Chapter 84: I Have a Sword
(Now published. Ten thousand words for this chapter. PS: Welcome: fenghuo1985)
Chen Peace immediately looked around him but saw nothing unusual. He took the little girl's hand and said softly, "Let's go somewhere else to talk."
Chen Peace thought for a moment. The streamside was quiet and easy to hide in, but ever since he noticed something unclean in the stream water, he no longer dared to go near it easily.
The little girl in the red cotton-padded jacket immediately regretted blurting out those words in her haste. There was an outsider standing beside Chen Peace—an older girl in a green gown with a ponytail, whom she called Sister Ruan. Although she had met Ruan Xiu once before at the back of the Green Ox, back then Li Baoping was also present, along with that pair of Daoist golden boy and jade girl. One of them kept a pair of large fish, one blue and one red, while the other led a snow-white elk. There was some connection between them and the little girl's family. At this moment, Ruan Xiu certainly didn't look like a bad person, but the little girl's greatest fear was precisely such people—half-familiar relationships that seemed kind but ultimately could stab those closest to you before you even knew it.
Back then, Mr. Ma and that man named Cui had traveled together, discoursing on classics and history, reciting poetry, drinking and singing freely. As Li Huai said, that Cui fellow was either Mr. Ma's illegitimate son or his eldest grandson; otherwise, their relationship couldn't be that good. No one had expected that the high-spirited Mr. Ma would die at the hands of that renowned gentleman of righteous virtue. According to Mr. Ma's earlier account, among all the Confucian gentlemen and virtuous men of Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent, two were exceptionally outstanding, known as the "Greater and Lesser Lords," and Mr. Cui was the famous "Lesser Lord of Guanhu Academy." Before the sudden disaster, almost everyone had an excellent impression of Cui Minghuang—elegant and refined, deeply learned, seemingly omniscient, able to answer any question. Only Lin Shouyi had disliked Cui Minghuang from the very beginning. But Lin Shouyi, coming from a prominent family on Peach Leaf Lane, naturally wore that expression as if you owed him millions of silver taels. He was aloof from the other four child scholars, so early on he had repeatedly sneered at Cui Minghuang. No one understood, assuming it was just jealousy that Cui Minghuang was a more graceful young gentleman.
Although Ruan Xiu didn't understand why the little girl looked at her with unfriendly eyes, she still suggested, "How about we go to the newly built sword-forging room we just finished?"
The little girl, already on edge, tightened her grip on Chen Peace's hand and shook her head vigorously, her eyes pleading: "Chen Peace, can we not go to places with many strangers? Please?"
Chen Peace gently squeezed Li Baoping's little hand and said softly, "Trust me. The sword-forging room in the blacksmith shop is the safest place."
The little girl looked up at Chen Peace's eyes. They reminded her of the stream she had first seen when she was young, walking alone to the water's edge. The water was so clear you could see the bottom, flowing so slowly that she felt she would never grow up. Now, in this life-or-death crisis, all her grievances welled up inexplicably, and she began to cry again, sobbing, "Chen Peace, you must not lie to me!"
Chen Peace said firmly, "I won't lie to you!"
Ruan Xiu led the pair to the sword-forging room, took out the key, and opened the door. She stood there and smiled gently, "I won't go in. I'll keep watch outside. Even if my father comes, I won't let him in."
Chen Peace felt a bit awkward and whispered, "Could you bring her something to eat and drink? I think after she's less nervous, her spirits might collapse, and then filling her stomach will be the most important thing. That happened to me often when I was little."
Ruan Xiu nodded vigorously, slightly turned, and produced a small silk pouch from somewhere, handing it to Chen Peace. "Five new peach blossom cakes from the New Year's Shop. Take them first. I'll get a jug of water and tell her not to eat too fast, so she doesn't choke."
Chen Peace and Li Baoping sat facing each other on small stools. The little girl took the peach blossom cakes but showed no sign of wanting to eat.
Chen Peace said softly, "Tell me exactly what happened."
Li Baoping spoke very slowly, which seemed contradictory to her usual impatient personality. But her slow speech allowed Chen Peace to sort out his thoughts and put himself in her shoes. Before the elderly Mr. Ma died at the school, the five child scholars had a smooth journey leaving home to study. The oxcart and two horse-drawn carriages traveled several hundred miles. Mr. Ma and Cui Minghuang of Guanhu Academy got along very well, becoming friends despite their age difference. But one day, while checking their homework, Mr. Ma suddenly said he needed to discuss the itinerary with Mr. Cui. It might be that they would part ways from then on, since all good things must come to an end.
But the children waited a long time and didn't see Mr. Ma and Cui Minghuang return. So Li Baoping and Li Huai went to look for them. Li Huai was the first to find Mr. Ma lying in a pool of blood. Not just his limbs—the old man was so badly injured that blood was flowing from his eye sockets and ears. His body looked like a bamboo basket lifted from a stream, with all the water leaking out. Gasping for breath, Mr. Ma told Li Huai to bring only Li Baoping to him. When Li Baoping reached him, the old man grabbed her hand. For some reason, the elder, who could no longer speak a word, perhaps experiencing a momentary revival before death, or perhaps exerting his last strength, finally managed to briefly give Li Baoping his final instructions in fragments.
At this point, the little girl in the red cotton jacket was sobbing uncontrollably, her face covered in tears.
Chen Peace was not the type to comfort people, so he simply moved his stool closer to her, reached out to wipe her tears, and repeated softly, "Don't cry, don't cry..."
The little girl sniffled hard and continued, "Mr. Ma grabbed my hand and told me I must find you alone. He said to be careful of people from Guanhu Academy and the Grand Sui capital, and not to trust anyone!"
Chen Peace's expression turned serious. "What about Shi Chunjia and the others?"
Li Baoping, her face streaked with tears, suddenly grinned. "They're leading that outsider carriage driver in circles near Mud Vial Lane. Lin Shouyi thinks that driver is no good, likely part of Cui's group, and together they killed Mr. Ma. After we buried Mr. Ma somewhere, the driver said we couldn't go to Cliff Academy anymore, because Mr. Ma and Mr. Cui had just received news that the academy where Mr. Qi was the master had moved from Grand Sui to the enemy country Great Sui. Without Mr. Ma to guide us, by the time we reached the Grand Sui border, all of us would be killed by border troops as traitors. We had no idea what to do then. Mr. Ma didn't tell us what to do in the end—whether to return to the town school and wait for another teacher, or go to Great Sui and continue to Cliff Academy. So we had no choice but to follow the driver back here. But then the driver said all our families had moved to the Grand Sui capital. If we didn't believe him, we could ask people in town, and we'd know he was telling the truth, because the Grand Sui government left someone from each family in town."
Ruan Xiu brought a jug of water, knocked, and entered the sword-forging room. Li Baoping immediately fell silent.
Ruan Xiu left and closed the door behind her.
Only after the door was shut did the little girl continue, "That driver was very strange. He deliberately asked who among us knew a boy named Chen Peace who lived on a street called Mud Vial Lane. He said he was supposed to pass a message from Mr. Ma. I didn't say anything."
Chen Peace nodded. "That was the right thing to do. Eat something first."
Li Baoping wolfed down three pastries, took a big gulp of water, wiped her face with the back of her hand, and spoke quickly. "Later, the five of us found an opportunity to discuss it. We felt we definitely couldn't just wait to die, so we came up with a plan. The day before we returned to town, Shi Chunjia pretended to be sick, and I said I had to take care of her all the time. Then I privately told Li Huai about the layout of the alleys around Mud Vial Lane. I told him to admit he actually knew you, on the excuse that his father Li Er had worked at Yang's Shop and knew a boy from Mud Vial Lane named Chen who often sold herbs there. When the driver first asked, he just hadn't remembered."
Chen Peace looked puzzled.
Li Baoping blushed and explained, "I often saw you going up the mountain alone to gather herbs, or coming down with a big basket full of them by the stream in town."
Chen Peace smiled wryly and nodded to show he understood.
At the same time, he felt a chill of fear and said solemnly, "What you did was actually very dangerous."
The little girl nodded. "I know. So before we discussed this, I made it clear to them. Lin Shouyi said that Li Baoping's life was the most valuable, and if she wasn't afraid to die, then he, just an annoying illegitimate child, had even less to worry about. Shi Chunjia, being a bit slow, said she'd do whatever I said. Li Huai said, 'What's there to fear? Death is just a dick to the sky.' Besides, if anything happened to him, his father Li Er might be a coward with no skills, but his mother would definitely avenge him. Dong Shuijing was the most straightforward. He said he was strong, so if things went wrong, we four should run first, and he'd fight the driver."
"But I actually think it wasn't that dangerous. If the driver wanted to kill us, he wouldn't have waited until we reached town. He must have had some purpose. I suspect one of the real goals of the mastermind behind this definitely involves you."
Li Baoping finished the last two peach blossom cakes and took a deep breath. "We finally reached Apricot Flower Lane. I told Dong Shuijing and Li Huai to get off with the driver and say they could take a shortcut to Mud Vial Lane. Actually, Li Huai was supposed to lead him in a big circle. As soon as they left, I jumped out of the carriage and ran to Mud Vial Lane to find you. But your house and yard were both locked. Luckily, a neighbor passed by. I asked and found out you were an apprentice at the blacksmith shop. I was really panicking then."
Chen Peace was somewhat stunned. "Did you come up with all these plans?"
Li Baoping shook her head. "Lin Shouyi also contributed ideas. For example, we couldn't just pick a spot far from Mud Vial Lane and claim it was the lane, which would easily give us away. It was better to stop the carriage at Dong Shuijing's house on Apricot Flower Lane. It's not too far, not too close from Mud Vial Lane, leaving room for detours. Besides, when the driver reached Apricot Flower Lane, he would definitely ask someone to confirm, and once it was confirmed, it would be much easier to deceive him."
Li Baoping said firmly, "And it turned out to be true."
Chen Peace couldn't help but ruffle the little girl's hair and praised, "Very impressive."
Li Baoping smiled. "If you weren't home, Li Huai and Dong Shuijing would be even safer. No one would force a face-to-face confrontation to expose the truth."
Li Baoping asked curiously, "Why did Mr. Ma from the school and that driver, who could barely speak the town dialect, both want to find you?"
Chen Peace shook his head. "I'm also puzzled. For now, I only know it might have to do with a few things Mr. Qi gave me."
Mr. Qi had once taken him to ask for a locust leaf, but that leaf with the character "Yao" had already been used.
What about that jade hairpin? But both Mr. Qi and Ning Yao said the hairpin was made of ordinary material, just a regular hairpin.
The seal?
Chen Peace's heart grew heavy. That was most likely it.
Mr. Qi had given him seals twice, four in total.
Not long ago, Old Man Yang had told him to especially treasure the seal with the character "Jing."
The complete seal inscription was "Jing Xin De Yi"—Calm Heart Attains Meaning.
Besides, Mr. Qi had casually said that if he ever came across interesting landscape paintings in the future, he could use that pair of landscape seals to stamp them.
Connecting that to the current descent of the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven's thousand-mile mountains and rivers, there really would be mountain and river spirits in charge. One of them was the Fallen Mountain he was about to buy.
Li Baoping suddenly pulled out three withered yellow locust leaves, holding them in her palm for Chen Peace to see, and said sadly, "The green leaves have turned yellow."
Chen Peace suddenly understood. These three ancestral locust leaves must have helped Mr. Ma prolong his life so he could speak a few more sentences.
In fact, that was the truth. If not for Li Baoping's sudden inspiration to keep these three ancestral locust leaves close to her body, the old man probably wouldn't have been able to say a single word and would have died unwillingly.
Chen Peace had already stored all his valuables at the blacksmith shop. Master Ruan had let him have the thatched hut where Ning Yao used to live. Apart from the eight snake gallstones that still retained their original color and the hundred or so ordinary ones of various sizes, which he had moved from the ancestral home on Mud Vial Lane and Liu Xianyang's house, they were all piled up against the wall inside.
But he always carried the "Jing" seal and the "Mountain-Crushing Manual" with him.
After deep thought, Chen Peace said slowly, "The driver should be on his way to the blacksmith shop now. Why don't you hide here for now, and I'll go secretly bring Shi Chunjia and Lin Shouyi from the oxcart? If the driver asks, I can have someone here tell him that I have a habit of taking walks. Also, about your taking the long way—when the driver reaches my house on Mud Vial Lane, he should realize something's off. Of course, he might not say anything on the surface, but after that, you'll truly be in danger."
Seeing that Li Baoping was still hesitating, Chen Peace said firmly, "Trust me. If your families have already moved away, then only this place in town is safe."
Li Baoping thought for a moment and asked, "Do you trust Master Ruan, the blacksmith here?"
Chen Peace shook his head. "I trust the 'rules' that Mr. Qi once spoke of even more."
Li Baoping beamed. "I understand!"
Once she made up her mind, she burst into astonishing decisiveness. "Since you trust that Sister Ruan, I'll have her take me to bring Shi Chunjia and Lin Shouyi here. Then we'll find a place to hide. You just deal with that evil driver and see what he's really up to."
Chen Peace smiled. "Alright."
He led Li Baoping out of the sword-forging room. Perhaps to avoid suspicion, Ruan Xiu was sitting on a small green bamboo chair a little distance away, swinging her body back and forth in boredom.
After Chen Peace finished his request, Ruan Xiu said without hesitation, "No problem."
Then she crouched down, turned to the little girl in the red cotton jacket, and gestured for her to climb onto her back.
Li Baoping looked unwilling. "I can run really fast!"
Ruan Xiu smiled. "I'm definitely faster."
The little girl turned angrily to Chen Peace, clearly hoping he would confirm that she was indeed very fast.
Just as Chen Peace was about to speak, Ruan Xiu said seriously to both of them, "I could go back and forth several times, and you and Chen Peace still wouldn't have reached the town."
Li Baoping pouted. "I know there are immortals and ghosts in the world, but do you think being an immortal is that easy?"
Chen Peace made the final decision. "Listen to Sister Ruan. Hurry!"
Li Baoping sighed and reluctantly climbed onto Ruan Xiu's back. The softness made the little girl feel drowsy.
Before leaving, Ruan Xiu said to Chen Peace, "If anything happens, you can find my father."
Chen Peace nodded.
With a whoosh.
The little girl in the cotton jacket hugged Ruan Xiu's neck, suddenly startled as if her hair stood on end. She felt a strong wind roaring past her ears.
She turned her head to look down. How did the houses become as small as the blue stones on Fortune Street? And the stream was as thin as a rope?
On the ground, Chen Peace was dumbfounded, watching Ruan Xiu carrying Li Baoping rise straight into the air and vanish in a flash.
The boy thought to himself: So Sister Ruan is also an immortal, just like Sister Ning.
---
In a quiet and peaceful house on Second Son Lane, Cui Can stood by a pond. The wooden-faced boy sat quietly on a small stool.
Cui Can said softly, "Go get a cup of water."
The boy immediately stood up and brought a cup of cold water with both hands.
Cui Can took the cup, flicked his wrist, and casually tossed the water into the pond. It formed a thin green water screen.
Cui Can moved his mind slightly, and in the water screen, the images of the oxcart and the two carriages entering the town appeared, every detail clear.
Cui Can clasped his hands in his sleeves, looking very leisurely. He rocked back and forth like a roly-poly toy, using his toes and heels alternately.
There was no sign of the tension or anxiety a cultivator should feel when a moment of enlightenment was approaching.
When Cui Can saw the little girl in the red cotton jacket say goodbye to her ruddy-cheeked friend, jump off the carriage, and dash down the street, and then the driver being tricked by the two boys into Apricot Flower Lane, he clicked his tongue. "Earlier I mocked Song Changjing's spies for being raised on shit, but now I see that the spies I trained aren't much better—they were raised on urine."
But Cui Can quickly got over it. As the water screen followed Li Baoping's running figure, he muttered to himself, "The children here are naturally clever, especially the group of Song Jixin and Zhao Yao, who are a bit older, and then this little girl as part of the second wave. A land of outstanding talent breeds precociousness. They catch on quickly—not to be underestimated."
When he saw the little girl in the red cotton jacket running toward the stone arch bridge, a ripple of light stirred in Cui Can's eyes, like waves crashing against rocks.
Cui Can shifted his gaze slightly, no longer staring at the water screen. He closed his eyes to rest for a moment. When he opened them, the little girl had already crossed the stone arch bridge.
Cui Can frowned slightly. "Is it because the Grand Sui royal family's methods were too bloody and cruel, provoking a natural aversion from that old sword blade? And does that aversion extend to me, as the one who helped the Grand Sui ascend? But logically speaking, although the true history of that sword blade is untraceable, with only some vague rumors, since it's an ancient sword, what kind of battles hasn't it seen? It shouldn't be so petty, should it?"
The water screen image was getting closer to the blacksmith shop.
Without warning, the water screen, made from a cup of water, shattered with a bang.
The countless droplets splashing in all directions hit the walls, windows, beams, and pillars inside the room, blasting countless holes and cavities.
But the droplets heading toward Cui Can and the boy crashed against an invisible wall of bronze and iron, instantly breaking into even finer spray.
A voice like Master Ruan's descended from the courtyard, "Don't push your luck!"
Cui Can looked up and grinned. "A sage is so petty. Fine, I won't look. Can't we talk nicely? This is the Yuan family's ancestral home, after all. If I get settled accounts later in the capital, what then?"
Cui Can muttered to himself, "The exiles from the Lu dynasty should be arriving by now, right?"
He glanced down sideways at the boy, then withdrew his gaze. His index fingers hidden in his sleeves tapped lightly as he said softly, "Just in case, just in case."
---
When Li Huai and Dong Shuijing led the driver to find Chen Peace, the latter was building a house with some other people.
Li Huai looked around cunningly, his eyes darting.
Dong Shuijing remained calm, with the air of a general.
Covered in dust, Chen Peace walked up to the three and asked curiously, "You're looking for me?"
The driver was unremarkable, looking like an honest farmer. He rubbed his hands together and approached Chen Peace, saying in a low voice, "Can we talk somewhere else?"
Chen Peace shook his head and said firmly, "Speak here!"
Although the driver looked displeased, he felt a little relieved inside. This was the expected reaction of an ordinary street boy.
The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment. "Do you know Mr. Qi from the town school?"
The straw-sandaled boy said bluntly, "Everyone in town knows Mr. Qi. But whether Mr. Qi knows us is another matter."
Li Huai was holding back a smirk.
Dong Shuijing of Apricot Flower Lane gave Chen Peace of Mud Vial Lane a deep look.
Someone from the construction site shouted impatiently, "Hey, Chen, don't slack off! Finish up and get back to work!"
The boy sighed and said to the driver, "Just say what you want to say, okay?"
The man rubbed his face with both hands, exhaled, and said in a low voice, "I am a death warrior of the Grand Sui court, responsible for escorting these children to study at Cliff Academy. Of course, I don't deny that I also have the duty to ensure they aren't lured away by outsiders, like the Great Sui or Guanhu Academy. It doesn't matter if you don't understand. You can believe it or not. But regardless of your relationship with Mr. Qi or whether you know Mr. Ma Zhan, I advise you to be careful in the near future. Mr. Ma was killed on the way to Cliff Academy. Before that, Mr. Ma occasionally chatted with me and mentioned you twice. Once, he said he remembered long ago, while sweeping, he often saw a child squatting outside the school window. The second time, he said that before Mr. Qi resigned as teacher and academy master, he said you were also a seed for scholarship, but he couldn't take you to Cliff Academy."
The man gave a wry smile. "It's just too bad for these children. They're now homeless orphans. They dare not go to the academy, and their homes in town are gone. You know, the Cliff Academy that Mr. Qi founded isn't easy to enter. Out of the millions in the Grand Sui capital, only a dozen or so disciples from Cliff Academy have ever been produced, and now they're all high officials."
Li Huai lowered his head, his expression unreadable.
Dong Shuijing stood still, his face blank.
In the distance, Ruan Xiu coughed lightly. Chen Peace turned his head. The green-dressed girl smiled and nodded.
Chen Peace understood. He called out only Li Huai's name, "Li Huai, both of you come over. I have some questions for you first."
Li Huai said "oh" and pulled Dong Shuijing forward.
When the driver realized something was wrong, Chen Peace shoved Li Huai and Dong Shuijing behind him and stepped forward, saying seriously, "Thank you for letting me know. From now on, I'll take care of these school children for Mr. Ma. Whether they go to the capital to find their parents or do something else, I'll ask their opinions."
The driver forced a smile. "Chen Peace, that's not appropriate. I'm better suited to protect them than you."
Chen Peace smiled. "No problem. I have money now, and I know Magistrate Wu Yuan and Vice Minister of Rites Dong Hu. If anything really happens, I'll find them. Of course, I'll ask Master Ruan to pass the message first."
The driver's lips twitched. His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a not very tall man standing under the eaves.
The driver, who had already been intent on killing, broke out in a cold sweat. He smiled at Chen Peace and said, "Alright. Since Mr. Ma trusted you, I naturally trust your character. Understood, Chen Peace. If you ever need my help, come find me at Three Women's Grave Lane in the north of town. I live in the small house at the very north end of the lane."
Chen Peace smiled politely. "It's a deal."
The driver turned and left.
Sweat beaded on Chen Peace's forehead. Only after the man completely disappeared from view did he say to the two boys, "Li Huai, Lin Shouyi, come with me to see Li Baoping."
Li Huai asked, "Has Li Baoping told you everything?"
Chen Peace nodded.
Dong Shuijing asked, "What about Shi Chunjia and Lin Shouyi?"
Chen Peace smiled. "They've already been brought over."
Dong Shuijing glanced at him but said nothing.
It was still in the temporarily empty sword-forging room. Chen Peace stood facing the five schoolchildren seated side by side on two long benches. In order of age: Shi Chunjia of Dragon-Riding Lane, Lin Shouyi of Peach Leaf Lane, Dong Shuijing of Apricot Flower Lane, Li Baoping of Fortune Street, and Li Huai from the westernmost part of town.
Apart from Li Huai, who was much younger, the other four were only a few months apart.
Chen Peace asked, "Li Huai and Dong Shuijing have already told you what just happened. What do you think that outsider who claimed to be a Grand Sui death warrior really wants?"
Lin Shouyi, who had long since shed his expensive fox-fur coat, said coldly, "We don't even know why that Cui fellow killed Mr. Ma. How can we talk about anything else?"
Shi Chunjia clung tightly to Li Baoping's shoulder, her face pale, still terrified. But after returning to town and meeting Chen Peace, whom she was relatively familiar with, the little girl with twin braids felt much calmer. At least she no longer had to worry about suddenly ending up like Mr. Ma. When they dug the grave and buried him, Shi Chunjia had been so scared she hid far away, crying her heart out, unable to help at all. Li Huai wasn't much better. He hid even farther away, his teeth chattering.
At this moment, Li Huai was clutching his stomach, looking miserable, and muttering, "Hungry and thirsty. This is the true meaning of suffering from cold and hunger. Oh, Mom and Dad, your son is living a hard life now!"
Li Baoping turned her head and glared. "Li Huai!"
Li Huai lowered his head and secretly tugged at Dong Shuijing's sleeve, who was sitting on the far right. "Shuijing, are you hungry?"
Dong Shuijing said calmly, "I can pretend I'm not hungry."
Li Huai rolled his eyes.
Li Baoping felt discouraged. She instinctively reached out, grabbed Shi Chunjia's braid, and shook it gently. "Actually, everything is still foggy. We can't see through it or guess it. Lin Shouyi is right. The one playing chess on the other side must be a master. We're too inexperienced. Our top priority is to stay alive. After we confirm we're safe, then we can talk about other things, like contacting the families who moved to the Grand Sui capital to let them know we're safe."
After casually saying "safe" in that phrase, everyone subconsciously looked at the straw-sandal-wearing guy across from them.
Chen Peace was silent for a long time, then asked, "Since we can't figure out what others are thinking, let's figure out what we ourselves are thinking."
Seeing no objection from the five across from him, Chen Peace asked, "Do you want to go safely to the Grand Sui capital to find your parents and elders? Or?"
Li Huai wailed in pain, "My parents took my sister off somewhere to enjoy themselves. Why would I go to the damn capital? With the temper of my uncle's family, if they really have money, they'll only bully me even more. Before, they treated me like a thief. Now they'll treat me like an enemy. The world is vast, yet there's no place for me!"
Li Baoping reached around Shi Chunjia and smacked him on the head, immediately shutting him up.
Dong Shuijing thought for a moment and said sullenly, "I want to study. If my parents were staying in town, I could do without studying and just help them in the fields. But going to the capital, what can I do? I can't even speak the official language of Grand Sui. I'm not like Li Baoping, who learns everything quickly. Besides, when my grandfather died, he said I had to die at the school. If I don't become a scholar, I shouldn't go to his grave. He wouldn't recognize me as his grandson. If the school here continues, I'll stay in town."
Shi Chunjia's eyes reddened, and she said timidly, "I want to go to the capital to find my parents."
Lin Shouyi, sitting at the far left end of the bench, frowned and said, "Wherever it's safe, I'll go."
Li Baoping crossed her arms, her eyes shining, her spirit soaring. She declared loudly, "I want to go to Cliff Academy! To the place where Mr. Qi studied!"
She stood up, positioning herself between Chen Peace and her four classmates. She pointed at Dong Shuijing. "Don't just talk about Grand Sui. On the entire Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent, Mr. Qi's Cliff Academy has the best reputation. If your grandfather knew you were staying in town to study instead of going to Cliff Academy, I bet he'd turn over in his coffin. Of course, if you're afraid to die, don't go. You can study here for ten years or so and become a half-baked scholar. That's better than dying on the way to study."
Dong Shuijing's face flushed red at her words.
Li Baoping pointed at Lin Shouyi. "Aren't you looked down upon as an illegitimate child? And don't you look down on me as a rich kid born on Fortune Street? Once you get to Cliff Academy, who would dare look down on you? Of course, Mr. Qi said, 'A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall.' So if you want to stay here, I couldn't care less."
As soon as Shi Chunjia saw Li Baoping point at her, she burst into tears.
Li Baoping wore an expression of frustration and pity. She sat back down. Li Huai asked in confusion, "Li Baoping, why don't you say anything to me?"
Li Baoping replied, "I don't want to talk to you."
Li Huai was stunned for a moment, then silently lifted his head, his face full of indignation.
Chen Peace didn't look at the other four. He focused solely on the little girl in the red cotton jacket and asked, "Are you sure you want to go to Cliff Academy?"
Li Baoping nodded. "Mr. Qi said that the collection of books at our Cliff Academy is the best in the entire continent! He also said that all my questions, even if he couldn't answer them, I could find the answers in the books there!"
*Our* Cliff Academy.
Clearly, the little girl already considered herself a student of that academy.
Chen Peace asked finally, "Not afraid of hardship?"
The little girl's momentum dipped slightly. "Alone, I'd be a little afraid."
Chen Peace smiled brightly. "Alright."
Li Baoping looked bewildered. "Huh?"
Chen Peace said seriously, "I'll go with you to that Cliff Academy."
Li Baoping's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her eyes reddened. This fearless little girl in the red cotton jacket, if not for the four cowards sitting beside her, would have burst into tears again.
Just like long, long ago, when she first "caught" that crab in the stream. She had already cried secretly outside her home, so when she ran into the house, she could be so proud.
Chen Peace beckoned to Li Baoping. When she came to him, he said to the other four on the bench, "You four wait here. Li Baoping and I are going to see someone and discuss some matters that also concern you. So don't leave."
Then he took the little girl's hand and walked out of the sword-forging room.
The straw-sandaled boy said, as if to himself or to someone else, "I said it—if I promise something, I have to do it."
Li Baoping wiped her tears and said, "But you also said that if you couldn't manage it, you could just let me know."
Chen Peace shook his head and said softly, "Mr. Qi is gone. If I let him know, he can't hear me."
---
In the span of about one incense stick's worth of time, even though the boy had already walked far away with the little girl in the red cotton jacket, the Military Sage Ruan Qiong was still sitting on his small bamboo chair, somewhat dazed.
Ruan Xiu also sat on a chair, staring at the empty bamboo chair opposite, her heart in turmoil.
The boy had asked Ruan Qiong to buy five hilltops for him, but he would soon leave the town. If he didn't come back, four of those hilltops—Fallen Mountain, Treasure Record Mountain, Colorful Cloud Peak, and Immortal Herb Mountain—would be given to Liu Xianyang, Gu Can, Ning Yao, and Ruan Xiu respectively. He would keep only the lone Pearl Mountain for himself for three hundred years.
The two adjacent shops in town, New Year's and Grass Head, could be managed by hired help under Ruan Qiong's supervision. If they ran poorly and eventually closed, that was fine too. But he would leave behind those hundred or so ordinary snake gallstones for Master Ruan to sell, using the silver to maintain the shops' operations. Although there was no need to consider profit, the boy hoped that every shop assistant would know that the owner was a family named Chen from Mud Vial Lane, that it was their shop.
Furthermore, Master Ruan had to safely escort the four schoolchildren to the Grand Sui capital.
As compensation, the boy would give Ruan Qiong half of the Dragon-Slaying Platform and all the remaining gold essence copper coins after buying the hills and shops.
Ruan Qiong did not refuse.
However, Ruan Qiong said he could only guarantee to deliver him and Li Baoping to the southern border of Grand Sui. After crossing the border, life or death, wealth or poverty, would be left to fate.
Chen Peace nodded in agreement.
In the twilight, after settling the five children, Chen Peace walked alone back to town.
He crossed the stone arch bridge, entered the town, walked into Mud Vial Lane, and returned to his house. Night fell. The boy's expression was calm. He lit a lantern.
He sat before the lantern, staying awake through the night, just like the New Year's Eve vigil he had kept every year.
The lantern flickered, casting light on the boy's silent, resolute eyes.
---
On the stone arch bridge, someone asked with a smile, "A thousand years in a dark room, a single lamp brings light. Senior, what do you think?"
Someone replied, "Agreed."
---
When Chen Peace "awoke," he found himself seeing that person for the fourth time. The figure hovered in midair, snow-white sleeves fluttering without wind.
The person's toes lightly touched the ground, then walked toward Chen Peace.
With each step, the person's face became clearer.
The figure was tall but not bulky.
It was a woman.
To the boy, she was extraordinarily beautiful, so beautiful that she couldn't be any more beautiful.
She stopped before him, bent down, and gazed into his clear eyes. She spoke softly, "I have waited eight thousand years. Chen Peace, your talent for cultivation is far inferior to my previous master's, but that doesn't matter."
She leaned closer, her forehead almost touching his. "Chen Peace, I want you to help me say something to the four worlds outside. Is that alright?"
Chen Peace nodded instinctively.
The tall woman suddenly smiled.
Then she knelt on one knee. Even so, she was still able to look Chen Peace, a slender boy, in the eye with only a slight tilt of her head.
"Good. From today onward, Chen Peace, you are my second and final master."
Chen Peace stood dumbfounded.
The tall woman, radiant in white, squinted her long eyes, a smile on her lips. On one knee before the bewildered boy, her eyes gleaming as if they held thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, she said solemnly, "Chen Peace, please repeat the oath with me. Is that alright?"
She extended one hand, placing it upright before the boy.
Chen Peace also extended his hand, gently pressing his palm against hers.
She closed her eyes and said slowly, "The heavenly way collapses. I, Chen Peace, have but one sword. It can move mountains, cut off rivers, overturn seas, subdue demons, suppress monsters, command gods, pluck stars, destroy cities, and open the heavens!"
The boy silently repeated in his heart: "The heavenly way collapses. I, Chen Peace, have but one sword. It can move mountains, cut off rivers, overturn seas, subdue demons, suppress monsters, command gods, pluck stars, destroy cities, and open the heavens!"