In the heart of the Five-Colored World, where the heavens themselves were stained with vibrant hues, a spectacle unfolded.

Two streaks of brilliant sword-light erupted from the city of Ascension, piercing the firmament. The celestial oceans, vast and swirling, were rent asunder by the potent sword-qi, birthing colossal vortexes in their wake.

The radiant arcs of light, carving paths between cloud-islands, ascended to a height rivaling the Gateway of the Heavens, though still tens of thousands of leagues distant. Abruptly, the sword-lights halted, revealing two figures: one with a jade hairpin adorning his hair and clad in a green scholar’s robe, the other in a yellow cap and blue shoes, clutching a mountain staff.

With a flourish, each swordsman multiplied into a dozen shimmering blades, hurtling towards the Gateway. Their speed, an identical and uncanny skill, eclipsed even the swiftest of celestial skiffs.

A venerable scholar, his face etched with wisdom, stroked his beard and chuckled. “One must admit, for sheer travel, these sword immortals have us beat. A flash of light, swift as lightning, unfettered by the world. It has a certain untrammeled grace.”

His companion, another elder, nodded in agreement. “Alas, I lacked the aptitude for the sword’s path. Elsewise, I might not have chosen the arduous road of scholarship.”

These two wise men, enshrined in the Temple of Literature and tasked with guarding the Five-Colored World’s Gateway, were the first Grand Master of the Rituals Academy and the founder of the Riverside Academy, respectively.

Each elder brought a promising scholar from their academy, young gentlemen who would stand guard for sixty years, meticulously recording the celestial changes, the shifting mountain energies, and the flux of waters across the realm. Initially, this vigil was to prevent upper-realm cultivators from infiltrating this nascent world, particularly through the northern and southern gates leading to the lands of Tung Leaf Isle and Soaring Cloud Isle. They sought to bar rogue Nascent Soul cultivators and Golden Body martial artists from breaking the established order. In those early years, the wise men had apprehended many who dared to test the boundaries, now “studying the classics” within the pocket dimension of their sleeves.

A smile played on their lips as they beheld the return of the young Hidden Official, a visitor revisited. When Chen Ping An had first traversed the Tung Leaf Isle Gateway into the Five-Colored World, the disciple of the Sage of Literature had been in haste, and little formality had been exchanged.

As for the peculiar attendant at the Hidden Official’s side, a snow-white spider that sometimes took on other forms, their fellow guardian saint of the Tung Leaf Isle Temple had already been forewarned, so they turned a blind eye.

Mao Xiao Dong, Chen Ping An’s martial brother, served as a Master Instructor at the Rituals Academy. The virtuous Wang Zai, now Deputy Master of the Five Streams Academy in Tung Leaf Isle, was a disciple of the Rituals Academy’s current Grand Master. Wang Zai had visited this Gateway before, openly expressing his admiration for the young Hidden Official to the elder. The Riverside Academy and the Foothills Academy of Southern Soaring Isle were pillars of the teachings of the Lesser Sage. The elder of Riverside was a close friend of Chen Chun An, kindred spirits in the pursuit of knowledge. Chen Ping An, alongside the Great Sword Immortal Lu Zhi, had once joined Chen Chun An in vanquishing a formidable Ascension Realm demon hidden in the seas. Chen Chun An had confided to the elder that he was grateful to have fulfilled such a significant ambition.

With these connections established, the two enshrined saints, though lacking personal acquaintance with Chen Ping An, naturally felt a sense of kinship.

As they neared the Gateway, Xiao Mo once again transformed into the snow-white spider, perched upon his lord’s shoulder.

Scholars valued appearances.

Chen Ping An bowed in respect to the elders, who returned the gesture.

One, a disciple of the Sage of Literature; the other, honoring the last Hidden Official of the Sword-Qi Great Wall.

They spoke briefly of the Five-Colored World’s mountains and waters, and then Chen Ping An prepared to depart, returning to Tung Leaf Isle through the Gateway.

A gentleman, a “Breath of Grandeur” jade pendant hanging at his waist, approached swiftly, teasing, “Why is Sword Immortal Ning not with you? Did you two have a quarrel?”

Chen Ping An sighed, “Guo Qun Yu, you truly have too much time on your hands.”

Their easy banter suggested a close and playful friendship.

This virtuous scholar was named Guo Kuang, styled Qun Yu.

A scholar of the Literary Temple, he had also ventured to the Sword-Qi Great Wall. Unlike Wang Zai, who served as a Supervisor at the Summer Retreat Palace, Guo Kuang was also a sword cultivator and therefore fought on the front lines. He had become acquainted with Ning Yao and Chen San Qiu, sharing countless battles. When Ah Liang distributed the imitation Jade Capitol swords of Great Li amongst the young swordsmen, Guo Kuang had earned one named “Breath of Grandeur” through his merit.

Die Zhang and Chen San Qiu had chosen to wander the Great Land, neither following the city of Ascension to the Five-Colored World nor joining the Upside-Down Mountain in the Azure Expanse. Chen Xi hoped that Chen San Qiu could settle down and pursue learning in the Great Land, believing that his flying sword might one day be refined into a personal talisman. Die Zhang, however, had come seeking Guo Kuang, but fate had kept them apart since Guo Kuang was appointed a Recorder in the Five-Colored World.

Guo Kuang unclasped the “Breath of Grandeur” from his waist. “Might I trouble the Hidden Official to deliver this sword to the city of Ascension, or perhaps return it to the Song family of Great Li? I feel it ill-suited to me.”

Chen Ping An shook his head. “I will not trouble myself with such errands. You should keep it, Qun Yu. This debt to the city of Ascension cannot be so easily repaid. And the Great Li court no longer needs the ‘Breath of Grandeur’.”

Guo Kuang reluctantly reattached the sword to his belt.

It was likely that, after leaving this place, Guo Kuang would become the Deputy Master of some academy.

Years ago, the virtuous Chen Chun An had personally led a company of scholars to the Sword-Qi Great Wall.

Among the scholars who accompanied Liu Xian Yang to the Great Wall were the wise Chen Shi, a descendant of Chen Chun An, and Qin Zheng Xiu of the Foothills Academy of Southern Soaring Isle.

Qin Zheng Xiu, a close friend of Guo Kuang, was now in Soaring Cloud Isle, holding a position similar to those of Wang Zai of the Five Streams Academy and Wen Yu of the Celestial Eyes Academy, serving as Deputy Master of a scholarly institution. These young and accomplished scholars had distinguished themselves in war and, with the conflict concluded, had stepped from their studies, using their merits and knowledge to become the true backbone of the Literary Temple.

Opening the Gateway for Chen Ping An, the elder scholar named Jiang shook his sleeves, releasing a dozen or so individuals who, disoriented, stumbled to their feet. They had spent years confined within his sleeve, their own mountain and water realms, like monastic studies filled with nothing but books.

These were individuals from Tung Leaf Isle who had once sought refuge in the nascent world: three Nascent Soul cultivators, seven Golden Body martial artists, and two Wandering Realm grandmasters.

The elder scholar explained with a smile, “It is the will of Ritual Sage. I trouble the Hidden Official to return them to their homeland.”

Chen Ping An nodded. “It is no trouble at all.”

Though gentle with Chen Ping An, the elder turned a stern gaze upon the twelve transgressors. “After these years of secluded study, you have absorbed some wisdom. The Literary Temple, fortunately, is a haven for the learned. Return home, mend your ways, and atone for your sins.”

“Or face me again… heh heh.”

Chen Ping An interjected with a smile, “In truth, it is fortunate that they have met Master Jiang again. Since they could not find a safe haven in their youth, let them now delve into the classics. There are inspiring tales of abandoning the pen for the sword, of forsaking learning for cultivation, but rarely do we hear of the reverse. Perhaps they might become a remarkable precedent.”

Master Jiang laughed heartily. “It is always a pleasure to converse with a scholar.”

The people of Tung Leaf Isle now beheld a figure they could not place: a young man in a green robe, swords stacked at his waist, his hands clasped in his sleeves.

Even after hearing Master Jiang speak of the “Hidden Official,” they remained bewildered.

Still, they grasped a glimmer of understanding. Was there one among the cultivators of the Great Land who could command the attention of Ritual Sage himself? Had they heard correctly? Had Master Jiang used the word “trouble”?

Who was this ageless, magically powerful immortal?

Master Jiang, observing their stupefied expressions, reminded them, “Had the Hidden Official not happened to pass through this place, traveling to Tung Leaf Isle, you would have spent another seven or eight years poring over the classics. Why do you stand there like dolts? Should you not thank the Hidden Official?”

The group complied, but found themselves in an awkward predicament. Whether they sought to clasp their hands in greeting or bow in respect, they could not bring themselves to do so.

Chen Ping An, observing these individuals renowned for their sharp instincts, smiled. “There is no need for such formalities, seniors. It is not I to receive your gratitude, lest it shorten my days.”

The other elder spoke, “Friend Joyous Candle, might you show yourself? These individuals require your protection to traverse the two Gateways.”

Chen Ping An nodded in assent.

Xiao Mo then revealed his true form, gathering the dozen individuals into his sleeve.

Chen Ping An and Xiao Mo then walked along the seven-colored river of time, stepping through the Gateway of Tung Leaf Isle.

As the two swordsmen entered the Gateway, Master Jiang sighed. “The wutong tree, half-dead after the first frost… a complete mess, that is.”

The other enshrined saint recalled an ancient prophecy regarding Tung Leaf Isle and spoke through heart-speech, “Concerning Tung Leaf Isle, Zouzi had spoken of certain signs. How should we interpret them? Or has Zouzi miscalculated?”

Master Jiang shook his head. “It is too early to declare Zouzi mistaken.”

*The phoenix descends on heavenly winds,
Perches high on wutong branches.
Peach and plum blossoms herald spring,
But phoenix dies, leaves fall in autumn.
Simplicity conveys the hidden truth,
Revealing the ancients anew.*

Beyond the Tung Leaf Isle Gateway, Chen Ping An had Xiao Mo deposit the individuals elsewhere, lest they become a nuisance. Whether they would reach their homes safely, and whether their homelands still existed, was likely of little concern to them.

Chen Ping An then bowed to the elder and asked, “Could you aid me in finding the Wind Kite ferry?”

The elder nodded, quickly pointing Chen Ping An to the ferry’s location, headed towards Immortal Metropolis Mountain.

As Xiao Mo returned, they transformed into sword-light and sped towards the ferry. Upon landing, Xiao Mo remarked, “Lord, it seems Sword Immortal Mi is in seclusion. Sect Lord Liu is personally guarding him.”

Liu Jing Long emerged from a building onto the viewing platform. Chen Ping An joined him and asked, “Has Mi Yu found the spark to break through the Jade Purity Realm?”

The Great Sword Immortal of his Summer Retreat Palace had a certain mental block when it came to closed-door breakthroughs.

Liu Jing Long nodded. “Accumulated experience, it was only a matter of time.”

Chen Ping An shook his head and smiled. “Indeed, only a matter of time, but at least ten years earlier than Xiao Mo’s ‘earliest’ prediction. Tell me the truth, did you lend a hand?”

Liu Jing Long did not demur, but explained the situation. He had created a Grand Void Heaven with his natal flying sword, allowing Mi Yu to immerse himself within it and guiding his mind, witnessing the manifestations of the myriad Dao. In the end, all would return to a single sword that could break all laws. The true subtleties were not merely a matter of verbal explanation. Mi Yu had likely seen his own life in that heaven: why his sword strikes had once been so clean, and why he had hesitated since; he remembered the sword strikes of others, the glorious lives and deaths of his hometown swordsmen…

Chen Ping An chuckled. “When I am ready to ascend to the Jade Purity Realm, will you lend me a hand as well?”

Liu Jing Long shook his head. “What is beneficial to Mi Yu would not be so to you. Moreover, it is not something I can simply manifest at will.”

Chen Ping An slapped the railing. “I knew it!”

This act must have cost Liu Jing Long many years of cultivation.

Liu Jing Long said, “Do not take it so seriously. I reaped no small reward myself.”

For the outside world, after the ceremony at Righteous Sun Mountain, the ever-shrouded Mountain of the Fallen had finally lifted a corner of its veil. While the Lord of the Mountain, Chen Ping An, was also a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator, it was likely the sword immortal Mi Yu, from the Sword-Qi Great Wall, who possessed the highest sword skill and destructive power.

If Mi Yu successfully ascended to the Immortal Realm, it would be a momentous occasion for the entire Azure Billow Continent, both on and off the mountains.

A new Great Sword Immortal would be a massive disruption to the established order, on any continent but the Central Divine Continent.

Liu Jing Long suddenly smiled. “Regardless, I have helped the Mountain of the Fallen and Lord Chen in a small way. Shall we have some wine? Whether it is to thank me or to celebrate Mi Yu’s breakthrough in advance, Lord Chen has no reason to refuse, no?”

Chen Ping An immediately sensed danger. Liu Jing Long had rarely taken the initiative to drink, but he came prepared. “I am not in a hurry. I have other matters to attend to. I will not linger here long, but depart for elsewhere.”

Liu Jing Long grabbed Chen Ping An’s arm. “Just a few jars of wine. With our capacity, it will not delay your business.”

Chen Ping An patted Liu Jing Long’s arm, but it was no use. He shook his arm, but Liu Jing Long remained steadfast. “I truly have matters to attend to!”

Xiao Mo had no choice but to interject. “Sect Lord Liu, Lord Chen has a great undertaking. I must follow him and can only clear the path. I cannot provide protection.”

Liu Jing Long released his grip and asked, “Where are you going?”

Chen Ping An said, “To see the wutong tree.”

Liu Jing Long frowned slightly. “Will you not wait to return to the Jade Purity Realm?”

Chen Ping An took a deep breath. “The level of one’s realm is of little consequence. There is no need to delay.”

Liu Jing Long reminded him, “Be careful.”

Chen Ping An laughed. “As long as I am not locked in a drinking contest with someone, all is well.”

Liu Jing Long was in no mood for pleasantries. “Will you be back in time for the celebration the day after tomorrow?”

Chen Ping An nodded. “That is no problem. If we cannot reach an agreement, it will be a wasted trip. It is possible that they do not wish to negotiate, or even slam the door in my face.”

Liu Jing Long asked, “Departing immediately?”

Chen Ping An could not help but smile. “First, I will see Little Rice Grain. Someone asked me to deliver a message. Xiao Mo, wait a moment. If Sect Lord Liu truly wishes to drink, then…?”

Xiao Mo nodded. “I understand.”

Liu Jing Long smiled. “Chen Ping An, you will pay on the Day of Establishment.”

When Chen Ping An left the Five-Colored World, night had fallen. But upon returning to the Great Land, it was midday.

A little girl in black, carrying a golden carrying pole on her shoulder, was pacing back and forth on the bow and stern. When she was sure no one was watching, the Right Protector seized her green bamboo cane to show off a bit of her Mad Demon swordplay.

Chen Ping An stepped over the railing onto the deck and laughed. “Fine swordplay.”

Little Rice Grain hastily dropped the bamboo staff to the ground, then thought better of it, and grabbed it up quickly, and jogged over to Lord Benevolence, patting the cane to apologize for her carelessness.

Chen Ping An said, “I went to the Five-Colored World and saw Master Wu. He asked me to send his regards.”

Little Rice Grain pursed her lips, nodded vigorously, coughed a few times, then said sternly, “Master Wu is most courteous.”

As if Master Wu was right beside her. Then the two old hands, one small and one big, exchanged pleasantries with one another.

Chen Ping An bent over and patted Little Rice Grain’s head.

Little Rice Grain smiled so her eyes were hidden, and she grasped the bamboo cane and golden carrying pole in her arms, held onto Lord Benevolence’s sleeve, and began to stroll, softly saying, “In a bit I’ll go back and get more melon seeds, cakes, and dried small fish.”

Chen Ping An nodded. “That will do. Little Rice Grain is so thoughtful.”

Little Rice Grain asked, “Lord Benevolence has forgotten?”

Chen Ping An lowered his head to look and replied, “Forgotten what?”

Little Rice Grain giggled. “Thoughtful, thoughtful, my name is Thought.”

Chen Ping An said with a start. “I see. That makes sense now.”

On Lord Chen’s Mountain of the Fallen, there was no cultivator Chen Ling Jun couldn’t provoke.

And there was no elder Little Rice Grain could not win over.

Over at the city of Ascension, Ning Yao was in a room, instructing a little girl named Feng Yuan Xiao in her cultivation.

A jeweled little girl with an antique air sat at a nearby table, holding up a jade seal to the light, studying the text inscribed on it.

She had “found” it on a table in someone’s courtyard chamber. Ning Yao had not stopped her, but simply told her to remember to return it.

The seal wasn’t large. The text on it was vast, inscribed with many auspicious sayings: the air of a scholar, the grace of a sword immortal, a match made in heaven, the endless love between children.

Before Chen Ping An left the city of Ascension, he had left behind many Spring Couplets and Good Fortune signs for the Ning household.

He had not forgotten to write a signboard and some columns of prose for Qiu Lung and Liu E’s new wineshop either.

A young man dressed in white was traveling, all alone, in the night. Bored, he was holding up his arms and making a string of light move through the night sky.

Down below in the Mountain of the Fallen, the temporary gatekeeper, Xian Wei, was dressed as a Taoist priest, and was a true bookworm. The man was truly poor, but had been lucky to have been given the Book Mountain by his esteemed friend Old Man Grand Wind. So every day he was occupied; either watching the female martial artist, Cen Yuanji, come and go along the mountain path, or pouring through the book collection of Grand Wind. In some of the books, pages would be marked with bits of paper, where Old Man Grand Wind had, in his own hand, filled in the “details which are being omitted”.

My friend Grand Wind truly is a deity!

The heart burned reading them.

The ultimate gentleman, the ultimate master!

Chen Ling Jun came to the base of the mountain to see Xian Wei bundled up like a dumpling, cowering in his chair. Fortunately he was holding the stove the chef had made, but Xian Wei seemed to be in high spirits these days, and was happy every day as if he’d made a fortune.

Chen Ling Jun sat in a bamboo chair nearby and said, “You are a Daoist cultivator at least, how can you be so susceptible to the cold?”

Xian Wei wailed. “A cultivator of the five lower realms has it much harder in weather like this. Brother Ling Jun, you don’t understand the hardships of the people.”

Chen Ling Jun only smiled, saying nothing.

Back when he was in the Royal River of the Yellow Court, he had learned of these things.

The River God of the Royal River and his brothers, over those years, had spent the incense of the palace to prevent drought and flood.

Xian Wei asked, “When is Grand Wind coming back?”

Chen Ling Jun shook his head. “Hard to say. I’ll ask Old Master some day.”

They both missed the days that Zheng Grand Wind was the gatekeeper on the Mountain of the Fallen.

Life has two sorrows: for a man, to be a genius without a connection; for a woman, to be beautiful without a protector.

That was something Zheng Grand Wind had said.

I must create a road to connection for all the great talents of the world.

That was Grand Wind, too.

Up above, the senior steward Zhu Lian had entertained two guests today. Wu Yuan, the son-in-law of Lord Yuan, a graduate of Minister Cui Chan, and currently the head of the new commandery.

And then, the prefect of River Gem Commandery, Jing Kuan.

Old Chef had gone to the back of the mountain to teach the Cao brothers a bit about fistfighting.

Zhu Lian had then returned to the front of the mountain because someone was “knocking” at the Lotus Blessing, Pai Xiang.

Now that Chief Justice Chang Ming was away from the mountain, that issue was going to fall to Zhu Lian.

Zhu Lian opened the door and smiled, “Is something wrong?”

Pai Xiang’s gaze was desolate.

The long, elegant eyes of the fox spirit seemed to say, “In your view, what counts as wrong? If there is nothing wrong, I cannot find you and cannot speak with you.”

Sorrow was piled in mountains on her brow, and emotions flowed through her heart like water.

Zhu Lian only smiled, and gave her the hand warmer. “It’s good to go out for a stroll.”

They went to the summit together. Pai Xiang spoke of the state of the world at Lotus Blessing right now. Zhu Lian spoke little, only listening patiently.

When Pai Xiang was done speaking, Zhu Lian asked after the state of the Fox Kingdom.

As they strolled, they reached the jade railings at the summit, and Zhu Lian stood there, looking off into the distance, as the mountain wind brushed back his hair.

Pai Xiang looked at the side of Zhu Lian’s face, and for no reason, recalled a phrase she had seen in a book.

*Carved railings and jade stairs still remain, but red faces have changed.*

—

A young man named Shi Yu Yan was finally able to pull himself away from his work to take a break. He sat by the river, dry-lipped. He took out his wineskin and took a deep drink to wake himself up.

The frostbite he’d collected this winter had yet to clear up even with spring arriving soon. He had not been able to return to the capital for the new year again. He’d only been able to send a letter home.

He was in the Great Chong, a restored dynasty.

The emperor, in the prime of life, had worked hard over these years, and Great Chong had a good name both on the streets and among the gentry.

But in comparison with the Azure Billow Continent, Great Chong’s restored dynasty was just a matter of local comparison and the triumph of the dwarves over the midgets.

Shi Yu Yan looked to the man next to him, and asked, “Old Zhang, you’re a mountain immortal, at least a Sea Watch Realm despite being a nobody. What are you after hanging around me?”

After Old Zhang became friends with him, he had come to speak with his dad, or else how could Shi Yu Yan have felt comfortable with a cultivator just suddenly hanging around him?

Shi Yu Yan’s father, the Minister of Punishments, had spent quite a bit of time and effort finding some friends in the immortalist sects to look into “Zhang Xie”. The Little Dragon Pool might not have been much back in the Tung Leaf Continent, but now it was the most prominent of sects. On top of that, in the Central Divine Continent, they had the backing of the Great Dragon Pool. And among the Little Dragon Pool’s vassals, there was an unremarkable Palace of River Yellow, within which there was an accountant named Zhang Xie. All the details matched.

And this mountain immortal was indeed extremely well-versed in many things. Shi Yu Yan had a genius friend who’d been struggling to pass the civil service exam and become famous. Once Old Zhang had given him the idea, it had worked. Shi Yu Yan had followed the plan, and found a few literary figures in the capital and held a party. Next, he hired some people to pretend to be merchants and throughout the party, he had the merchant pose questions to a raggedy beggar on the road. At one point, the beggar recited poetry and performed, and once he’d drank, he revealed his name. It was an instant sensation…

Afterwards, Shi Yu Yan had asked Old Zhang how he came up with the idea. The old advisor said that he only borrowed the methods of old books, old people, and old stories. He said with a sigh that the man in the book had truly had talent, and not just cheap tricks.

If that event was just for show, there was another event that had truly opened Shi Yu Yan’s eyes to Old Zhang’s talents. A few people he was only casually acquainted with had started a business with one of his friends. They had been doing it for years and they were making lots of money, mostly from public works projects. Shi Yu Yan didn’t care much for making money and turned them down. Old Zhang had heard this and told Shi Yu Yan to warn his friend. Shi Yu Yan had, but his friend didn’t listen. And now, his friend was in financial ruin because all of the hidden money had been withdrawn and he was left with the shell.

And this “old accountant” named Zhang Xie was no other than Zhang Liu Zhu, the supreme guest of the Little Dragon Pool.

It was just that one was old, and the other was young. One did not seem like a Nascent Soul immortal, and the other did not seem like the Minister of Works.

Getting from the capital to the local area was fine because the inns were set up for that, but once he got to the new capital, it was all eating on the road and sleeping outside. The construction of the capital was, in name, overseen by the Minister of Works in the capital, but in reality, it was controlled by the vice minister, Shi Yu Yan.

The reconstruction of the local towns, of the temples to the gods of literature and martial arts, of the temples to the mountain and river gods, and even the Daoist cloisters on the mountain went on and on, without end, and it had fallen to the minister of works.

Some people who wanted to make some legal money were finding it to be a struggle with the Minister of Works on watch. It seemed that many were having their accounts checked and adjusted. For a project that needed a hundred thousand silver, they were only asking for seventy or eighty thousand. And for some mountain temples, it was being cut in half.

And all of this was thanks to Shi Yu Yan’s old advisor. Without him, where would Shi Yu Yan learn of the qualities and prices of timber in the mountains?

As for things that didn’t cost any money, the minister was able to use his family connections to get them done, and this was also on the advice of the advisor, who said that breaking people’s income was a major taboo, and it was essential to give back in other places. Official standards had to be followed, and there was no reason it had to get in the way of relationships. One river god’s banner had been acquired by his father with much pleading to a scholar of the Great Bend Academy, and that river god told anyone who would listen that Shi Minister was fair, and that with him, the dynasty would flourish.

After parting at the lamp riddle hall in River Capital, Zhang Liu Zhu and Dai Yuan had returned to their respective homes and made plans.

As supreme guest, Zhang Liu Zhu had returned to Little Dragon Pool and made some arrangements, then traveled to the Great Chong to become the advisor for the Minister of Works, Shi Yu Yan, and come up with schemes for the young man.

His name was good, though: “presenting virtue, speaking on arts, and standing with words”.

The Minister of Punishments had been late to having a son and spoiled him greatly. Beating children made them filial? That was impossible.

And while Shi Yu Yan could be flamboyant, he was one of the best in the bunch. A true scholar and the emperor’s student.

Zhang Liu Zhu laughed and replied, “Of course, it is because I believe the Minister is an exceptional man with an exceptional future.”

Shi Yu Yan laughed. “Are you serious? Do you believe yourself?”

Zhang Liu Zhu said firmly, “Of course I do!”

The young minister said in exasperation, “Don’t make fun of me!”

Zhang Liu Zhu shook his head. “There’s no reason for His Lordship to look down on himself.”

Acting as an advisor for this minister was nothing to scoff at. For one thing, there was that vacant position of imperial advisor. On top of that, Dai Yuan was fond of the young minister and his nature. After all, as a small clerk in the Department of Revenue, Shi Yu Yan had been bold enough to steal three million silver to help a favored fairy climb the rankings, risking his neck! If the emperor had not seen that Minister Shi was a reliable pillar of the court, then his son would have landed in prison.

But the situation took a turn when Shi Yu Yan could no longer bear the sighs of his father, the Minister of Punishments, who was doing nothing but sigh and wring his hands.

His mother would occasionally tear up, saying that it was her fault he was being so wild, that he was not bad at heart, and would eventually grow into a responsible man, one who could restore the glory of the Shi family with another pair of ministers.

Shi Yu Yan couldn’t take it, so he left home to travel. Heaven was wide, and if he couldn’t stay here, he’d go elsewhere. As it happened, he met someone surnamed Zhou who seemed to be from Azure Billow Continent. The man called himself “Broken Truth Lord”, and left him a letter, as well as three coins from the mountain, which allowed him to refill the treasury.

After that, Shi Yu Yan had returned to the bureaucracy, but not in the Revenue, in the Department of Works, as a clerk. After half a year spent studying building methods, he had insisted on taking on a difficult project, even hiring some old carpenters.

The result was that the people who used to only give him a lecture or two started calling him a worthless son of a bitch.

But things were better now.

Each time the young minister left the capital, the old minister would remind his son to eat properly and dress warmly, over and over again.

Shi Yu Yan shook his head. “Don’t think I’m stupid. I know the rules of the mountains. You gods and immortals are just cultivating your fortune, your connections, your techniques, and your land. The best choice is to be like the Jade Accumulation Temple of the Yu Dynasty and be a protector of the realm. Goodness, it’s endless.”

“Second best, is being a secret advisor to the court, like the Azure Billow Continent with the Li Dynasty and getting a ‘no problem’ token from the Minister of Punishments.”

“Next best, is being a guest of a governor, or a transport director. The emperor is far away, and there is much to gain.”

“Giving it to a court official, like my father, is the real deal, but what can you gain? The best option, still, is joining a rich clan. You’ve found me, the Minister of Works, who makes nothing, so what is going on?”

“If you want promotions, of course I want those, but if you want to get rich, forget it. Old Zhang, if you don’t tell me the truth today, I can’t keep you around.”

The old advisor sighed. “Things have come to this, so I will no longer hold anything back.”

“In truth, I am friends with the Broken Truth Lord. His name is Zhou Shou, and he is the supreme guest of a small mountain. As for how I’ve been a practitioner of Little Dragon Pool and still been invited to be a guest of the mountain… that is a long story. In my youth, I was a wild cultivator, and I traveled to the Azure Billow Continent and became friends with Lord Zhou. Then, as he was traveling back from the Cloud Cave, he came to find me and told me that it was better to move than to stay, and said there was a young man named Shi Yu Yan in the Great Chong who would no doubt be a minister, so I should come here.”

Shi Yu Yan was astonished. How coincidental!

Zhou Shou had been mentioned to him only by his father.

His father had only said that this man was probably not a minor cultivator but a master, and that he might not even be from the Azure Billow Continent.

And his father had heard that there was a Daoist master with the name Broken Truth Lord.

Shi Yu Yan was confused. How did his father know this? The old minister would only say that there was an old cultivator in the Department of Punishments. The old cultivator was old friends with Jiang Lord from Jade Scepter, but refused to acknowledge him.

Minister Shi had advised him against making an enemy of Jiang Lord, since Red Robe was in no position to go up against Jade Scepter.

But his old friend had only waved his hand, and said that Jiang Lord was a pervert who only wanted to get under women’s skirts.

Those events were of no interest to Shi Yu Yan, but he did know about that girl from Little Dragon Pool, named Ling Hu Jiao Yu, because he liked a fairy who was in the running with her.

Shi Yu Yan was not interested in women these days. Though when friends invited him to parties, he would attend.

Still not thirty, the young minister of the court was only thinking one thing these days:

He had been young.

There was a small boat approaching the shore. The woman on it straightened up and tucked her hair.

Shi Yu Yan could not see her face, but that was fine. Her curves were eye-catching.

Old Immortal and the young official exchanged a smile. Yes, they were the same kind of man.

Shi Yu Yan said, “I can see now. You are elegant, you are common, you can endure hardship, and you can enjoy fortune. If all mountain immortals were like you, I would be very envious. Some day, if I am not able to be a proper court official, I will join you in cultivation. Don’t hate me for being talentless then.”

Zhang Liu Zhu laughed and said, “It is better for the Great Chong to have Shi Yu Yan as a court official than as a cultivator.”

Shi Yu Yan turned and asked, “You think so highly of me?”

Zhang Liu Zhu nodded. “Of course. I have confidence in my vision and in the vision of Lord Zhou.”

Zhang Liu Zhu now understood: Who was Zhou Shou, or Zhou Fei? It was that Jiang Shang Zhen who had appeared with the Green-Robed Sword Immortal at the entrance of the Taiping Mountain!

As for the guy from Immortal Metropolis Mountain, Cui Dong Shan, he had been dropped with Shi Yu Yan for a reason and was waiting to laugh.

Now, that was making fun of him!

As it happened, he was smacked on the back of the head, and the white-robed youth said, “Tell the truth! Were you speaking ill of me?!”

Shi Yu Yan turned his head and stuttered, “Who is this?”

The white-robed youth laughed. “My name is Cui. I am a student of the Cloud Grass Hall of Mount Pu. I was visiting nearby and came to see an old friend. Of course, I am brothers with Zhou the Supreme Guest.”

—

In the Central Divine Continent, at the Jade True Immortal Pavilion,

There was a pavilion by the water. The water was clear and one could see the fish swimming.

This was sect land, and could not be approached, even by the direct student of the founder.

Immortal Yun Miao, wearing a white robe, was looking through two old journals.

The disciple Li Qing Zhu had used to try to get excuses to travel, and had earned the moniker “Li Water Float” in the River of Love, it would be a while before he showed his face again.

A young woman appeared. Her face seemed to be in her twenties at most, though fifteen at least. She wore no powder, and was beautiful as a peach blossom, wearing silk with a green skirt, radiant and moving.

Her name was Wei Zi, and she was Yun Miao’s wife and also an immortal.

Yun Miao put down the journals and asked, “How is it going?”

Some things could not see the light, so to be careful, the couple was not using a sword to send messages.

Wei Zi gave a smile. “It’s going well. If it weren’t for the rules of the Temple of Literature, it would be easy to turn our sect lord into a puppet, and all we’d have to do is seal off the mountain.”

The ancestors of the Jade True Immortal Pavilion had been something, and had passed down quite a Daoist lineage.