Chapter 700: New Wine Awaits Old Friends

Chapter 700: New Wine Awaits Old Friends

In the Central Earth Divine Continent, at the Academy of Rites.

A heavy winter snow fell, while the academy's masters and scholars were engaged in exploring the Way and pursuing learning. Mao Xiaodong sat alone in a pavilion enjoying the snow, gently rubbing his hands together, softly reciting a well-known short prose piece: "Heaven, clouds, mountains, water, and dike—each a swath of white; pavilion, boat, fisherman, and drinker—each a single speck."

Mao Xiaodong's current mood was far from relaxed, because the effort to restore Cliffside Academy to the ranks of the Seventy-Two Academies had dragged on for years without being finalized. Now on Bottle Gourd Continent, even the excavation of the great river and the construction of the Great Li auxiliary capital had been completed, making it seem as though Mao Xiaodong was the one holding things back. If it weren't for his terrible relationship with that Embroidered Tiger of Great Li, and his unwillingness to have any dealings with Cui Chan whatsoever, Mao Xiaodong would have long since written to Cui Chan, saying that he only had this much ability, clearly inadequate, and that Cui should quickly send someone else more capable to take charge here. As long as Cliffside Academy could be restored to the orthodox ranks of the Confucian Temple, he would owe Cui Chan a favor.

However, Mao Xiaodong was well aware that writing or not writing that letter made no difference. That bastard Cui Chan never cherished old ties; he only cared about results. Since Cui Chan had chosen Mao Xiaodong to lead this expedition and then never checked in, it probably meant Cui Chan had already figured things out long ago.

Cui Chan could afford to wait, but Mao Xiaodong was so anxious his throat felt like it was on fire.

Tongye Continent had descended into complete chaos. At the Academy of Rites, official dispatches circulated daily. Compared to the back-and-forth battles between the Fuyao Continent and the demon army along the coastal front—especially the way Fuyao's Upper Five Realm cultivators tried to keep their battlefield offshore to avoid collateral damage from celestial arts that might accidentally harm the assembled troops of mortal dynasties—it was largely due to the boldness of these Upper Five Realm cultivators, along with joint strikes by Qi Tingji, Zhou Shenzhi, and a Flying Ascension cultivator from Fuyao.

In contrast, Tongye Continent, which had adopted a purely defensive posture from the start, was in a state of total collapse. From mountain immortals to mortal dynasties, everything crumbled at the first touch. Now they could only rely on the three major academies and the sect-level immortal lineages to hold on desperately. The Jade Gui Sect could only be said to be holding its ground steadily, while the Tongye Sect and Fu Ji Sect showed signs of chaos, especially the coastal Fu Ji Sect, whose territory was shrinking continuously. The only one that truly impressed people was Taiping Mountain. Protected by its defensive-offensive mountain-and-river grand formation, it managed to have a thousand cultivators charge out of the sect together and reap substantial gains. The old Heavenly Lord of Taiping Mountain, who had originally dropped an entire realm, now stood towering with a great mirror in hand, as if an immortal holding aloft a bright moon that illuminated the surroundings. Wherever the moonlight shone, Taiping Mountain cultivators could advance or retreat freely, slaughtering enemies like mowing grass...

Mao Xiaodong wished he could resign as deputy mountain lord and go guard Old Dragon City. Rather than staying here fuming helplessly every day, he might as well do something substantial.

Mao Xiaodong had led a large group of academy scholars on a cross-continent journey here. As the deputy mountain lord, he had to protect the scholars so they could study in peace, try to avoid conflicts with the academy's students, and also fight for Cliffside Academy to regain its status as one of the Confucian Temple's Seventy-Two Academies. So these years had not been easy for Mao Xiaodong. Most critically, the Embroidered Tiger of Great Li had not told Mao Xiaodong how to succeed. And upon arriving at the Academy of Rites, the Grand Sacrificial Officer hadn't told him how to pass the evaluations either; he only told Mao Xiaodong to wait for news. Mao Xiaodong could only ask the more than thirty seeds of learning, including Li Baoping, to calm down and study properly.

In fact, Mao Xiaodong felt somewhat guilty, because one of the most important criteria for being promoted to one of the Seventy-Two Academies was the depth and profundity of the mountain lord's scholarship.

In the past, when his senior brother Qi Jingchun was mountain lord, Cliffside Academy had obtained this honor, and Mao Xiaodong didn't find it difficult at all. But once he became the one in charge, he felt an overwhelming sense of inadequacy. Since the academy's restoration to the Confucian Temple roster depended on him, the mountain lord, being unreliable, logic dictated that he should rely on his students. But when it came to the quality of students, whether at the Cliffside Academy in Great Li's capital or the one relocated to Great Sui, they could never compete with Lake View Academy. Before the relocation, both Cliffside Academy and Lake View Academy were among the Seventy-Two, but the best seeds of learning on Bottle Gourd Continent still preferred to try their luck at Lake View Academy first. Only if they failed to get in would they settle for Cliffside Academy at that time in Great Li. In fact, concerning this matter, Mao Xiaodong and several deputy mountain lords, as well as the former Great Li emperor, all had complaints. But Qi Jingchun alone remained consistently at ease, saying that no matter what kind of scholars came, the masters should just teach the same knowledge with dedication.

During Qi Jingchun's tenure as mountain lord, Cliffside Academy had one unwavering practice: every year, they would select a group of students from impoverished families in local prefectures and county schools. Even if these people had extremely poor academic foundations, the academy still took them annually, and Qi Jingchun would personally teach them. So to a large extent, many of the sharpest and most well-born seeds of learning on Bottle Gourd Continent were reluctant to come to Cliffside Academy to study, partly because they didn't want to be classmates with these poor students.

Mao Xiaodong remembered clearly that the former Great Li emperor once visited the academy and hinted to his senior brother that Great Li's capital school was willing to take in these poor scholars, promising not to mistreat or neglect them. Not only that, but the Great Li officialdom would even carve out a smooth career path for them. Could Mr. Qi and the academy not trouble themselves? With Mr. Qi's learning, he could simply select the best seeds of learning for the academy.

Qi Jingchun had directly laughed and said, "Even if the Song clan of Great Li wants to forget its roots, it's far too early."

And so the matter was dropped.

Thus, before going to the Pear Blossom Cavern, Mountain Lord Qi Jingchun had no concept of "disciple in the direct line." He taught children from high-born families with deep scholarly foundations, and he personally taught poor children from the streets and countryside as well.

Mao Xiaodong was not unfamiliar with this Academy of Rites. He had once come here to study with his two senior brothers, Zuo You and Qi Jingchun. But the two brothers hadn't stayed long; they left him here alone without even saying goodbye, leaving only a letter. In the letter, Qi Jingchun said what a senior brother should say, pointing out Mao Xiaodong's direction of study, whom he should learn from in the way of scholarship, and which sage-books he should focus on. It was all very comforting.

But at the end of the letter, Senior Brother Zuo You told Mao Xiaodong to rest assured: if anyone bullied him, just let his senior brother know, and remember not to trouble the teacher, because his senior brother had plenty of free time, while the teacher was very busy.

How could that put Mao Xiaodong's mind at ease? Whenever it involved matters unrelated to the teacher's scholarship, Mao Xiaodong wouldn't dare complain to Zuo You. Every time Senior Brother Zuo struck, he never made a move lightly—he always left a mess that only the teacher could clean up. Besides, the lineage of Ritual Saint had always been friendly with their own teacher. So back then, Mao Xiaodong could only steel himself and rest assured, studying here for several years.

Mao Xiaodong walked out of the pavilion and stood at the steps, looking at the couplet on the pillars.

"Affairs must be personally experienced before one can speak with substance."

"When words merge with the heart, only then does one find flavor in books."

Mao Xiaodong turned his head and saw Li Baoping, holding a walking staff and wearing a red cotton-padded jacket.

When Li Baoping reached his side, Mao Xiaodong said softly with a smile, "Skipping class again?"

Li Baoping nodded, then shook her head. "I already informed the master. I'm going with Master Zhong and Sister Diezhang to appreciate the snow at Oil Pouch Lake."

After leaving the Sword Qi Great Wall, Zhong Qiu and Cao Qinglang had split from Cui Dongshan and Pei Qian. The latter returned to Bottle Gourd Continent, while they traveled through the Southern Posuo Continent's Chun Ru Chen clan, then came to the Central Earth Divine Continent, carrying their book bags and studying along the way. After several years, they finally arrived at the Academy of Rites. Hearing that Mountain Lord Mao and Li Baoping were studying there, they stopped.

During this time, Chen Sanqiu and Diezhang also came to the Academy of Rites. Chen Sanqiu had become a Confucian scholar at the academy, while Diezhang was waiting for someone. Unfortunately, the friend she was looking for had supposedly followed a sage to the Fifth Cordial.

Mao Xiaodong smiled and said, "What's there to see at Oil Pouch Lake? It should be called Flattery Lake instead. What a grand gesture."

Then Mao Xiaodong whispered, "Baoping, these are just my personal opinions. I'll tell you quietly, and you just listen and forget. Don't repeat them outside."

Li Baoping said, "I won't casually comment on anyone's literary merit or personal character. Even if I must mention someone, I'll do so alongside the scholarly principle of revering elegance and rejecting vulgarity. I won't just latch onto the line 'Oil pouch draws the River of Heaven's water, to add to a ten-thousand-year cup of longevity' and argue endlessly. Lines like 'Books observe a thousand years close at hand' and 'Green waters meander away' are both excellent."

Mao Xiaodong nodded with a smile. "Very good. In both scholarship and life, one should be just so—balanced and harmonious."

Li Baoping hesitated for a moment, then said, "Master Mao, please don't worry too much."

Earlier, she had seen Master Mao from afar, alone enjoying the view, and came over to greet him.

Mao Xiaodong smiled. "Worry is unavoidable, but I won't be overly anxious. Don't you worry."

Li Baoping took her leave.

She went to rejoin Zhong Qiu, Cao Qinglang, and Sister Diezhang, who were all going to Oil Pouch Lake to enjoy the snow.

Chen Sanqiu was now a Confucian scholar at the academy and couldn't skip classes easily. Moreover, although Chen Sanqiu had read many books on the Sword Qi Great Wall, he found it difficult to keep up once he actually started studying at the academy.

And Chen Sanqiu had become an academy scholar in a strange way. When he first arrived at the Academy of Rites, a kindly old gentleman sought him out, chatted with him, and enjoyed the scenery. It was only later that Chen Sanqiu learned the man was actually the academy's Grand Sacrificial Officer. So Chen Sanqiu studied diligently. Having broken through to the Nascent Soul realm during his travels from Southern Posuo Continent to Central Earth Divine Continent, he had an advantage over many academy scholars who weren't even cultivators. During the day, he listened to the masters lecture; at night, he read on his own, while also nurturing his sword intent tirelessly.

Diezhang was still stuck at the Golden Core bottleneck, but she didn't feel too bad about it. After all, Chen Sanqiu was widely recognized as a seed of learning on the Sword Qi Great Wall, and his flying sword's innate ability was tied to literary fortune. His breakthrough was normal. Besides, Diezhang now felt as if a tight string had suddenly slackened. It seemed that after leaving the brutal battles of the Sword Qi Great Wall, she didn't know what to do.

She would tense up at the thought of meeting that Confucian gentleman again one day. And the Fifth Cordial wouldn't open for another hundred years. Only then could she and Chen Sanqiu go to that place—hard to tell whether foreign land or homeland—to see Ning Yao and the others.

That was why Li Baoping often dragged Sister Diezhang out for walks to distract her.

Mao Xiaodong looked in the direction they had gone.

Li Baoping in her red jacket and Cao Qinglang in his blue scholar's robe both habitually carried walking staffs when they traveled.

Mao Xiaodong stroked his beard and smiled, feeling gratified. The melancholy in his heart fell like snow to the ground.

No matter what, the incense flame of his own lineage would no longer flicker precariously, as if it might vanish at any moment.

Mao Xiaodong had a very good impression of Cao Qinglang. And Cao Qinglang was the direct disciple of his junior brother, Chen Ping'an.

By seniority, Cao Qinglang should call him Master-Uncle!

And indeed, at their first meeting, Cao Qinglang had bowed and called him Master-Uncle.

How could Mao Xiaodong not be happy?

Because of certain matters, Li Baoping and Lin Shouyi could only call him Mountain Lord Mao or Master Mao. And Mao Xiaodong himself hadn't taken any direct-line disciples either.

The little girl Pei Qian was ultimately Chen Ping'an's boxing disciple. So in the end, the most legitimate third-generation disciple of the Literary Sage lineage was temporarily just Cao Qinglang.

The tall old man turned and left the pavilion, heading to read books. He planned to go back to his lodging, warm a pot of wine, open the window in the heavy snow, and flip through a book—a perfect pleasure.

But unexpectedly, someone behind him called out with a laugh, "Xiao Dong!"

Mao Xiaodong's eyes instantly filled with tears. He slowly turned, immediately bowed deeply, and refused to rise for a long time. Head bowed, he said in a trembling voice, "Student pays respects to Master!"

The old scholar waited a while, but the student still didn't get up. Somewhat helpless, he had to walk down from the steps to Mao Xiaodong's side. The old scholar, nearly a head shorter, stood on tiptoe and patted his disciple's shoulder. "What's all this? Master finally managed to put on a stern face and play the part of a teacher, and you didn't even see it. All that effort I put into cultivating a master's aura, wasted."

Mao Xiaodong quickly straightened up, then hunched slightly, teeth chattering with excitement. He respectfully addressed his Master again.

It had been over a hundred years since he had last seen his Master.

His Master was not tall, but his learning was as vast as the heavens and deep as the earth!

The old scholar nodded. "Three times is enough, all right. Xiao Dong, it's not that I'm complaining, but every time I see you bow and pay respects, it makes my heart flutter. It feels like I'm burning incense and bowing to a portrait of someone who's passed away."

Mao Xiaodong said guiltily, "It is the student's fault."

The old scholar sighed helplessly. "What fault? You have no fault. It's just that I don't care much about formalities, and you care too much—both are good things. Ah, Xiao Dong, you really should learn from your junior brother."

Mao Xiaodong didn't know what to do, so he admitted fault again.

The old scholar led Mao Xiaodong into the pavilion. Mao Xiaodong made sure to always stay one step lower than his Master.

Finally, he sat opposite his Master, back straight, sitting properly.

The old scholar didn't blame his student for lacking perceptiveness; he just felt some pity.

Then the old scholar suddenly stood up, jumped, and spat outside. "A body of learning resounds through heaven and earth, two sleeves of clear wind leave nothing behind. Oil pouch draws the River of Heaven's water, mouth holds the heavenly mandate to create a great lake... Bah!"

The old scholar's feelings about the person Mao Xiaodong and Li Baoping had discussed were acceptable. But as for those later scholars who used poems to flatter that man, he truly wished he could compile those poems into a book, throw it into the local Confucian Temple of some country, and ask that fellow posthumously honored as 'Duke Wen Zhen' if his face was red. Still, that man's skill in the eight-legged essay and policy debate in his time was indeed not bad.

Mao Xiaodong sat with eyes fixed on his nose, nose fixed on his heart, utterly still, his mind like still water.

Whatever the Master said or did was right.

The old scholar sat back down and said, "The mellow wine at Oil Pouch Lake is truly delicious, and the price is fair. But the rule that gentlemen and worthies get half-price wine is too unfriendly. What's wrong with a scholar? A scholar is a rank too!"

Mao Xiaodong said not a word, only listened attentively to his Master's teachings.

The old scholar waited a long time, but the student never brought up the recent debates in the Confucian Temple. He found this quite regrettable. Starting that topic himself would be no fun.

Mao Xiaodong just sat opposite, sincerely feeling that his Master was unconstrained by trivialities yet had accomplished the greatest deeds in the world.

The old scholar smiled and said, "Earlier, at the wine shop on the Sword Qi Great Wall, I was drinking with Zuo You and your junior brother. Chen Ping'an said you are the most like me in teaching—rich and mild. He said you study cautiously and teach with trepidation."

Mao Xiaodong quickly stood up. "Your disciple is unworthy of such praise."

The old scholar said slowly, "If disciples are not as good as their masters, and disciples of disciples are not as good as their masters, then this business of passing on the Way—can it only be done by the Ultimate Sage himself? If you truly feel unworthy, then you truly are unworthy. True respect for the Master and the Way means that disciples must create new paths and stand on their own in scholarship. That is the true way to honor the Master and the Way. The Mao Xiaodong I envision should meet me with the disciple's ritual, but once the ritual is done, he should dare to point out where the Master's scholarship is lacking. Mao Xiaodong, after a hundred years of painstaking study, do you have anything that surpasses your Master's learning? Or anything that fills a gap in the Master's knowledge? Even if it's just one point."

Mao Xiaodong had not sat down after rising. He was deeply ashamed and shook his head. "Not yet."

The old scholar was not angry. Instead, he said gently, "'Knowing what you don't know is knowledge'—even that is not entirely useless. Keep it up."

He paused for a moment, then smiled. "After all, your Master's learning is quite profound."

Mao Xiaodong stood there, caught in a dilemma. He wanted to sit down, so as not to be too much taller than his Master, which would be improper. Yet he also wanted to stand with his hands at his sides, listening to the Master's lecture, which would be proper.

The old scholar looked up at Mao Xiaodong and smiled. "Still haven't broken through the Nascent Soul bottleneck? That's not good. With your temperament and learning, Mao Xiaodong, you should have broken through long ago."

Mao Xiaodong felt ashamed again.

The old scholar asked, "What are the three roots of ritual?"

Mao Xiaodong was about to speak.

The old scholar pointed to his heart. "Answer yourself."

The tall Mao Xiaodong stood in the pavilion, lost in thought.

The old scholar seemed to mutter to himself, "A pavilion is like a resting place for the heart. In a worldly climate like this wind and snow, if one carries a few sage books in their bosom and knows a few sage principles, will stepping outside the pavilion keep them from feeling cold?"

He answered himself: "I think one will be a little warmer, able to walk a few more steps on the snow-covered road."

Mao Xiaodong looked at the heavy snow outside the pavilion and blurted out, "The noble person's learning is to refine himself; ritual is what rectifies the body. What the mouth can speak, the body can practice. Learning ends when it is practiced—this is the ultimate virtue of the noble person."

The old scholar slapped his thigh. "Excellent!"

The wind and snow outside the pavilion immediately stilled.

Mao Xiaodong slowly sat down. The moment the snow stopped, he had already broken through to the Jade Purity realm. Not only that, but the words on the couplet outside the pavilion shone brilliantly, and only then did the heavy snow continue to fall upon the world.

The old scholar suddenly asked, "Outside the pavilion, you walk a long road with a warm heart. Along the roadside, there are many people shivering with cold hands and feet. What do you do? These people may never have read books. In the bitter cold, they wear thin clothes. How can they read? If a teacher who no longer worries about warmth or cold goes on and on in people's ears, won't he just earn their annoyance?"

Mao Xiaodong sank into deep thought, not even noticing when his Master quietly left.

The old scholar, standing beside the academy's Grand Sacrificial Officer, smiled and asked, "What do you say?"

The Grand Sacrificial Officer said, "Effective immediately. Cui Chan wrote in his letter that once Mao Xiaodong breaks through, from that moment on, Cui Chan himself will become the new mountain lord of Cliffside Academy."

The old scholar smiled. "Don't forget to have Cliffside Academy re-enter the ranks of the Seventy-Two Academies."

The Grand Sacrificial Officer bowed and accepted the order.

The old scholar suddenly said, "I want to borrow a certain 'mountain' from you. If you refuse, it would be perfectly reasonable, and I will not force you. I haven't seen your master in a long time..."

The Grand Sacrificial Officer had been hesitating, but upon hearing this, he decisively agreed.

The old scholar patted him on the shoulder and praised, "Not muddled over small matters, and even more decisive in big ones. Ritual Saint takes on disciples, but he's still slightly inferior!"

The dignified Grand Sacrificial Officer of the academy was at a loss for words.

Asking questions and studying with the Literary Sage was one thing; chatting with the old scholar was quite another.

Li Baoping and her group had just walked out of the main gate of the Academy of Rites.

Li Baoping suddenly smiled and said, "Literary Sage, sir."

The old scholar revealed himself only to them. He gestured for them not to greet him, to avoid startling others, but they could speak freely.

Zhong Qiu, Cao Qinglang, and Diezhang thus did not bow or pay respects. Cao Qinglang simply called out "Master-Uncle," and the old scholar nodded, beaming.

The old scholar walked with them toward Oil Pouch Lake, unnoticed by anyone.

Li Baoping and the others stepped on the snowy ground, making crunching sounds.

Only the old scholar floated without a trace as he walked.

After merging with heaven and earth, he gained the support of mountains and rivers and bore the weight of heaven and earth.

A scholar was always like this. The old scholar took pride in many things—writing books, taking disciples, teaching, quarreling, and his excellent drinking manners—concealing nothing. But he did not consider this particular matter worthy of praise. Anyone who praised or criticized him for it, he would argue with.

The old scholar walked between Li Baoping and Cao Qinglang, looking left and right, his face full of smiles.

Did his lineage need many people?

The old scholar waved his hand. To hell with numbers!

Li Baoping said softly, "Literary Sage, sir, I heard you have merged with heaven and earth. You are truly a towering man who stands tall between heaven and earth. Very tall indeed."

The old scholar instantly smiled so wide he couldn't close his mouth, waving his hands and saying, "Oh, it's nothing, nothing at all."

He would accept Li Baoping's praise.

Cao Qinglang said, "Master-Uncle, you have worked hard."

His master's master was his master-uncle.

The old scholar laughed and said it was minor, minor. You young people traveling thousands of miles to study—that's the real hard work.

Cao Qinglang hesitated, then asked, "Master-Uncle, regarding naming to refer to reality, there are some things I don't quite understand."

The old scholar nodded and smiled, "Before asking, tell me: in my scholarship, what do you find most useful? Or what do you most want to turn into your own? Don't rush, think it over. This isn't an examination. Don't be nervous. Let's just chat."

Zhong Qiu looked forward to Cao Qinglang's answer.

Cao Qinglang had clearly reached a conclusion long ago, with no hesitation. "Master-Uncle, I have read your works word by word, over and over. Some parts I understand shallowly, some I may not even have entered, still confused. But my greatest impression is that when you explain principles, you are the most solid. The principles you speak of are profound, but your method of explanation is shallow. Thus, a principle is like a beautiful landscape visible in the distance, but the path beneath one's feet is not rough. The great road goes straight, smooth and easy to travel, so one does not feel the slightest hardship."

The old scholar nodded vigorously. "Exactly! Exactly!"

Li Baoping nodded lightly and added, "Little Master-Uncle said long ago that Literary Sage, sir, is like a man walking ahead, constantly throwing money on the ground. It's the best kind of money—free for the taking. Principles of learning are like copper coins and treasures scattered everywhere, allowing later scholars to 'keep picking up coins with single-minded attention.' There's no need to laboriously mine gold and silver mountains. Open a page and you can earn money right away."

The old scholar listened with increasing delight, clapping his fist into his palm several times, then immediately stroked his beard and smiled. After all, he was a master-uncle; he had to maintain some dignity.

The old scholar even felt that the students taken by his own disciples were surpassingly excellent—the disciple outshining the master.

So finally the old scholar said, "Baoping, Qinglang, and Master Zhong as well, if you have questions in the future, you can ask Mao Xiaodong. When he studies, he doesn't study wrongly. When he teaches, he doesn't teach wrongly. He is quite remarkable."

Zhong Qiu smiled and said, "I hear Oil Pouch Lake has mellow wine. Let me pay; I'll treat the Literary Sage to a drink."

The old scholar rubbed his hands together and grinned. "That would be wonderful."

---

Fallen Mountain.

Chen Nuanshu carried a bucket of water and went to the first floor of the bamboo building to help clean up the house for the master who had not yet returned from his travels.

The desk was always spotless. She carefully wiped the inkstone, brush pot, paperweight, and other items on the table. Glancing at the neatly stacked pile of books, she pursed her lips. Reaching out with both hands, she appeared to be organizing the books, but in fact, she tilted them slightly.

After Chen Nuanshu stepped over the threshold and gently closed the door, the little girl in the pink dress had eyes full of laughter.

When Chen Nuanshu went upstairs, a tiny lotus flower person immediately popped up from the floor. It climbed up a table leg onto the desk and began running around inspecting it. It found that the paperweight on the table had been slightly askew the day before, yesterday an item on the multi-treasure shelf was not placed properly, and today the books had accidentally been tilted. The little creature giggled, then quickly covered its mouth, tiptoed over to the books, hovered between standing on its toes and lying flat on the ground, and carefully helped Sister Nuanshu stack the books properly. Still not satisfied, the lotus flower person circled this little mountain of books once to make sure there was no tilt at all, then sat on the desk, content, glad that it had helped Sister Nuanshu a little again today.

Finally, the lotus flower person sat on the edge of the desk, gently swinging its legs. It very much wanted to see that white-clothed youth again and ask him whether it could take the initiative to say hello to Sister Nuanshu and Sister Mili. It wouldn't bother them—once every few days, or once every ten days, or even once a month, would be fine. But it had been a long time since the youth last came. As for the youth's master, he hadn't been home for even longer.

So, with nothing to do, the little creature got up again, ran over to the brush pot, and used its remaining arm to wipe the pot's walls.

Outside the bamboo building, three people had come up from Riding Dragon Lane to the mountain that day. The early friend named Longevity had gone to Wei Wenlong's accounting room to visit. Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu came to the bamboo building together. They had now moved out of the Sword Worshipping Platform, leaving only the swordsman Cui Wei to cultivate there.

Now Riding Dragon Lane was much livelier. Besides the straw-head shop run by Jia Sheng and his two disciples, the neighboring shop, Year-End, run by Manager Shi Rou, now had Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu as "two great generals." Additionally, a woman named Longevity often helped out at both shops.

For some reason, Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu were both in awe of that smiling woman. She had money from an unknown source and had bought two courtyards in one go on the upper steps of Riding Dragon Lane.

Every time Jiang Qu went up the mountain, he liked to look at the outer wall of the bamboo building.

But Zhang Jiazhen couldn't see anything. However, Jiang Qu said that the wall was covered in written characters and drawn talismans.

Today, Jiang Qu was still standing there studying the characters and talismans.

Zhang Jiazhen sat at the stone table, eating melon seeds with Sword Immortal Mi Yu.

Mi Yu smiled and asked, "Do you envy Jiang Qu?"

Zhang Jiazhen nodded. "Yes."

Jiang Qu was far more outgoing and intelligent than Zhang Jiazhen. He had become very familiar with the people on Riding Dragon Lane. He also liked to go out alone, and each time he returned to the shop, he had various gains. Zhang Jiazhen couldn't do that; he could only do whatever Manager Shi Rou assigned him, staying strictly within his own little area.

Mi Yu said casually, "Nothing to envy. Different people have different fates."

Zhang Jiazhen said, "Mr. Chen said I have no talent for cultivation, neither for swordsmanship nor martial arts."

Mi Yu became interested. "Frustrated? Or do you doubt the Hidden Official's judgment?"

Zhang Jiazhen smiled and shook her head. "I trust him completely, and I'm not frustrated. So I want to find an opportunity to learn some accounting from Mr. Wei in the future, to have some skill. But even if I learn basic accounting and entry-level bookkeeping, I probably can only do simpleminded work. I hope to eventually become an accountant in a market shop, dealing only with gold, silver, and copper coins. I might never see immortal coins. But that's still better than being idle every day, not knowing what I can do."

Mi Yu didn't take it seriously. Dealing with women was his forte. But talking heart-to-heart with a child was something he was truly unskilled at and uninterested in. After all, he wasn't the Hidden Official.

Zhang Jiazhen didn't dare disturb Sword Immortal Mi's cultivation. She took her leave, planning to go to the mountain god shrine at the peak and look at the landscape around Fallen Mountain.

Jiang Qu was still staring wide-eyed at the talismans on the bamboo building.

On the way, Zhang Jiazhen met the little girl in black swaggering along, carrying a golden shoulder pole as she patrolled the mountaintop.

Zhang Jiazhen smiled and greeted, "Guardian Zhou."

The little girl squinted her eyes in a smile and said politely, "Just call me Big Water Monster."

Then Zhang Jiazhen said she wanted to see the view from the peak, and Zhou Mili immediately offered to guide her.

Just as Zhou Mili turned, she saw the friend named Longevity walking alone. She was tall, wearing a loose white robe, with a smile on her face all day.

Zhou Mili quickly called out "Auntie," and Longevity smiled and nodded as she brushed past the little girl and Zhang Jiazhen.

Zhou Mili stood still, her head turning slowly as Longevity moved away. When she could turn no further, she snapped her head back to its original position, walked shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Jiazhen, and after holding back for a long time, finally couldn't help asking, "Zhang Jiazhen, do you know why Longevity always smiles, but squints so it's not quite a full smile?"

Zhang Jiazhen shook her head, saying she didn't know.

Zhou Mili giggled. "No worries, no worries. Even Sister Nuanshu doesn't know. Can't help it. On Fallen Mountain, only Pei Qian has a sharper head than me. Have you ever heard the saying 'money makes the eyes open'? No? Pei Qian often takes me out for walks, and we often find copper coins. Whenever I smile, Pei Qian says I'm 'money-eyed.' Haha, me, a money-grubber? Haha, that's a joke bigger than a bowl. I pretend on purpose for Pei Qian's benefit. I'm not money-eyed at all. Money dropped on the ground—I don't even blink..."

Zhou Mili was halfway through when she saw a golden flash on the road ahead. She instantly stopped, widened her eyes, and frowned. Then she tossed her golden shoulder pole high in the air, threw herself forward like a hungry tiger pouncing on a sheep, grabbed something, rolled to her feet, caught the shoulder pole, dusted off her clothes, turned her head, blinked, and asked in confusion, "What's up? Let's go. No money to pick up on the ground."

Zhang Jiazhen held back a laugh and nodded, saying okay.

So this was what Mr. Chen called the Big Water Monster of Dumb Lake.

Zhou Mili suddenly frowned again, half-turned to Zhang Jiazhen, carefully reached into her sleeve, and opened her palm. Oh no! The money had run away!

She had planned to pick up the money and then go boast to Sister Nuanshu. There really wasn't much money on Fallen Mountain these days. Last time she went to ask Mountain Lord Wei when the next night banquet would be, Wei Shanjun looked quite embarrassed.

Zhou Mili suddenly froze.

In Pei Qian's words, there was murderous intent!

Someone had grabbed her head from behind and said with a smile, "Mili, who are you calling 'money-eyed'?"

Zhou Mili made a wrinkled face, stretched out one hand, and turned her head to look pitiful. "Auntie, heaven is my witness, I don't know what nonsense I said while sleepwalking!"

"Look at your palm again."

Longevity let go, squinted her eyes in a smile, and turned away.

Zhou Mili found an extra golden copper coin in her hand.

She bit it—it was a bit hard on the teeth. The little girl immediately turned around and shouted a thank-you to Longevity.

The future law-enforcing officer of Fallen Mountain waved lightly, signaling the little girl who called her "Auntie" not to stand on ceremony.

Zhou Mili hopped and skipped, leading Zhang Jiazhen to the peak, but her eyes were glued to the ground.

When Pei Qian wasn't around, she hadn't found any money in a long time!

At the stone bench by the bamboo building, Wei Po revealed himself.

This Mountain Lord Wei hadn't expected Jiang Qu, who had no talent for swordsmanship, to be able to learn talismans.

In the art of talismans, if you had talent, you were divine; if not, you were mortal. Success meant success; failure meant absolute failure, and you had to switch to other immortal arts. It was much the same as becoming a swordsman.

Mi Yu held a wine cup, his elbow resting on the stone table, looking at Jiang Qu's back. He curled his lip.

This fellow townsman of his, Jiang Qu, might have talent for talismans, but innate bone structure and qi mansion scenes—these also mattered for someone fortunate enough to ascend the mountain to become a cultivator. Moreover, starting cultivation at this age presented significant problems.

Mi Yu, after all, was a Sword Immortal. Of course, he could see these weights and depths. He estimated that Jiang Qu would find it as hard as climbing to heaven to even form a golden core. More likely, he would stop at the Observation Sea realm. With luck, at best, Dragon Gate realm.

Wei Po glanced at this Sword Immortal, smiled, and shook his head.

Mi Yu immediately smiled and said, "I was wrong. I must change!"

Fallen Mountain truly never emphasized talent or lack thereof, or high or low cultivation realms.

Coming to my Fallen Mountain, those who talk about realm are the most vulgar.

"Sword Immortal Mi, don't take it as meddling from an outsider, but for those of us who can be considered elders, a careless word or an indifferent glance might stick in a junior's mind for a long time. So we should be careful. It's not as simple as just teaching or scolding."

On other immortal mountains, who would bother with such trivial little things?

Mi Yu straightened his sitting posture and nodded. "Rest assured, I understand the principle. The Hidden Official said, 'Don't save effort on small matters; then you can rest easy on big ones.' I just have many ingrained bad habits that are hard to change in a short time. In the future, Brother Wei, please remind me often. I'm used to not caring about face, but I have one good point: I know my limits, I can tell good from evil, I remember kindness, and I listen to advice."

Wei Po teased, "That's not 'just one good point.'"

Mi Yu gave a thumbs-up and laughed. "Treat people with sincerity! Treat people with sincerity!"

Seeing Mi Yu and Wei Po, Longevity clasped her fists in greeting.

Wei Po returned the greeting with a nod and called her "Friend Longevity."

Since Longevity arrived at Fallen Mountain, Mountain Lord Wei had been the most relaxed.

Because of a certain 'money' matter, Wei Po's reputation had already been ruined all the way to the Northern Juzhou Continent.

Mi Yu quickly stood up and said, "Sister Longevity rarely comes to the mountain for a visit; have a seat and chat."

But the friend Longevity ignored Sword Immortal Mi. She walked directly to the cliff's edge and looked toward Red Candle Town. The fortune there was unusually rich—she might be able to draw some to her own mountaintop. Besides Piyun Mountain and that Yang family pharmacy, no one would notice.

---

Taishui Sword Sect, Piaoran Peak.

Bai Shou sat alone on a bamboo chair, looking dejected. Besides the other direct disciples of the patriarch hall on Piaoran Peak, there were two others who were very likely to become his junior brother and junior sister. Originally, they all had decent relationships. Then there was a dispute—nothing major in terms of right or wrong, so it wasn't worth bearing a grudge, but it still felt stifling.

It started as a trivial matter. The other party made a little joke, Bai Shou casually retorted, and then the other person inexplicably got angry. Once the argument really started, it turned into a heap of irritating issues. By the time the argument ended, Bai Shou realized that the things he didn't care about, they cared about deeply, and the things they cared about, he hadn't paid any attention to at all. This left Bai Shou feeling utterly helpless. Both sides had some fault, but it was all minor, yet tangled like a ball of hemp.

Bai Shou finally took the initiative to admit fault, and that was the end of it.

If they met again and pretended not to know each other, it would be petty and not worth it. But to laugh and joke as before was also difficult. Bai Shou himself felt it would be hypocritical.

At this moment, Bai Shou actually missed Pei Qian quite a bit. That charcoal-black girl held grudges openly and never minded anyone knowing. Every time she wrote down a debt in her little ledger, she did it right under the other person's nose. Dealing with her that way was actually easier. Besides, Pei Qian wasn't really petty. As long as you remembered certain taboos—like not bragging that you were a sworn brother with Chen Ping'an, or not saying that swordsmen were inferior to sword cultivators—then Pei Qian was not hard to get along with.

Qi Jinglong returned from the Bone Beach overseas, flying his sword back to the patriarch hall, then to Piaoran Peak. There he saw his senior disciple sighing and clamoring for a drink.

Qi Jinglong smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"

Bai Shou roughly explained the whole thing and finally said, "Surmane Liu, you have plenty of reasoning. Pick a few and cheer me up."

On Piaoran Peak, Bai Shou could call him Surmane Liu. Otherwise, he had to call him Master.

Qi Jinglong sat on a bamboo chair and said, "Keep this in mind: right and wrong cannot be increased or decreased."

Bai Shou waited a long time, but nothing more came. He said angrily, "How is that cheering me up?!"

Qi Jinglong smiled. "Then here's another: give others some leeway to disregard my reasoning."

Bai Shou rolled his eyes. "You win."

Qi Jinglong began to close his eyes and rest.

Bai Shou asked, "Did you get hurt?"

Qi Jinglong shook his head. "Not too bad."

Bai Shou said, "When you were away on the mountain, I didn't slack off on my sword practice!"

Qi Jinglong opened his eyes and nodded. "I can tell."

Bai Shou waved his hand. "Go ahead and nurture your sword and heal your wounds. Since when do you need so many formalities talking to your proud disciple?"

Qi Jinglong smiled, closed his eyes again, and continued to nourish his sword intent.

A few days later, a guest came to Piaoran Peak. Qi Jinglong had heard of him but had never interacted with him before.

Liu Zhiqing, a sword cultivator from Golden Crow Palace who had just broken through to Nascent Soul.

It turned out Liu Zhiqing had not immediately gone to Taishui Sword Sect to visit Qi Jinglong.

First, he traveled along the Ji River, passing or visiting the Water Dragon Sect, Floating Leaf Sword Lake, and sect-level immortal families including the Chongxuan Office of Dayuan Dynasty.

Only then did he come to Piaoran Peak.

Bai Shou flew his sword to the mountain foot. Hearing that the other party was a friend of Chen Ping'an, he began to look forward to the fun.

Then Liu Zhiqing saw the headmaster of Taishui Sword Sect.

After they sat down, Qi Jinglong smiled and asked, "Daoist Liu, did you and Chen Ping'an meet at the Jade Dew Garden's Jade Ying Cliff?"

Liu Zhiqing said, "Actually, we met earlier than that, but becoming friends did happen at Jade Ying Cliff."

Then he took out a jar of wine from his storage treasure—two jars, three jars.

Bai Shou coughed and said, "Sword Immortal Liu, my master generally doesn't drink."

Liu Zhiqing nodded, said he knew, and then began to drink himself.

Bai Shou suppressed a laugh and lightly patted his belly.

Qi Jinglong took a deep breath.

First, Xu Xingjiu from Cloud City came to the mountain and started drinking without a word, and no matter how he tried to stop him, he wouldn't stop.

Then, when he went to the Sword Qi Great Wall, the saying "Undefeated in drinking, Sword Immortal Qi" somehow arose.

Now, here came Liu Zhiqing, who was determined to compete with him in drinking as if his life depended on it.

Bai Shou gloated and reminded, "Surmane Liu, where's your logic? You once talked about how to interact with close friends."

Liu Zhiqing became even more confused.

Not enough friendship? Make up for it with drinking capacity. He continued drinking.

Qi Jinglong had no choice but to explain to Liu Zhiqing how utterly untrustworthy Chen Ping'an was when it came to drinking.

Upon learning the truth, Liu Zhiqing felt helpless. Like master, like disciple.

Liu Zhiqing remembered something and said to Bai Shou, "Pei Qian asked me to pass on a message to you..."

But as soon as Liu Zhiqing started, Bai Shou jumped up. "Don't say it! Don't say it! I won't listen!"

Liu Zhiqing grew even more baffled. Pei Qian's words didn't seem problematic—just that since both masters were friends, she and Bai Shou were also friends.

Qi Jinglong smiled and said, "Go ahead. Whether Bai Shou listens is his business. Don't worry about him."

Only then did Liu Zhiqing say, "Pei Qian said that on her way home, she would come to Piaoran Peak to visit Bai Shou."

Bai Shou wiped his face, still not giving up. He asked cautiously, "Mr. Liu, when Pei Qian said that, was she very sincere? Or very indifferent?"

Liu Zhiqing thought for a moment and said truthfully, "She chuckled."

Bai Shou, who had still harbored a sliver of hope, was now on the verge of collapse. He gritted his teeth and pressed on, "And her eyes—were they just slightly, even a tiny bit, averted?"

Liu Zhiqing nodded. He hadn't paid attention at the time, but now that Bai Shou mentioned it, it did seem that Pei Qian had that intent.

So Liu Zhiqing felt that Bai Shou and Pei Qian must have a very good relationship as juniors; otherwise, Bai Shou wouldn't be so familiar with the details, as if he had seen it himself.

But then why did Bai Shou have that expression?

Logically, since the two masters had such a good friendship and both liked to reason, their disciples shouldn't have major conflicts.

Qi Jinglong held back a smile.

For once, he actually felt a rare desire to drink.

Bai Shou flopped back onto the bamboo chair, hands covering his head, muttering, "This is it. I'm screwed."

Qi Jinglong couldn't help but smile, though he didn't laugh out loud. Then he felt a bit of pity. He restrained his expression and reminded, "Since you returned from the Sword Qi Great Wall, your realm-breaking hasn't been slow."

At the Sword Armory on the Sword Qi Great Wall, that was probably when his senior disciple had been most focused and diligent in practicing the sword.

Even after returning to Taishui Sword Sect's Piaoran Peak, he was still more diligent than before his travels.

Bai Shou immediately straightened his back, punched his knee, and burst out laughing. Then the laughter gradually died down, and he reassured himself with less confidence, "I'll try to keep it a verbal battle. A physical fight would harm the relationship. As long as I don't bring up the swordsman vs. sword cultivator thing... If that fails, I'll pull out her master as a protective charm. I have no choice. She's better at finding her master than I am. I can only wish my master was as good as Brother Chen..."

Liu Zhiqing looked at Qi Jinglong; it seemed the headmaster of Taishui Sword Sect was already used to this.

After that, Liu Zhiqing stayed on Piaoran Peak, consulting Qi Jinglong daily about sword techniques. Qi Jinglong naturally didn't hoard his knowledge.

Bai Shou also slowly recovered from the bad news that Pei Qian would visit Piaoran Peak.

One day, Lion Peak sent a flying sword message to Taishui Sword Sect, which was then immediately forwarded to Piaoran Peak.

After receiving the secret letter, Qi Jinglong's lips curled up. He glanced at his disciple, who had just barely regained some spirit. Now Qi Jinglong truly couldn't bear to reveal the truth.

Bai Shou caught sight of his master's expression. He crossed his arms and forced calm. "At worst, Pei Qian will come looking for me tomorrow. What's there to be afraid of? Would I be afraid?"

Qi Jinglong smiled and said, "The good news is the letter says Pei Qian won't come to Piaoran Peak for now, because she went to Aiai Continent. There's even better news—want to hear it?"

Bai Shou grinned from ear to ear. "Whatever, whatever."

Qi Jinglong said, "Pei Qian is already at the Far Traveling realm. The only pity is that she gave up two 'strongest' realm breakthroughs."

Bai Shou jumped up as if his butt were on fire, stomping his feet in agony. "If it's not the strongest, what kind of breakthrough is that?! Right, Master? Master!"

In his panic, he called him Master. If once wasn't enough, he'd say it a few times.

This was the trump card Chen Ping'an had taught him.

Liu Zhiqing was taken aback. "Far Traveling realm?"

At Golden Crow Palace, Pei Qian had been a sixth-realm martial artist.

Qi Jinglong smiled and nodded. Then he handed the secret letter to Liu Zhiqing. "Pei Qian also apologized to both of us in the letter about the drinking matter."

Liu Zhiqing took the letter, scanned it, and handed it back. Then he smiled knowingly. "That girl Pei Qian is indeed Chen Ping'an's senior disciple. She imitates everything."

Qi Jinglong sighed. "In the early days, Chen Ping'an didn't actually want Pei Qian to learn boxing."

Liu Zhiqing said, "That's exactly the kind of thing Chen Ping'an would do. Not surprising at all."

They looked at each other and smiled.

A friend's friend isn't necessarily a friend.

But both Qi Jinglong and Liu Zhiqing thought they could be friends.

Besides, Liu Zhiqing had long admired Qi Jinglong's level of talisman mastery.

But before meeting Chen Ping'an, Liu Zhiqing had thought that the rumors about Qi Jinglong—always talking about reason and clarifying everything—suggested a tendency to "like to be a teacher." However, at the time, Liu Zhiqing didn't think it was good for a sword cultivator to act that way. Since he was a sword cultivator, everything came down to principle in the sword.

He also worried it might be a method of cultivating reputation—a kind of sanctimoniousness. After all, when mountain cultivators plotted, what tricks didn't they have?

But after spending years like a half-dead person, sitting on a mountain peak and observing the trivialities of Golden Crow Palace from afar to wash his sword heart, Liu Zhiqing came to understand that truly explaining a small principle thoroughly was no easier than breaking through a realm as a sword cultivator.

Often, the difficulty of a principle lies not in the principle itself, but in the "explaining" of it. Whether on the mountain or in the mortal world, explaining reason and passing on the Way is difficult.

One might even have to admit that some people survive precisely by being unreasonable and breaking rules.

Liu Zhiqing intended to wait until the Nascent Soul bottleneck to choose a place more bustling than Golden Crow Palace—a market town or the jianghu or officialdom—to observe human hearts for decades or even a century.

Liu Zhiqing raised his wine jar and smiled. "What do you say?"

Qi Jinglong laughed heartily. "Let's have one! I'm a Jade Purity—am I afraid of your Nascent Soul?!"

Bai Shou crouched beside the bamboo chair, looking up with a mournful gaze. "Master, I want to have one too."

Qi Jinglong nodded to Liu Zhiqing with a smile, and Liu Zhiqing tossed a flask to Bai Shou.

Besides the three big jars Liu Zhiqing had brought on the first day, he had also prepared many flasks of immortal wine.

Bai Shou drank, and as he drank, he started to smile. It wasn't finding joy in misery. It was because Pei Qian had broken through realm after realm and was already a Far Traveling pure martial artist. Although that didn't seem like good news for him—most likely, next time they met, she would accidentally hit him with a leg whip, and he'd be on the ground for half a day—it was still good news. How could it not be good news?

Bai Shou sat on the bamboo chair, then suddenly winced. Damn, this wine stuff really tastes terrible. Surmane Liu's not liking it was indeed correct.

Liu Zhiqing transmitted his voice: "This disciple of yours has a good nature."

Qi Jinglong nodded. "Naturally."

Liu Zhiqing was silent for a moment, then asked, "The matter of merging the two continents?"

Qi Jinglong's expression turned serious. "It wasn't easy. At the time, three great demon kings from the Wild Continent suddenly appeared together: Yao Jia, Yang Zhi, and Fei Fei. The Fire Dragon True Immortal, a Flying Ascension cultivator from Luchen Pit, and Senior Bai Chang all engaged them in fierce battle. Turning rivers and seas upside down was no exaggeration. For us Jade Purity sword cultivators, it's very difficult to truly tie down such battles. Brother Liu, there are also some internal details that I can't reveal for now. Please understand."

At the time, Ruan Xiu of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect had performed some unknown mystical technique that caused the area within a hundred miles to instantly darken, condensing into a dazzling ball of light. She actually trapped a great demon at the Immortal realm that tried to assassinate her.

Then Li Liu of Lion Peak sank that ball of light to the bottom of the sea.

Finally, that Flying Ascension woman in palace attire from Luchen Pit swallowed it. An Immortal realm demon died without knowing how.

Liu Zhiqing nodded. "I understand. It's a pity my realm is too low. Even if I had known the news in advance, I would have been too embarrassed to come and be a hindrance."

Qi Jinglong suddenly laughed cheerfully. "On the Sword Qi Great Wall, cultivators from a certain continent become respected by local sword cultivators."

He pointed his thumb at himself. "That's us!"

Bai Shou rarely saw his master so spirited.

Surmane Liu had always been a very restrained person. Known for being outwardly gentle and inwardly firm. Too easygoing when he was easygoing, and too difficult when he wasn't.

Liu Zhiqing's eyes lit up. Without a word, he tilted his head back and drank.

After a long drink, he just stared at Qi Jinglong. He wasn't going to urge him to drink.

Qi Jinglong said helplessly, "That's not what I meant."

Liu Zhiqing raised an eyebrow.

Qi Jinglong had no choice but to drink like him.

Bai Shou took a small sip and said, "Actually, the Sword Qi Great Wall doesn't have a bad impression of Bottle Gourd Continent, either. For other continents, the sword cultivators there only recognize certain individuals or a few Sword Immortals or sword cultivators, not an entire continent. Bottle Gourd Continent is the exception."

Qi Jinglong rubbed his forehead.

It was the truth, but saying it at this moment wasn't appropriate. You could talk about it either before or after drinking.

Sure enough, Liu Zhiqing started again.

But this time, he only took a sip, not much.

Qi Jinglong, on the other hand, drank more than Liu Zhiqing.

Liu Zhiqing suddenly wondered if Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian had been lying. Once Qi Jinglong started drinking, was he actually a deep drinker?

Qi Jinglong said helplessly, "I really can't hold my liquor. Today is an exception."

Bai Shou learned from Pei Qian and chuckled.

Liu Zhiqing did the same.

Qi Jinglong was in a bad mood and took a big gulp of wine.

Not because he was reminded of Chen Ping'an and felt upset, but because he thought of this friend who truly loved to drink, who might not be able to drink for a very long time.

---

Northern Juzhou Continent. After Li Cai returned to Floating Leaf Sword Lake, she began to go into seclusion to heal her wounds.

In the words of this female Sword Immortal: "If you fight without getting hurt, what's the point of fighting?"

After coming out of seclusion, she chatted with the two direct disciples she had taken on at the Sword Qi Great Wall. Li Cai leaned against the railing, drinking wine, gazing at the lake water.

Chen Li couldn't help asking, "Master, why do the cultivators of Northern Juzhou Continent have so little cunning?"

What the youth really meant was: why are the cultivators of your Floating Leaf Sword Lake so unthinking? Only Senior Brother Rong Chang was slightly better, barely able to have a conversation with him.

For the youth, his first and biggest impression of the entire Haoran World was the Hidden Official, the person he admired and yearned for the most.

And after a series of real-life city-outings and battles, Chen Li had earned the nickname "Little Hidden Official." That was given by others, but also earned by the youth himself.

Gao Youqing, on the other hand, felt that the fellow disciples of Floating Leaf Sword Lake, as well as those who respectfully called her "Master Uncle" or "Master Uncle's master," were all very nice. They were amiable, and even though they had clearly guessed their identities, they never said anything strange. She had heard that if you collected all the strange remarks about the Hidden Official, you could fill several large baskets—that was more formidable than a great Sword Immortal's flying swords! Pick up any one, and it was like a flying sword. Her own brother, Gao Yehuo, had sworn to this. Pang Yuanji often just smiled silently.

But in front of Chen Li, Gao Youqing was always too scared to speak much. She actually trusted Chen Li a lot, feeling that he was far more intelligent than her. He learned everything quickly. Now he was not only fluent in Northern Juzhou speech but also in Bottle Gourd Continent speech and Great Li official language. As for sword practice, there was no need to mention it. Chen Li seemed as if he was still on the Sword Qi Great Wall. This wasn't just Gao Youqing's opinion; her master had said so directly. Moreover, her master was always unrestrained and outspoken. She said, "Xie Songhua, that woman from Aiai Continent who draws her sword fast, and Pu Laozheng from Liuxia Continent, who really is tough—both of them have taken people away from the Sword Qi Great Wall. You two learn the sword well. At the very least, reach one or two realms higher than those kids to save your master face! When we meet them again and reminisce, your master can speak loudly!"

The female Sword Immortal from Aiai Continent, Xie Songhua, had also taken two children away from the Sword Qi Great Wall. One was called Zhao Mu, the other Ju Xing.

Hearing the youth's words, Li Cai shook her wine flask and smiled. "It's not that they have little cunning. It's that Chen Ping'an has too much."

Saying this, Li Cai got angry and threw the empty flask into the lake. "Damn it! He even stole my most beloved disciple—your senior sister! You know what's the most infuriating?"

After sitting up, Li Cai reached out and pushed Gao Youqing's head gently. "Go, go, don't like me. Please don't like me. Chen Ping'an is like that. And then your silly senior sister ends up liking him even more."

Gao Youqing blushed slightly. "I don't like the Hidden Official."

Chen Li snickered. "Right, right. You only like Pang Yuanji."

Chen Li made a gesture of holding a small wooden plaque and muttered to himself, "Pang, Gao. Yuanji, Youqing. Qi green, parting clear; by the water, meet again."

Li Cai's eyes lit up. "Youqing, not bad! Here we have Floating Leaf Sword Lake, and there's the saying 'A leaf of duckweed returns to the sea; where in life can we not meet again?' Northern Juzhou has the Ji River, and the lake water is green. Qi matches Ji, green matches clear. Well, you little girl, with all your twists and turns! Not bad, not bad—you take after your master!"

Gao Youqing's face instantly turned red. She tugged at her master's sleeve.

Then Li Cai coughed and glared at the youth. "Little bastard, don't make fun of liking someone! You want a beating?"

Chen Li sighed. "Fine, fine. Master is right."

Just now, Master was pretty happy too—more excited than the disciple.

Li Cai smiled. "Chen Li, in the future, the heavy responsibility of seducing young ladies from other immortal families for Floating Leaf Sword Lake will be yours. Take this burden up well!"

Chen Li immediately stood up and declared, "I obey your command! I will not shirk!"

Gao Youqing suddenly said happily, "Our Hidden Official never flirts with flowers or plants."

You, Chen Li, are the Little Hidden Official. Can you learn this?

Chen Li thought about it. Made sense. The youth immediately sat down, his expression utterly serious, and said solemnly, "Master, I can't do this kind of thing."

Li Cai gently pinched the girl's cheek and said with a laugh, "Silly girl."

Gao Youqing smiled shyly.

Li Cai's mood improved, and she strode away.

After her master left.

Chen Li suddenly said, "Master is going to have an extremely difficult time reaching the Immortal realm."

The youth felt a little sad.

Even though he had seen so many lives and deaths, he still felt some sadness, like an uninvited guest who comes and stays, not making a fuss, but making you uncomfortable nonetheless.

Gao Youqing's eyes immediately reddened. She bowed her head and quietly said "Mm," clenching her fists.

Chen Li said in a low voice, "So the two of us must practice the sword even more diligently than any other cultivator at Floating Leaf Sword Lake. We must endure more hardship. We must become more skilled in sword techniques and break through realms faster! Gao Youqing, except for when outsiders bully you, I won't interfere with anything else. But if you ever slack off in sword practice, I will scold you. Even if our master protects you, I'll still scold."

Gao Youqing looked up and nodded vigorously.

Chen Li softened his tone and said gently to her, "When you reach Core Formation, we'll go together to the Hidden Official's hometown and have a look."

---

Northern Juzhou Continent.

In the Ghost Valley, Changchang Palace, a doorkeeper rat spirit still secretly read books when its master wasn't home.

A military cultivator from Ghost Axe Palace still liked to roam the jianghu alone. Every time he nervously completed a medium-sized act of chivalry, he would at most announce his name and say, "The Good Samaritan Du." The two talismans that Sword Immortal Chen had given him long ago were carefully stored away. Du Yu valued them even more than the Golden Crow Armor that Jiang Shangzhen had given him.

A pair of sisters who had nearly stumbled badly while slaying demons at Golden Duo Temple still relied on each other, traveling through the mortal world. In winter, the younger sister's cheeks would turn red, more beautiful than rouge.

A young boy in green, carrying a walking staff and a bamboo basket, met a new friend—a young groom. Chen Lingjun hit it off with him. Chen Lingjun still believed the old saying: "Without friends a thousand miles away, how can you have power ten thousand miles wide?"

Before embarking on his river journey, Chen Lingjun said goodbye, saying he had to do something that was bigger than heaven. Once it was done, he would never fear being beaten to death by anyone.

The friend wished him smooth sailing. Chen Lingjun stood on his bamboo basket, patted his good brother's shoulder vigorously, and said, "Good brother, thanks for your blessing!"

Bottle Gourd Continent.

Shushui Nation, Sword Water Manor. According to the old jianghu custom, Song Yushao held a "Golden Basin Washing" ceremony with friends, officially retiring from the jianghu to enjoy his old age in peace.

Unlike the incident years ago when his bamboo sword sheath was taken, causing his spirit to plummet and never recover, this time the old man truly admitted he was old and that he could rest easy about the younger generation in his household. There was no regret.

On ordinary days, he taught sword techniques to the manor's disciples, occasionally went to a small town to eat hotpot, drink some wine, sit at the Landscape Pavilion, or read books idly. Days passed leisurely, one after another.

One of the old Four Villains of Shushui Nation, the girl in embroidered shoes, laughed and said, "Look, look, interesting, interesting! Chen Ping'an, Chen Ping'an! It's written in the book: he has the most pity and tenderness for beauties like us and the rouge female ghosts."

A beautiful ghost serving as a maid glanced at a certain spot by the bonfire, still fearful. Because that youth had once sat there and suddenly risen to kill... ghosts.

She could believe anything the book said about the young Sword Immortal, except that. Anyway, those who believed it had already been beaten to death—with one hand grabbing the head and the other punching nonstop.

The former eerie ghost mansion had become a scenic estate.

The couple brewed wine year after year, accumulating more and more, but the person they waited for to drink it never came.

---

On the road at the foot of the outer city wall of the Great Li auxiliary capital, Cui Dongshan, who was riding Senior Gao around, was quite surprised to see that old bastard Cui Chan rushing back from Northern Juzhou.

He had thought the old bastard would stay in the Great Li capital, or at least in the far north, overseeing the newly paved road.

Cui Dongshan laughed loudly. "Oh, you don't look too happy."

That meant he was quite happy.

Anyway, the intelligence reports on the general trends on Bottle Gourd Continent and Northern Juzhou were all within expectations. No major issues.

Cui Chan remained silent.

Cui Dongshan didn't intend to let the old bastard off. "You've been promoted to academy mountain lord, and you're still not happy? Look across the entire Haoran World—there are only seventy-one mountain lords! Such a rarity!"

Cui Chan, that old bastard—why had he been bewitched into asking the Confucian Temple for an academy mountain lord? Cui Dongshan really couldn't think of a reasonable explanation. He felt like the old bastard was smearing yellow mud on his own old face. What was he after?

As for Tongye Continent, let it live or die—it was the outcome it had chosen for itself. Cui Dongshan had said long ago: if you take advantage, keep it to yourself and don't make a fuss. You'll have to pay it back sooner or later.

Now, Song Jixin had moved from the Old Dragon City Princely Residence to the old Zhuying Dynasty, fully in charge of constructing the auxiliary capital. But that was only on paper. At the beginning of the auxiliary capital's construction, the prince "Song Mu" had only shown his face; now he was back to wrap things up. The real work was done by the Mohist giant and Liu Qingfeng, who had been promoted from Chief Inspector of Qi Ford to Right Vice Minister of the Great Li Ministry of Works.

Cui Chan said, "Gao Cheng will soon come south to Bottle Gourd Continent."

Gao Cheng had no choice. A Mount Pima probably couldn't do anything about Ghost Valley, but although Cui Chan was an outsider, Gao Cheng knew the stakes.

Cui Dongshan said, "The old monk too."

Zhi Gui had already begun her river journey along the completed Qi Ford. There would be absolutely no mishap. Once the river journey succeeded, she would immediately break through from Jade Purity to Immortal realm. After all, she was a true dragon laden with fortune and could at least be regarded as half a Flying Ascension. She was more than capable of guarding the great river in the middle of Bottle Gourd Continent.

That replica of the White Jade Capital had been successfully relocated to the Great Li auxiliary capital behind Cui Dongshan. The Mohist ranger Xu Ruo sat in command there, and all the Five Peaks Mountain Lords could wield their swords to slay demons.

All the vassal states along the coast, from mountain cultivators to mortal soldiers, had already been fully absorbed into the Great Li military. Prior to this, the Great Li civil and military officials stationed there had long driven the common people to build a series of coastal defenses.

All vassal states in the continent's interior were required to send half their troops to guard the positions designated by Great Li. Other cultivators and mountain-and-river deities should all have gone to the coast, but the vassal kings could pay a sum of immortal money on their behalf—and it was definitely no small sum. If any oversight was discovered, Great Li would directly call the vassal king to account.

Out with men, out with strength, out with money. At the very least, out with people's hearts—everyone had something to do. So-called "people's hearts" meant that in the future, the court writers of many vassal states would use their pens to write moral essays that neither betrayed their consciences nor brought benefits to themselves and others, for those who died heroically on the front lines.

In addition, Cui Chan had also borrowed a natal "water" character from a Confucian sage of the Central Earth Divine Continent who was famous for his arrogance. The reason was simple: the other party had a terrible temper, but he only admired one person in his life, and that was Cui Chan. Of course, it wasn't because he admired Cui Chan's heterodoxy and betrayal of his master, but because he sincerely appreciated Cui Chan's scholarship.

No matter how infamous Cui Chan was among the major scholarly lineages, there were indeed many people who admired him.

Just look at the "Colorful Cloud Register" and the random calligraphy that mountain immortals regard as treasures—these show how learned and talented Cui Chan was.

Cui Chan suddenly sneered. "That master of yours doesn't seem very smart."

The implication was that the youngest disciple of the Literary Sage lineage still wasn't smart enough.

Whether it was a lineage or a school, the eldest disciple and the youngest disciple were extremely important.

Cui Dongshan immediately suppressed his smile and said seriously, "How to remedy?"

He didn't ask the reason at all, only the result.

The study of practical achievements had three fundamental veins. One was to fundamentally reduce contradictions and avoid creating extra soil for conflict, not to dwell too much on issues like human nature's good or evil—leave that to moral gentlemen and lecturers to explain slowly. Reading or not reading should no longer be a threshold for learning.

The second was that when problems arose, solutions must have a basis, be effective, and produce results.

The third was that the study itself must be able to continuously perfect its own rules without being gradually abandoned by changes in social custom, popular sentiment, or human hearts.

The great rules of practical achievement should be like stable riverbeds that allow later generations to naturally settle along the water. Even if some small rules were stripped away according to personal preferences, they should still be like streams and wells from which people could draw water to drink, accompanying the mundane smoke and fire for a long time.

Cui Chan shook his head. "No remedy. Only self-help."

The Great Li state counselor was silent for a moment. "I've thought of something, but it may not immediately get him out of his predicament. However, it can buy him more time."

Cui Dongshan's expression grew serious. "That fabricated travelogue of mountains and waters?"

As he tentatively asked, his mind raced. In an instant, he had flipped through the book several times without missing a word.

Finally, after eliminating three possibilities, he settled on one.

The travelogue, 300,000 characters long, had twenty-four chapters. The first chapter described the young "Chen Ping'an" gathering firewood on a mountain near his hometown, with a description of "steep cliffs and rugged rocks."