Chapter 1218: The Reader
Fallen Mountain.
The Taoist Xianwei scratched his head, finding it all rather baffling, yet it seemed a voice echoed in his mind, more like a lingering resonance around his wooden hairpin. The young Taoist had no choice but to fiddle with the hairpin as he quickened his pace up the mountain. At the peak of Jiling Peak, he finally found two heads huddled together whispering, a young boy in blue and a little girl in black. He told them, "The mountain lord will be returning home soon."
Xiaomili and Chen Lingjun exchanged smiles, raised their hands, and high-fived each other. Alright, tomorrow they would venture into the martial world.
Central Earth Divine Continent, Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master Mansion.
The young sword cultivator staying there as a guest had a relaxed expression on his handsome face, with no trace of worry.
Zhao Tianlai, still with his elegant features but now sporting a full head of white hair, chuckled. "The sword and seal passed down through generations of the Heavenly Master Mansion may not truly be destroyed. The true dharma sword and seal reside in the hearts and actions of all us Dragon Tiger Mountain Taoists, including myself."
Xiao Mo nodded. "I deeply agree."
Zhao Tianlai said, "Master Xiao Mo, why not stay at the mansion for a few days of rest?"
Xiao Mo declined politely, "I won't disturb your cultivation here."
Zhao Tianlai smiled and nodded. "I understand."
Xiao Mo directly summoned a Three Mountains Talisman and headed for the cross-continent Fallen Mountain. With his reduced realm, once he reached the peak, his form began to sway. A girl in a sable hat caught him in a hug, laughing heartily.
The ten-tailed celestial fox coiled atop the high platform spoke softly, "Heavenly Master, aren't you at all regretful?"
Zhao Tianlai replied telepathically with a smile, "How could I be? But if I hadn't said that publicly, how would I explain myself later at the ancestral hall?"
She understood and nodded, smiling radiantly.
Barren Wasteland, the nameless cave dwelling in the southeast. Zheng Juzhong stood surrounded by several newly accepted unregistered disciples.
Barren Wasteland Hinterland, "Lu Chen" relaxed, his expression cheerful. The Taoist recited like a chant, "Can the body be made like withered wood? Can the mind be made like dead ashes?"
Moments later, Lu Chen yelled, "Fellow Daoist Chen! When you have free time, remember to save little me. It doesn't matter if it's late—just remember to come!"
Blue Heaven, White Jade Capital. Yu Dou glanced at Yao Qing of Suichu Palace. The latter raised an eyebrow and said grumpily, "What are you looking at?"
Beyond the Heavens.
Ignoring Gu Can's repeated urgings to set off, Liu Xianyang lingered reluctantly, staring at the tangible images of the "collapse of the divine path." Rubbing his chin, he sighed, "Gone just like that—what a pity."
Gu Can sneered, "Master Liu, you sure are carefree, still feeling sorry here. If it hadn't disappeared, who would break it? You? Three rounds of sword challenges going all out—just tickling Zheng Juzhong..."
Liu Xianyang said, "I don't bother arguing with something neither human nor ghost."
Gu Can felt helpless. Given his current situation, going to that gradually fading green Dao trajectory would only... He had to say, "Master Liu, Sword Immortal Liu, Sect Leader Liu, Groom-to-be Liu, we really can set off now."
Liu Xianyang nodded.
At that moment, from an immeasurably distant point, a vague figure drifted over. The expression on this person's face was strange as he looked at the two fools who refused to leave.
Liu Xianyang felt a rare sense of shame. Was this the old blind man of the Ten Thousand Mountains? His bearing, presence, and appearance were so unreasonably good.
Gu Can immediately asked, "Senior, how long will it take us to return on this trip?"
Zhi Ci looked at the gradually fading green Dao trajectory, counted on his fingers, pondered a moment, and smiled. "I estimate it will take about ten years on the road. If we talk more, it'll be a few years later. For instance, with this chat, it's hard to say now."
Gu Can took a deep breath. Fine, he'd drift slowly through the boundless void with that bastard Liu Xianyang. But if they took a wrong turn, like going in the wrong direction...
Liu Xianyang bowed and said, "Senior, if you have any instructions, this junior can relay them. Anything I can help with, I'll do my best. More than that, I can't promise."
Zhi Ci nodded. This was a thoughtful young man. Even at risk, potentially delaying his own wedding for a long time, he chose to stay and gamble.
Perhaps seeing a somewhat reliable young sword cultivator as the world turned a new page, Zhi Ci's mood brightened. He glanced at Gu Can and said, "When you acted on impulse earlier and shattered something, it wasn't your true physical body, but Gu Can's Destiny Porcelain. As for your real body, it's probably already hidden somewhere by Zheng Juzhong. When you return, go ask him for it yourself. But Zheng Juzhong may not care about my face."
With that, Zhi Ci raised his hand, two fingers together, and traced a Dao scripture in the void. Liu Xianyang and Gu Can only read a few opening lines before their eyes spun and their minds reeled; they dared not look further. Zhi Ci casually applied hundreds of prohibitions, "closed the book," and pushed it toward Gu Can. "It contains some true meanings concerning the roots of the Three Teachings. The saying 'opening the book brings benefit' is not false. Whether you trace back to the source or derive novel interpretations from it, it's up to Zheng Juzhong's own reading ability."
Gu Can bowed in thanks.
Zhi Ci teased, "Dealing with a stubborn disaster like you—it's no wonder Chen Ping'an has this tribulation."
But then again, it was precisely that stubbornness that became key to solving this deadlock. How many deliberate plantings and accidental cuttings in the world are all just scenery. People may not see it, but the world cannot do without it.
Liu Xianyang sighed, seemingly defending Gu Can. "Senior Zhi Ci, why insult him? Gu Can is already like this—don't rub salt in the wound."
Zhi Ci looked at the distant mortal world separated by countless stars and smiled. "A single phrase—'Those who know me are but a few.' How unfortunate, yet how fortunate. You are all considered good."
Regaining his composure, Zhi Ci said, "Liu Xianyang, I do have a matter to entrust, but you are a Confucian scholar, a gentleman. I won't trade with you..."
Gu Can chuckled. Good, very good, excellent.
Liu Xianyang initially tried to pretend to be magnanimous, but finally couldn't hold back and got anxious. "Senior Zhi Ci, if you say that, you'll make my heart grow cold. I'm not hoping for some earthshaking Dao scripture or terrifying meritorious treasure. Just one or two trivial sword techniques would be fine. I'm not asking for a trade or deal. Isn't it just a virtuous elder generous to a sincere junior, offering some guidance? That wouldn't tarnish my reputation as a gentleman or scholar."
Zhi Ci shook his head. "I really don't have any."
Liu Xianyang saw that the senior wasn't pretending and stopped overthinking. He laughed. "Alright, just say what you need. Honestly, meeting a 'Taoist's Shrine' like you, every extra word is a gain. Later, when I have a bunch of disciples and disciples' disciples, as their master and patriarch, I can brag without even a draft. Haha, just thinking about it feels... beautiful!"
Zhi Ci listened patiently to Liu Xianyang's heartfelt words and said, "When you return to the mortal world, please take care of Li Huai a little. He has always been pure-hearted, but the world ahead will be more complicated. You are all outstanding figures who lead sects, and you're from the same hometown. It's always good to support each other. On the path of the Great Dao, one helps him once, he lends you a hand—each difficulty passes, and you can walk further and higher together."
Zhi Ci glanced at Gu Can, who had been pretending to gloat. "You're also a shrewd one."
Zhi Ci waved his sleeve, slightly stabilizing the green Dao path, and smiled. "Safe travels."
Liu Xianyang first stowed Gu Can into his sleeve, then followed the route, flying on his sword toward home. He hoped to return to the mortal world by the fifth day of the fifth month. In the grand scheme of things, marrying a wife was the most important!
He also planned to scold that guy a few words... but then thinking twice, Liu Xianyang couldn't bear to say anything harsh.
Then, thinking again, Liu Xianyang looked around and chatted with Little Snot.
He figured that when he returned to the mortal world and his hometown, every tomorrow would surely be better than today.
On the Cypress Boat, the woman gazed longingly back at the mortal world, then withdrew her gaze.
She pinched an object between two fingers and immersed a particle of her mind into it, smiling softly with narrowed eyes. Inside was also a small town, with an old locust tree, a well, an archway, and a mud bottle alley, with a straw-sandaled youth. But she had arrived in that alley earlier than her. At least the girl with a ponytail met the youth before the green-robed girl.
Fallen Mountain.
A white-clothed youth with a mole between his eyebrows swung his sleeves, accompanied by Chief Zhou in a long blue gown and long coat, as they walked up the stone steps, discussing who would become the "deputy mountain lord."
Zhu Lian had removed his mask, revealing his true face, and was busy in the kitchen preparing a midnight snack.
A travel-worn Old Scholar stood at the doorway. Ah, the smoke from the hearth, the aroma of the food.
——
The new chapter of the mortal world was like an extremely long side story for Chen Ping'an, yet it was also the main text of a new world.
In the gentle land where his heart found peace, Chen Ping'an, tired but with a smile, fell into a deep sleep.
At the moment when Chen Ping'an was about to fall asleep but would surely wake, he opened his eyes and looked at us.
It was as if he was speaking his heart: "My name is Chen Ping'an. 'Ping'an' means peace and safety. I am a sword cultivator."
He saw us.
——
——
——
The story is complete. Mwah mwah.
Next come the side stories.
Sincere thanks to everyone, to all of "us."