Longevity Candle

Chapter 12 Jianghu
The father and daughter left Baiyun Town and arrived at the Xiaohe Ferry.

Xiahe Town is located on a tributary of the Qingjiang River.

By boat, it only takes half a month to travel downstream to Qingjiang City.

Ayan wanted to visit Qingjiang City, since Bai Qiuyun came from there; perhaps there was something extraordinary there.

Zhang Wanren's nose was as sharp as ever, and he found his way by following the scent.

"Brother Gu, Miss Ayan, why didn't you say hello when you arrived in Xiahe Town?" Zhang Wanren asked, cupping his hands in greeting.

He admired the father and daughter very much and wanted to cultivate a good relationship with them.

A martial arts master who can wield a three-foot-long sword is one of the very few in the world.

“Brother Zhang, my daughter and I are just passing by, so it wouldn’t be right to bother you,” Gu Qianshan replied with a smile.

Ayan simply nodded. She could see what Zhang Wanren was thinking, but she didn't point it out.

"Just passing by? Where are you two headed?" Zhang Wanren asked, puzzled.

"Let's go back to our ancestral homeland for a visit," Gu Qianshan said. "During the war years ago, our ancestors migrated here. Now that they're older, they always think about their roots."

Zhang Wanren was quite emotional, but he no longer had the same enthusiasm as before: "Fallen leaves return to their roots. Alas, I'm getting old. I used to be away from home, but now I often miss home."

"Sir, it's time to go," the boatman called out.

"I'm here," Gu Qianshan replied, clasping his hands in greeting. "Brother Zhang, take care."

"Have a safe journey." Zhang Wanren saw him off on the shore.

The two boarded a cargo ship bound for Qingjiang City, which also carried passengers for twenty coins each.

There are also small boats, but half a month is too long for them to travel far.

With the cargo loaded and dozens of people on deck, the cargo ship set sail.

The father and daughter found a corner, and Ayan looked at the vast Qingjiang River, her thoughts wandering.

She had never been on a boat before, nor had she ever seen such a vast river.

They are very curious about things happening outside the home.

As the cargo ship sets sail, so too do our hearts.

Gu Qianshan's eyes were filled with confusion and worry, unsure of what the future held.

Seven days have passed, the river has narrowed, and the green mountains on both sides are lush and green.

The crew members were busy, while the guests sat on the deck chatting. There were students going to the capital for the imperial examinations, merchants from other places, martial artists who roamed the martial arts world, and bodyguards escorting goods.

They split into small groups and talked about their own things.

Ayan listened quietly; she wasn't a talkative person and didn't want to fit into these small groups.

Suddenly, her ears twitched, and the hushed conversation echoed in her mind, drowning out all other sounds.

"We'll make our move at midnight tonight. There are a few pretty young women here; we'll tie them up as well."

“These people all brought their own food and were on the deck, so we couldn’t administer any medication. We notified the leader, and he said we had no choice but to use force.”

They quickly described the situation on the ship.

Ayan gripped the sword hilt, and Gu Qianshan held her hand, shaking his head slightly as he whispered, "Let's see what this is like in the martial world."

Ayan frowned: "Bandits and thugs, are they also part of the martial arts world?"

"The world is full of all sorts of people, coming from all corners of the country. It's hard to guarantee that they won't have news of strange items," Gu Qianshan said. "Jiang Zhu said that Yan Nanxing had met the Immortal Master back then."

Ayan let go of his hand, and his interest in the martial world began to grow.

As midnight approached, the large ship slowed down.

Ropes were hung around the cargo ship, and figures in black were carefully climbing up the ropes in the water.

Fortunately, the guards on the cargo ship were patrolling at night and discovered it in time: "There are river bandits."

Screams shattered the darkness, and chaos erupted among the people on deck.

"We are escorting goods for the Yuanshan Escort Agency. We don't know who you are, but we would appreciate your help."

A middle-aged bodyguard shouted.

"What kind of bullshit Yuanshan Escort Agency is this? You're doing business at Qingyun Manor? Abandon your boats and jump into the river, and we won't kill you!" A wild, angry roar echoed from the darkness.

Swords flashed, screams of agony filled the air, and cries of panic rippled through the cargo ship, throwing it into chaos.

The scholars and merchants were all trembling with fear, crying out for their parents.

Those martial arts practitioners dared not make a move at this moment, and some even jumped into the Qingjiang River in an attempt to escape.

However, as soon as they jumped in, they were pierced by sharp blades, and their blood stained the river red.

The river bandits never intended to let them go!

There were too many bandits, and they were still boarding the ship in droves. The guards from the Yuanshan Escort Agency suffered more than half casualties in a single encounter.

They retreated, still standing protectively in front of the crowd, and shouted at the same time, "Gentlemen, they not only want the goods, but also our lives. Are you just going to cower and wait to die?"

These words were meant for those martial arts practitioners, but they still didn't move, already terrified.

A blinding sword light flashed, and Ayan drew her sword. The three-foot-long sword light was as bright and dazzling as the sun, frightening everyone, including the water bandits.

"The pinnacle of martial arts lies in the gleam of a three-foot sword!"

"Hurry up, there's a top expert here to oversee things."

The bandits were terrified. With such cultivation, they were all martial arts masters, and killing them was as easy as harvesting wheat.

Gu Qianshan also made a move. Although he was not as good as Ayan, he was still one of the best in the martial arts world.

The bodyguards were energized, and those few terrified martial artists charged ahead of everyone else, as if they were the pinnacle of the martial world.

With the help of the father and daughter, they successfully drove back the river bandits.

She targeted the leader, severed both his legs with a single sword stroke, and captured him alive.

Unfortunately, the head of Qingyun Manor was unaware of any wonders related to immortals, and even less knowledgeable about the essence of the sun and moon.

After Ayan beheaded him, the father and daughter became honored guests. The owner of the cargo ship and the Yuanshan Escort Agency both extended olive branches to them.

Those martial arts practitioners also shamelessly came forward, but were ignored by Ayan.

Gu Qianshan greeted everyone with a smile.

Ayan was very impatient: "Why is that? They're just passing through."

"The most taboo thing in the martial arts world is making enemies. No one can guarantee that they will always be unharmed. Some people may not have much ability, but they can ruin a person's reputation with their words," Gu Qianshan said.

“I don’t care about reputation, I’m just looking for rare things,” Ayan said.

“They’ve traveled all over the country; what if they have news?” Gu Qianshan said softly, “Don’t underestimate people. Even a beggar on the street might know what we’re looking for.”

Ayan nodded thoughtfully, "I've got it."

Gu Qianshan was very pleased that Ayan listened to his teachings.

He also knew that he was beginning to age, and only hoped to pass on his limited knowledge to her while he still had the strength.

The cargo ship arrived safely at Qingjiang City.

Ayan was no longer indifferent, and Gu Qianshan also asked these businessmen to inquire about the news.

They also inquired about Bai Qiuyun, who had already sold his house and spent all his wealth seeking immortality.

They inquired while retracing Paxton's life path, hoping to make some discoveries.

Unfortunately, after a year, including for major merchants, no one found any clues related to the Immortal Path.

Reluctantly, they refused the merchants' offer to stay, rode away, and headed towards their ancestral homeland.

The father and daughter traveled on, stopping and starting, punishing evil and upholding justice, and their reputation gradually spread throughout the martial arts world.

Ayan didn't stop cultivating either. To her surprise, since the merit entered her body, her cultivation became extremely fast.

Gu Qianshan didn't ask for any merit points; he gave them all to her.

She also began to read and learn to read, wanting to record her deeds so that she could show them to Jiang Zhu later.

The martial arts world of Qian Kingdom has gained another top-tier book lover.

(End of this chapter)