Two Taoists, one old and one young, spent two snowflake coins at one end of the long bridge, receiving two wooden tokens from the immortal orange tree.

Zhang Shanfeng asked in a low voice, “Master, does your illusion technique really work? Why do I feel like there are still many people looking at us? Besides, we are from Crouching Peak, it’s not something to be ashamed of. When I traveled in my younger days, no one could tell I was from Crouching Peak. No one even mistook me for a disciple from Peach Mountain or Pointing Mystery Sect. When I followed your instructions and said I was a layman Celestial Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain in the Central Plains, even fewer people believed me.”

Real Person Fire Dragon smiled and said, “Perhaps your fellow disciples’ reputations aren’t that great.”

Zhang Shanfeng sighed, “I think my fellow disciples all have high cultivation.”

Real Person Fire Dragon chuckled, “You can tell they have high cultivation from how they slowly ascend the mountain and awkwardly descend? ”

Zhang Shanfeng nodded vigorously, lowering his voice, “I’ve heard the junior disciples on the mountain say a few times that those senior brothers and sisters who can run off and establish their own peaks have terrifyingly high realms.”

Real Person Fire Dragon asked with a smile, “How high?”

Zhang Shanfeng shook his head, “There’s no definite answer. Some say Golden Core Earth Immortals, others say they should all be Dragon Gate Realm Immortals.”

Speaking of this, Zhang Shanfeng said solemnly, “Master, although we on Crouching Peak are not allowed to casually talk about realms, the junior disciples are young after all. These chats are just innocent nature. Master, you mustn’t make a big deal out of it and get angry at them when you return. Otherwise, how can I continue to cultivate on Crouching Peak? Wouldn’t they all scold me behind my back for being an elder who gossips?”

Real Person Fire Dragon nodded with a smile.

Zhang Shanfeng was still a little uneasy, “Master, you have to give me a definite answer, otherwise I feel uneasy.”

Zhang Shanfeng couldn’t help but be nervous. Since he was a child, he had only seen his master get angry once.

A fellow disciple who was able to leave Crouching Peak and establish his own mountain, once had a dispute with another fellow disciple who stayed on Crouching Peak to cultivate. Perhaps they couldn’t resolve the argument, so he said something about the difference in their realms.

In fact, the fellow disciple who was spoken to didn’t think it was something to take to heart. Unexpectedly, the master, who had been sound asleep for two or three years, unprecedentedly shook off the accumulated snow from the snowdrift on the peak and disappeared in a flash, leaving Crouching Peak.

At the time, Zhang Shanfeng, who was still a small child, was busy having a snowball fight with a few other young Taoist boys. As a result, they all looked at each other, and then continued to have a snowball fight. Whether the master was there or not, it didn’t stop them from playing. After all, on Crouching Peak, it was rare to see snow. It only happened when the master fell asleep, which was even more joyful than the New Year.

Later, Zhang Shanfeng heard that the fellow disciple who had only said the wrong thing was expelled from the sect that day. That fellow disciple knelt at the edge of Crouching Peak’s territory for a whole month, kowtowing for a whole month, but the master didn’t change his mind. The other fellow disciples all went up to Crouching Peak, but they didn’t dare to speak, just standing on Crouching Peak, as if their mistakes were no smaller than those of their fellow disciple.

Zhang Shanfeng was probably young, and was the only disciple who dared to ask about this matter, because he was curious why the master was so angry.

At that time, after all the disciples had left Crouching Peak, the master only said two sentences to Zhang Shanfeng.

“There is no such thing as an unintentional remark in the world, only intentional words that are accidentally spoken.”

“People down the mountain don’t matter, but people on the mountain are very important. It’s not just about taking the life of a cultivator, but about taking the lives of more ordinary scholars down the mountain.”

Zhang Shanfeng still wanted to plead for that fellow disciple, but Real Person Fire Dragon just shook his head, gently stroked the little Taoist’s head, and said, “Let it be. Since your fellow disciple has reached the end of the road in cultivation on the mountain, it’s better to go outside the mountain to cultivate his heart.”

At this moment, on the long bridge, the old Real Person had to personally promise, “Alright, Master will pretend he never heard this.”

Walking on the long bridge, Zhang Shanfeng noticed a clever-looking boy in yellow standing not far away, lost in thought, seemingly looking at their master and disciple, then the boy turned around and ran, disappearing in a flash.

Zhang Shanfeng asked doubtfully, “Master, what was that?”

Real Person Fire Dragon smiled, “I’ve seen him before, we’ve dealt with each other.”

Over there, Li Yuan broke out in a cold sweat, sprinting away. “Dealt with each other my foot! I am the dignified Water Governor of Ji River, but I was suppressed by you at the bottom of the Greater River for a whole month back then!”

Real Person Fire Dragon frowned and turned to look.

It was Sect Master Sun Jie, who had also used an illusion technique.

Sun Jie braced himself and walked forward quickly. There was no way around it. If this old Real Person was just passing by the Water Dragon Sect, then Sun Jie, since he had received the order, could have simply not shown up. But the old Real Person was clearly going to the Dragon Palace Grotto-Heavens. If Sun Jie still remained at the Ancestral Hall, it would be improper. Even if the old Real Person scolded him to his face, it would be better than his Water Dragon Sect being impolite.

Although Real Person Fire Dragon wasn’t happy to have more social engagements, after all, the other party was the Sect Master of a sect, and one shouldn’t strike a smiling face. He said, “This poor Taoist is just here with his disciple to sightsee.”

At the same time, he clearly told Sun Jie with heartfelt words, “Sect Master Sun, my disciple doesn’t know much about matters down the mountain, please cover it up a little.”

Sun Jie immediately understood. He bowed and said with a smile, “Greetings, Real Person.”

Real Person Fire Dragon nodded with a smile in return.

Zhang Shanfeng was at a loss, not even knowing how to address the other party. He had to return a bow, “Junior Zhang Shanfeng, greetings, Senior.”

Sun Jie quickly returned the greeting.

The direct disciple of Real Person Fire Dragon deserved a separate greeting from the Sect Master of his Water Dragon Sect.

This made Zhang Shanfeng a little flustered, and he had to bow respectfully again.

Real Person Fire Dragon felt a little helpless.

Sun Jie himself also felt that it was a bit inappropriate, so he didn’t bother with formalities and only said that he would accompany the Real Person for a while.

Every time Real Person Fire Dragon went down the mountain to travel, he always came and went alone, with almost no mention of having disciples by his side. Whether it was the late Grand Mistress Tai Xia who unfortunately passed away, or the disciples from other branches who established their own peaks, such as Peach Mountain and Pointing Mystery, even though they were all proficient in Daoist magic, it was rumored that they never followed…
Following the old True Man who loved to sleep, master and disciple traveled the world. In truth, Zhang Shanfeng’s descent from the mountain this time was the latter half of many years. He had journeyed south to other continents before his master found him and they traveled together through the Central Divine Continent and the Southern Saha Continent. Before that, even through wind and rain, hunger and hardship, Zhang Shanfeng was alone, supposedly honing his Dao, but in reality, tasting the bitterness of life.

Sun Jie escorted the Fire Dragon True Man and Zhang Shanfeng to the tavern and then took his leave.

Along the way, Zhang Shanfeng did most of the talking, likely because he worried his master wouldn’t be good at social interactions and the disciple had to take his place.

Just as Sun Jie was about to turn away, the Fire Dragon True Man finally spoke, “Regarding Li Yuan’s matter, this poor Daoist can put in a word for you.”

Sun Jie was about to bow in gratitude.

The Fire Dragon True Man waved his hand, “Spare the formalities.”

After that courteous senior had walked away, Zhang Shanfeng whispered, “Master, why didn’t you pay him any attention?”

The Fire Dragon True Man smiled, “Not a friend, nothing to talk about. And friendships aren’t built through conversation.”

The Fire Dragon True Man had a melancholic look. Did he have friends? Of course, he did, and many, but alas, they were all old acquaintances.

Living too long seemed to mean constantly bidding farewell to friends, some face-to-face, some not.

Whether he could or couldn’t, it was all sorrowful.

This had nothing to do with the level of his Dao.

So, it was good that this disciple of his could know that Chen Ping’an who liked to lecture, and that Xu Yuanxia who loved to write about landscapes.

And it was even better that Zhang Shanfeng and Chen Ping’an both deeply respected that big-bearded wandering knight.

When kindred spirits met, sharing hardships together, water tasted better than wine.

Some brotherhoods were just icing on the cake, hiding knives within the flowery praise.

But some help in times of need was like a friend offering burning charcoal, and after helping, clenching his fist in farewell, saying it was nothing.

Thirty-four *li* away from the “Jidu Summer Retreat” city gate, Zhang Shanfeng asked, “Master, how did you calculate Chen Ping’an’s location?”

The old True Man said, “It was a difficult matter, but Chen Ping’an has deep ties with you. For example, the Celestial Master Seal, and this ancient sword you’re carrying, he obtained them first and then gifted them to you, giving the master some clues. Plus, Chen Ping’an happened to be in the Northern Ju Continent. If he were in another continent, it would have been even harder for me to divine.”

In truth, there was another secret matter that the Fire Dragon True Man didn’t reveal to Zhang Shanfeng. That was when they met in the alley of that village in the southeast of Baoping Continent, the old True Man, as a return gift, gave Chen Ping’an a small token to help the child walk a little steadier on his future martial path. After all, this dispensable token of goodwill wasn’t something to be brought up.

When they arrived at the entrance of the Dragon Palace Grotto-Heaven, they heard that it required two Lesser Heat Coins to enter, and Zhang Shanfeng immediately felt that the Water Dragon Sect was being extortionate.

Zhang Shanfeng gritted his teeth and slowly pulled out two Lesser Heat Coins from his sleeve, handing them to the Water Dragon Sect cultivator guarding the city gate.

As he passed through the city gate, Zhang Shanfeng touched the door nails inlaid on the red lacquered gate, and didn’t forget to turn his head and say to the old True Man, “Master, do you want to touch them too? Chen Ping’an mentioned many customs of the countryside, including walking on the city walls to dispel illness, and touching the door nails when passing through the city gate to drive away filth and bad luck.”

The Fire Dragon True Man smiled and shook his head, “This master will pass.”

Zhang Shanfeng passed through the city gate and saw the long white jade staircase with nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, and immediately exclaimed, “Impressive, truly impressive, worthy of being a Sect-level immortal family!”

His own Crawling Peak only had a winding mountain path, overgrown with weeds, but with many wild fruits. Before Zhang Shanfeng went down the mountain to travel, he often led a large group of young Daoists to search the mountain, and they always returned with a full load.

When he reached the top of the mountain and saw the sixteen dragon walls at his feet, Zhang Shanfeng felt even more that the Water Dragon Sect was rich and powerful. When he thought that this Water Dragon Sect’s immortal demeanor had at least some contribution from his two Lesser Heat Coins, he felt a little happy.

The Fire Dragon True Man asked with a smile, “Do you still feel that a golden nest or a silver nest is still not as good as your own straw nest?”

Zhang Shanfeng nodded, “Of course. After seeing Chen Ping’an, let’s go home!”

Sixteen snow-white flood dragons soared through the clouds, crashing into the sea of clouds, heading to the Dragon Palace Grotto-Heaven.

Inside the house on Fushui Island.

Chen Ping’an began to close his eyes and rest. After thinking for a long time, he took out his brush and ink, spread out the paper, and began to write a reply.

Lotus Root Blessed Land, a good name, let it be named that.

After the gap was filled, this blessed land was upgraded to a medium-grade blessed land. The selection of sites for future mountain and river shrines can continue to be secretly surveyed, selecting geomantically auspicious places, but Fallen Peak is in no hurry to sign any contracts with the Emperor of Southern Garden Kingdom. He will wait until he returns to Fallen Peak, and then he will personally take a trip. Before that, no matter how good the conditions this Emperor offers, Zhu Lian, you should stall him first.

Wei Bo breaking through is a great joy. Fallen Peak needs people to prepare a congratulatory gift. Chen Ping’an’s gift must be something of the magic treasure grade from the mountains. He can temporarily borrow it from Jiang Shangzhen of True Realm Sect. If Zhu Lian thinks it’s appropriate, he can even agree to let him, in the identity of a Nascent Soul and the alias Zhou Fei, serve as a registered offering of Fallen Peak. The condition is an extra magic treasure. As for the congratulatory gifts from juniors like Pei Qian, it’s okay to make the gifts lighter. For example, Pei Qian can copy a festive couplet. Of course, if Pei Qian has more dedicated ideas, that’s even better.

As for Liu Chongrun, Zhu Lian can call on Lu Baixiang to secretly excavate the water palace and dragon boat. This is the best outcome, but before doing this, he must first say hello to Cui Dongshan and wait for his definite reply before both parties can leave Dali. If Cui Dongshan thinks this is not possible, then directly refuse Liu Chongrun, and not only that, but also remind her to completely give up on this matter. It’s okay to speak harsher. Since both parties have become long-term neighbors on the mountain, some sincere words that are harsh and unpleasant, whether the other party listens is one thing, whether you say it or not is another.

Writing the letter to this point, Chen Ping’an paused before continuing to write.

If Liu Chongrun insists on taking risks, Fallen Peak will take back the lease of the Pincer Crab Back. Fallen Peak will bear as much responsibility and compensation as it should for breaking the contract.

Rather than being implicated by the Bead Hairpin Island cultivators in the future and burned…
Having one’s head split open and brow furrowed, suffering from unforeseen calamities, it’s better to sever ties early. If Fallen Mountain wants to operate long-term, with a steady flow, some choices must be made. Rather than a major falling out in the future, filled with mutual resentment, it’s better to cut the cord early, even if it means facing complaints from Pearl Hairpin Island for a wasted trip. If such a deadlock truly occurs, more secret compensations are needed, such as greeting Jiang Shangzhen and Guan Yiran, asking them to help look after Pearl Hairpin Island in Shujian Lake. This matter need not be told to Liu Chongrun. Fallen Mountain owes these two considerable favors, which he, Chen Ping’an, will settle upon his return to Treasure Bottle洲, with his own plans.

Regarding Dong Shuiing’s side, whatever Fallen Mountain can help with, as long as it doesn’t involve major principles, should be done actively, without fussing over gains and losses. However, any help to Dong Shuiing must absolutely not infringe upon the interests of Guan Yiran, the garrison general of Pool Water City. Zhu Lian needs to carefully consider this and grasp the proper measure. As for Dong Shuiing’s personal relationships with Prefect Yuan and Supervisor Cao, Fallen Mountain must not interfere in the slightest. However, the newly appointed Inspector Wei Li, originally the prefect of Yellow Court Kingdom, is worth befriending. Fallen Mountain can maintain regular contact. Zhu Lian, you must gauge the appropriate warmth yourself. Furthermore, regarding the newly emerged City God of the state capital, since the incense boy from the City God Pavilion is already familiar with Pei Qian, then she can be reminded to interact with the little incense figure with a normal heart. Beyond that, Fallen Mountain should have some connection with this newly emerged City God, but it should be kept superficial, not deep. After all, for one to rise from a small local earth deity to a state City God, their background must be extremely complicated. Fallen Mountain now prioritizes stability, avoiding being affected by the struggles of immortals in the Great Li imperial court. The Great Li’s center is undoubtedly a dangerous landscape of shifting clouds and hidden whirlpools.

As for Fan Er and Sun Jiashu in Old Dragon City, have Zhu Lian take the trouble to personally visit them when he has time, as a way to thank them on Chen Ping’an’s behalf. During this time, if Madam Gui of Cassia Island has not yet traveled across the continent, Zhu Lian should also take the initiative to visit her. And for the Fan family’s Golden Core sword cultivator, Old Man Ma Zhi, Zhu Lian can bring a pot of wine to his door, unearthing two jars of immortal wine buried beneath the bamboo building to make a pair for the old gentleman.

The matter of Liu Zhimao, a True Realm Sect offering, breaking through to become a Jade Pure Realm cultivator, requires no attention, nor congratulatory gifts.

Continue to secretly gather any information, big or small, about the areas of Zhengyang Mountain and the Xu family in Qingfeng City through others.

In addition, there are more than twenty other matters, big and small, which Chen Ping’an has written down in this secret letter. The vast majority of them are just for Zhu Lian to handle as he sees fit. Chen Ping’an is simply providing a reminder, telling Zhu Lian that these things exist.

Furthermore, there are some things that Chen Ping’an has already decided on. If Zhu Lian and the others feel that the direction is wrong and needs further consideration, then they can send a letter to Li Liu, because he will definitely visit Lion Peak before returning to Treasure Bottle洲.

Finally, Chen Ping’an did not write a separate letter to Pei Qian, but simply instructed her at the end of the letter to correspond more with her Treasure Bottle sister, and also to help him, her master, to send regards to Chen Ruzhu, Chen Lingjun, of course, and Zhou Mili, as well as Shi Rou, the shopkeeper of the New Year’s money shop in Riding Dragon Lane. He went on to ramble, instructing Pei Qian not to be naughty at the school. If she feels that the teachers’ teaching skills are not high for the time being, then she should learn how to be a person from the teachers. If she feels that the teachers’ character is average, then she should only study the sage’s principles in the books with them.

At the end of this family letter, Chen Ping’an promised Pei Qian that he had nodded and agreed, under the strong recommendation of his chief disciple, to formally promote Dumb Lake’s great water monster, Zhou Mili, to be Fallen Mountain’s Right Protector, and to allow Pei Qian to personally announce this matter to everyone in Fallen Mountain.

When Chen Ping’an lightly wrote this sentence, he himself did not know that his face was full of smiles and his eyes were warm.

After writing these words, Chen Ping’an leaned back in his chair, held the back of his head, closed his eyes, and thought of the little lotus person who was said to still dislike showing his face.

He wondered if the plants and trees on both sides of the mountain road steps in his hometown would be more lush next spring, when the weather warms up.

After each Golden Dojo, the Dragon Palace Grotto-Heaven would have more rain.

Chen Ping’an put away the letter, walked out of the house, picked up the oiled paper umbrella, and continued to go out for a walk.

He planned to give the letter to Li Yuan to send to Fallen Mountain after the walk.

Chen Ping’an was walking on the bluestone path adjacent to the mountains and rivers of Duckweed Island when he suddenly turned his head to look in one direction, where a talisman boat could be vaguely seen slowly approaching.

Besides Li Yuan and the Southern Fragrance Water Palace Lady, he had no acquaintances in the Dragon Palace Grotto-Heaven.

The talisman boat suddenly became as fast as a flying sword, landed on the lake, and docked safely.

Chen Ping’an stared intently, rubbed his eyes, and then confirmed that he had not seen wrongly.

He quickly drove the “Steep Green Rain Appearance” jade badge, removing the mountain and water restrictions of Duckweed Island.

Fire Dragon True Man had already removed the blinding spell from the master and apprentice, and Zhang Shanfeng laughed loudly: “Chen Ping’an!”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile: “Why did you come? I was thinking of visiting the Prostrate Peak after wandering around this Ji River.”

Zhang Shanfeng strode forward, walking towards Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an handed the oiled paper umbrella in his hand to Zhang Shanfeng, and then bowed his body and clasped his fists: “Junior Chen Ping’an, greets Old True Man.”

“Not old, not old, just call me True Man.”

Fire Dragon True Man nodded and smiled at the young man. As soon as they landed from the talisman boat, the rain on Duckweed Island stopped instantly.

Zhang Shanfeng was stunned for a moment, put away the oiled paper umbrella, and said happily: “A good omen, a good omen!”

Then Zhang Shanfeng gestured at Chen Ping’an’s height, and asked suspiciously: “Chen Ping’an, you’ve grown so fast?”

In fact, it had been many years since the two sides parted and reunited.

Chen Ping’an was a little embarrassed next. He was all alone on Duckweed Island, so naturally nothing mattered. If only Zhang Shanfeng was there, it would be easy, and he wouldn’t be polite at all. But with an old True Man standing in front of him, it was a little difficult. He had wine, but it was obviously inappropriate. He also had the Small Mysterious Cliff of the Colorful Phoenix Residence, but unfortunately, he was only good at six of the seven orifices when it came to brewing tea, and he didn’t know anything about the last one. He didn’t even have tea sets.

Fire Dragon True Man looked at the young man and joked: “Walking with a limp, there’s trouble, isn’t there?”

Chen Ping’an smiled wryly and nodded.
Beneath the very nose of the Old Immortal, Zhang Shanfeng playfully nudged Chen Ping’an with his elbow, and Chen Ping’an returned the favor, their exchange light and casual.

The Fire Dragon Immortal, however, turned a blind eye to their antics, continuing his leisurely stroll, the two young men flanking him on either side.

The Old Immortal spoke again, “Such a fine Wendan, so perfectly aligned with your Dao, how did you lose it? Had you the support of the three elements of metal, water, and earth, you wouldn’t be limping along this mountain path so.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shanfeng immediately ceased his “greetings” with Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an replied, “I encountered some… matters, and failed to convince my own heart. Some principles, after all, cannot be merely used to restrain others.”

The Old Immortal chuckled, “This poor Daoist is somewhat curious. What principles were at stake, that demanded such a heavy price?”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment before offering a vague answer, “A person whom one would ordinarily despise and kill a thousand times over… simply could not be slain.”

The Old Immortal hummed in acknowledgement. “With the Wendan shattered, the faint aura of moral rectitude you’d so painstakingly gathered dispersed and dissipated. So, what then? When will there be an end to it?”

Chen Ping’an remained silent.

The Old Immortal smiled. “Drink a little wine, think it through, and then speak. There is no rush.”

Chen Ping’an then unslung his Sword-Nourishing Gourd, now filled with his hometown’s sweet rice wine. He took a gentle sip and offered it to Zhang Shanfeng, who, with a furtive glance, indicated that his master was present.

The Old Immortal continued, “To be so burdened by personal feelings, how could you possibly be unable to slay them? As this poor Daoist sees it, even if you hadn’t shattered that Wendan, it would have crumbled on its own.”

Chen Ping’an took another sip of wine.

The Old Immortal smiled faintly, extending a hand. “Did you exhaust every avenue, employing your entire arsenal of chaotic knowledge just to barely reach this point? For instance, using the Buddhist method of subduing the mind-monkey, transforming a certain thought into a mind-monkey, solidifying its form to lock it away within your heart, treating that detestable person as a thought-horse, confining them in a tangible location? And as for correcting your mistakes, it’s even more complex, no? Utilizing the Legalist’s laws, the Strategist’s measuring stick, the Buddhist’s conversion, the Daoist’s purification rites, all meticulously pieced together with Confucian principles, forming a series of concrete measures for compensation, yes? Hoping that one day, you and that person, year after year of acknowledging and correcting wrongs, will eventually repay your debt to this world? A mistake of one, compensated with a greater one, and in the long run, you can finally find some measure of peace of mind, is it not?

Chen Ping’an’s expression darkened, his grip tightening on the Sword-Nourishing Gourd.

The Old Immortal nodded, then shook his head, sighing. “How incredibly difficult.”

Zhang Shanfeng dared not even breathe.

The Old Immortal chuckled, “Have you considered, where lies the crux of this interrogation of your heart?”

The Old Immortal answered his own question, “Does it lie in slaying the person first, then slaying yourself, or in slaying yourself first, then contemplating slaying the person?”

Chen Ping’an stared blankly, muttering, “Should one not first discern right from wrong before discussing anything else?”

The Old Immortal scoffed, “Then this poor Daoist must ask you again, why is it that this person alone, before you, before your fist and sword, cannot be slain?”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

The Old Immortal smiled. “Because you know that the moment you harbor the intent to kill, you are slaying yourself. You die before you even kill them. Chen Ping’an, is this so difficult to understand? You, Chen Ping’an, are too clever. Your understanding of the human heart far surpasses your peers. Many of your choices are made according to your true nature, completely unrelated to the principles you advocate. That is the Chen Ping’an hidden deep within, your most fundamental thoughts and beliefs, requiring no deliberation in your mind, and thus seemingly unnoticed, yet utterly and undeniably real.”

Zhang Shanfeng found it particularly difficult to comprehend.

And there was also sadness.

The young Daoist had believed this long-awaited reunion would only bring good fortune.

Not these distressing matters.

Zhang Shanfeng even regretted bringing his master to this Fushui Island.

The Fire Dragon Immortal shook his head to himself, saying, “In your, Chen Ping’an’s, eyes, the moment this person is slain, your entire life, from childhood to adolescence, to your later travels, would all die completely. Everyone you know, and everyone who knows you, especially those who have already passed away, would seem to die along with them. At the end of the day, is it truly not your selfishness at play, Chen Ping’an? You are too afraid of death. Afraid of your own death, and even more afraid of the death of others’ hearts towards you.”

Chen Ping’an stood rooted to the spot, the Sword-Nourishing Gourd slipping gently from his grasp.

The Fire Dragon Immortal smiled at Zhang Shanfeng. “Let us continue our stroll. Let Chen Ping’an think things through. There is no rush.”

Zhang Shanfeng was nearly frantic with worry.

But the Old Immortal shook his head at him, and Zhang Shanfeng tightly gripped the oil-paper umbrella Chen Ping’an had handed him, accompanying his master on their continued walk.

Once they were some distance away, Zhang Shanfeng turned his head worriedly, looking back. He asked softly, “Master, is it truly alright to leave Chen Ping’an alone there?”

The Fire Dragon Immortal said calmly, “When has Chen Ping’an ever not been alone?”

Zhang Shanfeng was taken aback.

The Old Immortal chuckled. “It’s not to say that Chen Ping’an isn’t genuine with you. It’s just that this lad has been accustomed to it since he was small.”

Zhang Shanfeng asked, “A bad thing?”

The Old Immortal pondered for a moment. “To have journeyed this far, it is naturally not a bad thing, but a good thing. But if, after today, it continues… ”

Zhang Shanfeng asked the same question again, “A bad thing?”

Unexpectedly, the Fire Dragon Immortal shook his head and smiled. “A greater good. But for that tiny sliver he hasn’t truly understood himself, cannot break through that bottleneck, that is the bad thing. If this point cannot be seen through, cannot be understood, cannot be admitted, then it is a great disaster, the greatest heart demon.”

The heart’s gate is the gate to the underworld; wanderers linger outside the gate, between the realms of the living and the dead. Thus, there are often underworld denizens in the mortal realm, and mortal ghosts, difficult to distinguish between human and ghost.

Ordinary mortals are still easy to discuss, simply pursuing survival and a better life. Being neither fully human nor fully ghost is not set in stone. But for those who cultivate the Dao, a muddy path will lead to errors.

Zhang Shanfeng scratched his head. “Master, all the twists and turns, I truly don’t understand.”

The Old Immortal smiled. “Because you do not need to understand. People are simply the difference between one world and another.”

Zhang Shanfeng asked, “Master, if you were to say someone is burdened by personal feelings, I wouldn’t say anything, but to say Chen Ping’an is, I don’t think that’s right.”

The Old Immortal shook his head. “It is not a derogatory statement, so there is no need to defend him.”
Zhang Shanfeng suddenly stopped in his tracks, saying, “Master, I won’t go any further. I’ll stay here and watch Chen Pingan, or I won’t be at ease.”

The Old Immortal nodded, “Very well.”

Zhang Shanfeng grumbled, “What’s so good about it?”

The Old Immortal smiled and continued on his own, circling the island.

Moreover, the Old Immortal was also curious about the answer the young man would ultimately arrive at.

Zhang Shanfeng squatted down in place. Although it wasn’t raining, being too idle, he put up his umbrella and gazed at the distant figure of the young man standing by the water’s edge, a mere mustard seed of a silhouette.

Fire Dragon True Man continued forward, walking at a leisurely pace.

But Fushui Island was only thirty-odd li in circumference, and Fire Dragon True Man still walked to Chen Pingan’s vicinity, together gazing into the distance at the lake view. Fushui Island was without rain, but the other islands of the Dragon Palace Grotto-heaven were all drenched in heavy rain. Nightfall and rain curtains intertwined, rain falling on the lake waters, blurring the vision even further.

Chen Pingan slowly opened his mouth, “Old True Man, there’s something I’ve never told anyone.”

Fire Dragon True Man said, “You may speak it out freely, to unburden yourself.”

Chen Pingan took a deep breath, “In this life, I’ve traveled to quite a few places, but I think the greatest test in my life, looking back, was precisely the most stable part of the journey, going over mountains and across waters. It wasn’t the mountain-moving ape that almost beat me to death in my hometown, nor the Sect Leader Lu from the Azure Underworld, nor even being stabbed through the abdomen by a sword-swallowing boat, and certainly not the endless stream of conspiracies and killings. The road that made me the most uneasy was one where I was accompanied by one of the people I respect the most. His name is Aliang, and he’s a swordsman.”

Fire Dragon True Man indifferently said, “A child looking at a foreign land with trepidation, forced to speculate about others with the utmost malice, only to find afterward that his own heart was so wretched. The higher this Aliang’s swordsmanship is, the higher his character, the more he can encompass heaven and earth, the more lost this child will feel in his future life, the more remorseful he will become. This is a completely different state of mind from the way the child treated Mr. Qi, whom he regarded as a god from the very beginning.”

Fire Dragon True Man said, “Just continue speaking. This humble Daoist will forget it after hearing it. Be frank and open, and take advantage of the rain to cleanse heaven and earth and question your conscience.”

Chen Pingan continued, “I only learned later that matters of worldly romance could be influenced by those on the mountain peaks, so I’m very afraid that the girl I like might not actually like me as much as she seems to. I’m very afraid of this.”

Speaking of this, Chen Pingan had a hint of a smile, “But after thinking about it, I still think she wouldn’t, because she is Ning Yao. For a thousand or ten thousand years, there will only ever be one Ning Yao. So there’s no possibility of it being so, there’s no such thing as taking a step back.”

Fire Dragon True Man laughed, “Anything else?”

Chen Pingan said, “I’m very afraid of becoming the kind of person I hated the most when I was a child, like Little Snot-nose. So I’ve always been afraid of becoming a mountain person. At first, I admired the demeanor of sword immortals, but as I traveled far and wide and saw more of human suffering, I became increasingly resistant to the so-called grand feats of leveling mountains with a single sword or collapsing cities with a single punch. But later I figured it out myself. There’s no need to be afraid of this. If I cultivate my strength to the peak and follow it with cultivating my mind, I can make those who act on the mountains only for their own pleasure, feel absolutely no pleasure, and then I will feel pleasure.”

Fire Dragon True Man clucked his tongue, “This saying is the first time this humble ‘Old True Man’ has ever heard it. It has some flavor to it, not bad, not bad.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “I was fortunate enough to have the Old True Man point out my own selfishness in that trial of the heart. Before that, I always deliberately imagined the world’s complexities to be deeper and more chaotic. As for myself, I would subconsciously think that once my literary courage was shattered, I could avoid delving deeper. But that was just a form of avoidance. It was actually, as the Old True Man said, selfishness at work. It’s not scary to have such heavy selfishness. The scary thing is to act according to this heart without realizing it. Once you realize it, there’s no need to be afraid. Once something has reached its worst possible state, as long as you still have the spirit to pick yourself up, even the most difficult situation can improve.”

The Old True Man shook his head, “Not enough.”

“I hold grudges. There are quite a few people I want to kill but couldn’t, and I can only keep enduring it. But I’m not afraid of waiting. What I’m afraid of is that after waiting for a long time, I’ll find that my principles have changed, and I no longer have a reason to kill. So I always hope that before a new principle appears, I’ll have the power to kill!”

Chen Pingan pondered for a moment before saying, “Also, I’ve always been the most timid person. When I was a child, I was afraid of ghosts. After my parents died, it wasn’t that I wasn’t really afraid of ghosts anymore, it was just that I changed my way of escaping. My best friend, Liu Xianyang, knew that the thing I was most afraid of when I was a dragon kiln apprentice was getting sick. In those years when I hadn’t practiced boxing or cultivated, I had already begun to try my best to capture any traces of the small world that is the human body. I had already begun to try to connect the heaven and earth, the two worlds of the human body, with the subtleties of the changing seasons and the alteration of the solar terms. So Liu Xianyang would say at that time that I had the fate of a poor maidservant, but the heart of a young lady from a wealthy family.”

“It wasn’t after I left my hometown that I began to be cautious. In order to redress the wrongs of my parents and avenge them, I began to disguise myself from a very, very young age. I wanted to be a sensible and grateful child in the eyes of the neighbors, so that everyone would think that I was someone who would at least not cause them any trouble. I wouldn’t steal or rob, and I would never become a troublemaker in the vicinity of Mud Bottle Alley, or a jinx in the mouths of the elderly, because I knew that once I lost certain protections, I would be doomed to not survive, even when I was still young, just beginning to understand things, I learned how to please everyone around me. I would often stare blankly at the medicine jar that no longer needed to boil medicine. After looking at it for a long time, I understood that I still had to learn how to control the heat, so I would secretly sweep the snow in the alleys in winter, because I knew that if I did it once or a few times, no one would see it, but if I did it ten or dozens of times, someone would always see it. I would help the elderly carry water, help my peers climb trees to pick off kites, help out a little with weddings and funerals, and help out with other people’s farm work as much as I could. I couldn’t let them think that the…”
Chen Ping’an’s child, that intelligence, perhaps they had already considered all this, which spurred them to undertake so much. And yet, that child, they truly seemed to be a ‘good person’. Before becoming an apprentice at the Dragon Kiln, I was constantly engaged in such things. It became second nature. Even after becoming an apprentice, I continued. So much so, that even today, arriving at this Fushui Island in the Northern Ju Continent, I can’t help but wonder, what kind of person is Chen Ping’an, really? Is he truly a good man? Previously, while observing the night trial at a City God Temple, the City God said that doing good with ulterior motives, though good, is not rewarded. That statement made me feel quite guilty. The Water and Land Dharma Assembly and the Zhou Tian Grand Ritual at Shujian Lake, and the recent Golden Dharma Assembly at the Dragon Palace Grotto, Li Yuan said that Heaven and man resonate, spirits communicate. Hearing that only made me feel more guilty.”

Grandmaster Fire Dragon patiently listened to the young man’s rambling and then asked, “Chen Ping’an, do you feel there are things or people that are fundamentally right and just?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “Of course. For example, my parents are good people. I will only ever love Ning Yao in this life. I must ensure that Mister Qi gets to see more of the mountains and rivers! I want to become a swordsman like Aliang! I’ve met so many genuinely good people, and I don’t want my cultivation to be solely for myself. I hope that in the future, when I encounter injustice that people dare not speak out against, I can deliver a satisfying punch, wield my sword without fault. I hope that reason remains reason, not something taken up when useful and cast aside when not. I hope that all the weak in the world can speak their anger, and the strong are willing to respect others.”

Chen Ping’an paused for a moment, then slowly said, “I also hope that all the Chen Ping’ans who grow up in Mud Bottle Alley don’t need to calculate so much, and can still be genuinely good people.”

Grandmaster Fire Dragon asked, “Then finally, this humble Daoist asks you, is your original intention clear? What kind of person is Chen Ping’an from Mud Bottle Alley, ultimately?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “It seems there is no answer.”

The old Grandmaster smiled and asked, “Then do you still want to ponder it? If you keep thinking, when will it end?”

It was still the same old question.

Going in circles, just like the old Grandmaster had walked a circuit around Fushui Island, returning to the start.

But don’t underestimate this circuit.

Daoism reveres returning to simplicity and truth.

Seeking the truth.

Chen Ping’an folded his hands in his sleeves, gazing blankly into the distance, silent for a long time. Then, he smiled and spoke a sentence that was not an answer, yet was also an answer.

After hearing it, Grandmaster Fire Dragon nodded. He didn’t feel that the young man was being perfunctory. For someone as clever as Chen Ping’an, deceiving others was too easy; deceiving oneself was the difficult part.

Thus, the old Grandmaster felt a pang of emotion in his heart, thinking that indeed, the old Master of Culture’s eye for selecting disciples was as good as his own.

Grandmaster Fire Dragon asked, “For your third Natal Treasure, do you have any ideas yet?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “I do.”

Grandmaster Fire Dragon asked, “Do you need this humble Daoist to lend a hand?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “I do.”

Grandmaster Fire Dragon nodded. “Easily done.”

Direct and decisive, an exchange without the slightest hesitation or ambiguity.

The old Grandmaster patted the young man’s shoulder. “Go, reminisce with the mountain peak. This humble Daoist will remain here and enjoy the scenery for a while.”

Chen Ping’an bid farewell and left.

The old Grandmaster stood in place.

Grandmaster Fire Dragon sighed softly.

He recalled Chen Ping’an’s previous response.

What a “I have contended with myself for so long, I would rather be myself.”