# Chapter 203: The Drunken Young Wanderer
The barefoot old man had unknowingly walked out of the bamboo building, standing at the edge of the cliff. He came to Chen Ping'an's side and asked with a laugh, "What's this? You've just gotten through a major hurdle, and already you're reminiscing about the bitter past to savor the sweet?"
Chen Ping'an was pulled from his thoughts. Coming back to himself, he took a sip of wine and turned his head with a smile, "Is that not so good?"
The old man wore a simple white linen robe, looking exceptionally clean and brisk. "Not so good? Bah, it's damn good. Living without any hope, now that's bland. Being able to endure hardship and enjoy good fortune, that's a true hero. When you're suffering, don't go around whining to everyone you see, 'Oh, I'm so miserable,' like some little maiden. And when you're enjoying good fortune, just accept it with a clear conscience. All of it is a good life you earned with your own skills. Why should you only be allowed to secretly celebrate under the covers?"
Chen Ping'an nodded, "Some things I might say might not make you happy, Senior, but they are truly what's in my heart. Senior, would you be willing to listen? I've never told anyone else, not even my best friend, Liu Xianyang, has heard them."
The barefoot old man crouched down beside the bamboo chair and the youth. "Oh? The miserable, pathetic little troubles from your childhood? Go ahead, say them, let this old man have a laugh."
Chen Ping'an took a sip of wine, not getting angry. He handed over the vermilion gourd. The old man waved his hand, saying he disdained the inferior liquor. So Chen Ping'an opened his heart and spoke slowly, "Even when I was practicing boxing, in so much pain every day that I'd howl and secretly cried a few times, thinking I was really going to be beaten to death by you, Senior. But even so, I still feel that the most painful times in my life were when I was a child. Once was the first time I went into the mountains alone to gather herbs. I remember it very clearly. The sun was huge in the sky, and I was carrying a big bamboo backpack almost as tall as I was. At the time, I was naive, thinking that if the backpack was big, I could hold a lot, a whole lot of herbs, and then Mother would get better faster. Then, as I walked and walked, the skin on my shoulder got rubbed raw. The sun beating down, sweat flowing, it hurt like fire. The key was that I had only just left the small town at that point. The thought of hurting like that for half a day, for a whole day, I really did feel like dying."
The old man gave a derisive snort.
But it wasn't directed at Chen Ping'an. Instead, he was thinking of the sons of the Cui clan, with their silks and satins, their generations of noble ranks, the preeminent noble houses of Bottle Gourd Continent. And those little brats, when they were just starting to practice boxing, standing in the basic stance, they all acted as if they were suffering the greatest injustice in the world. They'd go back home and start filing false complaints against their parents. Or in the bitter cold of spring and winter, they'd wrap themselves in fox furs like rice dumplings, and just having to attend an early morning class in the family school, they'd think they had suffered the greatest hardship under heaven. On New Year's Eve, they'd just be thinking about asking their ancestors for a big red envelope of lucky money. The old man couldn't stand this sort of thing, but his other brothers of the same generation actually fell for it. The crying child gets the candy, after all.
Chen Ping'an continued, "The second time was because of hunger. The rice jar at home was empty. Everything that could be sold had been sold. I had been hungry for a whole day and didn't have the face to beg anyone. So I just walked around the alley, thinking that someone might take the initiative to greet me, to ask if I wanted a meal. That winter was really, really cold. In summer and autumn, it wasn't a problem. No matter how poor the family was, wearing fewer clothes didn't matter. And I could go into the mountains to gather herbs and earn some copper coins. Each time I gathered herbs, I could also bring back wild vegetables, fruits, or borrow an iron hammer from a neighbor to smash rocks in the stream. The fish hiding underneath would get stunned, and I could take them home, paste them on the wall to dry. They didn't need any oil or salt. Dried, they were ready to eat. And they tasted good. But that winter, there was really no way out. If I didn't beg, I would starve to death. What could I do? At first, my skin was thin. I kept telling myself, Chen Ping'an, you promised your mother you would live well in the future. How could you become almost like a beggar just one year after your parents passed away? So I lay on the bed, thinking that if I just endured it, the hunger pangs would pass. How was I to know that hunger is just hunger? I didn't faint from hunger. Instead, the hungrier I got, the more awake I became. No choice. I got up, walked out of the yard, and wandered into the alley again. Several times I wanted to knock on a door, but I always pulled my hand back. I just couldn't bring myself to say the words. Later, I told myself, just one last walk through Mud Vase Alley. From one end to the other. If still no one opened the door and said to me, 'Little Ping'an, it's so late, have you eaten? If not, come in and have a little something,' then I would really go and knock on someone's door and beg. But I silently swore in my heart that when I grew up, I would definitely repay that family who was willing to give me food. In the end, I started walking from the alley near the Cao family ancestral home, all the way to the end of the alley where Gu Can's family lived. But still, no one opened the door."
The old man laughed heartily, without a shred of sympathy. "So? Which family's door did you finally knock on? Were they willing to let you come in for a free meal?"
When Chen Ping'an reached this point in his story, his expression, which hadn't been particularly dejected or sorrowful in the first place, became even more radiant. It was as if he had just drunk the finest, most delicious wine. "I had no choice but to walk back, crying. But I hadn't taken more than a few steps when a courtyard gate behind me creaked open. At first, I didn't dare to turn around. But when someone called out to me, I quickly wiped my face and turned to look. I saw a neighbor holding an earthen hand-warmer, the kind with a copper lining inside and a woven bamboo shell outside, so you could carry it around with you. When she saw me, she also seemed quite surprised."
The old man clicked his tongue. "Heaven never seals off all exits, huh? So you, kid, just swindled yourself a full meal like that?"
Chen Ping'an roughly wiped his face. It was completely wet with tears, but his face was full of smiles. "No. The neighbor thought for a moment, then smiled and asked me, 'Little Ping'an, can you really go into the mountains to gather herbs? Do you really recognize those medicinal herbs?' Of course, I said I did. And I wasn't bragging. In those two years, I went into the mountains to gather herbs almost every other day. I knew the mountains better than I knew Mud Vase Alley. She laughed and waved at me, saying loudly, 'Well then, Little Ping'an, come here. I need to ask you for a favor. My body can't stand the cold, and I need a few kinds of medicinal herbs to make a soup to nourish myself. But the Yang Family Shop is too ruthless, too expensive. I can't afford it. Little Ping'an, when spring comes, could you go into the mountains and gather the herbs for me? I can give you copper coins, but the price has to be a bit lower.'"
Chen Ping'an said softly, "I walked over and was discussing things with her. She casually handed me her own hand-warmer. After we finished talking, she saw that I wasn't moving. She smiled and asked, 'What's the matter? Haven't eaten, and now you want to cheat a meal out of me? No way! Unless I deduct it from the medicine money, I'm not letting you through this door!'"
Chen Ping'an smiled, looking into the distance. "After my parents passed away, I saw all sorts of looks. Many kids my age called me a cursed jinx who had killed his parents. Even when I just watched them fly their paper kites from afar or fish in the river, some of them would throw stones at me. And some adults liked to call me a bastard, saying that a lowly wretch like me would be considered too dirty even to be an ox or a horse for the rich families, that I was more troublesome than the broken porcelain pieces on Old Porcelain Mountain. But that day, that woman talked to me like that, saying I had to pay for the meal with money if I wanted to eat... Senior, you have no idea how happy I was at that moment. When I was in the house eating, the tears just wouldn't stop. They flowed all over my face again. She joked, 'Oh my, Little Ping'an, is my cooking so good or so bad that it makes people cry?' At that time, I could only keep my head down, shovel the rice into my mouth, and say it was delicious."
The old man grunted and reminded him, "But did you ever consider that the neighbor might have actually been trying to help you? She just used a better way to do it."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "I didn't think of it at first. But after eating at her place and settling the bill a few times, I understood very quickly."
That neighbor was, of course, Gu Can's mother.
That's why, every time Gu Can's mother got into a fight with someone, Chen Ping'an would be right there watching. A few times, when the arguments got really vicious, a group of women would join forces to scratch her face and pull her hair. At those times, Chen Ping'an would run up to protect her. He wouldn't fight back either. He would just let the women take their anger out on him.
So Chen Ping'an never thought of himself as a goody-two-shoes.
For someone as good as Gu Can's mother—no matter how bad her reputation was in Mud Vase Alley or Apricot Flower Alley—she was his savior. If he didn't want to repay her kindness properly after all that, Chen Ping'an didn't think he was even human.
So what if he gave Gu Can a little mud loach? So what if he knew it was a great opportunity?
Chen Ping'an didn't feel any regret at all.
When this world shows you kindness, you must cherish it. You must be grateful for the blessing, no matter how big or small.
That's why the words of his half-teacher in the kiln, Old Man Yao, were the best principle in the world in Chen Ping'an's eyes at the time.
"If it's yours, hold onto it tightly. If it's not, don't think too much about it."
No one in the world owes you anything. But if you owe someone, don't take it lightly.
Later, his treatment of Liu Xianyang was no different.
Gathering herbs in the mountains was ultimately not a long-term solution. It was Liu Xianyang who taught Chen Ping'an how to set traps for wild game, how to make a crude bow, how to fish. And when they went to work at the Dragon Kiln, it was the slightly older Liu Xianyang who was still looking out for him.
Chen Ping'an had lived such a bitter life from a child to a youth, to the point where he could support himself. He was very willing to be reasonable. But if it involved Gu Can or Liu Xianyang—like what happened with the Mountain-Moving Ape—Chen Ping'an wouldn't give a damn about reason. As long as he had the ability, he would fight to the death for them.
Chen Ping'an had once said to a girl from another region that if he ever found a girl as kind-hearted as his mother in the future, even if she were bullied by the Dao Ancestor himself, he would still roll up his sleeves and fight. Whether he could win was one thing; whether he was willing to fight this battle for his wife was another. If he married such a good girl and didn't know how to cherish her, Chen Ping'an would have a guilty conscience.
Of course, he had found a girl that good. But he hadn't been able to say it yet. That was why he had to go on this next journey through the martial world.
He had to carry the two swords he had secretly named "Demon-Subduer" and "Demon-Banisher" on his back, walk up to her, muster up his courage, and loudly say, "Miss Ning, Ning Yao! Whether you like me or not, I like you. I like you a lot!"
As for whether he would get slapped or even lose her as a friend, he would just be thick-skinned and tell her first!
The old man snatched the Sword-Nurturing Gourd from Chen Ping'an's hand, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp. But he didn't throw it back to Chen Ping'an right away. "This liquor really isn't that great," he said sourly. "Go on with your story. These petty, filthy little business are only fit to be the appetizers for this jug of cheap booze."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, his hands tucked into his sleeves. "After surviving that winter, I seemed to have a sudden awakening. My skin got thicker. When I was really too hungry, I would go and beg for a meal. And I remembered every single one of those favors. I thought that after the ice melted, I could go into the mountains, earn some copper coins, and pay them back. There were also kind-hearted old people who would give me their old clothes. I didn't feel embarrassed anymore. I wouldn't say my family didn't need it. I just accepted it all honestly. In those years, I gathered herbs in the mountains like crazy, but I still earned very little money. I was just too weak. And many of the herbs the Yang Family Shop wanted were very hard to find. That was normal, of course. If they were easy to find, how could I earn this money, right? So I helped my neighbors with their chores. In the mornings, I would help them carry water from the Locked Iron Well. When there was farm work, I would help out in the fields. Late at night, I would squat there, helping them fight for water for their crops. I would make sure their water channels weren't cut off by others. I didn't dare to confront them head-on. I had to hide in the distance, waiting until those strong men left. Then I would dare to sneak back, dig open the channel, and divert the water into my neighbor's paddy field. I would keep watch all night until the field was full. Only then would I fill the channel dam back up. For this, I got chased and beaten many times. Luckily, I was young, but I was fast. I didn't really get hurt that often."
The barefoot old man drank the wine slowly and leisurely. He said the wine was bad, but he was really drinking it one gulp after another, not sparing any of it. And as his ears took in these trivial, age-old market-town tales, the old man didn't seem to find them too annoying either.
Chen Ping'an had poured out his heart without any reservation. He felt much better. So he reached out to take the wine gourd. The old man raised his elbow, knocked the youth's hand away, and said unceremoniously, "Wait a moment."
The old man pinched the wine gourd between two fingers and spoke slowly. "Chen Ping'an, after listening to all this crap about your trivial little troubles, do you want to hear this old man talk a bit about some great principles that are of no use whatsoever? These words, even when this old man was at his peak, already at the apex of the martial world, how would you say my vision was? Was it high enough? Even I found them worthless. Want to hear them or not?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Go ahead. I like listening to people's reasoning."
The old man stood up. "I once met a refined old scholar at the top of a mountain in Middle-Earth Divine Continent. I didn't know his identity at the time, but I roughly guessed at it later. It's just a pity that I didn't grasp his kind intentions back then, which led to my later wretched state of a crazy, ragged old man. At that time, I was chatting idly with the old scholar. Don't think that just because I was a pure martial artist, constantly talking about the principles of boxing, that I wasn't actually a proper scholar by upbringing. I've read a great many books. At the end of our chat, I asked him for advice on some things I couldn't understand. And that old scholar told me some of his principles, more or less."
The barefoot old man began to pace with the wine gourd in hand, walking in circles. "That old scholar said, 'We live in a very complicated world. The words and actions of many people, even those of extremely learned scholars, are often self-contradictory. We see many things that don't make sense, and we inevitably ask ourselves, are the principles in the books wrong? Or is it that those principles haven't been explained thoroughly enough, or completely enough?'"
"So the question is, what do we do? How should we view this world, where many people talk about reason but act without it? There are ways to deal with it. One is to live purely. My fists are hard, my swordsmanship is strong, my magical powers are formidable. I use these to break through some things. Complicated problems are solved simply. As long as I am happy. If Heaven and Earth have rules that constrain me, I'll break them with one punch. If the Great Path of the world suppresses me, I have one sword that can break all methods. Even if I can't achieve such a free and easy state right now, as long as I think this way unwaveringly and walk this path consistently, it's fine. People like this can exist, but not everyone can be like this."
Here, the old man stopped walking and looked at Chen Ping'an, laughing at himself. "Your old man here is exactly this type of person."
"The old scholar continued, 'Another way is to live very cleverly. To do things in the most worry-free, effortless way possible. The word 'rules' is meant to be exploited for its loopholes. If a scholar acts like this, he becomes a cynic. Or, to make a choice between what is reasonable and what is emotionally acceptable, to choose what suits one's own feelings, even if it doesn't fit the world's logic. In the end, the bustling world is all a flurry of people coming and going for profit and interest. If only this 'profit' could be replaced by the word 'propriety,' how wonderful the world would be!'"
"The last type is to live very tediously. To take a complicated problem and make it even more complicated. To break down the reasoning, to carefully sort it out, to think it over slowly. In the end, to figure out a 'why.' You might do things, take a huge detour, and only find yourself back at the starting point. But was it truly useless? Not at all. After you figure it out, your heart will feel very comfortable. It's like... like taking a sip of well-aged, mellow wine. Warm and fuzzy, wonderful."
"We scholars revere the Confucian sages. They aren't as supremely perfect as the world imagines them to be. They are full of human flavor. But the true learning of the Confucian school is also not as unbearable as some make it out to be. Even if you don't agree with the four words 'human nature is inherently good,' that's fine. But in the end, it can still persuade people to do good."
The barefoot old man paced around in circles and finally stopped. "I can't be sure if that old scholar was that particular person. But thinking back on it now, if it really was him, it wasn't easy for that old scholar to sit down and calmly tell me these things. After all, I had gone to Middle-Earth Divine Continent back then to crash his party."
The old man raised his arm and took a hearty gulp of the strong liquor. He casually tossed the Sword-Nurturing Gourd back to the youth and laughed loudly towards the distance: "In those days of my far wanderings, my heart was full of bold talk that had to be let out!"
The old man stood at the cliff's edge, one foot stepping forward, looking at the sky. "When I walk between Heaven and Earth, under the blazing sun and the bright moon, I must ask, 'Is the space between Heaven and Earth bright enough?'"
The old man turned his head and asked with a smile, "Chen Ping'an! What do you think? Bright enough?"
Chen Ping'an was just about to lower his head and take a sip of wine. Hearing the question, he had no choice but to look up, a bit dazed. "Not quite bright enough?"
The old man laughed heartily, pointing into the distance. "When I walk the lakes and rivers, with the great rivers surging and the rolling waters, I must ask, 'Is the water of the rivers and lakes enough to quench my thirst?'"
Chen Ping'an managed to hurriedly take a sip of wine. Hearing the old man's bold talk, he inexplicably felt a surge of boldness himself. One hand gripping the wine gourd, the other clenched into a fist pounding on his knee, he joined in the excitement, yelling, "Not enough!"
The old man spoke again, "When I walk the peaks of the mountains, amidst the jade towers and cloud seas of immortals, I must ask, 'Is the wind at the mountaintop cool enough?'"
Chen Ping'an, his face flushed red, had taken another large gulp of wine. Fueled by the strong liquor, his face was radiant. For the first time, he laughed wildly and disposedly, shouting, "Not enough, not enough! Far from enough! The wine isn't enough! The river water and mountain wind aren't enough! Nothing is enough!"
By the bamboo building, the two little ones looked at each other.
The pink-dressed girl was a bit worried. Was her master going to turn into a little drunkard like this?
The blue-clad boy, on the other hand, was full of mutterings. Was the master crazy? Had he driven himself silly from practicing boxing? Hey, if that's the case, did he have to be so diligent in his cultivation? Would it be okay to slack off for a few days?
In the end, Chen Ping'an, chair and all, fell over, dead drunk.
From then on, the human world and its lakes and rivers had one more young drunkard wanderer.
# Chapter 204: An Old Friend Comes to Deliver a Sword
The young Daoist had come and gone. Now he was back. The fellow who kept the thoughts of many small-town maidens and matrons occupied was setting up his fortune-telling stall in his old spot again. But the town was bustling now, and, unbelievably, he had a business rival right next door. This one was an old man in a brand-new Daoist robe, in the winter of his years, yet with a ruddy complexion and an extremely ethereal, immortal air.
The old Daoist sat behind a large table, an air of celestial spirit about him. On the table sat a shiny, oiled, large bamboo sign-container, filled with neatly trimmed, beautiful bamboo sticks. Beside the table stood an ostentatious, imposing silk banner with a couplet written on it: "Knows yin and yang, understands the eight trigrams; reads the heavens and geography. One stick of a sign is all it takes. Can dissolve disasters and avoid misfortune; can accumulate virtues and merits. For just a few coins."
This fortune-telling stall was unbelievably popular. The common folk of the town, both men and women, came in an endless stream, all saying it was efficacious. Word of mouth spread like wildfire. Add to that the fact that this newly arrived fortune-teller was in a good era. Now that the people of Dragon Spring County had seen and heard for themselves that there were truly immortals in the world, their faith was stronger than ever. They said it was a few coins for a stick of a sign. But even the poorest of families were willing to pull out a big handful of copper coins, hoping to absorb a bit of the old immortal's good fortune.
The young Daoist's stall, on the other hand, was a scene of utter desolation. The gate could trap sparrows, as they said. And that was the literal truth. Just as he set up his stall, a yellow sparrow flew from afar, circled, and then departed. The young Daoist was a bit heartbroken. He looked pitifully at some of the young maidens, familiar faces with whom he had once chatted animatedly. But the girls who had come upon hearing the news mostly gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves. They watched the handsome Daoist's predicament with blatant eyes, finding it all the more amusing.
This made the young Daoist a bit sad. In the end, thoroughly bored, and seeing that his neighbor's stall was temporarily without customers, he simply had the nerve to go over and sit on a stool. The old Daoist, though his face was full of righteousness and his eyes didn't stray, was actually feeling quite anxious in his heart. 'Fists fear the young and strong.' If it really came to a fight over business, his old and frail arms and legs would be no match for a few blows from this young man in front of him. The old Daoist had learned a smattering of fortune-telling, and he was very good with his mouth. But if it came to a real fight, he would definitely get on his knees and beg for mercy.
The young Daoist, wearing a lotus-shaped crown, sat down, smiling but silent.
The old Daoist's peripheral vision caught sight of the lotus-shaped crown. It was a style he had never seen before. In the continent of Bottle Gourd and the large continent to the southeast, aside from the very few large Daoist temples, all Daoists, whether on the mountain or off it, wore the fish-tail crown almost exclusively. This was something that couldn't be messed with. It touched upon the grand matter of a sect's orthodoxy. Who dared to wear it improperly? If a Daoist temple didn't deal with him, the government would arrest him and throw him in jail.
A great sense of calm settled in the old Daoist's heart. This was probably a greenhorn who didn't even know the basic rules of entry. He had picked up a few shallow bits of ritual and made himself this outlandish Daoist crown. He probably thought he was standing out from the crowd, not wanting to be like the common sort. The old Daoist calculated the distance between his stall and the county magistrate's office. Feeling he had the upper hand, his aura suddenly shifted. A gleam of wisdom appeared in his eyes. In an instant, he regained his unearthly, aloof persona. He stared intently at the handsome young Daoist, quite capable of bluffing.
The young Daoist indeed showed a flicker of unease. "Old Immortal, could it be that you can tell just by my fortune-telling that this journey of mine hasn't been going well?"
'Damn, I've run into someone a bit slow on the uptake. That's perfect. If he were a truly reckless fool, it wouldn't be as good. With my glib tongue, I can take down this junior in just three sentences.'
The old Daoist secretly chuckled to himself. 'A stall like yours next to mine, and you think things are going well?'
The old Daoist put on a veneer of profound knowledge. "Seeing as you are a junior and a younger one at that, draw a stick. No charge. I'll do a divination for you for free."
The young Daoist laughed pleasantly. "How could I trouble the Old Immortal for such a thing? I just came over for a chat. A chance meeting like this is also a kind of fate..."
While the young Daoist was saying these polite words, he was already leaning forward, reaching out to grab a bamboo stick.
The old Daoist raised an eyebrow and placed his hand on top of the sticks. The young Daoist withdrew his hand with a sheepish air, waving it lightly. "Hehe, I saw that your bamboo sticks, Old Immortal, were a bit dusty. I was just trying to brush them clean for you."
The old Daoist gave a forced smile, clearly indicating that if he didn't close the door, he would be showing his guest out.
Because not far away, a woman was leading a young child towards the stall. Business was coming. The old Daoist had no time to waste on a lousy fellow practitioner.
The young Daoist had no choice but to stand up and return to his own stall. He put his hands behind his head, leaned back, and looked up at the azure sky.
Further away, a middle-aged man was slowly approaching with a long-eyebrowed youth. Before the youth came, his clan's ancestor had only said that he was the "master of this particular lineage." Despite having a will far stronger than most, the long-eyebrowed Xie family boy was still nervous. He could only imagine that he would be meeting a supreme old immortal who could ride on clouds and mist. White-haired and hoary. Surely with a spiritual creature by his side, either a celestial crane or a flood dragon. In short, he must be a great figure whose immortal aura could pierce the clouds.
But when the long-eyebrowed boy saw that it was that half-familiar face, he was completely dumbfounded.
The young Daoist was no stranger to the townsfolk. He would do divinations for woodcutters and kiln workers. He would read the palms of girls and matrons. He would help people write letters home. He would do anything. And when there were happy or funerary occasions where he could get a free meal and a free drink, the young Daoist was never shy. He would just say a few auspicious words, and then he would start drinking big bowls and eating big chunks of meat. He was no match for the young, strong men who could go up and down the mountains. In fact, he was so good at it that it could make a person worry about the cost of the food.
The mother of the long-eyebrowed youth, the refined and educated lady of the Xie household, had once brought her son for a fortune-telling session. They had drawn an excellent stick of a sign. She had heard a bunch of vague, nice-sounding words and was so moved she had to turn her head away to wipe her tears. The young Daoist, seeing his advantage, said he wanted to read her palm too. He had a sly, lecherous grin on his face. The long-eyebrowed boy was so angry that he immediately pulled his mother and went home. He thought to himself, how could there be such a shameless, lecherous scoundrel! As he led his mother away, the boy had even turned back and glared fiercely at the young Daoist.
Xie Shi was about to bow respectfully, but the young Daoist slightly shook his head. He made a slight pressing motion with his hand, a gesture for Xie Shi to sit down. So Xie Shi obediently sat on a long bench. The long-eyebrowed youth swallowed his saliva and stood beside Xie Shi, his head bowed low, his mind a complete fog.
The old Daoist gave a sidelong glance. When he saw someone going to the neighboring stall, he almost rolled his eyes. Did some blind idiot still come to get a fortune-telling from that beardless young man? What else could it be but throwing good money away?
Xie Shi didn't know how to begin. As the Sect Leader of a continent who was destined to become a Heavenly Lord, he found himself in a most awkward and difficult position.
The young Daoist ignored Xie Shi. He looked up slightly towards the long-eyebrowed youth who was bowing his head, and teased him, "I didn't cheat you back then, did I? That excellent stick of a sign was genuine and true. Honest deal with no cheating."
The youth didn't know why, but he felt like he should kneel and kowtow. But no matter what he did, he just couldn't force himself to his knees.
The young Daoist, who had introduced himself to Chen Ping'an as Chen Lu Chen (since disassembled into two parts 'Lu' and 'Chen'), smiled. "No need to be so nervous. You didn't do anything wrong back then. There's no reason for you to feel guilty. What, just because I'm a few generations higher than your clan's ancestor, you think you've done something wrong? If you're going to be like this for the rest of your life, you're going to be in big trouble! The higher you climb on the mountain, the more you'll feel you're wrong in front of everyone. It's a self-inflicted hardship, and a waste of that excellent stick of a sign I gave you."
The boy, who was usually quite clever and well-behaved in front of him, had lost his nerve at this critical moment. This made Xie Shi a bit angry. But just as he was about to scold him, he was silenced by a fierce glare from the young Daoist, feeling like a cicada in autumn.
Xie Shi smiled bitterly. It turned out he wasn't much better than the long-eyebrowed youth.
Lu Chen smiled lightly. "You don't really want to keep him by your side to help him along?"
Xie Shi sat up straight, took a deep breath, used divine ability to straighten his own heart, and no longer felt so timid and hesitant as before. "Under the shade of a big tree, it's both a blessing and a curse. It's very hard for a second tall tree to grow under it."
Lu Chen nodded. "Correct."
Then Lu Chen rubbed his chin and clicked his tongue in admiration. "I can go and tell my master this little phrase later, so that the old man can stop complaining that his disciple has turned out badly. At least half the fault lies with the master."
The peaceful heart Xie Shi had struggled so hard to find immediately became a tangled mess. He grimaced and said not a word.
He was still hoping to become a Heavenly Lord! Would he even be able to keep his 'True Man' title at this rate?!
The master of his own master, of course, wouldn't be so petty as to get angry about this. But who didn't know about the temperament of his master's second senior brother, the most unfathomable one...?
If that one got angry, who could withstand it?
Lu Chen waved at the long-eyebrowed youth. "Come, come, come. Help me look after the stall. I'm going to take a walk and see some old acquaintances."
How could the long-eyebrowed boy dare to usurp the magpie's nest and actually sit in that position? He would rather die than take a step.
Xie Shi breathed a sigh of relief. He was genuinely afraid that the long-eyebrowed boy would be foolish enough to just plop down in that seat.
Lu Chen didn't mind. He gave an order to Xie Shi, who had quickly stood up, "I won't see the others. You go tell them not to be so eager to stick their faces where they aren't wanted. I've been in a bad mood lately, and I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back, hehe... And also, if I ever want to see your descendants in the future, it won't be necessary for you to go through the trouble of bringing them. Even if they're hiding in the blessed lands underground, I can still see them just as well, can't I? So, let's not have a repeat performance."
Xie Shi lowered his voice and nodded, "I shall obey your divine decree!"
Lu Chen coughed, and asked with a beaming smile, "That child's mother, how come she's not here? I didn't even have time to read her palm last time."
Xie Shi, seeing the "master of his lineage" for the first time, mumbled and stammered, unable to utter a single word.
Those rumors that were secretly circulating among the many Heavenly Lords and Great True Men, they were all completely false! Every single one!
The long-eyebrowed youth was already completely stunned.
Lu Chen swaggered away. As he passed the neighboring stall, he said with an envious expression, "The Old Immortal is so busy."
The old Daoist smiled lightly and nodded. In his heart, he was cursing, 'Just get the hell out of here!'
Lu Chen wandered around until he finally stepped into Mud Vase Alley. As he passed the Cao family ancestral home, the doors were tightly shut. The continental Sword Immortal from Parasol Continent, Cao Xi, silently bowed in salute inside the house. The fiery red fox lay prostrate on the ground in an attitude of devout prostration, trembling with fear.
Lu Chen was unmoved. He walked straight up to a courtyard and hopped up to peek over the wall at the scene inside.
A girl sunbathing in the neighboring yard stood up, frowning. "What are you doing?"
Lu Chen shifted his gaze, pointed a finger at his own nose, and laughed heartily. "Miss, don't you recognize me? I was here last year. We know each other! Besides, you and your young master once came to my stall for a fortune-telling. Don't you remember?"
The girl pretended to think hard, then shook her head. "I don't remember!"
Lu Chen walked over to the wall of the courtyard next to Chen Ping'an's. He stood on his tiptoes, propped his chin on the top of the wall, and vigorously sniffed the air. "Miss, you're cooking rice. It smells wonderful. I can smell the fragrance of the rice from here."
Zhi Gui's expression remained innocently bewildered. She shook her head again. "No, I'm not."
Lu Chen smiled, tilting his head slightly, and pointed at the girl. "My nose is very sharp, Miss. You can't fool me."
The girl said, "Oh." She went to the kitchen and pulled all the firewood out from under the earthen stove. The formerly roaring hot cooking stove immediately went out, leaving behind a pot of half-cooked rice.
The girl walked to the kitchen door, clapped her hands, and asked, "And now?"
Lu Chen gave her a thumbs-up. "You win!"
The girl didn't seem to take it seriously at all. She asked, "Are you looking for Chen Ping'an? What's it about? I can pass a message for you."
Lu Chen smiled. "I'll find him myself. I wouldn't dare to trouble you, Miss. I'm afraid my stall might not be able to stay open tomorrow if I do."
Zhi Gui said, "Go ahead. I know Chen Ping'an very well."
After saying this, she pointed to the 'fu' (good fortune) character posted above her door. "Look, it's exactly the same as the one on his house. Chen Ping'an gave it to me."
Little girl, you're not going to cheat me like this. Do you really think I can't do a divination?
Lu Chen couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. He really didn't know how Qi Jingchun had managed to put up with this girl back then, or how he was willing to protect her in every possible way.
Lu Chen sighed. "Actually, I'm not here to see Chen Ping'an today. I'm here to see you, Wang Zhu."
Zhi Gui looked coldly at the young Daoist. "Even though my young master isn't in town right now, if you dare to bully me, Chen Ping'an will take revenge for me when he gets back. Also, I know Qi Jingchun. He is a Confucian sage. Aren't you afraid that even though he's dead, he might suddenly come back to life and beat you to death?"
Lu Chen stretched out both hands and rubbed his face. "Not to mention whether Chen Ping'an will get revenge for you or not. Qi Jingchun is dead. Dead is dead. He won't come back to life."
Zhi Gui gently raised an eyebrow.
Like the willow leaves swaying in the wind, bending gracefully in the spring breeze.
Lu Chen put his hands back on the top of the wall and smiled. "Wang Zhu, I have a piece of great fortune to give you. Do you dare to accept it?"
The two sleeves of his blue Daoist robe lay softly on the yellow mud wall.
Like a coiled dragon and a crouching tiger.
Zhi Gui crossed her arms over her chest, as if to protect herself, and sneered, "Lecher! Rascal! Debaucher! Libertine!"
Lu Chen dropped his hands and burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.
Thinking back to those ancient days, when there were still thousands of true dragons in the world, they were given domains to rule over all the lakes, marshes, rivers, and seas. Among them was the most famous one, a female dragon. Her status was already unspeakably noble. How passionately devoted she had been to him! And in the eyes of the world, how heartless had he been?
The young Daoist nearly laughed himself to tears.
The Great Path, no matter how vast, has no room for the trivial entanglements of love and romance.
'One only envies the mandarin ducks, not the immortals.' This saying exists in books. It exists on the mountains. But it doesn't exist at the summit.
Lu Chen looked at the girl in front of him, who shouldn't have appeared in the world. He remembered asking his master back then why 'the net of Heaven is vast and wide, but nothing slips through'—yet the Li Zhu Cave Heaven could exist.
The old man had only smiled and said two sentences.
"'Wide and vast yet nothing slips through' is precisely the crux of the problem. If one relies solely on the method of the Heavenly Dao, it is no longer sufficient to establish oneself, hence its collapse."
"'The Great Dao has fifty paths, divided into forty-nine from Heaven. One escapes for humanity, and from that One, all things are born.'"
Back then, the old man was squatting by the pond of that Lotus Cave Heaven. He cupped a handful of water and splashed it onto a slightly tilted lotus leaf. The water splashed on the high spots, flowed down, gradually divided, and finally all returned to the pond water.
Then, the old man raised one palm high towards Lu Chen. In the center of his palm was a single drop of water. When he tilted his palm, the water drop began to flow slowly along the fine lines of his palm. It twisted and turned, constantly branching. Each pause to change direction meant it was taking a different path. If one were to replace this insignificant drop of water with a person walking through the long river of time in the human world, it would mean they had become a different person.
A single thought's difference, a single step's error, and there arose the Three Teachings and the Hundred Schools of Thought; there arose generals, ministers, dukes, and high officials; there arose peddlers, porters, and common laborers.
Lu Chen collected his thoughts. The young Daoist outside the wall smiled at the girl inside the wall. "The fortune I give you, you must take it, whether you want it or not."
The girl sneered, "Do you know who I am?"
Lu Chen countered, "Do you know who I am?"
Zhi Gui's expression turned gloomy. "Do you, a stinking Daoist, have what it takes to bear that responsibility?"
Lu Chen smiled gently. "My humble Daoist name is Lu Chen. That should be enough to explain everything."
This time, Zhi Gui really didn't understand. "What did you say?"
Lu Chen reverted to his usual expression. He leaned on the wall, grinning mischievously. "Miss, would you like me to read your palm? When you will find your spouse and get married? Whether you will bear children early? Whether you will have a good husband and a beautiful wife? I can calculate all of this."
Zhi Gui blinked. "Can I just have a meal? Not a palm reading?"
Lu Chen vaulted over the wall, snapping his fingers. "Deal!"
Zhi Gui asked again, "You don't mind half-cooked rice, do you?"
"I do mind. I'll rekindle the stove myself." The young Daoist rolled his eyes and walked straight into the kitchen. He started adding firewood again, picked up the blowpipe, puffed out his cheeks, and began to blow with all his might.
Zhi Gui stood at the kitchen door, wanting very much to take a broom and smash it down on the young Daoist's head.
---
Inside the forge at the Sword Furnace, Ruan Qiong hadn't stopped hammering. The momentum was even more astonishing than before. Sparks flew everywhere. The entire large room was a magnificent spectacle. Dense clusters of sparks gathered together, never dissipating, never spilling out of the room, leaving almost no standing space inside.
But today, not only was Ruan Xiu inside, but Wei Po was also there. With limited space, the girl and the mountain god had to stand shoulder to shoulder. Ruan Xiu held a sword in her arms. It was a sword without a scabbard, and its blade was not sharpened. It was completely unremarkable to look at. It would probably look like a brand-new, unshaped sword strip even to a fifth-realm Sword Cultivator.
As he swung his hammer, Ruan Qiong turned his head and said heavily to Wei Po, "I trouble you to send Xiu Xiu to Luo Po Mountain. Old Yang has already concealed the Heavenly secrets. There should be no accidents."
Then he said to Ruan Xiu with a word of caution, "When you get to Luo Po Mountain, after you deliver the sword, don't say anything more. Just tell that kid surnamed Chen to immediately follow Wei Po to Ox Horn Mountain and take the 'ferry boat' to the south. Until this sword is sharpened on the Dragon-Slaying Platform, it won't show any of its true ferocity. But if it encounters a great demon, it will still give the game away. So, tell that kid to not go looking for death on his way south. If he doesn't go looking for trouble with the great demons of the mountains and swamps, and with his current martial arts level, he has a chance to reach Hanging Mountain alive."
Wei Po was more thorough in his considerations. "I still have a thick locust branch by my side. When I get to Luo Po Mountain, on the way to send Chen Ping'an to the Baggage Monk's stall at Ox Horn Mountain, I can help him make two sword scabbards."
Ruan Qiong seemed to have something to say, but he stopped.
Wei Po smiled knowingly. "Don't worry. I've used a method of deception on that Sword-Nurturing Gourd. Normally, only a tenth-realm Qi Refiner can see through it. It shouldn't be a big problem."
Ruan Qiong continued working head down, his hammering sounding like thunder.
This Sage of the Military School was already burning with rage. He wished that little bastard would just pack his bags and get the hell out of here.
Wei Po didn't dare to be overconfident this time. Not only did he recite silently in his heart, but he also used his fingers to form a spell seal, silently activating the landscape Qi of the territory under his jurisdiction.
The two quickly appeared on the second floor of the bamboo building on Luo Po Mountain.
Chen Ping'an, who had been forewarned, had his luggage ready. Because he had the flying sword Fifteen as a space storage object, he didn't need to carry a bamboo backpack. It was a much lighter travel kit than any of his previous trips into the mountains. This actually made Chen Ping'an feel a bit unaccustomed. He was used to holding a bush knife for clearing paths, but now he only had two ethereal flying swords hidden away. It just didn't feel right.
Ruan Xiu delivered the sword and relayed her father's instructions. Finally, she handed him an embroidered pouch. "Chen Ping'an, a gift for you. Peach Blossom Cake."
# Chapter 205: Carrying a Sword Southward
At the Sword Furnace by the Dragon Beard River, the hammering sound soared to the heavens. To the ears of the demons, it rumbled thunderously, striking terror into their hearts and splitting their livers.
Recently, within the entire Dragon Spring County, almost all cultivators' gazes were involuntarily drawn towards the blacksmith's shop. The newly constructed pavilions and towers on the mountaintops, the precarious-looking suspension bridge high between two mountains—these were places where Qi Refiners would often gather. They would gaze from afar at the sword-forging aura emanating from the Sword Furnace beyond the mountains. Even the convicts of the Lu dynasty and the Da Li soldiers supervising this group of conquered refugees would talk about it in their spare time, speculating whether, once Sage Ruan Qiong's sword was successfully forged, it would attract a celestial phenomenon.
Because today, the momentum of the forging there had suddenly surged. Added to this was the anxiety and restlessness of the mountain wild cultivators and demons. There were even some swamp monsters and demons whose Daoist base wasn't strong enough. Despite being under the invisible protection of the local landscape Qi, they still felt as if they were inside a furnace, their torment unbearable. So, everyone felt that this must be the critical moment. Whether this divine weapon would be forged or not would be decided now.
At the bamboo building on Luo Po Mountain, Chen Ping'an was ready. He was about to formally set out for the ferry port on Parasol Tree Mountain. The last time Wei Po had led them on a tour of the territories under his jurisdiction, Chen Ping'an had seen that Parasol Tree Mountain. The entire mountaintop had been sheared off, creating a space of four or five li in radius. Wei Po had kept it a secret at the time, not explaining in detail what the 'ferry port' was that cultivators used for their leisurely far journeys, or what that large ship truly was.
Ruan Xiu's parting gift was a package of Peach Blossom Cake. Chen Ping'an naturally didn't refuse her good intentions. In fact, he had previously asked Wei Po to go and propose to Ruan Qiong the gift of the Treasure Narrating Mountain to Ruan Xiu. But when Wei Po returned to the bamboo building, he was crestfallen and disheveled, saying that after hearing about it, Ruan Qiong had taken his anger out on him, rewarding him, Wei Po, with a single word: "Scram." And his reply to Chen Ping'an had been only slightly longer: "Tell that kid to go as far away as possible."
Chen Ping'an had to drop the matter. He realized he had been too hasty about this. True, heartfelt kindness was not something that could be done well just with good intentions. So he put it aside for the time being. The blue-clad boy was always saying that in the rivers and lakes, matters of gratitude and enmity all respected the principle of "green hills and clear waters; there will always be a day to come." Chen Ping'an felt that this saying was truly "handsome and justified." He thought that there would always be a time in the future to repay the kindness of the Ruan family, father and daughter. So there was no need to rush.
However, Chen Ping'an still put some thought into it. He had a very proper discussion with the blue-clad boy and the pink-dressed girl. After deciding that the problem wasn't too big, he made up his mind and troubled Wei Po again. He asked the Northern Mountain God to hire two skilled pastry chefs. After Chen Ping'an left Dragon Spring County, they were to be employed at the Ya Sui shop in Riding Dragon Alley to attract business. Finally, the two little ones were to inform Miss Ruan Xiu that if she ever wanted to eat pastries from their shop, she would never have to pay for them.
Regarding his southward journey, both the blue-clad boy and the pink-dressed girl wanted to follow. One was afraid that without Chen Ping'an to protect him, he would have his head bashed in by someone tomorrow. The next time Chen Ping'an returned to his hometown, he would have to burn incense for him at his grave. The other, the Yu River Water Snake who had just broken through another realm, wanted to return to the lakes and rivers for a life of pleasure. He wanted to find all the face and heroic spirit he had lost in Dragon Spring County from the outside world.
The pink-dressed girl, on the other hand, completely saw herself as Chen Ping'an's little handmaiden. She was worried that her master would have no one to serve him all year round. Staying on Luo Po Mountain with nothing to do would make her feel very guilty.
But Chen Ping'an refused them all.
The blue-clad boy tried everything: first crying, then making a fuss, threatening to hang himself, threatening to jump off a cliff, and finally threatening to kneel. He tried all of it. After much persuasion, Chen Ping'an finally convinced the blue-clad boy to stay and cultivate in the bamboo building. Luckily, the blue-clad boy was now on good terms with the Chess Dungeon Mountain Black Serpent. He often went to brag and shoot the breeze with it. He had even forcibly acknowledged the Black Serpent as his sworn brother. Although the Black Serpent had never transformed into human form, it had far more depth of character and ambition than the blue-clad boy could match. In the end, this Water Snake, which had left its home, was still a young one among the flood dragon race, despite its innate talent. It was a relatively mischievous one without much "family education." It had never had a wise teacher to guide it or a sect to nurture it. Even the righteous sense of loyalty it revered could seem a bit childish and capricious in the eyes of the well-read pink-dressed girl.
But after spending so much time together, the blue-clad boy had ground down many of his sharp edges. And since his heart wasn't bad, Chen Ping'an felt he could trust him. He just told him not to bully the pink-dressed girl. The blue-clad boy thumped his chest so hard it echoed. A true man, bullying a little girl? What kind of business was that?
Everything was ready.
Wei Po covertly pointed to the second floor of the building and smiled. "Is it about time? Do you want to say goodbye to the old senior?"
Chen Ping'an nodded, turned around, and knocked on the door. "I'm going."
The barefoot old man sat cross-legged inside the room, his voice full of resentment. "You're not going to reconsider?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "I can't delay. I have to go immediately."
The old man snorted. "Coward!"
Chen Ping'an felt helpless. He turned his head and said to Wei Po, "Let's get moving to Parasol Tree Mountain."
Ruan Xiu stood by the railing, gently waving her hand.
Chen Ping'an was still wearing his most comfortable straw sandals. He held the newly forged sword, wrapped tightly in cotton cloth, in his arms. The vermilion Sword-Nurturing Gourd was tied at his waist. On his back was a locust wood sword. He had nothing else.
He wanted to say something to Ruan Xiu, but everything seemed redundant. So he just scratched his head and said softly, "Miss Ruan, take care."
The girl in blue's eyelashes trembled slightly. She nodded with a smile.
Chen Ping'an gave his final instructions to the two little ones. "From now on, cultivate well on Luo Po Mountain. If something happens, don't be impulsive. As for our mountain dwelling, we didn't spend much on it besides buying it, so there's no need to worry too much. I've spoken to Wei Mountain God. If it's absolutely necessary, he can use his divine powers to move the bamboo building to Pi Yun Mountain. You can hide inside there. You'll be safe. And Old Senior will also help look after the building, so you don't need to worry about anything."
This fussing Chen Ping'an made the blue-clad boy unable to hate him for the first time.
The pink-dressed girl grasped her master's sleeve. Her delicate, powdered face was streaked with tears. She was extremely reluctant to see him go.
Chen Ping'an turned his head to look. This trip was too rushed. There was no time to go back to the ancestral home in Mud Vase Alley. He couldn't even visit his parents' graves. If Chen Ping'an said he had no regrets, that would be a lie. But if something can't be done, then it can't be done. Chen Ping'an knew the difference between what was urgent and what wasn't.
He had to understand that this trip south to deliver the sword was a joint plan laid out by Old Man Yang, Ruan Qiong, and Wei Po. Old Man Yang was connected to the little golden incense figure. He had made a deal with Chen Ping'an—or more accurately, with Mr. Qi. He was to help Chen Ping'an get away from the trouble zone. As for the reason, what "trouble" meant—this was because Li Xisheng had said earlier that "this place is not suitable for a long stay." Chen Ping'an believed this without a doubt.
Wei Po reached out and placed a hand on Chen Ping'an's shoulder. "You might get a little dizzy."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Okay."
After going through the three realms of tempering, Chen Ping'an was on the verge of death every day. Suffering was like a common meal for him.
It was like thinking that he didn't have to practice boxing today or tomorrow. There was a slight, human feeling of relief. But more than that, there was a hollow feeling in his heart.
Chen Ping'an looked at Ruan Xiu and the two little ones. "I'm going!"
The forms of Wei Po and Chen Ping'an suddenly vanished without a trace. There wasn't even a puff of wind on the eaves of the corridor.
By the railing, the pink-dressed girl said softly, "Sister Ruan, my master will miss you."
The blue-clad boy casually tossed an ordinary Snake Gall Stone into his mouth to chew. With a serious expression, he spouted nonsense. "Of course. The Master dreams of Miss Xiu Xiu every day. It's a wonder he doesn't die of embarrassment."
Ruan Xiu naturally wouldn't take it seriously. But she still smiled happily.
---
Wei Po and Chen Ping'an appeared in a secluded forest at the foot of Parasol Tree Mountain. Wei Po asked Chen Ping'an to wait a moment. He soon returned, carrying a strange locust wood scabbard that could hold two swords. It was of the double-sword-in-one-scabbard style. He had Chen Ping'an put both the sword from his arms and the locust wood sword from his back into it.
So, Chen Ping'an became a ranger carrying two swords on his back, with a wine gourd tucked into his belt. He did have a bit of a martial air about him.
Wei Po walked around Chen Ping'an, looking him over, and smiled. "Oho! That actually looks quite good."
Chen Ping'an grinned and followed Wei Po up the mountain.
After practicing the thirty punches of the Divine Man Drumbeat Style, it had become thirty-one punches. The extra punch seemed to have made Chen Ping'an's entire fist intent gradually become more introverted and stable.
It was the same principle as a sword being sheathed.
Wei Po was still in his large-sleeved white robe. Chen Ping'an carried swords on his back and had a gourd at his waist. One was a celestial immortal's flowing elegance, the other a youth's heroic spirit.
Chen Ping'an held back, but in the end, couldn't resist asking, "Wei Po, is the town very dangerous?"
Wei Po nodded. "Imagine many flood dragons all surging into a single small pond. They can't help but turn their heads and thrash their tails, which will stir up huge waves. Any one of those waves crashing down could shatter a mid-level Qi Refiner. You, on the other hand, aren't the main focus of some of the major figures. But as long as you're on the chessboard, even as the least noticeable piece, your life and death are still beyond your control. So Old Man Yang is right to make you leave Dragon Spring County immediately. The fact that you can understand this and not object is very good."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I originally wanted to travel anyway. I'll just take this opportunity to hone my martial arts and try to find the opportunity to break through to the next realm by myself."
Wei Po asked curiously, "Is that old senior in the bamboo building still sulking? Did you refuse something?"
Chen Ping'an didn't want to go into detail, as it involved the old man's privacy. But considering Wei Po's tireless efforts during this period, his connection to A Liang, and Wei Po's candor, Chen Ping'an didn't mind picking out a few things he could say. He spoke softly. "I just know that an extraordinary Daoist immortal has come to the town. The old senior said he wanted to give me a great opportunity. I could watch the fight between him and that immortal, grasp the true meaning of his fist intent. I could grasp a small part of it. Maybe I could even break into the Fourth Realm in one go. And I could build the most solid foundation possible for the Fourth Realm."
Chen Ping'an paused for a moment. "I asked the old senior what his chances of winning were. He was very honest. He said he had less than a one-in-ten chance of survival. He would be definitely defeated. Right now, he still hasn't been able to return to his peak. Even if he had, he would still have no chance. I was very confused at the time. Since he was sure to lose, why did he still want to fight? The old senior said that his greatest wish in life was to fight with a certain Daoist who was said to be truly invincible. Only then would he have no regrets in life. Since that uninvited guest was very close to that Daoist genius, he decided to fight him first. He could gauge his own strength and know the gap between them. As for helping me break into the Fourth Realm or gifting me an opportunity, he said that was just a side benefit."
Chen Ping'an then laughed at himself. "I have my own selfish motives too. I was afraid that this fight would stir up too much trouble, ruining all your hard work, Old Man Yang's, and Master Ruan's. And I was even more afraid... afraid of disappointing Mr. Qi. So I told the old senior my thoughts directly. The old man was angry, of course, but he didn't hit me. He just scolded me, saying my courage was smaller than a grain of rice. He scolded his, I advised mine. I advised him to wait until he returned to his peak no matter what before fighting. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a satisfying fight. He could take these words to heart. Although he didn't say it, he probably felt that not being able to strike with his full power would be a real regret. In the end, he gave up the idea of fighting. But he didn't give me a good look. You heard him at the bamboo building earlier; he's still in a bad mood."
A very knowing smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's face. "Actually, that old senior is like an old child at heart."
Wei Po wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. If the fight had happened, they would all have been finished.
It's a good thing Chen Ping'an wasn't greedy for the opportunity to break into the Fourth Realm. Otherwise, Wei Po could easily guess the outcome. The old man would die without regrets. This broken Li Zhu Cave Heaven would shake, coughing up many unspeakable secrets. Then there would be a bloody scramble for treasure in troubled waters. Chen Ping'an, who was already the 'first move' on the chessboard, would have a terrible end.
As for Wei Po himself, the Great Li National Master Cui Chan, Ruan Qiong, Xie Shi and Cao Xi, the Mohist Xu Ruo, the Old Jiao Cheng Shuidong of the Linlu Academy, and so on. Not one of them would escape. They would all be swept up. Life or death, just like Chen Ping'an's current situation, would be beyond their control. It would all be up to the will of Heaven and luck.
As for the more than thirty mountain peaks, it was hard to say how many would be left. But a tall tree catches the wind. Pi Yun Mountain, which was just one step away from becoming the Northern Mountain of Da Li, would be certain to be completely destroyed. The true divine abilities of immortals, moving mountains and overturning seas, were not just empty flattery.
His heart still trembling, Wei Po stopped and heavily patted Chen Ping'an's shoulder. "Chen Ping'an, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have charged you a single copper coin for those herbs!"
Chen Ping'an was stunned for a moment, then showed a bright smile. "It's not too late to pay me back now."
Wei Po pretended to fumble around in his sleeves.
Chen Ping'an just waited quietly for him to take out the money, without any intention of refusing.
Wei Po laughed in exasperation. "Chen Ping'an, that's so boring!"
Chen Ping'an laughed out loud, patting the gourd at his waist. "This is enough!"
Wei Po slung an arm around Chen Ping'an's shoulder, and they ascended the mountain like this. "That's what I was saying. You, Chen Ping'an, are never stingy with your friends."
Chen Ping'an held back for a long time, finally squeezing out two simple words: "Thank you."
Wei Po put on an exaggeratedly forlorn expression. "Saying 'thank you' between friends really hurts the friendship. It's the same as when a man and a woman talk about 'money.'"
Chen Ping'an suddenly understood.
He felt he should remember this principle well. He would carve it onto a bamboo slip later.
When he got to Hanging Mountain and saw Miss Ning, he absolutely must not mention anything about money or not money.
This was called learning and applying.
Wei Po was now a famously prominent figure. And how many of the mountain immortals who truly held power were as easy-going as Wei Po? So, he was very popular. Even Chen Ping'an could tell that the Qi Refiners and Mountain Opening Cultivators who greeted Wei Po genuinely felt close to him. And it came from the bottom of their hearts.
As they climbed the mountain, greetings came from all sides. Wei Po didn't stop much, but he would smile back and banter a little, drawing laughter constantly.
At one point, a wild cultivator demon whose flattery was no weaker than the blue-clad boy's insisted on leading the way for the Great Wei Mountain God. Wei Po scolded him with a laugh and kicked him away. The wild cultivator wasn't angry at all, but actually acted as if it were a great honor. He looked at the white-robed mountain god's imposing back as he left, his face full of joy.
But as they neared the ferry port on the summit of Parasol Tree Mountain, Wei Po said softly, "Chen Ping'an, this kind of seemingly sincere peace and harmony is all fake. There's no need to refuse it, but don't take it too seriously. If I, Wei Po, were still the Land God of Chess Dungeon Mountain, I wouldn't even be able to get a single word in with them. Of course, being able to have this kind of harmony is ultimately a good thing."
Chen Ping'an silently committed this to memory.
The edge of the ferry port on Parasol Tree Mountain was a newly constructed high platform. It was built entirely from pure white jade stones. Several dozen Qi Refiners of various styles had already gathered there. There were also some brightly dressed women, children, and elderly people. These were likely the immortal sects who had bought their own plots of land after the mountain summit was opened and were now watching the spectacle. It was time for them to go home. Both groups saw Wei Po and Chen Ping'an. They took the initiative to come forward and greet them warmly. Wei Po was intimately familiar with everyone's names and clan histories. His social graces were impeccable, like a spring breeze.
Chen Ping'an didn't say much intentionally. He just silently observed everything. He felt a mixture of envy and admiration in his heart. This kind of friendliness and conviviality wasn't something that Wei Po could explain just by saying he was the "Northern Mountain God."
Regarding Chen Ping'an's southward journey, Wei Po brushed it off in a casual tone. He said Chen Ping'an had a relative in the south, and he was also going to visit a few friends. For example, He Xiaoliang of the Shen Gao Sect in Nan Jian Kingdom, and Liu Baqiao of the Wind Thunder Garden. Chen Ping'an was dripping with cold sweat. What was all this? If visiting a relative was a legitimate excuse, then casually claiming friendship with that Daoist Nun and that Sword Cultivator was really too embarrassing for Chen Ping'an. He had met Fairy He during that trip to Green Ox Back. But he had only given her a piece of Snake Gall Stone. He was slightly more familiar with Liu Baqiao. They had entered the mountains together with Chen Dui and Chen Songfeng. Liu Baqiao had a very outgoing personality and liked to call everyone his brother. But the reality was that they probably weren't even nodding acquaintances. And yet, Wei Po was blowing his trumpet like this. Chen Ping'an found it hard to refute him. He almost choked on his own breath.
The speaker had no intention, but the listener had their own thoughts. He Xiaoliang and Liu Baqiao were famous talents on the continent. Especially He Xiaoliang, who was the only Fair Maiden of the continent's Daoist tradition. Having even the slightest connection with her was a tremendous blessing. Who among the mountain gods or the mortals would dare to offend the Shen Gao Sect's friend? And then there was Liu Baqiao of the Wind Thunder Garden. So, those people, who were not to be taken lightly even in their home kingdoms, became increasingly enthusiastic towards the unremarkable sword-carrying youth. Some even took the initiative to hand over their beautifully crafted nameplates. Chen Ping'an was so embarrassed he wished he could dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it.
Wei Po was happy to see this. His smile was profound and unfathomable.
No one knew exactly what the connection or friendship was between the Wei Mountain God and the native youth who held five mountain peaks. There were many different rumors.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "The Kun Ship is here!"
Chen Ping'an followed everyone's gaze. He saw a colossal creature break through the sea of clouds, slowly gliding down towards Parasol Tree Mountain.
Chen Ping'an's mouth fell open. This massive creature with fins was alive. And it was unbelievably huge. It was like a towering mountain descending from the sky, bearing down on the Parasol Tree Mountain ferry port. As the "Kun Ship" descended, it brought an immense feeling of pressure to Chen Ping'an. He felt the sensation of his own insignificance more and more acutely.
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but sigh. So this was the legendary ferry boat that immortals rode. It was truly extraordinary. Its momentum was breathtaking.
A single Kun Ship could drift for over ten thousand li across continents. And this "ten thousand li" was not an exaggeration. Until this new ferry port was built in Dragon Spring County's Parasol Tree Mountain, the entire northern part of Bottle Gourd Continent didn't even have a settlement that could allow a Kun Ship to land. Only the southern part of the Nan Jian Kingdom and the Old Dragon City at the southernmost tip of the continent had ports where Kun Ships could dock.
Some powerful kingdoms naturally had their own ferry ports for Qi Refiners to travel far and wide. But their "ferry boats" were generally smaller in size, with limited passenger capacity. Their cargo capacity was far inferior to these Kun Ships, which were unique to the Northern Julu Continent. For the Kun Ships, carrying passengers was just a small way to make money. Their main business was transporting rare and precious materials gathered from everywhere. There would also be all sorts of strange and exotic creatures. Kun Ships were also divided into three grades. The top-grade Kun Ships could be so huge on the fish's back that they could rival the size of a Da Li prefectural city! Meticulously crafted by a group of legendary craftsmen, including Mohist Artificers, they could have mountains, water, mansions, tall buildings, streets, and marketplaces. Everything you could imagine. Tens of thousands of Qi Refiners could live on them year-round without feeling the slightest inconvenience.
Wei Po said softly, laughing, "Kun fish are gentle by nature. After being trained by specialized Qi Refiners, even if they are attacked and severely wounded, they can endure the pain without thrashing about. So, compared to some other large ferries, Kun Ships are relatively more stable and safer. Some mountain tortoises and treasure-swallowing whales are also excellent choices for ferries. But one, their numbers are scarce. And two, they still have some temper of their own. In history, there have been tragic incidents of mountain tortoises diving into the sea without warning."
Chen Ping'an's mouth was open the whole time, never closing.
On the back of the Kun fish, not only was it flat and broad, but it also had a ring of railings. Tall buildings were constructed side by side. This Kun Ship, which occupied almost all of the mountaintop's ferry port, was not resting on the ground. It was suspended several zhang in the air. The slight movement of its fins stirred up a gale of mountain wind, and dust flew everywhere. Luckily, the high platform for boarding was precisely located between the fins, so there were no problems. Naturally, there was no danger of being blown to the foot of the mountain by the strong wind.
After the Kun Ship had completely steadied itself, a staircase as wide as the streets of Peach Leaf Lane descended from a gap in the railing. The base of the staircase exactly fit into a recessed mechanism on the high platform, making the suspended staircase feel as solid as a rock. A group of people walked down the staircase. After a brief conversation with the manager of the Parasol Tree Mountain ferry port, they turned to Wei Po and his party, speaking in the flawless official language of Bottle Gourd Continent. "Everyone, after you board the ship, the movement of goods for the Baggage Monk's stall at Ox Horn Mountain will take half an hour on the two staircases over there. If there is any slight delay, and we cannot set sail on time, our 'Da Jiao Mountain' sect, a millenary, time-honored sect in Julu Continent, will refund all of your travel expenses."
After saying this, the colorfully dressed old man looked at Wei Po. "Could you be the Great Wei Mountain God?"
Wei Po smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare presume."
The old man laughed heartily and clasped his fists. "Our Kun Ship travels between three continents once a year. So, for today, we can only offer our congratulations in advance. If we cannot come in person to celebrate later, we will surely prepare a modest gift afterward. I hope the Great Wei Mountain God won't refuse it."
Wei Po placed his hands into his sleeves, his smile thick. "I won't refuse, I won't refuse. But if I find the gift is too light, I'll come here next time to make a scene and prevent you from setting sail on time."
The colorfully dressed old man laughed heartily. "It won't be light! To pay respects to a mountain like this, this big a mountain, how could I take it lightly! Even if my sect were to be stingy, your old man here would be sure to make up for it!"
Wei Po smiled and nodded. "That would be wonderful."
Then he patted Chen Ping'an on the shoulder. "This is my closest friend. His name is Chen Ping'an. He's our local landlord here. He'll be getting off the ship at Nan Jian Kingdom. I'd like to ask the shipmaster to look after him. All of Chen Ping'an's expenses on this Kun Ship are to be charged to my account. I'll settle the bill with you next time."
The old man waved his hand. "Settle what bill? I'll take care of it."
Wei Po asked, beaming, "You're being so polite?"
The old man was still laughing heartily.
This scene made everyone present envious.
Before Chen Ping'an boarded the ship with the others, he turned around at the foot of the staircase. He clasped his fists in a salute to Wei Po, without saying a word.
Wei Po returned the salute, bending slightly at the waist.
Everything was understood without words.
This scene, observed by the colorfully dressed old man who was discussing serious business with someone else in the distance, only made him more certain of the situation.
Chen Ping'an was the last one. He slowly walked up the staircase.
Carrying two swords on his back, Demon-Subduer and Demon-Banisher.
The Sword-Nurturing Gourd hanging at his waist, First and Fifteenth residing within.
The flying sword "Fifteen," which he had traded for an ordinary jade hairpin, was a rare and hard-to-find space storage object. Within this unremarkable "square inch," the dimensions—length, width, and height—were roughly the same as the locust wood sword he had named "Demon-Banisher." Chen Ping'an liked it immensely. He was now slightly more proficient at manipulating the sword with his mind. He had gotten quite skillful at storing and retrieving items. The feeling of an object appearing from nowhere in his palm was, to this muddy-legged little drunkard, even better than the feeling of being pleasantly tipsy.
Inside his space storage treasure, he now had: Mr. Qi's gift of the 'Stillness' seal, and a pair of landscape seals.
A copy of the 'Mountain-Crushing Boxing Manual,' which he was temporarily keeping for Gu Can.
Several Confucian classics gifted by the Old Scholar of the Literary Sage Sect.
The bamboo-tube brush gifted by Li Xisheng, engraved with the words "Blizzard Small Awl" and "The brush strokes are infused with divine spirit." In addition to the brush, there were also large quantities of blank talisman paper sent by Li Xisheng through his disciple, Cui Ci. They were roughly divided into three types: the most abundant yellow paper, golden talisman paper painted with cloud seal script, and the rarest, yellowed, page-like talisman paper. There was also an introductory Daoist text on talismans and spells.
The few medicinal formulas left by the young Daoist Lu Chen.
A large stack of maps of the various kingdoms on Bottle Gourd Continent, a gift from Wei Po. They were a little bonus for Chen Ping'an to settle his debt for the herbs with Snake Gall Stones.
Several hundred jade "coins" that Chen Ping'an had traded with the blue-clad boy for the remaining ordinary Snake Gall Stones. These coins, which you would never see in a worldly market, were used for transactions among the mountain immortals. Of course, they weren't as valuable as gold and copper coins. But the silver and gold that ordinary people used were nothing compared to these jade coins, which were only carried in the money pouches of Qi Refiners.
A number of small, uninscribed bamboo slips and a small carving knife.
And a bag of white rice, along with several bottles and jars for cooking, containing oil and salt. A big handful of fish hooks, a newly purchased bush knife for clearing paths, a change of clothes, two pairs of newly woven straw sandals, and other sundries.
And of course, bits of silver and gold leaves. He had learned the hard way on his first trip to Great Sui that 'one coin can drive a hero to his death' is a universal truth.
Halfway up the staircase, Chen Ping'an couldn't help but turn his head to look back.
The white-robed Mountain God was still standing in his original spot, smiling and waving.
Chen Ping'an waved his farewell and continued upward. But he took down the vermilion gourd and silently took a gulp of the strong liquor.
The youth in straw sandals desperately hoped that when they met again, his friends in his hometown and the landscape would all be safe and sound.
That everyone would be safe and sound.
# Chapter 206: The Moon is Full, the Moon is Crescent
(Twenty-thousand-word big chapter.)
The early bird gets the worm. A horse won't grow fat without night feed.
That's all well and good, but it was a pity for the young Daoist, who rose early and worked late. Even though he set up his fortune-telling stall earlier than his neighbor and closed later, he still had nothing to eat, and he certainly wasn't getting fat.
Because now, the townsfolk trusted the old Daoist with the fish-tail crown more. He was a true immortal. His fortunes were accurate. And he wouldn't try to freeload a meal at