Lu Yan took his leave first, and Chen Pingan wished this pure Yang True Man, renowned as the foremost among Golden Core cultivators, a smooth and fulfilling journey of cultivation.

Mountain Master Chen even offered an auspicious blessing, hoping that the senior’s Dao Heart would be as complete and perfect as the full moon of the fifteenth.

Feng Xuetao was puzzled. The waxing and waning of the moon was a natural occurrence, and according to reason, fullness leads to decline, so was this truly a favorable blessing?

Cui Dongshan rolled his eyes and could only explain to the uncomprehending Brother Feng with a mental voice, “As the saying goes, the moon is fullest on the sixteenth day.”

Feng Xuetao was momentarily speechless. In the realm of speaking, Mountain Master Chen truly possessed unique knowledge.

Chen Pingan went to meet Xing Yun and Liu Shui, the two native Sword Cultivators of the Great Wall of Sword Qi, and chatted about the customs and culture of the Savage Desolate World. Cui Dongshan, restless as ever, immediately dragged Feng Xuetao off the Tongyin Ferry, asking this Ascension Realm cultivator if he was interested in finding a position at the Azure Willow Sword Sect, just as a favor to his own brother. Since their friendship had reached this point, and the wine had been sufficient, then there was no need to discuss money, lest it damage their brotherly bond. Feng Xuetao had already suffered a major setback at Jiang Shangzhen’s place, and could only repeatedly decline and refuse. Besides, he truly didn’t feel that he and this Sect Master Cui were kindred spirits. Once they reached the shore, walking along the brightly lit streets and alleys, the white-robed youth snapped his sleeves with a resounding crack.

Pei Qian cleared the wine table and returned to her room to practice her footwork in silence.

True Man Fire Dragon found the lone sable-hatted girl, and with a straightforward smile, asked, “May I ask Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, what is the scenery like when looking down from the heavens?”

Xie Gou curled her lips, “Nothing special.”

True Man Fire Dragon was slightly taken aback, only then remembering that this expression seemed to be a local dialect from Chen Pingan’s small town. After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, “Only after seeing it can one be qualified to say such a thing.” Xie Gou stretched out her hands and tugged at her sable hat. “You all think my cultivation aptitude is very good, but I myself think it’s just average, not particularly outstanding. I just got a few huge advantages, being born early and fortunately seeing many figures from the very first pages of the old almanacs. It seems that according to Buddhist terminology, I belong to the narrow sense of ‘Śrāvaka’? Am I right? I roughly counted, the ones I’ve met, asked for advice in person, sparred with, and lost fights to, are almost a hundred. Any of these ancient Daoists, if placed in today’s world, wouldn’t they be top figures? I used to not take these things seriously, thinking them ordinary. Coming here, I often wander around the foot of the mountain, and seeing the Daoists again, struggling with their cultivation, unable to find enlightenment no matter what, I just…”

True Man Fire Dragon waited for the rest of her words. Xie Gou rubbed her flushed cheeks, and after a long while, offered an explanation, “Want to cry.”

Upon hearing this, True Man Fire Dragon burst into hearty laughter, expressing his deep agreement, and saying “Good” several times. Xie Gou’s face was filled with melancholy. “Mister Zhu is a candid friend, and he has criticized me very bluntly, saying that I was born at the right time, experiencing tribulation and cultivating the Dao, with good luck, always able to escape danger. Seemingly, I have been slowly accumulating Dao power, but I am not aware of my own true heart. With a higher realm, I have regressed from the Great Dao Heart, and therefore only attained a small fruition, still far from Dao mastery. That’s why I went out earlier to relax, and took a trip to the Ten Thousand Mountains. The Old Blind Man’s view of me is about the same as Mister Zhu’s.”

True Man Fire Dragon chuckled, “Mister Zhu?”

Zhu Lian, the martial artist from Lotus Flower Paradise? He was indeed a rare and wonderful person, but to say that Zhu Lian was an “Old” to Xie Gou, that wouldn’t be right, would it?

Xie Gou glanced at the old True Man and said, “In my eyes, you are also very old.”

True Man Fire Dragon stroked his beard and smiled. These words were very reminiscent of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, making people feel comfortable.

Xie Gou viewed Feng Xuetao, whose Daoist name was Qingmi, as the youngest of the juniors. Even Lu Yan, whose Daoist name was Chunyang, was at most her peer on the path of cultivation, and they could address each other as Fellow Daoist.

However, the old chef in her Fallen Phoenix Mountain and this old True Man beside her did have a strange ability to make people feel that they were the kind of elders in their hearts.

Their words were teachings, telling you some old truths from those who have come before. In this matter, even Mountain Master Chen, who liked to lecture the most, seemed to lack some experience.

True Man Fire Dragon smiled and said, “The Great Sun, which was once the Fellow Daoist’s private territory, fell to the ground, causing the Golden Crow to sleep for ten thousand years, which happened to be in Treasure Bottle洲. Fellow Daoist is so reasonable, yet willing to take a step back, which is quite unexpected.”

If the small rumors on the mountain were not wrong, Bai Jing seemed to have leased this Daoist site to the Great Li Dynasty.

Xie Gou curled her lips, “Firstly, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Secondly, our Mountain Master is about to become the Great Li National Preceptor. We’re all one family, so there’s no need to be so formal.”

But she quickly added, “If it had fallen in the Savage Desolate World, see if I would be so easy to talk to. No matter who you send as a lobbyist, it wouldn’t work, not even Old Master Bai!”

True Man Fire Dragon nodded, “This poor Daoist likes to hear honest words from honest people.”

Even Jiang Shangzhen was curious about Xie Gou’s great Dao foundation, and privately asked Chen Pingan if it was possible that Miss Xie was from the Divine Path.

It was easy to understand why he would have such speculation, after all, everyone on the mountain knew that Bai Jing’s Daoist site was in a round of Great Sun with extremely high quality. She had once imitated and opened up a Fire Essence Palace as her residence.

However, according to the insider information revealed by Xiao Mo, Bai Jing’s origin was indeed a demon race from the earth, not a divine being from the ancient Heavenly Court. Because of Xiao Mo, Xie Gou had previously chatted with Chen Pingan about the past in a more casual manner. She did not deny that she initially wanted to take that round of “better-born” Great Sun as her own, and then try to learn from Lan Qi, one of the Ten Heroes of the ancient world, and refine this Great Sun into her natal object. However, she soon discovered that the Great Sun had actually given birth to intelligence, and its Great Dao manifested as a Golden Crow. Bai Jing then changed her original intention and decided to protect it for a while.

Therefore, when Xie Gou proposed to take a trip to the Vast Expanse World, Bai Ze did not stop her, even though he knew that the Savage Desolate World would lose a top combat force. This was a very important reason.

It wasn’t just as simple as Xie Gou wanting to find Xiao Mo. According to the rules of the Savage Desolate World, when it came to a cultivator’s great Dao opportunity, all considerations of profit would have to give way.

What’s more, Bai Jing was a candidate sword cultivator at the fourteenth realm, whom Bai Ze had high hopes for.

True Man Fire Dragon smiled and said, “If we really talk about it, this poor Daoist and Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, and True Man Chunyang, have some origins in the Daoist lineage, so it is very appropriate to call you Fellow Daoists.”

Xie Gou nodded vigorously, “In the future, let’s visit each other often. If we encounter any difficult hard nuts to crack, let’s give each other a call, and I guarantee a cloud-piercing arrow will bring thousands of troops and horses to the rescue, haha!”
Fire Dragon True Man clapped his hands and laughed, “Easy, easy.” In the boundless void beyond the heavens, countless great suns hung suspended, and each great sun was like a ferry, all leading to the Crimson Citadel of Azure Heavens, the Fire Yang Palace, which later generations of Daoists revered as one of the imperial residences. The Pure Yang True Man Lü Yan, in history, had often lectured on fire arts within this ancient relic. Those who diligently listened to his teachings back then were mostly members of the noble ancient Flood Dragon race.

Fire Dragon True Man suddenly asked, “It seems Fellow Daoist Bai Jing is quite concerned about Pei Qian?”

Xie Gou smiled awkwardly, “Forming factions on the mountain is like children playing house, just for fun.”

Under the instigation of the white-haired boy, they jointly recognized Guo Zhujiu as their leader, establishing their own mountain stronghold in opposition to Pei Qian’s group.

Fire Dragon True Man smiled knowingly, “Oh?”

Xie Gou chuckled dryly.

Fire Dragon True Man changed the subject, “I wonder who was the first to use ‘sweet’ to describe a beautiful dream, truly exquisite.”

Xie Gou understood his meaning. She had slept for ten thousand years, and Fire Dragon True Man was known throughout the world for his mastery of sleeping techniques.

In a world where people’s hearts were complex, encountering a few simple-minded people was like a connoisseur of wine encountering fine wine.

Xie Gou grinned and said, “Old True Man, if we had met on the path ten thousand years ago, we could certainly have become close friends.”

Fire Dragon True Man stroked his beard and said, “I feel the same.”

Xie Gou asked, “What are the Old True Man’s plans next?”

Fire Dragon True Man laughed, “To return to the desolate wilderness and find some truly capable individuals to spar with in Daoist arts.”

Because Chen Ping’an and Xie Gou did not deliberately conceal their tracks when boarding the ship, the spies Yunyan Kingdom had stationed at Fish Scale Ferry did not dare to be careless and immediately notified the court.

No matter how small Yunyan Kingdom’s territory was, it still had a small number of local Qi refiners. In the top-floor corridor of a private residence’s study near the ferry, a group of young men and women gazed into the distance at the Tongyin ferry. They usually had nothing to do but monitor the movements of the entire Fish Scale Ferry, not afraid of having nothing to do, but afraid that foreign immortals would have disputes with the local people. It was said that the Minister of Rites was worried every day and had to go to the temple to burn incense every now and then. Fortunately, so far, no unmanageable mess had occurred in the capital region, but the Emperor and a large number of imperial relatives were increasingly eager for someone to visit and meet with him. However, strangely enough, at first, the Emperor of Yunyan Kingdom would personally host a banquet for a Golden Core Earth Immortal in the capital. Later, it had to be a Nascent Soul cultivator, as Golden Core was no longer sufficient. Then it became an Upper Fifth Realm Jade Purity cultivator, and now it was even said that the Emperor seemed to have lost interest even in seeing an Immortal, after having met even the Ascension Realm cultivator with the Daoist name “Azure Secret”.

A young man with thick eyebrows sat cross-legged, his sword across his lap, and frowned, asking, “Is it him?”

A slender girl with a cold expression, who was craning her neck to look at the ferry, said cautiously, “Hard to say.” Previously, they had received a confidential message from the Ministry of Justice of the Imperial Court: the Sect Master of the Qingping Sword Sect’s superior sect had arrived in Tongye Continent. Great Sword Immortal Mi had quickly achieved merit, finding the remaining barbaric demon clans who had indiscriminately killed innocent people. The excavation of the great channel, which had caused widespread unrest, could finally proceed smoothly. Without this crucial clue, none of them would have associated the blue-shirted man beside the sable-hat girl with the legendary young Hidden Official.

The young man was the only local swordsman in Yunyan Kingdom, and his cultivation mentality inevitably had some self-satisfaction. Now that his horizons had broadened, he felt the pressure increase sharply, and he had become taciturn in his daily life.

The streets of the capital were filled with strange and unusual people, and the Earth Immortal, which he had once considered his lifelong pursuit, was nothing. This had made the young swordsman feel as if he were practicing a vow of silence recently.

If Tongye Continent were still the same as it was decades ago, with his cultivation talent and swordsman status, he would have gone to a Sect-ranked Immortal Mansion for further studies without any accidents.

The young man felt depressed and whispered, “When those who have achieved success in cultivation pass through our Yunyan Kingdom, do they see us like an ant nest?”

In the past, Tongye Continent was isolated, and Qi refiners were often arrogant and uninterested in the outside world. Now that the world had changed, they could no longer afford to close their doors and be complacent. Hearing this, the girl was stunned and retracted her gaze from the Fish Scale Ferry, gently saying, “Zhongcui, we should keep our distance from those foreign sects and wandering terrestrial immortals who travel here under assumed names, facing these unattainable behemoths.”

The young man named Zhongcui murmured, “Inviting a god is easy, but sending him away is difficult.”

Because he did not quite believe that Qingping Sword Sect was a philanthropic mountain sect. Did such cultivators really exist in the world, so concerned about the good and bad of the world?

He feared that one day, Qingping Sword Sect would gain a firm foothold in Tongye Continent, and all the countries along the great channel would become puppet roles of that Immortal Mansion.

A martial artist flew over the eaves and came to the top floor, buying a jar of Yi wine from an old-fashioned shop on the way. His figure flipped over the railing. The middle-aged martial artist’s face resembled that of the young man in the corridor.

The girl covered her mouth and chuckled, “Uncle Zhong, you drove away another contraband cruise ship, I saw it, very heroic.”

The man laughed loudly, “Caiya, that’s not all, I even met two strange men on the Tongyin boat and invited them for a drink.”

A tall young man who was dozing off against the wall quickly asked, “Was it the man in the blue shirt? Did he identify himself? Is his surname Chen?”

The man boasted without drafting, saying seriously, “We appreciated each other and just agreed to have a drink, no need to know names.”

On the roof, the white-clothed boy was lying down, crossing his legs. Feng Xuetao felt speechless, wondering what the point of coming here to drink the northwest wind and listen to a few children complaining was.

The young man regretted, “What a pity, if it were really that person, and you could have established a relationship, Uncle Zhong, you would have made a fortune.”

The man smiled and said, “Young people should not always think that they can rise to prominence by meeting nobles.”

He patted the young man’s forehead and joked, “Stinky boy, do you know that in the eyes of those rich, powerful, and influential ‘nobles,’ you greenhorns all have price tags on your foreheads.”

On the roof, Feng Xuetao laughed, “That’s a bit of a mouthful.”

Cui Dongshan, with his head resting on his hand, was dangling his legs, “He’s a sensible person.”

Feng Xuetao asked, “Does Sect Master Cui have any ideas about attracting someone?”
Unlike the Azure Canopy Sword Sect, Fallen Mountain explicitly announced a twenty-year closure, clearly not seeking to expand its influence. Conversely, the lower sect, under Cui Dongshan, had been actively recruiting.

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “Brother Feng, don’t always think of me as so opportunistic. It’s merely enjoying the moon with like-minded friends.” Cui Dongshan explained, “I am just a transitional Sect Master, only responsible for laying a good foundation, building the framework, and deliberately leaving some gaps. So, there’s no need to worry about mediocrity. The Azure Canopy Sword Sect will definitely be handed over to Junior Brother Cao. When Cao Qinglang takes over, he will have something to do, at least not be constrained.”

Feng Xuetao nodded, “If the Azure Canopy Sword Sect is too heavily influenced by the Cui style, Cao Qinglang will be in a difficult position.”

Cui Dongshan gave a grunt, “There’s a bit of weight to that.”

Feng Xuetao was helpless.

In the corridor, although they found the man’s words to have some truth, they were always unconvinced on the surface.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow, the moon waxes and wanes, and the youths each live their youth.

The capital city had no curfew, and young people with money and energy, as well as cultivators full of vitality, were often night owls.

Many shops temporarily hired assistants to watch the stores for business, effectively earning two salaries in one day, a mutually beneficial situation.

A pair of temporary companions, who met by chance, also arrived in the capital of Cloud Cliff Country. The man had a paper-white face and a fierce appearance, accompanied by a fair-skinned woman with a petite figure. They were simply wandering around, broadening their horizons. It’s hard to say whether reason can prevail everywhere, but money can certainly get you around. Having gained a large windfall earlier, their initial thoughts of living under someone else’s roof faded, and they didn’t seek refuge in that mountain god’s mansion. They were none other than Fan Tong and Xie Sanniang. Along the way, they had heard several major events from afar, such as a certain Great Sword Immortal surnamed Mi from the Great Wall of Swords taking action and ferreting out those demonic beasts that were stirring up trouble and recklessly smashing talismans. Another example was Jade Regulation Sect gaining a transcendent figure as a patron, with the Daoist title of Green Secret, an old celestial of the Ascension Realm!

Naturally, Fan Tong and Xie Sanniang had no idea that the culprits who had almost brought the excavation of the Great Dredge to a halt were the group of young men and women they had encountered in the dilapidated temple.

As for who the Sword Immortal surnamed Mi was, Fan Tong inquired, but perhaps others saw him as an unsavory character and simply ignored him.

Fan Tong really wanted to find an immortal inn or shop near Fish Scale Ferry, to ask the immortal masters if they knew someone named “Chen Ping’an,” or to buy a few mountain gazettes to see if there was a chance to find that name.

However, his wife dismissed the idea with a “Do you have money?”, Fan Tong actually had some secret savings, but it wasn’t worth exposing them for this bit of curiosity.

They still stayed in an ordinary inn in the capital.

Earlier, while strolling along the riverbank, they saw a docked ferry, the largest in size, and some young and beautiful immortal maidens were pointing and commenting on it. Gatherings of orioles and swallows, mostly women with registered celestial status. Fan Tong, a vigorous man, naturally couldn’t control his eyes, so he was pinched and twisted by his furious wife, causing the man to sweat in pain. Pain was pain, but looking was looking, two different things.

Fan Tong believed that if that Immortal Master Chen were traveling with them, it would be a similar sight.

He just wondered if that Chen Immortal Master, who claimed to be a swordsman, met the now-discussed Great Sword Immortal Mi, and had the chance to chat face-to-face, would he be intimidated?

Tonight, the couple went out of the city again to dine near Fish Scale Ferry. These expenses were within their budget, as they had saved a few snowflakes of silver previously.

In the past, his wife liked to browse various rouge and powder shops. Here, it was even more exaggerated. Fan Tong found it strange that she was picking and choosing without buying, but she was happy. What was she so happy about?

Xie Sanniang chose a dirty restaurant and planned to eat hot pot.

As soon as Fan Tong sat down, the owner began to worry that the couple would dine and dash, but then he thought, the government is strong now, it shouldn’t happen, right?

The next table was occupied by people running to and from the mountains. Although they didn’t use mental communication, the content they were discussing was all about immortals.

However, Fan Tong knew very well that the reason they were doing so was because they were accompanied by several heavily made-up, bejeweled ordinary women.

When those women saw Fan Tong, who looked like a wanted criminal, they were somewhat disdainful. When they looked at Xie Sanniang beside the fierce-looking man, their eyes had a meaning that only women understood.

Xie Sanniang looked smug. I am a proper married woman now. What about you, can you earn money by sleeping in bed?

Fan Tong had no idea of the undercurrents at play. He was more interested in the conversation of the registered cultivators, which had a hint of showing off. They were explaining some insider information about immortals to the women, saying that the attire of alchemists leaving the mountains could be divided into several ranks. The first rank was being able to tame immortal birds and beasts as mounts, either due to their own good fortune or because of their strong background, bestowed by their masters and elders. The second rank was having a valuable talisman boat. This kind of immortal treasure was not something that could be easily afforded. The third rank was even more exaggerated, being able to own a private ferry that was constantly consuming immortal money once it ascended to the heavens.

Xie Sanniang gently nudged the man next to her with her elbow, raising her eyebrows. Fan Tong smiled and said that he couldn’t reach any of these three kinds of immortal airs. He would have to find a good sleeping position in his dreams.

All the women stared directly at a young man who was drinking very slowly. He was the only one at the table without a female companion.

The eloquent man then changed the topic and said, “Our Young Master Hong has a talisman treasure boat that the ancestral hall congratulated him on for reaching the Cave Realm.”

The young man surnamed Hong smiled faintly, took a sip of wine, and said that his meager cultivation was nothing compared to true cultivation geniuses.

The more he humbly said this, the more ardent the eyes of the women at the table became.

The man who was willing to be a helper for the young man surnamed Hong continued, “The most outrageous thing, of course, is having your own private ferry.”

While eating hot pot, Xie Sanniang secretly rolled her eyes from time to time. Fan Tong just thought that this rice wine was soft and lacked strength.

Just then, the woman noticed a familiar figure appearing at the door. She quickly got up and kicked the man next to her, seeing that he was still devouring his food.
Fan Tong blankly raised his head, and the burly man’s smile instantly bloomed, unexpectedly reuniting with that Master Chen here.

Chen Ping’an smiled and sat on the long bench opposite them, “Shamelessly trying to freeload a meal and drinks. You guys treat, and I’ll settle the bill.”

Fan Tong wiped his mouth, still a stickler for etiquette despite his lack of schooling, “This is really too much.”

Xie Sanniang charmingly laughed, “Why bother being polite with Master Chen.”

Fan Tong mustered his courage and asked, “Master Chen, if I may be so bold, what line of work are you in?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Every profession produces its champion.”

Fan Tong blushed with embarrassment. The woman couldn’t help but chuckle.

She actually wanted to pick up some food for Chen Ping’an, to help him cook vegetables in the hot pot, but she hesitated for a moment and decided against it. Perhaps it would be unwelcome.

An extra set of chopsticks and a bowl were added to the table. Chen Ping’an didn’t say much, burying himself in the delicious food. As usual, hot pot and wine, he felt like he owned the world.

Having just heard the title “Master Chen,” the table next to them glanced at the blue-robed man, but it was just a fleeting glance.

Fan Tong lowered his voice and asked, “Master Chen, what brings you to this place?”

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl and clinked it against the couple’s, downing it in one gulp. Chen Ping’an first used the spoon to scoop out a few slices of tripe from the pot, placing them on each of their plates.

Only then did he smile and explain, “Just happen to have some acquaintances here, busy with a small matter.”

Fan Tong said “Oh,” and didn’t pay much attention to it.

The woman stared blankly at the tripe on her plate. When she came back to her senses, she immediately turned to the owner and said to order another jin of Yì wine.

Outside in the alley, the Yunyan Kingdom’s Emperor, on an impromptu private visit, held his breath and patiently stood by the corner of the wall.

Over at the Tongyin ferry, Xie Gou stood with her hands on her hips, beaming with pride. She was now even more eager for Xiao Mo’s return home.

When their Mountain Lord said he was going to meet two friends, Xie Gou asked him to wait a moment, saying she had something to ask, something related to scholarly pursuits.

Regarding the matter of learning, Chen Ping’an, since his youth, had always believed that a bad memory is better than a good pen, and along the way, he had been sketching various mountain landscapes, city scenes, and architectural styles.

Perhaps infected by Mountain Lord Chen, or maybe just looking for some fun, the sable-hatted girl would also imitate him, taking out a booklet during rests, facing away from Chen Ping’an, often writing and drawing.

Chen Ping’an never inquired about this, only occasionally seeing Xie Gou scratching her head in confusion, which he found quite amusing. If it were a matter of cultivation, it certainly wouldn’t cause Xie Gou such a dilemma.

At the time, Xie Gou rubbed her sable hat, rarely revealing a hint of shyness, tentatively asking, “Mountain Lord, I heard you have a habit of writing travelogues?”

Chen Ping’an immediately became wary. Nothing could be hidden on his own mountain, so he counterattacked, “Speak your mind, don’t beat around the bush, don’t learn from Cui Dongshan.”

Xie Gou said in a low voice, “Ha, I’m just trying to emulate the virtuous! I just want to record this journey through the beautiful rivers and mountains, so I can tell Xiao Mo about it.”

“Hey, isn’t there a saying in books, called ‘immersive experience, describing objects and scenes, lifelike depiction,’ so I was thinking of asking Mountain Lord to help polish it up a bit.”

Like that old blind man, who read so many books back then, but couldn’t refine a single natal character. No wonder he looked so highly upon their Mountain Lord.

Chen Ping’an slightly puzzled, said “Oh,” and became interested upon hearing this, “Let me see the manuscript?”

Xie Gou took out a booklet from her sleeve, offering it with both hands, holding it above her head, “Presenting my humble work, presenting my humble work.”

Chen Ping’an took the booklet and flipped it open. The characters were quite large, and only a few words could fit on a page. Good, this would save him from pretending to read it seriously.

“On such and such day, left such and such city, not sure or roughly walked a few li, saw a high mountain, really high, reached the summit, and looking at the town again, it felt so small.”

“That vast sea of clouds, snow-white, like cotton… Next to such and such temple, there is a tree of unknown name, looks really old, almost a spirit already.”

“One day passed a dilapidated post station, found a few limericks written on the wall, copied them down as follows…”

Xie Gou softly asked, “Mountain Lord, after reading it, what do you think?”

Chen Ping’an looked calm, but his mind was racing, and he finally managed to squeeze out a statement, “The writing is relatively simple.”

He wanted to add “crude but cute,” but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. It was too against his conscience. He couldn’t just lie through his teeth just to avoid pouring cold water on Xie Gou and discouraging her enthusiasm for writing.

Xie Gou nodded to herself, “Sure enough, the writing reflects the person, even if I break the pen, I can’t conjure up those flowery contents.”

Chen Ping’an ignored these words and asked, “Why is it all ‘such and such day, such and such place’?”

Xie Gou widened her eyes and said, “Do I need to write down the dates and locations one by one? I don’t want to make money off this, I just want to write it concisely, only write the important points.”

Chen Ping’an tried to maintain a smile, “The important points are indeed all very important.”

Xie Gou tentatively asked, “There’s still room for improvement, right?”

Chen Ping’an had no choice but to simply sit on the ground, take out paper and pen from his mustard seed pouch, and start helping to polish the text on the spot, “A slight revision, no objections, right?”

Xie Gou laughed, “Just write whatever you want, the only principle is, Mountain Lord, write me and this journey as good as you can.”

She squatted aside, seeing that the Mountain Lord only pondered for a moment before writing like the wind, starting with the phrase “I love to travel,” the sable-hatted girl nodded gently upon seeing this, “That’s exactly what I wanted.”
The content is primarily simple and unadorned, indicating my and the Mountain Lord’s talents are on par, thus no need for a writing fee.

On the second day, I journeyed down the mountain with a friend, each carrying a staff and wearing a bamboo hat and straw sandals. Our hearts steadfast in seeking enlightenment, we wandered freely amidst the misty clouds and flowing waters. After twenty *li*, we passed through the border of Qingping Prefecture. The boundary marker lay toppled, a sign of the province’s decline. In the past twenty years, the various kingdoms have suffered incessant floods, droughts, locust plagues, and warfare. The lives of common folk below the mountain are cheaper than weeds, and even the mountain cannot claim peace. These twenty-odd years have passed like a spark from flint or a flash of lightning. How can we dare not cherish our cultivation, dare not accumulate our Daoist power?

The citizens of Qingping were destitute, and the streets deserted. The faces of the few pedestrians were gaunt and pale. Ten *li* outside the city, we rested at a small post station. Thirty *li* further, we walked along the lakeshore, willows swaying gently. We traveled along the shady path, passed over the Boundary Ridge, and ascended the mountain along the sacred path. The mountain’s Daoist temple was dilapidated. We borrowed a stove inside to start a fire. After our meal, we climbed to the summit and gazed upon the vast expanse of the lake, with Qingping Prefecture at its edge, only to have wind and clouds rise up in an instant, obscuring everything from sight. I recalled the hardship of my past travels, often unable to find human settlements, frequently encountering jackals, tigers, leopards, strange birds, and terrifying mountain spirits and water monsters.

On the third morning, we walked down the mountain. After a hundred *li*, we stopped at Yangjia Store, taking a brief rest and buying provisions, spending eight *fen* of silver. We crossed the Encounter Immortal Bridge. A sudden downpour turned the road muddy. After fifteen *li*, we reached Dumb Beach. The rain stopped, and the sky cleared. We traveled by boat at night. The passengers in the boat delighted in tales of ghosts and monsters, unaware that the boatman poling the boat was a manifestation of the River God. After disembarking, we walked eighty *li*. On Yellow Flower Ridge, sweet osmanthus trees lined the road. It was a pity it wasn’t autumn. We encountered several pilgrims returning from worshipping at the mountain. Here, the mountains had no main peak; each was revered in its own right. We stayed at the peak, meditating for a night. As the red sun rose, painting the great river like a sash, our hearts broadened.

On the fifth day, we arrived at Willow River Town and were extorted two taels of silver by local men falsely claiming to be soldiers. Seventy *li* beyond, we saw a famous mountain, its spiritual energy strong and unyielding. My friend and I followed a mountain stream, the fish in the water clearly visible. Halfway up the mountain was Careful Slope. Beyond that, the path was only a narrow goat trail, extraordinarily precipitous. Steps were carved into the cliff face, winding upwards, leaving almost no room to stand; we could only walk facing the wall. We saw an ancient pine tree, its old branches like an umbrella, with monkeys frolicking among its leaves. The summit was a flat expanse, with a lake in the center. Several thatched huts stood beside a reed marsh, inhabited by cultivators who, though appearing dull and gaunt, had eyes that shone with a clear light. We discussed the Dao with them, learning in great detail about the mountain’s past immortals, Buddhas, and real persons, as well as miraculous events and divine wonders. I conceived the intention to compile a gazetteer of the mountain. By the light of the moon, we gazed at the scenery from the cliff’s edge, realizing that the mountains, rivers, and lands all revealed the body of the Dharma King.

On the seventh day, the sky cleared, and we traveled quickly, re-entering the great mountains, where in ancient times, a founding emperor had studied, and where high adepts had always secluded themselves. Above the mountainside, the climate was like winter. Many scenic spots and historical sites were buried in snow, a pity we couldn’t see them.

On the ninth day, we passed the site of a battlefield. On a small hillside, we saw a Daoist in tall headwear, sitting cross-legged on a futon, with two white hairs extending from his nose, connected to the clouds and mist, the fluctuating air still coalescing around him. Not daring to disturb him, we stopped twenty paces away. The Daoist opened his eyes and spoke of his own accord, uttering profound words. The Daoist was benevolent. As we parted, he repeatedly urged us that as seekers of the Dao, we must stay far away from desires, just as dry grass must avoid fire. Mortals and immortals are no different; to know one’s mistakes and correct them is like sweating out an illness, gradually recovering. We must focus our hearts on the Dao and strive to cultivate, never being swayed by fame or profit. Remember, remember.

On the twelfth day, the sun blazed fiercely, as if in the sweltering season. We entered the mountains to escape the heat. Bamboo and cypress trees grew densely in the mountains, a lush green, shielding the sky. Along the way, we heard the distant sound of a twilight drum, realizing there was a temple within. It was an ancient monastery built by imperial decree in a previous dynasty, but its incense offerings were dwindling. There were two monks in the temple, both resembling arhats, with considerable cultivation. The mountain’s resources were meager, and life was hard; the monks relied entirely on alms collected down the mountain for their sustenance. The two monks excelled in discussing Chan and Pure Land Buddhism, saying that in this Dharma-ending Age, only the Pure Land school was extremely stable and swift.

On the fifteenth day, on the official road, we encountered over a hundred displaced people migrating to other regions, traveling together for over a hundred *li*. We parted ways at a porridge shop. After twenty *li*, the sky turned dark, daytime becoming like night. We ate lunch at a wine shop at the border of two counties. In the shop, we met a sword-wielding hero, burly and exuding Daoist energy. He invited us to drink at the same table and reminded us that bandits were now as numerous as hemp in the roads, impossible to eliminate, and that we needed to detour. The hero claimed to call the four seas his home, traveling far and wide with a thin and lame old horse, his figure appearing dejected. Sighing, upon settling the bill, we realized that the hero, falsely claiming to be a friend, had taken the opportunity to run off with the credit. My friend and I simply smiled at each other, not taking it to heart.

On the sixteenth day, as darkness fell, we passed through a gate into a neighboring country’s county seat. The marketplace was thriving, densely populated, and rich in resources, vastly different from what we had seen before. We lodged at the Ephemeral Flower Temple in the city. The abbot was very hospitable, personally leading us to pay respects in the various halls, speaking earnestly, saying that false thoughts arise like bubbles in the vast ocean, and desires ignite like a great fire across the plains. We Daoists must be mindful of this principle. He also spoke a few ready-made phrases, the easiest to say, the hardest to practice. We lingered in the city for a day. On the eighteenth day, we continued our journey, traversing mountains and waters, stopping and starting. At the foot of an unnamed great mountain, we saw three youths, vowing earnestly not to return home until they became immortals. Later, we saw a tadpole tablet, the stone carvings worn and blurred, the inscription indistinct. We stopped to make a rubbing. A wandering monk had inscribed on it, “Ashamed that I am unlikely to return here in this life.”

At the mountain’s peak, there was a stone that stood out like an old monk, and there used to be a thatched hut that is now only a wild grass plain, with only an ancient well remaining, beside which green chives still grew. An isolated peak protrudes from the vast sea of clouds, a pillar in midstream, seemingly the mountain moves and the clouds do not…

Pei Qian finished her footwork practice and walked out of the house. The moonlight was clear, and she saw that Xie Gou was still standing on the bow of the boat, secretly amusing himself.

Xie Gou turned his head to look at the young woman and made a face at her. Pei Qian didn’t mind it, used to it.

Xie Gou tiptoed up to her, made a gesture of raising a glass to drink, and asked with a smile, “Pei Qian, shall we drink and chat? It’s time for you to know some things.”

Pei Qian seemed to deliberately avoid the important and focus on the trivial, her face full of puzzlement, “Didn’t we just have a drink?”

Xie Gou learned from the Mountain Lord and sighed, “The second round!”

Pei Qian shook her head, “No thanks.” Xie Gou was about to say something, but Pei Qian had already turned to walk towards her house. Xie Gou hesitated, and ultimately didn’t try to persuade her to stay. She jumped onto the boat railing, swaying her legs, muttering to herself, mumbling, as if speaking in a drunken stupor, not…

When the time is not right, they are great dragons and snakes hidden in the wilderness; when the time is right, they are great actions performed for the people.

Xie Gou turned to look at that back, and asked, “I have a question, you don’t have to answer it. Have you been doing well these years?” Pei Qian turned her head, her bright eyes seemingly already holding the answer. How life was before meeting her master was not worth mentioning; after meeting her master, it was the best.