Chapter 859: The Young People
(Updated late, sixteen thousand words. PS: There will be another chapter tonight.)
Jiang Shangzhen, while wandering around the Barren Wild World in his true form, unexpectedly encountered a group of itinerant cultivators from the Haoran World.
As for Jiang Shangzhen's yin spirit that had left his body, it was currently guiding the elder Qingbi through difficulties and helping him weather the crisis.
If encountering Feng Xuetao was an accident, then running into this group of young people, each more favored by heaven than the last, was an even greater surprise.
In truth, Jiang Shangzhen's original intention was to go to the nearest Qingji Ferry to find Zheng Juzhong. However, what he called "nearest" was still equivalent to crossing an entire continent's worth of mountains and rivers.
Cao Ci, Fu Jin, Yuan Pang, Chun Qing, Xu Bai, Yu Juanfu, Gu Can, Zhao Yaoguang, and a young monk who practiced the Silent Zen.
As for the group's nominal guardian, Han Qiaose, who had been idly accompanying them all the way, after hearing what Jiang Shangzhen had to say about the situation, she immediately set off for Qingji Ferry to find her senior brother. Her innate escape technique was faster than a message-flying sword.
This group of young people had previously arrived together at Qingji. Liu Youzhou and Huai Qian had remained at Qingji Ferry, while the rest continued their travels. That famed "boy of good fortune," Liu Youzhou, had directly produced two Liuxia Boats, recognized as the fastest ferry boats in the Haoran World. In Liu Youzhou's words, "What if one of the boats breaks down on the journey? Better safe than sorry. I still have another Liuxia Boat anyway."
He also gave away several sets of Warring States Armor, stacks upon stacks of talismans made from golden materials—like a rich fool's son from the mortal world, with money to burn, handing out banknotes to the hangers-on around him.
Now, at the foot of a remote mountain wilderness, Jiang Shangzhen was explaining things to these young people.
He wasn't in a hurry to set off immediately for two reasons. First, Jiang Shangzhen was hesitating over whether to give them the Three Mountain Talisman. Cui Dongshan had previously improved that talisman but hadn't yet had time to boast about it to his master. Second, Jiang Shangzhen needed to learn more about the enemy's methods through his yin spirit. Finally, he needed to make these young people understand a truth: if they truly wanted to go rescue Feng Xuetao, the risk was immense.
Looking at the nine young people sitting in a circle, Jiang Shangzhen smiled and said, "If you have questions, ask them quickly. If anyone doesn't want to go, you must say so directly—there's no shame in it. To be honest, I already regret bringing this up with you."
Cao Ci, a Martial Artist at the Ultimate Realm, peak of Guizhen.
Fu Jin, the senior disciple of Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, with a sword-nurturing gourd named "Three" hanging at his waist.
Yuan Pang, with a gentleman's jade pendant at his waist. The new headmaster of Hengqu Academy, the youngest academy headmaster in Haoran history. He had compiled three volumes of "Righteous-Interpretations" at a young age, making his name known throughout Haoran and earning a spot among the young top ten of several worlds. His hometown was the Green Obscurity World, yet he had become a direct disciple of the Second Sage.
Chun Qing, proficient in everything. She was both a Qi refiner and a pure Martial Artist. Except for not being a sword cultivator, she followed a path similar to Chen Ping'an's. She made it onto the rankings at sixteen.
Xu Bai, like Chun Qing, was among the young alternate top ten of several worlds. His ancestral home was Zhaoling, where the schoolteacher was Master Xu, renowned as the "Saint of Characters" though not a sage of the Confucian Temple. Xu Bai was now a member of the Warring States family, skilled in chess, with the nickname "Xu Immortal."
Yu Juanfu, a Martial Artist at the ninth realm's peak, stuck at a bottleneck.
Gu Can, Zheng Juzhong's closed-door disciple.
Zhao Yaoguang, a handsome young Daoist carrying a peachwood sword on his back, a Yellow-Purple Noble of the Heavenly Master Mansion, over a hundred years old.
The young monk carried a Buddhist shrine covered with cotton cloth, a "Buddha at hand," and had always practiced Silent Zen.
Jiang Shangzhen felt like a matchmaker pulling the red threads, orchestrating this unprecedented heavenly union.
It was entirely possible that this would be without precedent or successor.
In the future, if nothing unexpected happened, these young cultivators and Martial Artists would be the most formidable group from both the Haoran World and the Barren Wild World, respectively.
It was like a street brawl where the paths crossed: among the young people were figures like Zheng Juzhong, the Grand Heavenly Master of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain, Pei Bei, and Fiery Dragon Daoist Master, facing off against future Throne-level Great Demons. Both sides would roll up their sleeves and start fighting.
Of course, before they made their decision, Jiang Shangzhen repeatedly explained the danger of this mission twice.
Jiang Shangzhen spoke from the heart: if he dragged them to the battlefield, he was taking a huge risk. If any young person stayed behind and couldn't return home, it would spell trouble for Jiang Shangzhen, Cloud Grotto Blessed Land, and even the Jade Gui Sect, Tungye Continent. If they ended up completely annihilated, Jiang Shangzhen probably wouldn't need to return to the Haoran World—he could just settle down in the Barren Wild World as a wild cultivator.
Cao Ci said little, only stating, "When we reach the battlefield, I'll take the lead."
Fu Jin remained silent. Of course, it wasn't that he didn't want to go; he just couldn't be bothered with idle talk. Fu Jin, clad in a snow-white robe, as the senior disciple of White Emperor City, bore too much praise and criticism.
Unlike Cao Ci, who had shown an invincible posture on the path of martial arts since childhood, on the path of cultivation, no matter how good Fu Jin's talent or how high his master's status was, who among them—like the sword cultivator Li Zhen from Tuoyue Mountain, or the Daoist Shan Qing from the Jade Capital—could claim to have left everyone else in the dust?
Yu Juanfu gazed into the distance toward the battlefield, lost in thought. As far as Jiang Shangzhen could tell, the girl had an excellent demeanor and was exceptionally beautiful.
Chun Qing was carefully inspecting her gear to avoid any frantic scrambling on a battlefield that could change in an instant. Back in Bottle Gourd Continent, she had suffered an undeserved disaster and was forced into a fight with Ma Kuxuan, where she had suffered a significant loss. Most of her techniques hadn't been able to be used, a clear lack of experience.
Zhao Yaoguang, the young Heavenly Master, was actually quite agreeable. He directly said, "If I had come to the Barren Wild World a few years earlier, there wouldn't have been any room for A Liang."
As for Gu Can, he was the most pragmatic. He consulted Jiang Shangzhen extensively, asking for many details, repeatedly deliberating, and didn't care about saving face at all.
The geography around the battlefield, the ultimate goal of this trip—whether it was just to rescue someone, to also kill demons, or something else. Were there any possibilities for reinforcements from their own great cultivators? Could the enemy have one or even two Throne-level Great Demons secretly guarding the path?
Jiang Shangzhen answered each question one by one.
Xu Bai breathed a slight sigh of relief.
In terms of fame, he wasn't at a disadvantage among the group. But when it came to fighting, especially life-and-death battles, Xu Bai was a bit intimidated. It was mainly because of his relatively gentle temperament. Fortunately, Gu Can had asked many questions that Xu Bai was too embarrassed to raise or simply hadn't thought of.
Gu Can finally smiled and said, "Elder Jiang, although we didn't initially plan to rescue Feng Xuetao on this trip, when we set out, we were all willing to bear the consequences of life and death ourselves. It's like signing a life-and-death contract before stepping into the arena. Our teachers, sects, and families are all fully aware of this."
Jiang Shangzhen nodded with a smile.
This statement wasn't really for his ears; it was for everyone else.
Gu Can suddenly added, "No one should hold anyone else back. No one should cause trouble. In the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall battlefield, there are countless precedents. When you should be hard-hearted but become soft, you won't save anyone—you'll only harm others and yourself."
Xu Bai's budding goodwill toward Gu Can evaporated.
Because the one most likely to hold others back was himself.
Zhao Yaoguang laughed heartily. "What can I say? I'm known for my chivalrous heart."
Yuan Pang glanced at Gu Can, a trace of surprise in his eyes.
In fact, the same principle could have been expressed more tactfully, less harshly.
Yuan Pang quickly understood the logic behind it. Gu Can was pursuing a process of affirmation, negation, and reaffirmation. Once this rescue of Feng Xuetao succeeded and they returned, Xu Bai's impression of Gu Can, a demonic cultivator from White Emperor City, would be permanently fixed. The small grudge in his heart would not only disappear but would transform into gratitude toward Gu Can, solidifying respect for the man.
Yu Juanfu said solemnly, "Gu Can's words are harsh, but the logic is sound. So, during our journey ahead, let's all think carefully."
In one-on-one fights, sword immortal Fu Jin was the most skilled. But in chaotic battlefield situations, Cao Ci and Yu Juanfu had been to the Sword Qi Great Wall and fought on the Fuyao and Golden Armor battlefields, making them the most qualified to speak.
Chun Qing muttered softly, "If only the Hidden Officer were here."
She would feel more at ease.
Although they had never met, she had seen one of Chen Ping'an's students at Mount Nanyue Chujun or Caizhi Mountain. Anyone who could teach a student like Cui Dongshan had to have a better mind and stronger skills.
Gu Can glanced at Chun Qing, his impression of her improving slightly.
Yu Juanfu was rubbing a seal in her palm. The inscription read: "A stone in a mountain stream, how is it not a pillar in the middle of the current? Qi clouds in the sky, the fist is still up in the heavens." The eight-character seal text: "Female Martial God, by Chen Cao's side."
Jiang Shangzhen suddenly looked up and cursed with a laugh, "Qingji is going to be busy now. They probably won't have time for us, folks—this isn't good news. Want to think it over again?"
It turned out that the heaven and earth had been thrown into such an exaggerated anomaly that, in the blazing daylight, there had been a single instant of nightfall, as if all the light in the Barren Wild World had been gathered into a single "line."
Pointing directly at the Qingji Guixu location!
Jiang Shangzhen looked up at the sky, rubbing his forehead, his head aching.
In Chen Ping'an's hometown, wasn't that girl in the green dress with the ponytail known for being particularly good-tempered?
Yet, even though everyone present had noticed this anomaly, not a single person showed any sign of regret. Even Xu Bai's gaze was resolute.
Gu Can's eyes were especially fervent.
Relatively speaking, only Cao Ci remained utterly calm.
Finally, Jiang Shangzhen cupped his fists with a smile. "I am honored to have met you all."
The nine each returned the gesture.
---
Bai Xuan had set up a table about ten or so li away from Fallen Mountain, because a rest pavilion had been built there for travelers. Bai Xuan had somehow gotten hold of a purple clay teapot with holding handles, a dragon-head-and-bamboo design, pretending to be refined. A mere child, looking like a seasoned accountant, sat behind the table, crossing his legs, sipping tea leisurely while keeping accounts.
Bai Xuan glanced up at the entrance to the pavilion. Before he even saw anyone, he first saw a green sleeve, which its owner was flicking with a crisp snap, striding with a dragon's step and a tiger's gait.
Chen Lingjun strode into the pavilion, immediately switching to walking with his hands behind his back. "Ha, isn't this little brother Bai? Busy?"
Bai Xuan sat still, raised his hands with a smile, and cupped his fists in greeting. For Bai Xuan, this was genuine courtesy—most people didn't get such treatment.
The reason was that Chen Lingjun knew a lot and was a great conversationalist. He shared with Bai Xuan all sorts of bizarre customs and local sayings from the Haoran World, one after another. Bai Xuan treated it like a free storytelling session: "When an immortal descends to ask about the land, don't dismiss the Land God as not a god." Things about the Kitchen God, River Uncle and River Aunt—all sorts of things, Chen Lingjun was familiar with.
Chen Lingjun pressed down on the table, his eyes darting, and laughed. "Little brother Bai, why don't you find a teapot with a beam handle? Drinking straight from the spout would be more heroic."
Bai Xuan asked, "What's a beam-handle pot? Any special meaning?"
Chen Lingjun waved dismissively. "No need to ask. I'll give you a few later."
Bai Xuan was someone who hated owing favors, but right now he was short on cash, like a stranded dragon. He had to say, "I'll have to owe you the money."
Chen Lingjun tapped the table hard with his bent finger and glared at Bai Xuan. "What? Little brother Bai, do you know that talking about money between brothers at a drinking table is as improper as climbing over a neighbor's wall at night to touch their wife's backside—against the rules!"
"Reasonable, reasonable!" Bai Xuan nodded vigorously. On the table was a row of clean liquorice roots, which Bai Xuan used as a snack. He picked one up and handed it to Chen Lingjun.
Chen Lingjun took the liquorice root, chewed it, flipped through the account book on the table casually, and asked, "Little brother Bai, why are you keeping these records? They're all obvious outsiders who can't become disciples of Fallen Mountain."
Knowing that Pei Qian wasn't on the mountain, Bai Xuan laughed loudly. "Gathering friends, forming an alliance! Then we'll all rush in together and beat up Pei Qian. Of course, as the alliance leader, I'll be sensible—I'll tell everyone in advance not to strike with lethal force, to avoid harming friendships."
Chen Lingjun was stunned. Was this Bai Xuan beaten stupid by Pei Qian?
Beating up Pei Qian? You're not asking for trouble—you're asking for death! But thinking again, maybe little brother Bai is a fool with good fortune?
Bai Xuan lowered his voice. "Big brother Jingqing, that Guo Zhujiu—the Hidden Officer's youngest disciple—are you familiar with her?"
Bai Xuan's logic was simple: since the big white goose said Pei Qian was afraid of Guo Zhujiu, if Guo Zhujiu was afraid of him, then Bai Xuan would have beaten Pei Qian.
As long as everyone was a sword cultivator, Bai Xuan wasn't intimidated by anyone except the Hidden Officer.
Chen Lingjun shook his head. "Never even seen her. The girl hasn't come to pay respects at my turf yet."
Bai Xuan asked casually, "Went drinking with Taoist Jia in Qilong Alley again?"
Chen Lingjun had already chewed up the liquorice root and swallowed it. He grinned slyly. "Women's faces are limitless, each color different, yet all equally good."
He had learned that from his sworn brother Dafeng.
Bai Xuan didn't understand at all.
Chen Lingjun leaned back against the table, arms crossed, chin slightly raised, and recited slowly, "Lately I've been diligent in cultivation and have gained some insights. Listen: Looking up, the sky is a foot and five—immortals reach down their hands to help my pure talent and soaring spirit cross three continents, surpass the samsara, and steadily ascend the dragon's head. At the appointed time, ride the heavenly wind, truly cultivate, leap three times in the dragon gate—good mountains and rain accompany me in flight. The divine dragon changes in myriad ways, nothing is impossible. In the human and dharma realms, clouds and water at ease, sit in the five-colored haze, idly cast aside hairpins and tablets to enjoy pure blessings."
Chen Lingjun waited for a long time but got no reaction from little brother Bai behind him. He had to turn around and found Bai Xuan busy drinking tea from his teapot. Noticing Chen Lingjun's gaze, Bai Xuan put down the pot, looking puzzled. "Are you done?"
Whatever—Chen Lingjun himself didn't understand either. He had borrowed it from the big white goose, and it was indeed pretentious and silly.
Chen Lingjun didn't sit on the long bench nearby. Instead, he went around the table and sat side by side with Bai Xuan, looking at the road outside. He sighed unexpectedly, "My master once said that in my hometown, there's an old saying: 'The person who rides in a sedan chair across a bridge this year might be the one who built the bridge and paved the road in a past life.'"
Bai Xuan chewed on the grass root, unimpressed.
In his hometown, whether one was a sword cultivator or not, they didn't talk about such things.
Chen Lingjun continued, "My master also said, 'Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. If you don't believe it, fine—life still goes on. But if you do believe it, those who enjoy good fortune can spend a little more money to ease their minds. And those suffering through hard times can feel a little better, having at least some hope even when there seems to be none.'"
This talk was simple enough that Bai Xuan finally understood.
Chen Lingjun reached out to touch Bai Xuan's head. Bai Xuan turned sharply. "Touch what? A woman's butt and a man's head—are they to be touched casually?"
Chen Lingjun laughed and patted Bai Xuan's shoulder instead, then raised his hand and shook it. "Little brother Bai, you don't know—this hand of mine is like it's been blessed!"
Bai Xuan sneered. "If you've got guts, go touch Nuanshu's head."
Chen Lingjun put on the airs of a senior, speaking earnestly, "Little brother Bai, it's lucky that I'm not petty-minded, or with a mouth like yours, you'd make no friends."
Bai Xuan raised a thumb, pointed over his shoulder behind him toward Piyun Mountain in the distance, and chuckled. "You and Mountain Lord Wei—are you close friends?"
Chen Lingjun rolled his eyes.
On the road came a young Daoist carrying a sword box. His appearance and demeanor were average—not at all like a cloud-riding, mist-stepping high-ranking immortal.
The young Daoist stopped at the pavilion. Before he could speak, Chen Lingjun hopped up with lightning speed, rushed over, bowed deeply, and cupped his fists nearly to the ground. "May I dare to ask, Reverend, are you a senior old immortal of the fourteenth or fifteenth realm? And may I also dare to ask, are you the highly respected, universally admired, heaven-and-human-united Grand Heavenly Master of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain?"
Bai Xuan drank his tea, greatly enlightened. So this was how big brother Jingqing made friends?
"You don't know a thing—these are my closely guarded secrets of wandering the world."
Zhang Shanfeng was bewildered. He shook his head and smiled. "No, I'm neither. And my realm isn't high."
Chen Lingjun sighed with relief, but to be safe, he still didn't rise. He only looked up and asked tentatively, "Then may I ask this talented young reverend—which lofty, unattainable immortal mountain and academy is your lineage from?"
Could he have been mistaken? Was this really just a minor Daoist at the Cave Mansion realm?
Zhang Shanfeng smiled. "My master isn't very popular down in the mortal world. It's better not to mention it."
Chen Lingjun straightened up and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Where is the little reverend from?"
Still, he stood there like a mountain, not moving a step.
What if this was a worldly master who liked to joke and was deliberately misleading him? That would be a disaster.
Zhang Shanfeng said, "I'm from Northern Juzhou. This time I'm visiting friends at Fallen Mountain."
Chen Lingjun laughed. "What a coincidence. I'm a reverend at Fallen Mountain myself. My friends in the world give me some face, and I've earned two nicknames: in my early days, 'White Slip in the Waves of the River,' and now, 'Little Dragon King of Fallen Mountain.' Behind me is Mr. Bai, my good brother. But unfortunately, Fallen Mountain isn't receiving outsiders now, and we're not taking disciples."
Zhang Shanfeng explained with a smile, "I already have a sect, but I'm friends with your mountain lord. We agreed to travel together."
Chen Lingjun stood frozen. One of his master's friends from the mountains?
Zhang Shanfeng said, "My name is Zhang Shanfeng, from Prostrate Peak. Didn't Chen Ping'an mention me?"
Bai Xuan blurted out, "Prostrate Peak? The mountain where Fiery Dragon Daoist Master resides? That master of all techniques, Fiery Dragon Daoist Master, is your... the head honcho of the black and white paths in Northern Juzhou—both on and off the mountains?"
Chen Lingjun immediately knew he was doomed.
Because this was a phrase Pei Qian often used when she was young. Back then, Pei Qian was fascinated by the world of martial arts. Chen Ping'an had great respect for Fiery Dragon Daoist Master, and every time he talked about the old master's deeds, he did so with both humor and admiration. Having grown up influenced by this, Pei Qian also held great respect for the old Daoist. Especially after she inherited the title of "martial arts alliance leader" from Li Baoping, she felt that when she later ventured into the martial world, she wanted to become someone like that old master.
Of course, by the time Pei Qian became a grown girl, she didn't like talking about such things anymore.
Zhang Shanfeng was also taken aback. When had his master gained such a resounding reputation at Fallen Mountain?
At the gate of Fallen Mountain, Nuanshu, taking a break from her busy schedule, had come down to join Millet and crack melon seeds together. As they chatted, they both started missing Pei Qian a little.
Although Pei Qian was now tall, she was still Pei Qian.
In the past, Pei Qian often led Millet on patrols, looking for wasp nests but not poking them, calling it "scouting the enemy." Along the way, they would pick hawthorn fruit, jujubes, and tea slices to eat, and every time they returned, Pei Qian would leave a bag for Nuanshu.
Once, Pei Qian even encouraged Millet to play with the burrs known as "fool's burrs." She had Millet pick them and toss them onto her little head, laughing, "Little River Mother, a girl getting married!"
As a result, Millet ended up with a head full of burrs. This stuff was hard to remove even from clothes, so having it all over one's head—well, you can imagine the outcome.
In the end, of course, Pei Qian led the wailing little girl in black to find Nuanshu to clean up the mess.
At Nuanshu's house, Millet sat on a small stool, head tilted, pitifully looking at Pei Qian, who stood with her arms crossed and a look of disdain on her face. The little girl declared seriously, "Pei Qian, Pei Qian, I promise we'll take these off today, and the day after tomorrow we'll go again."
"The day after tomorrow?! Why not tomorrow? I'll eat them tomorrow!"
Millet hung her head in silence, secretly delighted. Nuanshu was indeed clever and nimble—she could pull burrs out without it hurting much.
Pei Qian lectured sternly, "Millet, we're all heartless killers—the most elite assassins in the martial world. How can you not endure such a little pain? How will you follow me to conquer the martial world later? Huh?!"
"Can I still get some jujubes?"
"Of course—I saved them for you. Open wide!"
"Bring it on!"
"Does it still hurt?"
"It's very sweet."
Nuanshu glared at Pei Qian from the side. "Don't fool Millet like that in the future."
Pei Qian sighed. "Ah, Millet, Nuanshu thinks you're not very bright. Standing next to Cen the Dullard, you two look like long-lost sisters."
Nuanshu laughed in exasperation. "Don't talk nonsense. Millet isn't stupid."
Pei Qian chuckled slyly. "If Millet is bright, then what about Cen the Dullard?"
Nuanshu lowered her eyes with a slight smile, saying nothing.
As Nuanshu carefully removed the burrs from her head one by one, Millet shook her head, grinning broadly. "I feel like my head's a few pounds lighter."
Pei Qian was about to scare Millet by saying she'd have Old Cook make a big plate of chopped pepper fish head.
But Nuanshu seemed to foresee this and immediately glared at Pei Qian, cutting off the words. Pei Qian had to give up and patted Millet's head as a reward.
Today, Millet was in good spirits. Unlike previous years when she missed the good mountain lord or Pei Qian and didn't dare let anyone know—she only confided in the white clouds passing by—now she no longer did that.
Millet had the green bamboo staff and golden carrying pole laid across her knees. Remembering something, she grinned and quickly covered her mouth. "Nuanshu, let's go play in Hongzhu Town sometime. I know that place well."
Nuanshu smiled. "Just the two of us?"
Millet scratched her cheek, a bit embarrassed. "Of course, with the good mountain lord too."
She quickly explained, "It's not that I'm scared—it's that my legs are short and walking is really tiring. Standing in the good mountain lord's baskets, it doesn't tire me at all."
Nuanshu squinted with a smile and pinched Millet's cheek. "Is that so?"
The stream stretched far into the distance, and the trees grew tall as they aged.
Old Cook said that children who haven't grown up put their heartfelt words on their lips, while grown-ups keep their heartfelt words properly hidden in their hearts.
---
A blue-robed man with a stubbly beard appeared at Fox Village on the border of Great Spring. Unfortunately, the familiar inn was gone, disappointing him—an old accountant. He had heard that Aunt Nine first went to the Jade Gui Sect and later to the Central Dragon-Tiger Mountain. He wondered if their next meeting would find her plumper or thinner—either way, she would be beautiful. He also wondered if they would ever reunite after surviving calamities, as if in a dream.
The current state of Tungye Continent's mountains and rivers was truly heartbreaking.
He thought it over and decided not to go to Dafu Academy first. Instead, he planned to visit the Azure Tour Palace on Buried River to see if he could scrounge some Water Flower Wine and eel noodles—he had been craving them for years.
As for the Water Goddess, her name was Liu Rou—who would believe it?
When he met the Water Goddess of Buried River in the main hall of Azure Tour Palace, as usual, they sat facing each other, each with a large bowl of noodles.
The Water Goddess had one foot on the long bench. "Brother Zhong, how does it taste? Better than those eel noodles from back then?"
In other places during winter, they would either bask in the sun or shovel snow. Here in Azure Tour Palace, they dried chili peppers—small, ugly, wrinkled, but extremely spicy. The previous palace's facing-heaven peppers looked better but couldn't compare.
Zhong Kui wiped the sweat from his forehead, twirled a big chopstick-full of noodles, swallowed, then picked up his wine bowl, slurped, and shuddered. "Absolutely amazing."
For a cultivator, to taste the flavors of the mortal world—whether wine or dishes—they had to deliberately restrain their spiritual energy. It was a somewhat ironic joke.
The Water Goddess held up three fingers in succession. "I've met Chen Ping'an, the little Master of Letters, and the most learned Old Master Wen Sheng, and the world's greatest swordsman, Master Zuo!"
Zhong Kui chuckled. "I took a long trip and met the Ritual Sage, the Second Sage, and two Bodhisattvas from the Western Buddhist Kingdom, along with many eminent monks and Buddhist pillars."
Liu Rou grumbled, "Why do you, a man who has the goods, always have to compete with a woman who doesn't?"
Zhong Kui smiled without speaking and took another big bite of noodles.
Liu Rou burped, put down her chopsticks, patted her belly, and asked, "What will you do now? Go back to the academy and be a scholar in the study?"
She turned and shouted, "Old Liu! Bring another bowl for me and Brother Zhong—make sure to use slightly bigger bowls. Don't move the small ones—Brother Zhong still has a few bites left."
From the doorway, the old man answered, "Yes, just... just a moment, Ma'am."
Liu Rou laughed in exasperation. "Having such a smooth-talking cook has made me, a virgin girl, be called 'Ma'am' for years."
Zhong Kui shook his head. "I haven't decided yet. Let's see."
Zhong Kui was now in the form of a ghost. Cheng Longzhou had become the academy headmaster. Since the Confucian Temple had set such a precedent, it wouldn't be too hard for Zhong Kui to return to the academy, especially with his merits. He could not only regain his gentleman status but even become a vice headmaster. However, Zhong Kui felt that being a casual cultivator like a ghost immortal wasn't bad either, especially since Tungye Continent was now shattered and needed help everywhere.
Liu Rou sighed, then suddenly smiled. "Whatever. Do whatever you want now—no need to think too much."
She lowered her voice. "Brother Zhong, do you know about our current emperor and the little Master of Letters? Hmm?"
Zhong Kui pursed his lips. "Isn't it just that Yao Jinzhi has a bit of interest in Chen Ping'an? It was obvious at a glance."
When the moon is full at parting, one remembers the beauty's eyes filled with autumn water.
But it definitely wasn't about Chen Ping'an and Yao Jinzhi. Chen Ping'an was a blockhead when it came to such things. Yet it also didn't seem to be about himself and Aunt Nine. Thinking of this, Zhong Kui took another big gulp of wine.
Liu Rou's eyes widened in shock. "You could see that? Have you opened your heavenly eye?"
Zhong Kui took a sip, shivered—chili pepper with wine was unbeatable. "It's not so much that Yao Jinzhi truly likes Chen Ping'an. How to put it..."
"It's about something you desire but cannot have. The more you think about it, the more you can't let go—it's like burying a jar of wine. The difference is that one is buried in the ground, the other in the heart."
Liu Rou was skeptical. "You, a gentleman who's been single for years—how do you understand these tangled matters of love?"
Zhong Kui sighed, and the Water Goddess sighed with him.
Zhong Kui smiled. "Why are you sighing?"
Liu Rou said helplessly, "I'm old—worried about marrying."
Fortunately, two more bowls of noodles were served. At least there was no shortage of food.
After eating and drinking his fill, Zhong Kui took his leave. Liu Rou didn't see him off far—what need for formality between brothers? She just said to come back often.
The night was dark and heavy. Zhong Kui traveled on the surface of Buried River. Beside him appeared a ghost who had fallen to the immortal realm—the same one that Ning Yao had once tracked down. After being detained by the Confucian Temple and transferred from place to place, he had finally been "exiled" by the Ritual Sage to Zhong Kui's side.
To be honest, he would rather have stayed in a cage than be with Zhong Kui day and night. If he could kill Zhong Kui and flee far away—but he was not only unable to escape; he might even end up being killed by Zhong Kui instead. It wasn't a matter of Zhong Kui's realm being high; it was that Zhong Kui currently had no real realm, similar to being "realm-less," and he happened to be a natural counter to ghosts—a kind of inherent suppression.
This ghost was temporarily named Gusu, and he currently appeared as a plump man who fancied himself elegant and refined.
He sneered, "You can chat with a chick for so long, and she's not even pretty—and worst of all, she doesn't like you. Zhong Kui, I'm not going to say anything—but you really are a waste!"
"In my day, with three thousand concubines in my harem, any woman I picked up was more beautiful than her. Oh, those figures, those butt-cheeks, those tiny waists and big chests—every one of them got the blood burning... Do you know what's more blood-stirring than a painting? That's when they stand in a row, stripped of their clothes, and turn their backs to you..."
Zhong Kui ignored the ghost's nonsense. "Alright, wipe the drool off your mouth before speaking."
But Gusu kept rambling on about lewd topics. Zhong Kui said helplessly, "Stop running your mouth. I'm begging you, okay?"
Gusu spat on the water's surface. "Begging is useless. If rebels wanted to stage a coup, would begging for mercy save them?"
"A pig cornered in a pen will snort three times, but you're a sealed gourd—it's no wonder you're alone. If it were me, seeing that 'Aunt Nine' you talk about—why be afraid? I'd charge up, grab her, and kiss her hard. Cook the raw rice first, that's the way. It's called: hungry dogs fear no clubs; good women fear persistent men..."
Zhong Kui couldn't take it anymore. With a slight thought, the plump man immediately fell flat into the water, unable to move. After a while, he leaped up with a carp-like motion, baring his teeth—not an act—slapping at the flickering fireflies on his body.
Gusu stomped on the water, not daring to use any divine powers or arts, just splashing some foam. "Damn it! There's nothing worse than stealing a coffin to sleep in—meeting you is the worst luck I've ever had!"
Zhong Kui asked, "I'm curious—you were once an emperor born into a noble family who later usurped the throne. Where did you learn all this crude talk and marketplace slang?"
Gusu had been a great ruler in Haoran history, expanding the territory of Fuyao Continent greatly. He had nearly accomplished the feat of uniting an entire continent into one country before Great Li's Song Dynasty. Before his "sudden death," he had already occupied half of Fuyao Continent.
Gusu grinned. "You don't understand. I had a few beloved consorts who were common village women. Don't look askance—I went on incognito visits. With my looks and my learning—and, of course, a thick money pouch—what is 'manliness' if not the smell of money?"
Zhong Kui cursed, "Why don't you just die!"
The plump man laughed. "I'm already a ghost. It's more like dying and coming back to life. Ha! Speaking of which, I've had so many soul-stirring experiences I can't count them all. But my best battlefield—too bad I can't share it with outsiders. If you want, I can teach you a few techniques. They're guaranteed to make you invincible, so you can walk through this mortal life as a man without shame!"
Zhong Kui asked with his mind voice, "How did you get to know that person back then?"
The plump man was silent for a moment. He looked up at the sky, squinted, and rubbed his hands. "I've lived two lives. Whether as an emperor in life or as a cultivator after death, I never felt I was inferior to anyone—I admired very few. But that one—I have to count him."
He was talking about the Haoran Jia Sheng, who later became the Barren Wild's Zhou Mi.
Suddenly, the plump man sneered. "If not for Ning Yao..."
Zhong Kui raised his hand. "Stop, stop. Shut up. I advise you not to say anything about Ning Yao in the future. If my good brother hears that, you wouldn't have enough lives."
The plump man spat. "Just because of Chen Ping'an's Jade Capital Realm flying sword, plus a Martial Artist's fist at the Ultimate Realm? If I hadn't fallen in realm, I'd let that brat swing his sword and punch all day—it wouldn't do a thing."
Zhong Kui chuckled. "Alright, I'll find an opportunity to satisfy you."
Zhong Kui kicked off and flew. In the night, he could travel very fast, so fast that even Gusu, an immortal-level ghost, had to exert himself to keep up.
The broken landscapes of the continent were almost entirely dotted with battlefield relics, just without the word "ancient."
Zhong Kui finally stopped at an immortal cave ruin.
The plump man sat cross-legged. "I said it back when I was alive: that old fellow on Golden Armor Continent wasn't a good bird—nobody believed me. If I were still on Fuyao Continent and had been emperor, that war wouldn't have gone so poorly."
He started spitting again out of habit. "A bunch of worthless immortals—they're not mere mortals, they have sun-and-moon lamps, yet they're still like painted faces in the dark—stone blind. They deserve to die out..."
He suddenly stopped because Zhong Kui placed a hand on his head. He got it: one more word, and he'd really be dead.
The plump man immediately changed the subject. "In my view, so-called times of peace—aside from the achievements of emperors and generals recorded in history—at their root, they just mean letting common people have a stable life without worrying about food or clothing. Every family wants to raise a scholar who can read and write, say a few sage's words from books. On this trip, I've seen the daylight again. It hasn't changed much from before. I've looked around, listened to mountain and river gossip, and barely a handful of people impressed me. The only exception is the Great Li Song Dynasty's military skills—they can barely compare to mine."
His eyes shone, and he clenched his fists. "When iron cavalry halts and warhorses drink, river waters reflect iron armor—enough to frighten dragons!"
"Please have some shame."
Zhong Kui laughed in exasperation. "Is it useless to beg?"
"Zhong Kui, it was a waste for you to be a scholar gentleman at an academy in your early years."
He said sincerely, "If you had been lucky enough to meet me earlier, I would have made you a scholar of the Hanlin Academy without batting an eye."
Zhong Kui smiled. "I never thought you could speak human words sometimes."
This plump man's catchphrases were: "Drag them out, put to death." "Throw them into a well." "Dismember by five horses." "Serve a cup of poisoned wine." "Grant a bolt of white silk."
He sighed. "Who'd have thought? And yet, who wasn't human once?"
Zhong Kui chuckled.
The plump man immediately shouted, "I was wrong!"
As Zhong Kui prepared to lead the wandering souls, he glanced toward the direction of Inverted Mountain's ruins and muttered, "That kid's done pretty well for himself."
The plump man snorted. "He just found a good wife. What's so impressive?"
Without waiting for Zhong Kui to say anything, the plump man was already beating his chest and stamping his feet in exaggerated regret. "I'm so jealous of that kid—he's a true master!"
Suddenly, the plump man stopped and started spitting again.
Fuck your Hanlin Academy scholar! If you had fallen into my hands back then, even if you had passed the imperial exams and become the Number One Scholar, I wouldn't have let you be an official.
The reason for his sudden heroic bravado was that Zhong Kui had just traveled far away—near but far, like a step across the shore, yet a separation between light and darkness, heaven and earth.
On a dark underworld road, the former founder of Immortal Hairpin City, an Ascension-level ghost immortal named Wuti, suddenly stopped.
He had just begun to feel a hint of murderous intent when his own body erupted in a great blaze, and his soul felt like it was being boiled in oil. Wuti had to immediately abandon that delusional thought.
Because before him appeared a young man in a bright red robe, holding a jade tablet in one hand and a brush in the other. A book lay open before him. The first words out of his mouth were utterly arrogant: "First, kowtow. Then I'll chat."
---
In the Green Obscurity World.
A burly man and a handsome boy wearing a tiger-head hat were now in this foreign land, doing what they used to do in their hometown: entering mountains to visit immortals.
It was Liu Shiliu, who was traveling through the Green Obscurity World, and Bai Ye, who had recently become a pure sword cultivator at Xuan Du Temple not long ago.
Not long before, Liu Shiliu had punched the Jade Capital, then dragged Bai Ye and fled.
The Second Elder in charge of guarding the Jade Capital at the time had surprisingly not pursued the matter—such a grave offense against orthodoxy. He hadn't drawn his sword, nor even shown any intention of striking. He simply let the Daoist immortals of the Five Cities and Twelve Towers display their divine abilities to block that punch, one city manifesting the powerful radiance of a rainbow.
Yu Dou ultimately only cast a distant glance at the tiger-head-hatted youth who stood like a single line. The Second Elder's expression was stern, yet it seemed he couldn't help but reveal a faint smile.
For the former "Most Proud of the Haoran World," Yu Dou was willing to show some respect. Otherwise, he wouldn't have lent his sword to Bai Ye back then.
At the time, the young boy-like Daoist Jiang Yunsheng witnessed that expression on the Second Elder's face, as if seeing a ghost in the Jade Capital.
In the capital region of a dynasty, a heavy snowfall had just stopped. They walked through the snow, where moonlight and snowlight complemented each other.
On their journey, the two friends saw sights different from the Haoran World. Daoist officials served as both immortal masters and officials in secular dynasties. Throughout the world, on mountains and outside them, Daoist officials were everywhere. A Daoist permit was a household registration of higher status. During floods in their jurisdictions, local Daoist officials would cast talismans into the breached riverbanks or use cinnabar documents to summon divine officials to relieve droughts. One Daoist official held a bamboo pole that could lead a horse across a mountain. Another set up an altar to exorcise evil spirits, causing a small pond that harbored a mischievous little flood dragon to suddenly dry up. There were many such deeds.
Liu Shiliu walked slowly through the snow, followed by the tiger-head-hatted youth who hardly matched the name Bai Ye.
In their homeland, Bai Ye had gained fame during the Tianbao era, and after cultivating the Dao, he was hailed as "After Bai Ye's poetry, there is still the moon."
Liu Shiliu pulled out a jug of wine and smiled. "If we board that night boat, we might meet some old friends."
The youth tugged at his tiger-head hat. "They're all fake. Lifeless."
Liu Shiliu said, "I plan to find someone. I'll need Reverend Sun's help."
The youth hummed in agreement. "I'll make that request. You won't owe any favors."
A few years ago, at a nearby ferry fish market, two outsiders had opened a tavern. The owner was a handsome young gentleman with the same surname as the Third Elder of the Jade Capital. The proprietress was surnamed Yuan.
Lu Tai, who was here, was in the mysterious state of having his yin spirit travel far away. The woman who had co-founded the tavern and called herself the proprietress came from the Lyric Tablet Blessed Land, named Yuan Ying. This young female Daoist, not yet registered in the official Daoist roster, had been taught by Liu Qi and Cao Zu. She was only in her twenties, yet she was one of the young top ten of several worlds.
When she made the list, she was actually under twenty, having spent six years stuck in the "Retain People" realm before leaping directly into the Jade Capital realm.
She had a one-sided love at first sight for Lu Tai.
Lu Tai had traveled to the Lyric Tablet Blessed Land seeking the half-volume of the Old Matchmaker's marriage ledger.
Lu Tai had never shown her a good face, claiming he didn't like women who were too beautiful—he lacked confidence in growing old together.
The two of them had opened this tavern together in Huainan Commandery, three stories, facing the river with mountains behind. Lu Tai had spent a large sum to acquire it. It had previously been a desolate immortal inn, with magnificent views from the gauze window opening toward the river, where the water and trees were green like hair.
The tavern was not far from the fish market. Every morning, Lu Tai would pick out various river delicacies and personally cook them, his skills unparalleled.
There was also a ferry crossing in the commandery city. If any beautiful or heavily made-up woman passed by, wind and rain would inevitably rage, ruining their makeup and clothes. In the Green Obscurity World, there wasn't much distinction between immortals and mortals—any immortal master had to have a Daoist permit. If you saw someone in Daoist robes on the road, calling them "Priest" was always correct.
The tavern had several signature dishes: steamed perch, fried water turtle, cross-bridge rice noodles, and preserved vegetables with bamboo shoots.
Lu Tai had also befriended a group of mountain foragers, so the tavern offered both river and mountain delicacies. The prices were more than just cheap—they were so cheap that every tavern in the city was cursing. How could someone run a business like this, not trying to make money, only seeking not to lose it? In addition to the tavern, Lu Tai hired skilled craftsmen from the mountains to build a waterside pavilion. Facing the wine, a scholar's window opened to lotuses blooming all around.
Lu Tai often went there alone to enjoy the view. Small boats floated past on the river, like the events of life—coming and going like shuttles.
By the water, old fishermen occasionally dried their straw rain capes. They were just common folk making a living, not some unrestrained, free-spirited hermits. Lu Tai sometimes left the pavilion to walk over and chat with them about daily life.
He had learned that in this place, aside from registered Daoist officials, any county that produced a top-three scholar in the imperial exams—especially the champion—would have the county magistrate promoted three grades, and the county's commoners would be exempt from taxes for three years. So Lu Tai went to take the exams. In the end, he didn't even pass as a presented scholar, let alone become the champion. Yet the tavern still held a free feast for all comers. At the time, Lu Tai, holding a jade-inlaid folding fan, cupped his fists and smiled in all directions. Yuan Ying's gaze grew dazed. Master Lu was just too handsome!
She blushed suddenly, as if thinking of something, then her gaze became resolute. She silently encouraged herself: *I must sleep with Master Lu!*
When he opened a book, he used a fine sheep-fat jade page-turner. When eating, he set out a glass waste bowl. He could be fastidious about food and fine cuts, yet also enjoy coarse tea and humble wine. Master Lu could be both elegant and common.
This year, in early spring's thick snow, Master Lu often wore a folding fan at his waist, carrying a green bamboo walking staff, and he liked to go mountain climbing alone without her.
But for cultivators, such small mountains were really nothing. And every time Lu Tai drank a little, he always liked to boast in his usual offbeat way, something like, "My house is a tall building, facing the river with mountains behind—the finest view in the world. The Five Cities and Twelve Towers are nothing compared to it." Or, "A thousand mountains and ten thousand valleys are all Daoist Qi—why bother visiting the Jade Capital?"
It seemed he held considerable resentment toward Lu Chen and the Jade Capital. Yuan Ying didn't care about these things. She only felt that she and Master Lu were a match made in heaven. The only thing she was a bit ashamed of was eating. Because of her teacher Cao Zu's influence, she had gotten used to saying "Eat or not?" from childhood. The moment she opened her mouth, it didn't sound elegant, but she couldn't change it. Besides, she had always liked to eat garlic cloves with her meals.
At first, Yuan Ying was a little embarrassed. She felt it wasn't quite proper for a girl to always have garlic and pickled beans as side dishes.
To her surprise, Lu Tai actually liked her this way. He said, "This is the only point about you that is worth keeping—really, don't change it."
In fact, Yuan Ying was extremely talented. She was good at poetry, lyrics, and essays—after all, she was a direct disciple of Liu Qi and had grown up in the Lyric Tablet Blessed Land. How could she lack literary qi? So Lu Tai would always tease her, saying, "Such beautiful lyrics, spoken from your lips—they come with a garlic fragrance."
She had accompanied Lu Tai to the fish market a few times, watching him haggle with vendors, red-faced and wide-eyed. At those times, Master Lu was even more devilishly handsome.
Yuan Ying didn't mind the women who pestered Master Lu. A bunch of lovesick fools, gaudy and plain—they weren't even as handsome as Master Lu.
Besides, did they think they could compete with her in lovesickness? They were far behind. Had they ever washed Master Lu's clothes?
Before, someone had compiled two rankings, selecting the young top ten and alternate top ten of several worlds. Although there were inevitably disputes, these were the most convincing such lists in thousands of years.
As for the Green Obscurity World where she lived, those selected were neither too many nor too few. Besides Yuan Ying, there was the Dao Ancestor's youngest disciple, the one named Shan Qing. Lu Chen had taken on a disciple on behalf of his master and gone to the Five Colors World. However, ill-fated, he had provoked Ascendancy City and was severely beaten by Ning Yao.
There was also a pure Martial Artist, a sword-hunter named Qi Gu. He had been incredibly lucky; if he had left the rankings a few years later, he wouldn't have made the list. He was said to have visited an unknown battlefield site and was expected to break through the mountain-peak realm bottleneck and reach the Ultimate Realm.
But the most talked-about person on the list was the one nicknamed "Twenty-Two."
Shan Qing, as the Dao Ancestor's disciple, was not really worth discussing. In the words of Reverend Sun of the Great Xuan Du Temple: "Even a dog tied at the Dao Ancestor's door can become an immortal."
Yuan Ying's background was obscure, so there was no chance to discuss it much. She hadn't fought anyone, so conversations always circled back to her "step into the sky" and repeated tired platitudes. It was really boring.
The Daoist Wang Yuanlu came from the "Rice Thief" lineage, which the Jade Capital did not recognize, a not-insignificant taboo.
But Xu Yi was different—he was a captivating legend. His background was ordinary, his cultivation talent ordinary. He was a menial servant disciple. The girl he grew up with had better talent and had gone to another man's arms. Later, during a training trip, to save that same rival and other disciples, he sacrificed himself and became a ghost, disappearing.
If the story ended there, at most it would make some lovestruck girls pull out their handkerchiefs and shed a few bitter tears.
But unexpectedly, when Xu Yi reappeared as a ghost, he acquired a grotto-heaven of very high rank and rose to prominence step by step. Not only did he quickly become a sect master, but he also resolved an enmity that had lasted for millennia with a rival sect, using methods that astonished everyone. Xu Yi directly married the founding female matriarch of that sect...
That woman was named Zhao Ge, with the Dao title Fuk'an, an Ascension-level peak. She had once been one of the top ten of the Green Obscurity World, but later went into seclusion to the point that successive sect masters never saw her.
Then, when she reappeared, she married Xu Yi, a man under fifty, becoming his Dao companion.
Such an immortal couple was extremely rare. The world was in an uproar.
Even the "Invincible One," the Second Elder of the Jade Capital, Yu Dou, who liked to fight upon appearing, broke precedent and personally attended the wedding banquet. He sat at the same main table as Reverend Sun—and neither of them started a fight! This showed how much face Xu Yi had.
Also at the main table were the Third Elder Lu Chen and an unknown female Daoist. But since she could sit at the main table, even a fool could guess her Daoist power.
In the entire Green Obscurity World, Xu Yi alone held two major sect power.
The Third Elder of the Jade Capital, Lu Chen; Reverend Sun Huaizhong of the Xuan Du Temple; the Second Sage of the Confucian Temple in the Haoran World; and the world's foremost alchemist—all seemed to have a high opinion of him and had each imparted teachings and knowledge.
This was probably what was called "hard fate and good fate, and knowing how to live."
In fact, Xu Yi was not a deep and scheming person. He had simple thoughts, sometimes even a bit naive. But every time he encountered difficulties or fell into trouble, he always turned misfortune into fortune.
The Martial Artist Qi Gu had traveled secretly with his friend Wang Yuanlu to this place once. Both were from the same Wuling Commandery of that great dynasty. Qi Gu came to ask Yuan Ying something: just what was the Hidden Officer Chen Ping'an's Ninth Realm like.
Wang Yuanlu was a quiet, short young man with an unremarkable appearance, even carrying a natural timid look. If he took off his Daoist robe, he looked like a field hand from a rural village. Even in clean clothes, he gave off a slovenly vibe. His small eyes, even when looking at someone properly, would probably make a woman mistake him for a shifty-eyed, weaselly bachelor.
But in truth, this young Daoist from an illegitimate lineage had extremely high combat skill. Normally, he was willing to yield, but once he struck, he was extremely ruthless and never left survivors. According to enthusiasts, on Wang Yuanlu's solitary path of cultivation, there were sixteen documented fights. He had killed nearly a hundred registered Daoist officials.
Lu Tai treated the reckless Qi Qi coldly, but he got along well with Wang Yuanlu. At the table, Wang Yuanlu seemed naturally timid and shy, not knowing how to initiate toasts. Every time Lu Tai toasted him, he would habitually lower his head, bow, hold his cup with both hands, and drink it in one gulp.
In the end, this young Daoist, branded as a "Rice Thief," had been toasted so many times by Lu Tai that he got drunk, his eyes reddened, and he choked out, "These years, my life has been so, so hard—I can't bear it anymore."
Tonight, the moon was bright and the stars sparse. In the waterside pavilion, Lu Tai leaned against a pillar, resting with his eyes closed, gently waving his fan.
Goodness has good affinities; the fan has good affinities.
Yuan Ying sat beside him, flipping through a poetry collection from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land. It was said to have been compiled by a wealthy young man named Zhu Lian. In her opinion, the poems were a mix of good and bad, but Zhu Lian's annotations were often striking and thought-provoking.
"Closing line: gentle and deep here, full of mellow flavor, making those drunk on fame and fortune feel infinitely gratified."
"The first seven characters are most exquisite, supremely beautiful—only someone who doesn't eat the incense of the mortal world could have such otherworldly words." "Reading this lyric on a hot summer day feels like hearing snow breaking bamboo branches in the dead of night; when I rise, my vision is clear."
"Reading to this point feels like meeting a recluse. Counting empty mountain pine cones falling—it can move even those with cold eyes and hard hearts who stand outside the book." "Since ancient times, among poets who achieved distinction, only this one went from coarse robes to yellow ribbons."
Yuan Ying marveled. It was too bad that this Zhu Lian didn't write his own poetry.
Hmm, the elegant calligraphy on the page was also beautifully done.
Lu Tai was resting with his eyes closed, thinking about his old master's words.
"Dry weather, beware of fire." He now understood that it referred to the one who ascended to heaven, Ruan Xiu.
"The duke has sunk into the Yellow Springs—do not blame heaven." It referred to the Qingtong Heavenly Lord in the pharmacy in his hometown.
"The snowstorm traveler returning home at night." It referred to Chen Ping'an.
These were all prophecies from Lu Chen.
Lu Tai's two enlightenment masters were the "Debater of Heaven" Zou Zi and the Haoran swordsman Pei Min.
As for that sword cultivator Liu Cai?
The mere thought of that name had bothered Lu Tai for years.
Yuan Ying couldn't help asking, "Master Lu, have you ever seen this Zhu Lian in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land?"
Lu Tai pulled his thoughts together and shook his head with a smile. "No, I haven't. I heard he was later brought out of the Blessed Land. According to Lu Chen, he's now an old cook at Fallen Mountain, much like me. But it's a pity that Zhu Lian always covers his face all year round—he's stingy with his looks."
Lu Tai smiled. "Yuan Ying, your feelings for me are just following a red thread of fate. It's not really meaningful."
Yuan Ying said softly, "Isn't it wonderfully romantic to think it's destined?"
Yuan Ying frowned slightly, looked up at two people by the river, and sent a thought to Lu Tai. "Oh, two great figures have come."
It was Xu Yi and the Ascension-level woman with the Dao title Fuk'an.
Lu Tai still didn't open his eyes. If you like cuddling, go to bed, he thought. He said casually, "Such extraordinary figures are probably too big for our little eyes to take in."
Yuan Ying smiled involuntarily. The world is no wider than a pair of eyes—who said that?
The young man stopped a dozen paces from the pavilion and made a Daoist salute. "Xu Yi greets Master Lu and Miss Yuan."
Lu Tai raised his folded fan high. "You're too kind—I won't see you off."
Yuan Ying followed suit, waving her poetry collection.
If not for being by Master Lu's side, she would have risen to bow.
Zhao Ge coldly watched the young couple in the pavilion.
Not old, but bold—a great air of importance.
Xu Yi gently patted her arm. She nodded, making no move.
Xu Yi remained standing where he was and asked with a smile, "May I ask Miss Yuan, can I meet Master Liu in the future?"
Before Xu Yi began his cultivation, he had come from a poor background and hung around the marketplace. He had heard many of Liu Qi's lyrics and admired him deeply.
Yuan Ying nodded. "You must be able to see him."
Xu Yi smiled, cupped his fists, and left. To his Dao companion, he thought, "Master Lu is a free-spirited man—don't mind him."
Zhao Ge smiled slightly. "As long as you don't mind, I don't."
Lu Tai put away his folding fan and started shooing Yuan Ying away. She insisted on staying, so he had to lie down and sleep to himself, while she went back to reading.
When the sky began to turn fish-belly white.
A small boat shot like the wind, stopping abruptly in the middle of the river, then drifting to shore near the pavilion.
A boy in a tiger-head hat, a burly man.
Bai Ye and Liu Shiliu.
Liu Shiliu leaped ashore and strode into the pavilion, laughing heartily. "I've come to thank you."
Lu Tai had already risen, bowing respectfully. "I greet Master Liu."
He deliberately didn't recognize that the boy was Bai Ye.
And even if he was Bai Ye, so what? Lu Tai didn't admire him. He had written so many drifting, lofty poems. Lu Tai was a sword cultivator, but from childhood he had been afraid of heights.
Yuan Ying rose belatedly and curtsied to the two guests.
Raising hands in a Daoist salute would be too formal. This way, she looked more like a housewife receiving guests with her husband.
Liu Shiliu laughed. "Don't call me master—I can't bear it. Just call me Junqian."
Back then, Lu Tai had traveled with his junior brother through Tungye Continent and helped a lot.
Especially that time when he almost revealed a heavenly secret, and Lu Tai was badly injured. Junqian, as a disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage, owed him a favor.
Yuan Ying asked, "Are you Bai Ye?"
Bai Ye nodded.
Yuan Ying asked again, "Why are you wearing a tiger-head hat?"
Bai Ye expressionlessly turned his gaze to the river.
Yuan Ying timidly added, "It looks really good on you."
Liu Shiliu stifled a laugh and warned, "Young lady, don't bring that up. At least wait until we're gone, then you can chat with Lu Tai about it."
Yuan Ying blinked and whispered, "It really suits him."
Liu Shiliu didn't stay long. After chatting with Lu Tai for a moment, he and Bai Ye left the pavilion and continued their travels.
Leading Yuan Ying back to the tavern, Lu Tai returned to his own courtyard and closed the door. He sat on the steps, staring into space.
A few years ago, Lu Tai had built a snowman in the courtyard. It never melted all year round.
Lu Tai leaned back, lying down, with his hands behind his head.
Back in Tungye Continent, when Lu Tai tried to reveal the heavenly secret to Chen Ping'an, the cost was not merely an unstable Dao heart—he nearly collapsed on the spot. Moreover, Lu Tai had vaguely seen behind Chen Ping'an a figure with a misty form, only a pair of golden eyes looking down at him like an ant. That was like some prototype of the "One" in Chen Ping'an's Great Dao—maybe from ten thousand years ago, maybe from ten thousand years hence. Heaven knows!