Chapter 44: Whence Comes the Flowing Water

The light in the lobby dimmed in a trance, and a figure wearing a bamboo hat appeared at the entrance. Dressed in long, gold-trimmed robes, the man was tall and broad, effectively blocking the light.

"Hand over the item, boy, and I will spare you," the voice was deep, yet it betrayed the speaker's advanced age.

Bai Shaoliu slowly stood up, his body still swaying unsteadily. The intruder’s martial arts were beyond his comprehension; he hadn't even managed to parry a single strike.

Behind the counter, the beautiful proprietress narrowed her eyes. She remained silent, yet her expression betrayed no trace of panic. Only Shen Lian knew that her hands were such that few things in the entire Divine Capital could rattle her, and the man in the bamboo hat was certainly not one of them.

Ruoxi wrinkled her delicate little nose and chirped, "Brother, I don’t want to eat anymore. Look, the food is all dirty." She pointed to a piece of duck on her plate, where a speck of dust had landed on the golden, crispy skin.

Shen Lian patted her head, took out a silk handkerchief, and handed it to her, signaling her to wipe her mouth and hands.

On the other side, hearing the bamboo-hatted man’s demand, Bai Shaoliu stiffened his face and replied, enunciating every word: "No."

The man in the bamboo hat sighed and said no more. Then, footsteps echoed. They were neither heavy nor fast, yet they struck like daggers piercing into one's chest. Beads of sweat broke out on Bai Shaoliu’s forehead. The stranger was channeling profound internal energy into every footfall, targeting him specifically. Though the man hadn't drawn a blade, each step hammered against Bai Shaoliu’s circulation, no less painful than a real knife stabbing into his flesh. Clearly, the man wanted to break his spirit without ending his life just yet.

Ruoxi finished wiping her face and obediently returned the handkerchief to her brother. Shen Lian tucked it away and said calmly, "King of the Golden Blade, it’s been seventeen years. Have you really stooped to bullying children?"

Shen Lian’s voice was not loud, but it perfectly drowned out the sound of the footsteps and dissipated their piercing pressure.

The man stopped. Shen Lian was facing away from him, but the voice was familiar. Upon seeing Shen Lian’s back, he was struck by disbelief, for it reminded him of someone from his past.

Bai Shaoliu, now drenched in sweat, collapsed to the ground as the pressure vanished, gasping for air as his perspiration soaked the floor.

The man in the bamboo hat moved, arriving at the boy’s side in the blink of an eye before turning to face Shen Lian. He slowly removed his hat, revealing graying hair and a long, silver beard, though his stature remained as straight as a pine. However, the Golden Blade that had accompanied him for decades was absent; he had long since put down his weapon.

What met his eyes was the same delicate, youthful face from years ago, showing no signs of the passage of time.

"You are Shen Lian?" The King of the Golden Blade found it inconceivable. By all accounts, Shen Lian should be in his thirties, yet he looked exactly as he had back then, as if time had been merciless to others but indulgent toward him.

The King of the Golden Blade soon noticed something else. Since abandoning his blade, he had gradually transitioned from martial arts toward the path of cultivation. His greatest change was a heightened perception; with only half his former strength, he could now achieve things that used to require his full power, and with greater ease. This subtle mastery of martial arts helped him refine his vital points, moving toward a higher realm. However, lacking an immortal lineage and facing a world where essence was thin, he feared he would never find the key to true enlightenment.

The Flowing Water Sword Technique was his only hope. Originally obscure, it had belonged to a common martial arts school until a prodigy emerged, using it to defeat eighteen renowned experts in a single month before ascending into the air in his final battle. This event had remained unknown until a few months ago, when word leaked, bringing catastrophe upon the school. The entire sect was wiped out, with only the boy escaping. The perpetrators were a secret organization, which the King of the Golden Blade had since joined, learning many of the details.

He was old now. Had he not accidentally consumed a spirit ginseng ten years ago, he would never have reached his current level. The older he grew, the more he feared death; he would not let any chance at a breakthrough slip by.

"It seems you still recognize me," Shen Lian remarked. "You haven't gone senile yet."

The King of the Golden Blade pondered for a moment, then pointed at Bai Shaoliu. "If you intend to protect him, I will leave now."

Had this been ten years ago, he might have argued his case, as he would not have been strong enough to realize how formidable Shen Lian truly was. Now, with his heightened perception, he could see Shen Lian sitting there with a faint smile, yet he dared not meet his gaze, feeling an overwhelming, subtle pressure emanating from him. Sixteen years ago, Shen Lian had already been an peerless expert; that he had become this unfathomable today was only natural.

"Go," Shen Lian replied.

The King of the Golden Blade nodded, not sparing another glance at Bai Shaoliu. He replaced his hat and prepared to leave.

Just then, the proprietress spoke up. "Leave payment for these tables and chairs, and for my waiter's medical expenses, or don't even think about leaving."

The King of the Golden Blade snorted in indignation.

Shen Lian’s voice rose again. "You aren't short on money. Just pay it, and settle my tab while you're at it."

Suppressing his rage, the King of the Golden Blade walked to the counter, pulled out a silver ingot, and slammed it down so hard it embedded deep into the wood. "There," he growled. He had never been so humiliated in all his years.

Once the King of the Golden Blade had departed, Shen Lian took Ruoxi by the hand, ready to leave as well. The proprietress walked over, the silver ingot already in her hand. "You have a kind heart, Young Master, saving even an old man like that."

Shen Lian understood her implication: had he not scared the man away, the proprietress would have intervened, and the King of the Golden Blade would have had no chance of survival. That was precisely why Shen Lian had made him settle the bill; his life was worth far more than a single ingot of silver.

"We knew each other once, so I felt compelled to act. We are neighbors now; if you don't mind, we can visit from time to time." Shen Lian could tell she was a practitioner, though he did not know her sect or school of cultivation.

"No need to call me 'Proprietress.' Your name is Shen Lian, right? Which character is 'Lian'?" Her eyebrows arched beautifully, and though there were faint lines at the corners of her eyes, they only added to her charm.

"The 'Lian' from 'refining gold in fire,'" Shen Lian replied politely. "You may call me Qingxia."

"My surname is Zhou—the Zhou of the Great Zhou Dynasty. My given name is Ling, from 'Lingtai'."

Shen Lian nodded slightly. Holding Ruoxi’s hand, he passed by Zhou Ling with calm composure. He thought to himself that 'Zhou' was not only the name of the dynasty but also the surname of the Empress.

Bai Shaoliu knew they were talking, though he understood not a word. However, he suddenly recalled that Shen Lian was the very expert who had saved him that night. He tried to struggle to his feet but failed. With a parched throat, he watched Shen Lian and Ruoxi walk away, calculating in his heart that he now owed them two lives.