Walking in the city market of Fengzhou, all kinds of demons and monsters are casting glances at me and Mo Qing.
At first, I thought it was Mo Qing, the master of Wanlu Gate, who was too eye-catching, but it turned out that it was the *Tianyi Sword I was holding that caught their attention. However, thinking about it, Mo Qing, dressed in plain black robes, with his cultivation already at the Return to Innocence realm, from the outside, you would never know what kind of person he is.
Moreover, from what I had learned recently, since Mo Qing took over Wanlu Gate, he rarely left Chenji Mountain, so apart from the high-level people of Wanlu Gate, I'm afraid few people know what he looks like.
It's different with this *sword, held in my hand, it made a crackling sound all the way, flashing non-stop. It's about to scream to everyone, "Look at me, look at me, I am the Heavenly Sword*!"...
I really like being so ostentatious.
I walked with my head held high, feeling very proud.
Actually, flaunting one's wealth in Fengzhou City is a very dangerous thing, because it's not certain, a hand might come out in the dark and take away what rightfully belongs to you. I used to not be afraid at all, strutting around Fengzhou City, sending eight people in front to clear the way for me, inviting eight people in the middle to carry my sedan chair, and asking eight people in the back to yell at me, so that everyone could see me clearly and lower their bodies, because I was flaunting my way.
Even though it's not like before, my status is different now, the ostentation is not like before, there's inevitably a bit of frustration and loss in my heart, but I'm still not afraid at all, because the person next to me is still the master of Wanlu Gate. Bullying them is still absolutely possible.
"Master, where are we going to buy the scabbard?" I asked Mo Qing.
Mo Qing glanced at the front alley and said, "We are almost there."
Walking into the alley, away from the hustle and bustle and prying eyes, Mo Qing lightly knocked on a door three times. Soon, someone from inside opened the door. Inside was a small courtyard similar to an ordinary household, but the person who opened the door was not like an ordinary person.
I looked at this "person" at the door with great interest, and looked up and down: "Quite an agile wooden person."
It was made up of large and small blocks of wood all over, like a stringless puppet, and it opened its mouth and bowed to both me and Mo Qing: "Hello, whom are you looking for?"
I had known before I died that there were people in the martial arts world who practiced mechanical arts, but at that time, no one could make such things. I didn't expect that in just a few years, those who practiced mechanical arts have made such great strides.
"Sima Rong, tell him that Li Chenlan has come."
Upon hearing this name, I couldn't help but startle: "Huh?" Who did he just mention?
Mo Qing turned to look at me, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said, "What? Do you know him?"
I suppressed my doubts and cleared my throat, "I don't know him."
How could I not know him! Si Ma Rong is my chief in the West Mountain! He oversees the information network of my Wanlumen! Whenever I wanted to know the news, as long as I asked Si Ma Rong, I could find out whenever I wanted.
He's my great general! He's literally my right-hand man!
How could this kid have sent Si Ma Rong to Fengzhou City? Although it's an evil city, it's still quite far from Chenjishan. Has he exiled my West Mountain chief?
The wooden man entered the room, and soon after, Si Ma Rong emerged from the room. What surprised me was that he was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed out by the wooden man.
"How come Chen Lan has the time to visit?"
Huh, what, they're still on such intimate terms?
When did you two become so close? Why didn't I know about this?
"Come and make a scabbard for your sword." Mo Qing took the sword from me and handed it to Si Ma Rong.
I couldn't help but be puzzled again. What's going on? Is my West Mountain chief no longer involved in the information network? Has he switched to mechanical arts? Is he starting to work as a blacksmith? Right here in this courtyard? Is he selling anything else? Is he selling to outsiders? And how did his leg get broken? And...
If it was broken by someone, did you help him retaliate, you bunch of clowns?
My right-hand man had his leg broken!
That's like having a finger broken for me!
The West Mountain chief having a broken leg, which cannot be healed by Gu Han Guang, this is no longer just about someone being injured. This is about my Wanlumen being bullied! Clowns, if I find out you didn't handle this properly, I'll break your leg sooner or later too!
"Tianyi Sword?"
Si Ma Rong took the sword, and the light of the sword reflected in his eyes, showing a bit of a shining meaning. He carefully examined it, and praised, "Indeed, it is the legendary Tian Sword, exuding a strong sword aura and carrying a hint of killing intent." It seemed like Si Ma Rong recalled something and smiled faintly, "I remember, the boastful used to mention this sword before, but he found the journey to the Immortal Island too far and obtaining the sword too time-consuming, so he never succeeded. But now, you can obtain this sword and keep it in Wanlumen, which could be considered as fulfilling her wish."
It's not considered, it's actually fulfilling my wish. Because this sword has now fallen into my hands.
I can't believe my West Mountain chief still remembers me mentioning such things.
Thinking to myself, my West Mountain chief is the most gentle person. The first time I met him, his family had fallen on hard times.
A small fairy gate, completely wiped out by their enemies. He barely managed to escape and was living among refugees. I happened to pass by and saw his potential, so I gave him food and took him under the Wanlumen. I pointed him to a teacher to teach him the art.
And then, not long after, the teacher I pointed him to died, and he traveled far and wide on his own.
I still remember, when he was still a young man, he knelt in front of the No Evil Hall, bowed to me, and solemnly said, "Master, Si Ma Rong has no real skills now and cannot serve the master, failing to repay the master's kindness. I earnestly request the master's permission to go out and practice. When I return after learning, I'll serve the master with all my heart!"
His voice was somewhat nervous in his youth, and it still echoes in my ear today.
I granted his wish, allowing him to gain experience outside. Over the years, I often received news from the outside, saying how many new friends he had made and how much he had grown in the world.
One day, this young man returned to the Wan Lumen, but he had already become a young man, with a handsome figure and a gentle temperament. He could converse with me confidently at the Wuying Hall.
He was no longer the youthful boy, but what remained unchanged was his loyal heart.
When Sima Rong returned to the mountain, he brought back the intelligence network that he had established abroad. Although it was not perfect at the time, the Wan Lumen was able to "know everything in the world in one day" later on, all thanks to this intelligence network's slow growth.
As Sima Rong had said, he truly dedicated himself to the Wan Lumen, and he was truly sincere toward me. Faced with such a good disciple, I repaid him with the greatest treatment I could give. I bestowed upon him the position of the Western Mountain Master. As his intelligence was sharp but his cultivation was not high, I sent the Anluo guard to protect him personally.
Until my death, Sima Rong never disappointed me, and I never let him down.
It is not an exaggeration to say that he was my closest right-hand man.
However, now...
Even though the Western Mountain Master seems to express much nostalgia towards me, why is he... so close to Moqing?
Doesn't he know that I was killed by Moqing?
I stared at him unhappily. I continued to stare until Sima Rong finally took his gaze from Moqing's face and glanced at me, "This person is?"
"My disciple," Moqing answered, "the name "Jian" was given to her."
"Ah," Sima Rong responded lightly, then looked down at the sword in his hand, "Yes, that's right. A good sword like this would be a waste to leave unused." He muttered to himself, then fell silent for a moment, and only then looked up at Moqing and said with a smile, "Come in and sit. Tell me, what kind of scabbard do you want?"
Passing through the small courtyard and entering the house, I saw that the house had two floors with no stairs, just sloping ramps for wheelchairs. Several wooden figures were busy up and down in the house, all minding their own business.
There were also some wooden birds and horses placed in the corner.
It was a whole wooden Dream of the Red Chamber...
I don't remember the Western Mountain Master having such a hobby before.
Looking around the room, my gaze suddenly stopped in the middle of the hall. There was a square desk with a wooden model of the Wu'e Temple on it. The model was exquisite, made with delicate pieces of wood that must have taken a lot of effort to assemble.
Seeing me staring blankly at the model, Sima Rong said, "I built it to pass the time and to console my longing."
He said to console his longing... that means he wants to return to Chenji Mountain. But he wants to go back and hasn't done so yet...
It must be Moqing, that odd jester who exiled him here! It must be that the Western Mountain Master thought of me but didn't want him to handle things, so Moqing targeted him! Now, he has captured the Northern Mountain Master, exiled the Western Mountain Master, and left me, Gu Hang, who he can't stand, to roam around Chenji Mountain every day.
This odd jester! He's very cunning!
I glared sinisterly at the back of Moqing's head.
At the right moment, Moqing took the teacup handed to him by a wooden figure. In a daze, his fingers trembled slightly. I was afraid that he would notice my uncontrollable anger, so I turned to look at something else. I listened as Moqing said to Sima Rong behind my back, "If you miss Chenji Mountain, you can go back. The position of the Western Mountain Master has always been reserved for you."
Moqing allowed him to return? My ears perked up.
Sima Rong chuckled, "No, even though I miss it, what I can't leave behind is here."
What? Is it my West Mountain Lord who doesn't want to return to Chen Ji Mountain by himself? I turned my head and looked at Sima Rong.
"Moreover, I was at Chen Ji Mountain to repay Zhaoyao's favor. Since she's gone, there's no need for me to stay there. You've also managed Wanlu gate very well. There are rumors in the martial arts world that Chen Lan will soon become the Lord of Wanlu gate. My crippled body is not suitable for moving around, and... I don't know when my time will come. When the time comes for the grand court of the king, I'm afraid I won't be able to attend. So let me congratulate you in advance."
Mo Qing didn't respond.
Sima Rong didn't mind and picked up the sword to examine it. "Let's talk about it. What kind of scabbard do you plan to make? I've been making mechanisms for several years, and I'm sure the scabbard won't disappoint you."
Sima Rong, you won't disappoint me with the scabbard, but as the West Mountain Lord, why are you disappointing me like this!
I'm leaving, are you giving up on everything?
Why are you so lacking in ambition, child!
Based on my care and protection for you in the past, based on your prestige and reputation in Wanlu gate, have you never thought of seizing power yourself? Stab Mo Qing and become the king yourself!
After following me for so many years, how can you lack such ambition? Look at someone like Jiang Wu, an outsider, who can strive for the position of Lord, even more than you!