Chapter 593: A Friend Comes from Afar
The mansion of Sword Immortal Sun Juyuan was no different from the secular noble estates of the Haoran World, but the amount of immortal money spent to create this "similarity" was a staggering figure.
Sun Juyuan sat on a bamboo mat that nearly covered the entire corridor. At the four corners of the mat were pressed exquisite paperweights made of different materials.
The Central Earth Sword Immortal Kuxia stood to one side, his expression grave.
Sun Juyuan chuckled. "The start hasn't been smooth. Don't blame Lin Junbi for miscalculating; blame your ill-chosen name. Right in the middle of summer, you're Kuxia—bitter summer—so of course you'd drag Lin Junbi down with you."
Kuxia said helplessly, "He shouldn't have provoked Ning Yao."
Sun Juyuan laughed. "Isn't that obvious? How many sword immortals were watching earlier? Thirty? Counting those who didn't show their faces, it's been a long time since we've had this much excitement."
Kuxia sighed. "If a woman like that could marry into the Shaoyuan Dynasty, it would be an immense blessing. Our dynasty's sword path fortune might be raised by an entire mountain peak."
Sun Juyuan sneered. "Stop daydreaming. Lin Junbi is already considered the sword fortune of your Shaoyuan Dynasty. And how did that go? He didn't even earn the right to have our Miss Ning remember his name. Besides, Ning Yao once left the Sword Qi Great Wall alone and traveled through many continents of your Haoran World. No one could keep her. So if you don't have the ability to catch her, don't blame Miss Ning for having high standards."
Sun Juyuan suddenly asked in surprise, "That state preceptor of your Shaoyuan Dynasty—does he really have the heart to send Lin Junbi here to poach talent? Does Lin Junbi himself know about this?"
Kuxia remained silent.
Sun Juyuan's playful expression vanished, and he said gravely, "If that's true, I advise you to drop that notion and beat it out of Lin Junbi's mind. Some things—no matter how much face the Shaoyuan Dynasty's state preceptor has—are not worth more than a sword immortal's life and great path. If that greenhorn Lin Junbi doesn't know his limits, without Ning Yao even lifting a finger, just relying on Chen Ping'an's schemes and skill alone, Lin Junbi's group, including Bianjing, will find themselves in deep trouble."
Kuxia turned his head and asked doubtfully, "I've heard some stories about this young man. It's no surprise the young swordsmen of the Sword Qi Great Wall fear him, but why do even you, a sword immortal, hold him in such high regard?"
Regarding certain inside matters, even though Kuxia shared a life-and-death bond with Sun Juyuan, he still wouldn't say more, so he simply didn't delve deeper.
Sun Juyuan sat cross-legged, flipped his palm, and produced a wine cup. He merely swirled it gently, and fine wine spontaneously appeared inside. This cup was the top favorite of all immortal drinkers under heaven, far surpassing even wine bugs, because it was called "Wine Spring." Unless one drank nonstop all day, gulping down a hundred catties in one go, this tiny cup was essentially an inexhaustible jug. Thus, on the Sword Qi Great Wall, where there were countless wine lovers, there were only three such cups in total.
One was in Sun Juyuan's hands, another in Yan Ming's—but since that sword immortal lost both arms and fell in realm, he seemed to have stopped drinking entirely—and the last was in the hands of the old sword immortal of the Qi clan.
Historically, the Sword Qi Great Wall had as many as five Wine Spring cups, but someone once ran a gambling operation and, through a mix of deception and tricks, swindled away a pair. No one knew whether they had returned to the Haoran World or been taken to the heavens beyond the Green Curtain World. After succeeding, the culprit even quipped that good things come in pairs, so they should make a married couple. Otherwise, like their owner, they'd be pitifully lonely and single.
Sun Juyuan downed the wine in one gulp, and the cup refilled itself like a spring. He smiled slightly and said, "Kuxia, what do you think a person who is truly formidable should be like?"
Kuxia shook his head. "I've never thought about it, nor do I care to. So please, Sword Immortal Sun, enlighten me."
Sun Juyuan twirled the cup between two fingers, gazing at the tiny ripples within, and said slowly, "Let good people think this person is good. Let those who oppose him—whether good or bad, regardless of their stance—acknowledge deep in their hearts that this person is good."
Kuxia pondered for a long time, then nodded. "Frightening."
Sun Juyuan shook his head. "That's not the most frightening part."
Kuxia frowned. "What do you mean?"
Sun Juyuan said slowly, "The most frightening thing is when this person is genuinely good."
My heart sees the world this way, and the world sees me the same.
Sun Juyuan recalled that book of one hundred sword immortal seal impressions, in which one seal bore the inscription: "Observe the Dao, observe the Dao, observe the Dao."
Extremely interesting.
Too bad that seal, which caught Sun Juyuan's eye at first glance, had long since disappeared, secretly taken by some sword immortal.
Sun Juyuan suddenly chuckled wryly, glancing into the distance with cold eyes. "What a bunch of little chicks. Lin Junbi is passable—he's smart, after all—but he just had the bad luck to run into Miss Ning. As for that Chen Ping'an, he deliberately made things clear, got his advantage, and should just secretly gloat. But the rest? That Jiang guy—he's your direct disciple, right? Is he here on the Sword Qi Great Wall to play? If there's no war, fine, but if a real battle starts, will he just be delivering his head to those roaring beasts? Kuxia, aren't you tired as a sword immortal? Or is this the current trend in your Shaoyuan Dynasty? I remember you, Kuxia, when you came here with others back in the day, weren't you like this at all?"
Sword Immortal Kuxia said nothing. After a moment of silence, he spoke. "The State Preceptor has ordered that even if a great war breaks out, they are not to descend from the city wall."
Sun Juyuan slapped his forehead, drank the wine in his cup to drown his sorrows, and lamented bitterly, "My place has become a laughingstock. Sword Immortal Kuxia, you really are a bitter summer. It turns out I, Sun Juyuan, am the one you've harmed the most."
Sword Immortal Kuxia felt a bit apologetic but didn't say much. There was no need for formalities with his friend Sun Juyuan.
Still, this senior nephew among the ten of the Central Earth Divine Continent and the long-established pillar of the Shaoyuan Dynasty couldn't help but wonder if his name "Kuxia" really did carry some kind of curse.
---
At the pavilion, Lin Junbi had changed into a new dharma robe and restored his usual calm demeanor, appearing as fresh and elegant as a banished immortal youth.
Bianjing, who had already revealed some traces, sat on the steps, probably the only sword cultivator frowning with worry.
The other young people were mostly indignant and cursing, while a few offered what they thought were fair words of comfort.
They didn't even understand the meaning of the three barriers. Bianjing really didn't know why these kids had come to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Didn't their elders teach them before they left? Or was it that the kids were ignorant because the elders themselves didn't know how to behave? All they were told was to keep their heads down on the Sword Qi Great Wall, which instead made them rebellious.
As for the ferocity of the Wildlands and the attacking Yao clan, no one really knew what it was like. Bianjing could even bet that everyone, including Lin Junbi, only saw potential enemies as their peers on the Sword Qi Great Wall. The concepts of the Wildlands and the Yao clan never truly registered. Bianjing himself was better off because, during his travels in Liuxia Continent, he had personally experienced the ferocious battle power and resilient physique of a Nascent Soul Yao creature. Together with a companion who was a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, they had unleashed countless swords without being able to truly harm its core. Only by adding another Golden Core sword cultivator as support did they manage to trap and kill it, wearing it down bit by bit.
The three barriers were hard to cross.
The Sword Qi Great Wall hoped these outland sword cultivators would gain some insight and understand how hard-won every battle on the wall was. It also served as a reminder that if war broke out, those who were young and inexperienced should stay put on the city wall, just contribute a little, and control their flying swords. They must not act impulsively and charge down the wall to the battlefield. The many sword immortals of the Sword Qi Great Wall wouldn't deliberately restrain such reckless behavior, nor could they afford to pay too much attention. As for those outlanders who came purely to hone their sword path, the Sword Qi Great Wall didn't reject them. Whether they could truly stand firm or catch the eye of a sword immortal willing to teach them advanced sword techniques was up to their own abilities.
"Junbi is still so young, and how old is Ning Yao? Winning without honor and using words to suppress others—this is the number one young swordswoman of the Sword Qi Great Wall? In my opinion, even if the sword immortals here have great killing power, their magnanimity is no bigger than a needle's eye."
"Ning Yao clearly knew that in the three-barrier battle, we couldn't gain any advantage, so she deliberately provoked Junbi into drawing his sword. She was arrogant and overbearing!"
"Right! And those sword immortals watching—they had ulterior motives, deliberately putting pressure on Junbi."
Jiang Guancheng sneered, "In my opinion, Ning Yao doesn't have any realm suppression at all. It's all an illusion. She just wanted to use underhanded means to beat Junbi and protect her pitiful reputation. If Ning Yao is like this, how good can Pang Yuanji, Qi Shou, Gao Yehou, and these so-called peers of ours be? Truly a barbaric land!"
Bianjing rubbed his temples, his head aching.
Fortunately, Lin Junbi frowned and reminded, "Jiang Guancheng! Watch your words!"
Jiang Guancheng shut his mouth, though his expression remained resentful.
Among the crowd, Zhu Mei remained silent.
Golden Core sword cultivator Jin Zhenmeng also didn't say much.
Zhu Mei was thinking of the one who lost the first match, Gao Youqing, who was frowning and in tears, silently standing beside Gao Yehou and Pang Yuanji. And Liu Tiefu, who, after losing, was booed by the watching sword cultivators but still smiled cheekily and clasped his fists in thanks amidst the jeers.
Jin Zhenmeng was thinking of Situ Weiran, who smiled and returned a bow after defeating him.
And when Ning Yao appeared, the atmosphere on the street immediately became solemn. It wasn't just people holding their breath and watching the excitement.
A twelve-year-old girl, the youngest, was especially indignant and said softly, "Especially that Chen Ping'an, targeting Junbi at every turn. He's clearly just insecure. So what if he beat Qi Shou and Pang Yuanji? He's the closed-door disciple of the Sage of Literature. His senior brother is the great sword immortal Zuo You. Day after day, month after month, year after year, receiving meticulous guidance from a great sword immortal, relying on his literary lineage and obtaining so many magic treasures gifted by others—is that real skill? If Junbi had another ten years, with Chen Ping'an standing in front of him, he probably wouldn't dare breathe too loud!"
Bianjing wailed inwardly, My little ancestor, just because you like our Junbi doesn't mean you should say things like that.
Lin Junbi shook his head. "Chen Ping'an is not simple. He's not as bad as you say."
Lin Junbi then smiled. "If my opponent were too weak, wouldn't that prove I'm mediocre?"
Upon hearing this, the girl saw the boy in a completely favorable light.
Bianjing made up his mind: never again would he meddle in the messy affairs of these young masters and ladies.
Let them do whatever they want.
He wasn't going to serve them anymore.
But honestly, he hadn't really served them much; he'd just been watching the show the whole way. His only luck was that his half-master, the State Preceptor, had frankly said these guys wouldn't participate in the war. Once the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Yao clan opened the great war, they would immediately withdraw to the Inverted Mountain's Plum Garden and then return to the Central Earth Divine Continent, preferably without even stopping in the Southern Bodhisattva Continent.
Bianjing rubbed his face and silently chanted, "You can't see me, you can't see me."
Unfortunately, Jiang Guancheng didn't let him off. He said excitedly, "So Senior Brother Bianjing was the one hiding the deepest! That Chen Ping'an was clearly very worried that Bianjing might step in."
Bianjing looked helpless. Wouldn't it be better if you were just blind?
With Jiang Guancheng saying that, the window paper was torn, and immediately discussion erupted. Bianjing listened to what were actually quite sincere flatteries but felt no happiness at all.
Thinking of that young man with his hands in his sleeves and a smiling face, Bianjing felt inexplicably uneasy. He had a feeling things weren't that simple.
Ignoring the flattery and the subtle instigations, Bianjing turned to look at Lin Junbi.
Lin Junbi smiled and said, "I'll be careful."
Bianjing breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Now it seemed that Lin Junbi's earliest plan—breaking through twice, fighting three people at the Observation Sea, Dragon Gate, and Golden Core realms, and clearing all three barriers—might have been the best choice.
Perhaps in the eyes of many watching sword immortals, it would have earned Lin Junbi more goodwill. Instead, they now seemed to side with Ning Yao, as if watching Lin Junbi make a fool of himself.
Even if Chen Ping'an got a chance for a fourth match and gained an advantage, so what? Even if Lin Junbi lost, he would still be winning. The more thrilling the fight, the more goodwill he would earn. It was the same logic as Chen Ping'an fighting Pang Yuanji. If he could directly make Ning Yao draw her sword instead of Chen Ping'an picking up scraps, Lin Junbi would naturally win even more.
But that was just an "if."
Bianjing wasn't stupid enough to ask his junior brother if he regretted anything.
Even less would he say that when he, Bianjing, had said "competing with others is meaningless," he was reminding Lin Junbi to compete with himself.
Because saying that would create enmity.
---
At the time of Lesser Fullness, the sun hung high.
At the wine shop, Chen Ping'an hadn't drunk any alcohol. Unaware of how much he had been cursed at, he picked up his stool and went to the street corner, where he explained the origin of the twenty-four solar terms to the children who had gathered again. He tossed in a few rustic proverbs like "Lesser Fullness not full, no water to wash bowls, the wheat faces danger" and occasionally showed off a line he'd cobbled together: "Young ears just forming, tender and delicate; in the night's dreams, the scent of shepherd's purse and wheat drifts."
But today, the kids weren't interested in literacy or the twenty-four solar terms. As for Chen Ping'an's literary pretensions, they couldn't understand them at all. They chirped and asked about how the fairy sister Ning Yao had made an exception to draw her sword on Xuanhu Street. Chen Ping'an, holding a bamboo branch, gestured wildly and told a fantastic story. A little brat named Feng Kangle, whose father was now the cook making yangchun noodles for the wine shop, had become quite bold at home. He could even talk back to his mother now. This kid loved to poke holes in Chen Ping'an's stories and asked how many Chen Ping'ans it would take to beat Sister Ning Yao. Chen Ping'an was stumped. The kids rolled their eyes at him.
Little brat Feng Kangle shook his head, patted Chen Ping'an's knee, and said with an air of superiority, "Chen Ping'an, you're always hanging around here, not cultivating martial arts or swords seriously. I think Sister Ning will eventually get sick of you for being useless. So what if you beat Pang Yuanji? Look at you, strutting around like a peacock. You come here to play the big shot, but you're all talk and no action. That won't do."
The other kids nodded in agreement.
Chen Ping'an laid the bamboo branch across his knee, reached out with both hands, pinched Feng Kangle's cheeks, and said with a grin, "Shut up."
The little brat tried to hit Chen Ping'an, but his arms were too short.
A boy squatting at the edge recalled the earlier commotion and said with a cheeky grin, "Kangle, say it louder: 'I, Chen Ping'an, am the closed-door disciple of the Sage of Literature!' I can't hear you!"
Laughter erupted around them.
There were plenty of rumors about this second shopkeeper now.
Chen Ping'an laughed. "If it weren't for you little brats being so young, I'd knock you out with one punch, kick you away with one foot, and send you running with one sword."
Feng Kangle rubbed his cheeks, lifted his butt, and stretched his neck. Oh no—the prettiest girl in the world, the one from Yanchi Alley, was standing not far away, looking at him.
What to do?!
He had first used some of Chen Ping'an's landscape stories to get her to agree to be his pretend wife during house play. Then he'd used Chen Ping'an's explanation of the name of her alley to tell her again. Now, when he met her on the road, even though she still didn't talk much, the way her eyes blinked—wasn't that her greeting him? Chen Ping'an had told him so, and it made him roll around in his bed with joy every night before sleep.
So Feng Kangle immediately sat up straight, stealthily gave Chen Ping'an a wink, and muttered reproachfully, "Chen Ping'an, it's all your fault. If she stops talking to me now, I'll curse you to death."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "For the sake of your dad's yangchun noodles, I'll tell you an extra story today about a water ghost! It'll be absolutely thrilling!"
A boy looked unimpressed and said, "Chen Ping'an, first tell us what realm the hero is who vanquishes demons and acts on behalf of heaven. Don't pull that crap about the lower five realms again. If you do, by your logic, all those sword cultivators on the Sword Qi Great Wall would be Jianghu heroes and mountain immortals in your hometown. That can't be right."
Someone echoed, "Yeah, yeah! You always make the demons and spirits sound so terrifying when they appear, making me think they're all great Yao from the Wildlands."
Chen Ping'an coughed a couple of times, remembered something, turned his head, and opened his palm. The little girl squatting beside him quickly poured a handful of melon seeds into his hand. Chen Ping'an smiled and gave half back to her. Then, cracking seeds between his teeth, he said, "Today's story is about a young sword immortal who wields a sword and travels the Jianghu. He's definitely high enough in realm and as handsome as a jade tree in the wind. Countless Jianghu heroines and mountain fairies have fallen for him, but this sword immortal, named Qi Jinglong, remains unmoved. He hasn't yet met the woman of his heart. As for the water ghost he will eventually cross paths with, it's definitely scary enough. How scary? Listen to me tell it. If you encounter any puddle of water—like a rain puddle in an alley, a bowl of water on the table at home, or an open water tank—and suddenly take a look, oh my! Not just you, but even that sword immortal Qi Jinglong, when he stooped to drink from a river and suddenly saw a pale face parting the waterweeds, was scared out of his wits."
A child was already startled and cried out, "Chen Ping'an, damn you!"
Someone suddenly asked, "Who is this Qi Jinglong?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "He's a young sword immortal who loves to drink but pretends he doesn't. This guy loves to lecture people. Annoying as hell."
Feng Kangle asked, "How old is this sword immortal?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Less than a hundred years old."
Feng Kangle clicked his tongue. "And you dare call him a young sword immortal? Change it to 'old man sword immortal'!"
Chen Ping'an pinched the little brat's cheek. "He's a good friend of mine, Chen Ping'an, and you dare be so rude?"
Feng Kangle bared his teeth, stuck out his butt, and punched Chen Ping'an on the shoulder. "I'm not polite to you, so why should I be polite to your friend?"
The fair-skinned girl in the distance opened her mouth slightly, surprised that Feng Kangle was so bold with Chen Ping'an. It seemed Kangle hadn't been bragging to her after all.
Chen Ping'an shot Feng Kangle a look, and the little brat nodded slightly, indicating he understood.
A sharp-eyed boy nearby couldn't help rolling his eyes. This second shopkeeper was really too boring. Didn't he need to cultivate at all? Hanging around here with them all day, babbling nonsense, and now playing matchmaker?
After finishing the landscape story that made the kids jump and exclaim, Chen Ping'an picked up his stool and called it a day.
He went to the wine shop, where Chen Sanqiu's presence guaranteed a seat at the table.
The boy Zhang Jiazhen was helping out in the shop, bringing wine or bowls of yangchun noodles to the sword cultivators. The boy didn't talk much, but a smile was enough.
Today, Chen Ping'an sat at the table but didn't drink. He just asked Zhang Jiazhen for a bowl of yangchun noodles and a dish of pickled vegetables. In the end, Chen Sanqiu and the fat Yan weren't good enough at persuading him to drink.
Before returning to the Ning Mansion, Chen Ping'an reminded Fan Dache, "Dache."
Fan Dache, who was wolfing down a bowl of yangchun noodles, immediately tensed up. Whenever he heard Chen Ping'an say those three words, he panicked. He quickly said, "I already bought a pot of wine for five snowflake coins! You didn't drink it, so it's not my fault!"
Chen Ping'an put down his chopsticks and said irritably, "I said we should spar often. Don't take it lightly. Don't make me squat outside your door every day begging for a spar. If I accidentally go too hard and beat you so badly you have to crawl home, and your parents don't recognize you and kick you out again, that's on you."
Fan Dache nodded.
Chen Ping'an smiled at him.
Fan Dache looked bewildered.
Chen Sanqiu turned to the young man who was constantly watching the drinkers and called out, "Zhang Jiazhen, bring me a pot of wine—the cheapest! I'll pay, but remember to tell me to charge it to Fan Dache. Next time I drink, ask me if Fan Dache has paid me back."
Zhang Jiazhen nodded vigorously and hurried into the shop to fetch a pot of Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven wine.
To this boy from a humble alley, Mr. Chen was a celestial being.
Chen Sanqiu, the young master from Taixiang Street, was also a celestial being.
If he hadn't come to work part-time at the wine shop, Zhang Jiazhen might never have had the chance to exchange half a word with Chen Sanqiu, let alone have Chen Sanqiu remember his name.
Zhang Jiazhen had never been to Taixiang Street or Xuanhu Street in his life. Not once.
No one forbade it, but it wasn't just Zhang Jiazhen. The children from Lingxi Alley, Yanchi Alley, and other poor neighborhoods didn't even think of going there. Maybe they occasionally thought about it, but they never mustered the courage to actually go.
Chen Ping'an smiled at Zhang Jiazhen, then pointed at Fan Dache, picked up the wine, and left.
Fan Dache continued to bow his head and eat his yangchun noodles.
To be honest, if not for Chen Ping'an's last words, Fan Dache wouldn't have known how to approach the Ning Mansion. What if it was just polite talk? What did "often spar" mean? Once every three days? Once a month?
Was the gate of the Ning Mansion so easy to cross?
Fan Dache looked up at the retreating figure in the blue shirt on the street. The man tilted his head, reading the couplets on the taverns along the way, occasionally shaking his head.
At the Ning Mansion, Nalan Yexing opened the door.
As they walked toward the training ground, Nalan Yexing carried the pot of wine and asked with a smile, "Did you pay for it yourself?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "I learned from Dong Heitan—spending money on drink is not the way of a hero."
Nalan Yexing laughed heartily. "I'll take a few sips first, then draw my sword. It'll give me strength to teach the big dragon a lesson."
Chen Ping'an's smile vanished.
At the pavilion on Dragon-Beheading Cliff, Ning Yao, who had said she was going home to cultivate, had actually been chatting with Old Madam Bai. Upon seeing Chen Ping'an return so quickly, the old woman didn't need her lady's prompting to chuckle and leave the pavilion. Then Ning Yao began her cultivation.
In the mustard-seed miniature world of the training ground, Nalan Yexing put away his half-drunk wine pot and began to unleash fierce sword strikes.
Then, despite all his care, one careless move from Nalan Yexing would lay Chen Ping'an up for half a month.
Old Madam Bai hurried to the training ground, and Nalan Yexing nearly fled the house in fright.
Fortunately, Chen Ping'an explained to Old Madam Bai that this time he had gained a lot, that this path of cultivation was correct, and that he didn't even need to boil medicine—self-healing was itself part of cultivation.
Nalan Yexing didn't dare talk nonsense. He honestly said, "That's right."
With Ning Yao supporting him, Chen Ping'an headed to the small residence.
Nalan Yexing waited anxiously for a scolding, but to his surprise, Bai Lianshuang just looked at their backs and said nothing for a long time.
Nalan Yexing thought this wasn't right. It was better to be scolded sooner than later. He was about to open his mouth to invite a scolding, but the old woman had no intention of starting with her usual "old dog" lecture. She just sighed softly, "Don't you think the young master and miss look like the master and madam when they were young?"
Nalan Yexing took out his wine pot and nodded. "How could they not?"
The old woman put on a stern face. "You've worked hard these days."
Nalan Yexing looked puzzled. "Huh?!"
The old woman barked, "Old dog, go watch the gate!"
Nalan Yexing nodded. That's more like it. He turned toward the gate, feeling much more at ease.
---
Chen Ping'an sat on the bed, breathing and regulating his breath, his mind sinking into the miniature world of his own body.
Ning Yao sat beside him, leaning on the table, watching him. It seemed he had met someone he wanted to see in his heart, and an involuntary smile appeared on his face.
She knew who it was, because when Chen Ping'an had stumbled and finally succeeded in refining his fourth natal object, he had come out of the secret chamber, seen Ning Yao, and, in front of Grandpa Nalan, hugged her tightly. Ning Yao had never seen Chen Ping'an so relieved. Grandpa Nalan immediately tactfully left, and she felt a pang of sympathy for him and hugged him back.
He was overjoyed, his spirits soaring. He said that little guy was still there, still in his heart, but had turned into a little bald head. When they reunited, on a path in his heart, the little bald head rode the fire dragon and chased after him, cursing him all the way.
Ning Yao seldom saw Chen Ping'an express such obvious joy. Especially after he grew up, aside from when he was with her, she sometimes worried that his state of mind seemed like that of an old monk who had lived for eons and seen too many joys and sorrows. Ning Yao didn't want that. So seeing him return to the boy and girl they once were made her very happy.
A friend comes from afar—a little bald head.
But he didn't wear a kasaya. He still wore a Confucian robe. Besides his sword, the little figure had a Buddhist sutra tucked in his sleeve.
It was a reunion Chen Ping'an had never dared to imagine, lingering only in dreams with lasting guilt. After waking, he couldn't let go of the regret and guilt he couldn't share with anyone.
There were too many partings without goodbyes and too many "never to be seen again" in his life.
Ning Yao leaned on the table, staring at Chen Ping'an. She laughed to herself, remembering how on Xuanhu Street, Chen Ping'an had hesitated for a long time before taking her hand and quietly asking, "When I was about Lin Junbi's age, who was more handsome?"
At the time, Ning Yao had first asked, "What do you think?"
Then Chen Ping'an started scratching his head, feeling that the answer was truly troubling.
So Ning Yao sincerely gave her answer without keeping the words hidden in her heart. She told him, "You are much better-looking!"
Chen Ping'an then reached out and gently brushed her brows. "My silly Ning Yao, you really have good taste!"