Chapter 758: Night Journey
On the border between Daquan and Beijin, a group of dozens of riders escorted a woman—Daquan's female emperor, Yao Jinzhi.
The two riders closest to Yao Jinzhi were an upper fifth realm cultivator, a middle-aged woman of ordinary appearance from the Central Continent, a temporary guest elder invited by her aunt; and the Pine Needle Lake water god, Liu Yourong, who had been summoned temporarily by Yao Jinzhi. This was also why the flying sword message from Jinhuang Prefecture was not personally replied to by Liu Yourong.
Behind them, among the three riders, were two powerful border generals currently not in armor—one old and one in his prime—both with brilliant military records, now regional governors. Additionally, there was a young man of dignified bearing, wearing a Daoist robe and a golden crown. He was Shao Yuanran, a first-rank imperial offering of Daquan, a Daoist high true from Jinding Temple, a young Golden Core guest, and the actual mastermind behind the Peach Leaf Alliance. Shao Yuanran, along with his master Bao Zhen Daoist, had known the Yao clan at the border for a long time. If not for Liu Zong, Shao Yuanran might have become the chief offering of the Daquan Yao clan.
The dozens of riders bypassed the reconstructed Huer Town, which was just a few rammed earth walls, with a government office as shabby as a straw nest, just as crude as in the old days—easy to rebuild.
But the inn outside Huer Town was only a pile of broken walls and rubble. Yao Jinzhi reined in her horse and stopped there. This emperor, now forty years old yet still breathtakingly beautiful, gazed for a long time without withdrawing her sight.
Once upon a time, this place had the manager aunt "Jiu Niang," the cook Third Master, the little lame shop assistant, and the accountant who had stayed for quite a while—the academy gentleman Zhong Kui.
Yao Jinzhi sighed faintly. Everything had changed. It seemed that after leaving the border and the battlefield, Xian-zhi had instantly turned into a youth prone to acting on impulse. But could she entrust the position of capital prefect to someone else? And Ling-zhi's children—now they knew to call her "Your Majesty" instead of "Auntie" in their childish voices. They had grown up and become sensible, but she couldn't be happy. She still preferred those two children who used to wipe their drool on her dragon robe sleeves.
Eventually, the riding party headed to a mountain pass. Yao Jinzhi stopped her horse on a hilltop, squinted, and seemed to watch a thrilling battle unfold as the river of time flowed backward.
It was here that a sinister assassination attempt had once been made against the Yao family. There were only two assassins—a sword cultivator and a martial artist clad in Nectar Armor. One relied on a flying sword, the other on Grandmaster realm. They killed mercilessly with extreme cruelty. In the early days, everyone thought the two assassins were mountain killers hired by Beijin at great expense to deprive the Yao iron cavalry of their backbone. Later, it was proven that the two men indeed held high positions in Beijin, and one of them was even now on the Beijin official road heading to Jinhuang Prefecture.
But even at that time, Yao Jinzhi felt something was off. The Beijin side, from the late emperor to the border generals, had no reason to make such an unnecessary move. Her grandfather was about to go to Shenjing City to serve as Minister of War—essentially retiring with honor. Beijin spies would certainly have known.
Yet Yao Jinzhi dared not think deeper. For instance, if the assassins had succeeded in killing her grandfather and that Yao border cavalry unit, then Third Prince Liu Mao and Gao Shuyi's faction would have had a justifiable reason to imprison the Jinhuang Prefecture governor and a host of Beijin mountain and water deities.
At that time, the Second Prince—later the Daquan emperor, her husband—was at the border, rendezvousing with his full-blood brother, Third Prince Liu Mao.
And this Liu Huang, who had since become the "Late Emperor of Daquan," had always lacked support from the military compared to his meritorious elder brother Liu Cong. The balance between them over the years came from the fact that the two princes each held "half the jade" of the nation's civil and military power, neither able to cross the line. Liu Cong was too overbearing in the eyes of scholars, while Second Prince Liu Huang was the legitimate son, brilliant in literature, and renowned for his courteous treatment of talented men.
Liu Huang had an extremely close relationship with Yao Jinzhi's uncle by marriage, Li Xiling, who came from the Hanlin Academy and had served as a lecturer. Thus, he was both teacher and friend to Prince Liu Huang. In the early days, there was a saying among the court and the people that both the crown prince and the prime minister were well-suited. In fact, the old emperor Liu Zhen had long decided that his legitimate son Liu Huang should inherit the throne, with his eldest son Liu Cong serving as a shield for the nation. But Liu Zhen's sudden illness and death came too hastily, breaking his gradual arrangements. The old emperor had to let his legitimate son Liu Huang quickly gain control of a loyal army to restrain the unruly border cavalry in the north and south… At that moment, when the old emperor looked at his legitimate son Liu Huang on his deathbed, he actually smiled, but Liu Huang inexplicably panicked.
At that moment, Yao Jinzhi seemed to understand everything, but she immediately lowered her head, pretending to know nothing.
Now, the female emperor of Daquan dismounted with practiced ease. The Yao clan had always been skilled in archery and horsemanship. Although Yao Jinzhi was not a martial artist, she could draw a bow and knew some combat techniques, no less than the average martial artist making a living in the marketplace.
When the Yao family became emperors, in the end, aside from a handful of key positions in the court and military, the Yao clan's trusted allies and direct line seemed to be inferior in every way. Such a thing sounded ridiculous, but it was the truth, and it had to be this way.
Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder: if that sneaky Liu Mao, who cultivated immortal arts and called himself Longzhou Daoist, had become emperor, would the Yao clan have fared better—both in terms of their eternal reputation in the official histories of the Daquan dynasty and the tangible benefits the Yao descendants could grab, with bigger and more official hats? As for whether, after several generations, there would still be anyone surnamed Yao among the ranks of the duke's mansion, what could she, a weak woman, do about it? Over two hundred years of Liu rule, in the end, wasn't there only the Shen Guo Duke's mansion left?
Yao Jinzhi narrowed her enchanting peach-blossom eyes. As for the vassal king Liu Cong, forget it. That man had been feigning madness in the water prison and wouldn't last a few years.
Back in the palace, that bastard Liu Cong had been extremely arrogant. If Yao Lingzhi hadn't always stayed by her side, Yao Jinzhi couldn't imagine how miserable her situation would have been. It wouldn't have been just a few filthy palace secret books circulating in the marketplace—that would have been lucky.
After dismounting, Yao Jinzhi held the reins with one hand and led her horse, silent for a long time. Suddenly she asked, "Lake Lord Liu, I heard that the Beijin chief offering, that Golden Core sword cultivator, once had ties with Jinhuang Prefecture?"
Liu Yourong, who had inexplicably become the Pine Needle Lake water god, was naturally timid. She replied nervously, "Reporting to Your Majesty, back then my husband did not know that person's true identity. He mistook him for a martial hero with decent swordsmanship and gave him a few jugs of orchid brew."
In her lifetime, Liu Yourong had merely come from a scholarly family in a northern county town of Beijin—not even a true lady of a great clan. The boldest thing this gentle girl had ever done was to fall in love at first sight with the mountain god prefect Zheng Su, who was traveling incognito, and then resolutely give up her mortal life to marry the Jinhuang Prefecture lord.
Yao Jinzhi smiled. "When a person has no selfish motives, heaven and earth are broad. Yourong, don't overthink it. If I didn't trust you and your husband, I wouldn't have let you both return to your old haunt."
Liu Yourong didn't understand the art of imperial mind control, let alone the rules of officialdom. She only knew that the emperor's use of "Yourong" just now was much more intimate than the earlier address of "Lake Lord Liu." So she breathed a sigh of relief. And this water god lady didn't even know how to hide her feelings. She quickly chose her words carefully and said a few courteous things to the emperor—nothing but thanks and gratitude—stiff and clumsy.
In fact, during the most dangerous years in Shenjing City, the emperor hadn't given her this feeling. Back then, Yao Jinzhi would often frown slightly, leaning alone against the railing, looking distracted. So in Liu Yourong's eyes, Yao Jinzhi of those days was more beautiful—even as a woman, she couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for that queen with such a tragic fate.
Yao Jinzhi smiled. Perhaps only a simple woman like Liu Yourong, with a bit more luck, could truly find eternal happiness with her beloved?
But as she thought about it, her smile faded, and eventually her face became expressionless.
Too many troubles.
Take Li Xiling, for example—now the Minister of Rites of Daquan. The Li family had two ministers, with disciples all over the court and countryside. By seniority, he was also the new emperor Yao Jinzhi's uncle by marriage.
But he was too much the bookish scholar. He had more than once lectured Yao Xianzhi, who was both a younger family member and a junior official, and he did so very deliberately. What, was he trying to gain fame that way? Already a minister—how much bigger an official did he want to be? How much more prestige did he need? Was he aiming for the posthumous title of "Wenzheng," which only three people had received since the founding of Daquan?
Shao Yuanran felt something stir in his heart, but still didn't turn to look at the emperor. She was becoming harder and harder to read.
Yao Jinzhi recalled the flying sword message from Pine Needle Lake earlier. Of course, Liu Yourong wasn't qualified to read confidential messages. Yao Jinzhi turned to look at this lake lord lady who had fool's luck and asked with a smile, "Did your Jinhuang Prefecture have an honored guest? Did Prefect Zheng ever mention to you that there was once an old benefactor?"
The confidential message said that a visitor had come to Jinhuang Prefecture—a man in blue robes who appeared to be a pure martial artist, his true depth unreadable—probably at the Golden Body realm. He was accompanied by a young woman holding a green bamboo staff, and they had five children with them.
A confidential message for the emperor's perusal needed to be as concise as possible, with no room for every detail. But the archives at Pine Needle Lake would certainly be more thorough.
Liu Yourong nodded. "Your Majesty, there is such a person. He looks like a young man, wears a white robe and carries a sword on his back, with a vermilion wine gourd tied at his waist…"
Yao Jinzhi said coldly, "I understand."
She remounted her horse with agility, her expression calm. "Let's go to Pine Needle Lake and have a look."
Liu Yourong was greatly surprised. She had thought the emperor would return to Shenjing City after visiting the Huer Town area. But as a mere lake lord, she dared not question.
Yao Jinzhi looked up at the sky.
Who was it that said, "The sun and moon are two eyes of heaven and earth; ten thousand words are not worth a cup of water"? And who said, "Life's road is narrow, but the wine cup is wide"?
It had been too many years since she had visited Zhaoping Peak, so close to the capital. She couldn't quite remember.
Yao Jinzhi gently raised her fingers and rubbed her temples. She didn't dare touch the corners of her eyes. She felt a little sad, but her brows lifted with spirit.
She told herself that once she stayed at the Pine Needle Lake water mansion, she would stop there.
She would not go to Jinhuang Prefecture to meet anyone. If there was to be a meeting, he would have to come to her.
Yao Jinzhi suddenly smiled at Liu Yourong. "When we reach Pine Needle Lake, you can reply with a personal letter, so Prefect Zheng won't worry."
---
Watching the direction of that thick dragon aura, Cui Dongshan sat on the railing of the ferry boat, one arm wrapped around his chest, the other hand propping up his chin, in a thoughtful pose.
But Cui Dongshan inexplicably glanced toward Shenjing City. Hidden dragons and crouching tigers—the reason was simple: it was the well-mouth boundary of the Guandao Temple's water well.
Ni Yuanzan was merely one of the blessed land figures who had left the well. That's why Qihai City had that seemingly prophetic nursery rhyme: "Who rides the green ox away? The yellow crane flies back again."
Without a doubt, this was Zou Zi's doing. Only that man—fearing nothing, daring to scheme against anyone and scheming against everyone—would dare mock the old temple master of Guandao Temple like this. Back when that old bastard was still relatively young, traveling with the master's master to visit Guandao Temple, he didn't have this courage yet. When he met that old Daoist with the stinking nose, he still had to obediently call him "senior" and then play a game of chess. Naturally, he won. So the old Daoist gave up that white jade hairpin.
As for Zou Zi, his favorite thing was wild imagination. His greatest skill was placing stones that took no root—all his pieces wavered, naturally developing as if blooming everywhere. Yet in the end, they always achieved what he sought.
Zou Zi's Daoist cultivation was more than a hundred thousand miles beyond his junior sister's.
Cui Dongshan turned his head to look at the little fatty who was still practicing his stance and fist techniques. "Invincible Little Fist God, how about a bet?"
Cheng Zhaolu finished his six-step stance and asked, "Bet what?"
Cui Dongshan said angrily, "You're not going to bet with me anyway, so why the hell ask what the bet is?"
The little fatty scratched his head. "It's like you're a tapeworm in my belly."
Cui Dongshan laughed and scolded, "Your fist technique is pretty good. You're a good cook. A martial artist who isn't a good cook isn't a good sword cultivator."
The little fatty was baffled by the roundabout talk and turned back to continue his stance. He was better off with Master Cao—he never said weird things.
Cui Dongshan patted his knees, muttering to himself, "Don't say you started early; there are always earlier travelers. Don't say you've climbed high; there is always a road at the mountain's peak."
The white-clad youth turned his head to look further north.
Cui Dongshan suddenly raised his hand, two fingers pinched together, catching a flying sword returning from Shenzhuan Peak. Earlier, he had asked Jiang Shangzhen whether that old man Xun, when he entered Shenjing City back then, had quietly looked for anyone besides handling official business.
The flying sword replied that he had indeed looked for someone, but even Jiang Shangzhen was kept in the dark. Probably Old Xun was too thin-skinned to say it—maybe he went to visit an old flame.
Cui Dongshan rolled his eyes and put away the flying sword. Forget it. He wouldn't overthink it. His master's chess skills were now superb, reaching the realm of the gods. As his proud disciple, he could no longer let his master give him a handicap of twelve stones.
This wasn't Cui Dongshan flattering his master. It was that his master, confident, had said, "Let's play a game," then dragged him to set up the board. His master's demeanor was utterly brilliant, picking up and placing stones with fluid grace. In the end, he set up twelve stones on the board: the four peaceful corners, the center tengen point, and three along the edges.
Cui Dongshan conceded on the spot.
But the senior sister watching from the side said, "Master gave you a handicap of twelve stones, and you still lost?"
Nalan Yudie was even more astonished. "So Master Cao is also very skilled at chess—a man of both literary and martial talents!"
Hearing this, Master smiled and nodded, quickly starting to tidy up the chess pieces.
Cui Dongshan glanced at his master, then at his senior sister, who had a slightly crooked posture and a smile as bright as a gold-lettered signboard, and didn't dare say anything.
At the mountain and water ferry of Yugui Sect, a group of people left Yunku Paradise and continued south toward Qushan Ferry.
As for Ye Yunyun, who was known as Yellow Dress Yun, she left the blessed land alone and returned to Pusan Cloud Herb Hall.
As for the latest edition of the Flower God Mountain Rouge Chart, whether it included the Daquan female emperor, Ye Yunyun didn't care—as long as she herself wasn't on it.
Lu Ying, the chief offering of Jinding Temple, sat in a private room on a ferry boat, his expression complicated.
Earlier, in the immortal mansion on Huangheji, a young woman with her hair tied in a bun sat at the threshold, while Lu Ying sat opposite a young man, side-facing a window.
Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on one side of the young man's face, one side bright, one side dark.
That man not only asked a flood of questions but also chatted casually with Lu Ying, as if they were old friends. He said that mountain and marsh wild cultivators like them, who had no backing, had no easy lives. The path of cultivation was a goat's trail. Under heaven, which cultivator wasn't a wild cultivator like them, struggling to make a living for themselves? So when life got better, at least leave a way for others to live. After all, they were now registered immortal masters. They ought to think about the long flow. So he didn't need Lu Ying to endure humiliation or betray Jinding Temple or break with Du Hanling—completely unnecessary! Now that the two of them were sitting here, hitting it off, to put it bluntly, this was already about the worst possible situation for the offering true man. Once he walked out that door, every extra day of life was a gain. He hadn't even made him swear a poisonous oath. He should cherish his blessings—if not his blessings, then at least his life. Wasn't that the principle?
Anyway, at the time, Lu Ying was nodding like a chick pecking rice, just like a schoolboy listening to his teacher's instruction.
Lu Ying had really taken it all to heart.
If he didn't cherish his life, he would have risked it long ago.
Of course, the young man, who looked amiable and had a faint smile, had been playing with a dagger in his hand all along, its blade flashing. That was also a rather important reason.
In a secret water prison within Shenjing City, the capital of Daquan.
A disheveled man, filthy all over, sat in a cell stinking to high heaven.
The former regent vassal king of Daquan had fallen to such a miserable state.
Leaning against the wall, curled up, Liu Cong raised his head and looked outside the cell at a stooped old man. Beside him was an old housekeeper in a long black robe.
Liu Cong struggled to stand up and grinned. "Oh, isn't this the old Shen Guo Duke, blessed with many children and grandchildren? What, just got off Yao Jinzhi's dragon bed? Your steps are so soft and quiet—is this still the hale-and-hearty Gao Shizhen I remember? Could it be that little slut's bed skills have improved? Too bad you, Duke, have the will to kill the enemy but truly lack the strength. Since you can't enjoy her, why not go strike a deal with that fox spirit Yao Jinzhi and let me take your place?"
The white-haired old duke, Gao Shizhen, just bowed silently and looked at this vassal king who couldn't even die. "You really aren't as clever as Liu Mao."
Gao Shizhen tugged at the corner of his mouth. "If you truly wanted to die, this wouldn't be the method. So in the end, you still don't want to die."
Liu Cong laughed loudly. "Gao Shizhen, I can't figure out what you're living for, day after day!"
Liu Cong shifted his gaze to the old housekeeper who was inseparable from the duke. "Tsk tsk, could it be that the duke has a taste for this? Now that's truly 'growing old together' in the most literal sense."
Gao Shizhen said, "I came here today to tell you something."
Liu Cong suddenly collapsed to the ground, curling up, trembling all over, wailing.
Gao Shizhen waited quietly until Liu Cong went back to normal. After a moment, Liu Cong lay on the ground, his voice trembling. "Forget it. I don't want to hear it."
Gao Shizhen nodded, turned around, and was about to take a step when he stopped. "For a woman, was it worth it? If you hadn't been so impatient back then, everything would have been yours."
Liu Cong murmured, "None of you are worthy of her."
This imprisoned vassal king stretched out a trembling hand, fingers hooked like claws, slightly bent, then relaxed a little, suddenly laughing. "At least this big!"
Gao Shizhen shook his head and slowly walked away.
The old housekeeper silently followed behind the old duke.
After leaving the water prison, Gao Shizhen squinted involuntarily, avoiding the harsh sunlight, and said, "Accompany me to the Daoist temple to see that Longzhou Daoist. Then we'll leave the city to copy sutras at the Temple of Heaven."
The old housekeeper hesitated briefly, then nodded in agreement.
---
At the Yao Residence.
The Maihe River god seemed to recall something. Every time she encountered the Wen Sheng lineage, she always seemed to be in a daze. Three strikes and you're out—she absolutely couldn't be rude again. She immediately imitated a scholar and made a bow, lowering her head and saying formally, "Biyou Palace's Liu Rou pays respects to Chen Xiaofuzi."
Chen Ping'an hadn't expected such a grand courtesy, so he had to return the bow. "Luopo Mountain's Chen Ping'an greets the water god."
Luopo Mountain? That "luopo" meaning downcast and dispirited?
The knife grinder Liu Zong, standing nearby, was puzzled. What kind of mountain sect would take such an inauspicious name? After leaving Lotus Flower Paradise, and especially after becoming a Daquan offering by fate, with duties similar to those of the former Guardian Sophora, Liu Zong had done quite a bit of digging into Chen Ping'an's background. But throughout the entire Parasol Leaf Continent, consulting secret court archives or probing the young Three Yaos for information—whether mountain sects or lowland aristocratic families—none matched. Now, judging by the Maihe River god's manner, "Xiaofuzi"? Could Chen Ping'an be a legitimate Confucian academy disciple? But after the great war, the three academies on Parasol Leaf Continent had all been destroyed. If Chen Ping'an had been among them, he would surely be famous. As for Chen Ping'an being a coward afraid of death, Liu Zong absolutely didn't believe it. Liu Zong trusted a banished immortal who dared to kill Ding Ying and could kill him, and he also trusted his and Zhong Qiu's judgment of people.
In his two lifetimes, Liu Zong had two greatest itches. The first, as Arm Saint Cheng Yuanshan had once said in his hometown, was that he wouldn't trade his familiar bone-cleaver for any immortal magic blade called "Lianshi." The second was that he had turned enemies Chen Ping'an and Zhong Qiu into friends and chosen to fight side by side. A martial artist lightly regards life and death but values jianghu righteousness.
The water god asked curiously, "Xiaofuzi, did you come to Parasol Leaf Continent from the Central Confucian Temple? Could it be that Wen Sheng Laoye received my flying sword message?"
Before Chen Ping'an could answer, and without noticing that he was frantically blinking at her, she stomped her foot again and said to herself, "I really had water in my brain at the time. But it's also because Shenjing City has heavy snow every year. I've never experienced such a situation—snow falling like money being spent. Wen Sheng Laoye has profound knowledge, great abilities, heavy responsibilities, and is busy with a thousand affairs. I shouldn't have disturbed his dedicated studies. The key thing is that the wording of my letter wasn't like asking for help at all—it was too stiff, didn't follow etiquette, like an old woman throwing a tantrum. As soon as the flying sword left, I knew I was wrong. I regretted it so much my guts turned green. I chased the flying sword for a few hundred li, but how could I catch it? I'm not Left Sir, who has half the swordsmanship under heaven. So from last year until now, my conscience has been uneasy. Every day, I face the wall in the Observatory and reflect on my mistakes, punishing myself by drinking."
So that was how all the Water Flower wine from Biyou Palace was drunk up by the water god.
This water god, who had a home but didn't return, was truly named Liu Rou. Neither her surname nor her given name seemed to suit her temperament.
Earlier, according to Yao Xianzhi, in Shenjing City, she had taken a liking at first sight to Liu Yourong, the mountain-water dao companion of Jinhuang Prefecture Lord Zheng Su. Hearing that the other also had the surname Liu, the water god jumped up, slapped Liu Yourong on the shoulder, and said, "What a coincidence!" In the end, the two became sworn sisters. Zheng Su, a former prisoner in Shenjing City's water prison, was able to establish himself in Shenjing City without any scorn, somewhat by riding on his wife's coattails. In the eyes of Daquan's powerful and immortal masters, it was naturally Jinhuang Prefecture that had risen by marrying up to Biyou Palace.
Since the water god had poured out everything like beans from a bamboo tube, whether appropriate or not, Chen Ping'an no longer bothered to hide his lineage. He smiled and explained to her, "I came to Parasol Leaf Continent from Creation Cavern. I didn't go to the Central Continent, so I'm not actually aware of the matter of the water god's flying sword message to the Grove of Merit."
The water god stomped her foot again. "Annoying! I'll have to take the blow sooner or later anyway. I can't blame Wen Sheng Laoye for scolding me—it's my own fault. But with that knife hanging over my head and not falling, it's not a proper affair. I have to count days on my fingers and wait slowly. I'd rather Wen Sheng Laoye had replied early and scolded me bloody, so I could roll back to Biyou Palace."
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Why would my master scold you? As for whether he can find a suitable Water Elixir, success or failure, he will certainly give the water god an answer in his letter."
The water god looked guilty and a bit doubtful.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Don't forget, I am his last disciple. If my master really wants to scold you, I'll help you reply with a letter."
It would be good. If the Daquan Observatory could receive a reply from the Grove of Merit soon, he could ask the water god to add a few lines to the reply.
According to Jiang Shangzhen and Cui Dongshan, his master was now at the Grove of Merit, having withdrawn from worldly affairs for many years.
She first sighed with relief, then said with great chagrin, "I figure that Xiaofuzi visited first, then Lord Left came despite the hardship, and finally Wen Sheng Laoye himself came. Why is it that when you all visit Biyou Palace, none of you eat supper? Now it's too late—the oil-exploded eel noodles are gone. Even if I wanted to treat you, I couldn't. I've already emptied all the Water Flower wine, not even half a jug left. Brewing it is troublesome. If it's only been three or five years, can that even be called wine? Without a hundred years of cellaring, how can it be called aged fine wine? How can it have the face to entertain Xiaofuzi and Wen Sheng Laoye?"
Seeing that the young man was staring blankly, the water god grew even more uneasy. Well, Biyou Palace would never again trick any masters from the Wen Sheng lineage into coming.
Chen Ping'an quickly came back to his senses and smiled. "As long as it's Water Flower wine, it's fine—whether it's aged a few years or decades, I don't mind. As for eel noodles, don't force it. Water god, let's sit and talk."
A basin of eel noodles with half a basin of facing-heaven chili peppers—no one would dare pick up their chopsticks.
It was the same principle as qi cultivators drinking at a table. A small bowl of fiery red eel noodles could be endured, but a whole basin? How could one finish it? If you eat but don't finish, what then? So being polite to the end and simply not touching the chopsticks was the wise choice.
Senior Brother Zuo You didn't like drinking, Chen Ping'an knew. And that Senior Brother couldn't handle any spiciness—Master had mentioned that in the tavern back then.
A Liang had once played a trick. At the dinner table, he gave Zuo You a bowl of "clear soup," saying that since he didn't drink, he could use the soup as wine. If he wasn't bold enough to drink that, it wouldn't be right.
Zuo You didn't think twice. He raised the bowl and drank it like wine—drained it in one go. It was said that the spiciness made Zuo You's face turn bright red. He stood up, stomping his feet, almost rolling on the ground.
So Third Senior Brother Liu Shiliu chased after A Liang for several streets.
If it had been any other immortal cultivator besides Biyou Palace—daring to offer such a basin of eel noodles and asking Zuo You if he wanted supper—then it would have been a real challenge to Zuo You's sword.
Everyone took their seats. Traveling through the Daquan dynasty again was Chen Ping'an, Maihe River god Liu Rou, Capital Prefect Yao Xianzhi, Daquan Chief Offering Liu Zong, and direct disciple Yao Lingzhi.
The knife grinder Liu Zong had a look of sudden realization. Good heavens, so he was the direct disciple of the Confucian Wen Sheng! Then he must be the junior brother of the great sword immortal Zuo You?
The people of Parasol Leaf Continent had utmost admiration for this Left Great Sword Immortal.
Everything made sense now. Liu Zong knew about Wen Sheng's plight and the Wen Sheng lineage's loss of power within Confucianism. If Chen Ping'an was truly Wen Sheng's last disciple, then the young sword immortal, the banished immortal, had probably received direct transmission of Zuo You's swordsmanship. Even in a blessed land, he still loved to ramble about principles, but he was also tactful and adaptable, able to find a path out of chaos. His style was so similar to the Dali Embroidery Tiger. And with Biyou Palace's reverence for Wen Sheng's teachings, it was only natural that the water god was so close to him.
Yao Xianzhi and Yao Lingzhi exchanged glances.
A disciple of Wen Sheng? And the last one?
Did that mean Chen Ping'an was the junior brother of Cui Chan, the Embroidery Tiger, and Zuo You, the sword immortal?
Yao Lingzhi couldn't help but look at the young man in blue robes with a jade hairpin. She still seemed unable to believe it.
Chen Ping'an said to the siblings, "Aside from Grandpa Yao, even Your Majesty—please keep my identity a secret for now."
Yao Xianzhi was about to make a joke, but Yao Lingzhi stepped on his foot and said in a low voice, "Rest assured, Mr. Chen. Even my elder sister won't hear a word from us."
Liu Zong nodded, quite satisfied. This founding disciple of his—his martial arts talent wasn't that dazzling in the entire Haoran world, but his worldly wisdom had been well honed.
In bustling places, guard your mouth; in quiet places, guard your heart.
That was cultivation. Whether it was a qi refiner seeking the Long Life or a martial artist climbing higher by practicing fists, the paths were different, but the principle was the same.
Chen Ping'an looked at Yao Lingzhi.
The sword-carrying woman smiled. "Mr. Chen, you don't trust me?"
Chen Ping'an nodded and smiled. "Of course I trust you. It's just hard to reconcile the Yao girl before me with the one I saw at the inn back then."
Yao Xianzhi teased, "What 'Yao girl'? That sounds so awkward. My sister has been a wife and mother for years, Mr. Chen. Just call her Sister Yao."
Chen Ping'an said, "I was on a cross-continent ferry from Liuxia Continent that passed by Rain Dragon Sect and Lotus Flower Island. I landed at Qushan Ferry. On the way, in Yunku Paradise, I heard some gossip from the mountains about your Daquan dynasty. It wasn't very pleasant."
Yao Lingzhi was silent.
Yao Xianzhi sneered. "Not very pleasant? It must have been outright ugly. Envious of our Peach Leaf Alliance, disdainful that we survived the breach of our kingdom, and now with a woman on the throne—there's no shortage of gossip in the mountains. If you stay a few more days at the immortal ferry north of Shenjing City, Mr. Chen, you'll hear basketfuls of sour talk. About our emperor, about our Yao family usurping the throne, about the whole Daquan dynasty colluding with the demon army. Anyway, they can't stand to see others doing well. They have the ability to lie down and wait to die, letting the demon beasts smash their mountains and borders with ease, but they don't have the ability to admit that our Daquan border army lost more than half its men and still managed to hold the capital. Those heroes and mountain immortals who lay down and waited to die but didn't die—they really have my admiration. Every time I meet one, I can't help but offer them a respectful cup of wine."
Yao Lingzhi gave a bitter smile and glared at her brother, who couldn't keep his mouth shut. You've said plenty of sour words yourself. Do you remember how you were chased away by your sister Jinzhi during that high-profile Peach Leaf Alliance? And later, how did you get into conflict with the White Dragon Cave cultivators?
Chen Ping'an said softly, "The hardest time is after the snow melts."
Liu Zong nodded. "And our Shenjing City is famously buried in heavy snow every year."
The Maihe River god nodded deeply, sighing in agreement, "Yes, yes."
Actually, she hadn't understood the deeper meaning at all. But whether the snow in Shenjing City was heavy—as a river god attuned to water flow—she certainly knew best. It was all immortal money.
Apart from waiting for a letter, she had followed the emperor's orders and spent last winter absorbing the water flow from the heavy snow in Shenjing City. She hadn't been idle. Yao Xianzhi teased her for freeloading, but she never denied it.
Earlier, when Chen Ping'an had been wandering in spirit, he had uncovered a careless matter upon seeing this water god who admired his master's knowledge the most.
According to some of Jiang Shangzhen's remarks at Yunjian Peak, and casual chats with the academy Confucian scholar at Taiping Mountain's gate, Chen Ping'an had learned that the Wen Sheng lineage's situation in the Haoran world was no longer as… downcast as before. In fact, from Chen Ping'an's perspective, there seemed to be a tendency to swing from one extreme to the other.
The Haoran world no longer banned the study of Wen Sheng's teachings. Instead, some people even suggested that among the seventy-two academies of Haoran, at least the four continent academies including Bottle Gourd should exclusively honor Wen Sheng's teachings. The reasoning was that the Wen Sheng lineage's teachings on practical achievements were more in line with the Confucian ideals of establishing virtue, merit, and words, and of self-cultivation and ordering the world, than the Second Sage's lineage. The tiny Bottle Gourd Continent had turned the tide against all odds, while the three academies on Parasol Leaf Continent, all of which followed the Second Sage's lineage, had collapsed at first contact, and the public morals had rotted in the chaos. These two cases—one positive, one negative—were enough to prove the point. Now that the world was settled, what was there to hesitate about? Not only that, but many academy Confucians, literary masters from various continents and countries, were indignant. They not only suggested that Wen Sheng's statue be reinstalled in the Central Confucian Temple, but even placed above the Second Sage, second only to the Supreme Sage and Li Sage…
Upon hearing these news, Chen Ping'an didn't feel much joy. Instead, he couldn't help but worry.
He had the feeling that Cui Chan had calculated and called it right again.
On the city wall, Cui Chan had said with a smile, "Is the world at peace? It seems so. Can we rest easy? I think not."
When Chen Ping'an returned to the Haoran world, he only saw the change in the Haoran world's perception of the Wen Sheng lineage. Was it good? Of course. Was it just good? Not necessarily.
Chen Ping'an understood a truth very well: all reputation that seems lifted high by words, when suspended in the air, is like a bird among the white clouds—spotless. But this beautiful thing hanging above everyone's heads often falls heavily to the ground, becoming mud beneath people's feet. Many trample on it just by passing by, adding a few careless words.
If the Wen Sheng lineage, his master's disciples, had disciples all over the world, this potential harm would be invisibly shared. But in fact, it was not so. On the contrary, the Wen Sheng lineage had too few direct disciples. And Cui Chan had once said that when it came to establishing one's words through writing, Chen Ping'an shouldn't think about it. Establishing merit? The world was at peace. From now on, what merit could Chen Ping'an establish? Establishing virtue? Chen Ping'an had never thought about it, had never had such a thought. From the day he founded his sect, he never thought he would become a moralist. That being the case, it meant that Chen Ping'an's identity—whether as the last disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage or as the last Hidden Officer of the Sword Qi Great Wall—once both came to light, would be a double-edged sword, wearing away countless people's hearts.
It was, in fact, a time after the snow melts.
Chen Ping'an continued the earlier topic with Liu Zong, chatting about the silk shop by the water at Kejia Bridge in the capital of Nanyuan Kingdom.
Some of their words used sound-converging techniques.
Chen Ping'an planned to lay some groundwork, to make this knife grinder recall old times more, so that in the future, Chen Ping'an could shamelessly persuade this senior to become an unregistered offering of the future Luopo Mountain branch sect.
Every pure martial artist who could walk out of a blessed land—whether in fist techniques, mind, or jianghu experience—was no pushover.
Back then, Liu Zong had asked National Teacher Zhong Qiu to help sell the shop so that his unregistered disciples could split the silver and not be short of money while wandering the jianghu without their master's care. Those young men from Nanyuan Kingdom didn't know that Old Liu, who had some martial arts skills, was actually one of the top ten under heaven at the time. With their master not around, at least they had a few hundred taels of silver in their pockets. Now they were all doing fairly well. As for the matter of souls being mere outlines—for each of the four divided blessed lands, the effects hadn't yet manifested for those involved. When they did, martial artists would need the Golden Body realm, and qi refiners would need to reach the Golden Core. By then, they wouldn't be helpless. Especially Luopo Mountain's Lotus Flower Paradise—both martial luck and mountain and water qi were sufficient for both sides to continue climbing, gilding and painting their outline bodies.
Liu Zong learned that one of his disciples, who hadn't been particularly outstanding in talent, had now become the first to reach the fifth realm martial artist. The old man sighed with emotion, only saying, "Fate is made by heaven; blessings are sought by oneself."
As for Lotus Flower Paradise being split into four, and Chen Ping'an actually possessing one share, Liu Zong wouldn't pry. How the old temple master had done this, or how Chen Ping'an had obtained it, wasn't worth dwelling on. The old man just couldn't help but feel a bit homesick.
When the two talked about that old temple master, they both fell silent. Neither easily judged this "Heavenly God" of Lotus Flower Paradise.
The more Liu Zong jumped out of that "water well" and came into contact with the vast world of Haoran, the more he feared the old temple master. And when he eventually settled in Daquan, especially when he saw a portrait in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, it felt like a different world.
This old temple master of the East Sea Guandao Temple truly made Chen Ping'an both sincerely convinced and deeply apprehensive. It wasn't just that the old temple master was a 14th realm grand cultivator.
The word "reverent awe" was so subtle. The key was that "reverence" came first and "awe" second—even more subtle. It was as if these two words perfectly captured the human heart.
Chen Ping'an suddenly smiled. "Brother Liu is only half a step away from the Far Traveling martial realm. How about we spar in blade techniques sometime?"
Yao Lingzhi was puzzled. Was her master also a knife-wielder? When her master fought—whether inside the palace to repel enemies or on the battlefield outside the capital—he always used a combination of internal and external fist techniques, never a weapon.
Last year, a man in black from Beijin had infiltrated the palace to attempt assassination. His martial realm was extremely high—he could fly in the wind for long distances. Yao Jinzhi initially mistook him for a qi refiner. When he got close and her sword was only half drawn, he struck her in the internal organs with a single punch, and she collapsed. It was her master who stopped the man, forcing him to use a military armor pill and don Nectar Armor. Though they were separated by one realm, they fought to a draw. The man had someone cover his retreat, and then he withdrew from the palace.
Liu Zong's eyes lit up. "Brother Chen, when did you switch to playing with a knife?"
This knife grinder's favorite weapon was a bone-cleaver. In the battle with the sword immortal-like Yu Zhenyi back then, the bone-cleaver had worn badly—a number of nicks had been knocked into it by a glass sword, a relic of an immortal.
So over the years, Liu Zong always fought with his bare hands, unwilling to take out his bone-cleaver that had been with him through thick and thin. After all, the Haoran world was not Lotus Flower Paradise. There were too many immortal artifacts and dharma treasures on the mountains, and immortal arts were even more bizarre. One careless slip, and the old companion would be gone for good.
Back in the day, on the city wall of Nanyuan Kingdom's capital, the War Drum of Wen had allowed the ascender, Knife Grinder Liu Zong, to leave his physical body in Lotus Flower Paradise and come to Parasol Leaf Continent with a new body. He still looked old, but now he bore some resemblance to an ancestor emperor of the Daquan Liu clan. And the Liu imperial clan was famous for its handsome men—from the old emperor Liu Zhen to the three princes including Liu Cong, they were all acknowledged beauties.
The bottleneck of the Golden Body realm was hard to break—not because Liu Zong's martial talent was poor, but because the new physical body given by Guandao Temple was too powerful.
In Nanyuan Kingdom's capital, Liu Zong had lived incognito as the owner of a shop by the river, with sparse hair and an ugly face. It wasn't so bad when he wasn't smiling, but when he smiled, he looked like a lecherous old bachelor. When he was young, his appearance wasn't much better.
So when Liu Zong said earlier that he had the same bearing and style as Sword Immortal Chen when he was young, even though Chen Ping'an didn't care much about his appearance, he simply couldn't be bothered to agree. When traveling the jianghu, one must treat others with sincerity.
Chen Ping'an said, "In recent years, I've had some free time and happened to acquire two daggers of decent quality. Recalling that battle in Brother Liu's hometown, I've practiced quite a bit and gained some familiarity. Besides Brother Liu's close-range knife techniques, I've also thrown in Yu Zhenyi's sleeve qi, Zhong Fuzi's collapsing fist, Mirror Heart Studio's finger sword, and Cheng Yuanshan's spear spin. I've stewed them all together into my blade technique. That's why I dare to speak of sparring in front of a blade master like Brother Liu today."
Liu Zong rubbed his hands together. "That's great! I haven't played with a knife in years. I'm afraid I've gotten rusty and will make a fool of myself in front of Brother Chen."
Liu Zong was only afraid of losing face in front of his direct disciple. After all, in fist arts, the young are feared. If they exchanged a few dozen moves, winning or losing could still save face. But if Sword Immortal Chen had only been practicing the knife for a few days and didn't know his own strength, and in a spar meant to be a touch-and-go, Chen Ping'an, young and hot-blooded, might treat him like Ding Ying, Liu Zong didn't think he had any chance of winning.
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "It's just asking Brother Liu for a few blade techniques. Calling it a spar is already overestimating myself."
The old man glanced at his disciple Yao Lingzhi's saber and was indeed a bit tempted by the idea of a spar. Knife Grinder Liu Zong was a martial arts fanatic. And that fight back then with Chen Ping'an hadn't been enough to satisfy him—they had ended in a draw.
Afterward, he had been bullied from start to finish by Yu Zhenyi, who had ascended and cultivated immortal arts. That made Liu Zong even more frustrated.
His direct disciple Yao Lingzhi's saber had an extraordinary origin. Its wooden handle was wrapped in bright yellow silk threads; the grip and guard were copper-gilt with floral leaf patterns. It was very heavy. The handle was studded with red coral and lapis lazuli. The scabbard was also wooden, covered with a layer of green shark skin, with two horizontal copper-gilt bands—all later additions by the Daquan Imperial Workshop.
This "Famous Spring" saber, which had been stored in the Daquan secret treasury for two hundred years, had a somewhat vulgar name, but it was a genuine dharma artifact. It had been used by the founding emperor of the Liu clan to personally slay the last emperor, so it naturally contained a portion of Daquan's martial luck and a great amount of dragon aura. Whether against pure martial artists or mountain immortal masters, it wouldn't lose out as a weapon. Its power was especially great for suppressing mountain and water spirits, ghosts, and yin entities.
Yao Lingzhi advised, "Master, Mr. Chen has only just arrived in Shenjing City. He must be tired from flying all the way. Don't be in such a hurry to spar in blade techniques."
Liu Zong nodded, saying that it was indeed not the proper way to treat a guest.
Because the knife grinder had finally remembered something: Chen Ping'an's punch to open the door earlier had been quite noisy. Liu Zong weighed it. Was this Chen Ping'an, who was both a sword immortal and a martial artist, truly a sword immortal? That was hard to say, but he was probably at least a Far Traveling martial artist—at the very least. At most, of course, he could be a Mountain Summit realm. He couldn't be the legendary Ultimate realm. In the entire Parasol Leaf Continent, there were only two people at the 10th martial realm: Wu Shu and Ye Yunyun. If Chen Ping'an's appearance and age weren't too far apart, then based on the estimate from Lotus Flower Paradise, a Mountain Summit realm martial artist under fifty years old was already astonishing enough.
Liu Zong couldn't help but glance at the young man in blue robes. He had already had a bit of a sword immortal's bearing when he was young. Now he was at least a Far Traveling pure martial artist, and also the last disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage. He was quite handsome, and his speech and manner were calm and composed, with the air of a grandmaster, a scholarly aura all over. Damn, the more he looked, the more irritating… No, the more he looked, the more he resembled himself when he was young.
"Sparring in blade techniques can wait for another day."
Liu Zong said cheerfully, "But Brother Chen, doesn't it lower your status to chat with me about such trivial matters? If you're getting impatient, don't hold back. Just say so."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "A man strives upward—that's about realm, cultivation, fist techniques. Water flows downward—that's about the human heart, nostalgia, and bonds of friendship."
Liu Zong clapped his hands in praise. "A new interpretation of an old saying. Refreshing. Full of flavor. Worth a jug of Water Flower wine."
The water god complained, "Didn't I say already? There's no Water Flower wine left. Why bring up the one thing that's missing? Little Liu, are you annoying or what? If there really was wine for you to drink your fill, you'd start shaking after two jugs, spilling half a bowl of wine with every drink. And blade work? Blade work my foot—you'd just concede to Xiaofuzi. Conceding loses half anyway."
In front of Liu Zong, she was used to calling him "Little Liu." His tolerance for alcohol was poor, his tolerance for spice was even worse, and he liked to imitate her household cook's stutter, always stammering, "M-M-Mama, mama's mama."
Liu Zong, exposed for his shortcomings, left awkwardly.
Now, this Daquan capital needed him to watch over at least half of Shenjing City, a place where dragons and fishes mingled. Immortal masters from all over the continent who came down to train liked to stop here. He had to handle all aspects of relations. For instance, when that little bastard Yao Xianzhi had made enemies with White Dragon Cave, Liu Zong had smoothed things over. Thanks to Xue Huai and Guo Bailu, two martial artists, being easy to talk to; otherwise, Lu Ying, the old infant of Jinding Temple, and those registered masters like You Qi, all of whom delighted in chaos, wouldn't have let the Prefect Yao off with just a one-year salary deduction.
This was Yao Xianzhi's residence, and the prefect had a lot he wanted to talk to Mr. Chen about.
The Maihe River god also prepared to take her leave. At the Shenjing Observatory, besides waiting for Wen Sheng Laoye's reply, Liu Rou had another important task: she was to refine a moat to stabilize Shenjing City's mountain and water array. After all, as the foremost orthodox water god of the Daquan dynasty, she was now completely on par with the five great mountain lords in the Ministry of Rites' mountain and water registry.
Chen Ping'an stood up as well, saying he would see the water god out.
Liu Rou's mind turned. She understood—there were some things better not discussed in a crowd.
So as soon as they left the courtyard, she spoke telepathically, "Xiaofuzi, setting everything else aside, things like praying for rain—that's my duty. I've been pretty sloppy about it. I'll do whatever the court says from now on, same as before. But when it comes to praying for children at my temple—that's truly efficacious! I don't even know how I have that ability. In short, three words: very effective! Xiaofuzi? Hmm?"
Chen Ping'an was speechless.
The water god laughed heartily. Sure enough, she was still clever. She stood on tiptoe—eh? Xiaofuzi had grown so fast! She had to support herself with the tips of her toes, then patted Chen Ping'an on the shoulder. To hell with "men and women should not touch hands." She continued, "Don't worry. Next time you come to burn incense at the temple, let me know in advance. I'll definitely take it seriously. Not just manifesting—I'll even kowtow with you. Xiaofuzi, you don't know, but now the re-gilded statue in the temple is gorgeous! In one word: beautiful…"
Chen Ping'an had to interrupt her. "It's not about that. I wanted to talk about the Dao formula recorded on that jade slip."
Liu Rou was puzzled. "Having problems on your cultivation path?"
She stomped her foot. "Damn that old dragon of the great river! He had to leave that jade slip behind, causing so much trouble. And then he didn't come when he should have, setting up that prayer-for-rain stele… Xiaofuzi, rest assured, I've helped but caused harm. But I'm not one to shirk responsibility. If there are any consequences, no matter how small, I'll take responsibility. If I can't pay even after selling everything, I'll write you an IOU first… Haha, I'll write whatever you want! Just don't tell Wen Sheng Laoye about this…"
Chen Ping'an sighed, hands in sleeves. "It's not about that either. Water god, how about you let me finish speaking slowly?"
She said "Oh," sounding aggrieved. "I'm just nervous. Isn't it strange? Before I met Wen Sheng Laoye, I prayed to ancestors and begged grandmothers, saying I'd be satisfied if I saw him once in my life. But once I actually saw him, that wasn't enough. I want to behold Wen Sheng Laoye a second time—and a third wouldn't be too many either. Ah, Wen Sheng Laoye—truly a sage's demeanor. That aura—at night, it's like a big sun making a lantern, illuminating the entire place. I recognized him at first sight. The first glance, absolutely, I knew Wen Sheng Laoye had graced my mansion! Sure enough, such a unique sage aura of Wen Sheng Laoye, the only one in the Haoran world, can never be hidden, not even a little. The first time I met Left Sword Immortal, my eyesight was a bit off—I only recognized him on the second glance…"
Chen Ping'an had already resigned himself. He would just let the water god finish speaking first.
The Mai River had once been the main channel of a great river flowing into the sea on Parasol Leaf Continent. But over the ages, the great river had shrunk drastically, and only this short stretch of the Mai River remained. The predecessor of Biyou Palace was the old dragon palace of that great river's dragon lord. The jade slip that condensed water flow into substance was proof of the great river's master. It had come into the Maihe River god's possession by fate. She had then engraved the "All Things Can Be Refined" prayer-for-rain stele text onto it, with detailed annotations and careful commentary.
After the great war, this water god's golden body had been shattered by more than half. Relying solely on Shenjing City's annual heavy snows, even three hundred years of patching might not restore her to perfection. The Daquan Liu clan had only been founded for a little over two hundred years. Unless the court helped widen the Mai River's channel and absorb more streams and rivers that didn't originally flow into it.
But Chen Ping'an knew full well that the Daquan Yao clan, whether in public or private, could not possibly incline the nation's power so heavily toward a single Mai River. That would be a disaster for both the Yao clan and the Mai River.
Mountain and water gods—from the great mountain lords to local land gods, river gods, and river goddesses—were also a vast officialdom.
The water god finally came back to herself. Xiaofuzi had been walking beside her in silence for a long time, wandering in spirit again, even forgetting to speak!
When she stopped talking, Chen Ping'an said telepathically, "Water god, back then you gave me the jade slip along with the Dao formula. The benefit has been beyond imagination—then, now, and perhaps even more in the future. To be honest, it helped me get through a rather difficult time."
Liu Rou said cheerfully, "That's good. I thought it was something serious. Xiaofuzi, being so solemn scared me. Just forget the thanks—too formal, too distant. We're close."
Chen Ping'an was even more helpless. He couldn't say much about the truth now, but the water god really didn't take that jade slip Dao formula seriously at all.
The water flow jade slip engraved with the true Dao formula—front and back—contained over 5,000 characters, including the formula and annotations. Combined with the item-refining Dao formula taught by Fire Dragon True Man in the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, the two complemented each other, giving Chen Ping'an a lot to do on the Sword Qi Great Wall.
The cultivation method, seemingly about refining objects, actually expounded the supreme principle of the Five Elements' operation. It was extremely suitable for Chen Ping'an. The formula's definition of the human body's meridians was both mysterious and precise—"a drop of golden bottle water from heaven, flying threads like a shuttle in the void…" From the shattered Golden Core, to Nascent Soul, to Mountain Summit martial artist, it was as if tailor-made for Chen Ping'an, bringing immense benefit. The most crucial, most mysterious, was that the Dao formula touched upon the fourth city of the Twelve Towers and Five Cities of the Jade Capital. Anyone who obtained the jade slip, with a bit of deduction, could discover that it contained four paths, each one a heaven-ascending road promising entry to the upper fifth realm, without straying into error or being easily disturbed by the Heart Demon. The Heart Demon would still exist—it couldn't just disappear into thin air—but its power would be greatly reduced, as if suppressed by the Dao.
This was what the Dao formula called "Transforming into four celestial coolnesses, sweeping away the world's heat." It placed the cultivator in a cool realm of rising flat ground, with the Heart Demon pushed outside. If it wanted to cause trouble, it would first have to break through a small world guarded by a sage. If a qi refiner at the Nascent Soul bottleneck faced the Heart Demon, it would be like a Nascent Soul opposing a Jade Pure realm.
With this Dao protection, having a Daoist heavenly official as a gate god to guard the path, it would be like pulling an originally invincible Heart Demon back to the Nascent Soul realm.
Chen Ping'an roughly explained the situation.
Liu Rou was completely bewildered. Then she said frankly, a bit embarrassed, "The jade slip text contains four heaven-ascending paths? That many? I didn't know. I thought it was just 'one step' to immortality."
It was like a Confucian sage writing a book that later moralists endlessly annotated, and the sage himself, who hadn't thought much when writing, got confused by all those annotations.
Chen Ping'an took his hand out of his sleeve and rubbed his brow. "It doesn't matter if the water god doesn't know. The point of my saying this is that this gift is too great—so great that I have no way to repay it."
Liu Rou waved her hand. "No need for formality. Good things aren't late nor too big. Xiaofuzi, don't dwell on it. You'll lose some boldness."
That was what she said, but as she walked, she held her head high, looking very grand.
Chen Ping'an said, "I have a suggestion. The water god could use this Dao formula to do business with a sect-head immortal mountain that catches your eye. For example, with Yugui Sect's Shenzhuan Peak, or Yunku Paradise, or the Fuzi Sect, or Taiping Mountain, which will soon continue its ancestor hall's incense. If you think a girl shouldn't marry two families, my personal suggestion is to sell it to Jiang Shangzhen of Yunku Paradise."
As for Taiping Mountain, he would have to wait seventy or eighty years, and the water god would probably be too embarrassed, so he would handle it. But it would still be Biyou Palace's favor. He would just be passing the word to the future mountain lord of Taiping Mountain.
This Dao formula heart method suited every earthly immortal. Whether registered masters or mountain-and-marsh wild cultivators, even with the firmest Dao heart unmoved by external things, they would be overjoyed, gaining four extra "heaven-ascending" opportunities with Daoist heavenly officials guarding them, reducing the influence of the Heart Demon. Who wouldn't be delighted?
It was a dream come true for any deeply rooted sect-head. The reason was simple: a sect had enough earthly immortals. As long as an earthly immortal's cultivation path was of the Five Elements—similar to Chen Ping'an, or the black-robed scholar of Chongxuan Department in Beiju Continent—practicing this formula would yield twice the result with half the effort.
Even if there were none at present, a sect could specially open this path early for its best direct disciples of the ancestor hall. With cultivators carefully asking the Dao, patiently practicing, the sect diligently cultivating them and protecting their path, then in the next hundred or thousand years, the number of cultivators attaining earthly immortalhood or even the upper fifth realm would far exceed the past.
If this trip to the Daquan capital was to meet Old General Yao, and if he had planned to visit Jinhuang Prefecture and then Biyou Palace, it was because Chen Ping'an had to thank the Maihe River god in person.
Chen Ping'an had decided early on to establish a branch sect for Luopo Mountain, ultimately choosing Parasol Leaf Continent.
This jade slip was a monumental contribution.
The name of the branch sect—no hurry. Naming things was his specialty. He had too many good names; he was troubled by the choice.
The first sect master of the branch sect would be Cao Qinglang.
As for Cui Dongshan and Pei Qian, one of them might need to come to Parasol Leaf Continent to help Cao Qinglang. Cao Qinglang was likely the youngest sect master—or one of them—in Haoran history.
Additionally, the Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator Cui Wei, and of course the Golden Core sword cultivator Sui Youbian, would probably all come from Luopo Mountain to settle here. If Great Sword Immortal Mi was willing, he could also come to Parasol Leaf Continent, since the branch sect would be close to the Flower God Mountain of Yunku Paradise.
But besides Cao Qinglang as the branch sect master, whether others left Luopo Mountain would depend on their own wishes.
Chen Ping'an had told Jiang Shangzhen that Luopo Mountain wasn't a one-man show, and he hadn't been lying.
Liu Rou shook her head vigorously. "Sell a hammer? No way. Something I've given away is no longer mine. Even though that old sect master Jiang can be considered an old hero, and I'd be happy to befriend him for other matters, when it comes to business, forget it. Friends made through business don't last. If you want to do business, the jade slip Dao formula is yours now. You go ahead and handle it. Make money if you can, don't delay, and don't worry about me overthinking. If I can't trust anyone, I trust you. But let me make it clear: whether it's one deal or several, it has nothing to do with me or Biyou Palace. Otherwise, Xiaofuzi will never get Water Flower wine or eel noodles from me again."
"Then I'll follow the water god's wishes."
Chen Ping'an sighed, hands in his sleeves, walking slowly, saying no more.
Back when he traveled to Biyou Palace, he had gotten drunk, boldly sat down to discuss the Dao, and spoken about the order of things. More than anything, it was because this water god had long studied his master's teachings, ultimately attaining the Golden Body.
One drink, one peck.
The half-baked Dao transmission at Biyou Palace in his youth had repaid Chen Ping'an with "several times entering the upper fifth realm."
Because Chen Ping'an, through this "One Step Immortal" jade slip Dao formula, had, when it was almost impossible to maintain a normal Dao heart, forced himself to set aside prejudices against the Jade Capital, grit his teeth and practice this method. On the city wall of the Sword Qi Great Wall, he had secretly entered the upper fifth realm three times—no longer a "false Jade Pure" merging with the city wall—but then voluntarily broke that illusory segment of the Jade Capital Longevity Bridge, choosing to return to Nascent Soul.
Even Long Jun couldn't be sure if Chen Ping'an was a false Jade Pure, true Nascent Soul, or a true Jade Pure, false immortal.
Before Long Jun spoke, the Jia Shen tent's sword embryo prodigies Li Zhen and Liu Bai both believed the young Hidden Officer was at most a Nascent Soul sword cultivator.
But when Long Jun spoke that time on the city wall, revealing the secret, Chen Ping'an immediately broke an illusory "Jade Capital Heaven-Piercing Longevity Bridge," returning from a genuine Jade Pure realm to Nascent Soul, once again becoming a false Jade Pure.
At that time, besides needing to stabilize his Dao heart, Chen Ping'an also wanted Long Jun to draw his sword for the last time later—the later the better—to drag it until the mountains and rivers were inverted and Long Jun never drew his sword. Even if Long Jun chose to draw his sword before Cui Chan reached the Sword Qi Great Wall, he would still be unsure of Chen Ping'an's true realm. Even if he was sure, Chen Ping'an was at least a genuine Jade Pure sword cultivator. He couldn't speak of winning, but at least he had a better chance of exchanging lives with Long Jun.
But these winding calculations and the endless scheming with Long Jun ultimately couldn't defeat the old sword immortal's final sword.
That didn't mean Chen Ping'an's considerations were meaningless. After arriving on Parasol Leaf Continent, the immortals of Wanyao Sect, including Han Yushu and that group of hidden experts, had seen it accurately: the most formidable Chen Ping'an was not his current realm level or identity, but the Chen Ping'an who had become what he was.
Of course, Chen Ping'an's insane ups and downs—between Jade Pure and Nascent Soul—also meant he had three opportunities to contend with the Heart Demon. And he had gained a deeper understanding of that Jade Capital he was destined to visit.
Liu Rou suddenly laughed, holding up two thumbs, and whispered, "Chen Ping'an, what about our nation-toppling emperor? Hmm?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Don't joke like that."
Liu Rou sighed. "Being too much of a gentleman isn't good either."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I'll bring my wife to visit Biyou Palace in the future."
The water god was stunned, then stomped her foot. "What?! You really have a wife? Then I have no chance?"
Chen Ping'an looked embarrassed. Fine, fine. Better to visit Mai River alone.
She jumped up and slapped Chen Ping'an on the shoulder, laughing loudly. "Same as before—thin-skinned, can't take a joke. Look how scared you got."
Chen Ping'an said seriously, "Don't joke about that. Really."
The water god grinned, hands behind her head, swaggering. After a moment of silence, she suddenly said, "Chen Ping'an, being able to see you again, just chatting like this, without worrying that tomorrow it might be gone—it's really good. Truly."
Chen Ping'an hummed in agreement.
---
Yao Lingzhi not only saw her master out of the residence but also sat in the carriage, facing each other.
Liu Zong asked, "Something on your mind?"
Yao Lingzhi shook her head, forcing a smile. "Reuniting with our Yao family benefactor, and that benefactor happens to be an old friend of my master—what could I have on my mind?"
Liu Zong smiled and said nothing, closing his eyes to rest, slowly warming his fist intent.
Within Daquan's court and the major powerful clans, there had long been an unspoken understanding: without a series of upheavals triggered by one person, the surname of the Daquan dynasty would never have changed from Liu to Yao.
At the border, if that young outsider hadn't passed by and saved the life of Old General Yao Zhen from the Beijin assassins, then there would have been no subsequent appointment as Minister of War in the capital, and certainly no marriage of Yao Jinzhi into the imperial family. At the Huer Town inn, Third Prince Liu Mao suffered severe losses. The greatest blow was the sudden death of Li Li, the seal keeper of the Imperial Stable under Daquan's Guardian Sophora, which cost Liu Mao half of the jianghu's secret support. Without Li Li's coordination, Liu Mao couldn't command obedience, and ultimately a strange offering named Liu Zong took over all the jianghu forces.
More critically, the premature death of Gao Shuyi, his only son, caused Shen Guo Duke Gao Shizhen to drift apart from Liu Mao. Regardless of how Gao Shuyi died, he died under Liu Mao's nose. The Shen Guo Duke's mansion thus closed its doors to Liu Mao. Add the subsequent interception that caused Wang Qi, the academy gentleman and literary leader of Daquan, to vanish—Wang Qi had been the only ally of Crown Prince Liu Cong in Shenjing City. Then, after that, the Xumu Hut, and the Xu family of Shenjing City where Xu Qingzhou was from, all parted ways with Crown Prince Liu Cong.
Link after link, it ultimately led to the Second Prince's smooth ascension, giving rise to Liu Cong's strange remark on that rainy night.
In Liu Cong's view, even if Yao Jinzhi became emperor, she was still a woman. As long as she was willing to marry again, the Daquan dynasty would likely change surnames along with her.
And in Liu Cong's eyes, that young man Chen Ping'an, so meticulous in his schemes, needed only to return to Daquan to seize it, turning it over in his palm.
What's more, the vassal king Liu Cong and his allies, when they secretly went to the Peach Leaf Ferry for discussions, along with the later chief offering of Jinding Temple, Lu Ying, had all equated the blue-robed swordsman who appeared then with Chen Ping'an.
But before the Peach Leaf Alliance, that secret meeting at the ferry had been kept from even Liu Zong of Daquan's Guardian Sophora and the imperial relative Yao Lingzhi—they were still in the dark to this day.
Liu Cong in his prison didn't speak, Duke Gao Shizhen didn't speak, Du Hanling of Jinding Temple didn't speak, so naturally no one knew.
But Yao Lingzhi had secretly kept a huge secret in her heart for years. Her master Liu Zong didn't even know about it. Only she knew—even her sister Yao Jinzhi didn't know.
Back then, in the heavily guarded palace, a figure in blue robes appeared, carrying a sword on his back. Yao Lingzhi didn't recognize him at first, but his first words shocked her.
"Miss Yao, it's been years since we parted. Finally, we meet. Is Jinzhi well?"
Yao Lingzhi blurted out his name.
Chen Ping'an?!
The blue-robed swordsman nodded with a smile, raised a finger to his lips, and said softly, "I'll leave immediately. Don't worry. With me in Shenjing City, nothing will go wrong."
Yao Lingzhi, inexplicably, added, "Aren't you going to see Jinzhi?"
The blue-robed swordsman, who had gone from youth to young man, shook his head and smiled. "No need. Seeing that you're both safe, I'm relieved."
Then he vanished—coming and going in Shenjing City as if entering an empty space.
To this day, Yao Lingzhi felt it had been a dream. And his "relieved" was just her wishful thinking.
She never told her sister, who was still the empress then. After Yao Jinzhi became emperor, Yao Lingzhi had even less desire to mention it.
So over the years, Yao Lingzhi had been terrified of meeting this man who had saved the Yao family twice.
Afraid of that "what if."
Because the Daquan high-level knew that on Zhaoping Peak outside the capital, there had once been a blue-robed swordsman who liked to admire the snowy scenery of Shenjing City from afar.
Rumor had it that he was the number one sword immortal of the Tuoyue Mountain's Hundred Swordsmen—Fei Ran.
From the Barbarian Wild World!
But how could he be the last disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage?
Had the Maihe River god been deceived?
Regardless, whether Fei Ran or Chen Ping'an, he had saved the Yao family twice and incidentally saved the Daquan dynasty once.
And this Fei Ran had a not-bad reputation on Parasol Leaf Continent—he had never drawn his sword, just like that She Yue who had been recognized by the Confucian Temple.
Yao Lingzhi's brows were full of sorrow. She suddenly asked, "Master, what kind of person do you think Mr. Chen is?"
Liu Zong said, "Young age, old jianghu. A good old man who is very clever—worth entrusting with life and death."
Yao Lingzhi smiled. "Master, Mr. Chen isn't here now. It's just the two of us. Please speak frankly."
Liu Zong laughed. "A man with a thousand taels of silver always wants to call the man with ten thousand taels 'brother.' The man with ten thousand taels is reluctant to deal with the man with a thousand. But a man with a hundred thousand or a million taels doesn't mind dealing with the thousand-tael man—or even the hundred- or ten-tael man—with a kind expression and amiable manner."
Yao Lingzhi was puzzled. "Master, you have a mediocre impression of Chen Ping'an?"
"Master is just showing off with some profound words. Why are you so nervous?"
Liu Zong shook his head and teased, "What, have you actually liked that boy for many years? Not bad. I have good eyes for choosing disciples, and my disciple has even better eyes for men. No wonder we can be master and disciple."
Yao Lingzhi laughed indignantly. "Master, how old are you? Can you be serious?"
Liu Zong stroked his beard and smiled. "Your little secret—Chen Ping'an saw through it long ago. That kid is excellent at reading people and perceiving the subtle. I learned that firsthand back then. Stealing a fist technique was as easy as eating for him just by glancing."
Yao Lingzhi's face instantly turned pale.
Liu Zong's expression also grew serious. His founding disciple had never been so flustered over matters between men and women. She was usually very straightforward about liking or not liking someone. So Liu Zong lowered his voice and asked, "What exactly is going on?"
A moment later.
Liu Zong said in a low voice, "I will immediately send a flying sword message to Her Majesty. This letter must be clearer. It can't be as vague as your previous one. And remember this clearly: you absolutely must not publicize this lightly. Confirming Chen Ping'an's identity is not easy, but not impossible. Apart from Biyou Palace's Liu Rou, who is already unreliable, Daquan just needs to find someone who has truly met Wen Sheng Laoye and Left Great Sword Immortal. Lingzhi, this matter is too immense. You absolutely must not lose your composure. One slip, and it could become a huge storm shaking the Confucian Temple!"
Yao Lingzhi was pale, biting her lip, nodding vigorously.
---
After the Maihe River god returned to the Observatory, Chen Ping'an went back to Yao Xianzhi's residence.
He remembered that the first time he saw Yao Xianzhi, the boy was only fourteen.
Chen Ping'an's return home this time was originally to use the timing of Parasol Leaf Continent to determine the truth of his dreams. The successive appearances of Jiang Shangzhen, Cui Dongshan, and Pei Qian, along with that telepathic secret letter, had already confirmed it.
Since Luopo Mountain was safe, waiting a few more days for the young mountain lord to return home was fine.
But some things wouldn't wait.
Children were eager to grow up, but that couldn't be rushed. The old were hurrying to age, and that couldn't be stopped.
On Parasol Leaf Continent, there was the Daquan old general Yao Zhen. On Bottle Gourd Continent, there was the old nanny of the Caiyiguo haunted house. There was the Comb Water Kingdom's old senior Song Yushao.
And of course, there was the bearded wanderer, an elder brother figure, Xu Yuanxia.
Yao Xianzhi was also strange. Every time he wanted to say something serious to Mr. Chen, when he finally had the chance to speak freely, he got lazy.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Are there any reclusive masters inside or outside the Daquan capital?"
Yao Xianzhi shook his head. "I'm the prefect. So-called world-transcending recluses are all recorded in the books. Those who deserve fame are already famous. Those who really hide and don't move, old immortals deeply hidden—those I truly don't know. For that, you should ask my sister. She and Chief Offering Liu now control Daquan's intelligence."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Just asking casually. Don't take it seriously."
Yao Xianzhi asked, "Is something wrong? Can I help?"
Chen Ping'an said, "If something really is wrong, you won't be able to help. The first rule of traveling jianghu: when you see trouble, run. You're limping and can't keep up with me. Do I have to carry you on my back? Treat me like a dharma robe? If there are flying swords or spells, can you handle them?"
Yao Xianzhi said helplessly, "Mr. Chen, don't keep teasing a cripple. You weren't like this back then."
Chen Ping'an laughed and scolded, "Back then you weren't crippled either."
Yao Xianzhi scratched his head. "True."
Chen Ping'an suddenly said, "Don't be so down all the time. Wait