The Embroidery River was delicate and charming, its green waves rippling gently. There were no violent winds or turbulent currents, and despite its breadth, the water evoked a sense of gentle grace.

The southbound vessel carrying Chen Ping’an and his companions had two levels, mostly filled with scholars in blue robes and merchants traveling for business. Li Baoping, unafraid of strangers, loved to mingle with the crowds, her little book satchel on her back, eagerly listening to their lofty discussions. The learned men, upon seeing an adorable little girl with an air of intelligence, carrying a green bamboo satchel for study, standing at a respectful distance, would often smile kindly. They paid her little mind and continued their unreserved conversations.

Li Huai, with utmost care, controlled the reins of his white donkey, riding it in small circles around the ship’s bow, like a great general inspecting the border. Strangely, the white donkey only allowed Li Huai to ride it, much to his delight. As for Wei Jin from the Wind and Snow Temple Celestial Platform, who was supposed to come and take the donkey away, Li Huai was instructed to demand a hefty reward – these truly important matters were utterly disregarded.

Lin Shiyi approached Chen Ping’an, leaning against the inner wall of the ship’s railing. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, “Aren’t you curious as to why A’liang said I was a Qi Refiner? And how I became one?”

Chen Ping’an paused his whittling with his firewood knife and smiled. “Of course, I’m curious, but I didn’t want to ask. I didn’t want you to overthink it.”

Lin Shiyi felt slightly dejected. It was plain to see that Chen Ping’an truly cared only for Li Baoping among the three of them. Between him and Li Huai, Chen Ping’an seemed closer to Li Huai. Whether it was because they both came from small town alleys, or because he himself was too quiet, Lin Shiyi wasn’t sure. And honestly, the youth never truly cared about such trivial matters.

But Lin Shiyi couldn’t help feeling a little down.

Lin Shiyi asked, “Do you even know how powerful that silver gourd is?”

Chen Ping’an discreetly glanced around before nodding and whispering, “Even A’liang said it was a rare Sword Nourishing Gourd. It’s obviously precious.”

Lin Shiyi said, “Then do you know how great an opportunity you missed when you refused to drink because of your fist practice? The reason I was able to officially ascend the mountain and become a Qi Refiner, a mountain immortal in the eyes of ordinary people, is because I repeatedly drank the wine from the gourd. After drinking it, I could feel it strengthening my flesh, bones, senses, and stamina. Originally, I was the one struggling the most on this journey, but later, I could even keep up with you. Didn’t you notice?”

Chen Ping’an subconsciously rubbed the cool green bamboo shard in his hand. “After leaving the Iron Talisman Riverbank, near Chessboard Mountain, you walked much more easily.”

Lin Shiyi’s expression remained unchanged as he said casually, “Oh, so you noticed all along.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “A’liang is lazy and doesn’t like to deal with small matters, despite his great abilities. Since I’m the guide, I have to consider everyone’s stamina. I need to know when to stop and rest, and to make sure everyone is walking as comfortably as possible while still building their endurance. We have a long journey ahead, and I hope everyone can avoid unnecessary suffering in the future.”

Lin Shiyi looked at Chen Ping’an’s face and eyes, crossed his arms, and scoffed, “I wouldn’t believe that coming from anyone else.”

Chen Ping’an raised the bamboo shard in his hand and asked with a smile, “I’m getting better at this. But the last bamboo box will definitely be the most beautiful. Should I give this one to Li Huai first? Then I’ll make this one smaller.”

Lin Shiyi glanced at the donkey-riding menace and shook his head. “Forget it, make it for me first. I can deal with him nagging me.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Then I’ll try to make it as sturdy as possible, using more rope. After all, you’re a celestial being. If you can really fly around like A’liang someday, it needs to be durable enough to last.”

Lin Shiyi sighed, feeling that while he wasn’t stupid, it was hard to keep up with this guy’s thoughts. Recalling a puzzling event, he asked curiously, “Why did you tell Li Baoping everything about Zhu He and Zhu Lu so soon after A’liang left at Pillow Post?”

Chen Ping’an’s expression turned serious. He countered, “Who do you think I have a better relationship with, Baoping or that father and daughter?”

Lin Shiyi retorted, “That’s obvious.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “So I had to make Baoping clearly understand what the people from her household had done. I have a general understanding of what kind of person Zhu Lu is. When A’liang deliberately set a trap for her, she didn’t just hesitate, she hoped her father, Zhu He… would step forward again. If on Chessboard Mountain, her recklessness put us all in danger, but since everyone was unharmed afterward, I can assume that she was eager to save her father. If I were in her shoes, I might not have done any better. So although I was angry, I would never complain to her face. But in the corridor at Pillow Post, Zhu Lu’s actions were simply unforgivable. I think as long as the reward is high enough, not just her mistress Baoping, but anyone could be betrayed by Zhu Lu.”

Chen Ping’an grew somber. “If she continues to act this way, one day she’ll be the death of her father. I don’t want Zhu He, such a good person, to leave Red Candle Town only to die by his daughter’s hand. Why doesn’t she cherish the father she has?”

Lin Shiyi’s expression was cold. “Do you think every parent in the world is good?”

Chen Ping’an said firmly, “I don’t care about others, my parents were good!”

Lin Shiyi’s expression darkened, but Chen Ping’an’s next words softened his expression slightly. “Zhu He is a good man, but he doesn’t seem to know how to teach his children right from wrong. Some things are so clearly right or wrong, why doesn’t he say anything or teach her? I don’t understand. Lin Shiyi, you’re very smart, do you know why?”

Lin Shiyi looked somewhat weary. “Maybe it’s a case of being blind to what’s right in front of you. But not all parents in the world can be summed up with the simple phrase ‘the hearts of all parents are the same.’ Chen Ping’an, your parents died early, so you don’t have to struggle with some things. Of course, I don’t mean anything by that. If my words were harsh, don’t take it to heart.”
Chen Pingan waved his hand, smiling, “Of course not.”

Lin Shouyi glanced at Chen Pingan’s hair, “The hairpin is just gone like that, you’re not going to look for it?”

Chen Pingan continued to craft the small book case, shaking his head, “Can’t find it. You think someone as greedy as me would lose something so valuable?”

Lin Shouyi’s expression suddenly turned strange, “Could it be that Aliang was right, and my name should be switched with yours?”

Chen Pingan asked curiously, “Is there something to that?”

Lin Shouyi had already changed the subject, leaning forward slightly, gesturing to Chen Pingan, the expert, “Can you put a curve here on the bookcase? Otherwise, it’s too square and rigid. A balance of square and round would be better, more pleasing to the eye from a distance.”

Chen Pingan nodded, “I’ll do my best, but if it doesn’t look good in the end, I won’t be responsible.”

Knowing that this guy was a man of his word, and if he said he wouldn’t be responsible, he really wouldn’t, Lin Shouyi, who had great expectations for the small bookcase, became anxious and sped up his speech, “That won’t do! These bamboo from Qidun Mountain are special and precious. Every piece used is one less. My bookcase must be pleasing to the eye, while also being practical and sturdy. Chen Pingan, you can take your time with the cleaver. Think more when building the bamboo frame, think, think!”

Chen Pingan continued to wield his knife with lightning speed, fragments of short, narrow green bamboo constantly falling to the ground, then being collected by Chen Pingan into his basket. Lin Shouyi watched with bated breath. Chen Pingan caught a glimpse of the cold, stern young man’s anxious expression and suppressed a smile, “Or maybe I should make your bookcase last.”

The young man said angrily, “My name is Lin Shouyi. Am I the kind of person who likes to go back on his word?”

Chen Pingan suddenly understood why Aliang liked to play pranks so much. It felt good.

Li Huai led the donkey swaggering over to the two of them, and asked boisterously, “Chen Pingan, do you think Aliang will be back tomorrow?”

Chen Pingan raised his head, “Forgot?”

Li Huai quickly covered his mouth, and after releasing it, looked around sneakily. He let go of the reins, squatted down opposite Chen Pingan, and lowered his voice, “Then the day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow works too. Anyway, at the very latest, by the time we get off the boat, if Aliang isn’t back, then I won’t recognize him as a friend anymore. Chen Pingan, tell me, isn’t that already very generous of me? Right? When Aliang kneels on the ground begging me, well, you can say a few good words for him. Then I’ll reluctantly nod and agree to continue being friends with Aliang.”

Lin Shouyi simply closed his eyes. Ignoring his classmate Li Huai was the best option.

Lin Shouyi had never seen someone so deserving of a beating. He really wondered if he would secretly gloat one day if Li Huai ever got into trouble.

They heard a donkey’s bray, followed by the sound of a child falling and crying.

Li Huai turned to look, somewhat stunned. The white donkey had caused trouble. Probably some unfortunate kid thought it was fun and went to tease the donkey. But that beast had a bad temper. Although it wouldn’t hurt anyone, it would definitely scare anyone who dared to provoke it. For example, it was now raising its hooves, repeatedly stomping heavily on the deck, scaring the child sitting on the ground so much that he didn’t dare to cry.

Chen Pingan abruptly put down the knife and bamboo in his hand, quickly walked over, and carefully helped the child up. Then he reached out and gestured down at the white donkey twice. After seeing Chen Pingan’s gesture, the white donkey, although still somewhat agitated, stopped its hooves and stood quietly in place.

The child, dressed in silk clothes, flailed his hands and feet, struggling to break free from Chen Pingan’s grasp. Seeing his family elder coming down the stairs from the second floor of the ship, he quickly ran over and burst into tears. A burly man in black, taking three steps at a time, instantly arrived at the child’s side, knelt down and asked in a low voice, “Young Master Yu, what’s wrong? Who bullied you? I’ll avenge you!”

Chen Pingan waved to Li Huai, who was trying to tiptoe away. The latter shrank his neck, and after meeting Chen Pingan’s gaze, didn’t dare to continue being a coward. He walked to Chen Pingan’s side, hanging his head, and said weakly, “My white donkey would never bite anyone randomly, I swear, Chen Pingan…”

Chen Pingan hummed in acknowledgment, and said softly, “But no matter what, you need to apologize to them.”

Li Huai raised his head, his face full of grievance, “Why? That kid provoked the white donkey on his own. It didn’t hurt him. Why should I apologize? That ignorant kid should apologize to me.”

Chen Pingan was just about to explain something to Li Huai.

Li Baoping dashed back from afar and stood beside Chen Pingan. Lin Shouyi also stood up, but remained in place, needing to help Chen Pingan watch over the basket.

A stern shout rang out from the group, “Audacious beast! How dare you injure someone?!”

It was a middle-aged man full of official authority, his face gloomy, his eyes sweeping over the four of them. “Where are your elders? Come out!”

Chen Pingan’s expression was calm, and he said softly, “Li Huai.”

Li Huai, who was mostly hiding behind Chen Pingan, said timidly, “Scaring your child was my fault for not controlling my white donkey. I’m sorry.”

After apologizing to those strangers in one breath, Li Huai choked up.

Aliang once joked that this little brat was only fierce at home, acting like a lord in the family but a grandson outside. He wasn’t wrong about Li Huai.

Chen Pingan gently rubbed Li Huai’s head, then looked at the middle-aged man, and slowly said, “Is there anything we can do?”

The middle-aged man sneered, “A kid with no experience, talking so big. Have your parents or elders come out to talk!”

A dignified woman with a face full of heartache hugged the child, listening to the child’s constant complaints, her eyebrows becoming even sharper. Especially after hearing her child say that the donkey was rampaging and about to bite him, she was furious. If she hadn’t run fast, the beast would have bitten off an arm. The woman’s mouth twitched with anger. She raged, “Can’t you control it?! After sitting on the bench in the capital for so many years, you finally got somewhere, and now you have to let a beast bully your own son? Aren’t you ashamed? Even I, a woman, am embarrassed for you!”

Chen Pingan took a deep breath, looked at the middle-aged man with an uncertain expression, and slowly said, “Our elders didn’t accompany us on this long journey. I can make all the decisions.”
The woman shifted her gaze, coldly looking towards Chen Pingan and sneered, “If you can’t even manage a four-legged beast, how can you expect anything better from a two-legged one? A bunch of fathered but motherless bastards!”

Li Baoping’s lips trembled with anger, her face flushed as she retorted, “My Little White Donkey is very well-behaved! We’ll admit to any wrongdoing it commits! But we won’t allow you to slander it with baseless accusations! If you have the guts, ask that child again, find out the real cause of the incident, before you start spouting nonsense!”

Lin Shouyi’s expression darkened, and he reached into his robes.

Among the stack of yellow paper talismans, there was a vast difference in quality. With Lin Shouyi’s current physique and spiritual will, only the three lowest-grade talismans, the ‘Plate-Bound Pearls’, were within his control.

Chen Pingan quickly glanced at Lin Shouyi, sending a subtle inquiring look. The latter nodded, his eyes indicating that the Yin spirit was not far away. He had already contacted it, and the Yin spirit could appear at any moment.

After retracting his gaze, Chen Pingan earnestly said to the man, “I hope that woman will apologize to us.”

The scholar-robed middle-aged man seemed to think it was beneath him to argue with a group of children. Having somewhat realized the impetuousness of his son’s behavior, he had a belated sense of awareness of the situation. Upon hearing the preposterous words of the grass-shoe-wearing boy, he only found it amusing, dismissing it as the ignorance of a naive lad from the marketplace. He indifferently said, “Since you’ve apologized, and with no elders present, I won’t pursue the matter further. However, to prevent that beast from harming anyone, I think it’s best to put it down. Otherwise, if it truly injures someone, the consequences will be too much for you children to bear.”

The woman sneered, “Jingfu! Do you not understand the principle of a servant dying for his master’s honor?”

The black-clad man looked embarrassed and quickly bowed to the matriarch of the family.

The child suddenly whispered something in her ear, pointing to the young lady carrying the small bamboo box. The woman nodded and smiled, “That’s right. After killing that beast and throwing it into the river, remember to teach those three little brats a lesson. As for that little girl in the red cotton coat, I find her pleasing to the eye. It would be a good fortune for her to become a personal maid for my Yu’er.”

Li Huai was terrified, desperately grabbing Chen Pingan’s sleeve, “It doesn’t matter if they hit or scold me, but Little White Donkey mustn’t die. I’ll apologize to them again. I can give them that book as compensation. Didn’t you tell me that book was valuable, and I shouldn’t lose it…”

Chen Pingan reached out and heavily pressed down on the child’s head, preventing him from continuing, “Apologize for what? You’ve done nothing wrong now.”

Li Huai was stunned.

Chen Pingan placed his other hand on Li Baoping’s head, softly saying, “I’ll see if Little Martial Uncle can help you vent your anger. It’s uncertain, but we’ll only know if we try.”

Lin Shouyi was about to speak, but Chen Pingan gently shook his head at him. Finally, he looked at the seemingly reasonable middle-aged man and asked, “Is it impossible to reason with you? Is there no room for discussion?”

The man was slightly irritated and narrowed his eyes, saying darkly, “Do you know who you’re talking to?”

The man waved his sleeve and ordered his black-clad attendant, “Kill the donkey!”

Chen Pingan took a deep breath.

The boy’s aura underwent a complete transformation.

A Liang had once taught him an eighteen-stop method of Qi circulation. Chen Pingan had tried many times, but could only manage a maximum of seven stops before succumbing to unbearable pain. It should be known that Chen Pingan’s tolerance for pain far exceeded that of his peers. The one time he managed to reach the seventh stop, Chen Pingan almost writhed on the ground. Only the first six stops, even for Chen Pingan, who possessed a physique of no more than the second realm of martial arts, could be completed relatively smoothly.

Clearly, there was a crucial dividing line between the sixth and seventh stops.

However, for Chen Pingan, being able to spar with Zhu He, a Fifth Realm Peak cultivator, on Chessboard Mountain, with some back and forth, was no small feat. Although Zhu He had stipulated beforehand that he would suppress his Qi circulation to the Third Realm, Zhu He had never truly entered the pugilistic world, so he was not entirely aware of the significance of this.

Only the soldier-esque swordsman from the True Martial Sect in the town was able to see at a glance that the boy’s crude and simple stances by the river were already imbued with the essence of boxing.

Practicing boxing without finding the truth will lead to possession by a ghost in three years. Practicing boxing and finding the truth will allow one to kill even a god with a single punch.

Zhu He certainly knew these two sayings, but since he had not yet reached the Sixth Realm, he had not yet experienced the scenery at the higher reaches of martial arts, so he did not quite grasp the truth of the sayings.

Zhu He did not even know that the End-Point he believed in was the Ninth Realm, but above that, there was also the legendary Tenth Realm of “Climbing the peak of the mountain, I am the summit.”

In the path of martial arts, after crossing the threshold by virtue of opportunity and talent, the more hardship one can endure, the more blessings one will enjoy. It is the fairest of all paths.

No matter how much the Qi practitioners on the mountains may look down upon the “lower class” of pure martial artists, when fists truly land on the heads of these immortals, it truly hurts.

The black-clad strongman strode forward, stepping out from beside the scholar-robed head of the family, casually saying, “I advise you to step aside.”

Without another word, Chen Pingan took a step forward. The sound of the boat planks was dull and muffled, seeming unremarkable to outsiders, perhaps just a bit of youthful recklessness.

The stance patterns of the Mountain-Shaking Fist technique consisted of six steps in total, varying in size and alternating. After memorizing the eighteen stops, Chen Pingan himself attempted to take one step per stop.

Once Chen Pingan started challenging himself, there was truly no saving him.

Just like how, simply because of one sentence from Miss Ning Yao, Chen Pingan had decided to practice boxing one million times, and had not slacked off a single day since then.

The black-clad man, a Third Realm martial artist, was somewhat surprised to see a poverty-stricken boy practicing stance patterns with a semblance of skill. However, he did not have the slightest bit of caution or wariness. On the contrary, he was somewhat pleased. After all, if he had only killed the donkey and then bullied a few children, he would not know where to put his face. There were quite a few fellow members of the family’s entourage on this boat.

The six stance patterns were completed swiftly. Chen Pingan’s final step exploded with power, causing the ship planks beneath his feet to creak. He had already arrived in front of the black-clad man in an instant, like an arrow released from a bow.

The dumbfounded man could only hastily gather a breath and raise his arms to protect his chest.
A sharp, hammer-like pain shot through his arm. The force of the impact sent him staggering backward. Just as he managed to stop his retreat and was trying to ease the near-numbness in his hands, a dark shadow, like a clinging vine, sprang into the air, slamming a knee into the man’s slightly open chest.

The impact truly injured the man, sending him flying back with a loud crash.

As blood welled up in his throat, his mind cleared completely. As a true Third Realm martial artist, he thought that the youth’s unexpected, ruthless attacks were likely his last burst of strength. He only needed to use the momentum to fall a distance away, and he could quickly rise and face his enemy.

But the straw-sandaled youth was like a clean wind sweeping across the land.

His speed didn’t diminish, but rather increased. He arrived at the man’s side before he even hit the ground, and brought a fist down on the back of his head.

The black-clad man was driven straight into the deck, the force of the impact so great that his body bounced slightly.

After coughing up a mouthful of blood, the Third Realm martial artist, without landing a single blow or using a single technique, was knocked unconscious.

Fortunately, when the youth saw him fall senseless, his straw-sandaled foot, which was about to come down on his face, stopped abruptly and was withdrawn.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

The middle-aged man didn’t have time to turn around, remaining in the same position, with an expression like a scholar who had fallen into a cesspit.

The woman’s face was as white as snow, and the child in her arms gaped.

The servants and maids were even more stunned.

Chen Ping’an glanced at the black-clad man at his feet, making sure he posed no further threat, then looked at the Confucian-robed man, and finally rested his gaze on the woman. He spoke slowly, “Now, does reason make sense?”

The terrified woman suddenly shrieked at the middle-aged man, “Ma Jingfu is a useless showpiece! You’re a high-ranking official, are you going to be useless too?! Quickly reveal your official status!”

The man turned, pointing at the straw-sandaled youth, and shouted, “You insolent fool! This official is the magistrate of Wanping County at the end of this Embroidered River! I’m on my way to take office…”

Chen Ping’an didn’t even look at the man, who was now enraged. He stared intently at the woman.

He remembered clearly the woman’s words, “born without a mother,” and her intention to kidnap Li Baoping to be a servant in her household.

Chen Ping’an was not one to hold a grudge lightly. He could endure some unintentional slights, but some grudges had to be avenged. If he didn’t get revenge, he would remember it for ninety-six years of his hundred-year lifespan!

A’liang had once jokingly asked if the other four years were eaten.

The youth answered in a solemn tone, “Before I was four, I had parents and didn’t understand things. Those years don’t count.”

Chen Ping’an charged forward again like a clean wind, kicking the woman and the child in her arms, sending them staggering and falling.

But compared to the black-clad man, they were more shocked than hurt.

Chen Ping’an gave the richly dressed child a cold glare.

The middle-aged man erupted in abuse, “Outrageous! You even attack women and children? A bandit! A fiend! You’re insane!”

Chen Ping’an walked towards the man, saying, “As long as someone reaches an age of understanding, they need to be reasonable. I don’t care if you’re big or small, male or female.”

The Confucian-robed man retreated step by step, pointing at the youth, his voice trembling with threats, “I’ll charge you with a serious crime, and you’ll spend your life in prison!”

At this moment, a deep voice came from the second floor, “Young man, this is going too far. Teaching that martial artist a lesson was enough. Stop now! If you continue to be unreasonable, relying on a little skill to defy the law, I, though not a government official, wouldn’t find it hard to stop you and help the magistrate arrest you.”

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an turned to look. An old man in a blue robe stood on the deck of the second floor, next to a white-robed man with a sword, who was meditating with his eyes closed.

Chen Ping’an looked away and said to the man who claimed to be the magistrate, “Apologize to us.”

Seeing someone speak up, the man’s courage grew, and he said angrily, “Don’t even think about it! Once we’re in Wanping County, I’ll show you, a bandit, the laws of the Great Li!”

Chen Ping’an took a deep breath, “Apologize!”

The Confucian-robed man hesitated, looking towards the second floor, and shouted, “I hope the elder will act righteously! I will be eternally grateful!”

The old man remained expressionless, looking at Chen Ping’an’s back, “Young man, I’ll give you one last piece of advice: stop, cease your actions!”

Chen Ping’an gestured to Lin Shuyi on the bow of the boat, telling him not to act rashly, and turned back to ask, “What was the elder doing earlier?”

The old man smiled frankly, “Naturally, I was watching from the sidelines. Of course, if the magistrate dared to forcibly take a girl, I would definitely stop him.”

Chen Ping’an asked again, “What about them killing our donkey? Would you stop them?”

The old man smiled wryly, “I’m not a merciful bodhisattva, so I wouldn’t stop them. It’s just a donkey.”

Chen Ping’an continued to ask, “Then who is being unreasonable?”

The old man was taken aback, hesitating for the first time, “Reason, well, it’s probably on your side, but young man, having reason doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want.”

Chen Ping’an said finally, “Asking them to apologize is doing whatever I want? Elder, our reasons are clearly different.”

The old man laughed heartily, “Then today, I will see if your reason is bigger than mine.”

Chen Ping’an, his arm hanging naturally, nodded. His wrist flicked slightly, and he pointed to the white-robed man who had opened his eyes, “Relying on him, right?”

Lin Shu understood and subtly moved his lips.

The old man was already filled with anger, but his face remained smiling, nodding, “What? You disagree?”

The old man turned to his sword-wielding follower, “White Whale, this young man seems to think his fists are more reasonable than your Spirit Void Sword.”

The white-robed swordsman twitched the corner of his mouth, a faint sneer playing across his lips.

Just then, something unexpected happened.
Before the knowledgeable passengers could even fully grasp the implications of the words “Spirit Void Sword,” the white-robed swordsman, who seemed like an immortal descended to earth, was sent flying from the second-floor bow like a ragdoll. He traced a graceful arc before crashing headfirst into the Embroidered Flower River, creating a massive splash. He didn’t resurface for a long time, his fate unknown.

The Confucian-robed man was scared out of his wits. He looked towards the boy who was already ascending the stairs and quickly tried to remedy the situation, “I’m sorry, I was wrong! This official was wrong!”

Chen Ping An arrived beside the old man, leaving only the trembling elder on the second-floor bow.

The old man swallowed hard upon seeing the boy’s figure.

Chen Ping An asked softly, “Old sir, you’ve lived for so long, you should know better than me. Did your wisdom go to the dogs?”

The old man was about to speak when, like a giant white fish, the white-robed swordsman was thrown back onto the second floor of the ship.

The old man hunched over, at a loss for words.

The boy had already descended the stairs and departed.

The Confucian-robed man ordered all his family members to stand straight and properly apologize as the straw-sandaled boy passed by.

Chen Ping An said to the man, “That’s enough. But I know you secretly wish you could kill us all.”

The Confucian-robed man’s knees buckled, wishing he could kneel before this boy.

Chen Ping An ignored them.

He returned to his original spot at the bow of the ship and sat down.

Li Bao Ping gave him a thumbs up.

Lin Shouyi remained leaning against the inner wall of the railing, his expression calm.

Li Huai, filled with guilt, tightly gripped the white donkey’s reins, afraid of causing Chen Ping An any more trouble.

Chen Ping An pondered seriously and said softly, “From now on, I need to practice my boxing more diligently. Also, Lin Shouyi, if you can, don’t slack off either.”

Lin Shouyi nodded with a smile, “You don’t need to tell me.”

Li Huai said quietly, “I’m sorry, Chen Ping An.”

Chen Ping An raised his head and smiled, “You’ve already said sorry for what you needed to. If you’re saying sorry because of the trouble those people caused, don’t. As long as you’re not in the wrong, don’t apologize, to anyone. On our journey to the Great Sui Dynasty, we’ll still be like today. We won’t seek trouble, but if trouble comes to us, don’t be afraid of it! Can you do that, Li Huai?”

Li Huai’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. He puffed out his chest, “I can!”

Li Huai quickly broke into a smile, “Chen Ping An, you’re amazing! You fight so fiercely, maybe I should call you Little Martial Uncle from now on.”

Chen Ping An glanced at him.

Li Huai immediately changed his tune, “We’ll talk about it later!”

Chen Ping An suddenly added, “If, and I mean if, we ever encounter an opponent we can’t beat no matter how hard we try, then quickly admit defeat and be a coward. It’s not shameful. Living is more important than anything else.”

Li Bao Ping crossed her arms, leaned against her small book box, and said indignantly, “Little Martial Uncle, that won’t work!”

Lin Shouyi countered, “I think it could work.”

Li Huai chuckled, “I’ll listen to my future Little Martial Uncle anyway.”

Beneath the Embroidered Flower River, an underworld spirit, drifting like a fish in the water, smiled.