The towering mountains stretched endlessly for hundreds of li.

Amid these remote, uninhabited peaks stood an elegant pavilion, with a welcoming pine tree bending down with its branches forward. At the table, tea was set out.

The swordsman conversed with the Mountain God.

“Please, have some tea.”

“Thank you.”

The swordsman, weary from his long journey, was indeed thirsty.

There was nothing to worry or be cautious about, nor was there any need to be hesitant or refuse; he took the cup in hand and drained it in one gulp, displaying a bold and straightforward spirit.

He frowned slightly and placed the cup back down.

Gurgle, gurgle...

Water bubbled up from the bottom of the cup, filling it once again.

“You’re trying to attain enlightenment through martial arts?” The Mountain God looked at him with a smile.

“How did you know?”

“I’ve been the god of this place for over a thousand years. This road was once far more bustling than it is now,” the Mountain God said. He pointed to the now seldom-trodden mountain path behind the swordsman, which had no overgrown weeds despite its disuse.

He seemed a bit nostalgic as he continued, “In these thousand years, countless travelers have passed through here. Over time, it can get quite dull, so I’ve conversed with some of the finest martial artists.”

“I see.”

“I can tell that you’re on the verge of attaining enlightenment through martial arts—just one step away.”

“Still a long way to go.” The Mountain God shook his head with a smile, choosing not to dwell further on the topic. Instead, he continued asking, “You came from the Snowy Plains?”

“The northern region of Gui Commandery in Hezhou, formerly called He Plains, borders Yanzhou,” the swordsman explained in detail. “The He Plains stretches 250 li long and 200 li wide. Beneath it lies a spiritual marsh, which occasionally gives birth to spiritual resonance, creating an inherent spirit of the land.

“Due to the turmoil of war, its cultivation skills grew, and it transformed into a demon, taking over the region and bringing harm to the people. It has been this way for over a decade. Last year, I traveled with my master to Hezhou, and this year we entered the Snowy Plains to exorcize the demon.”

“And the Heavenly Palace?”

“The Heavenly Palace conducts purges every year, but I’ve heard that this demon possesses extraordinary life-preserving divine powers. Unless the underground spiritual marsh is completely drained or the vitality of the Snowy Plains is eradicated, it cannot be eliminated.” ℝãNồᛒÊṠ

“Such impressive abilities.”

“My master does not wish for the fertile fields of He Plains to turn into barren wasteland, and there isn’t a single mountain across all of Gui Commandery. That’s why he sent me here, to request a mountain from you to subdue it.”

“I see.” The Mountain God, though known for his fiery temper and straightforward nature, had lived for over a thousand years and was well-versed in worldly matters. With just a brief thought, he grasped the reasoning behind it.

Why turn He Plains into a snowy plain? Why use a mountain to suppress the water spirit? Why come here to borrow a mountain?

In an instant, it all became clear to him.

With a bit more thought, the Mountain God could also discern the benefits of this matter for himself.

When he came back to his senses, the swordsman was still looking at him, his gaze seemingly both inquiring and urging.

The Mountain God gave him a slight smile. “Please, have some more tea.”

The swordsman took up the cup once more, took a small sip, and then said, “My master mentioned that any mountain peak would suffice.”

“How could it be just any peak?”

“What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?”

“Would you mind waiting a moment?”

“I came from Hezhou, covering five thousand li in six days. I’m not in a hurry.”

“Six days?” The Mountain God seemed a bit surprised as well. He then turned his head to look at the black horse resting and grazing nearby before remarking, “A horse like this is truly hard to come by.”

The swordsman originally intended to respond modestly, perhaps saying that it was just an ordinary horse or that it was all thanks to Song You’s blessings. But as the words reached his lips, he recalled Song You’s attitude toward the jujube-red horse and Lady Calico. So instead, he simply said, “Indeed.”

“Haha...” The Mountain God let out a hearty laugh before saying, “In that case, please wait here a moment!”

Whoosh

...

A gust of mountain wind blew by, and the Mountain God’s figure vanished instantly. Now, the pavilion halfway up the mountain was left empty, save for the welcoming pine and the tea on the table.

The swordsman smacked his lips, set down the teacup, and sat quietly. He contemplated the Sword Dao while waiting for the Mountain God’s return.

The mountain breeze blew gently, carrying a slight chill.

He waited like this for at least half a day, until another breeze stirred the air, and without a sound, the Mountain God reappeared beside him. This time, the Mountain God was holding a small wooden box.

The box was about the size of a book, roughly a finger’s height, made of an unknown type of wood with a dark reddish hue and a textured grain. It had a clasp but no lock. The Mountain God set it on the table and pushed it toward the swordsman.

“What is this...?”

“A mountain!”

“A mountain?”

The swordsman received the box solemnly, only to find it utterly weightless, as if he were holding an empty container.

“Consider this mountain a gift from me to your master. You don’t need to return it to me,” the Mountain God said. “It’s just that this road has become increasingly desolate. If you ever pass through Pingzhou again, you must visit me for another cup of tea.”

He smiled faintly, gazing intently at the swordsman. “Although you probably won’t be able to open it, I still need to warn you—do not open it carelessly.”

“I understand,” the swordsman replied.

“It’s already late, and you’ve waited long enough. The mountains are quiet and lonely, so I won’t keep you. Head down the mountain. If you hurry, you can find lodging in the town below.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency! I’ll take my leave now!” The swordsman stood up immediately, bowing with his sword in salute.

Just as he stepped out of the pavilion, he heard a voice call from behind.

“That man from

jianghu

.”

“Hm?” The swordsman turned back in confusion.

The Mountain God sat at the table in the pavilion, sipping tea. He turned to look at the swordsman and said with a smile, “I once heard an ancient hero who attained enlightenment through martial arts say, ‘The most troublesome moments are when you’re stuck in deep contemplation. If you’ve made no progress for a long time, try spending a few days... doing nothing at all.’“

“Doing nothing?”

“Do nothing, think of nothing,” the Mountain God said leisurely. “Perhaps after a few days, you’ll forget some things you shouldn’t be fixated on, notice things you previously overlooked, or gain new insights.”

The swordsman appeared deep in thought. After a moment, he cupped his sword in a respectful salute. “Thank you for your guidance, Mountain God. I’ll take my leave now.”

This time, his gratitude was far more sincere.

He then mounted his horse. As he rode away, he glanced back. The roadside where the pavilion once stood was now just a patch of wild grass. There was no pavilion, no ancient pine, and the Mountain God had vanished without a trace.

Everything was silent once more.

“

Hyah

!” The black horse galloped through the mountains.

As he descended the mountain, the sun was already sinking in the western sky. By the time he reached the foot of the mountain, it had nearly set beyond the horizon. It was indeed time to head into the city and rest for the night.

The roads were bumpy, and the travel was exhausting. After days of being on the road, he wasn’t sure how the black horse fared. But even with the swordsman’s iron-like tough physique, he still felt a bit fatigued. Spending the night at an inn wouldn’t delay him much compared to camping on the wild mountainside. All he wanted was a hot bath, a change into his spare clothes, and a proper meal for the black horse.

This place was called Southern Art County, and he was in a small city. He entered just as dusk fell.

The swordsman didn’t gallop through the city. Instead, he dismounted and walked, leading his horse slowly down the dimly lit streets.

This place was entirely different from Hezhou. Here, it was bustling and peaceful. Even at dusk, many shops were still open.

Remembering the Mountain God’s words, the swordsman decided to clear his mind. Instead of constantly contemplating his Sword Dao, he turned his gaze to the streets he passed by, observing the townsfolk chatting outside their doorways at dusk. He met the curious faces that glanced his way and began searching for an inn.

Then, another thought crossed his mind—

When Song You traveled from Xuzhou to Pingzhou, it seemed he had taken this very old, abandoned road. That meant he must have passed through Southern Art County as well. He probably entered this city, too.

It was possible that the street he now walked was the very same one Song You had once walked, and the people he encountered now might have crossed paths with Song You a few years ago. This thought filled him with a strange, almost mystical feeling.

He eventually found an inn named “Jingfu.” Without a second thought, he made his way over.

Knock, knock...

Though the door was open, he knocked on the doorframe.

The innkeeper promptly emerged from the back courtyard. After confirming that the swordsman was looking to stay the night, he enthusiastically informed him that there was just one guest room left. He then took the horse to the stable and showed the swordsman to his room.

He could set down his luggage, but the box and his sword never left his side.

“Are you a

jianghu

martial artist, sir?” the innkeeper asked.

“I’m just a wanderer,” the swordsman replied.

“Did you just arrive in city?”

“Yes, just got here.”

“Then you probably haven’t had dinner yet. Would you like something to eat?” The innkeeper, not daring to ask what was in the box nor showing any interest in it, simply smiled and looked at him cheerfully.

“My horse needs the finest feed you have.”

“Of course, the very best,” the innkeeper assured him.

Only then did the swordsman relax. He sat down and asked, “What’s on the menu?”

“Oh, sir, I’m not one to boast, but if you ask what’s the best dish around here, it’s definitely our soup noodles. And as for the best soup noodles, it has to be our shop’s ‘Immortal Noodles.’ They say even immortals would sing its praises,” the innkeeper said with a grin.

He added, “Though other places have started calling their soup noodles ‘Immortal Noodles’ as well, everyone in Southern Art County knows the original and most authentic is right here. Just last year, the commandery magistrate heard about its reputation and made a special trip from the county seat to try it.”

“What are ‘Immortal Noodles’?” the swordsman asked.

“They’re our Southern Art County soup noodles—wide, thin noodles served in a carefully brewed bone broth. Just twenty wen a bowl, and it comes with a marrow bone,” the innkeeper explained.

“Why call it that?” the swordsman asked.

“You see, sir, four years ago, an immortal, disguised as a mortal, traveled through the human world. He traveled through here and stayed at our humble inn for several days. He tried our soup noodles once, and from that day on, he had it every day until he left, praising it highly. He even said he’d come back to eat it again if he got the chance.” The innkeeper beamed, his face full of pride.

He added, “Ever since, we’ve continued making it the same way—selecting the freshest bones and carefully slow-cooking the broth every day, using the finest noodles, never cutting corners. We’re just waiting for the immortal to return and have another bowl.”

“An immortal?” The swordsman’s expression grew a bit distant, but he said jokingly, “Are you making this up?”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t dare lie! That would surely bring down heavenly punishment, I’d be struck by lightning! Everyone in Southern Art County knows this story; who would dare to make it up?”

“Tell me more.”

“Well…“

“Bring me three bowls!”

“Three bowls?”

“Just bring them!”

“Right away!” The innkeeper went inside to instruct the kitchen, then returned to continue his story in detail.

The swordsman listened quietly, rarely interrupting.

He had been following Song You to exorcize demons in Hezhou for a year, and dealt with countless monsters, demons, and evil creatures, as well as subdued countless villains and wicked people. Yet, his arrival here was purely by chance.

Staying overnight in the city was also by chance, and coming into this shop was yet another coincidence. Even now, as he listened to the shopkeeper's story, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder.

It was as if, by chance, he had crossed paths here with Song You from four years ago. If Song You were to hear about the changes in this place over the past four years, he too would likely feel a wave of nostalgia.

The swordsman patiently listened to the end and then gave a faint smile. In this moment, his mind was entirely free from thoughts of Sword Dao.

That night, he had three bowls of soup noodles, followed by a hot bath. The next morning, he had another three bowls before bidding farewell to the innkeeper. He led his horse through the entire town of Southern Art County, then mounted up and sped off once again.

The matter was urgent; there was no time to waste.

On the return journey, his pace remained as swift as before, but unlike on his way there, he no longer contemplated Sword Dao as he rode. Instead, he set those thoughts aside, taking in the sights of roadside wildflowers, dew-covered grasses, and the picturesque landscapes of the mountains and rivers.

At night, if he encountered evil ghosts, he would simply slay them on the spot. When he ran into bandits, his sword was soon stained with their blood.

Occasionally, he would stop to drink tea beside the official road. Some careless individuals, noticing a lone rider carefully guarding a small wooden box, mistook it for a treasure and chose secluded spots, seeking their own doom.

Eventually, he reentered Hezhou and arrived back in Gui Commandery. Passing through Beifeng Pass, he rode straight onto the Snowy Plains. Truly, it was a lone journey across ten thousand li.