Chapter 668: Three of the Four
Lin Junbi had never expected Pang Yuanji to be such a big mouth either; the news that he was leaving had already spread to all the other sword cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage.
At dawn that day, Lin Junbi packed a simple bundle, first took a stroll through the Summer Retreat Palace, and finally returned to the main hall, where he gazed at each table in turn.
For cultivators who knew no distinction between summer and winter at the foot of the mountain, a few short years passed in the blink of an eye. Yet Lin Junbi felt as if he had lived a great dream here, and he was somewhat reluctant to wake from it.
Lin Junbi shook his head, reining in his thoughts. He felt that leaving without saying goodbye wouldn't be so bad after all.
He hadn't expected that one by one, sword cultivators would arrive on flying swords. Except for the young Hidden Official, everyone had gathered—even Guo Zhujiu had brought a gong and drum.
Lin Junbi straightened his collar, clasped his hands, and expressed his thanks to everyone.
On the Sword Qi Great Wall, it was a tradition to drink when seeing off a friend. The group went to the Second Shopkeeper's wine shop for a drink. Early in the morning, there were still seats. Everyone took a small sip—farewell drinking was rarely done heartily, just a token gesture. Lin Junbi asked the Big Shopkeeper, Diezhang, for a Peace Talisman. The white-robed youth, already a Golden Core sword cultivator, wrote a line: "Lin Junbi has drunk this wine; in three years, he will break through three realms—that's all." He hung it on the wall himself.
The wooden talismans, hanging alongside each other, seemed to stand with the sword cultivators as comrades.
Gu Jianlong said a fair word: "Junbi's words truly capture the essence of the Hidden Official. The two characters 'that's all' are wonderfully subtle."
Lin Junbi finally raised his wine bowl, drained it in one gulp, and said with a smile, "To have spent time with you all is like being long in a chamber of orchids."
Lin Junbi said to Guo Zhujiu, "When I return to my hometown later, if I ever go traveling again, I must also have a bamboo box and a bamboo staff."
Finally, everyone stood up and clasped their fists, but they did not see Lin Junbi off far. Guo Zhujiu felt a bit regretful that the gong and drum had gone unused.
The white-robed youth, with only a small bundle slung diagonally across his shoulder, left the wine shop alone and headed for the gate leading to the Inverted Mountain. It lay between the city and the Mirage City, farther from the city than the old gate guarded by the female Daoist of Master's Sword Room, and also more bustling. Nowadays, the trade between the Spring Banner Studio and the eight continent ferries of the Haoran Heaven was growing smoother. Chen Chun'an of South Poshua Continent, the Yu family of Yu Juanfu, Zhou Shenzhi—the senior uncle of Bitter Summer Sword Immortal—Jiang Shangzhen, the new sect leader of the Jade Scepter Sect on Tongye Continent, several major sects from Northern Julu Continent, and the many connections forged by foreign sword immortals on their respective continents had all contributed, either openly or covertly. Thus, the worst outcome feared by the young Hidden Official and the Sorrow Seed Sword Immortal had not come to pass. The Confucian Temple in the Central Earth had not supported the new pattern created by the eight continent ferries, but neither had it explicitly opposed it.
Lin Junbi's bundle contained only ordinary items: a finely printed edition of the "Two Hundred Sword Immortal Seal Manual," a jade-bamboo folding fan bought from the Yan family shop, and small gifts from friends like Pang Yuanji. The gifts were light, but the sentiment was heavy. Lin Junbi was genuinely delighted. If their relationship hadn't been that close, they would have been overly polite in their gift-giving. Since they were true friends, things were more casual instead.
Along the way, security was tight. At the gate, Lin Junbi saw the young Hidden Official, who wasn't wearing a face covering. Beside him stood a woman of ordinary appearance. Around her seemed to linger a natural fragrance of grass and trees. She must have used a concealment spell to mask her true face. On the Sword Qi Great Wall, those who needed to do such things could be counted on one hand. Sword immortals disdained it, and sword cultivators had no need. Of course, the Hidden Official was an exception—when he got serious, he would even put on a woman's face. According to Gu Jianlong, when the young Hidden Official went to battle, he would disguise himself as a woman and make his strikes, even with a rather graceful bearing. When Guo Zhujiu heard this, it was as good as the Hidden Official hearing it himself, so Gu Jianlong ended up limping for over a month.
Lin Junbi easily guessed the woman's identity: the owner behind one of the Inverted Mountain's four private residences, the Plum Blossom Garden—the Lady Tuoyan.
Regarding the matter of Senior Brother Borderland, not only had Lady Tuoyan not been implicated, but she had somehow transferred her allegiance to Lu Zhi. This upper-five-realms sprite, whose beauty was renowned throughout the Haoran Heaven, had made amends for her faults. All the assets of the Plum Blossom Garden had been confiscated and turned over to the Summer Retreat Palace. If it were a honey trap, it might work on anyone—except the young Hidden Official, on whom it was worth less than half a copper coin. As for the ins and outs of the upheaval at the Plum Blossom Garden, the young Hidden Official didn't elaborate, and no one was willing to press him on it.
Chen Ping'an said he happened to be going to the Spring Banner Studio anyway, so it was on the way.
Lin Junbi naturally had no objections.
Nowadays, the Hidden Official no longer needed to be overly secretive when traveling between the Inverted Mountain and the Sword Qi Great Wall. Those who should know pretended not to; those who shouldn't know were better off not knowing. With the current state of alert on the Sword Qi Great Wall, anyone who deliberately found out would invite tremendous trouble. The Hidden Official lineage held immense authority—killing with flying swords required no explanation of why or by what right. Even the great mansions of Taixiang Street and Yuhu Street, if merely suspected, would find the Hidden Official's flying swords entering their grounds as if into an empty land, once the Summer Retreat Palace set its sights on them.
In the last two years, following intelligence known only to the Hidden Official, they had unraveled many threads and conducted numerous raids and interceptions. Lin Junbi himself had personally participated in two sieges, both targeting "merchants" from the Mirage City. They were watertight, cutting through them like chopping melons and vegetables. One of these incidents involved a revered old Nascent Soul cultivator, who had operated in the Mirage City for years, well-disguised and even better-liked. The Hidden Official lineage was unwilling to explain their reasoning, and half of the Mirage City nearly broke into open revolt on the spot. But then six sword immortals from within the city, including Gao Kui, flew into the air on their swords. The young Hidden Official didn't say a word from start to finish. Under everyone's gaze, he stood with his hands clasped in his sleeves outside a building, waiting until Sorrow Seed dragged the corpse out the door before turning to leave. That same day, twenty-three shops in the Mirage City closed their doors. The Sword Qi Great Wall didn't stop them at all, allowing them to move to the Inverted Mountain freely. But the next day, all those shops had new owners.
When the sword cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage struck, from Sorrow Seed to Dong Bude, and even Guo Zhujiu, who was still clearly a little girl, they were all crisp and clean.
But not all dirty business could be resolved by a clean sword strike. Lin Junbi remembered that the young Hidden Official had stayed at the sword workshop for over ten days. When he returned to the Summer Retreat Palace, for the first time, he didn't disclose the details to the sword cultivators, only saying that he had taken care of a not-insignificant hidden danger.
Sometimes Lin Junbi would let his mind wander and imagine: what if the Hidden Official lineage, this Summer Retreat Palace, took root as a sect in the Haoran Heaven? What would happen then?
The young Hidden Official would be the mountain lord, Sorrow Seed the discipline master, Sword Immortal Mi Yu in charge of the registry, Wei Wenlong handling the finances, and the rest of the sword cultivators would cultivate in peace, each overseeing a peak and its lineage, branching out according to their own preferences and accepting disciples.
It would surely be magnificent. Within no more than a hundred years, the entire Haoran Heaven would look upon them with new eyes. A pity it was only Lin Junbi's wild fancy.
Lady Tuoyan remained silent the whole way, only taking a few extra glances at the youth. That "Borderland" had once mentioned this junior apprentice brother, holding him in high regard.
When they reached the Inverted Mountain, Lin Junbi, following the instructions in his master's secret letter, went to the Ape Trample Mansion to meet an old friend of his master's. Then, that night, he would board a transcontinental ferry back to the Central Earth Divine Continent.
At the entrance of the Ape Trample Mansion, Chen Ping'an took out a wooden box from his Cun object and said, "It contains some relics from old friends who once drank at the wine shop. Treasure them well; you may find them useful later. I just hope you prove worthy of what's inside, that I haven't misjudged and given them to the wrong person."
Lin Junbi took the wooden box with both hands, guessing that inside were some of the Peace Talismans taken down from the wine shop's walls. This parting gift was extremely heavy.
If Lin Junbi so desired, as soon as he returned to the Central Earth Divine Continent, he could convert these into connections, reputation in court and among the people, fame among the mountain sects, or even tangible benefits.
Lin Junbi said solemnly, "Hidden Official, rest assured. In the future, Junbi will act with even greater discretion."
Chen Ping'an said softly, "One thing at a time, judge the matter, not the person. Once you return to the Shaoyuan Dynasty, I hope you excel in both scholarship and cultivation. Once among the crowd, the pure easily turn turbid. Junbi, you must think carefully."
Lin Junbi took a step back, bowed, and said, "Junbi bids farewell to the Hidden Official."
Chen Ping'an returned the salute with clasped hands.
Chen Ping'an and Lady Tuoyan headed toward the Spring Banner Studio. Lin Junbi watched their retreating figures and suddenly called out, "A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it in the proper way. Junbi has never met anyone as straightforward as Mr. Chen when it comes to dealings."
Chen Ping'an didn't turn around, just waved his hand.
Lin Junbi watched them disappear.
As they neared the Spring Banner Studio.
Lady Tuoyan smiled charmingly and spoke to the young Hidden Official through mind transmission: "Lin Junbi is gone. What about the other foreign sword cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage? Where will they go? Are they going to run away too?"
Chen Ping'an grinned and asked back, "Run away?"
Lady Tuoyan turned to look at the young Hidden Official, an apologetic expression on her face, but she said in an unrepentant tone, "Perhaps the wording was off, but the meaning is about right. Anyone who leaves the Sword Qi Great Wall alive is still running away, isn't he? Of course, Master Lu is an exception."
Addressing a woman as "Master" was a great honor in the Haoran Heaven.
Chen Ping'an said, "Lady Tuoyan, even your entire Plum Blossom Garden grew legs and ran away. You have the nerve to talk about the foreigners in our Hidden Official lineage?"
Lady Tuoyan changed her tone. "To be honest, I do admire the means and spirit of these young people. Once they return to the Haoran Heaven, they'll surely become great heroes dominating their regions, important figures. The reason I say these bitter things is out of envy—young people, sword cultivators, with a promising Great Dao ahead—every time I look at them, I get a little more jealous."
As they entered the Spring Banner Studio, Chen Ping'an said, "Do you know why I asked you to come to the Inverted Mountain this time?"
Lady Tuoyan gave him a plaintive look, bit her lip, and said, "How could I guess that? The Hidden Official holds high office; whatever he says goes."
Chen Ping'an said bluntly, "Sometime when few people are around, move the entire Plum Blossom Garden to the Sword Qi Great Wall. It'll be useful. The Summer Retreat Palace will credit you with a merit."
Lady Tuoyan complained, "Hidden Official, can't you spare even an empty shell like the Plum Blossom Garden? Picking on a defenseless woman like that isn't right, is it? Can't you let me keep at least a keepsake? When I get to South Poshua Continent in the future, I'll need to do my small part to give Master Lu a quiet place for cultivation, won't I?"
Chen Ping'an said, "With or that flashy Plum Blossom Garden, given Lu Zhi's temperament, she'll take the initiative to sever your past entanglements and let you cultivate in peace. Don't go out of your way to complicate things. As long as you can reach the Immortal realm, you'll truly have the power to protect yourself in the Haoran Heaven. Even if Lu Zhi isn't by your side, no one will dare to underestimate Lady Tuoyan, and the various academies will treat you with courtesy."
Lady Tuoyan sighed mournfully, "No more moonlit romance, only the daily grind. What a pitiful, world-weary soul I am."
Chen Ping'an said, "A self-aware person does not blame others."
Lady Tuoyan rolled her eyes, a natural seductiveness in the gesture. "When Mr. Chen speaks reason, he's most inscrutable to romance."
Chen Ping'an frowned. "Do I know you that well?"
Lady Tuoyan put on a pitiful look. "Then does the Lady Xie from the tavern in the city know Mr. Chen well?"
Chen Ping'an smiled ruefully. He'd been done in badly by A Liang and Shopkeeper Xie.
Lady Tuoyan sobered and said with curiosity, "I've only heard that Lady Xie was once a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, but then her Great Dao was severed, her flying sword broken, her sword heart shattered. Why does she hold you in such high regard? Is there a story behind it? Mr. Chen's looks aren't exactly the sort to make a woman fall in love at first sight, are they? If Mr. Chen is willing to tell, I'll move the Plum Blossom Garden willingly."
Chen Ping'an ignored her. He'd never met such a tedious upper-five-realms sprite.
Inside the building, only Wei Wenlong was present. The other four—Shao Yunyan, Mi Yu, Yan Ming, and Nalan Caihuan—were in the meeting hall discussing business with a group of ferry managers.
In the next room, a few of Shao Yunyan's disciples from the Spring Banner Studio were helping with the accounting.
Lady Tuoyan dispelled her concealment spell and leaned languidly against the doorframe. Her face was unpainted and natural, exuding an elegant air of unworldly grace.
Pity that Wei Wenlong glanced at her and then looked away, his heart undisturbed. The woman's appearance was beautiful, sure, but not as lovely as a ledger.
After Chen Ping'an sat down, he pulled a random ledger from the mountain of books. He flipped through the accounts while asking Wei Wenlong about recent trade developments.
Lady Tuoyan, with nothing better to do and unwilling to sit and mess with the ledgers, sat down on the doorstep, her back to the room, leaning forward with her chin in her hands.
After Wei Wenlong finished answering the young Hidden Official's questions, he unintentionally glanced at Lady Tuoyan's back by the doorstep—and couldn't look away.
So there was scenery beyond the ledgers.
Chen Ping'an noticed Wei Wenlong's distraction but didn't interrupt his sightseeing.
After all, Wei Wenlong was a bachelor; a few more glances wouldn't hurt. Maybe looking would make him understand.
But Chen Ping'an had only flipped through two pages of the ledger before Wei Wenlong came back to his senses, as if deciding the books on the table were more interesting.
Mi Yu returned alone from the meeting hall, cursing all the way. He'd been really put off by those money-obsessed ferry managers. But to his pleasant surprise, he saw Lady Tuoyan and immediately perked up, walking with a spring in his step.
But Lady Tuoyan had already stood up, her demeanor aloof and forbidding, not giving Mi Yu a chance to get close. She said to Chen Ping'an, "If the Hidden Official trusts me, I'll go move the Plum Blossom Garden on my own."
Chen Ping'an nodded.
Lady Tuoyan vanished in a flash.
Mi Yu stood at the doorway, gently fanning the air with his hand, and said to Wei Wenlong with a grin, "You silly goose, you've already feasted your eyes on the view, haven't you? If I were you, I'd have already sincerely asked Lady Tuoyan if she needed a pair of hands as a stool."
Wei Wenlong was at a loss for words.
Chen Ping'an got up and walked with Mi Yu around the Spring Banner Studio. Two groups of merchants were due to arrive today. Chen Ping'an planned to sit in on the second session of talks, entering the meeting hall after the first group of ferry managers had left.
Mi Yu said something unexpected: "This Lady Tuoyan of the Plum Blossom Garden is also a woman with a hard lot. That's why she finds my sort most annoying."
Chen Ping'an wasn't wearing the "Haoliang" sword-nurturing gourd at his waist. Regarding the private affairs of the two sword immortal brothers, Mi Hu and Mi Yu, since Mi Hu had already made a decision, Chen Ping'an wouldn't add superfluous advice.
Mi Yu suddenly said, "I've been afraid to go back to the Sword Qi Great Wall, because I don't know what to say."
Chen Ping'an knew that this Jade Brilliance realm sword immortal, notorious on the Sword Qi Great Wall, had already learned of his elder brother Mi Hu's intentions.
Mi Yu was silent for a moment. "But I still have to go. I can't avoid it forever."
Only then did Chen Ping'an take out the sword-nurturing gourd and hand it to Mi Yu.
Mi Yu just glanced at it and shook his head. "My brother gave it to you. Giving it to me makes no sense. Hidden Official, you keep it. It'll put my brother at ease. Anyway, my natal flying sword doesn't need a gourd for nurturing anymore."
Previously, as a sword cultivator of the Hidden Official lineage, Mi Yu had taken his turns in battle alongside the others. He had indeed fought with all his strength, but he had never been truly able to forget life and death. The reason was simple: if he ever found himself in a desperate situation, the one who would save him, the one who would die first, would be his elder brother.
Chen Ping'an kicked Mi Yu. "Then get going."
Mi Yu left the Spring Banner Studio.
After the first group of ferry managers at the Spring Banner Studio meeting hall had dispersed, Shao Yunyan and the other two went to see the guests off. Chen Ping'an then entered the empty hall.
When Shao Yunyan, Yan Ming, and Nalan Caihuan returned, Chen Ping'an didn't take the seat of honor. Instead, he sat in Mi Yu's spot, closer to Yan Ming and Nalan Caihuan.
Shao Yunyan casually sat down across from him.
Nalan Caihuan reported in detail on the progress of the eight continent ferry trade. The issue of divine money from the Aiai Continent remained the most troublesome. The Liu family of the Aiai Continent had yet to give a clear answer. Speaking of this, Nalan Caihuan looked worried, then somewhat indignant. "Why don't we just seize the Ape Trample Mansion directly? Even if it's not a refined object like the Plum Blossom Garden or the Spring Banner Studio, we can dismantle it. Those pavilions, towers, beams, and stone slabs—they're all divine money! Anyway, the Liu family doesn't seem to want to move it. The people have gone, the building's empty—it's almost ownerless. At worst, we can have Jiang Gaotai of the Southern Winnow Ferry whisper a word to the Liu family of Aiai Continent, let them know we owe them a favor. We'll have sword immortals like Xie Songhua repay it on our behalf."
Shao Yunyan smiled ruefully. What a fanciful idea.
Just one thing: Sword Immortal Xie Songhua—was she someone anyone could convince?
But to his surprise, Chen Ping'an said, "No rush for now. Dismantling it is definitely going to happen. The Liu family is probably just waiting for us to take apart the Ape Trample Mansion. They're sitting at home, waiting for us to deliver the favor to their doorstep. But friends are friends, business is business. We need to think ahead about what compensation the sword immortals we enlist—including Xie Songhua—should receive for undertaking this. Should the pill workshop provide something, or should the Summer Retreat Palace hand over some confiscated spoils? The three of you work out a plan, and when the time comes, you don't need to consult the Summer Retreat Palace; just give me the result."
Yan Ming asked, "Regarding Li Cai of the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake purchasing the Cloud-Stopping Pavilion, does that mean we can open another ferry route? Link up with the Jade Scepter Sect on Tongye Continent? Tongye Continent is rich in resources. If we can have the few ferries from Old Dragon City transport goods to the Inverted Mountain at full capacity, we might increase supplies by twenty percent."
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "We have to stop there. Jiang Shangzhen sent that divine money in his capacity as head of the Jiang family. That itself is a statement."
Although Jiang Shangzhen was now the new sect leader of the Jade Scepter Sect, the latest Ascension realm cultivator on Tongye Continent, Xun Yuan, would absolutely not agree to such a move. Besides, Jiang Shangzhen wouldn't be so insane.
If Jiang Shangzhen dared to put private interests above public duty, he might lose his position as sect leader on the spot.
Xun Yuan was absolutely capable of that. He might even replace the head of the Jiang family. The Cloud Cave Blessed Land would get a new ruler.
"In his position, do his duty" was an inescapable truth for all registered mountain immortals.
Wild cultivators had their own pros and cons; registered immortals had their own gains and losses.
Suddenly, Lady Tuoyan appeared outside the main door, holding a miniature garden in her hand. Inside the basin were pavilions, towers, and lush trees, every detail vividly clear.
That tiny garden was the entire Plum Blossom Garden. It was vastly different from the Chen Ping'an's impression of moving a house with great fanfare.
Probably this was what they meant by "a pure haven on earth, a small hill in the palm."
Lady Tuoyan stood at the door, lightly tossed the miniature garden to the young Hidden Official, and asked with a laugh, "Is it related to Shouchen?!"
Shao Yunyan and the others were baffled.
Chen Ping'an put the miniature garden into his Cun object and said, "Actually, I'm not sure either. You can ask Lu Zhi."
Shao Yunyan, watching Lady Tuoyan's swaying figure recede, teased, "So now, of the four great private residences on the Inverted Mountain, only the Water Essence Palace of the Rain Dragon Sect isn't ours."
Yan Ming's expression was indifferent. "If you like watching the show and making snide remarks, then watch your fill and say your fill."
Nalan Caihuan looked out the door, recalling the demeanor of the Water Essence Palace and the Rain Dragon Sect cultivators, and sneered, "So many innocent cultivators out there—if we don't save them, the Sword Qi Great Wall will surely be cursed later. Not very sword-like, not worthy of being sword immortals. If the Hidden Official doesn't stop me, I'll go to the Water Essence Palace right now and earnestly persuade them to move their sect somewhere else to enjoy their blessings. A little financial loss is better than losing their lives."
Chen Ping'an didn't get involved.
Shao Yunyan got up to greet the second group of ferry managers.
Nalan Caihuan noticed that the young Hidden Official had vanished from sight.
Even though she knew he was nearby, as a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, Nalan Caihuan couldn't sense a thing—not even the slightest ripple of qi.
Then the second session of talks began, lasting an hour and a half, mostly consisting of the two sides haggling.
Shao Yunyan played the good cop, Nalan Caihuan the bad cop, and Yan Ming acted as a biased mediator.
Chen Ping'an had actually been standing behind Mi Yu's chair the whole time, quietly watching the two sides argue.
The smaller the small world of "Bird in a Cage," the heavier its rules.
When Chen Ping'an compressed the innate ability of this flying sword to the size of a cun, even a Nascent Soul sword cultivator like Nalan Caihuan was unaware of it.
For dealing with qi refiners below the upper five realms, except for the four most troublesome types, he could close the distance instantly using Pine Needle, Coughing Thunder, or Fangcun Talismans, along with his martial physique—whether flying on the wind or on a sword. Then he would deploy Bird in a Cage, tighten it, and face-to-face, one punch to end it.
A ferry manager who hadn't attended the first Spring Banner Studio meeting got so angry during the argument that he slapped the small table beside him, making the teacup jump, and roared, "How can you do business like this? Your price-cutting is insane! Even if the Hidden Official himself were sitting here, face to face, I'd say the same thing. The goods on my ferry—buy them or not, it's up to you. If the Spring Banner Studio keeps cutting the price, you're killing me. Piss me off, and... I wouldn't dare do anything to you, okay? I'm afraid of you sword immortals! I'll just stab myself and convalesce here. That way, both the Spring Banner Studio and my own sect get their explanation..."
Yan Ming rubbed his temples. Actually, the deal wasn't impossible to negotiate. At the price the Spring Banner Studio offered, the other party could still make a decent profit. The guy was just being difficult—that was half the fun of business for merchants.
Yan Ming wasn't exactly disgusted; in business, you talk as a businessman. But these old foxes, wave after wave, every single time—it was still exhausting.
Nalan Caihuan smiled wryly.
Then a dozen or so ferry managers all looked to one spot, where a lean figure had appeared out of nowhere.
Everyone stood up at once.
A young man across from them had his hands clasped together, resting on the top of the chair back, and said with a grin, "One knife isn't enough. I've got two. Make sure to give them back after you stab yourself."
Nalan Caihuan, despite her long-standing resentment toward the young Hidden Official, had to admit that sometimes Chen Ping'an's words were indeed refreshing.
A ferry manager who had met the young Hidden Official before immediately announced his name respectfully, then clasped his fists and said, "Greetings, Hidden Official!"
The manager who had been shouting about stabbing himself looked as if he'd been struck by lightning, standing there speechless.
But Chen Ping'an didn't actually harass him. Instead, he proactively gave in by one percentage point, then left the hall.
This time, when he left the Spring Banner Studio and returned to the Sword Qi Great Wall, Chen Ping'an didn't take the long way around as usual. Instead, he went through the earliest gate.
A young Daoist boy sat on a prayer mat as usual, reading a book. When he saw Chen Ping'an, he didn't even look up.
The sword-carrying man on the other side of the gate didn't show himself, and Chen Ping'an didn't greet the familiar sword immortal named Zhang Lu.