Martial Cultivator

In Treasure River Town, within the courtyards of differing heights, the scent of ink filled the air, and the streets were lined with countless inkstone shops. It was not surprising, as the entire town's livelihood depended on these items. Yu Xiyi walked slowly, listening to Huang He's constant chatter, but paid it no mind.

As for how to discern the quality of inkstones, this young genius sword cultivator who had already reached the Great Beyond Realm did not care. Most likely, he would never have much to do with such things in his lifetime.

This was not actually Yu Xiyi's first time in this town, but the last time he came here felt like a lifetime ago.

He wandered aimlessly, deliberately avoiding the familiar alleys from his memory, instead roaming other parts of the town like a headless fly.

Huang He was bored to begin with, he realized that the stranger was not interested in anything he was saying. Feeling discouraged, he was about to stop walking to spite him when Yu Xiyi turned to him and said, “You can ask me about things outside this town. I know more than you do.”

Huang He was taken aback, then immediately asked, “Who is the greatest sword immortal in the world right now?”

Yu Xiyi replied calmly, “The Sword Sect’s Sect Master.”

"Sword Sect?”

With patience, Yu Xiyi explained, “In the whole world, there's only one sect where everyone is a sword cultivator. It's in Yellow Dragon Prefecture. If you ever get the chance to travel far and still want to become a sword cultivator, you can seek out this sect. But it's not easy to find. It depends on your luck.”

Huang He became intrigued and asked curiously, “How powerful is the Sword Sect's Sect Master?”

Yu Xiyi smiled and said, “Not that powerful.”

"But he's still more powerful than any other sword cultivator in the world."

Yu Xiyi bought two sugar figurines from a roadside vendor, handing one to Huang He. The latter accepted it without hesitation and placed it in his mouth, asking with his mouth full, “Then what's the best sword in the world?”

“That's hard to say. There’s a place called Sword Qi Mountain that specializes in forging flying swords. Most of the swords carried by those you call sword immortals come from there. Every hundred years, they forge a sword known as the Hundred Year Sword. In other words, for that hundred years, that sword is the sharpest in the world. A few years ago, it was the hundred-year mark, and Sword Qi Mountain forged a sword called Wild Grass. It was taken by a sword cultivator named Yu Xiyi, who happens to be from the Sword Sect.”

Huang He raised his eyebrows. “I think I’ve heard that name before.”

Yu Xiyi;'s heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged.

“But why is the sword called Wild Grass? That name's way too casual.”

Huang He did not like the name of the sword from the bottom of his heart.

Yu Xiyi did not explain further, merely looking into the distance.

Huang He then asked many more questions about things he was very interested in, but they were mostly about sword immortals.

It was actually logical, which young boy did not want to become a carefree sword immortal?

Yu Xiyi answered almost all of the child's questions with a smile, showing no signs of impatience.

One adult, one child, one asking, one answering, it was rather harmonious.

Huang He eventually asked, "What about you? Are you a sword cultivator?"

Yu Xiyi turned his head to look at him and asked, "Do you see my sword?"

Huang He looked Yu Xiyi up and down but did not find any trace of a flying sword. He shook his head in disappointment.

Yu Xiyi said, "Becoming a sword cultivator isn't that easy. I don't think you have much hope."

Yu Xiyi had already examined the boy's natural talents earlier and found that he indeed lacked the aptitude for sword cultivation.

Huang He frowned. "You can tell?"

Yu Xiyi laughed. "I was just talking nonsense."

Huang He looked a bit disappointed. Having his lifelong dream dismissed so easily, whether joking or not, left him feeling somewhat deflated.

Yu Xiyi consoled him, "It's no big deal if you don't become a sword cultivator. Being a martial artist works too. I know a guy who's really good at cutting people down with a saber."

"What’s the point of that? What's the difference from being a pig butcher?" Huang He clearly was not impressed.

Yu Xiyi laughed. The top martial artist of the younger generation in the Great Liang Dynasty had just been compared to a pig butcher. The next time Yu Xiyi saw Chen Chao, he would have to tease him thoroughly about this.

As the two continued to walk and chat idly, the sky soon darkened.

Huang He who had long since finished his candy figure and was still chewing on the stick suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh no! The shop's already closed!"

Yu Xiyi did not seem to mind. "Just think of it as a deal that didn't go through. No big deal."

Huang He stared at Yu Xiyi for a moment and suddenly asked, "Are you still looking for that person or not?!"

Yu Xiyi shook his head. "Not anymore. Looking around was enough."

Huang He could not understand how Yu Xiyi could change his mind so quickly. But after biting his lip, he looked at Yu Xiyi and said, "I'l give you a free inkstone!"

Yu Xiyi shook his head. "Don't go sneaking home to steal one. If your mother finds out, won't you be in for a round of bamboo-stick stir-fry?"

Huang He raised his head confidently. "If Mother knew you saved me once and treated me to a sugar figurine, she'd definitely give you one too!"

Yu Xiyi responded with an "oh" and teased, "Sounds like your family isn't doing too well."

Merchants often prioritize profit, after all. Too much kindness, and business would inevitably suffer.

Huang He rolled his eyes and asked, "Do you want it or not?"

Yu Xiyi pulled out a coin pouch from his robes and said, "How about I buy one?"

Huang He clicked his tongue, "You're pretty rich."

Yu Xiyi smiled and said, "Take it yourself. However much you want, it's up to you. After that, I'll wait for you by the stone bridge for an hour. If you can't find me, consider the inkstone my gift to you."

Huang He thought for a moment, then finally reached into Yu Xiyi's coin pouch and took out a Great Liang general currency coin before running off into the distance.

Yu Xiyi put away his pouch, smiling without saying anything.

……

……

Huang He jogged down the streets, quickly crossing a few blocks before darting into a small alley. As he arrived at his doorstep, a woman had already been waiting there for some time. Seeing her, Huang He felt a bit guilty and called out, "Mother."

The woman raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where did you run off to all day this time?"

Huang He lifted his head and grinned, "Nowhere, just wandered around town."

The woman who was already getting on in years, but still retained the look of her youth, raised her hand as if to strike him. But after Huang He repeatedly called out "mummy is the best" sweetly, she lowered her hand. Just as Huang He thought he had escaped punishment, the woman grabbed his ear and tugged. "You're just like your father, all honeyed words."

From inside the house, a man working on an inkstone grumbled, "What? Wifey, you're really slandering the two of us. Who in this town doesn't know that you're the best?"

The woman clicked her tongue and said, "There you go again!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the man with both hands covered in dirt walked out, his face full of simple honesty. "Wifey, that's not fair. I'm known in town for being an honest man. Every word I say is the truth."

The woman let go of Huang He's ear and could not be bothered to argue with this father-son duo.

After rubbing his ear for a moment, Huang He quickly began sharing what he had seen today. Then, smiling, he said, "Mummy, I want to give him an inkstone, the best one!"

He waved the Great Liang general currency coin in his hand, but how could it be enough to buy an inkstone?

The woman sighed. "This family's going to fall apart one day."

The man chuckled, "Not with wifey around, it won't!"

Huang He knew this meant his mother had agreed, so he hurried off to pick out the finest piece of inkstone. After that, he dashed out of the house. The man turned back to continue working on inkstones, while the woman quickly stepped out of the yard, shouting, "Slow down, don't trip!"

But by then, the boy had already vanished without a trace.

The woman sighed, then suddenly turned around again, staring at the entrance to the alley.

The alley was completely empty.

……

……

Huang He ran all the way to the stone bridge outside the small town, but there was no sign of that figure. He mumbled, "It hasn't been an hour yet, has it?"

He felt a bit disappointed, but just as he was thinking of heading back, he bumped into Yu Xiyi, who was walking out of the town.

"Where have you been?" Huang He was a little angry.

Yu Xiyi smiled and replied, "I was looking for someone."

Huang He was taken aback, asking curiously, "Did you find them?"

Yu Xiyi nodded his head.

Huang He realized belatedly, "Turns out you already knew where the person you were looking for was. You just didn't dare to see them? Did you gather your courage just now?"

"You got it half right."

Huang He asked curiously, "Is it really your lover?"

Yu Xiyi chuckled, "Once upon a time. But now, her lover is someone else."

Huang He consoled, "You’re really pitiful."

Yu Xiyi did not take it to heart and simply said, "When I was younger, I was just like you, dreaming of one day taking the dragon-subduing sword from under that bridge, wandering the world, and becoming a peerless sword immortal. But it's not that easy."

Huang He glanced at Yu Xiyi with a sense of shared sympathy.

Yu Xiyi laughed and said, "I'm serious. You won't become a sword immortal in this lifetime, but I still have a chance."

Huang He scolded, "Aren't you just repaying kindness with ingratitude?!"

Yu Xiyi burst out laughing.

Huang He shoved the inkstone into his hands.

As the sky gradually darkened, Huang He had to head home.

Yu Xiyi put away the inkstone and bid Huang He farewell.

"Will we meet again?"

He was just a child after all, when about to part ways, it always made him feel sad.

Yu Xiyi replied, "If fate allows."

Huang He said "oh" and replied with a "goodbye" before walking towards the town.

"Huang He!"

But after taking only a few steps, Huang He heard someone calling him from behind.

He turned his head in confusion, and Yu Xiyi stood in the middle of the stone bridge, smiling as he said, "You gave me an inkstone, so how about I give you something in return too?"

Huang He shook his head and said, "I took the money! I don't want your stuff."

Yu Xiyi laughed, "No worries."

Before his words even finished, a flying sword appeared before him, hovering in mid-air.

Huang He's eyes widened, too shocked to speak.

"What's the point of looking for that rusty sword? Let me show you the best flying sword in the world."

Yu Xiyi gazed at the Wild Grass in front of him and said softly, "Let me show you a sword immortal."

As he spoke, Yu Xiyi stepped onto the flying sword. At that moment, who would say he did not have the bearing of a sword immortal?

Huang He opened his mouth wide, utterly astonished.

Yu Xiyi soared through the air on his sword.

"Past events have turned to dust, only this sword remains to slay demons!"

……

……

At the entrance of the town, a woman hurried over, her face already streaked with tears at this moment.