Chapter 844: Return to the Sword Qi Great Wall
The gentleman who had returned from the Central Plains Confucian Temple had indeed brought Li Sheng along to Vase Bottle Continent.
Chen Ping'an and the others immediately rose to their feet. Cao Qinglang bowed in salute along with the gentleman. Pei Qian saw her master's wife offer a fist-palm salute and followed suit, since bowing felt rather awkward for her.
Only the innkeeper's daughter was a bit embarrassed. She had no choice but to stand up as well, looking left and right before finally deciding to offer a fist-palm salute along with Master Ning. After all, they were all free-spirited children of the jianghu.
Just a moment ago, she had been wondering: what kind of martial arts sect was this, where people spoke without making a sound? Could it be the long-lost art of sound transmission secret communication?
The girl then followed the clues and pondered further: could Master Ning's sect actually be a den of supreme experts?
Now suddenly a scholar had appeared, and she completely lost her bearings. Whether Master Ning truly came from some obscure jianghu sect hidden in some corner was now up in the air.
Ning Yao patted the girl's head and said with a smile, "You go back to the inn first. I promise I won't steal your family's bench."
The girl hummed in acknowledgment. There was no point in staying here anyway. She crossed the threshold alone, went into the inn, and leaned on the counter, whispering to her father, "Dad, there's a scholar outside I've never seen before. He's pretty tall and looks quite refined. He might even be a jinshi official."
The old shopkeeper was sipping wine while flipping through a book, too lazy to even turn his head to look outside. He said with a smile, "Are there really so few scholars from Yichi Lane?"
Outside the inn, Li Sheng said to Cao Qinglang with a smile, "Rare."
Cao Qinglang bowed again.
The old scholar and his final disciple both pretended not to catch the hidden meaning in Li Sheng's words.
Beyond the fact that Cao Qinglang was a rare seed of learning.
The Wen Sheng lineage had produced a rare scholar who didn't resemble the Wen Sheng lineage.
Li Sheng turned to look at Pei Qian and said, "It won't hurt to take a look."
Pei Qian shook her head.
How would she dare casually look into Li Sheng's mental state and aura?
Finally, Li Sheng said to Ning Yao, "As long as you remain the number one in the Five-Colored Heaven, then some unwritten rules—at least here in Haoran Heaven—you must abide by. Once you return to the Five-Colored Heaven, even if the sky falls, I won't interfere. Because I and the Confucian Temple also need to follow certain rules. Ning Yao, remember this: any capricious act by any peak powerhouse, regardless of whether their intention is good or bad, has a tremendous impact on the world we live in. Many invisible influences may last for thousands of years."
There was no earnest exhortation, no harsh tone, and not even a hint of warning. Li Sheng simply stated an ordinary truth in an ordinary tone.
Ning Yao remained silent.
The old scholar gave a light cough, and Chen Ping'an immediately spoke up: "Mr. Li Sheng, how about we go sit at my senior brother's residence for a while?"
Li Sheng nodded. "Fine."
The group headed toward that small alley. Along the way, Li Sheng took in the streets of the Great Li capital. It had indeed been many years since he last set foot in Vase Bottle Continent.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Mr. Li Sheng, could you refrain from sending Ning Yao and me directly to the Barren Wasteland Heaven, and instead only help us return to Haoran Heaven from a certain location?"
That way, Li Sheng would only have to make a single move.
"A certain location? You mean Tuo Yue Mountain?"
Li Sheng chuckled. "You want to use the Three Mountain Talisman to cross two heavens? Your injuries aren't fully healed yet. Such an act would only make things worse. Are you planning to sleep for a few days on Tuo Yue Mountain while Ning Yao negotiates with the great demons guarding the mountain gate? Then when you've rested, you and Ning Yao will dismantle their ancestral hall together? If something like that were possible, I'd go to Tuo Yue Mountain myself. I wouldn't even need to make them wait two or three days—half a stick of incense would be enough."
Chen Ping'an nodded and immediately abandoned that notion. "Understood."
In truth, Chen Ping'an had already made a rough estimate in his mind earlier, when Ning Yao suggested making a trip to the Sword Qi Great Wall. It seemed his error was considerable. The problem still lay in his underestimation of the aftereffects of crossing two heavens with the Three Mountain Talisman and his underestimation of the prohibitions on Tuo Yue Mountain. Since Li Sheng had given this final result, Chen Ping'an could work backward to verify the effects of the Three Mountain Talisman and even roughly calculate the degree of connection between the two heavens through that great gate and the various Guixu sea passages.
Li Sheng walked slowly along the street and continued, "Don't seek medical advice in desperation. Even if, in a worst-case scenario, you really smashed Tuo Yue Mountain to pieces, the battlefield where A Liang is would still go on as before. Don't underestimate the intelligence and strategy of those peak great demons in the Barren Wasteland Heaven."
"I'm not denying the merits of your service as the Hidden Official. But to be fair, back when you presided over all the affairs of the Summer Retreat Palace, the Hidden Official lineage's commands could flow so smoothly largely because you had the shelter of the Old Sword Immortal, who was omnipresent. He gave you his ten-thousand-year logic, passed it to you, the final Hidden Official. If this were a secular court, or even in the Confucian Temple, no matter who backed you, you would never be able to replicate that."
"Besides that, have you considered that Tuo Yue Mountain might truly be waiting not just for A Liang, but also for you, and even for Ning Yao?"
Chen Ping'an listened without missing a single word.
The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled.
Though Li Sheng was never one to be stingy with words—in fact, whenever he reasoned with people, he talked quite a bit—but Li Sheng rarely spoke casually.
The old scholar sent a heart-to-heart message to Ning Yao: "Ning girl, don't be angry. There's no need. Li Sheng has always been like this, very rigid. As someone once said, freedom is having an umbrella when you go out in the rain. The only unfreedom is having to hold the umbrella and stay under it."
Ning Yao hummed in acknowledgment.
Li Sheng said, "We'll talk about the matter of the Water-Stopping Realm once we get inside the residence."
When they reached the entrance of the small alley, the old cultivator Liu Jia and the youth Zhao Duanming, master and disciple, immediately appeared.
Chen Ping'an pointed at Pei Qian and Cao Qinglang and explained, "My disciple and my student are not outsiders."
Liu Jia moved sideways two steps, blocking the middle of the alley, and pointed at the middle-aged Confucian scholar. He asked Chen Ping'an, "Wait a moment, what about this one?"
Are you trying to fool me? Hiding behind ambiguity? Trying to slip through? No way.
Chen Ping'an felt somewhat awkward. His senior brother really could pick such an impartial gatekeeper. This Liu Jia truly didn't understand any official rules or human relations, did he?
He himself was leading the way, his master accompanying Li Sheng walking side by side behind, and behind them were Ning Yao, Pei Qian, and Cao Qinglang.
With such an arrangement, could Liu Jia still not see the importance?
Li Sheng, however, didn't mind at all. He smiled and introduced himself: "My name is Yu Ke, from the Central Plains Confucian Temple."
Liu Jia thought for a moment and shook his head. "Never heard of you. No matter who you are, don't blame me for being unapproachable. If you think I'm a dog looking down on people, suit yourself. But my rules are clear: unless you're a scholar from Mr. Cui's lineage of learning, or someone from the Great Li court handling official business, no one else enters this alley."
What's so great about the Central Plains Confucian Temple? There aren't many good birds there.
Back in the day, National Teacher Cui returned to his hometown in disgrace, eventually becoming the Great Li National Teacher. In the final analysis, wasn't it because the Confucian Temple forced him?
Chen Ping'an felt powerless. He had actually intended to give Liu Jia a chance to get closer to Li Sheng—just ask a casual question, exchange some pleasantries. But Liu Jia had taken to blocking people as if it were an addiction.
The youth Zhao Duanming leaned against the wall, eating peanuts and watching the show.
He noticed his Brother Chen was giving him a meaningful look while subtly pointing at the Confucian-robed man and then at the old scholar.
Zhao Duanming, a member of the Tianshui Zhao clan, quickly caught on. His teeth chattered as he sent a heart-to-heart message to his master: "Master, he seems to be... Li Sheng! The Confucian Temple's Li Sheng!"
If not for the presence of the old Wen Sheng scholar and Brother Chen's hints, the youth would never have recognized him. Who would believe that Li Sheng would actually appear before them? If he ran back to his clan and swore he'd seen Li Sheng, his grandfather would just laugh and say, "You got struck by lightning again, silly boy?"
As a descendant of a Shangzhuguo family, especially a male, he had often burned incense at both small and large Confucian Temples. It was normal not to recognize Wen Sheng—the real person looked too different from the portrait. Besides, Wen Sheng's god tablet and portrait had been removed for over a hundred years. But Li Sheng was different. Year after year, he hung in various Confucian Temples, accompanying the Supreme Sage.
The old cultivator kept a straight face, waved his hand, and stepped aside, clearing the way.
Only when the group had entered the alley and were almost at the residence did the youth dare to turn his head and look away. He found his master still facing the street, eyes dazed, sweating profusely.
Finally, master and disciple crouched together at the alley entrance. The old cultivator broke his own rule and gave the youth a flask of wine, and they drank in silence.
"Master."
"What?"
"Honestly, you're really something. I used to think you were always bragging—being handsome in your youth, countless chivalrous women and immortals admiring you, or being so tough the National Teacher thought highly of you. Now I think almost all of it is true. From now on, when you tell those old stories, I definitely won't turn a deaf ear anymore."
"Shut up and drink your wine."
"Master, I think, judging by how things are developing, next time we block someone, it'll be the Supreme Sage himself, right?"
"Get lost!"
"Master, why are you getting angry at me? I'm the one who reminded you he was Li Sheng."
"Have some salted peanuts."
Outside the Ren Yun Yi Yun Tower courtyard, the small yard was quiet. The bluestone paving was ordinary. In the two corners of the yard were clumps of verdant plantains and a lone, gaunt plum tree—neither crooked nor leaning, straight but without charm.
The four of them sat around a stone table, while the juniors, Cao Qinglang and Pei Qian, stood.
Cao Qinglang stood behind his master, while Pei Qian stood beside her master's wife.
Chen Ping'an produced a jar of Hundred Flowers Brew and four Flower Spirit Cups.
Li Sheng smiled. "Hundred Flowers Brew. It's been many years since I last had some."
The old scholar stood up. "Ping'an, you sit, just sit. Let me pour wine for Li Sheng."
"Master, I can handle this sort of thing."
"No need, no need. You've finally come home, yet you're still running yourself ragged every day without a moment's rest. First, you're guarding the mountain gate for Taiping Mountain and getting into conflicts, even provoking immortals—such thankless work. Then you're helping Zhengyang Mountain clean house and change the atmosphere. On one trip to the Confucian Temple, you didn't even say much, just showed your face, and you caught the eye of that old fogy Li Fuzi, who's so arrogant and sharp-tongued. Honestly, even I'm afraid of him. Now you're here in the Great Li capital, helping to sort out the threads, doing what you can to fill gaps and correct mistakes. And what's the result? Repaying kindness with enmity! Not a moment's peace. Your master's heart aches. If I don't do a few trivial things for you, it just won't sit right with me!"
Li Sheng watched the two of them arguing and said with a smile, "How about I pour the wine?"
As for the old scholar's sarcastic insinuations, it was best to just get used to them. Back in the day during Confucian Temple meetings, the old scholar never held back. Anyway, his entire lineage had only him present, so he could spout nonsense without worrying about accidentally hitting anyone.
The old scholar sat back down with a resigned look and let his final disciple pour the wine: first for the guest Li Sheng, then for his own master, then for Ning Yao, and finally for Chen Ping'an himself.
Before drinking, Li Sheng said, "Wait a moment. I need to go back twice."
The old scholar said hurriedly, "Li Sheng, there's no need for that."
But in the blink of an eye, the old scholar could only sigh and say nothing more.
What was the point of stopping him? In that instant, Li Sheng had already "gone back" both times and returned to the "present."
To sail against the River of Time, tracing origins, going upstream against the current—that is called "hui" (return).
To sail along the same direction with the flow, faster than the current—that is called "qu" (go).
Li Sheng smiled. "No lingering consequences. You were very careful."
Since he was referring to the Chen Ping'an of pure divinity, he naturally meant the Chen Ping'an before him. There was no difference.
Chen Ping'an rose and bowed in thanks. "Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Li Sheng."
The old scholar asked cautiously, "Li Sheng, how far did you go?"
This was no small matter!
Li Sheng said, "Don't worry. Not far."
The old scholar began to employ a signature technique that even his final disciple hadn't learned: shamelessness. "Don't give me that vagueness. Tell me, how far did you go?!"
Li Sheng turned to look at Chen Ping'an, as if the answer were with him.
Chen Ping'an couldn't pretend to be ignorant, so he steeled himself and gave his answer: "As the Chan sect says, 'To say it is like a thing is to miss the mark.'"
It was like an old saying from Chen Ping'an's hometown: you can't tell outsiders the wishes you make to a bodhisattva, or they won't come true. Sincerity leads to spiritual response; if you pray, you'll be answered.
The old scholar raised his cup with both hands, his face full of smiles. "Then let me make a toast first. Li Sheng, drinking alone is no fun. How about us brothers have a drink? You do as you please. I can down three in a row without issue."
An originally polite drinking session where no one would press anyone else was twisted by the old scholar into something with a jianghu outlaw air.
Li Sheng truly did as he pleased. He simply raised his cup and took a sip. The old scholar craned his neck, waited a moment, then thought, forget it, Li Sheng can't hold his liquor. I won't bother being polite. He also took a sip. This was hard-earned wine from his final disciple; he had to drink sparingly. He would have to give away his own few jars of Hundred Flowers Brew later.
Chen Ping'an asked a huge question: "Earlier, at the inn, did 'he' already see Li Sheng?"
Li Sheng nodded.
Chen Ping'an was completely speechless.
How was he supposed to calculate the order of events in a case like this?
According to Master Xu's explanation of characters, he said: "The four directions up and down are called yu; the past and present are called zhou." The Buddhists speak of the boundless worlds of the ten directions.
The Dao Ancestor once said there was a thing formed in chaos, born before heaven and earth, indescribable, and he reluctantly named it Dao. Lu Chen directly said that Dao exists in ants, weeds, and feces.
After taking a sip of wine, Li Sheng suddenly said, "If one wishes to reach the fifteenth realm, they must completely transcend all the great shackles imposed by writing."
The old scholar spat out a mouthful of wine.
Chen Ping'an was even more stunned into silence.
Ning Yao seemed lost in thought.
Cao Qinglang and Pei Qian exchanged glances—one full of worry, the other of pride. The former gently shook his head, and the latter glared at him.
Li Sheng prepared to leave Vase Bottle Continent and, as a courtesy, escort Chen Ping'an and Ning Yao to the ruins of the Sword Qi Great Wall.
The aftermath of the Barren Wasteland Grand Ancestor's "sword liberation" was too severe; he needed to unravel it bit by bit.
The old scholar quickly wiped his mouth and grabbed Li Sheng's arm. "Leaving after just one cup of wine? No face? Let's chat a bit more, just a few more words—it won't cost you much. Besides, my direct and indirect disciples are all here. At least give me some face."
Chen Ping'an immediately poured another cup for Li Sheng. He still had many doubts and wanted to take the opportunity to ask Li Sheng.
Ning Yao, Pei Qian, and Cao Qinglang all remained silent.
A normal person wouldn't ask for face like that.
Li Sheng had no choice but to sit back down.
Chen Ping'an sent a heart-to-heart message: "Master, is Li Sheng's true surname Yu, with the given name Ke meaning 'strictly adhere,' or Ke meaning 'guest'?"
About Li Sheng's name, there was no record in any book. Chen Ping'an had never heard anyone mention it before.
Li Sheng said, "It's the latter."
Chen Ping'an felt slightly embarrassed. In front of Li Sheng, whether it was heart-to-heart or not didn't matter much.
Li Sheng smiled. "Strictly adhere to rules? Actually, not really. I'm just responsible for formulating rituals."
Chen Ping'an took a sip of wine.
Words like these were probably similar to A Liang saying, "Me, boast?" Or Ning Yao asking, "Does the sword need practice?" Or Fire Dragon True Lord saying he "understands a little" about Dao arts. Or the Old Sword Immortal saying that what he said on the Sword Qi Great Wall didn't count.
After pouring another cup for his master, Chen Ping'an asked, "That tomb created by the Flying Ascension ghost in the sea—is it what ancient texts call the 'Suspended Tomb'?"
This type of tomb often belonged exclusively to ancient emperors. It was full of mechanisms inside—neither ascending to immortality nor descending to the Yellow Springs. It was like a kind of alternative "immortality," achieving both eternal life and freedom from all Dao constraints. However, in Haoran Heaven, such tombs had only been recorded in writing for thousands of years, with no actual example appearing. Even mountain cultivators regarded them as baseless tall tales.
Li Sheng nodded. "Indeed."
Chen Ping'an looked up at the sky.
That Wenhai Zhou Mi was just as persistent as a ghost.
This Flying Ascension ghost that Ning Yao had tracked down was certainly a deeply buried chess piece from the Barren Wasteland Heaven. For instance, when Haoran Heaven launched a massive attack on the Barren Wasteland Heaven, suddenly shattering one of the Guixu sea passages would cause losses not only of cultivators, ferry boats, and troops, but also a near-fatal blow to the morale of Haoran Heaven. Any qi refiner would feel uneasy.
Those on the Barren Wasteland battlefield, mountain cultivators, and soldiers from various dynasties of the mortal world would all worry about their retreat. Those who hadn't yet gone to the battlefield would be even more anxious about their safety, uncertain if they'd live to see the Barren Wasteland Heaven.
But the most terrifying thing was still the possibility that Zhou Mi had already calculated this outcome. Even more terrifying than that was if Wenhai Zhou Mi had deliberately done so, willing to sacrifice a Flying Ascension ghost's life to make Haoran Heaven's journey to the Barren Wasteland Heaven safer, more stable, and more reassuring, making people think there were no more concerns or hidden dangers.
Chen Ping'an always spoke his mind with Ning Yao, so he bluntly and accurately shared this worry with her.
Ning Yao's answer was simple: I only swing my sword at people and things I don't like. What happens after is none of my business. If you want to think about it, think more. If you don't want to, let the Confucian Temple know and let them think.
Chen Ping'an had laughed and agreed at the time, saying he would think as much as he could, and no more.
Perhaps it was only with such a Ning Yao that Chen Ping'an could speak his thoughts and worries without reservation.
All the thoughts in the world couldn't just be stored without release. Otherwise, every overly thoughtful and worried person in the world would have a bitter face.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Does the Confucian Temple have similar arrangements?"
Li Sheng smiled. "Of course. 'One must return a courtesy, or it is not proper.' "
Finally, Chen Ping'an asked a question that had been buried deep in his heart for years: "In that battle of thirteen on the Sword Qi Great Wall back then, did the Central Plains Yin-Yang School's Lu clan truly harbor malicious intentions?"
In that battle, the Barren Wasteland Heaven and the Sword Qi Great Wall each sent thirteen fighters to duel.
Xiao Xun, Lu Zhi, Ning Yao's parents, Yue Qing, Mi Hu, Zhang Lu, Yao Chongdao, Li Tuimi...
Both sides' lists were fixed and clear. On paper, the two sides were roughly equal. The key was the order.
In the arrangement of positions, it ultimately proved extremely disadvantageous to the Sword Qi Great Wall's sword immortals. They fell step by step into the Barren Wasteland Heaven's trap.
For example, Ning Yao's parents' appearance in formation, and the defeat of the great sword immortal Zhang Lu by Shou Chen. If not for A Liang fighting last and beheading a Flying Ascension great demon, the Sword Qi Great Wall would have lost completely.
One of the Lu clan's ancestors had specifically deduced the heavenly mechanism for this, sacrificing his entire Dao cultivation. Moreover, he wasn't even at the proclaimed Immortal realm, but a genuine Flying Ascension realm great cultivator.
Li Sheng shook his head. "The other side was more skilled. The Confucian Temple only found out afterward that the hidden Barren Wasteland Sunrise—the old man who appeared with Xiao Xun at Tuo Yue Mountain during the last council—had, in collusion with several ancient deities, secretly used the technique of shifting stars and changing constellations to deceive the Lu clan of the Yin-Yang School. Without accident, Sunrise did this under Zhou Mi's covert instructions, achieving multiple things at once."
Causing Haoran Heaven to lose a Flying Ascension realm Yin-Yang School great cultivator.
Diminishing a portion of the top combat power of the Sword Qi Great Wall.
In the eyes of ordinary cultivators in Haoran Heaven who weren't at the peak, a city of sword immortals could win the war. Such a Barren Wasteland Heaven, even if it reached Haoran Heaven, what waves could it stir? Since they didn't understand military strategy or formations, only brute force combat, and top combat power was so inadequate, even if they reached Haoran, they'd only end up being beaten like dogs trapped in a house.
Li Sheng asked, "If the answer were different, what would you do?"
Cao Qinglang, who had been standing, held his breath and clenched his fists.
Pei Qian narrowed her eyes.
The old scholar, however, remained calm and composed.
Chen Ping'an answered truthfully, "The Yin-Yang School's Lu clan would have been the next Zhengyang Mountain—maybe even worse."
Li Sheng smiled. "I've seen some mountain grievances before."
The old scholar added, "And he didn't interfere."
Chen Ping'an seemed to want to say something but held back.
Li Sheng gave an example: "People and grasshoppers."
Without anyone asking anything, he gave a seemingly nonsensical answer.
Yet Chen Ping'an nodded, understanding.
A grasshopper can lose a leg and still hop around.
But humans, as the leaders of sentient beings—excluding cultivators—don't possess such strong vitality.
As soon as Chen Ping'an heard this analogy, he immediately thought of immortal ferry boats. In his earlier imagination, a ferry boat shuttling through clouds and seas should be an extremely precise, interlocking existence. But in reality, apart from the key formation centers that were kept secret, the construction of an immortal ferry boat was actually much rougher than Chen Ping'an had imagined.
Similarly, the whole world and society require a certain degree of gap and distance. His master's concept of "Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teachers" was the same—being too close isn't always good.
If Li Sheng strictly controlled every aspect of Haoran Heaven, Haoran Heaven would not be what it is today. Whether it might have been better or worse, no one knows except Li Sheng himself. The ultimate fact is that Li Sheng turned a blind eye to many things. Why? Was it intentional to let all kinds of people thrive in the same world? Was it tolerance of certain mistakes? Or did he think that making mistakes itself is human nature, a way to stay away from divinity? The reason humans are human lies precisely in this?
Cui Dongshan once proposed a very strange argument: if someone becomes a Confucian sage with complete merit, or becomes a Buddha, or becomes a spotless true man of the White Jade Capital, it's all a great thing. Then suppose, one day, everyone truly becomes a sage without error or fault? Suppose everyone is Wen Sheng or Ya Sheng—what would that scene be like? Tens of millions of billions of people identical? Would that be a great blessing, or would it make us mortals with insufficient cultivation feel a bit uneasy even today?
Chen Ping'an's thoughts wandered further and further. He didn't notice until he raised his cup and took a sip of wine that he snapped back to reality. He immediately restrained those scattered thoughts.
Li Sheng said, "Where do you want to go?"
Chen Ping'an said, "The Sword Qi Great Wall."
The old scholar sneakily started making eyes at Li Sheng.
Li Sheng shook his head. It was a pointless act. It had already been proven that this final disciple of his had no possibility of forming an yin spirit or yang spirit external body.
The old scholar refused to give up and tried again.
Li Sheng shook his head again.
The old scholar lifted his chin, pointing slightly in the direction of the imitation White Jade Capital. At least I had a quarrel and won over that old fogy who couldn't stand the Confucian Temple.
Li Sheng ignored him. He stood up, and the old scholar had already scurried over to Li Sheng's side, extending both hands.
Li Sheng had no choice but to say to Chen Ping'an, "On this journey to the Sword Qi Great Wall, your situation will be similar to that at the Confucian Temple—like an yin spirit traveling far away."
Chen Ping'an nodded. Then he extended one hand and grasped the longsword Night Tour.
This worked perfectly. There was a matter in the capital, big or small, that Chen Ping'an was quite interested in. If he could use a stone from another mountain to polish jade, he might verify a certain thought in his mind. Perhaps the answer would still be wrong, but at least it would serve as the master's response to his student's old question.
The next moment, only Ning Yao seemed to vanish into thin air, while Chen Ping'an who remained was only missing the sword Night Tour.
Li Sheng walked toward the courtyard gate. The old scholar and Chen Ping'an followed.
Chen Ping'an turned to his two disciples and students and said with a smile, "You can look for books in the library. If you find something you like, take it. Don't be polite."
Cao Qinglang and Pei Qian entered the library. Pei Qian didn't plan to borrow any books, but she saw Cao Qinglang acting like a bandit—not even a thief anymore. In the blink of an eye, he had grabbed several books.
Pei Qian said impatiently, "That's enough."
Cao Qinglang ignored her. Soon, he went from holding books in his hands to cradling a pile—looking like he intended to borrow without returning.
Pei Qian had no way to deal with him. She thought that if she were still her younger self, she would have kicked him by now.
Cao Qinglang suddenly said, "Do you have a little booklet that records the master's chestnuts?"
Pei Qian was furious. "How do you know?!"
Even Nuanshu and Xiaomili didn't know about this.
She indeed kept a secret booklet, hidden more deeply than any ledger. It was secretly named the "Chestnut Collection"...
Every time her master knocked her chestnuts, the time, place, and reason were recorded in detail.
Cao Qinglang turned his head, looking surprised. "There really is one? I have to tell the master."
Just a wild guess.
Pei Qian gave a cold laugh, interlocking her fingers. You want to tattle, huh? Then don't blame me for disregarding our fellow disciple bond.
Cao Qinglang smiled. "Just kidding. By the way, did you know that the master is actually very worried that when you walk the jianghu, you'll be too much like him?"
Pei Qian was stunned for a moment, then frowned. "I'm learning to walk the jianghu from Master, but I can never imitate him well. Besides, even if I one day manage to learn it, it'll still be the path I walk myself."
She fell silent for a moment, then seemed to mutter to herself, "Master doesn't need to worry about this."
Cao Qinglang said, "You should tell the master that yourself."
Pei Qian sat on the threshold, her back to the vast collection of books, and said gloomily, "I don't dare."
Cao Qinglang faced the bookshelf, his back to the door, and said to himself, "What's there to dare or not dare? If you never say it, the master will always worry. Only when you say it will he truly feel relieved, because he'll think you've really grown up."
Pei Qian was silent for a long time.
Cao Qinglang kept searching for and taking books. Then he said, "Then let me tell you something from the heart. I will never forgive that Pei Qian from when we were children. Probably never. Back at the Sword Qi Great Wall, I lied to reassure the master and Little Senior Brother. But now, the current senior sister—I think she's great."
Pei Qian, whose back was to Cao Qinglang, suddenly had red eyes.
Because she actually knew that back then, Cao Qinglang hadn't lied at all. The real lie was today's.
Pei Qian sat on the threshold, bent over, hugging her knees.
Cao Qinglang turned and asked, "Pei Qian, I've taken too many books. Can I borrow a storage item from you?"
Pei Qian said in a muffled voice, "Get lost."
Cao Qinglang smiled. "I'll pay interest."
Seeing that Pei Qian still didn't respond, Cao Qinglang had to give up.
Near the entrance of the residence, Chen Ping'an suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at the Ren Yun Yi Yun Tower.
Back then, he had walked out of the rain alley holding an umbrella with Cao Qinglang. A little charcoal-black girl had stood alone at the door for a long time.
Li Sheng and the old scholar continued walking, reaching the door before stopping.
Chen Ping'an took a deep breath, turned his head, and strode quickly toward the door.
The Confucian Temple, or rather Li Sheng himself, was often in a difficult position similar to that of his senior brother Cui Chan.
Back when Cui Chan visited Fallen Mountain, he had an open conversation with Chen Ping'an.
If I speak, will anyone believe me? Even if some believe, will good things necessarily happen?
Maybe if they had known the truth early, more people would have chosen to open their doors and welcome the enemy. The Barren Wasteland Heaven's advance would have become even smoother, smashing Fuyao Continent and Tongye Continent, taking Vase Bottle Continent at the fastest speed, then Jinjia Continent, Liuxia Continent, and Ai'ai Continent—many forces would have surrendered without a fight. Only Beiju Lu Continent and Nan Posuo Continent would have put up a stubborn resistance alongside Central Plains Shen Continent, only to fall one by one...
In Chen Ping'an's view, in the ten thousand years of the world, the three most toiling people were Li Sheng, who merged with the laws of Haoran Heaven; the Old Sword Immortal, who merged with the Sword Qi Great Wall; and the old man in the backyard of the apothecary shop, who had been smoking clouds and breathing mist for years.
The three of them were like drawing circles to imprison themselves—for ten thousand years.
To Chen Ping'an, no matter whether Grandpa Yang had long-term calculations for him, even after he learned the old man's true identity, in his eyes, Grandpa Yang had always been a person, not a Qingtong Heavenly Lord in charge of a Flying Ascension Altar.
Li Sheng said, "Tell Ning Yao she still needs to make a trip to the Confucian Temple."
Chen Ping'an agreed.
It wasn't that Li Sheng and the Confucian Temple were putting on airs, but rather the Confucian Temple's recognition of Ning Yao's status.
Chen Ping'an bowed deeply and remained bent for a long time.
The old scholar gently patted his final disciple's arm, and Chen Ping'an finally straightened up.
Looking into the young man's clear eyes, Li Sheng smiled. "It's nothing."
Why do many good principles become empty? Because those who speak them haven't truly felt them, haven't shared their joys and sorrows with those who listen, and cannot truly empathize.
Just like back in the day in the Rouge Commandery of Caiyi Kingdom, when the girl Zhao Luan suffered a disaster, she felt a natural closeness only to the stranger Chen Ping'an.
Because he had also suffered.
A person's spirit and intelligence are all in their eyes. At a certain moment, silence is more powerful than a thousand words.
Chen Ping'an had only merged with the Sword Qi Great Wall for a few years and had almost gone mad, so he understood better the sacrifices of the Old Sword Immortal and Li Sheng. By the same logic, Li Sheng replied, "It's nothing."
Before leaving, Li Sheng smiled and said, "Just regarding the matter of imparting knowledge and resolving doubts, you and your master—very good."
The old scholar stomped his foot and complained, "Li Sheng, wouldn't it have been better to say such sincere words during a Confucian Temple meeting?"
Li Sheng shot him a sideways glance.
The old scholar immediately made a seamless about-face and said cheerfully, "But now is also great. Good words don't need too many ears to hear."
After stepping over the threshold, Li Sheng instantly returned to the Central Plains.
The old scholar walked with Chen Ping'an through the alley. "Cherish Ning girl. Besides you, no one can make her go against her own nature like this."
Chen Ping'an was completely bewildered, not knowing why his master would say that.
The old scholar, rarely getting angry with this final disciple, subconsciously raised his hand but immediately withdrew it. He almost treated him like Zuo You and Big Fool. In the end, he just said with exasperated laughter, "You brat! This time you're not pretending to be stupid—you really are stupid! You should play dumb when it's time, but when it's not the time, you're not sharp at all. Haven't you noticed that during this trip to Haoran, Ning girl often starts conversations with you just to make you talk more?"
Chen Ping'an scratched his head. It did seem that way.
The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled. In matters of love between men and women, it seemed this teacher still had some knowledge to impart.
Chen Ping'an said, "Master, the order of things can't be mixed up. Otherwise, even the finest knowledge later, without the foundation earlier, is just a castle in the air."
The old scholar thought for a moment. Both helpless and gratified, he nodded and said, "True, true."
Then suddenly he exclaimed, "Ah, I kind of miss my brother Bai Ye. From what Li Sheng said, he already has his first destiny flying sword. I just don't know which of the few dozen names I helped come up with he chose."
Chen Ping'an was shocked. "Mr. Bai is already a sword immortal?"
The old scholar nodded. "Indeed."
He touched his own head. "What a perfect match."
Chen Ping'an asked curiously, "Master, how so?"
The old scholar said, "Oh, Bai Ye turned into a child, and he insisted on finding a tiger-head hat for himself. I tried to stop him, but couldn't."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and added, "That's about as effective as me stopping Liu Jinglong from drinking."
In the humble alley, the master and disciple looked at each other and smiled knowingly.
---
The carriage stopped in front of a Daoist temple. The little novice said, "Miss Zhou, we've arrived."
Zhou Haijing got down from the carriage. Looking at the temple front, it was quite small—like a woman's oval face. She clicked her tongue. "Oh, Dao Recorder Ge, is your Dazheng's cultivation of the Longevity Method really in such a small temple? Or is there a hidden immortal mansion inside, vast and magnificent, with flocks of immortal birds and beasts?"
Ge Ling smiled and explained, "It's not as mysterious as Miss Zhou says. It's not big inside either—just a regular four-courtyard compound. The Daoists who live here year-round, from the six offices of the temple, each office has three or four people. Only about twenty Daoists in total, and half of them don't even have single rooms."
Zhou Haijing smiled. "Small but complete."
She turned to the little bald head and asked, "A little monk visiting a Daoist temple—won't it cause trouble?"
The little novice put his palms together and shook his head. "The ten directions' worlds are all pure lands. One can go or come."
Zhou Haijing found the little bald head's words quite interesting. "When I was wandering the jianghu, I saw some monks hailed as dragon-elephants of Buddhism who dared to scold the Buddha and curse the patriarchs. Do you dare?"
The little novice shook his head like a rattle-drum. "I dare not, I dare not. This little novice is only seven apertures open, six closed in the Dharma. How dare I disrespect the Buddha?"
Zhou Haijing casually asked, "Then those monks I saw—do they count as blaspheming the Buddha?"
The little novice patiently explained, "The level of the Dharma doesn't depend on fighting ability. It's not necessarily related to whether they are qi refiners. Those accomplished monks who claim to surpass the Buddha and transcend the patriarchs speak with deep Chan insight. It's not nonsense. But they can say it, while this little novice cannot imitate them now, or else he would fall into a demonic den..."
Sigh. It was much easier chatting with Mr. Chen—less trouble.
Listening to the little monk's endless chatter, Zhou Haijing regretted bringing it up.
Fortunately, the Daoist temple was small. Ge Ling led them to a side room, which served as his office in the Registration Department. There was one chair and one bench for guests. Ge Ling moved the chair for Zhou Haijing, and the little novice sat on the bench. Ge Ling poured two bowls of water for both of them. Zhou Haijing waved her hand and said with a smile, "I'm afraid you slipped some knockout drops in it. When traveling, especially as a woman, it's better to be careful."
Ge Ling had no choice but to keep the water bowl himself. But Zhou Haijing reached out and laughed. "Dao Recorder Ge is no fun."
The little novice wasn't in a hurry to drink. He looked down at the water in the bowl, examining it closely.
Buddha's teachings say a single bowl of water contains eighty-four thousand tiny creatures.
Zhou Haijing caught this scene out of the corner of her eye and was stunned. Damn, could it be that this seemingly upright Dao Recorder Ge would actually do such a dirty deed?
Ge Ling really didn't know what kind of jianghu road this martial arts grandmaster had walked.
Song Xu soon arrived. Zhou Haijing deliberately waited until footsteps were near the door before looking up.
Oh, the main target was here.
Song Xu stepped across the threshold. Seeing there was no place to sit, he gestured for Ge Ling and the little novice not to give up their seats. He clasped his fists at Zhou Haijing and got straight to the point. "My surname is Song, given name Xu, the character for 'intermittent,' from the Song clan in Weixiang, Huaxian County. I am now a sword immortal. I formally invite Grandmaster Zhou to join our Earth Branch lineage."
Zhou Haijing sprayed water everywhere.
Even though she came from a remote corner and was not well-informed, she still knew where the ancestral land of the Great Li Song royal clan was.
What, did this mouth of hers really have a blessing? Even if she wasn't chosen by His Majesty for her commoner beauty, she had caught the eye of a royal clansman? Ready to keep her in a golden house?
Song Xu was confused and turned to look at Ge Ling.
Ge Ling smiled. "On the way here, Miss Zhou joked about whether she might be chosen by His Majesty to enter the palace."
Song Xu dismissed it with a smile. "Grandmaster Zhou over-thinks. There's no need to worry about that. His Majesty would not act thus, and I have no such disrespectful thoughts."
Zhou Haijing said seriously, "Oh? Why no disrespect? Daoist Ge, could you lend me a private room so I can put on some makeup first?"
Song Xu and Ge Ling exchanged glances, baffled. The little novice held his bowl with one hand, facing the water, silently reciting "Amitabha."
Ge Ling explained in detail, "Song Xu is the Second Prince of our Great Li Dynasty."
Zhou Haijing sighed. What a pity he was a sword immortal.
Song Xu skipped any unnecessary pleasantries and explained to Zhou Haijing roughly the origins of the Earth Branch lineage and the pros and cons of becoming a member.
In fact, there weren't really any disadvantages. At most, they couldn't abuse their status to kill innocents. As long as they didn't reveal their identity, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Justice wouldn't even interfere in personal grudges—provided they didn't excessively harm the interests of the Great Li Dynasty. They wouldn't have many opportunities to fight; perhaps in a hundred years, there might be none at all. But when they did get called out, the opponents would surely be at least Immortal realm. Song Xu spoke openly and honestly, listing a string of hypothetical enemies: the Five Peaks mountain lord Wei Bo and Jin Qing, Divine Edict Sect Qi Zhen, the Yunlin Jiang clan head... Possibly after a hundred years, the Earth Branch cultivators would have broken through, and their targets for Yuan Huajing's final sword strikes would be certain rogue Flying Ascension realm great cultivators from the continent or travelers passing through Vase Bottle Continent.
Zhou Haijing didn't interrupt until Song Xu finished. Then she laughed and shook her head. "I don't believe there are such good things in the world. So I refuse."
Song Xu poured himself a bowl of water, drank it all in one go, and nodded. "There really are such good things."
Zhou Haijing smiled and asked, "If I don't agree, will you force me?"
Song Xu nodded. "Yes."
Zhou Haijing rolled her eyes. Well, she'd stumbled into a den of thieves accidentally. Now she really couldn't afford to board the pirate ship.
Song Xu said, "Since we've chosen you, you cannot refuse."
Martial grandmasters, especially considering the full scope of Vase Bottle Continent, were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. On the earlier list, there were only a few people. Yu Hong, limited by his martial talent and age, was already hopeless for the Ultimate Peak. As for that mountain-peak female martial artist from Beiju Lu Continent, the Embroidery Woman, the Great Li Ministry of Justice had already made contact and suggested giving up.
As for the more suitable candidate, Pei Qian... forget it. No one wanted to deal with that Hidden Official these days.
Zhou Haijing swirled the water bowl. "If I insist on refusing, will I never leave the capital?"
Song Xu nodded. "If your luck is bad, that's how it is. If you're lucky enough to escape the capital by your own skill, then you are never allowed to set foot in Great Li territory again. If caught, summary execution."
Zhou Haijing gave a low whistle. "Oh, saying that—now I believe you're the Second Prince of Great Li."
Song Xu smiled. "I've said enough."
Zhou Haijing tossed the water bowl onto the table, wiped her mouth with her thumb, and said slowly, "By the way, what exactly is 'excessively harming Great Li's interests'? Can someone explain?"
Ge Ling took the initiative to say, "For example, people carrying Great Li's martial destiny, or any upper-five-realm cultivator within Great Li's territory, except rogue cultivators."
Zhou Haijing said "Oh" and was silent for a moment. Then she tentatively asked, "Can't it be more straightforward? No restrictions, above the law—kill whoever you want? Doesn't the Great Li border army have a merit system? Trade merits for heads?"
Song Xu shook his head. "No."
Ge Ling added, "If we truly have a grudge against such people, we can report it in advance. If both the Vice Ministers of Justice and Rites approve, we can still act, and there will be no worries."
Zhou Haijing laughed. "I, a woman from a fishing village, only dare to walk the jianghu among mortals. I have no ability to provoke floating immortals."
No one responded, so she had to continue, "From your tone, even the officials of the Ministry of Rites and Justice can't order you around. So why bother with those rules? Isn't that a dragon without a head? In that case, why don't you elect a leader yourselves? I think the Second Prince is a very good choice. He's handsome, polite, patient, and high-realm. Much better than that Sword Immortal Yuan with his permanent scowl."
Ge Ling said, "The National Teacher established several unbreakable rules that must be followed."
Zhou Haijing pouted. "But the National Teacher who created the Earth Branch lineage is already gone."
Song Xu shook his head. "True rules exist where no one is watching."
Zhou Haijing frowned. She didn't think such a phrase would come from a Great Li prince's mouth.
Ge Ling smiled. "Miss Zhou, it's fine to say things like that here, but for heaven's sake, don't let that Mr. Chen from earlier overhear."
The little novice covered his mouth with his hand and whispered, "He might have heard already."
Ge Ling nodded, deeply convinced. He glanced outside the door. He didn't think his temple's small mountain-and-water restrictions could stop Chen Ping'an's flying sword from sneaking in. This Hidden Official, Sword Immortal Chen, did things in such a... old-school way.
In short, they had experienced it firsthand, more than once, and each time the price was heavier than the last.
Song Xu rubbed his brow, looking at the female martial grandmaster who still seemed unconvinced. In truth, Song Xu wasn't worried she would refuse. Instead, he started to worry that after she joined the Earth Branch, she might implicate the other eleven members.
Zhou Haijing stood up. "That carriage I rented—can you return it for me?"
Song Xu smiled and nodded. "No problem at all."
Zhou Haijing said indignantly, "You probably even know which shop I rented it from and exactly how much I paid, don't you?"
Song Xu said, "Once Grandmaster Zhou agrees to become a member of the Earth Branch, these privacy matters will no longer be investigated by the Ministry of Justice. This benefit takes effect immediately."
Zhou Haijing laughed. "Let me think about it some more. This is a big decision—I need to consider it carefully before giving you an answer. Oh, can I borrow a No-Trouble Token to play with first? Everything you say sounds so grand, but what if you're all cheats? The No-Trouble Token is the one thing that can't be faked—nobody dares forge those."
Song Xu pulled a top-grade No-Trouble Token, already prepared, from his sleeve and tossed it lightly to Zhou Haijing.
Zhou Haijing walked toward the door. "Don't see me off. I'm not going to run."
In the end, no one did see her off. It nearly pissed her off to death.
After Zhou Haijing left the temple gate, she put on a face covering, transforming into an ordinary woman's appearance. Then she casually wandered back to her lodging in the capital.
She hadn't lied when she told Su Lang that she would go with the flow and pick a place. When she first arrived in the capital, she had gone to a temple fair. Though she also wore a face covering then, her figure couldn't be hidden—full breasts and a slender waist. Which man wouldn't be tempted?
Soon, two young thieves around sixteen targeted her. One was bold enough to grope her, and the other, even worse, tried to pick her pocket.
The one who tried to grope her was actually quite handsome. She grabbed his cheek and twisted it. The boy was in tears, as if half his face had been ripped off.
As for the little bastard who dared to steal, not only did his wrists get dislocated, but she also kicked him to the ground. He rolled around in pain, feeling like his gallbladder was about to burst. Then she stepped on his cheek with her embroidered shoe and ground it back and forth.
After that, she made the two youths lead the way, telling them to find her a place to stay. Her only condition was that it didn't cost her money.
And she found her current lodging. Aside from being free, the quality—well, the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal knew best.
Within the Great Li capital, there were streets like Yichi Lane and Chi'er Street lined with mansions, as well as petty jianghu grudges and despicable dens.
Walking past a roadside pigpen, Zhou Haijing glanced inside. Still a bit skinny. Even if it snuck into her yard late at night, there wouldn't be much meat to stew.
The hardest time to get through the year's end—is it the poor? Ha, wrong. It's the pigs.
Zhou Haijing burst out laughing. Interesting, interesting. She was indeed very witty. Whoever had the luck to marry her in the future would never be bored—under the sheets or on top.
Walking down a dark alley, she suddenly stopped and sneered, "Sword Immortal Chen, as the head of a sect, skulking around like this—isn't that a bit improper?"
A moment later, Zhou Haijing breathed a sigh of relief. Either she was imagining things, or her bluff didn't work.
In truth, she had been carefully sensing the surrounding qi on her way here but had found no trace.
Zhou Haijing spat on the ground. These ethereal, human-looking cultivators were truly immortals compared to ordinary mortals. Their strength was extraordinary, their methods less bound by jianghu rules, and their deeds more shadowy. Aside from using martial force to violate prohibitions, what else could they do?
Along the way, passing through a few streets thick with cheap perfume, she chatted and joked with some familiar sisters. Some women tried to persuade her to join their trade, saying it was easy money. Zhou Haijing retorted, "And fast money too?" Several women laughed merrily, but their crow's feet became even more pronounced.
Zhou Haijing returned to her lodging, a shabby little courtyard. Two youths were squatting by the door.
Zhou Haijing kicked one aside and said with a laugh, "Handsome young lads like you need to be careful when you go out. Your butt might hurt one of these days."
She took out a key, opened the door, too lazy to close it, and went to the clothesline to gather her laundry. She stood on tiptoes, arching her waist, stretching her arms. The two youths sitting outside craned their necks to watch the... shrew.
Zhou Haijing continued gathering clothes without turning her head and scolded with a laugh, "Careful, or I'll blow you to death with a fart."
From a nearby corner, someone coughed.
Zhou Haijing was furious. "Fine Sword Immortal Chen! You actually have the nerve to come? Why didn't you just sit on the bamboo pole and wait for me?!"
Chen Ping'an walked up to the door, stopped, and clasped his hands in apology. "Coming uninvited, I've offended. There's something..."
Zhou Haijing threw a piece of clothing at him. "You want to apologize? Then die!"
Chen Ping'an, treating it with utmost seriousness, dodged sideways. "Then I'll come another time."
---
On the city wall of the Sword Qi Great Wall ruins, two figures materialized right at the cliff's edge.
Chen Ping'an looked across. For many years, he had stood on the opposite cliff, looking at the gray-robed figure on this side, at most with Li Zhen added.
Withdrawing his gaze, Chen Ping'an led Ning Yao to find Wei Jin and Cao Jun. They flew over and finally stood on the city wall between the two sword immortals.
Wei Jin said, "Mr. Zuo has already gone south."
Chen Ping'an nodded. Though he had guessed it, hearing the confirmation still stung.
He sat at the edge of the city wall, gazing into the distance.
Ning Yao stood beside him.
Chen Ping'an hesitated, then couldn't help but send a heart-to-heart message to the two: "Did my senior brother ask either of you to pass any messages to anyone?"
Wei Jin said calmly, "No."
Cao Jun was grinning mischievously, not saying a word, just watching the increasingly gloomy man. Eaten the wrong medicine? Impossible. The visitation to Zhengyang Mountain was such a glorious sword immortal affair. Comparing people could make you mad—he had fought desperately on Vase Bottle and Tongye Continents, swinging his sword countless times, and still hadn't earned any fame.
Then Cao Jun was glanced at by Ning Yao.
So he had to say, "Over here, besides teaching sword techniques, Mr. Zuo never wastes a single word on me."
Chen Ping'an was easy to deal with, but this woman was different.
Just saying that made Cao Jun angry. He roared, "Chen Ping'an! Who was it that said Mr. Zuo invited me here to practice swordsmanship?"
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked back, "Me. So what?"
As long as his senior brother hadn't asked anyone to pass messages, even if this journey south was extremely dangerous, it was at least not the worst-case scenario Chen Ping'an had feared.
Cao Jun glanced at Ning Yao and held back.
Chen Ping'an said nothing, just stared into the distance.
Ning Yao sat down beside him.
Cao Jun remembered something and said, "Sword Immortal Chen, there are quite a few sightseeing immortals coming here these days. Every day, after eating their fill, they do nothing but pick up broken stones from the wall to take home. Nobody's been managing it. I'd guess there are some even now."
Unexpectedly, Chen Ping'an was like a deaf man.
Cao Jun didn't say anything more.
After a long while, Chen Ping'an came back to his senses and turned his head. "What did you say?"
Cao Jun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He lazily raised his hands behind his head. "Nothing."
This time, Chen Ping'an didn't look into the distance. Instead, his gaze dropped to the vast land below his feet.
For ten thousand years, how many sword immortals—natives and strangers alike—had come like the wind and rain, and gone like specks of dust, right here.