Chapter 960: Charcoal Fire
The mountain and water gazette of the Green Firmament Sword Sect was placed over at Cloud Steam Mountain, temporarily under Zhong Qiu's charge.
As for the future Mirror Flowers, Water Moon, Cui Dongshan had placed it on Chou Mou Mountain, not on Ancestor Mountain with its finest scenery, nor on Cloud Steam Mountain which was closest to the ferry.
Unexpected, yet reasonable. Immortal Capital Mountain was where swordsmen practiced their swords, Cloud Steam Mountain was where martial artists learned their fists—both were pure in purpose.
Cui Dongshan smiled and said, "Teacher Zhong, you're the bookkeeper. Why don't you flip through the account books so that the upper sect's ancestral masters, including my teacher, can have a clear picture."
Say it out loud. Let everyone be happy.
A sect's celebration ceremony was not the same as a Golden Core cultivator's peak-opening ceremony. Those who came to offer congratulations were often wealthy sect-level gates, usually generous with their gifts, and the congratulatory gifts were not light.
The dynastic nations below the mountains near the sect, along with the vassal sect immortal mansions, and various mountain and water deities, almost all gritted their teeth and gave gifts that wouldn't embarrass themselves, just to save face. This was also the predicament of the Yellow Millet Sect of Mount Lou and Cloud Cloud Mountain as neighbors in Treasure Bottle Continent. Having attended too many ceremonies, they only gave and never received, which was equivalent to regularly sending money to Cloud Cloud Mountain, like a vassal peak. It was both frustrating and humiliating, and it drained their treasury.
Some immortal sects, especially unscrupulous ones, would even arrange for someone to "call out the name," directly announcing the content of the gifts—how many immortal coins, what heavenly treasures and rare jewels were given—openly and clearly, right during the viewing ceremony. For example... at Prostrate Peak in White Able Continent, because Fire Dragon True Master was exceptionally skilled at taking disciples, he frequently held ceremonies. It was rumored that after each ceremony, the venerable Fire Dragon True Master would personally see the guests off down the mountain. With a kind expression, the old true master would always ask the other party, "Has your family been facing any difficulties lately?"
Zhong Qiu smiled and nodded, taking a ledger book from his sleeve. "For this Green Firmament Sword Sect ceremony, from the sending of the first invitation letter to the present day, in this recent period, the guests on Secret Snow Peak have been as numerous as clouds. Not counting Liu Ju Bao and his son from White Able Continent, or Mr. Yu of the Profound Secret Dynasty—those three came up the mountain today to observe the ceremony and were not assigned lodgings on Secret Snow Peak—for the remaining thirty-two distinguished guests, the total expenses for receiving and seeing them off, plus the tea, melon seeds, and such in the Patriarch Hall today, come to seven hundred and twenty taels and six qian of silver."
Huang Ting was fine. In the old days at Peace Mountain, she had always been a spectator at various ceremonies. It was just like what Sword Immortal Tao had said earlier—she only needed to sit there and doze off.
But Huang Ting, blessed with deep fortune, had never needed to worry about immortal coins on her cultivation path. Still, she knew very well what "seven hundred and twenty taels of silver" meant.
Ye Yunyun, however, was the head of Pusa Cloud Grass Hall. This Yellow-Robed Yun, no matter how much she liked to dump mundane affairs onto Tan Rong and Xue Huai to handle entirely, without personally getting involved, still had to review and approve everything. So Ye Yunyun was extremely clear about the expenses of holding a ceremony for an immortal mansion sect. Arranging accommodations for the guests, just the daily immortal wines, teas, and fruits carefully cultivated by agricultural cultivators, was a huge sum. Then there were the Mirror Flowers, Water Moon shows, which consumed sect spiritual energy that had to be bought with hard cash to create the landscape scenes. Plus, some observing cultivators couldn't just be dumped in a "lawless place" with thin spiritual energy when they arrived at Pusa, which would delay their cultivation. This required Precious Grass Hall to pre-crush a large number of Snow Flower Coins and "water" various immortal residences and snail-shell Dao fields with spiritual energy in advance, creating advantageous cultivation environments. As the saying went on the mountain, a breath of an Earth Immortal cultivator was an immortal coin—this was no joke; it was all money. Additionally, they had to prepare return gifts for the guests to take down the mountain after the ceremony. The mountain's treasury had to go to local dynasties or other immortal mansions early on to purchase some uniquely elegant gifts... All in all, the expenses before and after a ceremony, when added together, often amounted to an astronomical number of immortal coins. If one truly wanted to maintain the sect's face, after deducting the income from congratulatory gifts, there was even a possibility of running a deficit.
But the Green Firmament Sword Sect? They had only spent over seven hundred taels of silver—less than a single Snow Flower Coin!
Chen Ping'an kept a straight face. And that six qian of silver—Teacher Zhong, how did you calculate that? That's a bit excessive.
Wei Wenlong was deeply moved. As a fellow bookkeeper, he had learned something. Teacher Zhong didn't act unless necessary, but when he did, he made a stunning impression.
No wonder he was the former National Teacher of the Southern Garden Kingdom in the old Lotus Flower Blessed Land. Such meticulous budgeting. Wei Wenlong admitted his inferiority. Next time there was a peak-opening ceremony at Fallen Mountain, he would have to raise the bar.
Zhong Qiu turned to the first page of the ledger. Now came the income from the congratulatory gifts for this ceremony.
From the Great Spring Dynasty, Minister of Rites Li Xiling arrived at Secret Snow Peak later than the old general Yao Zhenhe and the prefect Yao Xianzhi. Besides the eighty Guyu Coins he carried with him, Great Spring Emperor Yao Jinzhi had also made a promise to the Green Firmament Sword Sect: in the future, within the Great Spring Dynasty's borders and its vassal states, every time they discovered a sword cultivator seedling, they would immediately send him to Immortal Capital Mountain to cultivate and practice swordsmanship. All expenses for the sword-forging would be covered by the Great Spring Ministry of Revenue. If Immortal Capital Mountain was willing to accept the sword cultivator as a direct disciple of one of its peaks, that would be best. If they found it unsuitable, they could send him back to Great Spring. However, the Great Spring Emperor had made one, and only one, request: these sword cultivators from Immortal Capital Mountain, once they achieved success in cultivation, must descend the mountain to serve as imperial family offerings or as accompanying army cultivators for the border forces, for a minimum period of sixty years.
As the Great Spring Emperor's own younger brother, and currently the prefect of Mirage City, Yao Xianzhi, this was actually the first time he had learned of this matter.
He was finally beginning to understand why he had a seat in the Patriarch Hall of Green Firmament Peak. Besides his personal friendship with Mr. Chen, in the future, as these sword cultivators from Great Spring entered the Green Firmament Sword Sect one after another, he would become their backing?
Chen Ping'an laughed via heart-to-heart communication, "It's not too late for you to regret it now. The Green Firmament Sword Sect and the Great Spring Dynasty are allies. There will always be a seat in the Patriarch Hall reserved for you. If someone else sits there, it's still sitting. So if you find it troublesome, or if you're thin-skinned and worry you can't handle this position, I can talk to Cui Dongshan. In a few years, we can have your emperor recommend someone else. If you don't mind the trouble, then sit there boldly. I'm only the Mountain Lord of Fallen Mountain, not the Sect Leader of the Green Firmament Sword Sect. If there's a dispute in the future, argue however you want. Don't be afraid of Cui Dongshan. I can at least guarantee one thing: no matter how fiercely you argue with anyone here, you don't have to worry about falling out. There will certainly be no shortage of trivial matters in the future, but there will be no worries."
Yao Xianzhi focused his voice into a line and teased, "Mr. Chen, if someone else came to sit in my place, would they dare to make a fuss? If they sat here, they'd probably not even dare to breathe heavily, let alone argue on principle. At best, they'd be sent by our Great Spring to attend meetings here and end up being a wooden dummy. Whatever Sect Leader Cui says goes. That won't do. Absolutely not. Besides, I'm familiar with Miss Pei. As you said, Mr. Chen, no matter how fiercely we argue behind closed doors, once the door opens, we're still family."
Yao Xianzhi glanced at the only portrait hanging in the Patriarch Hall.
Who would dare to make trouble here?
Sect Leader Cui Dongshan was an Immortal. Before that great war, the old sect leader of Jade Gui Sect, Xun Yuan, had also been at the Immortal realm.
Moreover, the current Chief Offering, Mi Yu, was also an Immortal realm sword cultivator, and even more so, that Mi Lanyao from the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Furthermore, Mr. Chen had made his meaning very clear. He was an ancestral master of the upper sect, and he was also Teacher Cui's master. Add to that Mr. Chen's bond with Great Spring—many times, without Mr. Chen even having to speak, it was already a form of invisible favoritism toward the Great Spring Dynasty.
Zhong Qiu continued, "Pusa's Head of Law, Tan Rong, came up the mountain to offer congratulations this time and gave two land deeds. They are two enclaves far from Pusa and closest to Immortal Capital Mountain. By the most conservative estimate, they are worth at least five to six hundred Guyu Coins. They can fully serve as the Dao field for a Golden Core cultivator's peak opening. As for whether they can be developed into two smaller immortal ferries, that will require further detailed investigation."
Ye Yunyun smiled and said, "Tan Rong discussed this with me beforehand. Personally, I thought giving just one land deed would be enough. But both Tan Rong and Xue Huai thought it inappropriate and used the reason of 'good things come in pairs.' I was about to say something else, but Tan Rong started threatening me with that attitude of 'If you say one more word, I'll resign as Head of Law.' No choice. Let him be. Anyway, making money for Pusa has always been their job. If they don't mind, it's not my place to interfere."
Jia Sheng sighed, "I didn't dare to speak rashly before, worried that I was a frog at the bottom of a well with limited experience. Hearing these sincere words from Mountain Lord Ye, I can now be absolutely certain of one thing: the atmosphere of Pusa is naturally close to that of our Fallen Mountain and the Green Firmament Sword Sect. Therefore, the alliance between our two sides is truly a natural development and a perfect match."
If the "good words" had stopped there, it wouldn't have been the Old Immortal Jia who was about to go open a class at some private academy.
"I'm not good with words. When I do speak, I'm straightforward. I'm terrible at reading the room. Before, I didn't know much about Pusa's Precious Grass Hall. I thought Mountain Lord Ye alone was the pillar, carrying all the burdens. Now I know that Pusa has many people who take responsibility, no shortage of heroes. I've spoken some blunt truths. If I've offended, I hope Mountain Lord Ye will forgive me."
The meeting hall was dead silent.
It seemed that whenever Old Immortal Jia spoke, he had a unique momentum.
Ye Yunyun had no choice but to clasp her fists and smile, "You flatter me."
Zhong Qiu turned a page and smiled, "From the Jade Gui Sect, the congratulatory gift is eight hundred Guyu Coins."
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but ask, "How many?"
"Guyu Coins, eight hundred," Zhong Qiu said.
"Furthermore, from the Cloud Grotto Blessed Land, the young master Jiang Heng made a verbal promise, though without a written contract. Their blessed land will, within five hundred years, hand over all the profits from Yellow Crane Pier and Inkstone Mountain to our Green Firmament Sword Sect. This is a congratulatory gift from the Jiang clan's blessed land itself, unrelated to the Jade Gui Sect. According to Young Master Jiang, this resolution had already been passed in the Jiang clan's ancestral hall before his father went down the mountain to travel. No one raised any objections."
Xiao Mo felt a twinge of shame. This Zhou Chief of Fallen Mountain, whom he had only heard of but never met, was truly magnanimous.
The old true master Liang Shuang, Yuan Lingdian of Finger Pointing Peak, Liu Jinglong of the Great Tenuous Sword Sect, and the great sword immortal Xu Xie of Golden Armor Continent—they had each given a few Guyu Coins. This was actually the norm for mountain-viewing ceremonies.
Among them, Iron Tree Mountain's Immortal Guoran was extremely courteous, offering two pieces of his personal collection of magic treasures as gifts—one on behalf of Iron Tree Mountain, and one as his personal congratulations.
Cui Dongshan grinned. "It's a pity our Wei Hailiang isn't on the mountain. Otherwise, Sect Leader Liu wouldn't be able to claim the title of undefeated in drinking."
Pei Qian didn't speak.
She knew best how Wei Hailiang got that nickname.
Among the four people in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land painting, besides Zhu Lian, Pei Qian was closest to Wei Xian, who "claimed to be a great drinker but fell after one cup."
This was because later, when she arrived at Fallen Mountain, she spent a lot of time with Old Cook. But if we're talking about the beginning, the little charcoal girl was actually closest to Wei Xian back then.
Moreover, when they left the Lotus Flower Blessed Land and traveled together through Tongye Continent, it was Wei Xian who took Pei Qian out to wander the most. Not every trip was a full haul—after all, Wei Xian was poor back then and didn't have much money—but he always made sure the little girl ate until her belly was round and she kept burping.
So now, when looking at Wei Xian's direct disciple, the little girl Chai Wu, Pei Qian had a different mindset. In fact, the immortal wines Chai Wu was drinking now were all paid for by Pei Qian out of her own pocket.
Then there was Qiu Du. Because the old woman had first been a viewing guest and then became an offering in the Patriarch Hall, she had previously sneaked a trip to the site of the old Dragon Palace. Under the watchful eyes of the new East Sea Water Lord Zhu, trembling with fear and walking on thin ice, she retrieved a small portion of the Dragon Palace's old treasures. Except for three cherished items she kept as the bottom of her chest, which she planned to use as dowry for Cu Cu in the future, she took out everything else. Qiu Du didn't even keep a single piece for herself.
Cui Dongshan had previously appraised the value and estimated it at six hundred Guyu Coins.
From this, one could see how wealthy the treasury of a former Dragon Palace of a major river had been, and how considerable its financial resources were.
Qing Tong had also proactively found Cui Dongshan before. Along with a Inch Measure Object, it was mostly rare books and some secret treasures. Excluding a few important mountain treasures, it was roughly equivalent to one-tenth of the possessions once stored in the Demon Suppression Tower.
So, according to Cui Dongshan, when Zhong Qiu directly reported a figure, Daoist Qing Tong's congratulatory gift was one thousand two hundred Guyu Coins.
Cui Dongshan suddenly said, "Teacher, over at Yu Jin, he said he was willing to give half of his family wealth as a congratulatory gift."
This was thanks to Zhong Kui's mediation earlier, which was equivalent to helping the fat guy Gusu come to "collect a debt." Otherwise, Cui Dongshan and Xiao Mo—one would resolutely deny that anything like that had ever happened, and the other would only say he had never been to sea.
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "You are the sect leader of the lower sect. Why ask me about such lower sect matters? If I really have to say something, half is too much. Thirty to forty percent would be sufficient."
Cui Dongshan said, "Understood!"
Finally, there were Liu Jubao and Yu Panshui, these two "local tycoons." They did not disappoint. Their gifts were extraordinary. They gave a large ferryboat named "Tong Yin." Although it was considered a joint gift from the Liu clan of White Able Continent and the Profound Secret Dynasty, and the "Tong Yin" ferry was not a cross-continent ferry as expensive and sky-high as the Wind Kite, its rank was not lower than the Ink Dragon Boat of Fallen Mountain. Therefore, its route could cover half of Tongye Continent's mountains and rivers, and its cargo capacity even surpassed that of the boat that had once served as a viewing vessel. For the Green Firmament Sword Sect, this was like having a pillow handed to them just as they were dozing off—a wonderful thing. After all, in the current Bright World, high-rank ferries were incredibly scarce. Even with money, you couldn't buy one. Having such a ferry was like owning a treasure bowl that continuously rolled in money.
Cui Dongshan glanced at Pei Qian and said carefully, "Besides the 'Tong Yin' ferry, both Liu Jubao and Yu Panshui hope that Senior Sister can serve as a registered guest elder for the Liu clan of White Able Continent and the Profound Secret Dynasty. If Senior Sister is willing to be an offering, even better. If Senior Sister agrees, each side is willing to give six hundred Guyu Coins and four hundred Guyu Coins respectively in one go. If it's an offering, the number of Guyu Coins will be doubled directly. And they both promise that it's just a 'registered' guest elder or offering. In the future, Senior Sister won't have to participate in any clan ancestral hall meetings or the Profound Secret Dynasty's capital discussions. At most, once every hundred years, Senior Sister just needs to show her face in White Able Continent or the Profound Secret Dynasty."
Chen Ping'an was speechless.
The Liu clan was so wealthy it was outrageous.
No need to guess. The Tong Yin ferry was the Liu clan's property. It had nothing to do with Yu Panshui. Even the invitation to Pei Qian to be a registered guest elder, the "one thousand" Guyu Coins, was probably paid out of Liu Jubao's own pocket. So, having a rich friend who was "the richest in the world" really made a difference.
Chen Ping'an almost wanted to privately ask those two, "Are you still taking on Martial Arts Stopping Realm martial artists?"
As extremely pragmatic businessmen, of course Liu Jubao and Yu Panshui weren't just throwing money away for no reason. They had their own selfish motives. The fact that Sword Immortal Xu Xie had such a good relationship with Pei Qian was solid proof.
Back in the Golden Armor Continent, "Zheng Qian" had saved many mountain Qi refiners and dynasty military officers on the battlefield. This silent female martial artist, young and with fierce punches, although her military achievements weren't as great as Cao Ci's, for some reason, all the natives of Golden Armor Continent had noticed a strange thing: it seemed that Zheng Qian harbored a mortal, irreconcilable hatred for the Wild Abyss demons. On battlefields from north to south, her punches against the enemy were far more vicious than those of other pure martial artists like Cao Ci and Yu Juanfu. Many times, Zheng Qian seemed to deliberately torture and kill demon cultivators. She would often deliver a punch that shattered half the opponent's body, or deliberately crush half of a demon cultivator's head. In particular, several demon Earth Immortal sword cultivators had been "singled out" by Zheng Qian for torment. It was said that a young sword cultivator who had supposedly once gone to the half-wall of Sword Qi Great Wall to forge his sword was unfortunately found by Zheng Qian, who "plucked" his head off with one hand. At the time, a Nascent Soul demon cultivator who was acting as a protector was charged at by Zheng Qian, who used her palm to clear a path, endured a spell without retreating, and instead advanced, splitting him in two. The female grandmaster, already drenched in blood, just passed straight through.
On the battlefields of Golden Armor Continent, from registered cultivators to the armies below the mountains, everyone had grievances. Everyone bore a deep blood debt. There was no room to retreat. So everyone was seeking revenge.
But the revenge Zheng Qian helped deliver was, in the eyes of the locals of Golden Armor Continent on the battlefield, undoubtedly the most satisfying. Without exception.
But in truth, Pei Qian, an out-of-town martial artist, was punching so fiercely in Golden Armor Continent, almost to the point of being abnormal, purely as a wordless venting of her anger.
It was because you savage beasts had prevented my master from returning home.
According to Cui Dongshan's humorous saying, whenever people on Golden Armor Continent talked about Mr. Chen now, they would say, "Oh, the master of that Grandmaster Zheng."
So, it wouldn't be great if Mr. Chen and Senior Sister went elsewhere, but on Golden Armor Continent, Senior Sister was definitely more popular.
In short, if the Liu clan of White Able Continent wanted to do business on Golden Armor Continent in the future, having Pei Qian break her usual pattern and become a registered offering or guest elder for the first time was an extremely weighty golden signboard.
Pei Qian said, "It's fine. I can even be an offering. But the Guyu Coins, the Green Firmament Sword Sect and Fallen Mountain will split them equally."
In fact, Sword Immortal Xu Xie had already mentioned this to her before, but she hadn't directly agreed or refused. She had only said she needed to ask her master.
Cui Dongshan was about to nod eagerly like a chick pecking at rice, but Chen Ping'an shook his head and said, "Keep these immortal coins for yourself."
Pei Qian smiled sheepishly. "Master, I'm a martial artist practicing fist techniques. What would I do with so many immortal coins?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Master decides."
Pei Qian said, "Oh."
Listen to Master.
Earlier, during the construction of the ferry, when Master was away, Cui Dongshan had once asked Pei Qian a question.
Back in those days on Golden Armor Continent, had Senior Sister never planned to return to Fallen Mountain?
Pei Qian was silent for a long time, just drinking. Cui Dongshan insisted that Senior Sister give him an answer. Only then did Pei Qian give her true thoughts.
As long as Master didn't return to Fallen Mountain, Fallen Mountain was no longer her home.
What she meant was that if Master was gone, her home was gone.
But Cui Dongshan had never dared to tell Master this kind of thing until now.
Afraid that Senior Sister would hold a grudge, and even more afraid that Master would be sad to hear it.
Cui Dongshan clapped his hands. "Next, there's the second viewing ceremony. Let's rest for half an hour."
Because there was also a writing ceremony for the Green Firmament Sword Sect's Gold and Jade Register.
Chen Ping'an and Li Baoping walked out of the main hall. Instead of going straight to the square outside the Patriarch Hall's gate, they sat down on the steps outside the door.
Cui Dongshan took Pei Qian to find those two local tycoons.
Cao Qinglang and Little Rice, along with Old Immortal Jia, of course, were busy inside the Patriarch Hall rearranging the chairs.
There would be a table set up with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. The first person to wield the brush would write the name of the Green Firmament Sword Sect's first sect leader, Cui Dongshan—name, native place, lineage—on the first page of the register of Green Firmament Peak's Patriarch Hall.
That person was, of course, Chen Ping'an.
Then, as the upper sect's Law-Keeping Ancestral Master, Chang Ming would inscribe the name of the lower sect's Law-Keeping, Cui Wei, on the register.
After that, Cui Wei would take his seat and be responsible for writing the names of all registered cultivators admitted into the Green Firmament Sword Sect: Mi Yu, Zhong Qiu, Cao Qinglang...
Then came the apprenticeship ceremony. Cui Dongshan would accept Hu Chuling and Jiang Qu as disciples.
Cui Wei would take Yu Xiehui as a disciple. Mi Yu would accept He Gu as his direct disciple, and Sui Youbian would accept Cheng Zhaolu as her disciple, and so on.
After they drank the apprenticeship tea and the disciples performed the kowtow ritual, they would officially become master and disciple on the mountain.
Among the second-generation disciples of the lower sect, the direct disciples of Mountain Lord Chen Ping'an included Cui Dongshan, Pei Qian, Cao Qinglang, Zhao Shuxia, and Guo Zhujiu.
Those brought up the mountain by Zhu Lian included Cen Yuanji. Lu Baixiang's two disciples were Yuan Bao and Yuan Lai. Wei Xian's disciple was Chai Wu. Jia Sheng's two disciples were Zhao Denggao and Tian Jiuer.
Then, besides Sun Chunwang, who was an unregistered disciple of Ning Yao, there were six sword immortal seedlings including Bai Xuan.
As for the third-generation disciples, there was Pei Qian's eldest disciple, the little mute from the New Year's Shop in Riding Dragon Alley, whose real name was Zhou Junchen.
And those who were about to become Cui Dongshan's direct disciples: Jiang Qu, Hu Chuling, Xie Xie, and a few others.
According to the seniority on the mountain, when they saw Chen Ping'an in the future, they would have to respectfully call him Ancestral Master.
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "How did you happen to arrive here just today?"
Li Baoping said, "Earlier, when I was traveling to the mountain gate of Grain Mountain in the Central Earth, I had already prepared my speech. When I reached the mountain, I planned to negotiate with the Mountain Lord's Mansion Ritual Department to see if they would allow me to make rubbings. And it was such a coincidence. I was wondering earlier why I heard a drum sound in the middle of the night near the border of Grain Mountain. When I traveled through the night and reached the foot of the mountain, it was just dawn. Then Mountain Lord Zhou appeared in person. Besides saying there was no problem with the rubbing, he also told me the reason for the drum sound. He said that Little Master Uncle had left the Solar Term Courtyard on Grain Mountain last night. If I had entered the Central Marchmount territory a little earlier last night, he could have helped me greet Little Master Uncle. I estimated the time. It seemed there was less than one incense stick's difference. I was anxious, so I called for my brother. Because of this, my brother and Mountain Lord Zhou bowed and apologized repeatedly. After that, my brother didn't let me go immediately. He helped deduce the specific time of Little Master Uncle's ceremony here. So I had to be patient and accompany my brother in making rubbings."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Got it mixed up, didn't you? Who was accompanying whom to make rubbings?"
Li Baoping laughed heartily.
Chen Ping'an said, "It's my fault for leaving in too much of a hurry."
Li Baoping said, "My brother said it's not convenient for him to show his face here for now. He plans to go to the Western Buddhist Kingdom first. After he returns, he might go to White Emperor City first as a guest, and then come to find Little Master Uncle to catch up and have a drink."
Chen Ping'an nodded.
He just hoped for one thing: at White Emperor City, they would only play chess. They must not start fighting.
After all, if it came down to it, he would be implicated.
Seeing Little Master Uncle's slightly furrowed brow, Li Baoping immediately smiled and said, "My brother said that his future trip to White Emperor City has nothing to do with Little Master Uncle. He told you not to overthink it."
Chen Ping'an was silent for a moment. He put his hands in his sleeves and said softly, "There will always be people who make us want to become that kind of person."
Li Baoping said, "Little Master Uncle has always been that kind of person."
Chen Ping'an took out his Sword-Nurturing Gourd, shook it. "Don't drink too much."
Li Baoping then took off her own Sword-Nurturing Gourd and lightly tapped it against Little Master Uncle's wine gourd. They each took a drink.
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "Do you want to travel around Tongye Continent? Little Master Uncle can accompany you."
Li Baoping blinked. "My brother said that before he returns, I shouldn't disturb Little Master Uncle's cultivation. When he said that, my brother looked very serious and fierce."
Chen Ping'an suppressed a smile. "How fierce could he be?"
Li Baoping put on a stern face and began to imitate her brother Li Xisheng's expression and tone. "Baoping, you really need to listen to me this time. Don't roll your eyes. Not talking, huh? Then you have to at least nod. Fine, fine. I'll take it as your agreement."
Pei Qian and Cui Dongshan soon entered the gate and sat down together on the steps. Cui Dongshan sat beside his master, and Pei Qian sat beside Baoping Sister. Li Baoping touched Pei Qian's head and said, "You've grown up, girl. Too good, and it's hard to marry you off." Pei Qian squinted and smiled. "Then I won't marry anyone."
Chen Ping'an asked, "After the second viewing ceremony, can we use a compromise method to bring the Jade Gui Sect into the matter of digging the great river?"
"Treat it as a common test to determine whether the two sides will form an alliance. But if we do that, will the Jade Gui Sect think we're pushing our luck?"
"I'm not actually very good at handling such interest exchanges with large sects. Cui Dongshan, what do you think is appropriate?"
Cui Dongshan smiled. "Teacher, there's something you might have misjudged."
Chen Ping'an asked, "How so?"
Cui Dongshan said, "On this Tongye Continent, we have no reason to sell ourselves short. The mountain forces that really have a say now are actually just two. The one that needs to watch others' expressions is not our Green Firmament Sword Sect, but their Jade Gui Sect. If they think that just because we haven't immediately agreed to form an alliance, we're being overbearing and deliberately putting on airs, then they really overestimate themselves and underestimate our Green Firmament Sword Sect."
"I think Teacher's suggestion is actually very well-measured. Zhang Fenggu and the others, as outsiders, should be content to participate in the discussions in our Green Firmament Peak Patriarch Hall. How can it be said that we are making things difficult for them? It's more like returning a favor with a peach and giving them a big step down."
"So, Teacher is still too easy-going."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "That's a very swordsman-like way of putting it."
If put another way, it was very pragmatic and very Cui Xiao.
Nothing wrong with that.
The viewing guests had already been warned beforehand, so everyone soon gathered again on the square of Green Firmament Peak.
Tao Ran went over to Mi Yu, along with the registered offering from the upper sect, whose Daoist name was Xi Zhu and whose real name was Mo Sheng. He wore a yellow hat and green shoes, holding a green bamboo staff, accompanying Chief Offering Mi as they leaned against the railing by the cliff and chatted casually.
Mi Yu straightened up and said with a grin, "Sword Immortal Tao, are you looking for me? Do you have any instructions?"
Earlier, when the Hidden Officer and Tao Ran had walked together to attend the ceremony, the conversation on the mountain path had almost made Mi Yu want to kneel before Sword Immortal Tao.
Word for word, he had advised the Hidden Officer not to call him "Sword Immortal Tao" anymore. He didn't like hearing it. Before, it would have been a sword challenge...
Sword Immortal Tao, you really don't know the fate of those who have been challenged by our Hidden Officer!
But Mi Yu couldn't help but develop a respect for Tao Ran. Our lower sect had someone with such iron bones. Did the upper sect at Fallen Mountain have that? Seemed like it didn't.
Tao Ran asked, "Dare I ask boldly, is Daoist Xi Zhu also a sword cultivator?"
Xiao Mo smiled and nodded.
Tao Ran steeled himself and said, "Some nonsense was spoken earlier. Daoist Xi Zhu, just forget it. Don't take it to heart."
Back at the shop by the Firefly River, Tao Ran had said a harsh word to this Daoist: "Scram."
Tao Ran wasn't a fool. Just by looking at the seating arrangement in the Patriarch Hall today, Xi Zhu's chair was right next to Pei Qian.
Xiao Mo smiled kindly and shook his head. "Supporter Tao, you worry too much. In the future, just call me Xiao Mo. As for the so-called nonsense Tao supposedly said, Xiao Mo doesn't even remember it. How could I take it to heart?"
Tao Ran breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't rashly ask about the other's realm directly—it was easy to offend. Besides, they had no real friendship. In fact, this was only the second time they had met. Their relationship hadn't reached the point where it was appropriate to ask about realm levels.
It seemed that Xiao Mo saw through Tao Ran's thoughts and smiled. "I am in a different realm than Chief Offering Mi."
Tao Ran nodded.
A Nascent Soul sword cultivator? Probably not enough.
This senior Xi Zhu was likely a Jade Realm sword immortal.
Mi Yu winced but didn't explain anything.
Actually, Tao Ran had already resigned himself to his fate. If you people want to call me "Sword Immortal Tao," and you don't find it demeaning to yourselves, then I don't care either.
But unexpectedly, this Xiao Mo was the first to change his tune, addressing him as "Supporter Tao." And looking at Chief Offering Mi, Xiao Mo, being from the upper sect of Fallen Mountain, was indeed more refined in his speech.
Elsewhere, Liang Shuang stood together with Qing Tong. The old true master asked curiously, "Daoist Qing Tong, how did you end up as an offering here too?"
Qing Tong smiled and explained, "My Daoist name is 'Qing Tong,' and the Green Firmament Sword Sect also has the character 'Qing.' We're destined to get along."
The old true master was momentarily speechless.
What a stretch.
Liu Youzhou had not only met Pei Qian earlier, but she had also agreed to his father's invitation to become their clan's offering. He was still overjoyed.
Yu Panshui patted the young man's shoulder. "When can we drink the wedding wine?"
Liu Youzhou's face turned red. He pretended to be clueless. "What do you mean?"
Liu Jubao smiled but said nothing. If it could really happen, it would be a great joy. He and Liu Youzhou's mother had privately discussed this matter before. She was both hopeful and worried, asking Liu Jubao if their son might be unworthy of that girl. And if she did marry into the family, Pei Qian was a Stopping Realm martial artist. If they argued, would their son end up bruised and swollen, not daring to complain to his parents, and even foolishly worrying whether his wife's palm hurt? Liu Jubao didn't dare to comment on this matter. He had to admit that for his son to marry Pei Qian, it was too difficult. His silly son might not have realized it yet, but as Pei Qian's master, the young Hidden Officer looked at his son like he was guarding against a thief. Not only that, but Chen Ping'an also seemed to be looking for a place to throw a sack over his head.
Li Baoping took Pei Qian and found Zheng Youqian, the eldest disciple of Senior Uncle Liu Shiliu.
The three of them were exactly the second-generation disciples of the Wen Sheng lineage: Jun Qian, Qi Jingchun, and Chen Ping'an.
Jiang Qu had never imagined that he could become Cui Dongshan's direct disciple.
The eldest disciple probably already had a candidate, but Sect Leader Cui deliberately skipped mentioning it. But Jiang Qu didn't dare to hope to become the sect leader's eldest apprentice.
Jiang Qu took a deep breath. Zhang Jiazhen just stood there, clasping his hands and shaking them a few times. This bookkeeper, who looked at least ten years older than Jiang Qu, smiled sincerely, truly happy for his fellow townsman of the same age. But he didn't say any polite words that would only add flowers to the brocade.
Jiang Qu seemed to want to say something but stopped. Back then, on Fallen Mountain, Jiang Qu, who was focused on cultivating talismans, had been dragged by Zhu Lian to work on those civil engineering and construction tasks.
In fact, Zhu Lian had warned Jiang Qu: "When you've truly built a good relationship with Zhang Jiazhen, that will count as a small achievement in your mind-cultivation. Then I'll find you a Dao-Transmitter."
Furthermore, the old cook had also been frank with Jiang Qu.
"Be careful. Don't become the first mountain cultivator to be expelled from Fallen Mountain."
"By expulsion, I don't necessarily mean from the Patriarch Hall register. I mean here."
The old cook held up a wine flask and lightly tapped his heart.
"I'll warn you in advance. This kind of thing isn't easy to do. Don't be clever and pretend to be polite and warm with Zhang Jiazhen. Will that work? That would be too stupid."
"You might as well think carefully. On our Fallen Mountain, most people can see through your little schemes as easily as playing a game. They're as shallow as puddles after rain."
Jiang Qu couldn't help himself. He reached out and grabbed Zhang Jiazhen's arm and said, "Jiazhen, don't get old too fast!"
Zhang Jiazhen found it strange but still nodded with a smile. "Alright, alright."
He felt that Jiang Qu had changed somehow. It was like... they had both returned to their hometown, back when they were both just short-term workers at a wine shop.
Bai Xuan, Chai Wu, and Sun Chunwang were all waiting for Little Rice.
On this little peak of theirs, there was no hierarchy. They were all friends.
Now, they were about the same height.
After finishing the "moving" of the chairs in the Patriarch Hall, the little girl in black ran out.
Chai Wu asked the question she was most interested in. "Right Protector, when you guys were discussing things in the Patriarch Hall, could you drink?"
If she could, she would have to cultivate even more seriously.
The wine there must be that super expensive immortal brew, right?
Little Rice scratched her cheek. This was a tricky question. Tentatively, she said, "Probably... I guess."
Good Man Mountain Lord hadn't said no, but she had never seen anyone drink it. Even Good Man Mountain Lord and the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, such high officials, had only been drinking on the steps outside earlier.
Bai Xuan crossed his arms over his chest. "For this kind of question, just ask the Hidden Officer directly."
Chai Wu said, "Mountain Lord Chen is so busy. Can he be casually disturbed?"
Sun Chunwang rarely spoke. "The Hidden Officer is busy, but he still has a lot of patience."
Back then, when they left Lu Hua Island with the Hidden Officer on a talisman boat and sailed far away, to take care of them—a bunch of little brats—the Hidden Officer had done everything himself, big and small. He never complained. He was a very patient person. It was only later that Cheng Zhaolu started to share some of the burden. Even later, after they got close, except for Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting, who held a grudge against the Hidden Officer... those ungrateful wolves—of course, that nickname was given by Bai Xuan. Sun Chunwang thought it wasn't too unfair. Compared to her own nickname of "Dead Fish Eyes," Sun Chunwang thought it wasn't too bad.
Not far away stood an outsider who wanted to approach but was a bit shy: Qiu Zhi.
Because he had looked all over Green Firmament Peak, this was the only place with people his age. They were all standing together, so Qiu Zhi wanted to chat with them.
Qiu Zhi was still a child. Before being brought up the mountain, his family wasn't wealthy or noble. They could only be considered a well-off household below the mountain, a scholarly family that passed down farming and reading in some local area of Tongye Continent.
Bai Xuan put his hands behind his back and walked around him. "You're Qiu Zhi? I heard you're from the Nine Game Peak of the Jade Gui Sect?"
Qiu Zhi nodded.
He was a bit nervous.
He had heard Grandpa Zhang say privately that those children from Fallen Mountain might be from that Sword Qi Great Wall.
In Bright World, those who weren't sword cultivators were fine. Those who were sword cultivators, when facing the Sword Qi Great Wall, except perhaps for the Northern Ju Luzhou, all had an extremely complex mentality.
Although Qiu Zhi wasn't old, during his short time cultivating on Nine Game Peak, he had already begun to gradually understand the weight of words like "Jade Gui Sect," "Nine Game Peak," and "sword cultivator."
Bai Xuan asked, "Then have you heard of me?"
Qiu Zhi nodded. "Your name is Bai Xuan."
He remembered it vividly. Besides the fact that the other was about the same age as him, there was also something about Bai Xuan—and the others—that Qiu Zhi found hard to describe.
Especially this Bai Xuan. It was most distinct.
Qiu Zhi didn't understand yet.
It was a kind of confidence bordering on arrogance.
There were two kinds of sword cultivators in the world: those from the Sword Qi Great Wall and those from outside.
I come from the Sword Qi Great Wall.
In the streets and alleys of my hometown, sword immortals were everywhere.
I'm young, and I've never been to the city wall, but I will in the future.
Because roughly every hundred years, there would be a great war waiting for us to fight. When we go up on the city wall, we can thrust our swords at the entire Wild Desolate World.
So, a sword cultivator who grew up in such a place, even when they arrived in Bright World, would still carry an innate sharpness.
Qiu Zhi asked curiously, "Bai Xuan, can I ask, are you the Hidden Officer's direct disciple?"
Bai Xuan waved his hand. "I have a master in my hometown. Besides, I have a nickname—'Little Hidden Officer.' It wouldn't be appropriate to formally apprentice with the Hidden Officer."
Qiu Zhi was puzzled. "Then who is 'Small Hidden Officer'?"
Bai Xuan yawned. "He's a few years older than me. That guy isn't worth mentioning."
Little Rice immediately said, "'Small Hidden Officer' Chen Li is at the Golden Core realm now."
Bai Xuan said, "See? That's why I said he's not worth mentioning."
Qiu Zhi was in awe.
Incredible. A Golden Core realm wasn't even considered anything.
He would have to come to the Green Firmament Sword Sect often as a guest.
Bai Xuan casually asked, "Qiu Zhi, what realm are you at?"
Qiu Zhi hesitated for a moment, then answered truthfully, "Dragon Gate realm."
Bai Xuan wasn't surprised at all. On the contrary, his eyes were full of pity. This Cave Abode realm little sword immortal sighed, shook his head, and patted Qiu Zhi on the shoulder, comforting him, "Then your method of practicing the sword is the same as Chen Li's. Not enough talent, so you make up for it with diligence. When you go back to Nine Game Peak, remember not to slack off in your cultivation. Give me an address for correspondence. Every now and then, I'll send you a flying sword message to remind you of a few things."
Qiu Zhi smiled and nodded lightly.
Sure enough, the Green Firmament Sword Sect, founded by the Hidden Officer himself, was a place where even a Golden Core sword cultivator was nothing.
But Qiu Zhi thought this was perfectly reasonable. It should be this way.
Bai Xuan remembered something. He looked around, then put his arm around Qiu Zhi's shoulder and, without explanation, pulled the latter to a different spot. After walking a good distance, deliberately turning his back to Little Rice, Bai Xuan carefully took out a well-worn "Heroic Compendium" from his bosom. Lowering his voice, he said, "Qiu Zhi, I feel an instant connection with you. We're quite fated. Since today is our lower sect's ceremony, it must be an auspicious day. I have this booklet here. Come on, sign your name. From now on, we'll be like brothers sworn to blood brotherhood—friends of the jianghu. Oh, I forgot I didn't bring a brush. No problem, no problem. I have some ink pad. Just press your fingerprint. That works just as well."
Bai Shou, watching from afar, was filled with emotion. Such a sin.
Wang Ji laughed. "Inside the Jade Gui Sect, from Divine Seal Peak to Nine Game Peak, Qiu Zhi would never have had such a conversation. This kid is completely relaxed right now."
Zhang Fenggu smiled. "It's pretty good. Those kids, in their words and hearts, don't take the identity of that Nine Game Peak peak master too seriously. If Qiu Zhi can have a few peers here who can become long-term friends, then this long trip will have been a profit for Nine Game Peak."
Wang Ji frowned slightly. "Should we remind Qiu Zhi not to casually press his fingerprint?"
Mountain techniques were bizarre and varied. Wang Ji's suspicion wasn't unreasonable. Wang Ji himself was very bold and unrestrained in the jianghu. But Qiu Zhi was a child the Jade Gui Sect valued extremely highly. So much so that before Sect Leader Wei Ying left for Bright World, he had actually left behind a sort of dying declaration, recorded in the Patriarch Hall's books.
If he couldn't return from the Wild Desolate World himself, then Zhang Fenggu and Wang Ji and the other Patriarch Hall offerings were to protect Qiu Zhi's path at any cost!
Furthermore, the position of Jade Gui Sect Leader would be deliberately left vacant for a hundred years or more, if necessary, to allow Qiu Zhi to grow slowly and then fill the position of the next sect leader.
Zhang Fenggu thought for a moment. "We don't need to be this nervous. The atmosphere of the Green Firmament Sword Sect is still trustworthy."
Even in the worst-case scenario, even if this trip was fruitless, the future relationship between the Jade Gui Sect and the Green Firmament Sword Sect would still be an open and honorable struggle between gentlemen.
Zhang Fenggu trusted the native sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall. He trusted a last-generation Hidden Officer who was willing to defend the city wall to the death.
Wang Ji said self-deprecatingly, "I am measuring the mind of a gentleman with the heart of a petty person."
Zhang Fenggu smiled. "You can't say that. Don't think that way."
Zhang Fenggu hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said, "Supporter Wang, in future Patriarch Hall meetings on Divine Seal Peak, could you curse Jiang Shangzhen a little less?"
Wang Ji heard this seemingly out-of-the-blue reminder and didn't know how to respond for a moment.
As an ancestral master of the Jade Gui Sect, of the same generation as Old Sect Leader Xun Yuan, Zhang Fenggu knew more inside information than Wang Ji.
Many years ago, Wei Ying, then the peak master of Nine Game Peak and a sword cultivator, had once sought out Old Sect Leader Xun Yuan. He suggested that the Jade Gui Sect take the lead, gather a group of sword cultivators from Tongye Continent, emulate the Northern Ju Luzhou, and rush to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Over the long term, like swallows carrying mud, using the most foolish method, they would ultimately win a considerable amount of sword-path fortune for the entire Tongye Continent. And as the leader, the Jade Gui Sect might even have the opportunity to produce a Flying Ascension realm... sword cultivator!
At that time, Zhang Fenggu, as Xun Yuan's junior brother, happened to be present. But Xun Yuan didn't agree. He also didn't give a reason. He only said to postpone the discussion. And "postpone," in fact, meant Xun Yuan would never bring it up again.
This deeply puzzled Wei Ying. He didn't harbor resentment, but disappointment was inevitable.
When Zhang Fenggu later went to ask privately, his senior brother Xun Yuan still didn't give a reason.
In the end, time proved that both Xun Yuan and Wei Ying were right and wrong at the same time.
For the whole Tongye Continent, Wei Ying was right and Xun Yuan was wrong. But for the Jade Gui Sect, Wei Ying was wrong and Xun Yuan was right.
Because once the Jade Gui Sect was too deeply involved with the Sword Qi Great Wall and became too conspicuous, during the later siege of the mountain by the demon army, at least one more old throne-seat great demon might have been added—such as Crimson Consort, or the Mountain-Moving Ancestor Yuan Shou, or even Qie Yun. The sixty-year account of the Wild Desolate World might have directly decided to pay any price, even if it meant delaying the advance on Treasure Bottle Continent, to flatten the Jade Gui Sect's peaks. This would serve as a warning to others in Bright World: those who dare to associate with the Sword Qi Great Wall will meet this fate.
But Zhang Fenggu was certain of one thing: from that day on, Senior Brother Xun Yuan had recognized Wei Ying. He began to truly plan for Wei Ying's future as sect leader and secretly paved the way for him.
To some extent, he even broke tradition by letting Jiang Shangzhen, who did not come from Nine Game Peak, serve as the next Jade Gui Sect leader, while sending Wei Ying to Treasure Bottle Continent to succeed as the leader of the True Mirror Sect.
It was like switching their positions. Xun Yuan was obviously preparing for the worst. He would let Jiang Shangzhen defend the ancestral mountain, Divine Seal Peak, to the death. But he also wanted Wei Ying and the True Mirror Sect to carry on the Jade Gui Sect's incense and legacy.
This meant that, from the very beginning, Xun Yuan had first regarded Jiang Shangzhen as a stumbling block on Wei Ying's path to becoming sect leader. He was sent away to Treasure Bottle Continent, like a prince being enfeoffed to a vassal state. Then, when the great war was imminent, he turned around and made the "prince" leave the capital, far away from the dangerous and unretreatable center of trouble, and had the "vassal king" enter the capital.
Was Jiang Shangzhen unaware of Old Sect Leader Xun Yuan's scheme?
He was certainly very clear. He knew it in his heart.
Did he hold a grudge?
Not a single word of complaint.
So Zhang Fenggu viewed Jiang Shangzhen with an extremely complex mindset.
Because even within the Jade Gui Sect itself, the vast majority of cultivators who had seats in the Patriarch Hall still didn't realize this.
It seemed that Jiang Shangzhen didn't want anyone to discover this truth. He was happy to continue being loudly cursed. Jiang Shangzhen had never been a soft-hearted person. As the head of the Jiang clan, which controlled the Cloud Grotto Blessed Land, his hands were stained with blood. Even just as a cultivator, Jiang Shangzhen, who often traveled far, had too many points that could be criticized regarding his personal conduct. Perhaps this was a case of lacking private virtue but having no shortage of great righteousness. That was why Jiang Shangzhen could have a clear conscience? Having a clear conscience wasn't about selfish interests. No matter what outsiders cursed, he remained unmoved. That wasn't a clear conscience. A person like that, as they got older, their skin got thicker. That was called an old thief who didn't die.
It was too late now. Everything was settled.
No one would ever know what Xun Yuan had been thinking back then.
Maybe his only confidant was Jiang Shangzhen.
Because Sui Youbian had once cultivated on Divine Seal Peak, having been brought up the mountain by Xun Yuan himself. She had also served as a registered sword cultivator in the True Mirror Sect. So today, she had specially brought her disciple, Cheng Zhaolu, to chat with Zhang Fenggu and Wang Ji for a few words. For Sui Youbian, this was already an extremely rare occurrence.
After taking their leave, Cheng Zhaolu asked softly, "Master, not getting an official position—do you feel disappointed?"
Sui Youbian smiled. "Why would you think that?"
Cheng Zhaolu scratched his head. "Just asking casually."
Sui Youbian countered, "Then your master is neither the Law-Keeping Ancestral Master nor the Chief Offering. My sword-path realm isn't high either. Following me to learn the sword and fist—it doesn't seem like you'll have a bright future. Do you feel disappointed?"
Cheng Zhaolu shook his head vigorously. "There's nothing to be disappointed about."
Sui Youbian said, "Chen Ping'an, Zhu Lian, Lu Baixiang, Wei Xian, and of course, your master's unique fist techniques—you must learn them all with your heart. How much you can eventually learn depends on your ambition. Success depends on heaven. It's up to fate."
Cheng Zhaolu asked doubtfully, "Can the Hidden Officer's fist techniques also be learned? Doesn't that count as stealing? Aren't there taboos?"
Sui Youbian smiled. "No."
The second viewing ceremony in the Green Firmament Peak Patriarch Hall proceeded methodically.
After that, even though the ceremony was over, the discussion about digging the great river was actually held in the Green Firmament Peak Patriarch Hall. This showed how much importance the Green Firmament Sword Sect attached to this matter.
Besides the Green Firmament Sword Sect, there were Peace Mountain, the Great Spring Dynasty, Pusa Cloud Grass Hall, and the Jade Gui Sect: Zhang Fenggu, Wang Ji, Qiu Zhi, Jiang Heng.
Also invited were Liu Jubao and Yu Panshui. Liu Youzhou and Xu Xie were attending as observers.
On the Green Firmament Sword Sect's side, there were Chen Ping'an, Chang Ming, Wei Wenlong, Pei Qian, Xiao Mo. Cui Dongshan, Mi Yu, Cui Wei, Zhong Qiu, Cao Qinglang.
The only slightly odd thing was that Chief Offering Mi Yu's direct disciple, He Gu, and Law-Keeping Cui Wei's disciple, Yu Xiehui, were also allowed to attend the meeting.
Yu Panshui looked at Chen Ping'an and his group across the table and smiled. "Can I change seats? I think I'm actually on the same side as you guys on Immortal Capital Mountain."
Although his side had a numerical advantage, and the other side looked a bit outnumbered, in fact, on his own side, there were too many "inside agents." It didn't seem like they could gain any advantage.
The young Hidden Officer and Sect Leader Cui—the two of you have a clear division of labor. One is responsible for luring the dog in, and the other closes the door and slaughters the pig. Peace Mountain and Pusa and the others are definitely accomplices.
After that, the discussion about digging the great river lasted for about a full hour. Cui Dongshan, Ye Yunyun, and Li Xiling did most of the talking. Just the matter of the main channel of the new great river took over half an hour.
Still, there was no definitive conclusion. The various forces present all had objections regarding which sections of the river they would be responsible for digging in the future.
This was also normal. The Jade Gui Sect and Pusa would definitely need to go back and hold their own Patriarch Hall meetings first. The Great Spring Dynasty would even hold a large-scale court meeting and a small-scale meeting in the imperial study.
After this major meeting at Green Firmament Peak, which at least had established that "Tongye Continent will inevitably have a new great river," the Patriarch Hall, with the door closed by Cao Qinglang, now had an extra old scholar. He made a posture of sinking his qi into his dantian to stabilize himself. Much better than expected—he didn't sit directly on the ground. This old man, who had finally escaped from the Confucian Temple's Merit Woods, turned around, put his hands behind his back, looked at the portrait, stroked his beard, and was extremely pleased with himself. "Except for Jun Qian, who's just a little off, my disciples are all handsome. In terms of appearance and bearing, they all take after their teacher. After all, when I was young, even when I went out to buy wine, I'd get harassed. Only that woman in the fish market was too much, really too much. Back then, she sold me two crabs that were both missing legs and claws, and she lied to me saying they were very fresh..."
The old man walked over to the chair at the head. He reached out and touched the back of the chair. For him, as a teacher, to be able to take a single step from Merit Woods and cross continents so easily—why? Of course, it was because of the student sitting in this chair, this last disciple. Using all his own merits, plus the merits of all the senior brothers, they carried their teacher on their backs and did one thing together.
When the First Sage returned to Merit Woods, he was accompanied by a qilin.
The First Sage had specially brought along Ritual Sage and the scholar Xi Ping to have a drink with the old scholar. Finally, he said to remember to have his last disciple take a trip beyond the heavens.
In the twilight, in Cui Dongshan's residence on Secret Snow Peak, a group of people sat around a charcoal stove inside the house, feeling a bit cramped.
Chen Ping'an, Little Rice. Pei Qian, Li Baoping. Cao Qinglang, Zheng Youqian.
Only Cui Dongshan was pitifully sitting alone on a long bench.
Except for Little Rice, who didn't belong to the Wen Sheng lineage, the other six were two generations apart, almost constituting the strictest sense of fellow disciples.
Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan were only stealing a moment of leisure here, taking a short break. There were still a mountain of affairs waiting for them to handle.
Li Baoping told a story about how she had once met Gu Can in the Fox Kingdom of the Clear Wind City.
Chen Ping'an listened to Li Baoping's account and smiled as he nodded.
Some past events, in fact, Chen Ping'an had never mentioned, even to Liu Xianyang.
For example, the young man from Mud Vase Alley, who worked as a kiln apprentice. Every time he returned from the dragon kiln to Mud Vase Alley, he would take Little Snot out to play. He would buy things that usually made Gu Can salivate but couldn't afford. Once, he sat the Little Snot on his neck. The child spread his arms and shouted, "Flying, flying!" The straw-sandal-wearing boy ran through an alley with a whoosh. Unfortunately, at a corner, a pedestrian appeared. To avoid him, the boy had to hastily lean sideways, and the Little Snot's head hit the wall. The child burst out crying. The boy quickly crouched down and set the child on the ground. Soon, a big red bump appeared on the child's forehead, with traces of blood. That sight made the boy's face turn pale. His hands trembled as he tried to gently rub it with his palm. But as soon as his hand touched the wound, the child screamed even more heartbreakingly in pain. Flustered, the boy quickly carried the child to the roadside. He was familiar with several types of herbs. He crushed them, chewed them into a pulp, and carefully applied them to the child's wound. Then he wiped away the child's tears and snot, repeatedly asking if it still hurt. The child sniffled hard, forced a smile, put his hands on his hips, and said, "Hurt my ass..." Afterwards, they went to Aunt Hu's steamed bun shop. The boy paid and bought two meat buns. Little Snot stood to the side, eyeing them greedily while unconsciously touching the bump on his forehead with his hand. He frowned, clenched his teeth without making a sound, and casually wiped away the two snot streams that were about to reach his mouth. The boy handed both steaming buns to Little Snot. Without a word, the child gave one back to the boy, saying he couldn't eat that much. Finally, the big and the small walked down the street. Little Snot shook his head and said, "So yummy, so yummy, so damn yummy! The best thing in the world is Aunt Hu's meat buns!" The boy, holding the other bun in his hand, led the child with his other hand. He waited until Little Snot finished his bun, then handed over his own. Little Snot was indeed not full, so he tore the bun in half. Most of the filling was in the half the boy had. This time, he waited until he saw the boy eat before he started eating himself. He ate and mumbled indistinctly, "Chen Ping'an, when I have money in the future, I'll share all the good things with you, half and half. Wait for me. When I grow up, I'll definitely be rich. What's a few copper coins in my pocket? There'll be piles of gold and silver at home. I'll save half for you. I mean what I say!"
The straw-sandal boy smiled and said, "Okay, okay."
He actually hadn't taken it seriously.
After all, back then, the young man from Mud Vase Alley and Little Snot had only seen gold, never even touched silver. The child had probably never even seen silver, only touched copper coins.
Many years later, they each left their hometown. And when they met again, the one being hit was the same Little Snot from back then.
The Little Snot who was hit was still very happy. But the one doing the hitting was very sad.
So no one knew that later, when the bookkeeper of Green Gorge Island in Book and Bamboo Lake was returning home, and why, upon encountering that strange old man, he felt that if he could eat two meat buns from Pondwater City, he would have the strength to argue.
Chen Ping'an set aside his thoughts. He lowered his head, picked up an iron poker, and gently stirred the charcoal fire in the brazier.
But in that instant, Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan almost simultaneously sensed something unusual from the Patriarch Hall.
The next moment, the old scholar was already outside the house. His smile was radiant. He reached out his hand and pressed down twice. "Sit, all of you sit. It's good. Everything is good."