Chapter 504: 478 River Water

Black Widow touched the sword behind her back and said, "This? I found this sword at that Qianqiu Tower."

In truth, she was very excited to have explored Qianqiu Tower alone and found a sword, one that just happened to be usable by her, becoming a Sword Student in one fell swoop. She had originally wanted to show off to Tang Zhao, but she hadn't expected that in the short time they were apart, Tang Zhao had already become a proper Sword Hero, and she couldn't help but feel that showing off was suddenly flavorless.

When Tang Zhao asked about it, she regained some interest and said, "I originally went to that tall building to search without intending to find anything real, but I didn't expect to enter a floor where colorful clouds and neon rainbows were hung all over. It was named Nixia Zhi Jian. In this room, a piece of white neon was draped over the floor..."

Tang Zhao's brows twitched, and he said, "White neon..."

Black Widow said, "Exactly, white neon. I had a sudden intuition at the time, what they call a flash of inspiration, so I lifted the white neon, and underneath there was actually a sword. It is this one I have."

She stroked the sword and said, "There were even words on that white neon, a message from a predecessor. I only knew after reading it that this predecessor was also named Bai Ni—just hearing this name, one knows she was a figure like a fairy. She passed through this place, knowing her time was short, and left the sword that had accompanied her for a lifetime in Qianqiu Tower for someone fated."

Tang Zhao said softly, "So it really was Bai Ni."

Black Widow said, "I am her fated person. Actually, I didn't read the text first at that time and didn't know this story; I picked up the sword first, and it matched me immediately. I realized then that this was my destined sword. There will never be a better sword than this in the world; even if that legendary Ruyi Sword were given to me, I wouldn't trade it."

Of course, that was just talk; in any case, she certainly couldn't get the Ruyi Sword. A thousand birds in the forest are not as good as one in the hand; what one can grasp is one's own. Anyway, she had already stepped on the land of the Xiancheng and obtained a sword in the Xian Tower, so rounding it up, it counted as an Immortal Sword.

Tang Zhao said, "Since you have settled on this sword, naturally you don't have the Jingzhe Sword, but do you still intend to be the Manor Master of Jingzhe Villa?"

Black Widow said, "Naturally. Although it was thanks to you at the beginning, I also won the Gu battle fair and square and legitimately won the position of Jingzhe Villa Master. Why shouldn't I be? Even if someone else took the Jingzhe Sword and claimed to be the orthodox successor to contend with me, I would bury them, person and sword alike, into the lightning-struck earth at the foot of the villa."

Tang Zhao said, "You can rest assured about that; even if someone has taken the Jingzhe Sword, they will absolutely not appear before you."

Black Widow looked at Tang Zhao with some curiosity, feeling that he seemed to already know someone had taken the Jingzhe Sword, but she did not ask deeply.

For a Sword Hero, asking less is the way to longevity.

Tang Zhao said, "Can you let me see the message from Bai Ni?"

Black Widow took the roll of white neon she had kept in her Storage Bag and gave it to Tang Zhao, who read it carefully by the roadside.

This text was undoubtedly from the hand of Bai Ni. He had seen her handwritten text several times, including Rune Characters and normal text, and now he was as familiar with her writing as one would be with a pen pal they had never met.

She had not left any key information on the white neon that wrapped the sword; instead, she recorded her own life: how she grew diligently in Suiyu, how she was favored by Dongjun through a twist of fate, how she lived and cultivated carefree in Tianwaitian, how happy it was to become a Sword Guest, and how exciting it was to break through to Sword Hero...

In short, every event mentioned here was a happy memory; there was no pain or sorrow between the lines.

Precisely because of that, it felt sorrowful.

Her recollection of her life stopped abruptly there; she did not entrust any final arrangements, only saying that her life was now at a critical moment and she wanted to leave her sword to those who came after. She had only one request: whoever held this sword must help the Jinwu Sword Sword Guest with all their might if they met them, and if they heard news of Dongjun, they were to record it on this piece of white neon and burn it for her; then she would have no more regrets.

Black Widow also remembered these words and said, "Since it is the last wish of this predecessor, I will naturally fulfill it. But isn't Dongjun a deity in a temple? What news could there be? Does this mean I have to be a Protector in the temple?"

Tang Zhao laughed, "That is certainly not it. If there is news of Dongjun when the time comes, you will inevitably know what it means. If there is none, then not knowing is fine."

Black Widow shook her head and smiled, "Now you are also speaking in such riddles."

The two chatted all the way back to Mu City near Xishan, where Xu Siyao and Yu Sichen were still waiting for them. Seeing the two return alive, Xu Siyao was naturally overjoyed—this meant she had at least preserved her life for this round.

Now that Black Widow was already a Sword Student, with higher status and greater strength, she no longer needed these petty tricks. She gave Xu Siyao the antidote as agreed and then had her go with her to Jingzhe Villa to clean up the mess. At this time, Tang Zhao had to set off to return to Zhongtian Prefecture, so the two parted ways.

The adventure sparked by a travelogue over a hundred years old came to a slight pause here.

Tang Zhao still had a sequel to this trip, but it had nothing to do with the two most loyal readers of "Cloud Immortal City".

After parting with Black Widow, Tang Zhao took the white fox and traveled day and night, rushing to Zhongtian Prefecture.

Outside Zhongtian Prefecture, by the banks of the Tongyang River.

The ferry crossing of the Tongyang River was bustling; that official ferry was a major transportation hub in the center of Yunzhou, with no time of rest day or night. Merchants and travelers of all kinds came and went, and boats of all sizes flowed incessantly.

Tang Zhao had seen such a scene the first time he came to Zhongtian Prefecture, and at the time he only felt that it was worthy of being the capital of Yunzhou, so prosperous. Now, however, he had different feelings.

Watching from the shore for a long time, scenes of the mortal world reflected in his eyes. He sighed softly, then turned and walked upstream.

Last time he came, he took a boat at the military ferry upstream, but this time he did not intend to take any boat.

Arriving at a quiet, deserted spot, Tang Zhao walked to the riverbank, rolled up his trouser legs, and walked into the river step by step, barefoot.

Ling Baoyu lay on top of his head curiously and said, "If you want to cross the river, you can just jump over it. Why go into the water? Do you want to play in the water?"

Tang Zhao said, "You could say that. I want to try the temperature of the river water."

Ling Baoyu said with disdain, "If you want to test the water temperature, you just need to touch it with your hand. Why walk into the river barefoot? You definitely want to play in the water!"

Tang Zhao gave a cheeky smile and stepped on the river water, walking step by step toward the center of the river.

The river water was unusually warm, completely lacking the chill of normal river water, just like a hot spring on a volcano, and it became warmer the further he walked toward the center.

People say the Tongyang River never freezes all year round, not only providing the benefits of irrigation and shipping but also warming the earth Qi of Yunzhou, allowing the northern land to produce ten thousand acres of fertile fields; it is truly a blessing of Tianyou for Yunzhou.

Looking at it now, it was hard to say whether this strange phenomenon was a blessing from the heavens or a disaster from above.

He walked in the water step by step, as light as if he were walking on solid ground. He stopped when he reached the center of the river and did not head to the opposite bank; instead, he followed the central axis and went upstream along the river course.

The further upstream, the sparser the human habitation. Except for the occasional boat drifting downstream on the river, both sides were covered in tall trees. Nourished by the Tongyang River water, they were evergreen all year round; although it was still the first month of the lunar year, there were green clouds like canopies, lush and verdant.

The river flowed leisurely. Tang Zhao did not look at the scenery on both sides; he kept his head down, his feet stepping on the water surface, as if he were focused on admiring the splashes of waves kicked up.

"The water of the Canglang is clear, it can wash my tassels; the water of the Canglang is muddy, it can wash my feet..."

"Good ballad."

Someone was heard clapping, "It would be even better if it were in tune."

Tang Zhao didn't need to look up to know who it was. He raised his head and said with a grin, "Could it be that Chief Xing has heard this ballad? Otherwise, how would you know I'm out of tune?"

A large ship was seen drifting down from upstream, without sails and with no one rowing, seemingly moving entirely automatically. A person stood on the ship, a large red cloak flapping loudly in the wind on the river surface, laughing, "I don't need to have heard this ballad to know you sang it wrong. Any ballad, its original tune cannot be this unpleasant."

Tang Zhao laughed, "Chief Xing, long time no see. You are still as dashing as ever, visible at a glance standing at the bow; truly, as they say, the embankment that stands higher than the shore will be destroyed by the waves."

Xing Ji laughed loudly, pointing at him, "You really are a Sword Hero now; your words have opened up, and you've been holding back to prick me, haven't you? Come up. I've been waiting for your arrival for a long time."

Tang Zhao didn't believe he had been waiting for him for long. From the time he told Xing Ji he was coming to Zhongtian Prefecture, it hadn't even been two days, and he hadn't delayed on the road. It wasn't easy for Xing Ji to arrive before him; perhaps he was just taking a boat back to Zhongtian Prefecture and happened to run into him.

This thought lasted until he boarded the ship. Just as he leaped onto the deck, he saw a spirited middle-aged man standing there. Tang Zhao was startled and exclaimed, "Commander?"

This person was none other than Commander Gongsun, the head of the Land Inspection Department. Unlike Xing Ji's flashy red cloak, he was not wearing his official uniform but was dressed in plain cloth like an ordinary merchant. Although his temperament was different, it was clear he was traveling in disguise and did not wish to reveal his identity.

He saw Tang Zhao, and a smile appeared on his serious face, much more enthusiastic than when they first met. He took the initiative to pat him and said, "Good lad, you really are a Sword Hero now. This speed is truly eye-opening. I now believe there are true heaven-favored children in the world. You are worthy of being a man of my Land Inspection Department. Come in quickly." He pointed to the cabin as he spoke.

Tang Zhao was about to be humble for a moment when his heart suddenly stirred, and he lowered his voice, "Commander, could it be that the Marquis..."

At this moment, the cabin door opened, and an elderly woman with silver hair, dressed simply yet still elegant and graceful, stood at the door, saying, "There is no Marquis here. The Marquis could not possibly come back from thousands of miles away just to wait for you based on a single word of yours. But your Xun Aunt can. The ship is quiet, and there are no outsiders, come in."

Tang Zhao agreed and hurriedly led the white fox toward the cabin, knowing that the Gaoyuan Marquis had made very meticulous arrangements. On the ship, with no land beneath and no sky above, surrounded by river water, it was naturally a good place for secrecy. With Sword Heroes like the Commander and Xing Ji, it was even safer. Although there were no heavy troops displayed, the level of respect was fully given.

Moreover, from the information he possessed, this was also the most suitable place to discuss that matter... one could even say there was a faint coincidence of heaven's will.

At this moment, the Gaoyuan Marquis spoke again: "Is this young lady a guest you invited? Have her come in as well."