The ferry landing at Niujiao Mountain was no longer solely for the use of the Great Li military’s transport vessels. More and more merchant ships were arriving and departing, causing Pei Qian’s eyes to sparkle, thinking of all the immortal money rolling into her master’s pockets.

On this “long journey,” since it was their own territory, the little girl in black beside Pei Qian, carrying a small carrying pole on her shoulder and a mountain walking stick in hand, felt like she couldn’t be more imposing.

Zhou Mi Li was a little disappointed that she couldn’t stick two pieces of paper on her forehead, one saying “Right Protector of the Fallen Phoenix Mountain” and the other “Great Water Monster of Dumb Lake.”

Chen Nuan Shu was not far away, saying trivial things to Chen Ling Jun, who was about to leave for the Northern Ju Lu Continent, causing Chen Ling Jun to yawn repeatedly.

Pei Qian crossed her arms and looked around, surveying her master’s great land, nodding slightly, very satisfied.

Zhou Mi Li whispered, “Chen Ling Jun is about to leave, shouldn’t we say a few words? Maybe squeeze out some tears to show sincerity.”

Pei Qian rolled her eyes. “Have you eaten up all the tenets of Fallen Phoenix Mountain like a bowl of rice?”

Pei Qian freed a hand and patted the little dwarf’s head earnestly. “My master said that reason is like a big white bowl, and everything else is the food you put inside. As long as you don’t lose the bowl, you can always eat. As for what reason *is*, I can’t figure it out, and with your muddled brain, Mi Li, you’re even less likely to! So we just need to remember the mountain rules of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, and we won’t go wrong.”

Zhou Mi Li frowned, then quickly relaxed, understanding. She whispered, “If we talk to Chen Ling Jun, we have to give him a farewell gift! No way! We’re already such good friends, let’s not do anything artificial!”

Pei Qian pinched Zhou Mi Li’s cheek, laughing. “What are you talking about?”

Zhou Mi Li giggled along.

Pei Qian stood in place, took a deep breath, then threw a punch with extremely short and slow movements, muttering to herself, “Pinch a needle with a finger, sweep a large area with a fist, throw a punch like shooting an arrow, retract a fist like a flying sword…”

Zhou Mi Li asked, “What are you doing?”

Pei Qian continued to slowly throw punches, seriously saying, “After the Mad Demon Sword Technique, I created another set of peerless fist techniques. The mantras are all written by myself, incredibly powerful.”

Then Pei Qian began to spout nonsense. “Of all the fist techniques in the world, besides my master’s fist techniques being the strongest, two others are also strong: one is the self-taught Turtle Fist, and the other is learned from the Tianqiao School.”

Zhou Mi Li didn’t think she was stupid, but she was still doubtful. “How are your fist techniques so powerful? After practicing, can you fly around?”

Pei Qian said unhappily, “Only cultivators in the Distant Wanderer Realm can do that. I’m still far from it. It won’t work for several years.”

Zhou Mi Li stomped her foot, frustrated. “So long! How many melon seeds do I have to eat to get there!”

Pei Qian said helplessly, “You think becoming an eighth-realm martial artist is easy?”

Zhou Mi Li paused, hugged her mountain walking stick, and scratched her cheek. “But you’re Pei Qian.”

Pei Qian grinned, retracted her fist, and pressed down on Mi Li’s head, shaking it back and forth. “Your little head doesn’t look big, but how is it so enlightened?”

Zhou Mi Li shook her head for a long time, then suddenly sighed, “Why isn’t the mountain master coming home yet?”

Pei Qian smiled. “Didn’t I tell you? Over at the Sword Qi Great Wall, because my master helped you publicize it so much, there are now many stories circulating about the Great Water Monster of Dumb Lake! That’s another world! You can just secretly enjoy it.”

Zhou Mi Li scratched her cheek again. “But I’d rather he didn’t tell stories and came back sooner.”

Pei Qian made a face. “If my master comes home, are you going to treat him to pickled cabbage fish?”

Zhou Mi Li frowned, timidly saying, “Not a big pot, a small pot?”

Pei Qian was amused, but also a little sad.

After growing up, it became difficult to have the same kind of worries as before, which always felt like guests visiting the heart, arriving quickly but also leaving quickly.

Pei Qian didn’t quite understand why her master didn’t want her and Sister Bao Ping to grow up quickly.

Now, looking at Mi Li, Pei Qian understood.

Chen Ling Jun was about to board the intercontinental ferry. Pei Qian patted Zhou Mi Li’s head. “Let’s go say goodbye. Remember, Master said that if friends are taking an immortal ferry on a long journey, we can’t say ‘bon voyage’.”

Zhou Mi Li nodded vigorously. “I know, I know!”

A silly gourd Chen Nuan Shu, plus Pei Qian and Mi Li, all said goodbye to him.

Chen Ling Jun was a little uncomfortable, but felt a little happy along with his awkwardness, but didn’t want to show his feelings on his face.

After Chen Ling Jun left.

Pei Qian and the three waited until the ferry passed through the sea of clouds before returning to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Chen Nuan Shu turned her head to look at the sea of clouds.

Pei Qian said softly, “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. Chen Ling Jun might seem disorganized, but he’s actually very clever.”

Chen Nuan Shu smiled. Pei Qian took the hands of the two little girls, one in each hand.

Now Pei Qian’s height far exceeded theirs.

She finally looked like a young woman.

Chen Ling Jun was in his room on the ferry, doing nothing but lying on the table in a daze.

Actually, the moment Chen Ling Jun walked onto the hemp-clad sect’s intercontinental ferry at the Niujiao Mountain ferry landing, he regretted it. He wanted to jump off the ferry and sneak back. Anyway, Fallen Phoenix Mountain now had a large family and many territories. He could just find a place to hide. Wei Bo would probably be annoyed to see him and wouldn’t bother mentioning it to Old Cook and Pei Qian. After a few days, he could show his face at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, find an excuse to muddle through, pretend he forgot to check the almanac for an auspicious day, was worried about Yellow Lake Mountain, forgot to say goodbye to his friends in Yujiang, and that cultivating diligently and assiduously at home wasn’t so bad…

On the table was a large bamboo box. It was rare for Wei Da Shan Jun to be generous and lend him a “咫尺物” (a magical item containing space).

Inside the bamboo box were many maps of the Northern Ju Lu Continent, drawn by mountain immortals and secretly held by court officials, plus a mess of local chronicles, as well as several booklets personally written by Chen Ping An, all of which were major and minor precautions. As Old Cook said, he was only missing writing down where to pee and poop. If he still couldn’t succeed on this journey, he might as well drown himself.

Chen Ling Jun was still afraid.
Previously, in Huang Ting Country near the Royal River, he really disliked moving. He recognized the River God of the Royal River as his sworn brother, and they wreaked havoc together. Arriving at the Fallen Mountain, he still refused to move. Pei Qian and Xiao Mi Li would occasionally wander around Red Candle Town, but Chen Lingjun only roamed around the Fallen Mountain’s various peaks, enjoying the scenery, chatting nonsense with the old immortal masters next door, and swaggering around with his black snake, carefree and unfettered.

Ever since that blind old Daoist named Jia Sheng moved from Riding Dragon Lane to Huanghu Mountain to build a hut for cultivation, Chen Lingjun often visited him, finding him very congenial. If boasting really worked, the entire Vast Sky World would be their private garden.

However, Chen Lingjun now understood that the other party was so flattering to him,

still because of Chen Ping’an’s sake.

Chen Lingjun didn’t dislike this, quite liked it.

No matter how good the atmosphere of the Fallen Mountain was, it was still difficult to avoid the distinction between near and far, and the order of arrival.

He and that little dullard, Nuan Shu, were, after all, the earliest “old-timers” of the Fallen Mountain.

Only later did the old cook, Pei Qian, Shi Rou, that silly Cen Yuanji, the憨妞儿 Yuan Bao, and the simpleton Yuan Lai arrive, because the simpleton was Cao Qinglang,

and then, Chen Ping’an abducted Xiao Mi Li from the Northern Entire Reed Continent.

Sometimes Chen Lingjun himself felt that Wei Bo, the old cook, and the others looked down on him. He couldn’t blame them for their high standards, he could only blame himself for being unambitious, liking to loaf around and shoot the breeze.

The more people, the more lively, the better.

To be lonely and travel all the way to the Northern Entire Reed Continent, what kind of cultivation was that?

What Skull Beach, Hemp Robe Sect, Mural City, Sect Master Zhu Quan, and two Fallen Mountain honorary offerings, what Dumb Lake, Liu Zhiqing, Spring Dew Garden, Cloud Top City, what about that Ji River, the Middle Dragon Palace Grotto-Heaven, the westernmost mountain, and Lion Peak, Li Er and his wife, Li Huai’s older sister Li Liu. Little Bao Ping’s older brother Li Xisheng.

The master’s friends, a Fire God Temple, Taiwei Sword Sect’s Liu Jinglong, his disciple Little White Head.

Was he going to cultivate for a bright future? He was going to visit door-to-door to give gifts, wasn’t he?

It was impossible not to jump ship!

Chen Lingjun packed his luggage and sneaked from the second floor to the first floor of the ferry, but Wei Bo appeared out of thin air near the ferry’s railing.

Chen Lingjun laughed and said, “Mountain Lord Wei, why are you being so polite? No need to see me off, no need to see me off.”

Wei Bo smiled and said, “The territory of a continent’s Northern Peak is all under my jurisdiction, have you forgotten?”

Chen Lingjun ran over to massage the Mountain Lord’s arms and shoulders: “How could I dare to forget? I’d even hold back my pee, just to avoid defiling the Northern Peak’s magnificent rivers and mountains!”

Wei Bo said, “The Storage Prince Mountain of the Northern Peak is located at the northernmost end of the Treasure Bottle Continent. I will greet that mountain god and watch the ferry go to sea. Then it won’t be too late for you to jump, and I won’t be able to control it. You can slowly rush back, as for landing in the Eastern Peak territory, Ganzhou Mountain, it’s up to your mood.”

Chen Lingjun was dumbfounded.

Qingfeng City, a prosperous trading hub, had remained peaceful for hundreds of years, with dynasties changing and landscapes shifting, but Qingfeng City, built at the foot of the mountain, had always stood firm. Emperors and monarchs had always treated the Xu family with respect.

Because of the great kindness formed by their ancestor, the Xu family was able to possess a Fox Kingdom, equivalent to half a blessed land.

Legend had it that the fox fairy encountered by the Xu family’s ancestor was already a seven-tailed fox, but it was unknown whether it had grown another tail now.

Qingfeng City’s Xu family was famous for its expensive and rare fox-fur beauties, which were always in high demand.

It was a specialty of the Treasure Bottle Continent. With the increasingly frequent intercontinental ferries to the Northern Entire Reed Continent, the Xu family’s wealth grew even more substantial. Especially in recent years, the Xu family’s head changed the ancestral methods and opened the Fox Kingdom’s Mirror Flower Water Moon, which directly doubled the price of a fox-fur talisman.

The Xu family hired renowned painters to create paintings of the Four Beauties and Eighteen Ladies, either carefully engraved or copied, and added scattered Fang Si Hou and folding fans. Once launched, they were all snapped up.

Some mountain immortals who were not on good terms with Qingfeng City had some sour words, saying that the Xu family was only one step away from selling erotic art. If Xu Hun dared to sell that, he would be a true hero.

They deliberately belittled Xu Hun, evaluating him as a man who wallowed in powder and rouge.

However, this man was indeed a genuine Nascent Soul Realm military strategist. After obtaining that strange Wart Armor, he was even more powerful, with exceptional combat strength. He was one of the few with outstanding killing power below the fifth realm on the Treasure Bottle Continent.

In an elegant room in a restaurant in Qingfeng City’s bustling area, a young man continued to eat. A scholar in a blue shirt had already put down his chopsticks and stood by the window, looking at the bustling crowd on the street. There were indeed many beautiful women.

Liu Chicheng shook his folding fan and smiled, “This couple in Qingfeng City, one cultivating diligently, the other managing the household and earning money, they are truly a perfect match.”

The young man only buried himself in eating. Liu Chicheng ate very little, but ordered a large table of dishes, leaving a lot of food uneaten.

Liu Chicheng turned to look at the young man and asked with a smile, “Gu Can, you haven’t said why you wanted to come here to stroll around, and even deliberately ditched Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi. Can you tell me now?”

When Gu Can wanted to speak, he stopped eating, swallowed the food, and looked up, saying, “I have a friend who was almost beaten to death by a man named Lu Zhengchun back then. This Lu Zhengchun is a descendant of the Lu family of Fortune and Prosperity Street, and he seems to be doing quite well in Qingfeng City’s Xu family now.”

In Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, the four major families and the ten major surnames, Song, Li, Zhao, and Lu, were all top-tier clans.

However, the Lu family of Small Town was too involved with the destroyed dynasty, so their fate was the most miserable. After the fall of Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven to the earth, only the Lu family of Small Town had no achievements to speak of.

Only one Lu Zhengchun followed the Qingfeng City’s Xu family woman away from Small Town in his early years. The Xu family treated him well, giving him a lot of cultivation resources, and also gave him a direct inheritance identity in the Ancestral Hall as a protective talisman, giving face and substance to the Lu family.

Liu Chicheng was not interested in that Lu Zhengchun, but asked curiously, “A person like you, can also have friends?”

Gu Can nodded, “I do have some.”

Liu Chicheng smiled, “Actually, there’s only one, Chen Ping’an?”

Gu Can shook his head, “From childhood to adulthood, he has never treated me as a friend. There’s too much age difference. And I am the same. He’s more like half a relative, it’s different. As for that Liu Xianyang with a heart wider than the sky, he’s only close to me because of Chen Ping’an. Otherwise, he and I have never been on the same path, not in the past, and even less so in the future, but he can barely be considered a friend.”
After Liu Xianyang returns from the Chen Clan of Chunru Continent in Southern娑婆洲, he will likely become the direct disciple of Ruan Qiong of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect. Back then, Liu Xianyang was taken far away from his hometown because his ancestors were the Chen Clan’s tombkeepers.

One thing about Liu Xianyang that Gu Can admired the most was his innate ability to adapt to new environments, never suffering from homesickness or acclimatization issues.

As for himself, after arriving at Shujian Lake, he had even lost his greatest strength: patience.

Looking back at his seemingly glorious years on Qingxia Island, Gu Can realized that he had been walking down a path of self-destruction.

His young age was no excuse.

Gu Can looked at the dishes on the table and continued to eat.

Liu Chicheng suddenly said, “After we go to Bai Emperor City, sever any connections you can.”

Gu Can remained expressionless, only focusing on his meal, saying nothing.

Liu Chicheng didn’t think he could change Gu Can’s nature; it would likely depend on his martial uncle’s methods of instruction. He changed the subject, “Earlier, when you said someone was ‘doing alright,’ how alright is ‘alright’? Since they are the same age and from the same hometown as you, are they a Golden Core Sword Cultivator? Or a Nascent Soul Qi Refiner?”

Gu Can said, “Right now, he’s a Fourth Realm Qi Refiner. Within ten years, he has a chance of reaching the Cave Realm. He helps the Xu Clan manage a small portion of the Fox Kingdom’s business. His cultivation isn’t fast, but he can use divine money to accelerate it.”

Liu Chicheng closed his folding fan and tapped his head, laughing, “Future Junior Brother, are you teasing me, or are you telling a joke?”

Gu Can remained calm, not drinking, eating slowly, and enjoying each bite, “If I have to run away after killing someone, will I ever truly have a stable and secure place to settle down?”

Liu Chicheng smiled wryly and shook his head, “Is such a useless piece of trash, so insignificant in his cultivation, worth you killing and running away for? I’m an easygoing person. Just nod your head, and I’ll help you take care of it. Xu Hun is nothing, not even a Fifth Realm cultivator. It’s a small matter.”

Gu Can countered, “What if? Why bother?”

Liu Chicheng was speechless.

Gu Can put down his chopsticks and smiled, “But if I ever decide to take action against a mortal enemy, I’ll make sure they don’t even have someone to collect their corpse.”

Furthermore, he would ensure that no one could find fault with his actions.

As for others, there were only two types: Chen Ping’an and everyone else. If he had to choose, he would disregard the latter.

In short, Chen Ping’an should never even think about completely severing ties with him.

Liu Chicheng smiled brightly.

The more he looked at this kid, the more he liked him.

Being his protector was a first for him, like a virgin on her wedding day, but he was willing and felt comfortable doing it.

This even made Liu Chicheng consider taking him as a disciple.

Gu Can asked, “If I really become your junior brother, can I learn the best…?” He didn’t finish his words.

Liu Chicheng interrupted “Got to interfere. If something really happens, you save her, and I’ll take care of myself.”

Liu Chicheng’s face turned angry “What for?!”

Gu Can closed his eyes and began to calculate all the intelligence details about Qingfeng City.

Liu Chicheng sighed, leaning against the window, and mocked himself, “What a life of labor.”

Before Zheng Dafeng went to the Yang family’s shop, he went to the wine shop, where he was well-acquainted with the wine-selling woman, though not quite lovers.

The woman was feisty, and the townspeople called her Huang Erniang, her real name long forgotten.

Years ago, a drunken man knocked on the widow’s door late at night. The woman opened the door and swung a cleaver at his head, almost killing him. She paid a large sum of money afterward, but after that, men who lurked by the wall, telling lewd stories, or climbed over the wall to steal clothes, disappeared. It wasn’t worth risking one’s life for a bit of mischief.

Moreover, Huang Erniang didn’t mind lewd talk in the wine shop. It was often the men who begged for mercy. When she served dishes and wine, she would give the drunkards a playful touch, but they would only get a kick and a few scolding words. It was a worthwhile deal. If a handsome young man came to drink, the treatment was different. If they were bold enough, they wouldn’t even get a glare. It was debatable who was taking advantage of whom.

The wine shop was thriving, and crowded. Ruan, the blacksmith who became an immortal, often came to buy wine. Over time, Huang Erniang’s wine became the town’s golden brand. Many outsiders were willing to come here to bask in the aura of the Grand Li Dynasty’s chief divine priest, Saint Ruan. This place and the lucky money pastry shop on Riding Dragon Lane were doing very well now.

Zheng Dafeng stood at the entrance of the shop, feeling a bit worried. With so many scruffy men staring, he guessed that Huang Erniang, being shy, would be embarrassed to tease him. Moreover, now that the shop was bigger and had hired two helpers, Zheng Dafeng felt that the taste of wine wasn’t as good as before.

Unlike the old days when the shop was quiet, he was a regular customer. Huang Erniang, seeing him leaning against the counter, would act as if her man had come home. She would sway her hips, walk around the counter, and call him “Big Feng” or pinch his arm, scolding him softly as a heartless wretch, making him feel like melting into a piece of peach cake.

She would insist on holding his arm high as they walked into the shop together. How could there be such a heavy hidden weapon in the world? It was so hurtful. Zheng Dafeng was afraid of injuring his arm, so he would have to rub it for a long time before he could lift his wine bowl.

All seven or eight wine tables were full, so Zheng Dafeng planned to come back when there were fewer people. Unexpectedly, one table was full of local men, one of whom waved and said, “Oh, isn’t this Brother Dafeng? Come sit over here. Let’s get things straight, you’re treating today. You’ve sponged off so much wine from us at every wedding and funeral. Now you’re helping the mountain immortal guard the gate, so grand. Sure enough, when a man has money in his pocket, he can stand up straight.”

The hunched Zheng Dafeng trotted over and sat on the same bench as that person, laughing, “I’m treating? I’m saving up for a wife, not like you, Liu the Big Eyes, who sold two ancestral houses and bought two big houses and some shops in the state capital in one go. Such a big shot. Me, treating? Isn’t that slapping your rich old face, Liu the Big Eyes?”

“Big Eyes” was a local slang term meaning “blind to people.”

The man surnamed Liu wasn’t angry. He was used to bickering with Zheng Dafeng. This little bit of barbed banter was nothing. Whoever got angry lost.
In recent years, the townsfolk rarely saw the man. He had long sold both of his ancestral residences, which occupied considerable land, showing no attachment to the past. He used to pass by the graves during tomb-sweeping festivals, but later even that became too much trouble. The road was too long, and he felt it sufficient to burn some spirit money by the roadside outside his mansion in the state city during the Qingming Festival, considering it fulfilling his filial duty.

The man lowered his voice, “Do you know that widow from Mud Bottle Lane? She’s become incredibly successful, truly rich and powerful.”

He raised his thumb, “When it comes to wealth, that beautiful widow is at this level.”

The man immediately regretted his words, “If I had known this back then, I would have done more! Now, in the state city, not to mention a few houses and shops, two or three entire streets would bear my name!”

Zheng Dafeng poured himself a bowl of wine. It wasn’t the same when Huang Erniang didn’t personally bring the drink to his lips; the taste was far from good. Zheng Dafeng raised his bowl, toasting the table of people with a single drink. All those seated were former neighbors from the street, about the same age as Liu Da Yanzhu, who had now established businesses in the state city, living lives they once only dreamed of. The first wives who had weathered the storms and the enchanting concubines who came later created a constant ruckus, with those clever maids adding fuel to the fire. Everyday life was more lively than in the old days during the New Year.

Zheng Dafeng offered a toast, but only one relatively simple and honest acquaintance returned the gesture. The others ignored him, pretending not to see.

Zheng Dafeng didn’t care. *I’m here to freeload,* he thought. *Why bother with being polite?*

He quickly poured another bowl and, wiping his mouth, chuckled, “Not too clear. I wasn’t very familiar with Madam Gu back then, as you know.”

Liu Da Yanzhu teased, “I’ve always found it strange. Both are beautiful widows, but Gu’s from Mud Bottle Lane has such a gentle nature. Why didn’t you try to seduce her? What is it about Huang Erniang that you like?”

Zheng Dafeng just smiled.

A man on another long bench, with a shrewd and calculating face, famous for his stinginess, casually asked with a laugh, “Dafeng, I heard you’re hanging around with that kid from Mud Bottle Lane these days? Look at what you’ve become, going backwards in life! At least when you were a gatekeeper, you were your own boss. Now you’re a lackey for a younger generation. Aren’t you ashamed? Besides, looking at you now, it doesn’t seem like you’ve struck it rich. How about I help you out? We’ve been brothers for years. You still have that small shack in the east of town, right? I can find a wealthy buyer for you in the state city.”

Zheng Dafeng started pouring wine again, waving his hand, “No, no. My little nest is fine where it is. It’s so small that if I fart facing east, the window paper on the west side will shake. It’s worthless, worthless.”

The man glanced at Liu Da Yanzhu, who immediately chimed in, “Brother Dafeng, these days the state city is overflowing with money! To be honest, if I dropped a string of copper coins on the ground—not even gold or silver—I wouldn’t bother bending down to pick it up! If you sell that mud house, you could settle down in the state city and marry any beautiful woman you want! Besides, once you’re in the state city, all of us old brothers will be there, helping each other out. Isn’t that better than being a gatekeeper?”

Zheng Dafeng started to stall, neither refusing nor agreeing, just dragging it out, so he could freeload on wine again next time.

Eventually, the table lost all patience with Zheng Dafeng. They left without settling the bill.

Zheng Dafeng called a familiar face to sit down, who in turn invited his own acquaintance for a drink. Then Zheng Dafeng tried to sneak away.

Unexpectedly, the proprietress had sharp eyes and smiled, “Brother Dafeng, are you short on cash or on something else? If you’re short on cash and can’t pay for the wine, what kind of relationship do we have? I’ll waive the bill. But if you’re short on a certain something, I can’t help you.”

Zheng Dafeng kept walking, pretending not to hear.

Huang Erniang slammed her hand on the table, “Zheng Dafeng! Get back here! This old woman’s tofu is bold and unafraid of knives, so eat as much as you want. But you dare to owe me for the wine? What gave you the courage, you coward?!”

The townspeople were traditionally simple and honest.

Zheng Dafeng turned around and shuffled back to the counter, whispering with a smile, “Short on cash, always short on cash! When am I not short on cash? As for the other thing, don’t you know, Huang Erniang? ‘Dragon Spirit Tiger Might Dafeng Ge’ is not an empty title.”

Huang Erniang leaned against the counter, cracking melon seeds, “Why don’t you gamble anymore? Did you fall into a sow’s nest in the mountains?”

Zheng Dafeng chuckled cheekily, “I gamble just for fun, never for profit. Have you ever seen me win when I gamble?”

Then Zheng Dafeng said earnestly, “Money earned at the gambling table is but a field by the river. Gambling money lasts sixty years, tops. Skills and craftsmanship bring money that lasts three generations. A small plot of land and farming money last for ten thousand years.”

Huang Erniang rolled her eyes, “You always pretend to be a scholar.”

Zheng Dafeng glanced at the woman’s clothing and reached out, “Sister, what shop is this cloth from? It’s so sturdy. Let Dafeng Ge take a look.”

The woman just cracked melon seeds, neither dodging nor avoiding. She didn’t believe that he would dare to touch the cloth over her chest.

As expected, Zheng Dafeng sheepishly pulled back his hand, pretending to find an excuse to cover up his intentions, wiping the table and complaining, “Sister, it’s not that I’m nagging you, but you need to find someone diligent to work. Look at this table, greasy all over. If a fly lands on it, it won’t be able to move its feet. If you’re not careful, it’ll get crushed to death by those two mountains.”

The woman just sneered, “You have the nerve to call me sister? Count on your fingers and see how long it’s been since you patronized my shop?”

Zheng Dafeng leaned on the counter, turning to glance at the noisy tables, smiling, “What’s the point of patronizing now? You don’t need my few bowls of wine.”

While the hunched-over man turned his head to look elsewhere, the woman’s eyes reddened, but she quickly masked it.

It seemed that in the blink of an eye, many years had passed.

When she first opened this shop, she was still a young woman, even more beautiful than she was now, without the wrinkles around her eyes, and her hands were much more delicate. She recalled back then, when she bravely served wine to the guests, almost all the drunks’ eyes would glance at her chest, but only one young man would also look at her small hands, saying many pleasing words, like lines from a book, all convoluted and hard to understand, but somehow made her feel happy inside.
The tavern could survive its earliest, most desolate days largely thanks to the help of the man before her. It wasn’t just about him drinking there.

Back when she was at her most radiant, she’d been preoccupied with being vexed and embarrassed by the remarks of others. Now that she was older, she understood more about the ways of the world, though she wasn’t as pleasing to the eye anymore.

She just felt that Zheng Dafeng was different from ordinary men.

His eyes and mouth weren’t exactly virtuous, but his hands were honest.

The woman learned much later that this was the mark of a truly honest man.

Zheng Dafeng turned his head. “Same as always, put it on my tab. Oh, and give your Big Brother Dafeng another bowl.”

The woman slammed a bowl on the table and personally scooped the wine, pouring it in. As she faced the wine jar, bending over, she knew the man was surely looking at her.

Huang Erniang poured the wine, then leaned back against the counter, watching the man sip at the wine. She said softly, “Liu Dayanzhu and his gang are eyeing your house. Be careful. They might have come back to town this time just for you.”

Zheng Dafeng nodded. “My dear sister always knows how to care for a man.”

“I’m being serious!”

Huang Erniang’s tone sharpened slightly, her brow furrowing. “Don’t be careless. I heard that this bunch has gotten rich and started doing business in the state capital, and they’re not playing fair. Money in the hands of good people breeds heroism, but in the pockets of these scoundrels, it’s just a tool for hurting others. Your rundown house may be small, but the location is prime. Going east from town leads to the Immortal’s Tomb, which has become a Martial Temple. In recent years, how many high officials have gone there to burn incense and pay respects? What grandeur! Don’t you know? But I must advise you, find a suitable buyer and sell it. Don’t hold onto it too tightly, or the yamen might open its mouth and offer to buy it, and then the price will be up in the air. If the price is dirt cheap, will you sell or not? If you don’t, will you have any peace in the future?”

Zheng Dafeng grunted in acknowledgement.

So, when it came to dirty and troublesome matters, the common folk had plenty. Every household had its share of troubles. But when it came to cleverness and kindness, there was also a great deal. In every home, there were always bowls of clean, white rice.

The woman suddenly felt a pang of sadness. “We’re all getting old.”

Zheng Dafeng laughed. “That’s right. Your little sprout is a scholar now, isn’t he? Heard he’s got himself a nickname, ‘Little Budding Scholar’? How about it? Big Brother Dafeng never lies to you. That kid’s got the makings of something special. A true seed for scholarship. The Spring Festival couplets on the tavern door were written by him, quite impressive. My dear sister, you just wait for the good times ahead. A family treasure isn’t about money, it’s about accumulating virtue and doing good deeds.”

Huang Erniang glanced at him.

Zheng Dafeng feigned shyness, using his wine bowl to cover his face. “Sister, that look in your eyes is a bit too forward. Big Brother Dafeng feels like he’s walking around naked.”

Huang Erniang was helpless.

She really had to thank him for the matter of her child’s upbringing. Back in the day, as a young widow with a little burden, she would have gladly cut off her own flesh to ensure her child was fed, clothed, and warm. As the child grew older, she couldn’t bear to scold or beat him, so he ran wild, even skipping classes at the village school. She felt that things weren’t right, but she didn’t know how to teach him. She’d advise him, but he wouldn’t listen. He always agreed verbally but continued to fish in the river and catch snakes in the mountains. Then, one time, Zheng Dafeng was drinking, and among a lot of crude talk, he uttered a line: “To earn money, one must be shrewd, to treat people, one should be generous, but one must never be generous to one’s children.”

Huang Erniang took it to heart, and with a sound thrashing, she disciplined her child.

Huang Erniang suddenly said, “Half-hearted, indecisive, pretentious, chaotic, almost there, a coward.”

These were once words Zheng Dafeng used to scold people while drinking in the tavern.

They weren’t actually that forceful, too refined, not cutting enough.

However, Huang Erniang found them interesting, so she remembered them. It was different from the way other women, who scratch and claw first, or those country men, who swore with raw language, cursed. It seemed to be a different style.

Zheng Dafeng pretended not to understand, instead lamenting, “A bachelor’s sorrow, a cold breeze blows. How poor is he? So poor the mice move away. The mosquitoes barely get a sip of wine. I save up enough for a wife, but which girl is willing to come knocking?”

Huang Erniang asked with a smile, “How old a girl?”

Zheng Dafeng glanced at the woman, smiling. “Age doesn’t matter too much, but where it needs to be big, it still needs to be big.”

Huang Erniang tossed a handful of melon seeds at the man.

Zheng Dafeng dodged them. A bowl of wine always comes to an end. He put down the bowl, patted his face, and clicked his tongue. “What a sight it is, drinking like a whale sucking in a hundred rivers, drunk like Mount Yu collapsing. Sister, you have good fortune in your eyes.”

Huang Erniang scoffed. “You’re just a blockhead. Get drunk and fall

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into the latrine, drown, or eat yourself to death. It’s all the same to me.”

Zheng Dafeng said, “I’m leaving, I’ll definitely pay the debt later.”

Huang Erniang suddenly asked, “Going on a long journey again?”

Zheng Dafeng said, “Not too far.”

That lotus root blessed land, said to be near, was near the Fallen Phoenix Mountain, yet also far.

Huang Erniang lowered her voice. “Haven’t you had enough suffering? What’s so good out there?”

Zheng Dafeng turned his head, smiling. “I once saw a line in a book, ‘The flowers of the Huang family are abundant,’ but they are not as good as Huang Erniang.”

Huang Erniang asked, “Can’t you just stay? You can just keep owing me for the wine.”

Zheng Dafeng shook his head and left.

The woman watched the slouching man walk further and further away, quickly becoming blurred.

Zheng Dafeng arrived at the Yang family’s shop, helping out temporarily. His precocious junior sister, Su Dian, and his dull-witted junior brother, Shi Lingshan, were both out experiencing the world.

At the moment, only a member of the Yang family was looking after the business. Zheng Dafeng was much thicker-skinned now. Even though the master still didn’t care much for him, he stayed in the front shop and didn’t bother the old man in the backyard.

Nearing the shop, Zheng Dafeng quietly dispersed the alcohol from his body. Entering the shop, the young shop assistant was dozing off. Hearing Zheng Dafeng moving a small stool, he woke up and continued to sleep. The Yang family member had been annoyed by Zheng Dafeng for years and didn’t want to get involved. A bachelor guarding the door, who had gone on a long journey, lost half his life out there, and limped back to continue guarding the door, what kind of success could he have? If the Yang family patriarch hadn’t said a few not-so-serious words, a slob like Zheng Dafeng wouldn’t even think about relying on his connection with the old man in the backyard to lend a hand at the shop.
The Yang family had been experiencing a streak of misfortune in recent years, affecting the fortunes of all its branches. Once counted among the Four Great Clans and Ten Prominent Families, those who hadn’t relocated to the Great Li capital were thriving in the state city, amassing wealth at an enviable rate. This stirred envy in the younger, more ambitious members of the Yang family. The patriarch, however, harbored a quiet disappointment and had ceased to intervene, allowing his lackluster descendants to follow their own paths.

The old man’s only assurance was the medicinal formula possessed by Old Man Yang in the backyard.

But this transaction was handled by only three individuals across three generations of the family, eliminating any worries about a lack of successors.

With a large number of descendants, the family head naturally favored the truly accomplished ones, providing them with more resources. The less capable were simply sustained, kept from starvation, while those who could earn money became even wealthier.

Zheng Dafeng moved a stool to sit in front of the shop, basking in the sun without cost. Enjoying the mountain scenery and reveling in the bustle of the marketplace were two distinct pleasures.

Zheng Dafeng looked up at the sun, musing, “Does the heavens witness everything?”

He had been doing this since he was a child, gazing at the sun for so long that it no longer stung his eyes. It had become a habit. Later, after learning boxing and martial arts, Zheng Dafeng stopped pondering such things.

Zheng Dafeng lowered his gaze and patted his knee, “Last year I hoped for a better this year, but this year is still a tattered coat. This year I dream of a better next year, next year…”

From behind the counter, a young man grumbled, “So noisy.”

Zheng Dafeng turned his head and smiled, “Dead yet?”

The young man glared, “How dare you speak like that!”

Zheng Dafeng feigned confusion, “If not with the mouth, then with what, the rear end?”

The young man slammed his hand on the counter, “Zheng Dafeng, watch your tongue!”

Zheng Dafeng chuckled, raised his hand, and gestured downwards, patiently saying, “Keep your voice down. The common folk’s tables are either for holding rice bowls or placing incense burners. Anything else is insignificant, like that abacus. So, don’t slam the table. It disrespects the heavens and spirits, and that’s not right.”

The young man sneered, “Stop spouting nonsense and old wives’ tales, you lame, hunchbacked wretch! A lifetime of guarding the door, a dog’s life! You really think this shop is your own home?!”

A sharp barb, more painful than a thorn, more stinging than a knife.

However, Zheng Dafeng’s most frequent sparring partner was not his martial brother, Li Er, in matters of pugilism, but rather in the art of verbal jousting.

The small town had few residents, but many masters of witty repartee.

Mud Bottle Lane and Apricot Blossom Lane were blessed with talented individuals, producing numerous experts.

Take the taciturn Chen Ping’an, for example. During those youthful years, he may not have been “attacking”, but in truth, this skill was accumulating inner strength day by day.

Zheng Dafeng immediately perked up. Su Dian was too stubborn, Shi Lingshan too simple. Finally, someone who could converse and engage in banter! How refreshing! Zheng Dafeng moved his stool closer to the doorway and chuckled, “Yang Shu, I hear you often burn incense at the Iron Talisman River Water God Temple? Do you know the proper etiquette for burning incense? This is something that requires adherence to tradition. Do you know why one should hold the incense with the left hand? And do you know that you’re left-handed, which makes the whole thing inauspicious?”

The young man named Yang Shu felt a bit uneasy, but his expression remained disdainful, and he didn’t bother to reply.

Zheng Dafeng grinned, “Fifteen yearns for the neighbor’s wife. Thirty craves another’s son. Fifty or sixty desires another’s good daughter-in-law. The Third Branch of the Yang family, a fine family tradition.”

Yang Shu’s face immediately turned red. He grabbed the abacus and hurled it fiercely at the damned bastard.

The head of the Third Branch of the Yang family did indeed have a poor reputation in Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Lane, the kind of wealthy man with “untied trousers.”

Zheng Dafeng caught the abacus, “This is your Yang family’s money-making tool, can’t be thrown away. If it breaks, who will compensate? I’m penniless, you’re somewhat wealthy. Even if you try to smear me with dirt, will it work? Who do you think will end up paying? You’re planning to wade into murky waters, to earn ill-gotten gains in the state city. In my opinion, you shouldn’t go. The rise and fall of a family lies in propriety and righteousness, not in wealth or poverty. Read more books. If you can’t do it, have more sons. There’s still hope for the descendants to bring glory to the ancestors.”

Yang Shu’s face turned ashen, trembling with rage.

Zheng Dafeng shook his head and raised a hand, “Don’t start a fight with me. I don’t hold back when I strike. One punch from me, and you’ll probably start practicing Drunken Fist, self-taught style.”

Yang Shu was about to go around the counter, not to fight, but to go home.

Suddenly, the curtain was lifted, and an old man said, “Yang Shu, you’re embarrassing yourself by arguing with a watchman.”

Yang Shu snorted coldly, but having an excuse to back down, he still left the Yang family shop, only slowing his pace, walking more steadily.

After Yang Shu stepped over the threshold along the side of the door and finally departed, Old Man Yang, rarely seen at the front of the shop, came to the entrance and said, “Arguing with a useless piece of trash, is that fun? Can the other party even understand human speech?”

Zheng Dafeng had already stood up, trying to straighten his back as much as possible.

When an old master accepts a disciple, respecting the teacher and valuing the Dao are paramount.

Zheng Dafeng followed the old man to the backyard. The old man lifted the curtain, crossed the threshold, and let it fall. Zheng Dafeng gently held it, let the old man pass, and carefully released it.

Old Man Yang sat on the steps of the main house, tapped his pipe, and picked up his tobacco pouch from his waist.

Soon, he was puffing out clouds of smoke again.

The slender bamboo pipe was a gift from someone, while the tobacco leaves were given by that little brat, Li Huai. Over the years, the bamboo pipe had been rubbed and smoked from its original verdant green to a light bamboo yellow.

Old Man Yang said, “Even if you go to a small Lotus Root Blessed Land, what’s the point?”

Zheng Dafeng replied, “At least it’s the Vast World.”

Old Man Yang glanced askance at his disciple.

Being too clever is never a good thing.

Zheng Dafeng said helplessly, “As you wish, Master.”

Alright, it seems he really was going on a long journey.

Old Man Yang said, “When you get there, start over. The road will be even more difficult, but the easier the road, the more people there will be. There’s a reason why Fan Junmao became the Southern Mountain Lord, and not you.”

Zheng Dafeng simply listened to the instructions.

Old Man Yang asked, “Why do you think the Confucian School opened up the Fifth World specifically at this time? You should know that world was discovered long ago.”
Zheng Dafeng replied, “To avoid a situation where, on the eve of a great war, the various schools of thought not only fail to help but actively undermine us, causing infighting. Now, a new realm has appeared out of nowhere; let them compete for it if they have the ability.”

Old Man Yang then asked, “Do you know why the Haoran world is the most tolerant of Daoist and Buddhist philosophies? Can you imagine the Qingming world, with its Confucian academies and Buddhist temples, offering them a foothold?”

Zheng Dafeng looked solemn. This was a question he could never answer on his own.

Old Man Yang waved his hand, dispersing the smoke, and asked, “I once called the three sage teachers of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism *Pixiu*, right?” (*Pixiu* is a mythical Chinese creature known for only consuming wealth and never releasing it, implying greed.)

Zheng Dafeng nodded.

The old man laughed, “I just wonder which one will be the first to slap me.”

Now, his master seemed willing to say a little more when it came to his own side.

But Zheng Dafeng actually missed the bleak days when his “master’s words were fewer than ten characters.”

Zheng Dafeng suddenly froze.

Old Man Yang sneered, “Finally remembered? You’ve always been unconvinced that you’re less intelligent than Li Er.” (Li Er is another character’s name).

Li Er had once reminded Zheng Dafeng to think carefully about why his master never spoke more than ten words to him.

Back then, Zheng Dafeng was blind to the obvious, simply thinking that his master found him annoying and didn’t want to waste a single word.

Martial Artist Tenth Realm.

Back then, with the strength of a Far-Traveler Realm (Eighth Realm) martial artist, he journeyed south to Old Dragon City, guarding that dusty shop. Later, he met Chen Ping’an, and then he broke through. He almost, just almost, broke through two bottlenecks at once, rising directly from the Eighth Realm to the Tenth Realm!

Old Man Yang sneered, “If you had the ability to make me say even one more word back then, you would have been in the Tenth Realm long ago. There wouldn’t be so much messy business now. You wandered east and west, conversed with Qi Jingchun, and chatted with that Old Yao. So what? Are you in the Tenth Realm now, or the Eleventh Realm? Hmm, multiply it by two, and it’s almost enough.”

Zheng Dafeng was more accustomed to this kind of master.

However, Zheng Dafeng unusually said, “Returning things to their original owner is for the best. They don’t bother me where they are, since I won’t look at them anyway, but they are a nuisance.”

Those golden lights were Zheng Dafeng’s soul fragments.

Zheng Dafeng stood up, bowed, and cupped his fist, “Disciple thanks Master for imparting the Dao and protecting the Dao.”

Old Man Yang exhaled clouds of smoke.

Zheng Dafeng immediately sat down.

Standing there wasn’t respectful enough.

Zheng Dafeng turned his head and saw a Confucian scholar in a blue robe with lively eyes and a cheerful countenance, carrying a bamboo chest and holding a mountain-climbing staff.

Zheng Dafeng kept a straight face.

The travel-worn young man quickly walked to Old Man Yang, squatted down, and kneaded his shoulders, clicking his tongue. “Rest assured, rest assured. These muscles and bones are still strong, like a strapping young lad. It wouldn’t be too much to take a wife! Dafeng, you’re really something as a disciple. Don’t you know how to find someone for your master? Is it hard for you to find a wife for yourself, or is it hard for you to find a stepmother?”

Old Man Yang didn’t mind.

Zheng Dafeng wasn’t surprised.

In this vast world, Li Huai was probably the only one who dared to treat the old man like this.

Old Man Yang asked, “Going to Piyun Mountain’s Linlu Academy again for scholarly exchange?”

Li Huai simply sat down on the ground. “That’s secondary. I’m going to duel with Pei Qian, of course, a duel of… belongings! It’s been years since we last met, and we’ve both accumulated quite a bit of wealth. So, we agreed to fight on the square outside the ancestral hall of Jise Peak, a grand event in the martial world where supreme experts will cross hands. She went to the Great Wall of Swords. We met at the academy earlier, and she said she needed to tidy up her treasures and then we’ll fight again.”

Li Huai regretfully said, “It’s a pity that Li Baoping has gone on a solitary journey through the world. If I lose to Pei Qian, it’s fine, but if I accidentally win, I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave Fallen Phoenix Mountain without Li Baoping helping me hold the line.”

Zheng Dafeng laughed, “Is there anyone you’re afraid of?”

Li Huai nodded. “I’m afraid of Mr. Qi, afraid of Baoping, afraid of Pei Qian, and all those academy teachers, I’m afraid of them all.”

Zheng Dafeng teased, “Aren’t you afraid of Chen Ping’an?”

Li Huai seriously thought about it and said, “With him around, I’m not afraid.”

Fulu Street had Li Xisheng, a scholar traveling to the Northern Evergreen Continent, Li Baoping, studying at the Great Sui Cliff Academy, and Zhao Yao, who had traveled far to the Central Earth Continent.

Peach Leaf Lane had Xie Ling, the direct descendant of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, Tao Ya, the maid of the Wei family who went to the Great Li Capital, and Lin Shouyi, who was focused on cultivating the Dao and studying.

Mud Bottle Alley had Chen Ping’an, who went to the Great Wall of Swords, Gu Can, who stirred up turbulent waves in Shujian Lake and then began to lie low, Song Jixin, who became a prince of the Great Li, and the maid Zhi Gui.

Apricot Blossom Lane had Ma Kuxuan, who was hailed as a young genius leader of a continent.

The siblings Li Liu and Li Huai.

Dong Shuijing, who was engaged in business.

Yang’s Shop also had Su Dian and Shi Lingshan.

The town’s best fortune often landed on those with strong foundations, like Li Huai and Gu Can. When the old locust tree shed its leaves, Gu Can actually got the most leaves, he stealthily filled a large bag. When he returned to Mud Bottle Alley, Chen Ping’an reminded him, and he realized that there were so many locust leaves in his bag.

The hardest life probably still belonged to Chen Ping’an.

But all of this, the children and teenagers of the streets and alleys of the Li Zhu Paradise back then, in the blink of an eye, nearly fifteen years had passed. It was not smooth sailing that everyone had their own encounters, opportunities, and achievements.

Unknowingly, fifteen years had passed. Many of the town’s children had reached the age of twenty, and the young men of that era were about to turn thirty.

(End of this chapter)