Chen Ping’an tentatively asked, “Miss Ruan?”

Wei Bo smiled and nodded.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Did you need to remind me of that? With Miss Ruan’s temperament, once she ascends the mountain, she’ll surely come to the bamboo building.”

Wei Bo wore a wounded expression, as if his good intentions were being taken for granted.

Chen Ping’an chuckled and said, “I’m just meeting Miss Ruan. Although it’s night, it’s in broad daylight. What excitement could you possibly find to watch? Have you, the Righteous God of the Northern Mountain, become so idle?”

Wei Bo, radiating righteousness, pointed to the mountain gate, then at Chen Ping’an. “Now that my Northern Mountain jurisdiction is divided into inner and outer courtyards, the two biggest landlords within the inner courtyard are meeting. How could I not pay attention?”

Chen Ping’an ignored Wei Bo and stood up to greet Ruan Xiu.

Now that he knew she was ascending the mountain to visit, as the Mountain Master of the Fallen Mountain, he had to show some courtesy to his guest.

Wei Bo didn’t accompany him and stayed where he was, muttering to himself, “Is there really nothing going on? That fellow seems so upright and noble.”

Upon hearing that the gentle and amiable Miss Ruan in green robes was visiting, Pei Qian was happier than anyone else. She jumped up and down, her feet like greased lightning, dashing away. As a result, she ran headfirst into a shimmering curtain of mountain mist. She stumbled, finding herself standing next to the stone table again. Pei Qian looked left and right, noticing subtle ripples spreading around her, constantly changing and undulating. Annoyed, she said, “Mr. Wei, you’re a mountain deity, using petty tricks like a ghost wall? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Wei Bo helplessly said, “Why are you getting involved? To put it simply, if your Master is sleepy and wants to sleep, is it appropriate for you to wander around the house with a big lantern?”

Pei Qian crossed her arms, rubbed her chin with two fingers, and fell into thought. After a moment, she earnestly asked, “Without a formal marriage and a grand sedan chair, sleeping together doesn’t seem appropriate, right? I heard that Master Ruan is getting old and her eyesight isn’t very good, so she doesn’t like my Master being with Miss Ruan. Otherwise, Mr. Wei, why don’t you accompany me on a stroll around the Dragon Spring Sword Sect and chat with Master Ruan? If we make it a done deal by tomorrow morning, she’ll be our Second Mistress, even if she wasn’t before, hehehe. The more Mistresses and money, the better…”

Of course, these were just Pei Qian’s jokes. Anyway, her Master wasn’t around, and Wei Bo wasn’t the type of boring person to tattle, so Pei Qian’s words and actions were uninhibited and unrestrained.

However, Pei Qian genuinely liked Ruan Xiu the most in Dragon Spring County. Pei Qian was genuinely fond of Ruan Xiu, not just because she had seen Cui Dongshan’s painting of the River of Time. When Pei Qian arrived at Fallen Mountain and saw the green-robed sister with the long ponytail for the first time, she felt joy in her heart. And when Pei Qian looked at Ruan Xiu, it was like seeing an incredibly “warm” painting, not the bone-chilling scene that Cui Dongshan showed, but boiling seas and cooking lakes, a world of roaring flames, lava flooding the sky, a crimson expanse.

A woman sat high on a throne, propping her chin with one hand, overlooking the earth. That blurry-faced sister Ruan held a round sun in her other hand, as if she had plucked it from the dome of the sky. She lightly twisted it, as if it was the most concentrated essence of fire in the world, radiating countless rays of light, illuminating all directions.

But this secret, Pei Qian hadn’t even told the pink-skirted girl, only willing to talk about it with her Master in private later.

Wei Bo had a headache.

Fortunately, Old Man Cui had already walked out of the bamboo building. Pei Qian immediately sat back down on the stone bench and turned to ask the pink-skirted girl if she had any melon seeds. The latter quickly took out a handful and handed them to her Master’s first disciple. They had a great relationship.

Pei Qian lowered her head and cracked melon seeds. She was still a little afraid of the barefooted old man, especially after hearing the pink-skirted girl mention her Master’s past experiences in practicing martial arts. Pei Qian almost had nightmares, so she preferred to wander around outside all day, afraid that the old man would see through her as a martial arts prodigy that was hard to come by in a thousand years.

The old man said to Pei Qian and the pink-skirted girl, “Aren’t you going back to sleep yet?”

Pei Qian had no choice but to leave with the pink-skirted girl. Not far from the bamboo building, several small mansions had been built. Pei Qian and the pink-skirted girl lived in the same courtyard as neighbors.

The old man looked towards the mountain gate and sneered, “Daring to carry a sword to see me means his temperament hasn’t changed too much.”

Wei Bo smiled and asked, “If Chen Ping’an didn’t dare to carry a sword up the building, acting timidly, wouldn’t Master Cui be worried?”

The old man laughed heartily. “Worried? It’s just a matter of feeding him a few more beatings. He’ll be back to the little rascal he used to be. There’s no reasoning that can’t be explained with fists. Reasoning only comes in two forms: what I can explain with one punch, and what needs two punches to enlighten someone.”

Wei Bo wryly said, “Master Cui is from a prestigious family.”

“So what if he was once the head of the Cui clan? Did I study hard enough to become a sage of the academy? Did I teach my descendants to become sages?”

The old man mocked himself. “So I’m not only aware of the difficulties faced by scholars, but also the deep-seated flaws of scholars.”

Wei Bo fell silent.

This mountain deity, currently the most eye-catching in the Treasure Bottle Continent, stood on the cliff, elegant and refined, with wide sleeves flowing in the wind, ethereal and otherworldly, like a jade white spirit mushroom growing on a high cliff.

The old man asked, “Why did Ruan Qiong temporarily change his mind and not accept the Immortal ferry left behind by Ox Horn Mountain’s Bundle Abode? Why did he transfer such a great advantage to you and Chen Ping’an?”

Wei Bo said, “I thought Master Cui wouldn’t care about these mundane matters.”

The old man twitched his lips. “That rogue Zhu Lian and those children were playing Go here, deliberately muttering nonsense. He didn’t even seem bothered by it. I almost couldn’t help but punch him off the cliff several times.”

Wei Bo enjoyed talking to Zhu Lian and felt that they had become fast friends.

How remarkable was Zhu Lian? He was so remarkable that Wei Bo had to sincerely admit that if he had met Zhu Lian a few years earlier, Wei Bo would have been able to resolve his past issues a few years earlier. He wouldn’t have brushed past her that last time on the small path of Chess Mound Mountain, not even daring to look at her more than once. Instead, he should have left Chess Mound Mountain early and found her. Even if it was destined that the two of them could not be together for lifetimes, since he, as a mountain and water deity, was as long-lived as an immortal, he should have been closer in each lifetime, watching her joys and sorrows, her happiness and anger, instead of hiding in Chess Mound Mountain, sighing for years.

As for why Zhu Lian was unwilling to learn martial arts from Old Mr. Cui, Wei Bo never asked.
Wei Bo then explained, “Regarding the purchase of the mountains, I had two frank conversations with the Sage Ruan in private. On one hand, Sage Ruan leased several of Chen Ping’an’s mountain peaks for hundreds of years. At the time, it was naturally mutually beneficial. Chen Ping’an only kept the Fallen Mountain and True Pearl Mountain, so he wouldn’t be too prominent, avoiding the envious gazes from the Great Li capital and other cultivators. Sage Ruan could also expand his sect’s territory. However, Chen Ping’an later rose rapidly and was able to protect himself without worry. Sage Ruan felt a bit guilty, feeling that the contract, which was originally out of good intentions, was a loss for Chen Ping’an. That’s why he was willing to take over the ferry and then resell it. In this way, with my mediation, the Great Li Dynasty, the Horn Mountain Baggage Shop, and Chen Ping’an all had a way out.”

Wei Bo smiled, “After all, the Great Li Dynasty is more than happy to see me and Sage Ruan get along harmoniously.”

The old man smiled playfully, “As for the other aspect, Ruan Qiong still doesn’t want to have too much favor to owe Chen Ping’an. The more fair the deal, the less likely Chen Ping’an will be to deceive him of his daughter.”

Wei Bo didn’t comment on this.

This had almost become Ruan Qiong’s obsession.

Wei Bo and the old man looked towards the foot of the mountain together, smiling at each other.

It was rare to see a sage who sits in a region reduced to this.

Wei Bo said, “I’ll go and ease Sage Ruan’s mind.”

The old man nodded, “If it were an ordinary family, parents being so worried would be understandable, but this blacksmith from the Wind and Snow Temple has impressed me.”

Wei Bo vanished in a flash.

In the Great Li North Mountain Range, Wei Bo was the master of the mountains and rivers.

Even more legitimate than Sage Ruan Qiong.

Even if the other Great Li Four Mountains were determined in the future, Wei Bo would still be the most extensive of all the Five Mountain deities in the Treasure Bottle Continent. Due to the geographical shape of the Treasure Bottle Continent, which is long from north to south and narrow from east to west, the East and West Mountains would have an inherent disadvantage compared to the North and South Mountains. Moreover, the foundation of the Great Li is still in the north. The current capital is the place where the Song clan rose to prominence, and their ancestral legacy is all in the north. This makes the North Mountain slightly higher than the South Mountain. Therefore, even if the overall situation of the continent is settled and the Great Li Song clan moves the capital south in the future, they probably won’t move all at once to the south of the Painted Clothes Kingdom and the Combing Water Kingdom in the center, because there is still a Lake Viewing Academy there. The Great Li Song clan wouldn’t cut off their own vitality and divide the north and south.

Therefore, when the iron hooves of the Great Li cavalry step on the shores of the South Sea of Old Dragon City, the only mountain deity who can compete with Wei Bo is the Central Mountain.

Halfway up Fallen Mountain.

Chen Ping’an met Ruan Xiu.

Ruan Xiu looked at the young man who stopped and waved, she blinked her eyes, walked forward quickly, and then the two of them climbed the mountain side by side.

There was no trace of the slight awkwardness after not seeing each other for a long time between friends, it was a natural progression.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I actually saw you make a move on Hibiscus Mountain in Shujian Lake from afar on Green Gorge Island. Your momentum was quite impressive.”

Ruan Xiu was slightly shy and said softly, “I went down the mountain to train, traveled south with a group of Great Li Secret Agents, and later saw a Cui Dongshan who claimed to be your student, and then we ran to Plum Glaze Kingdom together.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Later, I traveled to Plum Glaze Kingdom with a friend, and I saw the battlefield where you chased and killed the Vermillion Glow sword cultivator, near the Spring Flower River.”

Ruan Xiu didn’t speak.

Spring Flower River? She had no impression at all.

She never bothered to remember these things. Even though she had seen many people and things on this trip south, after leaving the immortal ferry and traveling by carriage through the Stone Hair Kingdom, she didn’t remember anything. She acted on her own on Hibiscus Mountain and killed that young man with flourishing martial luck. As compensation, on her way back north, she helped the Great Li Secret Agents find three new candidates, and she had a good relationship with them, but in the end, she didn’t even remember the names of those three children. But she did remember many of the local delicacies and snacks of Green Paulownia City.

Ruan Xiu suddenly said, “Not far to the north, my dad just bought a Golden Abundance Mountain, not far from Fallen Mountain and Gray Dusk Mountain. My dad plans to build a new sword furnace there. The mountaintop is being worked on day and night. I went there to take a look tonight, and then I saw the strange phenomenon of the sea of clouds being dispersed on your side. I was a little worried about Pei Qian, so I came to check it out.”

Chen Ping’an suppressed a smile.

But he didn’t say anything.

Others might not know the depth of the old man Cui’s martial arts, but the deity Wei Bo and the Sage Ruan Qiong were definitely the most knowledgeable, besides Old Yang from the medicine shop.

If Ruan Qiong knew, it usually meant that Ruan Xiu would also know.

Ruan Xiu herself also laughed, lying was really not her forte. She was always awkward, and her dad had never been fooled, and he liked to expose her every time. But the person next to her wouldn’t call her out on it.

Chen Ping’an didn’t go to the bamboo building.

Instead, he took Ruan Xiu all the way to the top.

It was strange that Chen Ping’an, as the owner of Fallen Mountain, had never been to the Mountain God Temple on the summit.

Their conversation was all small talk, trivial matters.

For example, the results of the repairs at the Immortal Tomb, the business of the two shops in Riding Dragon Lane, the nest of chickens that Chen Ping’an had asked her to take care of back then, and that mongrel dog.

Approaching the Mountain God Temple.

Chen Ping’an was about to speak.

Ruan Xiu stopped and turned to look into the distance, smiling, “I know what you wanted to say.”

Chen Ping’an sat on the steps, his expression calm. The steps they were on were illuminated by the moonlight, and ancient trees lined both sides of the path. On the stone steps, the moonlight poured down like a stream of water on a slope, and there were aquatic plants and algae crisscrossing in the water, as well as the shadows of pine and cypress trees. This scene, when immersed in it, was like a dream.
Chen Ping’an said candidly, “It seems like whatever I say is wrong, but not saying anything is even worse. Perhaps I’m just being presumptuous. No man is unhappy to be liked by a woman, it’s human nature. Even if many men already have a girl they cherish, they still deliberately entangle themselves with other fine women. I wouldn’t say these men are necessarily wrong, I believe many men even revel in it, feeling it’s something remarkable. But that’s not in my nature, Chen Ping’an. If I were to do that, I would be betraying Ning Yao, and also letting down you, Miss Ruan. However, if I’ve misunderstood you, Miss Ruan, if I’m just imagining things, then that’s for the best. But even if it makes you angry, even if we can’t even be friends anymore, I still need to make things clear today. You’ve helped me so much over the years, Miss Ruan, and I keep it all in mind. Not to boast, but even in front of Ning Yao, I would tell her of your kindness. Some kindnesses, one cannot forget one’s roots. In ten or a hundred years, whatever should not be forgotten, must not be forgotten, and must be repaid if possible. Of course, I like you, Miss Ruan, but not as a lover. If it’s the other way around, if my words or actions in the past have caused you to misunderstand, the fault lies not with you, but with me, Chen Ping’an. If that’s the case, what should I do…”

These words, like pebbles in a stream, held no sharp edges, yet they were undeniably hard stones, not the swaying algae, much less the playful fish in the water.

Ruan Xiu looked at the young man, a bit sad and also a bit guilty, and she too felt a touch of sadness.

Why, after finally returning home, must there be sadness again? And because of her.

As for things like affection and love, Ruan Xiu wasn’t as caught up in them as he imagined, and as for right and wrong, she didn’t even give it a thought.

If I like you, not even the heavens can interfere.

If I don’t like you, even if you were the heavens, it would be useless.

Such a simple matter.

This rather lazy girl even felt that whether or not she truly liked someone had little to do with that person.

But Ruan Xiu didn’t share these thoughts with Chen Ping’an.

The great Dao is not contended for in a day.

Ruan Xiu sat quietly, asking, “If you had met me first, instead of Miss Ning, what would have happened?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head without hesitation, “You can ask that, Miss Ruan, but I cannot consider it. So, there is no answer.”

Ruan Xiu rested her chin in her hands, gazing into the distance, murmuring, “In matters like these, you’re just like my father. He’s very stubborn, he refuses to seek out my mother’s reincarnation, saying that even if he found her, she wouldn’t be his true mother anymore. Besides, not everyone can recover memories of their past life, so it’s better not to see her at all, so as not to betray the one who lives in his heart, and also not to delay the women around him.”

Since it involved Master Ruan, Chen Ping’an remained silent.

Ruan Xiu turned her head, smiling, “Did you bring any gifts for your return home?”

Chen Ping’an said awkwardly, “How could I dare bring gifts? If I hadn’t made things clear, wouldn’t that cause even more misunderstanding?”

Chen Ping’an then smiled in relief, “But I can bring you gifts in the future, Miss Ruan.”

Ruan Xiu tilted her head, her moist eyes narrowed in a smile, asking, “How have you made things clear?”

Chen Ping’an looked blank.

He quickly reviewed everything from beginning to end.

Logically speaking, whether Miss Ruan didn’t like him, or whether she did have some feelings for him, he had made things clear.

Ruan Xiu smiled, “Alright, isn’t it just that you don’t like me in that way, but you’re afraid that I like you in that way, and then you feel embarrassed, afraid that speaking bluntly will make me feel awkward, adding insult to injury, and that we won’t even be able to be friends anymore, right? Don’t worry, I’m fine, I’m not lying to you. The way I like you isn’t the way you think either, you’ll understand in the future, or you can ask your disciple Cui Dongshan. In short, it won’t stop us from being friends.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. What she said was a little convoluted, but it seemed to be more insightful than what he had said.

Ruan Xiu said, “Does Miss Ning like you too?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “She does.”

Ruan Xiu hummed, “Chen Ping’an, why think so much? Why not think more about yourself?”

Chen Ping’an didn’t know how to answer.

Ruan Xiu patted her knees and stood up, “Alright, that’s it. I suddenly feel a little hungry, I’m going home for a late-night snack.”

Chen Ping’an stood up as well, asking, “Or, you could come to my bamboo building. I have all the ingredients for a late-night snack. There are a lot of ingredients in my storage item, dried fish, dried bamboo shoots, ham, salted meat, and many wild vegetables, all ready to go. We can stew a pot, it should taste good, and it won’t take much effort.”

Ruan Xiu smiled gently, “My father is still waiting for me at the foot of the mountain, I’m afraid he can’t help but stew you for a late-night snack.”

Chen Ping’an wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Ruan Xiu walked down the steps, turning her head to smile, “Don’t see me off.”

Chen Ping’an said, “I need to go down the mountain anyway, I’ll see you to the fork in the road.”

The two of them slowly walked down the mountain together.

Ruan Xiu was composed, like a deity strolling through the forest at night.

Then, the two parted ways. Ruan Xiu continued walking down the mountain, while Chen Ping’an walked towards the path to his bamboo building.

Chen Ping’an suddenly remembered a beautiful saying inscribed on a bamboo scroll.

*The stars and moon are bright, the Milky Way spans the heavens, there is no sound of people, the sound is among the trees.*

Outside of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Wei Bo stood beside Ruan Qiong.

The large man sat on a huge rock.

Wei Bo smiled, “Master Ruan, don’t you really want to take a look at Fallen Phoenix Mountain? If my presence is inappropriate, I can leave, I promise not to see or hear anything inside or outside the mountain.”

Ruan Qiong drank wine, shaking his head, “I’m not that despicable. If I can’t trust Chen Ping’an, do you think I can’t trust my own daughter?”

Wei Bo was speechless.

If you truly trusted them, why would you secretly make this trip?

Ruan Qiong drank his wine.

Wei Bo stood by his side, keeping him company.

Ruan Qiong asked, “Wei Bo, who do you think will be the Emperor of Great Li in the future?”

Wei Bo wasn’t afraid of anyone eavesdropping. In the Northern Mountain territory, anyone who dared to do so would be tired of living.

As for that senior from the Yang Family Medicine Shop, he wouldn’t care about such things.
Wei Bo mulled it over and said, “For the time being, it seems both Song He and Song Jixin are possibilities, although Song He is more likely. He has deep roots in the court and among the people, making him more convincing. As for Song Jixin, only the Ministry of Rites seems to be betting on him out of desperation. But regardless, none of this truly matters. In the end, it all boils down to the decisions of those two. Even what that Empress says holds no sway. I suspect Song Changjing and Cui Chan will ultimately make unexpected choices.”

Ruan Qiong said, “The Great Li Emperor’s passing was a bit too opportune.”

Wei Bo smiled without replying.

Ruan Qiong was the Great Li’s foremost honored guest and the Treasure Bottle Continent’s premier swordsmith, whom everyone sought to please. His “maiden family” was the Wind and Snow Temple, and their relationship had never been severed, remaining tangled and unspoken. No one believed Ruan Qiong had truly broken ties with the Wind and Snow Temple; otherwise, the Dragon-Slaying Terrace cliff would not have seen the figures of Wind and Snow Temple sword immortals, but instead Ruan Qiong simply forsaking the temple to divide it equally with Zhenwu Mountain.

Wei Bo, however, was a mountain and river deity officially appointed by the Great Li Song clan. It was best to avoid any rebellious or presumptuous words.

Discussing the two princes was fine, and chatting about the feudal lords and the National Preceptor was acceptable. But Wei Bo’s position as the Northern Mountain God was personally sealed by the late Great Li Emperor, a debt of gratitude Wei Bo had to acknowledge. Therefore, regarding the matter of Song Zhengchun’s life or death, whether Ruan Qiong brought it up or the old Flood Dragon of the Yellow Court Kingdom mentioned it, Wei Bo always remained silent.

In the distance, a figure in azure robes appeared, seemingly walking slowly, yet her figure floated like a wisp of green smoke.

Ruan Xiu, upon seeing Ruan Qiong and Wei Bo, first nodded to Wei Bo as a greeting, then looked at her father, “Father, what a coincidence, are you out for a stroll as well?”

Ruan Qiong nodded, casually tossing aside the empty wine gourd.

Wei Bo tactfully took his leave.

Ruan Qiong’s lips moved slightly, but in the end, he simply produced another jug of wine from his spatial item, broke the seal, and began to drink.

Ruan Xiu smiled, “I ran into Chen Ping’an on Fallen Phoenix Mountain just now.”

Ruan Qiong’s face turned stern, “Such a coincidence.”

Indeed, like father, like daughter.

Ruan Xiu then selectively recounted their conversation to her father, maintaining the general meaning but slightly altering some of the wording.

Ruan Qiong took a large gulp of wine, wiped his mouth, and said in a deep voice, “Is Chen Ping’an blind? What’s wrong with my daughter? Does he not like her?! Who lent him the gall to dislike her?”

Ruan Xiu’s eyes narrowed with a smile.

Ruan Qiong was unusually indignant, taking another large gulp of wine. After a moment of silence, he said, “But that kid is still a decent fellow, unlike many men who always have their eyes on what they don’t have. In that regard, you can’t find fault with Chen Ping’an.”

Ruan Qiong suddenly became suspicious, “Xiu Xiu, could it be that after five years of wandering the pugilistic world, that kid has become increasingly cunning and is deliberately feigning retreat? So that I won’t be wary of him?”

Ruan Xiu looked at her father with a hint of disdain, not saying a word.

Ruan Qiong said sheepishly, “That kid shouldn’t be that wicked.”

Ruan Qiong asked strangely, “Xiu Xiu, aren’t you even a little unhappy? Xiu Xiu, tell me the truth, do you even like Chen Ping’an? I’ll only ask you this once, and I won’t ask again, so don’t lie.”

Ruan Xiu smiled, raising both hands and shaking them vigorously, “Not at all.”

Ruan Qiong was dubious, “If I fought with Chen Ping’an, who would you help?”

Ruan Xiu said with conviction, “Of course, I’d help Father.”

Ruan Qiong felt somewhat gratified.

He suddenly turned his head.

Ruan Xiu’s expression was sincere, without a flaw.

“Go home early.” Ruan Qiong finally felt a little relieved, leaping into the air and transforming into a rainbow, disappearing into the distance.

Ruan Xiu remained leisurely, strolling alone through the mountains and forests, eventually reaching a stream, where she squatted down, cupping a handful of water. In the water, the moon was reflected, shattered and whole.

At the bamboo building on Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Chen Ping’an was about to go sit at the stone table for a moment when the old man named Cui reached out and grabbed him, pulling him into the second-floor room.

Then, the old man kicked him in the abdomen, sending him crashing into the wall. Chen Ping’an supported himself with one hand, flipping his body, and just as he was about to land firmly, he was struck in the forehead by the old man’s fist aura. The bamboo building swayed, making a loud noise.

This demonstrated the immense power of the punch.

Chen Ping’an, having inexplicably been beaten up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, cursed fiercely, and then roared, “If you have the skill, fight me with a Fifth Realm against Fifth Realm!”

The old man scoffed, “Alright, shall we exchange blows with the Fifth Realm’s Divine Man Drumming stance?”

Chen Ping’an charged forward with Six Walking Piles.

The old man remained motionless, even putting one hand behind his back and casually extending the other palm forward, indicating that Chen Ping’an should strike first.

Chen Ping’an took his sixth step, heavily stomping the ground, his momentum like a rainbow.

Then, with a sudden and unannounced change, he burst out of the still-open second-floor bamboo door, lightly shouted, and the Sword Immortal flew out of its sheath, stepping on the sword and soaring into the sky, whistling away into the distance.

Chen Ping’an could accept being fed punches.

But tonight, the old fellow was clearly out of his mind, as if he was using him as a punching bag. This was unacceptable.

The barefoot old man did not immediately punch him down but clicked his tongue and said, “Such a slippery fellow, how come when it comes to matters of love between men and women, he becomes such a blockhead? So young, yet he’s already experienced all the sails and found none worthwhile? Outrageous!”

The old man silently deduced for a moment, stepped onto the outside railing, and delivered a punch, precisely the Cloud Steaming Great Marsh stance.

Chen Ping’an, thinking he had escaped disaster, originally planned to spend the night admiring the moon in the sky; otherwise, life would be unbearable.

Unexpectedly, he and his sword were knocked back down to earth by the old man’s punch.

Then, the old man casually pressed down with his palm.

A vigorous gale-like waterfall poured down from the sky, just in time to slam Chen Ping’an, who was trying to continue stepping on his sword and riding the wind, into the forest.

Chen Ping’an crashed into a stream, splashing up a huge spray of water.

The stream was not deep, and Chen Ping’an staggered to his feet, sheathing the Sword Immortal back behind him.

As a result, he saw Ruan Xiu crouching by the stream, staring blankly at him.

Chen Ping’an bent over, panting heavily, then wiped his face, and said helplessly, “What a coincidence, we meet again.”

Ruan Xiu nodded.

Just as Chen Ping’an was about to say something.

He was inexplicably punched again, sending him crashing into the trees. A familiar voice roared angrily, “Good kid, I knew you were still up to no good, will this ever end?! You’re addicted to thinking about my daughter, aren’t you? Even resorting to a self-inflicted injury?!”

Another punch arrived.

The entire stream was severed in half by the “passing” punch aura.
Chen Ping’an had no choice but to continue maneuvering his sword spirit, Outsheathed, his mind in sync, using the sword to escape. He barely dodged that punch, but the dangers continued to arise.

Chen Ping’an even used the Diminishing Inch Talisman, desperately fleeing while muttering, “Add Wei Bo, and we could have a table.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure in white standing gracefully atop a towering ancient tree, smiling and saying, “That’s too much trouble.”

Wei Bo’s voice wasn’t loud, but Chen Ping’an heard it clearly.

Chen Ping’an plunged into a ripple in space, and the next moment, he was standing on the mist-shrouded peak of Cloud-Draping Mountain, relieved, and plopped down on the ground.

Thankfully, Wei Bo hadn’t kicked him when he was down.

Near the stream, Ruan Qiong gently pressed Ruan Xiu’s shoulder, vanished in a flash, and returned to the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

Ruan Qiong personally made a late-night snack. Father and daughter sat facing each other, Ruan Xiu’s face beaming.

Ruan Qiong sighed inwardly.

Better to be heartbroken today than to lose all hope in the future.

Back on Cloud-Draping Mountain.

Wei Bo smiled, bent down, and helped the exhausted Chen Ping’an to his feet.

Chen Ping’an said with a wry smile, “Tonight feels like a dream.”

Wei Bo smiled and extended his palm.

A moment later, a teal finch, night-wandering in the sea of clouds above Cloud-Draping Mountain, suddenly plummeted into the deity’s hand.

Wei Bo held the finch in one hand and gently waved the other, and a white cloud cushion materialized behind Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an sat cross-legged on the cushion.

Wei Bo slightly raised his hand, and the finch flew away, returning to the sea of clouds.

Wei Bo softly said, “Chen Ping’an, based on the contents of your letters to Cloud-Draping Mountain, combined with Cui Dongshan’s casual chats here, I’ve pieced together a clue, a strange matter that you might not even have noticed.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “How so strange?”

Ever since learning Go from Cui Dongshan, especially in Bamboo Scroll Lake, reviewing games had become a daily routine for Chen Ping’an, the accountant.

Wei Bo looked into the distance. The sea of clouds couldn’t obscure the vision of a mountain deity. He could see the Dragon Beard River, the Iron Talisman River, and further away, the Embroidered Flower River and Jade Nectar River near Red Candle Town. Wei Bo slowly said, “The opportunity that Ruan Xiu obtained in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven was the fire dragon coiled around her wrist like a bracelet, right?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. That was an obvious truth.

Wei Bo continued, “Ever since Master Qi gifted you the Mountain and Water Seal, during the battle at Flood Dragon Gulch, the Mountain Seal shattered, leaving only the Water Seal. First, you encountered a bride ghost in the High Wind and Limpid Water residence beside the Embroidered Flower River, and then in Willow Leaf Continent, you had an affinity with the Buried River Water Goddess. Before going to the Lion Garden in Qingluan Country, it’s said you inscribed words on the wall of a water deity temple. In the Purple Sun Prefecture of the Yellow Court Country, you encountered the treacherous White Egret River Water God. Whether good or bad, it’s still fate. In contrast, mountain deities are few and far between, aside from me. At least in your mind, even if you pass by them, they don’t leave a deep impression, right? Especially in Bamboo Scroll Lake these past few years, you’ve been living by the water. How long has it been? Quite a while, isn’t it?”

Chen Ping’an thoughtfully considered this and nodded.

“Have you forgotten who that little loach originally chose?! It was you, Chen Ping’an, not Gu Can!”

Wei Bo smiled ruefully, “Have you ever considered that you are so ‘fond of water,’ while Ruan Xiu? Isn’t a water-fire conflict the most natural and righteous of Dao conflicts?”

Chen Ping’an was stunned.

Wei Bo sighed in despair.

Chen Ping’an suddenly smiled, pointed to the sword spirit behind him, “Don’t worry, if there really is a water-fire conflict, I’ll yield to Miss Ruan. The reason is simple, I am a swordsman. My Dao, Chen Ping’an’s Dao, is on the path of martial arts, traveling far and wide with my sword, delivering the hardest punches, wielding the fastest sword, drinking with those who are reasonable, and delivering punches and swords against injustice…”

The young man, almost skeletal just a few years ago, was now radiating vitality like never before, “I hope that one day, when I, Chen Ping’an, stand somewhere, reason will be there too!”