Chapter 964: Seeing the Daoist Again
The book says that under heaven, there is no banquet that never ends, but don't be afraid. The book also says that in life, we will always meet again. (Note 1) [Translator's Note: This line is adapted from a line in the novel "Snow in the Dark."]
The guests attending the ceremony left Mixue Peak in batches. The largest group, a mighty procession, boarded the newly acquired Tongyin Ferryboat, which had just been obtained by the Qingping Sword Sect, and headed for Taiping Mountain.
Besides Huang Ting, the undisputed new Mountain Lord of Taiping Mountain, there were the Mountain-Protecting Supplicant Yu Fushan, the Registered Supplicant Guo Ran, and the disciples Tan Yingzhou and Zheng Youqian. Because Zhang Shanfeng wanted to continue his travels in Tongye Continent, he could conveniently travel with Li Baoping, who planned to go check out Qushan Ferry. Pei Qian naturally wanted to accompany her Baoping sister. They were all dressed for distant travel, carrying bamboo bookcases and green bamboo staffs. They intended to visit Taiping Mountain first, and then travel to Puyun Thatched Cottage. Seeing this, Ye Yunyun simply decided to send Tan Rong and Xue Huai back to the sect while she herself went to check out the old Taiping Mountain site. As a result, Zhong Kui and Yu Jin insisted on tagging along as well. Zhong Kui had been very familiar with Taiping Mountain back when he was a Gentleman of Dafu Academy. As for that fatty, he naturally had a legitimate reason—he wanted to be a flower guardian... Yuan Lingdian, seeing the size of this entourage, felt that his junior apprentice brother didn't need his protection at all.
So Yuan Lingdian left Tongye Continent first, but not to return to Padibi Peak. Instead, he went straight to the sea, crossed through the Land of Returning Emptiness to reach the Barren Wastes, and went to find his master, True Dragon Fire.
The Tongyin Ferryboat slowly rose into the air. After piercing through layers of clouds and seas, it suddenly traveled far away, swift as a blue bird.
A figure in a blue shirt walked through Blue Shirt Ferry, discussing the future shop setup of the ferry port with a white-clothed boy who had a red birthmark between his eyebrows. They discussed whether to proactively greet the founder of the world's Itinerant Bundlers, to have them set up shop here.
Beside them was a little girl in black, holding a green bamboo staff, carrying a golden carrying pole on her shoulder, with a cotton bundle leaning against her. Today, she was also carrying a brand-new, emerald-green small bookcase.
Chen Ping'an had originally planned to accompany Li Baoping and Pei Qian to Taiping Mountain, but he had just received a secret letter from a Confucian Sage guarding the Heavenly Canopy. This forced Chen Ping'an to immediately return to Luopo Mountain, and he had to bring Xiao Mo along as well.
As for the Kite Ferry, which was still docked at Blue Shirt Ferry, during its next southern voyage, besides the southernmost Quzhou's Qushan Ferry, there would be an additional immortal ferry stop: Bicheng Ferry, near the Jade Gui Sect's mountain gate. After all, according to the agreement, the revenue from the Cloud Cavern Blessed Land's Huanghe Rock and Yanxi Creek for the next five hundred years would all fall into the Qingping Sword Sect's accounting money bag.
Especially that Inkstone Mountain, which produced the immortal stone materials for making Water Dragon Inkstones. Inkstone Mountain was of considerable scale, and the Jade Gui Sect and Jiang family craftsmen had been quarrying it intermittently for thousands of years with no signs of depletion. Cui Dongshan would send talisman puppets like Mo Yu'er and Tiaoshan Gong to survey the site and determine the stone reserves. Such things were done openly and aboveboard. First, there was a legitimate reason: according to the agreement, the mining rights to Inkstone Mountain for the next five hundred years belonged entirely to the Qingping Sword Sect. Second, thanks to the Master agreeing to help broker a connection with Dong Shuijing and the Great Li's Ministry of Revenue, plus the Cloud Cavern Blessed Land's Jiang family, there might be four parties collaborating on this inkstone business. The only flaw was that the Master intended to split all revenue fifty-fifty with the Jiang family.
Cui Dongshan grinned and asked, "Master, what do you think of Liu Youzhou as a person?"
Chen Ping'an replied without hesitation, "Very good. He has ideas, a sense of responsibility, and is generous. He has none of the habits of a rich young master. According to Mr. Yu, Liu Youzhou is also quite skilled at painting and calligraphy. Especially in his study, there's a priceless, world-renowned painting. He told me that next time I visit the Liu family in Aiai Continent, I must admire it."
Cui Dongshan said cautiously, "I always feel like the way Liu Youzhou looks at Senior Sister is a bit... you know."
Chen Ping'an smiled slightly. "A fair and virtuous maiden is a gentleman's proper pursuit. There's nothing wrong with it."
Cui Dongshan held back again and again, but ultimately couldn't help himself. "So why did Master smile so... insincerely when looking at Liu Youzhou back at Qingping Peak? It was a bit creepy."
Chen Ping'an, hands in sleeves, turned his head to look at Cui Dongshan, and said with a very insincere expression and tone, "Did I? I thought I was very kind."
Cui Dongshan immediately nodded vigorously. "Kind, very kind. Extremely approachable!"
Chen Ping'an sighed, something he rarely did, and rubbed his face with both hands. Actually, Cui Dongshan wasn't wrong. If Liu Youzhou hadn't been so proper, then don't blame him, an unregistered Guest Elder of the Liu family in Aiai Continent, for not being so polite.
Cui Dongshan put his hands behind his head. Maybe the Master still hadn't realized that regarding his senior disciple Pei Qian, only two people, Li Huai and Cao Qinglang, no matter how they interacted with Pei Qian, the Master didn't mind at all and was quite at ease. With Pei Qian, the Master was like... both teacher and father... in the end, it was that subtle old father mentality acting up.
Cui Dongshan grinned. "Right Protector, are you happy with your new bookcase?"
Xiao Mili grinned from ear to ear. "Happy, happy!"
Cui Dongshan then asked, "Do you know about studying while traveling? Who carries a bookcase only to wander around the doorstep like you do? Look at the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and Chief Pei Qian—they only carry their bamboo bookcases when traveling far."
Xiao Mili's shoulders swayed. "Small stature, small official rank, courage as big as a bowl. Can't travel far, so travel near, travel near."
Cui Dongshan was about to continue teasing when he received a slap from the Master.
Cui Dongshan suddenly rubbed his hands together, looking embarrassed. "Master, I might need to borrow two people from you and the upper sect."
Chen Ping'an turned his head and asked with a smile, "How many? Didn't hear clearly. Say it again. Twenty?"
Cui Dongshan forced a laugh. "How could that be? How many registered members does Luopo Mountain have now? Twenty is too many."
Last time during Luopo Mountain's sect establishment ceremony, forty-three registered members of Jise Peak's Ancestral Hall offered incense.
This count included Du Wensi and Pang Lanxi from the Beiju Luzhou's Pima Sect. And those two children, Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting, had already left Jise Peak's register to travel to another continent with the old sword cultivator Yu Yue.
And yet Cui Dongshan had managed to poach over a dozen of them all at once.
If you set aside the numbers and just look at the ratio, it was indeed rare in the entire history of the Haoran World.
Chen Ping'an kicked at him, and the big white goose immediately hopped sideways.
Chen Ping'an's face darkened. He sneered, "First, tell me which two."
Cui Dongshan said cautiously, "Hong Xia, Yun Zi."
Chen Ping'an grinned. "Want the old cook too?"
Cui Dongshan said sheepishly, "If available, of course that would be best."
Chen Ping'an lifted his foot, and Cui Dongshan quickly dodged to the other side of Xiao Mili.
Xiao Mili scratched her face and reminded him, "Junior Brother, remember: borrowing and returning makes borrowing easier. Can't do like the old cook says—act like a grandson when borrowing money, then turn into an ancestor when someone comes to collect."
Cui Dongshan put on a stern face. "The old cook sure has a way with words."
Chen Ping'an said, "I need to take Xiao Mo back to Luopo Mountain right away. Xiao Mili, you stay here first. Come home with the Kite Ferry next time."
Xiao Mili tapped the ground lightly with her green bamboo staff and nodded. "Orders received!"
After that, Chen Ping'an went to Luobao Beach to find Xiao Mo. Then, at the mountain gate of Qingping Peak, after looking at the couplet, they crossed the archway and climbed the steps. They planned to take the Long Spring Small Heaven, which was set up on Mixue Peak. This place had once served as a temporary Dao Field for Chen Ping'an. This "secluded cultivation," apart from the "Xing Pavilion" prison in the Sword Qi Great Wall, was a first for him in the Haoran World. The Small Heaven was obtained by Cui Dongshan from Tian Wan and was sufficient to support a cultivator's attainment of the Flying Ascension realm.
Cui Dongshan clearly wasn't giving up. "Master, are you really not going to break through in the Long Spring Small Heaven?"
Carrying a little hoe to dig at the foundation—digging up Hong Xia and Yun Zi was nothing. Digging up the Master would be real skill.
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "It doesn't matter much. It's not about the amount of spiritual energy in heaven and earth. Maybe after I re-enter the Jade Pu realm and return from my travels, I'll come back to the Long Spring Small Heaven."
Cui Dongshan asked again, "So when the Master returns to Baoping Continent, should I start preparing for the formal transmission of the Dao to Chai Wu?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Haste makes waste, and over-watering plants will not help them grow. You understand these principles better than I do, so I won't lecture you. I'll just say this: try to be as steady as possible. Even if we can't get Chai Wu to reach the Jade Pu realm in one leap, we must at least ensure that this cultivation does not damage Chai Wu's fundamental Dao path. If you need someone to protect the gate, just use Mi Yu. If that's not enough, I can call Qing Tong."
Cui Dongshan laughed. "Honestly, that's not necessary. I'm fairly confident. I just won't say 'without any risk' out loud."
He paused to think and then continued. "Since the Master doesn't want to monopolize such a feng shui treasure land and leave it unused, that would be a waste. Besides Chai Wu, should we also bring Sun Chunwang and Bai Xuan?"
Chai Wu was naturally the most talented.
Sun Chunwang and Bai Xuan were also first-rate sword immortal seedlings.
Actually, the rank of Sun Chunwang's natal flying sword at the Summer Resort was lower than Bai Xuan's. There was also a certain gap with Yu Xiehui and He Gu's "Feilai Peak" and "Pozi Ling." But no one felt that Sun Chunwang's talent for sword practice wasn't the best among the nine sword immortal seedlings. So, barring any major mishap, the only one who could barely keep up with Sun Chunwang on the future path of cultivation would be Bai Xuan.
There are no useless flying swords, only useless sword cultivators.
This statement might be a bit absolute. But setting aside those exceptional cases, it was a fact.
Of course, if the Qingping Sword Sect pursued profit maximization, they would dedicate the entire Long Spring Small Heaven to Chai Wu alone.
If she could directly enter the Jade Pu realm, it was even possible she could become the youngest... Immortal realm... sword cultivator in the histories of both the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Haoran World!
Actually, this kind of thing was the established rule in the cultivation world, and it was ignored that facts proved only such an approach could yield maximum profit. Otherwise, the more divine money and heavenly treasures were evenly distributed among the younger generation of cultivators, the more mediocre everyone would become. One step slow, every step slow, and the gap with prodigies of the same age would widen. Many second- and third-rate mountain immortal mansions were able to leapfrog to sect-level status only because, besides the founding "restoration patriarch" having excellent talent, the entire mountain spared no effort to support him. This statement was not an exaggeration in the slightest.
Chen Ping'an, however, said, "Besides Sun Chunwang and Bai Xuan, Cheng Zhaolu, He Gu, and Yu Xiehui will also move here to cultivate recently. Only when they encounter bottlenecks later will they leave the Small Heaven and each seek advice from their own masters on the crux of their sword practice bottlenecks."
Cui Dongshan asked, "Is Master deliberately seeking some kind of equality? Do you want the Qingping Sword Sect to inherit Luopo Mountain's tradition?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "No, it just looks that way. Luopo Mountain is Luopo Mountain, and the Qingping Sword Sect is the Qingping Sword Sect. Their foundation is sword cultivators, and only sword cultivators."
"The Qingping Sword Sect should let Chai Wu, who is already a sword cultivator, break through as quickly as possible, provided there are no hidden dangers to her Dao path. At the same time, let children like Bai Xuan and Sun Chunwang from the Sword Qi Great Wall hold a breath in their hearts. Let them know the true gap with real prodigies and how big it is. Sword cultivators have a flaw—they might not fear death. But they fear losing."
"I want to see how their Dao hearts will be after they feel they are destined to lose to Chai Wu, and may even never catch up to her for the rest of their lives."
"Moreover, this little girl Chai Wu, if she occupies the Long Spring Small Heaven alone and breaks through rapidly—first Jade Pu, then Immortal, even Flying Ascension in the future—she might become increasingly lonely and unsociable. Bai Xuan and the others may be magnanimous, but if they don't see her for a few days and suddenly encounter a Chai Wu at the upper fifth realm, and then a few years later, an even more unfamiliar Immortal Chai Wu... they are all too young and too talented. I worry that in the future, Chai Wu will drink alone more and more. Even when together, they'll have nothing to talk about. Over time, they'll drift apart from old friends. This kind of distance in the heart cannot be bridged by finding opportunities to exchange pleasantries. It's irreparable."
Cui Dongshan nodded. "The Master is right. Cultivating the heart is a long-term practice. Only by having a clear Dao heart and a pure sword heart can a sword cultivator have countless possibilities."
Chen Ping'an turned his head to look at Cui Dongshan.
Cui Dongshan was baffled. "Master, I'm speaking from the heart! I'm not like Old Immortal Jia. I never flatter!"
Chen Ping'an reminded him, "When it comes to money, you pretend to be dumb, don't you? You deliberately ramble on and on to confuse the issue. How much Gu Yu money does the Qingping Sword Sect have in its accounts now? If you need to maintain the spiritual energy of the Long Spring Small Heaven in the future, just spend the money. Remember, don't complain about being poor to me. Do you think I don't know that Pei Qian gave you her Such-and-Such object?"
Cui Dongshan exclaimed, "The Master is prescient and sees through everything like observing a fire. I, his student, the first Sect Leader of the Qingping Sword Sect, am trembling with fear."
Xiao Mili blinked her eyes, looking straight ahead, not looking at the big white goose. "Ha, brown-noser."
After that, they took the children into the Small Heaven and arranged temporary cultivation grounds for each of them. Cui Dongshan pulled out various immortal mansions from his snow-white sleeve and had them settled.
Finally, Chen Ping'an said to Chai Wu, who was still beside him, "Next, Sect Leader Cui will temporarily act as your Dao transmitter. Don't worry, there won't be a formal master-disciple relationship. I'll inform your master Wei Xian about this. He won't object. Cultivate well here. Same rules as before: don't drink more than half a catty of wine per day. Sect Leader Cui will set up a special cellar at your cultivation ground."
Chai Wu was very worried and said timidly, "Mountain Lord Chen, from now on, I'll halve my wine intake, from two bowls to one bowl. Just two taels a day."
Because the little girl felt she understood: Mountain Lord Chen was hinting that her cultivation talent was poor and that she was a little drunkard. She was just a money-losing proposition that only spent money and never earned any.
Chen Ping'an was startled and waved his hand, laughing. "No, no. Two bowls of wine a day is fine."
Chai Wu remained silent.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Chai Wu, do you know that your Dao cultivation talent is actually very good?"
Chai Wu said gloomily, "My master said my cultivation talent is as good as his alcohol tolerance."
Cui Dongshan burst out laughing. This Wei Hailiang must have water in his brain, saying such nonsense to Chai Wu.
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Really good. I'm not joking."
Chai Wu looked up, glanced at Mountain Lord Chen, then lowered her head and hummed in acknowledgment.
This must be just how bad her cultivation talent was, to make such a good-tempered person like Mountain Lord Chen so anxious.
Chen Ping'an rubbed his forehead. This was a real headache. Let Cui Dongshan deal with the headache. He truly couldn't teach this little girl about cultivation matters. Totally impossible.
Earlier on the Kite Ferry, Chen Ping'an initially thought teaching a little girl who had just embarked on cultivation would be easy. After hitting two walls, he was completely resigned.
In the past, he taught Pei Qian boxing on the second floor of the bamboo tower. Then he volunteered to be a temporary Dao transmitter for Chai Wu. And with his student Cao Qinglang, a flying sword "Mud Ball"...
After settling Chai Wu properly, Chen Ping'an climbed to the highest point of the Small Heaven and asked, "Dongshan, do you already have someone in mind for your senior disciple?"
Cui Dongshan's eyes darted around.
Chen Ping'an said, "I heard from Lin Shouyi that before, near the Great River, you had a simple and honest young man with you, whom you addressed as 'Brother Gao'?"
Cui Dongshan stamped his foot, had no choice but to lift his sleeve and shake it hard. A bashful-looking young man with red lips and white teeth tumbled out.
Cui Dongshan put on a stern face and scolded, "Gao Di, what are you standing there like a log for? Hurry up and call me Patriarch!"
The young man named "Gao Di" by Cui Dongshan looked intimidated and called out "Patriarch."
Chen Ping'an was speechless. He led Xiao Mo and Xiao Mili down the mountain.
Cui Dongshan, with the young man nicknamed "Bucheng" named Gao Di, hurried to catch up with the Master's footsteps and said via heart message, "Master, about Tongye Continent's Sword Sacrifice matter..."
Chen Ping'an said, "You are the Sect Leader of the Qingping Sword Sect. Handle it yourself."
Cui Dongshan said, "Oh." He then asked, "Master, are you returning to Luopo Mountain now?"
Chen Ping'an said, "I'll go to that Earth God Temple to offer incense first before leaving."
Cui Dongshan suddenly understood. "Ah, the Daoshe Temple. The temple is small, but it has a long history—over a thousand years—and its incense has never ceased. That's rare among mortal temples. I'll accompany the Master."
They offered incense at the Daoshe Temple. The Earth God Temple was small, and the temple attendant was just a local resident. Chen Ping'an also bought a pair of incense candles.
Leaving the Daoshe Temple, Cui Dongshan took Xiao Mili and his senior disciple, bid farewell to the Master and Xiao Mo.
Chen Ping'an didn't rush to travel north back home. He just strolled with Xiao Mo. Near the Earth God Temple were many persimmon trees. A bit further was a large expanse of reeds. White herons flew past as if urging them to stay, to stay a little longer. It seemed that when autumn came, the trees would be full of red persimmons. If coupled with the sunset reflecting on the water, it would form a beautiful painting, like a narcissus in a pale red shirt.
Xiao Mo asked curiously, "Young Master, why are you in such a hurry to return to Luopo Mountain?"
"To receive a guest."
Chen Ping'an had a strange expression. "There's a guest coming from afar."
Xiao Mo laughed. "An unfriendly one?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Not that. The other party has to follow the rules, otherwise the cost would be too great."
Xiao Mo asked, "Is it a fourteenth realm cultivator or a Flying Ascension sword cultivator?"
Chen Ping'an patted Xiao Mo's shoulder and said seriously, "I'm sorry to put you through this."
Xiao Mo was bewildered. He was already thinking that if there was a sword contest, he must stay far away from Luopo Mountain, preferably leave Baoping Continent's landmass and go to sea.
---
Including Bai Jing, they had agreed to travel together to the Yeluoluo region, a kind of joint "audience" with their returning Lord Bai Ze, who had gone back to the Barren Wastes.
But instead of rebelling, they got knocked around by Bai Ze. Of course, Bai Jing's sudden defection had something... not insignificant, but not major either.
If Bai Ze really wanted to deal with this bunch of ferocious ancient great demons that had been extremely unruly since ancient times, the number of opponents didn't really matter much.
Earlier, Bai Ze had decreed that these scattered hibernators should all awaken. The "young girl" Bai Jing had now named herself "Xie Gou." After all, she was a woman—changing names and Daoist titles was like changing clothes for her.
As for Xiao Mo, who had been recuperating in a bright moon "marvelous radiance," somehow he had ended up in the Haoran World.
She and Xiao Mo were both Flying Ascension sword cultivators, one at the peak, one at the pinnacle. They were only half a step or one step apart.
In addition, there was a bewitching woman with a pale face and crimson lips, thinly clad and voluptuous, but with a cold gaze that kept people at a distance.
She now went by the alias Guan Yi and the Daoist name "Xuecang."
She had awakened from a ten-thousand-year-old glacier and had massacred every living being in the entire huge city nearby. Among them was an upper-fifth realm demon and several earth immortal cultivators. Confronting this ancient great demon, who was fully capable of being a Barren Wastes throne, they had no power to resist and couldn't even see her face clearly before dying. Their cultivator primordial spirits, souls, and blood all became food for Guan Yi.
And on her way here, she had found a small nation, including its capital, and had feasted well there.
Guan Yi noticed Bai Jing slowly edging close to her, then reaching out a hand to touch her chest. Guan Yi had to gently slap the hand away.
The sable-hatted girl sighed. "Tiring, isn't it. Really, Guan Yi, take my advice. For fighting, it's better to be small. Otherwise, when you fight, they bounce around and it doesn't look good."
Guan Yi smiled without speaking.
She was used to it by now on this journey together.
Standing beside Guan Yi was a young cultivator who always had squinting, smiling eyes, using the alias Hu Tu.
After being awakened by Bai Ze's decree, the mountain peak that belonged to his line—a sect that had barely maintained its Dao lineage with intermittent incense offerings—turned out to have a deranged founding patriarch. When Hu Tu stepped out of an ancient battlefield landscape painting in the Ancestral Hall, only a few lower-fifth realm cultivators of acceptable talent remained from his entire Dao lineage and sect. The rest had all been casually killed by him. The Ancestral Hall was now empty except for him, the old patriarch. The owners of more than a dozen chairs, because they had "offered incense incorrectly," had all become the old patriarch's food in his belly.
A boy with double pupils, using the alias "Li Gou" and the Daoist name "Fei Qian."
He had recovered eight immortal-grade mountain treasures in one go.
These immortal weapons, scattered across the Barren Wastes over the past ten thousand years, had been heavily refined into natal objects by various sect patriarchs and upper-fifth realm wild cultivators.
Therefore, when this "boy" appeared, all the immortal weapons returned to their original owner. In an instant, it was equivalent to severely wounding seven upper-fifth realm Barren Wastes demons, plus one young earth immortal of moderate fame in the Barren Wastes, considered a promising genius. Because he couldn't withstand the forced separation of his natal object, he suffered a disastrous calamity, regressed greatly in realm, and was doomed to have no hope in cultivation for life.
This ancient great demon in the form of a boy wore a yellow universe pouch and a gourd for capturing demons at his waist.
Sun and moon grind for millennia, the universe resides in a single hut. He had once refined two human cultivators of the Flying Ascension realm.
An old Daoist in a bamboo hat, carrying a sword and riding a deer. Using the alias "Huaji," he was the "Wang Youwu." His Daoist name was not ordinary, "Shan Jun."
There was also an indistinct old woman, stooped, constantly gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth's creation. Upon closer inspection by a great cultivator, the short old woman had a majestic aura like a mountain, mountain divided into five colors, with countless golden lightning bolts covering the mountain peak.
There was also a short, sturdy man who seemed not fully awake, constantly yawning.
Besides being a Flying Ascension pinnacle great cultivator, he was also a pure martial artist, having reached the Divine Awareness level of the Stop Realm.
He had a very good relationship with Li Gou. In ancient times, they often traveled together. The "Daoists" and "Scholars" killed by this man were casually tossed into Li Gou's universe pouch.
Bai Jing had only three regrets in her life. One was not having also practiced martial arts.
The second was not being able to read books.
As for the third regret... Bai Jing rubbed the sable hat on her head. Hehe. Awkward.
Besides Xiao Mo's absence, those currently before Bai Ze were Bai Jing, Guan Yi, Li Gou, Hu Tu, and Wang Youwu.
And the man who had no alias and perhaps still no true demon name even now. So Bai Jing gave him a name that wasn't really a name: Wuming Shi.
Bai Ze looked at Li Gou and said, "On the Qingming Heaven, there is a female scattered immortal with the Daoist name 'Taiyin' named Wu Zhou. She travels the same path as you, but she has already taken the lead and entered the fourteenth realm."
This ancient great demon in the form of a boy with double pupils just nodded woodenly, showing no trace of mental turmoil.
For a Flying Ascension pinnacle cultivator trying to enter the fourteenth realm, it was like having a traveler already on a single-plank bridge.
Generally, encountering such a "heavenly moat," one would either become like Wei She of Aiai Continent, who couldn't find another path and sank into depression.
Or one would be like Liu Qi, who still had the spirit to seek other methods, to find heavenly mechanisms in that marriage ledger, even crossing two worlds to do so.
Xie Gou glanced sideways at that "boy" and let out a series of tsk-tsks. "What a pity."
Xie Gou got more excited. "You can't blame anyone else. Who told you to insist on fighting with that scholar back then? Otherwise, that Daoist nun wouldn't have had any business. You would have been in the fourteenth realm long ago. I would have gone around you when I saw you on the road."
That scholar who had fought Li Gou was a proud student of the Saintly Ancestor, perhaps even the Saintly Ancestor's favorite, with no equal. How low could his fighting ability be? It wasn't that Li Gou lost too badly. He definitely lost. But in the end, both sides suffered and neither entered the fourteenth realm. Especially Li Gou. Among that small gathering of demon cultivators back then, he was considered the most talented. The key was that he was also smart, had a lot of valuable treasures, and seemed highly likely to go further, to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Grand Ancestor of Mount Tuoma, Bai Ze, and others at the pinnacle of the world.
The boy also looked askance at Bai Jing.
Xie Gou blinked. "Hm?"
Little runt, I'll give you one more chance to speak nicely.
This Li Gou had been extremely fond of reading in ancient times, earning him the nickname "Bookworm Fish Eater." It was said he had an idea to create a "City of Books Never Sleeping" cultivation ground.
Thus, beneath the three dharma robes of the double-pupiled boy, he was covered in tattoos.
In ancient times, Li Gou had even been a half-baked "scholar" for a while. But somehow, he had a disagreement with an accountant among that group of scholars and they parted ways. Then he had a big fight with that scholar who carried the Saintly Ancestor's sword. What a pity? How was it not a pity?
Li Gou remained silent.
Xie Gou went too far. She didn't stop at being satisfied; instead, she took a step.
The girl and boy, about the same height.
Just stood face to face, staring at each other blankly.
This group of Barren Wastes great demons, extremely old and high in seniority.
Actually, they all knew each other's backgrounds thoroughly. What methods each had, what bottom-line divine skills and spells, what natal objects they had—nothing could be hidden.
In terms of killing power: Wuming Shi, Xie Gou, Xiao Mo.
In terms of defense: Li Gou, Xie Gou, Xiao Mo.
The bamboo-hatted old Daoist riding a deer carrying a sword had to step in and mediate. "Don't fight among ourselves."
Xie Gou stepped forward instead, until her forehead almost touched Li Gou's.
Li Gou remained completely still.
Xie Gou suddenly leaned forward and bumped her head against his forehead, but not hard. It seemed like both were just ordinary young people. Li Gou's head wobbled slightly, not a big movement.
Li Gou finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Bai Jing, enough."
The sable-hatted girl with red patches on her cheeks suddenly beamed.
You're a Flying Ascension cultivator, not a sword cultivator. A little waste with low killing power. What are you so cocky about?
In an instant, Li Gou was not just cut into pieces, but his entire body seemed to be sliced into tens of thousands of fragments.
But in the next instant, the boy's body reassembled, then was immediately "shredded" again, and then restored.
Li Gou didn't use any spiritual energy, didn't even activate his natal object, but "disintegrated" himself, dodging the countless fine strands of sword energy.
Bai Ze said, "That's enough."
Xie Gou finally withdrew her sword energy and gathered it all up.
She hadn't even used a flying sword, you know.
Ha.
No wonder she had learned a few unique tricks from that "Daoist."
That first cultivator in the world was truly the easiest person in heaven and earth to talk to. There wasn't even a second or third!
Because if anyone asked, he would teach.
Anyone who asked, anything, he would teach.
And he never held back; he was willing to impart everything, and he was extremely patient. So when that Daoist traveled the world in ancient times, he often had a string of Qi Practitioners following behind him. They were usually those who were slow on the uptake, or those who had some thoughts but couldn't grasp the true meaning and had to keep following behind the Daoist to ask questions, or those who felt they had gained something but lost something in the process and had to stay close to that Daoist to absorb a bit of Dao aura...
It was as if whoever met this Daoist on the road became his "fellow traveler."
Bai Jing's talent and roots for cultivation were too good. She broke through realms so quickly, almost at lightning speed. She reached "earth immortal" and then soon after, Flying Ascension. And because she was a sword cultivator, she had always been fearless. But if she felt any wariness, it was only a little. For example, towards Bai Ze.
But if there was anyone she truly admired, it was probably only that Daoist. For demon cultivators, if they truly admire someone, they naturally... fear that person more.
Bai Ze said, "That's enough."
Xie Gou just pouted and put away her sword energy.
This group—now homeless, poor creatures—their common pursuit was obviously that seemingly one-step-away but actually illusory fourteenth realm.
Besides, each had their own desires. For example, that bamboo-hatted Daoist wanted to find his master.
How exactly were they supposed to find him? Even if, by a long shot, he was found, would that "Daoist" from back then acknowledge him as a disciple? After ten thousand years, would he change his mind?
But if this "Wang Youwu" actually found this person, and if his current status had changed and his realm wasn't high enough, then it wouldn't be about becoming his disciple.
He'd just eat him. What else could he do?
Bai Ze let the other great demons all go find lodgings in the city. They'd discuss matters later. Bai Ze only took Bai Jing for a walk along the Yeluoluo River.
But there was one clueless guy who insisted on being a clingy burden: the sturdy man named Wuming Shi by Bai Jing.
Xie Gou looked back at the man and grinned.
Good thing I'm with Bai Ze. If I were with someone else walking, I'd adopt this Wuming Shi as my son. Without a name or surname, from now on, he can use my surname Xie.
Xie Gou withdrew her gaze. "Lord Bai Ze, I plan to go to Beiju Luzhou first, then head south to Baoping Continent. Is that alright?"
It was a pity that the Sword Qi Great Wall was already gone after a short nap. Fortunately, there was still a place known for its many sword cultivators: Beiju Luzhou.
"Nothing wrong with that."
Bai Ze smiled and reminded her, "Xie Gou, when you get to Baoping Continent, be extra careful. Don't casually reveal your whereabouts, and certainly don't act recklessly. If you get caught due to a single misstep, I won't be able to help you from across the world. I definitely can't save you."
Xie Gou frowned slightly.
Caught by whom?
The man behind them asked with a laugh, "Is it that Chen, the last Hidden Hidden Officer, still hasn't returned his fourteenth realm Dao technique?"
If he really had borrowed and never returned, daring to owe the account of Lu Chen, the Third Teachings Leader of the Jade Capital, that would be interesting.
Unlike this group of great demons like Bai Jing and Li Gou, he had actually been in a semi-sleeping, semi-awake state for the past ten thousand years. Apart from keeping one soul and one spirit in his true body, his other souls and spirits were like an uncertain, long-term journey abroad, constantly changing residences.
Because he was a warrior cultivator.
He reaped the benefits without having done any work.
Therefore, Bai Ze calling him here this time meant he had to come.
Even without a true demon name, he had no chance against Bai Ze, who was one of the four candidates for the "Ten Heroes of the World" in ancient times.
Since he couldn't win, he would obediently admit defeat.
Bai Ze smiled and shook his head. "It has some relation to realm level, but also not much."
Xie Gou exclaimed in wonder. "Lord Bai speaks so mysteriously. Scholarship, it's all scholarship."
Bai Ze teased, "Then I wish Fellow Daoist Bai Jing success on your journey."
Xie Gou laughed heartily, turned into a rainbow, and took a path of the River of Time that Bai Ze provided, tearing through the Heavenly Canopy and heading straight for the Haoran World.
In the north of Beiju Luzhou, a Guardian Sage stationed at the Heavenly Canopy, wearing a high crown and wide belt, with a gaunt face, frowned slightly as he looked at this uninvited guest from the Barren Wastes.
The Confucian Temple had given a ruling: this demon from the Barren Wastes was allowed to travel through the various continents and rivers of Haoran, within the bounds of the rules.
Seeing the girl, wearing a tattered sable hat, with red patches on her cheeks, not at all like a cultivator. If she hadn't appeared here, she would have been just the most ordinary village girl.
The old master said solemnly, "Bai Jing, do you understand the Central Plains Elegant Language?"
Xie Gou grinned. "I came prepared. Of course, I understand human speech."
I'll insult myself first, so you scholars don't get a chance to beat around the bush and curse.
Xie Gou patted a satchel. "There are books inside. Bought them from all across the Barren Wastes! Reading while I walk. That's called traveling ten thousand miles and reading ten thousand books."
The old master nodded. "Do not break the rules."
Xie Gou waved her hand. "Absolutely, absolutely."
She looked down from above at the mountains and rivers of a continent. She had heard that this place had many heroes, who valued honor over life.
If the sword cultivators of Beiju Luzhou hadn't gone in waves to reinforce the Sword Qi Great Wall, perhaps the outcome of that missed great battle would have been different.
The old master said, "As agreed, we will not monitor your every move."
Xie Gou was greatly surprised. "When I get the chance, I will surely thank this little master—oh, now it's Rites Saint."
The old master ignored her and reminded her again, "Don't give the Confucian Temple a reason to act."
Xie Gou nodded. "When under the eaves, one must lower one's head. I understand this principle. Disrespecting others is disrespecting oneself. One must not have anger driven by blood qi, but one must not lack anger driven by righteousness..."
The old master sighed. Hearing these words from a Barren Wastes great demon was truly uncomfortable.
Xie Gou kept muttering, "Don't worry. I might even do some chivalrous acts. By the way, if I catch a few demon cultivators, can the Confucian Temple credit it to my account as merit?"
The old master was momentarily speechless.
Was this "little girl" really Bai Jing, the Flying Ascension peak sword cultivator from ten thousand years ago?
Xie Gou chuckled.
If it were the Barren Wastes, do you think I'd be so easy to talk to?
Xie Gou said her farewells, then her form plummeted straight down to the ground. When she was still several dozen feet from the ground, she suddenly halted and drifted down.
After that, Xie Gou really began to leisurely travel through the mountains and rivers, appreciating the local customs of a foreign land. Of course, to her, even the Barren Wastes couldn't be considered home.
On the road, if she saw a beautiful woman, she would disguise herself as a young man, slightly alter her voice, and go up to flirt a little. The book says well: "Fair maidens, beautiful and at ease, picking mulberries by the road." They look so good when they smile. There were also emperors and generals with a thousand riders bearing high carriage canopies, slowly moving along the official road, their pomp and splendor enormous. Xie Gou often sat on a tree branch in the wilderness, wet a finger with saliva, and turned the pages of her book.
That guy now called Xiao Mo—back when he hid in Bixiao Cave and then came out of Luobao Beach—had turned into a shabby old man. Sigh. It made her heart ache to see.
Before that, he was so handsome, in white robes, alone with his sword traveling far. As they say in books today: unique grace, peerless in the world.
Anyway, different flowers catch different eyes. Bai Jing liked him. Even if Xiao Mo never actively sought female attention, he had still incurred many debts of love. Of course, those shameless women had all been visited by Bai Jing for a "heart-to-heart" talk. Actually, as Bai Jing herself said, it wasn't necessarily true love. But she was bored. Cultivation? Did she need to cultivate seriously? The sky was wide, the earth vast; she had to find something to do. Apart from that, Bai Jing had heard one thing: that "Daoist" had once explained to Qi Practitioners about "true nature." He said that cultivators, on their way up the heights, could maintain their original nature and heart through many techniques and shortcuts. One of those paths, put simply, was the two words: love and hate. Deeply love someone, or deeply hate someone, both were acceptable. As for why Qi Practitioners should maintain this kind of "true nature," according to a vague explanation the Daoist gave in his early years, it was a form of "distraction."
Xie Gou concealed her aura completely, retracting all sword energy. Apart from traveling, she really was no different from a mundane girl. To fulfill her original intention of "starting from scratch to earn money in the Haoran World," she occasionally had to dig up some mountain herbs and exchange them for silver in the town market. She didn't know how to haggle, or rather, she haggled too fiercely at first and scared away all the customers. After suffering a few losses, she just let those unscrupulous merchants set their own prices. This way, Xie Gou gradually bought herself dresses, pots and pans, wine, and so on.
If she caught sight of wild geese in the sky, she would leap into the air, grab the geese by their claws, and travel with them. She could be as light as a feather, the birds carrying the sable-hatted girl.
Although almost all the fighters in the Haoran World had gone to the Barren Wastes, and the local big shot of Beiju Luzhou, True Dragon Fire, was not on Padibi Peak, Xie Gou still forced herself not to cause trouble. In the mortal markets, when she encountered some unrepentant thugs hovering near the gates of hell, Xie Gou wouldn't bother with them.
After all, she had heard the Confucian Temple provided meals now. Wasn't that woman Yangzhi a precedent? Sigh, a precedent—such a good term. There were so many books in the mortal world now.
Anyway, she had to find that coward first. If it weren't inappropriate to fight now, the first local bully she would have gone to see was Bai Shang, known as the number one sword cultivator in the north. Of course, not for a sword duel. What sword duel with a junior who wasn't even in the Flying Ascension realm? That would be bullying.
On the yellow glazed roof ridge of a Daoist temple, Xie Gou hid her form, sat cross-legged, and drank small cups of wine with some sauce meat, watching a few little Dao boys holding dusters and turning in circles, carefully walking the Big Dipper steps. According to the introductions and explanations in a few books, nowadays there were far too many Daoists. The so-called "Pacing the Gang and Treading the Dipper" had become increasingly fancy. Daoists would walk, turn, bow to the stars, invite the gods, descend truth, as if treading on the guiding stars and dipper constellations. From the earliest three steps and nine traces, the star outline had continuously evolved, becoming more and more complex. If you combined stepping on the Dipper with hand seals, there were said to be over 1,900 types.
Xie Gou rubbed her sable hat, shook her head, and muttered, "The more tricks, the less meaning."
Xie Gou had once personally witnessed one of the candidates for the "Ten Heroes of the World" transform from a bird into a human to transmit the Dao. That was how this technique had come about.
That was the true ancestor, ah!
Watching the little Dao boys walk the Dipper steps was boring. After finishing a pot of wine, Xie Gou moved to a marketplace in the city. She crouched by the side, watching people pound glutinous rice like mud in a stone trough to make sticky rice cakes. Xie Gou had eaten sticky rice balls a few times before. They were quite tempting.
After that, she quietly crossed the sea and arrived at Baoping Continent. She first visited the Great Li capital, learned some official speech—the continental language of Baoping Continent.
Finally, Xie Gou stood outside a small alley. It seemed that the residence of that Embroidery Tiger was inside.
She held a greasy pork shoulder in both hands.
Above the entrance of the small alley was a tiny, snail-shell-sized shabby cultivation ground. A pair of master and disciple was holed up inside. The old cultivator glanced at her, and Xie Gou pretended not to notice.
The old cultivator was probably getting on in years and a bit confused. He secretly asked his visibly younger disciple via heart message if he recognized the little girl outside the alley entrance, if she had any background, and whether they needed to stop her if she entered the alley.
After that, Xie Gou secretly took a few glances at the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.
Mainly because she had heard that Ruan Qiong was the chief worshipper of the Great Li dynasty. It turned out he was only in the Jade Pu realm, but his swordsmithing skills were passable.
In the mountain, there was a flippant young sword cultivator. His realm wasn't high, but he was strange. He actually sensed her spying. They had a brief glance from a distance.
She felt something was off, but didn't dwell on it.
Finally, she arrived at Huaihuang County in Chuzhou, Longquan, Great Li.
She had walked the entire way from the prefectural city southward, following the local customs. At a shop at the bottom of the steps, she bought a few pieces of pastry to eat.
Then she headed toward Luopo Mountain.
Haha. Just you wait. I'm coming to block your gate.
Luopo Mountain.
At the mountain gate.
The new gatekeeper of Luopo Mountain, a fake Daoist with a wooden hairpin, was sitting on a bamboo chair, legs crossed, sneakily reading a book.
The sable-hatted girl, still some distance from the mountain gate, raised her hand and rubbed her eyes vigorously. Though she had seen many strange things, she was still utterly shocked.
Was the world really this coincidental?
Fear the very thing you dread?
Xiao Mo, you're really something. Back then, you hid in Luobao Beach's Bixiao Cave to brew wine. Now, you've just hidden right next to this Daoist?
Her love life was truly bumpy. Sigh. Heartbreaking.
Just... pfft, marrying him as a Dao companion—was it that hard?
Xie Gou pouted, activated a divine ability, and split her form into two. Suddenly, she let out a "huh," squinted, and looked around. Could it be that the Bixiao Cave Lord was also in this mountain?
Our Daoist Xian Wei was always alert, looking in all directions. He found that after the visitor approached the mountain gate, she came, then ran away.
Then she ran, and came back again.
This completely confused Xian Wei.
Seeing the sable-hatted boy—or maybe girl—who seemed to have finally made up her mind, slowly walking toward the mountain gate.
Xian Wei quickly put the book in his bosom and stood up.
But the sable-hatted one went around and sat down at that table.
There was once a Daoist who traveled the world. Besides transmitting the Dao and answering questions, he would also build rest stops by the roadside, similar to the later "Xing Pavilions," and leave texts of Dao techniques on the walls.
Those with the affinity would see them, obtain them, and cultivate them. In the Daoist's eyes, every sentient being in the world could cultivate the Dao.
What did it mean to "act on behalf of Heaven"? This was probably the most apt description, wasn't it?
Xie Gou sat at the table, sighed quietly, gathered her thoughts, and put on a smiling face.
Xian Wei found her staring at him blankly with an extremely complicated expression.
It couldn't be that she had come to claim kinship, could it?
The problem was that he hadn't gotten rich yet. Being the gatekeeper of Luopo Mountain paid a bit, but every Snowflake Coin that entered his pocket had a purpose.
Out of duty, Xian Wei walked over and asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, would you like some tea?"
Xie Gou asked, "Is it free?"
Xian Wei chuckled. "Free."
Xie Gou grinned. "Then give me two pots first."
Xian Wei was dumbfounded again.
On Luopo Mountain, Zhu Lian was sitting in the courtyard weaving baskets. Beside him sat Bai Jing's true form, who had already explained everything. She had told this emaciated old man, who seemed to be the steward of Luopo Mountain and called himself Zhu Lian, the whole story. There was nothing to hide. Nothing to be embarrassed about. She was from the Barren Wastes, a demon sword cultivator, Flying Ascension realm. She had previously gone by the name Bai Jing, now called Xie Gou. She had come to catch up with Xiao Mo. Luopo Mountain didn't need to worry about her causing trouble. She didn't dare to anger Lord Bai Ze or the Young Master. She couldn't beat either of them.
The old man had a kind expression throughout. Listening to Xie Gou's self-introduction, he showed no fear, just nodded with a smile, not missing a stroke in his proficient basket weaving. His first words surprised Xie Gou: "Thousands of sails pass by, but none are the one. At the time, I only thought it was ordinary."
Then the old man's next words made Xie Gou feel both gratified and sad. When the old man spoke, he did so slowly and unhurriedly, with an indescribable charm.
"Miss Xie, crossing mountains and seas to find the one in your heart—that's very good. The only thing to be careful about is not to scare Mr. Xiao Mo. In matters of love between men and women, the one who falls in love first loses. The more you lose, the harder it is to forget. In the end, you can't even tell if you like the other person or yourself. The answer lies in the other person. That's why it's said: 'From love comes worry.'"
Xie Gou rubbed her sable hat. This old man beside her was a true expert.
However, after thinking for a moment, Xie Gou had a small objection. She first followed the Haoran World custom and addressed him as Old Mr. Zhu, then said, "It's not really about love. I never have a deep, bitter state of mind. There's no worry to speak of. I just think Xiao Mo is good-looking. His realm is not much worse than mine. If we were together, we could be together for a long time. And we're both sword cultivators, so we'd have things to talk about."
Zhu Lian didn't comment. He smiled and asked a question that Xie Gou could never have expected: "Miss Xie, if Mr. Xiao Mo really falls in love with you one day, would you still like him?"
Xie Gou was stunned for a long time. She thought seriously and replied, "I would still like him."
Zhu Lian asked again, "Why did you like him in the first place?"
Xie Gou slapped her sable hat and complained, "I already told you, Old Mr. Zhu. Xiao Mo is damn good-looking!"
"Wrong."
The old man weaving a basket on the bamboo chair smiled and shook his head, saying softly, "This body originally knew no sorrow. My only fear was that fateful time when I first met a gentle warmth."
——
——
(Note 1: This line is copied from "Snow in the Dark.")