Chapter Sixty-Eight: Eastern Ancestral Province

The fluctuations of spiritual energy inside the cabin did not last long.

Lu Caiwei, brimming with excitement, pushed open the door and strode to the stern, declaring with a touch of pride, “Teach me, now.”

Shen Yu glanced at her. “Teach you what?”

“I’ve stepped into the Initiate Realm,” Lu Caiwei replied, biting her lip.

He nodded, his voice indifferent. “Oh.”

“You’re toying with me!” she protested, eyes wide, ready to burst into angry words, but Shen Yu cut her off.

“Come here.”

They returned to the cabin. As Shen Yu pushed open the door, a faint, feminine fragrance drifted out.

He asked, “Of the five elements, which path do you prefer?”

Lu Caiwei thought for a moment. “I want to learn the sword.”

Perhaps it was witnessing Shen Yu’s ghostly sword technique at the inn, or perhaps it was the tales she’d heard since childhood of the elegance of sword immortals—whatever the reason, she chose the way of the sword.

Shen Yu showed a trace of resignation. Three thousand years ago, a female sword immortal had pioneered the sword path, sparking a continent-wide craze for swordsmanship across Linghuang.

With a casual wave of his hand, a jade sword materialized out of thin air, hovering in the small cabin.

“This sword is called ‘Blooddrinker.’”

Lu Caiwei stared in astonishment, recalling that earth-shattering strike at the Tianhe Inn—was it not this very jade sword that slew Jiang Jianghu in a single instant?

Her eyes lit up. “Is it for me?”

Shen Yu shot her a look as if she were an idiot. “I’ll lend it to you. I’ll teach you the art of sword control.”

“Oh.” Lu Caiwei pouted, clearly disappointed. “I thought you were giving it to me.”

Without another word, Shen Yu extended a finger and tapped her on the forehead.

The jade sword gradually faded, then vanished, slipping into her brow.

Lu Caiwei’s pupils contracted—in that instant, she truly thought she was about to die.

But the next moment, as the jade sword disappeared, a surging current began rampaging through her body.

Suddenly, a pain that seemed to tear her spirit apart erupted from within.

She collapsed to the floor with a scream, clutching her abdomen with desperate strength.

Shen Yu remained unmoved. “For all sword cultivators, this is the first trial. If you survive, sword energy will enter your body.”

Had anyone else witnessed this, they would surely have thought Shen Yu was plotting her murder. To embed a sword in one’s body so carelessly—one misstep and the internal organs would be shredded by sword energy.

Lu Caiwei looked up, face ashen. “And if I fail?”

“You die,” Shen Yu replied, still indifferent.

Her face grew even paler.

He continued nonchalantly, “You can still back out now.”

After a brief hesitation, Lu Caiwei clenched her teeth. “That’s impossible.”

“Very well. I’ll teach you the method of sword control now. Listen carefully—I’ll say it only once.”

Half an hour later, Shen Yu stepped out of the room.

From then on, the sound of a woman’s anguished cries often echoed from the cabin, so much so that passing merchants and boatmen cast uneasy glances at the door.

The black-robed boy, worried, asked, “Sir?”

Shen Yu said, “Go find a towel and gag her.”

Li Fugui swallowed hard and hurried inside.

Sure enough, soon the woman’s wails ceased. The boy emerged, clicking his tongue. “So this is how painful sword cultivation is…”

Days slipped by.

Shen Yu did not set foot in the cabin again, though Li Fugui would occasionally peek inside. Sometimes, hearing no sound, he feared she had died.

Their long journey by water had lasted nearly three months. At last, the faint line of the shore came into view. Merchants and travelers crowded to the bow, eager to disembark.

After enduring dozens of days of inhuman torment, Lu Caiwei appeared on deck once more—her cheeks sunken, eyes bloodshot, her expression utterly exhausted.

The sword energy within her tormented her ceaselessly. That she had not lost her mind was a blessing in itself.

Shen Yu asked, “Can you still go on?”

“It’s none of your concern,” Lu Caiwei replied coldly.

He nodded. “Oh.”

Setting foot ashore meant they had reached the land of Eastern Ancestral Province—though in some senses, it was not truly a new beginning.

Their journey continued by land. Li Fugui bought a crude cart, boasting endlessly of his shrewd bargaining and clever planning.

Yet Shen Yu, noting how the once-full purse he’d given him now contained only a few stray coppers, said nothing—merely patted his shoulder in silent encouragement.

They traveled on, jostled by the long road.

Within the carriage, Lu Caiwei endured the agony of sword energy ravaging her organs.

Li Fugui took up the reins, while Shen Yu sat beside him, eyes closed in repose.

Since leaving Daoist Sect, Shen Yu had not cultivated in earnest for half a year, instead traveling the land like a scholar, pausing to admire the distant vistas.

Even Li Fugui was puzzled—did his teacher never need to cultivate?

“Sir, where to first?”

Shen Yu thought for a moment, eyes still closed. “Eastern Ancestral Province… Let’s go to Cloud Cliff City.”

…

The lands of Shanhai Linghuang stretched vast and ethereal.

Eastern Ancestral Province was immense, rumored to be the ancestral home of humanity itself, hence its name.

Like Central Province, it was dotted with countless minor kingdoms—hundreds at least—not to mention remote mountains and secret, ancient tribes.

Cloud Cliff City, east of the Borai Kingdom, was enormous, its bustle and vibrancy rivaling the great cities of Central Province.

Carriages were not permitted within the city, so the trio disembarked and proceeded on foot.

Lu Caiwei lifted the curtain, frowning. “I want to go to Guiyun Immortal Sect!”

“It’s still far,” Shen Yu replied. “Rest a while.”

“I said, I want to go to Guiyun Immortal Sect!” she repeated.

Shen Yu hopped off the cart, replying carelessly, “Fine. I’ll have Fugui get you a map, and you can go alone—if you think you can survive.”

Lu Caiwei’s expression froze. She bit her lip and, after a long silence, suddenly slammed her fist against the cart’s wooden side.

Her body stiffened.

Li Fugui asked tentatively, “Does it hurt?”

She glared at him, murderous.

The black-robed boy, who’d dared fight peak Spirit Wanderers, was instantly cowed.

The streets were broad enough for ten carriages abreast, bustling with people and lively stalls—jugglers, medicine sellers, food vendors—a cacophony of urban life.

It was the first such city the three had visited since leaving Central Province. Li Fugui looked about in wonder, as if a country bumpkin seeing the city for the first time.

Shen Yu mused that the Daoist Master had mentioned the Baili Clan of Cloud Cliff City, reputedly of great local standing.

He glanced behind. “If you can’t keep up, stop.”

Lu Caiwei snorted, but then staggered, collapsing to the ground.

A commotion arose in the distance.

“Out of my way!” someone shouted.

A tall, pure white horse came charging through the crowd, its young rider showing no intention of slowing.

He sneered, raising his whip, spurring the horse into a mad dash.

The horse’s hooves lifted high, about to trample the woman at its feet.

Cries of alarm rang out. Many covered their eyes, unable to watch.

Lu Caiwei’s mind went blank; all the spells she’d learned seemed to vanish.

“Fugui,” Shen Yu said.

“Right away, sir.” The black-robed boy grinned, and in a flash was at the horse’s side. He stepped forward and, almost lazily, punched the horse’s belly.

Boom!

The towering horse shrieked, flew dozens of yards, and crashed into a nearby shop.

Dust billowed.

The horse lay dead, a heap of broken flesh. Its rider, drenched in blood, was barely alive.

The crowd was stunned into silence, though a few whispered among themselves.

“Hmph! Serves him right. No riding in the city, that’s the rule.”

“This time he really met his match. That kid may be small, but he’s clearly a cultivator.”

“But… Second Master Gu, that was Young Master Jiang Yuheng of the Jiang family. His grandfather is said to be a mighty cultivator.”

City folk here were not as ignorant as rural villagers; their knowledge was considerable.

The black-robed boy scratched his head, feeling he’d perhaps used too much force.

He glanced anxiously at Shen Yu.

Shen Yu’s expression was calm. He walked over to Lu Caiwei and patted her shoulder.

She glared at him.

“If you’d remembered to draw your sword just now, you’d have passed the first trial,” he said.

Lu Caiwei was stunned.

By now, more people had hurried over from the city gates. Two men quickly carried off the unconscious youth; the rest surrounded Shen Yu and his companions.

A burly man at the front glanced at the dead horse, frowning deeply.

He’d seen the black-robed boy strike. Such power—at least the fourth martial stage. He was no match, and the youth beside the boy was unfathomable.

But this was Cloud Cliff City. If he faltered, he’d lose his position as the Jiang family’s chief guard.

“Do you people know—” he began.

Shen Yu interrupted him. “Does Cloud Cliff City have a Baili Clan?”

The man was taken aback, then nodded.

“Take us there,” said Shen Yu.

The man snorted, finding this absurd. “Never mind the status of the city lord, you’ve gravely injured the Jiang family’s young master in broad daylight. This account must be settled.”

Lu Caiwei stood up, her voice angry. “He broke the city’s rules, rode his horse through the streets, and nearly killed me!”

The burly man’s eyes glinted with amusement; he had no intention of answering.

As the standoff continued, more men arrived, some exuding powerful martial energy.

Shen Yu was unfazed. He patted Lu Caiwei’s shoulder. “How do you want to settle this?”

She tensed, her expression unreadable.

The man frowned, but, feeling the reinforcements behind him, relaxed. “Here, might makes right.”

The crowd grew tense; it was clear the Jiang family meant to bully them.

“Oh.” Shen Yu nodded. “Just don’t kill them.”

Before anyone could react, a black shadow flashed.

A moment later, the burly man flew into a shop beside the street, meeting the same fate as the white horse—his life or death uncertain.