***
In that instant, something changed.
A moment ago, he had merely stepped into an ordinary little inn. But now, at this very moment, the place had been transformed completely!
It had become Wu Guanyue’s domain!
Once a cultivator reached a certain level, they could naturally reshape their surroundings. A cultivator with an earth spirit root could turn soil into walls or raise lofty buildings from flat ground in the blink of an eye. A cultivator with a water spirit root could turn a desert into a lake or transform parched land into a muddy swamp.
At even higher levels, they could do as they pleased to an even greater extent. For instance, water had flowed downhill since ancient times, yet a great master of water could make a waterfall flow upward.
Of course, no matter how powerful a cultivator was, they must never imagine that they could stand against the natural might of Heaven and Earth. Even the greatest masters could only act freely within a certain range.
That “certain range” was known as a domain.
“Within this domain, I am Heaven!”
Why were there scattered secret realms all across the Nine Provinces and Eighteen Lands? Because those secret realms were domains left behind by great masters after they ascended. The largest secret realm near Meishan, the Bingyi Secret Realm, had been left behind by Fairy Gushe ten thousand years ago.
But a domain was something only an Earth Immortal could create. Could it be that Wu Guanyue was…?!
Daoist Master Songfeng sucked in a cold breath. He was practically breaking out in a cold sweat!
No… Wait. Calm down. Calm down, Songfeng. If Wu Guanyue were an Earth Immortal, why had she been fighting that good-for-nothing Qian Shi'an on equal terms?
Daoist Master Songfeng had no ordinary background. He was not some wild demon who had gained sentience deep in the mountains. His true form was a magical treasure known as the Seven-Treasure Pine. His former master had been Yan Chongyang, the Sword Lord Taibai and former sect master of the Xuantian Sect on Yuntai Peak!
His horizons were anything but narrow. He had seen more than a few Earth Immortal experts. Thus, after his momentary panic, he quickly regained his composure and carefully examined Wu Guanyue.
Wu Guanyue stood behind the counter, propping her head up with one hand as if she were daydreaming…
No matter how he looked at her, Daoist Master Songfeng could not detect the slightest trace of someone who had attained the Dao.
Instead, there was a faint… somewhat mysterious aura…
Somewhat mysterious…?
Somewhat… mysterious…
That trace of mystery leaking from Wu Guanyue suddenly felt familiar to Daoist Master Songfeng. With one hand hidden beneath his voluminous sleeve, he rapidly performed a divination…
Then his entire body abruptly stiffened!
It was Soulfire!
That faint, mysterious aura was the aura of Soulfire!
The world of the Nine Provinces had been formed from the body of Great God Pangu. It was said that Pangu’s heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys had become the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. These five elemental energies were also the source of power for cultivators.
But there were indeed other sources of power in the world…
Soulfire, for example!
Soulfire refined from human souls could unleash tremendous power. Compared to the forces of yin, yang, and the five elements, this power was far easier to control. It was an absolutely forbidden art in the Nine Provinces and Eighteen Lands, one that had vanished without a trace for a full thousand years.
The last time Daoist Master Songfeng had seen someone use such a forbidden art had been a thousand years ago…
It had been his master, the Sword Lord Taibai, who had given his life to suppress that heretic demon!
This divination had revealed far more than he had wanted to know. Daoist Master Songfeng was once again sweating profusely.
—No matter who Wu Guanyue was, anyone capable of understanding such a forbidden art was absolutely not someone to be trifled with.
Forget it. Just forget it… There was no need to avenge the living pine tree. If it was inferior to its opponent, whom could it blame?
And so, Wu Guanyue watched as the star-rated guest’s obviously furious gaze suddenly became clear and serene!
【Old Man Azurewood bowed deeply. “I have long heard that there is a great expert hidden among the common folk in Meishan City. I have wanted to come and seek your guidance for quite some time. Now that I have finally met you, I see that your reputation is well deserved. I am Old Man Azurewood. A pleasure to meet you.”】
Wu Guanyue: “!!”
So that had been the legendary challenge-match scenario!
It all made sense now. In a xianxia world, opening an inn naturally meant encountering this sort of thing. And, more importantly—
The player’s popularity had become high enough that NPCs had already heard of her?!
Wu Guanyue’s heart bloomed with joy. Imitating Old Man Azurewood, she bowed deeply and cheerfully greeted him.
“I am Wu Guanyue. I’ve long heard of you as well.”
Old Man Azurewood continued bowing. “My apologies for my previous disrespect~~”
Wu Guanyue continued bowing. “You’re too kind~~”
Lu Datong bowed deeply. “I’m impressed, I’m impressed!”
The two people who had been bowing to each other stopped and turned around in unison to look at him.
Lu Datong said emotionally, “Using martial arts to make friends—that is the true spirit of us cultivators!”
And so…
“Good!”
Lu Datong shouted his approval.
“Good! Good!”
The other guests also shouted their approval. The entire inn was once again filled with a cheerful atmosphere…
Daoist Master Songfeng: “…………”
Daoist Master Songfeng forced a stiff smile. “Since it is getting late, then I shall…”
“Shopkeeper Wu, there has been some progress regarding what happened to your shop assistant, Wang Er.”
That was Wenren Ying, who had just strode into the inn.
Daoist Master Songfeng: “!”
His ears practically stood straight up at once.
Wenren Ying glanced at the unfamiliar white-bearded Daoist. His eyes seemed to narrow slightly beneath his bamboo hat before he shifted his gaze away without revealing anything.
Wu Guanyue looked up at him. “Mm-hmm. Where is Wang Er? Where is Wang Er?”
Wenren Ying folded his arms around his saber and leaned against the doorframe. “Someone saw Qian Shi'an taking him up Mount Huiming.”
“Mount Huiming? Isn’t that the place where tree demons are said to appear?”
“That old bastard Qian Shi'an really is beyond contempt. He clearly intends to kill someone!”
“That place is extremely dangerous. Shopkeeper, are you still going to look for him? I’m afraid Wang Er is already in grave danger.”
The guests all began asking questions.
【Quest · Side Quest: The Missing Shop Assistant (Updated)】
【Quest Details: Someone saw the owner of Yongfeng Money Exchange, Qian Shi'an, taking your shop assistant, Wang Er, up the mountain… Tree demons are said to haunt Mount Huiming. It remains uncertain whether Wang Er is still alive. Will you go up the mountain to search for him?】
Did she even need to think about it?
Wu Guanyue clenched both fists and declared resolutely, “I’m going up the mountain to find him! No matter what happened in the past, no matter how much he once wronged me or my grandfather, he is still a living human being! There’s no need for anyone to try to dissuade me. I must see him alive or see his corpse! I absolutely will not allow Wang Er to disappear without a trace! Wang Er, just wait! Your shopkeeper is coming to save you!”
In that instant, Shopkeeper Wu’s figure seemed so tall and noble. A holy radiance appeared to surround her, and everything about her seemed to embody a righteous soul and a noble character!
“Good!”
This deeply moving scene compelled Lu Datong to shout his approval.
“Righteous!”
“She’s truly righteous!”
“Those who are benevolent are invincible! This is what it means to be benevolent and invincible!”
The guests were all touched by Wu Guanyue’s magnanimity and began praising her one after another. The inn was once again filled with a cheerful atmosphere…
Daoist Master Songfeng: “…………”
Daoist Master Songfeng: “………………”
Good grief!
This woman was far too righteous!!
The problem was that he had killed Wang Er!!!
Daoist Master Songfeng, who had not broken into a sweat in many years, began sweating profusely for the third time that day…
He truly had never imagined that killing such a timid, useless mortal would somehow bring him such calamity!
He had already planned to withdraw, but who could have known that Wu Guanyue would cling to him like a ghost, refusing to let him off no matter what!
Damn it…
If someone wants me dead, am I supposed to just sit here and wait to be slaughtered?
Wu Guanyue might indeed know how to wield forbidden arts… but Daoist Master Songfeng was no pushover either! This inn was her home turf, but Mount Huiming was his territory. If they really went to Mount Huiming, it was still anyone’s guess who would end up suffering!
With that thought, Daoist Master Songfeng made up his mind.
He beamed and said, “Shopkeeper Wu is truly righteous. Old Man Azurewood is deeply impressed. In that case, please allow Old Man Azurewood to lend you a hand!”
The gaze beneath Wenren Ying’s bamboo hat suddenly fixed on his face like a bolt of cold lightning!
Yet his expression remained relaxed. He merely said, “I am Wenren Ying. A pleasure to meet you.”
Old Man Azurewood continued to smile. “I have naturally heard of the illustrious Meishan’s Number One Blade… A pleasure to meet you as well.”
Wenren Ying asked again, “May I ask where you came from, Old Man Azurewood, and where you are headed?”
Old Man Azurewood was still smiling. “I came from where I came from, and I’m going where I’m going.”
Wu Guanyue suddenly appeared with a fishing rod slung over her shoulder, looking exceptionally cheerful. “What are you two rambling on about? Skip, skip, skip it all! Hahahahahaha! Come on, let’s go—we’re setting out right now!”
Old Man Azurewood: “???”
Wait, what? That fast?!!
Hadn’t you only just found out that Wang Er had gone to Mount Huiming?! You don’t even need to prepare? You’re leaving immediately? Are there really people in this world who do things like this?! You don’t need to get ready, but he does!!!
Wu Guanyue answered him with a clear, guileless gaze.
—The quest has already updated! How could she not push forward immediately? Hurry, hurry, hurry! I wonder what kind of reward she’ll get for her nuclear-powered donkey… Er, this is her first side quest in the game!
Old Man Azurewood: “…………”
Old Man Azurewood: “………………”
A huge ellipsis bubble appeared above Old Man Azurewood’s head.
【[Old Man Azurewood] has joined [Wu Guanyue]’s adventuring party. They will never abandon one another, and will share life and death!】
Wenren Ying: (laughing.jpg)
Wenren Ying: (thumbs-up.jpg)
For some reason, Wenren Ying was inexplicably having a great time…
【[Wenren Ying] has joined [Wu Guanyue]’s adventuring party. They will never abandon one another, and will share life and death!】
“Woof! Woof! Grrr-woof!!”
Wuyun came charging out of nowhere, baring its triangular mouth and letting out a battle cry brimming with fighting spirit!
【[Wuyun] has joined [Wu Guanyue]’s adventuring party. They will never abandon one another, and will share life and death!】
Yes!
Adventure! Adventure! Adventure!
If you opened an inn in a xianxia world, you had to have this sort of team-up-and-beat-the-monsters segment. Otherwise, how could it seem sufficiently magnificent and wondrous?
Filled with heroic spirit, Wu Guanyue swept her fishing rod through the air and shouted, “Let’s go!”
Wu Guanyue suddenly leaped into the air and landed on Wuyun’s back in a one-legged golden-rooster stance!
Beneath the setting sun, Wuyun’s four paws pounded across the ground so fast they blurred. With a whoosh, it carried her away until both of them vanished from sight. In front of the inn, the fading afterimage of a girl standing like a golden rooster seemed to linger in the air…
Wenren Ying: “…………”
Old Man Azurewood: “…………”
Wenren Ying: “…………?”
Old Man Azurewood: “…………?”
The two men, each wary of the other, had probably synchronized their thoughts for the first time.
The End
