Chapter 1148: Do Not Pass Over in Silence

Chapter 1148: Do Not Pass Over in Silence

The Night Ferry drifted like a leaf of duckweed on the vast sea.

Liu Xianyang seemed to be letting his mind wander across a thousand peaks. Xiao Mo was responsible for keeping an eye on that Dao partner of Jiang She. Xie Gou sat on the steps yawning, while the woman's gaze kept shifting to Pei Qian.

The atmosphere in the courtyard was somewhat heavy. The Old Scholar suddenly said, "Pei Qian, come take a walk with me."

Pei Qian nodded.

The courtyard had a side gate that led to other places, but this moon gate was locked. The Old Scholar pretended to fumble in his sleeve, turning his back to everyone, as if he fished out a key and opened the door. He pushed the door and entered, with Pei Qian following.

Unlike the previous shabby courtyard, this place was truly a hidden paradise—a typical noble mansion. Tall parasol trees and green bamboos, their colors verdant, everything clear and pure. A wall left somewhat empty was filled in with magnolia trees. One could imagine that during the scorching summer, the heat dared not visit here as a guest.

The Old Scholar looked around and laughed. "The owner is too stingy. If one could study here, opening the secluded window would let in sunlight and verdant green all at once, making every character appear emerald fresh. Truly, opening a book brings benefit." Pei Qian put away her thoughts and explained, "I heard from Little Senior Brother that the previous city lord of Luminous Rainbow City was a woman. She could critique the lyrics of even Masters Suzi and Xin Ji'an. I suspect this was her study. Since the Night Ferry is the grand owner, it wouldn't be appropriate to casually give this to Master as a private residence, or else there would be suspicion of 'people gone, tea cold.'"

The Old Scholar nodded, suddenly enlightened. "That makes sense now. Otherwise, I would have to go over to the boat owner and nag a bit—'Whether there are dates or not, give the tree a whack first.'"

The magnolia tree was in full bloom, the ground covered like snow. The Old Scholar stood under the tree with his hands behind his back, chuckling to himself softly. "Last time at the Confucian Temple council, the confrontation was between two worlds—quite a grand spectacle. The one who stole the show most was, of course, Ping'an. Over at Tuo Moon Mountain, they were playing matchmaker, trying to persuade your master to go to the Barren Wastes, promising him several more 'masters' stepmothers. They put on a big show, offering him a high seat on the throne, as if the moment your master set foot in the Barren Wastes today, he could sit in the second or third chair tomorrow. Even Fei Ran seemed willing to yield. And Zhou Qinggao's admiration for your master is now known across both worlds—he even wants to make your master his master's junior brother on behalf of his teacher."

"And so on, all kinds of things. Some Righteous scholars who heard this found it absurd and ridiculous, mistakenly thinking the Barren Wastes were a mess of chaotic nonsense. But don't you think those great demons were joking or teasing your master—they genuinely want to recruit this last Hidden Official. He drew a River of Fallen Leaves, split Tuo Moon Mountain with his sword, snatched away a bright moon, and one-on-one, took down the chief disciple of the Barren Wastes Great Ancestor. And remember, that culprit was a sword immortal at the pinnacle of the Flying Ascension realm. The Barren Wastes only recognize the strong. If they could accept Bai Ze, they can accept Chen Ping'an. Never mind Fei Ran—just look at Xiao? If Ping'an goes to the Barren Wastes, see if she's happy. She definitely would be. She betrayed the Sword Qi Great Wall, but Chen Ping'an would have betrayed both the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Righteous World. Just on that point alone, Xiao? would look at your master with new eyes, regarding him as a kindred spirit."

The Old Scholar spoke unhurriedly, and Pei Qian listened patiently. She asked, "Lord Literary Sage, is Master Li watching this place?"

The Old Scholar shook his head. "He's not watching anymore. Can't blame him for not shouldering the burden. After all, beyond the heavens, there are still urgent crises and heart-festering dangers. One misstep could make the Three Teachings Patriarchs' act of scattering the Dao go to waste."

Just sparing the mental energy to come to the Night Ferry and exchange a few words with Jiang She had already been a considerable risk for Master Li.

After hearing the Old Scholar's explanation, Pei Qian understood, but still couldn't hide her disappointment and worry.

The Old Scholar reached up and rubbed his cheeks, then started walking back out. "This matter—I handled it poorly. Very poorly."

Pei Qian seemed about to speak but held back, swallowing the words that had reached her lips. The Old Scholar, however, did not let his own faults pass over lightly. He continued, "Tracing back to the source, today's difficulties stem from my having thought things too simple back then, thinking I was thorough enough. But it wasn't enough. To be honest, regarding your origins, Ping'an has always been kept in the dark, but I was clear on it. If it weren't for my suggestion over at the Temple of Contemplation, Fellow Daoist Blue Sky wouldn't have arranged so many coincidences for you to meet Chen Ping'an, leave Lotus Flower Blessed Land together, and become master and disciple. You wouldn't be so distressed today. Back then, I kept thinking that Jiang She's ten-thousand-year sentence was almost up, and when he emerged from the mountain, he'd inevitably be full of resentment. So I wanted to find a stable way to buffer things, to avoid another war in the human world. In handling this matter, I had great selfish motives, very utilitarian."

The Old Scholar clenched one fist and lightly tapped his palm. "I thought that by doing this, for Ping'an—who always thinks about suffering losses first when dealing with people and things in life, my closed-door disciple—he could obtain a protective amulet early, win some goodwill from the First Ancestor of the Martial Path, accumulate a bit of not-insignificant karma for future use. In a chaotic age, that would give him the upper hand. For instance, all those years Ping'an stood guard alone on the Sword Qi Great Wall, I kept hoping Jiang She would lend a hand to break the siege."

"For Pei Qian, by staying by Ping'an's side, traveling and seeing more, once your horizons broadened, your personality wouldn't be too stubborn. Day in and day out, over time, you'd become exactly like a child from a scholarly family—cultured, well-bred, responsible, sooner or later a 'woman of substance who outshines men.' I had great confidence in Ping'an's patience and in Pei Qian's potential. Once he acknowledged you, he would definitely take good care of you. At the very least, he could give Pei Qian an ordinary childhood: take a long journey, settle down, go to school. After class, have kind elders at home, friends you could chat with. Take it slow, no need to rush growing up."

"As for Jiang She and his Dao partner, it would be like gaining an obedient and sensible daughter out of thin air. If the family could be reunited, wouldn't that be a case of 'suffering ends, happiness begins'? But it was indeed my wishful thinking—I saw people's hearts too simply."

"As for you learning boxing in the bamboo tower with Mr. Cui and winning several martial fortunes, that effectively meant meeting Jiang She early—Ping'an didn't see it coming, and neither did I."

"Chen Ping'an was teaching a disciple, not trying to steal their daughter. To be fair, on this matter alone, you can't really say Jiang She took kindness for spite. But then, how could I guarantee that if they raised their own daughter, it wouldn't be better? So from the start, I was in the wrong, yet I made you and Ping'an, both children, bear the responsibility. There's no logic in having elders behave this way. You, as the younger generation, might not feel wronged, but that doesn't give me an excuse to muddle through."

Hearing this, Pei Qian finally couldn't help wanting to speak her mind. She focused her voice into a thread, speaking telepathically, "Master's Granddad, honestly, when I encounter such things, I don't feel that terrible—just a bit bewildered. Jiang She and the woman—I only see them as strangers I happened to meet on the road. I can promise this isn't just to make you feel better; it's truly my honest feeling. What really hurts is that it makes Master, who has always been so decisive, now burdened with so many worries. If..."

Pei Qian wanted to say, if it were possible, and if Master didn't consider her a burden, she would definitely be counted in this fight! For her, heaven and earth were vast, but Master was the greatest.

The Old Scholar waved his hand, cutting off Pei Qian's next words. He said softly, "Don't speak angry words with emotion—it's easy to hurt yourself and others. In the end, it's still us who suffer."

Pei Qian fell silent.

As they took their walk and calmed their hearts, the Old Scholar led Pei Qian out of the mansion. Walking along a somewhat deserted street, he looked back at the plaque on the mansion and said slowly, "True wealth and nobility don't lie in gold and jade filling the hall, treasures, calligraphy and paintings, or a dazzling array of objects. Compared to those clans whose 'gentleman's legacy' can stretch three or even five generations, the temporarily powerful nobles and wealthy families fall short in foundational depth—they need self-cultivation through family learning, managing the household with family law, names in a genealogy, sacrifices in ancestral halls, and ancestral precepts for conduct."

Pei Qian nodded. "I remember Master saying what he considers a scholarly family: it's a home with many books. Children grow up thinking reading is a matter of course, and it's strange if someone doesn't read. You don't need to fuss over how many collectors' seals from various eras are stamped on the books, or whether a certain edition is finely printed, or if it's a rare copy or a first edition. The most important thing is that one's own ancestors have many marginal notes in those books. When later generations open the books, they can see many reading insights, helping them digest a book more thoroughly and understand it more deeply. This can be considered a second 'enlightenment'—the family's esoteric teachings, a unique mental method for scholarship."

The Old Scholar stroked his beard and laughed, full of admiration. He smiled, "Down the mountain, the head of a household managing three generations well is already quite capable."

"For the hundred-year plan of Fallen Mountain and Green Lotus Sword Sect, Ping'an has already achieved it. For a more long-term thousand-year plan, that requires your disciples and their disciples to lead by example, setting a good precedent. The principles are the same up and down the mountain. Leaving only money and property to descendants—it's uncertain whether that prospers or ruins a family. Even leaving ten thousand scrolls, whether the descendants read them or not is still in question. But teaching by example and being a person of integrity—that is ancestral blessing. Establishing a few good traditions—that is the real estate, passed down generation after generation, treasured by descendants."

Now Fallen Mountain and Green Lotus Sword Sect each had three generations of disciples.

No one knew who would be the very first Fourth Generation disciple. How old would that person be? Would they be a sword immortal? In any case, it was worth anticipating.

At some point, Liu Xianyang had stealthily followed them. "Marry a virtuous wife, and three generations prosper. I wonder which family's fine son will have his ancestors' ancestral graves smoking green incense to marry Pei Qian."

Pei Qian rolled her eyes.

Liu Xianyang spoke via telepathy: "Master Wen Sheng, do you know Liu Youzhou?"

The Old Scholar was startled. "Ah?"

This kid Liu Youzhou had good taste—Liu Jubao must be burning high incense!

Liu Xianyang continued with a grin, "How does he compare to Cao Qinglang?"

The Old Scholar was taken aback again. "Eh!"

Liu Xianyang laughed cheekily, "I think Li Huai isn't bad either."

The Old Scholar seemed to be led by the nose. Thinking about it... Hmm?

Pei Qian asked, "What are you two talking about?"

Liu Xianyang shamelessly said, "Chen Ping'an's teacher is my teacher too. Being too distant would actually hurt Lord Wen Sheng's feelings. So me, this student who could be registered or not, I definitely need to find a chance to discuss something with the teacher who hasn't yet accepted my formal tea-offering ceremony. Why not 'recommend the worthy without avoiding relatives'—have the Confucian Temple give me a 'Gentleman' title? If he has one more Sword Immortal Sect Leader as a student, then in the future when the teacher goes out boasting, he can say, 'I select my disciples meticulously—Sword Immortal at the very least...'"

The Old Scholar widened his eyes. Tsk, tsk!

Unnoticed, a woman, solitary, followed at a distance.

Pei Qian's expression remained normal.

Further back, a sable-capped girl with flushed cheeks and Xiao Mo in his yellow hat and green shoes walked side by side down the street, acting lovey-dovey.

Xie Gou rubbed her sable cap. "It's hard for a judge to decide family matters." As the second chief retainer, she was a bit distressed. So annoying. Troubling as hell.

Xie Gou said, "Xiao Mo, lend me your walking staff for a bit? The mountain lord himself said I could ask you for it once you returned."

Since the young master had given the order, Xiao Mo casually handed the green bamboo staff to Xie Gou, asking telepathically, "Why is it that when you call him by name directly, you don't feel any reaction?"

Xie Gou raised the walking staff and rubbed her face against it. "Ha, a token of love."

Xiao Mo was helpless. "I asked you a question."

Xie Gou said, "The mountain lord doesn't want you involved in this matter. He's dead set on keeping us both out of it. You know his temper after following him so long. If you weren't a death-sworn warrior, things would be different—he'd trust you, let you help however you could. But you might as well have 'death-sworn' carved on your forehead, so since the mountain lord doesn't want you taking risks, there's nothing for you to do."

Xiao Mo asked doubtfully, "But even if the young master wanted to avoid me, why, at my current realm, can I find no clue at all?"

Xie Gou said, "Never mind that you're not yet a true Fourteen now—even if you were, with the mountain lord's strategy, if he wants to hide something from you, it's still like child's play."

Xiao Mo nodded. "Blame me for being superfluous. The robe I gave the young master earlier involved some thought—I connected it to my primordial spirit and one of my life-bound flying swords. That trick was definitely seen through by the young master. Last time at Chongyang Temple, when that ghost creature ambushed us, the young master wasn't wearing the robe. Sure enough, I overreached."

Xie Gou only learned this now and stomped her foot angrily. "Xiao Mo, oh!"

Xiao Mo was distracted, still worried about his young master's fight with Jiang She. What death-sworn warrior just lounges around while his master fights for life and death?

Xiao Mo asked telepathically, "When the young master was in seclusion, I wasn't at Fallen Mountain. You were the protector at Fuyang Peak's Dao Field. Even you couldn't contact the young master?"

Xie Gou shook her head. "Why would I lie to you about something like this? If the mountain lord... tch, he's bound to come bouncing back to the Night Ferry. If you found out I concealed information, wouldn't you scold me half to death and hold a grudge for centuries? You know my temper—even if the mountain lord forbade me from revealing his whereabouts to you, I've sworn oaths in front of him. What does that matter? I can just renege, easy as letting off a fart."

Xiao Mo said no more.

Xie Gou said mysteriously, "Let me be clear—I'm not trying to sow discord, Xiao Mo. Don't you think the mountain lord's attainments in the soul and spirit path are too... genius?"

At the Ma family mansion in the capital of Jade Proclamation Kingdom, he had created all sorts of illusions, making the false seem true. If that place had mostly mortals and martial artists with low qi-refining cultivation, then finding Xiao Xing's trail in Lotus Flower Blessed Land, essentially conjuring up a loyal 'Xu Jiaoqie' out of thin air—that was no small trick. On Tongye Continent, in that ruined ancient temple, he toyed with Green Loam and the others. Not to mention within the micro-world, he drove those 'coolies' who worked long-term for free, attempting to forge a small thousand-world. And especially using that Daoist Ding's flying-ascension method for protecting and contemplating the Dao...

Xie Gou's talent in the Dao path—Chen Ping'an knew it well, but even a high-visioned old blind man like Bai Ze placed Bai Jing among the first-rate figures.

So for Bai Jing to praise him as 'too much of a genius'—that shows how formidable Chen Ping'an was in the soul path.

Xiao Mo thought for a moment. To be safe, he formed a hand seal in his sleeve, adding several layers of array restrictions, then replied, "Since the young master is the current 'Sword Holder,' wouldn't it be strange if he weren't proficient in this path?"

Xie Gou's expression was odd. She muttered, "It's not that simple."

Over at Qilong Alley, she had seen the old and new Sword Holders appear together. Her intuition told her it might not be that Chen Ping'an had obtained the former power of one of the Twelve High Positions.

Xiao Mo said, "Maybe Master Cui passed on everything, and the young master is quick-witted and learned fast. No need to think about this—it doesn't apply to you or me anyway."

Xie Gou nodded. "True."

She had to admit, the mountain lord was a truly kind person. No complaints about how he treated Xiao Mo or her.

Xie Gou grinned and adjusted her sable cap with both hands.

She and that woman Wuyan—they had first come to know each other through a fight. After all, Wuyan had the three-character Dao title 'Land Immortal,' which Bai Jing had long coveted.

Speaking of later wild cultivators and scattered immortals who valued self-reliance, shouldn't they all consider themselves as having 'recognized the ancestor' in that small group of 'ancient Daoists' including Bai Jing?

Bai Jing squinted and smiled, looking at Wuyan's back ahead.

After all, we're friends—I won't take your Dao title.

That woman seemed to sense something and turned to give the sable-capped girl a dazzling smile.

Xie Gou was furious. She complained telepathically, "Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, look at her expression and eyes—aren't they just asking for a beating? Is she calling me 'a dog can't change its eating habits'?"

Xiao Mo didn't take her side. "Who told you to be so murderous? It's like a clan feud—not just sticks and hoes, but knives are out."

Xie Gou's expression was complex. "Fire Dragon True Person didn't lie. Merging the Dao, the Fourteen Realm—you really can perceive the cycle of the Heavenly Dao. Walking the Dao, acting as you please."

Suddenly, Xiao Mo frowned, his gaze skipping over Wuyan to Pei Qian, the mountain lord's first disciple.

Xie Gou whispered, "Don't worry."

Pei Qian had wanted to turn back several times to look at the scene behind, but she held back each time.

A long time ago—so long it felt like a past life.

Back on the escape route, there was a gaunt, charcoal-black burden, a drag, following her parents not too close, not too far.

When passing stalls that both bought and sold meat, she would stay farther away from her parents, who slowed their steps. Only after they passed the stalls where the chopping boards were caked with congealed blood would she draw a little closer.

Liu Xianyang suddenly asked, "Pei Qian, do you still copy books now?"

Pei Qian, who had been thinking—or rather, recalling forgotten past events one by one—snapped back to reality. "Old habits die hard. I still copy books often."

Liu Xianyang asked with a smile, "I heard from Chen Ping'an that you have a treasured collection called 'The Chestnut Collection'?"

Pei Qian's expression was awkward. "Just playing around when I was little."

The Old Scholar stroked his beard and walked slowly, also thinking about old times. He had just noticed the change in Pei Qian's state of mind, but fortunately Liu Xianyang had spoken in time to pull her back.

"Old Great Sword Immortal—his swordsmanship is truly high. But discussing things with him—that's a real pain. Once he's set on something, he's impervious to reason. Getting him to change his mind is a thousand times harder."

"You youngsters will only see the abstract side of the Old Great Sword Immortal, so you think he's friendly and has no airs. But when you discuss matters in private and need to get down to business, that old man is like a seasoned official—nothing but meandering talk. I have to leave and ponder repeatedly before I understand what he actually said, or realize that a certain line had another meaning, the opposite of the literal words. And he loves to speak only half a sentence, waiting for me to finish it. If I can't catch it, he won't say anything on the surface, but he'll change the subject—and he'll have sized me up."

Liu Xianyang fell into thought. "It seems I'm exactly that kind of person. Do I have the potential to become the second 'Old Great Sword Immortal'?"

What had Ruan the Blacksmith done to deserve taking him as a disciple? He'd hit the jackpot.

Back then, when the Old Scholar left the Forest of Merit and hadn't yet recovered his divine position, he started traveling for work, asking the Confucian Temple to borrow some people from the Sword Qi Great Wall. He had been shown the door and given the boot at Old Great Sword Immortal's thatched hut.

He finally got into the house, and Chen Qingdu once asked a cutting question with malicious intent: "Is it possible that Cui Chan and Zhou Mi have secretly joined hands?"

The Old Scholar jumped up and down, cursing angrily, "Old Great Sword Immortal, have you got lard covering your heart? How can you ask such a damned question?!"

Chen Qingdu ignored his rage and continued, "Who can guarantee this won't happen? The Supreme Saint? The Lesser Master? Then why don't they come themselves? Instead, they send you—a Confucian Temple outsider whose divine statue was smashed, left with only a 'scholar' title—to come here and preach morality? When you scholar-officials do things, are you always so concerned with saving face that you let everyone else lose theirs?"

"Absolutely impossible!" The Old Scholar regained his composure without hesitation, swearing, "I can vouch for Cui Chan—there's not even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of that!"

Seeing that the Old Great Sword Immortal still seemed doubtful, the Old Scholar explained patiently, "I, as his teacher, once worried about the long-term dangers of my leading disciple's utilitarian studies, but I have never once doubted his character. Our Literary Sage lineage never dares to claim our merits are flawless, but on matters of great principle, we have never taken a single wrong step."

Chen Qingdu laughed heartily, rubbing salt in the Old Scholar's wounds. "Am I remembering wrong? Didn't Cui Chan long ago betray the Literary Sage lineage's orthodoxy? Teacher? A student whose heart has been broken—would he still acknowledge you as his teacher?"

The Old Scholar mumbled, stammering, "Whether he acknowledges me or not is his business. He's always been hot-tempered, and I can't really control him. But I've always considered myself his teacher."

Chen Qingdu continued to twist the knife. "If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?"

The Old Scholar muttered to himself, "My vouching for Cui Chan doesn't really carry much weight, does it? After all, what do I have to vouch with? Other than being the teacher of a few of them, I have nothing but an empty title, right?"

Chen Qingdu said nothing, neither confirming nor disagreeing.

Resentment and hatred are like a fast knife cutting through a tangled mess—straightforward. The sparks flying from metal clashing are a true man's clear-cut favor and enmity. At most, one dares to act and bear the consequences.

But guilt and regret are like a dull knife—the nicks on the blade are all the mistakes once made. Sharpening the knife behind closed doors is repentance. In the end, it's self-inflicted suffering.

Old Great Sword Immortal. Old Scholar. The two men, vastly different in age but both considered old-timers, stood in mutual silence.

Finally, Chen Qingdu said, "Your student opened a tavern. Business is good. If you want a drink, you can go there for free."

---

Barren Wastes World. This deserted mountain path was exceptionally wide, once a military 'post road' for troop transport, now abandoned for years, with wildflowers and weeds growing freely.

Zhang Fenghai asked via telepathy, "Come on, tell me. With Lu Tai's proposal and my protection, you finally got your wish to travel to the Barren Wastes. What do you plan to discuss with Gui Ke?"

Xinku was silent for a moment, then said, "I can't say much. I can only tell you one thing: someone helped connect us, giving us the chance to 'talk about tomorrow.'"

Zhang Fenghai wouldn't let go of this Dao Manifestation from the Azure Underworld. "That's easy to say. If you 'talk about tomorrow' well, can you then deduce backward, deciding whether 'today' lives or dies?"

Xinku's expression was wooden. "That's all I can say."

Zhang Fenghai, usually gentle-spoken, showed rare anger. "Since Zheng... since this person can accomplish such a big thing, aren't you afraid of falling into his trap, becoming a puppet on his strings?!"

Xinku hesitated, then said, "I believe the 'day after tomorrow' scenario he describes will definitely arrive. You can't dig a well when you're thirsty, make an umbrella when it's raining, or sew a coat after it snows."

Zhang Fenghai sneered, "An age of Dharma ending, without spiritual energy or supernatural power? Such clichés—what's new about them?!"

Xinku said, "It's not that simple, Zhang Fenghai. You can call me ignorant of worldly affairs, but you should know that when it comes to such matters of Heavenly cycles and the rise and fall of eras, I'm not someone easily fooled."

Zhang Fenghai shook his head. "It's not that I'm angry at your ideas. But a sect has its rules. You shouldn't act on your own. Now that the wood has already become a boat, you tell us it's 'on the water.' There needs to be consultation."

Xinku said, "Don't worry, I won't drag you down."

Zhang Fenghai said sourly, "Now that I'm your sect leader, if something really goes wrong, I certainly won't distance myself from some fool, stand aside, and just watch. "

Meaning: if you're really schemed against by Zheng Juzhong, I, Zhang Fenghai, even if it means paying a heavy price, will still pull you back—not push the fool's troubles away.

Xinku was not good with words. He barely squeezed out a sincere sentence. "You being sect leader is indeed convincing."

Zhang Fenghai, far from appreciating it, was almost amused. "Oh, so you weren't convinced at first? If I didn't become sect leader, could you have been? Someone like you—probably when the boat reaches the middle of the river, you'd apologize to us: 'Sorry, the boat is leaking.' Or 'Any of you who can't swim, you might want to start learning now'?"

Even someone as taciturn as Xinku was amused. He laughed, "The sect leader right now is truly a lively and genuine Daoist."

Zhang Fenghai had agreed to 'travel and sightsee' in the Barren Wastes with a clear goal: first, find an opportunity to meet Bai Ze.

Nowadays in the Barren Wastes, the name was Fei Ran, but the substance was Bai Ze—that was already a universally acknowledged fact.

Additionally, Zhang Fenghai wanted to find one or two cultivators from the Barren Wastes, provided they were compatible, and invite them back to his ancestral mountain, Leap Year Peak, to return together to the Azure Underworld.

In peaceful times, a sect's expansion could rely on fancy methods for embellishment. But in chaotic times, only strong soldiers and horses were the foundation for survival.

For example, this nameless person beside him, who was fully qualified to occupy a throne seat, was an excellent target. If they could be recruited, good; if not for now, at least leave a good impression.

The Nameless asked, "If I may be so bold, Fellow Daoist, is your homeland about to fall into chaos? If you could persuade Master Bai to follow Fellow Daoist to Leap Year Peak, would they be unable to focus on the Dao?"

Zhang Fenghai spoke truthfully. "It's not that chaos is about to come; it's already a boiling pot. But I can guarantee that if Fellow Daoist goes to Leap Year Peak, you can simply nurture your spirit and cultivate the Dao in peace."

The Nameless asked with a smile, "Could you give me a rough idea of just how chaotic it is? Smoke rising everywhere, fire sweeping the plains? Several provinces turned into battlefields? Crowds of white-jade capital Daoists leaving the Five Cities and Twelve Towers, marching off in force to suppress it?"

Zhang Fenghai said, "On the surface, it's slightly calmer than what Fellow Daoist described, but internally it's even worse. Shall I give you a general idea?"

The Nameless nodded. "I'm all ears."

Treasure Vase Continent was the smallest continent in Righteousness, yet it was the place where the war between the two worlds ended. And Yong Province was the smallest province in the Azure Underworld's territory. After Sun Huaizhong of Xuandu Temple personally challenged the White Jade Capital with his sword, before Wu Shuangjiang, Gao Gu, and others questioned Yu Dou, Zhu Xuan—the young female emperor of the Fish Rune Dynasty on Yong Province—defied repeated hints and overtures from the White Jade Capital, acting on her own to open a Grand Universal Heavenly Altar. Following the ancient rite, Zhu Xuan herself climbed the altar, chopped branches from an old camphor tree, and used them to divine the fortunes of Yong Province and three others.

The hexagram showed all four provinces had great inauspicious omens.

The moment this hexagram was revealed, the entire world was in an uproar.

Upon learning the result, Dao officials in the four provinces were anxious and fearful. Since Heaven's will was like this—follow the trend and prosper, go against it and perish. Shouldn't they make early plans? Weren't Tongye and Fuyang Continents in the Righteous World bloody precedents? And wasn't Treasure Vase Continent, with that 'Embroidered Tiger,' an excellent example of those who prepared in advance to stand firm in chaos? Furthermore, the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Confucian Temple cooperated: the Temple took charge of opening the Five-Colored World, and Chen Qingdu was responsible for splitting the sky with his sword, helping Ascension City settle in the new world. Only with such an escape route could the incense fires never go out.

Now the entire Azure Underworld was like a big oil vat.

Once a spark splashed...

If Sun Huaizhong's sword challenge was still considered a personal vendetta—even if the old prefect lost the challenge and fell, Xuandu Temple and Qi Province remained restrained—then Wu Shuangjiang and the others questioning the White Jade Capital was virtually equivalent to open rebellion.

In You Province, the Dipper's Restoria Huayang Palace, as the mountain-governing leader, along with the Hongnong Yang clan, a top noble family below the mountain, were far more than just itching to move—they were practically ready to rise up.

As for the Lotus Goddess Shrine built atop the underwater mountain range, enshrining the national divine weapon—the speared named 'Breaking the Array'—its whereabouts had become something few cared about anymore.

After hearing Zhang Fenghai's general account, the Nameless asked with a smile the biggest question, "In your Azure Underworld, is Master Yu really so unpopular?"

Zhang Fenghai was hard-pressed to explain in a few words. He shook his head. "Fellow Daoist will know once you go. Hearing is not as good as seeing."

The Nameless nodded. "I should go take a look."

Sleeping for ten thousand years—he had truly missed too much.

Zhang Fenghai turned to ask Xinku, "What is your impression of the Hidden Official?"

Xinku said, "Never met him. Hard to say."

Zhang Fenghai said, "Many people overlook one truth."

Xinku asked curiously, "How so?"

Zhang Fenghai, whose Dao title was 'Muddy Road,' joked instead, "Straw sandals and clogs—each were once only one step away from being the sole master."

---

An ancient battlefield site, once the end of the Water-Fire struggle.

The boxing match had long since produced a victor, but a decisive outcome of life or death remained elusive.

Jiang Shangzhen's expression was strange. He spoke telepathically to Cui Dongshan, "With all due disrespect, is the mountain lord this hard to kill?"

Cui Dongshan vigorously waved his jade bamboo folding fan, making the hair at his temples flutter wildly. "You know it's disrespectful, yet you say it?"

A single deviant celestial demon was hard to deal with; a single pure divine nature was even harder to kill.

The sum total of the former was the pseudo-Fifteen Realm that once caused an entire continent in the Azure Underworld to sink. The extreme of the latter was half of the 'One' in the human world.

Jiang Shangzhen had just learned some shocking inside information. For instance, this First Ancestor of the Martial Path was far from his peak. On one hand, three martial fortunes within him were causing trouble, stirring up storms and making Jiang She's Martial Dao Eleventh Realm perform poorly. On the other hand, in everyone's eyes, Jiang She's true body had been 'beheaded together' back then and had long since merged with five martial fortunes. So Cui Chan's tampering with three martial fortunes was itself a means to prevent Jiang She from smoothly re-forming his true body. Therefore, the form Jiang She now showed was merely a Yang God incarnation used to house his soul. The crucial Yin God was still away on a distant journey, having just passed through an gate to the Barren Wastes not long ago.

And this Yin God turned out to be a Martial Grandmaster who had reportedly reached the 'Shen Dao' level of the final stage—a name Jiang Shangzhen had never heard before: Xie Shiji.

According to Cui Dongshan, Xie Shiji was Chen Qingliu's senior sister. Wouldn't that make 'her' Zheng Juzhong's martial aunt? By that reasoning, shouldn't Zheng Juzhong and Jiang She be considered half-family?

Jiang Shangzhen noticed some peculiarities in this world. He asked telepathically, "Is this ruin real or fake?"

On the battlefield, one could occasionally see Jiang She's fist force 'hitting a wall'—as if colliding with some prohibition—producing a dazzling scene of shattered fragments like glass, revealing a picture completely different from this world. It flashed and vanished, and the world quickly returned to normal. It was as if this place was a bizarre realm pieced together from countless shards of glass.

Cui Dongshan said, "False, naturally, yet truer than true. Zheng Juzhong's mastery of refining objects is profound. Even Gu Can, who can already refine a glass boat, has only learned a bit of the surface."

Jiang Shangzhen glanced at that tilted heavenly pillar and couldn't help asking, "How is that possible?"

Cui Dongshan sighed. "We are all inside a certain 'belly within a belly' of Zheng Juzhong."

He guessed that the last Zheng Juzhong had already found Xie Shiji in the Barren Wastes?

Or perhaps he was in Luminous Rainbow City on the Night Ferry?

Jiang Shangzhen marveled.

Being allied with a demonic titan like Mr. Zheng... it gave him an inexplicable sense of peace of mind!

What Jiang She was curious about was whether Chen Qingdu, who was not petty, had left Chen Ping'an, the last Hidden Official, a 'bottom-of-the-trunk' gift. Whether as remuneration or gift, whatever the name, logically and emotionally, publicly and privately, there should be something.

But until the person involved spoke, this kind of inside information would remain a permanent puzzle with no answer.

Cui Dongshan asked, "Aren't you curious why my Master hasn't yet married Mistress, making her his Dao partner? To this day, there's no official title?"

Why had the Old Great Sword Immortal broken his promise and never gone to the Yao residence to propose marriage?

It wasn't that Chen Qingdu felt doing such a thing for Chen Ping'an beneath him or purposefully delayed.

Jiang Shangzhen nodded. "I've been puzzled about this for a long time."

Chen Ping'an not marrying Ning Yao on the Sword Qi Great Wall was somewhat understandable. After all, romantic feelings couldn't outweigh the life-and-death survival of the entire Sword Qi Great Wall.

But once Chen Ping'an returned to his hometown, and Ning Yao and Ascension City had also settled in the Five-Colored World, logically there was no obstacle left for them to become Dao partners.

Jiang Shangzhen thought it over and only one answer seemed plausible: cowardice? Chen Lingjun had his own unique interpretation: it was a custom from the mountain lord's homeland. In a family, the elder brother must marry first before the younger brother can marry. In the mountain lord's mind, Liu Xianyang was naturally like an elder brother, so they had to follow this old principle. Fortunately, the Dragon Spring Sword Sect had moved away, or else he'd guard Liu Sleepyhead's door every day to push him along.

Cui Dongshan said something odd and seemingly out of context, "Do you think that little girl named Feng Yuanxiao has a deeper connection with my Mistress or with my Master?"

Jiang Shangzhen shook his head. "I dare not say anything about that."

He only knew that Feng Yuanxiao had a special identity. She was 'the same age' as the Five-Colored World. Through circumstances, she had become the direct disciple of Huang Ting of Peace Mountain, and now lived in Ascension City.

No matter how much Ning Yao and Chen Ping'an loved each other, as long as they hadn't formally established their title, they weren't yet true Dao partners.

Why, when both worlds' situations were already settled, and the Righteous World had transformed from a declining, chaotic era to a peaceful one, was Chen Ping'an still not rushing to propose?

Cui Dongshan knew very well: Master had many concerns. He needed to make long-term plans for Mistress and Ascension City, plans for a thousand or ten thousand years.

Cui Dongshan asked again, "Let me ask a simpler question instead: Don't you think the Old Scholar and Bai Ye have many entanglements of karma with my Master?"

Jiang Shangzhen tentatively said, "Quite a lot?"

Cui Dongshan laughed and cursed, "Chief Zhou, your quick-wittedness is catching up to that 'genius brother' of Zhengyang Mountain!"

Jiang Shangzhen said aggrievedly, "Asking such questions to Jingqing or Bai Xuan would be fine, but asking me—I always feel there's hidden meaning."

Back then, the Confucian Temple identified the Five-Colored World and opened a path. Afterwards, the Old Scholar, along with Bai Ye holding the Tai Bai Sword, split chaos and divided clarity—'created the world,' bringing forth beautiful landscapes.

The Old Scholar earned a great merit but didn't claim it for himself. During the Fuyang Continent battle, Bai Ye's immortal sword 'Tai Bai' split into four. One of the sword tips—who did it end up with?

Thus, many summit cultivators had overlooked a truth shocking enough to startle the world.

Actually, Chen Ping'an once had the opportunity to replace Ning Yao as the number one person of the Five-Colored World, becoming the 'common master of the world' just like Fei Ran.

Zhou Mi ascended and left; Fei Ran filled the vacancy in the Barren Wastes.

Given Ning Yao's personality, if she had known the truth in advance—for example, when she advanced to the Flying Ascension realm, even though she already had the nascent path to becoming number one, she would still have been willing to yield that road to Chen Ping'an.

But a crucial prerequisite was Chen Qingdu's choice much earlier.

And certain unintentional actions by Chen Ping'an.

Without all that, Chen Qingdu wouldn't have progressively and repeatedly given this outsider sword cultivator more expectations and trials.

Cui Dongshan muttered, "That old bastard—not acting human!"

Jiang Shangzhen was long accustomed to it: whenever there was a chance, Cui Dongshan cursed Cui Chan. If there was no chance, he'd create one to curse 'that old bastard.'

Cui Dongshan had once taken Pei Qian to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Apart from being struck down from the city wall by a single sword stroke from Zuo You—his former junior disciple but now senior master—and looking rather embarrassed, Cui Dongshan also met the Old Great Sword Immortal alone afterward.

The first time Chen Qingdu saw the white-clothed youth, he called him 'National Teacher.'

He saw through the truth at a glance—the power of his profound Dao.

In fact, at that time, Cui Chan's primordial spirit was indeed secretly residing within Cui Dongshan.

The boy's vermilion mole between his brows was his Dao field.

Cui Chan never needed to inform Cui Dongshan when he returned to his Dao field.

In the path of spirit and soul, Cui Chan was a supreme expert. For instance, Zuo You was kept in the dark and failed to see through it.

If Zuo You, who was quite familiar with his senior brother Cui Chan and was right there, couldn't see through, then Chen Xi, Qi Tingji, and other old sword immortals who only glimpsed from afar were even less likely to.

As for some minor moves by Cui Chan and the Great Li Dynasty within the Sword Qi Great Wall over the past century, Chen Qingdu had noticed but didn't take them lightly. After all, an even earlier passersby through the Sword Qi Great Wall who served as a Criminal Official for a few years—Jia Sheng of Righteousness—had left Chen Qingdu with a deep impression of these brilliant scholar-officials from the Righteous World. For example, Ning Mansion's gatekeeper Nalan Yexing's disciple Cui Wei, who refused to die stifled and chose to become a spy for Great Li, seeking a way out for himself—Chen Qingdu pretended not to see that. After all, Cui Wei neither defected to the Barren Wastes nor slacked on the battlefield; he hadn't crossed the line.

Of course, there were certainly some more deeply hidden methods. After watching for decades and getting a general idea of Cui Chan's style, Chen Qingdu stopped monitoring.

The Sword Qi Great Wall presented utterly opposite impressions to different people: some saw it as lifeless, others as vibrant.

The 'youth' raised a hand towards the outside of the city wall, twisting his wrist as if holding a fishing rod. His voice changed, "It's really like playing a fish—took ten thousand years."

The Sword Qi Great Wall could neither land that fish, which was too massive, nor let the rod be taken away. They just ground each other down.

The peaceful era of the Righteous World owed a great deal to the Sword Qi Great Wall blocking the Barren Wastes.

The Old Great Sword Immortal didn't ask 'why.' His question was very sword-immortal-like—omitting the opening and process, only wanting the result. "Cui Chan, give me a straight answer. Can you do it or not?"

Cui Chan's reply was also quintessential 'Embroidered Tiger': "Chen Qingdu, do you have a better choice? Since you don't, then I am undoubtedly the best candidate."

"This time, the Sword Qi Great Wall is destined to fall. The strategist Zhou Mi's arrangements are sound; the beasts of the Barren Wastes will definitely invade Righteousness. Remember, the Supreme Saint made a pact with you sword cultivators. Master Li values rules the most, and the Confucian Temple still cares about face, so you don't need to worry about what happens after you're gone. The Sword Qi Great Wall—this place every strategist must contend for—still has great use. It shouldn't be handed over to the Barren Wastes. Someone trustworthy needs to take over the fishing rod."

After a pause, Cui Chan said, "Since Chen Qingdu won't use his sword, the Barren Wastes demons won't get the suffering they deserve. I and the Great Li iron cavalry will make it up to you on Treasure Vase Continent."

Chen Qingdu marveled, "So I'm already in such a sorry state that I need a younger outsider like Cui Chan, barely three centuries in the Dao, to help me vent my anger?"

"I don't intend to erase the merits of you ancient sword cultivators—especially the Old Great Sword Immortal, who survived all the way to today. No praise is too high."

"In the Dao of cultivation, there are only two criteria: live long enough, and make the enemy cultivators who could live long live not long enough."

"But when it comes to 'making full use of everything and everyone,' the Sword Qi Great Wall did well—just not the best."

Hearing this, Chen Qingdu laughed. "'Just did well'—a 'just.' Only someone like Cui Chan could say such a thing without it sounding too grating."

Cui Chan cut to the chase, "Old-timers should plan for their descendants' rice. The Sword Qi Great Wall should also seek a way out for itself. And this new path must be legitimate in name and substance."

Chen Qingdu smiled. "Is the Master giving a lesson to village schoolchildren? For a lofty gentleman like National Teacher Cui to discuss 'name and substance' with a brute like me—isn't that a waste of talent?"

Cui Chan ignored the old man's sarcasm and continued, "If we're talking narrowly about paper essays and book learning, few on the Sword Qi Great Wall can claim deep scholarship. I suspect Chen Xi could at best be an academy headmaster. People like Sun Juyuan only pretend to be refined—just like those incompetent aristocratic sons. Don't blame the Righteous World scholars for dismissing you as boorish and illiterate."

"But if we talk outside books, this place has the best poetry, lyrics, songs, and stories. Whether bold and unrestrained, graceful and subtle, immortal-aura-soaked, or chivalrous—all are first-rate. The frontier poems of the Righteous World aren't even fit to carry the shoes of the stories here. Splendid and colorful—each flower enters different eyes. Any reader turning pages could drink a toast to that. If only someone could write biographies for the sword immortals here and sell them in print... I'd willingly climb back onto the wine table and humbly toast a fat merchant."

Cui Chan laughed heartily. "Writing on paper with words—that's ultimately a small path. Writing one's life—that is the great path, the true meaning of literary spirit in the world."

"The first half of that bullshit—pretend I didn't say it." Chen Qingdu flicked his ear. "The second half is fair enough. I've taken it in."

Cui Chan said calmly, "Is that 'bringing disgrace upon the cultured'? Since when did the Sword Qi Great Wall base its existence on moral essays? What 'cultured' is there to disgrace?"

Chen Qingdu laughed. "Cursing again?"

Cui Chan said, "Better than those half-baked scholars in the Nine Continents of Righteousness who call themselves 'cultured.' They scurry to noble gates, kowtow to princes and ministers. Their knees are soft. When they speak, it's as if their mouths are level with the scrotum in others' trousers. Flattered by a few polite words from a big shot, then casually praised by others—their faces flush, secretly thrilled, pretending to be calm. When they walk out the door, even their assholes are happy."

Chen Qingdu was momentarily speechless, completely unable to respond.

When it came to cursing, these scholar-officials were indeed better at it.

"I've wanted to come here for a long time."

Cui Chan said, "When I left the Literary Sage lineage, I actually considered settling on the Sword Qi Great Wall. Returning to my hometown Treasure Vase Continent to assist the Great Li Song clan wasn't my first choice."

Chen Qingdu laughed. "Really? You should have come. Why did you change your mind at the last moment?"

Cui Chan said, "No need to elaborate."

Chen Qingdu said to himself, "If you'd come to the Sword Qi Great Wall, things would have been interesting. Xiao? would have accepted you, Hao Su would have respected you. One wouldn't be full of resentment, the other would be willing to take up the sword to kill demons. You could even have combined the Criminal Official and Hidden Official roles. With both open and covert schemes, dirty work and hard labor—someone would do it. I believe I would have had a much easier time."

Cui Chan interjected, "I was afraid that if I came here, I'd change my original intention. I was afraid that this Sword Qi Great Wall, so different from Righteousness, would go to the other extreme and become the Barren Wastes."

Chen Qingdu laughed. "Worried that for your own selfish motives, you'd become Zhou Mi's kindred spirit, and even if you eventually turned the world upside down and achieved your goal, you'd still be a sinner for a thousand ages?"

Cui Chan shook his head. "What future generations think of me—whether good or bad, whether there's a name or nothing—is not within my considerations."

Cui Chan smiled. "To trust Chen Ping'an so much, to place hope on a young man of modest realm—Cui Chan thanks you here."

Chen Qingdu gave a dry smile. "In what capacity are you thanking me? As the unique 'Embroidered Tiger' of Great Li, or as the apostate senior brother Cui Chan?"

Cui Chan said, "As you wish."

Chen Qingdu said, "Cui Chan, no matter what you say, you have to give me a reason I can accept."

"In the ancient times, sword immortals took the lead ascending to heaven, scholar-officials followed closely behind."

Cui Chan said, "Times are different now. But since Chen Qingdu is willing to die first, Cui Chan is willing to die later. The way we leave the stage might be a bit plain, but the ending certainly won't be too bad."

Chen Qingdu laughed. "All the ancient sages and worthies are long dead; only heroes don't feel lonely. Neither of us is destined to become a sage or worthy. But 'heroes'—maybe we can barely count?"

Cui Chan said, "In matters of achievement, Cui Chan is quite proud—second to no one. Unfortunately, in matters of people, I don't have A Liang's thick skin and enthusiasm, nor Chen Ping'an's patience and goodwill."

"This is a common ailment for people like me and Zheng Juzhong. It's hard for us to have too high expectations of this world and human nature. So in our eyes, we barely see people—only matters."

"I have a suggestion. It benefits the Old Great Sword Immortal, Ning Yao, the Sword Qi Great Wall, and the world situation."

Chen Qingdu became interested. "Let's hear it."

Cui Chan gave a concise answer, "Since you've chosen him as your successor in the sword path, don't be soft-hearted. If you're going to be ruthless, be ruthless to the end."

Chen Qingdu couldn't help laughing. "Well, well—it seems everyone gets an advantage. Only that kid isn't human, huh?"

He clucked his tongue and couldn't resist teasing, "Is there a senior brother like this in all the world?"

Cui Chan said calmly, "He's just lucky to have found such a big senior brother as me."

After a moment of silence, Cui Chan said, "If Ning Yao is the Sword Qi Great Wall's most exquisite porcelain, don't let Chen Ping'an become a shabby, disposable sagger."

Chen Qingdu smiled. "First time hearing that metaphor. On this matter, Mr. Cui, you can rest assured."

Cui Chan borrowed Chen Qingdu's own phrasing. "Senior, you have to give me a reason I can accept."

Subtly, both had changed their forms of address in tacit agreement.

Seeming not good at such wording, Chen Qingdu rubbed his cheeks, thought for a long time, and finally gave an answer. "I am willing to give Chen Ping'an the greatest expectations."

Unexpectedly, Cui Chan didn't appreciate it. "Too empty. Not enough."

Chen Qingdu was clearly a bit annoyed and blurted out, "Chen Qingdu's personal sword—just anyone isn't qualified to carry it on his back. Is that real enough?"

Cui Chan smiled and nodded. "That's a down-to-earth, solid truth. Enough said."

The next moment, Cui Chan withdrew his consciousness, yielding to Cui Dongshan.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance with the youth. "I wonder if there will be anyone in the future who remembers Chen Qingdu the sword user, or Cui Chan the scholar."

The handsome, white-robed youth sat on the city wall, like a white cloud pausing briefly. He patted his knees softly and hummed an ancient song.

How many people and affairs in the world had all become things to pass over in silence.