The Deer-Clad Shepherd and His Sword

[Classical cultivation fantasy] [Mortal's journey] [Not a power fantasy] [Decisive and ruthless]

He waved his fan before the crowd and rapped the block on the table.

“Now, this young wandering swordsman happened upon a strange village and came into possession of an exceptionally curious, wicked sword. He stumbled into the path of immortality, only to uncover a secret that had endured since time immemorial.”

“This is a path that ordinary people call impossibly arduous, filled with bizarre and wondrous tales beyond telling, and countless lives lost and fortunes fallen beyond recounting. Demons and monsters run rampant, while righteous and wicked sects alike storm the gates of heaven.”

“Years later, gazing upon this vast and noble world, a white-haired young man stood with sword in hand. Behind him lay a forest of bones, and before him stretched a sea of blood.”

“I, Chu Zhinan, ask the heavens with my sword today... What is an immortal? What is a demon? What are the myriad forms of existence? What does it mean to ascend to heaven and live forever?”

“...”

The crowd before the steps burst into a commotion. “You old storyteller, why are you going on about those distant immortals and gods again? You spout nonsense all day long!”

The old man raised his brows and smiled to himself over his wine.

“For a hundred years, I've wandered the rivers and lakes, free as a cloud. One drunken night, and a thousand years pass for those who stay behind.”

“Young man, how do you know whether my story is true or false?”