When the man in the bamboo hat released his grip on the bamboo sword's hilt and instead gave a gentle pat on the shoulder of the handsome young man who had spun at the brink of death, the latter did not feel relief. Instead, he grew even more apprehensive. The confident smile that once illuminated his face had vanished; his body remained perfectly still as he croaked, "Senior, today's misunderstanding was my rashness."
In truth, this enigmatic figure who had appeared silently at his side and effortlessly pierced his vital point with an ordinary bamboo sword left no doubt—he was no match for this man. Perhaps only after ascending as the true deity of Qidun Mountain would he have the confidence to contend with him. Yet now, a thorny dilemma presented itself: should he stand firm and endure punishment, or muster his courage for a desperate struggle?
The moment the man's palm left the sword hilt, the ordinary bamboo sword lost its menace. Though a deity, even a minor local god like him was but a lowly official in the secular world's hierarchy. Yet gods are gods nonetheless. His golden body, tempered by countless incense offerings, rivaled the physique of a seventh-tier martial artist—especially since he had no mortal vulnerabilities. Thus, even pierced through heart and back, the wounds were not fatal. Paradoxically, the more nonchalant the man in the bamboo hat appeared, the more unsettled he felt.
He recalled how two terrestrial immortals had once casually annihilated his divine statue with supreme spells—an indifference far greater than any casual chess move. After his strike, the bamboo-hatted man resumed his playful, irreverent demeanor, removing a small gourd from his waist and swirling it gently. The scent of wine wafted through the air. Taking a long swig of potent liquor, he circled the young, handsome deity, clicking his tongue:
"You're quite the actor, and that white python of yours is no slouch either. Coupled with the violent black serpent, the performance was flawless. But your heartfelt reveal after your so-called triumph—that really appeals to me. Three laughs, splendid. I like it."
The black serpent and white python, now sentient and versed in human nature, began to withdraw in tandem as the bamboo-hatted man exchanged greetings with the young deity. The black serpent swiftly coiled into a defensive wall at the cliff's edge; the one-winged white python twisted and retreated obediently, bowing its head with meek submission. This was no mere pretense; their massive scales trembled from sincere emotion. They dared not meet the man's gaze.
With a single stroke of the bamboo sword, Arliang sealed their fate.
The young deity, embarrassed by the man's teasing, muttered, "Senior Arliang, you jest."
Arliang's smile faded. "Jest?"
Sensing a threat, the handsome deity assumed the bamboo-hatted man was merciless and would strike without warning. Panicked, he invoked his mountain spirit's power, his form softening like yellow clay, the earth churning beneath him. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, and the muddy ground returned to stillness.
With no body to support it, the green bamboo sword drooped. Arliang caught the sword, noticing three wide-eyed girls staring at him. He quickly straightened, planting the sword tip on the ground with a carefree gaze toward the sky.
Muttering under his breath, the bamboo-hatted man said, "Praise me, praise me hard. My two greatest virtues? I welcome criticism—I'll beat you senseless for it. And I endure all compliments, no matter how absurd or flattering."
Li Huai was the first to speak, running up to Arliang, inspecting him before asking, "Arliang, did you stop to take a dump on the way here? Lazy folks always have too many bathroom breaks. Do you know if you come any later, no one will be around to nag or pee with you? Then will you miss me?"
Arliang's carefully maintained facade cracked, and in embarrassment, he snapped, "I miss your mother and sister—just not you, ungrateful brat."
Uncharacteristically, Li Huai didn't retort, lowering his head with a faint sadness. Arliang sighed, tousling the boy's hair. "You're still alive, so why the long face? Enough, enough…"
Li Huai beamed, "Arliang, teach me a peerless martial art!"
"Can you endure hardship?" Arliang asked.
The boy shook his head seriously. "No, of course not. Don't you have a way to master invincible skills without suffering?"
Arliang's mouth twitched. "What do you think?"
Li Huai pouted and glanced sideways at the bamboo-hatted man. "Arliang, you disappoint me."
Li Baoping, carrying her small book box, smiled at Arliang before running to see Chen Ping'an.
Lin Shouyi approached Arliang with some hesitation but said nothing, only nodding for a private word.
Covered in blood, Zhu He sat cross-legged, looking fierce but unscathed in soul and essence. Wiping blood from his face, he laughed heartily, feeling exhilarated like never before—as if all the burdens within him had been swept away by this battle. His mind was clear; his body relaxed.
Zhu Lu ran to his side, tears streaking her face. Zhu He waved her off with a hearty laugh, "Girl, surviving great calamities means great fortune! I feel like I've grasped a breakthrough. The once-dormant crucial acupoints now show signs of new life. Don't underestimate this—it's a tremendous blessing for someone like me, whose martial path was once doomed!"
Worried, Zhu Lu cautioned, "Dad, don't talk so much—be careful not to tear the wounds."
Zhu He beamed, hands on knees, radiant and vigorous. "These are just minor injuries. If I endure another quarter hour or so, I might step into the sixth realm—provided I don't die in that beast's jaws."
Glancing toward the bamboo-hatted man, he gave a thumbs-up. "Arliang, when you reach Hongzhu Town, I'll treat you to that newly brewed apricot blossom wine!"
Arliang, facing away, waved off the praise, muttering, "Old Zhu, great favors need no thanks. Keeping it in my heart is enough; saying it aloud feels insincere."
Chen Ping'an accepted a small porcelain bottle from Li Baoping, an ancestral secret remedy from the Yang family—simple in use, to ease pain. After a brutal battle at the Immortal's Grave with Ma Kuxuan, he had used it once. Thanks to Arliang's timely arrival, it was no longer necessary. Though Chen Ping'an was still wracked with pain, it wasn't severe. The old man had warned that every medicine bore poison; especially after training, abusing elixirs undermines one's foundation.
Li Baoping, perceptive and caring, noticed the left hand gripping Chen Ping'an's chopper trembling uncontrollably. He reassured softly, "It's alright, just my body reverting temporarily, but if I'm right, this will bring greater benefits in time."
She nodded vigorously, trusting her junior uncle implicitly.
Arliang glanced around at the black serpent and white python, then discreetly pressed the sword tip an inch into the ground with increased force.
A terrified local deity who had fled to the mountain's depths suddenly felt as if struck by a heavenly thunderbolt—blood spattered as he fled, only a small green sword tip visible above the ground.
The elegant and refined young deity gritted his teeth and stomped. In the next instant, he erupted from the stone terrace like a sprouting bamboo shoot, clutching his wound, grimacing as he pleaded bitterly to the inscrutable bamboo-hatted man, "I beg the great immortal, spare me your games."
After his return, the young girl Zhu Lu gasped in shock, her emotions erupting unexpectedly. Standing, she shouted to Arliang, "Kill them!"
Arliang turned with a smile toward the furious girl. "Why kill them? They bear no grudge against us."
Her delicate face twisted, she pointed accusingly at the bamboo-hatted man. "No grudge? Those two beasts nearly devoured us! And this local deity of Qidun Mountain is the mastermind!"
Arliang, enlightened, glanced at the anxious young deity and then at the black serpent and white python. "You want to eat me? You? Or you?"
The mountain deity and the two serpents shook their heads vigorously.
Shaking with rage, the girl sobbed, "My father nearly died, we all almost died!" Tears blurred her vision as she stared at the stranger. "You clearly have the power to eradicate evil for the people. Why don't you? These two vile beasts abuse their positions, harming travelers instead of protecting them. Why can't you, Arliang, kill them?"
Arliang was silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Ha! That tone sounds like an unwed bride scolding me. No, no—I actually prefer women a bit older, fully blossomed…"
He drew his bamboo sword from the ground, sheathed it, then made a mischievous gesture with both hands. "That's more my style."
The girl blinked, snapping sharply, "You're utterly unreasonable!"
Zhu He struggled to his feet, patting his daughter's shoulder sternly. "No rudeness, no rashness. Leave it to Senior Arliang to handle."
Zhu Lu whirled around, staring into the distance, her face a mask of grievance and fury.
Arliang looked at Chen Ping'an, who nodded, "Arliang, you decide."
Arliang stretched lazily, "Very well,
we'll test them."
With a wave of his hand, the bamboo sword glowed faintly green, weaving a faint mist of qi. The two serpents' scales shimmered in the twilight.
The air thickened; a battle of wills ignited quietly on the mountain cliff.