Chapter 46: The Dress-Weight Knife
Not long after the straw-sandal boy left the room, the green-clad girl stamped her foot and was about to follow him, when the middle-aged man who had changed from Master Ruan to Master Ruan called her back, his expression grave. "Xiuxiu! If you get involved now, you'll only make things worse and harm that Chen Ping'an. Then it will truly be an irredeemable disaster."
Ruan Xiu didn't turn around, but suddenly twisted her head, her glossy black ponytail whipping a beautiful arc through the air. The girl's gaze was sharp, her tone almost reproachful. "Father, you didn't get involved in Liu Xianyang's matter either, and what was the result?"
The man hesitated, then held back from revealing any secrets. He said solemnly, "Trust me, right now the greatest help you can give that boy is to tell him as many secrets and rules of this minor paradise as possible, to make sure he acts within the framework. Seize every advantage of timing, terrain, and human relations that you can."
Ruan Xiu seemed half-understanding, wavering. The man waved his hand and patiently admonished, "One move affects the whole situation. You are my daughter, Ruan Xiu. That boy from Mud Vase Alley — no matter how big the stone he throws into the pond, the splash is limited; it won't disturb the old turtle at the bottom. That means everything can be managed. But you, Ruan Xiu, are different. Remember: in important matters, maintain calm. I always tell you to read more, read more, but you never listen! Your temperament can't even compare to that alley boy's, and you're supposed to be a cultivator."
The man actually regretted those last words as soon as they left his mouth. He couldn't help it — with his daughter, he always had to add a final remark that undermined everything. Fortunately, this time the girl didn't seem particularly aggrieved. She quickly ran out of the room, leaving behind a man with complicated feelings.
The man, whose true name was Ruan Qiong, picked a stool and sat down, grasping the tall youth's wrist. The pulse was a tangled mess, utterly terrible. Already in a bad mood, the man's face darkened further. He grumbled loudly, "That Qi Jingchun, really! Zhengyang Mountain is playing such opportunistic games. Even if he can't expel them by the rules, he should at least give them a lesson, kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. Even if he can't kill them, what's wrong with a few strikes? Otherwise, with new people constantly pouring into this realm, it's becoming a mixed bag — won't it fall into chaos? What, does he think that since he's stepping down in a few days, he can just leave me a wreck of a mess? And where's his scholar's sense of responsibility..."
The old quack doctor sat to one side, watching his nose and meditating, absolutely refusing to interrupt, afraid of stirring up trouble. He only dared to silently mutter to himself, "And *he* talks about maintaining calm in important matters?"
After venting his complaints, Ruan Qiong sighed. "But you, Qi Jingchun, being so constrained, it can't be helped. You can let my earlier words go in one ear and out the other, but don't miss this last sentence."
The old shopkeeper of the Yang Family Store had been eavesdropping all along. Upon hearing this, he was immediately impressed, thinking, *No wonder he's the next saint to govern this paradise — he's got a face thick enough to block a flying sword!*
Ruan Qiong suddenly looked at the old man and asked, "I've always heard that a married daughter is like water spilled out. But here, she hasn't even married yet, and already she's turning her elbow outward!"
The old man had been holding back for a long time and couldn't resist saying a few honest words, or he'd betray his own unbending integrity. So he plucked up his courage and said, "Master Ruan, is it because these old eyes are failing? I always feel like that boy isn't all that fond of your Xiuxiu."
Ruan Qiong looked at the old man with a pitying gaze and cut him off decisively, "No need to doubt — your eyes are definitely failing!"
The old man looked back at the man with a similarly pitying expression.
They stared at each other in silence.
At the well, Ruan Xiu caught up to Chen Ping'an. She didn't speak, as if unsure how to start.
Chen Ping'an smiled at her. He remembered the first time he'd met her at Green Ox Hillside; he'd thought she was mute, or at least didn't speak the local dialect. Now he knew she just didn't like to talk.
She followed the straw-sandal boy's footsteps toward the covered bridge. Finally, the green-clad girl gathered her courage and said, "Chen Ping'an, my name is Ruan Xiu. My father is Ruan Qiong, a sword forger. I've been forging swords with him since I was a child. When we came to your town, my father said it was because he was entrusted by the sect, and because this place's water and soil are best for building a sword furnace. So he waded into this muddy water. But in my heart, I know my father wanted to find an opportunity for me. He's just too proud. Like your friend Liu Xianyang — my father really wanted to take him as a disciple. You might not know this, but if my father decides to establish a sect here, the choice of his founding disciple is very important. So he wasn't just standing by and letting him die. Don't blame him..."
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "I don't blame your father."
As he said this, the straw-sandal boy paused, wiped his chin with the back of his hand, and said bitterly, "I know I shouldn't blame others, but I'm still very angry inside. Angry that your father didn't take on Liu Xianyang as his disciple sooner. Angry that no one stopped him when something happened to Liu Xianyang. Even though I know it's wrong, I'm still very angry."
Ruan Xiu nodded. "That's only human."
Chen Ping'an didn't want to waste time here. "Miss Ruan, did you need something?"
Ruan Xiu asked cautiously, "You're not going to seek revenge against the people of Zhengyang Mountain right now, are you?"
Chen Ping'an said nothing — neither denying nor confirming.
The girl was never good with words. She just blurted out whatever came to mind. "Don't be reckless. Zhengyang Mountain is a major sect in our East Porcelain Vase Continent. That old ape's status is practically equal to the founding ancestor of Zhengyang Mountain. Even if it can't use divine arts here, dealing with you would be simple! Besides, after it severely injured Liu Xianyang, Mr. Qi will definitely punish it. So at least you don't have to worry about this being swept under the rug..."
Chen Ping'an interrupted her. "Miss Ruan, when you say 'punish,' do you mean the killer will be expelled from the town?"
Ruan Xiu was speechless.
Chen Ping'an smiled, trying to console her in turn, his eyes sincere and clear as a stream. "Miss Ruan, I appreciate your kindness. Of course I won't be foolish enough to rush in and fight a god like that."
Ruan Xiu breathed a sigh of relief. Out of habit, she patted her chest. Realizing the gesture was childish and not very ladylike — not befitting a proper young lady — the ponytailed girl smiled sheepishly.
Chen Ping'an laughed along. "Last time I only gave you three fish. I was too stingy."
Ruan Xiu blushed. Then, worried, she asked, "Your left hand?"
Chen Ping'an raised his bandaged left hand. "It's fine. Doesn't bother me anymore."
Ruan Xiu organized her thoughts and spoke slowly. "Chen Ping'an, don't act rashly. Mr. Qi is in a difficult position at the academy right now. And when he and my father go through the handover, the town might see earth-shattering changes — for better or worse, we can't tell yet. So it's better to stay still than to move."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Okay."
Ruan Xiu felt a strange urgency.
At the root of it, she was also agitated. By nature, she would have charged straight at that Zhengyang Mountain old ape by now. But here she was, earnestly trying to persuade the boy not to take risks. This went against her true heart. Yet, as she herself had said, the general trend made stillness better than movement, and that was also her instinct.
If she, Ruan Xiu, recklessly went to demand an explanation and caused a sky-turning disaster, her father would certainly step in and most likely suppress it.
But this Chen Ping'an in front of her could only bear life and death on his own.
Chen Ping'an said goodbye and ran alone toward the covered bridge.
No sooner had he left one girl than he met another.
On the stone steps at the southern end of the covered bridge sat a girl with a sword and a knife stacked across her lap, her face solemn.
She wore a dark green robe, her brows long and narrow, her lips pressed tight. Beside her lay two beautifully embroidered gold-thread pouches.
Chen Ping'an ran quickly to the bridge. As he reached the foot of the steps, the girl, Ning Yao, tossed the two pouches of coins down. "Here," she said flatly. "Take them back."
Chen Ping'an stood at the bottom of the steps and caught both pouches with his hands. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Ning Yao said stiffly, "I promised I'd keep Liu Xianyang safe. I failed. I, Ning Yao, let you and Liu Xianyang down."
She knew perfectly well that in this town, if a mortal boy's chest was smashed by an immortal's fist, no one could save him. Moreover, if Liu Xianyang could be saved — even if there was only a thread of hope — given Chen Ping'an's do-gooder nature, he would never leave the forge, even if it meant getting his head cut off.
Chen Ping'an walked up the steps, crouched not far from her, and pushed the two pouches back toward her. He said softly, "Miss Ning, you keep the money. And that pouch at my home in Mud Vase Alley — take it all. I don't need it anymore. If you're willing, please use it to hire someone to look after our houses — mine and Liu Xianyang's."
The girl didn't take the pouch. She laughed in anger. "Shall I also put up Spring Festival couplets and door gods for you every year?"
Chen Ping'an said earnestly, "That would be best if possible."
The girl nearly exploded with rage. "So what if you got hit in the face by a cow's tail when you were a kid? Does that give you the right to do stupid things? I'm furious! In any case, don't you meddle in this, Chen Ping'an. Do you think your pathetic half-baked martial arts can handle a Mountain-Moving Ape of Zhengyang Mountain? That broken house of Liu Xianyang's — you take care of it yourself. And your Spring Festival couplets and door gods — go buy them yourself! I, Ning Yao, am not your servant!"
Chen Ping'an looked at her and said, "Miss Ning, I haven't known you long, but I can be sure of one thing: if you were confident you could avenge Liu Xianyang, you wouldn't have returned those two pouches to me — at least not right now."
He placed the pouches on the step between them. "Miss Ning, look at the situation. Do you think I'm in the mood to stand on ceremony with you? You, me, and Liu Xianyang — we just made a business deal. You didn't mean to cheat us. No one could have foreseen this disaster. How could you be expected to risk your life? Believe me, I wouldn't want that, and Liu Xianyang, foolish as he is, wouldn't want it either. If he could talk, he'd say, 'This is men's business — women stay out of it.'"
The boy grinned. "Of course, I wouldn't dare say that to you, Miss Ning."
Ning Yao pressed both hands on the white-sheathed longsword and narrowed her eyes. "I only said half of what I wanted earlier. Part of it was guilt. But ever since I left home, I, Ning Yao, have traveled the world, and I've never walked around a roadblock!"
She raised her thumb and pointed at her own heart. "And here too!"
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment. "Miss Ning, before you do anything, can I first find three people? After that, we each do our own thing!"
Ning Yao asked, "How long will it take?"
Chen Ping'an answered without hesitation, "At most half a day!"
Ning Yao pressed further, "Besides Qi Jingchun, who are the other two?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Please don't ask, Miss Ning."
Ning Yao frowned. "The Kiln Affairs Supervisory Office can't handle this. Do you really think this is a petty theft or street brawl?"
Chen Ping'an was about to stand up when Ning Yao said firmly, "Take the money!"
He had no choice but to pick up the two pouches.
"Chen Ping'an! Wait — turn around first."
After making him turn, Ning Yao suddenly bent down, lifted her robe, and removed a short, antique knife strapped to her calf. She stood up and handed it to the boy, her tone utterly grave. "This is an 'dress-weight knife,' unique to my homeland. Every woman has one. This is an emergency, so I'll skip the formalities. But don't forget — I'm *lending* it to you, not giving it!"
Chen Ping'an was a bit bewildered, but he reached out with one hand to take the short knife.
The girl snapped, "Both hands! Don't you have any manners?!"
The boy quickly raised his other hand, still confused.
Ning Yao said irritably, "You think a few pieces of broken porcelain can kill that Mountain-Moving Ape? Cai Jinjian is just some minor figure on the cultivation path. And that old beast from Zhengyang Mountain is born with a rare constitution — thick-skinned and tough. Even ordinary immortal weapons can barely scratch it. At best, you'll leave a couple of marks. What's the point? Useless!"
The boy, now holding the knife with both hands and not knowing what to do with it, had a strange expression on his face.
Ning Yao glared. "You're about to take a knife to someone, and I'm not allowed to swear a little?!"
Chen Ping'an had no retort. For some reason, he sat back down on the step and looked up at the southern sky.
The girl stood beside him.
Chen Ping'an made one last attempt to dissuade her. "People really will die."
Ning Yao crossed her arms, one sword at her side, one knife hanging. Her face was expressionless. "I've seen more dead people than you've seen living ones."
Then she added, in a deliberately offhand tone, "That dress-weight knife — later you can strap it to your arm and hide it up your sleeve."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Okay."
He slapped his knee, stood up, and suddenly said, "I'm glad I met you people."
The girl whirled around and walked ahead onto the covered bridge.
The spirited girl, with her white-sheathed longsword and pale-green sheathed narrow knife.
Her silhouette at that moment...
It was the most beautiful image the boy had ever seen in his life. Bar none.
In that instant, he felt that even if he could leave this town, he would never see a more stirring sight.
This life was worth it.
So the boy, who had become somewhat afraid of dying after Priest Lu's words, found himself once again completely unafraid of death.
If he died, so be it.