Chapter 562: Southward Return, Northward Journey
Lion's Roar Peak Mountain Lord Huang Cai was already standing beside the founding ancestor Li Liu, chuckling softly. "With that one punch from Mr. Chen, Lion's Roar Peak is truly famous now."
Li Liu rarely showed a smile in front of Huang Cai, but she did now. "Huang Cai, you don't need to deliberately call him Mr. Chen. It makes you uncomfortable, and hearing it makes Mr. Chen uncomfortable too."
Huang Cai understood his master's temperament and nodded.
In one lifetime, Li Liu had casually picked up a child by the roadside, let him kowtow three times however he pleased, and considered him her only direct disciple. Later, master and disciple established their sect on Lion's Roar Peak. After Li Liu's deliverance passing, Huang Cai, who had just become a young Golden Core Earth Immortal, stepped up to support the sect. Lion's Roar Peak stood unshaken in North Julu Continent, a land teeming with sword cultivators. That child who had once been thin as a bamboo pole, with a notably large head that was rather amusing to look at, eventually became a renowned and powerful Nascent Soul cultivator of North Julu Continent.
Li Er suddenly spoke up. "He's wearing four dharma robes. Except for the innermost one, which is still in decent condition, the other three can't really withstand the punches. They're pretty badly damaged."
Fortunately, before poling the boat back to the ferry, he hadn't forgotten to take off those robes that had become burdens, especially the outermost one from the Rainbow Sparrow Manor. Otherwise, if he had climbed high and thrown that punch so openly, half of North Julu Continent would soon hear that Lion's Roar Peak had produced a Pure Martial Artist who liked wearing women's clothes.
As for what far-reaching effects Chen Ping'an's punch—which scattered the golden sea of clouds and left a heavy Martial Fortune in North Julu Continent—would actually have, Li Er had previously learned of Chen Ping'an's decision but hadn't deliberately gone into details with him. There was no need. Doing so might backfire and possibly introduce impurities into Chen Ping'an's intent. He only said that the small group of Ninth Realm and Tenth Realm martial artists at the pinnacle of North Julu Continent's martial path who sensed it would all feel a measure of delight. Regardless of these grandmasters' personal temperaments or martial virtues, they would all develop some respect for the young man on Lion's Roar Peak that day. All the martial temples, large and small, across the entire continent would feel gratitude toward this person. Not to mention others—even the Confucian Sage Zhou Mi, who was acquainted with Lion's Roar Peak's Huang Cai, would think highly of Chen Ping'an and feel he suited his temperament.
Li Liu remembered Chen Ping'an's flashy attire from earlier and suppressed a smile, speaking softly. "I'll help Mr. Chen repair the dharma robes."
Li Er chuckled.
Li Liu said helplessly, "Father, what are you imagining?"
Li Er replied, "Not imagining anything. Just happy that I'll have wine to drink once we go down the mountain."
Chen Ping'an swayed unsteadily, stepping one after another onto his flying swords First and Fifteen, and finally floated gently to the ground.
Li Er said, "First, recover from your injuries on the mountain for half a month. Once you've stabilized your Golden Body Realm, I'll help you open up your tendons and bones and temper your soul. Every time you break through a realm, there are changes in the small world of the human body that even the martial artist himself can't imagine. Striking while the iron is hot is safer."
Chen Ping'an smiled bitterly. "Uncle Li, let's talk about that later. Right now I'm dizzy and lightheaded. Just thinking about practicing punches makes me drowsy. Let me take it slow first, ease into it."
Li Er waved his hand with a smile.
Chen Ping'an cupped his fists toward Mountain Lord Huang Cai and said apologetically, "I've never had the chance to thank Mountain Lord Huang."
Huang Cai shook his head. "No need to be so polite, Young Master Chen. It's Lion's Roar Peak that has gained reflected glory and sudden fame. Young Master Chen can rest assured and focus on recovering."
Chen Ping'an's expression was peculiar, and he took his leave.
Li Er also quickly headed down the mountain.
Li Liu stood where she was and said, "Gained reflected glory and sudden fame? Isn't that a derogatory term? Huang Cai, I told you to study more back then, but you were too busy cultivating. I heard you have a good relationship with Yu Fu Academy's Mountain Lord Zhou Mi. You two actually have things to talk about?"
Huang Cai looked helpless. "Master, I've never liked flipping through books since I was a child. Besides, when I interact with Mountain Lord Zhou, we never discuss essays or poetry."
Li Liu shook her head. "What a waste of such a big head you had when you were young."
Huang Cai was startled for a moment, then touched his head. Only then did he remember that it was true when he was young. Back then, he was gaunt and sallow-skinned, begging along the road in a heavy snowstorm, and then he met his master walking slowly through the snow.
Huang Cai would clearly remember that scene for his entire life. But in the later years, many things about himself, he couldn't quite recall anymore.
Li Liu turned her head and looked at the old man who had painstakingly guarded Lion's Roar Peak's legacy. This peak was merely one of her leftover cave dwellings, not even as important as the Southern Scent Water Palace in Dragon Palace Cave Heaven. The reason their family of three had settled here was simply that Li Liu had taken a liking to the peaceful little town at the foot of the mountain. If her mother opened a shop in that market town, she wouldn't feel too out of place. It actually had almost nothing to do with Lion's Roar Peak or Huang Cai.
But for some reason, looking now at that child with the big head who was like a skinny little monkey, who had suddenly become a white-haired, aging old man, Li Liu felt an uncharacteristic trace of subtle, tiny sadness. Huang Cai's aptitude wasn't particularly good. He had too stubborn a temper, and on his cultivation path, he had fought too many battles. Taking care of an ancestral hall in North Julu Continent wasn't an easy task. Huang Cai, who had once had hope of reaching the Jade Marrow Realm, had faced multiple sword challenges and attacks throughout history. He had tenaciously protected Lion's Roar Peak's ancestral hall from destruction, unwilling to bow his head, accumulating numerous hidden problems. After great battles, patching up his energy palaces was futile, and in this life, he could only remain in the Nascent Soul Realm.
Actually, when Li Liu had first returned to this mountain, she had been quite dismissive of this disciple. What did a dispensable Lion's Roar Peak ancestral hall matter? Even if it collapsed and became ruins, and Huang Cai didn't rebuild it, so what? Instead of spending all that effort cultivating direct disciples and exhausting resources to expand Lion's Roar Peak, he should have chosen to cultivate on his own, focus solely on breaking through realms, and entered the Upper Five Realms. Then he might even have received a precious treasure from her.
Li Liu wasn't unaware of Huang Cai's intentions. In fact, she was perfectly clear about them. It was just that before, Li Liu simply didn't care.
But at this moment, Li Liu felt some sadness nonetheless.
Looking at his master, who had never had such an expression before, Huang Cai remembered that in his impression, his master had once worn a different appearance, forever aloof and silent, as if contemplating great matters that he, Huang Cai, could never understand.
Huang Cai didn't dare look directly at his master. He gazed into the distance, as if talking to himself, his voice trembling. "Disciple is truly very happy to be reunited with Master in this life."
Li Liu hummed in acknowledgment. "Master isn't as happy as you, but it's still alright."
Master and disciple were silent for a long time.
Li Liu slowly said, "From now on, you don't need to worry about the mountain and river restriction of that cave dwelling. You are now the Mountain Lord of Lion's Roar Peak, and that dwelling is no longer my cultivation site. You don't need to observe taboos about it. If Lion's Roar Peak has some promising seedlings, after Mr. Chen leaves the mountain, let them go in and build thatched huts for cultivation. As for the three daoist books I granted you in the early years, pass them on separately according to the disciples' aptitudes and temperaments. Don't rigidly adhere to rules. Besides, back then I didn't forbid you from teaching those three ancient water methods divine abilities. If you hadn't been so inflexible and pedantic, Lion's Roar Peak would have produced a second Nascent Soul cultivator long ago."
Huang Cai patted his head. "Just as Master said, this big head has been wasted."
Li Liu smiled.
Huang Cai didn't say anything more. His state of mind was peaceful, his expression content, as he accompanied his master, whom he had been reunited with after so long, to gaze at the mountains and rivers of the mortal world together.
---
Half a month later, Li Er ascended the mountain again. This time, he would spar with Chen Ping'an, requiring him to fight purely as a martial artist of the Golden Body Realm, using no fist forms or techniques whatsoever—not even traces of them. If Li Er detected the slightest hint, Chen Ping'an would have to take a punch at the peak of the Ninth Realm. The requirement was that Chen Ping'an's punches must be purely fast; if they were even slightly slow, it would be doing a disservice to the hard-won Golden Body Realm, and he would have to take another punch. Finally, Li Er dragged Chen Ping'an to the small boat. This time, Li Er poled back to the ferry, saying it still needed some work and would need another half month of polishing. Chen Ping'an rarely refused such kindness, saying no, he really had to get moving. Since Qi Jinglong had already broken through and was about to face his first sword challenge, Chen Ping'an needed to hurry to the Grand Emblem Sword Sect for a look, then visit Prostrate Peak to pay respects to Fire Dragon True Man and see another good friend. He also needed to make a trip to the provincial city of Green Artemisia Kingdom, to that Cave Immortal Street. After seeing Li Xisheng, he would head south to return to Skeleton Beach.
Li Er didn't press Chen Ping'an.
At dawn, the two walked quickly down the mountain together. Li Er asked curiously, "Since you're in such a hurry to keep your appointment at Inverted Mountain, why not just go directly from North Julu Continent? Why make a trip to Vase Bottle Continent? Fallen Mountain isn't going anywhere, and with Zhu Lian and Wei Bo managing things from inside and out, you don't really need to worry. If you miss Skeleton Beach and go to Vase Bottle Continent, the only cross-continent ferry is at Old Dragon City. That's not a short trip. Don't you find it troublesome?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "If I don't go home and take a look, I just can't rest easy."
Li Er didn't say anything more.
During this time, helping Chen Ping'an with sparring had required him to talk far too much. It was more tiring than throwing punches.
When they reached the cloth shop at the foot of the mountain, Li Liu was helping inside. Business was slow. Chen Ping'an hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself, until finally he couldn't help but speak up. "Miss Li, do you know why business isn't good at your cloth shop?"
Li Liu nodded.
The market women and young maidens in this town didn't enjoy seeing her. Even if she were willing to go against her nature and praise her shop's fabrics to the skies, as long as she stood in the shop, those mortal women would inevitably feel uncomfortable. Even if buying cloth added a bit of charm to them, what did it matter? As long as they saw her, they would be discouraged.
Li Liu liked staying at the shop primarily because she wanted to spend more time with her mother.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "You could have one or two not-so-beautiful female immortals from Lion's Roar Peak come to buy silk here twice during the bustling market hour. The first time, buy a little less; the second time, buy more. Remember to wear clothes made from silk purchased here when they come. That way, Miss Li won't need to worry about the shop's business and can spend more time chatting with Auntie Liu in the back courtyard."
Li Liu smiled. "I can try following Mr. Chen's ingenious plan."
Earlier, when the woman had seen Chen Ping'an's complexion, she had set down the tea and her first words had been, "Are you sick?"
Chen Ping'an hurriedly shook his head with a smile, saying no, no, just a bit of a cold. Auntie Liu didn't need to worry.
The woman then shared some folk remedies from her hometown for maintaining health, insisting Chen Ping'an not take them lightly.
At the dinner table that day, four people sat.
As soon as Auntie Liu heard that Chen Ping'an would be leaving the town after eating, she looked somewhat disappointed.
Then, when she heard that Chen Ping'an was willing to write a letter home on her behalf to be sent to the Great Sui Academy, the woman immediately became overjoyed.
Li Liu turned to look at Li Er, who just smiled and took a sip of wine, savoring it contentedly.
In Li Huai's room, Chen Ping'an laid out brush, ink, and paper. The woman sat beside him, with Li Er and the woman on one long bench, and Li Liu sitting across the table from Chen Ping'an.
Chen Ping'an smiled gently. "Auntie Liu, you speak, and I'll write. Let's write more about everyday trivial matters. When Li Huai sees it, he'll feel more at ease."
The woman looked at the clean-cut young man in blue robes, his smile warm, and inexplicably felt a lump in her throat. She said softly, "Ping'an, if your parents were still alive, how wonderful that would be. Auntie Liu doesn't have much experience; I'm just a woman who likes to gossip. But at least I'm a mother. I dare say any parents in the world, if they had a son like you, would be nothing but happy."
Chen Ping'an lowered his gaze, his expression calm. Then he raised his head slightly and said with a light smile, "Auntie Liu, I wish my parents were still here too. But I was too young back then and couldn't do much. To be honest, I've been quite sad about it all these years."
The woman felt very guilty for bringing up such a painful memory. She quickly said, "Ping'an, Auntie will just ramble on. Write what's worth writing; if something shouldn't be put on paper, just skip it."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "There's plenty of paper. Auntie, talk as much as you like. The longer the letter, the better the omen."
The woman let out a heavy sigh, then turned to glare at Li Liu. "Did you hear that?! Every time I asked you to write a letter, you'd dash off a flimsy page or two at most. Do you even have your brother in your heart? Do you have me as your mother? I raised a heartless daughter for nothing!"
Chen Ping'an smiled apologetically at Li Liu across the table.
Li Liu nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then put her hands together in front of her and pleaded with the woman, "Mother, I know I was wrong."
After that, the small room was filled only with the woman's rambling and Chen Ping'an's meticulous brushwork.
That young man in blue robes, who had traveled ten thousand miles and read ten thousand books, sat upright, his back straight, expression serious.
Finally, Chen Ping'an shouldered his bamboo box, grasped his mountain-traveling staff, and left the shop. The woman and the man stood at the doorway, watching Chen Ping'an depart.
The woman insisted that Li Liu see him off partway.
Li Liu carried a bundle in her hands, all items prepared by her mother, mostly local specialties of the town.
Of course, inside were also three dharma robes she had personally repaired.
The woman muttered softly, "Li Er, will our daughter ever find someone this good?"
Li Er thought for a moment. "Hard to say."
The woman stomped on Li Er's foot, then poked his forehead with her finger, again and again. "And you don't put in any effort?! You just stand there gawking and let Ping'an walk away? You never miss a chance to drink, but you can't handle anything properly. For me to end up with a man like you, and for Li Liu and Li Huai to have a father like you—is heaven blind, or did the three of us accumulate no virtue in our past lives?!"
Li Er remained silent, not daring to dodge.
The woman sighed, withdrew her hand in frustration. She couldn't keep poking him. Her man was already a blockhead who couldn't see the obvious. If she accidentally poked his brain into damage, wouldn't she be the one to suffer?
On the main street of the town, the two walked side by side.
Li Liu said softly, "Mr. Chen, Huang Cai will take you to the ferry. You can go directly to the Roaming Official Ferry near Grand Emblem Sword Sect. Once you disembark, Grand Emblem Sword Sect is just a few steps away. The first person to challenge Grand Emblem Sword Sect is Li Cai from Floating Duckweed Sword Lake. This is just the old custom of North Julu Continent. Mr. Chen doesn't need to think too much about it."
Having said this, Li Liu smiled. "I forgot that Mr. Chen values rules the most."
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "But when it comes to reasonable rules, my understanding is still too little, too shallow. I'm far from knowing what true propriety really is."
Li Liu made no comment on this.
Mostly, she didn't want to meddle.
Li Liu asked, "Does Mr. Chen never long for pure, absolute freedom?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Actually, I do envy that kind of unrestraint sometimes. But I've always felt that absolute freedom without sufficient understanding as its foundation is neither solid nor anything but a disaster."
They walked past the corner of the main street. Not far ahead stood the old Nascent Soul Mountain Lord of Lion's Roar Peak, using a concealment technique.
Li Liu took down the bundle from her arm, and Chen Ping'an also took off his bamboo box.
Li Liu had originally thought to let him just stand there while she opened the box, but now she handed the bundle to him and smiled. "Mr. Chen afraid of being misunderstood? The neighbors have already misunderstood plenty."
Chen Ping'an placed the bundle into his bamboo box, shouldered it again, and smiled without speaking.
Finally, Li Liu spoke through divine sense. "There is a place in the Green Abyss Heaven called Xuan Du Abbey, the ancestral court of the Daoist Sword Immortal lineage. The abbey master is named Sun Huaizhong, an upright man with a touch of the unruly world."
Chen Ping'an replied, "Thank you, Miss Li, for giving me a pill of peace of mind."
---
Accompanied by Huang Cai in person, Chen Ping'an chatted casually with this Lion's Roar Peak Mountain Lord, then took his leave. Finally, he boarded an immortal ferryboat adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, like a pavilion, heading for the Roaming Official Ferry. There were quite a few passengers, many of them headed for Grand Emblem Sword Sect. They were all talking animatedly on the boat—naturally, since that land dragon of North Julu Continent had emerged from seclusion and broken through his realm. Next would come three earth-shattering Sword Immortal challenges: the female Sword Immortal Li Cai, Dong Zhu, and the number one sword cultivator of the northern lands, Bai Shang!
In addition, they discussed the golden sea of clouds and martial fortune sweet rain at Lion's Roar Peak.
Everyone was speculating whether Lion's Roar Peak had been deliberately hiding a Pure Martial Artist, or if it was just a passing traveler.
Chen Ping'an went to his cabin, opened his bamboo box, and prepared to take out the three dharma robes to store them in his "arm's reach" storage item. But when he opened the bundle, he found inside not only various treats and local products prepared by Auntie Liu, but also a delicate, emerald-green jade token. Li Liu had applied a mountain and river restriction to it, so its spiritual energy wasn't apparent, which was why Chen Ping'an hadn't noticed it earlier. Chen Ping'an sighed. He had freeloaded food, drink, and boxing lessons—and now this precious return gift too. What kind of guest was he?
The inscription on the jade token read: "Old Flood Dragon Calms the Wind and Waves."
He put it away along with the dharma robes and continued refining the spiritual energy in three key acupoints.
The journey was uneventful.
They arrived at the Roaming Official Ferry, which was only three hundred li from Grand Emblem Sword Sect.
Chen Ping'an found the place packed with people—all cultivators who had come to watch the excitement.
After the ferry entered Grand Emblem Sword Sect's territory, Chen Ping'an sent a flying-sword message to Qi Jinglong.
He didn't see Qi Jinglong at the ferry, only that youth from Ge Lu Mountain, Baishou.
Baishou sprinted over, weaving through the crowd like a fish, and grinned widely when he saw Chen Ping'an, giving him a thumbs-up.
Chen Ping'an asked in confusion, "What's got you so happy?"
Baishou laughed heartily. "Hey, Chen, do you know a guy from Cloud City named Xu Xingjiu?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I do."
Baishou doubled over laughing. "Damn, that guy Liu has been busy lately, entertaining guests all day long. When this Xu Xingjiu first showed up with a visiting card, claiming to know 'Mr. Chen,' that guy Liu actually brushed off several engagements and went down the mountain to meet him. I went along too. And guess what? That guy also had a big bamboo box on his back, just like you. After the pleasantries, he said, 'I've heard that Mr. Liu is fond of wine, so I took the liberty of bringing some of Cloud City's own brew.'"
By this point, Baishou was laughing so hard tears were streaming down his face. "You should have seen that guy Liu's face! It was like going to the outhouse and finding no toilet paper!"
Chen Ping'an groaned. "This Xu Xingjiu, he hears the wind and thinks it's rain. He must have misunderstood what I meant. Definitely misunderstood."
Baishou raised both hands high, clenched his fists, and shook them vigorously. "Chen, I salute you!"
Chen Ping'an asked quietly, "Is your master really that busy? Too busy to come meet me here, so he sent a little nobody like you to make up the numbers?"
Baishou bared his teeth. "Hey, Chen! Who're you calling a nobody?! I'm recognized at Grand Emblem Sword Sect as a once-in-a-generation genius. That guy Liu burns incense every day to celebrate taking me as his disciple."
Chen Ping'an smiled and ruffled the youth's hair.
Baishou didn't manage to dodge. He said angrily, "Don't get too familiar! Chen, I'm doing you a huge favor by letting us call each other brothers. If you push it, you can find your own way to Grand Emblem Sword Sect. I'm not interested in being your guide."
At Grand Emblem Sword Sect's mountain gate, Qi Jinglong was standing there with a straight face.
Chen Ping'an bounced his bamboo box on his back and trotted over, smiling. "Not bad, breaking through so quickly."
Qi Jinglong smirked. "Not at all, not at all. Compared to the great Sword Immortal Chen, I'm far behind. You broke through both martial and cultivation bottlenecks in one go."
Chen Ping'an waved his hand. "I wouldn't dare claim that."
Baishou said disdainfully, "Are you two done? Flattering each other the moment you meet. Is that fun?"
The youth chuckled slyly. "Why not pull out two jars of wine and chat over a drink? Hey, Liu, you'd better take it slow this time. Sip it."
The youth admired that Xu Xingjiu. When he'd gotten to the thatched hut on the mountain, the guy sat down and, without another word, started chugging like a cow drinking water. He downed two whole pots of wine in one go. If that guy Liu hadn't stopped him, he looked like he would've gone for a third to finish things off properly. Sure, the wine pots were a bit small, but for a cultivator deliberately suppressing their spiritual energy, drinking like that was still quite impressive.
The three walked slowly up the mountain together. Along the way, Qi Jinglong frequently greeted people but didn't deliberately stop for small talk.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Xu Xingjiu already left?"
Qi Jinglong said helplessly, "We drank a round, he got drunk for a day, and after sobering up, I finally managed to explain things clearly. Then he started drinking penalty wine on his own, and I couldn't stop him, so I had to drink a bit more with him."
Chen Ping'an laughed heartily.
Qi Jinglong snorted coldly. "Don't let it happen again."
Chen Ping'an secretly enjoyed himself and lightly high-fived Baishou.
Baishou thought this Chen guy was pretty interesting. Maybe he should come to Grand Emblem Sword Sect more often.
Or have someone else bring wine up the mountain for that guy Liu. That wouldn't be bad either.
Grand Emblem Sword Sect covered vast territory, with clustered peaks, beautiful scenery, and abundant spiritual energy. Since Chen Ping'an couldn't fly long distances, he took out his talisman boat, and they went together to Qi Jinglong's cultivation site.
At the thatched hut, Baishou brought three bamboo chairs, and they each sat down.
Qi Jinglong suddenly said, "Lend me a Grain Rain Coin."
Chen Ping'an tossed him a Grain Rain Coin and asked curiously, "On your own mountain, you're this poor?"
Qi Jinglong caught the coin, held it between two fingers, drew a talisman in the air with his other hand, and tossed the coin into it. The talisman light dispersed, and the coin vanished. Then he said irritably, "Disciples of the sect's ancestral hall receive their resources once every ten years according to the rules. If I urgently need immortal money, I can of course run up a debt, but I'm not in the habit. Borrowing money from you, Chen Ping'an—I don't even feel like paying it back."
Chen Ping'an turned to Baishou. "Hear that? Is that something a master should say in front of his own disciple?"
Baishou was about to pour fuel on the fire when he saw that guy Liu smile faintly and look at him. Baishou swallowed his words. Damn it—you, Chen, will eventually pat your butt and leave, but I still have to stay on this mountain, staring at this guy Liu every day. I absolutely cannot act on impulse and shoot my mouth off. Because Liu Jinglong had said earlier that after he came out of seclusion, it would be time to carefully explain Grand Emblem Sword Sect's rules.
Chen Ping'an said to Baishou with a smile, "Go cool off somewhere else. Your master and I need to talk."
Baishou refused to budge. He sneered, "What, you two gossiping like old women in the boudoir? I can't listen to that?"
Chen Ping'an interlaced the fingers of both hands and cracked his knuckles, smiling. "Baishou, I suddenly realized you're a martial arts prodigy. It'd be a shame if you didn't study martial arts. Want me to help you with some sparring?"
Baishou spat. "I wouldn't give up being a sword immortal to go study martial arts and practice punches!"
But he still got up and wandered off elsewhere.
This mountain was named Fluttering Peak, a prime geomantic site that cultivators dreamed of. It was located behind the area between Grand Emblem Sword Sect's main peak and secondary peak. Every spring and autumn, there would be two instances where spiritual energy surged toward Fluttering Peak like a tide—especially containing strands of pure sword intent within. If a cultivator stayed on the mountain, they could practically enjoy a free ride in terms of cultivation. After Grand Emblem Sword Sect's second sect master passed away, this peak had never been opened for cultivators to reside on. In history, a Jade Marrow Realm sword cultivator had once proactively offered to serve as Grand Emblem Sword Sect's guest elder if the peak were granted to him for cultivation. The sect still refused.
That guy Liu didn't know what was good for him. He had been reluctant to leave Grand Emblem Sword Sect's ancestral mountain and move to Fluttering Peak, saying he was used to the old house there. It was only after he broke through to Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator that, urged repeatedly by the ancestral hall, he finally opened the peak—and all he did was build a broken-down thatched hut and call it his residence. This year at the start of spring, that guy Liu was still in seclusion. Originally, all the disciples of Grand Emblem Sword Sect could come here annually to share the spiritual energy, but this year they didn't dare come. Baishou made a trip to the ancestral hall and relayed what that guy Liu had instructed to a kindly old ancestor. So in the end, for the spring of this year at Fluttering Peak, the young cultivators who came up the mountain were still plentiful. But unlike the lively atmosphere of before, everyone cultivated in silence, not speaking, tempering their sword intent.
At the time, the youth who was half the owner of Fluttering Peak remained completely still, arms crossed, sitting on a small stool in the thatched hut. He sat there expressionless for a day and a night.
Thus, the young cultivators of Grand Emblem Sword Sect increasingly felt that this Uncle or Grand-Uncle Liu of Fluttering Peak had taken on a truly strange disciple.
After Baishou left, Chen Ping'an gave Qi Jinglong a rough account of his travels.
He held back nothing about the various people and events, only varying the level of detail.
Qi Jinglong listened patiently and then helped fill in the gaps, like the two of them reviewing a game of Go.
When Chen Ping'an mentioned He Xiaoliang and the Qingliang Sect, and the enmity between that sect and the master-disciple pair of Bai Shang and Xu Xuan, Qi Jinglong said, "There hasn't been any news in ordinary landscape gazettes yet. In truth, Celestial Lord Xie Shi has already returned to his sect. The disciple who had previously had some conflict with Qingliang Sect was not only reprimanded by the Celestial Lord but also immediately sent down the mountain to proactively apologize to Qingliang Sect. After returning to the sect, he entered seclusion. After that, the Chongxuan Office of the Dayuan Dynasty—the Yang clan—along with the Water Dragon Sect and Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, three parties already entangled by interests, each sent representatives to visit Qingliang Sect. The Cloud Dawn Palace sent the young Celestial Lord Yang Ningxing, the Water Dragon Sect's Southern Branch sent Shao Jingzhi, and Floating Duckweed Sword Lake was visited by none other than its sect master, Li Cai, in person. With that, not to mention what Xu Xuan might think, the Qionglin Sect is in a rather difficult position."
Chen Ping'an frowned. "So the rumor that Bai Shang will personally challenge Grand Emblem Sword Sect—is that a good thing for you?"
Qi Jinglong smiled and nodded. "First, Bai Shang has always been proud and aloof. He wouldn't bully a newly promoted Jade Marrow Realm cultivator like me by relying on his cultivation level and seniority. Even without this business, if he were willing to draw his sword, it wouldn't be a bad thing. Second, as you guessed, Bai Shang is currently under some pressure and has to proactively form a bond of goodwill with my Grand Emblem Sword Sect, to help eliminate that 'what if.' After all, there are still senior Sword Immortals in North Julu Continent who don't look too favorably upon me. With Bai Shang's sword challenge as the finale, preceded by those of Li Cai and Dong Zhu, these three challenges will set me, Qi Jinglong, firmly at ease. I'll benefit greatly, free from any life-threatening danger."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Such good news—shouldn't we have a little drink to celebrate?"
Qi Jinglong broke his usual pattern and nodded, extending his hand.
Chen Ping'an took out two pots of glutinous rice wine and said doubtfully, "Breaking through to the Upper Five Realms changes a person's temperament that much?"
Qi Jinglong accepted the wine pot and smiled. "It's not to celebrate us breaking through our realms, but to celebrate that we could meet again."
Chen Ping'an's journey had not been easy. A Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator breaking through a bottleneck was equally difficult.
That the two of them could both be alive, meet again, and have nothing troubling them—that was more worth drinking to than any breakthrough.
Qi Jinglong was willing to drink to that.
The two held their wine pots and gently clinked them together. They exchanged a smile, understanding passed without words, each drinking to their own journeys in the world.
Chen Ping'an suddenly said softly, "This world isn't all that great."
Qi Jinglong smiled. "At least the wine is passable."
Baishou had pretended to wander off, but he hadn't gone far. He had been eavesdropping on their "boudoir talk" the whole time.
The youth shuddered, wrapped his arms around himself, and grumbled, "Two grown men—why are they so nauseating? Disgraceful, disgraceful..."
But he had to admit, that Chen guy was something. He was only at such a low realm, yet he already had this kind of experience and ability. Talking about the fists of a Tenth Realm martial artist like it was just drinking—and getting addicted to it? Was there a hole in his head, or two holes?
Can't mess with him, can't mess with him. From now on, when talking to him, he should be more polite. When treating him like a brother, he should be more sincere. By the time Chen Ping'an became a Golden Core Earth Immortal and a Ninth or Tenth Realm Grandmaster martial artist, he, Baishou, would look good by association.
Suddenly, Qi Jinglong's voice rang in the youth's ears. "You've been eavesdropping this whole time. What do you think? Want a drink?"
Baishou said with a completely straight face, "Drink what? So young, I'd be wasting my cultivation!"
Chen Ping'an exclaimed in admiration, "Truly a disciple of Qi Jinglong. Your skill at trimming your sails isn't much less than my first disciple's."
Baishou was somewhat indignant. He could accept being called a weather vane, but he couldn't stand being told he was worse at it than someone else. He turned around and shouted, "Hey, Chen! What's your disciple's name? Send word for me: Tell him that I, Baishou of Fluttering Peak, will have to meet him someday! Literary duels, martial duels, dao techniques, fists, sword arts—he can pick!"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Literary duels are fine. Forget martial duels—my first disciple is still studying at an academy."
Baishou shook his head. "Lucky bastard!"
The youth strode away.
Little did the youth know that these few careless words would cost him countless beatings in the future. The eventual catchphrase of the Sword Immortal Baishou of Fluttering Peak, which everyone would come to know, would be: "Disaster comes from the mouth."
Chen Ping'an finished his wine and stood up. "I won't keep you from your comings and goings. Besides, you've got three fights ahead of you. I need to keep moving."
Qi Jinglong didn't try to stop him either. It seemed he had been prepared. He pulled a pamphlet from his sleeve and said, "Some personal insights on sword cultivator cultivation methods. You can flip through it in your spare time."
Chen Ping'an put it into his sleeve and asked, "Will I have any trouble flying around on my talisman boat here in Grand Emblem Sword Sect?"
Qi Jinglong smiled faintly. "You do realize you're in Grand Emblem Sword Sect?"
Chen Ping'an feigned surprise. "Being an Upper Five Realm Sword Immortal really gives you confidence. If I were in Fallen Mountain, I wouldn't dare say something like that."
Chen Ping'an took his talisman boat and headed back to the Roaming Official Ferry to go to Prostrate Peak and see Zhang Shanfeng.
Before taking off, he shouted to Baishou, who was strolling on Fluttering Peak, "Your master owes me a Grain Rain Coin. Remind him about it every now and then."
Baishou had been thinking about showing some restraint with that Chen guy, but he couldn't help himself and flipped him off again.
At the thatched hut, Qi Jinglong nodded approvingly. Now that's starting to look like a proper disciple.
On the many peaks of Grand Emblem Sword Sect, clusters of female cultivators gathered in twos and threes, whispering excitedly.
While the male cultivators were curious about that young man's cultivation level, realm, and background, the women's discussions were entirely different.
They were all talking about the honored guest who had made Uncle or Grand-Uncle Liu come out personally to welcome him. Having heard he was a man in blue robes with a traveling staff and a big bamboo box on his back, they all couldn't help asking about his appearance and bearing. The women who had seen him from afar during the mountain ascent hemmed and hawed for a long time before saying, "He's passable." The other women were bitterly disappointed, feeling that their young uncle or grand-uncle had suffered a great injustice.
Over at Fluttering Peak, Qi Jinglong could never have imagined the nonsense the junior members of his sect were thinking. Even if he had heard it, he probably wouldn't have been able to figure it out.
He would probably still have had to consult Chen Ping'an for an explanation before he could break through the fog and suddenly see the light.
Baishou returned to the thatched hut. "He's already gone? Hey, Liu, does he not even consider you a friend?"
Qi Jinglong smiled. "When you have friends of your own someday, you'll naturally know the answer."
Baishou said, "I am friends with that Chen guy. We fought and got to know each other, regret that we didn't meet sooner, drink and laugh together, call each other brothers..."
Qi Jinglong waved his hand. "We're going to the ancestral hall."
Baishou immediately looked dejected. "Tomorrow, okay?"
Qi Jinglong said nothing.
Baishou grumbled internally but could only obediently follow Qi Jinglong, flying toward the main peak's ancestral hall.
Generally speaking, when that guy Liu said something—even if he'd been talkative during the process—once he stopped, not adding another word or character, then it was time for Baishou to do what needed to be done.
---
Chen Ping'an hadn't expected Zhang Shanfeng to have already gone down the mountain to travel with his senior brother Yuan Lingdian.
The person receiving guests was the peak master of the White Cloud lineage, an old immortal with an air of immortality, who personally came to the mountain gate to apologize to Chen Ping'an.
Upon learning that Fire Dragon True Man was still asleep, Chen Ping'an said he wouldn't ascend the mountain this time and would come back to visit another time. He asked the old master to forgive him for passing the gate without entering, and said that next time he came to North Julu Continent, he would definitely give advance notice.
The old immortal didn't say much more. His expression was kind, and he merely remarked that Chen Ping'an's phrase "leave it for later" was quite interesting.
Chen Ping'an felt a bit embarrassed and said it was just a saying from his hometown.
The old immortal personally escorted Chen Ping'an all the way to the ferry before bidding farewell and returning to the mountain.
Chen Ping'an boarded a ferry heading for Spring Dew Garden and leaned on the railing, lost in thought.
From Spring Dew Garden, he could go directly to the southernmost tip of North Julu Continent, Skeleton Beach.
But during this journey, he needed to get off midway and make a trip to Green Artemisia Kingdom first. This was a small kingdom with no immortal ferry, so he would have to travel over a thousand li on foot.
Li Xisheng was currently in a provincial city, living on a street called Cave Immortal Street.
Chen Ping'an didn't know that not long after he left Grand Emblem Sword Sect, a white-robed youth with a mole between his eyebrows, holding a green bamboo mountain-traveling staff, had boarded a return cross-continent ferry of the Hemp Cloth Sect heading for Skeleton Beach.
The master returned south; the student traveled north.
As soon as that youth arrived at Skeleton Beach, his first act was to tear open a section of the sky curtain over the Ghost Domain Valley's small world and rain down an extraordinarily brilliant storm of treasures upon the top of Mound City. After finishing, he collected his treasures and fled.
Surprisingly, Gao Cheng, the spirit of Mound City, did not pursue the white-robed youth.
Gao Cheng, armored and seated high on his Bone Throne, frowned deeply. Why was it that upon seeing this person, the vague unease that had been coming and going became even more pronounced?
Far from rashly breaking through the sky curtain again with his dharma form, Gao Cheng instead felt an inexplicable restraint for the first time.
At the Mural City at the foot of Tree Clothes Mountain, that youth was in a small shop, trying to buy a tracing copy of a goddess painting. He haggled pitifully with a young girl, claiming he was young, traveling and studying was hard, his purse was light, but he had seen these goddess paintings and they brought him joy—he would rather go hungry than not buy them.
The girl saw that his words were sincere and his eyes honest; if he kept complaining, he might even start crying. She had no choice but to break her usual rule and give him a low price. After the youth settled the price, he showed his gratitude, waved his large sleeve, and said, "All the goddess paintings in this shop—I'll take them all at this fair price!"
The girl stared dumbfounded.
That shameless white-robed youth turned his head.
The Hemp Cloth Sect's sect master, Zhu Quan, wearing a waist sword, stood not far away, smiling. "Young man, you have quite the boldness."
Cui Dongshan blinked, clutching his green bamboo staff. "Of course. I'm my master's proud disciple. Miss, where are you from?"
Zhu Quan looked at the traveling staff with a slightly odd expression. "Your master wouldn't happen to be surnamed Chen, would he?"
Cui Dongshan beamed. "Miss, you're truly a celestial! You knew in advance!"
Zhu Quan teased, "He never mentioned you to me."
The next moment, Zhu Quan was even more baffled.
How strange. This fellow had just been cheerfully raining treasures down on Gao Cheng's head at Mound City. He'd seemed quite lively.
But now, this handsome youth's face was crumpled, tears streaming down his face.