Chapter 147: Eternal Spring

Boom!!

The last corpse tumbled off its horse.

Just now, when Chu Tianshu moved again, the intense blood qi spread out as pressure.

The horses and donkeys, already docile, froze in place, daring not to move.

The pirates screamed, trying to strike, but saw only an indistinct shadow flickering across the backs of different mounts.

Some corpses flew through the air; others rolled off their horses.

They bore no large wounds, yet their expressions of death were anything but peaceful.

Chu Tianshu leapt down from his horse, glanced around, then walked into the woods.

As a soldier soul forged from the Three Seven Divine Sword and nourished by the Lesser Yang Blood River Cart.

He could borrow the condensed willpower from the Three Seven Divine Sword, and when controlling his master’s body, draw sustenance from pure blood qi.

Unlike other soldier souls, he did not easily dissolve within his master’s body.

And as an embodiment of his master’s will in one aspect, he inherited none of his master’s other skills.

But he was excellent at fighting!

The soldier soul felt a small flicker of pleasure.

Hmm, this emotion was also an impurity—likely influenced by his master’s physical body.

His lips curled slightly, then returned to a blank expression.

He entered the woods, and after walking just over two li, found a clear stream, washed his hands, and sat on a nearby green stone.

The broken stones at the stream’s bottom lay still; the water’s flow was gentle.

Occasionally, leaves drifted onto the water, spinning lightly as they floated downstream.

Chu Tianshu appeared to be daydreaming, but was in fact savoring the scenery.

Soon after, he closed his eyes and listened with his ears.

When he opened them again, the sky was dotted with stars.

The moon had shifted westward; the starry sky was worth watching all night.

His master’s consciousness grew clearer.

The next morning, a large group entered the same grove of trees.

Though dawn had broken, the sun had not yet risen.

These people carried many torches, as if afraid of stumbling and twisting the county magistrate’s ankle.

The Yongchun County Magistrate appeared to be in his forties, of average height, with a slightly rounded belly but not yet fat face, and a glossy black beard.

“Where is the great hero? Quickly find the great hero!”

At the magistrate’s command, his numerous constables and servants spread out, whispering cautiously for the great hero.

They soon found Chu Tianshu, sitting motionless by the stream.

The magistrate gripped the men beside him—one a city guard, the other a tall, thin youth—and whispered, “Is this him?”

The city guard looked troubled—he’d only seen a distant back view; how could he recognize anyone?

He regretted not staying closer when the magistrate went to question the hundred-man captain.

“Look at the color of his clothes…”

The city guard said, “It must be him.”

The magistrate frowned and turned to the youth.

The youth said, “It’s him.”

“Hahaha.”

The magistrate laughed, straightened his robe, and stepped forward, bowing, “Great hero, I am Wang Jin, County Magistrate of Yongchun.”

“Yesterday, the pirates attempted to storm the city, but were stopped by you. Those soldiers were utterly careless—they finally ventured out, yet only cared to bring back the pirates’ corpses for credit, never thinking to seek your whereabouts.”

Just by examining the quality of the pirates’ weapons, one could tell.

These dozen or so were all skilled fighters.

Had they succeeded in infiltrating the city, who knows what chaos would have ensued?

Along the coast, there have been many precedents—dozens, or even just a few pirates, plunging entire towns into turmoil.

Though pirates sometimes had masters, they valued spectacle; if they planned major disturbances, they usually brought troops along.

When enemy numbers were slightly higher, it was easy to exaggerate reports to superiors.

But these pirates who crossed the sea were mostly reckless, ruthless men, sometimes allied with pirates, sometimes not; when they struck, their numbers were often too small.

Their numbers were obvious at a glance; word would spread, and it would truly disgrace the court.

Local officials who followed such incidents suffered terribly.

Magistrate Wang felt genuine relief after narrowly escaping death, and had spent the entire night pondering whether he could recruit this great hero.

Miraculously, after one night, the man had not gone far.

It seemed promising.

“For slaying the pirates, there shall be a generous reward, plus a plaque of honor. May I ask your esteemed name? Would you be willing to grace our city with a brief stay?”

Magistrate Wang spoke with utmost reverence.

But Chu Tianshu sat there, utterly motionless.

Magistrate Wang waited a long while, growing awkward, then studied Chu Tianshu’s profile—the man was young. A thought struck him.

“Great hero, Yongchun may not be a famed city, but we have several courtesans here, renowned far and wide—not only skilled in poetry, painting, and calligraphy, but also versed in Daoist and Buddhist scriptures.”

Magistrate Wang smiled, “A few years ago, a high monk from Southern Shaolin passed through; our city’s greatest literati gathered with him, and one courtesan even dressed as a man to join the discussion on Buddhist sutras.”

“Even the Southern Shaolin monk praised her greatly—it became a celebrated tale.”

“They’ve heard of your extermination of the pirates and hold you in deep admiration; they all wish to meet you at my banquet.”

Young men—none of them are immune to beauty.

Moreover, this speech gave him full face—those Southern Shaolin monks were both martial artists and revered, pure monks who could chat with beauties.

Then surely others could too.

Indeed, after these words, Chu Tianshu turned his face slightly toward him.

A banquet meant food.

His master’s consciousness had not fully returned; the condensed willpower in the Three Seven Divine Sword was finite, but blood qi could be restored through eating.

The pirate incident had reminded him—he should keep his body at peak condition.

So, were these people strange?

Chu Tianshu studied them carefully for a while. No malice. Then he would go.

Magistrate Wang beamed and led the great hero outward.

Only upon seeing his full figure did he realize the great hero was even younger than imagined.

Youth was good—so young, yet so powerful; surely a disciple of a prestigious sect.

But he had one flaw: he never spoke.

Throughout the journey, no matter how much Magistrate Wang and his men talked, Chu Tianshu uttered not a single word.

He wouldn’t even give his name—so they could only keep calling him “great hero.”

After leaving the woods, Magistrate Wang still offered his sedan chair, but Chu Tianshu simply walked straight toward the city.

Magistrate Wang had no choice but to follow; the sedan bearers, happy to carry an empty chair, trotted cheerfully behind.

Some in the city knew the magistrate had gone to find yesterday’s hero.

Now they saw Chu Tianshu enter the city gate, and the magistrate walking beside him—not riding in his chair.

The streets erupted in murmurs.

The townsfolk rose early; shops everywhere were open, selling breakfast.

As Chu Tianshu walked, he glanced northward, sniffed the air, turned, and entered a narrow alley.

Magistrate Wang hurriedly said, “Great hero, this way!”

Chu Tianshu ignored him, walking straight to a sesame cake stall before stopping.

The cake seller was not a gentle young woman, but an elderly couple.

A half-grown boy helped wrap the cakes.

Magistrate Wang arrived, smiling, “These sesame cakes are too common for a proper feast—my mansion has exquisite pastries…”

He saw Chu Tianshu had already reached out—his tone changed instantly.

“Those pastries are overhyped, but I personally adore these humble sesame cakes—true simplicity, the finest flavor in the mortal world.”

Chu Tianshu had already taken the cake and bitten into it.

Is this what it feels like to eat?

So inefficient—it can’t be absorbed directly like his master’s blood willpower.

But his master loved sesame cakes—so eat more.

Chu Tianshu kept shoving cakes into his mouth, cheeks puffing slightly, chewing quickly and cleanly.

Magistrate Wang had pretended to hold a cake, but watched as Chu Tianshu devoured five in moments.

Everyone nearby felt their throats dry just watching.

The tall, thin youth quickly ordered a cup of water and handed it to Chu Tianshu.

Chu Tianshu drank it without hesitation.

The tall, thin youth held the bamboo cup, ready to fetch more water, when cries echoed from the alley’s end.

A group of filthy, disheveled townsfolk were being driven away by constables.

“Officer, our houses were burned yesterday—we only want to find work in town, save a little money, then return home.”

“Get out, get out! Hundreds of you beggars flooding in at once—you have no idea how much trouble you’ve caused! When theft and robbery start, the jails won’t hold you all.”

“That’s right—not just you lot, everyone else will be driven out too. If you want work, go elsewhere. Why linger in the city?”

The tall, thin boy watched that scene, his face grim.

Chu Tianshu chewed his baked pancake, his gaze also turning toward them.

County Magistrate Wang constantly watched his movements; seeing this, his expression changed instantly. He turned and strode over, shouting at the constables.

The constable squad leader blinked in surprise. “My lord, isn’t this…?”

County Magistrate Wang whispered, “Shut up. Don’t you see the man who saved them yesterday is standing right there? Do you want to die?”

The squad leader exclaimed, “So you actually found him? Weren’t you supposed to invite him to your residence? Why is he here in this poor northwest district?”

“He must have deeper intentions.”

County Magistrate Wang stole a glance back, then shouted loudly, “Caring for the people’s welfare is our duty as parents to the people! Hurry and help them—find work for the able-bodied among them!”

“The women can find needlework or laundry tasks too.”

The constables thought: This will be such a hassle.

But since the magistrate had spoken, they dared not disobey.

Beside the pancake stall stood a pavilion.

Chu Tianshu ate, then sat down on the bench there—and stayed still.

County Magistrate Wang paid for the pancakes, tried several times to strike up conversation, but received no reply. Seeing he wouldn’t move, the magistrate felt helpless and finally took his leave, planning to return to the county office and gather a few clever men to figure out what was going on.

The few men the magistrate left behind carefully stayed by his side.

After a while, the tall, thin boy returned—with a large crowd following him. They arrived before the pavilion, fell to their knees, and bowed their heads, weeping and laughing.

Chu Tianshu sat steadily, watching, unmoving.

Is this gratitude?

A small joy stirred, like when he cleansed away malice.

But it was still impurity.

Chu Tianshu’s eyes flickered slightly; his expression returned to calm.

He was focused—only waiting for the master to fully return.

(End of Chapter)