Chapter 63 + 64: Ten, Tai, Gui

In the sky, a thin streak of light flashed, concealing itself within the village chief's hair. Unperturbed, the village chief descended from the air, stepping back into Disabled Old Village.

Meanwhile, a hundred miles outside of Jiangxia, the Surging River here took a sharp bend, winding around a mountain and carving through a gorge. The encroaching ice tide met an obstruction, piling higher and higher until it finally choked the river channel entirely.

"Wu Female, stop!"

The hundred-foot white bone centipede, carrying Qin Mu, twisted and turned through the air like a coiling dragon, its speed astonishing. Hearing his command, it alighted on the peak of the gorge's left bank, laughing coldly, "Stinky boy, why should I listen to you?"

Qin Mu leaped down from its back and asked in bewilderment, "I saved you from that trap. In return, you should help me break through this ice dam."

Wu Female's body rippled, transforming back into Xian Qing'er. With chains dragging, she hopped and danced around Qin Mu, circling him several times, the iron chains clanking loudly. Then, she poked her head from behind him to his front, giggling, "You helped me, so I must repay you? Have you forgotten? Last time, you harmed me so grievously, nearly letting that old bald donkey refine me to death! You even robbed me of my hidden treasures from all these years! I should eat you first!"

Qin Mu chuckled, "But you wouldn't dare."

Wu Female's neck suddenly stretched to several *zhang* in length, circling Qin Mu multiple times until they were almost face-to-face. Wu Female sneered, "I wouldn't dare? Now there's no old bald donkey to help you, how wouldn't I dare?"

"I live in Disabled Old Village. My home has nine adults, each of whom could easily kill you." Qin Mu smiled. "No matter how you change your face, no matter how far you flee, they can all easily find you, easily kill you, and easily make you regret being born in this world."

Wu Female shivered consecutively, her neck shortening and her form reverting to that of a childlike girl, cute as ice and snow. Shaking the golden rings and chains on her hands, she hopped and skipped, saying, "I fear your home's adults, but I'm not obligated to help you. The old bald donkey was right; you saved me, but I must go forth and do evil, eat people, and harm living beings! Why should I help you save people? I'm leaving—"

She turned to walk away, her chains clanking.

Qin Mu suddenly called out, "Wu Female, the Buddhist Gate speaks of 'laying down the butcher knife and instantly becoming a Buddha.' This saying is too superficial, lacking distinction between good and evil, and thus unreliable. However, if you help me level this barrier lake, you will save countless lives in Jiangxia. That would be a great merit for you, far exceeding that of that copper Buddha."

Wu Female stopped in her tracks, twisting her head to listen with curiosity.

Qin Mu continued, "Following me to save people will grant you a merit even greater than the one that suppressed you under that copper Buddha, a hundred times greater! The next time you encounter that copper Buddha, how could he still have the face to suppress you?"

Wu Female tilted her head, pondering for a moment, then burst into laughter. "You make a good point. I'll help you then. Heh heh, that old bald donkey is all false benevolence and righteousness. He made a big fuss about me eating people, suppressing me with righteous words, saying he wanted the waters of the Surging River to wash away my sins. I told him I don't differentiate between good and evil when I eat people; I'm just hungry and need a meal, just like you humans eat rice, chicken, or vegetables. You eat because you're hungry. That thieving bald monk called my reasoning crooked and evil, and suppressed me. He does good, so I deliberately ate people in his temple to deny him merit! However, if my merit surpasses his, let's see how he can still have the face to suppress me! Hmm, there's too much ice in this river channel. If my spirit soldier were still here, I could break through, but the thieving bald monk took all my spirit soldiers..."

*Zheng—*

Qin Mu urged his Shao Bao Sword, controlling it with his vital qi, and slashed towards the ice tide blocking the gorge. He cried out, "Wu Female, come assist me!"

"This sword that chopped off chains?" Wu Female's eyes brightened. She immediately revealed her true form, her hundred legs moving in unison. With a flip, she leaped down the mountain cliff. Qin Mu leaped after her, landing on her back. The hundred-foot white bone centipede flew through the air, its hundred legs moving in unison, its body winding, carrying Qin Mu straight towards the congested ice tide.

"Chop!" Qin Mu roared, slashing the Shao Bao Sword down at the ice tide. Simultaneously, Wu Female opened her mouth and spat out a terrifying demon vital energy, which surged madly into the Shao Bao Sword.

The Shao Bao Sword suddenly expanded, its length reaching a hundred *zhang*. It chopped down towards the ice tide!

The ice tide grew higher and higher, with floating ice continuously carried onto the ice dam by the surging river water, making the dam even taller. If this continued, it would surely become a catastrophe for the beings on both banks of the Surging River!

The Shao Bao Sword ripped through the air. Where its blade passed, the air was sliced open, forming two visible walls of air. Then, the hundred-*zhang* giant sword chopped down onto the ice dam, cutting through it as easily as tofu.

"Not good!" Wu Female's face changed drastically. Just as she was about to fly upward, it was too late. The ice dam, impacted by the surging river water, immediately collapsed, and countless crushed ice blocks were squeezed towards them by the surging river, engulfing them!

This scene was clearly a disaster from above.

Before the collapsed ice dam could even reach their bodies, a hurricane pressed them down from the air. Wu Female strained to fly, wanting to escape, but was already caught up by the collapsed ice dam and river water.

*Chi chi chi—*

Countless crushed ice blocks shot out randomly. Qin Mu's cheek suddenly stung, grazed by a crushed ice block that broke off a piece of his skin.

His vital qi was abundant, his defense extremely strong; he could be beaten by a violent ape without injury. But the speed of the ice blocks was too fast, actually injuring him. One could imagine how dangerous it would be if the ice dam were to press down on his body.

Wu Female carried him, fleeing madly. Large and small ice blocks and surging water waves whizzed past them. Then, the hurricane, together with the crushed ice and giant waves, slapped heavily onto their bodies, sending the man and the monster flying!

*Peng peng.*

Two muffled sounds echoed from the opposite mountain cliff, and crushed stones flew. Qin Mu and Wu Female were plastered onto the mountain cliff, embedded in the cliff face. One was stuck in the shape of the character "ten," and the other in a string of "gui" characters.

Then, a piercing sword whistle sound transmitted. Hearing the sword whistle, Qin Mu knew something was wrong. This sword whistle was clearly rushing towards him!

He hastily spread his legs, only to hear a "ding" sound. The Shao Bao Sword nearly embedded itself in his thigh.

*Hu—*

Qin Mu let out a long breath. Now he was in the shape of the character "tai," the Shao Bao Sword still half a *chi* from his body.

Beside him, the great monster panted and laughed. Qin Mu couldn't help but laugh either. The laughter of the man and the monster grew louder, echoing through the gorge.

Below them, the river water howled and galloped. A crisis had been resolved by this strange pair.

After a while, Qin Mu and Wu Female, who had changed back into Xian Qing'er, sat on the cliff, leaning back, their hands supporting the ground behind them. They looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, their hearts filled with peace.

"Who was that copper Buddha?" Qin Mu asked.

"From Small Thunder Sound Temple. He's a different kind of cultivator who achieved the Dao; like me, he's a monster." Wu Female shook the golden rings on her feet and said, "According to legend, the ancestor of Small Thunder Sound Temple originally joined the Buddhist Gate, becoming a disciple of Great Thunder Sound Temple. Later, he rebelled against Great Thunder Sound Temple and established Small Thunder Sound Temple, proclaiming himself Small Tathagata. It's said he was forced by the Tathagata of Great Thunder Sound Temple to have no foothold, which is why he entered the Great Ruins and moved Small Thunder Sound Temple here. Successive abbots of Small Thunder Sound Temple are all monsters like me, but they all claim to be Small Tathagata. The one who suppressed me in that ancient temple is the current Small Tathagata of Small Thunder Sound Temple. You chopped off his chains and released me. Heh heh, you're in for it!"

"Small Thunder Sound Temple? Small Tathagata?" Qin Mu was startled. "This Small Thunder Sound Temple is within the Great Ruins?"

"Naturally. It's not uncommon to see monster monks. The monks of Small Thunder Sound Temple are very stingy and always seek revenge. How much more so for their Small Tathagata?" Wu Female laughed heartily. "Given that old thieving bald monk's nature, he will definitely come looking for you to settle accounts!"

Suddenly, an angry shout rang out, sternly saying, "As a human, you actually keep company with man-eating monsters! Today, we, master and disciples, shall suppress demons and protect the Dao!"

Qin Mu looked and saw several Daoists walking towards them, both male and female. There was one old person and several young men and women. The old Daoist exuded a righteous aura, while the younger ones showed excitement, clearly robust individuals who had entered the Great Ruins from the outside world to temper themselves.

"Several Dao Masters, this monster and I have just resolved a crisis, leveling this barrier lake and saving countless lives downstream." Qin Mu stood up and said solemnly, "This monster has saved countless people; it is not—"

"Silence, you outcast!" The old Daoist, filled with righteousness, sternly said, "Colluding with a monster, acting as a tiger's accomplice, you deserve death even more! Today, we shall eliminate you all! Disciples, form the array, suppress demons and eliminate monsters!"

"I'm hungry," the little girl beside Qin Mu licked her red lips and said to him.

"Some people are not even as good as monsters." Qin Mu lost interest. He leaped down from the riverbank, falling into the Surging River below. His voice carried back, "Wu Female, I released you today; you are free!"

He fell into the river and treaded the waves, leaving.

From the gorge, a series of miserable screams transmitted. Wu Female revealed her true form and began a great slaughter. It wasn't long before the monster ate its fill, set off on a mad dash, and then soared upward, winding through the air until it entered the clouds and disappeared from sight.

"Herdboy, we shall meet again—" The monster cloud caught up to Qin Mu, and Wu Female's call echoed from within the cloud before it sped off into the distance.

As spring warmed the river, more than ten days had passed since Qin Mu and Wu Nu had broken the ice dam. Along the riverbank, green willows provided shade, birds chirped amid the flowers, and there were no traces of ice floes left.

In the middle of the river, Qin Mu suddenly halted his run, yet his body did not sink into the water. Instead, he stood on the surface, ripples bursting from beneath his feet and spreading outward in a mesmerizing pattern.

He was using Xuanwu Yuanqi to control the water, allowing him to stand effortlessly as if on solid ground.

Having mastered the secrets of controlling water with Xuanwu Yuanqi, he wielded it with ease.

Whoosh—

The sound of a sword cutting through the air echoed as Qin Mu pointed his finger like a sword in the river's heart, executing strikes, upward flicks, horizontal sweeps, and downward chops. His body and sword moved in unison, performing only the simplest of motions.

In recent days, under the village chief's guidance, he had learned the most basic sword techniques beyond thrusting, including chopping, flicking, hooking, circling, pointing, snapping, blocking, slicing, and sweeping.

Yet the village chief had not taught him any complete sword forms, only instructing him to practice these basic movements repeatedly, day after day.

On the riverbank, the blind man stood motionless with his walking stick, like a statue.

After parting from Wu Nu in the valley, Qin Mu returned to the village and told the villagers about releasing her, mentioning Xiao Leiyin Temple. From then on, Ma Ye and the others forbade him from leaving the village alone; he had to be accompanied by a villager if he went out.

On the river, the wind grew louder with each of Qin Mu's sword strikes, the basic techniques taught by the village chief exploding with astonishing power in his hands.

As he practiced repeatedly, the waves in the river grew larger and more turbulent. Each thrust split the surface for over ten zhang, plunging more than a zhang deep, keeping large fish and river beasts at bay.

When Qin Mu flicked his sword upward, the water shot skyward like a downpour of raindrops. With a sweeping flick, it transformed into a slanting water dragon rushing out.

Even though he was only using basic qi-guided swordplay, in his hands, it was terrifyingly powerful.

He had practiced these foundational movements for over two years, mastering them completely, yet the village chief still refused to teach him any full techniques.

Suddenly, the blind man's ears twitched, and he called out,

"Mu Er, stop! A ship is coming."

Qin Mu sheathed his Shaobao Jian in the sword pouch on his back and looked upriver, spotting a large ship drifting downstream. He recognized it as the same ship that had been mapping the geography of Yongjiang River.

The ship was returning from upstream, likely having completed its survey of the river's waterways.

He stepped aside to avoid the ship's path.

The ship sped downstream with the current and soon approached him. A voice from the deck exclaimed,

"What fine skill to stand unmoving on the river—impressive technique and profound yuanqi."

Qin Mu turned toward the voice and saw General Qin Feiyue standing at the bow, accompanied by a plump-faced youth holding a folding fan, who was gazing at him.

"Xuanwu Xuanbing!"

Qin Mu's heart tightened as he spotted a massive block of Xuanwu Xuanbing inside the ship. Suspended within it was a dragon pearl, grasped by a hand.

He could only see that much, as the rest below the ice was blocked by the ship's side, but he knew exactly where this Xuanbing and the hand had come from.

Clearly, during their mapping of Yongjiang River's geography, General Qin Feiyue's group had discovered the underwater Dragon Palace, ventured there, and found Gu Li Nuan and the young dragon sealed by the dragon pearl.

At that moment, the young dragon was probably also trapped in the Xuanbing. It seemed General Qin Feiyue had not slain the Dragon Mother's soul but had kept it intact to preserve the ice. His goal was likely the young dragon—if the Xuanbing melted, it would die. He must be planning to transport it to Yiankang Kingdom for experts to heal, which is why he hadn't rescued Gu Li Nuan.

"It's that boy who stood on the mountaintop with the magic ape."

The plump-faced youth said in surprise,

"I didn't expect his yuanqi to be so abundant—stronger than mine."

Suddenly, a voice came from within the ice,

"I sense my Shaobao Jian! General Qin Feiyue, stop the ship! My Shaobao Jian is nearby, and that deceitful brat is too!"

The ship halted, and General Qin Feiyue fixed his gaze on Qin Mu, saying,

"You tricked the crown prince's Shaobao Jian from him?"

Qin Mu replied,

"He wanted to eat me, so I tricked his sword away. Since you've pulled him out of the Dragon Palace, could you get the sword sheath too? That way, it'd be a complete set."

Qin Feiyue's eyes flickered as he said,

"Give it to you? That's a court sword; it is impossible. Please return the Shaobao Jian to the court."

Qin Mu shook his head, puzzled,

"I won it fair and square—why should I return it?"

The plump-faced youth, who was Qi Gongzi, chuckled and said,

"This boy has such an amusing way of speaking."

Qin Feiyue snorted coldly and said coolly,

"Deceiving a court official and seizing his treasure—what a grave crime that is. Do you know the consequences?"

Qin Mu said, uncomprehending,

"In the Great Ruins, there is no court. It's a lawless place—who can judge me?"

Qin Feiyue replied,

"You seem so confident; you must have some backing."

He looked toward the riverbank, his pupils contracting as he said gravely,

"I am Qin Feiyue, disciple of the Yiankang Guoshi and a fourth-rank Zhongwu General of Yiankang Kingdom. May I ask how to address the senior on the bank?"

The blind man leaned on his bamboo staff and said with a smile,

"I'm just a blind man—what else is there to call me? An old cripple, that's all."

Qin Feiyue's face darkened as he scanned the surroundings and glanced at Canlao Village, smiling faintly,

"Three years ago, Mu Beifeng, the governor of Yiankang's Southern Border Wumiao Prefecture, led experts from Lijiang Sword Sect into the Great Ruins, supposedly for revenge. Later, their bodies were found in the river. I examined them myself—Mu Beifeng and the others were killed by a spear, but the weapon used wasn't a spear; it was a bamboo staff. And you, senior, also use a bamboo staff?"

The blind man, still smiling, said,

"A blind man has to use a bamboo staff—what else? It's for finding my way so I don't trip over rocks."

Qin Feiyue, detecting the underlying meaning in his words, grew more certain of his suspicions and sneered,

"Senior, Mu Beifeng must have died nearby, right? Did you see anything at the time?"

The blind man said wistfully,

"I'm blind—what could I have seen? You're joking, young general. I've heard of Mu Beifeng, and it's tragic he met such a fate. It pains my heart... The apes' cries echo endlessly along the banks, forever bringing tears to heroes' eyes! How heartbreaking, how lamentable!"

As he spoke, he lifted his bamboo staff and tapped the river surface.

The entire Yongjiang River surged violently, its waves rising over ten zhang high on both banks, crashing like thunder, making even the large ship rock unsteadily as the soldiers on board staggered and struggled to keep their footing.

Beneath the surface, the water suddenly parted, revealing the massive spine of a giant beast, dark and vast, like a small island emerging in the river.

The Yongjiang trembled, flinging the beast out of the water and into the air before it crashed back down with a boom.

Qin Mu immediately noticed the beast was chained, the other end of the chain attached to the ship, which explained the vessel's swift speed.

Strangely, while the rest of the river churned wildly, the water under Qin Mu's feet remained perfectly calm.

Qi Gongzi quickly grabbed the ship's rail to avoid falling overboard and called out,

"Old senior, it's 'Before achieving his mission, his body perished, forever bringing tears to heroes' eyes'! You got the line wrong."

Qin Mu couldn't help but add,

"This young master, he means that if you all died here, it would be 'before achieving your mission, your bodies perished.' But since you're still alive and just shouting, it's the apes' cries echoing. If you keep pressing the issue, you'll end up perishing first. The blind grandpa is actually quite learned, you know."

The blind man beamed with pride and chuckled,

"Still, Mu Er understands me. If it were those lame or deaf fools, they'd just mock my sentimentality."

Qin Feiyue's eye twitched; the blind man's strength was far beyond what he had anticipated. That tap on the river was just a light one—if it had been a full strike, the entire river might have been upheaved!

Gu Li Nuan in the Xuanbing fell silent, evidently realizing from the blind man's staff tap that he was not to be trifled with, and pursuing the sword could cost him his life.

"Leave the Shaobao Jian here for now. We're leaving—set sail!"

Qin Feiyue ordered, and a soldier immediately blew a deep, resonant horn. The giant beast underwater responded, stirring up massive waves and lifting the river like a watery mountain, propelling the ship roaring downstream.

"General Qin, weren't you asking that blind man about Mu Beifeng's killer? Why leave without getting an answer?"

Several palace maids surrounded Qi Gongzi as he poked his head out from among them, asking curiously.

Qi Gongzi said,

"Young master, I already have the answer."

General Qin sneered,

"Mu Beifeng died at that blind man's hand. The once-great Gun God has become a blind recluse in that tiny village! And if he's hiding there, what other terrifying figures might be with him? I can't handle this village alone—I'll need to request reinforcements!"

His armor rattled as he spoke, his eyes gleaming like clashing blades,

"Under heaven, all land is the king's domain; along all shores, all are the king's subjects! The Great Ruins is also court territory, not some lawless realm! Mu Beifeng was a court official—how can he die at the hands of commoners? That village must be pacified, eradicated, to uphold our nation's might, our guoshi's authority, and bring the emperor's majesty to the Great Ruins!"

"What grand ambitions."

A voice suddenly sounded, sending a chill down General Qin's spine. He turned with difficulty to see a lame man leaning casually against the ship's rail, wearing a simple, guileless smile.

Qin Feiyue's eye twitched violently; the lame man's figure had vanished and reappeared behind him in an instant, too fast for him to track!

Now back-to-back with him, Qin Feiyue's hand gripped his sword hilt at his waist, but he dared not move a muscle.

The lame man said,

"Do you think the guoshi knows about your big mouth?"

He bent down to examine the maps of Yongjiang River on the ship and laughed,

"The guoshi sent you to map Yongjiang—planning to wage war on the Great Ruins? Tsk tsk, that little dragon is so pitiful. Hmm? Gu Li Nuan, why the sour face? I'll take your sword sheath. That banner of yours is nice too—I'll have it... And you, young man, your jade is good, and that fan too... Ugh, wait, you're a girl—bad luck!"

Qin Feiyue seized a brief opening and spun around, drawing his sword in a flash, but the lame man had already vanished!

The lame man's laughter echoed from dozens of li away,

"Tell the guoshi to keep my leg safe—don't lose it. I'll come for it myself!"