CHAPTER 62: 62. LORD SONG

Song Yan still very much wanted to "operate a mecha."

But evidently, the old demon Gu Huangzi wasn’t about to let him touch it.

Cao Yuzhuang led him on a brief tour of the "paper-making production line," then mentioned she’d be returning to her Cave Mansion.

Then... the two arrived at the edge of a cliff.

"Where is the Cave Mansion?" Song Yan asked.

Cao Yuzhuang hastily said, "Master, someone is coming."

Song Yan turned his head and saw an Inner Sect Disciple approaching from afar, staring at him with a strange expression, and then reached behind to hand him a carried box.

"The Sect Leader asked me to deliver this to you."

Song Yan accepted it, and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Then he smiled and asked, "What’s this?"

The Inner Sect Disciple’s expression grew even stranger, and upon hearing the address, he waved his hand quickly, saying, "I dare not accept the title of Senior Brother, the Sect Leader has already instructed to take you as a disciple, which will be announced shortly. From now on, you are my Martial Uncle..."

Song Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Inner Sect Disciple continued, "As for what’s inside this box, it’s an unowned Flying Sword. Its original owner was an expert from the Nanwu Sword Sect, who has already fallen. The Sect Leader said... you need to use this."

Song Yan: ...

The Inner Sect Disciple pushed the box into his hands and took his leave.

Song Yan opened the box.

He never imagined he would wield a sword?

And a Flying Sword, no less.

As for the reason, he understood it now: the Sect Leader wanted him to openly display the identity of a Nanwu Sword Sect disciple before everyone.

’Again... Although the righteous and evil cannot coexist, if an external enemy invades, the Human Race must unite, right?’

’But I’m not actually a Nanwu Sword Sect disciple...’

’However, if I’m not a Nanwu Sword Sect disciple, the problem would be significant...’

Today, Song Yan felt like he had been dreaming too much, encountering too many impossibilities.

Yet, at this moment, he had to marvel, "Back then, sharing a room with Qi Yao, and later helping Qi Yao defeat the Duke of Zhen Nan" unexpectedly... helped weave a natural excuse for him years later, giving him a unique identity.

Though it’s only temporary.

So, he must find a way to swiftly resolve this issue.

...

At this point, Cao Yuzhuang said, "Master, the Cave Mansion is on that mountain top over there. I will guide you, and you can bring me over."

That mountain top?

Song Yan nodded, then looked towards the Flying Sword.

It was a Flying Sword with a deep, cold gleam, its blade reflecting strands of rainbow light under the dim moonlight, evidently no ordinary item.

For an unowned Flying Sword, manipulating it simply wasn’t complex.

Since Song Yan had already revealed his identity as being at the "Seventh Layer of Refining Profound," he no longer concealed anything.

He pointed a finger on the Flying Sword, channeling Profound Qi to establish a connection, then lifted his finger and clumsily manipulated the Flying Sword, stepping onto it.

He reached out and pulled Cao Yuzhuang along, flying into the distance.

Though it was his first time using the sword, since his true power was already at the "Ninth Layer of Refining Profound," his abundant power fully compensated for the lack of skill.

Under Cao Yuzhuang’s guidance, it wasn’t long before they arrived at the Cave Mansion.

...

...

The elevation in status not only significantly improved the quality of the Furnace Song Yan received but also greatly enhanced the level of his Cave Mansion.

Previously, at South Bamboo Peak, it was merely a cave with a simple stone door mechanism, and the only lighting facility inside was a skylight. On days of continuous wet and gloomy weather, the cave would be pitch-black, so much so that playful antics with a young lady would be like the blind groping each other...

And opposite the cave, above and below, there were other caves, the whole thing like a collective dormitory in the Cultivation Realm...

But the Cave Mansion here had become a mansion on a small mountain top.

This mansion wasn’t a typical two-bedroom townhouse, but a sprawling large house with bright lighting.

Inside were a bedroom and a study. Outside, there was a courtyard, a garden of Spiritual Soil flowers, and a scenic corridor based on the mountain’s contour.

With red lacquered pillars, glazed tiles, encountering exotic flowers and rare plants with every step, seeing clouds and mist rising with every turn, it had a secluded feel away from the mundane world.

For most disciples of Paperman Peak, however, they still lived in "collective dormitories."

As for the Chores Room of paper servants, the accommodations for those servants were even worse than the "Suspended Room" of Shadow Puppet Peak, as they lived underground...

The kind of underground house where once the door is sealed, no one could escape.

Differences in status make everything different.

And for Cultivators, an independent small mountain top around the main peak, while extremely troublesome for mortals who need to climb over mountains, was just a matter of "stepping on the gas"...

With a "boom," Shadow Puppets, Flying Swords, and such could already reach another mountain top.

After Song Yan landed, he entered the house and conducted a thorough inspection, finding no danger, he then climbed onto the bed.

Before long, Yuzhuang girl arrived at the bedside, and after inquiring "whether the master wanted her to undress" and receiving a negative answer, she voluntarily changed into a gauzy garment and climbed onto the bed like a cat, frowning gently, slowly merging with Song Yan.

The crimson plum blossoms slowly bloomed...

The night deepened.

...

...

A little over half a month later.

Song Yan’s identity was revealed.

He was a disciple from the Nanwu Sword Sect who came to the Puppet Sect, and also a disciple accepted by the Puppet Sect Leader.

A standalone pavilion on Paperman Peak was cleared out, and a large amount of demon beast skin was moved in. Song Yan, the "little martial uncle" to most of the Puppet Sect disciples, also entered and began making shadow puppets within.

Because he was at the "Seventh Layer of Refining Profound," he now needed to make complete shadow puppets instead of just semi-finished products.

In the spacious pavilion, besides him, there was only the Yuzhuang girl doing chores.

As for the "former master’s wife" Bi Huayi, she was simply settled in a cave mansion, where servants attended to her daily needs.

Thus the pavilion was named, with a plaque inscribed: Shadow Puppet Pavilion.

During the day, no disciple from Paperman Peak would enter this Shadow Puppet Pavilion, because everyone knew Song Yan’s special identity. But soon, a Puppet Sect recruitment brought newcomers into the Shadow Puppet Pavilion.

"Song... Song Pavilion Master, hello, I... I’m called Yueyang Luo, I’m... a Lower Grade Earth Profound Root." A big-eyed boy with thick eyebrows, claiming to be from Yueyang Tower, nervously introduced himself.

"Song Pavilion Master, my name is Shen Nongjia, also a Lower Grade Earth Profound Root, and the sect assigned me to learn shadow puppetry from you." The girl was clear and articulate, deeply bowing to Song Yan.

Yueyang Tower?

Shennongjia?

Song Yan nodded... such names, they seemed to have some fate with him as well.

But just these two?

He was slightly puzzled.

But then he quickly understood: the Shadow Puppet Lineage doesn’t hold much significance for the whole Puppet Sect now, so a "production line" wasn’t necessary. Gu Huangzi Old Devil had chosen disciples with decent talent for him to teach.

As for why there were only two, perhaps these two were already among the best in this new batch.

Lower Grade Earth Profound Root, indeed, quite good.

One might say they were the best two of this batch.

Thus, he casually pointed to two spots, saying, "Sit down."

The two respectfully complied, and Shen Nongjia suddenly said, "In the future... can we call you teacher?"

Song Yan said, "Since the sect arranged for you to learn the art, you are my disciples. No need for too many formalities, just address me directly."

"Teacher." Shen Nongjia bowed again.

The thick-eyed Yueyang Luo also quickly called out, "Hello Teacher!"

Then, the two noticed Cao Yuzhuang nearby.

Previously, they had seen this stunningly beautiful young lady very close to their teacher, so they respectfully saluted.

Shen Nongjia said without flattery or arrogance, "Mistress."

Yueyang Luo, full of vigor, also said, "Hello Mistress! Beautiful!"

"Um... um... the beautiful Mistress and... and the powerful Master truly make a fine couple!"

After saying these, the big-eyed disciple secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his back soaked through with sweat, for he was an honest person, just inclined to speak the truth thoughtlessly.

Song Yan was momentarily stunned.

Cao Yuzhuang hurriedly waved her hand, saying repeatedly, "It’s not, it’s not, I... I’m just the master’s servant, I..."

Seeing her stammering, pitiful, helpless, and panic-stricken appearance, Song Yan sighed and said, "Mistress is just a title, no need to correct it. Yuzhuang, stand straight please."

He was now a person of the Nanwu Sword Sect.

Being a bit more righteous and sympathetic was not out of place.

Having said that, Song Yan led the two new disciples to sit by his side and began teaching.

"Our Puppet Sect has four peaks: Paperman Peak, Blood Corpse Peak, Mechanical Peak, Bizarre Poison Peak.

And this Shadow Puppet Pavilion is a special place, what it teaches is completely different from elsewhere.

But here, there are no tasks, you need to devote all your efforts to learning skin making.

This skin making is divided into eight processes. First, selecting the skin; second, cleansing the skin; third, drafting.....

Song Yan taught.

He suddenly felt a bit dazed.

It was as if he had returned to the day he first came to the Puppet Sect. Sister Wang Susu Wang was teaching him like this before...

But time has changed things.

If Shadow Puppet Peak still had a head, this might count as Shadow Puppet Peak, or rather... he might be the Peak Master of South Bamboo Peak.

Since disciples have arrived, it seems he is temporarily safe.