Chapter 632: Mutual Sword Inquiries
Chen Ping'an made a solo trip to the Sword Qi Great Wall and witnessed that sword inquiry with his own eyes.
Who could possibly be engaging in a sword inquiry with the Sword Qi Great Wall?
If news of this reached the major immortal sects in Haoran Heaven, they would never believe it—they'd laugh their teeth out.
This sword inquiry in the Barren Wild Heaven was absolutely real, beginning on a pitch-black night with barely any moonlight.
Chen Ping'an only saw that on the southern battlefield, first a few scattered points of sword light dimly lit up, then more and more, like the lotus lanterns drifting into rivers that he had seen during his early travels through the mortal world of Haoran Heaven—lanterns gathering, sparks converging into ten thousand points of fire, able to rival the sun and moon.
In the end, one lifebound flying sword after another traced streaks of radiance, "slowly" making their way toward the Sword Qi Great Wall, eventually converging into an incomparably brilliant river of stars.
Looking down from the city wall, it was as if an immortal stood in heaven, gazing upon the lanterns of the mortal world.
Setting aside friend-or-foe relations and speaking only of the scene before the eyes, it was truly magnificent.
As the Hidden Officer, Chen Ping'an had no need to draw his sword, nor could he. He would soon have to return to the Summer Retreat Palace north of the city wall.
It wasn't that Chou Miao and Lin Junbi's groups had done poorly, but Chen Ping'an still found it difficult to let go—this was an obsession with both advantages and disadvantages. Chen Ping'an felt that even if he needed to change, now was not the time.
Just like in the past, when he had stubbornly sought externally, he needed to slowly adapt.
Chen Ping'an stood on the city wall near the thatched hut and sighed, "This kind of mutual sword inquiry is unprecedented and unrepeatable."
The Great Sword Immortal laughed. "Unrepeatable, most likely true. Unprecedented? Not quite. In the early years, when human sword cultivators raised their swords and inquired of heaven, swords fell across the world like a golden rain—more beautiful than this. Back then, the Qi refiners who guarded the formation and supported the human sword cultivators—do you know who they were? The Sage of Confucianism, the Dao Ancestor, the Buddha, and nearly half of the founders of the Hundred Schools. Everyone was selfless, everyone took death as an honor."
Chen Ping'an remembered the journey he had taken alone with Cui Dongshan, during which the white-robed youth had rambled about many strange things.
Chen Ping'an said softly, "It is said that there was no such concept as the Three Teachings and Hundred Schools back then. Each school's learning was only in its infancy. Whether it was us sword cultivators, those Qi refiners, or the flood dragons that summoned clouds and rain across the four seas, we were all allies fighting side by side. Even the Barren Wild Heaven stopped its conflict with humanity at that time—it didn't help, but it didn't hold us back either."
Chen Qingdu nodded, showing an uncommon look of remembrance. "I, Dragon Lord, Guan Zhao, and those fellow sword cultivators long forgotten by history—one by one, we drew our swords and ascended."
Chen Ping'an crouched down, touching the slightly cool ground of the Sword Qi Great Wall, and looked up toward the southern battlefield. "Great Sword Immortal, back then, everyone was struggling to survive. If not, they couldn't live on. I'm not belittling your great feats—I wouldn't dare, nor would I want to. Now, ten thousand years later, I've traveled through three continents and witnessed many eras, so I dare say that Haoran Heaven is still good overall, still stable. Great Sword Immortal, you are like the elders of a large family. You see clearly the rights and wrongs of the younger generation. In truth, you have been quite tolerant. But I still hope you won't be disappointed. If even you become utterly disappointed, then we juniors will have fewer chances to recognize our mistakes and correct them."
Chen Qingdu remained silent.
Chen Ping'an hesitated to speak.
Chen Qingdu smiled. "Since you've become the Hidden Officer of the Sword Qi Great Wall, you should have the courage to speak bluntly."
Chen Ping'an pressed his palm against the ground. "I still believe the world is getting better, step by step. I trust this to be so. Great Sword Immortal, please don't think these ten thousand years have been only loneliness. Behind you, Haoran Heaven has been stable for ten thousand years—smoke from cooking fires rises in the mortal world, immortal aura swirls on the mountains. For the most part, everyone has their own big or small goals and hopes. Even I, when I was a child, thought death was nothing to fear. But later, when I became an apprentice at the Dragon Kiln, I started thinking about earning money and saving up, wanting to live well. The thoughts of people there are as numerous and tangled as wild grass, but they still need soil to take root and sprout, don't they? As long as there is soil, there are countless possibilities."
Chen Ping'an looked up. "Great Sword Immortal, do what you must do. But don't be disappointed, don't be sad—can you promise me that?"
The old man crouched down, reached out, and pressed a hand on the young man's head, laughing. "Youngsters, you just haven't seen much of the world. Even though you've witnessed me teach you that sword strike, you still don't know the true sword heart of a sword cultivator."
The old man withdrew his hand. "Sword cultivators of my age have all crawled through the deepest despair and dire straits, step by step. Convicts? In the earliest days, on the face of the earth, who wasn't a convict living from dawn to dusk? So there's no such thing as utter disappointment. Some disappointment, of course, there is—but certainly not as thorough as you imagine. Over these ten thousand years, what I've seen more of is hope rising here, hope falling there. In the ashes of hope, a spring grass might grow again next year. 'Lush grass on the plain'—the Sword Qi Great Wall doesn't have such scenes, but even if I just sit atop the city wall, I seem to smell the fragrance of spring grass from Haoran Heaven every year."
Chen Ping'an was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh. "I never expected the Great Sword Immortal to say something like that—very poetic!"
Chen Qingdu laughed. "Let me tell you two more interesting little things. Remember not to leak the heavenly secrets prematurely."
Chen Ping'an said solemnly, "Great Sword Immortal, please speak."
But Chen Qingdu changed his mind and shook his head. "I'll tell you another time."
Chen Ping'an prepared to take his leave.
Chen Qingdu suddenly said, "Willow Tendon Realm, sword cultivator, two lifebound flying swords. Seventh realm peak, pure martial artist. Still not enough."
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Great Sword Immortal, please don't be too harsh on me. Among my peers, I'm already fairly impressive. On the martial path, I can at least see Cao Ci's back. As a low-fifth-realm Qi refiner, I managed to earn you one chance to draw your sword and became the Hidden Officer. I won't claim merit, but at least I've put in effort, haven't I? Besides, this Willow Tendon Realm—I think it's not bad. I'm building up character, accumulating luck—if by some chance..."
Chen Qingdu directly crushed Chen Ping'an's fantasy, shaking his head. "You simply don't have the fate to comprehend the mysteries of the 'Liuren Realm.' Don't even think about breaking into the upper five realms in one go."
Chen Ping'an smiled bitterly. "Great Sword Immortal, couldn't you wait until after I break into the fourth realm to say that?"
Chen Qingdu said, "About the three sword immortal slots—have you decided on the last one?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "It's difficult. I can't decide for now."
Chen Qingdu waved his hand. "If you can't even decide on such a trivial matter, what use are you as the Hidden Officer? Get out of here and go to the Summer Retreat Palace. Use your brain more. Try to break into the Cave Dwelling Realm for Qi refiners and the Far Wandering Realm for martial artists as soon as possible."
Chen Ping'an took his leave but asked one more question, which Chen Qingdu agreed to.
It was about leaving the city wall to kill demons. Chen Qingdu said it didn't matter—any sword cultivator of the Hidden Officer lineage could go as long as they were willing and didn't neglect their duties.
As Chen Ping'an prepared to summon his talisman boat, he glanced at the thatched hut. Senior Brother Zuo You was still in seclusion healing from injuries. Xiao Xun's punch had been truly vicious. The Great Sword Immortal said that if it had been someone like Yue Qing, they would have died long ago. Even Lu Zhi and Nalan Shaowei would have directly dropped in realm.
Just as Chen Ping'an's talisman boat left the northern city wall, someone landed on the boat by wind-riding.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Leaving?"
Liu Xianyang nodded. "I reckon I'll have to set out in a day or two. The coastal defense arrangements for South Basi Continent have already been put on the agenda—a mountain of tasks."
Chen Ping'an brought up an old matter again. "When we inquire of Zhengyang Mountain with our swords, you must wait for me. Be extremely careful."
Liu Xianyang asked doubtfully, "If I hadn't seen you draw your sword, I might let it go. But against just one Zhengyang Mountain, do we need to be this cautious?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Yes. Trust me."
Liu Xianyang asked, "Just one Li Tuanjing suppressed Zhengyang Mountain for centuries. Is he worthy of such solemn treatment from us?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Liu Xianyang, the early dispute between Wind Thunder Valley and Zhengyang Mountain is completely different from our future sword inquiry against Zhengyang Mountain. Apart from Zhengyang Mountain's own long-hidden sect foundations, there will also be a great trend. Zhengyang Mountain and the Xu family of Qingfeng City are both undeniable candidates for sect status in Bottle Gourd Continent. Zhengyang Mountain, in particular, will carve up most of the sword qi fortunes of the Zhuying Dynasty—something even the Dragon Spring Sword Sect cannot do. Because even though the Great Li Emperor Song respects Master Ruan, he will never allow the Dragon Spring Sword Sect to dominate alone. By granting the former Central Province territory and incorporating it into Dragon Spring Sword Sect's domain, aside from Master Ruan's sect being too small in number as a natural limitation, this move by the Great Li Song clan also allows Zhengyang Mountain to benefit from proximity, seizing the sword cultivator seedlings of the entire Zhuying Dynasty. Once it becomes a sect, Zhengyang Mountain's fortunes will be tied to the Great Li Song dynasty's reign. Is this still the same kind of personal grudge between Li Tuanjing and Zhengyang Mountain's old sword cultivators?"
Chen Ping'an sighed, shaking his head to himself, then emphasized, "I can't say more. But Zhengyang Mountain is an indispensable part of a certain major scheme of the Great Li dynasty. When you and I go to inquire with our swords, will it truly be just against Zhengyang Mountain's mountain protection formation and that group of old sword cultivators?"
Liu Xianyang stared blankly at Chen Ping'an.
Chen Ping'an asked, "What's wrong?"
Liu Xianyang laughed. "Are you overthinking things? Who said that a sword inquiry has to succeed in one go? I poke them in the backside with a sword today, and if things look bad, I run. I come back tomorrow and stab them in the crotch again—that's still a sword inquiry. Does it have to be like you said, crushing them in one go, even smashing their sword hearts and their spirits to pieces? Chen Ping'an, now that you're an immortal, do you care so much about face? You'd rather suffer than lose face—is that you? I remember you and me, we weren't that kind of person since we were kids. We never did losing business, right? What kind of person am I, Liu Xianyang? Don't you know? My words might be offbeat, but my actions are pretty reliable, aren't they?"
Liu Xianyang's smile faded. "When you do things, you tell yourself you only want to avoid mistakes—but is it really just about avoiding mistakes? No. You just don't realize it yourself, but you're actually doing the best things. People like me are half-confused, half-clever. We don't seek perfection. If I can deal with myself, I can deal with my opponents. Living in a daze is still living; being meticulous is also living. Comfort is living, misery is also living. How to turn a miserable life into a comfortable one? You need to learn from me more. I'm not saying you're wrong. In terms of right and wrong, you're far more right than me, and that's better. But a person, occasionally, needs to slack off, let themselves breathe. This kind of truth isn't often written in books, but I understood it back when I hadn't even studied. I just never had the chance to tell you."
Chen Ping'an was stunned for a full while.
Liu Xianyang laughed. "Little Snotty isn't a little snotty worm anymore, but Uncle Liu is still your Uncle Liu."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Got it."
Liu Xianyang shook his head. "It's not about 'getting it.' It's about remembering."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "You have the final say."
The two sat facing each other in the talisman boat.
Life is full of partings.
Only the spring breeze and autumn blossoms are fleeting, coming and going too easily. I only hope that spring blossoms and autumn moons make reunions not too hard.
Liu Xianyang was silent for a moment, then blinked his eyes. "Have you... done it?"
Chen Ping'an looked confused.
Liu Xianyang looked around—no one in sight—then held up two fingers from each hand and touched them together.
Chen Ping'an quickly slapped Liu Xianyang's hand away and lowered his voice. "Do you want to die? Don't drag me down with you!"
Liu Xianyang was taken aback. "You haven't even held hands? I haven't read much, but I've been honest since I was a kid. Don't lie to me."
Chen Ping'an was thunderstruck.
Liu Xianyang's face was full of sorrow. "Even worse than me. You're more of a bachelor than a bachelor."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "First, find me my future sister-in-law, then talk about that."
Liu Xianyang shook his head, leaning back and lying down in the boat. "Finding a woman who won't covet my looks? Hard."
The talisman boat hovered at the entrance of the Summer Retreat Palace.
According to the rules of the Hidden Officer lineage, no outsiders were allowed to enter the palace without permission.
The two descended lightly. Chen Ping'an put the talisman boat into his sleeve. Liu Xianyang didn't leave immediately by wind.
Liu Xianyang stood in front of Chen Ping'an, straightening his collar, patting his shoulder, nodded, and said, "I'm off. When I'm not here, don't just focus on taking care of others. Remember to take care of yourself."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "You take care too."
Just as Liu Xianyang was about to turn around, Chen Ping'an tossed him a seal, laughing. "It's one of a kind. Keep it safe. Maybe you'll sell it for a sky-high price later."
Liu Xianyang didn't even look, just tucked it into his sleeve and flew away on the wind.
Chen Ping'an stood there, his gaze lingering long after.
The doors of the Summer Retreat Palace were wide open, with no gatekeeper.
Chen Ping'an walked all the way to the main hall. Chou Miao asked, "Hidden Officer, we've finished deliberating the appropriate arrangements. We've calculated that each time, three people will go to the city wall to draw their swords. This won't hinder our planning, and observing the battlefield from afar can't compare to being there in person, where we can grasp more details."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Which three are the first batch?"
Chou Miao stood up. Mi Yu and Dong Bude followed suit.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Go ahead. But Sword Immortal Mi, hold on. Replace him with Deng Liang. Remember, don't linger there. After ten days, you must swap. Then it'll be Sword Immortal Mi, Pang Yuanji, and Lin Junbi. After that, Song Gaoyuan, Cao Gun, and Xuan Shen. Then Luo Zhenyi, Xu Ning, and Chang Taiqing. Finally, Gu Jianlong, Wang Xinshui, and Guo Zhujiu—it might be me replacing one of them."
Chen Ping'an harbored no suspicion toward the four, including Chou Miao—this man was a "young" junior greatly admired by both the Great Sword Immortal and A Liang.
But as for Luo Zhenyi and the other two, Chen Ping'an still had some concerns, so he placed them after Deng Liang and Song Gaoyuan's groups. But if he put Luo Zhenyi's trio last, even later than Gu Jianlong's group, that would be too much. Also, having Luo Zhenyi's three travel together was a kind of compensation, albeit an insignificant one.
So it made sense that Luo Zhenyi and the others still held prejudices against him as the Hidden Officer. As long as they didn't hinder the overall plan and did their duty, Chen Ping'an didn't mind this friction. In fact, Chen Ping'an felt roughly the same admiration and yearning for this group of "fortune-seeking" sword cultivators who were most familiar with the customs of the Barren Wild Heaven, much like he felt for Chen Sanqiu. But to be fair, one must always be wary of others. Chen Ping'an didn't care if Luo Zhenyi and the others disliked him for it. If he wanted to be everyone's beloved good old man, he shouldn't have become the Hidden Officer.
Chou Miao's trio left the main hall, drew their swords, and flew away from the Summer Retreat Palace.
Most of the sword cultivators of the Hidden Officer lineage were young but precocious. They all knew this war would last a long time—at least three to five years, maybe upward of ten years. No one could say for sure. But the intensity of the war still exceeded imagination.
Huang Luan held the line, facing the torrent of demonic cultivators' magic treasures. Now, the Lotus Abode Master was the backbone of the demon army, leading tens of thousands of demon sword cultivators in their sword inquiry against the Sword Qi Great Wall.
And after these two battles, millions of demons from the Barren Wild Heaven would leave their homeland, led, driven, and enslaved by those demon cultivators, surging toward the Sword Qi Great Wall in a vast tide. It was said that on the roads heading to the northern battlefield, piles of bones lined both sides.
Ants gnawing at an elephant. The words of the great demon, "sit back and harvest," this time fell upon the Sword Qi Great Wall to endure.
Once this sword inquiry from the Barren Wild Heaven was over, the sword cultivators on the wall would have to charge into the fray.
Chen Ping'an didn't immediately enter the main hall. He strolled in the square outside.
The Hidden Officer lineage had gotten used to this—the Hidden Officer often walked by himself in the courtyard, pacing in circles.
When something came to mind, he would speak a few words to the sword cultivators inside.
Chen Ping'an recalled a conversation that had taken place earlier in the main hall, initiated by Chou Miao and Deng Liang.
Chou Miao had a far-sighted view. After the Hidden Officer lineage roughly deduced the next phase—the ant-swarm siege—Chou Miao said that the Barren Wild Heaven was by no means just altering the timing and geography of the Sword Qi Great Wall; it was far more than that.
Deng Liang then gave an analogy. He said that when he was traveling through the mortal world as a rogue cultivator, he passed a prefectural city and witnessed a street brawl between two martial arts sects. Nearly a hundred were killed or wounded. The side that barely won took all the territory and also intimidated the neighboring prefecture, quickly infiltrating it. The local government, martial factions, gentry, and wealthy merchants were all afraid of those desperadoes. They had their own agendas—some paid to avoid disaster, others voluntarily submitted. Over time, the gangs in the surrounding prefectures lost their momentum, and their territory was gradually eaten away.
At the time, Chen Ping'an didn't say anything.
Using this to describe the three sides—the Sword Qi Great Wall, the Barren Wild Heaven, and Haoran Heaven—wasn't quite appropriate. But the conclusion drawn was correct.
Chen Ping'an had asked the Confucian and Buddhist sages stationed at the city wall. What the Barren Wild Heaven wanted to do was, after breaching the Sword Qi Great Wall and Inverted Suspension Mountain, immediately gain a foothold in Haoran Heaven, converting Haoran Heaven's territory into their own domain. This would change the situation for both sides, giving them an advantage, or at least buying opportunities for the peak great demons, reducing that mysterious suppressive effect of the Dao. So the countless demon armies that seemed like ants—dying or even dying in vain on the Sword Qi Great Wall—were not dying for nothing. They would serve a great purpose in the future.
Mi Yu, who was somewhat like a gatekeeper in the room, suddenly asked, "Hidden Officer, have you become a sword cultivator?"
Chen Ping'an turned his head and asked, "Why do you say that?"
Mi Yu said, "Sometimes, when you treat a one-in-ten-thousand chance as a certainty, it becomes reality."
Chen Ping'an didn't give an answer. He just smiled and said, "It's a pity that Sword Immortal Mi didn't become an honorary elder at my home mountain."