Cao Gengxin arrived at a secluded alleyway house in the capital. He took out a key, opened the courtyard gate, revealing a two-courtyard residence, covered in dust and fallen leaves, with a musty, decaying smell. Abandoned houses aged quickly.

This was Cao Gengxin’s first time entering the courtyard. Previously, he’d only passed by, never entering, because someone in a secret letter had instructed the then-Supervisor Cao to open the courtyard when someone succeeded the position of Great Li National Preceptor and convene a meeting. The letter didn’t specify the matter of the meeting or who to gather. The writer only gave Cao Gengxin a title that wasn’t paid by the imperial court or recorded in official documents. The courtyard even had a small well. Cao Gengxin squatted at the wellhead, peering inside for a while. It was dark, without the presence of a corpse, nor did it seem like an entrance to an underwater dragon palace. It harbored neither ill omens nor fortune, nor any romantic encounters. Cao Gengxin tossed a pebble inside, and with a “thump,” it proved that water could be drawn. He fetched water, then went to the storage room to get a broom and dustpan, and began cleaning the courtyard. The main house and the two side rooms were empty, utterly destitute.

After finishing, Cao Gengxin sat by the well, took out a polished, purplish-gold small gourd wine pot from his waist, removed the stopper, and took a sip of the court-bestowed Evergreen Brew.

A couplet was pasted on the main house doorway, but due to years of wind, rain, and sun, the red paper had faded to white, and the writing was as blurred as an ancient stone inscription. Moreover, the first half of the first line was missing.

“… lacking spirit, echoing others.”

“Heaven is about to abandon culture, the manifestation of Tao is in me. Opening books is beneficial, culture resides here.”

Cao Gengxin drank about three liang of wine, but couldn’t figure out how to complete the couplet. Frustrated, he gave up, stowed the wine gourd, and took out a jade token from his sleeve, inscribed with the characters “Earthly Branches” in seal script.

Following the intricate instructions in the letter, he poured spiritual energy into the jade token, as if writing the characters “Earthly Branches” in a specific stroke order.

Soon after, two groups of people arrived at the small courtyard. Cao Gengxin remained calm, having anticipated this before summoning them, determined to project an air of divine aloofness, not showing any nervousness. However, when Minister Cao opened his eyes and saw Zhou Haichao among them, his expression turned somewhat unnatural, because his uncle, Cao Ping, before departing for the Falling Sun Wharf in the desolate wilderness, had summoned Cao Gengxin to his study. One of the matters discussed was for the not-so-young Cao Gengxin to marry and have children. If Cao Ping returned and nothing had happened, he would surely use his jade belt to give Minister Cao a thorough beating reminiscent of bamboo whip stir-fry. At the time, Cao Gengxin had used this female grandmaster as an excuse, never expecting Cao Ping to take it seriously.

“No official status within the courtyard.”

Therefore, Cao Gengxin didn’t rise to greet the imperial prince Song Xu.

Yuan Huajing asked, “Cao Gengxin, how did you come to possess this jade token?”

According to the rules of the Earthly Branches lineage, seeing this jade token was akin to seeing Cui Chan.

Yu Yu smiled and said, “Just passing through my hands. It will soon be handed over to Mister Chen. Wouldn’t you say this is returning the item to its rightful owner?”

Cao Gengxin chuckled. “That’s not certain. But an Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel can manage the twelve of you? Seems like you’ve lost some value.”

A wealth of talent, a courtyard filled with extraordinary experts, exuding ethereal immortal energy.

The scion of the Yuan family, Yuan Huajing, a Nascent Soul stage sword cultivator. Imperial Prince Song Xu, a Golden Core stage sword cultivator. Han Zhoujin, a female array master from the Clear Pond Blessed Land of the Divine Edicts Sect. Yu Yu, a military strategist from the Yu family. Ge Ling, a record keeper from the capital, a native of Jurong. Hou Jue, a Shraman from the Bureau of Translation. Sui Lin, a Yin-Yang practitioner. Lu Hui, a Confucian scholar. Gai Yan, a ghost cultivator. Gou Cun, a youth of monster origin. Bitterhand. Zhou Haijing, the only pure martial artist, a mountain peak realm grandmaster hailing from a fishing family by the sea.

Cao Gengxin only recognized half of the twelve Great Li Earthly Branches.

Soon after, a figure in a green robe appeared in the alleyway, gently knocking on the courtyard door with two bent fingers. He then stepped across the threshold with Xiao Mo, who quietly closed the gate behind them.

Cao Gengxin rose and smiled, “Mister Chen, I didn’t expect we would meet again so soon.”

Chen Pingan brushed his sleeves, letting the scent of alcohol dissipate with the wind. He smiled and said, “I didn’t want to be too polite with Minister Cao. I just took Liu Xu and the others to the Iris River Wine House. Unexpectedly, they said that mentioning Minister Cao’s name wouldn’t get us a discount, but rather double the price, and wouldn’t let us leave. I asked if we could pay on credit, but the wine house refused, and wouldn’t let us go, saying that any amount we could pay off for Minister Cao’s tab was a help.”

Even Yuan Huajing couldn’t help but glance at Cao Gengxin.

Lu Hui and Bitterhand, who had suffered greatly at Mister Chen’s hands, almost gave Minister Cao a thumbs up.

This audacious Minister Cao was truly courting death.

Who you were going to swindle was your choice, but to swindle Mister Chen?

Lu Hui, for example, had been pierced by dozens of long swords with Chen Pingan’s “Flower Bloom,” a technique that was both fist art and swordplay. And the female ghost Gai Yan didn’t receive any mercy from “that Chen Pingan” when she was pulverized by a self-created sword move called “Fragmented Moon.”

Only Zhou Haichao, who had joined later, didn’t understand the gravity of the situation and was unaware of the consequences of provoking Chen Pingan. She sensed that the atmosphere in the courtyard was strange and became curious. These geniuses were quite arrogant in her presence, but why were they acting like mice in front of a cat when they saw Chen Pingan today? Was it necessary?

Cao Gengxin looked embarrassed and said, “Is retribution coming this quickly?”

Chen Pingan explained to them, “Xiao Mo said that you all suddenly gathered in one place, so I became a bit curious. Since Minister Cao is the one summoning you here, there’s nothing for me to do.”

Cao Gengxin quickly said, “There is a connection! Mister Chen, don’t even think about staying out of this. National Preceptor Cui has something for me to say publicly in front of both of you.”

Gou Cun, who was attentive, went into the house and brought out a long bench, wanting to give Mister Chen a place to sit.

But Gai Yan snatched it away and placed it next to Chen Pingan.

Based on Mister Chen’s golden words in the Ministry of War, Gai Yan, the innkeeper, would do anything. Not just moving a bench, but if Mister Chen wanted to sit on her, she would comply!

When Gai Yan placed the bench, she saw the youth in the yellow hat and green shoes smile and nod at her, so she returned the smile.

Gai Yan only knew that he was Chen Pingan’s personal attendant, who had once entered the palace with him to see the Empress Dowager.
Chen Ping’an thanked Gai Yan, sat on the bench, and smiled, “Tell me about it, I’m listening.”

Cao Gengxin said, “Just two sentences. One is for Yuan Jianxian and the others: from today onwards, all those in the courtyard with waist tags will be under my jurisdiction and not subject to the deployment of the new Grand Li National Preceptor. However, the new National Preceptor can make suggestions, and that’s it. The second sentence is for Mr. Chen. Actually, National Preceptor Cui’s letter didn’t mention any names… I’ll repeat it as it is. However it was written in the letter, that’s how I’ll say it: ‘Your heart isn’t dark enough, your actions aren’t ruthless enough, you can’t possibly manage this group of people well. It’s like a sword in its scabbard, constantly eroding its sword intent. In the end, all that sharpness will be gone, leaving them as a tasteless, unwanted burden.'”

Chen Ping’an nodded, tucked his hands into his sleeves, smiled, and then asked, “Senior Brother Cui thinks I’m not up to it, but you can handle it?”

Cao Gengxin was momentarily speechless. This question was difficult to answer.

Yu Yu’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She spoke in a mental voice, “Here it comes, place your bets! I bet Mr. Chen will chop Cao Gengxin, at least deliver a sword strike or a punch.”

Gai Yan immediately echoed, “Let’s not bet money this time, let’s bet on Changchun Palace’s fermented rice wine.”

Chen Ping’an extended his hand. “Bring that letter over and let me see it. Before drinking at Changpu River, of course I trusted Prefect Cao, who had an excellent reputation in my hometown. Now, it’s hard to say.”

Cao Gengxin helplessly said, “National Preceptor Cui specifically reminded me at the end of the letter to destroy it after reading it. I really can’t give Mr. Chen any evidence.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Then let’s change to a simpler way of proving it. How do you prove that your heart is dark enough and your hands are ruthless enough?”

Cao Gengxin glanced at the twelve members of the Earthly Branches, then looked at the man in the blue robe sitting on the bench. He took down his wine gourd, raised it, and said with a chuckle, “Before I say some sincere words, Mr. Chen, allow me to drink some wine to embolden myself?”

Chen Ping’an lifted his blue robe, changed his posture to sit with his legs crossed, extended his palm, and said with a smile, “Feel free.”

Cao Gengxin took a swig of wine, lowered his head, wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, raised his head, and squinted with a smile, “If I had entered this courtyard earlier, Yuan Huajing and the other twelve would probably be in certain capitals south of Treasure Bottle Continent, or at the entrances of ancestral halls. The heads of certain kingdom emperors, the corpses of certain mountain sect leaders, doubled, totaling twenty-four.”

“Before returning to Grand Li, I would leave a reminder to those courts and immortal abodes. If they later see any mentions of these unexpected misfortunes or obituaries on any landscape gazettes, or if they make wild guesses and frame a certain dynasty in the north, then as a reward, the dragon throne of their court, the seat of the mountain’s sect leader, will remain empty, and no one who sits on it will last.”

After Cao Gengxin finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent.

Cao Gengxin glanced at the pair of thousand-layered cloth shoes by the bench, one on the ground, one hanging in the air.

“It’s easy to hunt for injustice with injustice, but difficult to hunt for injustice with righteousness.”

After Cao Gengxin said this, he took another big gulp of wine, gurgling loudly, and then fastened his wine gourd. “All the kingdoms of the world scheme to hunt for injustice with injustice, which is only natural. Does National Preceptor Chen agree?”

Yu Yu opened her mouth wide. She clenched her fist and waved it vigorously.

Cao Gengxin’s second to last sentence really struck a chord with her.

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Aside from exceptions, that’s generally the case.”

Cao Gengxin sighed, seemingly never expecting such an answer. This statement, which made so much sense, simply made no sense at all.

Chen Ping’an stood up and asked with a smile, “Cao Gengxin, in the future, will I have the right to know in advance and the right to veto anything your Earthly Branch lineage does?”

Cao Gengxin said, “National Preceptor Cui didn’t mention that in the letter.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Then that means I do.”

Cao Gengxin was speechless and could only let out a heavy sigh.

He suddenly asked, “Did Mr. Chen really go to Changpu River with his friends?”

Chen Ping’an laughed. “Fortunately, I came here after emboldening myself with alcohol. You all can continue your conversation. I won’t continue to stay here and be a nuisance.”

Chen Ping’an left the courtyard with his attendant, gradually walking out of the alley.

Cao Gengxin, listening intently to the footsteps, confirmed that they had gone far away before plopping down on the wellhead, opening his collar to fan himself, and starting to drink alone to calm his nerves.

Gou Cun walked over to the bench, wanting to move it back to its original position, but was stopped by Gai Yan. Gou Cun looked puzzled. Gai Yan justified herself by saying that she was going to move to the inn to be a treasure of the store.

Yu Yu sat on the steps outside the main room and praised, “Cao Doubler, that’s good, very good!”

Yu Yu wasn’t very old, but her family seniority was high. In the Yichi Lane and Chier Street, where wealthy families gathered, she had long heard about the legendary deeds of Cao Gengxin, Yuan Zhengding, and Liu Xunmei, who belonged to the previous generation. Yu Yu and Zhao Duanming, who were from the younger generation, all knew that Cao Gengxin used to “get rich” by selling erotic books and suggestive pictures. Back then, when Cao Gengxin went to work as an official in the regions, the elders all breathed a sigh of relief. That scourge had finally left.

Cao Gengxin helplessly said, “That nickname isn’t very pleasant to hear.”

Yu Yu laughed, “It’s better than Cao the Thief, right?”

It turned out that among the two generations in Yichi Lane and Chier Street, they were used to calling Cao Gengxin Cao the Thief, earning money, stirring up trouble, tricking younger children into drinking, and flirting with older sisters, he was good at everything.

Zhou Haichao leaned against a厢房 doorpost with her arms crossed, smilingly asking, “Prefect Cao, were those words you just said all from the heart?”

Cao Gengxin glanced at the woman’s chest, not daring to look too much, and said with a wry smile, “Even wine has fake wine, let alone words spoken from the mouth.”

Song Xu said, “Your approach has too many side effects. Even if we act secretly, the current Guanhai Academy isn’t stupid.”

Cao Gengxin smiled, “It was just to fool National Preceptor Chen. I didn’t have a choice but to say it. I myself don’t believe it, so what are you believing?”

Zhou Haichao joked, “Cao Gengxin, you’re just a Prefect, how can you talk to the Prince like that?”

Cao Gengxin dismissed it with a smile, but a leopard can’t change its spots. He took the opportunity to steal another glance at her voluptuous scenery.

Last time, he had dragged Zhao Duanming to the rooftop to watch that arena match, but the distance was too far, and he couldn’t see it clearly enough.

Yuan Huajing asked, “Does Prefect Cao have any other instructions?”

Cao Gengxin smiled, “Everyone go home, we’ll gather again if there’s anything. Since there’s nothing to do today, let’s head back.”
The group led by Gai Yan returned to the inn, each cultivating their swords or refining their Qi within their respective snail-shell dojos.

Following Mr. Chen’s advice, Gai Yan proactively discussed with Zhou Haichao the idea of partnering in business and expanding the inn’s operations.

Zhou Haichao’s eyes lit up. Without even agreeing or disagreeing, she immediately began negotiating the profit-sharing, demanding a fifty-fifty split with Gai Yan.

Previously, if Zhou Haichao had acted so unreasonably, Gai Yan would have kicked her out immediately. But today, Gai Yan was confident and unperturbed. She shared some of her “insights” and explained her “business acumen” regarding the inn’s future operations. Zhou Haichao listened with a mixture of surprise and doubt, wondering if Gai Yan, the fool, had been possessed by a ghost. But no, she was already a female ghost herself. Could it be that Gai Yan had suddenly awakened, as if divinely inspired?!

It was like a martial arts challenge; once the momentum weakened, it became difficult to bargain further. Zhou Haichao had to concede, agreeing to a thirty-seventy split with Gai Yan.

Then, a young female cultivator who had just been “laid off” from the entrance came to discuss a matter with the manager. She reported that several wealthy guests from Beiju Luzhou had arrived—a naive young man with deep pockets—inquiring about purchasing the two waterfront residences, “Luzhou Moon” and “Colorful Clouds Between.” They proposed that if the inn agreed to sell them these two residences, they would guarantee occupancy for no more than one month per year, with the remaining eleven months, or even longer, available for the inn to rent out to other guests, retaining all the income.

Gai Yan was stunned, wondering if she had encountered someone so rich they didn’t know what to do with their money.

Zhou Haijing asked, “Have their identity papers been recorded? Who are they?”

The young female cultivator replied, “Yuan Xuan from the Sanlang Temple, Fan Yu, Liu Wuding, and Liu Xu from the Mule Horse River.”

Zhou Haijing grinned, “Good heavens, the Yuan family of Sanlang Temple and the Liu family of Mule Horse River are among the wealthiest in Beiju Luzhou! We must double the original price, then double it again!”

However, Gai Yan said to the young female cultivator, “Tell the supervisor to sell them at cost.”

Zhou Haijing exclaimed angrily, “Gai Yan, are you out of your mind? Turning down money like that?!”

Gai Yan replied, “Liu Xu has been to the Sword Qi Great Wall, and Fan Yu has been to the battlefield of our Dali capital.”

Zhou Haijing stared intently at Gai Yan.

Gai Yan said, “Why are you looking at me? Are we going to dissolve the partnership already? Let’s go our separate ways, and I’ll just earn my small change from now on.”

Zhou Haijing suddenly laughed, “Alright, alright, you’re the owner, I’m just the second owner. What you say goes. I used to think you were just too foolish to know how to make money.”

Gai Yan asked with a smile, “And now?”

Zhou Haijing replied, “Still foolish.”

Gai Yan’s eyebrows shot up, “Say that again!”

Zhou Haijing instructed the female cultivator to discuss the matter with the inn’s supervisor. Then, winking at Gai Yan, she said playfully, “How about I borrow that long bench from the small courtyard? I’m a pure martial artist; I’d like to absorb some literary and immortal aura.”

Gai Yan glared at her, “You shameless woman!”

Zhou Haijing chuckled, “Who was it that pounced on Mr. Chen like a hungry tiger the moment they saw him at the gate, desperately trying to get close?”

Gai Yan blushed, “I was just teasing Mr. Chen.”

Zhou Haijing lowered her voice, “I think Chen Pingan is still a virgin.”

Gai Yan waved her sleeve, closing the door. This was something they needed to discuss properly.

Leaving the alley, Chen Pingan strolled through the capital with Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo said, “Chief Zhou asked Wei Shanjun for help and has already returned to Luopo Mountain.”

Xiao Mo was actually superior to Bai Jing in detecting Qi refiner auras and the flow of spiritual energy in the world. It was precisely because of this special skill that he only had three sword duels with Bai Jing ten thousand years ago. Otherwise, there might have been thirty forced surrenders, not just three.

Chen Pingan asked with a smile, “Was he ambushed at the Changchun Palace? Chief Zhou, concerned about his reputation, could only take the beating without retaliating and run away?”

He remembered hearing many stories about Jiang Shangzhen in Beiju Luzhou during his first travels there, all notoriously bad. For example, there was the principle of only attracting one female cultivator to each mountain peak and only deceiving one female hero from each Jianghu sect. What terrible habits!

If Jiang Shangzhen hadn’t used an alias as the chief consecrator back then, Chen Pingan couldn’t imagine Luopo Mountain’s reputation in Baoping, Tongye, and Beiju Luzhou today.

Xiao Mo smiled, “I’m not too clear about the specific details.”

He still had great respect for Chief Zhou. When the Young Master’s Luopo Mountain was still unknown, it was Chief Zhou who constantly invested money there, not just adding flowers to brocade but providing coal in the snow.

Giving a penny in hard times is better than a tael of gold when rich. Besides, Chief Zhou was investing with Valley Rain coins back then.

Therefore, Xiao Mo felt that unless the Young Master had made a decision, he would be the first to object to anyone vying with Chief Zhou for the position of chief in the future.

Xie Gou hadn’t returned from the Fire God Temple yet. Xiao Mo wondered, “I don’t know what Xie Gou and that Aunt Feng are talking about. I remember they used to have a very ordinary relationship.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “Women talking about men have no taboos. Compared to that, men making lewd remarks about women is just child’s play.”

Xiao Mo sincerely praised, “The Young Master even understands this?”

Chen Pingan quickly shook his head, clarifying, “Of course I don’t. I heard it from the old cook, Chief Zhou, and Great Swordsman Mi. They are the real experts. I just overhear it occasionally and leave.”

Chen Pingan changed to using mental communication, asking, “Xiao Mo, have you really decided to join Luopo Mountain’s ancestral hall records and become a named consecrator of Jise Peak from now on?”

Xiao Mo asked with a smile, “Shouldn’t the person you’re asking this question to be Xie Gou?”

Chen Pingan said, “Xie Gou has always just been Bai Jing. A record identity of the Great Worlds that cannot bind her, both in terms of identity and Dao heart. Her wanting to be a vice consecrator is just like playing around. Of course, our Luopo Mountain does need another Ascended Realm pure sword cultivator. To be precise, if the Great Worlds can keep Xie Gou, the barbaric worlds will have one less Bai Jing. I know this, and Xie Gou knows it too, but we don’t say it openly because you’re here.”

Xiao Mo asked doubtfully, “Does the Young Master not trust me?”
Chen Ping’an chuckled, “What’s this, Mister Xiao Mo? You only speak nonsense at crucial moments? Isn’t that undoing all your previous good work?”

Xiao Mo smiled wryly.

“Whether or not you join the Ancestral Hall’s Golden Jade Register is of no consequence to me. Regardless of whether you are recorded during the Jade Splendor Peak discussions, you will still be Xiao Mo.”

Chen Ping’an said, “But for you, it is, to some extent, a shackle.”

Just then, some children nearby were flying kites. Chen Ping’an pointed to the kites in the distant sky.

“You pure sword cultivators, the heavens are vast and the earth is wide, you should be free and unfettered, carefree and unrestrained.”

“But our every nostalgia, hatred, worry, attachment, or remembrance, is like a string attached to a kite. A gentle tug and a thought arises.”

“Once a thought arises, the Dao Heart is like water rippling. It is easy to start a thought, but difficult to stop it.”

Xiao Mo thought carefully for a moment, “Once, beneath a tree, I heard the Buddha speak Dharma to a nameless person. The latter said that others are hell, but the Buddha said that a lotus flower bloomed in the world because of it.”

Chen Ping’an remained silent for a long time.

Someone once said, forgetting and making mistakes are both gifts from Heaven, a kind of merciful tenderness, an act of grace beyond the law.

Xiao Mo said softly, “Young Master?”

Chen Ping’an smiled broadly, his tone helpless, “You’ve already invoked the Buddha, what else can I say?”

Xie Gou appeared ahead of the road, handing them several oil paper-wrapped barrel cakes, “Delicious.”

Chen Ping’an took a barrel cake and asked, “Did you pay?”

Xie Gou exclaimed “Ah!” and slapped her sable hat, “I forgot.”

She thought that in the Great Li capital, eating and drinking, all she had to do was mention the Mountain Lord or National Preceptor, and she wouldn’t have to pay. A misunderstanding, ha.

She wasn’t like this in the Northern Reed Continent. When she went to the mountain to gather herbs and set up a stall in the mountain market, the prices were fair, a penny for a penny’s worth.

Xie Gou immediately turned and ran off.

At the barrel cake stall, where business was booming, the man cursed under his breath. How could such an honest-looking little girl be a swindler?

The sable-hatted girl took a sliver of silver from her sleeve. The man took it, his face immediately lighting up with a smile, and he hastily said, “Welcome, esteemed guest, come again!”

Returning to Chen Ping’an and the others, Xie Gou munched on the last of her dried plum vegetable and meat barrel cake, saying indistinctly, “Mountain Lord, Aunt Feng wants you to go to Hundred Flowers Blessed Land as soon as possible. She said if you don’t go again, she won’t need your help anymore and will take it back.”

Chen Ping’an understood Aunt Feng’s unspoken meaning and said, “Understood, I’ll go as soon as possible.”

Anyway, as long as it wasn’t spoken from the heart, Aunt Feng could definitely hear it.

Xie Gou said, “Also, Aunt Feng asked me to give the Mountain Lord good news. The Confucian Temple has agreed without any dissent to the matter of the Mountain Lord becoming a Confucian Gentleman.”

Chen Ping’an found it a bit strange. Even if Aunt Feng was bold, she couldn’t possibly eavesdrop on the discussions of the Central Earth Confucian Temple.

Saying this, Xie Gou reached out her hand.

Chen Ping’an took out a small piece of silver that he carried with him and placed it on the palm of the sable-hatted girl.

Xiao Mo looked bewildered.

Xie Gou grinned and said, “Isn’t it written above that many talented scholars rush to the capital, and those who pass the imperial examination, there are people who beat gongs and drums to announce the good news, and they all get a reward?”

Xiao Mo felt helpless.

You really have the nerve to accept it, and the Young Master really gives it…

Xie Gou, having received the money, smiled brilliantly, “Aunt Feng just said that the Ceremonial Master Mao of the Rites Academy felt that transmitting messages by flying sword was too slow, so after the discussions ended and he walked out of the Confucian Temple, Ceremonial Master Mao called out her divine title and asked her to help deliver the message.”

Chen Ping’an’s eyes lit up.

Xie Gou happily helped to express her Mountain Lord’s thoughts, “It’s a unique way to make money in the world.”

Chen Ping’an sighed, “Nonsense, how dare I trouble Aunt Feng.”

Xiao Mo was increasingly feeling that whether or not he was at Fallen Phoenix Mountain was the same. She was very adaptable and lived every day very happily.

Xie Gou said softly, “Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, Aunt Feng said that His Majesty is using a jar of Changchun Palace rice wine to lure Vice Minister Cao to serve in the palace, just like Fallen Phoenix Mountain is using you to lure me.”

Actually, at the Grape Arbor of Fire God Temple, her conversation with Aunt Feng was much more lively than this. It was just that they “unintentionally” heard Xiao Mo “chatting” with their Mountain Lord, and Aunt Feng gave her this wonderful plan for free.

Xiao Mo asked, “You’re not angry when you hear that?”

Xie Gou tilted her sable hat, “Why be angry? I think it’s a good thing. Changchun Palace Immortal Wine is a good wine that everyone loves. It’s so good that even after the wine is drunk, the wine jar will be kept.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “I’m still here, you two should restrain yourselves a bit.”

Xie Gou grinned and said, “Aunt Feng also said that Ceremonial Master Mao said that the Confucian Temple has even settled on a saying to give to you.”

Chen Ping’an asked curiously, “Which saying is it?”

Confucian disciples, as long as they become Sages or Gentlemen of the Academy, can receive a saying from the Head of the Academy or a worthy Confucian.

If one serves as a Libationer or Ceremonial Master of an Academy, or as the Head of the seventy-two Confucian Academies, one can receive a saying from the Rite Sage, the Second Sage, or the Literary Sage.

If one serves as the Confucian Temple Leader, it is said that the Supreme Sage himself “cuts and deletes” a beautiful saying from a certain book.

Xie Gou looked at Mountain Lord Chen with a playful expression and asked, “Mountain Lord is so good at guessing people’s thoughts, do I need to say it?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Why ask when you already know the answer?”

Xiao Mo was at a loss.

Xie Gou nodded and said, “Ceremonial Master Mao also explained it together. It seems that the Literary Sage saw a sentence in a certain book from the Cloud of Voices building, because there was a vermillion stroke next to that sentence in the book.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, already guessing the answer.

Sure enough, what Xie Gou said was as Chen Ping’an had expected.

His heart stirred slightly, and then his mind moved, but Chen Ping’an dispelled that ripple in his Dao Heart.

Chen Ping’an changed the subject, communicating with them in his mind, “Xiao Mo, I’ve discussed it with Headmaster Lu. He’ll help me pass a message to Senior Brother Junqian. Senior Brother Junqian will soon return to the Vast Expanse World. I’ve already sent a letter to the Confucian Temple, asking you to take a trip to the Azure Sky World’s Bright Moon and Beautiful Rainbow, to catch up with the Old Master of the Temple. You can stay there for a while longer, don’t rush back to Fallen Phoenix Mountain. I’m planning to go into seclusion soon anyway.”

Xie Gou asked tentatively, “Mountain Lord, can I go with Xiao Mo?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I wrote it in the letter as well, but whether it will be rejected by the Confucian Temple is hard to say.”
Xiao Mo said, “Xie Gou, you best stay in the mountain, otherwise I won’t feel at ease leaving. When I’m not by the Young Master’s side, you need to help guard the retreat.”

He and the Cave Master of Bixiao Cave in Luobao Shoal, were indeed close friends who regarded each other as confidants. To say that their relationship was inseparable was no exaggeration.

Chen Pingan was just about to speak when Xie Gou suddenly stopped in her tracks, emulating her Right Protector by straightening her chest and saying in a deep voice, “If there is the slightest mishap, bring your head to Xiao Mo!”

Xiao Mo smiled softly, “All will be well. The Young Master will surely break through smoothly, you just need to keep Xiaomi Li company while she munches on melon seeds.”

Xie Gou was about to say something.

Chen Pingan spoke up, “Miss Xie, upon hearing such heartwarming words that are more romantic than any love confession, shouldn’t you squeeze out a tear or two?”

You two just go on with your lovey-dovey act, as if this Mountain Master doesn’t exist, how disgusting.

Xie Gou sighed, understandingly, “It seems the Mountain Master misses his Mountain Master’s wife.”

Xiao Mo’s eyes were full of smiles, and she nodded, rarely agreeing with Xie Gou, “It’s only natural, nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Both of you, shut up.”

Walking between them, Chen Pingan seemed to be embarrassed into anger. He reached out and wrapped his arm around Xiao Mo’s neck, while pressing down on the sable hat on Xie Gou’s head with the other hand.

This scene, seen by Aunt Feng under the grape trellis of the Fire God Temple, was truly an eye-opener.

On the road, Xiao Mo was all smiles, Xie Gou pursed her lips and held a straight face, Chen Pingan was not at all aged and weary, just like a youth.

Sitting on the stone steps, Aunt Feng closed her book, she envied them a little.

No matter who ascends to the Fourteenth Realm first, if the other two face any difficulties, in any world, in any place, the sword light will surely arrive first, followed shortly by the swordsman.

Chen Pingan did not ask Mountain Lord Wei for help, but chose to take a ferry back to Niujiao Ferry. After all, God Lord Wei must be busy holding a night banquet right now.

At night, Chen Pingan took Xiao Mo to sit on the roof of the ferry to drink, and Xie Gou went to buy some snacks to go with the drinks. Sitting next to Xiao Mo, she complained endlessly about how outrageous the prices were.

Xie Gou drank the most heartily, but wasn’t good at toasting others. She soon leaned back and fell over, saying she couldn’t drink any more, or else she would… She looked at Xiao Mo with a silly grin.

The bright moon was round again, its long light shining on those departing.

Clouds passed, obscuring the moon, making everything hazy.

Xiao Mo picked up a peanut and chewed it slowly, asking in a mental voice, “Young Master has been forgetting things lately, only remembering them when talking to others. Is it to prepare for secluded cultivation?”

Chen Pingan smiled and nodded, “Thoughts beget thoughts, naturally unfolding like a hundred flowers blooming, it’s difficult. But to have no thoughts at all is also difficult. Ask me a question at random, like something we saw or heard in Dali Capital.”

Xiao Mo asked with a smile, “Does Young Master still remember that parting advice?”

Within the heart-lake, like fishing.

The hook and bait were the words “parting advice”.

One tug of the rod, like catching a fish.

Chen Pingan remembered a long string of memories about those words.

Chen Pingan smiled and nodded.

The parting advice from the Confucian Temple came from his teacher’s “Treatise on Heaven”.

It was the saying, “The gentleman reveres what is within himself, and does not yearn for what is in Heaven, therefore he progresses daily.”

But soon Chen Pingan forgot again, truly forgetting completely. Chen Pingan shook his head, not thinking too much about it.

Xiao Mo didn’t say anything more, raising her wine cup, Chen Pingan clinked it lightly and smiled, “When it comes to drinking, a bowl is better than a cup.”

The clouds parted in the sky, and the moon shone brighter.

Within Chen Pingan’s Dao Heart.

A version of himself with golden eyes was skipping and jumping across those obstacles called “forgetfulness,” like a child playing hopscotch.

Within a small Taoist temple in the Azure Billow Heaven.

Chen Cong, so that was me, Chen Pingan. Chang Bo, so that was you, Eldest Brother.