After finishing the watermelon, Xia Lianqiao didn’t rest for long and immediately threw herself back into her relentless struggle and hard work.
The reason Ling Chongxiao needed five days was because Bai Ji'an and Xia Lianqiao’s cultivation in the Initiation Realm hadn’t yet reached the stage where they could avoid water, dust, or fire. To breathe and move freely underwater, they still needed to rely on external aids such as elixirs and talismans. These five days were precisely the time required to refine the water-avoidance pill.
Xia Lianqiao remembered that in the original story, Bai Ji'an had broken through to the Initiation Realm and entered the Enlightenment Realm during the evil dragon arc.
During these five days, Chen Mengfu clearly hadn’t been idle either. Perhaps wanting to seize the opportunity to resolve the chaos caused by the evil dragon in one fell swoop, Chen Mengfu had hired many cultivators during this period. These cultivators were a mixed bag, with varying levels of skill and backgrounds. They were all cannon fodder characters not mentioned in the book, so Xia Lianqiao didn’t pay them much mind. However, one middle-aged couple among them caught her attention.
The man introduced himself as Mr. Zheng. He was tall, with a face as flawless as jade, but his demeanor was arrogant, and his facial features were so stiff they seemed as if they had been meticulously painted on.
Madam Zheng was beautiful and graceful, speaking in a gentle and soft voice. Under her light purple robe, her slightly protruding belly suggested she was pregnant.
Upon entering Chen Manor, Mr. Zheng gave a slight nod. After a brief glance, he turned and retreated to his guest room to cultivate in seclusion, leaving Bai Ji'an, who had been about to strike up a conversation, standing awkwardly with a wry smile.
It was Madam Zheng who gracefully stepped in, smiling warmly and greeting Li Langhuan, Bai Ji'an, and the others, offering apologies on her husband’s behalf.
“My husband has always been like this. Please don’t take it to heart. He’s actually a good person and treats me well,” Madam Zheng said, stroking her belly with a gentle smile, exuding the sweet demeanor of a contented woman.
Li Langhuan didn’t mind, but she couldn’t help feeling puzzled. Madam Zheng was clearly pregnant. If Mr. Zheng truly cared for his wife, why would he bring her along to slay demons? What if something went wrong?
Perhaps sensing Li Langhuan’s hesitation, Madam Zheng smiled indifferently. “I know what you’re concerned about, but my husband has his reasons. There’s no need to worry.”
Li Langhuan, kind-hearted and sympathetic to her plight as a fellow woman, still felt uneasy. She clasped her hands and said, “If you don’t mind, why not travel with us tomorrow? We can look out for each other on the journey.”
To her surprise, Madam Zheng firmly declined, shaking her head with a smile. “I appreciate your kindness, but my husband prefers to keep to himself. Don’t worry, he will ensure my safety.”
With that, Li Langhuan didn’t press further.
On the morning of the fifth day, Xia Lianqiao, Li Langhuan, and the others gathered at the entrance of Chen Manor.
In truth, it wasn’t just the Zheng couple. Most cultivators were proud and preferred to act alone. The other cultivators had no desire to travel with them either, having already set off on their own, each using their unique abilities to gain an advantage.
A sword light descended from the sky, carrying the cold figure of a young man. His expression was indifferent, dressed in white robes and boots, moving with the grace of falling plum blossoms in the snow.
As soon as he landed, Ling Chongxiao glanced around, confirming that Bai Ji'an, Li Langhuan, and Xia Lianqiao were all present. With a slight nod, he said nothing more and immediately summoned a sword light.
In a tone that brooked no argument, he declared, “Flying boats are too conspicuous. We’ll travel by sword.”
Among those present, only Li Langhuan and Ling Chongxiao were capable of sword flight. A sense of foreboding washed over Xia Lianqiao.
Sure enough, Bai Ji'an turned to her with a smile. “In that case, I’ll trouble you. Li Langhuan and I will share one sword, and Ling Chongxiao can take Xia Lianqiao on another. How does that sound?”
Xia Lianqiao: Her ship sharing a sword! What a stroke of luck!
Although she really didn’t want to be alone with Ling Chongxiao, she was willing to do anything to push her ship forward!
Before Bai Ji'an could finish speaking, Xia Lianqiao eagerly raised her hand. “I’ll take the sword with Ling Chongxiao!”
Bai Ji'an: “...??” Her overly enthusiastic response was a bit beyond his expectations.
“Are you sure you want to travel with Ling Chongxiao?” asked the honest and slightly worried Li Langhuan.
“Of course! After all, Ling Chongxiao is a sword cultivator. Sword cultivators are so cool, and his swordsmanship is amazing—”
Ling Chongxiao completely ignored her flattery, his expression cold as he pointed a finger.
A flash of white light appeared before Xia Lianqiao’s eyes, and she felt her feet leave the ground. In the next moment, she was hoisted onto the flying sword by Ling Chongxiao.
Ling Chongxiao’s sword was as slender and delicate as a cicada’s wing, light as gauze, and cold as snow, with constellations etched into its surface, shimmering faintly.
As the saying goes, to look striking, wear white.
Ling Chongxiao lived up to his reputation as the most handsome and aloof character in the book, with looks that rivaled the moon and a demeanor as cold as snow.
Today, as usual, he was dressed in white robes, white boots, and white gloves.
His black hair was tied up in a small white silk crown embroidered with gold thread, his high ponytail cascading down to his slim waist.
Though his features were strikingly beautiful, his heart was as cold and unfeeling as his appearance. He didn’t even glance back to check on Xia Lianqiao, simply forming a sword seal with his fingers and taking off into the sky.
Snowflakes swirled, and starlight flickered.
Xia Lianqiao: “Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
The young man, with his long legs and narrow waist, stood at the front of the sword, his high black ponytail whipping in the wind. His expression was as cold as jade, completely ignoring the terrified screams behind him.
Li Langhuan: “...”
Bai Ji'an: “...” He had suggested this arrangement to avoid any potential awkwardness between Li Langhuan and Xia Lianqiao.
But hearing the girl’s continuous screams from the clouds, even someone as detached as Bai Ji'an couldn’t help feeling a twinge of guilt.
Meanwhile, high in the sky, Xia Lianqiao clung tightly to the young man’s slim waist, tears streaming down her face. She trembled uncontrollably, whimpering, “Wuwuwu...”
Ling Chongxiao: “...”
At this moment, Xia Lianqiao’s tears were flowing freely.
It wasn’t that she was overly timid. Standing on such a narrow sword, with a view of the vast landscape thousands of feet below, was enough to make anyone nervous.
Were there no cultivators in this world who were afraid of heights?
She felt she was doing well enough not to embarrass her fellow transmigrators. This kind of flight, with no safety measures, was akin to clinging to the wing of a plane. Only those who had experienced it could truly understand.
In truth, not all cultivators flew in this manner, but sword cultivators certainly did.
Sword cultivators were known for their speed, as fast as lightning. If other cultivators were like flying planes, sword cultivators were like riding missiles.
For Xia Lianqiao, it felt no different from clinging to a missile while her soul struggled to keep up.
She couldn’t help suspecting that this was Ling Chongxiao’s way of retaliating for her previous teasing.
As soon as the sword took off, Ling Chongxiao felt someone cling to his waist.
Having never been this close to anyone before, the young man stiffened slightly, forcing down his innate sense of cleanliness.
If he hadn’t allowed it, anyone who tried to get this close would have instinctively lost a hand.
The girl behind him continued to whimper, though her pride seemed to prevent her from crying too loudly.
In his eighteen years of life, Ling Chongxiao had always lived with his sword, in the cold, snowy peaks, which had shaped his cold and ruthless personality.
The sword cultivators around him, whether male or female, were all taciturn. As for the celestial maidens in the immortal sects, he had little contact with them. The only person he interacted with regularly was Li Langhuan, who was resolute and never shed tears easily.
So this was the first time the young man had encountered such a delicate situation.
Ling Chongxiao: “...” How could there be such a fragile girl in the world?
Frowning slightly, though inwardly displeased, he still slowed the sword’s speed a little.
Feeling the speed decrease, Xia Lianqiao finally managed to regain some composure, though she still didn’t dare look down. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.
I’m not scared, I’m not scared.
Though every Chinese person dreamed of flying on a sword, surely they deserved a bit of time to adjust, right?
She tried to imagine the heroic figures of sword immortals from movies and novels, muttering to herself, “Riding the sword, chasing the wind, slaying demons between heaven and earth. With wine, I find joy; without wine, I am still free.”
She had recited this poem about the Drunken Sword Immortal to calm herself, but to her surprise, Ling Chongxiao, who had been silently flying, suddenly spoke.
"What kind of poem is this?" The sound of the wind whistled past their ears, yet the young man's cool and clear voice was distinctly audible.
Xia Lianqiao was momentarily stunned, only realizing belatedly that Ling Chongxiao was actually speaking to her.
Heaven knew that for the past few days, Ling Chongxiao had treated her as if she were invisible. This was the first time this esteemed figure had deigned to initiate a conversation.
"Oh, this is a poem left behind by a senior Sword Immortal," Xia Lianqiao replied, grateful for the distraction and not bothering to hide much. "This senior was fond of wine and was known as the Drunken Sword Immortal."
The Drunken Sword Immortal?
Ling Chongxiao frowned slightly, unable to recall any senior by that name.
The fact that Ling Chongxiao had spoken to her was already startling enough, but what was even more surprising was that after hearing her explanation, the young man actually continued the conversation, saying, "This poem must have a continuation."
Xia Lianqiao, being a self-proclaimed otaku, was very familiar with the Drunken Sword Immortal, a character from the popular "Sword Immortal" series. She remembered the poem clearly.
Without hesitation, she smoothly recited the next lines, "With one drink, I drain rivers and lakes; with another, I swallow the sun and moon. A thousand cups cannot make me drunk, for I am the Drunken Sword Immortal."
Upon hearing this, Ling Chongxiao lowered his gaze and fell silent, seemingly savoring the grandeur of the verses.
At that moment, the young man suddenly turned his head, his cold, glass-like eyes revealing an uncharacteristic hint of admiration.
"This poem is filled with heroic spirit. It seems this senior was a man of passion."
Though Xia Lianqiao knew that Ling Chongxiao's praise wasn't directed at her, she still felt flattered.
Looking at the young man before her, his overly sharp and beautiful features now softened, giving him an air of calm and gentleness.
Xia Lianqiao recalled the original depiction of Ling Chongxiao in the novel. In the original work, he was as cold as ice, yet fiercely righteous and passionate, truly a man of strong character. For people of ancient times, forming connections was based on shared temperaments. The setting and character behaviors in the original "Asking the Dao" novel carried a distinct Wei-Jin era flair.
"There's more," Xia Lianqiao said, not forgetting her mission to build rapport. Feeling encouraged, she racked her brain, trying to recall the remaining lines from her memory. "Wandering the mortal world with a sword is already madness; with wine, I ascend to the heavens—
Playing with the stars, toying with the sun and moon, lying drunk on the clouds, laughing at the world below."
So, being a "literary copycat" really worked? Young hero, she even had the great man's "Snow in Spring" and "If Heaven Had Feelings, It Too Would Grow Old; The Righteous Path of the World is Full of Vicissitudes" to show you—
Though her recitation was halting, the young man showed no sign of impatience.
Thanks to Ling Chongxiao, Xia Lianqiao finally began to adjust to the speed of the sword flight. Summoning her courage, she timidly glanced down.
The sight made her pause, and she was momentarily entranced.
If she hadn't harbored a dream of cultivation, she wouldn't have been so engrossed in the original "Asking the Dao" novel.
Below them stretched endless plains, crisscrossed by mountains and rivers, rolling and undulating, with a great river flowing majestically into the sea.
Anyone who saw this scene would feel a surge of heroic spirit, dispelling all inner turmoil.
Her fingertips brushed against the swirling clouds and mist, the sword light flickering like snowflakes and shooting stars.
Xia Lianqiao absentmindedly raised her hand, gently touching the floating stars and mist around her.
This was the true aura of the immortals.
Though the current trend leaned towards "hugging the thighs" and lazy cultivation stories, the heroic spirit that filled her chest while riding the sword was undeniably moving.
She, too, wanted to cultivate immortality.
Behind her, Xia Lianqiao remained silent for a long time. The young man turned his head and saw the girl's eyelashes flutter, her clear, almond-shaped eyes blinking, now radiating a lively and ethereal charm.
People like Ling Chongxiao and Bai Ji'an, skilled in physiognomy, could tell at a glance that Xia Lianqiao's features had once carried a faint shadow of darkness.
But now, the dark haze that had lingered between her brows had completely dissipated, replaced by a vibrant, glowing energy. Her eyes were filled with a strong yearning.
They flew until they reached the skies above the Eastern Sea.
The sea was calm and boundless, the azure waters merging with the vast sky, leaving only the endless expanse of the ocean.
Ling Chongxiao stood firmly on the sword, in no hurry to retract the sword light. His black hair fluttered in the sea breeze as he stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm yet unrestrained. He recited in a leisurely tone:
"Riding a whale, I emerge from Dongting Lake; who recognizes this carefree man who despises the world?
Ten thousand golden lotuses bloom in chaos; a single heart-moon reflects the void.
I seek not to dwell in golden palaces, but only wish for men to live in jade pots.
With a green snake in my sleeve, I return; amidst the sound of phoenix flutes, I ascend to the heavenly capital."
As soon as the words left his lips, he pointed with two fingers, and a majestic sword light erupted, slicing through the air.
The sword light cleaved the waves, stirring up towering sprays and surging tides.
Soaring through the heavens, treading the waves of the Eastern Sea—this was the true aura of the immortals, the spirit of the divine.
Xia Lianqiao pressed her lips together silently, deeply moved, her spirit soaring, her eyes shining with brilliance.
She wanted to roam the Northern Sea in the morning and reach the Cangwu Mountains by dusk, to wield her sword and traverse ten thousand miles in a single strike.
She, too, wanted to become a Sword Immortal!
She wanted to receive teachings from Laozi, attend the feasts of the Queen Mother of the West, become a guest of the Jade Pool, a transcendent beyond the mortal realm. She wanted to ride the whales across the vast seas, to ascend to the heavens in a single step.
A thousand words condensed into one sentence—
She wanted to cultivate immortality!
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