Volume One: When Youths Meet in Humble Times Chapter Sixty-Three: Messengers from the Great Cheng Dynasty (Part Two)

Considering all the other factors, if Xu Kaijiang were to remain in Tianmen Town, it would not be to his advantage.

Thinking of this, Li Yu could only say, “Then we’ll have to see if Brother Lu comes tomorrow. If he does, we’ll surely need his help.”

The Daoist teased, “You’re really going to ask him for help? Aren’t you worried about troubling him?”

Li Yu replied helplessly, “There’s nothing else I can do. Xu Kaijiang offended them, and part of it is because of me. If I don’t help him, he’ll likely face a fate worse than death.”

The Daoist had always understood his young disciple: outwardly aloof and distant from most, but when it came to someone he truly cared for, he would go to any lengths to help.

“Master, I’ve always wondered—why did Brother Lu and the rest of Great Sword Green Mountain come with the people from the Grand Cheng Dynasty?” Li Yu had been curious about this for days, since Great Sword Green Mountain had not arrived earlier, so he seized the opportunity to ask while the Daoist seemed particularly talkative tonight.

The Daoist smiled faintly. “The Grand Cheng Dynasty, the Imperial Palace, Great Sword Green Mountain, and the Cloud Tomb Tianshan Li clan—they pride themselves on their status and refuse to compete with the current six great sects for spoils.”

Li Yu thought he’d misheard. “Compete for spoils?”

The Daoist sneered, “To them, talents, treasures, even Tianmen itself, are their food. They are arrogant in their strength, confident in their power and standing. Even if they come on the last day, they believe they can claim their share by virtue of strength and prestige.”

Li Yu did not like this notion. Was Tianmen Town, in their eyes, merely a breeding ground? Were all who lived here simply livestock raised for their benefit?

The Daoist scoffed, “Yes, that’s exactly how they see it. That’s why I’ve never liked them.”

Li Yu sensed he had insulted Great Sword Green Mountain as well, and hesitated before finally voicing his concern, “Master, is Brother Lu’s Great Sword Green Mountain the same?”

The Daoist heard the note of loyalty in his voice and was not bothered. He considered for a moment, then said, “They aren’t so excessive. But every sect has those who believe that cultivating immortality makes them truly immortal. Still, on the whole, they’re decent enough.”

The Daoist’s words were somewhat veiled, but Li Yu understood: overall, Great Sword Green Mountain was respectable, not overly arrogant, but it was not entirely pure; there were inevitably a few rotten apples.

Li Yu continued, “Then why didn’t the Fire Sect and Divine Water Palace arrive early?”

This time, the Daoist didn’t answer directly. After a while, Li Yu ventured, “Master?”

From inside came an irate shout, “If you ask me, who am I supposed to ask? I’m not like those busybodies from Fate Gate, always poking around. I’d rather spend my time sleeping! Stop bothering me, go study your Daoist texts yourself.”

Stunned by such a response, Li Yu couldn’t help but smile wryly, then bowed and took his leave.

Returning to his room, Li Yu meant to read his Daoist texts, but the thought of Brother Lu possibly arriving tomorrow filled him with rare excitement and joy. Then, remembering the people from the Cloud Tomb Li clan would also come, his mood soured.

So many years had passed, but he could not disregard the Li clan; after all, the hardest three years of his life were spent with them in Tianshan.

He once thought he could face the Li clan with calm indifference, unaffected by the past. Yet as the time to meet them drew near, he realized he was far from letting go.

The night was long and restless. Unable to focus, he abandoned his reading, extinguished the lamp, and went straight to bed.

He rarely dreamed, but tonight, for some reason, he relived those early days with the Tianshan Li clan. Every memory—good and bad—flashed through his dreams, things he had hidden away for years. At the right moment, they surged forth like floodwaters. When he woke the next morning, gazing at his reflection, he could only smile bitterly, a faint shadow beneath his eyes.

Thinking of those days with the Cloud Tomb Li clan, Li Yu laughed at himself—he still hadn’t let go of the past.

At daybreak, as the sun broke across the horizon, three grand ships sailed toward Tianmen. Each vessel was magnificent and imposing, lavishly decorated, with ancient, intricate patterns carved into the hulls. Moved by unknown forces, they carried thousands steadily forward, appearing as mobile mountains, pressing upon the town like an advancing army.

Leading the way was Grand Cheng’s ship, two tiers: the upper for royalty and Great Sword Green Mountain’s sword elders and the new generation of sword wardens; the lower for common disciples, handling affairs and witnessing the world.

Following closely were the Imperial Palace and Cloud Tomb Li clan ships, flanking left and right.

The Imperial Palace’s delegation was led by the dean of one of the three academies below the Pontiff, radiating the authority of one long accustomed to power. The Cloud Tomb Li clan’s leader was a middle-aged man, unassuming and amiable, yet impossible to overlook.

At this moment, Great Sword Green Mountain’s sword elder and sword warden stood on deck, gazing at the approaching Tianmen Town. The sword elder, worried, said, “I did not expect the Imperial Palace to send one of the three academy deans. This trip to Tianmen may bring great upheaval.”

He turned to the new sword warden, “Lu Ming, strictly speaking, you aren’t a disciple of my sword. I can’t interfere in your affairs, but Tianmen Town is before us now. Out of concern for you, I must warn you—the waters here are deep. Even I cannot guarantee your safety. Do you understand?”

Indeed, since returning from Hongquan Mountain seven years ago, Lu Ming’s cultivation had advanced. He was now but half a step from enlightenment, poised to become another sword immortal of Great Sword Green Mountain.

Originally, the sect had not wanted him to come.

But while serving his master, he overheard that the Daoist responsible for the upheaval at Huangquan Sect had gone to Tianmen Town. Remembering Li Yu from Hongquan Mountain, he felt compelled to see him again, to check on the youth whose fate so resembled his own.

The Huangquan Sect had covered up the incident well, but no amount of concealment could escape the scrutiny of the Imperial Palace, Grand Cheng, Cloud Tomb Tianshan Li clan, and Great Sword Green Mountain—especially since Lu Ming was involved.

After returning, he reported everything to his sect, and had kept track of subsequent developments and the Daoist’s movements. Once he learned Li Yu was likely in Tianmen, he resolved to visit him, to see how the boy who shared his fate was faring.

Lu Ming, hearing the sword elder’s concern, replied apologetically, “I understand, Elder. I have reasons I must come, but rest assured, I will act cautiously and not recklessly.”

With this promise, the elder was somewhat reassured. He had reason to worry: Lu Ming was Great Sword Green Mountain’s next sword immortal, born with a natural sword spirit. His path was still long; if cut short here, or if his foundation was damaged, the loss would be immense.

The elder, curious about his reasons, asked, “I still don’t understand—why not enter the path at Green Mountain? Why risk everything here, just as you’re about to step into enlightenment?”

Lu Ming gazed toward Tianmen Town. “Because my brother is there.”

“Brother?” The elder was surprised. He’d never heard Lu Ming mention a sibling; to his knowledge, Lu Ming was found by Sword Nine Heavens, with no kin left in the world.

Lu Ming recalled meeting Li Yu as a five-year-old child—fragile yet loyal to his grandmother, fearless in the face of death, resigned to life’s hardships. Li Yu’s life had been even tougher than his own, yet he still greeted humanity with kindness and evil with fierce disdain.

The elder listened as Lu Ming recounted their meeting, especially noting that Li Yu was also a natural sword spirit, though lacking a celestial aperture and thus taken in by the Daoist. The elder felt a surge of regret and anger.

He asked urgently, “Do you know what kind of sword spirit?”

Lu Ming shared his suspicions, saying Li Yu’s was not weaker than his own, possibly even the legendary Great Dao sword spirit.

The elder, hearing this and Lu Ming’s account of Li Yu’s character, as well as his intention to bring Li Yu back to Green Mountain for protection even if he could not cultivate, grew more distressed. He struck the railing in anger. “That wretched Daoist, tricked you into leaving, causing us to lose a Great Dao sword spirit!”

Lu Ming caught something in his words and quickly asked, “What do you mean, Elder?”

The sword elder replied, “Without a celestial aperture, one cannot cultivate. But he’s a Great Dao sword spirit! Even if you don’t know how to help someone without a celestial aperture, we at Great Sword Green Mountain have years of accumulated knowledge, and the old sword immortals have studied sword spirits for countless years. They could surely find a way to create an aperture for him. That conniving Daoist tricked you away, costing us a Great Dao sword spirit.”

Lu Ming, now excited, asked, “So, Elder, you mean—even without a celestial aperture, he could still cultivate?”

The elder, a bit exasperated, sighed and gave him a stern look. “Yes, you’re still young; it’s normal not to know. Only recently have I heard the old sword immortals say that for those lacking sword spirits and celestial apertures, they don’t know how to help them cultivate. But if someone is born with a sword spirit, they can use it as an aperture to begin the path of cultivation. That’s what years of research have revealed.”

This revelation filled Lu Ming with even greater anticipation. With such a possibility, he was more convinced than ever that coming to Tianmen Town was right.

The elder, somewhat reproachful, asked, “Why didn’t you tell us about him? If you had, we would have sent someone to claim him years ago.”

Lu Ming answered, embarrassed for the first time, “It’s not that I didn’t want to, but I never knew Great Sword Green Mountain could help someone without a celestial aperture but with a sword spirit to cultivate. I kept it to myself, thinking I’d check on him someday, and if he was well, I could rest easy.”

The elder sighed, “Let it be. Everything is determined by fate; we cannot force it. Still, you’re here now. He may already be the Daoist’s disciple, but we should try to win him over. Don’t you agree?” He raised his brows at Lu Ming.

Lu Ming understood perfectly—the elder wanted him to use their old bond to try to bring Li Yu back.

Lu Ming, too, wished to bring him back to Green Mountain for protection, but knowing Li Yu’s deep loyalty, he felt that if the Daoist had truly accepted him as a disciple, after seven years of companionship and the bond of master and pupil, Li Yu would likely refuse to leave.