Drunken Sword Immortal! City Folks Are Really Weird!

Unable to bear it any longer, Chu Yang let out a loud shout that startled Li Xiaoyao and the others.

"Big Brother Chu, what’s wrong…?"

Chu Yang patted Li Xiaoyao on the shoulder and whispered into his ear, "You know about my senior brother’s condition. Don’t provoke him."

Li Xiaoyao suddenly understood. He gave Xu Changqing a pitying look, then turned and quietly explained things to Auntie Li.

A moment later, Auntie Li was looking at Xu Changqing with the same expression.

Xu Changqing scratched his head, utterly confused. He only felt that everyone’s gazes were exceptionally kind.

After that little episode, the three of them stopped crying. When Auntie Li learned that Li Xiaoyao had married Zhao Ling’er on Immortal Spirit Island, she was so happy she could hardly close her mouth.

"You brat really are lucky, marrying a fairy like Ling’er…"

Auntie Li showered Zhao Ling’er with praise until her ears turned bright red.

After catching up on family matters, Li Xiaoyao told her about how Chu Yang and Xu Changqing had rescued them. Only then did Auntie Li realize that these two young Daoists were the benefactors who had saved her life.

She immediately tried to kneel, but Xu Changqing lifted her with a spell. "Auntie, please don’t do this. You are an elder. The two of us cannot accept such a great bow!"

"We can! We can!" Auntie Li found that she could not kneel no matter how hard she tried, so she had no choice but to stand back up. Pressing her palms together, she kept nodding. "You two are living immortals. You saved my Li family. No bow would be too great."

Chu Yang said helplessly, "If you keep bowing like that, you’ll scare my senior brother away. He’s the sort who cares most about rules and propriety. How could he possibly accept it from an elder?"

Only then did Li Xiaoyao pull Auntie Li back, once again emphasizing that there was something wrong with Xu Changqing’s head.

Auntie Li looked at Xu Changqing with both pity and regret. "What a shame… Such a terrible shame…"

Xu Changqing: "???"

Li Xiaoyao took Auntie Li to a corner and said softly, "There’s one more thing I need to tell you. I’ve decided to join Shu Mountain. I’ll soon set off for Shu Mountain with the two Daoists. We’ll also make a trip to the Southern Border so Ling’er can visit her family."

Li Xiaoyao only told her half the story, carefully avoiding any mention of the Moon Worship Sect because he did not want his aunt to worry.

Auntie Li hesitated. "Isn’t Shu Mountain Sect made up of monks? Why would they take you as a disciple?"

Li Xiaoyao gave a dry cough and repeated Chu Yang’s earlier explanation in a muddled fashion. Even he himself had been fooled by it, let alone Auntie Li.

Auntie Li’s eyes went wide as she listened. She nodded blankly. "Mm… Ah… So that’s how it is."

After the two talked for quite a while, Auntie Li slowly walked over to Xu Changqing. "Could you two Daoists let Xiaoyao stay one more night before leaving? I should at least pack some things for him. They say a poor family should prepare well for a journey."

Xu Changqing quickly nodded. "Of course, Auntie Li."

"Thank you both!" Auntie Li happily pulled Zhao Ling’er back into the room, shutting the door behind them as they began talking about who knew what.

The three grown men stood in the main hall, falling into silence.

As the senior brother, Xu Changqing decided to break it. With a solemn expression, he said, "Brother Li, my Sword Control Technique cannot carry three people to Shu Mountain. Besides, my junior brother and I came down the mountain under our master’s orders to cultivate through worldly experience…"

"Both emotionally and practically speaking, the road ahead may be somewhat difficult. I hope you won’t mind."

How could Li Xiaoyao dare say that he minded? He quickly waved his hands. "Just arrange things as you see fit, Hero Xu. I have no objections. Receiving your help is already an enormous blessing."

Xu Changqing shook his head, his tone and manner as stiff as an old man’s. "Those are two separate matters. You need not confuse them…"

Before he could finish, Chu Yang rudely cut him off. "Senior Brother, the journey is long, and no one can guarantee what might happen. Why not teach Xiaoyao a little Sword Control Technique, so he’ll have some ability to protect himself?"

At once, Li Xiaoyao became excited, his face full of anticipation.

Xu Changqing frowned tightly. "Junior Brother, Brother Li has not yet formally joined Shu Mountain. According to sect rules, we cannot privately teach him the Sword Control Technique. This is absolutely impossible!"

Chu Yang curled his lip.

He really was like a stone in a latrine—smelly and hard!

Li Xiaoyao lowered his head in disappointment as well.

No, Li Xiaoyao didn’t know anything. Going to Shu Mountain like this would affect my plans!

Thinking that, Chu Yang said, "Then how about this? I’ll teach him some swordplay of my own creation. That shouldn’t violate sect rules, right?"

Xu Changqing hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "That is acceptable."

Li Xiaoyao was overjoyed!

In his eyes, with Chu Yang’s miraculous medical skills that could restore flesh to the dead and bone to the living, his swordsmanship and Daoist arts surely could not be lacking either.

"Come on. Let’s find somewhere quiet, and I’ll teach you some swordsmanship."

Chu Yang patted Li Xiaoyao on the head. The latter happily led the two of them out of the inn and toward Ten Mile Slope.

Teaching Li Xiaoyao swordplay had been a spur-of-the-moment decision for Chu Yang. He wanted to see how Li Xiaoyao, possessing sword arts from several different worlds at once, would combine them into a single whole.

Li Xiaoyao’s cheat-like talent and comprehension made him Chu Yang’s best test subject, capable of giving him a new line of thought.

Xu Changqing was also somewhat expectant. Chu Yang had personally told him that Li Xiaoyao possessed extremely high martial talent, and he wanted to see just how high it truly was.

The three arrived at the dilapidated Mountain God temple on Ten Mile Slope, where Chu Yang began teaching Li Xiaoyao swordplay.

For foundational swordplay, none surpassed the Nine Swords of Dugu. It was known as the ultimate outline of all sword arts. The highest principles of swordsmanship were contained within it; it was the pattern and summary of swordplay itself.

The Nine Swords of Dugu had nothing to do with the power of individual moves. It was a sword art that would grow ever stronger as its master’s realm improved.

Its only flaw was that it required extremely high comprehension.

And that happened to be Li Xiaoyao’s greatest advantage.

"The General Formula of the Nine Swords of Dugu contains three hundred and sixty variations. Using it as a foundation, you can incorporate the sword intent of the following eight stances and achieve the effect of unifying the nine swords as one…"

"The other eight stances include the Sword Breaking Stance…"

"The essence of the Nine Swords of Dugu is never to memorize them rigidly. Do not be bound by fixed moves. You must reach the realm where no move triumphs over moves."

Chu Yang explained his understanding of the Nine Swords of Dugu in detail, then began demonstrating the moves and reciting the mental cultivation formulas.

Li Xiaoyao watched in rapt attention.

Xu Changqing’s gaze grew solemn, though his face also showed a trace of heartache. He could tell that the swordplay Chu Yang was teaching Li Xiaoyao was completely different from what he had used during their sparring match.

That meant that in the span of barely more than ten years, Chu Yang had relied on his own talent to comprehend two sets of sword arts that could be called peerless.

Such brilliance was worthy of admiration, yet from the standpoint of an elder brother, Xu Changqing also felt regret for Chu Yang.

If Junior Brother’s talent for cultivation were just a little higher, he should probably be the senior brother of the Qi Sect instead of me.

Xu Changqing stood there in a daze.

In the blink of an eye, the sun sank and the moon rose.

Chu Yang taught from daylight into the night. Li Xiaoyao had already completely grasped both the Nine Swords of Dugu and Nameless Swordplay.

Just as Chu Yang was about to continue teaching him Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin, a lazy voice came from nearby.

"You two are Shu Mountain disciples too, yet what kind of messy swordplay are you teaching?"

"You’re tarnishing Shu Mountain’s reputation for nothing!"

The three followed the voice and saw a devastatingly handsome middle-aged man lying atop a large boulder, staring at Chu Yang with displeasure.

A fiery red wine gourd hung from the man’s waist. He took it down, gulped deeply, and loudly scolded, "Shu Mountain Sect’s Sword Control Technique is unmatched under heaven. Why teach swordplay from other sects and make yourselves a laughingstock?"

He narrowed his eyes at Chu Yang. "If you don’t want to teach this kid, just say so. Being so petty, why not let me teach him instead?"

Seeing Chu Yang get scolded for no reason, Li Xiaoyao angrily threw the wooden sword in his hand. "What are you babbling about, you drunken lunatic? Come down here and see if I don’t beat you to death!"

Xu Changqing pulled the shouting Li Xiaoyao behind him and cupped his hands toward the drunken man. "Changqing greets Martial Uncle Mo."

Upon hearing someone call him "Martial Uncle Mo," the Drunken Sword Immortal sobered up by more than half. He carefully examined Xu Changqing, dressed in white as pure as snow, before suddenly remembering. "Oh! You’re that old man Cang Gu’s disciple, the one from the Qi Sect…"

Xu Changqing solemnly said, "Xu Changqing, disciple of Shu Mountain Sect’s Qi Sect, greets Martial Uncle Mo."

The Drunken Sword Immortal jumped down from the boulder and circled Xu Changqing in a strange, muttering manner. Curling his lip, he said, "I know you won the last Sword Qi Competition. All this Shu Mountain Sect talk every other word…"

Xu Changqing remained unsmiling and kept his respectful posture.

The Drunken Sword Immortal could not stand the sight of him like that. He impatiently waved his hand. "Forget that useless nonsense. A loss is a loss. I only want to ask you this: if you’re going to teach him something, why not teach this kid the Sword Control Technique instead of such worthless swordplay?"

"Because Brother Li has not formally joined Shu Mountain. According to sect rules, we cannot privately teach him the Sword Control Technique."

At that point, Xu Changqing no longer maintained a respectful attitude. His face darkened. "The swordplay just taught to Brother Li was earned through more than ten years of my junior brother’s painstaking effort. I ask that you show some respect, Senior. Otherwise… Changqing will have to seek instruction from you!"

"Oh, the young man has quite the temper? You really were cut from the same mold as Cang Gu. Not bad!" The Drunken Sword Immortal walked straight past Xu Changqing and stopped before Li Xiaoyao. "They won’t teach you the Sword Control Technique, so I will. Do you want to learn?"

"No!" Li Xiaoyao regarded Chu Yang and Xu Changqing as his benefactors. The Drunken Sword Immortal’s earlier belittling of Chu Yang’s swordplay had angered him greatly. Though he came from the streets, he still understood the meaning of loyalty.

"None of you have any respect." The Drunken Sword Immortal’s intoxication surged, and his temper flared. "If you won’t learn, then I insist on teaching you. Let’s see what you can do about it!"

As he spoke, the Drunken Sword Immortal reached for Li Xiaoyao’s head. He intended to transmit the art through his thoughts, directly stuffing the Sword Control Technique into Li Xiaoyao’s mind.

That required an exceptionally profound level of cultivation.

This method differed from imparting cultivation. It only gave the principles behind the Sword Control Technique. As for what one could cultivate it into later, that would depend on one’s own talent.

Just as the Drunken Sword Immortal was about to succeed, a streak of sword light flashed out, separating him from Li Xiaoyao.

Chu Yang stood with sword in hand, smiling warmly. "Martial Uncle, that would be rather overstepping. Though Brother Li has not formally taken a master yet, he can still be considered half a disciple of our Qi Sect. There is no need to trouble a senior of the Sword Sect."

"Good kid, you dare draw your sword at me!"

The Drunken Sword Immortal formed a sword with two fingers, sharp sword qi gathering at his fingertips as he thrust toward Chu Yang. Chu Yang did not dodge. Instead, he raised his sword to meet him, exchanging sword moves with the Drunken Sword Immortal.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing hurriedly said, "Martial Uncle Mo, you are an elder. My junior brother has not yet completed Qi Refining. You must not bully the young with your seniority!"

The Drunken Sword Immortal seemed angry, but in truth, he had been delighted to encounter a worthy opponent and wanted to test Chu Yang’s self-created sword moves. Hearing Xu Changqing’s words, he turned and glared at him. "You brat, what do you take me for?!"

Chu Yang said brightly, "Senior Brother, there’s no need to worry. Martial Uncle Mo intends to guide me in sword moves."

The two brothers spoke one after the other, leaving the Drunken Sword Immortal unable to back down. He could only restrain his cultivation and compete with Chu Yang using pure sword moves.

That was precisely what Chu Yang wanted. It would not be convenient for him to reveal his true strength, but if they were only comparing sword moves, victory was assured.

The Shu Mountain Sword Sect’s swordplay placed primary importance on intent. It did not demand exquisitely refined sword techniques, instead emphasizing harmony with the Dao to raise its power to the greatest extent.

The Qi Sect, meanwhile, focused more on combining the Sword Control Technique with spells in actual combat, wielding spells through the sword. It imposed extremely high requirements on both.

Neither the Sword Sect nor the Qi Sect placed much importance on sword techniques themselves. Thus, in the Drunken Sword Immortal’s view, although Chu Yang was an excellent prospect, he had embarked on the wrong path.

"Kid, your swordplay truly is stunning, but it carries too much of a craftsman’s touch. It will be difficult for you to enter the Great Dao."

The Drunken Sword Immortal had already fallen into an absolute disadvantage. After Chu Yang stabbed him once, he used sword qi to knock Chu Yang away.

When he looked at Chu Yang again, his gaze resembled that of someone looking at a treasure, though there was also some regret in his eyes.

"Thank you for your guidance, Martial Uncle!"

Chu Yang sheathed his sword and cupped his hands in salute.

"Guidance my ass. You beat me so badly I couldn’t tell east from west!" The Drunken Sword Immortal rolled his eyes, raised the wine gourd, and took a large gulp. Then he laughed heartily, free and unrestrained.

He continued, "I take back what I said earlier. Your sword moves are ingenious, not trash!"

"Sword intent and sword techniques are both parts of the sword Dao. Sword intent is difficult to begin but easy to reach the mysterious realm with, pointing directly to the source of the Great Dao. Sword techniques, however, are easy to begin but difficult to reach the mysterious realm with. Further down the path lies a rugged trail, harder than climbing to heaven."

"I hope you choose carefully!"

The Drunken Sword Immortal sat cross-legged on the ground and freely shared much of his understanding of the sword Dao. He did not care in the slightest about the so-called Sword Qi Competition, only wanting to help Chu Yang fill in what he lacked.

Chu Yang felt respect rise in his heart and listened attentively.

The Drunken Sword Immortal’s understanding of the sword Dao surpassed the overall level of sword Dao in the Wind and Cloud world by a considerable margin.

Xu Changqing stepped forward and bowed. "Thank you, Martial Uncle, for instructing Junior Brother A Yang. This disciple acted rashly earlier. I offer my apologies here."

The Drunken Sword Immortal did not care at all. He waved his hand. "You looked more pleasing the way you were before. Now you resemble old Qing Wei, rigid to the extreme."

Xu Changqing had no response.

The Drunken Sword Immortal lowered his head and tied the wine gourd to his belt. He said casually, "I admit this defeat wholeheartedly. I won’t compete with your Qi Sect anymore. Tell me your names, and I’ll be on my way!"

"Chu Yang."

"Li Xiaoyao."

The Drunken Sword Immortal’s hand suddenly froze. Squinting at Li Xiaoyao, he asked, "What did you say your name was?"

Li Xiaoyao scratched his head and repeated it, thinking that this scruffy middle-aged man did not seem to hear very well.

The next moment, the Drunken Sword Immortal flashed to Li Xiaoyao’s side and seized him. "Since that’s your name, then whether you want it or not, I have to teach you today!"

With that said, the Drunken Sword Immortal forcibly imparted the Sword Control Technique to Li Xiaoyao.

Xu Changqing was startled.

Chu Yang was dumbfounded.

No wonder his surname is Mo rather than Situ. He’s another hodgepodge version of the Drunken Sword Immortal. In that case, the Sword Saint Sect Leader of Xianjian Sect is probably in a similar situation.

"Riding the wind on my sword, I come, slaying demons between heaven and earth."

"A thousand cups cannot make me fall, for I alone am the Drunken Sword Immortal."

Watching the Drunken Sword Immortal ride his sword away, Chu Yang and Xu Changqing fell silent. Li Xiaoyao scratched at his head and ears, jumping in anger.

He had said he did not want the Drunken Sword Immortal’s Sword Control Technique, yet the technique had still been forcibly stuffed into him.

Li Xiaoyao said angrily, "That old man is sick!"

"Enough. Don’t act like you got a bargain and still complain!" Chu Yang hooked an arm around his neck. "Show us the Sword Control Technique. Let’s see how much you learned."

Reluctantly, Li Xiaoyao picked up the wooden sword and began practicing. In Chu Yang’s eyes, the moment Li Xiaoyao moved, the true essence throughout his body automatically began circulating, as though it were instinct.

Xu Changqing watched from the side and nodded repeatedly. "Junior Brother was right. Brother Li truly is a martial arts genius. He learned most of the Sword Control Technique after seeing it just once."

Chu Yang smiled. "If we walk all the way back to Shu Mountain like this, he’ll probably be able to participate in the Sword Qi Competition by then."

A short while later, Li Xiaoyao carved several fierce streaks of sword qi across the ground, then controlled the sword back into its sheath. The entire process flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water. His Sword Control Technique had already taken shape.

Only then did the three leave Ten Mile Slope together and return to the Cloud Come Cloud Go Inn.

At the same time.

Nanzhao Kingdom.

Moon Worship Sect headquarters.

Shi Jieren, the Moon Worship Sect Leader, was observing the stars at night when he suddenly noticed something strange. He could not help letting out a soft sound of surprise. "This star was barely visible just a few days ago. How did it suddenly become so bright?"

"Can fate truly be changed?"

"Interesting. I really want to meet this friend…"

After watching with great interest for a while, Moon Worship summoned several followers and asked how their mission to bring back Zhao Ling’er was progressing.

"We have received no contact for an entire day. Something must have gone wrong. Please, Sect Leader, send us to investigate."

Several followers knelt on the ground and pleaded respectfully.

"Forget it. Using violence will only make things backfire. I plan to use another method to accomplish this matter."

"Bring A Nu to me."

Moon Worship waved them away, then rose and left the room, arriving at a wilderness area in the mountains.

A short while later, an innocent young girl dressed in Miao clothing came skipping over. The instant she saw Moon Worship, her face broke into a bright smile.

The two spoke beneath the moonlight for a long time.

The next day.

Chu Yang and the others rose early and arrived at the docks of Yu Hang Town, where they boarded a large ship bound for Suzhou City.

Li Xiaoyao had grown up in Yu Hang Town and had never traveled far from home. Suddenly leaving the place he knew so well made him feel somewhat uneasy.

But to put Zhao Ling’er at ease, he forced himself to look calm and composed. Still, his eyes kept darting toward Chu Yang, making his guilty conscience obvious.

Zhao Ling’er was even worse off. Her nerves had been taut the whole time, and she clung tightly to Li Xiaoyao’s arm.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing began counseling the two of them.

Whether because he was too long-winded or because they had truly relaxed, Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling’er soon fell asleep.

By the time they woke again, the ship had arrived at the docks of Suzhou City.

The docks were nowhere near the town, but farther out in the suburbs. They still had some distance to walk before reaching the city.

"Ling’er, what do you think people in big cities are like?"

"Xiaoyao Gege, I don’t understand what you mean. Aren’t people all the same?"

"I mean their mannerisms, their bearing, the way they speak…"

"They should be about the same as Daoist Xu and the others, right?"

"I suppose so."

The conversation between the two naive youths who had only just come of age was amusing enough to make anyone laugh, and Chu Yang suddenly felt like teasing them.

"People in big cities mostly have strange quirks. The pressure of life is too great, and they can’t find the right way to vent it."

Chu Yang spoke utter nonsense with a straight face. "Some people even hang others from trees and take turns whipping them. Today you whip me, tomorrow I whip you, all to relieve stress."

Zhao Ling’er shuddered in horror and asked nervously, "Daoist Chu, can’t we take another route? Ling’er suddenly doesn’t want to enter the city."

Chu Yang shook his head. "That won’t do. The wilderness is even more dangerous. You could run into demons."

Zhao Ling’er looked at Chu Yang with pleading eyes. "But we can vanquish demons and evil spirits. There shouldn’t be any danger, right?"

Chu Yang rolled his eyes. "Who sleeps with half an eye open? By then, if demons carry you off, we won’t even know."

Zhao Ling’er lowered her head dejectedly and said no more.

Li Xiaoyao laughed. "Ling’er, Brother Chu is just teasing you. How could something like that possibly happen…"

Xu Changqing also smiled and nodded.

The moment he finished speaking, Li Xiaoyao heard cries for help. He looked into the distance, and his face immediately turned deathly pale.

On a tree in the distance, two people—a man and a woman—were tied up. Before them stood a girl in red, continuously whipping them with a lash.

Their screams brought the group to a halt.

Li Xiaoyao pointed ahead and said shakily, "Are people in big cities really this twisted? I don’t want to enter the city either. Let’s just leave."

Xu Changqing was also stunned. He murmured, "Could local customs truly differ so greatly from place to place?"

Chu Yang said irritably, "You idiots, hurry over and save them! Customs my ass!"

Only then did Xu Changqing and Li Xiaoyao react. They hurried forward, Xu Changqing cutting the ropes to free the man and woman, while Li Xiaoyao drew his sword and forced back the girl who had been whipping them.

"What petty scoundrel dares interfere with this young lady’s business!"

The girl in red had quite the fiery temper. Without a second thought, she lashed out at Li Xiaoyao’s face with her whip.

"What a vicious demoness!"

Seeing how ruthlessly she attacked, Li Xiaoyao showed no mercy either and unleashed the Rope-Breaking Stance from the Nine Swords of Dugu.

The sword light clung like a shadow, coiling around the whip in the red-clad girl’s hand like a nimble serpent. With a sharp exertion of force from Li Xiaoyao, the whip flew from her grasp.

Struck by a soft, yielding force, the red-clad girl felt as though her wrist had been bitten. Clutching it, she said furiously, "What kind of strange swordsmanship is this? What unorthodox school did you learn it from?"

Li Xiaoyao hated hearing anyone call Chu Yang’s swordsmanship an unorthodox style. His anger flared at once, and he raised his sword to stab at the red-clad girl again.

The red-clad girl turned pale in shock, but she had no weapon left to defend herself. Caught off guard, she could only await death.

Seeing this, Chu Yang flicked out a stream of sword qi, knocking Li Xiaoyao’s sword from his hand. He walked forward with a smile. "You need to temper your disposition. When experts clash, it comes down to who stays calmer. If you keep acting like this, you’ll suffer a major loss sooner or later!"

Once his anger subsided, Li Xiaoyao suddenly felt a chill of fear. If that sword strike had truly landed, this girl would have died without a doubt.

"I… I’m sorry!" Li Xiaoyao hurriedly apologized to the girl in red, scratching his head as he said, "I was angry just now. You were the one who insulted me first…"

Having just brushed past death’s door, the girl glared viciously at Li Xiaoyao. The next moment, tears welled up in her eyes.

She had been terrified too!