The sword’s chill filled the room, mirroring the biting cold of the snowstorm raging outside.

The sword immortal that had pierced through Tan Xue’s heart and the doorframe acted as a conduit, linking two vastly different realms.

Knowing her pleas were futile, Tan Xue fell silent. A heavy stillness settled between them.

This man, who had also hailed from Mud Bottle Alley, had shifted from lengthy lectures on morality to a sudden, lethal strike. His post-attack analysis sent shivers down her spine.

Almost every cultivator on Qingxia Island considered this accountant at the mountain gate to be amiable and easy to talk to.

What a bunch of blind fools!

She took a shallow breath, instantly met with excruciating pain. It was a turmoil deep within her soul, a consequence of the grievous wounds inflicted on her body.

All living beings fear death. Life itself, the most tangible thing of all. That, she now understood, was the “small one” he had spoken of. She had merely feigned ignorance before.

As she felt her life slipping away, as she could even perceive the mystical and profound Dao crumbling piece by piece, she felt like the wealthiest miser in the world, forced to watch gold ingots fall to the ground, unable to retrieve them.

Instinctively, she began to struggle. She seemed to want to wrench that sturdy frame of hers, equivalent to a pure martial artist of the ninth realm, from the “wall” of the doorway, leaving only the sword immortal behind.

Then she would wring the young man’s neck to vent her hatred.

But she quickly stopped. First, because even the slightest movement brought agonizing pain, but more importantly, because the victorious figure, the accountant who loved meticulous planning, showed no sign of being threatened. Instead, his smile became even more mocking.

Chen Pingan, perhaps because he had consumed four Water Palace secret elixirs in one go and was wielding a semi-immortal weapon, felt an unsettling imbalance. His pale face was flushed with an unnatural red.

He spoke slowly, “Although I haven’t yet refined this sword immortal, carrying it for so long has allowed its sword aura to permeate my soul, creating a certain connection. It’s like a child who hasn’t learned to speak yet.”

Chen Pingan pointed to the half-exposed blade, “But it clearly told me that when you begged for mercy, you harbored murderous intent, wanting to fight to the death and destroy us both. Now, you’re just putting on a show. What, do you feel humiliated by being outmaneuvered so badly? Do you want to regain some face?”

She remained silent, filled with bitter sorrow.

Was she truly wrong? And if so, where had she erred?

As if reading her mind, Chen Pingan said, “If I were to say you were wrong for being a retainer to a true dragon descendant, for constantly influencing Gu Can’s character with your powerful mind and will… In truth, Liu Z茂茂 wasn’t really Gu Can’s master. His mother, and you, this beast, were. Because Gu Can trusted the two of you the most. He was always wary of Liu Zhimao, so Liu Zhimao’s influence was certainly not insignificant. Gu Can’s understanding of Shujian Lake and his ways of navigating this cesspool were largely learned from secretly observing Liu Zhimao. But compared to you, it’s far less. You’d certainly deny that if I said so. Then let’s just say you were too foolish, thinking I was just another one of the Shujian Lake bunch, that as long as my cultivation wasn’t high enough, you could overpower me.”

She asked, “What exactly do you want?”

Chen Pingan replied, “I’m thinking about how you should die, and how to make the best use of you after your death.”

She said, “I no longer doubt that I will die, but don’t forget, I am still a Nascent Soul cultivator. You will die too.”

Chen Pingan looked at her, his eyes filled with disappointment.

She began to truly try to see things from the man’s perspective, to consider the problem from his angle.

As if for the first time, she regarded him as an equal, an opponent of equal standing, and tried to understand his strategy and formation.

She asked, “I believe you have ways to protect yourself. I hope you can tell me, so I can die in peace. Don’t try to fool me with those two flying swords. I know what they are not.”

Chen Pingan said slowly, “On Old Dragon City’s ferry named Osmanthus Island, there was a famous old boatman who passed down the ‘Dragon-Slaying Artemisia’, inscribed with the four characters ‘Act According to Duty’, as one of the means to safely navigate the Flood Dragon Channel. I saw it when I took a cross-continental ferry to that Upside-Down Mountain. But later generations of Osmanthus Island cultivators didn’t understand that it was actually a talisman from an ancient book, specifically designed to suppress dragons. By adding the four ancient characters ‘Edict of the Rain Master’, it becomes a complete talisman. By coincidence, I know this talisman. I can write it, and its power is not bad. If this sword immortal hadn’t pinned you to the door, I wouldn’t be able to kill you, and it would probably be difficult to even trap you. But dealing with you now is more than enough. After all, to write a ‘Dragon-Slaying Lock’ talisman with a vibrant spirit, I spent a long time late one night.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “I asked you to sit at the table earlier. Do you regret not agreeing now? There’s no need to worry, because your thought process is too simple. I know everything, but you don’t know mine. You and Gu Can left LIZhu Cave Heaven and Mud Bottle Alley relatively early, so you don’t know how I killed Cai Jinjian of Cloud Glow Mountain before I even started practicing boxing, and how I almost killed Fu Nanhua of Old Dragon City.”

Chen Pingan pointed to his head, “So you transformed into a human form, but it’s just an outer shell, because you don’t have this.”

Tan Xue felt a burning sensation on her back where it pressed against the door. She suddenly realized the truth and shrieked, “You carved that talisman on the door!”

Chen Pingan raised a finger, signaling her not to shout so loudly.

He asked with a smile, “Isn’t it strange, how you didn’t notice the existence of such a powerful talisman?”

She felt utterly desolate.

Chen Pingan answered his own question, “Because the talisman wasn’t fully written. It was missing some of the core’s spiritual energy. Firstly, the ‘Dragon-Slaying Lock’ talisman is of a higher grade. It’s not that I can’t write it now, but the cost would be too great. Secondly, if I had written it completely, you’re a Nascent Soul cultivator after all, extremely sensitive to the flow of Heaven and Earth’s spiritual energy. Maybe you would have knocked on the door and refused to enter the house. Don’t you call me an accountant? I thought I shouldn’t let down the kindness of you Qingxia Island people. The blood from your heart just happened to complete the last key element of this talisman.”
Chen Ping’an asked, “Do you think the name ‘Charcoal Snow’ was given to you for nothing? Now it’s a case of ‘charcoal and snow in the same furnace,’ but unfortunately, I’m not Gu Can, and I’m not close to you.”

As he spoke, Chen Ping’an conjured two golden talismans from his sleeve, “Actually, there are two truly completed ones. What will you do now? Do you still have the confidence to perish with me? You said my trump card isn’t two flying swords, but you’re only half right. I’ve walked to this day with them, fighting life-and-death battles against powerful enemies an unimaginable number of times.”

The flying swords Chu Yi and Shi Wu flew out from the sword-nurturing gourd, their tips piercing the core of the two talismans, causing spiritual light to erupt, resembling two radiant and warm charcoal braziers.

One sword hovered at Charcoal Snow’s brow, the阙中 acupoint.

The other hovered above Charcoal Snow’s dantian, the sea of qi.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Don’t mind, that last sword thrust wasn’t aimed at you, but to welcome a guest. Also, to let you understand what it means to make the most of something, so you don’t think I’m bluffing again.”

Chen Ping’an took a few steps forward, completely ignoring her nailed to the door, gently opened the door, and smiled, “Sorry to keep True Lord waiting.”

It turned out that the Intercepting River True Lord, Liu Zhimao, had been standing in the snow outside the door for some time.

When a Yuan Ying cultivator deliberately conceals their aura within their own small world, even Charcoal Snow would be unaware, let alone Chen Ping’an.

When that quasi-immortal weapon was drawn again, Liu Zhimao had already keenly sensed it in Hengbo Prefecture, but he hesitated, unwilling to rashly investigate.

But when the tip of the sword pierced the door, Liu Zhimao finally couldn’t hold back, quietly left his secret chamber in the mansion, and came to the Qingxia Island mountain gate.

Liu Zhimao had been standing outside the door for the time it takes to brew a pot of tea.

Chen Ping’an turned to the side, “True Lord, please come in.”

Liu Zhimao sighed inwardly, walked in with a smile, bypassing the blue stone slab and sat at the table.

Chen Ping’an closed the door again. Although the actions of opening and closing the door were small, Charcoal Snow, pierced by a sword of an immortal, felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, and then was suppressed by the talisman written on the door, as if she was in a boiling oil pot. It was both adding frost to snow and fueling the fire, making her wish she were dead.

Chen Ping’an sat opposite Liu Zhimao again.

Liu Zhimao also took out the white bowl again, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it forward, obviously asking for wine again, “Only with a guest like Mr. Chen can there be a host like me. It’s a stroke of good fortune in life.”

Chen Ping’an waved his hand, and the sword-nurturing gourd was drawn into his hand. He poured a bowl of wine for Liu Zhimao, this time not like the first time, but very generously, filling the white bowl with Immortal Blackbird Wine, but he didn’t push it back immediately, and asked, “Have you thought it over? Or have you discussed it with Tan Yuanyi, the island owner of Lisui Island?”

Liu Zhimao smiled and asked, “Could it be that Mr. Chen can’t guess whether Tan Yuanyi’s trip to Gongliu Island was a success or a failure?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “I’m not an omniscient immortal, I can’t guess.”

Liu Zhimao said with emotion, “If Mr. Chen had been to Lisui Island and met Island Owner Tan Yuanyi a few times by the Wulong Pool, maybe he could have followed the thread and found the answer. Mr. is good at deduction, truly proficient in this way.”

Chen Ping’an still shook his head, “What kind of proficiency in deduction is this? You haven’t seen the true demeanor of a master. I’ll be direct, True Lord, don’t take offense.”

Liu Zhimao took a deep breath and said, “To be honest, although Tan Yuanyi is the person in charge of the Great Li Green Wave Pavilion in the entire mid-Bottle Continent, after landing on the island and having a secret talk with Liu Laocheng, he was still not very happy. At that time, the conditions given by Tan Yuanyi were one false and one real.”

Liu Zhimao paused for a moment, seeing Chen Ping’an still waiting quietly for the next sentence, he was a little sighing. In fact, Chen Ping’an knew the general truth from the four words “one false and one real”, but he still wouldn’t say an extra word, he could wait, he was willing to endure and be slow.

This subtle beauty of temperament, perhaps only an old cultivator like Liu Zhimao with sufficient cultivation and temperament could understand.

Liu Zhimao continued, “Great Li hopes that I can maintain the identity of a false Jianghu monarch, but all, all the real benefits, will be handed over to Gongliu Island. Of the thousand islands in Shujian Lake, I, the nominal Shujian Lake alliance master, will only select more than ten vassal islands, and the remaining thirty islands will be connected to form a ‘metropolitan area’ similar to a secular dynasty. All the remaining islands will be under the jurisdiction of Gongliu Island. Of course, the Great Li Song clan will definitely have to draw a share of the profits from Liu Laocheng in the future. Then, on this premise, Liu Laocheng cannot take any measures against me and Qingxia Island, neither openly nor secretly. However, Tan Yuanyi will probably try to make this small request as tactful as possible to Liu Laocheng.”

Liu Zhimao sighed, “Even if I made such concessions, Liu Laocheng was still unwilling to nod, and even refused to bestow on Qingxia Island my nominal Jianghu monarch title, leaving a word for Tan Yuanyi, saying that in the future Shujian Lake will not have any Jianghu monarchs, which is simply ridiculous.”

Chen Ping’an frowned.

He couldn’t figure out the key for the moment.

Because he didn’t know about Xun Yuan’s plan for the Jade Tablet Sect, the selection of the lower sect’s location in Shujian Lake, and the alliance between Xun Yuan and Liu Laocheng, let alone guess that Jiang Shangzhen, an “old acquaintance” holding the Cloud Cave Blessed Land, was about to become the first sect master of the lower sect.

As the lower sect of the Jade Tablet Sect, it would inevitably want to encompass the entire Shujian Lake, which would still be considered small. Perhaps even the surrounding vassal states of the Vermilion Dynasty near Shujian Lake, such as the Shihao Kingdom, would have to be included in the jurisdiction of the lower sect.

How can others be allowed to snore beside one’s bed? What is a rogue Yuan Ying cultivator Liu Zhimao?

Only Liu Zhimao didn’t know, and Tan Yuanyi of Lisui Island didn’t know either.

National Preceptor Cui Chan intentionally or unintentionally concealed this chess game from Tan Yuanyi, in order to make Cui Dongshan lose convincingly, to distinguish between the primary and secondary roles, to make Cui Dongshan willingly leave the Cliff Academy and be used by him, Cui Chan, to help him and the Great Li iron cavalry stabilize half of the Bottle Continent, and as for whether it was south or north, whether it was guarding the country north of the Guanhai Academy, or attacking the country south of it, Cui Chan gave Cui Dongshan a choice at that time, both were possible.
For someone like Cui Chan, nothing in this world was truly trustworthy. But did he even distrust “himself”? Wouldn’t that be questioning his own Great Dao? It was like how Chen Ping’an, deep down, rejected becoming a mountain immortal, so he couldn’t even walk across the long-life bridge he had built across the river.

Although now split in two, Cui Dongshan was only half of Cui Chan. But neither Cui Chan nor Cui Dongshan were the type to just rely on clever tricks and petty schemes.

Once they truly decided to engage in a game of Go, they would accept the consequences, win or lose, especially when losing to half of themselves.

Once Cui Dongshan emerged from seclusion, he would dedicate himself to assisting Great Li with all his might.

Undoubtedly, it would be as if the Great Li Dynasty had gained a Embroidered Tiger out of thin air!

Back then, Cui Chan hadn’t yet left the high-rise building in the Poolside City. Using Cui Dongshan’s own half-joking words, it was “Even *I* find it terrifying. How could Great Li *lose* in Treasure Bottle洲?”

Chen Ping’an remained silent. This news was a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, Liu Zhimao’s confidence in his asking price had plummeted. With Liu Laocheng, a man of such iron will, holding court in the Willow Palace Island, things that Liu Zhimao initially demanded from Chen Ping’an in Green Gorge Island’s Spring Courtyard and Vermillion String Prefecture would become increasingly worthless.

On the other hand, it meant that to achieve his goals, Chen Ping’an would need to expend more effort with Great Li. He even began to wonder if a Tan Yuanyi from Grain Millet Island was qualified to influence the policies of the Great Li Central Court. Could he negotiate with him as Great Li’s representative in Bamboo Slip Lake? If Tan Yuanyi’s voice wasn’t loud enough, the energy Chen Ping’an invested in him would be wasted. Even worse, if Tan Yuanyi were promoted to another part of Great Li, and a new Great Li representative was assigned to Bamboo Slip Lake, the little “connection” Chen Ping’an had established with Tan Yuanyi might actually backfire. The worst-case scenario was that Liu Laocheng would interfere, causing the situation in Bamboo Slip Lake to change. After all, the greatest contributors to the final ownership of Bamboo Slip Lake were never those from Grain Millet Island, but that Great Li iron cavalry on the border of the Scarlet Canopy Dynasty. It was the irresistible force of this iron cavalry that determined the surname of Bamboo Slip Lake. If Tan Yuanyi were judged by those high-ranking noble clans in the Great Li court as being incompetent, then Chen Ping’an wouldn’t even need to go to Grain Millet Island. Because Tan Yuanyi would already be in dire straits, possibly clinging to Chen Ping’an as a last-ditch effort to survive, desperately seeking to use him as his final bargaining chip. In that situation, Tan Yuanyi, an Earth Immortal cultivator who could decide the fate of Azure Mound and Celestial Mother Islands overnight, would become even more terrifying and unscrupulous.

The logic was simple.

Charcoal Snow was now being nailed to the door by Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an could also become the next Charcoal Snow.

This was the true face of wandering the world, where life and death were one’s own responsibility.

Liu Zhimao patiently waited for Chen Ping’an to speak, not interrupting the bookkeeper’s contemplation.

Chen Ping’an’s first words were, “Please trouble True Lord to persuade Tan Yuanyi to come to Green Gorge Island for a secret meeting with me soon, the sooner the better.”

Liu Zhimao breathed a sigh of relief.

But what Chen Ping’an said next immediately made Liu Zhimao anxious and extremely troubled.

“You and I both know that Tan Yuanyi encountered a wall at Willow Palace Island. Liu Laocheng is definitely not asking for an exorbitant price just to give you a chance to haggle. Right now, Tan Yuanyi of Grain Millet Island is just a mud pit. Wading into it will inevitably cover you in mud. So I have two conditions. One is that the secret restriction you placed on Gu Can’s mother must be removed. Don’t bother asking if I’ll suspect you of agreeing but not doing it. You and I both know each other’s bottom lines. There’s no need for these pointless tests. You’re well aware of my current attitude towards Spring Courtyard.”

“The second condition is that you give up your control over Red Willow of Vermillion String Prefecture and hand it over to me. If Tan Yuanyi isn’t up to the task, I’ll personally go and talk to Liu Laocheng.”

Chen Ping’an finally said in a deep voice, “The second condition isn’t really a condition at all, Liu Zhimao. You better weigh it carefully! ‘Keep the green hills, and you won’t lack firewood.’ This isn’t just the rule of your Bamboo Slip Lake; it’s the universal truth for all rogue cultivators and scattered immortals.”

Liu Zhimao replied without hesitation, “Agreed!”

Chen Ping’an seemed somewhat surprised.

Liu Zhimao opened one of his palms.

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly and pushed the white bowl filled with wine towards Liu Zhimao. Liu Zhimao raised the bowl and took a sip, “Mr. Chen is my only confidant in Bamboo Slip Lake. Naturally, I must show some sincerity.”

Liu Zhimao turned his head and glanced at the little mudskipper. After withdrawing his gaze, he extended a finger and tapped his own head, “I’ve got this thing.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “True Lord’s confidant? Why are you insulting me?”

Liu Zhimao wasn’t annoyed in the slightest and laughed heartily, “See? You admit that we are confidants!”

The seemingly dying Charcoal Snow slightly turned her neck and looked at the two men who were “chatting happily”, listening to their words that could potentially decide the direction of Bamboo Slip Lake.

At this moment.

She slightly understood the meaning behind Chen Ping’an’s words.

She also had veiled meanings in her words, such as the one Chen Ping’an had exposed and revealed, saying that she was still ignorant in Mud Bottle Lane. Therefore, all the causes and reasons, all the sins, even after arriving at Bamboo Slip Lake, were only slightly “remembered”. Therefore, the current “meteoric rise” of Spring Courtyard had little to do with her, this little mudskipper, and was all thanks to that mother and daughter.

But compared to Chen Ping’an’s veiled words, until Liu Zhimao walked in and sat down, as the owner of Green Gorge Island, she had to first get Chen Ping’an’s consent before even being able to drink a bowl of wine. And she was quite happy to finally get the wine bowl back and drink the wine, a Nascent Soul old cultivator whom even she was wary of actually describing that young man, who wasn’t even twenty years old, as a “confidant.”

She truly admitted that she was not smart enough in Chen Ping’an’s eyes.

Chen Ping’an pointed at Charcoal Snow and said to Liu Zhimao, “The Great Li Imperial Preceptor will like this Nascent Soul-stage Flood Dragon’s remains. This is the bargaining chip I just obtained. If this deal is successful, it will guarantee your Liu Zhimao’s life. If it really comes to it, it can help you obtain a Great Li ‘Peace and Security’ token, allowing you to relocate out of Bamboo Slip Lake and become a Great Li court provider. At the very least, there’s hope. So even if negotiations with both Grain Millet Island and Liu Laocheng fail, I can still help you prevent the worst-case ‘what if’ scenario from happening.”

Liu Zhimao smiled and squinted, “Mr. Chen is really willing to part with this beast?”
Chen Ping’an took a swig from the gourd, his eyes resting on the frozen corpse of Tan Xue. “I gave her ample opportunity, a myriad of chances. Had she seized even one, she wouldn’t have met this end. Who’s to blame? Am I to be faulted for lacking the heart of a Bodhisattva? But even then, I am no Bodhisattva.”

Liu Zhimao nodded in agreement, finding wisdom in the youth’s words.

If the young man before him lacked such decisiveness and understanding, he wouldn’t have dared to sit and shamelessly ask for a bowl of wine.

Why hadn’t Liu Zhimao immediately agreed the first time he came here?

Firstly, he held a lingering hope that Tan Yuanyi of Grain Millet Island could reach an agreement with Liu Laocheng. If that were the case, Liu Zhimao wouldn’t need to deal with Chen Ping’an, they could simply keep to their own sides, like two separate wells.

Secondly, while Chen Ping’an understood many things – the hidden enchantments on the Red Crisp candy, the Spring Courtyard lady, and so on – it didn’t truly put Liu Zhimao at ease. Why did scholars preach the superiority of learning, only to contradict themselves by lamenting the uselessness of bookworms? The way one thought was different from the way one acted.

Therefore, how Chen Ping’an handled that creature with a heart loftier than the heavens and a fate thinner than paper was a crucial test. Only by crossing that threshold, by acting decisively and cleanly, would Liu Zhimao dare to truly engage with Chen Ping’an and do business.

Conflict and bloodshed were inevitable.

How to conduct that conflict was the true art.

The actions of that Mud Loach and Gu Can, even those so-called young prodigies like Lü Caisang and Yuan Yuan, were mere child’s play in Liu Zhimao’s eyes. They might raise their voices and smash a few more porcelain jars, but did they truly believe they were second only to the heavens? Liu Zhimao wasn’t worried about the foolishness of those obsessed with brute strength, those who were clueless about how much island and ancestral power propped up their clumsy fists. His own seat was all the more secure because of them.

Unfortunately, the arrival of the more seasoned Liu Laocheng changed everything.

Why was there a Liu Laocheng when there was a Liu Zhimao?

The timing was not on his side; Liu Zhimao could only sigh in resignation.

Wasn’t his humble demeanor towards this young junior driven by the force of circumstance? The jade token, the Great Li cavalry, the shifting winds of Treasure Bottle Continent’s central region?

However, Chen Ping’an’s greatest difference lay in his acute awareness of these factors, and in his actions, which seemed to adhere to a certain… peculiar code that baffled Liu Zhimao.

And when that code, built up through countless words and deeds, gradually became clear, Liu Zhimao was willing to place his trust.

Liu Zhimao chuckled, “First there was Old Ancestor Liu, now there’s Master Chen. It seems I’m truly not suited for staying in the Scroll Lake. A change of scenery is needed. If Master Chen can truly secure me a peace talisman, I’ll offer a generous gift in gratitude!”

Chen Ping’an remained unmoved. These words might not be false, but the speaker’s intentions were irrelevant. What mattered was that the listener shouldn’t take them too seriously. The world was fickle, and today’s sincerity couldn’t withstand the trials of tomorrow.

Even the inherently good-natured Zeng Ye could stray, mistakenly believing Chen Ping’an to be a benevolent man, and thus confidently relying on him. He might then begin to fantasize about a brighter future, a protector, a master-disciple relationship, a promising path to high cultivation. He might even dream of returning to Mao Yue Island one day to see his master and that malicious grandmaster…

Zeng Ye might never know that his slightest shift in temperament had caused Chen Ping’an, the man who remained unmoved even in the face of Liu Laocheng, to feel a sudden chill.

His life, which had been on an upward trajectory, had almost taken a turn for the worse.

Chen Ping’an could even foresee that one day, Zeng Ye would awaken and blame the heavens, and do so with righteous indignation.

He would never realize that he couldn’t even pass the test of Chen Ping’an, the obstacle he had to overcome in his inescapable situation. How could he possibly pass any other trial that came his way, even if given the chance?

Relying on luck? On fate? On the unprovoked favor of a great figure?

Chen Ping’an never believed that his way of handling things was necessarily the best path for Zeng Ye.

But almost everyone faced such a predicament, a situation where there was “no choice.”

Chen Ping’an was no exception.

In his hometown, the herbs from the Yang family shop were his only option. In the end, his mother still passed away.

In the smoky alleyway, only one woman was willing to open her courtyard gate. She had once been the best option in Chen Ping’an’s life of hardship, but had now become the worst.

The Shaking Mountain Fist manual was also the only choice for the straw sandal-wearing boy at the time.

Fortunately, even today, Chen Ping’an believed it to be the best choice.

Life was often like this. Many times, there were no forks in the road to choose right from wrong, good from bad. The heavens simply pressed your head down and forced you to move forward.

All one could do was walk the only path before them.

Only by traversing it could one have the opportunity to choose another path, to transform a narrow path into a wide road.

In observing Zeng Ye, after seeing the boy’s shifting temperament, Chen Ping’an once again felt helpless and weary.

To err is human, to repent divine.

The true difficulty lay not in repenting, but in knowing the error.

Gu Can was like this, and Zeng Ye, whose temperament was at the opposite extreme, would also make mistakes.

The only exception was that Zeng Ye was still young and immature, both in cultivation and character, so he still had the chance to improve.

Chen Ping’an wouldn’t explain his principles to Zeng Ye, but instead teach him how to perceive the world. The more he knew, the more he held an oiled paper umbrella to shield himself from the storms. If he only lectured the boy without imparting any knowledge of the world’s complexity, it would be like weaving a basket for Zeng Ye to carry. Chen Ping’an would then be forcing things into it, which wouldn’t make Zeng Ye’s journey smoother, but rather weigh him down.

Whether or not one spoke of principles, there would be a price to pay.
Learning, even when packed into baskets and carried on one’s back, isn’t necessarily a boon.

The written word possesses power, and the erudition it coalesces into holds immense weight.

Yet, it’s akin to the eight liang of true qi Old Man Yang inscribed on Chen Ping’an’s leg back then – it might burden his steps, but it also tempers his martial dao.

These were insights Chen Ping’an only began to grasp after the emergence of the fifth line on Zeng Ye.

It wasn’t that he was entirely ignorant before, but rather that Chen Ping’an lacked thorough understanding.

Traveling too swiftly, the youth couldn’t catch up.

Indeed, half-baked knowledge is most perilous, causing a person to sway and stumble with every step, making the water carrier feel utterly drained.

Liu Zhimao suddenly spoke a startling sentence, “Mr. Chen, are you perhaps ‘Observing the Dao’ and ‘Unifying with the Dao’?”

Chen Ping’an took a sip of wine, as if jesting, “So, True Lord is truly a kindred spirit.”

Liu Zhimao solemnly set down his wine bowl, cupping his fist in salute, “Though our Daos diverge, and we were once bitter enemies, merely by Mr. Chen’s ability to perform the deeds of an Earth Immortal while only at the fifth realm, he is worthy of my respect.”

Chen Ping’an teased, “If True Lord could share his life’s trajectory with me, helping me observe the Dao more fully, I would be exceedingly grateful.”

Liu Zhimao hastily waved his hands, “Kindred spirits transcend the boundaries of enemies and friends. At present, we are at most not enemies, and at least will not be for the time being. Future conflicts will simply be a matter of skill. Since we are not friends, why should I assist Mr. Chen? If I recall correctly, Mr. Chen owes a considerable sum of Immortal Coins to our Azure Gorge Island treasury. If Mr. Chen were willing to gift me that jade pendant, or even just lend it to me for a century, I would be utterly candid and honest, answering any question he posed. Even without prompting, I would spill everything, regardless of whether it should be said.”

The jade pendant’s original owner was one of the Seventy-Two Sages of the Central Earth Literary Temple, a lineage of the Lesser Sage, and a Great Sage who presides over the map of Treasure Bottle Continent.

Naturally, Liu Zhimao understood the gravity of the situation.

He was both wary and covetous.

As for whether he could accept it, the question was simple: Did Chen Ping’an dare to offer it?

Because Liu Zhimao didn’t truly understand the regulations of the Confucian school; Chen Ping’an, on the other hand, possessed a deeper knowledge.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Don’t even think about it.”

Liu Zhimao never held any expectations, so he wasn’t disappointed.

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “If I were to wield the jade pendant and recklessly draw upon the spiritual energy and aquatic fortune of Scripture Lake, draining it entirely for my own benefit, would you, he, Liu Laocheng, or the Song Clan of the Great Li, obstruct me? Would you dare?”

Liu Zhimao’s face stiffened.

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly, “Rest assured, it’s reasonable, but it’s not in accordance with propriety. Therefore, even if you wouldn’t dare stop me, I wouldn’t dare do it. Of course, if absolutely necessary, I’ll give it a try to see if I can leap into the Earth Immortal realm in one step.”

Liu Zhimao cupped his fist again, “I implore Mr. Chen not to engage in mutually assured destruction, to avoid completely depleting Scripture Lake and forfeiting this talisman.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “Scripture Lake comes first, I come after; the order cannot be reversed.”

Chen Ping’an stood up, “Let’s go. I invite True Lord to accompany me to Spring Courtyard Mansion to have some winter solstice dumplings from my hometown.”

Liu Zhimao rose as well, glancing at the utterly miserable little mud dragon.

A semi-immortal weapon, two natal flying swords, three Slashing Lock Talismans.

These are all excellent principles of our Scripture Lake.

Truly substantial.

Chen Ping’an didn’t even look at her, “On the way, True Lord, please tell me about the methods for extracting a Flood Dragon’s molted skin. After we return, I’ll listen to her last words. Perhaps her reasoning might persuade me.”

Liu Zhimao laughed heartily.

The two left the house.

At Spring Courtyard Mansion, Gu Can was pale, and the woman couldn’t hide her fear.

Chen Ping’an only said one sentence, “Tanxue is with me, wanting to discuss her reasoning with me, so she won’t be joining us for dumplings.”

After finishing the dumplings, Chen Ping’an put down his chopsticks, saying he was full, and thanked the woman.

Liu Zhimao also put down his chopsticks, stood shoulder-to-shoulder, and left together.

The two parted ways.

Liu Zhimao first returned to Horizontal Wave Mansion and then quietly returned to Spring Courtyard Mansion.

Chen Ping’an returned to the house alone.

A traveler returns home on a snowy night.

The sword immortal’s sword tip was still on the door.

Chen Ping’an opened the door, entered the house, and Tanxue spoke her first words, “I don’t want to die.”

After Chen Ping’an closed the door, “Is that your reasoning?”

Chen Ping’an ignored her, lit two lamps on the desk, and took out the “Imprisonment” Yama Palace from the bamboo chest, placing it on the table.

He continued doing what he had been doing for the past half-month.

She remained nailed to the doorway.

Until the second half of the night.

Exhausted, Chen Ping’an drank wine to invigorate himself before putting away the wooden pavilion and returning it to the bamboo chest.

Holding the charcoal basket, he went to the window, gazing out at Scripture Lake, where the heavy snow had stopped.

Chen Ping’an looked at the desolate scene of an island covered in snow, softly saying, “Four pages of accounts, thirty-two individuals, yet not a single Yin spirit or ghost dared to speak up and ask me to kill you for revenge. Therefore, I think you should die. I intend to change my mind and not do business with the Great Li National Preceptor. At Spring Courtyard Mansion, even after I ate a large bowl of dumplings, no one pleaded for you. Just like you said, earlier, my golden literary gallbladder spontaneously shattered. Gu Can dared not ask, and tonight is the same; he still doesn’t dare. Right now, Liu Zhimao should be at Spring Courtyard Mansion, removing the restraint from Gu Can’s mother, and she will likely see him as an extraordinarily kind benefactor. As for me, probably from tonight onwards, I’ll be Spring Courtyard Mansion’s ungrateful enemy.”

Chen Ping’an held the charcoal basket in one hand, walked to her side, and reached out to grasp the hilt of the sword immortal’s sword.

Her face was full of tears, her Dao heart nearly collapsing, repeatedly murmuring, “Chen Ping’an, I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “You only know that you are about to die.”

In the snowy night, another guest arrived.

A young man wearing a dark cyan python robe rushed over and knelt in the snow outside the door.

Chen Ping’an swept across with his sword, bisecting her.

The sword immortal’s golden sword tip outside the door shifted a short distance but was still not pulled out by the sword-wielding man.

Then the door opened.
Chen Ping’an stood at the doorway. “Gu Can, I truly thought you’d say that if Charcoal Snow perished, you would end your own life before my very eyes. Before I opened this door, I was pondering whether this was your own thought, or the wording your mother coached you with.”

Gu Can raised his head, weeping silently.

This was the first time since he left his hometown for Scroll Lake, all these years, that he cried like that sniveling brat from Mud Bottle Alley all those years ago.