(Just this one chapter for this early morning.)

As dawn broke, the trio set out on their journey. Braving the wind and snow, Chen Ping An, who was leading the way, completed a set of boxing stances before abruptly halting.

The girl in the pink dress softly inquired, “Master, whom are you missing?”

The boy in blue lazily chimed in, “With this devilish weather, Master probably wants to find a picturesque spot to relieve himself. At least his backside won’t freeze.”

The girl in pink retorted indignantly, “Disgusting!”

The boy in blue sighed, “Truth hurts, little one.”

The Southern Gulch Kingdom, known for its elegant Daoist scholars and romanticism, was especially lively this year, with a grand celebration having just concluded.

On the border of the Southern Gulch Kingdom, behind a towering mountain that pierced the clouds, amidst the secluded mountain forest, a young Daoist nun walked slowly along a narrow path, a verdant bamboo branch in her hand, which she gently twirled with her fingers. Behind her followed a spirited and mystical white deer.

A white-robed man with a long sword at his waist walked alongside her, his expression forlorn.

She said with a hint of exasperation, “I’ve told you more than once that it’s not simply because you only have a cultivation in the Lower Five Realms that I wouldn’t like you, but it’s also not as simple as you having a cultivation in the Upper Five Realms that would suddenly make me like you. Wei Jin, there’s truly no possibility between us. Why are you so unwilling to give up? Or perhaps you can tell me, what can I do to make you abandon all hope?”

For a Daoist nun devoted to cultivation to utter such blunt and candid words, it was clear that the man’s persistent pursuit had truly begun to vex her.

The man was none other than the genius sword cultivator from the Wind and Snow Temple’s Immortal Platform, Wei Jin.

Among those who cultivated on the mountain, so-called geniuses were further divided into tiers. As such a young Eleventh Realm sword cultivator, Wei Jin was undeniably among the highest echelon, his rate of breakthrough far exceeding his peers.

Wei Jin’s expression was dejected, hardly resembling the dashing figure who had just broken through the threshold of the Tenth Realm. He forced a wry smile and said, “Is it because you already have someone you like? Perhaps that martial uncle in your sect?”

The young Daoist nun stopped in her tracks and turned to face the Wind and Snow Temple sword cultivator, already famous throughout the continent, and said with a mixture of amusement and irritation, “Wei Jin, how can you be so unreasonable!”

Although Wei Jin’s expression remained impassive, he felt a pang of frustration in his heart, unsure of how to explain or salvage the situation. He remained silent for a moment. Even in his disheartened state, with the wrinkles in his robes, to outsiders, no matter where he casually stood, he would still be the most vibrant sword in the world.

Unfortunately, that “outsider” did not include the young Daoist nun before Wei Jin.

A sword heart as clear and pure as crystal did not necessarily mean one was well-versed in the intricacies of human relationships, especially when it came to matters of love, which were inherently the most unreasonable things in the world, and even more frustrating.

Wei Jin softly said, “He Xiao Liang, I’ll ask you just one last question.”

She nodded, “Ask away.”

Wei Jin hesitated for a moment, turning his gaze elsewhere. His voice was hoarse as he said, “You always speak of fate. So if one day, you finally encounter someone with whom you have a destined connection, even if you don’t feel any affection for him in your heart, would you still choose to become his Dao companion for the sake of the Great Dao?”

All was silent.

It seemed that even the formless wisps of wind in the heavens and earth had frozen at that moment.

The young Daoist nun smiled faintly and replied, “I would.”

Wei Jin’s eyes dimmed completely. Still avoiding looking at the woman he had fallen in love with at first sight, his eyes reddened as he said, “Even if you become a celestial couple in the eyes of the world, you won’t be happy, He Xiao Liang. I won’t lie to you. I don’t want to see you unhappy.”

The young Daoist nun sighed softly, a hint of sadness revealed, yet her Dao heart remained as firm as a bedrock. “Wei Jin, even if that day truly comes, and I live an unsatisfactory life, I will never regret it. And I will never turn around and fall in love with you, Wei Jin.”

Wei Jin murmured, “Is that so?”

The young Daoist nun turned and departed.

Wei Jin remained rooted to the spot for a long time, unwilling to move. She didn’t regret it, but he already regretted it. Regretted asking such a foolish question that wounded both of them.

A young Daoist emerged from the depths of the dense forest, with a pair of large fish, one blue and one red, swimming in the air beside him.

Wei Jin retracted his gaze, only daring to stare at He Xiao Liang’s receding figure after she had walked a good distance.

He didn’t look at the “golden boy” of the Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent, and said coldly, “If you dare utter a single word, I dare draw my sword and kill you.”

Although the young Daoist was somewhat wary of the Eleventh Realm sword cultivator, this mountain forest was located behind his sect, and he believed that Wei Jin would dare draw his sword and kill at the slightest provocation. However, the Daoist completely disbelieved that he would die. Thus, he sneered, “Does an Eleventh Realm sword cultivator from the Wind and Snow Temple think he can run rampant in our Divine Edict Sect?”

The young Daoist particularly emphasized the word “Sect.”

The Treasure Bottle Continent had three great Daoist Sects, among which the Divine Edict Sect of the Southern Gulch Kingdom was the most revered, serving as the central spiritual center of the continent’s Daoist tradition. The last time he and He Xiao Liang descended the mountain together to travel to the Lihua Grotto Heaven of the Great Li Dynasty, traveling north, wherever they went, whether it was worldly emperors and monarchs, or the True Lords and Land Immortals of various countries, without exception, they all treated him and He Xiao Liang, this golden couple, with respect, daring not to slight them in the slightest.

The Divine Edict Sect was located on the border of the Southern Gulch Kingdom, exclusively occupying the Clear Pond Blessed Land, one of the seventy-two blessed lands. Sect Leader Qi Zhen also held the title of True Lord of Four Kingdoms, his Daoist magic reaching the heavens. He was one of the few true immortals in the Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent. Although the Divine Edict Sect was a lower branch of their Daoist tradition, even if Qi Zhen went to the orthodox Daoist sect located in the Central Earth Divine Continent, he would still undoubtedly be a first-rate important figure.

And this golden boy was, coincidentally, the closed-door disciple of Sect Leader Qi Zhen.

Furthermore, his fellow disciple, He Xiao Liang, studied under the Real Person Xuanfu. This reclusive senior Real Person, unlike his sect leader junior brother Qi Zhen, had only taken He Xiao Liang as his sole disciple. When He Xiao Liang had first entered the Divine Edict Sect, she was unknown, her talent was not evident, her background was not apparent. Only Real Person Xuanfu had recognized her at a glance. Later events proved that everyone had been mistaken, and only Real Person Xuanfu had discovered a peerless unpolished jade. Without even needing her master to carve her, He Xiao Liang, blessed with immense fortune, quickly rose to prominence. The speed of her breakthroughs and the fortuitousness of her opportunities left the entire sect dumbfounded.

And the chances of the golden boy and jade girl of the Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent becoming Dao companions were extremely high, even if they were not in the same sect. Each sect often welcomed such an outcome.

In the nearly thousand-year history of the Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent, only three pairs of golden boys and jade girls had come from the same sect, including them. All of them had become Daoist couples who jointly ascended to the Upper Five Realms.

Therefore, he didn’t want to be the first exception.
Wei Jin turned to look at the young Daoist, a sudden weariness washing over him. “You are not worthy of my sword. Perhaps your master, Qi Zhen, would be a match.”

It was common knowledge that an eleventh-realm swordsman could contend with a twelfth-realm Qi refiner, save for those of the military strategists.

Moreover, the Sect Master of the Divine Edict Sect had been stuck at the peak of the eleventh realm for many years. This year’s celebration was to commemorate his final breakthrough. Thus, both Wei Jin and Qi Zhen had only recently broken through. If they were to fight elsewhere, the outcome would be difficult to predict.

However, this was the Divine Edict Sect’s territory, teeming with various formations, and Qi Zhen was a True Lord of this domain, possessing every advantage of time, place, and allies. He could not be regarded as an ordinary early-stage twelfth-realm cultivator.

The young Daoist smiled. “Unworthy, so what?”

These words, after being doused with cold water once again by the Daoist nun He Xiaoliang, were particularly wounding to Wei Jin.

And so, Wei Jin said calmly, “Brace yourself.”

The young Daoist couldn’t even see Wei Jin draw his sword, yet a wisp of sword qi, no longer than an inch, descended upon his head.

Just as the young Daoist was about to lose his life-saving talisman, he saw a fair and gentle hand, white as jade, reach above his head, intercepting the terrifying sword qi that had pierced through space.

Then, a hint of blood permeated the air, jarring against the tranquil and serene mountain forest.

Wei Jin glanced at the uninvited guest, released his sword hilt, and slowly departed, leaving only a single sentence behind: “Heed my warning.”

A Daoist with a face like polished jade stood before the Divine Edict Sect’s golden child, retracting the hand that had blocked Wei Jin’s sword qi, the wound on his palm deep enough to expose bone.

The Daoist said gently, “Those who seek the Dao should focus on cultivating their hearts, why indulge in petty bickering?”

The Daoist lineage’s golden child replied respectfully, “Uncle-Master, I know I was wrong.”

The handsome and elegant Daoist smiled, chiding, “Knowing you’re wrong is one thing, but don’t just admit it with your mouth.”

The young Daoist, with two large fish swimming around him, said with a blush, “Uncle-Master, I truly know I was wrong, I will definitely change.”

The Daoist, called Uncle-Master, was actually not old, appearing to be under thirty. He smiled and said, “If you don’t want to change, there’s nothing Uncle-Master can do, after all, your master is my Sect Master brother.”

The golden child felt a headache coming on. He feared his Uncle-Master speaking to people like this. In fact, even the Sect Master Qi Zhen probably felt apprehensive around him.

He immediately said with a pained expression, “Uncle-Master, I will immediately transcribe a section of the Azure Words and Green Chapters.”

The Daoist nodded. “You may transcribe the *Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn Annals*, and submit it to me in three days.”

The golden child left quickly, looking pathetic. It was obvious that three days meant three days and nights. Misery, misery.

The Daoist stepped forward, instantly arriving at the edge of a lotus pond, standing beside the Daoist nun He Xiaoliang. He asked directly, “The Great Dao often clashes with customs and worldly affairs. After all, this is the vast world of Haoran. Have you thought it through?”

He Xiaoliang reached out and gently patted the soft back of the white deer, nodding. “Uncle-Master, I have thought it through.”

The young Daoist nun’s face was downcast.

The Daoist gazed at the pond of lush green lotus leaves. In the dead of winter, countless lotus leaves outside the mountains had already been killed by frost, yet here, each one stood tall and graceful, resembling a scene from high summer. He said softly, “If it truly comes to that, Uncle-Master will stand by your side.”

He Xiaoliang showed no sign of being moved to tears, instead lamenting, “The Great Dao is truly heartless.”

The Daoist hummed in agreement. “Indeed. That you can think this way is a good thing for your cultivation.”

The reason he stood on He Xiaoliang’s side, choosing to oppose his brother, True Person Xuanfu, was not because he felt He Xiaoliang was pitiable, but because he stood upon the Great Dao, and He Xiaoliang happened to be located on that path. If one day the positions of this master and disciple were reversed, he would make the same choice.

He Xiaoliang put aside those thoughts, and asked with a smile, “Uncle-Master, who exactly is that guy we jokingly call Little Uncle-Master Lu? He has been lingering near the border of the Southern Stream Kingdom for almost a year.”

The Daoist shook his head. “I cannot calculate the origins of that person. Since he is willing to call me brother, and I have lost to him in chess, I have no choice but to let him be. I only calculated that in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, he was the linchpin of that dead end, but Qi Jingchun’s actions were unexpected, and he never had a chance to make a move in the end. And he has some connection to the upper echelons of the orthodox Divine Edict Sect, that’s all. I cannot calculate any more.”

Even He Xiaoliang felt a chill run down her spine.

Although Qi Jingchun’s final move was quickly obscured by the Heavenly Secrets by the various Sages, He Xiaoliang not only witnessed the beginning of that great battle, but also felt its aftermath. Even the ripples on the shore that she felt at the tail end of that battle, when she finally understood something, had shocked He Xiaoliang. At the same time, she had become even more determined to pursue the Dao.

The world is so vast, and the experts are so towering, why should I, He Xiaoliang, not go there myself and take a look?

The Daoist smiled. “Don’t think too much about it, the truth will come to light.”

Afterward, this Daoist, who was of extremely high seniority in a single continent, slowly walked along the edge of the lotus pond, leisurely pondering.

The Daoist pondered some of the most self-evident things in the world, such as why it rains, why humans are revered, why there are waxing and waning moons, why there are grotto-heavens and blessed lands. These mundane things that everyone took for granted were boring because if you talked about them with people, there would be nothing to talk about.

He Xiaoliang looked from afar, admitting her inferiority.

It was not about the difference in realms, nor the difference in seniority.

It was that the young Uncle-Master had long since walked far on the Great Dao, making it difficult for people to catch up, and so they would feel ashamed of their own inadequacies.

Having bought a pot of wine at a roadside tavern, Wei Jin poured some into his hand. The white donkey lowered its head and drank it quickly. Fortunately, the local people had seen the world and were not surprised. They wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow if a donkey started talking.

Wei Jin retracted his hand and began drinking the wine himself. Leaving the tavern, he walked aimlessly, with the donkey following happily behind him.

After leaving the town at the foot of the Divine Edict Sect’s mountain, Wei Jin, who had always considered himself a江湖人, was still unwilling to fly on his sword. He drank himself into a drunken stupor, swayed, and sat on the donkey’s back, letting it carry him wherever it pleased.

Mountains and rivers, repeated again and again.

Finally, they arrived at Fengyang, the capital of the Southern Stream Kingdom. Wei Jin, like an ordinary person, presented his travel documents at the city gate before he was allowed to lead the donkey into the city.
Reeking of alcohol, Wei Jin struggled to recall. He remembered a congenial friend from his wandering days, seven or eight years ago in Fengyang. That friend had mentioned being the son of the leader of a large sect within Fengyang City. Wei Jin inquired for directions to the “Heroic Wind Sect”. He chuckled, remembering his friend’s self-deprecating remark about his ancestors’ lack of erudition in choosing such a crass name. Wei Jin had consoled him, mentioning a grand immortal mansion south of Treasure Bottle Continent, a thousand-year legacy whose power rivaled a kingdom. Yet, its founder had named it the “Invincible Divine Fist Gang,” a far more pitiful moniker that left its disciples mortified during grand gatherings filled with celestial beings.

Wei Jin ambled along, passing a fortune-telling stall. A young Daoist in full robes and crown, with meager business, was lecturing a snot-nosed child clutching a candied hawthorn skewer, “This world is in a sorry state, but that doesn’t mean you should think those kind souls who are willing to help others and take a loss are fools.”

The Daoist emphasized, “In truth, you’re the fool, understand?”

The expressionless child sniffled, retracting most of two stalactites of snot back into their cavernous origin, then licked his hawthorn.

The Daoist grew anxious. “I’m talking seriously here. What’s with the hawthorn?”

The child remained unmoved, tilting his head while consuming his treat.

The young Daoist earnestly advised, “Alas, you lad, you truly lack enlightenment. This poor Daoist kindly divined your fortune, discovering you and the little girl next door are a match made in heaven. I wouldn’t even take your copper coins! Isn’t that righteous enough? Why can’t you be grateful? A mere hawthorn skewer, worth but a few coins? It doesn’t even compare to a future wife!”

The usually dull child suddenly chuckled. “You think I’m stupid?”

Then, the child turned and skipped away, chanting, “Eating hawthorn!”

The young Daoist, heartbroken, slammed his hand on the table. “The world grows worse with each passing day, morals have deteriorated!”

Wei Jin chuckled and continued, but abruptly halted. He didn’t turn, however, replaying the Daoist’s attire in his mind. Wei Jin hesitated.

The Daoist spoke, a smile in his voice, “Since fate has brought us together, why not meet?”

Wei Jin led his donkey onward.

The young Daoist pitifully cried, “Life is hard! Why are the people of this Southern Stream Kingdom all so cunning? The customs are far too unrefined!”

He resentfully slumped back onto his stool, cradling his head with his hands, basking in the sun, his head swaying back and forth, the Daoist crown bobbing with it. He muttered, “Boring, so boring.”

A pretty girl timidly approached, gathering her courage. “Daoist Master, can you divine marriages?”

The young Daoist immediately straightened up. “Absolutely! This humble Daoist won’t take a single coin if it’s not a favorable omen!”

The young woman blinked, then turned to leave, thinking, “Isn’t this just a blatant scam? He’s definitely a shameless charlatan. I should have known; how could a Daoist from our Southern Stream Kingdom be so impoverished? I shouldn’t have been so greedy for a bargain. Marriage is a serious matter. I should go to Screen Lane to find a real Daoist to divine it. It’s more expensive, but better than being cheated.” She grew somewhat dejected. “That swindler… he’s actually quite handsome. How could he be such an improper person?”

The young Daoist vigorously rubbed his face, despondently sighing, “Life is unbearable. Truly, when fortune arrives, heaven and earth conspire, but when luck departs, heroes are helpless. Retribution is inevitable.”

Finally, the young Daoist sighed. “What a display of ‘A gentleman can be deceived through proper conduct.’ Since you’ve been so frank, this poor Daoist won’t be overly deceitful.”

Muttering about packing up, the young Daoist busied himself, reciting, “Then, shall we part ways and meet again someday?”

But he quickly shook his head, rejecting the thought. “Difficult.”

On the southern border of the Great Li, wind and snow howled. A group of three, one large and two small, traversed a narrow valley.

Chen Ping’an struggled to maintain his walking meditation, his breathing growing increasingly labored.

Each breath felt as though countless knives were piercing his orifices, turning Chen Ping’an’s face a shade of green.

The pink-skirted girl, carrying a large book chest on her back, asked, “Master, be careful of overdoing it! The books say ‘Haste makes waste.’ Master has already been walking the meditation today for far longer than usual.”

Chen Ping’an merely shook his head, not speaking lest he lose the accumulated breath.

The azure-clad boy deliberately lagged behind, calling out, “Dumbbell.”

The pink-skirted girl turned, seeing him beckoning and secretly making a “shush” gesture.

She initially ignored him, but the azure-clad boy glared fiercely, frightening her into quietly slowing down, soon falling into step alongside him.

The azure-clad boy’s expression was somber, and he remained silent.

The pink-skirted girl remained silent for a moment, then softly said, “Why don’t you apologize to Master?”

The azure-clad boy flew into a rage, remembering to lower his voice, jumping up and down. “Apologize?! Is your fire-python brain filled with a whole river?”

The pink-skirted girl grew afraid and didn’t dare say more.

The azure-clad boy hesitated, then asked, “Do you think Master will hold a grudge? Will he harbor resentment towards me?”

She shook her head. “Master won’t.”

He looked unconvinced. “Really?”

“Really!”

The pink-skirted girl was initially confident, but quickly and secretly added two words, “Probably?”

The azure-clad boy was furious, radiating unease, wishing he could reveal his true form and smash the mountainsides on either side of the valley. But in the end, he gritted his teeth, forcing a stiff smile. “Then I’ll kowtow to Master and apologize!”

The pink-skirted girl looked bewildered. “Huh?”

Soon, the azure-clad boy returned, looking listless.

The pink-skirted girl suspiciously asked, “What happened?”

The azure-clad boy suppressed his anger. “Never mind!”

Finally, he plopped down on the ground, wearing a woeful expression. “This Great One didn’t even dare open his mouth. I don’t understand why! Isn’t that infuriating?”

The pink-skirted girl gazed at the continuously progressing figure, then back at the azure-clad boy sitting on the ground. She crouched down. “I roughly understand Master’s thoughts. Do you want to hear them? If not, I won’t say anything. But if you want to hear, you must promise not to get angry afterwards, and even more so, you mustn’t eat me!”

The azure-clad boy said weakly, “I promise, I promise. Just tell me.”
The little girl in the pink dress, her face unusually serious, secretly whispered to the boy in azure robes, “If your original intention was to let that youth know the hardships of the world, then you were right. Perhaps Master would even be willing to apologize to you. But if your initial motive was simply amusement, to inflict pain with careless words, even if the outcome of your actions is ultimately good, then Master will still feel…it’s not quite right. These are just my fanciful thoughts, not to be taken as gospel, and may not be Master’s true feelings. Actually, I think it would be best if you talked to Master yourself.”

The boy in azure robes was bewildered, then muttered, “Of course, I just thought it was amusing. Whether that youth lives or dies, what’s that got to do with me?”

The little girl in the pink dress looked helplessly at him, “Then I can’t help you.”

The boy in azure robes suddenly asked, “Then do you think I’m wrong?”

She hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

He snorted coldly, “Tell me the truth!”

She shifted her position, using her small book chest to face their Master, hiding herself behind it as if that would make her feel safer to speak, “I think… Master is definitely never wrong. But you don’t need to care too much about Master’s opinion. In fact, Master doesn’t care whether you care about his opinion or not. If you can think that way, things become very simple!”

The boy in azure robes seemed to ponder this, nodding his head, “Continue.”

The little girl in the pink dress spoke even more softly, “Besides, we’re all cultivators, and our cultivation level is already much higher than Master’s. If you cultivate even better and faster, maybe one day Master will realize he was wrong. After all, Master once told me himself that if he is wrong about something, I should tell him directly. Master doesn’t think his reasoning is always right. That’s what I love most about Master!”

By the end, the little girl in the pink dress was radiant, her face filled with joy.

The boy in azure robes rolled his eyes, “I’ve told you before, cultivation depends on talent, not effort.”

“There you go again. No wonder Master doesn’t like you.” The little girl in the pink dress stood up and hurried to catch up with Chen Ping An.

The boy in azure robes extended a hand and quickly conjured a snowball, which he stuffed into his mouth and chewed on viciously.

He walked and thought.

He wanted to punch that boring, pedestrian Master to death, to end it all, to be wrong all the way.

But at the same time, he wanted to reluctantly admit his mistake, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was unwilling to be as uninteresting as that clodhopper.

He couldn’t help but look back.

The boy in azure robes missed his homeland.

Here, with himself, just three people, he didn’t have a single kindred spirit.

Back home, there was drinking from large bowls and eating large pieces of meat, there were gatherings of friends, and the expression of gratitude and vengeance.

There, there were no rights and wrongs weighing on his heart, no infuriating, self-righteous principles, no Master who made him so unhappy and discontent.