Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

The next day, as the sun rose in the east, its path shone brightly.

Ma Tianyuan proved to be diligent in his affairs; early in the morning, he quickly arranged for a family of modestly better-than-average means within the city to adopt Hua Hua.

After confirming that the family had a good reputation using some minor tactics, Yi Chen nodded in agreement to the arrangement.

Once the matter was concluded, Yi Chen did not attend the midday banquet but instead met briefly with Ma Tianyuan, the sword fairy, and the mad monk before purchasing a batch of supplies, preparing to leave.

As he was ready to depart, Yi Chen turned to look back at the towering Dragon Pavilion behind him.

Standing by his side were the sword fairy and the mad monk.

Within the Dragon Pavilion at this moment, toasts were made and cups clinked; it was a time of great merriment with distinguished guests filling the seats.

Below the Dragon Pavilion, there was a traffic jam of carriages and horses that made the streets impassable, crowded with either cultivators or the red and purple-clad nobility.

A bustle of thriving life and competing growth emerged before Yi Chen's eyes.

Dressed in brocade, Ma Daorong stood at the entrance of the Dragon Pavilion greeting guests, his face beaming with smiles, surrounded by a crowd of people showering him with flattering words, indeed like a proud horse galloping with the spring breeze at its back.

At this moment, a panting and portly merchant rushed down the long street, his hat nearly falling off. Upon seeing Ma Daorong, he hastened over to bow and pay his respects, "I've seen the young master."

"Fortune to the young master," he said.

Observing the fat merchant, Ma Daorong couldn't help but change his expression.

"Merchant Zhang, you're late even on such an important day? Are you not taking my Ma family seriously?" he inquired.

Sweating profusely, the portly merchant replied with a mournful face, "My apologies, young master. I didn't expect such a traffic jam in the vast Wujang Prefecture today; it delayed me. I've been running all the way here."

No sooner had he spoken these words than a certain young master Zhou standing beside Ma Daorong couldn't help but snicker, "Old Zhang, what kind of horses were pulling your carriage?"

"Of course, they were top-notch steeds," replied Merchant Zhang, puzzled.

"Ha-ha, we either ride the precious horses from the Golden Tent Wolf Court of the northern steppes or the dragon horses bred by the Town Peace Office. The fact that your carriage was pulled by ordinary horses is no wonder you got stuck in traffic!"

"I think you simply don't qualify to attend today's gathering," he added.

As soon as Master Zhou said this, a group of people burst into laughter.

Pointing at Master Zhou, Ma Daorong shook his head with a laugh, saying, "Zhou Qian ah, Zhou Qian, that mouth of yours—" He gave a servant a knowing look, who then removed a chair from the Dragon Pavilion.

Merchant Zhang immediately collapsed to the ground.

...

...

"Taoist priest, what do you think of this?" the mad monk said with a smile to Yi Chen as they were about to part ways.

Since Yi Chen did not attend the feast, both he and the sword fairy found it unnecessary to go, having their own important matters to attend to, and thus prepared to leave together.

"What can I think? I just stand here and watch," replied Yi Chen irritably, holding no good impression of Ma Daorong, the ostentatious son of the Ma family.

If he was to give a sharp critique, it would be the landlord's foolish son.

Like a fool, you should have persuaded me last night.

Yi Chen pointed at the distant Dragon Pavilion, sweeping his finger and said with a smile:

"This world's stage sees one's play end and another's begin; the flags on the city walls constantly change."

"Nothing but watching someone else build high towers,"

"Watching someone else host guests,"

"Watching as someone else's tower collapses,"

"In the end, all that's left is the vast and clean earth itself!"

"Dear Daoist friends, we'll meet on the True Monarch path. Only constant cultivation and self-improvement can the wheel of the world turn eternally undisturbed," he said.

At his words, both the sword fairy and the mad monk grew solemn, and bowed deeply.

This bow was not in honor of Yi Chen, but in respect for the greater Dao.

"Taoist, I am leaving now. I will ensure that the ash urn of Zhang the escort master, which you entrusted to me, is delivered," the mad monk said.

"Thank you, master," Yi Chen replied.

The mad monk said his farewells and left in straw sandals.

Only Yi Chen and the sword fairy were left, looking at each other.

"Fairy," he said.

"Call me Ling Shan," interrupted the sword fairy.

Yi Chen: "....."

"Ling Shan, the sword fairy," he corrected.

The sword fairy: "...."

He took a deep breath, and the Sword Immortal said, "Taoist, as soon as I return to my sect, I will check the classics and ask my master for you, Kong Xiang is the same."

"If you have spare time, you can come to the Sword Stop Cottage to find me."

"Remember, don't die so early, keep that hairpin safe, and at least let me give you a beating before you die."

As she spoke, the Sword Immortal couldn't help but laugh.

For a moment, the clouds parted and the moon shone through, a sight too beautiful for words.

"I'll take your auspicious words."

"Some of what I said last night were just ramblings, so think carefully about them."

"My Taoist temple is in Fengyun County, and if anyone gives you trouble, remember that I still owe you a favor."

Feeling moved by the Sword Immortal's kind intentions, Yi Chen had a moment of conscience. He immediately decided to slightly push back the Sword Stop Cottage when he would go about plundering for Cultivation Techniques, as he wasn't particularly interested in the way of the swordsmen anyway.

It was Dragon Tiger Mountain that was compatible with him, with mutual reinforcement at its foundation, and the most auspicious being of a yang and forceful nature.

After some thought, Yi Chen took out two white porcelain bottles from his storage ring.

Inside the bottles was the fine wine he'd purchased for a hefty price.

Very expensive indeed.

This was Spiritual Wine, called Monkey Brew. It was made by spirit monkeys in the great northern mountains and then stealthily stolen by despicable outsiders from the places where the spirit monkeys hid it.

Worth its weight in gold, and very delicious.

He handed a bottle to the Sword Immortal.

Under the sky, the two porcelain bottles clinked together, a toast to victory.

"Bon voyage."

"Bon voyage."

Yi Chen turned and left, waving his hand as he went, a gesture of farewell.

After Yi Chen vanished from sight, the Sword Immortal also departed on her distant journey.

She had practiced swordsmanship at her sect for twenty years. Her master, Heavenly Sword True Monarch, had told her that her foundation was flawed, and without the tempering of the mortal world, she would have difficulty achieving the Great Way, which was why she descended the mountain to wander. Now she too would follow her own path.

"Master once said, 'The Way is amidst the endless mortal world, everyone has their own method, a thousand people have a thousand faces, do not force it.'

"To right what heaven has not, to judge what has not been judged, to offend what ghosts have not, to shatter what neither day nor moon could shatter"

"This is my doctrine of universal love without aggression."

"Only by supporting the right path, dispelling evil miasma, and eradicating the weeds, can universal love and non-aggression be hoped for."

"My name, Jian Lingshan!"

Suddenly, within a kilometer around the Sword Immortal, all the swords that people were wearing sang out at once, resonating together.

…

…

In early spring, the flowers flutter.

Serpents and insects give chase.

Not afraid of the demons that come.

I proclaim my might with this song of my abode.

Yi Chen hummed a folk tune from his hometown as he continued on his journey; on his shoulder, Little Miao stood tall and imposing.

It held its head high.

Just yesterday, it had made a significant contribution, with its father Yi Chen, in the region of Muyang County, putting down the corrupt elements of the Town Peace Bureau, Zhu Buqun and the Infernal Demon Sect's Hu Bugui, in defense of Little Hua Hua—and last night, it had even managed to charm a tabby cat.

Its achievements were remarkable.

One man and one cat rushed down the mountain path hurriedly.

In two days, there would be a heavy rain, and some hundreds of meters off the mountain path lay a dilapidated temple enveloped in a faint ghostly presence.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

This ghostly presence, to Yi Chen's current perception of Yin Qi, was as clear as a pattern in his palm.

"Interesting, this temple must have some mysteries, perhaps it's destined for me," Yi Chen grinned and continued forward with large strides.

These Deep Red Points, he had certainly earned them.

Towards the common ghastly spirits, Yi Chen's attitude had already changed significantly from his time in Fengyun County.

He had gone from fearing evil spirits to slowly fearing that he wouldn't find any.

He concealed his presence and entered the dilapidated temple.

As soon as he entered, his pupils shrank.