Chapter 771: Farewell to the Jianghu
That young woman saw that the foreign traveler in blue seemed somewhat moved and was about to follow the youth to another city, so she immediately rebuked him angrily: "Don't you know the principle of first come, first served?"
Unexpectedly, the youth had a hot temper. He cursed directly: "Qin Zidu, you cunning wench! How dare you speak to me like that? Hurry up and slap yourself three times!"
The young woman, whose full name had been called out, was stunned. Being publicly scolded as a cunning wench, perhaps due to fear of the other party's status, she did not retort. Instead, she lowered her eyelids, looking as if she was about to cry, and took out an embroidered handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes.
The youth was smug and continued to persuade Chen Ping'an to follow him out of Tiaomu City: "Mr. Chen, that pile of powder and paint is too cloying, not elegant enough. My city lord knows you have never liked this kind of twittering and fluttering, those mad bees and wanton butterflies, with fragrant breezes like sword inquiries—what kind of decency is that? So, Mr. Chen, you should quickly follow me away. My city lord has already prepared a banquet to welcome you and wash away the dust of travel, and has additionally prepared a heavy gift as compensation for completing the seal impressions."
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "You should not have spoken of Miss Biyu in that way."
The reason he had not immediately accepted the youth's invitation was that Chen Ping'an still wanted to wander around Tiaomu City a bit more, and he also needed to thank the bearded man. Furthermore, there was that man in the weapons shop who, earlier as he stood at the door, seemed to have been paying attention to the sword "Night Roam" on Chen Ping'an's back. And because of local delicacies like Tongling ginger and Tangshan lotus root, Chen Ping'an actually had some guesses about the shopkeeper's identity. He was most likely the Mr. Five Pines whom Bai Ye had encountered when he entered the mountains to seek immortals in his early years. So Chen Ping'an planned to go and ask this Scholar Du for a painting of a water buffalo. Whether he succeeded or not, he would talk first. Everything is difficult at the start, but once a thread is picked up from a vein, it becomes much easier.
When the youth heard Chen Ping'an address Qin Zidu as "Biyu," revealing her childhood name at a single word, he was obviously somewhat surprised. Then he laughed heartily and said: "I never expected that Mr. Chen already knew the background of this lowly wench. That being the case, Mr. Chen must have surely read 'Red Radiance Pavilion Records,' 'Rouge Records,' and that 'Salacious Collection.' Young sword immortals are mostly people of passion and temperament, indeed fellow travelers in the Way. No wonder my city lord regards you with special esteem and favors you alone. That Li Shilang clearly misjudged Mr. Chen, mistaking you for one of those rigid and pedantic types."
Chen Ping'an immediately smiled and explained: "I dare not accept such praise. I merely happened to hear someone mention it. In truth, I have not read any of those three books."
When the youth mentioned the last book, Chen Ping'an instantly formed a sword finger seal, simultaneously using sword aura and wind to dissipate and scatter the youth's voice, lest Pei Qian and Zhou Mili overhear. That old chef's random book buying was truly a harmful thing.
Since Feng Jun and the fortune-telling stall had both disappeared, and Shao Baojuan had also left, Pei Qian had Zhou Mili stay in the bamboo basket. She put away her long staff, took up her mountain-traveling staff, and picked up the basket again, standing quietly beside Chen Ping'an. Pei Qian's gaze lingered more on the young woman named Qin Zidu. Before leaving home, this girl must have spent considerable effort. She wore a purple dress, adorned her hair bun with a purple flower, tied a small purple sachet on her belt embroidered with the words "Rouge Divine Mansion." Her makeup was especially exquisite: gold leaf appliqués, faint yellow sandalwood and musk, her face radiant and glossy. Unusually, she had also applied white makeup on both temples, making her originally slightly round face appear longer.
Pei Qian watched with wide eyes. If this young woman put on similar makeup every time she went out, how much time must she spend in her own room beforehand? Wasn't it too much trouble?
Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment. He did not stop them or warn the youth to be careful. Instead, he instantly moved a few steps away from the reckless youth to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Sure enough, the young woman abruptly raised her head, quickly stepped forward, grabbed the youth's ear with one hand, and yanked hard. The youth cried out in pain and tilted his head. With her other hand, she scratched fiercely at his face, cursing him all the while: "Call me a lowly wench! Call me a cunning wench!" The youth, unwilling to suffer a loss and knowing nothing about being gentle with a lady, reached out and grabbed the young woman by the hair. The two, who looked like a golden boy and jade girl of the same age, soon locked together, twisting and wrestling, even using elbow strikes and knee strikes. It was a chaotic mess.
Zhou Mili was amazed by this scene. These locals were all so fierce, with bad tempers. At the slightest disagreement, they would grab faces and scratch.
Pei Qian looked at her master. Chen Ping'an gently shook his head, indicating she should not try to break it up. The struggling pair seemed to fight from the sky to the ground, falling together. Finally, the youth kicked the young woman in the face, and she retaliated by kicking him in the chest and groin with both feet. Both slid backward. Fortunately, neither seemed skilled in martial arts, so no major commotion occurred. The young woman staggered to her feet, brushing off the dust. The youth, covering his face with one hand and pressing his chest with the other, grimaced and wobbled up, then had to bend over.
Pei Qian saw the young woman plucking and redrawing her eyebrows. The kick from the youth had taken off one of her painted eyebrows. Her once peach-blossom-like delicate makeup was now a complete mess, her face all smeared. The purple flower in her hair had been crushed by the youth and scattered on the ground. Now she stood in the street looking somewhat ridiculous.
As for the small embroidered sachet with "Rouge Divine Mansion," the knot had come undone during the struggle, and a bronze-green golden beetle the size of an elm seed had escaped. The youth, seeing his chance when he stood up, had stealthily stepped on it with his boot. The young woman, whose childhood name was Biyu, soon discovered she had lost her green golden cicada, which she used to cultivate powder and charm. She became agitated, pointing at the youth and threatening: "Long Bin! Return my green golden cicada!"
Chen Ping'an sighed. It seemed an opportunity had slipped past him.
Back on Tongye Continent at Taiping Mountain, the offering scholar of the Yu clan, a cultivator named Dai Yuan, had once given Chen Ping'an a gift of apology—an ink stick called "Moonlight Pine Taoist Ink." But Chen Ping'an had passed it on to someone else. It was said that under the moonlight, a small Taoist figure the size of a fly would appear on that ink stick, calling himself the Black Pine Messenger and the Ink Essence Subject. Later, when Chen Ping'an asked Cui Dongshan, he learned that this small Taoist, an ancient ink stick that had become a spirit, seemed to be called "Long Bin." The place where he attained the Way was not that particular ink stick; he had just been traveling there at the time. Because he liked to use rare ancient ink sticks in the world as his "immortal ferry ports," he wandered unpredictably, his tracks elusive. Unless fate brought him, even immortals who obtained the ink would find it hard to trace him. He belonged to the category of the manifestation of the Great Way, condensing literary fortune, similar to the path of incense-burning little people or "grasshopper" silver worms. Each ink stick that Long Bin had stayed at as a "ferry port" contained literary aura. Even Cui Dongshan had felt some regret at the time, and Chen Ping'an, of course, was even more pained, because if he could have given this item to Little Warm Tree, it would have been perfect.
On the ferryboat, opportunities were everywhere, but so were traps.
"Such junk, who wants it? I'll graciously give it to you," the youth sneered. He lifted his foot, used his toe to flick the green golden cicada, and kicked it toward the young woman. She caught it with both hands, carefully placed it back into the sachet, and tightened the knot.
The young woman asked: "What does the sword immortal say? Will he write the chapter 'Human Nature is Evil' without a single mistake and be politely escorted out, or from today on, will he regard Tiaomu City as an enemy?"
Chen Ping'an said to her: "I don't want to write anything. I just hope to wander around here for a few days. If your city lord wants to expel me, he can. Li Shilang is uninhibited; it's fine if he sees me as an enemy, but I do not see Tiaomu City that way."
The young woman frowned and said: "An unwelcome guest forcing entry, not knowing what's good for you, annoying and troublesome."
She suddenly smiled: "Young and energetic, but at least a sword immortal with a generous heart."
As if receiving a command, she made a gesture of listening intently, then said: "The deputy city lord has just learned of the sword immortal's arrival. He wants me to tell you: feel free to tour Tiaomu City without worry, but only for three days. After three days, if you cannot find a way to leave for another city, don't blame Tiaomu City for following its usual procedures."
The youth was about to speak, but she stamped her foot and snapped: "Long Bin! This is the decision of my city lord and deputy city lord. I advise you not to meddle! If you cause enmity between the two cities, watch out—you might not even keep your remaining title of 'Chancellor of the Secretariat.'"
Chen Ping'an, not wanting the youth beside him to be troubled, smiled and said: "Let's meet here four days from now."
The youth nodded in agreement, but the scratch marks on his face were still clearly visible. Grumbling angrily, he sneered at Qin Zidu, who was from the Rouge Divine Mansion: "Just wait. One day, I'll gather a great army and march straight to your Rouge Cave and White Bone Grave."
A woman in alluring makeup adding fragrance and grinding ink with her delicate hands was undoubtedly a refined literary affair. But for this man, who held the official titles of Pine Smoke Guardian and Dark Fragrance Governor, it was indeed a conflict of the Great Way.
Qin Zidu spat: "Big talk! Shameful! Shameless thing!"
The youth couldn't be bothered to argue with this short-sighted woman. He was about to leave Tiaomu City when Chen Ping'an suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, smiling: "I forgot to ask the Chancellor what city you are from. If four days later, the Chancellor happens to be caught up with something, I can take the initiative to visit."
The youth groaned in pain: "Ouch ouch ouch! If you want to talk, just talk, Mr. Chen! Why are you pulling me?"
Chen Ping'an replied honestly with a smile: "Just to absorb a bit of literary aura."
The youth glanced down at his sleeve. Where the sword immortal had grasped his arm, five colors shimmered, like rivers flowing into the sea, gradually condensing. With a woeful expression, he said: "My family assets are already meager enough. And now Mr. Chen has extracted a share from me. With my bleak situation, it's like Wang the Second celebrating New Year—each year worse than the last!"
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "After I leave this ferryboat, I will send my gratitude to the Chancellor from afar."
The youth's eyes lit up, and he no longer restrained the miraculous phenomenon on his sleeve. "Really?!"
But before the youth and Chen Ping'an could discuss further, the youth stumbled backward, his form fading away as he went to another city. He could only hastily say one sentence to Chen Ping'an, which sounded like a prophecy: "Cocks crow in heaven, dogs bark among the clouds."
Dog-and-Cock City? Was that name too crude? Wouldn't "Attainment City" sound better? Probably the name was too grand and inappropriate?
Chen Ping'an shook his sleeve. A speck of five-colored light condensed at the tip of his right finger, dense with literary aura, like a flower blooming at his fingertip. He eventually tucked it into his sleeve.
Qin Zidu paid no attention to this. In Tiaomu City, passersby each relied on their own abilities to gain opportunities; there was nothing strange about it. But she looked at Pei Qian, with her smooth forehead and coiled bun, with a complicated expression. Finally, unable to restrain herself, she advised: "Little girl, a scholar dies for one who knows him, a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her. If you would just take some trouble to tidy yourself up, you would be a woman of no small beauty. How can you be so careless and sloppy? Look at this sword immortal—since he even knows my childhood name, he's clearly someone well-versed in boudoir matters. Doesn't he teach you? Don't you resent him?"
Pei Qian, who always dressed practically when traveling, with no makeup and a simple bun, said expressionlessly: "No need. Being neat is fine, it doesn't get in the way."
Qin Zidu spoke with heartfelt pain: "Doesn't get in the way? How does it not get in the way? Everyone has a love of beauty! Isn't it only natural for a woman to enhance her appearance?"
Pei Qian looked at the young woman whose makeup was now a tragic mess, suppressed a smile, shook her head, and said nothing more.
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "The ancients said that the pure and refined qi of heaven and earth is concentrated in women's chambers. When women of the world have leisure, they should indeed wear light makeup. Miss Biyu just said that a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her. Since heaven and earth are the greatest scholar, then as long as a woman's makeup, whether heavy or light, is appropriate, it is most fitting."
Half of those words were Chen Ping'an's true feelings. If Pei Qian herself wanted to deal with rouge and powder, as long as it wasn't the heavy, gaudy style, light makeup was fine. At Pei Qian's age—no longer the little charcoal girl she once was—it was indeed time for her to properly adorn herself. But if Pei Qian didn't want to and preferred a bare face, that was also fine. As for the other half, those were of course polite words from Chen Ping'an to this Miss Qin, the so-called "Lady of the Rouge Divine Mansion" from the books.
Qin Zidu was astonished. She no longer had the arrogant and aloof demeanor of their first meeting. She curtsied to Chen Ping'an and, for the first time, used a different form of address. With a beaming smile, she said: "Mr. Chen's words are both appropriate and heartfelt, making one forget worldly matters. I wish Mr. Chen great success and attainment in the next three days."
Chen Ping'an clasped his hands and thanked her.
Qin Zidu asked: "Does Mr. Chen happen to carry rouge and powder with him?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head: "No."
Clearly, another opportunity had been missed.
She smiled and nodded, also expressing slight regret. Then her form grew blurry, eventually transforming into a riot of colors. For a moment, the entire street was filled with fragrant scents. The rainbow colors rose like an immortal ascending, then scattered in all directions, leaving no trace for Chen Ping'an to follow.
Chen Ping'an laughed and said: "Four days from now, in another place, we might be able to eat some stinky tofu."
Pei Qian smiled knowingly, feeling a bit of anticipation. Things like powder and makeup were too cumbersome; Pei Qian only felt they would hinder her punches, so she truly wasn't interested. However, her sister Shi Rou on Qilong Alley really liked such things. She wondered if she would have a chance to bring some back from Tiaomu City within three days.
Zhou Mili, standing inside the bamboo basket, heard about the stinky tofu and immediately became hungry. She quickly wiped her mouth. She hadn't understood anything, hadn't remembered anything, but that stinky tofu made the little girl in black crave it and think about it constantly.
Chen Ping'an moved a few steps, crouched down beside the cotton cloth stall, and shifted his gaze as he picked out desirable items. Finally, he selected a palm-sized miniature bow. He asked the bearded man who commanded a hundred thousand armored soldiers: "How much for this bow?"
The small gilded water vat that had been on the stall earlier had already been taken by Shao Baojuan in response to the Green Ox Taoist's question.
What remained on the cotton cloth now were a small bundle of withered plum branches, a small porcelain pot for narcissus, a rolled-up scroll with a small label attached that read in elegant script: "Teaching the women of the world how to dress and make up," an iron flower vase shaped like three monkeys scooping for the moon, and a piece of ebony paperweight inscribed with: "Unwilling to drift with the wind, silently profound. The great man rectifies himself, calms with stillness." The signature read "Shuye."
Finally, there was that small bow placed in the corner. It was simple in design, exquisitely miniature, like a toy for children. The inscription was subtle and hard to discern: "Cloud Dream Long Pine."
The bearded man saw this person picking and choosing, only to settle on this small bow. With a helpless expression, he shook his head and said: "I can sell it, but it's not easy for you to buy, sir. You must first gather a few books—at least three—and show them to me. Then you can use one of those books in exchange. As for the rest, I won't say more."
Chen Ping'an nodded. He had an idea. He turned his gaze to the scroll and asked: "How about this painting? Is it also a trade?"
The bearded man smiled and nodded: "You are clever, sir. My stall's transactions are indeed barter. But the items I need are not within Tiaomu City. The journey is long, and the place is heavily guarded. If you are still determined, sir, go to a certain place on the northern slopes of Mount Li, where there is a cliff inscription of Tianbao relics. If you can enter that Cool and Clear World, find the Green Jade Pool, and retrieve a beautiful divine statue, you can then exchange it for this scroll. At that time, a blessing will naturally come to seek you out, sir."
Chen Ping'an asked: "So, this painting and the Cool and Clear World of the Tianbao relics are both illusory items, and the next blessing is the real one?"
From what he had seen and heard in Tiaomu City today, aside from Shao Baojuan and Shen Jiaokan, although all were living immortals, they were still ranked by their degree of "self-knowledge." Characters like this bearded man, the Green Ox Taoist from earlier, and the Scholar Du in the nearby weapons shop who missed his hometown's Tongling ginger and Chuzhou sour plum soup—these were more "lively and vivid," and their actions were consequently more "uninhibited."
The bearded man grinned and replied, not answering the question: "If you are ruthless enough, sir, and skilled enough in seeking immortals and exploring mysteries, you could move all those jade statues of concubines and palace maids out of the Cool and Clear World. Then you would indeed be blessed with no small fortune."
Pei Qian suddenly used sound condensation to speak privately: "Master, I think I've read about this in a book. If the record is true, that northern slope of Mount Li is easy to find, but the Tianbao cliff inscription is hard to locate. However, we just need to find a local woodcutter or shepherd boy, and they can guide us. If someone writes the two characters 'Escape Heat,' the cave gate will open by itself. It's said there's a bath inside, with green jade carved into the pool water, shimmering like flowing water. But the jade figures inside the cave are too... sensual and alluring. Master can go in alone, and I'll wait outside with Zhou Mili."
Chen Ping'an laughed in exasperation: "You even know about this? Which miscellaneous book did you read that in?"
Pei Qian blinked and said: "Sister Zaixi told me. Back on Golden Armor Continent, after every battle, she loved to tell me these strange tales and legends. I just casually listened. At the time, I asked Sister Zaixi how big the pool was, and how many spirit coins so much green jade could sell for. She even scolded me for being a money-grubber."
When the bearded man saw Chen Ping'an staring at the ebony paperweight again, he offered proactively: "Bring me a complete zither score to exchange."
Chen Ping'an understood in his heart—it must be the "Guangling Stopping Breath" score. He clasped his hands and said: "Thank you, elder, for your earlier chat with Feng Jun. This junior will go find the books in the city now."
The bearded man merely nodded in acknowledgment and smiled: "You've taken on a good disciple."
Chen Ping'an left the stall with Pei Qian and Zhou Mili. He first went to the weapons shop. The shopkeeper was sitting behind the counter, munching on raw lotus root with white ginger. When he saw Chen Ping'an return, he was neither surprised nor did he ask any questions.
Chen Ping'an made a deep bow and said: "I pay my respects to Mr. Five Pines."
The man asked: "Do you hold any official title or scholarly honor?"
Chen Ping'an rose and respectfully replied: "This junior holds no examination degree, but I have a student who is a second-place scholar."
The man showed a hint of a smile and took the initiative to ask: "Do you want that 'Flower Fragrance Post' whose content was just completed by City Lord Shao?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head: "The Flower Fragrance Post—Mr. Five Pines must have a use for it. This junior only wishes to shamelessly ask for a painting of a water buffalo."
The man was slightly surprised: "When making a living on the ferryboat, rules are rules. There can be no exceptions. Since you know I am Scholar Du and that I can paint, and you know the saying 'The master's writings are marvels of the world, Five Pines' new works are praised universally'—what does 'new writing' mean? You probably understand? Well, this might be a bit difficult for you. Just name any poem I have written in my lifetime. Since you, young man, were able to obtain a fragment of the Taibai Immortal Sword from Bai Ye, I believe it shouldn't be hard for you to know this."
Chen Ping'an looked embarrassed.
The Taibai sword tip was something he had inexplicably obtained on the Sword Qi Great Wall. As for this Mr. Five Pines, who could exchange poems with Bai Ye, Chen Ping'an only knew his name and a rough outline of his life story. He didn't know a single line of any poem he had written. In fact, the reason Chen Ping'an knew of Mr. Five Pines was mainly because of Scholar Du's identity as a "refined master." In short, Chen Ping'an could remember the poem Bai Ye had written, but he didn't know a single word of anything this Mr. Five Pines had ever written.
In the basket, Zhou Mili, who was helping her good mountain lord nod like a chick pecking rice, was even more embarrassed. She could only scratch her face.
Scholar Du smiled. "Since the long sword was just here, but you've returned now without it on you, young man, then don't talk about fate. Don't think too much about the water buffalo painting."
The man sighed. Bai Ye going alone with his sword to Fuyáo Continent was indeed melancholy. So this parting was truly like peach blossom spring water deepening.
Chen Ping'an was somewhat regretful. He didn't dare to force the opportunity. He could only clasp his hands and take his leave. Remembering something, he asked: "Mr. Five Pines, can you drink wine?"
The man smiled but said nothing.
Chen Ping'an then took out two jars of immortal wine from his storage item, placed them on the counter, clasped his hands again, and said with a bright smile: "Outside the Five Pines Mountain, to meet Mr. Five Pines, I dare to offer wine; this junior is honored."
The man watched the young man in blue cross the threshold and leave. He reached out, took one jar of wine, and nodded. This was a young man who could broaden the path of heaven and earth. So he called out: "Young man, if you're not busy, you might consider visiting Old Man Bu."
Chen Ping'an immediately turned back, walked quickly into the shop, and took out two more jars of wine.
Scholar Du was taken aback. "What's this for?"
Chen Ping'an asked softly: "Dare I ask, is the 'Inscription for the Buried Crane,' considered the ancestor of large characters, actually the work of Old Man Bu?"
Scholar Du extended both hands, pressed down on the two new jars of wine, and smiled without speaking.
Chen Ping'an had to leave again. He went around to various bookshops in Tiaomu City, finally finding "The Sayings of Confucius," "Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals," and "Occasional Notes of Cloud Perch" at the Masters' Bookshop, the Daoist Scriptures Bookstore, and the Supplementary Records Book Pavilion. For "The Sayings of Confucius," following scattered memories, he first went to a Classics Bookshop but couldn't find it. The shopkeeper said there was no such book. He tried a pseudepigrapha bookshop, also without success. It was only at the Masters' Bookshop that he finally bought it. After confirming that the bow was recorded in it, he breathed a sigh of relief. According to Tiaomu City's bibliographic catalog, this book had been downgraded from the "Classics" category to the "Masters" category, but not that it was considered a forgery as in the Haoran World. As for "Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals," it wasn't sold at the Eclectics Bookshop, causing Chen Ping'an to make an extra trip for nothing.
However, when it came time to pay, Chen Ping'an discovered that in Tiaomu City's bookshops, the prices of books were not high, but spirit coins were completely useless. Not to mention Snow Flower Coins—even Grain Rain Coins were meaningless. They had to use gold, silver, and copper coins, which mountain cultivators considered burdensome. Fortunately, Pei Qian and Zhou Mili each carried a money jar. Zhou Mili even volunteered, stopping Pei Qian and insisting on paying first. Having finally made a meritorious contribution, the little girl laughed heartily, shaking her head, delighted. She hurriedly took a large gold ingot from her private stash and handed it to her good mountain lord, saying with incomparable boldness that he didn't need to pay it back. Just small change, a little drizzle.
Standing inside the basket, she finally gave a light cough. Pei Qian smiled and nodded, indicating she would record it in the merit ledger.
Having spent less than two taels of silver to buy three books was enough for Chen Ping'an to go exchange them at the bearded man's stall for the small bow. He could just give one of them and obtain an opportunity.
But Chen Ping'an continued to search other bookshops. Finally, he stepped into the threshold of a Logicians' Bookshop. The rule in Tiaomu City's bookshops was: if asked whether a book was available, one must answer. But if the shop didn't have the book, once the customer asked, there would be no answer and one would be met with disdain. At this Logicians' Bookshop, Chen Ping'an couldn't buy the book he wanted, but he still spent a "wasted" sum of three taels of silver on a few ancient books with ink traces as fresh as new. Most of them discussed the Logicians' Ten Theses and Twenty-One Debates. However, some of the records in these books were far more detailed and profound than those in the Haoran World. Although he couldn't take a single book off the ferryboat, during this journey, as he flipped through and read, the knowledge in the books was still genuine. Chen Ping'an had long begun to pay attention to Logician dialectics and Buddhist reason science, studying them deeply.
The shopkeeper of this Logicians' Bookshop was a young man of refined appearance, elegant and composed, with an exceedingly immortal demeanor. He first glanced at Pei Qian, then turned to Chen Ping'an and asked with a smile: "Young man, do you want to establish your own city and become its lord? Just give me one item, and I can break the rules to help you open a new city. From then on, you'll have many advantages, no less than Shao Baojuan's."
Chen Ping'an made a bow of apology to this person: "I appreciate your good intentions, sir. But the Hao Liang Nourishing Sword Gourd is a keepsake from a half-hometown friend. I truly cannot trade it with you, sir. Otherwise, not to mention a business transaction, even if I were to give it to you directly, it would be fine, because I have been greatly blessed by the Logicians' scholarship."
One Hao Liang gourd was given to Chen Ping'an by Sword Immortal Mi Hu. Originally, Chen Ping'an had not accepted it, hoping that Mi Yu, who was leaving the Sword Qi Great Wall, could keep it. But Mi Yu didn't want to do that, so in the end, Chen Ping'an had to give it to Pei Qian, letting his founding disciple keep it on his behalf.
The young shopkeeper looked at Chen Ping'an, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "Gaining miscellaneous knowledge in the world is not difficult at all—not the slightest bit difficult. The only difficulty is sincerity of heart. Today, hearing these sincere words from a later generation has greatly comforted my heart. So I won't take any money. Let me give you a few words of advice: The book you are looking for is not really a book anymore—just a few words. It's not here. It's at the first bookshop on the street, the Local Records Bookshop, under 'Classics and Records,' under the Daoist category, the 'Discourse on Preserving Whiteness.' Remember, it's the Local Records Bookshop, because it contains more content than the Daoist Scriptures Bookstore."
Chen Ping'an thanked him and left. Sure enough, at the first shop after entering the city, he bought the local record containing the "Discourse on Preserving Whiteness." But Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment and still walked many extra unnecessary steps, spending another sum of "wasted" money to return to the Daoist Scriptures Bookstore and buy one more book.
On the way, Zhou Mili cupped her hand beside her mouth and whispered to Pei Qian: "One shop can hold so many books. Any book the shopkeeper pulls out is exactly the one we need. Strange, strange."
Pei Qian laughed. "Within a small world, it's all a matter of intention."
Zhou Mili suddenly understood. "Just as I guessed."
While Chen Ping'an was looking for books everywhere, Scholar Du walked out of his shop, came to the bearded man's side, and sighed. "Involving the choices among the Three Teachings and Hundred Schools of thought in the cultivator's mind, that young man's actions are very dangerous. If he weren't from a certain Confucian lineage, it wouldn't matter much—he could choose freely without any harm to his Dao heart. Even if it were harmed, he could just read a few more books to mend it later."
The man nodded. "So initially, I didn't want to sell him this bow. If I deliberately lured him into a deal, it would be too unkind. But that young man has too sharp an eye. He knows quality. When he crouched there earlier, pretending to look around, he had actually set his sights on this bow from the start. I couldn't break the rules by telling him this bow was too hot to handle."
Scholar Du laughed. "But if this deal is really struck, you can completely shed your bonds. You won't need to rely on a hundred thousand armored soldiers to cut off that person's head to break free. That is ultimately a good thing. We've all been drawing our own circles to confine ourselves here, waiting for a hundred or a thousand years, repeating the same scenes year after year. It's truly tiring and sickening."
The bearded man grinned. "If I had wine to drink, I guarantee I wouldn't spill a single drop."
Scholar Du laughed and tossed him a jar of wine. The bearded man caught it, sniffed the aroma, and looked utterly intoxicated. Then he became melancholy, murmuring: "In the past, when I carried my sword and bow, rode my donkey through the jianghu, I only loved to drink freely. Now, I can't bear to take even one sip."
At the Logicians' Bookshop, the young shopkeeper was flipping through a book as if viewing mountains and rivers. He could see Chen Ping'an's every move in Tiaomu City. He smiled and nodded, muttering to himself: "The mountain of books is never empty. There are no wasted paths. When travelers descend the mountain, they never leave empty-handed. The more they wander and circle, the more they benefit for life. Oh, Shen Jiaokan, Shen Jiaokan, why the three questions with no answers? On the night sailing boat, to know is to know, not to know is not to know—that is knowledge."
He then paused in confusion, shook his head, and sighed: "Does this City Lord Shao have a grudge against you, young man? Is he so sure you would take a fancy to that bow? Is he determined to have you dismantle one of the Three Teachings' beams yourself? That way, on your future cultivation path, you might lose part of your Daoist opportunities."
Because before Chen Ping'an came to this Logicians' Bookshop, Shao Baojuan had already arrived and spent money to buy all the books related to that famous anecdote—all, several hundred of them. So Chen Ping'an's initial choice to come here to buy books was actually the correct one, but he had been beaten to it by Shao Baojuan, who had pretended to leave Tiaomu City.
The shopkeeper thought for a moment, then reluctantly stepped out of his shop, looked up at the sky, and smiled: "Daoist friend Lu, haven't I dragged you into this? Adding feet to the snake—it seems this young man is drifting farther and farther from the Daoist school. You've suffered another 'sword strike' for nothing?"
This young foreign traveler who had just boarded the ferryboat needed to be both a rigorous Confucian scholar and a wandering sword immortal. Whether today he handed out a Confucian local records text or a Daoist scriptures bookshop text made a considerable difference. If not for Shao Baojuan's interference, handing out a Logicians' text would have been harmless. But this young shopkeeper, who earlier had only asked for the words "Hao Liang" rather than any sword-nourishing gourd, now stood outside his shop door. Though he spoke words of apology, his expression carried a hint of amusement.
Chen Ping'an and his group returned to the bearded man's stall. He crouched down, kept one book, and took out the other four. He stacked three on the cotton cloth, held one in his hand—these four books each recorded an anecdote about "the gain and loss of a bow." Then he gave the last book, the Daoist "Discourse on Preserving Whiteness," which contained the fewest recorded anecdotes, to the stall owner. Chen Ping'an had apparently chosen this Daoist book as the exchange.
As for the Logicians' Bookshop keeper, it wasn't so much that he had schemed against Chen Ping'an; it was more like he had gone with the flow. It still depended on the ferryman's own choice which dock to moor at. Besides, without that shopkeeper's reminder, Chen Ping'an would have probably had to visit at least half of Tiaomu City to get the answer. And whether intentionally or not, Chen Ping'an had not brought out the Confucian local records book.
When the bearded man saw Chen Ping'an take out four books, he was initially pleased. But when Chen Ping'an handed over the Daoist scriptures book, the man glanced at the title, froze on the spot, and hesitated. He didn't rush to take the book. With a puzzled expression, he asked: "Didn't you go to the Logicians' Bookshop, sir?"
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "I went, but I couldn't buy the book. It doesn't matter. Actually, I have to thank someone. Otherwise, having to sell a book from the Logicians' Bookshop would have put me in a difficult position. I might even have felt somewhat sorry for that shopkeeper elder whom I have long admired."
At the weapons shop not far away, Scholar Du was leisurely drinking wine behind the counter, wearing a strange smile. Which lineage of the Confucian Temple was this from? At such a young age, and already so good with words?
At the very least, that old man Fusheng, who had specially visited Cock-and-Dog City twice and also traveled to Tiaomu City, could never have taught such a student.
The man nodded, then felt reassured and took the book. Even though he was no longer in the jianghu, the code of honor must still be upheld. He looked at the other three books on the ground and smiled: "Then I'll tell you three small matters that don't violate the rules. First, the Jing barbarians tended the sacrificial fire; later, the treasure bow of Chu came into my possession. So in Tiaomu City, I go by the alias Jing-Chu. You can actually call me Zhang San. This small bow on the ground is of no low rank. Let me congratulate you here, sir."
When the man said this, Pei Qian immediately became radiant. In the past, when she read adventure stories with Bao Ping and Li Huai, she had come across a bearded hero using this alias "Zhang San," and this former jianghu elder even had a donkey to ride! But those books were all unofficial histories and martial arts tales, and Pei Qian and the others had all assumed that this Bearded Guest was a fictional character.
The man, of course, had no idea what the little girl was thinking. He just continued on his own: "As for the Kongtong Lady of Benmo City, who was originally a palace maid, I have a long-standing grudge with a deputy city lord she serves. Feng Jun earlier said that the Kongtong Lady was from Dianjing City—that was obviously a deliberate lie to deceive you. Feng Jun has likely reached some secret agreement with City Lord Shao."
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "During my earlier visit to Bird Lift Mountain to chat with Old Immortal Feng, I already knew about this. City Lord Shao probably feared that I would immediately set off for Benmo City and spoil his plans, preventing him from obtaining an opportunity from the Kongtong Lady."
In fact, if Chen Ping'an had found Shao Baojuan, it wouldn't have been a matter of opportunity or not. As for why Shao Baojuan, as a city lord who seemed quite fearless in Tiaomu City, was so worried about Chen Ping'an acting in Benmo City, Chen Ping'an didn't know for now and couldn't guess. Benmo City—putting the end before the beginning? Discarding the root for the branch? Moreover, there were countless analyses of the words "root" and "branch" from the refined scholars who idly waved their sleeves and indulged in pure conversation. They were varied and numerous. Chen Ping'an was a complete outsider to these things. Benmo City's foundation was far stranger and more peculiar than Tiaomu City's, which could be understood at once when hearing the moral principle and verified by looking at a few bookshops. So who knew the answer? Heaven only knew.
The man continued: "Each of the twelve cities has another name. For example, Benmo City is also called the Absurd City. The people and events there are even more absurd than in the City of Folded Hands, where emperors and kings from all dynasties gather."
Having said these three things, the man didn't actually need to ask Chen Ping'an anything to determine the gain or loss of the bow. Because Chen Ping'an's act of handing over the book was itself a choice, an answer.
Contrary to the bearded man's expectations, Chen Ping'an took out another book. But he didn't place it on top of the three stacked books on the cotton cloth; instead, he set it aside separately.
Zhang San looked down at the book, then up at the little black-clothed girl standing in the basket, and immediately smiled: "Then I'll add one more matter. If you truly go to Benmo City, be cautious, yet you may also be at ease."
Chen Ping'an failed to stop him in time and had to let it go. He had originally wanted to ask which city Shao Baojuan was the lord of, or at least how to get to Benmo City, so that he could disregard Li Shilang's expulsion order from Benmo City. Wanting to expel someone but not telling them how to leave—that was very dishonorable. There was no such hospitality in the world.
The man picked up the small bow. Chen Ping'an gathered the four books from the cotton cloth, put them into his sleeve universe, and took the ancient bow, which historical records said had once shot a flood dragon and rhinoceros in the Cloud Dream Marsh. But he merely put it into his sleeve in name, not hiding it in his storage item.
The man didn't mind this. In fact, he seemed somewhat appreciative. When walking the jianghu, how could one not be cautious? He crouched down, grabbed two corners of the cotton cloth, wrapped it up casually, bundled the items together, and took out a booklet, handing it to Chen Ping'an. He smiled and said: "My wish is fulfilled, my cage is broken. As for these items, either take them safely, sir, or hand them over to Tiaomu City. What do you say? If you take them, this booklet will be useful. It records the respective clues to the items sold at the stall."
Chen Ping'an accepted the booklet and the bundle, his movements extremely practiced. He slung the cotton cloth bundle across his body.
The bearded man clasped his hands in salute: "Farewell here!"
Chen Ping'an returned the salute. Pei Qian and Zhou Mili, standing in the basket, did the same.