Chapter 119: Some Principles

Chapter 119: Some Principles

Xiuhua River was quite graceful, its gentle green waves rippling without any fierce winds or violent currents. Though the river surface was wide, it gave a tender, soothing feeling.

The southbound boat carrying Chen Ping'an and his three companions had two decks, mostly occupied by blue-robed Confucian scholars and traveling merchants. Li Baoping was not afraid of strangers. She liked to carry her small book box on her back and mingle with the crowds, pricking up her ears to listen to their lofty discussions. When the scholars and literati saw a spirited little girl carrying a green bamboo book box for study abroad, standing quietly at a moderate distance, they would smile kindly and pay her no further heed, continuing their casual conversations without restraint.

Li Huai cautiously controlled the reins, riding the white donkey in small circles at the bow, like a great general inspecting the border, looking supremely arrogant. Strangely enough, the white donkey was willing to let only Li Huai ride it, which made Li Huai overjoyed. As for Wei Jin of the Wind Snow Temple's Immortal Platform, who would come to take the donkey away someday, and Li Huai was supposed to remember to demand payment from that man—asking for an exorbitant price—these truly important matters Li Huai had completely dismissed as wind passing his ears.

Lin Shouyi came to Chen Ping'an's side, leaning back against the inner wall of the boat railing. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Don't you want to know why A Liang said I'm a Qi Practitioner? And how I became one?"

Chen Ping'an stopped the motion of his hatchet cutting bamboo slivers and smiled. "Of course I want to know, but I didn't feel comfortable asking, afraid you might overthink it."

Lin Shouyi felt a bit frustrated. Among the three from the school, even a blind person could see that the person Chen Ping'an truly cared about was only Li Baoping. Between him and Li Huai, Chen Ping'an seemed closer to Li Huai. Whether it was because they both came from the humble alleys of the small town, or because he himself was too quiet, Lin Shouyi didn't know. And in truth, he never really paid attention to such trivial matters.

But Lin Shouyi couldn't help feeling a bit down.

Lin Shouyi asked, "Do you actually know how powerful that silver gourd is?"

Chen Ping'an first discreetly glanced around, then nodded and lowered his voice. "Even A Liang said it's a rare sword-nurturing gourd, so of course it's precious and rare."

Lin Shouyi said, "Then do you realize how great an opportunity you missed back then when you refused to drink because you wanted to practice boxing? The reason I was able to officially ascend the mountain and become a Qi Practitioner—what ordinary people call an immortal on the mountain—is because I drank the wine from that gourd again and again. After drinking, I could feel it—whether it was my flesh, blood, bones, muscles, or my sight, hearing, and physical stamina. I was the one who should have struggled the most on this journey, but later I could even keep up with your pace. Didn't you notice?"

Chen Ping'an subconsciously caressed the cool green bamboo sliver in his fingers. "After we left the bank of the Tiefu River, near Qidun Mountain, you actually walked the mountain path quite easily from then on."

Lin Shouyi's expression remained unchanged, but he said lightly, "Oh. So you already noticed."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "A Liang is very lazy—great abilities but unwilling to bother with small matters. Since I'm the guide, I have to take care of everyone's stamina, know when to stop for rest, make sure you all don't get too tired, and at the same time let you build up your endurance through walking. Our road ahead is still long; I hope everyone won't have to suffer too much."

Lin Shouyi looked at Chen Ping'an's expression and eyes, crossed his arms, and snorted for no reason. "If anyone else said that, I wouldn't believe it."

Chen Ping'an raised the bamboo sliver in his hand and asked with a smile, "I'm getting more skilled, but I'm sure the last book box will look the best. So, should I give this first one to Li Huai? I'll make it a little smaller then."

Lin Shouyi glanced at Li Huai, who was riding the old donkey, and shook his head. "Forget it. Make mine first. I'll just put up with his grumbling."

Chen Ping'an laughed. "Then I'll try to make it sturdy for you, use more rope. After all, you're an immortal gentleman—if you can really fly around like A Liang someday, it needs to be sturdy enough, or it won't last a few days."

Lin Shouyi sighed. He didn't consider himself stupid, but trying to keep up with this guy's thinking was really hard. Remembering something that had puzzled him deeply, he asked curiously, "Why, at Pillow Station, not long after A Liang left, did you tell Li Baoping everything about Zhu He and Zhu Lu?"

Chen Ping'an's expression turned serious. He asked in return, "Do you think I'm closer to Baoping or to that father and daughter?"

Lin Shouyi said impatiently, "That goes without saying."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "So I had to make sure Baoping clearly understood what kind of person that family produced, and what they did. I have a pretty good idea of what Zhu Lu is like. When A Liang deliberately set a trap for her, she didn't just hesitate—she wanted her father Zhu He to step forward again. If at Qidun Mountain, because of her recklessness, we all got into danger, but since we all came out safe afterward, I could understand she was anxious to save her father. Putting myself in her shoes, I might not have done better. So even though I was angry, I never blamed her to her face. But at the corridor in Pillow Station, what Zhu Lu did was unforgivable. I feel that as long as the benefits are good enough, Zhu Lu would betray anyone, not just her mistress Baoping."

Chen Ping'an looked a little sad. "If she keeps that nature, one day her father will really be killed by her. I don't want a decent man like Zhu He, after leaving Red Candle Town alive, to end up dying at his own daughter's hands. Why does she have a father yet not know how to cherish him?"

Lin Shouyi's face turned cold. "Do you think every parent in the world is good?"

Chen Ping'an said firmly, "I don't care about others. My parents were very good!"

Lin Shouyi's expression darkened a bit, but Chen Ping'an's next words softened it slightly. "Zhu He is a good man, but it seems he doesn't know how to teach his children. Some things are so clearly right or wrong—why not speak up and teach? I can't figure it out. Lin Shouyi, you're smart; do you know the reason?"

Lin Shouyi looked somewhat weary. "Maybe he's in the dark about his own household. But parents in this world can't be summed up simply as 'all parents have a heart.' Chen Ping'an, every family has its own difficult scriptures. Since your parents left early, you don't have to be tangled up in such things. Of course, I don't mean anything else. If it sounded harsh, don't take it to heart."

Chen Ping'an waved his hand and smiled. "Of course not."

Lin Shouyi glanced at Chen Ping'an's topknot. "Your hairpin is gone just like that? Not looking for it?"

Chen Ping'an continued working on the small book box, shaking his head. "Can't find it. Do you think someone as greedy as me would lose something so valuable on my own?"

Lin Shouyi suddenly wore a strange expression. "Could it be that A Liang said my name should be swapped with yours?"

Chen Ping'an asked curiously, "Is there some reasoning behind that?"

Lin Shouyi had already changed the subject. Leaning forward slightly, he pointed at the box and gave instructions like an expert: "Can you make a slight curve here on the book box? Otherwise it's too square and rigid. A balance of square and round is better; it'll look nicer from a distance."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "I'll try my best, but if it doesn't turn out well, I won't take responsibility."

Knowing that this fellow meant what he said—if he said he wouldn't care, he truly wouldn't—Lin Shouyi, who had high expectations for his book box, grew anxious and spoke faster. "How can that be? These bamboos from Qidun Mountain are quite special; every piece used is one less. My book box must be pleasing to the eye while also being practical and sturdy. Chen Ping'an, you can slow down when using your hatchet, and think more when assembling the bamboo frame. You must think more!"

Chen Ping'an continued to strike with his hatchet like lightning, sending fragments of green bamboo flying to the ground, which he then collected into his basket. Lin Shouyi watched with a racing heart. Catching a glimpse of the stern-faced youth's anxious look from the corner of his eye, Chen Ping'an suppressed a smile. "Maybe I should make your box last."

The youth said angrily, "My name is Lin Shouyi. Am I the type to go back on my word?"

Chen Ping'an suddenly understood why A Liang enjoyed causing mischief so much. It felt pretty good.

Li Huai, leading the donkey, swaggered over to them. "Chen Ping'an, do you think A Liang might come back tomorrow?"

Chen Ping'an looked up. "Forgot?"

Li Huai quickly covered his mouth, then let go, glancing around furtively. He let go of the reins, crouched in front of Chen Ping'an, and lowered his voice. "Then the day after tomorrow. That works too. At the very latest, if A Liang hasn't come back by the time we get off the boat, I won't recognize him as a friend anymore. Chen Ping'an, tell me, isn't that very generous of me? Right? When he kneels and begs me later, you can put in a good word for him, and then I'll reluctantly agree and continue being friends with A Liang."

Lin Shouyi simply closed his eyes. Ignoring this classmate Li Huai was the best choice.

Lin Shouyi had never met anyone so deserving of a beating. He really wondered if one day, when Li Huai caused trouble, he might just gloat.

A donkey's braying was followed by the cries of a child falling down.

Li Huai turned to look, dumbfounded. The white donkey had caused trouble. Some unlucky child had probably thought it fun to tease the donkey, but that beast had a bad temper. Though it wouldn't hurt anyone, it would definitely scare anyone bold enough to disturb it. Now it was raising its hooves and stamping heavily on the deck, scaring the child on the ground into silence.

Chen Ping'an immediately put down his hatchet and bamboo, walked quickly over, carefully helped the child up, then reached out and gestured downward to the white donkey. Seeing Chen Ping'an's gesture, the donkey, though still a bit agitated, stopped its hooves and stood still.

The child, dressed in silk finery, flailed his arms and broke free from Chen Ping'an's help. Seeing his elders rushing down from the second deck, the child burst into loud wails. A burly man in black hurried over in a few steps, crouched beside the child, and asked softly, "Young Master Yu, what's wrong? Who bullied you? I'll get even for you!"

Chen Ping'an beckoned to Li Huai, who was trying to sneak away. Li Huai shrank his neck, met Chen Ping'an's eyes, and dared not continue being a turtle. He walked over to Chen Ping'an, head drooping, looking listless. "My little white donkey would never bite anyone for no reason, I swear, Chen Ping'an..."

Chen Ping'an hummed in acknowledgment and said softly, "But no matter what, you need to apologize to them."

Li Huai looked up, face full of grievance. "Why? That kid provoked my donkey first. It didn't hurt him. Why should I apologize? That clueless kid should apologize to me."

Chen Ping'an was about to explain something to Li Huai.

Li Baoping came running back from a distance and stood beside Chen Ping'an. Lin Shouyi also got up but stayed where he was, keeping an eye on Chen Ping'an's basket.

From that group came a stern, authoritative voice. "How dare you, you beast! Injure someone?!"

A middle-aged man exuding official authority, his face gloomy, swept his gaze over the four of them. "Where are your elders? Come out!"

Chen Ping'an's expression remained calm. He said softly, "Li Huai."

Li Huai, who was already half hiding behind Chen Ping'an, said timidly, "I scared your child. I didn't keep my little white donkey under control. Sorry."

After blurting out the apology to those strangers, Li Huai began to sob.

A Liang had once joked that this little brat was only tough at home—a lord inside, a grandson outside. He wasn't wrong about Li Huai.

Chen Ping'an gently patted Li Huai's head, then looked at the middle-aged man. "Is there anything we can do?"

The man sneered. "A brat like you? Big talk. Go get your parents or elders to speak!"

A plump woman, full of concern, picked up the child. Listening to the child's constant accusations, her eyes grew sharper. When she heard that the donkey had rammed at him and tried to bite him, and that if he hadn't run fast, the beast would have bitten off his arm, she was furious. "Can't you do something?! After sitting on the cold bench in the capital for so many years, finally assigned to a local post, and now letting a beast bully your own son? Aren't you ashamed? I, a woman, am embarrassed for you!"

Chen Ping'an took a deep breath, looked at the middle-aged man whose expression was changing, and said slowly, "Our elders did not accompany us on this journey. I can make all decisions."

The woman shifted her gaze, glaring coldly at Chen Ping'an's group. "If you can't even manage a four-legged beast, how good can a two-legged one be? A bunch of fatherless, motherless little bastards!"

Li Baoping trembled with anger, her face flushed as she shouted, "My little white donkey is very well-behaved! If it did wrong, we admit it! But if it didn't, don't you dare slander us! If you have the guts, ask your child again, ask clearly what started it, and then spout your nonsense!"

Lin Shouyi's face darkened as he reached into his chest.

Among the stack of yellow paper talismans, the grades varied greatly. With Lin Shouyi's current physique and spiritual energy, having just stepped onto the path of cultivation, he could only control the weakest three talismans. One of them was "Pan Zhong Zhu" (Pearl in the Plate).

Chen Ping'an quickly glanced at Lin Shouyi, sending a subtle questioning look. The latter nodded, his eyes indicating that the Yin God was not far away and had already made contact; it could appear at any moment.

Chen Ping'an withdrew his gaze and said earnestly to the man, "I hope that madam will apologize to us."

The middle-aged man in scholar's robes seemed to think bickering with children was beneath him. He was somewhat aware of his son's nature, and after his initial anger had subsided, he began to think a bit more clearly. Hearing the absurd words of the straw-sandal-wearing youth, he found them ludicrous—a street kid not knowing his place. Unmoved, he said, "Since you've apologized and your elders aren't around, I won't pursue it. But to prevent that beast from hurting anyone, I think the best course is to kill it. Otherwise, when it really hurts someone, the consequences will be hard to bear—certainly not something you children can handle."

The woman sneered. "Jing Fu! Don't you understand the principle of 'when the master is insulted, the servant must die'?"

The black-clad man looked a bit awkward, quickly turning to bow to the matron of the house.

Suddenly, the child whispered something in her ear, pointing at the little girl with the bamboo book box on her back. The woman nodded and smiled. "Right. After killing that beast and throwing it into the river, remember to teach those three little ones a lesson. As for the little girl in the red cotton jacket, she looks pleasing to me. She can be my Yu'er's personal maid—that would be a stroke of good fortune for her."

Li Huai was terrified, clutching Chen Ping'an's sleeve tightly. "It's okay if they hit me or scold me, but the little white donkey can't die! I'll apologize again! I can give them that book—you told me it was very valuable, I didn't lose it..."

Chen Ping'an reached out and firmly pressed down on the child's head, stopping Li Huai from continuing. "Apologize my ass. You've done nothing wrong now."

Li Huai was stunned.

Chen Ping'an used his other hand to press down on Li Baoping's head and said softly, "I'll try. I'm not sure if Little Uncle can get justice for you, but we'll only know after I try."

Lin Shouyi was about to speak, but Chen Ping'an shook his head at him lightly. Finally, he looked at the seemingly reasonable middle-aged man. "Is there no way to talk this out? No room for discussion?"

The man was getting flustered. He narrowed his eyes darkly. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

The man waved his sleeve and ordered the black-clad retainer beside him, "Kill the donkey!"

Chen Ping'an took a deep breath.

The youth's demeanor changed completely.

A Liang had once taught him a breathing technique called "Eighteen Halts." Chen Ping'an had tried it many times, but at most, he could only manage seven halts before suffering excruciating pain. And Chen Ping'an's tolerance for pain far exceeded that of his peers. The one time he pushed to the seventh halt, he nearly rolled on the ground in agony. Only the first six halts could he complete relatively smoothly, even with his physique only at the second realm of martial arts.

Clearly, there was a crucial watershed between the sixth and seventh halt.

But for Chen Ping'an, being able to spar with Zhu He, a peak fifth-realm martial artist at Qidun Mountain, and hold his own—though Zhu He had agreed to suppress his energy to the third realm—Zhu He had never truly stepped into the martial world, so he didn't quite understand the significance.

Only that sword cultivator from the Zhenwu Mountain of the soldier clan, who was once in the small town, could see at a glance that the boy, practicing the crude stake-walking by the river, was already full of boxing intent.

"Practice boxing without the true essence, and after three years, ghosts possess your body. Practice boxing and find the true essence, and one punch can kill a god."

Zhu He naturally knew these two sayings, but since he hadn't yet reached the sixth realm and hadn't glimpsed the higher scenery of martial arts, he didn't truly comprehend them.

Zhu He didn't even know that the "Ultimate Realm" he believed in was the ninth realm, and that above it existed the legendary tenth realm, "When the mountain reaches its peak, I alone am the summit."

On the path of martial arts, once you cross the threshold through opportunity and talent, how much hardship you can endure determines how much fortune you enjoy—this is the most fair.

No matter how much the mountain-cultivating Qi Practitioners look down on the "lowly" pure martial artists, when the fists actually land on these immortals' heads, they hurt a lot.

The burly black-clad man stepped forward, walking past the scholar-robed head of the family, and said casually, "Better step aside."

Without another word, Chen Ping'an took a step forward. The deck boards thudded dully. To outsiders, it seemed merely a reckless young man with some brute strength.

The "Mount-Shaking Manual" boxing stance consisted of six steps, staggered wide and narrow. After memorizing the Eighteen Halts, Chen Ping'an tried to match one halt with each step.

Once Chen Ping'an set his mind to something, he was incurable.

Just like before, when only because of a single sentence from Ning Yao, he decided to practice boxing a million times and never slacked off a single day.

The black-clad man, a third-realm martial artist, was somewhat surprised to see a poor youth he'd only met by chance walking a recognizable boxing stance. Still, he didn't take any precaution. In fact, he felt a bit relieved—if he only killed a donkey and bullied some children, his face would be hard to save, especially since there were fellow martial artists serving as family retainers on this ship.

Chen Ping'an completed the six-step boxing stance rapidly. On the final step, he exerted force with a bang, making the deck boards creak, and shot forward like an arrow, appearing in front of the black-clad man in an instant.

The stunned man could only hastily gather his breath and cross his arms to protect his chest.

A sharp pain, like a heavy hammer, struck his arms. He staggered backward from the impact. Barely managing to stop his retreat, he tried to quickly flex his nearly numb hands, but a dark shadow clung to him like a persistent bone tumor. Chen Ping'an leaped high and drove his knee into the man's chest, which was now slightly exposed.

This blow truly hurt. With a muffled bang, the man was sent flying backward.

As blood rushed to his throat, his mind became fully alert, clearer than when he had been careless. As a genuine third-realm martial artist, he thought that the youth's surprising fierce attack must have been almost spent. If he could use this momentum to land farther away, he might be able to get up and counterattack quickly.

But the straw-sandal youth was like a clear breeze over the river.

His speed did not diminish; instead, it increased. He had already arrived beside the man, who hadn't yet hit the ground, and swung a fist down at his head.

Bang!

The black-clad man's body slammed straight into the deck. The impact was so great that he even bounced slightly on the boards.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, the third-realm martial artist, who hadn't even used a single move, fell completely unconscious.

Fortunately, the youth stopped his straw sandal just inches from the man's face when he saw him pass out.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

The middle-aged man couldn't even turn around fully, frozen in a twisted posture, his expression like a scholar who had fallen into a cesspit.

The woman's face was white as snow; the child in her arms gaped.

The servants and maids hadn't even registered what happened.

Chen Ping'an glanced at the black-clad man at his feet. Sure he wouldn't launch a sneak attack, he looked at the scholar-robed man, then finally fixed his gaze on the woman. He said slowly, "Is it easier to talk reason now?"

Terrified out of her wits, the woman shrieked at the middle-aged man, "Ma Jingfu! That useless brute is all show! You're a noble official of Great Li—are you going to be useless too?! Hurry up and reveal your official status!"

The man turned, pointing at the straw-sandal youth, and roared, "How dare you! I am the magistrate of Wanping County at the end of this Xiuhua River! I am currently on my way to take up my post..."

Chen Ping'an didn't even look at the enraged man. He kept his eyes fixed on the woman.

The woman's words, "fatherless, motherless little bastards," and her plan to kidnap Li Baoping as a maid for her son—

Chen Ping'an remembered them very clearly.

Chen Ping'an wasn't one to hold grudges for no reason. Some unintentional slights he could endure and let go. But some grievances demanded revenge. As long as he hadn't avenged them, if he lived a hundred years, he would remember for ninety-six!

A Liang had once joked, "Did you eat up the remaining four years?"

The boy had replied earnestly, "Before I was four, I had my parents, and I didn't know better. That doesn't count."

Chen Ping'an surged forward like a breeze once more. A single kick sent the woman, along with the child in her arms, stumbling and falling.

But compared to the black-clad man, she was more frightened than hurt.

Chen Ping'an cast a cold glance at the pampered child.

The middle-aged man cursed, "This is outrageous! You'd even lay hands on women and children? Ruffian! Madman!"

Chen Ping'an walked toward the man. "Anyone who has reached the age of understanding must listen to reason. I don't care if you're old or young, man or woman."

The scholar-robed man backed away step by step, still pointing at the youth, his voice trembling as he threatened, "I'll charge you with a serious crime! You'll rot in prison for life!"

Just then, a voice rang out from the second deck. "Young fellow, that's going too far. Teaching that martial artist retainer a lesson was enough. Better hold back now. If you keep pressing, relying on a bit of skill to bully others with force, I'm not an official, but it wouldn't be hard for me to stop you and help the magistrate arrest you."

Chen Ping'an turned his head. An old man in a blue robe stood at the bow of the second deck, beside a white-robed man wearing a sword, who was meditating with his eyes closed.

Chen Ping'an withdrew his gaze and said to the man who claimed to be the magistrate, "Apologize to us."

Emboldened by the old man's intervention, the man grew bolder. "Dream on! Once we reach Wanping County territory, I'll show you, a ruffian, the laws of Great Li!"

Chen Ping'an took a deep breath. "Apologize!"

The scholar-robed man flinched and looked up at the second deck. "I beg you, sir, to uphold justice! I will be forever grateful!"

The old man remained expressionless, looking at Chen Ping'an's back. "Youth, I advise you one last time: stop, stand down!"

Chen Ping'an made a subtle gesture to Lin Shouyi at the bow, signaling him not to act rashly for now. He turned and asked, "What were you doing earlier, senior?"

The old man laughed frankly. "Standing by as a spectator, of course. But if that magistrate had truly dared to abduct the girl, I would have stopped him, naturally."

Chen Ping'an asked again, "And if they had killed our donkey? Would you have stopped them?"

The old man was taken aback, then chuckled. "I'm not a living bodhisattva who saves the suffering. I wouldn't have interfered. It's just a donkey."

Chen Ping'an continued, "So who is in the wrong here?"

The old man paused, momentarily hesitant. "Well, reason is probably on your side. But young fellow, having reason doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

Chen Ping'an said finally, "Demanding an apology from them is doing whatever I want? Sir, it seems our understanding of reason is different."

The old man laughed heartily. "Then today I'll see for myself whether your reason can outweigh mine."

Chen Ping'an's arms hung naturally at his sides. He nodded slightly, flicked his wrist, and pointed at the white-robed man, who had opened his eyes. "Relying on him, right?"

Lin Shouyi understood. His lips moved slightly.

The old man was already furious, but he still kept a smile on his face. He nodded. "What, unconvinced?"

He turned with a smile to the swordsman retainer beside him. "Bai Jing, it seems this little fellow thinks his fists can argue reason better than your Lingxu Sword."

The white-robed swordsman curled his lips in a faint, contemptuous sneer.

Just then, something strange happened.

Before the knowledgeable people on the boat could even ponder the weight of the name "Lingxu Sword," the swordsman, who seemed like a sword immortal descending to the world, seemed to be grabbed by the neck and thrown horizontally from the second-deck bow. He traced a beautiful arc and crashed headfirst into the Xiuhua River, sending up a huge splash. After a long while, he still hadn't surfaced—unconscious or dead.

The scholar-robed man was frightened out of his wits. Seeing the youth already climbing the stairs, he hastily tried to mend the fence. "I'm sorry! I was wrong! This official was wrong!"

Chen Ping'an reached the old man's side. On the second-deck bow, only the old man remained, his face twitching.

Seeing the youth's figure, the old man swallowed.

Chen Ping'an said softly, "Sir, you've lived so many years. Logically, you should know much more than I do. Did all your reason run off to dogs?"

The old man was about to speak, but then something like a big white fish leaped out of the Xiuhua River—the white-robed swordsman had been thrown back onto the second deck.

The old man bent over, mouth opening and closing.

The youth had already descended.

The scholar-robed man made his entire family stand properly. As the straw-sandal youth passed by, each of them apologized.

Chen Ping'an said to the man, "That's enough. But I know you wish you could kill us all."

The man's knees went weak; he nearly knelt to the youth.

Chen Ping'an ignored them.

He returned to his original seat at the bow.

Li Baoping gave him a thumbs-up.

Lin Shouyi still leaned against the railing wall, calm and silent.

Li Huai was filled with guilt, gripping the white donkey's reins tightly, afraid of causing more trouble for Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then said softly, "From now on, I need to practice boxing even more diligently. And Lin Shouyi, if possible, don't slack off either."

Lin Shouyi smiled and nodded. "You don't have to tell me."

Li Huai whispered, "Sorry, Chen Ping'an."

Chen Ping'an looked up and smiled. "You already apologized when you should have. If you're apologizing because of the trouble afterward, don't. As long as you weren't wrong, don't admit fault—with anyone. On our way to Great Sui from now on, we'll be like today: don't court trouble, but if trouble comes knocking, don't be afraid of it! Can you do that, Li Huai?"

Li Huai's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He puffed out his chest. "I can!"

Then he broke into a grin. "Chen Ping'an, you're awesome! You fight so fiercely! Why don't I call you Little Uncle from now on?"

Chen Ping'an shot him a glance.

Li Huai quickly changed his tune. "We'll talk later!"

Chen Ping'an added, "But if—just if—you really run into an enemy you can't beat even with your life on the line, then apologize and act cowardly. It's not shameful. Staying alive is most important."

Li Baoping crossed her arms, leaning against her small book box, and huffed, "Little Uncle! That's not okay!"

Lin Shouyi undercut her. "I think it's fine."

Li Huai grinned. "I'll go with whatever my future Little Uncle says."

Below the Xiuhua River, the Yin God swimming like a fish smiled.