Master Chen, ever discerning of Emperor Song He’s temperament, was not entirely surprised when the Imperial carriage rolled into the humble village. It felt, in a strange way, predestined. He harbored no illusions of playing hard to get, but never did he imagine the Emperor and his retinue would simply… stay. The air hung thick with the unspoken: “You, Chen Ping’an, have deigned to consider our proposition. We shall tarry until your answer is given, no matter how long the pondering takes.” A roguish tactic indeed.

Initially, Chen Ping’an believed them to be guests who would seek lodging in the county town or even Yan Province. He had merely seen them to the edge of the village after supper, unsuspecting of their true intent.

The task of settling the Imperial party fell to Yu Mian and Yu Yu. The Prefect, Pei Tong, and General Chu Liang had already departed to their respective offices, as had the Vice Minister, Zhao Yao. This left Song He to wander the village alone. Here, homes ranged from humble mud dwellings to sturdier structures of white walls and black-tiled roofs, with courtyards designed to catch the four waters. The village lane was paved with long, blue flagstones, smoothed to a mirror sheen by the passage of shoes, wheels, and oxen hooves. Moonlight only amplified their gleam.

The village was largely comprised of a single clan, its inhabitants, young and old, arranged by generational names.

Song He had not taken more than a few steps before he was assailed by the barking of village curs. Truth be told, he was more than a little apprehensive. The thought of being bitten, of having to return lame and defeated, was profoundly embarrassing.

He pressed on, a mix of apprehension and self-amusement warring within him. Then, at the village’s edge, he spied Chen Ping’an, squatting amongst a group of old men, sharing their pipes of dried tobacco. The schoolmaster, clad in his blue robe and long coat, radiated an air of ease. His legs were crossed, revealing a sturdy, cloth-soled shoe. Head cocked to the side, shoulder slumped slightly, he listened to the elders’ tales, punctuating their stories with gentle nods and smiles. Though an outsider, he was clearly well-liked.

Further off, women exchanged gossip and whispered secrets. Song He’s gaze swept over them, noting the subtle glances directed towards the scholarly teacher.

Seeing the Emperor, Chen Ping’an choked on his smoke. “Is this the way of an Emperor?” he thought, “To come calling like a debt collector on New Year’s Eve?”

Song He, suppressing a smile, settled beside Chen Ping’an on the makeshift bench – nothing more than a plank resting on stacks of bricks. The Emperor, alas, was forced to perch precariously, half of his royal posterior in open air.

Chen Ping’an shifted, making room for his unexpected guest.

When Song He confessed his inability to understand the local dialect, Chen Ping’an explained the debate consuming the village. An elderly man, not of their clan, had died. Custom dictated that he could not be honored within the ancestral hall. His descendants, however, were unwilling to accept this, threatening to force their way inside, consequences be damned.

“And how would Chen-xiansheng resolve this?” Song He inquired.

Chen Ping’an shook his head with a wry smile. “Duty and tradition locked in mortal combat. There is no resolution to be had.”

A barefoot boy, returning from the U-mud Pond – famed for its successful rain prayers – carried a golden fish, grotesquely large and adorned with long whiskers, wriggling in his wicker creel.

As he passed, Chen Ping’an called the boy by name and beckoned him closer.

The lad, recognizing his teacher, hurried to his side, offering a respectful greeting.

Chen Ping’an smiled in return, gesturing with his pipe towards the creel. The boy glanced at Song He, assuming his teacher intended to prepare a feast for his guest. Without hesitation, he removed the creel from his waist and offered it to Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an declined with a wave of his hand, speaking in the local tongue. The boy listened, perplexed, then nodded vigorously, reattaching the creel and hurrying away.

“What was that about, Chen-xiansheng?” Song He murmured.

Chen Ping’an did not immediately answer. Instead, he raised his pipe, pointing towards a distant peak. He explained the legend of the U-mud Pond’s rain-making power, how the fish within the mountain’s pond were marked with faint golden lines. He then turned, pointing his pipe at the mountain behind them, known to the locals as “Sky Howl Dragon.” These were stories passed down through generations.

Song He, ever the pragmatist, was unmoved by tales and legends. “Are we to believe that a fallen dragon, banished from some ancient undersea palace, seeks refuge in the U-mud Pond, destined to toil for countless years to atone for its sins?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled. “These are merely tales, Emperor. The truth is veiled in time. Had I known you would ask, I would have grilled Lu Shen on the matter, had him use his calculating skills.”

Song He steadied himself. “The Chief Abbot has been here?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “He left just before you arrived.”

Song He’s mind raced. The disappearance of the Embroidery Bureau official, Zhu Lu, was likely the work of the White Jade Tower’s Abbot Lu.

“Did you convince the boy to release the fish?” Song He inquired. “Is this some mountain tradition?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “It’s an old saying from my hometown. It has to do with avoiding offense. We are bound to believe something that our livelihood depends on. Even if it is not true it makes no difference. Many times, it is only after you have left home that you will realize the lessons are the same everywhere. Even home and here.” For instance, in my hometown, if someone goes up the mountain to look for stone frogs and catches the first one, they must break off a leg and then release it. The frog must not be brought home.”

“A form of reverence for the mountain gods?” Song He suggested.

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Precisely. And if, thereafter, you encounter a three-legged frog, you must abandon your hunt, regardless of how long you have searched. Similarly, if a boy catches a strange, unnerving fish, he must judge its appearance. If it seems burdened by sorrow, it may be killed and eaten. But if it bears a smiling countenance, it is best to set it free.”

Song He fell silent, then sighed. “In the end, we are all beholden to the mountains, the waters, the heavens themselves.”

Chen Ping’an remained silent, puffing on his pipe.

Even across differing dialects, there was an unspoken bond. The villagers, when speaking of the changing seasons, the stifling heat or bitter cold, invariably used the same three words that were to signify “Heavenly Father”.

The phrases were devoid of rancor, the only acknowledgement of them was to look up, and sigh.

And so it was, that facing the fields and turning his back to the sky the peasants, if there was a good harvest, would express their joy with “Heavenly Father”.

Song He, unused to the pungent smoke, endured it silently.

Chen Ping’an, gathering his pipe, bid farewell to the elders and led Song He towards the outskirts of the village.

“What were you discussing with that young man?” Song He inquired.

“He is a good man,” Chen Ping’an replied. “A tile setter, and the father of a child at the village school, He toils hard for the sake of his family, working at whatever trades he finds, from collecting tree sap to burning charcoal, raising silkworms to harvesting tea. He enjoys his wine, but has a tendency to overindulge, and has a loose tongue when inebriated. I simply counseled him to moderate his drinking, to temper his impulsiveness at the table, and to avoid speaking ill of others. A village is a tight-knit community, where even whispers in the bedchamber can be overheard. Why risk offending someone with drunken words, earning their enmity and burdening future generations?”

Song He found this amusing. “Did he find your words to hold merit?”

“He seemed to take them to heart, but whether he remembers them when next faced with a flagon of wine, I cannot say.”

“Even myself, speaking of drinking, could learn to emulate Jing Qing, who on the topic feels all men are heros and legends.”
“The key is sincerity, because Lingjun’s drunken words are his true feelings.”

Song He launched into a dissertation. “As the proverb states, ‘Anger festers in chambers, desire roams the markets. One seeks knowledge through ears, perceiving sound, or through eyes, discerning form. Yet, knowledge demands alignment with its nature. Names hold no inherent meaning, but are given by decree. That which is decreed becomes convention, and deviation from it is deemed improper.'”

Chen Ping’an nodded, amused.

Song He was, in his own way, praising his teacher.

A look of longing crossed Song He’s face. “My teacher once told me of a talented monk of the Vinaya sect, who, before taking his vows, spoke these words: ‘The virtuous possess a gentle heart, finding good in both the strengths and weaknesses of others, and thus, speaking favorably. The petty are arrogant, seeing both good deeds and misdeeds as contemptible, and thus, seeing only cause for scorn.’ The former, he concluded, walks a path that widens with each step, while the latter finds their world ever shrinking. With such a perspective, one might see saints in every street and find goodness in every soul.”

Chen Ping’an tapped his back with his pipe, nodding. “Your words are more eloquent, more refined.”

“These are your teachings,” Song He countered.

“If you have embraced them, then they are yours,” Chen Ping’an declared.

Song He, sensing the moment, decided to bare his soul. “Scholars speak of the fleeting nature of power and beauty, claiming that only the idle truly possess them. To be honest, my initial plan was to end my journey at the Timber Institute of Hong Province, so that changing course to come here was impulsive. I fear that you, Chen-xiansheng, hold too little regard for our Great Li Dynasty. I am even ashamed to admit that I hesitated to inform the Prefect of Yun Province, Pei Tong, and the Governor of Chu Province, Wu Yuan, who are, in effect, your neighbors, lest I complicate matters and invite your ridicule. Along the road here, I saw plum blossoms along a riverbank. I stopped, lost in thought. I feared that you would think, ‘Let the Emperor be displeased, what do I care?’ Yet, I also wondered, ‘If you were a plum blossom on an ancient bank, far away from the world, but awaiting the moon… that would be just as well. ‘Even if I receive a cold reception, I would at least find peace in this endeavor.”

Chen Ping’an, however, only seized upon the opportunity to tease, “Oh? And would you then find peace?”

Song He was momentarily silenced.

How was it that he, the Emperor, possessed less patience and nuance in his words than a drunken village tile-setter?

Chen Ping’an chuckled. “Every moment is worth an ounce of gold. Who understands these things? It would be a miracle if any scholar did.”

Song He felt, for a moment, as if he were a boy again, walking the streets of the capital with his mentor, the Imperial Tutor, discussing the lessons found in the day’s events.

Here, over a village supper, Chen Ping’an had heard these words.

“Life is meaningless.”

The old man, in uttering them, was neither drunk nor bitter. He merely spoke with a quiet, unwavering calm.

“I am easily swayed,” Song He admitted apologetically. “I pray you do not take offense.”

Song He still fretted that his wife’s actions, regarding the string of rhinocerous beads, had caused offense.

And furthermore, the decision to remain here was made by Empress Yu Mian. This he would never mention.

Chen Ping’an glanced at Song He, a sincere look.

Truth be told, all intelligence gathered at the Sword Trial Wall was personally managed by Senior Brother Cui Chan, never delegated to others.

If the Emperor knew even a fraction of what transpired there, he would not have spoken such words tonight.

Ha. In the days of the Sword Trial Wall, irrespective of the reputations of the Sheltered Pavilion’s Hidden Official or the Wine Merchant’s Deputy, he and Ning Yao were known, the former for caring for family, the latter for understanding. “Husbanc Wife?” Never!

He recalled once sharing hotpot with Senior Song, drowning his chili with wine, and he said with his face flush,

“For a man, having power, influence, and wealth, it’s unavoidable that women find him attractive and desirable. The true test is to remain strong and resist temptation.”

“In the end, you must teach them that you are a man they can never obtain, and that is what makes you a good man.”

“Back in my youth, my journey through the martial world was always surrounded by pretty women. But I had righteousness on my side.”

“Marry a Virtuous Woman.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Your Majesty is blessed.”

Had it not been for a detail that caught Chen Ping’an’s attention, he would have sent this Emperor, his generals and his officials packing.

He would never have invited Song He’s party to the meal.

And without Empress Yu Mian presenting the bracelet and suggesting that the Dowager try it out at the academy? See if Chen Ping’an would allow Xiao Mo to lift the martial arts restrictions?

Chen Ping’an, in the palace, had even left behind a pair of chopsticks, suggesting that the Dowager use one for a hairpin.

Chen Ping’an smiled gently. “A man with a family must never allow his wife to face hardship alone.”

“At the end of the day, all issues between mother-in-laws and daughters-in-laws are the fault of an unorganized and directionless man.”

Song He could only agree, even if there was a small twinge of guilt.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Is Vice Minister Zhao still in the village?”

Song He shook his head. “He has already left Yun province, in order to handle a urgent matter. He may need to bring half of the Di Zhi cultivators on separate ways, for a meeting in the new capital of Luo Jing.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, before asking. “What sort of matter requires a Vice Minister of Law to travel with Di Zhi cultivators?”

Song He had no intentions of lying, “An important figure in the construction of Great Li’s flying sword and mountain boats. He has been enjoying a rare break, taking with him some students to the south. There, they were involved in a dispute regarding the new vassal states.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Was he not in the right? Was there meddling involved?”

Song He nodded. “Otherwise, nobody would dare stir trouble with Great Li in Northern Baoping. Furthermore, the senior is very stubborn, and refused to let any word go to Capital or Luo Jing, instead choosing to drag the matter on.”

Chen Ping’an asked again, “Someone so important, surely the Ministry of Law issued a sign of peace?”

Song He explained, “Despite many offers, he only accepted the lowest ranking sign, fearing that others would be dragged into it. That was his intention for showing it, but that was not what happened.”

Chen Ping’an grinned. “Did the others become even more aggressive upon seeing the lowest ranking sign, hoping to use this opportunity to threaten us?”

Song He nodded. “Everything as you foretold.”

Chen Ping’an narrowed his eyes.

In the most crude of terms, Great Li, without Cui Chan’s scheming, was a ship without a captain.

This was a known fact up and down the mountains, and Great Li accepted this.

It all began when the south vassal states were restored and were seeking to remove all mountain steles.

It was testing Great Li’s resolve.

As long as Cui Chan was around, nothing would happen. Even Song He could say that nobody would stir shit north of Old Dragon City in Baoping Zhou.

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s silence, Song He chuckled. “Please do not worry, I trust Zhao Yao to settle everything.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Among those visiting my mountain, I have Jade Purity Swordsman Bai Deng, freshly come from a Dragon Palace ruin. He is considered half a citizen of Great Li. Then there is the ghost, Yin Lu, former Vice City Lord of Xiancang, he knows every trick in the book. We could partner them together, and have Yin Lu claim a familial connection with that senior. They can settle this matter with even Zhao Yao showing his face. Let Yin Lu make a ruckus, and let Gao Geng reveal himself as a guest elder of the senior’s family in Green Palace on the continent of Falling Flowers.”

One way of settling matters was the formal, with Zhao Yao.

Another way, was through unofficial means, with Yin Lu finding some family ties.

Song He stared in disbelief.

This works?

Chen Ping’an seemed disinterested, changing the topic as he pointed to a mountain. “Oddly enough, that place is called Send Off Mountain.”

Song He calmed himself, looking towards where Chen Ping’an pointed, laughing as he said, “Every time that I seek you for advice, I find myself in the dark at first. After your explanation, there is a light, but you always toss some other question that leaves me even more confused.”

Chen Ping’an joked, “You are comparing me to Senior Brother Cui, which is insulting to both of us.”

Song He said, as a test, “Are we settled, then?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “But I need to travel for a while, to many places. Some continents that I have never been to. After I return, I will visit the Great Li Capital. This trip may take up to five years, but no less than two.”

Song He was overjoyed, grabbing Chen Ping’an’s arm. “We are settled then.”

Chen Ping’an patted his arm. “Your Majesty should not be worried, there is no escape. My mountain will not run away.”

Song He looked back at the academy, but he hesitated to speak.

Chen Ping’an chuckled. “It takes ten years to grow a tree, and a hundred years to grow a person. Teaching must be long term. When I leave to travel, I will leave a talisman clone so that the academy will not be interrupted.”

Song He stopped, adjusting his clothes and bowing to Chen Ping’an in thanks.

Chen Ping’an had to bow in turn.

Another evening, the group ate and drank well, everyone returning to their own homes. Chen Lingjun walked with his brother Chen Zhuoliu, agreeing that they would meet again tomorrow.

The group that had been joining Chen Xian Jun could only say yes.

Chen Lingjun had not felt this happy in a long time.

It felt like a small mountain had been added to the mountain. Chen Lingjun was the host, responsible for entertaining his old friends and new ones.

Jing Hao, Swordsman Bai Deng, Ghost Yin Lu, and Jing Hao’s direct disciple, Jade Purity Gao Geng, were silent and reclusive people who were brought up the mountain.

Fortunately, there were many empty residences on Jise Peak, all thanks to Head Zhou and his wild spending. Adding on Cook’s flair for architecture, all the residences were unique and welcoming, and the guests would not feel disrespected staying there.

After drinking, Chen Lingjun and Chen Zhuoliu would often walk all the way to Jiling Peak, to the ancestral hall. If they were feeling up for it, they would drink on the way.

There was no debate about their camaraderie with their new friends, but Chen Lingjun and Chen Zhuoliu were bound by hardship.

Walking on the mountain road, Chen Lingjun wrung his hands in embarrassment.

Chen Zhuoliu sighed, “What’s the matter? Why can’t you say it?”

Chen Lingjun said, “The Lord Mountain Master mentioned something to me, that Mountain Sovereign Wei seemed to admire Senior Xin, hoping to get some calligraphy. Doubling the good fortune.”

Up until now, Xin’s identity was unknown to Lingjun.

“A hundred Jing Qings do not have the wit of a Chen Ping’an. What doubling the fortune? He wants two for himself and then give Wei Bog one.”

“Do not speak falsely. This idea for calligraphy was mine. The master just mentioned it.”

Chen Lingjun said, “If that is what happened, then so what? Do you want to help? Otherwise, forget about it.”

“I have been so useless on this mountain, and Wei Bog and the master are so close. If they want to connect, it is thanks to Yun Shan. I must be indebted.”

Chen Qingliu nodded, “It’s not much.”

Anyone else asking, and XIn Jian would not care. If Qingliu asked, there may even be a crate.

Chen Lingjun said, “Then it’s all on you. Don’t let me down, or I’ll start cursing.”

“Since you are asking, why not ask for more?”

Chen Lingjun looked up, “Really? Is it not too difficult?”

Chen Qingliu nodded.

Chen Lingjun rubbed his chin, shaking his head. “It’s enough, any more is too greedy. Cook is right, in asking for calligraphy, you should seek the few most refined.”

Chen Qingliu chuckled. “Zhu Lian is truly a rare person.”

Chen Lingjun chuckled. “The old cook is a scholar, but he has no wife.”

Chen Lingjun took two flasks of wine, and handed one to Chen Qingliu, unaware of the high praise that just he just heard.

Chen Qingliu took the flask, looked at the moonlight scenery, and said, “The moonlight here is so lovely, it truly ensnares the hearts of men.”

Chen Lingjun took a swig, “Sometimes you sound just like Jia, full of pleasantries. For example, inside and outside the flask is one world. And outside the table we cannot compete for first, so we must compete on the table?”

Chen Qingliu smiled, “I often hear you mention this Jia Shing, I should meet him someday.”

Chen Lingjun said, “That is not much. If we could drink with all the brothers, we could truly have some fun.”

“I’ll try to include JIA, Bai Mang, Zhuoliu, and yourself.”

Chen Qingliu said, “Recently, a friend of Xin Jian will be visiting Baoping, so they may visit the mountain.”

Chen Lingjun patted his chest. “Not much. Leave it to me.”

Chen Qingliu said, smiling, “He is important, and has a big temper. Be careful.”

Chen Lingjun laughed, “On my mountain, what people have I not seen? Nothing scares me.”

“Even Abbot Lu, I have met with him several times, and I have always stood strong and respectful! Lu is the disciple of the Founder, and that is not high enough?”

Chen Qingliu scoffed. This friend was the same level as Lu.

Bai Deng and Yin Lu have already grown close, both feeling that they only drink in preparation for drinking later.

Bai Deng had wanted to learn more about the culture of Baoping Zhou from Yin Lu, but it was futile.

The two were not exactly close, but on the mountain, they needed someone to talk to, lest they become suppressed.

Jing Hao and Gao Geng stayed in one residence. On this evening, they were sitting and Gao Geng spoke.

“Master, can we continue like this?”

“Drinking with Xian Jun is not a good thing.”

Green Palace was not some small sect, with plenty of matters awaiting it.

While his master could chat, Gao Geng needed to carefully consider his every action. He would not want to drink for a long time when returning home.

There were too many oddities here.

The gatekeeper enjoyed reading unseemly books. The man carrying wine to the residence was a pure martial artist. The patrolling water demon was a mountain god.

The young man would a smile could be a flying swordmaster.

And a swordswoman student could follow with dogs or monkeys.

Jing Hao sat on the bench that Zhu Lian made.

Hearing the nonsense, Jing Hao became enraged, shutting up Gao Geng.

Jing Hao also did not want to be here. He decided to stay far away.

After a long silence, Jing Hao said, “When that Chen leaves, you and I will say goodbye to Master Chen.”

Gao Geng nodded, feeling that Jing Qing was a great man.

The blue child had patted Xian Jun 30 times, and dared to flick Xian Jun on the head.

Jing Hao said with a complex look, “Everyone has their own fate.”

The blue child returned to Jise Peak, swinging his sleeves and drunkenly passing the courtyard. He saw that cook was sitting there and felt bad for him.

Chen Lingjun stumbled to Zhu Lian’s side, sitting down, shaking his shoulder and blowing wine in the cook’s face. “Cook, what is wrong with you? Why can’t you sleep? Are you thinking of a girl?”

Zhu Lian said, “You’re walking with Chen Zhuoliu again?”

Chen Lingjun said, “Cook, us men are getting old. DAF might still find a wife, since he only says he needs a woman. He has no requirements, he just has to be pleased.”

Zhu Lian swayed, “It is more demanding to have no demands. DAF is proud of his standards.”

Zhu Lian asked, “Have you been enjoying the wine lately?”

Chen Lingjun shook his head, “What is the meaning of enjoying? I drink and throw up, and then drink again. Happiness.”

His friend Zhuliu had been having it easy. He was just here for fun, but he had a lack of funds.

Chen Lingjun was relived to hear that, and wished his brother well. Like the old cook said, today is a good day.

And it was a shame, for him to be so great but so useless. If anything happened, he would help.

Nuan Shu had been great recently, offering tea, making snacks, and bringing fruit.

After a few rounds, she had become acquainted with his friends. Chen Zhuoliu had asked if she was having trouble forming her Golden Core.

Nuan Shu just smiled and shook her head.

After she left, Qingliu had asked if he was worried for her.

Chen Lingjun had laughed and said, “Hahahaha.”

Qingliu said that she had fire in her heart, so she may struggle.

Chen Lingjun thought it was strange that his lord would speak of that with his friend.

“Was he giving me face in front of my friend? They were scholars, so they had something in common.”

Was the lord looking to give him something?

Chen Zhuoliu had asked, “Would she need help when turning to a Dragon?”

His reasoning was simply that they were all Chen, and the last few days of food had not come cheap.

Chen Lingjun laughed, pointing and asking “You?”

Chen Lingjun kept offering wine to Jing, Bai, asking them why they feared him.

It was those whom he offered wine to that shook in terror, glancing at Xian Jun. What have I done?

“Jing bro, who do you fear? Do you need help?”

Jing offered a hand in the form of a knife.

Chen was always like that, drinking until he did not know what he was doing.

If one truly measured it, why should anyone fear?

Now, every meal was a moment to be appreciated.

Chen Qingliu smiled playfully, “Then say a name.”

Chen Lingjun turned to look at Jing Hao, but was frightened of those old gods.

Chen Lingjun started to shiver and drink more.

What he was afraid of had already arrived.

After turning into a Flood Dragon, and hearing about the literary meeting, he feared something would happen.

What if he turned into a real dragon? He feared the Dragon Slayer would come after him.

He couldn’t speak it out loud, it was too shameful.

Chen Lingjun had written in his Roadside Travel Guide that the first page was empty.

He had left it blank, unable to even write the man’s name.

He had glued the page together, so he would never have to see that Dragon Slayer.

The Blue Child, the teacher, had lectured Chen Zhuoliu to be peaceful and not to be so violent, because people had to leave room for others.

Chen Lingjun said with pride, “Cook, I have asked my friend to get some calligraphy from Xin to leave for you, so that you can give it to Wei Bog. I will tell the Lord to act like it was his doing, so it doesn’t look like I did it.”

Zhu Lian said, “So, you help without the name.”

Chen Lingjun said, “That is what the lord taught.”

Zhu Lian said, “Wei Bog will still be overjoyed, even knowing that you were the one who helped.”

Chen Lingjun was so happy, that he could not understand Zhu Lian’s meaning.

Zhu Lian knew the few people that Wei Bog admired. Besides A Liang, there was Xin Senior, and one that Confucius thought was brave.

Chen Lingjun lowered his voice. “Cook, you have no skills, but you know how to speak. Why doesn’t the lady of the lake move away? Does she want the master? I won’t stand for it.”

Zhu Lian said, “Don’t think too much. It has nothing to do with love. She just wants to make money.”

Chen Lingjun asked in confusion.

Zhu Lian explained, “Gao Jun is the best in the world. As she grows more powerful, she will see all that is new. So she wants to learn the rules. That is why she came to the mountain, trying to earn the freedom that she needs. Her heart is good.”

The lord would be joining her on a mountain meeting.

“I understand. She is doing well.”

Chen Lingjun nodded, “What about Zhong Qian, the first body cultivator? Why isn’t he with you to teach?”

Zhu Lian shook his head, “He does not dare to come.”

They were the best of their era and they all have their own opinions, but they don’t despise others.

“Chen Lingjun does not get along with him.”

Zhu Lian thought Chen should be harder on himself and strive for more.

Chen Lingjun said, “Cook, you are being mean.”

Zhu Lian asked, “DAF said it, don’t blame me.”

Chen Lingjun said, “How am I supposed to know if you’re framing DAF?”

Zhu Lian looked out.

Chen Ping’an waved his hand and said that the old cook did not need to get up.

Chen Lingjun quickly went to claim the credit.

Zhu Lian smiled and reminded him, “Don’t just go around patting shoulders.”

Chen Lingjun asked, “What do you mean?”

Zhu Lian sighed, “Forget it.”

Chen Lingjun could have all the advice given to him and it would be wasted, but it was hard to teach to be friendly.

Outside, the Daoist Xian Wei was woken up by Zheng Dafeng’s snoring. He decided to take a chair out and read by the moonlight.

Mi Li woke up late, and decided to take a walk, hoping to see Pei Qian.

She made it near the gate and started practicing martial arts with a laugh, shouting to the Daoist.

Xian Wei answered, quickly changing his books.

Mi Li squatted down and said that she did not want to interrupt his reading.

Xian Wei said that it was no problem.

Zhu Lian and Master Mi, especially the Cook, did not know that the things that they had said had reached Chen Ping’an.

That was why he asked for the visit, to see how those two martial artists were doing.

Mi Li asked, “Daoist, are you thinking of home?”

仙尉 said, “”The books say, not forgetting home is benevolence. Not being attached to earth is achievement. So, yearning is normal, and freedom is good.”

Mi Li nodded, clapping softly, “You are right!”

Xian Wei said, “That is better, I have learned.”

Mi Li asked, “Daoist, can you play the two stringed fiddle? Please?”

仙尉 said, “As you wish.”

Who would not like Mi Li?

Xian Wei went to take the fiddle.

He once had to play it to earn money, and he had to fake his identity.

Since coming here, he had not had the opportunity to play.

Xian Wei found it wonderful and asked to be taught. Zhu had given him the fiddle. In fact, Zhu had many talents and was skilled at the instrument.

They said that had Chu been handsome, his admirers would have stretched far and wide.

Chen Lingjun had asked Zhu what he could not do.

Zhu cursed and said, “Bullshit!”

Chen Lingjun did not believe him.

“For example, having a baby.”

In the moonlight, 道士仙尉 returned and tuned the strings.

When he had his eyes closed, and sang, ” I was willing to point my heart to the moon, but the moon only looks upon the ditch.”

Mi Li felt that it was wonderful.

Pei Qian had laughed at this, but the Master had said that this was well-said.

Back on the mountain road, Chen Lingjun was shouting, and Chen knocked on his head.

Xian Wei quickly stopped. Mi Li gestured for them to be quiet.

Chen just chatted with Wei and left.

Xiao Mo had gone with 谢狗 to see Guo Meng.

Xiao Mo had said she did not want to hide, even though 谢狗 was against it, so she went.

She lamented about the small-minded master and stated that the two were old friends.

Xiao Mo laughed. “You two killed each other. So why do you say that?”

“As long as you are here, I don’t care.”

She felt wronged that she could not reclaim that debt.

Xiao Mo laughed and said that she would take her to see the Lotus Blossom Land, after asking the Master.

谢狗 was happy and jumped up and down.

It was a very odd moment, but Xiao just looked on.

On the border of Yan Zhou, Yuan Tianfeng walked with Liu Xiang, a mountain senior.

The latter was young, with a scholar’s aura, a lot that could not be hidden.

Yuan Tianfeng used local feng shui to build a pavilion, and said that talent would come.

Liu did not say anything from beginning to end.

Yuan asked, “Did I do wrong in borrowing purple luck?”

Liu laughed, “It was great, you are an expert.”

Yuan said, “You’re mocking me.”

Liu said, “That is too much thinking.”

Yuan changed the topic. “Why call yourself an unofficial historian?”

Liu said, “The knowledge is being tossed aside, which is sad.”

Yuan said, “The scholars did not need to be so extreme.”

Liu said, “I had no right to the praise. Nor am I the monster of today.”

Yuan sighed, wanting to know something.

Liu said, “Me being that person doesn’t change our meeting.”

Yuan asked, “Did Senior live in the Great Litchi Paradise?”

Liu nodded. “I was invited by the green child to observe. It wasn’t that long before I left.”

Yuan sighed.

“It is not much. Over the years, I have gone to many places. The Great Litchi was just a blink of an eye.”

Liu said, “The abbot has made the insects stir and I woke them with lightning. People like us drink it. Let’s go, let’s get a snack.”

They quietly arrived at the city of Green.

They were divided. Xin took his friend to see the well.

Xin called a man “Zheng”. The man was meant to take part in the coronation.

The others were gathered at the pavilion.

One came from the sky. He was an official and had met the final hidden official.

He was skilled at earning money.

He side one that sighed, and one that remained silent.

The sighing one said, “I wasn’t able to help Qi Jingchun.”

The other one said, “How could someone be so humble?”

“There is a god 3 feet above one’s head.”

Unless something happened, something did.

They had already walked through some areas.

Unlike his friends, what he saw was with regards to Filial Piety.

He turned to look and asked, “You’re a little different. How was your trip in 青冥?”

The bookkeeper laughed and said, “There were restrictions.”

Besides accounting, this man was a skilled diplomat.

“When do we go to Fallen Mountain?”

“Let’s wait for the man to move. There are two old friends for us to make peace with.”

On this day, DAF went to the town, to the pharmacy.

DAF walked into the shop. “Where is Rouge?”