# Chapter 995: A Limited Cup for a Long Youth
As the old saying goes, leisure is a pure blessing.
Since being idle meant enjoying that pure blessing, Liu Xianyang took the round-faced young woman traveling under the alias Yu Qianyue on a tour of the northernmost part of Bottle Gourd Continent. They leisurely wandered along the long coastline. Liu Xianyang went beachcombing every day, bringing pots and pans to cook a messy seafood stew, eating so much that he forgot what freshwater seafood tasted like. Whenever Liu Xianyang stopped to rest and dozed off, the round-faced young woman in her cotton coat would sit quietly beside him.
When Liu Xianyang returned to the sect's mountain peak, he found Ruan the Blacksmith still forging swords behind closed doors, while his junior brother Xie Ling was in a proper secluded cultivation session. He had heard that Xie Ling was working to completely refine that heavy treasure that couldn't be bought even with money.
That item was a treasure that the Third Teaching Master of the Jade Capital had given to Xie Ling back then — a seven-colored colored glaze pagoda, half a foot tall, nine stories, with plaques hanging on each of the four sides, totaling thirty-six plaques.
Liu Xianyang was extremely envious and couldn't help sighing deeply, "It sure is good to have a great ancestor."
Sheyue didn't respond. She was just thinking about whether the ducks by Dragon Whisker River had formed their flocks.
Liu Xianyang was still wallowing in self-pity, saying that his skill at reincarnation wasn't as good as Junior Brother Xie's. Otherwise, forget about the Immortal realm; even casually snagging a Flying Ascension realm would be no problem.
Dong Gu, who was nearby, had long grown accustomed to this. After all, these were private words spoken behind closed doors; no shame could leak out.
Besides, although Liu Xianyang's words were sour, they were factual. Junior Brother Xie Ling had indeed been extremely fortunate in his path of cultivation. As Liu Xianyang said, this could be credited to the fact that the Xie family's genealogy of Peach Leaf Lane included a major figure — Xie Shi, a Heavenly Lord of Northern Jambudvipa. When Xie Shi had returned to his hometown last time, that kid Xie Ling had gained a living ancestor who had stepped out of the family tree. According to what Lu Chen had said back then, this small pagoda could suppress all evil spirits, heretics, and ghostly entities below the upper five realms. Lu Chen had said at the time that this item "could barely count" as a half-immortal artifact. Xie Ling had believed it deeply back then, while Ancestor Xie Shi had wanted to say something but stopped himself, ultimately not revealing the heavenly secret. Later, when the youth whom Lu Chen had nicknamed "Long Eyebrows" grew older and his cultivation level rose higher, Xie Ling was shocked to discover that this exquisite pagoda, which he had never been able to fully refine into his lifebound treasure, was in fact a genuine immortal artifact of the highest order.
The reason Xie Ling could cultivate both talismans and formations in addition to being a sword cultivator — mastering both simultaneously — was due to his dedicated study of this exquisite pagoda.
Someone had once glanced at it and evaluated this heavy treasure with only one concise sentence: "This item is a complete lineage of the Dao."
Her implication was that Junior Brother Xie Ling, relying solely on this item, could not only progress in his cultivation without hindrance but also completely establish his own sect.
Liu Xianyang chatted a bit more with Dong Gu before finally spitting out the licorice root he'd been chewing. He stood up and told Senior Brother Dong to greet Senior Sister Xu and say they'd go to the ancestral mountain for a meal in about half an hour. As the sect leader, he wanted to show respect for talent and cook personally.
Dong Gu, as the founding senior disciple of Dragon Spring Sword Sect, was at the Nascent Soul realm. However, since Dong Gu was a demonic beast by origin and not a sword cultivator, he was actually relieved deep down that Liu Xianyang could serve as the second sect leader. As the senior disciple, he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.
Xu Xiaoqiao was still a Golden Core sword cultivator. Limited by her innate talent in cultivation, barring unexpected events, she would likely stop at the Nascent Soul realm in her lifetime.
Xu Xiaoqiao believed deeply in this assessment, which was akin to a final verdict, but she wasn't particularly disappointed about it.
After all, among her fellow disciples, there were two genius junior brothers like Liu Xianyang and Xie Ling, whose achievements in the Great Dao would surely be very high. And since Master Ruan Qiong never demanded much in terms of realm from his disciples, Xu Xiaoqiao's life as a cultivator at Dragon Spring Sword Sect was both fulfilling and leisurely.
It was just that guy Liu Xianyang who kept thinking about having her and Xu Xiaoqiao call him "Sect Leader" whenever they met. But Dong Gu and Xu Xiaoqiao had a tacit understanding — no matter how obvious the hints, they wouldn't comply.
While the two, who were not yet Dao companions, were flying together by the wind, Sheyue, who had only just caught on, asked casually, "What was Xie Ling refining again?"
Liu Xianyang laughed, "An exquisite pagoda of immortal artifact rank."
He added, "It was given to Junior Brother Xie by a guy whose stall I once overturned."
Sheyue turned to glance at a mountain peak and nodded, "It is quite valuable."
Liu Xianyang started to get sour again, "For us sword cultivators, such external objects count for nothing... dammit, of course they count! If Junior Brother Xie were willing to give it away as a gift, I'd kowtow to him a few times."
Sheyue asked doubtfully, "Do you want an immortal artifact that badly?"
In her view, Liu Xianyang was the kind of strange sword cultivator who least needed any immortal artifact.
Liu Xianyang was taken aback, "What? Do you have one?"
Sheyue nodded, "You know how things are in the Wilderness. Since I was going out, I naturally brought all my belongings with me. I've got a few in my pocket. Since you want them so badly, pick two that catch your eye and refine them?"
Liu Xianyang grinned and lightly slapped his own cheek, "What are you saying? Am I the kind of guy who looks like he lives off a woman, like Chen Ping'an?!"
Sheyue rolled her eyes.
When they reached the ancestral mountain, Liu Xianyang indeed tied on an apron and started cooking. Sheyue, familiar with the routine, helped out beside him.
Liu Xianyang suddenly turned his head and said, "Qian Yue, I might not have made it clear before. Chen Ping'an just looks like he lives off a woman. I don't just look like it — I am."
Sheyue delivered a sharp hand-chop to a piece of firewood, then casually tossed it toward the stove, saying irritably, "The offer has expired."
She felt quite annoyed whenever she heard the name of that young Hidden Official.
Liu Xianyang laughed, "Don't be upset. Later, I'll beat him up in front of you while he's stuffed in a sack."
Sheyue twitched the corner of her mouth, "He won't dare do anything to you, but he's so vengeful. What about me?"
Liu Xianyang felt that he really should find an opportunity to speak plainly with this Miss Yu. But he needed to drink some courage first.
Maybe everyone who truly likes someone is a coward.
Liu Xianyang said, "You've been to the prefectural city before. Did you see that young man?"
Sheyue shook her head.
It turned out that Liu Xianyang had just learned from Senior Brother Dong about a matter. In Chuzhou City, there was a poor young man from a fallen family named Li Shenyuan. He was carrying a snake gallstone of no low rank. He had traveled alone from Chuzhou on foot all the way through Yu and Hong prefectures, walking to the vicinity of the old Northern Marchmount in the Great Li capital region. By the time the young man reached the mountain gate of Dragon Spring Sword Sect, he looked almost like a beggar. He wanted to give away that snake gallstone as a stepping stone to become a disciple of Dragon Spring Sword Sect.
Moreover, he specifically named Xu Xiaoqiao, whose Dao field was on Boiling Sea Peak, wanting to apprentice under her. Even if he couldn't become her direct disciple, he would settle for being an outer disciple. Boiling Sea Peak was not among the western peaks of Pear Blossom Cave Heaven; it was an original peak in the old Northern Marchmount territory of Great Li, formerly named Cast Peak. It had been assigned to Dragon Spring Sword Sect and renamed.
Rumor had it that the young man's ancestors were townsfolk, with their ancestral home on Erlang Lane. But the elders had sold the ancestral home, obtaining a large sum of gold and silver. On the same street in the prefectural city, they had exchanged the deed with the government for several new adjacent mansions. The family had foresight, also buying plenty of good farmland outside the city. Logically, with such comfortable circumstances, if they were a bit steady and honest, after a generation or two of management, whether becoming a scholarly family or spending money to seek influence, it wouldn't be difficult.
But no amount of family wealth could withstand the word "gambling." And within one family, there were two gambling addicts. To win at the gambling table, since ancient times, unless relying on gambling skill, one could only depend on being the banker or cheating. In fact, at least thirty percent of the families that moved from the town to the prefectural city had squandered their substantial fortunes at the gambling table. Former town youths became experts in drinking, whoring, gambling, and drugs. Otherwise, once-vigorous men who were alcoholics, gamblers, and bachelors ended up as old single men.
This Li Shenyuan neither forced his way into the mountain gate nor said a word of nonsense. He built a thatched shed in the nearby wilderness, living almost like a savage.
Every time the young man appeared, he would squat by the roadside at the mountain gate, waiting for news, hoping that Dragon Spring Sword Sect would allow him up the mountain.
When the fellow disciples met, since Ruan the Blacksmith was still busy hammering iron, Liu Xianyang, as the new sect leader, called the shots. He had brought back quite a lot of seafood from his travel dimension item.
Dong Gu and Xu Xiaoqiao arrived right on time for the meal, coming to the ancestral mountain. They saw Liu Xianyang plopped down in Master's seat at the head of the table. They didn't say anything. They figured that even if Master showed up right then, Liu Xianyang would have the audacity to sit on the same bench and eat with Master.
They shared a homely meal at the same table — this was a tradition at Dragon Spring Sword Sect. Even discussing matters of great importance was done over a few words at the dinner table.
It truly fit the old saying: Heaven and earth are vast, but eating is the most important.
Even when Liu Xianyang succeeded as sect leader, it was discussed over the table. Ruan Qiong said it, Liu Xianyang didn't refuse, Dong Gu and Xie Ling all agreed, and it was settled.
Today, the only extra at the table was Sheyue, and she was hardly an outsider.
Liu Xianyang raised his cup to clink with Senior Brother Dong and asked, "If Xie Ling successfully refines that treasure and comes out of seclusion, will he reach the Jade Pure realm?"
Dong Gu took a sip of wine, picked up a bite with his chopsticks, and said, "Not sure."
Xu Xiaoqiao, however, nodded, "Before going into seclusion, Junior Brother Xie told me so. Junior Brother Xie has always been steady with his words. Since he said it, it's almost certain."
Liu Xianyang turned to Dong Gu, "Senior Brother Dong, Xie Ling didn't tell you?"
Dong Gu shook his head.
Liu Xianyang grinned and turned to Xu Xiaoqiao. She guessed he was about to spout nonsense and preempted him, "I suggest you don't invite a scolding."
"Senior Sister knows me well."
Liu Xianyang laughed heartily, rubbing his chin, "Our Long Eyebrows kid is something else, something else. Ruan the Blacksmith sure lucked out finding a treasure. Long Eyebrows is already among the top ten young talents on Bottle Gourd Continent. Once he becomes Jade Pure, won't he be on equal footing with me, the sect leader? When the kid comes out of seclusion, I'll have to have a good talk with Ruan the Blacksmith. Since he's no longer sect leader, he should drop that master's airs. Next time we eat together, before picking up chopsticks, Ruan the Blacksmith should proactively toast Xie Ling a few times."
Dong Gu didn't respond at all. Xu Xiaoqiao just treated it like Liu Xianyang was farting.
On the vast Bottle Gourd Continent, there were very few people who dared to mock Ruan Qiong like that. Possibly only Liu Xianyang.
First, Ruan Qiong at Dragon Spring Sword Sect's "maternal home," Wind and Snow Temple, had always been an easygoing, reclusive type. He had been forging swords for years, upright in conduct, with a good reputation. In the early days, even a stubborn sword cultivator like Li Tuanjing from Thunder Wind Garden looked down on Divine Oath Sect, the mountain leader for the entire prefecture. But when he talked about swordsmith Ruan Qiong, he had a few rare good words to say. Moreover, Ruan Qiong had been the last sitting sage of Pear Blossom Cave Heaven. He was also invited to be the Great Li's chief offering. Occasionally, when he attended discussions in the capital's imperial study, not only the Emperor but also mountain lords like Wei Bo and Jin Qing treated him with great respect. That Daoist Heavenly Lord who went by the alias Cao Rong, as Lu Chen's direct disciple and the senior brother of He Xiaoliang from Northern Jambudvipa, had once appeared in the Great Li capital. According to rumors, he had only exchanged a few words with the taciturn Ruan Qiong.
Besides, whether it was his own disciple Liu Xianyang, now famous throughout the continent, or that young Hidden Official who was "fragrant inside the wall but even more fragrant outside," it seemed they had, in their youth, been respectively a long-term laborer and a temporary helper at the blacksmith shop by Dragon Whisker River. There were even rumors that before this Chen Hidden Official of Fallen Mountain had risen to prominence, because he had lived under someone else's roof, he would act like a mouse seeing a cat whenever he encountered the silent Ruan Qiong.
Thus, nowadays, among the mountains south of the Great River on Bottle Gourd Continent, there were some whispers that dared only be said in private. They claimed that Dragon Spring Sword Sect had moved away from Chuzhou only because that Chen Hidden Official was a vengeful character. He wanted to save face for the humiliations suffered at the blacksmith shop back then. The Great Li Emperor, caught in a dilemma, couldn't mediate the conflict and had to let Dragon Spring Sword Sect back down. He made Ruan Qiong step down as sect leader and had Liu Xianyang, the young Hidden Official's childhood friend, succeed as sect leader. Only then did Chen Ping'an's long-accumulated anger subside, preventing an all-out rift with Ruan Qiong that would hurt both sides...
So, not long ago, someone had ridden their own wind-sail ferry down to Old Dragon City, disembarked with senior Song Yushao, and during their northward journey, he made a special detour to visit the immortal mansions and sects that had spread such talk or made veiled insinuations in landscape gazettes. He went to their ancestral halls or the cultivation grounds of those mountain lords and sect leaders. He drank tea, chatted heart-to-heart, and explained some principles. Host and guest enjoyed themselves in a harmonious atmosphere.
Liu Xianyang found it strange, "This single-minded kid, why go far instead of near? Isn't Chen Ping'an's Fallen Mountain closer?"
Dong Gu said, "Probably because Fallen Mountain has announced it's sealing its mountain."
Liu Xianyang asked, "Does the young man have a chance to cultivate on the mountain?"
The distinction between immortals and mortals, above and below the mountain, was no less clear than the separation between the living and the dead, between humans and ghosts.
Xu Xiaoqiao said, "He could barely cultivate, but his talent is truly mediocre. Even if he's brought up the mountain, whether he can reach the middle five realms depends on his future fortune."
The implication was that even if the young man joined Dragon Spring Sword Sect, without great fortune on his future cultivation path, he might never reach the Cave Dwelling realm.
Dong Gu hesitated but didn't say much. Xu Xiaoqiao's assessment came from a unique secret art she had learned years ago to discern bone structure and aptitude. That meant the young man named Li Shenyuan had an unusually "mediocre" talent. If he went to other immortal mansions, not only would he be considered worthless — not even good enough for lowly tasks — but in the eyes of those examining bone structure, he wouldn't even qualify as worthless. He would certainly be turned away at the door.
This secret art of Xu Xiaoqiao's was something any mountain sect would dream of possessing. In the long run, it was not inferior to any mountain-guarding treasure.
Liu Xianyang asked, "What about his temperament and character?"
For entry into Dragon Spring Sword Sect, under Ruan the Blacksmith, there was an unwritten rule: first look at character and temperament, then at talent. If the former was lacking, no matter how good the talent, Dragon Spring Sword Sect wouldn't accept them.
Dong Gu said, "Stubborn, rigid in his thinking, very willing to endure hardship. But his comprehension is a bit lacking. If he truly wants to cultivate on the mountain, it will indeed be difficult."
Liu Xianyang immediately brightened, "Doesn't that remind you of someone when they were young?"
Xu Xiaoqiao opened her mouth as if to speak but held back. She thought better of it and decided to say nothing.
Only you would dare evaluate the mountain lord of Fallen Mountain like that.
Liu Xianyang said, "Senior Sister Xu, just accept him. Let Li Shenyuan be an unregistered disciple for now."
Xu Xiaoqiao nodded.
Dong Gu asked, "Should we accept that snake gallstone?"
Liu Xianyang laughed, "Yes, why not?"
The Dao is not lightly transmitted. On the mountain, that was never an empty slogan.
After all, the world's rules are never set for a small handful of exceptions.
"When a family tightens their belts to send a child to school, compared to a child whose family scrapes together a bit of money for tuition, the former probably studies more diligently," Liu Xianyang said with a smile. "If we think about it, which do you think will carry more weight in the young man's heart over time — an outer disciple he bought with real money, or a direct disciple of Boiling Sea Peak given to him for free? I think the former."
"As for that snake gallstone, just keep it in the treasury. If Li Shenyuan manages to reach the Cave Dwelling realm in the future, we'll give it to him as a congratulatory gift. It'll be like it's come full circle and returned to its original owner."
Dong Gu nodded, "That's very mature handling."
Xu Xiaoqiao also chimed in sincerely, "Finally showing some sect leader qualities."
Liu Xianyang slapped the table, "Remove 'finally,' 'some,' and the period!"
Xu Xiaoqiao gave a dry laugh, using a questioning tone to say the four words "sect leader qualities."
Liu Xianyang said helplessly, "Being this sect leader is so frustrating! When I see Ruan the Blacksmith again, and when Xie Ling comes out of seclusion, I'm going to resign as sect leader. Let Long Eyebrows be sect leader for a few days, then resign too. Hand the top seat to Senior Brother Dong or Xu Xiaoqiao. That would be a tale of eternal beauty — a sect replacing its sect leader four times in less than thirty years. Who can match that?"
A man walked in from outside, expressionless.
Dong Gu and Xu Xiaoqiao immediately stood up and called out, "Master."
Liu Xianyang's smile turned brilliant. He hurriedly told Sheyue to get another set of bowls and chopsticks, then stood up to make room for Master. Feeling that wasn't respectful enough, he strode out the door, rubbing his hands, "Master, why aren't you forging? Why didn't you tell your disciple? Look at this table — the dishes are on the spicy side, catered to Senior Brother Dong and Senior Sister Xu. And they're all seafood. Can you eat them? If not, I'll go cook a couple of your favorite dishes to go with the wine..."
Ruan Qiong said nothing. He sat down in the main seat. Sheyue brought over bowls and chopsticks, setting them gently beside him. Ruan Qiong nodded in acknowledgment, his expression finally softening a bit.
Xu Xiaoqiao had already fetched a jar of wine and several white bowls, pouring a bowl for everyone. Master didn't care much for immortal brews; he only drank common earthy liquor.
Ruan Qiong raised his wine bowl and took a sip, picked up his chopsticks, and habitually tapped them lightly on the table before starting to eat.
Only then did Dong Gu and Xu Xiaoqiao dare to raise their bowls for a drink and pick up their chopsticks.
As for Liu Xianyang, he had already started serving Master food, quickly piling a mountain of dishes on Ruan Qiong's bowl of rice.
Ruan Qiong said, "The court wants me to go to the capital and accompany the Emperor, who's traveling incognito, on a trip to Yuzhang Commandery in Hong Prefecture."
Liu Xianyang laughed, "Since His Majesty is traveling incognito and not making a big show of it, why put in so much effort? If Master doesn't want to go to the capital, just forget it. If you want to go out for relaxation, just go straight to Yuzhang Commandery. If you think that would be a bit disrespectful to His Majesty and the court, I'll go instead."
Ruan Qiong shook his head, "The letter was quite direct. It has to be me."
Liu Xianyang frowned, "Besides producing large timber, which the court can't stop from illegal logging and has newly established a logging bureau, the only thing worth mentioning about Yuzhang Commandery is that it's the ancestral home of the current Empress Dowager. Why would Master need to go there personally?"
Ruan Qiong said, "The first chief officer of the logging bureau is Lin Zhengcheng, who was just transferred from the Capital's Victory Report Office."
Liu Xianyang asked, "Is that Lin Shouyi's father?"
Ruan Qiong nodded.
Liu Xianyang took a sip of wine, "Then we'll make the trip."
Ruan Qiong said, "I'm just informing you of this matter. I'm not discussing it with you."
Liu Xianyang feigned indignation, "Ruan the Blacksmith, ask yourself — don't you think I'm a frustrated sect leader?"
Ruan Qiong didn't bother with Liu Xianyang. Instead, he turned to Sheyue and asked, "Miss Yu, when will you and Liu Xianyang become Dao companions?"
Sheyue, who never shortchanged herself at the dinner table, had her mouth full of food, cheeks bulging. She looked up, completely blank.
Ruan Qiong finished his bowl of wine, set it down gently, and said, "Liu Xianyang may not talk straight usually, but he's an honest man. He knows how to live well. He's traveled far, seen the world, and knows how to settle down. Once married, he won't fool around anymore in matters of men and women. I'm not saying this just because I'm his master. Miss Yu, if you think Liu Xianyang is worth entrusting yourself to, don't put off your marriage."
Sheyue's face instantly turned bright red.
Liu Xianyang wasn't much better — his ears and neck were flushed.
Dong Gu and Xu Xiaoqiao were also beaming.
Ruan Qiong's tone grew slightly heavier, but he just repeated the same meaning, "Don't put it off."
As Liu Xianyang's master, he fully approved of this marriage and certainly wouldn't stand in the way.
Ruan Qiong didn't pour himself another drink. He finished his bowl of rice and got up to leave.
It seemed that this time, leaving his sword-forging room, this man whom Liu Xianyang called "the Blacksmith" had only come out to say this one thing.
Xu Xiaoqiao helped Sheyue clear the dishes. Dong Gu said he would drink a bit more with Liu Xianyang.
Clouds filled the valleys, moonlight stretched across the sky. The clear streams in the mountains flowed long, though the fish beneath them stopped still as if frozen.
Liu Xianyang drank himself tipsy. Senior Brother Dong Gu, however, was thoroughly drunk. At first, he had still been putting on airs as senior disciple, advising Liu Xianyang as a junior to treat Miss Yu well and never let her down. Otherwise, not only Master but he himself would be the first to deal with Liu Xianyang — even if he were sect leader, that didn't mean he could ignore his senior brother... As the drinking went on, Dong Gu started rambling, saying he had let Master down, that among all the things he shouldn't have done, the worst was being Master's founding disciple, dragging Master and the sect into gossip behind their backs... In the end, Dong Gu had more tears on his face than wine in his stomach. Liu Xianyang had to sit by his senior brother, patiently listening to his repetitive mutterings while stopping his brother from reaching for more wine...
Xu Xiaoqiao and Sheyue didn't go into the house. They stayed in the yard, sitting idly, listening to the drunken, rambling, nonsensical talk from the wine table. They exchanged glances in silence.
Finally, Liu Xianyang carried Dong Gu back to Horizontal Halberd Peak. Then he swayed and flew by wind back to his own Youyi Peak. He squatted alone at the cliff's edge, using wine to sober up.
Sheyue came over and sat beside him. As for the marriage, Sheyue wasn't actually that embarrassed. She had just been caught off guard at first, which made her a bit coy. It wasn't like she didn't like Liu Xianyang — there was no need for pretense.
This place, Youyi Peak, though it was a peak from the old Northern Marchmount, was right next to the ancestral mountain that had been moved from Chuzhou. So they could faintly hear from Shenxiu Mountain the sounds of Ruan Qiong forging swords — each hammer strike sending sparks flying, lighting up the entire room like daylight. Looking from Youyi Peak toward the ancestral mountain, the light flickered, like a lantern hanging in the wind on Shenxiu Mountain, guiding a wandering son home.
On Horizontal Halberd Peak, Dong Gu quickly sobered up. He rubbed his temples and sensed a familiar presence outside. This Nascent Soul cultivator, always dressed in black and looking like a young man, immediately got up, opened the door, and called out, "Xiaoqiao." Horizontal Halberd Peak housed the sect's treasury and secret vaults for treasures. After Dong Gu reached the Nascent Soul realm, and since he was originally a wild demonic beast, his cultivation had become more relaxed. Xu Xiaoqiao wasn't good at nor did she like managing affairs, so Dong Gu reluctantly took on the role of the sect's accountant. Dragon Spring Sword Sect had very few expenses but many sources of income. Dong Gu just needed to record the treasures and divine money in a ledger — not complicated.
Xu Xiaoqiao smiled and nodded, jingling a string of keys in her hand. "Can't sleep, so I came to your treasury to feast my eyes."
Dong Gu sat down on the steps, still a bit dizzy. He was no stranger to this habit of his junior sister's. Dragon Spring Sword Sect's treasury was filled with countless rare objects, truly deserving of the phrase "a dazzling array." Stepping inside was like entering a mountain of treasures. Xu Xiaoqiao would regularly go in for a "tour."
For things like Liu Xianyang's sword refining and Xie Ling's continual breakthrough, they hadn't used the treasury's reserves. Moreover, because Master was the dynasty's chief offering, the Great Li court sent generous regular stipends. The Song clan also bestowed spiritual tools and magical treasures under various pretexts. In addition, there were various secret profit shares that even Dong Gu was kept in the dark about — every year, there were five or six sizable sums of divine money. Whenever Dong Gu asked about the origin, the court and the Revenue Department would only say it was handled according to regulations, refusing to say more. Dong Gu had searched the archive room but couldn't find the related contracts in black and white. He had asked Master a few times, wanting to know if it was a verbal agreement between Master and the Great Li Song clan. Master always said he couldn't remember, just to accept it. Eventually, Dong Gu got used to it — it felt like lying back and collecting money.
So their sect was a typical case of having plenty of money but few people — just nowhere to spend it.
Xu Xiaoqiao said, "I heard that Yu Lin from Zhengyang Mountain sent Master a private letter earlier this year?"
Dong Gu nodded. "Mainly to apologize to Master, saying that back then, because of his youth and ignorance, he missed a great opportunity, regretting that he couldn't become Master's direct disciple. He hopes to come and apologize in person in the future. Master didn't bother with it, not giving Yu Lin the chance to pay respects during the first month. Back then, I didn't quite understand why Master drove them down the mountain. Now I see Master was right. Though Yu Lin had good talent for practicing swords, his conduct was poor. He liked to take shortcuts. Keeping him at Dragon Spring Sword Sect wouldn't have been good. A Golden Core opening a peak, establishing his own faction on the mountain, would only bring trouble."
Xu Xiaoqiao sighed, "It's just a pity for Liu Yu."
Dong Gu rubbed his face, "I suppose matters of love between men and women are the most unreasonable."
But Dong Gu had no desire to experience such reasoning firsthand. It was enough to talk about others.
Bitter wine can still have a sweet aftertaste, but bitter love is like a bottomless pit that even the endless mountains and seas can't fill.
Over at Zhengyang Mountain, Yu Lin, the peak master of Rain Foot Peak, a Golden Core sword cultivator, and Liu Yu, a direct disciple of Leng Qi, the peak master of Qiongzhi Peak, a Dragon Gate sword cultivator with the lifebound flying sword "Reed Flower." These two genius sword cultivators who might have become Dao companions had both been temporary unregistered disciples at Dragon Spring Sword Sect for several years, with Dong Gu and Xu Xiaoqiao having taught them on Master's behalf.
Back then, Ruan Qiong had given Yu Lin and the others considerable face, letting them leave the mountain on their own to transfer to other sects. Yu Lin went to that "cloud of sword immortals" at Zhengyang Mountain. Liu Yu, who could have stayed at Shenxiu Mountain, chose to follow Yu Lin down because of her affection for him. Xu Xiaoqiao tried to persuade her to stay, but the girl still went. One was accepted as a direct disciple by Tao Yanbo of Autumn Cold Mountain, the other chosen by Leng Qi. Last time, when Liu Xianyang caused a scene at Zhengyang Mountain's sect ceremony, both Yu Lin and Liu Yu appeared to challenge him in swordsmanship. Liu Xianyang was polite to Liu Yu but very harsh to Yu Lin, causing the latter to become a joke on the mountain, spawning a saying: "The moment he challenges, he falls down and plays dead." But jokes aside, a peak master in his thirties and a Golden Core sword immortal were real.
Xu Xiaoqiao said out of nowhere, "It's a good thing we have Liu Xianyang on the mountain."
Dong Gu nodded, "If it weren't for Sect Leader Liu, Master might only exchange a few words with us all year round."
As Liu Xianyang put it, "Having an elder is like having a treasure. Don't think just because Master isn't sect leader anymore, you can be disrespectful to him. Even though he's now a commoner in status, after all, he has his years."
If not for this joker Liu Xianyang, Dragon Spring Sword Sect would be a very dull mountain.
Xu Xiaoqiao said, "If you or I were sect leader, Junior Brother Xie certainly wouldn't compete with us for it, but he wouldn't be convinced in his heart. Only Liu Xianyang can truly keep Xie Ling in line in every way."
Previously, an old senior from the Chen clan of Southern Bhasvati Continent, famous for painting dragons, came to visit his old friend Ruan Qiong. Liu Xianyang and the other juniors accompanied him. Out of politeness, the old man called Liu Xianyang "Sect Leader" and said some words about being "young and promising." After all, Liu Xianyang was almost family — he had studied at the Chen clan of Pure Confucianism for ten years. But the old man, famous worldwide for his exquisite dragon paintings, had spent years wandering abroad and had never met Liu Xianyang before.
Liu Xianyang immediately took the opportunity to say, "Uncle Chen, how did you know I was a Jade Pure sword immortal?" That completely stumped the well-traveled old man.
At the cliff of Youyi Peak, Liu Xianyang asked softly, "Miss Yu, do you know why Chen Ping'an doesn't go to the Wilderness?"
Sheyue asked doubtfully, "Hasn't he already been deep into the Wilderness once? With such great achievements, does anyone still think his Hidden Official title is undeserved?"
Regardless of how he did it, he had killed a Wilderness great demon at the Flying Ascension realm. If you added that somewhat dubious Flying Ascension from Immortal Hairpin City, that made two.
Liu Xianyang shook his head with a smile, "At least in the Confucian Temple, no one thinks that for now. And what you're asking is different from what I'm asking."
Sheyue asked, "So what's the answer?"
Liu Xianyang laughed, "I'd like to know too. I'll ask him when I see him."
Sheyue's eyes lit up immediately. Was this going back to the sword shop by Dragon Whisker River?
Liu Xianyang stood up. Sheyue bounced excitedly, "We're going back now?"
Liu Xianyang smiled, "Not in a hurry. First, let me go see that kid who's dead set on apprenticing with Senior Sister Xu. Let me see if he's really suitable for mountain cultivation. If we hit it off, I'll have to steal the disciple from Miss Xu!"
Sheyue waved her hand, "Then I won't go."
Liu Xianyang took a few steps back, swung his arms, bounced a couple of times, then sprinted forward and leaped off the cliff. His body traced an arc as he shouted and plunged toward the earth, echoes lingering. Just as he was about to hit the ground, only about a zhang from the valley floor, a dazzling sword light suddenly appeared. It moved like wind and lightning, the sword light winding like a dragon or snake across the ground. Liu Xianyang's cackling laughter could be heard. According to Liu Xianyang, that's how villains laugh in the books. According to some of his wild ideas, in the future, when Dragon Spring Sword Sect had a big establishment, they had to be careful when taking disciples, watching out for second princes, illegitimate children of wealthy families, and inconspicuous people burdened with blood feuds. Those who seemed mediocre in cultivation talent and endured humiliation in the sect while suppressing their anger were too draining on the sect and elders. Even one or two would be hard to handle — easy to be "sacrificed to heaven." Years later, someone would offer wine at their grave, tearfully saying, "Disciple has finally avenged you, Master, you must know in the underworld..."
Sheyue sighed. How childish.
In that desolate wilderness, Liu Xianyang looked at the thatched shed whose humble door and window were gradually filling with moonlight. He knocked on the door.
Inside, the young man, a light sleeper, immediately called out warily, "Who is it?"
Liu Xianyang said in a proper tone, "A transcendent being is wandering here. Seeing that this youth has extraordinary bone structure and is suitable for mountain cultivation, I intend to give you a karmic opportunity."
The sallow, emaciated youth opened the door, one hand behind his back. By the moonlight, he saw a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes standing outside. "No need. I am already an unregistered disciple of Immortal Xu of Boiling Sea Peak."
Liu Xianyang chuckled. What a natural liar — that was quite endearing.
Because Liu Xianyang had spent years studying far away, and later when Dragon Spring Sword Sect was established, he returned from Southern Bhasvati, only staying at the shop by Dragon Whisker River, which was essentially abandoned. He rarely even went to Huaihuang County, let alone Chuzhou City. This young man, by age, had grown up locally in the prefectural city. So it was normal that he didn't recognize the current sect leader of Dragon Spring Sword Sect. As for why the youth specifically recognized Xu Xiaoqiao, it was probably because she had partnered with Dong Bancheng to run an immortal guesthouse in the prefectural city? Senior Sister Xu wasn't good at business herself, but she was good at associating with people who were good at making money. She had quite a private savings — a generous dowry!
Liu Xianyang strode into the house, pulled out an oil lamp from his sleeve, and twisted it between his fingers. The lamp glowed faintly yellow, illuminating the thatched room.
The youth kept facing this uninvited guest.
Liu Xianyang looked around. Truly bare walls, wind leaking from all sides. It looked strangely familiar. He turned and smiled, introducing himself, "I'm Liu Xianyang. You've never seen me, but you must have heard the name. I'm the current sect leader of Dragon Spring Sword Sect. So Boiling Sea Peak's Xu Xiaoqiao is my senior sister."
The tense youth finally relaxed, looking embarrassed because the hand behind his back was still gripping a hatchet. On this long journey, his only companions were a bundle of thick clothes and this hatchet for self-defense and clearing the way. The bits of silver and copper coins he'd gotten from selling family antiques had long run out along the road. In fact, before this trip, the youth had already run away from home twice, but both times he returned empty-handed, suffering greatly. He had accumulated some experience, though, otherwise he never would have made it to Dragon Spring Sword Sect.
There was no table or stool inside. Liu Xianyang sat on the edge of the bed and asked with a smile, "Since you have a snake gallstone, why didn't you sell it for money? Even if your family owes gambling debts, that should be enough to pay them all off at once, with plenty left over. Finding a buyer wouldn't be hard. Not just Dong Shuijing's inn — you could even go straight to the prefectural office and offer a price. They'd accept it and give you a fair price."
Li Shenyuan looked gloomy, his lean, bony figure hanging his head as he looked down at his broken straw sandals. "I'm too young to hold on to wealth. No matter how much money I got from trading this snake gallstone that Grandpa secretly left me, I couldn't keep it. It would just be taken by my elders and squandered at the gambling dens."
Liu Xianyang asked, "Have you attended school? Studied?"
"Reporting to Sect Leader Liu, I passed both the county and prefectural exams. I am a child student."
The youth lifted his head, his withered, sallow face breaking into a faint smile. "Last year, I was supposed to take the academy exam presided over by the Education Commissioner, but no stipendiary scholar was willing to vouch for me, so I couldn't become a Xiucai [scholar]."
Liu Xianyang nodded. Speaking of which, neither he nor Chen Ping'an had any scholarly rank — not even child students, let alone scholars. In the Confucian academies, neither of them had even managed to become a worthy. Truly brothers in misfortune, the both of them.
Actually, Li Shenyuan hadn't told the whole truth. The youth hadn't made it to the second retest at all. And in both the county and prefectural exams, he had come first. If he had continued to the academy exam, it was highly likely he could have won first place again. In the examination field, that would have been something a scholar could boast about for a lifetime — "three consecutive first places in the minor exams."
As for why the youth concealed the facts, it was out of respect for his elders. In a family, when things go well, everyone shares the good. But when hearts scatter, the bad comes in countless forms — with unimaginably filthy thoughts and endless underhanded schemes. Li Shenyuan was now only fourteen years old (by nominal age). When he was born, the family was still relatively wealthy. Though it was a hollow shell about to be emptied, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse; it was still much better off than an average well-off family. Going from frugality to luxury is easy — just watch a few rich people live their luxurious lives and you learn. Going from luxury back to frugality is hard. That was the case with Li Shenyuan's family. Almost all the elders, accustomed to living high on the hog, spent their days complaining about fate or looking for shady ways to make money. But shady money wasn't so easy to come by. They were cheated many times by the experts in the prefectural city, and there were even arranged marriages that turned into scams. One of Li Shenyuan's uncles suffered the fate of losing both his money and his bride.
Liu Xianyang laughed, "You're right to leave home. If you don't save yourself and cut ties with your family, you'll be finished in this life."
The cornered youth smiled bitterly. His thinking was simple: he just wanted to become a registered disciple of Dragon Spring Sword Sect, then go back and clean up the mess.
Otherwise, in his family, he had no weight and was a junior. No matter how reasonable his arguments, they carried no weight.
Liu Xianyang stood up, "Alright, stop with the long face. Come up the mountain with me."
Li Shenyuan was overjoyed, "Does this mean Immortal Xu is willing to take me as a disciple?"
Having decided to steal the disciple, Liu Xianyang started playing tricks to undermine Senior Sister Xu. "She thinks you have poor talent. The key issue is that you're not a sword cultivator seedling, yet she's a sword immortal with her own peak. Her founding disciple naturally has to be a sword cultivator. I argued hard on the mountain to convince her, as the sect's law overseer, to let you cultivate on the mountain. But it's not Boiling Sea Peak — it's Youyi Peak. You'll first be an unregistered disciple for an eminent, handsome, and incomparably talented great figure. Whether you can enter the hall and be lucky enough to become his direct disciple depends on your future fortune."
Li Shenyuan felt a bit disappointed, but it wasn't the worst outcome. At least he wouldn't have to return empty-handed. The youth followed Liu Xianyang out of the house and asked curiously, "Sect Leader Liu, may I be so bold as to ask which sword immortal's Dao field is on Youyi Peak?"
The reason Li Shenyuan was so set on apprenticing with Xu Xiaoqiao was that he had once seen this kind-hearted immortal on the streets of the prefectural city and thought she was a good person.
Liu Xianyang handed the oil lamp he was holding to the young man beside him, smiling, "Far away at the horizon, close before your eyes."
Li Shenyang held the oil lamp and stopped in his tracks, stunned speechless. But he remembered to stretch out his arm to shield the flame.
Liu Xianyang said seriously, "I will take you on foot all the way to Youyi Peak. The wind is strong in the mountains. If the lamp goes out, it means you and I have no master-disciple karmic bond."
The youth's expression instantly tightened. He broke out in a cold sweat from nervousness. He immediately opened his clothes and shielded the lamp inside to protect it from the mountain wind.
Afterward, Li Shenyuan carefully followed Sect Leader Liu along the mountain path toward Youyi Peak. When they encountered a headwind, the youth would walk backwards on the path.
The wind was indeed strong in the mountains. They often saw withered pines fallen into ravines. The wind rose like waves crashing. Moreover, Youyi Peak was not like the easy road of the ancestral mountain. The path was especially winding and rugged. Liu Xianyang walked leisurely, while the poor youth struggled. Adding to that, sections of water-crossing paths or narrow stone bridges covered in moss, or a single withered pine serving as a log bridge — walking on these, Li Shenyuan felt like walking on thin ice. If it weren't for the fact that he had imitated the seekers of immortality from those strange books and walked all the way to Dragon Spring Sword Sect, becoming accustomed to trudging through mountains and rivers, he wouldn't have had the strength to keep the lamp from being blown out by the mountain wind, let alone climb the mountain alone.
Liu Xianyang stopped halfway up the mountain, letting the already dizzy youth rest a bit, regain his energy before continuing upward.
Before this, Liu Xianyang's pace had varied — fast then slow, occasionally reminding the youth behind him to pay attention to his breathing rhythm.
Now Liu Xianyang smiled, "Don't be so nervous. You've already covered more than half the journey."
Li Shenyuan's lips were chapped. His mood was not relaxed. "A hundred miles is ninety percent when you're halfway" — the journey's second half is hardest.
Liu Xianyang clasped his hands behind his back, smiling, "Countless matters in the world, a limited cup on the table. Every year there's a new spring; next year's flowers will be even more beautiful."
Seeing that the youth didn't respond, Liu Xianyang had to ask, "What do you think?"
"Sect Leader Liu's impromptu poem has a good message, like a scholar's self-reflection. It's just... it doesn't rhyme, doesn't fit the poetic form, and there's a suspicion of being a 'patchwork style.'"
"Such high praise — don't evaluate me again from now on."
Afterward, they continued climbing. As they neared the summit, Li Shenyuan suddenly slipped, fell to the ground, and the oil lamp rolled away, the flame extinguished.
The youth sat on the ground, dazed. Whether from utter exhaustion of spirit or the sudden setback, for a moment he couldn't even muster the energy to feel sad.
Liu Xianyang crouched beside him, laughing, "It turns out that you really have no fate with this peak."
Li Shenyuan's fall and loss of the lamp had, of course, been deliberately caused by Liu Xianyang.
Hmm, this peak was called Boiling Sea Peak.
His own Youyi Peak was somewhere else.
Li Shenyuan silently picked up the oil lamp, carefully wiped it with his sleeve, and handed it back to Sect Leader Liu.
As soon as he gave back the lamp, tears instantly streamed down his face.
All this arduous climb, guarding that lamp like harboring a thread of hope — now that the flame was extinguished, his hope was completely gone. But unlike when he first came to Dragon Spring Sword Sect and was turned away at the gate, when he refused to accept his fate and was unwilling to leave, now that he had fallen and snuffed the lamp himself, it was like he had finally accepted his fate. There was no more resentment.
At the mountaintop, Xu Xiaoqiao, who had been silently observing the youth, couldn't help but send a voice message to Liu Xianyang, "Sect Leader Liu, I'm taking this direct disciple."
It was rare for her to address Liu Xianyang as "Sect Leader Liu." She must be very serious.
But Liu Xianyang acted as if he hadn't heard. He handed the lamp back to Li Shenyuan, patted the youth on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Li Shenyuan, before you formally seek the Dao, you need to understand one principle. Both immortals and mortals in this world will reach the point where the oil runs out and the lamp gutters. Only the lamp of the heart shines eternally, most imperishable. Just a spark of light can illuminate a thousand autumns and ten thousand ages. What is cultivating the Dao? That is the path. If you don't believe this principle, turn around and look at the road."
Following Liu Xianyang's pointing finger, Li Shenyuan saw a trace of light on the mountain path — sometimes straight, sometimes curving — rising and extending all the way to where he stood.
At the same time, the oil lamp in the youth's hand suddenly rekindled.
Liu Xianyang grinned, "Now I'll give you a choice: apprentice under Xu Xiaoqiao, or come with me to Youyi Peak to learn the Dao?"
The youth's answer made Liu Xianyang smile knowingly, but greatly surprised Xu Xiaoqiao. Li Shenyuan still chose to cultivate on Boiling Sea Peak.
Liu Xianyang laughed, "There are only a few steps to the summit. Go on your own. Senior Sister Xu is waiting for you. Kid, from now on, when you see me, you don't call me master — call me sect leader. Don't regret it. Oh, right, this oil lamp is an antique, not low in rank. Consider it a meeting gift from me as sect leader."
Transforming into a beam of sword light, Liu Xianyang returned to Youyi Peak. Sheyue asked doubtfully, "Why did you give the disciple to Xu Xiaoqiao?"
Liu Xianyang snickered, "Actually, halfway up, I regretted it. Taking on a disciple is like having a millstone tied to your ankle — laborious and draining. Besides, being called 'Master' is way less carefree than being called 'Sect Leader Uncle.'"
Seeing that he didn't want to tell the truth, Sheyue didn't press for it.
Liu Xianyang said seriously, "I'm going into seclusion."
Sheyue asked, "Can we have breakfast together tomorrow morning?"
Liu Xianyang smiled, "I'll try my best to have breakfast with you on this day next year."
Sheyue found it strange, "Is just taking a nap going to take that long?"
Liu Xianyang nodded, "This time is indeed a bit different. I met a strange person in a dream earlier. I couldn't see his face clearly. If I'm not mistaken, he's very likely one of the ten greats of ancient times — that nameless sword cultivator. Earlier, at a site of an ancient battlefield, he actually sensed my presence. We didn't talk, but he seemed shocked by my sword-cultivating talent. While cleaning up the battlefield, he tossed me a look. With my smarts, I understood immediately."
He made it sound easy, but at the time, Liu Xianyang's hair stood on end. One sharp glare from that person nearly knocked Liu Xianyang out of his own dream.
Sheyue asked, "What did you understand?"
Liu Xianyang said, "This senior was asking me to learn swordsmanship from him."
Sheyue hesitated, then warned, "That guy, even in ancient times, was known for his aloof personality, bad temper, not close to anyone. Be careful."
Liu Xianyang chuckled, "Back in Pear Blossom Cave Heaven, when it came to getting along with elders, I was second to none."
Sheyue was skeptical, "Better than the Hidden Official Chen?"
Liu Xianyang didn't like hearing that. He lifted his foot, stood on one leg like a golden rooster, and patted his knee, "When it comes to that, Chen Ping'an's skill only reaches up to here."
Sheyue loved hearing things like that and nodded with a smile.
Liu Xianyang crouched down, intending to chat a bit more with Miss Yu before going into seclusion.
Once he reached the Immortal realm, he and Miss Yu would truly be a pair of celestial lovers.
Actually, when Xie Ling came out of seclusion as a Jade Pure, Dragon Spring Sword Sect would have three sword immortals simultaneously.
Besides, wasn't Miss Yu still one of the young top ten across several realms? In the old days, Chen Ping'an was number eleven on that list — dead last.
Seeing that he wasn't in a hurry to go into seclusion, Sheyue sat beside him and asked, "Does Ruan the Master seem uninterested in breaking through himself?"
Especially after Liu Xianyang reached the upper five realms and took over as sect leader, Ruan Qiong became even more indifferent.
Liu Xianyang laughed heartily, "Ruan the Blacksmith's talent isn't as good as mine. Jade Pure is his ceiling. Besides, he prefers forging swords and isn't very interested in cultivation itself."
Sheyue lowered her voice, "I heard from Xu Xiaoqiao that Ruan the Master resigned as chief offering twice, but the Emperor didn't allow it."
The Daoist celestial from the old Great Frost Dynasty, Cao Rong. The bone-white swordsman from Northern Jambudvipa's Skeleton Beach, Pu Rang. Plus that female Daoist who claimed to be from Inverted Suspense Mountain's Blade Chamber, Liu Boqi.
These were all candidates the Great Li Song clan had strongly courted but failed to secure as their offering. After the war ended, they all gracefully departed to travel to other continents.
Thinking about this, Liu Xianyang curled his lip. The Great Li court certainly intended to bolster their offering strength and deepen their mountain foundation. If not for the fact that these eccentric individuals were closer to Song Jixin, that peacock, Emperor Song He would have put much more effort into retaining them. Actually, Liu Xianyang and Song Jixin had been at odds for a long time — one disdainful of the other's physical weakness, the other disdainful of the other's poverty and vulgarity.
Liu Xianyang said, "Don't worry. Song He knows how to handle people. At least while he's emperor, he'll never agree to let Ruan the Blacksmith resign as chief offering."
Sheyue sighed, "Over in the Wilderness, they don't have such twists and turns."
Liu Xianyang said, "After I come out of seclusion, I plan to make a trip to Hong Prefecture. I feel like something's strange there."
Sheyue nodded, "Isn't it said to be the place where twelve ancient sword immortals ascended? As a sword cultivator, if you have an intuitive response, that's right. And I've heard there are some old customs passed down through generations there, very much like 'entertaining gods for longevity techniques.' According to your Haoran world's sayings, the earliest sacrificial methods were with shamans and invocators, then with historians, then with scholar-officials. And since ancient times, places with high mountains and large trees have often been where sacrifices took place."
She hesitated for a moment, then decided not to drag that certain someone into it. Otherwise, if Liu Xianyang brought him along, and they were truly going to explore, seek treasures, and visit scenic spots, they'd have a much better chance. Given that person's style — stop in time — he could even make the heavens three feet higher.
Liu Xianyang beamed. As the old saying goes, "A good wife brings a good husband." And Miss Yu was far more than just virtuous.
Sheyue suddenly said, "Liu Xianyang, have you really thought it through?"
Liu Xianyang was baffled, "Thought what through?"
Sheyue glared, "Playing dumb? My identity can't be hidden forever."
She didn't mind, but Liu Xianyang was a sect leader after all. Like before, when Dong Gu drank himself to tears over his own knotty issues.
Liu Xianyang laughed, "Miss Yu, are you worried about what others might say? What's there to worry about? If someone makes me unhappy, I'll make them unhappy. If someone likes to gossip, and I happen to have time, I'll deal with them one by one. Not a single one gets away."
"So you're only worried because I'm worried? That's even more unnecessary. Neither of us should worry."
Sheyue said softly, "You really don't care at all?"
Liu Xianyang grinned, "I settle accounts with them one by one first, then I don't care."
Sheyue seemed satisfied by this, a dimple appearing on her round face.
With both hands behind his head, Liu Xianyang remembered something. He pulled a seal from his sleeve, clenched it in his palm, and gently rubbed it.
Sheyue knew who had given that seal to Liu Xianyang.
Although Liu Xianyang often talked about their youth, she still didn't quite understand how Liu Xianyang and Chen Ping'an could have such a good relationship. The latter even regarded the former as an elder brother.
Sheyue had always felt that someone as clever as the young Hidden Official wouldn't be inclined to depend on others. Especially once he made up his mind, he was especially resolute, his Dao heart immovable. But with Liu Xianyang, Chen Ping'an seemed very open to persuasion.
What she found most inexplicable was that Liu Xianyang had a heart as wide as the sky, while Chen Ping'an's mind was unfathomably deep. One person was too lazy to think much about anything — even if the sky fell, it wouldn't disturb whatever he was doing. The other seemed to pick up even a sesame seed on the roadside and ponder its origins. They say that friends with compatible personalities can have lasting relationships, but Liu and Chen had completely opposite personalities.
Liu Xianyang laughed, "Do you find it strange?"
Sheyue knew that Liu Xianyang knew what she was thinking. She nodded, "Isn't it strange?"
Liu Xianyang shook his head, "Actually, it's not strange. Because he's always been the most timid one — he never grew up."
How can the young remain young forever?
Chen Ping'an could remain young forever.