Chapter 987: Collating Books Amidst the Flute Sound

Chapter 987: Collating Books Amidst the Flute Sound

"Martial arts and cultivation—the boundary between the two isn't as clear-cut as we imagine."

"I even have a conjecture that I can't verify for now: every talisman cultivator on the mountains is born with the bone structure of a Golden Body Realm martial artist."

"To learn the fist, you must first understand yourself. Zhao Shuxia, let's start with the simplest breathing. Observe it as if looking down from a height, like an immortal overlooking the mountains and rivers."

Chen Ping'an neither taught Zhao Shuxia any fist techniques or stances, nor was he in a hurry to feed him punches. Instead, he first left seven human acupuncture point charts in the bamboo tower, corresponding to the different scenes of Chen Ping'an's own martial arts from the third to the ninth realm, the various visions of the human body's small heaven and earth. The paintings deliberately erased flesh, blood, muscles, and bones, leaving only the acupuncture points and meridians. They were life-sized, with over a thousand qi mansions and acupoints, far more than the average cultivator's knowledge. As for the acupuncture wooden figures of market pharmacy doctors, they naturally couldn't compare. Seven charts, different acupoints, scattered like stars, glowing and flickering in various colors, illuminating the entire bamboo tower room brilliantly, as if they were brilliant star charts suspended in the void outside the heavens.

With each breath of "Chen Ping'an" in the seven paintings, the seven star-filled heavens gave rise to many phenomena, such as the Milky Way pouring down, white rainbows spanning the sky, and stars attracting and rotating each other.

Each painting was like a colorful astrological formation. The lower Chen Ping'an's realm, the faster and shorter the intervals between breaths, so the changes in the star charts were greater, as if the entire world was expanding and contracting with each breath of one person, cycling endlessly. The higher the realm, the more stable the star chart world, but upon closer inspection, one would find that the opposite was true.

Chen Ping'an clasped his hands behind his back and said slowly, "These acupuncture points on the human body are clearly recorded in medical books and various Daoist texts and considered key qi mansions. Excluding those that have different names but the same acupoint locations, I have been collecting and summarizing them for so many years. I believe the discrepancy shouldn't be too large. There are actually only about seven hundred. If we add the various secret transmissions from various sects and schools, and the 'secret realms' inadvertently discovered, and then through the confidential archives of the Summer Resort and the records of the Confucian Temple's Grove of Merit, I have added nearly a hundred acupoints that are like forgotten ruins. Some are indeed recognized as useless qi mansions, repeatedly verified and gradually abandoned by cultivators. However, many acupoints have too high a threshold for cultivators to 'open a mansion,' leading to their neglect and subsequent loss. Additionally, someone once temporarily lent me a set of fourteenth realm Dao methods, which added quite a few more. Look at the seventh chart, which has the most qi mansion acupoints, totaling over 1,050. Therefore, a mouthful of pure martial true qi travels a longer path, so it can mobilize more of the body's heaven and earth vital energy, merging into fist intent, making the punch naturally heavier."

Back in Mud Vase Alley, when Chen Ping'an first obtained that "Mountain Fist Manual," Song Jixin and his maid Zhigui left the Pearl Grotto, leaving him a set of keys. Eventually, in the kitchen of the neighboring house, Chen Ping'an found a split wooden mannequin carved with human acupuncture points and meridians. For Chen Ping'an, who was just beginning to learn the fist, the manual was a path to climb to save his life, and this wooden mannequin, which Chen Ping'an reassembled, was a woodcutter's knife, an ax.

In fact, Chen Ping'an knew at the time that Zhigui had done it deliberately, because she knew very well that if the wooden mannequin had been intact, Chen Ping'an would certainly not have picked up the broken pieces. He might not have even given it a second glance. But treated this way, with Chen Ping'an's money-grubbing nature and thrifty management, he would definitely be willing to move it back to the ancestral house next door, and with a tattered martial manual he regarded as a golden rule, carefully study its secrets.

This matter—the former Mud Vase Alley maid Zhigui, later the East Sea Lord True Dragon King Zhu—whenever she and Chen Ping'an met, she never mentioned a single word about it. Perhaps she acted as if it never happened, or perhaps she had long forgotten.

But Chen Ping'an had always remembered it in his heart.

Chen Ping'an asked, "How much do you remember?"

Zhao Shuxia closed his eyes and then opened them. "I can roughly remember the locations of over seven hundred acupoints."

Chen Ping'an nodded, then suddenly reached out an arm, striking like lightning, his palm gently pressing against Zhao Shuxia's neck. He casually flicked, and Zhao Shuxia's entire body slid in a circle within the bamboo room. When Zhao Shuxia just returned to his original position, he was horrified to find that on this circle stood dozens of "Zhao Shuxia" star charts. Chen Ping'an casually glanced a few times, looking at those "copies" of Zhao Shuxia's human heaven and earth and qi flow. He nodded in satisfaction for no reason. "This is the right way to teach the fist. I have more confidence now."

Teaching a disciple like Zhao Shuxia gave a sense of achievement.

Chen Ping'an pressed two fingers together and pointed rapidly at one of the star charts, instantly marking out three to four hundred acupoint names, all of which were the passes and mansions that Zhao Shuxia's martial true qi "Fire Dragon Walking Water" would traverse. It was like precisely drawing a geomantic map. Then he made Zhao Shuxia hold his breath and try a six-step walking stance. Afterward, Chen Ping'an traced out another geomantic map, waved his sleeve, and the two star charts merged into one. Chen Ping'an said, "You can carefully examine where the differences lie. Observe for the time it takes to burn one incense stick, then do another six-step walking stance. If there is no obvious improvement, I can have the old cook prepare the herbs and wooden bucket."

After one incense stick, Zhao Shuxia lay on the ground, unconscious. Chen Ping'an called out, "Zhu Lian, start work."

The stooped old man immediately shouted, "Coming, coming! Already prepared."

Zhu Lian came to the second floor of the bamboo tower. Looking at Zhao Shuxia, who was neither bathed in blood nor convulsing in "walking stance," he sighed, "The young master is still kind-hearted."

Chen Ping'an carried Zhao Shuxia on his back and went down to the second floor, heading to his closed-door disciple's residence. He explained, "Shuxia has been tense. It's not suitable to teach the fist further today. Take it slow. Who should I blame?"

Who was it that made Zhao Shuxia understand the meaning of "closed-door" so early?

Zhu Lian immediately exposed himself. "I must blame me for leaking the celestial secret ahead of time."

Chen Ping'an was momentarily speechless.

Zhu Lian chuckled softly, "Young master, today is one thing, but tomorrow and the day after? When truly practicing the fist, there's no way to avoid being half-dead."

Logically, if it were Cui Cheng, Zhao Shuxia would have to die and come back to life seven or eight times, faint and be awakened, awakened and faint again. He would absolutely not be able to leave the bamboo tower room.

But in Zhu Lian's view, as Chen Ping'an's closed-door disciple, if Zhao Shuxia could truly learn the fist from Cui Cheng, who was nearly two generations apart, it might not necessarily be such a bleak prospect. Affection across generations has no logic to it.

Chen Ping'an nodded. "For the time being, I really can't be ruthless. So I'm also adjusting my mindset."

Zhu Lian sighed softly. When the young master was learning the fist back then, only Nuan Shu and Chen Lingjun knew the specifics. But later, when Pei Qian learned the fist, Zhu Lian had witnessed it from beginning to end. Not to mention the hardships on the second floor, but at that time, the little charcoal often lowered her head to eat. When she looked up again, her eyes and ears were bleeding. A creepy sight. Pei Qian herself often didn't notice, instead grinning. "What are you looking at? Looking at ghosts? Eat!"

If the young master had seen such scenes, he would not only feel heartache but also have his heart broken. He would probably go to the bamboo tower to fight Cui Cheng to the death.

Chen Ping'an suddenly asked, "When do you plan to ask me for a fist fight? Give me a time and place?"

Zhu Lian rubbed his hands and smiled, "If the young master didn't ask, I would have been too embarrassed to bring it up."

Chen Ping'an chuckled, "Why be polite with me? When we ask for a fist fight, I won't be polite with you either."

The implication was that Chen Ping'an would absolutely not suppress his realm.

After all, Zhu Lian was a Mountaintop Realm martial artist just one layer of window paper away from the Limit Realm. (Note 1)

Zhu Lian thought for a moment. "How about this winter, choose a heavy snowfall season. The location will be the Southern Garden Kingdom capital of the Lotus Root Blessed Land?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Agreed."

---

Coincidentally, Luopo Mountain received a flying sword message: the Ink Overturning Dragon Boat and the Kite Ferryboat would arrive at Ox Horn Ferry within a day, but with about an hour's interval between them.

Besides Little Mi Li, Chen Ping'an also called on Hongxia and Yunzi, as well as Cui Huasheng from Riding Dragon Alley. They would all board the Kite Ferryboat to go to Northern Reed Continent. They would first cross continents to reach Skeleton Beach and the Mourning Clan, then follow the southeast coastal route, stopping at Spring Dew Garden, then along the Ji River to the central Chongxuan Bureau's Cloud Sky Palace's ferry port, then south to Cloud City... Although it was just a ferry trip, at least they would have traveled through half of the Northern Reed Continent. Hongxia was indifferent, but Yunzi and the young girl Cui Huasheng were quite happy. The latter's joy came more from the fact that she would soon have a reunion, seeing her elder brother again after many years of separation. He was now a clan leader. As his younger sister, she woke up laughing in her sleep lately.

There was still some time before the dragon boat ferry arrived. Chen Ping'an and his group wandered through their own shops. Little Mi Li was familiar with the female cultivators of the Rayfish Back, and they greeted each other warmly.

The Burden Wraith had left many buildings here at Ox Horn Mountain, consuming many immortal jades and woods. Wu Shou, as the head of the Burden Wraith in Bottle Gourd Continent, had apparently initially intended to make the Great Li Ox Horn Ferry a major base. But it was like digging a well halfway and running away. No wonder the old master Zhang Zhi deliberately took him on a trip to Immortal Capital Mountain, drinking tea at Green Shirt Ferry. It would probably take at least sixty years or a century of self-cultivation for Wu Shou's Dao heart to recover.

Currently, only less than a third of the shops were open for business. Besides various mountain plants cultivated by Spring Dew Garden, there were also rare orchids like those from the Orchid House Kingdom. The old cook had specially compiled an orchid manual for this, and it was said the book sales were better than the orchids themselves.

There were also various antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, miscellaneous items, all at high prices, but the shop guaranteed they were genuine. There were also many treasures meticulously collected by Ma Duyi, which were placed here for sale. She was a thorough miser, pouring all her savings into it. There were many bargains and also some bad picks, but overall she made a profit.

Just like when Chen Ping'an previously met the Pearl Hairpin Island female cultivators Liu Xia, Guan Qing, and Bai Que at the Rayfish Back, almost all of Liu Chongrun's direct disciples had worked here part-time helping the shop sell things, without any compensation. Zhao Luan and Tian Jiu'er also often came to help. Nalan Yudie, that little abacus, inherited the family's fine tradition and, at a young age, wanted to manage a whole building's business. Since there were so many vacant shops, before opening, she would sign a contract with Luopo Mountain. If there was a loss, it would be hers; if there was a profit, they would split it.

Every time he passed this Ox Horn Ferry, Chen Ping'an couldn't help but think of the Earth Dragon Mountain Immortal Ferry, the old man named Hong Yangbo from the Green Cicada Workshop.

Last time, he specially went to the Green Cicada Workshop and used five Xiaoshu coins to buy a copy of the *Regretful Post* calligraphy, which was extremely close to the original.

The opening five characters: "Pity the sword aura sparse."

For a child, what does growing up mean? Probably being able to eat whatever they want without their parents' control.

For an adult, what does having money mean? Perhaps being able to buy whatever they want without looking at the price.

Going to Ox Horn Ferry, Chen Ping'an glanced at the "eye-catching" wooden sign standing by the road. He nodded. Zhou Junchen was very diligent, not procrastinating at all.

Now, with the two sects, Luopo Mountain owned three ferries: the earliest dragon boat Ink Overturning, the Kite Ferryboat, and later, Liu Jubao and Yu Panshui jointly gave a ferry named "Tongyin" as a gift during the Qingping Sword Sect's observation ceremony. Its grade was similar to the dragon boat. Although it wasn't a giant transcontinental ferry, it could easily cross half a continent, and its cargo capacity was even better than the dragon boat, which was mainly a viewing vessel.

If it weren't for the suspicion of helping with the intention of asking for repayment, Chen Ping'an would have wanted to buy the "Thunder Chariot" ferry from the Great Spring Yao family, or at least settle for ordering a fourth from the Great Spring court.

Why wouldn't he want to expand business to Support Yao Continent? Luopo Mountain had a natural advantage there. This route would pass by Reed Flower Island, Rain Dragon Sect, and then go to Support Yao Continent. Moreover, in Support Yao Continent, Chen Ping'an had something he was keeping an eye on.

Additionally, the ship master of the "Rainbow Dress," Liu Shen, had sent an invitation, saying that her sect's master had just successfully emerged from seclusion and entered the Jade Pure Realm. She wanted to ask if the young Hidden Officer had time to attend the celebration. Of course, such an invitation was just a formality. For her to receive a polite refusal reply would be more than enough, because she knew that Chen Ping'an would absolutely not cross the sea to go to her sect. Liu Shen's sect was on an island in the southwest sea of the Hao Ran world. During the great invasion of the Wild Continent demons, they had evacuated. Later, they returned to their original location and established a new ancestral hall on a nearby island.

Back then, in the Spring Curtain Hall, the female ship master Liu Shen was a young Golden Core with shallow qualifications. Among many ship masters and stewards, she was the lowest in realm, so her seat was near Shao Yunyan at the door. But Liu Shen had a junior sister who was extremely young and a genuine genius in cultivation, a twenty-plus-year-old Golden Core earthly immortal. That was why the newly appointed Hidden Officer threatened to spend two hundred Guyu coins or equivalent Dan workshop materials to exchange for her junior sister and take over the "Rainbow Dress" ferry. Of course, that tense meeting eventually ended without bloodshed. Liu Shen and Liu Yu were assigned a task to act as bookkeepers in the main hall.

The Ink Overturning Dragon Boat slowly docked. A small boy in blue swaggered down the gangplank, his sleeves flapping wildly, followed by a young girl holding a green bamboo staff.

It was Chen Lingjun and Guo Zhujiu, who had attended the Huangliang Sect's peak-opening ceremony and then gone to the Dream Liang Kingdom's capital.

When the two groups met, Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Finally back."

Guo Zhujiu smiled brightly and asked, "The senior master didn't come home with Master?"

Chen Ping'an explained, "She's helping your little junior brother. A brand new great river is being dug on Tongye Continent. It's busy. Pei Qian won't be back at Luopo Mountain for a while. If you miss her, you can go to Tongye Continent anytime."

Chen Lingjun held it in for a long time but finally couldn't help asking, "Master, you called Hongxia and Yunzi to run errands. Did Old White Goose also invite me to Qingping Sword Sect to jointly celebrate, plan for the future?!"

The imperial edict and the secret order—the former was for outsiders to see, the latter held more weight. Chen Lingjun had already thought of a three-time refusal performance. Wasn't that how things were done in officialdom?

Whether I agreed was my business, but if Cui Dongshan didn't invite me, that would be going too far.

Chen Ping'an said, "You weren't mentioned."

Dare to poach talents from Chen Lingjun? Cui Dongshan really didn't have the guts for that.

But how could Chen Lingjun know about the "love-hate relationship" between that teacher and student?

Chen Lingjun asked tentatively, "Old White Goose knew I was going to be a royal tutor of the Dream Liang Kingdom and thought he couldn't move me? Afraid I'd be too busy to get away, right? It must be like that!"

Chen Ping'an said, "I didn't discuss that with Cui Dongshan. I only said you and Zhujiu were at the Huangliang Sect for the ceremony."

Chen Lingjun was speechless for a long time. Where was I inferior to Hongxia, who was in the same realm, or the little follower Yunzi? That Yunzi used to be a hanger-on behind my tail!

The small boy in blue immediately beat his chest and stamped his feet. "That old white goose! Now that he's become a sect leader, he looks down on everyone, can't even stand an old friend like us. Pisses me off, pisses me off!"

Chen Ping'an said nonchalantly, "If you really want to go, I can talk to Cui Dongshan. You can board the Kite Ferryboat later with Hongxia and Yunzi."

Chen Lingjun said angrily, "Go my ass! Old White Goose has no sincerity at all. When he comes back to Luopo Mountain, I'm going to have a good talk with him. There's no way he treats his brothers like this."

He wasn't afraid of anyone, but if he sensed trouble, he could become scared faster than anyone. With lightning speed, he would soften, feign sleepwalking, and if that didn't work, he would quickly lower his head and admit fault. If admitting fault didn't work, what were a few kowtows? A real man could bend and stretch. Face dropped on the ground wasn't face.

Guo Zhujiu said, "Master, on our way to the Dream Liang Kingdom capital, we met a Daoist master roaming the world. He looked middle-aged, carrying a sword on his back, a whisk, and a wine gourd. Extremely immortal-like. He called himself Pure Yang, surname Lü, given name Yan."

Chen Lingjun was picking his nose with his head tilted over there. A Daoist name and personal name that even I have never heard of—can't be that impressive.

If Bai Xuan was at the roadside pavilion, painstakingly compiling a hero directory specifically to demand justice from Pei Qian for the martial world,

Then Chen Lingjun hadn't been idle these years. He had been spreading news everywhere, through landscape gazettes, mirror flowers and water moons, and various small pieces of information. He painstakingly gathered intelligence, netting all the Flying Ascension and Immortal realm cultivators in the entire Hao Ran world. Finally, he compiled a thin booklet named *Passerby Collection*.

It was to remind himself that if he ever met these old immortals, he should just be a passerby who brushed past them, don't talk, don't try to climb up.

Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "That's an elder I just met on Tongye Continent. He's from our Bottle Gourd Continent. The Dao field where this gentleman formed his Golden Core is in the Dream Liang Kingdom territory, so he's revisiting his old haunts. Not long ago, Senior Lü visited us at Luopo Mountain. If you had come earlier, we might have kept him for a meal and a drink?"

Chen Lingjun immediately stopped his actions, shook his hand, wiped it on his clothes, and started winking at Guo Zhujiu furiously, hinting for her not to go on. It was nothing special, just a chance encounter, a small drink, some random chat. No need to brag to the master about such a drinking session. Such trivial matters were not worth mentioning. Let them blow away in the wind.

Guo Zhujiu smiled. "We already drank. Chen Lingjun got along well with True Man Pure Yang. On the ferry, he dragged him for a drink. The only fly in the ointment was that the other party didn't know how to play the drinking game. Until now, Chen Lingjun is still muttering about whether Brother Lü couldn't or wouldn't play. After a few drinks, Chen Lingjun thought the atmosphere was good and asked if he was a Fourteenth Realm grand cultivator. True Man Pure Yang gave a dry laugh and just shook his head. So Chen Lingjun immediately asked if he was Flying Ascension. The Daoist looked quite helpless. Before he could speak, Chen Lingjun asked if he was an Immortal. The Daoist shook his head again. Chen Lingjun stopped asking. At the end of the drink, when Chen Lingjun wanted to swear brotherhood, that Pure Yang True Man didn't agree."

Chen Ping'an turned to look at Chen Lingjun, his smile playful.

What a "before he could speak"—always managing to sidestep the crucial matters. Was that a talent?

Chen Lingjun raised a hand high, his face tense, and said solemnly, "Master, don't say anymore. I get it. I remember! I guarantee it won't happen again!"

He had hit a wall again. Such things were familiar; he was used to it.

"It won't happen again?"

Chen Ping'an smiled warmly and rubbed the small boy's head. "Lingjun, aren't you regretful? If not, your seniority on the mountain would have risen again. After all, I have to address True Man Pure Yang as an elder."

The small boy in blue shrank his neck, laughing dryly, and hurriedly grabbed his master's hand with both hands, shaking the master's arm for him, loosening his muscles and bones.

While complaining, Guo Zhujiu also explained the reason for the drinking party to her master via heart-to-heart communication. It turned out that Chen Lingjun thought that Daoist's "gaze" at her was "improper," sneaky, as if he had ulterior motives. When they got to the table, Chen Lingjun was mostly polite and said a lot of good things about the master.

Also, when that Pure Yang Daoist parted with her and Chen Lingjun, he used heart-to-heart speech to give her a reminder, warning Guo Zhujiu not to show her new life-bound flying sword to others easily.

Chen Ping'an was pleasantly surprised via heart-to-heart. "You already have a second life-bound flying sword?"

Guo Zhujiu grinned. "Over in Five Colors World, during a certain outing trip, it was purely accidental. I inexplicably got it."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Don't get arrogant or impatient. Keep up the good work."

Guo Zhujiu shook his head. "No can do. If I don't let my tail wag to the sky, I'd be letting down my master."

"Don't learn to talk like Chen Lingjun."

"Can't say who learns from whom. Mutual improvement."

"Master, is my hand strength okay?"

Chen Lingjun couldn't hear the master-disciple's heart-to-heart communication. He just felt wronged and continued tugging at his master's hand, so he had to walk sideways like a crab. He muttered, "I'm just used to being cautious to sail the ship safely. I've traveled a lot in the martial world, good at keeping my eyes and ears open. Earlier, I saw that Pure Yang old immortal glance at Guo Zhujiu a couple of times on the ferry. To use a book's phrase, it was 'a look of appreciative admiration.' I was afraid he was a hypocritical villain, encountering a malicious person, and thought I'd help check him out. Guo Zhujiu, you're making a false accusation to Master. That hurts. Master, you're not distinguishing right from wrong, and it makes me feel bad."

Chen Ping'an chuckled.

Ruan Qiong, Wei Po, Cui Cheng, Lu Chen, Ci Ni, Chen Qingliu, Bixiao Cavern Master, Dao Ancestor, Supreme Sage, Zheng Juzhong...

From this list, just pick three to "provoke" at random—any three would be a daunting problem that could make anyone collapse.

Even a Flying Ascension grand cultivator, even if he closed his eyes and chose, would find his Dao heart unstable.

Trying his luck? Even if he was very lucky and chose the military sage Ruan Qiong and the Northern Peak Mountain Lord Wei Po, he still had to choose a third. What then?

Not to mention that Chen Lingjun was only at the Nascent Soul realm now. No wonder his greatest ambition over the years was to take a punch without dying.

Back when he first followed his master to the town, at the blacksmith's shop, he scolded Ruan Qiong to his face, "Too old and shameless! At your age, you still dare to compete with my master! Beat you half to death..."

Later, he patted a young Daoist on the shoulder, more than once. After reviewing the incident, the small boy in blue came to a conclusion: "How was I supposed to know he was a Fourteenth Realm? Can't blame me."

With Wei Po, when his own master wasn't around, he was Lord Wei. When the master was around, he was Brother Wei. Early on, he was refused entry at Piyun Mountain and was deeply hurt. Every time he mentioned the "utterly spineless" Wei Po, he would go "pfft," spit hard on the ground, twist it with his toe, then crouch down and ask, "Brother Wei, what's wrong? Why are you lying on the ground?"

When he saw the National Guardian Ci Ni, he didn't recognize him. The small boy in blue once made a harsh statement: "If you want to see my master, you have to kill me first and walk over my body."

On the Northern Reed Continent, he made new friends: Bai Mang and Chen Zhuoliu, who were actually the same person. At their farewell, thinking his good buddy was drunk and talking nonsense, a mere Golden Core River Snake who had eaten a solid prison meal with him jumped up and slapped that Dragon Slayer on the head.

A young Daoist boy rode an ox from the east into the town. Chen Lingjun happened to see him, descended on a cloud, slapped the ox's horn, and said, "Our mountain has a lot of grass." "He gets enlightened the moment he hears about food." Finally, the small boy in blue kindly suggested to the "Dao Ancestor" that he should change his name...

He heard that a scholar in white claimed to be his friend's disciple, so he took him as a "nephew." This cheap nephew, one generation lower, was Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City.

With this kind of martial world resume, Chen Lingjun was still hopping around merrily. In Zhu Lian's words, "I've seen people with strong luck, but never someone with luck this strong. How many good deeds did Chen Lingjun do in his past life, how much virtue did he accumulate, to be so blessed and lucky in this life?"

Zhu Lian rarely encountered things he couldn't figure out. Regarding Chen Lingjun, after much thought, he concluded that it had to be that the good man has his reward. There was no other explanation.

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Actually, Cui Dongshan did invite you to Qingping Sword Sect, but I refused. When I boarded the ship, Cui Dongshan still wasn't giving up and wanted to haggle, hoping I would change my mind and let you go to Immortal Capital Mountain. I cursed him out."

Chen Lingjun let out an "ah," put his hands on his hips, and laughed heartily. That's what I said! Old White Goose would never forget Brother Chen.

Guo Zhujiu, of course, knew the truth: the master was just lying. One of them actually believed it. So although the thing was false, the happiness was real. A fool has fools' luck.

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Zhujiu, I made you a bamboo case. Try it out later and see if it fits your back."

Guo Zhujiu's eyes lit up, and she looked delighted. "Great, perfect! My little bamboo case that's been working hard with me finally has a mansion to settle in!"

By the looks of it, she didn't intend to return that little bamboo case to Senior Sister Pei for the time being.

Chen Lingjun glanced at Guo Zhujiu. Sigh, she won't grow up. A simpleton.

Chen Ping'an turned and smiled. "Hongxia, Yunzi, I have some things to discuss with you. Let's talk as we walk."

The water dragon Hongxia, in a yellow dress, stood gracefully. After years of mountain cultivation, she naturally had the air of a recluse.

Her Daoist name and Yunzi's were both given by Cui Dongshan.

In Chen Ping'an's view, Hongxia's appearance and temperament weren't much inferior to Huang Yi Yunzi.

Chen Ping'an was indeed Chen Ping'an, but he wasn't a fool who couldn't tell a woman's beauty.

Chen Ping'an smiled. "This trip to Tongye Continent won't be a matter of two or three years before returning to Luopo Mountain. I estimate it'll be at least seven or eight years, or even ten to twenty years. But rest assured, you won't be working for nothing. For example, on your side, Hongxia, Qingping Sword Sect will help you exchange your merits for the future river-crossing quota. Even if your merits are insufficient, Cui Dongshan can help make up the difference. As for Yunzi, Cui Dongshan will have arrangements for you in the future."

Hongxia said softly, "Mountain Lord, I've actually saved up some assets myself."

She had been in Yellow Lake Mountain, cultivating her spirit for a very long time. She almost became one of the five greatest publicly acknowledged opportunities in the Pearl Grotto's past. So, Hongxia's cultivation aptitude was obvious.

According to Cui Dongshan, as long as Hongxia was willing to cultivate honestly and not cause trouble, attaining the Immortal Realm wouldn't be difficult.

Chen Ping'an laughed. "First, for a great river to flow, whether it's the Qi River in Bottle Gourd Continent or that new river in Tongye Continent, it can't be done with money alone. Second, this is official business. There's no reason for you to pay out of your own pocket. Besides, when you reach the upper five realms in the future, if you want to establish a sect, you'll need money in countless ways. There are only places you can't imagine, no end to where money is needed. Saving up is always good."

For spirits to cross rivers, turn into dragons, especially to successfully become a river, the obstacles were never just the dangers of the process but also things outside the river.

For example, the Ji River in Northern Reed Continent had a long history and three water directors. But after the Dragon Slaying Incident, before Chen Lingjun successfully turned into a flood dragon and entered the Nascent Soul realm, there had been no example of a water spirit successfully crossing a river in the continent's history. The root cause was that along the great river, no dynasty, immortal mansion mountain, including the Great Source Chongxuan Bureau's Cloud Sky Palace, Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, or Water Dragon Sect, could guarantee unimpeded passage for a water spirit's river crossing. It was difficult not to be deliberately obstructed by other forces. The water transport of the entire river was cut into segments. The most crucial point was that water spirits crossing rivers, especially flood dragons and hornless dragons crossing rivers, would take away a considerable portion of the water transport to use for themselves, and then return the river's water transport to the sea.

Moreover, water-crossing creatures, regardless of their origin, naturally loved to move clouds and rain. It was easy to stir up waves, cause floods, and bring about water disasters. The dynasties along the river either couldn't stop them and let them go, making the floods on both sides a "natural disaster." Or, if there were early arrangements, the cultivators responsible for cleaning up the mess would have to expend a large amount of their own spiritual energy. And the spiritual energy accumulated by cultivators was ultimately immortal money, wasn't it? Moreover, this kind of loss was not only a solid pile of immortal money but also involved the nation's destiny and the mountain and river's fortune.

In fact, the great rivers of the Hao Ran Nine Continent were in a similar situation, making it extremely difficult for water tribes, especially water dragons, to raise their realms through river crossing. But now there was an exception: the Qi River in Bottle Gourd Continent was completely controlled by the Great Li court. So it was said that the descendants of dragons and water immortals of the continent were queuing up, greasing palms everywhere, waiting for the Great Li Ministry of Rites to issue that invaluable "clearance document." Besides that, the capital and the secondary capital of Great Li had already started building nine Daoist field water palaces, where Golden Core earthly immortals who practiced water methods could go into seclusion. There was hope for nine new Nascent Soul realms.

Therefore, on Tongye Continent, those who most hoped for the sudden appearance of a brand new great river were, among the cultivators, naturally those water and river spirits that could raise their realms by crossing the river.

For example, near Pu Mountain, the "Eastern Sea Wife" Kou Xuanqu had found the Burying River Biyou Palace to "borrow a waterway" from the Water God Liu Rou.

Nowadays, people, gods, ghosts, and immortals—where in the world is not a river and lake?

Among the letters in the basket, one was from the old Qiantang chief, the Great River Linli Earl Cao Yong, asking Chen Ping'an if he could help the Water Palace negotiate an extra river-crossing quota with the Great Li court. Cao Yong was straightforward, saying that the Linli Earl's Residence had a fixed quota, but it had already been given out. They needed another one. It seemed that the Changchun Marquis Yang Hua didn't intend to use that quota. So Cao Yong wondered if Mountain Lord Chen could help, first get word with Yang Hua, so that the Changchun Marquis's Residence would transfer the quota to the Linli Earl's Residence. Presumably, the Great Li court would not object. If Mountain Lord Chen was willing to be the intermediary, there would be a heavy reward after the matter was completed.

Hongxia liked to live in seclusion in her Dao field to cultivate her spirit, but she didn't doubt that the mountain lord was testing her heart. But if it were Cui Dongshan asking, she would probably be trembling with fear, racking her brains to express her loyalty.

So Hongxia just said calmly, "Mountain Lord, I have never had the thought of establishing a sect. I know my limits. In this life, I am only fit for solitary cultivation, using the clumsy method of grinding slowly, bit by bit increasing my cultivation. I am utterly unqualified to be any founding patriarch, let alone a large sect. Even a small mountain top with just a few dozen people—I absolutely couldn't be a founding patriarch. So, staying long at Luopo Mountain, encountering such matters, being able to do something for the sect, and then returning to the Dao field to continue cultivating—that is the most suitable choice for me."

Chen Ping'an hesitated. "Luopo Mountain already has Little Mi Li as the Right Protector. You have probably guessed that I intend to have Chen Lingjun as the Left Protector. With these two, there can't be any more mountain-protecting reverends. So if you stay at Luopo Mountain, even if you reach the Jade Pure Realm or even higher in the Dao... regarding rank alone, Luopo Mountain simply cannot give you more than that."

Hongxia smiled. "This matter is probably only seen by Immortal Master Jingqing himself."

With the mountain lord, Hongxia wasn't that constrained.

But in the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall or at the Ancestral Mountain's Jiling Peak, she couldn't help but be nervous. It wasn't her fault. At Luopo Mountain, either they were sword immortals or martial arts grandmasters. What was a Nascent Soul cultivator worth?

As her close friend Pei Xiang put it, among the entire Luopo Mountain, the two of them were the most awkward. They were both Nascent Soul realms, but they weren't as carefree as Little Mi Li's Cavern Dwelling realm. This Earth Immortal realm—neither high nor low—was just at a realm for people to laugh at.

Chen Ping'an couldn't help but laugh. "So if you are willing, I can suggest to Cui Dongshan that you and Revered Pei serve together as mountain-protecting reverends of the Qingping Sword Sect."

If I proactively send reverends to Qingping Sword Sect, it's different from Cui Dongshan, that student, trying to poach.

Hongxia's expression changed slightly. She quickly shook her head. "I appreciate the mountain lord's kindness. But I would rather stay here than dare to serve under Sect Leader Cui."

Chen Ping'an laughed. "It seems Sect Leader Cui's reputation is worrying."

Hongxia smiled knowingly, neither affirming nor denying.

The mountain lord wouldn't gossip. The content of today's conversation wouldn't reach Sect Leader Cui.

Chen Ping'an waved at Chen Lingjun.

The small boy in blue immediately flung his sleeves and strode over.

Chen Lingjun finally caught a great opportunity to lecture others. He cleared his throat and said earnestly, "Yunzi, things are different here. With me covering you, once you get to Qingping Sword Sect, your realm isn't high. It's a new place, and you'll often deal with outsiders. You don't know anyone. Remember to restrain your temper. When out and about, be kind to others, make many friends. Don't bully others. Don't bare your teeth at the slightest scratch. Be more generous. If you harm Luopo Mountain's reputation, the master won't deal with you, but I will. You must learn from me: smile at everyone, have friends everywhere. Remember that, remember that!"

Yunzi nodded silently.

Probably only Yunzi in all of Luopo Mountain firmly believed that this Revered Jingqing truly had real skill, and even had some heartfelt admiration for him.

Chen Lingjun clasped his hands behind his back, nodded, and turned to Hongxia. "Hongxia, you're a big girl now. Just be very careful. The atmosphere outside is not as pure as it is here. Especially pay attention to those seemingly decent and young talented registered cultivators. Don't be enchanted by a few cheap sweet words and lose your head over those fancy pillows. Forget it, forget it. Daughters are hard to keep. I guess you won't listen to me now. No matter. I'll have a word with Chief Steward Mi. Let him help screen them. That said, if you really find a suitable and desirable Dao partner, don't be too reserved. A woman chasing a man is like a layer of gauze. You're not bad-looking. As long as the other party isn't blind, it's a sure thing."

"Yunzi is just a rough fellow. So I have to tell him not to cause trouble. Endure when things happen. You are different. Never be afraid to cause trouble. You have me and Chief Steward Mi backing you up."

The small boy in blue spoke with the manner of an old father, giving advice to a pair of children about to go on a distant journey, repeatedly exhorting them.

Hongxia smiled but said nothing.

He patiently waited until Chen Lingjun finished his rambling. Then Chen Ping'an smiled and pulled out two blue-glazed water bowls from his sleeve. "Consider this my parting gift. I wish you success, all the best, return early. These two gifts are of similar quality. You can choose for yourselves, see which one appeals to your eyes."

Both were obtained by Chen Ping'an from the Water Dragon Sect. The Northern Sect's Sun Jie gave a pair of ox-roaring fish, and the Southern Sect's Shao Jingzhi gave a "Little Ink Dragon," a kind of midge.

However, the two goose-yellow and lotus-blue water droppers were bought separately by Chen Ping'an. In this area, the most plentiful things were ceramics. Chen Ping'an was an expert and had good taste. He had chosen old semi-official kiln pieces.

Chen Lingjun craned his neck, coveting them greatly. He winked at Yunzi, hinting that the other party should be perceptive, accept them generously first, then secretly lend them to him for a couple of days.

But surprisingly, that blockhead Yunzi merely nodded bluntly. "Friend Jingqing, I understand."

Chen Lingjun froze. If you understand, just understand it in your heart, no need to say it out loud.

Sure enough, he immediately got a rap on the head, making Chen Lingjun immediately cover his head.

Afterward, the Kite Ferryboat docked. Luopo Mountain's Law Enforcement Officer Chang Ming, Quan Fu's Wei Wenlong, and his group all disembarked.

Hongxia, Yunzi, and the young girl Cui Huasheng took their leave from Mountain Lord Chen Ping'an.

---

On a moonlit night, the young girl in the sable hat who had been wandering all the way to the mountaintop saw a delicate young girl with a copied-hand inkstone hanging from her waist. She was sitting alone on the railing, lightly tapping the railing with both hands and gazing into the distance.

Oh, a little girl. Not very old, not very high in realm. One of her life-bound flying swords was kind of interesting.

Could such an unremarkable little girl really deal with that Pei Qian, who was already at the Limit Realm martial artist?

Xie Gou tapped her toes, hopped onto the railing, crossed her arms in front of her chest, looked straight ahead, and said casually, "Hey, what are you thinking?"

"Hey, what are you thinking?"

Xie Gou was stunned. "Why are you mimicking me?"

"Why are you mimicking me?"

"Little girl, are you out of your mind? Be careful, I won't be nice to you!"

"Little girl, are you out of your mind? Be careful, I won't be nice to you!"

"I'm an idiot!"

But instead of continuing to parrot, the girl turned to Xie Gou and gave her a thumbs up.

Xie Gou rubbed her chin. Such an unlikeable child.

Guo Zhujiu said, "I heard from my master that you have over ten thousand years of Dao age, and you still haven't married yourself off. An old maid, huh."

Xie Gou was momentarily speechless. Then she muttered, "What do you know?"

"What do you know?"

"Guo Zhujiu, if you keep this up, I won't be nice to you."

"Oh."

Xie Gou sneered. Finally, she stopped mimicking me!

But then the girl started again: "I heard from my master that you have over ten thousand years of Dao age, and you still haven't married yourself off. An old maid, huh."

Xie Gou felt a bit suffocated. She couldn't hit her. This was Chen Ping'an's direct disciple, and on the registry, she was practically half a closed-door disciple.

As for scolding... it seemed she couldn't win that either.

If it was just a street shrew's yelling, Xie Gou had learned a few things in the town. But the problem was that this girl named Guo Zhujiu had a very strange way of thinking.

Xie Gou was afraid that if she cursed for a long time, the little girl wouldn't say a word in return, and then just give her a thumbs up. Xie Gou felt she would get internal injuries from holding back.

Guo Zhujiu sincerely comforted her, "It's nothing. The people around me are mostly old maids who can't get married."

Xie Gou sat down. She didn't really want to talk to Guo Zhujiu. But since she was already here, leaving would be embarrassing.

Guo Zhujiu took a bamboo flute out of her sleeve.

An unknown tune. The flute sound was ethereal and melodious.

In the emptiness, no one else was around. The moon was exceptionally bright.

When heaven and earth were quiet, the flute sound was particularly clear.

"That is quite nice. Like a crane calling in the blue sky, a dragon roaring beyond the clouds, the sound in the courtyard."

After Guo Zhujiu put away the bamboo flute, Xie Gou first commended and praised, trying to build a relationship, then casually asked, "Homesick?"

Guo Zhujiu's answer was evasive. "At the Summer Resort, my master said a scholar once said: 'Collating books can prolong the life of ancient texts.'"

Xie Gou nodded. "Proofreading books means correcting errors. The principles are the same inside and outside the texts. There's still some depth to your master's saying."

Guo Zhujiu let out a "Eh?" and turned around in surprise. "Master lied to me. You're not an idiot. I almost thought we'd have nothing in common."

If it were just the first half sentence, Xie Gou would want to kill someone. But with the second half added, Xie Gou was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

---

(Note 1: Yesterday, I wrote that Zhu Lian was in the Far Traveling Realm. That was a slip of the pen.)