Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 700 - 695 Wanton Part 1

Chapter 700: Chapter 695 Wanton Part 1

They kept silent and busy until dusk, when the sky was about to darken completely, that they finally stopped.

"Taoist Priest Red Flower, I don’t know....."

Yao Shunlin began to speak but suddenly stopped.

Lin Xin knew what he wanted to say. Although he had taken quite a few things from Yao Yuanhui, the best development for a child of fate was not to live under the protection of others, but to give up their freedom.

He shook his head slightly at him.

"If it’s meant to be, we will meet again in the future."

Now that he knew the true nature of the other party, Lin Xin had no objection to going with the flow.

He reached out and pinched Yao Yuanhui’s little cheek. Although this gesture was somewhat inappropriate by the standards of propriety, no one said anything at this time.

"I hope that the next time I see you, you will have truly grown up."

To the naked eye, the recent action seemed unremarkable, but in fact, he had imprinted a trace of his own spiritual power on Yao Yuanhui.

Thus, in the future, no matter where she went, as long as she was within ten thousand miles, she could be sensed by the Spirit Talisman.

Yao Yuanhui knelt down respectfully before him and knocked her head on the floor three times.

When she looked up again, Lin Xin had already disappeared.

"Taoist Priest Red Flower truly is a hermit of the world..." Yao Shunlin too felt a blur before his eyes and was startled to find the other’s trail gone.

He was sincerely amazed at this moment.

The Yao siblings also felt somewhat moved in their hearts. If it hadn’t been for Taoist Priest Red Flower, they feared that their father’s chances of survival would have been slim.

They both quietly remembered Taoist Priest Red Flower’s kindness in their hearts. As for those small items exchanged, the siblings saw them merely as an excuse for the Taoist Priest to offer help.

If he truly hadn’t wanted to help, it would have been easier to wait for someone to kill them and then rob them afterward.

*******************

Capital City, Xilin

A red bead curtain hung from a dimly lit side hall, its splendor hiding the indistinct figure behind it.

The arrest officer, Duan Tianya, knelt on the ground and flicked his sleeves, dripping with sweat and not daring to make the slightest sound.

"You’re saying that Yao Shunlin’s family, the remnants, were rescued by a Taoist who suddenly appeared?"

The voice behind the bead curtain was ambiguous, neither distinctly male nor female.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my sin!"

The arrest officer bowed even lower, his face turning pale with dread.

"It’s due to my dereliction of duty, yet that Taoist was too powerful. With merely a single hidden weapon, he killed more than thirty of our best men! I... I...."

"Taoist Priest Red Flower... I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If what you say is true, you will not be held accountable for this incident," said the voice calmly.

"If he indeed is a First Grade Grandmaster, I will have two of the retainers take action."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!" Arrest officer Duan Tianya quickly expressed his gratitude.

"Lately there have been rumors that in Suzhou, an immortal lives in the mountains, gathering Essence Qi and consuming the primal energies. If one could receive his guidance, one might achieve longevity. You’ve just returned from Suzhou, have you heard anything?"

Duan Tianya came to his senses and was slightly startled upon hearing this.

"Indeed, there has been talk. They say there is an immortal cultivating in the mountains, and every morning and evening, green clouds can be seen. A woodcutter accidentally inhaled a breath of it and the chronic illnesses plaguing him were cured overnight."

"Do you believe this to be true?"

"Well... I cannot be certain, but the woodcutter’s story is true, and I personally went to investigate it, indeed it is as described." Duan Tianya hurriedly said.

"Is that so? Alright, you may leave."

Duan Tianya respectfully got up and bowed his head as he withdrew.

Behind the bead curtain, the figure let out a soft sigh.

"Why do you sigh, my Lord? Is it because of those remaining from Phoenix Qing Hall?"

An eunuch serving outside the bead curtain asked softly.

"It’s just concerning... You also know the Emperor’s temperament. If he learns of this news, I’m afraid..."

As they spoke of this, the eunuch’s expression also changed slightly.

"Could it be another ploy created by Phoenix Qing Hall?"

"No, such tactics are meaningless." The voice denied. "That Lu Fan won’t truly move against the Emperor."

"Then perhaps it’s for... that?" The eunuch squinted his eyes and spoke in a low voice.

Silence fell behind the bead curtain for a moment.

After a long pause, a sigh drifted through the air.

"... Phoenix Cry Hairpin...."

*******************

"Not here either."

On a hillock on the outskirts of the Capital City, Lin Xin gently put away the Jade Talisman, a hint of a smile on his face.

"It seems that this is indeed a world without other cultivators..."

Where he stood, the range of the Jade Talisman was sufficient to cover the entire Capital City.

This was the locus of a nation’s Fate, where many cultivators wished to rely on the nation’s Fate to accelerate their cultivation practice. Consequently, the nations were generally the cultivators’ first choice.

Whether it was to grasp the momentum or to acquire resources for cultivation, it was much more convenient than in other places.

Yet here, he did not sense any other cultivators.

"If not even here, then it seems this small world truly has only one cultivator, me."

Lin Xin was convinced in his heart.

"With that being the case, I can do whatever I wish without interference; there’s no need to follow the previous cautious plans."

Casting aside his previous slow-paced plans, he took large strides down the mountain.

Descending from the outskirts, he passed through a dense forest.

The figures of woodcutters and herbal farmers gradually began to appear, with small paths trodden by people slowly emerging amidst the mountain forest.

Lin Xin’s stride was exceptionally quick; one step of his covered the distance of three or four ordinary steps.

After a short while, he saw the official road ahead.

On the well-maintained official road, carriages and horse riders frequently sped by.

Lin Xin stepped onto the official road and continued straight ahead.

Fields began to line both sides of the road, with farmers and their wives busy plowing and working the land.

Further on, children from farming families were running and playing, shouting as they chased after each other. Seeing him, the children showed no shyness, only curious and bewildered faces.

Lin Xin smiled at the children, quickened his pace, and disappeared from sight in an instant.

His movements seemed slow, but he actually moved very swiftly, giving off an air of normalcy. Unless someone was extremely attentive, they would not realize his speed was comparable to that of a horse-drawn carriage.

Continuing along the official road, more and more side paths appeared, bringing an increase in freight wagons, horses, ox carts, and donkey carts.

During this time, he passed by a convoy of an escort agency.

The escort leaders from the escort agency were fully armed, their eyes sharp and full of vigor.

The number of travelers on the road grew, and although Taoist priests and monks like Lin Xin were uncommon, one or two could still occasionally be seen and aroused no surprise.

Lin Xin, traveling along, slowed his pace, joining a group of people carrying vegetables.

Soon, after about half an hour, the tall city wall finally came into hazy view.

Another fifteen minutes of walking brought the city wall into clearer focus; the city gate was over five meters tall with two squads of the City Guard Army stationed on either side. Beneath their metal helmets, the guards kept their eyes scanning the crowd that passed by.

Lin Xin entered the city with the flow of people, passed through the city gate without a fee.

Immediately inside was a broad, well-maintained white avenue.

The road was bustling with an endless stream of traffic, replete with officials, soldiers, merchant caravans, and others coming and going through the city gate.

Lin Xin followed the avenue to the left, heading toward the busiest street.

Along the way, the sides of the road were filled with shops selling medicinal herbs, jewels, and face powders. Ladies wearing veils were dressed provocatively, with their thighs exposed under short skirts and low-cut tops, a sight the passersby seemed to take for granted.

Lin Xin also planned to have a good look around this so-called Capital City, to see just how prosperous this world could be.

As he strolled along the street, he casually bought something to eat and continued walking while nibbling on it.

Clang!

Suddenly, from the intersection ahead, there came a sharp ringing sound, like the striking of a gong.

Then, a series of loud chants followed.

"The Hundred Fruit Celebration Feast, the banquet begins!!!"

A man with a smooth and cool voice began to shout. His voice traveled far, clear enough to be heard from all four surrounding streets.

Lin Xin looked in the direction of the voice and saw a large crowd gathering at the intersection on the right, mostly onlookers.

To the left of the crowd were soldiers maintaining order, leaving an entrance and exit open.

Luxurious carriages stopped from time to time, and young men and women dressed as scholars and nobles stepped out.

"The royal procession approaches; make way for the idle!"

Suddenly, a lofty shout came from behind him.

Lin Xin turned his head to look back.

He saw a procession of golden carriages slowly making their way towards him.

Well-dressed people quickly gathered together, forming lines with expressions of proud and self-satisfied smiles, quietly watching the royal procession approach.

"A royal procession? Could it be the Emperor on an outing?"

Lin Xin thought, hearing the bustling chatter of the common folk all around him.

"His Majesty is on an excursion again; he must be here to see the celebration feast."

"His Majesty attends every year; the celebration has become increasingly prosperous."

"Princess Heluo seems to be receiving more and more royal favor."

"I’ve heard that at the upcoming hunt at the frontier, the Princess will also be in attendance. It seems His Majesty truly dotes on the little Princess."

Voices of speculation buzzed into Lin Xin’s ears.

He began to understand a bit more about the state: the Emperor of this country often liked to travel about.

From the whispers he overheard, it seemed the present Emperor had a fondness for Taoist Qi Cultivation and was obsessed with the pursuit of Longevity.

He had repeatedly disregarded the welfare of the people in his quest to amass Taoist scriptures and had lavishly constructed the Shenning Palace to worship the Taoist Ancestor.

"This actually suits my purposes," Lin Xin murmured, watching the royal procession pass by, escorted by a crowd into the site of the Hundred Fruit Celebration Feast.

He smiled faintly, walked into a nearby restaurant, and chose a seat by the window.

After ordering a few dishes and a pot of rice, he began to eat heartily.

By the time he finished his meal, a full hour had passed.

From his window seat, he soon saw the royal procession leave slowly and head into the distance.

"It’s a pity I need to set up the Formation in advance; otherwise, a simple flight or display of a few Spell Methods would easily resolve the mission of passing on the teachings. Now, it requires a bit more trouble," he said, shaking his head slightly.

After finishing his meal, Lin Xin stood up, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.

"Giddy up!"

Suddenly, a fiery red knight galloped down the far street, causing pedestrians to clear the way.

"It’s Princess Huai Yang!"

A surprised whisper could be heard among the onlookers.

The knight, dressed in a black tight-fitting leather outfit, with flowing long hair and a pretty face, particularly stood out with her long legs gripping the horse, which accentuated her slender and well-proportioned figure.

Behind the red horse followed a group of young lords and ladies, who were also clearly offspring of officials and nobility, pampered and tenderly raised. Some women among them had presentable figures and appearances, but none compared to the distinguished air of Princess Huai Yang.