Chapter Six: The Pearl Leaves Her Home

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After the fierce battle, the battlefield lay in utter disarray. A flock of crows, drawn by the scent of blood, perched silently atop the treetops, waiting for the humans to leave.

“Hey, I say, you two ladies, it’s been half an hour already, and you still haven’t recovered?”

The two women supported each other with one hand, while the other clutched their aching waists. They rose shakily, shooting Chu Linfeng skeptical glances.

“You sure had your fun! My sister and I suddenly feel completely drained, and without some miraculous elixir, how could we recover so quickly?” The younger woman, about eighteen or nineteen, complained.

Chu Linfeng felt a twinge of embarrassment. Indeed, he had gotten carried away earlier, his blood boiling, failing to restrain his strength. But defeating those scoundrels didn’t require his full power.

“Alright, alright. You two keep resting, but just a heads-up,” Chu Linfeng said, pointing at the crows above, “the scent of blood is thick here. If a high-level beast catches the smell and comes sniffing around, you two might be drained again by me.”

At this, the two women shivered, their waist pains vanished, legs no longer sore, and strength returned to their steps.

...

At dawn’s first light, the capital city’s bustling streets came alive with the early risers opening their stalls. Calls, clattering of bowls, and the bubbling of hot pots filled the air in a lively chorus.

In front of a steamed bun shop, Chu Linfeng was happily devouring his fifth basket of small buns.

“Ah! So delicious.”

Across from him, the two women exchanged glances filled with disbelief. At nearly six feet tall, was he still growing? How could he eat so much?

“Sis, did you bring any money?”

“We just fled from the hotel, no time to grab anything valuable!”

“What now? He says he has no money but is eating so much!”

“Shh~ what can we do? We’ll have to pawn whatever valuables we have to pay the shopkeeper. Surely the Peach Blossom War God won’t start washing dishes on this pedestrian street to pay off the bill!”

While the two whispered, Chu Linfeng had just finished the fifth basket, letting out a satisfied burp.

“Burp~! What are you two whispering about? Since you come from a wealthy family—burp~! Pfft, with teeth like this—surely you didn’t forget money, right?”

“If we had money, we would have bought medicine for our wounds early on! Unlike you, carefree and only thinking about eating, with no regard for delicate ladies,” the younger sister pouted, full of grievance.

“Tang Xie, stop it!” The elder sister interrupted.

When Chu Linfeng learned their identities, he found they came from the Misty Peak’s Hundred Flowers Valley: elder sister Tang Cai, twenty years old, and younger sister Tang Xie, eighteen. Both were the cherished daughters of the valley chief.

“Wang Defa!” Chu Linfeng suddenly stood up. “Burp~! Are you two deliberately taking revenge for last night? I’ve apologized over ten times—what more do you want?”

“We were just discussing that,” the elder said, standing and lightly twirling a lock of hair. Then she tilted her head, fingers gently lifting a golden butterfly hairpin inlaid with jade from the top of her head. The once-tied black hair cascaded down in soft waves.

Her fingers delicately plucked the jade butterfly wings, like willows swaying in a drunken red sunset, the beauty of a woman surpassing all worldly charm—yet no immortal of this era could compare.

Chu Linfeng’s eyes glazed over, cursing internally: Why didn't the day dawn sooner? Why must the night blind me? Before my spring heart even awakened, I’m already acting like a lovesick fool. Seizing the two swords on the table, he pressed them to his chest and said:

“Fairy sister, I spoke nonsense! But my offense isn’t worthy of death! Put down the hairpin and let’s talk properly!”

Tang Cai was startled by his sudden outburst, momentarily at a loss. Then she smiled gracefully: “War God Chu, don’t be afraid; you must have misunderstood. I was just planning to offer the hairpin to the shopkeeper as payment.”

“No, that’s a beloved gift from your mother, part of your dowry. It can’t be casually bartered!” Tang Xie exclaimed, rushing to snatch the pin back.

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“Ah!” Tang Xie accidentally touched Tang Cai’s arm wound while grabbing the pin. Tang Cai bit her lip in pain.

“Sorry, sister!” Tang Xie quickly withdrew her hand.

“It’s alright.” Tang Cai shook her head, clutching the pin tightly as if afraid her sister would try again. She whispered softly, “Since it’s a dowry, it belongs to the beloved. If it’s exchanged for food, so be it…”

Her hushed words seemed both fearful of being overheard and yet longing to be heard.

Chu Linfeng, ever sharp-eared and clear-minded, immediately caught the undertone. His mind churned with jealousy and desire, racing through countless thoughts.

(Hissing—could it be she’s taken with me after last night’s vigor? Hissing—she’s twenty, I’m eighteen; the age difference is golden in matchmaking, and our signs are compatible! She’s a rare beauty, though not quite as stunning as my rival Li Xiaoxue, but more alluring than that ‘Flower-Thief’ Shen Luoxi. Hissing—but she’s two years older, a disadvantage. Still, as the eldest lady of Hundred Flowers Valley, her dowry is only five baskets of buns? Hissing—I’m alone and may have to marry into a family later. Five baskets? As bride price? No, no! This must be a plot to trick me into marriage, and if I agree, I’ll lose everything!)

Unaware of Chu Linfeng’s wild imaginings, Tang Cai entered the shop and said, “Boss, the bill!”

The sun shone high overhead at noon. The three walked side by side toward Hundred Flowers Valley.

One woman pouted and frowned, kicking stones and trampling grass.

The other smiled gently, her heart refreshed by the rain.

The man’s face was gaunt, as if mourning a grave loss.

“It’s infuriating! The emperor green jade on that hairpin alone could buy five shops from him, but the boss only gave us this small change!” Tang Xie counted the bills again, unable to hide her complaint.

“Enough, it’s a small business; they don’t keep much cash. Didn’t they already empty the drawer for us?” Tang Cai tried to soothe her distracted sister.

“Sis, when you comfort me, could you please look at me? Why keep staring at this freeloader? Without him, we wouldn’t have struck this big fortune.”

Tang Cai immediately realized she had been acting too freely, cheeks flushed, and hurriedly covered her face in embarrassment. “You brat, what nonsense! I wasn’t staring...”

“Ah! Ah! Ah! The heavens are unjust! Me, Chu Linfeng, a once-great prodigy, now destined for mediocrity, trapped in the mortal realm!” Chu Linfeng kept imagining his marriage in Hundred Flowers Valley—wedding night, children, chopping firewood, feeding horses, buying daily essentials. The more he thought, the angrier he grew, finally howling loudly to the sky.

Startled, the two women stopped their bickering. Unaware of his thoughts, they assumed he fretted about his cultivation. Tang Cai’s admiration swelled silently: “Truly the man I chose! Ambitious and proud, unwilling to sink into obscurity! Even if he cannot return to his peak, I will marry no other.”

Moved, Tang Cai unconsciously held Chu Linfeng’s hand, comforting him: “Linfeng, I know what you’re thinking. Don’t be afraid; I’m always by your side.”

Hearing her words and feeling her touch, Chu Linfeng shifted from howling to wailing, tears streaming as he reached out: “Ah~ ah~ ah~ where’s the rest of the money?”

“Oh? Here it is!” Tang Cai snatched the bills from Tang Xie’s hand and handed them over.

Chu Linfeng stuffed the money into his pocket, sobbing, “What a loss! What a loss! Li Xiaoxue! You really tricked me!”

...

“Hack—hack!”

“What’s wrong, Xue’er? Caught a cold? You’re nearly at the half-step Skywalking realm; you shouldn’t be falling ill.”

(P.S.: Li Xiaoxue never revealed her steep drop in cultivation level; Li Chenqian did not perform any detection.)

“No, Father. Maybe last night’s energy exercise in the courtyard let some dust enter my nose, causing a mild allergy…”

In the Education Director’s Office at Kunlun Academy in the capital, Li Chenqian had been sitting there the entire night since helping Li Xiaoxue back.

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“All right, it’s noon now. Even if you don’t sleep, you must eat something. Without reaching the Immortality realm, you can’t fast properly. If you starve yourself, your body will seriously suffer,” Li Chenqian said with concern.

“Father, I really can’t eat. My mind is full of Chu Linfeng, Father…”

“You’re crying again.” Li Chenqian quickly searched for tissues on his desk. “Xiao Liu! Xiao Liu! Bring me a few packs of tissues!”

“Father, he has no cultivation, no money, didn’t even take his sword. Growing up without any special skills, just an eighteen-year-old boy inexperienced in the world. Now with beasts lurking outside, I worry about how he will survive.” Li Xiaoxue’s pain grew, tears flowing like pear blossoms in rain.

“Ah, this capital is so vast. Without cultivation, he can’t be detected by spiritual power. It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. It’s strange—Old Ge usually works diligently, but he dropped the ball at a crucial moment. If it weren’t so distasteful, I’d want to check when that scoundrel’s nest was made!” Li Chenqian slammed his palm on the desk in anger.

Startled, Li Xiaoxue fell to her knees.

“Father, I beg you! Let me go find him. I study here to look after and protect him! Without him, what meaning does my staying here have? Chu Linfeng was right—my cultivation is because of him, my life is because of him!”

“Nonsense! Get up now!” Li Chenqian stepped forward to help his precious daughter.

“If you refuse, I’ll stay kneeling!” Li Xiaoxue’s eyes reddened as she pleaded.

“Ah, fine, fine! You’ve troubled me all night. I can’t say no. You must be at half-step Skywalking by now. Ordinary beasts and cultivators won’t be your match. But remember, there’s always someone stronger. You’re just going to find someone; do not cause trouble. Take this communicator and keep in touch. If danger arises, contact me immediately! Find Chu Linfeng and bring him back right away—no sightseeing!”

Li Chenqian spoke anxiously, afraid he had forgotten something.

Li Xiaoxue’s eyes instantly brightened, tears turning to joy. “Thank you, Father! I’ll find him and bring him back without delay!”

Li Chenqian drew something on paper and handed it to her. “This is a pass. Don’t bring too many clothes; they’re useless. I’ll transfer funds to your communicator later. You haven’t been out alone for years. Feel free to visit the market and buy what you like. Go to reputable shops; avoid unsanitary street stalls.”

Li Xiaoxue snatched the pass, half-listening to his instructions, eager for him to finish so she could hurry out. “Got it! Got it! Father, anything else? If not, I’m leaving.” She turned before finishing her sentence.

“Xue!” Li Chenqian called.

“Ah!” Li Xiaoxue stopped and looked back.

“If you run out of money, tell me. Don’t suffer out there!”

“Got it.”

“Xue!” he called again.

“What is it, Father?” she asked, opening the door as she looked back.

“Bring an umbrella—it might rain suddenly. Hard to buy one then…”

“Oh, okay, got it.” The door creaked.

“Xue!” he called once more.

“What now!” she peeked out.

“Eat before you go. Don’t starve yourself…” Tears welled in Li Chenqian’s eyes.

Born the pearl of the family for eighteen years, yet never more than ten meters from her father’s side.

Thump—“It’s nothing! I’ll eat outside!”

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