Chapter 457: A Lamp in the Ancestral Home in the Alley
This immortal ferry would not go directly to Great Li's Longquan Commandery. After all, the Baofuzhai had already withdrawn from Niujiao Mountain, and the ferry port was almost completely abandoned. In name, it was temporarily requisitioned by the Great Li military, but it was not a strategic hub. There were few ferries, mostly carrying Great Li nobles coming to tour the landscapes of Longquan Commandery. After all, Longquan Commandery was now a place of recovery, and there were rumors that this vast commandery would soon be upgraded from a commandery to a prefecture. This meant that in the Great Li officialdom, more than a dozen high-ranking positions would suddenly appear. As the Great Li iron cavalry swept through like a bamboo split, encompassing half of Bottle Gourd Continent, it caused the status of Great Li's native officials to rise like water lifting a boat. Local officials with Great Li household registration were like "capital officials" of ordinary vassal states. Now, whenever they were dispatched south to various vassal states, they would be promoted one level, as sure as a nail driven into a board.
The ferry Chen Ping'an was on would dock at a small country called Qianhe Kingdom. Qianhe Kingdom was mountainous, with weak national power and barren land. Every ten li, customs differed; every hundred li, accents changed. It was a peaceful place that the Great Li iron cavalry had not even set foot in. The ferry port was controlled by a mountain cave dwelling, Fuyin Cave. Its owner was both the national teacher of Qianhe Kingdom and the leader of the kingdom's immortal masters. However, the entire Qianhe Kingdom had only a few dozen registered immortal masters, and the national teacher himself was only at the Dragon Gate realm. His disciples were just a few scattered cats and dogs, insignificant. The reason they could own an immortal ferry port was that Fuyin Cave was one of the ruins of an ancient shattered cave heaven. Among its products, several could be sold far to the south, but they earned only hard money. Throughout the year, they got only a few Minor Heat Coins, so no foreign cultivators coveted this place.
Chen Ping'an planned to first return to Longquan Commandery, then go to Caiyi Kingdom and Shushui Kingdom. Many matters in his hometown urgently required his personal decision. After all, some things needed his direct involvement, dealing directly with the Great Li court. For example, buying the mountain, Wei Bo could help, but he could not replace Chen Ping'an in signing a new "land deed" with Great Li.
Along the way, there was a small disturbance. A group of immortal masters from Qingfeng City felt that an ordinary horse occupying a spot on the bottom deck of the ferry, mingling with their carefully bred spirit beasts and birds, was an insult. They were somewhat dissatisfied and wanted to cause some trouble, though their methods were rather covert. Fortunately, Chen Ping'an took good care of his beloved horse, which he had privately nicknamed "Quhuang." He often let his flying sword Fifteen quietly hover nearby to prevent any accidents. After all, he had been accompanied by this horse for years, and he was very grateful to this horse that understood his heart.
So when Quhuang was first startled on the bottom deck, Chen Ping'an felt it in his heart. He first had First and Fifteen turn into nothingness, penetrate through the layers of deck, and arrive directly at the bottom cabin to block a mountain beast from tearing at Quhuang.
Chen Ping'an then went there, but was stopped by a ferry servant guarding the bottom deck. Chen Ping'an understood in his heart. He reached out and grabbed the young man's shoulder, half-dragging, half-pulling him toward where Quhuang was. When Chen Ping'an, with a cold expression, walked inside, all the spirit beasts and birds trembled and prostrated on the ground. Especially the beast near Quhuang, which was pitch black all over except for its four snow-white paws, like a dog but as large as a small calf. According to the record in the Book of Immortals he had bought from Daoxuan Mountain, it should be a descendant of the ancient fierce beast Nianshan Dog. The true Nianshan Dog would not have mixed colors. However, the Nianshan Dog lineage was extremely violent in temperament, somewhat similar to the Banshan Ape.
When that descendant spirit beast of the Nianshan Dog saw Chen Ping'an, it was even more fearful than the other docile spirit birds and beasts in the cabin, curling up with its tail between its legs.
Chen Ping'an released the ferry servant's shoulder. The man rubbed his shoulder and said ingratiatingly with a smile, "Young master, it's probably that your fine horse and the beast next door had a personality clash, leading to a conflict. This is common on ferries. I'll separate them right away and move your horse to another spot. There will definitely be no more accidents."
Chen Ping'an glanced at the fence between Quhuang and the Nianshan Dog descendant. It was empty.
Between the cage fences, there should have been some low-grade talismans pasted. Once a spirit beast or bird crossed the line, the prohibition would be triggered immediately, so the ferry side could come and "mediate." However, the birds and beasts brought onto the ferry by cultivators were mostly intelligent and would not cause trouble for their masters. Otherwise, spending money to avoid disaster would only waste the cultivator's own path. If they encountered a problem that money could not solve, it would be even more disastrous.
But in the eyes of the owner of this Nianshan Dog descendant, a roadside character who would lead a horse onto the ferry—what could he do even if they caused trouble?
Chen Ping'an reached out and touched Quhuang's head. It lightly stomped its hooves, without much panic.
South of Shujian Lake, amidst the mountains, Quhuang had followed Chen Ping'an to see great sights.
Chen Ping'an withdrew his hand and smiled. "Are you trying to ruin my path?"
The ferry servant was stunned. He guessed that the horse's owner would probably come to demand an explanation, but he never expected such a high-level accusation. Was he trying to extort money?
That would be good.
The young servant was overjoyed inside, hoping for a fight to break out.
After all, no matter what background this person had, or why he could make those beasts quake in fear, if you offended the Qingfeng City cultivators, could there be any good outcome?
That group of Qingfeng City immortal masters had always been honored guests on this ferry, with a close relationship. Because one of Fuyin Cave's products in Qianhe Kingdom was a certain spirit wood favored by the fox spirits of Fox Hill, which was like a vassal state of the dynasty. So this spirit wood, which could nourish fox fur, was almost entirely bought up by the Qingfeng City immortal masters, who then resold it to the Xu clan for double the profit. As for why the Xu clan of Qingfeng City did not make this trip themselves, the ferry side had once asked curiously. The Qingfeng City cultivators laughed heartily, saying that the Xu clan would care about such meager profits? With that leisure, the Xu clan children, who were good at making money, would have already earned more immortal money long ago. The Xu clan of Qingfeng City, possessing Fox Hill, were accustomed to being fortune gods who only needed to count money at home.
A group of immortal masters in snow-white fox fur slowly walked into the bottom cabin, somewhat glaring.
Qingfeng City's fox fur could both keep warm in winter and ward off heat in summer, just a matter of thickness. But in the summer, wearing fox fur, no matter how thin, still looked awkward. However, it was a kind of protective talisman for cultivators traveling in the mortal world. Qingfeng City's face was quite significant in the northern part of Bottle Gourd Continent. Especially now, the head of the Xu clan of Qingfeng City was said to have obtained a great opportunity. His Taoist partner had acquired a precious Wart Armor from Li Zhu Cave Heaven for him, allowing him to advance further. The clan also possessed a Great Li Peace and Safety Token. The rise of Qingfeng City's Xu clan was unstoppable.
Chen Ping'an said nothing. He still had his loose boxing stance, like a sickly man, but in a few steps he reached the group of cultivators. He knocked down one with a single punch. Among them, a round-faced girl rolled her eyes and fainted on the spot. Finally, only a handsome young master in the middle remained, sweat seeping from his forehead, his lips moving slightly, unsure whether to say something tough or something submissive.
Chen Ping'an stood in front of him with his hands in his sleeves and asked about some inside information on Qingfeng City.
After all, whether it was the Xu clan of Qingfeng City or the Banshan Ape of Zhengyang Mountain, each had an old debt placed on Chen Ping'an's heart. Even if Chen Ping'an walked through Shujian Lake again, he would not let things go with either side.
That spoiled young cultivator, seeing his close ones and personal guards already fallen, no longer cared about face or integrity. He poured out everything like beans from a bamboo tube, telling all he knew without omission.
Chen Ping'an asked in detail, and the young cultivator answered earnestly.
It was like a tutor questioning a child in a school.
The ferry servant guarding the bottom cabin, seeing this scene, felt dazed. What was going on? Wasn't it said that the immortal masters from Qingfeng City were all immensely powerful?
Chen Ping'an turned his head and looked at the servant who was inwardly calculating. At the same time, he casually slapped the forehead of the young cultivator behind him. With a thud, the latter fell straight backward.
This was called sharing hardship.
Chen Ping'an looked at the terrified servant and asked, "Helping with such schemes, do you get immortal money?"
The young servant shook his head and said tremblingly, "No, no, not even a single Snowflake Coin. I just wanted to show courtesy and get familiar with these immortal masters. Maybe someday they would give me a few pointers, and I would have a way to make money."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Who came up with the idea?"
The young servant said without hesitation, "It was the Qingfeng City immortal masters' idea. I just lent a hand. Please forgive me, immortal lord..."
Chen Ping'an lightly stomped his foot. The young master's body bounced and he woke up groggily. Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "This brother on the ferry says the idea to harm my horse was yours. What do you say?"
The Qingfeng City young man flew into a rage. Sitting on the ground, he started cursing loudly.
Chen Ping'an walked out of the bottom cabin and said to the young man with a smile, "Don't kill anyone."
The young man struggled to his feet and walked toward the ferry servant with a ferocious smile. "Good fellow, daring to screw me over? I'll peel a layer of skin off you..."
The young man suddenly turned his head. At the cabin entrance, the man in blue robes had stopped and turned to look. He quickly smiled. "Don't worry, I won't kill, I dare not kill. I'll just teach this scoundrel a lesson."
Chen Ping'an walked out of the cabin.
Evil people are often tormented by other evil people.
It was hard to say whether the Qingfeng City cultivator or the servant was more evil.
But deep down, Chen Ping'an actually disliked the weak-handed ferry servant more. However, in his future life, he would still have no good way to deal with these "weaklings." On the other hand, when facing those arrogant mountain cultivators, Chen Ping'an had more opportunities to strike. Just like that snowy night on a narrow path when he met Han Jingling, the prince of Shi Hao Country, and killed him without hesitation. Perhaps in the future, not to mention princes, if he truly went to that lawless Northern Juzhou Continent, he might even kill an emperor.
Chen Ping'an came to the bow of the ferry, held the railing, and strolled slowly.
Zhengyang Mountain and Qingfeng City were both thriving now.
Especially the former. After Li Tuanjing, the strongest below the Upper Five Realm on Bottle Gourd Continent, had his body released, it had become increasingly dominant. Fenglei Garden, within the next hundred years, would inevitably be a long period of patient hibernation. If the new garden master, the sword cultivator Huang He, and Liu Baqiao could not quickly reach the Nascent Soul realm, then in the next few hundred years, they might be suppressed by Zhengyang Mountain until they couldn't breathe.
As for the Xu clan of Qingfeng City, they had previously sold off their mountain peaks in Longquan Commandery at a low price, clearly betting more on the Zhuying Dynasty and Guanhu Academy. Now that the situation was clear, they were hurriedly mending the fence. According to the young cultivator, at the end of last year, they had established a connection with the Yuan clan of the Pillar of State. There was a collateral marriage outside the main line, with the Xu clan's legitimate daughter marrying far away to a concubine-born son of the Yuan clan in the Great Li capital. The Xu clan of Qingfeng City also vigorously funded an iron cavalry unit controlled by Yuan clan children.
Look.
Whether friend or foe, everyone was busy.
On the path of the great way, everyone vied to be first.
Thinking of his own situation, Chen Ping'an laughed at himself.
Breaking through the bottleneck of the fifth realm of pure martial artist and entering the sixth realm was something Chen Ping'an could have easily done before entering Shujian Lake. At that time, he was close to home and wanted to show the old man surnamed Cui of Luoshan Mountain that after being forged by him as the strongest third realm back then, he had now, after punching over a million times, become the strongest fifth realm martial artist in the world. He thought that when the barefoot old man fed him fists afterward, he might be a little more restrained and suffer less. Chen Ping'an didn't care much about the gift of martial luck. Even if he encountered an opportunity like the cloud-sea dragon of Laolong City, he would still punch it back.
Unexpectedly, this delay dragged on for nearly three years.
As for replenishing his five elements lifebound objects and rebuilding his Longevity Bridge, let's not mention it. According to A Liang, it was like "I have a watermelon rind sword technique—wherever it slips, there the sword goes. Let fate take its course."
Chen Ping'an smiled knowingly.
He turned his head and saw the group of Qingfeng City cultivators coming to apologize. Chen Ping'an ignored them. After roughly determining that Chen Ping'an had no intention of pressing the matter further, they left dejectedly.
Then the ferry master also came to apologize, vowing to severely punish the troublemaking servant.
Chen Ping'an didn't pay much attention either, only saying that being taught a lesson was enough.
The ferry docked at Fuyin Cave in Qianhe Kingdom. In the past, Chen Ping'an would have just buried his head and continued his journey. But this time, he still visited the owner of Fuyin Cave. Perhaps because he had heard about the disturbance on the ferry, the old Dragon Gate realm cultivator, the venerable national teacher of Qianhe Kingdom, was very enthusiastic. Chen Ping'an shamelessly asked some rough inside information about shattered cave heavens and blessed lands. The old cultivator was not unfamiliar with this, after all, Fuyin Cave was somewhat famous. Although it was only about ten li in size, and its secret treasures and immortal relics had long been dug up by predecessors, the cave's spiritual energy was not very abundant. Later, by chance, the old cultivator took over this place as his cultivation site and established his lineage. Facing various visitors, he had a set of well-rehearsed polite phrases—what could be said in detail, and what should absolutely not be said. When the old cultivator heard that Chen Ping'an was from Great Li, he became even more enthusiastic and insisted on keeping Chen Ping'an for a few days. Chen Ping-an declined, and the old cultivator gave him a nine-grid treasure box as a parting gift, made from several Fuyin Cave specialty carvings into ingenious spirit artifacts, filling the nine compartments. In fact, the price was not high; in Qianhe Kingdom, the market price was around twenty-plus Snowflake Coins. To a secular dynasty, it was naturally a sky-high price, but in the eyes of mountain cultivators, it was not a rare treasure.
After accepting the small treasure box, Chen Ping'an gave Fuyin Cave in return a pot of Bee Tail Ferry Immortal Brew. When the old Dragon Gate realm cultivator heard it was the wine from Bee Tail Ferry, he was overjoyed and invited Chen Ping'an to come by Fuyin Cave next time he passed through Qianhe Kingdom, no matter what. He said he might not have wine as fine as Immortal Brew, but Qianhe Kingdom had its own unique scenery that could not be found elsewhere. He dared not say it would make cultivators linger, but if one only took a look, it would definitely not be a wasted trip. He, the laughable national teacher of Qianhe Kingdom, would be willing to accompany Chen Ping'an on a tour.
The old cultivator personally saw Chen Ping'an off to the border of Qianhe Kingdom before returning.
A young close disciple beside him was somewhat puzzled, wondering why his master had to go to such lengths. The old Dragon Gate realm cultivator sighed and said, "On the path of cultivation, if you can form good karmic connections, no matter how big or small, don't miss them."
The young disciple seemed to understand something. The old cultivator, afraid his disciple might go astray, had to remind him, "At your age, you should still diligently cultivate and study the Dao. Don't be too distracted by worldly affairs. Just know the pros and cons. One day, when you are as decayed and rotten as your master, unable to walk the mountain paths, you can do these things. As for your master, besides passing on the Dao to you, I also have to do these unpleasant but necessary things, so that the disciples in the sect will have a broader path in the future."
The old cultivator rubbed his disciple's head and sighed, "Last time you went down the mountain alone for training, those ridiculous actions with the children of Qianhe Kingdom's powerful families—I was actually watching from the sidelines the whole time. If it weren't that you were just putting on an act to build relationships, and you actually disliked it in your heart, I would have been disappointed in you. A cultivator should know what the real foundation of conduct is. Why bother with those worldly favors? What's the meaning? Remember, everything outside cultivation is illusory."
The young disciple was terrified inside.
The old cultivator smiled and said, "Just in time, this opportunity has allowed me to expose the confusion in your heart. Then the twenty Snowflake Coins I gave away won't be wasted."
The young disciple bowed and saluted, "The teacher's grace is heavy. Wanjun will surely remember it."
The owner of Fuyin Cave stroked his beard and smiled, walking with his promising disciple along the open ridge path.
Chen Ping'an, carrying his sword on his back and riding his horse, continued north from the northern border of Qianhe Kingdom.
Of course, he could not guess that his earlier visit to Fuyin Cave had allowed an old Dragon Gate realm cultivator to take the opportunity to awaken his heir disciple.
On a scorching hot day with slanting wind and drizzle, Chen Ping'an, one man and one horse, submitted his travel pass and smoothly passed the Great Li border pass.
This time returning to Longquan Commandery, he chose a new route, not taking the Red Candle Town and Qidun Mountain path.
Along the way, heavy rains came frequently, and the steamy heat was suffocating, making Chen Ping'an almost mistakenly think he was walking in the sweltering summer of Shujian Lake.
But great heat brings cool autumn.
The crickets chirped incessantly at night.
Once, at the foot of an ancient pine on a mountain peak, under the setting sun, he saw a bold scholar with a bare chest and belly, holding a feather fan, surrounded by beautiful maids with chattering voices. Further away stood two old men with long, deep breaths, clearly cultivators.
Chen Ping'an led his horse past, looking straight ahead.
After leaving the mountain peak, Chen Ping'an felt some sorrow. In previous years, Great Li scholars, even those who could enter the Cliff Academy, would still desperately try to go to Guanhu Academy, or to Great Sui, or to the Lu clan dynasty. In short, Great Li could not keep people. According to what Cui Dongshan said, at that time, in Great Li's literary circles, before scholars quarreled or picked up a pen, if they didn't mention several famous Confucians from other countries, flip through a few works by literary giants from other countries, or find a few relatives in other countries' literary circles, they would have no face to open their mouths or confidence to write.
He wondered what the situation was like now in Great Li's scholar forest.
In truth, Chen Ping'an wasn't interested.
Toward dusk, Chen Ping'an finally passed several relay stations east of Longquan Commandery and then entered the small town. The large wooden gate no longer existed; the town had been enclosed by a stone city wall. There was no gate guard or soldiers at the entrance; people could come and go freely. Chen Ping'an passed through and found that Zheng Dafeng's thatched hut still stood solitary by the roadside. Compared to the neatly planned shops nearby, it looked somewhat conspicuous. Probably because the price wasn't agreed upon, Zheng Dafeng refused to move. Ordinary town households naturally dared not act so boldly against the Longquan Commandery government in the north and the county office in the town, but what wouldn't Zheng Dafeng dare? He would insist on not missing a single copper coin.
Chen Ping'an was supposed to arrive at the town ten days later, but he had traveled a bit faster and arrived much earlier.
When he first entered the pass, he had sent a letter through the border relay station to Luoshan Mountain, informing them of his approximate return date.
Chen Ping'an did not go to his ancestral home on Mud Vase Alley first. He led his horse across a stone bridge and went to his parents' graves. He still took out cloth bags filled with soil from various places and added soil to the graves. The Qingming Festival had passed not long ago, and there were still some slightly faded red hanging papers on the graves, pressed down by flat stones. It seemed that Pei Qian, that girl, had not forgotten his instructions.
Along the way, he saw mostly unfamiliar faces. It was not strange. Most of the local townsfolk had already moved to the new Longquan Commandery city in the west, at the northern foot of the mountain. Almost everyone had moved into new, bright, and spacious mansions. Each household had a pair of large stone lions guarding the gate, or at the very least, expensive drum-shaped doorstones, no less impressive than the Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Alley of the past. Those who stayed behind in the town were mostly elderly who didn't want to move, still guarding the increasingly quiet alleyways. There were also many new neighbors who had bought houses but were rarely seen throughout the year. Even if they met, it was like a chicken talking to a duck—each couldn't understand the other's speech.
Thus, Chen Ping'an returned to the town and walked to Mud Vase Alley, which had hardly changed at all. Now, no one lived in this alley. The few remaining households had all moved to the new commandery city, selling their ancestral homes to outsiders and getting a huge sum of silver they could never have imagined. Even after buying large mansions in the commandery city, they still had enough for several generations of food and clothing. Gu Can's family's ancestral home had not been sold, but his mother had also settled in the commandery city, buying one of the largest mansions there, with deep courtyards, small bridges, flowing water, and magnificent wealth.
Chen Ping'an took a string of keys from his storage artifact and opened the courtyard gate. He let Quhuang stay in the small courtyard, loosening the reins and letting it be.
Chen Ping'an opened the door. It was still the same—small, with no large items added. He moved an old bench, sat by the table for a while, then stood up, walked out of the courtyard, and looked again at the door gods and spring couplets. He stepped back into the courtyard and looked at the character "Spring."
Dusk was heavy.
Chen Ping'an sat by the table and lit a lamp.
He thought he would sit for a while longer, then go to Luoshan Mountain and give them a surprise.
But he sat for a while, and then another while. He still didn't get up. He just wanted to sit a little longer.
All the joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, began here. No matter how many thousands of miles he walked, no matter how many years he traveled, in the end, he could only truly find peace here.
After his parents left, Liu Xianyang often lay on the bedboard here, talking nonsense about distant horizons. The little snot-nosed kid also often complained here about the unreasonable adults.
When parents are alive, do not travel far; if you must travel, have a destination. When parents are gone, you must travel even more with a destination.
At Red Candle Town, not far from Longquan Commandery, Pei Qian led the green-clad child and the pink-skirted girl, sitting on a high rooftop, gazing wistfully into the distance. The three were betting on who would see that figure first.
On Luoshan Mountain, the barefoot old man was resting with his eyes closed on the second floor.
Zhu Lian began again to admire the talisman inscriptions on the bamboo building.
The female ghost Shi Rou sat bored on a bamboo chair under the eaves. After arriving at Luoshan, she felt constrained everywhere, utterly uncomfortable.
On the summit of Piyun Mountain.
Wei Bo, the Northern Mountain God of Great Li, and that old dragon from Huangting Kingdom stood side by side, one with a relaxed smile, the other with a solemn expression.
Looking down at the distant town.
In a small alley, a glimmer of lamplight could be faintly seen.
Blazing with brilliant light.