Chen Ping’an sipped his wine, watching the busy Grand Steward with a twinge of guilt. He shook the wine jar; there were perhaps two bowls left, and the large white bowls at the shop weren’t exactly big.

Chen Ping’an beckoned Diezhang over for a drink. After Diezhang sat down, Chen Ping’an helped her pour a bowl, smiling, “I don’t come to the shop often. I’m taking this opportunity to talk to you about something. Fan Dache is just a friend of a friend, and what he really wanted to hear at the table today wasn’t any grand principle, but simply an outlet for his pent-up frustration. Chen Sanqiu and the others, precisely because they’re Fan Dache’s friends, don’t know how to broach the subject. Some wines, when buried for too long and then suddenly opened, the aged mellowness is most capable of intoxicating a man. Fan Dache might die in the next battle in the south, likely thinking that in this way, he can live forever in her heart. Of course, that’s just my guess. I like to think of the worst-case scenario. But I took a lot of scolding from Fan Dache for nothing, and he even broke one of our shop’s bowls. I’ll settle that score with Chen Sanqiu later. Diezhang, you’re different. You’re not only Ning Yao’s friend, but also my friend, so I won’t hold back so much in what I say next.”

Diezhang joked, “Don’t worry, I’m not Fan Dache. I won’t go crazy when drunk. I can’t bear to break wine bowls or anything.”

Chen Ping’an cut straight to the chase and asked, “What are your thoughts on sword immortals? Is seeing them wield their swords from afar and drinking with them up close two different experiences, or…?”

Diezhang thought for a moment, “Respect.”

She hesitated and added, “Actually, it’s fear. I suffered at the hands of some low-level sword cultivators when I was young. It was pretty miserable. Back then, they were already like deities to me. Don’t laugh, but every time I saw them on the road as a child, I couldn’t help but tremble and turn pale. It only got better after I met A-Liang. Of course I want to become a sword immortal, but if I die on the path to becoming one, I won’t regret it. Don’t worry, after reaching Core Formation, then becoming a sword immortal, I’ve already thought about what I want to do at each realm. It’s just that buying a large mansion can be moved up by many years now, I have to thank you for that.”

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl, clinked it against hers, and then smiled, “Good, I think it’s fine. Admiring the strong while also having compassion for the weak, you’re walking the middle path. Not just me and Ning Yao, but Sanqiu and the others are also worried that you fight too hard in every battle, that you don’t cherish your life enough. Fatty Yan had a misunderstanding with you back then, so he doesn’t dare to say much. The rest are also afraid of saying too much. This is a similar situation to Chen Sanqiu’s treatment of Fan Dache. But seriously, don’t speak lightly of life and death. If you can avoid dying, definitely don’t die. Forget it, these things are often beyond one’s control. I’ve been there myself, so I’m not qualified to say much. Anyway, next time you leave the city walls, I’ll be like Fatty Yan and the others, trying to take a few more glances at the back of your head. Come, let’s toast to the back of our Grand Steward’s head.”

Diezhang raised her wine bowl, gently clinked it against his, and drank again.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “The next question might be a bit irritating, so I’ll say it in advance. You have to promise me that after I say it, I’m still the shop’s Second Steward, and we’re still friends.”

Diezhang laughed, “Let’s hear it first. Promises are useless. Women change their minds faster than you men drink wine.”

Chen Ping’an was a little helpless and asked, “Do you like that Confucian gentleman who took away a sword imbued with Righteous Qi, do you only like his character, or do you also like his identity as a virtuous scholar at the time? Do you ever think that one day, you hope he can take you away from the Sword Qi Great Wall to Upside-down Mountain and the Vast World?”

Diezhang’s face flushed slightly, and she lowered her voice, nodding, “Both. I like his character, his demeanor, especially the scholarly air about him. I especially like it! A virtuous scholar of the academy! How impressive! And now he’s even a gentleman! Of course I care! Besides, after I met A-Liang and Ning Yao, I wanted to see the Vast World a long time ago. If I could go with him, that would be the best!”

But Diezhang quickly perked up, “If there really comes a day when he likes me, I will only go to the Vast World after I become a sword immortal! Otherwise, even if he begs me, I won’t leave the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Chen Ping’an clicked his tongue, “It’s not even certain whether he likes you or not, and you’re already thinking so far ahead?”

Diezhang took a big gulp of wine, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and was radiant, “Is it against the law to just think about it?!”

Chen Ping’an hesitated, “Let me tell you a story. It’s not hearsay, nor is it something I saw with my own eyes. You can just listen to it as a story from a book. After you hear it, it can at least help you avoid one of the worst possibilities. The rest is not very useful and doesn’t apply to you and that gentleman.”

It was a landscape tale about an infatuated scholar and a bride in a death shroud.

Those who are deeply in love are often accompanied by bitterness. The word “infatuation” is often a neighbor to “disappointment.”

Chen Ping’an certainly didn’t want Diezhang and that Confucian gentleman to end up that way. Chen Ping’an hoped that all lovers in the world would be together in the end.

Only, there was a prerequisite: don’t be blind and choose the wrong person. This kind of blindness is not only about whether the other person is worth liking. In fact, it has more to do with oneself. The most pitiful person is the one who, in the end, doesn’t know why the person they were infatuated with liked them in the first place, and why they ultimately stopped liking them.

Just like how Chen Ping’an only asked Fan Dache one question at the beginning. The implication was, did Yu Qia know that Fan Dache would rather borrow money from friends than buy her the desired object? Did Fan Dache see this kind of woman’s intentions, and was he clear about it, and still accept it? If he could, and could properly resolve the branches on this vein, then that was Fan Dache’s skill.

If he was truly completely unaware, and was confused from beginning to end, Fan Dache clearly wouldn’t be so exasperated. Obviously, Fan Dache knew, whether he knew from the beginning or realized later, that Yu Qia knew he was borrowing money from Chen Sanqiu, but Yu Qia chose Fan Dache’s kind of devotion, she chose to continue demanding. What does it mean whether Fan Dache is clear about this? Nothing. Fan Dache might vaguely feel that what she’s doing is wrong, not so good, but he never knew how to face it, how to resolve it.

Fan Dache only knew that after they parted, they were destined to drift further and further apart. He had drunk his wine and felt that he wanted to gouge out his heart
Was Fan Dache wrong to like a woman so wholeheartedly? Of course not. What’s wrong with a man pouring out his heart and soul for the woman he loves, doing everything he can? But digging deeper, can there really be no fault? When liking someone so intensely, shouldn’t one truly know who they are liking?

Just like Chen Ping’an, an outsider who had only seen Yu Qia twice from afar, could instantly discern the woman’s ambition and her subtle ranking of Fan Dache’s friends. Her burning desire for advancement was simply not something that Fan Dache, as a scion of a great clan, could satisfy by guaranteeing her material comfort. She hoped that one day, she could be invited to a wine table filled with sword immortals solely on the merit of her name, Yu Qia, and not be relegated to the lowest seat. After taking her place, others would undoubtedly raise their cups to her! Yu Qia was determined to stand tall and await the respect of others.

Chen Ping’an didn’t particularly like such women, but he certainly wouldn’t be disgusted by them. He simply understood, could comprehend, and respected the multitude of choices people make on their paths through life.

Fan Dache? He understood nothing.

Missing an opportunity today might mean a chance encounter with the right person in the future, leading to a harmonious immortal partnership. But if luck ran out, it could mean another missed opportunity.

Diezhang, having heard the story’s ending, asked indignantly, “Was that scholar only striving to become a virtuous gentleman of Guanhai Academy, so that he could marry that wronged spirit in a wedding gown with all the pomp and circumstance?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “That was always his intention, he never wavered. That’s why the scholar was driven to drown himself. But the wronged spirit in the wedding gown always believed that he had betrayed her deep affection.”

Diezhang’s eyes welled up with tears. “How could the ending be like this? Those fellow scholars at the academy, they were all scholars, how could they be so cruel?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Scholars don’t need knives to harm people. The reason I’m telling you this story is to make you think more. Think, the vastness of the world, the countless scholars, do you really believe they are all virtuous and worthy of the sages’ books? If that were true, would the Great Wall of Sword Qi be in its current state?”

Diezhang raised her head, a strange expression on her face, and glanced at Chen Ping’an in his jade hairpin and azure robe.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “I try my best to understand these things, to contemplate, consider, and ponder everything, not to become them, but on the contrary, to avoid becoming them for the rest of my life.”

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl. “If there ever comes a day when you and that gentleman are mutually in love, and you, Miss Diezhang, are a sword immortal on a journey through the vast world, you must call on me and Ning Yao. I’ll watch out for those scholars who have read the sages’ books into idiocy. Whether it’s his so-called friends, classmates, family elders, or teachers from the academy, if they’re reasonable, that’s for the best. I believe there are mostly good people around him, birds of a feather flock together, after all. But there are bound to be some that slip through the net. I can tell what kind of despicable things they’re going to say based on what high-minded principles they’re going to justify it with. As the closed-door disciple of my teacher, I’ve learned a thing or two about arguing. What are friends for? They’re there to say the harsh truths, to pour cold water when needed, but also to do the difficult things. That last part was me bragging about myself. Come on, let’s drink!”

Diezhang smiled brilliantly, a rare sight. She held her bowl, ready to drink, but her expression suddenly darkened, and she glanced at her shoulder.

Chen Ping’an said, “If there’s true love, then everything else is inconsequential. If there’s no love, then having two extra arms wouldn’t matter.”

Diezhang chuckled in exasperation. “Is growing an extra arm a good thing?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “You’re right. My flaw is that I’m not good at reasoning.”

Diezhang’s mood improved again, and she was about to clink bowls with Chen Ping’an, but he suddenly said something to spoil the mood. “But right now, there’s nothing concrete between you and that gentleman, so don’t think too far ahead. Otherwise, you’ll be heartbroken in the future, and this little shop will be making a fortune off your sorrows. As the second owner and your friend, I’ll feel bad.”

Diezhang frowned.

Chen Ping’an sighed. “Honest words are hard to hear, and being a friend is difficult.”

Diezhang suddenly smiled. “You’ve already said the best and the worst, thank you.”

Diezhang picked up the wine jar, only to find that there was only enough for one bowl left.

Chen Ping’an waved his hand. “I won’t drink, Ning Yao is strict.”

Diezhang didn’t stand on ceremony and poured herself a bowl, sipping it slowly.

If a customer called for more wine, Diezhang would tell them to get the wine, dishes, and pickles themselves. That’s the good thing about regular customers, they don’t need too much formality.

At first, Diezhang was worried about not being a good host and tried to do everything herself. But then she saw Chen Ping’an acting like this once, joking and bantering with the customers, even asking them to bring over the dishes, and no one seemed to mind. Diezhang followed his example.

Diezhang looked at Chen Ping’an and noticed that he was looking towards the street corner. In the past, Chen Ping’an would linger there longer, acting as a storyteller.

But today, the children were no longer gathered around the small stools.

Diezhang knew that Chen Ping’an must be feeling a sense of loss.

But Diezhang still didn’t understand why Chen Ping’an cared so much about this kind of thing. Was it because he came from the slums of that small town called Lizhu Grotto-Heaven, and even though he was now an immortal in the eyes of others, he still felt a sense of attachment to the slums? But every sword cultivator from the Great Wall of Sword Qi, including Diezhang herself, dreamed of being neighbors with the wealthy and powerful, never having to return to the noisy and chaotic small places.

He said he wasn’t going to drink, but seeing Diezhang enjoying her wine, Chen Ping’an glanced at the jar of wine that he planned to give to Nalan’s elder. Diezhang acted like she didn’t see it. It was already too hard for the customers to take advantage of the second owner, let alone the first owner?

Just when Diezhang thought that Chen Ping’an was definitely going to pay for the wine today, Chen Ping’an came up with a solution. He stood up, picked up his wine bowl, and went to another table, exchanging pleasantries with a table of sword cultivators, shamelessly bumming a bowl of wine.

Not only did he finish the bowl, but when he returned to Diezhang’s table, his bowl had more than half a bowl of wine in it. As he sat down, Chen Ping’an sighed. “They were too enthusiastic, I couldn’t resist. It’s hard not to drink.”
“Master Chen, are you perhaps a merchant’s son who has achieved success in cultivation?” Die Zhang asked, exasperated.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “In this world, everyone is a merchant in some way or another, buying and selling something.”

Die Zhang glanced at Chen Ping’an as he drank his wine. “Didn’t you just say Ning Yao was strict with you?”

Chen Ping’an, having drunk quite a bit that day, said with a grin, “Am I not a Fourth Realm Qi Practitioner? A mere tremor of my spiritual energy can dissipate the alcohol, shaking the very heavens and earth!”

Die Zhang chuckled along, but secretly resolved to inform Ning Yao of his antics.

Chen Ping’an gazed at the main street. The business of the various taverns and restaurants was truly lacking.

“Back then, they were all so eager to watch my misfortune, shouting and hollering with enthusiasm. Now they’re all quiet, aren’t they? My Baofu Zhai hasn’t even unleashed its full potential yet.”

Die Zhang, having finished her drink, went to attend to the customers. Her skin wasn’t as thick as the Second Shopkeeper’s after all.

Chen Ping’an was taking his time with that half-bowl of wine, savoring every sip.

Die Zhang simply brought him a pair of chopsticks and a dish of pickled vegetables.

Chen Ping’an sat cross-legged, slowly tackling the wine and accompanying snacks.

Customers gradually arrived, and Chen Ping’an yielded his table, squatting by the roadside, careful not to forget the jar of wine with its seal unbroken.

Die Zhang glanced at the nearly empty bowl, and the fact that he wasn’t finishing that last bit of wine, and asked, amused, “Are you trying to get me to buy you a drink? Just say so!”

She wondered how someone who was willing to offer two immortal weapons as betrothal gifts could be so stingy in other matters.

However, when Ning Yao spoke of this matter in private, her eyes were so captivating that even a woman like Die Zhang was almost moved.

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Great Shopkeeper, you truly wrong me.”

Then, Chen Ping’an went to cadge half a bowl of wine from a table of diners, making sure to raise the white bowl in his hand towards Die Zhang to show his innocence.

Die Zhang, after being busy for a while, noticed that he was still squatting there.

Die Zhang walked over and couldn’t help but ask, “Something on your mind?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, but then nodded, looking into the distance. “I have things on my mind, but they’re all good things. It all feels like a dream. Especially after seeing Fan Dache, it feels even more so.”

He picked up a pickled vegetable with his chopsticks, chewed it, took a sip of wine, and smiled.

Die Zhang pulled up a stool and sat beside him.

A patron joked, “Second Shopkeeper, don’t have any funny ideas about our Die Zhang. If you do, it’s fine too, as long as you buy me a jar of wine, the kind that costs five snowflakes, as hush money!”

Chen Ping’an raised a middle finger high.

Die Zhang didn’t care about such things at all. Besides, the Sword Qi Great Wall didn’t really stand on ceremony like that. No matter how perceptive Die Zhang was, she wouldn’t be bashful. To be bashful would only mean she had something to hide.

Moreover, when it came to a sense of propriety, Die Zhang had never met anyone his age better than Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an’s feelings for Ning Yao were obvious to everyone, friend or foe. He had traveled tens of thousands of miles from the Vast Expanse, and this was his second time. And he was waiting for the next great battle to begin, so he could leave the city walls with her and fight side by side. Some might gossip behind their backs, deliberately saying hurtful things, but the truth was that most people understood.

Chen Ping’an had drunk quite a bit today.

“When we are oblivious, self-righteous about people, events, and the world, it’s often difficult to rescue, resolve, cherish, and treat our own joys and sorrows, and those of the people around us.”

“Being young means you can learn. There’s no need to be afraid of making mistakes, hitting walls time and again. Correct what’s wrong, make what’s good even better. What’s there to fear? What’s frightening is being like Fan Dache, being struck in the heart by a rod from the heavens, being completely stunned, and then starting to resent the world and everyone in it. Do you know why Fan Dache insisted that I sit down and drink with him, and that I say a few more words? And not Chen Sanqiu and the others? Because deep down, Fan Dache knows that he may never come to this tavern again, but he can’t afford to lose Chen Sanqiu and the others, who are his true friends.”

Hearing this, Die Zhang asked, “You have a very poor impression of Fan Dache, don’t you?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “You’ve got it backwards. A Fan Dache who can love a woman so deeply isn’t someone to be disliked. It’s precisely because of this that I’m willing to play the villain. Otherwise, do you think I’m just bored and don’t know what to say to be appropriate?”

“Delving into the intricacies of people’s hearts isn’t a pleasant thing to do; it only makes one more and more uneasy.”

“But if this initial unease can allow the people around you to live better, more peacefully, then in the end, you will also feel more at ease. So, taking responsibility for yourself first is very important. And in this, respecting every enemy is another way of taking responsibility for yourself.”

Die Zhang deeply agreed, but said, “Alright, alright, I’ll buy you a drink!”

Chen Ping’an smiled helplessly, placed his chopsticks and bowl next to the plate of vegetables, picked up the jar of wine, and left.

As Chen Ping’an walked, he suddenly turned to look towards the Sword Qi Great Wall, but the strange feeling disappeared in a flash, so he didn’t think much of it.

Chen Qingdu frowned deeply, slowly walked out of his thatched hut, and stomped his foot heavily.

The force of the stomp was even greater than when the Old Master Wen Sheng had visited the Sword Qi Great Wall!

On the city wall, a white figure swayed uncertainly.

Standing there was an extremely tall woman, her back to the north, her face to the south, leaning on her sword with one hand.

Chen Qingdu, seeing the ethereal, fleeting nature of her figure, knew that it wouldn’t last long, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the Old Sword Immortal, who had guarded this city wall for ten thousand years, revealed an unprecedentedly heavy expression of reminiscence.

He slowly walked to the city wall at her feet and asked curiously, “Why have you come?”

She said calmly, “To see my master.”

Chen Qingdu was stunned for a long time. “What?!”

Then she said, “So you, get out of my way.”