Two Lifetimes in Yunzhou, A Journey of Three

"Wow, is that Li Mo’s carriage?!"

"Some say you’re the reincarnation of a Sword Immortal—is that true?"

"Did you really leave that sword mark on Hengyun Sword City?"

When Li Mo returned to Yunzhou City, he was met with a wave of roaring cheers.

Even the wide city gates were clogged with an impassable crowd.

Human joys and sorrows are not shared, and at this moment, young Li Mo found them nothing but noisy.

He was now experiencing firsthand the saying: "Fame is as burdensome to men as fattening is to pigs."

"Being a famous swordsman in others' eyes is so exhausting..."

Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, his mental fortitude wasn’t quite keeping up.

With the carriage immobilized, Li Mo glanced at the "ice block" beside him—Ying Bing, who sat with downcast eyes, sipping tea in silence, utterly undisturbed by the outside commotion.

"It’s almost dark."

"We still have to explore Yunzhou City."

Li Mo racked his brain for a solution.

Before he could devise a proper plan, Ying Bing abruptly stood and lifted the carriage curtain.

Her expression was cold as her serene gaze swept over the crowd.

The clamoring city gates fell into instant silence.

The sheer pressure from the "ice block" was palpable.

At today’s martial arts gathering, Li Mo had undoubtedly stolen the show.

But Ying Bing, with her overwhelming and unreasonable strength, had left an equally indelible impression.

No one had lasted more than three strikes against her—not even the disciples of Hengyun Sword City.

By the end, no one dared step onto the stage to challenge her.

Her voice, clear and detached, uttered a single word:

"Go."

"Right away."

The carriage began moving again, the crowd parting automatically in its wake.

Soon, they arrived at the liveliest street—Yulong Street.

"Donkey rolls~ fresh and hot!"

"You love me~ I love you~ sweet honey ice cakes~"

"Make way, sir! I’m running late!"

"Exclusive leaked edition of The Tyrannical Empress Falls for Me—just ten taels of silver for an early peek!"

Thanks to the martial arts summit, Yunzhou City at night was even more bustling than daytime, its vibrancy far surpassing that of Purple Sun Prefecture.

Perhaps due to the abundance of sword cultivators here, even the architectural style bore their influence—unique and refined.

Now adorned with lanterns and decorations, the city shimmered under the night sky like a forest of fiery blossoms.

Whoosh—

Flickering lights seeped through the swaying carriage curtains, casting alternating patches of light and shadow inside.

"So lively..."

Jiang Chulong shrank her small frame into the darkest corner of the carriage, carefully observing the worldly hustle and bustle, as if trying to memorize every detail.

Ying Bing took in the vibrant scene, but her mind was elsewhere.

Yunzhou...

In her past life, not long from now, the southern borders would erupt with the most devastating beast tide in a millennium, and the Southern Suppressing King would fall.

By then, Hengyun Sword City had already lost its sword mark for decades, its legacy withering.

Faced with impending disaster, the city could have evacuated and merged with Tianshan Sword Manor for refuge.

Yet the then-lord of the city, knowing the futility, chose to stand his ground.

Years of accumulated goodwill paid off—they were not alone. Heroes of the martial world, sects, and noble clans stood with them in defiance.

Over three years, the city’s leadership changed hands multiple times—first Cao Mu, then Bai Jinghong, and finally Wu Chushu.

Before imperial reinforcements arrived, Wu Chushun detonated his sword body, leaving behind only a grove of blossoms where the once-glorious sword city had stood.

Afterward...

The prosperity of Yunzhou, its fine wines and gallant swordsmen, could only be glimpsed through the tales of survivors and the ever-blooming grove.

Now, faced with the vivid scene before her, Ying Bing felt an unreal sense of detachment, as if peering through the veil of time.

"Thanks for earlier."

Li Mo’s voice suddenly broke her reverie.

Surrounded by that crowd, he truly hadn’t known how to escape.

"Mmm..."

Ying Bing snapped back to reality and shook her head.

"I just wanted to return early to train. But..."

"Oh."

Li Mo seemed relieved. He pulled out two bronze tokens from his sleeve.

"Tickets to Meihua Pavilion’s opera. I only managed to get two."

"Opera tickets?"

Ying Bing’s gaze paused, her slightly parted lips closing again.

"Opera?"

Jiang Chulong’s eyes lit up, but after glancing at Li Mo and Ying Bing, she murmured,

"I... I have things to do tonight... Next time... Li Mo can take me out... maybe..."

"What things?" Li Mo asked, puzzled.

Jiang Chulong fidgeted, her voice shrinking to a whisper:

"I... I still have... trash to pick up..."

Li Mo: "..."

So after all that deliberation, the little princess’s excuse was still scavenging.

Originally, he’d meant to tease the "ice block."

"Actually, I’m a magician. Do you believe me, Chulong?"

Li Mo’s theatrical side emerged, his face full of mystery.

"I believe you!"

Jiang Chulong nodded firmly, answering instantly.

"Since you don’t believe me, then I—huh?"

Li Mo choked back a sigh. "...You’re supposed to say you don’t."

"But... but... I don’t know... what a magician is..."

The little princess tilted her head in confusion.

If it was Li Mo, believing was enough.

"A magician is someone who can make things appear out of nowhere."

He explained, then rubbed his hands together and—with a flourish—produced a third bronze token from behind the two:

"Ta-da~"

"Now there are three!"

Ying Bing: "..."

How childish.

Jiang Chulong: "Wow... amazing!"

......

Before the opera, Li Mo took the two girls to a tailor shop. The styles and fabrics here were far superior to those in the prefecture, with even "Dark Cloud Silk" openly displayed for sale.

The prices were naturally steeper, but for Li Mo—wealthy and carefree—it made no difference.

No woman dislikes beautiful clothes.

Little Jiang Chulong, who had never set foot in a tailor shop before, stood dumbfounded before the dazzling array of garments.

"Chulong, which one do you like?"

"I... I don’t know..."

"Alright, which one don’t you like?"

Li Mo rephrased the question.

After Jiang Chulong timidly pointed out a few unsuitable styles, Li Mo turned to the shopkeeper:

"Not this one. Wrap up the rest."

"Eh?"

The shopkeeper was stunned.

For a moment, he suspected this handsome youth was a troublemaker sent by a rival shop.

Until Li Mo pulled out a large chest from his spatial artifact and began counting silver notes.

"One, ten, hundred, thousand, dad, grandpa, ancestor..."

"Can you deliver the packages once they’re ready?"

"After years of seclusion, I, the Iron-Legged Water Strider, shall make my grand return to the martial world!"

"?"

Li Mo eyed the 200-pound shopkeeper, unsure how he planned to "stride on water."

......

The two girls went to change.

Li Mo gazed at the bright moon, waiting until footsteps sounded behind him.

Turning, he saw them both in their new outfits.

Ying Bing looked unexpectedly different—her blue-and-white porcelain-patterned dress was shorter than before, ending at her knees, revealing slender, jade-like legs.

And... was that a floral hairpin?

She frowned, seemingly uncomfortable with the look herself.

"Maybe I should change back..."

"Pfft..."

Li Mo had never seen this side of her. The shopkeeper clearly had an eye for fashion.

"This is perfect as it is, no need to change!"

And what about Princess Xiao Jiang?

She had changed into a red dress adorned with gold accents, the bandages removed, her small hands clasped behind her back, her eyelashes fluttering nervously as she kept her head lowered.

The dress was elegant and form-fitting, adding a touch of radiant nobility to her pure and delicate charm.

How did the shopkeeper's wife manage to pick something so fitting?

"Do I... look good, Brother Li?"

"This’ll be my dream material tonight..."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. Boss, does your wife offer home delivery?"

"Uh... well..."

.....

This kind of scene is something a small-time writer like me wants to flesh out carefully, so it takes a bit more time. Mwah! OrZ