Chapter 826: The Destiny Porcelain
Chen Ping'an rose and walked to the railing, gently waving the white jade ganoderma in his hand toward the person at Egret Ferry.
Liu Zhimao, the River-Cutting True Lord who had returned to Egret Ferry, focused his gaze and recognized the former accountant from his own Green Gorge Island. The young man wore Daoist robes that bordered on presumptuous, yet Liu Zhimao suspected that even if Heavenly Lord Qi of the Divine Oath Sect saw this, he would now simply turn a blind eye. Liu Zhimao laughed heartily, rode the wind to Cloud-Passing Tower, drifted down lightly, and clasped his fists: "Mountain Lord Chen, this sword challenge of yours truly stirs the heart with longing."
Chen Ping'an put away the white jade ganoderma into his sleeve, smiled, and returned the fist salute: "Greetings, True Lord Liu."
It turned out that earlier, when the flying sword messages from First Peak had bloomed like a riot of flowers across all the peaks, Liu Zhimao had received a secret letter from Chen Ping'an, informing him that once the sword challenge was over, he should come to Egret Ferry for matters to discuss.
Chen Ping'an handed over a jug of Green God Mountain wine and got straight to the point: "Earlier, I had planned to suggest to Bright Sun Mountain that you be recommended as the sect master of their lower sect. But man proposes, heaven disposes—circumstances changed midway, and I’ve made you come all this way for nothing."
Liu Zhimao took the jug but did not hurry to remove the mud seal and drink. Heaven knew whether this was a toast or a punishment. Besides, he was utterly bewildered. What was all this about? He was the chief honored offering master of True Realm Sect, a very prominent name on the Golden Jade Register enshrined in the Jade Gui Sect's patriarch hall. Serve as the sect master of Bright Sun Mountain's lower sect? This accountant sure knew how to calculate.
But if Liu Zhimao truly had a choice—or rather, if he could choose, provided Jiang Shangzhen and Wei Ying held no grudges—he wouldn't mind going along with the offer. After all, Liu Laocheng, that evergreen old man, was already at the Immortal realm and had excellent aptitude for cultivation. As long as he met with no disasters or unexpected troubles, living another eight hundred or a thousand years would be no problem. Moreover, according to the unwritten rules of the cultivation world, the step from honored offering master to sect master seemed close but was in fact a vast chasm. Liu Laocheng's exceptional promotion from offering master to sect master back then was due to his old ties with Xun Yuan, coupled with Jiang Shangzhen's regard for that friendship. Wei Ying had been busy returning to Tongye Continent to take up the post of upper sect master and hadn't wanted to obstruct—or rather, hadn't wanted to give Jiang Shangzhen a cold shoulder. Thus, the fourth sect master of True Realm Sect's history would most likely be someone sent from Jade Gui Sect to succeed Liu Laocheng. It would never be him, Liu Zhimao. He was well-versed in these basic court politics.
Wei Ying didn't think much of him. Even now, with so many empty seats in Jade Gui Sect's patriarch hall, Liu Zhimao, as the lower sect's chief offering master, still hadn't managed to secure a spot. This violated protocol, but what could Liu Zhimao say? He didn't even dare complain in private. With no one in the court and no mountain to rely on, he could only resign himself to fate.
Liu Zhimao, after all, was a Jade Purity realm cultivator of wild origins, and before Chen Ping'an, he didn't hide his regret. He sighed, "What a shame this didn't work out."
Having used Shujian Lake to become a registered offering master of a sect, if he could then use True Realm Sect to become the sect master of another sect—that was the principle of moving a tree and it dies, moving a person and they live.
A wild cultivator accustomed to digging like a stray dog and picking up scraps had no fears and no qualms.
Liu Zhimao raised the wine jug and said heartily, "Regardless, I appreciate Mountain Lord Chen's goodwill. If there are similar good opportunities in the future, please think of Liu Zhimao first."
Chen Ping'an lifted his own jug, tapped it lightly against Liu Zhimao's, and nodded with a smile, "I can't promise anything, but you can hope."
Liu Zhimao's eyes brightened. Even knowing this fellow might be talking nonsense, it still gave him something to look forward to—far better than wasting away in True Realm Sect each day with no glimmer of dawn.
Liu Zhimao took a sip of the wine and heard Chen Ping'an say it was Green God Mountain wine from his own shop.
Generally, with mountain wines and immortal brews, you drink them and that's that—what flavor is there to speak of?
But today, Liu Zhimao took one sip, savored it, furrowed his brow slightly as a mark of respect, then nodded lightly to indicate it was good wine.
Chen Ping'an leaned on the railing, holding the jug and gently shaking it.
Liu Zhimao hadn't come just for the wine. He glanced at the man beside him and felt as if a lifetime had passed. He could hardly believe that the alley boy who once drifted like a leaf adrift, spinning helplessly with the current, had truly walked step by step to this point—giving others wine, daring them not to take it, and daring them not to call it good. Even now, the few accountant rooms remained at the main gate of Green Gorge Island. His eldest disciple, Tian Hujun, whenever he went to Green Gorge Island to present himself to his master and participate in discussions, didn't dare cast a glance their way; his gaze would deliberately avoid the building.
He believed that in the future, the young cultivators of Bright Sun Mountain, whether flying on swords or on wind, would feel the same when passing the ruins of the Immortal-Bearing Sword Peak—resentment on their faces, fear carved into their hearts.
Liu Zhimao drank quickly, then put away the empty jug. Seeing that Chen Ping'an's demeanor today didn't seem to be about settling old scores, Liu Zhimao relaxed a little. No longer as anxious as he had been on the way here, he had feared that this accountant-turned-sword immortal, not yet satisfied with crushing Bright Sun Mountain, might want to settle accounts with Green Gorge Island as well. After all, Liu Zhimao knew very well that when Chen Ping'an left Shujian Lake back then, he hadn't accomplished many things—like changing customs and ways.
Liu Zhimao sighed for no reason: "If today you can eat well, dress warmly, and sleep soundly, and tomorrow you can rise, that's a good scene on the path of cultivation. A jug of fine wine, two idle men, chatting a few idle words."
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Don't say idle words are just idle words—often, affairs start from idle words."
Liu Zhimao nodded, "Indeed, a timeless truth worth more than gold."
Chen Ping'an turned around and said, "Bamboo Emperor is about to arrive here, so I won't see you off, True Lord Liu. When there's a chance to visit Spring Court Residence in the future, we can drink and reminisce."
Liu Zhimao smiled, nodded, and rode the wind away. His previously relaxed mood tensed up again. He was now thinking about reviewing the recent actions of Tian Hujun and his other disciples—he must not let this accountant calculate the debt onto his own head.
Chen Ping'an glanced toward First Peak. The deliberation had ended. The sword immortals and honored offering masters of the various peaks were returning to their homes.
He then looked at the distant figure of the River-Cutting True Lord traveling away, took a sip of wine. A breeze brushed his face as he gazed into the distance—white clouds rising from the mountains, water flowing around the green hills.
Mountain ancestral rules, court regulations, military discipline, martial world codes, village customs.
Whoever found themselves within these systems had to follow the rules. For example, in the old days of Shujian Lake, Palace Willow Island's Liu Laocheng and Green Gorge Island's Liu Zhimao were the gods who could turn clouds into rain with a wave of their hands. These earthly immortal cultivators of Shujian Lake were the only rules. When True Realm Sect took over Shujian Lake, most of the wild cultivators transformed into registered immortal masters, and they had to follow the laws of Jade Gui Sect. Even Liu Laocheng and Liu Zhimao, along with the entire wild cultivator population of Shujian Lake, were like schoolchildren entering a school, relearning to read and understand principles—some learned fast, some slow.
Behind him, outside the room, gentle knocking came from the corridor. It was the innkeeper Ni Yuerong, with her footsteps and voice, saying the sect master had arrived and wished to meet Mountain Lord Chen.
Chen Ping'an turned his head and smiled, "Please, come in."
Sect Master Bamboo Emperor and Ni Yuerong, who was from Green Mist Peak, entered together. The latter carried a scroll with a white jade roller. After arriving at the viewing terrace, Ni Yuerong brought over a low table and two cushions. She knelt on the floor, spread out the scroll on the table—it was a refined gathering painting done by an immortal hand. She looked up at the sect master, who nodded gently. Ni Yuerong then raised her right hand, her left lightly guiding her sleeve, and "pinched" an incense burner from the silk painting. Purple smoke curled from the table. She then took out a set of white porcelain tea set, placed two teacups on either side of the table, and finally brought out a platter of immortal fruits, setting it in the center.
After finishing these miscellaneous chores, Ni Yuerong remained kneeling, hands folded on her knees, eyes watching her nose, nose watching her heart, not daring to glance at Sect Master Bamboo Emperor nor at the lotus-crowned mountain lord sword immortal.
The two mountain lords, from Fallen Mountain and Bright Sun Mountain, bound by mortal hatred, each sat on one side.
There was not the slightest hint of a tense atmosphere. It was more like two old friends enjoying tea for pleasure.
Mountain grudges were not like brawls between street youths in the mortal world, each vowing to come back and kill the other. They were like the steady pillar in a rushing river—the water flows for a thousand years, but the rock remains.
Bamboo Emperor smiled, "Ni Yuerong, you may leave first. I'll call you if needed."
He didn't worry in the least that she might secretly send a message to Water Dragon Peak's Yan Chu—that would be seeking death.
Ni Yuerong immediately rose, said nothing, performed a curtsy, and departed gracefully.
Bamboo Emperor lifted his teacup and said with a smile, "Using tea in place of wine, I'm a poor host. Please don't take offense, Mountain Lord Chen."
Chen Ping'an reached out two fingers to press down on his teacup and smiled, "No rush to drink."
Bamboo Emperor nodded and indeed set down the cup.
Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "I wonder, Sect Master Bamboo Emperor, what business brings you to Cloud-Passing Tower to see me?"
If it had been someone like Yan Chu, they would have cursed inwardly: "What insolence! How dare you be so overbearing!"
But Bamboo Emperor remained calm and said, "While Mountain Lord Chen has not yet returned to Fallen Mountain, I wish to confirm one thing: how can we completely settle this old account, so that from now on Fallen Mountain walks the sunny path and Bright Sun Mountain walks the single-plank bridge, neither interfering with the other? I trust in Mountain Lord Chen's character—no need for a mountain-water contract. Fallen Mountain will surely keep its word."
Chen Ping'an looked around, then withdrew his gaze and said slowly, "Bright Sun Mountain has its current foundation thanks largely to Sect Master Bamboo Emperor's efforts. As the head of a family, the leader of a sect, you cannot neglect your own cultivation while also handling countless tangled affairs. The hardship—even the law keeper or the treasurer might witness it but not fully understand. Let alone those who bask in their ancestors' shade without knowing their fortune, those direct disciples and their disciples."
Bamboo Emperor directly clarified the man's implication and smiled, "Mountain Lord Chen means to say that this storm today is due to my lax discipline, and has little to do with Yuan Zhenye?"
Chen Ping'an smiled, "When I was young, I read two golden sayings of the sages that apply universally: 'Rise at dawn, sweep the courtyard, keep it clean both inside and out. Rest at dusk, lock the gates and doors, inspect them personally.' For a mortal household, this is so. How much more for a sect master surrounded by immortals on a mountain?"
Bamboo Emperor smiled, "So there's nothing to discuss?"
Chen Ping'an said, "You say there's nothing to discuss—maybe there is. I say there is something—then there definitely is. If I were just kindly offering you a sage's principle from a book for nothing, then there would be nothing to discuss. How bored would I have to be to revisit Cloud-Passing Tower?"
Bamboo Emperor said in a deep voice, "Then please, Mountain Lord Chen, speak plainly without beating around the bush. If it's doable, I, Bamboo Emperor, will do it. If not, then Bright Sun Mountain's peaks can only smash the pot and let it break. You can trouble the Fallen Mountain guests to take their ship back, smash both old and new peaks as you please, cut off the incense fires of my Bright Sun Mountain patriarch hall, and from now on..."
He had only just begun, and already he was losing patience and making threats.
Chen Ping'an smiled but said nothing.
He recalled the days in Shujian Lake when he drank with Liu Zhimao at the same table—his patience had been far better than Bamboo Emperor's.
As for the danger of the situation, when he had gone to Palace Willow Island to find Liu Laocheng, it had been far more life-threatening than Bamboo Emperor coming to Cloud-Passing Tower to find him.
But Bamboo Emperor quickly stopped speaking, because an uninvited guest arrived like a bird landing on a branch. After appearing, she shook her two sleeves, bowed to Chen Ping'an, and called him "Master." Then this female patriarch of Dogwood Peak, Tian Wan, sat down with a plop, smiling radiantly at Bamboo Emperor. She even seemed like a madwoman possessed by a demon—she pulled out a makeup mirror and powder box from her sleeve and began applying makeup to her face, shaking her head and saying, "Only unreasonable people tire of reason. The point is to use reason to annoy you to death. What can you do to me?"
Bamboo Emperor was too lazy to look at this crazy Tian Wan. He simply took the jade token hanging at his waist and placed it on the table. The immortal had previously lasted at most the time of one incense stick on Sword Summit. Now there was another incense stick's worth of time.
Chen Ping'an looked troubled and said, "This gift is too heavy."
Tian Wan burst out laughing, fell backward, and rolled on the ground, convulsing in a nauseating way.
Bamboo Emperor glanced at Tian Wan and asked, "Mountain Lord Chen, what is this about?"
Chen Ping'an suddenly stood up and laughed, "How did you get here? I'll catch up to the ferry boat soon."
The next moment, Bamboo Emperor saw a woman with a sword case on her back appear beside the table opposite Tian Wan. She held a sheathed sword, its base pressing down on the jade token on the table. She asked, "How exactly will you smash the pot and let it break?"
She lightly pressed the scabbard, and the jade token shattered on the spot.
Bamboo Emperor was horrified and hurriedly rolled his sleeve, trying to gather the scattered sword intent. But the woman tapped the table lightly with the scabbard, and that complexly interwoven sword intent, as if receiving a decree, completely ignored Bamboo Emperor's will. Instead, like cultivators obeying a patriarch's decree, it instantly dispersed. Each strand of sword path peeled away on its own, and on the table, it bloomed like a flower, with clear veins.
"Tian Wan" immediately stood up and bowed, "Greetings, Master's Wife."
Ning Yao nodded lightly and couldn't help but say, "Change your appearance."
"At your command!" Cui Dongshan immediately performed an illusion spell and transformed into the appearance of a white-robed youth.
Tian Wan's soul had already been peeled away by him, walking an old path that Cui Dongshan himself had once walked. Then half of Tian Wan's soul was wiped of all memories by Cui Dongshan, and placed inside a porcelain figurine with a young girl's appearance. "As water nourishes the land, so the land nourishes the people"—she would "grow like a flower."
Ning Yao said to Chen Ping'an, "Continue your talk."
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Alright, just a few words and it'll be done."
Ning Yao went to the railing, and Cui Dongshan sat back down, this time sitting upright without any trace of playfulness.
Bamboo Emperor remained motionless, not daring to gather the sword intent further. The fragments of the jade token in his peripheral vision made his heart ache.
Fortunately, he had come in secret and sealed off this viewing terrace from heaven and earth, so news of his meeting with Chen Ping'an wouldn't leak. Otherwise, if his senior uncle Xia Yuancui saw this, he might immediately harbor thoughts of usurpation.
Every Bright Sun Mountain sect master, regardless of temperament or cultivation level, had been able to hold their position thanks to this jade token.
Chen Ping'an sat down again and smiled, "Waiting for you to come find me was for one thing: to let you, Bamboo Emperor, make a choice."
Earlier, drinking tea in the First Peak patriarch hall, he had forced Bamboo Emperor to choose between Bright Sun Mountain and Yuan Zhenye.
Bamboo Emperor said, "I'm all ears."
Chen Ping'an said, "You can choose the sect master of Bright Sun Mountain's lower sect from among three people: Tao Yanbo, Liu Zhimao, or Yuan Bai."
One was the former treasurer about to be forced to seal Autumn Sign Mountain for a hundred years; one was a wild cultivator from Shujian Lake turned chief offering master of True Realm Sect; one was a sword cultivator of Snow-Encounter Peak not yet formally stripped of his name.
Bamboo Emperor smiled wryly, not daring to confirm, "Liu Zhimao? That River-Cutting True Lord of True Realm Sect?"
Cui Dongshan slapped his own chest and muttered to himself, "Hearing that a lower sect might be established, this Dogwood Peak cultivator's heart is bursting with joy."
Bamboo Emperor ignored him and said, "During the patriarch hall deliberation just now, I have already stripped Tao Yanbo of his financial authority. Autumn Sign Mountain must be sealed for a hundred years."
Bamboo Emperor smiled bitterly, "As for Yuan Bai, how could the Central March's Mount Jin Lord be willing to let him go? Besides, Yuan Bai has a firm heart and strong opinions. Since he publicly declared his departure from Bright Sun Mountain, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to win him back."
Cui Dongshan clicked his tongue, "Oh my, Sect Master Bamboo Emperor is really selling yourself short. Back then, you moved him with emotion and convinced him with reason, persuading Yuan Bai, an outsider, to first become a guest elder, then an honored offering master. You made him disregard life and death, even go against his sword heart, to engage in a sword duel with the Yellow River. And now you're lamenting Yuan Bai's strong opinions? Or is it that Sect Master Bamboo Emperor is getting old and forgetful?"
Chen Ping'an pushed his teacup to Cui Dongshan and scolded with a smile, "How are you speaking to Sect Master Bamboo Emperor?"
Cui Dongshan took the cup with both hands and drank it in one gulp.
Bamboo Emperor made a decision in his heart and asked one last question: "Is that all? Does Mountain Lord Chen have any further instructions?"
Chen Ping'an smiled, "That's all."
Bamboo Emperor sighed, "Please, Mountain Lord Chen, speak directly and give me a clear answer."
Chen Ping'an said, "It's just that."
Bamboo Emperor shook his head, clearly not believing him. He hesitated for a moment, then raised his sleeve. But as soon as he made that move, the handsome white-robed youth with a cinnabar mole on his brow propped his hands on the ground and scrambled backward in panic, shouting, "Be careful, Master! This Bamboo Emperor is turning his back! He's planning to use hidden weapons to commit murder! Or else he's going to use the cup as a signal, summoning the heroes of all peaks to gang up on us on his own turf..."
Chen Ping'an said, "Shut up."
Cui Dongshan said "oh" and moved back to his original spot.
Bamboo Emperor pulled out a stack of ancient fengshan jade books from his sleeve, which immediately glowed with treasure light. He said, "This is Bamboo Emperor's apology to Fallen Mountain. Seven sets of sealed mountain jade books, from various ancient mountain ranges in Bottle Gourd Continent. Originally intended to be refined as foundational materials for the lower sect's various vassal peaks, to help gather and consolidate mountain-water qi fortune. If that's not enough, I can personally lead Mountain Lord Chen to the treasury and let him choose as he pleases."
Chen Ping'an waved his hand, "No need."
Bamboo Emperor remained silent, just staring fixedly at this young sword immortal of Fallen Mountain. After all this mobilization and sword challenge against Bright Sun Mountain, besides revenge, you, Chen Ping'an, must want something else? Is it just to make a big scene and leave the impression of a domineering bully across the entire Bottle Gourd Continent? The world's hearts love a good show, but after watching, they love to point fingers and gossip.
Chen Ping'an stood up, put his hands in his sleeves, squinted, and smiled, "Just one thing: that Qiongzhi Peak—you need to manage it better in the future. It shouldn't be that women who are fortunate enough to climb the mountain and cultivate do so only to end up warming beds without name or status for the patriarchs of the peaks, or else be sent down the mountain as concubines to generals and ministers. Of course, if they are willing, that's a different matter—each has their own fate. But for those who don't want this, you at Bright Sun Mountain should at least give them a chance to shake their heads and refuse, without fear of being hated by their peak master, so that every step in cultivation becomes a hurdle and every day is like New Year's Eve."
Bamboo Emperor stood up as well, nodded, and said, "I will personally oversee Qiongzhi Peak from now on. Anything else?"
Peak Master Leng Qi could now focus on cultivation in peace. As for all the big and small affairs of Qiongzhi Peak, she would no longer be involved.
As for the candidate for peak master, Liu Yu seemed suitable? After all, Liu Xianyang had been relatively polite only to her during his many sword challenges. Liu Yu was currently only a Dragon Gate bottleneck sword cultivator—against the rules? At worst, they could leave the peak master position vacant for a few years until she broke through to Golden Core. Liu Yu's cultivation aptitude was actually excellent; she only seemed less outstanding compared to Wu Tijing and Yu Lin. A sword cultivator with hopes of reaching Golden Core within sixty years was more than qualified to be the Qiongzhi Peak master. Besides, Leng Qi, that woman in her youth, had once had a secret affair with Senior Uncle Xia Yuancui. So over the years, the Qiongzhi Peak sword cultivator lineage had been closely following Full Moon Peak's lead.
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly, "That's all. Actually, as you said earlier, there really isn't much for me to discuss with Bright Sun Mountain."
Bamboo Emperor said, "Then I'll take it that we've reached an agreement?"
Cui Dongshan rubbed his chin and clicked his tongue, "It's a pity that the fairies of Qiongzhi Peak are probably still cursing Master's bullying, saying he ruined their Bright Sun Mountain's grand ambition and made them all lose face."
Bamboo Emperor smiled, "Your master doesn't care about that. What Mountain Lord Chen truly cares about is whether future Qiongzhi Peak female cultivators will dare to shake their heads and say no. But rest assured, Mountain Lord Chen. From now on, the atmosphere on Qiongzhi Peak won't make things so difficult for them."
Cui Dongshan praised loudly, "Truly, only enemies are true confidants. A few words from Sect Master Bamboo Emperor are worth more than vats of spittle from all the cultivators of Bright Sun Mountain's peaks."
Cui Dongshan took a step forward, his form flowing with colors, and in the end left Tian Wan's outer shell behind. The white-robed youth turned around, raised two fingers, and pointed at his own eyes, indicating to this woman whose soul was split in half that what you see and think is what I see and think. If you don't believe it, let's use your body as a place for dao inquiry and each show our skills, scheming against each other.
Bamboo Emperor looked at the white-robed youth, then at Tian Wan, who seemed to have returned to her original form.
Even Bamboo Emperor was shocked. This whimsical, absurd white-robed youth was certainly skilled in divine arts, but his methods were truly filthy.
Chen Ping'an took a few steps, then suddenly stopped.
Bamboo Emperor's heart tightened instantly.
Chen Ping'an turned his head and said, "I remember a small matter. I'll need to trouble Sect Master Bamboo Emperor."
Bamboo Emperor said, "Please, speak."
Chen Ping'an asked, "I wonder how far Bright Sun Mountain is from Fallen Mountain?"
Bamboo Emperor thought for a moment and replied, "For cultivators riding the wind, it's roughly two hundred thousand miles. Why does Mountain Lord Chen ask?"
Chen Ping'an squinted and smiled, "Then please, Sect Master Bamboo Emperor, have a stele erected on Bright Sun Mountain's northern border, inscribed with one sentence: 'Two hundred thousand miles north to Fallen Mountain.'"
Bamboo Emperor's expression flickered. He could even take Chen Ping'an to tour the sect's forbidden treasury and let him choose any heavenly treasures, but a stele that cost a few Snow Flower coins was more difficult than ascending to heaven.
Chen Ping'an reminded him, "Bamboo Emperor, I'm not discussing this with you."
Bamboo Emperor was silent for a moment, then laughed and said, "A trivial matter."
Chen Ping'an withdrew his illusion spell, used Earth-Compressing Technique, and together with Ning Yao rode the wind north to catch up with the dragon boat ferry.
Cui Dongshan leaped up with a bounce, using the mortal martial art of Cloud-Ladder Ascension. As he bounced higher, he said with a grin, "Sect Master Bamboo Emperor, I took nothing, leaving empty-handed. Don't hold a grudge, okay? Sister Tian, the green hills remain, the waters flow forever. Brother and sister, let's part here."
Tian Wan, temporarily free, sneered. "Parting"? They would be together day and night.
The white-robed youth flipped his large sleeve, twisted his body, and transformed into a streak of snow-white rainbow light, cutting across the sky—an immortal's carefree journey.
After they left, Bamboo Emperor asked softly, "How did we fall into his trap?"
Tian Wan no longer had any of her former fawning. Her eyes sharp and fierce as she stared at this waste of a Bright Sun Mountain leader. Her expression cold and tone harsh, she said, "Bamboo Emperor, I advise you to clean up your own mess. Fallen Mountain is not Wind and Thunder Garden, and Chen Ping'an is not Li Tuanjing. Don't think the storm has passed. As for me, as long as you know your place and don't pry into things privately, I will still be the female patriarch of Dogwood Peak, and First Peak will not interfere with each other."
Bamboo Emperor had weathered a series of tremendous shocks today, so he didn't mind another Tian Wan with a drastically changed nature. He smiled, "Su Jia, the Sword-Nurturing Gourd, and my closed-door disciple Wu Tijing—you brought them all up the mountain. How to handle them is up to you."
Tian Wan said flatly, "Immediately restore Su Jia's status as a patriarch hall direct disciple. She still has the aptitude to continue practicing swords. I will secretly help her. Put the Sword-Nurturing Gourd in the treasury; it will still nominally belong to Bright Sun Mountain. When it's needed, I'll fetch it myself. As for Wu Tijing, who has already left the mountain, don't bother with him. Your master-disciple fate is over; you can't force it. If you leave him alone, he might just become another Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple's Immortal Terrace in the future."
Bamboo Emperor asked, "And what about sect intelligence, mountain-water gazettes, and the Mirror Flower Water Moon?"
Tian Wan sneered, "Naturally, that will be up to the sect master to find another capable person."
In truth, what Bamboo Emperor most wanted to slap to death right now was that proud disciple of Water Dragon Peak's Yan Chu.
Tian Wan turned her head and looked at the sect master, who had been so confident and scheming for a whole continent just yesterday, and jeered, "Do you still not know who the sword challenger really is?"
Bamboo Emperor sat down, extended a palm, and smiled, "How about sitting down and chatting over tea?"
Tian Wan directly rode the wind back to Dogwood Peak, where even birds did not alight. Bamboo Emperor laughed at himself, then called for the innkeeper Ni Yuerong to come and drink tea with him.
Ni Yuerong knelt on the cushion, drinking tea, feeling as if she were swallowing knives.
Bamboo Emperor suddenly threw out a question: "Ni Yuerong, if you could choose back then, and no matter what you chose, there would be no repercussions, would you still have become Yan Chu's mountain concubine?"
Ni Yuerong's face turned deathly pale. Bamboo Emperor leaned forward and actually refilled her cup, then said gently, "No need to be nervous. I just want to hear the truth."
Ni Yuerong, drenched in sweat, said tremblingly, "Being favored by Law Keeper Yan, though without a title, I have no complaints. Over the years, Law Keeper Yan has helped me, Cloud-Passing Tower, and Green Mist Peak a great deal."
Bamboo Emperor smiled and nodded. What her answer was didn't matter. What Bamboo Emperor wanted was her sense of walking on thin ice. So he asked again, "Do you think that Yuan Bai becoming the lower sect master is a good or bad thing for our upper sect?"
Ni Yuerong braced herself and said, "The sect master is wise."
Bamboo Emperor smiled, "Then if I sent you to be the head of the lower sect's treasury, what would you do?"
Ni Yuerong had a flash of inspiration and said, "I would have no further ties with Water Dragon Peak. From now on, only official dealings, no personal friendships."
Bamboo Emperor continued, "And if, once you had great power in the lower sect, you took a fancy to a handsome junior disciple and felt a strong affinity for him, what would you do? Would you learn from Yan Chu and threaten or bribe him?"
Ni Yuerong felt as if struck by lightning. Was the sect master out of his mind today, always asking such strange questions? Awkwardly, she said, "If both parties are willing, we could become dao partners on the mountain. If the other person already had someone in their heart, a forced melon is not sweet—I wouldn't dare force it."
Ni Yuerong was, of course, very afraid of the sect master before her, but that young sword immortal with the lotus crown and green gauze Daoist robe also filled her with lingering dread. She always felt that the next moment, he would appear out of nowhere with a smile, stand beside her, say nothing, and she wouldn't know what he was thinking or what he would do next.
Bamboo Emperor sighed. His anxieties, rather than decreasing, had increased.
It seemed that the harshest part of today's sword challenge was not the swordsmanship of Chen Ping'an and Liu Xianyang, but those account books Liu Xianyang had pulled out when he climbed the mountain.
Obviously, those ledgers could only be Chen Ping'an's work.
Because Liu Xianyang looked like an idle man, too lazy to bother with such things. And Chen Ping'an, though young, was extremely deep, as patient as could be, almost as if he was asking Bright Sun Mountain for a law keeper title. Becoming a sword immortal and becoming a sect master, especially the founder of a sect, were two completely different things.
At Egret Ferry, Wei Liang walked alone on the path through the reeds. He withdrew his gaze from Cloud-Passing Tower and said softly, "A dissolution by the sword, stopping just in time. Perfect."
Back on the ferry, Chen Ping'an clasped his fists to Yu Yue and smiled, "Honored Offering Master Yu."
Chen Ping'an wasn't usually this polite, but Yu Yue was a newly appointed honored offering master.
The young mountain lord didn't call him "guest elder"—he said "honored offering master." Yu Yue couldn't help but laugh heartily. With the Hidden Official's words, the old sword cultivator's hanging heart finally settled. When they drank again, he would infuriate that Old Man Pu.
Then Chen Ping'an said there were matters to discuss. Little Mi Li quickly led the way, picking the largest room on the dragon boat ferry. Chen Ping'an casually sat in a seat near the door. Everyone else sat down casually, with no regard for status or rank.
Little Mi Li busied herself, placing a small amount of melon seeds on each person's table. She hadn't brought many today, so she was a bit short.
After the right protector of Fallen Mountain made a round, she found that when it came to Pei Qian and the big white goose, she only had a few melon seeds left in her hand. She scratched her face, turned back, and retrieved some from Old Cook, Chief Zhou, Vice Chief Mi, and the others, apologizing to each, then gave the replenished portion to Pei Qian and the big white goose.
Cui Dongshan spoke first, saying that their Chief Zhou planned to return to Tongye Continent. Chen Ping'an smiled, "Perfect timing. You can take Cao Qinglang with you. If all goes well, we should be able to formally establish Fallen Mountain's lower sect in the northern region of Tongye Continent by the end of this year, or at the latest by early spring next year."
Jiang Shangzhen smiled and agreed. It was on the way.
Chen Ping'an continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, by the time we return to Fallen Mountain, that Wind Kite cross-continent ferry of the Profound Secret Dynasty should also arrive at Oxhorn Ferry. At that point, you'll bring that ferry to Tongye Continent as well. With this Wind Kite ferry, we'll need to open our own cross-continent route—how to travel by land, how by sea, how to deal with passing dynasties and immortal mountain strongholds, especially how to build connections with major ferry ports along the way. All need careful consideration without the slightest oversight. Dongshan and Pei Qian, you'll go there to help. Later, you'll need to return to Fallen Mountain. According to the previously established plan, Zhong Qiu, Mi Yu, Sui Youbian, and Cui Wei will need to settle there for cultivation. Zhong Qiu will assist Cao Qinglang in overseeing the grand direction. Pei Qian will be responsible for interacting with Green Tiger Palace and Pu Mountain Thatched Cottage. Dongshan, you'll keep an eye on a few strongholds like Golden Summit Temple. As for our Great Sword Immortal Mi..."
At this point, Chen Ping'an smiled and fell silent, cracking melon seeds. Mi Yu hurriedly put down his own seeds and straightened his back. "I'll follow Zhong Qiu's instructions completely. Whether I need to draw my sword and cut someone down, or shamelessly beg to build connections, I'll spare no effort."
Zhong Qiu smiled, "I wouldn't dare give random orders to Vice Chief Mi."
Yu Yue was puzzled. The Hidden Official had also called Mi Yu a sword immortal, even a great sword immortal—why hadn't Mi Yu flown into a rage? What? Was a vice chief honored offering master bullying an ordinary honored offering master?
Chen Ping'an looked at Hong Xia and said, "Sui Youbian isn't on the ship. Hong Xia, please tell her for me that when she gets to Tongye Continent, she will be responsible for the specific liaison with Jade Gui Sect and Cloud Cavern Blessed Land."
Hong Xia immediately stood up to accept the order.
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Next time you're this formal, Little Mi Li won't hand out melon seeds."
Hong Xia sat down, a bit embarrassed.
Little Mi Li was sitting on a high chair, swinging her feet. She scratched her face. "Mountain Lord, next time I'll have lots and lots of melon seeds in my pouch."
Sister Hong Xia was so easy to get along with. Melon seeds weren't worth anything, nobody cared about them, but if Sister Hong Xia didn't have any by her side, it would be embarrassing.
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Then you'll be responsible for reminding Hong Xia not to stand up next time."
Little Mi Li was delighted to have another duty. She nodded vigorously. "Good, good. Before every meeting from now on, I'll remind Sister Hong Xia."
Mi Yu squinted at Old Sword Immortal Yu and said with a fake smile, "Honored Offering Master Yu, being able to eat melon seeds as soon as you step through the door—that's quite something. In our Fallen Mountain, not everyone gets that treatment."
Yu Yue was taken aback. Eating melon seeds in Fallen Mountain had rules?
Little Mi Li crossed her arms, frowning slightly. Could it be that the sacks of melon seeds she bought were actually treasures, and were extremely valuable?
Then Chen Ping'an had Law Keeper Chang Ming draw up a detailed set of sect rules, as simple as possible, not too cumbersome.
After that, they discussed the name of the lower sect. Chen Ping'an asked everyone to give suggestions. Chen Lingjun said with great righteousness, "My lord's skill in naming things—he claims to be second in the world, and no one dares to claim first. The third would be so nervous they'd call themselves fourth..."
Cui Dongshan started flicking melon seed shells at Chen Lingjun. "So you're the one with the iron backbone, huh?"
Cui Dongshan got elbowed by Pei Qian beside him and glared at the green-clad boy across.
Chen Lingjun was furious. He caught the shells and threw them back. You got hit by Pei Qian, what does that have to do with me? Earlier, you kicked me on the bow, and I haven't settled accounts with you, you big white goose. Wei Bo and I are sworn brothers, same generation. So you didn't kick my butt—you kicked the face of Mountain Lord Wei, alright! Now, in front of my lord and your master, let's have it out and fight properly.
Chen Ping'an ignored their antics. He was silent for a moment, then smiled, "I hope that our Fallen Mountain will always be the Fallen Mountain of today. I hope."
After the discussion, Chen Ping'an only kept Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen behind.
Ning Yao sat to the side, continuing to crack melon seeds.
Chen Ping'an said, "After my destiny porcelain was shattered back then, I couldn't piece it all together. At most six pieces, at least four, are still out there."
Both Jiang Shangzhen and Cui Dongshan looked grave.
Ning Yao also put down her melon seeds.
Chen Ping'an smiled, "The only thing certain now is that the Grand Dowager of Great Li definitely has one piece. I caught her trail earlier at Cloud-Passing Tower. Besides that, Zou Zi likely gave one piece to the sword cultivator Liu Cai. The Ma family of Apricot Flower Lane might also have one hidden. As for Qionglin Sect in Northern Juzhou, maybe they have one, maybe not—I'll go ask in person. As for the Yin-Yang Family Lu of the Central Earth, it's hard to say. For now, these are the leads I can think of. You don't need to be so alarmed. Remember, I once had my Bridge of Longevity severed, and later I merged with the Sword Qi Wall. My current physique has actually turned out for the better. Even if fragments of the destiny porcelain fall into others' hands, it won't affect my cultivation much. It will only give me a chance to track things down by the vine."
Chen Ping'an stood up and smiled. "So, let's pay a visit to the Great Li capital."