Volume 1, Chapter 63: Do You Want to See Shen Zhu?

"With the Bamboo Sword Immortal's help, getting the Fountain of Youth out of Tianxuan Academy shouldn't be too difficult," Li Hanzhou said with a smile.

"Unlikely, I'm afraid," Shiming said, unable to believe it. "That Bamboo Sword Immortal looks very difficult to approach. It's improbable she'd help us."

"How would you know if you don't try?"

Li Hanzhou stood up and said, "Let's go find her and see."

Though full of doubt, Shiming followed Li Hanzhou out the door.

Near the city gates, Li Hanzhou spotted Su Nianyi. To his surprise, she was actually treating the injured commoners and soldiers right there at the entrance.

Gone was the imposing aura of a sword immortal. Surrounded by piles of medicinal herbs, she sat with her sleeves rolled up, letting an old man rest his injured foot right in front of her.

Su Nianyi was applying herbal paste to the old man's leg wound with absolute concentration, showing not a trace of impatience.

This sight deeply touched Li Hanzhou's heart.

In terms of beauty, Su Nianyi was in no way inferior to the Fairy of Unfeeling.

In terms of status, she was a high-ranking figure in the Valley of Unfeeling.

In terms of strength, she was a sword immortal.

Any one of these identities would ordinarily place her high above ordinary mortals, yet the scene before him created a stark and endearing contrast.

She felt so remarkably down-to-earth.

"Shiming," Li Hanzhou sighed softly. "I take back what I said earlier."

"What did you say?" Shiming looked at him, puzzled.

"Actually, as long as one is willing to act, it is possible to help the people. Using the excuse that something is impossible just to do nothing feels more like a coward's excuse," Li Hanzhou said, gazing at Su Nianyi's figure.

Shiming nodded thoughtfully.

"Let's go lend a hand."

Li Hanzhou decided to help Su Nianyi as well.

He joined in, assisting many commoners with bandaging their wounds.

Seeing Li Hanzhou's actions, Su Nianyi said nothing.

It wasn't until dusk that the flurry of activity finally began to subside.

Relief grain was delivered into the city, and the commoners finally had warm porridge to drink.

On top of the city wall, Su Nianyi sat facing the lonely sunset, lost in thought.

Her bare feet dangled over the edge, swinging back and forth, entirely devoid of the demeanor expected of a sword immortal.

Li Hanzhou walked over and sat down beside her.

"Thank you for your help today," Su Nianyi said. "If not for you and your companion, we wouldn't have finished so early."

"With so many injured people, many might have died without treatment."

"It was just a small effort. I am also a citizen of the Divine Que Kingdom; helping my own people is only natural. But as for you, Bamboo Sword Immortal, it's quite a long journey from the Valley of Unfeeling to Lingyan City."

Li Hanzhou brought this up deliberately.

"For an old friend. He once guarded this place with his life, and I don't want to see Lingyan City fall," Su Nianyi replied calmly.

Her emotions were as unruffled as an ancient well, as if the person she spoke of had no connection to her whatsoever.

"You're talking about Shen Zhu, aren't you?" Li Hanzhou asked.

"It seems Daoist Master Li knows something of my past." Su Nianyi showed no surprise that Li Hanzhou knew the name. Her affairs had caused quite a stir back then, and many people knew of them. It was only natural that Li Hanzhou had heard of it.

"Still, it's been many years since anyone dared to mention that name in my presence," Su Nianyi said, a faint smile touching her lips.

Who would dare court disaster by bringing up Shen Zhu in front of the Bamboo Sword Immortal?

Yet Li Hanzhou remained entirely unconcerned.

He pulled two flasks of wine from his storage pouch and handed one to Su Nianyi. "Care for a sip?"

Su Nianyi looked at it, took it without pretense, uncorked it, and took a hearty swig.

"I have heard a few things about Shen Zhu," Li Hanzhou said, taking a sip from his own flask. "I heard that when Shen Zhu went to the Valley of Unfeeling to see you for the last time, you refused to meet him."

"Mmm," Su Nianyi said, narrowing her eyes. "Daoist Master Li seems quite interested in my personal affairs."

"Any regrets?" Li Hanzhou asked.

"What are you trying to say?" Su Nianyi's voice slowly turned cold. "There are some things I would rather not recall."

Sensing her displeasure, Li Hanzhou remained unperturbed and simply said, "I'm merely guessing that after Shen Zhu died, you had regrets. I imagine you had words left unsaid to him, but you no longer have the chance."

Su Nianyi said nothing. She stood up, preparing to leave.

Just as she took a few steps, Li Hanzhou tilted his head back, took another gulp of wine, and asked, "Would you like to see him one last time?"

These words made Su Nianyi stop in her tracks. She turned back and asked, "What do you mean?"

"If you wish to see him once more, I can help you," Li Hanzhou told her. "You can finish the words you never got to say to him. How about it?"

"See him?" Her heart skipped a beat, but she still couldn't believe it. "He has been dead for so long. How could I possibly see him?"

"My Daoist secret arts can naturally accomplish this. You just need to tell me whether you want to or not," Li Hanzhou said with an enigmatic smile.

Su Nianyi bit her lip, falling into deep contemplation.

"Very well." After a long moment, she looked up at Li Hanzhou, as if having made a difficult decision.

"But it's not free. There is something I'd like to ask the Bamboo Sword Immortal to help with as well," Li Hanzhou added.

"Speak," Su Nianyi said.

"I hope the Bamboo Sword Immortal can assist me with a task," Li Hanzhou said with a smile.

"What task?" Su Nianyi raised an eyebrow. "What on earth are you planning to do on your trip to Great Zhou?"

"There is no need for you to know my purpose just yet. If you agree, I will help you see Shen Zhu once. If you refuse, treat as though I never said anything tonight. But you can rest assured, I won't ask you to do anything that compromises your principles; I guarantee it will be well within your capabilities." Li Hanzhou kept his true objective hidden.

"Very well. If you help me see Shen Zhu, I will follow you even into a sea of blades and a mountain of flames," Su Nianyi agreed.

"It's a deal."

Li Hanzhou went into the city to prepare the items needed for the night.

The cycle of reincarnation in this world had long since broken, and countless souls drifted aimlessly along the nether paths. Li Hanzhou knew Shen Zhu's soul was bound to be among them, so finding him would not be difficult. However, Shen Zhu's manifestation required a vessel.

And Li Hanzhou himself was the best vessel available.

Only a powerful soul could suppress a mighty warrior like Shen Zhu.

After obtaining Shen Zhu's birth date and time, Li Hanzhou began to draw talismans—something he was doing for the very first time.

It was called the Deity Summoning Talisman.

It allowed the user to summon nether spirits into their own body.

Having made all necessary preparations, Li Hanzhou led Su Nianyi to a secluded clearing where they would not be disturbed.

For once, a trace of nervous anticipation was visible on the face of the proud sword immortal.