Sword Arrives

Cai Jinjian had been stepping backward, but the moment her foot hit the ground, she knew something was terribly wrong.

There are few things more unbearable than stepping into dog shit, but what's worse is realizing that someone saw you step in it—and the absolute worst is when that person tells you that you've stepped into dog shit.

Cai Jinjian wasn't a shallow woman, nor was she the delicate, pampered daughter who couldn't handle hardship. As one of the many heirs to Rosy Cloud Mountain, she had risen to prominence and secured a position through sheer strength and capability. Rosy Cloud Mountain had a total of eighteen peaks, shrouded in mist year-round. Its famed Cloud-rooted Stone were an essential ingredient in Taoist alchemy, prized for their purity and used in the crafting of external elixirs. This made the mountain stand apart in its own right. Therefore, those who hailed from Rosy Cloud Mountain were expected to maintain a pristine and elegant lifestyle, often with a deep aversion to anything considered unclean. Cai Jinjian was no exception. Had it not been for the deep entanglement of the small town, Cai Jinjian would have never set foot here. She certainly never would have walked in the dirt-filled Mud Bottle Alley, tripping on the foulness of animal waste. The most embarrassing part was that after coming here, the once lofty beings from Rosy Cloud Mountain—who were as untouchable as divine immortals—suddenly found themselves stripped of everything that once set them apart. Their ability to command the winds, control magical beasts, and wield powerful artifacts had all evaporated.

And then came the moment when Cai Jinjian stepped into dog shit.

Fu Nanhua had found it amusing at first—the perfect and untarnished Cai Jinjian from Rosy Cloud Mountain, now with a boot covered in foul-smelling dog shit. Who would believe it?

But the next moment, Fu Nanhua's voice turned serious as he shouted, "Cai Jinjian, stop!"

Standing on the mud wall, Song Jixin's pupils constricted, his hand tightening around the dragon-carved green jade pendant.

In the alley, Cai Jinjian seemed to take one step and was suddenly right in front of Chen Ping'an. Her delicate hand, as translucent as jade, shot up towards the crown of his head. In the instant Fu Nanhua called out to stop her, she froze, her hand hovering for a moment before softly patting him, almost like a gesture of affection from an elder to a younger. Bending down, she gazed into the boy's clear eyes, which reflected her face as though it were a pool of crystal-clear spring water. Yet, her mood was anything but serene. With a forced smile, she said, "Little one, I know you deliberately slowed down when you spoke."

Fu Nanhua, exhaling in relief, understood that if Cai Jinjian had truly gone so far as to kill here, it could result in her expulsion from the town, turning the entire Rosy Cloud Mountain into a laughingstock.

His expression darkened as he spoke in formal, polite tones, "Cai Jinjian, think carefully before you act. If you continue being so impulsive, I may have no choice but to reconsider our alliance. I don't want to be dragged into your mess."

With her back turned to Fu Nanhua, Cai Jinjian muttered softly to herself, "The higher the offering, the quicker the sight of Buddha… The lower the offering, the longer the wait… There is true purity, and a true lotus pond…"

She quickly turned back, flashing Fu Nanhua a small apologetic smile, "I was out of line. I promise it won't happen again." 

Fu Nanhua sneered, "Are you sure?"

Cai Jinjian smiled faintly and didn't bother with further promises. Instead, she looked back down at Chen Ping'an and, in the common elegant dialect, continued, "Rosy Cloud Mountain comes from one of the Five Buddhist Sects. We focus on subduing the heart monkey and tying up the mind horse. But before I came here, I had no real understanding of what those even meant. My elders never pushed me to rush, they just let me explore on my own. Who would have thought that today, here in your Mud Bottle Alley, stepping into dog shit would reveal a hint of the truth..."

Chen Ping'an casually replied, "Sister, you've stepped in dog shit. It's been half a day already. Why not just scrape it off?"

Cai Jinjian, who had believed she was entering a Buddhist state of mind, instantly lost her composure upon hearing this. She returned to the mundane world, her face turning pale with anger. Despite Fu Nanhua's earlier warnings still echoing in her mind, she couldn't help but vent her frustration. With a sharp finger, she jabbed at the youngster's forehead and glared, saying, "You little brat, didn't anyone ever teach you that temperamental people die young, and those who are sharp-tongued cut off their own luck?"

Chen Ping'an, with his tough skin and thick flesh, didn't mind. He simply glanced at Song Jixin, who was not far away, without saying anything.

Song Jixin jumped up, cursing, "Chen Ping'an, what are you looking at? So unlucky!"

Fu Nanhua was surprised to find that he hadn't even stepped into Song Jixin's yard yet, and his face darkened. He didn't hide his sarcasm, "Cai Jinjian! How interesting, there's actually someone in the world who would let a pile of dog poop delay their steps toward the Way to Immortality."

Cai Jinjian, for the first time, didn't get angry. Instead, she looked deeply at the thin, unremarkable youngster before turning around to leave.

Suddenly, the youngster's voice rang out, "Sister, your eyelashes are really long."

A common, vulgar insect dares to tease a divine lady?

Cai Jinjian's eyes turned cold, and her anger surged, but she quickly spun around.

She had made up her mind. Even if it cost her some of her energy, she would teach this seemingly simple but actually cunning village boy a lesson. Though they were trapped here, like prisoners in a cage, restricted and helpless, and all their magic and tools were rendered useless, the benefits of years of cultivation still remained. It was like the muscles and bones that had been constantly tempered. Though the effect wasn't as significant, and far weaker compared to the martial practitioners who focused on combat, with this foundation, she was confident that dealing with a youngster who had been crawling in the mud and dirt all his life would be effortless. A simple hand strike to his vital points would be enough to cause illness, shorten his life, and break him.

However, in the dimly lit alley, all she saw was a dark face and a pair of bright, clear eyes.

The bright moon rises over the sea.

Cai Jinjian's eyes first brightened, then a tinge of natural compassion appeared in her gaze. However, slowly, her phoenix eyes lost the hint of pity. Her smile grew brighter as understanding washed over her.

To sever the heart's demons—this was the opportunity.