Chapter 101: Taking Charge of the Mountain
When the group had finished breakfast and was about to set off, A Liang, leading his donkey, suddenly asked everyone to wait a moment, then called out, "Come on out." The young and handsome, more beautiful than any woman, land deity of Qidun Mountain, dressed in flowing white robes, soon emerged from the stone platform atop the mountain, holding a long wooden box. He bent over and said to the man in the bamboo hat with a fawning smile, "Great Immortal, your humble servant has prepared a carriage. The remaining two hundred miles of mountain roads will be smooth and easy, like walking on flat ground."
A Liang, a completely different person from the one who had felled an enemy with a single slash the day before, said amiably, "Thank you for your hard work. Please hold onto this for now, and give it to me when we're about to leave Qidun Mountain's jurisdiction."
The young land deity was flattered and said, "Great Immortal, you are too kind. Your humble servant is unworthy of such courtesy."
A Liang stepped forward, patted the shoulder of this local deity, then handed him the white donkey's reins, "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you. Take this horse as well, and bring both to the border."
The young land deity declared with great righteousness, "It is my duty. To serve as a vanguard for the Great Immortal is truly my honor."
A Liang turned to look at Li Huai. That little brat, during breakfast, had done everything short of throwing a tantrum to fight him for a piece of braised beef—crying, making a scene, threatening to hang himself. He would have sold out his mother and sister, and if A Liang were willing to accept, the little bastard might even have sold his father. Of course, A Liang hadn't shown any mercy, and in the end, Li Huai, furious, had thrashed about wanting to duel A Liang. Even now, the two, one big and one small, were still locked in a tense, hostile standoff.
A Liang stuck out his thumb, pointing behind him at the fawning young land deity, signaling, "You see this, kid? Your uncle A Liang gets along well in the martial world. Show some respect from now on."
Li Huai rolled his eyes, turned his head, and spat on the ground.
A Liang said with exasperation, "Let's move, let's move."
A moment after his words landed, three mountain turtles, each with shells as large as round tables, climbed to the top one by one. Their shells were bright red, like great clusters of flame. When the young land deity holding the green bamboo staff looked at them, the turtles simultaneously retracted their necks—one thing subdues another. As the nominal king of Qidun Mountain, the young land deity had been unable to deal with the two snake pythons for centuries due to his limited cultivation, but to other birds and beasts that had not yet formed their vital energy, he was no different from the cattle, sheep, chickens, and dogs raised by common folk.
Each turtle's shell could seat three people. The young land deity, meticulous in his care, had fastened a circle of low railings around the edges of the shells, made from locally sourced sturdy hardwood to serve as armrests to prevent the honored guests from falling off during the bumpy ride. Li Baoping, Li Huai, and Lin Shouyi climbed onto the shells one after another. Chen Ping'an was called by Li Baoping to the shell of the turtle she had chosen. A Liang accompanied Li Huai and Lin Shouyi, while Zhu He and his daughter Zhu Lu had a quiet spot to themselves.
Li Huai was ecstatic. When the turtles started moving, the child's body only swayed slightly, showing no sign of jolting—it was even more comfortable than an oxcart or horse-drawn carriage. Although they seemed clumsy, the turtles were not slow going down the mountain.
Li Huai was overjoyed, pounding on A Liang's knee, "My dear mother! I've never ridden on such a big turtle's back in my life! A Liang, you scoundrel, you've finally done a good deed!"
A Liang looked at Li Huai with pity, "For you to have grown this big, the folk customs in your town must be very simple."
Li Huai turned to Lin Shouyi, "Is A Liang talking bad about me?"
Lin Shouyi had his eyes closed, seemingly quietly feeling the slow breeze of late spring. He completely ignored Li Huai's question.
Li Huai sneaked a glance at A Liang, trying to find clues in the face and eyes of the man in the bamboo hat.
A Liang put on a stern face and said seriously, "It was a compliment."
Li Huai glanced at the long green-sheathed knife lying across A Liang's lap, then at the silver gourd hanging from his waist, and asked, "A Liang, can I play with your bamboo knife?"
A Liang shook his head, "You're not suited for a knife."
Li Huai frowned, "Then what weapon am I suited for?"
A Liang's face turned serious, "You can reason with people. Convince them with logic, win them with virtue."
Li Huai sighed, drooping his head dejectedly, "It won't work."
A Liang, who had been teasing the child all along, was genuinely curious, "Why?"
Li Huai looked up, gazing into the distance at the lush green trees, with an occasional flash of spring flowers passing by. The child said softly, "My voice is too soft. My mother said that in an argument, whoever yells the loudest is right. But at home, my father doesn't like to talk—you can't get a word out of him even with a stick. My sister is also a timid, soft-spoken type, tight-lipped as a gourd. So when something happens at home and my mother isn't around, my father and sister just stare at each other blankly, enough to drive a person crazy. Actually, I don't like arguing either, but sometimes, sitting on the wall watching my mother argue with people, red-faced and loud, I'm really afraid that one day my mother will get old and won't be able to argue anymore. What then? Our family is already poor. We don't even have money to repair a hole in the house. My father is useless. When my sister grows up, she's bound to marry out of the family. If there's no one left to argue, won't our family be bullied to death by outsiders?"
Lin Shouyi was slightly moved.
A Liang teased, "Tsk tsk, at such a young age, you're thinking that far ahead?"
The child said helplessly, "I can't help it. My mother always says I'm the only son in the family. Teacher Qi taught us that 'if a man has no long-term concerns, he will surely have near worries.' So I have to prepare before the rain... whatever that is."
A Liang smiled and helped him finish the phrase, "Make hay while the sun shines."
Li Huai shook his head, "Lin Shouyi, Teacher Qi said something about a gentleman. What was it?"
Lin Shouyi opened his eyes and said slowly, "A gentleman hides his abilities in his body and waits for the right moment to act."
Li Huai pointed at A Liang, "You, A Liang, are just half a bucket of water sloshing around."
Lin Shouyi felt like moving over to sit with Chen Ping'an and Li Baoping, if only for some peace and quiet.
A Liang took off his wine gourd, took a sip, and said with a grin, "Yesterday, I already talked to that Qidun Mountain land deity. When we part, as compensation, he and those two monsters will give us farewell gifts. You saw that long wooden box earlier, right? In the martial world, it's called a 'Horizontal Treasure Cabinet,' similar to a vertical multi-tiered shelf. It's full of valuable treasures. I said earlier that everyone would get one, including you, Li Huai. But now... not happening."
Li Huai was unmoved, saying flatly, "A Liang, I know you have a hundred big ships in your belly!"
A Liang was taken aback, "What nonsense is that?"
Lin Shouyi said casually, "A prime minister's mind can hold a boat."
A Liang slapped Li Huai on the head and burst into hearty laughter.
The mountain turtles chose secluded paths, crossing rivers and streams with ease, making the journey leisurely. At certain scenic spots, A Liang would have Chen Ping'an take a short rest. During one such break, Chen Ping'an passed a small bamboo grove where the stalks were as green as jade. He picked up his half-broken firewood knife and cut down two bamboo stalks, cutting them into sections of varying lengths, and put them in his basket. Li Huai knew why and bounced around with joy, shouting that he was going to carry a book box again.
The three mountain turtles lay in the distance, watching the straw-sandaled boy cut bamboo. Their fist-sized yellow eyes were full of admiration.
A Liang drank wine nearby, watching the busy, quick-handed boy, and chuckled, "Good eyes, but his luck... still none."
Before they set off again, the little girl in the red cotton jacket told Zhu He that she wanted to sit alone with Zhu Lu. Zhu He naturally wouldn't refuse, but he told his daughter to take good care of the young miss. Zhu Lu nodded. Zhu He then went to sit on the same turtle shell as Chen Ping'an. The boy was splitting and shaving the emerald-green bamboo tubes into bamboo strips and splints. Since they lacked hemp rope, the book boxes wouldn't be fully formed until at least they reached Red Candle Town.
Zhu He picked up a piece of bamboo and found it extremely light but quite tough. He thought of the green bamboo staff in the young land deity's hand and understood at once. The small bamboo grove, no more than an acre or two, was certainly no ordinary bamboo. It was likely one of the spring-eye areas where Qidun Mountain's spiritual energy gathered.
Zhu He truly cared for his young miss and couldn't help but remind Chen Ping'an, "These bamboo stalks have quite a background. With an ordinary firewood knife, you'd have chipped it or dulled the blade long ago. So when those two book boxes are finished, my young miss might be a little upset, because in the end, her little bamboo box will be the most ordinary one."
Chen Ping'an was taken aback. He turned to look at the turtle carrying A Liang and the other two and asked tentatively, "Is that bamboo grove related to Qidun Mountain's land deity?"
A Liang nodded, "You could say it's his foundation. It absorbs the mountain's spiritual energy. It takes a hundred years to get this emerald green color. Another four or five hundred years, and there's a chance to condense a little bit of greenwood essence. But no worries. The two stalks you cut are only about two hundred years old. It won't make that guy bleed from his heart, just a little pain in the flesh. Nothing serious."
Chen Ping'an sighed and gave up the idea of going back to cut another green bamboo stalk.
A Liang asked, "What? Not enough? Want me to help you pick a few better ones?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "Forget it."
Zhu He asked curiously, "It's not a long trip back and forth—less than half an hour. Not much trouble."
Chen Ping'an glanced at the basket at his feet, filled with bamboo strips and splints, with plenty of room left, but still shook his head, "We need to keep moving."
Zhu He didn't think much of it and said with a smile, "In martial arts, the key is 'honing.' If you don't spar with others or have someone feed you moves, you won't achieve anything great. So when you have time, let's spar. But let me be clear: when I say spar, I mean I guarantee I won't hurt you, but I won't hold back either. So be mentally prepared to end up with a swollen face."
Chen Ping'an's face lit up with surprise, and he grinned, "Uncle Zhu, just go ahead and beat me up as much as you like."
Before noon, the turtles had already covered nearly half the mountain road. By a pool beneath a waterfall, the group divided their tasks with practiced efficiency, familiar with cooking. Chen Ping'an quietly told the little girl about the bamboo box situation. After hearing his whispered explanation, she was all smiles, her face full of pride. She patted the little bamboo box that never left her side and told her little master that the best book box in the world was right here, and she had even given it a nickname—Green Coat.
After eating, A Liang called Chen Ping'an to the edge of the deep green pool. The waterfall was not heavy, so the chill wasn't strong. Walking side by side, A Liang hesitated for a moment, then asked, "So, according to what you said before, you now own Luopo Mountain, Baolu Mountain, Caiyun Peak, Xiancao Mountain, and Zhenzhu Mountain in the western area of Longquan County—a total of five hills of varying sizes?"
Chen Ping'an nodded with some confusion, making no secret of it, and said slowly, "Among them, Luopo Mountain is the most valuable. Baolu Mountain is not bad either. The other three are pretty ordinary, especially Zhenzhu Mountain—it's just an inconspicuous little hill."
A Liang patted the handle of his knife lightly, thought for a moment, and said, "The real value of these mountains now lies in their abundant spiritual energy, far superior to the outside world. That's why, all along our journey, it's not just those five transformed monsters following the Iron Talisman River trying to enter your hometown, getting close to absorb the energy. There are also many newly awakened mountain spirits and monsters rushing there. But which lucky ones will successfully occupy a corner depends on their own fates and whether they have a path to the Dao."
A Liang took a sip of wine and continued, "And don't think that having spirits enter your mountains is like having thieves in your house. Take this Qidun Mountain, with its impressive presence. Why did the land deity allow those two snake pythons to grow and strengthen right under his nose? The reason is simple: after he was stripped of his orthodox status, Qidun Mountain needed someone to step up, help him guard the mountain, suppress yin forces, and absorb fortune if it wanted to retain its spiritual energy."
Chen Ping'an asked, "A Liang, are you suggesting I invite that Qidun Mountain land deity, or the two snake pythons, to my mountains? Sort of... like having them watch my house and guard my yard?"
A Liang crouched down, picked up a pebble at random, and tossed it into the pool. He shook his head with a smile, "You're only half right. The appointment of mountain and river gods is a top priority for the Great Li court right now. It concerns the dynasty's fate and absolutely cannot be meddled with by outsiders. So which peaks in your hometown can have officially recognized mountain gods will be determined by some deceased individuals personally selected by the Great Li Emperor—more precisely, spirits. Qidun Mountain's land deity, going to your mountain without proper title or justification—what would that even look like?"
He added, "Even if your Luopo Mountain or Baolu Mountain is lucky enough to have a court-appointed mountain god settle there, build a mountain temple, erect a clay statue with a gilded body, and enjoy incense offerings, this land deity here hasn't undergone the strict review of the Imperial Observatory. He can't become Luopo Mountain's mountain god. Only staying here on Qidun Mountain might give him a glimmer of hope. After all, in these centuries, he may not have earned great merit, but he has labored without complaint. He hasn't caused any major trouble either. Perhaps the Great Li Emperor might show him some leniency, and while upgrading Qidun Mountain, promote him to mountain god as a matter of course. So even if you begged him to go, he wouldn't agree. For these mountain and river spirits, the matter of incense and divine status is like life and death for mortals—even more important. Because once you take that step, there's no turning back."
Chen Ping'an crouched beside A Liang and asked tentatively, "Are you suggesting I win over the two snake pythons?"
A Liang tossed another pebble, smiling, "It's a bit of a tough choice. Those two beasts don't have bad origins, but over the years they've committed many sins, and their reputation isn't good..."
Chen Ping'an asked, "If I allow them to go to Luopo Mountain or Baolu Mountain, can they guarantee they won't eat people?"
A Liang paused, rubbed his chin, and said, "Eat people? Under normal circumstances, with such abundant spiritual energy, they'd be too busy cultivating. But snakes and pythons are, after all, of the dragon lineage—cold-blooded by nature. Occasionally, if they're bored or full, they might eat a person for a taste. Who knows? For example, some mountain woodcutters, if they're unlucky enough to run into them when they come out to hunt, it's hard to say."
Chen Ping'an asked again, "Couldn't I just tell them from the start: cultivating on my mountain is fine, but no eating people? Would that work, A Liang?"
The man in the bamboo hat countered, "Aren't you afraid they'll agree with their mouths, then once they're in the mountains and see someone, take a bite out of a life? You won't be on the mountain anytime soon anyway."
Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up as he said slowly, "A Liang, didn't you say there's a courier station in Red Candle Town? The station can send letters. I can write a letter to Master Ruan, lending him Baolu Mountain and the other two peaks for an extra fifty years for free. If Master Ruan thinks it's too little, I can add another fifty years. Then I'll ask Master Ruan to keep an eye on those two beasts. If they dare harm anyone, just beat them to death and be done with it. It's better than leaving them here on Qidun Mountain to cause harm. Of course, that's the worst-case scenario."
"And then, I'll have that black snake, which might become a black flood dragon, stay on Luopo Mountain, year after year helping me build up my foundation. A Liang, you said that if a snake or python successfully walks a river to become a dragon, the birthplace of its earliest river walk will gain great fortune in a mysterious way, right? I can even be shameless and beg Master Ruan to let it lodge on Baolu Mountain. Think about it—if even the white python can walk a river, wouldn't I have hit the jackpot? I've been worried ever since buying those mountains, feeling uncertain. If the black snake and white python take up residence, I'll feel like those peaks weren't bought for nothing. Every day it'll feel like a bunch of copper coins falling into my pocket, clattering away..."
A Liang stared blankly at the boy who was talking nonstop. He was both amused and exasperated, and asked with complex emotions, "Chen Ping'an, do you just love making money that much?"
Chen Ping'an looked shocked and retorted, "Is there anyone in the world who doesn't like making money?"
A Liang adjusted his bamboo hat and said nothing, not wanting to waste words on someone who didn't get it.
The man sighed and said with a smile, "I thought you'd refuse outright in a righteous manner."
Chen Ping'an was baffled, "Why would you think that?"
A Liang cupped some water to wash his face, then turned and said, "Like saying, 'Those two beasts should be killed as soon as possible. I, Chen Ping'an, may be poor, but the Chen family's values are upright. How could I let them into my home?' And then a whole bunch of righteous talk. I was fully prepared to get a lecture."
Chen Ping'an fell silent, picked up a pebble, and gently tossed it into the pool. After a moment, he turned and patted A Liang on the shoulder, "A Liang, you're still too young."
The man in the bamboo hat raised an eyebrow, "Oh, looks like you're in a good mood. Even making jokes."
Chen Ping'an imitated the man and raised his eyebrow, which somehow gave him a pretty mischievous look too.
A Liang laughed heartily and stood up.
Chen Ping'an stood up as well, then suddenly remembered something and asked worriedly, "A Liang, the key question is: are the two snake pythons really willing to relocate?"
A Liang just grinned, saying nothing.
Chen Ping'an saw that the man's hand was resting on his knife handle.
A Liang patted the handle and joked, "So you'd better start practicing martial arts soon, and later learn swordsmanship. Because you're willing to reason with people, but when others don't want to reason, you'll need this."
Chen Ping'an made no comment.
They walked back together, and A Liang asked curiously, "Why didn't you cut more bamboo earlier? Such good stuff—this is your last chance. You won't be able to buy it even with money later."
Chen Ping'an replied casually, "Someone once said that a person should be content and know when to stop."
A Liang was speechless, "Just some nonsense like that, and you actually took it to heart?"
Chen Ping'an put his hands behind his head, rarely so relaxed and carefree, swaying his head like a bamboo in the forest swaying with the gentle wind. The boy said softly, "Because I've never heard much wisdom in my life. So when I finally hear a phrase or two, it's hard to forget."
In the distance, Zhu He suddenly shouted, "Chen Ping'an, let's find an open space and spar!"
The boy sprinted off, "Coming!"