Luan the Giant and the High-Crowned Elder walked back into White Jade City together and directly ascended the Twelve Stories Tower. On the floor were two woven rush cushions, ordinary items even common folk could afford, certainly not magical treasures to aid cultivators in meditation. After they sat facing each other, the Elder, surnamed Lu, asked with a smile, “When did you ever consult with Qi Jingchun about the art of building White Jade City?”

Luan the Giant chuckled and shook his head. “Never. If I hadn’t said that, who knows if that irascible fellow, A Liang, wouldn’t have just drawn his blade and slaughtered us all without a second word.”

The High-Crowned Elder was stunned. “Surely it wouldn’t come to that?” he asked incredulously.

Luan the Giant laughed heartily. “Of course, I was joking. A Liang shouldn’t be that sort of person. But the words I spoke afterward were indeed truthful. Qi Jingchun’s efforts are most definitely invested in the Great Li Dynasty, and he held high hopes for the future of Great Li and Treasure Bottle Continent. I believe A Liang knows this in his heart as well. Otherwise, Qi Jingchun wouldn’t have built that Cliff Academy here, dwelling within Great Li, yet teaching and lecturing to all the scholars of Treasure Bottle Continent. Most of the scholars who emerged from Cliff Academy have passed away, but some still live. All these seeds of scholarship, their passing on of knowledge and their answering of questions to the next generation, are each a vessel carrying Qi Jingchun’s hopes.”

Luan the Giant paused briefly, then asked, “Do you truly believe that these scholars harbor no resentment at all over Qi Jingchun’s death?”

The High-Crowned Elder fell into thoughtful silence, finally saying slowly, “Under those circumstances, Great Li could only choose the lesser of two evils.”

Luan the Giant chuckled, only skimming the surface of the matter, moving on to a new topic immediately. “In my view, the root of this upheaval that has left both of us bruised and battered today, doesn’t actually lie in Great Li wanting to establish its authority by targeting him. With A Liang’s realm of cultivation and the temperament he showed during his travels across the continents, he wouldn’t care about such trifles.”

“I don’t know what A Liang thinks,” the High-Crowned Elder sighed. “However, the unspoken words you held back, I shall speak them. Ultimately, the knot in that person’s heart is still Qi Jingchun, and Great Li’s failure to stand up and speak a few words of justice for Qi Jingchun when faced with pressure from all sides. Plus, as soon as Qi Jingchun left, Cliff Academy was shut down. The tea grew cold far too quickly, with even a hint of taking advantage of a bad situation. But you and I know perfectly well that, from the Great Li Emperor’s perspective, this was the truly wise course of action. Had it been an ordinary emperor or ruler, I suspect they wouldn’t even have felt that little bit of guilt. Wouldn’t they just think it was perfectly justified?”

“Speaking of which, if we put ourselves in his shoes, doesn’t our two families and Great Li making such a grand show of fighting him look to A Liang like a Qi Refiner in the lower five realms flexing his muscles, acting as if he’s going to fight us two to the death? And this little fellow just so happens to be confident and have victory within his grasp.”

The High-Crowned Elder lifted his sleeve and adjusted his posture slightly, forcing a wry smile. “The way you put it, I feel a bit ridiculous.”

Luan the Giant laughed. “If one day, there can be someone like us, well, someone with a bit of status and position, chatting about something we two once did, that they would be amazed and willing to applaud it, that would be great.”

The High-Crowned Elder sighed. “If White Jade City had successfully built the thirteenth floor, there might have been some hope. But it’s difficult now.”

Luan the Giant said with emotion, “I wonder which of the Great Li kids will achieve the most unexpected success in the future.”

The High-Crowned Elder smiled slightly. “I’ll bet on Song Mu. How about you?”

Luan the Giant smiled slyly, half-joking. “I’ll bet on the little girl Wang Zhu. What do you think?”

The old man, from the Yin Yang School’s Lu family, shook his head and smiled. “One branch can stand out, but it’s hard to form a forest.”

Luan the Giant also shook his head, noncommittal. Remembering something, he asked, “Didn’t Qi Jingchun also take in some students and disciples in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven? Like that Zhao Yao? And it seems the Military and Daoist schools of Treasure Bottle Continent fought over a child surnamed Ma.”

The High-Crowned Elder said calmly, “Let’s wait and see. I only hope these two old geezers can live to see the end of the chaotic era.”

The maid, Zhi Gui, remained on the tenth floor of White Jade City, never stepping outside.

Taking advantage of moments when no one was paying attention, she climbed onto the windowsill, curled up her body, leaned against it, and turned her head to look south, glancing at the sky, then back south, repeating this with tireless enjoyment.

You always like to reason with ants, even with me you like to preach your grand principles. You lived more boring than anyone, and died a more miserable death than anyone. This fellow who seems to be familiar with you, is very different. He simply did not place any of us in his eyes, very free and at ease. But why do I still feel you are better?

But I think, as far as ‘good’ is concerned, just know it in the heart is enough, as for how to conduct oneself, it is still necessary to be like this strange fellow.

The girl finally narrowed her golden double-pupiled eyes and smiled. “Huh, I don’t seem to be human?”

Lost in thought, after a long while, the girl stretched out a finger and wiped it across her cheek below her eyes.

Above the city walls of the capital, two former allies faced each other with a tense atmosphere.

The palace-dressed woman shrieked, “Cui Chan, you knew that person from the beginning, didn’t you? So, in order to please him, you deliberately opened the gates of the capital, allowing him to slaughter his way to White Jade City?! This is a capital crime! Not even dying once is enough! Did you think that if I am cast into the dust, you can have it good? Have you lost your mind?”

Cui Chan, appearing as a green-robed Confucian scholar, said calmly, “If I didn’t remove the capital’s grand formation, do you believe that people would die before White Jade City? Instead of how it is now, at the very least, no one has died.”

Cui Chan sneered. “I know that Song Jixin’s purpose for existing is now gone. He has lost his value. Anyway, there’s no need for your other son, well, my good student, to be the White Jade City Lord and risk being destroyed along with the tower, so I guess you can’t wait for this kid to die soon and be reborn.”

The woman smiled charmingly, her expression composed. “How can the Imperial Preceptor speak such nonsense?”
Cui Chan ceased dwelling on the matter. “That renowned talisman sword from the capital, the one no one could draw, was originally intended, as per Mr. Lu’s suggestion, to be a flying sword guarding the Thirteenth Floor of White Jade City. However, Master Luan deemed it unsuitable, lacking the gravitas befitting the final sword. Secondly, its origin in Dragon Spring County of the Lvzhu Paradise necessitated sacrificing two divine weapons as the opening price to cleave that massive Dragon-Slaying Platform. The imperial treasury was already stretched thin. Fortunately, that talisman sword was renowned for its resilience, theoretically capable of withstanding three strikes from sword immortals.”

The woman frowned. “Cui Chan, what are you implying?”

Cui Chan continued, unfazed, “Alas, the Dragon-Slaying Platform proved too immense. After two strikes, the sword’s body resembled the cracked glaze of a porcelain piece from the dragon kilns of a small town, its inner sword essence shattered beyond repair. His Majesty, the Emperor, felt the loss but did not hold anyone accountable. Then, seemingly on a whim, he bestowed it upon a woman named Yang Hua, precisely that handmaiden by your side, Your Highness. But simultaneously, he decreed that she become the River God of the Iron Talisman River. Thus, Your Highness lost a right-hand assistant, correct?”

The palace woman chuckled. “Are you suggesting His Majesty is warning me, testing me?”

Cui Chan scoffed. “Your Highness is as perceptive as ever.”

The palace woman’s laughter was brittle and cold.

Cui Chan clicked his tongue. “Perhaps consider the fates of our Five Sacred Mountains’ Proper Gods?”

Her previously fair face turned ashen.

The woman sank into thought, like a chess player reviewing a past game.

Cui Chan did not interrupt her train of thought.

The Grand Li Emperor had hoped, taking advantage of the Lvzhu Paradise’s descent, to elevate Mount Piyun, with its rich aura, to the status of the Northern Sacred Mountain of the Grand Li Dynasty in one fell swoop!

But this presented an awkward and delicate situation. Currently, all five of Grand Li’s sacred mountains were located north of Mount Piyun.

Although none of the mountain deities voiced objections at the time, their positions, situated like the “waist” between the Li Dynasty immortals and the martial world, like vital passes guarding a nation’s loins, the situation shifted subtly overnight. Many sects and grotto-heavens, disguised as devout pilgrims, ordinary travelers, and literati, visited the Five Mountains, not discussing matters of incense and worship, but only poetry and romance, while the lesser mountain and river deities around the Five Mountains fell silent in unison.

In the end, for reasons unknown, the Grand Li Emperor, a man typically decisive on matters of great importance, suddenly changed his mind, retracting this momentous decision concerning the nation’s prosperity and destiny.

However, coincidentally, an outsider appeared in Grand Li, daring to slay two grandmaster-level assassins.

Given the Grand Li Emperor’s consistently swift and decisive nature, this resulted in a large-scale hunt and siege. Because it involved Grand Li’s southward strategy, it would determine how many fewer lives Grand Li soldiers would lose in the future southern campaign. Otherwise, given the Grand Li Dynasty’s established barbarian reputation throughout the Eastern Treasure Continent, the rolling torrent of Grand Li iron cavalry surging south would inevitably encounter river pillars, those arrogant immortals who, for various reasons, would surely test the sharpness of Grand Li’s blades and the strength of its cavalry, to see if they truly deserved to stand on equal footing with them.

Grand Li, of course, had its own immortal forces, and many nominally served the Song Dynasty, with even more acting secretly. But this still wouldn’t deter those moths drawn to the flame. The greatest fear was those thick-skinned and elusive Qi cultivators, specializing in slaughtering ordinary Grand Li soldiers at random, striking here and striking there, and fleeing as soon as they were done. What was the Grand Li court to do?

Thus, the White Jade City Sword Tower arose in response, slowly emerging from the shadows. And the first to know this monumental secret were the twelve mountain and river deities, these “insiders” outside the Grand Li capital.

If the Grand Li Song family had wanted to make Mount Piyun the Northern Mountain, stripping the original Five Mountains of their titles, even with the Emperor privately giving them veiled hints and distinct promises, it would still have had the air of crossing the river and demolishing the bridge. The five deities’ silence was somewhat understandable, after all, it involved incense, gilded bodies, and the foundations of their cultivation, who would easily believe mere words or documents?

Then the matter of resisting and slaying enemies became one of righteousness, and the twelve, whose honor and disgrace were already intertwined with the Grand Li nation, had no reason to refuse.

Before actually engaging with that foreign swordsman, there was no real fault to be found.

Even the already weakened six dharma forms, their true bodies remaining in the mountains and rivers, probably didn’t see any problem, because the secret decree given to them by the Grand Li Emperor clearly stated that they were to kill a tenth-realm, possibly eleventh-realm, cultivator, nothing more.

Even after engaging, the same held true.

Although the final outcome was obvious, extremely miserable and embarrassing, the Grand Li Dynasty, from the Emperor himself, to the creator of the White Jade Tower, to the six mountain and river deities, seemed to be all losers. But this was because no one, including the Grand Li Emperor, anticipated the enemy being so powerful. Even in the end, when the truth was revealed to the world, it might even give the impression that Grand Li, though defeated, was still glorious.

But at this moment, Cui Chan, standing on the city wall, felt lingering trepidation.

Because within the losses, the Grand Li Emperor had achieved some of his intended goals.

Among the Five Sacred Mountain deities, only the Central Mountain deity, always loyal to the Grand Li Song family, and the Northern Mountain deity, previously in the most precarious position, had their dharma forms and true bodies fully preserved. The other three were completely annihilated, their cultivation greatly reduced, practically reduced to ordinary mountain gods, struggling to survive, losing the will and confidence to challenge the Grand Li Emperor on the matter of changing the names of the sacred mountains.

The truly terrifying subtlety wasn’t even that, but that Cui Chan, in an earlier, pleasant game of chess with the Grand Li Emperor, was asked about his opinions. The Grand Li national teacher, always frank in his words, spoke of some of his心得, including the notion that when employing officials, a ruler might as well use those who had made mistakes, been punished, and even rely heavily on them, because after experiencing pain and learning a lesson, they would be particularly obedient.
Therefore, among the Five Peaks, excluding the Central Peak’s true deity, the other four—East, South, West, and North—if they ever savor the lingering bitterness of this tragic event, most will harbor resentment toward the Emperor of Great Li. Only the old North Peak deity, who made the wrong choice early on, will experience even more fear.

If, before today, Cui Chan was willing to explain these subtle advantages to her one by one, at this point, he no longer intended to suffer with her.

Cui Chan could tolerate some of the despicable things this woman had done. After all, they didn’t concern him directly; the more ruthless an ally, the harder it was for his enemies. Cui Chan wasn’t foolish enough to advise his ally to have the heart of a Bodhisattva. Cui Chan hadn’t reached this point through kindness. But if His Majesty the Emperor succeeded in this hunt, he might only give a warning tap. Now, however, the situation was very different.

This truly ruthless lady had the surrendered General Lu decapitate Song Yuzhang and secretly placed the head in a wooden box for future use.

Against whom? Naturally, her son Song Mu, or rather, Song Jixin, who grew up in Mud Bottle Lane.

Song Yuzhang deserved to die, of course. The construction of the corridor bridge involved a scandalous secret of the Song imperial family, and making amends was out of the question. After returning to the capital, Song Yuzhang served as an official in the Ministry of Rites for a short time. Before his seat had even warmed up, the Emperor appointed him to the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, ostensibly because he was more familiar with local customs, which would benefit the enshrinement of mountain and river deities. In reality, Song Yuzhang knew he was being given a relatively dignified way to die, rather than dying suddenly in his official residence in the capital or being executed on trumped-up charges.

Song Yuzhang faced his death with equanimity.

Even Cui Chan, the Grand Preceptor of Great Li, although he considered Song Yuzhang an utter fool for his loyalty, couldn’t deny that he admired the scholar’s integrity.

Cui Chan privately believed that a dynasty’s court needed two things: inconspicuous paving stones and load-bearing pillars to support the palace halls. Both were indispensable.

Song Yuzhang belonged to the former.

He, Grand Preceptor Cui Chan, Prince Song Changjing, and the heads of the Six Ministries all belonged to the latter.

But this woman actually “collecting” that head crossed the Emperor’s bottom line.

Hence, her trusted general, Yang Hua, was forced to become the River Deity of the Iron Talisman River. Although the palace maid indeed possessed extraordinary talent, under normal circumstances, she would never have been promoted so hastily. With the Emperor’s frugality and shrewdness, he would have undoubtedly made better use of her potential.

This lady still stubbornly and painstakingly maneuvered to make Song Jixin the master of Jade Capital City, gaining the recognition of the twelve flying swords, ascending floor by floor.

It seemed like a mother making amends to a long-lost son. In reality, it wasn’t that simple. Song He was the one she truly regarded as her own flesh and blood, on whom she placed great hopes. After all, one grew up with her day and night, watched and cared for by her every step of the way. One was pleasing to her in every aspect. The other lived far away in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, struggling in the filthy alleys filled with chicken droppings and dog excrement. She tried to peek at the Emperor’s confidential records early on but was severely punished. It was probably from that point that her heartache for her eldest son turned into despair. Furthermore, in the Great Li clan registry, Song Mu was clearly marked as having died young, his name crossed out in red ink, a startling sight.

As for whether she experienced torment or pain deep down, a woman’s heart was an unfathomable mystery. Cui Chan didn’t know, and no one else did either.

And why and how she used her eldest son, Song Mu, as a stepping stone for her younger son, Song He—Cui Chan wasn’t interested in those unknown bloody details and the journey of the heart.

The lady in court attire smiled. “I already know where I went wrong, but do you, Cui Chan, know?”

Cui Chan, with one hand behind his back and the other lightly patting the crenelated wall, slowly said, “I know. I opened the capital’s grand formation, welcoming the enemy. Although my initial intention was good, allowing that A-Liang to see our sincerity and concession in Great Li, I have fallen into a dilemma.”

The woman looked at the Grand Preceptor with pity, gloating, “The Emperor’s life is something that a dragon-supporting figure can casually put on the gambling table?”

Cui Chan nodded. “Indeed.”

The woman said “kindly,” “The dignified Grand Preceptor of Great Li, the former first disciple of the Literary Saint, if you were to shed tears of regret at this moment, perhaps His Majesty would show you leniency.”

Cui Chan smiled. “I am a pitiful person who has fallen many times. I can endure the pain and withstand the loneliness. You are different, Lady. Born into a wealthy family, accustomed to a life of luxury since childhood, it might be a little difficult for you.”

The woman’s face darkened, and she finally tore off her mask, asking bluntly, “Are we breaking up?”

Cui Chan said frankly, “The friendship of petty men is sweet as honey, but friendships based on profit dissolve when profit ends. What’s so strange about that? What, Lady, wouldn’t you think we have a pure and noble friendship?”

The woman gritted her teeth. “Good, good, good, you are ruthless. Then you must pray that His Majesty strikes me dead with one blow, or else…”

Cui Chan waved his hand. “Don’t try to scare me with words. You know my character, Lady. The mountains are high, and the rivers are long; no one can predict the future. As long as you can survive this ordeal, Cui Chan will naturally be willing to ally with you. If you can’t, don’t worry, Lady; I won’t kick you when you’re down. I understand His Majesty’s intentions somewhat, and I will never do anything that harms others without benefiting myself.”

The lady in court attire said something sincere for once, “Cui Chan, you are a terrifying person.”

Cui Chan smiled without saying a word.

He just inexplicably thought of a familiar figure.

When Cui Chan was a young boy studying under that old man, he often saw that sword-wielding rogue come to the old man’s side. One spoke of sage principles, and the other spoke of the interesting events of the martial world. The two were purely talking at cross purposes. Many years later, Cui Chan stubbornly disowned his teaching master, betrayed the school, and even committed a series of acts of deceiving the master, destroying the ancestors, and fratricide. Cui Chan never regretted it; everything was for the Great Dao!

But losing that person’s friendship, even for someone as cold as Cui Chan, felt like a regret, a regret that bordered on remorse.

But if Cui Chan were given a chance to choose again, it would be the same, without any change.
Upon embarking on the Great Dao, there is often no turning back, not even half a step.

Atop the city walls, Cui Chan’s words had barely faded when a golden-feathered falcon pierced the sky.

It abruptly halted atop a crenellation.

Cui Chan retreated a step, lowering his head slightly. The palace-attired woman hastily offered a graceful curtsy.

The falcon fixed its gaze upon her.

A clear, childish voice rang out, “Song Zhengchun has decreed that you are to retreat to Changchun Palace for secluded cultivation. You may only leave and return to the capital upon reaching the Upper Five Realms. However, during this time, you are not forbidden from associating with anyone. Furthermore, you are to immediately transfer all files from the Bamboo Leaf Pavilion to State Preceptor Cui. Your sole concern shall be your cultivation.”

Cui Chan bowed deeply, saying, “I thank His Majesty for his benevolence.”

The falcon turned its head, looking at the Great Li State Preceptor, “Song Zhengchun bids you remember this is not to be repeated. He has reminded you that he only warned you three times, cherish this.”

Cui Chan nodded, offering no further words.

The palace woman asked only one question, “May Mu’er and He’er visit me at Changchun Palace from time to time?”

The falcon nodded. “Of course. Song Zhengchun also said that Song He is to remain in the Yangxin Study to continue his studies. If you find yourself lonely on the mountain, you may bring Song Mu to Changchun Palace to cultivate lightning techniques. The decision is yours.”

The woman’s gaze wavered.

The falcon grew impatient, “Song Zhengchun’s final words are: Great Li’s national strength suffered losses due to that person, but this decision was his own, and not related to you. Do not dwell on it.”

Tears welled in the palace woman’s eyes as she gazed toward the palace, her beauty captivating in this moment of vulnerability. She spoke with a soft, trembling voice, “Your Majesty…”

Suddenly, the falcon’s voice turned sharp and shrill, “Filthy whore, rotten hag, fox spirit! Hurry up and get out of the capital! I’ve put up with you for long enough!”

The palace woman smiled, asking, “Were those also the Emperor’s words?”

With a cold snort, the falcon spread its wings and soared away, vanishing in an instant.

As the golden falcon departed, the palace woman staggered, placing her hands against the city wall, her face ashen.

The Bamboo Leaf Pavilion, a shadowy pillar of the Great Li Dynasty painstakingly built and nurtured by her, was akin to her third son.

Cui Chan felt a pang of sympathy.

To kill is merely a head nodding to the executioner’s blade, but to shatter the spirit is an eternity of pain.

Yet, even with the power of life and death over the Bamboo Leaf Pavilion now in his grasp, Cui Chan felt no joy.

For the young body with which he had once again shared a profound connection seemed to have vanished completely.

Even the old man Yang had chosen to turn a blind eye, unwilling to send any news back to the Great Li capital.

The rapids of Chongdan River were a treacherous passage, akin to the Gates of Hell in the eyes of common folk. Thus, boatmen always returned laden with wealth, their pockets bulging with coins. Their boats were moored along the river that ran through the small town, where brothels and taverns bustled with activity. Intermingled were small taverns selling cheap liquor, with comely women luring customers in, providing the boatmen with a place to drink away their cares. If a boatman could convince a scholar to visit a brothel or tavern that they know, he would receive a substantial commission.

Today, someone had hired a boatman to explore the stretch of river lined with towering stone forests like spears and halberds.

The boatman was a sturdy man, roughly fifty years old, but still strong and muscular. He was also loquacious. His passenger was an old scholar, dressed in shabby clothes, yet he had been generous enough to pay ten taels of silver. The fact that a man appearing to be at least sixty years old would travel alone aroused the boatman’s curiosity.

The small boat rose and fell in the rapids, waves splashing over the two men. The boatman watched the old man clutch the gunwales tightly, suppressing a smile. All scholars were like this, no matter their age. The boatman couldn’t fathom what was so appealing about rocks. Did they talk? Were they prettier than the women of Hongzhu Town? Spending money to suffer? Scholars were truly lacking in common sense.

Once the boat cleared the rapids and entered calmer waters, the boatman casually recounted the worn-out story of the Niangniang Temple. Then, he asked, “Old sir, are you from out of town? Where are you from? Your Great Li Mandarin is passable, at least.”

“Me? My hometown is far away. I simply enjoy traveling and seeing the sights, unburdened and carefree.”

“You look quite old, you know. You should take it easy.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

“Old sir, let me ask you something. You’ve traveled far and wide, you must have seen many places. What do you think of Great Li’s scenery?”

“Very good, very good. A land of outstanding people and spirits.”

“And is the wine of Hongzhu Town good?”

“Good, good, though a bit expensive.”

“And is our Emperor powerful?”

“Powerful.”

“Is our Great Li State Preceptor better at chess than those of the Great Sui?”

“Probably.”

“Is Great Li the strongest in the north?”

“Definitely, absolutely.”

Aside from the first question, the boatman had deliberately been teasing the old man, who seemed like a kind-hearted and agreeable fellow who liked to say yes to everything.

As they approached the shore, the boatman, seeing the old man’s earnest face and vigorous nodding, couldn’t help but laugh. “Old sir, you’re a good-natured person, but you’re too agreeable. I’ve met hundreds of scholars, old and young, and they all speak in convoluted and pretentious ways, making it difficult to understand and giving off the impression they are brilliant. Alas, I lack the talent and never attended school or had a teacher to guide me. Even if I wanted to chime in, it’s difficult.”

“It’s the intention that matters. Nothing is insurmountable.” The old man chuckled and asked, “By the way, have you ever heard of Mr. Qi of Cliffside Academy?”

The boatman hesitated, sighed softly, and shook his head. “I haven’t.”

The old man nodded and smiled. “Great Li is a bit different. Why, I passed a border watchtower manned by only two soldiers, and an immortal descended, asking for food. In any other country, they would have knelt and offered it with both hands. But the border soldiers of Great Li stood tall and spoke to the immortal as equals, though I’m sure their hearts were pounding.”
The boatman chuckled, “So you’ve actually seen immortals, old man? Well, that’s a worthwhile journey then! Beats me. Those out-of-town tourists always say the Chongdan River is haunted by water ghosts and river spirits, but I’ve been poling this boat for thirty years and haven’t seen a single strange thing.”

The old man laughed, “Indeed, I have. It’s just that those immortals have rather short tempers. Those two watchtower guards each got a slap and went flying, smashing tables and benches to smithereens. But one of the immortals, after eating and drinking his fill, tossed some gold ingots on the ground before leaving.”

The boatman clicked his tongue in envy. “So they struck it rich! If it were me, I’d take ten slaps for that!”

The old man nodded approvingly. “You have a generous heart, a broad mind. That’s good, very good.”

The boatman suddenly asked worriedly, “Right, did those immortals make things difficult for you, old man?”

Looking at the boatman’s sincere expression, the old man laughed heartily. “Didn’t make things difficult, didn’t make things difficult at all.”

Relieved, the boatman then decided to tease the amusing old gentleman. He asked, “Old man, fancy some drinks?”

The boatman winked, barely managing to stifle his laughter, and whispered, “Some… *fancy* drinks? I can take you there.”

The old man’s eyes widened and he blurted out, “Expensive?”

The boatman burst into hearty laughter, deciding to stop teasing the old gentleman. “Very expensive!”

The old man was caught in inner turmoil. “Never mind, wait for me on the shore after we land. I’ll go borrow some money, maybe I can get twenty or thirty taels of silver.”

The boatman was taken aback. Being a simple and honest fellow, he couldn’t bear to take him to that den of vice where money flowed like water. “Old man, I was just joking. Those ‘fancy drinks’ are no fun. Just think, one cup of wine costs two or three taels of silver! It’ll break your heart, you won’t even enjoy the taste. Let’s not go. If you really want to drink, I’ll take you to a small tavern by the shore, where they serve authentic homemade liquor from Red Candle Town at a fair price.”

The small boat slowly approached the shore. The poor old scholar stood up, patted the boatman’s shoulder, and said with a chuckle, “Words of kindness, deeds of evil, a national demon.”

The burly boatman’s face instantly turned pale. He wanted to retreat, but he was completely unable to move. He wished he could leap into the water, reveal his true form, and flee far away, but that was an impossible dream.

The old man then smiled and said, “Words unspoken, deeds of goodness, a national treasure. I hope you can stay true to your heart and act with kindness.”

The boatman felt an inexplicable surge of righteousness welling up in his chest. He wanted to speak, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

The old scholar went ashore and slowly walked away.

Tears streamed down the boatman’s face. When he was finally able to move, he immediately jumped ashore and knelt down, performing the grand kowtow of three kneelings and nine prostrations towards the old man’s departing figure.

Legend has it that there are sages in the world who possess the Heavenly Mandate, their words becoming law.

The old scholar inquired along the way and arrived at the entrance of Pillow Post Station, asking if the young man named Chen Ping’an was still there.

The post station guard asked who he was.

The old scholar thought for a moment and said that he was half a teacher to the young man.

As a result, the post station guard told him to get lost.

For some reason, a handsome young man with a mole between his eyebrows had been staying obediently in an old private school these past few days, spending his time reading books.

Even stranger, the young man would often cry, his face covered in snot and tears, as he read.

End of Chapter