Chapter 984: Fire Talisman
When wine meets a bosom friend, a thousand cups are too few; when conversation is disagreeable, half a sentence is too much. Whether with Xie Gou or Bai Jing, there was really nothing much to talk about. After finishing a pot of wine, Chen Ping'an had a sudden whim, took his leave, saying he needed to visit the North Peak Mountain Lord's residence. The sable-hatted girl immediately chased after him, asking if she could return to Fallen Mountain. Being banished outside like this all the time couldn't go on—it was hindering Xiao Mo's cultivation. His talent in practicing the sword was originally not as good as hers, and if they kept wasting time like this, she could train her sword anytime, anywhere, even while eating, drinking, or answering nature's call. Her perfection of the Ascension realm would only become more perfect, the gap would grow wider, and Xiao Mo would feel even more embarrassed. Losing face, Xiao Mo would want to see her even less. Ah, preferring to suffer rather than lose face—such are men.
Hearing this, Chen Ping'an had no more patience to listen to her rambling. But seeing that Xie Gou seemed determined—if he didn't give her an answer today, she would follow him all the way to Cloaked Cloud Mountain—Chen Ping'an had no choice but to stop by a roadside pavilion and tell her to give him a reason that could convince him. Xie Gou said that if she returned to the mountain, she would definitely be more cautious in her words and deeds, learning from the Left Protector of Riding Dragon Alley every day to keep her tail between her legs. If the mountain lord didn't believe her, she would swear an oath, swearing by Lord Bai Ze's name. How could that not be serious? Chen Ping'an then asked her what about the business of the New Year's gift shop in Riding Dragon Alley. Partnering with Zhou Junchen to do business had just started—was she going to wash her hands of it? Xie Gou said she definitely wouldn't abandon it. She would go to the shop every now and then, but business was truly hard to do. Just talk about Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Lane—they had already assigned people specifically to block her, matching wits with her...
Chen Ping'an said in exasperation, "Is this any way to do business? In the first month of the lunar year, you post notices on people's gates! Luckily you had some bottom line and didn't stick them on the door gods' faces, as if you were gliding them." Xie Gou looked wronged and said she had discussed it with those door gods in advance. She hadn't used any mountain techniques like summoning gods or restraining ghosts; she had properly negotiated with all those door god lords. Every one of them said it was fine, that they were very amiable.
Chen Ping'an was speechless. After a moment of silence, looking at the sable-hatted girl with her wrinkled face full of grievance, he could only say, "Fine, fine, go back. When you get to Fallen Mountain, remember to speak less. Otherwise, if you get driven down the mountain again, no one can help you."
Then Chen Ping'an used the Ground-Shrinking technique, concealed his form, went to a secluded spot, and then walked to the foot of Cloaked Cloud Mountain. As the site of a state's North Peak shrine, countless devout men and women came to Cloaked Cloud Mountain to offer incense. But everyone knew that Cloaked Cloud Mountain was Wei Po's Dao field, yet very few pilgrims ever got to see this legendary, extraordinarily elegant North Peak Mountain Lord.
Xie Gou finally obtained a decree from the mountain lord, as if granted amnesty. In a good mood, the girl with flushed cheeks staggered toward Fallen Mountain.
Not to mention anything else, on Fallen Mountain, even Chen Ping'an's fart was fragrant. Up on the mountain, there was a whole bunch of flatterers displaying their various talents, so it was no wonder she felt out of place.
The sable-hatted girl completely forgot how she had been earnestly clasping her hands and shouting "the mountain lord is wise" when they parted.
At the mountain gate, it was quite lively. Xian Wei and Zhou Mili sat by the table drinking tea, and beside them sprawled the Left Protector of Riding Dragon Alley.
Besides that, it was rare that Cen Yuanji was also taking a break from practicing fist techniques and walking the stakes, sitting here for a while. There was also a Crimson-Robe Lad who had rushed over from the state city god temple. He hadn't come to check in, just hoping to soak up some of Chen Mountain Lord's immortal aura. He didn't dare to hope for a conversation; just watching from afar would be a full harvest.
And a White-Flowered Snake from Chess Pier Mountain, serving as the Crimson-Robe Lad's mount, was curled up under the table, looking extremely docile.
They were all gathered here listening to Daoist Xian Wei spin tall tales.
Xian Wei glanced at the mongrel dog. At first, he had felt sorry for it, thinking it was a stray looking for food, and had even gotten some chicken, fish, and bones from the old cook. At that time, the dog had looked up, and Xian Wei saw an extremely complex emotion in its eyes: indignation, disgust, depression, pity...
Xian Wei was shocked—was he being looked down upon by a stray dog?
Only later did he learn that it was the famous Left Protector of Riding Dragon Alley.
A misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. Good intentions, also good intentions.
Besides that, there was also a visitor who had just arrived on a pilgrimage: a middle-aged Daoist priest with a fly whisk and a sword on his back, his face as white as jade, holding a purple bamboo staff, with a gourd ladle hanging from his waist.
Zhou Mili and Xian Wei both recognized him. They had each met him once before. Zhou Mili had met him at Cyan Shirt Ferry on Immortal Capital Mountain, where she had chatted quite amiably with the Daoist who called himself "Pure Yang" by style name, Lord Lü.
Xian Wei knew him because Lü Yan had once visited Fallen Mountain before, stopping at the mountain gate. At that time, he sat by the table and drank a bowl of hot tea, getting along very well. Xian Wei had boasted that his own Dao magic was not lower than this mountain peak, and had asked fellow Daoist Pure Yang if he was scared. Lü Yan had smiled without speaking, and Xian Wei was delighted, saying he was just bragging. He had even invited Lü Yan to be a guest elder of Fallen Mountain, offering to recommend him. With his relationship with Mountain Lord Chen, such a matter might not be a sure success, but it would definitely not be a sure failure.
But Xian Wei didn't specify whether it was a registered or unregistered guest elder. When speaking, one must leave some leeway. He couldn't learn from Chen Lingjun, whose words were as solid as sticky rice dumplings—delicious, but easy to get stuffed. Better a bowl of plain white rice porridge, good for the stomach.
On this journey, Lü Yan wasn't in a hurry. He had toured the vast ancient Shu region, visiting some Dragon Palace ruins that the Great Li court had not yet discovered. For a qi refiner of his realm, it was naturally just visiting immortals and exploring secluded spots. Every place was empty, scenes of desolation—the changes of the world, the vicissitudes of time, nothing more.
Finally, he went to the Yellow Court Kingdom, traveling along the Cold Food River. In that Cao family's Orchid Tower, he looked through a few well-preserved rare editions. Turning the pages of old books felt like meeting old friends again. Ancient texts always scatter and gather in this way. Then he passed by White Crane River, Purple Sun Prefecture, and from Red Candle Town along a mountain path, over Chess Pier Mountain, slowly making his way to this Fallen Mountain. Earlier, the Daoist had looked at the bustling mountain gate, stroking his beard and nodding with a smile. Generally, immortal estates don't have such scenes.
On the path of cultivation, there are so many realm divisions that people's hearts inevitably fluctuate with them.
For a mountain sect, many cultivators achieve success in mind cultivation—it's difficult, but not rare. But to have everyone's hearts like one—that's practically a miracle.
This time Lü Yan had come to ask for a favor. He had a trial in the mundane world that required Chen Mountain Lord's help as a protector.
For this protector, the requirement in realm wasn't high.
Besides, it was Chen Ping'an, personally recommended by the First Sage.
The dark-clad little girl said the mountain lord had gone down to the town.
Actually, he had gone to check accounts on Riding Dragon Alley.
Little Mili asked seriously, "Does Pure Yang Immortal Lord urgently need to see the mountain lord?"
If it was urgent, she only needed to silently chant Mountain Lord Wei's name three times in her heart, like knocking on a door. Mountain Lord Wei on Cloaked Cloud Mountain would hear immediately, and then, as long as she was within the North Peak territory, she could talk to the good mountain lord right away.
Lü Yan smiled and said, "No hurry. I'll wait for Mountain Lord Chen to return and then we'll climb the mountain together."
On the table, besides tea and melon seeds, there were also two bags of dried stream fish that Little Mili had taken out from her cotton cloth bag.
Last time at Cyan Shirt Ferry, Little Mili had been reluctant to use her last bag of dried fish to entertain guests. This time, the Right Protector finally had a chance to make up for it.
In fact, after that, Zhou Mili had developed a habit: every time she went out, the cotton cloth bag she nicknamed "Patriarch Hall" must contain at least two bags of dried stream fish, for emergencies.
Xie Gou was now very broad-minded.
Seeing that young Daoist with a wooden hairpin, whose true name was now Year View and style name Xian Wei, Xie Gou was completely relieved. Her reasoning was simple: you can't pick up two silver coins on the same street, right? In this former site of the Pearldrop Cave Heaven, who else could she meet? She had already seen one of the ancient world's ten greats, the first "Daoist" in the human world. She couldn't have such good fortune again, could she?
In the north, the entire Northern Frigid Barren Sand Continent, so vast, had only produced the Fire Dragon True Person of Prostrate Peak, who could catch her eye.
As for the southern Parasol Leaf Continent, was it Jade Bangle Sect's sword cultivator Wei Ying? Or the parasol tree in Demon-Suppressing Tower? Or perhaps Ten Thousand Yao Sect on Three Mountains Blessed Land?
Then, when Xie Gou neared the mountain gate, she first saw that unfamiliar middle-aged Daoist priest. Phoenix eyes, three long strands of beard... This Daoist looked like he had no realm at all!
It instantly gave Xie Gou a sense of pressure, as if facing a great enemy. In the ten thousand years before, she had been with Xiao Mo for so long without ever feeling this strange sensation. Maybe only once, when Xiao Mo had almost summoned all his life-bound flying swords, and then she had chased him to Treasure-Losing Beach, where the Cavern Lord of Azure Sky appeared and advised her not to cross the border. If she crossed, she shouldn't leave again; she would stay. If a person crossed, leave the person; if a leg crossed, leave the leg; if a flying sword crossed, leave the flying sword.
Damn it, even now, Xie Gou still felt frustrated remembering that stinking Daoist.
There was no reason.
Such a small Bottle Gourd Continent, how could it hide so many crouching tigers and hidden dragons?
Xie Gou narrowed her eyes, slowing her steps. That unremarkable table suddenly seemed like a dragon's pool and tiger's den.
Seeing the slender sable-hatted girl, the Crimson-Robe Lad stood on the table, hands on his hips, and called out with a smile, "Little Xie's back! I heard from Xian Wei that you've been earning private money on Riding Dragon Alley lately."
Xie Gou nodded stiffly, but to Cen Yuanji she said with a brilliant smile, "Sister Cen, taking a break?"
Fools are easy to deceive, so Xie Gou had a very good impression of Cen Yuanji—unlike that incense-fire little man from the state city god temple. Though he seemed full of foolishness, he was actually a sharp one.
She saw a dark-clad little girl stand up. Mm, that was the Fallen Mountain guardian who had been asked by the white-haired boy to form "Black and White Pair" but had refused, a Cave Dwelling realm little water spirit.
In the past, Xie Gou would have reached out to grab the little girl's head and shake it a few times. But after a fall, she gained wisdom. Now she smiled and said, "Oh, is this the legendary Right Protector? Pleased to meet you! I'm Xie Gou, Xiao Mo's fiancée."
Xian Wei spat out a mouthful of tea, choked, and coughed violently, quickly wiping the table with his sleeve.
Zhou Mili's eyes went wide. What? Master Xiao Mo has a Dao companion already?!
Finally, Xie Gou turned to the Daoist priest. "Old sir, where do you work?"
Lü Yan smiled. "My home is the four seas; my life, clouds and water."
Xie Gou said, "I think with your skill, sir, even if you imitated Yu Xuan of the Central Earth Divine Continent and controlled three or five sects at once, it would be more than adequate."
Lü Yan laughed. "Miss, you flatter me. I dare not compare myself to Senior Yu Xuan."
Xian Wei couldn't stand it anymore. This was like praising a scholar—you could bend your conscience and say his learning was profound, his talent unmatched in the world, but directly saying his knowledge was comparable to the Second Sage or the Literary Sage—wasn't that insulting someone to their face? It seemed Miss Xie's time in seclusion on Riding Dragon Alley had been wasted. It was probably also related to Old Immortal Jia not overseeing the Grass-Head Shop. Otherwise, if she had learned even one-tenth of Old Immortal Jia's skill, Xie Gou wouldn't speak so inappropriately.
Xie Gou sat cross-legged on a bench. "Where were you guys talking? Continue. Pretend I'm not here."
Zhou Mili cupped her tea bowl with both hands, took a sip, gently set it down, and said happily, "Just now, Pure Yang Immortal Lord put two or three leaves of mugwort in each of our tea bowls. He said if qi refiners drink this tea regularly, supplemented by a guidance technique, it can dispel cold, strengthen yang qi, and preserve the true spirit."
Xie Gou craned her neck and glanced at the three pieces of mugwort in the little girl's bowl. Oh, mugwort infused with the true fire of the sun! "Dao Master, you're proficient in ancient methods? It seems you have a long tradition."
She had toured Northern Frigid Barren Sand Continent and seen roughly how cultivation had been in the ten thousand years since. Techniques like moon worship and star summoning were common, but the art of refining the sun was relatively rare because the threshold was higher. And just now, when she focused her gaze, Xie Gou looked at the fine veins of those mugwort leaves. To her eyes, every detail was visible, as large as winding mountain ranges. Naturally, Xie Gou could see more expert details than those outsiders like Cen Yuanji who didn't appreciate their own good fortune. The Daoist in front of her was very likely an expert who could go and wander around a "Sun-Yang Palace." If so, wasn't he half a colleague?
Lü Yan smiled without speaking.
Xie Gou asked again, "Dao Master, are you also a sword cultivator?"
Lü Yan said, "I know a little swordsmanship, barely enough to be considered a sword cultivator."
Xie Gou pressed on, "How do you view cultivation?"
It was just a casual question, but unexpectedly the other party gave an answer. The Daoist smiled and said, "The ancients established laws: eating must use fire, so countless generations of living beings can survive; dwelling must follow water, so billions of spirits can establish themselves."
Lü Yan pointed a finger at the great sun in the sky. "In my view, the treasure of heaven—manifest and not hidden—can be obtained by everyone. Only this one red sun hanging in the void."
The Daoist then took a gentle breath, exhaled a wisp of pure spiritual air, a white mist like clouds moving and water flowing, within which a red thread coiled and floated like a slender fire dragon riding clouds and mist, commanding rain according to decree. "The treasure of man—though hidden and not manifest—can still be sought within oneself. Only this one breath of true yang. This substance is most refined and pure. Cultivators gradually see results, condensing it into a lump, which is one's own pure yang. Thus, pure yang leads to immortality; pure yin leads to ghostliness. Man dwells on the border of yin and yang, at the crossroads of immortal and ghost. To be immortal or ghost lies only in cultivation—proving one's own heart, refining one's own spirit. Fire is yang qi; fire is the most precious treasure of the human body."
Xie Gou chuckled. "The theory is good, but too vague. It makes people feel foggy, neither touching heaven nor touching earth."
Lü Yan smiled. "For example, Miss Cen here, though not a qi refiner, is a pure martial artist. Practicing martial arts and boxing has the same subtlety as qi refining. A martial artist tempers his physique with a breath of pure true qi, like a fire dragon moving through water. Blood and qi are a vast long river; muscles and bones are continuous mountain ranges. And it's clear that Miss Cen's boxing teacher has profound martial arts attainments. Especially the combination of fist stakes and breathing—it can refresh others. This is because he taught Miss Cen four completely different breathing techniques. Thus, the trajectory of true qi varies between day and night, winter and summer. That's why she can suppress her realm without harming her body or soul, and instead solidify her fist intent, nourish her true spirit, making her different from ordinary people."
Cen Yuanji was stunned. Old Master Zhu had taught her four different paths for true qi circulation. She had been practicing for so many years and knew them clearly, but she had never thought there was so much learning hidden in them.
Could it be that her slow speed in breaking through wasn't due to her poor talent? Old Master Zhu had always said she had great talent for martial arts—was that not just consolation?
Xie Gou smiled. "The Dao Master is truly skilled."
Lü Yan laughed it off.
At that moment, Xie Gou still didn't know that this land-bound wandering immortal with the style name Pure Yang was one of the future ten greats in the First Sage's eyes.
Chen Ping'an didn't follow the pilgrimage path directly to the mountain-top shrine. Instead, he used a walking staff and hiked up to a secondary peak of Cloaked Cloud Mountain, mingling with the crowd of pilgrims, no different from the refined scholars who came to burn incense and make wishes at the Civil Affairs Pavilion.
On Cloaked Cloud Mountain, there were over a dozen temples and Daoist abbeys. In the past, the Great Li court had selected the Six Mountains and Ten Monasteries of a continent map, all famous Buddhist mountains and temples. Among them, the Vast Fortune Zen Temple on Cloaked Cloud Mountain was built by imperial decree of the Great Li Song emperor, who personally wrote the plaque, bestowed purple robes and dharma names, and even ordered the abbot to enter the capital to write golden sutras.
Halfway up the mountain was a rest pavilion with a plaque reading "Sea and Sky Without End." By the cliff was an ancient pine, its branches extending as if beyond the sky.
Beside it was a tea stall, mostly frequented by mountain porters. Chen Ping'an stopped here, looked up, and saw his bill-payer arriving.
It was Mountain Lord Wei in person, of course using an illusion to prevent mortals from recognizing him even face to face.
This North Peak Mountain Lord, whose fame had already spread to other continents, had a refined golden body, and his realm was now equivalent to an Immortal realm cultivator. Moreover, the entire North Peak territory was Wei Po's Dao field, making him essentially half of a Ascension realm.
Chen Ping'an asked the stall owner for another bowl of tea. After Wei Po sat down, he said bluntly, "Why didn't Master Xiao Mo come? Blocked by Mountain Lord Chen again? That's not appropriate."
Chen Ping'an immediately retorted, "When will Mountain Lord Wei host a Night Tour Banquet? It seems I haven't had a single taste of the mountain lord's fine wine. A regret in life—I must find a chance to make up for it."
As the old saying goes: long stay makes one cheap, frequent visits make even relatives distant.
But between Fallen Mountain and Cloaked Cloud Mountain, there was no such concern.
Yet in reality, of the nearly thirty mountain-water spirits who were chief officers of the various departments in the mountain lord's residence, Chen Ping'an didn't know a single one.
"Now Fallen Mountain has a subsidiary sect. If there were another subsidiary sect in Northern Frigid Barren Sand Continent, wouldn't Fallen Mountain and Green Lotus Sword Sect be promoted to orthodox and superior sects?"
"Such a fine thing—just imagining it is good enough."
"Then if some busybodies came to compile a list of the top ten sects in Haoran Heaven, you'd definitely have a place."
"What 'you'? That's hurtful to say. It should be 'we.'"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "The matter of digging a great river in Parasol Leaf Continent has taken shape and will start soon. I had Green Lotus Sword Sect reserve a slot for you. The number ranges from fourteen hundred to eighteen hundred Grain Rain coins. Do you have any thoughts? If Cloaked Cloud Mountain's treasury is tight, I can advance the funds first."
For ordinary qi refiners, participating in digging a great river was just a matter of profit or loss. The more money made, the further one got from merit—like Zhang Zhi the Baggage Broker, or the Liu clan of Snowy White Continent. But at least it could help their respective sects or clans gain some fortune. However, those fortunes usually wouldn't circulate; they would only be "cashed in" along the great river's vicinity, like converting into a variable amount of financial luck, invisibly helping the Baggage Broker business thrive. That was the sole reason Zhang Zhi insisted on opening shops at every ferry. Demon-Suppressing Tower's Qing Tong was an exception due to his close connection to the continent's qi. But for mountain-water spirits, there was solid merit to be gained—it was a sure profit.
Wei Po nodded. "Then I'll take out two thousand Grain Rain coins, to make it a round number."
Chen Ping'an was surprised. "Mountain Lord Wei, you can take out two thousand Grain Rain coins without even frowning? Our North Peak Mountain Lord's treasury must be mountains of gold and silver. Since I'm here, why not take me for a tour? Open my eyes?"
Wei Po twitched his lips. "It's 'your,' not 'our.'"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Sun sets, mountains and waters still. For you, I raise the pine's sound. Let me listen—does it say 'yes' or 'no'?"
Wei Po said helplessly, "Hidden Official Chen's doggerel and patchwork verses are already famous enough."
"But you can't deny they're quite appropriate."
Wei Po suddenly frowned slightly.
Chen Ping'an asked, "What's wrong?"
Wei Po explained, "Your Fallen Mountain has a visiting Daoist. I can't see his depth at all, and he immediately sensed my prying."
A ripple in the tea bowl appeared as mist and clouds, forming an image. At the mountain gate of Fallen Mountain, a table full of people, including a middle-aged Daoist with an immortal air. The landscape picture quickly faded.
Chen Ping'an glanced at it and smiled. "That's normal. This senior is named Lü Yan, style name 'Pure Yang.' He is a truly accomplished Daoist, unquestionably one who has attained the Dao. If he doesn't want people to know his whereabouts, not only my Fallen Mountain or your Cloaked Cloud Mountain, but probably even at the foot of Sui Mountain, Lord Zhou You wouldn't sense him either."
Wei Po exclaimed in admiration, "Pure Yang? Such a big style name—ordinary people couldn't bear it."
Wei Po searched his heart lake for a moment and asked via mind voice, "I recall in the history of the Yellow Court Kingdom, there was a Daoist who threw a wine cup into a river, which turned into a white crane. Is that Daoist related to this one?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "It was indeed this Pure Yang True Person's doing. Back then, he and Academy Head Cheng were sailing together, drinking heavily, and did it on a whim. That's how the White Crane River Water God Lady came to be later."
Wei Po hesitated, wanting to say something.
Chen Ping'an shook his head.
Regarding this Pure Yang Daoist who enjoyed roaming the mortal world, it also involved an old matter.
On the old calendar, there were long-dust-covered stories. For example, now living in the capital's Fire God Temple was Aunt Feng, who had a landscape anecdote about "burning mugwort to brand the dragon girl's forehead."
Another example: in the old Hundred Flowers Blessed Land, many flower spirits had once sought help from a certain man surnamed Cui who carried fortune, to resist Aunt Feng.
That man later became the founding emperor of the Great Yong dynasty. He had always had a close incense-fire connection with the Hundred Flowers Blessed Land, and even now the entire kingdom still has the custom of wearing flowers in the hair.
And at the beginning of the Dragon-Slaying Campaign, all the true dragons and various Dragon Palace water mansions had once hoped for assistance from a certain accomplished Daoist—it was exactly Pure Yang Lü Yan.
Wei Po stopped probing and instead complained, "What do you plan to do about this 'little girl' who calls herself Xie Gou?"
A peak Ascension realm sword cultivator, still from the Barren Wasteland demons, just sitting in the North Peak territory every day—even Wei Po found it unsettling.
To the point that Wei Po still hadn't leaked the secret to the assistant officers of the mountain lord's residence—that such a figure was roaming around Locust Tree Yellow County—lest they panic.
Chen Ping'an began to distance himself. "She's your Master Xiao Mo's admirer. Don't complain to me about her."
Wei Po said, "I miscalculated just now. The mountain lord's residence has expenses everywhere, barely making ends meet. The word 'poor' doesn't even begin to describe it. I humbly beg Fallen Mountain's Spring Residence to advance those two thousand Grain Rain coins. I can write an IOU."
Chen Ping'an had no choice but to guarantee, "I'll keep Xie Gou in line. I won't let her run wild. If anything goes wrong, you come to me."
Wei Po asked, "This Pure Yang Daoist has shown up at the mountain gate. Shouldn't you go quickly to receive him?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I'll definitely go, but no hurry. At least let me finish a bowl of tea with Mountain Lord Wei. A person can't be too fickle."
In other words, with confidence comes boldness.
With Little Mili handling the reception, why would he need to gild the lily? Absolutely unnecessary.
If the visitor wasn't at least an Ascension realm, Fallen Mountain wouldn't even deign to bring out the Right Protector.
But if it had been Chen Lingjun, that was a different story—just watch Chen Ping'an scramble to the mountain gate.
Chen Ping'an drank two bowls of tea, told Mountain Lord Wei not to see him off, and left gracefully.
When Chen Ping'an reached the mountain gate of Fallen Mountain, Lü Yan stood up and smiled, "Troubling you."
They climbed the mountain together, step by step, directly to the peak.
Lü Yan got straight to the point. "I have a favor to ask."
Chen Ping'an almost simultaneously said something similar.
Lü Yan laughed. "Mountain Lord Chen, you go first."
Chen Ping'an didn't stand on ceremony. "I may need to ask for a fire talisman from you. The higher the rank, the better."
Lü Yan understood. "Is it for the literary fortune fire python's movement through water?"
Chen Ping'an hesitated, then asked, "My little Warm Tree's Dao was revealed at the Cao family's Orchid Tower in the Yellow Court Kingdom. Is it related to you?"
Lü Yan stroked his beard and smiled. "I once drew a talisman on a beam pillar of a library in that Shu region. My original intention was just to protect the books. But at that time, it wasn't the Orchid Tower. How it ended up in the Cao family's hands—that's just fate."
Chen Ping'an bowed in thanks.
Lü Yan waved his hand. "No need."
He then asked, "The literary fortune fire python's movement through water is no easy task. Heavenly fire and water inherently conflict, hard to reconcile. Do you have a plan, Mountain Lord Chen?"
Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. In an instant, Lü Yan looked around and smiled. They were now inside a river of time formed by Chen Ping'an's two life-bound flying swords. The most peculiar thing was that both banks were mountains of text, brimming with literary fortune, an extraordinary scene.
Lü Yan said, "With this foundation, Chen Warm Tree will have more than enough to break into the Jade Pu realm in the future. Whether I give the fire talisman or not makes little difference."
Seeing Chen Ping'an's hesitant expression, Lü Yan laughed. "I came here specifically to ask for help. How could I be stingy with a single talisman?"
Chen Ping'an asked curiously, "What does the Immortal Lord need from me?"
Lü Yan said, "Protect a Dao trial."
Chen Ping'an asked doubtfully, "With my current realm, can I truly be competent for this?"
Lü Yan nodded. "I'm now completely confident you're up to it. I'm just afraid you'll protect it so diligently that there's nothing left for me to do."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Could you elaborate on this Dao protection matter?"
Lü Yan smiled. "No hurry. We need to wait for the right moment."
Chen Ping'an withdrew his two life-bound flying swords. Lü Yan took two talismans from his sleeve.
Chen Ping'an said, "One is enough."
Lü Yan smiled. "Let's call it 'good things come in pairs.' The fire talisman is for Chen Warm Tree, and this other water talisman is for your Right Protector."
Back then at Cyan Shirt Ferry on Immortal Capital Mountain, the dark-clad little girl had been tightly gripping the strap of her cotton cloth bag, agonizing over whether to take out the last bag of dried fish to entertain guests or keep it for Mi Yu. She sweated nervously, completely unaware, frowning and tense. Lü Yan found it both amusing and perplexing, but hesitated to tell her to just keep the dried fish.
After that, the two of them stood by the railing, and Chen Ping'an consulted the Pure Yang True Person on some cultivation matters.
The world's frost had ended; spring mountains smiled. Atop the peaks, the long wind blew mightily.