Chapter 225: Night Road
Chen Ping'an returned to the corridor and sat down for a while without seeing Zhang Shanfeng. The big-bearded man, who loved to tell jokes, said the Taoist had locked eyes with a beautiful young lady and gone for a night stroll. Liu Gaohua chimed in with nonsense. Chen Ping'an, of course, didn't believe it, but at that moment, looking at the face of the prefect's son, his gaze was somewhat strange. He thought to himself, could it really be such a coincidence in this world? After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Do you have any sisters who are already married?"
Liu Gaohua was completely baffled. "No, I have one sister and one brother. None of us are married yet. They're all just loafing around at home eating and drinking. My father complains all day that we're a bunch of good-for-nothings, that our salaries are all wasted on the three of us, especially preparing dowries and betrothal gifts. It's cost him so much he hasn't bought any new desk ornaments for years."
Chen Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she wasn't married, it was fine. Otherwise, if that woman who looked somewhat like Liu Gaohua really was his sister, and she was having an affair, whether he spoke up or not, Chen Ping'an would be in a difficult position.
Over at the pavilion on the lake, the event soon came to an end amid thunderous applause. Prefect Liu and General Ma didn't rely on their official status; they personally walked out of the waterside pavilion and went to the platform to inquire solicitously after the old immortal. The old immortal responded appropriately. Both the civil and military officials felt as if a spring breeze were caressing them. During this time, a young man who looked like a member of a scholarly family stubbornly insisted on becoming the old immortal's disciple. He was quickly dragged away by the mansion's stewards and servants.
The Taoist Zhang Shanfeng returned to Chen Ping'an a few steps later. Seeing Chen Ping'an sitting safely in his original spot, he heaved a sigh of relief and joked, "I thought you'd fallen into the latrine."
Chen Ping'an was unwilling to reveal the battle in the small street, so he said softly, "I couldn't find the latrine, and I was too embarrassed to ask the mansion's stewards. So I thought I'd sneak off to find a quiet place. It took me a long time to find one. When I came back, the corridor was too crowded, and I was too shy to squeeze in, so I waited outside for a while."
The big-bearded man asked slyly, "Sneaking around in dark places, you didn't see any romantic scenes, did you? Let me tell you, in this Colorful Garment Kingdom, especially in Rouge Prefecture, there are the most scholars and beauties. When they have nothing to do, they all like to read some racy forbidden books. After reading too much, they naturally follow the plots written in the books..."
At this point, Liu Gaohua couldn't help but laugh, nodding vigorously. "Just like that little girl in my family. She's only thirteen, and because she secretly read a few romance novels—not even about romantic love between men and women, but her disposition is wild. She's been yearning for chivalry since she was young. She's always shouting that the men of Rouge Prefecture are all sissies, no fun. She only learns those tricks from the books about sneaking out of embroidered towers and climbing ladders over walls. Luckily, she's clever, but my mother is even cleverer. That little girl has never succeeded once."
The big-bearded man's eyes lit up. He thumped his chest and said, "Yearning for the martial world is great! My belly is full of tales from the martial world. Any one or two I pull out are the best drinking snacks under heaven!"
Liu Gaohua rolled his eyes. "Don't, don't. My sister is still young, Great Hero Xu. Our brotherly friendship stays in the martial world. Besides, if you became my brother-in-law, your seniority wouldn't suffer, would it?"
The man said with a grin, "Don't you have an older sister?"
Liu Gaohua didn't dare say much more. He seemed to have something unspeakable.
Chen Ping'an's lips moved as if to speak, but he held back.
The big-bearded man laughed heartily, slapping Liu Gaohua on the shoulder. "Look at you, scared silly! I, Xu, have wandered the martial world for so many years, I've had more confidantes than I can count on two hands. I've never been interested in the women locked away in embroidered towers!"
The banquet dispersed, and they walked out of the mansion with the crowd. The three of them returned to the inn. Liu Gaohua was caught by his father's men and taken away to socialize. Although his son was a failure and not skilled in the literary arts, and his official career was basically over, Prefect Liu still hoped that Liu Gaohua could one day hold up the family's facade and not make too much of a fool of himself.
On the way back, because he had acquired two items, Chen Ping'an asked Xu Yuanxia and Zhang Shanfeng about the matter of treasures.
Blame it on the people Chen Ping'an had met before. They were too 'not of the martial world.' A Liang casually carried a bamboo sword at his waist. As for the young man Cui Chan, when he occasionally talked about realms and treasures, his tone was astonishingly arrogant. It was as if Qi Practitioners of the Upper Five Realms and the Middle Five Realms, along with the treasures they carried, were like children playing with mud, not worth mentioning. The barefoot old man in the bamboo building was even more direct, saying that if martial artists like them relied on external objects to travel the world, they might as well stay home and work the fields as farmers.
Chen Ping'an was also helpless.
Fortunately, after Xu Yuanxia and Zhang Shanfeng's explanations, he finally gained a general understanding of how 'treasures' were classified. It turned out they were also strictly graded, not much less so than official ranks. 'Treasure' was a very general term. The lowest items were 'artifacts,' which could only be considered well-crafted dead objects. Terms like 'splitting a hair at a breath' and 'cutting iron like mud,' used in the martial world, mostly described weapons in this category, as well as items symbolically given to entry-level disciples by mountain immortals. They were often artifacts that looked good, like Taoist Zhang Shanfeng's peachwood sword.
Of course, if it were a peachwood sword bestowed by the Celestial Master Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain upon a descending Celestial Master, it would be far more than that.
Above artifacts were 'heavy treasures.' The divine weapons and sharp tools of martial masters mostly fell into this category. Their materials were rare. For ordinary Qi Practitioners, especially wild cultivators and wandering immortals without any sect lineage, who were considered outsiders to the Great Path, they were like people halfway up the mountain on the path of cultivation. If they were lucky enough to have one or two 'heavy treasures,' that was truly commendable. For example, Taoist Zhang Shanfeng dreamed of obtaining a heavy treasure, hoping one day to own a suitable magical sword.
The big-bearded man's saber was actually one of the best among heavy treasures.
The subsequent 'numinous tools' and 'dharma tools' were the real 'treasures.' Numinous tools were divided into innate and acquired. Innate numinous tools were rarer, favored by heaven and earth, nurtured with abundant spiritual qi, making them easier for cultivators to control. At critical moments, they could even be sacrificed at the cost of destroying their foundation to replenish their owner. Little Snow Coins could barely be considered this type, but the spiritual qi contained in a Little Snow Coin was too scarce to be worth mentioning. No Qi Practitioner would be foolish enough to absorb the spiritual qi from a Little Snow Coin to enhance their cultivation realm.
Acquired numinous tools included high-grade yellow paper talismans and some extraordinary objects carved and forged by Qi Practitioners. For instance, the jade pendant owned by Fu Nanhua, the young city lord of Old Dragon City, named 'Old Dragon Pours Rain,' was a top-tier item among numinous tools, priceless. The 'Mountain Spirit Gourd' he bought from Song Jixin was even more precious.
Compared to the 'Old Dragon Pours Rain Pendant' and the 'Mountain Spirit Gourd,' the Binding Demon Ropes, Demon Suppression Woods, and Ghost Beating Bamboo Whips carried by the Qi Practitioners of the Divine Edict Sect, although also acquired numinous tools, were worlds apart in both price and value.
Above numinous tools were 'dharma tools.'
'Dharma' had always been a very significant word.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be the theories of Dao Dharma and Buddha Dharma.
Dharma tools contained the intangible rules of the Great Dao of heaven and earth.
The Sword-Nurturing Gourd, specifically used to nurture flying swords, firmly held a place among them. Of course, the silver Sword-Nurturing Gourd taken by A Liang from Wei Jin, and the gourd hanging at the waist of Su Jia from Zhengyang Mountain, were the royalty among Sword-Nurturing Gourds. Legend had it that they were six gourds grown from a vine personally planted by the Dao Ancestor before his ascension, then forged into six sword-nurturing containers by a peak expert. Naturally, ordinary Sword-Nurturing Gourds could not compare.
Above dharma tools were 'immortal arms.'
Nine out of ten mountain Qi Practitioners would go their entire lives without ever seeing an immortal arm. Even some sect-level immortal mansions might not all have an immortal arm to guard their mountain. The Divine Edict Sect, the leader of the Daoist orthodoxy on one continent, had its sect leader, Qi Zhen, recently succeed in breaking through his realm to become a Celestial Lord. Only then was he bestowed an immortal arm by the superior sect of the Central Earth Divine Continent.
The Sword Immortal Cao Xi of the Southern Vaishali Continent wore his life-bound flying sword on his wrist. He had obtained it through a tremendous stroke of fortune, refining it from the water of a great river. It could be considered a half-immortal arm, and this was what made Cao Xi most formidable.
But the most top-tier immortal arms were all filled with legendary presence. Their owners held an exalted status, renowned throughout the Righteous Qi World. Examples include the Celestial Master Seal and the immortal sword of the Celestial Master Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, and the small bronze tripod fortuitously obtained by the ancestor of the Chen Clan of Yingyin when he traveled the world in his youth. Legend had it that this tripod was a replica of the grand mountain-and-river tripod that hung at the waist of an ancient sage.
Among immortal arms, which were already as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns, there was an even more legendary type. After long years of accumulation, they gave birth to a 'spirit' with self-awareness.
This 'spirit' was absolutely not the same as the mountain-and-river righteous gods canonized by secular courts. Before this kind of lofty 'spirit,' even the so-called indestructible golden bodies of righteous gods were probably worse than dirt and dogs.
Chen Ping'an understood now.
Even setting aside the five mountain peaks, he was still very wealthy!
His current belongings were substantial!
The porcelain bowl and ebony wood he had just 'picked up for free' by the roadside tonight.
The locust wood sword named 'Demon Vanquisher.'
The serpent bile stone that Lu Chen had returned to him via He Xiaoliang—even ignoring that it was a beloved treasure of all dragon-kind in the world—definitely belonged to the highest grade of numinous tool material.
The three seals left to him by Teacher Qi were all carved from the finest serpent bile stone.
The Wind and Snow Small Awl Brush gifted by Li Xisheng, along with a large stack of precious talisman paper.
The Sword-Nurturing Gourd at his waist, which was extremely special among dharma tools, was a treasure that the vast majority of Middle Five Realm Sword Cultivators would covet.
The two life-bound flying swords that had temporarily acknowledged him as their master: First Quarter and Fifteenth Night.
So when Chen Ping'an walked back to his room alone, his steps were brisk, like a young servant in green who hadn't encountered a certain someone on the road.
Although he couldn't be sure for now...
Drink! Drink!
The Sword-Nurturing Gourd was out of wine, so Chen Ping'an went to ask the inn's attendant about wine prices. The cheapest brew was a local Rouge Prefecture liquor, at least eight silver coins per catty. As for the inn's signature Rouge Wine, it was priced at ten taels per catty, with absolutely no bargaining! His wine gourd could hold over ten catties of wine. Ten catties of the most expensive Rouge Wine was only one hundred taels of silver! It wasn't like it was a hundred Snow Coins used exclusively by mountain immortals! How could he not drink such fine wine and be worthy of the mountains of gold and silver treasures he carried?
So Chen Ping'an decisively ordered ten catties of the local strong liquor.
The three of them had already returned to their respective rooms when Liu Gaohua arrived at the inn again. He first knocked on Zhang Shanfeng's door. This top-tier official's son of Rouge Prefecture had a very awkward expression. Behind him were a young man and woman who looked like a perfect match. The woman's face resembled Liu Gaohua's somewhat; she was probably his older sister. He explained the matter to Zhang Shanfeng: they had come to ask for some herbal medicine for bruises and sprains. It turned out that Young Master Liu had gone to see the old immortal tonight. There were too many people, and it was dark, so he had accidentally tripped and hit his head. His mind was still dizzy, and all the medicine shops in the city were already closed. His sister was very worried about Young Master Liu. After hearing that her brother knew some martial heroes and mountain immortals, she wanted to ask for help to make sure there was no lasting problem. She would pay for all expenses.
The Taoist Zhang Shanfeng led the three of them to Xu Yuanxia's room. The big-bearded man was also generous. He examined the frail scholar and said it was nothing serious. Seeing that the woman still looked reluctant, the man, being keenly perceptive, smiled and took out a cooling ointment from his bundle. He told the scholar surnamed Liu to apply it to his temples, guaranteeing a cure with no aftereffects.
The woman finally relaxed. She sat on a stool, her tender gaze fixed on the scholar, full of love and pity. The scholar comforted her, telling her not to worry, using flowery, literary language.
The big-bearded man couldn't stand it. It was too cloying for his taste.
Although Zhang Shanfeng was a man of the cloth, he never missed a chance to join in the fun. The more, the merrier. He immediately ran off to drag Chen Ping'an over. He said that Liu Gaohua's sister was a fairly decent-looking girl. Tonight, she had brought a refined scholar, and she would probably soon become the son-in-law of the prefectural mansion. Chen Ping'an had just finished pouring wine, filling his Sword-Nurturing Gourd. The room was full of the smell of wine and empty wine jugs. Seeing that Zhang Shanfeng wouldn't give up until he dragged him over to watch the show, and not wanting to reveal his hand regarding the wine, Chen Ping'an had no choice but to give up on his idea of practicing the Sword Furnace. He followed him to Xu Yuanxia's room. As soon as Chen Ping'an entered, the romantic couple who had been meeting under the moonlight both involuntarily gasped.
If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move.
Chen Ping'an pretended not to notice anything. He plopped down at the table, took off his wine gourd, and started drinking.
The scholar surnamed Liu didn't know whether to stand or sit. The woman—Liu Gaohua's sister, who had been deeply poisoned by the idea of a talented scholar and a beautiful lady—was even more guilty. After all, for a sheltered maiden from a wealthy family to be one step away from secretly pledging her troth to a stranger was not something that could be openly discussed. Although Rouge Prefecture had liberal customs, for the eldest legitimate daughter of a prefect to be caught hugging an out-of-town scholar was a big deal. If it had been an acquaintance, half the city would probably be gossiping about it by tomorrow.
Liu Gaohua asked curiously, "What, do you three know each other?"
The scholar surnamed Liu was good at making up stories. He coughed and explained, "Tonight, I was strolling by the lake with your sister when we happened upon this young master. Carrying a sword case on his back, he truly had the stride of a dragon and the step of a tiger, with an extraordinary air. I was immediately captivated by his bearing. He was naturally unforgettable. Meeting him again now, I am deeply honored!"
The scholar clasped his hands and bowed to Chen Ping'an, his eyes full of pleading and pity. Back then, he had seen the youth under the apricot tree, with his slender arms and legs, and had thought that heaven had presented him with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play the hero saving the beauty. If he missed it, wouldn't it be a waste of the Old Man Under the Moon's matchmaking? And so that not-so-happy 'misunderstanding' had occurred.
Chen Ping'an didn't have much like or dislike for this person. He certainly didn't hold any favorable impression. So he just gave a 'heh heh' laugh, but didn't expose the scholar's secret, leaving some room for maneuver.
All in all, Chen Ping'an still didn't want to meddle in Liu Gaohua's family affairs.
Whether this marriage was good or bad, whether it was a perfect match made in heaven or destined to be a fleeting romance, had nothing to do with him.
However, if Liu Gaohua had been the Taoist Zhang Shanfeng, whom Chen Ping'an considered a true friend, Chen Ping'an would have spoken frankly. Even if he didn't expose the scholar in front of everyone, he would have privately warned Zhang Shanfeng, saying that your future brother-in-law isn't very honorable in his dealings and doesn't seem like a refined gentleman from a scholarly family.
In the end, it was said that the scholar, surnamed Liu, had been traveling far and wide to study. At a temple fair, he had happened upon Miss Liu, a down-and-out scholar, so poor that he had to mooch a place to stay. Since the inn was full and couldn't spare another room, Liu Gaohua put on a pleading smile, begging the big-bearded man and Zhang Shanfeng to take him in. This was an eye-opener for Xu Yuanxia. To act as a brother-in-law to this extent was rare—not only did Liu Gaohua not look down on the scholar's family background, but he also helped his sister keep this unequal relationship a secret.
The scholar surnamed Liu didn't dare share a room with Chen Ping'an, nor did he want to stay with the big-bearded man. He felt that his own fair, tender skin wouldn't survive the big-bearded man's crude and intimidating presence. He chose the young Taoist, who seemed the most normal and pleasant. Zhang Shanfeng had no objections to this.
Liu Gaohua left the inn with his reluctant sister.
The brother and sister walked along the lonely street, just before the night curfew was about to begin. When they were almost at the door of the prefectural mansion, Liu Gaohua said softly, "Sis, I don't really like that person. But since you like him, I'll do what I can. If one day you find out you were wrong, don't think it's a big deal. The sky won't fall. Whether Father scolds you or gets so angry he goes too far, don't be afraid. I'll be there for you. I'm your little brother, after all."
The woman lightly kicked her brother, blushing with annoyance. "Liu Gaohua! Can't you just wish me well? What are you saying such unlucky things for!"
Liu Gaohua turned around and made a funny face.
The woman pretended to be scared, shouting, "A ghost!" and, lifting her skirt, ran lightly towards the gate of the prefectural mansion.
Liu Gaohua sighed and quickly followed. He suddenly stopped, spun around, and looked at the empty street. He glanced around again but saw nothing unusual. He shook his head and continued on his way.
Because at that moment, he had felt a chill on the back of his neck and down his spine.
Liu Gaohua kept comforting himself, saying, "What is there to be afraid of? I've seen the old immortal with my father. I've even chatted with that celestial, immortal-like senior a few times. I've absorbed some of that immortal aura. Even if there really are dirty, filthy things in the world, like the tree spirit in the old mansion, they definitely can't get near me now."
At the moment the servant closed the side door of the mansion, on a quiet, empty street in the distance, a night watchman had just begun to sound the watch. But for some reason, although it was clearly the third watch of the night, the gong was being beaten as if it were the fourth watch.
On the street in this city of Rouge Prefecture, a hoarse voice echoed faintly: "The weather is dry, be careful with fire."
The blind, aged night watchman, who had been making his rounds for many years, held a copper gong. He was usually accompanied by a mute partner who was responsible for striking the wooden clapper. They had worked together for many years and were thoroughly familiar with the routine.
But the old, blind watchman did not know that his partner had been replaced by a woman in white. Each time she struck the gong, blood splattered across its surface, but before the blood could fall onto the street, it turned into wisps of black smoke that quickly dissipated.
The blind old watchman continued to shout hoarsely, "The weather is dry, be careful with fire."