"Isn’t it quite a difference? Ordinary people might never even interact with a cultivator in their lifetime."
Shen Wang shook his head, "No wonder your body technique is as ethereal as the wind and as swift as lightning. The Yun Family is renowned far and wide on the path of wind and thunder."
"I only know some basic skills, making a fool of myself in front of a master."
Paper Kite gave a shy smile.
The skin beneath Shen Wang’s cloak twitched. He currently had no body technique whatsoever. If it weren’t for his high cultivation, he would have been the one making a fool of himself.
Paper Kite intentionally engaged in more conversation with Shen Wang, starting a new topic, "Have you ever heard of the fish demon from Hundred Creeks Lake, Senior?"
Shen Wang responded simply. He actually only learned a few things last time when Wu Jieqi mentioned it to him, having never seen it in person.
"This fish demon is old and crafty. It started by secretly eating people, with people mysteriously disappearing in the lake each year, mostly in autumn and summer, presumed drowned. Who would’ve thought it was a demon? In recent years, it even dared to eat cultivators during the Baixi Festival when the water was low in winter, which led to its discovery."
Paper Kite, with articulate speech, described how a fish demon initially timid and shrinking grew increasingly brazen, unable to resist eating cultivators.
"After consuming too many people, it became addicted. Mere mortals could no longer satisfy its appetite. Only by eating cultivators could it continue to rapidly advance its cultivation."
Shen Wang nodded; demons eating people was quite common. People were part of demons’ diets, though whether they tasted good was unknown.
"Yes, yes, that’s what the steward said too. The steward lamented its True Dragon Bloodline. If it hadn’t tainted its aura by eating people here and had instead grown up in a grotto heaven blessed land, it would have had a chance to walk the righteous path and become a pure-spirited creature."
Paper Kite was adept at conversation, citing authoritative figures to level the discussion with Shen Wang.
"That’s the issue of reincarnation. Some are born in grotto heaven blessed lands, others in royal families, while some are born like grass."
Shen Wang sighed, recalling the prodigies he’d envied before.
"Indeed, one’s birth dictates whether the starting point for a person or demon is high or low. This fish demon, living here, lacked resources and resorted to eating people."
Paper Kite nodded vigorously like a pecking chick, pondering. From his tone, it seemed he had a poor background but worked hard, lacking a complex social network and could be judged by reliability alone.
Seeing that this woman knew a lot, Shen Wang mentioned something he wanted to know offhandedly, "I heard that a merchant guild was capturing the fish demon. Did they succeed?"
"Not yet, I heard a grandmaster was lost in the endeavor, indicating how fierce the fish demon was. Fortunately, our guild didn’t get involved."
Paper Kite showed a fearful expression.
Shen Wang shivered inwardly.
Damn, fortunately, he had the self-awareness to decline and leave.
Otherwise, if he had persisted, his daughter might have lost a father, and Jia’Er might have become a widow.
After all, the deceased grandmaster was a true grandmaster, unlike him.
The more he thought about it, the more he feared. Cold sweat formed on his back, cooled by the wind created by their fast pace.
"In the future, don’t take risks without absolute certainty."
Shen Wang warned himself, for the cultivation world was too perilous, filled with temptations, with lurking dangers beneath interests, where a single misstep could spell doom.
He reflected on his past.
Before his dantian was damaged, he was first sheltered by his family and later shielded by his sect, developing some bad habits that led to his damaged dantian.
Ultimately, he was too careless, and disaster struck.
He took a deep breath, "I don’t know about this matter. Who was the grandmaster who died?"
"It was Grandmaster Ming Kong of Lin Yuan Temple, a martial monk who intended to bring the demon fish back to the temple to purify its malevolent energy but ended up being purified by the fish."
Paper Kite added a bit of teasing at the end.
Shen Wang glanced at Paper Kite, a mere martial artist daring to tease a grandmaster, quite the mindset.
Paper Kite awkwardly smiled under Shen Wang’s gaze, "Master, please don’t report me. I can’t afford to offend Lin Yuan Temple, or else I might be purified."
"Monasteries don’t accept nuns." Shen Wang teased.
"Master, you’re so amusing."
Paper Kite’s smile blossomed like a flower, her neat and exquisite silver teeth adding to her charm.
From a mortal’s perspective, Paper Kite was quite beautiful, exuding the charm of a demurely delicate type.
The lively smile of the young girl brightened Shen Wang’s mood considerably.
Noticing Shen Wang watching her for an extended period, Paper Kite blushed shyly, her cheeks reddening.
Shen Wang withdrew his gaze with a cough, "Ahem, let’s focus on our journey. The sooner we go, the sooner we return."
He mused, had it really been that long since he’d seen a beautiful woman? Even a mortal could capture his eyes.
Seemed like his willpower was still lacking.
Silently reciting the Daoist Ice Heart Curse, Shen Wang’s mind soon calmed like still water.
They continued their journey in silence.
Paper Kite, born of a cultivation family, had a solid foundation, running dozens of miles without stopping, though now panting heavily and sweating profusely.
Shen Wang felt a touch more affection, regardless of whether this woman was motivated by reward or to build closeness; she had ultimately toiled for his sake.
"Master, we’re almost there."
Paper Kite wiped the sweat from her forehead, "Cross the small hill ahead, and we’ll reach Celestial Crystal Cave."
"Let’s walk slowly; it’s still early."
Shen Wang glanced at the sky, seeing the sun high above.
Paper Kite didn’t push herself, running such a distance had nearly depleted the martial arts true qi in her dantian. She needed to catch her breath.
They strolled through the hills, reaching the summit, where Shen Wang spotted a town in the distance and said, "It’s lunchtime. Let’s go get a meal."
"Master, this is Celestial Crystal Town, a town thriving on crystal mines. Many crystal ornaments come from here. You might even see crystal fish tanks in the town."
Hongping explained with a smile, "Earlier, I mentioned letting you identify the crystal before finding someone to polish it. The craftsmen here are the most experienced."
Shen Wang nodded, quickly approaching the front of the town.
This town wasn’t very large; one could see from one end to the other. The road was bumpy with many cow patties, and numerous ox carts were parked on both sides, tethered with water buffaloes.
Street shops sold crystals, some focused on processing, while others offered food at inns and restaurants. Most passersby or resting workers were laborers, their eyes drawn to Paper Kite as they arrived.
Shen Wang set his eyes on a large restaurant at the town’s center, an area with no manure within ten zhang of its entrance. The road was smooth, and some crystals embedded in the restaurant gave it a sparkling appearance, leaving a good first impression.
"Master, this Celestial Crystal Restaurant is the best here. Their crystal pork knuckle is worth trying. Would you like to have a taste?"
Having visited before, Paper Kite introduced familiarly.