Prelude to the Sword Trial Conference 3

The family selling Honey Peach Wine near Taihu Lake was hidden in a winding and deep alley, so it seemed not many people knew about it. The houses on both sides had moss-mottled walls and tile roofs overgrown with grass. Dust danced in the sunlight, making the place look a bit dilapidated. The people who occasionally passed through the alley were tofu vendors carrying loads on shoulder poles, traveling knife sharpeners shouting their trade, and some noisy bratty kids. Palace Master Hua Chi covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve in slight disgust, asking suspiciously, "Would there actually be good wine to drink in a place like this? Are you sure drinking it won't give us food poisoning?"

I said, "Between the two of us, one is a sword and the other is a deer. Food poisoning is none of our business anyway."

Even from a distance, we could smell the fruity aroma of wine. This smell seemed to have hardly changed even after decades. My craving for alcohol went straight to my head, and I walked as fast as flying. By the time I reached the main entrance, my drool was practically hanging down to my chest. The wine shop was much more rundown than I remembered. It was just a small hall with three square tables inside, and besides wine, there were only some bar snacks like peanuts and pig ears. A few boat trackers who had just finished their work by Taihu Lake were gathered together, drinking and chatting, bursting into bouts of loud laughter from time to time.

Palace Master Hua Chi was obviously disgusted by the slight dirtiness of the chairs. He wished he could just sit on the very edge with the tip of his buttocks, which was basically no different from doing a horse stance. Despite this guy having no moral integrity, he was much more of a neat freak than my master. Master always looked like a fluttering immortal in snow-white clothes, but in reality, he was the type who could fall asleep anywhere...

The one selling wine behind the counter was a handsome young man. As soon as we sat down, he ran over to greet us.

"What would you two like?"

Before I even had time to speak, the Palace Master, for whom flirting was instinct, took the initiative to throw a highly alluring wink at him. "I wonder how you sell your wine here?"

The young man was probably already dizzy from the shock of his charm. He giggled blankly and foolishly, "Honey Peach Wine is three coins a bowl. If you add side dishes, it's two coins. But if it's you, dear guest, it's free..."

I cleared my throat forcefully, interrupting their affectionate gazing. "Then we'll start with a plate of smashed cucumbers, a plate of peanuts, and two bowls of wine."

"O-Okay..." The young man walked away, looking back three times with every step. I glared suspiciously at Hua Chi. "Have you learned some kind of soul-bewildering art or something? How do you charm both men and women?"

A certain Hua Chi smugly raised his eyebrows at me. "Of course, this Palace Master's charm is invincible in the world, and no human can resist it... except for your master..."

I scoffed, "Who do you think our master is? The men and women chasing after our master could line up and circle Huaxia three times. The Shushan Sect alone has three fan clubs for him. You'd better give up while you can~"

"Sigh~ You just don't understand." The Bixie Palace Master gave a wickedly charming smile. "This Palace Master just likes a challenge."

The wine and dishes were quickly served, emitting a rich and fragrant aroma. I couldn't wait to pick up the bowl and take a sip. I only felt a stream of sweet, hot liquid surge down my throat into my lungs, lingering with a leisurely aftertaste. So I chugged a few more mouthfuls. Although the bowl was large, it had already hit the bottom after these few gulps.

Looking across the table, the Palace Master had finished his bowl even faster than me and was already elegantly wiping the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.

The two of us exchanged a look and immediately ordered two more bowls.

The two bowls eventually turned into a small jug.

To think that my, Ya Jiu's, alcohol tolerance was very good, but by this time, my face was already flushed and hot, and everything before my eyes had become vividly fragmented. And the Hua Chi Palace Master sitting across from me seemed to be about as drunk as I was, his face as red as a blooming flower. I had to admit, although this Hua Chi had no morals, he was still very beautiful.

Although he fell just a tiny bit short compared to Master.

Sigh... Just thinking of Master made me feel sad. Back then, before we met Qiao Jiashu, Master and I had clearly agreed to come back here and drink again in ten years. But even to this day, I hadn't been able to come here with him again. I wondered where he was right now, taking Longyuan with him?

Huh? The person standing at the door looks so good. A lilac long robe fluttering gracefully, with the lonely snow of a thousand mountains in his brows; he looks so much like Master...

He walked in. Really, the more I looked, the more alike they seemed... How could there be someone in the world who looked this similar? Moreover... the sword in his hand also looked very familiar...

Huh? Why does he seem to be walking towards us?

"Ya Jiu..."

The little bit of drunkenness I had suddenly disappeared for the most part. I jumped to my feet. "Ma-Ma-Master!"

Almost at the same time, that Hua Chi Palace Master charmingly shouted "Little Xiuxiu" and pounced on Master like a starving tiger pouncing on its prey. Unfazed, Master dodged sideways, his eyes fixed steadily on me. I shuddered. Why did it feel like... there were flames of fury burning in his eyes...

I had already drunk wine, and with this sudden anxiety, I couldn't even speak properly. "Master, I kidnapped Hua Chi here..." I pondered for two seconds... "No, no, no, Hua Chi kidnapped me here!"

Strange, why was I so nervous... It wasn't like I was sneaking around with a man... And even if I were sneaking around with a man, there would be no need to explain it to Master...

Master slightly raised an eyebrow. "Kidnapped? Where is the rope?"

"Oh my, Little Xiuxiu, so you're into bondage~~~ You should've said so earlier, I like it too~~~" Palace Master Hua Chi nudged Master with his elbow. Master pushed his face away with one hand, still staring at me with an expression that appeared calm on the surface but was actually seething with murderous intent in his eyes. "What exactly is going on?"

"Master, what's wrong?" At this time, Guisheng and the others also came in. Shenxu waved his fan and exclaimed, "Eh? Isn't this your chatterbox sword? How did it run out on its own?"

Master's expression grew even uglier. I winked at Hua Chi, signaling him to hurry up and help me explain. The guy gave me a thumbs-up, then flashed Master a charming and alluring smile. "Little Xiuxiu, this sword of yours insisted on following me. I couldn't shake him off no matter what. I was very troubled by it too, and kept persuading him to obediently go back."

I roared angrily, "Screw you!!!" and pounced forward, intending to perish together with this Hua Chi. As a result, Master grabbed my main body on my back and chanted the True Sword Control Art. I felt a powerful pulling force lock onto my entire body, and I was instantly dragged back into the sword. I struggled forcefully, but I couldn't break free from the sword body and was held firmly in Master's hand.

"Master, don't listen to his nonsense! It was clearly him and his son teaming up to trick me into coming out!"

"Shut your mouth!" Master shouted in a low voice. I felt wronged in my heart but had to pout and stay silent.

Master raised his somewhat dangerous and sharp gaze to stare coldly at Hua Chi. The unyielding aura of his natural authority made the entire wine shop fall silent. He said in a slow and unhurried tone, "Palace Master, in all his life, Jixuan hates nothing more than others touching my sword. I hope you will conduct yourself well."

Although I was currently unable to protect myself and shouldn't be thinking about random things, but... it turns out Master could have such a dominant top aura when he gets angry...

The problem was that the Palace Master's Hua Chi nature didn't seem to be diminished in the slightest by this intimidation, and he was still crying out over there that he didn't steal me. Although Master was angry, he still remembered to pay for the wine Hua Chi and I had drunk. Carrying me, he led the group in a mighty procession out of the wine shop under the watchful eyes of the common people, while Palace Master Hua Chi still shamelessly followed behind with a cheerful grin... How did such an immoral, thick-skinned creature ever cultivate into a divine deer?

But it's fine if he follows... Sooner or later, I will settle today's score...

It seemed that Master and the others were passing through Taihu Lake. Seeing that it was getting late and the scenery of Taihu Lake was exceptionally charming and moving, they decided to rest here for the night, but unexpectedly ended up picking me up. Master and the other four stayed at the number one chain brand in Huaxia—Yuelai Inn. I didn't know if it was because Taihu Lake was a must-pass route for the Sword Trial Conference, but when I passed through the lobby, I noticed quite a few cultivators.

Master took me into the room, summoned Longyuan into the air, and ordered, "Longyuan, you leave for a moment."

Longyuan quickly transformed into his human form. His indifferent eyes swept over me, he acknowledged with a "yes," and then pushed the door open and went out. I swallowed my saliva, my sword body sweating a little. Master placed me on the table, while he himself sat on a rosewood stool. "Come out and speak."

So I obediently came out of the sword, sitting opposite Master with my head bowed, not daring to breathe loudly.

The air felt as if it had solidified. The twilight sun cast the long shadows of the window carvings between the two of us. Master's expression seemed much softer than before. But I knew he was still angry...

"What exactly happened? Did you really want to leave with the Bixie Palace Master?" he asked in a voice so steady it lacked emotion. But for some reason, I felt there was a slight tremor in his trailing words.

I sighed. "Master, you actually believe that Hua Chi's words..."

He frowned, his tone a bit aggressive. "Otherwise, why would you appear with him in that wine shop? This master was completely unaware of when you developed such a good personal relationship with him."

I wrinkled my face, trying hard to prove my disdain for Palace Master Hua Chi. "I'm really not close with that Hua Chi. I just thought his son was pitiful for growing up without a mother and having to follow such a perverted dad, so I played with him occasionally. Who knew he would get me drunk? As soon as I woke up, I was already here at Taihu Lake..."

Master, however, seemed a bit surprised. "Son?"

I blinked. "Did you not know he has a son?"

Master shook his head slightly, but seemed somewhat agitated. He stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the rose-red lake water outside. After a long while, he said faintly, "If one day you really want to leave this master, it is not impossible. But you must tell this master to my face."

I immediately pointed to the sky and swore, "Master, quit dreaming. How could this divine sword let you off so easily? Look at you, although you look very elegant and aloof on the outside, you're actually such a homebody, you don't pay attention to personal hygiene, and you're terribly indecisive. If this divine sword wasn't always outside acting cool for you and maintaining your image, how would you have so many fan clubs?"

With his back to me, Master seemed to chuckle, but unfortunately, I couldn't see it.

Although I was scolded by Master, for some reason I was in a great mood. I walked up behind him and tugged at his cuff. "Be good, don't be jealous anymore~"

Master glared at me and pulled his sleeve away. "Don't push your luck. This master simply dislikes others touching my things. Since you disobeyed orders and sneaked out this time, you will surely have a hard time when we get back." After speaking, he flicked his wide sleeve and elegantly walked away. Although Master was so awkward, it seemed he still cared about this divine sword a lot~ And here I was, previously worried that he might give me away to someone one day. My heart was brimming with joy, and I just felt that the evening glow was exceptionally enchanting and beautiful, feeling warm and cozy on my sword body. So, I lay back inside the sword and comfortably went to sleep.

Just as I drifted off for a bit, I vaguely heard sounds of an argument coming from downstairs. After a while, there seemed to be the sound of bowls and chopsticks being smashed, as well as the sound of tables and chairs being forcefully overturned. I was a bit worried, so I quietly pushed the door open a crack, only to see Longyuan standing by the door holding his sword, scaring me because he hadn't made a sound.

I asked, "What's the situation?"

Longyuan's deep gaze looked past the second-floor railing, gazing into the distance at the situation in the first-floor lobby. "The people from the Maoshan Sect are here to pick a fight."