Inside the bamboo building’s ground floor, a row of antique shelves stood, their wooden frames simple and elegant, arranged in a pleasingly uneven manner. Many shelves there were, yet few treasures to grace them.

Chen Pingan intended to retrieve some items from his spatial pockets to adorn this space. However, he paused, realizing that despite his years of travel and encounters with countless fine objects, little remained. Besides the gift from Ran, the spirit medium of the Fuju Sect in Calling Heaven Street, the gifts from Wu Yi in the Violet Sun Prefecture, the courtesan painting he’d purchased in Weeping Ape Street of Puddlewater City, and the few trinkets the old shopkeeper gifted as prizes, his coffers seemed thinner than he’d imagined. Treasures, like floating duckweed on water, spun briefly before drifting away, gone as quickly as they came.

A nameless feeling arose in Chen Pingan’s heart. He thought of the checkpoint on the border between Stone Millet and Plum Glaze Kingdoms, “Remaining Pass.” Named “Remaining,” yet it retained nothing.

Some things were merely lent, like the “Western Peak” Ancestral Nectar Armor on Wei Xian, the narrow-bladed “Ceasing Snow” saber at Lu Baixiang’s waist, the “Besotted Heart” sword on Sui Right’s back, the jade plaque inscribed “I am good at nourishing vast qi” in Wei Bo’s hand, Gu Can’s two Underworld Yama Palaces and imitation Glazed Pavilion, and so on.

Many more had been given away outright. The City God’s Manifest Blessing Seal from Rouge County in Painted Clothing Country… who among the Fallen Phoenix Mountain, the Cliffside Academy, had not received a gift from Chen Pingan? And not just acquaintances, even the dog meat shop in Stone Millet Country received a Lesser Heat Coin, and in the forests along the Spring Blossom River in Plum Glaze Kingdom, Chen Pingan freely spent money and dispensed medicine. Earlier still, on Osmanthus Island, he had scattered countless snake gallstones into the water to feed a young, nascent dragon.

Chen Pingan wryly chuckled, “Generous when giving, aching heart when remembering.”

He pondered for a moment, rubbing his chin, and nodded to himself. “Fine verse!”

The lotus child, who had been resting on the table, hearing Chen Pingan’s words, immediately leaned back and fell to the ground, flailing a single small arm, slapping his belly with delight, laughter erupting continuously.

Seeing the little fellow’s lively and adorable manner, Chen Pingan felt happy too.

Here in Fallen Phoenix Mountain, anything other than flattery now sounded pleasant to Chen Pingan’s ears.

Chen Pingan extended a finger and gently tickled the little fellow’s armpit. The little fellow tumbled on the ground, but ultimately could not escape Chen Pingan’s teasing. He quickly sat up straight, puffed out his cheeks, and, with his single arm, lightly wagged a finger toward a stack of books on the desk, as if to tell this little teacher that the desk was no place for play.

Chen Pingan stopped, smiling.

He took out some possessions from his spatial pockets and placed them on the table, one by one.

While the collection was smaller than anticipated, Chen Pingan’s wealth was still considerable. Besides the mountain’s income, he currently carried a Sword Immortal on his back, not some mere scraps filched from the Fu family of Old Dragon City, but a genuine, half-immortal artifact.

The robe of *Jin Li* stripped from the Nascent Soul old Jiao in Jiao Dragon Ravine, was originally the relic of an overseas immortal cultivator. That unnamed immortal had failed to ascend, and had no choice but to disembody and reincarnate. The *Jin Li*, not being destroyed in the process, was proof of its quality. Therefore, upon learning that the *Jin Li* could grow into a half-immortal artifact by consuming Gold Essence Coins, Chen Pingan was not too surprised.

There was also an incomplete walnut bracelet, each walnut carving equivalent to a fatal blow from an ordinary Golden Core Earth Immortal.

And a light green Taoist robe, not quite a magical treasure, but one Chen Pingan liked very much, feeling the snow-white *Jin Li* robe was too eye-catching.

The walnut bracelet and green robe would accompany him on his journey to the Northern Continent.

Numerous items lay on the table.

Two seals were still placed in the very center, like stars being venerated by the moon.

Chen Pingan began to quietly calculate, debts must be repaid.

Zhu Lian had once shared an observation, saying that lending money was the ultimate test of friendship. Often, many so-called friends were lost the moment money was lent. But there would always be one or two who would repay the debt. Zhu Lian said there were two types of repayment. One was repaid immediately when money was available, the other might be even more precious, those who couldn’t repay immediately, but would always acknowledge the debt and never avoid you. When they had the means, they would repay it. If you urged them during this period, they would feel guilty and apologize, without resentment in their hearts.

Zhu Lian said that friends like that could be cherished for a lifetime, because they valued feelings and were grateful.

At the time, Chen Pingan had smiled and asked Zhu Lian if he was planning to borrow money? And wouldn’t repay it anytime soon?

Zhu Lian had bowed his head, rubbed his hands, and said that Young Master was truly a scholar of heaven and earth, a prophet.

The hunched old man had indeed shamelessly borrowed some Snowflake Coins from Chen Pingan, only ten, saying he wanted to build a private library behind the residence.

Chen Pingan, of course, lent them. A distant roaming martial artist, someone whose existence was tied to the martial fortunes of a kingdom, reduced to borrowing ten Snowflake Coins, needing to preface it with a long explanation, Chen Pingan felt indignation on Zhu Lian’s behalf. But ten Snowflake Coins it was, not a single one more.

Chen Pingan demanded that after Zhu Lian built the library, it must be a forbidden area of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, no one allowed to enter without permission.

Zhu Lian agreed. Chen Pingan guessed that the bookshops in Dragon Spring County would be booming for a while.

The lotus child was still playing with the objects, arranging them neatly, one by one. Chen Pingan didn’t know where the little fellow had picked up this habit.

Chen Pingan let him busy himself, while he figured things out.

Qingxia Island’s secret vault, Liu Chongrun of Pearl Hairpin Island, were all in debt.

But the truly major expenses would undoubtedly be the Grand Zhou Heavenly Ritual and Water-Land Ceremony co-organized with Gu Can, which, if fully unleashed, could become two bottomless pits, costing far more than just a few Grain Rain Coins.

If ordinary small kingdoms or wealthy merchants were to host a grand ritual or ceremony, the Daoists and monks invited would mostly not be cultivators. Even if some were, they would be few in number, and therefore the expenses would not be too high.

Tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of taels could host one or two ceremonies. Even spending five hundred thousand taels of silver, equivalent to five Lesser Heat Coins and half a Grain Rain Coin, would be an unprecedented event for any small vassal state in the Treasure Bottle Continent in decades.
But once it involves cultivators, especially hiring a local immortal to oversee things, and dealing with the venerable immortals of famous Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, even if those figures are benevolent and compassionate, and say with a smile, “Whatever you deem fit,” or “Just give what you think is appropriate,” would Chen Ping’an and Gu Can dare to be so “whatever” when it comes to paying up? Moreover, before leaving Shujian Lake, Chen Ping’an had already discussed with Gu Can that the two rituals should be grand rather than small, and it was crucial to ensure that no one of ill-repute took the opportunity to muddy the waters. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be a waste of immortal money, but would also delay the merits, blessings, and reincarnation of those yin spirits and ghosts.

Therefore, for Gu Can to consecutively host two rituals within two years would be an extremely exhausting, discerning, and patient endeavor.

This was also a form of training for Gu Can from Chen Ping’an. Since he had chosen to correct his mistakes, he was embarking on an extremely arduous and bumpy path.

Back then, in the mountains south of Shujian Lake, demons roamed rampant, heretical cultivators emerged, and miasma arose everywhere. But what was even harder to endure was the Underworld Yama Palace that Gu Can carried on his back, and the endless series of farewells. There were two times when Gu Can almost gave up.

Correcting mistakes isn’t just saying “I know I was wrong,” and then breezily taking a long walk and throwing around some immortal money, and then feeling at peace, as if one has done some amazing and virtuous deed.

There’s never been such a good deal in this world!

However, Chen Ping’an was actually well aware that Gu Can hadn’t gone from one extreme to another. Gu Can’s temperament was still wavering. It was just that he had suffered greatly in Shujian Lake, almost to the point of being completely stuffed to death. So, Gu Can’s current state of mind was somewhat similar to Chen Ping’an’s when he first ventured into the world, imitating the people closest to him. However, he was only observing and pondering their ways of dealing with the world, and then transforming them into his own, with some changes in temperament, but not too many.

Gu Can was still largely the same Gu Can.

He just understood the weight of the word “rules” a little better.

Chen Ping’an stood up and hung the sword immortal painting on the wall.

Chen Ping’an came to the eaves outside the house, and he and the lotus doll sat on small bamboo chairs, ordinary in material. After so many years, the original emerald green color had faded to yellow.

Chen Ping’an sat there, dozing off. Inside and outside the bamboo house, it was warm in spring and cool in summer. Even a frail mortal scholar could sit here for a long time without worrying about catching a cold or getting heatstroke. It was even more otherworldly than Cui Dongshan’s courtyard at the Cliffside Academy.

He had to practice his boxing again tomorrow.

In his hazy sleep, it seemed that in the distance, in a filthy place of human hearts and ghostly domains, he faintly saw a flower blooming, swaying gracefully.

Chen Ping’an didn’t wake up, but fell into a deep slumber.

The lotus doll sat on the edge of the neighboring chair, raised its head, and gently swung its legs. Seeing the smile on Chen Ping’an’s face, it seemed that he was dreaming of something beautiful.

The rising sun soon brought a sky full of rosy clouds.

The bamboo house shook, and Chen Ping’an, who had been sleeping in his chair all night, suddenly woke up.

He directly took off his boots, rolled up his sleeves and pants, and went up to the second floor.

Arriving outside on the second floor, Chen Ping’an paused slightly, lowered his eyes, and turned to look.

Back then, Cui Dongshan should have been sitting here, not entering the house, using his youthful appearance and temperament to finally reunite with his grandfather after a century.

What they said while sitting face to face, no one knew.

Chen Ping’an was about to step into the house when he suddenly said, “I’ll go say hello to Shi Rou, I’ll be right back.”

The barefoot old man turned a deaf ear, sitting cross-legged, closing his eyes and concentrating.

Chen Ping’an jumped down from the second floor, didn’t put on his boots, and quickly arrived at the place where several residences were built next to each other. Zhu Lian and Pei Qian hadn’t returned yet, leaving only the reclusive Shi Rou and Cen Yuanji, who had just come up the mountain. He didn’t see Shi Rou, but saw Cen Yuanji first. The tall girl must have just returned from sightseeing and taking a stroll.

Seeing Chen Ping’an, she was bashful, hesitant to speak. Chen Ping’an nodded in greeting and knocked on the door of Shi Rou’s residence. After Shi Rou opened the door, she asked, “Does Master have something to say?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “After Pei Qian comes back, tell her that I want her to go to Riding Dragon Lane to watch over the shop, and you go with her. Also, remind her not to take Qu Huang to the town. With her forgetfulness, she won’t remember anything when she’s having fun. You keep an eye on her copying books. Also, if Pei Qian wants to go to the school, the one run by the Chen family of Dragon Tail Creek, if Pei Qian is willing, you can ask Zhu Lian to greet the county office to see if any conditions are required. It would be even better if nothing is required.”

Shi Rou agreed, hesitated, and said, “Master, can I stay on the mountain?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “If you really don’t want to deal with outsiders, you can, but I suggest you adapt more to this small world of Dragon Spring County. Go to the Wenwu Temple and take a look, and further away, there’s also the Iron Talisman River Water God Temple, you can actually take a look. It’s always good to get acquainted. Your background can’t be hidden forever. Even if Wei Bo doesn’t say it, there are many capable people and strange people in Dali, and sooner or later they will be seen through by someone with a purpose. It’s better to take the initiative to show yourself. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. I won’t force you on what you ultimately do.”

Shi Rou had some smile on her face and nodded, “Then this servant will try.”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “In the future, don’t call yourself a servant in front of outsiders. The way others look at you and me will be weird. At that time, the first famous thing about Fallen Phoenix Mountain might be that I have weird quirks. Dragon Spring County isn’t big or small, just this little place. Once it spreads, our reputations will be ruined. I can’t explain it hill by hill.”

Shi Rou suppressed her laughter, “Master is thoughtful and has taught me.”

Chen Ping’an was even more helpless and quickly waved his hand, “Fallen Phoenix Mountain doesn’t lack your flattery.”

Shi Rou naturally covered her mouth and smiled.

Chen Ping’an sighed in his heart and returned to the bamboo house.

Because not far from the residence, a girl who seemed to be taking a walk but was actually secretly looking this way already had goosebumps all over her body. Cen Yuanji tiptoed away and hurried away. She felt that she had seen some incredible truth. After closing the door, Cen Yuanji gently patted her chest and murmured, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, it’s better this way. He probably won’t harbor ill intentions towards you.”
The young woman’s heart was filled with sorrow. She had thought that by moving away from her hometown near the capital, she would no longer have to deal with those terrifying and powerful men. Never did she expect that even in the immortal abode she had yearned for since childhood, she would encounter such a young and degenerate mountain master. After arriving at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Old Immortal Zhu was unwilling to discuss matters concerning the young mountain master, deflecting her probing questions with vague and complimentary words, which she dared not believe. As for that charcoal-skinned girl named Pei Qian, she was like a shadow, coming and going like the wind, making it difficult for Cen Yuanji to even exchange a word with her.

Inside the second floor.

As Chen Ping’an stood still, the barefooted old man opened his eyes, stood up, and said in a deep voice, “Before practicing the fist, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cui Cheng, and I was once the head of the Cui Clan.”

Chen Ping’an was somewhat surprised.

This was the first time the old man had revealed his name.

The old man slowly said, “The gentleman Cui Minghuang, the young man who came to the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven to collect debts on behalf of the Guanhai Academy, according to the family tree, that young man should call Cui Chan his grand-uncle. His lineage was once a branch of the Cui Clan, but now it is the main line. My lineage has been disgraced by my recklessness and has been removed from the Cui Clan. All descendants of my lineage are removed from the family tree, not allowed to enter the ancestral hall in life, nor to be buried in the family cemetery after death. Such is the pain of a wealthy and powerful family. The reason for this downfall is that I was once mentally unstable and wandered the mortal world for over a hundred years. If I were to settle this account, using martial means would be very simple, just go to the Cui Clan’s ancestral hall and deliver a punch or two. But if I, Cui Cheng, still consider myself a scholar, as do my grandson Cui Chan and Cui Dongshan, it would be very difficult because they can’t find fault with the family rules.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, indicating his understanding.

In the long river of time in Lotus Root Paradise, during the history of the Songlai Kingdom, there was once a high-ranking official who held immense power. Because he was born of a concubine, he had a dispute with his local family regarding his mother’s memorial tablet and the family tree. He wanted to discuss it with his elder brother, the clan head, who held no official position. He wrote many letters home, using sincere language. At first, his elder brother ignored him, but eventually, he became annoyed by his younger brother, the official in the capital, and finally replied with a letter, directly rejecting the prime minister’s suggestion. The letter contained very impolite language, including the line, “You can manage the affairs of the world as you please, but you have no right to manage family matters.” That high-ranking official never got his wish until his death, and at the time, the entire officialdom and literati class agreed with this “small rule.”

So why didn’t Cui Cheng appear in the family and deliver a punch to those ants in the ancestral hall? Why didn’t that prime minister of Lotus Root Paradise directly abuse his power and force the matter through with an official document?

They could have done it, but why didn’t they break this seemingly fragile rule?

Chen Ping’an pondered briefly.

This was likely one of the fundamental reasons why Cui Cheng had reached his unparalleled state today, and why that prime minister could hold such a high position in the imperial court.

Once Chen Ping’an had made up his mind to truly establish a sect on Fallen Phoenix Mountain, it could be seen as infinitely complex, or relatively simple. It was nothing more than being practical in material matters, like a swallow carrying mud, accumulating little by little, and being practical in human affairs and principles, being slow and without mistakes, steady and upward.

All of this required Chen Ping’an to think more, learn more, and do more.

Cui Cheng suddenly said, “That young man Cui Minghuang is not simple. Don’t underestimate him.”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

What qualifications did he have to “underestimate” a gentleman of the academy?

Chen Ping’an had already experienced the power of the virtuous Zhou Ju of Guanhai Academy at the mountain manor in Shuishui Kingdom.

And Zhong Kui of Tongye Continent was also a gentleman of the academy back then.

Cui Minghuang was known as the “Little Gentleman of Guanhai.”

He was one of the two most outstanding gentlemen of the academy in Bao Ping Continent.

According to the agreement with his grand-uncle, who was also the Da Li national teacher, Cui Chan, Cui Minghuang was supposed to openly leave Guanhai Academy and serve as the vice-master of the Da Li Linlu Academy as a gentleman of the academy. The first master of the Piyun Mountain academy was supposed to be that old jiaolong who appeared in the world as the old vice-minister of the Huangting Kingdom, plus a Da Li native scholar, one principal and two deputies, three masters, all transitional. Once Linlu Academy obtained the title of one of the seventy-two academies, Cheng Shuidong would step down as master, and the Da Li old scholar would be too weak and unwilling to compete for the position.

Cui Minghuang would then become the next master.

In this way, Guanhai Academy would save face. The benefits would naturally still fall mostly into Cui Chan’s hands. Cui Minghuang, who had long conspired with him, would be satisfied after obtaining the coveted academy mastership. After all, this was a great honor, almost the ultimate for a scholar. Moreover, as long as Cui Minghuang was in Da Li Longquan, with Cui Chan’s scheming abilities, no matter how many more “lofty ambitions” Cui Minghuang had, he would mostly only be able to teach and nurture people under Cui Chan’s eyes, obediently being a teacher.

However, later the situation changed unpredictably, and many developments even exceeded National Teacher Cui Chan’s expectations.

For example, that Da Li imitation of the White Jade Capital almost became a fleeting joke, and the late Emperor Song Zhengchun was severely injured. Da Li’s iron cavalry advanced south ahead of schedule, and Cui Chan’s many plans in the central part of Bao Ping Continent were also launched. Guanhai Academy countered tit-for-tat, dispatching many gentlemen and virtuous men to either personally visit the palaces of various countries to reprimand the human kings, or to resolve the chaos in various countries.

Especially the crash of the Dazhao Mountain transcontinental ferry in the Zhu Ying Dynasty, and the sudden appearance of Xie Shi, the Celestial Master of the Northern Ju Lu Continent, putting pressure on Guanhai Academy behind Zhu Ying, not only aroused the anger of the cultivators of the continent, but also completely broke off relations between Guanhai Academy and the Da Li Song family. Cui Minghuang could only remain at the academy and was unable to take up the position of vice-master of the Linlu Academy. It is said that this gentleman has been studying diligently in his study these years, without any wasted time, and the academy praises him highly.

Chen Ping’an was somewhat strange.

This time practicing the fist, the old senior seemed not in a hurry to “teach him a lesson.”

In the past, it was always straightforward, with every punch aimed at the flesh, as if watching Chen Ping’an suffer was the old man’s greatest pleasure.

Today, he started with small talk and talked a lot.

Cui Cheng was not the kind of awkward person. Although it didn’t quite suit his temperament, he still mentioned Pei Qian’s martial arts practice for the second time, asking, “So you just want to give Pei Qian a carefree childhood?”

Indeed, Pei Qian’s aptitude was too good, it would be a waste.

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, “A grown-up’s casual words, forgotten as soon as they are spoken, may be kept in a child’s heart forever, let alone the senior’s intentional words.”

Cui Cheng frowned.
There was an underlying meaning in his words.

Naturally, it was a complaint about his earlier deliberate jab at Pei Qian. This was nothing much. But Chen Pingan’s attitude was what was truly worth pondering.

Chen Pingan seemed to be deliberately avoiding the matter of Pei Qian’s martial arts cultivation. To put it kindly, it was letting things take their course naturally. To put it bluntly, it was as if he was worried that the student would surpass the master. Of course, Cui Cheng knew Chen Pingan’s disposition well. It wasn’t that he was worried about Pei Qian surpassing him, this half-baked master, in martial arts. Rather, he was worried about something else, like the possibility of a good thing turning bad.

Cui Cheng said displeased, “Speak plainly.”

Chen Pingan hesitated.

Cui Cheng chuckled, “If you don’t want to say it now, that’s fine. I have my own ways of making you speak up voluntarily.”

Chen Pingan, however, was quite unyielding. “What kind of methods? If Senior is disregarding the disparity in our realms, I can speak now. But if Senior is willing to spar at the same level, I’ll speak after I lose.”

Cui Cheng said, “Then you can speak now. Just looking at your annoying face makes my fists itch. I probably won’t be able to control my strength.”

Chen Pingan cursed inwardly.

This time, returning home, Chen Pingan’s only reliance in the face of Zhu Lian “feeding punches” was the phrase “sparring at the same level”. He hoped to vent his frustration, at least land a few solid blows on the old geezer. As for whether he would be beaten even more severely afterward, it didn’t matter. He couldn’t train from the Third Realm to the Fifth Realm, punching time after time, only to not even touch the old man’s clothing.

Chen Pingan sighed and told the old man about the bizarre dream.

This was the first time Chen Pingan had revealed this matter to anyone.

The old man remained silent.

Chen Pingan asked, “Senior, can you help interpret the dream? Or, according to the old saying in my hometown, do dreams mean the opposite?”

The old man scoffed, “Goodness, another major inner knot. One is fear of death, and the other is fear of one’s own incompetence. What is it, Chen Pingan? After traveling so far, has your courage shrunk?”

Chen Pingan shook his head and said, “It’s precisely because I’ve seen more of the world that I know that the heavens beyond are filled with experts, with mountains beyond mountains. It’s not that I look down on myself, but I can’t be arrogant and think that just because I’ve diligently practiced boxing and swordsmanship, I can win every battle. Human strength has its limits…”

The old man looked disgusted and sneered, “Utterly foolish!”

Chen Pingan sincerely sought guidance. “Senior, please enlighten me.”

The old man instantly rose to his feet. Chen Pingan still sensed it, but his hands and feet were slower than his mind, just like when he was pulling clay for porcelain, his hands and mind were not in sync, and he often made mistakes.

It wasn’t that Chen Pingan was too “slow” in rising, it was that a Tenth Realm peak martial artist was too fast.

Chen Pingan had no choice but to raise his arms and block in front of him. Still, Cui Cheng struck him in the forehead with a knee strike, sending him flying backward, crashing into the wall, and falling down. Then, the old man kicked him in the abdomen, kicking him directly into the ceiling, where he fell heavily to the ground. Finally, the old man kicked him in the forehead, and Chen Pingan’s body slid backward instantly, crashing into the base of the wall, vomiting blood profusely, utterly unable to resist.

He was truly vengeful.

Using a knee strike for a sneak attack was Chen Pingan’s previous tactic.

Cui Cheng stood in the center of the room with his arms crossed, smiling, “If my golden words aren’t bought with a little pain, I’m afraid you won’t know their value and won’t remember them.”

Chen Pingan stood up and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Cui Cheng asked, “If fate is predetermined, will Pei Qian be able to avoid it by slacking off in martial arts practice? Only the strongest martial artist can arm-wrestle with the heavens! You wandered around Lotus Flower Blessed Land for so long, claiming to have seen three hundred years of flowing time, what dog fart principles did you learn in the end? Don’t you even understand this?!”

Chen Pingan didn’t even need to use his eyes to capture the old man’s figure. In an instant, his mind sank, entering that profound and mysterious state of “no one in front of me, only myself”. He stepped heavily on the ground and threw a punch at an empty spot.

But this punch was casually deflected by Cui Cheng. His chest felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. Chen Pingan’s back pressed tightly against the wall, his elbows braced against it. Coupled with the sudden force from his loose stance, like the sudden release of a tightly drawn bowstring, he shot towards the old man faster than his backward speed. Unexpectedly, it was like he was running into the muzzle of a gun, and the old man lashed out with an arm at his neck, directly throwing Chen Pingan onto the floor. The force was so great that Chen Pingan’s body bounced several times on the ground until the old man stepped on his forehead.

The old man looked down at Chen Pingan, who was bleeding from all seven orifices, “A little interesting, but unfortunately, your strength is too weak, your punches are too slow, your spirit is too shallow, full of flaws everywhere, and every punch is a weakness. You dare to clash head-on with me? A little girl wielding a long spear is really not afraid of twisting her waist!”

Chen Pingan slapped his hands on the ground, his body inverted, his feet pointing towards the sky, his head sliding out from under the old man’s foot. He supported himself with his hands and spun around suddenly, barely dodging the old man’s casual whip kick.

Unexpectedly, the old man slightly raised his sleeve, and a gust of fist aura “brushed” against Chen Pingan, who was facing the enemy with the Heaven and Earth Stance, rolling like a snowball in the air and crashing into the doors and windows on the north side of the bamboo building.

The old man did not pursue him but casually asked, “Have you told Wei Bo about the selection of the new Five Mountains of Great Li?”

Chen Pingan struggled to get up and shook his head, “I thought about telling him, but after considering it, I decided against it. The top secret affairs of Great Li, I wouldn’t dare to leak them casually. Wei Bo is a friend, but I can’t sell my student in exchange for favors. Moreover, Wei Bo is now attracting too much attention, and it’s hard to guard against hidden arrows. It’s better to be careful.”

Cui Cheng still stood in place, nodding, “One’s own affairs, things that can be done or not, can be tried. When it comes to talking about right and wrong, things that can be said or not, it’s best not to say them at all.”

Chen Pingan silently remembered these two old sayings from the old man. Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure, worth more than a thousand gold.

Cui Cheng roared, “You dare to be distracted while exchanging blows?!”

Chen Pingan seemed distracted, but in reality, he used the Secret Art of Eighteen Sword Energies to transform pure true qi, forcibly squeezing out half a mouthful of true qi. After taking a punch from the old man, he actually endured the severe pain in his soul and clenched his teeth, suddenly throwing a punch that transformed into two fingers, only an inch away from piercing the old man’s brow.
The old man reached out and gripped Chen Ping’an’s two fingers, yanked and kicked, sending Chen Ping’an flying. Then, shifting his stance, he moved several steps, adopted a horse stance, tilted his shoulder, and rammed into the falling Chen Ping’an. With a resounding crash, Chen Ping’an once again found fault with the bamboo building’s wall, finally collapsing against it, unable to rise. That remaining sliver of true qi was a desperate tactic, meant to harm the enemy a thousand, but damage oneself eight hundred. Facing the old man, it only resulted in self-inflicted harm.

The old man stroked his chin and chuckled, “Truth be told, you’re not entirely useless now. Back when you were honing your foundation in the Three Realms, your punches could only be described as foolish and clumsy. You didn’t have this kind of wits back then. Seems like taking a few too many punches can sharpen the mind.”

Chen Ping’an remained expressionless, wiping his face, his hand covered in blood. Compared to the torment of body and soul he endured back then, this little injury was just an itch, truly insignificant.

Leaning against the wall, Chen Ping’an slowly stood up, “Again.”

The old man smiled and asked, “One last question. Why are you so afraid of death? Is it because you have money now and cherish your life, unwilling to die? Or do you feel you cannot die?”

Taking the opportunity, Chen Ping’an circulated a wisp of pure true qi, and countered, “Is there a difference?”

The old man’s fist arrived, “No difference. Either way, you’re getting a beating.”

After delivering the letter to Ox Horn Mountain, Pei Qian had become quite familiar with that steed, Qu Huang. She had negotiated with it, agreeing that they would be friends from now on. Whether she could roam the pugilistic world by day and return home for dinner at night would depend on its stamina. The better its stamina, the wider her world would be, perhaps even capable of traveling between Fallen Mountain and the town. The so-called negotiation was just Pei Qian leading the horse, chattering away. Every time she asked a question, she would add, “If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a yes.” At most, she would give a thumbs up and praise, “As expected of my friend Pei Qian, always responsive and never refusing, a good habit to keep.”

Zhu Lian watched with an expression as if he had plucked a fly turd from his bowl.

As a result, upon returning to Fallen Mountain, Shi Rou repeated Chen Ping’an’s instructions.

Pei Qian had no choice but to bid a reluctant farewell to Qu Huang and follow Shi Rou down the mountain to the town.

In that New Year’s Shop in Riding Dragon Lane, besides the master craftsman making pastries, nothing had changed. He was still there, and they had to add a bit of money to keep him around. However, the shop assistants had already changed. One young woman had married, and the other had found a better opportunity, working as a maid in a wealthy family in Peach Leaf Lane, enjoying a very leisurely life. She often returned to the shop to sit for a while, always praising the family, saying they were located at the corner of Peach Leaf Lane, treating their servants like their own children. It was a blessing to work as a servant there.

There was also a woman whose family had unearthed two ancestral treasures that they had never paid attention to, becoming rich overnight and moving to the New County Town. She had also visited the shop twice, actually to flaunt her wealth to that “illegitimate” girl, Ruan Xiu. After spending a long time with them, the woman no longer felt deeply about Ruan Xiu being the only daughter of Master Ruan of the Remote Dragon Spring Sword Sect. She only felt that the girl was cold and aloof to everyone, not likeable. Especially once, when she was caught red-handed by Ruan Xiu during a small act, she felt very embarrassed. The woman complained in her heart, *You’re just a young unmarried woman, not Chen’s anything, with no proper title, hanging around the shop all day, pretending to be the proprietress or something?*

Compared to the fragrance-filled New Year’s Shop, Pei Qian still preferred the nearby Curio Shop, with its rows of tall display cases filled with antiques and miscellaneous items that the Sun family had sold off in one go.

However, after Ruan Xiu took charge, she sold some items that the mountain cultivators called spiritual artifacts at high prices, but after that, they didn’t sell so well. The main reason was that Ruan Xiu had secretly sealed away a few items, and once secretly took Pei Qian to the back warehouse to “examine” them, explaining that these were top-notch goods, the treasures of the shop, and could only be taken out when they encountered big spenders, suckers. Otherwise, it would be like throwing money away.

Pei Qian was delighted at the time, feeling a surprise, and couldn’t stop smiling. Ruan Xiu looked at her appearance at the time, probably thinking it was funny, and gave Pei Qian a piece of pastry. That was the first time Ruan Xiu had shared pastry with her, and after that, as long as Ruan Xiu had any, she wouldn’t refuse.

Today, Pei Qian placed a small stool behind the counter, stood there, just enough to make her head “surface,” like… a head placed on the counter.

As for Pei Qian, she felt more like a mountain king, inspecting her little territory.

Shi Rou stood beside Pei Qian, the counter was indeed a bit high, she was only slightly better than Pei Qian standing on the stool.

Shi Rou was a little strange. Pei Qian clearly relied on her master very much, but still obediently came down the mountain to stay here quietly.

Shi Rou couldn’t help but ask, “Pei Qian, aren’t you worried that your master will have problems practicing his fist?”

Pei Qian still stood motionless in place, staring straight ahead, as if playing a game of statues. She just moved her lips slightly, “Worried, but I can’t do anything, so I have to pretend not to worry, so that Master doesn’t worry that I’ll worry about him.”

Shi Rou reached out and rubbed her brow. According to Zheng Dafeng’s catchphrase, it was a headache.

Pei Qian sighed, still looking ahead, “Sister Shi Rou, do you think a person who lives in someone else’s house, and that person is not your friend, do you need to pay money?”

Awkward to say, even more confusing to hear.

Shi Rou asked in confusion, “What are you talking about?”

Pei Qian sighed, “Sister Shi Rou, you’ll copy books with me from now on, let’s have a companion.”

Shi Rou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Why would I copy books?”

Pei Qian said earnestly, “Copying books makes people smart.”

Shi Rou realized belatedly that she finally understood Pei Qian’s saying of “living in someone else’s house,” it was a veiled reference to herself living in the immortal remains that her master had given away.

Shi Rou reached out, wanting to learn from Chen Ping’an and lightly flick the little girl’s forehead.

As a result, Pei Qian, who was looking ahead like a statue, dodged at lightning speed, and then returned to her original state, not even glancing at Shi Rou from beginning to end. Pei Qian complained, “Don’t make trouble, I’m thinking about Master with all my heart!”