The Path Toward Heaven

Chapter 68: Listening to Frogs Croaking

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Returning to the kitchen behind the Inn, the waiter slumped onto a bench, feeling lost and speechless for quite some time.

His colleague thought something was odd, asking, “What had happened?”

The waiter rubbed his face several times to clear his head, when coming back to his senses, he said, “You know what? I just saw the most beautiful face in the world.”

The colleague was startled for a brief moment, then said with a smirk, “How beautiful could that be? It’s impossible for a woman to be more beautiful than the Green-Silk Lady?”

The Green-Silk Lady was the most popular prostitute in Shangzhou City, and was talked about the most by these poor youngsters during their daily chatting. Of course, they most likely didn’t have the chance to see what this Green-Silk Lady looked like with their own eyes; but as far as they were concerned, the Green-Silk Lady was definitely the most beautiful woman in the whole world, even being regarded as a fairy lady.

The colleague left the kitchen holding the dishes after saying that.

The waiter was still feeling uncertain, thinking the Green-Silk Lady was in no way as attractive as that person...though that person was a man.

Suddenly he thought of one possibility, his eyes beaming in excitement, and he started praying with his hands crossed in front of his chest.

“Immortal Master above, please take me with you.”

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...

Room of Celestial A.

Looking at Jing Jiu, Zhao Layue asked seriously, “How did he find out our identity?”

She couldn’t quite understand it since that waiter was apparently a regular person.

Jing Jiu made a gesture on his own face with his hand after a moment of hesitation.

Zhao Layue understood the reason now, and said while shaking her head, “You’d better cover up your face from now on.”

Jing Jiu felt that it wasn’t his fault.

Thinking of something, Zhao Layue asked, “Who is the Green-Silk Lady that guy was talking about?”

Jing Jiu thought for a while and said, “She is a prostitute in one of the brothels.”

“I know, the brothel is a place where women accompany men drinking and having fun,” said Zhao Layue.

“It’s right. I have read about it in the books,” said Jing Jiu, nodding his head.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Layue said, “Honestly, I really don’t understand what’s on these mortal men’s mind. What’s the point of doing this?”

“I agree with you,” said Jing Jiu.

Zhao Layue changed the topic, asking, “I have a question: Why do you insist on walking on foot?”

She had been riding the flying sword for three years, and she always found it exciting and enjoyable to ride the sword.

Jing Jiu knew she was new at sword riding, which is why she found it interesting and stimulating, but he had grown bored of it long ago, and he was still in the State of Inherited Will, so it was not a comfortable experience being blown by wind in the air, even though he wasn’t afraid of the cold wind.

“It’s really cold,” he told Zhao Layue with a serious expression. “It’s still too cold and windy, even though I have the Sword Source to protect myself.”

He had left the Green Mountain a few times in the past, riding his sword and traveling around the mortal world for certain matters.

Without Inns, carriages, and travelers, he only experienced constant wind and never-ending clouds.

Once in a while, a few flashes of sword light could be seen on the horizon, though the other person didn’t get close to him, merely bowing in reverence to him from a distance and then backing away when they discovered his sword light.

When Master Lü brought Jing Jiu and Liu Shisui to the Green Mountain from the small village a few years ago, he chose to walk on foot rather than ride the sword. Jing Jiu wasn’t used to it at first, but soon he found it really wonderful to walk on foot.

While walking on the ground, one could see and enjoy various scenes.

The ash tree was quite different from the willow tree; the spring stream was also different from the brook.

He could see all these scenes on the mountains, but the scene there did not change as quickly as here.

Though the clouds in the sky were changing unpredictably into a variety of shapes, they were still just clouds.

One could hear the frogs croaking while walking on the road, unlike when riding the sword, where you could only hear the roaring wind.

“I have a question as well.”

Jing Jiu turned toward Zhao Layue and asked, “Why do we have to go to Chaonan City?”

Zhao Layue asked, “Who is this Big Sister?”

“You are,” Jing Jiu replied.

Zhao Layue asked further, “Who is the Peak Master?”

Jing Jiu suddenly felt somewhat regretful about the arrangement.

“Simply listen to me; don’t ask so many questions.”

Having said that, Zhao Layue sat back down on the floor, continuing her Cultivation practice.

She moved her lips slightly with her eyes closed, after which a small red sword flew out.

The small sword returned to its original shape when encountering wind, which was that of the Thoughtless Sword.

Hovering quietly in midair, the Thoughtless Sword gave off many traces of unrecognizable energy that settled down on Zhao Layue.

Jing Jiu went to bed, falling asleep right after he closed his eyes.

He woke up after three hours, which was enough rest time for him.

Sauntering over to the window, he looked at Shangzhou City under the night sky.

It was quite late that night, and the city was very quiet; it felt even more peaceful when the bamboo flute rang out in the distance.

Zhao Layue opened her eyes, glimpsing at him as she asked, “Since you have nothing to do, why not practicing Cultivation?”

She had been eager to ask Jing Jiu this question when they were on the Green Mountain, but now they were in this strange city, she finally brought out the question.

Jing Jiu didn’t reply because he didn’t know how to explain it.

He had entered the State of Inherited Will in the summer, the Sword Pill being newly formed, and he could drive his sword within three hundred yards easily, sending his sword to wherever his enemy was with lightning speed, even before they could detect it.

Afterwards, he needed to use the Sword Source to temper the Sword Pill until the two sword elements combined into one; then, he would be able, like Zhao Layue, to insert the sword into the Pill, having entered the State of the Undefeated by then.

Zhao Layue had been cultivating very diligently on Sword Peak for two years, using the dangerous method of the Tempered Will of the Sword, so she had shortened the procedure a great deal. And she had been practicing the Nine Deaths sword style, which was perfectly suited to her temperament and qualities, so she could reach the State of the Undefeated in such a short period of time.

Jing Jiu couldn’t repeat her process due to his special condition, especially at the key time of trying to reach the State of the Undefeated; he needed to be careful with each step. So he had to do as he did before, relying on time, which was the most magnificent and also the most subtle force, to move up his Cultivation states slowly. Of course, he had been taking the necessary magic tablets, but their effects were limited; the remaining effort was still expressed in one word: waiting.

The trouble was, they left in a hurry this time, as he had to see the White Ghost and to speak to Gu Qing, so he forgot bringing his ceramic plate and sand with him, feeling a bit bored at the moment.

Zhao Layue was surprised to find Jing Jiu feeling bored.

For practitioners, boredom was an impossible emotion.

If you had time, you should cultivate, practice sword work, or contemplate the heavenly and earthly secrets, how could you feel bored?

She perhaps didn’t know that Jing Jiu had no need to do all these things anymore.

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...

The Zhaixing Pagoda was the highest spot in Shangzhou City, and also was the hot spot for tourists.

Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue didn’t come here to appreciate this famous building.

Standing on the highest level of the pagoda with their conical hats on, they were watching a well-lit wooden building not far away.

Looking at the building, Jing Jiu asked, “Is this the brothel?”

Zhao Layue looked at that building, feeling curious as well.

She of course knew what the brothels were as she heard talking about it among her family members, but she never had chance to see it herself.

The distance between the Zhaixing Pagoda and the brothel building was more than one thousand yards, but their sensitive sight and hearing could clearly see the scenes inside and hear clearly the sounds and dialogues inside.

They could hear the flute sounds mixed with moaning, and see the rolling and shoving of naked quilts under the red quilts behind windows.

Watching wide-eyed in that direction, Zhao Layue said with a hint of surprise, “It is actually like this!”