Chapter 24 - Crossing the River

来自武界的人不少.来自武界,也必须穿过它才能离开.于是,许多武者界人物聚集在渡口,向过往的船只询问价格.由于武术比赛的缘故,该地区比平时更繁忙,渡轮价格也略有上涨,但对这些武术英雄来说,这并不重要——只是多了几枚硬币.然而,通常愿意为渡轮付费的是技术较低的武术家或无所事事的观众.技艺高超的战士们干脆用他们的轻功在水面上行走,根本不需要船只.这导致了一个相当典型的场景."那个老头是谁,只用一根竹棍过河?!"河边渡轮码头旁有人惊讶地惊呼.所有人的目光立刻转移了.深河中央,有一位天相老者,双手背后站在竹棍上,漂流过河时显得轻松自在.虽然他看起来快要倒下了,但他完美地平衡了起来,顺利地到达了对岸."看看他只用一根棍子就毫不费力地过河了.他一定是来自某个地方的受人尊敬的大师,虽然他的面孔很陌生."也许他是什么隐居的特级大师.我们应该注意我们的言语;这些老大师们令人恐惧.如果他偷听了,我们就不方便了.几位武界人物沉默了下来,生怕招来麻烦.这些老大师的性情是不可预测的,在愤怒中可能会变得可怕.此外,这位长老看起来并不那么了不起.在他们在天水坛度过的日子里,遇到了无数令人印象深刻的人物,包括传说中的英雄.到现在为止,他们已经已经很习惯看到这样的人了,并没有对一个神秘的长老反应过度.他们又回到了过河的注意力上,向摆渡人询问了价格."嘿,船夫,每人过河多少钱?"船夫是个中年男子,笑着回答说:"每人三十个硬币.请上车.一行人皱起眉头,"三十个硬币很陡.我们并不缺钱,但感觉就像我们被敲诈了.让我们多看看周围.船夫耸耸肩,仍然面带微笑,"如你所愿.提醒一下,现在每个人收取的价格都是一样的.我的实际上是最低的.这群人没有回应,一边嘟囔着,一边继续前往另一艘渡轮.　　The boatman watched them leave, shaking his head with a sigh, muttering to himself, "So many passengers —of course, prices go up. That's business."　　He draped a towel over his shoulder and turned toward a smaller boat nearby, calling out, "Chen family brother, aren't you setting out? It's almost noon, the best time for business."　　After a pause, slow footsteps sounded from within the small boat. A lazy figure emerged, leaned casually against the boat cabin, and replied blandly, "I'm not in it for business, just rowing for pleasure."　　The middle-aged boatman shook his head in resignation. "You've been here two years already. You should try earning a bit more to find yourself a wife."　　Chen Xia, arms crossed, leaned lazily against the cabin, laughing, "I'll just wait for a wife to come find me."　　The boatman chuckled, amused by his logic, and took a seat on his boat.　　"Look at you. You're handsome and refined; winning the hearts of young ladies isn't a problem for you."　　"But marriage isn't just about the girl agreeing. You need the parents'consent too, and without a dowry, they won't give it."　　Chen Xia, with his quick thinking, came up with a solution immediately, "Then I'll find a girl without parents."　　The boatman was stunned, momentarily silent, then advised, "Girls without parents are hard to find. And if they've had hard lives, they tend to be picky with high standards."　　Chen Xia slid down into the boat, sat back, and smiled, "Then I'll find a rich lady."　　The boatman went silent, studying him for a moment, before saying with a sigh, "You're well suited for that."　　Their conversation ended there. The boatman pulled out a water flask and a rice ball, eating to refuel before the midday rush.　　As he ate, he glanced at the nearby cabin and noticed Chen Xia had already disappeared inside.　　The boatman frowned slightly. This Chen family brother had come to the Tian Shui Altar two years ago, saying he was traveling, liked the scenery here, and decided to stay and row.　　But his business sense was odd. He only rowed when he felt like it, and let passengers pay whatever they wanted, never asking for anything specific. It was all quite strange.　　Even stranger, Chen Xia rarely left the cabin, and no one ever saw him eat, though nobody paid much mind to it.　　The boatman shook his head, deciding not to worry —he had enough troubles of his own.　　Chen Xia lay inside the cabin, staring blankly at the ceiling, growing less inclined to move. Perhaps it was because he was close to mastering the "Great Turtle Breathing Technique."Or maybe he was just lazy.　　Who could say?　　He turned on his side, took out a small mirror, and examined his reflection. He looked less and less like he used to; his brows, features, and face had subtly changed.　　Simply put —he was becoming more handsome.　　Only his lazy, indifferent air remained unchanged.　　He shook his head, put away the mirror, and checked his inner energy.　　[Dragon Qi: 150/1000]　　The tribute given by the Grandmaster had been growing rarer; it had taken eight years to reach 150. It would likely take another few centuries to fill.　　Fortunately, Chen Xia had time and didn't mind.　　In these eight years, he'd put all his points into Fortune. His strength remained 35, and his magic power was 0.　　His Fortune was now 13. Sometimes, big fish leapt directly into his boat; finding money was just routine.　　But it wasn't enough —he wanted to increase his Fortune further.　　Fortune affected cultivation and constitution, and as it rose, anything became possible.　　That was the essence of mysticism.　　Yawning, he glanced out the window. The sun was high, heat rolling in waves; it was now noon, the busiest time for ferries.　　But it was no concern of his.　　The surrounding boats filled up one by one, slowly ferrying passengers across. Many were waiting in the heat by the dock, eyeing an untouched small boat.　　Some young nobles, impatient with the heat, approached it, shouting, "Is anyone there? Start rowing! I'll pay fifty coins!"　　The boat remained silent.　　The noble frowned and called out again, "Is anyone there? Answer! I'll pay one tael of silver. Price isn't an issue!"　　As soon as he finished, a head popped out of the boat.　　The noble's face lit up, believing money could indeed move mountains.　　Chen Xia tossed a pair of oars his way and said casually, "If you want to cross, row yourself. Pay as you like; I'm not short of money."　　He retreated back into the cabin, handing over the oars only because he liked the swaying feel of the boat as it drifted along, lulled by the passing scenery. It felt like taking a nap on a train in his past life.　　The noble stood at the dock, slightly dazed, then boarded the boat, picking up the oars and calling out, "Anyone else want to row with me?"　　Rowing was a novelty, and several people were eager to join.　　So the boat set off, Chen Xia lying back in the cabin, almost drifting to sleep as the boat rocked.　　The passengers had nothing else to do, so they started chatting.　　"In this martial arts tournament, who do you think will win?"　　One speculated, "The reigning champion Zuo Feiyang is likely to keep his title —he's still in his prime."　　Another disagreed, "Martial arts isn't about age. Lord Eunuch has lived for nearly two centuries and is still fierce."　　"I think Zuo Feiyang's been preoccupied with the royal court lately, leaving him no time to train. He might have been overtaken by other experts."　　After various opinions, someone mentioned, "What about Immortals? Do you think an Immortal might come?"　　Everyone fell silent, then shared their views.　　"This is a martial arts tournament for mortals; Immortals are beyond this realm. Ever since that thunderstorm night in the capital five years ago, they've been gone. It's said he's entered closed-door training."　　Another hesitated before sharing, "I heard —just a rumor —that the Immortal went overseas, searching for the path to the Celestial Realm."　　Someone else shook their head, "I heard he's already ascended, which is why we haven't heard anything."　　"I heard that his ascension failed and he was injured. That thunderstorm night marked his attempt, and the sudden stop meant failure."　　"I have another story. I didn't think of it myself, but I heard that the Immortal attempted to ascend, failed, and perished on that stormy night in the capital."　　"Hold on, stop that right there. We can't be saying things like that," someone quickly intervened, unwilling to let the conversation go further.　　Yet everyone knew in their hearts—the entire martial world hoped for the Immortal's downfall. Only if the Immortal were gone could the martial world breathe freely again! Otherwise, the Immortal would forever remain a mountain pressing down on all of Song's martial arts realm. One person alone could suppress the entire martial world.　　The current resurgence in the martial world was only because Chen Xia had been unheard of for five years, giving those within the martial world a glimmer of hope.　　Chen Xia lay in his boat cabin, listening to their conversation and thinking, Rumors, huh? They really do get more outrageous as they spread.　　Now he had supposedly died. If things kept going like this, in a few more years, they might start saying he'd reincarnated!　　At that point, no need for the Grand Master to keep bowing in worship; he could just stick three incense sticks in the ground and turn it into a memorial service.　　He turned over again, hearing the people outside resume their discussion.　　"Have you heard of the Little Immortal?"