The Clothes Pavilion Manager wanted to keep Wen Caishang and Li Xian to draw their portraits and paste them outside the pavilion to attract passing custors.
Such businesses are very common. To avoid any trouble, Li Xian, though aware that Su Qiuyu and others were trapped at Tiger Cry Ridge, felt the need to stay low, so he declined outright.
After changing clothes, it was ti to enjoy so food. Li Xian was skilled in culinary arts, able to create unique flavors from wild ingredients.
However, it was never as good as the exquisite dishes of a restaurant, which better reflected the local flavors. At the "Drunken Spring Inn," there were famous dishes and outside, won played the pipa.
The music was lodious, attracting all sorts of gentlen. Li Xian and Wen Caishang, with their refined deanor and suitable attire, were not neglected by the shopkeeper, who arranged an elegant seat for them and served exquisite dishes one after another.
Wen Caishang softly said, "Li Lang, having escaped danger, I must properly thank you!" She poured tea and wine in gratitude.
The two exchanged cups, forgetting the conversation from the previous night. The shopkeeper kept serving dishes, which they tasted and appreciated, enjoying a different kind of elegance and pleasure.
Once they were full and satisfied, Li Xian sought to be cautious and went to the busy market in the city to check on the "Red List" arrests. The nas of "Heart-eating Young Master Li Renshan" and "Blood-drinking Poison Woman Wen Shexie" were already removed.
It turned out...
Divine Hunter Leng Shixing knew well the dangers at Tiger Cry Ridge. He predicted that the two had fled into the mountains and would have difficulty returning. He reported to the Celestial Patrol Bureau, claiming that the criminals had been executed, leading to the removal of the warrants.
Moreover... Li Xian and Wen Caishang had traveled over a hundred miles, exiting the Tiger Cry Ridge mountains. They had left "Huashui Prefecture" and reached "Chongling Prefecture."
The distance was so vast that the Red List announcents had not reached this place. Amidst the vast sea of people, the natural barrier was ford. Even if the Sword-Seeking Alliance had great abilities, it would be difficult to trace them again.
Li Xian smiled with relief, stretched lazily, and said, "With that move! We’ve finally escaped completely." Wen Caishang replied, "Indeed."
Li Xian laughed, "Madam, you always say you must thank properly, so how will you thank ?" Wen Caishang said, "You cheeky boy, trying to act clever? I will definitely thank you, just watch."
The rest of the journey, though long, was no longer dangerous.
Li Xian, feeling leisurely, took Wen Caishang on a tour of mountains and waters, enjoying great fun. After three to five days, they arrived at the county seat of Nanwang County in Chongling Prefecture.
Wen Caishang introduced the history of the county. Three thousand years ago, this city experienced a plague, which was very severe. The Nanwang County invited doctors and prepared dicine to control the plague, preventing the city from being destroyed.
Hence, the city was nad "South King City."
She also spoke about the various histories of the Southern King, ntioning that although he achieved much, he was not faithful in love, which was not good. Little Immortal, don’t learn from him."
The Nanwang County was preparing for the Lantern Festival.
It was very lively, with scholars and poets visiting to enjoy the lanterns and observe the local customs.
With mories from two lifetis, Li Xian recalled that Qingning County had a similar scene called "Gathering." At that ti, the streets were bustling with people. As a child, he would go to the fair with his father, and he loved buying sugar-coated fruit skewers... each skewer having five sour and fragrant fruits.
He ate two, and his younger brother ate three. At that ti, when the two brothers "divided the loot," they saw the wealthy young children of the county, each able to eat a skewer and still switch up the flavors. Once they had their fill, they would give the remainder to the servants.
The servants ate better than the two brothers.
Recalling past events, Li Xian shook his head and smiled gently. He spent five copper coins to buy two skewers. One for the lady, and one for himself. They spoke about past events while eating.
His voice was soft and slow, and though the past was uneventful and mundane, his storytelling made one listen intently, soothing the heart.
In the bustling street scene, it had a unique charm. They enjoyed lanterns, watched performances, participated in activities, and watched operas, tasting everything. Qingning County wasn’t as lively as this, and though Li Xian had visited many big cities, he always passed through quickly.
Now having escaped the great peril, his state of mind was different. What he enjoyed and experienced naturally felt different. Wen Caishang felt the sa; she had never gone out with a man during her lifeti.
Lantern Festivals and lively festivities... she was never interested in such folk festivals. So she had never wandered about, and touring the bustling city with Li Xian was quite novel and joyous.
Historical books only record great events, but such minor revelries don’t get recorded in history. Yet their charm is quite enticing.
That night, after indulging in amusent, the two traveled through mountain forests. With Dual Swords Unite, they expressed deep affection. Wen Caishang’s sword was soft in quality, but her sword montum was like a hot wave, entwining like contemplation, each thrust trying to bind Li Xian.
Li Xian’s sword montum was bold and graceful, always with the ambition to gaze across thousands of miles, sweeping through the world. As the two practiced swordplay, they felt the differences even more.
Wen Caishang expressed her feelings but always felt an inexplicable stuffiness, like scratching an itch through a boot.
But with dual swords uniting and emotional exchanges, though not perfectly satisfying her, it was nonetheless fulfilling and joyful. Having practiced the First Layer tens of thousands of tis, they moved on to the Second Level.
Sharing the Rain, Living and Dying Together, Piercing Through the Heart, Setting Sun and Waning Moon... many sword techniques were displayed one by one. Wen Caishang had already achieved Perfection on the Second Level and had spent much ti practicing the Third Level. When she danced the Second Level together, her Sword Dao attainnt beca even deeper, thus focusing mainly on "Yin," complented by "Yang."
Her sword montum was endlessly entwining, pulling Li Xian along. As she polished the Second Layer, she showed joy in her expression, fully expressing her emotions. After completing a session of sword techniques, she said, "Li Lang, there’s no need to practice the First Layer anymore. From now on... let’s focus on the Second Level!"
Li Xian said with a smile, "Alright!"
At that point, he embraced Wen Caishang, who was drenched in fragrant sweat, touched by emotion. With his naturally charming nature, he just needed to be a bit proactive. Lady Zhe Jian, the proprietress of the manor, would have surrendered.
Li Xian’s future seed uncertain, and he was hesitant to take the final step. Wen Caishang thought to herself, "This rascal is full of tricks, far from truly honest. But why does he now seem wooden? Could it be... could it be that I punished him too harshly? When he once harbored impure thoughts about , I stabbed him with a sword. Is he... is he still afraid because of that?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers