The Ferry of Hemp Robe Sect, pulled by mighty and vast heroic spirits, sped across the sea of clouds like a lightning bolt.

The ferry gently docked at Ox Horn Mountain Ferry, the hull shuddering slightly.

Chen Ping’an and Cui Dongshan disembarked. Wei Bo had been waiting for a long time. Zhu Lian was far away in Old Dragon City. Zheng Dafeng claimed to have twisted his ankle and would be bedridden for at least half a year, so he had asked Cen Yuanji to help guard the mountain gate.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Give us a ride to the foot of Fallen Peak.”

Wei Bo breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. The three of them disappeared into thin air and reappeared at the mountain gate.

Seeing the three of them, Cen Yuanji was about to stand up, but seeing that they had already begun to climb the mountain, the young mountain master nodded to her, then made a pressing motion, indicating that she should continue practicing her boxing. Cen Yuanji wasn’t good at those superficial pleasantries and had a generally poor impression of the young mountain master, so she readily sat back down on the stool, closed her eyes, and continued to circulate a pure Qi through her body.

Wei Bo asked, “You know everything?”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Senior Cui had left a letter in the Fallen Peak bamboo lodge, not on the second floor, but on the desk on the first floor. The envelope was addressed to “Nuan Shu, to be opened.”

According to the old man’s last wishes, there was no need for a burial after death; his ashes could be scattered anywhere in Lotus Root Blessed Land, and the matter should not be delayed. Furthermore, there was no need to heed the wishes of the Cui Clan Ancestral Hall. The letter stated directly that anyone who dared to climb Fallen Peak should be punched back.

Wei Bo explained, “Pei Qian has been staying there, saying she’s waiting for Master to return to the mountain to say hello. Zhou Mili has also gone to Lotus Root Blessed Land to keep Pei Qian company. Chen Lingjun has left Fallen Peak and gone to Dragon Riding Lane to help Shi Rou manage the Lucky Money Shop. So currently, only Chen Ruchu remains on Fallen Peak, but she should have gone to the prefectural city to purchase sundries, along with the two disciples Lu Baixiang took in, the Yuanbao and Yuanlai siblings.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Congratulations on breaking through.”

Wei Bo mocked himself, “The Great Li Dynasty has begun to make some small moves, each with a plausible excuse that even I find reasonable.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “The intentions of Canopy Cloud Mountain in the Jin Qing matter were too obvious. The two Great Peak Mountain Gods are of one mind. Even if the Great Li Emperor knows you have no ulterior motives, he will still feel resentment.”

Wei Bo said, “There’s nothing I can do about it. I just found Jin Qing more agreeable. If another mountain god were to sit in the Central Peak, the Northern Peak’s days would only be more strained. The Mountain Gods of the Five Peaks, regardless of dynasty or vassal state, have always been forced to be at odds. Weighing the pros and cons, Canopy Cloud Mountain had no choice. It’s better to act straightforwardly. Since things have come to this, Emperor Song has to accept it whether he likes it or not. Jin Qing is an even bigger rogue than me, praising Canopy Cloud Mountain and Wei Da’s bright integrity to His Majesty.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Indeed, those who can become Mountain Gods are not to be trifled with.”

Reaching the Fallen Peak bamboo lodge, Chen Ping’an said softly, “I didn’t expect to return to Southern Garden Kingdom so soon.”

Cui Dongshan suddenly said, “I’ve already been there. I’ll just stay here and watch the house.”

Wei Bo took out the parasol tree leaf umbrella he had temporarily kept, as the item was of great importance.

Wei Bo gently opened the small parasol tree leaf umbrella and said, “Now that it has only just been upgraded to a middle-grade blessed land, it’s not suitable for me to frequently enter and exit Lotus Root Blessed Land. I will send you to the capital of Southern Garden Kingdom.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded, “Thank you for your trouble.”

Chen Ping’an’s figure flashed and disappeared.

Wei Bo sighed softly.

Cui Dongshan was already standing on the second-floor corridor, leaning on the railing, his back to the door, gazing into the distance.

Wei Bo closed the parasol tree leaf umbrella and sat at the stone table.

Cui Dongshan suddenly said, “Wei Bo, you don’t need to worry.”

Wei Bo shook his head, “I’m not worried.”

Then Wei Bo asked, “When will you leave Fallen Peak?”

Cui Dongshan thought for a moment, “After Mr. and Pei Qian return to Fallen Peak, I will leave soon. I’ve accumulated a mountain of debt, and that old bastard is very vengeful.”

They were not on the same path, so there was nothing to talk about. They fell silent.

After a long time.

Wei Bo asked, “Is Senior Cui that worried about Chen Ping’an? To not see him one last time, and to scatter his ashes early in Lotus Root Blessed Land, unwilling to be buried on Fallen Peak.”

Cui Dongshan replied, “Because my grandfather has the highest expectations for Mr. My grandfather hopes that Mr. will have as few attachments as possible, so that his future punches will be purer.”

On a familiar street in the capital of Southern Garden Kingdom.

Chen Ping’an, carrying a bamboo box and holding a walking stick, walked slowly, turning into a small alley and stopping at the door of a small house. He looked at the Spring Festival couplets and gently knocked on the door.

Pei Qian opened the door. Zhou Mili was sitting on a small stool, carrying a green bamboo stick.

Pei Qian stood there, raising her head, her face contorted in a frown.

Chen Ping’an rubbed her head, “Master knows everything. Don’t think too much. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Pei Qian clenched her fists, lowered her head, and trembled.

Chen Ping’an gently pressed her head and said softly, “So sad, why hold back your tears? After practicing boxing, Pei Qian is no longer Master’s first disciple?”

Chen Ping’an squatted down. Pei Qian hugged him tightly and sobbed, not wailing, making it all the more heartbreaking.

Zhou Mili also started to cry.

When Pei Qian had cried all the air out of her lungs, Chen Ping’an patted her head. He stood up and took off the bamboo box. Pei Qian wiped her face and quickly took the bamboo box. Zhou Mili ran over and took the walking stick.

Chen Ping’an looked around. It was still the same as before, as if nothing had changed.

Zhou Mili held the two walking sticks of different lengths and then placed her bamboo chair next to Chen Ping’an’s feet.

“You seem to be a bit taller.”

Chen Ping’an also rubbed the black-clothed girl’s head, sat on the bamboo chair, remained silent for a long time, and then smiled, “After I meet with Cao Qinglang, Mr. Zhong, and some people, we’ll return to Fallen Peak together.”

Pei Qian’s eyes were red and swollen. She sat next to Chen Ping’an and gently tugged at Chen Ping’an’s sleeve.

Chen Ping’an said softly, “Tell Master about your travels with Senior Cui?”

Pei Qian hummed in agreement and carefully recounted the journey.

She spoke for a long time.

Chen Ping’an listened intently.

Someone gently pushed open the door and saw the young man in the blue robe.

The Confucian scholar, Cao Qinglang, softly called out, “Mr. Chen.”
Chen Ping’an grasped Pei Qian’s hand and helped her to her feet, smiling, “Qinglang, you certainly look like a scholar now.”

Cao Qinglang bowed respectfully.

Chen Ping’an felt a touch of helplessness; he truly had become a scholar.

Pei Qian stood on tiptoe, and Chen Ping’an leaned in. She shielded her mouth with her hand and whispered, “Master, isn’t it dereliction of duty that Cao Qinglang secretly became a cultivator? His Spring Festival couplets are much worse than yours, right?”

Chen Ping’an flicked her forehead with a finger.

Pei Qian looked as if a dam was about to burst, ready to cry.

Zhou Mili, clutching two mountain walking sticks, gasped.

How fierce!

When they roamed the world together before, he never hit her like that.

Zhou Mili furrowed her sparse eyebrows, tilted her head, and pondered hard. Could it be that Pei Qian was a disciple he picked up by the roadside? Not a princess who had been lost among the common people?

Chen Ping’an extended his thumb and gently rubbed the spot on Pei Qian’s forehead where his finger had landed. Then, he motioned for Cao Qinglang to sit down.

Cao Qinglang pulled up a small stool and sat next to Chen Ping’an.

Pei Qian carried her small bamboo chair and sat between the two.

Zhou Mili stood behind Pei Qian.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Qinglang, how have you been these past few years?”

Cao Qinglang nodded, smiling, “Very well. Master Zhong is my academy teacher. After Master Lu came to our Nanyuan Kingdom, he often sought me out and gave me many books.”

Then Cao Qinglang asked, “Master Chen, have you heard the poem, ‘Iron flowers embroider rocky cliffs, killing intent silences frogs and insects’?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, casually stating the poet’s name and the collection the poem was from, then asked, “Why do you ask?”

Pei Qian had initially wanted to berate Cao Qinglang for being shameless, but now she folded her arms and glared sideways at Cao Qinglang.

Cao Qinglang pointed at Pei Qian, “Master Chen, I learned that from her.”

Pei Qian retorted angrily, “Cao Qinglang, do you believe I can punch your head into blooming flowers?”

Cao Qinglang nodded, “I believe it.”

Pei Qian gritted her teeth in anger.

Chen Ping’an said, “Later, take me to see Master Zhong. There are some things I want to discuss with him.”

Cao Qinglang nodded.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Master Zhong is already on his way. He’ll be here soon. We’ll wait for him.”

Then Chen Ping’an said to Pei Qian, “Have you missed any of your daily scripture copying?”

Pei Qian shook her head.

Chen Ping’an extended his hand, “Bring them here to see.”

Pei Qian immediately ran into the house and brought back a large stack of papers. Chen Ping’an flipped through them page by page, carefully reading each one. After finishing, he returned them to Pei Qian and nodded, “You haven’t been lazy.”

Pei Qian grinned, and Chen Ping’an helped her wipe away the tears that were beginning to form.

Then Chen Ping’an stood up, “You all stay here. I’ll go talk to Master Zhong about some things.”

After Chen Ping’an left, Pei Qian put the papers back in the house, sat back on her small bamboo chair, and rested her chin in her hands.

At the corner of the street, Chen Ping’an met Zhong Qiu.

Many years had passed, and Master Zhong’s temples were even more frosted with white.

The two walked together on the street where they had once fought fiercely and fought side by side, both filled with emotion.

Regarding the current situation of the Lotus Root Blessed Land, Zhu Lian had written about it in his letters, Li Liu had spoken of it, and Cui Dongshan had later elaborated in detail. Chen Ping’an had already memorized it thoroughly.

The Nanyuan Kingdom, the Songlai Kingdom, the Northern Jin Kingdom, and the border grasslands formed a total of four regions. The map seemed unchanged, but this fell into the category of “mountains and rivers changing color.” Only the Nanyuan Kingdom, allocated to Chen Ping’an, was a complete person with a complete soul. Furthermore, all sentient beings, vegetation, mountains, and rivers had not “faded” and had not become the “people” of the blank paper blessed land. According to Li Liu, the sentient beings in the other three regions had “lost their meaning,” hence Zhu Lian described them as three “meticulous white drawings.” However, people like Lu Tai and Yu Zhenyi, as well as the scholarly youth from the capital of the Nanyuan Kingdom, had disappeared into thin air in this blessed land. If the blessed land were divided elsewhere, Nanyuan Kingdom’s Imperial Preceptor, Zhong Qiu, would also disappear into thin air. They were considered the very few special cases favored by the old Daoist of the Guandao Temple.

This was truly heaven and earth being overturned, with divine arts reaching the heavens.

Zhong Qiu cut to the chase, “His Majesty the Emperor has developed a desire for cultivation, but he hopes to see the Nanyuan Kingdom unify the world before leaving the Lotus Root Blessed Land.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “What are Master Zhong’s own thoughts?”

He had met the Emperor of Nanyuan Kingdom in a nearby restaurant in the past. That restaurant banquet, not counting Chen Ping’an, had a total of six people. Huang Ting was among them at the time. From the former Fan Wan’er and Tong Qingqing, after looking in the mirror, she had transformed into the Taiping Mountain Daoist Huang Ting, a talented female cultivator from Tongye Continent whose blessed fate was so deep that even He Xiaoliang was her junior. Chen Ping’an had traveled to the Northern Ju Continent and had no opportunity to see this female cultivator who had fought fiercely with Qi Jinglong on Grindstone Mountain, only slightly inferior. However, according to Qi Jinglong, their fighting strength was actually evenly matched. It was just that Huang Ting was a woman after all, and by the end of the fight, neither side had the intention of fighting to the death. She had lost by a hair’s breadth, standing up from Grindstone Mountain later than Qi Jinglong, to maintain the integrity of her Daoist robe.

At that time, in the restaurant, besides the Emperor Wei Liang, who was in his prime, there were also Empress Zhou Shuzhen, Crown Prince Wei Yan, the ambitious but failed Second Prince Wei Yun, and the youngest Princess Wei Zhen.

Chen Ping’an had an excellent memory.

That banquet, where everyone had their own thoughts, not only the appearance, expression, and words of everyone, but also what wine everyone drank and what dishes they ate, Chen Ping’an remembered everything clearly.

The old monk of the Xinxing Temple not far from the alley, the local food at the night market of the Baihe Temple, the hidden treasures of that official’s family, and the story of the poor scholar and the pipa girl in Zhuangyuan Lane, were all still vivid in his mind, and he was concerned about them.

Zhong Qiu remained silent for a moment, his expression dim. “Somewhat disheartened.”

His relentless pursuit of self-cultivation, managing the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world, after the truth was revealed, seemed that everything he did was merely being manipulated by someone else’s hand. Zhong Qiu felt weary.

He even wondered if he was wrong, and Yu Zhenyi was right?
Chen Pingan slowly said, “From now on, in this world, cultivators, mountain spirits and demons, mountain and river gods, all sorts of malevolent spirits, will emerge like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Lord Zhong should not be discouraged, because although I am the nominal owner of this Lotus Root Blessed Land, I will not interfere with the trends of the mortal world. The Lotus Root Blessed Land was not my Chen Pingan’s farmland or vegetable garden in the past, nor will it be in the future. If someone happens to have the opportunity to ascend the mountains and cultivate, then they should cultivate in peace; I will not obstruct them. However, the affairs of the mortal world below the mountains should be left for the world to resolve themselves, whether it be war and chaos, or a unified and peaceful world. Emperors and generals, rely on their own abilities; court officials, rely on their own conscience. Furthermore, the matter of incense deities must follow the rules, otherwise the entire world will only accumulate deep-seated problems, becoming a smoggy, chaotic place where people are not people, ghosts are not ghosts, and immortals are not immortals.”

Zhong Qiu smiled and asked, “Do you want to observe the Great Dao through a world?”

Chen Pingan was stunned for a moment, “I haven’t deliberately thought about it, but what Lord Zhong says makes it seem somewhat like that.”

Zhong Qiu asked, “What is the state of the vast world outside?”

Chen Pingan thought for a moment and replied, “Human hearts are still human hearts. But compared to the Nanyuan Kingdom, my hometown, the great world is filled with all sorts of wonders. Moreover, there are heavens beyond heavens, not just one world. Lord Zhong should go out and take a look, even if it’s a little later.”

Zhong Qiu nodded, “Before coming to see you, His Majesty has officially abdicated, and the eldest prince, Wei Yan, has ascended the throne. As for the second prince, Wei Yun, he has already been imprisoned by the current former Emperor. I have also just resigned as Imperial Advisor, but I will not leave immediately. I plan to travel throughout this small world first. Chen Pingan, I hope you can keep your promise and not regard the people of this world as puppets or playthings, only as goods to be bought and sold at will. But I, Zhong Qiu, am not an inflexible, pedantic scholar who is filled with only petty benevolence. As long as the rules you, Chen Pingan, ultimately establish are ones I approve of, then everything that is done within those rules in the future, even if my heart feels unease, I will still not criticize it.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “Actually, there is another way to make Lord Zhong even more at ease.”

Zhong Qiu asked, “Do you want me to be a guest elder?”

Chen Pingan walked slowly with his hands in his sleeves, not denying it at all. “Lord Zhong is a genius with the talent of a literary sage and a martial arts master; how could I miss out on such a person? No matter what, I must try.”

Zhong Qiu laughed, “Don’t you already have Zhu Lian by your side? To be honest, among the few people I admire most in my life, Zhu Lian, the scion of a powerful family who turned the tide, counts as one. The martial fanatic Zhu Lian, whose boxing is pure, can also be considered one. Seeing the living, breathing Zhu Lian before, so close, it was as if someone had walked out of the pages of a book, which was incredibly absurd.”

Chen Pingan said, “Lord Zhong only needs to be registered in my Fallen Mountain Ancestral Hall; it won’t interfere with your future travels around the world in the slightest, and there will be absolutely no constraints.”

Zhong Qiu asked in confusion, “Fallen Mountain?”

Chen Pingan nodded.

Zhong Qiu said, “A good name. Then I will register my name on this mountain.”

Chen Pingan looked dejected.

Someone once cursed him while throwing a punch, saying that he was so young yet so lifeless, like a wandering ghost, truly befitting the master of Fallen Mountain.

After meeting with the former Emperor of the Nanyuan Kingdom, Chen Pingan took Pei Qian and Zhou Mili, bid farewell to Cao Qinglang, and left the Lotus Root Blessed Land together.

Chen Pingan still looked as usual, staying on the first floor, practicing his boxing and walking stances in the open space outside the door as before, cultivating behind closed doors, only occasionally going to the second floor to stand on the corridor, gazing into the distance.

One late night, Pei Qian sat alone on the top of the stairs.

Cui Dongshan slowly climbed the mountain and sat beside her.

Pei Qian glared at the big white goose, and after a moment, she softly asked, “Grandpa Cui is gone; aren’t you sad?”

Cui Dongshan smiled, “I want you to see my state of mind so you can see it; if I don’t want you to see it, then you won’t be able to see it in this lifetime.”

Pei Qian slapped her palm with her fist, frustrated, “As expected, my cultivation is still not high enough.”

Cui Dongshan shook his head, “Regarding this matter, aside from certain ancient gods, I would call myself second, and no one would dare to call themselves first.”

Pei Qian said “Oh.”

This big white goose beside her was indeed quite formidable.

Cui Dongshan smiled and slowly said, “When the young are inexperienced, they often cry loudly when elders leave; their sadness and grief are all on their faces and in their tears.”

“Look again at those young men with snot and tears all over their faces; their fathers and elders are mostly taciturn, receiving and sending off guests during funerals, and can even laugh and joke while talking to people.”

“This is life, perhaps the same person, two kinds of sorrow on two different paths in life. You don’t understand now because you haven’t truly grown up yet.”

Pei Qian nodded, “I don’t understand these things, and maybe I won’t understand them in the future, and I don’t want to understand them.”

When her parents left one after the other in the Nanyuan Kingdom, a place she didn’t consider her hometown, she didn’t actually feel much sadness. It was as if they had only taken a step ahead, and she would soon follow them, perhaps starving to death, freezing to death, or being beaten to death, but what if she followed? Wouldn’t she still be嫌棄 and treated as a burden? So after Pei Qian left Lotus Root Blessed Land, even if she wanted to be sad, she couldn’t fake it in front of her master.

But Grandpa Cui was different.

He was an elder that Pei Qian truly recognized, besides her master.

He beat her time and time again until she wished she could die. At first, she dared to yell that she wouldn’t practice anymore, and she would be beaten even harder. He said so many horrible things that made her feel even worse than the injuries.

But Pei Qian now knows what is good and what is bad.

She doesn’t even need to steal glances at people’s hearts with her eyes.

Cui Dongshan looked up at the night sky. The Mid-Autumn Festival was coming soon, and the moon would be round and full.

Cui Dongshan softly said, “So Master has always hoped that you won’t grow up too quickly, don’t be in too much of a hurry.”

“When you grow up, you will want to shoulder something yourself, and by then your master won’t be able to stop you, nor will he stop you anymore.”

“Do you still remember that farewell when your master left the Grand Sui Academy?”

Pei Qian nodded vigorously, her dark face finally showing a bit of a smile, and said loudly, “Of course, I was so happy! Sister Baoping was even happier!”
Cui Dongshan chuckled, answering his own question, “Why did we all have to come together and make such a grand spectacle? Because Teacher knows that perhaps the next reunion, he will never see that little girl in the red cotton-padded jacket from his memories again. Rosy cheeks, tiny stature, round eyes, a crisp voice, carrying a small schoolbag just the right size, calling out ‘Little Martial Uncle’.”

“Relying only on the eyes, one is destined to never see her again.”

“So she is left only in the heart. This is the unspoken regret of adults, something that can only be placed within oneself, hidden away.”

Cui Dongshan pointed to his heart, then gently waved his sleeve, as if trying to dispel some worries.

True sorrow exists only in silence.

“These troublesome matters are things one would normally only understand upon growing up, but I still hope you listen, at least know that such a thing exists.”

“My grandfather left just like that. Teacher is no less saddened than I am. But Teacher will not let anyone know how deeply he is grieving.”

“Have you ever thought about something? Why does your Shifu like to collect those used brushes, worn-out straw sandals, and worthless bottles and jars, one by one? Because he has been accustomed to partings and deaths since he was young, constantly watching others leave, unable to retain many people and things. So, whatever can be kept, keep it as much as possible. In fact, it’s not just Teacher, all of us will experience various kinds of separations. Many people are like this, but it often just passes, far less concerned than Teacher, for a long time, carefully hiding it behind closed doors, unknown to others.”

Pei Qian turned her head, heartbroken, “Then what should Shifu do?”

Cui Dongshan smiled, “Didn’t I just say, Teacher is used to it.”

Pei Qian stood up, “That’s not good! That’s wrong!”

Cui Dongshan remained silent, leaning backward.

Pei Qian ran madly down the mountain, towards the bamboo hut.

She found Shifu sitting alone at the stone table, with two jars of wine on the table, still stained with some dirt, but Shifu was not drinking.

Shifu sat upright, his hands clenched into fists, gently resting on his knees, not knowing what he was thinking.

Pei Qian stood in place and shouted loudly, “Shifu, you’re not allowed to be sad!”

Chen Pingan turned his head and smiled, “Okay.”

Pei Qian looked at her Shifu like this.

Just like her Shifu, looking at A’liang under the bamboo hat in his youth.

Chen Pingan stood up, moved two small bamboo chairs, and sat down with Pei Qian.

Chen Pingan softly said, “Pei Qian, Shifu will soon be leaving home again, you must take good care of yourself.”

Pei Qian nodded, “Shifu must also take good care of yourself!”

Chen Pingan smiled, “It’s not Shifu boasting, but in terms of taking care of oneself, there are few in the world who can match me.”

Pei Qian lifted the small bamboo chair under her bottom and moved it closer to her Shifu.

One big and one small, together they looked into the distance.

On this day, Chen Pingan reached the Golden Body Realm.

Disciple Pei Qian, was about to become the strongest Fourth Realm cultivator in the world.

The posture, expression, and eyes of the master and disciple were exactly the same.