Chapter 1136: Every Person in Their Dreams

Chapter 1136: Every Person in Their Dreams

Chen Ping'an said, "On the way here, I saw the full view of Gold Emerald City."

Gu Can smiled and replied, "It's also putting down roots, but it's a bit better than our Li Zhu Cave Heaven."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Master Zheng has more freedom."

Gu Can said helplessly, "I just spoke from the heart, casually mentioning it."

Chen Ping'an said, "So did I."

Liu Chicheng stood nearby, eyes downcast, unusually quiet for such a chatterbox.

There was no helping it. One was his senior brother, and the other was Master Qi; both deserved sincere respect. Back when the talisman array seal was loosened, Liu Chicheng had managed to escape. At first, his spirits were quite high. He wanted to make a name for himself on BaoPing Continent—get up from where he fell, so to speak, and also let his long-unseen senior brother relax a little. At that time, he didn't know his limits, thinking he had confirmed that there were no true experts on BaoPing Continent's mountains, and that a Jade Pure Realm cultivator would be enough to coast through. But then, in a desolate temple, he tried to take Chen Ping'an as a disciple. How could he have known that the youth was a fellow traveler—both had backing, both had senior brothers.

Speaking of which, whenever Liu Chicheng mentioned a few stories about BaoPing Continent to his junior nephew Fu Jin, the latter, who never gave his martial uncle a good look, would have a change in his eyes.

Chen Ping'an asked, "How are the sales prospects for the dharma robes woven in Gold Emerald City?"

Catching Chen Ping'an's implication, Gu Can said directly, "I'm not ready to deal with the Confucian Temple just yet."

It turned out that overnight, on the border of Quanjiao Mountain, a vast, flat, and open area had seen a giant city rise from the ground. It was truly majestic, with flowing precious light and a riot of colors, as bright as day even at night.

The several hundred registered old sect cultivators inside Gold Emerald City, who had previously been trapped in a situation resembling a solar eclipse, finally saw the light of day again. The majority were female cultivators, accounting for seven or eight out of ten.

When they emerged, they realized that the world and their sect registries had changed. Besides being stunned, there was an unspoken sense of relief, followed by great joy and anticipation for the future.

Wilderness cultivators were naturally strong-worshipping. Whether one was in the Upper Five Realms, a Flying Ascension realm, or a Throne-class great demon—these were the most solid truths.

Zheng Juzhong had actually managed to relocate Gold Emerald City to the Righteous side during the war between the two heavens. No wonder he was hailed as the number one demonic cultivator.

Gu Can hesitated for a moment before saying, "There were still several dozen cultivators inside Gold Emerald City whose Dao hearts stirred, secretly colluding to try and contact the Wilderness. Zheng Qingjia noticed the signs, acted personally, and killed them all."

Chen Ping'an made no comment.

Liu Chicheng clicked his tongue in amazement. That fellow cultivator Yuan Hu seemed gentle and delicate, with a soft voice, but unexpectedly so ruthless. No wonder she was brought back to the Righteous side by his senior brother; she indeed had her merits.

Chen Ping'an asked curiously, "How did you convince Zhong Su of Oriole Isle?"

That old Nascent Soul cultivator, Zhong Su, was one of the few local powers on Letter Creek who could contend with River-Severing True Lord in the old days. He was a maverick, and the style of Oriole Isle was unlike other islands.

By all reasoning, Zhong Su shouldn't have paid any attention to Gu Can—different paths cannot be pursued together.

Gu Can replied, "Dealing with such a hard bone that won't accept oil or salt, you have to be sincere and open your heart, treating others with honesty."

Chen Ping'an didn't bother asking for details. He asked, "So he'll serve as the Law-Enforcing Patriarch?"

Gu Can nodded. "Zhong Su manages people, showing no favoritism and rewarding and punishing clearly. He's a perfect fit. Zheng Qingjia handles the money; spending and earning are her and Gold Emerald City's responsibility. Liu Youzhou bears the title of Vice Sect Leader; he can manage everything or nothing at all. Yu Jin serves as the Chief Offering Elder; it's just a formality, so he'll be relatively idle. The maidservant Gu Lingyan has a few more titles—she's the second-in-command of the Law Enforcement lineage, serving as the head of the Inspection Department, and for now, she'll also oversee the Rites Department. As for the rest, the old members of White Emperor City have been given official posts in various departments and seats in the Patriarch Hall. That's roughly the structure of the sect."

Chen Ping'an said, "At the start of establishing a sect, being able to have three Immortals at once is already a very good beginning. In terms of top-tier combat power, even though you're a subordinate sect, you've already surpassed the superior sect of Fu Jin."

Apart from Han Qiaose, who was an Immortal in seclusion seeking to attain Flying Ascension, and Zheng Qingjia, whose Dao name was Yuan Hu and was granted the surname Zheng by Zheng Juzhong, this female immortal from the Wilderness would continue to serve as the city lord of Gold Emerald City for a long time. As for the ghostly being Yu Jin, who had fallen from Flying Ascension to the Immortal realm, he was a native of Fuyao Continent. Returning to his old haunt was like returning home in glory. Even though Gu Can said Yu Jin was just a nominal chief elder, as the first emperor in Righteous history to nearly unify an entire continent, Yu Jin could easily handle such grand descriptions as "strategic genius" or "ambitious."

Think back to the founding of Fallen Mountain—it was just a poor straw-sandaled youth, leading a blue-clad child and a pink-skirted girl.

Moreover, at that time, the mountain god temple hadn't yet been moved away, so the roles of master and guest were ambiguous. They lived as close neighbors who never interacted for a long time.

Gu Can shook his head and said, "Brother Fu has also been secretly recruiting troops and buying horses. He hasn't been idle since arriving in the Wilderness. He has high aspirations and probably won't accept just any riffraff. Instead, he might deliberately reduce the number of registered cultivators to attract more Upper Five Realm cultivators."

Liu Chicheng finally got a word in. "As my senior brother's first disciple, that identity still has a lot of appeal. Plus, Fu Jin himself is a promising sword immortal with a bright path. He's a bit arrogant, but anyone who can accept his way of doing things definitely isn't mediocre."

Chen Ping'an said, "I forgot to ask what your sect is called."

Gu Can replied, "It's called Fuyao Sect. Pretty tacky."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "So Laiyuan Academy and all the local sects and immortal mansions had no objections?"

Liu Chicheng blurted out without thinking, "Doesn't Tongye Continent have a Tongye Sect?"

Noticing that Chen Ping'an and Gu Can were both looking at him, Liu Chicheng smiled awkwardly. "Pretend I was just babbling nonsense."

Gu Can continued, "What objections could the mountain cultivators have? What objections would they dare have? If Zheng Juzhong's disciple founded a sect and didn't call it that, they would find it strange. Besides, Fuyao Continent has had several sects called Fuyao Sect in history, and none of them ended well. They thought the name was too grand, that they couldn't bear that fortune. One of those Fuyao Sects was supported by Yu Jin when he was emperor, becoming the leading power on the continent's mountains. When the dynasty collapsed and its national fortune was severed, the sect fell apart within days. Not long ago, Yu Jin mentioned this and shed a few tears of bitterness, saying it was like dying for one's country. The woman who was his childhood sweetheart and confidante, the national teacher, was truly beautiful. But when I checked the archives, hardly anything Yu Jin said was true."

As Gu Can said this, he gave Chen Ping'an a questioning look.

Chen Ping'an said, "I know nothing."

Liu Chicheng was puzzled. A riddle?

But Gu Can already understood the answer.

The female sword immortal Song Pin from Golden Armor Continent was very likely the reincarnation of that woman.

That was why she could gain the recognition of the longsword "Fuyao."

Yu Jin's willingness to join the "Fuyao Sect" was probably also because of her.

Gu Can chuckled unaccountably. "In the past, a sect with the word 'sect' in its name dreamed of having a Flying Ascension realm cultivator sitting at its head. They wouldn't dare hope for more. Aside from the Central Earth Divine Continent, having two or three Flying Ascension cultivators on a continent was considered rich fortune and a blessed land. Now look."

Liu Chicheng laughed heartily. If you wanted to talk about the number of Fourteen Realm cultivators in a sect, you could have a long chat with him.

Chen Ping'an reminded, "You have to eat a meal one bite at a time."

Gu Can said, "Time waits for no one."

Chen Ping'an replied, "You have a bright future ahead. What's the rush?"

Gu Can suddenly said, "Back when I was ignorant, I didn't understand the treacherous schemes of the mountain world. Now that my horizons have expanded, I will absolutely not allow myself to become like Xing Lou of the Azure Underworld."

Chen Ping'an was silent.

Liu Chicheng was completely lost.

Gu Can said, "The current national teacher of the Golden Pu Dynasty is a personal disciple of that Green Palace Grand Guardian from Flowing Cloud Continent. His name is Gao Geng. When I was negotiating a deal with Emperor Hong, Gao Geng was sitting right there. He was very polite to me, almost overly attentive. It's clear that Emperor Hong places great trust in this new national teacher."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Gao Geng followed his master Jing Hao and stayed at Fallen Mountain for a while. I suspect Chen Lingjun took him to Mud Bottle Alley."

Liu Chicheng muttered under his breath, "Gao Geng's master is just an old-school Flying Ascension realm. How can he compare to your master, Gu Can? That politeness doesn't count as a favor to Sect Leader Chen. But business is business."

Gu Can gave a fake smile. "Since when did Uncle Liu and Chen Ping'an become sworn brothers with unbreakable bonds?"

Liu Chicheng started putting on his uncle's airs. "Gu Can, don't smile like that. You look like a villain."

Gu Can looked askance at him. "Oh?"

Chen Ping'an couldn't help laughing and teased, "Brother Liu is really cracking jokes with his life on the line."

Liu Chicheng, who had meant to teach Gu Can a lesson, also started laughing.

Gu Can asked, "Did you come alone?"

Chen Ping'an said, "I also brought Xiao Mo and Xie Gou, but we came by night ferry."

Liu Chicheng, thinking he misheard, asked, "Xie what?"

Chen Ping'an said irritably, "Gou! (Dog)"

Liu Chicheng burst into hearty laughter. He wasn't mocking the unconventional name; he was just reminded of some saying from Sword Qi Great Wall, something about "seen from afar or up close."

Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Brother Liu, when you meet our sect's second chief offering, you can call her 'Doggy.' No need to be formal."

Liu Chicheng was skeptical. "Are you setting me up?"

Chen Ping'an looked surprised. "You guessed that?"

Liu Chicheng sighed long and loud. Who could have imagined that the pedantic, rigid youth from back then would become like this?

Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "Now that everyone is achieving Flying Ascension one after another, aren't you anxious?"

Liu Chicheng put on a worried face. "How could I not be? I'm as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, my heart burning with urgency."

If he said he wasn't worried, it would seem like he lacked ambition.

But actually, Liu Chicheng wasn't the least bit anxious.

His master had come out of retirement. His senior brother was already a Fourteen Realm cultivator.

Now even his two junior nephews had founded their own sects. The person who least needed to worry in the whole world was him, Liu Chicheng.

Liu Z was just a born idler. You, Chen Ping'an, are born to be a workhorse. How can you compare to me?

Chatting as they walked, leisurely strolling out of a bustling Gold Dust Ferry, Liu Chicheng felt like he had forgotten something.

In a mountain shop that acted as a middleman selling talismans and artifacts, the shopkeeper raised his head again and looked at the guy who was touching everything but not pulling out any money.

The shopkeeper reminded him, "Customer, the shop has a rule: if you're not buying, don't touch."

That person replied, "I have money in my pocket. I'll pick everything I want and pay all at once."

The shopkeeper said with a mix of anger and laughter, "Then take out the money!"

The man said, "A business must have patience."

The shopkeeper was furious. "Do I need you to teach me how to do business here at Gold Dust Ferry?"

Unexpectedly, the man said, "To be honest, the entire Gold Dust Ferry is now under the jurisdiction of our sect."

The shopkeeper was amused. "I haven't heard that Emperor Hong of our Golden Pu Dynasty has a son your age."

The man said, "Maybe I'm his father."

The shopkeeper was clearly choked by this remark. This guy was so wild; he must be a rogue cultivator from the marshes who scraped by like a stray dog.

Not wrong. Chai Bofu was indeed a rogue cultivator from BaoPing Continent. He called himself Dragon Earl, and he was a senior brother of the Xu clan woman from Breeze City.

But times had changed. He was now a registered cultivator. It could almost be said that Liu Chicheng had never seen anyone more adept at sailing with the wind and avoiding harm. As long as Chai Bofu saw the signs were bad, he wouldn't hesitate to lose face.

Liu Chicheng had to admit that Chai Bofu was an expert at both losing and gaining cultivation realms.

Losing a realm was something one could become skilled at with practice. Although his realm wasn't high now, his foundation was solid!

This time, accompanying them to congratulate Gu Can, Liu Chicheng was extremely curious. After going back and forth between Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms so many times, when would he finally break into the Upper Five Realms?

At the time, Chai Bofu had been quite aggrieved, his eyes filled with a resentful look. "I'd like to know that too."

Chai Bofu had another half-sentence he dared not say: Could you ask your senior brother for me? Liu Chicheng patted Daoist Brother Dragon Earl on the shoulder and made up a lie to encourage him, lest Chai Bofu lose his spirit. "Don't be discouraged, friend. For the sake of our friendship, I'll break the rules and reveal a heavenly secret: my senior brother is using you to observe the Dao! Since Golden Core and Nascent Soul are both considered Earth Immortals, there must be great knowledge between the two realms."

Chai Bofu looked as if he had been awakened from a dream, suddenly enlightened, tears of gratitude streaming down his face. Without a word, he knelt in the direction of White Emperor City and kowtowed heavily, his head hitting the ground with a thump.

Liu Chicheng was taken aback. Had he accidentally stumbled upon the truth?

In reality, Chai Bofu didn't believe a word of it. He was inwardly miserable. He had just regained the Nascent Soul realm a few days ago on this trip and hadn't even had time to get used to it. Dammit, Liu, since you said that, what else could I do but bow and thank Master Zheng from afar?

Liu Chicheng was talking nonsense, and Chai Bofu didn't believe a shred of it.

But the fact was that Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City did indeed have this intention. He wanted to redefine the term "Earth Immortal" for the world of cultivation.

On a peak of Quanjiao Mountain, there was an old site of Jiangzhen Temple. Zheng Qingjia had opened a cave dwelling here, serving as a mountain Daoist field outside Gold Emerald City. The scenery was clear and secluded, a good place to escape the summer heat.

Zheng Qingjia had a cold personality. Even though she had accepted a group of personal disciples, very few could truly catch her eye, and she couldn't entrust her lineage to them.

There was only one exception: Zhai Guangyun. Only this proud disciple could visit Jiangzhen Temple's old site. Zhai Guangyun's Dao age was not long, and she hadn't yet reached the Nascent Soul realm, so she couldn't use the divine ability of "Viewing the Rivers and Mountains with Palms." She could only strain her eyes to make out a rough outline of Gold Dust Ferry. "Master, the Hidden Officer has such a good relationship with Sect Leader Gu. He will definitely attend this ceremony, right? Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense in terms of brotherhood and Jianghu righteousness."

Zheng Qingjia found this a bit headache-inducing. Sect Leader Gu had indeed gone down the mountain today, but who could guarantee whom Gu Can was going to meet?

Zhai Guangyun was an admirer of the young Hidden Officer.

Last time, when she went to BaoPing Continent to find Gu Can and visited Fallen Mountain, Zheng Qingjia had shaken her out of her sleeve. But she hadn't dared to let her meet Chen Ping'an, for fear of causing unexpected trouble.

Anyone who had never been to the Wilderness Heaven would never know the supreme status of the young Hidden Officer there. Especially the demon cultivators who had returned to the Wilderness after going to the Righteous Heaven. Many of them had broken through realms on the battlefields of several continents and were now gradually becoming the backbone of the Wilderness Heaven. Almost without exception, these demon cultivators had a deep impression of that blood-red figure on the half-broken Sword Qi Great Wall.

Zhai Guangyun said, "Master, Sect Leader Gu looks like a scholar. He has a knack for using people and getting things done. Following someone like him feels like having a confidence booster."

Zheng Qingjia smiled, with a double meaning. "He does look the part."

If you really took Gu Can for a proper scholar, you would be making a big mistake. The mineral vein at Quanjiao Mountain was a "treasure mountain" in the literal sense. Although repeated surveys had shown that the ore had high impurities and wasn't suitable for minting immortal coins, and couldn't become a "fourth coin" after Rain Grain, Lesser Heat, and Snowflake, no one doubted that Fuyao Sect, possessing Quanjiao Mountain, wouldn't have to worry about money for a thousand years.

Fuyao Sect and Laiyuan Academy each took one-third of the jade mine. The latter would use its share of the income to rebuild the broken Fuyao Continent. As for the Golden Pu Dynasty, which had only restored its national fortune a few years ago, the far-sighted Emperor Hong, as a local power, had made a big deal with Gu Can, the "crossing river dragon." He first offered a Gold Dust Ferry built on Luanjia Beach as a gift for free. Then they discussed the ownership and profit-sharing of the mineral vein. Soon, a new sect emerged within the borders of Golden Pu Dynasty. The four people who had settled there with Gu Can from BaoPing Continent became the "founding patriarchs" of the sect: Huang Lie, the former national teacher of the Jade Xuan Kingdom and a Golden Core Earth Immortal, was more than qualified to serve as sect leader. In addition, Shen Ke, who had just broken through to become a Nascent Soul martial artist, the ghostly being Guan Kui, and the Nascent Soul old crone who went by the alias Pu Liu, each held important positions in the sect. Fuyao Continent had suffered terribly from the war, and the people's livelihood was in ruins. This mountain seat couldn't be underestimated. Of course, it was the "subordinate branch" of Fuyao Sect, not yet publicly announced.

Gu Can divided the third of the Quanjiao Mountain jade mine into three parts: one part for Golden Pu Dynasty, one part given to the vassal mountain sect that had formed an alliance, and one part reserved for Fuyao Sect itself. But nominally, it still belonged to the Golden Pu Dynasty. Gu Can made a gentleman's agreement with Emperor Hong, so as not to be caught on the wrong foot by certain moralists from Laiyuan Academy.

Even before the sect establishment ceremony had taken place, Gu Can already had a private ferry, a cross-continental ferry boat, a city that seemed like a money tree and a cornucopia, and a secret subordinate mountain sect.

Zheng Qingjia rubbed her disciple's hair bun and couldn't help but warn her earnestly, "Righteous is different from the Wilderness. In the Wilderness, killing doesn't require reason. Here on the Righteous side, people are good at using reason to kill. From now on, just focus on cultivating behind closed doors. The heavenly treasures, immortal opportunities, rank, and status that should be yours won't be lacking in the slightest. But you must remember this: don't provoke Sect Leader Gu casually. Remember, remember. If Gu Can ever decides to kill you, Master definitely won't be able to protect you."

Zhai Guangyun nodded. "Master, rest assured. Your disciple knows the weight of things."

Even after getting her beloved disciple's verbal assurance, Zheng Qingjia was still worried that she might be used to the customs of the Wilderness and the freedom of Gold Emerald City. "You also need to promise Master: you are not to meet Sect Leader Gu alone without permission."

Zhai Guangyun didn't pretend to be cute and beg for mercy, nor did she make any false vows. She just said quietly, "The young Hidden Officer could hold the city wall but almost couldn't walk out of Letter Creek. I am just a tiny ant. How could I dare to be careless when conducting myself under the watchful eyes of Sect Leader Gu?"

Zheng Qingjia's expression was complicated. She nodded, acknowledging her disciple's promise, but then added seriously, "Don't mention such things from now on. Don't say them to anyone!"

Zhai Guangyun quickly agreed.

By the seashore, on a steep cliff, a thousand miles from the sea-entering vein of Quanjiao Mountain, two genuine accomplished Daoists had made an appointment to meet here.

One, looking like a wealthy merchant, was the head of the Liu clan of White Sandbar Island, reputed to be the richest man on the Righteous side.

The other was a thin old man carrying a green medicine pouch, with multiple identities. He was both the Daoist priest in charge of Quanjiao Mountain and Lou Miao of Qionglin Sect.

Liu Jubao's attitude was interesting. Regarding his son having an affair with Gu Can, this new Fourteen Realm Grand Cultivator of White Sandbar Island said nothing, only saying, "I know."

Liu Youzhou had not invited his father to the ceremony, so Liu Jubao just acted as if nothing had happened.

Liu Jubao said with a smile, "So you've been dispossessed by a cuckoo taking over the nest. Doesn't it bother the old owner?"

Wei She said, "Anyway, Youzhou is the second in command. Consider it as not letting good things go to outsiders. As an elder, I've already given a gift."

Liu Jubao said, "The gift is generous."

Wei She didn't think this matter was worth much discussion and started changing the subject, looking greatly regretful. "I was hoping we could go to Julu Continent together, settle things, and fulfill our wish, but it seems we were too late."

If Fire Dragon True Lord hadn't succeeded in amalgamating the Dao, everything would be fine. The two of them would have gone there, invited those always arrogant sword cultivators to sit down and talk business.

It was all just to buy back a single character: "North."

If the two Fourteen Realm cultivators of White Sandbar Island had jointly visited Julu Continent, and the ones hosting them had only been Fire Dragon True Lord of the Flying Ascension realm and the sword cultivator Bai Shang, then from then on, it would truly only be "Julu Continent," not "North Julu Continent."

Liu Jubao had long been obsessed with getting that "North" back.

Liu Jubao didn't want to talk about this topic much more and asked, "Why did you suddenly change your mind and take the initiative to go to the Wilderness?"

Wei She didn't hide it. "To meet Zhang Fenghai, who just left the Misty Grotto. I heard he has broken away from the Jade Capital Registry and started his own sect. Not to be underestimated."

Liu Jubao smiled. "Daoist friend, are you planning to extend your business to the Azure Underworld Heaven?"

Zhang Fenghai and his group of Daoists were currently traveling through the Wilderness. This matter wasn't widely publicized, but the cultivators at the mountaintop level had heard about it.

Wei She neither confirmed nor denied.

Liu Jubao said, "Guess how many portraits will be hung in the Patriarch Hall on the main peak of Quanjiao Mountain?"

Would it be only one portrait of Zheng Juzhong, or would it also include a portrait of Patriarch Chen Qingliu?

This question could be significant or trivial.

Wei She said, "Whether to hang one, two, or none at all—Gu Can seems capable of any decision."

Liu Jubao smiled. "Then let's wait and see."

Wei She said, "Two high-level figures have arrived at the mountain where Jiangzhen Temple once stood."

Liu Jubao said, "Daoist friend should learn from me: don't even glance that way, lest it be seen as a challenge to a sword duel."

Wei She smiled. "After all, it's my old Daoist field. Sneaking a glance or two shouldn't be a big deal."

As they spoke, Liu Jubao and Wei She noticed that on the peak of Quanjiao Mountain, a girl in a sable hat extended two fingers and curled them a couple of times in their direction.

You new Fourteen Realm cultivators who haven't waited until you're old Fourteen Realm, don't act like big shots in front of me.

Wei She exclaimed in admiration, "As expected of Bai Jing. Truly sharp divine sense."

But when he turned around, Wei She found that Liu Jubao had already vanished.

Wei She shook his head, smiled freely, and his form became like a green crane. Pinching a Water-Breaking Seal, he instantly plunged into the sea, entering a Guixu passage and heading straight for the Wilderness.

On the mountain peak, Zheng Qingjia recognized the identity of the youth in a yellow hat, green shoes, and carrying a green bamboo staff. She quickly pulled her disciple Zhai Guangyun down to kneel.

She pressed both hands to the ground, touching her forehead to the back of her hands three times. Each time she kowtowed, she repeated, "Zheng Qingjia of Gold Emerald City, Dao name Yuan Hu, pays respects to the Patriarch."

Xiao Mo said calmly, "A bit of lineage inheritance—three kowtows are enough. From now on, let's address each other as Daoist friends."

Zheng Qingjia still didn't rise. She looked up and said, "Patriarch may not recognize me as a descendant of the lineage, but I dare not presume the Patriarch is not above."

Xiao Mo said indifferently, "As you wish."

Zheng Qingjia stood up and then performed a Daoist bow to the sable-hat girl. "Greetings, Senior Bai Jing."

Xie Gou sighed. "That's too formal! Call me Doggy!"

Zheng Qingjia dared not be so presumptuous. Gold Emerald City had always been under the jurisdiction of the Swaying River, and the new master of Swaying River was the Throne-class great demon Fei Fei. If you traced the generations, she was probably Bai Jing's grand-disciple?

Zhai Guangyun stood up dazedly. As if struck by a stroke of inspiration, she blurted out, "Zhai Guangyun of the Gold Emerald City lineage pays respects to the Patriarch's Grandmother."

Xiao Mo was helpless. Zheng Qingjia looked nervous.

Bai Jing's ancient deeds, one after another, were all associated with capriciousness. For example, there was a legend about a perilous encirclement led by two great demons, with over a hundred cultivators involved in an ambush. Two Flying Ascension cultivators who had been plotting for a long time still ended up with Bai Jing killing one and wounding the other. As for the rest of the ants, they were all split in half by a single sword; Bai Jing liked to cleave them down the middle. The severely wounded female sword cultivator revealed her true form on the battlefield and feasted on the corpses, not wasting a single bit.

Even a great demon of equal age like Zhu Yan, when later generations mentioned Bai Jing, would curse her as a "fierce woman."

At this moment, Xie Gou put her hands on her hips, tried hard to keep a straight face, but was overjoyed. Oh ho, oh ho, little girl, your mouth is so sweet! You deserve a wedding candy! Ha ha ha! Zheng Qingjia isn't bad at taking disciples; this one is quite pleasing to the eye.

But what Xie Gou said was, "Hmm, little girl, you can come to Fallen Mountain often in the future. By the way, what's your name?"

Zhai Guangyun said timidly, "Reporting to the Patriarch's Grandmother, my name is Zhai Guangyun. I've always admired the Hidden Officer."

Xie Gou groaned. Hearing the second half of the sentence, she immediately changed her tune. "Then you'd better not come to Fallen Mountain."

For now, I'm only the second chief offering; my official hat is smaller than the mountain lord's wife.

The mountain lord is good in a thousand ways, but the one thing that's debatable is his fear of Ning Yao.

Xiao Mo somewhat regretted being dragged here by her.

Xie Gou had originally planned to learn from Jing Qing and show some unyielding spirit. Even if she lost her official position, she would speak some bitter words to advise the mountain lord: "You married a wife; why are you so afraid of her, Ning Yao?"

But Xiao Mo advised her not to say it, so she listened to Xiao Mo.

Together, they flew over Quanjiao Mountain. Chen Ping'an only roughly toured the scenery along the main ancestral peak; he didn't visit the other peaks.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Liu Chicheng had to take the initiative to ask where he was staying. Gu Can told him to sleep on the floor.

Liu Youzhou wasn't on the mountain at the moment; he was at Gold Emerald City, studying the weaving process of a dharma robe in detail.

Tonight was a night of beautiful flowers and a full moon; people were in high spirits when good things happened.

Early the next morning would be the sect ceremony. A sect leader just over thirty years old had achieved success and fame; his Dao path was promising.

Gu Can sat alone on the railing of the viewing platform, gently patting his knees with his hands, one pat after another.

The maidservant Gu Lingyan gave a symbolic knock on the door, walked over, crossed her arms, leaned against the doorframe, and looked at the somewhat lonely figure.

Was it because the Hidden Officer hadn't come to chat with him, but had gone to drink and gossip with Old Grandmaster Shen and the others, that he was sulking?

Gu Can didn't speak. She was bored, tapping the toe of her embroidered shoe on the floor.

Hey, before going down the mountain, the young master had specifically instructed the kitchen not to prepare anything. Probably hoping Chen Ping'an would cook? And the result? The result was the current situation.

Gu Lingyan wisely shut her mouth. Of course, she wouldn't dare to rub salt in Gu Can's wounds; he really held grudges, especially about things related to Chen Ping'an.

Gu Can muttered to himself, "High mountains are easy to cross; the flat road is the hardest to walk."

Seeing that he had finally stopped being mute, Gu Lingyan agreed, "Everyday effort is crucial. That's the principle, but for you to become a true Dao master of a continent, this is just the start."

In his childhood, River-Severing True Lord Liu Zhimao discovered his aptitude and took him to Letter Creek, officially embarking on the path of cultivation.

In the treacherous and sinister Letter Creek, relying on a Nascent Soul water dragon, he acted tyrannically, killing to stop killing. What he hated most were the words "rules" and "regulations."

By a stroke of luck, he followed Zheng Juzhong to White Emperor City, became his master and disciple, and had a whole new perspective.

He broke through the Nascent Soul bottleneck, killed his inner demon, and successfully entered the Upper Five Realms. From then on, a new world opened up.

At thirty years old in the mortal world, he was already a founding patriarch, becoming one of the youngest sect leaders in Righteous history.

Gu Can didn't turn his head. "Don't keep me company out here in the cold wind. Go do your own thing."

Gu Lingyan beamed. "Isn't taking good care of you the proper duty of a maidservant?"

Gu Can said, "I'm not in the mood to waste words with you."

Gu Lingyan didn't mind. She curtsied and quietly left.

Gu Can gazed into the distance.

Looking back on his life, it was all like a dream.

At the break of dawn, a full hour before the ceremony, the first person to arrive at the square outside the Patriarch Hall was, unexpectedly, an outsider.

Once there, with nothing to do, the blue-robed man in cloth shoes slowly paced on the white jade-paved square.

If I remember correctly, at the founding ceremony of Green Lotus Sword Sect, the man who was the master of the superior sect had been the last to arrive.

At Gu Can's residence, Gu Lingyan knocked on the door. She served her young master as he washed his face, wiped his hands, carefully tidied his robes, and adjusted his jade crown and gold hairpin.

When she mentioned this, Gu Can didn't seem surprised. He just picked up the towel again, wiped his face, and then a smile spread across his face. He said, "With me, he's always been like this."

––––

In the twilight, on a country path, a blue-clad child swung his sleeves as he swaggered through the village entrance. He stepped onto the blue stone road and headed toward the village school by the creek.

Dogs along the way barked incessantly. The blue-clad child immediately squared off into an "Opening the Mountain and Asking the Way" boxing stance to confront them.

Eventually, they tucked their tails and ran off. The child suddenly stood up straight and snapped his sleeves, producing a sharp crack. "Fighting with your grandpa? How dare you!"

A villager saw this and shook his head. Every village has its fool. They wondered which village this child had wandered from.

As he approached the school, which had just ended its lessons, the blue-clad child shouted, "Brother Zhou! Brother Zhou!"

Jiang Shangzhen, with a few books under his arm, walked out of the school and raised his hand. "Over here! Over here!"

Chen Lingjun quickly walked over to Chief Zhou. He couldn't neglect his Brother Zhou. He was teaching in the countryside in the mountain lord's stead, living a lonely, destitute life. He had to go see him.

Besides, Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji were here too. As a half-baked senior, Chen Lingjun had to teach them a few principles of dealing with the world—precious golden words that weren't in books and couldn't be bought with money.

Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji were busy in the kitchen. Chen Lingjun went to the door and ordered a few dishes, saying they didn't need to go to too much trouble; they could make do. But there had to be local brew. Zhao Shuxia smiled and agreed.

At the dinner table, Chen Lingjun brought fresh news that made Chief Zhou emotional. Even the wine didn't taste good.

Fallen Mountain had neither its own mountain gazette nor any plans to start a "Flower in the Mirror, Moon on the Water" broadcast. But Green Lotus Sword Sect was about to have its first such broadcast. They would be releasing the news soon.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangzhen complained that the subordinate sect wasn't being very considerate—how could the younger brother get married before the older brother? But then he generously said that it seemed Sect Leader Cui was really short of money, blamed himself for not considering it, and said he would get in touch with the Jiang Cloud Grotto Paradise.

Jiang Shangzhen clinked his wine bowl with Chen Lingjun, rubbed his chin, and couldn't help asking, "Is this news reliable? Or are you just making things up?"

Chen Lingjun said crossly, "I got this intel from Little Millet. What do you think?"

Jiang Shangzhen nodded. "Then it's absolutely true."

Jiang Shangzhen asked, "Does the mountain lord know about this?"

Chen Lingjun shook his head. "I'm not sure. The mountain lord has been in seclusion at the Fuyao Deer Daoist field recently. He won't see anyone except Little Millet."

Jiang Shangzhen asked curiously, "Who will appear in this broadcast? Who will host it? Who will warm up the crowd? Who will hold the fort? What are they planning to talk about? They need some gimmick, right?"

Most of the handsome men were on our side at Fallen Mountain! On that side, it seemed like only Great Sword Immortal Mi could be counted?

Chen Lingjun, his cheeks puffed out with food, said indistinctly, "Not sure. I'll have Little Millet continue gathering intel. Hmm, not bad. Shuxia, your cooking has improved. Thumbs up."

Seeing the blue-clad child give him a thumbs-up, Zhao Shuxia smiled and nodded. "Keep up the good work."

Chen Lingjun then turned his thumb toward Ning Ji. "Ning Ji, you're doing a good job handling things too. You could open a restaurant in Huaihuang County in the future. I have a lot of friends in the business, and I guarantee you'll have good business."

Ning Ji grinned.

In fact, Cui Dongshan had specially sent many copies of the same gazette to all the peaks of Fallen Mountain, asking Little Millet to help distribute them, so as not to be seen as playing favorites. He begged the people of the superior sect to show their support. Those with money could contribute money; those without could contribute their presence. For example, those currently training in martial arts and cultivation on Flower Shadow Peak and Oriole Song Peak of Jumping Fish Mountain had little money, so they could help shout for the broadcast. He also reminded them to notify Piyun Mountain; distant relatives weren't as good as close neighbors, and it was all in the family.

Of course, Little Millet had received these letters. But when she went to Fuyao Deer to tell the mountain lord, Chen Ping'an suppressed the matter. To keep Little Millet from being put in a difficult position, Chen Ping'an had to personally write a reply letter, telling Sect Leader Cui to find other people to act as shills and not to bother his own people.

Chen Lingjun suddenly remembered something the old cook had said and laughed so hard his stomach hurt.

"Nobody's money is blown in by the wind." Haha, blown in by the wind.

Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji were both used to this and didn't find it strange.

Chen Lingjun barely managed to stop laughing. "Ning Ji, want me to teach you how to play finger-guessing?"

Ning Ji quickly waved his hand to decline.

They didn't drink too much. Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji cleared the table. Chen Lingjun and Jiang Shangzhen sat on bamboo chairs under the eaves. Chen Lingjun slumped back, comfortably letting out a few burps.

Zhao Shuxia was going to the house they had rented in the next village. Ning Ji said he would go back later and stay here. Zhao Shuxia chose a small path and silently walked a stake-walking practice.

Ning Ji brought out a bamboo chair to the yard and asked Teacher Zhou if he wanted the rattan chair. Jiang Shangzhen smiled and nodded, so the child brought out the rattan chair.

Chen Lingjun praised, "Ning Ji, you're a kid with eyes that see what needs to be done. You'll go far."

Ning Ji smiled shyly.

Chen Lingjun started laughing uproariously again. Jiang Shangzhen asked what was so funny.

"A few days ago at a late-night hotpot dinner, the old cook said, 'Among the great romantics of this world, Brother Zheng occupies two of them.'"

"Haha, Zheng Dafeng, who could use his face as a roof, was completely out of sorts that time. He laughed like a shy little mimosa."

"Chief Zhou, you get the joke, right?"

Hearing this, Jiang Shangzhen smiled knowingly. "It seems Mr. Zhu really couldn't take it anymore. You guys always treat his place as a cafeteria, which is indeed too much."

Chen Lingjun said, "Ah, what to do? I was originally planning to have the old cook prepare a feast to welcome you back when you return."

Jiang Shangzhen said, "Going too far is one thing, but eating and drinking as usual is another."

They understood each other without words and simultaneously raised their hands for a high-five.

Ning Ji sat quietly by the side, saying nothing, just listening and grinning dumbly.

Jiang Shangzhen had actually noticed that Ning Ji had a knack for falling asleep whenever he wanted.

Ordinary? Very extraordinary! In mountain cultivation, this would be a profound technique for nurturing the spirit.

Ning Ji had only told his senior brother Zhao Shuxia about this. He hadn't mentioned it to his master, not because the youth was holding back, but because he thought it was a trivial matter not worth mentioning.

Furthermore, Ning Ji could wake up whenever he wanted, as punctual as a temple bell or drum, as precise as a sundial in a threshing yard.

As for Zhao Shuxia, who learned boxing, he was Chen Ping'an's beloved disciple and had a good character. He also had a sense of propriety very similar to Chen Ping'an's, hard to say whether it was innate or acquired.

Jiang Shangzhen asked with a smile, "Ning Ji, between me and your master, who is the better teacher?"

The child said earnestly, "Teacher Zhou has more patience, but Master is still better."

Jiang Shangzhen said doubtfully, "Ning Ji, that's contradictory. Did you say it backward?"

Chen Lingjun patted Ning Ji's head. He looked like a clever kid, but his little brain was a bit slow, far inferior to his own.

Ning Ji shook his head firmly. "No, I didn't say it wrong."

The child hesitated, then said less firmly, "Maybe I'm wrong."

Jiang Shangzhen smiled. "No, you're right."

Chen Lingjun found it preposterous. "How is that possible, Chief Zhou? You have more patience than the mountain lord? That's laughable! Clearly, our mountain lord is the better teacher and has more patience."

Ning Ji looked confused. Could he say that?

Jiang Shangzhen said gently, "Because I don't really care about teaching or the children in the school. So I appear to have a lot of patience."

Ning Ji's eyes immediately lit up. "That's right! That's the feeling I couldn't put into words before. Teacher Zhou's heart is only on the books. Master teaches, but his heart is beyond the books."

Jiang Shangzhen nodded. "Exactly."

No wonder he was the proud disciple Chen Ping'an had entrusted with his entire knowledge of talismans.

Jiang Shangzhen changed the subject. "Although I'm a teacher now, in my younger days, I did wander the Jianghu. Ning Ji, do you know what Jianghu is?"

Chen Lingjun's eyes went wide. Was Chief Zhou really going to lead the child astray?

Ning Ji hesitated, then shook his head. He wasn't particularly yearning for that so-called Jianghu.

Jiang Shangzhen didn't pursue the topic further.

Chen Lingjun chatted about various things, but Ning Ji couldn't understand most of it.

As night fell, Ning Ji stood up, took his leave, and put the bamboo chair back inside the house.

Jiang Shangzhen didn't get up, but Chen Lingjun said he would walk part of the way together; he hadn't been to the next village yet.

Jiang Shangzhen watched their figures; they were actually about the same height.

Fallen Mountain was truly a good place for learning.

Chen Lingjun's "Collection of Passersby," Bai Xuan's "Heroes' List."

And Pei Qian's several boxes of account books, Nuan Shu's piles of ledgers recording daily expenses, Little Millet's diary that only noted the weather, Kong Hou's archives documenting all personnel and events on the mountain.

Now even Xie Gou had started writing travelogues.

Not long after, Chen Lingjun strolled back. "Ning Ji came from a poor background. Brother Zhou, take good care of him."

Jiang Shangzhen smiled and nodded. "Easy."

Chen Lingjun yawned, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his legs.

Jiang Shangzhen asked curiously, "I heard that sister with the Dao name Yuan Hu visited our mountain recently. Did you see her? How's her figure?"

Chen Lingjun picked his nose, flicked the booger away casually, and said, "Yeah, saw her. Don't remember much. Probably average looking."

Jiang Shangzhen looked shocked, feigning admiration, and asked, "Brother Jing Qing, are all the women you've met in your life heavenly fairies?"

Chen Lingjun rolled his eyes and couldn't be bothered to say another word.

Jiang Shangzhen rarely reminisced about the past, probably because he almost never regretted anything.

Why is the world so big, yet amongst the sea of people, she alone walked toward me? I only looked at her once, and I could never forget.

Jiang Shangzhen lay back in the rattan chair, imitating the old cook on the mountain, placing his hands on his stomach. He said slowly, "I could give her anything she wanted, except for one thing. That one thing I couldn't give. And that was the only thing she wanted."

Chen Lingjun sat on a small bamboo chair beside him and said quietly, "A proper marriage with a formal ceremony?"

Jiang Shangzhen said, "A sincere heart. To love only one person, and grow old together."

Chen Lingjun curled his lip. "In the end, it's just being a libertine. You fall in love with every one you see. You can't keep your heart in check. That woman was unlucky to meet you. She must have owed you in a past life."

Jiang Shangzhen was silent. If this were in the Jade Gui Sect or the Cloud Grotto Paradise, anyone daring to speak so bluntly and unyieldingly would have been beaten to a pulp by him.

Chen Lingjun said, "You're my brother, so I'll say it like this. Don't take offense."

Jiang Shangzhen waved his hand, telling him not to overthink. If they weren't genuinely close, why would he bring it up? Even a biological son wouldn't get to hear this.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Shangzhen asked, "Jing Qing, do you think you're similar to Chen Ping'an?"

Chen Lingjun was taken aback. "Ha, what kind of bullshit question is that? Is there even a single point of similarity between me and the mountain lord? If there were even one or two similarities, the mountain lord wouldn't have achieved what he has today. I'd be drinking the cold wind instead of being able to eat and drink well every day, and when I get bored on the mountain, I can take a leisurely walk to digest my food."

"Spending money like water, being free and easy, but earning money is like an ant moving a mountain. I've hardly ever had a comfortable time with money. When I should be stingy, I have thin skin and always try to puff myself up. When I should be generous, I don't have the ability. My heart is in the right place, but things never get done."

"So the old cook said something weird, that I always live my life walking the line. Sigh, it's worrying."

Jiang Shangzhen listened patiently to this tirade from Chen Lingjun and said softly, "Jing Qing, you need to understand one thing: there are many people in this world who don't know how to love themselves and others at the same time."

Chen Lingjun opened his mouth, then closed it. Forget it, he was terrible at this kind of talk.

Jiang Shangzhen smiled faintly. "I envy some people."

A winding, twisting path. The youth's straw sandals were caked with mud. But above the youth's head, it seemed like there was always light.

Jiang Shangzhen quickly added, "But not that much envy."

Chen Lingjun asked, "Why?"

Jiang Shangzhen gave a heartfelt answer. "They aren't as rich as I am."

Chen Lingjun turned around and gave two thumbs up. "When I'm not short of money, we're brothers sworn to each other. But if I'm ever strapped for cash, let me call you 'Foster Father'!"

Jiang Shangzhen burst out laughing.

Chen Lingjun looked at the sky and stood up, ready to leave. "I snuck out. I need to go back."

Jiang Shangzhen waved. "Come again when you have time."

Chen Lingjun clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute and said cheekily, "Foster Father, take care. Your son takes his leave!"

Jiang Shangzhen had no choice but to reward him with a "get lost" and silently said something else.

Chen Lingjun thought for a moment, said nothing more, and flew back to Fallen Mountain.

On Fallen Mountain, Nuan Shu found Mr. Zhu, her face full of embarrassment. The old cook in his apron was busy in the kitchen preparing a late-night snack. Seeing Little Nuan Shu absentmindedly picking vegetables nearby, Zhu Li stopped cursing those bastards and telling them to go have their feast in the latrine. He smiled and asked, "Something on your mind? Want to talk about it?"

Nuan Shu said softly, "Mr. Zhu, Grandmaster Xu has come to our mountain. That Chen Lingjun fellow often accompanies Little Millet to entertain guests."

Zhu Li paused in his work and nodded with a smile. "I know about this. I can hear Chen Lingjun's loud voice even from the kitchen."

Nuan Shu said, "I don't know what Chen Lingjun was thinking. The first thing he asked Grandmaster Xu was how old he was, what his martial arts realm was, how many grandchildren he had... After getting the answers, he said things like 'Your body's still pretty tough' and kept trying to act like brothers with Grandmaster Xu, slapping him on the back, inviting him for morning drinks and late-night snacks... Grandmaster Xu was invited here by the mountain lord. It's only been a short while, and he's already said so many reckless things. Mr. Zhu, tell me, is that appropriate?"

Zhu Li nodded. "It's indeed not very appropriate. That little bastard speaks without any taboos, saying things even our mountain lord wouldn't dare to say."

Nuan Shu's expression darkened. She clenched her hands tightly.

She didn't dare tell the mountain lord about these things.

So she had to come and ask for help from the most understanding Mr. Zhu.

Zhu Li said gently, "But having said that, the things the mountain lord wouldn't dare to say, and wouldn't be appropriate to say—Jing Qing saying them is actually the most appropriate thing."

Nuan Shu looked up, her eyes suddenly bright, but she was still dubious. She kept her hands clenched.

Zhu Li explained, "Chen Lingjun is a fool, but he's a Jianghu man through and through. He and Grandmaster Xu are exactly the same kind of people; they get along. Grandmaster Xu's heart is broad. The more reckless Chen Lingjun is, the less his words hurt. On the contrary, they can help Grandmaster Xu untie some knots in his heart and let go of things. It's a good thing."

Nuan Shu mulled over these words, her expression softening. She nodded slowly. Was that how it was?

She asked, "Mr. Zhu, did Chen Lingjun do it on purpose?"

Zhu Li picked up the cleaver again. "He doesn't have that kind of brain."

Finding that Nuan Shu just stood there looking at him without speaking, Zhu Li smiled and said, "Oh dear."

Nuan Shu thanked him, her eyes crescent-shaped, her expression gentle, and continued picking vegetables.

Just as the drinking snacks were about to be brought to the table, a blue-clad child swayed over to the doorway, poking his head in. "Old Cook! Silly girl! Busy? What's going on? Quick, make another plate of pickled cucumbers. That's good for sobering up. The mountain lord isn't here, so I have to take on the responsibility of entertaining guests. I've just invited Brother Xu over. We need to have a good feast. There's no brotherly love at the drinking table. It's all about settling things with our fists..."

Zhu Li glanced at Little Nuan Shu. See? Isn't he a fool?

Nuan Shu nodded. Yes, he's a fool.

Earlier, Ning Ji returned to his lodgings in the next village. He gently opened the door, latched it, tiptoed to his room, and went to sleep.

Zhao Shuxia, sleeping in the other room, closed his eyes, relieved. His breathing gradually became longer and softer.

Ning Ji had a strange dream.

A green-robed swordsman, who looked like his master, holding a mountain-traveling staff. He seemed to have spent countless years, never flying, just walking on foot across the broken mountains and rivers of an entire continent.

Meanwhile, in the Wilderness Heaven, a young demonic cultivator who had just started practicing cultivation accidentally stumbled into a secret realm. It seemed to be a study, with a studio name: "Righteousness Studio"?

The Righteousness Studio!

The young cultivator was extremely nervous. Who would be so reckless as to name a studio this in the Wilderness Heaven? Having barged in inexplicably, he wandered around, unable to find a way out. Finally, he started browsing the books in the studio, putting down those that seemed like ordinary marketplace books, and began his breathing and cultivation exercises.

In a daze, he sank into a dream.

On a vast battlefield, two armies faced off. The numbers on both sides were uncountable. On one side, the demonic forces were arrayed; on the other, the Righteous cavalry. The battle situation began to tilt decisively.

At that moment, a golden-armored god, as tall as a great mountain, descended in the middle of the battlefield, crashing to the ground with a deafening roar. It seemed to gather all kinds of fortune onto itself, forcefully blocking the advance of the demon army.

On the shoulder of the giant god stood a red-robed man, as tiny as a mustard seed, his form blurred as if made of countless threads. He carried a sword on his back and held a saber in both hands, his entire being radiating a vast Dao aura, his momentum even surpassing that of the god.

"Chen Ping'an, joining hands with Tongye Continent, returns the courtesy to the Wilderness."