Chapter 22: The World’s Best Sword is Indeed a Good Sword

Number One Sword Under Heaven.

Cheng Huan had already planned to leave the mountain and see the outside world. When Mu Ge offered to travel together, Cheng Huan agreed without hesitation.

After all, she was also worried that some mishap might befall Mu Ge on the way out, which could affect her own retirement experience this time.

According to the original plot, Mu Ge was indeed forced to jump off a cliff. But the trees on the cliff face broke her fall, so she didn’t die. Severely injured both internally and externally, Mu Ge spent a month recuperating deep in the mountains. While searching for herbs to heal herself, she also familiarized herself with the mountain terrain to facilitate her escape later. When her enemies feared she hadn’t died and sent people into the mountains to search for her because of the treasure, the barely recovered Mu Ge sensed them and disguised herself to leave.

Now that Mu Ge had met Cheng Huan and received her treatment, the original month-long recovery period was instantly shortened by many days.

Therefore, Cheng Huan feared unforeseen changes and decided to accompany the female lead out of the mountain to protect her along the way.

The two decided to set off immediately. Seeing how unencumbered Cheng Huan was, Mu Ge casually asked, “Aren’t you bringing any luggage?”

Cheng Huan looked back at the cave where she lived and glanced at Mu Ge in confusion. “What do you think I should bring?”

Mu Ge scanned the cave and said awkwardly, “Traveling light is fine too.”

The cave’s contents were clear at a glance. Mostly straw, branches, and scrap metal—there truly was nothing worth taking.

Cheng Huan closed the wooden door and dusted off her hands. “Let’s go.”

“Alright.” Mu Ge’s right leg was still not healed, so she could only walk slowly, step by step.

Cheng Huan glanced at Mu Ge’s right leg. Her eyes lit up, and she turned back into the cave. “Wait for me a moment.”

Mu Ge obediently waited.

Inside the cave, Cheng Huan thought, I want to extract the wheelchair from the 45th mission world.

System: 【Retiree Cheng Huan, please confirm: do you wish to extract one “Electric Wheelchair” from the 45th mission world?】

Cheng Huan affirmed, “Yes.”

System: 【Extraction successful. Please check.】

Cheng Huan took out the electric wheelchair that appeared in her space. Looking at the wheelchair she had sat in for an entire year, her heart swelled with deep emotion.

In the 45th mission world, Cheng Huan’s role was the male lead’s crippled younger sister. Initially, her legs could support her standing and walking.

But due to a family grudge, the enemies originally planned to kidnap the female lead to threaten the male lead into handing over real power. However, to achieve her mission objective, Cheng Huan allowed herself to be kidnapped instead. As a result, her legs were brutally broken.

Though the male lead avenged her, her legs were ruined. She could never stand again. The male and female leads felt deeply guilty and wanted to make it up to her, but Cheng Huan didn’t care. After that plot point ended, she simply committed suicide, completing the mission world’s ultimate objective.

Cheng Huan pushed the wheelchair out and looked at Mu Ge. “Sit on this.”

Mu Ge eyed the iron chair with wheels, her gaze puzzled. “What is this?”

She saw Cheng Huan push it out from the cave, but the cave was clearly “empty.” She hadn’t seen any strangely shaped chair like this in the cave.

Could there be a hidden chamber inside?

Cheng Huan: “A wheelchair.”

“Your right leg is fractured, making it difficult to walk. This mountain forest is too large. If you keep walking like this, your injury will inevitably worsen. It would be bad if you end up crippled.”

“This wheelchair can help you move.” Cheng Huan helped Mu Ge sit and placed her hand on the control lever by the armrest. “It’s very easy to operate. You just move this lever to turn forward, backward, left, or right. If you want to stop, release the lever, and the wheelchair will slow down.”

Mu Ge had never encountered such a miraculous item. After listening to Cheng Huan’s explanation, she carefully pushed the lever forward. The wheelchair, following her action, actually moved a step forward.

Mu Ge then tentatively pulled it back, and the wheelchair retreated a step.

Shocked, she looked at Cheng Huan and exclaimed, “This wheelchair is amazing.”

It was like a miniature horse-drawn carriage.

Cheng Huan smiled. “If you think it’s amazing, then I’ll give it to you.”

Mu Ge’s eyes widened in surprise, and she politely declined. “I cannot accept such a powerful treasure.”

“How is this a treasure?” Cheng Huan said dismissively. “This thing is just a means of transportation. When your leg heals, it won’t be useful anymore.”

“I took it out specifically for you to use. Wouldn’t it be a waste if you refuse?”

Mu Ge was astonished. “This treasure is something you… specially made for me?”

Cheng Huan swung her legs and shrugged. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t use it.”

Mu Ge’s heart stirred, and she murmured, “Thank you, Cheng Huan.”

Cheng Huan waved her hand. “A trifling effort; no need to dwell on it.”

She glanced at the sky. “Let’s go. We should get out of this mountain as soon as possible.”

She couldn’t stand another day in this godforsaken deep mountain wilderness.

“Alright.”

Mu Ge pushed the lever. The mountain path was rugged, and the wheel hit a stone. Mu Ge’s body lurched forward.

She immediately raised her hands to cover her head, afraid of hitting a vital spot.

The expected pain never came. Mu Ge felt a tightening around her waist as Cheng Huan caught her and pulled her back onto the wheelchair.

Mu Ge sensed Cheng Huan leaning in, her back pressing against a softness. Cheng Huan’s clear and melodious voice brushed past her earlobe, making her heart tingle.

“Sorry, I forgot to fasten your seatbelt.”

The electric wheelchair had a seatbelt to secure the user’s body and prevent them from being thrown off by the chair’s initial inertia.

Cheng Huan hadn’t used it in a long time and had suddenly forgotten. Fortunately, she had been paying close attention, fearing Mu Ge wouldn’t know how to use the wheelchair. Otherwise, this fall would have worsened the female lead’s injuries again.

Cheng Huan fastened the seatbelt and straightened up. Seeing Mu Ge’s dazed expression, she thought she had been frightened and patted her shoulder. “Now when you start the wheelchair, you won’t fall off.”

Mu Ge lowered her gaze. “Okay.”

She pushed the lever, and the wheelchair moved forward. Her body was carried by the momentum, but the seatbelt held her securely in place, making the ride much steadier.

Seeing that Mu Ge was now proficient, Cheng Huan felt relieved.

Taking advantage of Cheng Huan looking around, Mu Ge quietly exhaled, calming the restlessness in her chest.

She watched Cheng Huan’s slender back. Dressed in pure white plain robes, she walked through the dense mountain forest without a single leaf sticking to her.

The heavy rain a few days ago had left the mountain path muddy and waterlogged. The wheelchair’s wheels were already caked with mud, and the hem of Mu Ge’s skirt was splattered with countless muddy spots.

Mu Ge looked at the path Cheng Huan had taken. Though there were footprints, her steps were light and shallow. Her movement stirred up no mud, as if she were floating above the ground.

Mu Ge thought Cheng Huan must possess profound internal energy and extraordinary Qinggong to pass without leaving a trace.

This Qinggong ability was probably unmatched even by the “Phantom Thief” Ghost Hand, famed for his mastery of Qinggong.

The Phantom Thief Ghost Hand ranked ninth on the Expert Ranking List, having broken into the top ten with his signature “Snow-Treading Traceless Steps.”

Given Cheng Huan’s Qinggong, she certainly wouldn’t rank beneath Ghost Hand.

But among the top eight on the Expert Ranking List, there was only one woman—Gongsun Shuyun, the Sect Master of Jialan Pavilion. All the other experts were men.

After a moment of thought, Mu Ge mused: Could it be that because Cheng Huan grew up deep in the mountains, tutored by a reclusive expert, she never appeared in the Jianghu or participated in any martial contests, and thus there was no news of her?

Mu Ge found this reasoning quite plausible. Otherwise, with her Qinggong, Cheng Huan would undoubtedly have made a name for herself, renowned far and wide.

At this moment, Cheng Huan had no idea how intricate the female lead’s train of thought was. Her eyes were only on the mountain path, which was mostly overgrown with tangled bushes, making travel laborious. Walking alone would be simple and convenient for her, but for the female lead pushing the wheelchair behind, it was much more difficult.

Along the way, whenever Cheng Huan saw a slightly large stone or branch, she simply kicked it away.

If venomous snakes or crawling insects appeared, she didn’t even need to draw her long sword; she would just pick up a twig and drive them off.

After traveling for most of the day, they finally saw the path ahead becoming more open and flat.

However, a large tree, struck and broken by lightning, lay across the path. The trunk was so thick it would take two people to wrap their arms around it.

Cheng Huan could effortlessly fly over; it would be a trivial matter for her. But for Mu Ge, it was much more difficult.

Mu Ge saw Cheng Huan stop and looked at the fallen tree blocking the way. “I can climb over it.”

Although her right leg couldn’t bear weight, she could slowly inch across.

“No need to climb,” Cheng Huan considered. “I’ll carry you over.”

She could come back for the wheelchair later. It wasn’t midnight yet, so even if she handled the wheelchair, it wouldn’t disappear.

“Carry me?” Mu Ge eyed Cheng Huan’s figure—slender and willowy, appearing even lighter than Mu Ge herself.

“I… I’m too heavy. You probably can’t lift me. It’s fine, I can climb over by myself.”

As Mu Ge braced her hands on the armrests to stand, her body was suddenly lifted into the air. Her hands urgently sought a support point and instinctively wrapped around Cheng Huan’s neck.

She froze, watching as Cheng Huan lifted her in a horizontal embrace and strode forward with light, quick steps.

“When you fell from the cliff, it was me who carried you back to the cave while you were unconscious,” Cheng Huan said, looking at Mu Ge’s stunned expression with a smile. “Why didn’t you say you were too heavy then and refuse my help?”

Mu Ge averted her eyes, not daring to meet Cheng Huan’s gaze. “Then… thank you for the trouble.”

“No problem.” Cheng Huan held her tighter. “Hold on to me. I’ll take you flying over.”

Mu Ge immediately clung tightly to Cheng Huan. A gust of wind roared past, and she felt herself tremble in Cheng Huan’s arms.

Cheng Huan set Mu Ge down on a flat rock. “Sit for a moment. I’ll go back and get the wheelchair.”

Mu Ge nodded. “Okay.”

Cheng Huan lightly tapped the ground with her toes. Her entire body seemed lifted by the wind, floating effortlessly over the obstructing tree trunk.

Seeing Cheng Huan fly over, Mu Ge slowly exhaled and touched her slightly warm earlobe.

Suddenly, Mu Ge’s gaze darkened sharply. Her hand moved to the Pear Blossom Blade at her waist as her expression turned grave toward the dense thicket ahead.

Cheng Huan had just brought the wheelchair over when she saw Mu Ge on high alert, staring ahead. Before she could ask anything, over a dozen black-clad men burst from the thicket, faces masked, wielding long sabers and sharp blades with menacing intent.

Mu Ge immediately rose and stepped in front of Cheng Huan. “If you have business, come at me!”

Golden Cicada Pavilion’s assassins were notoriously ruthless, cold-blooded, and merciless—a killer organization primarily operating within the Imperial Court.

Mu Ge had the treasure map on her person, so Golden Cicada Pavilion wouldn’t kill her. But Cheng Huan was different; they wouldn’t spare her.

Even though Mu Ge knew Cheng Huan had martial skills and her Qinggong was superb, facing so many Golden Cicada Pavilion killers, she might still be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

Mu Ge didn’t want an innocent person to die because of her.

“Leave first. For the treasure, they won’t kill me, but you’re different.” Mu Ge whispered, “I’ll go and stall them. Get away as fast as you can.”

The mountain terrain was complex. If Cheng Huan escaped into it, with her Qinggong ability, Golden Cicada Pavilion certainly wouldn’t catch her.

Although Mu Ge tried to keep her voice low and whispered conspiratorially to Cheng Huan, the Golden Cicada Pavilion assassins were no ordinary men and naturally overheard.

They exchanged glances, communicating silently. Within a few breaths, the leader, wielding a long saber, shouted, “Attack!”

Mu Ge pushed Cheng Huan’s shoulder. “Go, quickly!”

She drew the Pear Blossom Blade, flipped her wrist, and the blade unsheathed as she charged forward to meet them.

Suddenly, an arm tightened around her waist, and Mu Ge was pulled behind Cheng Huan. “Go where? This paltry bunch of small fries isn’t even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth.”

Both Mu Ge and the assassins found Cheng Huan’s words somewhat arrogant. But in the next instant, over a dozen leaves flew from Cheng Huan’s hand. Seemingly soft, yet razor-sharp.

They shot out so fast the assassins had no time to dodge. The leaves were like hidden weapons, piercing straight into the assassins’ limbs and bones.

The assassins, repelled by a powerful surge of internal energy, clutched their wounds where the leaves had pierced them. In disbelief, they stared at Cheng Huan, who had wounded them with nothing but soft leaves.

The Assassin Leader clutched his shoulder and pointed his blade at Cheng Huan, demanding in a deep voice, “Who are you? State your name!”

“Do you dare oppose Golden Cicada Pavilion? Do you wish to die without a whole corpse?”

“You want to know my great name?” Cheng Huan smiled faintly and drew the soft sword from her waist. The blade, as thin as a cicada’s wing, gleamed with a dazzling white light under the sun.

The bluebird pattern carved on the sword’s body was especially lifelike, as if poised to break through ice and take flight, drawing the gazes of everyone present.

“Then listen well.” Cheng Huan twirled the sword in her hand, the keen edge emitting a cold, crisp sound. “My great name is your daddy.”

All present stared in shock at the soft sword in Cheng Huan’s hand.

The Assassin Leader’s eyes widened with terror. He exclaimed, “It’s… the Number One “Sword” of…!”

Cheng Huan: “…”

We’re fighting, so why are you insulting people?

[T/N: In Chinese, ‘sword’ (jian) is a homophone for ‘bitch’, hence Cheng Huan’s misunderstanding.]