Chapter 1064: Bai Ye's Poetry and Sword Both Unrivaled

Chapter 1064: Bai Ye's Poetry and Sword Both Unrivaled

Bai Ye followed Liu Shiliu to Fallen Mountain and didn't move again. Even though Wei Bo personally visited to invite him once, Bai Ye couldn't even be bothered to utter a polite word. His expression was indifferent; he simply shook his head—a clear and unmistakable dismissal. That Wei Mountain Lord, who was about to receive the divine title "Night Roamer," immediately took his leave and departed, not daring to disturb this most accomplished cultivator in the mortal world. Even though he knew that the Great Master, the foremost of the Ten Philosophers in the Sage Temple, was currently at Piyun Mountain, Bai Ye still stayed deep within the residence he had taken on the mountain, rarely venturing out. Occasionally, he would take a stroll to the peak where the old mountain god's shrine stood, to enjoy the scenery—the sunrise over the Eastern Sea and the sunset over the Western Mountains. For some unknown reason, Bai Ye always happened to run into that somewhat strange little girl in black clothes. But that little girl, who was said to be the Right Protector of Fallen Mountain, never approached to chat. She would just stand far away, a cloth bag slung diagonally across her body. The first time, out of courtesy—and of course, out of respect for his good friend Jun Qian—Bai Ye greeted Zhou Mili. The little girl pursed her lips in a smile and nodded vigorously, clutching her green bamboo staff and golden carrying pole in her hands, her little fingers gripping the strap of the cloth bag.

Bai Ye couldn't just stand there staring at a little girl like that. He forced a smile, but when he saw she still wasn't speaking, he turned his attention back to the blazing clouds on the horizon.

Hearing footsteps behind him, the little girl tiptoed away. When she reached the divine path steps, she broke into a quick trot, and once she was far enough, she sprinted off.

The second time he encountered the little girl was in the early morning when the sky was just beginning to lighten with the pale gleam of dawn. Bai Ye had arrived early; the little girl came a bit later.

Bai Ye turned around and asked with a smile, "Little Mili, is something the matter?"

The little girl shook her head and scratched her cheek. When Bai Ye turned back to lean on the railing, she ran off again.

The third time, Bai Ye turned to look and saw only a small back figure sitting silently on the steps. He grew even more perplexed. By the fourth time, the little girl seemed to have deliberately taken a detour, cutting through a path from Jiling Peak to reach the back mountain of Jise Peak first. Then she quickly climbed the mountain and hid by the old mountain god's shrine. She never even showed her head; she just crouched there the whole time, never appearing before Bai Ye at all. When Bai Ye finally walked down from the peak, he found that the little girl had circled around the building, leaned her green bamboo staff and golden carrying pole against the railing, then climbed up onto the railing herself and began casually eating melon seeds.

Walking along the road, Bai Ye was completely baffled. Had he just been ambushed four times in a row by a little girl using the same trick of "waiting by the tree stump for the hare"?

The problem was that even now, he had no idea what the little girl wanted to say or do.

It got to the point where even Bai Ye, a man who usually couldn't care less about anything, hesitated, then went next door to consult his friend Jun Qian, asking why little Mili was acting like this. If the little girl was trying to help someone get a genuine calligraphy scroll, or if someone wanted to ask about swordsmanship, that would be fine—after all, he was a guest at Fallen Mountain.

Jun Qian laughed heartily and helped his friend solve the mystery. It turned out that he had previously told little Mili, "My good friend Bai Ye, you think the dried fish you tasted once at the foot of the mountain are delicious, but you're too thin-skinned to ask Fallen Mountain for more. You think it would lower your status. Plus, you're unsociable, not good with words, and always have a stern face that makes you look fierce to everyone. Even Lord Wei was scared off by your cold expression. What's more, you hate owing anyone any favors.

"So, the little girl just gathered her courage, pretending to run into you by chance each time, trying to find a way to treat you to some dried fish—that's all. Later, she was afraid of disturbing your enjoyment of the scenery, so she moved to sit on the steps. The last time, she didn't even dare to see you. She wanted to get close to you, but she was also afraid of causing trouble for the good mountain master and Fallen Mountain, and making you think badly of them."

Thinking about the little girl in black clothes, slightly frowning, and then when he turned to look, she would purse her lips in a smile and grip the strap of her cloth bag tightly.

The young man in the tiger-head hat gradually softened his gaze and expression.

Liu Shiliu patted his friend's tiger-head hat and grumbled, "Bai Ye, Bai Ye, you always think everyone in the world has ulterior motives. This time, you've been clueless, haven't you?"

But things in the world are strange like that. By the time Bai Ye wanted to repay the favor by "waiting by the tree stump," the little girl was busy with her morning and evening patrolling duties today. Then she went to the gate to chat with the Daoist priest Xianwei to pass the time, and then she visited the old cook, squatting beside him as he wove a bamboo basket, marveling at his skill. She never got tired of watching. She clocked in on time, went to the bamboo building's first floor, and sat with the good mountain master who was reading and Sister Nuanshu who was busy with needlework. Little Mili just daydreamed, rolled around on the corridor floor, and lay down to watch the white clouds come and go beyond the mountain, giving each one a nickname in her heart.

Today's second patrol was done. Mission accomplished. All she needed was a good night's sleep, and her friend named "Tomorrow" would come uninvited.

As Little Mili passed the divine path steps of Jise Peak, she slowed down and looked up at the peak. She hesitated again and again, but in the end, she decided against it.

If she went there again, she wouldn't be acting skillfully anymore. Mr. Bai might get annoyed and not even want to come out to enjoy the scenery.

Little Mili carried the small carrying pole on her shoulder, held the green bamboo staff in her hand, and swaggered off. It was fine; happiness still outweighed melancholy. "Melancholy" had too few troops, while "Happiness" was strong and mighty. A little bit of melancholy could only lose, throwing away its armor and fleeing in defeat—a catastrophic rout!

After all, that was the legendary Mr. Bai. In the past, she had been short-sighted and ignorant. It seemed it was time to borrow that "Collection of Passersby" from Jingqing.

But she still didn't understand why Mr. Bai was called "the most accomplished in the mortal world," and even the good mountain master couldn't explain it.

Little Mili thought for a moment, turned to look at the peak, and a flash of inspiration struck her. A plan came to mind. She didn't hurry back to her own residence but instead ran all the way to the foot of the mountain.

She brought a chair and sat beside Daoist Xianwei, positioning the chair slightly sideways so she could keep an eye on the peak's activity with her peripheral vision. Mr. Bai always came down the mountain at a steady, unhurried pace. So, if she just mustered her strength, she could dash forward like flying, taking three steps as two. She estimated she could run into him just as he reached the path to his residence. Good plan! All those military books weren't read in vain. A perfect application of the Thirty-Six Stratagems: "Running away is the best tactic." Seamless, no trace!

Xianwei noticed something odd and asked with a smile, "Right Protector, what are you looking at?"

Little Mili blushed and said, "Nothin', nothin'."

Afraid she might get bored sitting there, Xianwei chatted with her about all sorts of things. Little Mili listened with great interest. When she came back to her senses, she quickly turned to look at the divine path. Oh no! She only saw Mr. Bai already walking down the peak and turning onto the path leading to the sprawling residences.

The little girl wrinkled her nose and said in a small, aggrieved voice, "Daoist Xianwei, you've ruined my big plan."

Xianwei asked nervously, "What do you mean?"

The little girl scratched her cheek and said with a smile, "It's my fault for listening too intently and getting distracted. Can't blame you, Daoist Xianwei."

Xianwei asked curiously, "Little Mili, don't hold back. Tell me. Maybe I can make up for it somehow?"

Little Mili stood up, beaming, "The green hills remain, the waters flow forever. Daoist Xianwei, see you tomorrow!"

Xianwei stood up and asked, "Are you sure it's nothing?"

Little Mili grinned, "Nothin', nothin'."

Just as Little Mili had run a few steps, she stopped and turned around to remind him, "Daoist Xianwei, it's dusk, the light is dimming. Don't focus too much on reading. Take a little care."

Xianwei smiled and said, "As a cultivator, even though I'm still only half a beginner, I actually don't need to worry about such things anymore. But don't worry, I'll be careful from now on."

Arriving at the peak, the little girl in black sighed. She went to the railing, and because she was short, she pressed her head against it, blaming herself. So many military books read in vain.

Just then, a voice with a smile sounded in her ear, "Little Mili, what are you doing?"

Little Mili quickly stood up straight and blinked. It really was Mr. Bai. She blushed and said, "Haha, just messing around, having a headbutting contest with the railing."

Bai Ye rested one hand on the railing, pressed his toes, and sat on it. He reached out his hand and said, "Want to sit and chat together?"

Little Mili quickly put down her green bamboo staff and golden carrying pole, jumped up, and plopped down on the railing. The little girl gripped the strap of her cloth bag in front of her.

Bai Ye deliberately didn't look directly at the little girl in black beside him, afraid she would get too nervous to speak again.

But out of the corner of his eye, he could see every expression and subtle movement of Little Mili.

If he hadn't asked, and Jun Qian hadn't given him the answer, Bai Ye might never have known that such a thought had ever existed in this world.

It seemed trivial, something that could be ignored without consequence.

It was like how Bai Ye had loved entering mountains to seek immortals throughout his life. He had visited many famous mountains and even more nameless peaks, but surely there were even more famous mountains he had passed by without a second glance.

But at this moment, Bai Ye looked up, reached out, and adjusted his tiger-head hat. He felt... the scenery in the twilight was actually quite nice.

A big one and a small one sat together on the white jade railing.

"Little Mili, where is your hometown?"

"My hometown is far away. It's in the state of Baoxiang north of Huaihuang Kingdom in Beiju Luzhou, a place called Yaba Lake next to Huangfeng Valley. It's a tiny little place, the size of a grain of rice. Mr. Bai definitely hasn't heard of it."

"That's across continents. It's really not close. Do you miss your hometown while you're here at Fallen Mountain?"

"Sometimes. Not often, but occasionally I think of it, and then I miss it a lot. But only occasionally, because this is my home now. Half the reason I still think of my hometown is that I was born and raised there and gained my sentience and form there. The other half is that I first met the good mountain master at Yaba Lake. Later, some immortal masters on the mountain wanted to catch me, but they weren't bad people. They wanted to invite me to be a little river maiden."

When Bai Ye heard the little girl say "immortal masters wanted to catch her," his eyes narrowed instantly. But when he quickly heard her say they weren't bad, he relaxed, and his expression returned to normal.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder: since the little girl said they were "catching" her, how could it later be an "invitation"? The little girl's thoughts and actions always seemed so whimsical.

Speaking of this, Little Mili couldn't help but beam with joy. She propped her hands on the railing and lightly swung her legs. "The good mountain master was very generous. He spent two Guyu coins to buy me. I didn't want to stay at Yaba Lake anymore. I wanted to follow him and eat and drink well. I just wanted to leave Yaba Lake and find a scholar to help me write a story I had promised long ago. The good mountain master couldn't talk me out of it, so he took me with him to roam the world. We crossed mountains and rivers, had many adventures, and it was all very exciting. At that time, I stood in the basket he carried on his back, and it felt like I was riding the clouds like an immortal."

Bai Ye smiled and said, "So that's how it was."

"Knowing I would miss my hometown, the good mountain master went to Beiju Luzhou on important business last time and specially took me along, the burden. When we flew across the sea by wind, we even rode a strange night boat. We met many odd people and encountered strange things—a long list, too many to count. But our good mountain master has a vast store of knowledge; nothing could stump him. Later, we landed at the Skeleton Shore and walked all the way to Yaba Lake. After going there once, I don't miss it as much now. I used to think my territory at Yaba Lake was huge, but it turned out to be tiny. I still think about it, but there's no rush. In a few years or a decade or so, when the good mountain master goes there on business again, hey, Mr. Bai, do you know? My inside information is very reliable. I'll just tell the good mountain master, and he'll definitely take me along."

The little girl was full of pride as she spoke, shaking her head and swaying.

"Little Mili, you're not very high in cultivation, but you hold a high position here at Fallen Mountain as a mountain-guarding offering. Don't you feel wronged?"

"Ah?!"

Bai Ye laughed. "It seems Mountain Master Chen has protected you well."

The little girl nodded vigorously and gave Bai Ye a thumbs up. "That's right, that's right."

Bai Ye said, "That senior brother of your Mountain Master Chen, Qi Jingchun, once came to find me. Back then, Qi Jingchun's general meaning was to advise me not to be so disappointed. He told me to look more at the outside world, not to always be trapped in the heaven and earth I felt in my heart. I looked later, but at the time, I didn't see anything different. And that was that."

Little Mili lowered her voice and whispered, "The good mountain master says we shouldn't always tell ourselves, 'That's just how it is.' He also says that's not very good."

Bai Ye smiled. "Mountain Master Chen's thought is very good."

Little Mili's eyes lit up. She had spoken sincerely and told the truth. Not only was Mr. Bai not angry, but he had even praised the good mountain master. Happy!

The elated little girl turned around, covered her mouth with her hand, and lowered her voice. "Mr. Bai, let me tell you a secret. Although the good mountain master once lost a poetry competition, when he's drunk enough, his talent is really something."

Bai Ye asked with a smile, "Tell me more?"

Little Mili suddenly came to her senses. The person beside her was Mr. Bai, who had written many poems. Was it appropriate to talk about this? Fortunately, Mr. Bai was understanding and helped her out. Bai Ye smiled and said, "I remember once, without using my real name, I went with Jun Qian to seek immortals and inquire about the Dao on famous mountains and great rivers. I also met some mountain Daoists and recluses by chance... barely considered poetry competitions. But when they heard my poems, they were quite dismissive. Their comments were not high. There were problems everywhere—either the rhymes weren't proper, the tonal patterns were off, or it didn't conform to the rules. They even said I didn't understand level and oblique tones."

Little Mili exclaimed, "Were they ignorant, or were they really that good?"

Bai Ye smiled. "Probably a bit of both."

Little Mili said, "Anyway, the good mountain master says that only when truly drunk can one taste the divine flavor of Mr. Bai's poems. If you're not drunk, it won't work."

Bai Ye said, "Then your Mountain Master Chen must have an excellent capacity for alcohol. I'd wager he hardly ever gets drunk."

Little Mili scratched her cheek. "The good mountain master indeed doesn't get very drunk very often. Very rarely, I know of only a few times, but I wasn't there for any of them. I just heard about them."

Bai Ye didn't mind. It was obvious that neither Chen Ping'an of Fallen Mountain nor the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall was a scholar who would worship Bai Ye's poetry.

Jun Qian stood in the distance, back against the railing, arms crossed. His main concern was that Bai Ye might be a blockhead and say something rude that would make Little Mili cry.

Bai Ye turned and glanced at him.

Jun Qian signaled for them to continue their conversation; he didn't need to be bothered.

Earlier, at the old private school in the town, Ma Zhan, who had partially resolved his heart knot, still refused to come to Fallen Mountain.

As the senior brother, Jun Qian, and the junior brother, Chen Ping'an, didn't force him.

But Ma Zhan's identity had changed. From one of the temple priests at the Imperial Temple in the capital, he had become a lecturer at Da Li's Spring Mountain Academy.

At the time, Ma Zhan wasn't clear on the content of the discussions in the capital's imperial study, so he thought it strange. After all, no matter how many identities this junior brother had, it seemed inappropriate for him to meddle in such affairs of the Da Li dynasty.

Chen Ping'an laughed and said, "Senior Brother Cui is the state teacher of Da Li. Now I am too."

Jun Qian turned and smiled at the young man in the tiger-head hat.

Going to Xuandu Temple to cultivate the Dao and practice the sword was the right choice. Coming to Fallen Mountain was also the right choice.

The three unrivalled in Haoran: Bai Ye unmatched in poetry, the brilliant Cui Chan, and Pei Min in swordsmanship.

His good friend Bai Ye pursued the Dao with all his heart, his immortal aura vast, his talent immense, surging like a Milky Way pouring down upon the mortal world—unmatched by anyone.

Universally acknowledged as the most accomplished in the mortal world, Bai Ye was indeed unmatched in poetry. Both his swordsmanship and his poetry reached the heavens.

But the result was as Bai Ye himself had said: "The great Dao is like the blue sky, yet I alone cannot step out."

His own master had also once advised Bai Ye: "Cultivating the Dao, the great path is hard to attain; it is naturally due to insufficient effort at the gate."

As for Jun Qian being Bai Ye's close friend, and his master treating Bai Ye as a peer, according to the master's private words: "Count each on its own. Why bother about this? Of course, it doesn't matter if you do. I call this 'being humble and honoring the virtuous.'"

Even Jun Qian, who respected his master deeply, couldn't keep a straight face when he heard his master say "being humble and honoring the virtuous" in this context. But he didn't dare to argue.

The Old Scholar stood on tiptoe and patted his disciple's shoulder. "Don't think I'm speaking ill of Bai Ye behind his back. Jun Qian, I think you've forgotten. The Dao Ancestor said, 'When the inferior scholar hears of the Dao, he laughs at it.' In my view, Bai Ye is clearly a superior scholar who hears the Dao. He once reached the state of mind of a superior scholar, but now he is at the level of an inferior scholar. Yes, an inferior scholar—even with this swordsmanship and realm. If he can return to simplicity and take another step up, one day his heart will connect with heaven and earth, achieving unity of heaven and man. Then take yet another step up? Those mountain immortals praising someone's future always like to say 'the great Dao is attainable.' This saying is not vulgar at all; great vulgarity is great elegance. If Bai Ye doesn't count as 'the great Dao is attainable,' then who does? But..."

Having said this, the Old Scholar stomped his foot. "Since he is an inferior scholar who has already heard the Dao, trapped by his own heart, then let him break the pot and break the fall—be truly grounded. I say, this mortal earth is not something you own just by seeing it and walking on it. Everyone says that cultivators should have no attachments in their hearts, never dragging mud and water, staying away from the red dust of the world? That's the correct way for ordinary qi refiners. No problem! But your good friend—he is Bai Ye! How can he be so petty? He has traveled all the famous mountains, walked through the mortal world, and been deeply disappointed. Then he truly becomes, as Bai Ye himself said, 'a passing guest of time resting in the inn of heaven and earth.' If he stops and rests for a thousand or ten thousand years, isn't it still like an instant? So, the Mohist master said it very well: 'It is not that I have no peaceful dwelling; I have no peaceful heart!' So, if the heart is not at peace, how can one be accomplished? The higher the realm, the greater the loneliness. Why is it that except for a handful of close friends, everyone says he is the most accomplished in the mortal world, but he himself feels it is frustration? He has been traveling far, seen too much, and been too disappointed. I won't talk about others, but for him alone, this is wrong."

Jun Qian felt that whatever his master said must be right.

He wanted to relay these truths to his good friend Bai Ye.

But the Old Scholar shook his head and told his student directly that it would be useless to say anything now. Who is Bai Ye? His Dao heart is extremely tenacious. And what great principle doesn't he understand? These few words of mine are as light as a swan's feather—not even enough to scratch his itch.

Jun Qian looked helpless.

The Old Scholar smiled and said, "Isn't it just common sense? Don't worry. In the future, there will be a moment when Bai Ye suddenly understands something from his words. And if he can hold onto that Dao heart and not let it dissipate, that will be enough."

Jun Qian felt relieved.

Finally, the Old Scholar reminded his student, "Jun Qian, don't mention the saying 'being humble and honoring the virtuous' to Bai Ye. It's not pleasing, and it might hurt your brotherly bond. Then you won't get any wine to drink."

At that time, the Old Scholar walked away with his hands behind his back, pondering which mountain friend he should next ask for wine. He had too many friends, and every one of them was hospitable. He was worried about favoring one over another—it was a troublesome thing, too.

Let the future Bai Ye ask himself: when I have practiced the sword to its utmost, what am I seeking?

When Bai Ye's heart settles, the blue lotus will bloom.

The world is magnificent because of Bai Ye, truly the most accomplished in the mortal world.

Later, the Literary Saint lineage fell apart. The Old Scholar imprisoned himself in the Merit Forest. When the world underwent great changes, Bai Ye alone traveled far with his sword to Fuyou Continent.

Later still, the child in the tiger-head hat stood under a pear tree full of blossoms, and was taken by the Old Scholar to Xuandu Temple in the Qingming Heaven.

Jun Qian, following his master's instructions, had to take Bai Ye out to see and experience more before he broke through to the Upper Five Realms—both famous mountain Daoist sites and the secular world. After breaking through to the Upper Five Realms and before reaching the Flying Ascension Realm, he still needed to take Bai Ye out a few more times. The principle was simple: neither let Bai Ye break through too quickly nor let him go out alone. When he went out, he could only see the scenery he was used to seeing.

Finally, the Old Scholar gave Jun Qian an analogy: "In the future, when you two go out to see the sights, it will be like you're traveling again in the mortal world with a book box on your back. One of you will carry wine in your box, and the other will carry principles. Scenery is like mellow wine; human affairs are like reason. On this journey, you'll be moved by the scenery, pick up a principle or two to go with the wine, walk ten thousand miles, read ten thousand volumes. It won't just be Bai Ye who gains something; you, Jun Qian, will also gain."

Jun Qian leaned against the railing, watching the young man in the tiger-head hat and the little girl in black. Mostly, it was the little girl chattering away, with Bai Ye occasionally saying a few words.

But compared to Bai Ye when he was alone—even when he was with Jun Qian—Bai Ye had spoken a lot more today.

At this moment, the handsome young man's brows no longer held a trace of melancholy.

A childlike heart, a childlike innocence and fun, complemented each other perfectly.

They sat together, eating melon seeds and dried fish. Every time Little Mili heard Mr. Bai mention something from the past, she would listen, stunned, exclaiming in surprise, "Wow, wow, wow!" and "Oh ho, oh ho!"

After they finished the melon seeds, the young man imitated the little girl and flicked the shells off the mountain with his finger.

Jun Qian didn't know whether Bai Ye's Dao heart had changed or not. It might have, or it might not. He couldn't be bothered to investigate. He put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes to rest.

Just then, several drinking buddies who had shared hardships together came strolling up to the peak to enjoy the scenery. Among them were Bai Deng, the former master of the land-bound Dragon Palace ruins who was about to become the Water God of the Tiefu River; a ghostly creature named Silver Deer, who considered external things like realm to be irrelevant; and Gao Geng, the direct disciple of Jing Hao, the number one cultivator on Liuxia Continent, who was in the Jade Purity Realm.

Bai Deng had to come here to discuss with Chen Ping'an his succession to the Water God temple of the Tiefu River. After all, they would be neighbors in the mountains and waters from now on.

In truth, Gao Geng didn't want to visit Fallen Mountain again, and Silver Deer, as the saying goes, could run away from the monk but not from the temple—he had to return to Fallen Mountain.

So Silver Deer and Bai Deng put their heads together and decided they must drag their good friend Gao Geng back to Fallen Mountain... to have a companion to look out for each other.

The three of them were truly afraid of that green-clad boy with the Dao name Jingqing. He was exceptionally hospitable and loved wine more than life itself. That wouldn't be a problem in itself—if a friend didn't want to drink, Chen Lingjun couldn't exactly force their heads into the wine bowl. But the issue was that this fellow Chen Lingjun, with his background as a river snake, was only at the Nascent Soul realm, yet he was a close friend of that Dragon-Slayer Chen Qingliu. At the dinner table, he would hit and scold Chen Qingliu, slapping his shoulders or patting his head. It wasn't just the three of them; even the old Flying Ascension cultivator with the Dao name Qinggong Taibao was afraid of this. As a result, at the dinner table, the green-clad boy took the host's seat, while Jing Hao and Chen Qingliu took turns as deputy hosts. The guests, Bai Deng and the others, if they didn't drink their fill, could they leave? Would they dare to leave?

Drinking should be something you do with friends when you're in a good mood or a bad mood. You talk freely, joke around, share worries, and speak some drunken truths or harmless boasts. It shouldn't become a fixed daily task, twice a day without fail, like a class schedule!

But if they skipped a morning drink, they felt like lazy schoolchildren playing truant. Even if every drink was immortal nectar, how good could it taste?

Fortunately, when Bai Deng and Gao Geng visited Fallen Mountain this time, Chen Lingjun set out a table of wine with a look of guilt and embarrassment. He explained that the last time he had treated them to drink, it was paid for from Fallen Mountain's accounts as an official expense, so he didn't have to spend his own money. Now it was a private matter, so he probably couldn't afford to host them for two drinks a day anymore—unless he replaced the expensive immortal brews with cheaper ones, then they could still have morning drinks...

The three of them looked at each other, almost moved to tears on the spot. Then they each used their skills to persuade Senior Jingqing. Gao Geng said that once Bai Deng became the Water God of the Tiefu River, they would properly host a banquet. Bai Deng said that once Silver Deer became a registered disciple of Fallen Mountain, he would be responsible for all the drinks. Silver Deer said that Gao Geng should come to Bottle Gourd Continent and Fallen Mountain often, whether for official business or private matters, and just let them know in advance so they could set up a drinking date...

The green-clad boy was deeply moved by these warm words and immediately downed three cups in a row.

To sever ties with the ancient Manhuang Immortal Hairpin City, Silver Deer had formally notified Fallen Mountain. With the consent of both the Hidden Official Mountain Master and the Discipline Elder Changming, he had now officially changed his name to Zeng Cuo, styled Rizhang, with no Dao name for now.

He was registered in the household registry of Huaihuang County's Finance Department.

Thus, the ghost Silver Deer became a miscellaneous disciple of Fallen Mountain, temporarily not on the formal roster. He was the second such disciple in history.

As the first external miscellaneous disciple, the new roster compiler of Fallen Mountain—that white-haired child—now, whenever he had nothing to do, would find Silver Deer for heart-to-heart talks. He would urge Silver Deer to know shame and be brave, to cultivate diligently, and not to disgrace the lineage of Fallen Mountain's miscellaneous disciples. If Silver Deer disgraced himself, slacked off in cultivation, and didn't act like a proper person, then he shouldn't blame the child, as their founding ancestor, for turning hostile.

Without having to drink until the heavens went dark every day, Gao Geng finally had the leisure to appreciate the beautiful scenery of Fallen Mountain and its affiliated peaks.

The more than forty mountains west of the town, upon close inspection, were filled with wonders everywhere. However, limited by his cultivation realm, he still felt like he was looking at flowers through a fog—nothing was truly clear.

When they came to the peak today, they saw the young man and the little girl sitting on the railing, and a burly man standing in another spot. Apart from the mountain-guarding offering Zhou Mili, they didn't recognize the other two. Bai Deng had only left the Dragon Palace ruins a few days ago, and Silver Deer was in a similar situation. He had been imprisoned by the Hidden Official for a long time, diligently writing books. If he wrote poorly, he would get hit with a brick. He had only been out for a few days. So, they asked Gao Geng if he knew the backgrounds of the others. Gao Geng just shook his head and said he didn't.

Silver Deer and the others didn't think of trying to get close to the young man in the tiger-head hat. An otherworldly expert? Did such a thing exist?

Although Fallen Mountain often had visitors with terrifying identities and realms, they might believe that a true person doesn't show their face, but few people would be willing to dress like that when going out.

So Gao Geng and the others walked over to the burly man with his arms crossed and introduced themselves, giving their names and Dao names.

Jun Qian smiled and returned the greeting with cupped fists. "I've long heard of your illustrious names. Honored to meet you."

Bai Deng found it a bit dull—all empty formalities. This man in front of him, apart from possibly having heard of Gao Geng and Qinggong Mountain, who among them could he have truly heard of? Bai Deng himself? Or Zeng Cuo, whose alias was still fresh?

But since he was at Fallen Mountain, Bai Deng didn't dare show his feelings. As for Gao Geng, he began to exchange some trivial words with the man about the weather and the scenery.

At the far end of the peak, by the railing.

"Mr. Bai, how did you and Mr. Jun Qian become friends?"

"We hit it off."

Because the content of the conversation between the big one and the small one didn't involve telepathy.

First, they heard the address "Mr. Bai"? That didn't give much away.

How many qi refiners surnamed Bai were there in the world?

Jun Qian?!

If this were anywhere else in Haoran, it might mean nothing. But here at Fallen Mountain, on Mountain Master Chen's own turf...

Gao Geng, who had been leaning against the railing like the burly man, immediately straightened his back. He quickly adjusted his collar, his expression solemn and heavy.

As for Silver Deer, the words "Mr. Jun Qian" hit him like drums beating and gongs clanging in his ears. The Haoran Liu Shiliu, one of the Old Scholar's direct disciples—not everyone in the Manhuang Heaven might know his background, but Hairpin City—how could they not have heard some peak-level news? At this moment, Silver Deer's feelings were extremely complex. He was both terrified to the point of his guts splitting and also felt a kind of "fellow countryman" closeness.

Only poor Bai Deng, who was privileged to be a dragon son of a land-bound Dragon Palace, was still kept in the dark.

Gao Geng and Silver Deer were both torn about whether to tell their friend the horrifying truth.

The most ferocious of ancient anomalies—he only drives away dragons and serpents, not mosquitoes.

When Bai Deng saw "this man," was there any difference from seeing the Dragon-Slayer Chen Qingliu?

The only difference was that one simply kills, while the other kills and eats, or swallows them and then crushes them to death?

Had all the flood dragons that Chen Qingliu had slain over three thousand years possibly been "leftovers" from this burly man's early years?

Gao Geng and Silver Deer held their breath and together made a deep bow to "Mr. Jun Qian."

This time, they both added their sect names or used their old Dao names: "Gao Geng of Qinggong Mountain, Liuxia Continent, pays respects to Mr. Liu." "Silver Deer of Manhuang Hairpin City pays respects to Mr. Liu."

Jun Qian smiled and pressed his hands down lightly. "Gao Geng, we are all guests of Fallen Mountain. No need to be so polite. Fellow Daoist Silver Deer, you and I are practically part of the Fallen Mountain family. Even less need for formality, don't you think?"

Gao Geng felt that was very reasonable. His Dao heart finally held steady and didn't collapse!

Fellow Daoist Silver Deer felt that anything Senior Liu Shiliu said was the greatest truth.

But before the first wave subsided, another rose.

The little girl in black was again having a Q&A with the young man in the sable hat.

"Mr. Bai, can you beat Mr. Jun Qian, who has fists as big as rice bowls?"

"I could beat him before. I can't beat him now. I will beat him in the future."

"And after the dried fish is finished?"

"Then I still can't beat Jun Qian."

Within Gao Geng's heart lake, a massive wave surged. He might as well not have this Dao heart.

How many qi refiners in the world dared to say they "once" and "in the future" could beat Liu Shiliu?!

And he was surnamed Bai!

A tiger-head hat had misled him too much!

Silver Deer, already a ghost, was almost scared to death on the spot, his soul scattering.

In recent years, hadn't there been a Bai Ye from Haoran who single-handedly challenged several Thrones on Fuyou Continent?

Only Bai Deng was truly lucky—he knew nothing.

If they had known this, the three of them would have rather accompanied Chen Lingjun for a big drinking session.

Jun Qian stood with his arms crossed, a slight smile on his face. "Is there anything else?"

Gao Geng and Silver Deer tactfully grabbed their friend Bai Deng, each taking one of his arms, and headed down the mountain.

They had come at leisure; they left in a hurry.

Bai Deng was completely confused. Gao Geng said in a trembling voice through telepathy, "How about a drink?"

Silver Deer agreed without hesitation. "To calm our nerves!"

Bai Deng asked suspiciously, "What's wrong with you two?"

Walking down the divine path toward the residences, Bai Deng asked, "Aren't we going to find Fellow Daoist Jingqing for a drink?"

Gao Geng and Silver Deer exchanged a glance. Our friend Bai Deng is a simpleton with simple luck.

Silver Deer explained with a smile, "Why make Fellow Daoist Jingqing spend his wine money? Let's just drink behind closed doors, just us."

Back at the peak, Little Mili asked curiously, "Mr. Bai, I heard from our Jingqing that you are a swordsman, not a sword cultivator?"

Bai Ye smiled and said, "I used to be just a swordsman. Now I'm a sword cultivator too."

As a sword cultivator, Bai Ye was only interested in one thing: striving to reach the Fourteen Realm as soon as possible, so he could ask the great Dao of the blue sky for justice and return the favor to Zhou Mi.

As for the tiger-head hat he wore, he had been tricked by the Old Scholar earlier. The Old Scholar had falsely claimed that the Ultimate Sage had repeatedly instructed that he must wait until the Jade Purity Realm to take it off. But when he reached the Jade Purity Realm, Bai Ye gradually got used to the amused looks from the sword immortal lineage officials at Xuandu Temple. Somehow, word had spread that he practiced the sword diligently just to take off that ridiculous tiger-head hat. Bai Ye thought it wouldn't hurt to wait a few more days. It was only reaching the Jade Purity Realm, after all—did he need to celebrate with a ceremony? When he reached the Immortal Realm, he thought he might as well push through to the Flying Ascension Realm in one go. Until then, he didn't plan to travel.

Unexpectedly, Jun Qian said he wanted to take him on a trip to Bottle Gourd Continent in the Haoran world.

And so, Bai Ye had been wearing the tiger-head hat all this time.

Who in the world would be his enemy? Challenge him in a sword duel? Who would dare to seek trouble with him voluntarily? With Bai Ye's aloof personality, he wouldn't go out of his way to create enemies for no reason.

As for taking on disciples or teaching anyone knowledge or swordsmanship, Bai Ye was even more afraid of that kind of trouble. He had seriously imagined such a scenario but found he had no idea where to start teaching.

"Mr. Bai, let me test you with a riddle! A person has three rooms connected by two doors. The room where this person stands is filled with useful tools and items. The room next door is a bit different—much bigger. Some things are useful, some are not. Some the owner remembers, but outsiders don't know about. Some even the owner forgets, but outsiders remember them. As for that third room, it's even stranger. Sometimes, when someone opens the door, they see it's colorful and must be beautiful. Other times, they feel it must be gray or even pitch black—not interesting at all, and they don't even want to open it. Mr. Bai, guess what these three rooms are called?"

Bai Ye smiled but didn't speak.

Little Mili comforted him, "Feel free to guess. It's okay if you can't get it. This is the hardest riddle in my big basket of riddles. It's definitely in the top three in difficulty!"

Bai Ye said, "The answer is 'Yesterday,' 'Today,' and 'Tomorrow,' right?"

Little Mili's eyes lit up. She handed the last of the dried fish to Bai Ye and said admiringly, "Mr. Bai, you're just as good at guessing riddles as the good mountain master!"

Bai Ye just took half of the dried fish and smiled, asking, "Who taught you that riddle?"

Little Mili chewed on the fish, shaking her head, lightly tapping the railing with her heels. "Almost all of them were taught to me by the good mountain master. But the riddle I just asked you, Mr. Bai, I came up with that one myself."

Bai Ye smiled and said, "Little Mili, have you ever heard a story? In the heavens and earth, there is a toon tree that divides the north and south. In the Northern Dark, there is a fish; in the Southern Dark, there is a pond. The fish turns into a bird, its back can carry mountains and rivers, and on its back, things are small like a mustard seed boat. It rests heavily in the pond, and the bird migrates with the movement of the sea between north and south."

Little Mili exclaimed in amazement, "There are fish that big in the world? The good mountain master, who has seen a lot, never told me this strange story."

Bai Ye nodded. "This big fish is enormous—probably as famous as the wine from Yaba Lake."

Little Mili nodded vigorously and burst out laughing.

Bai Ye asked, "Little Mili, do you long for that kind of divine power?"

Little Mili shook her head vigorously. "No, I like staying at home. I don't like traveling far." In winter and spring, every morning when she got up, her boxing skills were poor, her realm too low. She couldn't even beat a warm quilt. She always had to fight a tough battle against the quilt, which had two helpers called "Drowsiness" and "Chill." If it weren't for her early morning patrol duties, she would probably sleep until the sun was high in the sky. By then, she would have two helpers too: "Grandpa Sun" and "Birds on the Branches."

Bai Ye nodded, indicating he understood.

He reached out and rubbed Little Mili's head.

The little girl quickly turned around. "Don't touch, don't touch! My head won't grow taller."

Unexpectedly, Bai Ye bent down and tilted his head toward her. Little Mili reached out and patted the tiger-head hat, then tilted her head and laughed heartily. "No growth today—let's talk about it tomorrow!"

Bai Ye rubbed the little girl's head, squinted with a smile, and gently patted his knee, but said nothing.

Jun Qian leaned against the railing in the distance. Yes, this morning's wine, the moon like a moth's eyebrow, tomorrow's sorrow—three thousand zhang of worry. The blue firmament is vast and bottomless; the perilous cliffs are unclimbable. All these prevent Bai Ye from being happy.

Little Mili's eyes sparkled. Her face flushed. She pricked up her ears and whispered, "Mr. Bai, are you brewing a poem that will be remembered for a thousand years once spoken?"

Bai Ye shook his head with a smile. "Since I've taken up the sword, I'll practice the sword well. I already agreed with Jun Qian that I'll only drink occasionally from now on. I won't write poetry anymore."

Jun Qian sighed.

No more Bai Ye unmatched in poetry. The mortal world will be lonely for a thousand autumns.

When Little Mili heard Mr. Bai say this, she felt a little sad, and a tiny bit disappointed.

The sadness came because the little girl thought Mr. Bai seemed a bit melancholy.

As for the grain-of-rice-sized disappointment, it was because she had come to see Mr. Bai with a selfish motive. Ha, it was indeed embarrassing.

Little Mili had wanted to get familiar with Mr. Bai so she could help her beloved Fallen Mountain acquire a catchy poem.

After all, she had been at Fallen Mountain for so long and hadn't made any meritorious contributions.

Sister Nuanshu always praised her, and Pei Qian often recorded her merits in that merit book. But she wasn't a fool—she knew they were just cheering her up.

But it didn't matter. She had read so many military books and knew the Thirty-Six Stratagems by heart. Achieving great deeds could wait until tomorrow!

Today, she had talked so much with Mr. Bai. That was already immensely joyful!

So, the little girl asked Mr. Bai to hold out one hand.

The young man in the tiger-head hat still couldn't figure out what the little girl was up to, but he smiled and extended his palm, guessing that Little Mili might pull out some melon seeds or dried fish from her sleeve or cloth bag.

Instead, Little Mili just raised her hand and made a fist, lowered her head and breathed on it, then gently tapped it on Mr. Bai's palm. She opened her hand as if placing something there. "Ha, Mr. Bai, don't be sad. I'll lend you some happiness and joy!"

Bai Ye chuckled, made a fist, and shook his wrist. "Then I'll gratefully accept it."

Unnoticed, time slipped by. The big one and the small one chatted on. The mortal world was already a night of bright moonlight. The moonlight over Fallen Mountain was abundant.

Little Mili gently swung her legs, carefree, looking into the distance from her home.

Bai Ye asked, "Little Mili, do you think there are many people in the world like you, and many people unlike you? Whether I see them or not, they are all in the world, each with their own joys and sorrows, partings and reunions."

Little Mili scratched her cheek. She was a big water monster from Yaba Lake, after all. She said shyly, "Probably... yes?" Not hearing Mr. Bai continue, she turned her head and looked up. She found that Mr. Bai beside her had stood up and stretched lazily. Huh? Was Mr. Bai about to compose a poem? Wasn't there a saying in books: "Cherishing soaring thoughts, boldly aspiring to fly"?

Bai Ye looked down and smiled. "Not composing a poem. But in the future, when Bai Ye wields his sword, it will also count as poetry."

Little Mili nodded vigorously. She silently memorized this saying. It would come in handy later. She had once borrowed a saying from Liu Keshui and still hadn't returned it. When you're out in the world, you rely on friends. Borrow and return, then it's easy to borrow again.

The young man in the tiger-head hat extended one hand. In the past, he was Bai Ye of Haoran; now, he was a sword immortal of the Qingming Heaven. He declared in a clear voice:

"Great fortune rises and falls, birds cry in the night. Under the moon is an exiled immortal, his breath drying up the rainbow. Lords of the mountain, stop your cups. See me, a swordsman, wave my hand to cut through the floating clouds, my actions shaking the white sun, my command spinning the blue sky!"

Jun Qian heard his grand words and smiled knowingly. His good friend Bai Ye was still Bai Ye. He had always liked to call himself a swordsman. He had only changed the path under his feet.

A scholar's foundation, with an ordinary heart, to attain the fruit of the Dao.

Eventually, he became the true sword immortal Bai Ye.

Just then, Jun Qian heard a slightly awkward telepathic message from Bai Ye:

"Jun Qian, I think I just saw someone somewhere become a sword cultivator. I looked at him and saw a blue lotus blooming in his heart."

Jun Qian was stunned, then suddenly understood.

So that's it!

It must be the Lotus Root Blessed Land of the former Guandao Temple, now of Fallen Mountain. The "young sword cultivator" inside the blessed land and the sword immortal Bai Ye outside the blessed land—both had seen themselves.