Chapter 367: Li Er Goes on a Long Journey, No Dilemma Left or Right

Chapter 367: Li Er Goes on a Long Journey, No Dilemma Left or Right

(13000-word chapter.)

After Du Mao, the founding ancestor of the Tongye Sect's revival, vanished without a trace, the entire Old Dragon City, at least on the surface, fell into a strange calm.

After Du Mao had "killed" Zheng Dafeng, who had stepped down from the Dragon Ascension Platform, with a snap of his fingers, along with that unknown stranger in the snow-white robe, even though Old Divine Du was no longer present, his lingering might still hung like the invisible sea of clouds above, diffusing throughout every corner of Old Dragon City. It made the high-ranking members of the five great clans dare not even breathe heavily.

Because some had witnessed the immortal arts of Ancestor Du with their own eyes, even originally earth-shattering emergencies were crushed into dust by sheer force. For example, the secret instigation by the Fu family, which led the Ding, Fang, and Hou clans to dispatch their honored guests and retainers to intercept and kill Zheng Dafeng's group—they all died to the last. According to the oral account of a Dragon Gate realm cultivator who served as a scout and barely survived, the four martial artist retainers of the young man in white were each astonishingly lethal, fearless of death. When it came to trading wounds for kills, they did not hesitate. Two died in battle. One was a stunning woman skilled in sword control by flying sword, and the other was an old madman who delighted in tearing people apart. Later, beams of light fell from the sea of clouds like a sword cultivator's natal flying swords, instantly killing the cultivators who had been surrounding and about to kill the remaining two retainers. Most excessively, the tall man who used a blade, holding that strange longsword, thrust it into the chest of each corpse of the honored guests.

After receiving the grim news, the three clans hurriedly held a secret meeting. Du Yan got wind of it but didn't come to join the fun. So everyone speculated: had the Fu family and Du Yan set up a massive scheme, using Zheng Dafeng as a decoy to lure the snake out of its hole, intending to annihilate the three clans' trump-card honored guest cultivators in the most "legitimate" and least costly manner?

Otherwise, why would Fu Qi, as the clan head and city lord—the banner figure of all Old Dragon City—shortly after the marriage of the direct daughter of Yunlin Jiang clan, throw away all face, agreeing to a deadly fight where only one could leave the Dragon Ascension Platform alive? Yet Fu Qi, with an itch-scratching excuse, conceded to Zheng Dafeng and handed him over to Old Divine Du to deal with. If this wasn't premeditated, what was? It seemed they had underestimated the Fu family's ambition—they were dead set on not letting the three clans have even the leftover scraps.

Someone immediately slammed the table and glared, threatening that if the Fu family was so venomous, don't blame them for smashing the pot and breaking the jar, and in the end, see if even half of Old Dragon City would remain.

Those who clamored indignantly, vowing mutual destruction, were mostly outwardly fierce but inwardly timid.

Those who remained silent and thoughtful were actually the real power brokers of Old Dragon City.

The true foundation of Old Dragon City was never in fists or magic treasures, but in ledgers and account books.

Suddenly, a steward reported that the young city lord Fu Nanhua had arrived.

Fu Nanhua brought a few retainers but walked alone into the meeting hall. After taking a seat, before his butt was even warm and without sipping a single cup of tea, he just smiled, said a few words, then rose to leave.

The people in the hall began weighing the pros and cons. Those seated here were all experts at calculating gains and losses.

Fu Nanhua spoke concisely. He didn't mention the in-laws, the Yunlin Jiang clan, but said that the Tongye Sect had also allied with the Fu family. Of the six cross-continent ferry ships in Old Dragon City heading to the Inverted Mountain, the four that were not controlled by the Fu family would all be taken over by them. From now on, the three clans present would have to pay thirty percent of their annual profits as tribute to the Fu family—as "rent" for continuing to live in Old Dragon City. Of course, next, the Fu family would use all available forces to push north aggressively: secular dynasties, mountain immortal caves, and mortal martial arts sects would all be absorbed into the Fu family's sphere. They would suppress, squeeze out, and eradicate all merchant forces outside Old Dragon City. During this time, the Ding, Fang, and Hou families could earn whatever real gold and silver they could—whether they would prosper more than before or collapse under the weight of paying that rent and become dysfunctional, eventually being expelled from Old Dragon City—would depend on everyone's sincere cooperation and their own abilities. As for the specifics, if everyone felt the general direction was acceptable today, next time they could sit down and truly discuss the details.

An old man smiled and said, "Fortune favors the bold. Let's take a gamble."

Someone laughed, "The Great Li iron cavalry is almost at the middle of our Bottle Gourd Continent, right? If we succeed in this northern push, who knows if we can meet those northern barbarians?"

An old woman sneered, "The Fu family intends to drag us out like dogs to bite people. But if we bite well, we can still tear off some fat meat for ourselves. Compared to the current petty squabbling, maybe we really can earn more."

A young master, plain in appearance but with an extraordinary bearing, even surrounded by a circle of old foxes, still commanded respect. At this moment, he held his head in his hands, leaning back, staring at a glazed lamp on the ceiling, murmuring, "In the end, it's still about overwhelming with the greater trend."

At the Dust and Medicine Shop, several renowned doctors hired by the Fan family at great expense—mostly medical cultivators or Taoist health masters skilled in alchemy—were coming and going around the shop recently.

The Fan ancestral hall had become a boiling pot of chaos. Advice to the clan head gradually turned into questioning, and finally into agonized lamentations. One after another claimed they were ashamed of the tablets in the Fan ancestral hall, that their descendants were unfilial, ashamed before their ancestors, forced to watch the Fan family walk a path to self-destruction, daring to act like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, protecting the now-crippled Zheng Dafeng at such a critical juncture. Fan Junmao and Fan Er's father, the current Fan clan head, just silently drank tea amidst the criticism.

At the medicine shop.

Zheng Dafeng had woken up and could speak. Apart from the high-level cultivators hired by the Fan family who used medicine to heal his injuries and restore his foundation, the Zhao clan's Yin spirit also brought some resources from the Pear Blossom Cave Heaven to help repair Zheng Dafeng's soul defects, preventing him from collapsing completely and turning into a withered tree day by day.

Zheng Dafeng wasn't suicidal. Though he spoke little, he seemed somewhat relaxed. Occasionally, when Pei Qian came to sit in his room, he would chat with the scrawny girl with a smile. Every time Pei Qian came, she would squat on the ground, pull over a chair as a desk, and copy texts. Zheng Dafeng was most willing to talk when she was around. Although speaking aggravated his injuries, Pei Qian didn't appreciate it much. When copying, she was especially serious. If Zheng Dafeng talked too much, she would complain, "You're so annoying! I copied a wrong character. If the strokes aren't correct, my dad will make me rewrite it."

Zheng Dafeng would chuckle, but the laughter would make him break out in cold sweat from the pain. Still, with Pei Qian squatting there copying, the man on the sickbed was in a decent mood.

Chen Ping'an would occasionally come over to sit with him—one lying, one sitting. Since both were severely injured, they didn't talk much.

One evening, leaving the side room heavy with the smell of medicine, Chen Ping'an walked into the courtyard. Zhu Lian was busy in the kitchen preparing a table of dishes. Pei Qian was practicing her unique skills in the yard.

A table was set up in the yard. Lu Baixiang was playing chess with Sui Youbian, while Wei Xian stood nearby, still not understanding the game of Go but patiently waiting for the outcome.

Earlier, Zhu Lian and Sui Youbian had died outside Old Dragon City. Chen Ping'an had spent two more golden essence copper coins to embed them back into their life-bound scrolls.

After the two died, according to the "heavenly rules" set by the old Daoist from the Eastern Sea, the martial madman Zhu Lian's future peak achievement had its bottleneck lowered to the tenth martial realm.

As for Sui Youbian, it was even worse. She had died twice in the Broken Temple battle, and this time she traded deaths with a Golden Core realm cultivator. Her future was stuck at the ninth realm, the mountain peak realm. Neither Chen Ping'an nor the four scroll-people doubted "the old master's divine mastery of the Dao," regardless of their feelings toward the old temple master of the Contemplation Dao Temple.

Today, the Zhao clan's Yin spirit, who always appeared with rolling black smoke and fierce aura, did not show up.

No one expected that this Nascent Soul Yin spirit, which should have been the game-changer, after taking up residence at the medicine shop like a Jade Pellet realm cultivator, ended up having nothing to do from start to finish. Chen Ping'an was severely injured, Zheng Dafeng became a cripple, Zhu Lian and Sui Youbian died in battle, and Lu Baixiang and Wei Xian were not idle either—both had wandered at the gates of the underworld before returning to the living world. Only this Yin spirit seemed to have just chatted with Pei Qian at the shop entrance for a while. When time froze, the shop's formations hadn't been activated yet, so it was also trapped. After time resumed flowing, the situation was already settled.

Chen Ping'an went to sit on the doorstep of the front shop.

In the yard, Pei Qian, holding the Mountain Walking Staff, was panting heavily. "Old Wei, how's my swordsmanship?"

Wei Xian didn't turn his head, still staring at the black and white pieces on the board, which looked like interlocking teeth on a battlefield—at least that's all he could make of it. He perfunctorily replied to Pei Qian, "Strong."

Pei Qian wasn't satisfied. "How strong?!"

Wei Xian thought for a moment. "Unbeatable."

Pei Qian was furious. "Old Wei, do you think I'm an idiot? Who would believe that?"

Wei Xian glanced at her sideways. "Do you believe it?"

Pei Qian's expression immediately cleared, and she chuckled. "A little bit."

Her confidence soared. She raised the Mountain Walking Staff, pointing at Lu Baixiang's back. "Xiaobai, are you going to surrender gracefully and save yourself the trouble, or sit still and fight me?"

Lu Baixiang, with his back to her, laughed. "I surrender, I surrender."

Pei Qian asked again, "Sister Sui, would you like to have a fair and square battle with a kid who's only ten years old this year?"

Sui Youbian said indifferently, "I'll pass."

Pei Qian turned and yelled toward the small kitchen, "Zhu Lian, with your exquisite cooking skills and unrivaled talent, are you the only one left? Do you dare to risk tonight's dishes being less tasty and come out to fight me?"

Zhu Lian, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, shouted back, "I wouldn't dare!"

Pei Qian hummed, looked around, and hugged her staff. "Sure enough, besides my dad, I'm already unbeatable. A bit lonely. Seems like I don't need to practice swords today or tomorrow."

Chen Ping'an, who had somehow returned to the bench under the eaves, smiled. "Perseverance is key."

Pei Qian hopped over to sit beside Chen Ping'an and asked with anticipation, "Master, am I your first formal disciple?"

Chen Ping'an laughed. "I have an unregistered disciple named Cui Dongshan, who's currently at the Cliff Academy in Great Sui. If you want to be the senior disciple, you might have to ask if he agrees. But he probably doesn't like the title 'Big Senior Brother,' so you still have a chance."

Pei Qian waved dismissively. "Cui Dongshan? That name sounds like a small fry, no big future. When I meet him, I'll discuss it with him. He can be my junior disciple and call me Senior Sister. Master, don't worry. I won't bully him just because we're close, nor will I bribe him to give up his senior brother status."

Chen Ping'an smiled oddly. "Sure, you can try."

The Zhao Yin spirit stood behind the bamboo curtain of the shop. "Chen Ping'an, I need to talk to you."

Chen Ping'an got up, lifted the curtain, and walked into the front shop.

The Yin spirit led Chen Ping'an out the door into the alley. Somehow, it activated a formation to transform itself into a Jade Pellet realm cultivator sitting in a small world. The alley grew dim. Though the Zhao Yin spirit's face was blurry, Chen Ping'an could clearly sense its caution, even a rare lingering fear. After cutting off external observation, it floated to a stop and said solemnly to Chen Ping'an, "An old Confucian scholar who claims to have a connection with Qi Jingchun found me—to be precise, he directly summoned me to his presence. He said he is your Chen Ping'an's... unregistered teacher..."

At this point, the Yin spirit looked like it wanted to laugh but didn't dare.

There were only unregistered disciples in the world, not unregistered teachers.

Respecting teachers and the Dao was a rule that could not be trampled lightly in the Haoran Heaven. Crossing that line often required paying a price far heavier than mere "notoriety."

Chen Ping'an nodded but didn't elaborate on this matter with the Zhao Yin spirit.

The Yin spirit didn't press either—just as Chen Ping'an never asked it, since it was surnamed Zhao and from the Pear Blossom Cave Heaven, which branch of the Zhao clan it was.

Monks don't name themselves, Daoists don't speak of their age, and mountain and river spirits don't ask about past lives. That's the principle.

It continued, "That old gentleman asked me to tell you that you can stay in Old Dragon City until after the New Year before moving on. There are some things he needs to send you later. After next spring, you can go wherever you want, just be Chen Ping'an."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Alright."

Then he hesitated but still asked directly, "Senior Yang, are you really going to turn a blind eye to Zheng Dafeng's suffering?"

The Zhao Yin spirit didn't want to talk about the old god at all, but thinking of the man on the sickbed in the shop, it made an exception. It said softly, "The old god sees far, so he seems particularly heartless. But for Li Er and Zheng Dafeng, even though it's only a nominal master-disciple relationship without any transmission of teachings, I, this lowly Yin spirit still clinging to life, dare to say that it's probably very different from us."

Chen Ping'an hummed in agreement. "I think so too."

The Yin spirit comforted him, "Zheng Dafeng lost his martial arts cultivation, but his state of mind is still good. We don't need to worry too much. If we pity him every day, that's what he'd find hardest to bear."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "I understand that."

The Yin spirit praised, "Actually, you handled this the best..."

Chen Ping'an quickly waved his hand. "What, does everyone who comes to the Dust and Medicine Shop start flattering me?"

The Yin spirit laughed heartily, withdrew the formation's restrictions, and vanished in a flash.

Then Chen Ping'an saw the green-robed woman, Fan Junmao, at the corner of the alley.

He wasn't sure why she had chosen at the last moment to help Lu Baixiang and Wei Xian. Was it because Du Mao was no longer a threat, so she quickly added icing to the cake? Showing goodwill to the Dust and Medicine Shop?

But that didn't seem to fit the nature he had perceived in her.

Fan Junmao walked into the alley and tossed a wine flask to Chen Ping'an. "Inside is the demon core of an old flood dragon, lightly refined by me. You and Zheng Dafeng need this now. Drink two or three mouthfuls a day despite the pain. It's more effective for repairing a martial artist's physique than any miraculous pill. Soaking a twelfth-level great demon's core in wine is too strong; it would kill you now. Ordinary Golden Core realm demon cores aren't enough. This Nascent Soul old flood dragon's core, soaked as medicinal wine, is just right."

Chen Ping'an asked, "I'll accept this flask. But you're a businesswoman. What do I need to pay?"

Fan Junmao shook her head. "Consider it the Fan family's compensation to the Dust and Medicine Shop. You don't need to pay anything extra, Chen Ping'an."

Chen Ping'an helplessly said, "Hearing that explanation, I'm not sure I dare accept such a valuable gift."

Fan Junmao sneered. "Then if I said the Fan family also pawned everything to help you pay those fifty Grain Rain coins to the Azure Tiger Palace at the Heavenly Que Peak, would you be scared enough to throw the flask back at me?"

Chen Ping'an asked, "Why are you doing this?"

Fan Junmao studied the somewhat sickly young man in front of her. "You poked a hole in the life-bound immortal weapon, the Swallowing Sword Boat, of the Flying Ascension realm Du Mao. That you're not dead isn't strange—someone saved you. But that you can now bounce around and walk normally shows how well your fifth realm foundation was laid. Since that's the case, as the behind-the-scenes decision-maker of the Fan family, I have reason to bet on you—a heavy bet. Chen Ping'an, the pure true qi inside you is getting more and more blocked, isn't it? Your Gold Splendor Dharma Robe is tattered like a leaky thatched hut. As that pure true qi weakens and the qi infusion worsens, not only will your martial arts cultivation keep falling, but even your Longevity Bridge might collapse. Do you want to take a gamble?"

Chen Ping'an didn't immediately refuse or agree. He smiled and asked, "How do I gamble?"

Fan Junmao pointed at the sea of clouds above. "You're trying to refine the pentad water life-bound treasure, right? You already have the oral formula, the cauldron, and enough heavenly materials and earthly treasures. You have the 'people' condition. I'll help you get the 'time' and 'place.' Once you refine the life-bound treasure, you'll have your first mansion within your body to accommodate heaven and earth's spiritual qi. That pure true qi of yours won't need to be wasted in meaningless stalemates and attrition battles. Two birds with one stone, Chen Ping'an. What do you say?"

Chen Ping'an suddenly said, "If I'm not mistaken, you definitely know one of them, right?"

Fan Junmao didn't deny it, but shook her head with a smile. "One of them?"

Chen Ping'an remained silent.

Fan Junmao's eyes darkened, deep and unfathomable, like two bottomless ancient wells. "You really, really, really don't deserve it!"

The green-robed woman who owned the sea of clouds said "really" three times.

Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "Says who?"

Stunned silent, Fan Junmao gritted her teeth in irritation.

Chen Ping'an stopped provoking the bad-tempered "young" woman. "Fan Er, is he alright?"

Fan Junmao rolled her eyes at the mention of him. "He's withered. Confined to the house, doing nothing all day, carrying a little hoe, digging here and there. He's collected a dozen bags of dirt, saying it's for emergencies. Second Mother feels so sorry for him, and my mother's been envious several times. No one knows how to persuade him not to go mad."

Chen Ping'an's lips curled up.

No matter how rotten the roots of Old Dragon City were, as long as there was a Fan Er, Chen Ping'an would be willing to visit often whenever he had the chance.

Before leaving, Fan Junmao said with rare gravity, "The Tongye Sect might face serious retribution later."

Chen Ping'an's gaze was cold. "You reap what you sow. If you've been used to living unreasonably and comfortably, then remember to burn more incense usually, praying that you don't run into someone who can reason with you. Since you have, stand still and take the beating. If you get beaten to death, you can be reborn in the next life."

Fan Junmao looked at his sickly pale face.

It was like seeing Chen Ping'an for the first time.

In the Northern Juzhou, there was a Lion Peak occupied by a Nascent Soul earth immortal.

Northern Juzhou was crowded with sword cultivators, and both the mountain and mortal worlds were extremely martial. A glare while passing each other on flying swords over the sea of clouds could lead to a bloody fight. As for impersonating another sect and beating up an offending mountain, then running away—the wronged mountain might have its plaque smashed and its ancestral hall wrecked without even knowing what happened. Then, some aggrieved person from the beaten mountain might vent on an even smaller, distant sect.

Northern Juzhou was probably such an extreme place of cultivation focusing on force, led by countless sword cultivators.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have snatched the "North" character from the truly northern Snowy Continent, even though it was located in the northeast of Haoran Heaven.

But after the sage from the Yufu Academy took action, beating three great cultivators—two Nascent Souls and one Jade Pellet—"through a dog's fart," and then warned all sword cultivators not to bully others unreasonably, the various forces restrained themselves a bit.

Now, almost the entire Lion Peak, having witnessed Li Liu freely entering and leaving forbidden zones where earth immortals could hardly tread, and bringing out a golden lion seal that allowed her to step into the mid-five realms in one go, had deeply understood how extraordinary this "Li Liu" was. Over time, her status among the mountain's cultivators rose steadily, second only to the old peak master. Even that old great Nascent Soul cultivator, who associated with the sage of Yufu Academy, treated Li Liu with more deference in private than junior cultivators did when meeting her.

Only Li Liu's mother, who ran a shop in the town at the mountain's foot, was still clueless. She mistakenly thought her daughter had stepped in dog crap and been taken as a disciple by some immortal master of low seniority. She kept nagging, afraid some shameless old coot was coveting her daughter's looks and used some magic trick to lure her. Wasn't this delaying her daughter's marriage? When Li Liu got older, what fine young man with a good family, fat wallet, and passable looks would come knocking? Did she really have to find some local man for Li Liu in this town?

The woman didn't think much of them. She regretted not being more thick-skinned and making that traveling rich young man—surnamed Simu or something—stay an extra year or two. Then Li Liu wouldn't be fooling around on the mountain; she'd marry into a wealthy family and have a worry-free life. When Li Huai grew up, he could come here and maybe get an easy, well-paying job from his brother-in-law.

In the two years since opening the shop, the woman's mood hadn't been good. She hadn't earned much money. She worried all day about her son being bullied at the academy, and about her daughter growing crooked and losing her looks due to the mountain winds.

During this time, whenever Li Liu descended the mountain or returned, she would help out at her parents' shop for a couple of days.

The entire Lion Peak had received strict orders from the old peak master: no one was allowed to approach that shop in the town without authorization. Any violator would be beaten to death on the spot.

So the woman still didn't know that her daughter Li Liu on Lion Peak was more like an immortal than the immortals, not just a pretty little servant serving tea.

Two days ago, Li Liu had just returned from a journey. At the shop, she was massaging her mother's shoulders, listening to her chatter about the trivial matters of various households and petty neighborhood disputes.

Li Er squatted at the door, basking in the late winter sun. The more his wife looked at him, the more annoyed she got. What a disgrace!

Other women's husbands—even if they were shifty-eyed and skinny—still had their wives cursing the heavens and earth, crying about how their man had stolen some vixen. Li Er? He made her really at ease! If Li Er ever got any wild ideas, she'd probably chop off his third leg with a cleaver first, then go fight that slut. But when it came to outsiders, she wouldn't dare use a knife. Here, she was a stranger and would only be ganged up on.

This kind of "strong at home, weak abroad" behavior, Li Huai inherited from her.

Li Er wiped his mouth. He didn't find this peaceful life hard to endure. In fact, he had always been used to this kind of life and only liked it. But now, the whole family of three was in Northern Juzhou, while his son Li Huai was left at the Great Sui Academy in Bottle Gourd Continent. The man was slow of speech and liked to keep things to himself, but what father in the world didn't worry about whether his son was hungry or cold?

Li Liu finished attending to her mother, brought two small stools to the door, and sat down with her father, one each.

Cao Xi, the sword immortal from the Bodhi Continent who served as Li Liu's guardian, had stayed at Lion Peak for quite a while. Each time he descended the mountain, he accompanied Li Liu to various vanished secret realms or ruined immortal estates with broken incense, picking up treasures.

Just picking.

Cao Xi never had to lift a finger—just watched Li Liu return with loads each time.

After escorting Li Liu back to Lion Peak this time, the sword immortal finally didn't have to continue accompanying this strange girl on her wanderings. He went off alone to travel and was now nowhere to be found.

Li Liu now wore a golden lion seal at her waist and a short sword tucked diagonally. But both were concealed by Cao Xi's illusion spells, invisible to cultivators below the Nascent Soul earth immortal level.

Li Liu suddenly glanced at Li Er. Their eyes met briefly. Li Er stood up, saying he was going for a walk. Li Liu immediately returned to the house to keep her mother company.

The woman scolded with a smile, "Finally willing to move your butt? If you have the guts to seduce some woman and bring her back, I'd even acknowledge her as a sister."

Li Er quickened his pace.

The woman rolled her eyes and complained to Li Liu, "I must have been blind back then to marry your father. How many handsome young men in town were after me! It must have been bewitched that I picked your father."

Li Liu said softly, "Without that, how would you have me and your brother?"

The woman poked Li Liu's forehead with her finger and snorted, "Li Huai was sensible since he was little. You, look at you as an older sister—not a bit of thought for your brother... Insisting on learning some immortal arts! You're such a dumb girl, can you even learn? Time on the mountain passes fast. Three or five years will go by in a blink. Then you'll turn from a maiden into an old maid. Who would want to marry you? Not only will the betrothal gifts be poor, but I'll have to take money from your brother's wife fund to give you a dowry. Do you think you can face Li Huai?"

She rambled on and on.

And her favoritism toward the son was absolutely outrageous.

Li Liu wasn't angry at all. Instead, her moist eyes turned into crescent moons. "After cultivating immortal arts on the mountain, they give me some money every month. I've been saving it all for Li Huai. When he marries, he won't be looked down upon."

The woman was first pleasantly surprised, then immediately panicked. She reached out her hand. "Why didn't you say so earlier!? Hand it over! What if someday you run into some slick-talking scoundrel and he squanders all your silver? What about Li Huai? I need to keep it safe for you!"

Li Liu took out a bag of silver, about twenty or thirty taels. "Actually, I have some more on the mountain."

The woman quickly hid it away. Finally, a bit of conscience stirred. "Keep the rest for yourself. On the mountain, dealing with fellow immortal disciples of similar status, there's bound to be some social expenses. I understand that. Tell them they can get a discount when they visit our shop."

Li Liu obediently hummed.

What she meant by "some more."

Even a sword immortal from the Bodhi Continent, who had seen many great spectacles, would be tempted.

Greatly pleased with the windfall, the woman stroked her daughter's tender little hand. "When you marry into a good family, your father and I can rest easy. Remember, find a wealthy family that can help your brother."

Li Liu said softly, "I know."

When Li Er returned, he was unusually grim.

The woman was a bit surprised, then furious. "What, you got scolded for staring at some other man's wife? Rebelling? Staring costs a few ounces of chest? I'll go scold her!"

Li Er shook his head. "Let's go to the back yard, all three of us."

Earlier, a wisp of incense had appeared before Li Er.

He quickly climbed the mountain to find a secluded spot on Lion Peak, heard some news, and immediately rushed back to the shop.

In the main house, by the table, the woman grew more and more uneasy. This expression on Li Er was rare—only once in his life. That time, this coward who only bullied her in bed and dared not speak loudly to outsiders had gone to the mountains to cut firewood and burn charcoal. He didn't come out for a long time, but he did earn some silver.

Li Liu sat beside her mother. Seeing that her father was about to speak, she "considerately" asked first, "Did someone from home send a letter to this town?"

Li Er wasn't stupid. He nodded immediately, saying gloomily, "The old master mentioned something. I wanted to discuss it with you two."

The woman swallowed. "Don't tell me that old thing died and no one's collecting his corpse, and you, as his disciple, have to rush back to handle the funeral? That's so far away! Can't we just send some money and have the Yang family shop help out? That old thing really is something—he had to die just as we've settled down here. If I could see his coffin, I'd scold him back to life!"

Li Liu covered her mouth with a smile.

Li Er opened his mouth wide, stunned for a long time, then shook his head. "The old master is fine. It's... Zheng Dafeng. Something happened."

The woman blinked. "That shameless bastard? He's as slick as an eel. What could happen to him? Didn't he go south? What, did he ogle too many pretty girls, steal some women's underclothes, and get beaten to death?"

Li Er stared at the table, his face calm. "He didn't die, but he was crippled. His entire back is broken. He's still lying in bed now. Even if he recovers, he'll never stand straight again. And this time, Junior Brother didn't cause trouble. Someone caused it for him. I asked the old master if he would intervene, and he said neither he nor Zheng Dafeng's parents taught him—he gave him skills. If he didn't die outside, what more could he ask for?"

Li Liu narrowed her willow-leaf-shaped beautiful eyes.

The woman was speechless for a long time.

Zheng Dafeng, that bastard, had a glib tongue. Although she always cursed him as forever single and worthless, her husband's junior brother... wasn't really a bad person.

Li Er lifted his head and looked at his wife. "I want to go see Junior Brother. I'm just afraid... you won't let me."

The woman's eyes reddened, and she cursed, "If you don't go, Li Er, are you even human?"

Li Er grinned.

The woman asked cautiously, "Once you go, can you come back without missing an arm or leg?"

Li Er nodded. "If I can't beat them, I'll run. It's not a big deal."

The woman immediately became anxious. "What? You have to fight people?!"

Li Er hung his head, unwilling to lie to his wife.

Li Liu quickly soothed, "Mother, it's okay. The place where Zheng Dafeng is, unlike our hometown, you can spend money to file a lawsuit in the yamen and get justice. It just costs some silver. Right, Dad?"

Li Er quickly nodded.

Truly his own daughter—she understands.

The woman wiped her tears, put the bag of silver she had just gotten on the table, went to the back room to rummage, and pulled out another large bag. Apart from the untouchable money saved for their son Li Huai's wife, this was basically their entire savings. She handed it to Li Er. "Spend frugally on the road. Save as much as you can for the lawsuit."

Li Er took the money, strode out of the shop, and only said to Li Liu, "Take care of your mother."

The woman sat dazed in the yard. After a long time, she sighed. "Dafeng is pitiful too. How will he find a wife now?"

Li Liu extended two fingers, quietly stroking the hilt of the short sword at her waist.

Li Er went straight to the peak of Lion Peak, found the old Nascent Soul cultivator famous for his skill in magical combat, and asked for a small sect ferry to a large port to head to Bottle Gourd Continent.

The tall old man didn't dare ask too many questions. First, this taciturn man was the father of "his ancestor teacher Li Liu." Second, this man was a tenth-level martial artist! At this distance, severely injuring this Nascent Soul earth immortal was probably just a matter of one punch.

Moreover, the Lion Peak master had always felt that people like "Li Er" were the scariest.

Too easygoing, too gentle—more docile than the most timid country bumpkin.

So when Li Er didn't want to speak nicely, at least his own Lion Peak definitely couldn't withstand his punches.

The old man smiled. "Let me escort you, Sir, to the port. I can't help you with big matters, but at least I can save you some small troubles."

Li Er didn't refuse and thanked him. Then he boarded the ferry, personally piloted by the Lion Peak master, and rushed south.

Li Er actually sat on the ferry's railing at the bow.

Earlier, in the secluded place, after three sticks of incense rose, he could clearly see the old man sitting in the back yard of the Yang family shop.

In the end, Li Er asked the old man if he could go to the Tongye Sect.

The old man tossed a "As you wish" and waved away the incense smoke.

"As I wish, Li Er."

That made things easy.

After breaking through the ninth realm bottleneck to reach the tenth realm, he realized there was a whole new world. Most importantly, he knew how to walk this path next and how to go faster. Until he reached the end of that dead end, he, Li Er, could advance unimpeded.

He heard that a man named Du Mao paid a heavy price in Old Dragon City, losing his life-bound immortal weapon and his Yang Spirit external incarnation. Now he was at most at the initial Immortal realm? And the old master said the Tongye Sect's mountain-protecting formation wasn't very good.

Then that old thief Du had better burn more incense in his ancestral hall these days. Otherwise, he might not get the chance later.

Perhaps because Chen Ping'an, Pei Qian, and the now-sitting-on-the-bed Zheng Dafeng were all used to hard times.

These days, there was no gloomy atmosphere at the Dust and Medicine Shop. On the contrary, as Zheng Dafeng started to return to his jokey nature, the back yard was quite lively.

Fan Junmao brought Fan Er to the shop. They visited in the room with his Dao-transmission teacher, Zheng Dafeng. Fan Er held back tears when entering, but seeing Zheng Dafeng, he couldn't hold them in. Yet no one knew what the master and disciple murmured; when Fan Er came out, there was some smile on his face.

Fan Junmao asked Chen Ping'an if he had made up his mind about refining the life-bound treasure above the sea of clouds. Chen Ping'an said he'd think it over.

Fan Er said he wanted to spar with Chen Ping'an and would go easy on him. Fan Junmao gave him a knock on the head, and he squatted down. Pei Qian, understanding, volunteered to fight the self-proclaimed "Fourth Realm Grandmaster" Fan Er. The result was Fan Er being chased and beaten by Pei Qian with her Mountain Walking Staff. Fan Er ran, shouting, "Pei Qian, how can you have such incredible martial arts at such a young age? Are you that legendary genius? Let me go home and practice hard for three days, then I'll come back to learn your divine swordsmanship!"

Pei Qian ran sweating, feeling she had truly shown her style this time. Even she herself got hit on the forehead by the staff—her swordsmanship was too high, couldn't hold back.

After Fan Junmao dragged Fan Er away, Pei Qian turned to Wei Xian and asked, "Old Wei, am I really that strong? I know Fan Er's flattery had water..."

Wei Xian sat on a low stool, basking in the warm winter sun. "Not much water."

Pei Qian wiped the sweat off her face. "Damn, I really am a genius! I had some doubts before. Alright, Old Wei, after I finish copying tonight, I'll create a new set of boxing techniques and teach you tomorrow. You don't need to thank me—ten sticks of sugar-coated hawthorns will do."

Wei Xian shook his head. "I won't learn your boxing."

Pei Qian stomped over, furious. "Why? Look down on me? Or are you unwilling to spend the little money on the hawthorns?"

Wei Xian said, "No money."

Pei Qian forgot to be angry about him looking down on her boxing. She stomped her foot in frustration. "Even the money for sugar-coated hawthorns is gone?!"

She suddenly crouched down and whispered, "Old Wei, don't you have that flashy dragon robe? Let's sell it for silver! If you're tired, I can help you carry it. We're friends, right? Wouldn't I help you?"

Wei Xian retorted, "Why don't you sell your talisman?"

She shyly pulled out that yellow paper talisman, stuck it to her forehead, and nodded. "You're right. I can't bear to part with it. I guess you feel the same. I won't force you."

Wei Xian glanced at the little girl. "Is the sun rising in the west?"

Pei Qian turned her head and whispered in Wei Xian's ear, "Let me tell you, I'm actually a princess who fell among the people. When I was little, I used a golden shoulder pole at home. Steamed buns—I'd eat one and throw away one."

Wei Xian nodded. "Just like me."

Chen Ping'an, besides sleeping on the floor in the front shop, had turned the original counter into a desk.

These days, he repeatedly read and pondered the alchemy manual given by Lu Yong of the Azure Tiger Palace.

Since the Dust and Medicine Shop had become a tacit forbidden area in Old Dragon City, with the Zhao Yin spirit guarding the alley, Chen Ping'an placed one of the smallest pieces of Dragon Slaying Platform on the table, along with the golden jade plaque engraved with "I am good at nourishing my vast, flowing passion." Its origin, the fairy sister did not elaborate, only saying that some old fellow was reasonably fair in rewards and punishments—heavy punishment for one who was confined to reflection, light punishment for another whose plaque was removed.

These days, Chen Ping'an had been throwing a golden essence copper coin into his Gold Splendor Dharma Robe almost daily. Today was the fourth.

This was a matter of life and death, and Chen Ping'an couldn't afford any stinginess.

Also, one bottle of Meditation Forgetfulness Pills, plus two bottles of Fire Dragon Pills and Rain Spreading Pills to take with them—except for one Meditation Forgetfulness Pill taken by Chen Ping'an himself, the rest were distributed to Zheng Dafeng and the four scroll-people. Not a single pill remained.

Chen Ping'an suddenly remembered something. He stood up, went to the back yard, and took Pei Qian to the side room where Sui Youbian was practicing her sword furnace standing stance. Sui Youbian looked puzzled. Chen Ping'an asked if she could help Pei Qian open the sinews and stretch the bones first.

Pei Qian grinned from ear to ear.

Finally, she was officially the first disciple of Master Chen Ping'an!

Sui Youbian nodded.

But Chen Ping'an hadn't taken a few steps out of the room when he heard Pei Qian's earth-shattering wails. The little girl ran out of the room, shouting she would never practice martial arts again.

Sui Youbian stood at the doorway, helpless. "She couldn't bear the pain at all. I was very careful with the force."

Chen Ping'an covered his face with his hand.

Shameful.

Pei Qian clung tightly to him, sobbing, covered in sweat, her charcoal face full of fear and dread.

That evening, Pei Qian came to the counter and told Chen Ping'an she had copied a thousand characters today. Though she had actually copied that many, the little girl felt quite guilty.

Chen Ping'an didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "If you don't want to practice martial arts, that's fine. What's the big deal? Just focus on studying in the future, and you'll still succeed."

Pei Qian skipped away to chat with Old Wei.

Chen Ping'an smiled and continued flipping through the priceless alchemy manual.

He suddenly remembered the scene of Pei Qian standing at the corner of the alley that day.

Wasn't it just like him when he was a child, going up the mountain to collect herbs, caught in a sudden downpour, the stream flooding, blocking the nearest way down? To rush home and take care of his mother, wasn't he gritting his teeth and trying to jump across?

So Chen Ping'an's heart softened.

Even though the sword spirit had said Pei Qian was "one of the rare martial arts embryos in the world," Chen Ping'an didn't think it was a great loss if Pei Qian didn't practice martial arts.

A child of that age should do things appropriate for that age. There was nothing wrong with that.

When he was a child, squatting alone far away, watching other kids of the same age flying kites by the Immortal's Grave, eating snacks, wearing new clothes—didn't he envy them?

Of course he did.

And when he was young and weak, having to pawn his parents' remaining belongings one by one for rice money—didn't he cry?

He would hide under the covers and cry bitterly too.

These hardships weren't necessarily all bad. If you endure them, they become a different kind of good.

But Chen Ping'an still wished that the people he cared about could have smoother lives, at least not have to face such things too young or too early.

But in life, it's hardest to have things go as you wish. If you see something good, your pocket doesn't agree.

If you want peace and safety, the heavens may not nod.

Chen Ping'an lay on the counter, feeling sleepy, and drifted off.

Throughout the Tongye Sect, except for a handful of upper-five realm great cultivators, no one noticed anything unusual. They still believed their sect was the undeniable leader of the Tongye Continent. Only the Jade Gui Sect, plus the Fuqi Sect and the Taiping Mountain—three peaks combined—could barely wrestle with them.

Although for centuries, the Tongye Sect had always secretly forbidden its disciples from claiming that their hundred-year-revival ancestor was at the Flying Ascension realm, only saying he was at the Immortal realm with hope of reaching the thirteenth realm, everyone knew it was "one protest too many." The cultivators of the continent never mentioned it aloud, only because they feared displeasing the Tongye Sect. In their hearts, it was crystal clear.

Besides this revival ancestor whose might suppressed the whole continent, the Tongye Sect also had several Jade Pellet realm cultivators of great renown. For example, the ancestor in charge of the sect's registers and precepts had just returned from successfully killing a twelfth-level great demon.

The current sect master of the Tongye Sect was also a Jade Pellet realm cultivator—and a sword cultivator!

The sect master had even taught a brilliant direct disciple, a mere three-hundred-year-old Nascent Soul sword cultivator.

With such a deep foundation, dared the southernmost Jade Gui Sect compete for the title of number one?

The Tongye Sect occupied an area over twelve hundred li in circumference. If you couldn't ride the wind or fly a sword, even visiting neighbors was tiresome.

They had a Tongye Minor Cave Heaven.

Only upper-five realm great cultivators and Nascent Soul earth immortals were qualified to enter and cultivate there.

Then, one day, the innate dignity, confidence, and sect honor of all Tongye Sect disciples began to change. Many once-taken-for-granted ideas became less certain.

For instance, one night, almost all mid-five realm cultivators felt an overwhelming, oppressive aura rushing from north to south, straight toward the Tongye Sect's northern border!

Before the person appeared, the sword energy had already arrived.

A single sword slash straight at the green barrier emitted by the sect's mountain-protecting formation, "The Phoenix Tree Heavenly Umbrella."

It shattered on the spot.

Though countless Snowflake Coins were instantly consumed to gather mountain and river spiritual qi and prop up a second "Phoenix Tree Umbrella" that blotted out the sky.

It was still broken with one slash.

This continued until the sixth umbrella, which had shrunk significantly.

Only then did the unknown sword cultivator stop his blade, hovering in the air three hundred li from the Tongye Sect's ancestral mountain.

He said calmly, "Du Mao, come out. Otherwise, with the seventh sword, I can't guarantee there won't be collateral damage."

At that moment, even the outer disciples of the lower-five realms and scattered family members and servants in the southern areas looked up in a daze at that dazzling pinpoint of light.

Those near the north, any cultivator below the Golden Core earth immortal level, felt as if threads of sword energy were pouring violently into their eyes if they stared at that sword cultivator for too long. They quickly lowered their heads.

At this time, centered on the ancestral mountain, using the spiritual qi of the Tongye Cave Heaven as its source, a new heavenly barrier appeared before the sword cultivator. This core formation, whose umbrella frame faintly appeared, only sheltered the ancestral mountain's area within three hundred li.

Exactly keeping that sword cultivator outside.

In truth, it was no longer "outside." He had already broken into the house but hadn't charged into the main hall.

The Tongye Continent's sect master, wearing the ancestral hall jade tablet at his waist, could pass through the formation barrier. Dressed in a purple robe, carrying a sword, he hovered in front of the sword cultivator and asked with a smile, "Are you the Sword Immortal Zuo You?"

"Du Mao?"

The sword cultivator glanced at the purple-robed sword cultivator and shook his head. "Not like him."

So he drew his sword.

Two upper-five realm sword immortals.

Like two rainbows tearing through the night sky.

There was no protracted battle as the Tongye Sect disciples had anticipated.

Firstly, sword cultivator duels—the most "money-devouring" in the world—were always more decisive than other cultivators' fights.

Secondly, the gap in strength.

Ultimately, the Tongye Sect master was quickly slashed into the barrier, his entire body slamming into a mountain with thin spiritual qi. The mountain peak exploded.

That sword cultivator's blade, straight as an arrow, cut a large gash in the barrier from top to bottom. He slowly walked in, like an uninvited guest breaking down the door with no manners.

An avalanche of curses and colorful immortal treasures rained down on him.

This sword cultivator no longer restrained the sword energy hidden within him for a hundred years. He released it instantly, like a Milky Way waterfall pouring into the mortal world.

No treasure could get within a hundred paces of him.

The sword cultivator faced the ancestral mountain, his expression calm, as if earnestly discussing a scholarly question. He said seriously, "My master told me go fuck your mother. He said it's hard for me to study, but this isn't hard. So, the question is, Du Mao, is your mother still alive? What does she look like?"

Silence fell over heaven and earth.

Especially profound silence.