World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 27: Making Friends

Bathed in the beautiful twilight, a group of Daoist Priests, both young and old, gracefully descended the mountain.

Li Shiwu walked alongside several elder Daoist masters, their hair silver with age. Meanwhile, a dozen disciples from various sacred mountains, each bearing a distinct Daoist heritage, accompanied the martial arts contingent.

Though many young cultivators seemed eager to befriend Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan, none dared break the formalities. They simply followed their respective Daoist masters in silence.

The mountain breeze blew gently, mingling with the vivid evening clouds. Mu Wanxuan hummed a soft, tranquil tune; while Wang Sheng, who was feeling at ease, immersed himself in the vastness of nature, letting his spiritual consciousness flow freely.

After passing through the Gate of Mysteries, someone called out from the corner, "Brother Sheng, wait for me!"

Wang Sheng turned around and saw a familiar figure with a prickly haircut rushing through the crowd, heading straight for him.

Meng Hong and Zhou Yinglong moved to intercept the man, but their Daoist master signaled them to step back, allowing Shi Qianzhang to run up to Wang Sheng unimpeded.

Wang Sheng forced a gentle smile. "What can I do for you?"

"Let's exchange contact info! We agreed on this earlier!"

Shi Qianzhang waved his new smartphone and patted his chest confidently. "Of all the young cultivators today, Brother Sheng, you're the only one worth befriending. I'm thoroughly impressed by your swordsmanship! Since we'll undoubtedly cross paths again, let's stay in touch."

The nearby cultivators collectively rolled their eyes, silently cursing his shamelessness.

Wang Sheng, however, found Shi Qianzhang's brazenness somewhat amusing. Despite his crafty nature and underhanded tactics in combat, Shi Qianzhang showed commendable insight, aptitude, and cultivation.

Fine, better to make a friend than an enemy, Wang Sheng thought. Although uncertain of Shi Qianzhang's true character, he saw no harm in having a superficial acquaintance.

He took out his phone and added Shi Qianzhang as a contact. Shi Qianzhang sneaked a glance at Mu Wanxuan, who stood quietly beside Wang Sheng, but he refrained from saying anything.

To Shi Qianzhang, Mu Wanxuan had already transcended the realm of the younger generation.

"Let's walk down the mountain together," Shi Qianzhang suggested, hands casually stuffed into his pockets. "It's a good chance for us to chat, Brother Sheng."

Wang Sheng chuckled. "Talking is fine, but I can't afford to pay for any ruined talismans."

"Don't bring that up! Just hearing it makes my heart ache," Shi Qianzhang replied with an awkward laugh. "Besides, I exaggerated the costs to get materials from my martial uncle. Those talismans were only worth a few thousand yuan. By the way, Brother Sheng, what's the name of your sword art? Is it Wudang's famous Seven-Star Sword Formation? It's so cool! How many years have you been practicing?"

Wang Sheng shook his head lightly. "Are you trying to learn more about my skills to challenge me later?"

Shi Qianzhang shook his head vigorously. "No, no! I wouldn't dare. I don't have enough talismans left for you to slice apart. These days, I'm struggling to get blood from spiritual beasts for drawing talismans. Those creatures are all under national protection, making them hard and expensive to find."

Wang Sheng was rendered momentarily speechless.

As they walked, they heard someone shout, "Brother Fei Yu, please wait for me!"

The group turned to see Liu Yunzhi striding toward them, now in a fresh azure Daoist robe. He quickly caught up with Wang Sheng and Shi Qianzhang, his breath steady and his expression calm.

A few young female cultivators nearby immediately brightened upon seeing him.

Liu Yunzhi greeted Wang Sheng with cupped hands. "Daoist brother, I must thank you for helping me teach that scoundrel a lesson earlier. It truly eased my frustrations. I couldn't leave without expressing my gratitude."

Shi Qianzhang, picking his nose beside them, muttered, "Why all the flowery language? Who are you trying to impress? We're in the modern era now. What's with all the 'brother this,' 'brother that'? You think having a chest makes you a big deal?[1]"

Liu Yunzhi glanced coldly at him. "At least I'm not as vulgar as you."

"Oh?" Shi Qianzhang rolled up his sleeves. "You, someone I defeated, dare talk big in front of me?"

Liu Yunzhi snorted and returned the glare, their tempers flaring as tension filled the air.

"Are you two hungry?" Wang Sheng interjected.

Reminded of his loss to Wang Sheng, Shi Qianzhang laughed sheepishly. Liu Yunzhi smiled and shook his head subtly, relishing Shi Qianzhang's moment of discomfort.

Wang Sheng turned to the group. "Everyone, how about we head down the mountain for a meal? Tonight, it's on me."

Grinning, Shi Qianzhang patted his stomach as he began planning how to eat his fill.

Meng Hong, Zhou Yinglong, Hao Ling, and Zhao Zhao readily agreed with Wang Sheng. They then greeted Liu Yunzhi warmly and collectively ignored Shi Qianzhang.

Shi Qianzhang was unbothered, though; he just kept chatting with Wang Sheng about anything and everything.

With Shi Qianzhang being such a chatterbox, the conversation never stopped for a moment. They ended up sharing quite a few amusing stories along the way.

Wang Sheng learned that Shi Qianzhang was twenty-two years old this year. He had been sent to the Longhu Mountains at the age of seventeen, just like Wang Sheng had gone to Mount Wudang. The difference was that Wang Sheng had sought cultivation voluntarily, while Shi Qianzhang's family had dragged him to the mountain.

Shi Qianzhang, a troublemaker since middle school, had extorted "protection fees" from younger students, skipped classes, smoked, hung out at internet cafés, and even joined gangs. By high school, he was already a regular at juvenile detention centers.

Desperate, his family sent him to the Longhu Mountains and entrusted him to a Daoist relative.

By some twist of fate, Shi Qianzhang showed an affinity for the Dao. Under the harsh discipline of a strict Daoist master—who wielded a stick and a shoe sole—he was reformed. He became a disciple of the Righteous Celestial Sect and, with the return of primal qi to the world, began to shine.

Liu Yunzhi revealed that he had met Shi Qianzhang years ago during a visit to the Longhu Mountains with his master. Back then, Shi Qianzhang had ambushed him, leaving him tied to a tree after robbing him of his belongings—a grudge Liu Yunzhi hadn't forgotten.

When primal qi returned, Liu Yunzhi advanced in the Daoist art of talismans and sought revenge. Unfortunately, he was defeated once more. Their rivalry culminated in their sparring match at the exchange meeting.

Despite their history, their sects had instructed them to befriend Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan, whose dazzling performance earlier had caught everyone's attention. Forming ties with such potential future Dao luminaries seemed far better than risking animosity later.

Had they been ordinary young cultivators, Wang Sheng might not have paid them much attention. However, Liu Yunzhi and Shi Qianzhang were both outstanding talents of their respective Daoist heritages, making their association with Wang Sheng quite fitting.

Still, Wang Sheng was well aware of their true motives.

It took strength to forge iron. Today, it was thanks to his Sword Dao cultivation and his senior sister's Daoist realm that they were able to impress so many prestigious sects. This in turn made Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi take the initiative to befriend him. There was nothing to get conceited about.

Only by remaining humble and focused on steady cultivation could one stay on the right cultivation path.

As they neared the foot of the mountain, Shi Qianzhang patted his stomach and asked, "What's for dinner tonight? Little Sister Liu, you're the host here on Mount Mao. Are there any good restaurants nearby?"

Little Sister Liu?

Liu Yunzhi's brow furrowed, and strands of primal qi began swirling around him. He already had two yellow talismans in his hand.

Wang Sheng and a few Wudang disciples quickly stepped in to break up the fight, leading to another bout of commotion.

***

The group of eight chose a well-known restaurant at the foot of the mountain. It was a popular spot for gatherings among cultivators from different sects.

The restaurant was unusually full, and every table only ordered vegetarian dishes and fruit juice, leaving the restaurant owner somewhat distressed. Fortunately, it still had a large private room available for them.

Clearly seeking revenge, Shi Qianzhang aimed to bankrupt Wang Sheng by exploiting his generous offer. He deliberately chose and filled their entire table with the most expensive vegetarian dishes.

Their meal cost Wang Sheng all his earnings from performing rituals, leaving him feeling quite pained. If not for the fact that cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm avoided eating meat, Shi Qianzhang could have financially ruined him.

Meanwhile, Mu Wanxuan had found a quiet spot and focused on eating and drinking. Wang Sheng sat beside her, continuously helping her with the dishes and rotating the serving tray as if afraid that she would go hungry.

The four Wudang disciples and two top students of the talisman sects became familiar with one another. They clinked glasses of fruit juice repeatedly as if the beverage could intoxicate them.

On the mountain, in front of so many people, everyone represented their sects as members of the younger generation. They had to be cautious and composed, making it hard to relax.

But once they descended the mountain and entered a private room, everyone shed their Daoist robes. Despite their training, their youthful love for lively gatherings was still evident.

Unfortunately, spending so much time cultivating in the mountains had caused their social skills to atrophy. For the first half-hour, Shi Qianzhang entertained himself while the others awkwardly made small talk.

Meanwhile, Wang Sheng remained calm throughout, acting as a stabilizing force for the group. After a few rounds of banter between Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi, the atmosphere gradually warmed up. Shi Qianzhang even secretly added Hao Ling as a friend.

As the saying went, "A graceful lady is a gentleman's delight."

Except for a few Daoist heritages that prohibited marriage, most cultivators today were not restricted from forming relationships.

Oddly, no one at the table dared strike up a conversation with Mu Wanxuan, but it wasn't hard to understand why.

Mu Wanxuan had reached the Seed Formation Realm. Moreover, her aloof demeanor and reserved nature gave off an unapproachable air. She only ever occasionally responded softly to Wang Sheng, making it clear that strangers should keep their distance.

Moreover, Wang Sheng was sitting beside her. Even though there was nothing romantic between them, and they seemed more like siblings, no one wanted to risk offending him by getting too close to the "untouchable" Kun Daoist.

Mu Wanxuan had an exquisite figure and beauty. As young people, even if they were purely approaching them for academic Daoist exchange, they could still easily be misconstrued as having ulterior motives.

After a few rounds of drinks, Wang Sheng realized he had unknowingly established a preliminary social circle.

His four seniors from Mount Wudang were naturally a part of it. Through this gathering, they had at the very least become friendly peers who would continue to interact with him. Life on Mount Wudang would no longer be so lonely.

Wang Shen did not reject Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi's gestures of goodwill either, who had actively sought to befriend him and Mu Wanxuan. Having more friends on the path of cultivation could mean having more people to exchange ideas with in the future.

The Longhu Mountains and Mount Mao—two Daoist heritages of great significance within the Daoist sects—seemed optimistic about Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan's future development as a senior-sister-junior-brother pair. That was why they had sent outstanding disciples to establish connections with them.

Liu Yunzhi had a handsome face and elegant demeanor, exuding a refined and cultured aura. He seemed somewhat reserved during the meal, with his smiles carrying a touch of formality.

On the other hand, Shi Qianzhang enthusiastically called Wang Sheng "Brother Sheng" every chance he got. He eagerly poured fruit juice and ran to call the waiter for more dishes.

The two perfectly embodied the contrast between a cultured gentleman and a streetwise commoner. Sitting side by side, their contradiction was amusing enough to bring a smile to anyone's face.

1. Just the author trying to make a joke. The word brother (兄) sounds the same as the word chest (胸). ☜