Chapter 456: The Truth Comes to Light - Book-Simplifying Lake

Chapter 456: The Truth Comes to Light - Book-Simplifying Lake

On the road north.

Chen Ping'an stopped his horse on the peak of an unnamed high mountain. He planned to find a nearby immortal ferry crossing to take a flying boat back to the Great Li Dragon Spring Commandery. Taking advantage of this last chance while the sun hung high, he laid out bamboo slips that hadn't seen the light in a long time. There were slips made from the descendant bamboo of Chess Mound Mountain's Green God Mountain, ordinary mountain green bamboo, and purple bamboo from the island in Book-Simplifying Lake.

The surrounding mountains rolled on, but through them ran an ancient tea-horse trading route. From time to time, merchants traveling on the road appeared, hurrying back and forth.

Chen Ping'an deliberately chose a small fork path, trekked a few miles along the ridge, and reached this peak to dry his bamboo slips.

He took out all the slips and squatted beside them, staring blankly.

Whenever he thought about how much debt he owed, his head truly ached.

He took a sip of wine and kept consoling himself: after returning to Dragon Spring Commandery, under Wei Bo's management, he would be a big landowner. What were a few external debts? He should show some magnanimity.

Chen Ping'an rubbed his cheeks, thinking this reasoning made sense. Wealth and possessions are external things; a gentleman acquires wealth through proper means... He slapped his own cheek. Was he really some sort of wealth-spreading boy?

Then Chen Ping'an turned his head. An old Confucian scholar he had met halfway up the road stood panting in the distance. Seeing him, the old man seemed afraid he had come across a madman and was about to turn around and descend the mountain.

When Chen Ping'an had ridden past the old scholar and his book boy earlier, their footsteps and breathing were ordinary. Of course, if they were hidden masters concealing their identities deeply, Chen Ping'an wouldn't deliberately investigate.

The young book boy carrying a pole over his shoulders hadn't followed the old scholar here. Perhaps the old scholar wanted to climb alone to compose a poem, express his feelings, then return immediately to continue his journey.

Or perhaps he was a great cultivator in disguise, wearing a Confucian outer robe, seeing Chen Ping'an as a fat sheep to rob here?

Chen Ping'an didn't care either way.

After what seemed like an inner struggle, the old scholar made up his mind and came within a dozen paces of Chen Ping'an. He bent down to look at the bamboo slips, examined them for a moment, then seemed relieved. Turning his head, he smiled and asked, "Young man, are you traveling alone to study abroad?"

Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile. "Something like that. I want to see more of the world."

"Mm, not bad, not bad. Travel ten thousand miles, read ten thousand books. Nowadays, young people find it easier and easier to buy and read books, but they can't endure hardship as well."

The old scholar nodded first, then asked, "Would you mind if I walk around and look at these precious bamboo slips of yours a bit more?"

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Old sir, please feel free to look."

Soon Chen Ping'an regretted it. The old man not only looked at the slips, picking them up and putting them down, but also liked to ask all sorts of questions—and there were many questions. When a certain phrase or sentence came up, the old man would ask where it came from. Sometimes Chen Ping'an would tell him the book title and the originator of the saying, and the old man would become even more interested, asking if Chen Ping'an knew the scholarly foundation and purpose of that person or that book. Chen Ping'an answered with difficulty. The old scholar was not very polite in his speech; when it came to topics Chen Ping'an wasn't familiar with but the old man knew thoroughly, the latter would lecture Chen Ping'an on his half-baked knowledge, forcing Chen Ping'an to nod frequently and humbly accept the old man's critiques.

The old scholar truly didn't mind the trouble. The young book boy called out twice from a distance, but the old man refused both times. Finally, the book boy simply set down his load and sat there sighing to himself.

After over an hour, the old man finally finished looking at the slips and asking his questions.

Suddenly, the old man smiled and asked, "Young man, I particularly like twenty of these bamboo slips. Could you part with them and give them to me?"

Chen Ping'an resolutely shook his head. "No."

He wasn't familiar with this old gentleman.

Chen Ping'an had just made up his mind: no matter what, he wouldn't be a wealth-spreading boy anytime soon.

The old man grew anxious. "You, with all the principles you've read in books, how can you be so petty? All scholars under heaven are one family. What's giving away a few bamboo slips?"

Chen Ping'an smiled amiably. "Unfortunately, you, old sir, are a learned scholar. I don't count as one yet. Besides, 'Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself' is also a principle from books. Old sir, please don't force me. Otherwise, that wouldn't be very kind, would it?"

The old man pointed at Chen Ping'an. "You little rascal! You read books and only learn crooked reasoning. Fine, fine! Since you're pressing me with such a great principle as 'Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself,' I'll have to pinch my nose and say, 'A gentleman does not take what others treasure,' to console myself."

Chen Ping'an smiled and said nothing.

The old man clearly hadn't given up. Seeing that Chen Ping'an wasn't taking the hint, he had no choice but to brazenly ask again, "Really won't give them to me? If twenty is too many, twelve will do."

Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Old sir, I really can't give them away. These slips and their contents are extremely significant to me. I need to take them home and treasure them properly. Every single slip represents the state of mind at a particular time and place. Every time I take them out to air, it's a form of self-reflection."

The old man said angrily, "That just means you're reading dead books. If you'd truly absorbed the principles into your belly, you wouldn't need to look at the slips again."

Chen Ping'an was amused. "Damn, old sir, you've got one principle after another. In the end, you just want to take twenty-four slips for nothing, don't you?" Chen Ping'an had already noticed that among the forty-five slips the old man liked best, more than half were made from Green God Mountain green bamboo and Purple Bamboo Island's immortal purple bamboo. If Chen Ping'an agreed and the old man simply took the spiritually charged slips, it might be fine if he truly liked the written content, but if he was someone with a bit of discernment coveting the spiritual bamboo itself, would Chen Ping'an have to fall out with him and take back the slips?

Seeing Chen Ping'an's firm refusal, the old man had to give up, muttering and complaining endlessly.

Chen Ping'an began to pack up the slips. The old man watched as if silver coins were slipping through his fingers, his face full of heartache.

It made Chen Ping'an almost feel a bit sorry for him. Twenty-four slips were non-negotiable; twelve wouldn't work either. Maybe he could give away six as a token? After all, the old man had spent over an hour here, and Chen Ping'an was a bit tired himself. The old man probably wasn't much better off. Even if he only coveted the slips, his heart might not be tired, but at his age, squatting and chattering for so long was exhausting too. Besides, the old man's vast learning was evident from his conversation—it couldn't be faked. He was just a bit of a miser, which was something they had in common.

The old man had resorted to every possible trick. He "kindly" advised Chen Ping'an, "Young man, the sun is so bright. Don't put them away so quickly! Take advantage of the good weather and let them dry a bit more. Bamboo slips fear insects and water damage... If you're worried about not having enough time when the sun goes down, I can help! I can assist! Acting like this, you're doing a disservice to these slips and all these beautiful words!"

Chen Ping'an was a bit impressed. He stopped what he was doing and smiled, asking, "Old sir, may I ask a somewhat offensive question?"

The old man shook his head and asked tentatively, "How about not asking? We scholars have our pride."

Chen Ping'an asked, "Then does the old gentleman still want me to give away a few bamboo slips?"

The old man said decisively, "Ask whatever you want!"

Chen Ping'an wiped his face, feeling like he'd fallen into a trap.

The old man sneakily picked up a green bamboo slip from the ground and murmured, "'Earth piled up becomes a mountain, wind and rain rise from it.' Truly well said... but the carving is a bit lacking—weak and unremarkable, unsightly to behold. If you're so attached to it, why not give it away and let someone recarve it..."

Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Old sir, I have sharp ears. I can hear you."

The old man looked stunned. "I didn't say anything. How could you hear me? Young man, are you an immortal on the mountain, able to hear my thoughts?"

Chen Ping'an looked at the old man's expression and eyes.

Incredibly sincere.

Chen Ping'an found it strange. Could he really just be an old Confucian traveler?

But that wasn't surprising. Confucian academy cultivators were indeed rare in this area compared to Book-Simplifying Lake's wild cultivators and mountain immortals.

And being able to spend over an hour without revealing the slightest clue—even a Confucian academy gentleman couldn't do that. Chen Ping'an didn't think a sage from Guanhu Academy would have the leisure to joke with him.

The old man said regretfully, "'The warmth and coldness of human relations can be left unasked; I hate myself for not touching books.'"

Chen Ping'an pretended not to hear.

The old man fumed, "Young man, where did your sharp ears go just now?!"

Chen Ping'an thought it over and looked up at the sky. "Old sir, I concede. Pick the slips yourself. I'm in a hurry to get going. But remember, whichever slip you choose, don't tell me about it. I'm afraid I'll change my mind."

The old man asked, "Twenty-four?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Can be fewer, but not more."

The old man hummed in acknowledgment, gratified. "That's right, young man. You need to be more generous. It should have been like this from the start. An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. Look at us, wasting so much time here. Isn't that worth more than a few bamboo slips?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Right, right, right. The old gentleman is correct."

Except for the slip in his hand, the old man got up and began selecting other slips he fancied, deliberately dawdling.

Chen Ping'an suddenly coughed.

The old man pretended to be deaf.

Chen Ping'an had no choice but to smile wryly, "Old sir, including the one in your hand, there are almost thirty now. If you're a scholar, can you be a bit more trustworthy?"

The old man had an epiphany and slipped the last slip into his sleeve. He was standing quite far from Chen Ping'an. After a few polite and vague remarks, he left.

When he reached the book boy, the old scholar urged, "Let's go, let's go! Quickly!"

The old and young duo made a fast getaway, their feet slipping like they'd been greased.

By now, Chen Ping'an could roughly confirm that he had indeed encountered a "master."

He smiled to himself. Silently, he gathered up the remaining slips, then led his horse down the peak and back to the tea-horse trail. He continued riding slowly. After that, he never encountered the old gentleman again. He was probably hiding somewhere, laughing to himself.

Chen Ping'an dozed off on horseback.

Completely unaware.

An old gentleman was leading his horse for him.

The old man smiled and asked, "Chen Ping'an, building bridges where water flows and paving roads where mountains rise on one's own heart-path—that's a very good thing. Is it possible that later generations could also use these bridges and roads to get through their own life difficulties?"

Chen Ping'an was still unaware, but from the depths of his heart, he slowly spoke, "Old sir, I'm just a meticulous bookkeeper, not a teacher. I wouldn't dare to think such a thing."

Then came a question and answer.

"In this heart-mind trial, did you ever concede defeat?"

"Of course I lost."

"Are you disappointed?"

"A bit disappointed in myself. I didn't do well enough. But I'm not as disappointed in the world anymore."

"Is that so."

After that, there was more "idle chat."

The old man's words wandered far off topic, going wherever his thoughts led.

The "Chen Ping'an" on horseback listened.

"Taoist doctrine, especially what the Tao Ancestor said—ah, when the people's wisdom is not yet open, or when it is fully open—only in these two most extreme of worlds can it be promoted and truly have hope of becoming the main current of all learning. So I say, Taoism's teachings are lofty, the Tao Ancestor's methods must be even more unreasonably high. It's just that the threshold is too high."

Chen Ping'an was speechless.

That talk...

Forget it. Just treat it as this old gentleman's own reasoning. Listening wasn't a bad thing. He definitely shouldn't argue or say anything.

Chen Ping'an didn't want to quarrel with anyone.

He temporarily had no heart for it.

If he had eaten four cheap and delicious large meat buns from Green Tung City, maybe he could try.

"The silhouettes of the sages grow farther and farther away. As their descendants, we can only follow behind them, taking a distant look. Chen Ping'an, how does that make you feel?"

"I only feel an overwhelming reverence. If I ever have the chance to walk the same road as them, even if it's just to catch a glimpse of the gentlemen's silhouettes from afar, I should feel... honored."

"Good!"

The old man released the horse's reins. Behind him, in the distance, the young book boy carrying the pole was shimmering with glassy brilliance, unreal and uncertain.

The Chen Ping'an on horseback continued riding slowly in his "dream," going further and further down the tea-horse trail.

The old man stood still on the road, his form also ethereal, like clouds and mist.

When Chen Ping'an jolted awake on horseback, it was already deep night. He and his horse had left the mountains and arrived beside a river.

---

Great Li Dynasty, Yongjia twelfth year, spring equinox.

When spring arrived, the third Great Li cavalry army, besides Su Gaoshan's and Cao Ping's, was thrown into battle. The Zhu Ying Dynasty began to retreat on all fronts. The capital was besieged. The Zhu Ying Dynasty's imperial jade seal and the spirit tablets of the Imperial Ancestral Temple were about to be defiled—it was only a matter of time.

But Prince Song Changjing did not enter Zhu Ying territory. On that windy day, a vast fleet of Mohist mechanical giant boats soared over Zhu Ying's territory, continuing southward.

Song Changjing stood at the bow of the main vessel, looking down from on high at the earth. Scattered sword cultivators, unwilling to live on, launched themselves into the sky and attacked this unprecedented "fleet" in the history of Vase Continent. One by one, they fell without any suspense—like belated firecrackers in alleys welcoming spring, or like the mournful cries of cranes on mountains, tearing through the sky. Every Zhu Ying subject who saw this scene or heard these mournful sounds on the ground was filled with grief.

Song Changjing still wore that old fox fur coat. Back then, when Xu Ruo's branch of the Mohist school chose to bet on Great Li, they had done two things. One was to join forces with the Yin-Yang school to create that supremely transgressive imitation of the White Jade Capital. Apart from that, Great Li had absorbed all the wealth from annexing the Lu clan dynasty, especially the "road toll" from the Bead Abyss Grotto-Heaven, as well as the spoils from the various national treasuries along the southern campaign. All of this was used to build these southbound flying boats. For all its power, Great Li had actually been running annual deficits for years. Even so, it still owed a great deal to the Mohists. And when the main branch of the Mohist school chose Great Li, spending became like water—not like a small stream babbling, but like a great river flowing deep and silently, without a sound, until the treasury was empty.

For Great Li, especially the Ministry of Revenue, this was a kind of boldness and a capability. Why did Chancellor Cui Chan think so highly of the Minister of Revenue? Even Song Changjing and the entire military were willing to hold the Ministry of Revenue officials in respect—the root was here. Of course, when the various cavalry armies went to the Ministry of Revenue to demand their pay, no one held back. They cried and wailed, each more skilled at pretending to be poor than the last. Song Changjing saw this and didn't think it was a problem. The civil and military officials of Great Li argued and clashed constantly. Young scholars abandoned their writing brushes for military service, and border region youths flooded into officialdom. The line between civil and military in the Song clan's court was constantly blurring. This was a good thing.

As for the Ministry of Works, which had the closest relationship with the Moists from other regions, it was an unsung hero behind the scenes.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, which had originally held the highest status, would be in an awkward position when rewards were distributed for achievements in the future. That was why, in matters concerning the new Great Li Northern Mountain God and the alliance with Great Sui and the mission to Great Sui, the Ministry of Rites officials were so tireless in putting themselves forward. There was no choice. Nowadays, the further a government office was from the battlefield, the more it would inevitably lose its footing in the Great Li court for the next hundred years. They wouldn't be able to raise their voices, and they might even be eroded and infiltrated by the other five ministries.

After all, the Great Li Ministry of Justice had still made some achievements in intelligence and cultivating cultivators—it couldn't be underestimated.

So the Ministry of Rites had started making small moves, afraid that while everyone else was expanding territory, they alone—the once most honored of the six ministries—would fall behind, tumble into the dust, and become a mere sinecure. With only cold benches to sit on, how could they attract new talent and maintain their pure and powerful status as the first among the ministries? How could they have a new atmosphere every new year?

Only the Ministry of Personnel was still in an uproar, but with the old master Guan of the Guan clan holding the fort, no matter how much they quarreled behind closed doors, they still behaved properly when facing outsiders.

Even when the Ministry of Rites clamored loudly that, in the matter of the Peaceful Exemption Medallions, everything from recommendation, verification, issuance, record-keeping, and evaluation must be entirely handled by the Ministry of Rites—so that the Ministry of Justice, which originally handled about half the responsibilities, would completely relinquish power—Old Master Guan just muddied the waters and refused to take a stand. He dragged things out, even resorting to such crude tactics as pleading illness. Damn it! This old man, who ate and drank heavily at every meal, was sturdier than many young officials in the Ministry of Rites. Was he really going to catch a cold and collapse? The old fox had thicker skin as he aged. The Minister of Rites, who was a generation younger than Old Master Guan and even considered a half-student of the old man, was said to be so furious that he complained in the palace duty rooms, saying the old man was flaunting his seniority.

The Great Li officialdom was bustling and busy. Every government office had its share of funny stories.

In the capital, at Yichi Alley and Chier Street, the exchange of New Year visits was especially frequent this year.

Song Changjing didn't pay much attention to these "spring river water warms up" official matters. Under the general trend, these were all human nature. As long as things didn't go too far or cross too many boundaries, he wouldn't interfere. In fact, as a battlefield warrior, he didn't need to bother with such messy affairs.

Because Song Changjing had to admit that behind the smooth southward advance of the Great Li cavalry and their steady consolidation, the Embroidery Tiger had made an immense contribution.

On the ground, another faint rainbow light exploded. A young sword cultivator, hiding among the mountains, seemed to have spotted Song Changjing, who looked like a "high official" among the Great Li barbarians. The sword light, like a white line, arced toward him, striking straight at Song Changjing. The flying sword's spirit was filled with the tragic aura of one who would rather die than live.

Song Changjing waved his hand, signaling the army's attendant cultivators, who were at the earthly immortal level, not to interfere. Was a six-realm sword cultivator's feeble flying sword enough to tickle a ten-realm pure martial artist?

Song Changjing casually threw a punch, smashing the natal flying sword back to the ground, where it landed right beside the young sword cultivator. The young man, his face pale, swayed on his feet but still tried to stand firm, looking at the man on the ship's bow who possessed power beyond imagination.

The flying boat streaked across the sky. The young sword cultivator had no strength left to strike again and collapsed to the ground.

Then, like a swarm of locusts, the Mohist flying boats deliberately flew over the peak of the Zhu Ying Dynasty's Southern Mountain God.

Hundreds of sword cultivators, resolved to die, joined the revered Southern Mountain God in facing the enemy.

Among the flying boats, a dozen sword-boats rained flying swords down upon the earth.

In the sky and on the ground, two volleys of flying swords met like rain curtains. The flying swords from the Mohist boats, built at immense cost of immortal money, shattered together with the sword cultivators' natal flying swords.

Occasionally, a natal flying sword slipped through and was struck down by the Great Li native or recruited Nascent Soul and earthly immortal cultivators using their treasures. Above the Southern Mountain God, a dazzling multicolored glassy sheen appeared, like a legendary celestial paradise.

The golden body dharma image of the mountain god wielded a giant sword of sword qi, condensed from the dynasty's unique royal secret arts, and struck at the boat where Song Changjing stood. Song Changjing shattered it with one punch. Another punch shattered the golden body dharma image of the Southern Mountain God. Song Changjing finally stood on the ridge of the Southern Mountain Temple. The Southern Mountain God, temporarily without his golden body, was about to reforge it using the accumulated thousand years of incense offerings and continue fighting.

Song Changjing spoke, "That's about enough. Great Li has no intention of exterminating all of you. Sword cultivators below the earthly immortal level, descend the mountain. What's past is forgiven. Earthly immortal cultivators, those willing to surrender can follow me south. Those unwilling can stay on Southern Mountain. I guarantee that even if there's some reckoning afterward, there won't be indiscriminate killing. Everyone will have the chance to pay to buy off calamity. And I will ensure that you earthly immortal sword cultivators retain your foundations. As for external possessions, most will probably have to go toward Great Li's military expenses."

Silence fell on the Southern Mountain summit.

Song Changjing leaped away. With a crash, he collapsed most of the Southern Mountain main hall. He punched an earthly immortal sword cultivator who was trying to rally other great sword cultivators to resist the Great Li barbarians to the death—his body and golden core were both destroyed, leaving only his yin spirit and his diminished natal Nascent Soul.

If any cultivator looked up from the foot of the mountain, they could see an immortal mansion near the peak of the majestic Southern Mountain collapse into ruins, dust rising like a great yellow cloud swirling around the summit.

Song Changjing returned to the temple on the peak and nodded to the Southern Mountain God standing in the square, acknowledging the god's tact. Song Changjing understood.

He soared into the air and returned to the flying boat.

The god of the Zhu Ying Dynasty had a complex look in his eyes. Finally, he bowed to that invincible Great Li prince. Only then did many young sword cultivators realize with horror that the mountain's protective formation had never been activated from start to finish.

This was both because the god himself feared death and feared his great path being cut off, and also because he feared that stubborn resistance would lead to the massacre of the entire Southern Mountain and over a thousand sword cultivators. The ambush had been prepared by sword cultivators willing to die for their country, but there were also many selfish schemes. For example, the Southern Mountain God had agreed to let the sword cultivators ascend the mountain in the hope of giving an account to both his former and new masters—so that on this soon-to-be-lost land, even if he lost the title of Southern Mountain God, he wouldn't be endlessly reviled and see his incense offerings wither. Instead, today's battle might win him some popular praise and save Great Li some trouble. He could strive, after the five mountain gods were abolished, to at least keep his seat as a first-rank mountain god in the new Great Li.

In the chaotic age of Vase Continent, Zhu Ying had clearly lost the momentum. One always had to seek a way out.

Song Changjing returned to the bow and placed his hand on the railing, where spiritual qi circulated slowly. The Great Li reign name would soon change.

---

Book-Simplifying Lake, Chishui City, Fan Clan Mansion.

A visitor had come, presenting a yellow name card, saying he wanted to see General Guan Yiran.

The gatekeeper dared not neglect his duty.

Among the four garrison commanders of the four cities, equal in rank and authority, all from Great Li, Guan Yiran of Chishui City had gradually risen in status over the past year, becoming the de facto leader. The other three often had to come to Chishui City for meetings, while Guan Yiran never needed to leave. That alone spoke volumes.

There was even talk that Guan Yiran was Su Gaoshan's prized son-in-law, told with vivid detail.

Besides that, the gatekeeper felt that one of the visitors, a young man, looked familiar. But wearing a gray cotton robe with a gaunt face, he couldn't quite place him.

Soon, the gatekeeper led the three visitors to see General Guan, whose office was set up in the Fan residence.

The three guests each carried a large bamboo backpack.

Guan Yiran, now out of his army attendant cultivator armor, stood under the eaves outside a row of simple government buildings. He was somewhat surprised.

He had waited a long time for a jug of wine but hadn't gotten it. Instead, he got someone he didn't particularly like: Gu Can.

Regarding Gu Can's actions in Book-Simplifying Lake, Guan Yiran naturally didn't like them, both because of his personal temperament and the subtle influence of his clan. Life everywhere was like officialdom. Gu Can, a reckless youth who took pleasure in breaking rules, surviving to this day in the chaotic situation was nothing short of a miracle. But since he was that person's friend, Guan Yiran wouldn't outright refuse to see him. A friend's friend wasn't necessarily a friend, but Guan Yiran still had to give that much face.

Now that the main force of the Great Li cavalry had withdrawn from Book-Simplifying Lake, young Guan Yiran had virtually become the unchallenged lord of the rivers and lakes, holding the power of life and death over tens of thousands of wild cultivators. He was even more powerful than Liu Zhimao of Green Gorge Island in his heyday.

Gu Can, expression calm; Zeng Ye, trembling with fear; and Ma Duyi, equally nervous, together paid their respects to Guan Yiran.

Both sides stepped forward almost simultaneously and stood in the courtyard. Guan Yiran smiled and asked, "So you're Gu Can? What's the matter?"

Gu Can smiled and pulled out a jug of wine—Old Dragon City's osmanthus brew—and handed it to Guan Yiran. "Chen Ping'an asked me to bring this jug to General Guan. He said it was owed."

Guan Yiran didn't refuse. He took the jug but said with a wry smile, "The wine arrived, but the man didn't. What's that supposed to mean?"

He then laughed at himself. "But I suppose it's still better than if the man arrived but the wine didn't?"

Guan Yiran laughed to himself.

Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi sighed with relief. It seemed this young and promising Great Li general had a pretty good relationship with Mr. Chen.

Guan Yiran suddenly asked, "Gu Can, do you know why Chen Ping'an asked you to deliver the wine?"

Gu Can nodded. "Yes. He wanted me to get a familiar face with General Guan. Even if you can't look after me much, as long as you accepted the wine, I'd have fewer troubles on my way back to Green Gorge Island."

Guan Yiran laughed. "You're not stupid either. Then why were you so arrogant and reckless before, charging ahead without looking back?"

Gu Can said frankly, "I didn't know any better before. I thought everyone else was an idiot. I don't dare to think that way now."

Guan Yiran nodded. "Alright, then. For small matters, you can come to me for leniency. For big matters, don't bother coming to this office and making a fool of yourself. I have a rather neutral impression of you."

Gu Can nodded and cupped his hands. "Gu Can thanks General Guan in advance. If I ever need to trouble you for small matters, I won't dare say anything else—I'm deep in debt now and have too many expenses—but I'll still bring a jug of wine."

Guan Yiran glanced at Gu Can, said nothing, and nodded. "Official business is pressing. I won't entertain you."

Gu Can tactfully took his leave and departed.

Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi followed him out of the Fan residence.

Walking on the streets of Chishui City, Ma Duyi complained a little, "He's not that old, but he sure puts on airs."

Gu Can shook his head dismissively. "Just agreeing to see us means his airs aren't big enough yet. For the two big events at the end of this year and mid-next year, we'll have to deal with this General Guan. Miss Ma, if you don't want to come to this office next time, you can stroll through Cry of Apes Street with Zeng Ye."

Ma Duyi didn't refuse but said with lingering fear, "There's too much official air here. Especially the two Great Li door gods painted on the Fan residence gate—their eyes are hostile. I don't want to come here and suffer."

Zeng Ye nodded vigorously too. "I also felt their looks weren't friendly. No help for it—I'm a ghost cultivator. I'm already surprised they let me in."

Gu Can took them to rent a flying boat that now belonged to the Great Li government. Whether for cultivators or sightseeing dignitaries, one had to submit travel documents and household registration at the dock. Only after verification could they enter or leave Book-Simplifying Lake. That was the new rule. However, if one had a Great Li-issued Peaceful Exemption Medallion, whether high-grade or low-grade, none of this was necessary. The dock could even provide free lake-rowing boats. But in a lake as vast as Book-Simplifying Lake, the earthly immortal cultivators with such a privilege could be counted on one hand. Tian Hujun of Su Lin Island, Yu Gui of Green Gorge Island as chief worshiper, and the earthly immortal couple of Oriole Island still didn't have that treatment. This showed how valuable even the lowest-grade Peaceful Exemption Medallion was.

Recently, two rumors had spread throughout Book-Simplifying Lake, shaking the entire area.

One didn't have much to do with the wild cultivators, but the matter was so huge: the Great Li emperor had passed away.

The other was of vital concern to tens of thousands of wild cultivators and over a thousand islands. When this shocking truth came to light, Book-Simplifying Lake finally woke up to why the situation had been so baffling in the previous two years.

It turned out that the largest immortal clan on Tongye Continent, the Jade Gui Sect, had chosen Book-Simplifying Lake as the site for its subordinate sect in Vase Continent.

So since the spring of this year, news about the Jade Gui Sect had been flying like chaotic goose feathers in a snowstorm.

But for Gu Can, these major events had nothing to do with him.

Chen Ping'an had entrusted the Grand Ritual of Universal Salvation and the Water and Land Rituals to Gu Can.

Besides handing over all the account books, Chen Ping'an had written down every detail of the two major events, down to tens of thousands of words, and given them to Gu Can.

Ma Duyi had even teased that Mr. Chen was practically a monk or Taoist himself.

For the funds needed, Chen Ping'an and Gu Can had discussed it and split it evenly.

That was no small sum. The meager belongings Gu Can's mother had moved from Spring Court Mansion were far from enough.

Gu Can didn't stand on ceremony and said he would owe Chen Ping'an.

Before he left, Chen Ping'an sat down with Gu Can and carefully calculated. Gu Can would need at least two more years—counting the Grand Ritual and the Water and Land Rituals, plus Chen Ping'an's earlier experiences in Stone Brush Kingdom and Plum Glaze Kingdom—to repay half the debt. After that, Gu Can would still need to continue traveling the world and, if possible, try to create a mountain island in Book-Simplifying Lake suitable for ghostly yin beings to cultivate.

The three took a boat slowly toward Green Gorge Island.

Gu Can stood at the bow with his bamboo backpack. This youth, toiling to repay his debts, had been carrying the Lower Prison King Yama Hall on his back for over a year.

To become a ghostly spirit after death seemed fortunate, but it was actually a hardship.

Whether commoners or cultivators, they must have had deep attachments in life and were reluctant to leave the human world. But life and death were the laws of heaven. The world itself had rules and punishments for them. The passage of time, the twenty-four solar terms, the spring thunder's rumbling, the midsummer's yang qi—all these invisible winds that circulated through heaven and earth did no harm to ordinary people but were torment for ghosts. The morning bells and evening drums of ancient temples and Daoist monasteries, the incense of civil and military temples and city god pavilions, the door gods pasted on market stalls, the martial aura of battlefields—all these caused varying degrees of harm to ordinary yin beings and ghosts.

Not to mention the registered immortal masters who slew demons to accumulate merits, the mountain marsh wild cultivators, especially those ghost cultivators and evil cultivators, who delighted in capturing yin spirits, stripping souls, reshaping them, and using sinister techniques of all kinds, or raising gu, or secret arts—all sorts of calamities, truly making life worse than death, and death worse than life.

Before Chen Ping'an came to Book-Simplifying Lake, Gu Can certainly knew some of this, but he never took it seriously and never bothered to investigate deeply.

That was no longer the case.

Halfway across the water, a Green Gorge Island tower ship approached quickly.

Tian Hujun landed on the small boat where Gu Can stood.

Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye thought Gu Can wouldn't board that tower ship, but Gu Can didn't refuse Tian Hujun's invitation. He thanked the small boat's crew and climbed aboard the huge ship.

Tian Hujun chatted amiably.

Gu Can smiled and talked with her.

There seemed to be no ill feelings—still the senior apprentice sister and junior apprentice brother from the heyday of Green Gorge Island.

Tian Hujun joked that their Mr. Chen owed quite a bit of money. The Green Gorge Island secret treasury was complaining bitterly. The Lower Prison King Yama Hall and the imitation Glazed Pavilion, for which Chen Ping'an had written an IOU to Yu Gui—those two ghost cultivation treasures were no small sum.

Gu Can said, "Such a big matter can wait until Master returns to Green Gorge Island. Let him decide."

Tian Hujun's expression immediately became awkward.

Nowadays, hardly any wild cultivator in Book-Simplifying Lake believed Liu Zhimao could still leave the Palace Willow Island water prison alive.

If he could have left, he would have returned to Green Gorge Island long ago. Why wait until now? Now that Su Gaoshan had left, everyone believed that as soon as the new sect master of the Jade Gui Sect subordinate sect appeared, it would be Liu Zhimao's death sentence.

Gu Can, who had long since stopped wearing that dark green python robe, put his hands in his sleeves and turned to look at Tian Hujun, whose expression was shifting between dark and light. He said quietly, "Senior apprentice sister, to reach the peak of the great path, doing things against one's conscience isn't exactly a mistake. But you still need a bottom line or two. I switched to this cultivation path midway and became Liu Zhimao's closed-door disciple, with all its twists, schemes, and mutual exploitation. Everyone in Book-Simplifying Lake could see that. So the master-disciple bond is not my bottom line. But you, senior apprentice sister, were Liu Zhimao's proud disciple, raised from the start. With all your subsequent opportunities, Green Gorge Island didn't treat you unfairly. If you overstep, consider: in the Great Li files, in Guan Yiran's eyes, in the eyes of Book-Simplifying Lake's wild cultivators, and in the opinions of the future Jade Gui Sect subordinate sect cultivators—they won't think well of you. Since you're already an earthly immortal cultivator, shouldn't you look further ahead? After all, Book-Simplifying Lake has many rules now. The old ways no longer apply."

Tian Hujun asked softly, "Did Mr. Chen tell you to say this to me?"

Gu Can shook his head. "It has nothing to do with Chen Ping'an. He sees your actions more clearly and thoroughly than I do, so naturally he wouldn't say this to you. But over the years, senior apprentice sister and I still have some karmic ties. So these are just my heartfelt words. Whether you listen or not is your own business. I know the principle: if you're poor, don't join the drinking table; if you've little standing, don't counsel others. But I still felt I should say it, even if you find it annoying."

Tian Hujun sighed. "There's no turning back."

Gu Can smiled. Another Gu Can from those days, nothing more.

Too bad senior apprentice sister Tian Hujun hadn't met her Chen Ping'an.

Thinking of this, Gu Can gazed into the distance. The sky was vast, the earth wide. Even if the future seemed dim, he didn't have to be too afraid.

The gloom in his heart lightened a little. Gu Can withdrew his gaze and said, "Senior apprentice sister, rest assured. The remaining territory and foundation of Green Gorge Island—you fellow senior apprentices and sisters, the vassal worshipers—can fight over them as much as you like. I can't compete for anything, and I don't want to. With my meager abilities, competing with you would get me nothing. I'd rather be clever and withdraw voluntarily. Maybe in the future, I can still share a drink with you. Besides, I spend hardly any days on Green Gorge Island in a year. Senior apprentice sister, instead of guarding against me, you'd do better to cultivate more connections."

Tian Hujun's face became even more unnatural at Gu Can's direct exposure of her schemes. But having Gu Can "open his heart" to her this way was better than her constant suspicion and guesswork.

It wasn't that Tian Hujun completely believed Gu Can's "heartfelt words." It was that Gu Can now had to go to Chishui City's Fan residence for protection before entering Book-Simplifying Lake, and after boarding the boat, had to use the line "Liu Zhimao might safely leave Palace Willow Island"—something no one believed—to secure a retreat. That was what set Tian Hujun's mind at ease. Without that eel Liu Zhimao and without Chen Ping'an by his side, Gu Can really was useless.

The tower ship docked at Green Gorge Island. Gu Can said he didn't need to go to Spring Court Mansion and would just stay in the house at the mountain gate, as neighbors with his friend Zeng Ye.

But Ma Duyi took over Chen Ping'an's room herself and chased Gu Can over to Zeng Ye's place.

Gu Can didn't mind.

After spending so much time together, Gu Can didn't dislike Ma Duyi, who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. As time passed, he actually found it quite nice.

Chen Ping'an probably felt he had said all the principles he would ever have in Book-Simplifying Lake.

And Gu Can felt that in his life, he had heard all the flattering and sycophantic words during those years in Book-Simplifying Lake.

Afterward, Gu Can went to look at the ruins of Cross Wave Mansion and lingered outside Spring Court Mansion for a while.

One day, on a bright spring day, Gu Can, Zeng Ye, and Ma Duyi sat on small bamboo chairs, enjoying the sun.

A tall, elegant palace-attired woman came ashore from a boat and walked slowly over.

It was Liu Zhongrun of Pearl Hairpin Island.

Gu Can knew that Chen Ping'an felt some guilt toward this island master, saying he owed her some immortal money. So this time returning to Book-Simplifying Lake, even if Liu Zhongrun hadn't come to Green Gorge Island, Gu Can would have gone to Pearl Hairpin Island to explain things, to prevent the stunningly beautiful Island Master Liu from mistakenly thinking Chen Ping'an had run away from his debts. Liu Zhongrun was now quite remarkable. The strangest thing was that even though Liu Zhongrun had revealed her true cultivation as a golden core earthly immortal, being able to cut a bloody path and, amid the jealous eyes of all the big island masters, obtain a low-grade Great Li Peaceful Exemption Medallion had sparked much speculation. For instance, was Su Gaoshan taken with Liu Zhongrun's beauty? Or did the young and powerful Guan Yiran have a taste for beautiful married women? After all, Liu Zhongrun had once been a long princess of Zhu Ying, the object of the royal clan's sword immortals' infatuation.

Gu Can knew otherwise. There were no such sordid romantic affairs. Chen Ping'an had revealed some heavenly secrets: Liu Zhongrun, as a deposed princess of a great dynasty, had exchanged a secret watery palace treasury that Zhu Ying had never discovered for the protection of that medallion. Not only did she keep all the assets of Pearl Hairpin Island, but she also leapt onto the top and became one of Great Li's worshiper cultivators.

Whether Chen Ping'an had acted as a go-between in this, he hadn't said.

Liu Zhongrun saw Gu Can standing to greet her and smiled, asking, "When will Mr. Chen return to Book-Simplifying Lake?"

Gu Can shook his head. "I don't know yet. Not likely anytime soon."

Liu Zhongrun's expression remained unchanged. She nodded and was about to leave just like that.

Gu Can stood up, followed the island master, and talked with her about some matters Chen Ping'an had instructed.

Liu Zhongrun made no comment and gave no definite answer, then left.

Gu Can returned to his small bamboo chair.

At the dock, a ghost cultivator from Vermillion String Mansion appeared.

Liu Zhongrun hesitated, then stopped and sighed. "Ma Yuanzhi, after all these years of pestering, is it interesting? You have the heart—why not cultivate properly and try to reach earthly immortal?"

The ghost cultivator, deliberately dressed in a simple blue robe, grinned. "Your Highness, I knew even if Chen Ping'an isn't on Green Gorge Island, you'd still make this trip. I understand."

Liu Zhongrun was annoyed. "Get out of my sight!"

Ma Yuanzhi didn't dare block her way. He obediently moved aside and let Liu Zhongrun walk straight toward her Pearl Hairpin Island boat.

But he couldn't control his lecherous eyes, sneaking glances at the long princess's retreating figure. What a well-endowed woman.

Liu Zhongrun stopped and turned.

Ma Yuanzhi's expression changed. "Are you asking for death?!"

Ma Yuanzhi swallowed his saliva and said aggrievedly, "I was just worried about Your Highness. After this upheaval, I was concerned you might have lost weight and looked haggard. Now I'm relieved."

Taking this opportunity, Ma Yuanzhi sneaked another glance at her chest—breasts like rolling hills, a magnificent sight.

Liu Zhongrun fumed, "A dog never changes its habit of eating shit!"

Ma Yuanzhi said mournfully, "I won't allow Your Highness to belittle herself like this. Even if you trample me underfoot, I have no complaints. But you saying that about yourself—I can't accept it. In my heart, Your Highness is forever the most beautiful and flawless woman in the world..."

Liu Zhongrun only then realized her own misstep. Flushed with anger and embarrassment, she flicked her sleeve, sending the ghost cultivator flying out of the dock.

Ma Yuanzhi steadied himself and his mind. A hundred emotions surged within him, tears welling up. He wiped his face, feeling that all the grievances and hardships of so many years had finally been somewhat repaid. He murmured, "Your Highness, women are thin-skinned. They're too embarrassed to speak sweet words of love directly. That's fine. Beating is affection, scolding is love—I understand that."

Liu Zhongrun boarded her boat and used immortal arts to pilot it away swiftly.

She was truly tired of that brain-damaged "Rice Porter."

Ma Yuanzhi nodded, his smile radiant, his eyes even more shifty. "Your Highness, being so shy—that's a rare occurrence in a hundred years! She really seems ready to open her heart to me. There's hope, definitely hope! Chen Ping'an, just wait for the wedding wine! He's truly a great brother! If he hadn't told me that when dealing with women, I should think more about the meaning behind their words, how would I have realized Your Highness's good intentions? Telling me to reach golden core earthly immortal soon—wasn't that hinting that a grown man like me shouldn't fall too far behind her? Wasn't she worried that I might feel alienated because she's already at golden core? If she didn't have deep feelings for me, why would she speak so carefully? Chen Ping'an, Mr. Chen, Brother Chen! You are my great benefactor!"

After the ghost cultivator swaggered off joyfully.

Zeng Ye was unsure about the relationship between the ghost cultivator and the Pearl Hairpin Island master. He asked quietly, "Did that ghost cultivator senior misunderstand something?"

Ma Duyi was cracking melon seeds. She said with finality, "If I were that Island Master Liu, I'd slap him to death and be done with it. Save myself from seeing those dog eyes leering every time we meet."

Gu Can smiled and asked, "Do you think Island Master Liu might like Chen Ping'an?"

Zeng Ye thought for a moment and shook his head. "Probably not. She's so much older than Mr. Chen, and they don't deal with each other often. Miss Liu is, after all, a golden core cultivator with a firm heart. Even though Mr. Chen is very good, I don't think so."

Ma Duyi snorted. "What's strange about Liu Zhongrun liking Mr. Chen? But of course, our Mr. Chen wouldn't like an old woman."

Gu Can, sitting on the middle bamboo chair, burst out laughing.

Ma Duyi tossed a handful of melon seeds at him. Gu Can dodged, and they all hit Zeng Ye on the head. That wasn't all—Zeng Ye bent down to pick them up. After spending so much time with Mr. Chen, it was hard not to become a miser and a skinflint.

---

Palace Willow Island.

In the water prison.

A prisoner in plain white hempen clothes sat cross-legged in a fairly spacious cell, his expression calm.

Outside the cell stood an old cultivator from Tongye Continent at the supreme being realm. He had once followed the two sect masters of Peace Mountain and Fu Ji Sect to cross the sea and slay that great demon. He was originally an elder of the former Tongye Sect, but had since turned to the Jade Gui Sect and even stolen a town-suppressing heavy treasure from the Jade Gui Sect's Founder Hall, nearly causing a major war between Tongye Sect and Jade Gui Sect. Fortunately, the old sect master of Jade Gui Sect, Xun Yuan, personally visited and had a proper talk with the eleventh-realm sword immortal sect master of Tongye Sect. After the talk, Tongye Sect didn't pursue the matter further—Jade Gui Sect must have provided compensation.

The old cultivator was named Zhou Fenglu. He was also the person in charge of the site selection for the Jade Gui Sect subordinate sect. Whether he was a pitiable pawn or not depended on whether the final sect master of the subordinate sect would be him, or that bastard Jiang Shangzhen, who already held the Cloud Cavern Blessed Land.

Zhou Fenglu hadn't killed Liu Zhimao outright because he wanted to gain more merit, so that the small group of powerful old-timers in Jade Gui Sect who secretly supported his rise could better convince the stubborn old fellows in the Founder Hall who leaned toward Jiang Shangzhen. The Jade Gui Sect was not a monolithic bloc; many old-timers had long been dissatisfied with the excessively prominent younger generation, Jiang Shangzhen.

This was Zhou Fenglu's chance.

Once he became the first sect master of the subordinate sect, he would be a top-tier frontier official of Jade Gui Sect, directly occupying a seat in the Jade Gui Sect's main mountain Founder Hall, and his chair would be very near the front. He might even sit next to Jiang Shangzhen. Many old-timers in Jade Gui Sect who didn't want Jiang Shangzhen to dominate alone would be happy to see this—it would both suppress Jiang Shangzhen's arrogance and annoy him.

Zhou Fenglu's face showed displeasure. "Liu Zhimao, this is the third time I've come to you. 'Do not repeat a third time,' you understand?"

Liu Zhimao looked at him sideways. "You registered immortal masters look down on us wild cultivators, who are used to scavenging like wild dogs. We can't become house dogs."

Zhou Fenglu sneered. "Taking the initiative to contact Tan Yuanyi and defecting to Great Li's Song clan—isn't that the same as being someone's watchdog?"

Liu Zhimao chuckled. "Working for Great Li is at least being free-range. Better than being penned in. Besides, the thing I've hated most in my life is you smug registered immortal masters."

Zhou Fenglu's expression darkened. "Liu Zhimao, do you really think I don't dare kill you? A Nascent Soul earthly immortal—in your backwater of Vase Continent, that's impressive. But on Tongye Continent, it's nothing. Supreme being cultivators fall not infrequently. In every hundred years, if a few Nascent Souls don't die, Tongye Continent feels embarrassed greeting cultivators from other continents. Can your Vase Continent do the same?"

Liu Zhimao laughed heartily. "Scared me?"

Zhou Fenglu shook his head. "I'm not trying to scare you. A person's patience has limits."

Liu Zhimao curled his lip. "Don't you know that we wild dogs spend our whole lives being scared? Too many scares, and either we're scared to death, or we become like me—when ghosts knock on my door at midnight, I ask if they've come to do business. What, are you already the sect master of the Jade Gui Sect subordinate sect? Can you decide my life and death with one word? Even if you do become sect master, shouldn't you consider how to make the best use of a Nascent Soul wild cultivator? What if one day I suddenly have an epiphany and agree to be your worshiper? You'd be losing big. You've been holding me here; a formation costs a few immortal cash? You can't even figure out that equation—how can you be sect master?"

Liu Zhimao's entire body was bound by strands of the water prison's veins, especially the key acupoints that nurtured his natal object, blocked by the water veins of Palace Willow Island. He yawned. "Do you really think you outsiders can do whatever you want in Vase Continent? With this little patience of yours, I don't think your sect master's seat will stay warm. You might end up worse than me, the 'river-lake lord' of Book-Simplifying Lake. Before your chair even gets warm, you'll have to stand up and politely give way. 'Fertile water won't flow into others' fields'—I really don't believe Jade Gui Sect would give such a fat slice of meat to a half-outsider."

Liu Zhimao actually began to lecture this old cultivator with astonishing combat power and a heavy treasure in hand. "I'm not saying anything bad about you registered immortal masters. You talk about mental fortitude, but you're probably not as tough as us wild cultivators. It's only because of your superior methods and sect heritage that you walk the great path unobstructed. If you gave us those methods, even if we all started from the earthly immortal level, with the same time spent, wild cultivators would beat you until you shit. Don't believe me? Want to try? You've already betrayed Tongye Sect anyway. Those broken Founder Hall rules—who cares? Why not teach me Tongye Sect's methods for reaching the supreme being realm? But do you dare?"

Liu Zhimao in the cage laughed without restraint.

He maintained an air of rakishness and cheerfulness.

Exuding the spirit of a true overlord, mixed with some hooligan shamelessness.

Zhou Fenglu shook his head. "Liu Zhimao, I hope you can still talk so tough when we meet next time, after I become subordinate sect master."

Liu Zhimao quickly said, "Don't rush, don't rush! Even if you become subordinate sect master, we can still chat. We mountain marsh wild cultivators—what's backbone? Nothing! We're best at trimming our sails."

Zhou Fenglu said nothing and left the water prison.

This Book-Simplifying Lake Nascent Soul wild cultivator was really dog meat that couldn't be served at a feast—couldn't kill, couldn't stomach. Zhou Fenglu made up his mind: once he became subordinate sect master, he'd kill Liu Zhimao that very day and not waste another word.

After Zhou Fenglu returned to his residence.

The true master of Palace Willow Island, Liu Laocheng, entered the bottom level of the water prison. Along the way, the Jade Gui Sect cultivators all pretended not to see him, neither greeting nor stopping him.

Book-Simplifying Lake had three fundamental water veins, rich in water transport. The rest were numerous but thin, scattered and chaotic, divided among the remaining thousand-plus island forces.

One of these major veins was monopolized by Palace Willow Island, which used it as the basis for its water prison formation.

That was also the key to easily suppressing Liu Zhimao.

Green Gorge Island had also stolen half a major vein, with Cross Wave Mansion as the formation eye. But that was destroyed, and the water transport had scattered, benefiting the earthly immortal cultivators of the vassal islands, like Tian Hujun and Yu Gui.

The three large islands—Green Tomb, Heavenly Mother, and Granule—together shared the last fundamental water vein of Book-Simplifying Lake.

After Liu Laocheng reached the bottom of the water prison, he immediately isolated a small heaven and earth.

Liu Zhimao looked up and frowned.

He wasn't too afraid of that Zhou Fenglu, but he was extremely wary of Liu Laocheng, this Book-Simplifying Lake senior.

Because wild cultivators always knew best how to deal with wild cultivators.

Registered immortal masters, on the other hand, were at a loss for a while.

Liu Laocheng took out a scroll, gently shook it, and slowly unrolled it. From the scroll stepped a man with a face full of smiles.

He walked to the edge of the cell, put his hands behind his back, bent over, and squinted at Liu Zhimao. "I heard you and Chen Ping'an are both friends and enemies, unclear. Never mind that. But Liu Laocheng says you both recognize each other as half a soulmate?"

Now it was Liu Zhimao's turn to be baffled. He didn't answer the question. "Are you... Jiang Shangzhen of Jade Gui Sect?"

The man grinned. "First answer my question, then I'll see if I want to answer yours. First come, first served—we still need to observe some rules."

Liu Zhimao glanced at Liu Laocheng. In the case of Zhou Fenglu, after two previous 'exchanges,' Liu Zhimao had a general idea of Zhou Fenglu's bottom line, so he could keep stalling. But facing this man, most likely Jiang Shangzhen of the Jade Gui Sect sect family, Liu Zhimao felt heavy. He didn't dare speak rashly. After thinking, he nodded. "Chen Ping'an and I will never be friends. Whether I reach the supreme being realm or he one day has the ability to tangle with me, we might still have a fight. But as of now, we can be considered half soulmates. We've had a few drinks together."

The man clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "For that alone, Little Liu, plus our Old Liu behind me—the three of us from now on are friends on the same grasshopper!"

Liu Zhimao looked at Liu Laocheng again. The latter's expression and state of mind were as still as an ancient well, giving Liu Zhimao no clue.

The man smiled. "You guessed right. I am Jiang Shangzhen, the long-overdue sect master of the Jade Gui Sect subordinate sect."

The man suddenly wiped his face, looking utterly miserable and aggrieved, like a woman complaining. "I'm suffering! That shameless bastard Zhou Fenglu almost ruined my plans. If not for Li Fuju being clever enough, I'd have had to fight to the death to kill Zhou Fenglu, then take his old head and go bow and apologize to someone! Thinking about it, I want to go kowtow to Li Fuju a few times right now—I'd even call her godmother."

Jiang Shangzhen lightly beat his chest, his face full of misery, and cursed, "I, Jiang Shangzhen, didn't come to Book-Simplifying Lake to wipe asses! My top priority was to catch up with Chen Ping'an! And now? 'Arm in arm, joyful conversation' my ass! Zhou Fenglu, that useless old thing who can only make things worse, isn't worth a tenth of a cent. I only set up a few tables of wine at Tongye Sect, but now we're all on the same side, and he still screws me over. Malicious intent, damn him! He deserves to die!"

Liu Zhimao was dumbfounded.

Liu Laocheng's eyelids twitched slightly. He had clearly already experienced Jiang Shangzhen and was slightly better off than Liu Zhimao, who looked like he'd been struck by lightning.

Jiang Shangzhen suddenly restrained his words and smile. After a moment of silence, he asked softly, "Liu Zhimao, on behalf of Zhou Fenglu, I'll ask you one question: Are you willing to become a worshiper of the Jade Gui Sect subordinate sect?"

Liu Zhimao hesitated.

In that instant, he saw Liu Laocheng give a slight nod.

Liu Zhimao took a deep breath and nodded lightly. "I can do that."

Then he found a verdant green willow leaf suspended precisely at his brow.

Jiang Shangzhen snapped his fingers and grinned. "A wise man submits to circumstances. Liu Zhimao, from now on, you are the third seat of my subordinate sect's worshipers. Liu Laocheng, Zhou Fenglu, Liu Zhimao. But I hope that after you reach the supreme being realm, you'll help me kill that Zhou Fenglu, any way you can. I can promise you now: that sect-suppressing treasure of Jade Gui Sect in Zhou Fenglu's hands, the subordinate sect can lend it to you for a hundred years. If you have enough merits afterward, another hundred years won't be hard. But if you fail and get killed instead, don't blame me for not collecting your corpse."

Liu Zhimao asked, "Reaching the supreme being realm?"

Jiang Shangzhen stuck out a thumb and pointed it at himself. "What do I have? Only money. Once you get to know me, you'll inevitably pity me. Having too much money is truly troubling."

Jiang Shangzhen sighed. "Don't say you poor wild cultivators of Vase Continent. Even the supreme being registered immortal masters of our Tongye Continent don't know the troubles of being as rich as me. So annoying."

Liu Zhimao looked at Liu Laocheng again. Wasn't cooperating with this kind of person nerve-wracking? Wouldn't it be safer to just be on the same boat as Zhou Fenglu?

Liu Laocheng's face was expressionless.

Whether unfathomable or cursing in his heart.

Because when it came to money—that was truly the most painful subject for all mountain marsh wild cultivators.

---

Late spring.

Night was deep. In a secluded spot on Book-Simplifying Lake, all sounds were still.

An old gentleman stood by the lake. With a flick of his sleeve, twenty bamboo slips shot out. The characters on the slips shone with golden light, glittering like the immortal moral essays of Confucian sages, able to rival the sun and moon.

The slips fell into Book-Simplifying Lake.

Twenty-four bamboo slips, twenty-four solar terms.

Only three people in the entire Book-Simplifying Lake sensed it, their hearts all thumping.

Jiang Shangzhen, Liu Laocheng, Zhou Fenglu.

But even as they almost simultaneously flew into the air and looked around, they couldn't detect the slightest clue.

Yet in truth, the old gentleman was right under their noses. Even the three supreme being cultivators couldn't see him.

However, Liu Zhimao, still a prisoner who hadn't left Palace Willow Island, suddenly thought of something.

Book-Simplifying Lake had originally been an ordinary place with thin spiritual qi. A Confucian sage who traveled here from the Central Earth once realized the great path, resonating with heaven and earth, creating a magnificent scene. Hence the lake was named Book-Simplifying, its spiritual qi abundant, benefiting later generations.

The old gentleman stood by the lake and smiled. "Everyone thinks this place is a cesspit, but someone said you all are 'the heroic qi of heaven and earth, still awe-inspiring through the ages.' So, what do you think?"

The lake water rippled, stirring up the vast righteous qi of a thousand autumns.

The old gentleman smiled. "I, this old gentleman, don't ask you to be grateful to that little gentleman. He doesn't need it. That's how scholars do things—it's not a transaction. So I'm just asking you to sacrifice your lives for righteousness, to die once more in the future, together with me. Don't let down this world that still can be saved."

The old gentleman laughed again. "Of course, that young man also said that for now, he's not a scholar, just a bookkeeper. So how we proceed next—we can discuss it."

---

A mid-level immortal ferry crossing in Vase Continent.

In early summer of this year, a young man in blue clothes stopped, leading his horse.

At seventeen, he went to Book-Simplifying Lake. At the house at the mountain gate of Green Gorge Island, he spent New Year's Eve alone.

The next New Year's Eve, he was in an inn in Stone Brush Kingdom, talking around a fire with Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi.

The year after that, he was on horseback, bumping along, alone for New Year's Eve, on his way to meet Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi.

Then another year, he went into the mountains south of Book-Simplifying Lake. On the return trip, he managed to have a New Year's Eve dinner with Gu Can, Zeng Ye, and Ma Duyi—finally enough people to fill a table.

This year, right now, leading his horse onto a ferry boat, Chen Ping'an touched the jade hairpin in his bun. Unknowingly, he had reached the age that Confucians call "capping" for manhood.

Then, on the fifth day of the fifth month, Chen Ping'an had originally planned to ask the immortal ferry for a full table of dishes. But at the last moment, he changed his mind. He still took out his dry rations and wine, stood by the window, gazed at the sea of clouds, and celebrated his birthday. He even muddled through the capping ceremony—after all, his family only had him, no elders, no ancestral temple. No need for so many formalities.

But just as he swallowed the last of his dry rations and wine, he belched. He had already put away Sword and Cauldron, but he felt the Sword Immortal at his back suddenly weigh down—from a few catties to thousands of catties in an instant. Chen Ping'an stumbled backward and fell, sword and all.

But in the next moment, the Sword Immortal in its sheath was once again lifeless, with no movement. Chen Ping'an tried to sit up; there was nothing unusual.

Puzzled, fearing some kind of scheme or mystery, he sat at the table, drew the Sword Immortal, and examined it for a long time. Nothing strange.

He decided it was just the Sword Immortal sword acting up. Over the past half year, it had often been mischievous. Once, it imitated a sword immortal and "rode a sword" into the sea of clouds to watch the sunset. It ran off on its own, causing Chen Ping'an to fall straight down through the clouds. If not for First and Third Crescent, he would have suffered greatly. But how do you reason with a half-immortal sword? After that, Chen Ping'an didn't dare watch the scenery in the clouds much.

Now, the Sword Immortal sword clanged out of its sheath on his back, causing the entire immortal ferry to shake. It hovered a foot above the floor.

It seemed to be inviting Chen Ping'an to step on it.

Chen Ping'an squatted down and negotiated, "No tricks?"

The sword remained still.

Chen Ping'an hesitated, then bargained, "If you drop me halfway, I might not catch the ferry. You'll reimburse me the immortal money?"

The sword shot back into the sheath on his back.

It ignored Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an rubbed his chin. Thinking about how he had been tricked out of twenty-four bamboo slips by that old gentleman on the mountain peak earlier, he nodded. "I almost fell for another one! My time in the rivers and lakes hasn't been wasted!"