The young Daoist sat upon a small bamboo stool, the forlorn Mount Luopo looming behind him – truly, he had a mountain to lean on!

Xianwei, the Immortal Watchman, moistened his fingertip and turned the page of his book. Unbeknownst to him, the snow-white paper and jet-black script began to glow with a faint rosy hue. The Daoist glanced up to find the sun sinking westward, the sky ablaze with crimson clouds, reluctant to relinquish their hold on the mortal realm.

*With books in my sleeves, true wealth I possess,*
*A little immortal, today I’m at rest.*

The long river of time was his altar, and he, like a carefree fish, swam in the currents of the days.

Having completed his patrol, Xiaomi Li had escorted the weary sun to its doorstep. Approaching the mountain gate, she tugged at the strap of her satchel and tentatively inquired, “Immortal Watchman?”

The Daoist Xianwei understood her unspoken query. Nodding with a smile, he replied, “Closing up shop soon. Time to relax, so let’s ‘ke’ it up.”

It was a shared secret between them. To “ke” was to converse, but also to crack melon seeds.

Mount Luopo was no ordinary peak. Guests, both expected and unexpected, were never common, and those who did arrive were far from ordinary folk. When idle, the days stretched long and languid. When busy… well, he never seemed to be the one tasked with much.

The Mountain Lord, in a grand gesture, had bestowed Xianghuo Mountain upon Xianwei and his newly acquired disciple, as their “founding” Daoist temple. In recent days, Xianwei and Lin Feijing had been toiling away on the slopes, wielding hoes and carrying baskets, with wood-chopping knives strapped to their waists. They busied themselves constructing bridges and paving paths, gradually erecting pavilions and thatched huts. Crude as they may be, there was no need for ostentation. Yet, the very act of adding bricks and mortar to their “own domain” filled their hearts with joy.

Xianwei hadn’t bothered to pester Wei Wenlong, the accountant of the Jise Peak Spring Residence, for so much as a single tael of silver. His gatekeeper’s stipend was more than sufficient. Besides, Chief Zhou never ascended the mountain without a generous offering. A man with a bulging purse stands straighter, and the Daoist wasn’t exactly impoverished, knowing he was a man of substance!

Nuanshu brought word that the Mountain Lord desired Xianwei to spend more time on Xianghuo Mountain, for important matters were at hand. The mountain gate, untended, would surely manage without him.

Xianwei, never one to refuse a polite offer, humbly accepted the Mountain Lord’s suggestion. On Xianghuo Mountain, during breaks from their labors, he and his apprentice would pause to rest, chewing on dried rations with pickled vegetables, the murmur of the stream in their ears. Surrounded by wildflowers, they would share a flagon of glutinous rice wine, feeling that each day brought a fresh perspective.

No one on Mount Luopo disliked Xiaomi Li, but if one were to tally the words exchanged in casual conversation, Xianwei would undoubtedly be the champion, surpassing even Nuanshu and Chen Lingjun.

Xianwei genuinely enjoyed chatting with Xiaomi Li, always listening with rapt attention and never growing weary.

Even Chen Lingjun and Bai Xuan were impressed, lamenting that Xianwei wasn’t running his own school.

Xiaomi Li, during her patrols, would save the sparks of her inspiration, gathering them until she reached the mountain gate, where she would share them with the Immortal Watchman.

Occasionally, a few would slip away, only to be retrieved during her next patrol.

A large one and a small one, they rambled on like rolling melons, one without a care in the world, the other without worries, their brows relaxed and their spirits light.

Xianwei, his hands tucked into his sleeves like a farmer, palms stacked, proclaimed, “Our sorrows often spring from yesterday, while our anxieties stem from what tomorrow may bring. Even if an elixir of immortality existed, how would it solve what has already passed, or what is yet to come? The Buddhists preach detachment, but for us mortals, knowing is easier than doing. How can we truly make the world turn with our hearts?”

Xiaomi Li shook her head, her expression serious. “Immortal Watchman, you are a celestial being, practicing profound Daoist arts in these mountains!”

The young Daoist leaned back comfortably on his bamboo stool and smiled. “Perhaps Xiaomi Li possesses a secret strategy? I implore you, enlighten me.”

Xiaomi Li grinned. “Then you’ve come to the right person!”

If asked about cultivating immortal techniques, the great water monster of Yaba Lake would be at a loss, knowing only how to navigate the Jianghu. But if asked about battling unhappiness, ah, that was a different matter!

The little girl in black cupped her chin in her hands, blinking her eyes. “The worries and sadness of yesterday are as small as grains of rice, tiny little things. Put them in today’s big bowl of happiness and eat them up, fill the gaps between your teeth. Then place the bowl on tomorrow’s big table.”

The young Daoist gently clapped his hands, praising her wisdom. “Indeed, indeed! We mortals should not burden our finite selves with the world’s infinite woes.”

Xiaomi Li offered another handful of melon seeds, which Xianwei accepted with a smile. “I too have a bowl, though I didn’t bring it with me. It remains at my ancestral home.”

With wine in hand, great matters are like mustard seeds; cracking melon seeds, small matters loom like the heavens.

Xiaomi Li rubbed her cheeks, hesitating to speak.

Xianwei chuckled heartily. “I didn’t spring from a rock, did I? Of course I have a home, an ancestral estate.”

Xiaomi Li munched on melon seeds and whispered, “Sister Pei said that before you became famous, when you were a dragon trapped in shallow waters, you were captured by bandits and forced to be their accountant. She even said that the bosomy female bandit chief, strong and powerful, coveted your… beauty, and wanted to make you her mountain husband. Sister Pei also said that you fought tooth and nail, using all sorts of tricks, pretending to be a scholar on his way to the capital to take the imperial exams, promising to return and marry her with a magnificent wedding procession. That was when the female chief finally released you. In parting, you flourished your brush and left the bandit camp with a piece of calligraphy, the words ‘Heaven Rewards Diligence’. The bandits cheered, their voices echoing in the heavens, and the chief, tearful, sent you down the mountain. Is it true? Such a dramatic and wonderful story!”

Xianwei blushed, his head swimming. “Embarrassing tales, embarrassing tales.”

Some of it Xiao Heitan had embellished, but some was true. The female chief, for instance, was indeed full of spirit and beautiful as a flower. As for the vows of eternal love, of course there were none.

In the small town, when something was deemed meaningless, they’d say it had “no ancestral hall.” In wealthy homes, a plaque would hang in the main hall.

For a bandit camp that robbed travelers to hang “Heaven Rewards Diligence”, to encourage themselves… Xianwei, did you ever consider the feelings of the nearby villagers and passing merchants?

Xianwei recalled some past events and said softly, “Calling them a bandit camp is a bit harsh. They were people driven to the mountains by the harshness of the world, just trying to survive. They did rob travelers, but they never killed anyone. And when they took money, they would give an IOU! I’ve traveled far and wide, and that’s a unique thing. The bandit camp always wanted to save money, pay off their debts, and then start a proper Jianghu sect, running a镖局, a security escort service. Whenever they drank, they’d talk about it, and the eyes of men and women, young and old, would light up with hope.”

Xiaomi Li, cupping her chin in her hands, listened intently, captivated as Xianwei recounted the past.

Glancing at the sky, Xianwei raised his sleeve, shook it gently, closed his eyes, and began to calculate with his fingers.

Setting up a fortune-telling stall, with the gift of calculation and prophesying, was a skill that wandering Daoists relied on to make their way in the world.

Xiaomi Li asked curiously, “Immortal Watchman, what are you doing?”

Xianwei slowly opened his eyes and said seriously, “Calculating whether there will be green peppers and ham on the dinner table tonight.”

Xiaomi Li rolled her eyes.

Xianwei patted his belly and chuckled. “The people take food as their heaven; I can’t fool myself.”

Xiaomi Li suddenly said, “Calculate whether there’ll be braised bamboo shoots.”

Xianwei asked, “If the Right Protector requests a dish, wouldn’t the old cook be rushing to demonstrate his skills?”

Xiaomi Li explained, “Zhong Yi is clueless, ordering dishes for three meals a day plus late-night snacks, already making the old cook angry. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire.”

Besides, the old cook secretly sent her and Sister Nuanshu all sorts of pastries every few days, so many that she couldn’t even remember their names.

Xianwei nodded vigorously, silently grateful to Zhong Qian, the toothpick-chewing benefactor. Without his relentless ordering, Xianwei and Zheng Dafeng wouldn’t be able to enjoy their private meals every night.

A youth with jade-like skin slowly walked up the mountain path. Xianwei had grown accustomed to it, but he couldn’t be impolite. He and Xiaomi Li stood up together.

Reaching the mountain gate, the youth pointed to a mountain near Mount Luopo, introduced himself, and smiled. “Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. I come from Tiandu Peak. My name is Lu Shen, and my Daoist name is ‘Tianbian’.” (天邊 = horizon, edge of heaven)

Xianwei made a Daoist salute. “A pleasure, a pleasure. This poor Daoist is Xuanxu, and I serve as the gatekeeper of Mount Luopo. Greetings, Daoist Lu.”

“Tianbian,” huh? Not bad. Xianxu. Let’s see whose Daoist name is more imposing.

Xiaomi Li was curious as to why the ever-diligent compiler of the registry hadn’t appeared.

Lu Shen, without changing his expression, subtly turned slightly to the side, his face as composed as ever. “Immortal Xuanxu and Mount Luopo are truly a perfect match. A mountain is not high if there is no immortal spirit; a mountain is not large if there is no Dao manifested.”

Xianwei was at a loss for words. Such excessive praise was a bit much. According to Zheng Dafeng, it was all about the timing, and he wasn’t sure what to make of the present situation.

Lu Shen cut to the chase. “I have come to visit Mount Luopo today to inform you of something that I hope you can convey to Mountain Lord Chen as soon as possible. Ma Kuxuan of Apricot Blossom Lane has a sole disciple who is both his first and last student. This person is a local of the small town. As for the other disciples he has taken outside, they are merely a smokescreen. As for this person’s name, I really cannot say more.”

Xianwei was confused, but he nodded in agreement.

Wei Bo followed Lu Shen to the mountain gate.

Lu Shen greeted him. “Greetings, Divine Lord Wei.”

Wei Bo’s expression was displeased. “You flatter me.”

Lu Shen said in a silent voice, “National Preceptor Cui visited Tiandu Peak some years ago and had a frank discussion with me.”

Wei Bo frowned slightly.

With Lu Shen’s cultivation and methods, if he intended to conceal something, even the Dali Dynasty would find it difficult to uncover anything.

That was assuming Lu Shen’s long journey across the continents, and his settling in Dali, was permitted or tacitly approved by National Preceptor Cui Chan.

Tiandu Peak was located between Mount Luopo and the small town, closer than Tiaoyu Mountain and Fuyao Locus.

On the surface, the supremely auspicious Xiandu Peak was, according to the Dali Dynasty’s records, the “landlord” of a Daoist sect with a foundation similar to that of the Huangliang Sect.

For many years, Tiandu Peak had been shrouded in an ethereal mist, occupied by only a dozen or so mountain cultivators who lived in seclusion, more like a mountain in isolation than Mount Luopo. Occasionally, cultivators would descend the mountain, but only a young cultivator who hadn’t yet reached the middle five realms would be sent to the prefectural city to regularly purchase firewood, rice, oil, and salt. Tiandu Peak and Mount Luopo had never had any interaction, not even a casual acquaintance.

The main peak of Tiandu Peak was slightly shorter than Luopo Mountain’s Jiling Peak, so it didn’t obstruct the view. From the top of their own mountain, Chen Lingjun and the others had a panoramic view of the small town.

The three neighboring mountain lords’ identities were, naturally, secretly recorded by the Dali Dynasty. Wei Bo, as the Five Sacred Mountains Divine, could easily access these records. However, for many years, Chen Pingan had no desire to investigate and never asked. Wei Bo never took the initiative to mention it either. Later, Fuyao Locus was secretly purchased by Pei Qian with her own money, and Tiaoyu Mountain was the private property of Gan Yi of Changchun Palace, which was then taken over by Cui Dongshan. Xie Gou had taken a fancy to Tiandu Peak and wanted to buy it as her dowry. Unfortunately, when she mentioned it to Wei Bo, he simply said that it couldn’t be bought with money, and that it would only be possible if their Mountain Lord became the Dali National Preceptor.

Xie Gou wasn’t the Mountain Lord. She had already confirmed that Tiandu Peak didn’t have a single immortal, let alone anyone cultivating in the upper five realms. Otherwise, she would have noticed it with her keen spiritual sense.

If there were indeed those ancient Ascendants who were extremely skilled at concealing celestial secrets hiding in the mountains, it would be alright, as long as they didn’t stir trouble.

When Lu Shen chose to reveal himself, what annoyed and frustrated Wei Bo was precisely this. According to Wei Bo’s exclusive intelligence channels, Tiandu Peak did have a “true landlord” hiding behind the scenes, but Wei Bo had never imagined that this person and his family were still the pawns being pushed forward by Lu Shen. So Wei Bo felt that it was his silence that had misled the always cautious Chen Pingan.

Damn it, this Tiandu Peak was right under his nose. The thought of such a major oversight filled Wei Bo with unease.

Lu Shen, the head of the Lu clan of Zhongtu, his Daoist name “Beyond the Horizon”, might be respected and feared by others, but Wei Bo didn’t give a damn!

If Wei Bo was extremely displeased, Lu Shen was also quite vexed.

The appearance of the sable-hat girl was a huge problem. Whether it was out of boredom or due to some divine power, she would send out a wisp of her divine sense every few days, day and night, without any rhyme or reason, often secretly patrolling Tiandu Peak. It wasn’t above board, and she was truly inconsiderate. This made Lu Shen unable to lower his guard in the slightest and forced him to set up three small worlds and add dozens of secret restrictions to conceal his aura. Spending some spiritual energy and immortal money wasn’t a big deal, but it was extremely disruptive and restricted Lu Shen’s movements.

Later, in the Lu clan of Zhongtu, when Chen Pingan and the sable-hat girl, who had returned to the mortal realm from the heavens, “barged into their home”, Lu Shen, who was appearing in his youthful form at the time, was all too familiar with that Xie Gou, or rather, Bai Jing of the Northern Wilderness. Not only was her swordsmanship astounding, but she was proficient in many types of Daoist arts. Even Lu Shen, who believed he wasn’t lacking in Daoist talent, almost suspected that Bai Jing was similar to Ruan Xiu and Li Liu.

Lu Shen looked up at the mountain gate and said to himself, “The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily a friend, but there is at least a chance of becoming an ally.”

“Zou Zi is my archenemy on the path of the Great Dao. He will never be able to rise to the top, suffering endlessly.”

“Since we have the same goal, he has his dragon-slaying skills, and I have my dragon-ascending methods. So let’s each display our divine abilities and compete.”

The path of cultivation was like sailing against the current. A Daoist heart must never waver, and a Daoist spirit must never weaken.

Xiaomi Li had already sensed that the atmosphere was off. She rarely saw Mountain Lord Wei so angry. She sat upright on the small bamboo stool, eyes lowered, and her thoughts drifted to the old cook’s kitchen.

Xianwei also sat up straight but glanced at the young man with the imposing Daoist name out of the corner of his eye. Judging from his attire, he didn’t seem very wealthy, but since he could make Divine Lord Wei personally receive him, his identity must be intimidating.

Wei Bo was too lazy to beat around the bush with Lu Shen and sneered, “May I ask Clan Leader Lu, when did you arrive at Tiandu Peak and personally plan your grand scheme?”

A country had its laws, a family had its rules, and a village had its customs. It was the duty of high-ranking mountain and water deities to keep an eye on the activities of cultivators and immortal residences within their jurisdiction and to assist the orthodox dynasty.

Lu Shen said calmly, “The folk custom below regards the winter solstice as important as the new year. It was on that day that I arrived in Huaihuang County. After a rough survey, I chose Xiandu Peak as my temporary Daoist temple. On the second day of the new year, I saw Mountain Lord Chen’s face for the first time in the mountains.” (Note 1, Chapter 188, “The Great Rules and Trivial Matters”)

That year, the western mountains were all undergoing large-scale construction, opening up caves and building residences to add immortal aura to their Daoist temples. Because Jiling Peak of Mount Luopo had a mountain god temple that was officially recognized by the imperial court, the Dali Ministry of Works followed the mountain and water rites, with fixed specifications for spending. The young Mountain Lord got a ready-made advantage and didn’t need to spend his own money to build mountain temples. The Ministry of Works didn’t dare skimp on a single copper coin. As for putting on a show of wealth, someone had to be there to see it, but at the time, Chen Pingan only had Chen Lingjun and Nuanshu with him. Just the three of them on a large mountain, perhaps with the addition of a mountain god who had no assistants or maids.

On that day, according to local custom, people were supposed to start visiting relatives and friends for the new year. Chen Pingan, naturally, had no relatives to visit, so he simply took the boy in green and the girl in pink into the mountains with him.

Lu Shen couldn’t help but look pensive and slowly said, “The barefooted youth who was close to the Great Dao, ascended the mountain carrying water and fire, with a wood-chopping knife on his waist, climbed to the top, and saw the light of day.”

—

On Difei Mountain, Mao Chui seemed to be imparting knowledge to Sword Immortal Nanqiang. Old Celestial Lord Yin Xian was delighted.

“The Daoist school emphasizes the unfettered nature of the heavens and the spontaneity of the Dao. Therefore, you were able to steadily ascend to the status of an immortal. This is your ability.”

Whether mortals could cultivate the Dao depended on whether they had a “starting point.” Entering the mountains and cultivating Qi, whether one could eventually attain enlightenment depended on whether one could find a “destination.”

“High mountains stand tall, and rivers flow. Mountains and rivers should exist to express what’s in one’s heart. But, however high the mountains stand, can they pierce the heavens? However vast the rivers flow, their destination is still the sea.”

“You are learning swordsmanship, dedicating your life to the pursuit of the essence of the sword. Therefore, it is difficult to find like-minded people cultivating on Difei Mountain, and you may inevitably feel a sense of loneliness. Over time, as your realm increases, you will easily become arrogant. Of course, you also have your difficulties. As the abbot of Damu Temple, you need to bear the honor and disgrace of the Huayang Palace’s sword immortal lineage on your shoulders, and this convenient method is used to unite people’s hearts. There is no problem with that.”

Nanqiang grinned and asked, “More than a hundred?”

She had obviously started to find fault. Palace Master Mao had just taken over Huayang Palace and must be busy with official duties, so he was not familiar with the specific situation of the Daoist legacy of Damu Temple. That’s only reasonable.

Even though Mao Chui had initially recommended her as the master of Difei Mountain, Nanqiang should be grateful, but when interacting with him, she always felt a strange feeling she couldn’t explain.

When someone with a keen spiritual sense had this kind of feeling, they must not take it lightly.

A place to sleep should be small to nourish the spirit. A study should be large to gather Qi. Therefore, the library was very tall and occupied a large area, while Mao Chui’s residence was very small, just a small courtyard near the gate. Inside the house, there was even a white mosquito net common in the homes of ordinary people.

Not to mention the enlightened people in the mountains, even those Jianghu martial artists who had achieved success in their training could use an invisible aura to drive away mosquitoes and flies and deter wild beasts.

Fortunately, no one visited his “humble abode,” otherwise Nanqiang would suspect that this White Bone Immortal, who was obviously already a perfect Ascendant, was putting on an act with such a simple and ordinary life.

Mao Chui said indifferently, “There are a total of 105 Daoist officials of Damu Temple, including six generations of records in the ancestral hall. You have been in seclusion recently, but I only know more about the current difficulties of cultivation for all of them than you do.”

Nanqiang asked, “It seems that Gao Qiong is also going into seclusion. Has Fellow Daoist White Bone seen her?”

That was the little girl that Ancestor Gao brought back from her hometown a few years ago. Her aptitude wasn’t particularly outstanding, but since the palace master personally brought her up the mountain, Nanqiang and Damu Temple were naturally very concerned.

Mao Chui said, “According to the secret manual that Cuiwei Palace additionally passed down to Gao Qiong, if she cultivates step by step, she will definitely have problems if she uses it to break through her realm in seclusion, and she will not be able to pass through the Dragon Gate, and it is very likely that she will fall into a lower realm. I have secretly passed on two sword techniques to her, one specifically about dividing water and one about refining mirage swords. When she has cultivated to a point of spiritual connection, the Daoist mantra will be able to manifest the Dragon Gate and a river in White Emperor City. As the Daoist’s spirit is immersed in it, her body will be like a water dragon walking down the river, going to climb the Dragon Gate. This can add a few points to her chances of success.”

Nanqiang was surprised. Who would have thought that Palace Master Mao would really know so much about the sword cultivators of Damu Temple? Was it Ancestor Gao’s secret instructions, or did Mao Chui want to open up the situation through Damu Temple? The three fires that the new official burned, if the sword immortal lineage that had not made much progress under Ancestor Gao began to prosper under Mao Chui, wasn’t that the usual trick in the official world of mountains and rivers?

Mao Chui said, “Lu Chen has a study that is not in his own Daoist temple of Nanhua City, but built in Yushu City, called ‘Guang Qian Sword Zhai’.” (觀千劍齋 = Viewing a thousand swords study)

Nanqiang didn’t know why Mao Chui mentioned this. Wasn’t this something that everyone in the world knew?

Mao Chui slowly said, “It was prepared for me.”

Nanqiang was stunned.

She frankly admitted her mistake and said shamefully, “Fellow Daoist White Bone, I judged a gentleman’s heart with a petty person’s mind and looked down on you.”

Mao Chui said, “No matter who inherits the Daoist legacy of Huayang Palace, you will be hostile to him and feel that the achievements and virtues of any Daoist official are not worthy of sitting in the chair of the Ancestral Hall. Furthermore, you are a Daoist whose inner world is particularly vibrant, and you are also a sword cultivator. Therefore, when you stand next to the White Bone Immortal, who is also a sword cultivator, you naturally feel a potential danger. It is a premonition that comes from instinct. If I were to have murderous intentions in Huayang Palace, you would be the second person to notice it.”

Nanqiang asked curiously, “Who is the first person, Celestial Lord Yin?”

Mao Chui looked at Nanqiang, perhaps not understanding why she would ask such a question.

Nanqiang realized the truth. It was the master of this mountain, the Taiyi Mountain God.

Mao Chui walked to the water’s edge. Perhaps the fish in the pool mistook him for their old owner and gathered around, wagging their tails.

The old blind man who gouged out his eyes, encircled territory in the Northern Wilderness, forcibly cut away a piece of land, and created the Ten Thousand Mountains. The indigenous gold of the Five Elements created a cycle of creation and destruction. They constantly moved the mountains and were assisted by the golden-armored divine generals and warriors to suppress the vast Daoist Qi that was almost soaring into the sky from the acupoints all over his body, preventing his body from ascending into the heavens!

The Lord of Bixiao Cave in Luobao Beach, later the Donghai Taoist Temple, was forever unforgiving and never let off anyone lightly. If anyone dared to damage his Daoist skills, he would cut off your Heaven’s timing and Earth’s advantages!

Pure freedom means being able to do whatever one wants, being able to say no to all the things one doesn’t want to do, and being able to bear the consequences.

How many mortal scholars abandon the glory and wealth of the human world to enter the mountains and seek immortality, hoping to attain enlightenment and live as long as the heavens and earth.

Only Lu Chen’s pursuit has never been the so-called fifteenth realm, or even the consummation of the Great Dao, but only in “seeing my true self.”

Whether it was due to nostalgia or because he was just sentimental, Mao Chui lowered his head and stared at the fish in the water. In an instant, the fish mistook him for food that had entered the water and rushed to snatch at it, but in the end, it was all in vain, and they all dispersed.

Apart from the swordsmanship that penetrates the illusion of life and death, it was as if Lu Chen had entrusted all his nostalgia for the human world to a pair of white bones.

—

Mount Luopo.

Chen Lingjun staggered back from the Iron Talisman River Water God Residence, hiccuping. The boy in green spotted visitors at the mountain gate, immediately withdrew his magic, landed, and focused his eyes to take a closer look. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to be the heroes from *Characters on the Road*. He would go and meet them. He was in good spirits after having his fill of food and drink.

After all, he and the newly appointed Water God, Bai Deng, and the promoted advisor, Zeng Cuo, were all brothers. He had missed them dearly since they had last met several days ago. They had made arrangements to hang out as brothers and before they raised their glasses, he didn’t forget to remind Bai Deng to drink only a little, so as not to delay official business. Zeng Cuo had more or less packed up his bags to help his brother at the water mansion, serving as a strategic advisor, overseeing criminal law, finances, and acting as a personal secretary, enriching the water mansion and properly governing those under his charge. He advised Bai Deng on many of the subtleties of interpersonal relations, how to deal with superiors, manage subordinates, and befriend colleagues, explaining it all clearly. Bai Deng’s personality, due to the nature of his Great Dao foundation, was indeed a bit rough, but thanks to Zeng Cuo’s planning and Chen Lingjun’s efforts to plug the gaps from the sidelines, a lot of effort was saved, and he had secured his position as Water God!

Chen Lingjun swayed his sleeves and walked towards the mountain gate, finding that Wei Bo and the strange youth were looking at him with such… respect?!

Strange, something was wrong with Wei Bo. Ever since becoming the Night Wandering Divine, he had acted high and mighty, and wasn’t particularly affable. Has the sun risen in the west?

Finally, he noticed that Xiaomi Li and Xianwei were winking at him, gesturing behind him. Chen Lingjun turned around, paused, and realized that there were two scholars blocking the path.

Chen Lingjun showed joy, immediately turned around, put his hands on his hips, stood in the middle of the road, and laughed. “Nephew Zheng! It’s been so long since we last met!”

Zheng Juzhong nodded with a smile.

Liu Xiang, standing on the side, was expressionless. “Tsk.”

He had seen all kinds of people, including reckless ones, but he had never seen anyone so bold as to not treat Zheng Juzhong as Zheng Juzhong.

Zheng Juzhong had practically engraved his name on his forehead, and this boy in green didn’t recognize him?

Chen Lingjun wondered why the as-yet-unidentified scholar next to him seemed a little hunched.

Lu Shen at the mountain gate remained composed, but his eyelids twitched slightly.

Chen Lingjun strode up to his good brother Chen Zhuoliu’s disciple, put his hand to his mouth, and lowered his voice. “Nephew, if you haven’t had time to find an inn in the county town, why not stay at my house in the mountains? You can pick any room in the east or west wing. If you think the rooms on both sides are too small, I can clear out the main house for you. We are one family and don’t need to stand on ceremony. I’ll make sure you have everything you need!”

Then, realizing something, the boy in green quickly added, “If you want a quieter, more comfortable place, there are several nice houses in the mountains. I’ll take you for a walk and have you take a look. You can just say the word if you like any of them.”

Poor scholars were all concerned about appearances. He understood! The friends of such poor scholars couldn’t be too wealthy, either. That’s the principle!

Wei Bo was speechless and raised his hand to rub his forehead.

He couldn’t be bothered to explain anything to Chen Lingjun.

It had been like this for years.

Zheng Juzhong said, “I appreciate the offer, but there’s no need.”

Chen Lingjun was visibly disappointed, clapped his fist into his palm, and smiled brightly again. “You have to eat a meal before you leave. I have a good cook at my house whose skills are quite extraordinary…”

Liu Xiang smiled and helped resolve the situation. “Unfortunately, Daoist Jingqing, we just ate a home-cooked meal at Zhao Shuxia’s and Ning Ji’s place.”

Chen Lingjun was not discouraged. “Then we’ll do it next time. I’ll save this meal for later.”

His good brother Chen Zhuoliu was a poor scholar with little money in his pocket and a thin skin. Scholars were all like this. Chen Lingjun borrowed some genuine, proper books from the old cook, sorted them into categories, and placed them on the table for them to browse if they ever stayed.

He would put a table in the courtyard, and there was no reason to have empty wine cups without a wine pot, so there would be plenty of wine.

He would call Bai Mang and Uncle Jia, whom he always got along with, up the mountain. Then the four of them could get together and play drinking games. What a joy!

Every morning, whoever woke up first could just shout, “A signal flare, and an army will come to meet you! Gentlemen, where is the morning brew?!”

Chen Lingjun remembered something and said in a silent voice, “Nephew, to tell you the truth, my mind has always been quick, and I’m known for not getting confused about big things. When I was chatting with your master on the steps, I remembered that you could even chat with Literary Saint Master and the big white goose. I thought it was strange, and then it hit me, and I wondered if you were that Devil Lord Zheng from White Emperor City. Spit, spit, spit, innocent words, innocent words. I meant that righteous, chivalrous Old Man Zheng. Hey, I almost scared myself to death.”

Liu Xiang and Lu Shen exchanged glances, and then they both looked at Divine Lord Wei. Righteous Zheng Juzhong? Who taught them that on Mount Luopo? Wei Bo was helpless; it all depended on their comprehension and self-study.

Zheng Juzhong smiled. “If I were Zheng Juzhong, then my master would be Chen Qingliu. If he were Chen Qingliu, and you could be on brotherly terms with the Dragon Slayer, what would there be to fear from now on?”

Wei Bo couldn’t help but feel worried. No matter how unreliable Chen Lingjun was in his speech and actions, he was still a man of conscience.

Liu Xiang was curious as to how the boy in green would respond.

Lu Shen only felt that the killing intent emanating from Zheng Juzhong’s words was as thick as the fog.

To everyone’s surprise, the boy in green simply tilted his head, remained motionless, and his eyes were difficult to describe as clear or confused. He just stood there in a daze. “Ah?”

After a while, he shook his head vigorously. Chen Lingjun held out a finger and shook it. “No, no, that’s not how it’s calculated. I don’t know enough to explain the specific reason.”

Zheng Juzhong said, “Then we’ll save it for later?”

Chen Lingjun laughed heartily. To be able to chat so well with him, you had to have read some books, but not too many.

Lu Shen felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy, and his nerves tightened.

Why had Zheng Juzhong come here?!

Even so, Lu Shen still respectfully performed an ancient ceremony to the person beside Zheng Juzhong, holding his breath.

Liu Xiang simply ignored him.

As they walked towards the mountain gate, the boy in green first bowed to the strange youth who was so attentive to etiquette, then seemed to think of something, scratched his head, and said to Zheng Juzhong.

“I just want to make some real friends. Their status can be high or low, their family fortune can be great or small, and their wallets can be full or empty. None of that matters. The surface of the table where we share wine and food is always flat.”

Zheng Juzhong was stunned, smiled knowingly, and nodded. “Uncle knows how to drink.”