Chapter 609: Fearing It's All a Dream

Chapter 609: Fearing It's All a Dream

Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan, teacher and student both in a foreign land, walked together toward that half-owned tavern that counted as a bit of home in this strange place.

Cui Dongshan asked softly, "The teacher didn't succeed in persuading him? Tao Wen still refuses to leave the Sword Qi Great Wall, and insists on dying here?"

The same rice feeds a hundred kinds of people. Since the Sword Qi Great Wall had sword cultivators like Cui Wei who didn't want to die, it naturally also had sword immortals like Tao Wen who wanted to die in their homeland.

Throughout the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall, the numbers on both sides had actually been considerable.

As for that smallest handful of the most topmost old sword immortals and great sword immortals, whether they were still alive or had already died in battle, why did every single one of them genuinely dislike the Three Teachings' learning and the various schools of thought from Haoran Heaven taking root and spreading too much on the Sword Qi Great Wall? There were certainly reasons, and it was absolutely not as simple as looking down on that knowledge. But the Sword Qi Great Wall's answer was even simpler, and the only one: with too much learning, too much deliberation, people's hearts become mixed, and sword cultivators can no longer be pure in their swordsmanship, making it impossible for the Sword Qi Great Wall to hold for ten thousand years.

Regarding this matter, the ordinary local sword immortals of today actually knew very little. Many years ago, atop the wall of the Sword Qi Great Wall, the old great sword immortal Chen Qingdu had once personally sat in command, isolating a domain, and then a unified deduction by all the sages took place. The outcome wasn't good. After that, when the sages, gentlemen, and worthies of the Rites Sage and Second Sage lineages visited the Sword Qi Great Wall, before departing, whether they understood or not, they would receive instructions from the academies and schools, or rather strict orders, to be responsible only for overseeing combat. During this period, there were those who risked punishment to act on their own, wanting to do more for the Sword Qi Great Wall. The sword immortals hadn't deliberately suppressed or ostracized them, but those Confucian disciples, almost without exception, ended up disheartened in the end.

Chen Ping'an said, "At the wine table, I just focused on drinking and didn't try to persuade. Truly, drinking delays matters."

Chen Ping'an walked slowly, and Cui Dongshan was in no hurry either.

So the two of them moved unhurriedly, not in a rush to reach the wine table and taste the new liquor.

The streets and alleys hid stories, big and small, all with unfortunate endings.

Cui Dongshan comforted him, "By giving away the seal, the teacher felt a bit better himself. But if he hadn't given the seal, it would actually have been better, because Tao Wen would have felt better. Why must the teacher do this? Why does the teacher need to do this? The teacher shouldn't do this."

Chen Ping'an changed the subject, "How did it go when you played chess with that Lin Junbi?"

Cui Dongshan shook his sleeves, and ripples appeared around them, like pale golden lotuses blooming and closing, arising and vanishing. But this was a concealment technique by Cui Dongshan's unique secret art: one must first see the flower—not possible for any sword immortal below the fifth realm—and only then could one eavesdrop on their conversation. However, seeing the flower meant forcibly breaking the formation, which would leave traces. Cui Dongshan could then follow the trail and return the courtesy, asking that sword immortal if he knew who Cui Dongshan was. If not, he would inform him.

The bait was exactly who Cui Dongshan was, how Lin Junbi's situation had turned out, and whether the Shaoyuan Dynasty's trajectory would undergo earth-shattering changes. This would then serve as evidence to confirm who Cui Dongshan really was.

Anyway, the willing would take the bait.

He, Cui Dongshan, wasn't begging anyone to bite the hook. Those who couldn't keep their mouths shut—the great sword immortal Yue Qing had already set an example. If they still refused to give up and insisted on testing the weight of the Literary Sage lineage's incense, then don't blame him, Cui Dongshan, for summoning reinforcements and asking his senior uncle to back him up.

Cui Dongshan laughed, "Lin Junbi is a smart fellow, just young, thin-skinned, and inexperienced. Of course, I, the student, am a bit smarter than him. It wouldn't be hard to completely ruin his Dao-heart—a trivial matter done casually—but there's no need. After all, he and I don't have a life-or-death enmity. The one who truly has a grudge against me is that Master Xilu who wrote the 'Kuaiyi Pavilion Go Manual.' Really, with such poor Go skills, he dares to write a book teaching others? They say the manual's sales are pretty good; in the Shaoyuan Dynasty, it's almost outselling the 'Caiyun Manual.' Can I tolerate that? Of course not. This is a real hindrance to my earnings! Cutting off someone's livelihood—what a great grudge, right?"

Chen Ping'an asked doubtfully, "Cutting off your livelihood? What do you mean?"

Cui Dongshan looked embarrassed, "Not to talk about exceptions, but generally speaking, for every copy of the 'Caiyun Manual' sold in Haoran Heaven, I get a cut. But the White Emperor City never mentions this, and they've never proactively asked for such a thing. It's all figured out by the mountain book merchants themselves, for safety. Otherwise, earning money might cost them their heads—not worth it. Of course, I did give a little hint, worrying that the White Emperor City lord might be magnanimous, but the people around him might be narrow-minded. If they weren't careful, those who printed the Go manual might face reprisals from the White Emperor City later. Demon path folk have unpredictable natures. After all, caution is the mother of safety. Besides, being able to openly send money to the White Emperor City—what a rare chance to build connections."

Chen Ping'an was speechless. If Cui Dongshan hadn't mentioned it, he really wouldn't have known about such a long-term, profitable insider deal. He laughed angrily, "When we drink later, you're paying. Since you earn money so unscrupulously, you should drink a few more jars of Zhuhai Dongtian wine to cleanse your heart and guts."

Cui Dongshan nodded in agreement, saying the wine was sold too cheaply, the Yangchun noodles too delicious, and the teacher's business too honest. Then he continued, "As for Lin Junbi's mentor, the Imperial Preceptor of the Shaoyuan Dynasty, many old-timers' grievances shouldn't be passed down to their disciples. What others think has never been important. What matters is whether we, the Literary Sage lineage, can uphold this thankless recognition. On this matter, Pei Qian doesn't need much teaching, but Cao Qinglang needs to see a few things and hear a few principles."

Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "So how did Lin Junbi end up?"

Cui Dongshan laughed, "So Lin Junbi, after my earnest advice and guidance, had a sudden realization. Happily and willingly, he became my chess piece, and his Dao-heart grew even more steadfast. The teacher can rest assured—I didn't alter his Dao-heart in the slightest. I merely helped him become the Imperial Preceptor of the Shaoyuan Dynasty faster, the truly first man beside the sovereign. The student surpassing the master—not just in Dao learning but also in worldly power—Lin Junbi can gain more than his mentor. What I did was merely adding icing on the cake. Lin Junbi, carrying the national fortune of the Shaoyuan Dynasty, is qualified to think this way. The crux of the problem isn't what I said or did, but that Lin Junbi's mentor failed in his teaching. He mistakenly believed that year after year of patient guidance would turn Lin Junbi into another version of himself, eventually becoming the pillar of the Shaoyuan Dynasty. Little did he know that Lin Junbi has ambitions higher than the sky and doesn't want to be anyone's shadow. So I saw an opportunity to exploit the gap. Lin Junbi got the full bounty he wanted, and I got the petty profit I desired—everyone happy. In the end, it's because Lin Junbi is smart enough that I was willing to teach him true Go skills and the way of conducting himself."

Having said this, Cui Dongshan added, "The teacher shouldn't have asked about this. It's just dirty business that doesn't concern him, spoiling his mood for drinking."

Chen Ping'an shook his head, "The teacher's matters are the student's matters. How are the student's matters not the teacher's matters?"

Cui Dongshan raised his sleeve as if to feign a tearful gesture. Chen Ping'an laughed, "Save the flattery. Just remember to buy a few more jars later."

Then Chen Ping'an reminded him, "Madam Yu Juan is a good person. Don't cheat her."

Cui Dongshan laughed, "For her and the Yu family, it might not be a very good thing, but at least it's not a bad thing. I've never had a bad relationship with old man Yu, whose skill at retracting moves is better than his Go skills. The teacher can rest assured—I have a sense of measure now. That Madam Yu Juan has become the 'good person' the teacher thinks she is is naturally due to her own efforts and the subtle influence of her family upbringing. As for the literary atmosphere of the Shaoyuan Dynasty, it's roughly the same principle—when choosing a pig, look at the pigsty. As long as you don't look at exceptions but at the majority, the reasoning won't be far off."

Chen Ping'an was silent for a moment, then turned to look at the "big white goose" in his first disciple's words, the "little senior brother" in Cao Qinglang's heart, and smiled knowingly. "Having a student like you by my side puts me at ease."

Cui Dongshan said regretfully, "It's a pity the teacher can't always be by his side, able to do what he can to alleviate the teacher's small worries."

Chen Ping'an shook his head, "For Pei Qian and Cao Qinglang, whether in state of mind or cultivation, you, as their little senior brother, should look after them more. The capable do more. Even if you feel wronged, I'll pretend not to know."

Cui Dongshan laughed, "In this world, there's only the heart that isn't cultivated enough. If you look deeply, there are no grievances that can truly be grievances."

Chen Ping'an turned his head, "Are you teaching the teacher how to conduct himself?"

Cui Dongshan said aggrievedly, "The student is dead aggrieved."

Chen Ping'an said, "Those who are good at calculating people's hearts, the closer they get to the heart of heaven, the easier it is for heaven to calculate them. You need to be more careful yourself. First take care of yourself, then you can take care of others for a long, long time."

Cui Dongshan nodded, "The student has his own considerations and will deliberate."

In fact, the final words between them each had unspoken implications.

For the Literary Sage lineage, "taking care of oneself" naturally presupposes not harming others and not obstructing the world. But such words are hard to say on Cui Dongshan's side. Chen Ping'an was unwilling to use great principles he hadn't yet fully understood to impose his morality on others.

Cui Dongshan's answer didn't promise the teacher, because he wouldn't guarantee "taking care of himself," let alone "for a long, long time."

In this world, reasoning with people always comes at some cost, big or small.

To protect the reasoning and unreasoning of many people, the cost would only be greater. For instance, Cui Dongshan, putting aside so many important matters in the Baoping Continent this time to rush to Daoxuan Mountain and the Sword Qi Great Wall, had to pay a price. In fact, Cui Chan hadn't said much, nor had he bargained. His letter only said "come quickly and return quickly," which counted as approving Cui Dongshan's slacking off. But Cui Dongshan knew himself—he was willing to do more. You, Cui Chan, old bastard, could give me a step, but I, Cui Dongshan, am not you. I can take two more steps on my own.

Cui Dongshan knew what his teacher had done at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Not only that, he could also pull in Qi Jinglong of the Taiwei Sword Sect.

Cui Dongshan only did things that were interesting, meaningful, and profitable.

So he could only gather clever people like Lin Junbi around him, never becoming kindred spirits with people like Qi Jinglong or Zhong Kui.

The teacher wasn't like that.

The teacher wasn't like that, and the student couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he stopped trying.

Because the teacher was the teacher.

In the world, many disciples always want to get something from their teacher: knowledge, reputation, protection, stepping stones, money.

Cui Dongshan couldn't be bothered to talk about the good or bad of that. Anyway, he wasn't like that. It had nothing to do with him, so he just hung it high outside the door.

When they reached the tavern, it was packed. Chen Ping'an took Cui Dongshan to buy two jugs of wine and they squatted by the roadside, surrounded by many unfamiliar sword cultivators.

Cui Dongshan's reputation at the Sword Qi Great Wall was no longer small. He was said to be highly skilled in Go, having beaten Lin Junbi many times in a row. In one game, they reached over four hundred moves.

Some local sword immortals proficient in Go said that Cui Dongshan, this third-generation disciple of the Literary Sage lineage, had Go skills that were heaven-reaching and definitely unmatched at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

So the big and small gamblers and drunkards felt a bit better. They figured that the Second Shopkeeper, being Cui Dongshan's teacher, must have even higher Go skills. So if they'd been cheated out of some money by the Second Shopkeeper selling wine and running gambling games, maybe it wasn't so shameful? At the same time, many felt they had wronged the Second Shopkeeper. Although his wine and gambling conduct were indeed poor, no doubt, at least his Go conduct was good. With such high skills, he never showed off in this matter. He still had a bit of conscience left, not all carried off by the dogs of Haoran Heaven.

Now the tavern business was too good. Big Shopkeeper Diezhang planned to buy the two adjacent shops. Initially, she was afraid it might be unnecessary, so she prepared herself to be scolded. She carefully told the Second Shopkeeper her idea. Unexpectedly, the Second Shopkeeper nodded and said it was fine. Diezhang felt she had a bit of insight in business after all. With this plan, she discussed it with Zhang Jiazhen, who worked part-time. The young man agreed to work as a long-term employee at the tavern from now on. Besides Zhang Jiazhen from Lingxi Lane, there was also Jiang Qu, a contemporary from Suoli Lane, who privately approached Diezhang, hoping to work at the tavern. He said he didn't need a salary, just enough to eat. Diezhang, of course, didn't agree. She said the salary would be paid as usual, but at first not much; if business improved later, she'd give more. So recently, Jiang Qu often found Zhang Jiazhen to ask about tavern chores. Zhang Jiazhen told everything to his familiar contemporary. The two young men from different poor alleys, with roughly similar backgrounds, grew closer.

After drinking, they returned to the Ning Mansion. On the way back, Cui Dongshan carried two jugs of Qingshen Mountain wine that cost five Snowflake Coins per jar. Of course, he didn't run a tab at the tavern.

Seeing this, the drunkards felt their scalps tingle and their hearts grow cold. The Second Shopkeeper would even cheat his own student out of spirit coins? If he cheated outsiders, would he show mercy?

It was said that a Nascent Soul sword cultivator at the Sword Qi Great Wall, who claimed to be the number one gambler and hadn't lost a single coin to A Liang, had started specifically studying how to make bets and earn money from the Second Shopkeeper. He planned to compile these into a book and give it away for free. Anyone drinking at the largest Baoguang Tavern could grab a copy. It seemed that the Baoguang Tavern, under the Qi family name, was openly competing with the Second Shopkeeper.

Nalan Yexing opened the door. Overjoyed at receiving two jars of wine, he inadvertently, while alone at the gate, let his mouth run and warmly called out, "Brother Dongshan!" Cui Dongshan smiled on his face but said "Grandpa Nalan" with his mouth, thinking, "This old brother Nalan is getting old and doesn't remember the beating. Needs another lesson, doesn't he?" Previously, his words had only made White Madam feel a bit awkward. This time, he would strike hard and heavy at Old Brother Nalan. "Beating is affection, scolding is love." Accept it well and suffer it obediently.

To not give Nalan Yexing a chance to remedy the situation, Cui Dongshan, after crossing the Ning Mansion gate with his teacher, said softly, "Thank you for the personal escort, Sister Luo Shan."

Chen Ping'an said, "It's her duty. No need to dwell on it."

Cui Dongshan shook his sleeves, "Of course. The student is just nervous whether this outfit today meets Sister Luo Shan's standards."

Nalan Yexing laughed, "Dongshan, you're a rare and dashing young man. Sword Immortal Luo Shan will definitely remember you."

Cui Dongshan nodded, "Yes, yes."

Over at the training ground's mustard-seed small world, Pei Qian was being fed punches by White Madam.

Chen Ping'an didn't watch; he couldn't bear to see it.

When Chen Ping'an practiced boxing himself, being fed punches by a tenth-realm martial artist, no matter how miserable, was nothing. But he simply couldn't bear to see his disciple being fed punches like that.

The real reason was that Chen Ping'an was afraid that if he watched too much, later when Pei Qian made a mistake, he wouldn't have the heart to be harsh and would be lenient in reasoning.

After all, during those years at Bookishmere Lake, Chen Ping'an had already suffered enough from this thread of his own heart's path.

Severing ties with others, no matter how hard, isn't truly hard. But severing ties with one's own past self—that is the hardest of all, as hard as ascending to heaven.

——

The Hidden Official's summer retreat outside the city.

The Hidden Official stood on a chair. With both hands tugging at her two braids, the chair hung in the air. Looking down, her field of vision was also a map of the city, even larger and more detailed. Even the private gardens, pavilions, and towers of grand mansions like Taixiang Street were all laid out.

But now on the map, there were routes drawn in cinnabar ink. One end of the vermilion routes was at the Ning Mansion. The other end was not fixed, most often at Diezhang's tavern, then at that street corner where the storyteller's small bench was placed, next at the left and right sword practice grounds of the Sword Qi Great Wall, and a few other sparse traces. Basically, wherever the Second Shopkeeper went, someone would draw it on the map.

Pang Yuanji had once asked, "Chen Ping'an isn't an demon spy. Why does Master care so much about his route?"

The Hidden Official replied, "No fights, no wine to drink. Master is very bored."

Pang Yuanji didn't ask further, because his master's reasoning was very reasonable.

According to his master, the Hidden Official lineage, in the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall, had been passed down to her. Even if she hadn't done it perfectly, she had at least been qualified. Not only qualified, but she had done far too many extra things. Her achievements were not small. That old great sword immortal still picked on her—truly bullying. The capable do more, but this wasn't supposed to be a life of drudgery.

The female sword immortal Luo Shan was still wearing a round-collared brocade robe, though the color had changed. The style remained the same, and she still wore a flower in her hair.

At the Sword Qi Great Wall, Luo Shan of the Hidden Official lineage and that madwoman Zhou Chen, who swung on a swing atop the wall, were both exceptionally beautiful.

Luo Shan arrived at the hall of the summer retreat, dipped a brush, and drew another vermilion route.

Bamboo Hut Sword Immortal frowned, "This time he took Cui Dongshan to Tao Wen's residence? What for?"

Luo Shan said, "You're asking me? Should I ask Chen Ping'an? Or that Cui Dongshan?"

Bamboo Hut Sword Immortal said, "Oh. If you want to go, go. I'm not stopping you."

Luo Shan glared at him.

Bamboo Hut was oblivious.

The Hidden Official said, "Probably trying to persuade Tao Wen to earn more money and not seek death. This Second Shopkeeper has too soft a heart. No wonder I didn't like him at first sight."

The Hidden Official wiggled her braids and curled her lip, "Our Second Shopkeeper probably hasn't seen enough. Too short a time. If he sees for long and still keeps this heart, I'll really admire him. What a pity..."

But the Hidden Official didn't finish. Luo Shan and Bamboo Hut Sword Immortal didn't ask further.

The Hidden Official suddenly sighed, her face even more regretful, "Yue Qing wasn't killed. Not fun at all."

Bamboo Hut Sword Immortal was actually quite curious this time. After all, a Golden Body realm martial artist like Chen Ping'an didn't interest him much, but Zuo You, being a fellow sword cultivator, interested him immensely. So he asked, "Hidden Official, what exactly did the old great sword immortal say that made Zuo You stop his sword and withdraw?"

The Hidden Official stretched out a hand.

Bamboo Hut Sword Immortal tossed over a jug of immortal brew from Baoguang Tower.

The Hidden Official tucked it into her sleeve and said, "Probably something like, 'Your junior disciples and grand-disciples are watching. Throwing so many swords without killing anyone is already embarrassing enough. You might as well not kill Yue Qing, just treat it as sparring sword techniques. If you did kill him, this senior uncle would be too undignified.'"

Luo Shan and Bamboo Hut Sword Immortal exchanged glances, finding this answer hard to believe.

The Hidden Official jumped onto the chair arm, standing higher to overlook the map, and muttered to herself, "There are quite a few about to die. Not few who can live, either. Losing money, winning money, earning money, repaying money—is this how business is done? Who will remember your Tao Wen's life-for-money in the future? What petty matters did you, Chen Ping'an, do? Under the great tide, no one escapes. Totally meaningless things, yet done with such enthusiasm? Sigh, I really can't understand how sword-wielders who read books think. It's always been this way. And I can't drink. Boring me to death. Bamboo Hut, hurry up and drink. Let me smell the wine at least."

——

Today at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Zuo You wasn't just somewhat uncomfortable; he was extremely uncomfortable.

Toward Cui Dongshan, he was very direct: if he didn't like the look of him, he'd draw his sword.

Toward Chen Ping'an, he taught him some of his own scholarly methods. If there was something he didn't like, he'd teach the little junior brother sword practice.

But these two before him were both grand-disciples!

Plus that Guo Zhujiu, who for some reason was being kept by the little junior brother—did she count as half?

This time, Pei Qian planned to speak first. Losing to Cao Qinglang once was bad luck; losing twice would be a lack of proper etiquette toward her senior uncle!

So after her teacher finished exchanging pleasantries with her senior uncle, she would make her move!

But Pei Qian calculated everything except that half-hearted fellow disciple Guo Zhujiu.

This kid, somehow no longer grounded, had been frequenting the Ning Mansion lately. Not only did she disturb the master's wife's seclusion, but she also had no good words for her, the senior sister.

Did the senior sister not recognize you as the little junior sister? Is that a reason for you, the little junior sister, not to recognize the senior sister? Huh? Want your little brain smashed? Forget it, forget it—remember the teacher's teaching: sword high in the sheath, fist high not thrown.

Guo Zhujiu spoke first today, "Future Senior Uncle, you, one man and one sword, surrounded more than a few sword immortals including Great Sword Immortal Yue Qing. I bet your mood was actually very calm, right? Because in that earlier great battle outside the city to kill demons, Senior Uncle alone surrounded so many great demons, chopping vegetables and slicing melons, swoosh swoosh—so you're very used to it, definitely like that! Senior Uncle, don't deny it!"

Zuo You smiled, "I can admit that."

Guo Zhujiu said solemnly, "If I were from the Barren Wasteland Heaven, I would burn incense and pray to the Buddha, begging Senior Uncle's sword technique not to improve another iota."

Pei Qian's eyes turned red. She scratched her head with both hands.

This flattery was too insincere.

Senior Uncle must not believe it.

Zuo You smiled and said a few words to Pei Qian and Cao Qinglang, very politely, with the demeanor of an elder. He praised Pei Qian's "Demonic Sword Technique," telling her to keep it up. He also said that Sword Immortal Zhou Cheng's ancestral sword intent could be learned but didn't need to be admired. Later, Senior Uncle would personally teach her sword techniques.

Zuo You also urged Cao Qinglang to study diligently. Cultivation and scholarship both not neglected—that was the foundation of the Literary Sage lineage. He didn't forget to lecture Cao Qinglang's teacher, telling Cao Qinglang not to always think that learning from Chen Ping'an was enough. Far from enough. He must surpass the teacher. That was the fundamental of Confucian scholarship. Otherwise, each generation worse than the last—wouldn't the former sages laugh? He wouldn't speak of other lineages. But the Literary Sage lineage absolutely had no such principle.

Watching this, Chen Ping'an was both happy and uneasy.

He had never seen this senior brother treat him with such a pleasant face and accommodating manner.

Was this what they called "affection skipping a generation"?

He led them to pay respects to the senior uncle.

The old great sword immortal's thatched hut was not far away.

Chen Ping'an hesitated, then led them to see the old man.

Chen Qingdu came out of the hut, cast a glance at Cui Dongshan, which probably meant "Get lost, little brat."

Cui Dongshan laughed, "Got it."

He turned around, bouncing and hopping, his two big white sleeves flapping wildly.

Guo Zhujiu stood still, extended two fingers, and mimed a walking motion with them.

The old great sword immortal glanced at her again. To show sincerity, Guo Zhujiu's two fingers walked a bit faster.

Chen Qingdu laughed, "I didn't tell you to leave."

Guo Zhujiu sighed with relief, turned a full circle, and stood still, indicating she had left and come back.

Pei Qian sighed inwardly. She really had to advise her teacher not to lead such a muddle-headed little girl into the sect. Even if he had to take a disciple, this girl with a tall stature but no brains, if she entered the Fallen Mountain Ancestral Hall, her seat should be near the door.

As the teacher's first disciple, she was selfless, absolutely without a shred of personal grudge. She was purely thinking of the sect's greater good.

But Pei Qian did admire Guo Zhujiu a bit. It was good to be silly—she dared to be so presumptuous in front of the old great sword immortal.

As for herself, she absolutely dared not speak or even look at the old great sword immortal more than once. Her eyes would hurt.

Chen Qingdu looked at the children around Chen Ping'an, and finally said to Chen Ping'an, "Have you found your answer?"

Chen Ping'an said, "A disciple of the Literary Sage lineage always has things he does and things he doesn't do."

Chen Qingdu nodded, just saying, "As you wish."

On this final day at the Sword Qi Great Wall's top, Zuo You sat in the center. On his left and right sat Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian. Beside Chen Ping'an sat Guo Zhujiu, beside Pei Qian sat Cao Qinglang.

Cui Dongshan, for some reason, had been chased away by the old great sword immortal earlier and was only now called back.

After finishing their business, Cui Dongshan clasped his hands in his sleeves and stood shoulder to shoulder with Chen Qingdu, as if the old great sword immortal didn't mind. Together they looked at the scene not far away.

Chen Qingdu smiled and asked, "Imperial Preceptor, what are your thoughts?"

Cui Dongshan said calmly, "Fearing it's all a dream."