Two figures descended silently from the sea of clouds, landing on a mountain ridge within the region of the slender Eyebrow River. One was a green-robed boy with his hands clasped behind his back, the other adorned with a yellow hat, green shoes, and a bamboo cane.

Chen Lingjun, filled with anxiety, urgently asked, “Little Mo, Little Mo, what’s the word?”

Just moments ago, everything had been fine back at Luopo Mountain. They were all gathered together, listening to Da Feng weave tales in the old cook’s courtyard.

Suddenly, Little Mo had announced that something was amiss at the academy, that Young Master’s aura had abruptly vanished.

Logically, this was an impossibility. Although Chen Ping’an deliberately concealed his vital energies and martial intent, appearing no different from an ordinary person, he was, in truth, a martial artist of the apex, a realm of mystical protection akin to divine guardianship, even in slumber. How could he simply vanish? Besides, everyone at Luopo Mountain knew that their Mountain Lord was working as a teacher at the academy, and generally kept his identity hidden.

Therefore, Little Mo wanted to come and investigate, and Chen Lingjun had followed him to see what was going on.

Little Mo smiled, “It’s alright. Daoist Lu accompanied Young Master on a trip to the Dragon Palace Ruins.”

Upon hearing that it was the Jade Capital’s Headmaster Lu, Chen Lingjun felt a wave of relief, followed by a headache of considerable proportions.

If he had his way, Chen Lingjun would never again encounter that “needs to find a physician to check if his brain is diseased” Lu Lao San.

When it came to unwavering loyalty to their Old Master, Chen Lingjun believed that only Little Mo could truly rival him within the entirety of Luopo Mountain.

Hearing Little Mo’s assurance that everything was fine put Chen Lingjun at ease. The logic was simple: what Little Mo considered a minor matter might not be so for Chen Lingjun, who had yet to reach the Upper Five Realms, but if Little Mo said everything was fine, then it undoubtedly was.

Of course, Little Mo was still junior to him, having joined the mountain later.

Seeing their Young Master and Daoist Lu returning to the rural road, Little Mo prepared to quietly return to Luopo Mountain. Having come out for a rare trip, Chen Lingjun didn’t want to return so quickly. He told Little Mo to go back first, as he would hold the fort. He doubted Lu Chen, that cur, would dare to cause any trouble.

Little Mo considered it, then returned to Luopo Mountain alone, simply reminding Chen Lingjun to be careful and to contact him if anything happened.

If anyone else had said such presumptuous words, Chen Lingjun would have been displeased and would have argued. Be careful? Careful of what? In the Northern Yoke territory, who would dare provoke Chen, the Great One, who only wasn’t as famous as he should be because he was focusing on self-cultivation? Did they think his Nascent Soul cultivation was just for show? They shouldn’t treat a Nascent Soul Immortal like a side dish! But since it was Little Mo who said it, Chen Lingjun let it pass.

On the mountain, Chen Lingjun always seemed busy, but no one knew what he was actually busy with, perhaps not even the green-robed boy himself.

With Little Mo gone, Chen Lingjun flicked his sleeves and sauntered down the mountain.

Having made a prior agreement with his Old Master, Chen Lingjun didn’t intend to approach the academy or the Dragon Palace Ruins. After descending the mountain, he aimlessly wandered about. After about half an hour, he arrived at a stone bridge, beside which stood an ancient plum tree, hundreds of years old. Chen Lingjun spotted a stranger accompanied by a servant boy, carrying a zither and leading a donkey.

Visiting plums by the stream under the moonlight, how elegant. However, Chen Lingjun sensed the man’s breathing, realizing he was a Qi cultivator, not just a refined scholar. As for his level of cultivation, Chen Lingjun couldn’t discern it, so he decided to detour.

Unexpectedly, the scholar-like man turned and smiled, “A pleasant surprise! To think I would encounter a fellow Daoist cultivating longevity in such a remote village. May I ask your Daoist name?”

Without turning around, Chen Lingjun raised his hand, waving it dismissively behind him, “Not acquainted. Don’t try to be familiar. Let’s go our separate ways.”

The boy, resembling a servant carrying a zither and books, spoke through the mind, “Master, he is…”

Before the boy could finish, he saw his Master cast a sharp, intimidating look at him, silencing him and preventing him from continuing his mental communication.

Who he is is none of your business to introduce.

The Confucian scholar felt exasperated, his anger rising. What was considered discreet mental communication among mountain cultivators was child’s play here.

Had this ignorant thing wasted his millennium of cultivation at Qinggong Mountain?

The “Confucian scholar” immediately regretted bringing this prideful disciple along to visit the mountain senior.

He was none other than Jing Hao, the number one cultivator of Liuxia Continent, known as the “Qinggong Protector.”

Earlier, he had congratulated Yu Xuan on achieving Dao integration in the outer heavens, where he encountered the Literary Saint. Jing Hao had then decided to come and take a look, believing that it was better to resolve feuds than to let them fester, and the sooner the better to mend fences.

As a Grand Perfected cultivator of the Ascension Realm, Jing Hao had not dared to head straight for the Huaihuang County town or to visit Luopo Mountain uninvited upon his return to the Vast World.

As for his disciple, who possessed an ageless appearance and was at the Jade Purity Realm, and was a candidate to be the next sect leader, had been recently tasked with secretly gathering information about the “Little Dragon King of Luopo Mountain” in the Great Li Dynasty. Now it seemed that he was not only incompetent but also lacking in self-cultivation, a good-for-nothing.

Jing Hao considered that fortune favored the bold, and he decided to risk leaving his disciple behind while he hurried to catch up with the green-robed boy.

He couldn’t understand why Chen Lingjun, whom the Immortal Chen addressed as a brother, appeared to be only a Nascent Soul water dragon.

Chen Lingjun stopped, turning around, appearing calm but inwardly anxious.

Damn it, he thought, he couldn’t possibly be unexpectedly punched to death on a rare outing.

It’s okay, as long as he could withstand two punches, Little Mo would definitely arrive. Besides, his Old Master was nearby, and this was Wei Shanjun’s territory. After some deliberation, Chen Lingjun saw no reason to be intimidated. He regained his composure, flicked his sleeves, placed his hands behind his back, and decided to see what the man was up to.

Jing Hao cupped his fist in greeting and smiled, “Daoist friend, I am a foreigner, from a place called Fenyun Mountain, a small and insignificant sect that you may not have heard of. This is my first time traveling through the Great Li’s lands and rivers. A pleasure to meet you.”

Chen Lingjun returned the greeting with a few perfunctory hand gestures, “A pleasure.”

Jing Hao asked with a smile, “Are you also out enjoying the scenery of the slender Eyebrow River region, or are you a… wandering immortal, unconstrained by the mundane world and sects?”

After all, wandering immortal sounded much better than mountain rogue cultivator.
The Misty Peaks were a vassal territory of Azure Palace Mountain, a minor sect with some foundations in the Flowing Sunset Continent. Stepping outside Flowing Sunset, they were essentially unknown.

Indeed, Chen Lingjun’s face remained blank upon hearing “Misty Peaks,” without the slightest ripple of vital energy – appearing utterly genuine.

Chen Lingjun chuckled, “Misty Peaks, eh? Southern mountains. Heard of it. A blessed land for producing talent.”

Within the Northern Mountain domain, Chen Lingjun was intimately familiar with every mountain and sect, large or small. But he drew a blank when it came to the immortal abodes of the southern Jewel Bottle Continent, nor did he possess any interest.

Even the seasoned Jing Hao found himself momentarily speechless.

The “youth” eavesdropping beneath the plum tree by the bridge was utterly flabbergasted. How could someone blatantly lie like that?

Since Jing Hao couldn’t ascertain the other party’s “true identity and realm,” he weighed his words carefully before speaking, meticulously drafting them in his mind.

But as they chatted, he realized this azure-robed youth, who only appeared at Imperial River and Fallen Peak, was quite the storyteller.

Jing Hao could only follow along, adopting the youth’s tone and content, sliding wherever the situation led. He claimed to have been a scholar in his earlier days, but frustrated by his lack of success, he had stumbled upon cultivation. He had achieved some minor accomplishments and now shared a similar state of mind with his esteemed companion. Cultivators, nourished by clouds and dew, should be pure of heart, detached from fame and fortune, unswayed by worldly matters, and unapproachable by emperors below. Entering the world could awe kingdoms and benefit the people. Yet, if the Dao was not viable, one could depart on a raft and drift across the seas. Words unheeded, circumstances unfavorable, one could simply leave, abandoning everything like worn-out shoes. What did possessions matter? In the swirling dust of the mortal realm, the rich found it hard to forsake wealth and glory, but the poor surely had nothing to fear in losing their poverty? Such was the natural way of things.

Chen Lingjun couldn’t interject, only nodding in agreement.

So much flowery prose, so sour… had he eaten too much pickled cabbage today?

Unwilling to lose face, Chen Lingjun seized the opportunity to speak when the other party paused for breath, nodding, “Your words carry some learning and insight, but they are too abstract, lacking connection to the earthy essence of the mountains.”

Jing Hao was now certain that this fellow was just a Nascent Soul cultivator, and… definitely hadn’t read many books.

As they walked and talked, covering about two miles, Jing Hao suddenly glanced sideways. “Oh? Someone with a slightly higher realm… a Dragonkin? And a sword cultivator?”

Moonlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the ground like snow, rendering figures sharply defined.

A white-robed young cultivator stood in the woods, watching Jing Hao and Chen Lingjun from afar.

Belatedly, Chen Lingjun turned to look at the cold-faced youth in the mountains.

Why was it always someone in white? The last time someone from Fallen Peak visited, there was the Great White Goose, then Nephew Zheng. Chen Lingjun had developed a deep-seated aversion to white robes.

Fortunately, a warm, mellow voice from Little Mo echoed in his mind, “I arrived when he spoke his first words by the bridge. I can roughly confirm that this person’s realm is quite high, likely a Flying Ascent cultivator from another continent.”

“But it’s nothing. If he harbors malicious intent, I’ll take him to Fallen Peak as a guest for a few days.”

“As for the sword cultivator from a monster lineage in the mountains, he emerged from the Dragon Palace ruins. His realm and swordsmanship are negligible.”

Little Mo was truly wonderful.

Chen Lingjun instantly straightened his back, brimming with courage!

Besides the azure-robed youth and the unfathomable Fallen Peak, Jing Hao didn’t believe there were many existences in the Jewel Bottle Continent that he needed to fear. Even Wei Bo of Cloud Cloak Mountain was nothing special.

So Jing Hao turned his head without turning his body, smiling, “I don’t care why you’ve taken a detour, or why you’ve chosen to appear here, or what you seek. I’ll just say, if you’re trying to cozy up to me and Fellow Daoist Chen, forget it. We’re not the same.”

The old Dragon Son, trapped in the Dragon Palace’s detached courtyard for ages, somehow discovered that the formation’s restraints had vanished out of thin air. Hesitantly, fearfully, he emerged from the deep pool. He suffered no backlash from his spells and, upon seeing the light of day, was first filled with tears. Then he noticed the ant-like cultivators in his Dragon Palace. Remembering the two unfathomable Qi refiners from before, he suppressed the urge to act. He decided it was better to avoid trouble. The issue of the Dragon Palace’s ownership was a small matter compared to his own Great Dao. He mustered his courage and secretly left the ruins, simultaneously employing the divine ability of Palm View of Mountains and Rivers and his natal water magic. He immediately saw Cloud Cloak Mountain, which was absent from his memories. He initially considered heading straight for nearby Fallen Peak, but caution prevailed. As a result, he discovered three Qi refiners under his nose, by a plum tree near a bridge. Especially the scholar, whose realm was unfathomable.

The other two, the azure-robed youth and the “youth” carrying a zither and leading a donkey, were also not to be underestimated – a Nascent Soul and a Jade Purity realm cultivator respectively.

Could it be that the claims of those two earlier people were not lies? Three thousand years later, was it really the case that any Qi refiner one encountered on the road was at least an Earth Immortal?

He had just managed to regain some confidence as an Upper Fifth Realm sword cultivator from those ant-like cultivators in the Dragon Palace, but it instantly vanished again.

He swallowed his discomfort, knowing that he had no choice but to lower his head under the eaves. He proactively cupped his fist and said, “My surname is Bai, my given name Deng, my Daoist title is ‘Restless Sovereign’.”

Jing Hao narrowed his eyes and smiled approvingly. “A fine Daoist title. Quietude for a Restless Sovereign. Especially fitting for someone of your origins.”

A young Daoist suddenly appeared, wearing a lotus coronet, standing behind Chen Lingjun. He placed his hands, arms crossed, on the azure-robed youth’s head, exclaiming in astonishment, “Wow, isn’t this the top dog of Flowing Sunset Continent, Immortal Master Jing Hao? What brings you to Jewel Bottle Continent? Such leisure!”

Jing Hao was struck dumb as if by a thunderbolt.

This Chen Lingjun, besides being on familiar terms with Immortal Lord Chen, was also so familiar with the Leader of White Jade Capital, Lu?

Chen Lingjun felt deeply wronged. He wiped his face, complaining that there was no need to spray saliva while talking.

Then, Lu Chen waved towards the mountaintop. “Mr. Little Mo.”

Little Mo nodded with a smile and approached Chen Lingjun and Lu Chen.
Jing Hao was dumbfounded. He couldn’t sense the aura of Sect Leader Lu, fine, but there was actually a master hidden so close by?!

At this moment, Bai Deng only felt that he should return to his dojo. The outside world was far too treacherous.

Knowing that Little Mo was nearby and seeing Little Mo standing next to him were two completely different things.

Chen Lingjun patted Lu Chen’s hand, warning, “Hey, hey, let go!”

Lu Chen remained unmoved, laughing, “You didn’t know? I knew Mr. Little Mo even earlier, we’re really close.”

Little Mo smiled and nodded slightly, tacitly agreeing with Sect Leader Lu’s statement, but at the same time, he signaled Chen Lingjun to relax with his eyes.

Chen Lingjun crossed his arms, “I can’t be bothered to argue with you.”

Lu Chen turned his head again to look at the mountain top, stretching out his arm and waving vigorously, “It’s Miss Xie, right? Over here, over here. You and Mr. Little Mo are a match made in heaven, I’ll definitely drink your wedding wine next time.”

On a tree on the mountain top, a young woman wearing a sable hat stood on a branch, grinning, “It’s not even close to being settled yet.”

Lu Chen imitated the old scholar’s sigh, “Miss Xie, don’t talk nonsense! It’s definitely just around the corner.”

Only just started? A one-sided love.

Xie Gou suffered from a lack of schooling. She didn’t understand the double meaning of Sect Leader Lu’s words. Her smile was radiant, and she thought the words were beautifully said. She nodded towards Lu Chen, then shifted her gaze to Little Mo, her tone soft, “I’ll go back first, waiting for you to have supper together, okay?”

Old Mr. Zhu said, while outside, you have to give your man some face, but behind closed doors at home, do as you please.

Lu Chen held back his laughter, “Mr. Little Mo, you have such good fortune.”

Little Mo said helplessly, “Is it?”

Lu Chen patted the blue-clad young boy’s head, teasing, “Grandpa Chen, do you recognize this Jing Hao, the Qing Palace Grand Guardian?”

Chen Lingjun still crossed his arms. Did they think he was stupid? This famous old immortal from the mountain peak, of course he recognized him, only it was the kind of recognition where he recognized him, but he didn’t recognize him.

The young Bai Xuan, who drank wolfberry tea every day, had compiled a Book of Heroes, and Chen Lingjun hadn’t been idle either, secretly writing a book he named “The Passerby Collection”.

He listed the names of the peak figures who could pass by and should never get to know him, and finally Chen Lingjun compiled this secret manual for wandering the world in the future.

Among them was Jing Hao, the Qing Palace Grand Guardian of Flowing霞洲 (Flowing Glow Continent), the old immortal Jing. According to mountain rumors recorded in some landscape gazettes, he knew many spells, a top dog of the continent, well-connected in both the white and black worlds.

He never thought that this guy pretending to be a scholar was actually the remote and unattainable Jing Hao. It seemed that tonight’s encounter was indeed a chance encounter.

Chen Lingjun breathed a sigh of relief, chatting nonsense with the old immortal Jing for a long time, barely familiarizing himself with him. Wouldn’t he have an extra amulet when he went to Flowing Glow Continent in the future?

At least the cultivators of Qing Palace Mountain would have to show him some face for the sake of this incense connection, right? They couldn’t possibly learn the ways of the Thunder God hermit cultivator from Northern Assembly Reed Continent. Forget it, forget it, even if he met a Qi Refining cultivator from Qing Palace Mountain on the road, he should pretend not to know him. It would be best to avoid meeting altogether. Otherwise, if something happened, they would probably think he was bragging and easily cause trouble.

He didn’t know what Jing Hao was thinking at the moment, but the “young” Jade Purity Realm cultivator standing under the plum tree was completely stunned.

That young Daoist, wearing a lotus crown, was full of casualness and disdain towards his master in his words?

How could so many heaven-defying figures suddenly appear in this small place? Sect Leader Lu of White Jade City? Who was Mr. Little Mo? And who was the girl with the sable hat?

Lu Chen gloated, “Grandpa Chen, in the future, when you pass by Flowing Glow Continent, you must make a special trip to Qing Palace Mountain and chat more with the old immortal Jing at the dinner table?”

Chen Lingjun smiled reluctantly, “Definitely, definitely.”

Jing Hao’s heart was even more tumultuous, and he became even more suspicious, subconsciously saying, “Must, must.”

Both sides were awkward, and both could see the awkwardness in each other’s tone and expression.

And the key was that they didn’t know what the other was awkward about.

Lu Chen smiled, “Love at first sight, this is called love at first sight.”

At the Fine Eyebrow River’s Water Palace, there was another emergency military report to the River God. Gao Niang, who had a good drink at the village school earlier, hurriedly went to the river to investigate.

Sure enough, another empty wine pot was floating on the water. The Water Palace officials and a large group of shrimp soldiers and crab generals who had learned the power of this kind of treasure before were smarter this time and didn’t touch the wine pot.

Only when the River God carefully picked it up and shook it gently, Gao Niang was confused. It seemed to be different from the previous wine pot and had no mystery.

Those Water Palace officials didn’t care about this. They cheered and shouted that their Water God had obtained treasures twice in one day. What was this if not a celestial sign?!

Gao Niang remained calm, put the wine pot into his sleeve, and gently raised his hand, pressing down a few times, signaling the mighty generals under the Water Palace to calm down and be more low-key.

On the Sword Worship Platform of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, the white-haired boy, sleepless in the long night, was trying to build relationships with League Master Guo.

As the first compiler of the genealogy of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, the white-haired boy was now full of fighting spirit, thinking that if he could join forces with Xie Gou and League Master Guo, he could establish his own sect in Fallen Phoenix Mountain, wonderful.

The girl and the white-haired boy sat on a tree branch, swinging their legs, swaying back and forth. Before coming here, they hadn’t mistreated themselves. The two of them worked together to cook two clay pots of Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles in the kitchen.

Guo Zhujiu was burping and imparting unique martial arts experience to the white-haired boy.

On the two branches, there were two empty small clay pots next to them. The taste was indeed average, not because of the ingredients, but because of their cooking skills. Anyway, don’t blame each other.

“When walking the rivers and lakes, don’t panic when you encounter something.”

The white-haired boy nodded vigorously while secretly rolling his eyes.

As a result, Guo Zhujiu’s next sentence was very much to the white-haired boy’s liking, “Run away quickly.”
The white-haired youth’s eyes lit up, clapping with all his might, cheering loudly, and not forgetting to continue encouraging Guo Zhujiu to join in the grand undertaking. “Alliance Master Guo, you know, I, this person, am good in a thousand ways, but there’s only one thing that truly stands out, and that is that I never fawn over people! I’m truly compatible with Alliance Master Guo; it’s such a pity you’re not our Alliance Master.”

Guo Zhujiu asked in confusion, “Do you have a personal grudge against Senior Sister Pei?”

The white-haired youth shook his head, “By the heavens and earth, absolutely not!”

Guo Zhujiu was silent for a moment, then asked, “If you pretend to be happy every day, will you one day actually become happy?”

The white-haired youth’s expression dimmed, and he twitched his lips.

*Life’s paths diverge north and south, events fleeting like a spring dream, leaving no trace. In youthful years, a myriad miles sought titles and rank, now a scholar’s useless fate.*

The white-haired youth clasped his hands behind his head, melancholic, truly melancholic.

Guo Zhujiu reached out and pressed down on the white-haired youth’s head, helping him nod, “What are you thinking? Of course, it’s possible.”

Within Fallen Mountain, inside a modest residence, even late at night, many people gathered here, and everyone seemed relaxed.

Chief Zhou Fei’s private residence on the mountain was as luxurious and extravagant as could be, with white jade paving the ground and immortal mists swirling, almost making people hesitant to step inside for fear of defiling the place.

But here, the courtyard before the steps was simply a patch of flat, well-packed yellow earth.

Years ago, a female cultivator from Tongye Continent, as renowned as Jiang Shangzhen, had once visited and fallen deeply in love with this courtyard.

Jiang Shangzhen pondered over this for a long time, still unable to understand. That Huang Ting was definitely not one to be trifled with, and extremely proud.

Zhu Lian didn’t hide anything, simply saying that he had given her a handwritten copy of a Daoist scripture, and the Huang maiden had sat there reading it for a while.

That was the old chef’s way of hospitality, nothing more.

At the time, Chief Zhou stood under the eaves, watching the courtyard outside the steps, and quickly understood the key to it, greatly admiring it.

A Daoist scripture, a rattan chair, Huang Ting facing the yellow earth, reading Huang Ting under the moonlight.

Tonight, a large group of people gathered here to chat, mainly listening to Zheng Dafeng’s interesting stories from the Five Colored World.

Zheng Dafeng’s witty speech was like a natural gift. Everything that passed through his mouth could always evoke laughter and bring a knowing smile to the listener.

With the old chef’s support and agreement, the same story became even more amusing.

Among the listeners just now were the Daoist Immortal Wei, Chen Lingjun, and the martial artist Zhong Qian. The women included Xie Gou, the Mistress of the Fox Kingdom, Pei Xiang, and the current head of the Lakes and Mountains Sect, Gao Jun.

Previously, Chen Ping An had taken the initiative to visit the Lakes and Mountains Sect, taking her away from the Lotus Root Blessed Land. Gao Jun had originally planned to return home soon, so at first, she had only gone to Pi Yun Mountain with Mountain Lord Wei. She wanted to learn more about the customs and practices of this vast world, and then discovered the Mirror Flower Water Moon and the Mountain and Water Gazette, making her even more reluctant to leave Fallen Mountain, delaying her planned journey again and again.

But at this moment, Zheng Dafeng had already left, heading down the mountain with Immortal Wei.

Xiao Mo had taken Chen Lingjun to the Fine Eyebrow River region, and then Xie Gou had also secretly gone over, just asking Old Mister Zhu to prepare a late-night snack for when she and Xiao Mo returned, not to rush cooking.

Zhu Lian smiled and agreed. Since he was idle and Pei Xiang was leading the charge, Zhu Lian lay on the rattan chair, following her topic and casually saying a few things to relieve boredom.

“Cultivation is never just a matter of the mountains; it’s always a matter of what’s around us.”

“Between a man and a woman, becoming husband and wife is fate, nothing more than distinguishing between karmic debts and benevolent ties. The worst kind of karmic debt is when they torment each other in this life, entangled and unwilling to separate, harboring resentment until the end, which will even extend to the next life. The medium kind of karmic debt is when both sides live together reluctantly, always dissatisfied, feeling they owe each other, so whether they are poor or rich, whether they have money or not, they are never happy. A slightly lighter kind of karmic debt is when they break up unhappily, but there is not much resentment between them, simply because the fate was shallow and the connection ended.”

“Only benevolent ties lead to mutual accomplishment and growing old together. So, cultivation is nothing more than putting oneself in another’s shoes, turning karmic debts into benevolent ties, and extending benevolent ties from this life to the next, so that no matter what form they meet in the next life, they will feel like they’ve met an old friend and feel joy in their hearts. So, between husband and wife, if they want to be of one mind and live a good life together, if it starts as a karmic debt, then resolve the karmic debt and form a benevolent tie. If it’s already a benevolent tie, it’s even simpler, nothing more than continuing the benevolent tie.”

Pei Xiang smiled charmingly, “But in this world, there is more than just love between men and women and the relationship between husband and wife, isn’t there?”

Zhu Lian placed his hands on his abdomen, gently tapping the back of his left hand with his right, and slowly said, “The relationship between parents and children is a debt. Children come into this world to either collect or repay debts to their parents.”

“If children come to collect debts, then the parents must quickly repay the debt, the sooner the better. So, you will find that in this world, some elders are clearly honest and kind people from well-off families, but they always have an unreasonable prodigal son or daughter. If children come to repay debts in this life, then parents should also cherish them and not squander them.”

“So, you will also see some families where, no matter how harsh the parents’ words are or how selfish their actions are, the children are always willing to be filial, no matter how hard their lives are or how much they suffer.”

“Of course, there are also some children who can bring prosperity and good fortune to a family that was originally poor. This is their repayment of the debt.”

“Do you think that many couples in this world who have children really know how to be parents? Actually, they all don’t know at first. Since it’s the first time for everything in this life, the fathers and mothers are either unprepared or simply don’t know how to act. They are always a little confused. So, without leaving our homes, we already have joys and sorrows for which we can cry and laugh.”

The martial artist Zhong Qian, sitting alone on a long bench, said in a low voice, “Mister Zhu, what should we do?”

A principle must have a grounding, otherwise, knowing a basketful of great principles is useless except for carrying it around and getting tired.

Zhu Lian smiled gently, “Don’t suffer for appearances’ sake. Be more patient with others and with yourself. With the people close to you, dare to admit your mistakes and be willing to say ‘I’m sorry’.”
“Especially for good people, those without malice and full of kindness towards the world, they must pay attention to their temperament. They must control their emotions, and not give others, especially those close to them, the impression of being unpredictable and temperamental. Otherwise, even if they are in the right, they will still suffer in the end.”

“There is a saying that describes anger that arises for no reason as ‘nameless fire’ (無名之火), using the ‘name’ character. But it can also be interpreted as ‘ignorance fire’ (無明之火), using the character for ‘brightness’. It seems that all the grievances a person has, accumulate little by little, eventually growing into something significant. Even trivial matters turn into emotions that are difficult to recognize. One might think it doesn’t matter, but secrets are hard to keep. This lack of self-awareness is probably what is meant by ‘ignorance’.”

“When we think too much and do too little, how can we expect to reap what we sow?”

“But if we do too much and think too little, how can we protect our own benevolent heart?”

“We humans, living our lives, can’t always feel like we’ve already done our best.”

“But don’t be afraid. Under the same roof, all vented anger has a warmth to it. As long as others know what you’re feeling, don’t bottle it up inside. Of course, don’t scald the hearts of others. So, in addition to letting the other person know what you’re thinking, you must also know what they are thinking, regardless of who is right or wrong, or whether either side has a valid point.”

“Here’s a little trick: don’t try to debate specific issues with close family members other than your children. With children, for the sake of discipline and establishing rules, it must be unquestionable. Certain things should simply be done a certain way. It’s best if the child understands, but if they don’t, they should still do as they’re told. For example, when out and about, you should greet elders. If you do something wrong, you should apologize for the wrongdoing itself, not because ‘doing this will make so-and-so unhappy,’ or ‘it will upset your parents.’ As parents, you also cannot apologize on their behalf.”

Gao Jun finally couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Zhu, I have a question. Isn’t ‘addressing the matter at hand’ (就事論事) universally considered a positive thing, both on and off the mountain?”

“That’s why it’s a trick. If everyone knew it, there wouldn’t be anything to discuss.”

Zhu Lian smiled. The old man spoke in a uniquely gentle tone, softly saying, “When an issue requires us to question or negate our family members, it is always accompanied by emotions. Inevitably, we’ll say a few harsh words. Is it useful? Maybe, but it’s more likely to make things worse. As we argue, talking past each other, eventually the argument has nothing to do with the original issue. We start digging up old grudges, finding all sorts of reasons to justify ourselves, or negating the other person’s point with our own. In that case, can we truly ‘address the matter at hand’?”

“Men like to reason, women focus on feelings. If a man can’t understand the seemingly inexplicable, unreasonable, and nonsensical emotions of a woman, which themselves are a form of reasoning, then it will be difficult to explain his own reasoning.”

“Not to mention, if reasoning is just to win, to have a victor, the two sides will naturally feel that the other is impossible to communicate with. For a married couple sharing the same bed, with no escape or avoidance, perhaps the only outcome is mutual silence and individual grievances.”

“All our misunderstandings of others, of the world, probably come down to three words: ‘I think’.”

Gao Jun pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.

The girl in the sable hat, who had returned to Ruòpò Shān, listened with shining eyes, plopped down on the bamboo chair, gave a thumbs up, and exclaimed, “Mr. Zhu, you are insightful!”

Zhu Lian smiled, “Men should think more.”

Xie Gou nodded vigorously. Mr. Zhu’s words were all good, but this one, this principle, was the best.

If it could be said that Xie Gou was gradually changing his opinion and genuinely beginning to think that Ruòpò Shān was a good place, then the old cook, Zhu Lian, deserved half the credit!

Zhu Lian continued, “Everyone is inherently lazy and has an innate inertia. That’s why I’ve always felt that certain principles in books, or statements heard from others, all those principles that sound easy at first, are unlikely to make our lives better. Good principles, on the contrary, are those that make us feel uncomfortable at first and are even more difficult to put into practice.”

“So, if Miss Xie only finds this sentence pleasing to the ear and reasonable tonight, and remembers it while forgetting everything else, it would be better not to have heard anything at all.”

Xie Gou smiled awkwardly.

Master Zhu was indeed profoundly wise.

Xiao Mo, who had just returned to the courtyard, smiled knowingly.

Zhu Lian said unceremoniously, “Xiao Mo, what are you smiling at, like an idiot?”

Master Xiao Mo and Miss Xie, were treated impartially.

Only then did Xiao Mo restrain his smile, but he couldn’t help but smile again.

Xie Gou blinked her eyes, “Oh my, can’t take it, can’t take it. Xiao Mo is so gentle today, he seems even more handsome than yesterday.”

Zhu Lian looked at the sky, silent for a moment.

How many principles are needed to support one seemingly simple principle?

It seems that too many things are like an addition problem with only one definite number. If any one of the principles is missing, the answer will definitely be wrong.

Coming back to his senses, Zhu Lian smiled, “I won’t talk about matters outside the mountain. On our Ruòpò Shān, there’s just one thing: try to ensure that no one feels wronged. Of course, it’s hard to do, so strive to minimize the grievances everyone experiences.”

Some grievances that people are unwilling to voice come from the lack of response from those around them. All kinds of expectations, aspirations, and desires echo in their hearts like drums, resounding throughout their inner world. But outside, there is silence, forever silent. It’s like someone has shouted themselves hoarse, but no one hears them. This person will become increasingly unwilling to speak, remaining silent until they become a mute.

Zhu Lian said softly, “Regardless of right or wrong, you must be willing to tell others your thoughts, why you want to say something, why you want to do something, tell them directly and without ambiguity, ‘This is what I think, what do you think?'”

In fact, in this matter, on Ruòpò Shān, the person who does this best is Chen Lingjun, and perhaps only second to the Mountain Lord, Chen Ping An.
For example, if Chen Lingjun encountered a frustrating situation, his first reaction would definitely be overwhelming grievance, feeling lost and wishing his Old Master were by his side. He’d resolve that the moment Chen Ping’an returned home, he absolutely had to pour out his woes! Or, for instance, when he was embroiled in that watercourse dispute in the Northern Ju Continent, at that critical juncture where the major waterway met the sea, Chen Lingjun was thinking that at worst, he’d return to the Fallen Phoenix Mountain and get scolded by Chen Ping’an. After being lectured, he’d just go back to doing whatever he pleased. As long as he wasn’t kicked off the mountain, he’d still be a heroic fellow.

The Fallen Phoenix Mountain has achieved its current splendor.

Outsiders often believe that Chen Ping’an is too fond of being hands-off, that his vast estate today is simply the result of blind luck.

Even some cultivators who are somewhat familiar with the Fallen Phoenix Mountain think that figures like Zhu Lian, who remain steadfastly in place, are just doing manual labor.

This is the difference between an expert seeing the essence and a layman watching the spectacle.

Chen Ping’an once sent a letter back to the Fallen Phoenix Mountain, entrusting Wei Bo to deliver it.

On the envelope, he wrote in tiny characters: “Warm Tree to open, Pei Qian to read, Mi Li to keep the envelope.”

That year, after they received the letter, the three little heads huddled together in the bamboo building, and Little Black Charcoal read the contents of the letter three times over.

Zhu Lian stood up, rubbing his hands with a smile, “Time to make a midnight snack, Little Mo, lend a hand.”

Little Mo smiled and got up, readily assisting Mister Zhu in the kitchen, already quite familiar with the task.

After everyone ate the midnight snack together at the table, Pei Xiang and Gao Jun, who previously wouldn’t lift a finger for such chores, helped clear the dishes and chopsticks before returning to their respective residences.

After the lively gathering, Zhu Lian was alone, reclining in his rattan chair, seemingly talking to himself, “Lu Chen, is that so?”

Sitting on the wall, Lu Chen, who had arrived unnoticed, smiled and said, “There’s a small problem. Some principles are not followed even by those who preach them.”

“Even so, does that make those principles any less valid?”

“If you put it that way, it does seem to make some sense.”

Zhu Lian turned and spat on the ground, “A flower thief, jade-waisted rogue, on the branches of the Zhuang Zhou’s Dao Tree!”

Lu Chen couldn’t help but chuckle, “How strange, why are you scolding yourself?”

Lu Chen leaped down into the courtyard, heading straight for the rattan chair. He imitated Zhu Lian’s posture and lay down on it lazily, “It’s been years. Care for a chat?”

Zhu Lian sat on the steps, hands tucked into his sleeves, and said calmly, “What do you wish to discuss?”

Lu Chen smiled, closing his eyes.

Zhu Lian looked up.

In that instant, in the darkness of night, it seemed as if countless dreams of the world’s billions of beings, like dense clusters of lanterns, colorful and radiant, rose slowly into the air.

Under the eaves of the village school, the old scholar lay comfortably on that rattan chair, while Chen Ping’an sat on a bamboo chair beside him, gently waving a palm-leaf fan.

Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji sat on the other side.

The old scholar smiled and asked, “Ning Ji, did you understand all that I told you earlier?”

Ning Ji shook his head, blushing, “Grandmaster, I understood almost nothing.”

The old scholar laughed heartily, “It’s alright, it’s alright. Have your teacher explain it to you in simpler terms.”

Chen Ping’an then smiled and used some plain and easily understood language to explain it to Ning Ji in detail.

Ning Ji memorized both explanations, and whenever there was something he still didn’t understand, he would ask his teacher. Chen Ping’an would then explain it in yet another way.

The old man listened, and then drifted off to sleep once more, his snores soft.

Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji tiptoed off to the kitchen to make their beds on the floor.

Only Chen Ping’an remained seated, quietly keeping his teacher company.

In the open space outside the school, the traces of the children playing hopscotch were still faintly visible.

Perhaps childhood is like a carefree game of hopscotch, with your home inside the squares and the world outside them.