Chapter 9: Beauty
The sky was dim and hazy, the atmosphere fresh and new. They'd checked the almanac—today was the best day for long-distance travel, while tomorrow was suitable for weddings.
Rising at cockcrow, Zhu Lian meticulously prepared a sumptuous breakfast. The table was completely full of dishes. With Zhong Qian and the others around, there was no fear of waste. Even if they couldn't finish everything, they could send the leftovers to Cao Yin and Cao Yang at the back mountain, or over to Tiaoyu Mountain.
Little Mi Li had already finished her morning patrol before dawn broke. The old cook's residence was the liveliest place in the entire mountain, with cooking smoke curling upward every day like clockwork.
According to the plan they had all discussed the night before, this morning they would leave the mountain gate, ride the wind to Niujiao Ferry, and then board a Changchun Palace ferry boat heading south.
In truth, Luopo Mountain itself owned a Fengyuan Ferry that could travel between continents for trade. But as Chen Lingjun put it, this trip was about going down the mountain to travel and gain experience, not heading out to enjoy themselves, and certainly not to show off to anyone. They needed to endure some hardship, suffer a bit of bitterness, temper their bones and expand their horizons, make more like-minded friends amid the rolling red dust, and have the courage to draw their swords and help when they saw injustice on the road... As he spoke, even the azure-clad child himself didn't believe what he was saying. He exchanged a glance with the black-clad little girl, and they both burst out laughing. Pei Qian and Nuan Shu exchanged a look—these two were such childish fools.
At today's breakfast table, there was an unfamiliar face—a big-bearded burly man who called himself Liu Shen. He said he was a wanderer of the jianghu, looking for a meal at Luopo Mountain.
Chen Lingjun sidled up to chat with him, but Liu Shen just buried his head in his porridge, only responding with vague grunts and nods—an absolute clam. Chen Lingjun felt a bit regretful; he was about to go on a long journey, otherwise he would have invited the man for a few mornings of drinking, and then this shy Liu Shen would naturally open his heart. After finishing a hearty breakfast, Liu Shen put down his bowl and chopsticks, and asked where nearby was suitable for fishing. Chen Lingjun said Huanghu Mountain was pretty good. Liu Shen strode out of the courtyard. Chen Lingjun watched the swift-moving figure but didn't think much of it, just taking him for an oddball.
Wei Bo walked into the courtyard and said, "Patriarch Jingqing, the Mountain Lord requests a word with you at the top of the mountain path."
Chen Lingjun hurriedly swallowed a meat bun, grinned, and pointed at this Lord Wei, teasing, "Oh, you're being naughty, aren't you? Got promoted, so you're cocky now."
Regarding this travel route, the Mountain Lord hadn't given too many suggestions. He only told them to remember to pay respects to a few senior predecessors on certain continents when they passed through. For example, on Tongye Continent, they could visit Qing Tong, the founding patriarch of Wutong Mountain, and the old true man Liang Shuang. Near Qushan Ferry, they could present their calling card to Xu Xie, known as "Sword Immortal Xu Jun." On Jinjia Continent, there was a maritime sect called Xiefeng Palace; at their mountain gate, they could announce their names and likely mooch a few meals and lodging without trouble...
On the surface, it did seem a bit rough.
Last time when Chen Lingjun traveled through Beiju Luzhou, following the water route of Jidu, the Mountain Lord had practically marked out every spot where he might even take a shit for the azure-clad child.
But in truth, when it came to arranging protectors for Little Mi Li and the others, Chen Ping'an had indeed put in considerable thought. For instance, he had Wen Zixi responsible for the journey through Baoping Continent. On Tongye Continent, he asked Qing Tong to keep an eye on things and secretly look after them. When they reached Fuyuan Continent, Gu Can's Fuyuan Sect and a certain newly appointed National Teacher of the Jinpu Dynasty who had drunk plenty at Luopo Mountain could also spare some time to watch over them. As for Jinjia Continent, wasn't there Chou Chun the Daoist's Xiefeng Palace... This probably matched Patriarch Jingqing's catchphrase: "With many friends outside, you needn't fear traveling the world."
At the Sword Returning Lake over at the Thatched Cottage, Zhu Su was still in seclusion, so Ning Yao was helping guard the retreat. When Liu Cha had just arrived at Luopo Mountain, he followed Chen Ping'an over there for a while, but unfortunately there weren't many fish in the lake.
As soon as Old Long'er returned to Huaying Peak, he called over several Dao-seekers who hadn't yet retired for rest, as well as a few young high true persons from Taofu Mountain, and gave them a supplementary sermon on Dao teachings.
His newly accepted disciple Zhang Ying had gone to Liu Rao's National Teacher's Residence to train for a few years. Old Long'er left the youth two introductory Daoist scriptures and agreed that when Zhang Ying broke through to the Middle Five Realms, he should travel to Luopo Mountain's Huaying Peak for a formal disciple-worshipping ceremony. Since Old Long'er was the Second Seat Supplicant, Zhang Ying would be directly entered into the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall's registry once he formally acknowledged his master. Hearing this, Zhang Ying's heart wavered again: "This master I picked up for free from the sky is this impressive?"
But thinking about the turbulent court situation in Dashou Dynasty, the youth had to ask his master if there was any immortal secret manual for instant ascension. His aptitude was decent, he said—cultivate today, form a core tomorrow, hatch an embryo the day after—then he could go visit his master at the ancestral mountain sooner... As soon as these words left his mouth, Old Long'er, who loved playing the teacher, cursed him bloody: "How can a Dao-seeker be so frivolous and impatient? You stay put and temper your character beside Daoist friend Liu. If when you come up the mountain next year and I see your character still so unfit for great purpose, I'll expel you from the sect the very day you worship me as master!" This frightened the youth into trembling and endlessly apologizing. Old Long'er also took the opportunity to teach a certain Dashou ghost surnamed Chai an ancient cultivation method, telling him to achieve something with it and then also come to Huaying Peak.
Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen, those two brothers, had gone down the mountain early, saying they were heading to Shujian Lake to scheme some great enterprise. They would also urgently summon that batch of Tongye Continent earthly immortals and martial grandmasters that Old Master Jiang had once tossed from his sleeve over to Baoping Continent. Through his and Deputy Mountain Lord Jiang's kind persuasion and gentle guidance, they would supposedly have sudden awakenings, weep bitterly, reform themselves, make amends for their faults, and become new people.
A Changchun Palace ferry boat that had left the Dali capital last night and was heading to the Central Great River—its "Sixth Miss" had given herself the alias "Huang Chongxia," a character from an opera who had been a female top scholar and a female imperial consort.
This ferry boat would happen to pass by Piyun Mountain and Luopo Mountain, stopping at Niujiao Ferry for half an hour to let guests disembark for sightseeing or to visit temples and burn incense. After all, the old territory of Lizhu Cave Heaven had long become a tourist destination for mountain immortals, noble offspring, and officials' female dependents alike. The ferry boat would send out three immortal talisman boats, going respectively to the foot of the Northern Sacred Mountain, Huaihuang County Town, and the Water God Temple at Tiefu River.
Chen Ping'an sat on the steps, watching the azure-clad child sway his way over. He asked softly, "Daoist Xianwei still not awake?"
Chen Lingjun nodded. "Lazy people have good fortune, you know."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Tell me your plans. No need to mention Baoping Continent—you can wander wherever you like there."
Chen Lingjun was obviously confident. He began recounting the plan at a leisurely pace: "At Old Dragon City, we'll board the Yungui Sect's cross-continental ferry. Disembarking on Tongye Continent, we'll land right at True Man Lu Yonglu's Daoist site, the Qinghu Palace of Qingjing Mountain. I've heard great things about it for ages—I absolutely have to take Little Mi Li there to play around."
Chen Ping'an hummed in acknowledgment and added, "Zhao Zhu is still our Ancestral Hall guest elder."
Chen Lingjun grinned. "I deliberately found an opportunity earlier to chat idly with that pair, Zhao Zhu and Gan Xing. Didn't talk—didn't know. Started talking—got a shock. Turns out Zhao Zhu has a crystal-clear Dao heart, speaks and acts with openness, and has boundless prospects that can't be stopped. Zhao Zhu was overjoyed and said, 'Borrowing Jingqing Daoist friend's auspicious words...'"
A rap on the head. The azure-clad child cradled his head and changed the subject: "They say the Great River will turn into a Hundred Flowers River in the future—definitely have to go take a look. And over at Yunyan Country, that temporarily established 'Ancestral Hall,' Rice Big Sword Immortal said the barley wine with grilled fish there is second to none—I have to take Little Mi Li to try it fresh. Also, I heard that in the Daquan Dynasty's capital, come winter, if it snows, the Chenjing City becomes beautiful like a glazed immortal realm. If we want to enjoy the snow scenery, we can travel slower through Baoping Continent, walk more and take fewer boats, so that matter is still pending. And the rebuilt Taiping Mountain, and the Yungui Sect to the south—we're about to visit them. Not to mention Zhou Chief, ah no, Deputy Mountain Lord 'Surname Jiang's' Cloud Grotto Blessed Land. Little Mi Li and Zhong Diyi and I haven't been there yet, and Pei Qian says it's worth a visit."
On Tongye Continent's surface, it was a tripod standing situation: the Qingping Sword Sect as the rising dragon, the Yungui Sect as the local snake, and the Daquan Dynasty down below.
Chen Ping'an said, "Anyway, travel, observe, ask around—go wherever there's good food, good fun, and good sights. Don't stir up trouble outside, but if anyone stirs trouble with you, don't panic either."
Chen Lingjun thumped his chest in assurance. "With Little Mi Li along, it's not like I'm wandering around by myself. Mountain Lord, rest assured—I've got a sense of things here. Besides, there's Zhong Qian. That guy—normally easygoing, says nothing about anything, soft as cotton—but if he really encounters something infuriating, he'll only be more impulsive than me, screaming and fighting for his life. Mountain Lord, you can also rest assured: I'll repeatedly tell Zhong Diyi that being number one in Lotus Root Paradise doesn't mean you can swagger around in the Haoran World. A Golden Body martial artist can't explain principles with just fists and feet. The three of us still have Luopo Mountain, don't we? Still have all those Daoist friends you know, Mountain Lord—why vent momentary anger and waste our lives in vain? You, Zhong Qian, say 'a man dies with his balls to the sky, at worst eighteen years later he's a good man again,' but wouldn't we, your friends, die of grief?"
Chen Ping'an rubbed the azure-clad child's head. "Finally getting some sense."
Besides Chen Lingjun's "Collection of Passersby," there was Pei Qian's box of small account books, and Bai Xuan's "Heroes' Registry"—these were the fine traditions of Luopo Mountain.
Zhong Qian and Wen Zixi—one a pure martial artist from Lotus Root Paradise, the other a ordained Daoist from Lingfei Palace—had both become Luopo Mountain's registered guest elders last night, the kind with seats in the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall.
Yuan Huang had also gotten what he wished for. He was about to become Chen Ping'an's direct disciple. No need for cumbersome formalities—just find a time in the second floor of the bamboo building where Yuan Huang would kowtow and Chen Ping'an would drink his master-worshipping tea, and then they'd be master and disciple.
Actually, Chen Lingjun most wanted to go to Jinjia Continent.
Because some rumors in the landscape gazettes said that in Jinjia Continent, the name "Zheng Qian" was more useful than anything else. Chen Lingjun was skeptical and wanted to verify it personally. If it were true, then he'd have something to say: "That revered Grandmaster Zheng Qian you all adore—her real name is Pei Qian. Back when she first came up the mountain, she was still a mischievous little charcoal-head who liked poking wasp nests. I watched her grow up..."
As for whether to visit Qinggong Mountain on Liuzhou Continent, and whether to pay respects to that Old Immortal Jing during the trip, Chen Lingjun still hadn't decided. Jing Hao's beloved disciple, Nie Cui'e, had personally climbed the mountain to invite him there. Thinking it over, something always felt off to him. Someone like Jing Hao—a continental Dao Lord, a mountain big shot—had only condescended to have a few morning drinks with him at Luopo Mountain as a favor to his own Mountain Lord. This "Jingqing Ancestor" title was something Luopo Mountain's own people used to tease him. Once outside the mountain, anyone who took it seriously was obviously a fool.
Of course, Beiju Luzhou definitely needed more wandering around. He just didn't know if he'd run into that carriage driver Bai Mang again, or that poor scholar Chen Zhuoliu. They were all good brothers who had shared hardships.
Fortunately, Nephew Zheng, who had visited last time, knew how to handle people—much better than his unreliable master. He'd even left a contact method, saying that when Chen Lingjun got near Chenguan Dynasty on the Central Divine Land, he should give his nephew a heads-up. Even if Nephew Zheng couldn't personally receive and entertain him, someone else would be arranged to receive him.
He wondered what kind of official position this Nephew Zheng held back home in Chenguan Dynasty. This was the largest dynasty in the Haoran World, ranking even before Dali Song and Dayong Dynasty!
Chen Lingjun had sent a "family letter" with the address clearly written, addressed to someone called Huang Mang, who would forward it to Nephew Zheng.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Go prepare. You can head down the mountain for your long journey now."
Chen Lingjun stood up, dashed to the residence, slung a simple bundle across his body, and grabbed a mountain-walking staff leaning against the desk. That was all his luggage packed.
The visitors at Luopo Mountain, including Nie Cui'e of Qinggong Mountain, were mostly accomplished cultivators. They had already sensed the commotion at the mountain's foot. If they were guests at another sect, they would at most lean on the railing and watch from afar. But at Luopo Mountain, there was no need for such restraint. They exchanged thoughts with their neighbors and emerged from their residences one after another, coming to the mountain path to see what was happening. Could it be that distinguished guests had arrived? On their way, they were curious, guessing back and forth, unable to imagine what status would warrant such attention from Luopo Mountain.
Nie Cui'e asked and found out it was Right Protector Zhou Mili, together with the venerable Patriarch Jingqing, plus that martial artist surnamed Zhong. They were all going on a journey together.
At the mountain gate was Chen Lingjun, Dao name Jingqing, an Infant Transformation Stage water flood dragon.
Zhou Mili, at the Cavern Dwelling Stage. The black-clad little girl was also dressed with a cotton bundle slung across her shoulder, holding a mountain-walking staff. She had left her golden carrying pole at the residence—when traveling the jianghu, no need to show off.
Zhong Qian, a Golden Body stage martial artist. For the first time, when leaving the old cook's residence, he wasn't lounging around with a toothpick in his mouth. Zheng Dafeng and Wen Zixi knew that their Head Zhong had gotten serious.
Ning Yao came over temporarily from the Sword Returning Lake area and stood together with Pei Qian, who wore her hair in a bun.
Xiao Mo came out from the snail-shell Daoist site on Huimeng Mountain, and Xie Gou also arrived from the Fuyuan Trail Daoist site.
Zhu Lian, smiling broadly, stood with a slightly stooped posture, hands behind his back, wearing a pair of cloth shoes. The old cook was accompanying Nuan Shu in lecturing Chen Lingjun. Little Mi Li played the peacemaker, as usual.
Chen Lingjun, being scolded on one side and feeling smug on the other, thought, "Wow, this lineup, this spectacle."
He seemed to have forgotten that last time when he traveled alone to Beiju Luzhou, on the ferry boat, only Lord Wei had seen him off—and had even threatened him.
Chen Ping'an handed Little Mi Li a hairpin-style spatial storage item. Little Mi Li thought it was exquisitely beautiful but didn't reach out to take it.
Chen Ping'an explained, "Just got it. Didn't spend a single coin."
Little Mi Li furrowed her sparse, light yellow brows. "Got it the way you 'pick things up on the road'?"
Chen Ping'an laughed heartily. "Haven't done that sort of thing in ages. Someone gave it to me."
Little Mi Li took the hairpin with both hands, grinning. "I've already arranged with the registry officer Kong Hou for her to patrol the mountain for me while I'm away."
The white-haired child beside her nodded eagerly, hands on his hips. "Leave it to me! A small matter, a small matter!"
Little Mi Li glared angrily. "Small? I talked to you from the heart for half an hour last night!"
Just as the white-haired child was about to explain, Xie Gou gloated, "Aiyoyo, the deputy chief position you shamelessly begged back is about to be kicked out again. Tsk, miserable."
On the Sword Worship Terrace, Guo Zhujiu and others had come over on their flying swords, and even Sun Chunwang had arrived. Among them, Bai Xuan held a purple clay pot, speaking with exaggerated maturity: "Jingqing, Mi Lier, if you run into anyone blind on your journey, just use my... never mind, I don't have any impressive reputation right now. Just write down their names, Dao names, and sect addresses. When I've mastered my swordsmanship, I'll settle the scores for you."
"Oh, at Yungui Sect, I do have a close friend called Qiu Zhi. You can go find him at Jiuyi Peak. It seems the whole peak is his Daoist site. When you see him, pass along a message from me: say I miss him since we haven't seen each other for so long, and tell him not to slack off in his sword practice. Friends are forever friends, but sword skill levels still need to be distinguished. He and I agreed that later we'll travel Beiju Luzhou together."
Chen Lingjun agreed to everything. That kid Yu Xuan was just delightful to look at, so much like himself in his younger days.
Chen Ping'an tossed Chen Lingjun a third-rank Non-Action Tablet from the Dali Ministry of Justice. "It's a temporary loan. Return it when your journey's done—the Ministry needs to close the file."
Chen Lingjun caught the non-action tablet and was about to say "no reward for no merit," but when he looked down and saw the inscription, he looked up in confusion. "Boss, why isn't it a first-rank non-action tablet?"
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "What do you think?"
Chen Lingjun grinned sheepishly. "I'm afraid the third-rank non-action tablet won't scare off certain high-Daoist, low-character old immortals."
Chen Nuan Shu glared. "On Baoping Continent and Tongye Continent, a third-rank non-action tablet is sufficient. Flashing a first-rank non-action tablet will just invite unnecessary suspicion. And don't get careless just because you have a non-action tablet. Especially don't, after a few drinks, keep pulling it out to show off."
Chen Lingjun rolled his eyes. "Stupid girl, do you know what being an old jianghu veteran means?"
Chen Nuan Shu couldn't stand his slacker attitude. Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Chen Lingjun could only mutter "little housekeeper" inwardly while saying aloud, "I know, I know."
Chen Ping'an then handed Little Mi Li a National Teacher's Office jade tablet specially made by the imperial court. He said softly, "This is for you. When you go to the Dali capital to play, carry this jade tablet and you can go anywhere."
Little Mi Li took the jade tablet. Chen Lingjun didn't care whether the Mountain Lord was playing favorites or not. He really was like a rich landlord's simpleton son—or rather, not "like"—he was exactly that.
Nie Cui'e asked softly, "Patriarch Jingqing, may I ask about this long journey? When will you visit Qinggong Mountain? Can I inform my master in advance so we can make arrangements early?"
Her peripheral vision caught Nuan Shu's strange expression, and Chen Lingjun, addressed as "Venerable Patriarch Jingqing," looked even more embarrassed. He mumbled, "We'll visit when we pass through Liuzhou Continent."
Chen Ping'an turned to look at Zhong Qian, who carried a large pack, and smiled. "Brother Zhong Qian, I'll have to trouble you to look after things."
Zhong Qian nodded. "No free meals."
After sparring with that fellow surnamed Jiang, Zhong Qian's Golden Body realm had become fairly solid.
Zhu Lian snorted when he heard this. Ha.
Zhong Qian clasped his fists. "Old cook, from now on, the midnight snacks for Brother Dafeng and the others will be your responsibility. They have thin skin, after all. I'll have to be thick-skinned myself if I want to taste your cooking every day."
Zhu Lian smiled. "Now that sounds like something a human would say."
Zhong Qian pulled a bamboo toothpick from his sleeve, stuck it in his mouth, and grinned at Zheng Dafeng and the others. "Brothers, until we meet again."
A young Daoist with no wooden hairpin in his bun rushed out of the residence, looking at Little Mi Li and the others with profound reluctance on his face. It was Daoist Xianwei.
Xiao Mo and Xie Gou both felt complicated emotions, but they saw that the Mountain Lord and Mountain Lord's Wife were both completely at ease. The Daoist Xianwei was positively reeking of mortal smoke and fire.
Xiao Mo had personally witnessed and heard the conversation between this Daoist and Zheng Juzhong at the same table. Zheng Juzhong's words were deep with meaning: "Using a hairpin to stir wine, in a moment the hairpin is gone, like a man grinding ink. Reputation and body both perish, flowing forever through the ages." The Daoist had casually replied, "The Dao rises a foot, the demon rises ten. My fate is rough and uneven; I can only sigh 'what can I do?'" Zheng Juzhong had laughed and said, "Fine words and virtuous deeds—worthy of congratulations." And the Daoist had seemingly self-pityingly added, "Born with a fate like a boat on dry land—what can I do? Should I go against heaven?"
Chen Lingjun took a deep breath, ready to say his farewells and set off.
Just then, Lu Shen came over from the neighboring mountain peak, smiling. "Daoist friend Jingqing, a word in private."
Chen Lingjun found it somewhat odd but still walked aside with Lu Shen. Lu Shen handed him a small conch shell, saying that through this item, he could leave a secret letter for Mr. Zheng.
Chen Lingjun thanked him. With his back to the crowd, he began muttering into the small conch shell, "Nephew Zheng, this is your Uncle Jingqing. I was in a hurry earlier and already sent you a secret letter. But words written on paper—when you read them, first, the feeling is inevitably a bit thinner. Second, I'm not a proper scholar. Who knows if some of my phrasing might be careless? After all, you're a scholar. I'm most familiar with scholars' temperaments—you all like to split hairs, easy to misunderstand. So I'm using this treasure to chat a bit more with you. No need for formality between us. Your master and I—we're friends, but his way of doing things is too careless. The way I see it, his conduct isn't up to par. If he really treated me like a brother, why would he never mention his birthplace or family background? Am I the kind of person who looks down on you just because you're broke? Nephew Zheng, your luck hasn't been great either, recognizing such a wandering master. But then again, different people have different fates. No matter how so-so your master is, his heart is still kind. He might not be able to teach you profound Dao techniques, but just learning how to be a person from him would be a net gain. Oh right, I'm going on a long journey today. But when I'll get to Chenguan Dynasty—I can't say for certain. Don't wait for us to come visit. Scholars have scholar business to attend to. If our paths cross, fate will bring us together. If not, we'll meet next time. No big deal. Don't learn from those who slap their faces to look fat—throwing empty reception feasts, or getting some immortal inn ready for your uncle to stay at—no need. Alright, that's all the small talk. Uncle wishes you smooth cultivation and success in your studies, haha..."
Lu Shen had previously only been extremely wary of Mr. Zheng of Baidi City, having never dealt with him directly. But last time, right at the foot of this mountain, Zheng Juzhong had thoroughly schemed against him.
Listening to the azure-clad child's speech, Lu Shen's eyelids twitched. "'One Nephew Zheng, one Uncle Jingqing'? That kind of opening—could any normal person come up with that?"
As for the following words, every single sentence was an insult... Like an examination paper where every answer was wrong—was that harder to pull off than getting every answer right?
"Chen Qingliu's way of doing things is careless, his conduct not up to par, while Zheng Juzhong is at least a scholar who likes splitting hairs"...
How strange. Chen Ping'an's actions were so seasoned, his thinking so meticulous—didn't he ever keep an eye on this azure-clad child who seemed to be camping year-round at the gates of hell?
You didn't just "turn the conversation around"—you turned back from the gates of hell to the world of the living, more like.
Lu Shen had seen no small number of extraordinary people and unusual beings, but someone like Chen Lingjun was a unique case—there wasn't even a "one of."
Chen Lingjun had no idea about the twists and turns in Lu Shen's mind. He tried to hand back the conch shell, but Lu Shen shook his head and smiled. "Mr. Zheng specified that this item is for you."
Chen Lingjun shoved the treasure back into Lu Shen's hands. "Keep it, Daoist friend. Give it back to him when you meet."
Lu Shen truly didn't know how to deal with someone like Chen Lingjun, so he temporarily accepted the item for safekeeping.
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "Daoist Xianwei, would you like to come up the mountain for a look?"
The young Daoist asked, perplexed, "Is the Mountain Lord planning to reclaim the Incense Fire Mountain?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Of course not."
Xianwei relaxed, beaming, and made a Daoist bow. "The Mountain Lord is a man of his word."
Chen Ping'an hesitated briefly but ultimately didn't move. He accepted the Daoist's bow openly, then returned a formal bow of his own, silently reciting, "I invite the Daoist to ascend the mountain and cultivate the Dao, to renew the incense offerings for the mortal world."
The Daoist Xianwei seemed completely unaware. After rising from his bow, he saw Chen Lingjun and the others were ready to officially depart on their journey.
Chen Lingjun held his mountain-walking staff, his expression solemn, clasping his hands in farewell.
Little Mi Li held her staff, her smile brilliant. "Good Mountain Lord, we're off to play now. We won't be home too late."
Zhong Qian looked up at Luopo Mountain one last time, then turned back, nodded to everyone, and took his leave first. Until we meet again.
Ning Yao smiled. "Safe journey."
Chen Ping'an smiled and waved at them, also speaking what was probably the most universally beautiful phrase in the world: "Safe journey."