Dressed in flowing white robes, Cui Chan traversed the bustling streets and narrow alleys, finally locating the estate housing the pavilion. As expected, it was a residence of great prominence, guarded by a pair of imposing stone lions and a towering threshold. Strangely, the mansion bore the inscription “Zhi Lan” – not the Zhang estate or the Qian manor. The pavilion where Cui Chan had sensed the unusual phenomena earlier must be this family’s private library, its height almost rivaling the Kui Xing Pavilion of the city’s Confucian temple, certainly not the property of ordinary wealthy merchants.

The closer Cui Chan drew to the “Zhi Lan” residence, the more distinctly he felt the impending storm. The sensation was akin to the oppressive darkness preceding a torrential downpour, causing a feeling of stuffiness. Beyond the noble righteousness championed by Confucianism, the world held many intangible energies, generally divided into the pure and the impure. The former was refined and ethereal, beneficial to cultivation, while the latter was foul and turbid, detrimental to the soul. Mass burial grounds, ancient lookout mounds built from skulls, and battlefields all held their own mysteries, not all of which were entirely impure.

The blessed lands and grotto heavens conducive to cultivation were like a chamber of orchids and irises, refreshing the heart and soul. Cui Chan, with his hands clasped behind his back, casually ascended the steps. A middle-aged gatekeeper emerged from the side door, observing the white-robed youth’s extraordinary bearing. Not daring to be negligent, he respectfully inquired about his identity.

Cui Chan claimed to be a wandering immortal who accumulated virtue through slaying demons and vanquishing monsters. He had sensed the abnormality of the residence from outside the city, predicting a bloody calamity, and had therefore come to assist. The gatekeeper dismissed it as a jest. Whether demons and monsters truly existed was something the gatekeeper knew to be true, as their own estate harbored many harmless sprites. But to suggest that evil spirits dared to cause trouble within the city, especially within the “Zhi Lan” estate, was utterly laughable. Everyone knew that the four members of the father and sons of the family were acknowledged as divine beings. The youngest son, Cao Xishan, had reportedly just become the direct heir to an immortal sect on a mountain last year, proficient in both flying swords and thunder magic.

Undeterred by being mistaken for a charlatan, Cui Chan patiently continued his explanation, “Your family’s estate is well-designed for concealing wind and gathering water, and the library’s layout is the best, serving as the core of the formation. Furthermore, there are likely many rare and valuable books within the library, bearing the personal seals of sages and virtuous rulers. Thus, over time, it easily accumulates spiritual energy. Ordinary demons and ghosts dare not venture here to their doom. However, some timid and gentle creatures, fond of living near people, thrive here.”

The gatekeeper’s expression grew impatient, urging Cui Chan to leave, claiming he had no time to listen to a young boy’s nonsense. Cui Chan reached out and gently brushed aside the gatekeeper’s shoving hand, smiling faintly. “But this mansion’s library is indeed peculiar. A large serpent lurks within, perhaps it was there from the beginning, its origins unknown, or perhaps it was invited in later through some ritual. If I am not mistaken, it should be a fire serpent. It is nearing its penultimate shedding, and the next shedding will transform it by embracing water. Once successful, it will become a great Jiaolong.”

Cui Chan pointed towards the outside of the city. “However, there is a water serpent in the river, its cultivation far surpassing that of the fire serpent. It is lurking beneath the surface, waiting for an opportunity. It will never easily allow your family’s close kin and mortal enemy to successfully shed its skin. Once serpents, Jiaolong, and pythons awaken their intelligence, regardless of their prior nature, they abhor the presence of their own kind. Therefore, if your estate does not prepare early, the water serpent will inevitably leave the river, rushing straight here to deliver a fatal blow while the fire serpent is weak during its shedding, seizing the half-formed fire pearl within the fire serpent’s body to transform it into its own cultivation. With the confluence of water and fire, the Great Dao will be within reach!”

The gatekeeper’s gaze turned complex before erupting in fury, attempting to shove the white-robed youth away. “Get out! Get out! You little brat, spouting nonsense!”

Cui Chan sighed. “Master, you see, reasoning doesn’t work. So troublesome. I’ll just have to do it my way.”

With a flick of his sleeve, the middle-aged gatekeeper was swept away by a gust of clear wind, collapsing into a daze several yards away. Five or six burly men quickly rushed out from the side door. Cui Chan strode forward, and those martial artists of the initial and intermediate realms fared even worse than the gatekeeper. Before they could even see how the handsome youth with the mole between his brows flicked his sleeve, they were sent flying, scattered haphazardly on the ground, groaning in pain.

Cui Chan continued along his path, and even more guards swarmed towards him, but none could halt his progress. When he arrived at the plaza outside the library, Cui Chan, who had been yawning, finally showed some interest, looking at the three figures standing side by side, resembling a father and his sons. Aside from them, there was no one else, presumably because they did not wish to reveal the truth of the library or harm the innocent, forbidding anyone from approaching this area.

Cui Chan’s gaze quickly swept past the three men. The library occupied a vast area, towering six stories high. Ominous clouds swirled in the sky above, thunder rumbling heavily, and lightning crackling incessantly. Erected between heaven and earth, this tall building housed a massive serpent, its body stretching tens of yards long, extending from the library’s ground floor and winding upwards. Its head, as large as a water vat, faced the thunderclouds above, its tongue flicking in a display of innate awe, yet also brimming with fierce fighting spirit. Creatures of the demon race almost universally fear thunder, a brand etched into their very bones, passed down through generations, unwavering for millennia. Legend has it that in ancient times, a certain Heavenly Emperor, in charge of thunder, once led a host of thunder gods and rain masters on a hunting expedition across the various realms, claiming countless demon lives.

Cui Chan continued forward.

A middle-aged man adorned in a bronze-colored suit of armor reached out, stopping his two sons from teaching the uninvited guest a lesson, signaling them to be patient and not act rashly. He cupped his fist in a salute. “I am Cao Hushan. May I ask what brings this honored guest to our humble abode?”

Cui Chan did not stop, speaking languidly, “My good temper was all used up back at the gate. Now I wish to ascend the tower. If you are determined to obstruct me, don’t blame me for not warning you beforehand. Exterminating your entire family… I wouldn’t do such a thing now, but killing the three of you and disposing of the bodies would not weigh on my conscience at all. I could simply explain to my master that you died in the serpent’s battle. I might even shed a tear of sympathy for you in front of my master. Alas, what can I do with such a stubborn master.”

The middle-aged man gripped the hilt of the long saber at his waist, the armor he wore radiating a thick, earthen-yellow glow. He spoke sternly, “Do you truly believe the ‘Zhi Lan’ Cao family is a pushover, ripe for the picking?”
Cui Chan spat and scoffed, “Dare you call yourselves ‘Zhi Lan’ (Orchid and Iris, a metaphor for noble families)? You hoard so many fine books, yet fail to teach your descendants the sages’ wisdom. Instead, you encourage them to brandish weapons and, even worse, collude with demons, allowing them to occupy this library and absorb its ‘fragrance of knowledge’! That wouldn’t be so bad, but knowing the Fire Serpent’s molting day would trigger the river serpent’s desperate attack, you didn’t warn the city’s inhabitants to flee. Instead, you deliberately cast illusions, obscuring the descending thunderclouds and the Fire Serpent climbing the building. Do you realize this sudden clash of fire and water will claim the lives of at least a thousand people in the city?”

Cui Chan, growing somewhat aggrieved, muttered, “Master, it’s all your fault. I’m becoming addicted to speaking properly.”

A tall youth wielding a silver spear sneered, “Father, stop wasting words on this fellow. Let me kill him. Daring to ruin our Cao family’s century-long ambition to dominate this province, he deserves to die!”

Cui Chan laughed heartily, pointing at the tall youth. “I like your fiery temper…”

Before the words could fade, an almost imperceptible speck of blood appeared on the youth’s brow. Just as he was about to infuse his magical silver spear with power, he felt a slight sting between his eyebrows. As he reached to wipe it away, he collapsed, utterly lifeless. No death throes, no pained cries, simply utter demise.

The middle-aged man’s armor glowed even brighter, as if he were enveloped in golden mist.

His other son, who possessed a scholarly air, chanted incantations, formed hand seals, and performed arcane steps with great haste. Soon, a string of radiant, white letters appeared around him, connected end-to-end, forming a perfect moon to shield him. Moreover, a small fire serpent, wreathed in flames, floated in the air, rapidly circling the young man. Even the ancient high hat atop his head released a multi-colored light, which cascaded like a fountain, enveloping the young man in protection.

Layer upon layer, inside and out, top to bottom, defensive measures were unleashed one after another.

Cui Chan was amused by the young man’s life-saving measures. “You’re quite afraid of death, aren’t you? It’s good to fear death.”

Still, there was no apparent movement from Cui Chan.

A crimson mark, resembling a drop of cinnabar, appeared on the fearful young man’s brow. He instantly breathed his last.

Cui Chan smiled gently. “As a ghost, you won’t have to fear death anymore. No need to thank me.”

The middle-aged man fled in terror.

Cui Chan didn’t bother to pursue. He was too lazy now, even exterminating his enemies felt like a chore.

Instead of rushing into the library, Cui Chan paused at the entrance, the wine gourd at his waist heavy with its contents.

On his way here, Cui Chan had bought another two pounds of cheap wine. After leaving the Sui Dynasty capital, he’d finished the original flagon. There were several jars of fine wine in the carriage, but he couldn’t very well stick his head into a jar to drink, so he kept the gourd. Over time, he’d grown fond of it. Since then, he’d been buying cheap wine from roadside taverns. He had to borrow money from Chen Ping’an; he had no silver to speak of. He possessed mountains of gold and silver, but couldn’t access them. Until he became a Fifth Realm Qi Practitioner, Cui Chan could only stare longingly.

Cui Chan took a large gulp from the wine gourd and walked forward, stepping across the threshold.

The Fire Serpent, sensing the threat, had retreated into the library, diminishing the power of the lightning and thunderclouds in the sky.

Cui Chan walked towards the staircase on the first floor, sighing, “Youth knows not the taste of sorrow, loving to ascend the tower, again and again, ever higher, ever higher.”

When Cui Chan reached the fifth floor, he stopped climbing, sitting on the stairs, his expression melancholy, unwilling to ascend any further.

Between the fourth and fifth floors, a huge, scarlet head slowly peeked out, its eyes as black as ink. It cautiously peered at the white-clad youth, a cultivator of immense power yet merciless cruelty.

Cui Chan turned to look at the Fire Serpent, lamenting, “If we had someone like you at home, someone who could talk to me and ease my boredom, perhaps I wouldn’t be the way I am today.”

The Fire Serpent gently rested its jaw on the floor, adopting a humble posture of listening attentively. It was intelligent, and far more perceptive than the Cao family, who aspired to “dominate a province.”

Cui Chan smiled and asked, “I’ve interrupted your path to immortality, deprived you of this opportune time and place. Are you not angry?”

The Fire Serpent slightly shook its head, causing the entire fifth floor to tremble, stirring up dust.

Cui Chan nodded. “You have wisdom. If you stubbornly insist on molting, the river serpent has a greater chance of success. Then, your centuries of arduous cultivation will be nothing more than paving the way for another.”

On the stairs above Cui Chan, a six or seven-year-old boy in green robes, with vertical pupils, squatted on the banister, looking down at Cui Chan’s back and tsking, “Wow, you outsider, you’re not only ruthless and vicious, but you also have excellent judgment. You even know how formidable I am.”

The Fire Serpent was terrified, barely suppressing the urge to flee back downstairs. Its entire body trembled slightly. Not only were the Cao family no longer protecting it, but it was now at its weakest, forced to prematurely end its molting process. How could it possibly be a match for this interloper?

Cui Chan turned and smiled. “Mischievous.”

The green-clad child looked bewildered, pointing at himself with a finger as sharp as an awl. “Are you talking about me?”

In the next moment, the green-clad child covered his forehead with his hands, blood seeping between his fingers. He fell from the stair railing onto the fifth floor, rolling around on the ground. The entire library began to shake.

Cui Chan took something from his sleeve, and said in annoyance, “Alright, stop pretending. If you keep misbehaving, I’ll really send you to see the King of Hell.”

The green-clad child abruptly stopped rolling, brushed off his sleeves, and asked, “What do you want? I have a close relationship with the River God outside the city, we’ve been brothers for over two hundred years. I’m far stronger than that little girl who’s afraid to even look at the City God. You have good cultivation, you’re qualified to be a guest in my mansion. If you help me today, and let me devour it, you can kill anyone you want within a thousand miles of this city…”

The green-clad child suddenly seemed unable to speak, as if someone was choking him. He stared intently at the object in the white-clad youth’s hand, utterly terrified, his legs trembling. The Fire Serpent had transformed into a girl in a pink dress, huddled at the entrance of the staircase, shivering.
Cui Chan held an ancient inkstone in his hand. Coiled upon it was a wizened, emaciated dragon, barely an inch long. If one listened closely, they could actually hear the faint sounds of its genuine snores. To the emerald-clad pageboy and the fire-python spirit of the book tower, those snores, unremarkable to ordinary scholars, were as terrifying as thunderbolts from the heavens.

Cui Chan lowered his head, pinching a gleaming, golden “embroidery needle” between his fingers. He rubbed it against the edge of the ancient inkstone, creating a series of sparks, as if sharpening its edge with the inkstone as a whetstone.

Cui Chan extended the inkstone. “Come in, obediently.”

The girl, a manifestation of the fire-python, leaned against the wall, struggling to stand. She dared not move.

The green-robed pageboy asked, “Are there any benefits?”

Cui Chan nodded and smiled. “Yes, like staying alive.”

The young boy said a single word, heavily: “Good.” Then… he shattered the fifth-floor window and flew away.

Following closely behind was a two or three-foot long golden ray of light, trailing him through the window and towards the east of the city.

A moment later, a storm of churning waves erupted in the great river outside the east gate, with splashes of blood appearing intermittently.

Chen Ping’an, who was sipping tea at the city gate, immediately paid the bill and rushed towards the city. He found the “Zhi Lan” residence deserted, even without a gatekeeper. He proceeded unhindered, finally arriving at the towering pavilion. He saw Cui Chan personally leading a girl in a pink dress out. Perhaps seeking comfort, Cui Chan had transferred his book chest to a petite and slender girl. His hands were empty, save for the wine flask at his waist.

Cui Chan slapped his forehead and instructed the girl carrying the book chest to retrieve a few of the most spiritually rich ancient texts. Then he sat on the threshold of the book tower, drinking wine and looking up with a smile. “Teacher, speak. I’m listening.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Do you know why I want you to return to Dragon Spring County with me?”

Cui Chan took a large gulp of wine and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Of course, I know. You’re afraid I won’t learn my lesson, or that I still harbor treacherous intentions, and will cause trouble at the new Cliff Academy in Great Sui. You’re worried about Li Bao Ping and the other two. So, you’d rather stay awake than risk something happening to those children.”

Chen Ping’an looked at Cui Chan.

Cui Chan said helplessly, “Hey, hey, hey, is it that hard to guess? Don’t look at me like that, Teacher. Even a hint of surprise would be an insult to Cui Chan.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated, and finally said, “If you’re willing to sincerely protect them, from today onwards, I’ll agree to take you as my student.”

Cui Chan raised his wine flask high. “It’s a deal!”

Chen Ping’an frowned. “Maybe not.”

“Just because I agreed too quickly?” Cui Chan sneered. “Don’t rush to go back on your word. The moment I secretly left the carriage with you, I already anticipated this. This isn’t just a pleasant surprise; it’s the result of long and careful consideration. So, don’t think I’m just humoring you, Chen Ping’an. You might not believe me, but staying in the Great Sui capital was a move I planned myself. Did you think it was fun for me to play chess with myself all the way here? I’m afraid it would scare you to death if I told you, but it’s the Great Li Dynasty playing chess with the Great Sui! This game determines the fate of two great dynasties!”

Cui Chan sighed. “But, on the other hand, braving danger and acting the hero in a dragon’s den isn’t usually my style. But I have no choice. After all, I created this mess myself. I’m not sure I trust anyone else to clean it up.”

Cui Chan said with a bitter face, “Teacher, if I really kick the bucket in the Great Sui capital…”

Chen Ping’an said seriously, “I’ll try to build a cenotaph for you.”

Cui Chan was stunned and muttered softly, “Damn, he even knows about cenotaphs… He hasn’t wasted his time reading with Li Bao Ping and Lin Shouyi! Haha, worthy of being my teacher. He learns quickly.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “By the way, should the epitaph say Cui Chan, or Cui Dongshan?”

Cui Chan looked terrified. “呸呸呸!” (Ptooey! Ptooey! – Spitting sound to ward off bad luck)

Then, Cui Chan smiled and said, “Knowing that Teacher would take this step, I even prepared a farewell gift. That girl earlier came from a fire-python lineage, growing up nourished by the fragrance of books. Her nature is gentle, making her perfect as Teacher’s little book attendant. As for the other one, of similar origins but with a more violent temperament, we’ll need someone like that to fight our way through mountains and rivers on our return journey to Dragon Spring County. The Li Zhu Grotto Heaven is very alluring to them, once they enter your territory, they won’t dare disobey you. But you’ll have to wait a moment, that water serpent in the river will soon come here to kowtow and apologize on his own.”

Chen Ping’an felt conflicted.

“You’re a bad person, and you’re much smarter than me. So you know better than I do how to deal with bad people. I hope that when you return to the academy, you can really protect Bao Ping and the others.” Chen Ping’an’s eyes were sincere. He took a deep breath, and in a very Jianghu-like (martial arts world) manner, clasped his fist in a salute and said: “If you can do it, then I’ll thank you in advance!”

“Teacher’s willingness to make this decision means that you’ve truly acknowledged me, even if it’s just a little bit. Whatever Teacher wants me to do is a matter of course, there’s no need for thanks.” At first, Cui Chan was joking, but after seeing Chen Ping’an’s serious face, he immediately stopped joking, shook his sleeves, and solemnly bowed, his large sleeves drooping like a crane folding its wings, elegant and peerless. He said in a deep voice, “Student bids farewell to Teacher! Teacher, take care on your journey!”