Speaking of this matter, Tianjizi’s expression turned solemn. “Yesterday afternoon, while meditating in the Great Hall, I suddenly felt a wave of sinister chill. Upon focusing my senses, I detected a strange and malevolent energy within the Tianyun Sect boundaries. Although I sent disciples down to investigate, the energy appeared and vanished almost instantly.”
“I tossed and turned last night, unable to sleep, so I came down to patrol today to see if that evil presence was still lurking nearby. Upon arriving in the city, I heard from traveling merchants that there were anomalies in the canal. I came to observe and indeed detected a monster in the river.”
Chen Ji nodded understandingly. He thought to himself that the malevolent energy Tianjizi sensed yesterday was likely caused by the Thousand Infant Coffin. However, since he and Liu Jingyun had discovered and promptly burned it, the energy stopped spreading immediately. That explained why it had appeared and vanished so quickly.
Since Chen Ji considered the Thousand Infant Coffin a secret shared only with Liu Jingyun, he had no intention of telling Tianjizi the truth about what had happened. Watching the busy Tianyun Sect disciples, he said, “Since Sect Leader Shibo has business to attend to, Jingyun and I will not disturb you further.”
“Wait a moment. Let Jingyun deal with the water monster in this canal,” Tianjizi called out to stop them. “Jingyun has been with the Tianyun Sect for several years. I have seen your cultivation grow more profound by the day, yet I have never witnessed you slaying a monster. Today, I will test your skills.”
Liu Jingyun did not answer. Instead, he looked at Chen Ji.
“With Sect Leader Shibo here, there is nothing to fear,” Chen Ji encouraged him. “If you cannot handle it, Sect Leader Shibo will back you up. Do not be afraid.”
“Okay,” Liu Jingyun nodded.
“Master!” Jiang Cichao arrived on his flying sword and bowed respectfully before Tianjizi. “Master, my fellow disciples and I have trapped the water monster in the river within a boundary. It is right over there!”
Jiang Cichao pointed to a spot not far away in the river. Several Tianyun Sect disciples stood atop the water on their flying swords, with golden threads from their blades plunging deep beneath the surface.
Tianjizi nodded slightly and said to Liu Jingyun, “Jingyun, go.”
“Yes,” Liu Jingyun replied.
He cupped his fists and walked to the bow of the ship. Jiang Cichao quietly approached Chen Ji and asked, “A-Ji, why are you here?”
“Just wandering around. I saw the commotion and came to take a look. I did not expect Sect Leader Shibo to be here,” Chen Ji replied, lying to Jiang Cichao for the sake of his pride.
“A-Ji, once the water monster is dealt with, I can do something else. Would you like to go and have some fun with me today?”
Just as Chen Ji was about to speak, he felt a powerful sense of pressure radiating from Liu Jingyun’s direction. He turned his head to look.
Liu Jingyun had already drawn his sword. The sharp blade emitted a faint blue light under the sun, which grew more intense by the second. Liu Jingyun’s sword, Yangyi, was crafted from blue ironstone found in an extremely cold lake. It contained immense spiritual power. When swung, the blue light on the blade resembled ripples on the surface of water, beautiful yet full of mystery.
During their peaceful days on Emerald Bamboo Peak, Liu Jingyun had never revealed Yangyi’s true form. For his first hunt, he stood at the bow of the ship, the strong wind making his sleeves snap loudly. His eyes were cold and devoid of emotion as he watched the water monster trapped by the array. Once enough spiritual energy had coiled around his long sword, he gripped the blade with one hand and slashed forward.
The deep blue sword energy instantly sliced through the water, kicking up massive waves. For a moment, the river was actually split in two, revealing the true face of the water monster. It was a dragon that had cultivated for a hundred years. Under Liu Jingyun’s sword energy, it had nowhere to hide and was cleanly sliced in half.
Seeing that the monster was dealt with, Liu Jingyun sheathed his sword and walked back expressionlessly.
“Sect Leader Shibo, the water monster has been eliminated,” he said respectfully.
Tianjizi nodded in appreciation. “Well done! To handle your first hunt so cleanly and decisively is impressive. I have nothing specific to reward you with, so I can only give you this.”
He pulled a pouch of silver from his sleeve and pressed it into Liu Jingyun’s hand. Liu Jingyun accepted it without hesitation. “Thank you, Sect Leader Shibo.”
“Alright, the monster in the river is dealt with. Everyone may continue sailing safely. I shall head back now,” Tianjizi announced to the crowd.
The onlookers bowed respectfully as they watched Tianjizi depart. Chen Ji stared at the money bag in Liu Jingyun’s hand, wondering if the Sect Leader had any concept of money at all. How could he pull out a pouch full of silver pieces anytime and anywhere?
Then, he realized that Tianjizi had given the money to Liu Jingyun in front of the other disciples. He wondered what they thought, so he peeked at the disciples who remained to continue their patrol. He saw that they were all looking at Liu Jingyun with astonishment. They had never known that Liu Jingyun was this powerful. Emerald Bamboo Peak only had three inner disciples. Without Haiyangzi around, the peak never participated in the sect competitions or drills. Everyone knew about Chen Ji’s lack of talent, but they knew nothing about Liu Jingyun’s strength. To easily split the river surface in two, even if only for a brief moment, showed that he was incredibly strong.
“A-Ji, the money,” Liu Jingyun said.
Facing the crowd’s surprise, Liu Jingyun remained indifferent to both honor and disgrace. He handed all the newly earned silver to Chen Ji. Feeling the weight of the pouch, Chen Ji thought to himself that Qiu Lingzhou’s house was now secured.
Keen to get the house built as soon as possible, he turned to Jiang Cichao and said, “Senior Brother Cichao, I have other things to attend to. Let us hang out another time.”
“Alright,” Jiang Cichao replied softly.
Chen Ji and Liu Jingyun left together. Liu Jingyun took Chen Ji’s hand, a hint of provocation in his indifferent eyes. Jiang Cichao could not hide the anger in his heart, clenching his fists tightly.
“Liu Jingyun is actually that strong?” one disciple whispered.
“Yeah, to split the water with one strike, that is something only an elder should be able to do, right?”
“When he released his spiritual power just now, my jaw dropped. I only just closed it!”
“Elder Haiyangzi’s disciples are not all useless after all.”
The disciples discussed in hushed tones as they watched Chen Ji and Liu Jingyun disappear into the crowd.
Chen Ji took the silver Liu Jingyun had earned to a lumber shop and ordered enough wood for a bedroom, promptly handing the money to the shopkeeper. Tianjizi was truly generous; even after paying for the wood, a significant amount of silver remained. Chen Ji took five taels for himself and tried to return the rest to Liu Jingyun.
“A-Ji does not want it?”
“It is the money you earned. I cannot take it all. Keep this for your travel expenses when you go out to experience the world.”
“I do not want it.” Liu Jingyun pushed the pouch back to Chen Ji. “I earned it for you. I do not want it.”
“I am telling you it is for your travel expenses! Liu Jingyun, you are already qualified to go out and experience the world. There is no need for you to stay with me on Emerald Bamboo Peak.”
Chen Ji thought about the opportunities Liu Jingyun was destined to find on his travels. If he did not go out, what would happen to those opportunities?
“Why won’t A-Ji go with me?”
“I have to stay with Zhimu. He is still young and needs someone to supervise his cultivation.” Chen Ji was actually looking forward to Liu Jingyun and Qiu Lingzhou going out to find their destinies. Once they left, he would never have to worry about the houses being torn down again.
“If A-Ji does not go, I will not go either,” Liu Jingyun said. “I do not need to travel for experience. I am already very strong.”