Chapter 173 — Washing Hands of the Golden Basin

The people aboard the ship were thrown into utter chaos. The boatman was a man of divine abilities, and no mean one at that, but he had to steer the tower-ship's course and could spare no thought for the others.

In Three Marvels Fort there are three marvels: first the insects, second the medicine, third the beauties. The daughters of Three Marvels Fort are lovely — Consort Che in the imperial palace was the finest of them all — and the fort's skill in medicine is high, with many famous physicians adept at using gu to cure disease. And ranked first among the three marvels are the insects.

The insect army of Three Marvels Fort was fearsome; those who are skilled with medicine are skilled with poison, and the fort's venomous insects were without peer.

After the court took them in, the emperor ordered Three Marvels Fort to raise an insect army, and its ranks were filled with masters of insect control. Now Three Marvels Fort had rebelled, and plainly the insect army had rebelled with it; this stretch of battlefield was the imperial host arrayed against the insect army of Three Marvels Fort. They had blundered into the field and come under attack by the fort's insect army, and there would be no easy way out of it.

"These insects — you can't guard against them however you try! The Chubao Sword is no use against so many!

" Shen Mu's scalp went numb.

Countless insects came flying at him in a blaze of gold.

At once he split his mind in two: the Chubao Sword stabbed at one of the soldiers, while his own primal qi erupted and from his hands poured countless strands of qi fine as hairs, like a fiery red sun. His qi strands were made of one slender sword of primal qi after another; now they gathered into a setting sun, hovering in the air with a hum. The learning of Yuyuan — the Setting Sun Swordplay.

The fireball spun at furious speed, and at once countless blades of sword-light burst from that setting sun, every blade stabbing into a golden insect, and in a moment the ground around Shen Mu was littered with insect corpses. At the same time his Chubao Sword flashed through a soldier's chest and back out again, slaying him.

"Well struck!

" cried the boat boss in praise. He had his mate take the helm and freed his own hands, drew out a fire gourd, and opened it; a cloud of fire flew from the gourd and became a nine-headed fire phoenix, which opened its nine mouths and spat roaring flame, burning countless insects to death. The nine-headed fire phoenix spread its wings and shrouded the tower-ship, spouting flame after flame; several soldiers of Three Marvels Fort were charred to cinders before they could even draw near.

"This boatman's cultivation runs deep — no less than General Shen Feiyue! " Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly.

The boatman was a middle-aged man, tall and powerfully built, but this one display of fire divine ability was truly extraordinary; he was likely a powerhouse of the Seven Star realm.

Just then a dreadful golden tide of insects surged in like waves. A woman in a general's garb stood within the tide, thrust out a finger, and the tide heaved and rushed at the tower-ship. "The second marvel of Three Marvels Fort — the girl is beautiful indeed. " The boat boss gave a chuckle.

With a swish the nine-headed fire phoenix withdrew into the fire gourd, and the gourd grew larger and larger until it stood a monstrous three or five men tall, its mouth turned downward, a dreadful suction coming from it that drew in the surging tide of insects one after another. The boat boss formed seals with both hands, slapping dozens of seals in succession onto the fire gourd, and in the air around that great gourd all manner of gorgeous runes surfaced, lighting up one after another and then fading into nothing.

The insect tide within the gourd was instantly refined to ash.

Shen Mu's eyes lit up. Cultivation is scholarship, and this boat boss's learning in runes and seal arts ran deep.

The woman general of Three Marvels Fort was startled; the insect tide beneath her feet halted, and she stood in the air, her lovely eyes blinking. "You are.

.

. Fan Yunxiao, the Fire Bandit? When did you mend your ways and take up the boatman's trade?

" The faces of the many merchants aboard changed drastically; even the several officials blanched, and they all sent their flying swords aloft, pointed at the boat boss. The boat boss spat twice. "What do you mean, mended my ways?

" The woman general of Three Marvels Fort sneered.

"I hear you were a cast-off of the Dao Sect. The Dao Sect judged your heart crooked and drove you from the gate, and so you turned bandit, plundering merchants far and wide; the court has wanted you this many a day.

Now you play at being a boatman — is that not mending your ways? " Fan Yunxiao laughed. "In peaceful times I was a bandit, robbing for coin; but in troubled times, who can be a bandit?

In troubled times I play boatman — the money comes in faster than robbery. General, would you do me the courtesy?

" The woman general of Three Marvels Fort gave a cold snort and glanced about.

The insect army of Three Marvels Fort was still locked in battle with the government troops, and to fight this bandit now would cost her dearly for nothing. And though Fan Yunxiao was a cast-off of the Dao Sect, his abilities were exceedingly high; the court had hunted him all these years without catching him, and she might not be his match. At once her insect cloud rolled up and her figure drifted backward. Fan Yunxiao let out a breath of relief and ordered his mate to drive the tower-ship away.

The merchants aboard stared at this burly fellow in terror, their eyes full of dread. Fan Yunxiao said hurriedly, "Gentlemen may set their minds at ease — I have mended my ways, and in troubled times I do not rob. And you gentlemen officials, rest easy as well — I have mended my ways, and this very ship is on record in the capital!

" An official sneered. "Might this ship of yours, Boss Fan, be that Cloud-Chasing Pirate Ship, so notorious among bandits in former days?

" "You flatter me, you flatter me. The Cloud-Chasing Pirate Ship has changed its name too — it is the Cloud-Chasing Passenger Ship now. When the world is at peace, I shall go back to robbing.

" Fan Yunxiao walked up to the merchant who had been eaten by insects until only a hide remained, frowned, and said, "You took my ship, and I ought to have protected you with all my heart, yet you met with calamity.

I cannot take your fare. " So saying, he took out a purse of money and handed it to the merchant's attendants. The people aboard trembled, feeling they had scarce escaped the wolves only to fall into the tiger's den. This Fan Yunxiao had plagued merchant caravans for years, plundering far and wide; to have boarded his ship, they feared, boded ill indeed.

"I have mended my ways! " Fan Yunxiao bowed to all around.

"Truly mended my ways! Rest easy, I will surely deliver you to the capital.

" The crowd still wore looks of terror. Fan Yunxiao, helpless, looked at Shen Mu and smiled. "Young brother, your swordplay is not bad. Are you of the Yuyuan family?

" Shen Mu shook his head. "Shen Mu of the Grand Academy. Senior brother Fan's scholarship is profound — most admirable.

" Fan Yunxiao's eyes brightened.

He laughed. "This is the first time anyone has praised my scholarship.

Your eye is not bad.

It is laughable how many shut themselves up and cultivate blindly, never knowing how to pursue learning.

They do not understand that cultivation is scholarship; the Dao Sect's supreme arts are all piled up out of learning, and without learning you can't learn a fart.