Chapter 43: Qin Ying

At three-quarters past nine in the morning, Song Yan arrived at the mountain gate as promised.

By this time, a crowd had already gathered at the Initiation Terrace. Passing cultivators slowed their steps to sneak glances in a certain direction, while some disciples simply stopped to appreciate the nearby scenery.

Song Yan looked up and saw a female cultivator standing at the mountain gate of the Initiation Terrace, with a plump and honest-looking disciple at her side.

Sensing his gaze, the woman glanced back over her shoulder.

Her silken sash and gauzy robes fluttered in the breeze, her beauty truly ethereal, untouched by the dust of the mortal world…

Song Yan drew in a quiet breath.

What a breathtaking woman!

He could not help but praise her from the bottom of his heart.

Among the women of the cultivation world, the habits of nurturing their spirit often granted them an otherworldly grace. Those fortunate enough to have cleansed their marrow or achieved a breakthrough shone all the more, their skin like polished jade, radiant and flawless.

But true beauty lies in one's bones, not merely the skin—some things cannot be altered. Just like this woman before him...

The morning mountain wind teased her robe’s hem, a sight almost too exquisite for words.

"Song Yesheng?"

"…Yes, Senior Sister," Song Yan responded quickly and hurried over to report.

The woman gave a slight nod. "Qin Ying. And this is Li Qingfeng, Junior Brother Li."

"Senior Sister Qin, Senior Brother Li."

"Don’t call me Senior Brother," Li Qingfeng protested, his tone shy. "I’m only at the fourth stage of Qi Refinement."

His appearance hardly matched his elegant name; Li Qingfeng was quite stout, a black iron pot strapped to his back and what looked like a cleaver-shaped magical tool at his waist—a curious sight among the assembled cultivators.

"Let’s go," Senior Sister Qin said. Her tone was even, but it held a gentle warmth, not the chilly aloofness her appearance might suggest. Yet Song Yan detected a trace of urgency beneath her composure.

"Linxi County, Peach Blossom Hollow," she announced, tapping her fingertip. An ice-blue flying sword slipped from her sleeve and hovered at Song Yan’s feet.

"Get on."

"Uh… What about Li Qingfeng—Junior Brother?"

"Oh, don’t worry, Senior Brother. I have my own flying tool," Li Qingfeng replied, patting the iron pot on his back. "You go on ahead, I’ll catch up."

A flying tool?

Song Yan was surprised. Among cultivators, besides the usual flying swords and spirit gourds, there existed magical instruments specifically crafted for travel. Such items didn’t require constant infusions of spiritual power the way flying swords did; once charged or fitted with a spirit stone, they could carry one effortlessly.

He’d ridden a spirit boat of this kind on his last journey from the sect to Silent Valley.

These flying tools were valuable—yet this junior brother made no attempt to hide his.

Seeing Song Yan’s astonishment, Li Qingfeng chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"This iron pot of mine doesn’t look like much, and it guzzles spiritual energy. It only fits one person, really. Even if I left it on the square, I doubt anyone would want it."

To Song Yan, that sounded like false modesty—he certainly wouldn’t mind having such a thing himself.

"All right, Senior Brother Li. Then we—ah!"

Song Yan had meant to exchange a few more polite words, but a gentle force lifted him onto the sword.

A faint scent of orchids drifted from Senior Sister Qin’s sleeve, cool and pleasant.

A clear, crisp sword cry rang out beneath his feet.

In the blink of an eye, they soared into the clouds, surrounded by icy blue spiritual light.

He was flying!

Awe filled Song Yan, and only this thought echoed in his mind.

Shielded by Qin Ying’s protective aura, he gazed out at the vast sky.

Clear blue above, wild winds roaring past. Mountains, rivers, and lakes stretched endlessly below.

This was true sword-flight!

It was nothing like the spirit boat’s plodding journey; this time, he truly felt the freedom he’d always dreamed of.

Riding the sword upon the wind, unfettered between heaven and earth!

Song Yan’s heart surged with excitement.

Linxi County lay not far from the Dongyuan Sect, and in moments, a great city appeared below.

They began to descend through the clouds.

Soon, Qin Ying landed the sword’s light gently on the ground. Song Yan, unprepared, nearly stumbled, but Qin Ying steadied him with a touch of spiritual power.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Song Yan looked up—they were outside the city.

"Linxi County is one of the largest in the province, with a dense population of common folk," Qin Ying explained as she led the way. "To avoid unnecessary disturbance, cultivators entering the city do not ride swords openly. It's an unspoken rule."

Linxi County had once been an obscure place with no real name—certainly not Linxi. But being so close to the famous Yunxi City, travelers and merchants referred to it only as "that county near Yunxi."

Later, a county magistrate arrived who took no shame in the nickname. Instead, he adopted it, leveraging Yunxi’s fame to develop fisheries and agriculture. In just a few years, it became the largest and most prosperous county in the area after Yunxi itself.

Eventually, the name Linxi stuck, and whatever it had been called before was forgotten.

"Hey there, Daoists—where have you come from?"

To avoid drawing attention, Qin Ying disguised their features and let Song Yan take the lead.

Song Yan handed over the necessary documents she had given him for inspection at the city gate.

"Shiliang," Song Yan replied casually.

"Shiliang?" The guard inspecting their papers seemed confused, but another recognized the name. "That’s over by Yunyang County…"

The guards exchanged glances, as if recalling something, and hesitated in their duties.

"May I ask… are you immortals from the Dongyuan Sect…?"

Song Yan’s brow furrowed. "Hm?"

"Ah, please don’t misunderstand, immortal. The business at Peach Blossom Hollow has spread throughout the region—the magistrate and the two resident officials have announced the arrival of Dongyuan Sect’s immortals…"

"I see," Song Yan nodded.

"Please, right this way, immortals."

With nothing more said, the two stepped into the city.

Living off the land, thriving by the waters.

The streets bustled with carriages and crowds, the markets brimming with the bounty of the land.

Vendors ferried freshly made tofu to the market, a fishmonger chatted as he cleaned a grass carp, children chased one another through the streets.

It was a scene much like those Song Yan had witnessed in Shiliang Town.

Yet he and Qin Ying, dressed as they were, stood out. People paused to stare and whispered amongst themselves.

Just then, a squad of constables in headman’s garb approached.

"Enjoy the festivities, everyone, but keep an eye on your children—don’t let them wander off…"

The head constable strode purposefully toward them, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Are you immortals from the Dongyuan Sect?"

Qin Ying remained silent, so Song Yan nodded.

"Yes."

"And Senior Brother Bai?"

This matter had been reported by the Dongyuan Sect’s Linxi County resident, Bai Zimo.

"Master Bai is attending official business at the yamen and instructed me to welcome the three of you… Oh?"

"Oh, another Junior Brother Li will join us shortly," Song Yan explained.

"Very well, please follow me. My surname is also Bai, given name Lei. You may call me Little Bai."

Little Bai?

The name sounded odd, and after a moment’s hesitation, Song Yan decided not to say it aloud.

"Head Constable Bai, did you just say Senior Brother Bai is at the yamen on official business?" Song Yan asked as they walked.

A cultivator, working for the authorities…