Chapter 1044: No Dare of Zheng on the Path
Chen Ping'an, accompanied by Pei Qian, left the Huan He Mountain territory and first paid a visit to the Qingbai Residence at Xiezi Ridge, hinting to Bai Mao that she shouldn't keep that flower-and-bird album on the shelf gathering dust; she ought to flip through it more often, as it might yield unexpected surprises. Then they selected a nearby immortal ferry crossing called Jiahe, and boarded a mountain ferry named "Feng Ji" (Phoenix Hairpin). At daybreak, the ferry docked at Jiuhua Crossing (Drunken Flower Crossing) in the capital region of Qingxing Kingdom's Liu clan.
Since it dared to be called Jiuhua Crossing, it naturally lacked no fine wines and immortal brews. To put it without exaggeration, the entire crossing was permeated with the aroma of wine.
Fortunate to be in a time of peace, with green mountains and spring waters, new friends and old acquaintances, everyone who stepped out was a person who drank wine and admired flowers.
The streets were bustling. One of Chen Ping'an's avatars surveyed the surrounding shops and casually asked, "Do you know that Bai Xuan has a booklet he never shows anyone?"
Pei Qian nodded, curling the corner of her mouth. "I know. He's compiled a 'Heroes' Register' or something. Bai Xuan has quite the ideas—'if your fist techniques aren't enough, just make up the numbers by adding people.'"
First there was Bai Shou of Piaoran Peak at Taihui Sword Sect, then Bai Xuan of Fallen Mountain. What's with you people surnamed Bai, each one so domineering?
Chen Ping'an asked in surprise, "You even know about this?"
Pei Qian laughed. "I just can't be bothered to argue with a little brat."
Since her master brought it up, she'd let Bai Xuan off the hook and pretend she knew nothing about this personal grudge.
But in truth, she was well aware of every single "hero of the jianghu" listed in that booklet. Otherwise, Pei Qian would have made sure Bai Xuan personally experienced what true peril in the martial world meant.
Chen Ping'an sighed and corrected her, "How can you call it 'arguing with a brat'? He's carefully planned this out—it shouldn't be for nothing. We can't let Bai Xuan end up with an empty bucket after drawing from the well."
Pei Qian was taken aback. "Master, so I really have to beat him up to let Bai Xuan get his wish?"
Chen Ping'an said seriously, "How can you call it 'beating up'? It's just a sparring match. But remember, don't be too harsh."
Pei Qian understood and beamed brightly.
Chen Ping'an clasped his hands in his sleeves and walked with his head high and chest out, exuding a rather haughty air. The young straw-sandal boy, though exuding an air of poverty, also seemed oddly world-weary, like a newly initiated disciple from an immortal sect on his first journey down the mountain, unaware of the vastness of heaven and earth.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Do you know why, among all the children I brought from the Sword Qi Great Wall, Bai Xuan was the only one who didn't take a master?"
Pei Qian shook her head. "That, I really don't know."
So Chen Ping'an gave her a rough account of Bai Xuan's teacher-student relationship back in his hometown.
After hearing it, Pei Qian nodded. "Bai Xuan is still quite good."
Back then, when she followed Cui Dongshan on his travels to the Sword Qi Great Wall, Pei Qian, still a little dark-faced kid, was just too scared to notice much.
Thinking about it afterward, the sword cultivators she encountered on the city wall, along the roads, and in the taverns—especially the female sword cultivators native to the Sword Qi Great Wall—each had a distinctive spirit, regardless of appearance.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "One thing at a time. That little bastard, ever since he arrived at Fallen Mountain, has been badmouthing me every other day, and he still thinks he's saying nice things. Someone needs to rein him in. It's not easy for me to say much to him, in case people misunderstand and think I'm feeling guilty—like 'no silver here for three hundred taels' or something."
Bai Xuan just said it casually, and then Little Rice (Mi Li) heard it, and before you knew it, the entire Fallen Mountain and Green Lotus Sword Sect thought they had everything figured out.
Pei Qian nodded. "Master, rest assured. I'll teach him what it truly means to keep one's mouth shut, or at least make Bai Xuan understand how to be sparing with his words."
Inside a private room at a long-established restaurant in Jiuhua Crossing, a young man in a Confucian robe standing by the window immediately retreated a few steps. He paused, seemed to hesitate about whether to return to the window, but finally turned and sat back down in his original seat. He took a sip of wine, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, and chewed slowly, as if lost in thought. Gradually, a smile appeared on his face. The Chen Ping'an on the street below looked somewhat unfamiliar—very different from the real Chen Ping'an he remembered from their youth.
Also in the room was Han Qiaose, who had cast a concealment spell, and the maidservant Lingyan, who had changed her outfit again today.
Han Qiaose glanced at Gu Can's expression. Lingyan, however, directly rose and walked to the window, peeking outside. She caught sight of a straw-sandal boy carrying a sword and a young woman with her hair in a topknot. Ah, so that's it—old acquaintances meeting but not greeting.
Pei Qian immediately sensed the probing gaze from above. She looked up and met eyes with the stunningly beautiful woman.
Lingyan frowned; it felt strange. Just one look from that female martial artist, and it was as if she were standing there naked.
No wonder she was Pei Qian.
Such a young Armor Realm martial artist was truly terrifying.
Pei Qian used sound condensation into a thread and said calmly, "Master, there's a female cultivator in that restaurant. Her state of mind is a bit eerie—a cold scene with countless white bones hanging in the void. She definitely doesn't look like a kind person."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Does she harbor any murderous intent?"
Pei Qian replied, "No, she doesn't."
Chen Ping'an frowned. "Could she be a Hidden Fiend from the Desolate Wastes?"
Pei Qian thought for a moment. "Something like that. Master, why don't I go to the restaurant and investigate?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Be careful."
Pei Qian seemed about to say something more but stopped.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Your master can take care of himself."
At that moment, Han Qiaose appeared at the window and said telepathically with a smile, "Lord Hidden Officer, long time no see. Would you care to come up and have a chat?"
Chen Ping'an looked up and saw the female cultivator from White Emperor City, a Daoist immortal and also Senior Zheng's junior sister, Han Qiaose, who had temporarily removed her concealment spell.
He understood now. Han Qiaose, unlike her junior brother Liu Chicheng, who loved to make a name for himself and stir up trouble, was the kind of reclusive and devoted cultivator who stayed hidden and immersed herself in cultivation.
Since she had appeared in this foreign land, she must be traveling with someone returning home.
Chen Ping'an nodded and took Pei Qian into the restaurant. He found Gu Can already standing at the stairway on the ground floor. Chen Ping'an walked up to him and said softly, "Why are you here?"
Gu Can stepped aside to let Chen Ping'an go up first, then followed. Without using telepathy, he only lowered his voice and said, "Just came to have a look around."
Pei Qian deliberately slowed down to let Gu Can go up the stairs first. After answering Chen Ping'an, Gu Can turned with a smile, cupped his hands in a fist salute to Pei Qian, and silently expressed thanks.
Pei Qian just grinned.
In truth, Pei Qian had never harbored any ill will deep down toward this guy, whom her master considered family but who had also put him through so much.
And even though this was his first time meeting Pei Qian, Gu Can had formed an excellent impression of Chen Ping'an's nominal first disciple, based solely on some rumors.
As Chen Ping'an ascended the stairs, he asked, "Were you here for the excitement at Huan He Mountain?"
Gu Can laughed. "I had nothing better to do, so I wanted to catch a glimpse from afar. But I ended up missing it—couldn't even get a bite of hot stuff."
Chen Ping'an paused slightly. Gu Can immediately corrected himself. "Consider that a fart I let out."
Lingyan was leaning against the railing on the top floor. Looking down, she saw this scene and clicked her tongue in wonder.
At the same time, the young woman following the last Hidden Officer and her master looked up.
Lingyan kept smiling without a word, maintaining her original posture. So what if you're an Armor Realm martial artist? You're no Cao Ci.
I heard you and Cao Ci fought four times, and you lost every time.
Is this how you learn from your master as his disciple?
Chen Ping'an entered the room, glanced at the tableware, picked the nearest chair, and sat down. Pei Qian sat beside him.
Han Qiaose cut straight to the chase. "Does Master Chen's Fallen Mountain have any military strategy books I could borrow? It doesn't matter if they're profound or shallow, famous or not. I'm willing to borrow books from Master Chen. If you think our relationship isn't good enough for that, I can buy them. One book for one Grain Rain coin, and the more the merrier. I don't need specific editions—engraved editions are fine, hand-copied ones are acceptable, and manuscripts are even better. The main thing is to avoid errors or omissions in the text from re-engravings."
Chen Ping'an glanced at the female immortal, who didn't seem to be joking. He smiled. "Sure, as long as Daoist Han doesn't think she's paying a wrong price."
Fallen Mountain's book collection was quite substantial, and the Tongye Prefecture's Demon-Suppressing Tower in Qingtong also housed some priceless rare editions. If Han Qiaose had no particular requirements for book editions, then this immortal currency would be pretty easy to earn.
One Grain Rain coin per military text—that was practically giving money away.
Especially since every military treatise from the Lotus Root Paradise was a one-of-a-kind rare edition for the entire Haoran World.
Chen Ping'an guessed that Han Qiaose's search for military books was likely at the behest of her senior brother, Zheng Juzhong, and probably related to her inability to "attain Dao and achieve Ascension."
Han Qiaose laughed heartily. "Early on at the Sword Qi Great Wall, didn't Master Chen say that money didn't matter? Too bad today isn't Master Chen treating us to a drink. When I get to Ascension City in Five Colors World in the future, I'll definitely go have a drink there and see if I can break through my realm with alcohol!"
Han Qiaose spoke cryptically, leaving Lingyan utterly bewildered.
This female cultivator from the Desolate Wastes, with the Dao name "Chunxiao," naturally didn't know that during the recent Council of the Confucian Temple in the Central Earth, under everyone's watchful eye, Ritual Saint had shown the many heroes and sages of Haoran a small tavern from the Sword Qi Great Wall, along with the couplets on its door and the horizontal inscription.
The tavern was small, but the couplets were ambitious. As for the horizontal inscription, it was now a source of endless amusement for many wine lovers in Haoran: "Drink my wine, and you can break through your realm."
Pei Qian, sitting properly and upright, occasionally used her trademark "Pei Qian Golden Character" sideways glance at the female cultivator.
Gu Can introduced with a smile: "We on Treasure Bottle Prefecture have the Earthly Branch Cultivators; she is one of the Heavenly Stem Cultivators of the Desolate Wastes, nominally under Zhou Qinggao's command. Her true name among the demons is Ziwu Meng, with the Dao name Chunxiao. I have now bestowed upon her the name Lingyan to facilitate her travels in the Nine Prefectures of Haoran. For a hundred years, Ziwu Meng will stay by my side as a maidservant, attending to my daily needs."
Ziwu Meng's expression was full of grievance. Oh, my good master, why are you telling such secrets to the last Hidden Officer of the Sword Qi Great Wall? Aren't you afraid he'll suddenly attack and beat me to death on the spot?
These days, who doesn't know that the young Hidden Officer has a strange ability to sew the true names of great demons onto himself? I heard there was once a Jade Capital demon qi practitioner passing by the city wall who got torn apart.
Gu Can continued, "As for what happens after the hundred-year term—whether she can return to the Desolate Wastes—that depends on her own fate."
Ziwu Meng smiled sweetly. "Summer days and winter nights, even so, this humble servant is still willing and content."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "You even know the Ge Sheng poem? But using it here is quite inappropriate."
Ziwu Meng gave a charming smile. "Not only the Ge Sheng poem about 'sleeping in the same quilt and sharing the same coffin,' but even a few poems and essays omitted from your Haoran historical records—I know them all by heart."
Gu Can explained, "As long as it's literature about romantic or emotional love, she's probably studied it all."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Since Daoist Lingyan's knowledge is so extensive, how about I act as a go-between and invite the Confucian Temple to recruit you to teach at the Forest of Merits?"
Ziwu Meng looked speechless and choked.
Gu Can smiled knowingly.
In his memory, back in their hometown, Chen Ping'an never seemed to have thrown harsh words at anyone.
Chen Ping'an looked at Han Qiaose, silently questioning with his eyes: Is it really appropriate to have such a dangerous figure by Gu Can's side?
Han Qiaose said, "Ziwu Meng has sworn two vows. My senior brother has vetted her; there won't be any slip-ups."
Anyone who truly cared about Gu Can was someone Han Qiaose was willing to befriend.
So Han Qiaose proactively toasted Chen Ping'an. After drinking, Chen Ping'an seemed about to speak but then thought better of it.
He was afraid that Zheng Juzhong might intentionally use Ziwu Meng as a whetstone to polish Gu Can's Dao heart, and that one day, Gu Can would have to face great hardship. No matter how well Gu Can prepared or how meticulously he tried to foresee and forestall, it would be useless. In short, the more Zheng Juzhong valued Gu Can as his disciple, the less smooth Gu Can's path of cultivation would be.
On matters like this, Chen Ping'an, who had been Cui Chan's junior brother, did indeed have some authority to speak.
But since Gu Can was now a registered cultivator of White Emperor City, Chen Ping'an had to abide by the unwritten rules of the cultivation world and refrain from meddling.
In truth, he was even more afraid of overcooking things—making Zheng Juzhong add more "pressure" to further test Gu Can's Dao heart.
Ziwu Meng's expression turned to one of terror, as if she weren't faking it.
Inside, her heart was churning. When have I ever seen Zheng Juzhong?!
Gu Can said, "Our group managed to escape from a tight spot in the Desolate Wastes mainly thanks to Cao Ci. I have to admit he contributed the most—at least half of the effort. I only blundered into helping Cao Ci a bit by accidentally recalling a reminder from my master, and managed to break the deadlock."
When Ziwu Meng heard this, she felt lingering fear.
Inside a formation world where neither time nor place favored them, Cao Ci, who had broken through on the battlefield and possessed martial fortune, eventually delivered a punch that seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth, aimed directly at Ziwu Meng, who stood in the way.
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Senior Zheng's thoughts are as if guided by spirits; his mind is as if guided by spirits."
During his time living in seclusion and cultivating in the Changchun Cave Heaven of Green Lotus Sword Sect, Chen Ping'an had once made a very bold deduction and hypothesis: if he ever reached the 14th realm, who might become his potential enemies in the Great Dao struggle?
Among those hypothetical enemies, there was no dare to have Zheng (Zheng Juzhong).
Han Qiaose spoke with a tone of mild reproach and complaint. "Little Can, such a great feat, such a monumental achievement—don't make it sound so trivial. If it weren't for you, Xu Yuan, that little Heavenly Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain, and Chunqing, the three of them wouldn't have been able to leave the Desolate Wastes alive."
Chen Ping'an had actually already heard the general course of that narrow escape from Lu Chen, including how Gu Can had brought Ziwu Meng over.
Gu Can laughed. "It all thanks to that pouch of locust leaves from home that felt like 'chicken ribs'—useless but a pity to discard. Luckily, Zhao, Xu, and Cao are all common surnames."
Before leaving home as a child, on that Mud Bottle Alley, the dark, skinny straw-sandal boy had privately told the little snot-nosed kid to hide that pouch of locust leaves well.
But Chen Ping'an changed the subject. "I heard you fought Cao Ci?"
Gu Can nodded and said dismissively, "Just for fun."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Cao Ci not only broke through to the Spirit-to-Armor level but also delivered a breakthrough punch at the 11th realm?"
Gu Can nodded. "To help us open the way, Cao Ci cooperated with Jiang Shangzhen's destined flying sword and delivered a punch beyond his own realm. He was quite injured."
Chen Ping'an frowned. "Will there be any lasting damage?"
Gu Can answered, "I asked Cao Ci afterward. He said personally that there wouldn't be."
Chen Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief.
Given Cao Ci's character, if he was willing to say it, he would only speak the truth.
Although after their parting at the Confucian Temple, Chen Ping'an had fallen from the Armor Realm to Qi Sheng level, while Cao Ci had risen from Armor to Spirit-to-Armor, widening the gap in one stroke.
Even though it seemed likely that the distance between them would only grow, making it hard to walk side by side again, Chen Ping'an sincerely wished Cao Ci continued courage and progress in martial arts, reaching ever higher and further.
Even if he himself couldn't keep up with Cao Ci's pace, that was his own lack of ability. But he didn't want Cao Ci to have his martial path slowed by any accident.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Back in Treasure Bottle Prefecture this time—have you been home yet?"
Gu Can shook his head and answered frankly, "I landed at the site of Old Dragon City, then went to Letter Bamboo Lake first, saw Senior Sister Tian Hujun and Zhong Su of Oriole Islet. I heard from Tian Hujun that Treasure Bottle Prefecture still had a place like Huan He Mountain, so I got curious. But I arrived late—I heard Heavenly Lord Cao Rong had already left. So I went to Imperial Protector Cheng Qian's Daoist temple, and also met with the Xiang Lord Patriarch of Spirit Flight Palace. We settled the matter: they were willing to part with it, and I bought the Huan He Mountain territory. I owe them a favor from Spirit Flight Palace."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Since you've seen them and bought it, and the matter is resolved, don't wander around outside. Go home early."
Gu Can hummed in agreement.
He took off his boots, sat cross-legged on the chair, took a sip of wine, and his eyes sparkled.
When with Chen Ping'an, Gu Can was a completely different person from when he was away.
Truly as the old saying goes: Heroes and heroes are most afraid of meeting their neighbors.
Like seeing someone who grew up in the same clothes as you, got lucky and made a name outside, became successful—when back home among the neighbors who know everything about you, what's the point of showing off?
After a perfunctory drink, it was Han Qiaose who understood the situation and suggested they take a walk around the ferry crossing outside the restaurant.
Outside, she let Gu Can and Chen Ping'an walk alone, while she took Pei Qian and Ziwu Meng to wander elsewhere. She told Pei Qian to just take whatever caught her eye, no need to ask the price—she would pay.
The two walked along a river at Jiuhua Crossing. Gu Can spoke via telepathy: "That thing you want to do—can I help?"
Gu Can didn't ask, "Do you need my help?" because Chen Ping'an naturally wouldn't need him to step in.
That was the case before, and it was even more so now.
Chen Ping'an countered, "How did you figure it out?"
Gu Can smiled. "You're too cautious in your actions. You wouldn't just go on an avatar journey casually."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "This is a personal grudge between me and the Ma family of Apricot Blossom Lane. You don't need to get involved. Focus on your own affairs first."
Gu Can said softly, "I guessed it right—it really is about that matter?"
Chen Ping'an raised his hand, two fingers bent, as if about to deliver a flick on the forehead. But he hesitated, released his fingers, seemed about to pat Gu Can's head, but finally lowered his hand and gently patted the young man's shoulder.
Chen Ping'an habitually said in their hometown dialect, "There are many old neighbors who moved to the prefectural city. If you meet them on the road, remember to address them according to seniority and greet them proactively. Don't be a 'moral killer.'"
Gu Can seemed reluctant but still nodded. "Got it, got it."
Chen Ping'an looked at Gu Can.
He knew it wouldn't fool him. Gu Can looked helpless and had to promise, "I'll do as I say."
Chen Ping'an patiently reminded him, "I didn't say you have to force a smile at those drunken bastards who don't act like people. There's no such reason in or out of books. Return good for good, but return evil for evil? Those people have been unmannered since childhood. Now that they're grown up and grown old, no matter what they drink or eat, they're still full of bad intentions. Not to mention you—even I get angry when I see them. You see how many times I've been to the prefectural city over the years? Out of sight, out of mind. So I'm only talking about the neighbors who used to get along well with you. You can be a bit polite to them. Especially to those who treated your family decently in the early years. If you see their children or grandchildren, you can give them a red packet or something. Have a stack of red packets ready in your sleeve. Don't put immortal money inside—they probably know your family isn't poor these days and has ties to the cultivation world. So if the packets only have a few copper coins, that's too stingy and might still count as 'moral killing.' It's better to not give them at all. Maybe put two gold leaves in each packet, that's more appropriate..."
Hearing the familiar nagging, Gu Can held the back of his head with both hands, nodding slightly or humming in agreement.
Chen Ping'an stopped talking.
Gu Can said, "Bitter days can only be endured; there's no other art to it. But after getting money and living a good life, there are many refinements. If a family has good traditions, even if it's not immediately apparent, the descendants will eventually prosper and won't be poor; they'll have late blessings. This isn't just theory—it's fact. Take our hometown: in just thirty years, so many families that suddenly became rich and moved to the prefectural city—whether they'd remain poor or stay rich long-term—has already become clear."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "It's good that you can think this way."
Gu Can asked, "Do you know the Daoist origins of Ma Kuzhuan? He seems to originate from the ancient Thunder Department? And Ma Kuzhuan might be even higher in divine rank than the old coachman who was in charge of the Thunder Department's Demonic Exorcism Bureau?"
Chen Ping'an said, "If Ma Kuzhuan wants the son to pay for the father's debts, let him."
Ma Kuzhuan was already in the capital of Yu Xuan Kingdom.
Gu Can said, "You might also need to be careful of one person: Yu Shiwu of True Martial Mountain, who is of very high seniority. My master said that besides True Martial Mountain, in the submerged Lotus Root Shrine on the bottom of Yong Prefecture in the Azure Daoyuan, and an ancient temple called Huoxia Temple in the Western Buddhist Kingdom, anomalies might appear in the near future."
Chen Ping'an said, "You don't need to think too much about these peak-level matters. Just know a bit about the inside story."
Gu Can felt somewhat aggrieved. "Chen Ping'an, I am at least still a relatively young Jade Capital realm cultivator with a promising future, and I'm about to become the head of a sect."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "The White Emperor City is the orthodox ancestral seat, and your senior brother Fu Jin is the head of the upper sect, right?"
Gu Can sighed.
Arguing with Chen Ping'an had always been difficult since they were kids.
Gu Can asked, "About when will you meet with Ma Kuzhuan?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Not long from now. Around the time of Qingming Festival this year."
Gu Can remembered something. "I recall that Ma Kuzhuan used to have a Dao guardian, the one who brought him away from Pearl Calyx Cave Heaven and back to the sect. This man's seniority in the ancestral hall records of True Martial Mountain is middling, and his cultivation level is also middling—nothing stands out. But if you consider Ma Kuzhuan's identity and look back at this guardianship, it becomes a very strange matter."
Chen Ping'an said, "I met that person before. My impression of him was good—he looked like a proper cultivator who conducted himself well. It's possible that his role as Ma Kuzhuan's hidden guardian and his eventual return to True Martial Mountain were more a matter of obeying his sect's orders, something he had no choice in."
Gu Can said, "Just a passing remark, a heads-up. As for the truth, I believe it will all become clear sooner or later."
Chen Ping'an said seriously, "Since the speaker intends, the listener should be even more attentive."
Gu Can said helplessly, "There you go, scolding me again."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "When you finally attain Dao and achieve Ascension, see if I still dare to criticize you."
Gu Can smiled self-deprecatingly.
In fact, back at the Sword Qi Great Wall, Chen Ping'an had entrusted a Haoran sword immortal with whom he had good personal ties to deliver two secret letters to Liu Chicheng of White Emperor City.
One of those letters was addressed to Liu Chicheng at Liuli Pavilion. Besides pleasantries and reminiscing, the ending asked Liu Chicheng to wait until Gu Can reached the Nascent Soul realm and before Gu Can went into seclusion to break through a realm, then deliver the second "letter from home" to his junior brother Gu Can. It shouldn't be sent too early, nor too late.
But Zheng Juzhong deliberately intercepted it and kept it from Gu Can.
Zheng Juzhong also told his junior brother Liu Chicheng to pretend he had never received the letter.
Although his senior brother didn't say anything about "consequences be on your own head," Liu Chicheng naturally wouldn't dare disobey. Senior Brother's way of doing things was never to explain any cause and effect to anyone.
As his junior brother, what could he say? Heaven and earth are vast, but Senior Brother is the greatest.
Gu Can said, "I heard Liu Xianyang is already a Jade Capital realm sword immortal, the second sect leader of Dragon Spring Sword Sect."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Is he a bit stronger than you?"
Gu Can curled his lip. "He's older than us."
Thinking back to those days.
Whether it was that roadside pavilion or the little temple back home, Gu Can took out charcoal, Chen Ping'an set up the ladder, and Liu Xianyang used the charcoal to write the three of their names at the highest point on the wall.
Probably no one could have imagined—maybe not even themselves—that the three of them would end up where they are today.
Gu Can said, "Originally, I thought buying the Huan He Mountain territory would earn me a thorough scolding. So I didn't dare greet you first."
Some heartfelt words, after growing up, were different from when they were kids who said whatever came to mind. Gu Can didn't dare speak so directly anymore.
If they were still at Letter Bamboo Lake, Gu Can would have said: Our enemies, one and all, I remember them all. One day I'll dig up their ancestors' graves for eighteen generations. If I can't find eighteen, I'll help them fill in the gaps on their family tree. After that, I'll build a few latrines next to them. Anyone who wants to shit there can pay. If the descendants of the plundered graves are willing to squat in those latrines, I'll pay double. If they think it's not enough, I'll add more... I, Gu Can, mean every word!
But in truth, Gu Can sighed. Those times were gone forever.
Hometown and homeland—they are different after all.
Chen Ping'an said, "What's there to scold about such a thing?"
Gu Can said aggrievedly, "Aren't you just scolding me too much that I've developed a mental shadow?"
Chen Ping'an laughed angrily. "I know you've always had persistence in what you do, which is good, but don't hold such grudges."
Gu Can muttered, "And here it comes."
Chen Ping'an gave Gu Can a slap on the back of the head.
Gu Can just grinned.
Chen Ping'an said softly, "We each cultivate, so we inevitably spend more time apart than together. Let me nag you a bit more today. A man should first be responsible for himself, then for the whole family and the larger clan. Finally, if he's willing, he should do something meaningful for this world. If something is meaningful and also fun for the person doing it, that's even better. Since you're about to become a sect leader, you need to think ahead, plan before acting. When you encounter difficulties, sometimes it's not a bad idea to take a step back."
Whether he listened to the advice and whether he acted on it was Gu Can's own business. But whether to speak it was Chen Ping'an's duty. On the path of life, to speak and act with substance and reason—that is the principle.
Gu Can remained silent for a long time.
Finally, in their hometown dialect, he whispered, "When will you be able to live more easily?"
Chen Ping'an suddenly raised his voice, also in dialect, glaring: "Then just give me a break! Someone with the surname Gu, when doing things, don't just 'head for the head' and forget 'the ass.'"
Gu Can habitually wrinkled his nose.
Chen Ping'an suddenly reached out, gently patted Gu Can's arm, and said, "You did well on the Desolate Wastes trip."
The little sniveling kid from the old alley had grown into a graceful young man.
He probably never expected to hear such a commendation from Chen Ping'an's mouth.
The gentle-mannered young man in Confucian robes, as beautiful as fine jade, smiled brightly.