Martial Cultivator

"Indeed, the accounts of Chen Chao circulating in the foreign lands are mostly vague and hard to believe. It's merely that certain people are taking advantage of the discord between the foreign lands and the Great Liang Dynasty to make a big fuss. In reality, Chen Chao isn't as bad as they say. The earlier rumor that he caused the fall of the Sublime Bright Sect was because that sect engaged in heinous deeds. As for the later massacre of Clearwater Mountain, it goes without saying that Clearwater Mountain had a notorious reputation for using children as medicine. Such inhumane acts go against heaven and reason, and should have long been punished by Heaven!"

Liu Yuquan was somewhat agitated. Originally, such words were not meant to be said casually, but since Chen Chao had saved their lives, he did not consider him an outsider, so it was acceptable to speak freely.

As for the other fellow cultivators, they were similar in temperament. Otherwise, they would not have traveled together this time. It was just unfortunate that a few of their fellow cultivators had already passed away.

Chen Chao nodded and said solemnly, "Indeed, such rumors are baseless. When I first heard them, I found them absurd. This person should be a good person, otherwise, he wouldn't have accomplished something like destroying the Clearwater Mountain. It's a pity that such a good person is slandered and bears such a bad reputation. I think we should help clear his name, at least speak up for him. Otherwise, this world will truly become unbearable!"

As Chen Chao spoke, Liang Jinjin had already pulled the corner of her mouth into a faint smile and then stood up.

Guo Jianjia asked curiously, "Where is Fellow Daoist Liang going?"

"I’m going to the cave entrance to get some fresh air, it's a bit hot," Liang Jinjin replied with a slight smile, though the smile seemed somewhat forced.

Chen Chao felt a bit embarrassed.

Do my words really sound so unpleasant?

Shen Zhuo looked at Chen Chao with admiration and said, "I didn't expect Brother Chen to be so upright and righteous. It's truly rare. Not only are you willing to help strangers, but you also speak up for those who have no connection to you. It's a pity there's no good wine, otherwise, I'd really like to raise a toast to you!"

Chen Chao took out the gourd of alcohol from his robe and smiled, "I do have wine, and plenty of it. I just don't know how much Fellow Daoist Shen can drink."

Seeing the wine, Shen Zhuo quickly made a few ice cups from the snow, placing one in front of each person. Even Liang Jinjin, who had sat back down, got a share. Chen Chao smiled as he poured a cup for everyone and said, "Meeting each other is fate, let’s not waste time on small talk. Let's just drink to it."

The group quickly raised their cups and took a few sips. Guo Jianjia tasted a little and then continued to look at Chen Chao.

Liu Yuquan, Shen Zhuo, and Chen Sanshui, on the other hand, drank their cups in one gulp.

Chen Chao poured another cup for the two of them. Liu Yuquan said, "We should drink heartily, but since we're still in a dangerous situation, we shouldn't drink too much. This will be the last cup. Please pardon us, Brother Chen."

Chen Chao nodded and was not bothered by it. He turned to Shen Zhuo with a smile and asked, "What about Fellow Daoist Shen and Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Before Chen Sanshui could speak, Shen Zhuo replied with a smile, "His drinking capacity is about the same as Brother Liu's, two cups are enough. But I might drink a few more cups with Brother Chen."

Chen Chao laughed heartily, feeling very pleased as he said, "Not to get completely drunk, but at least to drink till satisfied."

Afterward, most people stopped drinking. Only a couple of them drank quite a bit. Shen Zhuo, whose alcohol tolerance was somewhat lower, ended up quite drunk and fell asleep. Liu Yuquan looked at his unrestrained junior brother with some helplessness but still covered him with a coat.

Noticing Liu Yuquan's concern, Chen Chao smiled and said, "There's no need to worry. Before Fellow Daoist Shen sobers up, there won't be any issues. Fellow Daoist Liu, are your injuries severe? Do you want to rest up?"

Liu Yuquan thought for a moment, then nodded without hesitation, "Thank you, Brother Chen."

Chen Chao looked at Chen Sanshui and signaled him to do the same.

Being a man of few words, Chen Sanshui rarely spoke. He simply nodded and cast a grateful glance at Chen Chao.

Liang Jinjin felt a bit drowsy and also drifted off to sleep. Right now, only Chen Chao and Guo Jianjia were still awake. Guo Jianjia had been well cared for earlier, so she was not injured, which showed the genuine concern the cultivators from Jade Summit Mountain had for their junior sister.

Chen Chao got up and walked to the cave entrance, where he sat alone, gazing at the wind and snow outside, lost in thought.

After a while, Guo Jianjia gathered her courage and approached him, softly asking, "Fellow Daoist Chen, may I sit here for a while?"

Chen Chao glanced at her, shifted to make some space, and nodded, "Of course."

Guo Jianjia then slowly sat down, not far from Chen Chao. Her cheeks were slightly flushed despite the little wine she had drunk, and she looked at Chen Chao shyly.

However, Chen Chao looked outside the cave.

"Fellow Daoist Chen..."

Guo Jianjia wanted to speak, but swallowed her words back.

Chen Chao turned his head and looked at her, smiling as he said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

Guo Jianjia thought for a moment before softly asking, "Does Fellow Daoist Chen have a dao companion?"

Chen Chao was taken aback, he had not expected her to ask this.

He turned his head away, suddenly unsure of how to respond.

Perhaps due to having drank some alcohol, Guo Jianjia, having started the conversation, now seemed unable to stop. "If Fellow Daoist Chen already has a dao companion, then just pretend I didn't say anything. But if Fellow Daoist Chen doesn't have one yet, how about we become friends? As for what happens afterward, it's up to fate. Either way, I have a good impression of Fellow Daoist Chen. I wonder what Fellow Daoist Chen thinks of me?"

Chen Chao thought for a moment and then suddenly said, "Do you know that Fellow Daoist Chen also likes you?"

Chen Chao was naturally referring to Chen Sanshui. Being a man of few words, Chen Sanshui probably had not expressed his feelings. But earlier, when Guo Jianjia was looking at him, Chen Sanshui was also watching her, and the affection in his eyes was barely concealed.

In fact, anyone with keen eyes could see it.

Guo Jianjia was silent for a moment before she nodded and said, "But I don't like Senior Brother Chen. However, I won't stop him from liking me. In truth, I don't have any right to do so. Just like I want to be with Fellow Daoist Chen... I won't force you to like me either."

These words left Chen Chao unsure of how to continue the conversation, but he quickly smiled and said, "Although I don't have a dao companion, I do like a girl, and she likes me too. So, Fellow Daoist Guo, there's no need to waste your time on me."

Guo Jianjia initially felt a bit disappointed, but she quickly smiled and said, "That's okay, I understand."

Chen Chao nodded and said no more.

……

……

By the time dawn broke, everyone gradually woke up. For people like Liu Yuquan and the others, after a night of meditation, their injuries had mostly healed. After all, they had sect elixirs, and their injuries weren't too severe to begin with.

Chen Chao took the initiative to ask, "What are your plans, Fellow Daoists?"

Liu Yuquan looked ashamed and said, "Initially, I just wanted to come and see the Northern Frontier. But after arriving, I realized how dangerous this place truly is. Thinking back, I now have even more respect for the martial artists of the Great Liang. I remember in my younger days, I didn't think much of them, but now I feel deeply ashamed. We're planning to return to the sect to cultivate diligently. Hopefully, one day, we can return to the Northern Frontier and do something for the human race."

Shen Zhuo laughed heartily and said, "I hope that one day, I can step into Nepenthe and slay a great demon. Then, I would have no regrets in this life!"

The other two nodded in agreement.

Liu Yuquan then asked, "What about you, Brother Chen?"

Chen Chao smiled and replied, "I was originally going to escort Fellow Daoist Liang out of the desolate northern plains, but before leaving, I wanted to see if I could kill a few more powerful demons."

Hearing this, the group exchanged glances, and then Liu Yuquan smiled and said, "If Brother Chen trusts us, we can escort Fellow Daoist Liang out of the desolate northern plains. Rest assured, even if we die, we will never let any harm come to Fellow Daoist Liang!"

Although these words were spoken with great determination, there was actually little confidence behind them.

However, they also wanted to lighten Chen Chao's burden, as bringing Liang Jinjin along in the desolate north was ultimately a drag.

Chen Chao shook his head and politely declined, "Since I've promised Fellow Daoist Liang, I can't entrust her to others. If I didn't have matters to attend to, I would have wanted to escort all of you out as well, as I'm also somewhat worried."

Before Liu Yuquan could speak, Shen Zhuo once again looked at Chen Chao with admiration. The more Chen Chao said and did, the more this Fellow Daoist Shen admired him.

"In that case, we won't say much more. I hope that one day we can meet again, and when that time comes, we must drink to our heart's content."

Liu Yuquan cupped his hands in farewell.

Chen Chao also smiled and said, "Definitely."

"Brother Chen, if I have the chance, I'll come to Windspirit Mountain to find you. You must show me around properly then!"

Shen Zhuo had a look of excitement, as if he had already planned when he would visit Windspirit Mountain.

Chen Chao's expression changed slightly, and he said with some difficulty, "Even if I'm fortunate enough to leave the desolate north alive, I plan to travel the world, so it's uncertain when I'll return to the mountain."

Shen Zhuo laughed, "With Brother Chen's cultivation, you will surely leave here safe and sound. Whenever you return to the mountain, just send me a letter."

Chen Chao nodded his head.

The others also cupped their hands in farewell. However, after taking a few steps, Guo Jianjia turned back, smiled at Chen Chao, and said, "I wish Fellow Daoist Chen and the girl you fancy a long life together, staying by each other's side forever!"

Without waiting for Chen Chao to respond, she gracefully turned around and followed her fellow disciples.

Chen Chao stood there and murmured, "What a woman who knows how to take things up and let them go."

After the group had walked away, Liang Jinjin approached him, her expression teasing. "What's the matter? Even if you have someone you like, can't you like another as well? Don't your Great Liang people have the saying about having three wives and four concubines?"

She initially wanted to use the Great Liang Emperor as an example, but upon thinking it over, she realized that His Majesty only had one empress, leaving her somewhat defeated.

"How do you know she likes me?" Chen Chao felt a bit perplexed. "Can you not only tell if someone is lying but also see into people's hearts?!"

Chen Chao found this rather terrifying.

Liang Jinjin looked at him, her expression flat. "When they were asleep last night, I wasn't sleeping."

Chen Chao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that it was fortunate.

"Let's go. It's not every day I run into some cultivators who don't dislike me, yet you seem pretty unhappy about it."

Chen Chao rubbed his head, recalling how the woman in front of him had stood up earlier.

Liang Jinjin clicked her tongue and said, "I couldn't bear to listen to the things you were saying. Didn't you feel embarrassed when you were saying them? How could you keep going?"

Chen Chao frowned. "Everything I said was true, wasn't it? I didn't exaggerate at all. Can't I defend myself? Should I just let them slander me like that?"

Liang Jinjin said with righteous indignation, "Then why didn't you tell them who you really are? Why didn't you dare?"

Chen Chao sighed, "I was thinking of you."

But, his words lacked confidence. After all, considering the temperament of those people, even if he revealed his true identity, they probably would not spread it around, nor would they expose the fact that he was traveling with Liang Jinjin.

Liang Jinjin initially felt a warmness in her heart, but after glancing at Chen Chao, she quickly grew angry again and said, "You're lying!"

Chen Chao was at a loss for words.

If he could see the qi surrounding him, Chen Chao would rather sever it completely right now.

He also desperately hoped that Xie Nandu would never learn this particular technique, because if she did, he would undoubtedly be utterly defeated in front of her.

What kind of lousy technique was this, it should have gone extinct long ago!

……

……

Afterward, the two of them continued traveling southeast. Finally, after several days, they arrived at the foot of a snowy mountain. The desolate northern plains spanned thirty thousand miles and were not entirely flat. There were some snowy mountains, though not many.

The snowy mountain before them was not particularly tall; likely something that anyone would find unremarkable.

However, Liang Jinjin stopped in front of it, gazing at it for a long time before finally nodding and saying, "This is the place."

Chen Chao also nodded and asked, "Can you find the entrance?"

Liang Jinjin shook her head very naturally.

Chen Chao was very speechless.

"I only know that the Small Hill Sect is inside this mountain. After so many years, it's hard to say whether it's underground or within the mountain itself."

Liang Jinjin quickly suggested, "Perhaps we'll find out once we get inside the mountain."

With no other options, Chen Chao could only nod in agreement.

hence, the two of them proceeded without hesitation and soon entered the mountain.

……

……

In the snowy plains, Autumn continued moving southeast. During her journey, she discovered several corpses of fellow demons scattered across the plains. After examining the wounds, she was able to determine that they were caused by Chen Chao, which made her even more certain that Chen Chao was on this path.

The route was correct, and it seemed she would find Chen Chao soon. However, not long after, Autumn was stopped by a young daoist.

The daoist wore a dark red daoist robe and looked as handsome as jade.

He looked at Autumn through the wind and snow and asked with a smile, "Are you the one who injured my senior sister?"

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