Chapter 24
Superstar Cultivator
Jon's gaze ping-ponged around the raucous village gathering, belatedly realizing that no one else seemed to have noticed the rapidly-descending sword contrail streaking across the twilit sky above them.
The celebrations carried on uninterrupted - raucous laughter, the merry clinking of ceramic cups, lively music from the ramshackle band.
Only Old Man Han and Zhen Wu had joined Jon in craning their necks upward, though they both regarded the startling sight with remarkable nonchalance.
Okay, okay, Jon told himself, trying to stay outwardly calm despite his racing heartbeat. Maybe the sword surfer is just a friend of theirs dropping in?
He briefly weighed the pros and cons of trying to slip away unnoticed amidst the hubbub. But realistically, he'd never be able to outrun someone capable of that kind of high-speed aerial maneuver. Better to brazen it out and hope for the best.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before one of the children, eyes wide and full of awe and excitement, screamed at the top of his lungs, "Mother! Mother, look! A cultivator in the sky!"
This proclamation worked like a chain reaction, causing heads to turn skyward one after another.
Some faces lit up with amazement and cheers, others, like Yulian, wore expressions of unimpressed ennui. A few looked distinctly uncomfortable, and a handful were outright scared.
But out of everyone, Minghan’s reaction was the most extreme. The man was bolting from the scene with a speed that Jon hadn’t thought possible for someone with such a... generous waistline. His face had drained of what little color it normally held, his eyes wide with terror—as if he had seen the Grim Reaper himself waving from atop that flying sword.
That guy’s in some deep shit, Jon thought.
Then, shrugging to himself, he decided, Oh well, not gonna ruin my day. He returned his attention to the sky, now fully intent on watching how this unexpected show would play out.
The cultivator, now clearly visible as a man with a flowing robe and a sword that glimmered with an ethereal light, was descending gracefully. It was like watching an ancient myth come to life, except it was happening right here, in real-time, at a rural festival.
The descending figure touched down with consummate grace at the outskirts of the pavilion square, deftly planting one booted foot before the other in a seamless, feather-light landing. A hush gradually rolled over the previously raucous gathering as all eyes turned towards the late arrival, the music and chatter gradually died down, the crowd parting to give him space as if the sea were splitting.
The cultivator walked forward with a confidence that had everyone’s attention riveted.
Even Old Man Han seemed to perk up a bit, though his face remained a hard read.
Jon couldn't help noticing the hushed whispers and muffled giggles from the village women as the handsome stranger drew nearer.
"Ooh, did you see his hair? Such a striking shade of azure!"
"What I wouldn't give to run my fingers through those luscious locks..."
His hair is...blue? Jon cocked an eyebrow bemusedly. Huh.
He noted the deferential way Zhen Wu watched the tall, elegant, vampire-level-pale-skin, long blue-haired man's purposeful approach, the chief's expression unreadable. Like an old-timey showdown between two cowboys squaring off on the dusty main street, Jon thought with an inward snort of amusement.
For a fleeting moment he entertained, again, the idea of just quietly slipping away to avoid any unnecessary awkwardness.
But the moment passed as quickly as it came - no way was he about to risk catching the newcomer's eye by trying to slink off now. Best to just put on his best nonchalant poker face and keep his head down until the big-shot cultivator moved along.
The blue-haired man halted before the elders' table, posture ramrod straight and movements eminently controlled. He lifted one fist to his opposite palm in a subtle bow of greeting.
"Senior Brother Zhen Wu," he boomed in clarion tones clearly meant to carry across the whole gathering. "This Junior Brother Xi Jianyu greets you!"
The sudden declaration seemed to break the strange tension as Zhen Wu abruptly burst into hearty laughter, lurching to his feet to greet the dashing cultivator with open arms.
"Hahahaha! Brother Jianyu! What a wonderful surprise this is!"
The two men embraced like long-lost kin, the newcomer's stern expression melting into a warm, bright smile as he returned the chief's enthusiastic greeting. When they parted, Zhen Wu whirled about, raising Jianyu's hand high like a prize fighter as he announced to the crowd.
"Everyone, my esteemed martial brother - Xi Jianyu, the Rising Dragon of the Southern Edge Sect, has graced us with his presence!"
A galvanized wave of awed muttering and jostling bodies rippled through the crowd at the grand pronouncement. Jon swore he caught more than a few admiring female gasps and screams of sheer, some going so far as to swoon dramatically to the ground with shrill girlish exclamations "Aaaah! Young master Jianyu is here!"
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Even men, big men, short men, bald ones, pushed and jockeyed for better vantage points
He has...groupies? This guy really is some kind of bigshot superstar cultivator, huh?
He shook his head in bemusement, watching the handsome blue-haired warrior soak up the rapturous reception with a broad, winning smile.
As the ecstatic villagers crowded around the newly-arrived cultivator, Jianyu's stern face melted into a warm, inviting smile. He extended his arms in a welcoming embrace as several awestruck children scampered forward, hands outstretched in hopes of touching him.
Zhen Wu watched the heartwarming scene unfold with an indulgent chuckle before addressing the young man once more. "Jianyu! It has been far too long - two summers? Three, at least?"
"Five cycles of the celestial stems, actually," the blue-haired cultivator corrected with a respectful incline of his head.
"How swiftly time passes us by. Yet I can clearly see the fruits of your seclusion writ upon your face. Congratulations, brother! What realm have you reached?"
"I am about to enter the 'Meridian Gate,'" Jianyu replied with a humble nod.
At this, a collective gasp swept through the crowd, followed by a thunderous roar of cheers and raucous applause.
The 'Meridian Gate'? Jon thought, must be a level of their cultivation system I guess. And a pretty impressive one looking at their reactions.
Zhen Wu, beaming with pride, pressed his fist to his palm in a salute steeped in respect. "Congratulations on your ascendance, Rising Dragon Xi Jianyu!"
Like a set of meticulously-arranged dominoes, each villager - young, old, male and female alike - immediately followed suit with the ceremonial bow and said the same thing as Zhen Wu.
Even the perennially-inscrutable Old Man Han briefly clasped his hands in a display of reverence, though he remained firmly seated.
Jon felt distinctly out of place amid the ritualistic outpouring of adulation, standing awkwardly like a sore thumb. Belatedly, he realized the blue-haired cultivator's piercingly inquisitive gaze had come to rest squarely upon him. A sudden realization dawned on Jon—he was the only one not showing the customary respect.
Shit, I'm standing out! I'm standing out! Jon realized with a start of panic.
Not wishing to draw any further undue notice from this clearly esteemed cultivator, he hastily scrambled to mimic the ceremonial bow alongside the others.
Jianyu's expression shifted subtly, an unreadable smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he observed Jon's hasty gesture of respect.
Once the joyous greetings and ceremonial formalities had concluded, Zhen Wu motioned for Jianyu to join him and the other village elders at their table. The lively festivities swiftly resumed around them, but now the air fairly crackled with an elevated buzz of excitement and awe over their esteemed guest's presence.
A small crowd of admiring villagers had already begun to coalesce around the blue-haired cultivator, some even going so far as to perform impromptu acrobatic feats and tricks in hopes of capturing his attention and favor.
Zhen Wu guffawed heartily as he poured them both fresh cups of rice wine. "You've reached the upper peaks already, surpassing even your illustrious senior brother! How ever did you find the courage to so flagrantly try and best me, eh?" He ribbed Jianyu with a friendly elbow to the ribs.
Jianyu accepted the mild jab with a wry grin, clinking his cup against Zhen Wu's in a toast. "Ah, but it was your own lackadaisical attitude towards advancement that provided me the motivation I needed to dedicate myself fully, Senior Brother. Though it seems I may now need to push even harder to outpace you properly!"
The two shared a warm laugh at the casual back-and-forth before Zhen Wu turned to make the formal introductions around the elders' table. "Ah, but where are my manners? I've yet to properly introduce you all to our esteemed guest!"
One by one, he presented Jianyu to the assembled village patriarchs - all of whom regarded the young cultivator with clear esteem and respect. Jianyu, for his part, handled each introduction with the utmost humble grace and decorum.
At last, they came to the wizened figure of Old Man Han, Zhen Wu's tone turning somewhat more deferential.
"And this, my old friend, is Uncle Han - a close companion of my own late uncle since I was but a mere child."
Jianyu immediately adopted a posture of deep reverence, offering Han a courtly bow and salutation which the old man gruffly returned.
"Wu," Han grunted simply, already making moves to rise from his seat. "I will take my leave now, before it grows too late."
"Already?" Zhen Wu protested with a disappointed frown. "But the night is still so young, Uncle Han. Why not stay awhile longer and revel in the celebration with us?"
Han shook his grizzled head with adamant finality. "No. Tianma has not yet been fed his evening meal, and he grows anxious when I am away over-long periods."
"Tianma?" Jon murmured the unfamiliar name, more to himself than anyone.
But the old man wheeled about, fixing Jon with an intense, piercing look as if he had been personally addressed. "My donkey. A good, loyal beast."
He heard that? Jon thought before saying. "Oh, I see..." in a surprised tone.
A titter of muffled laughter rippled through some of the nearby elders at the answer. It seemed they shared the same thoughts about how the old man talked about his donkey like a human child and that he must be a bit senile.
But Han seemed utterly unfazed, merely giving Jon a measured look before turning back to Zhen Wu.
Zhen Wu stood to embrace the departing Han warmly. "Then I will visit you tomorrow with some tea," he declared, the promise hanging warmly in the air.
"I will look forward to it," Han said with a nod to everyone at the table, then turned and walked away, his departure marked by a stoic dignity.
No sooner had Old Man Han departed than Zhen Wu turned to address his guest once more, a broad smile spreading across his features.
"Oh, and allow me to introduce Brother Jon Li here," he announced, gesturing towards Jon with a sweep of his arm. "He is a merchant and our latest newcomer."
Jon offered Jianyu a respectful nod of greeting as the blue-haired cultivator's piercing gaze swept over him with undisguised interest.
"A merchant's life must be filled with all manner of adventures and intrigue," Jianyu remarked congenially. "Pray tell, what exotic wares and goods does your caravan usually traffic in, if you don't mind my asking?"
Jon was momentarily caught off guard by the direct question. "Oh, various kinds," he replied, opting for vagueness. "Mostly local specialties from wherever I find myself. Keeps the inventory interesting."
Jianyu nodded thoughtfully at this. "An honest living to be sure. Though funnily enough, I find myself currently in pursuit of a rather...unscrupulous merchant myself."
There was an indefinable glint in the cultivator's eyes as he said this, some indiscernible edge to his warm tone that gave Jon pause.
Despite the man's outwardly welcoming demeanor and amiable affect, some deep-seated instinct told him not to fully trust this charismatic stranger. Best to stay on guard.
Zhen Wu seemed to pick up on Jianyu's subtle mention, piping up with a curious furrow of his bushy brows. "In pursuit, you say? What merchant has drawn the attention of the Southern Edge's rising dragon?"
For just a heartbeat, Jianyu's face went utterly blank - his blue eyes cold and smile taking on an almost manic edge before the mask of polite amiability swiftly snapped back into place.
"Ah, it would seem the latest reports place this...individual's whereabouts in Zhilan village," he replied lightly, as if making casual conversation about the weather. "Though truthfully, he could hardly be considered a proper merchant at all - more of a thief and scoundrel, from all accounts."
Jon's gaze flicked unbidden towards the spot where Minghan had so hastily fled just minutes earlier.
Yep, that guy really is in some deep shit. He thought, pitying Minghan.