Chapter 53: The shy old man

Early morning, Wuyou Peak was shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

Luo Qingchen was lying spread-eagle on the large golden-thread nanmu bed, sleeping soundly.

She was hugging the spirit blanket, with a trace of crystal-clear drool at the corner of her mouth.

In her dream, Ling Xiyue was feeding her spirit fruits.

Looking at Senior Sister, whose eyes were practically dripping with affection, Luo Qingchen laughed heartily.

‘Good, good, good.’

She rewarded her by grabbing a handful of spirit stones and tossing them to her.

Suddenly, a person rushed in—

It was none other than the First War God of the cultivation world, who actually wanted to recognize her as his father and give her all his assets.

But she couldn’t make out his face.

When she focused to look closely—

Bang!

A pale yellow talisman pierced through the cave dwelling’s restriction and precisely stuck to the headboard of Luo Qingchen’s bed.

“Luo Qingchen! Get out here!”

Wangyou Zhenren’s voice exploded inside the cave dwelling, startling Luo Qingchen so much that she bounced upright on the bed.

“Who! Who dares disturb my beautiful dream? I was about to become the richest woman ever!”

Luo Qingchen smacked the talisman off the headboard, did a thunderous roll, and fell back asleep.

‘It’s over, it’s over. I don’t know if I can continue that dream.’

“If you don’t come out, I’ll tear this shabby cave dwelling of yours apart and sell it all!”

Wangyou Zhenren’s vigorous threat came again from outside.

Luo Qingchen pouted her lips, crawled out of bed extremely unwillingly, put on her shoes, and walked out of the cave dwelling grumbling.

“Old man, what the hell are you causing a ruckus this early? I just fell asleep, and I’m in my growth spurt right now.”

“Don’t you know waking up early is bad for your health? I’ve been working my whole life—can’t I just enjoy myself a little?”

Luo Qingchen stood at the entrance, rolling her eyes at Wangyou Zhenren, who was standing several feet away with his hands behind his back.

Wangyou Zhenren didn’t take the bait.

He flicked his wrist, and a cyan spiritual light shield instantly enveloped the two of them, completely cutting off the cave dwelling entrance from the outside.

Seeing this, Luo Qingchen sobered up halfway.

She fiercely protected her chest with both hands, widened her eyes, and stared at Wangyou Zhenren with full vigilance.

“Old man, what do you want? I’m telling you, even though you’re ugly, I, Luo Qingchen, sell my skills, not my body! You old no-good, have you finally set your sights on your adorable disciple?”

Wangyou Zhenren had just put on his authoritative stance, but Luo Qingchen’s shout almost made him choke.

The corners of his weather-beaten mouth twitched wildly.

“Shut up!”

Wangyou Zhenren pointed at Luo Qingchen, his beard trembling with anger.

“What kind of nonsense is stuffed in your head, girl? With your utterly ordinary figure, even if I were blind, I wouldn’t be interested in you!”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

Luo Qingchen let out a breath and lowered her hands from her chest.

“I thought you were going to make a move on me. You nearly scared me to death.”

“…”

Wangyou Zhenren took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the urge to throw this girl off the mountain.

His expression turned serious, his eyes becoming graver than ever before.

“Drop that unserious act.”

Wangyou Zhenren looked at Luo Qingchen, his voice low.

“That curse on you—I’ve sensed it.”

The smirk on Luo Qingchen’s face instantly froze.

She subconsciously touched the sword mark on her wrist—

The seal left by Jian Daoren.

“You don’t need to hide it.”

Wangyou Zhenren turned his back, looking at the barren yellow soil of Wuyou Peak.

“Even that old drunkard Jian Daoren could see this curse. How could I not know? I just thought before: what do I care if this girl lives or dies.”

“But now that you’ve entered my Wuyou Peak, I certainly won’t stand by and do nothing.”

“Though my experience is limited, and I can’t break it.”

Wangyou Zhenren turned around, looking at Luo Qingchen, a hint of an emotion she couldn’t read in his eyes.

“But I used those secret realm supplies you brought back last time to beg the disciple who owes a favor to Fairy Yueru of the Dao Medical Valley, exchanging it for one chance for her to act.”

“As long as you go to the route I’ve given you, she will act once.”

Luo Qingchen was silent.

She looked at this stingy old man, the one who had sold off most of the assets of Wuyou Peak.

Even if those supplies were sold, they wouldn’t be enough to hire a formidable healer.

Luo Qingchen knew the value of what she had given away.

This old man, knowing how deadly this curse was, that meant…

“Did you spend your coffin savings?”

Luo Qingchen asked quietly.

“Less nonsense.” Wangyou Zhenren waved his hand impatiently.

“This girl has a sharp tongue, but her formation talent is indeed not bad. Dying under this curse would be such a waste.”

He paused, and his tone suddenly became somewhat heavy.

“Listen carefully.”

“If even Fairy Yueru can’t break this curse, then probably no one in the entire Xuantian Continent can save you.”

“To reach the larger Central Continent, even unbroken flying sword travel day and night would take five years. Not to mention the sea demon beyond the Nascent Soul realm in the ocean. I estimate your time won’t last that long.”

“When that time comes, die far away from me.”

“Don’t die on Wuyou Peak, and especially don’t die in front of Ling Xiyue.”

“That girl finally made a friend. If she watches you die, her sword heart will be disturbed again.”

Luo Qingchen looked at Wangyou Zhenren.

The old man’s back was somewhat stooped.

As the wind blew, his faded white Daoist robe looked exceptionally thin.

This old man, clearly he was worried about her, but he had to say it so harshly.

That mischievous feeling in Luo Qingchen’s heart inexplicably dissipated.

She was about to get emotional and say a few touching words, when Wangyou Zhenren turned around and stared at her fiercely.

“If you dare die halfway, making my investment go down the drain, I won’t let you off even as a ghost!”

“Do you hear me!”

“You have to live well for me, expand Wuyou Peak for me, and let this old man spend money however he wants!”

Luo Qingchen’s mouth twitched, and the bit of emotion she had just built up shattered instantly.

“Damn it.”

She couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“So in your eyes, I’m just a bad debt that hasn’t been repaid yet?”

“You got it!”

Wangyou Zhenren tossed over a jade token and a jade slip with a displeased look.

“Take these and get lost! Stop annoying me!”

Luo Qingchen took the items and was about to leave when Wangyou Zhenren called her back.

“Wait.”

Wangyou Zhenren pulled out an ancient sword case from his storage ring and casually threw it to Luo Qingchen.

“This is the Wuyou Sword Case. Though it’s a bit worn, it can at least store and nurture twelve spirit swords.”

“I heard you picked a broken iron sword. Going out with that—it’s really shameful. This sword case has a Peak Yellow Grade Mystic Light Sword inside. Though it’s no divine weapon, it’s much better than that scrap iron of yours.”

“I really don’t get what you, such a shrewd girl, were thinking. For the sect benefit, you didn’t think to choose a more expensive one. Always go for the most expensive, not the best, you know?”

“The poorest peak on Hidden Sword Mountain is our peak. Now just make do with this.”

Luo Qingchen took the heavy sword case, but inside she was overjoyed.

On the surface, she made a disgusted face and pouted.

“This? Peak Yellow Grade? Old man, you’re too stingy.”

“Take it or leave it!”

Wangyou Zhenren blew his beard and glared.

Luo Qingchen quickly stuffed the sword case into her storage pouch, afraid he might change his mind.

She patted the storage pouch at her waist, her mind racing.

This sword case is perfect—

It can be used to throw others off the scent.

That broken iron sword from the Sword Grave, its stripped potential fused into the Five Elements Blade, can be hidden in this sword case.

Usually, I’ll take out the Mystic Light Sword for show, and at a critical moment, use the Five Elements Blade to hit the enemy hard.

This wave, solid.

“Alright, old man, I’m going to prepare now.”

Luo Qingchen waved her hand and turned back toward the cave dwelling.

“Hey…”

Wangyou Zhenren called from behind.

Luo Qingchen stopped and looked back at him.

“After you break the curse, come back alive and well.”

Wangyou Zhenren looked at her, his voice very soft.