TN: Hey everyone. I’ve spent the last few days doing some light editing on earlier chapters. Almost finished. From now on, expect new chapters more often. Thanks for reading.
In the vast Yunmeng Prefecture, rivers and lakes are scattered like stars across the sky. Boats can be seen drifting everywhere, and in the distance, mountains and waters blended together in a picturesque scene. After Su Baiyi, Nangong Xi’er, and the Sword Immortal Jimo Huaxue came ashore, they soon boarded a small boat. According to Nangong Xi’er, by taking this boat, they could reach the Moran Manor by the Luoze River. This manor was the residence of Mo Bai, a former disciple of the Academy, and it also served as a gathering point for Academy members arriving in Yunmeng Prefecture. If Feng Zuojun and Xie Yuling had arrived, they would surely head to the Moran Manor first.
“Yunmeng Prefecture…is it really this beautiful?” Su Baiyi stood on the boat, brimming with excitement, looking around in awe at the magnificent scenery of Yunmeng before him.
“This is the northern part of Yunmeng Prefecture, where the water and sky merge into one. It is indeed incredibly beautiful. However, the southern part of Yunmeng Prefecture presents a different scene.” Jimo Huaxue seemed quite familiar with the scenery, speaking in a calm tone. “South of Yunmeng lies the Yunhuang. The air there is thick with moisture, and snakes, insects, rats, and ants run rampant. People who live there rarely live past forty.”
“Then why don’t they move north?” Su Baiyi asked.
Jimo Huaxue smiled. “You truly are still a child.”
Nangong Xi’er, who had been silently meditating at the bow of the boat to regulate her energy, sighed upon hearing this, “How can the people here allow them to go north?.”
Su Baiyi, recalling the past events Nangong Xi’er had once told him, suddenly understood and quickly changed the subject, “Oh, right! I almost forgot to thank City Lord of Jimo for saving our lives!”
“There’s no need to thank me. I didn’t save you, I saved her.” Jimo Huaxue looked at Nangong Xi’er. “I’m her second sister-in-law, so saving her is only natural.”
“Second sister-in-law?” Su Baiyi was stunned.
Nangong Xi’er gave a wry smile. “City Lord of Jimo, I haven’t seen my second senior brother since he left the mountain. As for the matters between you and him…”
“Back then, your second senior brother descended the mountain with his sword, defeating master swordsmen everywhere with his Everlasting Flowing Sword Technique, quickly making a name for himself in the martial world. At that time, I had already inherited my father’s position as the City Lord of Jimo, overseeing the entire city. Normally, with a self-proclaimed peerless swordsman in the martial world, our Jimo City should have sent someone to meet him, but I’m naturally lazy and didn’t bother. However, not long after, he came to find me himself.” Jimo Huaxue gazed ahead, a nostalgic look in her eyes. “In my entire life, I had never met such a man…”
“Nan Yulou, the second disciple of the Academy, has come to challenge the Azure Moon Sword Immortal, Jimo Jingzhu!” The man in the green robe stood beneath the city gate, holding his sword in his right hand and his left hand clasped behind his back, shouting loudly.
No one responded. A few swordsmen on the city wall whispered amongst themselves, but no one went down to open the city gate for him.
“Nan Yulou, the second disciple of the Academy, has come to challenge the Azure Moon Sword Immortal, Jimo Jingzhu!”
“You’re so noisy.” A woman dressed in red finally appeared atop the city wall, looking impatiently at the swordsman below.
“I request that City Lord of Jimo come out for a meeting.” The young man in green called out loudly.
The woman in red looked down at the young man in green. He seemed refined and elegant, and his sword intent was impressive, but why was he so slow-witted? She teased him deliberately, “You’ve come to the wrong place. Take your sword and go three miles outside the city to the Sword Tomb. After entering, climb thirty steps, then turn left, and you’ll see Jimo Jingzhu. Go there and ask all the questions you want!”
The young man in green suddenly understood and nodded. “Thank you for your directions, miss. I’ll come back and thank you properly after I’ve finished my duel.”
The woman in red was stunned as she watched the man in green turn and leave. She patted her forehead and said, “He really is an idiot…”
A day later, the young man in green returned to Jimo City and once again knocked on the gate with his sword, declaring, “Nan Yulou, the second disciple of the Academy, requests an audience with City Lord of Jimo.”
The young woman in red once again appeared on the city wall, looking at the man curiously, “Why are you back?”
The man in green smiled somewhat shyly. “Miss, I have been devoted to the way of the sword for many years and know little about the outside world. I did not realize that Senior Jingzhu had passed away three years ago. I am truly ashamed and apologize for any offense I caused yesterday. Please forgive me.”
“Then what brings you here today?” the woman in red asked him.
“I would like to meet the descendants of Senior Jimo Jingzhu,” the young man in green replied.
The woman in red wondered, “Why do you want to meet his descendants?”
The young man in green cleared his throat and replied, “I saw the few words engraved on the tombstone, and it carried an unparalleled, exquisite sword intent. I thought that someone who could leave behind such sword intent must also be a person of extraordinary beauty. Curiosity got the better of me, and I thought, since I’m already here, why not meet them before I leave…”
The woman in red grew slightly annoyed. “I am Jimo Huaxue, the daughter of Jimo Jingzhu and the current City Lord of Jimo. We’ve met twice now, yet you couldn’t guess that I was the one who left those words. What’s the matter? Do you think I don’t live up to your imagination of extraordinary beauty?”
The young man in green hurriedly shook his head. “No, no, that’s not it. So you are City Lord of Jimo! My apologies, my apologies. You were standing too high, and in my youth, I was forced by my teacher to read day and night, so my eyesight isn’t particularly good. These past couple of days, you’ve appeared to me as just a ball of fire… um… bright and fiery.”
“Idiot.” Jimo Huaxue turned to leave, not wanting to bother with this person any longer. However, after taking two steps, she felt a pang of frustration, turned around, and leapt down, landing in front of the man in the green. Straightening up, she glared at him and demanded, “Can you see clearly now?”
“I… I see clearly now.” The young man in green stammered at first, but then his excitement burst forth. “I see clearly now!”
“Am I beautiful or not?” Jimo Huaxue asked, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
“Beautiful! Beautiful!” The young man in green exclaimed loudly. “Breathtakingly beautiful! Stunningly gorgeous! Causing fish to sink and birds to fall! Like ten thousand trees in full bloom!”
“What was your name again?” Jimo Huaxue smiled gently.
The young man in green bowed his head. “My name is Nan Yulou. I come from Shili Langdang Mountains in Qiantang City, and I am the second disciple of the Confucian Sage.”
“Good. Watch my sword!” Jimo Huaxue’s expression changed, and she swiftly drew her sword.
Upon hearing this part of the story, Nangong Xi’er couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “I never thought Senior Brother had such an experience. He’s always so serious when lecturing the other senior brothers, yet it seems he becomes flustered and infatuated when faced with a beauty.”
“Flustered and infatuated, you say?” Jimo Huaxue touched the hilt of her sword. “When he draws his sword, his fierce determination shows not the slightest hint of being flustered or infatuated.”