The sun blazed high overhead. On the official road, a horse-drawn carriage sped along.
The driver was a plainly dressed man in his early fifties, his build still sturdy. Though his hair had grayed, he seemed very much in his prime.
Wiping sweat from his brow with one hand as he looked ahead, he asked, "Young master, on a day this hot, do we really have to rush to Seven Peaks Town at top speed?"
Li Qingqiu sat inside the carriage, legs crossed in meditation, resting with eyes closed. The road was far too bumpy for actual cultivation; he could only try not to waste physical strength and spiritual energy.
Seven Peaks Town was the settlement nearest to the Seven Peaks Alliance, quite renowned. Many escort agencies and official caravans stopped there.
Once at Seven Peaks Town, getting directions to the Alliance would be easy.
This was the route Yang Jueding had told him about.
After eliminating Yue Zhenchuan and his men, Li Qingqiu no longer needed to rush. He just wanted to go and return quickly, to avoid worrying his junior brothers and sisters.
"I have an appointment with my family. If I miss it, they'll worry." Li Qingqiu replied.
"Makes sense. You look so young—younger than my own son. If my boy were out alone, I'd worry too. Now the empire's falling into chaos again. The prefectural government can't keep the local strongmen in check. People are displaced, and bandits are everywhere. Truth be told, I didn't want to take this job, but my old lady's sick, and we need money..."
The driver rambled on, and Li Qingqiu responded occasionally.
Two days had passed since Li Qingqiu left the Azure Firmament Sect, but he was still far from the Seven Peaks Alliance.
He didn't find the driver's chatter annoying. He occasionally asked about world affairs, trying to understand what Gu Prefecture was going through.
Having begun cultivating immortality, he no longer feared such heat. The Supreme Purity Chaos Genesis Scripture circulated within him, keeping his whole body cool and his mind calm, consuming little spiritual energy—a built-in benefit of the art.
In the blink of an eye.
An hour passed quickly. The driver had stopped talking, his mouth dry, eager to reach the next post station.
Suddenly.
The driver reined in the horses and cursed, "Get out of the way! You want to die under these hooves?"
"Uncle, could you give me a ride?"
"Oh? A girl? Why are you dressed like that?"
"I can pay. Would you let me come along?"
"Where are you headed?"
"Seven Peaks Town."
"Huh?"
The driver exclaimed in surprise, then turned back and lowered his voice. "Young master, there's a woman up ahead, also going to Seven Peaks Town. Should we take her? If we do, I'll knock thirty percent off your fare."
Li Qingqiu couldn't be bothered to argue over his scheming. "Take her. Let's get moving."
"Right away! Hop on, miss. And thank this young master—he originally chartered the whole carriage."
"Thank you!"
Footsteps approached, then the carriage curtain lifted. A black-robed woman entered, wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a pack. She sat by the window and raised her clasped hands to Li Qingqiu in salute.
"Sorry to impose, young master. Thank you for your generosity."
As she spoke, her hand never left her sword scabbard.
Li Qingqiu glanced at her, nodded slightly, and closed his eyes again.
The woman thought nothing of it and fell silent.
With a woman on board, the driver found new energy and kept trying to make conversation. The woman responded a few times, but when he wouldn't stop, she stopped answering, much to his frustration.
The rest of the journey passed in silence.
At the post station, the woman and Li Qingqiu sat at separate tables, only entering the carriage together when it was time to depart.
This continued for five days until they finally reached Seven Peaks Town. Li Qingqiu paid the driver the agreed silver and entered the town.
Seven Peaks Town sat at the foot of a mountain. Many carriages were parked before the town marker. Most people carried weapons, clearly martial artists in appearance.
Li Qingqiu wasted no time. He approached someone at random and asked, "Friend, can you tell me how to get to the Seven Peaks Alliance?"
The man was short and stocky, carrying a bamboo basket, looking like a local. He eyed Li Qingqiu. "Seven Peaks Alliance? See those mountains behind us? All of them belong to the Alliance. You're already here."
Li Qingqiu pressed patiently, "Where exactly is their sect gate? I'd like to visit."
"Visit the Seven Peaks Alliance? Forget it. Careful they don't break your legs. Don't ask me—I don't know!"
The stocky man turned and left. Li Qingqiu tried others, but the responses were similar.
At the mere mention of the Seven Peaks Alliance, everyone shied away from trouble, unwilling to reveal its location.
Li Qingqiu hadn't expected the Alliance's intimidation to be this pervasive. He might have to resort to forceful measures.
Just as he was about to select a target, the black-robed woman approached. "Asking about the Seven Peaks Alliance like that will only bring you trouble. I happen to be heading there myself. What's your business?"
Li Qingqiu turned. They stood on the street less than five paces apart. The woman lifted her head; beneath the bamboo hat was a coldly beautiful face.
This was the first time Li Qingqiu had really looked at her. She was attractive, her gaze carrying the characteristic killing intent of a martial artist.
She was tall, about his height. Li Qingqiu was still growing, but he already stood around five foot nine.
"My master sent me to deliver a letter. He was tied up with other matters and had no choice but to send me." Li Qingqiu's expression remained calm. The woman could glean nothing from his face.
"If we leave now, we should reach them by dawn tomorrow. Do you dare travel through the night?" she asked.
Li Qingqiu had a refined appearance, more like a scholar. Though he wore a sword at his waist, the woman sensed no threat from him.
"Please, lead the way, miss." Li Qingqiu smiled and nodded.
She said nothing more and brushed past him. He turned and followed.
They walked through Seven Peaks Town's main street. It was quite large and bustling. Li Qingqiu even spotted someone holding a martial arts contest to choose a husband.
In the future, the Azure Firmament Sect could recruit disciples here.
Lost in this thought, Li Qingqiu left the town with the woman and entered the mountain forest, beginning their ascent.
They avoided the main paths, which gave Li Qingqiu a familiar feeling—it was just like the Taikun Mountain Range, with no proper trail, only overgrown weeds.
Night fell. The forest grew pitch black, visibility near zero. The woman had come prepared with a torch. Lighting it, she quickened her pace again.
Li Qingqiu didn't need the torch, but he stayed close behind.
Several hours later.
They reached a ridge. Looking ahead, mountains stretched endlessly into the distance. The night mist made the peaks loom like ancient demons, watching them from above.
The woman stopped. "When dawn breaks, you'll see the Seven Peaks Alliance's mountain gate."
Li Qingqiu nodded. "Thank you, miss. May I ask your connection to the Seven Peaks Alliance?"
"Why do you ask?"
"If you'd rather not say, that's fine."
Li Qingqiu's gaze returned to the oppressive mountain vista, his voice light.
If she wouldn't say, fine. Even if she turned out to be an enemy, he didn't care.
The woman turned to look at him, curious. "Aren't you wondering why we haven't encountered any Seven Peaks people along the way?"
"We're taking an undeveloped mountain path. Naturally, we wouldn't meet anyone." Li Qingqiu replied casually.
He could tell this woman's origins were no simple matter, but he couldn't be bothered to investigate.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then, abruptly, she drew her sword. The blade sang from its sheath and stopped an inch from Li Qingqiu's throat.
"Speak. Who is your master? What is your connection to the Seven Peaks Alliance?" Her voice was low and hard.
Li Qingqiu glanced at her. His right hand moved like lightning, his middle finger flicking the blade. It flew from her grasp.
It happened too fast. She had no time to react. She stumbled back two steps. The sword landed in the grass behind her, blade stabbing into the earth, hilt quivering.
She stared at Li Qingqiu in disbelief. She never expected such martial prowess.
That flick of his finger had carried an unblockable force.
"That story I told you was a lie. Your offense just now cancels out your earlier help guiding me. Go down the mountain."
Li Qingqiu's face was expressionless as he spoke. Then he walked down the slope.
Wait for dawn?
He wouldn't wait any longer.
Seeing Li Qingqiu heading up the mountain, she couldn't help asking, "Who are you really? What are you planning?"
"An enemy of the Seven Peaks Alliance. I've come to kill."
Li Qingqiu didn't look back. His words stunned the woman.
Kill?
He was going alone against the Seven Peaks Alliance?
Before she could think further, she saw him leap. Like a bird, he plunged into the thick mist and vanished.
...
The mountain housing the Seven Peaks Alliance was very tall. It took Li Qingqiu considerable time just to ascend.
He arrived before the mountain gate. Looking up at the thirty-foot-high structure, he couldn't help marveling at its grandeur. Compared to this, the Azure Firmament Sect's gate was utterly insignificant.
Two Alliance disciples were sleeping against the gate posts. They hadn't heard his approach.
Li Qingqiu went to one and slit his throat. Blood splattered the pillar.
The other disciple woke with a start. Blinking groggily, he saw Li Qingqiu and his companion's corpse. His eyes flew wide. Before he could cry out, Li Qingqiu was on him, left hand clamping over his mouth, right hand pressing the Skyrainbow Sword against his neck.
"If you want to live, cooperate. Blink if you understand." Li Qingqiu's voice was cold.
The disciple blinked rapidly, terrified Li Qingqiu's hand might slip.
Li Qingqiu pulled him up. "Lead the way. Take me to your Alliance Master's residence. Try anything, and my sword will be faster."
The disciple stumbled forward at Li Qingqiu's push. Regaining his balance, he felt something sharp press against his lower back. Cold sweat poured down his face.
He began leading the way. They encountered no other disciples—it was the wee hours of the night.
The Alliance's roads were wide, with training grounds everywhere, displaying the imposing scale of a major martial faction. After an incense stick's time, they reached the First Alliance Master's courtyard.
The disciple pointed shakily toward a building. Li Qingqiu struck him on the back of the neck, knocking him out. Then, sword in hand, he walked toward that door.