Today, Zhu Lian’s courtyard was unusually lively. Wei Bo hadn’t left Luopo Mountain but had come to play chess with Zhu Lian.

On the table were two exquisite chess jars, court-made objects that Chen Ping’an had found during his travels. They weren’t exactly a steal, but they were pleasing to the eye. Upon returning to Luopo Mountain, he gifted them to Zhu Lian. Wei Bo, skilled in this art, often came to play chess with Zhu Lian. Back then, Zhu Lian enjoyed watching Sui Youbian and Lu Baixiang play, pretending to be a half-baked chess player. In reality, his chess skills were quite remarkable. This wasn’t about concealing his abilities; it was simply that Zhu Lian never considered Sui and Lu his equals.

Zheng Dafeng, despite having damaged his physical foundation in Old Dragon City, effectively ending his martial arts path, still possessed keen eyesight and intuition. Guessing that the commotion was likely caused by Chen Ping’an, he eagerly rushed over from the foot of the mountain.

The blue-clad boy and pink-skirted girl watched the game from the sidelines. The former offered terrible advice to the old cook, and Zhu Lian, devoid of any competitive spirit, actually placed his pieces where the boy suggested. Naturally, the game shifted from a balanced state to a disadvantage, then to a losing position. The pink-skirted girl, adhering to the principle of not speaking while watching chess, grew anxious. As the incarnation of the literary luck fire serpent from the Cao family’s library, she had spent hundreds of years doing nothing but reading to relieve boredom after gaining intelligence. While she wouldn’t dare call herself a chess master or a national champion, she had a clear grasp of the general trends of the game.

Cen Yuanji, during a break from her fist-stance practice, also joined the fun. She had a good impression of the dignified Wei-xiansheng. It couldn’t be helped; Wei-xiansheng was simply too handsome. Cen Yuanji’s affection wasn’t romantic love; she just felt that even a single glance at him was a reward, like admiring beautiful scenery. A feast for the eyes!

This young lady probably didn’t know that, apart from the somewhat eccentric and intimidating young mountain master, the most trusted Old Divine Immortal Zhu on this Luopo Mountain wasn’t a sixth-realm peak martial artist at all, but a genuine Distant Travel realm martial artist. And that hunchbacked man, the so-called Brother Dafeng, was once a Summit realm martial artist. As for the barefoot old man in the bamboo building, he was a legendary Boundary realm martial artist. Eight, nine, ten – all were present.

Under the blue-clad boy’s meddling, Zhu Lian inevitably lost the game. The pink-skirted girl grumbled, and the blue-clad boy glanced at the tragic chess game where a major dragon had been slaughtered, clicking his tongue and saying, “Old Cook Zhu, losing the game is a glorious defeat.”

Zhu Lian nodded, raised his arm, and said, “Indeed, indeed. Next time, let’s try again. Brothers united can move mountains.”

The blue-clad boy beamed and quickly massaged Zhu Lian’s arm after he raised it. “Old Cook, you might not know, but my hand has immortal energy! Right, Wei Bo?”

Back then, he had slapped the shoulders of the sect leader Lu Chen twice. If this were to spread to that Jade Capital, regardless of whether you were an immortal or a heavenly sovereign, who wouldn’t give him a thumbs-up and praise him as a hero?!

Wei Bo smiled and said, “Itchy again?”

The blue-clad boy rolled his eyes.

The blue-clad boy made no secret of his resentment towards Wei Bo, the disloyal Northern Mountain Righteous God of the Great Li. Back when he had tried to petition the Great Li court for a peace amulet for his brother, the Yujiang River God of the Yellow Court Kingdom, he had met with obstacles everywhere, especially from Wei Bo, who was utterly indifferent. Therefore, whenever there was a chess game, the blue-clad boy would stand on Zhu Lian’s side, waving flags and cheering him on, or offering enthusiastic service, massaging Zhu Lian’s shoulders and hands, urging him to exert his full strength, wishing he could defeat Wei Bo so thoroughly that he would beg for mercy and never touch another chess piece in his life.

In short, with him present, Zhu Lian and Wei Bo’s chess games were anything but leisurely and refined.

Zhu Lian suddenly said, “Have you two really decided?”

The blue-clad boy snorted, nostrils pointing to the sky, “If we don’t hurry, we’ll be poisoned by Chen Ping’an!”

The pink-skirted girl nodded gently.

It turned out that they now had their own names, not their innate names, but names that, according to Chen Ping’an, might need to be placed on the ancestral hall’s genealogy in the future.

The blue-clad boy had named himself Chen Lingjun, and the pink-skirted girl was Chen Ruchu.

Zheng Dafeng joked, “Chen Lingjun, what kind of name is that?! I think we should just call you Little Qingqing; it’s easier to say.”

The blue-clad boy wasn’t polite with Zheng Dafeng either, “Brother Dafeng, what do you know?”

Zheng Dafeng chuckled, “I understand you.”

The blue-clad boy retorted angrily, “Stop babbling. If you have the guts, let’s meet on the chessboard!”

Wei Bo mocked, “Inviting humiliation upon yourself.”

Zheng Dafeng was eager to try, rubbing his hands together and saying, “A small gamble is fun. How about some stakes? But your chess skills are high, letting you go first won’t do; I have to give you pieces. Let me give you two pieces, or I won’t gamble with you.”

The blue-clad boy was suspicious, frowning and saying, “Give two pieces? Isn’t that looking down on your Brother Dafeng? How about giving one piece?”

Wei Bo laughed heartily.

Zhu Lian smacked his forehead. Zheng Dafeng had dug such an obvious pit, and he was jumping into it with all his might.

Zheng Dafeng held back his laughter, not wanting to bully this foolish little fellow, and waved his hand, saying, “Forget it, we’ll talk about it later.”

Zheng Dafeng’s chess skills were simple: whoever Zhu Lian and Wei Bo were playing against, Zheng Dafeng would help them win.

Perhaps it couldn’t be said that Zheng Dafeng was profoundly wise, but among the smartest people in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven back then, Zheng Dafeng definitely deserved a place.

The blue-clad boy glanced at the pink-skirted girl, who shook her head gently.

Only then did he suddenly realize that Zheng Dafeng was quite cunning as well. He had almost ruined his reputation.

Cen Yuanji quietly left to continue practicing her boxing.

During the day, she would choose the green hills and clear waters of Luopo Mountain and practice the six-step stance alone.

At night, she would stay in the courtyard, at least close to Old Divine Immortal Zhu’s residence, so she wouldn’t have to worry about being molested, with no one to answer her cries for help.

The blue-clad boy looked at the sky, planning to go to the shop in town to play with Pei Qian. The pink-skirted girl followed, bowing goodbye to Zhu Lian and the others, asking the blue-clad boy to wait for her, as she didn’t have enough melon seeds in her pocket.

After Cen Yuanji and the two little ones left, Zheng Dafeng said, “Once this realm is broken through, it’ll be time to go down the mountain again. It’s good to be young; no matter how busy you are, you don’t feel tired.”

Zhu Lian smiled and said, “Brother Dafeng is young too, and handsome. He just needs a wife.”
Zheng Dafeng lightly pressed his hand down twice, “Brother Zhu, those kinds of stark truths are best kept off your lips, they easily attract resentment.”

“I reckon Chen Ping’an’s in such a hurry to travel far, you two deserve no small credit.”

Wei Bo smiled and stood up, “I must go busy myself with that Night Revelry banquet, in another ten days, it will be a chaotic mess, truly troublesome.”

The small courtyard returned to quiet.

Zhu Lian began to clear the chessboard, Zheng Dafeng sat where Wei Bo had been, helping to return the chess pieces to their jars.

Zhu Lian said, “Take a guess, once my young master breaks through, will he seek you out for a chat? And if he does, how will he begin?”

Zheng Dafeng said, “Most likely he’ll find me at the foot of the mountain, intending to ease my mind, lest I feel awkward. But I doubt we’ll talk much, probably just share some wine. Truth be told, I’d rather the lad didn’t seek me out at all. Tell me, how many people does Fallen Mountain have at the moment? He’s already expending so much effort, if the place truly grows and becomes a sect, will he be able to manage it all? Will he even have time to cultivate? Brother Zhu, you’re the master of persuasion, find an opportunity to have a heart-to-heart with Chen Ping’an.”

Zhu Lian, still sorting the chess pieces, said with melancholy, “Difficult.”

Zheng Dafeng, seemingly out of nowhere, remarked, “Wei Bo’s chess playing, his sense of proportion is excellent, the spacing is just right.”

Zhu Lian hummed in agreement, without saying much else.

Zheng Dafeng gloated, “With Chen Ping’an’s breakthrough, I wager my high-spirited junior sister in the apothecary is in for another round of torment.”

Zhu Lian smiled, with a hint of regret, “Cen Yuanji won’t be faring much better either.”

Zheng Dafeng chuckled mischievously, “Back on Píyún Mountain, if Chen Ping’an truly spoke those words, Xie’s Longbrow would be the most distraught of them all.”

Zhu Lian nodded, “In Lotus Flower Blessed Land, among the slightly larger Jianghu sects, how many men haven’t had their hearts wounded by senior sisters or junior sisters in their youth? Seems like this world is much the same.”

Zheng Dafeng, for some unknown reason, thought of the Dusty Apothecary in Old Dragon City, where time flowed slowly, and one could idly flip through books and bask in the sun.

Clasping his hands behind his head, Zheng Dafeng recalled a certain innocent girl, as though she’d drunk a large jar of medicinal wine, so bitter it was unbearable, yet she couldn’t help but drink more.

But in the end, his thoughts drifted, and when he happened to remember the woman who often strolled within his sight, Zheng Dafeng shuddered in fright, swallowed his saliva, and clasped his hands together, as if apologizing to someone, silently muttering, “Fair maiden, you are a good maiden, but I, Zheng Dafeng, am truly unworthy.”

Zhu Lian gazed towards the bamboo building.

Zheng Dafeng asked, “Wanna make a bet? Will Chen Ping’an come out horizontally or vertically?”

Zhu Lian smiled, “My young master is peerless in martial arts, wise and divine… naturally, he will leave the building horizontally.”

Zheng Dafeng said helplessly, “What’s the point of betting then?”

But ultimately, contrary to Zhu Lian and Zheng Dafeng’s expectations, Chen Ping’an walked out of the bamboo building unscathed.

Then Chen Ping’an sat at the stone table by the cliff all night, until dawn, before returning to the first floor and falling into a deep sleep.

For the next two days, Zhu Lian continued to enjoy himself on the second floor, and Chen Ping’an indeed went to find Zheng Dafeng, but failed to meet him. After hesitating slightly, Chen Ping’an returned to the mountain.

Then, the Sword Chamber at Ox Horn Mountain Ferry began to receive flying sword messages addressed to Chen Ping’an.

First was a reply from Liu Zhimao of Azure Gorge Island, saying that Hong Su of Spring Court Prefecture was no longer a female official in the prefecture, and had returned to Jade String Prefecture to work as a gatekeeper. Old Man Liu only said to let nature take its course, and Azure Gorge Island would only guarantee her a life free from disaster and calamity. Then, Horizontal Wave Prefecture had begun to rebuild, but Zhang Ye had taken a wrong turn, and actually left Azure Gorge Island, only asking him for a low-grade Offering Jade Token, as well as a celestial cultivation manual and a magical treasure, before running off to Hawkfall Mountain, an obscure little sect, to become a guest elder under a false name. Finally, Liu Zhimao gave Chen Ping’an two choices, as he had promised a generous reward after safely navigating the crisis, so Chen Ping’an could either wait for him to send someone with gifts to visit Dragon Spring County, or simply settle the two debts owed to Azure Gorge Island’s Secret Treasury.

Chen Ping’an sent a flying sword reply, concise and to the point, just three words: “Debts cleared.”

As for the fate of Tian Hujun and his gang from Mottled Scale Island, Chen Ping’an did not ask.

The second letter came from Liu Chongrun of Pearl Hairpin Island, telling Chen Ping’an a secret: the old grandmother, a Golden Core Earth Immortal, had a decaying Golden Core, and was only clinging to life by sheer force of will. Her heartstrings had been taut for too long, and when the situation in Simple Scroll Lake was settled, Pearl Hairpin Island not only avoided disaster, but actually profited greatly. The heartstring suddenly relaxed, and after great sorrow and great joy, she was completely spent and passed away in the autumn of this year. Liu Chongrun confessed in her letter that the old grandmother had advised her not to haggle over the small sum of money for the Water Palace Secret Treasury pills, so she wished to do another deal with Chen Ping’an. Pearl Hairpin Island also wanted to learn from the lofty Jade Regulation Sect, and move some of its cultivator disciples to the northernmost part of Green Azure Continent’s Great Li Dynasty’s Dragon Spring County, to stay away from trouble and cultivate in peace. So whether Chen Ping’an rented out a piece of Feng Shui treasure land, or sold it to Pearl Hairpin Island, she would accept whatever price he asked for, even if she had to pawn everything she owned, she would definitely pay Chen Ping’an every last copper coin.

Chen Ping’an sent a reply, also very straightforward, saying that he did not sell mountain peaks, but could lease them. However, even if she set off for Great Li immediately after receiving the letter, he would most likely have already left Dragon Spring County, and she only needed to find a person named Zhu Lian at Fallen Mountain to discuss the matter.

Gu Can also sent a letter.

It mainly discussed the current cultivation progress of Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi, as well as the amount of immortal money required for the first Grand Heavenly Ritual, with the cost of each aspect clearly written out.

Chen Ping’an sent a reply, saying that the first sum of immortal money would be brought to Simple Scroll Lake by someone, so that the three of them could travel in peace. He couldn’t help but add some reminders about trivial matters. After finishing the letter, Chen Ping’an himself felt that it was indeed long-winded, very much in the style of that former clerk from Azure Gorge Island.

Before going to Ox Horn Mountain to send the letter, Chen Ping’an glanced at the bamboo chest in the corner of the wall, inside which was still a charcoal basket brought back from Simple Scroll Lake.

Then there was a letter from Guan Yiran. This Guan Clan descendant, who came from Great Li’s most prominent aristocratic family, jokingly said in his letter that when Dong Half-City of Dragon Spring County came to Pond Water City, he not only had to bring the Dong Water Well’s uniquely brewed rice wine that was sold throughout Great Li’s capital region, but also a jug of your Chen Ping’an’s good wine, or he wouldn’t open the door to welcome him.
Having received the letter, Chen Ping’an journeyed to Fengliang Mountain. He sought out Dong Shuiqing, devoured a large bowl of wontons, and broached the matter. Everything that needed to be said, whether pleasant or harsh, he laid bare to Dong Shuiqing, following the script he had meticulously prepared. Dong Shuiqing listened intently, not missing a single word. At crucial junctures, he would repeatedly confirm with Chen Ping’an. This put Chen Ping’an at ease, and he pondered whether to also inform Old Dragon City – the Fan and Sun families could certainly be mentioned. Success or failure, however, ultimately hinged on Dong Shuiqing’s own capabilities. After further consideration, he decided to wait until Dong Shuiqing had met with Guan Yiran before taking any action. Better to be early with bad news and late with good.

Leaving Fengliang Mountain, Chen Ping’an returned to Fallen Mountain and happened to spot Cen Yuanji practicing her footwork along the mountain path.

Chen Ping’an refrained from greeting her, fearing that a wave or a word might lead the young lady to overthink things again.

Unexpectedly, Cen Yuanji, who appeared to be focused ahead but was observing the young mountain master from the corner of her eye, visibly relaxed when Chen Ping’an deliberately took the other side of the road. However, the faint and elusive aura of fist intent she had been cultivating abruptly dissipated.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but halt, turning to gently say, “Miss Cen, in the cultivation of boxing and the nurturing of intent, it is most crucial to maintain that singular, pure thread of nascent qi…”

Cen Yuanji extended a hand, placing it behind her as if trying to conceal her graceful figure, likely realizing the obviousness of the gesture and fearing it might displease the young mountain master who couldn’t control his gaze. She slowly turned sideways, her lips pressed tightly together, neither speaking nor looking at him.

Helpless, Chen Ping’an silently turned and continued his ascent.

Arriving outside the bamboo pavilion, he could hear the sounds within – Zhu Lian was expending all his strength in a flurry of fists, struggling to contend with Cui Cheng’s golden body realm while only being at the Distant Wanderer realm.

The bamboo pavilion trembled violently from time to time.

Chen Ping’an, sitting at the stone table, even felt the urge to crack melon seeds.

As dusk approached, Pei Qian returned to Fallen Mountain, accompanied by the two little ones officially named “Chen Lingjun” and “Chen Ruchu.”

Shi Rou had said she would stay and help at the store, so she did not come back.

The pink-skirted girl sat at the table, head lowered, feeling somewhat guilty.

The blue-robed boy sat opposite Chen Ping’an, nonchalantly asking, “Master, what do you think of my new name? Is it awesome? Is it domineering?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded, “Very good.”

Then he turned to the pink-skirted girl and said, “Yours is also very good.”

Only then did the pink-skirted girl lift her head, offering a shy smile.

She had chosen this name hoping that her relationship with Master would always be this good, lasting long and remaining as it was at the very beginning.

Pei Qian, however, was not pleased with the two youngsters’ presumption, grumbling, “Every family has its rules, every mountain has its regulations. I think they deserve a good thrashing. Never mind Chen Ruchu, she’s just silly, it’s understandable. But Chen Lingjun, Master, you have no idea, he wanted to carve his name on every table and stool at the New Year’s Eve Shop.”

The blue-robed boy crossed his arms, “With such a brilliant name, if you hadn’t stopped me, just let me write it all over the shop, and I guarantee business would flourish and wealth would pour in!”

Chen Ping’an chuckled in exasperation, “Don’t you cause any more trouble for me.”

The blue-robed boy suddenly seemed dejected.

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, “Is it because some of the mountain and water deities of the Yellow Court Kingdom will also be attending this Night Parade Banquet?”

The blue-robed boy hummed in agreement, spreading his arms and resting them on the table.

The pink-skirted girl wanted to speak but hesitated, ultimately joining Pei Qian in cracking melon seeds.

Chen Ping’an said, “I’ll talk to Wei Bo later and have him take you to Piyun Mountain to stay by his side and attend the banquet together.”

The blue-robed boy lifted his head, his face puzzled. “Why would you waste such a favor on me? Even if I pretended to be a hero, I’m not really one. The moment someone asks me to do something, I’ll immediately expose myself.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “A mountain man has his own clever plan. I can let you be the center of attention without worrying you. You only need to drink.”

The blue-robed boy was dubious. “Are you sure you’re not lying to me?”

Chen Ping’an grabbed a handful of melon seeds. “Believe it or not.”

The blue-robed boy jumped up, went behind Chen Ping’an, and said with a cheeky smile, “Master, are your shoulders sore?”

Chen Ping’an said, “My shoulders aren’t sore, but my head is.”

The blue-robed boy sheepishly withdrew his hands, rarely showing any embarrassment. He randomly found an excuse to go play with the black snake, claiming he was helping Master patrol the new mountain peaks.

Pei Qian turned to look at the blue-robed boy’s retreating figure, sighing, “A child who never grows up.”

The corners of the pink-skirted girl’s mouth had just begun to curl upward when Pei Qian glared at her, startling her into tightening her small face.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “How did you both end up with the same surname, Chen? Whose idea was that?”

The pink-skirted girl pointed in the direction the blue-robed boy had left. “His.”

Chen Ping’an was somewhat surprised.

The pink-skirted girl asked with a smile, “Master, what names were you originally planning to give us? Can you tell us?”

Pei Qian interrupted, “You would have been called Little Confused Egg, and he would have been called Big Silly Egg, that’s what!”

Chen Ping’an flicked a melon seed, hitting Pei Qian on the forehead.

As Pei Qian rubbed her forehead, Chen Ping’an smiled and slowly said, “I was originally planning to name him ‘Jing Qing,’ the Qing of ‘clear,’ a homophone for the Qing of ‘blue,’ as he likes to wear blue clothes and is close to water, and water is valued for its clarity. So I picked a line of poetry for his name, taking it from the phrase ‘Jing Yu Chu Guo Shuang Qi Qing’ (After the Clear Rain, the Fresh Air is Clear). I think the phrase has good omens and is also somewhat refined. As for you, you would have been called ‘Nuan Shu,’ which comes from the line ‘Nuan Lü Qian Cui, You Gu Xuan He, Huang Li Pian Pian, Zha Qian Fang Shu’ (Warm Melodies Gently Urge, Secluded Valleys are Harmonious, Golden Orioles Flutter, Newly Moved to Fragrant Trees). I think the imagery is extremely beautiful. For both of you, both phrases, I took the first and last characters, for a good beginning and a good end.”

The pink-skirted girl’s eyes welled with tears.

It seemed she thought Master’s names were better.

Chen Ping’an quickly comforted her, “Your current names are better, though.”

The pink-skirted girl silently stood up, bowed to Chen Ping’an, and then left, undoubtedly to secretly cry in her room.

Chen Ping’an raised his hand, calling out to stop her, but he couldn’t manage to keep the charming girl.

Chen Ping’an glared at Pei Qian, who was mindlessly cracking melon seeds. “Aren’t you going to follow her?!”

Pei Qian said “Oh” and caught up with the pink-skirted girl who wished her name were Chen Nuanshu.

Chen Ping’an sighed.
This matter is truly troublesome. Had I known, I wouldn’t have flaunted my meager knowledge.

Chen Ping’an clapped his hands, stood up, and prepared to visit Greenwind Mountain to speak with Wei Bo about the blue-clad child. To ask for a favor, one must show sincerity. Moreover, he wanted to properly stroll through the Deerwood Academy, hoping to “coincidentally” encounter Gao Xuan.

But a gentle breeze caressed his face.

A figure in white robes was already standing beside Chen Ping’an.

This uninvited guest casually sat down on the stone bench and began cracking melon seeds.

Could this be considered “birds of a feather flock together”?

Chen Ping’an joked, “You’re refining that object, busy with the night revelry, and running here every day. Have you really made Decline Mountain your home?”

Wei Bo waved his hand. “It’s no trouble. I’m not like you, always busy when you could be idle. I’m the opposite, idle when I could be busy.”

Before Chen Ping’an could speak, Wei Bo said, “Leave Chen Lingjun’s matter to me.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Thank you.”

Wei Bo smiled playfully.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Just being polite.”

Wei Bo asked, “When do you depart?”

Chen Ping’an was somewhat regretful. “I really can’t delay any longer, so I’ll have to miss this night revelry.”

Wei Bo said calmly, “It’s fine. I can hold another one in ten years.”

Chen Ping’an held out a palm. “Don’t! I can’t bear the infamy. The Great Li Dynasty would make a fuss, and the mountain spirits and heroes would have to spend their own money preparing gifts. If word got out, I could forget about staying in Dragon Spring County.”

Wei Bo shook his head. “It has little to do with you.”

Chen Ping’an looked at Wei Bo.

Wei Bo nodded slightly.

Chen Ping’an said nothing more.

Because this meant that Wei Bo could successfully refine the shattered fragment of glazed golden body within ten years.

Wei Bo could use this opportunity to potentially ascend to the Upper Five Realms. Just the word “potentially” was enough to firmly surpass the previous five Great Li Mountain Gods in reputation. At that time, it would be even more justifiable, and the Great Li court and mountains would naturally have no further objections.

Mountain Gods, governing the mountains and rivers of their territory, were akin to a Saint sitting in a small world, naturally elevated by one realm.

If Wei Bo truly broke through the bottleneck and entered the Jade Purity Realm, the significance and far-reaching impact would be immeasurable!

Chen Ping’an felt that besides the rare golden body fragment, Wei Bo being able to resolve a knot in his heart, or having some new expectation, was also crucial.

Wei Bo stood up. “Chen Ping’an, thank you.”

Before Chen Ping’an could speak, Wei Bo added with a smile, “Just being polite.”

He vanished in a flash.

Chen Ping’an looked up at the sky. Unknowingly, the moon and stars had grown sparse.

“Usually, he loves to shrink mountains and rivers away; on nights like this, he brings the stars and moon along.”

Wei Bo was such a carefree immortal.

Truly enviable.

In the following days, as if by appointment, waves of visitors came to Decline Mountain.

They were all cultivators from nearby mountain forces, either cultivating in their immortal abodes or staying here to better contact the Great Li Song Clan. Most were Golden Core Earth Immortals, or at the very least Dragon Gate Realm cultivators.

Chen Ping’an’s way of handling people and affairs was not entirely seamless, but it could be considered without major blunders.

However, two groups of guests came that Chen Ping’an never expected, acquaintances, or rather, friends.

They came from the north and south respectively.

From the Great Li capital came a master and two disciples.

They found the Lucky Coin Shop, where Shi Rou happened to be. As a result, both sides were wary, probing each other for a while. Later, Shi Rou returned to Decline Mountain to report the news to Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an immediately took Shi Rou down the mountain to the small town, naturally followed by Pei Qian, his little tagalong.

When they arrived at the shop in Riding Dragon Lane, the master and disciples almost didn’t recognize Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an didn’t feel strange at all. The blind old Daoist was still the same, carrying the peach wood sword he had carved himself, a string of silver bells hanging from his waist. His Daoist robe was old and his straw sandals worn. With this appearance, it was naturally difficult for business to come to him.

The old Daoist’s Daoist name was Xuan Guzi. He knew some Daoist lightning techniques and traveled the world with his two “picked up” disciples. However, he didn’t gain any advantage against the Bride Ghost and almost died. He could be considered to have shared a difficult time with Chen Ping’an and his group. Upon their departure, the blind Daoist gave him a ancestral “Searching the Mountains” scroll, and Chen Ping’an gave the limping boy who carried the banner a snake gallstone.

The round-faced girl nicknamed Jiu’er, her blood could be used as an extremely rare “rune spring” by the talisman sect, so her face was always slightly pale.

However, the “little cripple” was now the same height as a strong young man, and the little girl Jiu’er was also much taller. Her round face was thinner, and her complexion was ruddy. She was a slender young woman.

Li Baoping had talked about Jiu’er with Chen Ping’an at Cliffside Academy, saying she missed her very much. The red cotton padded jacket girl and the Jiu’er girl were very close back then.

The little cripple and Jiu’er didn’t dare to recognize Chen Ping’an.

On the one hand, it had been about seven years since they last saw him. Chen Ping’an had transformed from a straw-sandaled boy clearing the way with a wood-chopping knife to a young man in a green robe carrying a sword. On the other hand, even though he had been well taken care of at Decline Mountain, he was still slightly thin, but his cheeks weren’t as gaunt as they were at Shujian Lake, otherwise the old Daoist’s two disciples would have been even more afraid to recognize him.

Finally, Chen Ping’an’s identity was confirmed.

The blind Daoist was overjoyed. Chen Ping’an asked them with a smile if they had eaten. When he heard they hadn’t, he took them to the best restaurant in the small town.

At the table, the old Daoist took a sip of wine, stroked his beard, and said with a smile, “Young Master Chen, why is Miss Ruan no longer at the shop?”
Back then, during their departure, Chen Ping’an had told them that when they came to the town, they could look for Riding Dragon Lane and Ruan Xiu. However, the old Daoist hadn’t intended to settle in the town at the time, and after bidding farewell, he had wanted to make a name for himself in the capital city of Great Li, to gamble for great riches. Unfortunately, in the capital, a place teeming with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, the master and his two disciples had limited cultivation, and the old Daoist was unwilling to reveal Jiu’er’s extraordinary origins. Thus, they couldn’t make a breakthrough. After so many years of struggling, they had only earned some real gold and silver, a few thousand taels. For ordinary families in the market, it was a considerable sum, but for cultivators, what were a few snowflake coins worth? It was truly disheartening. During this time, the old Daoist had intermittently heard news about Dragon Spring County, not through the Immortal Inn’s immortal gazette, which they couldn’t afford to stay at or buy, but through fragmented rumors and small, free tidbits of information.

As a result, the old Daoist pieced together a truth that made the three of them look at each other in disbelief: Ruan Xiu, who had served customers in the shop back then, was very likely the only daughter of the sage Ruan Qiong! Initially, the old Daoist was both ashamed to return to the town and somewhat afraid. After all, the little cripple’s origins were not righteous. So, he had lingered in the capital for a few more years. Now, he truly couldn’t stay any longer, and that was why he wanted to return to Dragon Spring County to try his luck. Unexpectedly, his luck was good, and he had run into Chen Ping’an himself.

However, people’s hearts are like water. The two parties had only had a fleeting encounter. The blind Daoist wasn’t sure if they could stay in the now-different town. Even if they stayed, would there be a bright future? After all, so many years had passed, and who knew what Chen Ping’an’s personality and temperament had become? Therefore, the blind Daoist seemed to be enjoying the drinks and treating the tragic event from back then as an amusing story, but in reality, he was nervous, constantly murmuring in his heart: “Chen Ping’an, quickly take the initiative to invite us to stay, even if it’s just a polite suggestion. This poor Daoist will seize the opportunity. I don’t believe that a young man who can associate with the sage’s only daughter would be stingy with a few immortal coins. Would you really be willing to be looked down upon by that Miss Ruan, whom you and I can’t even hope to reach?”

Unfortunately, from beginning to end, they reminisced about the past and drank, but Chen Ping’an didn’t say a word about asking the old Daoist and his disciples if they wanted to stay in Dragon Spring County.

Pei Qian sat on a long bench with Chen Ping’an, hardly speaking.

When Chen Ping’an introduced her identity back then, he said she was his disciple, Pei Qian. Pei Qian almost couldn’t resist saying, “Master, you forgot the ‘mountain-opening grand’ three words.”

Shi Rou didn’t come to the restaurant with them.

Due to Chen Ping’an’s lack of worldly wisdom and the blind old Daoist’s desire to save face, they had no choice but to say goodbye after they were full.

The two parties stood on the street outside the restaurant. Chen Ping’an then said, “I now live on Fallen Phoenix Mountain. It’s considered my own mountain. Next time, if the old Daoist passes by Dragon Spring County again, you can come to the mountain for a visit. I might not be there, but as long as you report your Daoist title, someone will definitely receive you. By the way, Miss Ruan is now stationed at Divine Embroidery Mountain, because her Dragon Spring Sword Sect’s ancestral hall and main mountain are there. I also recently returned home from a long journey. However, while chatting with Miss Ruan, she also mentioned the old Daoist and hasn’t forgotten you. So, when the time comes, the old Daoist can go there to visit and chat.”

The blind Daoist smiled broadly and said, “Definitely, definitely.”

Chen Ping’an smiled at the little cripple and the girl Jiu’er, whom he had a good impression of back then, and said, “Take care on your journey. I hope our next reunion won’t be so long in coming.”

The little cripple, carrying the large banner, nodded.

Jiu’er nodded with a smile.

Pei Qian clasped her fist in salute and said in an old-fashioned manner, “The green hills remain, the green waters flow forever, we’ll meet again!”

The two parties then bid farewell, and the old Daoist led his two disciples away from the town, heading slowly towards Red Candle Town.

Chen Ping’an stood on the spot.

Pei Qian asked softly, “Master?”

Chen Ping’an rubbed her head and said, “Of course, Master is willing to have the three of them stay, but it’s not easy to make a living. Things that fall from the sky are often not cherished. If they can’t even put down this bit of pride, it means they don’t really need to stay in Dragon Spring County to make a living. Moreover, once they stay, it means it’s a long-term matter. Living together day and night, the more you muddle through at the beginning, the worse it will be in the end. It’s better for both parties to know where they stand from the start. Otherwise, in the end, I think it’s a good deed, but they don’t think it’s a good thing. Each party has their own reasons, so how can we achieve a gentleman’s parting without harsh words?”

Chen Ping’an sighed. “Of course, it’s also possible that Master is wrong. So, Master will have Wei Bo keep an eye on them. If they really have unspeakable difficulties or encounter insurmountable obstacles and are at their wits’ end but don’t want to implicate me, then Master will send you to bring them back.”

Pei Qian nodded. It didn’t matter if she understood or not, anyway, Master was always right. However, she had another question and asked, “Master deliberately talked to them about Sister Xiu Xiu, why is that?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Master still hopes they can stay.”

Pei Qian was confused, thinking hard about this complicated matter, but still couldn’t figure out the twists and turns. Finally, she sighed and gave up thinking. She checked the almanac today, and it said it wasn’t a good day to use her brain.

Pei Qian suddenly lowered her voice and said, “That old Daoist’s eyes seem to have been blinded by a little bit of lightning that was running amok in his stomach.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Lightning techniques are known as the head of all techniques. However, in our Treasure Bottle Continent, apart from the God’s Decree Sect and a few great immortal families, the so-called Five Thunder Orthodox Arts are all heterodox methods that are also very fragmented inheritances. Therefore, practicing this method will have repercussions. Over time, either one’s vitality will decline and the Great Dao will collapse, or one will take a dangerous path, using a certain acupoint as a place to eliminate disaster. For example, blindness in the eyes, or rotting intestines, or corrosion of one’s natal artifact, and so on. Most people who practice heterodox lightning techniques have bad endings.”

Pei Qian clicked her tongue in amazement.

Chen Ping’an said, “Cultivation is not all about enjoying blessings.”

Pei Qian nodded vigorously. “So, I won’t cultivate. I’ll only practice martial arts!”

Chen Ping’an tugged her ear.

Pei Qian wailed, “Master, I will definitely work harder on my stances! Endure more hardship!”

Chen Ping’an then took Pei Qian to the old schoolhouse.

Chen Ping’an stood outside the window, and Pei Qian tiptoed, placing her head on the windowsill, looking inside.

Chen Ping’an asked, “How have you thought about it? Do you want to go to the schoolhouse opened by the Chen family in Dragon Tail Creek?”
Pei Qian remained still, muttering, “If Master wants me to go, then I’ll go. Anyway, I won’t let others bully me, no one will call me ‘black charcoal,’ or嫌弃me for being short…”

Chen Ping’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, his tone gentle, “If you really don’t want to go, you can stay on the mountain with Zhu Lian and study, or with Zheng Dafeng. Actually, Zheng Dafeng is very learned. But I suggest you spend some time at the academy, whether you like it now or not. Maybe you’ll never want to leave! But if you still feel out of place, you can always come back to the Fallen Peak.”

Pei Qian asked, “Can I practice swordplay at the academy?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “No, studying requires a studious demeanor.”

There was no room for discussion.

As her master, no matter how much he doted on Pei Qian, the necessary rules could not be overlooked.

A child’s innocence and playfulness were endearing, but elders couldn’t allow them to run wild and unfettered during the years when establishing principles was crucial.

Pei Qian fell silent.

Chen Ping’an said, “There’s no rush. Just think about it before Master leaves the mountain.”

Pei Qian remained motionless, “If I go to the academy, can Master stay?”

Chen Ping’an reached out and pressed Pei Qian’s head, gazing into the old academy without a word.

A child’s small sorrows were often like wind and mist.

After Chen Ping’an bought Pei Qian a candied haws, and they walked back to the Fallen Peak together, Pei Qian was already laughing and chattering, asking questions about everything.

The Blind Daoist was in high spirits, confiding to Little Limp and Jiu’er that they only needed to roam for another year or two before returning to Dragon Spring County and making a name for themselves.

Not long after the trio of master and disciples left Dragon Spring County, a pair of travelers arrived at the Fallen Peak.

They had been traveling on foot through famous mountains and rivers, or taking immortal ferries, for five or six years, finally reaching the northernmost Great Li Dynasty from the Azure Luan Country in the southeastern part of the Treasure Bottle Continent.

From the Lion Garden of the Azure Luan Country, the scholar Liu Qingshan.

And from the Sword Master Hall of Upside Down Mountain, the female Daoist Liu Boqi.

She carried a Dharma blade named ‘Ogre God,’ ranked seventeenth in the Sword Master Hall of Upside Down Mountain. Her natal treasure was still a blade, named ‘Jiazuo’.

Chen Ping’an and Liu Boqi could be considered acquaintances from an inauspicious start, though their relationship wasn’t exactly amicable, certainly not friends.

Meeting Liu Qingshan, they naturally enjoyed a pleasant conversation.

Compared to Liu Boqi’s tyrannical behavior in the Lion Garden, she was much more restrained on the Fallen Peak.

Firstly, Chen Ping’an seemed increasingly inscrutable. Secondly, the hunchbacked old servant named Zhu Lian was even more troublesome. Most importantly, the bamboo building not only exuded a dense immortal aura but also contained an astonishing presence on the second floor.

Liu Boqi had this one good point: she wasn’t coy. If she was in a stronger position, she wouldn’t show Chen Ping’an any courtesy. But if the tides turned, she wouldn’t harbor any resentment; she accepted it.

Chen Ping’an led the two around the Fallen Peak, visiting the ancestral shrine on the summit.

Liu Qingshan said that besides visiting Chen Ping’an, they also wanted to be the first to witness the grand Night Parade of the Gods and of course, they would visit the Linlu Academy.

Chen Ping’an naturally agreed, saying he could arrange suitable viewing spots for them at the Piyun Mountain’s Linlu Academy.

Liu Qingshan, compared to his days in the Lion Garden study, had gained a few more hints of heroic spirit, which was a good thing.

A hero might not be a sage, but which sage wasn’t a true hero?

A day later, Chen Ping’an noticed something amiss: Liu Boqi was addressing Zhu Lian as “Old Master Zhu” with utmost sincerity.

After arranging for Liu Qingshan to stay at Linlu Academy, not through Wei Bo, but by asking the Old Flood Dragon of the Yellow Court Country, Chen Ping’an and Zhu Lian returned to the Fallen Peak first, Chen Ping’an enquired on the matter.

Zhu Lian chuckled, “This old servant merely quoted a line from a book, and Liu Boqi took it to heart.”

Chen Ping’an became even more curious, “What did you say?”

Zhu Lian casually pointed to a lush green mountain peak, “I find the green mountain exceedingly charming, and I suspect the green mountain views me the same.”

Chen Ping’an was stunned before being deeply impressed.

Wasn’t Liu Boqi exactly the type to fall for this?

Chen Ping’an clapped Zhu Lian on the shoulder, “Old fox!”

Zhu Lian said solemnly, “Not at all, the young phoenix sings clearer than the old.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly felt a pang of sentimentality. After leaving the mountain, especially going to the Northern Culmination Continent, it would probably be several years before he could hear the flattery of the Fallen Peak again.

Chen Ping’an secretly went to the Ox Horn Mountain Immortal Ferry Wharf one late night.

Pei Qian actually knew, but pretended not to. And compared to the soul-searching anxiety of the first long separation, Pei Qian felt much better now. It was just that Master’s departure left her feeling empty.

She had truly consulted the almanac for the first time and discovered that Master’s departure from the Fallen Peak was auspicious for distant travels.

Liu Qingshan and Liu Boqi were temporarily staying at the Linlu Academy.

The Night Parade was about to begin.

And in Red Candle Town, there was a reunion.

The little girl in the red padded jacket and the little Jiu’er girl met again.

It turned out that the Great Sui Cliff Academy had arranged a study tour to observe the Great Li Northern Mountain Night Parade, led by Mao Xiaodong, with Li Baoping, Li Huai, Lin Shouyi, Yu Lu, and Xie Xie among them.

The Blind Daoist still dared not take advantage of his disciple Jiu’er’s connections to return to Dragon Spring County with the academy.

After all, the Cliff Academy’s Sage Mao had a terrifying status.

At the peak of the Chess Mound Mountain.

A slender girl in red stood in a daze.

She was no longer a little girl.

Over the years, her temperament had changed completely. The spirited Li Baoping in red from the academy had become quiet, her knowledge growing ever greater, her words ever fewer. Of course, she had also grown increasingly beautiful.

There was the sound of birds soaring overhead. She looked up.

What did the book say?

“A bird’s cry urges the traveler on, an immortal calls me to wander amidst the clouds.”

Slanting rain.

In a mountain valley near the Rouge County of the Colorful Clothes Country in the central Treasure Bottle Continent, a young man in green, wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a sword, was heading south.