My Wife Is A Sword Immortal

Chapter 103: Chapter 90 Baoyun Manor
 

The Xuanhuang Nine States were deeply intertwined between the mountain peaks and the valleys below.

In the Cultivation World, there were Family Sects who were immersed in the secular world and keen on worldly affairs, as well as Immortal Sects that were elusive and hidden deep within the forests.

The former,

such as the Chongxu Temple and the Lanxi Lin Clan from Zhongnan Country, were involved in the worldly matters of ordinary nations.

Zhao Rong’s “husband’s family” from the Great Chu Jingnan Duke Mansion could also be counted among them.

Or rather, these great families under the mountains needed to continuously gather resources to support their clan members’ cultivation, in order to cultivate powerful Cultivators and break through their limits, striving for further growth.

Their means and methods of meddling in mundane worldly affairs might differ, but their ultimate objectives were mostly the same.

To carve up and fight over the cultivation resources below the mountains, to strengthen themselves.

Of course, there was also another group, like the Cultivators from the various schools, for example, Confucian, Legalist, Daoist.

For these scholars, proving and spreading their doctrines were the primary goals; acquiring cultivation resources was often a secondary concern.

Such as the State Preceptor of Great Chu, such as Lin Wenruo.

But the latter,

despite appearing uninvolved with the secular world, their ethereal Immortal aura was also established upon the resources delivered and supplied by the human world, with some covert connections to the dynasties below the mountains.

Now, Zhao Rong was following Liu Sanbian to Baoyun Manor, which could probably be classified as the former, albeit one that was part of the secular Jianghu.

Baoyun Manor was one of the most famous sects in the Great Wei martial arts community.

It was located at Juyi Mountain, a hundred li from the capital of Great Wei, Liangjing City.

As for the martial artists under the dynasties, most of them followed the path of Martial Artists.

Depending on the size and strength of the dynasty, the size of the Jianghu also varied.

Zhao Rong learned from Liu Sanbian that although Great Wei wasn’t ranked at the top among the many dynasties in the northern part of Wangque Continent, it was still a powerful country relative to several neighboring nations.

In the Great Wei Jianghu, only those who reached the titled Martial Artist status could be regarded as grandmasters, belonging to the pinnacle among the community.

You should know, in some small countries Zhao Rong had passed through, even his Ascending Realm Golden Stone Stage Cultivation could be considered quite accomplished for a young adventurer, and a titled Martial Artist was a legendary figure rarely seen.

Liangjing.

Juyi Mountain.

Zhao Rong looked up at the “Baoyun Manor” sign above the gate at the foot of the mountain and then observed the incessant flow of people dressed like Jianghu persons. He turned his head to Liu Sanbian beside him.

“Sanbian Brother, is your sworn brother really named Gao Yi?”

Liu Sanbian nodded at the question, oblivious to the odd expression on Zhao Rong’s face, and said softly, “At that time I was about the same age as little brother, taking my first steps in Jianghu. One night in a tavern, through a fight for justice, I got to know Brother Gao Yi.”

Squinting towards the mountaintop, his expression turned nostalgic, “Back then we were young, with mediocre cultivation, knowing only some simple kung fu, yet we had a full measure of passion. We swore brotherhood over fire and journeyed together through the Great Wei Jianghu.”

“Whenever Gao Yi Brother and I encountered injustice, we would throw our fists in excitement, draw our three-foot swords; even when sometimes outmatched and stirring up a hornet’s nest, being chased and fleeing for a thousand li, we would still drink merrily, shouting for the joy of it…”

“I only found out later that he was from a major sect in the southern jianghu of Great Wei, the Young Manor Master of Baoyun Manor… when I left Great Wei, he had already succeeded as the Manor Master and was a famous young martial arts master in the Great Wei jianghu.”

Zhao Rong nodded, glanced at Liu Sanbian’s profile, and smiled, “Brother Sanbian, are you returning to Great Wei to visit old friends and family?”

Liu Sanbian was silent for a moment, withdrew his gaze, turned to face Zhao Rong, who was smiling, and Su Xiaoxiao, who was curiously looking around, his naturally intimidating face twitched at the corners of his mouth, perhaps trying to smile, but it only made him look more ferocious.

Noticing this, he slowly relaxed his smile that had become more frightening.

“Young Brother Zhao, Miss Su, I have reached my destination, and from here on you must go on your path alone.”

“You two should stay at Baoyun Manor for a couple of days, and I’ll have Brother Gao Yi arrange travel documents for you within Great Wei’s territory. Great Wei has strict laws, and there are many checkpoints on the road. Foreigners entering the city require official travel documents. With it, your journey will be more convenient. As for the rest of your journey…”

Liu Sanbian looked at Zhao Rong, “I have already marked the route on your Mountain And River Map; barring any unforeseen circumstances, just follow the planned route.”

Zhao Rong pursed his lips. It wasn’t just the Mountain And River Map that Brother Sanbian had marked for him.

In the past half a month, whenever there was spare time, Liu Sanbian would discuss the matters of cultivation with him, repeatedly emphasizing precautions and key points of cultivation, and he even shared all his insights on reaching the Fu Yao Realm’s martial artist grade threshold, though he might never use them.

Su Xiaoxiao, who had been listening intently, saw Liu Sanbian’s serious departure instructions, nodded like pounding garlic, but then suddenly caught a glimpse of Zhao Rong’s expressionless face, and her little head couldn’t help but stop.

Zhao Rong suddenly curled his lips into a smile, “Then, Brother Sanbian, as the green hills remain unchanged and the clear waters flow on, shall we meet again in the future?”

Hearing the words “green hills,” the stern man did not smile; instead, he nodded slightly, took off the black stone pendant around his neck, squeezed it in his palm with a little force, then opened his hand to reveal the pendant that glowed briefly before becoming still.

Liu Sanbian handed the black stone pendant to Zhao Rong, “I have broken the restriction on this Sumeru Object. Once Young Brother Zhao finds that Innate Primordial Qi and enters the Clear Void Stage, you can use it. According to our original agreement, I hope Young Brother Zhao can help me deliver what’s inside to Yunshui Cave in Lihuo Country, to my family’s Qingshan.”

“I’m gifting the Sumeru Object to Young Brother Zhao. When you reach Yunshui Cave, just mention my name, or show them this pendant, and explain your purpose; they will take you to meet Qingshan.”

Zhao Rong, who might never return once he starts his journey as a courier, looked at the black pendant swinging slightly in front of him, did not immediately take it but instead smiled apologetically.

“I’m heading to Du You City, and I might stay there for a long time. I will probably not head south for a while, so perhaps Brother Sanbian, you could take it back yourself after you are done with your affairs?”

Liu Sanbian seriously said, “Young Brother Zhao, you promised me.”

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t stand by any longer, hastily nodding, her expression seemed to say I was there at the time, I can testify so don’t you try to wriggle out of it, as she puffed up her cheeks, glaring at Zhao Rong.

Zhao Rong maintained his smile, stiffly turned his neck to look at Su Xiaoxiao, who immediately lowered her head, backing down.

Zhao Rong let out a soft sigh internally, took the pendant still being controlled from shaking, glanced at Liu Sanbian whose expression had relaxed, and then tucked it into his chest.

The three did not delay any longer and continued up the mountain, arriving at the exquisitely designed and ingeniously constructed Baoyun Manor at the mountain top, where they queued up and waited.

Soon, it was their turn. Liu Sanbian handed over his calling card, the receptionist at the gate looked at it, surprised, examined Liu Sanbian closely for a moment, then hurriedly invited the three inside.

After a short wait in the guest hall, a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows, a heroic appearance, and dressed in black robes burst in.

Upon entering, the man in black robes gripped Liu Sanbian’s hands with both of his, a full-faced smile, and an impassioned tone.

Liu Sanbian spoke first, exchanging a few words.

The man in black robes laughed as he looked towards Zhao Rong and Su Xiaoxiao, nodded, then ordered servants a few things, and the servants led Zhao Rong and the other away.

Before leaving, Zhao Rong turned back to take one last look at Liu Sanbian and then turned to leave.