Chapter 889: What It Means to Travel Under the Stars and Moon

Chapter 889: What It Means to Travel Under the Stars and Moon

Chen Ping'an and Ning Yao walked back to the town. In this Huaihuang County, which no longer housed only the supervisory office, they passed by a long-established restaurant. It occupied a small footprint but had three floors, once the tallest building in town, though the third floor was not open to the public.

Chen Ping'an had a sudden whim and suggested they go inside for a drink. He smiled at Ning Yao and said that in the early days, usually only wealthy people from Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Lane would come here to drink, or else old master kiln workers from the Dragon Kilns would hold apprenticeships and host banquets here.

During idle chat at the Fire God Temple in the capital, Chen Ping'an learned that this restaurant was actually an asset of Aunt Feng's. The third floor was a resting place for her.

Apart from that, Aunt Feng had also amassed quite a few land deeds. She had even leaked some heavenly secrets, saying that among the Dragon Kiln kilns that had since been converted to civilian use, more than half were under Old Charioteer's name. Old Charioteer usually lived in Erlang Lane area. As for Lu Wei of the Yin-Yang School in the Middle Earth, he owned quite a few residences on Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Lane.

Chen Ping'an chose a table by the window and ordered only one pot of wine. The wine pot and bowls were both local celadon ware.

Ning Yao only drank one bowl but didn't stop Chen Ping'an from drinking.

This restaurant had once hosted a rare guest.

Even the nominal restaurant manager hadn't taken it seriously. But the true owner of the restaurant, Aunt Feng, had let out a soft sigh.

A schoolteacher with graying temples had come here, ordered a pot of wine and a few side dishes, and drank alone.

From the window on the second floor of the restaurant, one could just see the plaque on the archway in the street: "Yielding to No One."

After finishing the wine and food, Chen Ping'an's face was slightly flushed but his eyes were bright. He stood at the window, gazing at the archway for a moment, then withdrew his gaze. He and Ning Yao went downstairs and returned to Fallen Mountain.

The westernmost house belonged to Li Huai's family. A few years ago, they had held a wedding banquet here—Li Liu married a scholar from another region, said to be the son of an official family. This made the woman hold her head high for once; she stopped cursing people. During that time, she loved to stroll around, smiling at everyone she met, including many neighbors she had quarreled with or even scratched faces with. But now the family had returned to Northern Juzhou.

Ning Yao was somewhat curious that Li Liu would actually marry someone. Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "It seems she's settling past-life karmic ties, cutting off worldly attachments, and from now on can cultivate peacefully. Ascending to the Flying Ascension Realm shouldn't be a big problem."

Ning Yao blinked.

Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "I don't know either."

Ning Yao tilted her head.

Chen Ping'an said, "I mean I don't know what you're thinking."

Actually, there was a secret hidden here that kept Dong Shuijing and Lin Shouyi from completely giving up, or rather, it kept them from putting a sack over that bastard's head.

But Chen Ping'an really wasn't in a position to talk about such things. The truth of the matter was roughly on Li Liu's side—it was a marriage in name only. As for what was going on with the scholar, heaven only knew.

Today, a table on Fallen Mountain was bustling, filled with people.

Seated at the head of the table, facing the door, were Chen Ping'an and Ning Yao.

Zhu Lian, along with accountant Wei Wenlong and Zhang Jiazhen.

Mi Yu, Xiao Mo, Xian Wei.

At the end of the table, with their backs to the door, sat Chen Lingjun, Xiao Mili, and Chen Nuanshu.

Earlier, the old cook had been busy in the kitchen, with Nuanshu and Xiao Mili helping to pick vegetables and blow on bamboo tubes, while Xiao Mo was responsible for bringing dishes to the table.

Xian Wei watched and shook his head. This Xiao Mo really didn't treat himself as an outsider. Well, it made sense—he himself wasn't an outsider either. Soon he would become sworn brothers with Old Immortal Jia and Chen Lingjun. They just needed Jia to pick an auspicious day, and the three of them would cut chicken heads and burn yellow paper at Qilong Alley. Earlier at the table, Chen Lingjun had slapped his shoulder so hard it hurt, but that was fine—they were all good brothers. Besides, Chen Lingjun had already patted his chest and guaranteed, "Brother Xian Wei, just wait. We'll share fortune and hardship. I'll make sure you eat well and drink well. If there's ever a time when there are only two or three dishes on the table, then I, Chen Lingjun, have failed in brotherly duty!"

Then Old Brother Jia suddenly slammed the table and shouted, "Bullshit!"

Xian Wei was so startled he sobered up a bit. But Chen Lingjun just stood on the bench, hands on his hips, laughing heartily.

It turned out Xian Wei had been worried for nothing, because Old Immortal Jia quickly added a few quick words: "Brother Chen, are you looking down on my cooking skills or what? Even if you're drunk, don't talk nonsense. I can't compare to Manager Zhu from the mountain, that's for sure. But my Jia Sheng's cooking—how many chefs in town can match it, huh?!"

Especially the way Old Immortal Jia dragged out that "huh" made Xian Wei feel warm inside.

This was the kind of martial world and drinking session he had always dreamed of.

As for now, it was a bit less exciting, but Old Zhu's cooking was indeed superb.

Besides, no one was constrained; there were no tedious formalities of toasting. You could drink if you wanted, eat if you wanted. There wasn't even that silly rule about not talking while eating or sleeping.

Zhu Lian slurped a sip of wine and asked with a smile, "Brother Xiao Mo, Daoist Xian Wei, is the food to your liking?"

Xian Wei was eating like a whirlwind, head down, and replied, "It's good, it's very good."

Xiao Mo didn't say anything; he just raised his cup with both hands, tilted his head back, drained it in one go, then turned the cup upside down.

Chen Ping'an asked Zhu Lian via heart-mind voice, "Why didn Cen Yuanji come? Was she worried there wouldn't be room?"

Jiang Qu was in secluded cultivation, so Chen Ping'an hadn't asked Zhu Lian to call him.

Zhu Lian explained with a smile, "No, she only eats two meals a day, morning and evening, and they're medicinal meals. The timing wasn't right today, so she didn't come. Girls, no matter how fearless, are still afraid of getting fat. I told her, and she said she'd have to treat the mountain master and his wife to a meal separately to thank them."

Chen Ping'an couldn't help but laugh at this. "Then I'm the one benefiting."

Recalling something, Chen Ping'an continued via heart-mind voice, "Cen Yuanji's parents are getting older now. How is their health? When I last returned home, I heard Xiao Mili say her mother had caught a cold."

Zhu Lian said, "Previously, Dong Shan disguised himself as a doctor and went to check on them. They're fine."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "We still need to keep an eye on things."

Zhu Lian nodded.

After the meal, Chen Ping'an asked Nuanshu and Xiao Mili to guide him to Pei Qian's residence.

Chen Ping'an glanced at the right protector's cotton satchel and asked with a smile, "That big pouch of gold melon seeds? Too heavy to bring out?"

The little girl patted her beloved satchel and whispered to the good mountain master, "Inside this 'secondary capital,' only part of the troops are stationed right now, following me on campaigns. The main force is waiting elsewhere, lying low."

With a secondary capital, of course there was a capital—that was the celadon piggy bank she, Pei Qian, and Nuanshu all had, a gift from the old cook from years ago.

As for the nicknames "capital" and "secondary capital," those were Pei Qian's ideas—very domineering.

This was the first time Chen Ping'an had stepped into Pei Qian's courtyard.

Of course, that was partly because Chen Ping'an hadn't stayed long on Fallen Mountain.

In nearly thirty years, he, the mountain master, had been an incredibly hands-off overseer.

Entering Pei Qian's house, one side was the living quarters, the other side was... let's call it this senior disciple's study.

The study wasn't locked, but there were hardly any books inside.

Against the wall stood a shelf filled with various treasures Pei Qian had collected over years of travel, arranged haphazardly with no regard for rank.

But according to Xiao Mili's tip-off, the most valuable items were all kept in the next room.

And under the bed were a few boxes stuffed with account books, locked up tight—even Sister Nuanshu didn't have the key.

Chen Ping'an took out three display shelves—one large, two small—from his Storage Object. From the material selection to the mortise and tenon joints, he had done everything himself. The small shelves could be stored and removed whole, but the large one required Chen Ping'an to temporarily act as a carpenter, crouching on the ground to assemble it. When he finished, he clapped his hands and turned to look at the table and stool by the window. They had been sitting there for years—a small desk and a tall stool.

When Pei Qian was little, after practicing boxing at the bamboo building, she would come here every day to copy books.

Chen Ping'an couldn't imagine how that little black charcoal, who was so afraid of hardship, suddenly decided to practice boxing. If he had known, maybe he would have let her skip copying books—let her owe it first, and make it up later.

With a complicated heart, Chen Ping'an left Pei Qian's residence, still feeling complex.

Not far from the door stood Xiao Mo.

Nuanshu and Xiao Mili immediately took their leave, each going about their own business.

Xiao Mo waved to the two little girls, then asked a question he had been wanting to ask since the ferryboat, "When will you visit Piyun Mountain, master?"

Chen Ping'an was taken aback. It was a case of oversight—he was too familiar with Lord Wei Bo. Every time he returned home, he never thought of this, and Wei Bo always visited Fallen Mountain on his own initiative. Wei Bo never treated himself as an outsider to Fallen Mountain. Xiao Mili's sunflower seeds—Lord Wei Bo had certainly eaten his share.

But it was still a breach of etiquette; it was indeed his negligence. Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Better early than late. Let's go pay our respects to Lord Wei Bo right now."

The two of them flew together toward Piyun Mountain.

Wei Bo appeared at the mountaintop, somewhat surprised, and said with a smile, "A rare guest."

Chen Ping'an felt a bit embarrassed.

That wasn't a very kind thing to say.

Xiao Mo bent at the waist and made a deep bow. "Greetings, Lord Wei Bo."

Before them stood a mountain lord with a tall, slender figure, handsome features, a pure white robe, and a golden ring hanging from his ear. He was ethereal and transcendent, with unparalleled elegance.

As a mountain lord of a great mountain range, Wei Bo already knew that this young cultivator of unknown origins, styled Xizhu and named Mosheng, was a new guest elder of Fallen Mountain and had also become a third-rank elder of the Great Li Ministry of Justice.

Wei Bo smiled and returned the bow with cupped fists, speaking without reservation, "Greetings, Daoist Xizhu."

Xiao Mo didn't hesitate. He immediately pulled out two gifts from his sleeve—a pair of adorable mountain treasures, a celadon axe, and a yellow jade battle-axe.

In the terminology of the current Haoran World, they were both semi-immortal artifacts in rank.

But to Xiao Mo, they were useless as chicken ribs.

Whoever he gave them to, it didn't matter. Was he going to sell them for money?

So it was just a small token, a gesture of goodwill on top of something already fine.

After all, this was the same Xiao Mo who had called his own two natal flying swords "flashy and impractical."

Wei Bo initially wanted to decline. Given his relationship with Fallen Mountain, there was no need for such formality.

Moreover, Lord Wei Bo mistakenly thought they were at most two dharma artifacts as gifts.

But Xiao Mo insisted firmly, saying that Lord Wei Bo and his master had been close friends since humble beginnings, and had always looked after Fallen Mountain all these years. If he didn't accept this humble gift, it would be too cold-hearted.

Then from now on, if Piyun Mountain held any more banquets, even if they invited him, Xiao Mo, to visit, he absolutely wouldn't come.

Wei Bo was stunned speechless.

Indeed, on Fallen Mountain, such "polite" people were rare.

Not many—actually, it seemed only Nuanshu and Xiao Mili, the two well-behaved little girls.

But if Xiao Mo had stated the rank of the gifts outright, would Wei Bo have refused? He'd have pocketed them immediately. Chen Ping'an couldn't have stopped him even if he wanted to.

Did Wei Bo really think he was so wealthy?

Those annoying scenic and river gazettes, especially the ones from the immortal mansions around Central Mountain Jin Qing, loved to make insinuations.

It was said that people in the Bottle Gourd Continent's mountain world had even started placing bets on when Piyun Mountain would host its next Night Tour Banquet.

Chen Ping'an didn't even use heart-mind voice; he spoke directly, "Xiao Mo is a sword cultivator, at the peak of the Flying Ascension Realm. He originally came from the Barren Wasteland World, cultivating at a place called Haocai Mingyue. He slept for ten thousand years. Not long ago, he returned to the Haoran World with me, Ning Yao, and the Saint of Rites."

Lord Wei Bo had just raised his arm to take the gift from "Xiao Mo" when it froze in midair.

A peak Flying Ascension Realm sword cultivator?!

Wasn't that equivalent to an old throne from the Barren Wasteland World?!

While Wei Bo was stunned, Chen Ping'an asked via heart-mind voice, "Xiao Mo, what rank?"

Xiao Mo answered honestly, "Semi-immortal artifact."

Wei Bo was just about to steel himself and take the gift.

Chen Ping'an immediately grabbed Lord Wei Bo's arm with one hand and pressed down on Xiao Mo's wrist with the other, complaining, "We're all family here, no need for such politeness. Xiao Mo, what do you take our Lord Wei Bo for? Put them away."

Wei Bo chuckled and said, "Xiao Mo, Chen Ping'an is right. We're all family. There's no need to stand on ceremony. I'll accept the gifts, and let me just say one last polite thing—thank you. Next Night Tour Banquet, how could we possibly lack Brother Xiao Mo? We could even open a special Night Tour Banquet just for you."

If Mountain Master Chen hadn't acted this way, Lord Wei Bo wouldn't have been sure. But the more Chen Ping'an tried to stop him, the more Wei Bo knew that if he didn't accept the gifts, he'd regret it for the rest of his life.

Did he care about face?

If he cared about face, could he have hosted so many Night Tour Banquets? His reputation was already worn thin all the way to Northern Juzhou!

How did Liu Jinglong's "undefeated at the drinking table" spread?

How did Piyun Mountain's Night Tour Banquets start in the first place?

Chen Ping'an looked at Lord Wei Bo.

Is two too many? How about one?

Lord Wei Bo looked back at Mountain Master Chen.

Get lost.

Mountain Master Chen's gaze remained firm.

Didn't I just buy that bamboo with real money from Lady Qingshen Mountain? I gave it to Piyun Mountain for free!

Lord Wei Bo replied with a cold smile.

One thing at a time. I hit it off with Daoist Xizhu at first sight. If you have the nerve to stop me, I have the nerve to accept.

The two neighbors were locked in a silent battle of wills.

Chen Ping'an felt he was outmatched, so he withdrew his hands, tucked them into his sleeves, and said with a smile, "Xiao Mo, we can look forward to the invitation for the next Night Tour Banquet. It's a rare opportunity, not something that comes along often."

Wei Bo tucked the celadon axe and yellow jade battle-axe into his sleeve and said with a smile, "Wine or tea? Your choice."

Chen Ping'an asked cheerfully, "How about drinking mountain and river qi fortune? That work?"

Wei Bo waved his sleeve grandly. "As you wish."

Xiao Mo felt that his master and Lord Wei Bo were indeed close friends. It seemed the gifts weren't wasted.

What does Piyun Mountain have? All sorts of colorful clouds, green trees, pavilions, and towers.

What's happening on the mountain today? Old friends meet, brewing wine with pine flowers, boiling tea with spring water.

The pine flower wine brewed by Lord Wei Bo himself was a specialty. It just wasn't as famous as the wine from Changchun Palace.

But then again, within the Northern Mountain domain, who would dare casually drink Piyun Mountain's pine flower wine? Only by attending a Night Tour Banquet could one get a pot of it.

The most expensive immortal wines in the world, besides the Bamboo Sea Paradise of Qingshen Mountain, were Piyun Mountain's in Bottle Gourd Continent.

The spring water was Piyun Mountain's unique Biyu Spring, listed as one of Bottle Gourd Continent's famous springs.

Actually, the spring water ratings were the work of Dong Shuijing, a debt-owing knife seller of the Mohist school. Because the three springs on the list were all monopolized by him.

The tea was new tea sent by little Nuanshu around the time of Grain Rain this year, from a few old wild tea trees on Caoyun Peak. Nuanshu was responsible for picking, and the old cook did the frying.

Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Allow me to be the host for once. I'll brew the tea."

After sitting down, he flicked his blue sleeves and deployed the Water and Fire Methods.

The process of brewing tea was smooth and pleasing to the eye.

Wei Bo tucked his hands into his sleeves, squinting and smiling.

That straw-sandaled youth from years past had become such an immortal presence.

They returned from Piyun Mountain to Fallen Mountain.

Ning Yao would stay tonight at little Nuanshu's place. Xiao Mili often shared Nuanshu's bed, so she went along too—there were plenty of blankets there anyway.

Chen Ping'an sat in the bamboo building on the first floor, reading. Late at night, he went to the ancestral home on Mud Vase Alley, lit a lamp, and sat there for the whole night, not feeling lonely at all.

————

The next morning, Chen Ping'an returned to Fallen Mountain. He and Ning Yao went to the Sword Worship Terrace again.

Yu Yue, a sword cultivator from Liuxia Continent, was actually a guest elder of the Mi Yun Xie clan from the Aiai Continent.

The old sword cultivator was too embarrassed to meet the mountain master and immediately set off on his journey. Otherwise, if he stayed and got caught—having taken two disciples—he would have long since fled. If he didn't have the good sense to leave quickly, letting Chen Ping'an not see him and not be bothered, Yu Yue would have to worry about being challenged by Great Sword Immortal Mi.

As soon as Yu Yue saw Chen Ping'an, he understood the Hidden Official's intentions and felt more at ease.

Chen Ping'an teased, "Don't think I'm chasing you away."

"Wouldn't dare," Yu Yue said with a smile. "Hidden Official, please tell Mi Yu not to be angry. These days I've been on the mountain, I deliberately kept calling him Sword Immortal Mi. I may have been useless on the Sword Qi Great Wall, but at least I know the customs there. When I meet old friend Pu He later, it'll be good material for bragging over drinks. You, Old Pu, dare to call Mi Yu that? I do, and I call him Sword Immortal Mi every time I see him."

If Yu Yue said he wasn't the least bit nervous, he'd be lying. Luckily, even though Mi Yu's eyes were unfriendly each time, he never actually did anything.

Yu Yue restrained his smile and continued, "Also, please trouble the Hidden Official to pass a message to Sword Immortal Mi: Yu Yue truly respects Mi Yu. That's no lie."

Chen Ping'an nodded and agreed, then asked with a smile, "Since it's such a good thing to say, why not tell Mi Yu yourself?"

Yu Yue was a straightforward man and laughed heartily. "I was a bit loose-tongued before, calling him Sword Immortal Mi too much. I'm a bit afraid of him now. Also, I worry that such heartfelt words wouldn't be believed by Mi Yu. If the Hidden Official says them, Mi Yu will surely believe them. I won't lose anything—I'll even gain."

Chen Ping'an nodded and turned to look at the two children who didn't dare look directly at Ning Yao.

He took out two small pouches from his sleeve and handed them to Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting, explaining with a smile, "Three hundred Snowflake Coins, which I've converted to three Small Heat Coins. This is a regular stipend from the Fallen Mountain Patriarch Hall—direct disciples going on distant travels receive this money. You haven't formally taken Master Yu as your teacher yet, and I haven't erased your names from the Jise Peak genealogy, so this rule can't be broken."

Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting each took the light money pouches, but their hearts felt heavy.

He Xiangting, the boy who loved reading, mustered his courage and said, "Hidden Official, we've been inconsiderate."

Yu Qingzhang held back for a long time, then said gloomily, "Hidden Official, I'm sorry."

Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Don't think that way. This isn't a matter of right or wrong. In mountain cultivation, each follows their own fate. There are things I must do in my position, and you would think the same in your circumstances. Now that we're parting, let me speak frankly: if you hadn't thought that way and hadn't distanced yourselves from me, I, as the Hidden Official, would have found it odd and thought less of you."

All children in the world, it seemed, grew up with principles.

Chen Ping'an then took out a stack of books. The top one was a handwritten copy of "The Orthodox Sword Art," transcribed by Chen Ping'an himself.

There were also several books of saintly writings and literati notes bought from bookshops in the Great Li capital.

He handed them all to He Xiangting, who loved reading, and said, "You should both carefully read 'The Orthodox Sword Art.' As for the other books, follow your own preferences. It doesn't matter if you read them, how much, or how little."

He Xiangting took the books and solemnly bowed in thanks to the Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall and Mr. Chen of Fallen Mountain.

Yu Qingzhang hesitated, then scratched his head.

Chen Ping'an joked, "It's still not too late to change your mind now."

The two children grinned. That was probably the first time they had smiled at the young Hidden Official, and it was sincere.

"Having found a good teacher, you must cultivate even harder. Even on the Sword Qi Great Wall, not every young sword cultivator gets a Jade Pure Realm senior as a teacher, receiving careful guidance."

Chen Ping'an gently pressed his hands on the heads of the two children. "Cultivation is for a better life, but life is not just cultivation. You don't need to understand this truth for now."

The two children nodded emphatically.

Chen Ping'an withdrew his hands and spoke via heart-mind voice: "Guest Elder Yu, let me say a few more words. In the future, you must be strict with them. Don't just focus on their cultivation and breakthrough realms. I don't mean you have to scold them constantly, but pay attention to all aspects. Cultivation is important, but being a proper person is even more so. It's said that when wealthy families dote on their children, the first thing they do is provide ample material wealth. Affection from elders is natural, but excessive indulgence breeds arrogance. How can an arrogant youth become a sage?"

"Especially since Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting come from poor backgrounds. Suddenly changing to a more comfortable environment, they need to be especially mindful of this. Those of us who are teachers and transmitters of the Dao must lead by example, which is more important than giving them one or two precious secret manuals. Comparatively, who in this world least needs to seek money? Sword cultivators."

"Some mundane chores should never be done for them by elders. Some essential household etiquette must be repeatedly taught. Since they have already become sword cultivators, they must cherish this blessing and also cultivate the habit of never disregarding others' lives. Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting are close friends, but they have very different personalities. Let Yu Qingzhang, besides traveling with you, read more books to broaden his horizons and expand his mind. Let He Xiangting, besides reading, observe more trivial matters around him. He mustn't become a bookworm, rigidly bound by principles into an inflexible personality. He must learn to apply what he learns."

"I'm being long-winded."

Chen Ping'an laughed at himself, slightly apologetic, and said no more.

After all, Yu Yue was now the nominal teacher of the two children.

Actually, it was a bit inappropriate. Luckily, Yu Yue wasn't an old senior with a narrow mind; otherwise, with these words, he might have held a grudge.

Yu Yue sighed with genuine feeling. "Hidden Official, this isn't being long-winded. This is sword art, this is the Dao."

He recalled their first meeting at Yuanyang Islet, how confident and spirited the young Hidden Official had been.

But now, at the moment of parting, these heartfelt words made Yu Yue realize that the young sword immortal before him was still the closed-door disciple of the Literary Sage lineage, a little master who had thoroughly studied the saintly books.

"I have one more thing, and I won't stand on ceremony with you, Guest Elder Yu."

Chen Ping'an continued, "You must never let these two children be bullied outside when they are in the right. None of that worldly wisdom or consideration for the greater good. A sword cultivator is, after all, a sword cultivator. A sword cultivator must be a sword cultivator."

"I absolutely will not allow the children who left the Sword Qi Great Wall to have their temperaments and actions become... too much like this Haoran World, not at all like sword cultivators from the Sword Qi Great Wall. If I ever find that happening, Guest Elder Yu, I'm sorry."

"I'll teach them myself."

The old sword cultivator said solemnly, "Yu Yue, a sword cultivator from Liuxia Continent, will never let Mr. Chen be so disappointed."

Unlike Chen Ping'an's meticulousness, Ning Yao maintained her usual style. While Chen Ping'an spoke with Yu Yue via heart-mind voice, she gave the two hometown children some teachings in her own words. She still couldn't be bothered with heart-mind voice.

"Yu Qingzhang, your talent for sword practice is only passable. You need to know what kind of material you are. Be diligent in cultivation. Don't forget your roots when you come to the Haoran World. Don't fall into that 'better than some, not as good as others' mentality. Remember to read more books. Use your brain when things happen. Learn from your Hidden Official."

"He Xiangting, don't let Yu Qingzhang get too far ahead of you. Within sixty years, at most allow a gap of one and a half realms. Don't let that spirit drop. Stepping back, it's fine if your sword practice progresses slowly, but in being a person, you cannot be crooked. A righteous mind leads to a clear spirit; a clear sword heart leads to bright sword techniques."

Ning Yao said with an indifferent expression, "You two, remember every single word."

Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting simultaneously trembled and said, "We'll remember!"

Some secrets and inside stories of the Colorful World had already been told by that big white goose.

The first Jade Pure, Immortal, and Flying Ascension realms in the history of a brand-new world.

Beheading high-ranking deities.

Alone, carrying a sword on a distant journey, challenging and heavily wounding the closed-door disciple of the Dao Ancestor.

Now the number one under heaven in the Colorful World!

To the nine sword immortal seeds, this wasn't surprising. There was only one thought.

Ning Yao was indeed Ning Yao.

There wasn't a single sword cultivator in the world who was "even just like Ning Yao."

Yu Yue listened intently. The old man wasn't much better off than the two children.

After listening, the old sword cultivator had only one thought.

The Hidden Official was truly remarkable.

Ning Yao clasped her fists and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Elder Yu."

Yu Yue quickly returned the bow with cupped fists. "I don't deserve that."

Chen Ping'an summoned his talisman boat and sent the master and two disciples to Ox Horn Ferry. Bottle Gourd Continent didn't yet have a direct ferry to the Aiai Continent; they would need to wait for a cross-continent ferry to Northern Juzhou.

At the ferry, the ferry had not yet entered Dragon Prefecture territory. He chatted with the old sword cultivator for about two quarters of an hour, asking about the customs and local conditions of Liuxia Continent and Aiai Continent. Yu Yue naturally answered everything, speaking wittily. It was a shame the old sword cultivator wasn't a storyteller.

When Yu Yue and the others boarded the ferry, Chen Ping'an and Ning Yao stood near the railing, waving goodbye.

Xiao Mo found the head steward Zhu Lian and said he wanted to build a book tower.

The guest elders and elders of Fallen Mountain all had their own residences near the bamboo building in the front mountain. There weren't many left. Guest Elder Xiao Mo happened to be lucky; along with guest elder Xian Wei who came up the mountain together, there were still two vacant residences. Otherwise, they would have had to move to the back mountain. Given Fallen Mountain's reputation, they would never make an exception for Xiao Mo because he was a Flying Ascension Realm cultivator, or for Xian Wei because of his great background.

In the back mountain, immortal residences stretched in an unbroken line, more than thirty in various sizes, all built with money thrown around by Chief Zhou in the early years. They were intended for future disciples to live in or for entertaining guests. But currently, Fallen Mountain still had few registered disciples, and the mountain master had decreed that the mountain would be effectively sealed for twenty years. So aside from one residence housing two people, the rest were temporarily empty.

When Xiao Mo found Zhu Lian, the old cook was in the yard weaving baskets. Hearing that Xiao Mo wanted to spend his own money to build a book tower, he said with a smile, "No problem. The mountain craftsmen from Huimeng Mountain are readily available, skilled in their work. One book tower is nothing. The only issue is that there's really no space left near the bamboo building. So you have three choices: build it near Jise Peak, build it in the back mountain, or simply pick a subsidiary mountain peak as your own cultivation site—it might be more pleasant."

Xiao Mo said, "No need for such trouble. If it doesn't break the mountain's rules, I can tear down my residence and build the book tower on the same site. I can use the book tower as my cultivation dwelling. And it only needs to be two stories high."

Zhu Lian thought it over and said, "If Brother Xiao Mo trusts me, let me handle the construction of the book tower. It's just a matter of time and effort. No need to pay outsiders."

Xiao Mo was pleasantly surprised and quickly stood up to bow in thanks.

Because when his master mentioned Fallen Mountain, he highly praised this Old Master Zhu's erudition and mastery of all skills. His master had given him the highest possible evaluation: "There is no craft that Zhu Lian cannot do. Even if he doesn't know it now, give him at most two or three years, and he will be an undisputed master in that field. You have no choice but to accept it. The reason I can travel far with peace of mind is largely due to Zhu Lian, the head steward."

Zhu Lian asked with a smile, "Xiao Mo, does the book tower have a name?"

Xiao Mo said, "The Two Uncertainties Tower."

"Good name," Zhu Lian hummed. "It matches our master's level of naming."

Xiao Mo smiled. "The master actually helped come up with the name."

Zhu Lian raised an eyebrow, turned to Xiao Mo, and said seriously, "When it comes to naming, the master rarely makes a move. In all these years, only a few times. This is enough to show how highly the master regards Xiao Mo."

Xiao Mo squinted happily.

Zhu Lian smiled. "I'm jealous. My book tower still doesn't have a name. I once asked the master for his calligraphy, but it never worked out."

Xiao Mo was a bit puzzled. Given the bond between Old Master Zhu and his master, why was that?

But the books said: when in a position of success, don't talk about your successes with those who are failing.

Xiao Mo had only just come up the mountain and didn't know some inside details. He was still unaware of the mystery of the books in that book tower. If Chen Ping'an helped name it, that would be strange.

So Xiao Mo just changed the subject and asked, "If I stay here, will I interfere with your work, Mr. Zhu?"

Zhu Lian smiled and said, "When it comes to work, there's no such thing as 'official business' or not. It's best if you stay, Xiao Mo. Then I'll have someone to talk to. Spending time with a good person is like drinking fine wine."

Xiao Mo took out a book of graceful lyric poetry from his sleeve and sat down to read.

Between his work, Zhu Lian glanced at the contents of the poetry collection and smiled, shaking his head. "'When a hundred flowers bloom, I miss you most; when a hundred flowers wither, I hate you most'?"

That's not right. It falls into cliché.

"It should be: 'When a hundred flowers bloom, I resent you most; when a hundred flowers wither, I remember you most.' Whether resentment or remembrance, it's all in the season of flowers."

Only then does it express deep emotion and long-standing resentment—not daring to hate, only to resent—fully conveying a woman's sorrow and bitterness.

Xiao Mo was momentarily speechless, then sincerely convinced. He turned and clasped his fists. "Mr. Zhu's words are like pearls. It's as if a graceful lady has stepped out of a painting, fragrant without flowers."

Zhu Lian laughed heartily. "Brother Xiao Mo is no slouch either."

Xiao Mo felt somewhat at ease.

He and Fallen Mountain seemed naturally aligned in Dao heart, with no need for him to deliberately adapt to local customs.

"Xiao Mo coming to Fallen Mountain, and Fallen Mountain having Xiao Mo—both are fortunate things."

Zhu Lian weaved the bamboo basket skillfully as he said casually, "The kindness of the strong is a gentle spring breeze."

Xiao Mo closed his book and was about to speak when a young Daoist who had just gone to the mountain gate rushed in, red-faced, shouting, "Xiao Mo! Xiao Mo! This is incredible! So this is Fallen Mountain!"

The ferry gradually faded into the distance, like a bird disappearing into the sky.

The nine children Chen Ping'an had brought back from the Sword Qi Great Wall all had their own destinations now. They were no longer just burying their heads in practicing swords at the Sword Worship Terrace. They all had real futures.

The little cook Cheng Zhaolu became Sui Youbian's direct disciple. The little money-grubber Nalan Yudie became a disciple of the Discipline Elder Changming.

Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting had already crossed continents with the old sword cultivator Yu Yue, first going to the Mi Yun Xie clan in the Aiai Continent, then traveling to Liuxia Continent together to "scrounge for benefits."

In Yu Yue's words, the Mi Yun Xie clan would be overjoyed, riding on his coattails. Without spending a bit of karmic connection, they would gain two sword immortal seeds from the Sword Qi Great Wall. How could they skimp on immortal money and heavenly treasures?

He Gu ultimately recognized Mi Yu as his teacher.

Actually, it was just one sentence from Ning Yao.

What face did you have to look down on Mi Yu? When he was in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul earth immortal realms, his combined contributions in killing demons ranked first, even surpassing half of the Jade Pure Realm sword cultivators.

At the time, Mi Yu was standing nearby with Chen Ping'an. Even though Ning Yao had spoken the truth, Mi Yu still felt embarrassed.

If He Gu had been unwilling at first, holding his nose and accepting Mi Yu as his teacher, then Yu Xiehui absolutely refused to learn swords from Cui Wei, the "traitor."

In fact, when Cui Wei wanted to take the child together on the Kite Ferry to Tongye Continent, Yu Xiehui refused to leave the Sword Worship Terrace. In his anger, he said some very harsh words to Cui Wei: "Are you still a disciple of Nalan Yexing? Your master is dead. So many people are dead. So many Golden Core sword cultivators who could have left are dead! And you alone hid in a foreign land, never drawing your sword, living the best life. Don't you feel guilty? If it were me, I would rather die in my homeland or on a battlefield like Old Dragon City. You want me to recognize you as my teacher? Don't even think about it! I'd be embarrassed to have you as my teacher."

Cui Wei, the Nascent Soul sword cultivator, said nothing at the time. He silently left the Sword Worship Terrace.

Ning Yao's reasoning was simple. She didn't say whether Cui Wei's choice was right or wrong, or whether Yu Xiehui's stubbornness was good or bad. She just told Yu Xiehui to prove it himself.

First, learn Cui Wei's sword techniques. Later, forget the master-disciple title on the mountain. Challenge each other with swords, decide victory and defeat, and on that matter, use your own ability to make Cui Wei admit he was wrong.

Sun Chunwang was easier to negotiate. Ning Yao told the little girl that if she could reach the Jade Pure Realm within at most sixty years, she could become Ning Yao's registered disciple.

As for Bai Xuan, he got a scolding.

"Take cultivation seriously. Your talent is only considered decent in the Haoran World. In our homeland, at best you're a pre-Jade Pure Mi Yu, and you have the nerve to say you don't need to practice swords? Do you think you're Zong Yuan or Chen Xi?"

Only the soft-natured Yao Xiaoyan received no harsh words from Ning Yao. She just told the little girl to be braver.

Earlier at the Sword Worship Terrace, facing Ning Yao, the eight children were terrified, at a loss for what to do.

That might be Ning Yao's strength.

She didn't need to care too much about anything, and she was too lazy to mend people's hearts.

But the children of the Sword Qi Great Wall, facing Ning Yao, were like the early Yue Qing, Mi Hu, Li Tuimi, and other later great sword immortals when they were children, facing the old great sword immortal.

If he rarely spoke and scolded a few times, it meant there was hope—it showed your talent for sword practice was passable.

Actually, Ning Yao hadn't planned to say so much at first.

But as soon as she arrived at the Sword Worship Terrace and heard that two children were leaving Fallen Mountain and seemed to have quite a grudge against Chen Ping'an, she got angry.

That left only two of the nine sword immortal seeds without clear mentorship.

Bai Xuan and Yao Xiaoyan.

So Chen Ping'an planned to ask Xiao Mo if he was interested in Bai Xuan and willing to temporarily take him as an unregistered disciple.

And ask that white-haired boy now renamed Konghou if he was willing to teach Yao Xiaoyan some superior sword techniques and Dao methods.

But while many things could be compromised—Dao partners or master-disciple relationships—could not.

Standing at the ferry, Ning Yao hesitated. She rarely showed such indecision.

Chen Ping'an extended his hand from his sleeve, took Ning Yao's hands, and said softly with a smile, "When you get to Flying Ascension City, say hello to our colleagues in the Summer Resort lineage for me. Especially Guo Zhujiu, who calls you 'Master's Wife.' Tell her her master and senior sister miss her very much."

Ning Yao nodded.

Chen Ping'an now had fallen badly in realm, which made her uneasy.

No matter how high Xiao Mo's sword techniques were, how loyal he was, how well he got along with Chen Ping'an...

In the end, it wasn't the same as her being by his side.

Chen Ping'an raised one hand and gently stroked Ning Yao's brow. "You're still far from being a great sword immortal. Don't rush, okay?"

Ning Yao still just nodded, not speaking.

"Flying Ascension City took root in the Colorful World, and I, as the Hidden Official, wasn't even there to offer congratulations. That's really not proper."

Chen Ping'an withdrew his hand, twisted his wrist, and produced a whisk from the Immortal Hairpin City—its name was simply "Whisk."

Ning Yao shook her head. "You're not an outsider. What congratulations?"

Chen Ping'an had his own reason. "It's different. I worked hard to snatch this from Immortal Hairpin City. It has a very different meaning from ordinary objects. It's most suitable for Flying Ascension City. After all, Immortal Hairpin City dared to compare itself to the Sword Qi Great Wall in height."

Ning Yao said, "I'll wait for you in Flying Ascension City."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Okay."

The woman before him was very different from when she was a girl, but in any case, she was the best.

Chen Ping'an took a deep breath. "I'll see you off."

Their figures turned into cyan and white rainbows, sword qi soaring into the sky, instantly leaving the ferry far behind.

The Confucian sage from the Literary Temple guarding the Bottle Gourd Continent's celestial canopy opened the gate to the Colorful World.

To truly enter the Colorful World, Ning Yao still had a journey through the River of Time ahead, but the path was safe, like an official road in the mortal world.

After the gate closed, the old master stood on a white cloud and said with a smile, "If it's hard to part, why not ask her to stay?"

Chen Ping'an smiled but said nothing. He just bowed in farewell to this sage of the Literary Temple.

He returned to Fallen Mountain.

Chen Ping'an had already hung the Night Travel sword on the wall of the bamboo building's first floor, next to the couplet.

He looked at the sword in its sheath on the wall.

"The world is muddy and hard to calm; dragons and snakes dance on the wall."

On the desk lay two volumes of seal impressions, unquestionably first editions.

They were "The Hundred Sword Immortals Seal Book" and "The Two Hundred Sword Immortals Seal Book."

Fatty Yan had wanted to buy them back then, but Chen Ping'an refused. The price was negotiable, but forget it.

That made Yan Zhuo almost want to sneak into the Ning residence as a thief while Chen Ping'an was the Hidden Official in the Summer Resort.

Chen Ping'an walked out of the bamboo building. Behind it, the small pond that once held a purple-gold lotus had been moved to the Lotus Flower Paradise.

Looking at the empty, waterless pond, a Buddhist saying came to mind unbidden.

"Like a lotus not touching water, like the sun and moon not dwelling in the void."

A cultivator dwelling in seclusion in the mountains. What is true attainment? Perhaps it is when one's eyes are like the sun and moon, and one's Dao heart is like a green lotus.

He left the small pond and went to the stone table by the cliff.

Between the bamboo building and the cliff-side stone table, green bricks were laid, allowing for practice of the six-step stake-standing method.

He had laid them together with his student Cui Dongshan, but Chen Ping'an didn't know what text Cui Dongshan had inscribed on the bottom of the blue bricks.

Earlier, he had heard from the old cook that Wei Xian had taken on a direct disciple as his first student—a nine-year-old little girl, a lonely orphan, but she already had five years of cultivation age.

Was it a disciple Wei Xian had picked up in a small, remote vassal state? An orphan who started cultivating at age four?

When master and disciple first met, Wei Xian was drinking at a tavern by a post road. He only ordered one bowl, because drinking could cause trouble.

Then Wei Xian saw a ragged little girl, thin and sallow-faced, but with eyes unlike ordinary people. When she walked, her breathing and footsteps were very steady.

The girl fished a few copper coins from her pocket, bought two bowls of cheap liquor from the tavern keeper as if she knew the place, and then, without choosing an empty table, she just crouched by the roadside to drink. She had one bowl in hand, the other nearby.

After finishing both bowls, she stacked them and returned them to the keeper.

From buying the liquor to returning the bowls, the little girl said not a single word. She timed her journey and strength, heading back to the county town in the twilight before the night curfew.

Wei Xian noticed that the tavern keeper didn't seem surprised at all—he must have known her. When he inquired, he learned that this little girl who had learned to drink at such a young age was actually a regular at the tavern. According to the keeper, the little girl was homeless, apparently a refugee who had been separated from her parents years ago. In recent years, the suzerain state, the Great Li Dynasty, had allowed various vassal states to restore their kingdoms based on merit. The common people didn't really care, but it caused trouble. It was said that the crown prince had restored the kingdom and declared himself emperor, and his brothers fought him for the dragon throne. The chaos of war was unimaginable. Now, in some neighboring countries that had supposedly lost most of their young men after the fighting, things had settled down.

But in this place, which hadn't suffered much devastation before—only a battle at the border, with many border soldiers dead, but the country had maintained peace—the situation had actually become chaotic. Of course there were orphans.

How she had survived all these years, who cared? There were countless new graves. Actually, those were the lucky ones—at least the ones taken in by charity houses had a place to sleep. As for the ghosts of the lonely dead, no matter how they died, even as ghosts they couldn't get proper offerings and starved. But this little girl, though thin, was surprisingly strong. She would take odd jobs in the county town, eventually settling in a shop selling incense, candles, and paper money.

Whenever she had free time, she would wander around the county and its outskirts, probably looking for her parents. The farthest she went was the post station. She would wait there alone until nearly dark, then return to the shop in town.

But the shopkeeper found her business too inauspicious, so he only allowed her to buy liquor, not to sit at the tables. The little girl never complained, always following the rules.

Wei Xian became interested after hearing this.

The process of taking her as a disciple at the incense shop went smoothly. Wei Xian didn't even have to spend money—he just promised to help find her long-lost parents.

Apparently, when she was four years old, her parents found a desolate, ruined tomb with a hole the size of a well mouth. They probably felt the whole family couldn't survive, and didn't want their little girl to starve to death on the road, becoming wild animal food with her bones exposed in the wilderness. So they hardened their hearts, placed her in a basket, lowered her into the tomb, and left her what little food they had. The little girl stayed alone in the tomb. Years later, she not only hadn't starved to death, but had left that tomb—like a child crawling back from the gates of hell to the world of the living. When asked how she survived, she didn't hide anything from her recognized master, Wei Xian. She said that when she was about to starve, she saw a large turtle in the tomb. Whenever moonlight filtered down, it would stretch out its neck as if breathing, just slowly. She imitated it, and as she learned, she became less hungry...

Chen Ping'an was dumbfounded.

It was both heartbreaking and astonishing.

He had seen plenty of strange people and odd events; he was no longer surprised by mountain marvels.

But this one thing truly startled him.

He had to meet Wei Xian's disciple.

Without a wise teacher's guidance, without immortal secret manuals, without any heavenly treasures—the little girl couldn't even read—she had simply observed a legendary turtle-breathing technique and embarked on the path of cultivation.

If that wasn't genius, what was?

According to Zhu Lian, Fallen Mountain's fortune in gaining such a second-generation cultivation prodigy could be attributed half to Wei Xian's fate with his disciple and half to Fallen Mountain's "merit and blessings."

After pausing briefly by the cliff, Chen Ping'an returned to the bamboo building and picked up the two volumes of seal impressions, ready to set out on a journey.

This trip, compared to his previous ones, wasn't far at all—very close.

He was just going to a small country east of Bottle Gourd Continent, to a small martial arts school in Xianyou County, Qingyuan Commandery, just to drink with friends.

One was a still-young Daoist; the other was a great hero who no longer had a great beard and no longer wandered far. His treasured blade was still sharp, but the man was old.

Chen Ping'an had two short sabers hanging at his waist, stacked on one side.

They were the Execution and the Investigation.

Chen Ping'an didn't directly fly through the sky. Instead, he called for Xiao Mo, and the two of them walked to the mountain gate. Cen Yuanji was rarely not practicing her stake-standing and boxing today.

Xiao Mili was at the gate, sitting on a bamboo chair.

She seemed to be secretly clutching something in her palm—closing her hand, then opening it.

She was happily amused with herself.

Xiao Mo, in his yellow hat and blue shoes, now had a bamboo box and a mountain-rowing staff.

Chen Ping'an, worried that Xiao Mili might overthink things, promised again, "This trip with Xiao Mo won't be long before we come home."

Xiao Mili nodded vigorously, her little face saying one thing: "Good mountain master, you have to keep your word!"

Chen Ping'an patted Xiao Mili's head. "I will, I will."

Xiao Mili finally relaxed and said to Xiao Mo, "Mr. Xiao Mo, you look very scholarly."

Xiao Mo crouched down on one knee, bringing himself to eye level with Xiao Mili, and said with a smile, "Right Protector, is there anything you'd like me to bring back for you?"

His master's mountain was full of grandeur—to Xiao Mo, it was nothing surprising.

But he never expected to meet little girls like Xiao Mili and little Nuanshu.

One was Fallen Mountain's Right Protector, what the Haoran World called a mountain-guarding elder. The other was in charge of all the keys, including those to the Jise Peak Patriarch Hall.

Xiao Mili quickly waved her hands. "No, no, no. Mr. Xiao Mo, please don't spend any more money on me."

Just the matter of returning the favor had already been too much for her little head; she had to ask Nuanshu, Jingqing, and the old cook about it.

Xiao Mo said gently, "I'm not short on money."

Xiao Mili shook her head. "It's still money. No one makes money easily."

Sigh. As she got older and taller, she wasn't as generous anymore.

Back in the day, at Dumb Lake in her hometown, she never treated money as money. Good mountain master could vouch for that!

————

Along the way, Chen Ping'an continuously practiced that sword-light teleportation technique. When his spirit flagged, he switched to the more familiar and relaxed Cloud Water Body, though its flying speed was much slower. When completely exhausted, he would summon his talisman boat or let Xiao Mo grab his shoulder and drag him along. The former was like spending money to see the scenery; the latter was pure travel, swift as the wind.

The small martial arts school in Xianyou County, Qingyuan Commandery.

Inside, there was a "Great Hero Xu who loses every fight."

He had kept rooms for two friends he'd made in the martial world in his early years, cleaning them personally year after year.

He said that drinking with just two people wasn't interesting; they needed three, and he would take on both.

Xu Yuanxia's disciple, Guo Chunxi, had suffered a broken heart and become a drunkard wallowing in a wine vat. But earlier, he had hit it off with Zhou Fei and left his hometown. Now, inexplicably, he had become the disciple of Li Fuqu, the second seat elder of the True Realm Sect. He had transformed from a martial arts student just getting by to a mountain cultivator. Every half year, Guo Chunxi sent a letter back to report his safety to his master.

That child Bai Xuan had come here as a guest with Chen Ping'an last time, shamelessly begging the school to give him a guest elder title.

Xu Yuanxia didn't take it seriously and agreed, thinking it was just a child's joke.

The martial arts school also had a money-earning escort business.

The school's gatekeeper was still that young man who had been talking at cross-purposes last time, still Guo Chunxi's disciple.

He recognized Chen Ping'an—he was the school master's martial world friend. The young man didn't try to stop him like last time, just said the master was out on an escort job and wouldn't be back in Xianyou County for about two days.

Chen Ping'an asked the young man for the escort route, found a secluded street corner, and used the Cloud Water Body to find the school's caravan.

Concealing his form, he flew through the sky. Above an ordinary ferry, he looked down and stopped.

In late autumn, most things were declining, but near the ferry on the ground, it was a good season—oranges yellow, tangerines green.

Xiao Mo glanced at it and roughly saw the truth. He asked curiously, "According to mountain sayings, are these mountain and river spirits clinging to noble people, crossing mountains and rivers, to avoid cultivation tribulations?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. "More or less."

Some ghosts and spirits who had achieved certain cultivation, to avoid certain blade-and-soldier tribulations that came by heavenly will in the mountain world, would seek out blessed people as a refuge.

Otherwise, in large and small cities, there were civil and military temples and city god temples; outside, there were mountain and river spirits. How could they dare to parade around like mountain bandits?

But some knew their tribulation had come, disaster was imminent, and had no choice but to seek a protective charm. Others did it as a business to increase their cultivation—because every time they passed a mountain or river pass guarded by a spirit, these ghostly yin beings and mountain swamp spirits could gain a trace of intangible Dao energy, like carrying a phantom customs pass. It was like gaining an extra official seal.

However, it was far from easy. Some local mountain and river spirits who weren't very active might let it slide. But if certain mountain gods, land spirits, or river immortals noticed, it was tantamount to provocation, and the consequences were rarely good.

Chen Ping'an stopped and looked down at the ferry to confirm whether the ghost was seeking to live or seeking profit. If the latter, it truly was a destined tribulation.

Because the ghost at the ferry didn't yet know that the city god temple in the commandery city had already detected its trace and would soon come to the ferry to demand an explanation.

The city god himself would come, accompanied by a day-traveling spirit who had just returned to the commandery to report the matter, and a shackle general.

Moreover, near the ferry, a river god was already waiting by the bank like a hunter waiting for his prey.

At the ferry, it was midday, the sun shining bright. A woman holding an umbrella and wearing embroidered shoes was closely following a scholar on his way to the capital for exams. Intentionally or not, she stayed precisely within the scholar's shadow.

The scholar must have had at least a provincial graduate degree, because he carried a travel permit issued by the Ministry of Rites of that country, thus bearing a trace of literary fortune linked to the capital.

Xiao Mo said, "Master, the umbrella-holding female ghost is worried that she might implicate the scholar. She's thinking that if she manages to escape this tribulation, she will compensate for the scholar's lost yang energy and find a way to protect his descendants for a hundred years."

Chen Ping'an smiled knowingly. Having Xiao Mo around did save a lot of trouble.

"Xiao Mo, I might come to resent you. If I get used to traveling with you, what will I do later? It's hard to go from luxury to frugality."

Xiao Mo said, "As long as you don't find me annoying or chase me away, I can accompany you on every journey."

Chen Ping'an suddenly felt a bit creeped out and glanced at Xiao Mo.

Damn, could it be that Xian Wei hadn't been mistaken about Xiao Mo back in that alley?

He had been so careful, so meticulous, and yet he could miss something like this?

Xiao Mo smiled. "Master, rest assured. I have female cultivators who could be considered later-life Dao companions, but their bearing, temperament, and cultivation aptitude are not even one ten-thousandth of your wife's."

Chen Ping'an smiled awkwardly. "What are you thinking? How could I misunderstand Xiao Mo?"

Xiao Mo said understandingly, "It was Xiao Mo who misunderstood."

"Xiao Mo, go intercept the city god. Show him your Great Li elder token, that trouble-free plaque. I'll handle the ferry."

Chen Ping'an quietly descended, walked over to the umbrella-holding female ghost, pressed two fingers together against the oil-paper umbrella, and said with a light-hearted mind voice, "Miss, is it fair to travel like this, taking shortcuts? As a ghost who should not see the light, stepping on a living person's shadow and harming their vitality without a trace—aren't you afraid of inviting additional tribulations upon yourself?"

The female ghost's face was exceptionally pale. She turned to look at the blue-robed blade-bearer, terrified, and said tremblingly, "Immortal Master, I have my reasons. I beg you to show mercy. Just let me cross this river, and I'll leave immediately. I will never forget your great kindness..."

As she spoke, she took out a money pouch from her sleeve. "Sixteen immortal coins—that's all I have. I beg the immortal master to spare just one, for the toll to cross the river."

The oil-paper umbrella she held was pinned by the blue-robed blade-bearer's fingers. She had to stay in place. The scholar ahead was unaware, walking slowly forward. As her embroidered shoes left the scholar's shadow, the ground instantly became scorching hot like a cauldron of oil, leaving her no place to stand in the yang world.

Her face lost all color. Enduring the pain, she had to lift one foot and place it on top of the other embroidered shoe.

In that moment between life and death, the umbrella-holding female ghost unconsciously raised her eyes to look at the scholar's retreating figure. She seemed dazed, reluctant, then smiled in resignation.

Then she was about to curse that damned immortal master, to spit in his face before she died, and let him have his merit for slaying demons.

But she saw that blue-robed guest smile, retract his joined fingers, and lightly tap the oil-paper umbrella. In an instant, threads of golden light cascaded down like rain along the umbrella's surface, forming a curtain around it.

She felt as if she had fallen into an immortal's cool paradise.

Chen Ping'an handed her a stack of Yellow Seal Talismans and said, "After you cross the river, repay the scholar's kindness. If you're willing, you can go to a place called Shuhu Lake and find a cultivator named Zeng Ye. You might be able to cultivate there. This mountain immortal is not hard to find—just ask around when you get there. If you'd rather not travel far, it's up to you."

In that moment of life and death, the umbrella-holding female ghost had shown no murderous intent or violent aura. A glimmer of spirit remained, never obscured by the natural malevolence of yin spirits. That was a pure Dao heart.

Because with Xiao Mo's ability to probe the strings of her heart, the rights and wrongs of this female ghost were already clear, good and evil already known. Chen Ping'an had no need to be so "aggressive."

The umbrella-holding female ghost was suspicious. For no reason, a chance encounter—why would they bestow such kindness?

But then she thought, with her meager cultivation, why would this immortal master with unfathomable Dao arts bother to scheme against her?

On second thought, she felt a pang of worry—could he be coveting her... beauty?

Chen Ping'an could endure any misunderstanding except this kind of injustice. He said angrily, "Hurry up and follow the scholar across the river. Stop thinking about nonsense."

The female ghost dared not think further. She carefully put away the stack of immortal talismans, curtsied in thanks, and hurried forward. After a few steps, she found that even without walking in the scholar's shadow, she could move without hindrance. She couldn't help stopping and turning back to ask, "May I ask the immortal master's Dao title and immortal dwelling?"

The blue-robed blade-bearer, who exuded a scholarly air at a second glance, just shook his head. "No need to know such things."

She hesitated, then with firm eyes said, "I sincerely beg the immortal master to tell me your Dao title."

The man patted the short saber at his waist and said with a smile, "My name is Chen Ping'an. I am a swordsman."

It was both an imitation of someone else, a joke that wasn't quite a joke to the umbrella-holding female ghost.

And it was said for the commandery city god to hear, because Xiao Mo's lowest-rank trouble-free plaque from the Great Li Ministry of Justice didn't seem to be particularly effective.

He turned and clasped his fists toward the city god on his cloud, then used the Cloud Water Body to continue on his way with Xiao Mo.

The city god, along with his two assistants, the day-traveling spirit and the shackle general, respectfully returned the bow to the blue-robed guest who had announced his name. The city god descended from the clouds to the riverbank and ordered the river god, who should have blocked the way, to let the female ghost pass.

The river god was stubborn. Even seeing the commandery city god, his superior in the official hierarchy, he insisted on knowing the reason before allowing passage. The city god was in an excellent mood and, far from being angry, told the river god that the blue-robed sword immortal was none other than the young master of Fallen Mountain in Dragon Prefecture, Great Li—Chen Ping'an, the head of a sect.

The city god teased the river god, "What a big temper you have! You made a sword immortal stop here and expend some of his own merit to escort a female ghost across the river."

The river god was inwardly proud but said, "A sword immortal's realm may be enormous, but it can't be bigger than the principle of my duty here."

The city god chuckled. And that's exactly why you're a river god here and I'm sitting in the city god temple in the commandery.

The river god suddenly asked, "Is it really that Chen Ping'an from Fallen Mountain?"

Being poor, he couldn't afford Mirror Flowers, Water Moon, or landscape gazettes. His mountain news was far less timely than the city god's. But in various drinking parties, he often heard colleagues and superiors mention that the Great Li Dynasty had produced two young sword immortals in their forties. They had joined forces in a sword duel and dismantled the patriarch hall of Zhengyang Mountain, especially the one surnamed Chen, who had a bad temper and had chopped off the head of the Moving Mountain Old Ancestor.

Looking back at the blue-robed blade-bearer's style, it didn't seem to match the rumors. Could the city god have been mistaken?

The city god nodded. "It's true. Absolutely certain."

The river god complained, "City God, why didn't you say so earlier? I could have asked Immortal Chen for a piece of calligraphy."

The city god glared. "Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

The river god fell silent. Whoever had the higher rank was in the right.

Xiao Mo followed his master, flying through the sky, continuing their journey. He asked, "Master, when you travel, is it always like this...?"

Chen Ping'an smiled and finished his sentence, "Meddling in other people's business?"

Xiao Mo smiled but said nothing.

Chen Ping'an said, "When your realm is high, the world seems small, and everything below seems like trivial matters. That's not wrong. But a single stop from you and me—a little bit of time—is just the difference between you accompanying me on a talisman boat, leisurely watching the landscape, and you dragging me along at high speed. But for others, it could mean life or death, the Great Dao, an inescapable tribulation that no amount of kneeling and begging can avoid. It could mean being separated forever, or lovers finally being together..."

Xiao Mo said, "Master transmits the Dao. Xiao Mo has been taught."

Chen Ping'an held back.

Xiao Mo said, "I heard from Old Master Zhu that Fallen Mountain's ethos originated from the master correcting the source and leading by example."

Chen Ping'an snorted. "Nonsense. It has nothing to do with me, not even a single copper coin."

Xiao Mo sighed, "Master is truly humble like an empty valley."

The mountain path wound like a snake, rugged and difficult. A caravan of short horses moved along.

An old man with white hair and white brows rode a horse with a saber at his side. Probably because he was on the road, the old escort hadn't shaved his beard much.

He rode side by side with a young Daoist.

At a bend in the mountain road, a blue-robed guest with two sabers stacked at his waist walked out slowly and said with a smile, "This is a robbery."

Behind him stood a young man who looked like a scholar.

The old man laughed heartily. "Peak, you're clearly the kind who doesn't rob for money, only for women. You'll have to take one for the team."

The young Daoist grinned. "Brother Xu, you're the handsome one. You always say that when it comes to looks, Chen Ping'an and I combined can't compare to you."

Both dismounted and walked toward the approaching figure.

The martial arts school's escorts saw the blue-robed blade-bearer quicken his pace, raising his hands to grasp Xu Yuanxia's and Zhang Shanfeng's hands respectively.

Most of them knew this man. His surname was Chen. He was an old friend of the school master.

For some reason, that blue-robed man walked on foot, leading the master's horse for him, chatting and laughing.

After descending the mountain, they passed an inn and sat at a table. The master broke his rule: not only did he drink during an escort, but he allowed all the school disciples to have one bowl of wine.

How strange. Wasn't the master afraid of trouble on the road?

Chen Ping'an raised his wine bowl, took a sip, and pulled a thin collection from his sleeve. He said with a sly smile, "Take a look?"

Xu Yuanxia wiped his mouth, looked closely, then quickly wiped his sleeve before picking it up. It was a collection of Su Shi's lyrics.

Last time at the table, Xu had mentioned this, and Chen Ping'an had started bragging without a draft, saying he could get a collection with Su Shi's inscription for him, and even write a preface for his mountain-and-river travelogue. Xu Yuanxia carefully opened it, and sure enough, there was Su Shi's inscription and a private seal. There was also a line: "A coarse hemp gown wraps a life of wandering, presented to the great-bearded wanderer Xu Yuanxia," along with a date.

Xu Yuanxia's face flushed red. He tucked it into his bosom and laughed. "You little rascal, your imitation of the handwriting is pretty good. I'll take it as real."

Chen Ping'an raised his wine bowl. "I'll help draft the preface later. Su Shi agreed. Just finish your manuscript, and I'll send it to him."

Xu Yuanxia looked skeptical.

Zhang Shanfeng started stirring the pot. "What are you waiting for? Why not toast our Elder Chen?"

Chen Ping'an continued, "I also have a calligraphy scroll from Su Shi, but I forgot to bring it on this trip. If you want it, you'll have to go get it from Fallen Mountain."

Xu Yuanxia held up three fingers and shook them. "You little rascal, you've said three sentences and already bragged three times."

Actually, these days, Xu Yuanxia often went to an immortal mountain near the martial arts school to stroll and ask about mountain affairs.

So he knew about Fallen Mountain's observation of Zhengyang Mountain and the Middle Earth Literary Temple's deliberation. The old man knew all about it.

Each time, he climbed slowly, descended quickly, returned home, drank, and fell into a drunken sleep.

Xu Yuanxia raised his wine bowl and clinked it hard with Chen Ping'an's. "If you're busy, you don't have to come back to Xianyou County with us. We don't need a few extra meals. Take care of business."

Chen Ping'an snorted. "Don't try to act magnanimous here. If I really left, you'd be cursing me to Zhang Zhenren."

Zhang Shanfeng nodded with a smile. Now he was a Looking-at-the-Sea Realm immortal. Being called "Zhenren" at the table wasn't too much.

Xu Yuanxia turned to look at that yellow-hatted youth and immediately regretted it. Sure enough, the guy responsible for pouring wine had already nodded to himself, said "I'll drink one," and downed it.

During this drinking session, whenever someone toasted him, Xiao Mo would say nothing and finish a big bowl in one gulp. After a few rounds, Xu Yuanxia and Zhang Shanfeng didn't dare toast him much anymore. Then if their eyes met, Xiao Mo would take it as a toast and drink it down in one gulp.

This kind of hero was the hardest to deal with at the table—good drinking etiquette, but even better capacity.

And Xiao Mo was extremely measured. He always let Xu Yuanxia just take a symbolic sip. If Xu Yuanxia finished his bowl, Xiao Mo would pour himself two more. This left Xu Yuanxia in a dilemma: toast or not? Every time with Xiao Mo, he could only take it easy. In short... it was quite enjoyable. So Xu Yuanxia didn't actually drink much, but he raised his bowl many times. All in all, it felt like a hearty, unrestrained drinking session.

On the way back to Xianyou County, when Xu Yuanxia learned that Chen Ping'an was going to Tongye Continent to establish a subordinate sect, he couldn't help telling Chen Ping'an to get lost.

Chen Ping'an couldn't be bothered with him. He sat on horseback, hands tucked in sleeves, shoulders swaying, two sabers stacked at his waist, leisurely chatting with Zhang Shanfeng. They had already agreed to go to Tongye Continent together. Zhang Shanfeng asked Xu Yuanxia if he was mad. No choice—some people were getting old, their legs not as nimble. Escorting was fine, but if they gritted their teeth and traveled the martial world like young men, drinking and flirting, seeing beautiful women, they'd have the heart but not the strength.

Xu Yuanxia was furious.

Along the way back to Qingyuan Commandery, Xu Yuanxia smoothed things over with local officials, post stations, and martial arts sects, occasionally testing his disciples.

For some reason, Xiao Mo felt that his master, on Fallen Mountain, was a completely different person. Here, he was lazy, basking in the sun, sipping wine, occasionally whistling a folk tune.

When they reached the martial arts school in Xianyou County, Xiao Mo was even more amazed to see his master personally go into the kitchen and cook a meal.

Xu Yuanxia stood arms crossed, leaning against the kitchen door, watching two old friends and one new friend bustling about.

That night, they only drank lightly.

When they reached Zhang Shanfeng's room, Chen Ping'an stepped in first, opened a book with pictures, and clicked his tongue.

Zhang Shanfeng complained, "Brother Xu, I'm a Daoist. What do you mean by leaving these books on the table?!"

Xu Yuanxia chuckled. "Probably the books grew legs and snuck in on their own. Nothing to do with me."

There was a late-night snack. Xu Yuanxia dragged the three of them out of the school to a small eatery in a back alley. Chen Ping'an and Zhang Shanfeng drank freely, as if they were having an internal squabble.

At dawn the next day, Chen Ping'an rubbed his forehead. He didn't even remember how he got back to the school.

He got up, pushed open the door, and hadn't gone far when he found Xiao Mo crouching on the steps by the training ground, watching Xu Yuanxia teach his disciples boxing and stake-standing.

Zhang Shanfeng, the idiot, was holding a bowl of wine, using it to sober up.

Xu Yuanxia waved at Chen Ping'an. "Come over. Teach a few boxing techniques."

The school's disciples all looked at Mr. Chen, whom their master had described as very mysterious.

White hairpin, blue robes, black cloth shoes with thousand-layer soles.

They had to admit he looked decent enough. As for his martial skills, since he was their master's friend from the martial world, there was a baseline.

Why was their master so well-regarded in the martial world, especially among peers? Wasn't it because he lost fights and built friendships that way?

If it weren't for the master's genuine kindness, hearty meals, and never being late with wages, he probably couldn't have kept anyone.

Earlier, Zhenren Zhang had been conscripted to teach a boxing set. Good heavens, he probably hadn't sobered up, all soft and drawing circles in the air.

So they didn't have high hopes for this Mr. Chen, who was often on the road.

Chen Ping'an smiled, hitched up the hem of his blue robe, tucked it into his waist, walked over to Xu Yuanxia, and with his back to the disciples, demonstrated the six-step stake-standing of the Mountain-Shattering Fist.

The young men behind him exchanged glances.

That's right. Just like their master's friend.

Xiao Mo smiled.

The boxing intent was like mountain and river uniting with heaven and earth.

Martial artists like Yu Hong and Zhou Haijing at the ninth realm would be a one-punch matter if they were unlucky enough to face his master.

Xu Yuanxia sat beside Xiao Mo and said softly, "These little brats can't see the depth. Sorry for the embarrassment, Xiao Mo."

Xiao Mo shook his head. "Each has their own level; each has their own experience."

Xu Yuanxia sent a sound transmission to Xiao Mo. "Thank you for accompanying him on this journey."

He knew Chen Ping'an well enough. If he came to drink with him and Zhang Shanfeng and brought someone along, it was because he was seriously injured.

Xu Yuanxia watched the blue-robed figure on the training ground, whose punches were getting faster and faster, and said with a smile, "I'm just too old. If I were twenty years younger, I'd definitely drink with you until both of us were dead drunk."

Xiao Mo said softly, "In my master's eyes, Great Hero Xu might not be considered young anymore. But I believe in my master's heart, you will always be the great-bearded hero walking through wind and rain."

The old man rubbed his chin and smiled. "Makes sense."

Chen Ping'an stayed at the school for three consecutive days. Finally, Xu Yuanxia drove him away, cursing Chen Ping'an and Zhang Shanfeng for being heartless bastards who were just freeloading, waiting for him to die so they could inherit his property.

These past few days, Chen Ping'an had been teaching boxing and sparring. The school's disciples had finally come to realize he was a true expert—likely able to beat at least two of their master.

If he opened a school here, business would be good, especially with female students.

One morning, crouching on the steps, Chen Ping'an rubbed his brow and held a wine bowl, watching Zhang Shanfeng teach boxing. The disciples' movements were awkward, stifling their laughter. Chen Ping'an held back his own.

Before setting off, Xu Yuanxia suddenly made a request: have Chen Ping'an write an inscription for the school's main hall, something grand and imposing.

The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were prepared. Xiao Mo ground the ink. Chen Ping'an picked up the brush and wrote four large characters in clerical script, signed "Chen Ping'an of Fallen Mountain," and took out a private seal to stamp it: "Chen Shiyi."

Chen Ping'an put down the brush, turned to Xu Yuanxia, and said with a smile, "If you don't think it's imposing enough, I can change 'one' to 'nine.'"

Xu Yuanxia burst out laughing and said it was about right—anything bigger and his tiny school couldn't bear it.

The plaque bore four characters: "Fist Overwhelms a Continent."

Xu Yuanxia accompanied them all the way to the outskirts of the county, then, without dragging it out, clasped his fists and bid them farewell with four words: "Have a good journey."

————

At Huaihuang County, Zhang Shanfeng didn't stay on the mountain with Chen Ping'an. Instead, he settled in at the Thatched Hut Shop on Qilong Alley. He was with Old Immortal Jia, Chen Lingjun, and a young Daoist named Xian Wei, who claimed to be hosting a welcome banquet. Another drinking session went on until everything was dark and muddled. Then Zhang Shanfeng secretly asked Chen Lingjun to guide him to Tie Fu River's Water God Temple. Chen Lingjun winked knowingly—the love divination there was incredibly accurate! The problem was that the Water God had moved. But that was a minor issue; Chen Ping'an couldn't be stumped. He took them to another mountain god temple in Dragon Prefecture, equally effective. Xian Wei initially wanted to follow when he heard it was the Tie Fu River Water God Temple, but when he heard they were going to burn incense at some mountain god's temple, he lost interest.

Chen Ping'an went alone to Mud Vase Alley. He first climbed over the wall and landed in Song Jixin's courtyard. This was the first time he had done such a thing.

Then he used the Cloud Water Body to enter Song Jixin's study. Without much searching, he found a mountain-and-river prohibition inside a celadon vase on a bookshelf—mysterious and hidden, but not difficult to open. Inside, he found a piece of broken porcelain. In addition, there were a few yellowed pages left by Great Li's Dowager Nan Zan, fragments of a Dao technique from Master San Shan Jiu Hou.

Then he went to the front of his ancestral home, crouched down, dug up the soil, and retrieved a rouge box that had been buried in the alley for many years.

He went to a desolate wilderness where few people went and found a small unmarked grave.

These were all inside stories Aunt Feng had told him at the Fire God Temple.

On the grave, a stone held down faded red paper, probably from someone's