“Before witnessing the Hidden Official’s presence,” began a jovial voice, “I confess, I harbored a certain curiosity. What manner of extraordinary man could possibly be worthy of the peerless Ning Sword Immortal? I openly voiced this wonderment, even in the presence of my dear brother Zhong, not once, but repeatedly. Only upon this blessed encounter do I grasp the meaning of a celestial match, a union ordained by the very threads of fate spun by the Moon God himself!”

“Having beheld the Ning Sword Immortal,” the voice continued with dramatic flair, “one might dismiss all other women as mere painted dolls. Yet, witnessing the Hidden Official has revealed the true measure of youthful brilliance. Alas, I lament my own wasted years, a lifetime squandered and fit only for the kennel.”

“Ah, my apologies, Master Chen of the Mountain,” the voice boomed, “I have yet to introduce myself. I am Su Gu, ‘Lonely Su,’ though I bear the Daoist title of Gusu, akin to one of the gossiping village women. Brother Zhong and I share a kinship of spirit, an immediate bond of camaraderie. Truth be told, my sworn brotherhood with Zhong Kui, our shared sojourn through the lands of the Tongye Continent, all owe their genesis to the benevolent hand of the Ning Sword Immortal.”

Zhong Kui, observing the portly fellow’s sincere demeanor and earnest words, felt a pang of pity for the man.

Not that all was falsehood. Gusu had indeed questioned Chen Pingan’s worthiness, painting him as a lecherous rogue with a delicate stomach, a dilettante of scholarly pursuits who favored vice over virtue, and a master of honeyed words. He’d surmised that Ning Yao, blessed with unparalleled talent, remained naive to the treachery of the mortal realm. Raised in the Sword Qi Great Wall, she was likely a sheltered maiden, seduced by a wandering scholar who had, in effect, pilfered the entire fortress. Such tales, after all, filled the pages of romantic novels.

However, the rotund fellow’s present submissiveness stemmed from a healthy respect for the absent Ning Yao.

For demons of the world, few things inspire more fear than the thunderous arts, the celestial masters of Dragon Tiger Mountain, and those great cultivators imbued with the very essence of luck.

Cui Dongshan, with a flick of his sleeve, declared, “This reeks of Fallen Phoenix Mountain!”

Indeed, the ways of their sect were a peculiar matter.

Perhaps only individuals like the Old Master and Zheng Juzhong, both of the fourteenth realm, could avoid this… phenomenon?

This demon, born from human emperors, had once been a chess piece left behind by Zhou Mi in the Vast Expanse, a scheme long in the making. Yet, upon Zhou Mi’s ascension, the demon’s fortune had waned, and Ning Yao, upon her sword-borne arrival in the Vast Expanse, had swiftly detected its presence. The Literary Temple had then intercepted and pursued it across the seas.

Though reduced, a starved camel still outweighed a horse. Having fallen from the soaring realms of ascension, this entity could not be dismissed as merely another immortal. Similar to Jiang Shangzhen, few immortals in the Vast Expanse dared to challenge him. Even the principled sword saint Xu Xie, though daring to test his blade against the former sect leader, would never claim victory over him.

In these lands of the Tongye Continent, where top-tier power was sorely lacking, this demon was a truly formidable adversary.

Its hidden sea tomb, a floating mausoleum untouched by heaven or earth, had remained concealed for years. If a wandering night vessel was but a mosquito buzzing within a grand estate, this fellow’s domain was a gecko clinging silently to the shadows, far more difficult for the Literary Temple to detect.

Perhaps it was the aversion to striking a smiling face.

Seeing the young Hidden Official’s amiable expression, the portly fellow’s spirits lifted. It seemed his meager skills in the ways of the bureaucracy had proven sufficient.

“Ha!”

Still wet behind the ears, fond of flattery, valuing appearances… easily swayed by praise.

The portly fellow ventured, “Master Chen of the Mountain, where is the Ning Sword Immortal? I must, in all courtesy, express my gratitude.”

He restrained himself, refraining from addressing Ning Yao as “sister-in-law” as Zhong Kui had.

Chen Pingan smiled, “She has returned to the Five Colors Heavens.”

The portly fellow, a mask of regret upon his face, rubbed his hands together, his demeanor subtly shifting. Though his head remained bowed, his spine straightened ever so slightly.

So, no ascending sword cultivator remained at Chen Pingan’s side… for now.

Despite his oily words and sycophantic manner, the portly fellow had, in truth, discerned a crucial truth.

Had Chen Pingan burst forth as a figure like the “Sword Saint Xu Jun” of the Golden Armor Continent, the portly fellow would have remained far distant, content to await Zhong Kui’s return from the sect celebration before resuming their travels.

However, Chen Pingan had been but a Jade Pure realm cultivator but a few years prior. Thus, no matter the terrifying feats Chen Pingan had accomplished in the Savage Lands, the portly fellow remained steadfast in one conviction: Chen Pingan was no fourteenth realm cultivator. How, then, could he have shattered the highest city of mankind, fought with the crimson-robed empress for the River of Dragged Stars, and cleaved Open-Moon Mountain, slaying a peak ascending great demon? The portly fellow clung to his truth: Chen Pingan, taking shortcuts, was but a thief of celestial merit. Upon his return to the Vast Expanse, the young Hidden Official would struggle to maintain even the Golden Core realm.

This conclusion had been gleaned from fragments of conversation with Zhong Kui, a narrative the latter considered nothing short of the truth.

Suddenly, the portly fellow noticed the yellow-hatted youth’s smile returning, a subtle, almost mocking curve of the lips.

“For three thousand years, I have walked the path of cultivation, a solitary figure, unchallenged and unmatched.”

Were it not for Lady Dan Dan’s unfortunate appearance, the Azure Water Pit would have long since changed hands.

Chen Pingan turned and smiled, “Xiao Mo, treat our honored guest well.”

Xiao Mo nodded. “Rest assured, Master.”

Only two types of visitors were deemed honored guests: those personally greeted by their master, and those worthy of sharing melon seeds.

Zhong Kui glanced at the portly fellow, a silent “good luck” passing between them.

Earlier, on their journey to the cloud-veiled Immortal Capital Mountain, Gusu had declared his intention to test the waters, to gauge the strength of this sect. Any cultivator who dared issue a solo challenge would be met with his might, teaching them the lesson that no mountain stands unchallenged. If, however, they resorted to a mob, Zhong Kui would intervene, lest he, in the heat of battle, inflict undue harm upon Chen Pingan’s underlings, marring their appearance for the upcoming celebration.

Chen Pingan led Zhong Kui on a solitary stroll.

Beginnings are always arduous. The construction of a new sect required intricate arrays and concealed secrets, best entrusted to the “elders” themselves, rather than outside artisans. Over two hundred talisman laborers and automaton constructs toiled between the ferry and the mountain, their ranks far inferior to the Rain Workers, Mountain Movers, and Fishers that adorned the ferry. Overseeing these tireless workers were three exiled cultivators from the Jade Mushroom Slope Brothel, each barely a century in age, their realms spanning the Two Seas and a Cave Abode. They were, for now, unlisted guests of the Immortal Capital Mountain.

Before Zhong Kui could even extend a hand, Chen Pingan offered a flask of wine.

Zhong Kui, removing the red paper seal, inhaled deeply, declaring it “fine wine.” He then inquired, “Did you lose your realm in the Open-Moon Mountain region?”

Chen Pingan nodded. “A debt paid, one way or another. Fortunately, my martial realm suffered less, merely slipping from Return to the Original to Qi Flourishing. Otherwise, I dare not venture out.”

Zhong Kui gestured towards Xiao Mo with his chin. “With such a protector at your side, what is there to fear? Were it me, I would stride forth with arrogance, proclaiming my presence with every step.”

Chen Pingan frowned. “Can you discern Xiao Mo’s realm?”

“Xiao Mo expertly suppresses his aura.”

Zhong Kui shook his head with a smile, speaking in a silent voice, “I can merely glimpse fragments of ancient karma, piecing together a semblance of truth. An age-long existence, hailing from the Savage Lands, a sword cultivator. Many earth immortals have fallen to his blade, their souls forever bound. He is, undoubtedly, an ascending predecessor with a story to tell.”

The eyes of mortals and mountain cultivators perceived the world in vastly different ways. And those of a gazer of auras saw things yet another way.

The two men seated themselves upon a log as thick as a well. Chen Pingan produced a wooden box from his sleeve, presenting it to Zhong Kui. “I have long wished to give this to you, acquired years ago, yet our paths have rarely converged.”

It was a treasure purchased long ago at the Green Money Shop by the Earth Dragon Mountain Ferry, a complete set of four Celestial Master’s Ghost-Slaying Coins.

Zhong Kui, accepting the gift, opened the box. “Ah, a fine piece. It must have cost a pretty penny.”

Chen Pingan, without false modesty, revealed the price. “Not insignificant. Five Grain Rain coins.”

Zhong Kui lamented, “Imagine how many flasks of five-year-old plum wine, how many roasted lambs could be bought with such a sum! Even I, an experienced accountant, struggle to comprehend it.”

Chen Pingan remarked, seemingly out of nowhere, “I learned to be an accountant from you.”

Zhong Kui chuckled. “An unenviable experience, is it not?”

Zhong Kui had visited the Scroll Book Lake, but Chen Pingan, exhausted, had fallen asleep on the ground. Zhong Kui had chosen not to disturb him.

Chen Pingan merely smiled.

Zhong Kui took a sip of his wine, mentioning that he had several friends in the Tongye Continent’s three Confucian academies.

Teachers, classmates, friends, familiar faces faded like autumn leaves.

Chen Pingan inquired, “I heard Jiu Niang went to the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion. Did you see her upon your return home?”

Zhong Kui rolled his eyes. “Why must you bring up such a sore subject?”

After a moment of silence, Zhong Kui sighed, propping his chin in his palm. “What could I say? I haven’t thought it through. Besides, I might receive a cold shoulder. Perhaps another time.”

The true obstacle was Jiu Niang, the celestial fox now cultivating on Dragon Tiger Mountain. In Zhong Kui’s eyes, she was no longer the innkeeper he once knew.

Long ago, when accompanying Gao Cheng, the spirit of the heroic dead from Corpse Bone Beach Jingguan City, on a mission to the Western Buddhist Kingdom, Zhong Kui had asked a respected Buddhist dragon elephant two questions: If reincarnated, would I still be me? Even with comprehension, restored memories, recollection of past lives, who is the greater, who is who?

Chen Pingan, understanding Zhong Kui’s dilemma, remained silent. Some predicaments defied the common wisdom of observer’s clarity, perhaps because the involved party thought too deeply.

Zhong Kui shifted the conversation. “Thanks to you, I encountered Wuti of Immortal Hairpin City. He and his master, Qionggou, have long lurked in the underworld, extremely cautious, akin to wild cultivators in our realm. Despite being ascending, they have refused to expand, gathering no underworld soldiers, nor engaging in territorial disputes. They possess unique methods of concealing their presence, slowly draining the clear aura. The underworld finds this troublesome, not worthy of extermination, but allowing them free reign is dereliction of duty.”

“Thus, upon meeting Wuti, I appealed to his emotions, explaining the rationale, addressing him as ‘predecessor.’ After much effort, I persuaded him and even secured an official position. Before our parting…”

“Shortly thereafter, I heard that Wuti quickly…”

“The ripple effects of this revelation, produced minor gains. It is likely Wuti is now busy seeking out his master.”

Chen Pingan asked in his heart, “Has the founding ancestor of Immortal Hairpin City, Gui Lingxiang, returned yet?”

Zhong Kui shook his head. “After meeting Wuti, I checked two files, finding nothing. There is another archive, but I cannot access it yet. Perhaps I will have an opportunity to examine the rosters later.”

Chen Pingan then inquired about “green registrations,” an entry into the immortal ranks, akin to the post-world tales of becoming a celestial official.

The Old Master, when traveling with the Dao Ancestor, when voluntarily visiting Fallen Phoenix Mountain, presented a precious Daoist map, designated in ancient times as “not to be imparted to those without celestial names on the green registration.”

The underworld and mortal realms should remain separate.

During his travels across three continents, Chen Pingan had witnessed the complex relationships between pure martial artists and Qi cultivators, and between registered immortals and wild cultivators. Conflict was constant, yet Qi cultivators rarely clashed directly with mountain spirits or, especially, city gods.

The records of the underworld in the Summer Retreat Palace were sparse, containing only scattered fragments. In the Fire God Temple of Great Li capital, the Ten Thousand Year Soil-sealed Hundred Flower Blessed Land wine, presented by the Sealing Aunt, would be offered to three underworld forces every century. However, the Sealing Aunt had deliberately omitted one force, mentioning only the six palaces of the Fengdu Ghost Palace and the Azure Lord of Fangzhu Mountain, responsible for land paradises and registers of all earth immortals. According to her, Fangzhu Mountain, the command post of names of the dead and the new born, was more prestigious than the ancient Five Mountains. The rules were strict, the ceremonies elaborate, each step followed meticulously, like the mortal bureaucracy.

Chen Pingan then shared some details about the Immortal Guard, hoping Zhong Kui could, within the bounds of propriety, investigate the man’s past.

Zhong Kui agreed, committing to memory the details of the charlatan Daoist, a cultivator from Treasure Bottle Continent named Nian Jing, styled Xianwei, with the Daoist name of Xu Xuan, and his place and date of birth.

Chen Pingan smiled. “Having friends in court is convenient.”

Zhong Kui straightened his posture. “Befriending someone like me is your skill. You may be justifiably proud.”

Chen Pingan drained his flask, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Noted, I have noted.”

Chen Pingan glanced at the portly fellow, then spoke in his heart, “How did Yu Jin come to be at your side?”

Zhong Kui shook his wine flask. “It was the sage of rites’ wishes; how could I refuse? But after a while, he’s passable. Of course, that’s only if Yu Jin stays under control. Otherwise, I’d have been beaten to death hundreds of times by this unpredictable fat man.”

The portly fellow, now known as Su Gu with the Daoist title of Gusu, was truly Yu Jin, once revered in life as the

Eternal Emperor, and cursed by countless people after death.

In any case, an emperor who almost managed the feat of “one country is one continent” before the Great Li Song family, the history books would not be exaggerating when calling him despotic.

Zhong Kui raised his wine flask and gently clinked it against Chen Pingan’s. “Ha! Your news travels fast; you know the fat man’s real name?”

Chen Pingan smiled. “I’m just afraid Yu Jin will seek revenge on me. It’s important to know your enemy.”

In fact, setting aside court intrigues, Chen Pingan may know Yu Jin better than Yu Jin himself.

The name of the country, the various reign names, the important edicts issued, the governing policies, the biographies, posthumous titles, and memorializations of the court’s civil and military officials – all of which were recorded in the Literary Temple’s Hall of Merit. Chen Pingan had copied them word for word. In addition, he had specifically consulted Jing Sheng Xi Ping, inquiring about anecdotes that the Literary Temple did not deem fit to record.

Therefore, in Chen Pingan’s Mind’s Library, there was already a secret file specifically for dealing with the demon Yu Jin, treating him as a peak ascending realm cultivator.

The Five Thunders Rectification Method and the Dragon Tiger Mountain Thunder Bureau – just the manual “Traces of Danzhu” alone contained several talismans specifically for dispelling demons. Chen Pingan had painstakingly refined seven or eight hundred Yellow Seal talismans for the day he had the opportunity to host a “special guest.”

There were only a handful of cultivators who received similar treatment, such as Wu Shuangjiang of the Winter Solstice Palace, and Pei Min, the sword master.

Without exaggeration, if Chen Pingan had not lost his realm and was still a Jade Pure realm sword cultivator and an accomplished Return to the Original realm martial artist, he could have gone toe to toe with an immortal realm demon without any external assistance. He’d already fought immortals before – Yun Miao of the Nine Truth Immortal Hall and Han Yushu of the Ten Myriad Jade Sect had both experienced it.

If Yu Jin had not been with Zhong Kui and they had met in a narrow space, Chen Pingan, even without Xiao Mo as his attendant, would not have feared a demon whose realm had dropped to the immortal realm.

Zhong Kui tsked in disapproval. “That’s tempting fate!”

With Ning Yao as his partner, who would dare provoke Chen Pingan so easily?

There may be some behind-the-scenes calculations, but an open challenge was unlikely.

The two nominal lords of the world, Ning Yao of the Five Colors Heavens and Fei Ran of the Savage Lands, were both ascending sword cultivators with promises of higher power.

Below the fourteenth realm, who wouldn’t have to weigh their options carefully?

Perhaps it was still fine for now. Firstly, Ning Yao had not yet reached the fourteenth realm, and this number one expert in the Five Colors Heavens was not so intimidating, and the “heavens” had not truly “changed.” The great cultivators in the fourteenth realm in the other realms still didn’t dare to be too headstrong in what they did.

When the heavens did change, like shackles being removed, all fourteenth realm cultivators would undergo subtle changes in their hearts, or rather, their Dao hearts, and they would not act so strictly.

The mountain peak cultivators of the Vast Expanse had a rough idea of Ning Yao’s temperament. If she had a good temper, she would not have ascended by the sword to the Vast Expanse without contacting the Literary Temple.

As soon as Zhong Kui left, Yu Jin immediately felt a little pressure.

After all, the other side had the numbers. He was just a newcomer. If there was a conflict, Zhong Kui would definitely side with them.

Chen Pingan’s kid seemed to be injured, and the injury had affected the very foundation of his Dao, so he had to hide here in seclusion to recuperate. It seemed that he had a good relationship with Zhong Kui, and he had been willing to leave his seclusion temporarily. That was why his sword intent Dao Qi had leaked out earlier. It was a sign of unstable Dao heart and an unsolid realm.

So when he had moved one step earlier, he had been showing weakness.

The fat man looked at the little girl and started acting like an elder, smiling. “I heard you’ve known Zhong Kui since you were very young?”

Pei Qian nodded.

The mental landscape of this demon was complex. It had both the miserable scene of corpses all over the field and people starving for miles, as well as the prosperous and fertile landscape of a time of peace. There was also a thin man wearing a very loose dragon robe, sitting on the dragon throne, drinking alone, staring blankly at the opening doors, extending his view all the way from north to south.

Yu Jin sighed with emotion and nodded. “In the blink of an eye, you’ve become a big girl.”

Pei Qian twitched the corners of her mouth.

Yu Jin didn’t know about Pei Qian’s special talents. For the time being, the fat man only knew that Chen Pingan’s first disciple, the little girl who went by the name of Zheng Qian, was a ninth realm martial artist and was quite famous on the Vast Expanse Mountain.

What he did not know was that the three people he was facing were an accomplished martial artist, an immortal, and a peak ascending sword cultivator.

He also didn’t know that the white-clothed teenager was half a Xiu Hu of the Treasure Bottle Continent.

He also didn’t know that the yellow-hatted and green-robed youth had once brewed wine with the Old Master, and ten thousand years ago, he had loved to challenge the strong.

In fact, after leaving the undersea tomb, the person Yu Jin most wanted to see was Cui Chan, the Great Li national master, whom he sincerely regarded as a member of the same path.

A great country was the greatest beauty. The iron cavalry shook the ground like thunder, trampling over the land.

Zhong Kui suddenly said, “Extend your hand.”

Chen Pingan extended his hand.

In an instant, the world changed. In the sky above the Immortal Capital Mountain, dark clouds gathered and sea of clouds rolled. The sky was extremely thick, blocking the sunlight, and day turned to night in an instant.

Xiao Mo hesitated for a moment, but did not go over.

Since Zhong Kui was his master’s friend, he could be trusted.

Pei Qian was worried.

Cui Dongshan suddenly flicked his snow-white sleeves and summoned a golden flying sword, like an ear of wheat, rushing in momentum. The sword light rapidly flowed in the air, quickly drawing a huge golden circle, instantly sealing off the phenomenon, so as not to reveal any secrets to the outside world.

Yu Jin’s eyelids trembled. The white-clothed teenager named Cui Dongshan was a hidden immortal, or was he a sword cultivator?

So Yu Jin asked cautiously, “A slight misunderstanding, why don’t we let it dissipate with the wind?”

Miserable and bitter. Was there a more ill-fated wretch under the heavens?

Everything was difficult, and everyone was below him.

Like Wu Ti of Immortal Hairpin City, Yu Jin was also a ghost immortal. Yu Jin had heard Zhong Kui say that the last time Wu Ti had appeared in the Savage Lands, he had joined forces with his master, Qiong Ou, to fight Zhu Yan, an old ancestor of Moving Mountains, one of the savage old kings. They had paid for peace, and had brought out the founder of their sect to beg Zhu Yan for mercy in order to save Immortal Hairpin City.

But Yu Jin had no idea that the Xiao Mo in front of him had once chased and killed Yang Zhi, also one of the old kings, and only withdrew his sword after Zhu Yan heard the news and came to rescue Yang Zhi.

Xiao Mo reached out and grabbed the fat man’s arm, smiling. “Senior Gusu, how about we choose a secluded place and spar?”

The fat man snorted coldly, sneering, “Wait a moment.”

Then he turned to look at Zhong Kui, coughed a few times, and with lightning speed, let out a pig-slaughtering wail, shouting to Zhong Kui, “Brother Zhong, save me!”

Xiao Mo had no choice but to let go of his hand and give up the idea of ​​inviting the demon into a “drunken hometown” world of flying swords.

They had agreed to practice, but in the end, the other party was lying on the ground, waiting for their soles to land on their face.

Xiao Mo was not experienced enough in Jianghu affairs to deal with such a person.

The fat man rubbed his arm with a grievance expression. “Mr. Xiao Mo, you’re so strong.”

A great man can bend and stretch; what was a little face?

Pei Qian rubbed the center of her brows, looking at the fat man with a bit of admiration. He was definitely not the type to go hungry on Jianghu.

Cui Dongshan began to find the fat man more pleasing to the eye. He was talented.

He had to find an opportunity to convince Yu Jin to go to the Confucian Temple in the Middle Earth and cause trouble. At the very least, he had to get the Confucian Temple to return that cultivation place to him and let Yu Jin put it in Immortal Capital Mountain. Immortal Capital Mountain could take care of it, and Yu Jin only needed to pay the Qingping Sword Sect a sum of immortal money on a regular basis. Everything was negotiable.

But Zhong Kui ignored Yu Jin altogether, focusing all his attention on Chen Pingan’s soul. After a moment, he frowned and asked, “If that’s the case, why didn’t you stay in the Sword Qi Great Wall?”

There was indeed a big problem with Chen Pingan’s three souls and seven spirits.

Making Chen Pingan leave the Sword Qi Great Wall – a place where he could merge – would wear down his spirit and energy at all times, like a transaction.

It was a good thing that he had the physique of an accomplished martial artist, with strong blood and bones that could nourish his spirit. Coupled with the sword cultivator’s natal flying sword, which could naturally support his body, if Chen Pingan was only a traveling martial artist, he would have been skin and bones.

Zhong Kui had seen a painting in the Literary Temple, on top of a city wall, a figure in a bright red robe, his hand on his knife, but his body was blurry. He was no longer a body of flesh and blood, but was composed of thousands of intersecting silk threads. In Zhong Kui’s eyes, it was a tragic sight to behold.

He had originally entered the Immortal Realm, which should have stabilized his soul, but after traveling to the heart of the Savage Lands and the Open Moon Mountain, his realm had fallen again.

“Staying there won’t let me practice peacefully.”

Chen Pingan shook his head. “Besides, it’s not a total loss. After all, it can temper my physique. The reason why I was able to reach the accomplished realm at the gates of the Peace Mountain not long after returning to the Vast Expanse was largely because of this fist fight with myself.”

Zhong Kui laughed angrily. “It’s just a little painful?”

Chen Pingan smiled slightly. “Practicing fists is never without suffering. You’ll get used to it.”

Seeing that Zhong Kui had no intention of stopping, Chen Pingan had to remind softly, “That’s enough; don’t force yourself.”

Chen Pingan was about to raise his hand and push away Zhong Kui’s fingers.

His body was like a millstone grinding jade, grinding his three souls and six spirits at all times, jade shards flying everywhere. Zhong Kui was trying to stop the rapid rotation of the grindstone with his hands.

It was equivalent to a sword fight.

Zhong Kui glared at Chen Pingan. “Looking down on me? Half-human and half-ghost. Is that fun?”

Chen Pingan joked, “Since we’re friends, we must share blessings and misfortunes, right?”

Zhong Kui said in a deep voice, “Spread out your palm.”

Chen Pingan hesitated.

Zhong Kui did not give Chen Pingan a chance to refuse and stamped his foot. His foot transformed into a stone thrown into the river of time. Layers of water patterns emerged and flowed backwards, isolating the yin and yang and transforming into two worlds. Zhong Kui revealed his form, wearing a crimson official’s robe, and gently exhaled a breath, forming an inkstone as if it was specifically used for reviewing official documents. Zhong Kui then joined two fingers and brushed them on the colorful ink. He used his hand as a pen, reciting ancient words, drawing a fixing talisman on Chen Pingan’s palm.

With this done, Zhong Kui laughed, “It’s really ghost writing.”

Chen Pingan shook his palm, feeling as if he had been relieved of some burden.

It was as if he had removed a Yang family medicine shop’s half-pound or eight-pound talisman.

Even just sitting in place, he felt a sense of relief.

Chen Pingan took a deep breath, turned his wrist, and smiled brightly. “Thank you.”

Zhong Kui said unkindly, “You’re being too polite.”

Chen Pingan joked, “If I’m not polite, you’ll criticize me for not knowing how to act. How many accountants under the heavens aren’t petty?”

To curse others, one must first curse oneself, standing in an invincible position.

Saying one more wrong word will often lead to trouble and ruin. Previously, all the painstaking reasons would be defeated.

Saying one less meaningless word would lead to misunderstandings. Suspicion, disappointment, and resentment arose in the human heart.

Only old hands knew to keep silent.

When you meet someone who is like-minded, you should dismount your horse and offer them a drink. When you encounter injustice, you should kill in the city.

Zhong Kui said, “My fixing talisman won’t last too long, at most a year and a half. But it’s okay; I’ll come back to you later.”

Chen Pingan calculated the time and said, “I might travel to Middle Earth next year. At that time, I’ll trouble you to come to Immortal Capital Mountain again.”

Zhong Kui nodded. “Maybe we can take the same route.”

Zhong Kui said softly, “May I say something not so auspicious?”

Chen Pingan nodded.

“If it weren’t for the inscription, you would be in a very bad place. Don’t forget, you were the first person to say that we should fight in the face of the two realms, not even the sage of rites.”

“If the Savage Lands battlefield is more losses than wins, then the Vast Expanse would remember you and the Sword Qi Great Wall, but if we are unstoppable and advance rapidly, with constant victories, you will be in a bad place. Yu Jin, the fat man, said something earlier that might have been unintentional, or he might have intended me to remind you: ‘Greedy for the merits of heaven.'”

“Because you are the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, it means you are bearing the war merits of the entire Sword Qi Great Wall. No matter what you, Chen Pingan, think, or what you did and gave as the Hidden Official, it will all become unimportant someday. But since you have inscribed on the city wall, it will be able to silence a lot of gossip for at least a hundred years, regardless of whether the future situation is good or bad.”

Chen Pingan raised the wine jug. “How about drinking?”

Zhong Kui lightly clinked his wine jug against it. “Just take it as my nonsense. You can just let it in one ear and out the other.”

“There’s something I might need your help with.”

“”

Zhong Kui stood up. “Is there a City God Temple nearby?”

Pray to gods and Buddhas and visit the Earth God.

Chen Pingan also stood up and shook his head. “There’s only a Land God Temple, called Guide Agency. It’s not big, but it’s said to be quite effective. Shall I lead the way?”

Zhong Kui shook his head. “No need; I don’t want to delay your seclusion for healing. I’ll go chat with the Land God and then wander around nearby.”

He slapped the green-shirted man next to him on the shoulder and said with a mischievous smile, “There’s some wine you don’t dare to drink.”

Chen Pingan laughed. “If you’re going to drink and womanize, remember not to charge it to my account.”

Zhong Kui was speechless for a moment. This kid could see the future!

Chen Pingan reminded him, “Don’t do such immoral things!”

Zhong Kui waved his hand. “Lord Gusu, let’s move out.”

The fat man was pardoned and rushed to Zhong Kui’s side.

The two of them did not fly, but walked quickly, leaving the Immortal Capital Mountain.

Chen Pingan watched Zhong Kui leave and used the Clouds and Water Body Technique, then returned to the Long Spring Cave Heaven, which was guarded at Qingping Peak, and continued his seclusion.

After the fat man made sure that there was no one around, he said softly, “I’ve probed it; the water is very deep.”

Zhong Kui was too lazy to respond.

The fat man immediately changed his tone. “Little Brother Chen is young and has accumulated such a large fortune. Congratulations! I feel warm in my heart and happy for him.”

“Congratulations, eh?”

Zhong Kui asked with a smile, “Isn’t there anything left in your old nest?”

He was a peak ascending ghost in the past, so his family must be wealthy.

When Yu Jin was found by Ning Yao and forced out of his nest, it was an embarrassing escape. Perhaps it was sudden, and he was caught off guard by a sword, and the fat man was not carrying any miniature space items. So these days, Yu Jin was not pretending to be poor; the fat man really had no money.

Yu Jin stopped and stamped his feet in anger, saying in pain, “Zhong Kui, why pour salt on my wounds? If you scholars were willing to throw away your dignity and were determined to seek wealth, wouldn’t you be more black-hearted than merchants? Could the Literary Temple have left me any leftovers?”

The fat man was getting angrier and angrier, beating his chest and wailing, “My heart is breaking! It hurts, it hurts!”

Zhong Kui kept walking and said unkindly, “It’s meaningless to cry poor to me. It’s not like I want to be a guest of the Qingping Sword Sect.”

Money could make a ghost turn a millstone, but in the underworld, the grinding material could be a little creepy.

The fat man continued on his way, asking, “If I really give money, can I really become a guest of the Qingping Sword Sect?”

Zhong Kui laughed. “I’m just giving a suggestion; whether it works or not is up to you.”

But hearing those words, did this fat man have a large stash of private money?

Was the Literary Temple determined that they had not scraped the bottom of the barrel? Or did he have countless treasures hidden in his hometown?

The fat man was not one to let go of his prey until he saw the rabbit. He reached out and grabbed Zhong Kui’s arm, saying, “Zhong Kui, you have to give me a definite answer.”

Suddenly, Yu Jin felt that something was wrong, but no matter how the fat man thought about it, he couldn’t figure it out.

Sensing the change in the fat man’s state of mind, Zhong Kui asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yu Jin shook his head hard. “It’s strange; I always feel like something’s wrong.”

Zhong Kui glanced at the fat man with pity. “You shouldn’t have provoked Pei Qian.”

Yu Jin said with suspicion, “That little girl? I think she’s quite polite.”

Zhong Kui laughed. “Take my word for it, go to the Land God Temple and offer incense properly.”

On the Immortal Capital Mountain, Pei Qian asked in confusion, “Is Senior Brother going on a long trip?”

Cui Dongshan nodded. “Taking Xiao Mo to visit immortals at sea and try our luck.”

Pei Qian said “oh” and said calmly, “If Master asks, I will explain it well.”

This was a tacit understanding between fellow disciples.

So the white-clothed teenager and the yellow-hatted and green-robed guest put aside their affairs and went to the sea, secretly “revealing the truth.”

————

Riding Dragon Alley.

Kong Hou of the New Year’s Eve Shop, Cui Huasheng of the Grass Shop. Two small benches, one big and one small, sitting side by side.

The white-haired child began to imply to the other that he had a very good relationship with so-and-so shop, and could help to buy rouge and powder at a 10% discount. If he bargained a few more times, there was a chance of getting an 8% discount.

Cui Huasheng finally couldn’t bear it anymore. Once or twice was fine, but how could you keep swindling my money like this? It wasn’t easy for me to make money now.

Besides, her brother was not by her side. Although Zhao Denggao and Sister Jiu Er in the shop were good people, they were living away from home after all, without any support. How could she do without some private money in her pocket? But after a while, most of her wages had been taken by the white-haired child named Kong Hou.

The girl said angrily, “Do you think I’m stupid?”

The white-haired child said with a smile, “You’re not stupid.”

Today, Bai Xuan left the Sword-Worship Terrace with Yao Xiaoyan, otherwise she would not dare to go down the mountain alone.

Yao Xiaoyan was greedy and wanted to buy some pastries from the New Year’s Eve Shop to take back. Besides, there was also a Master in the shop to honor.

Although Bai Xuan’s words were unreliable, he still had some tricks and rules in doing things.

When they arrived outside the shop, the white-haired child stood up, put his hands on