Chapter 68
The scorching sunlight was getting stronger as time passed.
In the Weishui River, the upper stream of the huge Yangtze River, there were large and small villages.
And along the main road of a small town among those villages, someone was rushing on horseback.
"Whoa. Whoa."
Although she was dressed as a man and pretended to be a handsome young master, she, who was a beautiful woman no matter who looked at her, patted the back of the horse that was exhausted from the heat.
Since not a single breeze was blowing, a truly painful schedule was continuing.
She fiddled with her beloved weapon and habitually bit her small lower lip.
'There's a long way to go, Xi Xichang.'
Xi Xichang.
Now, as one of the representative rising stars of the Sichuan martial world, she had stepped down from the position of acting sect leader of the Qingcheng Sect and had become an important figure in the Sichuan Alliance.
She had been able to secure a large position in the Sichuan Alliance at a young age due to her merit of inviting the Sword Immortal, who was in seclusion, to the Sichuan Alliance and her actions so far.
This had become a great strength to her, who was most wary of the threat of the Black Contemplation Fortress.
Moreover, the Black Contemplation Fortress, which had retreated after the Sichuan Great War, had not been able to make a move again because the succession fight had intensified and had taken on the aspect of a civil war.
But if there is a good thing, a bad thing also follows.
As a result, the Sichuan Alliance had become complacent, and its power had begun to weaken greatly as the vice-leader, the Tiger-Subduing Sword, Sheng Houhu, who had taken full authority in place of the Sword Immortal, who was in seclusion due to a great internal injury, was handling matters on his own.
In the end, although it was good that she had brought the Sword Immortal, the Sichuan Alliance had become more divided, and there were even those who were burdened by the Sword Immortal, who had become a sword that could not be used.
"It shouldn't be like this."
The Sichuan Alliance should not be divided now.
At this time when even the Sword Immortal was away due to injury, if the Black Contemplation Fortress were to finish its succession issue and to make a move again, the fate of the Sichuan martial world could be said to be a lamp in the wind before a storm that might blow at any time.
She had set out on the road to ask for the help of the Tang Clan leader, Tang Yizheng, who had a great say in Sichuan.
If Tang Yizheng, who was still maintaining neutrality, were to listen to her words and to help her, it was clear that a great force would be added.
"By the way, it's really hot... huh?"
Although there was no place to get water nearby, a large number of strong men had gathered a little away from the road and were doing something noisily.
Xi Xichang, who was curious, turned the horse's steps and approached them.
"What on earth are you doing here?"
The men, who were dirty with sweat and dirt, kindly answered Xi Xichang's question.
"We're digging a well."
"A well...? So, does water come out from here?"
It was a curious thing for Xi Xichang, who was thirsty anyway.
At this time, a stream of water shot up from the pit that had been installed to dig the well.
"It's done! Water is really coming out!"
"Oh, oh!"
The chattering men hurriedly set up a support and began to move busily to make a proper well.
One of the men scooped up water with a gourd and kindly offered it to Xi Xichang, who looked thirsty.
"I'm sorry about this. It's strange, but water came out in one go, so I was in a hurry."
"You found water in one go?"
"That's right. We were also half-believing and half-doubting... but since his words were true, it seems this year's farming will go very well."
"His?"
"Haven't you heard the story that a strange young man has appeared in Zhu Yuan of the Yangtze River?"
"What is that..."
It was the first time she had heard of it.
The man continued to speak as if he were excited.
"Hasn't the son of the son of the Jiang family, a scholar family of Zhu Yuan, who had been missing, returned? But that young man is so strange."
"Strange?"
"He's been fishing in the river all day with a fishing rod with a needle attached to it, without a hook... he's been doing strange things, but it's strangely accurate..."
"Is there such a person?"
"If you're curious, go and see. If you go up a little from here, there's a place called Beon-gye Stream."
Although Xi Xichang had a long way to go, it was not a very far place, and it seemed that there would be no great loss in meeting him.
Perhaps he was a wise man with insight or an outstanding master.
"Thank you."
Xi Xichang hurried her horse and set out to find the Beon-gye Stream.
And in the lower reaches of the Beon-gye Stream, as the man had said, someone was sitting peacefully and enjoying fishing.
"He's not a martial artist..."
Xi Xichang, who had found the young man, could not hide her disappointment.
If he had been a martial artist, his posture for fishing and his momentum would have been different.
But he looked like a peasant who was just enjoying fishing on the outside.
But even if he was not a martial artist, since he was from a scholar family and had done strange things, he might have the qualities of a strategist with insight.
The number of times the Sichuan Alliance had suffered a great defeat due to the cunning of a man named Shiyue, who was said to be the head of the Black Contemplation Fortress, was not one or two.
What the Sichuan Alliance had lacked so far was the absence of a strategist who could be called a brain.
Xi Xichang approached him with anticipation once again.
"Did you catch anything?"
"I did catch something."
The young man put down his splendid fishing rod. There was really no hook attached to the end of the fishing line.
"Excuse me. Ah!"
Although Xi Xichang had approached him closely, the man who was fishing only then turned his head towards Xi Xichang.
"Who are you to be so surprised to see a person as if you've seen a ghost?"
"I'm... I'm sorry, it seems I've seen you before..."
It was a strange thing.
He was an ordinary young man with an unremarkable appearance.
But Xi Xichang strangely found the young man familiar.
"By any chance... your name?"
Although the attitude of approaching and asking for a name out of the blue could be rude, the young man answered as if he didn't care.
"My name is Jiang Ziya."
"Jiang Ziya..."
'It's impossible that he's here...'
The disciple of the Sword Immortal...
Although he had burned the sword manual of the Ten Thousand Sword Master, which was a treasure of the Qingcheng Sect, he was a person who somehow remained in her memory.
Xi Xichang closed her eyes and erased the thought that was blooming.
"I am Xi Xichang, a person of the Sichuan Alliance."
Although he had turned his back and pretended to be calm, Jiang Ziya, no, Agong, felt as if his heart would jump out of his chest.
'It's really Xi Xichang...'
After leaving the Hermit's Valley, Agong had gone to the Jiang family with the name Jiang Ziya, as Master Gongsun had suggested.
They had accepted that Agong was the son of Master Gongsun without a single doubt and had accepted him as a family.
Agong had stayed at the Jiang family and had tried to get used to the life of an ordinary person outside the Hermit's Valley.
But that was just a superficial appearance.
He had been collecting rumors of the martial world to find the group of Sheng Wang and the masters of the Sea Isle Sect who had escaped from the Hermit's Valley and had blended into the martial world.
And Agong, who had been spending his time like that, had met Xi Xichang, whom he had thought he would never meet in his life after they had parted in the Hermit's Valley, in a place like this.
Jiang Ziya was worried for a moment whether he should reveal himself to Xi Xichang.
Since Xi Xichang also knew well that he was the disciple of the Sword Immortal, it was a matter of asking her for help.
But Agong could not bring himself to say the words in the end.
Jiang Ziya had been hated by Xi Xichang in the past due to the misunderstanding that he had burned the sword manual that she had cherished like her life.
Although going through her was surely the fastest way to meet the Sword Immortal, the long time to go to the Sichuan Alliance would surely be a hellish time for Jiang Ziya.
Moreover, since things had turned out like this, this was also an opportunity to grant the request of the Butterfly Scholar.
Since Xi Xichang also did not seem to recognize him, if he were to return to the Sichuan Alliance after this matter was over, it would not be too late to reveal himself then.
"Do you want me to tell your fortune?"
"My fortune?"
"Although it's not something a person from a renowned scholar family should do, I'm a child who has been put out, you see."
"It's alright."
"People want to have their fortunes told when they are lost in life or when they are in love... but since you don't look like a young lady in love, I'm saying this."
Xi Xichang thought that she had taken a useless step.
He was not a martial artist, and his mouth was glib, so he did not look like a wise man.
As the disappointed Xi Xichang turned her head to go back, Jiang Ziya, who had cast his fishing rod again, added a word quietly.
"Or are you curious about the fortune of the Sichuan martial world..."
"!"
Xi Xichang was startled and immediately drew her sword.
It was unlikely that an ordinary scholar would test her with such words.
"You... who are you!"
"The power of the Sichuan Alliance as it is now is absurd to block the advance of the Black Contemplation Fortress. But since you can't even unite your insufficient power..."
"So?"
"It seems you are going to the Tang Clan with hope... but according to my divination, it seems it will be difficult to achieve your goal as it is."
Xi Xichang put away the sword she had drawn and looked at Jiang Ziya's back for a moment.
It was a surprising insight for a young man of this age to have accumulated in a rural area like this.
"If it's difficult as it is... do you have a way?"
"You have to make an offer that they can't refuse."
"Do I have something that would make the Tang Clan leader make an offer that he can't refuse?"
"Is there a law that says that thing must only be with the female hero?"
"What do you mean?"
"I have something that the Tang Clan will be delighted with."
"What..."
"You can use that a little."
Jiang Ziya put down his fishing rod completely and stood up from his seat.
Although she didn't know it when he was sitting, when Jiang Ziya stood up, Xi Xichang took a step back without realizing it at his tall height.
Looking at him up close, he had a very trained body to be called a scholar.
"Thanks to that, I also have business with the Tang Clan, so it's a good thing. I'll help you."
"Without any conditions?"
A kindness without a reward was highly likely to be hiding a malicious intent.
Especially in a dangerous situation like this.
"No way... if things go well, you have to grant my request."
"What is it?"
"Please guide me to the Sword Immortal of the Sichuan Alliance."
* * *
Xi Xichang and Jiang Ziya, who had decided on Sichuan as their destination, hurried on their way almost without rest.
Although Xi Xichang's urgent heart was also a reason, since they had to be mindful of the possible interference of the Black Contemplation Fortress, they had no choice but to hurry on their way.
Xi Xichang had accepted Jiang Ziya's proposal.
It was not easy for even a martial artist to meet the Sword Immortal privately.
Moreover, since the Sword Immortal was now seriously injured and his life was in danger.
Since it was kept a secret from the public, the Sword Immortal was not in a situation where he could meet anyone carelessly.
But with her help, she could make Jiang Ziya meet the Sword Immortal.
Although she could not properly know what Jiang Ziya's purpose was, the proposal he had made was something that Xi Xichang could not refuse.
But Xi Xichang did not trust Jiang Ziya.
It was just that she was making a suspicious journey because it seemed that he would be helpful to her.
She was not naive enough to just trust the suspicious Jiang Ziya, who did not even reveal his intention to meet the Sword Immortal.
The road to Sichuan was rough as it was, but since Xi Xichang preferred forests or rough roads rather than normal roads, the journey of the two was extremely difficult.
"Are you intentionally choosing a rough road to make me suffer?"
Although it was to avoid possible pursuit, it was clear that it was a difficult road for Jiang Ziya, who would not have practiced martial arts, to travel.
"No way... but how are you planning to persuade the Tang Clan leader?"
"Let's just say I have an old master's item from the Tang Clan. Since we don't trust each other, do I have to tell you more details than this?"
"That's true."
As Xi Xichang affirmed coolly, Jiang Ziya licked his lips without realizing it.
It seemed that her revealing that she did not trust him so openly was also revealing her character.
As the conversation was cut off, a rough road continued again.
Although the horses were tired from hurrying on the road, it seemed that the pursuer would also be quite tired thanks to them.
'Slowly... should I go and take care of it?'
It seemed that Xi Xichang did not know well that a tail was attached to them.
Until now, since there was a pursuer, it had been fun, and since there had been no damage, he had left it alone.
But seeing that it was sticking stubbornly even after coming to Sichuan, it seemed that the time had come to finally sort it out.
(End of Chapter)