Chapter 767: The Flowers in the Mirror and the Moon in the Water of Luopo Mountain
After entering the small alley residence, Liu Qingfeng and Chen Ping'an chatted about old times all the way, but compared to the reminiscing between Chen Ping'an and Zhao Yao, two fellow townsmen, it was somewhat more "distant."
Mostly they talked about the customs and local conditions of Qingluan Nation, as well as Liu Qingshan and Lion Garden. Liu Qingfeng's younger brother, Liu Qingshan, after marrying the female Daoist Liu Boqi of the Blade Master Hall, had been traveling far and wide for all these years, once visiting Hanging Mountain, somewhat like a homecoming. For those who study the Way under a master on the mountains, it's like being reborn—Liu Boqi's master was precisely the elderly female Daoist stationed at the main gate of Hanging Mountain, along with Jiang Yunsheng, the "little Daoist boy" of the Green Emerald City of White Jade Capital, and the Sword Immortal Zhang Lu of Sword Qi Great Wall. A single gate apart was two worlds. When Liu Boqi returned to the Blade Master Hall back then, and Liu Qingfeng made his first journey to Hanging Mountain, the Summer Retreat Palace had received word of it, but Chen Ping'an did not show himself at the time.
After taking their seats, Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "The first time I saw a certain travelogue of mountains and waters in a foreign land, my very first thought was that Mr. Liu had no interest in an official career and was going to sell his writings to make money."
The old physician who had ties with Li Jin, the Water God of Chongdan River, was the head of the Sacrifice and Ritual Department. That department, along with Zhao Yao's Ministry of Personnel's Merit Evaluation Department and the Ministry of War's Military Selection Department, had always been the most powerful "small" offices of the Great Li Dynasty. The old man had once participated in a meticulously arranged mountain-and-water hunt by Great Li, surrounding and suppressing a blade-wielding man wearing a bamboo hat in Red Candle Town. But the outcome was hardly suspenseful—that man had taken on a whole group single-handedly.
After that, the old physician had also taken Ruan Xiu and Xu Xiaoqiao of Dragon Spring Sword Sect south to Letter Bamboo Lake, eventually settling at Hibiscus Mountain, where they used sticky poles to catch butterflies and dragonflies, pursuing a martial arts prodigy native to Great Li. So the old saying goes: old people have many old stories.
He was far from unfamiliar with the mountain master of Luopo Mountain. Moreover, over the past twenty-plus years, no matter how much Wei Bo, the Northern Mountain Lord of Cloudy Cloak Mountain, used his mountain to shroud Luopo Mountain in clouds and mist, it ultimately couldn't escape the tripartite scrutiny of the Great Li Ministry of Rites, the Superintendent's Office, and Song Yuzhang, the mountain god of Luopo Mountain. But as time passed, Song Yuzhang's golden body and shrine were moved to Chess Mound Mountain, and Superintendent Cao Gengxin was promoted and transferred to the Great Li auxiliary capital. With the Ascension Platform shattered in that earth-shattering upheaval, the Great Li Ministry of Rites' secret surveillance of Luopo Mountain also came to an end. And whether it was the two successive Great Li emperors' support and trust in Northern Mountain Lord Wei Bo, or their choice of the slovenly Cao Gengxin to serve as the Kiln Affairs Superintendent whose secret reports could directly reach the Imperial Study, or having Song Yuzhang move out of Luopo Mountain—all of these were a form of goodwill.
So the young sect master's straightforward jest upon sitting down made the old physician sense a hint of lurking danger.
Could it be that he planned to settle accounts with Great Li after the autumn harvest?
To be honest, if it weren't for his duties, the old physician would have been very reluctant to deal with this young man.
His life experiences and résumé were far too complicated. His style of conduct was far too cautious. Over the years, the old physician would often and occasionally flip through the secret files of the Ministry of Rites, treating them like a dish to go with wine. He wanted to find a "matter of course" in the process of the young mountain master of Luopo Mountain rising to prominence. But whether it was Chen Ping'an's bleak years as a kiln apprentice in his hometown, or later as an accountant at Letter Bamboo Lake, the old man could only see the meaning of "down and out." Yet it seemed that every time the pages turned, Chen Ping'an would silently climb to another height. If it had been an ordinary young man, he would have long since and cleanly resolved all those old grudges and high-spirited grievances from the lower slopes. But this young mountain master just kept letting them linger, year after year, deliberately not touching them.
Now, a mountain peak within the Northern Mountain domain, according to the mountain ascetics' way of speaking, was actually only a few steps away from the Great Li Song Clan's dragon-raising ground, right under the emperor's nose. It had quietly been elevated to a sect, and moreover had bypassed the Great Li Dynasty, conforming to Confucian academy rites but not to reason.
It was like among the trivial affairs of a market town, a simple, honest man who had swallowed his anger for most of his life suddenly one day bought a good jug of wine, drank it all in silence, reeking of alcohol, and at night, walked out with a blade in hand.
The tyranny of local bullies and spoilt playboys preying on the villagers could at least be guarded against by others, but what about the sudden violence of an honest man who rose up to kill? How could that be predicted?
There was no tea or wine on the table.
Anyway, Chen Ping'an was also a guest.
Liu Qingfeng laughed and said, "If it really were me ghostwriting, aside from the opening few thousand words—which I would leave completely unchanged—I would heavily revise everything else. When encountering fellow travelers in the martial world, I'd make the encounters deeply romantic, imitating the brushwork of the painters on Skeleton Beach's mural city, then imitating the Flower God Mountain of Cavern Cloud Paradise, adding twelve painted beauties. For strange encounters and bizarre realms on the mountains, I'd write much about twists and turns, using rich colors and heavy ink, emphasizing the word 'immortal.' For fights and battles, I'd write about decisive killing, never dragging things out, stressing the word 'ruthless.' For navigating officialdom, I'd boast of sophistication and deep scheming, with flawless social conduct, highlighting the word 'steady.'
"In leisure time, when meeting mountains and rivers, encountering reclusive experts, and having light-hearted conversations with Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist luminaries—discussing sincerity, debating the Way, speaking of Zen devices—it would all come down to an 'untrammeled' quality. It would make people feel that they are treading on high, with mountains as the ground, white clouds at their feet, and birds on their shoulders. Seeming ethereal, but actually hollow. Where the text is concise, it's straightforward and takes advantage. Where the text is elaborate, it's otherworldly and reclusive, but it's just a decorative pillow. Ultimately, the guiding principles of the writing are nothing more than 'fear of poverty,' a common human sentiment, and the word 'transaction' that runs through the entire narrative—what is written, what is said, what is done. When money comes in, it's for profit, for pragmatism, for climbing higher in cultivation realm, for having 'I am the principle' one day. When money goes out, it's for fame, for building reputation, for accumulating hidden virtue, for winning beauties' hearts."
"Find the Qionglin Sect in Northern Juzhou, split the profits ninety-ten, or even I wouldn't take a single copper coin. I'd only ask that at every ferry outside the immortal ferry piers, every bookstore in every market town below the mountains should carry a few copies of the travelogue. The first volume? The first volume would write about this person's subtle and unfathomable scheming, with a dozen or so details worth pondering by those in the know, worthy of chewing over by busybodies. A gentleman or a hypocrite? Ambiguous. The second volume would make a big deal out of his upright conduct, his broad-mindedness, how in chaotic situations he sneaked into the military tents of the Barbaric Wild World, made friends with many throne-level great demons, manipulated hearts and minds with ease solely by his own ability, and wholeheartedly served the Righteous World, accomplishing immortal merits."
Hearing this, Chen Ping'an laughed and said, "Whether the travelogue has a second volume depends entirely on whether this person can safely extricate himself and return home to establish a sect."
Fortunately, these were all post-game analyses. Fortunately, Liu Qingfeng was not that writer.
A scholar who only sits idle and talks about human nature can't stir up much of a stir. With a brilliant pen and numerous works, he might not be able to withstand a single nursery rhyme before everything turns upside down. But every scholar who can gain a firm foothold in officialdom, especially one who can rise quickly, should not be lightly provoked.
Liu Qingfeng smiled and said, "Has Young Master Chen ever considered that I, too, am quite wary of you?"
Chen Ping'an neither confirmed nor denied, asking instead, "I am well aware of Mr. Liu's character; you're not the type to worry about whether you'll win fame during life or after death. So, are you worried that you won't be able to 'fulfill the sovereign's affairs'?"
Liu Qingfeng patted the armrest of his chair and shook his head. "I believe in Young Master Chen's character just as firmly, so I've never worried that you would become a second Jia Sheng of the Righteous World, or some Wen Hai Zhoumi of Bottle Gourd Continent. I'm only worried that this chair of Bottle Gourd Continent still has loose joints, not yet truly secure. If after returning home, Young Master Chen, riding the momentum of the times and bearing great fortune, gives it a rock, a wobble, and inadvertently brings it crashing down."
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "So, what is His Majesty the Emperor's intention?"
Liu Qingfeng said, "Thus, His Majesty hopes that Mountain Lord Chen can simultaneously serve as the headmaster of the Linlu Academy on Cloudy Cloak Mountain. As for the selection of a site for a subsidiary sect afterward—whether it's the former Zhu Ying Dynasty in central Bottle Gourd Continent, or Parasol Leaf Continent, or Northern Juzhou—the Great Li court will spare no effort to assist, helping the lineage of the Sage of Literature to spread its branches and leaves. Within the mountains and rivers of the three continents, the learning of the Sage of Literature's lineage will be exclusively honored, yet a hundred schools of thought will not be excluded. We strive that within a hundred years, including the Cliff Academy, Linlu Academy, Guanhu Academy, Yufu Academy, and Dafu Academy, at least ten academies across the three continents will erect inscribed steles at their mountain gates. Take the Sui Dynasty's Cliff Academy as an example: inscribe 'Exhortation to Learning.' Linlu Academy will erect a stele with 'Cultivating the Self.' Perhaps, one day, there will be a thirty-second academy with an inscribed stele."
The Righteous World had nine continents, and Confucianism had established seventy-two academies—that was a fixed rule.
As for the inscriptions at the academies' mountain gates, there were no constraints. Whether the gate had a stele and what content was inscribed depended solely on the preferences of the successive academy headmasters. But generally, it followed a rule of 'only increase, never decrease.' There was only one exception: after the conclusion of the 'Third and Fourth' dispute, the Sage of Literature's statue was removed from the Central Earth Confucian Temple and lost its status as an attendant sacrifice, leading to the removal of many academy stele inscriptions.
Chen Ping'an leaned back in his chair, grinning, and asked, "What do I need to do?"
Liu Qingfeng shook his head. "Young Master Chen only needs to serve as this mountain lord and headmaster, and to do so stably—that will be the fortune of Great Li and Bottle Gourd Continent."
Chen Ping'an smiled slightly. "This is a matter of great importance. I need to think it over carefully. The Sage's teachings advise thinking three times before acting. At any rate, one thing is guaranteed: I will never make things difficult for Mr. Liu or cause Minister Liu trouble in his official career."
"I would like to congratulate Luopo Mountain on advancing to a Righteous World sect, thriving and prospering, advancing smoothly step by step, reaching its zenith, and hovering high over the Righteous World."
Liu Qingfeng stood up, clasped his fists, and smiled. "I believe this day will surely come. But, as Old Guan would say, I'm already at the 'three no's' age—can't walk fast, can't bite meat, won't comb my hair. Most likely I won't live to see such a grand spectacle. A pity. Regardless, Young Master Chen has a proud disciple like Editor Cao, and I have such a half-student of my own. I must personally express my thanks and additionally extend my congratulations to Young Master Chen for the flourishing of your scholarly lineage."
Chen Ping'an returned the greeting with a clasped fist. "Cao Qinglang is the new top graduate of the imperial examination and also Mr. Liu's half-student in officialdom—a fortunate affair. I also need to congratulate the Great Li court on its gathering of literary talent."
In the provincial examination held in the Great Li auxiliary capital, because the territory still encompassed half the continent, several thousand examination candidates participated. Great Li, following its new laws, ranked the successful candidates into five classes. Ultimately, aside from the top three, fifteen were awarded the title of 'jinshi with honors' and the title of 'Mao Lin Lang' (Flourishing Forest Gentleman). There were over three hundred jinshi from the third and fourth classes, and several dozen from the fifth class who were also granted jinshi status. The chief examiner was none other than Liu Qingfeng. The two assistant examiners were the vice-headmasters of Cliff Academy and Guanhu Academy. According to examination regulations, Liu Qingfeng was the 'zuo shi' (master mentor) for this session of the imperial examinations, and all successful candidates were considered his students. Ever since the final palace examination, under the hundred-plus years of embroidered tiger Cui Chan serving as the state advisor, the Great Li emperor had always just gone through the motions according to the pre-selected list.
Zhao Yao, relatively less famous, was one of many examiners, responsible for grading in one of the examination rooms—one of over a dozen 'fang shi' (room examiners). Moreover, among Zhao Yao's successful students, the number of jinshi was the smallest compared to other examiners, with only two from the second class.
Zhuang Yuan was the top candidate (zhuangyuan), and Cao Qinglang was the second (bangyan).
The third place (tanhua) was Yang Shuang, the youngest among the eighteen, of exceptional grace and talent. If not for a fifteen-year-old child prodigy jinshi, the eighteen-year-old Yang Shuang would have been the youngest successful candidate in the entire examination. When Yang Shuang rode his horse to parade in the Great Li capital as the 'tanhua,' it caused a scene of deserted streets.
Among the fifteen second-class jinshi titled 'Mao Lin Lang,' Wang Qinruo had the best literary talent, praised as 'ethereal as an immortal, full of immortal language.' Also, two brothers, both surnamed Cheng, passed the examination together in the second class. Their reasoning was simple and unadorned, 'like a sage establishing words,' showing that the Great Li scholar-official circles had a very high opinion of the two brothers.
The top three, along with Wang Qinruo and the 'Two Chengs' as the three Mao Lin Langs—these six were now assisting the court academicians and literary leaders in the compilation, selection, and collation of the four major books in the Hanlin Academy.
The three of them walked out of the residence. Liu Qingfeng stopped at the gate, smiled, and said, "Let me have a few more idle words with Young Master Chen."
The old physician from the Sacrifice and Ritual Department nodded, took leave of Chen Ping'an first, and quickly walked away, exiting the alley.
Liu Qingfeng walked together with Chen Ping'an through the alley, and indeed, they engaged in idle chat, speaking of matters unrelated to the situation of a single state or half a continent. He said softly, "In a martial arts sect that practices with spears and staves, there must be a few disciples who are also skilled in writing and rhetoric. Otherwise, the master's profound fist techniques and the sect's brilliant martial legends would be buried. In the same way, for scholar-official circles, or on a larger scale, within Confucian orthodoxy, the same principle holds. Once the incense of the lineage fades and there are no successors, if you're not good at fighting with words, or if you lack the ability to propagate the master's great achievements, you will suffer greatly. As for what's true and false within it, or how much is true and how much false, it's similar to what I said earlier about that travelogue of mountains and waters. Common folk just watch for the spectacle. Life is full of worries; who has the leisure to dig for the truth? It's like in a neighboring alley, someone is wailing at a funeral, and passersby might even find those heart-wrenching cries just annoying and unlucky. On the street, a wedding procession, the sedan chair overturns; if the passersby see the bride is as beautiful as a flower, they're instead delighted—they got a free show. If the bride is plain and coarse, or if the groom falls off his horse in an ugly manner, delaying the wedding night, others will also be a bit happier. Whether the bride is beautiful or ugly, it actually has nothing to do with the passersby, but who cares about that?"
When the old man talked while sitting, it was fine, but when walking and speaking, Liu Qingfeng's breath was a bit unsteady, his steps slow.
Chen Ping'an had already reached out to support the old minister's arm, nodding and laughing. "I don't know when it will be that everyone in the world can afford to read, understand reason, and discern truth from falsehood."
Liu Qingfeng gave an 'eh' of surprise. "So it's not 'discern right from wrong'?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Knowing the truth and falsehood of worldly affairs will always be relatively difficult. As for whether there is right and wrong in one's heart, it has little to do with whether one reads books."
Liu Qingfeng nodded, then reminded him, "The more peaceful and prosperous the era, the more sycophantic scholars become, especially once they enter officialdom—it's all flowers and splendor. The ferocity of scholars, dipped in ink, hides very well. The better the brushwork, the longer it lasts. You must be extremely careful! If you were not the last disciple of the Sage of Literature's lineage, these would be external matters, of no concern to you. You would certify the Way to longevity, sever the mundane world, stamp your foot and shrug your shoulders—down the mountain, there are affairs; up the mountain, there are none. You are still you, light-hearted and carefree."
When he entered the door, he was a Minister of Rites from the Great Li auxiliary capital, who had weathered many a storm in officialdom, discussing official business with the mountain lord of Luopo Mountain.
When he walked out the door, he was just a scholar named Liu Qingfeng in his declining years, speaking of the ways of the world and human hearts with a like-minded traveler.
It was hard to tell whether Chen Ping'an, as the master of a sect, still retained the spirit of a scholar and had not yet endured enough hardship, not understanding the 'helplessness of going along with local customs.'
It was clear that he did understand going along with local customs without becoming vulgar. That was to read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles; the youth who once lived in poverty in a narrow alley had indeed returned from his travels with success.
Chen Ping'an said, "Mr. Liu, rest assured. Aside from Liu Qingshan and Liu Boqi, who are already friends, and the Lion Garden of the Liu clan's ancestral home in Qingluan Nation, as well as all the future seeds of learning, I will do my utmost to protect the people and things that ought to be protected."
Liu Qingfeng said helplessly, "I didn't mean that."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Coincidentally, I have that intention."
Liu Qingfeng was not the kind of pedantic person; he smiled knowingly, and took the goodwill to heart.
Liu Qingfeng was silent for a moment, standing with Chen Ping'an at the alley entrance. He asked, "Including those three recluses on Grey Haze Mountain, you always like to seek out trouble for yourself, expending time and effort—what are you after?"
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then joked, "When a heavy rain suddenly comes and the road is muddy, who doesn't get soaked like a drowned rat a few times?"
Liu Qingfeng nodded. "After the rain clears, in the sweltering summer, then there is also a bit of 'winter sun's loveliness.'"
A carriage was nearby, and the two exchanged farewell bows.
Liu Qingfeng had only taken a few steps when he suddenly stopped and turned around. "What about our honorable Minister?"
Chen Ping'an looked bewildered. "Who?"
Liu Qingfeng let out an 'mm' and said, as if suddenly recalling, "Old age is making me forgetful. The honorable Minister has already taken his leave."
The old man turned around again, then turned his head back with a smile. "The Hidden Officer of Sword Qi Great Wall—just how big of an official is that?"
Chen Ping'an replied, "The official position is not small, but the official authority is not great."
Chen Ping'an leaned against the alley wall, hands tucked into his sleeves, watching the old man board the carriage and slowly disappear into the night.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would have no further opportunity to meet Mr. Liu. With the mild nourishment of medicinal meals and the benefits of elixirs, they could at most slightly prolong the life of a mortal who had not cultivated the Way. Faced with the ultimate limits of life and death, there was ultimately no turning back. Moreover, the more properly one cultivated one's health in ordinary times, the more likely it was that when one's mind and body were exhausted and one became haggard and depleted, it would be like an unstoppable flood bursting a dam. If one then tried to forcibly extend one's life, even medicine would become three parts poison, and one could only exchange one's lifespan for a state akin to a 'final radiance.'
In the world, besides the fact that there is no medicine for regret, there are also no divine immortal elixirs that cure all ills.
Once Liu Qingfeng left, the vassal king Song Jixin in the auxiliary capital would probably breathe a sigh of relief, while the emperor in the capital would have a headache over the matter of a posthumous name—if it were too grand, it would be troublesome; if too mean, it would be shameful.
Dong Shuijing came to Chen Ping'an's side and asked, "Chen Ping'an, do you already know that I'm a credit-sword man?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "I don't know."
Dong Shuijing did not try to hide it. "Back then, it was Mr. Xu who went to the wonton stall on the mountain and found me, asking me to consider becoming a credit-sword man. After weighing the pros and cons, I accepted. I had walked barefoot for too many years and didn't want to wear only straw sandals for the rest of my life."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "You and me, who are we to each other? Don't give me that nonsense. It's still just that you felt you didn't have enough money to marry a wife, and you were afraid that Lin Shouyi, as a disciple of the academy and a mountain immortal, would get there first and steal a march on you. So you were dead set on making a fortune, saving up enough for a wife, so you'd have the confidence to go to Uncle Li's house and propose. If you ask me, you just have too thin a skin. If it were me, heh, Uncle and Auntie's water vat wouldn't be empty on any given day. If Li Huai went to Sui? I'd follow. If Uncle and Auntie went to Northern Juzhou, I'd just set off a little later and follow them again. Just pester them relentlessly."
Dong Shuijing almost choked on his frustration. It was only because it was Chen Ping'an—if it had been anyone else who brought up that sore point, they'd see what happens!
Dong Shuijing suddenly sized up this guy. "That's not right. According to what you're saying, and from what I heard from Li Huai, it seems that's exactly what you did, isn't it? Protecting Li Huai as he traveled far to study, building a good relationship with your future brother-in-law, working hard all the way without complaint, so that Li Huai ended up on the best terms with you alone. Crossing continents to visit as a guest, helping to attract customers at the shop at the foot of Lion Peak, earning praise from all the neighbors?"
Chen Ping'an laughed angrily. "How is my situation comparable to yours or Lin Shouyi's? If you like a woman, you should act. Hanging back and being stupid about it is just foolish."
Dong Shuijing sighed. "That's true, though. Back in the day, you said you were going to Sword Qi Great Wall, and you went."
That was what Dong Shuijing admired most about Chen Ping'an.
As a young man, he had traveled alone to Hanging Mountain with a sword on his back, heading to Sword Qi Great Wall, just to see the girl he loved. If he liked her, he had to let her know. If she liked him back, that was best. If she didn't, it seemed the young man wasn't afraid to know that himself.
Dong Shuijing couldn't do that, and neither could Lin Shouyi. So the two cowards ended up just drinking together in melancholy, putting up empty bluster.
Dong Shuijing suddenly said, "You could walk such a long road, unafraid of thousands of mountains and rivers. But Divine Embroidery Mountain is so close to Luopo Mountain. Why have you never gone there even once?"
Chen Ping'an was silent, not knowing whether it was because he had no words to respond, or because the answer in his heart was not suitable to speak.
On the road of life, there are some things—not just matters of love between men and women—that leave many regrets. Like a person who has been on Sword Qi Great Wall but has never been to Hanging Mountain.
Maybe he never wanted to go, maybe he wanted to go but couldn't. Who knows? In any case, he had never been.
---
Chen Ping'an concealed his figure and flew from the prefectural city back to Luopo Mountain on the wind.
In the archives room of the main mountain, Gathering Spirit Peak, which was the domain of the Law-Keeper Long-Life, Jiang Shangzhen and Cui Dongshan were here. They had already carefully examined the secret records of Sunny Sun Mountain and Pure Wind City—several dozen volumes, classified into nine major categories, covering the mountain-and-water genealogies of the two sect-level powers, their vassal forces, their overt and covert major sources of wealth, the cultivation realms and master backgrounds of the many guest retainers and offerings, the complex entanglements on the mountains, and the strength of their mutual enemies... On top of each secret record were detailed annotations and circled markings, with comments like "confirmed and correct," "doubtful, pending confirmation," "can be extended," and "must be thoroughly investigated" written in red.
Although Zhang Jiazhen was a little accountant from the Spring Treasury, in fact, the categorization of these archives and intelligence over the years had always been assisted by Zhang Jiazhen to the Law-Keeper Long-Life.
When she saw Chen Ping'an enter after knocking, Zhang Jiazhen said softly, "Mr. Chen."
It was a habit.
Just like those sword immortal seeds, when they saw Chen Ping'an, they still liked to call him "Master Cao." Chen Lingjun still liked to call him "Master."
Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. He walked over to the table and casually opened a book with the inscription "Sunny Sun Mountain Incense." He found the entry for the Great Li court and circled the name of the vassal king Song Mu, annotating beside it, "This person doesn't count; the vassal palace remains as is." Chen Ping'an then flipped out the book on the ancestral hall genealogy of Sunny Sun Mountain and heavily circled the name Tian Wan. He asked Long-Life for a separate sheet of paper and began to write. Jiang Shangzhen exclaimed in wonder, and Cui Dongshan repeatedly praised the calligraphy, saying "good words, good words." In the end, Chen Ping'an inserted that sheet of paper into the book, closed it, pressed down on it with his hand, stood up, and smiled. "That's the kind of person—even more low-key than our Luopo Mountain. In both doing things and being a person, she's quite senior. That's why I stirred up so much fuss and had the two of you scout the path. Whatever you do, don't let her escape. As for whether we scare the snake and alarm the grass, don't force it. If she sees the situation is bad and decisively flees, you can directly invite her to Luopo Mountain as a guest. Don't worry about the commotion. This Tian Wan's importance is no lighter than that of a Sunny Sun Mountain full of sword immortals."
Jiang Shangzhen said, "Han Yushu?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Highly likely."
Jiang Shangzhen rubbed his hands together, glowing with enthusiasm, and said, "Parasol Leaf Continent has one, Bottle Gourd Continent has one—so the mastermind from Northern Juzhou is hiding in that 'clean-sleeved, moneyless' Qionglin Sect, is he?"
Northern Juzhou was very familiar to Jiang Shangzhen; it was his second home. He had friends all over the continent. In Northern Juzhou, as long as he dropped Jiang Shangzhen's name, he could drink for free.
Cui Dongshan said softly, "Master, if we're going to use a knife, we have to be fast—fast enough that the opponent's throat is already cut before they even know it. Accurate, steady, ruthless. Just like you dealt with a Han Yushu at Taiping Mountain."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Liu Xianyang and I are in the open; the two of you are in the dark. The three continents are not very close to Central Earth Divine Continent, so that's enough. After all, there's only one Pei Min in terms of swordsmanship, and we've already encountered him."
There were indeed not many people who could require the three of them to join forces.
Cui Dongshan looked at Chief Jiang, smiling, "What if someone wants to imitate the half-reviving founder of your Jade Gui Sect and become a 'river-crossing dragon'?"
Jiang Shangzhen laughed, "Of course we have to fulfill our duties as hosts. Even if there is no river-crossing dragon, we can use Sister Tian Wan and myself as 'Han Yushu' to create an opportunity for the river-crossing dragon to visit Bottle Gourd Continent."
Chen Ping'an glanced at another stack of books, which were secret records concerning the Xu clan of Pure Wind City. He thought for a moment, but in the end did not turn the pages.
He was afraid that if he couldn't hold back, he would call Liu Xianyang and head straight for Pure Wind City. Compared to Sunny Sun Mountain, the grievances there were simpler and clearer.
So Chen Ping'an just pulled out a book recording the mountain-and-water genealogy of Sunny Sun Mountain and found the entry for the guardian offerings near the front.
Cui Dongshan lay on the table, sighing, "This mountain-moving patriarch has long been famous across the continent."
Jiang Shangzhen glanced at the true name of that mountain-moving ape: Yuan Zhenye. Among the mountain-moving ape lineage in the Righteous World, most were surnamed Yuan.
Jiang Shangzhen's expression was serious. "An existence that could force our mountain lord and Ning Yao to join forces against him—can he be overcome only by strategy, not by force?"
Zhang Jiazhen, who had personally screened the intelligence and recorded the secret archives, was greatly startled.
Had the Hidden Officer and Ning Yao once joined hands to withstand Yuan Zhenye? Had she missed some earth-shattering inside information? But on Luopo Mountain, from the Grand Steward Zhu Lian to the Law-Keeper Long-Life to Mountain Lord Wei, none of them had ever mentioned this secret affair!
Zhang Jiazhen stared fixedly at that page, her mind racing. This guardian offering of Sunny Sun Mountain, who had once protected Tao Zi on her journey to the Pearl Grotto Heaven, had accomplished two great feats.
He had nearly moved Cloudy Cloak Mountain back to Sunny Sun Mountain.
He had exchanged a few punches with the old vassal king Song Changjing in the Superintendent's Office, each stopping at the limit, ending in a draw.
Afterward, that Cloudy Cloak Mountain had been promoted to the Great Li New Northern Mountain, and eventually elevated to the Great Northern Mountain of the entire Bottle Gourd Continent.
As for Song Changjing, he had gone from a ninth-tier martial artist to the Threshold Realm, and finally, on the battlefield of the central river in the auxiliary capital, with half a continent's martial fortune condensed upon him, he had killed two immortals in the legendary eleventh-tier Martial God state.
Thus, the reputation of that mountain-moving ape had risen accordingly.
Zhang Jiazhen was very aware of these things. But according to her previous assessment, even if Yuan Zhenye's cultivation realm was counted at the Jade Pu Realm, at most, he would be equivalent to a Pure Wind City city lord like Xu Hun.
Chen Ping'an used two fingers to pinch the page, flipping forward and back, checking the contents. He did not look at Yuan Zhenye's cultivation hobbies or who he was close to. Instead, he repeatedly read through the dozens of major and minor entries of that mountain-moving ape's deeds, both on and off the mountain, over his thousand years as the guardian offering of Sunny Sun Mountain.
Zhang Jiazhen became increasingly uneasy and said softly, "Mr. Chen, it was my oversight. I shouldn't have been so careless in writing."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "This is careless? Back then, Ning Yao and I, what realms were we at? Fighting a guardian offering of Sunny Sun Mountain was naturally very strenuous; we had to go all out."
Jiang Shangzhen exclaimed, "Moving Cloudy Cloak Mountain, exchanging punches with Song Changjing, receiving a joint sword attack from Hidden Officer Chen and Ning Yao of Ascension City—one feat after another, each more terrifying than the last. All those years I wasted in Northern Juzhou, running around causing trouble with all my might, and I still couldn't match the wealth that Patriarch Yuan had accumulated in just a few days. If I were to travel through Central Earth Divine Continent, who wouldn't respect it? Who wouldn't fear it? It's truly infuriating to compare."
Chen Ping'an closed the book. "No need to be angry."
Cui Dongshan smiled slightly. "Because the mountain-moving patriarch isn't human."
Jiang Shangzhen nodded. "Then I am 'worse than a beast.'"
Zhang Jiazhen couldn't get a word in edgewise.
The Law-Keeper Long-Life smiled delightedly.
Chen Ping'an led Jiang Shangzhen and Cui Dongshan to the old shrine site on the mountain peak.
First, he had Cui Dongshan set up a mountain-and-water restriction of a golden thunder pool around the entire set of white jade balustrades at the peak.
Only then did Chen Ping'an take out from his 'cunzhi wu' (object of at-hand measure) a heavily restricted painting scroll. He gripped one end of the white jade roller with one hand and gently shook it open. The painting scroll unfurled. Chen Ping'an let go, gently raised his sleeves, and the painting scroll "rose," hovering in the air, slowly rotating.
Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen exchanged a glance, then smiled at each other, both suddenly enlightened.
Back then, at the Tian Gong Temple, when Chen Ping'an had challenged Pei Min to a sword duel.
Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen had both been puzzled, unable to figure out a crucial link: How had their master and mountain lord managed to withstand Pei Min's one or two full-force sword strikes? How had he protected the white jade hairpin—before Cui Dongshan could retrieve it—from being shattered by Pei Min? Even if the killing stroke failed, Pei Min could have shattered the hairpin and then killed Chen Ping'an.
Now, this painting scroll, which was very likely to become the protective great formation of Luopo Mountain, was the answer.
Hanging Mountain, Sword Respect Pavilion, Sword Immortal Painting Scroll.
These semi-sword-spirit sword immortal souls had once accompanied the young Hidden Officer in guarding half of Sword Qi Great Wall.
Chen Pin'an selected three sticks of incense and handed one each to Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen.
Chen Ping'an bowed respectfully and silently recited, "Passing Hanging Mountain, sword arrives in the Righteous World."
Then Jiang Shangzhen and Cui Dongshan left Luopo Mountain together to scout the path.
Whether it was Jiang Shangzhen or Cui Dongshan, either one alone was already reliable enough to be reassuring. With the two together, Chen Ping'an didn't even know how to write the word "worry."
Chen Ping'an walked to the bamboo building, took out a jug of wine, and hesitated slightly.
Zhu Lian came to sit by the stone table at the cliff's edge and asked softly, "Does the young master have something on your mind?"
Chen Ping'an had been intending to speak to the old cook about this matter. So he told Zhu Lian about the mental scenery that Pei Qian had seen in her youth, and also about the Five Dreams and Seven Mind-Phases of Lu Chen, the Third Teachings of White Jade Capital.
Respectively: Dreaming of the Confucian teacher Zheng Huan; dreaming a dream upon a skull and then dreaming again; dreaming of a catalpa tree alive; dreaming of a sacred turtle dead; dreaming of turning into a butterfly, not knowing who was who.
Beyond the Five Dreams, there were the Seven Phases: Wooden Rooster, Toon Tree, Mole Rat, Kunpeng, Siskin, Yuanchu Bird, and Butterfly.
And of course, the lotus crown from Ding Ying in the blessed land.
Zhu Lian clasped his fists and smiled, "First, I thank the young master for treating me with sincerity."
Then the two fell into silence.
Chen Ping'an turned his head and found Zhu Lian looking perfectly at ease, leaning against the stone table, gazing into the distance beyond the cliff, a hint of a smile on his face, and even a kind of... release. It was as if he had finally woken from a long dream, or like a weary person who had been unable to sleep soundly for a long time, finally falling into sweet slumber, half-awake, half-asleep. The whole person was in an ineffable state. This was definitely not the state of a pure martial artist, but more like that of a Daoist cultivator who had attested the Way and come to know.
Wei Bo sensed it and immediately appeared on Luopo Mountain, but did not dare approach the stone table; he merely stood under the eaves of the bamboo building.
Chen Lingjun and Zhou Mili, returning from their mountain patrol, swaggered along the path. Wei Bo raised a finger to his lips, signaling them not to speak.
Zhu Lian turned his head and looked at Chen Ping'an. "If it were all a great dream, and Lu Chen became aware first, and I helped Lu Chen advance to the fifteenth realm—what would you do, young master?"
Chen Ping'an did not hesitate. "What to do? Simple: Zhu Lian must still be Zhu Lian. Don't fall asleep; you must wake up. Beyond that, I will take up my sword and travel far, challenging White Jade Capital."
Zhu Lian stood up. Chen Ping'an also stood up, reaching out to grasp the old cook's arm. "It's settled."
Zhu Lian smiled and nodded. "I finally know where the dream lies. Now I have a target. Solving the dream isn't hard. Half the answer has already been there."
Chen Ping'an said, "My elder brother, the Embroidered Tiger, and my student Dongshan."
When Lu Chen had returned to his homeland, the Righteous World, and set up a fortune-telling stall in Pearl Grotto Heaven for many years, it was highly possible that he had also engaged in a bit of 'convenient' observation of the Way, waiting for the separation of Cui Chan and Cui Dongshan's souls, and the subsequent creation of the porcelain figure Cui Dongshan. All of it belonged to the principle of 'stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade.'
Zhu Lian noticed that Chen Ping'an was still gripping his arm and laughed, "Young master, I'm not a beautiful woman. Don't be like this—if word gets out, it will cause misunderstandings."
Wei Bo sighed in relief and was about to speak when he saw Zhu Lian turn his head with a cheerful grin and cast a glance his way. Wei Bo had no choice but to swallow his words.
Chen Ping'an released his grip and laughed, "Do you really think I'm that foolish? That year at the border pass plank road, Shi Rou's attitude toward you changed so dramatically. She must have seen something. With her temperament, it wasn't something you said to her that enlightened her. I just think everyone has their own secrets. I deliberately didn't ask, and pretended not to know."
Zhu Lian stretched out a finger and rubbed his temple, asking tentatively, "Young master, should I show my true face from now on?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Why not? Our Luopo Mountain is already a sect; a little thing like this doesn't matter."
So Zhu Lian, with his back to the bamboo building, peeled off two layers of skin masks to reveal his true appearance.
Martial Madman. Noble Son. Banished Immortal.
Chen Ping'an was very familiar with these sayings from the martial world of Lotus Flower Paradise. But exactly what kind of 'noble son' or 'banished immortal,' exactly what kind of immortal grace and bearing, Chen Ping'an had thought it would at most be something like Lu Tai, Cui Dongshan, or Wei Bo.
So at this moment, Chen Ping'an felt as if struck by lightning. He stood dumbfounded for a long time, then turned his head to glance at a delighted Wei Bo, and then looked back at Zhu Lian, who still had a stooped figure. Chen Ping'an grimaced and finally gave an awkward smile. He even unconsciously took two steps back, as if only by keeping some distance from Zhu Lian's face could he feel at ease. He lowered his voice and persuaded, "Zhu Lian, why don't you just stay as the old cook? This kind of 'flowers in a mirror, moon in the water' trick, if you use it to make money, it'll cheat your conscience, and its reputation isn't too good."
"Indeed, the shadiest trick in the world is to rely on one's face to make a living."
Zhu Lian nodded, his voice warm and mellow, very unfamiliar. Then he smiled and re-covered his face with the two masks: one was the shopkeeper Yan Fang's, the other was the old cook's.
Chen Ping'an reminded, "Voice, don't forget the voice."
Zhu Lian smiled. "Got it."
Finally, his face and voice had become that of the familiar old cook.
Chen Ping'an felt relieved, but added, "If Luopo Mountain ever truly runs short of money, let's talk about it then."
The 'flowers in a mirror, moon in the water' of Luopo Mountain was indeed worth looking forward to.
Zhu Lian.
Jiang Shangzhen, Mi Yu, Wei Bo, Cui Dongshan.
Among the guest retainers, there was Liu Zhiqing. Later, they could add Lin Junbi...
Among the younger generation, there were Chen Li, Bai Xuan...
A wealth of talent, with absolutely no worry about a gap between generations.
The two sat down. Chen Ping'an took out two jugs of glutinous rice wine and waved at Wei Bo.
Chen Lingjun stuck close to Wei Bo, calling him 'Brother Wei' every other word, as warm as a freshly served side dish.
His attitude toward the Northern Mountain Lord had been wavering back and forth ever since Chen Lingjun arrived at Luopo Mountain, with a clear dividing line: when the mountain lord was away on his travels and there was no backing at home, Chen Lingjun was more polite to the Northern Mountain Lord; when the master was on Luopo Mountain, Chen Lingjun was less formal with Brother Wei.
Cultivators who climb the mountains generally remember a beating but forget the meal, but Master Jing Qing was the opposite—he only remembered the meal and forgot the beating.
A limping child walked over to the stone table, his face bruised and swollen, and for the first time, he was not walking with his hands behind his back.
Bai Xuan covered his face with one hand and mumbled, "Master Hidden Officer, I still want to practice boxing, but can we not have Pei Qian teach me? She's not fair—her practice isn't suppressing realms!"
Chen Lingjun lowered his head, struggling to suppress his laughter.
Zhou Mili scratched her cheek, stood up to make room for the taller Bai Xuan, and asked softly, "How many realms did you let Pei Qian suppress?"
Bai Xuan said angrily, "I gave her the benefit of the doubt and counted her as Golden Body Realm. We agreed beforehand that she would suppress four realms, but she just had to be polite with me and said she'd suppress five realms instead."
Bai Xuan quickly looked back at the path near the bamboo building. There was no sign of Pei Qian. Only then did he continue, "But she punched so fiercely and unreasonably that I couldn't even see how she threw the punches. I was floating and flying through the air like a flying sword, taking several hits. By the time I finally landed, the sole of Pei Qian's foot was already in front of my eyes. When I came to, Pei Qian was crouching to the side, saying she had withdrawn her foot at the last moment; otherwise, if the tip of her foot had hit my heart, I'd be eating and vomiting blood, or else I'd be... walking the post in my sleep."
Bai Xuan grimaced, rubbing his swollen, bun-like cheek, and whined, "Master Hidden Officer, how did you even take on such a disciple? Pei Qian is a liar. There's no such thing as training like that in this world. She doesn't show any fellow-disciple camaraderie at all. It's like I'm her archenemy."
Chen Ping'an looked somewhat pained, then said softly, "You fool. Next time you ask for a sparring match, ask if she can suppress six realms. As long as she agrees, it won't matter what happens next—I won't be partial."
Bai Xuan's eyes darted as he tentatively asked, "Can I ask for seven realms?"
Chen Ping'an frowned slightly, as if a bit disdainful. "Ask her yourself. I don't interfere."
Bai Xuan swayed as he stood up and stumbled toward the path. When he reached a secluded spot, he immediately started running to find Pei Qian. He would say that Master Chen Ping'an told you to suppress seven realms. Haha, this young master has never harbored a grudge overnight.
About the time it takes to burn one stick of incense later, Bai Xuan trudged back to the stone table, both sides of his face swollen beyond recognition. This time, his slurred speech was genuine, not feigned. He said weakly, "I'm not practicing boxing anymore, Master Cao. I'm going back to Sword Worship Platform. Can Lord Wei give me a ride? I've observed the celestial phenomena tonight; it's not suitable for sword flight today."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "It's not good to stop halfway through practicing. I'll have someone else teach you from now on."
Bai Xuan sat down in the spot that Xiaomili had vacated, pressed his face against the stone table, and winced at the sting of contact. After a moment of silence, he said, "Fine, I'll keep practicing boxing. And Pei Qian it is. One day, I'll make her know what a true martial arts prodigy is."
Bai Xuan remembered something and asked listlessly, "Master Hidden Officer, what realm is Pei Qian, really? She says that hundreds, even thousands of Pei Qians can't beat a single one of her masters."
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Did you really believe that?"
Bai Xuan stood up. "I'm going to ask for a match!"
Chen Lingjun's eyes went wide, looking at him with newfound respect. On Luopo Mountain, there was actually a hero who could rival himself?!
Bai Xuan limped away.
On the path, he encountered Pei Qian.
"Sister Pei, Sister Pei."
Bai Xuan swayed as he walked forward quickly, then sidled to the edge of the path and began to edge his way past: "It's getting late. Your master told me to get some good rest. See you later, see you later."
When he brushed past Pei Qian, Bai Xuan took a breath and sprinted away with his head down. When he came to his senses, he was already at the stone steps. He didn't dare turn around and go back to his quarters, so he climbed the steps all the way up and finally sat at the peak, rubbing his face.
Cen Yuanji, after completing her 'walking the post' routine and reaching the summit, found Bai Xuan sitting there, feeling that his illustrious reputation was ruined. The young master hadn't even had the chance to go down the mountain like the Hidden Officer and wreak havoc in all directions.
Cen Yuanji sat down to rest, hesitated for a moment, and asked softly, "Bai Xuan, what's going on?"
Logically, no one on Luopo Mountain should be bullying Bai Xuan.
Bai Xuan said gloomily, "I sleepwalked in the middle of the night and took a fall."
Cen Yuanji stood up gloomily and continued down the mountain via the post path.
Zhu Lian and Wei Bo, together under the moonlight, went to the courtyard to play a game of go. Both missed Brother Dafeng very much.
By the cliff outside the bamboo building, Nuan Shu took a trip to Lotus Flower Paradise and then returned.
So the final row of people sat by the cliff: Chen Ping'an, the little lotus person on his head, Pei Qian, Nuan Shu, Xiaomili, and Jing Qing.
---
At Ox Horn Mountain Ferry, Chen Ping'an took Pei Qian and Xiaomili to board the Skeleton Beach ferry boat, heading north to Northern Juzhou. It was a quick trip there and back.
The general route was: Hemp Cloak Sect, Ghost Face Valley, Spring Dew Garden, Crawling Ground Peak, Taihui Sword Sect, Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, and finally returning to Skeleton Beach, crossing continents back home.
On the sea, the northbound Hemp Cloak Sect ferry suddenly received a flying sword transmission for help: a southbound Northern Juzhou ferry had encountered the legendary night-traveling ferry, was unable to avoid it, and was about to crash into a secret realm.
Chen Ping'an had originally planned to let Pei Qian continue escorting Xiaomili to the Hemp Cloak Sect first and wait for him there. But he changed his mind and decided to take them along.
They quietly left the ferry. Chen Ping'an had Pei Qian take Xiaomili and fly slowly over the sea, while he himself flew on his sword to a higher altitude for a wider view, overlooking the world below. At the same time, he could keep an eye on Pei Qian and Xiaomili as they journeyed south in search of that strange ferry's trail.
One night, Chen Ping'an descended on his sword to the sea, sheathed his sword, and led Pei Qian and Xiaomili to a certain spot. After a moment, Chen Ping'an frowned slightly, and Pei Qian squinted, also frowning.
A ferry boat as huge as a mountain passed right by them on the sea.
Pei Qian said in confusion, "Master, this is strange. It's not an illusionary technique, nor a mirage, and there's not a single ripple of spiritual energy."
Zhou Mili put her hands on her chest, furrowed her sparse, slightly yellow eyebrows, and nodded vigorously: "There's a tiny bit of strangeness, indeed."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then summoned a talisman boat. Sure enough, that elusive, hard-to-intercept night-traveling ferry suddenly emerged from the sea, leaping out of the water. The talisman boat seemed to have run aground and appeared at the gate of a huge city. Pei Qian concentrated her energy and looked up. Atop the city wall, a flash of gold appeared and disappeared, like a hanging plaque, indistinct. Pei Qian said softly, "Master, it seems to be a place called 'Entry Clause City.'"
"Entry Clause City? Never heard of it."
Chen Ping'an smiled, then communicated telepathically with Pei Qian and Xiaomili: "Remember one thing: after entering the city, don't speak. Especially, don't answer anyone's questions."
There was no city prohibition. But when Chen Ping'an and the others entered the city, the view opened up. As far as the eye could see, there were bustling crowds, a constant stream of traffic, and a noisy excitement like a flourishing capital.
Chen Ping'an turned to look. Pei Qian held a mountain-walking staff and carried a basket on her back. Inside the basket stood Xiaomili, carrying a golden carrying pole on her shoulder. Chen Ping'an reached out and patted Pei Qian's head, then patted Xiaomili's head, smiling, "Forget about that rule. Ask and answer freely. The sky is big, the earth is vast. We shall act as we please."