Before their ascent, Yao Xianzhi wished to drape a fox-fur cloak upon his grandfather’s shoulders, but Chen Ping’an smiled and shook his head, his eyes conveying that such fuss was unnecessary.

Soon after, Yao Xianzhi realized that despite the season of melting snow, the landscape a pristine expanse of white, and the mountains typically locking in the clouds with their icy grip, the mountain wind was surprisingly gentle. One felt not the slightest chill. Furthermore, the snow upon their path had melted away as if by magic, as though a mountain spirit was invisibly “sweeping the streets” to clear their way.

The old man, in high spirits, chuckled, “Up the Great Mountain, then!”

His life had been one of military service, spent almost entirely at the Great Spring frontier, save for occasional visits to the imperial court. He had never wandered for scholarship, nor explored the hidden beauty of the land. The truly famous mountains and rivers he had seen could be counted on one hand.

He reminisced about his youth, a frontier scout, riding swiftly against the enemy, snow filling the space beneath his bow and clinging to his blade. When the rivers froze, the sound of the horses’ hooves upon the ice was like the tinkling of shattered jade.

Yao Xianzhi whispered a caution, “Master Chen, we are only to walk a portion of the path. We mustn’t allow Grandfather to wander all the way to Azure Peak.”

Just as His Majesty had confided to him and Yao Lingzhi, Grandfather was now like a child in his old age.

Chen Ping’an smiled reassuringly, “Fear not, I shall keep watch.”

The old man, for once, offered no stubborn retort. He simply began his slow climb, musing, “Ping’an, do you think a mortal scholar ascending a great mountain feels much the same as you immortals riding the wind? Both striving ever higher, to see the measure of Heaven and Earth?”

Chen Ping’an considered, “In essence, perhaps. Though it is said that certain powerful cultivators in the Azure Heavens are fond of ascending to great heights, to drink wine and point out the constellations. We of the Verdant Domain are not so inclined, nor do those of the Jade Capital much care.”

The old man chuckled, “And you, young one? Will you follow such a path someday?”

Chen Ping’an replied with a smile, “If my cultivation is sufficient, I would wish to see such sights.”

Yao Xianzhi recalled the news of the “dragging the moon” incident, and asked with curiosity, “Is the Bright Moon of the Wildlands so very large?”

Chen Ping’an answered, “In truth, to see it up close, the land below is bleak and desolate. There are mountains, but they are barren and lifeless, without water or flora. It is quite unlike the descriptions found in books of strange tales. Yet, according to secret archives kept by the Central Earth Temple and the Summer Palace, ten thousand years ago, these hanging moons were quite lively. Even mortal scholars dwelt upon them, their lives not so different from those in the towns below. They were known as ‘Moon-Dwellers,’ simply a matter of census. The skilled artisans who built their palaces were hailed as ‘Celestial Craftsmen.'”

Yao Xianzhi gaped at the notion.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Indeed, I possess a Lunar Palace from that distant age, as yet ungiven. Should Grandfather be interested, we could journey there someday.”

The old man shook his head. “What use is a vast, boundless palace with no one within? It would be like wandering the silent Mirage City after curfew, empty and meaningless.”

Yao Xianzhi found the idea intriguing, and expressed his regret that his grandfather seemed unwilling.

Chen Ping’an glanced at the Prefect, thinking, ‘Are you witless? Your grandfather jests, and you don’t even offer him a ladder to climb down?’

Catching Chen’s unspoken cue, Yao Xianzhi, a seasoned official, instantly understood.

The old man suddenly asked, “I hear that the Headmaster Cheng of Great伏 Academy comes from the Yellow Court Kingdom in Treasure Bottle Continent, and once served as Vice-Headmaster and Lecturer at the Forest Deer Academy near Fallen Peak Mountain?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I can claim acquaintance with Headmaster Cheng. When young, I traveled through the Yellow Court Kingdom with companions, and happened upon his mountain retreat, where we received generous hospitality. A table laden with mountain delicacies and seasonal vegetables, a feast I still recall with fondness.”

Apart from the Great伏 Academy, located in the heart of Treasure Bottle Continent, there was the Sky Eye Academy to the north of the Tung Leaf Continent, and the Five Streams Academy to the south, their headmasters drawn from the lineage of the Sage of Rites and the Second Sage.

Each academy also boasted two Vice-Headmasters, all said to be young men of great promise, each having known the battlefield.

Yao Zhen said, seemingly casually, “I know little of the rules of the mountains, but some principles must be universal. For instance, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative. If I recall correctly, the old Great Source Yuan Dynasty is closest to Immortal Capital Mountain. The entire court and countryside are brimming with heroes. On the way here, I idled away the time with Yao Xianzhi, who recounted that this Great Source Dynasty is now divided into three, each claiming emperorship, a chaotic mess. Ghost cities dot the land, and no resolution is in sight.”

Yao Xianzhi felt a pang of helplessness. It wasn’t a casual recounting, but Grandfather’s insistent demand for information regarding Immortal Capital Mountain and its surroundings!

Chen Ping’an instantly understood, and said, “Grandfather Yao, rest assured, we shall not turn a blind eye. Immortal Capital Mountain will not ignore such a plight. At the heart of things, whether mortal or immortal, we are still men. My student, Cui Dongshan, the first Sect Master of the Lower Sect, has secretly traversed those ghost cities, laying down formations to gather the pure Qi of Heaven and Earth, to sustain a fragment of true spirit within each ghost, lest they descend into true malice. Only when the Great Source Dynasty is united, and the new Emperor enshrines the spirits of the civil and martial heroes, can those abandoned city god temples be filled anew. Were it not for this, how could I dare invite Grandfather Yao to Immortal Capital Mountain, risking your displeasure?”

Yao Xianzhi leaned back, secretly giving Chen a thumbs up.

His flattery, his skill at bestowing honorifics, were simply masterful. If Master Chen were to enter the world of officialdom, what heights might he reach?

After walking some three or four *li*, they came to a wayside pavilion, where the old General paused to rest, gazing out at the pristine, untarnished snowscape.

He was overcome with emotion, and shared some tales of comrades from his days at the frontier.

Yao Xianzhi had heard these stories countless times, but he listened patiently, never interrupting.

As men grow old, they tend to repeat themselves, a habit that often irritates young men under thirty, who will impatiently say “You’ve told me already,” and leave the old men silent.

But as those young men become middle-aged, especially with wife and children of their own, their patience with the old men often grows.

When the old man paused, Yao Xianzhi signaled to Master Chen.

Chen Ping’an reached out to grasp the arms of the old General and Yao Xianzhi, and joked, “Let us sample the taste of riding the wind.”

In an instant, the three found themselves atop Azure Peak.

Disciple Zheng Youqian and Tan Yingzhou of Iron Tree Mountain were busy building snowmen.

The little girl had fashioned a snowman of enormous size, one *zhang* in height, standing on one leg, brandishing a bamboo sword.

Tan Yingzhou was brimming with self-satisfaction, while Zheng Youqian’s snowman was squat and awkward, an eyesore in her opinion.

Seeing the sudden appearance of Lord Hidden Officer on the peak, Tan Yingzhou immediately straightened her face.

Chen Ping’an smiled and greeted them, introducing the old man and Yao Xianzhi.

Zheng Youqian bowed respectfully. “Junior Master! Greetings to General Yao and Prefect Yao.”

Tan Yingzhou offered only a shy smile to the two strangers, and gave Lord Hidden Officer a *wanfu* curtsey, but using a different title, “Mountain Master Chen!”

Very demure.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, introducing them to the old man, “Yingzhou is the accomplished student of Dragon Gate Immortal Lord of Iron Tree Mountain, while Youqian is the direct disciple of my brother, Junqian.”

Leaving the two youngsters to their snowmen, Chen Ping’an led the old man to explore Azure Peak.

The old General bent down to pack a snowball, compressing it in his hand, and suddenly asked, “Immortal Capital Mountain will inevitably have dealings with the academies. Are you familiar with the Sky Eye Academy and the Five Streams Academy?”

Chen Ping’an said, “I am not well-acquainted with either headmaster, but I met one of the vice-headmasters in the Sword Qi Great Wall. He is a *junzi*.”

Chen Ping’an’s use of “*junzi*” was not simply referring to the man’s title, but a statement of his character.

*Junzi* Wang Zai.

Wang Zai’s Confucian lineage traced back to the Book of Rites Academy of the Sage of Rites, his mentor being the current Grand Sacrificant of the academy.

In the Sword Qi Great Wall, Wang Zai had spoken candidly to Chen Ping’an, revealing that his teacher and Master Mao were close friends, and had hoped that Mao Xiaodong would join the Sage of Rites’ lineage, not to poach him, but to find a chance to revive the legacy of the Sage of Literature.

Furthermore, Wang Zai came from a family of sages, his ancestor being the former Confucian Sage of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Before his departure, this venerated sage had privately sparred with the former Hidden Officer Xiao Xun, and lost.

In those days, a Confucian *junzi* like Wang Zai could only do so much in the Sword Qi Great Wall, serving as a war recorder, akin to a supervising sword master, or participating in the Summer Palace intelligence operations. Like a court censor in the Verdant Domain, he held no real power. Xiao Xun was still the Hidden Officer back then, and the Summer Palace was managed by sword immortals Luo Shan and Zhuan, who would later flee to the Wildlands with Xiao Xun.

Wang Zai spent nearly a decade in the Sword Qi Great Wall, largely unknown.

The old General said, “Being familiar has its advantages, and its challenges. In general, dealing with scholars is troublesome. *Junzi* Confucians, Petty Confucians, Pedantic Confucians – each has their own temperament.”

Chen Ping’an hummed in agreement, then smiled. “But Wang Zai is both a *junzi* and unpedantic, extremely flexible in his actions, and possesses great wisdom in his dealings with others.”

The old man chuckled, “High praise indeed! No wonder he was chosen as a Vice-Headmaster.”

Wang Zai was currently the Vice-Headmaster of the Five Streams Academy.

Having spent many years in the Sword Qi Great Wall and slain countless demons on the battlefield, the virtuous and upright Wang Zai could have chosen to join either the Five Streams Academy in the Tung Leaf Continent or the Lake Watch Academy in the Treasure Bottle Continent. The decision was left to him by the Confucian Temple, which preferred him to come to the Tung Leaf Continent. However, Chen Ping’an’s teacher had heard in the Palace of Merit that Wang Zai’s initial intention was to become the Vice-Headmaster of the Lake Watch Academy, even without the title.

Thus, Chen Ping’an privately sought out his brother, Master Mao, who was serving as an Academy Overseer, and requested an introduction to the Grand Sacrificant of the Book of Rites Academy.

It was clear that Grand Sacrificant Liu was uneasy, fearing that Chen Ping’an, the youngest Hidden Officer in the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall, would make exorbitant demands.

When he learned that Chen wished to persuade Wang Zai to join the academy in the Tung Leaf Continent, Sacrificant Liu visibly relaxed. As Wang Zai’s mentor, he knew that Wang’s desire to go to Lake Watch Academy stemmed from wanting to be near the young Hidden Officer.

The legacy of the Sage of Literature, from Master Old Scholar to his chosen disciples, combined with the young Hidden Officer’s “reputation” in the Sword Qi Great Wall, had given Sacrificant Liu cause for concern.

These days, the managers of the inter-continental ferries going to the Reverted Mountain Spring Banner Hall carried themselves with great arrogance. But during the stand-off with the line of sword immortals, they had been like chickens waiting to be slaughtered, shrinking in their chairs, barely daring to breathe.

The Confucian Temple’s intelligence was crystal clear on the matter.

The Grand Sacrificant finally smiled. “Consider it a favor that the Hidden Officer owes me?”

Mao Xiaodong immediately objected, “Fleece my junior brother? Are you drunk already, Old Liu?”

“Taking advantage of my junior brother’s good nature, are you?”

The Grand Sacrificant relented, “A jest, take it not to heart.”

Among all cultivators, sword cultivators were the most difficult to manage. Academies and academies often faced such thorns in their side, such as the old sword immortal Zhou Shengzhi in his early years, or the likes of Pu He from Flowing Flame Continent.

How many sword cultivators who had reached the top five levels were easy to deal with?

The academies weren’t powerless, and could follow the rules without difficulty, but they feared ambiguous matters, where each side had their own logic, consuming much time and energy to resolve.

A young Hidden Officer from the Sword Qi Great Wall, willing to mediate and negotiate, could be of great value to the academies.

Nevertheless, Chen Ping’an bowed in thanks and promised to mediate if needed, but could not guarantee that any sword cultivator would listen to him.

This was the best outcome Sacrificant Liu could hope for.

The old man patted the arm of the blue-robed youth beside him, and said softly, “Ping’an, in the future, do not let old sentimentality dictate your dealings with the Great Spring Dynasty. Act as you must.”

Chen Ping’an nodded in agreement. “I will.”

In the twilight, the sun began to set.

On the summit of Azure Peak, the future home of the Azure Peak Sword Sect, the old General stood at the edge of the cliff, tapping the railing.

Looking at the two young men beside him, the old man felt a sense of contentment. He seemed to recall the first time he saw the white-robed, sword-bearing youth, when Xianzhi was just a boy.

Riding a horse on the road to the Empire, were dashing young men. Where goes the white hair? To the thousands of peaks bathed in sunset.

***

Old Dragon Prefecture was officially renamed Place Prefecture, with Acacia Yellow County as its seat.

Li Huai returned to his hometown, accompanied by a close-fitting guardian, an old man dressed in yellow.

It was none other than Tender Taoist, from Peach Pavilion in the Great Mountains of the Wildlands, now a rising star in the Verdant Domain after the battle at the Mandarin Duck Isle.

Tender Taoist disembarked at the Ferry of the Ox Horns, looking around. “Young Master, this hometown of yours is a place of great fortune, as they say, one’s homeland shapes one’s destiny. And you are a prime example. The name of this Acacia Yellow County is excellent. When the acacia flowers turn yellow, the human scholars are busy.”

“Somewhat interesting, with some flavor to it.”

Back then, the landing of the Small Cavern Heaven of the Black Pearl had taken root and been reduced from a *dongtian* to a *fudi*, the younger generation of the town seemed to have ushered in a silent exam.

His parents and elder sister and brother-in-law had returned to the Northern Hammer Continent, his mother was still uneasy about that shop at the foot of Lion Peak.

Accompanied his young master to the town, Tender Taoist glanced at the distance, and let out a curious cry, “This…ahem, this young brother, come and have a talk.”

That Left Protector of the Riding Dragon Lane hesitated for a moment, glanced up at Li Huai, and then at the old man in yellow, weighed the advantages and disadvantages, and still tucked his tail between his legs, and trotted over.

Tender Taoist lowered his head, bent over, and asked with a warm smile, “Since young brother has successfully refined your form, why are you still so restrained with your radiance?”

The yellow dog drooped his head.

“A long story. I can’t say it.”

What if it was a successful form refinement? What is a god-like life? Is that Pei Qian isn’t in Riding Dragon Lane and Fallen Peak Mountain!

How could it want to be the Left Protector of Riding Dragon Lane, the title was given to him by that little black charcoal girl, the most miserable years, was the days when the little black charcoal went to the academy, every time the academy finished, passed by the toilet, the little black charcoal expression was weird, a teasing smile, asked him if he was hungry.

Li Huai crouched down and rubbed the yellow dog’s head.

Apparently, this Left Protector of Riding Dragon Lane seemed a bit nervous, Li Huai didn’t let Tender Taoist pull this friend to be courteous and chat.

In an old rural academy, Li Huai found an acquaintance in the County Office registry and begged for a key.

This academy where young children were enlightened in the past, nominally still belonged to the Acacia Yellow County.

Last time, Li Huai had discussed a matter with Chen Ping’an near the Mandarin Duck Isle near the Central Earth Temple,

When he learned that Chen Ping’an did have the idea of being a teacher, but did not want to be a teacher in his hometown, Li Huai asked why not ask the Dali Dynasty for this place, it was a legitimate matter, and it was not excessive, at worst each of them would open their own academy with the Chen Clan of Dragon Tail Stream.

Chen Ping’an’s answer made Li Huai feel a bit sad.

Now there were not many local people left in the old house in the small town. On the evening of the Lunar New Year’s Eve, would there still be a few households visiting each other?

It was no exaggeration to say that nine out of ten hometown people had left, almost all of them had moved to the prefectural city, and after selling their ancestral houses at a high price, or even an exorbitant price, they had become rich people in the Dali Prefecture seat. In the past, except for Prosperity Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Lane, except for those dragon kiln master potters, it was difficult for the common people to see a few pieces of silver, in the years of making a fortune that they never dared to dream of, every household had trouble seeing a single copper coin.

Only in the past thirty years, the majority of those who really kept their family business were few. Money came and went like water, and half of it was returned to the gambling table, brothel, and drinking party, and the family fortune was soon wasted. Many people could not even keep the new house in the prefecture city. Otherwise, their hearts were higher than the heavens, after drinking a few ounces of wine, they became acquainted with some so-called wealthy families and officials, randomly teamed up with people to do business, and they wanted to make all kinds of money, and they felt that any business was a path to wealth, and they dared to make all kinds of unusual money. However, those who came from small towns could never be smarter than those people with shrewd minds, and after going back and forth, they only heard a few rattles and were all for naught.

The winter sun, shining on the body, made people warm and cozy.

There was an old saying in the small town, if it was translated into Dali Mandarin, the meaning was roughly the sun cave, or the sun’s nest.

Li Huai walked past Crab Workshop and Iron Chain Well, and stopped, there used to be a fortune-telling stall.

When he was a child, one time he followed his elder sister Li Liu to buy things, when Li Liu was bargaining in the store, Li Huai was impatient, so he ran out of the store alone, and asked for a lot of money here, mainly to pray that the academy homework next year would be simpler, and that the recitation would not be so memorable, it was fine to be beaten, it was just often laughed at by the pigtail in Riding Dragon Lane, which made him uncomfortable. Who wasn’t a man who wanted face?

Anyway, Li Huai was shaking it around, and as a result, a bamboo slip fell out of the sign, and the young Taoist was surprised and jumped, saying that it was a top grade lottery.

Li Huai was young at the time, and could not understand the content of the lottery, and could not remember it. Li Huai only heard the young Taoist, saying with certainty that this was one of the best three lotteries, and could not charge a fee.

Because he was worried that the Taoist would go back on his word and ask him for copper coins, Li Huai ran away after getting a bargain, and went to find his sister, if you really wanted money, ask my sister, if there was not enough money, recognizing his brother-in-law would always be okay, right?

Fortunately, the young Taoist only sat behind the stall, smiling a bit like a cheap brother-in-law who had not yet entered the door.

Back home, he told his mother, and made her happy, a big fish, big meat for dinner, almost like celebrating the New Year.

Sure enough, it was a good lottery.

After a few days, because he wanted to eat chicken legs again, Li Huai sneaked to the fortune-telling stall again, pretending that it was his first time here, and it was another good lottery, and the young Taoist said it was one of the three good lotteries.

Li Huai ran home again and told his mother, the oil was slightly less than last time.

On the way home, there was also a little sparrow that scurried around Li Huai, almost scooped up by the child with a jump and jumped into his hands, and brought home to do something with it.

The woman asked at the dinner table, did fortune-telling cost money?

Li Huai shook his head, where did I get the pocket money, I saved it all.

If Li Liu can’t marry in the future, it’s estimated that she’ll have to rely on her money jar that she picked up from Old Porcelain Mountain.

It was only necessary to say these things, Li Liu can’t marry in the future, she was still his own sister, and his mother was really too partial to him, even if he was young, Li Huai felt that it was not very good.

The woman was a bit suspicious, and turned to talk to her man, that young Taoist surnamed Lu, could he be a swindler?

Li Er grinned, anyway, he had not been able to swindle money, so it didn’t matter if he was cheating.

The woman rubbed the corners of her eyes, and understood, that young Taoist who was said to like to talk sweetly and touch the hands of young wives, was probably taking a fancy to her looks, and planning to take a roundabout route, and fishing for a long time. The woman was both proud, and did not forgive him, what a wicked thing that didn’t learn well, since he knew some words, why didn’t he go to Prosperity Fortune Street to be an accountant for the rich families.

Li Er just buried his head in eating, didn’t say anything, and he still couldn’t get a fart out of a few sticks.

The woman didn’t have any crooked thoughts, her own man was disliked by others for not making money, she didn’t dislike it.

The woman ran to the fortune-telling stall to take a look, looking young, with delicate skin and tender flesh, hey, at first glance he was not up to the job ah, he didn’t have any sinews, could he really go to the ground to do farm work? The key was also poor, I heard that all year round, he could only live next to a wedding shop in Carrying Pole Lane, it seemed that the next door was Aunt Mao’s steamed bun shop.

Otherwise, why would he set up a long-legged stall to make a living, if a woman married him, could she really have a good life in the long run? Forget it, I wouldn’t harm that girl in my family.

Li Huai led Tender Taoist to the eastern edge of the small town, a lonely yellow mud house, this was Zheng Dafeng’s residence.

In fact, Li Huai had been very close to Zheng Dafeng since he was a child, and Zheng Dafeng often carried the child in his open crotch pants around, and Li Huai had also peed and pooped on him.

When Uncle Zheng was at home, he was just killing time, and getting by, anyway, it was just sewing and mending for another year, he had money to buy wine, and no money to rub wine, and he also liked to gamble, and his gambling skills were poor, how could there be a serious girl, who would take a fancy to such a rogue who was idle and wandering.

Now that Uncle Zheng was not at home, there were still spring couplets, and it was cleaned so much that it didn’t look like a place where no one had lived for many years,

Li Huai knew the reason, it must be that Uncle Zheng had left the key to the warm tree manager from Fallen Peak Mountain.

When he thought of the pink-skirted girl, he thought of Chen Ping’an, Li Huai smiled, and held his head with both hands, shaking, and while going to Dong Shui Well to eat a bowl of wontons, he casually said, “Why is he still not a great sword immortal, it’s too outrageous.”

***

Imperial City, Great Spring Dynasty, a small alley.

Lin Shouyi returned to his house, came to find his father.

Lin Shouyi came to the side house, standing at the door.

His father was sitting cross-legged on the *kang*, on the low table was a pot of wine, a wine bowl, and a few dishes of side dishes, he didn’t need chopsticks, and he drank and poured for himself.

The man with slightly frosted temples, slanted his eyes at the door, lifted his wine bowl with one hand, and said indifferently, “What’s the matter?”

Lin Shouyi nodded and said, “There’s something!”

Seeing the man’s posture, if this son had nothing to do, he should just not enter the room, and if it wasn’t a big deal, he could stand at the door and finish speaking and leave.

If outsiders were present, seeing this scene, it was estimated that they could stare their eyes out into the wine bowl and spin around.

Having a “Kirin” son like Lin Shouyi, whether you were the high-ranking noble of a country with a surname, you would have to worship them, right?

Lin Shouyi’s father, was once a very unremarkable assistant official in the Directorate of Construction Office of Black Pearl Cavern Heaven, in charge of some assistants and subordinates, and had successively assisted three Construction Officers, Song Yuzhang, Prince Song Changjing, and Cao Gengxin. However, the common people of the small town at that time, old and young, had no concept of the officialdom, and could not even distinguish the difference between officials and servants. In addition, the officials of the Directorate of Construction Office, dealt with those dragon kilns, kiln workers, and porcelain all year round, and had no contact with the general public.

However, Uncle Cui Chan, had leaked the secrets of the heavens for Lin Shouyi, his name was requested by his father, asking Uncle to help get it.

A servant of the Construction Directorate, able to ask the Dali State Teacher to help get a name for his son?

Even a fool knew that this kind of thing, was definitely not reasonable.

What’s more, Lin Shouyi, who was precocious since childhood, did not think that his father was just a sesame official of the Construction Directorate.

The man asked, “Do you need me to take off my shoes and go to the ground, run to the gate, and welcome you all the way in?”

Only then did Lin Shouyi cross the threshold, and sat sideways on the *kang*, but he did not take off his boots, and sit cross-legged like his father.

He was worried that he would get a few more similar harsh words.

Lin Shouyi asked, “That matter of Chen Ping’an’s father, did you participate in it back then?”

The man pulled at the corners of his mouth, lifted the wine bowl and sipped a mouthful of wine, “Your wings have hardened, you’re worthy of being an immortal on the mountain, flying around and not landing on the ground, your tone is so big. What was it, eating clouds and drinking dew? Or did you recognize a wild father outside, teaching you the way of being a son?”

After the man left the kiln affairs Directorate of Construction Office, he left his hometown, and served in the vehicle driver cleaning office of the Imperial City of Dali, it was only a subordinate office of the vehicle driver office, the official rank seven, and it had the word “from” with it, because he was not born from the imperial examination, so he was a muddy official. In addition, he was not a native of the Imperial City, and his age was getting old, so it was difficult to get promoted to a senior official, let alone remove the word “from”. Over the years, he could barely be said to be in charge of a clear water office, the postal express bulletin office. This was still because the top leader, was the son of a family who didn’t care much, and when he saw the man, he would always call him Old Lin. The memorials of each prefecture and county entering the capital, after getting the Emperor’s red approval, the Ministry of War would nail them and send them to the local area, and they would have to pass through this inconspicuous office. In addition, the imperial gazette distributed from the Imperial City to the local area, was also under the jurisdiction of this place. Presumably those office colleagues, could not imagine that the taciturn Lin Zhengcheng all year round, would be the father of that famous Lin Shouyi.

Lin Shouyi had been afraid of this father since he was a child.

In fact, things had not improved much in recent years.

Leaving his hometown for many years, traveling to study, and cultivating hard, it seemed that it was to prove one thing in front of the man.

Whether he had you as a father or not, whether he had this family or not, Lin Shouyi could have a promising career.

His mother was partial, and doted on his younger brother. His father was indifferent, and didn’t care about anything.

Only to his younger brother Lin Shouye’s side, there was no smile, which was better than the man’s side, either not opening his mouth, or opening his mouth with harsh words.

Therefore, Lin Shouyi’s entire childhood years, until he left his hometown for a distant journey, was a true case of not being loved by his father or mother.

It had once hurt the young man’s heart.

So that back then when they were studying in the Great Sui, the silent and gentle young man, Lin Shouyi, revealed his heart to Chen Ping’an for the first time, and there was one sentence, “Not all parents in the world, are like your parents.”

However, today’s Lin Shouyi, seemed to be a bit different.

Lin Shouyi said in a deep voice, “If it wasn’t because of me, Chen Ping’an would never have deliberately detoured, deliberately bypassing our Lin family in the search for the truth about the fragment of destiny porcelain. Even the last time Chen Ping’an came to the Imperial City, he still pretended that he didn’t know anything. Dad, you have to give me an explanation today, because I also have to give my friend an explanation!”

The man looked at this son.

Lin Shouyi’s expression was calm, his eyes firm, and he faced his father directly.

It was an unprecedented thing.

The man was not angry, and nodded, “Finally, you’re a bit of a man, otherwise I would have thought I had given birth to a daughter, and worried about the dowry.”

Lin Shouyi was a bit bewildered.

Could this be considered a compliment?

The man raised his chin.

Lin Shouyi was puzzled.

The man asked, “Can’t you drink? You’re also a Nascent Soul cultivator, don’t you have a spatial object with you, to put wine pots, wine cups and other sundries?”

Lin Shouyi was a bit embarrassed, “I’ve never had a spatial object with me.”

The man didn’t move, but asked, “Then am I, as your son, going to get you, my dad, a wine cup, or a wine bowl? You say something, so I don’t get it wrong, and your dad will be unhappy.”

Lin Shouyi took a deep breath, got up silently, and walked away quickly, leaving the house to get a wine bowl from another place.

This man, either didn’t speak, or liked to poke people’s hearts as soon as he opened his mouth, as always.

There were a few maids in the house, but they were all big and thick, and they were all used by his mother, his father never let the maids serve him, big or small.

After Lin Shouyi returned to the house, he poured himself a bowl of wine, he didn’t dare to fill it, and remained silent, holding the bowl with both hands, and drinking it all in one gulp.

The man lifted the wine bowl, and only took a sip of wine, picked up a salt-water peanut, twisted it gently, threw it into his mouth and chewed it, and said slowly, “If you and Chen Ping’an are friends, then I and Chen Ping’an’s father, can also be considered friends, well, I can’t say if they are or not, it just is.”

Lin Shouyi nodded.

Chen Ping’an’s father, was a kiln worker in a dragon kiln, his skills were excellent, and he was honest and kind, he was an honest man with no right or wrong, if nothing went wrong, he could have been the kiln master in a few years.

And Lin Shouyi’s father, was responsible for the specific supervision of the kiln affairs, in charge of the results of the firing, appraising porcelain and inspecting the quality, because the supervising official Song Yuzhang in the early years, was a diligent official who liked to run to the kiln, so Lin Shouyi’s father, had to go out with that superior official, and often needed to get along with the kiln master.

Lin Zhengcheng said slowly, “The two men, apart from talking about the dry and boring kiln affairs, what else could they talk about? When they had their own sons, and drank wine, they were just talking about their own family affairs.”

“In fact, we had said early on, that if our two families, happened to have one son and one daughter, we would arrange a childhood engagement. It was such a coincidence, they were both sons, so it didn’t work out.”

Lin Shouyi asked doubtfully, “Does Uncle Chen also drink wine?”

Lin Zhengcheng nodded, “He drinks, he can drink, he just doesn’t like wine, so every time I drag him to drink, it’s fine in the dragon kiln, at worst he’ll fall asleep, if it’s in the town, he’s like a thief, I was wondering back then, he’s not that kind of henpecked man, that younger sister-in-law, is famous for being gentle, I always thought it wouldn’t be that way, I never had the chance to ask, I always felt that there would be opportunities in the future, but I haven’t been able to figure it out yet.”

“Back then, I was eating public grain, our Lin family couldn’t compare to those big clans in Prosperity Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Lane, but we were still well-off, much richer than him, but as long as we drank wine, I would treat him once, he would definitely pay, and treat me back, and he wouldn’t deliberately buy the best wine, it’s just a token of appreciation.”

“An honest man, isn’t stupid. An honest man, isn’t rigid. A sense of proportion, can’t be read out by reading books, even if you cultivate in the public service, you may not be able to endure it, it’s not that you can have a sense of proportion if you suffer some losses.”

“Back then, I said my son was smart, precocious, and at first glance he was a bookworm, maybe he could be a teacher when he grew up. He said his son was sensible, and his appearance and temperament followed his mother, and when he went to the academy to study with you, and could read, it would be up to the child to decide whether he wanted to be a porcelain-burning kiln worker in the future.”

Lin Shouyi listened with rapt attention.

Apart