Chapter 16: Seats

Chapter 16: Seats

Over at the kitchen on Youyi Peak, the old cook with an apron tied around his waist and sleeve covers was busily working. With Warm Tree helping out, he saved quite a bit of effort. The steam baskets billowed with hot mist; just the condiments alone filled two large tables. The plates, bowls, and other vessels were all celadon ware fired from Longquan kilns, pleasing to the eye. The little girl in the pink skirt had just fetched three types of cooking wine from the wine cellar. She poured a bowl, and the old cook lifted it, gently swirled it, sniffed, and nodded. Lu Langhuan and Liu Ai and the others either came from wealthy families at the foot of the mountain or were women who had cultivated immortal techniques on the mountain since childhood. Doing these tasks was truly an expression of their sincerity. They themselves were well aware of it. Watching the old master's smooth and effortless culinary skills, they couldn't help but think what a blessing it would be to have such an elder at home.

Not only was Old Master Zhu patient and good-tempered, but his speech was elegant and not convoluted. He would actively chat with them about their hometowns at the foot of the mountain, sharing many interesting customs, anecdotes, and strange tales that even they themselves didn't know. With just a few words, the old master managed to evoke a faint sense of homesickness in them.

Generally speaking, larger immortal estates and training grounds on the mountains would have a few specialized cooks or kitchen maids, at least ones proficient in medicinal cuisine. This elderly man, said to be the old steward of Fallen Mountain, though simply dressed in a blue shirt, long gown, and cloth shoes, kept himself neat and tidy. His face was genial, his demeanor generous. There was an indescribable refinement about the old man, as if he possessed an innate air of nobility.

A young girl with sparse eyebrows rushed into the kitchen, heading straight for the stove. She sat down on a small stool, picked up the bamboo blowpipe, looked down at the blazing red fire, and was ready to work at any moment.

A young woman with her hair in a bun also entered the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, smilingly took the gourd ladle that Warm Tree handed her, washed her hands, tied on an apron, and stood by the chopping board.

A green-clad woman with an inkstone case at her waist was responsible for helping to pick vegetables. During this time, following the old cook's orders, she took down a ham from the beam and handed it to Senior Sister Pei.

There was still a little while before the wedding ceremony.

A girl in a sable hat swaggered into a cleverly arranged bridal chamber, cupped her hands and said, "Greetings to the bride and the mountain master's wife."

Ning Yao was busy wrapping packets of wedding candy into embroidered pouches and nodded to Xie Gou in acknowledgment.

The designs of these pouches were drawn by Old Master Zhu, the handmade samples by Warm Tree, and then entrusted to the female cultivators on Turtle Fish Ridge and the weaver women of Colorful Sparrow Manor to weave. Liu Xianyang and She Yue both felt there was no need for so much wedding candy, but Chen Ping'an insisted, saying he wanted to give them as gifts.

Xie Gou suddenly jumped back, with a face full of shock and admiration: "Mountain Master's Wife, today you're almost as beautiful as the bride."

Ning Yao pursed her lips and shot her a glare.

Then, learning that Huai Lu was the mountain lord of Luan Mountain, the sable-hatted girl's cheeks flushed, and her eyes immediately lit up. Luan Mountain was an excellent place for matchmaking and prayers for children. Acting very sycophantic and eager, she tried to cozy up to Sister Huai Lu. Chief Xie naturally thought of her own future wedding and wanted Sister Huai Lu to help arrange it beautifully. As for Old Master Zhu and Old Immortal Jia, well, they were family, no need for formalities.

Huai Lu, being at least the mountain lord of a reserve mountain, naturally knew the Dao name "White Scene," but she didn't have much feeling for "ancient great demon" or "Wilderness White Scene."

Xie Gou considered herself to have already won over Sister Huai Lu, almost to the point of swearing sisterhood on the spot. She turned to look at a beautiful woman who was touching up She Yue's makeup, admiring her handiwork, and asked, "Are you Sect Leader Gu's maidservant?"

Gu Lingyan nodded.

Her Dao name was Spring Night, and her alias in the Wilderness was Zi Wu Meng. She was one of the Heavenly Stem cultivators of the Wilderness.

Gu Can had given her a new name, and since she now took Gu Can's surname, her name on the registry was Gu Lingyan.

When speaking with Xie Gou, Huai Lu was very casual, but Gu Lingyan was quite nervous, even more restrained than when she had been by Gu Can's side and met the young Hidden Officer.

After all, Chen Ping'an also had a Confucian identity; before chopping someone down, he always talked about propriety, morality, and the rules of the Sage Temple.

As for White Scene, this "ancestor" from the Wilderness homeland and the founder of wild cultivators in the mortal world, how could Gu Lingyan not take her seriously?

Xie Gou glanced at her a few times and asked curiously, "Little girl, what great fortune you have, to actually refine a River of Unfixity? Could Yang Zhi and Fei Fei approve?"

Gu Lingyan answered honestly, "On the Wilderness side, the alias Zi Wu Meng was actually given by Zhou Mi. Since I also had a Heavenly Stem identity, I falsely transmitted an imperial decree. Yang Zhi and Fei Fei both misunderstood it as Zhou Mi's intention, so they didn't stop me."

Xie Gou nodded, "Fortune favors the bold. As our ancestor Jing Qing said, take a gamble, and your training ground doubles, your pond becomes a lake."

Xu Xiaoqiao was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. Ancestor Jing Qing? That was the blue-clad child who had spoken recklessly at the riverside blacksmith shop back then? Thinking about it, it did sound like something he would say.

Gu Lingyan actually had many ancient secrets she wanted to personally verify with White Scene. But Xie Gou had no interest in discussing such outdated, trivial matters with a little girl. She heard that earlier, Gu Lingyan and a few others had forced their own mountain master to improvise over a dozen poems and songs, and made Gu Can perform several sets of boxing techniques that had to be loud and cracking. At first, those two thick-skinned ones wished they could dig a hole and crawl in. After a while, though, they got into it themselves. What's the big deal? They were just learning to mimic women's gestures—crooked little fingers, mincing steps, singing opera? No problem. The result was that Ning Yao blushed so much she couldn't bear to watch, Gu Lingyan was doubled over laughing with tears, and Xu Xiaoqiao and Huai Lu were amused while also feeling their scalps tingle, afraid that after today, Chen Ping'an and Gu Can would kill them to silence them.

Xie Gou gave them a thumbs up, "Daring to tease my mountain master and Sect Leader Gu like this—you sisters are the first."

Xie Gou asked, "Sister Xu, still stuck at the Golden Core bottleneck?"

Xu Xiaoqiao smiled frankly, "At most, I'll reach Nascent Soul in this life."

Xie Gou asked again, "Who told you that?"

Xu Xiaoqiao smiled without saying anything. She had self-awareness, and the facts were as she said. But if it came to the toughness and purity of her Dao-seeking heart, Xu Xiaoqiao was actually not weak.

Xie Gou turned and asked, "Mountain Master's Wife, what do you think?"

Ning Yao said, "If she herself believes she will definitely stop at Nascent Soul, then reaching the Upper Five Realms will be as hard as reaching the heavens. Xu Xiaoqiao doesn't accept fate; she believes heaven never seals off all roads. That gives her some chance."

After all, Xu Xiaoqiao was a first-generation disciple of Dragon Spring Sword Sect, not from the Sword Qi Great Wall, not like Sun Chunwang or Bai Xuan. Ning Yao didn't want to say anything harsh.

Xie Gou asked with a smile, "Xu Xiaoqiao, if Xie Gou or Ning Yao says you definitely won't make it, do you definitely not? If they say you will, do you definitely will? On the path of the sword, when has the height of climbing ever been decided by others?"

Xu Xiaoqiao sighed softly. Hearing a principle was simple enough, but she was still grateful for Xie Gou's and Ning Yao's advice.

Xie Gou wasn't in a hurry either. She had her own means to make Xu Xiaoqiao see things differently, to glimpse a new world. That magnificent Daoist vista—if Xu Xiaoqiao saw it with her own eyes, even if she felt it was within reach while knowing it was thousands of miles away, Xie Gou believed she would be moved.

Huai Lu was a bit slow on the uptake and asked, "That earth-shattering Heaven and Earth Passage earlier—the female sword immortal who was first to fly up and slash open the pillar of light, was that...?"

Ning Yao tilted her chin toward Xie Gou, "Her true form's appearance."

Huai Lu cupped her hands, "A heroine among women! Utmost admiration!"

Xie Gou grinned, "Heroes don't distinguish between male and female."

Near a pavilion halfway up Youyi Peak, Xie Ling had gathered a large sea of clouds with a technique, making a temporary dock for the ferry.

Liu Xianyang and a few others, plus Xiao Mo, were squatting on the steps, cracking melon seeds.

They could see the cloud phenomenon over Qiyun Mountain—white clouds like hanging jade bead curtains with twelve tassels, truly the former White Peak.

Liu Xianyang laughed, "What a coincidence, the owners of Dragon Ridge Mountain are all gathered today."

Back then, the Great Li court had divided Dragon Ridge Mountain into four parts: Great Li's Song clan, Wind Snow Temple, True Martial Mountain, and Dragon Spring Sword Sect each got a share.

The Great Li court mined it extremely quickly, chiseling and quarrying day and night, all handed over to the Mohists to create sword boats, mountain-crossing ferries, talisman armor, and more, with wide-ranging uses.

Liu Xianyang said, "Blacksmith Ruan seemed to have a sudden epiphany back then and figured out an ancient sword-forging technique. Wind Snow Temple's founder Zhao Jingzhen also passed down an ancient sword path to the ancestral hall. The cultivation threshold wasn't high; Earth Immortals could practice it. I heard that now all the core disciples of Wind Snow Temple have been cultivating it for over twenty years. Those were the returns for each side sending out the Dragon-Slaying Stones, right?"

Chen Ping'an nodded.

But Wind Snow Temple's ancestral hall had issued a separate ban: if anyone dared to privately transmit it, it wouldn't just be a matter of striking from the registry, abolishing cultivation, and expelling from the sect. Anyone who received the sword art, regardless of identity or reason, would be confined to the mountain until death by Wind Snow Temple.

Only True Martial Mountain had been slow in quarrying, which gave them the chance to make that deal with Mountain Lord Chen, who had visited their mountain gate in person.

Gu Can said, "Wang Zhu is even with Great Li's Song clan, but she owes Cui Chan a tremendous favor."

The reason Dragon-Slaying Stones were so rare and valued even by cultivators who weren't sword cultivators—the name "Dragon-Slaying Stone" itself revealed the heavenly secret. So the dispersal of these Dragon-Slaying Stones from the mountain—whether to the two military ancestral courts that propped up Great Li's Song clan and fought off demons outside the mountain, or to the Great Li iron cavalry that clashed with the Wilderness demons on the battlefield—all could be traced back to some extent. Thus, after the Dragon-Slaying Campaign, the True Dragon King Wang Zhu was essentially forced into having meritorious service for Bottle Gourd Continent.

Since she had meritorious service for Bottle Gourd Continent, naturally she had merit for Haoran.

Gu Can asked, "Spring Palace is more troublesome, isn't it? It's not suitable for drastic measures—no such pretext. And it's not suitable for slow simmering either; if you stew the Dao heart too long, it'll really stew to mush."

Chen Ping'an nodded, "It's indeed tricky."

Gu Can said, "Flowing water does not stagnate; a door hinge does not become worm-eaten. Once you slow down, it's all hidden dangers."

Chen Ping'an smiled, "Fortunately, among the younger generation, there's a crop of truly smart people. Earlier on the military ferry, I deliberately flaunted the National Preceptor's authority. Palace Lord Lu Fanlu was scared half to death, Supreme Ancestor Song Yu never got the hint, but there was a young Earth Immortal named Feng Jie who had very insightful views."

Liu Xianyang said, "Toss two troublemakers near Spring Palace. They don't even need to be big officials like a prefectural governor or a continental general. The official hat can't be too big either. Just a commandery governor paired with a county magistrate. Not too many years needed—ten or twenty years will give them enough trouble. You and the court don't have to earnestly say 'I'm doing this for your own good.' Let them accuse each other, file lawsuits with the Ministry of Rites, at court meetings and small councils. After three to five times, Spring Palace will have used up all its goodwill. The merit book gets thinner and thinner. Then even the old antiques inside Spring Palace who don't want to progress will understand the stakes."

Chen Ping'an nodded, "Good idea."

Liu Xianyang sighed, "Thinking back to those days, wherever the Sweet Spring Ferry passed, a torrential rain would fall, quenching a thousand miles of drought. Spring Palace did many righteous deeds back then. And at that time, the cultivators of Spring Palace also couldn't have believed that Great Li's Song clan would have today's estate. They really acted entirely on moral principles."

Chen Ping'an said, "If it were any other training ground, I wouldn't be so constrained."

Gu Can clicked his tongue, "As expected of someone who painstakingly traveled across continents to study and seriously read for a few years."

Liu Xianyang laughed angrily, "If I hadn't returned home to apprentice under Blacksmith Ruan, and instead followed the academic path at an academy, or went to the coastal battlefield in South Pomace Continent to kill demons, I'd be a proper gentleman of a Confucian academy by now, maybe even the vice-mountain lord of Lake-Viewing Academy. I wouldn't be any worse than Wen Yu and the others."

Gu Can nodded, spat out a melon seed shell, "Then, Great Gentleman Liu, Vice-Mountain Lord Liu, would have the honor of standing with a crowd, holding his breath, waiting at the academy gate. Finally, he'd get to see the newly appointed Great Li National Preceptor arriving at the academy. He'd step forward alone, receive a few words of instruction, beaming with pride, secretly calculating—if the National Preceptor remembered their hometown friendship, a little promotion in the court, a few nice words at the Sage Temple, maybe even becoming mountain lord in the future. But when he later went to the National Preceptor's residence in the Great Li capital, Vice-Mountain Lord Liu would hesitate: should he meet as a fellow townsman, bringing a light but meaningful hometown specialty? Or should he insist on scholar's pride and literati integrity, going empty-handed with a clear conscience to visit His Excellency the National Preceptor..."

Liu Xianyang roared, "Enough already?!"

Chen Ping'an slapped at Gu Can's head, but Gu Can foresaw it and dodged by turning his head.

Liu Xianyang said, "It's strange. Back then, I thought you might become a Dragon Kiln master, or a merchant running one or two shops, maybe even start a Dragon Kiln up north. I never imagined you'd become an official."

Gu Can said, "Back then, there wasn't even a county office, just a Kiln Supervision Bureau. Forget about him—you had wild ambitions, didn't you? Wild enough. Did you ever think of becoming an official back then? You wouldn't even dare dream of it."

Liu Xianyang nodded. True words.

Chen Ping'an suddenly asked, "Do you want to be the Great Li chief enshrinement?"

Liu Xianyang was visibly surprised. He rubbed his chin, thought seriously, and said, "Forget it. It'd just invite gossip across the entire continent's mountain world. Not worth it."

Nowadays, it wasn't like before when a Jade Purity realm was a precious treasure. Now, even a Flying Ascension realm wasn't that rare.

The recent scattering of the Three Teaching Founders, the scene after the rain, was essentially equivalent to raising everyone by one realm.

After this Heaven and Earth Passage between Chen Ping'an and Zhou Mi, it seemed like another realm was raised.

Just as Gu Can longed for the words "Flying Ascension," Liu Xianyang, who cared so much about face, how could he take lightly the phrase "Attaining the Dao"? Deep down, how could he not care about "Merging with the Dao"?

Gu Can said, "What's with the pretentiousness? You shouldn't let good things go to outsiders. Even if the court accepts Ruan Qiong's resignation, no one would dare take on the chief enshrinement. It'd just be asking for trouble in Emperor Song's private study. For example, Cao Rong, Qi Zhen? Or Old Dragon City's Fu Qi, the Cloud Forest Jiang family head? Those capable don't have the nerve, those with nerve don't have the ability. Even if the Great Li capital's small court discussed it all day, they probably wouldn't come up with a truly suitable candidate. Leave aside the Great Li court's civil and military officials who've seen big things—even among the river gods like Tong Wenchang, Fan Junmao, Cao Yong who are straightforward, plus Wei Po and Jin Qing who speak with thorns, and the proud Yang Hua of Feng Hou Qi Du—doesn't she seize every chance to add her own spicy comments? Besides Liu Xianyang, who could replace Ruan Qiong and sit steady in that chair?"

Xiao Mo also advised, "Sect Leader Liu, recommend the worthy without avoiding relatives. If you don't treat your close ones well, how can you treat distant ones well? How can you treat the world well?"

Gu Can grinned, "This is called a legitimate son inheriting his father's business."

Liu Xianyang held back, but still didn't say a few piercing words.

Gu Can waited a moment, saw Liu Xianyang didn't speak, and was surprised, "I thought you'd bring up that matter."

His father, Gu Tao, was now the mountain lord of Shen Chen Mountain, one of the three reserve mountains of Pi Yun Mountain.

Liu Xianyang laughed angrily, "You really think I can't argue with you or outcurse you? I've been letting you win all these years."

Gu Can's gaze was pitying. On this matter, if I, Gu Can, said a single word against you, it would be like pouring salt on a wound.

Chen Ping'an undercut him, "Take it easy. Bragging is against the law."

Xiao Mo laid the green bamboo staff across his knees and quietly cracked melon seeds, all given by Xiao Mili.

Since personnel changes are always up to heaven, why should we worry our hearts into a thousand knots and never be happy?

Deep in the emerald green surrounded by white clouds, cooking smoke rose lazily. It didn't matter if it was an immortal's home or a farmhouse.

Chen Ping'an said, "Liu Laocheng has probably defected to Liu Tui and gone to White Porcelain Cave Heaven in Flowing Xia Continent, probably to stake everything there and seek the Dao of Flying Ascension."

Gu Can was silent for a moment, then laughed, "Let that bastard succeed in ascending if he can. I'll be waiting. Howling wolves that eat meat will travel a thousand miles. I'm just afraid he'll hide in Book-Screen Lake all his life, chanting Buddha's name and eating vegetarian."

Xiao Mo thought highly of Gu Can. First, because Gu Can was impeccable in his dealings with his own young master. Second, because Gu Can's temperament and patience, if set in the ancient times of "cultivation of Dao and technique in parallel," would have made him very popular and achieved even greater things?

Liu Xianyang warned, "If that day really comes, remember to prepare thoroughly, choose the right time, especially the place. Don't make me go visit you in the Sage Temple's Hall of Merit."

Given Gu Can's personality, fighting Liu Laocheng to mutual destruction or mutual injury would be a losing deal he'd never accept. At most, he'd sacrifice one realm to take Liu Laocheng down with him. But the question was, Liu Laocheng—what kind of man was he? Would he easily give Gu Can such an opportunity? Liu Xianyang didn't want to think too much about these future matters. He gave a few warnings and let that little snot-nosed kid handle it himself.

Liu Xianyang let out an "eh." Chen Ping'an hadn't said anything? Because Gu Can had made a promise to Chen Ping'an—he would never become Xing Lou, would never give Chen Ping'an a chance to become Yu Dou.

Chen Ping'an said calmly, "The three of us haven't gotten to where we are today by complaining and griping all day. Doing it occasionally is fine."

"Don't hold huge resentment against vague, false, and empty things, like 'the times' or 'human hearts.' That's the mentality of the very weak."

"For example, certain frustrated literati's resentment toward the Great Li dynasty—because they don't dare to confront real power, and can't solve any problems at hand, they only dare to bare their teeth at a fictional, colossal existence, calling it 'moral backbone.' Some even put on a show when they've actually benefited."

"But you can hold immense hatred or anger toward a specific, real person or matter that is temporarily stronger than you—like Liu Laocheng. Then grit your teeth day by day, surpass that person, solve that matter."

"These principles don't include certain figures. They are exceptions."

These exceptions had all left deep marks on this world and would continue to influence it for a long time.

Gu Can suddenly asked, "When's the bowing to heaven and earth?"

Liu Xianyang said helplessly, "We have to wait for the witness before we can do the ceremony."

According to Liu Xianyang and She Yue's own wishes, they didn't really need a witness.

After all, the Mr. Qi who helped them tie the red thread was gone.

In a sense, Zhou Mi, who brought She Yue to Haoran, could also be considered a matchmaker? But that hero was gone too.

Throughout history, how many sages, heroes, and warlords have used the mortal world as their burial ground, without epitaphs or memorial ceremonies.

That's why Xiao Mo envied the three of them so much. He envied both their friendship and their fate. In a chaotic world, amid countless tribulations, life was like drifting catkins; one parting often meant no reunion. When the storm settled and they survived the calamity, they could still reminisce together.

Previously, when Xiao Mo drank with fellow Daoist Bi Xiao, they would both remember old friends and recall strong enemies.

But they found it hard to find a third drinking companion. They couldn't exactly invite Qing Tong over for a drink.

By the end, the slightly tipsy Bi Xiao would sigh, "Within the seas, both friends and foes have become as sparse as morning stars."

————

Dong Hu, as the senior disciple, was responsible for following his master Ruan Qiong and welcoming the honored guests who had close ties with Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

Although Xie Ling had never liked socializing, on a day like this, he actively followed Ruan Qiong to the temporary dock.

Because of a small misunderstanding at the blacksmith shop back then with Saint Ruan, Chen Lingjun thought of making up for it by dragging Wei Po along as a foil.

As for the relatives and friends on Liu Xianyang's side coming to the wedding, their ferry was docked at Youyi Peak territory. The two groomsmen were naturally going to accompany the groom in receiving and seeing them off.

Among the third-generation disciples, aside from Li Shenyuan, who had entered Boiling Sea Peak to study under Xu Xiaoqiao, the one with the best aptitude was Gu Linfen, who had joined the sect later. At fifteen, he was already an Observation Ocean realm sword cultivator.

The youth's master was Lu Xiting. Dragon Spring Sword Sect was a very quiet training ground, but this time the youth got a solid glimpse of the mountain world's big scenes.

Just a large group of Wind Snow Temple's terrestrial immortals alone opened Gu Linfen's eyes.

Chen Lingjun was chatting idly with Gu Linfen, telling the youth some hearsay heroic tales of Wind Snow Temple and True Martial Mountain. With the Northern Peak Lord standing right there, the youth didn't dare to act presumptuously; he just listened to whatever the blue-clad child said.

In the distance, Ruan Qiong was chatting about "family matters" with a Daoist who also looked like a child and the five ancestors of the various lineages of Wind Snow Temple. Blacksmith Ruan rarely laughed so heartily.

Wind Snow Temple, as Dragon Spring Sword Sect's "family from the bride's side," had sent many people this time. Except for the Immortal Terrace lineage, which only had Sword Immortal Wei as its sole inheritor and couldn't attend, the other five lineages—Giant Salamander Ravine, Green Water Pool, Wenqing Peak, etc.—each had their founder leading the congratulations. They each selected one or two personally taught disciples or highly talented second-generation disciples. The young generation was carefully chosen; those with ugly looks, gloomy expressions, or arrogant attitudes who looked down on everything were told not to come.

The leader was, of course, Wind Snow Temple's founder, Zhao Jingzhen, whose Dao name was "Spirit Pupil." With deep Dao power, returning to simplicity, he had looked like a child for centuries. He was a highly respected elder on Bottle Gourd Continent's mountain world. In the past, Li Tuanjing of Wind Thunder Garden was extremely proud, but he had only two or three bosom friends on the continent, one of whom was Zhao Jingzhen, who had inherited several ancient Shu sword lineages.

Zhao Jingzhen was not only the founding ancestor of one of Bottle Gourd Continent's two military ancestral courts, but also a sword immortal at the Immortal realm. However, unlike Sunlit Mountain, which loved to spend money to buy face—if one or two of its sword cultivators reached Jade Purity, they would make a huge fuss, wishing everyone knew—Zhao Jingzhen only notified the Central Earth military ancestral court when he reached the Immortal realm, and accepted a few congratulations within Wind Snow Temple's ancestral hall.

Whether in sect newsletters or in a certain ancestor's public speeches, "praising" Sunlit Mountain was something both Wind Snow Temple and True Martial Mountain did with full effort and expertise.

Earlier, at Shenxiu Mountain dock, Ancestor Zhao Jingzhen told the young disciples to make a ruckus on the mountain path, intending to add festivity. But the moment they saw the newly appointed Great Li National Preceptor, how could they still "seize the bride"?

One disciple quickly sent a secret flying sword message to the ancestors, asking what to do. The ancestors replied, "Do as you see fit."

In the end, they all obediently stood by the mountain path, showing themselves but not blocking the way—truly "doing as they saw fit."

Unexpectedly, National Preceptor Chen also smiled and handed each of them two red packets. They got so excited their faces reddened. One hot-headed youth was especially fired up, thinking, "We took the money, so we have to do the job." He was about to make up for it with a fake "bride-snatching" and block the groom and the sedan chair... but then Gu Can shot him a sidelong glance, and the youth instantly chickened out.

Just then, the Qin ancestor from the Giant Salamander Ravine lineage asked with a laugh, "Over at True Martial Mountain, is Yue Ding also coming to congratulate?"

Ruan Qiong nodded, "Not many people—just him and his daughter Song Jing."

Yu Liu, a female ancestor from the Green Water Pool lineage, said worriedly, "I just got word that over at Spring Palace, Song Yu flew into a rage. He temporarily convened an ancestral hall meeting, stripped Lu Fanlu of her palace lord title, and threw her directly into the dungeon. It's said that Lu Fanlu tried to resist and was forcibly suppressed by Song Yu. In the end, a younger generation named Feng Jie filled the vacancy as palace lord. Song Yu himself took the position of disciplinary master. Sweet Spring Ferry's steward Gan Yi took charge of finances. The remaining positions were also forced out of the old-timers' hands and given to some young faces."

Ruan Qiong was originally from the Green Water Pool lineage; Yu Liu was his senior sister. Back when they "split the family," he had proactively left his Long Ju Sword Furnace, which had cost him immense effort, to his master's lineage. Wind Snow Temple certainly didn't want to accept it, but Ruan Qiong was stubborn, and Wind Snow Temple couldn't out-stubborn him. So one of Wind Snow Temple's wedding gifts this time was to relocate the Long Ju Sword Furnace in its entirety to Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

Zhao Jingzhen said calmly, "Let's not talk about these frivolities today. Let me remind you again: Spring Palace's household affairs, the Great Li court's state affairs—none of you are to say half a word about them today. Bragging, chatting about True Martial Mountain, cursing Sunlit Mountain—that's enough."

Yu Liu sighed.

The Qin ancestor stroked his beard, "The cultivators of True Martial Mountain hold big official posts down the mountain. When it comes to actual combat merits, they may not be stronger than our Wind Snow Temple."

As for the two temples—Wind Snow and True Martial—each sending ten people to fight on a stage, Wind Snow could make True Martial's cultivators cry for their ancestors—that would be too damaging to harmony, so it wasn't mentioned.

In terms of geographical territory, Bottle Gourd Continent was the smallest continent in Haoran—there was no "one of" about it. But in terms of military status, Bottle Gourd Continent was unquestionably a great continent.

Two ancestral courts: Wind Snow Temple and True Martial Mountain. The latter was more deeply involved in the mundane world; when disciples went out for training, they often joined dynasties down the mountain to lead troops, mostly as military generals.

But when it came to one-on-one combat ability, Wind Snow Temple's military cultivators were superior. Many promising young talents almost always chose to be military cultivators accompanying the Great Li army.

And the women of Wind Snow Temple were especially outstanding. For example, Yu Huiting of Wenqing Peak and Qi Qi of Giant Salamander Ravine had earned Exempt Badges issued by the Great Li Ministry of Justice for their battle merits. In particular, Yellow Brow Immortal, who came from the Qin ancestor's Giant Salamander Ravine lineage, had even reached the rank of vice-general of Han Province. In the earlier campaign to pacify Qiu Kingdom, Yellow Brow Immortal performed extremely fiercely and decisively, leaving a stronger impression on the three "Great Li officials" supervising the battle on the ferry—one National Preceptor and two vice-ministers—than the provincial governor Situ Xiguang and General Lu Song of Han Province, both high-ranking officials.

Ruan Qiong asked with a laugh, "Ancestor Zhao, Old Qin, are you really not going to try again to persuade Yellow Brow Immortal to restore her sect registry identity?"

Yellow Brow Immortal had renounced her Wind Snow Temple registry identity back then, but before leaving the mountain, she had kowtowed at both the ancestral hall and the mountain gate.

There were rumors that Yellow Brow Immortal was about to be promoted to the newly established general of Ju Province.

Zhao Jingzhen shook his head, "We tried. Yellow Brow Immortal declined."

Then Zhao Jingzhen and his party exchanged a few courteous words with Lord Wei and flew off toward Boiling Sea Peak. They wanted to visit Five Flowers Palace first before going to Youyi Peak.

Those two show-offs arrived first at Five Flowers Palace Square on the summit of Boiling Sea Peak.

Cui Dongshan shook his sleeves, clapped his hands in admiration, and said, "Five Flowers Palace—what a great name."

Jiang Shangzhen laughed and asked, "I've only heard of the Daoist cultivation concept of 'three flowers gathering at the crown, five energies returning to the origin.' I've never heard of the 'five flowers' doctrine. Is my knowledge too limited?"

Cui Dongshan nodded, "Indeed, Vice-Mountain Lord Zhou's knowledge is shallow."

Jiang Shangzhen said curiously, "Brother Cui, please enlighten us."

Cui Dongshan laughed heartily, "I don't know why it's called Five Flowers Palace either."

In truth, the three flowers of essence, energy, and spirit represent the Yang longevity of the Dao. When the three flowers fall, the Dao dissipates. As long as the three flowers in the inner courtyard haven't fallen, it means there is still time in life, before death, for reunion and meeting again.

The outside world might not know clearly, but this Dragon Spring Sword Sect wedding was not only about Sect Leader Liu Xianyang taking a wife, but also about Founding Ancestor Ruan Qiong "marrying off his daughter."

So who the witness was, mattered a lot.

No matter how little Ruan Qiong cared about pomp, he wanted to save face on this matter and let Yu Qianyue marry with glory.

Ruan Qiong was the number one sword forger on Bottle Gourd Continent and also the Great Li dynasty's chief enshrinement. His connections in the mountain world had always been good.

Chen Rong, who was skilled in painting dragons, came from the Chun Ru Chen clan of South Pomace Continent. He and Ruan Qiong were long-time bosom friends. Back when Ruan Qiong was chosen to replace Qi Jingchun as the saint stationed in the small town, it was because the Chun Ru Chen clan had said a few weighty words to the Great Li Song clan on his behalf. The late emperor of Great Li, or more accurately, National Preceptor Cui Chan, ultimately selected Ruan Qiong to enter Pear Blossom Cave Heaven.

The current head of the Chun Ru Chen clan was Chen Chunhua. Like his elder brother Chen Chunan, he was a pillar of the Second Sage lineage. But Chen Chunhua spent a very long time studying in his study, so naturally, his elder brother, who shouldered both sun and moon, overshadowed his fame and reputation. However, in the eyes of the Confucian lineage within the Central Earth Sage Temple, the gap in scholarship between the "Two Chens" of South Pomace Continent was far less than the difference in their realms. As for Chen Chunan's own evaluation, he said his own efforts in heart and learning were mostly in the "small learning" of textual research, classic exegesis, and gloss, while his younger brother Chen Chunhua's merit lay in "flowing with the trends" and "entering the room to take up weapons"... That was probably a household matter closed up within the Chun Ru Chen clan and the Second Sage lineage.

According to Liu Xianyang, although Blacksmith Ruan was big and rough, completely ignorant of poetry and song, and not interested, he was quite attentive to the classics of the Hundred Schools. On his desk, there were only a dozen or so books year-round, none of them rare Daoist scriptures or secret manuals. He would read certain books in certain seasons or even certain hours, as if he had picked up some study method from some book. A bookshelf against the wall held sets of official printed books ranging from a few taels of silver to dozens of taels.

However, Chen Chunhua was famously rigorous in his scholarship and austere. Ruan Qiong didn't have much confidence in inviting him to be the witness. His old friend Chen Rong could only say he would try his best, not daring to guarantee anything.

In his letter, Chen Rong hinted that Chen Chunhua had a pretty good relationship with Qi Tingji of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Ruan Qiong replied with a letter but didn't comment on that matter. Perhaps the discarded draft in the bamboo basket mentioned it briefly, but what it said, Chen Rong had no way of knowing.

Tong Wenchang, dressed like an old farmer in coarse cloth and straw sandals, the Western Peak Lord, shrank the earth and came directly to Shenxiu Mountain dock. The old man had a tobacco pipe tucked at his waist. He cupped his hands and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Ruan, I've come uninvited. Don't mind me. Don't worry, I won't drink too much of your immortal brew."

In the few times they had attended the small court meetings in the Great Li imperial study, Ruan Qiong and Tong Wenchang had talked the most, speaking freely with each other. They would often leave the study together, hide on the steps outside—one smoking, the one drinking in silence.

Ruan Qiong laughed heartily, "You're too kind, Lord Tong."

Tong Wenchang handed over a prepared wedding gift and joked, "Chief Ruan should call me Lord Tong. If it were anyone else, I'd turn around and leave."

Then a blue-clad child who had been standing at the back of the line suddenly shot out, sprinting like flying, getting ahead of Dong Gu. With utmost respect, he took Lord Tong's gift with both hands, pouring out a long string of flowery words like beans from a bamboo tube, loud-voiced and thick-skinned. Dong Gu listened and silently memorized them, deeply impressed. Such great learning! Dealing with people was precisely Dong Gu's weakest point, but as the senior disciple, he had to appear, finding it a chore. Now, hearing this speech from Fellow Daoist Jing Qing, he felt enlightened. He thought, if mountain interactions could be so shameless, then what did he, Dong Hu, have to fear?

Who would have thought that this moment of insight would create the future famous social butterfly of Dragon Spring Sword Sect on Bottle Gourd Continent's mountain world, nicknamed "Dong the Eight-Faced."

Ruan Qiong was a close friend of Li Tuanjing, the former garden master of Wind Thunder Garden. However, the current garden master, Huang He, had gone to the Wilderness battlefield. For this congratulations, two old masters at the level of the garden master's uncles came.

From True Martial Mountain, Mountain Lord Yue Ding, Dao name "Snow Ape," brought his daughter Song Jing to offer congratulations.

Both military ancestral courts had a considerable number of sword cultivators. Yue Ding himself was a sword cultivator, with his natal flying sword "Flower Season Wind."

Song Jing did not take her father's surname; she had a single-character flying sword. The character "Jing" in her name was personally given by the Martial Temple's Jiang Taigong.

Ruan Qiong hadn't sent out many wedding invitations. He stayed here mainly waiting for Chen Rong.

Unexpectedly, another distinguished guest arrived: a ferry from Flowing Xia Continent. Approaching the ancestral mountain territory, it dispelled its concealment. An old man with profound Dao aura stood at the bow. The ferry stopped outside the mountain, and the old man announced his name—Jing Hao, an old Flying Ascension with the Dao name "Green Palace Supreme Guardian," the leader of Flowing Xia Continent's mountain world. He spoke a few auspicious words.

Ruan Qiong was greatly surprised. He had no connection with this long-famous continent's Dao master. But since the man had come from afar, Ruan Qiong—stubborn, not stupid—immediately smiled, cupped his hands in return, invited the man into the mountain for a drink, and didn't forget to express his thanks.

Chen Lingjun was stunned. He rubbed his eyes and said softly, "Old Brother Jing... Old Immortal Jing?"

The former was what he called him at the wine table; the latter was what he said after the table, once the alcohol wore off. After every morning drinking session, he felt it was inappropriate, but every morning he sat down and downed a few bowls of morning wine, and Chen Lingjun forgot about it again. After drinking, he regretted it. When happy, he continued calling him brother. After getting off the table, he regretted again. On the table, he was impertinent again... So, over many morning drinking sessions, he did develop some genuine feelings. After Jing Hao left Fallen Mountain, the blue-clad child rather missed Old Immortal Jing.

Jing Hao drifted down lightly, used his divine power, rolled his sleeve to receive the Flowing Xia Ferry, and bowed to the Pi Yun Mountain Night Traveler Lord, Dong Gu, Xie Ling, and the others: "Greetings, Lord Wei. Greetings, young friends."

Wei Po and the others returned the salute. Xie Ling looked relaxed, not feeling particularly impressed by meeting an old Flying Ascension. Gu Linfen, however, was extremely nervous.

Jing Hao smiled at the blue-clad child and said, "Fellow Daoist Jing Qing, just by chance, I had some personal business in North Julu Continent. I had a talk with Heavenly Lord Xie Shi about building a branch temple in Flowing Xia Continent. Then I received a flying sword message from my disciple Nie Cui'e, learning that Fellow Daoist Jing Qing was about to go on a long journey."

Jing Hao presented two wedding gifts: "Fellow Daoist Ruan, Heavenly Lord Xie is currently busy with his closed-door cultivation and truly cannot get away. He asked me to deliver these gifts on his behalf and offer his apologies."

Ruan Qiong smiled knowingly, "No matter. I wish Heavenly Lord Xie a smooth closed-door session. That would be a double blessing."

This was also why Xie Ling had asked Chen Ping'an about the customs and geography of North Julu Continent. This long-browed son of the Xie clan of Peach Leaf Lane would soon be heading north. Nominally, it was to secretly protect his ancestor's closed-door cultivation. But why would a Daoist Heavenly Lord who had already attained Flying Ascension need a mere Jade Purity realm descendant to protect his cultivation? In reality, Xie Shi wanted Xie Ling to join the Daoist registry. Xie Shi acted with integrity; he stated this clearly in his letter. Ruan Qiong had no objection and advised Xie Ling not to miss this once-in-a-lifetime Dao opportunity. But it was Xie Ling himself who was reluctant to leave Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

After the rain, among Daoists alone, there was Heavenly Lord Cao Rong of Bottle Gourd Continent's Ling Fei Palace, who rose as a feathered immortal at sea. Heavenly Lord Xie Shi of North Julu Continent ascended on a luan bird.

So Xie Shi's current closed-door session was highly significant.

Was North Julu Continent about to produce another Fourteen Realm?

As for the connection between Jing Hao's Green Palace Mountain and Xie Shi's training ground, separated by White Cliff Continent, mountain-top scenery was always shrouded in clouds and mist.

But Jing Hao knew that back when Bottle Gourd Continent's chaos wasn't yet obvious, Xie Shi was the first mountain-top cultivator to publicly cooperate with the Great Li court and Embroidery Tiger. Back then, an intercontinental ferry crashed in the old Zhu Ying dynasty's territory, and Xie Shi had come south to Bottle Gourd Continent and taken up a position in central Bottle Gourd Continent.

Jing Hao laughed, "Fellow Daoist Jing Qing, after the wedding feast, I'll be waiting at Green Palace Mountain for news of your arrival."

Chen Lingjun wanted to wave his hand grandly and say, "Spare me the nonsense," but suddenly realized this wasn't Fallen Mountain's wine table. He immediately exchanged a few polite words with Old Immortal Jing.

Wei Po communicated via mind voice, laughing, "Jing Hao is obviously here for you. Isn't he stealing the spotlight a bit?"

Originally, Chen Lingjun was feeling guilty—"Old Brother Jing treats me like a brother, and I'm hesitating whether to pretend to pass by Flowing Xia Continent and not see him? That 'Collection of Passersby' has misled me greatly!" Hearing Wei Po's words, his Dao heart shook. He asked carefully, "Won't Saint Ruan hold a grudge?"

Wei Po said, "How would I know Saint Ruan's thoughts? I'm not even a nodding acquaintance with him. You know him better."

Chen Lingjun stammered, "I haven't really chatted idly with Saint Ruan that much, either."

Over at Youyi Peak, a ferry sent specifically to pick up people from Chu Prefecture city had brought the old Dragon Kiln workers here. Xiao Mo watched his own young master greet them familiarly—"Master So-and-so," rubbing their children's heads, reminiscing about old times, thanking them for past help, for teaching him skills... Some of the old men or middle-aged men might have forgotten themselves.

At the main mountain, Wei Po suddenly looked with great surprise at a tiny speck in the distant sea of clouds—a ferry coming from the direction of Central Earth Continent.

On this unremarkable ferry, not only was Ruan Qiong's old friend Chen Rong present, and Chen Rong had indeed brought the clan head Chen Chunhua.

But besides them, there was also Jiang Taigong, who enjoyed the main sacrificial incense of the mortal Martial Temple! And the Sage Temple's Chief Dong, Vice-Chief Han!

Ruan Qiong's emotions were extremely complicated. He was both happy and grateful, yet also had an indescribable awkwardness. Such a grand scene—what did it have to do with him?

But he knew the intention was certainly good, so Ruan Qiong found it even harder to say anything. Instead, he felt he was being petty. After a brief inner struggle, he resolved it himself, and inwardly felt sincerely happy for Yu Qianyue and Liu Xianyang to have such a wedding banquet.

After all the excitement, everyone took their seats for the feast.

Dragon Spring Sword Sect had two large tables, Fallen Mountain had one large table, and Liu Xianyang's former kiln worker friends had a table.

There was also a head table. Ruan Qiong's expression was awkward. How to arrange the exact seating "reasonably and courteously" was a scholarly matter. The guests were far beyond expectations; Ruan Qiong was at a loss about how to seat them. Even Old Immortal Jia was flustered and couldn't immediately come up with the best plan. He merely asked, "Where should our mountain master sit? Should he sit next to Saint Ruan? Should we go by age? By seniority in the Sage Temple? Or by his place in the entire mortal world? Should we consider each criterion separately or comprehensively? If the mountain master sits, what about the mountain master's wife?" Old Immortal Jia was truly worried. Liu Xianyang suppressed a laugh; She Yue gave him a gentle nudge. Huai Lu, however, didn't quite understand the undercurrents; she was still shocked by the scale of today's wedding. Gu Lingyan was curious about what the young Hidden Officer would do. Ruan Qiong also sighed softly and was about to pull out a chair beside him and say something to someone. Old Daoist Jia quickly turned his head to look next door, and then his worry vanished.

Everyone saw that the groomsman, who had already chosen a seat at a neighboring table, walked over. His smile was warm, his words concise, his manners impeccable. He skillfully greeted and escorted Master Dong and the others to their seats, one by one. When the head table was full, he then walked over to Gu Can's side, took the wine flask and cup, and prepared to accompany the groom and bride, toasting with the bridesmaids.