A Tale of Encounters with Immortals: A Peach Blossom Temple in the Martial World

Many people have drawn this sword, but all of them have passed away with regret.

A night's lodging for one or two taels of silver is considered very cost-effective by some desperate江湖人 (jianghu people, people who travel the world), and many are willing to pay that price for it.

Anyway, it doesn't cost any money to pluck it.

Later, as more people pulled at the ropes, more people made fools of themselves, and eventually, no one came to join in the fun anymore.

The old shopkeeper nodded: "Anyone can do it, as long as they can pull it out, they are qualified. But you must be careful, if you are not at the Grandmaster level, don't try to be brave."

Guo Lanying rushed to the sword.

The old shopkeeper reinserted the sword into the bluestone slab.

"rise!"

Guo Lanying pulled it out with one hand.

It was all for naught.

He gripped the sword hilt tightly with both hands and held his breath.

"Give me a name—"

She strained her voice, and when she finally shouted, it trembled, her face turning bright red. She practically cracked the flagstones with her kicks, her cheeks bulging.

Zhang Zhengdao blew a breath into it.

"choke--"

The sound of the sword echoed through the inn's lobby and reached the old innkeeper's ears.

Guo Lanying used too much force and sat down hard on the ground, breaking a piece of the bluestone slab.

"hiss--"

The pain made my teeth crooked.

"It's out?"

She raised her sword and looked at it with a puzzled expression.

What a fine longsword.

Even just by the light reflecting off the doorway, you could see the water-like patterns and feel the coldness emanating from the sword; the temperature inside the inn seemed to freeze.

"oops!"

Guo Lanying used the tip of her sword to poke the ground and got up.

The old shopkeeper was heartbroken and could hardly breathe. This was a precious sword; couldn't you at least show some respect for it?

Hu Yunying rolled her eyes at Zhang Zhengdao.

Even I could only pull it out halfway, so who would believe that Guo Lanying could pull it all out, and then fall on her butt so easily?

"Should I... pull it out?"

Zhang Zhengdao asked the old shopkeeper.

The old shopkeeper said, "That's the rule, please understand." With that, he took the sword from Guo Lanying's hand and reinserted it into the crack in the bluestone slab, then gestured for Zhang Zhengdao to proceed.

Zhang Zhengdao walked over.

Gently pinch the hilt of the sword.

Suddenly, a powerful force surged forth from the sword.

The sound of the sword ringing out was joyful, and the blade trembled as if it were about to leap up in excitement.

Old shopkeeper: ...

No, you're a divine weapon, can't you be a little more reserved?

Zhang Zhengdao gently drew his sword, casually twirling it in the air. The cheerful sword sound seemed to tell everyone about his joy.

However, as Zhang Zhengdao casually reinserted the sword into the bluestone slab, the sword's hum disappeared.

sword:……

We were just having a good time...

"Three rooms, three taels of silver!" The old shopkeeper didn't waste any time and immediately led the three to the rooms upstairs. The three rooms were connected, and upon entering, they were greeted by luxurious furnishings.

Light silk curtains, brocade quilts, carved railings of red marrow and jade, silver hooks and green gauze wardrobes.

"I want this one!"

Guo Lanying happily rushed over and spun around the room.

"this way please!"

The old shopkeeper then led Zhang Zhengdao and Hu Yunying to two other rooms.

The furnishings and decor are all similar, very luxurious.

"How many people are staying at the hotel today?"

Hu Yunying asked.

"Just the three of you!"

The old shopkeeper didn't try to hide anything.

"The price was set by the owner; I'm just a gatekeeper. Generally speaking, Grandmasters don't bother with this place, and even Innate Realm experts disdain it. Those who do come can't get out of here, so this place has always been empty."

"Perhaps even your homeowner didn't expect that there would be three customers today."

Hu Yunying looked at the old shopkeeper and smiled meaningfully.

The old shopkeeper nodded.

"To be honest, the Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters have already gone up the mountain. The Huashan Sect sent people to pick them up a long time ago. There is another courtyard up there, which is the best place to watch the sunrise."

Zhang Zhengdao walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked at the big mountain outside.

The highest peak rises majestically into the clouds.

"An interesting boss!"

Zhang Zhengdao said something.

"Farewell, guests. Please feel free to find me downstairs if you need anything." The old shopkeeper took his leave.

Hu Yunying: "Two years ago, there wasn't a guesthouse like this here."

Zhang Zhengdao: "Why bother with all this? We're just staying here."

Hu Yunying laughed and said, "Yes, we're just staying overnight."

into the night.

The town was brightly lit.

There are various food stalls, souvenir stalls, and vendors selling Buddhist beads, wood carvings, fly whisks, and even various weapons.

The Huashan Sect sent people down the mountain to maintain order in the town.

Those who engage in fights will be removed from the competition list, so everyone is relatively restrained. Although people carry knives and guns when they go out in the streets, they still give face to the Huashan Sect.

Zhang Zhengdao and two women also went out shopping.

At the food stalls in the small town, Zhang Zhengdao bought a lot of food. Guo Lanying bought many small trinkets—things to wear on her hands, in her hair, on her belt, and on her shoes…

Hu Yunying held up the candied hawthorn, licked it, and found it very sweet. She turned to look at Zhang Zhengdao, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with a smile.

The Butterfly Fairy truly resembled a butterfly, flitting gracefully through the crowd.

When they returned to the inn, all three of them were very satisfied.

One room per person – this is the greatest luxury we've enjoyed on this journey.

Luxurious rooms, luxurious spaces, and luxurious time.

Looking out the window, the moon hangs at the very top of Mount Hua, like a pancake pierced by the peak, with moonlight leaking out and dappling the person by the window.

Atop the mountain peak, there is a secluded courtyard.

The reception hall of the villa was brightly lit.

Sword God Qin Shouzhong, Yin Jue Shou Hai Tianfu, Shaolin Temple's Huikong, and Emei's Master Jingxian sat facing each other in pairs.

This villa belongs to the Huashan Sect. Tonight, even the head of the Huashan Sect is not qualified to come to this reception hall to make friends with these people.

None of the four spoke; they all kept their eyes down, seemingly lost in thought.

"The grand competition will be held in three days..."

"I withdraw from the competition."

"me too!"

Qin Shouzhong and Hai Tianfu expressed their positions one after another.

Upon hearing this, both Abbess Jingxian and Monk Huikong were taken aback and looked at the two of them.

Qin Shouzhong: "I just suddenly realized that it's all just empty fame. Hai and I are both alone, unlike you two who have powerful sects behind you and need to make a name for yourselves and spread Buddhism. So, withdrawing from this has no impact."

Hai Tianfu: "Exactly."

"Is it because of Ye Jianxian?" asked Abbess Jingxian.

Qin Shouzhong looked at her and frowned: "A hundred years ago, Ye Jianxian abandoned his sword at the summit of Mount Hua, saying that there was no one in the world to fight him, that his sword heart was spiritual and lonely and invincible, so he never used a sword again. It is said that he has been dead for many years..."

The old nun, Abbess Jingxian, smiled slightly and said nothing more.

Qin Shouzhong was greatly surprised and looked at Abbess Jingxian in astonishment.

"Could it be..."

“Exactly!” Abbess Jingxian smiled. “There’s an inn at the foot of the mountain…”

Qin Shou waited for a long time.

"anything else?"

"The inn is called Youjian Inn!"

Hai Tianfu muttered something to himself, and couldn't help but look outside. In the deep night, he could only vaguely see the shadows of the trees on the summit of Mount Hua.

If Ye Jianxian returns.

If I calculate my age, according to the legends I heard as a child, I was forty-five when I abandoned my sword. Add another hundred years...

Qin Shouzhong glanced at Hai Tianfu.

Hai Tianfu also glanced at Qin Shouzhong.

The two of them felt inexplicably cold.

This age is already very unusual. A 145-year-old monster?

Can a person live to be 145 years old?

Anyway, among the grandmasters I've examined before, living to around a hundred years old is already quite remarkable. Both Hai Tianfu and Qin Shouzhong felt the fear of life slipping away around the age of fifty.

Could there really be sword immortals in this world?

Ye Jianxian is just a legend from a hundred years ago, but when someone says that the legend is true, you will feel that fear and inexplicable longing.

If he can do it, so can I.

There is an inn, with rooms downstairs.

A twenty-year-old man was gazing at a sword in his hand under an oil lamp, the lamplight reflecting a soft glow.