Remould the Glory of Sword Art

With Xie Xuanyi's personality from ten years ago,

upon encountering a woman with an "unknown origin" like Shen Yan, the odds were extremely high that he would've ignored her, and sharing a carriage ride would have been absolutely impossible.

But now things are different.

He was curious; if everything that happened since he awoke in Yuzhu Town was "predestined," then what exactly did the person orchestrating from behind the scenes want to do.

He wanted to go to Qingzhou.

Shen Yan also wanted to go to Qingzhou.

The appearance, distress, and pleas for help from this woman were all too coincidental.

Xie Xuanyi, on the other hand, wanted to see what tricks this woman could play after entering the territory of Qingzhou.

Shen Yan became much more reticent.

It wasn't that she didn't want to speak.

But her previous probing had hit a wall, making it clear to her that no matter what she said, she probably wouldn't get a response.

This Mr. Xie, who appeared to be handsome, seemed uninterested in the opposite sex.

At least... uninterested in her.

So Shen Yan quietly changed into clean clothes, draped on a cloak, warmed herself by the brazier in the carriage, and voluntarily became a "mute."

Xie Xuanyi was happy for the peace, leaning against the carriage window to admire the scenery while sipping tea, all the while silently condensing the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

The Deng family's carriage sped along the final mountain road in the Northern County.

Withered leaves filled the sky, fluttering with the wind, a scene of desolation.

However, this tranquility didn't last for long...

"Hungry hungry!"

A milky voice broke the calm.

Shen Yan had already noticed a little girl dozing off in the carriage, her skin as white as porcelain, her hair a rare deep red, her face sweet, and although her features were youthful, one could see she had a bit of an exotic charm.

At first, she just took a second look at the little girl because of her "beauty."

Later, she gradually realized something was amiss.

This little one, she seems to be quite a sleeper, doesn't she?

The carriage had been jolting along the mountain road for four or five two-hour spans… from start to finish, the little girl's sweet snoring had never ceased.

At this moment, Jiang Huang, sleepy and dazed, slowly sat up, smacked her lips, and hugged Xie Xuanyi: "Daddy! Food!"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi heaved a sigh, took out some dry food, broke it open, and patiently fed the child bit by bit.

Jiang Huang wasn't picky, eating whatever was fed to her.

The whole feeding process was quite quiet. Jiang Huang looked half asleep, her eyes half-closed, quite well-behaved. After eating, she rubbed her face against Xie Xuanyi's clothes to clean her mouth, and contented purring sounds emerged from her throat. Having done all this... she smacked her lips, savored the moment, and then fell asleep again.

Shen Yan's expression was subtle, she didn't say a word throughout.

Not until Jiang Huang had gone back.

Only then did she ask in disbelief, "I didn't mishear, did I? What did she just call you?"

"You heard right, she called me 'Daddy.'

Just then, someone pulled back the curtain, and Deng Baiyi, brimming with vigor, made her return, sitting down next to Xie Xuanyi, opposite Shen Yan.

As for Jiang Huang's situation, Deng Baiyi had become accustomed to it after spending the last few days with Xie Xuanyi.

"Daddy?" Shen Yan gave him another look, teasingly said, "It seems Mr. Xie is older than I thought?"

Xie Xuanyi was helpless.

"Hmm... yes, I'm older than you think."

He answered, adding, "Actually, Jiang Huang is probably older than you think as well."

Shen Yan didn't continue on this topic.

Instead, she turned to Deng Baiyi, asking with a smile, "Miss Deng, you were doing just fine up front, what brings you back here?"

Of course, it was to give you a hard time!

Deng Baiyi adjusted her demeanor, responded with an equally cheerful expression, "Miss Shen, Fengsui City is just ahead, and the Qingzhou border checks are strict. You previously said the Shen Family had prepared the pass permits… may I know where they are?"

During this time, Deng Baiyi had calmed down and thought things through carefully.

Although she didn't know why Xie Xuanyi brought this woman into the carriage under whatever purpose,

there was far too little she knew about the Shen Family that Shen Yan mentioned.

After considering it, Deng Baiyi decided to carefully inquire before reaching Qingzhou.

Shen Yan remained silent for a moment, then bent down from her seat, reached in front of the brazier, and pulled out a stack of semi-dried clothes, which were the damp clothes she had changed out of: "To be honest, this is all of Shen Yan's belongings. The trip was going smoothly initially, but who would have thought, passing by the Wuwei River, suddenly bandits emerged, scattering the convoy, and I could only think of fleeing for my life, how could I have thought about pass permits?"

Deng Baiyi's eyes narrowed slightly.

This explanation was reasonable, but there was something that didn't add up.

Deng Baiyi continued, "So... with the pass permits gone, instead of thinking of going back, Miss Shen wants to continue to Qingzhou?"

Shen Yan shook her head, "I can't go back."

"The Shen Family's transaction was supposed to be confidential. Being ambushed on the road indicates a leak. Lingluo Mountain has substantial family assets and is not very peaceful on a regular day. I already have a good idea who the deliberate leaker is."

Shen Yan gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "Given that person's nature, since they have made a move, they will not easily let things slide. This ambush is just the beginning. If I turn back to Lingluo Mountain now, it would be a path to certain death. My only choice is to head to the Qing State to seek the help of a family that is on good terms with the Shen Family. Only then will there be a glimmer of hope to reclaim the sovereignty of Lingluo Mountain in the future."

This reasoning was indeed flawless.

Deng Baiyi cast a glance at the person beside her.

Having no personal stake in the matter and not wanting to get involved in the struggle between these two women, Xie Xuanyi closed his eyes, assuming the composure of a meditating monk.

"He may be a great benefactor, but I am not."

Deng Baiyi spoke without enthusiasm, "Let's be clear about one thing: if you want us to take you into the Qing State, fine. But there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Without proper documents to enter the border, why should the Deng Family take you along? Just because you claim to be the young miss of Lingluo Mountain?"

Shen Yan remained calm.

Looking directly into Deng Baiyi's eyes, she held up a finger and smiled, "Take me into the Qing State, for a thousand taels of gold."

Deng Baiyi was stunned.

A thousand taels of gold!

The Deng residence in Yuzhu Town was quite wealthy, but a thousand taels of gold was an amount they could never produce at any time.

In a time of peace and prosperity, a thousand taels of gold were enough to buy a luxurious mansion in the Great Chu Imperial City, hire dozens of servants, and live a carefree life!

Deng Baiyi started to waver.

Now, with one foot into the threshold of cultivators, and albeit with some difficulty, she was considered a Qi Refining Master. A thousand taels of gold didn't mean much to her, but she still needed to provide for the Deng residence… A thousand taels of gold was enough for her old man to live a comfortable and carefree life for the rest of his days.

"A thousand taels of gold is not enough!"

At this moment, Xie Xuanyi, who had been silent until now, spoke.

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "Miss Shen, you encountered troubles at Wuwei River and have been fleeing all this way… Traveling nearly a hundred miles is no easy feat. If it weren't for the 'Thousand Mile Talisman,' I'm afraid you wouldn't have been able to wade through the previous troubles."

Thousand Mile Talisman?

Deng Baiyi's eyebrows shot up!

"…"

Shen Yan instinctively shrank back.

This seemingly "dissolute" daughter of the Shen Family, although she changed her outer garment in front of Xie Xuanyi, had not changed her intimate clothing. In it, a talisman lay adhered against her pale skin, ceaselessly attracting the weak Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi toward itself every moment.

As a novice Qi Refining Master, Deng Baiyi had not noticed anything unusual.

But all this could not escape Xie Xuanyi's eyes.

From the first glance, he knew … Behind the supposed Shen Family of Lingluo Mountain, there was a cultivator in the shadows.

It was quite normal, really.

In the land of Northern County, where Primordial Energy is scarce and cultivators are few, if one wishes to claim a mountain and gain a reputation within the surrounding lands… Some substantial power is inevitably required for support.

If the Shen Family had a cultivator backing them, everything made sense.

"Master Xie, you have a keen eye,"

Shen Yan said with a soft laugh, "From the first glance, I knew you were no ordinary man. My father Shen Chongqi, and Deputy City Lord Xu You of Qingzhou Taian City, are sworn brothers and friends through life and death. This time, I'm entering Qingzhou to seek out that Deputy City Lord. If he is willing to help... the ordeal at Lingluo Mountain is nothing."

In the territory of Da Chu, there are nearly a thousand cities big and small. Taian City is not one of the larger ones, but the position of Deputy City Lord is not something just anyone can hold.

The "Xu You" mentioned by Shen Yan is at the very least a cultivator at the peak of the Qi-controlling Realm!

"In that case…"

Suddenly Deng Baiyi understood the meaning behind Xie Xuanyi's previous words, "What is gold in comparison to that?"

To a cultivator, gold and silver are mere external possessions, no different from dirt!

"Three Green Yuan Pills."

Xie Xuanyi said, "I will take you into the Qing State, to meet Taian City's Xu You. As compensation, you will need to pay me three Green Yuan Pills."

Shen Yan stared at Xie Xuanyi intently.

Green Yuan Pill... Of course, she had heard of it. It was a type of elixir that condensed a great amount of Primordial Energy into a pill, rare in quantity and priceless.

At least the Shen Family of Lingluo Mountain didn't have any.

"I have never seen such a thing."

Shen Yan bit her lip; she couldn't agree to this deal.

Green Yuan Pills were precious.

Those who could consume such medicine were certainly not ordinary cultivators.

"You don't need to have seen it. If that Deputy City Lord of Taian City truly is your father's life-and-death friend, then he certainly has it, and he won't be stingy with it,"

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "Three Green Yuan Pills for your safe entry, it's worth it."

Shen Yan took a deep breath and said earnestly, "That condition is beyond what I am capable of. I need to consider it properly."

"We're only a short distance away from Fengsui City now…"

Xie Xuanyi said with a leisurely smile, "Miss Shen, you'd better make your decision quickly. There isn't much time left for you."