Chapter 16: The Strange Boy

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Qin Changsheng went to the nearest market and bought a horse. The horse was purebred, without any demonic beast bloodline, which suited Qin Changsheng’s low-key nature perfectly. Most importantly, such a horse cost only one spirit stone, making it cheap and practical. Normally, mundane items were traded with gold or silver, but Qin Changsheng had little of either, so he paid with spirit stones.

He also bought a backpack basket to carry the little fox, Little White. Since following him, the little creature had been inseparable from him, practically wanting to cling to his body.

Qin Changsheng was bored traveling alone, so he took care of the little fox.

Besides some supplies, he visited the best coffin shop in the market and purchased a crystal coffin. This time, he did not skimp; he bought the most expensive model, spacious and sturdy, with a round base and square lid, waterproof and insect-proof, spending ten thousand spirit stones.

With all the material preparations done, he placed the little fox in the small backpack basket and began his journey.

“I hope that next time I return, I can present a stone monument to my dear White-Clad Sword Immortal. It would be a way to repay the debt of this one sword.”

Qin Changsheng gazed long and hard toward the direction of the Xuantiang Sect.

Then he looked at the Kaoshan Sect and realized that there was no one left there who needed a memorial stone. If anyone was willing to pay, he could carve a few for them.

He wondered why his nominal Dao partner had not exposed his whereabouts after the disciple of Kaoshan Sect, who was connected to her, had been killed by him.

“Is it a pang of conscience? Tsk tsk, I originally planned to give you one…”

After leaving the Celestial Cliff, Qin Changsheng was not pursued by the Kaoshan Sect’s people. He did not believe that after killing Ding Wei, he could cover his tracks without a single leak.

Cultivators who had practiced for hundreds or thousands of years were no fools; anyone who thought carefully would understand the situation.

Likewise, the White-Clad one would understand that she had not killed Qin Changsheng.

Therefore, Qin Changsheng’s only choice now was to leave this place of trouble.

Otherwise, the next time he faced the White-Clad one, she might no longer fear drawing karmic consequences.

When they met again, their last shred of dignity would vanish, and they would exhaust every means to kill each other.

This was the essence of “those of different Dao do not work together.”

Their paths were in conflict.

Moreover, their paths intersected at a crucial point—Wang Yuyan.

Wang Yuyan was raised by Qin Changsheng, an inseparable family member and his childhood sweetheart’s granddaughter. Yet, she was also the disciple of the White-Clad one, the hope of her cultivation and the extension of her ideals.

Unless one of them gave up Wang Yuyan,

this conflict would continue.

But neither of their personalities was the type to yield.

Thus, it was destined to be a mutually destructive clash.

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This was an unsolvable deadlock.

Qin Changsheng sighed but felt no complex emotions because of it.

“...Let’s go!”

Carrying the little fox on his back and holding a map, Qin Changsheng set off toward the Great Zhou. The distance was over a hundred thousand li, more than ten times the distance when he had previously escorted Wang Yuyan to the Xuantiang Sect. Back then, the journey took over half a year, mainly because Wang Yuyan had kept delaying, unwilling to leave.

Now, with no one to delay and a swift horse, Qin Changsheng thought he could arrive within a few months.

But three days into the journey, he realized he had been overly optimistic.

After three days, he had only traveled a bit over two hundred li on horseback because ahead lay a continuous mountain range. Aside from the rugged terrain, the persistent roars of beasts deterred many travelers.

Helpless, Qin Changsheng paid a protection fee of one hundred spirit stones to join a caravan—a common choice for cultivators crossing mountains: to band together for mutual warmth.

After all, the mountains were full of fierce birds and beasts, and possibly roaming demon clans. More people meant greater strength and mutual support.

The caravan had many people, including several powerful cultivators mostly at Nascent Soul or Golden Core stages, strong in their own right. Several cultivators like Qin Changsheng followed behind.

On the first day with the caravan, Qin Changsheng encountered a peculiar youth.

The youth carried a peachwood sword, wore a tattered Dao robe, and rode a very stubborn donkey. On that first day, the donkey insisted on going left, but the youth refused.

The stubborn donkey and the youth were locked in a standoff, lasting for twenty li.

Eventually, the donkey took a liking to Qin Changsheng’s horse and trotted eagerly behind it. This was how Qin Changsheng learned the youth’s name was Chen An.

Chen An looked poor and eagerly tried to get people to invest in him.

He claimed he was destined to be a great emperor; once risen, he would reward investors with endless wealth and glory.

But practically, no one had invested in him—though he had asked everyone.

Seeing Qin Changsheng, someone as down-and-out as himself, Chen An rarely mentioned investment and instead asked if Qin Changsheng would let his purebred horse help the donkey satisfy its “longyang affection.”

Qin Changsheng was dumbfounded at first, then felt a mix of emotions.

He instinctively rode his horse away from the youth.

Chen An awkwardly followed.

“Brother Changsheng, you misunderstand. It’s true that my donkey has a ‘longyang affection,’ but I, its master, am perfectly normal.”

“And you should understand, as an aspiring future immortal emperor, not being petty like a stubborn donkey is a quality one should possess.”

The youth insisted on explaining.

Qin Changsheng nodded, “Brother Chen’s reasoning is sound, but my horse prefers mares; I can’t promise that for you.”

As he spoke, Chen An burst out laughing.

“Brother Changsheng, you’re mistaken. Look!”

Qin Changsheng turned back to see his purebred swift horse excitedly lying on the donkey’s back, engaging in absurd, unhealthy behavior.

Qin Changsheng twitched at the corner of his mouth.

“I take back what I said—let them be.”

With both donkey and horse no longer clean, Qin Changsheng lost interest in riding and began leading the horse on foot. After laughing heartily, the Dao-robed youth also dismounted and walked alongside him.

“Brother Changsheng, where are you headed?”

Chen An took the initiative to speak.

“To Zhou City.”

Qin Changsheng didn’t bother hiding the information from this harmless stranger.

“Could it be that Brother Changsheng also has a dream of becoming an immortal emperor?” Chen An’s eyes lit up. “I won’t hide it—I’m also planning to go to Zhou City. I’ve heard the greatest Sword Immortal of the entire Great Zhou is there. I, Chen An, intend to teach him a few moves and show him that atop the peak of swordsmanship stands a youth named Chen An.”

Though he said “teach,” Qin Changsheng knew Chen An was more likely going to seek apprenticeship, but he didn’t expose him.

Everyone had their stubborn side—like this donkey.

“I believe Brother Chen can achieve that,” Qin Changsheng laughed heartily.

“Then Brother Changsheng, will you invest in me? Just ten thousand spirit stones, and I can reach Zhou City directly. Then, when I make my name, I’ll reward you with endless wealth and glory.”

Hearing this, Qin Changsheng’s expression froze. He coughed twice.

“Brother Chen, you don’t know. I’m also short on funds—only a bit over a thousand spirit stones on me.”

“No ten thousand investment? I understand, I’m just asking for what’s within reach.”

Qin Changsheng declined directly.

“Then how about five hundred? Five hundred is enough for me to reach Zhou City…”

Five hundred?