Sword of Jiuya

一剑九琊

sword-of-jiuya

Cang Lang

The sky was heavily overcast, pressing down on the top of the cliff, echoing the continuous sound of the waves.


 There were two figures on the mountain path, their voices drifting from afar: "Young master, why are we leaving the perfectly good brothels and coming to this godforsaken place in the middle of nowhere to catch a plague?"


 It was a handsome young servant with clear eyebrows and bright eyes, but unfortunately his tone and expression were very impolite, needing to be matched with a blunt duck-like voice to be considered compatible.


 The handsome young master in splendid clothes closed the fan in his hand, which depicted the scene of listening to the waves and watching the ripples. He was about to hit the servant's head with the gold-inlaid fan handle, but unfortunately the servant dodged by tilting his head, and the young master's delicate wrist was innocently hit, being slapped by the heavy fan pendant.


 "You ignorant little thing," he didn't seem angry, and even had a few traces of frivolous laughter, "naturally there are good things here. Ah Hui, has this young master ever harmed you?"


 "Yes, you have," Wen Hui answered truthfully: "Poor me, since I was a child, I've been taking the blame for the young master, being scolded by the madam and the young ladies. I've worked hard without complaint. Young master, you sneaked off to Cang Lang Cliff, and I followed you here without a word. There's a disaster happening here, people could die!"


 "Then do you know why there is a disaster here?"


 Ah Hui shook his head: "I don't know."


 The young master lowered his voice and said mysteriously: "I heard it's because the sea demon is causing trouble."


 "Ah!" Ah Hui was startled by him and waved his hands repeatedly, making a gesture to turn around and leave: "Then you can go and die by yourself. I'm going back to Yue City first. I haven't married Xiao Dao yet, I cherish my life very much!"


 "What nonsense." This time the fan handle hit its target. After hitting him, the young master opened the fan with a "swish" and continued walking forward. His posture was tall and straight, white jade hung from his waist, his wide sleeves flowed like clouds, and his black hair was loose. Amidst the vast and hazy mountain colors of the world, in addition to his noble air, there was also a hint of ethereal immortal aura.


 Ah Hui sighed in his heart. His family's young master was known as the crazy young master in the entire Yue City, not because he had a mental problem, but because his actions always had a bit of craziness that was out of touch with the world. For this reason, he was often scolded by his parents and older siblings, who pulled his ears and confined him to his room to comb his hair and dress properly, lecturing him on etiquette.


 But he had grown up with the young master since childhood, and he didn't know what strange problem his eyes had. Not only did he not think the young master was crazy, he even felt that this person was born with an incompatible immortal aura, as if he could float up to the sky at any time.


 The young master spoke with a smile on his face: "But I also heard that Cang Lang Village at the bottom of Cang Lang Cliff is suffering from the sea demon's disaster. They used an ancient method to summon an immortal, who will arrive soon."


 Ah Hui's mind was wandering aimlessly about the "immortal aura" and such. When he suddenly heard this sentence, his heart skipped a beat, and he had no intention to mock the young master for listening to rumors and talking nonsense.


 "Then, young master, you want to...?"


 "Of course, wait for the immortal to arrive, kowtow three times, pester him to death, and beg him to accept me as his disciple, then roam the four seas." The young master said this with confidence and arrogance, as if he had already become a senior disciple of some immortal. Unfortunately, a moment later, his true form was exposed. He stumbled and had to be supported by the young servant.


 After hearing this, Ah Hui didn't dare to speak anymore. His family's young master was born with bad luck. He choked when drinking water, bit his mouth when eating meat, sprained his ankle on flat ground, and was disliked by cats and dogs. He himself had a strange ability since childhood - his premonitions often came true, mostly used to judge which road was better to take when he and the young master were innocently chased by dogs. He was often jokingly called by the madam of the family as "directly offsetting the bad luck of this ungrateful little beast who clashes with everything."


 The master and servant found a family in Cang Lang Village to rest, and they stayed for three days.


 Cang Lang Cliff was located on the edge of this continent, adjacent to the vast sea. The villagers of Cang Lang Village made a living by fishing in the sea, and each of them had great strength. Even the unmarried girl of this family was much stronger than the two people who came from the city.


 Ah Hui watched the girl swinging her arms and chopping wood in the courtyard. The blade in her hand was extremely sharp, shining with a silver light, and her momentum was fierce. She chopped wood as if cutting vegetables. He was shocked and frightened: "Can she find a husband? I can't provoke such a warrior. I'd rather marry someone like Xiao Dao!"


 "No, no," the young master slowly refuted: "The sky is higher than the earth, the mountain is level with the marsh. The people here rely on the heavens for their livelihood. The girl is both virtuous and kind, skilled in washing clothes and cooking, and has great strength. She might even be good at fishing. The people in Cang Lang Village might even have to break down her door to propose marriage."


 He deliberately raised his voice for the last few sentences. The girl brushed aside the hair on her forehead and smiled at the window. She had regular features, revealing a simple charm.


 "Are you engaged?" the young master asked her.


 The girl's face turned red with shyness, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's: "I am."


 "Is he good? If I come to Cang Lang Village again in the future and he bullies you, just tell your brother, and I will definitely help you beat him up!" the young master said, waving his fan.


 Seeing his family's young master behaving like this, shamelessly and indiscriminately flirting with a good family's daughter regardless of her appearance, even in a remote village, Ah Hui couldn't help but purse his lips.


 "He's good." The girl answered in a low voice with her head down. After a while, she raised her head again: "Tonight is when the sea demon comes out. Young Master Chen, be careful not to go near the sea."


 The young master followed her words and started asking about the sea demon. He learned that for most of the past year, the sea demon would appear on the first and fifteenth of every month, stirring up dangerous waves. The sea water only rose and never receded, destroying the livelihoods of many families.


 "Our village chief invited an immortal to come. It should be sometime soon." The girl finished chopping the wood, held it in her arms, and left the sight of the two.


 "Young master, impressive." Ah Hui gave his young master a thumbs up: "What you said was really accurate. Where did you find out?"


 "The old cripple who tells fortunes at the street corner - the one who got it wrong last time and was chased by Butcher Wang with a knife for eight streets." The young master answered solemnly.


 Ah Hui: "..."


 This young master surnamed Chen moved a chair and sat under a tree in the courtyard. He closed his eyes, and it was unclear whether he was asleep or awake. When he opened them again, it was already near dusk.


 A hint of crimson appeared on the horizon. The setting sun reluctantly showed its face only when it was about to set. The sea breeze gradually turned cool and the sound of the waves surged. The waves hit the reefs one after another, splashing up white spray as high as a zhang.


 "Oh my goodness," Ah Hui opened his mouth wide, looking at the thick tentacles thrashing on the sea surface, smashing the reefs with one blow: "This is the sea demon - it's really disgusting."


 From somewhere in the east, a child's sharp cry could be heard, which was quite eerie.


 At this moment, every household had their doors tightly shut, with lights brightly lit, anxiously hoping to safely make it through and also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the "immortal" mentioned by the village head.


 "Young master, do you think the immortal will handle these matters? I heard that the immortal world itself is in quite a mess!"


 The young master slowly fanned himself and glanced sideways at Ah Hui. "Where did you hear such rumors from?"


 "From the storyteller at the Fourteenth Ward. You've been following that old cripple recently and haven't gone to listen to the storyteller in a long time." Ah Hui chuckled, "The other day, the young miss sent me to buy a hairpin, and I happened to hear a segment about 'No one rules the Floating Heavenly Palace, and Lord Lanshan intends to take over.' It said that their immortal realm is leaderless, and anyone with some ability is vying for power, one after another - Sir Zhou sure has a glib tongue!"


 The young master seemed to perk up with interest. "That does sound intriguing. Tell me more about it in detail."


 Ah Hui then imitated the storyteller, rapping on a tea tray and gesticulating wildly as he chattered on.


 "The storyteller put it this way: Since ancient times, the immortal path and human path have been separate and distinct. Walking the Expansive Path leads to being a ruler among men; ascending the Heavenly Road leads to being an emperor among immortals - across the vast universe, only these two can reach the pinnacle."


 "The storyteller has already covered this before," said the young master. "So what's the point?"


 "As you all know, for the past five hundred years, the mortal realm has long been divided. Each continent and nation has its own emperor, with warlords entrenched. No one can unite the land with a single call, so naturally no one treads the Expansive Path. But the immortal realm is different. Within a mere decade, Emperor Yan defeated Three Lords and Fourteen Marquises, ascended the Heavenly Road, and reached Huan Dang Mountain. Since then, it has been peaceful and tranquil, with no more demons or evil spirits causing trouble."


 Wen Hui's tone suddenly shifted, "But now the situation is vastly different - in the Floating Heavenly Palace atop Huan Dang Mountain, where Emperor Yan resides, there hasn't been a single movement for over a decade! Those in the immortal realm are all speculating, saying that although Emperor Yan was an unparalleled genius, perhaps his foundation was unstable or he incurred the jealousy of the heavens. He has already strayed and perished on Huan Dang Mountain."


 Just as the servant was getting to the exciting part, he suddenly noticed his young master staring out at the distant sea, looking a bit dazed. "Young master?"


 "Ah Hui," the young master's eyes were about to bulge out as he even forgot to fan himself with his pretentious fan. "It's coming towards us."


 Only then did Wen Hui look up and see a massive tentacle rising high above the sea surface, slapping down viciously, with the sea breeze carrying a chilling fishy stench.


 The young master utilized his ultimate skill honed from years of being chased by vicious dogs in the streets and alleys. Grabbing his servant, he ran towards the courtyard, his waist ornaments jingling and jangling in a chaotic din. "We can't let it smash the young lady's house!"


 "You still have the mind to think of the young lady-" Wen Hui's voice echoed in the small village, "Madam was right, a jinx like you should be locked in the room and not let out for even a day!"


 "Then my family's luck would run out!" The young master refuted with all his might.


 With the last shred of calm in the midst of panic, Ah Hui thought about it - that made sense.


 That was because the young master was the unluckiest person in the world. Within a one-mile radius, if there were vicious dogs, they would definitely bark madly; if there were mosquitoes, they would certainly come to bite; if he went on a trip, he would often encounter heavy rain. To the point that when the young masters of Yue City would get together to admire flowers and willows, they often joked, "We absolutely can't let the second young master of the Chen family come. Otherwise, within three days, the lush flowers will wither and the green willows will wilt."


 Fortunately, this household was located at the edge of the village. As soon as the two ran out of the house, the tentacle mercilessly struck down. Wen Hui immediately tackled the young master to the ground and rolled a few times, barely avoiding being hit.


 They stood up and immediately changed direction to flee, while the main body of the sea monster gradually moved towards the shore. The tentacles around it coiled horizontally, and several other tentacles were already raised high again, poised to strike.


 Those tentacles were as thick as old trees, glistening with a slimy sheen under the moonlight. Smeared with sand and dirt from the shore, they curled up, looking ready to slap down on the two again.


 Wen Hui closed his eyes - this time they were truly done for.


 But then he heard the young lady who had rushed over shout, "Run quickly!" She swung a sharp woodcutting axe, its cold blade flashing as it clashed with the tentacle. The sound was like weapons colliding, sparks flying, but it failed to injure the sea monster in the slightest.


 The young master, however, let go of his servant and ran towards the shore himself to court death. "It's coming for me, you all run!"


 The tangled tentacles were all drawn to him, rolling down from the sky and in a blink, engulfing the figure in his brocade robes.


 "Chen Weichen-" Wen Hui was furious and pained to the extreme, not even bothering with respectful address. He snatched the axe from the young lady's hand, wanting to futilely attack with an egg against a stone.


 But then he saw a clear sword light breaking through the heavy sky in the distance, falling from afar, carrying a chilling and killing intent like wind and snow. In an instant, it swept to the shore and slashed horizontally.


 The sea monster froze for a moment, the sword qi passing through its body. Several tentacles were severed at once and fell to the ground lifelessly, revealing the young master in the center who had not yet been tightly ensnared.


 This young master named Chen Weichen stood in place, raising his hand to wipe away the fresh blood flowing from a cut on his cheek from a sharp rock on the ground earlier. He gazed at the figure in the sky and muttered to himself, "In the end, I've had a stroke of good luck."


 The sea monster, caught off guard by the sword qi's injury, sent its remaining tentacles to attack the person in the sky - it was clearly no ordinary sea creature. As the tentacles swung, they stirred up towering waves, the sea surface churning as huge swells surged one after another.


 In an instant, the sword light was cold and clear above the sea, the wind howling. A white figure stood upon the sea, the round moon on the horizon, its clear radiance illuminating everything.


 Chen Weichen, however, walked a few steps towards the turbulent sea. The waves delivered something white and translucent to his hand, bobbing up and down.


 That object was about the size of a palm, its surface smooth like congealed lard, with faint gray patterns and an exotic fragrance.


 He returned to Wen Hui's side.


 The servant, brandishing the axe, was howling about wanting to kill his master. "Is there anyone who courts death like you?"


 In the end, he lacked the strength and couldn't bear to do it. The axe that was raised halfway came back down.


 The monster in the sea suddenly went berserk. Huge waves surged high and slapped down towards the two on the shore, like mountains collapsing and seas overturning, a ravenous giant mouth wanting to devour the entire cliff.


 - This time it was truly a catastrophe of annihilation.


 But then a stream of sword light passed through, and a frosty white air wafted up from the base of the waves.


 "Tonight I've probably used up all my good luck for a lifetime," the young master still had the leisure to open his fan and sigh behind it even in this situation. "Who knows how much bad luck I'll have to endure in the future to make up for it."


 The waves grew higher, the white air thicker, the seawater freezing.


 At its peak, the wave froze in place, unable to rise further or fall.


 A sword condensed into frost and snow.


 Chen Weichen stood where the waves were about to fall but had not yet fallen, and as he raised his head, he was met with a sky full of ice and snow, the cold penetrating deep into his bones.


 A figure in white descended gracefully onto the snowy beach. With a crisp sound, the person sheathed their sword and walked towards this direction.

Frost and Snow

"What a night, to meet such a beauty," the young master closed his fan and continued sighing, "All my good luck in this life is not enough, I'll have to use up my luck from the next life in advance."


 As he spoke, he knocked the fan handle on his servant boy's head again, "Can't even blink your eyes, snap out of it."


 By then, that person had already walked up to them.


 As white as snow on the mountains, as bright as the moon in the clouds.


 Chen Weichen thought, there was only one flaw - those eyes, that sword, that bearing, that aura, all exuded a cold murderous intent, what a pity for such an otherworldly, exquisite and intelligent countenance.


 He smiled, "Many thanks to the immortal lord for saving my life. I, a mere mortal, have no way to repay, I wonder if..."


 Before he could finish, he was interrupted.


 "Hand it over."


 The voice was like the person, icy and frosty, startling the plum blossoms into a twilight snow - Chen Weichen's mind was filled with inappropriate romantic thoughts. He was so engrossed in savoring and pondering the voice that when he came to his senses, he realized he had no idea what the "beauty" had said.


 "I was momentarily dazed and didn't hear clearly. Could the immortal lord please repeat it?" He asked shyly.


 Beside him, Wen Hui almost wanted to bury himself in the sand - in all the times he had lost face following his young master, big and small, this situation now could be considered the biggest loss of face.


 "Hand it over." That person really did repeat it, seeming a bit displeased, his gaze stopping on the warm, lustrous white object in Chen Weichen's hand.


 Just when Wen Hui thought his young master would obediently present it with both hands in front of the beauty, he saw Chen Weichen change from his previous manner to be like a hooligan.


 "I won't," his tone was matter-of-fact, "I picked this up."


 That person's voice was cold, "It belongs to me."


 "I clearly saw it come from the sea, it's an ownerless object."


 "This item is called Annihilation Incense," that person said to Chen Weichen, "If kept on your person for a long time, it will disrupt your fortune, bring you misfortune, and you will not die well."


 "I'm sorry," Chen Weichen's eyes curved slightly as he smiled freely, "I've had misfortune by my side since I was young, a little more makes no difference."


 That person looked at him, slightly furrowing his brows, "You..."


 Before he could finish, a black shadow pounced towards Chen Weichen, carrying a vicious murderous aura.


 Chen Weichen let out a miserable cry and closed his eyes.


 But he wasn't injured as expected. The white-robed person in front of him had blocked it with his sword sheath. The thing rolled a few times on the ground - it was a rather fat black cat, its tail raised high towards Chen Weichen, fur bristling.


 Chen Weichen: "..."


 A voice came from the distance, "Qingyuan, Xie Qingyuan - why did you run so fast, your elder brother can't keep up!"


 It seemed to be calling the cat's name.


 "Qingyuan - what a waste of this name," Chen Weichen, relying on the cold beauty beside him exuding an aura that prevented the cat from attacking again, sized it up, "Short legs, fat body, no neck to speak of, it should be called Heiyuan."


 *T/N: The 'Qing' in Qingyuan means 'light', while Heiyuan means 'black and round'


 From the distance, a person dressed as a Daoist priest in a silver-gray robe and holding a horsetail whisk came stumbling over. Arriving, he saw the water and let out an "ah" in fright.


 "To turn the sea water to ice for ten miles in all directions, this demon most likely has already reached the second level of the Heavenly Realm! This humble Daoist is unable to suppress it."


 He saw a young woman dressed as a villager to the side and respectfully saluted, "Miss, I'm truly sorry. This demon is beyond what this humble Daoist can handle. Please inform the village chief that this humble Daoist will go seek a second level Heavenly Realm expert..."


 So this was the immortal the villagers had summoned using the ancient method.


 "Immortal," the young woman pointed to the seaside, "Someone has already killed the demon."


 Chen Weichen glanced over at the young woman. The Daoist priest looked very young and delicate.


 Could it be... a cat demon? He muttered to himself, recalling how it had said "elder brother".


 The Daoist priest walked a few steps towards the seaside, puzzled, "Huh - why is there sword intent in the ice?"


 Looking up, he saw three people and a cat under the ice.


 This young Daoist priest saw the white-robed man and froze.


 Chen Weichen opened his fan with false bravado, fanning himself while watching the situation unfold.


 "Ye, Ye, Ye..."


 A single "Ye" stuttered for a long time, but couldn't continue.


 Chen Weichen unabashedly nudged that person's arm with his elbow, "Hey, Immortal Lord, your surname is Ye - could it be that you're the legendary..."


 This scene seemed to stimulate the Daoist priest, who finally called out that person's title.


 "Sect Leader Ye!"


 That person's expression didn't change, calmly saying, "Marquis Langran."


 "Sect Leader, you actually still remember me!" The Daoist priest was overjoyed. He picked up the black cat from the ground, put it in his arms, and stroked its fur fiercely a few times to calm himself, "What are you doing here?"


 "Young Master," Wen Hui leaned over, woodenly saying, "I heard him say Marquis Langran."


 "I heard," the young master nodded, "I also heard Sect Leader Ye."


 "Young Master, we're finished. Even the next life's luck isn't enough," Wen Hui patted his chest to calm his breathing, "You used up the luck for your next eight lives tonight."


 "The old cripple said, looking at my fate, in a year I'll die either way. But tonight at Cang Lang Cliff I have an immortal destiny," the young master said, "Go back and tell my father to take in the old cripple, feed and serve him well for a lifetime."


 As they were whispering back and forth, that white-robed man turned to Chen Weichen, "What do you want?"


 Chen Weichen said, "Ye Jiuya, you teach me cultivation, and I'll give you the Annihilation Incense."


 Ye Jiuya's eyes were like cold pools, "You know my name?"


 "Of course," he smiled, "You immortals, one Emperor, Three Lords, Fourteen Marquises. Besides them, there is also a Ye Jiuya, known as 'Master of the Sword Pavilion, a Lord beyond Lords'. There's no one who doesn't know of you - which storyteller in the mortal realm doesn't tell your tales?"


 "This young master," Marquis Langran, also known as Daoist Xie Lang, after placating the black cat that was glaring fiercely at Chen Weichen, said to him, "Pardon my bluntness, but my junior sister is most sensitive to fortune. The Annihilation Incense affects fortune and steals fate. Even I don't dare touch it. If you hold it, sooner or later you'll die a violent death. It's best to hand it over to Sect Leader Ye soon."


 Chen Weichen was still smiling, his eyes shimmering, giving off an air of limitless charm and romanticism.


 "Daoist, I've already heard this once," he said, "Why don't you calculate my fortune yourself?"


 Xie Lang asked for his birth date and time, looked him up and down a few times, then closed his eyes, muttering something under his breath.


 When he opened his eyes, he said hesitantly, "You..."


 Chen Weichen smiled, "Me?"


 Xie Lang shook his head with a complex expression.


 Chen Weichen's expression remained relaxed: "From childhood until now, whenever a fortune teller was invited, there was only one result."


 He waved the Annihilation Incense in front of Ye Jiuya: "Swordmaster Ye, if you take me to cultivate immortality, just one year will do. I won't bring you misfortune for too long. My surname is Chen, given name Weichen, the 'Weichen' from 'Majestic Kunlun, tiny speck of dust'. The fortune tellers said that no matter what, I won't live past twenty - I'm nineteen this year, and want to see the world before I die. After one year, I'll return this item to you, I absolutely won't go back on my word."


 Seeing that he himself had no sadness, the Daoist also put away his earlier expression. Scratching the black cat's ear in his arms, he said with a grin: "This young master is quite interesting. With the end approaching, instead of eating well, drinking well, and enjoying fragrant beauties at home, you insist on taking the coldest, most bitter path."


 "Daoist, to be honest," the young master closed his fan, the gilded patterns on the handle were exquisitely crafted without a hint of crudeness, instead adding a touch of elegance and charm.


 "The riches of the mortal world are truly meaningless. I have an older brother above and a younger sister below. My parents don't need support, so I'm left with just one desire - since childhood I've heard storytellers speak of gods, demons, monsters, and Buddhas, and want to take a look at the immortal path." Under the moonlight, he played with that lustrous, pure Annihilation Incense, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Just as I was thinking this, the item delivered itself into my hands. I also met two people who only exist in stories. It is truly the right time, the right fate. I can't help but act shamelessly and unreasonably this once."


 The immortal path and mortal path have nothing to do with each other - this is absolutely true in both word and reality.


 Orthodox immortal sect disciples believe in fortune, revere the Heavenly Dao, and wholeheartedly slay demons and eliminate devils. They must not be involved in mundane affairs, and especially must not harm the lives of mortals.


 If Chen Weichen was determined to keep the item for himself, Ye Jiuya would be helpless, unless he waited for the man to die on his own. But if this unruly young master passed it to someone else before his death, it would be another troublesome matter.


 "Meeting Xie Lang today means you have an affinity with immortals," Ye Jiuya said indifferently, "I cultivate the sword, and am not considered someone on the immortal path. I cannot guide you."


 He looked at Xie Lang: "Marquis Langran, I'll have to trouble you."


 Xie Lang's eyes darted around, delight appearing on his brow: "To have Swordmaster Ye owe me a favor is truly a stroke of good fortune I could never hope for. This Young Master Chen understands life and death, and seems to have the roots of wisdom - it's not a loss at all."


 Wen Hui watched unblinkingly as Xie Lang put down the cat and pressed the five fingers of his right hand against Chen Weichen's forehead.


 Chen Weichen's gaze immediately turned vacant.


 Xie Lang began to ask questions.


 The initial questions were all things like "What is emptiness", "What is guarding the one", "What is valuing softness". The servant standing to the side thought to himself that he could understand and even answer some of them. But later, things like "The Dao produces principles" and "Softness is the firmness of the Dao" were added. At this point, he couldn't understand a single word.


 But that finger of Xie Lang's seemed to have a unique effect. Each time a question was asked, his family's young master would begin to answer, almost without any thought.


 After Xie Lang had asked over a hundred questions, he finally lowered his hand. The clarity gradually returned to Chen Weichen's eyes.


 He saw Xie Lang sizing him up with a strange look.


 "Young Master Chen, there's something I don't know if I should say."


 The helpless Wen Hui beside them covered his forehead with his hand. As soon as he heard this, he knew that his family's young master's unprecedented good luck tonight had likely come to an end.


 Chen Weichen: "Please speak."


 "Although you have an affinity with immortals and do not lack in talent, you don't have the slightest bit of enlightened wisdom. You will be unable to attain the Dao in this lifetime." Xie Lang frowned, a difficult expression on his face, and looked at Ye Jiuya: "Swordmaster Ye, what should be done about this?"


 Author's Note:


 Young Master Chen's score on the "Cultivation World IQ Test" was: Fail.

Emperor Yan

"Daoist priest, I don't quite understand," the servant began to defend his young master. "If you say the young master has good roots, how can you say he lacks the root of wisdom?"


 "You mortals often love to say that beauty lies in the bones, not in the skin. The bones are the foundation of the form, and only when they are expressed on the surface does one have a good appearance," Xie Lang explained as he lazily scratched the black cat in his arms, not needing to exorcise any demons. "Qi entering the bones forms immortal bones, which are good roots."


 "The root of wisdom, like the root of the bones, is innate, but it has nothing to do with the physical form. It is about enlightenment." The young Daoist continued, "There are three roots of wisdom: the heart of killing, the heart of the lotus, and the heart of the spiritual accord. The spiritual accord allows one to enter the Dao, the lotus heart allows one to perceive Buddhism, and the killing heart causes one to descend into demonhood. However, with the current separation between immortals and demons, having a killing heart does not necessarily make one demonic. For example, Swordmaster Ye entered the way of the sword with a killing heart, and Lu Lanshan, one of the Three Lords, upholds the righteous path with a lotus heart."


 "So, the young master doesn't have any of these three hearts?" The servant felt very angry and glared at Chen Weichen with a look of exasperation, but saw that person just smiling and looking over here, fanning himself with a fan. The painting of listening to the waves on the fan had a lofty artistic conception, as if it could fan out flowers.


 "No, no, this is the troublesome part. Everyone has these three hearts, but to varying degrees. Mortals have a mix of the three hearts, so they are muddled and go with the flow. The spiritual accord is intelligent, the lotus heart does good, and the killing heart does evil - hence there are differences in innate nature. Cultivators specialize in nurturing one heart, with a clear state of mind, thus being able to attain the Dao." If Xie Lang had a beard, he would definitely be twirling it in distress now. "But your young master's three hearts are equally balanced, neither good nor evil, neither wise nor foolish. No matter which path he tries to cultivate, he will face many difficulties - he really has the most ordinary aptitude."


 The Daoist thought for a moment, then added seriously, "So ordinary that it's a bit extraordinary."


 But Chen Weichen was no longer listening. He turned to look at Ye Jiuya beside him.


 In that person's frosty expression, there was a hint of thoughtfulness.


 He didn't look at anyone, only at the full moon over the sea.


 The moonlight was cold, the clear radiance sprinkling down, falling into his eyes, rippling endlessly.


 - It was actually a faint look of perplexity.


 On the side, Xie Lang was still chattering endlessly with Wen Hui, just like an old teacher complaining to parents about the bad behavior of the unruly students after school.


 "This is heaven wanting to cut off his path of cultivation. You can't blame me, you can't blame Swordmaster Ye, it's better to take that Annihilation Incense..."


 But then Ye Jiuya's voice was heard, cold as the moonlight of the night: "Marquis Langran, no need to say more."


 The chatter stopped immediately. The Daoist secretly glanced at Ye Jiuya's expression and instantly changed from an old teacher to a disciplined student, using his whisk to cover his face. "Yes, Swordmaster Ye."


 Ye Jiuya said, "Hand."


 Chen Weichen handed over his right hand, thinking to himself - as expected, as sparing with words as though they were gold.


 A bone-chilling cold arose from where they touched, flowing through the meridians to the whole body, bringing a thread of pain.


 Ye Jiuya withdrew his hand. "Are you willing to follow me?"


 Xie Lang peeked out from behind his whisk and asked, "Swordmaster, could it be that he has a way to cultivate despite this?"


 This time Ye Jiuya did not ignore him and answered, "There have been precedents."


 Chen Weichen then smugly mocked the Daoist, "Marquis Langran, I'm just saying, but among the Three Lords and Fourteen Marquises, the Marquises are indeed inferior to the Lords, and the Lords are inferior to Swordmaster Ye."


 Xie Lang had just declared that it was absolutely impossible for him to cultivate, and now ate a huge setback. He snorted.


 Ye Jiuya spoke again, "This method is not easy, the chance is slim."


 "No matter," Chen Weichen just smiled. "With nothing to seek, there is also nothing to lose. If it doesn't work, I'll just consider it wasting a year - anyway, the more than ten years before were wasted in vain, so it makes no difference."


 The Daoist sized him up and down a few times, unable to resist speaking up again, saying "interesting" three times in a row.


 Chen Weichen then looked at him askance. "Those without ability seek nothing, eat their fill and roam freely, drifting like an unmoored boat - this was originally something from your Daoist sect. How come when I, a mere mortal, say it, you find it so strange?"


 Xie Lang was stunned for a moment, then sincerely made a bow to him. "The teachings of the Southern Hua ancestor, passed down to this day, the precious scrolls have gathered dust. Many thanks to the young master for the enlightenment."


 Chen Weichen just smiled, lightly closing his fan. His entire being exuded an endless brilliance of sun, moon, and wind. If one didn't look at his light robes and loose belt, his beautiful clothes and luxurious adornments, he looked even more like an immortal than the Daoist in front of him.


 As they spoke, the village head, having received the news, had already led the villagers to welcome them, holding torches.


 For a time, it was a clamor of voices, all expressing endless gratitude and joy, not knowing how to repay them. Ye Jiuya's aura was as cold as frost, so the villagers didn't dare approach him. Seeing the young Daoist beside him holding a whisk, they all expressed their gratitude.


 The main person who had exterminated the sea demon remained silent. The girl who had witnessed the whole process also did not clarify the facts. Xie Lang could only bear the brunt with a bitter face, bowing left and right, saying "Undeserved praise, undeserved praise" and "I dare not, I dare not", adding "This Daoist's cultivation is shallow". In the end, he still couldn't escape being enthusiastically invited to stay by the villagers and treated like a god.


 After settling the immortal priest, the villagers dispersed. It was already late into the night.


 In autumn, there were no more cicada sounds, nor cricket chirps. The child from the west house was making a fuss for some reason, the woman gently coaxing. When the sound gradually stopped, the wilderness was vast, with only the sound of waves remaining.


 Chen Weichen asked the girl for a jar of wine buried under the osmanthus tree, took a white porcelain cup and a lantern, and with a creak, pushed open the wooden door and headed towards the seaside.


 The sword qi entering the sea had turned to ice, forming quickly and melting quickly too. During the earlier commotion, it had already gradually melted and disappeared. The seawater rolled with waves, hitting the rocky shore and cliffs, once again presenting a scene of sea blossoms like snow.


 The moonlight shone on a person on the shore rocks. The sea breeze blew up his snow-white clothes and jet-black hair, adding an inexplicable touch of desolation to that tall and slender back.


 Chen Weichen came to his side, set down the wine, and sat on the ground.


 "Today is the fifteenth of the eighth month, just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The mortal world values reunion. I see Swordmaster Ye also has no one to accompany him, so why not spend this night with me."


 "How to spend it?"


 "Accompany me in drinking."


 The wine entered the empty cup, filled to the brim. The white porcelain reflected the clear, slightly yellow wine. In the soft color of the moonlight, the ripples glimmered. As the aroma of the wine dissipated, the color became more beautiful and the fragrance stronger. His movements were extremely elegant, pouring the crude wine into the porcelain cup, somehow evoking the taste of nectar overflowing a glazed cup.


 This brocade-robed young master took the first sip.


 The village's homemade wine was extremely strong, igniting a blaze of fiery clouds.


 Even when he wasn't smiling, his eyes seemed to always carry a hint of a smile. After a while, the smile gradually faded, and his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was suppressing pain.


 Ye Jiuya looked at him, seeing that his aura was unharmed, and asked, "What's wrong?"


 Chen Weichen tilted his head back and took a big gulp of wine, taking a few deep breaths. He gazed at the full moon over the sea for a long time before seeming to feel better.


 "It's nothing. I was born with a troublesome condition." His eyelashes lowered slightly. "All kinds of joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, greed, ignorance, and delusion, once they arise, my heart aches and it gets worse and worse until my mood settles, it won't stop."


 "I hate that my heart is not like water, stirring up waves on flat ground--" The young man under the moonlight recited a truncated ancient poem, as if mocking himself. "Perhaps the 'Heavenly Dao' you speak of truly despises me, not only sending me a lifetime of misfortune but also unwilling to share with me the joys and sorrows of the mortal world. Just now, I thought you looked good, and as soon as I wanted to be happy, the pain started again, so I had to suppress that happiness-- I have never experienced true happiness in this life."


 "You can cultivate the supreme Dao of forgetting emotions," Ye Jiuya replied calmly.


 Chen Weichen passed the wine bowl to him, "Ye Jiuya, you really don't understand romance-- I'm lamenting my life, yet you want me to cultivate some supremely boring Dao."


 Ye Jiuya didn't refuse, taking the wine and drinking it as well.


 "The supreme Dao of forgetting emotions, no sorrow, no joy, then you won't be disturbed by this illness."


 Chen Weichen shook his head, "I won't cultivate it. Ye Jiuya, you probably don't know that there's a saying in the mortal world called 'drinking poison to quench thirst.'"


 Ye Jiuya: "I only know to trace things to their source."


 Chen Weichen just smiled, "You..."


 But he didn't continue. The two fell silent.


 They were strangers, yet they sat on a reef under the moonlit night, each drinking wine, not toasting, not conversing.


 On this day this year, under the moon, within ten zhang of the earthly red dust, in the vast sea of people, who knows how many are sad, how many are happy, how many have no sorrow or joy, and how many cannot be sad or happy.


 Looking at those silhouettes, one felt stifled, not knowing what they were doing-- Wen Hui glanced over from afar and seeing the two were fine, went to sleep himself.


 After some unknown time had passed, Chen Weichen noticed Ye Jiuya gradually stopped moving.


 That person gazed at the moon over the sea, his eyes filled with frost and snow, as if looking at a flower in the water.


 He called out, "Ye Jiuya?"


 He heard Ye Jiuya slowly say, his voice extremely soft, barely audible.


 He said, Emperor Yan.


 Chen Weichen was stunned for a moment, then responded, "I'm here."


 Ye Jiuya looked at him, the drunkenness from before had vanished without a trace, still cold and sober. "Chen Weichen."


 Chen Weichen laughed again without a care, "I wanted to fool you again-- you called out a name just now, Emperor Yan? Which character? It can't be your dream lover-- can someone like you even have a dream lover?"


 Ye Jiuya's tone was flat, "It's not."


 Chen Weichen poured wine for himself, pouring out the last drop from the jug.


 He savored that last bit, looking at Ye Jiuya.


 "Sect Leader Ye, the past cannot be changed, all the mountains and rivers are but distant memories." He was still smiling as he asked, "Why not take pity on the person before your eyes?"


 After saying that, he seemed to remember something and shook his head, "No, I was wrong-- you probably cultivated that 'supreme Dao of forgetting emotions', so now not only can the past not be pursued, the future may not be expected either."


 As that sentence "the future may not be expected" fell, the candle in the lantern he brought flickered a few times and completely went out.


 -- Truly, after the wine is finished, the lanterns dim, and the people disperse, what can be done about the fine day and beautiful scenery?


 So they parted, each returning, leaving only the bright moon and stars in the sky.


 However, Wen Hui was awakened by the noise of Chen Weichen returning to his room.


 His young master leaned against the doorframe, his face pale, his shoulders trembling slightly.


 He practically jumped out of bed, helping Chen Weichen back, chattering noisily, "Young Master, your old condition is acting up again? It hasn't flared up in so many years-- just from drinking with a beauty, is it worth being this happy about!"


 The young master endured the pain and retorted irritably, "Happy my ass-- I'm in pain here."


 "In pain?"


 But no matter how much he asked, he couldn't get an answer as to why he was in pain. He only heard the young master finally unable to stand his repeated questioning, muttering softly before falling asleep, "It's just matters of the past."

Chapter	Date
Chapter 1 - Cang Lang	21 Jun 2025
Chapter 2 - Frost and Snow	21 Jun 2025
Chapter 3 - Emperor Yan	21 Jun 2025

Sword of Jiuya

一剑九琊

Sword of Jiuya

一剑九琊

Author:

Fourteen Continents
Yi Shi Si Zhou
一十四洲

Chapter Progress:

3/77 + 1

Original Lang:

Chinese

Release Schedule:

Friday

Sage

Sword of Jiuya

一剑九琊

Sword of Jiuya

一剑九琊

Author:

Fourteen Continents Yi Shi Si Zhou 一十四洲

Chapter Progress:

3/77 + 1

Original Lang:

Chinese

Release Schedule:

Friday

Sage

Fourteen Continents
Yi Shi Si Zhou
一十四洲