The narrow Riding Dragon Lane was a sloping path with a long set of stairs. Beneath the stairs was the Grass Head Shop, alongside the New Year’s Money Shop. Both shops originally belonged to Shi Jiachun, the little girl with pigtails, as her family’s ancestral property. Later, the little girl didn’t go to the Great Sui Academy with Li Baoping and Li Huai, nor did she stay in the town like Dong Shui Jing. Instead, she followed her family and moved to the Great Li capital. She sold both shops, which, with the help of Ruan Qiong, eventually fell into Chen Ping An’s hands. Every time Chen Ping An returned home, Dong Shui Jing would see him, but Shi Jiachun had not been seen since their separation years ago.

The Grass Head Shop, when it was first in the hands of the Shi family, sold various sundries, including many old objects. It was essentially the earliest pawnshop in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. When they moved, the Shi family chose some relatively pleasing antiques and trinkets, leaving half of them in the shop. This showed that even in the capital, the Shi family would be a wealthy household. Initially, after Chen Ping An obtained the shop, especially after learning the value of those objects, he felt a sense of guilt and unease during his first return to the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. He considered simply closing the shop and returning it to the Shi family, along with everything inside, at the original price, should they ever return to visit. However, Ruan Xiu didn’t agree, saying that business was business and personal feelings were personal. Chen Ping An agreed, but he still felt a knot in his heart. But now, accustomed to doing business, he no longer entertained the thought. However, if the Shi family were shameless enough to send someone to reclaim the shop, Chen Ping An felt that would be acceptable and he wouldn’t refuse, though their relationship would no longer be as warm. Of course, what was his Chen Ping An’s “warmth” worth anyway?

There was only one shop assistant taking care of the business, an old woman with a simple and honest nature. It was said that when Ruan Xiu was the shopkeeper, she often chatted with her.

Chen Ping An naturally recognized the woman. She was from Apricot Blossom Lane, and according to the town’s sprawling system of kinship, even though there was nearly a forty-year age gap, he only needed to call her Aunt Chen. However, it wasn’t a true blood relation.

Although the old woman was old, she had worked as a farmer her whole life and was still very healthy. Even though her children had moved to Dragon Spring County and she had visited them a few times, she couldn’t stand the size of their house and its loneliness. She couldn’t even find familiar people to quarrel with, so she insisted on returning to the town. Her children were filial and couldn’t do anything about it, but it was said that her daughter-in-law gossiped, complaining that her mother-in-law was embarrassing them. Now that they had bought several maids, they didn’t need an old woman running around earning a few copper coins, especially since the shopkeeper was the poorest junior from Mud Bottle Lane back in the day.

Chen Ping An brought Pei Qian to the shop. As soon as they entered, he called out “Aunt Chen,” asking about her health, whether she was still farming, and how the harvest was.

Then, Chen Ping An chatted with the old woman for a long time, using the town’s dialect. The old woman was talkative, reminiscing about old times. Seeing Chen Ping An’s current success, she couldn’t help but feel emotional, her eyes welling up. She said that if Chen Ping An’s mother could see him now, how happy she would be. She had suffered her whole life and hadn’t enjoyed a single day of good fortune. In her last year, she couldn’t even get out of bed, and she didn’t make it through the winter. Heaven’s eyes were blind! Speaking of sad things, the old woman also blamed Chen Ping An’s father, saying that being a good person was useless; he was a sinner who had left his wife and son to suffer for so many years. But in the end, the old woman gently patted Chen Ping An’s hand, saying not to resent his father, but to think of it as if his mother and he owed him from a past life, and they had simply paid off the debt. It was a good thing, and maybe they would be reunited in the next life and enjoy happiness together.

Chen Ping An obediently sat on the long bench with Aunt Chen, holding her withered hands and listening to her complaints, not daring to argue.

Pei Qian pulled up a small stool and sat not far away, quietly cracking melon seeds and watching her somewhat unfamiliar master.

Pei Qian learned the languages of different places very quickly, and she was fluent in the dialect of Dragon Spring County, so she understood everything the two were saying.

Her master seemed to be both sad and happy while chatting with the old woman.

Moreover, Pei Qian found it strange that her master, such a powerful person, almost never seemed so…respectful to anyone? It seemed as though whatever the garrulous old woman said was right, and her master would listen to it, every word and sentence, taking it to heart. And at that moment, her master’s state of mind was extremely peaceful.

In fact, before her master came down the mountain to the shop, Pei Qian felt greatly wronged, but she didn’t want to disturb her master while he was practicing his fist techniques at the Fallen Peak Mountain.

So, she stayed at the New Year’s Money Shop, sitting on a small stool in a daze, feeling listless and unable to muster any energy to wander around as she usually did. Thinking about the few white geese in the town that were probably bullying passersby again, Pei Qian felt even angrier.

Because in the past few days, she had heard a lot of petty gossip from the town’s market.

Actually, she had heard some of it in previous years as well, but it was fragmented. Pei Qian thought she was a Jianghu person and should be magnanimous, so she didn’t confront them on the spot, but secretly recorded it in a small notebook, which she hid at the bottom of her small bamboo box, noting down who had said what, where, and when.

But recently, after her master returned to Fallen Peak Mountain, the malicious gossip had increased, with many idle loafers who were so full they hadn’t been stuffed to death, as well as some people roughly the same age as her master who he knew from earlier years, and some long-tongued women, gathering in places like street corners to gossip together.

It was mostly about old stories from Mud Bottle Lane and some rumors about Chen Ping An when he was an apprentice at the dragon kiln.

They liked to tell stories about Chen Ping An’s miserable childhood as jokes, which wasn’t even the worst of it. Some even said more disgusting things, involving her master’s friend Liu Xianyang, neighbor Song Jixin, servant girl Zhi Gui, and even Gu Can’s mother, the widow. They even made up stories about Ruan Xiu, saying that her master had only achieved his current success by currying favor with Ruan Xiu. They also said that he had a fling with Gu Can’s mother, which was why he often helped the widow, and that he often borrowed money from Song Jixin without repaying it. There was too much of it.
Pei Qian meticulously remembered everything. Each time she returned to the Lucky Coin Shop, she would carry Shi Rou on her back, take out the treasured ledger, and gnash her teeth as she wrote, making the ink blots especially heavy. If her master weren’t here at Fallen Mountain, Pei Qian would have already taken action, regardless of whether they were a small brat or an old crone of several decades.

Later, Shi Rou noticed something was amiss and enlightened Pei Qian, saying that whether it was in the marketplace or in the courts and rivers, few truly rejoiced at the success of others. There were some, certainly, but few. To your face, they would flatter you and sing your praises, but behind your back, they would wag their tongues. This was perfectly normal.

Pei Qian retorted, “I don’t care about me, but they can’t speak ill of my master!”

Shi Rou felt it was a thorny issue, truly afraid that Pei Qian wouldn’t be able to restrain herself one day and would injure someone with an unintended heavy hand.

So, when Chen Ping’an came to the shop this time, she had actually wanted to mention this matter, but Pei Qian was clinging to her master, and Shi Rou hadn’t had a chance to speak.

However, when Pei Qian saw her master today and listened to the old woman’s somewhat annoying prattle, her anger and resentment didn’t seem quite as strong.

Especially when Pei Qian remembered one year when she helped her master pay respects at his parents’ graves. On their way back to town, they encountered the old woman going up the mountain. When Pei Qian looked back, it seemed the old woman was standing near her master’s parents’ graves, bending down to place a plate of sticky rice cakes and smoked tofu before the tombstones.

Pei Qian cracked sunflower seeds and grinned.

She decided not to tell her master about these vexing matters.

And in the future, she would offer more smiles to this wife of her master, whom she would have to address as Aunt Chen.

Leaving the thatched shop, Chen Ping’an didn’t immediately take Pei Qian back to the Lucky Coin Shop. Instead, he took her for a stroll, walking up the steps of Riding Dragon Lane, then taking a roundabout route through the streets and alleys to Liu Xianyang’s ancestral home. Opening the door, Chen Ping’an took up a broom and began to sweep. Pei Qian was familiar with the place. When they separated in Red Candle Town, her master had given her a set of keys, including the one to this place. Every few days, she would follow the pink-skirted girl to clean it. That time, her master had specifically instructed her not to touch anything inside the house, which had made her a little sad. She asked the pink-skirted girl if her master had said the same to her. The pink-skirted girl hesitated, and Pei Qian knew he hadn’t. She sat on the threshold, feeling dejected, and let the pink-skirted girl work alone. Pei Qian said she had checked the almanac, and she didn’t have the energy today.

Today was different. As her master swept, she didn’t need to consult the almanac to know she was full of energy. She ran to the kitchen, grabbed a bucket and rag, and scooped water from the remaining water in the tank, helping to wipe the tables, benches, and windows inside the house. Chen Ping’an smiled and told Pei Qian many stories about how he and Liu Xianyang used to climb mountains and wade through rivers, setting traps to catch wild animals, making slingshots and bows and arrows, catching fish, birds, and snakes – many amusing tales.

When Chen Ping’an wasn’t speaking, Pei Qian would idly recite something akin to public conventions and family precepts, reciting it fluently. Even Chen Ping’an didn’t know where she had learned it and memorized it.

“Rise at the crowing of the rooster, sweep the courtyard, keep the inside and outside clean. Lock the doors and personally inspect them, a gentleman reflects thrice daily… For every mouthful of porridge and every bowl of rice, remember how difficult it was to obtain… Let utensils be simple and clean, a clay pot is better than gold and jade. Bestow favors without remembering them, receive favors without forgetting them. Keep your place and accept your fate, follow the seasons and listen to Heaven.”

Chen Ping’an listened to her recitation without asking much, just watching Pei Qian, who was working and swaying her head, Chen Ping’an was full of smiles.

After finishing, the big and small sat together on the threshold to rest.

Pei Qian asked, “Master, are you and Liu Xianyang really good friends?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Of course! Master was Liu Xianyang’s little follower back then, and later there was a little snot-nosed kid, a burden trailing behind Master. The three of us were the best of friends back then.”

Pei Qian turned to look at her master, who had become much thinner, hesitated for a long time, and finally softly asked, “Master, I mean, if… if someone speaks ill of you, will you get angry?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I won’t get angry if they speak ill of me to my face. I won’t get angry if they speak ill of me behind my back either.”

Pei Qian was puzzled, “Master, doesn’t everyone say even a clay Bodhisattva has a bit of temper? Why aren’t you angry?”

Chen Ping’an patted Pei Qian’s little head, “Because getting angry is useless.”

Pei Qian handed a handful of sunflower seeds to her master. Chen Ping’an took them, and the two of them cracked sunflower seeds together. Pei Qian said sullenly, “So, you just let people speak ill of you? Master, that’s not right.”

Chen Ping’an sat there lazily, cracking sunflower seeds, looking ahead, and smiling slightly, “Want to hear a bigger principle, or a smaller one?”

Pei Qian smiled, “I want to hear both.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Then let’s start with a big principle. It’s both for you and for Master, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it for now. How to say it? Are the words we speak and the things we do every day really just a few words and a few things? No, these words and things, line by line, gather together, like the streams in the mountains to the west, eventually turning into the Dragon Whisker River and the Iron Talisman River. This river is like the most fundamental basis for each of us, a main vein hidden in our hearts, which will determine the greatest joys and sorrows, joys and angers of our lives. This long vein of the river can accommodate many fish, shrimp, crabs, aquatic plants, and stones, but sometimes it can also dry up, but it may also flood. It’s hard to say, because most of the time, we ourselves don’t know why it becomes like this. So the article you just recited said that a gentleman reflects thrice daily, but there is also a saying in Confucianism called ‘self-restraint and return to propriety.’ When Master later read the writings of scholars, he also saw that a great Confucian scholar in the Tongye Continent, known as a perfect person for thousands of years, specially made a plaque with the words ‘control anger’ written on it. I think if we can do these things, in terms of state of mind, there will be no catastrophic floods, destroying bridges and dams, inundating roads on both sides.”

Pei Qian asked, “What about the smaller one?”
Chen Ping’an smiled, “Simple logic, ah. It’s even simpler than that. When you’re poor, people will gossip. You can only endure it. Getting stabbed in the back is just something you have to deal with, just try not to let them break your spine. But if your family is well-off and you’re living a good life, are you not going to let others be envious and say a few sour words? Everyone goes back to their own home, and a few words said about a well-off family won’t diminish their ancestral blessings in the slightest. The poor family, on the other hand, might even lose some of their own karma, adding insult to injury. If you think of it that way, won’t you be less angry?”

Pei Qian crossed her arms, frowned deeply, and pondered this simple logic. Finally, she nodded. “I’m not as angry anymore, but I’m still angry.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Anger is human nature, but it’s good that you don’t rely on your abilities to harm people when you’re angry, and that you don’t retaliate with a major offense for a minor transgression.”

Pei Qian chirped, “Master, I’ve heard so many nasty things, but I haven’t hurt anyone! Not even once!”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Then your master will give you a verbal commendation.”

Pei Qian grinned. “Master, give me some copper coins. Even one as a reward is fine.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head with a smile. “That won’t do. One must be mindful of profit and loss when doing things, but one can’t be like that when being a person. Since you’ve followed a master like me, you have to endure this hardship.”

Pei Qian smiled. “What hardship is this?”

Chen Ping’an turned his head and saw that Pei Qian had placed all the sunflower seed shells she had cracked in one palm, just like him, naturally.

Chen Ping’an poured the sunflower seed shells from his palm into Pei Qian’s palm and said, “One day, you’ll meet some people who will criticize you just for throwing sunflower seed shells on the ground in an alley. There are two types of these people: one type is born into noble and wealthy families, and has never crawled around in the mud; the other type is those who will be forever confined to Riding Dragon Lane, while you have left it behind. In the martial world, you have to be more careful of the latter. Because the former is arrogant, but the latter is malicious.”

Pei Qian widened her eyes, looking incredulous. “Throwing a handful of sunflower seed shells and getting scolded? But they don’t scold people for chicken and dog droppings all over the ground? What kind of world is this!”

Chen Ping’an didn’t mention the two more extreme “causes and effects,” such as the moral flaws of a sage scholar or the occasional act of kindness from a heinous villain.

It was too early and too much to tell Pei Qian about these things. It wouldn’t make her more reasonable, but would only become a burden for her.

Moreover, Chen Ping’an didn’t want Pei Qian to become another version of himself.

So Chen Ping’an tried his best to make the logic he had figured out sound like a bowl of rice porridge or a steamed bun when he told it to Pei Qian—something that wouldn’t hurt her no matter how she ate it. Even if she ate too much, she would only feel a little full and think she couldn’t eat anymore. She could also set it aside and save it for later. In Pei Qian’s case, Chen Ping’an hoped he wasn’t handing her a bowl of bitter medicine, a cup of strong liquor, or a plate of overly spicy food.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “The reason I’m telling you this is because I’m afraid you’ll hide away and sulk again in the future. I just want you to know that there are some people like that in the world. And even though you may not like these people, and they may not do things to your liking, they may do better than you in other areas. So, let’s try to learn more about this world first.”

Pei Qian scratched her head. “Master, my head hurts.”

Chen Ping’an patted her head. “It’s enough to have a general idea. When you travel the martial world in the future, observe and think more. When it’s time to act, don’t hesitate. Not all rights and wrongs are ambiguous.”

Pei Qian said timidly, “Master, if I don’t travel far when I venture out into the world, will you not buy me a little donkey?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Of course not.”

Pei Qian was relieved.

That’s good. She could return to Fallen Mountain in time for dinner.

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “How far do you plan to travel on your first journey in the martial world?”

Pei Qian looked as if she were facing a formidable enemy, her eyes darting around, but she couldn’t think of a good idea, and she didn’t want to lie to her master, so she was a little flustered.

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “At least go as far as Red Candle Town, right?”

Pei Qian was relieved. Fortunately, her master didn’t ask her to run to such distant places as Yellow Court or the Great Li Capital. She guaranteed, “No problem! Then I’ll bring enough dry food and sunflower seeds!”

Chen Ping’an flicked her forehead.

Pei Qian quickly endured the pain, remembering to cover her hands to prevent the sunflower seed shells from falling on the ground.

Chen Ping’an stood up, locked the door, and left the alley with Pei Qian.

He casually picked up a tree branch by the roadside.

When no one was around, Chen Ping’an smiled and asked Pei Qian to perform a “Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers.”

Pei Qian nodded like a chick pecking at rice, clutching the sunflower seed shells in her hands. “Master, I’m starting!”

Chen Ping’an held one hand behind his back and the tree branch in the other, nodding.

Pei Qian shouted softly and tossed the sunflower seed shells high into the air.

Chen Ping’an didn’t move, and the branch in his hand didn’t move, but the sleeves and hem of his green robe swayed without any wind.

Chen Ping’an took a step forward, instantly leaving only a blur of green in place.

Each sunflower seed shell was touched by the “tip of the sword” and shattered with a bang.

When Chen Ping’an stood still again, within a radius of ten feet, in Pei Qian’s eyes, it seemed as if the area was filled with portraits as tall as her master, each showing him drawing his sword.

Pei Qian clapped her hands. “Master, this earth-shattering, soul-stirring peerless swordsmanship is even more powerful than my Mad Demon Sword Technique! Amazing, amazing!”

Chen Ping’an threw away the tree branch and smiled, “This is your Mad Demon Sword Technique.”

Pei Qian blinked. “Is there even a Mad Demon Sword Technique in the world that doesn’t hit yourself?”

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but laugh. After thinking for a moment, he rarely felt playful and said with a smile, “Watch carefully, there’s one more move.”

Pei Qian immediately took a deep breath, slowly lowered her palms, and adopted a stance of focusing her qi in her dantian. “Master, please make your move!”

Chen Ping’an glanced at the branch on the ground, brought his two fingers together, and suddenly twisted his body forward. With his sleeves fluttering, the tree branch was wielded by his qi like a flying sword, drawing an arc. When Chen Ping’an stood still, he pointed his finger in one direction. “Go!”

The tree branch, like a long sword, was driven straight into the wall in the distance.

Pei Qian burst into laughter.

Master was still learning from her!

How could a master steal his disciple’s signature move?

Chen Ping’an laughed heartily and returned to Riding Dragon Lane with the skipping Pei Qian. Pei Qian suddenly ran back, pulled the tree branch from the wall, and said that she would cherish this divine weapon.
Having delivered Pei Qian to the New Year’s Money Shop, Chen Ping’an bid farewell to the old woman and Shi Rou, preparing to return to the Fallen Mountain.

Pei Qian insisted on seeing him off, so they walked along Dragon-Riding Lane together.

Reaching the mouth of the lane, Chen Ping’an told Pei Qian to return.

Pei Qian darted back, reaching the shop entrance. Seeing her master still standing there, she waved vigorously. Only after seeing him nod did she swagger into the shop, raising the tree branch high in her hand, and smiling at Shi Rou behind the counter, “Sister Shi Rou, can you tell what treasure this is?”

Shi Rou looked at the radiant, dark-skinned girl, unsure of her intentions, and shook her head. “Forgive my poor eyesight, I can’t tell.”

Pei Qian looked at her with pity, sighing, “Sister Shi Rou, you can’t even see this? It’s just a tree branch.”

Shi Rou was both amused and exasperated.

She was certain that if she had said it was a tree branch, Pei Qian would have had another explanation.

At the end of the alley.

After Pei Qian’s figure disappeared, Chen Ping’an continued forward, but suddenly turned back to look.

Years ago, on another small street, there had also been a pair, one large and one small, walking side by side. But compared to his and Pei Qian’s master-disciple relationship, that time, there was nothing, only the rain.

Chen Ping’an watched the alley, as if watching those “two people” slowly walking towards him.

“Chen Ping’an, a heart of innocence is not just simple-mindedness, thinking the complex world is simple. It’s that you know so much, about the world, human relationships, rules, and principles. In the end, you’re still willing to insist on being a good person, even if you’ve personally experienced a lot and suddenly feel like good people don’t get rewarded. You still silently tell yourself that you’re willing to bear the consequences. No matter how well bad people fare, they’re still bad people, and that’s ultimately wrong.”

“Do you understand?”

“Mr. Qi, I understand!”

“Can you do it?”

“I can’t say I can do it now.”

“It’s okay, take your time.”

At this moment.

It was the young man in green robes who suddenly said, “Beyond principles, I’ve already moved very slowly, I can’t be any slower.”

Chen Ping’an closed his eyes.

The Martial Temple of Dragon Spring County in Great Li, built on the Immortal Graveyard.

The divine statues trembled.

Not only that, but many Bodhisattva and Heavenly Official statues in the Immortal Graveyard began to shake.

On the doors of every household in Dragon Spring County, as long as there was a martial god, it shone with golden light.

The towering statue in the small town’s Martial Temple seemed to be struggling to suppress itself, trying to keep its golden body from leaving the statue to pay homage to someone.

Against the rites!

Against his true heart!

But within the Martial Temple, a rich martial fortune poured down like a waterfall, filling the air with mist.

The Wen Temple statue on Old Porcelain Mountain was also experiencing strange occurrences.

If the Dragon Spring County Martial Temple saint was shocked and unwilling, the Wen Temple saint who sensed the change was even more astonished and puzzled.

On Piyi Mountain and Fallen Mountain, almost simultaneously, someone left the mountain peak and someone left their room to stand by the railing.

Wei Bo instantly appeared beside the barefoot old man.

Wei Bo was also puzzled, softly asking, “This is?”

Cui Cheng, with a stern face, said, “Just a pure martial artist breaking through to the fifth realm, a trivial matter, not worth mentioning.”

Wei Bo was helpless, but Cui Cheng, a tenth-realm martial artist, should at least completely suppress the smile on his lips.

Cui Cheng suddenly became solemn, muttering to himself, “Kid, don’t be afraid of making a big fuss. Martial artists, sword cultivators, no matter how reasonable you are, you must have this spirit, right?”

Wei Bo had a headache.

Cui Cheng frowned. “What are you standing there for? Help conceal the aura!”

Wei Bo quickly waved his sleeve, beginning to circulate the mountain and river’s fortune.

Cui Cheng suddenly burst into hearty laughter, slapping the railing.

Wei Bo had also heard about the “words” at the end of Dragon-Riding Lane, speechless. Was this the Chen Ping’an he knew?

At the end of the alley.

Chen Ping’an’s sword immortal had already unsheathed itself, the tip of the sword resting on the ground, standing upright beside Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an opened his eyes, placed his hand on the hilt, looked into the distance, and smiled. “Whether I want this martial fortune or not is my business. If it doesn’t come, of course, it won’t do!”

With a slight thought.

The sword immortal returned to its sheath.

As Chen Ping’an’s words settled.

In the Immortal Graveyard, a dazzling white rainbow, as thick as a well’s mouth, rose from the ground within the Martial Temple, streaking towards Chen Ping’an. During the process, several other slender rainbows emerged, converging in the air. At the end of the alley, Chen Ping’an advanced instead of retreating, slowly walking back into Dragon-Riding Lane, catching the white rainbow with one hand, receiving as much as came. Finally, he rubbed his hands together, forming a luminous dragon pearl, radiant as glass. As the luminous pearl was born, Chen Ping’an had already reached the entrance of the New Year’s Money Shop. Shi Rou seemed to be overwhelmed by heavenly might, squatting on the ground, trembling, while Pei Qian stood blankly inside the shop, completely bewildered.

Chen Ping’an stepped over the threshold, holding the slowly rotating pearl of light in his palm, walked to Pei Qian, bent down, and smiled, “Catch it.”

Pei Qian reached out her hands.

Her eyes seemed to shine with the sun and moon vying for glory.

Chen Ping’an placed the pearl of martial fortune in Pei Qian’s palm, and it vanished in an instant.

Heaven and earth fell silent.

Pei Qian suddenly burped, blankly saying, “Master, what was that?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “One of your master’s principles.”

Pei Qian wiped her mouth, patted her stomach, and smiled brightly. “Master, it was delicious! Is there more?”

Chen Ping’an bent down again, grabbing Pei Qian’s ear and laughing, “What do you say?”

Pei Qian grinned, “Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t, it doesn’t matter.”

Just as Chen Ping’an was about to speak, he seemed to be pulled away, his figure disappearing, arriving at the bamboo building on Fallen Mountain, seeing the old man and Wei Bo standing there.

Wei Bo smiled and clasped his hands. “Congratulations, congratulations.”

Cui Cheng said expressionlessly, “So-so.”

Chen Ping’an was slightly relieved. It seemed he could indeed set off for Colorful Clothes Country and Combing Stream Country.

Going now would be perfect for enjoying a bowl of winter bamboo shoots with stir-fried meat from the old grandmother, and inviting Senior Song to a hot pot meal.

But before Chen Ping’an could be happy for long, the old man had already turned and walked into the house, leaving a sentence behind, “Come in, let your sixth-realm grandmaster see the scenery of the tenth realm. Once you’ve seen it, heal your injuries. It won’t be too late to leave when you can get out of bed and walk.”

Wei Bo ran away without saying a word.

Leaving Chen Ping’an with a sorrow that came from within.
Pei Qian didn’t truly grasp what had transpired. Her master had arrived and departed in an inexplicable manner. She clasped her hands behind her back, strolled behind the counter, and gazed at the female ghost still huddled on the ground, clutching her head. Pei Qian hopped onto a small stool, a hint of boredom coloring her features. She produced a yellow talisman from her sleeve, slapped it onto her forehead, then turned to Shi Rou and declared, “Coward!”