Chapter Thirty-Eight: Keeping the Appointment

Ye Sansi ate his meal but could not shake his worries. He drained his cup in one gulp and said, “I still can’t set my mind at ease about Lingshuang and Nian’er. Though they said they left the city, two women out there alone—it's too dangerous.”

Taiyi picked up on Sansi’s concerns. “Who wouldn’t worry? I’m just the same. Sansi, where do you think they might have gone? Back to Qingyang, or on to Lingzhou?”

“Lingzhou,” Sansi replied with utter certainty.

“Why are you so sure?”

“Lingshuang knows that, if I’m still alive, I will go to Lingzhou City, I will go to the Liu family fortress, and there I would look for her. This is my promise, and she knows I would never break my word.”

The old man laughed. “Ha! Since you’re so sure, young master Sansi, I’ll give each of you a swift horse—you’ll reach Lingzhou within a few days.”

Taiyi bowed. “Thank you for your kindness, elder, but both of us know my family’s footwork technique. We can travel fast enough. Riding horses might get us stopped and questioned. It would be troublesome.”

“That’s fine, then.”

Sansi said softly, “I only hope Lingshuang and Nian’er return safely.”

“Don’t worry, Sansi. Lingshuang is no weakling. She’ll be fine.”

Sansi put down his bowl and chopsticks and stood abruptly, voice ringing out: “We got separated, and it's all because of King Qingjianxi! If Lingshuang faces any danger, I’ll devote myself to cultivation, become strong, then return to Jianzhou and wipe out that king and all his armored soldiers, and restore peace to the people.”

Taiyi stood with him and echoed his resolve. “Sansi, no matter what happens, I’ll stand with you. Since leaving my father, I’ve wandered alone, never thinking to do anything grand—just seeking pleasure and freedom. But after meeting you, Lingshuang, and Nian’er—slaying demons and fighting evil with you all—I’ve felt a happiness I’d never known. To fight for the people of the world—my life is worth it.”

Sansi clapped Taiyi’s shoulder. “Good. Let’s strive together and rid the world of all evil men and monsters, to restore peace.”

The old man laughed heartily, nodding. “Excellent, excellent! If ever you need the aid of the Sword God Sect, don’t hesitate to ask. Such passion in you both—very good! Our sect leader was right about you. He said you’d achieve greatness—and now I see your righteous spirit with my own eyes.”

After the two had finished their meal, the old man asked, “Young masters Sansi and Taiyi, it’s well past noon. Will you stay in our village tonight, or...?”

“No need, elder. We’ll set out now.” Sansi picked up his Heaven’s Wrath sword, bowed his farewell, and left the house.

Taiyi followed after, offering his own bow.

The old man walked out to see them off.

They strode quickly out of Sword God Village, and as they looked back, the woods stretched thick behind them once more.

Sansi said to Taiyi, “The Sword God Sect is truly generous. Not only did they save my life, but every time we’ve come, they’ve treated us so kindly. I must repay them someday.”

Taiyi smiled. “You’re right, Sansi. I feel the same. But the Sword God Sect has done countless good deeds without seeking fame or reward. Why would they need anything from us? Besides, the sect stands above all others, beyond even the imperial court. They’d never let us juniors take risks on their behalf.”

“Then how can we ever repay such kindness?”

“Think of it this way, Sansi. The Sword God Sect’s mission is to rid the world of evil. If we slay demons and punish wrongdoers, aren’t we helping them already?”

“That makes sense.”

After a while, with their food digested, they used their Blazing Step and Quelling Feather techniques to hurry on, planning to skirt around Jianzhou City. Taiyi had already asked about the routes nearby and knew the way well, so their pace was swifter than ever.

Before nightfall, they had bypassed Jianzhou City and stopped outside its walls, gasping for breath.

Taiyi, exhausted, flopped to the ground. “Sansi, you’re relentless! I was waiting for you to admit you were tired, but you just kept going. I’m beat!”

Sansi was no less weary, having run for hours. He sank down as well. “Ha! I just wanted to get past Jianzhou before resting. It should be safe outside the city. Let’s head into the woods and spend the night there. We’ll start again at dawn.”

—

Sansi stood and pointed ahead. Taiyi peered forward. “All right. I’m a bit hungry, though. I have some dried rations—let’s eat a bit. We haven’t even left Jianzhou yet, and Lingzhou is still far away. Even if we don’t stop to sleep, it’ll take days at this pace.”

“No rush. Lingshuang will wait.”

“I’m not worried about the wait. It’s just that if Lingshuang doesn’t return to Liu Fortress, we could miss her—if she’s out searching for you while you’re in Lingzhou, you might never meet.”

“She won’t. Trust me, Taiyi. Lingshuang understands me, and I her. Though we’ve only known each other a few days, I know her temperament well. She’ll be waiting in Lingzhou City for me to find her. I’m sure of it.”

“Good. Let’s rest in the woods, then.”

In the forest, they found a hidden spot. Taiyi took out his rations and handed some to Sansi. Sansi opened the packet and they ate together.

Sansi said, “The first time I met Lingshuang, she handed me a bag of dried food, too. I didn’t know any better and thought it tasted terrible, so I tossed it away. Thinking back, it’s amusing.”

He took off his pack and opened it. “Oh, I almost forgot—I still have some smoked meat.”

Taiyi tore off a piece, chewed it, and praised, “This is delicious, Sansi. No wonder the ladies like you!”

“Oh, stop it.”

“All right, all right—let’s eat quickly and rest while we can. We’ve got a long road ahead.”

That night, the moon was especially bright, casting a gentle, comforting light through the woods.

Sansi and Taiyi slept under the moon, but neither dared to fall into deep slumber. This was no house—wild beasts or villains could strike at any moment, so they had to be vigilant.

Yet both, having mastered the Eight Treasures Art, could sense any movement nearby. Even footsteps a hundred paces away would not escape their notice. With Heaven’s Wrath by their side, they were ready for trouble.

As the first light pierced the forest, Sansi and Taiyi awoke—safe through the night.

They pressed onward. Time could not be wasted.

With no sign of Lingshuang or Nian’er, both felt a weight in their hearts.

As they hurried along, Taiyi said, “Sansi, let’s find a village at noon to rest and eat. My little frame can’t keep up with your pace.”

Sansi nodded, smiling. “Good idea. Let’s save the smoked meat—it’ll be useful on the road. I don’t want to eat rations every meal. You really ought to eat more, Taiyi. If you were stronger, you could keep up and maybe even learn my Blazing Thirteen Swords.”

Taiyi laughed. “You’re right. But I’ve trained since childhood—stronger than most. Still, your stamina is something else. I can’t compare.”

“Maybe it’s the immortal fruits from Uncle Shu’s mountain. When we go back, you can eat as many as you like.”

“I’d like that. I want to know what immortals eat!”

By noon, the sun was blazing high. They’d passed several villages but hadn’t stopped, Taiyi saving his strength to avoid losing time.

Sansi stopped. “Taiyi, you look exhausted. Let’s rest.”

“Mm. There’s a place called Ten Thousand Immortals Town nearby. Let’s find an inn there.”

As they walked, Sansi asked, “Ten Thousand Immortals Town? What a grand name! Are there really so many immortals here?”

Taiyi laughed. “People everywhere dream of becoming immortals but lack the destiny. They love to name their towns after immortals—Ten Thousand Immortals, Hundred Immortals, Becoming Immortal Village, Ascending Immortal Hamlet—just for good luck.”

“Why do people long for immortality?”

“To escape death. Who doesn’t fear it? Only as an immortal can one live forever. But not everyone has that fate.”

—

Sansi laughed. “Well, whether I become immortal or not, I’ll protect this world as long as I live. Look, there’s an inn—let’s go.”

They entered the inn. Taiyi paid for a table of dishes and they sat together.

Sansi leaned in and whispered with a smile, “So who’s the unlucky soul that’s crossed our mighty Taiyi this time?”

Taiyi scratched his head, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Sansi grinned. “The Nirvana Flame Hand technique—coin purses—ring a bell?”

Taiyi burst out laughing. “So you noticed!”

“Of course. I know the Nirvana Flame Hand too. I know what it can do. You conjured up all that money—obviously it came from someone else. That Young Master Zhao’s overflowing purse tempted me too. Glad you took it and helped the poor.”

“I guess nothing gets past you, Sansi.”

Their food arrived, and they tucked in hungrily. They were still within Jianzhou’s borders, and lingering too long was dangerous. Sansi’s likeness was posted in the city; someone might recognize him and report to the authorities for a reward.

They finished their meal in less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Leaving the inn, they walked down the street when a merchant bumped into Sansi, apologizing profusely. Sansi didn’t take it to heart, but as they passed, the merchant whispered, “Leave by the south gate.” Only Sansi heard.

They had entered through the north gate, and Taiyi knew that was the main road out. The south gate was muddy and the detour much longer.

But Sansi trusted the warning and told Taiyi. Taiyi, though puzzled, trusted Sansi’s judgment and followed him out the south gate.

Wading through mud, they reached the main road and looked back to see Ten Thousand Immortals Town surrounded by hundreds of armored soldiers.

The only muddy route was that south gate, impassable by cavalry and unused by locals—leaving it clear for Sansi and Taiyi to escape.

Taiyi sighed and asked, “Sansi, do you have clairvoyance? How did you predict the danger and insist we take the south gate?”

Sansi laughed. “Not me—the Sword God Sect has the real foresight. That merchant who bumped into me was one of theirs. He warned me to take the south gate.”

He continued, “But how did the armored troops arrive so quickly? We only ate for a short while, yet they mustered hundreds to surround us. Didn’t the Sword God Sect say Jianzhou’s armored troops were few?”

Taiyi explained as they hurried on, “Time has passed. Maybe King Qingjianxi redeployed his forces. These soldiers are stationed outside major towns, hiding like the Sword God Sect, appearing only when ordered. We were lucky to escape.”

Sansi’s eyes gleamed wickedly. “I doubt those troops will survive.”

“What do you mean?”

“If the Sword God Sect could warn us, they must know the soldiers’ movements too. If the armored soldiers could encircle us, the Sword God Sect can encircle them in turn.”

Taiyi laughed. “You really are a genius, Sansi.”

The two set off again, using their swift steps with laughter.

Indeed, just as Sansi predicted, after they left, the hundred armored soldiers outside Ten Thousand Immortals Town were wiped out in an instant, meeting a grisly end.