Chapter 198: Robbing Beggars Now?

Little Fritter?

Listening to those words, a thought occurred to Chen Changsheng.

Could they be referring to who he once was?

Earlier, while inside the Fate Stone, Chen Changsheng had witnessed his own meeting with Yu Xuan. The name ‘Chen Fan’ had been mentioned then.

“If that’s true,” he pondered, “then that scene I saw in the Fate Stone… that must have been their very first meeting.”

The origin, then, lay in the Southern Jun region over eight thousand years ago.

After all, Yu Xuan had reincarnated using the Sutra of Rebirth. In that case, perhaps her name changed with each life.

Even if she successfully retained her memories, she should definitely still recognize him.

“But if the Fate Stone is also Yu Xuan’s memory,” Chen Changsheng wondered, “then how could it help me hide from the Heavenly Secrets…”

“Could it be that her cultivation depth was already of inscrutable depth back then?”

That was entirely possible.

As for why he only saw that tiny fragment of memory within the Fate Stone, it was likely because the spiritual essence within the stone had been gradually exhausted over time.

That explanation made sense.

And the reason the pearl within the Yuqing Sword remained? Perhaps because…

That lifetime’s Yu Xuan had successfully reincarnated, memory intact.

But something else puzzled Chen Changsheng more at that moment.

This Yu Xuan he now saw before him…

Which lifetime’s Yu Xuan was she?

His focus returned to the ‘Southern Garden’.

Having reclaimed her memories, Yu Xuan stayed in the Southern Garden for several years. Drawing upon the vast experience within her memories, her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

Within a mere ten years, she leaped from a mere Mortal to the Divine Transformation stage, just a hair’s breadth away from the Dongxu Realm.

“That’s plenty,” Yu Xuan declared.

She stood up and walked towards the adjoining room.

Hanging on the wall was a sword.

She took the sword down and drew it slightly from its sheath to look at it.

The blade hummed faintly, emitting a chilling gleam.

“Poor little Shangqing, tired of being cooped up in here?”

The Shangqing Sword vibrated softly, as if expressing its grievance.

Yu Xuan chuckled. “Be good now. I’m taking you out to bully some people.”

“Let’s go.”

Swinging the sword onto her shoulder, she swaggered out of the Southern Garden. Her face wore a youthful, carefree grin, and she spoke like a child ready for mischief.

Chen Changsheng found this strange. But didn’t the Black Pagoda say Yu Xuan rarely spoke? he thought to himself.

This was quite the difference…

And this Shangqing Sword? Clearly, Shangqing was Yu Xuan’s personal sword.

And Yuqing? That sword belonged to Zhao Yuqing.

Did that imply…

There must also be a Taiqing Sword?

The three celestial lords of Taoism: Yuqing, Shangqing, Taiqing. Yuqing led them all, known as the Primordial Heavenly Lord; Shangqing was the Spiritual Treasure Lord; and Taiqing, the Lord of Virtue.

But in this world, there were no legends of the Taoist Trinity.

Probably those sword names were also given by him, Chen Changsheng.

Yu Xuan took flight using the Flying Sword technique, leaving the Southern Garden. What Chen Changsheng then found unexpected was…

Now possessing magical power and an immortal sword, Yu Xuan didn’t embark on grand adventures. Instead, she took to stirring up trouble across the Cultivation World!

Just as she’d said: ‘taking the sword out to bully people’.

Though her magical power might not have been vast, her insight from multiple lifetimes granted her profound cultivation depth. Many masters of the advanced Dongxu Realm couldn’t match her.

It seemed Yu Xuan wandered the Cultivation World purely for idle entertainment. Whichever poor cultivator crossed her path was bound to get a hard time.

“Halt!”

Several cultivators stopped mid-stride and turned to look at the girl shouldering her sword.

“Daoist Friend, what matter requires our attention?” one asked.

Yu Xuan directly drew her sword. “Robbery! Hand over all your treasures!”

She acted like some all-around scoundrel, bullying and robbing other cultivators everywhere.

Crucially, after robbing someone, she wouldn’t leave immediately. She’d linger, waiting for her victim to run off and call for backup.

First, disciples of minor sects fell victim. Then inner court disciples. Then Elders. Finally, even Sect Leaders got robbed.

After wreaking such havoc across the Cultivation World for a year or two, she inevitably stirred deep ire.

Thus, more than ten sects banded together, determined to eliminate this menace.

Yu Xuan got wind of it beforehand. Under cover of night, she fled straight to the Mortal Realm. Nearly a thousand cultivators arrived only to find an empty den; no one could discover where this troublemaker hid.

The sects subsequently placed bounties on Yu Xuan, offering Magical Artifacts and treasures. But years passed without a single solid lead. They’d just have to swallow their losses.

Yu Xuan, meanwhile, roamed freely among the mortals, swindling food and drink.

In her spare time, she returned to see Li Niangui’s parents. She traded some of the treasures looted from cultivators for ordinary silver, helping the Li family start a business.

“La la la la…”

On this particular day, Yu Xuan walked along a mountain path, swaggering with her sword shouldered carelessly.

Mid-stride, the Shangqing Sword slung over her shoulder suddenly reacted.

“Hum.”

The blade shuddered once, seeming to sense something.

“Hmm?”

Yu Xuan halted. “What are you shaking for?”

The Shangqing Sword flew from her grip, vibrating intensely as if trying to show her something.

Yu Xuan paused, then suddenly understood.

“Is it Little Fritter!?”

She hurried towards the nearest Civic District. The closer she got, the more agitated the Shangqing Sword became.

Yu Xuan entered the Civic District. Her gaze swept across the streets, finally settling on a dirty beggar sitting by the roadside.

Chen Changsheng watched this scene unfold and instantly recognized that beggar.

Without a doubt…

It was himself.

“Heavens…” Yu Xuan mumbled. “How’d you become a beggar again?”

Pondering for a moment, she approached.

‘Chen Changsheng’ lay napping by the street edge. In his bowl sat two copper coins – who knew who had tossed them?

He didn’t mind. Surviving a day meant facing three years of death later; he wouldn’t starve. Occasionally someone tossed him coins. Maybe come afternoon, he could buy a couple of steamed buns. Then, as dusk approached, he’d nibble away waiting for death’s hour.

Never did he expect to meet a strange girl on this day.

“Hey, hey there, Little Beggar.”

‘Chen Changsheng’ opened his eyes, looking at the girl before him. She was undeniably pretty, but the sword over her shoulder looked quite unfitting.

“What do you want?” ‘Chen Changsheng’ asked.

Yu Xuan crouched down, pointing at the coins in the bowl. “Could you lend me some money?”

‘Chen Changsheng’ blinked, looking from her to himself. “Young lady, who’s mixed up here? Am I not the beggar?”

Yu Xuan kept her eyes on him. “So, will you lend it? I promise I’ll pay you back.”

‘Chen Changsheng’ thought briefly, then shook his head. “Just two coppers. I’d planned on buying buns. No.”

“You won’t lend it…”

Yu Xuan stood up, stroking her chin thoughtfully.

‘Chen Changsheng’ watched her. “What are you planning?”

“Shiiiing.”

Yu Xuan suddenly drew her sword, resting its point against ‘Chen Changsheng’s’ neck.

“Hand it over!”

‘Chen Changsheng’ stared dumbfounded at this girl, a stream of grumbling curses escaping his lips. “Are you robbing beggars now?!”

Was there no law anymore?

Even a beggar gets robbed!