Chapter Seventy-Four: The Cold Iron Bracelet

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In Jia Town at the foot of Leshou Mountain near Shangyu City in the Kingdom of Great Wan, it was already two days after the trio arrived. Traveling in the Cloud Piercer Shuttle was far more comfortable than flying by sword. They had stopped at several trading markets along the way, purchasing a good amount of spiritual herbs and celestial fruits. Back on the shuttle, Bian Jizhong piloted, while Liu Junhuai busied himself brewing more batches of mulberry-scented fruit wine.

The Leshou Mountain range differed greatly from the Crane Crest Mountains; here, mineral resources abounded, and the entire mountain was essentially a vast mining field, with countless small mines dotting every peak. Due to the meager spiritual energy in this area, only two or three minor cultivation sects existed, relying on these mines to trade for their cultivation resources.

Jia Town lay beneath one of these mining mountains, and most residents were miners working above. The reason Bian Jizhong’s grandfather had brought him to live here was that deep within the Golden Rooster Ridge—a mining mountain—there was a spiritual spring hidden in a small cave. However, a few years ago, the spring had shown signs of drying up, and so the old man had sent Bian Jizhong out to train and search for cultivation materials.

Bian Jizhong’s grandfather was named Bian Yanshan, a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. He had roamed the land with a traveling Taoist since youth, only returning to Jia Town in his late thirties to marry and have children. After another decade wandering, he finally settled back in his hometown. Upon discovering his grandson’s extraordinary talent and dual spiritual roots in gold and wood, he was overjoyed and chose to stay, pouring all his energies into guiding the boy’s cultivation.

When the three arrived at the small cave, they found Bian Yanshan sitting quietly by a creek outside. Overjoyed at their arrival, he took Liu Junhuai’s hand and led them into the cave.

“Last time I returned, my grandson told me about his sworn brother. I sensed you were no ordinary man, and he even said you saved his life. From now on, just call me Grandfather,” Bian Yanshan said.

Liu Junhuai immediately replied, “Grandfather, your grandson Junhuai has come to pay respects. This is my future wife; you may call her Sitong.”

Mo Sitong also greeted him with “Grandfather,” which made Bian Yanshan beam with delight. He took an item from his storage ring and handed it to her, saying, “Meeting my granddaughter-in-law for the first time, this bracelet is the best I have to offer. I hope you won’t dislike it.”

Mo Sitong thanked him and accepted it. Liu Junhuai added, “Grandfather, my elder brother said you enjoy a drink now and then. Please try this fruit wine I brewed myself and see if it suits your taste.”

With that, he set out several jars of mulberry fruit wine.

Bian Jizhong hurried to open a jar and poured it into a cup. The rich aroma immediately filled the cave. Bian Yanshan’s nostrils flared, his eyes shining with excitement. He grabbed the cup and drank it in one gulp, closing his eyes to savor the flavor.

After a while, Bian Yanshan opened his eyes and said, “The wine is mellow and harmonious, its fragrance permeates the senses, the taste is rich and pure, and it goes down sweet and refreshing. This is truly a celestial wine! Junhuai, your gift is too precious; I feel unworthy of it.”

Bian Jizhong laughed, “Second Brother brewed it all himself. Grandfather, drink as much as you like—he’ll supply you from now on.”

Liu Junhuai also smiled, “As long as I have enough ingredients, you’ll never lack for wine. I even have recipes for several other immortal wines, though I’m missing some ingredients. Once I gather them, I’ll brew more.”

Bian Yanshan was naturally delighted. His greatest pleasure was a good drink, and with such exquisite mulberry wine, happiness seemed just around the corner.

“Grandfather, my grandfather gave Junhuai a task before we came—to bring you to the Dustless Palace. He has something to discuss with you,” Mo Sitong added.

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“Dustless Palace? Fang Keyin? Sitong, your grandfather is Fang Keyin?” Bian Yanshan asked in surprise.

Mo Sitong nodded, and Bian Yanshan sighed, “Your grandfather and I have been friends for many years. The last time we met was over a decade ago. He’s helped me a great deal—I ought to visit him.”

Liu Junhuai said, “From now on, Elder Brother will often be with me. We’ve come this time to bring you to my place. The spiritual energy there is abundant, which will benefit your cultivation. It seems the energy here is nearly depleted, so there’s no need to keep searching for a cultivation site.”

Bian Jizhong also added, “Exactly, Grandfather, when you see Junhuai’s place, you’ll be amazed. In the future, many more people will come there. I’ll make sure my parents are settled, and if they ever want to move, I’ll bring them too.”

Noticing Bian Yanshan’s wavering, Mo Sitong quietly tugged at Liu Junhuai and whispered, “Why not bring Grandfather into the Chaos Space now for a look?”

Liu Junhuai agreed inwardly—perhaps once inside, the old man would never want to leave.

“Grandfather, let’s go take a look now. If you like it, you can come with us,” Liu Junhuai said.

“Right now? I haven’t prepared anything, and besides, I should at least notify the Bian family,” Bian Yanshan hesitated.

Bian Jizhong chuckled, “Grandfather, Junhuai has a private space he carries with him. You’ll understand once you see it.”

Ignoring Bian Yanshan’s puzzled look, Liu Junhuai produced the Mountains and Rivers Gourd and led them all into the Chaos Space.

Bian Yanshan’s astonishment needed no words. As soon as he neared the lake, his eyes lit up green with envy at the pool of liquid spiritual energy. At last, he understood what true marvels were.

Wu Yaohan and Shen Yihuan hurried over from the herb fields, and the presence of three elders together made Bian Yanshan feel much more at ease. In fact, the moment he entered the Chaos Space, he felt at home. But the cautiousness of age made him wary of relying on the young. Only after meeting Wu and Shen did he decide to stay.

Seeing the three elders chatting happily, Bian Jizhong’s worries finally faded. Grandfather strolled around with the other two, excitement written all over his face, seeming years younger. Bian Jizhong was genuinely relieved to have found his grandfather a new home he truly liked.

With more and more people here, the issue of coming and going arose again. Originally, a few entry and exit feather tokens would suffice, but Liu Junhuai worried about security. He caught up with the elders to ask their opinions.

Wu Yaohan said, “I’ve thought about this, too. As you said, safety is paramount. If anyone is tailed when leaving and the secret of the Chaos Space is revealed, disaster would follow. My suggestion is not to forge any entry tokens for now. If an emergency arises and we need to go out, we’ll just send you a message talisman. I’ll explain it to everyone. When the time is right, we can make the tokens.”

“That’s the safest way, but I’ll be going into seclusion for a year soon. I’m afraid I won’t be able to respond to message talismans in time,” Liu Junhuai replied.

Wu Yaohan laughed, “It’s just a dozen or so people and you’re already overwhelmed. What will you do when you run a whole sect? Don’t worry, these are trivial matters—just focus on your cultivation.”

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Liu Junhuai smiled, “Good, I’m just being overly cautious.” He turned to Bian Yanshan, “Grandfather, you’ve decided to stay, then? Soon, I’ll take you out to say goodbye to the Bian family. Jizhong still needs to arrange things for his parents. When you come back, pick any main residence you like—if nothing suits you, I’ll build you one to your satisfaction.”

“No need,” Shen Yihuan interjected, “Uncle Bian and I will live together, and Uncle Wu said he’d move over too. Don’t worry about us old men, Junhuai—just look after the youngsters.”

Once everything was settled for Bian Yanshan, Liu Junhuai and his companions returned to the cave.

Surrounded by nothing but mines, there was little to sightsee, so they summoned the Cloud Piercer Shuttle and set off for home.

“Sitong, take a look at the bracelet my grandfather gave you—it’s a treasure,” Bian Jizhong remarked as he piloted the shuttle.

Upon hearing this, Mo Sitong took out the cold iron bracelet, its dark luster gleaming.

“Infuse it with your true essence. Inside is a space over ten yards wide. Unlike ordinary storage rings, it can hold living creatures, and you yourself can enter it,” Bian Jizhong explained.

Liu Junhuai was startled, exclaiming, “No, this gift is far too precious—we can’t accept it!” Mo Sitong also refused repeatedly.

Bian Jizhong laughed, “Compared to your Mountains and Rivers Gourd, this bracelet is nothing. We can all live inside—why shouldn’t you accept it? Besides, the storage ring my grandfather gave me is extraordinary too. It can’t store living things, but it’s a weapon as well—I’ll show you someday.”

Mo Sitong replied, “Still, it’s too valuable. I really can’t accept it.”

Bian Jizhong insisted, “Enough—after all the benefits I’ve received from Junhuai, I’ve never even thanked him. We’re brothers, no need to stand on ceremony.”

Liu Junhuai added, “Sitong, just accept it. It’s Grandfather’s good will.”

Mo Sitong, who truly liked the bracelet, finally gave in. Ever since meeting A Jiu, she had wanted to raise a spirit beast, and this bracelet was perfect for housing one. Its elegant design exuded a subtle nobility—after all, women love beautiful things.

When arranging things for Bian Jizhong’s parents, Liu Junhuai left them plenty of spirit stones—enough for the family’s needs for decades. Since they were not cultivators, he also gave them two pills each to ensure their health.

As Mo Sitong refined the bracelet, Liu Junhuai looked at her delicate face in profile—the girl who would now walk alongside him in life—and his heart felt quietly at peace.