Chapter 809: Footsteps
Disembarking and stepping ashore, there was still some distance from Skeleton Beach Ferry. That was fine; Chen Ping'an had originally planned that after returning to Bottle Gourd Continent, he would go to Wood Garment Mountain, where the Pima Sect's ancestral hall was located. As for Mural City and such, he wouldn't go there anymore. Since there were no more opportunities, the colored paintings had all become plain line drawings.
However, Chen Ping'an needed to go to the Naihe Pass Market, which was the entrance to Ghostly Domain Valley. Nowadays, with Gao Cheng's disappearance, the Ghostly Domain Valley had lost its backbone. Not only was Jingguan City leaderless, but Bai Long City's City Lord Pu Rang had gone to the Bottle Gourd Continent battlefield and vanished without a trace. Only a small rumor circulated, claiming that Pu Rang had followed a monk and traveled together to the Buddhist Kingdom in the West. The departure of Gao Cheng and Pu Rang forced the spirit beings in cities of all sizes, including Fu Ni City, to hastily form a loose alliance, then sign an agreement with the Pima Sect, promising no conflict for a hundred years. Thus the Ghostly Domain Valley had completely changed. Though still gloomy and eerie, outsiders who wanted to come here for training could no longer do so, because they had lost the Pima Sect's protection, and the various spirits were exceptionally united. However, if someone truly believed they could rampage through the Ghostly Domain Valley alone and kill indiscriminately, the Pima Sect wouldn't stop them.
Chen Ping'an carried a Night Travel sword on his back and wore a cinnabar red wine gourd at his waist.
Ning Yao wore the Golden Nectar Robe and carried a sword case on her back.
Pei Qian carried a bamboo chest and held a mountain walking staff, while inside the chest stood a little girl in black, Mi Li, who was counting on her fingers, figuring out when they would return to her hometown, the great Mute Lake.
The white-haired boy used a concealment technique, still appearing as the one with jade green snakes and wearing Heavenly Garments.
Besides Chen Ping'an, there was a Flying Ascension sword cultivator, a Flying Ascension otherworldly demon, a Summit-tier bottleneck martial artist, and of course, a Cave Abode-level great water monster.
If Gao Cheng were still in Jingguan City, it would no longer be him blocking Chen Ping'an from leaving.
They paused briefly at Skeleton Beach, then continued on. Chen Ping'an didn't even plan to take Song Lanqiao's Spring Dew Nursery ferry boat.
The Spring Dew Nursery matter was complicated because it involved business transactions, incense friendship between two mountains, personal ties among cultivators, and certain "face"... but at the root, it was all about human hearts. That's why even Zhu Lian, the big steward of Fallen Mountain, along with accountant Wei Wenlong and mountain lord Wei Bo, found it a headache.
Chen Ping'an would first go to Suijia City in Silver Screen Nation, drink at the Fire God Temple. Eight hundred li outside the prefectural city was Cangyun Lake. Lake Lord Yin Hou definitely deserved a new dragon throne. As for the two shrines at Shao Stream and Tiao Stream, he wondered if they had changed their canal lord ladies.
Mute Lake was near the border of Treasure Phase Nation. After that, he would go to Golden Crow Palace, catch up with Grand Sword Immortal Liu, then Spring Dew Nursery, then Multicolored Sparrow Manor, and Cloud City where Xu Xingjiu was. He would visit Zhang Shanfeng at Prostrate Peak, then bring wine to Taiwei Sword Sect to see the famous Wine Immortal.
Of course, he needed to make a special trip to the Chongxuan Office of Great Origin Dynasty. Courtesy required reciprocity—visit Emperor Lu and National Teacher Yang Qingkong. Then go to Li Cai's Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, meet the two sword embryos Chen Li and Gao Youqing. After finding Shen Lin and Li Yuan, who had become Grand River Lords, besides thanking them for protecting Chen Lingjun's river transformation, he would also discuss renting or purchasing Fuishui Island within the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven...
In Northern Juzhou, Chen Ping'an actually had quite a few places to go.
The group flew with the wind, and soon they could see the towering Wood Garment Mountain and the north-south Shaking River.
After leaving the Night Boat and coming ashore, Chen Ping'an had been twirling that cyan talisman between his fingers, using it to determine the Night Boat's location in the Haoran World, while also verifying his guesses about the boat's speed. His only worry was that if he could use this talisman to find the Night Boat, the Night Boat might also find him. But earlier on the boat, Chen Ping'an had hesitated and didn't ask the boat master, Zhang Fuzi, about this matter. Chen Ping'an said casually, "During that spar with Cao Ci earlier, after leaving the Temple of Merit Forest and fighting all the way to the Wen Temple Square, I asked Cao Ci for a favor: each of us would hold back twenty percent of our strength."
Ning Yao asked curiously, "And he agreed to that?"
Chen Ping'an chuckled, "Of course he agreed. We're friends; Cao Ci had no reason to refuse such a small thing. As a return favor, I suggested he bet everything he had on the 'not losing' bet, guaranteeing he'd make a fortune."
Ning Yao was speechless.
Having Cao Ci bet on himself losing? There really weren't many people who could tease Cao Ci like that.
Chen Ping'an began to introduce the customs of Naihe Pass. He said that when mountain and marsh rogue cultivators came here to wander about, they usually followed three steps: go to the Shaking River God Temple to burn incense and pray, then go to Mural City to see if they could strike it lucky, and finally buy a copy of "The Peace of Mind Collection," tie their lives to their belts, enter the Ghostly Domain Valley, and whether they'd see the light of day again was up to heaven.
But now those were all old history. That booklet that made people more and more uneasy had stopped being reprinted by the Pima Sect. Mural City, which no longer offered any fortune to be gained, had become sparse with visitors, almost completely closed. And the Ghostly Domain Valley, which had openly lost Gao Cheng and Pu Rang, and secretly lost the Great Round Moon Temple monk and the Little Xuan Condor Abbey's Gao Zhen, was actually just a heap of loose sand. Various scattered mountain forces and cities that couldn't walk had, nominally, signed a contract with Wood Garment Mountain to keep their distance, but privately they had all actively surrendered and pledged allegiance to the Pima Sect.
Chen Ping'an pointed to the cultivation grounds outside the Ghostly Domain Valley and said with a smile, "Sanlang Temple has a special kind of meditation cushion. If there's a chance, I can buy a few to take back to Fallen Mountain."
In the old days, Fallen Mountain had quite a few pure martial artists but very few cultivators. By the time Chen Ping'an returned home this time, the situation had improved. Just counting sword immortal embryos, including Bai Xuan, there were nine.
For instance, Jiang Qu had become a relatively rare talisman cultivator. Chen Ping'an had reorganized "The True Trace of the Dan Script," classifying it according to difficulty of drawing talismans, in progressive order, into three volumes: upper, middle, and lower. He had only given Jiang Qu the upper volume of the secret manual for now. Besides Li Xisheng's existing side annotations, Chen Ping'an also added some of his own insights on talismans, so when Jiang Qu received that hand-copied book, he naturally treasured it greatly.
Chen Ping'an's main purpose in coming to the Ghostly Domain Valley was actually to make a trip to Goat Intestine Palace. He probably wouldn't bring Ning Yao and the others—they could wait here a bit.
On the journey of life, one must not only see high mountains like Prostrate Peak and lofty people like Fiery Dragon True Man.
But also see the little spirit guarding the gate outside Goat Intestine Palace, and see the two books it carefully buried underground.
Yet even a small market, it seemed, could make a woman blossom like a flower.
Ning Yao was no exception.
If she didn't shop, fine; but when she did, she was extremely serious. From the looks of it, she intended to visit every single stall without missing a one.
They found a rare bookshop in Naihe Pass. When it was Chen Ping'an's turn to want to browse, he suddenly stopped at the entrance. But he quickly stepped over the threshold. Since he had seen them, it was a rare and difficult connection on the mountain. Why avoid it?
The shopkeeper was a couple, both at the Cave Abode stage. In the mixed crowd of Naihe Pass Market, such cultivation was utterly unremarkable.
This small shop sold some "Peace of Mind Collections" and goddess paintings bought from Mural City, making a small profit from the price difference. Relying on these, they could never earn much money. Fortunately, the shop had some trivial business dealings with Fu Ni City, and they also sold miscellaneous goods on the side, which allowed them to put down roots here. After more than ten years of operation, after deducting rent, they hadn't actually made many spirit coins. But compared to their previous life of sleeping in the open and sharpening their wits to find ways to make money, it was far more stable.
The shopkeeper's wife spotted the blue-clad sword cultivator who had just entered, and she was so excited that her eyes reddened. She quickly wiped the corners of her eyes, then elbowed her husband hard in the ribs.
The man looked confused. When he raised his head and saw Chen Ping'an, his feelings were the same as his wife's. They had finally waited for this life-saving benefactor, whose name they didn't even know.
Especially those eyes of the young sword immortal—they were too familiar.
In fact, Chen Ping'an also didn't know the couple's names. It had only been a chance encounter back then, each drifting their separate ways. Logically, it was very hard to meet again.
Back then, when he gave away five sets of Crow Ridge ghost remains, Chen Ping'an hadn't expected to see them again. As for money or repayment, he naturally didn't care a bit.
Don't ask how I, Chen Ping'an, make money. And don't ask how I spend it.
Those were the very same rogue cultivator couple who had taken risks to earn money, who had entered the Ghostly Domain Valley with Chen Ping'an. The female cultivator had mediocre talent. To break through to the Cave Abode stage, she needed a spirit artifact to help regulate her natal energy channels. They probably weren't as "indiscriminate" as rogue cultivators—they only did hard work, not dirty work. Those who traveled around were mostly registered immortal masters and mountain-and-marsh rogue cultivators. If their realm wasn't high, to put it bluntly, they could only beg for the leftovers from the registered immortal masters, and they had to be careful in making money so as not to offend the latter.
No matter how hard the couple saved, they still lacked five hundred Snowflake Coins. But the woman's cultivation couldn't be delayed any longer. In desperation, they had to come to the Ghostly Domain Valley to risk their lives. At the river god temple that time, the couple had knelt and kowtowed most devoutly. And for years afterward, even after their wishes were fulfilled, they would still go there to burn incense on the first and fifteenth of every month.
The reason they had opened this shop was to repay the money.
The couple stood side by side, clasped their fists, and bowed deeply to the young sword immortal, refusing to rise.
Chen Ping'an reached out and gently helped the man up, saying with a smile, "No need for this."
When they both stood up, Chen Ping'an clasped his fists to the woman and congratulated her, "Congratulations, madam, on entering the mid-five realms."
The woman was flustered. She quickly made a curtsy and was too nervous to speak.
The man introduced himself. His name was Jin Zhan, from Great Origin Dynasty. His wife was Song Jiazi, from Qingci Nation. Both had come to the path of cultivation by chance.
According to their agreement with the young sword immortal, they had waited at Naihe Pass Market for a month back then. Later, they could delay no longer and had to leave Skeleton Beach to buy the crucial spirit artifact for breaking through the realm. After Song Jiazi luckily succeeded, Jin Zhan brought his wife back here to continue waiting.
Today, facing the blue-clad sword immortal and his group, they couldn't help but feel inferior. How could they, a pair of rogue cultivators, dare to call themselves cultivators? They were just wanderers in the jianghu. Only those registered immortal masters with clear lineages, who married each other, were qualified to be called dao companions on the mountain—an unwritten rule.
Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "My name is Chen Ping'an, from Longquan Prefecture, Great Li, Bottle Gourd Continent. I have a mountain called Fallen Mountain, in the Northern Sacred Mountain territory, very close to Cloak Cloud Mountain. You are welcome to travel south in the future and visit my mountain."
Everyone knew Cloak Cloud Mountain. The mountain lord Wei Bo was very famous. Cultivators from Northern Juzhou had all heard of him.
And a sacred mountain close to the Northern Sacred Mountain territory—could it be a small mountain? Definitely not.
The man looked at his wife. "See? I was right. I said the benefactor must be a registered immortal master. That immortal aura, that heroic spirit of not caring about money—could he be a rogue cultivator?"
Song Jiazi rolled her eyes at him. What was there to argue about? Besides, her guess that the benefactor was from a wealthy and powerful family might not be wrong either.
Chen Ping'an pointed at Pei Qian and introduced with a smile, "This is my first disciple, Pei Qian, a martial artist."
Then he put his hand on Mi Li's head. "Our mountain's protective enshrinement, Zhou Mi Li."
Pei Qian clasped her fists in greeting. Mi Li puffed out her chest.
Ning Yao introduced herself, "My name is Ning Yao, a sword cultivator."
She couldn't let Chen Ping'an introduce her—who knew what nonsense he might spout.
Jin Zhan asked softly, "Sword Immortal Chen, should I fetch the money for you now?"
Chen Ping'an nodded with a smile. "Yes."
Song Jiazi went behind the counter and brought out a pouch of spirit coins. Chen Ping'an didn't count them; he simply tucked them into his sleeve.
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then took a book from the shop for free—the "Peace of Mind Collection" that Ning Yao had chosen.
Without much small talk, Chen Ping'an took his leave. The couple saw them to the shop door. Some gatherings have partings; one group continued to tour the market, the other continued to open their shop for customers.
The couple both breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, they had repaid the debt with interest. They felt a little better. But Sword Immortal Chen's life-saving grace and the virtue of continuing their dao path—how could a pouch of spirit coins repay that? They knew the sword immortal didn't care about the money, but they did. Yet there was nothing more they could do. They could only keep that enormous grace in their hearts for a long, long time. For example, when they went to burn incense at the Shaking River in the future, they could pray more fervently for the pair of sword immortals—both sword immortals—whose names they now knew.
After that, while shopping in the stalls, Ning Yao, Pei Qian, and the others were picking out items inside, and Chen Ping'an stood at the shop entrance.
In the Ghostly Domain Valley, there were two northbound roads, leading to Qinglu Town and Lanshe Town respectively. One was perilous, winding through mountains and rivers, but with more opportunities. The other was safe and steady, more suitable for sightseeing.
Chen Ping'an had chosen to go to Qinglu Town back then and had never been to Lanshe.
He was quite familiar with Fu Ni City and Bronze Odor City, especially the latter. He had done business there, traded for an old immortal master's face skin, and sold many boudoir items collected from Diyong Mountain to a female ghost shopkeeper named Zhen Guan and the city lord's sister who styled herself as a "Pontifex Reviewing Chancellor." One could even say that Chen Ping'an's career as a bundle peddler had started in Bronze Odor City. Looking back, the name "Bronze Odor City" was actually quite nice.
As for the spirit city lords of the Ghostly Domain Valley, besides them, there were the several "great demons" of the time, collectively known as the Six Saints. Their dao names and nicknames were grander than each other's, very intimidating.
The Summer Resort Lady of Peel Fall Mountain, the Dust Evading Primordial Sovereign of Diyong Mountain, the Thunder Summoning Divine General of Accumulated Cloud Mountain, the Great Demon-Catching Immortal of Dirty Water Cave Mansion, and the Mountain Moving Great Saint, the Black River Great King...
On the street, a small spirit that had barely transformed into human form appeared, carrying a large basket. It contained herbs, plants, earth paste, and strange stones from the Ghostly Domain Valley. It had come to exchange them for money, and then buy books!
It came from Goat Intestine Palace, where the Great Demon-Catching Immortal resided. Nowadays, the Pima Sect did not forbid the strange spirits and monsters of the Ghostly Domain Valley from coming and going; they only needed to hang a sign like "checking in," and it would be recorded in the register.
Chen Ping'an stood at the shop entrance, hands tucked in his sleeves. Amid the bustling street, he spotted the little gatekeeper of Goat Intestine Palace at a glance. He sent a thought and waved.
The little mouse spirit sprinted over. It was still as thin as a bamboo pole, and it exclaimed in surprise, "Sword Immortal Master?!"
Chen Ping'an nodded with a smile. "Long time no see. Came to buy books?"
It nodded. "Yes, but they're not cheap."
It didn't dare go far.
This Naihe Pass Market, teeming with immortals, was not a place for buying and selling books.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "When the world is a bit more peaceful later, you can follow the Shaking River northward. In those market towns, books are very cheap."
He bent down and rummaged through the little mouse spirit's basket. "How much can you sell this for?" he asked with a smile.
Inside, the various items, large and small, were arranged neatly, so the basket could hold more things.
Just like when Chen Ping'an was a child, helping people pick mulberry leaves, he would press them down again and again, so a single basket could seem to hold a thousand jin of leaves.
At this, the spirit became happy. "Answering Sword Immortal Master, in the best years, I could sell for two or three Snowflake Coins! The shopkeeper is kind-hearted, occasionally giving some loose silver too."
Every three to five months, it came to the market. Nowadays, the market was bad, so it only got one Snowflake Coin.
Whatever the shopkeeper said, that was it. It didn't know how to haggle, and it didn't want to.
Chen Ping'an rubbed his brow and said with a wry smile, "Which shop takes your goods? Has the shopkeeper's conscience been eaten by dogs? Doing business like this—aren't they afraid of getting a sack over their head when walking at night?"
Inside the Ghostly Domain Valley, the yin qi was dense. After thousands of years of immersion, it was like cultivators using a crude refining method. Such a large basket of items shouldn't be worth only two or three Snowflake Coins. Probably the shopkeeper thought the little mouse spirit was too simple and easy to fool.
Inside the Ghostly Domain Valley, aside from the cities like feudal fiefs, in the early years, Goat Intestine Palace, Accumulated Cloud Mountain, the Summer Resort Lady of Broad Cold Palace, and the like were local heroes, occupying mountains as kings and establishing mansions by water. So the little mouse spirit, relying on its identity from Goat Intestine Palace, had been able to visit many places over the years. If it had a bit of business sense, it might have saved up a few Small Summer Coins by now.
It laughed. "Sword Immortal Master, it doesn't matter. I only spend some energy and walk a few more steps to earn money. I don't ask for more. At home, I have no expenses."
Chen Ping'an nodded approvingly. "It's good to think that way."
It lowered its voice and asked, "Sword Immortal Master, are you truly a sword immortal now?"
Chen Ping'an squinted his eyes and nodded. "Passable."
It immediately said, "Then wait for me! After I sell this, I'll prepare a congratulatory gift for Sword Immortal Master."
Chen Ping'an waved his hand. "No need."
From his storage, Chen Ping'an selected a few good books and handed them to the little spirit. "A gift for you."
The little spirit felt a bit embarrassed, but Sword Immortal Master was giving books! If it didn't accept now, it would definitely regret it later when it got home.
So it didn't stand on ceremony. It quickly raised its hands, wiped them vigorously on its clothes, and then took the few books with both hands.
Inside, Pei Qian and the others continued picking items. Ning Yao stood at the door, looking at Chen Ping'an's profile. His expression was gentle, like a jug of glutinous rice wine from home.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I have a suggestion. Want to hear it?"
The little spirit carrying the big basket immediately stood at attention, puffing out its chest. "Sword Immortal Master, please speak!"
Many passersby on the street heard the address "sword immortal" and some cast curious glances. A group of rough, burly men looked particularly unfriendly. "This pretty boy, wearing a blue shirt and cloth shoes, carrying a sword—does he really think he's a mountain sword immortal? Why doesn't he call himself Liu Jinglong or Liu Zhiqing? Looking so delicate, like he'd fall over in a gust of wind, a bit pale, a sickly type? Want a spar?"
Chen Ping'an glanced sideways. "What are you looking at?"
One burly man sneered. "What's it to you, calling your daddy 'what'?"
In an instant, his brow felt a chill.
The man saw a flying sword hovering right in front of his face. He immediately clasped his fists and said, "Dad! Your son is leaving."
The group of jianghu martial artists strode away briskly.
Casually putting away the Hate Sword Mountain imitation sword, Chen Ping'an continued speaking to the little spirit with a smile. "Next time your basket is full, you can go to Qinglu Town first. I'll introduce you to someone—might be Du Wensi or Yang Lin, both friends of mine. Do business with one of them, sell half the basket. Then bring the other half here, and set a firm price: one Snowflake Coin."
The little mouse spirit hesitated, very embarrassed. It rubbed its sleeves, then finally plucked up its courage and said, "Sword Immortal Master, let's forget it. It sounds like too much trouble."
It couldn't explain why, but it just didn't want to. Yet it knew Sword Immortal Master was doing this for its own good, which made it even more guilty.
Chen Ping'an didn't seem surprised by this outcome. He smiled and nodded. "Then keep things as they are?"
"Yes!"
There had once been a young man who politely declined an old gentleman who loved drinking, and didn't become the old man's student.
And today, a little creature had refused a sword immortal's kindness. So what? Nothing. It was fine this way.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Do you know what is most frightening about reading?"
It shook its head. It had only read a few books, so it didn't know such a difficult question.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "The most frightening thing is reading too much."
It became even more confused.
Chen Ping'an explained, "First, when you have many books, it's hard to read as carefully as when you only have a few. Second, when you've read a lot, you have many principles, and principles can fight with each other, leaving you with no principle at all. So when you read in the future, you can think about these two things more."
It said, "Sword Immortal Master, I don't understand!"
Chen Ping'an laughed and gently patted its shoulder. "It's not about not understanding; it's about not thinking much. The thing in the world that most deserves to 'borrow money and not pay it back' is reading. You can't give all your knowledge back to the sages. Go buy your books. I won't go with you. If you ever encounter a difficulty and feel you can't get through it on your own, go to Qinglu Town, find a Pima Sect cultivator, and say you know Chen Ping'an, that you're good friends."
It scratched its head. "How would those immortals believe me?"
Chen Ping'an said, "They will."
It nodded vigorously. "I'll remember."
The little spirit, carrying its big basket, walked backward, waving goodbye to the sword immortal master who stood with his hands in his sleeves, looking at it.
But not long after, it came running back, finding Chen Ping'an and his group. The basket was empty, and in its hand was an unremarkable object—a small eel-yellow inkstone, barely a mountain-grade item.
Inscribed on it: "Illuminate reason, practice diligently."
Chen Ping'an accepted this congratulatory gift and asked with a smile, "How much did it cost?"
It wiped the sweat from its brow and beamed, "Answering Sword Immortal Master, exactly one Snowflake Coin."
Chen Ping'an immediately knew that the little fellow must have bought it on credit from that black-hearted shopkeeper. But he didn't say anything. They waved goodbye.
Ning Yao grew even more curious.
It seemed that after the fight with Cao Ci, seeing the scroll of time in the Night Boat that Chen Ping'an hadn't detailed, and then today at the market meeting this little spirit, Chen Ping'an had become much more relaxed in both body and mind. But deeper down, his spirit, sword intent, fist intent—his entire vitality—had been rising.
Chen Ping'an said to Ning Yao, "I'm going alone to the Ghostly Domain Valley, to a very close place. I'll be back soon. You don't need to follow. The toll at the Pima Sect archway is ridiculously expensive."
Ning Yao didn't mind. She could take Pei Qian to browse a few more stalls. She had her eye on a few things earlier, not necessarily must-haves, so she might as well buy them.
The place Chen Ping'an had suddenly decided to go was not far—just past Crow Ridge, but far from Qinglu Town.
It was a cliff with an iron chain bridge covered in wooden planks, easily walkable even for mortals.
The last time Chen Ping'an passed this place, it was a dilapidated, wind-tossed iron chain bridge, infested with a giant black python and a female-headed spirit, weaving spider webs to catch passing birds.
After the dramatic changes in the Ghostly Domain Valley, they had immediately defected to Fu Ni City.
Then, having obtained a protective talisman, they built a thatched hut at one end of the bridge, marking out a crude and shabby cultivation ground.
Chen Ping'an had once stayed overnight here.
At that time, having nothing to do, two mountain spirits had timidly come across the bridge and found Chen Ping'an.
They couldn't help but be afraid. Back then, there was a black-robed scholar lying unconscious on the ground, and Chen Ping'an had stripped his robe and obtained several glowing talismans—any fool could see they were priceless.
Before fleeing that day, Brother Good Person and Brother Wood Mao had gotten along famously, very compatible. Brothers united, picking up money everywhere.
Chen Ping'an appeared by the cliff. Soon, two figures emerged from the thatched hut. One was a black-clad burly man with bulging muscles, quite fierce-looking. The other was a vermilion-clad woman with charming features. Both were only at the Cave Abode stage, barely transformed into human form. Their faces, hands, and skin still had many details revealing their true origins.
When Gao Cheng had left the Ghostly Domain Valley, he had dissipated his qi fortune in a mysterious way, drizzling it upon all sentient beings. The amount of fortune varied by individual. Even Fan Yunluo found it strange that these two bridge spirits, originally of shallow cultivation and ordinary fortune, had obviously been among the lucky few in that "mountain and river upheaval" and had broken through their bottlenecks together, entering the mid-five realms.
The two flew across the bridge and arrived before Chen Ping'an, falling to their knees like collapsing gold and jade pillars, prostrating on the ground.
"Qiao Fu pays respects to Benefactor."
"Juan Xiu pays respects to Benefactor."
Chen Ping'an was speechless. He shook his head. "That night, we just chatted a bit about cultivation matters. I don't deserve the title of benefactor. Cultivate well in the future—that is repaying heaven and earth's nurturing grace."
When the two spirits rose, the blue-clad sword immortal had already vanished without a trace.
Back at the market archway, Chen Ping'an found Ning Yao had been flipping through "The Peace of Mind Collection" and had just finished it, closing the book.
Her first question was, "On the road to Qinglu Town, isn't there a Fu Ni City nearby?"
"The Peace of Mind Collection" mentioned it. In fact, Chen Ping'an's travel notes that he had given Ning Yao also recorded it, but the incident was minor, only briefly mentioned.
Seeing that Ning Yao was interested, Chen Ping'an became uneasy.
So he roughly described his journey when he first entered the Ghostly Domain Valley. At Crow Ridge, he encountered one of the four great spirits of Fu Ni City—the white-clad female ghost. The city lord Fan Yunluo called her "Beloved Minister Bai." That female ghost had a half-faced makeup, apparently the concubine of a general in her lifetime. Later, there was Fan Yunluo, who styled herself "Marquess of Rouge" in the Ghostly Domain Valley. This spirit, a fallen princess in her lifetime, once rode a jeweled imperial carriage, wearing a phoenix coronet and a cape, but with the appearance of a little girl. They had clashed time after time, fighting fiercely, leaving a deep enmity.
If not for the sword cultivator Pu Rang, Chen Ping'an would have chased all the way to Fu Ni City and wiped them out in one fell swoop.
Ning Yao listened to Chen Ping'an's account, then suddenly asked, "Such a wonderful mountain-and-water story—why didn't you write more notes about it?"
Chen Ping'an asked, "Was it wonderful?"
The white-haired boy said, "The Hidden Official Patriarch says it's wonderful if it's wonderful, and not wonderful if it's not. Hidden Official Patriarch, do you think it's wonderful or not?"
Pei Qian blinked and said nothing.
But Mi Li was disloyal to her mountain lord, nodding vigorously. "It's so wonderful it's lawless, chaotic, and full of twists and turns."
Sigh, this good mountain lord, smart for a moment, muddled for another. If I help you now, how can I help you privately with Sister Ning later? Then when I try to speak fairly, I won't be trusted anymore.
Chen Ping'an listened to everyone's opinions, then smiled. "Next time I have such mountain-and-water stories, I'll definitely write more, sparing no ink."
The group left Skeleton Beach and flew toward Suijia City in Silver Screen Nation.
Along the way, they passed Moon Flower Mountain and Golden Light Peak. Those two mountain spirits, with deep fortune, had cultivated by Li Xisheng's side for many years.
Pei Qian had traveled north with Li Huai and the fox sprite Wei Taizhen before, and had made a special trip to Ghost Axe Palace to find Du Yu. But that time, the "Three-Yield" Senior Du, whom Pei Qian respected deeply, wasn't at the mountain. This time, Chen Ping'an didn't plan to visit Ghost Axe Palace either. Given Du Yu's temperament, he was definitely still enjoying the jianghu; he couldn't stay on the mountain.
In Suijia City, the Fire God Temple was bustling with incense.
The City God Temple in the north of the city had also changed to a new City God.
Inside the Fire God Temple, the big-bearded man stepped out of his painted clay golden statue. His appearance was unchanged. Twenty years was but a snap of the fingers for a landscape deity with long, long years.
Chen Ping'an drank with the big-bearded man, hearing that the incense at the Water Immortal Shrines of Tiao Stream and Shao Stream had also improved considerably. As for the Tiao Stream canal lord lady, she had been replaced by a female spirit. Speaking of her, even the big-bearded man thought she was quite good. Having her as the new canal lord was a blessing for the local people. Hearing this, Chen Ping'an decided not to visit the Cangyun Lake water mansion to see Yin Hou's new dragon throne.
At the end of the drinking session, the Fire God Temple spirit said to Chen Ping'an via heart voice, "Sword Immortal Chen, you have good taste in finding a wife. She's good-looking, speaks little, knows manners, and is very virtuous."
Chen Ping'an smiled broadly and downed a big bowl of wine, replying via heart voice, "Where, where. Away from home, I'm the head of the household, after all. Women manage the interior, men the exterior."
He was tipsy, just right.
They flew away from Suijia City together, and Chen Ping'an immediately dispersed the alcohol.
Ning Yao smiled. "I didn't even toast him. 'Knows manners'?"
Chen Ping'an pretended to be deaf and mute.
When they reached Yellow Wind Valley's Mute Lake in Treasure Phase Nation, Pei Qian laughed as they landed. "Such a big lake?"
Zhou Mi Li hopped and skipped, grinning wide. The little girl really did miss this hometown. Hearing Pei Qian say that about Mute Lake, Mi Li was very happy.
But Pei Qian had actually been here before.
The white-haired boy rolled his eyes. He could never say anything against his conscience without feeling ashamed.
Suddenly, he noticed the Hidden Official Patriarch glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
The white-haired boy immediately patted the short, fat head beside him and said with a smile, "Mi Li, such a big territory! Under your command, you must have thousands of shrimp soldiers and crab generals, right? Where are they? Hurry up and issue a decree, call them all out, let me broaden my horizons. But I'm warning you upfront—if I get scared, you'll have to pay compensation."
Mi Li scratched her face, embarrassed. "Nah, nah, I'm just a lone ranger in the jianghu."
Chen Ping'an walked by the water's edge. Without reason, he thought of that young escort.
Now he must be nearly fifty. In the jianghu world, after more than twenty years, that once-young wanderer probably had white hair by now.
The moonlight was tranquil, the waves shimmering like a scattering of Snowflake Coins.
As they walked by the lake, Chen Ping'an stretched out his arm, and Mi Li hung from it, swinging her legs, laughing heartily.
Chen Ping'an deliberately lingered, staying overnight here. Mi Li dragged the white-haired boy into Mute Lake to "roam the jianghu," making a lot of noise.
The same moonlight shone upon all nine continents.
Spring Dew Nursery, Illuminating Night Thatched Cottage.
Song Lanqiao had finally found some leisure time. Today he came to visit Tang Xi for a drink.
Two brothers in misfortune.
One couldn't get a word in with his master; as soon as he spoke, he was scolded. Reason couldn't get through.
One couldn't get a word in with the Spring Dew Nursery mountain lord either; he wouldn't be scolded, but he'd run into soft obstacles.
Add to that the troublemakers, fanning the flames and stirring up chaos, making the two old jianghu hands, used to business and worldly affairs, utterly exhausted.
So in recent years, these two, who held lower positions in the Spring Dew Nursery ancestral hall, often got together to drink their sorrows away.
They had originally had no personal friendship, but after drinking cup after cup, day after day, they had developed a good bond.
Not long ago, Tang Xi got a secret message. That young mountain lord of Fallen Mountain, who had vanished like a clay ox into the sea for over twenty years, had finally returned home.
Not only that, there were even more shocking claims—Fallen Mountain had suddenly become a sect.
But not a single person from Spring Dew Nursery had been invited to the ceremony.
There was a feeling of an approaching storm.
Song Lanqiao raised his wine glass, took a sip, and sat cross-legged on his chair. "You're still better off. At least you help manage that Fupin Shop, maintaining a steady incense friendship. He's a man who remembers the past—he won't do anything to you."
Tang Xi's expression was gloomy. "How is this doing business? A well-laid out game, such a beautiful opening move, and it gets completely wrecked by one's own people. There's no one to blame but ourselves. Pathetic."
Song Lanqiao said with a wry look, "Go tell my master."
Tang Xi laughed bitterly. "Then why don't you go talk to Old Ancestor Tan?"
They looked at each other, laughed heartily, and each raised a glass. Finding joy in misery, after all.
Song Lanqiao sighed. "Such a young sect master. I'll bet next time we meet, when I see that kid, I'll stutter."
How many years had Spring Dew Nursery, from top to bottom, been planning for that single 'sect' title? The mountain lord, Old Ancestor Tan Ling, a Nascent Soul female cultivator, had exerted all her energy. And still, they hadn't become a sect.
Tang Xi laughed. "For us old men getting by, it's just drinking the wine in one gulp."
Song Lanqiao guffawed. "Then cheers."
At dawn, at Mute Lake, the group continued their journey.
Arriving at the mountain gate of Golden Crow Palace, Pei Qian announced their names. The guarding cultivator quickly reported the matter, saying it must be announced to both the ancestral hall and Snowy Wood Peak.
In the old days, Liu Zhiqing hosting a group of outsiders had been a significant event at Golden Crow Palace.
After all, this palace lord's junior master uncle was famously friendless, with almost no social comings and goings.
Within the sect, they only knew that their senior grandmaster, with the highest seniority and cultivation base, had a very good relationship with the new sect master of Taiwei Sword Sect.
When the senior grandmaster had previously descended the mountain, it was to go with that sect master sword immortal and draw swords several times, each time exceptionally fierce.
Another time, at Spring Dew Nursery's Jade Fire Cliff, he had befriended a young sword immortal traveling the world, known only by the surname Chen.
Pei Qian clasped her fists respectfully and addressed him as "Mr. Liu."
The last time she visited Golden Crow Palace, Liu Zhiqing had acted like a teacher and half a family elder, even carefully checking Pei Qian's copied texts, finally remarking, "Your handwriting is better than your master's."
Chen Ping'an smiled and introduced, "Ning Yao."
Liu Zhiqing was greatly surprised, but quickly composed himself. He formed a single-handed sword-gesture salute and said solemnly, "Liu Zhiqing of Golden Crow Palace greets Sword Immortal Ning."
Ning Yao clasped her fists in return. "Greetings, Mr. Liu."
If she had said "Sword Immortal Liu," it would have been inappropriate.
Not to mention the customs of the Sword Qi Wall, but Ning Yao herself was a Flying Ascension sword cultivator. Calling a Nascent Soul sword cultivator "sword immortal" would likely make both of them uncomfortable.
Chen Ping'an shook his head inwardly. This guy was far inferior to him.
When he was at the Dragon Beard River forge, beside Liu Xianyang, meeting She Yue, what did he call her?
And here was Liu Zhiqing, meeting Ning Yao—couldn't he even say "sister-in-law"? The seniority was right there for him to take, and he didn't.
Liu Zhiqing looked at the white-haired boy.
Chen Ping'an sent a heart voice: "Not suitable to discuss in detail."
Liu Zhiqing understood and nodded, asking no further questions.
A Flying Ascension otherworldly demon. Her true name was Natural. In the Green Underworld, she was the dao companion of Wu Shuangjiang of Sui Chu Palace, and the key to his chance at reaching the Fourteen Realm...
Which of these claims wasn't a top taboo on the mountain?
The white-haired boy waited a long time, but the Hidden Official Patriarch, when talking to his friend, didn't even mention him. Heartbroken, he sat on the chair, head down, kicking one boot against the other.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Coming down the mountain with me? I hear Liu Jinglong is now in Northern Juzhou, wielding great prestige. Everyone acknowledges his unmatched drinking capacity. Only I am somewhat wary of him. With you around, I can persuade him to drink, and you can block the drinks. Together, we'll cut down his drinking table arrogance!"
Liu Zhiqing let out a dry laugh. "No thanks. I need to go into seclusion and practice my sword."
Chen Ping'an continued persuading, "Practice swords? There's no rush. Now that we're only one realm apart, we can completely ignore it."
Liu Zhiqing smiled faintly. "I won't see Mountain Lord Chen off."
Chen Ping'an threw an arm around Liu Zhiqing's shoulders and rubbed salt in the wound. "Oh, such a big air! What, you're looking down on me for not being a Nascent Soul sword immortal?"
Liu Zhiqing raised his hand, two fingers together, and pushed Chen Ping'an's arm away.
Chen Ping'an's smile faded, and he said via heart voice, "Seriously, in the next few years, I plan to travel to Central Earth Divine Continent. I'll call Liu Jinglong. Do you have any interest? The three of us go together?"
Back at the ferry near Spring Dew Nursery, he had agreed with Liu Jinglong to travel to Central Earth together someday.
Liu Zhiqing shook his head. "If I don't break into Jade Abyss, I won't descend the mountain. When I do, the first place I'll go isn't Central Earth Divine Continent. I hope it won't be too late."
If he truly couldn't break through the bottleneck, then he would have to go to the Sword Qi Wall ruins as a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, then fly south the whole way.
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then nodded. "Then break through the realm soon."
Maybe then they could go together to the Barbaric Underworld.
At Spring Dew Nursery, Chen Ping'an separated from Ning Yao and went alone to visit the old woman—Song Lanqiao's master, Lin Cuo'e.
He still performed the etiquette of a junior, came to visit, and without the slightest impatience, chatted with the old woman for a long time. Lin Cuo'e, who scolded everyone she saw at the ancestral hall, instantly became a kind and benevolent elder. Sitting in her chair, she turned sideways and kept holding the young man's hand beside her, asking how his travels over the years had been, if they were hard, why he looked thinner, how he hadn't sent a single letter to Spring Dew Nursery. That was bad—he shouldn't do that again, it worried people. Had he found a good dao companion on the mountain? If so, he should bring her to see her. If not, he needed to hurry up...
The old woman saw Chen Ping'an all the way to the foot of the mountain.
So this visit to Spring Dew Nursery, he only saw her.
The ferry boat steward Song Lanqiao, the god of wealth Tang Xi, the mountain lord Tan Ling—none of them did he see.
So when Chen Ping'an left, and it became known that this young sword immortal, this sect master, had come and gone, the Spring Dew Nursery ancestral hall held an emergency meeting that very day.
A blue-clad figure stood at a seaside ferry port. A gentle breeze brushed his face, lifting his sideburns and making his sleeves flutter.
The bright moon in the sky, the wind and waves on the sea, the blue shirt in the world.