Author's Note: This plot is quite important and will be a bit longer, but I will try to keep it engaging. After this segment, Fang Chen will comprehend his own sword intent, which will contain some foreshadowing for future events. I hope I can write this part well.
Seeing this scene, Third Master Black's subordinates panicked and began shouting. Some tried to seize the opportunity to advance, but as they took a few steps forward, they heard Third Master Black let out a painful scream.
Fang Chen laughed. "Take another step, and I will kill him!"
"Stay where you are!" Third Master Black bellowed angrily.
Feeling Fang Chen's firm grip on him, Third Master Black's expression darkened. He could only softly say, "What do you want?"
Gu Shuai and the others were visibly astonished at the turn of events, completely unable to believe that the blind Fang Chen, who only had a mortal body, displayed such agility.
Zhu Kui's eyes lit up slightly. "He… was likely a martial artist before becoming a cultivator."
This was good news for them; having a martial artist backing them would surely make things safer.
"You can take the gamble. After all, I'm a blind man with a worthless life. Why would a dignified person like you fear me?" Fang Chen replied indifferently
Third Master Black looked conflicted, and suspicion swam in his eyes. "Have you served in the military?"
Fang Chen nodded lightly. "Sort of."
Third Master Black seemed to recall something and suddenly cast a surprised glance at Gu Shuai and Bu Qingyun, his expression shifting slightly.
"Fine, I'll leave with my men. However, someone will deal with Gu Shuai. Even if I don't take action, others will. He offended Master Lin Biao. If you want to live peacefully here, it's best if you go over and sincerely apologize," Third Master Black said solemnly.
Fang Chen remained noncommittal as he led him to the courtyard entrance. Once his subordinates had left, he slowly released his grip and took a couple of steps back.
At this moment, the distance between him and Third Master Black was only two or three steps apart.
Third Master Black moved his neck a bit, his gaze dark as he stared at Fang Chen. Seeing Fang Chen standing still with an indifferent expression, he ultimately just snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Before he left, he gave a deep glance at the wooden sign.
The nearby neighbors were astonished, not expecting that the strongest among these outsiders would be this blind man. If he could force Third Master Black to retreat even with his sight gone, what if he could see?
"Daoist Ji, thank you very much for your help," Bu Qingyun said as he stood up, brushing off the dust from his clothes and cupping his fist in salute to Fang Chen.
Gu Shuai also thanked him with a gloomy face, his gaze fixed on the retreating figures of Third Master Black and his men.
"No need to be polite. We're all in the same boat," Fang Chen said softly. "What's the story behind this Bodyguard Lin that Third Master Black mentioned? How did Gu Shuai offend him? We might have to stay here for a while, so we must resolve this trouble."
Bu Qingyun sighed lightly. "Speaking of this matter, it's not entirely Gu Shuai's fault. Bodyguard Lin planned to pocket the goods belonging to the owner, and Gu Shuai happened to see it, so he reported it. Unexpectedly, not only did the escort head not care, but it also made Bodyguard Lin hate Gu Shuai."
"If possible, we should try to resolve it," said Fang Chen, nodding gently and turning to go back into the inner room.
"I'll handle this myself and won't drag you down. I also want to see if there's a way to escape," Gu Shuai said, staggering as he left the courtyard.
Fang Yunmeng looked worried. "It seems Gu Shuai intends to do something reckless…."
The next day, some officials came to ask them a few questions. It was then that they learned someone had died in Stone River County, and the deceased was none other than Bodyguard Lin. At the same time, Gu Shuai had also gone missing.
After the officials left, everyone looked at each other in silence. It was clear that Gu Shuai had killed Bodyguard Lin. If Gu Shuai didn't want to die in the illusion, he should have already left River Stone County.
"When will we be able to escape... We are cultivators... yet…. Sigh..." Zhu Kui lamented, slowly making his way back into the house.
A few days later, a couple from the neighborhood brought a sturdy, spirited child to the courtyard and brought a pot of duck soup for everyone.
Zhu Kui drank the soup while chewing on the duck meat. He couldn't help but say, "Next time, let's have chicken soup. The duck is too tough; my old teeth can hardly handle it anymore."
Fang Yunmeng and Bu Qingyu exchanged apologetic glances at the couple, looking a bit embarrassed.
The woman was petite and delicate-looking, while the man was tall and muscular, resembling a blacksmith.
The blacksmith wore a hearty smile. He looked at Fang Chen and asked, "Young Master Ji, could my son come under your guidance to learn martial arts?"
"I'll take a look at his bones," Fang Chen replied casually. [1]
The blacksmith was instantly delighted and immediately pushed his spirited little boy in front of Fang Chen.
Fang Chen reached out to feel the boy's bones a few times and then nodded. "He has the talent for martial arts, but you must have seen the wooden sign outside, right? It's one tael of silver a month. Can you afford that?"
The blacksmith chuckled. "That's no problem. I can earn eight or nine taels of silver a month from blacksmithing. If my son learns martial arts in the future, he won't have to toil away at the forge like I do."
Eight or nine taels of silver?
Zhu Kui, Fang Yunmeng, and Bu Qingyu paused for a moment, then a thought collectively sprang to their minds—that's a lot!
"Alright, starting tomorrow, he can come over for four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon," Fang Chen said, nodding.
The little boy immediately bowed in reverence at the blacksmith's signal. "Zhao Hu greets master!"
The blacksmith couple wore joyful smiles. To them, the fact that Fang Chen could easily drive away someone like Third Master Black meant their son would surely have a promising future under his tutelage.
After the three left, Zhu Kui picked at his teeth while saying, "I've been thinking about this for a while. Do you think this illusion might be a trial from the immortal sect? We may need to comprehend some kind of 'intent' to break free?"
Bu Qingyu looked surprised. "A trial from the immortal sect? Isn't that the final test of the Ancient Immortal Road? How could we already be at the last stage when we've just entered this place…."
"The Ancient Immortal Road is so mysterious that no one can say for certain if it follows a set pattern," Zhu Kui replied. "I've already looked into it. If this was really the first trial, it wouldn't be so devoid of clues, nor would it be this difficult.
"It's possible that the six of us have already caught the attention of a certain immortal sect and are being directly subjected to the final assessment. If we comprehend the intent, we might become Immortal Seedlings right away."
The others fell into deep thought at his words.
"Intent... sword intent, saber intent?" Fang Chen pondered.
As soon as he said that, Fang Chen, Fang Yunmeng, and Bu Qingyu's pupils dilated.
The immortal realm? Wasn't the passage already closed?
1. In the Chinese context, taking a look at one's bones(or feeling the bones) is a way to tell a person's fortune as well as to read their character. ☜