Leaving the Cultivation Market

"Bang! Bang!" The courtyard gate was suddenly pounded on. Master and servant were in the middle of their meal, and both of their expressions tightened. Uncle Zhou shot to his feet in boundless fury. "That scoundrel is back again! I'm going out there to fight him to the death!" Song Ying hurriedly held him back. "Uncle Zhou, don't lose your temper. Just let him run his mouth. Inside the cultivation market, he doesn't dare lay hands on us mortals. Keep hold of the gong. If he dares try anything, we'll make sure he gets more than he bargained for." Uncle Zhou beat his chest and stamped his feet. "But... Miss, your entire life is being ruined!" Song Ying adjusted her veil. She knew it could not block a cultivator's gaze, so she had always kept to herself and never wandered about recklessly. Yet despite every precaution, a slip had occurred—a cultivator had caught sight of her true appearance, latched onto her, and come to harass her day after day. Fortunately, Shaohua Mountain enforced strict rules, and Song Ying was not entirely without background, so the man had not dared act recklessly. Yet Song Ying knew this was no lasting solution. A vast gulf lay between immortal and mortal. No matter how low the man's cultivation realm was, he had countless ways to deal with a mortal. Thus, Song Ying had endured it all along, not daring to provoke him. *Creak.* Song Ying opened the gate, only to be surprised to find the man standing there solemnly. Though he still reeked of alcohol, his eyes were no longer lecherous as before, and he refrained from improper remarks. Instead, he bowed deeply to her and said with utmost respect, "Miss Song, I was blind and foolish in the past. Please forgive me, Miss Song, and give this lowly one a chance to mend his ways. I swear that I will never appear before Miss Song again, or may Heaven strike me down with lightning and grant me a gruesome death!" Song Ying froze in complete astonishment, utterly bewildered as to why this scoundrel had undergone such a sudden change of heart. She saw the man finish his solemn oath, then turn aside to bow and scrape, cautiously offering a flattering smile. "Senior, does this suffice?" Qin Sang stepped out from the shadows and said in a low voice, "Get lost. Don't let me see you again, or I'll flay your skin off!" "Yes, yes, yes! This lowly one will scram right away, right away..." Scared out of his wits, the young man scuttled away in panic, not daring to look back. Qin Sang looked at the unsettled Song Ying and asked warmly, "Miss, you must be Song Ying?" Song Ying gripped the door knocker tightly. "To answer the immortal master, I am Song Ying. Thank you, Immortal Master, for driving away this villain. Song Ying is endlessly grateful." She was not glad that the scoundrel had been driven away; if anything, she was even more terrified. If someone who could terrify that scoundrel like this harbored any ulterior motives, she would have no power to resist whatsoever. Qin Sang glanced at Song Ying's fingers, clenched pale from tension, and smiled. "Miss Song, do not be afraid. I bear you no ill will. Song Hua saved my life, and I came specifically to find you." "Song Hua—Big Brother!" Song Ying gasped, forgetting her fear entirely. She stepped forward, pressing anxiously, "Immortal Master, is my brother still alive? Where is he now?" Qin Sang looked left and right, then said, "Miss Song, why don't we speak inside?" ... The three sat facing each other. Seeing the old man and young woman weep in each other's arms, Qin Sang sighed inwardly. He concealed almost nothing; after all, he did not know much about Song Hua to begin with. Qin Sang took out the seven-colored brocade pouch and set it on the table. "This is Song Hua's mustard seed bag. Back then, I was fortunate to be rescued by my benefactor and escaped danger. I swore that if I ever had the chance, I would return it to the Song clan. Inside, there were originally eight spirit stones. Since you cannot open the mustard seed bag, I have separated these spirit stones for you, and I can retrieve the items inside for you as well." Qin Sang then brought out another twenty spirit stones and arranged them on the table. Song Hua's mustard seed bag was actually of a higher grade than those issued by the Kuiyin Sect and Yuanzhao Sect, offering somewhat more space, but Qin Sang was not so petty as to begrudge parting with it. Having already committed the manuals thoroughly to memory, he returned them along with the Song Clan Genealogy to their rightful owner. What impressed Qin Sang was that after her weeping, Song Ying quickly suppressed the grief in her heart and regained her composure. Staring blankly at the items on the table, she remained silent for quite a while before suddenly saying to Uncle Zhou, "Uncle Zhou, it's getting late. Let me help you inside to rest first." Watching Song Ying's back as she led him away, Qin Sang was somewhat surprised. After pondering for a moment, he smiled self-deprecatingly. "Immortal Master." Song Ying returned and sat down before Qin Sang, her eyes gazing brightly at him. "I do not know whether the immortal master has read our Song family genealogy. Our ancestor was originally a disciple of Shaohua Mountain. For rendering great service, the sect rewarded him with a Sword Intent decree upon his departure. Shaohua Mountain decreed that any descendant of the Song clan holding this Sword Intent decree may directly enter Shaohua Mountain. Currently, the Sword Intent decree lies within our ancestor's tomb." "Miss Song also knows of the Sword Intent decree?" Qin Sang asked. "May I ask what Miss Song means by this?" Song Ying nodded. "Back then, my brother left in haste, only having time to leave me a letter. The letter detailed this secret and instructed me to remember it without fail. I have been waiting for my brother to return, but now that he has already... As a mortal, keeping this secret any longer serves no purpose. I wonder if Immortal Master would like to have the Sword Intent decree. If you are willing, I will go retrieve it right away and present it to you." Qin Sang had come precisely for this. Hearing Song Ying's words, he knew she was exceptionally intelligent and that there was no need for further pretense. Thus, he asked, "What conditions does Miss Song have?" Song Ying seemed to have planned this long beforehand and replied decisively, "I have only two requests. First, I ask Immortal Master to take us away from the Wenyue Cultivation Market and find a mortal realm down below where we can settle down and live a peaceful life. Second, if I have a child in the future who possesses a spiritual root, I ask Immortal Master to agree to accept him as a disciple! We shall establish a contract, witnessed by a steward of the Wenyue Cultivation Market." These two requests took Qin Sang completely by surprise. He had originally thought Song Ying would ask him to help reclaim the Song Residence, and had been pondering how to dissuade her or promise to cause trouble for the Li family later once he possessed sufficient strength. He had not expected her to want to leave the Wenyue Cultivation Market entirely. Once mortals left, they could never return. Song Ying gave a bitter smile. "Even if Immortal Master helped reclaim the Song Residence, what of it? An innocent person gets into trouble on account of their wealth. How could we mortals defend it? I saw through it long ago: in the eyes of immortal cultivators, mortals are no different from livestock. I possess martial arts skills, so in the mortal realm, I will at least have the means to protect myself and not be bullied at will." Some sought immortality with no path in sight, while others feared it like a tiger. Qin Sang sighed ruefully and said solemnly, "Neither of these matters is difficult. I can agree to both. If your child truly has talent and I am fortunate enough to break through to Foundation Establishment, guiding him into Shaohua Mountain will not be difficult either." ... Three days later. Qin Sang brought Song Ying and the other two to find a steward of the Wenyue Cultivation Market. The third person was a youth who had privately pledged himself to Song Ying. He had a good temperament and did not mind Song Ying's past. Previously, fearing they would provoke that cultivator, the two had only dared pour out their feelings in private. Now, they could finally be together openly, and he was also willing to return to the mortal realm with Song Ying. Under the steward's witness, the two parties finalized a contract, naturally omitting any mention of the Sword Intent decree.