Chapter 471: I Hear You Seek a Sword Duel
On the banks of the Iron Talisman River, several elderly scholars in high hats and wide sleeves led the way, followed by young men and women in Confucian robes, clearly all disciples of the Confucian school.
The procession was like a long green serpent, with everyone reciting the "Exhortation to Learning" at the top of their voices.
The river babbled, the sound of books rang clear.
Within the procession, there was a young woman in red robes, with a small silver gourd filled with clear water tucked at her waist. She carried a small green bamboo book box. After passing Red Candle Town and Chess Mound Mountain, she had once privately told the mountain master that she wanted to return alone to Dragon Spring Commandery, so she could decide where to go faster or slower herself. But the old scholar didn't agree, saying that crossing mountains and rivers wasn't like studying in a study; one had to stay with the group.
During the journey, they passed the Iron Talisman River Water God Temple. Yang Hua, the highest-ranking river orthodox god of Great Li, a deity who almost never appeared, broke precedent and showed herself to these academy disciples. She held a longsword with a golden tassel in her arms, watching this group of scholarly seeds from both Great Sui and Great Li pass by. According to reason, now that Cliff Academy had been stripped of its "Seventy-Two Academies" title, Yang Hua, as one of Great Li's foremost mountain and river deities, had no need for such courtesy.
But Cliff Academy, which had relocated to East China Mountain in the Great Sui capital, had once been a holy land in the hearts of all Great Li scholars. Its mountain master, Mao Xiaodong, was still in Great Li, with disciples filling the court, especially in the Ministries of Rites and War, where he was held in high esteem.
And Yang Hua, when she was still the sword-bearing maidservant beside that palace lady, had long admired Cliff Academy when it was still in the Great Li capital. She had even followed the lady to the academy and had long ago met that tall old scholar Mao, which was why she showed herself today.
At the waterfall where the Iron Talisman River and Dragon Beard River met, people had been waiting for a long time.
Several mountain masters from Cloud Forest Academy on Cloak Cloud Mountain, along with Dragon Spring Commandery Governor Wu Yuan, Magistrate Yuan, and Supervisor Cao, were all among them.
There was also an old man of the Li clan, the patriarch of the Li family on Fortune Street, and the grandfather of the three siblings Li Xisheng, Li Baozhen, and Li Baoping. An old man at the Nascent Soul realm, he was now a top-grade venerable of Great Li, though it had never been publicly announced.
Back then, the Song clan of Great Li had, for the four great surnames and ten great clans who controlled the vast majority of dragon kilns, some unknown special grace. The Song clan had signed a secret pact with a sage, allowing each clan to "intercept" one to three pieces of destiny porcelain for those talented in cultivation. Under the watchful eyes of the sages stationed here throughout the ages, they were permitted to cultivate exceptionally and could ignore the Heavenly Dao suppression and secret prohibitions of the Pearl of Li Cave Heaven. However, after cultivation, it was tantamount to drawing a circle on the ground to imprison themselves; they could not leave the cave heaven's bounds at will. But the Song clan of Great Li also had three fixed slots every hundred years to secretly take people out of the cave heaven. As for why the Li clan patriarch, who had already reached the Golden Core Earth Immortal realm back then, had never been taken away by the Song clan of Great Li, that secret matter would surely involve many things.
The Li old man was, after all, a Nascent Soul Earth Immortal. From afar, he caught sight of his beloved granddaughter and immediately beamed with a smile he couldn't hide.
But for some reason, he always felt his granddaughter was still as unsociable as ever, walking alone. Yet it seemed a bit different. The old man suddenly felt both gratified and lost.
Little Baoping had grown up after all. She had grown up so stealthily like this. Truly, she hadn't even bothered to say a word to her grandfather who doted on her so much, just quietly grew up.
The affection skipping a generation was most evident in the Li family. Especially the old man's love for his youngest granddaughter, Li Baoping, far exceeded his love for his two grandsons combined. The key was that between the eldest grandson Li Xisheng and the second grandson Li Baozhen, because their mother's favoritism was too obvious, the relationship seemed a bit delicate in the eyes of the servants, but both of them doted on their sister without reservation.
Carrying that old and delicate little bamboo box, Li Baoping walked alone along the bank of the Dragon Beard River, where the water was shallow but the sound was louder than the river itself.
Actually, not far from the procession, Li Huai, walking with two friends, and Lin Shouyi, conversing with an academy teacher, were also carrying bamboo boxes of a similar style.
Three bamboo boxes, all made by the same person—how could they not look alike? It was just that Li Baoping's box was made the earliest, but the material was the most ordinary, just common green bamboo. Lin Shouyi and Li Huai's boxes were made by Chen Ping'an after passing Chess Mound Mountain, using Wei Bo's Bravery Bamboo. Instead, after so many years, they were still a vivid emerald green.
As for Yu Lu and Xie Xie, who only first met Chen Ping'an at the Great Li pass, they didn't have such treatment.
Wei Bo, the Northern Mountain Orthodox God of Great Li, did not appear, nor did the Sage Ruan Qiong.
A vice mountain master of Cliff Academy, who had once slammed the table with Mao Xiaodong and then had a heart-to-heart talk with Cui Dongshan, frowned. This move by Great Li was reasonable but not considerate.
The two who truly carried the most weight both ignored Cliff Academy like this.
The key point was that neither Cloud Forest Academy nor the commandery governor Wu Yuan seemed inclined to offer any explanation.
This vice mountain master, who came from a Great Sui aristocratic clan, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. In the final analysis, it was the shift in national power. Thinking back to those days, on the territorial maps of Great Sui and the Lu dynasty, how many Great Li scholars had come admiringly? They had even prided themselves on exchanging poems with famous scholars of the two countries.
The procession stopped. The academy old scholars exchanged pleasantries with those from Great Li.
Li Baoping caught sight of her grandfather and finally acted a bit like she was still young. She gently jostled her bamboo box and the silver gourd at her waist, then sprinted over.
The old man called out with a laugh, "Little Baoping, slow down."
Li Baoping came to an abrupt stop in front of the old man, smiled, and called out loudly, "Grandfather!" Her smile was radiant.
The old man scolded insincerely, "A grown young lady now, how improper."
Not far away, Ma Lian, who came from a Great Sui wealthy clan, saw the girl finally smile. He breathed a sigh of relief, and his mood improved accordingly.
Liu Guan saw this and shook his head repeatedly. Ma Lian, that silly goose, was beyond saving. It was the same at the academy—if he didn't see that figure for a few days, he'd be listless. Occasionally, when he met her on the road, he never dared to greet her. Liu Guan just couldn't understand. You, Ma Lian, a top-tier noble son of Great Sui, with generations of official caps—how come in the end you don't even dare to like a girl?
Li Huai knew the inside story. Earlier, the academy had received a letter from Chen Ping'an sent from Dragon Spring Commandery. Li Baoping had planned to take leave and return home, but the academy teachers hadn't agreed at the time. Just as Li Baoping was about to climb the wall and run away, news suddenly came out that Mountain Master Mao would personally lead a group of academy disciples to Cloak Cloud Mountain in Great Li for a journey of sightseeing, then to compete in learning with Cloud Forest Academy. Additionally, they could watch a rare event of thousands of deities traveling together at night to visit mountains.
It was still Li Baoping's own fault. She said she wanted to give her little master-uncle a surprise, so she wouldn't tell Fallen Mountain that they could return home first.
As a result, halfway there, Li Baoping got wind of something—maybe she received a family letter or something—and then she lost her spirit, becoming more and more taciturn, returning to her state from a few years ago when she studied at the academy. Now at Cliff Academy, as Li Baoping read more and more, faster and faster, the number of times she asked for advice and the questions she raised actually became fewer and fewer. At first, almost everyone at the academy had been stumped by her questions, but now the teachers actually felt lonely. Without those difficult questions, they really weren't used to it. They missed that little girl in the red cotton-padded jacket who used to seriously ask them strange questions.
The Cliff Academy students first had to go to Cloud Forest Academy on Cloak Cloud Mountain, then they would have two days of free movement before gathering again at Cloud Forest Academy to watch the mountain and river night tour banquet hosted by the Great Li Northern Mountain Orthodox God.
The group marched in a mighty procession through the town.
The Li old man didn't go to the ancestral home on Fortune Street; instead, he planned to accompany little Baoping into the mountains. Of course, as a Nascent Soul cultivator and a top-grade venerable of Great Li, with profound Confucian learning himself, the old man didn't stay by Li Baoping's side—that would only make his granddaughter even more distant from her Great Sui classmates.
Just as the Great Sui academy students left the town and passed True Pearl Mountain, a charcoal-black girl holding a walking staff, with swords and knives crisscrossed at her waist, followed by a robust yellow dog, came running. Because she was short, she couldn't see the flash of red in the procession, so she ran to her master's hilltop and finally spotted the familiar figure. She waved vigorously and shouted with a full voice, "Sister Baoping! I'm here, here!"
Li Baoping turned her head abruptly and saw Pei Qian's bouncing figure. She quickly left the procession and ran towards that small hill.
Li Huai was delighted. He stopped and stayed at the back of the procession, then shouted loudly, "Pei Qian! What about me, me?"
Pei Qian rolled her eyes and ignored him.
Liu Guan and Ma Lian gloated and laughed heartily.
Over the years, Pei Qian would occasionally write letters to the Great Sui academy. Sometimes, the letters would mention Ma Lian and Liu Guan, whom she considered her pawns. After all, they had agreed to wander the martial world with Li Huai later, searching for treasures and splitting them fifty-fifty. But if she didn't have a few lackeys around to cheer her on, it wouldn't show her status. Ma Lian was a bit slow but loyal; Liu Guan had many schemes and could serve as a dog-head military adviser.
Li Baoping ran towards True Pearl Mountain, and Pei Qian ran down True Pearl Mountain. They met at the foot of the mountain.
Li Baoping reached out and pressed down on Pei Qian's head, measuring her, and asked, "Pei Qian, why haven't you grown any taller?"
Pei Qian was thunderstruck and became gloomy.
Sister Baoping, you really don't know how to talk. Who starts a conversation by stabbing someone in the heart like that?
Li Baoping suddenly said, "It's okay. Ambition doesn't depend on height."
Pei Qian's mood improved slightly. "Right, right, right. My ambitions are lofty and far-reaching. Everyone at Fallen Mountain knows it. Even my master acknowledges it."
Saying this, Pei Qian turned and glanced sideways at the mongrel lying not far away.
The latter drooped its head, not daring to look squarely at this person holding a walking staff.
Speaking of her master, Pei Qian comforted, "Sister Baoping, don't be sad. My master didn't know you were coming, so he went off to the martial world on his own. Don't be sad, okay? When I see Master later, I'll help you scold him... well, say a few words to him... just one."
Li Baoping, who was already almost a head taller than Pei Qian, asked with a smile, "How come you're staying in the town and not practicing your crazy sword technique at Fallen Mountain?"
Pei Qian puffed out her chest and stood on tiptoe. "Sister Baoping, you don't know. I'm now looking after two shops for Master in the town. Two really, really big shops!"
Li Baoping looked surprised. "You're already this capable?"
Pei Qian nodded vigorously. "If Sister Baoping doesn't believe me, I can take you to Riding Dragon Alley right now! The Spring Festival couplets, door gods, and the character for fortune and spring—I put them all up with my own hands."
Li Baoping hummed in approval. "Not bad. You're not tall, but you're already able to share your little master-uncle's worries."
Pei Qian grinned from ear to ear. Sister Baoping doesn't easily praise people.
Li Baoping looked back at the procession and said to Pei Qian, "I need to go to Cloud Forest Academy on Cloak Cloud Mountain first. Once I'm settled, I'll come down the mountain to play with you."
Pei Qian looked at the tall, thin-faced Sister Baoping, as if remembering something. The little girl, who had been full of joy just a moment ago, suddenly started crying. She lowered her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, and sobbed, "Sister Baoping, when Master came home this time, he was so thin! Thinner than you. So thin I almost couldn't recognize him. Master didn't say anything, but I know those five years at Book Painting Lake were not good for him at all. Sister Baoping, you read a lot, you're very capable, you're bold, and Master likes you so much. You haven't come to see Master all these years. If Master sees you, he'll be even happier than seeing me... Maybe he won't feel so tired then."
Li Baoping smiled. She turned to look south, squinting her eyes a little, making them somewhat long and narrow. Her face was no longer round like in childhood; it had become a bit pointed, like an egg.
She bent down and helped Pei Qian wipe away her tears, saying softly, "Alright, alright. Blame me, blame me."
After crying, Pei Qian felt a bit guilty. "Sorry, Sister Baoping. I was talking nonsense."
Li Baoping patted Pei Qian on the shoulder and said with a smile, "See you later."
Pei Qian nodded and watched Li Baoping turn and leave.
Sister Baoping, carrying that little bamboo box, still wearing that familiar red dress. But as Pei Qian watched that receding figure, for some reason, she was worried that when she saw Sister Baoping again tomorrow or the day after, she would be even taller, even more different. Pei Qian wondered if her master had felt this way when he first walked into Cliff Academy? Back then, he insisted on dragging them to do those things on the academy lake that she, Pei Qian, thought were really fun. Was it because Master had already foreseen today? Because although fun, growing up is actually a not-so-fun thing?
Pei Qian scratched her head, stomped her foot, and felt annoyed. Now that she was the third manager of two shops, how could she be so forgetful? She pulled two strings of sugar-coated hawthorns wrapped in oil paper from her sleeve. She had forgotten to give them to Sister Baoping!
She sighed, put one string back in her sleeve, and started munching on the other. The taste was really good. As for the money for the hawthorns, Shi Rou had paid for them. Really, she had just muttered a few times about sugar-coated hawthorns in the New Year Shop and asked Shi Rou a few times if she heard the hawthorn seller's cries in the streets and alleys. Before she knew it, Shi Rou had stuffed a handful of copper coins into her hand, saying she should eat them and didn't need to pay her back. How embarrassing. She, Pei Qian, wasn't that kind of greedy child anymore. So she stared hard at the copper coins in Shi Rou's palm, shook her head, and waved her hand, saying no need, no need. But in the end, she still accepted them because it was hard to refuse such kindness.
After finishing the hawthorns, she kept the other string in her sleeve. After all, the money was from Shi Rou. When she got back, she would give it to her. As for Sister Baoping's share, she would pay for it herself tomorrow.
That's how martial artists do things—so generous.
Pei Qian swung her walking staff a few times, caught sight of the mongrel hiding far away, and glared at it. The dog immediately tucked its tail between its legs and ran over to lie beside her.
Pei Qian crouched down, grabbed its mouth, and said angrily, "Little bro, what's wrong with you? You're so short. Are you a dwarf? Aren't you embarrassed? Huh? Speak!"
Having inexplicably received a great blessing, this dog was actually already a spirit. It should have been running wild in the western mountains of Dragon Spring Commandery, but now it didn't move, its eyes full of grievance and sorrow.
It had now become enlightened and spiritual, with the Dragon Spring Sword Sect as its backing. Among the western mountains, it was a mountain and river spirit that no one would provoke. But it was still a bit short of being able to speak human language and take human form.
Pei Qian gripped the dog's mouth tightly and didn't let go. She widened her eyes. "Not talking means you're not convinced? Who gave you the dog's gall?"
It didn't dare move.
Pei Qian twisted her wrist, and the dog's head turned with it. The dog immediately whimpered. Pei Qian said angrily, "Tell me, did you go behind my back again to bully the big white geese in town? Otherwise, why do they run away every time I bring you? Don't you know what 'the higher the fist, the less you strike' means? You're driving me crazy! You've been hanging out with me in the martial world for so long, and you haven't learned anything good."
That mongrel probably wished it were dead.
Who was it that used to ride a big white goose through the alleys back then?
Pei Qian finally let the dog go. She released her grip, stood up, and clapped her hands. Suddenly, she blinked hard and rubbed her eyes.
Ever since she ate that pearl her master gave her in Riding Dragon Alley last time, this had been happening often. Her eyes would feel sore, but it didn't hurt. It was just a bit annoying, causing her to sometimes blink while copying books and make the strokes crooked. If it wasn't written neatly, she had to rewrite it. This was one of her master's few rules, and she always followed it, even though no one was supervising her copying anymore.
Moreover, when she occasionally looked at pages full of words, she felt like some characters were moving. But when she looked closely, they were normal, each character lying properly on the paper.
Pei Qian planned to take Sister Baoping to Fallen Mountain later and ask Old Cook Zhu, who lazed around the mountain all day, since he knew everything. If that didn't work, she would ask the mountain god Wei Bo. If that still didn't work, then alas, she would have to go to the second floor of the bamboo building, that dragon's den and tiger's lair, to consult that old gentleman who would teach her boxing at the drop of a hat. Wasn't that old man just relying on his age and a few more pounds of strength than her master? What did he know about boxing? Could he know more than her master? That old man didn't know shit!
Pei Qian began to swagger towards the town, holding her head high and not looking at the road, puffing out her chest, and chanting loudly, "Walk arrogantly, make enemies panicky! If they're friends, kill the dog, I eat the meat, you drink the soup!"
That mongrel tucked its tail between its legs and obediently followed behind the great female chivalrous warrior Pei.
---
The town became even more lively because many Great Sui academy students speaking the refined language of a continent had arrived.
Li Huai took Liu Guan and Ma Lian to his own house, which was dilapidated. Liu Guan was fine—he was from a poor background—but Ma Lian was stunned. He had seen poverty, but he had never seen such a bare, empty house. Li Huai, however, didn't care. He took out a key and opened the door, then took them to fetch water and clean the house. Naturally, there was more than one well in town—the Iron Lock Well—and there was one nearby, but none had water as sweet as the Iron Lock Well's. Only when something good happened at home, or when Li Huai's mother heard about something bad in another family, would she go the long way to fetch water from there, to spar and compete with a bunch of women, including Horse Granny from Apricot Flower Alley and Widow Gu from Mud Vase Alley.
Liu Guan was a lazy ghost and didn't want to move. He said he would light the fire and cook. Li Huai then took Ma Lian to fetch water. The result was that Ma Lian's delicate shoulders suffered terribly. The women by the well laughed at him, and Ma Lian, with his refined features, turned bright red.
When Li Baoping arrived in town, she first went home. Her mother's tears didn't stop, and Li Baoping couldn't hold back either.
Li Baoping left Fortune Street and went to Riding Dragon Alley. She was very familiar with it. The two shops that had become her little master-uncle's were originally the inherited property of that little girl with the horn-shaped buns. Li Baoping had visited them often when she was young. Moreover, Li Baoping had run all over the town since she was little, and she could navigate all the streets and alleys with her eyes closed. But this time, she walked slowly, no longer in a hurry. Sure enough, at the New Year Shop, she saw Pei Qian sitting on a stool, waiting for her patiently. Li Baoping quickened her pace, stayed in the shop for a while, and then went with Pei Qian to Mud Vase Alley. They found her little master-uncle's ancestral home clean and tidy, no need to clean. Li Baoping then took Pei Qian back to Fortune Street.
Pei Qian crouched by the small pond, staring wide-eyed at the pebbles and the golden climbing crucian carps that had supposedly been raised there for many years. They had been given to her by her little master-uncle. There was also an older golden little crab, which Sister Baoping had caught herself. Actually, if you wanted to be precise, the truth was that the little girl in the red cotton-padded jacket had once had her finger pinched by it and ran home crying all the way, until her big brother Li Xisheng pried open the crab's pincers.
Pei Qian watched for a long time, but those two little creatures were not very cooperative and hid away.
The small pond had been built single-handedly by Li Baoping when she was very young. She had personally picked the pebbles from the stream, only choosing the colorful and pretty ones. She moved them one by one, like ants moving their nest, with great effort, piling them up by the wall into a small mountain. Only then did this pond come into existence. Now, most of those "founding merit" pebbles had faded, losing their luster and unusual appearance, but there were still many pebbles of various sizes, crystal clear, glowing with radiance in the sunlight, full of spiritual energy.
Lin Shouyi went to the Kiln Affairs Supervisory Office, revisiting an old haunt. He had often played there when he was young.
The Lin family was a prominent clan in the town, but not among the four surnames and ten great clans. Moreover, the Lin family members were not very famous and didn't like to interact much with their neighbors. For example, Lin Shouyi's father was just a low-ranking official in the Supervisory Office. When he served in the only government office in town at the time, before they moved away from the Pearl of Li Cave Heaven, he had successively assisted three Kiln Affairs Supervisors, but it seemed that no one had intended to promote him.
The Lin family moved to the Great Li capital, but their old house remained unsold, with only a few old servants left.
Lin Shouyi, ever since he could remember, had no great attachment to his family.
The family seemed to feel the same way about him.
They were tired of each other.
Even now, Lin Shouyi's achievements at the academy had gradually spread to Great Li, but the family still seemed unmoved.
Lin Shouyi wasn't surprised. His father had always been that way. Whatever his father decided, any words or actions from others that didn't suit his wishes were wrong. And between father and son, his mother always stood on her husband's side. The way she looked at her own son was always cold and distant, as if she were looking at someone who was only helping her stay in the Lin family—not an outsider, but not a close relative either. Anyway, it wasn't like a mother looking at her own flesh and blood. Polite and courteous, but with an underlying distance.
Lin Shouyi recognized his father's former colleagues at the office and visited them. They didn't talk much; there was really nothing to talk about. And being warm and sociable had never been Lin Shouyi's strong point.
It was said that today's Supervisor had gone out for a stroll again. According to the office clerks, there was no doubt about it: Supervisor Cao had gone drinking.
Lin Shouyi couldn't help but find it strange. It seemed that both officials and clerks, when talking about that Supervisor—someone they should be careful about wording—were all smiling from the heart and speaking casually.
Just then, Yu Lu happened to be taking Xie Xie to the Cao family ancestral home. Back then, after their identities were exposed, they had both been brought here. Together with that handsome youth named Cui Ci, they had served as slaves to the adolescent-looking National Preceptor Cui Chan.
The grandson of Great Li's Pillar of State Cao clan, now the Dragon Spring Commandery Supervisor Cao, lived here.
Today, after getting drunk, Supervisor Cao simply decided not to go to the office. He was the highest-ranking official there; who cared about attendance? He carried an empty wine jug, reeking of alcohol, and staggered back to the ancestral home, intending to take a nap. On the way, he met people and greeted them without missing a beat, familiar with everyone, men, women, old, and young. When he saw a little kid in open-crotch pants, he even gently kicked at him. The kid wasn't afraid of this big official and chased after him, spitting wildly. Supervisor Cao ran and dodged. The women on the street were used to this and smiled at the young official.
Supervisor Cao finally managed to shake off that little bastard's pestering just as he ran into Yu Lu and Xie Xie on the road. Whether he recognized them or guessed their identities, the suave, tipsy Supervisor Cao asked Yu Lu if he wanted a drink. Yu Lu said he could drink a little. Cao shook his empty wine jug, threw the key to Yu Lu, and ran off to the wine shop. Yu Lu was resigned. Xie Xie asked, "Is this person really going to be the future head of the Cao clan?"
Yu Lu smiled and said, "This is probably how it is."
Xie Xie snorted coldly.
Compared to the gentle, diligent Magistrate Yuan, who was devoted to government affairs, Supervisor Cao was a notorious playboy. He had only taken a cursory look at the various dragon kilns and never went to them again.
Instead, he frequently traveled between the town and the commandery city, buying wine, treating people to drinks, and most of all, enjoying chatting nonsense with them. Almost every time he appeared, he had a wine jug in his hand. The only difference was whether the jug had wine in it or not. The men in town all liked to drink and chat with this official from the capital. Every time Supervisor Cao showed up, a large group of idle drinkers would immediately gather around him, listening to him tell interesting stories from the capital. True or false, who cared? They were just there for the excitement. Besides, when Cao got drunk enough, he would often declare, "The drinks are on me today!"
Women and young ladies all liked this charming young official.
In terms of popularity among the women in town, he was no less than that young Taoist who had set up a fortune-telling stall back then.
On Cloak Cloud Mountain.
Mao Xiaodong spoke up and greeted Cloud Forest Academy. It was only then that the teachers from Great Sui were allowed to see Gao Xuan, the prince studying there.
Otherwise, no one dared to bring this up. It wasn't that they were afraid of getting into trouble—which teacher at Cliff Academy lacked that sense of responsibility and scholar's spirit? They were worried about implicating Gao Xuan, who was in a foreign land. He was the son of Ge Yang who had volunteered to come here as a hostage in place of his elder brother!
After the two sides met, Mao Xiaodong left.
That eleventh-realm ancestor of the Ge Yang Gao clan did not appear.
Gao Xuan watched those elderly Great Sui scholars, the most learned old bookworms, bow to him with tears streaming down their faces. The young man, who hadn't originally felt much grievance about being here, also felt his eyes moisten.
Gao Xuan, as a junior Confucian scholar, respectfully and solemnly returned the bow to those Great Sui scholars.
The old scholars adjusted their robes, stood solemnly, and accepted this bow.
At Cloud Forest Academy's scenic spot named "Haoran Pavilion," the Ge Yang Gao clan ancestor who had accompanied Gao Xuan to Great Li was now standing beside Mao Xiaodong and the old flood dragon Cheng Shuidong.
The Gao clan ancestor chatted for a while and then left.
He didn't serve as vice mountain master at Cloud Forest Academy but instead lived incognito, just an ordinary teacher. The academy disciples liked his lectures because the old man talked about things beyond books and learning, things they had never heard of, like the strange and wondrous tales of the Jia and Baizhi blessed lands. However, the native Great Li teachers at Cloud Forest Academy didn't like this "unfocused" old gentleman Gao, thinking that his way of imparting knowledge to students was not rigorous enough, too frivolous. But since the vice mountain masters hadn't said anything about it, the Great Li teachers at Cloud Forest Academy had to let it go.
Only Cheng Shuidong and Mao Xiaodong, two vice mountain masters from different academies, remained in Haoran Pavilion. Cheng Shuidong seemed to be an old acquaintance of Mao Xiaodong, and they spoke without restraint.
The old flood dragon told Mao Xiaodong many things about the academy, including some about Chen Ping'an of Fallen Mountain. Among them was a small matter: the request to let an out-of-town couple stay at Cloud Forest Academy. It wasn't conveyed through Wei Bo but was made in person, with Chen Ping'an asking him, as vice mountain master, for help.
Mao Xiaodong said sternly, "At least he's finally learned a bit about human relations."
The old flood dragon laughed heartily.
At the peak of Cloak Cloud Mountain, a man and a woman were enjoying the distant views of the surrounding mountains.
They were Liu Qingshan from Lion Garden and Liu Boqi from the Master's Blade Hall.
Liu Qingshan said, "After we visit the Great Li capital and the northernmost seashore of Bottle Gourd Continent, shall we go back? Let's go back together to see Father and my elder brother."
Liu Boqi nodded gently, blushing a little.
According to their earliest agreement, the day they returned home would be the day they got married.
In her eyes, the scholar Liu Qingshan was like a green mountain, evergreen through the seasons. Spring mountains were lush, spring waters rippled.
He was well-read, concerned about his country and people, sincere in his dealings with others, and had the elegance of a renowned scholar... No flaws.
But she was a cultivator, plain in appearance, only knew how to fight and kill, spoke ungracefully, drank tea like she was drinking wine, couldn't play the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and had no gentleness. It seemed she had only flaws.
In fact, throughout this journey of accompanying him far away, she had always worried that the eventual separation wouldn't be because Liu Qingshan, as a mortal, would eventually grow old and die.
But because Liu Qingshan might suddenly become tired of her one day, thinking that she wasn't actually worth his lifelong affection.
Liu Boqi was very worried.
Until they went to Fallen Mountain, and that Old Mr. Zhu used one sentence to pierce through her heart knot.
"I see the mountain's charming, and the mountain sees me so."
The way she, Liu Boqi, saw Liu Qingshan, and how much she liked Liu Qingshan—that was how Liu Qingshan would see her, and how much he would like her.
But Liu Boqi still wanted to hear it confirmed in person. She mustered her courage, but when the moment came, she was still very nervous and couldn't help gripping the hilt of the saber "Jing Shen" at her waist. She turned her head and said, "Qingshan, I want to ask you something. You can't think I'm silly, and you can't laugh at me..."
But before Liu Boqi could continue, Liu Qingshan gently took her hand that held the saber, held it in both hands, and said with a smile, "Do you know how beautiful you are in my eyes? It's more beautiful than you can imagine."
Liu Boqi lowered her head slightly, her eyelashes trembling.
Liu Qingshan said softly, "It's my fault. I should have told you earlier. If Old Mr. Zhu hadn't reminded me, waking me from my dream, I might have taken even longer. Maybe I wouldn't have told you my true feelings until we returned to Lion Garden."
Liu Boqi raised her head. Her heart knot had been untied, and there was no shyness left in her eyes. Only the faint blush spreading across her face revealed the ripples in her heart just now.
Liu Boqi said softly, "It's a pity that Old Mr. Zhu has been reduced to watching over Chen Ping'an's house."
Liu Qingshan was amused.
He wanted to say a few words in Chen Ping'an's defense, but then he inexplicably remembered a piece of advice from Old Mr. Zhu.
On matters of great right and wrong, don't yield an inch—that's enough. On trivial matters, why bother arguing with the woman you love about principles? Are you marrying a wife, or accepting a disciple as a teacher?
Liu Qingshan suddenly felt that Old Mr. Zhu was truly as towering as a mountain, every word a gem of wisdom. Before leaving Dragon Spring Commandery this time, he absolutely had to seek more advice from the old gentleman.
---
At Yang's Shop, the youth who was both a shop assistant and Old Yang's disciple felt that life was unbearable. The shop's feng shui was bad—it had a grudge against silver, it seemed.
Business being so slow all the time just wouldn't do. The youth, named Shi Lingshan, had to at least acknowledge his master and do something filial. So he took it upon himself to go to his uncle, who worked at the Supervisory Office, and ask if he could help drum up some customers. His uncle gave him a thorough scolding, saying that the shop and the Yang family's reputation were now completely ruined. Who would dare to go there?
The youth slunk back to the shop, only to see his senior brother Zheng Dafeng sitting at the main entrance, nibbling on a string of sugar-coated hawthorns in a particularly disgusting and nauseating manner. Normally, Shi Lingshan would just pretend not to see it, but his senior sister was also chatting with Zheng Dafeng. He immediately flew into a rage and plopped down on the steps between two small stools. Zheng Dafeng said with a sly grin, "Lingshan, did you step in dog shit in Peach Leaf Alley? Your face looks pretty lousy, brother."
Shi Lingshan said irritably, "None of your business. Go back to Fallen Mountain and watch your gate."
Zheng Dafeng put on an elder brotherly air of kindness, rubbed the youth's head, and shook it around. The youth slapped his hand away. Zheng Dafeng chewed on a hawthorn and said indistinctly, "Brother is well-off now. I have another house at Fallen Mountain, much bigger than that muddy house at the East Gate. When are you coming over?"
Shi Lingshan said, "Go where? Do we still need to run the shop or not?"
Zheng Dafeng said regretfully, "What a pity. The new house has two rooms, and the beds are big and sturdy. No matter how much you roll around, there's not a single creak. I was going to invite you and Su Girl to spend the night. It's a new house, so I need to get some people to add some liveliness, have a housewarming meal, drink some small wine, that sort of thing. Ah well, if you think it's too far, forget it. Su Girl has already agreed. That's good too. Two people, two rooms, no need to share a bed."
Shi Lingshan's mouth fell open, full of regret.
The woman referred to as "Su Girl" by Zheng Dafeng said nothing. Even though Zheng Dafeng hadn't mentioned this to her at all, she didn't refute anything.
She had just been asking Zheng Senior Brother about some martial arts questions. Although Zheng Senior Brother's martial path was ruined, his insight remained, and she didn't have the slightest contempt for him.
Compared to the youth from Peach Leaf Alley, who hadn't truly begun cultivation, she had come into contact with many inside stories and hidden truths much earlier. Her horizons had broadened, and the world had changed. Naturally, she was completely indifferent to the trivial transactions of a medicine shop.
But just as she was about to ask Zheng Senior Brother about that strange matter that had given her a subtle sensation, Shi Lingshan interrupted.
Zheng Dafeng said, "Shi Lingshan, what are you standing there for? Go get some snacks to honor your senior brother."
Shi Lingshan sat between his senior brother and senior sister, not lifting his bottom.
The woman went into the shop to get some snacks instead.
Zheng Dafeng slapped him and said, "You're such an idiot, kid. You're going to end up a bachelor."
Shi Lingshan stood up and said angrily, "Watch out, or I'll get mad."
Zheng Dafeng rubbed his chin. "Su Girl is so beautiful. There'll definitely be many men fighting to marry her in the future. Ah, I wonder which bastard will have the fortune to spar with Su Girl late at night. Thinking that sooner or later this day will come, I, as her senior brother, really feel a bit tired. Luckily, Su Girl has always listened to me, her senior brother. I suppose when she's spoiled for choice later, she'll still have me, her senior brother, to help make the final decision..."
Shi Lingshan was immediately tangled up in a mess, as if his senior brother had smeared him with mud.
Shi Lingshan turned to look into the shop. His senior sister was at the counter, standing on tiptoe to reach for something in the medicine cabinet. There were some medicinal ingredients in the shop that could be eaten directly.
When his senior sister stood on tiptoe and stretched her waist, her figure became even slimmer.
Shi Lingshan quickly turned his head back and plopped back down on the steps.
His senior sister's real name was Su Dian, and her nickname was Yan Zhi. It was said that her biggest dream in her early years was to open a small shop selling rouge and powder. The name was also chosen by her uncle, and the nickname was also called by her uncle. They were particularly carefree.
Just then, a youth carrying a bundle came running from the town.
Zheng Dafeng wiped his face. Damn it, he had run into this heartless brat again. Thinking back to those days, how many undeserved grievances had he suffered at his sister-in-law's hands because of this kid?
Li Huai ran to the shop entrance and said with a cheeky grin, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Dafeng. Sunbathing, are you? Where's your wife? Tell your aunties to stop hiding and come out to see me. I heard you married seven or eight wives. You've made it big!"
Talking about the very thing that was taboo.
Zheng Dafeng said irritably, "Get lost!"
Li Huai laughed and ran into the medicine shop, heading straight for the backyard, shouting, "Old Yang, Old Yang! Guess what I brought you?!"
Old Yang, sitting in the backyard, looked up at Li Huai.
Li Huai first took off the bundle and actually ran straight into the main room, which Zheng Dafeng, Su Dian, and Shi Lingshan all regarded as forbidden territory. He casually threw it onto Old Yang's bed, then left the room, ran to Old Yang's side, and took a jar from his sleeve. "Top-grade tobacco from a century-old shop in the Great Sui capital! Eight qian of silver for one liang, how about that?! Scared or what? When you smoke your dry pipe later, you better remember my kindness. And don't forget my dad, my mom, and my sister!"
The youth handed over the jar of tobacco, raised both hands, spread eight fingers, and shook them.
Zheng Dafeng brought a stool to the backyard and sat down to watch the show.
Shi Lingshan also followed, curious about where this guy had popped up from. He was so disrespectful, not only to Zheng Dafeng but even showing no respect to his own master.
Su Dian hesitated for a moment, then also stood by the bamboo curtain.
Old Yang's wrinkled and weathered face, for once, squeezed out a hint of a smile, but his words were still unpleasant. "Leave the tobacco and go away. Kid, you're not that old, but you're not wearing open-crotch pants anymore? Don't you find it troublesome to shit and piss?"
Li Huai scurried around behind the old man, slapped him on the back of the head, and said, "A dog's mouth doesn't produce ivory. Do you dare say such blasphemous words in front of my mother? Looking for a beating, are you?"
Old Yang wasn't angry either. He just skillfully packed the tobacco into his pipe, started puffing, then frowned and spat. "I'll go smash that shop's sign later. What crap is that? Not worth the price."
Li Huai laughed heartily and said, "I wouldn't dare. Eight qian of silver for one liang of their signature tobacco? I can't afford that. It's still on display in their shop. I wanted to buy it, but they wouldn't sell. So I did what I could and bought you something cheaper. It's the thought that counts, right? I've traveled so far with this tobacco! Old Yang, you're a guy who likes to stay put. How would you know how far thousands of mountains and rivers really are? Old Yang, I'm not saying this to criticize you, but while you still have some strength, you should get out more. Don't stay here all day. If you go out and happen to catch sight of an old lady you fancy, that would be something. Sparks flying, wouldn't I have to drink at your wedding?"
Old Yang glanced at Li Huai and was about to scold him.
Li Huai covered his ears with both hands and shook his head. "Old Yang the turtle chants sutras, Li Huai the lord doesn't listen, doesn't listen."
Seeing this, Zheng Dafeng's eyelids and the corners of his mouth twitched together.
It had been so many years since he'd experienced his sister-in-law's scolding and Li Huai's peeing everywhere.
Su Dian and Shi Lingshan were even more shaken. The youth even swallowed his saliva. He wondered who this reckless Confucian-robed youth was.
After all, at this point, Shi Lingshan only knew of a slacker senior brother like Zheng Dafeng in town. As for Li Er, he hadn't even heard the name.
But this mysterious Confucian-robed youth really dared to speak!
This was only because Shi Lingshan was young and hadn't seen the scene at the medicine shop back then. Otherwise, he would find it even more unbelievable.
Back when Li Er was still a shop assistant, Li Huai liked to come here alone to play, pretending to be crazy. If he bumped into something, he would roll around, covered in mud. When he went home, if his mother saw him, she would be heartbroken, both for the clothes and for her grubby son. She would bring him here to yell and curse, cursing heaven and earth. There was nothing she wouldn't say. That was nothing. When Li Huai wore open-crotch pants, he couldn't hold his pee all day long, and he would sprinkle water everywhere in the medicine shop's backyard, all over Old Yang's hill.
Even Li Er, a guy who couldn't squeeze out a single fart if his life depended on it, felt sorry for his master and apologized to him a few times. But Old Yang never minded. Li Er just let it be. At most, Old Yang would use his pipe to tap that little bastard's little chicken. Strangely enough, Li Huai was different. When he fell or something, he would cry like the sky was falling, but when Old Yang scolded him or "hit" him with the pipe, he wouldn't hold a grudge. Instead, he would be happy. Of course, after he tired himself out, he would quiet down, go get a small stool, sit beside him, prop up his cheek, and watch Old Yang puffing clouds, sometimes for most of the day.
Li Huai crouched beside Old Yang and whispered in the old man's ear, "Old Yang, do you have any valuable heirlooms? Give me a few. Anyway, you don't seem like you're planning to get married and have kids, so they'd be for me eventually. Earlier or later, what's the difference?"
Old Yang shook his head. "There are a few things for you, but we'll talk later."
Li Huai sighed and said, "Don't make it too late. Who knows when my sister will get married? Our family is poor. Maybe my sister's future in-laws will look down on us. I'm counting on you to save face."
Old Yang twitched the corner of his mouth.
Li Huai suddenly turned his head. "Old Yang, smoke less from now on. You're getting old. You should take care of your health. Eat lightly, go out more. Are you just going to sit here waiting for death all day? I can see your bones are still pretty strong. Climbing a mountain and picking herbs shouldn't be a problem. Alright, talking to you is the most boring. I'm off. There are new clothes and cloth shoes in the bundle. Remember to change into them."
Li Huai left as he said.
Of course, he didn't forget to curse Zheng Dafeng, and then he smiled and said goodbye to Shi Lingshan and Su Dian.
The order of closeness and distance was obvious. It was the opposite way around.
---
The distance from the ancient temple to Sword Water Manor in Comb Water Country was about seven hundred li of mountain roads.
Back then, he had traveled on foot, so naturally it was slow. But when Chen Ping'an traveled by flying sword, it was very fast.
He didn't go directly to the manor, not even to the bustling town outside. When there was still over a hundred li left, Chen Ping'an landed his flying sword on a high mountain. Earlier, when he had looked down at the landscape, he could vaguely discern some clues. It wasn't just beautiful mountains and clear waters; there was also light, ethereal mist, like a veil enveloping one of the peaks. Just as Chen Ping'an landed on the mountaintop and sheathed his sword, a deity, presumably a local earth god, appeared. He bowed to Chen Ping'an and addressed him as "Immortal Master."
Chen Ping'an took off his bamboo hat, quickly clasped his hands in return, and said with a smile, "I'm just passing through. Lord Earth God need not be so formal."
In the customs of his hometown, Dragon Spring Commandery, when a relative died and one went up the mountain to choose a grave and break ground, one first had to place paper money under stones at specific locations on the mountain. This was equivalent to renting the mountain from the earth god. During the funeral procession, when carrying the coffin to the grave, paper money would be scattered along the way. According to the old people's sayings, this was to buy a road for the deceased through the earth god, so they could pass through the Ghost Gate and the Yellow Springs smoothly.
Chen Ping'an remembered this very clearly. However, the first time he left the town, the earth god he encountered was Wei Bo, who was then still "detained" at Chess Mound Mountain. That time, Chen Ping'an had actually been disappointed for a long time.
Now, the earth god, a middle-aged man, didn't dare stay long. With a respectful expression, after a few pleasantries, the deity responsible for this mountain range was about to take his leave.
After all, the person in front of him was clearly a sword immortal. As a humble earth god, he had no status to ingratiate himself with. If it were only a middle-five realm cultivator, he naturally wouldn't want to miss the opportunity.
Chen Ping'an took out a jug of Crow's Cry Wine and handed it to the somewhat nervous earth god. "This jug of wine is my gift for this abrupt visit to your mountain."
The deity, a low-ranking spirit not even qualified to have his name recorded in the mountain and water registry of Comb Water Country, became flustered. He quickly stepped forward, bent at the waist, and took the jug of immortal-brewed wine. Just by weighing the bottle in his hand, he knew it was no ordinary mortal thing.
Chen Ping'an took off the Nurture Sword Gourd, drank some of the homemade strong liquor brewed by the old woman from the ancient mansion, and asked, "Lord Earth God, I'm going to Sword Water Manor to visit a friend. I wonder how the manor has been in the past ten years?"
The earth god carefully considered his words, hoping not to make a mistake but not expecting any merit. He said slowly, "In reply to Immortal Master, Sword Water Manor is no longer the number one sect in Comb Water Country. That position has been taken by the Horizontal Saber Manor of saber technique master Wang Yiran. Although this man is a junior of the old sword sage Song, he has vaguely become the martial world leader within Comb Water Country. According to the current rumors in the martial world, he's only one step away from having a duel with Old Sword Sage Song. Firstly, Wang Yiran successfully broke through to the next realm and truly became a first-class grandmaster. His saber technique has reached the realm of the divine. Secondly, Wang Yiran's daughter married the son of a wealthy clan in Comb Water Country. Furthermore, Horizontal Saber Manor was the first to pledge allegiance when the Great Li iron cavalry marched south. In contrast, our Sword Water Manor has more martial world integrity and is unwilling to submit to anyone. In terms of reputation, it has gradually fallen behind..."
At this point, the earth god hesitated, seeming to have something unspeakable.
Chen Ping'an said, "Lord Earth God, please speak freely."
The man lowered his voice and said, "The imperial court intends to move Sword Water Manor. They want to build a mountain god temple there, of the highest rank below the Five Sacred Mountains. I heard it's General Chu Hao who wants to make this happen."
Chen Ping'an took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "That would be Chu Hao, the Grand General who, in terms of military tactics, claims kinship with the Great Li prince? Wang Yiran or Chu Hao, both are old acquaintances."
Wang Yiran wasn't a bad person. Although his daughter Wang Shanhu was far inferior to him, Wang Yiran's words and actions during that turmoil back then were worthy of the title of hero.
As for Chu Hao, who had fought side by side with Old Senior Song on the battlefield and had shared life-and-death experiences with him, Chen Ping'an wasn't going to seek any revenge. The grudges of the battlefield and the martial world had been settled in their respective places.
But right now, mentioning it verbally, Chen Ping'an naturally wouldn't be polite.
The earth god chuckled. Too many words could lead to mistakes. His point had been made. After all, he was still just a humble earth god of Comb Water Country, while Chu Hao was now the second most powerful person in the Comb Water Country imperial court, only below one person. Of course, one had to exclude the group of "Comb Water Country's de facto emperors," the Great Li stationed civil officials.
Chen Ping'an put on his bamboo hat, adjusted his Nurture Sword Gourd, and clasped his hands in thanks again.
The earth god quickly held the jug of wine and bent at the waist. "I am honored by the Immortal Master's great gift. I am deeply humbled."
Chen Ping'an flew away from the mountain on his sword.
The earth god suppressed his inner fear and wondered doubtfully, "Song Yushao is, after all, just a martial artist. How could he have made the acquaintance of such a sword immortal?"
Outside the small town adjacent to Sword Water Manor, on a secluded hill, Chen Ping'an sheathed his sword, descended the mountain, and walked slowly onto the official road.
After passing through the town, he arrived at the gates of Sword Water Manor.
Chen Ping'an took off his bamboo hat and said with a smile to the elderly gatekeeper, "Sorry to trouble you, but please inform Old Sword Sage Song that Chen Ping'an is here to invite him to a hot pot meal."
The old gatekeeper hesitated for a moment, looked at the young man with a sword on his back and a wine gourd hanging from his waist. He was probably a martial artist, but his face was unfamiliar, and his name hadn't been heard. He probably wasn't a old friend of the manor. Moreover, visiting the manor at this time was very inconvenient and even more inappropriate. So the old man said apologetically, "Young master, our manor is not receiving guests these days. Please turn back."
Chen Ping'an had to explain that he was truly a friend of Old Senior Song and had even stayed at the manor for a while, practicing his boxing by the waterfall at Landscape Pavilion.
Sword Water Manor had strict rules. The old gatekeeper guarded his own little patch of land and didn't like to pry into affairs. Furthermore, when Chen Ping'an was practicing boxing at the waterfall back then, Song Yushao had designated the area around Landscape Pavilion as a forbidden zone. So the old gatekeeper really hadn't heard of Chen Ping'an. The key point was that the old man believed that although he was old, his eyesight was good and his memory was even better. If he had seen a martial world friend a few times, he could remember them. This young man in front of him—the old gatekeeper really couldn't recognize him. He had never seen him before!
So the old gatekeeper quietly moved, conveniently blocking the side gate, lest this young martial artist, whose words seemed unreliable, force his way in. The manor wasn't peaceful these days, and the external troubles were terrifying. But the old gatekeeper believed that this time, just like the last time when the imperial army pressed on them, as long as the old manor master was there, they would eventually turn danger into safety.
But deep down, the old man was still very worried. After all, Chu Hao, who liked to contend with the manor, had not only been promoted but was now far more powerful than when he was just an ordinary border general. Now he was powerful enough to overshadow the entire court. Furthermore, there was the rapidly rising Horizontal Saber Manor. They should have been friends of Sword Water Manor, but the martial world was like that—everyone wanted to be number one. The Green Bamboo Sword Immortal Su Lang of Songxi Country had killed the ancient elm country sword technique master Lin Gushan in one blow. The divine weapon "Green Pearl" that Su Lang wore at his waist was clear proof. Now Su Lang, believing his sword technique had reached its peak, wanted to compete with the old manor master for the number one sword technique, while Wang Yiran wanted to compete with the old manor master for the top martial artist in Comb Water Country. The two manors, equivalent to two sects, were also in the same situation.
But even within the manor itself, no one could say that the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal Su Lang or Wang Yiran of Horizontal Saber Manor were bad people.
Anyway, since he was already at the gates of Sword Water Manor, Chen Ping'an wasn't in a hurry anymore. He patiently talked with the old gatekeeper.
After a while, the old gatekeeper probably confirmed that this young martial artist, aside from liking to say some far-fetched and deceptive things, wasn't a bad person. So he blocked the door and chatted with him. Since he was free anyway, it was fine. But the old man complained inwardly. This young man wasn't very clever. He had been talking for a long time, taken many sips from his wine gourd, but hadn't asked the old man if he wanted a drink. He hadn't even made a polite gesture. Even if he asked, the old man wouldn't really drink his wine. He was on duty at the gate, so naturally he couldn't drink. Besides, the wine brewed by his own manor was excellent. Why would he covet the wine in that broken gourd of yours? It didn't even smell good. But drinking or not was one thing; you, young man, asking or not was another matter entirely.
Chen Ping'an, of course, had his difficulties. The Nurture Sword Gourd was only under a camouflage spell. If the old man touched it, it would be exposed. Besides, Chen Ping'an couldn't just "conjure" a jug of Crow's Cry Wine out of thin air from his Storage Item. Moreover, he really wasn't willing to part with it. They were strangers. There was no reason to give away immortal-brewed wine to just anyone. His stinginess was well-known in the martial world.
The old gatekeeper, with nothing to do, while feeling disdainful for the young man's lack of social awareness, followed the young man's words and told him some things that everyone in Comb Water Country knew.
In the imperial court, Chu Hao had already declared that if Sword Water Manor didn't move out within a month, they would bear the consequences.
As for Wang Yiran, he was still quite decent. He hadn't come to make trouble at the manor. Instead, he was about to hold a martial arts convention and invite heroes from all directions to Horizontal Saber Manor to join in the grand event.
As for that Green Bamboo Sword Immortal Su Lang, he would soon come here to "seek a sword duel" with the old manor master. He didn't come with good intentions. If he didn't have some confidence, how would he dare to treat such a matter lightly?
The old gatekeeper also said that they had already clearly rejected Su Lang's challenge, but that Green Bamboo Sword Immortal, being young and aggressive, had declared to the martial world of Comb Water Country that he would definitely visit Sword Water Manor.
After listening, Chen Ping'an remained silent.
He had fought with that Su Lang twice before. But in the end, Su Lang had inexplicably turned his coat and sliced off the head of Lin Gushan, who should have been his ally.
The old gatekeeper said with emotion, "You, an out-of-town youth, now understand why I wouldn't let you in, right? If it were normal times, I would have let you in. Our Sword Water Manor isn't short of a few jugs of good wine for guests. But this isn't the peaceful times of the past. Who knows if there are government spies watching outside the manor? Once you walk in and then walk out, you won't be able to explain yourself. Young man, think carefully. Is it worth risking disaster for some empty fame in the martial world? Why bother? You should just go."
Chen Ping'an suddenly turned his head to look inside the gate. The old gatekeeper followed his gaze, thinking someone from the manor was coming to the gate.
But there was no one.
When the old gatekeeper withdrew his gaze, the young man had already handed him a jug of wine and said with a smile, "Old sir, you're an old hand in the martial world. For such kind words, you deserve this jug of wine."
The old man was puzzled as to why the young man had looked in that direction, but he didn't think much of it. He thought that this young man had at least some qualifications for the martial world. Otherwise, if he was too dull-witted, even if his martial arts were good and his character was good, he probably wouldn't achieve much. The old man still shook his head and said, "If I take your wine and then keep you out for so long, I would feel guilty. Forget it. You don't seem well-off. Keep it for yourself. Besides, I'm the gatekeeper; I can't drink now."
Chen Ping'an uncorked the seal and swirled the jug. "Really not drinking?"
The old gatekeeper smelled it and was tempted, but he didn't take it. No matter how good the wine was, it wasn't proper. Besides, you never know what's in someone's heart. He didn't dare to take it.
But the young man suddenly put on his bamboo hat, shoved the wine jug into his hand, turned and walked down the steps, saying with a smile, "It seems someone is coming. Probably someone like me. I'll go greet him for you, old sir, and tell him he doesn't need to come to the manor to fish for fame."
The old gatekeeper, holding the wine jug, looked up and down the road. As far as his eyes could see, there was no one.
And the young man was already walking far away.
The old gatekeeper didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He's still a young man, thin-skinned. After being rejected, he came up with such a lame excuse to save face.
The old man sighed, feeling a bit sorry for him.
But that's how the martial world was. He had originally planned to tell this young man, who was pretending to be a swordsman, that once the manor's troubles settled down, he could come back, and the old man wouldn't stop him.
But after hesitating, the old man swallowed those words back down.
Young men going out into the martial world—hitting a few walls isn't a bad thing.
---
In a top-grade private room of an inn in the bustling town near Sword Water Manor, a "young man" whose real age was already over forty but whose face was becoming more and more like smooth jade. Ten years ago, he had looked like he was in his thirties; now he looked like a young noble in his twenties.
He sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, meticulously wiping an unsheathed longsword. The scabbard lay horizontally across his knees, engraved with the characters "Green Pearl." It had once been the beloved sword of Lin Gushan, the number one swordsman of Ancient Elm Country. When Lin Gushan had his head cut off back then, this divine weapon, capable of cutting through iron like mud, became his sword.
At his waist hung a section of green bamboo, lustrous and shimmering, two feet and six inches long, the same length as the sword.
As a green-robed swordsman wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a sword on his back left the town.
The beautiful woman who had followed him all the way from Songxi Country to this town, serving as both a sword attendant and a disciple, walked lightly to the door and knocked. She said softly, "Master, someone has finally visited Sword Water Manor."
The two of them, master and disciple as well as master and servant, had been here for nearly ten days. The man had instructed her that when someone finally went to that deserted Sword Water Manor, that would be his time to draw his sword.
She had been waiting at the highest point in the town all these days for that person to appear.
She was getting impatient, because she firmly believed that after her master's sword duel with Song Yushao, he would surely become famous in the countries of Comb Water, Songxi, and Colorful Clothes!
But after waiting nearly ten days, not a single martial artist had gone to Sword Water Manor.
The man inside the room smiled and said, "Very good."
The female sword attendant withdrew.
She leaped onto a roof ridge and stood on the curled-up eaves, her heart pounding with excitement as she waited for her master's sword duel and his stroke.
That one stroke would surely be the peerless elegance that dominated the martial world!
Because the man in the room was the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal, Su Lang!
Su Lang didn't hurry to stand up. He remained seated, wiping the "Green Pearl" sword.
Wiping the edge of the sword was in itself nurturing the sword intent, continuously accumulating it.
The female sword attendant felt that time was crawling. She looked at Sword Water Manor, afraid that Song Yushao might suddenly run away. Then she looked back at the inn, hoping her master's figure would appear soon.
Finally, the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal Su Lang, now changed into a blue-green long robe, walked out of the inn and stood in the middle of the bustling street that led straight to Sword Water Manor.
At his waist hung that section of green bamboo, signifying his transcendent status, and in his hand he held Green Pearl.
On the street, sword qi surged like a fierce tide.
The pedestrians on the street were so frightened that they scattered like birds and beasts.
Then someone was the first to shout the name of the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal, followed by a cacophony of startled exclamations.
Then many thrill-seekers either climbed onto buildings or, following the example of Su Lang's sword attendant, scrambled onto rooftops to watch the battle. Among them were some men and women with serious expressions, scattered in different positions around the town. Compared to those noisy, excited onlookers, they were much quieter. They were the spies and death warriors planted here by Comb Water Country.
The woman stood on the most spacious roof ridge and curled eaves, sneering.
Su Lang began to take his first step forward.
Sword qi spread in all directions.
With his second step, he moved one zhang forward.
Some onlookers who didn't know how to react and were still on both sides of the street began to feel suffocated and hurriedly ducked into shops, where they could breathe a little easier.
When this great sword immortal, famous in several countries, took his third step, he moved several zhang.
Even those spies and death warriors placed by General Chu in the town, watching from afar, were deeply shaken. Such sharp sword qi existed under heaven!
Su Lang's fourth step brought him just outside the town's memorial archway.
His sword intent and momentum had reached the peak of his lifelong martial arts.
But at this moment, Su Lang actually stopped.
From a distance came a green-robed swordsman wearing a bamboo hat.
The reason Su Lang stopped, instead of continuing on to Sword Water Manor to seek a sword duel with Song Yushao, was precisely because of this abrupt and uninvited guest. The appearance of this person caused an instant, right when Su Lang was about to draw his Green Pearl, where his originally flawless state of mind and complete momentum seemed to acquire a speck of dust and a moment of stagnation.
So Su Lang chose to stop.
But he allowed that person to "step" right in front of him.
Su Lang was never afraid of close-quarters combat, especially if his opponent was a mountain-top cultivator. That would be even better.
The bamboo-hatted man looked very young.
"I hear you seek a sword duel?"
The man asked, "But didn't Old Senior Song already clearly refuse your match? For an old senior of the martial world like Old Senior Song, that's already significant. Why do you have to push further?"
Su Lang found these naive questions one more laughable than the last. They weren't the kind of questions someone who could temporarily block his path should ask.
The man hesitated. "Is it enough to have any reason, right or wrong, to do whatever you want?"
Su Lang smiled. "Then you find one too?"
The man actually seemed to think about it. Then he adjusted his bamboo hat and said with a smile, "Got it. You're delaying me from inviting Old Senior Song to a hot pot meal."
Su Lang, having returned to his complete and flawless sword heart realm, said slowly, "Then try to see if you can stop my sword."
One punch.
It didn't even require Chen Ping'an to use a Distance Shrinking Talisman.
That renowned Green Bamboo Sword Immortal flew in a straight line, from where he came back to where he came from, crashing into the inn in town from which he had emerged.
Chen Ping'an didn't even look in that direction. He turned and walked back towards Sword Water Manor, muttering to himself, "Just barely reached the seventh realm? No wonder he's like paper."
He went back to Sword Water Manor.
The old gatekeeper was bewildered. Not only had the old manor master appeared, but the young manor master and his wife had also come.
Everyone looked serious.
Could it be that the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal had shown up?
But the old gatekeeper only saw the green-robed swordsman return. The old man was amused. Oh, this kid has thick skin! Well, forget it. At least that jug of wine was good. Let's not hold it against him. Besides, in the martial world, sometimes having thick skin has its advantages.
In the old gatekeeper's field of vision, the young man, whose figure kept approaching the main gate, started jogging and waved from afar. "Old Senior Song! Want to have a hot pot?"
The old gatekeeper wiped his face. Young man, this is taking it a bit too far!