Zhu Quan was silent for a long while, then quipped, “Aren’t you still one realm short? Do you really think you’re a Wind-Riding martial artist?”

Without the sword immortal’s flying sword beneath his feet, Chen Ping An lightly stamped his foot. The sea of clouds solidified, as solid as white jade flagstones. Immortal techniques were indeed profound. He smiled and said, “Thank you.”

Zhu Quan laughed, “After saying it out loud, do you feel any relief?”

Chen Ping An cradled the back of his head, “Much better.”

Zhu Quan shook her head. “Saying a few words, exhaling a few breaths of stale air, can’t really solve the root issue. If you keep going like this, you’ll break yourself. A person’s spirit isn’t just fist intent. It’s not something you forge and hammer into a mustard seed, then unleash in a single punch that can shatter the heavens and split the earth. A long-lasting spirit must be upright and honest. But some words, from an outsider like me, even if I think they’re well-intentioned, still feel a bit like talking without understanding the pain. Take this pursuit of Gao Cheng, for example. If it were me, Zhu Quan, in the same cultivation and situation as you, I would have died dozens of times over.”

Chen Ping An sincerely said, “That’s why I admire Sect Master Zhu. The Great Path is arduous, and you walk it with such integrity.”

Not many cultivators standing at the peak of the mountain are willing to admit, even after doing their best, “I was wrong, I owe you a great debt.”

Zhu Quan withdrew a hand and waved it magnanimously. “Spare me the flattery. I don’t have many ‘Illustrations of the Goddess of the Gallery Wall’ to give you.”

Chen Ping An chuckled, “I’ll lie down for a bit. Please don’t think I’m being disrespectful, Sect Master Zhu.”

Zhu Quan extended a hand, “There’s no Zhu Quan that a pot of wine can’t appease.”

Chen Ping An was about to retrieve some wine from his storage treasure, but Zhu Quan glared and said, “It has to be good wine! Don’t try to fool me with ordinary market rice wine. I, Zhu Quan, grew up on the mountain since I was a child. I can’t pretend to be a commoner. In this life, I’m stuck with those bone skeletons in Ghost Domain Valley at my doorstep, and I have no homesickness!”

Chen Ping An was somewhat troubled. There wasn’t much immortal wine in his possession, and with Zhu Quan’s style and tricks for getting wine, he couldn’t afford her requests many times.

But he still had to offer the wine. Not only that, Chen Ping An directly took out three jars of immortal wine with different origins: osmanthus wine from Old Dragon City, Immortal Well wine from Bee Tail Ferry, and Purple Steed Sweat from Book Brief Lake. He tossed them over gently, one by one. Sure enough, Zhu Quan first caught two jars and put them into her sleeve dimension, feeling a little embarrassed. “This is a bit too much. Where’s my face?”

Chen Ping An lay on the sea of clouds that felt like jade flagstones, just like he used to lie on Cui Dongshan’s bamboo corridor at the Cliff Academy. It wasn’t his hometown, but it felt like home.

This journey since leaving the Bone Beach had indeed been tiring.

Zhu Quan sat beside him, gently placing the black-clothed little girl next to her. With a gentle wave of her sleeve, she made the heavenly wind flow around the little girl like water flowing around a pillar, leaving her sleeping soundly. Without worries, one can be carefree.

Zhu Quan drank her wine, troubled, “If we follow your earlier words, if by any chance Gao Cheng knew he was doomed and wanted to go down in flames, willing to drag Jingguan City and Ghost Domain Valley down with him, not only would Wooden Clothes Mountain be shattered, but Bone Beach would also be nearly destroyed. The transportation along the Shaking River would inevitably be affected, and with the Yin Qi of Ghost Domain Valley spreading upstream, countless people in those countries would die. It truly is a ‘turn the world upside down’.”

Chen Ping An said, “Not by chance, but by intention.”

Zhu Quan sighed, “Indeed.”

Chen Ping An slowly said, “Does Sect Master Zhu know the daily flow of people in Mural City, the common folk at the Naihe Pass market, and the number of sects in Bone Beach? Does she know the population of the countries upstream of the Shaking River?”

Zhu Quan was taken aback, “What would I do with that knowledge? I really can’t manage it. I have to cultivate at a snail’s pace and diligently serve as a sect master. It’s exhausting.”

Chen Ping An said, “When I passed through Bone Beach, I saw, calculated, inquired about, and researched in books. So I know.”

Zhu Quan said helplessly, “Chen Ping An, I’m not criticizing you, but what exactly is your head thinking about all day?”

Chen Ping An put his hands behind his head as a pillow. “After leaving Wooden Clothes Mountain, I saw Gao Cheng in everyone. After arriving at the haunted house in Suijia City, I saw Chen Ping An in everyone. So I’m also very tired.”

Zhu Quan asked suspiciously, “Then why did you come to Northern Ju Continent? This is a place that loves to fight to the death. If you’re so afraid of dying, couldn’t you have come after you’ve reached a higher realm? Besides, your escape methods are still too few. Your foundation is still that of a pure martial artist, so you can only rely on a semi-immortal weapon and a Dimension Talisman to instantly create some distance. But let alone those of us in the Upper Five Realms, even Earth Immortals and Qi cultivators can run thousands of miles in one breath. Once you can’t get close and quickly decide victory or defeat, you’ll be exhausted to death.”

Zhu Quan smacked her forehead. “Forget it, I didn’t say anything. You’re a freak.”

Wearing a Dharma robe, and wearing two of them, carrying a sword-nourishing gourd, hiding flying swords that weren’t his natal weapons, and two of them at that.

He could pretend to be a Lower Five Realms cultivator, pretend to be a sword cultivator, and pretend to be a Fourth or Fifth Realm martial artist whenever he wanted. He had all kinds of tricks and illusions. Once he engaged in a life-and-death battle, it was just a sudden close-quarters attack, a flurry of wild punches to kill an experienced master, plus Dimension Talismans and a few swords. Ordinary Golden Cores couldn’t withstand Chen Ping An’s three-hit combo. Besides, this kid could really take a beating. Zhu Quan’s hands were itching. How was it possible that a Golden Body Realm martial artist from the Great Observation Dynasty on the ferryboat was merely scratching Chen Ping An like a little girl?

Chen Ping An suddenly said, “I actually haven’t entered the Golden Body Realm yet. Although I suffered heavy losses in the Suijia City Heavenly Tribulation cloud sea, I used up almost all my good talismans, but my body was tempered and greatly benefited. The effect was better than in the bamboo building in my hometown. After all, when someone feeds you punches at home, you know they won’t really kill you, it will just hurt a little. It’s not like being deep in a Heavenly Tribulation cloud sea, where you really might die. But even so, I’m still lacking two things to break through the Golden Body Realm bottleneck: one is that I haven’t formed a Heroic Courage, and the other is that because my fist techniques are mixed and I’ve tried to learn too much, I inevitably caused my fist styles to clash. Therefore, I’ve never been able to achieve the same effect as a spring thunderclap or a punch opening a mountain.”

Zhu Quan asked curiously, “You’re still a Sixth Realm martial artist?!”

Chen Ping An nodded.

Zhu Quan laughed in anger, “Then why don’t all the Seventh Realm martial artists in our Northern Ju Continent just go die?”

Chen Ping An thought for a moment, “You can’t say that, or everyone in the world except Cao Ci, all the pure martial artists below the Mountain Peak Realm can go die.”
Zhu Quan gulped down a mouthful of wine, “Even I’ve heard of that Cao Ci, how come you know him?”

Chen Pingan hummed in acknowledgement and sat up, “I lost three fights to him on the Great Wall of Sword Qi.”

Zhu Quan’s eyes widened.

This time, Chen Pingan seemed a bit embarrassed, “It was a bit humiliating.”

Chen Pingan quickly regained his determined gaze, a smile gracing his face, like a breeze caressing his cheeks, sleeves filled with refreshing air, “It’s alright, on the path of martial arts, as long as Cao Ci doesn’t pull ahead by two realms, as long as I’m within one realm, I have hope of winning back in this lifetime!”

Zhu Quan knew he had misunderstood her. How many young martial artists in the world could get Cao Ci to spar with them three times? It was like the Lord of White Emperor City and his eagerness to play chess with someone. Only that disciple who betrayed his master, Cui Dongshan. Of course, even more impressive were the scholars who could get the Lord of White Emperor City to leave the city and invite them for a game, like Qi Jingchun. The lineage of the Literary Saint was indeed small, but each and every one was formidable. Qi Jingchun had shouldered that earth-shattering calamity back then, and because Skeleton Beach was located at the southernmost point of the Northern Entire Reed Continent, and Great Li was at the northernmost point of Treasure Bottle Continent, Zhu Quan had seen some clues on Wooden Garment Mountain at the time. Then there was that sword cultivator who started practicing late, had exceptionally long sword qi, and had ruined countless people. It was said he was beyond Visited Immortal Sea, far from the human realm… Back then, Zuo You had appeared near the map of the Northern Entire Reed Continent overseas, and four Sword Immortals had gone in succession. But after the last three asked about the Sword, the results left everyone silent. Only that Jade Purity Realm Sword Immortal who was the first to rush to intercept, being one of the most outstanding Jade Purity Realm sword cultivators on the continent, after returning, directly made a statement to the entire Northern Entire Reed Continent, yelling, “Jade Purity Realm, don’t go! Immortal Ascension Realm is the minimum!”

There were actually many stories about the disciples of the Literary Saint lineage. Compared to the abundance and spectacle of talents from the Confucian Sage lineage, the Literary Saint lineage, which had almost lost its incense, had few disciples, but many stories. And the Northern Entire Reed Continent was probably the continent with the most goodwill towards the Literary Saint lineage.

The reason was simple: they were good at fighting. Zhu Quan especially admired Zuo You, he didn’t babble, with that violent temper, tch tch tch, even more ferocious than the Northern Entire Reed Continent, a true hero. He also heard that he was handsome and looked quite refined… But he was so good at fighting, to the point where the Sword Immortals of the Northern Entire Reed Continent felt that it was a pity that such a person wasn’t born in the Northern Entire Reed Continent and had such a solitary nature, disliking the human world. Otherwise, they could spar swordsmanship every day.

Zhu Quan chuckled and wiped her mouth. If she could meet him, that would be wonderful.

As for the kid next to her, let him misunderstand, thinking she was laughing at him for losing three times and being embarrassed, so be it.

Wait a minute!

Zhu Quan stiffly turned her head, fiercely saying, “Chen Pingan, who did you say was your Eldest Brother?! Which Qi is this Qi?!”

Damn it, she was initially a bit stunned by this kid’s aura. A tenth realm martial artist owing people money, students and disciples being Nascent Soul somethings, and some messed up half-master who was a tenth realm peak martial artist, it was already making her head spin. Plus, she was more worried about this kid’s state of mind collapsing on the spot. Now she finally came to her senses. Zhu Quan angrily asked, “How is Zuo You your Eldest Brother?!”

The white-clothed scholar blinked his eyes, “What is Sect Leader Zhu talking about? Are you saying drunken words after drinking?”

Zhu Quan stood up, a smile on her face, and sat down next to Chen Pingan, whispering, “Let’s make a deal. How about letting your senior brother, um, the one with the sword, come to my Wooden Garment Mountain as a guest? Just say someone wants to invite him for a drink. If he doesn’t want to come ashore to my Wooden Garment Mountain, that’s fine. I can go find him at sea. Later, you Chen Pingan can be the matchmaker, help me arrange a place, and then I’ll invite Pang Shanling to accompany me. I’ll stand next to him and have Old Pang paint a picture of the two of us. Aiyo, I’m really embarrassed.”

Chen Pingan rubbed his forehead. If you’re embarrassed, don’t say it.

Zhu Quan became angry, “Don’t play dumb with me! Just one word, yes or very yes?!”

Chen Pingan rubbed his cheeks with both hands. This was truly a headache. Besides, such a thing was not something to joke about, so he truthfully said, “He doesn’t think he’s qualified to be his little brother. He said that to my face. That’s why I said I had to beg, and might not even get it.”

Zhu Quan swung her hand, Chen Pingan leaned back, and only straightened up after the arm passed over his head.

Zhu Quan awkwardly retracted her hand and smiled, “I’ll return your wine to you, okay?”

Chen Pingan shook his head, “It really won’t work.”

Zhu Quan slapped her knee, “So slow and muddle-headed, no wonder Zuo You won’t acknowledge you as his little brother.”

However, it was until this moment that Zhu Quan understood a bit.

Why the young man next to him would say that to the Grandmaster of the Profound Capital Temple.

If Zuo You came to the Northern Entire Reed Continent, he really wouldn’t give that Nascent Soul Daoist a second glance, not even half a glance.

It wasn’t purely due to the disparity in realm. Other Central Earth Sword Immortals were hard to say, but as far as Zuo You was concerned, it wasn’t like he would look at you just because you were in the Ascension Realm, or not look at you just because you were a mortal.

This was also the key reason why the sword cultivators of the Northern Entire Reed Continent especially respected Zuo You.

It was still about temperament.

Zhu Quan looked at the sky, annoyed, “No, I have to go. I said earlier that I was going to chat about some private matters, but I didn’t expect to stay for so long. If I’m late, what kind of people are my two sanctimonious senior uncles? I don’t know their character? They would clap and cheer if any blind man was willing to marry me, and might even squeeze out some tears, and then treat that man like a Bodhisattva. Damn it, if the two old fogeys look at me later, they will definitely think I was having an affair with you in the clouds. Damn it, my lifelong reputation will be ruined, and the name of this old cow eating young grass will definitely spread throughout Wooden Garment Mountain.”

Then, before Zhu Quan even felt wronged, she saw the young man more flustered than her, quickly standing up, taking two steps back, and solemnly saying, “I implore Sect Leader Zhu to definitely, certainly, must, absolutely, nip these rumors in the bud! Otherwise, I will never go to Wooden Garment Mountain in my life!”

Zhu Quan found it strange. This kid wasn’t afraid of anything, and didn’t even frown when dealing with Gao Cheng. Why was his face turning pale now?

Was she just so unattractive? Okay, she didn’t look that good.
Zhu Quan hadn’t even extended his hand, and that little rascal immediately produced a pot of Immortal Brew. Not only that, he even said, “I really don’t have many of these left right now, so I’ll owe you some. After I’ve traversed the entirety of Beiju Luzhou, I’ll definitely bring Sect Leader Zhu plenty of good wine.”

Zhu Quan waved his hand, having already accepted three pots of fine wine from the man, and this one in his hand was still unfinished.

Unexpectedly, the man tossed the pot back, saying, “Sect Leader Zhu, I’ll owe you the rest. Maybe I’ll have a chance to visit Mount Muyi in the future. If I really don’t get a chance to visit the Pima Sect, I’ll have someone send the wine to Mount Muyi.”

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he summoned the Sword Immortal back beneath his feet and took off, flying away with lightning speed.

Zhu Quan gently picked up the little girl in black, puzzled. “This kid shouldn’t lack for the affections of young ladies, and he’s so opinionated. At such a young age, his skills are considerable. Why would he act like this?”

Zhu Quan shook his head, dismissing the thought. Gao Cheng had suffered such a great loss, and Ghost Cry Valley would likely not remain peaceful.

She rode the wind southward.

As for some words, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to say more, but she couldn’t.

A knot in the heart can only be untied by oneself.

Especially those who seem to dislike getting stuck in a rut, they’re the ones who often find themselves trapped.

Truly, even Immortals find it difficult to resolve.

Over at the ferry.

The white-robed scholar, with his sword on his back, landed on the railing. With a tap of his toes, his snowy white sleeves fluttered as he swept back into his room through the window, which closed on its own.

Ding Tong, who was still sitting motionless “admiring the scenery,” felt his heartstrings loosen and collapsed backward, falling onto the deck.

The viewing platform on the second floor was already empty. In fact, all the guests on the second floor had retreated to their rooms.

The ferry was even worried that a sudden sword strike would come down and it would be no more.

The manager who had sold a stack of newsletters to the little water monster felt no better than Ding Tong.

They were truly brothers in misfortune.

The most terrifying thing wasn’t the young Sword Immortal’s high cultivation.

It was his unpredictable nature.

Otherwise, one sword strike, and life and death would be decided, a straightforward affair. All one would need to do is kowtow and beg for mercy, paying with money and life.

But when a fellow who could freely decide one’s life and death looked at you with a smile like a father looking at his son, spoke with gentle words like brothers, and used endless, unimaginable tricks…

What could you do? What would you dare to do?

Over at Wei Bai’s place, the atmosphere was heavy, trapped in this predicament.

Logically speaking, the death of a Grand Guardian of Iron Rampart Manor, a golden-bodied martial artist from the battlefield, was a great loss for the entire Wei family. Wei Bai should have weighed the situation carefully. However, after consulting with the old nanny in the room, they couldn’t seem to come up with a suitable course of action. It seemed that anything they did or said could lead to further mistakes, with unpredictable consequences. They might not even live to get off the ferry, let alone stabilize the situation at Spring Dew Garden. But doing nothing felt like courting death.

A gentle knock sounded on the door.

The old nanny’s face was extremely grim.

Because she hadn’t noticed any movement. The person had arrived silently and without a trace.

Perhaps everyone in the room had lower cultivation than that fellow, but since they were able to sit in this room today, none of them were pushovers.

So they all knew who it was.

The young female cultivator named Qingqing from Spring Dew Garden’s Night Illuminating Grass Hall steadied her mind, unwilling to see her beloved man in a difficult position. She was about to get up and open the door.

Wei Bai sighed and rose first, signaling the young woman not to act rashly. He personally opened the door and greeted with a scholar’s bow, “Wei Bai of Iron Rampart Manor pays respects to the Sword Immortal.”

The white-robed scholar held a folding fan, smiling as he stepped over the threshold. “Young Master Wei need not be so polite. We’re just getting to know each other, aren’t we?”

These words made everyone in the room’s eyelids twitch. When Wei Bai had risen to greet him, they had all gotten up as well, and apart from the old nanny of Iron Rampart Manor and the young female cultivator of Spring Dew Garden, they had all intentionally moved a few steps away from the table, holding their breaths and remaining vigilant.

Wei Bai wanted to gently close the door.

But after the white-robed scholar crossed the threshold, the door closed on its own.

Wei Bai retracted his hand and followed the man to the table.

When the moment came, he felt a sense of relief. The feeling of having a knife pressed against one’s heart was the hardest to bear.

After the white-robed scholar sat down, he picked up a teacup that was still upside down and poured himself a cup of tea. “The tea from the second floor’s houses, ‘Around the Village’, has a better flavor.”

After Wei Bai sat down, the old nanny stood behind him. Only the young female cultivator of Spring Dew Garden sat down with Wei Bai.

The white-robed scholar casually pointed to someone. “Please do me a favor and summon the ferry’s manager.”

The man hurriedly bowed his head and said he wouldn’t dare, and immediately went out to summon the man.

As the door closed gently.

A period of unbearable silence fell over the room.

After a moment, the white-robed scholar smiled. “On my trip back and forth, I happened to see the mountains and fields that the Senior traversed after leaving the ferry.”

Wei Bai understood and felt another sense of relief. “Master Liao was able to have a satisfying exchange with the Sword Immortal Senior. Perhaps after returning to Iron Rampart Manor and recuperating, he can break through his bottleneck and reach even greater heights.”

The young female cultivator of Night Illuminating Grass Hall was perhaps the last in the room to understand the key point.

Everyone else had realized the brilliance of this exchange shortly after Wei Bai.

They admired Wei Bai even more.

The Sword Immortal had, for some reason, given the Wei family of Iron Rampart Manor a way out, but at the same time, it was a form of invisible intimidation, another way of being aggressive.

I killed your Iron Rampart Manor’s golden-bodied martial artist guardian with one punch, and now I’m coming to your room to drink tea. Are you, Wei Bai, and Iron Rampart Manor, going to settle the score with me? But at the same time, if Iron Rampart Manor is willing to let the matter rest…

Wei Bai chose to take the opportunity and swallow his anger, accepting the other party’s roundabout encroachment.

Then a gentle knock sounded on the door.

The man led the ferry manager into the room.

The old nanny raised an eyebrow.

Good heavens.

This young Sword Immortal had calculated everything.

It turned out that these words were spoken not only for the young master, but also for the ferry.

As long as the young master was willing to let the matter rest, then the harsh words that the young Sword Immortal had heard earlier would now become somewhat sincere.
After all, it would be a joke if Ironclad Manor were to go around claiming that their Golden Body Realm expert, surnamed Liao, hadn’t actually been beaten to death. However, if the ferry took the initiative to explain the situation, Ironclad Manor’s reputation would be somewhat salvaged. Of course, Young Master Wei could also actively seek out the ferry manager and drop a hint, and the other party would definitely be willing to do Ironclad Manor a favor. It’s just that, in that case, Young Master Wei’s mood would be even worse.

It was a minor matter, but if Young Master Wei could learn a greater lesson from this small incident and see the bigger picture through the minute details, then he could grasp the third layer of meaning.

Fighting? Your Manor’s Golden Body Realm martial artists are nothing more than a single punch from me. And I’m also familiar with the ways of your court and officialdom. Even if I give face to Wei Bai, he wouldn’t be able to handle it. Who truly has the qualifications to tear apart the facade with a foreign swordsman like myself?

Ironclad Manor might not necessarily be afraid of a sword cultivator who only knows how to fight and kill.

In Northern Ju Continent, as long as one has money, one can hire Golden Core Sword Immortals to come down from the mountains for “sword practice.” With enough money, even Nascent Soul Sword Immortals can be hired!

However…

The young sword immortal in front of them, who liked to wear two layers of robes, was quite cunning.

The old nanny was a cultivator from the Demonic Path, and in her eyes, there was no distinction between good and bad, only the difference between the strong and the weak. And strength was divided into two types. One was those who were destined to be untouchable, and the other was those who could be provoked, but it was best not to. The former was naturally stronger, but the latter could become the former at any time, and sometimes, they could be even more troublesome.

Ironclad Manor, at its core, was still a secular dynasty’s underworld force. They were extremely familiar with the rules of the officialdom. The more familiar they were, the more difficult it was to deal with straightforward cultivators from the mountains, especially those who were blunt. What was truly difficult were those pedigree immortal masters who were even more cunning than the officials.

Among the three great aristocratic families of the Great Viewing Dynasty, including the Wei family, the more illustrious their family background, the more common it was for promising scholars and military talents to die prematurely. There were quite a few who couldn’t adapt to the environment. It was alright for the scions to hold positions in the capital, but once they were sent out to govern, becoming a deputy magistrate or magistrate of a county, the old foxes and slickers in the officialdom would manipulate them in every subtle and disgusting way imaginable, playing them around in circles, like slowly cutting flesh with a dull knife. Therefore, in recent years, Ironclad Manor had spared no effort in protecting Wei Bai, and they were even somewhat paranoid, fearing that the young master would suddenly die, and they wouldn’t even be able to find an enemy to seek revenge on afterward.

However, in the past, every time the young master traveled, it was the most peaceful. The routes were fixed, the escorts were in place, and the immortal families provided support. This even drew out many deeply hidden hostile forces, allowing Ironclad Manor to secretly take the opportunity to sweep away many hidden dangers, from the court, the mountains, and the martial world.

It was just that this time, it was a complete and utter accident.

The ferry was still within the territory of a tributary state of the Great Viewing Dynasty, but the other party refused to show respect to Ironclad Manor and Spring Dew Garden. Before that person made a move, there was so much whispering. Even if they didn’t know the young master’s distinguished status beforehand, they should have understood after hearing it.

The white-robed scholar pointed at the table with his folding fan. “Ferry Manager, we’ve done two deals together. Why are you being so polite and restrained? Sit down and have some tea.”

The white-robed scholar casually swept his folding fan horizontally, and a teacup slid to the edge of the table in front of the ferry manager, half of the teacup was outside the table, swaying slightly, about to fall. Then, he picked up the teapot. The manager hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed the teacup with both hands, bending over and presenting it with both hands. After the white-robed sword immortal poured the tea, he finally sat down. From beginning to end, he didn’t say a single word of flattery.

It wasn’t even summer yet, and his ferry was already facing so many troubles.

The so-called two deals, one was paying to ride the ferry, and the other was naturally buying and selling gazettes.

The white-robed scholar picked up the teacup, took a leisurely sip, and gently placed it on the table. He leaned back in his chair, opened his folding fan, and gently fanned, creating a gentle breeze.

Wei Bai then followed suit, raising his cup to sip slowly and then quickly put it down. The ferry manager, after Wei Bai, slowly raised the teacup, quickly drank the tea, and then held the cup with both hands without putting it down.

The white-robed scholar smiled and said, “Some misunderstandings can be cleared up with a bit of explanation. When you’re out and about, it’s best to be amicable and make money.”

Wei Bai poured himself a cup of tea, filling it to the brim. Holding the cup in one hand and supporting it with the other, he smiled and nodded, “Senior Sword Immortal is on a rare journey to explore the mountains and rivers. This time, it was our Ironclad Manor that offended Senior Sword Immortal. Junior will use tea in place of wine to presumptuously punish myself with a cup?”

The white-robed scholar nodded.

Wei Bai drank it all in one gulp.

The ferry manager’s forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat.

As a Sea Gazing Realm cultivator, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

The white-robed scholar turned to look at the young female cultivator, “And who is this fairy?”

After Wei Bai put down his teacup, he smiled and said, “She is the only daughter of Immortal Tang of Spring Dew Garden’s Zhaoye Caotang, Tang Qingqing.”

The white-robed scholar smiled and said, “Immortal Tang was the first one in the room who wanted to open the door to welcome guests, right? Beauty’s favor is heavy, Young Master Wei must not disappoint her.”

Wei Bai smiled and nodded, “We are just waiting for the elders of both families to nod in agreement.”

The white-robed scholar hummed and smiled, “But I estimate that Caotang will be easy to handle. Who wouldn’t like a son-in-law like Young Master Wei? It’s just that General Wei’s hurdle will be difficult to overcome. After all, there is still some difference between the mountain and the world. Of course, it still depends on fate. It’s not good to break up a loving couple, and a forced melon is not sweet.”

Wei Bai let out another sigh of relief.

Tang Qingqing was actually somewhat grateful.

The cultivators in the room who were standing and had good relations with Ironclad Manor or Spring Dew Garden were all somewhat confused. Except for the beginning, when the onlookers could sense the faint hint of killing intent, it now looked like they were just chatting about family matters?

The white-robed scholar suddenly said, “Immortal Tang, you should know Senior Song Lanqiao, right?”

Tang Qingqing quickly said, “Of course I know him. Boat Master Song is my father’s senior brother. They are both cultivators of the Lan generation of Spring Dew Garden.”

The white-robed scholar smiled and said, “That’s good. I rode Senior Song’s ferry before and found him very agreeable. We are like friends who forgot our age. It seems that I must disturb Zhaoye Caotang on this trip to Spring Dew Garden.”

Tang Qingqing smiled charmingly, “It is our honor to have Senior Sword Immortal visit Caotang.”

Even Wei Bai was somewhat jealous of Tang Qingqing’s good fortune.

The white-robed scholar suddenly asked, “Young Master Wei, what was the name of that young sword immortal who flew by earlier, said some nonsensical words, and even wanted to invite me for tea?”

Wei Bai said, “If I’m not mistaken, it should be the Little Grand Uncle Master of the Golden Crow Palace, Liu Zhiqing, Sword Immortal Liu.”
Tang Qingqing nodded with a smile, “This Sword Immortal Liu of the Golden Crow Palace, every few years, goes to a mountain spring he privately purchased in our Spring Dew Garden in his early years to draw water and brew tea.”

The scholar in white robes suddenly understood, “I saw this passage in the ‘Spring Dew in Winter’ book in Spring Dew Garden. So this great Sword Immortal is Liu Zhiqing of the Golden Crow Palace. I’ve long admired his name. If I had known earlier, I would have shamelessly greeted Sword Immortal Liu. It would have helped me gain some fame when I got to Spring Dew Garden.”

Wei Bai’s smile remained unchanged.

The old nanny’s lips twitched slightly.

The ferry manager held the cup of Rao Village Tea that he still hadn’t dared to finish, feeling bitter inside.

*Sword Immortal, you cleaved the thundercloud of the Golden Crow Palace with a single strike, and Liu Zhiqing still warmly invites you for tea. Do you really need this little bit of fame, Your Excellency? Can we be a little more straightforward? Please, Sword Immortal, give me a straight answer. Stop tormenting people like this!”

The scholar in white robes turned his head, “This old nanny seems to think I’m not qualified to drink tea with Sword Immortal Liu?”

The old nanny forced a smile, “I wouldn’t dare. The two Sword Immortals, by the forest spring, drinking tea together, a delightful scene. The little booklet of Spring Dew Garden can be reprinted this year.”

The scholar in white robes maintained his smiling, turned-head pose.

The old nanny’s face grew increasingly stiff.

The scholar in white robes suddenly narrowed his eyes and said, “I heard that the dynasties down the mountain have a saying: ‘If the lord is disgraced, the vassal dies.'”

The old nanny’s face tightened.

The scholar in white robes continued, “Regarding the delightful scene, I also heard of an event in the Great View Dynasty. Back then, Young Master Wei, enjoying the snow on the lake, saw a handsome young man walking across the arched bridge, with a beautiful maiden by his side who smiled subtly. Young Master Wei then asked her if she was willing to become an immortal couple with the young man, saying that a gentleman should help others achieve their dreams. The maiden remained silent. After a moment, an old woman swept across the lake, holding a box, and presented it as a gift to the young man. May I ask, Old Nanny, what was in the box? I come from a poor area and am very curious. What precious item could have moved the young man so much that he lost color?”

The old nanny had already prepared for the worst.

*A desperate fight to the death! I’ll drag the Little Young Master of the Ironclad Manor and Tang Qingqing of Spring Dew Garden down with me. Then I’ll see how this young Sword Immortal drinks tea with Liu Zhiqing!”

However, the scholar in white robes had already turned his head, “No wonder the temples here are so prosperous.”

Wei Bai’s body tensed, forcing a smile, “I apologize for this, Sword Immortal Senior.”

The scholar in white robes slowly stood up, and in the end, simply patted the ferry manager’s shoulder with his folding fan. As he brushed past, he said, “There won’t be a third transaction. If you walk the night path too often, you’re bound to see people.”

Tang Qingqing was stunned for a moment.

*Isn’t it supposed to be ‘see ghosts’?”

The scholar in white robes walked straight towards the door, raised his arm, and waved the closed folding fan in his hand, “No need to see me off.”

The door still opened by itself and then closed on its own.

Wei Bai smiled bitterly.

*Ghosts walking at night see people?”

After a long silence.

Wei Bai, roughly certain that the person could have returned from a trip on the ferry, smiled and said to the old nanny, “Don’t mind him. Mountain cultivators have no taboos. We can’t envy them.”

The old nanny smiled and nodded.

Wei Bai sneered inwardly.

*Whether you don’t mind is true or false, I don’t care.”

*But I mind very much!”

*That faint killing intent you revealed just now, even if it was aimed at that young Sword Immortal, I, Wei Bai, am not stupid!*”

*Whether it’s a dog biting a person or a person hitting a dog, neither can compare to the ferocity of a dog biting another dog to death!”*

After the scholar in white robes returned to the room.

He began the six-step walking meditation.

He suddenly stopped, came to the window, as night fell, lightly jumped onto the boat railing, and walked slowly.

He walked like this all night.

When the great sun rose from the sea, Chen Ping’an stopped at the boat railing, raised his eyes, and looked into the distance. His snow-white robe bathed in the morning glow, like a golden-bodied god on earth.

In the dusk, at the entrance of a shop in Riding Dragon Lane, Dragon Spring County.

A dark-skinned girl sat at the doorway on a small stool. Shi Rou, inside the shop, occasionally glanced at the activity outside.

Pei Qian often sat at the door eating sunflower seeds. Shi Rou knew she missed her Shifu.

After Chen Ping’an went to the Northern Gulu Continent from the Niujiao Mountain ferry, Zhu Lian initially watched over the school, keeping an eye on it for about ten days. Pei Qian finally got used to her student life there and no longer thought about climbing the wall to skip class.

But even so, she didn’t stop causing trouble. Zhu Lian went to the school once to inquire about her situation with the teacher, and the results were half happy and half worried. The happy part was that Pei Qian hadn’t fought with anyone in the school, not even a verbal argument. The worrying part was that the old teachers were also helpless with Pei Qian. The little girl didn’t show the slightest respect for the books of sages. During class, she would sit quietly by the window, meticulously drawing little figures on the corners of each page. After class, she would flip through the books with a rustling sound. One of the old teachers, having heard some news from somewhere, flipped through all of Pei Qian’s books, and it was true, she hadn’t missed a single page! The little figures she drew were crude, a circle for the head, five small branches for the body and limbs. When she closed the book, the corner of the book would either show the little figures practicing martial arts or swordplay.

The old teacher didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He didn’t get angry immediately. Instead, he asked Pei Qian about her homework, asking her to recite passages from the books. Unexpectedly, the little girl could recite them word for word. The old teacher let it go, but he reminded her not to scribble on the books of sages. Later, the little girl bought some books outside of school, and her schoolwork was still neither good nor bad. She still drew little figures diligently.

During breaks, she would occasionally go alone to the tree and catch an ant, placing it on a small piece of white paper. With one arm blocking it on the table, she would hold a pen in her hand and draw horizontal and vertical lines on the paper, blocking the ant’s escape route. She could fill a whole sheet of paper, making it like a maze. The poor ant would wander around in the maze. Because Dragon Tail Creek Chen…
Master Gongzi had instructed all the tutors and teachers to treat Pei Qian as an ordinary child from Dragon Spring County. Therefore, all the young scholars in the school only knew that this little dark-skinned girl lived near the New Year’s Money Shop in Dragon Riding Lane. She only spoke when answering the teacher’s questions. She almost never talked to anyone at school. She liked to walk up the steps of Dragon Riding Lane to and from school, morning and evening, and she liked to walk sideways. In short, she was a very strange character, and her classmates didn’t get too close to her.

As time passed at the school, some rumors spread, saying that this dark girl was a money grubber, and she did business with people at the New Year’s Money Shop every day, helping the shop earn money.

Furthermore, some students swore they had seen this little dark girl challenging the big white geese in the streets. Others who lived near Dragon Riding Lane said that Pei Qian would deliberately crow like a rooster every morning when they went to school, making a lot of noise and being very naughty. Some even said that after bullying the big white geese, Pei Qian would also fight with the big rooster at the northernmost part of the town, yelling things like, “Eat my sweeping tornado kick!” or crouching on the ground and punching at the big rooster, as if she had gone mad.

After Zhu Lian visited the school once, he returned to the shop and chatted with Pei Qian. Finally, Pei Qian stopped drawing little people in her books and building houses for ants on rice paper.

She would just go to a secluded corner near Dragon Riding Lane after school, using mud and water to sculpt little clay figures, arranging them in battle formations, and commanding them to fight each other. She painstakingly created thirty or forty little clay figures. After each battle, she would sound the retreat and hide the little figures nearby.

Shi Rou saw this and spoke to Zhu Lian privately. Zhu Lian said there was no need to interfere.

However, two later events occurred. The first was that one day, after Pei Qian finished copying her books, she excitedly ran off to be the great general reviewing the troops on the battlefield, but she quickly returned.

When Shi Rou asked, Pei Qian was in low spirits. Standing on the stool behind the counter, she rested her head on the counter and said that the previous days of heavy rain had caused all the soldiers of both armies to perish.

This made Shi Rou feel a little worried. With Pei Qian’s shrewdness, how could she let the rain ruin her belongings? But Zhu Lian still said to let her be.

But the second event made Zhu Lian frown as well. After receiving the news from Shi Rou, he made a special trip from Fallen Phoenix Mountain to Dragon Riding Lane.

Shi Rou told him that one day after school, Pei Qian dragged a dead white goose by its neck and carried it back to the shop in Dragon Riding Lane, and then buried the white goose somewhere.

Pei Qian was in her room copying books by herself at the time.

Zhu Lian stood at the entrance of the shop. Shi Rou said that Pei Qian was unwilling to say anything. She had found out the news herself.

On her way home from school, Pei Qian had been stopped by a common woman in the market, who insisted that Pei Qian must have beaten her family’s white goose to death, and cursed her with a barrage of unpleasant words. At first, Pei Qian said it wasn’t her. The woman even made a move, but Pei Qian dodged it and simply said that she hadn’t done it. In the end, Pei Qian took out her own bag of savings, gave all the hard-earned silver and copper coins to the woman, and said that she could buy the dead white goose, but she hadn’t killed the goose.

Shi Rou was worried and asked Zhu Lian what to do, whether she should have a heart-to-heart talk with Pei Qian.

Zhu Lian, with his back to the counter and facing the road of Dragon Riding Lane, said that it wasn’t impossible to talk, but it wouldn’t be effective. Pei Qian would only listen to one person, and Shi Rou was well aware of that.

Shi Rou suggested that she talk to the woman and use some means to find the mischievous children at the school and have both parties apologize to Pei Qian.

But the usually jovial Zhu Lian actually swore, saying, “What good would that do? Is that all there is to it?”

Shi Rou was so frightened that her face turned pale.

But in the end, Zhu Lian stood at the door for a long time and quietly returned to Fallen Phoenix Mountain without doing anything.

After that, Pei Qian no longer caused any worries. She obediently went to the school to listen to the teachers’ lectures, leaving early and returning late, on time every day. Whenever she had free time, she would help with business at the shop, copying books, practicing her footwork, and practicing her Mad Demon Swordplay. But this peace of mind made Shi Rou even more uneasy.

Shi Rou would rather Pei Qian had slapped the market woman or argued with some old teacher at the school.

But Pei Qian did none of those things.

At that moment, Shi Rou realized that it wasn’t just Chen Ping’an’s presence or absence from Fallen Phoenix Mountain that created two Fallen Phoenix Mountains.

His presence or absence by Pei Qian’s side created two Pei Qians.

Fortunately, Pei Qian would still sit on a stool in front of the shop’s entrance like today, cracking melon seeds, muttering to herself, and occasionally looking up towards the end of the lane.

Shi Rou felt more familiar with Pei Qian at this time.

This day, Pei Qian had just carried the stool back to the backyard of the shop, intending to practice her almost perfected Mad Demon Swordplay, when she heard the old chef calling from the front of the shop, “Good-for-nothing! Good-for-nothing, come out here!”

Pei Qian, holding the Mountain Walking Staff, ran out angrily, “Old chef, are you looking for a beating?!”

When Pei Qian reached the front of the shop, she saw a little girl with her arms crossed standing next to the old chef. She stood on the threshold, her face tense, and looked at Pei Qian.

Pei Qian was stunned for a moment, then said seriously, “Who is this? Is she the old chef’s illegitimate daughter who was lost? Have you finally found her?”

Zhu Lian cursed and told her to get lost, and patted the little girl’s head, “Her name is Zhou Mili. Your master sent her from the Northern Entirety Continent.”

Pei Qian clapped her hands, her eyes shining, “Master is really amazing. Now he can not only pick up money, but also pick up girls!”

The little girl in black frowned, tilted her head, and squinted hard at the little dark girl who wasn’t too tall.

Pei Qian widened her eyes, then smiled sweetly, “How about I treat you to boiled fish tonight?”

After saying that, Pei Qian used one hand as a knife and the other as a cutting board, raising and lowering the hand knife back and forth so quickly that it was dazzling. She also made “dududu” sounds with her mouth. After finishing, she gathered her energy in her dantian and said in a deep voice, “My knife skills are second to none in this world, only slightly inferior to my master!”

Then she spread her hands, “Have you ever eaten such a big fish?”