Guarding the Pure Land

Once again, Tianhua set foot on the road leading to Shancheng Town. However, this time, he felt less at ease in his heart. Besides attending to his own affairs, he now carried a small burden.

Tianhua walked slowly, feeling the warmth of the sunlight on his body. As he reached a tree, he sat down, plucked a long blade of grass from the ground, and held it in his mouth, leaning against the tree.

In the distance, he seemed to hear the slow approach of hoofbeats. Upon hearing the sound, Tianhua had a strange thought: could someone else have been captured? But as he contemplated, a smile formed on his face.

The hoofbeats drew nearer, and Tianhua, seeing only one person, stopped paying attention. The rider passed by Tianhua. After a while, he returned, halted in front of Tianhua, and dismounted, walking towards him.

Curious, Tianhua scrutinized the newcomer—a middle-aged man of average height with a slightly plump build. He wore a short sword at his waist. Seeing the sword, Tianhua's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he remembered Lu Yunshan's words. The man was Cheng Kong, who had gone to find Zou Ming.Cheng Kong tied his horse not far from the tree and then sat down next to Tianhua. Initially, Tianhua was a bit puzzled, but when he saw the short sword at Cheng Kong's waist, everything seemed to make sense.

"Young man, I have something to ask you," Cheng Kong said.

"Go ahead," Tianhua replied.

"I'm looking for someone, a young person with excellent skills. Zou Ming didn't have a chance to retaliate before being defeated. I want to know if you've seen this person," Cheng Kong explained.

"Why are you looking for him?" Tianhua inquired.

"Because we're looking for a couple," Cheng Kong replied.

"If you're looking for a couple, why bother with that young man?" Tianhua asked.

"Because that young man knows their whereabouts," Cheng Kong explained.

Hearing Cheng Kong's words, Tianhua felt a sense of relief. It seemed they had identified him as the target, ensuring Lu Yunshan and the others' safety.

"I'll tell you where that young man is. Are you confident you can capture him?" Tianhua asked.

"Not entirely, but I want to give it a try," Cheng Kong said.

"Long Sword Cheng Kong?" Tianhua asked.

Cheng Kong glanced at him and said, "It seems Lu Yunshan told you quite a bit."

"Yes, but I don't need to know too much," Tianhua said.

"Oh? Are you that confident?" Cheng Kong asked.

"It doesn't require much confidence. Just a bit of time," Tianhua said.

"Young man, your confidence seems a bit too much," Cheng Kong mocked.

"Whether it's too much or not, you'll find out soon enough. If you're willing," Tianhua said.

"Willing?" Cheng Kong asked in confusion.

"Of course, you can choose not to face me, and we can both be comfortable!" Tianhua said.

Cheng Kong laughed. It was the first time someone spoke to him like this, especially someone he intended to kill. However, deep down, he had a feeling that this young man might just be able to back up his words.

"But I'm willing! Publicly, I have orders to follow, and privately, I'm curious about your moves," Cheng Kong said.

"Alright then, since that's the case, we don't have much to talk about. Go ahead and make your move!" Tianhua said.

Cheng Kong watched Tianhua leaning against the tree, facing forward. He quietly observed him, and at that moment, Tianhua inexplicably closed his eyes. Cheng Kong felt a slight joy; he thought that in such a relaxed state, Tianhua would be an easy target. Suddenly, he unsheathed his sword and thrust it towards Tianhua.

Thinking he had the upper hand, Cheng Kong smiled. However, the sword ended up stuck in the tree trunk. Cheng Kong looked around, and to his surprise, Tianhua was standing by his horse. Cheng Kong stared at the embedded sword, a sense of shock growing within him. When did he leave? The speed...

"You're too impatient," Tianhua said with a smile.

Cheng Kong pulled out the sword and faced Tianhua, saying, "You're the fastest opponent I've ever encountered in my life."

Tianhua looked at him without speaking, and Cheng Kong suddenly flicked the short sword. The short sword extended, and Tianhua realized that Lu Yunshan's description was correct—the sword was quite long. The long sword appeared soft, its tip resembling a snake's head, fixed on Tianhua.

The long sword danced, a myriad of silver lights filling the air. Tianhua had never seen such an unusual attack. Zou Ming's attacks were limited to concealed weapons and speed, but Cheng Kong's long sword seemed to twist around him, the blade meandering, as if seeking an opportunity for a lethal strike. Tianhua sought an opportunity and noticed a small gap in the sword circle. Seizing the moment, he jumped out of the attack range and leaped to the side, creating distance.

The long sword swept towards him, the tip aiming for his throat. Tianhua began to feel a bit anxious as he perceived the imminent threat. He hastened his pace, leaping to the side again and widening the gap.

The long sword whirled, striking towards him, but Tianhua suddenly turned around, shouting loudly. The sword was repelled, flying far away and embedding itself in the ground.

Cheng Kong, witnessing the turn of events, felt a shock. In his mind, unease began to grow. He did not understand how Tianhua managed to deflect his flying sword. Tianhua observed the distant sword and Cheng Kong's sword hilt, realizing that the short sword could extend into a long sword, facilitating close-range attacks. The middle part connecting the sword blade and hilt was likely a mechanism allowing remote attacks, reaching lethally far distances.

"Your long sword is quite special!" Tianhua remarked.

"Indeed, it's unique!" Cheng Kong said.

"Since it can fly, that's something I've never heard of!" Tianhua commented.

"Everyone knows my short sword can extend into a long sword, and its techniques are tricky and challenging to defend against. Before, the people I killed all died under my long sword. Everyone thought that was my strongest move, so they called me Long Sword Cheng Kong. However, they didn't know my most formidable technique is the flying sword! And you're the first one to witness it after I perfected it!" Cheng Kong exclaimed with excitement.

"So, I'm lucky," Tianhua said.

"Unfortunately, the flying sword doesn't seem to be very effective against you," Cheng Kong said, looking at the sword hilt in his hand and the distant sword with a somewhat disappointed expression.

"If today, I only had speed and nothing else, perhaps I would have been defeated by you," Tianhua said.

"But now, I am the one defeated," Cheng Kong admitted.

"You admit defeat?" Tianhua asked in surprise.

"At the beginning, I had some confidence in facing you. When you repelled my flying sword, I knew I was defeated," Cheng Kong said.

"But that's just a move; it doesn't determine the outcome," Tianhua argued.

"You may see it as a move, but for me, I have indeed lost. You managed to evade my flying sword, and I have no idea what technique you used. From this perspective, the result is clear," Cheng Kong explained.

Cheng Kong raised his wrist, and the flying sword retracted, the long sword shrinking back into a short sword. He sheathed the sword and walked towards his horse, preparing to leave.

Tianhua silently watched Cheng Kong, who was about to leave, and said, "You and Zou Ming are both killers, but I believe you're good people at heart."

Cheng Kong laughed after hearing Tianhua's words. Then, he exclaimed loudly, "Good people! You're the first one to say that in all these years! Good people! Ha… hahaha..."

"Since you don't have killing as your ultimate goal like an assassin, why do you stay under Mu Xiong?" Tianhua asked.

"Life doesn't allow everyone to live the way they want. Everyone has their unspeakable difficulties. I have mine, and you have yours," Cheng Kong said with a touch of helplessness.

Just as Tianhua was about to speak, Cheng Kong continued, "As a good person, let me give you a piece of advice. Be cautious when you encounter Kong Xu. Be careful!"

Having said that, Cheng Kong galloped away, leaving Tianhua standing there, watching his departing figure.

Tianhua returned to the tree, leaned against it, and thought about his battle with Cheng Kong. After a while, he picked up his bag and continued on his journey.

Soon, Tianhua arrived at the entrance of Shancheng Town. The town was surrounded by high walls, and Tianhua marveled at the sight. Through the city gate, he saw a bustling crowd within. Excitedly, Tianhua walked through the gate and into the town. Curious, he observed the various goods being sold along the streets. Most of the items were new and unfamiliar to him, and he approached everything with a sense of wonder.

Tianhua strolled through the town, unaware of the passing time. As dusk approached, the setting sun illuminated Shancheng Town. People were closing their stalls and heading home, and the streets were gradually emptying. Tianhua, watching the dispersing crowd, aimlessly wandered through the streets.

While walking, he suddenly caught a whiff of a delightful fragrance. Following the scent, he arrived at a restaurant. The establishment wasn't large, but it seemed popular. Looking at the sign that read "Mountain City Restaurant," Tianhua peered inside and saw a lively scene with many patrons.

This was the restaurant where Zou Ming had drunk the night before.

Tianhua stood outside the restaurant, smelling the delicious aroma of food, and couldn't help but exclaim, "So fragrant!"

His praise seemed to reach the ears of the owner. Han Lao Ban, a man in his thirties with a slightly plump build, wearing a friendly smile, approached Tianhua, warmly inviting him inside.

"Brother, come in and have a seat!" Han Lao Ban said.

"Sure!" Tianhua agreed, and Han Lao Ban led him inside. Once seated, Han Lao Ban poured water for Tianhua and asked with a smile what he would like to order.

Tianhua glanced around, observing what others were eating. Seeing his curiosity, Han Lao Ban chuckled and suggested, "Brother, how about I recommend some signature dishes from our little establishment?" Tianhua nodded, and Han Lao Ban, still smiling, went inside to make arrangements.

In no time, the dishes arrived one by one. Tianhua, looking at the food, couldn't help but be amazed. The aroma filled his senses, and he felt his mouth watering.

"Brother, would you like some wine?" Han Lao Ban asked with a smile.

Tianhua hesitated, unfamiliar with the concept of wine. Seeing people at nearby tables pouring a liquid from a small bottle into cups and drinking, he realized it was probably wine. Curious about its taste, he said, "Alright, bring me some."

Han Lao Ban laughed, and Tianhua's words seemed to amuse him. He watched as others poured a liquid into cups and decided to try it. Tianhua wondered about the taste.

"Okay, boss, give me some!" Tianhua said.

"Alright, coming right up!" Mr. Han immediately grabbed a bottle of wine from the counter and placed it in front of Tianhua.

Tianhua looked at the bottle of wine, poured himself a glass, took a sip, and felt that the wine had no particular taste in his mouth. However, after swallowing, a spicy sensation pierced through his throat to the depths of his heart. Tianhua hastily stuck out his tongue, exclaiming, "So spicy! So spicy..." Mr. Han, standing beside him, chuckled.

"Is it your first time drinking, young man?" Mr. Han asked with a smile.

"Yeah! Why is this stuff so spicy?" Tianhua inquired.

"The first time drinking is like this. You'll get used to it after a few more times!" Mr. Han explained.

"Why do they seem so happy drinking this stuff?" Tianhua pointed to the people around, puzzled.

"Drinking during happy times makes you happier. When you're troubled or sad, alcohol can help you temporarily forget your worries," Mr. Han said.

Tianhua looked at Mr. Han with confusion, evidently struggling to understand. Mr. Han, sensing Tianhua's perplexed gaze, remarked, "At your age, it's hard to understand. But one day, when you have troubles in your heart, you'll understand!"

After Mr. Han finished speaking, Tianhua's dishes arrived. Mr. Han said, "Young man, enjoy your meal. I'll take my leave for now!"

Tianhua looked at the dishes on the table, then glanced at the wine bottle. After a moment of contemplation, he poured another glass. However, this time, he didn't drink it hastily; instead, he sipped it slowly. As he did, he felt the wine gaining flavor, and the dishes became even more fragrant.

Unconsciously, the night fell, the restaurant's lights came on, and the diners gradually left. Tianhua finished his meal but remained seated instead of leaving. Initially, Mr. Han didn't pay much attention, thinking it was normal for customers to rest after a meal. However, he later realized that something seemed off; Tianhua showed no intention of leaving. Mr. Han considered going to ask but hesitated.

As it turned out, Tianhua, after finishing his meal, remembered that he had forgotten to bring the money his grandfather had given him when he left at noon. Knowing that everything outside required money and he had none, he didn't know how to explain it to the boss. So, he sat there, waiting for the boss to approach and address the matter.

The two waited for each other. When everyone in the restaurant had left, leaving only Tianhua, Mr. Han approached and asked, "Young man, are you waiting for someone?"

Tianhua looked at Mr. Han, feeling embarrassed, and then somewhat timidly said, "Boss, I forgot to bring money when I came out!"

"Hehe, I thought it was something serious! It's okay. You go back first. When you come next time, you can settle the bill," Mr. Han said with a smile.

"But what if I don't come again?" Tianhua asked in confusion.

"Hehe, the cost of this meal isn't much. Even if you don't pay, it's fine!" Mr. Han said with a smile.

Tianhua looked at the boss, expressing gratitude with his eyes, and then said, "Boss, I don't have money, and I don't think I'll have money in the future. How about I do something for you?"

Mr. Han looked Tianhua up and down, then asked, "Young man, what do you do? What brings you to Mountain City Town?"

"I just came to take a look around the town," Tianhua said.

"Just to take a look?" Mr. Han asked with some confusion.

"I've been in my hometown for a long time, so I wanted to see what it's like outside!" Tianhua explained.

"Oh, I see. How long do you plan to stay here?" Mr. Han asked.

"I think I'll leave after getting to know Mountain City Town," Tianhua said.

"In that case, you'll need to stay for quite some time. How about this? I happen to be in need of some temporary help in the store. You can stay here, help out when it's busy, and wander around when it's not. What do you think?" Mr. Han suggested.

Tianhua was surprised and struggled to find words for a while. Finally, he said, "Boss, aren't you afraid I might be a bad person?"

"Haha, judging by your appearance, I believe you're not a bad person!" Mr. Han said with a smile.

Tianhua was about to say something when Mr. Han continued, "How about it? What do you think?"

Tianhua nodded and said, "Okay!"

"That's settled then. By the way, what's your name?" Mr. Han asked.

"I'm Tianhua," Tianhua said.

"Tianhua! Nature and transformation! Great! Great name!" Mr. Han exclaimed with a smile.

Tianhua also smiled upon hearing this.

"My surname is Han. Everyone calls me Boss Han. If you don't mind, you can call me Uncle Han!" Mr. Han said.

"Sure, Uncle Han!" Tianhua agreed.

"Come on, Tianhua, let's tidy up the tables and chairs, and then we'll close and go to sleep!" Mr. Han said.

After saying that, the two of them started to busy themselves. While they were working, a bell rang from inside the house. The sound of the bell got closer and closer. At first, Tianhua was curious, but when the bell was very close, he stopped and watched. A girl with two braids on her head, each tied with two small bells, ran in from the back door, laughing. She ran to Mr. Han, threw herself into his arms, and said, "Dad, when are we going to eat?"

"Be good! We'll eat as soon as I and this brother finish cleaning up here. Is that okay?" Mr. Han said affectionately.

Tianhua, seeing the girl who was only about ten years old, with an innocent and pure face and a pair of big eyes like clear water, felt a warm and familiar feeling. Looking at her, he felt as if he had seen Lan's childhood!

She looked at Tianhua and then blinked, saying, "Dad, who is this?"

"This is Tianhua, your big brother! Come on, little bell, call him big brother!" Mr. Han said.

"Big brother!" the little girl called out with a giggle.

Tianhua responded with a nod and looked at Mr. Han.

"Oh, Tianhua, this is my daughter, Little Bell!" Mr. Han said with a smile.

"Little Bell? What a fun name! Is it because of the two little bells on her head?" Tianhua laughed and said.

"Hehe, you could say that!" Mr. Han chuckled.

Little Bell touched the two small bells tied to her braids with her hands, then pouted and looked at the two men with a slightly confused expression. Seeing the two men laughing, she seemed even more puzzled!

"Alright, Little Bell, you go play in the backyard for a while. Tianhua and I will finish up here soon. After that, we'll have dinner, okay?" Mr. Han said.

Little Bell agreed with a nod and happily ran to the backyard. Mr. Han smiled and watched her leave. Tianhua, seeing this scene, suddenly felt warm in his heart: the outside world is also full of love!

The two quickly cleaned up the shop. Mr. Han closed the front door and turned off the lights inside, saying, "Let's go, Tianhua. We'll go eat!"

In the backyard, a table was set up with several dishes and a pot of wine. Little Bell was happily running around the table. She saw Mr. Han and Tianhua coming, got excited, and shouted, "It's time to eat! Time to eat!"

At this moment, an old man walked out of the kitchen. He saw Tianhua, hesitated for a moment, then looked at Mr. Han. Mr. Han gestured toward Tianhua, and the old man nodded to Tianhua with a smile.

Tianhua greeted him, saying, "Hello!"

After Tianhua spoke, the old man continued to smile and nodded. Tianhua, a little puzzled, looked at Mr. Han, and Mr. Han said, "Oh, Tianhua, he can't hear what you're saying, and he can't speak. He is a deaf-mute!"

Tianhua, after hearing this, was momentarily stunned. He thought about how painful it must be to be both deaf and mute! However, as he looked at the old man, he couldn't see any pain in his expression—only joy. Tianhua found it hard to understand!

"Tianhua, don't look at him as a deaf-mute. His skills are unmatched. He's the one who prepares all the dishes in my shop!" Mr. Han said proudly.

Tianhua, still confused, looked at Mr. Han. Mr. Han continued, "I met him in front of my shop five years ago. That morning, when I opened the door, he was lying at the entrance. He looked like he hadn't eaten for many days, weak and disheveled, like a beggar. I thought he looked pitiful, so I brought him in, gave him food, and planned to let him leave when he got better. But when he recovered, he went to the kitchen, cooked a few dishes, and brought them to me. I was surprised. I tasted his cooking, and it was incredibly delicious. I had never eaten such good food before, so I kept him here until now!"

Tianhua looked at him and then gave a thumbs up, saying, "Impressive!"

The deaf-mute man seemed to understand Tianhua's meaning and scratched his head with a smile.

"Dad, are we not going to eat?" Little Bell, seeing the two men talking and not eating, became a bit impatient.

"Look at you, just chatting and not eating. Come on, let's eat!" Mr. Han said.

The three of them sat down, and Little Bell started eating eagerly. The three of them looked at her and burst into laughter.

"Have a drink, Tianhua. Let's have a drink!" Mr. Han poured a glass of wine for Tianhua.

"Come on, Tianhua, even if you're full, drinking won't take up stomach space. Come, have some!" Mr. Han said, placing the wine glass in front of Tianhua, who took it after a moment.

Drinking always takes time. The two drank, chatted, and before they knew it, the moon had risen. The entire courtyard was now bathed in moonlight. Little Bell, having finished her meal and played enough, was now tired. She complained to Mr. Han that she wanted to sleep, so he took her inside, coaxed her to sleep, and then returned to the yard with Tianhua to continue drinking!

Tianhua, feeling a bit dizzy but strangely clear-headed and excited, looked up at the bright moon. Unconsciously, his thoughts drifted back to his hometown...