Wild Thoughts

“You two don’t know about this, do you?” The bearded monk took a sip of tea, stroked the tuft of hair on his chin, and, with an air of authority, began, “Here’s how it happened. In that great battle…”

He launched into a vivid retelling of the fight, narrating from the very beginning to its dramatic conclusion. Li Miao, listening at his side, couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of shock, for nearly everything this man described matched almost exactly what had happened the previous day. From the outbreak of battle, to Daoist Zheme decapitating the Black Bear Demon, and finally to the pursuit into the mountain cave, not a single detail was amiss.

After some time, the bearded monk reached the end of his tale. He raised his teacup like a storyteller, his voice rising and falling with dramatic flair: “With the loss of Daoist Zheme and the esteemed Violet Sword, the Red Flood Dragon was unopposed. It swept through all opposition! In but a few moments, every human cultivator was slaughtered, save for the solitary rogue Lin Jue.”

“And then?” the other two, hearts in their throats, pressed him anxiously.

Li Miao listened, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“Then…” The bearded monk continued, “Forced into a corner, Lin Jue had no choice but to stake his life, unleashing his last resort—using the tribulation treasure, the ‘Jade Mark Flying Dagger’—to perish together with the Red Flood Dragon.”

“The might of a tribulation treasure can scarcely be overstated—one could say it could rend the heavens and shatter the earth. At that moment, the shadow of the Jade Mark Flying Dagger filled the entire demon’s lair. Over a hundred demon cultivators died beneath its blade aura. The Red Flood Dragon, too, fell in fury and defeat.”

The man with the straight eyebrows gasped, “Lin Jue actually possessed a tribulation treasure? That’s unbelievable!”

Tribulation treasures were so rare that many cultivators had never even heard of them, for they were even more precious than spirit treasures—few grandmasters of the Profound Confluence stage could boast of owning one.

The female cultivator, however, was more concerned with the fate of the story’s hero. “Did Lin Jue survive?”

The bearded monk replied, “Lin Jue used his very life force to power the Jade Mark Flying Dagger, so it seemed certain he’d die. But those two earthshaking sword auras had drawn more than a dozen supreme experts to the scene. One among them, an old friend of Lin Jue’s mentor, intervened just in time and saved his life.”

The woman let out a sigh of relief—Lin Jue’s survival meant that, in the end, the human cultivators had won.

“What happened next? Once they found out Lin Jue had a tribulation treasure, didn’t any of the experts try to take it from him?” asked the straight-browed cultivator, steering the conversation back to the treasure.

“Who would dare?” The bearded monk chuckled. “The one who saved Lin Jue is truly formidable—he’s the only Nascent Soul cultivator in Dragon Spring Prefecture. His name, I’m sure you’ve heard: Old Immortal Moyun.”

“Old Immortal Moyun!” The two fell silent at once.

The strongest in Dragon Spring Prefecture—a legendary figure whose fame had filled the world a millennium past. That such a person should be associated with Lin Jue, who had a terrible reputation among cultivators, was astonishing.

The two could not fathom how Lin Jue, notorious for his sharp tongue and troublemaking ways, had come to be connected to Old Immortal Moyun. Li Miao was even more surprised—he had never imagined things would take such a turn.

The bearded monk offered no explanation, for he himself did not know the connection. He simply drank his tea and went on: “Those experts had all come for the two world-shaking sword auras. But, to their disappointment, the Sword Immortal’s relics were already gone.”

“Some suspected Lin Jue had stolen the sword essence, but after he surrendered his Sumeru pouch, it was clear he didn’t have it. Thus the experts began to suspect each other, thinking the first to arrive, the Dragon King of the Desert, or the elusive Shadowless Fairy, had stolen it in secret.”

“The argument escalated—tensions mounted, for Mount Qianyuan was already a battlefield between human and demon cultivators, and tempers ran high. A fight broke out.”

“That battle was so fierce it changed the very color of heaven and earth—the peak of Mount Qianyuan was sheared down by over a hundred feet.”

“In the end, Old Immortal Moyun was forced to intervene personally to put a stop to it.”

“Yet none of the experts were truly convinced. Each left with hard words. I’d wager within a hundred years, Dragon Spring Prefecture will see great chaos.”

After the tale, the two cultivators sat silent for a long while. No one had imagined Mount Qianyuan would hide a sword essence from a Sword Immortal. Even less had they expected it would provoke so immense a reaction, threatening to embroil all of Dragon Spring Prefecture.

“We’re just too weak. If chaos really comes, without at least the True Condensation stage, we might not even know how we died.”

“Ha, there’s no use worrying over such things. If the sky falls, there’s always someone taller to hold it up. We should just go about our lives as usual.”

The three chatted on, the topic drifting further and further until it became idle talk of household trivia.

Li Miao, having listened to the whole tale, quietly sighed in relief. Yet he was also puzzled. If the bearded monk’s story was true, then he needn’t worry too much about the sword essence for now—Yi Chi had already handled the aftermath for him.

But why had all the experts believed it was Lin Jue who killed the Red Flood Dragon? The fatal wound on the dragon was clearly not from a flying dagger, but blasted open by the magnetic cannon. With such an obvious difference, how could those ancient, cunning monsters not see the truth?

And why was Lin Jue the only survivor? Li Miao distinctly remembered several other Qi Refining cultivators making it out alive. Had they been killed by Yi Chi, or by Lin Jue himself? Something was amiss! No matter how he considered it, the causal connections eluded him.

So he addressed the bearded monk: “Brother, the affair at Mount Qianyuan happened just yesterday—your news is truly swift.”

The bearded monk turned, a little surprised. “Are you a cultivator too? I can’t sense your aura at all. Oh… all these things I just said—Lin Jue himself told us last night. I was in Pingxia Town then; once I heard, I rushed here to Longling to report back to my clan elders.”

So that’s how it was… If it was Lin Jue himself who told the story, then it was no wonder there were inconsistencies—no one ever reveals the whole truth.

But one thing was truly surprising: Lin Jue had brazenly declared he possessed the tribulation treasure, the Jade Mark Flying Dagger. Was he not afraid a Profound Confluence master would assassinate him while Old Immortal Moyun was absent?

“Do you know where Lin Jue went?” Li Miao asked.

“He said he would soon be leaving for Dragon Spring Prefecture with Old Immortal Moyun, but for now he’s still recuperating in Pingxia Town. If you wish to find him, you’d best hurry.”

Li Miao nodded. With Old Immortal Moyun’s protection, it was no wonder Lin Jue was so bold.

Since Lin Jue had taken responsibility for the Mount Qianyuan affair, it was now largely irrelevant to Li Miao. The other experts likely wouldn’t know of his involvement—he need only be cautious of Old Immortal Moyun.

He thanked the bearded monk and said no more.

But the three, sensing his hidden aura and unable to gauge his depth, became quite interested in him.

The female cultivator asked, “May I ask, friend, from which sect do you hail? Judging by your aura, your cultivation must be above the seventh layer of Qi Refining, correct?”

The three were of modest cultivation: the woman and the straight-browed man were both at the fourth layer, and the bearded monk at the sixth.

Li Miao didn’t wish to stand out. “I’m just a wandering cultivator. Broke through to the eighth layer only recently, and am consolidating my foundation.”

The bearded monk’s eyes lit up. “You’re so young—not even twenty-five, I’d wager—and already at the eighth layer. Remarkable talent! Would you be interested in joining our Liu family? We’re not one of the great powers, but we have some renown in Longling, and hold the mining rights to Longling Mountain for a month each year.”

He extended his olive branch without hesitation.

Li Miao smiled inwardly. He declined politely: “I’ve long heard of the Liu family’s reputation, but I’m presently beset by mundane matters and must travel afar. I must thank you for your kind offer, Brother Liu.”

The three, seeing that he was both highly cultivated and easygoing, became even more cordial.

The bearded monk, a bit disappointed but still smiling, replied, “No matter, no matter. Such things are best left to fate; there’s no need to force it.”

They exchanged names. The bearded monk was Liu Yi, of the Liu family in Longling, who travelled often to procure top-grade spiritual herbs for his clan. The female cultivator was Zhou Yun, and her straight-browed companion Luo Qingshan, her senior brother; both were from a small sect called Xuanxin Hall, also natives of Longling County.

When Li Miao gave his name, Zhou Yun and Luo Qingshan both showed a fleeting, strange look, but hid it well enough that Li Miao did not notice.

After a while, Liu Yi rose to take his leave. “Friends, I must hurry home to report. Let us meet again another day!” With that, he paid the bill and departed.

Not long after, Luo Qingshan and Zhou Yun also said their farewells: “Brother Li, we must be on our way as well. Goodbye.” They, too, departed.

The teahouse was quickly emptied.

A little while later, Guo’er woke from her sleep. After she washed and ate breakfast, Li Miao set out again, heading south.

Since they were on the road, he didn’t require Guo’er to train, but let the little girl jog along the highway to stretch her limbs.

The two, one big and one small, progressed steadily southward along the broad road, entirely unaware that a crisis was quietly drawing near.

“Huff… huff…” Guo’er panted, her cheeks flushed. “I can’t… I’m tired. I can’t run anymore.”

Li Miao casually sent a stream of primal energy into her, smiling. “More aerobic exercise is good for your growth. You’re already thirteen—better work hard, or even ten-year-olds will outpace you.”

Guo’er, hearing herself teased for her small stature, protested at once, “Don’t look down on me! Huff… Guo’er will grow tall soon!”

“And what will you look like when you grow up?” Li Miao asked, scrutinizing the girl’s childish face, trying to picture her as a grown woman. But no matter how he looked, she remained a little girl—her delicate features seemed perfectly suited to her age, and he simply couldn’t imagine her as a young lady.

“I’ll be tall and strong, just like Uncle!” Guo’er declared.

Li Miao couldn’t help but laugh. He flicked her forehead. “If you grow up like me, you’ll never get married.”

“What does ‘never get married’ mean?” Guo’er asked, puzzled.

“Eh? You don’t even know that? Hasn’t your master ever told you about marriage?”

“No.” Her expression was pure and innocent.

Li Miao could only cover his face in exasperation.

He was forced to explain to her the matter of men and women, marriage, and passing on the family line.

After listening, Guo’er exclaimed joyfully, “Then I want to marry Uncle when I grow up, and always be with you!”

Li Miao broke out in a cold sweat.

He gave her a firm flick on the brow and scolded, “What nonsense! Molesting a minor is a crime—minimum three years in prison, maximum the death penalty!”

“But Guo’er will grow up—then I won’t be a minor anymore!” she retorted, full of confidence.

Li Miao was at a loss for words.

He gave her another flick and, feigning a fierce expression, barked, “Enough! Run another twenty li!”—to hide his own embarrassment.

Guo’er, aggrieved, began running again, muttering under her breath.

Li Miao followed at a leisurely pace, feeling awkward inside.

Yet, despite himself, he began to imagine things.

Marriage… Over the years, he’d followed the expeditionary army from campaign to campaign, so that he was nearly thirty and still unmarried. This girl was adorable—when she grew up, she’d surely become a devastating beauty. If…

Hmm, the more he thought about it, the more appealing it sounded.

A bond nurtured from childhood would surely be deep and natural; neither had other family in this world, so there’d be no worries about in-laws. Growing together in cultivation, they’d share many interests…

“Wait, what am I thinking!” Li Miao suddenly blushed furiously.

He glanced around—no one was nearby, and Guo’er was absorbed in running—then quietly let out a breath of relief.

“According to the Alliance’s statutes… raising lolis is equivalent to child trafficking—a crime punishable by death…” he admonished himself silently, giving himself a punch to dispel the wicked thoughts.

Running twenty li in one go was an impossible feat for Guo’er, who had yet to embark on the path of cultivation. Even with a constant flow of primal energy, she soon became utterly exhausted, unable to take another step.

As usual, Li Miao transferred primal energy to nourish her cells and flesh, strengthening her body and boosting her vitality.

After a short rest, with primal energy’s help, Guo’er’s stamina rebounded rapidly, and she was soon lively again.

“Just eighteen more li and I’ll have run twenty!” she said seriously, then dashed off again.

Li Miao stared after her in amazement.

Was this girl… being stubborn?

Watching her small figure run further and further away, he felt utterly at a loss.

“I really don’t want to be a criminal…” he sighed to the sky.

Guo’er ran incredibly fast.

Genetic primal energy was the most gentle force in the universe, benefiting any living being. For a child in her formative years, each dose of primal energy could be worth half a month’s normal growth.