Chapter 546: A Swordsman Acts
A talisman sect old true man with an immortal-like bearing.
Xu Xingjiu of Cloud City, who had taken a knife wound.
Zhao Qingwan, who had delivered a slash but failed.
Plus an utterly superfluous youth, dressed in a blue robe, carrying a large bamboo chest on his back.
Huan Yun said, "Why must a shopkeeper who won't even be a proper Bundle Peddler stir up this muddy water? Knowing when to stop, taking profit and leaving, earning money steadily—that is the right path."
Based on a black dharma robe, Wu Qun could recognize his identity, and of course Huan Yun recognized it even more clearly.
It wasn't that Chen Ping'an wasn't cautious enough, but that the Mountain Refining great demon's methods were too unexpected, directly causing the white-robed goddess and blue-robed divine being to unfurl the landscape scroll, revealing everyone who had come to visit the mountain for treasures in plain sight.
However, Huan Yun was only guessing the youth's identity as that Bundle Peddler wild cultivator who had set up a stall selling talismans in Cloud City. Because he knew his own identity and still dared to strike to save people, among the mountain visitors, probably only that mysterious and eccentric black-robed old man had this kind of spirit and skill.
Once mountain cultivators formed their own guess, whether it was the truth or not no longer mattered that much.
Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Mountain marsh wild cultivators, mountain marsh wild cultivators—aren't they just people who busy themselves daily trekking over mountains and crossing rivers, scooping up clear springs to drink, wading through muddy waters? What's so strange about that?"
Xu Xingjiu suddenly spoke up, "True Man Huan, there is still room for reconciliation in this matter."
Huan Yun shook his head, "From the moment I chose to pursue and kill you, there has been no path of retreat. Xu Xingjiu, you are very clever. Clever people shouldn't deliberately say foolish things."
Xu Xingjiu was actually well aware of this.
If Huan Yun had been completely honorable from start to finish, without harboring any private desires or greed, he would not have caught up to pursue him and Zhao Qingwan.
Great desires narrow the heart, and a heart narrowed to only a single goat path can only be walked alone.
If we were to judge the matter on its merits, Xu Xingjiu knew that his own earlier choices had also been greatly mistaken. At the moment Huan Yun handed over the white jade brush tube, he should not have judged Huan Yun with the utmost malice. After learning that the two supreme treasures—the immortal cocoon and the dharma robe—had vanished from the storage artifact, he should not have concealed them but chosen to be open and honest. If Huan Yun had explained the twists and turns at that time, perhaps their current situation would not have arisen. But in truth, the hearts of men and the affairs of the world were far from being so simple and clear. The intricate and insidious frame-up by Xu Xingjiu's own Cloud City Senior Supporter had left Xu Xingjiu not merely in a state of extreme alarm. In fact, Huan Yun, as their protector, had chosen to stand by and watch, which in itself was a concealed murderous intent, a hidden killing heart—perhaps a means of using a borrowed knife to kill. If Senior Supporter Xu killed them for their treasures, then Huan Yun could be the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, and his hands would remain perfectly clean.
Huan Yun was in no hurry to make a move.
Chen Ping'an was in no hurry either.
Many things, many people, think there is no turning back under their feet, but in fact, there is.
Huan Yun was actually the most awkward one at the moment. Of course, Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan of Cloud City needed to be eradicated root and branch, but how to deal with this Bundle Peddler who liked to change his appearance was fraught with danger. Because Huan Yun was uncertain of the other's cultivation level, and he wasn't even sure whether this person was a talisman sect qi refiner or the most troublesome sword cultivator on the mountain. Once he was certain, either he, Huan Yun, would perish and his Dao be destroyed, knowing that the other's Dao was indeed superior, or the other would die at his hands, and he would gather all the opportunities and magic treasures into his collection, deserving of a stroke of deep fortune.
Chen Ping'an suddenly said, "If I remember correctly, you Daoists have always been saying that cultivating only the life force and not the nature is the first sickness of cultivation."
True Man Huan Yun smiled, "Easy to say."
Chen Ping'an said, "Precisely because it's easy for anyone to say, it's hard to do. Once accomplished, one harbors a precious treasure and embodies morality in one's person."
Cultivating both nature and life is the guiding principle of all spirits. One who achieves great success in cultivating both nature and life is what Daoists call a 'seamless pagoda' and Buddhists revere as a 'flawless fruit.'
Huan Yun shook his head, "I know you are not old in age and are not a Dao sect member, so stop playing verbal games and reciting mantras with me. How about we two talk about something practical, like when we did business back at the Cloud City market?"
Chen Ping'an also shook his head, "As long as you still want to kill those two, our deal can't be made. Since we've spoken openly, True Man, aside from your stirred greed and aroused murderous intent, you haven't actually caused any disaster yet. Does the treasure opportunity in Xu Xingjiu's storage artifact compare to the Dao heart you, Huan Yun, have painstakingly accumulated over a lifetime?"
Huan Yun was speechless with laughter and sighed, "What, you're trying to persuade me to stop and turn back, just by moving your lips?"
Xu Xingjiu spoke up, "True Man Huan, I am willing to take out all the treasures from my storage artifacts as a ransom for my life. I implore you, True Man, after you have made your selection, to leave one piece for us to have something to explain to our master when we return. Moreover, I can swear a heavy oath using our ancestral hall's secret method that I, Xu Xingjiu, will absolutely not utter a single word about True Man Huan's actions. From now on, True Man Huan will remain an honored guest of Cloud City, and if possible, you can even become a nominal senior supporter of our Cloud City."
Xu Xingjiu had already pulled out the sleeve knife, which was still a token of love, wiped off the blood, and tucked it back into his sleeve. Then he roughly bandaged himself and swallowed a treasured pill from Cloud City that he carried with him.
The wound was not actually on his back.
It was in his heart.
But he, Xu Xingjiu, didn't care.
Chen Ping'an sighed.
The smarter you, Xu Xingjiu, act, the more you read the situation and recognize the bigger picture, but in Huan Yun's eyes, you only become a greater potential threat.
No way around it.
Then I'll just change my approach, to a style more in line with Northern Juju Continent.
Otherwise, Huan Yun would be spurred to kill, betting it all on a big win.
Two flying swords that had not yet been fully tempered into lifebound objects shot out from two key qi mansions, hovering on Chen Ping'an's left and right—one a slender white rainbow, the other a dark green light.
Chen Ping'an said, "Huan Yun, will you continue to make mistake after mistake?"
Huan Yun's sleeves billowed as countless talismans fluttered out, forming a formation to protect himself as he said in a trembling voice, "Is it you who tempered swords together with Liu Jinglong in Lotus Country?!"
Chen Ping'an asked, "What do you think?"
Huan Yun sighed deeply, "No wonder, no wonder."
Chen Ping'an turned to Xu Xingjiu and asked, "What do you have to say?"
Xu Xingjiu said, "Senior, I will take my junior sister back to Cloud City."
Zhao Qingwan cried out, "I won't go! Xu Xingjiu, just kill me!"
Xu Xingjiu smiled bitterly, "Let's neither of us do anything foolish. There's no hurdle that can't be crossed. Qingwan, if you trust me, leave here with me. We'll be the same as before, and I have no grudge. As long as you can untie your own knot, nothing has changed. It can even become better. Qingwan, everyone makes mistakes. Don't be afraid. If we make mistakes, we correct them."
Zhao Qingwan seemed to have gone mad—her face deathly pale, but her eyes reddened. "We can't go back, we can't go back anymore. Either you kill me, or I'll kill you, or we'll die together. In the next life, we'll become husband and wife, and I promise we'll be deeply in love forever. Xu Xingjiu, is that okay?"
Xu Xingjiu was expressionless. He took out the sleeve knife and lightly tossed it to Zhao Qingwan. He looked around at the dense forest and said with self-mockery, "Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, each flies away separately. But we haven't even become Dao companions yet, and already we're like this. Qingwan, give me another slash then. Otherwise, I'll have to tie you up and take you back to Cloud City. I said I would become your Dao companion in this life, and I, Xu Xingjiu, mean what I say."
Zhao Qingwan grasped the knife, staring blankly at Xu Xingjiu. Suddenly she smiled, still like a pear blossom in the rain. Her lips moved slightly but made no sound; she seemed to say three words.
Xu Xingjiu's eyes blurred with tears.
It had always been like this—he loved her eyes that could speak the most.
Back then, his master had brought a little girl to Cloud City. The boy looked at her as she tilted her head, her round eyes wide open.
The boy made a funny face.
The little girl burst into tears.
Year after year after year, there was a family in the high clouds.
Zhao Qingwan suddenly raised the knife and stabbed it toward her own heart.
In the next instant, Xu Xingjiu was before her, grabbing the sleeve knife with his hand, blood dripping.
Xu Xingjiu said softly, "Qingwan, we've both died once, haven't we? Can we start over in this life?"
Zhao Qingwan released the knife, crouched down, and covered her face with her hands.
Xu Xingjiu dropped the knife, crouched down, and gently pulled her close. Just as he was about to pat her back, he remembered his palm was covered in blood, so he gently turned his hand over and rubbed her back with the back of his hand, murmuring softly, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Didn't you used to complain that I never said I liked you? From now on, don't ask anymore. A man doesn't always have true liking on his lips."
Huan Yun's expression was complex.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Huan Yun, didn't you leave a child back in Cloud City?"
Huan Yun flew into a rage, "Disasters don't extend to family!"
Chen Ping'an said, "I plan to learn from you—cut the roots."
Huan Yun said, "Are you forcing me to burn both jade and stone?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Are you worthy?"
Huan Yun seemed to have aged a hundred years in an instant, showing all the signs of old age. "Forget it. A lifetime's reputation is ruined in an instant. From now on, I will never set foot in Cloud City again. No matter how Xu Xingjiu and Shen Zhenze target me, Huan Yun, I deserve it all."
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "You can see me as a good person or a villain, I don't care. But I advise you not to take me for a fool."
Huan Yun gritted his teeth, "What exactly do you want?! What, you really want to kill me, Huan Yun, and then kill my grandson? I simply don't believe you could do such a thing..."
Chen Ping'an interrupted Huan Yun's words and said slowly, "I'll accompany you on a Heart-Questioning Road."
Huan Yun was stunned.
Chen Ping'an said, "Do you have a talisman boat? It would be best if we take a ferry boat together back to Cloud City."
In the end, two precious talisman boats, each as large as a secular ferry boat, slowly rose into the air, heading for Cloud City.
One boat carried four people; the other carried a huge caisson ceiling that someone had taken out of a deep pool. Both priceless talisman boats had been concealed by Huan Yun with illusion talismans.
At the ends of the talisman boat, Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan sat side by side.
Chen Ping'an and Huan Yun sat facing each other, their backs to the boat walls.
Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, leaning against the large bamboo chest. He turned to the woman and said a few words: "Cherish this hard-won good fate. In the future, when the two of you get along, you must neither fail to take this as a warning nor deliberately avoid today's turmoil. Otherwise, sooner or later, trouble will come, and that would be a heartbreak worse than dying early. If you both pass this hurdle in your hearts, then you and Xu Xingjiu will be true immortal Dao companions. On the path of cultivation, there are a thousand kinds of trials, but questioning the heart is the hardest. Perhaps this is the heart-cultivation calamity you two were meant to have. Whether you can turn misfortune into fortune depends on whether you are willing to carefully consider the gains and losses in this matter."
Then Chen Ping'an said to Xu Xingjiu, "Even if you truly don't mind this matter, on her side, wrong is wrong, and a great mistake is a great mistake. So don't comfort her with big, empty words. You, Xu Xingjiu, must first understand this clearly. Otherwise, you will only make her feel more guilty and increasingly ashamed, feeling unworthy of you, Xu Xingjiu. Then either you'll become enemies or strangers. In the end, it will be because you didn't do well enough. There's no way around it. Since you, Xu Xingjiu, have chosen to be a good person, you must pay the price."
Xu Xingjiu held Zhao Qingwan's hand and nodded with a smile.
In his state of mind, he felt as if a village had appeared amid the dark willows and bright flowers, and the weather had cleared after the rain, his heart clear and clean. Vaguely, he felt that he was about to break through that bottleneck.
After hearing these words, Zhao Qingwan seemed to have untied some of the knots that had been tied tight.
She tightened her grip on Xu Xingjiu's hand slightly.
Huan Yun remained silent the whole time, his eyes closed in meditation.
Since Chen Ping'an had revealed his identity as a 'sword immortal' who had tempered swords with Qi Jinglong, he no longer deliberately concealed himself. He removed the young man's face, restored his original appearance, and put back on the Hundred Eyes Taotie. The black dharma robe was now full of spiritual energy, and Chen Ping'an took the opportunity to...
Then Xu Xingjiu offered a countermeasure that would neither disgrace his master Shen Zhenze nor harm Cloud City's existing interests, and could also preserve True Man Huan Yun's reputation.
Even Xu Xingjiu's injury had an unexpected yet reasonable explanation.
Seamless. Plausible and reasonable.
Chen Ping'an had no objection.
Although Huan Yun still hadn't opened his eyes, he nodded slightly.
The two talisman boats went directly into Cloud City. Shen Zhenze personally welcomed them.
Xu Xingjiu then recounted the 'course of events' in detail—Senior Supporter Xu's malicious framing and True Man Huan Yun's timely protection.
Then they encountered this fellow Daoist, the senior who had sold talismans at their market earlier, and together they faced difficulties in the heavily trapped immortal mansion ruins.
Shen Zhenze listened with alarm and astonishment—truly a series of hair-raising dangers.
As for how they actually escaped, not only Xu Xingjiu but even Huan Yun was kept in the dark. So Shen Zhenze felt even more that his two disciples were extraordinarily blessed during their trial down the mountain, able to return safely, not only alive but even bringing back several treasures from the white jade brush tube, which was already quite remarkable. Without a second thought, Shen Zhenze divided the four treasures in the storage artifact into four equal parts: True Man Huan Yun, Senior Chen, Xu Xingjiu, and Zhao Qingwan each got one.
Huan Yun couldn't refuse, so he had to choose first. He picked an artifact from the immortal mansion with the worst quality and lowest rank.
Chen Ping'an was not modest at all. He generously selected the one that caught his eye, a couplet made of blue background with gold characters and cloud bat patterns.
"Outside the mountain, wind and rain, a three-foot sword; when there is trouble, take the sword down the mountain. Amid the clouds, flowers and birds, a house full of books; when there is no worry, turn the pages, and sages arrive."
Xu Xingjiu let Zhao Qingwan choose first. Zhao Qingwan's eyes were mournful. Xu Xingjiu recalled the sword immortal senior's teaching and no longer procrastinated; he chose one first.
Because the matter was of great importance and involved the defection of a chief senior supporter of Cloud City, the celebration feast with only five participants quickly dispersed.
Shen Zhenze naturally had to go over the matter repeatedly with Xu Xingjiu. It wasn't that he didn't trust his most valued direct disciple, but he was worried there might be key links that Xu Xingjiu hadn't considered, and as his master, he had to help remedy them.
To tell the truth, many times Shen Zhenze felt that he, a Golden Core city lord, was not worthy of having Xu Xingjiu as a disciple.
But such a huge truth couldn't be said; it had to be kept in his heart.
In the secret chamber of Shen Zhenze's cultivation site, Zhao Qingwan sat quietly to the side, as usual, listening to her senior brother Xu Xingjiu and their master talk.
But thinking that the Xu Xingjiu who respected their master the most had today worked so hard to deceive their master—though without any ill intent—it was still something she had never even dared to imagine before. Zhao Qingwan couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth. She lowered her head to hide her slight smile, but as she smiled, tears silently rolled down her cheeks.
Shen Zhenze noticed her strangeness and asked gently, "Qingwan, what's wrong?"
Zhao Qingwan was a bit flustered, at a loss.
Xu Xingjiu smiled and said, "Master, before we went down the mountain, Qingwan always said she was a burden. But at the time, she said it as a joke to me. Then she looked back and said, 'Hey, it turns out it's true.' So on the way here, she was like this—crying and laughing. Master, don't mind her. I'll scold her later for not having enough heart-cultivation. But after scolding..."
Xu Xingjiu laughed to himself.
Shen Zhenze asked suspiciously, "What is it?"
Xu Xingjiu stood up, made a deep bow, and said solemnly, "I beg Master to allow Qingwan and me to become Dao companions."
Shen Zhenze laughed heartily, "Would it help if Master didn't allow it? You two wouldn't agree anyway."
Zhao Qingwan raised her head, overwhelmed with mixed joy and sorrow, prostrated herself, and burst into loud sobs.
Shen Zhenze looked at Xu Xingjiu. This Golden Core cultivator's expression was somewhat grave.
Xu Xingjiu shook his head at him, his eyes clear.
Shen Zhenze then asked no further questions.
Any Golden Core cultivator under heaven—perhaps their realm could be illusory or real, their cultivation high or low—but their mental faculties were definitely not something ordinary people could match.
A Golden Core killing a Nascent Soul might be rare, but a Golden Core using cunning to harm a Nascent Soul was too numerous to list.
It wasn't just Golden Cores; every realm's cultivators were like this.
On the path of cultivation, how could one not be cautious?
Chen Ping'an was temporarily staying in a residence in Cloud City.
It was the private residence of Senior Supporter Xu, the old Dragon Gate realm cultivator. This great figure of Cloud City, second only to Shen Zhenze, had no relatives or disciples.
So Chen Ping'an stayed there quietly and peacefully.
Now, on the top of a rockery in a viewing pavilion, he and Huan Yun were again sitting facing each other.
Huan Yun asked, "When will this road of self-interrogation come to an end?"
Chen Ping'an bent down and took something out of the bamboo chest. It was something Master Huang had given him as a gift to avoid being in his debt—a fast-keeping plaque made of horn with cloud patterns, emerald green, one inch wide and two inches long, which could be hung over the chest. It seemed to be made of the same material as the glazed tiles of the mountaintop Daoist temple, but slightly different—just a feeling. Chen Ping'an couldn't quite explain it.
On the front was an ancient seal character: Heart.
On the reverse was a poem: "By the field, the ditch and channel are dark and hazy; at the door, the sun and moon stir the essence and spirit."
"It's a Daoist Heart-Fastening Plaque, though it's not commonly seen nowadays."
Huan Yun glanced at it and said calmly, "Since ancient times, our Dao sect has had the saying 'Only the Way gathers emptiness; this is the fasting of the heart.' In fact, the three teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—all have roughly similar doctrines."
Chen Ping'an held it in his palm, slowly rubbing it, and said with a smile, "You understand the principles too, don't you? And you probably understand more than I do."
Huan Yun smiled, "Unfortunately, not as good as a sword immortal in cultivation."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Is it because one's cultivation is high that the principles are right? Or because the principles are right that one's cultivation is high?"
Huan Yun said, "A cultivator's realm often has nothing to do with principles."
Chen Ping'an nodded, "That makes some sense."
Huan Yun said, "I am still grateful that you didn't go directly to my residence."
Chen Ping'an placed the Heart-Fastening Plaque gently on the table and then took out the other two items Master Huang had given him: a jade bracelet inscribed with a palindrome poem, with firefly-like dots of light inside; and a rustic tree-gall teapot that was slowly absorbing spiritual energy.
All were good items of fine quality.
It was just that Chen Ping'an couldn't tell how good they really were.
The reason Master Huang's large travel bag seemed so big was because he was carrying one large item. When Master Huang shook the bag to retrieve things, based on the subtle sounds of collision, Chen Ping'an guessed that Master Huang had obtained a very remarkable fortune. Besides the largest item, there were at least seven or eight other miscellaneous items, but in the end, he gave Chen Ping'an three of them. Even so, Master Huang had gained many treasures, but Chen Ping'an felt that no matter how good the quality of the items Master Huang carried was, they couldn't be better than Liu Guibao's Daoist scripture or Sun Qing's token.
The reason Chen Ping'an knew this was purely a matter of his nature.
It seemed fine to know or not know. He wouldn't contend with Master Huang anyway.
Does knowing or not knowing make a difference?
Of course it does, and it's a world of difference.
The veins of a person's heart-field are like flowing water and a riverbed. Small matters are water; the myriad changes of the world are as many as a cow's hairs. The heart-nature is the riverbed. If one can control it and gather it, it becomes a great river, a deep and silent river of water.
Ultimately, one can be like a flood dragon leaving the river and entering the sea.
Chen Ping'an was walking along the river for the little boy in blue.
But in truth, all along the way, Chen Ping'an's own heart-cultivation was also a dragon raising its head from the well of the heart, silently leaving the river.
One or two sword strikes or three or two punches—killing Huan Yun or Zhao Qingwan?
How hard could it be?
What's so hard about it?
Doing only simple things probably isn't cultivation.
Huan Yun continued, "The jade bracelet itself has good material, and moreover, a talisman expert used a poem as a talisman formation. Over time, it has produced a scene similar to 'water fire.' This tree-gall teapot can help qi refiners absorb the world's spiritual energy and simultaneously refine it into spiritual energy suitable for wood-type spiritual treasures. It's not a magic treasure, but for some qi refiners who specialize in wood magic, it's a good thing they wouldn't trade for a magic treasure."
With this explanation, it saved Chen Ping'an a lot of trouble. He definitely wouldn't sell the tree-gall teapot. As for the jade bracelet, even if he planned to sell it, he would have to ask for a sky-high price.
But Chen Ping'an still asked, "How many Snow Flower Coins do you think this bracelet can sell for?"
Huan Yun said, "Why not a few Grain Rain Coins?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "True Man, you sure can't be a Bundle Peddler—you don't know the joy of counting money."
Huan Yun then quoted a price: two Grain Rain Coins.
Even for Golden Core cultivators like Sun Qing of Colorful Sparrow Manor or Bai Bi of Water Dragon Sect, one Grain Rain Coin was no small amount.
For many wild cultivators in the middle five realms below Golden Core, especially those in the Cavern Dwelling and Viewing Sea realms, apart from lifebound objects, they might not even be able to accumulate one Grain Rain Coin worth of assets. Even wealthy mountain marsh wild cultivators wouldn't casually carry several Grain Rain Coins on them; they mostly kept some Lesser Heat Coins for emergencies. If they really needed money, it was simple to convert Lesser Heat Coins into Snow Flower Coins at any immortal ferry crossing in the world.
Chen Ping'an smiled, "True Man, you have good taste."
Huan Yun's expression was desolate. "Good taste, but useless. In the end, it's not as good as a sword immortal's elegance."
Chen Ping'an said, "True Man, you need to change that temper of yours—the one that can't stand others being better off."
Huan Yun sneered, "How dare I, a mere Golden Core like Huan Yun, not listen to the principles of a sword immortal?"
Chen Ping'an glanced at him and said, "I'm just afraid that some principles, even if you, Huan Yun, manage to hear them, you still can't handle them."
Huan Yun fell silent.
Chen Ping'an then smiled and said, "But I'm a bit better than you, True Man. I love listening to people reason calmly. True Man, how about we talk about the art of talismans? Exchange ideas, benefit each other, right?"
Huan Yun looked at this man, truly an unpredictable character. He was extremely uncomfortable and unhappy, so the old true man couldn't help but sneer, "How about I just take out a few talisman secret manuals and put them on the table? Spread them open, and whenever you say to turn the page, I'll turn the page, Sword Immortal Chen?"
Chen Ping'an acted as if he hadn't heard. He put away the jade bracelet and tree-gall teapot carefully into the bamboo chest, then cheerfully opened a bundle in the chest, took out an item, and slammed it heavily onto the table.
It was a blue brick pried from the floor of the mountaintop Daoist temple.
Huan Yun began to close his eyes and meditate.
This blue brick could probably be used by an ordinary immortal mountain as a town-protecting treasure.
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, took out brush, ink, and paper, and began to meticulously draw the architectural style of the immortal mansion ruins, especially the white jade arch bridge.
Only the mountaintop Daoist temple, he wouldn't casually draw on paper.
After finishing two sheets of paper, Chen Ping'an said, "True Man, a favor? Draw the few large buildings on the back mountain?"
Huan Yun suppressed his anger, took out brush and paper from his storage artifact, and began to draw.
Chen Ping'an stood up, walked around the stone table, watched the old true man lift his brush to paint, and said with emotion, "You really do draw better than I do. As expected of a talisman sect master."
Huan Yun was about to stop his brush.
The man raised his hand.
Huan Yun could only continue drawing.
There was no help for it—the man was speaking flattering words, but in his hand, he was holding a blue brick.
——
The next day.
Shen Zhenze of Cloud City absolutely insisted on buying the immortal mansion caisson ceiling placed in the private residence's courtyard.
This Golden Core city lord seemed determined, saying sincerely that even if he had to sell everything he owned, he had to buy this immortal family treasure that could stabilize mountain and river qi fortune, and that he was willing to trade all the residences and shops on a certain street of Cloud City as payment.
Chen Ping'an did not immediately agree.
Huan Yun also had thoughts about this priceless caisson ceiling.
But he dared not speak.
Shen Zhenze even wanted Huan Yun to help plead his case, but Huan Yun, thinking of the blue brick in that fellow's hand, found it too troublesome and politely refused Shen Zhenze.
At that time, Shen Zhenze laughed angrily and said, "You old True Man Huan, you don't mean to contend with me over this item, do you?"
Huan Yun didn't find it embarrassing at all and answered bluntly, "Opportunity is rare; each relies on his own ability."
Shen Zhenze had no choice but to say that since the item had landed in a residence in Cloud City, it should take root in Cloud City.
Huan Yun smiled, "Take your time leaving. No need to see me out."
Shen Zhenze left in a huff.
Chen Ping'an also made a trip to the market outside Cloud City to be a Bundle Peddler again, but this time he only sold talismans, nothing else.
He squatted by the roadside with his hands in his sleeves, not hawking, just answering questions if someone asked.
From the news he had seen earlier in the mountain and river gazette, the wild cultivator Huang Xi was going to fight the martial artist Embroiderer at Sharpening Stone Mountain in two more days.
Chen Ping'an certainly wasn't going to miss that.
After Huan Yun left yesterday, Chen Ping'an began to carefully tally the harvest from the mountain visit and treasure hunt.
Besides the fragments of the Daoist temple's deity statues.
Thirty-six blue bricks from the temple.
A total of one hundred and twenty-two pieces of green glazed tiles.
The water dripping from the tip of the green bamboo leaf inside the Sword-Nourishing Gourd.
And of course, a vast number of bamboo leaves and branches.
A clump of shattered sword qi temporarily stored and nurtured inside the Sword-Nourishing Gourd.
And the book he had obtained last; he had not yet flipped through it.
The four items Master Huang had given him on two occasions: the bronze mirror, the fast-keeping plaque, the jade bracelet, and the tree-gall teapot.
Actually, one should also count the rich spiritual energy from the pavilion that had been absorbed into the dharma robe.
And he had walked the River of Time once more.
True Man Huan Yun had actually entrusted the young child to Shen Zhenze early that morning, letting a guest retainer secretly send him back to his mountain.
Chen Ping'an certainly wouldn't stop him.
Without first having peace of mind, how could one calmly cultivate the heart?
Hai hour, man settles—this is what Daoists consider a state of purity and tranquility.
Like the Buddhists' 'burning the first incense,' it's actually everywhere, all the time.
Chen Ping'an suddenly smiled and looked up, greeting someone.
Xu Xingjiu was squatting across from the stall, but with a thousand words, he didn't know how to begin.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Are you okay?"
Xu Xingjiu smiled brightly, "I'm okay."
Chen Ping'an nodded, "That's good."
Xu Xingjiu asked, "Can I buy some talismans from Senior?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Of course, a customer is a guest. But the price for each talisman is what it is. Don't take out that treasure you got earlier—I won't accept it anyway."
Xu Xingjiu's expression turned awkward.
He did have treasures on him, actually two, but not a single immortal coin. Bad planning.
Last night, after talking with Zhao Qingwan, they both felt they should hand over their respective treasures as a thank-you gift.
Chen Ping'an smiled, "I won't be able to attend your wedding feast. If you feel guilty, just think of that treasure as a red envelope from me."
Xu Xingjiu said, "Then I won't delay Senior's business."
Chen Ping'an waved his hand, "If you really want to thank me, bring me some deep-pocketed suckers."
Xu Xingjiu smiled bitterly, "I'll try, Junior."
Chen Ping'an laughed, "Even joking, you believe it? If it's against your conscience, it's better not to do it."
Xu Xingjiu stood speechless.
Chen Ping'an rubbed his forehead, "I just said it offhand. You don't have to take it so seriously all the time. Aren't you tired?"
Xu Xingjiu, however, said, "I observe Senior's words and actions; they fit the Great Dao in every way."
Chen Ping'an almost broke out in a sweat, "Our mountain gate isn't accepting disciples for now."
Xu Xingjiu was baffled but still respectfully took his leave.
What a sword immortal senior—every word full of profound meaning.
In the distance on the street, a graceful young woman stood, not daring to approach the Bundle Peddler.
Chen Ping'an looked up and nodded with a smile.
Zhao Qingwan performed a curtsy.
Xu Xingjiu held her hand, and Zhao Qingwan kept her head down.
Xu Xingjiu looked at her, speaking softly.
Chen Ping'an, with his hands in his sleeves, watched this familiar scene and felt that although the human heart may have its twists and turns, there are still reunions between mountains and waters—that was really the best.
It was just that his Bundle Peddler business was not as good as before—a fly in the ointment.
After a whole day, he had only sold a few talismans, earning a small thirty Snow Flower Coins.
Back at the residence left by Senior Supporter Xu.
Chen Ping'an was squatting in the courtyard, carefully wiping the caisson ceiling propped against the wall. From time to time, he breathed a mist of air onto the caisson, almost pressing his face right against it.
Watching from the side, Huan Yun's expression was peculiar.
Was this really a sword immortal who could travel the mountains and rivers with Liu Jinglong?
Huan Yun finally asked, "Why did you ask me to send a talisman message to Colorful Sparrow Manor's ancestral hall, asking Sun Qing and Wu Qun to come see this item?"
Chen Ping'an, his back to the old true man, said, "If in your heart, Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan were accidents, then Sun Qing and the other two from Colorful Sparrow Manor are also accidents, and accidents that are easy to bring disaster. Since you think so, I wanted to try to see if I could make a lot of money while turning accidents into good things. Whether or not the caisson is eventually sold to Colorful Sparrow Manor, Sun Qing and the others should remember this good karma with you, Huan Yun. And as you said, Sun Qing, especially her disciple Liu Guibao, are both smart and straightforward people, so it's worth trying."
Huan Yun asked, "Why are you helping me like this?"
Chen Ping'an gently wiped the exquisite patterns on the caisson with his sleeve, never turning his head, and said slowly, "I'm helping that old gentleman who helped me open the door and start auspiciously."
Huan Yun sighed, "The heart barrier is hard to cross."
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Down in the mortal markets and alleys, the year-end barrier is hard to cross, but every year we cross it."
Huan Yun began to fall silent.
Chen Ping'an said, "I can't help with Bai Bi of Water Dragon Sect. A big sect disciple—I, a small wild cultivator Bundle Peddler, feel guilty when I see them."
Huan Yun said, "Actually, they're having headaches right now too. I can find an opportunity to meet Bai Bi in secret and smooth over this hidden danger."
After all, regarding Senior Supporter Xu's framing of Xu Xingjiu and the others, Sun Qing of Colorful Sparrow Manor and Bai Bi of Water Dragon Sect seemed to know nothing, but actually knew everything.
What they didn't know was only what happened afterward.
It was also fortunate that these two Golden Cores didn't know.
It was only known by this young sword immortal before them.
Chen Ping'an said, "I think it would be better to let a great cultivator from Water Dragon Sect come to you, Huan Yun, first. That kind of favor is the true favor in the eyes of people like Bai Bi. Otherwise, you're on guard against me blabbing, I'm worried about you leaking secrets, and in the end, you'll just take the opportunity to kill the other off, clean and tidy, once and for all, right? I believe that as long as you stay in Cloud City for a while, show your face a few times, or travel to the mountains and waters of Northern Pavilion Kingdom or Water Ember Kingdom, Water Dragon Sect will take the initiative to come to you. It's definitely better than you and Bai Bi conspiring behind closed doors."
Huan Yun was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "That would be best."
The next day at dawn, Sun Qing of Colorful Sparrow Manor, with her disciple Liu Guibao, came to visit Cloud City.
Shen Zhenze nearly jumped up and cursed, but there was no way around it. When the two talisman boats had entered the city earlier, due to the mountain and water restrictions and the protective grand formation, the huge caisson ceiling had been forced to reveal its true appearance for a moment.
Presumably, a secret agent from Colorful Sparrow Manor at the market had immediately sent word to Peach Blossom Ferry.
This was normal—Cloud City also had secret agents planted at Peach Blossom Ferry.
Shen Zhenze wasn't so petty as to directly forbid Sun Qing from entering the city.
But he shamelessly came to that residence anyway.
If Sun Qing's offer was higher than his, and Shen Zhenze couldn't afford the caisson, he could still drive up the price to death, right? It didn't cost him a single immortal coin.
If Sun Qing got angry and didn't buy it, he, Shen Zhenze, would just sell everything he had. He could even directly carve out a large piece of Cloud City land. If that wasn't enough, he'd go into debt or shamelessly borrow a few Grain Rain Coins from Huan Yun.
In the courtyard, Chen Ping'an watched Sun Qing's livid expression and Shen Zhenze leisurely raising the price.
As for the caisson's value, Huan Yun wasn't sure either, only saying that a price of eighty Grain Rain Coins certainly wasn't excessive.
Chen Ping'an put on a stern face, slightly innocent and a bit helpless.
In fact, he almost couldn't resist giving Shen Zhenze a thumbs-up.
Shen Zhenze had already bid up to eighty-six Grain Rain Coins.
At this rate, Shen Zhenze could keep shouting from morning till night, raising the price to a thousand.
Sun Qing said coldly, "Shen Zhenze, that's about enough!"
Shen Zhenze smiled, "Is Manor Lord Sun prepared to part with it reluctantly? Then I should thank Manor Lord Sun on behalf of Cloud City."
Liu Guibao hadn't said a word.
In the courtyard were also two young men and women who had come with Shen Zhenze.
All were acquaintances.
Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan.
Liu Guibao wasn't very curious about the black-robed man who wasn't carrying a sword today—high cultivators on the mountain had many strange things, and moreover, after removing that old man's face mask, he wasn't that good-looking anyway. Nothing much to see.
Instead, she secretly sized up Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan many times, trying to find some clues.
Could it be that True Man Huan Yun had originally stood by and watched indifferently, deliberately turning a blind eye to what Senior Supporter Xu of Cloud City had done? Was it because he had a well-thought-out plan, rather than the trick of using a borrowed knife to kill, wanting to protect his reputation while obtaining the treasures, killing two birds with one stone? If so, this True Man Huan Yun really made her see him in a new light.
Chen Ping'an actually hoped in his heart to sell the caisson ceiling to Colorful Sparrow Manor.
Although Senior Sun had already left this Bright World, from Senior Sun's words and actions, Chen Ping'an could clearly see that he regretted Liu Guibao's situation. Although he concluded with 'the Dao does not align' and didn't take the girl as a disciple, he still gave her that Daoist scripture. For Chen Ping'an, since he couldn't carry such a large 'millstone' around with him forever as he traveled the mountains and waters, he might as well go with the flow and sell it to Colorful Sparrow Manor. After all, Senior Sun had given him so many opportunities, and Chen Ping'an felt he had to do something in return to feel at ease.
Even if the two sides might never meet again in this life.
Unless Chen Ping'an one day truly became a flying-ascension realm great sword immortal and had the chance to visit that Azure Bright World.
Some things that could be done or left undone—if doing them would make him feel better, then there was no need to hesitate.
Besides, it didn't harm his earnings.
Sun Qing suddenly sent a voice message to Chen Ping'an, "Brother Chen, thirty Grain Rain Coins, and I'll give you an item of 'arm's reach' as well. Deal or no? Give me a straight answer. If not, I'll leave right now! Rest assured, Brother Chen, you'll still be an honored guest of Colorful Sparrow Manor. I, Sun Qing, never beat around the bush with empty pleasantries!"
That arm's reach item was naturally extremely rare, but for Sun Qing, the manor lord, the caisson ceiling that could stabilize mountain and river qi fortune was the most precious treasure.
Chen Ping'an was clearly very surprised.
He hesitated for a moment and said, "Then thirty Grain Rain Coins. Keep the arm's reach item for yourself. For the rest of the Grain Rain Coins, I'll owe them. How many Grain Rain Coins an arm's reach item is worth on the mountain, Manor Lord Sun can pay me back that many later."
Sun Qing actually refused, "An arm's reach item is useless to me for now, and it will be for a hundred or even several hundred years. But every Grain Rain Coin earned by Colorful Sparrow Manor—Wu Qun, Liu Guibao, and so many cultivators all need these immortal coins. I, Sun Qing, can't delay their cultivation. So Brother Chen, just say yes or no! Furthermore, I obtained that arm's reach item inexplicably, and it wasn't sealed. I was just about to do a minor refinement when I received True Man Huan Yun's secret letter, so I erased those restrictions. You can use it right away, Brother Chen."
Finally, Sun Qing said carelessly, "If we don't make a deal, goodwill remains, and the honored guest is still an honored guest. But next time Brother Chen comes to our Colorful Sparrow Manor, whether you get ordinary tea or the Little Dark Wall, I can't guarantee."
Chen Ping'an suppressed a smile and replied via voice message, "Then it's settled: thirty Grain Rain Coins plus one arm's reach item."
Sun Qing laughed out loud, "Deal!"
She didn't hide the fact that she had made a deal with Brother Chen.
Shen Zhenze was a bit disappointed, but it was okay.
If I get it, it's my fortune; if I lose it, it's my fate.
Sun Qing turned to Shen Zhenze and said, "Regardless, the treasure was bought by me here in Cloud City. Consider it that I, Sun Qing, owe you a favor."
Shen Zhenze nodded with a smile.
He took Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan and flew away on the wind.
Huan Yun gifted a talisman boat to Colorful Sparrow Manor.
Sun Qing didn't refuse and accepted it graciously.
Otherwise, would she have to carry the caisson on her back and fly off? How would that look? Was there any cultivator in the world so shameless?
Then Sun Qing glanced at the caisson, then turned to look at the young sword immortal with the surname Chen.
Sun Qing quickly understood, thinking that he probably had an arm's reach item himself.
Chen Ping'an gave her a slight smile in response to her guess, very calmly.
Sun Qing actually felt a bit guilty.
Damn, I owe him another huge favor. If he already has an arm's reach item himself, then the one I haven't even warmed up yet to give him isn't worth as much. This made Sun Qing a bit helpless. Forget it, since he's a friend of Liu Jinglong, why should I be polite with him?
Huan Yun tactfully left.
Sun Qing handed over the token arm's reach item and thirty Grain Rain Coins.
Then she took Liu Guibao and the caisson ceiling, boarded the talisman boat, and left Cloud City.
This Colorful Sparrow Manor lord was grinning from ear to ear. On the boat, she started drinking and didn't forget to look down and shout loudly to Huan Yun, "True Man Huan, Cloud City is no fun at all. A place the size of a palm—if you fart in the east, you can hear it in the west. So come and visit our Colorful Sparrow Manor when you have time. Even better if you become a senior supporter!"
Shen Zhenze cursed with a laugh, "What a load of nonsense! True Man Huan is already a nominal senior supporter of Cloud City!"
Huan Yun smiled and shook his head.
But his mood was still pretty good.
Chen Ping'an stood in the courtyard. With an extra arm's reach item, he seemed to have solved an urgent problem. He began to move like an ant, methodically reorganizing all his old and new items.
After an incense stick's time, Huan Yun returned.
Chen Ping'an was already sitting in the pavilion on top of the rockery, tilting his head, listening to the sound of two Grain Rain Coins clinking together.
Huan Yun sat opposite and sighed with a smile, "A small room holds a vast universe; an inch heart opens a broad sky. I always thought I understood, but now I realize I didn't really."
Chen Ping'an was still clinking the Grain Rain Coins together, humming in acknowledgment, and said casually, "Knowing that you don't know—that's starting to know a little."
Actually, 'preaching great principles' to a Dao sect Golden Core earth immortal who was proficient in talismans made Chen Ping'an a bit nervous, but it didn't matter. He could just borrow many of the words from his student Cui Dongshan and use them.
Huan Yun smiled, "If you trust me, I'll go travel the mountains and rivers of Northern Pavilion Kingdom."
Chen Ping'an put away the two Grain Rain Coins, sat up straight, and said, "I wish the old gentleman a successful crossing of the heart barrier."
Huan Yun said, "It's still early. When I can clearly tell Shen Zhenze about this matter and sincerely apologize to those two juniors, only then will I truly have no more heart knots."
Chen Ping'an nodded with a smile, "The old gentleman's bearing is the same as before."
Huan Yun stood up, made a Daoist salute, and said, "Fellow Daoist, take care."
Chen Ping'an stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Take care."
Huan Yun flew away on the wind.
But on the table, he left behind a talisman paper storage artifact.
Chen Ping'an picked it up, just considering it as temporarily keeping it for him.
He wouldn't even open it.
Chen Ping'an then began to carefully calculate the other heavenly materials and earthly treasures needed to refine the wood-type lifebound object.
Actually, before he left Fallen Mountain for Northern Juju Continent, Cui Dongshan had already helped provide a list, each for wood, metal, and fire being different, and he stated clearly that these were only the basic materials needed to refine different lifebound objects—having them wouldn't be wrong. But it was far from enough, since almost every five-element lifebound treasure in the world had its own requirements. After obtaining the opportunity, one needed to carefully explore and investigate on one's own to truly succeed in refining.
Chen Ping'an wasn't in a hurry to leave Cloud City.
After all, the ferry boat to Dragon Palace Cave Heaven would stop at Cloud City.
Every day, besides cultivating, Chen Ping'an would still go to the market to be a Bundle Peddler.
One day, Chen Ping'an saw an acquaintance: Jin Shan.
This wild cultivator man saw Chen Ping'an and almost knelt down to kowtow, but Chen Ping'an stopped him. Finally, the two squatted together by the stall.
The man wanted to return the offensive talismans he hadn't used and the one remaining turtle-back talisman with its spiritual energy not yet exhausted to the senior.
But Chen Ping'an didn't accept them, shook his head, and said, "Keep them all. They're not worth much anyway."
The man refused adamantly, and even sobbed a little.
So many high-realm cultivators had gone on that mountain visit for treasure, thinking there was no great danger, but in the end, only a few survived.
The man felt that one had to have a conscience.
So he insisted on making the trip to Cloud City, taking a chance to see if he, a pig-butcher, could meet that 'two he's mothers' senior again.
Chen Ping'an then accepted the talismans.
Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "When I close up the stall, let's go have a drink, brother?"
The man smiled, "Senior, let me pay the bill, okay?"
Chen Ping'an nodded, "Okay, but we won't be able to afford good wine."
The man grinned—that was true.
In the end, the man treated the senior to a meal and drink, stretching his budget a little, but he didn't mind spending that money at all.
Cloud City had its own small immortal ferry boats running back and forth.
The man spent one Snow Flower Coin and boarded the ferry at the dock. He cupped his hands in farewell to the senior, who was still so polite and easy to talk to, returning the gesture as he saw him off.
The ferry slowly sailed away.
On the way to the dock after the meal, the senior had returned the talismans to him, so he had to carefully hide them in his sleeve.
He was also told to hurry back home—the area around Cloud City was still not peaceful.
The man wouldn't dare not take that seriously.
During the meal earlier, he had chatted with the senior about all sorts of things—how virtuous his wife was, how well she managed the household, how he had two children who, though still young, were promising, real bookish seeds who would surely pass the examinations to become scholars and officials...
Now that the man was sober, he felt even more ashamed and slapped himself.
After disembarking, at a secluded spot, the man wanted to hide the talismans in his boots; keeping them in his sleeve still made him uneasy.
But when he pulled them out, he found that two gold-colored talismans were mixed in, completely different from the previous yellow paper material.
The man stood dumbfounded.
He couldn't help but recall a sentence the senior had said during the meal:
"A swordsman acts, only seeking satisfaction, and never minding the reasoning."