“… Won’t learn the wrong things, and as a teacher, won’t teach the wrong things. Truly remarkable.”

Zhong Qiu chuckled, “I’ve heard that Oil Pouch Lake has aged wine of exceptional quality. I’ll foot the bill and invite the esteemed Scholar to partake.”

The old scholar rubbed his hands together, beaming, “That sounds splendid!”

Meanwhile, at Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Chen Nuanshu, carrying a water bucket, went to the first floor of the bamboo building, helping her master, who was away traveling, tidy up the house.

The desk was always spotless. She carefully wiped the inkstone, brush holder, paperweight, and other items on the desk. Chen Nuanshu glanced at the neatly stacked books, pursed her lips, and reached out her hands. Seemingly tidying the books, she actually made them slightly askew.

As Chen Nuanshu crossed the threshold and gently closed the door, laughter filled the eyes of the girl in the pink dress.

As soon as Chen Nuanshu went to the second floor, a lotus-shaped little person popped out from the floor, climbing up the desk leg. It began to run back and forth, inspecting the desk. It discovered that the day before yesterday, the paperweight on the desk was slightly askew. Yesterday, the items on the curio shelf were not placed properly. And today, the books were accidentally crooked again. The little fellow giggled, then quickly covered its mouth, tiptoeing to the side of the books. From standing on its tiptoes to lying on the ground, it carefully helped Nuanshu-jie arrange the books. The lotus little person, still not at ease, ran around the small mountain of books, making sure there wasn’t the slightest tilt. Only then did it sit on the desk, content, grateful that it had helped Nuanshu-jie a little today.

The lotus little person finally sat on the edge of the desk, gently swinging its legs. It really wanted to see the white-robed youth again, to ask if it could proactively greet Nuanshu-jie and Mili-jie, without bothering them. Perhaps a few times a day, once every ten days, or even once a month would be fine. But he hadn’t come for a long time. The youth’s teacher had been away from home even longer.

So, with nothing else to do, the little fellow got up and ran to the brush holder, wiping the walls of the holder with its only little arm.

Outside the bamboo building, three people returned to the mountain from Riding Dragon Lane today. Daoist Changming went to visit Wei Wenlong’s accounting office, while Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu went to the bamboo building. They had already moved out of Sword Worship Platform, only the sword cultivator Cui Wei was still cultivating there.

Riding Dragon Lane had become much more lively. In addition to the herbal medicine shop run by Jia Sheng and his apprentice, Shi Rou, the manager of the New Year’s money shop next door, also had Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu as her “two great generals.” Plus a woman named Changming, who often went to both shops to help.

For some reason, Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu were both in awe of the smiling woman. She didn’t know where she got the money, but she bought two courtyards in one go on the steps of Riding Dragon Lane.

Jiang Qu liked to look at the outer walls of the bamboo building every time he went up the mountain.

But Zhang Jiazhen couldn’t see anything. Yet Jiang Qu said there were words and many talismans written on it.

Jiang Qu was still standing there today, observing the words and talismans.

Zhang Jiazhen, on the other hand, sat at the stone table, cracking melon seeds with Mili Sword Immortal.

Mili asked with a smile, “Are you envious of Jiang Qu?”

Zhang Jiazhen nodded, “Envious.”

Jiang Qu was much more outgoing and clever than him. He had already become very familiar with the people in Riding Dragon Lane and liked to go out alone. Every time he returned to the shop, he had various gains. Zhang Jiazhen couldn’t do that. He could only do what Manager Shi Rou asked him to do, guarding his little corner.

Mili said casually, “There’s nothing to be envious of. Everyone has their own fate.”

Zhang Jiazhen said, “Mr. Chen said that I don’t have any talent for cultivation, whether it’s practicing swords or martial arts.”

Mili became interested, “Are you upset? Or do you not believe in the Hidden Official’s judgment?”

Zhang Jiazhen shook his head with a smile, “I believe it very much, and I’m not upset. So I thought that if I have the opportunity in the future, I’d like to learn some arithmetic from Mr. Wei, so that I have a skill. But even if I learn only basic arithmetic, the entry-level bookkeeping, I reckon I can only do some dull things. I’ll strive to be an accountant for a market shop in the future, dealing only with gold, silver, and copper coins. I may never see celestial money in my life. But it’s better than me doing nothing every day, not knowing what I can do.”

Mili didn’t care. He was good at dealing with women, but he really wasn’t good at talking to children, nor was he interested. After all, he wasn’t the Hidden Official.

Zhang Jiazhen didn’t dare to disturb Sword Immortal Mi’s cultivation, so he said goodbye and left, planning to go to the Mountain God Shrine near the top of the mountain to see the surrounding scenery of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.