The Chen Ping’an of the Vast World, and the Fallen Mountain of Treasure Bottle Continent, have unknowingly become a strategic location coveted by all military strategists.

Like those majestic cities and towns hailed as the “waist” of the world, no matter how grand the trend, it cannot bypass this place.

To know the reason, one must ask about this mountain and this man.

Old Tutor was both worried and concerned. He lightly twitched his nose, sniffing as if opening a military treatise, smelling the heavy scent of gunpowder. What to do?

With matters of such importance at hand, Xiao Mo and Xie Gou immediately rushed to the courtyard. They heard Old Tutor softly remind, “Xianyang, remember, do not act rashly.”

Liu Xianyang deliberately wore a stern face, saying, “Rest assured, the executioners always wait for the cup to be smashed before they strike.”

Xie Gou admired Liu Xianyang’s composure. This fellow truly had a broad and open mind.

That rascal Jiang She came as he pleased, and their Mountain Master struck as he pleased, neither being courteous people.

Arriving empty-handed was already unpleasant, yet instead of seizing the opportunity to build kinship, they acted like debt collectors. How to resolve this situation? Xie Gou suppressed a bellyful of anger, unable to resist glancing askance at Wu Yan. The latter returned a smile of apology as a friend, sorry for implicating him.

Old Tutor chuckled, patting Liu Xianyang’s arm. “Don’t always feel you owe Chen Ping’an anything.”

In the private courtyard of the acting City Lord of Spirit Rhino City, the female cultivator Wu Yan was in the most awkward position. When she first boarded the ship, she might have been considered half an outsider, but now she was half an enemy. The woman repeatedly looked towards Pei Qian, but it was all wishful thinking, receiving no response from that side. However, being able to see Pei Qian a few more times was already enough for Wu Yan. Not the kind of beauty that was immediately stunning, she wore her hair in a bun, revealing a high forehead, slender eyebrows and eyes, and a cold and detached expression. Even when faced with such an unexpected turn of events, Pei Qian’s eyes remained resolute, without a trace of despondency.

Perhaps in Wu Yan’s eyes, such an outstanding woman was not just a recent phenomenon, not just of the Vast World, but the most outstanding of all beings throughout human history.

The more “promising” Pei Qian was, the more guilty Wu Yan felt, standing face to face, speechless.

Liu Xianyang was silent for a moment before saying, “Mr. Xun may have misunderstood. If it’s about going to any lengths for a friend, even risking one’s life, Chen Ping’an can do it, and of course, I can too. So, I don’t feel like I owe Chen Ping’an anything. There’s no need. It’s his misfortune to have a reckless friend like me. Liu Xianyang has always known what to say, what to do, and how to interact with friends, and that hasn’t changed. But over the years, whenever I think about him begging people everywhere, asking Apothecary Yang for help, asking neighbor Wang Zhu for elm leaves, asking Supervisor Song Changjing for justice, I feel distressed.”

Old Tutor hummed in agreement, raising his arm and clenching his fist, lightly tapping his chest in a daze. “I can empathize. For example, I only learned much later that such a proud student, just to help his teacher sell a hundred more books, lowered his head and toasted people at the dinner table. Whenever I think about it, I also feel distressed.”

Wearing and changing pair after pair of straw sandals, walking through those bleak years, Liu Xianyang’s existence, for Chen Ping’an of Mud Bottle Alley, was like living in the depths of winter. Even though the sky was grey and the future unclear, he always knew in his heart that there was a sun in the sky.

Not only Chen Ping’an, but many others from similar backgrounds and circumstances, like walking down a narrow, dark alley for a long time, occasionally looked up at the sky, always seeing a glimmer of light, like a way… out.

Liu Xianyang directly asked, “What exactly is Jiang She thinking?”

After all, he wasn’t like Xiao Mo or Bai Jing, those ancient Daoists who personally wrote old almanacs. When it came to a person’s character, only personal experience could lead to a definitive judgment.

If he truly wanted to recognize Pei Qian as family, why deliberately antagonize Chen Ping’an?

Old Tutor said with a troubled expression, “To ask why one does good deeds, ultimately, it all comes down to a single thought. But to ask why one is unreasonable, with all its complexities, there are thousands of reasons.”

Even with Jiang She’s Daoist partner present, Xiao Mo spoke quite bluntly. “It’s easy to guess. Jiang She simply values the title of Forefather of the Military Strategists too much, and sees Pei Qian as insignificant.”

This was only because Pei Qian was present that Xiao Mo was unwilling to speak harshly. In ancient times, the steadfastness of seeking the Dao and the purity of the Daoist heart among cultivators were not mere compliments, and they were far less troubled by good and evil than later generations. Whether it was the Buddhist control of the mind and will, or the Daoist method of severing the Three Corpses, or the alchemists’ general term, “inner demons,” they were all great bandits on the path of cultivation, the “mountain thieves” in the pursuit of immortality. Since Pei Qian was the only remaining trace of “evil intent” from Jiang She’s daughter’s previous life, she was inevitably the key to his enlightenment in this life. A decisive break was necessary, with no room for hesitation in his state of mind.

The great bandit is in my heart, the Dao thief is within oneself.

“Having finally waited for the three founders of the Three Teachings to have scattered the Dao, Jiang She naturally felt that he had an opportunity, that he could orchestrate another grand event to usher in a new era. He felt that who else but Jiang She could accomplish this. By killing our young master, he could immediately proclaim it to the world, like capturing the flag and seizing the general on the battlefield. Jiang She would gain prestige, making it easier for him to gather troops and, with one stroke, overthrow the old world.”

At this point, Xiao Mo sneered. “Jiang She, this military strategist. After ten thousand years, he’s still the same.”

Wu Yan hesitated, wanting to speak, but ultimately stopped herself. She was still worried about adding fuel to the fire.

Xiao Mo said, “But I must admit that throughout history, those who have accomplished great things are often ruthless figures like Jiang She, who are most adept at killing heroes.”

Old Tutor deliberately changed the subject, laughing, “Generally speaking, when trapped in a desperate situation, in times of crisis, there might be one or two who would love and follow, and one wouldn’t dare to expect more. Yet my student has all of you willing to give your lives for him, regardless of the cost, which shows that he is fair in his actions and admirable as a person. To have such a closed-door disciple, my vision as a teacher is good, and I feel proud in my heart.”

Old Tutor began to pace in the courtyard, muttering to himself, occasionally stretching his arms and twisting his neck, like an old man who had retired and returned to his hometown, walking slowly, suddenly deciding, “Anyway, there’s no point in rushing. Why not play a game of chess? Are there any experts? Help me get a good omen. Ha, ‘A guest asks about the dangers in Huai, and the answer is, “Our children have defeated the bandits.” ‘ Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
It was a pity that no one agreed to play a game of chess with the old scholar. Xie Gou, seeing the awkward silence, couldn’t bear such empty chatter and volunteered, “I’ll play! I’ll play!”

The old scholar pondered for a moment, looking at the eager mink-hatted girl. He figured she was the type to constantly ask to “take back a move,” a terrible chess player. He waved his hand and said, “Forget it, forget it. Playing chess is too taxing. I won’t waste my energy.”

The old scholar stroked his beard, lost in thought for a long time, before saying out of the blue, “The Dao Ancestor’s Five Thousand Words state: ‘Subtract from excess to supplement deficiency, that is the Way of Heaven. The way of man is to subtract from deficiency to serve excess. Only those who embody the Dao can use their excess to serve all under Heaven.'”

Liu Xianyang nodded, “This is the basis for the ‘tribute’ system practiced by the immortals on the mountains nowadays.”

Heaven and earth provide, that is supply. Ascend the mountain to cultivate, one must give back. This debt repayment is a matter of course.

The old scholar sighed, “There are too many with excess in the mortal realm, and those lacking have nowhere to stand. The fewest people possess the most things, creating a top-heavy imbalance, like a sick person, drowsy and confused. The Great Dao, however, will not cease its operation, so the heavens must change. Many signs and omens will appear, strange phenomena will occur. The land of the aristocratic families below the mountain, the ownership of the spiritual energy of the mountains and rivers, the gold and silver treasures of the world, the immortal money on the mountains, etc., will all be broken up and redistributed. Thus, the Three Teachings’ founders dispersed their Dao, attempting to pacify heaven and earth and harmonize yin and yang. The beginning of everything is difficult. They wanted to end an old book that had been written for ten thousand years, and start a new chapter for humanity, writing a good beginning, a reasonably beautiful prologue.”

Wu Yan finally spoke, her words carrying immense weight, “Even more so, someone is needed to act on behalf of Heaven.”

That was Man Huang Zhoumi’s intention back then, and Zhang Fenghai of the Azure Sky world now likely has the same ambition, though their methods and paths differ, their lofty aspirations are one and the same.

Liu Xianyang found a spot, leaned against a corridor pillar, crossed his arms, and began to close his eyes to rest.

Xie Gou fidgeted and said something that, while fair, somewhat diminished their own side’s prestige, “Regardless, Jiang She is still the fourth person after the ascension to Heaven battle, before the collective dismemberment.”

Jiang She was, after all, the fourth person recognized by all Daoists of the ancient mortal realm.

So, her unspoken meaning was quite simple: Jiang She, this ancestral master of the military arts, is a truly formidable warrior. Mountain Lord, you must be careful.

Don’t seek victory; surviving is winning.

If Jiang She’s cultivation was insufficient, would the Dao Ancestor have personally intervened? He had to engage Jiang She in a one-on-one duel.

The sword cultivator Bai Jing, who always thought highly of himself, didn’t feel he had any right to compete with the Dao Ancestor. Not even a sliver of such a thought.

Xie Gou frequently hinted with her eyes: Old Scholar, why don’t you just bring out Little Master Confucius again? Asking for help once is a hassle, owing two favors isn’t much different. We Jianghu children only care about enjoying ourselves and repaying grudges, why be so concerned about saving face?

The old scholar seemed not to notice Xie Gou’s reminder, and simply straightened his clothes, saying to himself, “What is most valuable and admirable is that before ascending to Heaven, those martyrs, those sages, those Daoists and scholars never thought they could survive. They didn’t care if posterity remembered their names or Daoist titles. Most importantly, they didn’t even think they could win!”

After a pause, the old scholar looked at the mink-hatted girl and asked with a smile, “Miss Xie, when you were the first woman to ascend to Heaven, after sheathing your sword, what were your thoughts at the time?”

Xie Gou grinned, “Simple, just four words: ‘Did we really win?'”

Back then, Bai Jing was covered in blood, her robes soaked with two colors of blood, scarlet and golden. The exhausted woman drooped her eyelids. Her second thought was that she needed to sleep soundly this time and not worry about anything.

The old scholar continued, “So many ancient heroes are already Earth Immortals. Their status and situation are like the mountain and river deities now officially recognized by Heaven and Earth, the Confucian Temple, and the imperial court, having gained a carefree body no longer suppressed by the Heavenly Dao. Yet, they still sacrifice themselves, acting selflessly.”

“Why?”

“To blaze a broad path for all sentient beings of later generations.”

“This path is called freedom.”

Hearing this, Wu Yan’s eyes shone brightly. Even though they were on opposing sides, she sincerely admired the old scholar’s breadth of vision.

Those who oppose me are not all villains. They may have flaws, omissions, or faults, but they can still be “great figures” with their own magnanimity, vision, and actions.

This stooped old man before her, though not very old, would have surely fought alongside them during that glorious era, surely performing magnificent deeds with youthful vigor.

Wu Yan pondered slightly and asked a question that she had already considered carefully, “May I ask, Literary Saint, the Dao Ancestor spoke of virtue, the Sage Master’s benevolence, Little Master Confucius’s propriety, Mencius’s righteousness, Yu Dou’s adherence to rules, and Mountain Lord Chen’s persistent pursuit of faultlessness – were the roots and foundation of their respective studies not utilitarian?”

The woman showed no trace of aggressiveness, more like a sincere inquiry, even humbly seeking guidance.

The old scholar said, “To truly clarify this matter, you actually have to ask my eldest disciple.”

“To properly explain a great principle, it’s not just in a few or dozens of calm ‘words,’ but more so in thousands of ‘deeds’ that test patience. If one cannot bear annoyance, one cannot explain the principle well.”

The old scholar smiled, “Whether you call it utilitarianism or pragmatism, it’s merely maximizing the public good for all beings while not harming one’s own private interests. This is the heart of Heaven, close to the Dao. If one principle is not understood, all principles are obscured.”
The old scholar slowly said, “Of national importance, only sacrifice and war remain. The Three Teachings are as one, and historically, it is not that the Three Teachings look down upon the military strategists, but rather both respect and fear you Legalists. When it comes to conquering lands and seizing dominion, military strategists are indispensable. In chaotic times, among the hundred schools of thought, anyone can be missing, but not you military strategists. Although I am a scholar who delights in pedantic essays, I dare to acknowledge this truth. Donning armor and wielding weapons, cleaving open the heavens and the earth, hacking through brambles, to carve out a path from a stagnant, disconnected, and walled-off dark world, turning a chaotic era where lives are cheap as grass into a prosperous age of peaceful farming. If the military strategists are not formidable, who dares claim to be? However, once the grand scheme is settled, the emperor sits upon his throne, and civil and military officials safeguard the realm, it is by no means easy. No matter how many laws you establish or how many people you punish, it is never enough, far from enough. Fellow Daoist Wuyan, do you know the root cause of why it is so difficult for the military strategists to establish a sect and be venerated as an ancestor? In contrast, why are the Three Teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism so much smoother? It is not merely because Jiang She ‘intended to rebel’ back then, making a grave mistake that caused the military strategists to lose this readily available title. You can certainly say that many disciples of the Three Teachings in later generations have had their minds corrupted, their scriptures misinterpreted, and their practices led astray, but you should be clear about a fact: the Sage Confucius, the Taoist Patriarch, and the Buddha, all possess magnanimity, vision, and both Dao and art. They would not stoop to deliberately target your military strategists. You can also say that if someday, with the talent and skill of your Dao companion Jiang She, the military strategists were truly honored, becoming the dominant force, unifying the world, they could also allow the Three Teachings and the teachings of the other schools to assist, together mending hearts and the world, merely distinguishing a primary and secondary role. Why couldn’t that work? Is it just because this old scholar, sitting in the Confucian temple, has developed a bias and is taking sides? Not so. In my view, if we trace back to the source, it lies in the fact that the tenets of the Three Teachings, though different paths, lead to the same destination. Their fundamental teachings are all about how to suppress desires, cultivating solitude, reducing desires, and guarding the heart, among other things.”

“Military strategy, military strategy, the military strategists and Legalists are inseparable. The military strategists are too compliant with the desires of the human heart, constantly fueling them, adept at exploiting situations, inciting hearts, a tiger-wolf army, clanging armor, with the force of a flood. Slaying generals and seizing banners, rewarding based on the number of heads, winning every battle, invincible, destroying formations and conquering nations, everyone wants to establish unparalleled merit. Relying solely on the Legalists to control the flood by blocking without dredging. Once superficial hearts arise, trying to suppress desires becomes all the more difficult.”

Wuyan’s face was full of astonishment. This was the first time someone had explained this principle to her.

Pei Qian hesitated, wanting to speak, but Liu Xianyang gently shook his head, signaling her not to say anything and to wait.

The old scholar mocked himself, “So it’s not that I don’t trust your military strategists. Ultimately, I don’t trust human nature and desire.”

“Flooding waters, surging seas of desire, the invisible water level of the world, its height is here…”

Saying this, the old scholar extended a hand, palm down, held flat at the position of his heart, slightly raising it, “Since it cannot be suppressed, the water level will only rise higher and higher.”

Liu Xianyang opened his eyes and said, “Unavoidable, inescapable, the weak will drown first.”

Liu Xianyang has said, joked, and even cursed Chen Pingan to his face, calling him a foolish do-gooder, saying that many difficult things were self-inflicted and that he deserved to suffer in silence.

However, there was one thing that Liu Xianyang would not even make a few playful remarks about, probably because they both came from humble beginnings. Therefore, in their respective future paths of life, they firmly believed in giving all those like Liu Xianyang and Chen Pingan, as much as they could… a glimmer of light. In the marketplace, it is called hope; in books, it is called aspiration.

Because treating them well is treating oneself well, treating one’s own childhood and youth well.

What is youth? Still believing that some principles make sense. What is senility? No longer believing that any principles work.

The old saying goes that it is difficult for people to be young again, but it seems that the world is not yet good enough, so that many young people have never been young.

The old scholar put his hands in his sleeves, murmuring, “I originally rushed here this time, partly to support my student. You are parents, and I am a teacher. I felt that with this relationship, there was no reason why we couldn’t open the window and have a frank conversation. Therefore, I also wanted to hear your and Jiang She’s current thoughts, to see if you could convince me. I am very much looking forward to seeing if Jiang She has a better idea for the future after ten thousand years of contemplation. If it is truly feasible, then we might as well try it. If there are still doubts, then let’s talk more. Reasoning is not arguing. We can always become clearer with more conversation.”

It seemed that speaking too much had made the old man’s face a bit tired. He no longer spoke of those sincere roads, summing up thousands of words into one principle, a simple human sentiment.

The old man looked at the woman and softly asked, “How could you bear to part with such a good daughter?”

Without waiting for an answer, the thin old man looked at Pei Qian and Liu Xianyang, at Xiao Mo and Miss Xie, reached out from his sleeves, rubbed his palms, murmured softly, his eyebrows and eyes gently softening, his head gradually lifting to look into the distance, as if the spring breeze and warm light that had been accumulating year after year were all being used at this moment.

The Great Dao is the high blue sky, the thick yellow earth, it is to help people cross the sea of suffering. I have a fragrant incense offering, unafraid of heaven, earth, or people knowing.

I have no great ability, only to teach and nurture people.

The old scholar is not poor, he has a good life. Nor is he sour, he is patient with everyone he speaks to.

Thank you all for loving me because you love my students. The old scholar is extremely grateful.

Whether it is the elders and juniors of a family, or the teachers and students within a lineage of culture and tradition.

If the moon can be round and complete, the cups full of wine, surrounded by friends, the lights close, several generations together, laughter and cheers, then every day is the Lantern Festival.