World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 28: Captain

After the meal, the group sat in the private room of the restaurant, snacking on sunflower seeds and sipping tea as they chatted.

"Brother Sheng, how many years have you been honing your swordsmanship?" Shi Qianzhang casually asked.

"About three years," Wang Sheng answered. "I've always enjoyed it since I was young. I already had a bit of a foundation before going up the mountain."

Shi Qianzhang immediately gave him a thumbs-up, a piece of sunflower seed skin stuck to his lips as he grinned. "That's amazing! Now that primal qi has returned, it will take others a lifetime to be on par with your swordsmanship. Truly incredible!"

"That's not entirely true," Liu Yunzhi said softly. "Even if primal qi hadn't returned, Brother Fei Yu's Sword Dao wouldn't be any weaker than it is now. My master often says that in all paths of cultivation, it ultimately comes down to a single word: comprehension."

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Wang Sheng was about to offer a humble response, but Meng Hong chuckled before he could.

"Believe it or not, we only learned about Junior Brother Wang's swordsmanship today," Meng Hong admitted. "He keeps a low profile back home, cultivating in the secluded back mountain. Now that I think about it, his outstanding performance today was no coincidence."

"Senior Brother, please don't overpraise me," Wang Sheng said with a smile, calmly shifting the conversation. "Daoist Brother Qianzhang, the black talisman you used earlier could manifest four talisman pouches out of thin air. And Daoist Brother Yunzhi, your use of talismans to summon heavenly lightning to fend off enemies—those are the real awe-inspiring Daoist arts."

Liu Yunzhi merely smiled.

Shi Qianzhang laughed awkwardly. "That was just a little trick to fool people. The four cloth pouches were tied to me from the start."

He then sighed heavily. "Today, I thought I'd show off a little, gain some fame for myself on Mount Mao, and maybe land some commercial gigs later. But then I ran into your sword. My old man said I'd encounter someone extraordinary on this trip. Forget extraordinary—you're the Sword King of Hell!"

A light knock at the door interrupted their conversation, followed by a small female peeking in. The bright-eyed girl had a neat fringe and was dressed in Daoist robes. Wang Sheng found her somewhat familiar—he must have seen her earlier on Mount Mao.

Her face flushed as she asked softly, "Are the Daoist disciples from the Wudang Mountains here? I'm a young cultivator from Lao and was hoping to get a picture with Senior Brother Fei Yu and Senior Sister Bu Yu. May I?"

Wang Sheng was rendered speechless.

Before Wang Sheng or Mu Wanxuan could reply, Shi Qianzhang enthusiastically got up and waved her in. "Come on in! They're right here!"

The door opened wider, and seven or eight young men and women in Daoist robes crowded in.

More people in the corridor caught wind of the commotion—some came to introduce themselves, others came to observe and perhaps discuss the Dao. After some time, more Kun Daoist cultivators arrived, looking to get Liu Yunzhi's autograph.

The small private room quickly descended into chaos.

***

After over an hour of bustling activity, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan returned to their hotel somewhat disheveled, while Meng Hong and the other three went with Liu Yunzhi and Shi Qianzhang to explore the night market.

By the time they had gotten out of the commotion, Wang Sheng's YouChat contact list had grown substantially. He even had a new section full of names from other sects' younger generations. Moreover, he had joined four or five group chats, though he had muted all of them.

Mu Wanxuan had gained a few contacts as well, mainly young female cultivators who admired the "great cultivator" at the Seed Formation Realm. She giggled about it for quite a while, reveling in the idea of becoming their big sister.

Although their sect didn't even have a proper name, they and their master were destined to achieve greatness. Expanding their network within the cultivation world seemed necessary. Hence, Wang Sheng took the task seriously. He carefully noted each new contact's sect, name, and Daoist title to avoid any future awkwardness.

That same night, some delegations began their journey back. The Wudang Mountains group planned to leave in the morning.

Wang Sheng, however, had already bought tickets to his hometown, which was only two to three hours away from Mount Mao. Tomorrow, he would take Mu Wanxuan with him to visit his parents.

It was often said that returning to one's hometown stirred complex emotions. Perhaps that was why Wang Sheng found it hard to fall asleep. Would his parents say anything that would embarrass his senior sister?

Forget the potential impact of today's exchange meeting; this was what truly worried Wang Sheng.

***

The gentle night breeze brought tranquility to Mount Mao's restricted back mountain, which had regained its usual peace.

The area outside Chongxi Palace had been cleaned up, though a few disciples further tidied the surroundings. Most of the visiting Daoist masters had gone down to the town, and the Mount Mao Daoists had returned to their respective temples or residences.

The Daoist master who had hosted the afternoon's exchange meeting soon arrived, holding a fly-whisk. He seemed to have just returned from sending off some guests.

"Go clean some other courtyard," he instructed.

"Understood, Sect Master."

The disciples bowed their heads and left hastily.

After confirming that everyone had left the area, the Daoist master approached Chongxi Palace, crouched slightly, and leaped into the air like a bird of prey. He swept his hand under the eaves, and he descended as lightly as a drifting willow.

In his hand was a small square box with a tiny hole on one side.

He wasn't a military enthusiast and didn't understand the high cost of this inconspicuous piece of special equipment. He only knew its purpose: to record twenty-four hours of high-definition video.

He brought a small card close to the bottom of the box, and a soft buzz confirmed that the day's footage had been stored and was being transmitted to the remote receiver. Staring at the device, a trace of hesitation flickered in the Daoist master's eyes.

A faint sigh echoed from deep within Chongxi Palace, making the Daoist master freeze. He quickly slipped the black box into his sleeve, but just as he did, an elderly man in a flowing white robe appeared soundlessly in front of him.

The Daoist master smiled maliciously. "Master, you haven't gone into seclusion yet?"

"Have you made up your mind?" the elder asked. "If you proceed, it may appear dishonorable and untrustworthy."

After a moment of silence, the Daoist master replied, "Master, what I'm doing is for the benefit of the entire cultivation world, not just for the gains and losses of Mao Mountain."

"Even so, your actions... No, since I have already passed the role of sect master to you, I should no longer interfere." The elder's expression filled up with sorrow as he retreated into the depths of the palace.

The Daoist master sighed. "Master, the world today is no longer like it was a thousand years ago. Back then, mortals wielded swords, bows, and horses. Today, we have firearms, explosives, and more. Even if we attain profound cultivation, Mount Mao could still be razed overnight if the government truly wished to act against us.

"You have often said that this is an era of peace and that there is no need for cultivators like us to act as guardians. We only need to manage ourselves, abide by the country's regulations, and ensure that the cultivation world does not disrupt societal order."

The elder waved his hand dismissively. Wearily, he replied, "Fine, fine. I will retreat into seclusion and focus on cultivation."

He disappeared into the palace's shadows, leaving the Daoist master alone.

The Daoist master bowed to send him off, then took a look at the black box in his sleeve.

A tiny green light blinked softly on the box, signaling that the video transmission was complete.

Despite his firm decision, a sense of regret lingered in his mind. He felt as though he had betrayed his sect and failed his fellow cultivators.

After sighing once more, he flicked his fly-whisk and headed to a side door.

"They say mountains are tranquil because the world carries no dust. Yet now, there is no such haven of tranquility or celestial sanctuaries of old."

***

A small town outside Mount Mao.

Inside a food-processing factory on the outskirts of the town, about a dozen people busily monitored two rows of computers. One row displayed footage from various corners of Mao Town, while the other showed the temporary residences of delegations from renowned Daoist sects.

Aside from the footsteps of people passing by and the constant clattering of keyboards from a few young men and women, the place remained relatively quiet.

"Captain, we've got footage from Camera Two!" someone shouted, breaking the silence.

In the corner, a woman reclining on a sofa immediately stood up. Her high heels clicked briskly as she walked over, her movement drawing the attention of everyone in the room. The men especially couldn't help but glance at their renowned captain, who was known for her strictness and efficiency.

Although already in her forties, she had maintained her slender figure and still exuded a graceful allure. Though she had fine lines and traces of age on her face, her features had a unique charm shaped by time and experience. Her tailored suit added a touch of elegance to her sharp demeanor, much like her short, impeccably styled, ear-length hair.

The captain calmly instructed, "There should be over ten hours of footage. Extract all useful information as quickly as possible."

"Yes, Captain. It'll be done in fifteen minutes!"

She nodded slightly, folding her arms as she observed from the desk nearby.

The Daoist exchange meeting on Mount Mao held extraordinary significance for their department. It served as their opportunity to evaluate the strength of various Daoist sects and the overall state of the cultivation world.

The young man on the computer hesitated, his fingers trembling slightly. After swallowing nervously, he muttered, "Captain, can you give me some space? I can't focus with you standing here..."

"Just get on with it," the captain replied, her tone flat yet sharp. She stepped back, allowing him to work.

As soon as she moved away, the younger staff, curious about the Daoist sect exchange meeting, leaned closer to the monitor displaying the footage.

Their captain wordlessly walked over to a filing cabinet while occasionally glancing at her phone.

A middle-aged man in a jacket, his hair streaked with gray, approached her with a steaming paper cup. He smiled. "Captain, here's your coffee. The newbies in this group seem a bit scared of you. Don't take it personally."

The captain simply smirked. She carefully took a sip from the cup, finding the coffee a little bitter.

The man seemed to have been working with their captain for a long time now. Although he didn't dare joke too much around her, it was clear that he knew more about her than the others.

"Captain, any updates on Little Wen?"

Her gaze flickered with a hint of worry as she shook her head slightly. "Nothing yet. I've sent someone to her school to check."

"Don't worry, Captain. She's probably just throwing a tantrum. My own daughter went through that phase too—"

The group keeping an eye on the monitors suddenly erupted into exclamations.

"What the—!"

"Whoa!"

"Unbelievable!"

"Captain! Come take a look, hurry! This sword technique is straight out of a TV drama!"

The captain and the middle-aged man immediately walked over to the commotion. Except for those stationed at essential controls, everyone in the room gathered to watch the footage.

The monitor displayed a paused frame of Wang Sheng's demonstration. Even through the cold lens of electronic recording, the performance retained an almost otherworldly grace.

The captain frowned. "Who is he?"

A young woman clutching a folder quickly answered, "Wang Sheng, Daoist name Fei Yu. He's part of the Wudang Mountains delegation, but he stayed in the audience for most of the morning session and didn't stand out until later. Based on intercepted information, his master's Daoist name is Bu Yu, real name Qing Yanzi. His master is reportedly at the Seed Formation Realm or higher."

The captain's hand trembled slightly, spilling a few drops of coffee onto her fingers. However, she seemed completely unaware of the scalding liquid.

"What did you just say? Who is his master?"

Sensing the change in the captain's demeanor, the young woman instinctively shuddered, nearly dropping her folder.