Two wanderers, sharing wine in a foreign land.

A-Liang spoke first, teasing, “Recovering so quickly, a pure martial artist’s physique is indeed remarkable.”

The swiftness with which his bones, flesh, and blood healed, his disordered soul stabilized, and his Natal Sword was repaired and nurtured, all surpassed A-Liang’s expectations.

Chen Pingan said with a helpless smile, “A close brush with death still leaves me with lingering fear.”

It wasn’t just the sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Sword Qi who secretly sent messages to the military camps of the barbaric lands for various reasons. Within the demon army, there were also cultivators who leaked information to the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

After this battle, the Summer Palace had provided a detailed assessment of the combat prowess of the five genius sword cultivators in the Jiashen Camp.

Of course, the young Hidden Officer’s trump card of wielding two Natal Swords was now likely known to many military camps in the barbaric lands.

A-Liang joked, “I understand the principle of not just seeing the thief eat meat without seeing him get beaten.”

It was not easy for any outsider to gain a foothold in the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

A-Liang, having been through it himself, deeply understood this.

A-Liang stood up and stretched, saying, “Let’s go, I’ll take you around the city. A person’s heartstrings can’t always be taut.”

Chen Pingan, beside him, didn’t even realize that his breathing, ever since he started gathering herbs, from childhood to adulthood, had always been “orderly.”

Breathing is life, a paramount matter. Since almost all cultivators aim for longevity, they naturally start with breathing exercises, putting in painstaking effort.

The highly-ranked old man in Yang’s shop in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven had taught Chen Pingan a breathing method that was not particularly profound, of average quality, but it was balanced and orderly. Thus, it was a kind of nourishing sustenance, not a medicinal supplement. Although it had become second nature, it didn’t burden Chen Pingan’s physique. On the contrary, it provided long-term benefits, like a gently flowing spring nourishing his heart-field. However, cultivation was cultivation, and being a person was being a person. The ridges in his heart-field were distinct, with paths for travel. It was as if every step he took didn’t transgress the rules, and he could guard his harvest every day. Such restraint on the heart was good, but it made a person seem dull. Therefore, the straw sandal boy from Mud Bottle Lane gradually gave people the impression of being an old soul in a young body.

After learning martial arts, Chen Pingan liked to deliberately control his breathing and footsteps whenever he traveled the world alone, disguising a high realm as a low one. He could always do it with ease, more experienced than even seasoned wanderers. This wasn’t purely due to talent.

Chen Pingan stood up and asked with a smile, “Can I bring a little follower?”

A-Liang nodded, “Then let’s each bring one.”

Chen Pingan called for Guo Zhujiu, who was still considered Chen Pingan’s junior disciple. However, Chen Pingan was only thirty, which was like a child in the eyes of cultivators. The likelihood of Guo Zhujiu becoming the closed-door disciple of Fallen Mountain was extremely low.

Guo Zhujiu re-shouldered her book box and held her walking stick.

A-Liang called for Song Gaoyuan, a young sword cultivator from Deer Horn Palace in Fufeng Continent. Deer Horn Palace was a top-tier immortal sect in Fufeng Continent. Several surviving founding masters were women, so there were many female cultivators. Therefore, the male cultivators of Deer Horn Palace were the envy of many. Deer Horn Palace was renowned throughout the continent for its water-based divine powers, occupying a small portion of a major river that flowed into the sea. Among them, the Jealous Women’s Ferry and Rouge Ford, under Deer Horn Palace’s jurisdiction, were famous scenic spots. At the first, women crossing the ferry had to remove their makeup and change into plain clothes, or else the water goddess would stir up storms. At the second, on the contrary, women had to apply rouge and adorn themselves beautifully for people to cross safely. Deer Horn Palace never interfered, as long as the two ferries didn’t harm lives. The two willful water goddesses were allowed to establish strange rules based solely on their personal preferences.

A-Liang, who had traveled in Fufeng Continent for several years, had of course visited both the Jealous Women’s Ferry and Rouge Ford, and had chatted with the two water goddesses, one lively and one shy, both good girls.

As for that chance encounter at Deer Horn Palace, it was on a bright moonlit night. A-Liang had promised to give the water goddess of Jealous Women’s Ferry a gift to restore her shattered appearance, so he went to the ancestral lotus pond in Deer Horn Palace’s forbidden area. Each lotus leaf there had wondrous uses. Countless female cultivators who were dissatisfied with their appearance yearned for a lotus leaf from Deer Horn Palace, but they were priceless and unavailable. Deer Horn Palace’s mountain and water restrictions were interesting. A-Liang could only crawl forward, wriggling and twisting, to sneak to the lotus pond. He was squatting there, plucking lotus pods and picking lotus leaves, when he unexpectedly saw a girl sitting on a lotus leaf as large as a green bed in the distance. She stared at the disheveled man with a few small lotus leaves stuffed in his arms, who was lying on the ground, peeling lotus pods and eating lotus seeds. Seeing her, A-Liang reached out and asked if she wanted to try some.

The woman was hospitable, and a beautiful water spell crashed down on him.

Past events can be chased and remembered.

The four of them left the Summer Palace on foot. Chen Pingan, as always, was observant and noticed subtle changes in the mental states of Dong Bude and Pang Yuanji in the room earlier. He didn’t know what A-Liang had discussed with them before he arrived.

Leaving the gate, Song Gaoyuan mustered his courage, his face flushed red, and asked softly, “Senior A-Liang, will you visit our Deer Horn Palace again in the future?”

A-Liang asked with a smile, “Tell me, which of your seniors still misses me after all these years? I can’t guarantee whether I’ll go to Deer Horn Palace or not now.”

To avoid disrespecting the elder, Song Gaoyuan secretly spoke to Senior A-Liang with his heart, “It is Ancestor Rongguan who often mentions Senior.”

In fact, that founding master who had been away from the mortal world for over a hundred years would go to the lotus pond every time she emerged from seclusion, often muttering that the lotus seeds tasted bitter and could nourish the heart.

“Indeed, indeed.” A-Liang sighed, “So it’s her.”

Song Gaoyuan hesitated for a moment and said softly, “Before I traveled afar, Ancestor Rongguan instructed me to say a word to Senior A-Liang if I saw him at the Great Wall of Sword Qi.”

A-Liang remained silent.

Song Gaoyuan said, “Ancestor Rongguan wants to say to Senior, ‘I didn’t know then that it was something special.'”

A-Liang scratched his head and didn’t say much.

Song Gaoyuan didn’t dare to trouble Senior A-Liang.

Moreover, some things cannot be reasoned with. Pressuring only makes things more difficult.
They ambled along towards the city, passing by two private residences of deceased Sword Immortals. A’Liang pointed out that one estate’s foundation was a petrified gazebo, refined by a Sword Immortal and used as a white jade plaque inscribed with flying immortal poetry praising the moon. The other estate’s owner had a penchant for collecting ancient inkstones from the vast world. However, both old masters were gone. One was completely empty, while in the other, three disciples trained, taken in by a certain Sword Immortal. Before his death, the Sword Immortal issued a strict order: his three direct disciples were forbidden from leaving the estate until they attained the Nascent Soul realm as Sword Cultivators. A’Liang gazed at the wall of the private residence, sighing, “Such well-intentioned efforts.”

Chen Pingan’s expression was peculiar.

The three Golden Core Sword Cultivators within that estate were all men. Not only were they unable to leave, but they were also rumored to wear women’s attire, a strange occurrence on the Great Wall of Sword Qi. They had once sent a flying sword message to the Summer Resort Palace, hoping to go out and fight, but the Great Wall of Sword Qi reviewed the records and found that the deceased Sword Immortal had a written agreement with the Summer Resort Palace, bearing the old Sword Immortal’s name and a small palm print, likely the “handiwork” of the previous Hidden Official, Xiao Xun.

Chen Pingan had no choice but to refuse the three Golden Core Sword Cultivators’ request.

On the Great Wall of Sword Qi, the requests of fallen Sword Immortals were paramount. Once committed to paper, they had to be obeyed, no arguments allowed.

A head poked out from above the wall, a young-looking Sword Cultivator with a thick beard, who began to curse A’Liang.

A’Liang retorted, saying that he had merely told their master a story, and it was their master’s idea to imitate it. It had nothing to do with him, A’Liang.

The young Sword Cultivator raged, “You dog! Do you dare to come in and fight?”

A’Liang jumped up and spat at the wall.

Chen Pingan rubbed his forehead, unable to watch.

He suspected that the final move in the cursing matches between the old Sword Cultivators Cheng Quan and Zhao Ge Yi on the city wall was learned from A’Liang.

Then, noticing Guo Zhujiu’s wide eyes and Song Gaoyuan’s frozen state, he quickly smoothed his hair, muttering, “How unbecoming, how unbecoming. I shouldn’t have…”

After asking, Chen Pingan finally unraveled the mystery of that unsolved case on the Great Wall of Sword Qi. It turned out that the old Sword Immortal possessed a peculiar divine ability, adept at finding seeds of the Sword Dao. In fact, roughly half of the younger generation geniuses of the Great Wall of Sword Qi during this prosperous era were discovered by the old Sword Immortal’s discerning eye. This was fine for noble families like those on Taixiang Street and Yuhu Street, but ordinary folk from alleys like Lingxi Lane and Suoli Lane were easily overlooked. The earlier a cultivator embarked on the path of cultivation, the higher their future achievements. Diezhang, for example, was a promising seedling that A’Liang found using the technique taught by that Sword Immortal. Many future Sword Immortals possessed unremarkable, even hidden, aptitudes in their youth.

Once, while drinking with the severely wounded and dying old Sword Immortal, A’Liang casually mentioned a story from the vast world about a scholarly family. Their ancestor had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, and after being humiliated by his successful classmates, he returned home, personally teaching and lecturing. He made all the men in the family wear women’s clothing while they studied diligently. If they didn’t pass the exams before the age of forty, they had to continue wearing women’s attire. Initially, this became a joke, but eventually, the family produced six Jinshi scholars and three posthumously honored individuals.

A’Liang chuckled, “Does it seem absurd? Causing three young geniuses to be laughed at for decades, to the point where they’d rather die on the battlefield just to be free.”

A’Liang continued, “That old man’s lineage of sword techniques always involved harming oneself to kill enemies, so their lifespans tended to be short. Becoming a Sword Immortal was fast, but dying after becoming one was even faster. When the old man was alive, he could protect his disciples, but after he was gone, whether he had three disciples or thirty, with that kind of fighting style, they’d end up like the estate in front. He treated his disciples like his own children, which meant he had to worry about them. Every master and teacher has to take some responsibility for their disciples’ lives.”

A’Liang took down his wine pot, took a swig, and laughed, “Let me tell you another old story. Years ago, an old Sword Immortal sought out the old man, asking if he could make that technique public so that the Great Wall of Sword Qi could discover more young talents. The old man refused, saying the method was not to be passed on, not even if Chen Qingdu himself left the city walls to request it. He even retorted with a sentence that shut down that public-spirited old Sword Immortal: ‘Who the hell said that becoming a Sword Cultivator is the only good thing? Did you, Qi Tingji, decide that?'”

At this point, A’Liang laughed, more happy than sad, “I secretly asked him if the Great Sword Immortal really asked him, would he still refuse? The old man said, ‘How could I? That’s the Great Sword Immortal, a great honor! There’s nothing to hide. After we finished talking, I’d invite him for a drink, and my life would be complete.’ I then asked what if Dong Sangeng came to his door. The old man said, ‘Then I’d play dead!'”

A’Liang finally lamented, “In the vast world, there are Sword Immortals like that, but too few.”

Song Gaoyuan nodded, deeply agreeing.

A’Liang didn’t speak much after that.

In the past, A’Liang didn’t like talking about serious matters with the younger generation. They were young and shouldn’t have too many worries. The important matters of the Great Wall of Sword Qi were for the stronger swordsmen to bear.

But things were different now. The future would be a completely new era, unprecedented in ten thousand years. Almost every young person on the Great Wall of Sword Qi, even the children, was connected to it. They all needed to grow up quickly. The tide was surging, and worries came regardless of age.

The group arrived at the Guo residence on Yuhu Street. Chen Pingan told Guo Zhujiu to go home and asked Song Gaoyuan, who had proactively bid farewell to return to the Summer Resort Palace, to greet all the Sword Cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage and tell them they could wander around and relax for the next few days.

Song Gaoyuan glanced back at their retreating figures.
That Senior A-Liang, he was quite the celebrity in Deer Horn Palace. Back then, when Ancestor Rongguan chased after him with her junior sister, the man never retaliated, only shouting that he was a close friend of Xu Dian, the great sword immortal of Fufeng Continent. He begged the Deer Horn Palace immortals to give Xu Sword Immortal some face. Xu Dian was a registered immortal disciple from the second largest sect in Fufeng Continent, and a rising star with a considerable reputation. At such a young age, he was already a Nascent Soul realm swordsman. However, the Deer Horn Palace cultivators always did as they pleased. Even if Xu Dian’s path was promising, he was still not a true sword immortal, not to mention his junior status. Furthermore, the Palace Lord of Deer Horn Palace was among the ten strongest in Fufeng Continent, highly respected, with peerless water magic, and doted on his junior sister Rongguan. Therefore, the man’s last-minute attempt to clutch at a straw, invoking such a minor figure as a patron, was completely useless. In the end, the man successfully slipped away, without leaving his name, though he did recite a lot of poetry.

Afterwards, Deer Horn Palace sent a flying sword missive to Xu Dian’s sect, along with a portrait of the man, questioning Xu Dian and demanding information about the man’s background and whereabouts.

Xu Dian was utterly bewildered. The sword genius, suffering an undeserved calamity, quickly replied to Deer Horn Palace, stating that he did not recognize the man in the portrait at all.

As it turned out, one of the old ancestors of Xu Dian’s sect, who often frolicked in the mortal realm, though appearing as a child, had long since returned to simplicity in his cultivation, and in fact possessed a cultivation even higher than the Palace Lord of Deer Horn Palace. Upon learning of this matter, he travelled swiftly, personally flying his sword to Deer Horn Palace. He said that Xu Dian might not recognize him, but he did, that he and his old buddy A-Liang were sworn brothers who had exchanged lives.

Outsiders only knew that when this long-distance travelling old senior left the mountain, he covered his swollen cheek with his hand, muttering and complaining endlessly, “What the hell!” After leaving the mountain gate of Deer Horn Palace, he shouted loudly, “A-Liang, you owe me a drink!”

After Guo Zhujiu and Song Gaoyuan left, Chen Ping’an shared some of his landscape stories with A-Liang, scattered and fragmented, talking about whatever came to mind.

The first time he traveled to the Great Wall of Swords, he took the Old Dragon City ferry to Guìhuā Island, passing through Jiao Dragon Gulch, and almost died. It was Senior Apprentice Brother Zuo Yu who unleashed his sword techniques and broke the deadly situation.

He lost all three martial arts duels to Cao Ci, a peer of his, defeated without any chance of retaliation.

In Tongye Continent, he mistakenly entered Lotus Root Paradise, experienced a genuine taste of the martial world, and took Cao Qinglang and Pei Qian as his students and disciples, but in truth, he didn’t know how to impart knowledge to Cao Qinglang, and worried that Pei Qian was growing up too fast.

In recent years, he had operated a wine shop with Diezhang, selling Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven wine. The business was good, slower than being a landlord, but a steady stream of income. No one believed that the wine was truly related to Azure God Mountain, so A-Liang, you have to say some honest words for the shop. You are acquainted with the Mistress of Azure God Mountain, and we are friends, so how could my wine not be related to Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven?

That Demon Catching Pavilion on the Upside-Down Mountain, the great demon that was caught and released by Dao Laoer, who was attached to a young swordsman named Bian Jing, was rooted out by the Hidden Official lineage and killed at sea.

Now, Fallen Mountain not only has a bamboo building, named according to the agreement, but also has an ancestral hall for establishing a sect on Jise Peak. A-Liang, you must go and see it in the future.

The two walked through street after street.

A-Liang was familiar with every place. Listening to the young man’s stories, A-Liang mostly listened, occasionally asking some questions of great interest, such as which was more beautiful, the female Taoist Huang Ting of Taiping Mountain, or Yao Jinzhi of the Daquan Dynasty.

Chen Ping’an said with a smile, “They are both beautiful, but in my eyes, they combined are not as beautiful as Ning Yao.”

A-Liang said, “Ning Girl isn’t here, tell me some real man talk.” Chen Ping’an looked around, but after thinking for a moment, he grinned but didn’t say anything.

When the war subsided, the wine shop business flourished.

Along the way, when they encountered certain sword cultivators who were acquainted with both A-Liang and the young Hidden Official, they didn’t really greet them, at most nodding as a formality.

Those who knew A-Liang might not be willing to associate with the young Hidden Official, and those who were regular customers of Chen Ping’an’s wine shop might not dare to speak to A-Liang.

Although the two outsiders had many things in common, in the eyes of the local sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Swords, that damned A-Liang and that damned Second Shopkeeper were alike and yet unalike.

A-Liang didn’t go to Diezhang’s wine shop for a drink, but instead took Chen Ping’an to a street corner tavern.

It was packed.

Because the woman selling wine was beautiful.

She was a woman whose natal flying sword had been destroyed long ago.

Seeing A-Liang, the woman was very enthusiastic, personally bringing wine to the table, and glared fiercely at the man, complaining, “You heartless bastard.”

Then the woman smiled brightly at the young Hidden Official, and spoke very familiarly, “Oh, isn’t this our Second Shopkeeper? Tired of your own wine, switching to a different taste? One punch down when you meet a beautiful woman, really useless.”

Chen Ping’an was at a loss, and could only smile in silence.

A-Liang picked up the wine bowl and clinked it against Chen Ping’an’s, then inexplicably sighed, “When I was young, I read miscellaneous books and saw a famous proverb, ‘Heads of grain that are heavy bow low.’ But without experiencing the martial world, I didn’t really understand it deeply. Only after truly walking the martial world did I realize that full ears of grain bowing low are indeed golden words.”

Chen Ping’an’s expression was strange.

A-Liang stepped on the long bench with one foot, and said with a wicked smile, “What are you thinking? Don’t distort a good principle.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “The rumors between you and the Mistress of Azure God Mountain, Wei Bo spoke of it with certainty, how much of it is true and how much is false?”

A-Liang laughed, “That little mountain god of Chess Board Mountain doesn’t know shit.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Outside the bamboo building, once when I mentioned you, Great Mountain Monarch Wei rarely showed his true feelings, and said many good things about you.”

A-Liang immediately changed his tone, “As the former Mountain Monarch of the Godly Water Kingdom in the ancient Shu territory, Brother Wei still has something going for him, his words are very insightful. No wonder when we met, I took a liking to him immediately.”

Probably A-Liang’s so-called liking at first sight was giving Wei Bo a bamboo knife.

Speaking of this, A-Liang suddenly put down his wine bowl, “The appearance of the Li Zhu Grotto Heaven, and the many dragons within the ancient Shu territory, plus your neighbor in Mud Bottle Lane, have you thought about it?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “I have thought about it.”

“That means you have thought about it, but you haven’t pulled on the thread that leads to that hidden vein.”
Ah Liang glanced at Chen Ping’an, helpless. Some secrets were beyond Chen Ping’an’s current comprehension, even if he racked his brains. Ah Liang shook his head and asked, “At your Fallen Mountain, have you noticed any inconspicuous cultivators from other lands? Not including spirits and ghosts. Their cultivation definitely isn’t high, especially those you’re certain are of low realm. And this person should have a good relationship with Chen Lingjun, whom Lu Chen favors.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and nodded, “Yes, there is.”

Ah Liang smiled, “It seems your departure from Fallen Mountain and arrival at this Sword Qi Great Wall isn’t all bad.”

Chen Ping’an asked, puzzled, “Can you tell me why?”

Ah Liang hesitated, then said, “It’s not that I can’t say, especially since it’s just my conjecture, not necessarily accurate. I suspect that fellow who has slain the most Flood Dragons might have already placed himself near Fallen Mountain.”

Ah Liang took a sip of wine, “This person is very easy to talk to. As long as it doesn’t involve the Flood Dragon race, even a lower five realm Qi Refiner can kill him, and he won’t retaliate. At most, he’ll just change his identity and appearance and continue traveling the world. But as long as it involves the last True Dragon, he’ll become an extremely difficult and unreasonable person. Even if it’s only slightly related, he’ll exterminate everything. Three thousand years ago, the Flood Dragon race was still the master of water in the Vast World, protected by merit. But under his sword, everything was illusory. The Confucian Temple tried to persuade him, but there was no talking, no negotiation. Lu Chen could be saved, but also couldn’t be saved. In the end, what could they do? With great difficulty, they came up with a compromise. The Sages of the Three Teachings could only help him clean up the mess.”

Ah Liang chuckled, “Of course, there’s no such thing as true invincibility in this world. It’s better for you not to know more details right now. I’ll say it again, you can’t handle it.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Firstly, it was something he couldn’t fathom even with all his effort. Secondly, the worst hadn’t happened yet. Furthermore, he was destined not to return to Treasure Bottle Continent, so thinking too much was useless.

Then, Ah Liang seemed to start bragging again, pointing his thumb at himself, “Besides, if there’s a conflict in the future, just give my name, Ah Liang. The higher the opponent’s realm, the more effective it is.”

Generally speaking, those whom Ah Liang actively called “brother,” like the sword cultivator Xu Dian from Floating Cloud Continent, were the ones Ah Liang had tricked badly, actually those he disliked.

After that incident, Xu Dian made several trips down the mountain, but whenever he encountered female cultivators from Deer Horn Palace, he was never welcomed. And the female Qi Refiners of Deer Horn Palace had many friends, so that almost all the female cultivators of Floating Cloud Continent didn’t like Xu Dian. As Xu Dian’s gloating master said, it’s like being doused in a bucket of excrement by Ah Liang. Even if you wash it off, you’re still someone who’s been doused in a bucket of excrement. Accept your fate.

However, if you give his name and dare to say you’re friends with Ah Liang, you might still be disliked by almost all sects in the Vast World, but it will definitely ward off many disasters and accidents.

Ah Liang clicked his tongue for no reason, “You and Miss Ning look more and more like a married couple.”

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl and suddenly turned to ask, “Boss lady, do you have any free side dishes to go with the wine?”

This was very unlike Miss Ning.

Regarding Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao, Ah Liang had long felt that they were a good match. Back then, one was Ning Yao of the Sword Qi Great Wall, and the other was a young man in straw sandals just starting out in the world.

A girl who didn’t want to think too much, meeting a young man who was willing to think about everything, what could be a better match?

Not all men realize that the one they love and the person beside them is a once-in-ten-thousand-years destined match.

The woman smiled, “My small business can’t compare to the second shopkeeper’s wine shop. Besides, the second shopkeeper is both gambling and selling wine, and picking up magical artifacts everywhere. Does he lack money?”

Chen Ping’an could only smile and say nothing.

Ah Liang looked at Chen Ping’an and said slowly, “When a person can only do three or four pounds of work, they can’t speak half a pound of reason. Even if they’ve read books and can explain it, if others don’t listen, isn’t it the same as not saying anything? Isn’t that the truth?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “The times when we need to reason are often the times when reason is useless. The latter secretly precedes the former openly, which is why life is so helpless.”

Ah Liang smiled, “Very boring?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “Interesting. Meaningful. The more it is like this, the more we should live our lives well and try to make the world more stable.”

Then Chen Ping’an took a big gulp of wine, his expression calm and his eyes bright, “It’s like a person, as long as they have a good tolerance for alcohol, they can drink away the troubles in their wine bowl, without having to tell anyone drunken words.”

Ah Liang laughed heartily, very happy.

Because he saw the shadow of another person in Chen Ping’an before him.

The world that person didn’t walk, the hopeful young man before him, was already helping him walk very far.

Chen Ping’an suddenly said, “Although I haven’t been to the Savage World, I know that on the battlefield, many of the demons who die under my fists and swords are, outside the battlefield, a vulnerable lot, even the truly helpless.”

Ah Liang smiled, knowing what this kid wanted to say. Chen Ping’an seemed to be talking about himself, but he was actually comforting Ah Liang.

Chen Ping’an added, “Once the Sword Qi Great Wall is breached, those truly weak in the Savage World will also become helpless strong.”

Ah Liang wasn’t moved, and asked with a smile, “So they deserve to die?”

He was actually the sword cultivator who understood the customs of the Savage World the most, or at least one of them.

Ah Liang even had friends like Liu Cha there, outside the battlefield. Besides Liu Cha, Ah Liang knew many cultivators from the Savage World, who were no different from humans.

Chen Ping’an had already finished two bowls of wine and poured a third. The wine bowls in this tavern were larger than those in his own shop. He should have bought the wine by the bowl.

Chen Ping’an finished the third bowl of wine, shook his head, and said, “It’s just that I don’t have enough ability. Otherwise, who would dare to approach the Sword Qi Great Wall? I would kill all the great demons on the battlefield with one punch and one sword, to hell with the Throne Demons… If I ever have the chance to return to the Vast World, all those who are fortunate enough to be out of harm’s way, and dare to feel pity for the Savage World, I’ll meet one…”
After a hearty belch, Chen Pingan resumed pouring wine, a habit first encouraged by Aliang. He trailed off, not finishing the sentence about what would happen upon meeting certain individuals.

Aliang didn’t stop him.

Instead, Aliang grinned, “What can you, Chen Pingan, do when you meet those people? They have their own reasons. It’s not like anyone forced Sword Qi Great Wall to suffer so many casualties.”

Chen Pingan paused his drinking, folded his hands into his sleeves, and leaned against the table. “Aliang, tell me, what would you do? I want to learn.”

Learning from others’ strengths had always been Chen Pingan’s forte.

He learned the art of accounting as a ledger keeper in a small inn in Fox Town, on the border of the Great Spring Dynasty, from Zhong Kui.

When he was a ragpicker for Baofu Workshop, he witnessed the true mastery of scavenging through Sun Daoren during their travels in Northern Ju Continent, which broadened his horizons.

Even earlier, Lin Shouyi’s casual remark about not interfering too much in matters outside one’s immediate concern resonated with Chen Pingan deeply, becoming more insightful over time.

Furthermore, Chen Pingan’s calligraphy, once deemed “more craftsmanship than inspiration,” subtly drew from the three prescriptions that Lu Chen gave him. Back then, Lu Chen mentioned three things but only explicitly mentioned two, including seeking luck with snake gallstones. Chen Pingan inquired, but Lu Chen remained cryptic, revealing that learning calligraphy was the final, unspoken lesson.

Aliang laughed and offered his answer, “I simply don’t care.”

Chen Pingan was momentarily speechless, recalling the “inner voices” he’d heard in the Jiao Dragon Trench and the accompanying city after the heavenly tribulation.

Chen Pingan reached out from his sleeves, took a sip of wine, held the bowl in one hand, and scratched his head with the other. “That’s a bit hard to learn.”

Aliang chuckled. “No need to learn it.”

After ascending the mountain for cultivation, the heavens no longer seemed distant.

The closer a cultivator was to the mountain peak, the less patience they had for the mortal realm.

There were exceptions, but few.

Aliang worried that Chen Pingan might become one of those mountain deities.

Take Chen Pingan’s calligraphy for example. Aliang wasn’t oblivious to the deeper meaning behind Lu Chen’s gift of prescriptions. He wondered, why was Chen Pingan’s talisman-making so effortless? It was as if he’d skipped over any obstacle. It should be known that the art of talisman creation, regardless of lineage, whether or not it’s from the Daoist sect, is seen as a natural chasm, much like swordsmanship. If one is not suited for it, they simply aren’t.

But Aliang couldn’t reveal this, Chen Pingan had to discover it himself.

Did high swordsmanship make everything seem easy? There was no such thing. Aliang was no exception.

Their drinking slowed down. Aliang was in no hurry; he had a high tolerance. Chen Pingan also wanted to drink more.

The wine-selling woman, who had a long-standing relationship with Aliang, had someone from the restaurant bring over a platter of snacks to go with the wine, telling the deputy manager that she wouldn’t charge them.

Thus, they drank until the sky turned dark and the night was deep. The surrounding customers thinned out. Throughout the night, some sword cultivators came over to greet them and have a drink, and they welcomed all, only reminding them to pay their bills.

So now, they only needed to pay for the pot of wine on the table.

In Sword Qi Great Wall, no one used their sword cultivator abilities to drink, relying solely on their natural tolerance.

Aliang, his face already flushed red, pointed to one of the bright moons in the sky and said to the woman with a chuckle, “Sister Xie, I’ve been there, believe it or not?”

When out and about, it was fine to call younger women “sister” or “young lady.” But for older women, regardless of whether they were a few years or a few centuries older, one should always call them “sister,” a good habit.

The woman leaned against the counter, glanced at the moon, and bluntly asked, “Are there any females there?”

Aliang waved his hand. “Young girls shouldn’t say such playful things.”

The woman said unceremoniously, “We’re closing up. Finish your wine and scram.”

Aliang and Chen Pingan finished the last pot of wine and got up to leave. Chen Pingan took out money to pay, but the woman, who was their former foe, smiled and waved her hand. “Chen Pingan, it’s on me.”

Chen Pingan didn’t ask why. He put away the few snowflake coins and thanked her.

The two walked down the deserted street late at night, their steps a little unsteady, and their bodies still reeking of alcohol.

As they approached the Ning residence.

Aliang said, “Chen Pingan, we’re not in the White Paper Blessed Land, and the people around us aren’t characters in a book. Remembering now isn’t the accomplishment, remembering later is what matters.”

Chen Pingan hummed in agreement.

Aliang suddenly said with certainty, “I won’t tell Ning Yatou that we didn’t pay for the wine. And I definitely won’t mention that Huang Ting and Yao Jinzhi are good looking.”

Chen Pingan hugged the back of his head. “You think I’d be afraid if you did? What a joke, Aliang, I’m not bragging…”

Near the Ning residence gate, a figure appeared. The young Hidden Official immediately took a deep breath, dispelled the drunkenness, and instantly scattered the alcohol fumes. He ran over quickly, gesturing behind him for the man to stay put. He ran up the steps, stopped in front of her, and said, “I’m sorry, I’m back late. I didn’t actually drink too much. Aliang kept urging me, even though I told him I was injured, it was no use. It won’t happen again.”

Aliang stood there, listening intently to the conversation. Then he was dumbfounded. The deputy manager was no ordinary woman, surpassing her predecessors.

Ning Yao turned to look at Aliang.

He was being looked down upon.

Aliang turned away in embarrassment, muttering, “Getting free drinks at Sister Xie’s wine shop in Sword Qi Great Wall is unheard of. Even I couldn’t do that.”

Back at the gate.

Ning Yao didn’t say anything.

Chen Pingan felt a little guilty.

Ning Yao ignored Aliang’s complaints and just looked at Chen Pingan.

He seemed to have gotten taller again.

She stood on her tiptoes, her eyes level with his.

Chen Pingan tilted his head, squinted his eyes, and smiled, “Quick, tell me who you are. If you’re any cuter, I might stop liking Ning Yao and start liking you.”

Ning Yao still didn’t speak.

By the time Chen Pingan understood, Ning Yao had already turned and left.

On the city wall of Sword Qi Great Wall, Wei Jin was forced to use his Palm-Sized Mountains and Rivers technique, the scroll showing the scene at the Ning residence gate, Aliang was beating his chest, “Silly boy, blockhead.”

The Great Sword Immortal stood with his hands behind his back, bent over and looked at the scroll, nodding. “He really is a blockhead.”

Wei Jin, who had been somewhat reluctant, smiled and agreed. “The Second Shopkeeper has no sense of romance, a real killjoy.”
A’Liang coughed lightly, gently pushing away Wei Jin’s hand. “Wei Jin, a dignified Sword Immortal, yet you stoop to such tactics? It’s utterly devoid of Jianghu morality. Does your conscience not prick you?”

The Grand Sword Immortal turned and departed, muttering, “Indeed, it was uncalled for.”

Leaving behind only a Wind and Snow Temple Sword Immortal who had been diligently practicing his swordsmanship.

On the city wall near the Grand Sword Immortal’s thatched hut, A’Liang sat cross-legged. “Can you switch to someone else? Perhaps myself?”

Chen Qingdu shook his head. “Impossible.”

A’Liang bristled, “Isn’t my cultivation realm higher?”

Chen Qingdu stated, “At our level, cultivation realm is of little consequence. You were forgiven for not understanding before, but you still don’t grasp it now?”

A’Liang fell silent.

The Grand Sword Immortal’s words were crude, but true.

After a long silence, Chen Qingdu sat down beside A’Liang.

A’Liang was somewhat surprised.

The Grand Sword Immortal rarely took such action.

Chen Qingdu said softly, “A little weary.”

But the old man smiled, “Chen Qingdu, a Sword Cultivator, is fortunate to have encountered sword cultivators like you.”

A’Liang laughed heartily, “Words like those, shout them out loud, let them resonate!”

Chen Qingdu glanced askance.

A’Liang immediately feigned innocence, “Speaking drunken ramblings after a few cups, even that’s forbidden?”

Chen Qingdu murmured, “I wonder what the landscape will be like ten thousand years hence.”

A’Liang replied, “Always a mix of disappointment and hope, I suppose.”

Chen Qingdu nodded, “A comforting thought.”