Chapter 29: Linqing City, Cizhou

"Master, this White Lotus Heart might bring us great trouble. The Imperial Astrological Bureau of the Great Qian is like a pack of hounds; they will sniff us out and track us down."

"Embarking on the path of martial arts implies trouble from the very beginning. One more or one less makes no real difference."

"Master is right. Let us set off for Ci Prefecture. Cang Prefecture is in chaos and is no place to study the sword."

"Did you not say earlier that your leg injury prevented you from traveling?"

After packing their belongings, Yang Le glanced at Li Qi'er behind him. "Didn't someone claim earlier that their leg injury made it impossible to walk?"

"The past is the past; my leg is better now."

Facing Yang Le’s query, Li Qi'er’s playful expression remained entirely free of embarrassment, as if the matter were simply a fact.

"I believe you."

"That goes without saying. How could I ever deceive you, Master?"

"You..."

Hearing that Li Qi'er's leg had healed, a faint smile appeared on Yang Le’s face. He then casually scattered the pulverized remnants of the White Lotus Heart onto the ground, sheathed his sword, and stepped forward.

*Hmph, this leg injury healed remarkably fast.*

Li Qi'er sighed as she shouldered her pack, then looked at Yang Le’s retreating back and hurried to catch up. A master chosen by oneself must be followed, no matter how much trouble lies ahead.

"As for the hounds of the Imperial Astrological Bureau, if they dare to come, I shall dare to kill them."

Yang Le cared nothing for the trouble Li Qi'er spoke of. Trouble was a constant... From the very first day he stepped onto the path of the Great Qian’s martial arts and took up his sword, Yang Le had never feared it.

Set off for Ci Prefecture.
Step onto the martial path.
...

"The only White Lotus Heart in the Cang and Ci regions has changed hands? The Grey Daoist is dead?"

"It matters not. The Grey Daoist was merely trash; the White Lotus Heart was wasted in his hands. I wonder who killed him."

"If they possess extraordinary talent, the White Lotus Heart may be taken. When the day comes to shatter the cage of this heaven and earth, I cannot do it alone. If they are a fool, I shall simply kill them."

"Beneath this vast, eternal sky, only the White Lotus can ascend to immortality!"

Cang Prefecture, Mingling Abyss.

Deep within a dark, secret cave, candles flickered with vibrant flames. A woman in a long white gown sat upon a lotus throne, a flicker of surprise crossing her delicate, enchanting features. But in the next second, she returned to stillness and plunged back into her cultivation.

Before her, a pale green lotus seed glowed with a brilliant, eye-catching luster. Beneath her lotus throne were eighty empty sockets.

"In a month, this Green Lotus Heart should be fully refined. Once I emerge, I shall have to hunt for the White Lotus Hearts scattered across Ci and Cang Prefectures."

The Green Lotus Heart before the woman rippled with energy, and she opened her eyes once more. Her Third-Grade cultivation was truly terrifying.
...

"Master, the city gate ahead is Ci Prefecture."

Qinghe County was not far from Ci Prefecture, barely over a hundred miles. Although Yang Le and Li Qi'er had not traveled at full speed, they arrived at the capital of Ci Prefecture in just three days. Li Qi'er pointed toward Linqing City.

"I finally understand why Qinghe County and even Cang Prefecture are called the savage lands."

Yang Le stood in front, gazing at Linqing City. It was worthy of being the capital of a prefecture; the outermost walls alone took Yang Le by surprise. The walls stood over ten zhang high and were a zhang wide—wide enough for horses to gallop side by side with room to spare. Every ten meters, a soldier stood guard with a spear, eyes sharp, clad in heavy armor, their aura of blood and battle bleeding into the surroundings. Each was clearly at the Eighth-Grade Bone-Forging Realm.

At the massive city gate, a squad of equally elite patrolling soldiers maintained order. The centurion leading them possessed Seventh-Grade cultivation, holding a circular bronze mirror to inspect those entering and exiting.

Looking further into Linqing City, the streets were bustling with traffic and merchants. Almost everyone seemed to be a Tenth-Grade quasi-martial artist, while Ninth and Eighth-Grade martial artists were visible everywhere. Though Seventh-Grade martial artists were rarer, Yang Le sensed several such auras even in the brief time he stood outside the city walls.

The people, the martial artists, the entire layout of the city—a hundred Qinghe Counties could not compare to a single corner of Linqing. The disparity was simply too vast.

"Qinghe County is merely a city the Great Qian could discard at will, while Linqing City is the lifeblood of the entire Ci Prefecture. They cannot be compared." Seeing the look on Yang Le’s face, Li Qi'er added, "To say nothing of comparing Qinghe to Linqing, even the entirety of Cang Prefecture cannot compare to this one city."

Linqing was the core of Ci Prefecture and the largest city on the border, prosperous in martial arts, where half-demon cultivation techniques could be found everywhere. The tax revenue contributed by Ci Prefecture accounted for nearly thirty percent of the Great Qian’s total. As for Cang Prefecture, to the Great Qian, it was nothing more than a giant prison for exiles and a strategic buffer zone against the Great Qi.

There was, quite simply... no comparison.

"Let's enter the city and find a quiet, elegant courtyard to settle in."

After taking in the sight of Linqing City, Yang Le did not waste any more time and led Li Qi'er toward the gates. His goal was simple: enter the city, find a quiet place to practice his sword techniques, bring the Nine Extremes of the Sword and the Azure Cloud Sword Manual to perfection, and incidentally teach Li Qi'er the fundamentals of the sword. Finally, he would rely on his "Entry System" to enhance his own martial cultivation.

After all... even though Linqing City was as prosperous as a raging fire, Yang Le felt a trace of unease in his heart. With the added trouble of the White Lotus Heart, he had to strengthen his cultivation quickly, or he feared he would be dragged to his death by this very burden.
...

"Master, the rent for this courtyard is reasonable, and the environment is pleasant. It is located in the north of Linqing City, surrounded mostly by martial practitioners who have come from other parts of the prefecture to make a living. We won't stand out too much. It’s an excellent place to settle down."

"Very well. You may arrange such matters as you see fit."

"Tomorrow, I shall buy a few maids and a steward to clean the courtyard, so that it may be more pleasing to your eyes, Master?"

"You had best ensure they only clean the courtyard."

Linqing City was large, and people from all over came and went, so finding a place to stay was effortless with money to lead the way. Moments after entering the city, Li Qi'er found a three-section courtyard that met Yang Le’s requirements—quiet, secluded, and situated in the north of the city, avoiding any ostentatious display that might draw unwanted attention.

Looking around, Yang Le nodded in satisfaction. He didn't mind Li Qi'er’s other arrangements; having someone handle these trivial matters was quite convenient. As for the maids and the steward—he had no objection to the steward, as the courtyard was large and filled with maple trees that required maintenance. But as for the maids... Yang Le did not yet need to indulge in such luxurious living.

If he were to crave comfort before he had truly mastered his sword, he would be not far from death.