Chapter 467: A Single Bird's Call Like Urging a Guest

Chapter 467: A Single Bird's Call Like Urging a Guest

Today, Zhu Lian's courtyard was unusually lively. Wei Po hadn't left Luopo Mountain and had instead come over to play chess with Zhu Lian.

On the table were two exquisite chess containers, items Chen Ping'an had picked up during his travels—imperial court-made objects. The price wasn't exactly a steal, but they were pleasing to the eye. After returning to Luopo Mountain, he'd given them to Zhu Lian. Wei Po, being skilled at this game, often came looking for Zhu Lian to play. Back then, Zhu Lian used to enjoy watching Sui Youbian and Lu Baixiang play, pretending to be a half-baked player, but in reality his skill was quite considerable. As for why he bothered to hide his ability, at the root of it all, Zhu Lian had never truly regarded Sui and Lu as kindred spirits.

Zheng Dafeng, though he'd severely damaged the foundation of his physical body back at Old Dragon City and his path of martial arts was already severed, still retained his keen eyesight and intuition. Guessing that most of the commotion was caused by that fellow Chen Ping'an, he scurried up from the foot of the mountain.

The azure-clad boy and the pink-skirted girl watched from the sidelines, with the former offering terrible advice to the old cook. Zhu Lian, completely lacking any competitive spirit, placed his stones wherever the azure-clad boy directed. Naturally, the game shifted from balance to disadvantage, and from disadvantage to defeat. This frustrated the pink-skirted girl, who adhered to the principle of a true gentleman observing chess in silence. She forbade the azure-clad boy from spouting nonsense. As the incarnation of the literary fortune fire serpent from the Caoshi family's library of Zhilan, she'd had nothing to do for centuries after gaining spiritual wisdom except read books to pass the time. She wouldn't presume to call herself a chess attendant or national master, but she could at least discern the general trend of the game clearly.

During a break in her fist-practice stance-walking, Cen Yuanji also came over to join the fun. She had a very good impression of Mr. Wei, who exuded the bearing of a divine being. There was no help for it—Mr. Wei was simply too handsome. This closeness from Cen Yuanji wasn't romantic affection; she simply felt that even one more glance at him was a gain for her. She treated it like admiring a beautiful landscape—easy on the eyes!

This young lady probably didn't know that on this Luopo Mountain, aside from the young mountain lord who was rather strange and frightening, her most trusted "Old Immortal" Zhu wasn't some mere sixth-tier pinnacle martial artist, but a genuine far-traveling realm martial artist. And that hunchbacked fellow even more stooped than Old Immortal Zhu, the so-called Brother Dafeng, had once been a mountain-peak realm martial artist. As for the barefoot old man in the bamboo tower, he was the legendary stop-realm martial artist. Eight, nine, ten—they had them all.

With the azure-clad boy's unhelpful interference, Zhu Lian predictably lost the game. The pink-skirted girl complained endlessly, while the azure-clad boy glanced at the miserable board that had been completely decimated and clicked his tongue. "Old Cook Zhu, lost by one move, but a glorious defeat despite losing."

Zhu Lian nodded, raised his arm, and said, "Indeed it is. Next time, let's you and me join forces again, brother. With united hearts, we can cut through metal."

The azure-clad boy beamed with delight. After Zhu Lian raised his arm, he quickly began massaging it. "Old cook, you might not know this, but my hands carry immortal energy! Right, Wei Po?"

Thinking back to that day, he'd slapped Patriarch Lu Chen's shoulders twice. If word of that ever reached the White Jade Capital, no matter if you were an immortal or a celestial lord, who wouldn't give him a thumbs up and call him a hero?!

Wei Po smiled faintly. "Itchy skin again?"

The azure-clad boy rolled his eyes.

He made no effort to hide his resentment toward Wei Po, the unrighteous Great Li Northern Mountain True God. Back then, to help his brother, the Yujiang River God of the Huangting Kingdom, he'd tried to beg the Great Li court for a piece of the "Peace and No Trouble" token. He'd hit walls everywhere, and Wei Po had given him the coldest reception of all. So whenever there was a chess game, the azure-clad boy would stand on Zhu Lian's side, waving flags and shouting support, or else he'd fawn over Zhu Lian, massaging his shoulders and rubbing his hands, demanding that Zhu Lian bring out his full power, hoping to see Wei Po utterly defeated, throwing down his weapons and begging for mercy, never wanting to touch a chess piece again for the rest of his life.

In short, with him around, Zhu Lian and Wei Po's games had nothing to do with leisure and elegance.

Zhu Lian suddenly said, "You two have really decided?"

The azure-clad boy raised his nose to the sky and snorted coldly. "If we don't hurry up, we'll fall victim to Chen Ping'an's evil hands!"

The pink-skirted girl gently nodded.

It turned out they now had their own names. Not birth names, but names that, as Chen Ping'an put it, might someday need to be placed on the ancestral hall's genealogical records.

The azure-clad boy had named himself Chen Lingjun, and the pink-skirted girl, Chen Ruchu.

Zheng Dafeng teased, "Chen Lingjun? What kind of nonsense is that?! I think I'll just call you Little Qingqing—it rolls off the tongue."

The azure-clad boy wasn't polite with Zheng Dafeng either. "Brother Dafeng, you don't know a damn thing."

Zheng Dafeng chuckled. "I know you."

The azure-clad boy fumed, "Stop yapping! If you've got the skills, let's settle it on the chessboard!"

Wei Po scoffed. "Courting humiliation."

Zheng Dafeng looked eager to try, rubbing his hands together. "Small bets for fun—let's add a little wager? But with your skill, letting me have the first move isn't enough. You'll have to let me have some stones. Let me have two stones, otherwise I won't bet with you."

The azure-clad boy was skeptical and furrowed his brow. "Let you have two stones? Isn't that looking down on you, Brother Dafeng? How about just one stone?"

Wei Po burst out laughing.

Zhu Lian slapped his forehead. Zheng Dafeng had dug such an obvious trap, and he was still jumping right in.

Zheng Dafeng held back his laughter, not wanting to bully this naive little fellow. He waved his hand. "Forget it. We'll talk another time."

Zheng Dafeng's chess skill was simple to gauge: whenever Zhu Lian and Wei Po played, whomever Zheng Dafeng helped would win.

It couldn't be said that Zheng Dafeng was a man of great wisdom appearing foolish, but if there was a list of the smartest people in the old Pearl Bead Cave Heaven back in the day, Zheng Dafeng would certainly have a place on it.

The azure-clad boy glanced at the pink-skirted girl, who gave a slight shake of her head.

Only then did he suddenly realize—damn, this Zheng Dafeng fellow was pretty sneaky too. He'd almost ruined his own spotless reputation.

Cen Yuanji silently departed to continue her fist practice.

During the day, she would pick a spot of green mountains and clear waters on Luopo Mountain, practicing her six-step stance-walking alone.

At night, she would stay in the courtyard, at least close to Old Immortal Zhu's residence, so she wouldn't have to worry about being harassed with no one to turn to.

The azure-clad boy glanced at the sky and decided to go to the town's shop to mess around with Pei Qian. The pink-skirted girl followed suit, bowing to Zhu Lian and the others as she bid farewell, telling the azure-clad boy to wait for her—she didn't have enough melon seeds in her pockets.

After Cen Yuanji and the two little ones had left, Zheng Dafeng said, "Once he breaks through, he'll be heading down the mountain again. Youth is great—no matter how busy, you never feel tired."

Zhu Lian smiled. "Brother Dafeng is still young too, and handsome. The only thing missing is a wife."

Zheng Dafeng made a pressing-down motion with his hand. "Brother Zhu, this kind of plain truth—don't keep bringing it up. It'll earn me too much resentment."

"I think that Chen Ping'an is so eager to travel far because you two are half the reason."

Wei Po stood up with a smile. "I need to get busy with that Night Procession Banquet. In another ten days, it'll be all hustle and bustle. Troublesome."

The small courtyard returned to silence.

Zhu Lian began clearing the chessboard. Zheng Dafeng sat in the spot Wei Po had vacated and helped put the pieces back into the containers.

Zhu Lian said, "Take a guess—after our young master breaks through, will he come looking for a chat with you? And if he does, how will he bring it up?"

Zheng Dafeng replied, "He'll probably come down to the foot of the mountain to find me, wanting to ease my mind, so I won't feel awkward. But I doubt he'll talk much. Probably just drink with me. Actually, I kind of hope he doesn't come looking for me at all. Look at how few people are on Luopo Mountain right now, and he's already working himself to the bone. If there were more people, if he had a real sect with a mountain headquarters, would he be able to handle it all? Would he have any time left for cultivation? Brother Zhu, you're the best at persuading people. Find a chance to have a heart-to-heart with Chen Ping'an."

Zhu Lian was tidying up the pieces and said with melancholy, "Difficult."

Zheng Dafeng suddenly said, for no apparent reason, "When Wei Po plays chess, his sense of proportion is good. Sparse and dense, just right."

Zhu Lian hummed in acknowledgment and didn't say more.

Zheng Dafeng said with malicious glee, "With Chen Ping'an breaking through like this, my prideful junior sister back at the medicine shop is probably going to suffer again."

Zhu Lian smiled with a hint of regret. "Cen Yuanji isn't much better off either."

Zheng Dafeng whispered slyly, "If Chen Ping'an really said that back at Piyun Mountain, then that long-browed girl from the Xie family is the most miserable one."

Zhu Lian nodded. "Back in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, in any slightly larger Jianghu sect, how many men haven't had their hearts broken by their junior or senior sisters in their youth? It seems the Haoran Heaven isn't much different either."

Zheng Dafeng, for some reason, thought of the Dust Medicine Shop in Old Dragon City, where time passed slowly, and he could flip through books and bask in the sun.

Hugging the back of his head with both hands, Zheng Dafeng remembered a certain innocent and carefree young girl. It was like drinking a huge jar of medicinal wine—bitter as could be, yet he couldn't help but drink.

But as his thoughts wandered, when he incidentally recalled that woman who often wandered in his line of sight, Zheng Dafeng shuddered, swallowed his saliva, clasped his hands together as if apologizing to someone, and murmured, "Miss, you're a good girl, but I, Zheng Dafeng, truly am not worthy of your affection."

Zhu Lian looked toward the bamboo tower.

Zheng Dafeng asked, "Want to make a bet? Will Chen Ping'an come out sideways or upright?"

Zhu Lian smiled slightly. "Our young master's martial arts are unmatched, heroic and wise... naturally, he'll leave the room sideways."

Zheng Dafeng sighed helplessly. "Then what's the point of betting?"

— —

But in the end, contrary to Zhu Lian and Zheng Dafeng's expectations, Chen Ping'an walked out of the bamboo tower safe and sound.

Then Chen Ping'an sat at the stone table by the cliff for the entire night. Only at dawn did he return to the first floor to sleep soundly.

For the next two days, Zhu Lian continued to enjoy himself on the second floor. Chen Ping'an did go looking for Zheng Dafeng, but didn't find him. After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ping'an returned up the mountain.

Then, at the Sword Pavilion of the Niujiao Mountain ferry port, flying sword messages addressed to Chen Ping'an began arriving one after another.

The first was a reply from Liu Zhimao of Green Gorge Island. It said that Red Fragrance of Spring Court Manor was no longer serving as a female official there and had gone back to being a gatekeeper at the Vermilion String Manor. Old Liu said he'd just let things take their natural course; Green Gorge Island would only guarantee her safety from disaster and misfortune for the rest of her life. Furthermore, Perpendicular Wave Manor had begun rebuilding, but Zhang Ye had lost his mind. He'd left Green Gorge Island, only asking for a lowest-grade guest elder jade token, a set of immortal techniques, and a magical treasure. Then he'd gone to that obscure little sect, Sparrowfall Mountain, changed his name, and become a guest elder there. Finally, Liu Zhimao gave Chen Ping'an two options: originally, he'd promised a generous gift after Chen Ping'an safely weathered the crisis. So Chen Ping'an could either wait for him to come pay a visit to Dragon Spring Commandery with gifts, or simply settle the two outstanding debts he owed the Green Gorge Island secret treasury.

Chen Ping'an replied by flying sword, concise and to the point—just three words: "Even, settled."

As for the fate of Su Lin Island's Tian Hujun and his group, Chen Ping'an didn't ask.

The second letter came from Liu Zhongrun of Pearl Hairpin Island, informing Chen Ping'an of a secret matter. That golden core earth immortal old nanny's golden core had long been decaying. She'd only been holding on by a single breath, her heartstrings stretched taut for too long. After the situation in the Letter Bamboo Lake was settled and Pearl Hairpin Island not only escaped disaster but gained a great deal, those heartstrings suddenly slackened. After great worry and great joy, she'd completely burned out and passed away at the beginning of autumn this year. In her letter, Liu Zhongrun frankly said that the old nanny had advised her not to haggle over the money for the secret elixirs from the Water Hall. So she hoped to make another deal with Chen Ping'an. Pearl Hairpin Island wanted to learn from the lofty Green Gui Sect and relocate some of its disciple cultivators to Dragon Spring Commandery in Great Li, the northernmost part of the continent, far from conflict, peacefully cultivating the Dao. So whether Chen Ping'an would rent out a piece of blessed land or sell it to Pearl Hairpin Island, he should name his price. Even if she had to sell everything she owned, she would agree. Not a single copper coin less would she owe him, Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an replied, also straightforward. He said he wouldn't sell any mountain peaks, but could rent one out. However, even if she set off immediately upon receiving the letter and rushed to Great Li, he would probably have already left Dragon Spring Commandery by then. She needed only to find a man named Zhu Lian on Luopo Mountain to discuss the matter.

Gu Can also sent a letter.

He roughly described the current cultivation progress of Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi, as well as the amount of immortal money needed for the first Grand Zhou Altar Sacrifice, each segment's requirements spelled out clearly.

Chen Ping'an replied, saying he would have someone deliver the first batch of immortal money to Letter Bamboo Lake. The three of them should focus on their travels. Then he couldn't help but add a few more reminders about trivial matters. After finishing the letter, Chen Ping'an himself felt he'd been rather long-winded, very much in keeping with his style back when he was an accountant on Green Gorge Island.

Before going to Niujiao Mountain to send the letter, Chen Ping'an glanced at the bamboo box in the corner, which still held a charcoal brazier he'd brought back from Letter Bamboo Lake.

Then came a letter from Guan Yiran, a scion of the Guan clan, one of Great Li's most elite noble families. In the letter, he joked that when that "Half City Dong" of Dragon Spring Commandery came to Pond Water City, besides bringing Dong Shuijing's exclusive brew—a rice wine that sold far and wide even to the Great Li capital—he'd better bring a jug of good wine from Chen Ping'an as well, or else he wouldn't open his gates to welcome him.

After receiving this letter, Chen Ping'an went to Wind Cool Mountain, found Dong Shuijing, ate a big bowl of wontons, and discussed the matter. Whether pleasant or unpleasant to hear, he laid everything out to Dong Shuijing as he'd rehearsed. Dong Shuijing listened attentively, missing nothing. At points he considered crucial, he would verify them repeatedly with Chen Ping'an. This made Chen Ping'an more reassured, and he considered whether he should also give word to Old Dragon City. The Fan family and the Sun family could both be mentioned. Whether it would work out or not still depended on Dong Shuijing's own ability. After some deliberation, he decided to wait until Dong Shuijing had met with Guan Yiran before saying more. Bad news couldn't come too early; good news couldn't come too late.

After leaving Wind Cool Mountain, Chen Ping'an returned to Luopo Mountain. By chance, he saw Cen Yuanji from afar, walking her stance along the mountain path.

Chen Ping'an didn't greet her, afraid that raising his hand or speaking would cause the girl to overthink things once again.

Unexpectedly, Cen Yuanji—who appeared to look straight ahead but was actually watching the young mountain lord from the corner of her eye—breathed a sigh of relief when Chen Ping'an deliberately took the other side of the path while climbing the mountain. But in doing so, the faint, barely visible fist intent she'd been cultivating was broken.

Chen Ping'an couldn't help but stop, turned to her, and said softly, "Miss Cen, when practicing the fist and nurturing intent, the most taboo thing is breaking that thread of pure, externally manifest true qi..."

Cen Yuanji extended one hand behind her back, as if trying to conceal her graceful figure. Feeling that this gesture's intention was too obvious, and afraid of angering the young mountain lord whose gaze seemed uncontrollable, she slowly turned sideways, pursed her lips tightly, and neither spoke nor looked at him.

Chen Ping'an had no choice but to silently turn and continue up the mountain.

Outside the bamboo tower, he could hear the sounds from within. Zhu Lian seemed to be unleashing his fists with all his might, using his far-traveling realm to arduously contend with Cui Cheng's golden body realm.

Occasionally, the bamboo tower would shake with a rumble.

Chen Ping'an sat at the stone table, feeling like he wanted to crack open some melon seeds.

At dusk, Pei Qian and the two little ones—now formally named Chen Lingjun and Chen Ruchu—returned to Luopo Mountain.

Shi Rou said she'd stay behind to mind the shop and didn't come back.

The pink-skirted girl sat by the table, head lowered, a little guilty.

The azure-clad boy sat casually across from Chen Ping'an and asked with a grin, "Master, what do you think of my new name? Pretty awesome, huh? Domineering enough?"

Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "Very good."

Then he turned to the pink-skirted girl. "Yours is good too."

The pink-skirted girl finally lifted her head and gave a shy smile.

The reason she'd chosen this name was because she hoped her relationship with the master would always be this good—lasting long, just like when they first met.

Pei Qian, however, wasn't too pleased with the two of them taking the initiative. She complained, "Master, a family has family rules, a mountain has mountain laws. I think they just need a good scolding. Forget Chen Ruchu—I won't say anything about her; she's silly, so it's forgivable. But this Chen Lingjun—Master, you have no idea. When he got to the New Year Shop in town, he wanted to carve his name on every table and stool!"

The azure-clad boy crossed his arms. "A name this brilliant—if you hadn't stopped me, I would've filled the entire shop with it. I guarantee business would've boomed and money would've poured in!"

Chen Ping'an said with a mix of anger and amusement, "Just stop causing me trouble."

The azure-clad boy suddenly seemed a little listless.

Chen Ping'an thought for a moment. "Is it because some of the mountain and river gods from the Huangting Kingdom will also be attending this Night Procession Banquet?"

The azure-clad boy hummed in acknowledgment, spread his arms, and slumped onto the table.

The pink-skirted girl seemed to want to say something but held back, eventually joining Pei Qian in cracking melon seeds.

Chen Ping'an said, "I'll talk to Wei Po later. Let him take you to Piyun Mountain to stay by his side and attend the banquet together."

The azure-clad boy lifted his head, looking confused. "Why would you waste a favor like that on me? Even if I acted like a hero, it's not real. As soon as someone asks me for help, I'll be exposed immediately."

Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "The master has his own clever plan. You'll get to show off without any worries. All you have to do is drink."

The azure-clad boy wasn't convinced. "You're not lying to me?"

Chen Ping'an reached out and grabbed a handful of melon seeds. "Suit yourself if you don't believe me."

The azure-clad boy bounced up, circled behind Chen Ping'an, and said with a mischievous grin, "Master, are your shoulders sore?"

Chen Ping'an said, "My shoulders aren't sore, but my head hurts."

The azure-clad boy withdrew his hands sullenly. For once, he looked a bit embarrassed. He made up some excuse and went off to romp with that black snake, claiming he was going to patrol the various new mountain peaks on behalf of the master.

Pei Qian turned to look at the azure-clad boy's retreating figure and sighed. "A child who never grows up."

The pink-skirted girl's lips had just started to curl up when Pei Qian shot her a glare, scaring her into tightening her little face.

Chen Ping'an chuckled. "How come you both have the surname Chen? Whose idea was that?"

The pink-skirted girl pointed in the direction the azure-clad boy had gone. "His."

Chen Ping'an was a little surprised.

The pink-skirted girl asked with a smile, "Master, what names were you originally going to give us? Can you tell us?"

Pei Qian cut in, "You would've been called Little Muddy Fool, and he would've been Big Idiot! Just like that!"

Chen Ping'an flicked a melon seed, hitting Pei Qian right on the forehead.

While Pei Qian rubbed her forehead, Chen Ping'an squinted, smiling slowly. "Originally, I was going to name him 'Jingqing'—clear as in clarity, homophonous with the green of verdant. He likes to wear green clothes, and he's close to water. Water is precious for its clarity. So I picked a line of poetry: 'After the sudden rain clears, the air is fresh and cool.' I thought the line had good omens and a bit of literary grace. As for you, I was going to name you 'Nuanshu,' from the line: 'Warm rhythms subtly urge, the secluded valley warms and harmonizes, orioles flutter gracefully, newly perching on fragrant trees.' I thought the imagery was extremely beautiful. Two people, two lines—each taking the first and last character, beginning and ending well."

The pink-skirted girl looked on the verge of tears.

It seemed she thought the master's names were better.

Chen Ping'an quickly comforted her. "The names you have now are even better."

The pink-skirted girl stood up without a word, bowed to Chen Ping'an, and then left. She was definitely going to sneak off to her room to cry.

Chen Ping'an raised his hand to call her back, but failed to stop this sweet, naive girl.

Chen Ping'an glared at Pei Qian, who was heartily cracking melon seeds without a care in the world. "Aren't you going to follow her?!"

Pei Qian said "Oh" and chased after the pink-skirted girl, who wished her name were Chen Nuanshu.

Chen Ping'an sighed.

What a mess this was. If he'd known, he wouldn't have shown off the meager ink he had in his belly.

Chen Ping'an clapped his hands, stood up, and prepared to go to Piyun Mountain to discuss the azure-clad boy's matter with Wei Po. When asking for a favor, one should at least show some sincerity. He also wanted to take a good stroll through the Linlu Academy, hoping to "coincidentally" run into Gao Xuan.

But a breeze brushed his face.

A figure in white was already standing beside Chen Ping'an.

This uninvited guest plopped down on the stone bench and started cracking melon seeds.

Was this what they meant by birds of a feather flock together?

Chen Ping'an joked, "With something like that to refine and a Night Procession Banquet to prepare for, and you still come running over to my place every day—are you really treating Luopo Mountain like your home?"

Wei Po waved his hand. "Doesn't interfere. I'm different from you. You can't stand being idle when there's work to do; I can't stand being busy when there's a chance to laze around."

Before Chen Ping'an could speak, Wei Po said, "Leave Chen Lingjun's matter to me."

Chen Ping'an said, "Thanks."

Wei Po wore an amused smile.

Chen Ping'an laughed. "Just being polite with you."

Wei Po asked, "When are you leaving?"

Chen Ping'an said with some regret, "I really can't delay any longer. I'll have to miss this Night Procession Banquet."

Wei Po said calmly, "No matter. I can wait ten years and hold another one."

Chen Ping'an extended one hand. "Don't! I can't bear that infamy. Not only would the Great Li court make a huge fuss over such a banquet, but those mountain and river gods and various spirits would have to dig into their own pockets to prepare gifts. If even a little of that got out, I wouldn't be able to stay in Dragon Spring Commandery anymore."

Wei Po shook his head. "It doesn't have much to do with you."

Chen Ping'an looked at Wei Po.

Wei Po nodded slightly.

Chen Ping'an didn't press further.

Because this meant that the piece of the broken golden body—the glazed shard—could be successfully refined by Wei Po within ten years.

With this opportunity, Wei Po could hope to break into the upper fifth realm. Just the word "hope" would be enough to solidly outshine those five Great Li Mountain True Gods. Then everything would be even more legitimate, and no one in the Great Li court, among the people, or on the mountains would have any objections.

A mountain true god governing the land and waters of a domain was akin to a sage sitting in a small world, naturally elevating their realm by one level.

If Wei Po truly broke through his bottleneck and entered the Jade Pu realm, the significance would be immense, and the far-reaching impact incalculable!

Chen Ping'an figured that besides that once-in-a-thousand-years glazed golden body shard, Wei Po being able to resolve some knot in his heart, or perhaps having some new expectation, was also crucial.

Wei Po stood up. "Chen Ping'an, thanks."

Before Chen Ping'an could respond, Wei Po added with a sly smile, "Just being polite with you."

And then he vanished in a flash.

Chen Ping'an looked up at the sky. Unbeknownst to him, the moon was bright and the stars sparse.

At leisure, he loved to shrink mountains and rivers; by night, he brought the stars and moon along.

Such was Wei Po's immortal and carefree bearing.

Truly enviable.

— —

In the following days, as if by some arrangement, a succession of visitors came to Luopo Mountain.

They were cultivators from nearby mountain forces, either training at their immortal residences or staying here to better connect with the Great Li Song clan. Most were golden core earth immortals, and at worst, dragon gate realm cultivators.

Chen Ping'an's current social skills couldn't be called perfectly flawless, but at least he could manage not to make any major blunders.

But then came two groups of visitors that Chen Ping'an had never expected. Acquaintances, one could even say friends.

They came from north and south respectively.

From the Great Li capital came a trio—a master and two disciples.

They found the New Year Shop, and Shi Rou happened to be there. Both sides were wary and tested each other for a while. Eventually, Shi Rou returned to Luopo Mountain and reported the news to Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an immediately took Shi Rou down the mountain and headed for the town, with Pei Qian trailing behind him like a shadow.

When they reached the shop in Qilong Lane, the master and his disciples almost didn't recognize Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an, however, didn't find them strange at all. That blind old Daoist was still the same as ever, carrying a peachwood sword he'd carved himself on his back, a string of silver bells hanging at his waist. His Daoist robe was old and worn, and he wore straw sandals. In such a state, it was naturally hard for business to come knocking.

The old Daoist's Daoist name was Xuanguzi. He knew some Daoist thunder magic and traveled everywhere with two "found" disciples. Back then, he hadn't gotten the slightest advantage against that bridal-ghost and had nearly died. He'd shared hardships with Chen Ping'an and the others. When they parted, the blind Daoist gifted Chen Ping'an a scroll of "Mountain Search," and Chen Ping'an gave the lame boy carrying a banner a piece of snake gallstone.

The round-faced girl nicknamed Jiu'er—her blood could serve as an extremely rare "fountain of talismans" for talisman schools, so her complexion was perpetually pale.

Now, the "little lame boy" had grown as tall as a young man, and Jiu'er had grown much taller too, her round face slimming down, her complexion ruddy. She was now a slender young woman.

Li Baoping, back at the Cliff Academy, had once asked Chen Ping'an about Jiu'er, saying she missed her very much. Those two girls in red cotton jackets had gotten along well back then.

The little lame boy and Jiu'er hadn't dared to recognize Chen Ping'an.

Partly because nearly seven years had passed since they'd last met—Chen Ping'an had gone from a straw-sandaled youth wielding a machete to this young man in green robes carrying a sword. And partly because, although he'd recuperated well on Luopo Mountain, he was still somewhat gaunt. At least his sunken cheeks weren't as frightening as they'd been at Letter Bamboo Lake, or else the old Daoist's two disciples would have been even more hesitant to recognize him.

Finally, they confirmed Chen Ping'an's identity.

The blind Daoist was overjoyed. Chen Ping'an smiled and asked if they'd eaten. Learning they hadn't, he dragged them to the most prosperous restaurant in town.

At the table, the old Daoist sipped his wine, stroked his beard, and laughed. "Master Chen, why isn't Miss Ruan at the shop anymore?"

Back when they parted, Chen Ping'an had told them they could look for him at Qilong Lane or ask for Ruan Xiu if they ever came to town. But the old Daoist hadn't wanted to settle down in town then. He'd declined and left, hoping to make a name for himself in the Great Li capital and seek great fortune. Unfortunately, in the capital, a place teeming with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, his trio's meager skills—compounded by the old Daoist's unwillingness to reveal Jiu'er's background—had gotten them nowhere. After all these years, they'd only managed to earn a few thousand taels of silver. That was a lot for an ordinary family in the marketplace, but for cultivators, what were a few Snowflake coins worth? It was utterly disheartening. During this time, the old Daoist had heard bits and pieces about Dragon Spring Commandery—not through the celestial newspapers at immortal inns (they couldn't afford to stay or buy them), but through scattered rumors and free gossip.

The old Daoist had pieced together a truth that left the trio staring at each other in amazement: that Ruan Xiu, who used to attend the shop, was most likely the only daughter of the sage Ruan Qiong! At first, the old Daoist felt he had no face to return to town, nor did he dare—after all, the little lame boy had a murky past. So they'd wasted a few more years in the capital. Now they truly couldn't stay any longer, so they'd decided to return to Dragon Spring Commandery to try their luck. Unexpectedly, luck was with them, and they'd run into the very person they sought—Chen Ping'an.

But human hearts are like water. Theirs had been a chance encounter, a relationship that could go either way. The blind Daoist couldn't be sure if he could stay in this town, which was now a far cry from what it had been. And even if they did stay, would a bright future truly await them? After all, so many years had passed—who knew what Chen Ping'an's temperament had become? So, though the old Daoist seemed to be drinking cheerfully and recounting their past misfortunes as if they were amusing anecdotes, inside his heart was pounding. He kept silently reciting: Chen Ping'an, hurry up and take the initiative to invite us to stay. Even a polite opening would do, and I'll climb right up that ladder. Surely a young man who can associate with the sage's only daughter wouldn't begrudge a few immortal coins—he wouldn't dare let Miss Ruan, whom we both once looked up to, think less of him!

But from beginning to end, they reminisced and drank, yet Chen Ping'an never brought it up. He never asked the old Daoist and his disciples if they wanted to stay in Dragon Spring Commandery.

Pei Qian sat on the same long bench as Chen Ping'an, barely speaking.

When Chen Ping'an introduced her, he said she was his disciple Pei Qian. Pei Qian almost blurted out that the master had forgotten to add "first and foremost" before "disciple."

Shi Rou hadn't come to the restaurant with them.

Due to Chen Ping'an's lack of social grace, and the blind old Daoist's desire to save face, they finished eating and drinking and then simply said their goodbyes.

They stood on the street outside the restaurant. Only then did Chen Ping'an say, "I'm currently living on Luopo Mountain—a mountain peak of my own. Next time you pass through Dragon Spring Commandery, Elder Daoist, feel free to visit the mountain. I might not be there, but if you give my Daoist name, someone will surely receive you. Oh, and Miss Ruan is now stationed at Shenxiu Mountain, since the founder's hall and main mountain of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect are there. I just returned from my travels not long ago, but when I chatted with Miss Ruan, she mentioned that she hadn't forgotten you, old Daoist. So feel free to go there for a visit and a chat sometime."

The blind Daoist beamed and said he absolutely would.

Chen Ping'an smiled at the little lame boy and Jiu'er, for whom he'd always had a good impression. "Take care on the road. I hope our next reunion won't be so long in coming."

The little lame boy, shouldering his large banner, nodded.

Jiu'er smiled and nodded.

Pei Qian cupped her fists and said in a world-weary tone, "The green mountains never change, the clear waters ever flow—until we meet again!"

And with that, they parted ways. The old Daoist led his two disciples out of town, heading slowly toward Red Candle Town.

Chen Ping'an stood where he was.

Pei Qian asked softly, "Master?"

Chen Ping'an ruffled her head. "Master certainly wants them to stay, but making a living isn't easy. Things that fall from the sky like pies are rarely appreciated. If they can't even swallow their pride a little, it means they don't truly need to settle in Dragon Spring Commandery to make a living. And once they stay, it becomes a long-term arrangement. When you live together day in and day out, the beginning is the most crucial—you can't afford to muddle through it. It's better for both sides to have clear expectations from the start. Otherwise, in the end, I might think I'm doing them a favor, but they might not see it that way. Then each side has their own grievances. How could you then manage a gentleman's parting without a harsh word?"

Chen Ping'an sighed. "Of course, it's possible that Master is wrong. So I'll have Wei Po keep an eye on them. If they have some unspoken difficulty, or can't bring themselves to speak up, or if they truly hit a dead end and have nowhere to turn but don't want to burden me, then when that time comes, I'll send you to bring them back."

Pei Qian nodded. Whether she understood or not didn't matter—the master was always right. But she still had a doubt. "Master deliberately talked to them about Sister Xiuxiu. Why?"

Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "Master still hopes they'll stay, after all."

Pei Qian was utterly bewildered. She racked her brain over this troublesome matter but still couldn't figure out the twists and turns. Finally, she sighed in dismay. Forget it. Today's almanac said it wasn't a good day to use her brain.

Pei Qian suddenly lowered her voice. "That old Daoist's eyes—they were blinded by a tiny bit of lightning running wild inside his stomach."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Thunder magic is hailed as the foremost of all magical arts. But on our Treasure Bottle Continent, aside from the Divine Announcement Sect and a few great immortal families, the so-called 'Five Thunders Orthodox Magic' is nothing but fragmented remnants of heretical paths. Cultivating it invites backlash. Over time, the practitioner's vitality withers, their great Dao collapses, or they take a dangerous path, using some vital acupoint as a place to deflect calamity—like losing their eyesight, or rotting intestines, or corroding some lifebound treasure. Most who cultivate these heretical thunder arts come to a bad end."

Pei Qian clicked her tongue in amazement.

Chen Ping'an said, "The path of cultivation isn't all about enjoying blessings."

Pei Qian nodded vigorously. "That's why I don't cultivate—I only practice martial arts!"

Chen Ping'an tugged her ear.

Pei Qian wailed, "Master, I'll definitely practice my stance-walking more diligently! I'll endure more hardship!"

Chen Ping'an then took Pei Qian to the old schoolhouse.

Chen Ping'an stood outside the window. Pei Qian stood on tiptoe and "rested" her head on the windowsill, peering inside.

Chen Ping'an asked, "What have you decided? Do you want to go to the school run by the Dragon Tail Creek Chen clan?"

Pei Qian didn't move. She said sullenly, "If Master wants me to go, I'll go. It's not like anyone is going to gang up on me or call me a lump of charcoal or make fun of me for being short..."

Chen Ping'an laughed despite himself. His tone gentled. "If you really don't want to go, you can study on the mountain with Zhu Lian from now on. Or with Zheng Dafeng—he's actually very learned. But I suggest you try going to the school for a while, no matter how you feel about it now. Maybe you'll get so into it that they won't be able to drag you away. And if you still don't like it, you can always come back to Luopo Mountain."

Pei Qian asked, "Can I practice 'Sword-Grinding' at the school?"

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "No. If you're studying, you have to act like a student."

There was no room for negotiation on this matter.

As her master, no matter how much he doted on Pei Qian, there had to be rules that couldn't be broken. A child may be innocent and playful, and the elders might adore that, but they couldn't truly let the child run wild during the years when discipline was most needed.

Pei Qian said nothing.

Chen Ping'an said, "There's no rush. Just make up your mind before Master goes down the mountain."

Pei Qian still didn't move. "If I go to school, can Master not leave?"

Chen Ping'an reached out and placed his hand on Pei Qian's head, gazing into the old schoolhouse, silent.

A child's small sorrows are often like wind and mist.

By the time Chen Ping'an bought Pei Qian a stick of candied hawthorns and they walked back to Luopo Mountain together, Pei Qian was already laughing and chattering, asking all sorts of questions.

The blind Daoist was in high spirits. Privately, he told the little lame boy and Jiu'er that they only needed to wander outside for another year or so, and then they could return to Dragon Spring Commandery and make their mark.

Not long after the trio left Dragon Spring Commandery, a pair of traveling men and women arrived at Luopo Mountain.

They'd been traveling on foot through famous mountains and great rivers, or riding celestial ferry boats, for five or six years. They'd finally made it from the Blue Luan Kingdom in the southeastern part of Treasure Bottle Continent to the Great Li Dynasty in the far north.

From Blue Luan Kingdom's Lion Garden came the scholar Liu Qingshan.

From the Precipice-Hanging Mountain's Master Sword Room came the female Daoist Liu Boqi.

She carried a dharma blade called "Jing God," which ranked seventeenth in the Precipice-Hanging Mountain's Master Sword Room. Her lifebound treasure was also a blade, named "Jia Zuo."

Chen Ping'an and Liu Boqi had become acquainted through a fight, though the relationship wasn't close—they weren't friends.

Meeting Liu Qingshan, however, was a delight; they chatted happily.

Compared to Liu Boqi's domineering behavior back at Lion Garden, on Luopo Mountain she was much more restrained.

First, Chen Ping'an seemed increasingly strange. Second, that hunchbacked old servant named Zhu Lian was even more difficult to deal with. Third and most importantly, that bamboo tower was not only filled with immortal energy and extraordinarily impressive, but there was an astonishing presence on the second floor.

Liu Boqi had this one virtue: she didn't mince words. If she had the upper hand, she wouldn't be polite. But if fortunes reversed, she harbored no resentment either—she accepted it.

Chen Ping'an led the two on a tour of Luopo Mountain and took them to the temple at the summit.

Liu Qingshan said that besides coming to see Chen Ping'an, they also wanted to get a good spot to watch the grand Night Procession of the spirits. Of course, they definitely wanted to visit Linlu Academy.

Chen Ping'an naturally agreed, saying he'd arrange good viewing spots for them at the Linlu Academy on Piyun Mountain.

Compared to his days in the Lion Garden study, Liu Qingshan had acquired a heroic air alongside his scholarly elegance. That was a good thing.

Heroes may not be sages, but which sage wasn't a true hero?

A day later, Chen Ping'an noticed something off: Liu Boqi actually addressed Zhu Lian as "Old Master Zhu" with great sincerity.

Later, after arranging for Liu Qingshan to stay at Linlu Academy—not through Wei Po, but by asking the old flood dragon of the Huangting Kingdom for a favor—Chen Ping'an and Zhu Lian returned to Luopo Mountain. On the way, Chen Ping'an asked about this.

Zhu Lian gave a faint smile. "The old servant just casually spoke a line from a book, and Liu Boqi took it to heart."

Chen Ping'an grew more curious. "What did you say?"

Zhu Lian pointed casually at a lush green mountain peak. "The green hills I see are so enchanting; they must see me the same way, I suppose."

After a moment of surprise, Chen Ping'an was thoroughly impressed.

Wasn't this woman Liu Boqi exactly the type to fall for that sort of thing?

Chen Ping'an slapped Zhu Lian on the shoulder. "You old fox!"

Zhu Lian said with a serious expression, "Not at all, not at all. The young phoenix's song surpasses the old one's."

Chen Ping'an suddenly felt a twinge of melancholy. Once he went down the mountain, especially to Northern Juzhou, it would probably be several years before he could hear the flattery of Luopo Mountain again.

— —

Chen Ping'an left quietly late one night, heading to the Niujiao Mountain celestial ferry port.

Pei Qian actually knew, but pretended not to. And compared to that first long separation, when she'd been beside herself, she now felt it wasn't so bad. But still, with her master gone, her heart felt empty.

For the first time, she actually consulted the almanac and found that the day her master left Luopo Mountain was "auspicious for far travel."

Liu Qingshan and Liu Boqi were temporarily staying at Linlu Academy.

The Night Procession Banquet was about to begin.

And over at Red Candle Town, another reunion was taking place.

The little girl in the red cotton jacket and Jiu'er met again.

It turned out that the Cliff Academy of Great Sui had arranged a study tour to come observe this Great Li Northern Mountain Night Procession. Mao Xiaodong was leading the group, which included Li Baoping, Li Huai, Lin Shouyi, Yu Lu, and Xie Xie.

The blind Daoist still didn't dare to go with the flow and use his disciple Jiu'er's connection to return to Dragon Spring Commandery with the academy group.

After all, that Cliff Academy's Sage Mao was far too intimidating.

At the summit of Chess Pier Mountain.

A tall girl in red was lost in thought.

She was no longer a little girl.

Over the years, her bearing had completely transformed. That lively red-clothed Baoping from the academy had suddenly become quiet. Her knowledge grew greater and greater, her words fewer and fewer, and of course, she had grown more and more beautiful.

The sound of birds flying overhead reached her ears, and she looked up.

What did the books say?

"A passing bird's single call, like urging a guest; an immortal calls me to wander among the clouds."

— —

Slanting wind and fine rain.

In a mountain hollow near Rouge Commandery in the central part of Treasure Bottle Continent, in the country of Colorful Garments, a young man in green robes, wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a sword on his back, headed south.