Chapter 398: Gift
The commotion at the bow of the ship was much ado about nothing.
Since the sword cultivator had revealed his lifebound flying swords, and an unusual pair of them at that, how could it end without bloodshed?
The onlookers found it rather unsatisfying.
The ferry carried nearly two hundred people, and for a time, discussions were everywhere. For the citizens of Qingluan Nation, whether they were registered wandering immortal masters, wild cultivators traveling for profit, or high officials and nobles traveling with their families to broaden their horizons, riding an immortal ferry was nothing unusual. Scenic views like rolling seas of clouds and soaring cranes—well, after seeing them enough times, they became just that. Such sights were less stimulating than witnessing a conflict like this firsthand. People held differing opinions. Compared to the involved parties—one as calm as a passing breeze, the other hiding its head and exposing its tail—the spectators chatted with great enthusiasm. Their views were chaotic, but in the end, they reached a rough consensus: that young sword cultivator was too domineering. For such a trivial matter, why resort to injuring someone? His identity as a sword cultivator should have been enough to resolve the issue. Instead, he had to kick that man until he collapsed. If that wasn't using one's power to bully others, what was?
Only a young girl traveling with her parents, still naive and innocent, mumbled, "Wasn't it that guy who got beaten who was in the wrong first?"
The adults nearby—including her parents, who belonged to a very well-matched noble family in Qingluan Nation—all pretended not to hear the child's naive words. They continued speculating about the young sword cultivator's origins: Was he from the Wind and Thunder Garden, which produced a Li Tuanjing? Or from the Sword Qi-Charged Xiao Yang Mountain? Or perhaps they sneered, saying that legendary sword cultivators were indeed impressive—young and full of temper. They predicted that someday, he would cross paths with an earth immortal who wouldn't be so reasonable, and he would eventually suffer for it.
The girl timidly added, "If that big brother in white robes with a sword on his back didn't have skills to protect himself, wouldn't he have already been bullied by that group of people?"
The adults still ignored the child's childish opinion. A mere child, what could she possibly understand?
No one paid her any attention. The young girl was a bit indignant. She ran to a less crowded spot near the railing at the bow, stood on her tiptoes, and strained to look out. The clouds looked like the biggest cotton candy in the world. Her mouth watered. She reached out, made a few grabbing gestures, then stuffed them into her mouth, patted her belly, and felt completely satisfied. She decided not to hold a grudge against those adults anymore. She had actually wanted to find that kid who looked like a little coal ball to play with, but at the time, she had been too shy. Besides, her parents had warned her that once she got on this ship, she couldn't act as freely as she did at home. Later, when that big incident happened, she became even more afraid to approach.
Suddenly, the young girl noticed someone leaning on the railing not far away. This person was particularly handsome—even more fitting of the phrase "jade tree in the wind" than the big brother who had been protecting the charcoal-black girl earlier.
The man was about thirty years old, but he still gave off a vague impression of youth and vitality.
He turned his head and met her gaze. The girl quickly turned away, pretending to admire the view.
The man smiled. Imitating the girl, he reached out toward a floating white cloud shaped like a mountain peak near the ferry. The snowy mountain trembled slightly, and then a line of white light, shimmering under the sunlight, swam into the man's hands. He kneaded it into a ball of thread. Smiling, he extended it toward the girl, as if asking if she wanted to try some. The girl shook her head vigorously. He tossed it into his own mouth instead.
The girl was utterly amazed, her mouth wide open in admiration.
*An immortal who looks good too.*
The man leaned on the railing, looking idle.
He had taken leave from his duties this time to relax and also to get a closer look at a young man who might very well share the same origin in cultivation methods.
He was none other than Wei Liang, the Grand Commander of Qingluan Nation.
He was both the earth immortal who had set up the ambush against the Yellow Ox and lured in the wild cultivator back then, and the gatekeeper of the capital for this Buddhist-Daoist debate in Qingluan Nation.
The Buddhist-Daoist debate had not yet truly concluded, so Wei Liang—whose age was even greater than the lifespan of Qingluan Nation itself—had requested leave from the current Emperor, Tang Li. Even though Tang Li was extremely reluctant, he had no choice but to agree. After all, without Wei Liang guarding the capital, the situation in Qingluan Nation was now extremely complex. Tang Li's sleeping quarters were surrounded by tigers and wolves, yet the Tang Emperor still had to grit his teeth and approve the request.
After Emperor Taizu of Qingluan Nation founded the state, he built pavilions and hung portraits of twenty-four founding heroes. "Wei Qian" was actually ranked quite low, but by the time the grandchildren of the other twenty-three civil and military officials had died, Wei Qian had simply changed his name to Wei Liang.
This immortal ferry, named "Blue Robe," was similar in appearance to the warships used by secular dynasties on great lakes and rivers. It was not fast, and it would take detours so that half of its passengers could visit famous immortal mountains for entertainment. They could go to a fishing platform high above the clouds, using rods specially crafted from rare woods, to catch birds and flying fish worth a fortune. They could climb to the summit of a tall mountain with inns clustered around it to enjoy the magnificent sunrise and sunset. They could visit an immortal sect, pay a heavy price for seeds, have them cultivated by peasant cultivators into pots of exotic flowers and grasses, and then take them home to display in their courtyards or use them as elegant bribes in official circles. There were also some mountain peaks that deliberately raised immortal birds and beasts from the wilds. Cultivators would accompany wealthy patrons interested in hunting, following them the entire way, going up mountains and into the water, "braving dangers" to capture them.
Throughout the glorious years of Qingluan Nation, Wei Liang had always been alone.
Every time he married a wife in the Grand Commander's mansion, it was just a facade. Hence, he had no children.
Time had passed in a daze, all these years.
Wei Liang crouched down and smiled. "Little girl, what's your name?"
The girl hesitated. "My name is Yuan Yanxu."
Wei Liang nodded. "Yan, meaning substance in speech, and Xu... that means 'order.' From that, it seems there's an elder in your family who is an admirer of the 'Righteousness and Method Theory' of the old Tongcheng School. That vein of learning has been dormant for many years. So I guess the name wasn't chosen by your father, but by your grandfather?"
The girl's eyes widened. She was even more impressed with this man. He could guess that?
Wei Liang smiled. "Want to have a chat?"
The girl trotted over and crouched beside him. "Sir, you speak, and I'll listen carefully."
In the distance, the girl's mother looked worried and was about to bring her daughter back.
Her husband, a refined middle-aged scholar, had the same intention. On an immortal ferry, no one was simple.
But the family's old guest elder accompanying them shook his head at the middle-aged scholar and said softly, "This might be an immortal opportunity. It's best we just observe for now."
Only then did the couple relax a little, and a hint of anticipation appeared.
Wei Liang simply sat cross-legged, hands resting on his knees. The immortal ferry sailed into a sea of clouds. Beyond the railing, it was like a long white river, making the ferry truly live up to its name.
Wei Liang first asked the girl Yuan Yanxu for her thoughts on the earlier commotion. The girl shared her thoughts.
When she saw this immortal gentleman nod, Yuan Yanxu felt a little happy. Finally, someone agreed with her.
Wei Liang spoke slowly. "All you innocent children who haven't seen much of the world... how should I put it? You're like the most beautiful but most fragile piece of porcelain. Whether you'll end up in a grand hall or become a broken pot by a well depends entirely on how well you're taught. If you're taught well, your shape is correct. If not, you'll grow crooked."
"Teaching by precept and example, with the latter being more important. Precept is empty; teaching by example is substantial. Because children may not understand the principles adults talk about, but they are most curious about the world. It's hard to make children listen and absorb principles with their ears. But children see more with their eyes and remember the general shape of the world more easily. It's relatively simple, black and white, immature but especially valuable. Imperceptibly influenced in this way, without even realizing it, little by little, month after month, year after year, the world in their hearts becomes fixed, and it's hard to change."
"So, many seemingly inexplicable actions after a person grows up, which contradict others' impressions, actually have early signs. At a critical moment of shaping the vessel, parents' words and actions are paramount. A scolding for a mistake that doesn't hit the mark, or if a mistake is made, the parents simply think the child is too young and choose to look the other way—in the end, doesn't that harm oneself, others, and one's own children? So rewards and punishments must be clear. Parents must learn to set rules for their children. Benevolence and righteousness are the foundation of principle. Punishment is the end of principle."
Wei Liang spoke at a steady pace, neither fast nor slow.
The girl listened seriously, blinking occasionally.
Wei Liang continued. "So, when children are young, parents teach them benevolence and righteousness by example. When they are a bit older, schoolteachers teach them the benevolence and righteousness from books. The two complement each other. The former teaches the practical aspects, the latter teaches the lofty ideals. Both are indispensable, and they must not contradict each other."
The girl remained silent throughout, not showing whether she understood or not.
But she knew not to interrupt when someone else was speaking.
Wei Liang turned his head and asked with a smile, "Do you know what kind of people are relatively more willing to listen to reason?"
The girl shook her head.
Wei Liang answered his own question. "At first, children listen to their parents. Then, students listen to their teachers. After growing up, the weak listen to the strong, the poor listen to the rich, subjects listen to the king. Or, those below the mountain listen to those on the mountain, and those on the mountain listen to those at the summit. So the question is: what if what the strong say is wrong, but the weak wholeheartedly regard all the strong's words and principles as the absolute truth? What then? Morality and benevolence are already difficult to enforce. There needs to be some law. The world needs something that inspires more awe than all the immortal techniques on the mountains, something that restrains even the so-called 'strong,' making them as fearful of making a mistake as a child fearing a parent's scolding, or a student fearing the teacher's feather duster and ruler—knowing that if they make a mistake, it will immediately strike their palm, and they will know the pain."
Wei Liang smiled brightly. "You don't quite understand, do you?"
Of course, she didn't. Her little head was completely muddled. "Mm!"
Wei Liang laughed heartily. "You've actually absorbed it; you just don't understand it yet. But you've stored it in your heart, which is better than many adults. They often only learn small tricks of social interaction after suffering losses. Little girl, although your aptitude for cultivation is average, your family is well-off now, and you won't experience drastic changes in temperament. Marry a good man later, and your life won't go too badly."
Yuan Yanxu was a little shy.
Marriage... She had played house with children her age before. Every time, they would find a piece of red silk, put it over the "bride's" head. If her "husband" was that little bookworm from the neighboring Liu residence, she would laugh a little more. If it was that chubby boy from the Ma residence, she wouldn't want to smile at all.
Wei Liang extended a finger. "Since you're so smart and well-behaved, remember one thing. When you grow up, if you encounter a huge difficulty that you feel your family can't handle, remember to go to the Grand Commander's mansion south of the capital and find a person named Wei Liang. Mm, if it's urgent, sending a letter there will also work."
Yuan Yanxu said timidly, "Sir, that's many years from now. Maybe we should just forget about it?"
Wei Liang shook his head and smiled. "You can't think like that. Time flows like water—*swish swish*—and in the blink of an eye, you'll have grown up. Then, in another blink..."
You might already be old and dead.
But Wei Liang didn't say such an inappropriate remark out loud.
Wei Liang smiled faintly. "People who are kind are bullied. Should we stop being kind? It takes a villain to deal with a villain. Should we become villains? A gentleman can be taken advantage of by means of uprightness. Is that a reason to bully a gentleman? That's not right."
"However, discussing good and evil in people is too complicated. Even if you determine right and wrong, how to deal with it is still a huge problem. Like the commotion on the ferry today. If that young man with the sword on his back had patiently reasoned with that group of people, would they have listened? They might say they listened, but would they accept it in their hearts? If so, what is the point of speaking or not? Because what that group would listen to is not true principles, but the current situation. Once the parties go their separate ways, the situation changes. A leopard can't change its spots. Everything would remain the same. Perhaps if he had sat down and reasoned nicely, he would only have gotten himself into trouble... Anyway, let's not talk about these things. It's more relaxing to look at the sea of clouds."
These words were more like Wei Liang's muttering to himself. He didn't expect the girl to understand.
In fact, even if Yuan Yanxu's parents were to hear this, it would be useless. It wasn't that they wouldn't understand, but they would feel that the world was like this. Talking about this stuff was less practical than indulging in ethereal metaphysical discussions.
Wei Liang had already been an earth immortal for over two hundred years. However, in order to promote his own doctrines, he planned to use the transformation of a nation's local customs and practices as an opportunity to both verify his own path and observe the Way. So, he changed his name to "Wei Qian" and came to the southeastern part of Bottle Gourd Continent, helping the Tang family's Emperor Taizu of Qingluan Nation to establish the state. Afterwards, he assisted successive generations of Tang emperors, establishing laws. Before this Buddhist-Daoist debate, Wei Liang had never used his identity as an earth immortal to target court officials or cultivators.
As a result, he worked hard and worried, and progress was slow. During the reigns of two emperors, they even took a significant step backward.
This made Wei Liang very disappointed.
Wei Liang finally left with a smile, only reminding the girl to keep the secret about the letter and the Grand Commander's mansion.
After Wei Liang's figure disappeared, Yuan Yanxu's parents and the family guest elder came to her side and began to inquire about the details of the conversation.
The girl dared not conceal anything, but at first, she wanted to keep the secret, having promised the gentleman not to mention the Grand Commander's mansion or the letter.
However, she accidentally let it slip, and the old family guest elder caught the clue. After a warm-faced but hidden interrogation, Yuan Yanxu, unable to withstand her parents' earnest inquiries, had to spill everything.
The old guest elder was overjoyed. He whispered to the middle-aged scholar, saying that the man must be a consecrated cultivator of that Grand Commander's mansion! He might even be a close associate of Grand Commander Wei!
The Yuan family was blessed!
The old guest elder then instructed the scholar that these mountain immortals had unpredictable temperaments and couldn't be judged by common sense. So, adding unnecessary touches, like paying a visit to thank him, must never be done. The Yuan family should just pretend to know nothing.
The couple was extremely excited.
Only the young girl felt guilty about the immortal gentlemen. She crouched by the railing, feeling a little lost.
Wei Liang, who had already walked far away, sighed.
This kind of minor incident wasn't enough to disappoint Wei Liang, nor would it make him go back on his word. It was just that there was no surprise. Later, if the Yuan family, which was only a second-rate noble house in the Qingluan Nation capital, encountered trouble, even if the letter couldn't be delivered to the Grand Commander's mansion, he, Wei Liang, would still lend a hand once.
However, that little girl named Yuan Yanxu had already lost an immortal opportunity to step onto the path of cultivation.
But Wei Liang also knew that this might not necessarily be a bad thing for Yuan Yanxu.
Being able to live a stable life in this world was already exceptionally difficult.
Once you go up the mountain and cultivate the Dao, becoming a Qi refiner, once you start wrestling with the Heavenly Lord, regardless of the good and evil of the human path, those with weak resolve often don't meet a good end.
---
Chen Ping'an held Pei Qian's hand as they returned to their room on the ferry.
Pei Qian, for the first time, said she wanted to copy five hundred more words today.
Chen Ping'an didn't stop her. He only reminded her that what she wrote more today couldn't count toward tomorrow's quota.
Pei Qian puffed out her chest and said, "Of course!"
When she was copying the book, the small yellow-skinned gourd was placed by her hand.
Chen Ping'an sat across the table and continued reading a Legalist book he had bought after Cui Dongshan's reminder. It wasn't a rare copy or a good edition, but it was one of the fundamental "true classics" that supported the Hundred Schools of Thought. Chen Ping'an remembered all the advice Lu Tai had given him about reading. For example, the method of reading: first getting thicker, then getting thinner; "following the vine to find the melon" to trace connections; and the knack for selecting books. Although the various schools of thought had vast and complex knowledge, enough to fill a library, in reality, even for the most widely circulated works of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, the books truly worthy of the phrase "opening a book is always beneficial" numbered no more than fifty. Any ordinary person, living to the rare age of seventy, could read, study, and reread them thoroughly.
Therefore, the three Legalist classics Chen Ping'an had chosen just required him to ensure they were correctly printed and engraved.
Regarding today's events, what made Chen Ping'an most gratified about Pei Qian was still what he had said to her earlier: "acting from one's original heart."
If you do something wrong, apologize to others sincerely first.
Furthermore, Pei Qian nowadays was a world apart from the Pei Qian he had first met in Lotus Flower Blessed Land. For instance, from the beginning of the commotion to its end, Pei Qian's only thought was to copy her book.
Rather than immediately cursing behind their backs that the group should die a horrible death.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Pei Qian, that guy pinned your head down and almost threw you out. Weren't you angry?"
"Angry, of course. I was cursing them in my head all the way here. Eight big bad guys, each with a different way of dying! Like the guy you taught a lesson to, who would go out, trip and sprain his ankle, fall off the ferry, and go *splat*—smash into a million pieces. That bitch with the 'thick and bulging *wocan*' [a part of the face according to physiognomy], as the old cook would say, would suddenly get into a quarrel, get slapped left and right, and finally be beaten so badly she couldn't find any of her teeth. Haha! And that sharp-faced, monkey-jawed one, he'd eat something bad, there'd be no healer on the ferry, and he'd be rolling on the ground, howling in pain..."
Pei Qian was busy concentrating on copying her book and accidentally blurted out her thoughts. She suddenly woke up with a wry face. "Master, either a knuckle tap on the head or a tug on the ear—you decide."
Chen Ping'an wasn't very angry. He asked with a smile, "And if..."
Pei Qian seemed to know what Chen Ping'an was going to ask. She straightened her back and said seriously, "Master, rest assured, I'm just thinking about it to amuse myself. Even if I one day master supreme swordsmanship and invincible boxing techniques, I wouldn't really do anything to those guys! At most, I'd do what you did, Master—kick them."
Chen Ping'an asked curiously, "Why?"
Pei Qian looked as if it were only natural. "I'm your apprentice, Master! And your first and senior disciple! Wouldn't it be shameful for you if I stooped to their level? Besides, what's the big deal? When I was little, I was beaten and kicked countless times. Now I'm rich, and I'm half a member of the *jianghu*. My tolerance is huge!"
Just then, Zhu Lian entered with Shi Rou, giving a thumbs up. "Lady Pei's flattery skill is becoming more and more refined."
Pei Qian continued to bury her head in her book. She was in a great mood today and wouldn't stoop to the old cook's level.
Chen Ping'an said to Zhu Lian, "That group will definitely come to apologize later. Help me stop them and tell them to get lost."
Pei Qian suddenly asked, "Master, why not see them and have a talk with them about principles?"
Zhu Lian laughed. "You don't know shit."
For the first time, Pei Qian didn't retort. She snickered to herself.
Last time on the path leaving Lion Garden, she had "caught a fart" and made Zhu Lian and Shi Rou guess. So, old cook, you're the one who really knows shit!
Zhu Lian stood beside Pei Qian, watching her copy her book. The structure of her writing seemed to be learned from Chen Ping'an. Nowadays, it was barely considered neat.
Watching her meticulously writing, Zhu Lian said, "If the master talks nicely to these kinds of people, they'll act obedient and convinced on the spot, saying all sorts of nonsense like 'we'll never do it again.' But the moment they turn around, they'll climb all over you. They'll probably even boast about it, telling everyone they have a sword cultivator friend they've come to know through a fight. Once they get off the boat, they'll continue their *jianghu* life, having a sword cultivator friend that every passenger on the ferry can attest to. How could that not make people wary? You think it's a small matter?"
Pei Qian looked up, confused. "How are we friends? Weren't we enemies just now?"
Zhu Lian sat to the side and said calmly, "We know that, but the *jianghu* doesn't."
Pei Qian stopped writing. She slammed her other hand on the table in anger. "How the hell is the *jianghu* like this!"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Focus on copying your book. Try to finish it in one go. It's best not to dawdle in the middle."
Pei Qian said "oh" and continued copying.
Sure enough.
Footsteps sounded in the corridor outside the door. Mostly pure martial artists of the third and fourth ranks, with only one at the fifth rank.
They started knocking.
After Zhu Lian opened the door, he kicked one of them flying. "Don't disturb my master's peace. If you come here to annoy us again, I'll kill every one of you I see."
The group was trembling, bowing and scraping as they muttered apologies and quickly left.
In this corridor, almost half of the nearby rooms had opened their doors. They were all curious to see whether it would be a bloody mess over a disagreement or a *jianghu* tale of reconciliation as described in the books.
The result was this kind of scene. Everyone found it a bit boring.
But a few wild cultivators felt a bit better.
If that bunch of roughnecks had actually turned misfortune into fortune and latched onto such a profound young sword cultivator, they would have been green with envy.
Looking at Chen Ping'an, who was quietly watching Pei Qian copy her book, checking each stroke for mistakes, Shi Rou suddenly felt that all her hundreds of years as a ghost had been wasted.
He wasn't even twenty yet, was he?
How could he see through the subtleties of the human heart so clearly?
Chen Ping'an suddenly turned his head and asked with a smile, "You've been staring at me for a while. What's up?"
Shi Rou blushed a little and shook her head.
Seeing the strange expression on Chen Ping'an's face, she became afraid he might misunderstand and think she had ulterior motives. She became even more uncomfortable, abruptly stood up, twisted her waist, and walked away.
Chen Ping'an was completely baffled.
He just felt that being stared at like this by a "Du Mao" gave him goosebumps.
Zhu Lian gloated. "The master is truly a dragon among men. Any woman who meets a figure like you is destined to be lost for life, isn't she?"
Chen Ping'an sighed. "Zhu Lian, sometimes your flattery is really not as pleasant to the ear as Pei Qian's."
Zhu Lian chuckled. "After all, flattery is a talent Pei Qian is born with. This old servant can only rely on hard work."
Pei Qian copied her book without looking up, but said indignantly, "Old cook, you just wait. When I finish copying this book—still one hundred and twenty-five characters to go—you'll be in for it."
Zhu Lian laughed. "Oh, what are you going to do? Compare eating shit with me? Or compare cursing?"
Chen Ping'an couldn't bear to listen anymore. He simply took out that priceless Day and Night Wandering Immortal True Form Talisman and the jade pendant carved with a Dragon Palace.
Because Li Baozhen had "opened the gate," and Chen Ping'an didn't know how to close it, spiritual qi was constantly leaking from both items. However, compared to the abundant spiritual qi within the talisman and jade pendant themselves, the loss was almost negligible.
It was like someone digging a small ditch with a hoe to drain the water from the reed lake outside Lion Garden.
This highlighted the fatal flaw of a pure martial artist drawing talismans.
One was like a blazing fire—like the changing of the four seasons—gone if not seized in time.
The other was like a gentle, steady stream—like an immortal cave dwelling—evergreen through the four seasons.
Zhu Lian marveled, "I can't make out much from the jade pendant, but this precious talisman from the Li family's second son... should be considered... a treasure among immortal treasures?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Talisman inscripture is a major branch of the Daoist tradition, with countless changes all hiding the heavenly secrets. Once you master their use, they can allow a cultivator to roam unhindered. Even against sword cultivators, who consume the most money and have the greatest killing power, there are specific talismans, such as the Well Character Talisman and the Sword-Sealing Talisman, that can counter them. Compared to other Qi refiners who fear sword cultivators like tigers, this is already quite good. Additionally, talismans can be used to repress and command demons and spirits, so most cultivators will carry a few on them for emergencies. As for quantity and grade, of course, it depends on the depth of one's pockets."
He noticed Zhu Lian looking at him.
During the battle at Lion Garden, apart from drawing talismans with gold lacquer, Chen Ping'an had also pulled out a large handful of superior-grade rare talismans.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "The story behind this... I'll tell you and Pei Qian when we get to Fallen Mountain in Dragon Spring Commandery. Anyway, that's roughly the reason I didn't kill Li Baozhen."
Zhu Lian didn't ask further. He rubbed his hands together. "Master, how about giving this old servant a chance to feed you some punches?"
Chen Ping'an nodded and stood up. "This time, hit hard. Don't worry about whether I can take it. You have no idea how I used to feed punches to others, Zhu Lian. Once you've seen that, you'll know that when Zheng Dafeng fed you punches in the pharmacy at Old Dragon City, it was... well, to use your own words, it was like a man drawing his wife's eyebrows—a very gentle touch."
Zhu Lian laughed. "That sounds great. I didn't find it satisfying enough back then, but with Sui Youbian around, I didn't feel comfortable saying much."
Pei Qian had already finished copying her book.
Chen Ping'an said, "Go back to your own room. Otherwise, you'll definitely start yelling and screaming."
Pei Qian assured him confidently, "No, I won't!"
Chen Ping'an first took out a Filth-Removing Talisman and pasted it inside the room.
After just one incense stick's time, Pei Qian, just from watching the two of them spar, was sweating profusely and her heart was pounding with fear. Eventually, she went to the corner, rummaged through Chen Ping'an's bamboo box, and took out her own Multi-Treasure Box.
If this was what it took to practice boxing and martial arts to become the ultimate master she dreamed of, Pei Qian would definitely pretend the *jianghu* didn't exist, that there was no such thing as the *jianghu* in the world—just reading stories in books would be fine.
Chen Ping'an was wearing the Gold Libation Dharma Robe, which saved him a lot of trouble.
He sat back down at the table with Zhu Lian, took out a pot of Misty Pine wine he had bought from the Qingluan Nation capital, and poured a cup for Zhu Lian.
Zhu Lian downed it in one gulp, then took the pot and refilled his own cup without waiting for Chen Ping'an to pour.
Pei Qian reminded him, "Old cook, drink less. Too much wine is bad for your health. Besides, this pot of Misty Pine wine costs three taels of silver."
Zhu Lian began to sip slowly. He asked in a low voice, "Young Master, when do you plan to break through your bottleneck and advance to the sixth rank?"
Chen Ping'an had already made up his mind. "I'll wait a bit longer. There's an opportunity I can try for."
Chen Ping'an didn't elaborate on what the opportunity was. After all, the word "strongest" was even more elusive than a nation's martial fortune that could manifest as a phenomenon.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I don't really dare to go into those fragmented cave heaven blessed land secret realms to try my luck, grabbing opportunities and seizing treasures, hoping to find various immortal inheritances and relics."
However, relying on a martial foundation built punch by punch, Chen Ping'an felt it wouldn't hurt to try.
But Chen Ping'an also knew that as long as Cao Ci was still at the fifth rank, it didn't matter if it was him, Chen Ping'an—no one had any hope.
The great old sword immortal himself had said that Cao Ci's martial arts cultivation was far ahead of his peers. In every realm, he would be the strongest in the world.
At that time, Ning Yao had been a bit unconvinced, saying that even though Cao Ci's master was the number one martial artist in the four worlds, and martial fortune could manifest physically, the world was vast, and there were unpredictable winds and clouds every day. How could Cao Ci be guaranteed to be the strongest in every realm? Did his family have a monopoly on the world's martial fortune, like a store passed down through generations?
Chen Qingdu had said something back then that Chen Ping'an remembered vividly.
"Cao Ci is just that strong, from his bone structure and talent to his temperament and martial fortune. There's no logic to it."
At that time, Chen Ping'an had just lost three consecutive matches to Cao Ci. He himself didn't feel much about it, but Ning Yao was already furious.
Seeing Ning Yao like that made Chen Ping'an happy. But when Ning Yao saw his reaction, she became even angrier.
Now, Zhu Lian blurted out, "The master is a man blessed by heaven. How could he possibly enter a mountain of treasure and return empty-handed? Now that this old servant is, after all, in the Golden Core Realm, I have some understanding of those cave heaven blessed lands that have fragmented into secret realms. I know that cultivators of the Upper Five Realms can't enter; if they do, the secret realm becomes unstable and easily shatters. They might be swept away by the chaotic rivers of time, severely eroding their cultivation. With no cultivators of the Upper Five Realms secretly coveting them, and with this old servant helping out a bit, Master, you can now try your luck. If you come across such a place next time, Master, don't hesitate to bring this old servant along. After all, we pure martial artists are not as restricted by such things."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and nodded. "Makes sense. I've been in the habit of avoiding these places. It seems I need to change my mindset now."
Pei Qian had been ready to glare the moment she heard "blessed by heaven," but she relaxed her brow when she heard Zhu Lian's later remark.
Zhu Lian seemed to be lost in thought.
After that, time on this immortal ferry passed slowly and leisurely.
There were many scenic places under the banner of mountain immortal caves that couldn't afford to build an immortal dock requiring a constant supply of immortal coins, so this ferry couldn't "dock." However, they had prepared some immortal skiffs that could float and ride the wind, taking passengers who had reached their destination to those mountain peak docks. When they passed the famous fishing platform in the northern territory of Qingluan Nation, many people got off. Chen Ping'an, Pei Qian, and Zhu Lian went to the bow and saw, between two towering mountains, a huge sea of clouds drifting past, flowing like a mountain stream. The two opposing fishing platforms were built on the mountaintops beside the sea of clouds. From time to time, they could see colorful birds flapping their wings, bursting through the clouds, arcing, and then diving back into the clouds.
Pei Qian was mesmerized, only regretting that she couldn't ride the wind. Otherwise, she would have *whooshed* over, wielded her Mountain Traveling Staff, whacked those birds and flying fish, grabbed them, and run back to the ferry. She could probably sell them for a lot of money. If she made a few trips, she might even be able to buy a Multi-Treasure Box, or even a Multi-Treasure Shelf!
Zhu Lian was a martial artist of the Eighth Realm, but throughout their journey with Chen Ping'an, he had always walked, never having experienced flying on the wind over long distances.
Chen Ping'an asked curiously, "Zhu Lian, don't you have any thoughts on that? Don't you feel your realm is being wasted?"
Zhu Lian shook his head and laughed. "Master, back in my homeland, I got tired of people's astonished gazes a long time ago. I just can't muster that young, impulsive spirit anymore."
Shi Rou stood silently, enjoying the view.
By now, she was used to Zhu Lian's peculiar, unconventional thoughts.
---
While Chen Ping'an and his group were admiring the view.
Wei Liang was sitting at a desk in a room, writing something. Beside his hand lay an antique purple sandalwood box filled with "gentleman's military gear" paper-cutting knives.
He took out a bamboo-yellow carving knife to use as a paperweight.
Although Wei Liang had left the capital under the pretext of sightseeing and relaxing, he had actually been doing one thing the entire journey.
It was a matter of no great importance to Qingluan Nation, but not entirely trivial either.
He was helping someone compile a ranking of registered immortal masters on Bottle Gourd Continent, creating a framework.
Wei Liang had drafted an initial framework for a Nine-Rank System.
First Rank: Only an Immortal Realm cultivator, within the Upper Five Realms of Bottle Gourd Continent, could be placed here.
Second Rank: Jade Perfection Realm of the Upper Five Realms. Or, achieving merit by aiding the Great Li Song Clan's cavalry in their southern campaign to destroy a nation.
Third Rank: Nascent Soul Realm. Or, merit equivalent to conquering and expanding territory the size of a prefecture.
Fourth Rank: Golden Core Realm.
And so on, down to the last, Ninth Rank.
The specific division was quite complex. It wasn't absolutely linked to a Qi refiner's realm; it also needed to reference the merits and demerits recorded for cultivators by the Great Li court, especially the military, during this southern campaign of their horses' hooves.
Among them was Ruan Qiong of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect. He was both the top person in the Second Rank and currently held the highest position in this immortal roster that would later be used by the Great Li Song clan as a merit book.
Additionally, there were the True Martial Mountain and the Wind and Snow Temple, two ancestral grounds of the military strategist school, as well as the Wind and Thunder Garden and the Xiao Yang Mountain, two major sword cultivator sects.
Below them were the Great Li Changchun Palace, the Cloud and Mist Mountain, the Xu clan of Qingfeng City, and so on.
Each would need one or two spots firmly secured on this roster, and their ranks would certainly not be low.
Furthermore, any cultivator holding the Peaceful Affairs Tablet issued by the Great Li Ministry of Justice would be included.
Afterwards, various immortal masters who were the first to pledge allegiance to Great Li, regardless of their background—be they registered immortal masters or wild cultivators—could all be included.
Wei Liang had been refining the details recently. This required that person to provide him with a large amount of intelligence, even insider information involving a nation's fate and the life and death of its emperor.
Wei Liang put down his brush on the mountain-shaped brush rest, stood up, and paced slowly in the room.
The reason he was willing to do this work...
It wasn't because Wei Liang was compelled by the general situation and had to submit to that embroidered tiger [Cui Chan]. In fact, given Wei Liang's temperament, if Cui Can couldn't convince him, Wei Liang could simply abandon his over two hundred years of effort in Qingluan Nation and start anew on another continent, like the even more lawless Julu Continent, or the relatively stable Tongye Continent. With the foundation of Qingluan Nation, it would just mean another hundred or two hundred years of effort.
But this time, when Cui Can personally came to Qingluan Nation, the first person he found was Wei Liang. Cui Can had a frank discussion with him. After learning about this Great Li National Teacher and the established direction of the Great Li dynasty's national policy, Wei Liang decided to cooperate.
Cooperate, not surrender.
Wei Liang didn't compromise or haggle, and Cui Can didn't question it in the slightest.
Admittedly, what Cui Can sought was far more profound than what Wei Liang aimed for. So Wei Liang looked forward to seeing the picture Cui Can had painted appear before his own eyes one day.
"To inscribe the Great Li national law onto a stele and erect it on the summit of the mountains of Bottle Gourd Continent!"
Wei Liang came to the window, his eyes blazing, his heart surging with heroic spirit.
It was even more magnificent than the rolling sea of clouds flowing between the two solitary mountains below him.
*A true man should be like this, to not waste this life and not dishonor the knowledge he has acquired!*
---
Chen Ping'an had ridden three cross-continental ferries before and knew that this ferry, "Blue Robe," was naturally slow. He hadn't expected it to take so many detours. After deliberately sailing along the northeastern and northern borders of Qingluan Nation and dropping off several groups of passengers, it finally left Qingluan Nation's territory. He thought it would speed up, but it kept stopping within a vassal state north of Xiao Yao Nation. Finally, at noon today, it hovered to a stop within the territory of this small state's Central Peak, announcing that it wouldn't set sail again until tomorrow evening. The guests could go and enjoy the scenery of the Central Peak. Especially as it coincided with the quarterly "stone gambling," there was a chance to try one's luck for a small stake. If luck struck, it would be wonderful. The Central Peak of Chengtian Nation produced so-called "lamp stones," hailed as the "Little Cloud and Mist Mountain." If you guessed correctly, you could buy an upper-quality "lamp stone marrow" for just a few snow coins. If it was the size of a fist, it could mean a massive overnight fortune. Ten years ago, a wild cultivator, spending his last twenty-six snow coins, bought a lamp stone the size of a millstone that no one had high hopes for, and ended up cutting out lamp stone marrow worth thirty small summer coins, blood-red and as bright as a flame.
Of course, if the ferry passengers didn't want to disembark, they could stay and rest on the "Blue Robe."
After hearing the ferry maid's explanation, Chen Ping'an was speechless for a moment. After she left, he went to the window and looked at the so-called Central Peak of this nation. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Calling it a Central Peak—not only could it not compare to the Piyun Mountain back home, but even his own Fallen Mountain was far more majestic.
Chen Ping'an had no choice but to lead his three companions to prepare to disembark, waiting for the small skiffs to ferry them back and forth, taking them to the "great mountain" of Chengtian Nation's Central Peak.
Chen Ping'an knew, without even thinking, that the deity of this Central Peak and the owner of the "Blue Robe" ferry were mutually beneficial business partners.
While waiting for a skiff to pick them up, the nearby passengers instinctively made way. They didn't openly point fingers, but whispers were unavoidable.
The group of *jianghu* people who had suffered at the hands of the "young sword cultivator" earlier had already slunk off the boat in disgrace after failing to get an apology accepted, not daring to stay any longer.
Everyone had different mindsets.
The registered immortal masters, young and old, mostly harbored jealousy toward Chen Ping'an for having nurtured two lifebound flying swords, though they hid it very well.
The wild cultivators were utterly terrified.
The secular wealthy, after hearing about the incident from various people on the ferry, mostly felt that sword cultivators were indeed as arrogant and overbearing as the legends said.
Only the ferry crew had been extremely deferential to Chen Ping'an's group lately, specifically selecting a pretty woman to knock on their door from time to time, bringing plates of immortal fruits and vegetables.
There was also a small pavilion on the ferry grandly called the "Immortal Qi Studio," specially reserved for certain valued guests who had ridden the Blue Robe to leave a calligraphic work.
Chen Ping'an declined, instead asking Zhu Lian to write something to deal with it.
Riding a sky-skiff inscribed with talismans on its bottom, its golden light flowing, they arrived at the foot of the Central Peak.
There weren't many true pilgrims. Most of the people there currently were scions of Chengtian Nation's noble families and *jianghu* heroes, gathered for the stone gambling.
But these people, accustomed to looking down their noses in the secular world, found themselves lowering their usual volume when they encountered the passengers stepping off the skiff.
On the ferry, there had been three incense brokers belonging to different temples on the Central Peak, almost coming to blows over competing for clients. The broker from the Central Peak Temple had the worst temper. The other two, from a mid-mountain Daoist temple and a foothill Buddhist monastery, while appearing to yield, kept throwing sharp words. In the end, each had their own success. They all took some willing pilgrims who had come to the ferry to recruit them, and disembarked together.
The ferry manager had specially brought the broker from the Central Peak Temple over to Chen Ping'an's group and introduced them.
After hearing that Chen Ping'an had no immediate plans to purchase incense, the man still smiled warmly and said a great many pleasantries, like how Lord Chen's visit alone graced their humble premises.
By the time Chen Ping'an had both feet on the ground, the incense broker still on the ferry, standing by the railing, spat heavily off the side of the boat.
Zhu Lian grinned. "Master, what say you? Should I bestow this old servant's maiden voyage upon this fine gentleman?"
Chen Ping'an waved his hand. "We'll probably only ever cross paths this once. No favors, no grudges. Why bother?"
Pei Qian asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Zhu Lian laughed. "Someone's shitting and pissing on your head. Quick, look up!"
Pei Qian rolled her eyes.
At the foot of the mountain was a long street dedicated to stone gambling, with dozens of shops of all sizes.
Inside and outside the shops, piles of gray lamp stones were stacked. The smallest were only palm-sized, the largest as tall as a man, weighing over ten thousand catties. Such massive stones were often the treasures of their respective shops. This specialty stone from Chengtian Nation's Central Peak was named "lamp stone" because the highest quality lamp stone marrow was said to be bright red like blood, extremely thick and pure, with no impurities; it would flicker like a candle flame. Holding a piece could naturally suppress evil spirits and ghosts.
The peculiar thing was that before the stone was opened, not even an earth immortal could see the quality inside.
Chen Ping'an wasn't interested. He gave Pei Qian, Zhu Lian, and Shi Rou ten snow coins each, telling them to go pick and open stones on their own.
He would go up the mountain alone to visit the Central Peak Temple. They agreed to meet at an inn at the foot of the mountain around dusk.
Pei Qian was a little hesitant and asked if she could not buy stones.
Chen Ping'an smiled and pinched her dark cheeks. "Those ten snow coins are yours now. Spend them however you like."
Pei Qian said, "Okay."
Once Chen Ping'an was gone and starting his ascent, Pei Qian immediately hopped up in joy, flailing her arms and legs, performing a frenzied sword dance.
Zhu Lian hadn't even finished browsing two shops before buying a lamp stone that caught his eye. He had it cut open on the spot and lost his entire investment.
Pei Qian was so furious she almost fought him.
Zhu Lian held her head down with one hand while she flailed.
Shi Rou, holding ten snow coins, was very careful, looking closely and listening intently. She walked through shop after shop, often picking up a lamp stone, examining it for a long time, then putting it down again. She had yet to spend a single snow coin.
Zhu Lian marveled. "Now that's what I call living prudently."
Pei Qian followed Shi Rou closely, staring at the lamp stones of all sizes, practically wanting to glue her eyeballs to them.
She got kicked in the butt by Zhu Lian several times and was mocked for having fallen into a pile of money issues, but what kind of trouble was it to fall into a pile of stones?
Zhu Lian soon regretted not going up the mountain with Chen Ping'an.
These two women, Shi Rou and Pei Qian, had incredible stamina when it came to browsing shops. They not only had to go into every single one, but also had to examine every single lamp stone. And whenever a customer bought a lamp stone and had the shop open it, the two of them would inevitably stop and watch from beginning to end, their expressions solemn, as if they cared more about the outcome than the big spenders themselves.
For Zhu Lian, walking wasn't the problem—it was the mental exhaustion.
Finally, Zhu Lian looked up at the sky and figured that even Lord Chen had probably reached the foot of the mountain by now.
Shi Rou finally bought a palm-sized lamp stone, spending two snow coins according to the shop's listed price.
When it was opened, the stone actually had a thumb-sized piece of bright red marrow. Even the shopkeeper was genuinely shocked.
It wasn't that such a small amount of lamp stone marrow was incredibly valuable; it was just very rare for such a small lamp stone to yield this much marrow.
Shi Rou smiled and didn't plan to sell that bright red, thick lamp stone marrow.
After leaving the shop, Pei Qian suddenly tugged on Shi Rou's sleeve and whispered, "Sister Shi Rou, could you lend me eight snow coins?"
Shi Rou asked curiously, "You're not buying stones, so why borrow money?"
Pei Qian said seriously, "I *am* buying a stone!"
Shi Rou was even more puzzled. "But we've already looked at all of them. We've been through so many shops. Do you still remember which one it was?"
Pei Qian nodded vigorously.
Shi Rou smiled and handed her the remaining eight snow coins.
Pei Qian took a deep breath and started sprinting.
Shi Rou and Zhu Lian exchanged a glance and quickly followed.
They had no idea what Pei Qian was up to.
Finally, they found Pei Qian in a large shop piled high with all kinds of lamp stones. Standing in a corner, she was struggling to "pull out" a lamp stone; it was so big she could barely wrap her arms around it. The stone must have weighed...
Although you couldn't see inside the lamp stones, with hundreds of years of mining history, there were some patterns to the several stone veins at the root of the Central Peak. Combined with the rich experience gained from continuously cutting out stone marrow, the appraisers of each shop would roughly have an estimate. There would inevitably be some deviation, but generally not too much. Small leaks occasionally happened, but it was rare for anyone to make a huge killing.
So many lamp stones were large but priced very low, while some stones were small but expensive.
The lamp stone at Pei Qian's feet was quite large, but it was priced at only twenty snow coins.
It had been sitting in that shop for over a hundred years, with no one ever inquiring about it.
Pei Qian started haggling seriously with the old shopkeeper, saying she only had fifteen snow coins, which was all the savings she had painstakingly accumulated over many years.
The old shopkeeper found the little girl interesting. She didn't look anything like a child from a wealthy family, dark as she was, yet she had fifteen snow coins. That was fifteen thousand taels of silver! In the cities and counties of Chengtian Nation, that would make a man comfortably well-off.
In fact, the old shopkeeper felt that knocking off five snow coins and selling it for fifteen wasn't a loss. Otherwise, this large lamp stone, which the appraisers privately estimated to be worth ten snow coins, might sit for another hundred years—by the time the shop had been passed down to his grandson—and still not sell.
Still, the old man went back and forth with Pei Qian, one demanding a high price, the other offering a low one. They schemed against each other for about half an incense stick's time. The old shopkeeper wanted to see what excuses and reasons this little girl could come up with to save those five snow coins.
In the end, the old shopkeeper laughed heartily and agreed. Then he watched the charcoal-black girl pull out a big pile of snow coins, pick out three to put back in her sleeve, and hand him the remaining fifteen.
The old man's mouth twitched.
*Little girl, that's a bit dishonest of you.*
Pei Qian played dumb, grinning foolishly.
Shi Rou pretended not to know Pei Qian.
Zhu Lian, however, gave her a thumbs-up. "As expected of the senior disciple!"
The old shopkeeper wasn't angry; instead, he found the clever little girl to be a good business prospect. He smiled and asked, "Want our shop to open it for you on the spot?"
Pei Qian nodded. "Yes, I need it opened. Otherwise, it's too heavy for me to carry. According to your rules here, opening lamp stones priced under twenty snow coins is free. Also, if a good stone is cut, giving a bonus to the shop is voluntary. I won't be giving you a bonus, sir, so please don't be angry."
The old shopkeeper was extremely amused and agreed with a nod.
Pei Qian suddenly asked him to wait. She turned to look at Zhu Lian.
Zhu Lian understood perfectly. He nodded. "Go ahead and open it. The master isn't here, but I am."
Pei Qian tilted her head, beaming brightly. Then she whirled around and waved grandly at the old shopkeeper. "Open the stone!"
After that, she returned the remaining three snow coins to Shi Rou and whispered, "I still owe you five. I'll pay you back later."
One incense stick later.
The entire long street at the foot of the mountain was in shock.
Pei Qian, who already had a satchel slung across her body, now had another heavy bundle.
Behind her, the old shopkeeper was beating his chest and stamping his feet, full of regret.
*Lamp stone marrow, a once-in-a-century find!*
*Worth three grain rain coins!*
Zhu Lian walked with his hands in his sleeves, smiling slowly and unhurriedly, following the swaggering Pei Qian.
Shi Rou found it utterly unbelievable.
Chen Ping'an had just come down from the mountain and reached the end of the street.
Seeing Pei Qian being the center of everyone's attention, Chen Ping'an was completely baffled.
As soon as Pei Qian saw that familiar figure, she immediately sprinted over, panting heavily.
Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Did Zhu Lian or Shi Rou find a bargain?"
Pei Qian just smiled.
Zhu Lian and Shi Rou came to the master and disciple's side. Zhu Lian said softly with a smile, "Master, this spendthrift used fifteen snow coins to cut out a piece of lamp stone marrow worth at least three grain rain coins."
Chen Ping'an smiled and patted Pei Qian's head. "That's amazing."
He was happy, but not particularly shocked or surprised.
Pei Qian squinted her eyes into crescent moons, tilted her head slightly, and with some effort, took off her bundle and handed it to Chen Ping'an. "Master, this is for you!"
Chen Ping'an smiled and waved his hand. "Keep it for yourself. When you've saved up enough to buy a Multi-Treasure Shelf, you can put it in the most prominent spot. That'll be great. Everyone who sees it will be envious and know you're a little rich girl."
Pei Qian shook her head vigorously and explained, "I remembered! That day I caught the hare and let it go happened to be your birthday, Master! So I'll take this as a birthday present for you."
Chen Ping'an was stunned. He was silent for a long time. He placed his hand on Pei Qian's small head. For once, he also squinted his eyes as he smiled. "Is that so? Then I'll accept it, Master?"
Zhu Lian had never seen Chen Ping'an so happy before.
When Chen Ping'an had reunited with Zhang Shanfeng and Xu Yuanxia, he had also been very happy, but it wasn't the same kind of happiness he was showing now.
Pei Qian nodded, then said apologetically, "But, Master, I might not be able to give you such a nice gift next year on the fifth day of the fifth month."
Chen Ping'an took the bundle, placed it in the bamboo box on his back, and took Pei Qian's hand. Together, they walked down the street.
Pei Qian chattered excitedly about the scene when everyone's eyes had widened after the stone was opened.
Chen Ping'an listened to her rambling with a smile.
The sun was setting in the west.
The afterglow elongated the shadows of the tall and the small.
Zhu Lian still walked with his hands in his sleeves, while Shi Rou's gaze was gentle.