The heavens wept for three days straight, their sorrow briefly abated on the fourth, and the world of mortals seemed to teeter on the brink of a grand revelry.

Upon the summit of what was once known as White Peak, now called Cloudveil Mountain, Gu Can paused in his journey. He dispatched a message via flying sword to the flamboyant Liu Chicheng, inviting him to a parley.

Overwhelmed by the summons, Liu Chicheng hastily departed the celestial inn of Chuzhou City. Without delay, the Pavilion Lord donned his most ostentatious pink Taoist robes, for a master uncle must project an image of prosperity for his nephew, lest Gu Can appear impoverished in the eyes of onlookers. Arriving at the auspicious, feng shui-rich Cloudveil Mountain, Liu Chicheng found only Gu Can and a maiden, purloined from the wild lands, standing upon the cliffside. Bewildered, he descended from the clouds, refraining from complaint, and inquired, “Gu Can, weary of solitude, have you summoned your uncle for a drink?”

Gu Can replied, “Someone has requested your presence.”

Liu Chicheng scoffed, “Such impudence, to demand an audience with me?”

Suddenly, Gu Can bowed deeply towards the abyss, lowering his head and murmuring, “Gu Can greets the Ancestor.”

Without a glance, Liu Chicheng immediately prostrated himself, performing the kowtow, “Disciple pays respects to the Master.”

After a moment, a soft giggle escaped the lips of the wildland maiden. Liu Chicheng, still kneeling, realized he had been ensnared by Gu Can, that little whelp. Grumbling, he stood, flicking dust from his robes, yet betraying no anger.

At that instant, rustling noises erupted behind him. Mistaking it for further trickery from Gu Can, Liu Chicheng chuckled, “Enough is enough, even my patience has its limits.”

Then, a foot connected with his backside, accompanied by a familiar reprimand, “You disgrace! You dare prance about at Fallen Peak? Must you flaunt your garish attire? Why not inscribe it upon your brow, ‘I am Zheng Juzhong’s junior brother’?”

Liu Chicheng spun around, gazing upon the austere, elderly man, his face etched with authority. Lips trembling, eyes brimming with tears, he fell to the ground once more, crying out in a quivering voice, “Master!”

Clad in simple green robes, it was none other than the leisurely Chen Qingliu.

Beside him stood a barefoot Taoist, unkempt and unburdened, save for a slung umbrella.

Two long-time companions, who had arranged this reunion.

Chen Qingliu raised a shoe, tapping it against the ground, “Arise. If only your brotherhood could balance respect for the master with the pursuit of cultivation.”

Liu Chicheng rose, surreptitiously wiping tears, overcome with emotion. In truth, since being suppressed on Treasure Bottle Continent a millennium ago by the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master, he had only seen his master once, aside from today. As for why Zheng, his senior brother, hadn’t rescued him, surely he had his reasons. And why his master, though present on Treasure Bottle Continent, had not cleaved the restraints with a casual sword stroke, perhaps he had his own trials to bear. Liu Chicheng harbored no resentment.

Chen Qingliu, with a hint of mockery, introduced the Taoist to his student, “Purple Clarity friend, this is my prized pupil, Liu Daochun, the White Emperor City Pavilion Lord. He is the one people sing about as being foolish, while he laughs at people without senior brothers.”

The scruffy Taoist chuckled, “Tales abound, I’ve heard much of your name.”

Not a sword cultivator, yet bold enough to traverse the Central Soil Divine Continent with mere Jade Purity realm power.

Chen Qingliu then presented the Taoist, “This Purple Clarity friend, of the Ge lineage, styles himself the Three Hundred Coin Taoist, with the cognomen ‘Huainan.’ He is a true recluse, wandering mountains, ever elusive, not one of those vainglorious hermits. He once maintained several sanctuaries. The Jade Rise Palace was the most renowned, while the Writing Brush Peak of the Xu River was less so, and another was seized by scholars, irrecoverable. Our relationship is… adequate.”

The barefoot Taoist, umbrella slung across his back, chimed in, “Half a friend.”

Gu Can glanced subtly at the Taoist’s shoulder.

Liu Chicheng was utterly lost.

The difference in power within the Jade Purity realm became obvious.

Gu Can saluted with a Taoist gesture, “Gu Can of White Emperor City greets Immortal Ge.”

Liu Chicheng, shuffling to his master’s side, mimicked Gu Can.

Ge, the Taoist with the Purple Clarity title, nodded approvingly at Gu Can, “Scholars must be such, to practice the Dao successfully.”

Chen Qingliu glanced at the wildland maiden, and with a frown, she prudently departed, uttering not a word.

The Fourteenth Realm was the Fourteenth Realm.

Though mastery of the Dao varied, and techniques had strengths and weaknesses, it was all within the Fourteenth Realm.

This dragon-slaying sword master, his sword art capable of overwhelming all water spirits, had been missing for three millennia. When he appeared, he declared, “Killing is like not killing somebody else,” and no one dismissed it as empty boasting.

Chen Qingliu smiled, “Purple Clarity friend, it has been too long. Had someone not claimed your presence in Central Sacred Peak, I would have been unaware of your wandering on Treasure Bottle Continent.”

The Taoist smiled, “I only act on my master’s order, to meet with Wei, my junior brother.”

Chen Qingliu chuckled, “Wei Benyuan of Peach Leaf Lane? Has that stubborn old Taoist finally recalled past deeds?”

The Taoist nodded, “Thanks to the two talismans Li Xisheng gifted to Wei.”

Chen Qingliu gloated, “He has none to blame but himself. Why argue with Zhouzi, and about the Five Elements?”

The Taoist smiled ruefully. Wei’s talent and ambition were natural. Yet, as an unofficial disciple, denied true inheritance, he yearned to prove himself to the master.

Chen Qingliu laughed, “When I entered the town, Wei Benyuan had already left Peach Leaf Lane. I would have sought his wisdom, asking why he was so stubborn.”

The Taoist coughed, reminding him of his disciples’ presence.

Chen Qingliu smiled, “One is a fool, respecting elders, lacking all else. The other is a lawless rebel, destined to betray his master. Why pretend?”

Liu Chicheng swelled with pride.

Gu Can remained composed.

The Taoist hesitated, then spoke, “I hear you are close to Fallen Peak, Chen.”

Chen Qingliu nodded, “Qi Jingshun bore the brunt of heavenly retribution, and I owe him a debt. Also, a kindred spirit dwells there, and drink tastes dull without his company.”

The Taoist nodded, “I see.”

Common cultivators considered the dragon slaying a matter of the past.

But in the eyes of this Ge Taoist, Chen Qingliu only slayed half the dragon.

When Wang Zhu appeared, coalescing the fortunes of all true dragons, Qi Jingshun intercepted the backlash that could have forced Chen Qingliu’s sword into a battle he could win but only at great cost. Now, Chen Qingliu only has to stand by, awaiting the rise of the second true dragon.

Chen Qingliu set his shoe on a stone, scraping off the mud, and squinted, “Slaying dragons grows harder. The trials involved are beyond the comprehension of outsiders.”

Indeed, slaying dragons grew so hard it forced Chen to pause because, at the final moment, his blade threatened not one dragon but all the dragons. That’s how ordinary cultivators found opportunity in the chaos as the mountain people began to take the opportunity to establish the Four Clan and Ten Families.

The Taoist sighed, “Ninety li is only halfway on a hundred-li journey.”

Gu Can offered, “Driving birds into the thicket, driving fish into the deep.”

The Taoist chuckled, “Can it be used thus?”

Gu Can bowed again, “I have spoken out of turn.”

Chen Qingliu inquired, “Has Bai Shang not sought you, eager for lost ancient sword arts?”

The Taoist shook his head, “Like Wang, Lu scorns to seek the master. If the master doesn’t ask them, they’re not going.”

The Taoist had once refined elixirs in the Jing Mountains of Northern Emerald Continent, where local natives carved images of him.

Chen Qingliu explained, “Wei Benyuan, formerly Wang Min, a Taoist, and Lu Yue, and that Qing, were all students of Mr. Three Mountains. Wang followed his master into Luli. Arranging the magic array and occupying the immortal tombs was his price. Otherwise, how could an outsider occupy it?”

Ge said, “The order’s wrong, but the rest’s right. Wang lost to Zouzi, and then helped arrange Luli. After it, he went mad, maintaining just a bit of Da seed.”

Chen Qingliu said, “Doesn’t the Three-Thousand rule hide a process of constant culling of immortals?”

When Chen uttered the Qing word, the barefoot Taoist opened his umbrella to shut out the noise.

Ge, with a grim face, spoke in his mind, “This truth was discovered just a few years ago.”

Chen Qingliu grinned, “What’s the point? A fait accompli wastes more energy.”

Ge sighed, “Taoists seek truth.”

Chen Qingliu laughed, “So many smart men fail. He is worthy to be the man of earth.”

Chen Qingliu said, “He seeks to restore the Divine Palace. To cry and sing.”

Chen Qingliu laughed, “Does Qing know how it works?”

The Taoist shook his head, “Mountains of curtains are too high for him.”

Chen Qingliu nodded, “Mr. Three Mountains wants to take a different course. With Qi and Cui fanning the flames, it’s all obscured.”

The Taoist said, “Careful, Chen.”

The Taoist said, “Why do you call that one by name, but call Qi that title?”

Chen Qingliu said, “Qi invited us to drink and we got to know each other.”

Chen gave Qi respect, so he got it back.

Chen Qingliu said, “Did you drink with Jingqing on Fallen Peak, Liu?”

Liu Chicheng said, “That boy of water?”

Chen Qingliu held that one’s head and said, “He can call you uncle.”

Gu Can said, “Is Chen Pingan’s win fated, or achieved?”

Chen Qingliu said, “Ask the Taoist.”

The Taoist said, “Those that seek help the most.”

Gu Can smiled.

Chen Qingliu thought of Qi’s cryptic words, “White Emperor couldn’t see Qingyan, but Qing had the head of Bai, which was warm. Old verse was like pale wine, and new was like the river.”

Chen Qingliu couldn’t figure it out, and then asked Zheng if he’d be Chen Pingan.

Zheng said, “I am not Taozu, and neither is Chen Pingan.”

Outside the city, an outsider came to a house, where a handmaiden answered and said, “My name is Lu Yue, and I was from there, and came to see Wei, senior brother.”

The handmaiden said, “My grandpa never talked about that,” and asked him to wait. Old man, in the alchemy room, sighed, and said, “It was destined to be,” because if Bai didn’t come, he’d be unbrotherly.

Wei Benyuan, had the title Boyang. Back then, when he left with the maid, he exchanged land with the Xu, as per a letter, which also said she’d find two blessings in fox land.

That letter was from Qing, who said Boyang would be a good disciple.

Wei only found out after remembering.

Qing was one who handled land immortals, who had left traces.

The payment for helping arrange the caves was a carp that became the Li.

Wei welcomed Bai, or the first Lu Yue, then Emperor Lu.

The old Taoist saluted.

Bai said, “Greetings Wang Senior.”

There were two from Mr. Three, that knew it all.

Those of them like chess, and the landlord families liked it. The three players besides the Li, and Wei of Taoye, had reached Jin Dan realm, where there could barely be any.

The third player was Zheng.

Chen gave two letters and got invited into the house, where he was reminded to sit under the Huai tree.

Wei played chess with Li, and kept saying chess truths.

Li and Bo liked talismans, but after Luli broke, Li entered the Yuan Ying.

Wei liked alchemy, but couldn’t pass the Jin Dan.

Later, Li Bo came and brought two talismans, for thanks. Wei could give them to Peach, to help her enter dan.

Bai said, “What a pity.”

A double entendre.

Peach hadn’t distinguished herself. Peach hadn’t entered the Fox Country.

The Taoist said, “There’s no pity. It’s only a matter of those with ambition losing to those with ambition. What is spent within the clan is not lost.”

Peach was confused, but remembered the ‘ambition’ saying, before, when she was compared to the delivery boy.

Wei said, “Good fortune comes in sizes, just enough is best.”

The Master has great virtue.

Bai said, “How did you remember?”

Wei smiled, “I just remembered in the mountains.”

Bai smiled, “You’re still that way, even when we are friends.”

Wei Benyuan was little self, and the other was true.

Blind was little self, and so were the other.

Wang and Chen are different, as Daoist’s self is great, while the true one is small.

One of the ones with Mr. Three, went overseas to visit immortals.

He lost to Zouzi, and couldn’t get out of his hole.

The cost of losing was to stay within Luli.

Wei said, “It wasn’t all in vain. Amid the mortal world, cultivate and quiet the spirit, and hold the simple essence.”

Bai said, “Alchemy is less than swords.”

Wei said, “How dare you speak that way, to a senior brother.”

Bai said, “We were not official.”

Wei said, “Do you regret leaving?”

Bai shook his head, “Do not gamble, if you can.”

Wei nodded, and walked to the room, where a large table had green bamboo, like a squatting dragon.

Bai said, “Why aren’t they in order?”

The number ran from one to nine hundred, and weren’t in order.

Wei said, “Mr. Qing gave this problem, with a hint of the fact that some scenes seemed the same.”

Bai thought, “It means that time isn’t going only one way? Each bamboo is my different moment, people will think that tomorrow will follow today, and so on. The Daoway says it’s one trip against the flow. But according to Qing, the life isn’t. You get things the way and near a new date to see everything.”

Wei cut Bai off, “Sword Da is fast.”

Wu was the first magistrate, and that official that went to the Lane suffered indignity.

The Emperor wanted the Lao to be turned to a temple, and the graves to be military. But nothing came of it, and then Ouyang told him all the families were cliquey.

Later, Zheng used two of the Imperial surname to open the old people up.

The children liked to sit in the shade and listen to stories, waiting for melons raised in the lock wells.

Larger boys followed the father’s work, while girls collected water plants or learned to weave. Girls married and gave kids. They had their day.

Five fates had to do with Zou’s five elements.

Gao had the fish with Tao. From Mr. Li.

A scribe beside that teacher.

The mud, with him that caught it, and gave it to that kid.

Ruan was the fire bracelet, that was made with hammers.

Song and the maid had the lizard.

There were connections between metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

When they got fates, then no one could be the one.

Heaven would not let others cheat.

That’s how Old Yang set up the base line. Furthermore, everyone had their rises and losses.

For example, Huang, his father arranged marriages.

His grandfather was one that sensed the power.

In order to not break the rules, his grandpa asked him to not pick up coins, and not ask anyone.

But he could ask for happy coins, but he could only ask when they are needed. He visited the graves.

But that way, Huang had fallen out of the match.

Before that, Huang was in third and could have been on top.

The girl called Zhu, from that family, fell over.

That Peach was also moving up,

Thirty-six kiln fires. Old mountain.

The memorial of this town was the tower, the town’s real swords.

The mountains were bent, and the dragon trunk would not extend.

That street on the stairs.

The outside of the mountain was named Yao.

Also a name on paper and given in records, like the True Pearl. The mountains had water, and therefore was dear to Su, and his whole life he feared ghosts, so chose to come there.

People gave earth their life and then earth took the back.

Su was buried there.

Old Yang was the most fearless, and the man wasn’t.

The mountains were bought by Chen, for a coin of gold.

This was fate. A good fate, to the end.

The most unafraid met the most unafraid of him.

Later, Sue, called Rouge, with his friend, worked as helpers and became Old Yang’s helpers.

He was his nephew.

After teaching skills, Old Yang said, “You want to repay kindness?”

Sue nodded.

“You want to repay it for your uncle?”

“Yes, and both of us think that he was good.”

“Su has few, it means no rain. It means no water and it’s dry.”

Old wrote another thing, and Su couldn’t read it, but knew.

“Su means, to stick straw in the gills, and it means the fall of a thing, that is the fate and source.”

A fish had no place. That’s why it can only be water. The earth knows only to water. Did not know enough? That is why so selected.

The job gave rain, and gave fire. The woman of the rain was the man of Su.

That gave, came free.

A collection of poems from Qing, there was one that was written.

“Although there are inches of snow, it did not help the drought.”

The black cat sat on that stall, and in the Lane, Huang had gotten an insect.

Did you select the one that shits his pants?

Old Yang shook his head, thinking of Li, Yang was glad.

Li was one that Old would not place on the game, and was outside of it.

And the other let him make the decisions, and set aside the rules.

There was a young girl that gave the old one, making him have fondness, and she was on the rise.

In the Lane, high and low had salutations.

Later, the accident happened, the answer not being told.

“Mr. Qi, is this really good for him?”

The reader was quiet and remorseful.

There was a seal he left for the disciple.

On the stone, one ate cakes.

As the girl came, the more, that was the food she wanted, that only a boy.

Chen went from home, and brought back a gift for that girl.

The little one has had one day.

The gift he had was that of wood and inscription with those words, on the stone the words were written of a meeting.

They were glad, even the kids could see.

They were split after Cai was broken, and could do so by themselves.

That was when he killed the people and existed in the moment.

In the corner, the flame had rose at that moment.

The one giving the people the word said: “If you change the names it all makes sense.” The name would have meant he would protect and would be the one that was safe.

Going to school, the Li would give Chen the best thing.

At the Yellow palace, the one broke down and said, “Sorry”.

But then made that one say those words.

Before there, one said a nod.

In the city, that road kid nodded.

For the first time at the Great Wall, in the city that mind had been firm for the first time.

Thinking to give a gift to show some people.

Chen was alone and safe,

There was no one to give and no money to burn for and no family or friends. Now he finally was human.