The Path Toward Heaven

Chapter 69: With One Swing of the Sword

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

Jing Jiu wasn’t interested in those scenes.

He read books about them.

There were pictures in the books as well.

Having watched for a while, Zhao Layue shook her head as she commented, “I still can’t understand what on Earth this is supposed to mean!”

“It’s only natural to want to have natural fun; otherwise, how could the human race reproduce?” asked Jing Jiu.

Zhao Layue said, “I understand the justification for it; the lifetime of mortals is finite, so it’s understandable that they be preoccupied with enjoyment and pleasure, but why are there so many practitioners of Cultivation lost in it as well? Even worse, those swordsmen of deviant sects have the same Cultivation level as our senior masters of the Free Travel State and are consumed by this, deflowering women all over the place.”

“Putting the method of deviant sects aside, the way of opposite sexes is also a “way”; as I know, the Cultivation of male-female unity was promoted by the monks of Dongyi Zen, is actually quite sophisticated, by which we can learn one aspect of the whole Dao.”

Jing Jiu said, “Though the Green Mountain doesn’t practice Cultivation this way, there are many Zen monks on Xilai and Shangde peaks.”

Zhao Layue of course knew about it, and she even knew what was on Gu Han’s mind, but she herself had never thought about it.

“Let’s go,” said Jing Jiu.

Zhao Layue nodded in agreement. She looked calm, but she actually felt a burden had just been released.

Her short hair became even more chaotic when being blown by the night breeze, but the cold wind couldn’t reduce the temperature on her face.

Having seen those scenes, her Sword Heart became a bit restless.

Glancing at Jing Jiu, she found his expression was the same as usual, and felt admiration for him, thinking Jing Jiu didn’t disappoint Senior Grandmaster as his most trusted disciple; his Cultivation foundation was indeed solid.

As they turned around, ready to leave, they suddenly heard a terrible cry from not far away.

Next, they heard the thudding sounds of sticks falling onto a body and the constant terrible cries of a female along with the endless use of the filthiest language.

Zhao Layue glanced at Jing Jiu, asking, “What should we do?”

“The practitioners usually don’t interfere with the affairs of the mortal world,” Jing Jiu said.

Zhao Layue noticed that he said “usually”.

Jing Jiu added, “You can’t kill all the evildoers; there are simply too many and there are too many tragedies to prevent.”

Zhao Layue asked, “So basically, what you don’t see can never happen?”

“Correct,” said Jing Jiu.

Zhao Layue asked, “What if you have already seen it?”

“It’ll depend on your mood,” said Jing Jiu.

“I don’t think so.”

Zhao Layue said, “I do whatever I want, but if I can’t even do that, why do I practice Cultivation in the first place?”

“It’s up to you,” Jing Jiu said.

Zhao Layue asked, “Should you do it?”

The thudding sounds from the stick stopped, but the woman’s cries and cursing continued.

Having checked the distance, Jing Jiu said, “The distance is too far for me.”

Zhao Layue muttered a sword instruction while looking in that direction.

The Thoughtless Sword flew skyward, and a perilous red flash lit up part of the night sky over Shangzhou City.

A few crashing sounds of heavy objects falling onto the ground were heard in a distant alley, followed by horrible screams.

In an instant, the Thoughtless Sword flew back from the sky.

Jing Jiu didn’t expect Zhao Layue to drive her sword so fast and decisively.

Thinking of how she said she was ferocious on Shenmo Peak, Jing Jiu laughed.

Zhao Layue killed some demons when patrolling the outskirts of Green Mountain.

Yin San died in front of her, but Master Meng killed him.

Zhuo Yi died in front of her, but Jing Jiu killed him.

Today was the first time she actually killed human beings.

Her right hand trembled slightly.

It was then that she saw Jing Jiu’s warm smile, and felt calmer and more relaxed.

Jing Jiu reached his hand out and rubbed her head, a great deal of contentment showing in his eyes.

His rubbing behavior looked really bizarre, so Zhao Layue couldn’t help but scowl, “Are you out of your mind?!”

Jing Jiu didn’t say a word, handing the conical hat to her and putting on his own hat at the same time.

He didn’t think too hard when he had chosen her.

The choice had been proven to be the right one.

This young girl had killed with a single swing of the sword, just like Jing Jiu had done in the past.

Shangzhou City began to wake up.

That small alley was lit by lanterns, and the sounds of footsteps and soldiers’ yelling could be heard over in that direction.

A little girl who was thin and malnourished lay in a corner on the wall, her face ashen, her eyes misty, and her clothes tattered, her dry and peeled off lips gasping nonstop as she spoke inaudibly.

Around the little girl lay four headless corpses, the ground was soaked in their blood. Their heads rolled to distant spots, their faces still showing sadistic and cruel expressions; it was as if they were unaware of what transpired at the moment of their deaths, since their expressions showed no sign of having sensed danger.

Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue had already left. They didn’t know if that helpless little girl was ultimately able to escape a tragic end at the brothel. As that brothel had connections in Shangzhou City, nobody could predict the end of her story.

As for doing good deeds, what they had done wasn’t necessarily the best solution, at least not the perfect one.

Yet, as Jing Jiu said, there were too many evildoers to kill and too many evil things to prevent. Even if you were a true immortal, you still couldn’t deal with all of them.

Being indifferent and unsympathetic was the first lesson every practitioner had to learn when they were in the mortal world.

The monks of the Fruit Formation Temple chose a completely different way when they experienced the secular life, something which Jing Jiu respected but didn’t accept.

It was because the monks of the Fruit Formation Temple were too hard and austere in their lifestyle, either now or in the past, even those who left there, such as the Broadsword King.

...

...

Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue walked under the night sky outside Shangzhou City, and though it seemed to be at a slow pace, they covered one thousand yards in a short period of time.

It was easier to understand those doctrines, but it took time to totally accept them.

Walking silently for three hours, until the first ray of morning light appeared on the horizon, Zhao Layue finally spoke.

“I’d like to ride the sword.”

“It’s too windy.”

“I want to be in the wind.”

“An unwavering heart doesn’t need the wind to cool it off.”

“You know, Some people in Green Mountain think you are a monk from the Fruit Formation Temple.”

“Now that’s an interesting theory.”

Zhao Layue’s face revealed a rarely seen, child-like expression; she stared into his eyes and said, “I want to fly.”

Jing Jiu returned her gaze and said, “As I remember, you said that if one can’t land on the ground, then what is the meaning of flying high?”

Zhao Layue said this when Jing Jiu advised her to give up investigating the ascendance of Jing Yang, after having checked the Ying San’s corpse outside Cloudy Town.

Zhao Layue gazed at his eyes, saying, “You also said that the aim of Cultivation is not winning or pursuing meaning; its aim is to fly higher.”

“I said that without much thought,” said Jing Jiu.

...

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The morning sun had just risen when suddenly a red ribbon appeared on the horizon ahead of them.

Looking at it carefully, they realized it a very wide river reflecting the warm, red sunlight.

The red ribbon seemed to be in constant flow with the river, like a real fluttering silk ribbon.

This was the largest river in the south of Chaotian—the Muddy River.

Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue walked ahead in that direction, around a cluster of cliffs, and following the burbling sound of the river, they finally arrived at the south bank of the Muddy River.

The Muddy River had a width of about three thousand yards, and situated on the other side was a large city. Standing far away from the city, they still could see the high-rising buildings in the clouds.

Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue sensed the existence of many formidable Formations ahead.

This was Chaonan City, the most important city in the south for the human Imperial Court.

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