Chapter 566: In the Soundless Place

Chapter 566: In the Soundless Place

The transcontinental ferry of the Linen Mourning Sect was pulled by a mighty procession of spiritual strength warriors, dashing through the sea of clouds with the speed of wind and lightning.

The ferry slowly docked at Oxhorn Mountain Ferry, the hull trembling slightly.

Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan disembarked. Wei Po had been waiting for a long time. Zhu Lian was far away in Old Dragon City at the moment. Zheng Dafeng claimed he had sprained his ankle and wouldn't be able to get out of bed for at least half a year, so he had asked Cen Yuanji to help guard the mountain gate.

Chen Ping'an smiled. "See us partway to Fallen Mountain's base."

Wei Po nodded with relief. The three of them vanished into thin air and reappeared at the mountain gate.

When Cen Yuanji saw the three of them, she was about to stand up, but saw that they had already begun ascending the mountain. The young mountain master nodded to her in greeting, then reached out with his hand and pressed down slightly, signaling for her to continue practicing her fist techniques. Cen Yuanji wasn't one for empty pleasantries and formalities, and her impression of this young mountain master was also rather average, so she simply sat back down on her stool, closed her eyes, and continued to channel a stream of pure true qi circulating through her limbs and bones.

Wei Po asked, "You already know everything?"

Chen Ping'an nodded.

Senior Cui had left a suicide note in the bamboo building on Fallen Mountain. It wasn't on the second floor but had been placed on the desk on the first floor. On the envelope was written "For Nuan Shu to open."

According to the old man's last wishes, there was no need for a burial after his death. His ashes were to be scattered in some random place in the Lotus Root Blessed Land, and this matter was not to be delayed. Furthermore, there was no need to concern themselves with the wishes of the Cui Clan's ancestral hall. The letter directly stated that anyone who dared to set foot on Fallen Mountain should be driven back with one punch.

Wei Po explained, "Pei Qian has been staying there the whole time, saying that she wants to greet you in person when you return to the mountain. Zhou Mili also went to the Lotus Root Blessed Land to keep Pei Qian company. Chen Lingjun left Fallen Mountain and went to Riding Dragon Lane to help Shi Rou manage the New Year's Money Shop. So now on Fallen Mountain, only Chen Ruchu is left. But she should be in the prefectural city right now buying supplies. Also, the two disciples taken in by Lu Baixiang, the siblings Yuan Bao and Yuan Lai."

Chen Ping'an said, "Congratulations on breaking through."

Wei Po said wryly, "The Great Li court has started making some small moves. Their reasons are all perfectly justifiable, so legitimate that even I find them very reasonable."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Regarding the Jin Qing matter, the intention behind Cloudy Cloak Mountain's actions was too obvious. The two Great Marchmount Lords acted in unison. Even if the Great Li Emperor knows you have no private agenda, it will still breed resentment in his heart."

Wei Po said, "There's nothing to be done about it. The only one I find tolerable is Jin Qing. If some other mountain god were to be stationed at the Central Marchmount, the days of the Northern Marchmount would only become more grating. In all dynasties, the Five Marchmount Lords, whether of the dynasty or its vassals, have never not been forced into opposition against each other. Weighing the pros and cons, Cloudy Cloak Mountain had no choice but to act. It's better to just be straightforward about it. Since things have already come to this, the Song Emperor has no choice but to accept it. That bastard Jin Qing is even more shameless than me. In front of His Majesty the Emperor, he keeps singing Cloudy Cloak Mountain's praises and singing mine."

Chen Ping'an said, "As expected, anyone who can become a Marchmount Lord is no simple character."

When they reached the bamboo building on Fallen Mountain, Chen Ping'an said softly, "I didn't expect to be returning to Southern Yuan Kingdom so soon."

Cui Dongshan suddenly spoke up. "I've already gone. I'll stay here and watch the place."

Wei Po took out the Sycamore Leaf Umbrella, which he had been keeping safe for Chen Ping'an. After all, this item was of great importance.

Wei Po gently opened the not-so-large Sycamore Leaf Umbrella and said, "It's only recently been upgraded to a medium-grade blessed land. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to frequently come and go from the Lotus Root Blessed Land. I'll send you to the capital of Southern Yuan Kingdom."

Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "Much obliged."

Chen Ping'an's figure flickered and vanished.

Wei Po let out a soft sigh.

Cui Dongshan was already standing on the second-floor corridor, leaning against the railing with his back to the door, gazing into the distance.

Wei Po closed the Sycamore Leaf Umbrella and sat down by the stone table.

Cui Dongshan suddenly spoke. "Wei Po, you don't need to worry."

Wei Po shook his head. "It's not worry."

Then Wei Po asked, "When will you leave Fallen Mountain?"

Cui Dongshan thought for a moment. "When my master and Pei Qian return to Fallen Mountain, I'll leave soon. I've already piled up a mountain of debts. That old bastard holds grudges the longest."

The two of them weren't on the same side, so there wasn't much to talk about. They each fell silent.

Wei Po asked, "Was Senior Cui so worried about Chen Ping'an? He didn't even want to see him one last time, and he wanted to have his ashes scattered early in the Lotus Root Blessed Land. He wouldn't even agree to be buried on Fallen Mountain."

Cui Dongshan replied, "Because my grandfather had the highest expectations for my master. My grandfather hoped that the fewer things my master had to worry about, the better. That way, when he throws a punch in the future, it will be more pure."

***

On a thoroughly familiar street in the capital of Southern Yuan Kingdom.

Chen Ping'an, carrying his bamboo box on his back and holding his walking stick, walked slowly. He turned into a small alley and stopped in front of a small courtyard. He looked at the Spring Festival couplets for a few moments, then knocked gently on the door.

The person who opened the door was Pei Qian. Zhou Mili was sitting on a small stool, holding a green bamboo staff.

Pei Qian stood there, tilted her head back, and scrunched up her face hard.

Chen Ping'an rubbed her little head. "Master knows everything. Don't overthink anything. You didn't do anything wrong."

Pei Qian clenched her fists, lowered her head, and her body trembled.

Chen Ping'an gently pressed down on that little head and said softly, "So heartbroken, why do you have to hold back your tears? Just because you've trained in fist techniques, does that mean you're no longer my senior disciple, Pei Qian?"

Chen Ping'an crouched down. Pei Qian threw her arms around him and sobbed. She wasn't wailing loudly, so the crying was even more heartbreaking.

Zhou Mili started crying too.

It wasn't until Pei Qian had cried herself out of all her spirit that Chen Ping'an patted her head. He stood up and took off his bamboo box. Pei Qian wiped her face and quickly took the bamboo box. Zhou Mili ran over and took the walking stick.

Chen Ping'an looked around. It was still the same as before, as if nothing had changed.

Zhou Mili held the two walking sticks of different lengths and then placed her own bamboo chair at Chen Ping'an's feet.

"You seem to have grown a bit taller."

Chen Ping'an also rubbed the little girl in black's head. He sat down on the bamboo chair and was silent for a long time before smiling. "After I've seen Cao Qinglang, Master Zhong, and a few other people, we'll go back to Fallen Mountain together."

Pei Qian's eyes were red and swollen. She sat down beside Chen Ping'an and gently tugged at his sleeve.

Chen Ping'an said softly, "Tell Master about your journey with Senior Cui?"

Pei Qian hummed in acknowledgment and began to recount that journey in careful detail.

She talked for a long time.

Chen Ping'an listened intently and with rapt attention.

Someone gently pushed open the door and saw the young man in the blue robe.

The Confucian-robed youth, Cao Qinglang, called out softly, "Mister Chen."

Chen Ping'an reached out and took Pei Qian's hand. They stood up together. He smiled and said, "Qinglang, you look like a true scholar now."

Cao Qinglang bowed in greeting.

Chen Ping'an was a bit helpless. He really was a scholar now.

Pei Qian stood on her tiptoes. Chen Ping'an turned sideways and lowered his head. She put her hand to her mouth and whispered, "Master, Cao Qinglang secretly became a cultivator. Isn't that neglecting his proper studies? His Spring Festival couplets are much worse than Master's, right?"

Chen Ping'an gave her a knock on the head.

Pei Qian looked like she was about to burst into tears again.

Zhou Mili, holding the two walking sticks, sucked in a breath of cold air.

So fierce.

Back when the two of them traveled the martial world together, he had never hit her like this.

Zhou Mili furrowed her sparse eyebrows and tilted her head, thinking hard. Could it be that Pei Qian was a disciple he picked up by the roadside? Not a princess who had fallen into the mortal world at all?

Chen Ping'an extended his thumb and gently rubbed the spot on Pei Qian's forehead where he had knocked her. Then he gestured for Cao Qinglang to sit down.

Cao Qinglang moved a small stool and sat beside Chen Ping'an.

Pei Qian picked up her small bamboo chair and sat between the two of them.

Zhou Mili stood behind Pei Qian.

Chen Ping'an asked, "Qinglang, have you been well all these years?"

Cao Qinglang smiled and nodded. "Very well. Master Zhong is my teacher at the school. After Mister Lu arrived in our Southern Yuan Kingdom, he often came to see me and gave me many books."

Then Cao Qinglang asked, "Mister Chen, have you heard the poem line 'Iron flowers embroider the cliff walls, killing intent silences the frogs and toads'?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. He casually mentioned the poet's name and the collection's title. Then he asked, "Why do you ask that?"

Pei Qian had originally wanted to curse Cao Qinglang for being shameless, but now she had her arms crossed, looking at Cao Qinglang sideways.

Cao Qinglang pointed at Pei Qian. "Mister Chen, I learned it from her."

Pei Qian said angrily, "Cao Qinglang, do you believe I can punch your head wide open?"

Cao Qinglang nodded. "Yes, I believe it."

Pei Qian was so angry her teeth itched.

Chen Ping'an said, "Later, you can take me to see Master Zhong. There are some things I need to discuss with him."

Cao Qinglang nodded.

Chen Ping'an laughed. "Master Zhong is already on his way here. He'll arrive soon. We just need to wait."

Then Chen Ping'an said to Pei Qian, "Have you been keeping up with copying texts every day?"

Pei Qian shook her head.

Chen Ping'an held out his hand. "Let me see."

Pei Qian immediately ran into the house and brought out a large bundle of paper. Chen Ping'an flipped through them page by page. After carefully examining them all, he returned them to Pei Qian and nodded. "No slacking off."

Pei Qian grinned. Chen Ping'an helped wipe the tears from her face.

Then Chen Ping'an stood up. "You two stay here. I'm going to discuss something with Master Zhong."

After Chen Ping'an left, Pei Qian put the papers back in the house, returned to her small bamboo chair, and propped her chin on her hands.

***

At the corner of a street and alley, Chen Ping'an met Zhong Qiu.

They hadn't seen each other for years, and Master Zhong's temples were now streaked with more white.

The two of them walked together along that street where they had once fought each other and also fought side by side. Both were filled with emotion.

Chen Ping'an had a thorough understanding of the current situation in the Lotus Root Blessed Land from Zhu Lian's letter, Li Liu's account, and Cui Dongshan's later detailed explanation. He had it all memorized.

The four regions—Southern Yuan Kingdom, Song Lai Kingdom, Northern Jin Kingdom, and the Border Grasslands—the map appeared unchanged, but this fell under the category of "mountains and rivers changing color." Only this Southern Yuan Kingdom, which had been allocated to Chen Ping'an, was a person with a complete soul. All other sentient beings, the vegetation, and the mountains and rivers, had not "faded." They had not become those "people" of a blank paper blessed land. According to Li Liu, the sentient beings of the other three regions had already "lost their meaning," which is why Zhu Lian described them as three "meticulous line-drawing scrolls." But people like Lu Tai, Yu Zhenyi, and the youth from that scholarly family in the capital of Southern Yuan Kingdom had all vanished into thin air from this blessed land. They had been severed from the rest of the blessed land. The Southern Yuan Kingdom's National Teacher, Zhong Qiu, would also have vanished into thin air. They were among the very few special cases whom the old Daoist from Contemplating the Way Temple had favored.

This was a true transformation of heaven and earth, a magical power that connected the heavens.

Zhong Qiu got straight to the point. "His Majesty the Emperor has already developed a desire for cultivation, but he hopes to see the Southern Yuan Kingdom unify the world before leaving the Lotus Root Blessed Land."

Chen Ping'an asked, "What are Master Zhong's own thoughts?"

He had once met the emperor of Southern Yuan Kingdom in a nearby restaurant. At that banquet, excluding Chen Ping'an himself, there had been a total of six people. One of them was Huang Ting. From the former Fan Wan'er and Tong Qingqing, after looking into a mirror, she had transformed into Huang Ting, a female cultivator of Taiping Mountain, a genius female cultivator of Tongye Continent with such profound fortune that even He Xiaoliang was her junior. On his previous journey to Northern Juzhou, Chen Ping'an had not had the opportunity to meet this female cultivator who had fought to the death with Qi Jinglong on Whetstone Mountain and had only been slightly inferior. But according to Qi Jinglong, their combat strength had actually been equal. It was just that Huang Ting was a woman. When the fight reached its end, neither of them had the heart to kill the other. In order to preserve the integrity of her Daoist robe, she had lost by a hair, rising from Whetstone Mountain just a moment after Qi Jinglong.

At that time in the restaurant, besides the emperor Wei Liang, who was in the prime of his life, there had also been the empress Zhou Shuzhen, the crown prince Wei Yan, the ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful second prince Wei Yun, and the youngest princess Wei Zhen.

Chen Ping'an had an excellent memory.

He remembered everything about that meal, where everyone had their own agenda—not just their appearances, expressions, and words, but even what wine they had drunk and what dishes they had eaten.

The old monk of Heart's Appearance Temple not far from the alley, the local snacks at the Baihe Temple night market, the official's family library, the story of the poor scholar of Champion's Scholar Lane and the pipa-playing woman—all were still vivid in his mind and held close to his heart.

Zhong Qiu was silent for a moment, his expression bleak. "I'm a bit discouraged."

The cause he had tirelessly pursued—cultivating the self, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world—after the truth came to light, it turned out that no matter what he did, he was merely an actor on the palm of someone else's hand. Zhong Qiu felt weary.

He even began to wonder, had he really been wrong all along? Was Yu Zhenyi the one who had been right?

Chen Ping'an said slowly, "In the future, in this world, cultivators, mountain and river spirits, gods of the landscape, demons and monsters—they will all emerge like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Master Zhong shouldn't be disheartened. Although I am the nominal master of this Lotus Root Blessed Land, I will not interfere in the direction of the human world. The Lotus Root Blessed Land has never been my vegetable patch or my large garden, and it never will be. If someone, by chance, ascends the mountain and cultivates the Dao, then let them cultivate in peace. I won't stop them. But the affairs of the mortal world below the mountain should be handled by the people themselves. Whether it is war or a great unification of peace and prosperity, emperors and generals, each relies on their own abilities. The civil and military officials of the court, each follows their own conscience. As for the matter of incense gods, they must follow the established rules. Otherwise, the entire world will only become mired in deeper problems, becoming a place where people are neither people nor ghosts, and gods are not gods."

Zhong Qiu asked with a smile, "Are you trying to contemplate the Great Dao through the lens of an entire world?"

Chen Ping'an was stunned for a moment. "I never consciously thought about it. But now that Master Zhong mentions it, it sounds somewhat like that."

Zhong Qiu asked, "What is the outside world, that Haoran Heaven, really like?"

Chen Ping'an thought for a moment before replying, "Hearts are still hearts. But compared to Southern Yuan Kingdom, in my homeland, the vast world is full of wonders. And there is heaven beyond heaven; there is not just one world. Master Zhong should go out and have a look. It doesn't matter if it's a little later."

Zhong Qiu nodded. "Before I came to see you, His Majesty the Emperor had already formally abdicated. The eldest prince, Wei Yan, has succeeded him. As for the second prince, Wei Yun, he had already been placed under house arrest by the former emperor. I have also just resigned as National Teacher. But I won't leave immediately. I plan to first travel around this not-so-large world. Chen Ping'an, I hope you will keep your promise and not treat the common people of this world as puppets or playthings, as goods that can be bought and sold at will. But I, Zhong Qiu, am not one of those inflexible, pedantic Confucian scholars, filled with only petty benevolence. As long as the rules you eventually establish, Chen Ping'an, are ones that I can accept, then in the future, I will not criticize any actions taken within those rules, even if my heart cannot bear them."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Actually, there is another way to make Master Zhong feel even more at ease."

Zhong Qiu asked, "You want me to be a guest elder?"

Chen Ping'an clasped his hands in his sleeves and walked slowly, not denying it in the slightest. "Master Zhong is a rare genius, a Literary Sage and a Martial Grandmaster. How could I possibly miss out on that? I have to try, no matter what."

Zhong Qiu laughed. "Don't you already have that Zhu Lian by your side? To be honest, among the few people I have most admired in my life, the scion of a noble family who turned the tide, Zhu Lian, counts as one. The martial maniac with pure fists, Zhu Lian, can also count as one. When I saw the living, breathing Zhu Lian before, so close, it felt like seeing a character step right out of a book. It was incredibly surreal."

Chen Ping'an said, "Master Zhong just needs to register your name on the Founder's Hall of my Fallen Mountain. It won't interfere with your future travels to distant lands. There will be absolutely no constraints."

Zhong Qiu asked, puzzled, "Fallen Mountain?"

Chen Ping'an nodded.

Zhong Qiu said, "A good name. Then I will register my name on this mountain."

Chen Ping'an's expression was bleak.

Someone had once, while throwing a punch, cursed him loudly, saying that at such a young age, he was already lifeless, like a lonely ghost. Truly worthy of being the mountain master of Fallen Mountain.

***

After meeting the former emperor of Southern Yuan Kingdom, Chen Ping'an took Pei Qian and Zhou Mili, said goodbye to Cao Qinglang, and left the Lotus Root Blessed Land.

Chen Ping'an still appeared calm. He stayed on the first floor, still practiced his fist techniques and walking stance in the open space outside the door, and cultivated behind closed doors. Occasionally, he went to the second floor corridor and stood there, gazing into the distance.

This day, in the dead of night, Pei Qian sat alone at the top of the steps.

Cui Dongshan slowly ascended the mountain and sat down beside her.

Pei Qian stared hard at the big white goose. After a moment, she asked softly, "Grandpa Cui is gone. Aren't you sad at all?"

Cui Dongshan smiled. "I can let you see my state of mind if I want you to. If I don't want you to see it, then you won't be able to see it your whole life."

Pei Qian struck her palm with her fist, frustrated. "I knew it. My cultivation base is still not high enough."

Cui Dongshan shook his head. "Regarding this matter, setting aside some ancient deities, if I call myself second, no one dares to call themselves first."

Pei Qian "Oh'd."

This big white goose beside her really was quite formidable.

Cui Dongshan smiled and said slowly, "When young, if an elder departs, they often wail and cry loudly. All the heartache and lung-ache are written on their faces and in their tears."

"Now look at those teenage boys and girls with tears and snot running down their faces. The fathers and elders beside them are mostly silent. During funerals and memorial services, they receive guests and engage in conversation, and can even smile."

"This is life. Perhaps it's the same person, experiencing two kinds of sorrow on two different paths of life. You don't understand now because you haven't truly grown up yet."

Pei Qian hummed in acknowledgment. "I don't understand these things. Maybe I never will, and I don't want to."

In Southern Yuan Kingdom, a place she didn't consider her hometown, when her father and mother had left one after another, she hadn't felt much sadness. It was as if they had just taken a step ahead, and she would soon follow. Maybe she would starve to death, freeze to death, or be beaten to death. But even if she followed, what then? Wouldn't she just be scorned by them again, treated as a burden? So even after Pei Qian left the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, even if she wanted to be a little sad, she couldn't fake it in front of her master.

But Grandpa Cui was different.

He was an elder she truly acknowledged, besides her own master.

He had beaten her until she was in agony, time and time again. At first, she dared to yell that she wouldn't practice her fists anymore, and then she would be beaten even harder. He had said so many nonsensical things that hurt her heart more than the injuries hurt her body.

But now, Pei Qian knew what was good and what was bad.

She didn't even need to use her eyes to peek into people's hearts.

Cui Dongshan looked up at the night sky. The Mid-Autumn Festival was coming soon. The moon was full and round.

Cui Dongshan said softly, "That's why my master has always hoped you wouldn't grow up too quickly. There's no need to rush."

"When you grow up, you'll start to want to take on certain burdens. At that point, your master won't be able to stop you, and he won't try to stop you anymore."

"Do you still remember that farewell when your master left the Great Sui Academy?"

Pei Qian nodded vigorously. Her dark face finally showed a few traces of a smile. She said loudly, "Of course! I was so happy! Sister Bao Ping was even happier!"

Cui Dongshan smiled along with her. He asked himself and then answered, "Why did all of us have to join forces and make such a big production out of it? Because my master knew that the next time we reunited, he might never be able to see again that little girl in the red cotton-padded jacket from his memories. Her cheeks were so rosy, her stature was so small, her eyes were so round, her voice was so crisp. She carried a small book satchel that was just the right size, calling him Little Uncle."

"Just by using your eyes, you are destined to never see that again."

"So, you can only keep it in your heart. This is the unspeakable regret of adults. You can only place it here, within yourself, and hide it away."

Cui Dongshan pointed to his own heart. Then he gently waved his sleeve, as if trying to shoo away some worries.

True sorrow only exists in the soundless place.

"These annoying matters are things you wouldn't normally understand until you grew up. But I still hope you will listen, at least so you know that such things exist."

"My grandfather has left this way. My master is not half as sad as I am. But my master won't let anyone know just how sad he truly is."

"Have you ever thought about this: why does your master like to collect all those used brushes, worn straw sandals, and worthless jars and pots, one by one? Because he has been used to partings and farewells since he was a child. He has always been seeing people off into the distance. There are many people and things he cannot hold onto. So, whatever he can keep, he will try his best to keep. Actually, it's not just my master. All of us will experience all kinds of separations. Many people are like this. It's just that often, it comes and goes. They don't take it to heart as much as my master does, to keep it for a long, long time, behind closed doors, carefully hidden away, unknown to anyone."

Pei Qian turned her head, her heart wrenching. "Then what should master do?"

Cui Dongshan laughed. "Didn't I just say? My master is used to it."

Pei Qian stood up. "This is not good! This is wrong!"

Cui Dongshan was silent. He leaned back and fell onto the ground.

Pei Qian ran all the way down the mountain towards the bamboo building.

She found her master sitting alone at the stone table. There were two jugs of wine on the table, still caked with some dirt. But her master wasn't drinking.

Her master sat upright, his hands clenched into fists and resting lightly on his knees. He didn't know what he was thinking about.

Pei Qian stood still and shouted loudly, "Master, you're not allowed to be sad!"

Chen Ping'an turned his head and smiled. "Alright."

Pei Qian looked at her master like this.

Just like her master, when he was young, had looked at that Ah Liang under the bamboo hat.

Chen Ping'an stood up, moved two small bamboo chairs, and sat down with Pei Qian.

Chen Ping'an said softly, "Pei Qian, Master is going to leave his hometown again soon. You must take good care of yourself."

Pei Qian nodded. "Master must take good care of yourself too!"

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Not to brag, but when it comes to the skill of taking care of oneself, there is almost no one better in the world."

Pei Qian lifted the small bamboo chair she was sitting on and moved it closer to her master.

The two of them, one big and one small, looked into the distance together.

On this day, Chen Ping'an reached the Golden Body Realm.

His disciple, Pei Qian, was about to become the strongest Fourth Realm in the world.

Their sitting posture, their demeanor, their gaze—they were exactly the same.