This was Chen Ping’an’s first time entering a young lady’s boudoir, scaling the embroidered tower.

He instructed Zhu Lian and Pei Qian to wait outside, only bringing Shi Rou along.

Before entering, Chen Ping’an knocked on the door and explained the reason for their visit, stating that Vice Minister Liu had requested they inspect the lady’s chambers for any lurking fox demons.

A moment later, Liu Qingqing, having completed her toilette, instructed her maid, Zhao Ya, to open the door.

Chen Ping’an recognized the maid as the old steward’s daughter, a gentle and demure young woman. His attention, however, was primarily focused on Liu Qingqing, the woman rumored to be bewitched by a fox demon.

Upon his first glance at Liu Qingqing, Chen Ping’an felt the rumors were likely exaggerated. The eyes are the window to the soul; it was easy to feign dullness, but far more difficult to fake a clear and bright spirit.

Chen Ping’an felt a sense of relief, but also a new worry. The immediate problem might be easier to resolve than he initially thought, but the human heart, like a mirror, was fragile and difficult to mend.

However, that was the young lady’s own fate and fortune to bear. Chen Ping’an could rescue a person, but he couldn’t mend the heart of a stranger, nor would he attempt to.

Although Liu Qingqing was a young lady from a family with few restrictions, having met many talented scholars of the Azure Luan Kingdom and even possessing a cage for taming lesser demons in her chamber, she was still deeply curious about true immortal masters and cultivators from the mountains. Therefore, when she saw a young man who, while not particularly handsome, possessed a gentle demeanor, her unease lessened. This was, after all, a young lady’s boudoir, and allowing outsiders to set foot within was a sensitive matter. What if they were crude martial artists only knowing violence, or so-called immortals with ulterior motives?

Chen Ping’an clasped his fist in apology, “Our intrusion is improper, but both Vice Minister Liu and the Lion Garden Land Deity are concerned about your well-being. Please forgive us, Miss Liu. My surname is Chen, and my attendant’s surname is Shi.”

Liu Qingqing then noticed the elder who was following the white-robed immortal master, a man with a cold gaze. She forced a smile, “Immortal Master Chen and Senior Shi have come to save me, so please don’t stand on ceremony and search freely.”

The maid, Zhao Ya, felt a little awkward. Her young mistress was being too accommodating. Her first thought was that another man had entered her chamber. What would the black-robed youth think if he knew?

Zhao Ya had initially been terrified of the handsome young man who was actually a fox demon. During their first encounter, she had even grabbed scissors, ready to fight the intruder. However, her mistress had stopped her. As time passed, Zhao Ya had repeatedly tried to dissuade her mistress, but to no avail. Watching her mistress grow increasingly haggard, she could only suppress her grief and try her best to take care of her mistress’s needs.

Chen Ping’an produced a Yang Energy Illuminating Talisman, which suddenly burst into flame, albeit a small one.

It was evident that a fox demon had indeed been in this place. Chen Ping’an slowly walked around, talisman in hand, covering every corner of the boudoir. He noticed the talisman burned slightly faster near the rosewood mirror stand and the bed.

Chen Ping’an remained composed throughout.

Liu Qingqing and Zhao Ya were both laymen regarding cultivation and couldn’t discern the meaning of the talisman’s burning speed. Moreover, they might not have even noticed the subtle differences.

Shi Rou, however, secretly sneered, harboring contempt for the seemingly delicate and refined lady, Liu Qingqing. What use was a daughter from a family of etiquette, if she was full of schemes of brothel keepers and thieves?

Chen Ping’an suddenly recalled a problem. He had always viewed Shi Rou as the first skeletal female ghost he had suppressed. Even with her spirit dwelling in the immortal’s remains, Chen Ping’an still habitually regarded her as a woman. However, when it came to hidden methods involving imprisoning souls, and cultivating evil seeds within the acupoints, such as the Flying Eagle Fortress’s heretical cultivators nurturing a ghostly fetus in the heart of the fortress lord’s wife, Chen Ping’an was not skilled at unraveling such practices. Shi Rou, being a ghost herself, having undergone the process of refining the immortal’s remains, and with Cui Dongshan’s secret tutelage, was quite familiar with these sinister schemes, and her intuition was far more acute.

But Shi Rou was currently using the guise of “Du Mao” to walk in the mortal realm, which presented a problem.

If Liu Qingqing stubbornly refused to let Shi Rou touch her body, unwilling to allow Shi Rou to help examine her meridians and vital energies, crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide, it would be very troublesome.

Chen Ping’an walked over to Zhao Ya, talisman in hand. The talisman showed no anomalies, burning steadily as before. Zhao Ya found it amazing and, after asking permission, reached out a finger towards the yellow paper talisman, discovering that it emitted no heat. Chen Ping’an smiled and walked towards Liu Qingqing. The small remaining portion of the talisman suddenly burst into a palm-sized flame, instantly consumed.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Miss Liu, has that young man gifted you with a token of affection? Is it perhaps something Miss Liu inadvertently carries with her?”

His words were both euphemistic and considerate.

Liu Qingqing hesitated.

Zhao Ya whispered, “Miss, this is no time to be shy.”

Looking at Zhao Ya’s pleading eyes, Liu Qingqing turned away, finally retrieving a colorful silk sachet hanging from her waist, embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks.

Chen Ping’an asked, “May I take a look?”

Liu Qingqing shook her head, refusing.

Zhao Ya was nearly frantic.

Chen Ping’an’s eyes were clear and sincere, “Miss Liu’s devotion is not for me, an outsider, to judge. But if it endangers your entire family, if, and I say if, Miss Liu has placed her trust in the wrong person, and your devotion is met with hidden motives, how will Miss Liu face herself in the end? Even if we disregard the most extreme possibilities, and don’t mention Miss Liu’s true love and eternal devotion to that young man, let’s just consider some middle ground scenarios. I will only look at the sachet. It will not diminish Miss Liu’s love for the young man in the slightest, but it can offer Miss Liu some peace of mind towards the Liu family and Lion Garden.”

As Chen Ping’an spoke, he was reminded of the father and daughter, Zhu He and Zhu Lu, whom he had accompanied during his first travels to the Great Sui.

The young Zhu Lu had been willing to throw herself like a moth to the flame for the sake of love, for Li Baozhen, the second young master of the Li family from Fortune Street, resolutely and recklessly, abandoning everything and feeling no remorse.

Liu Qingqing’s eyes were red, and she tremblingly handed over the cherished sachet.

The guilt she felt towards her beloved grew heavier. Handing over the sachet felt like tearing out her heart, leaving her hands empty and her heart even more desolate. She turned her head away and wept.

Chen Ping’an received the sachet and examined it closely. The five-colored silk threads included a black thread, which was made from fox fur that had previously fallen to the ground. The origins of the remaining four types were currently unknown.
Opening the fragrant pouch, Chen Ping’an found only a few trinkets associated with the Qiqiao Festival (Double Seventh Festival). Afraid his shallow knowledge wouldn’t allow him to discern any hidden mysteries, he turned to Shi Rou, who shook her head and whispered, “The pouch is like a lantern lit in the night, making it easier for the fox demon to find this young lady. The items inside likely hold little significance.”

Chen Ping’an handed the pouch to Shi Rou. “Keep it for now.”

Besides the pouch, he also conjured the demon-binding rope he had crafted in the Upside-Down Mountain, its foundation the golden dragon whiskers of an old Nascent Soul stage Jiao dragon from Jiao Dragon Gully. Among the world’s myriad magical treasures, it was considered of exceedingly high quality. Shi Rou accepted the fragrant pouch into her sleeve with one hand, and held the blindingly obvious golden demon-binding rope with the other, her resentment somewhat lessened. The pouch in her hands was undoubtedly a magnet for trouble, but with this demon-binding rope to protect her, it was Chen Ping’an’s slight compensation for “using her to her fullest”.

Chen Ping’an addressed Liu Qingqing, “We must ask Miss Liu to allow us to take her pulse. Many mountain techniques are deeply concealed, and cannot be detected by mere Qi observation.”

First, they entered her chambers, then demanded her fragrant pouch, and now they wanted intimate contact.

Liu Qingqing felt an overwhelming grief, her face streaked with tears, as she glared at Chen Ping’an, choking out, “Don’t push your luck! After taking my pulse, will you demand I strip naked before you’re satisfied?”

Chen Ping’an calmly replied, “Of course not.”

Liu Qingqing, filled with shame and rage, spun around, collapsed onto the flower-and-bird vanity table, her shoulders trembling as she sobbed intermittently, “I want to see my father… if he were here… he wouldn’t let you humiliate me like this.”

Chen Ping’an pondered for a moment and said to Shi Rou, “I’ll protect you. Reveal your true form and take her pulse.”

Although Shi Rou harbored numerous prejudices against Chen Ping’an, she had no doubt that if Chen Ping’an said something, he would ensure it was done properly.

Therefore, the maid Zhao Ya only saw a woman with colorful robes and flowing sleeves emerging from the old man’s body, an illusion that was both real and unreal, leaving her deeply shaken.

Zhao Ya quickly cried out, “Miss, Miss, look!”

Liu Qingqing wiped the tears from her face before turning, only to see a strange woman whose beauty surpassed her own.

Meanwhile, the old man remained motionless, as if dozing off in slumber.

Shi Rou, her expression indifferent, commanded, “Extend your hand.”

Liu Qingqing, dazed, raised her arm.

Shi Rou grasped Liu Qingqing’s wrist, as white as a section of snow lotus root.

While Shi Rou examined the flow of Qi within Liu Qingqing’s body, Chen Ping’an continued to meticulously examine the room. He suddenly noticed the maid gesturing at him. Following Zhao Ya’s subtle hints, Chen Ping’an spotted an exquisite small box, like a container for a woman’s rouge and powder, that hadn’t been put away in a drawer. Without a word, Chen Ping’an moved closer, opened it, and found several pills inside, emitting a faint, meaty odor. Pretending to have just discovered it by chance, he turned to Liu Qingqing and asked, “May I ask Miss Liu, are these pills from Lion Garden’s own tonics, or were they gifted by an outside immortal master?”

Zhao Ya thought this sword-carrying young gentleman was truly quick-witted and considerate, always thinking of others.

In contrast, the previous immortal masters were all arrogant and aloof, eager to plaster the word “immortal” on their foreheads. They also liked to loudly denounce the fox demon in front of her mistress, which could not but sound jarring and painful to Miss’s ears.

Liu Qingqing timidly replied, “He gave them to me as calming pills, saying they could nourish the body, soothe the nerves, and replenish Qi.”

Shi Rou, who had long smelled the pungent medicinal scent, glanced at the pills and coldly sneered, “Calming pills? Do you know what true calming pills are? This is one of the heretical elixirs used in the world to nurture ghosts and create puppets. After consumption, the souls of the living or the ghosts gradually solidify, their essence fixed. The originally wandering, free-spirited three souls and seven spirits are like the wild soil used to make porcelain, gradually molded into the form of an object. Nourish the body?”

Shi Rou’s smile was mocking. “Of course, it’s also possible that Miss Liu’s lover will claim that this is a superior secret technique of the immortal families to mend the innate deficiencies and incomplete constitutions of their younger generations, helping ordinary mortals without cultivation potential ascend to the heavens in one step. These words aren’t entirely false, but the mountain abodes willing to do this are either insignificant small families, or facing precarious situations with heavy worries, and must cultivate more latecomer cultivators taking shortcuts. After all, consuming the ‘Head-severing Pill’, also known as ‘Calming Pill’, has endless consequences. It is rejected by heaven and earth, the person is half-dead, the ghost is half-alive, neither human nor ghost. The cruelest method is to be used as a good vessel for carrying the spiritual energy of mountains and rivers, and then have the money pot shattered, sweeping away the wealth inside. As for the fate of the broken pot, haha, either the soul flies away and there is no afterlife, or if a wisp of spiritual light remains after death, it will surely become a vengeful ghost.”

Shi Rou spoke frankly.

Zhao Ya turned deathly pale.

Liu Qingqing was initially filled with terror, but still unwilling to give up hope, she quickly found a reasonable explanation for herself, assuming that this woman’s vision was limited and she couldn’t see the deeper wonders of the calming pill.

Chen Ping’an’s face was grim.

This immortal technique…

Was it not similar to the natal porcelain firing of Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven?

If Chen Ping’an initially changed his route, not going to the capital but choosing to wade through the muddy waters of Lion Garden, was because of the incense deliverer at the River God Temple’s words about the scholar, because of the phrase “where demons wreak havoc, there must be a celestial master’s peach wood sword,” because Chen Ping’an was thinking of his good friend Zhang Shanfeng, the Dragon Tiger Mountain surname-less Celestial Master, if Zhang Shanfeng hadn’t followed his master to Dragon Tiger Mountain, he would definitely come here upon hearing of this matter…

Then now Chen Ping’an truly refused to believe it. A scourge that might even be faking the fox demon’s identity, actually capable of committing evil, manipulating the luck of the mountains and rivers and coveting the literary fortune of the Liu family, and also harming people’s lives. The maliciousness of its intentions and the viciousness of its methods were simply worthy of death a thousand times over.

Chen Ping’an went to the doorway, first letting Pei Qian enter the chambers, then immediately ordering Zhu Lian to go to Lion Garden to demand gold ingots from the imperial government, grind them into powder, and create as much gold lacquer as possible.

He was going to draw talismans to suppress evil!

The old crone who was the local earth spirit of the Lion Garden area did not follow them to the embroidered building, her reason being that with Immortal Master Chen sitting in the chambers, Liu Qingqing would definitely be temporarily safe, and she needed to protect the many Liu family members, including the old Gentleman Liu.
Within the ancestral hall of the Liu family, the old crone, freed from the restraints of the five fox demon ropes, was brimming with vitality.

In truth, every generation of Liu family heads recognized this ancient Willow Tree Spirit, whose age surpassed even that of Lion Garden itself. A generous portion of the lavish incense offerings presented during the annual ancestral rites was dedicated to this guardian spirit of the Liu clan.

At this moment, the ancestral hall was overflowing, with many servants, who would never normally be allowed entry, brought along by Old Zhao, the steward, at the behest of the Elder Secretary Liu. Should word of this spread, the Elder Secretary Liu would undoubtedly be branded with the ignominious label of “vulgar, defiling the ancestors.”

The Elder Secretary Liu, along with over twenty members of the Liu clan, were gathered in a secluded part of the hall. Many were witnessing the Willow Tree Spirit with their own eyes for the first time.

Besides them, two individuals, non-Liu by blood, who had resided in Lion Garden for many years, stood at the fringes, refraining from interfering in the Liu family affairs.

Lion Garden possessed a private school, where, thirty years prior, after a highly respected Confucian scholar retired, a relatively unknown instructor was hired.

This was also a matter of curiosity at the time. The imperial court and the literati circles alike wondered which prominent scholar had caught the Elder Secretary Liu’s eye, to be entrusted with guiding the Liu clan’s descendants.

However, the Elder Secretary Liu’s eldest son, though successful in the imperial examinations, proved unremarkable. He attained the rank of Jinshi, but his placement was quite low, and his essays, poems, and odes lacked distinction. Compared to the Elder Secretary Liu’s brilliant writing, he was a veritable “dog son of a tiger father.” As a result, speculations about the new instructor’s identity faded away. If the disciple he painstakingly cultivated was only so-so, how good could the teacher be?

As for Liu Qingshan, from a young age, like his father Liu Jingting, he was a renowned prodigy, his literary talent soaring. But this was considered his own natural aptitude, having little to do with the instructor’s teachings.

Now, Liu Jingting was embroiled in a dispute with the Willow Tree Spirit.

The Willow Tree Spirit’s stance was that no matter what, they must strive, even at the cost of dignity, to persuade the young man named Chen to act against the demons. They absolutely could not allow him to merely save people and refuse to slay the fiends. They must compel him to eradicate the threat completely, leaving no future troubles.

Liu Jingting then mentioned the female Daoist priestess’s act of dispelling the fox demon illusion.

The Willow Tree Spirit responded with a cold sneer, suggesting that if Lion Garden placed all its hopes on a wandering Daoist nun, it would not end well.

The eldest daughter, Liu Qingya, timidly interjected, “But that Immortal Master Chen is also an outsider.”

The Willow Tree Spirit cast a sidelong glance at this woman, whose hair was long but her insight was short, frightening the latter into silence.

Then, the old crone uttered a thought-provoking remark: “That young man named Chen is, at least, a scholar!”

After much deliberation, Liu Jingting remained unwilling to use underhanded or unconscionable means to bind the young man to Lion Garden.

The Willow Tree Spirit then pointed her finger at the Elder Secretary’s nose, berating him without reservation, “Seven generations of the Liu family have labored to create this prosperity! If you, Liu Jingting, die and the ancestral line ends with you, will you have the face to meet your ancestors? Do you deserve the names on those memorial tablets in the Lion Garden ancestral hall? Those who died upholding the Tang dynasty’s legitimacy, those who were beaten to death for defending upright officials, those who were exiled for three thousand li for speaking the truth, those who dedicated their lives to benefiting the people and died of exhaustion! Should I recite their names for you?”

Liu Jingting’s face was filled with sorrow.

The old crone continued to scold, “If you are not thick-skinned enough, clinging to the airs of an Elder Secretary, then your Liu family will definitely not overcome this crisis. You, Liu Jingting, may die, but you will also cause Lion Garden to change its name, your children to be scattered, and how many of the rare and valuable books in the library will be left when Liu Qingshan’s generation reaches old age?”

Liu Jingting was speechless.

The others were even more afraid to speak.

A long silence ensued, the atmosphere heavy.

Finally, Liu Qingshan, limping, took a few steps forward and said to the old crone, “Willow Tree Spirit, you seem to have said one thing incorrectly.”

The old crone narrowed her eyes. “Oh? What is it that this child can teach me?”

Liu Qingshan said in a deep voice, “The reason why our Liu family has been able to continue to this day, and our ancestral line remains unbroken, is precisely because our ancestors established themselves with righteousness and left behind ancestral precepts and strict family rules, which their descendants diligently followed. That is why today, when Lion Garden faces difficulty, aid comes from all directions. If we were to act against our conscience and commit unseemly deeds today, even if we were to luckily preserve this Lion Garden, our Liu family’s principles would be corrupted from this day forward.”

The old crone laughed loudly, mocking, “Little child, don’t think that just because you’ve read a few books, you have the ability to discuss such trifles with this old one! Once everyone is dead, a hundred years from now, who will remember your Liu family in distress, except for that Lion Garden Anthology!”

Not giving the scholar Liu Qingshan a chance to speak, the old crone continued to laugh, “A cripple with no hope of success in the examinations has the nerve to speak such idle nonsense! Hahaha, can you even stand steadily now, Liu Qingshan?”

Back then, in order to save his younger sister, Liu Qingshan secretly left Lion Garden with the old immortal of the Daoist temple to seek out a true orthodox immortal master, but suffered misfortune along the way. His crippled leg was a physical pain, but the fact that his career prospects were severed and all his ambitions were in vain was the greatest suffering for this scholar, Liu Qingshan. Because of this, the maid Zhao Ya dared not mention this tragic event to the young mistress in the embroidery chamber, lest Liu Qingqing, who had been closest to her second brother, Liu Qingshan, since childhood, would be overcome with guilt. In fact, the first thing Liu Qingshan did after being carried back to Lion Garden was to ask his father, Liu Jingting, to hide the matter from his sister.

Now, having his inner scars exposed in public by the Willow Tree Spirit, the local deity who had protected Lion Garden for over two hundred years, even Liu Qingshan, a scholar who had never lost composure in front of outsiders since becoming crippled, turned ashen and clenched his fists tightly.

The old crone continued to pour salt on the young scholar’s wounds, “Before you were crippled, I still respected you somewhat. Now that you’re crippled, you, Liu Qingshan, are destined to be a good-for-nothing who hides in Lion Garden, eating and waiting to die! I advise you to take down the couplet in your study as soon as possible, aren’t you ashamed?”

Liu Jingting said with a dark face, “Willow Tree Spirit, please restrain yourself!”

The old crone snorted coldly.

Liu Jingting patted his second son’s shoulder.

Liu Qingshan, with tears in his eyes, nodded to his father, whom he respected most in his life, indicating that he was fine, then lowered his head, his face full of tears.

When a true man sheds tears in this world, it must be when his heart is broken.

Lion Garden’s private school had two instructors, one a stern, aging old man, the other a gentle and refined middle-aged scholar.

The latter frowned.

The old man gently shook his head, and the middle-aged scholar fell silent.
The steward, Old Zhao, who had been waiting anxiously beneath the embroidered tower, hurried into the ancestral hall. He reached Lord Liu, the former Vice Minister, and the Willow Tree Matron, wiping sweat from his brow. Beaming, he announced, “Master Chen requests that we prepare gold lacquer for his talisman drawings at the Lion Garden. He needs official gold ingots ground into powder, the more the better, to paint talismans at the embroidered tower on Small Street.”

The old crone snapped, “Then hurry and prepare it! What does this petty yellow and white metal amount to?”

The old steward turned to look at Liu Jingting, the former Vice Minister.

The old Vice Minister nodded. “Go.”

He suddenly stopped the old steward, hurrying out. “Old Zhao, I’ll go with you. And gather some brave, able-bodied men, but only those who are willing.”

Unexpectedly, the old crone clutched Lord Liu’s shoulder. “You go? Have you lost your mind, Liu Jingting? What if that fox demon, desperate, kills you, the backbone of this family, before running? Even if your daughter lives, the Lion Garden will still be a ruined mess. Who will support this family then? A cripple, or that eldest son who’d struggle to even be a prefect?”

Liu Jingting’s face flushed with anger.

Did she truly think his many years in the imperial court were wasted? This Earth Deity’s eagerness, what was it for? Ultimately, wasn’t it fear that the Liu lineage of the Lion Garden would be extinguished, jeopardizing her golden statue and path to enlightenment?!

Seeing Liu Jingting’s rare display of fury, the old crone hesitated, softening her tone and coaxing, “Didn’t the scholars warn you, a wise man doesn’t stand beneath a collapsing wall. You, Liu Jingting, a weak scholar, can’t even carry a few gold ingots, let alone match any of the Lion Garden’s strong menial workers. What use are you there? What if the fox demon captures you and threatens the Lion Garden?”

Liu Qingshan suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with determination. “I’ll go. Even if I can’t carry many ingots, I can watch and prevent any mishaps.”

Liu Jingting straightened his son’s robes. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t become an official. A scholar with a corrupt heart who usurps a high position isn’t a true scholar. My son may be crippled and unable to serve as an official, but he can still be a scholar for life. If you can’t govern the country and bring peace to the world, then focus on self-cultivation and managing the family. Can you do that?”

Liu Qingshan finally smiled. “Father, that’s not difficult.”

Liu Qingshan followed the old steward, leading a group of Lion Garden’s strong servants, nearly all eager to go, their expressions filled with righteous fervor, leaving the ancestral hall.

Liu Jingting didn’t even glance at the old crone. He walked to the two scholars from outside the family, separated by a generation, bowed and thanked them. “Thank you, Master Fu and Master Liu, for teaching my Liu family a righteous scholar who can uphold the family’s principles.”

The old master remained expressionless, not even nodding slightly. Fortunately, the Lion Garden was accustomed to this; the old man always had the same rigid face in front of everyone.

The middle-aged Confucian scholar smiled. “To impart knowledge, guide students, and resolve their doubts is the duty of a teacher.”

In a small courtyard lived four chivalrous individuals who had traveled from afar, becoming guests of the Lion Garden even before Chen Pingan.

A young master with the compound surname Dugu, and his personal maid named Meng Long, along with their master and apprentice pair who each kept a small civet and a green serpent.

They had met before, jointly suppressing a mountain teeming with demons. Young Master Dugu had contributed the most, but only selected ordinary objects related to elegance, leaving the valuable magical items and a large sum of immortal coins to the master and apprentice.

The master and apprentice secretly weighed it, deciding that their lives combined weren’t worth the young master’s long-term investment. They shamelessly continued to associate with the master and servant, and indeed benefited from it. They had earned several hundred snowflake coins in two monster-slaying expeditions. Of course, the old cultivator had probed carefully, but the young man, claiming to be from the Vermilion Fluorescence Dynasty, truly didn’t compete for wealth.

The young master never acted personally, saying he was just a crude martial artist with some rudimentary skills. The master and apprentice weren’t fools and naturally didn’t believe it.

However, the maid had made several terrifying moves.

She was a sword cultivator.

Not only that, she could even use the legendary Immortal Hall magic, controlling a Night Wandering God three zhang tall!

The maid Meng Long wasn’t some ageless old hag, but a genuine woman under twenty.

A sword cultivator about to enter the Middle Five Realms. Her several ruthless attacks clearly reached the Cave Heaven Realm.

To use a genius with a high chance of becoming an Earth Immortal sword cultivator as a tea-pouring servant, and for the latter to consider it natural…

Anyone with a brain knew that Young Master Dugu’s background was unfathomable.

Unfortunately, the old man racked his brains but couldn’t recall any prominent figure in the Vermilion Fluorescence Dynasty with the surname Dugu. Searching north and south, he could only find two powerful clans or sects, either pillars of a nation’s court or families with Golden Core cultivators. Compared to the young man’s revealed background, it still didn’t quite fit.

After much thought, he simply assumed that there were too many old turtles hidden beneath the surface in the Vermilion Fluorescence Dynasty, a land teeming with sword cultivators, and that the young man came from a reclusive immortal estate that disliked ostentation.

This was also why the wild cultivator master and apprentice, who wouldn’t get up early without profit, dared to instigate the master and servant to come to the Lion Garden to subdue demons.

At this moment, Young Master Dugu stood by the window, watching the unusual sky outside. “It seems that fox demon’s tail has been stepped on by that young man surnamed Chen. All the better, we don’t need to act. It’s just a pity that among the three items of the Lion Garden, the calligraphy and the plum blossom vase are all first-class elegant objects. I wonder if the Chen fellow will be willing to part with them after he succeeds.”

The maid Meng Long laughed. “People who know their stuff are all eyeing that ancestral magic treasure that’s useless in the Liu family’s hands. But you, young master, only want those trinkets worth a few immortal coins.”

Young Master Dugu sighed. “Once this matter is settled, we’ll have to travel and toil again.”

Meng Long’s brows were also furrowed in worry. “Young master, searching for people and clues like this is like searching for a needle in a haystack. It seems a bit difficult.”

The young man said helplessly, “There’s no other convenient way. We can only use this most foolish method. We’ll just treat it as a leisurely trip, wandering around while waiting for news from the mountain.”
Menglong was a bit indignant. “We found someone willing to talk, but they knew nothing. The ones who refuse to open their mouths all have significant backgrounds. We can’t reveal our identities and can’t afford to offend them. Those fellows, relying on their identity from Julu Island, are arrogant. What’s so great about them? They just lived a hundred or several hundred years longer and are at a higher realm now. If you ask me, in less than thirty years, Young Master will be able to deal with them with one hand.”

The Solitary Young Master ignored his maidservant’s complaints. “Let’s find that young woman first.”

Menglong sat at the table, idly moving the chess pieces on the board, rearranging them haphazardly. “We only know her name, and she’s just an insignificant cultivator from that Dazhao Mountain ferry. The clues are too few. If that wandering monk hadn’t mentioned her, we’d be wandering around aimlessly. Young Master, I miss home a little. Don’t you dare deceive me. Once we find that little cultivator, we’re heading back, okay?”

The Solitary Young Master turned his head and teased, “Oh? You, a Qi Refinement cultivator of the Lower Five Realms, have the nerve to call someone else a little cultivator?”

Menglong smiled charmingly. “But this servant is a sword cultivator, after all.”

The Solitary Young Master widened his eyes in mock anger. “Sword cultivators are like pixiu, they consume money and damage relationships. What’s there to boast about?”

Menglong covered her mouth and giggled. “Others can say that, but Young Master can’t. The immortal money that this servant has already consumed, not to mention that I will definitely earn it back in the future, is still just a drop in the bucket compared to the wealth in Young Master’s home, isn’t it?”

The Solitary Young Master shook his head. “Once you truly enter the Middle Five Realms, you won’t say that anymore. A terrestrial immortal sword cultivator spends at least twice as much celestial resources on their path of cultivation as a regular land immortal.”

Menglong nodded lightly. “The Lord and Madam do spend money like water. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be inferior to the Fu family of Old Dragon City.”

The Solitary Young Master said in amusement, “You’ve grown bold! How dare you speak ill of my parents in front of me?”

Menglong acted coquettishly. “Young Master is so kind. What am I afraid of?”

The Solitary Young Master chuckled. “Sooner or later, you’ll be like a married daughter, water thrown away. I, the Young Master, am just a sucker.”

Menglong shook her head. “I don’t want to marry. What’s the point of marrying those embroidered pillows? This servant will only follow Young Master in this life.”

The Solitary Young Master remained noncommittal, turning his head to continue watching the sky. “That fox demon is acting strangely everywhere, it’s very difficult to deal with. I hope that young man, together with that Daoist nun wielding a blade, can get through it safely.”

Menglong smiled. “Young Master has the heart of a Bodhisattva.”

The Solitary Young Master mocked himself. “I’m just thinking of buying those two items while spending money without exerting any effort. As for the ending of the Lion Garden, I’m not interested. Whether it’s good or bad, life or death, they brought it upon themselves.”

About half an hour passed, and Zhu Lian, the old steward, and Liu Qingshan arrived from the embroidered building, each carrying a specially made golden lacquer pot the size of a wine jug.

Inside the embroidered building, Shi Rou’s yin spirit had returned to the remains of the immortal, sitting in the corner with eyes closed, recuperating.

Pei Qian initially only regretted not being able to copy books, otherwise, she would have one less assignment to do today, waiting with great boredom.

Later, Zhao Ya found the talisman on the little girl’s forehead very interesting, so she approached to strike up a conversation. Before long, she took Pei Qian, who had been wanting to look at the luan cage but was too embarrassed to speak up, to examine it. After Pei Qian took a closer look, she gained a completely new perspective.

The old steward and Liu Qingshan did not go upstairs, and they returned to the ancestral hall together.

Before leaving, Liu Qingshan bowed to the high part of the embroidered building.

Inside the room, Chen Ping’an took the writing brush, and Zhu Lian held the pottery pot “inkstone” filled with golden lacquer “ink” beside him. He took the lead in drawing a talisman on a pillar.

They were all talismans that Chen Ping’an learned from the *Dan Shu Zhen Ji* given by Li Xisheng.

The tip of the brush was dipped in golden lacquer, and the brush hairs were full.

Without Chen Ping’an saying much, Zhu Lian shrugged and smiled. “Please, Young Master.”

Chen Ping’an tapped his toes, floating up with the brush in hand, stepped on Zhu Lian’s shoulder, and began to draw the pagoda demon suppressing talisman on the top of the pillar in one go.

Zhu Lian squatted slightly with his knees, and then using his Dharmic Robe Golden Dew and the spiritual energy accumulated in the water mansion, he drew another demon suppressing talisman in a different way.

After two, Chen Ping’an stepped on Zhu Lian’s shoulder again and drew talismans all over the beams of the house.

After landing, he continued to draw talismans on the walls and windows of the boudoir, in addition to the most effective demon suppressing talisman, there were also three other types. The most basic calming and tranquility talisman and impurity removal talisman from *Dan Shu Zhen Ji*, and also a few yang energy lamp lighting talismans drawn at the entrance.

During this time, Zhu Lian asked softly, “Does Young Master want to rest for a moment?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head silently. “Maybe that great demon is already on its way, we can’t delay. Drawing one more is a good thing.”

After finishing drawing talismans in the boudoir,

Chen Ping’an only used up most of the can of golden lacquer, then went to the corridor outside the house, and continued to draw demon suppressing talismans on the railings and beauty leans, as well as tentatively drew a few sword commanding talismans and lock severing talismans, which were relatively laborious.

Whether the talisman core could be completed, how long the spiritual light would last after a talisman was successfully completed, and how well it could resist the continuous erosion and contamination of baleful aura was one thing, and how much impact it could withstand from the great demon’s magic was another.

Chen Ping’an could only be like a diligent peasant. His own land was barren, not fertile, so to make the harvest of each acre effective, he would win by quantity.

With golden lacquer still remaining in the can, Chen Ping’an stepped on the railings of the outer corridor, and floated up to the roof with Zhu Lian, squatting on the roof ridge to draw talismans.

Pei Qian finally found an opportunity to show off. After Chen Ping’an had only drawn a few talismans at the beginning, she showed off to the maid Zhao Ya, crossing her arms and raising her head high. “Sister Ya’er, is my master’s talisman drawing skills amazing? Do you think some of the flower and bird seals are written well? Is it very masterful?”

Zhao Ya was not a cultivator, and could not see the depth of Chen Ping’an’s talisman skills, but she was the personal maid of Miss Liu Qingqing, and had a good understanding of the arts, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She didn’t really think that the ancient seal characters in the white-clothed immortal master’s talismans were written with any depth, but since Pei Qian asked, she had to perfunctorily say a few words to try not to disappoint the little girl.

Unexpectedly, after hearing Zhao Ya’s few dry compliments, Pei Qian shook her head and said, “Sister Ya’er, you don’t understand. My master’s writing is good because… it has an immortal aura!”

Pei Qian was very satisfied with this impromptu statement.
Zhao Ya couldn’t help but chuckle, feigning sudden realization. “So that’s how it is! Forgive my poor eyesight. Alas, I’m no celestial being from your mountain, unable to discern the true mysteries.”

Pei Qian saw through her perfunctory response with a single glance. Rolling her eyes subtly, she gave up on further conversation and returned to the table, staring wide-eyed at the scene inside the phoenix cage.

Eye to eye.

Many strange spirits and monsters within the phoenix cage flew out of the pavilion, all gazing at the coal-black little girl.

Zhao Ya walked to Liu Qingqing’s side, surprised. “Miss, did you feel it? It seems the room is much fresher and brighter now?”

Liu Qingqing said with a bitter smile, “I felt nothing.”

Zhao Ya moved a stool to sit beside her, gently holding her mistress’s cold, delicate hand.

Chen Ping’an and Zhu Lian floated back to the porch outside the building, Zhu Lian’s hands empty. He instructed Shi Rou to carry the remaining two jars of gold paint. Shi Rou, confused, still complied. She couldn’t afford to offend this eighth-realm martial artist, especially after the intense killing intent Zhu Lian had unleashed in the courtyard, aimed directly at her. It had truly frightened her.

Pei Qian, seeing the sweat on Chen Ping’an’s face, quickly ran over. “Master, shall I wipe your sweat?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and shook his head. “I need to continue painting talismans with Shi Rou throughout Lion Garden. That way, any sign of trouble will trigger the talismans. Zhu Lian is here to protect you, so there shouldn’t be too much danger. Even if the fox demon comes, as long as it can’t break through the embroidered building’s doors and windows in a short time, I can rush back.”

Pei Qian patted the bamboo sword at her waist and nodded. “Don’t worry, Master! I’ll protect Miss Liu and Sister Ya!”

Chen Ping’an patted her little head and said softly, “Protect yourself first.”

Pei Qian’s face lit up with a smile.

Zhu Lian smiled without a word.

Just moments ago on the rooftop, Chen Ping’an had quietly instructed him to ensure Pei Qian’s safety.

The implied meaning of those words…

Made Zhu Lian feel very comfortable.

Following a young master who was gradually striving to become a moral paragon, aiming for a divine position in the Confucian Temple, would only cause Zhu Lian endless worry.

Chen Ping’an, accompanied by Shi Rou, floated down from the embroidered building to the courtyard.

Chen Ping’an instructed Shi Rou to hand over one of the pottery jars. “Go remind the Lone Gentleman’s group and the pair of Daoist cultivators. If they are willing, have them guard near the ancestral hall, preferably choosing a high place with a clear view. Perhaps the fox demon will soon reveal itself somewhere.”

Shi Rou silently departed to deliver the message.

At an arched bridge in Lion Garden, a black-robed youth and a female Daoist with a Dharma blade stood facing each other.

The handsome youth, pressing down on the bridge railing with one hand, crushed the stone into powder. “Stinking Daoist, are you truly determined to stop me?”

The female Daoist stood on the railing, shaking her head. “Stop you? I’m here to kill you and seize the treasure.”

The handsome youth’s expression changed slightly.

The Sword Workshop female Daoist sneered. “Greedy for human literary fortune, you demon. You’ve crossed the line far more than a step or two.”

The handsome youth gritted his teeth. “Aren’t you curious as to why I, a demon, can blatantly plot this scheme in the capital, right under the Tang Dynasty emperor’s nose?”

The middle-aged female Daoist gripped the Dharma blade at her waist. “Worldly affairs are of no concern to me.”