The sun’s fiery embrace painted the mortal realm in hues of dawn and dusk. Golden light, boundless and bright, cascaded upon the land, draping it in a garment of spun gold.

Ning Yao, ever vigilant, bade Xiao Mo and Xie Gou remain, their watchful eyes fixed upon the Grand Li capital. For the peace of the day could only be confirmed with the coming of deep night.

Returning to Fallen Mountain, Ning Yao first visited the Sword Worship Terrace. From Lu Zhi, she heard tales of Sun Chunwang’s dedication. Ning Yao spoke little, but sat for a while in the humble hut. To the future chosen disciple, she offered words of caution: temper ambition with patience, and hone the sword with diligence. Sun Chunwang, already a creature of few words, became even more subdued in Ning Yao’s presence.

Lu Zhi, perhaps mellowed by the sacrifice of her natal sword, seemed less austere than before, a hint of warmth softening her demeanor. She accompanied Ning Yao into Sun Chunwang’s dwelling. As she sat upon the bamboo mat of the bed, a gossamer mosquito net hanging above, she noticed the young girl’s fondness for porcelain. The room held several exquisite celadon pieces, such as a plum-green narcissus basin upon a table. Beside it lay a stack of books, from whose pages peeked the corners of leaves and petals, pressed as wayward bookmarks. Upon the books rested a powder-blue bamboo flute, its glaze cracked like ice, a sight that amused Lu Zhi.

Ning Yao declared that with such innate talent, one must strive for primacy among peers, whether the goal be attained or not. Destiny and fortune play their hand, but one must never be afraid to dream.

Sun Chunwang sat upright upon a small bamboo stool, hands clasped tightly upon her knees, nodding with fierce determination.

Lu Zhi stifled a smile. Truly, to be Ning Yao’s first disciple was no easy burden.

Perhaps fearing that Sun Chunwang would take her words too much to heart, focusing solely on the pursuit of “first,” Ning Yao cautioned her against rushing progress. “Each realm,” she said, “must be a step, firm and steady.” With that, Ning Yao fell silent, feeling inadequate to impart the deeper truths of cultivation, as if she’d spoken mere platitudes. “He” would have known what to say.

Sun Chunwang responded, “I understand. It’s like Master Cao’s boxing, each step must be true, each realm a new world.”

Ning Yao chuckled. “Not ‘understand,’ but ‘understand-ed.'”

Sun Chunwang pursed her lips, her small face like a spring blossom, turned towards the world.

“Strive to become a Sect Leader at the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect,” Ning Yao declared.

Perhaps all the former lectures were in “his” voice. This, now, was truly Ning Yao.

Sun Chunwang’s eyes lit up.

Lu Zhi, still First Seat of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, rubbed her temples. “You two truly make yourselves at home.”

Zhu Su had requested leave to build a hermitage by the Great Lake. When choosing a place of cultivation, be it a grand fortress or a simple retreat, finding a spot with a feeling of connection is paramount. Mi Yu explained that the lake, known as Returning Sword Lake, was unclaimed land. Building a small hermitage there should present no issue, but it was wise to inform Old Cook. Zhu Su would have to wait a while before she could go to place her hermitage on that land as Mi Yu went to Jiling peak to gain permission. Mi Yu soon returned to the Sword Worship Terrace, declaring the matter settled. Zhu Su was free to build her hermitage and set her protective wards. A boundary of land and water would be marked, forbidding entry to wandering cultivators and local spirits. Zhu Lian would inform both North Peak’s Cloudy Mountain and the local authorities, as a formality. Mi Yu finished with a smile, delivering Old Cook’s wish for a peaceful seclusion.

Mei Kan volunteered to join her in this retreat, and Mei Dantang, out of filial duty, followed. Zhu Su raised no objection. She sought the title of sword immortal, while Mei Dantang had been an immortal for years. But due to sparring with Xiao Mo, failing at one sword art he believed that maybe his immortal realm was weak. Qi Tingji agreed that this arrangement was a good one, that the three could keep each other safe.

Shao Yunyan, Vice Sect Leader of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, made a solitary journey to Jiling Peak, seeking an audience with his high-ranking disciple, the esteemed treasurer of Fallen Mountain, Wei Wenlong.

In the days of Upside Down Mountain’s Spring Banner Hall, Wei Wenlong had shown little interest in the pursuit of cultivation. He remained a Golden Core cultivator. Overjoyed to see his master, Wei Wenlong nonetheless appeared nervous. Every word from Shao Yunyan required deep calculations by the Fallen Mountain treasurer, before an answer was deemed satisfactory. Shao Yunyan outwardly urged his disciple to relax, but inwardly, he was flattered.

His direct disciple, only at the Golden Core level, was the treasurer of Fallen Mountain and seated among the highest ranks in the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall. Could Shao Yunyan not take pride in this?

Qi Tingji and Jin Zuo, along with other private sword cultivators, strolled along the mountain paths beside the murmuring streams. Qi Tingji had invited Xing Yun and Liu Shui of the Green Reed Sword Sect, and together they reminisced about their homelands. Their laughter echoed through the valleys, a natural harmony with the song of the stream.

Within the Flower God Temple of the capital, after the departure of National Preceptor Chen Ping’an from the elegant private residence, Qi Fang and Luo Fumei continued their tea. In truth, it was a gathering of more and more Flower Gods, a shift of the Ancestral Hall’s chambers.

The Flower Gods unanimously supported the plan to create a Hundred Flower Canal in Tongye Continent.

They praised the new Grand Li National Preceptor effusively. Qi Fang, of course, subtly touched on Chen Ping’an’s “cold water” warning, but dared not omit it entirely. She glossed over the matter of “year’s end,” but added her own embellishments, even more stern than Chen Ping’an. Fortunately, these high-ranking Flower Gods were well-versed in dealing with the outside world. They understood the necessity of fully grasping that, working with Grand Li, whether within the nation or along the canal in Tongye Continent, would be vastly different from dealing with the dynasties and powerful kingdoms of the Central Earth Continent.

One of the higher Flower God spirits patted a Balsam Flower God on the head, saying, “You truly are a lucky general.”

Wu Cai raised his thumb, paused, and when no one objected, laughed and exclaimed, “The very best!”

Nian Xin traveled to the Fire God Temple and returned to the Flower God Temple with good news from Feng Yi. Feng Yi, hearing of Chen Preceptor’s approval, offered her blessings for the Hundred Flower Sanctuary’s success in both continents. Nian Xin never mentioned the colorful knot, nor when or where it would be returned. Qi Fang, the Flower Lord, did not inquire, and the rest of the higher Flower God spirits and the twelve Flower Gods dared not ask.

After Nian Xin left the temple, Qi Fang paused, then smiled. “Do our best and leave the rest to fate. Whether we return it after completing the first promise or after truly creating the Hundred Flower Canal, we can wait. We have waited so long. Sisters, I implore you to be patient and trust Chen Preceptor…”

At that moment, heaven and earth seemed to burst into a new spring, a riot of colors illuminated the mortal realm, and flowers manifested across mountains and rivers, as if the Great Dao itself was blooming.

Each spirit became a path of flowers, journeying to the Flower God Temple in the Grand Li capital, and to the Hundred Flower Sanctuary of the Central Earth Continent, each seeking their masters.

Inside the Flower God Temple, Qi Fang led the teary-eyed, high-ranking spirits out of the chamber and into the courtyard. Dispelling the concealment, they offered blessings and performed a secret art passed down within the Flower Sanctuary, lighting incense, and expressing their heartfelt gratitude to that man.

Ye Man, the temple caretaker, who had been waiting in the side chamber, now understood who they were.

She adjusted her brocade collar, and guessed as to the identity of the visitor who claimed to be named Chen.

—

The Thousand Step Corridor, flanked by South Perfume Lane and Examination Success Lane, was not forbidden ground, but the capital’s citizens avoided it. Three Daoists walking there today drew attention.

One, an old Daoist, stopped a young official, asking directions to the National Preceptor’s Residence. The official, who had been walking briskly, paused and smiled, offering clear instructions.

The old Daoist thanked him, adding that his face foretold future prosperity. The young man, though skeptical, smiled nonetheless, taking it as good luck.

The young man hurried on, heading to the Ministry of Revenue to plead poverty. The last tactic had failed, so he devised a new scheme.

The three Daoists on their way to visit the National Preceptor were none other than Liang Shuang, the outsider Heavenly Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Yue Guofu, styled Stink Tree Daoist, and the young acolyte Huang Chang.

The Stink Tree Daoist was versed in basic rites, and his sect held a few disciples proficient in fortune-telling.

Upon entering the National Preceptor’s Residence, Liang Shuang saw Chen Ping’an waiting at the foot of the steps. Their relationship being familiar, he offered a simple greeting, stroking his beard and smiling, “A leaf falls into the great sea, where do we not meet? Fellow Daoist Chen, we meet again.”

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands and smiled, “After many mountains, a bright village appears! Reverend, congratulations!”

Liang Shuang sighed, filled with emotion. “Were it not for your aid, this poor Daoist would never have succeeded.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Heaven helps those who help themselves.”

Liang Shuang looked up at the sky and nodded. “Heaven’s might is vast, answering the good hearts of mortals.”

The Stink Tree Daoist was still formulating his words. Liang Shuang laughed. “I won’t delay your important matters. We mainly came to deliver a gift for fellow Daoist Chen. You two can chat, while I wander about the second courtyard. By the way, are there many rules or taboos here?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “For the Reverend, the ground holds no restrictions.”

Liang Shuang laughed, pointing at the young National Preceptor. “It’s a pity you didn’t join the Ministry of Culture, Chen Daoist.”

Liang Shuang headed to the second courtyard, recognizing the matter as the young Hidden Officer’s “family business” with an old sword cultivator.

Chen Ping’an, hearing of the “gift,” was not surprised. The Stink Tree Daoist from Sword Qi Great Wall couldn’t have come to the National Preceptor’s Residence to make trouble. And he knew that the Stink Tree Daoist wasn’t really the type to casually socialize. That could only mean there was a deal to be struck.

On a northern coastal island of Gold Armor Continent stood Oblique Seal Palace. It was an immortal’s palace but it was merely a middle of the road influence, not a top notch sect, it’s heritage was weak, with no outstanding upper five-realm cultivators. From its founding to the present, it had produced only two Jade Purity cultivators. Most talked-about was its history of misjudgments, having missed several who later proved to be talented and fortunate “sword immortals.” These gifted cultivators had originally been drawn to the reputation of Oblique Seal Palace. Two were middle five-realm cultivators. One of them even brought his own disciples. There was also a gifted young sword cultivator who went out to the seas to seek out an Immortal Master but they were all turned away.

Rumor held that the now-famous “Sword Immortal Xu Jun” was the young man who had once been spurned by Oblique Seal Palace and lost all desire to become an immortal cultivator.

That was because the founding master had established an iron rule: never accept sword cultivators.

The Stink Tree Daoist did not use a voice transmission, but spoke directly. “Hidden Officer, I want Oblique Seal Palace to be annexed to Fallen Mountain, with all cultivators changing their records.”

After a moment of hesitation, the Stink Tree Daoist awkwardly explained, “This isn’t just following the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect’s lead. I intended this all along. The reason I didn’t mention it at Village Makeup was that I didn’t know how to broach the subject.”

The old man had been confident, for Oblique Seal Palace was still a sect after all. But witnessing the grand ceremony, hearing that Qi Tingji had offered Chen Ping’an the entire Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, nearly shattered the Stink Tree Daoist’s Daoist heart.

Chen Ping’an could infer the lineage that the Stink Tree Daoist had founded, but was still taken aback by the offer to surrender the entire sect and become affiliated with Fallen Mountain. After a moment’s thought, he declined. “I am grateful for your kindness, but I cannot accept. I have too many matters at hand, and cannot manage it all.”

The Stink Tree Daoist said, “I understand. With a new identity and fresh ascension, one has no time for anything else. But Oblique Seal Palace is not complicated. I have always had the final say there. You don’t even need to visit. Just send a Jade Purity cultivator to be the new Sect Leader, and that would be enough.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and smiled. “Still no.”

The Stink Tree Daoist hesitated, but ultimately said nothing. He pulled two talisman from his sleeve, handing them to Chen Ping’an. “I thought if Oblique Seal Palace became a subordinate sect, I could save these two talisman. The talisman came from the old Heavenly Master Liang and can supposedly help one travel to an ancient shattered cave heaven, and moreover, these cave heavens can be connected together. One is mine, the other is Gao Mian’s. Neither have anything to do with the sect.”

The old man stroked the head of the young acolyte beside him, a mix of reluctance and guilt in his eyes. “Money earned from selling my disciple is better spent on gifts.”

The young acolyte frowned. So his master was aware that he was selling his disciple.

Chen Ping’an accepted the talisman, saying, “Perhaps you and Old Chief Gao could visit the Sword Worship Terrace of Fallen Mountain.”

The Stink Tree Daoist shook his head. “No, the Hidden Officer says nothing, only making us think too much, which makes us uncomfortable. If we meet them, not only our ears will suffer, we will likely be beaten.”

The Stink Tree Daoist said via voice transmission, “I also know a friend. She is different from us. Her real name is Zhou Song, and she is now in Gold Armor Continent, a mountain-dwelling ghost immortal. Her Daoist title is Clear Temple, and her Daoist practice is an ancient ruin called Mangshan. Almost no one in Gold Armor Continent knows of her. She predicted Wan Yanlao Jing’s betrayal long ago. She was also the one who prompted Xu Xie to seek me out at Oblique Seal Palace. Xu Xie appeared on the Gold Armor Continent battlefield solely to kill Wan Yanlao Jing, all of which Zhou Song arranged.”

Chen Ping’an took it to heart and nodded. “When I travel to Gold Armor Continent, I will trouble you to guide me.”

The Stink Tree Daoist clasped his hands and said, “If you ever change your mind, send a flying sword message to the Oblique Seal Palace Ancestral Hall.”

Chen Ping’an said nothing.

The Stink Tree Daoist did not feel rejected, but rather a sense of melancholy. Back in his hometown, most sword cultivators were like that.

The young acolyte Huang Chang stood by the Stink Tree Daoist and asked, “Mountain Master Chen, is Gan Xing here?”

The child had met Gan Xing at the old Mountain God Temple and become friends. When they left the mountain, his master told him that the two people who came later, the man was a mountain master and the woman was a sword immortal from the story books. The master was saying that they were both responsible people and perfect for each other. The child did not understand much, but the mountain master was probably a mountain god. The little Daoist knew mountains. The master was old and skinny, just bones and skin. He had also said that some mountains were dead, while others were alive. But the living mountains might one day die, and the dead mountains might one day come back to life.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Gan Xing and his master have gone to my Fallen Mountain. You can go there with your two masters to find your friend. They might agree.”

Huang Chang was tempted, but decided against it. He did not want to lose his old master or annoy the new ones.

Chen Ping’an saw the Stink Tree Daoist to the second courtyard, where the latter smiled and said, “No need to see me off, National Preceptor.”

The old Daoist stood beneath the shade of the pine trees, watching two young officials playing chess. Hearing the skinny Daoist’s words, they immediately stopped, not daring to get up and return to their offices, but unable to continue their game. After the esteemed guest departed and the National Preceptor walked back to the third courtyard, they exchanged glances and decided to finish their chess game.

Leaving the National Preceptor’s Residence and walking far away, Huang Chang looked back at the majestic building and asked, “Master, what is a National Preceptor?”

The Stink Tree Daoist regained his composure and explained, “If the ruler is mediocre, he is a teacher to the emperor. If the ruler is wise, he is a friend to the emperor.”

Huang Chang was envious and praised, “A great official! How awesome!”

The skinny Daoist smiled. The first person who put forward this point of view was a friend’s father.

This friend was named Meng Liang, styled Bu Guang. He liked to call himself Liang, Liang of kindness, and he was a sword cultivator.

He still remembered when they first met, they were traveling together and had become very good friends. The old Daoist had said that he had no master and no support in Gold Armor Continent. He was a reckless and sloppy man who always drank the most expensive wine. He was also a drunkard who’s face would turn red when he had too much to drink. After his debts were settled, he would instantly become energetic again.

He once spoke about his family background, saying that his father was a Confucian scholar who spent his life reading, teaching, and writing books, and that he was just a scholar.

He sighed, saying that he could not teach or write, but he was still a serious scholar, and he did not lie. “In my life, I am generous and have no complaints.”

After leaving the restaurant, he complained about the food being too salty or too bland, and that the wine was watered down. He felt robbed.

He then recited lines from some obscure books.

The world is big and small, it is only people’s fate. The world is narrow and wide, it is all in the wine cup.

As they grew closer, the old Daoist accompanied him to Floating Clouds Continent, and now thinking back, he still regretted it.

The last time they drank together, snow was falling outside the wine shop. The man seemed to be drunk, saying that he was going on a long journey. The shop owner was a charming woman, and the man shouted, “Day and month will come, learn from the light. Life is not easy, respect and cherish it.” The shop owner was impressed and asked the man if he had a title.

The man was embarrassed, saying that he was a wandering sword cultivator.

It was cold outside. The three cups warmed their hearts. When they left the shop, the snow had not stopped. As they parted, they saw plum blossoms.

He said that he was going to a distant place to find someone whose name contained the word “Xi”, to see how high his knowledge was, to see how he studied.

He would also check if there were any beautiful, gentle, virtuous, and unmarried women in his family.

The old Daoist joked that if there were such good women, they would already be married.

Liang adjusted his hat, wiped his mouth, and smiled, his eyes shining.

He bade his friend farewell and walked alone in the snow. The snow crunched under his feet, and he raised his fist in farewell.

The Stink Tree Daoist was saddened.

But the next day, the old Daoist happened to pass by a nearby street and heard a familiar voice. He went to the wine shop and found the man with one foot on a bench, drinking and singing with the shop owner.

The past was like turning through an old book.

Walking on the Thousand Step Corridor, the Stink Tree Daoist was puzzled.

Wasn’t there a saying in his hometown?

What was near and what was far?

After meeting the young Hidden Officer, it did not seem like it.

—

In the National Preceptor’s Residence, the girl in the sable hat stood with her hands on her hips, looking up at the tall Song Yunjian and the even taller peach tree.

Xiao Mo sat on the steps, holding his cane across his knees.

Chen Ping’an was talking to Cao Qinglang about the “family secrets”, not involving the teachings of saints, but tips on how to deal with scholars. For example, if you were going to visit a scholar, you should read their books the night before so you can have something to talk about the next day.

Chen Ping’an put down a booklet, a collection of poems about “snow” compiled by Lin Shouyi, with some annotations. “Not as good as Old Cook’s.”

Lin Shouyi smiled. “How so?”

Chen Ping’an stood up and asked, “Let’s go find a stall and eat wontons, together?”

The always gentle Lin Shouyi said, “I don’t sit at the same table with trash.”

Leaving the room, he walked slowly along the corridors, where the young officials were busy with their duties.

Chen Ping’an did not like snow very much. When he was with Pei Qian, he had passed by the capital of the Daquan Dynasty and saw a mirage of a beautiful city. Chen Ping’an had not gone to visit the city, even though there were only a few steps between the mountain and the city. Chen Ping’an had always been afraid of snow, even after practicing boxing and swordplay.

A country fears drought, and a poor man fears snow.

At a roadside breakfast stall, a man sat down, ordered a bowl of wontons and a dried plum cake, and began to eat slowly.

The stall owner did not know that this unassuming guest was a wealthy man.

Dong Shuijing looked up, surprised. It was an unexpected guest. Dong Shuijing put down his chopsticks and smiled. “What brings you here?”

The visitor was Chen Ping’an, who had disguised himself. He took a pair of chopsticks from the bamboo holder and ordered a bowl of celery wontons.

Dong Shuijing said, “Congratulations.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and smiled. “So formal. You came to the National Preceptor’s Residence, but didn’t even enter. What, do you think that I will change after becoming an official?”

Master Xu, who led him down the path of debt collectors, once said that money and power could be good if they were pure, but if they were combined, they would become something terrible.

Dong Shuijing said, “I don’t need the power of the National Preceptor for my business anymore.”

Chen Ping’an did not mind and said, “That’s true, but it’s not good to become estranged just to avoid suspicion.”

Dong Shuijing said, “I will just be careful in the Grand Li capital, but I will be the same everywhere else. I don’t want to drift apart.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “The reason that I am asking all these questions is to make sure we are still friends. Who is Dong Bicheng’s imaginary enemy, Fan Xian or Liu the Wealth God?”

Chen Ping’an rarely admired his peers in earning money, but Dong Shuijing was one of them.

Earning money requires both a sense of smell and intuition. Every industry needs the blessing of the gods.

Dong Shuijing had obviously thought this over and said, “I don’t want to be like Mr. Fan, a founder of a sect, nor do I want to be like Liu the Wealth God, who wants to build a family. I just want to earn money. I like the process of earning money, and I will always think about when the account book will only have enough money for a few bowls of wontons, taking from the world and giving back to the world.”

Chen Ping’an chewed on the cake and said, “That sounds awful. Who would believe that?”

Dong Shuijing smiled. “I have never said these things to anyone before. Others may not believe it, but you will.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Do you still read?”

Dong Shuijing nodded. “Of course. But mostly just other books, not involving the classics.”

Chen Ping’an advised, “For others, it’s up to them what they read. It should be based on interest. You are different. You should read more books, wealth should be paired with virtue, or at least with power. I never understood why every time I asked Mr. for his opinion on scholarship, he would always say good, or very good, or excellent, after listening to me patiently.”

Dong Shuijing’s eyes were strange.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “That’s what I thought too. So later, on the city wall, I asked Left Senior Brother during sword practice, and I learned the reason. He thought it was good to learn something from reading, whether it was a question, a thought, or an opinion. He was not just fooling me because I was his disciple. He had seen and experienced more than me, and his heart was not only broadened by reading, but also forced open by the things of the world.”

Dong Shuijing was silent.

Chen Ping’an took a wonton and chewed it slowly, saying, “In scholarship, you must be painstaking and endure loneliness, but also be fierce, like meeting an enemy in a narrow alley. You must draw your sword and see blood before you stop.”

“I saw some reading notes written by Cui Senior Brother in a travelogue in the National Preceptor’s Residence.”

“Scholarship must be fierce, and reading must be decisive. Good books, general books, kill them all. Kill the sages, heroes, villains, and traitors in the books.”

A man who had never studied at the school was talking to a man who had always planned to earn a lot of money, and they were eating wontons at a roadside stall and talking about scholarship.

Dong Shuijing looked at the man across the table and asked, “Do you have your own insights?”

Chen Ping’an raised his hand to call the owner, handed him the empty bowl, and ordered another bowl of wontons, smiling, “Yes, how could I not? I came up with a stupid method. I had accumulated millions of excerpts in the Heart Lake Bookstore, but they are all gone. It doesn’t matter, I’ll start over. The point is to win by quantity first, and then seek refinement, slowly. The Confucian classics, the Daoist scriptures, I have studied the catalogues, versions, and documents. My approach is naturally more about research, less about invention, more about copying, less about summarizing. To describe a large temple, there is a saying that you can run a horse around the mountain gate. I was shocked when I first saw this saying. Later, I saw the Buddhist story of the Dragon Palace’s collection of books, which was even more incredible. So my approach to reading is simple, ‘read all the books.’ This is the benefit of cultivation.”

Dong Shuijing nodded. “I have heard old people say that how much money we earn in this life is what we accumulated in the previous life, and the good and bad fortune in the next life depends on the merits and demerits of this life.”

After leaving his hometown, Dong Shuijing had also heard similar sayings, that the wisdom of this life is the “family fortune” that we have accumulated over generations.

Dong Shuijing thought for a moment and said, “Sometimes, I still regret not continuing to study, wondering if it would have been better to go to the Cliff Academy with you.”

That year, he and Jia Chun and Jia Du gave up the journey to school, and took a different path from Li Baoping and Lin Shouyi.

He could not imagine that Li Huai, who used to fall asleep while reciting books and be active after class, had become a respectable scholar.

Dong Shuijing laughed at himself. “To be honest, I never thought I could become a wealthy man. Everyone has their own destiny. We are all lucky.”

Chen Ping’an was silent for a long time and smiled. “It doesn’t matter, knowledge is in books, but also outside of books.”

Dong Shuijing was stunned.

Chen Ping’an said, “Actually, it was what Mr. Qi said. I am just repeating it.”

Dong Shuijing smiled. “Like him.”

Just as it was difficult for Dong Shuijing and the others to call him Little Master Uncle.

And it seemed difficult for Chen Ping’an to call him Senior Brother Qi.

In the distance, next to a rouge and powder stall, Gu Can asked, “Why don’t you go join them?”

Liu Xianyang smiled. “Although they are good friends from the same hometown, we are not on the same path.”

One was too good at earning money, always feeling that he would not have enough to eat tomorrow, and the other was too good at spending money, always believing that he would not go hungry tomorrow.

Although Liu Xianyang was older than Dong Shuijing, they had studied together at Mr. Qi’s school and could be considered classmates.

Gu Can said, “In short, you think you are not as good at earning money as he is, and you are too embarrassed to get close to Dong Bicheng.”

Liu Xianyang nodded. “Dong Shuijing’s ability to earn money is the same as my talent in sword practice. There is no explanation.”

Our hometown is really a breeding ground for talent.

Gu Can said, “You are always smiling on the surface, but you are more competitive than anyone else. You are not stingy, and you are willing to teach Chen Ping’an everything. But when he becomes stronger than you, you are afraid of losing, so you don’t even touch this knowledge.”

Liu Xianyang nodded. “I have this bad habit. I humbly accept it, but I will never change it.”

Gu Can said, “Then why are you still practicing the sword?”

Liu Xianyang had to resort to his trump card. “Don’t force me to let Chen Ping’an scold you.”

Gu Can curled his lips.

The stall owner was a handsome young woman, who said to the tall man, “Sir, if you are not buying anything, please move, you are blocking my business.”

Liu Xianyang had to move, and Gu Can followed. The woman smiled and said, “Young man, I wasn’t talking to you.”

Dong Bicheng, who admitted that he could see through the word “fame” but not the word “money”, was walking on a road full of wealth.

He heard a voice in his heart, “Dong Shuijing, earn more money, and when the colorful world opens again, let’s open a shop together. I will still be the assistant manager.”

Dong Shuijing stopped and turned around, smiling, “Okay!”

Chen Ping’an walked towards Liu Xianyang and Gu Can, and they strolled aimlessly together.

At a street corner, a cold-looking young woman walked out and met them.

After many years, they met Wang Zhu again. Liu Xianyang smiled and said, “Miss Zhigui, long time no see. I have missed you.”

Wang Zhu reached out her hand. “I heard you are getting married. Give me the invitation.”

Liu Xianyang laughed. “You don’t need an invitation, and you don’t need to give me money. If my partner and I pass by the East Sea Water Mansion in the future, just give us enough respect.”

Wang Zhu smiled. “You like face, as always.”

Gu Can said, “People from the same hometown meet each other, with tears in their eyes. Besides, you have been matched together before, so even if you are not destined to be together, you should hug each other and cry.”

Wang Zhu smiled. “The ground in Mud Bottle Lane was clean because of a certain snot-nosed kid who couldn’t change his bad habits.”

Gu Can pretended to understand and said, “We agreed that the dog poop in Mud Bottle Lane would be mine, and the chicken poop would be yours. I don’t know who likes to take advantage of others, wanting to eat more.”

Wang Zhu thought for a moment and smiled. “I remember one summer, for more than ten days, someone was lying on the field, trying to catch an eel, didn’t have any luck. Was that fun?”

Gu Can said, “That eel that kept sticking its head out, I named it Song Jixin, it’s a thief.”

Liu Xianyang coughed, and Wang Zhu glared at Gu Can.

Chen Ping’an did not say a word.

This kind of exchange was too common, and it was far from a quarrel.

Liu Xianyang raised his arm and waved, exclaiming, “What a day, I keep meeting important people. Song Benchai, over here!”

When the prince Song Mu walked closer, Gu Can twitched his mouth and said, “You look like a human, pretending to be incognito, experiencing the hardships of the people? Do you know how much a meat bun costs?”

Song Jixin glanced at Gu Can and smiled. “I checked the almanac before I left. Today is not a good day to hit my son.”

Gu Can asked, “When will you die so I can inherit the family business?”

Liu Xianyang laughed.

Song Jixin reminded, “Liu, you are the only one who is not from Mud Bottle Lane.”

Liu Xianyang said, “When are you and Miss Zhigui getting married? I have already prepared the money.”

Gu Can sneered, “You were both bitter brothers, so don’t talk about each other.”

Wang Zhu blinked. “How so?”

Chen Ping’an said, “You finally got together, so learn from me and say less nonsense.”

Song Jixin chuckled, Liu Xianyang spat, Wang Zhu said oh, and Gu Can smiled.

The way of learning is to be determined, learning, learning, learn first and then ask, then learn and then ask, like a river, flowing into the ocean.

National Preceptor Chen Ping’an, Sword Immortal Liu Xianyang, Sect Leader Gu Can, Prince Song Jixin, Water Lord Wang Zhu.

They walked together on the long street, which was not as noisy as before, but still very long.