A gaunt Daoist, a felt cap perched atop his head, wore a patched and faded azure cotton robe and thick-soled cotton shoes. He walked with the sway of a slender bamboo stalk.

Beside him strode a burly, middle-aged man, a sheathed blade at his hip. The hilt had grown sleek and lustrous with handling. The man had begun to cultivate his beard months ago, and now a thick, tangled growth covered his face.

Together, they journeyed homeward, their villages separated by a mere thirty or forty *li*, both nestled within the lands of Wuling Prefecture.

Truth be told, the Daoist was twenty years younger than his companion, yet his weathered countenance made him appear a decade older.

Crucially, this Daoist, though lacking official accreditation, was a true practitioner, while his companion was but a simple warrior.

They returned from a long pilgrimage, years spent wandering far and wide, witnessing strange wonders and meeting stranger folk.

They were Wang Yuanlu, of the Rice Thief lineage, and Qi Gu, a blade-for-hire of the Catcher Sect.

One was a Jade Bloom realm cultivator at the height of his powers; the other, a martial artist of the Ninth Realm, teetering on the brink of breakthrough.

In this Azure Dusk Realm, a Daoist of the Rice Thief sect held no enviable position. Like corpse-dissecting immortals, porters, or one-character teachers, they were not quite outlaws, yet best avoid the White Jade Citadel, lest they find themselves guests within the Five Cities and Twelve Towers.

“Do you think I should accept Zhu Xuan’s offer?” Qi Gu asked.

During their travels, they had passed through Yong Province, a region blessed with bountiful waterways, a veritable geomantic treasure.

The Azure Peak Dynasty of Bin Province and the Fish Talisman Dynasty of Yong Province were the mightiest realms within their respective states, formidable behemoths.

Somehow, the Fish Talisman Dynasty’s young Empress Zhu Xuan discovered their presence. She appeared in person, inviting Qi Gu to become a royal protector.

Though unspoken, both knew that Empress Zhu Xuan sought to poach him. Qi Gu stood on the precipice of becoming a Boundaryless martial artist, one of the strongest. Should he achieve this breakthrough within the Fish Talisman Dynasty, it would bring them a substantial boon of martial fortune. Thus, Zhu Xuan offered more than just a position; her terms were lavish. Aside from the stipend, she promised Qi Gu the use of a weapon from the royal vaults for three centuries—a tempting prospect. This weapon, the peerless spear “Breaker of Formations,” a national treasure of the Fish Talisman Dynasty, was inherently potent against the formations of Qi Practitioners. Should Qi Gu become Boundaryless and wield this spear, he would be virtually invincible against all Qi Practitioners beneath the level of immortals.

Forget victory; his foes would struggle to escape.

Every cultivator or warrior who sought to join the ranks of the “Young and Aspiring Ten” possessed their own deadly tricks.

Conversely, the Azure God Dynasty seemed indifferent to where Qi Gu attained his breakthrough. Not even a Daoist official had appeared, let alone His Imperial Majesty or the esteemed Grand Preceptor Yao Qing.

This irked Qi Gu.

*Am I not a Ninth Realm martial artist? Am I so easily dismissed?*

Wang Yuanlu chuckled, “You can’t resist a pretty face, anyway.”

Qi Gu retorted, “You’re only brave within the confines of your comfort zone.”

Wang Yuanlu was indeed bold only around Qi Gu. In the presence of strangers, he stammered and blushed. Before Empress Zhu Xuan, Wang Yuanlu had kept his head bowed, barely managing monosyllabic replies. He had even wept before the young Lord Lu, drowning his sorrows in wine, barely avoiding an embarrassing display.

Perhaps the sole exception was Sun, the Daoist elder of the Xuan Du Abbey, whom Wang Yuanlu had affectionately called “Old Ancestor” for years.

Before the venerable abbot, Wang Yuanlu displayed a surprising audacity, even daring to call him an old geezer to his face.

The old abbot, a steadfast figure of the realm, was known for his adage, “This Daoist prefers amity and holds no grudges past nightfall.”

Thus, Qi Gu had repeatedly urged Wang Yuanlu to show more respect, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

“If I can’t even get a meeting with Liu Jing when we return, I’ll not chase after him anymore,” Qi Gu grumbled, growing increasingly agitated. “Damn it, they prefer flowers from other gardens. I may as well start my flowerbed outside the wall.”

Wuling Prefecture, in the Azure God Dynasty’s capital region, was a bastion of noble families and prominent clans, blessed with unmatched ancestral fortune and virtue.

Wuling Prefecture consisted of five counties: Changmao, Junyang, and Ping. As the location of imperial tombs, it was initially established to gather and settle the dynasty’s founding nobles.

The current prefect, Liu Jing, was of imperial blood and held the title of Director of Monasteries, overseeing all Daoists in the capital and its environs.

The Azure Peak Dynasty’s mountains and rivers also held Directors of Monasteries, often used by the court to accommodate elderly, retired officials—more of an honorary title.

Wang Yuanlu cautioned, “Grand Preceptor Yao may be watching you.”

Qi Gu asked, “Surely not?”

Wang Yuanlu frowned. “It’s possible.”

Qi Gu hesitated, then used sound-gathering magic to whisper, “It’s fortunate that our Bin Province is under the jurisdiction of Green Gem City, or the Second Patriarch of White Jade would have reduced it to ashes. Wuling Prefecture wouldn’t enjoy its current vitality.”

Wang Yuanlu said, “Same source, different currents. The people settle by the water’s edge, preferring gentle streams. Constant floods would drive anyone to despair.”

Qi Gu chuckled, “You can spout wisdom now and then.”

Qi Gu recalled something. “I heard Master Yu accepted a new disciple.”

The Daoist grimaced. “Good fortune. I can’t even be jealous.”

Qi Gu scoffed. “Xu Juan’s the one with good fortune.”

The Daoist pondered. “Xu Sovereign is not just lucky…no, Xu Sovereign’s luck is not good. True skill is turning bad luck into something good.”

Qi Gu declared, “One day, I’ll marry White Lotus, then I’ll be a proud ancestor!”

The Daoist lowered his head, his hands tucked in his sleeves, his form hunched. “A fiery woman. Marrying her would be like chewing chili peppers every day.”

Qi Gu’s eyes gleamed as he flexed his wrist and grinned. “As long as I win once, I can lose a hundred, a thousand times, and it won’t matter!”

Fighting came in many forms.

The Daoist muttered, “How can you say such vulgar things?”

Qi Gu blinked. “You understand that?”

In recent decades, like a bountiful harvest, Wuling Prefecture had produced many remarkable talents, catching the attention of other regions. It boasted two contenders for the “Young and Aspiring Ten.”

Furthermore, the Earth Lung Mountain’s Hua Yang Palace, a home for talismans and incantations, had a young cultivator with the Daoist name “Carefree,” while Harvesting Mountain had a female Daoist official named “South Mountain,” both acknowledged as having the potential to become celestials. They were already young Nascent Soul cultivators.

Like the pair on the road, these two hailed from Wuling Prefecture. Both “Carefree” and “South Mountain” were among the three thousand Daoist officials destined for the Five-Colored Heaven. Though from opposing sects, they were born on the same day, at the same hour. This celestial union caused subtle shifts in the hearts of both Earth Lung Mountain and Harvesting Mountain.

Wang Yuanlu and Qi Gu had longed to visit the Five-Colored Heaven together, but the rules set by the Scholarly Temple of the Grand Mundane Realm barred their entry, as their realms exceeded the limit.

To the Daoist officials in the mountains, Wuling Prefecture was a treasure trove, a haven for immortals.

To other realms, it was a golden sanctuary, comparable to the Jade Pearl Heaven of the Grand Mundane Realm.

It held both纨绔子弟，纨绔子弟, who coasted on their ancestors’ merits, and noble youths who were ready to shed blood, or who spent every last dime to help friends in need. All such characters were famous Wuling youths.

But to Wang Yuanlu and Qi Gu, it was simply home.

The rich were very rich, and the poor would be very poor, and they would all live their separate lives.

Upon the verdant plains, dust billowed as a group of wealthy riders in fine silks passed upon the road.

These youths, male and female, wore swords, carried bows, and exuded an air of carefree daring.

The Daoist, in contrast, appeared timid and furtive, displaying an air of petty depravity.

Wang Yuanlu quickly stepped aside, making way for the spirited horses. Qi Gu followed, waving away the dust. His hand wandered to his crotch as he chuckled. “Looks and bearing matter. We lost out. We’ll have to marry well.”

Wang Yuanlu was silent for a moment, then said, “Can’t you break that habit of grabbing your junk? No woman is going to find that attractive.”

Qi Gu laughed. “There’s too much going on down there.”

Wang Yuanlu said, “How is it that you are always the first one to button up?”

Qi Gu was speechless. *Why are you being like this?*

They passed a roadside pavilion where a group of gamblers threw dice. Qi Gu rubbed his hands together. Wang Yuanlu glared.

Qi Gu smiled sheepishly. “Don’t worry. I promised, so I’ll keep my word. Today’s not the day. First, I will walk you home.”

Qi Gu had always been a gambler, and a bad one.

Then he met Wang Yuanlu, who became his friend and assured him that if he stuck with him, he would want for nothing.

But Qi Gu had previously suffered two major losses in the Azure God Dynasty’s capital and Lu Zhou.

Each time, Wang Yuanlu had rushed to his rescue, doing what he could to settle matters. “Settling things” for Wang Yuanlu meant using money, or, if money wasn’t enough, laying down his life.

He had twice rescued Qi Gu and fought his way out of a bloodbath.

One could argue that Wang Yuanlu’s path to becoming a Rice Thief Daoist began with Qi Gu.

In those days, Wang Yuanlu would complain, “With you, I starve three days out of nine.”

Wang Yuanlu’s thinking was simple. He had chosen to befriend Qi Gu, and as a friend, he had certain responsibilities.

If a friend didn’t treat him as a friend, that was his mistake. If it became too difficult, he would simply part ways.

Wang Yuanlu then set a rule for Qi Gu:

As long as you’re not trying to make money, gamble as you please. A few hundred or thousand silvers, even spirit money, are fine. If you run out of money, borrow from me.

But if you ever try to earn money, even a few coins, don’t gamble. Otherwise, we’re no longer friends.

Wang Yuanlu’s only principle in friendship was to not be stingy. A few true friends were worth having.

Qi Gu asked, “Still not planning on revealing your identity? Not telling your brother?”

Wang Yuanlu sighed. “I’m afraid.”

Qi Gu muttered, “It’s my fault.”

If Wang Yuanlu were not a Rice Thief Daoist and had been ordained by the Azure God Dynasty’s court, his family would have ascended to the heavens, enjoying unimaginable wealth and establishing a prestigious family in Wuling Prefecture. As it stood, he was burdened with too many enemies.

Wang Yuanlu shook his head. “It’s not like that. A simple life has its own peace. My brother has his own fate.”

Qi Gu took it as a way to comfort him.

Wang Yuanlu’s elder brother, Wang Yuanfu, was married to a butcher’s daughter. Today, he carried a length of intestine and a jug of wine, purchased from a roadside tavern, to his son-in-law’s mud-brick house. He scowled as his daughter and son-in-law greeted him. “I’m cursed. I married a daughter off to a pauper. After all the work I’ve done to raise her. Now, somehow, you have become a Daoist candidate. That means you’ll never do real work. That means you’ll want more and more. Maybe I owe you from a past life. If there is a next life, you had better pay me back!”

Wang Yuanfu bowed, daring not to retort. He glanced at the wine jug, swallowed, and was, in fact, thirsty.

Inevitably, the wine jug would be returned.

The hulking butcher said to his daughter, “Go boil the intestines and warm the wine.”

Wang Yuanfu led his father-in-law inside. He walked behind, but the butcher’s loud voice sprayed spit. Wang Yuanfu secretly wiped his face.

When the butcher sat, Wang Yuanfu straightened his robes before sitting as well. *Show off,* the butcher thought, but kept it to himself because of the Daoist candidate. “Where’s your brother who never comes home?”

Wang Yuanfu sighed. “It’s been a long time.”

The butcher scoffed. “Doesn’t even send a letter. Raised him for nothing. Especially since that Wang Yuanlu had an education. It seems like it’s a hard life that’s not even worth the price of paper.”

According to the village genealogy, his generation had the character “Yuan” in their names. Wang Yuanlu’s real name was Wang Yuanlu.

Wang Yuanfu dared not disagree.

In the Azure Dusk Realm, Daoist officials held various titles. Not only Qi Practitioners could become Daoist officials. Commoners could become Daoist officials by taking a government test, although they would be given different talismans and records. Some had inherited these roles, while others had been hand-picked by virtuous elders.

Wang Yuanfu, whom his father-in-law looked down on, would have a narrow path of advancement and would likely be assigned to a remote Daoist temple or a sinecure position. However, it would be a family honor, and they would burn incense at the ancestral temple.

Wang Yuanlu, however, had studied Daoist texts for twenty years. He had applied multiple times to become an official Daoist, but the spots were limited. The wealthy students always had an advantage. Plus, they knew what questions to ask, especially since the Daoist official who gave the test had his own methods. It also didn’t help that Wang Yuanlu’s pride made him want to become the master of ceremony at the largest Daoist temple. But there were so many people who wanted that title.

“Your brother’s a hopeless case,” the butcher said. “It’s better if he doesn’t come back. He’d be another mouth to feed, a burden.”

Years ago, his daughter had asked him to help her brother-in-law. So, he found him an apprenticeship at a silver shop, a job with great prospects. However, the young man didn’t want to do it and would rather stay in the mountains.

As it happened, the father-in-law and son-in-law were speaking about Wang Yuanlu as Wang Yuanlu came home. He stood outside and said, “Brother.”

Seeing his brother after all these years, Wang Yuanfu felt joyful. But, he remained stoic. He began to stand, but then sat back down. “Say hi to your sister-in-law.”

Wang Yuanlu gave an “Mmm” and left.

The butcher slammed the table. “He can’t even greet me? The kid has no respect.”

Wang Yuanfu smiled. “Yuanlu’s always been like that. He doesn’t get close to anyone.”

The butcher scoffed. “With his pathetic demeanor, who wants to be near him? He’s over thirty and doesn’t even have a wife. I wouldn’t have the face to go to the ancestral temple. If I were him, I’d kill myself. Pray for a better next life so that you don’t have to be so ugly that ghosts are scared of you.”

Wang Yuanfu was embarrassed. He didn’t want to get mad at his father-in-law.

During the meal, the butcher and Wang Yuanfu sat at the table. Wang Yuanlu refused to sit and instead squatted by the door.

Wang Yuanfu tried to convince him, but he knew his brother was stubborn.

Wang Yuanlu ate his rice in silence. Qi Gu did not come. They would return to their respective homes.

The rice was hard. The spoon had been used many times. When his bowl was empty, Wang Yuanlu stared at the rice.

Do not blame fate. Endure it with a smile.

Wang Yuanlu turned. He raised his head and swallowed. “Why is the cave lord of Emerald Sky here?”

Wang Yuanlu had seen this elder during the shift of the bright moon. He stood beside the Second Patriarch of the White Jade Citadel.

Abbot Sun had said that this lord had lived for over ten thousand years and that he was someone who liked to argue with the Dao Ancestor. Should he ever meet this man, he should bow to the ground.

Abbot Sun said, “Just looking around.”

Wang Yuanlu nodded. “Fine by me.”

The more skilled they were, the less afraid the young Daoist was.

Abbot Sun asked, “What did you see that made you sad?”

Wang Yuanlu replied, “A dragon fell to the earth, its corpse covered with insects.”

“Given time, it will be covered with grass.”

“That is why I’m sad.”

“How so?”

“Grass will grow and cover the land, but then it will disappear. We can wait for the next one, but what if we are that grass?”

Abbot Sun smiled. “If you don’t cultivate, who will?”

Wang Yuanlu held his bowl. “Will there be chaos soon?”

Abbot Sun asked, “Does that have anything to do with you?”

Wang Yuanlu nodded. “Not yet.”

He bowed his head, consuming every grain of rice.

Abbot Sun rubbed his beard and smiled. “Fate lies in the heavens. Our destiny lies within.”

—

In the Azure God Dynasty, in a royal palace named Everlong Palace, there was a Daoist temple. Today, Grand Preceptor Yao Qing and Imperial Preceptor White Lotus played host to a mismatched pair: Sovereign Xu Juan of the Great Tide Sect and Forefather Zhaoge of the Two Capital Mountains.

Yao Qing gave them a tour before arriving at an elegant room where White Lotus prepared tea.

The temple had been named for the three paulownia trees that had been planted by the Founding Emperor.

One year for bamboo, ten for willow, one hundred for pine. If you want a thousand, then you plant a paulownia.

The Liu Clan had lasted long and stood above the province.

Legend had it that the Founding Emperor had a heartfelt conversation before he died.

The Emperor had said, “A young master and a suspicious nation are a tragedy. Take the throne.”

Yao Qing had replied, “If I wanted to be a king, I would make the young master into a wise king.”

Abbot Sun always said that it was Lu the Third who was hiding in the rafters.

“How did you think of fighting that monster?” a female Daoist with the Daoist name “Recapture” asked as she took her teacup from White Lotus.

She didn’t care if this would rub salt into the wound.

White Lotus was very beautiful.

Around her waist was a short halberd named “Iron Chamber.”

Like Pei Bei of the Great End Dynasty, she was a female grandmaster and an imperial preceptor.

Roughly every ten years, White Lotus would fight one of the ten ranked grandmasters.

In four fights, White Lotus had won every time. Four people had died, and one had lost a level.

Thus, there were four fewer grandmasters in the martial arts world.

White Lotus, although a female, stood tall in the world of martial arts.

A short halberd dominated the world.

But, now White Lotus had chosen to fight Xin Ku.

White Lotus shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about it.

She didn’t even reach the top of Lunar Peak. She had been punched halfway up.

“It was my idea for White Lotus to go to Lunar Peak,” Yao Qing said with a smile. “Lin Jiangxian has been too lenient, and she had been getting arrogant.”

White Lotus and Xin Ku were both in the Divine Transformation Realm, one at number two and the other at number three.

Yao Qing smiled. “The difference is too great. I still couldn’t see the depth of Xin Ku’s abilities.”

White Lotus listened to her teacher.

Zhaoge asked, “That Rice Thief Wang Yuanlu has the sensitivity of a Reaching Heaven Realm cultivator. Isn’t the Azure God Dynasty going to find him?”

Yao Qing laughed. “That troublemaker attracts trouble. We can’t afford him.”

White Lotus knew that Yao Qing had visited Wang Yuanlu in Wuling Prefecture several times. He had taught him nothing and had just talked.

Zhaoge asked, “Let’s have Wang Yuanlu come to the Two Capital Mountains. I can guarantee that he will become a mountain lord. What about that?”

Yao Qing shook his head. “He doesn’t have that fate.”

White Lotus looked at Xu Juan. This young ghost cultivator seemed ordinary.

How was he able to find so many opportunities?

The Great Tide Sect and the Two Capital Mountains had once been rivals, but they were now side by side.

The sovereign was still Xu Juan.

The Two Capital Mountains had once been against it, but Zhaoge was the forefather. In addition, they had held a wedding. The guests had included four of the top ten martial artists in the Azure Dusk Realm.

Yu Dou, Lu Chen, Wu Zhou, Sun Huaizhong.

Plus the martial artist who sat in the corner, and who was also Xu Juan’s friend.

The Number One under Heaven, Lin Jiangxian.

What’s more, Xu Juan’s cultivation journey was too legendary. It was said that Lu Chen had given him a few talismans. Sun Huaizhong had taught him a sword art. Even a sage had given him advice. Plus Lin Jianxian’s fist. People thought that Xu Juan was a disciple of the Dao Ancestor.

But, Xu Juan has to write the answer, starting with his transformation to a ghost. How had he seen so many figures?

Zhaoge said, “Zimei, I need your help.”

Yao Qing smiled. “Please speak, forefather.”

Yao Qing’s given name was Zimei. In terms of years, Zhaoge was far older, having lived for thousands of years.

Zhaoge said, “I need you to help protect him.”

Yao Qing asked, “Location?”

Zhaoge said, “The Two Capital Mountains.”

Yao Qing asked, “Time?”

Zhaoge sighed. “Not yet. I will send a letter.”

Yao Qing smiled. “I wish Sovereign Xu and Daoist Recapture your wish.”

Xu Juan stood and said, “Junior thanks Senior Yao.”

Zhaoge thanked Yao Qing.

Wu Zhou, a Celestial realm cultivator, was close with Zhaoge. After the wedding, she gave Xu Juan a crafting spell.

Sovereign Xu Juan was a ghost cultivator.

A new Celestial Realm cultivator had to occupy a seat.

Xu Juan had to become an immortal quickly.

Xu Juan, whose catch phrase was “It’s already good enough,” did not care. But Zhaoge insisted.

Since everything was ready, he only needed to go into secluded cultivation.

After Xu Juan and Zhaoge left, White Lotus stood beneath the eaves. She whispered, “Are we really not going to help Wang Yuanlu?”

Yao Qing laughed. “A beautiful jade is not carved.”

White Lotus hesitated. “It looks like Qi Gu is about to advance. Do we not want his fortune? According to our informants, Zhu Xuan has come herself.”

Qi Gu was not someone who was deep or calculating. He was impulsive. If they had just showed some kindness, they could have kept him.

Back in the capital, White Lotus had disagreed with the Grand Preceptor.

She had thought that they could have taken in Wang Yuanlu and Qi Gu.

On that dangerous escape, Wang Yuanlu and Qi Gu had advanced.

Yao Qing said, “A leaf will return to its roots.”

White Lotus sighed. “After all, it is just a leaf.”

Yao Qing laughed. “Wait and see.”

Soon after they left, a man walked in, an unusual monk in the Azure Dusk Realm.

Bald, barefoot, and wearing a purple cassock.

The middle-aged monk had plump cheeks and a high nose.

White Lotus knew that this wandering monk’s name was Jiang Xiu, with the style name “Dao Yin” and the dharma name “Danqing.”

He had been at Tiled Coffin Temple for the last ten years.

Jiang Xiu was not famous in the Azure Dusk Realm, but Yao Qing had been very respectful to him.

White Lotus didn’t know his level.

The Azure Dusk Realm was very strict when it came to temples and schools.

The monks needed permission before they could travel.

Many dynasties did not allow monks to enter. Two states had banned temples.

Bin Province was laxer, but the Azure God Dynasty only had sixteen temples.

However, the Grand Preceptor had constructed two new temples.

In the Azure Dusk Realm, it was more difficult to build a temple than a sect.

It needed the permission of White Jade Citadel. To do so, the Azure God Dynasty had sacrificed a lot of merit.

The purple-robed monk put his hands together. “I am here to say goodbye to Senior Yao.”

Yao Qing nodded with a smile. “Before you leave, leave the Luohan murals at Tiled Coffin Temple.”

Not all monks could be called priests. Only the abbot and a few others held that title.

White Lotus realized who he was.

There was a mysterious monk whose name was “Danqing.” He liked to paint, and had the motto “My heart is Buddha” and “The Patriarch came from the west without meaning.”

This monk was especially skilled at painting Luohan. Whenever one appeared, there was a scramble for it. Not only did the temples try to acquire it, but even the Daoist temples. Legend has it that during droughts and plagues, they didn’t need to set up an altar. They only needed to take out the Luohan, and it would rain.

The monk smiled. “Sixteen? Eighteen?”

Yao Qing said, “The more, the merrier.”

The monk said, “I have already drawn them.”

Yao Qing was not surprised. “Where are you going next?”

The monk said, “I will go to You Province to enjoy the snow.”

Yao Qing bowed.

The monk smiled and chanted the widely recited poem, “At the Borderlands.”

Then, he left.

The spiritual energy did not fluctuate.

White Lotus was silent for a moment. “His cultivation?”

“Outside of Buddhism, his sword is superb. He is unmatched.”

Yao Qing said, “‘A sword is the frost of fourteen states’—that’s what he said, and that’s what he is.”

—

Shi Rou and the mute were up late, running the Year’s End Store.

The Grass Store next door was more lively.

A pair of siblings, Zhao Shuxia and Zhao Luan. A pair of martial siblings, Zhao Denggao and Tian Jiuer. A master-disciple pair, White-Haired Child and Yao Xiaoyan.

Plus Cui Huasheng, who had been tricked by the white goose. The White-Haired Child was on a bench, playing drinking games.

The little town’s New Year’s Eve had a custom of feasting, with lanterns and dishes set out. The elders and women would sit around a brazier, waiting for guests. Friends would sit and eat, while others would only drink a cup. Then, the children would enter, greet their elders, and put fruits and sugar cane into their bags. In the late night, the families would close their doors. In the morning, the men would wake up to light firecrackers.

The people who had moved to the city had no such customs. Some of them even asked their butlers to light the firecrackers while they slept in.

Even though the town was getting less lively, the two stores still followed the old rules.

Shi Rou looked up. A guest had arrived.

Clad in white robes.

The former maid of Song Jixin, Zhu Gui, was now a sea lord of the Four Seas of the Grand Mundane.

For some reason, she seemed to be in a good mood.

The store was bright, and Shi Rou carefully said, “Miss Zhu Gui, would you like some wine?”

Wang Zhu nodded and sat down. Shi Rou poured her wine. Wang Zhu picked up her chopsticks and ate a piece of fermented fish. “Not bad,” she said.

Back then, Mud Bottle Lane had been filled with poor people. Whenever someone had earned money, they would move to another place. On New Year’s Eve, there was nobody around, with the exception of a widow.

A broom star, a bastard son, and a strange maid. They were all alone. Nobody wanted to visit them.

Song Jixin had been angry. He had asked Zhu Gui to close the door.

The store next door always kept their doors open, removing snow from the lane.

Song Jixin would make snide remarks, asking if they were waiting for ghosts.

But, they never replied.

Later, Chen Pingan would hang out with Liu Xianyang, who would be loud.

Wang Zhu turned to the child on the stool. “What’s your name?”

The mute said, “Don’t you know? My name is ‘Hey.'”

Wang Zhu didn’t mind and smiled. She ate a piece of fermented fish. She was glad to see her house had been redone.

Shi Rou hastily said, “His name is Zhou Junchen. Nicknamed ‘Aman.’ He is Pei Qian’s disciple.”

Wang Zhu said, “Pei Qian’s disciple? That means you have to call Chen Pingan ‘Grandmaster.'”

The mute wanted to say “None of your business,” but Shi Rou gave him a look.

A White-Haired Child said, “Tsk, tsk.”

Wang Zhu smiled. “You are?”

She couldn’t tell his realm.

The White-Haired Child said, “Saying it might scare you to death.”

“Try me.”

“I am a miscellaneous disciple of Fallen Mountain, the only one.”

Wang Zhu smiled. “Pour me some wine to calm me down.”

There were three types of disciples: direct, outer, and miscellaneous. Direct disciples were people who sat in the ancestral hall.

Outer disciples did not sit in the ancestral hall. For instance, the watchman and Cen Yuanji. Even if they had accepted disciples, they would still be outer disciples.

Miscellaneous disciples didn’t have a master. They had potential but couldn’t find a teacher.

The White-Haired Child walked in and sat down, staring at the young woman.

Wang Zhu ate her food.

The White-Haired Child asked, “I heard that you are the neighbor of Hidden Official Chen?”

Wang Zhu gave an “Mmm.”

The White-Haired Child laughed. “Have you considered coming to the Azure Dusk Realm? Move the tree, and the person will live.”

Wang Zhu frowned. “Is this what he wants?”

She had not gone to the Desolate World, and it had been hard.

Now, she knew it was a good choice.

The White-Haired Child rolled his eyes. “He is busy with world matters.

“What I’m saying is, Chen Qingliu will be back, and he wants to kill all true dragons.”

Wang Zhu shook her head with a smile. “I will die.

Even if she became a Celestial, she would lose.

As one of the Sea Lords of the Four Seas, Chen Qingliu would not dare visit her.

Wang Zhu was sure of one thing:

All the water spirits would be at a disadvantage against Chen Qingliu. It would be suicide.

Simply put, Chen Qingliu would be the Celestial.

The White-Haired Child frowned.

He was wondering why the reports were wrong.

Didn’t they say that this neighbor was snobby?

He was just saying things.

Little White was the best at such matters.

Someone had told her to convince Wang Zhu to come to Azure Dusk Realm.

But, it would be only okay.

The White-Haired Child hastily ate his wine to calm down.

Why were outer demons afraid of this cultivator?

Wang Zhu suddenly asked, “I heard there is a sect named Year’s End Palace in Azure Dusk Realm?”

The White-Haired Child stuttered, “I don’t know the Year’s End Palace.”

Wang Zhu smiled.

The White-Haired Child asked, “Why are you asking that?”

Wang Zhu raised her cup. “Let’s drink.”

The White-Haired Child clinked his cup.

The White-Haired Child knew she was suffering.

Wang Zhu sensed this emotion and did not get mad.

Wang Zhu finished her drink and walked out.

She slowly walked up the steps.

She remembered when she had frostbite. Then, she had only carried half a pail of water to the well.

Then, on their last meeting, someone had given her a prophecy:

Walk to the Crow Sparrow Tower, and the heavens are wide. Walk down, and the source is long.

This person had also shown her how to deal with Chen Qingliu.

It seemed like she had a choice.

Finally, the man had said to ask his brother if she needed anything.

Wang Zhu felt annoyed. She turned back and looked at the two stores.

The lights shone in the stores.

She didn’t like the sound of books.

She didn’t like the “It’s okay.”

“Every today is worth it, and there is hope for the future.”

It was possible that she didn’t know how to like.

Maybe she was making excuses.

It was like a hot coal that had to be returned.

Fallen Mountain:

The incense worker stumbled over to visit Immortal Wei. He was drunk and bumped into the door, only to have to crawl under it.

A scholar was standing at the bottom of the mountain.

The vermillion child blocked him. “Who are you?”

“My name is Li Xisheng. I am from Fortune Street. I am Li Baoping’s brother.”

The incense child was stunned. The General Manager’s brother?!

He was from court.

The vermillion child ran up the steps. “Are you planning on sneaking up on the mountain? You have to register with Immortal Wei!”

The scholar smiled. “I am a friend of Chen. You can lead the way.”

The incense child quickly calculated.

The immortals did not care if he came.

After they climbed the mountain, he had to give the man a hint.

Immortal Wei came out.

The vermillion child introduced him.

Li Xisheng smiled. “Immortal Wei, do you want to come along?”

Immortal Wei refused. “I have to read.”

That scholar must be important.

The scholar smiled and greeted.

Wei returned the greeting.