A large and small figure stood at the prow of the dragon boat.

A green-robed figure, a sword on his back.

The small one, a sword and a knife crossed at the waist, a walking stick, a bamboo crate, and a small bamboo hat.

Much baggage, a minor worry amidst great joy.

Liu Chongrun stood atop the dragon boat, overlooking the ferry’s main deck. Driving the dragon boat required manpower, so she had struck a new deal with Fallen Mountain. Liu Chongrun had found several direct disciples of the Ancestral Hall who had followed her to cultivate on the back of the Ao Fish, teaching them the methods of operating the dragon boat. It was not a long-term plan, but it could allow the cultivators of Pearl Hair Island to integrate more quickly into the mountains of the Lucid Pearl Blessed Land.

This was a choice Liu Chongrun had made after strolling in the courtyard and pondering deeply one night.

Liu Chongrun had finally understood that rather than letting the Pearl Hair Island cultivators fall into an awkward situation because of her own awkward mentality, it would be better to learn from Zhu Lian, the great housekeeper of Fallen Mountain, and simply be shameless.

Chen Pingan was chatting with Pei Qian about his travels in the Northern Entire Reed Continent, mentioning a reclusive cultivation genius named Lin Su, ranked first among the young ten of the Northern Entire Reed Continent. It was said that as long as he made a move, it meant he had already won.

After hearing about it, Pei Qian thought the guy was a bit flashy. It was a pity that her master had traveled the Northern Entire Reed Continent for so long, and that guy Lin Su hadn’t had the good fortune to meet her master. It was truly a great regret in Lin Su’s life, and he was probably regretting it so much that his intestines were knotted. It was no wonder Lin Su lacked the eye for talent, her master wasn’t someone anyone could just meet.

Chen Pingan naturally didn’t know what Pei Qian’s muddled little brain was thinking.

He wasn’t too unfamiliar with the young ten of the Northern Entire Reed Continent. Among the ten, Qi Jinglong was a friend, the best kind.

He had met the disguised Yang Ningzhen in Ghost Domain Valley’s Treasure Mirror Mountain, and had even dealt with the “Scholar” Yang Ningxing, scheming and calculating against each other along the way.

Through Mirror Flower Water Moon, he had watched a life-and-death struggle between the rogue cultivator Huang Xi and the martial artist Embroidered Lady at Grindstone Mountain near Cloud Citadel.

Chen Pingan suddenly said, “When I took you away from Lotus Root Blessed Land, it wasn’t entirely your fault that I didn’t like you. There were also reasons why I didn’t like myself back then, hidden inside. I have to explain it clearly to you.”

Pei Qian grinned and said, “I didn’t like myself back then either.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Do you remember the first time we met?”

Pei Qian was a little guilty and said softly, “Master, I went to the capital of the Southern Garden Kingdom and found the little girl who used to bring me food. I thanked her sincerely and apologized. I also specifically told Cao Qinglang that if anything happened to the little girl’s family in the future, he should help them. Of course, if she or her family did something wrong, Cao Qinglang shouldn’t interfere. So you can’t bring up old scores, Master.”

Chen Pingan reached out and pressed Pei Qian’s head, “All the old stories that can be brought up again are the ones where the knots in your heart have truly been untied. You did a lot of wrong things in the past, but you’ve done well since then, and I’m very pleased. But some mistakes that still have a chance to be turned over, like those small bamboo slips, should also be taken out to bask in the sun and look at the moon, to help you reflect on yourself.”

Chen Pingan looked into the distance from the ferry. In the depths of winter, it looked like it was going to snow.

Chen Pingan sighed, “Taoism reveres nature, but there’s still a saying: ‘Without cultivating the Way of Man, it’s hard to approach the Way of Heaven.'”

Pei Qian looked serious and said earnestly, “Master, every word you say is golden. It makes me want to learn from you and create a set of carving knives and bamboo slips to record your teachings.”

Chen Pingan grabbed Pei Qian’s ear and said, laughing, “The flattery of Fallen Mountain, all of Cui Dongshan, Zhu Lian, and Chen Lingjun combined, isn’t as good as yours!”

Pei Qian stood on tiptoe, tilting her head and wailing.

Liu Chongrun, on the top floor, couldn’t help but laugh.

Chen Pingan leaned on the railing.

Cui Dongshan liked to talk about Cliff Academy to him.

At this time of year, Li Baoping was probably still wearing a red cotton-padded jacket. She had always been the strangest student at Cliff Academy in Great Sui, without exception. In the past, she was strange because she liked to skip classes, loved to ask questions, copied books like mountains, was a loner, and came and went like the wind. Now, she was strange because she had become quiet and taciturn, stopped asking questions, and just read books. She still liked to skip classes and wander the streets and alleys of the Great Sui capital alone. The most famous incident was when a teacher at the academy called in sick and asked Li Baoping to take his place. Two weeks later, the old teacher returned to the classroom, only to find that his prestige as a teacher was no longer enough. The students’ gazes made the old teacher feel a little hurt, and at the same time, they looked at Li Baoping sitting in the corner with a bit of pride.

Chen Pingan was a little worried at the time.

But Cui Dongshan laughed and said that Little Baoping taught and explained, without any innovation or transgression of the rules.

Lin Shouyi was a true jade of cultivation, relying on a copy of “Cloud Top Rhyme Book” to make rapid progress on his cultivation path. At the academy, he met a brilliant teacher who imparted his knowledge without reservation, but the two didn’t have the formal master-disciple relationship. It was said that Lin Shouyi now had a great reputation in both the mountains and the government of Great Sui. In fact, the Sticky Rod, a high-ranking vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was specifically responsible for finding cultivation seeds for the Great Li court, had personally contacted Lin Shouyi’s father, but Lin Shouyi’s father had declined, saying that he had never had such a son.

Yu Lu had been tempering his golden body realm all these years.

He had broken through too quickly in previous years, and Yu Lu, who had always been somewhat inclined to drift with the current, finally had some ambition.

He liked to fish, and he had a fish basket, but he would release the fish after catching them. Obviously, the pleasure was only in the process of fishing, and Yu Lu didn’t care about the size of the catch.

Xie Xie had been guarding the mansion left by Cui Dongshan, cultivating diligently. After all the Dragon Binding Nails were removed, his cultivation path was vigorous and progressive, but he hid it very cleverly, living in seclusion. The Vice Mountain Master of the academy, Mao Xiaodong, would also help to hide it.

Li Huai and his two classmates, Liu Guan and Ma Lian, had caused no small amount of trouble during their years of schooling, but Liu Guan always took the blame, and Ma Lian helped clean up the mess. It wasn’t that Li Huai didn’t want to help, but after Li Huai helped a few times and messed things up, Liu Guan and Ma Lian refused to let Li Huai be a hero.

When it came to asking questions, Li Baoping was undoubtedly the best.

Speaking only of cultivation, Xie Xie had actually walked ahead of everyone else.

The one who could be called both a cultivator and a scholar was Lin Shouyi.
Everything was leisurely, focusing on self-cultivation. Life was never a series of grand events, which was always Yu Lu’s strength. Now, Yu Lu was slowly nurturing his fist intent, progressing gradually, solidifying the foundation of his Golden Body Realm physique bit by bit.

As for Li Huai…

Cui Dongshan said that this kid was a jinx, bringing bad luck wherever he went. Besides obtaining that psychic white deer years ago, he hadn’t been idle these years. However, Li Huai himself didn’t appreciate his good fortune. He continuously added to his possessions, either antiques and curiosities picked up by chance or “junk” given to him by Ma Lian during visits, filling a bamboo chest with treasures, all left to gather dust, a waste of heaven’s bounty.

Pei Qian curiously asked, “Master, why aren’t you hanging your wine gourd anymore?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Life is like a flask of turbid wine. Remembering certain people and events makes one want to drink.”

Pei Qian struggled to hold back her words.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Say what you want to say.”

Pei Qian then blurted out everything rapidly, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, “Master, are you feeling the pinch from spending money on wine? Look, I have money here – copper coins, broken silver, small gold ingots, many snowflake coins, and even a Lesser Heat coin! I have everything! Master, take it all!”

Chen Ping’an turned his head, looking at Pei Qian holding up her money pouch, and smiled, patting her little head, “Keep it for yourself. Your master isn’t really broke.”

Pei Qian sighed, dejectedly putting away the money pouch given to her by Aunt Gui, carefully tucking it into her sleeve, and accompanied her master to gaze at the sea of clouds – such big cotton candy!

The master and disciple arrived in the Great Sui capital. The streets and alleys were covered in thick snow.

Pei Qian deliberately chose the uncleared snow beside the road, stepping on it, making cracking sounds with each footprint.

The old gatekeeper of Cliff Academy recognized Chen Ping’an and smiled, “Chen Ping’an, long time no see. Where have you been these past few years?”

Chen Ping’an bowed, and Pei Qian quickly wiggled her little bamboo chest and followed suit. He took out his registry from his sleeve and handed it over. The old man took it and looked at it, smiling, “Good heavens, last time it was Willow Leaf Continent, this time it’s Northern Majestic Reed Continent. Where next, will it be Central Earth Divine Continent’s turn?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Without a chance to settle down and study, I can only rely on traveling more.”

The old man nodded, then turned to look at Pei Qian, “Why isn’t this little girl as dark as charcoal anymore? She’s also grown taller. Is it because she’s been attending school back home?”

Pei Qian beamed and nodded vigorously, “Old sir’s knowledge is truly vast, and his judgment is accurate! Sect Leader Mao should really have old sir be an instructor at the school. Then Cliff Academy would be incredible! Today, a sage would emerge, and tomorrow, a gentleman would appear!”

The old man laughed heartily, asking, “Did you learn that from Chen Ping’an?”

Pei Qian was speechless. This question was difficult to answer.

Chen Ping’an smiled and knocked Pei Qian on the head.

Pei Qian thought that it would be best to speak less with this old gatekeeper if she came to Cliff Academy again in the future.

Familiar with the route, they entered the academy and first settled down at the guest house. However, Chen Ping’an brought few belongings and had nothing to leave in the room. Pei Qian was unwilling to put down any of her items. The little bamboo chest was for Cliff Academy to see, the walking staff was for Sister Baoping to see, and as for the sword at her waist, it was naturally for those three small hooligans from the martial world to broaden their horizons. Nothing could be missing.

Chen Ping’an told Pei Qian to go to Li Baoping’s dormitory first, while he went to Mao Xiaodong’s place.

A tall old man with a ruler hanging from his waist stood at the door, smiling, “You’ve actually reached the Golden Body Realm?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “I broke through the sixth realm bottleneck at Lion Peak in Northern Majestic Reed Continent.”

Mao Xiaodong was a little gleeful, “Li Huai’s father put in a lot of effort, didn’t he?”

Chen Ping’an smiled wryly, “It was alright.”

Arriving at the study, they sat down, and Mao Xiaodong cut straight to the point, “What books have you read these years? I want to test you and see if you’ve been only focusing on cultivation and neglecting the learning of self-improvement.”

Chen Ping’an first took out a stack of books from his mustard seed space and placed them on his lap, then recited a long list of titles. The books he had just taken out were those that Cui Dongshan had borrowed from Cliff Academy. Having finished reading them, he naturally had to return them to the academy. However, at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, they had already bought two copies of each book, one to be treasured and the other for Chen Ping’an to mark up, annotate, and write notes in, and they were placed on the table on the first floor of the bamboo building.

Mao Xiaodong frowned, “So scattered?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “It’s difficult to overcome obstacles in the heart. Sometimes, the skills that have always worked fail, and in the end, it’s discovered that it’s not that the knowledge for survival is bad or insufficient, but that I’ve learned it too superficially.”

Mao Xiaodong slowly relaxed his brow, “Very good, then I don’t need to test you.”

Chen Ping’an asked about the recent situation of Li Baoping and the others’ academic lives. Mao Xiaodong briefly summarized some things. Chen Ping’an could tell that he was generally satisfied. However, Chen Ping’an also heard some small complaints that elders would have about their juniors, as well as some unspoken meanings, such as Li Baoping’s personality needing to change, as she was too introverted and not as cute as she was when she was younger. Lin Shouyi’s cultivation was too smooth, and he was afraid that one day he would simply abandon his books and become a celestial on the mountain. Yu Lu read the Confucian sages’ writings thoroughly, but in his heart, he actually approved and admired Legalism more, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Xie Xie never asked for anything regarding learning, which wasn’t good. He was too focused on breaking through bottlenecks in his cultivation, almost cultivating day and night tirelessly. Even in the school, his mind was still on cultivation, as if he wanted to make up for the time he felt he had wasted in previous years. Haste makes waste, and it was easy to accumulate many hidden dangers. Cultivating too quickly today would be the reason for stagnation in the coming year.

As for Li Huai, Mao Xiaodong was the most at ease with him, saying that this kid was not bad.

Chen Ping’an gently placed his hand on the book and said honestly, “Mr. Mao teaches and educates people with the style of the Old Literary Sage.”

Mao Xiaodong waved his hand, sighing, “It’s not even close.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, picked up the book, and prepared to leave after putting it down. Mao Xiaodong got up but didn’t take the books, “Take them away. I will buy books myself to replace them in the academy’s library. Consider these books as a gift for the completion of the ancestral hall at Fallen Phoenix Mountain.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t refuse and put them into his mustard seed space.

After Chen Ping’an left, Mao Xiaodong tugged at the corner of his mouth, preventing himself from smiling too much.
In this frigid winter, some words truly warm the heart.

Chen Ping’an strolled along, arriving near Li Baoping’s study, where he saw Pei Qian joyfully chatting with her.

The girl, having shed the diminutive in her name, wore a padded red jacket that would have appeared rustic on most women. Yet, on her, it held not a trace of the common.

Her figure was slender, her chin delicate, and her demeanor serene. The smile on her face remained familiar, and her eyes, as beautiful as ever, seemed to not only speak volumes but also conceal secrets.

Upon seeing Chen Ping’an, Li Baoping hurried over, hesitating to speak.

A wave of melancholy washed over Chen Ping’an, and he chuckled, “Why don’t you call me ‘Little Martial Uncle’ anymore?”

How had that round-faced, big-eyed little girl grown up so quickly?

Li Baoping suddenly smiled and exclaimed, “Little Martial Uncle!”

At last, she had reverted to the little girl from years past.

Chen Ping’an said, “Don’t overthink things, and don’t worry about causing trouble for Little Martial Uncle. There is no trouble.”

Li Baoping’s eyes sparkled with renewed vitality.

Chen Ping’an then suggested they sit for a while at the guesthouse. Pei Qian was puzzled; why would Master choose a place so far when Sister Baoping’s study was right in front of them?

Li Baoping, however, said nothing. With her hands clasped behind her, she walked backward in front of Chen Ping’an, asking, “Little Martial Uncle, do you know how many days it’s been since we last met?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Quite a few years.”

Pei Qian loudly declared the precise number, for that was her forte.

Reciting texts, memorizing routes, and recalling events.

Upon arriving at the guesthouse, Pei Qian offered to fetch Li Huai, and Chen Ping’an nodded with a smile, instructing her to take Li Huai directly to Xie Xie’s place, as it was more spacious.

Pei Qian darted off to spread the news.

Li Baoping softly inquired, “Little Martial Uncle, do you have wine?”

Chen Ping’an was taken aback. “You want to drink?”

Li Baoping’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she gently nodded. “I can sneak a little.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated before producing a jar of glutinous rice wine brewed from Dongshui Well. He poured two small bowls. “It’s not that you can’t drink, but you must drink sparingly.”

Li Baoping picked up the bowl and took a sip. “It tastes like home.”

Chen Ping’an sipped his wine and told Li Baoping about seeing her older brother in the Azure Herb Kingdom of the Northern Majestic Continent.

After listening, Li Baoping cupped the white bowl with both hands and nodded. “It’s troublesome to exchange letters with Big Brother. If I write a letter, it has to be sent from the academy to my home, and then Grandpa has to help send it across continents to a celestial mountain, before it finally reaches the Grotto-Heaven Street in the Azure Herb Kingdom.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Are you unhappy studying at the academy?”

Li Baoping shook her head, a look of confusion on her face. “I’m not unhappy. Little Martial Uncle, did Headmaster Mao say something?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Headmaster Mao thinks you don’t talk much at the academy and is a little worried.”

Li Baoping asked in bewilderment, “I’ve always enjoyed playing by myself, even before I came to the academy. I just don’t feel like there’s much to talk about, so I don’t talk.”

She would catch crabs alone in the water, run through the streets and alleys to see the door gods by herself, hopscotch on the bluestone streets of Fortune and Prosperity Lane alone, wait for the peach blossoms to bloom in Peach Leaf Lane alone, and pick out porcelain shards at Old Porcelain Mountain alone. It had always been this way.

Chen Ping’an suppressed a smile. It seemed that was indeed the case.

Li Baoping then began to giggle. “What’s Little Martial Uncle laughing at?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Nothing, I just remembered the first time we met, seeing you so small, covered in sweat, carrying an old locust branch and running so fast. Even now, I’m still impressed.”

Li Baoping, uncharacteristically embarrassed, raised her wine bowl, covering half her face and eyes, but she could not hide her smile.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Let’s go to Xie Xie’s place.”

The two walked side by side, with Li Baoping constantly asking questions and Chen Ping’an answering them one by one.

They encountered Pei Qian and the others halfway. Besides the overjoyed Li Huai, Lin Shouyi and Yu Lu were also present.

Xie Xie, sensing the commotion outside, opened the door and smiled upon seeing the large group.

Aside from Lin Shouyi occasionally coming to cultivate, the courtyard, which Cui Dongshan had left her, rarely saw any guests.

As soon as Pei Qian and Li Huai, carrying his small bamboo box on his back, sat down in the courtyard, they began to duel.

Chen Ping’an stood chatting with Lin Shouyi and Yu Lu, while Li Baoping and Xie Xie sat on the steps.

Finally, Chen Ping’an clapped his hands lightly, and everyone looked at him. Chen Ping’an said, “There’s something I must tell you all. I have established my own Ancestral Hall at Fallen Phoenix Mountain. The reason I didn’t invite you to the ceremony is not because I didn’t want to, but because it wasn’t appropriate at the time. You can visit Fallen Phoenix Mountain at any time in the future. Beyond Fallen Phoenix Mountain, there are many vacant mountain peaks. If you like any of them, choose one for yourselves. I can help you build reading rooms. For any other requests, just tell Pei Qian directly, there’s no need to be shy.”

Li Baoping had already learned of this from Pei Qian, so she was not surprised.

Xie Xie was the most deeply shocked.

She had been the direct descendant of the Ancestral Hall of the most outstanding celestial mountain in the Lu Dynasty, so she knew very well what the appearance of an Ancestral Hall meant.

Yu Lu offered his congratulations.

Lin Shouyi also smiled and expressed his joy.

Chen Ping’an smiled at Lin Shouyi and Xie Xie, “You two are already celestial cultivators who have ascended the mountain, and the spiritual energy of the mountain peaks in Dragon Spring County is still very abundant. So, don’t be shy. Don’t let free mountain peaks and extra cultivation grounds go to waste.”

Then, Chen Ping’an said to Yu Lu, “There are many martial artists at Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Yu Lu, you can find someone named Zhu Lian. He’s currently at the Distant Excursion Realm. You can spar with him and let him help you hone your fists. Zhu Lian is very measured in his attacks.”

As he said this, Chen Ping’an’s expression was sincere.

Yu Lu neither agreed nor refused, saying, “Why do I feel a chill down my spine?”

Li Huai, busy with Pei Qian comparing the many generals under their command in a “civil duel” on the table, heard this and exclaimed angrily, “Chen Ping’an! It’s one thing to not tell Baoping and the others about such a big deal, but you even kept it from me? To think we are sworn brothers who have beheaded chickens and burned yellow paper… Are you looking down on me, Li Huai? Tell me, is Fallen Phoenix Mountain lacking a chief consecrator? If so, I’m right here, near and far. Once this village is gone, there’s no more shop. You, Chen Ping’an, can only invite me to come out of retirement tomorrow.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Go cool off somewhere.”
Li Huai stared at the table, densely packed with trinkets arranged alongside Pei Qian’s own, a look of utter despondency on his face. “This life is unbearable! The weather is frigid, but my heart is colder… I failed to become a brother-in-law, and now I can’t even be a sworn brother. Life has no flavor. Even if I, Li Huai, commanded the largest army in the world, with generals as numerous as clouds, what would it matter? It’s all meaningless…”

Pei Qian slammed the table. All the objects on the stone table shuddered. She roared, “Li Huai! When did you perform the chicken-slaying oath with my master? How do we calculate seniority?!”

Li Huai shrank back, “Just fooling around. When I was little, I was competing with Chen Ping An in grass fights, so I treated that like the chicken-slaying. Doesn’t count for real.”

Yu Lu, witnessing this, was somewhat astonished.

He couldn’t help but glance at Pei Qian several times.

Yu Lu found it incredible. He remembered when they first met, the little black coal girl hadn’t even truly begun practicing martial arts, had she?

And how many years had passed since then?

The residence had a chess game left behind by Cui Dongshan. Subsequently, Chen Ping An, in a self-humiliating move, insisted on a game with Yu Lu. Li Bao Ping and Pei Qian sat on either side of Chen Ping An, while Lin Shouyi and Xie Xie had no choice but to sit beside Yu Lu. Li Huai was furious, wondering how he had become the superfluous one. He sat on one side of the chessboard and threatened to take off his boots, but Xie Xie glanced at him, and Li Huai reached out to wipe the green bamboo floor, saying he just didn’t want to soil their residence.

There was no pretense of “true gentlemen observe in silence.”

In the end, it turned into Yu Lu, Xie Xie, and Lin Shouyi, working together to face off against Li Bao Ping alone. Since the three were all skilled in chess, they played at a brisk pace.

Li Bao Ping always moved her pieces with lightning speed, only glancing at the overall situation of the game.

Pei Qian believed that their side was sure to win. Sister Bao Ping, with just that aura of a grandmaster, had already defeated the other three, hadn’t she?

But in the end, Yu Lu and his group won. Because Li Bao Ping played too fast, their victory was swift and decisive. Her loss was also clean and without any fuss.

Pei Qian clapped her fist into her palm, then comforted Sister Bao Ping not to be discouraged.

Chen Ping An had roughly figured out the trick.

Li Bao Ping laughed, “Junior Martial Uncle, I’m sorry.”

Chen Ping An shook his head, “In a few more years, it’ll be hard for us to lose even if we wanted to.”

Li Bao Ping nodded vigorously.

Lin Shouyi and Xie Xie exchanged glances, both feeling somewhat helpless, because what Chen Ping An said was the absolute truth.

Unexpectedly, Yu Lu smiled and said, “Want to win back? That depends on whether we three are willing to play chess with you.”

Yu Lu reached out to cover the chess jar, glanced at Lin Shouyi and Xie Xie beside him, “Let’s just leave it at that. We three will officially retire from chess starting today. Our perfect record against Chen Ping An, Li Bao Ping, and Pei Qian will be forever preserved.”

Lin Shouyi nodded, “Agreed.”

Xie Xie smiled, “Seconded.”

Pei Qian was getting anxious.

Li Huai opened his mouth even faster than Pei Qian, speaking righteously, “How can you three be so shameless? Huh? Did you learn it from A-Liang? Even if you learned from him, did you get my permission? Do you know what my relationship with A-Liang is? How much guidance has A-Liang received from me, Li Huai, in things like speaking, writing, and eating? Don’t you know?!”

Pei Qian was somewhat gratified, looking at Li Huai with a benevolent gaze, “I’ll count this as making up for your mistakes, otherwise, I would have stripped you of that distinguished position. Then you wouldn’t be able to hold your head high in front of Liu Guan and Ma Lian.”

Li Huai was puzzled, “But the Martial Alliance Leader is Li Bao Ping. Your position isn’t much higher than mine. On what basis?”

Pei Qian folded her arms across her chest and sneered, “Li Huai, with your unthinking brain, you dare to dream of adventuring the martial world with me in the future? As a burden? What’s my relationship with Sister Bao Ping? Can you, a mere branch leader, compare?”

Li Bao Ping was putting away the chess pieces. She was quick at playing chess, but now her movements were slow. She smiled, “Before I came here, I had already abdicated my position and passed the torch to Pei Qian as the Martial Alliance Leader.”

Pei Qian raised an eyebrow, looking askance at the thunderstruck Li Huai, sneering, “Oh dear, you silly goose. Now you’re in a pickle, aren’t you?”

Li Huai truly didn’t treat this matter as child’s play. Wandering the martial world had always been a major aspiration for Li Huai, so he hurriedly said, “Li Bao Ping! How can you be so absurd? Just saying you won’t be it and then just not do it? Not doing it is fine, but why did you just casually pass the position to Pei Qian? Speaking of seniority, who’s older? It’s me, right? How many years have we known each other! Speaking of unwavering loyalty and peerless righteousness, it’s still me, right? Back then, during our two long journeys, I endured hardships all the way. Did I ever utter half a word of complaint?”

Li Bao Ping hummed, “‘Half a word’ of complaint, indeed, there wasn’t any. It was all one word after another, accumulating a huge pile of grievances.”

Exposed for his little cunning schemes, Li Huai had no choice but to change his approach, his face full of grievance, “If you two continue to bully this honest man like this, I’ll really take Liu Guan and Ma Lian and leave the gang to start our own faction.”

Pei Qian scoffed, “Spare me that nonsense. Just Liu Guan, that blockhead, and Ma Lian, that bookworm, without my, Pei Qian’s, careful planning, how can you make a name for yourselves in the martial world? Every family has its rules, every gang has its regulations. I’ll put the ugly words first: it’s easy for you to leave the gang, but it’ll be harder than ascending to heaven to beg to rejoin in the future! Who am I? An assassin who has successfully assassinated a Great White Goose. I have no sentimentality, I value the rules most, I’m impartial and selfless…”

Probably feeling that if she continued to argue like this, she would be eating chestnuts again, Pei Qian immediately stopped talking. It was best to know when to stop. In any case, she could still敲打敲打 Li Huai in private. This guy was far inferior to Zhou Mi Li. Little Mi Li actually didn’t like raising her little tail.

Lin Shouyi got up and sat cross-legged at the end of the corridor, beginning to focus on cultivation.

Xie Xie then sat on the other side. The two were already accustomed to this, having an extremely tacit understanding.

Li Bao Ping suggested going to the 京城 alleys outside the academy to eat delicious food.

Li Huai and Yu Lu both followed along.

As a result, Pei Qian paid for the meal.

Li Bao Ping pinched Pei Qian’s cheeks with a smile, and Pei Qian grinned from ear to ear.

Back at the academy, Pei Qian would sleep with Li Bao Ping tonight, and the two of them went to chat privately.

Li Huai needed to hurry and find Liu Guan and Ma Lian to discuss important matters, otherwise, his status in the martial world would be insecure.

Chen Ping An and Yu Lu fished by the lake.

Neither of them spoke.

The catch was quite bountiful.

It was a pity that it wasn’t during their travels back then, otherwise, the fish soup cooked would have been enough to fill them up.
As he reeled in his fishing rod, Yu Lu asked, “You’ve reached the Golden Body Realm now?”

Chen Ping’an squatted by the water’s edge, opening the fish basket to release all the lake fish inside. He looked up and smiled, “Sounds like you’re a little unconvinced?”

Yu Lu nodded, then smiled slightly, “Spar?”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Aren’t you worried about delaying your studies?”

Yu Lu was momentarily speechless. He gathered his fishing rod and basket and led Chen Ping’an towards Xie’s residence to express their gratitude.

In the corridor, Xie Yi was still focused, lost in meditative stillness.

Lin Shiyi had already left.

Hearing the knock, Xie Yi sighed inwardly, got up to open the door, and after hearing their purpose, couldn’t help but smile, “Can I watch?”

Yu Lu stood in the courtyard, smiling, “Feel free.”

Chen Ping’an said nothing, merely asked Yu Lu to wait a moment. He then squatted down, rolled up his trouser legs, revealing a pair of old cloth shoes sewn by Pei Qian herself. The needlework wasn’t great, but they were thick and warm, and Chen Ping’an found them very comfortable.

Standing up, Chen Ping’an lightly rolled up his sleeves, a hint of a smile on his face as he looked at Yu Lu. With one hand behind his back, he extended the other, palm open. “Please.”

Yu Lu suddenly said, “Never mind, I concede.”

Xie Yi wasn’t surprised in the slightest. This was something Yu Lu would do, and he could do it without the slightest awkwardness. No one else had his disposition, or rather, his thick skin.

Chen Ping’an tried to persuade him, “Don’t be like that. It’s just a friendly spar. Winning and losing are normal in a match between equals.”

Yu Lu smiled, “I want to maintain an undefeated record against you. As for sparring, I can leave that to Zhu Lian, the senior of Fallen Mountain.”

Chen Ping’an laughed in exasperation, “Are you afraid of being knocked down with one punch?”

Yu Lu turned to look at Xie Yi.

She smiled, “Heaven and earth are silent, no sound is heard.”

Yu Lu gave her a thumbs up. “Much more virtuous than some people.”

After the two who hadn’t fought left the courtyard, Xie Yi lay down in the corridor, closing her eyes. Things were occasionally lively here, which wasn’t bad.

Leaving the residence, the two walked together towards Yu Lu’s study hall. Chen Ping’an said, “Practicing fist arts without a purpose is no good, but relying solely on purpose is also insufficient.”

Yu Lu said, “I’ll find a reason to stay on Fallen Mountain for a while.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t say anything more.

There were gatherings and separations.

Chen Ping’an took Pei Qian and had a snowball fight with Li Baoping and Li Huai, working together to build some snowmen before leaving the academy.

Li Baoping stood at the entrance of the academy, watching the two leave.

Chen Ping’an walked backward, waving goodbye.

Li Baoping waved gently.

Pei Qian waved her hands vigorously.

Li Baoping began to sprint up the mountain as soon as the two figures disappeared around the corner.

The old gatekeeper was somewhat moved. It had been many years since he’d seen that girl run like that. Seeing it again now filled him with nostalgia.

Li Baoping arrived at the summit of the academy mountain, climbed the tree, and stood on the most familiar branch, lost in silence.

Chen Ping’an went to a jade shop. The shopkeeper was the same one who had given Chen Ping’an a carving knife when he bought Li Baoping’s farewell gift all those years ago, but he didn’t recognize Chen Ping’an now.

Chen Ping’an selected a plain jade seal, intending to carve the seal characters himself.

Pei Qian wanted to buy one herself and ask her master to carve the characters for her so she could have her own seal in the future.

Chen Ping’an bought an extra one so that Pei Qian wouldn’t have to spend her own money. His first disciple had such a small pouch, and Chen Ping’an, as her master, couldn’t bear to see her spend it.

Leaving the shop, standing on the street, Chen Ping’an turned to look at the summit of Donghua Mountain where the academy was located. There was a large tree there, and at this moment, there should still be a red cotton-padded girl whose small bamboo box no longer fit.

Li Baoping sat on the branch, gently swinging her feet. They had just separated, but she was already looking forward to the next reunion.

She wasn’t sad at all, but rather filled with anticipation.

Her Little Martial Uncle was the most composed.

She should be the same, only slightly less so than her Little Martial Uncle, the second most composed.

Chen Ping’an withdrew his gaze. Pei Qian was chattering beside him, talking about the interesting stories she had heard from Sister Baoping and Li Huai.

Chen Ping’an listened to her ramblings with a smile.

The two together took a dragon boat back to Horn Mountain Ferry.

Chen Ping’an timed it perfectly, making a round trip between Fallen Mountain and Horn Mountain, packing up his belongings, and boarding the hemp-clothing sect’s ferry heading south again, starting his journey south.

On the ferry were Wei Yusong, the Nascent Soul cultivator in charge of money for the hemp-clothing sect, and Tang Xi of the Spring Dew Garden, their God of Wealth.

Wei Bo also appeared.

Fallen Mountain, Cloud Robe Mountain, Hemp-clothing Sect, Spring Dew Garden.

The four forces had already established the basic framework, and this journey south was to refine the many details of the intercontinental business.

After they had discussed things to a satisfactory point, Wei Bo left first, implying that Chen Ping’an could help make decisions for Cloud Robe Mountain.

Then, at a celestial ferry closest to the Book Brief Lake, Li Fushu boarded the intercontinental ferry on behalf of the True Realm Sect’s forces.

This was Chen Ping’an’s second meeting, discussing matters concerning the Lotus Root Blessed Land. In addition to Li Fushu, Sun Jiashu and Fan Er from Old Dragon City would participate. Both sides lent Fallen Mountain a large sum of Grain Rain money, without mentioning any dividend requirements.

In order to be as discreet as possible, Sun Jiashu and Fan Er quietly left Old Dragon City and boarded the ferry at different ferry crossings before the intercontinental ferry entered Old Dragon City’s territory.

When Chen Ping’an met Fan Er, the first thing he did was give him a piece of porcelain he had personally fired. For this, Chen Ping’an had made a special trip to the Dragon Kiln where he had once been an apprentice in Dragon Spring County. This was Chen Ping’an’s first time revisiting.