking in the sun and having heartfelt conversations. Li Heng would watch from a distance with the other servants, finding the scene very beautiful.

The Princess Consort was a kind person, never harsh with them, and His Majesty rarely quarreled with her too. Once, when His Majesty truly angered the Princess Consort, she hid in her room, refusing to see him. Despite being a vassal prince, His Majesty lowered himself, coaxing her at the door for a long time.

When the Princess Consort finally calmed down, His Majesty even personally drew her eyebrows.

Back then, the Prince Manor was the most beautiful place in Li Heng's eyes.

But later, when they moved from the Prince Manor to the Divine Capital and then to the imperial city, even though His Majesty still treated the Princess Consort the same, it always felt like they were different from before. Yes, back then, their hearts held only each other and not the entire world. Here, the Princess Consort became the ruler of the harem, and His Majesty became the ruler of the world, with too many things to think about.

Perhaps if she had not become Empress, the Princess Consort could have lived a few more years. If she had lived longer, His Majesty would not be growing more white hair and showing less joy on his face as he was now.

Thinking of this, Li Heng sighed softly. He did not ponder too much; after all, his fate was already set. But His Majesty was shouldering the burden of the Great Liang Dynasty with no one to confide in, it truly made one's heart ache.

"What are you sighing about?"

A voice suddenly sounded in Li Heng's ears. The Great Liang Emperor had somehow arrived behind him without him noticing. Looking at this fellow who had been with him for many years, the Great Liang Emperor asked, "Feeling a bit tired? How about leaving the palace and traveling around the vast lands of the Great Liang Dynasty? Whether you come back or not, it's up to you."

Li Heng shook his head and replied softly, "The world may be vast and beautiful, but it means nothing to Li Heng. Serving by Your Majesty's side is the greatest joy of my life."

The Great Liang Emperor made a rare joke, "You've become quite the smooth talker. We don't see that timid young eunuch who entered the Prince Manor back then anymore."

Li Heng smiled gently and replied, "Your Majesty has grown old, so how could this servant not age as well? Besides, after experiencing so much with Your Majesty, even the most timid person would have gained some courage."

The Great Liang Emperor smiled faintly without saying any more and continued walking forward, with Li Heng naturally following behind.

"By now, that lad should have already arrived at Sword Qi Mountain, right?"

The Great Liang Emperor paused in front of a vermilion wall and suddenly spoke up. Though his voice was calm, there was still some emotional fluctuations.

Li Heng chuckled and said, "The reports sent earlier mentioned clearly that he met a mother and daughter while still in Changping Prefecture. They parted ways at a ferry and he headed to Yellow Dragon Prefecture, while the mother and daughter went to White Deer Prefecture. Perhaps not having the heart to do so, he returned to White Deer Prefecture to find them, but he was too late. The child's mother had been killed by cultivators from Clearwater Mountain. He then went to Clearwater Mountain and killed all the cultivators on the mountain."

An entire mountain of cultivators, countless lives, was casually mentioned in the reports.

The Great Liang Emperor said calmly, "Those cultivators never valued human life. If they died, so be it."

Li Heng continued, "After that, he went to obtain the antlers that had Sword Qi Mountain's bounty, helped a pair of siblings come to the Divine Capital, then went to Ancient Mountain Commandery and killed the local warden. He also crippled a low-ranking official's cultivation; that official was later beaten to death. After leaving, he encountered a sword-seeking event in Sword Proximity Commandery, left behind a sword, helped a girl from a brothel, and taught a group of sword cultivators a lesson. Now, he has already reached the foot of Sword Qi Mountain."

The Great Liang Emperor smiled and said, "His temperament is somewhat like Ours, but he likely has a heart demon. He used to be indifferent, but then suddenly became compassionate. It's just that he couldn't convince himself otherwise. This lad grew up by the Wei River and then survived that great flood, struggling to stay alive. He remembers that incident, so he should have no reason to care about this world. Experiencing some things on this journey and maturing a bit is a good thing."

Li Heng remained silent, just listening quietly.

"People, no matter how much they hear about good or bad, nothing compares to seeing it with their own eyes. He suffered for several years, thinking there was no one to trust, no one to turn to, and no one to help. This journey, with its different experiences, will help change his mindset."

The Great Liang Emperor muttered to himself.

Li Heng smiled and asked, "Your Majesty seems to have very high expectations for him?"

"Who asks him to carry the blood of my Chen Family?"

The Great Liang Emperor said calmly, "Those few sons of Ours, which of them do you think can compare to him?"

Li Heng shook his head. This was a question the Emperor could ask, but he could never answer it no matter what.

"However, now that he's at Sword Qi Mountain, those people are unlikely to help him."

The Great Liang Emperor smiled and said, "Being in my Great Liang, there are both advantages and disadvantages. But it seems this lad hasn't reaped many benefits; instead, his identity has caused him problems everywhere."

Li Heng asked curiously, "If that's the case, why did Your Majesty still send him to Sword Qi Mountain? Knowing this would happen, why waste the effort?"

The Great Liang Emperor glanced at Li Heng and shook his head, "Using a broken saber, isn't that inconvenient?"

This time, Li Heng was truly at a loss for words. It was often said that the mind of the emperor was hard to fathom. Even after following the Great Liang Emperor for so many years, he could not decipher the meaning behind this statement.

"He lost his father, lost his mother, and lived alone by himself all these years. Just thinking about it is hard."

The Great Liang Emperor looked up and said softly, "But even if he lost his parents, doesn't he still have Us?"

"Who asks that lad to carry the blood of the Chen Family?"

"Who asks Us to be biological brothers with his father." "Who ask Us to be that boy's biological uncle?"

Sword Qi Mountain can ignore him, but do they dare to ignore Us?"

The Great Liang Emperor smiled, looked in the distance, and said softly, "Who ask this world to be surnamed Chen?"