Chapter 985: The Last Disciple
Chen Ping'an had just taken out the Sword Nurturing Gourd when Lü Yan also removed the gourd ladle from his waist. They exchanged a smile—this was probably what Bai Ye's poem meant when it spoke of a mountain recluse drinking with a hidden man, among blooming mountain flowers.
Lü Yan tilted his head back and took a gulp of his self-brewed wine. "Do you know the origins of these mountain ranges and peaks in the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Cui Dongshan once told me some inside information. Of the western mountains, totaling sixty-two peaks, more than half were moved here from the ancient Shu region and pieced together. There are over forty that can be verified. I suspect it was the work of the Three Mountains and Nine Marquises, and I'll see if I can ask him directly someday. But peaks like our Fallen Mountain, Wei Bo's Cloak of Clouds Mountain, and that mountain with the Dragon-Slaying Platform are rather peculiar—they have no written records. The latter is recorded in the Great Li Ministry of Revenue's secret archives as Mount Jia Six, sealed off during the Chunhui era. In local vernacular, it's called Dragon Spine Mountain, with a large expanse of Dragon-Slaying Cliff Rock at the midslope. Its origins are mysterious. Perhaps the only one who knows its true roots is Old Man Yang from the old pharmacy courtyard."
Lü Yan chuckled. "Old Man Yang? You mean that Azure Boy Celestial Lord?"
The Azure Boy Celestial Lord, one of the twelve high-ranking deities, was once a male earthly immortal who controlled a Flying Ascension Platform, yet he was a human who became a deity.
Like a lone lamp keeper watching over the New Year, he had kept vigil in the human world for a full ten thousand years.
Chen Ping'an nodded lightly.
If not for Old Man Yang, he wouldn't have lived to this day. Some things, once you grow up, you can endure, but you can't endure until you grow up.
In truth, Chen Ping'an had many things he wanted to discuss with the old man—nothing to do with his background or the world's affairs, just ordinary household talk.
On the path of life, the young and the youthful keep moving forward, while the old seem to have stopped. When the former look back, it's only memories.
Chen Ping'an still remembered clearly the first time he met Old Man Yang. As a child, he had crouched outside the pharmacy threshold, waiting for a while. The broom didn't come crashing down on his head. He looked up and saw the stern-faced old man.
"Paying for goods and making a profit is only natural for a merchant... I'll let you owe it for now, but you'll have to repay it later—not a single cent less to the shop."
Finally, the old man asked the child if he understood. The child stood up, dazed, and simply held out the coin pouch he had been clutching tightly in his left hand all along.
Lü Yan gazed into the distance, his line of sight stretching endlessly. Mountains may remain, but people and things change. The scenery, however, hadn't altered much. He sighed emotionally, "In the old days, I often traveled through the ancient Shu region. I remember that the Shu skies often rained at night, and flood dragons were born there. Sword light rose and fell with the wind and rain—a magnificent sight."
"Take Dragon Spine Mountain, for example. If I remember correctly, it was originally located on the border of ancient Shu. There was a cave heaven called Kuocang Cave, leaning against the mountains and bordering the sea. Its cliffs coiled and cut like carvings, with hanging immortals above, as if exiled by the Heavenly Emperor. A bold wind came from the sea. This mountain had many ancient names: True Hidden, Sky Nose, Windmill, Hut Lamp, and others."
"Unfortunately, it was later shattered by a battle between sword immortals and flood dragons. The mountain range originally stretched all the way into the sea, connecting with the aura of some underwater dragon palace. By Red Candle Town, there's a river called Chongdan River, with extremely fierce currents, turbulent and muddy. The wine in this gourd of mine is brewed with water from the heart of that river. In ancient times, there were often thunderclaps during the day, echoing what is now Yu Province. So what local county records call 'this water connects with sea aura' is not a baseless fabrication. Li Jin, the river god of Chongdan River who runs a bookshop in the town, is actually one of the ancient dragon seeds. But Li Jin himself probably doesn't know his own origins. He always thought it was the dragon aura of the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven overflowing and dispersing into the Chongdan River that allowed him to awaken and refine his form, or that he was taken out of the cave heaven by an ancient immortal using a Dragon King Basket. Neither is true. As for the Dragon-Slaying Platform, later treasured by sword cultivators for honing their swords—it's exactly what its name says: one of the two execution platforms of the ancient Heavenly Court. During the Battle of Ascending to Heaven, it was shattered by sword cultivators and fell to the human world, scattering across heaven and earth. That cliff of Dragon Spine Mountain is the largest piece. Because of this, flood dragons proliferated in the ancient Shu region, and sword cultivators were also numerous. There is also a piece at the Sword Qi Great Wall—if I'm not mistaken, it's in the collection of your Dao partner?"
"The dragon-slayer Chen Qingliu once practiced swordsmanship in Kuocang Cave for many years. It can be considered his place of enlightenment and ascension. The later so-called Cicada Slough Cave Heaven is actually only a part of Kuocang Cave, equivalent to your Fallen Mountain's Jise Peak. Within Cicada Slough Cave Heaven, he killed fourteen sword cultivators who had signed life-or-death pacts in one go, including eight in the Upper Five Realms, two of whom were Immortal Realm cultivators, and the remaining six were Nascent Soul cultivators. Although their realms were not high, each sword cultivator's natal flying sword had a divine ability extremely suited for encirclement and killing. How lethal a Nascent Soul sword cultivator can be, and how effective encirclement can be when combined with natal flying sword divine abilities—you come from the Sword Qi Great Wall, so you should know this best. Yet Chen Qingliu killed them all in a counterattack. After that battle, over a dozen sword lineages in Bottle Gourd Continent were severed. Since Chen Qingliu was from another continent, the sword Dao fortunes of Bottle Gourd Continent began to decline."
This Pure Yang Daoist, who wandered unpredictably between the two worlds, was well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge. He narrated numerous anecdotes with ease and lightness.
On the journey of life, it seems we are all flipping through books to read others, not knowing when we ourselves will become books that others read carefully and repeatedly.
Chen Ping'an remembered once hearing Zheng Dafeng say a principle: at middle age, at forty, one should have no doubts. If a person reaches forty and still doesn't believe in fate, either they have really good luck or they just don't get it.
When not telling crude jokes, Brother Dafeng, despite being a bit ugly and having little money in his pocket, still had a unique charm.
Chen Ping'an said sincerely, "As the old saying goes, having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. If in the future, Senior Lü successfully emerges from seclusion, I wonder if I could ask you to set up a Dharma altar to teach the Dao to the cultivators of this continent? As for the location—whether it be Fallen Mountain, Cloak of Clouds Mountain, the Divine Edict Sect of South Jian State, the Yellow Millet School's Lou Mountain, or any place in Bottle Gourd Continent—it doesn't matter."
After all, this Pure Yang True Person, strictly speaking, was a native of Bottle Gourd Continent.
Lü Yan neither agreed nor disagreed, only asking with a smile, "Since we're family, there's no need for polite words. First there was the Cicada Slough Cave Heaven battle, then the Dragon-Slaying battle. Since I am a native cultivator of Bottle Gourd Continent and have quite some affinity with various dragon palaces, why didn't I act either time? Aren't you curious, Mountain Lord Chen?"
Chen Ping'an raised the vermilion gourd-shaped Sword Nurturing Gourd and gently clinked it against Lü Yan's purple-aura-enveloped gourd ladle, as if toasting. He only gave a vague answer: "In worldly trials, cultivating the true self and proving Pure Yang, remaining undimmed by karma."
They each drank. Chen Ping'an wiped the corner of his mouth. Lü Yan smiled knowingly. "Speaking appropriately is wisdom. Remaining silent appropriately is also wisdom."
Chen Ping'an suddenly laughed. "Earlier, when visiting Garment Belt Peak, I heard an old senior say that cultivation is nothing more than crossing one's own heart barrier alone. If everyone does that, all is well."
Lü Yan nodded. "Cultivation is one's own business. But what if one takes heaven and earth as one's home?"
Chen Ping'an was silent for a moment, then asked, "Senior Lü, where do you plan to travel next?"
Lü Yan replied, "I intend to go to North Julu Continent. I once traveled with the White Bone True Person to the Azure Emerald City of White Jade Capital. There was another encounter there, and I owe Palm Master Lu a favor."
"He Xiaoliang of the Cool Clarity Sect, as Palm Master Lu's newly accepted disciple, became a sect leader and advanced all the way to the current Immortal Realm. Because she has deep personal fortune and good cultivation aptitude, it was all quite easy. This time, the sword immortal Bai Shang used seclusion as bait. He Xiaoliang has a soft exterior but a firm interior—one misstep and she would take the bait. She will likely be safe in life and death, but given Bai Shang's style, when that kind of fish that took the bait itself is thrown back into the water, it will certainly suffer greatly. However, out of consideration for Palm Master Lu and Celestial Lord Xie Shi, he will spare her life, but will certainly damage her Dao foundation. Falling one realm to Jade Abyss is unavoidable. Moreover, by making He Xiaoliang miss the upcoming opportunity, it will no longer be easy for her to advance to Flying Ascension Realm in an orderly manner."
"With only one senior brother, Cao Rong, and at most plus Gu Qingrong, even if the three of them join forces, facing a Flying Ascension sword cultivator who can emerge from seclusion at will is still quite strained. Taking such risks is too presumptuous. So after leaving Fallen Mountain, I plan to go north and take a look."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "He Xiaoliang will definitely go to trouble Bai Shang."
Lü Yan teased, "Mountain Lord Chen, that you can have so much karmic entanglement with Palm Master Lu is rare in history. Just this alone is enough to be proud of."
Chen Ping'an nodded gravely. "In recent years, I've read some Buddhist scriptures. Beyond the sutras, vinaya, and treatises, there are thousands of public cases, commentaries, and praises. I discovered something: the quotes from Lu Chen's works used by eminent monks throughout history outnumber the total quotes from all Confucian sages combined."
"So no matter who you underestimate, you cannot underestimate this Palm Master Lu."
Lü Yan nodded. "Even if we outsiders think highly of Lu Chen, we may still not reach his true height."
Lü Yan suddenly asked, "Why do you think I brought up the origins of these western mountains? Was I just showing off my knowledge?"
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "Are you reminding me that this is also a form of 'Dao transformation' in a broad sense?"
Lü Yan nodded. "This may be one of the fundamental differences between Daoism and Buddhism."
Chen Ping'an frowned slightly, then suddenly understood, but was still puzzled. After all, Mahayana Buddhism also says, "No sentient being cannot become a Buddha." Just as he was about to speak, Lü Yan smiled, "This is just one of the later Patriarchal Chan's harmonization methods, not closely related to the earlier Tathagata Chan."
Senior Cui once gave a saying: For pure martial artists, the Seventh and Eighth Realms die in their hometown, the Ninth Realm dies in their home country, the Tenth Realm Ultimate dies in their own continent.
And this Daoist with the Dao name of Pure Yang, who had once had one foot across the threshold of the Fourteenth Realm but retreated voluntarily, chose to travel to the Azure Secret World—this was easy to explain.
Just reverse the previous reasoning.
A certain marten-hatted girl who had been eavesdropping on the conversation at the mountaintop was dizzy with confusion. "What exactly are you two talking about?"
Chen Ping'an took a deep breath, put away the Sword Nurturing Gourd, turned sideways, bowed with clasped hands, and said solemnly, "I have a big question, and I dare to consult with you, Senior."
Lü Yan smiled and waved his hand, indicating that the teaching should not be heard by the ears of others.
Chen Ping'an was startled inwardly—he hadn't noticed Xie Gou eavesdropping at all, because he had set up a kind of miniature sword formation restriction on the mountaintop earlier.
Lü Yan raised two fingers together and gently pushed them as if casually.
A pure sword intent, not quite sword energy, merged with heaven and earth. It had been lying in wait there, but was pushed back by the Daoist toward the climbing path.
At the same time, on the path, a hidden stream of sword energy was pushed back to the mountaintop by Xie Gou.
Lü Yan teased, "Are you two exchanging gifts?"
Chen Ping'an looked slightly embarrassed.
Lü Yan said seriously, "Over at Parasol Leaf Continent, did you try twice to break into the Jade Abyss Realm without success?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "The inner demon was unexpected. I never imagined it would appear in that form. The first time, I was caught off guard. The second time, I thought I could rely on six solutions including the Rain Prayer Chapter, but it still didn't work."
Lü Yan smiled. "The Embroidered Tiger really gave you a tough problem."
Chen Ping'an smiled bitterly. "In the Bright World, if my return home brings up the Sword Qi Great Wall, it needs me as an Upper Five Realm Final Age Hidden Official."
So back then, when he woke up from the Creation Cavern on the Sword Qi Great Wall, Chen Ping'an, who was still in the Nascent Soul Realm, inexplicably became a Jade Abyss Realm cultivator.
This was actually Cui Chan giving Chen Ping'an a Jade Abyss Realm that was between real and false. It was real in that Chen Ping'an had indeed broken through the bottleneck on his own and entered Jade Abyss—only Chen Ping'an himself had forgotten the specific process. It was false in that Chen Ping'an's mental path had a blank because Cui Chan erased his memory, which would be a major hidden danger in the long run. But Cui Chan's solution was simple: let his future junior brother drop a realm and then return to Jade Abyss.
As for whether Chen Ping'an's realm dropping and returning would cause complications, like the Dao rising a foot and the demon rising ten, Cui Chan probably couldn't care less.
Perhaps in the Embroidered Tiger's view, if such a small matter couldn't be handled, then there was no need to go to the Azure Secret World to court humiliation.
Lü Yan didn't ask about the inner demon in detail. He only advised Chen Ping'an to be more cautious and not rush to restore the Jade Abyss Realm, then quickly changed the subject. "After all, 'people's words are fearsome; public opinion can melt metal.' Mr. Cui's approach was irreproachable. Whether the Final Age Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall is a Jade Abyss Realm sword cultivator is a dividing line. If yes, then when people mention Chen Ping'an, it's mostly praise—at worst, a few jokes or saying with a pinched nose that you are young and promising, and the old sword immortal dared to use you. But if you were only Nascent Soul, the Bright World's perception of you, and even of the entire Sword Qi Great Wall, would change."
The world is full of affairs; life is not easy. Most people just watch one commotion and wait for the next, with no leisure to seek the truth. Hearts are not what they used to be. The ancient heart lay in the difficulty of learning: having acquired one or two truths, they were willing to dig deep. Of course, modern people also have their advantages and strengths. This makes two paths: the ancients moved from one to ten thousand, proving the one in reverse, as the Daoist saying goes: "Man emulates earth, earth emulates heaven, heaven emulates Dao, Dao emulates nature." Modern people move from ten thousand to one, as the Buddhist saying goes: "The Dharma gates are countless; I vow to learn them all," finally seeing the Non-dual Dharma Gate. For instance, at the Master's "Clouds-Follow-the-Words" Tower in the capital, he couldn't help but sigh: when it comes to bookish truths and knowledge, if we only talk about breadth without depth, how can today's scholars compare to the ancients? If you took any random scholar from an academy today and threw him back ten thousand years, he could probably make those early "scholars" come running to humbly seek advice?
Chen Ping'an nodded. He certainly understood this difference, but the hardships involved were known only to himself.
He even suspected that the "inner demon" he encountered while trying to break through the Nascent Soul bottleneck might actually be the kind of heart barrier he should have encountered when trying to break through to the Fourteenth Realm after reaching Flying Ascension.
Lü Yan laughed. "Mountain Lord Chen has a good senior brother."
Chen Ping'an was speechless.
Lü Yan reattached the gourd ladle, turned his head to glance north, and said with some sarcasm, "A blessing in disguise. Bai Shang colluded in secret with Tian Wan, trying to manipulate the flow of sword Dao fortunes in the continent. Fortunately, they didn't succeed. Otherwise, now that I've returned to Bottle Gourd Continent, I wouldn't mind whether it's a Flying Ascension Realm sword cultivator or Zou Zi's junior sister."
The Daoist isn't a vegetarian either.
Including Xie Gou, the group that had been drinking tea with the Pure Yang True Person earlier—after finishing their tea—started climbing the mountain to enjoy the scenery. Among them, only Cen Yuanji continued practicing her boxing stances. She was actually faster than Xian Wei, Zhou Mili, and the others.
After so many years, the repetitive stances never bored her. Today, having her heavenly secret revealed by the Pure Yang True Person, Cen Yuanji was even more motivated.
The Vermilion-Robed Lad rode atop the White Flower Snake. For the first time, crossing mountains didn't tire him, and it wasn't against the rules anymore. Because before Mountain Lord Chen and the foreign Daoist climbed the mountain, taking pity on his hard work, they chatted for a long time and even issued a special mountain lord decree allowing this little incense-fire fellow, who called himself "Sincere," and the White Flower Snake, whom the little fellow had named "White Rainbow," to ascend the mountain together. In the future, when they came to Fallen Mountain for roll call, Daoist Xian Wei wouldn't stop them from climbing.
The Vermilion-Robed Lad, being a stickler for martial brotherhood, bravely introduced the White Flower Snake from Chess Bowl Mountain to the Mountain Lord. Last time, when they traveled back to Fallen Mountain together with Mountain Lord Chen, he hadn't had a chance to properly introduce "White Rainbow." Today, after learning that the snake was temporarily named "White Rainbow," Mountain Lord Chen praised the incense-fire little fellow greatly, saying he had a talent for naming. According to the "Monthly Ordinances" chapter of the Confucian "Book of Rites," in the month of late spring—the tail end of the year's spring—there is the saying "rainbows first appear, duckweed begins to grow." A rainbow is formed by the intersection of heaven and earth's two qi, the excitement of yin and yang. Any pure white qi beside the sun is called a rainbow. If outsiders hadn't already known the name White Rainbow, it would have been an excellent true name after refining her form.
The White Flower Snake had already awakened spiritually and was overjoyed. But she couldn't speak yet, so she quickly shook her head. The Vermilion-Robed Lad understood and asked the Mountain Lord: White Rainbow wanted to use this true name; she really liked it. But since it was already revealed by outsiders and not chosen by herself, would using it as a true name incur taboos in the mountains? Would it not be recognized by heaven and earth for sealing and approval, and instead bring frequent heavenly punishment and lightning strikes?
Chen Ping'an looked at the Pure Yang True Person beside him. Lü Yan stroked his beard and nodded, smiling as he said a few words. It's not easy for mountain spirits to choose names. A true name must not be too great, or it can't be borne and will backfire. A path too wide will confuse the mind, not knowing where to go. It also must not be too small. It's best to fit the local landscape. If you weren't worried about someone on Fallen Mountain leaking the heavenly secret and making your true name known to everyone, then calling her White Rainbow would be fine.
Chen Ping'an then bowed with a smile, "Chen Ping'an of Fallen Mountain hereby wishes fellow Daoist White Rainbow success in refining her form."
Lü Yan made a sword mudra with one hand and smiled, "Rainbow piercing the azure sky, yin and yang shining on the sun. A brave man draws his sword, his aura stirring White Rainbow. Lü Yan of Pure Yang wishes fellow Daoist White Rainbow success in refining her form and smooth cultivation."
Xie Gou, who had been watching coldly, clicked her tongue in wonder. A White Flower Snake, less than a speck of dust, had, with a few words, obtained a great fortune.
The name "White Rainbow" was made up by the Vermilion-Robed Lad on a whim. Then Chen Ping'an acted as a bridge, deliberately letting the Pure Yang Daoist go with the flow and give the answer, and finally Lü Yan himself acknowledged "White Rainbow" as worthy of being a true name.
This was like the difference between Daoist talismans and seals in the Azure Secret World. A talisman, when stamped with a True Person's seal, could have its power greatly increased.
A talisman is held by a Dharma official, like a clerk in a government office. A True Person or Celestial Lord is like the chief official who stamps the seal, making the decree legitimate.
In the unseen, the true name of this White Flower Snake from Chess Bowl Mountain was like the Pure Yang True Person acting as the chief to "affix the seal," with Chen Ping'an of Fallen Mountain as the witness, accompanying the signature—secondary.
There was a lot of intricate knowledge hidden in this little matter. From this small thing, Xie Gou could see how many layers of thought Chen Ping'an had, how deep his mind was. No wonder the few Flying Ascension Realm cultivators on the Wild Waste Continent who filled the vacancies of the throne were always thinking about the young Hidden Official. They always thought that if the Confucian Temple's Second Sage could steal Yuan Pang from the Azure Secret World, why couldn't Bai Ze simply sack Chen Ping'an from the Bright World and throw him into a brothel? Heroes have a hard time passing the beauty test. Once the rice is cooked, he'd be one of their own.
As Xie Gou quietly withdrew that wisp of sword energy, the little fellow with the Dao name "Sincere" was sitting cross-legged on the back of the White Flower Snake, "riding a tall horse," with a very domineering air. He couldn't help but sigh, "Daoist Xian Wei, your official position isn't big, but your rules are the most numerous. Look at our Mountain Lord Chen—how affable and kind he is, always open to discussion. As a gatekeeper, aren't you ashamed?"
On Fallen Mountain, the biggest official was Mountain Lord Chen.
The smallest official hat was probably Gatekeeper Xian Wei's.
Xian Wei said unhappily, "Why should I be ashamed? The prime minister's gatekeeper is a third-rank official. It's my duty to be strict. If I weren't a bit difficult, would I just let any cat or dog climb the mountain?"
Xian Wei looked down at the Vermilion-Robed Lad and said with a smile, "When you're a big official, you do appear approachable and kind on the surface—that's because they don't need to be harsh with you. When you get promoted a few more levels and have more contact with Mountain Lord Chen, you'll understand a truth."
The Vermilion-Robed Lad was mischievous; he had already prepared a little notebook, but deliberately looked surprised, urging, "Oh? What truth? How is it? When I become a big official, what will happen?"
Xian Wei said, "You'll find out that our Mountain Lord is genuinely approachable."
The Vermilion-Robed Lad failed in his scheme and gave Xian Wei a thumbs up.
Xie Gou rolled her eyes. "My goodness, the atmosphere at Fallen Mountain is really something."
That certain Left Guardian of the Dragon Riding Lane, who could have taken human form long ago but refused to, was trotting happily beside the marten-hatted girl.
It feared Pei Qian, for a hundred reasons—the past was too painful to recall.
But its natural closeness to this marten-hatted girl seemed utterly unreasonable.
Otherwise, it couldn't be just because there was a "dog" character in her name.
Arriving at the mountaintop, the marten-hatted girl saw the two figures by the railing and wanted to get closer to chat more. Her main target was the Daoist named Pure Yang; she felt he was not simple, far from simple. She needed to ask him one thing: had he been to that "Fire Yang Palace"? Unlike the different moons in various worlds and blessed lands—later great cultivators could build long-lasting Dao fields—even ten thousand years ago, countless "moon households" could enter them. But in the rounds of great suns, for ten thousand years, no cultivator had ever dared to call themselves the master. Even someone as high in realm as Bai Jing, on that scorching sun of the Wild Waste Continent, could only be considered a "temporary resident."
This touched upon a hidden matter: even though both the sun and moon were "copied" by some high-ranking deity, the latter tended toward the real, while the former was more mysterious. Countless numbers existed beyond the heavens, but the greatest mystery was that all the "great suns" in the suspended void could lead to that sole "Fire Yang Palace." Even though the old Heavenly Court had become a ruin, this palace still existed, intact. But different cultivators going to the same Fire Yang Palace seemed to be automatically split, going to "segments" located in different rivers of time. The only thing that could barely be called common was that later cultivators who stepped into the Fire Yang Palace never encountered the true master. And presumably, no one wished to meet him.
In the human world, summer retreats; in the sky, the Cold Palace of the Moon. Chaos carved open the Primordial Qi Cavern; the old dragon alone occupied the Water Essence Palace.
Dragon palaces and water mansions loved to build Water Essence Palaces. In the human world's dog days, this place had the full autumn—hence immortals called it the Cool Country.
And that Cinnabar Sky Crimson Palace, the Fire Yang Palace, is now called one of the Heavenly Emperor's chambers by Daoists. In Xie Gou's view, that wasn't nonsense.
As for whether the ancient dragon race's threshold for enlightenment included going to the Fire Yang Palace to listen to True Persons teach the Dao.
Xie Gou could tell that this Lü Yan had deep connections with ancient flood dragons.
Zhou Mili saw Xie Gou move, as if she wanted to go over to good person Mountain Lord. She hurriedly blocked the way, immediately felt it was improper, sidestepped, and gently tugged at Xie Gou's sleeve, lowering her voice, looking anxious, "Miss Xie, good person Mountain Lord is discussing important matters with Old Immortal Lü. Miss Xie, wait a little longer, no rush. Wait, wait."
Xie Gou shook her hand off, then crossed her arms, turning to look at the little water goblin who was about the same size as a white-haired child. "The Right Guardian sure has a lot of authority."
Mili scratched her face.
Chen Ping'an was also in a cross-armed posture, leaning against the railing, looking at the marten-hatted girl who seemed to have a poor memory.
Xiao Mo, in a yellow hat, green shoes, and with a green bamboo staff, appeared beside Xie Gou. He first nodded in greeting to the Pure Yang True Person, then reached out and pressed Xie Gou's shoulder with some force, reminding her, "Xie Gou!"
Xie Gou raised her hand to touch Xiao Mo's hand, but he immediately raised his elbow to block her cheek. The marten-hatted girl, not angry but pleased, grinned, tilted her head, and said vaguely, "You're here. I was just joking around with the Right Guardian."
Mili grinned, nodding vigorously. Yes, yes, we were just playing around. Ha ha, Mr. Xiao Mo, your Dao companion Miss Xie has such rosy cheeks, so festive, and she's quite tall.
Xiao Mo withdrew his hand and rubbed his brow.
He didn't know how to explain his relationship with Bai Jing to Mili.
Chen Ping'an waved at Mili.
Mili ran over quickly and stopped. Chen Ping'an took out the Water Talisman of unknown name and said with a smile, "It was given to you by Senior Lü. Don't be shy. Accept it."
Mili looked a bit embarrassed, bowed to Old Immortal Lü to thank him, then quickly opened her cotton shoulder bag and carefully placed the talisman into her own "Ancestral Hall."
Amazing, amazing! She had gained another general under her command!
Lü Yan stroked his beard and smiled, "This talisman is called 'Dragon Gate.' I created it myself. It's not some miraculous talisman that turns decay into magic—it's just that in the future, if you go to White Emperor City, with this talisman, you can enter the Yellow River Small Cave Heaven directly."
Xiao Mo smiled. If this wasn't a great talisman, then there were too few great talismans in the world.
Worthy of the person the young master respectfully called "Ancestor Lü," a high-minded Daoist who could appear at the Demon Suppression Tower alongside the Ultimate Sage.
Xie Gou sighed softly. It wasn't envy—it's just a talisman that lets water creatures cross the dragon gate directly. But the problem was that this talisman contained the true intent of "Pure Yang" like... two door gods. When the little water goblin wielded this talisman in a critical moment, the higher the realm of the cultivator, the more they understood the stakes. It was essentially a distant inquiry or sword duel with this Pure Yang Daoist—consequences on their own heads.
Mili laughed so hard she couldn't close her mouth. Sister Nuan Shu, Jing Qing Jing Qing, Hong Xia Venerable, Yun Zi... There was only one precious talisman, and it wasn't enough to share.
Chen Ping'an reached out and patted her little head, saying with a smile, "Don't think about giving it away. Keep it for yourself."
Mili patted her cotton shoulder bag and said happily, "If I don't give it away, I won't bear to use it. I'll treasure it carefully!"
Earlier at Azure Shirt Ferry, the big one and the little one were eating melon seeds. The little girl in black sat on a rock, swinging her feet leisurely, chatting with the guest. She wouldn't say a word about Fallen Mountain or the Azure Sword Sect—she was very experienced in the ways of the world. She just worried that the senior might find it boring, so she only talked about her own little things: watching clouds of varying sizes pass by outside the cliff, giving them names, and so on. The Pure Yang Daoist smiled and said, "Outside the door, honor and disgrace line up to pass; after hardship, good fortune follows. The importance of family education and family traditions is that they let a person endure hardship and receive blessings." The little girl thought this was very true and clapped lightly. Then she tentatively said, "Pure Yang Daoist, I have a friend—just a friend on the mountain. Her realm is too low, but her mountain is very big. So when my friend goes out, her courage is as small as her ability. What should I do..."
Now, Xie Gou stood beside Xiao Mo, saying seriously, "Xiao Mo, I met the Mountain Lord at the roadside pavilion. We hit it off wonderfully. Your young master and I talked very congenially. He even invited me for a drink himself—I didn't make that up. If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself later. The Mountain Lord also invited me back to Fallen Mountain. If not for that, with my pride and stubbornness, would I have come back here to be a nuisance? In the pavilion... wait, Xiao Mo, don't misunderstand. Don't overthink it. Although it was a man and a woman alone, if you don't trust me, you can at least trust your young master. Anyway, we were just seriously discussing learning there. After a drink, we had the best conversation. I think this Mountain Lord is really good, worthy of admiration. His family background is a bit poor, but aren't there sayings in books: 'Infinite vermilion gates produce starving corpses; how many white cottages produce high officials'? Look at those high-born youths from Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Alley—they get a little wealth and status and look down on everyone. Their prospects are probably limited. But our Mountain Lord is different. With such a vast family fortune earned by his own ability, he remains still as a mountain. Young and steady—he will surely have boundless blessings! I've figured out a principle: the truly clever people in the world speak plainly and modestly, with deep plans and far-reaching thoughts, so they are never poor! Xiao Mo, your eye for choosing people is not bad, which proves my eye for choosing people is even better. By the way, Xiao Mo, I've been reading diligently recently, my knowledge has exploded, my talent gushes like a spring—I can't stop it. Listen to this and give me your critique. I'll say in advance: it's both poetry and lyrics, like Su the Poet's lyrics, breaking new ground. Rules certainly can't constrain people. I also learned from your young master: set the metrics aside for now. In the traveler's time among poetry scrolls, with a colorful brush writing on tung leaves, fine lines ask about peace. Amid the sound of apricot flowers and rain, another new year's spring arrives, with even better flower branches! If you like it, feel free to use it. The poem has the word 'peace' embedded in it. Your young master will surely like it when he hears it..."
Xiao Mo had intended to play deaf and dumb, but the more he heard, the more uncomfortable he felt. He finally couldn't bear it anymore and said darkly, "How much knowledge are you going to plagiarize from Mr. Zhu?!"
Xie Gou learned from the Right Guardian and scratched her face, saying with a dry laugh, "There are only so many words. We scholars copy from east to west, borrowing knowledge from each other without repayment. How can you call that plagiarism?"
A stooped old man with his hands behind his back, smiling, had just walked up the steps. He paused for a moment, heard Xie Gou's last sentence, then immediately turned back and slipped away.
Xiao Mo, Miss Xie, you two just enjoy your romance. I'm going to cook my dishes.
Mili, sharp-eyed, spotted the old cook's figure. She immediately bid farewell to good person Mountain Lord and Pure Yang Daoist midway, then waved to Mr. Xiao Mo, and ran quickly to Zhu Lian's side. As they walked down the steps together, she patted her cotton shoulder bag, then cupped her hand beside her mouth and whispered, "Old cook, I've got a treasure."
Zhu Lian suppressed a