The emerald bamboo snapped taut as Ah Liang leaped to the earth, reaching out a hand to hoist the young earth spirit of Chess Mound Mountain to his feet. “My gambling etiquette is poor, but your luck is exceptional,” he chuckled.

The youthful earth spirit’s face was ashen, his brow furrowed with worry. Though spared from imminent doom, he had only managed to salvage half his bamboo grove. When his gaze drifted to the mangled corpse of the white serpent, its head shattered, a wave of complicated emotions washed over him. For centuries, they had been neighbors, contentious and prone to squabbles, yet fundamentally peaceful. Never had their relationship descended into a mortal struggle. Today, the serpent had been on the cusp of transcending into higher cultivation, only to have its skull exploded by a surge of fierce sword qi. The sheer force of this event left the land spirit shaken to his very core.

With a sigh, the young spirit offered a dejected bow. “As you surmised, honored senior, I am a petty, mercantile creature, deserving of a regular thrashing to keep me in line. But now, one such beating is quite enough. I beg you, Ah Liang, take pity on me! My courage is shattered, my spirit broken. Henceforth, I will heed your every word without question.”

Ah Liang, never one for unnecessary theatrics, glanced down at the empty scabbard of his bamboo blade and nodded. “Choose a fine, mature stalk for me. I require a new bamboo sword, a gift from a friend, as it were. And all these scattered bamboo stems, strewn upon the earth, they are too plentiful to simply waste.”

Wei Bo, the land spirit, twitched at the corner of his mouth, but dared only to curse inwardly. *Ah Liang, senior, you are utterly merciless! Ah Liang, you rapscallion!*

Ah Liang stroked his chin thoughtfully. “My friend here made an unprofitable bargain, indirectly aiding you in securing half your bamboo forest. A generous spirit repays kindness. What say you?”

Wei Bo forced a smile. “It is only right, and justly deserved.”

Chen Ping’an, clutching the half-chopped firewood knife, scurried towards the serpent’s remains. He severed the remaining wing, a shimmering, translucent expanse as long as a man’s arm. To the touch, it was cool as snow, and in the sunlight, it shimmered with iridescent light. Ah Liang had mentioned in passing that the most valuable parts of the white serpent were its gall and wings, priceless and nearly unobtainable. Though the scales, tendons, and bones were also valuable, they paled in comparison to these treasures.

Chen Ping’an fastened the firewood knife to his belt and trotted back to the bamboo grove, only to find the young land spirit hunched over, uprooting a green bamboo stalk. Beneath the earth, jade-green bamboo shoots intertwined, connected like a single body. As the bamboo was torn from the soil, clods of earth were pulled up with it.

Seeing the straw-sandaled youth with “murderous intent,” the land spirit swallowed hard, his brow slick with perspiration. He gently placed the uprooted bamboo stalk back into the earth, glancing furtively around before selecting a length of jade-green bamboo shoot, as thick as a child’s arm. He sighed, lifting his gaze to Chen Ping’an. With a forced smile, he inquired, “Might I borrow that firewood knife?”

Chen Ping’an approached, handing the half-chopped blade to the earth spirit. With a deep breath, the spirit gripped the knife and severed the bamboo shoot before returning the blade to Ah Liang. Ah Liang shook his head, chuckling. “Fashion a sword for me like my old bamboo blade. When we leave Chess Mound Mountain, send it along with that white donkey.”

Wei Bo, of course, dared not refuse. As he returned the firewood knife to Chen Ping’an, he remarked with genuine awe, “Such a sharp edge!”

Chen Ping’an took the knife, considering for a moment. “If you desire it, I would give it to you. This half-chopped knife is ill-suited for clearing paths. It is of little use to me.”

Wei Bo offered a dry laugh. “A gentleman does not seize another’s cherished possession.”

Ah Liang chuckled. “If you desire it but are too shy to accept a gift, then buy it! Fair trade, no deception, wouldn’t you agree?”

Wei Bo’s face lit up with feigned enlightenment. Rising to his feet, he brushed the dirt from his hands and smiled at Chen Ping’an. “Those familiar with the mountains know that an overly dense bamboo forest hinders growth. A balanced arrangement is essential for a thriving grove. The truly valuable part of this grove lies beneath the earth, the bamboo shoots connected to the mountain’s roots, not the stalks above. I seized this opportunity to borrow Senior Ah Liang’s blade and cut away excess stalks. My initial thought was to build a small bamboo pavilion, a place to rest and admire the scenery.”

The young land spirit’s words flowed more easily with each passing sentence. “Now, since Senior Ah Liang’s bamboo blade has been broken in my service, I am ashamed to admit that I coveted your half-chopped firewood knife from the moment I laid eyes on it. How about this? I will fashion the bamboo sword and still construct the pavilion. The sword can be delivered to Ah Liang without delay, but the pavilion may take slightly longer to complete. When Black Serpent journeys to Fallen Phoenix Mountain in Dragon Spring County, I will accompany it, both to prevent it from straying north and causing trouble, and to have it transport these bamboo stalks. Upon arriving at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, I will find a scenic spot and build a bamboo pavilion for you.”

Chen Ping’an turned to Ah Liang, who chuckled and explained, “Within the Bamboo Sea Grotto-Heaven reside ten sacred bamboos, each corresponding to one of the ten virtues of bamboo. These bamboo stems are descendants of the ‘Valorous Bamboo’ of the ten, benefitting from its legacy. Cultivation within a pavilion constructed from such bamboo will greatly benefit both pure martial artists and those who practice the way of the sword.”

Wei Bo eagerly concurred. “Indeed! These bamboo stems are all descended from the Valorous Bamboo. As history records, ‘A forceful army breaks through with the momentum of splitting bamboo, each segment yielding effortlessly.’ This holds true here. Cultivating within the bamboo pavilion will undoubtedly nourish the soul.”

Chen Ping’an opened his mouth to speak, but Ah Liang strode forward, throwing an arm around the youth’s shoulders and steering him towards the edge of the grove. “We mustn’t deny such hospitality. Let us be good guests.”

Chen Ping’an murmured, “The firewood knife…”

Ah Liang waved it off. “He can have the rest of the blade in the backpack, too.”

Before departing, the straw-hatted warrior turned back, calling out, “Forget about that unformed serpent gall. It’s far too bloody and frightening. Let the Black Serpent devour it along with the serpent’s flesh. That way, even without the wings, it will still gain two or three centuries of cultivation. Consider it our sincerity. Remind it to cultivate diligently after settling on Fallen Phoenix Mountain!”

Finally, Ah Liang pointed a finger in the air towards the crestfallen young land spirit. “Take care of yourself.”

The young land spirit stood at the edge of the bamboo grove, watching their retreating figures. A mountain breeze rustled through the green trees and clusters of red blossoms, carrying the sweet scent of flowers and wood. The beautiful young man, holding his jade-green bamboo staff, a symbol of his authority, stood with his white robes billowing, the earlier shock, fear, anxiety, and confusion swept away by the gentle breeze. Replacing them was a dignified serenity befitting his status as a local deity.

He surveyed his domain, softly murmuring, “Good fortune and misfortune are intertwined. It is as simple as that. I thank Senior Ah Liang’s unintentional prodding, which helped me to resolve my inner conflict and overcome my demons.”

The young land spirit closed his eyes, a warm smile playing on his lips. “Mountains of renown have awaited sages throughout history, though sages may never come, what does it matter? I will strive to become one myself.”

When he opened his eyes, a delicate gold earring adorned his earlobe. The intricate circle swayed slightly in the mountain breeze, transforming the young land spirit into a majestic mountain god.

The pair retraced their steps to the pool, no longer rushing, but strolling at a relaxed pace, conversing idly.

“Ah Liang, will the Black Serpent truly devour the white serpent’s remains? Were they not companions for centuries?”

“That Black Serpent, with its aspirations to become a flood dragon, will certainly devour them without hesitation. Not just the flood dragon species, but essentially all mountain spirits, goblins, and demons regard eating as their very nature. But the flood dragons and serpents that dwell in the mountains and swamps are particularly prone to cannibalism. It is similar to the idea that one mountain cannot have two tigers. The reason that the Black Serpent kept the White Serpent around was that it had become enlightened. Its intelligence increased, and it wanted to wait for it to form its core before enjoying a feast. If you want to see the Black Serpent devour the White Serpent, we can go back.”

“That’s all right, no thanks.”

“By the way, don’t blame me for making decisions on your behalf, but I told that Black Serpent it could eat the serpent gall. Since it is going to Fallen Phoenix Mountain to help you protect your fate, it’s better for the Black Serpent to become a black flood dragon sooner rather than you selling the serpent gall, no matter how high the price.”

“I was just wondering why you had to kill the White Serpent. Why not wait for me to stop it? The White Serpent could have been tamed and sold to the Precious Records Mountain or the Colorful Clouds Peak for a good price. Were you afraid that I wouldn’t save you?”

“How could I be? I trust you, Ah Liang.”

“Then?”

“Ah Liang, before I answer your question, I wanted to ask you, when I was practicing with Zhu He, did you realize that I had found…those three apertures? And the truth inside those apertures?”

“Honestly, I knew from the start that there was something odd about those three apertures. There was something profound about them, but it’s kind of embarrassing to say that even I couldn’t see it clearly. I could only guess that there were three strands of sword energy inside, but I wasn’t sure exactly what they were. Of course, if I wanted to see the things inside your body, damaging your qi in the process, it wouldn’t have been difficult at all. But that would have been too low of me. I, Ah Liang, am a top expert. I have the bearing of an expert.”

“I understand. Ah Liang, do you know there’s a memorial archway in our town with four plaques on it?”

“I know, Qi Jingchun mentioned it to me years ago, but I don’t remember the content. I’ve forgotten it.”

“One of the plaques says ‘Do Not Seek Outside.’ I have a friend who’s about my age, and he’s well-read. He says that this is Buddhist zen, which means that it’s to warn everyone to only practice Buddhism and not to seek anything from other religions. At first, I thought it made a lot of sense, but then when I was burning charcoal in the mountains, I got bored and started pondering it. For me, whether it’s burning incense, worshipping Buddha, or revering the Bodhisattva, you have to be able to do everything you can do first. If you still can’t fulfill your wish, and there’s really no other way, then you can ask for help, and the Bodhisattva will nod in agreement. Otherwise, why would the Bodhisattva help you, right, Ah Liang?”

“Pray to Buddha, start with yourself.”

“Exactly, that’s what I mean!”

“Well, you can interpret it that way, but I have to be clear about something: I, Ah Liang, have more resources in my pinky than you have in your whole family. So you would rather lose a strand of sword energy because you thought it was troubling me? For me, Ah Liang, it was just a small matter of drawing my sword. You have to think about it this way.”

“I can’t think about it that way!”

“Hmm?”

“The old man Yao who taught me how to fire porcelain rarely spoke to me, but there were two times when he spoke very seriously, and I remember them very clearly. The first time was when I was learning to fire porcelain, he said I could learn from him, but if I dared to be lazy once, he’d kick me out of the dragon kiln. The second time was the first time I went into the mountains with him, he said I could come with him to find soil, but whether I broke my leg or whatever, if I dared to cry in front of him once, I couldn’t go into the mountains again.”

“What does that have to do with anything? What are you trying to say, Chen Ping’an?”

“Let me put it another way, Ah Liang, do you like to sleep in?”

“Don’t be silly, don’t you?”

“I do too, but you might not believe it, from the first day that I learned to be a kiln worker until today, I’ve never slept in once. Whenever it’s time to get up, I open my eyes and get up, so I’ve never slept in.”

“You’re going around in circles here. What are you trying to say? Are you picking on me, Ah Liang, because I’m not a scholar?”

“What I mean is, if you don’t think something is good, then just don’t do it the first time. Don’t even do it once. You can’t even take a small step towards it. Otherwise, you’ll be the one who suffers in the end. Like me, if I was lazy even once, I definitely wouldn’t have become a kiln worker, and I wouldn’t have been able to go into the mountains. Then where would I be today? Maybe I would have been like those thousands of young men in town, going into the mountains to clear roads, cut down trees, and build bridges, earning a few copper coins every day. How would I have had five mountain peaks? Five mountain peaks, do you know how valuable they are, Ah Liang? Ah Liang, someday you have to come to my mountain and take a look…”

“Stop, stop! Chen Ping’an, are you going around in circles here just to show off how rich and powerful you are?”

“Ah Liang, you really haven’t read any books.”

“…”

“Ah Liang, if my Fallen Phoenix Mountain really has a bamboo pavilion someday, would you help me name it?”

“‘Ah Liang Is Fierce Pavilion,’ what do you think? Is that imposing enough? What, are you afraid that I’m stealing the show and overshadowing you, the king of the mountain? Okay, then I’ll change it to something more modest, how about ‘Fierce Pavilion?’ I, Ah Liang, am sacrificing a lot here. Are you still not satisfied?”

“Ah Liang, I suddenly think it’s fine if the bamboo pavilion doesn’t have a name.”

The straw-hatted warrior rolled his eyes.

Chen Ping’an laughed heartily. “Don’t worry, ‘Fierce Pavilion’ it is.”

Ah Liang suddenly turned his head and asked, “Do you want to learn the way of the sword?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Not for now.”

Ah Liang smiled knowingly. “Are you afraid of being distracted? Of hindering your fist training?”

Chen Ping’an sighed and nodded.

Ah Liang knew why the youth sighed. On the peak of Chess Mound Mountain, the youth had spent all of the accumulated power built up through walking stances and fist training in order to stop the white serpent from attacking Li’s maid Zhu Lu. It was like a small household suddenly being thrown back into abject poverty.

Fortunately, the walking stances strengthened the body and ensured that the young man survived the immediate threat, and the sword forge nourished the soul. The breakthrough in the stone square was a prelude to the young man accurately finding the three sword qi apertures during his martial exchange with Zhu He.

Ah Liang joked, “You lost such a powerful strand of life-saving sword qi. Does it hurt?”

Chen Ping’an said without hesitation, “It doesn’t hurt. I finally got rid of that pent up breath in my heart. I feel great now.”

Ah Liang smiled. “Tell me about it.”

Chen Ping’an looked ahead. “I’m willing to reason with people, and I can get other people to listen to me. It feels great! I used to practice martial arts to strengthen my body, or rather, to survive, but now I think my goals can be further and higher!”