The two strolled along the banks of the Dragon Whisker River, heading upstream.

Passing the stone arch bridge, Liu Xianyang chuckled, “Do you know why I was so determined to follow Master Ruan back then?”

Chen Pingan nodded, “There used to be a covered bridge here. Every dusk, many people would come here to enjoy the cool air and chat, second only to the old locust tree. The latter was mostly old folks and children, while here there were more young and strong people, and thus, more girls.”

Liu Xianyang rubbed his cheeks, regretting, “It’s a pity those young girls back then are all grown up now. Every time they see me on the road, those ‘old’ girls bring their own little girls, and they look at me with such strange eyes, like they want to devour me.”

Chen Pingan said, “Don’t overthink it. They just suspect you’re a mountain cultivator. They don’t think you’re handsome and young-looking.”

The fact that Liu Xianyang was a direct disciple of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect was not widely known among the common folk at the foot of the mountain in their hometown. Besides, with Master Ruan’s ancestral hall moved north of the capital, and Liu Xianyang staying behind alone at the blacksmith’s shop, even those well-informed people in the Northern Mountain region would at most mistakenly believe that Liu Xianyang was a menial disciple of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

Liu Xianyang sighed, “In that case, Yu Qianyue is indeed more suited to me, a match made in heaven, destined to meet from a thousand miles away.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “So she’s now using the name Yu Qianyue? She put some thought into it.”

“She Yue” (Borrowing the moon), “Yu Qian Yue” (Remaining Moon). Chen Pingan’s heart stirred slightly. As the thought arose, he once again found himself mentally wandering, like a spring breeze flipping through a book, extensively examining his thoughts.

Liu Xianyang nodded, “Your sister-in-law was always a clever girl. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have looked all over the two continents for young talents, traveled across countless mountains and rivers, and singled out Liu Xianyang, and then never left.”

Chen Pingan didn’t reply, stopping on the stone arch bridge.

Liu Xianyang looked at the clear water of the Dragon Whisker River, where aquatic plants swayed and small fish wagged their tails. Liu Xianyang felt a surge of inexplicable sentimentality. Looking at this “Chen Pingan” beside him, then looking at himself, one couldn’t help but feel inferior when comparing oneself to others. In a certain travelogue that Liu Xianyang had almost worn out, it described women combing their hair on rocks by mountain streams, beautiful women staggering along the road on moonlit nights, and women knocking on the door of an ancient temple, asking to stay the night. Liu Xianyang didn’t even need to turn the pages to know that it was Chen Pingan who had all the luck with women. Readers only hated that they weren’t the characters in the book.

But then Liu Xianyang thought that he already had his round-faced, cotton-padded-jacket girl. After returning, he would hang a painting on the wall of his house with the words “Contentment” written in large characters.

Suddenly, Chen Pingan sat down on the bridge, closing his eyes to rest.

Liu Xianyang squatted beside him, silent for a moment. Feeling bored, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

Chen Pingan supported himself on the bridge with his hands, his legs dangling in the air. He opened his eyes and said, “I had a pact for sixty years. I originally thought it would be much sooner, but now it seems I’ll have to wait patiently. Actually, I’m not even sure if I can wait until then.”

Liu Xianyang nodded, “When I returned to my hometown from South娑婆洲, I noticed that the old sword strap under the bridge was gone. I knew it was probably related to you.”

The old sword strap hanging under the bridge, as well as Chen Pingan beside him, were all ordinary things that people took for granted.

Chen Pingan said, “It must have been Xiu Hu who used some means to sever the connection between us. When I returned to my hometown, I felt like I was dreaming again when I actually confirmed this. I felt empty inside. Although I had encountered many difficulties before, I always had that vague sense of connection, a continuous link. Even when I was alone in the Half Sword Qi Great Wall, I even managed to ‘send a message by flying sword’ here through some calculations. That feeling… how should I put it? It was like the first time I traveled to the Upside Down Mountain. Even if I lost or died in the battle at Flood Dragon Gulch, I wouldn’t regret it. No matter who it was, even Lu Chen, the Third Leader of White Jade Capital, as long as I was willing to risk everything, I could bring him down with me. Looking back, that thought was actually my greatest… support. Not in terms of what she specifically helped me with on the path of cultivation, but her existence would put my mind at ease. Now… it’s gone.”

On the path of life, whether they were cultivators or ordinary people, they would all have a certain belief as their “support.” For example, kind-hearted people firmly believed that good people would be rewarded, using this as a means to fight against all the suffering in the world.

Completely severing that wisp of spiritual connection between Chen Pingan and her.

This was one of the key elements of Cui Chan’s fourth dream after the three dreams in the Creation Cave.

Chen Pingan finally relied on Jiang Shangzhen’s words, “I cultivate in Taiping Mountain,” at Taiping Mountain to verify that the “dream” was real. However, when he arrived in his hometown, the Jade Bottle Continent, he couldn’t help but feel confused again. Because all the way from the Sword Qi Great Wall, the Creation Cave, the Driving Mountain Ferry, Taiping Mountain, the Cloud Cave Blessed Land, the Mirage City, and the Heavenly Tower Peak… the further north he went, especially when he boarded the intercontinental ferry to the Southern Mountain region of the Jade Bottle Continent, he never felt a single wisp of spiritual connection.

Chen Pingan didn’t truly dispel this worry until he reached the Great River Shrine of the Jade Bottle Continent.

Cultivating and practicing the sword, asking the sword in the heavens, a sword immortal ascends. Practicing martial arts, I am on the mountaintop, no one before me.

These were all principles that Chen Pingan believed to be extremely reliable and clear in his heart.

After “playing chess” with Cui Chan, Chen Pingan stayed up all night in the Qi Du Shrine reading, and suddenly realized that he was too afraid of Cui Chan, the national preceptor of the Book Brief Lake Heart-Questioning Bureau. So much so that even though Cui Chan had become his protector, as long as Cui Chan was on the opposite side of the game, Chen Pingan always felt that he could only seek to lose less, and never dared to hope for not losing, or even winning against the embroidered tiger of the three most talented people of Hao Ran.

In this way, how could Chen Pingan talk about no one before him? So Cui Chan’s so-called “darkness under the lamp” didn’t wrongly accuse Chen Pingan. The key to breaking the problem had already been said, but Chen Pingan still failed to understand it for a long time.

Chen Pingan mocked himself, “After I went from the Upside Down Mountain to the Creation Cave on Lu Hua Island, and then set foot on the Tong Ye Continent, until now when I’m sitting here, without that sense of connection, the closer I get to my hometown, the more so. It’s actually very uncomfortable, like now, as if I couldn’t help myself and jumped into the water, and when I looked up, I saw that old sword strap was still hanging under the bridge.”
Liu Xianyang leaned back, using his hands as a pillow, crossed his legs, and chuckled, “You’ve always been one to overthink things since you were little, a silent clam who doesn’t like to talk. Now that you’re back in the Great Harmony World, especially with home so close, don’t you feel like Chen Ping’an never really left his hometown, and everything was just a beautiful dream? Are you worried that the entire Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven is just a blank canvas blessed land?”

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands in his sleeves, smiling gently, “When a beautiful dream comes true, who wouldn’t wake up and immediately try to fall back asleep, hoping to continue the dream? Back then, who among the three of us could have imagined things would turn out like this today?”

Liu Xianyang deeply resonated with this, “That’s a given! Back in our ancestral home, whenever I was jolted awake by a full bladder in the middle of the night, I’d grumble as I relieved myself, then sprint back to bed, close my eyes, and try to fall asleep as quickly as possible. Sometimes it worked, but more often than not, I’d just have a different dream.”

Chen Ping’an warned, “Be careful of someone impersonating the Moon Elder and tying you to the wrong destiny. My wariness of Zhengyang Mountain and Qingfeng City stems from someone hiding in the shadows, skilled in methods that are hard to defend against. Wei Jin of the Wind-Snow Temple, Li Tuanjing of the Wind-Thunder Garden, and even Liu Baqiao – someone is secretly controlling the flow of sword dao fortune in the entire continent. Madam Gui’s attendance at the ceremony also served as a reminder.”

Liu Xianyang laughed, “Before returning home, I already had someone help me sever the red string of fate with Wang Zhu. Otherwise, do you think I’d be this patient, eagerly waiting for you to return home? I would have already started hacking my way from outside Qingfeng City to inside, from the foot of Zhengyang Mountain to the summit. The only fear is that this person has already escaped.”

Chen Ping’an frowned slightly, “Then we might have to add Huang He of the Wind-Thunder Garden to the list.”

Li Tuanjing of the Wind-Thunder Garden, the female founder of Zhengyang Mountain. Wei Jin of the Wind-Snow Temple, He Xiaoliang of the Divine Decree Sect.

Liu Xianyang of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, Wang Zhu of Mud Bottle Alley. Liu Baqiao of the Wind-Thunder Garden, the immortal Su Jia of Zhengyang Mountain.

If Wei Jin hadn’t met Ah Liang and taken a trip to the Great Wall of Swords, if Liu Xianyang hadn’t journeyed to study at the Chen Clan of Pure Scholars, if they had simply remained in a single continent, they might have been completely manipulated by the person in the shadows, just like Li Tuanjing. With Li Tuanjing’s sword dao talent, he would undoubtedly be an Immortal Realm swordsman in any of the Eight Great Harmony Continents, yet in Treasure Bottle Continent, Li Tuanjing never managed to reach the upper five realms. Among the young candidates for the top ten, there is a young swordsman prodigy from Zhengyang Mountain, occupying a spot – Wu Tijing.

She Yue from the Wild Desolate World goes by the alias Yu Qianyue in the Great Harmony World. Pei Min, the swordsman from Middle Earth Divine Continent, took the alias Pei Wenyue in Tongye Continent.

Li Tuanjing of the Wind-Thunder Garden, died and dissolved into immortality more than twenty years ago, and Zhengyang Mountain gained a young swordsman named Wu Tijing?

Li Tuanjing, Wu Tijing.

Is Zhengyang Mountain hinting to Huang He of the Wind-Thunder Garden, “I am half of Li Tuanjing?”

This secretive figure in the shadows, their modus operandi remains the same, truly disgusting.

With enemies like Ma Kuxuan of Apricot Blossom Lane, where grudges are clear, Chen Ping’an doesn’t have much burden. Whether it’s a contest of skill or a fight to the death, it is what it is. He is like that, and so is Ma Kuxuan, straightforward and clean.

Chen Ping’an originally intended to have “Chief Zhou” make a trip down the mountain later, perhaps when he set off for the Northern Ju Lu Continent, allowing Jiang Shangzhen to familiarize himself with the mountain more.

However, thinking of this “Wu Tijing”, and thinking of his friend Liu Baqiao, Chen Ping’an immediately changed his mind. He took out his sword box and sent a flying sword message to the newly built sword chamber on Jise Peak of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, instructing Jiang Shangzhen and Cui Dongshan to keep an eye on this person’s movements now, and to never let that woman, whose position in the ancestral hall is quite low, secretly slip away. However, Fallen Phoenix Mountain only needs to watch her for now, no need to take action.

Chen Ping’an has already scoured the ancestral halls and genealogical records of Zhengyang Mountain and Qingfeng City several times, especially Zhengyang Mountain. The “Cattle Hair”, one of the seven old ancestor’s sword-nurturing gourds, the changes in the genealogical records of the immortal Su Jia, the young swordsman Wu Tijing’s ascension to the mountain to cultivate… there are actually quite a few clues, allowing Chen Ping’an to circle the woman named Tian Wan in the ancestral hall’s genealogical records.

Combined with the news Gu Can received from Chai Bofu early on, and the marriage between the Xu Clan of Qingfeng City and the Yuan Clan, the Pillar of State, coupled with the literary fortune plot in the Fox Kingdom, it’s highly likely that this Tian Wan, whose position in Zhengyang Mountain’s ancestral hall is extremely low and who has always been obsequious, is the secret mentor of the Xu Clan woman from Qingfeng City.

A bottom-dwelling female cultivator from Zhengyang Mountain, who doesn’t need to fight and kill anyone, just relies on a few red strings to disrupt the continental landscape, preventing Treasure Bottle Continent from producing a sword immortal for centuries.

Cultivating the mind on the mountain, is it necessary or not?

If Chen Ping’an and Liu Baqiao had simply challenged Zhengyang Mountain’s ancestral hall and the Qingfeng City couple early on, that troublemaking Tian Wan would probably be laughing her head off. Even if Chen Ping’an and the others realized it and challenged her again, Tian Wan would definitely have disappeared without a trace. In that case, it would be truly disgusting. If he were to put himself in her shoes, Chen Ping’an felt that before Tian Wan decided to leave Treasure Bottle Continent, she would most likely reveal a flaw on purpose, using it to “remind” Fallen Phoenix Mountain and Liu Xianyang’s blacksmith shop, while also roping in that She Yue, making Liu Xianyang suspicious.

Furthermore, Chen Ping’an suspects that this secretive Tian Wan is in cahoots with the immortal Han Yushu of the Ten Thousand Jade Sect in Tongye Continent.

It’s just speculation, with no evidence.

The two rose and left the stone arch bridge, continuing to stroll upstream along the Dragon Whiskers River.

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands in his sleeves, suddenly leaping across the river, then leaping back to the opposite bank, enjoying himself immensely. Liu Xianyang held his hands behind his head, lazily walking along the riverbank.

The two arrived at the pitted bluestone cliff. Liu Xianyang found a familiar “seat” to sit down, and Chen Ping’an sat beside him. Between the two of them, there was still a pit, which used to be Little Snot’s throne.

In the Great Li Dynasty, Longzhou was renowned for its prosperous water transportation. The Iron Talisman River, the Tranquil Wash River, the Embroidered Flower River, and the Jade Liquid River were the four major rivers. Yang Hua, the Water God of the Iron Talisman River, Li Jin of the Tranquil Wash River, and Ye Qingzhu of the Jade Liquid River. One first-class river god and three second-class river deities. The four rivers covered a vast area, not limited to Longzhou, but the shrines of the four water gods were all built in Longzhou.
Liu Xianyang said, “For this Dragon Whisker River, the Water Sprite Malan Flower was promoted from River Concubine to River Deity. For so many years, she has not built a shrine or sculpted a golden statue. She used to harbor resentment about this. But after that great war, thousands of rivers south of central Treasure Bottle Continent were either destroyed or forced to change course. She secretly rejoiced, feeling that being promoted to a River Deity to live a stable life was not so bad after all.”

Mount True Pearl is where the True Dragon once held the “Dark Pearl.” So Dragon Whisker River is indeed worthy of being called “Dragon Whisker.” It’s just that the two dragon whiskers, one hidden and one visible, the hidden one lies beneath the town’s main street, with Crab Workshop, Iron Chain Well, and the old locust tree all situated upon it, leading all the way to the former eastern palisade gate.

Before Water Sprite Malan Flower ascended to her divine position in Apricot Blossom Lane, river deities like her were akin to petty bureaucrats in the mountain and water officialdom, similar to the Land Gods under the jurisdiction of various City Gods. It was extremely difficult to raise their ranks and the height of their statues on the imperial jade register. After all, the size of streams, rivers, and mountain peaks, the extent of water areas and mountains, were often fixed. The territory was only so big, and it was impossible to create more mountain and water boundaries out of thin air.

And historically, every river course alteration, often lasting hundreds of years, even centuries, would lead to the decline of a large number of mountain and water deities, while simultaneously giving rise to a new batch of deities. The relocation of mountain and water deities’ statues and shrines was much more difficult than the relocation of ancestral halls in immortal abodes on mountains. Once the rivers changed course, the riverbeds dried up, and the lake water levels dropped, the golden statues of the righteous River Gods and Lake Lords would also suffer “droughts,” exposed to the sun and crumbling. Incense offerings could only barely sustain their lives, but it was difficult to change the overall situation.

However, after the great war, countless mountain and water deities in the southern Treasure Bottle Continent perished. After the war ended, the various vassal states of the Great Li Dynasty filled the vacancies of “City Gods” and local mountain and water deities with civil and military heroes.

Chen Ping’an said, “This Granny Ma of Apricot Blossom Lane, although she likes to scold people, has a good heart and is very timid. Back then, she was the most superstitious person in town. The dragon kiln had nothing to do with her. The ones who truly held a grudge against me were Ma Kuxuan’s greedy and consistently ruthless parents. That’s why Ma Kuxuan had them move to the True Martial Mountain territory. In fact, this in itself is a statement, telling me to go to True Martial Mountain to cause trouble for him, Ma Kuxuan, if I have the ability.”

Liu Xianyang said, “In other words, if it were you, if it were someone else, Ma Kuxuan would definitely take Malan Flower with him when he left. Even if Ma Kuxuan didn’t take her, Malan Flower wouldn’t dare to stay here with her timidity. And I guess Old Man Yang must have talked with Malan Flower.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Liu Xianyang suddenly said, “If I remember correctly, it seems you’ve never been to the ancestral mountain of our Dragon Spring Sword Sect?”

Chen Ping’an was stunned for a moment, then nodded. “It seems I really haven’t.”

Liu Xianyang hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Chen Ping’an, what day were you born on?”

Chen Ping’an said, “May fifth.”

Liu Xianyang hummed and tossed a pebble into the deep pool. “On the day of Bingwu in the fifth month, at the height of the day, the longest day of the year, when the yang energy is at its peak, sacrifices are made in the suburbs to greatly report to Heaven and honor the Sun, paired with the Moon.”

“Whether it’s Song He or Song Mu, here, he’s just Song Jixin of Mud Bottle Lane, nicknamed Song Coal-Carrier. I once consulted a Master Xu in Southern Saha Continent about the origins of characters. He said that the character ‘Emperor’ is actually related to bundled firewood, and to the yangsui mirror, used to draw fire from the sky. In ancient times, it was of extremely high status. The name Song Jixin was definitely not given by the supervising official Song Yuzhang. It must be the handiwork of the Great Li National Preceptor. It’s just that now, His Highness Prince Song Mu probably still doesn’t understand that initially, he was a discarded pawn. Using that filthy Lang Bridge personally supervised by Song Yuzhang, he helped the Great Li’s national fortune flourish. In the Clan Court’s genealogy, the prince Song Mu, who was already a dead man, was originally meant to be used and discarded by the Great Li Song family.”

“Fifth day of the fifth month, coal-carrier, yangsui.”

Liu Xianyang said here, turning his head to look at Chen Ping’an, “The three of us, plus this Dragon Province’s water transport, were originally the ‘natural treasures’ for Ruan Xiu’s mirror-making and heaven-opening. Whether it’s soul, qi luck, or appearance, whatever it is, they were all refined into a single mirror. Do you think only you feel like you’re dreaming? I feel that way too.”

Chen Ping’an remained silent.

Liu Xianyang smiled. “It’s just that, whatever the reason, Miss Xiu Xiu ultimately changed her mind. Poor Li Liu, he took a calamity for us.”

Because all of Li Liu’s divinity was “eaten” by Ruan Xiu.

Chen Ping’an said, “Mount Holding Moon used to be one of the two ancient ascension platforms, but the Old Sword Immortal, joining forces with the Dragon Sovereign and Guanzhao, shattered the path. So Senior Yang’s ascension platform is the only path to Heaven.”

So the meticulous planning was actually aimed at this Treasure Bottle Continent’s ascension platform from the very beginning.

It would be best to conquer the Vast World, but if the Wild Desolate World lost, then Zhou Mi would find an opportunity to open the heavens and become a new deity of the old Heavenly Court.

Wen Hai Zhou Mi, one of the most supreme.

Behind Zhou Mi, besides a small group of cultivators who were reincarnations of deities, he also took away a larger number of Mount Holding Moon sword cultivators.

That’s why the Wild Desolate World’s offensive appeared so disorganized in the later stages of the war, advancing on three fronts simultaneously, as if they were throwing everything at it.

That’s why the Great Ancestor of Mount Holding Moon was willing to abandon all cultivation realms and realms to disrupt the flow of time and all “standards of measurement” of the two worlds. That was, in a sense, the “Great Dao Heavenly Time” of the two worlds colliding head-on.

Liu Xianyang sighed. “It’s a pity that no old man smokes that dry tobacco pipe in the Yang family’s shop anymore. Otherwise, you could ask many questions more clearly.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Things have come to this, there’s nothing to ask.”

Liu Xianyang said helplessly, “Let’s not talk about the three of us, we’re all locals. The key is Miss Sheyue, how did she come here? Don’t play dumb with me. I said earlier, greatly report to Heaven and honor the Sun, paired with the Moon. ‘Paired with the Moon’!”

Chen Ping’an said, “This is Cui Chan playing chess with Wen Hai Zhou Mi, and… Xiu Xiu asking her heart.”

In fact, Chen Ping’an’s guess was already incredibly close to the truth.

When Qi Jingchun appeared for the last time at the Great Du Shrine, he joined forces with Cui Chan to plot against Zhou Mi. Afterwards, Qi Jingchun once said that he could have served as a “Door God.” That is, his earliest idea was not to question Zhou Mi with Cui Chan, but to set up a plan for a very large contingency. Qi Jingchun’s earliest choice was to stand at the gate of the ascension platform, blocking anyone from opening the heavens and ascending.
However, Qi Jingchun ultimately chose to believe Cui Chan, abandoning that idea. Or, more accurately, Qi Jingchun acknowledged a certain statement Cui Chan “casually mentioned” to Chen Pingan on the city wall: Is the world at peace? Yes. So can we rest easy? I think not.

In between, the Azure Child Heavenly Lord Yang Laotou, who held the Ascension Platform, the Water God Li Liu’s choice, and that “senior” on the golden arched bridge, had already made their respective choices in Cui Chan’s grand scheme.

These secrets, unless someone could recreate the heavens, were destined to become a page of old history that no one would ever turn, nor could ever turn.

Mister Qi has passed, and the world no longer has its Embroidered Tiger. Yang Laotou met his fate, as Lu Shen had prophesied: “May you sink into the Yellow Springs, and may you not blame the heavens.”

Ten thousand years later, in another battle of water and fire, Li Liu lost again, this time losing all of her divinity. Moreover, in this silent battle of the Great Dao, Li Liu did not even make a move. When Ruan Xiu found her, Li Liu said nothing, asked nothing, but only gazed at the woman in azure robes who seemed to have shed all traces of humanity. Li Liu, having chosen to shed all of her own divinity, looked at Ruan Xiu with a hint of pity in her eyes.

Before this, they had engaged in an unpleasant chat beneath the engraved characters “Heaven Opens Divine Splendor.”

Li Liu, who was “not very good at being human,” had truly become a person. Ruan Xiu, whose “temper was indeed very good,” had departed to recreate the heavens.

Chen Pingan’s eyes were deep, mirroring the depths of the dark pool.

Liu Xianyang said, “The matter of challenging swordsmen in two places can’t just be you hogging all the limelight. You go to Qingfeng City. The ancestral wart armor thing, even though Qingfeng City has a bit of a reputation for strong-arming deals, I did agree to it myself. I won’t try to get it back. Explaining the principles clearly will be enough. You’re good at reasoning; I’m not. Anyway, because of the Fox Country incident, you’ve made quite an enemy of the Xu family, so it’s more suitable for you to go to Qingfeng City. I’ll go to Zhengyang Mountain for a sword challenge.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “Then let’s go together.”

Liu Xianyang asked, “Sure, when roughly? Let me know in advance. After all, it’s a long trip, and I need to discuss it with your sister-in-law.”

Chen Pingan said, “Hard to say for now, but I guarantee it won’t be more than two years. Before that, I might take a trip to the Central Mountain region to see the selection of the lower sect’s location for Zhengyang Mountain.”

Liu Xianyang became annoyed at the mention of this, stood up, and said hurriedly, “I have to rush back, or your sister-in-law will be waiting too long.”

Chen Pingan followed suit, “Shall I come back to the shop with you? I can cook a meal for you two as an apology.”

Liu Xianyang reached out and pressed Chen Pingan’s cheek, pushing him away forcefully. “Get lost. I haven’t seen you in years, and you look more and more like the kind of guy who thinks, ‘My sister-in-law is really beautiful; we brothers must be good friends forever.’ I need to be wary of you in the future. Otherwise, it’ll be like today. I just went out to buy some wine, and when I got home, I was disheartened. You were mimicking that damned fortune-telling Taoist from back in the day, smiling and reading your sister-in-law’s palm…”

Chen Pingan tilted his head, his face darkening.

Liu Xianyang laughed heartily, suddenly putting an arm around Chen Pingan’s neck and lowering his voice. “Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone about how you liked to eavesdrop at the ancestral home in Mud Bottle Lane every day. You were young, and your butt could fry pancakes in the winter. You had a lot of energy with nowhere to use it. It’s all understandable.”

Chen Pingan smiled insincerely, “Thanks for the reminder.”

On the way back, Liu Xianyang performed a set of clumsy Wangba boxing, looked around, used a rock to knock out a happily swimming duck, sneaked down to the river, and then, after getting ashore, stuffed the duck into his sleeve and ran off. He’d have a side dish for tonight’s late-night snack.

Chen Pingan couldn’t bear to watch this and went to town to have a drink with Li Er.

The woman saw Chen Pingan, a guest at her door, sighed heavily, and said how she wondered when he was coming, when he was coming.

At the dinner table, the couple sat in the main seats. Han Chengjiang naturally sat next to Li Liu, and the man in the blue shirt sat in Li Huai’s usual spot.

Han Chengjiang suddenly felt like something was off.

Could it be that the Lin Temple Warden, who was a mountain deity, and the Dong Half-City, who was flourishing, weren’t the real threats? Was this seemingly amiable Mountain Master the deeply hidden smiling tiger, the formidable enemy?

However, after Han Chengjiang smiled, got up, toasted and congratulated that person, he immediately felt that he was judging a gentleman with the heart of a petty man.

At the table, Li Er’s family did not treat Chen Pingan, an outsider, as an outsider, so they chatted relatively freely.

Han Chengjiang was not one to overthink things anyway. The key was that the Chen Mountain Master only toasted him and did not deliberately urge him to drink, which made Han Chengjiang breathe a sigh of relief.

According to Liu Xianyang, when an out-of-towner accompanied his wife back to her family’s home, the man at the dinner table had to make a round first, and then another round with the family to acknowledge the out-of-town son-in-law. If he couldn’t make it through both rounds, he’d only be qualified to drink with the toddlers running around with their crotches open.

The first time Li Liu left the Carp Pearl Paradise, following her parents to Lion Peak in the Northern Ju Lu Continent, it was the scholar Han Chengjiang who brought his book boy and happened to follow them along the way. This was indeed a karmic connection. In fact, this Han Chengjiang, and the “Li Liu” who had disintegrated and reincarnated many times, each time with innate knowledge, had an old feud, and also a karmic bond, not just once, but twice, once in the Central Earth Divine Continent, and once in the Flowing Sunset Continent.
Therefore, Li Liu chose to become a Daoist partner on the mountain with him in this life. That’s why Han Chengjiang accompanied Li Liu on her return to her hometown. They went together in the past and now return together, bound by fate, resolving old grudges. Originally, they had agreed to part ways at Li Liu’s small town, leaving any future reunions to chance, depending on whether Li Liu sought him out. However, the woman who constantly found fault with her son-in-law felt it was unreasonable to break the marriage contract so soon after the wedding. No woman in the world could be so heartless and unfeeling, except perhaps not her own daughter. Even though the wedding had been simple, held at the foot of Lion Peak in the small town, and not a single elder from the Han family had shown their face, making the woman a laughingstock among the neighbors. Some busybodies even taunted her, saying that this Han surname son-in-law was nowhere near as good as that Chen surname young man who used to help out at the shop. He was handsome, diligent, polite, and a shrewd and honest businessman. If her Liu’er had married him, she would have been truly blessed in her old age…

But no matter how much the woman favored her son and wanted Li Liu’s husband’s family to help Li Huai, or how much she remembered Chen Ping’an, she always clearly understood some basic principles. For example, one should be proper and fair, and though there might be quarrels and scuffles with neighbors, one should never harm them behind their backs. As for her daughter marrying someone and then immediately breaking the engagement, that was even more unacceptable to the woman. No matter how much her daughter cultivated immortal arts on the mountain, she was still her daughter, wasn’t she? No matter how grand the principles on the mountain were, they could never outweigh the fact that she was Li Liu’s mother!

Chen Ping’an drank quite a bit of wine, just enough to be tipsy, but Han Chengjiang got completely drunk. Li Liu, with her gentle voice, tried to stop him from drinking, but couldn’t. Han Chengjiang stood there, swaying, holding his large white bowl, insisting on toasting Mr. Chen, clearly very drunk. Li Er, seeing his son-in-law’s poor tolerance for alcohol, simply smiled and nodded. If one’s capacity for drink was lacking, one should make up for it with good manners; one should never lose face. That was the old way.

The Pearl Mountain was not far from Li Er’s house.

Chen Ping’an walked to the foot of the mountain, slowly made his way to the small summit, and gazed out at the night view of the town. The lights along Fortune and Prosperity Street and Peach Leaf Lane formed a continuous stretch, with other lights scattered sparsely here and there.

Chen Ping’an then rode the wind and traveled to the capital city. There was no curfew. He submitted his documents and found Dong Shuiing within the city, though it wasn’t easy, requiring many twists and turns to reach a remote house. Dong Shuiing stood there, waiting for Chen Ping’an. Dong Shuiing now employed two Earth Immortal cultivators with military backgrounds as his retainers, essentially bodyguards. Over the years, among the various forces eyeing his business, some had resorted to underhanded means. Dong Shuiing didn’t even bat an eye at spending money to avoid trouble. It was just that Jade Purity Realm cultivators were hard to find; otherwise, with Dong Shuiing’s current wealth, he could easily afford such a guardian.

Whenever someone visited who could find Dong Shuiing, the two Great Li military-出身 Earth Immortal retainers would notify their master, Dong Shuiing.

And a Qi Practitioner, especially if they were a Great Li military veteran, that was the greatest protection.

Dong Shuiing being able to hire them at great expense wasn’t just about throwing money around; it was also thanks to Cao Gengxin and Guan Yiran acting as matchmakers, plus Dong Shuiing’s several “small deals” with the Great Li military.

The former Supervising Official Cao Gengxin and Prefect Yuan Zhengding had long been Dong Shuiing’s friends. Guan Yiran, the Great Li Iron Cavalry’s garrison general at Shujian Lake, later transferred to the Ministry of Revenue in the capital. The Sun and Fan families in Old Dragon City, and further north, in the Northern Ju Continent, all had business connections with Dong Shuiing. Above and below the mountains, in temples and amongst warriors, he had contacts everywhere. Dong Shuiing currently managed a dozen businesses, all of which were unremarkable, regardless of size.

Besides the nearly two hundred houses and shops along several streets in the capital, and the three immortal inns within Dragon Province, all were owned by this Dong “Half-City” in name. In addition, two immortal ferry crossings, one along the Walking Dragon Road and one in the Southern Sacred Mountain region, were also his, though Dong Shuiing’s name never appeared on them. A major principle of Dong Shuiing’s business was to help friends earn money, both covertly and cleanly.

Inside the house, Dong Shuiing asked with a smile, “Want a bowl of wontons?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it for years.”

At the dinner table, each had a bowl of wontons. Chen Ping’an joked, “I heard a Great Li State Pillar and an Inspector General are vying for you to be their son-in-law?”

Dong Shuiing smiled. “If I actually agreed, my business wouldn’t be so big.”

Often, a particular choice itself is creating enemies.

Dong Shuiing put down his chopsticks and said helplessly, “Rubbing salt in wounds isn’t very kind.”

Chen Ping’an laughed and said nothing more.

Dong Shuiing said, “The Great Li court will definitely send someone to find you soon. I’m guessing Zhao Yao is most likely.”

An old man appeared in the courtyard.

Dong Shuiing turned and smiled. “Get straight to the point. There are no outsiders here.”

The Earth Immortal retainer said, “A group of distinguished guests just arrived at the governor’s mansion in the capital. They didn’t come through Ox Horn Mountain Ferry.”

Dong Shuiing nodded.

Chen Ping’an finished his wontons, put down his chopsticks, stood up, and laughed. “Speak of the devil. Dong Shuiing, you’re something else.”

Dong Shuiing said, “Since we’re both still hungry, I’ll make you another bowl of wontons to help with the alcohol. No need to move.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and didn’t leave the house, sitting back down.

After they finished their second bowl of wontons, there was a knock at the door.

Dong Shuiing laughed. “You guys chat. I’ll avoid suspicion and won’t see the guests.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Is that your idea of avoiding suspicion?”

Dong Shuiing said, “Actually, it’s all thanks to your presence. Hopefully, some people will understand and stop eyeing the little bit of hard-earned money I have. There’s not much, and it won’t make anyone rich.”

Chen Ping’an picked up the thread and joked, “But it’s definitely hotter than a bowl of wontons. Don’t worry, I won’t discuss personal matters, or even business. Just for these two bowls of wontons tonight, I should pass along a message for you.”

Dong Shuiing smiled and clasped his fist in salute.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Oh, I almost forgot to say, I just came from Uncle Li’s place.”

Dong Shuiing sighed and left. If Chen Ping’an had said that earlier, he wouldn’t have gotten even one bowl of wontons.

The house wasn’t big, and there were no servants.
As the host, Dong Shui Jing excused himself to the study, leaving the residence to the two groups of guests.

Chen Ping’an was thus left to open the door himself.

First was Liu Qingfeng, the retired Minister of Rites from the Great Li capital. This old man was widely regarded as Emperor’s greatest aid in checkmating the power of the feudal lord Song Mu.

This aging scholar, whose hometown was the Azure Luan Kingdom, was gaunt and emaciated, yet his eyes shone with vitality.

Then came Zhao Yao, a Senior Secretary of the Bureau of Merit Evaluation in the Ministry of Personnel, also from the Great Li capital. His origin was the Luminous Pearl Grotto-Heaven.

Accompanying them was a Senior Secretary of the Bureau of Sacrifices in the Ministry of Rites, of venerable experience, overseeing all the Great Li “Adhesive Insects” (粘桿郎).

Chen Ping’an looked toward the decrepit old scholar among the three, and bowed, saying, “Greetings, Mr. Liu.”

Liu Qingfeng smiled and returned the bow slowly, “Greetings, Young Master Chen.”

As they straightened up, Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Fortunately, the alley is narrow, preventing ox carts from entering.”

Liu Qingfeng knowingly smiled, “Fortunately, no ‘Zheng Qian’ blocked the way, and there were no ponds nearby.”

Zhao Yao spoke in a mental voice transmission, “I saw Ning Yao once in Soaring Dragon City. She is well.”

Chen Ping’an retorted, annoyed, “Who are you? None of your business.”

Zhao Yao swallowed his bitterness, unable to voice his grievances. Why were these Daoist companions, separated by vast distances, so prone to bullying?

Zhao Yao suddenly added, “I’ve seen your daughter. She’s very cute, with features resembling her mother more.”

Chen Ping’an simply said “Oh,” then rolled up his sleeves. In an instant, both figures vanished from the alleyway outside the door.

The elderly Senior Secretary from the Bureau of Sacrifices frowned, but Liu Qingfeng smiled and said, “It’s nothing. They share the same literary lineage; the junior uncle is simply catching up with his senior nephew.”

The old Senior Secretary could only pretend to be ignorant. Catching up shouldn’t require rolling up sleeves and brandishing fists, should it? But since he couldn’t stop them anyway, he would just take it as fellow disciples catching up.

A moment later, Chen Ping’an returned alone from the alleyway, looking refreshed. He smiled and said that Secretary Zhao had taken his leave and gone to sleep.

Within the prefecture city, a blue-robed scholar with a bruised face hung from a tree branch, indeed fast asleep.