Chapter Three: A Misunderstanding

Ye Sansi and Liu Lingshuang finally descended the mountain before nightfall, arriving at Li Family Village at the foot of Stepping Cloud Mountain.

“Wow, we’re finally here,” Liu Lingshuang stretched with relief.

Ye Sansi scratched his head sheepishly, his stomach rumbling audibly.

“Haha, wild boy, you’re hungry, aren’t you? You never said anything along the way.” Liu Lingshuang smiled at Ye Sansi, then pulled out a small bag from her waist and tossed it to him. “Here, this is called ‘dry rations.’ There’s only a little left, so fill your stomach for now. I’ll go look for food. Wait here for me, don’t wander anywhere—nowhere, absolutely nowhere!” With that, Liu Lingshuang headed toward the village.

“Hey, Lingshuang, where are you going to find food?” Ye Sansi hurried to stop her.

Liu Lingshuang pointed at the village down the slope, “This is Li Family Village. Four days ago, when I came looking for traces of the spirit fox, I stayed the night at the village chief’s house. The villagers are kind. I’ll go find the chief and see if there’s an empty room. You wait here, don’t go anywhere—anywhere at all!” (Let’s hope this wild boy doesn’t cause trouble.) With those words, Liu Lingshuang entered Li Family Village and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Ye Sansi scratched his head. (What’s a ‘dull chief’? Why look for him? Maybe he’s like the monkey king on Nameless Peak—a chief of all the dull people.) “Haha, whatever, Lingshuang gave me some ‘dry cool’ thing, I’ll eat first. She’s always good to me.” He sat cross-legged on the ground, opened the bag, grabbed a handful, and began to eat.

“Peh! Peh!” Apparently, Ye Sansi didn’t like the dry rations; as soon as he tasted it, he spat it out. “What is this? Dry and cold—‘dry cool’ indeed, not tasty at all.”

The Sansi Sword spun in circles, as if echoing Ye Sansi’s complaint.

“Sansi Sword, do you think this ‘dry cool’ tastes bad too? Wild boar meat is much better, right?” Ye Sansi said seriously to his sword, which spun in agreement.

“Big brother, are you a Sword Immortal?” A child of about ten cautiously approached from the slope below.

Ye Sansi stood up to greet him, “I’m not a Sword Immortal. My name is Ye Sansi, and I’m a ‘person’.” He scratched his head, embarrassed.

“I saw your sword from far away—it flies and glows!” The child gazed at Ye Sansi with admiration. “My father always told me stories about Sword Immortals. Twenty years ago, my father was spying through my mother’s window, and when grandpa caught him and chased him with a broom, he saw a Sword Immortal riding a sword, flying straight up to Stepping Cloud Mountain. You came down from the mountain, so you must be a Sword Immortal!”

“Ah, I really am not.” Ye Sansi hurriedly waved his hands, about to explain further, but his stomach interrupted with another rumble.

Ye Sansi scratched his head in embarrassment. The child quickly tugged at Ye Sansi’s sleeve, leading him down the slope. “Sword Immortal brother, you’re hungry, right? Come eat at my house—I have so many things I want to ask you.”

Ye Sansi remembered Lingshuang’s warning not to go anywhere. He was about to refuse, but the mention of ‘food’ made his legs move of their own accord, following the child.

As they walked, the child said, “Sword Immortal brother, my name is Li Mo. I want to be a Sword Immortal, fight evil and protect the world. But I’m still young. In a few years, I’ll tell my father, and he’ll be so proud!”

“Not everyone can cultivate immortality. You need to join a sect, have talent, and so on.” Ye Sansi scratched his head and smiled. “That’s what Lingshuang said, haha. Actually, I don’t really understand.”

Li Mo and Ye Sansi were walking when they heard a commotion ahead. “Catch it, catch it, don’t let it escape!”

Ye Sansi wondered what was happening. “What’s going on up there? It’s so noisy.”

Li Mo tiptoed and peeked ahead, then laughed, “Haha, it’s nothing. The butcher’s fat pig got loose, and he’s chasing it. The butcher’s pigs often escape when he’s not paying attention. We’re all used to it.”

“A fat pig, sounds a lot like a wild boar.” Ye Sansi swallowed, his sword sensing his intent and flying into his hand. Ye Sansi patted Li Mo’s shoulder, “Stay here, Li Mo. Don’t move. Soon you’ll have meat to eat.”

As Ye Sansi spoke, he rushed toward the fat pig. The Sansi Sword thrust forward, striking the pig in the head. The pig, unable to dodge, collapsed instantly.

“Haha, this fat pig is much easier to hunt than a wild boar—it doesn’t even try to escape. Tonight we’ll feast. Lingshuang will be delighted when she hears.” Ye Sansi looked at his kill with pride.

The butcher, Li, arrived, furious at seeing his pig, raised for nearly a year, killed. He shoved Ye Sansi, cursing, “Where did you come from, stranger? Why did you kill my pig?”

Ye Sansi didn’t realize he’d caused trouble. Annoyed by the shove, he retorted, “You yelled not to let it escape. I merely helped you. You chased it first, I hunted it after. Let’s split it evenly.”

“Split it? You’re nothing but a thief!” The butcher hefted his two slaughter knives. “If you want to take my pig, you’ll have to see if my blades agree!”

“So, a fight then. People down the mountain are so unreasonable, so strange. If it’s a fight you want, I’ll oblige.” Ye Sansi gripped his sword.

“Butcher uncle, Sword Immortal brother, don’t fight!” Li Mo rushed over, tugging Ye Sansi’s sleeve, looking from him to the butcher.

The butcher said, “Li Mo, this stranger’s gone too far—he killed my pig and wants to split it. Step aside, don’t get hurt.” With that, he raised both knives and slashed at Ye Sansi.

“No!” Li Mo tried to intervene, but Ye Sansi pushed him aside.

“Li Mo, it’s dangerous. Stay back until I finish this fight.” As he spoke, the butcher closed in within three steps. Ye Sansi swung his sword, but the blade was too long to wield effectively at close range. The butcher, clearly skilled, struck repeatedly, each blow landing on the Sansi Sword, forcing Ye Sansi to retreat defensively.

“Heaven and Earth Shackles!” Suddenly, the butcher’s arms and legs froze, he lost his balance, and fell.

“Ye Sansi, are you alright?” Liu Lingshuang rushed over, clearly worried. “I told you not to wander! Did you get bullied?”

Ye Sansi scratched his head, “Not really—he insisted on fighting.”

“Witch! Let me go!” The butcher shouted from the ground. His cries drew the villagers.

“Ha! Aren’t you ashamed, picking on a wild boy?” Liu Lingshuang made a face at the butcher and laughed.

“What’s happening here, so noisy?”

“The chief is here, everyone quiet down.”

Liu Lingshuang pointed at the fallen butcher. “Chief, this man bullied my friend.”

“Bah! You witch—villain accusing first. Chief, I didn’t bully him. This stranger killed my pig for no reason and wanted to split it. Of course I refused and fought him, but the witch used magic to attack me!” The butcher shouted in anger.

“Ye Sansi, so it was you who caused trouble!” Liu Lingshuang pointed at Ye Sansi, stamping her foot in frustration.

The chief shook his head, “Miss Liu, I felt sorry for you when you came alone four days ago and let you stay the night. Today you say you have a friend, so I prepared food to welcome you both. But you—”

Liu Lingshuang quickly clung to the chief’s arm. “Chief, my friend came down from the mountain and doesn’t understand the ways of the world. He caused trouble by accident. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

Li Mo hurried to explain to the chief, “This brother is a Sword Immortal—from the mountain above—”

“Yes, yes,” Liu Lingshuang quickly released the magic, helping the butcher up. “Uncle, how much was your pig worth? I’ll pay you double, hoping you’ll forgive my friend.” She took out her money pouch.

The chief struck the ground hard with his cane, sneering coldly. “Double compensation, is it? Whether you’re a witch, a Sword Immortal, or an ordinary person, I showed kindness in sheltering you without expecting reward. Your friend acts like a thief, and now you insult us with money. Li Family Village cannot keep you—leave at once!” He waved his hand.

The butcher echoed, “That’s right, who wants your filthy money? Get out, or I’ll make you!”

“So another fight, is it?” Ye Sansi, who had listened quietly, could no longer restrain himself. He rubbed his fists together, making a gritty sound.

The villagers shouted, “Get out of Li Family Village! Get out!”

Sansi Sword, like Ye Sansi, could barely contain itself, emitting blue light and cold air.

Liu Lingshuang sensed danger, thinking: there are only two of us, too many to fight, and besides, we’re at fault. If this wild boy can’t control himself and injures or kills someone, things will get worse.

“Alright, Ye Sansi, let’s go! I don’t care for this place anyway.” Liu Lingshuang pulled Ye Sansi away.

“Don’t be afraid, Lingshuang—I’ll beat that dull chief first. Uncle Tree says you should catch the leader first when dealing with thieves.”

“Ouch!” Liu Lingshuang knocked Ye Sansi on the head. “No fighting, we’re leaving!” She dragged him toward the village outskirts.

Ye Sansi wanted to return and settle the score with the ‘dull chief,’ but since Lingshuang refused to let him fight, he relented and obediently left Li Family Village with her.

Soon the crowd dispersed.

Only Li Mo remained on the road, watching Ye Sansi and Liu Lingshuang’s retreating figures, waving with a dazed expression.

“Mo’er, come eat!” Li Mo’s mother called from the doorway.

Li Mo snapped out of it, gazing at the village entrance, his dazed look shifting to disappointment.

Li Mo dreamed of cultivating immortality, thinking about it day and night. Today, he was lucky enough to meet a Sword Immortal, but before he could ask the questions he’d always wondered about, his dearest kin drove them away.

Li Mo waved again in their direction, full of reluctance.

“Mo’er, hurry or the food will get cold.”

“Coming!”