The young city lord of Old Dragon City, Fu Nanhua, sat formally upright facing the Song surname youth. His hands carefully held the small pot, its base engraved with a mountain demon pattern. He scrutinized the carvings with the fondness of a man beholding a peerless beauty, never tiring of the sight. Examining, caressing, breathing upon it, Fu Nanhua had spent the better part of an hour in this back-and-forth, utterly captivated. Some people or objects inspire instant affection and delight. For Fu Nanhua, with his famously discerning eye, this nurturing pot was precisely such a thing. Though the line between finding a bargain and making a mistake was thin, Fu Nanhua was convinced he had found the former, and a substantial one at that. His Old Dragon City was among the leading sects in the southern Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent, making Fu Nanhua a true scion of wealth and cultivation, which explained Cai Jinjian’s earlier deference.

Song Jixin yawned, slumping in his chair and shifting to a more comfortable position. He lazily inquired, “Brother Fu, now that the authenticity of the item is confirmed, shouldn’t we discuss the price?”

Fu Nanhua, rarely addressed so familiarly, suppressed a slight discomfort. He reluctantly set down the mountain demon pot, smiling. “Brother Song surely understands my sincerity. Otherwise, I would never have been so frank, revealing the pot’s true value at first meeting, nor would I linger so long, so plainly showing my desire for this pot. It is to avoid tedious haggling and wasted time, which would harm our burgeoning friendship. Brother Song, I, Fu Nanhua, already consider you a kindred spirit on my cultivation path. Now, we can trade honestly, and whether we share fortune or misfortune, or even entrust our lives to each other in the future, depends on how firmly we take this first step today.”

Song Jixin extended a finger, tapping the earnest, high-crowned young lord. He smiled slyly. “Brother Fu, I am a vulgar man, reeking of money, though I value friendship. But when I sit down to do business and someone talks of brotherhood, I can’t help but wonder if, when I need that brotherhood, they’ll secretly be calculating the deal.”

Fu Nanhua’s face grew cold. He leaned back in his chair, lightly drumming his fingers on the table, the movement soft and silent.

Song Jixin seemed oblivious to Fu Nanhua’s change in demeanor. “Calling you ‘Brother Fu’ and showing you the pot is my sincerity. Since we both want a deal, let’s be direct. You name your price, and I’ll nod or shake my head. I’ll give you two offers. After that, the chance is gone. No matter what riches you promise, sorry, brother, I won’t sell.”

“The jade pendant from before, ‘Old Dragon Sprinkling Rain,’ was a little gift. It is not a mighty magical treasure, but it wards off heat, calms the mind, and dispels impurities, especially aiding meditation. If you have a secret, passed-down Daoist mantra to accompany it, it will be twice as effective.”

Fu Nanhua’s smile was sincere, his face devoid of any arrogant condescension. He placed an embroidered pouch on the table, pushing it toward Song Jixin with his palm. Solemnly, he said, “These copper coins are called ‘offering money,’ used for incense offerings to city god temples or Wenchang pavilions. They can be held in the mouth, hidden in the belly, or carried in the hand, each with its own significance and purpose. But that’s not the most important thing. The real key is that these golden-looking coins are ‘gold essence,’ far more valuable than gold. Immortals say, ‘Blue water may be gathered, but gold essence is a secret not to be discussed.’ This pouch of gold essence offering money is a fair price for the pot, not to mention the Old Dragon pendant. Brother Song, I, Fu Nanhua, dare say you will profit greatly.”

Having delivered these heartfelt words, Fu Nanhua awaited a response.

Song Jixin was silent for a moment, then blinked. “That’s it?”

Fu Nanhua forced a wry smile. “That’s it.”

The youth’s face abruptly darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table. “Fu, you are a con artist! Do you think I’m some three-year-old fool you can trick?! Before entering the town, you get three pouches of copper coins. After removing one pouch for passage, you have to give one pouch for every treasure you get, no matter its size. One pouch has thirty coins at most, and twenty at least. But your shriveled pouch, doesn’t even have twelve, does it?! If you can’t even be honest in trading, you dare try to get luck from me?”

Fu Nanhua increased the pressure of his fingers, tapping the table faster and faster.

Song Jixin felt a pang in his chest. He suddenly found it difficult to breathe, his face flushing crimson, his eyes turning bloodshot. He quickly pressed a hand to his chest, his heart pounding like a drum, as if it would burst through his ribs.

Fu Nanhua gradually slowed his tapping. The youth’s complexion improved, and Fu Nanhua smiled. “Since our first offer wasn’t accepted, I’ll offer again. Twenty-four gold essence offering coins. Will you sell me the mountain demon pot?”

Sweating profusely, Song Jixin hesitated. Seeing the other’s renewed movements, the youth was about to say something to ease the situation. But the young lord of Old Dragon City, accustomed to being the center of attention, quickened his tapping once more, like a sudden summer rain.

Song Jixin clutched his chest, his handsome face contorted, a savage smile twisting his features.

Fu Nanhua nearly lost his patience and killed this wolf cub. But at the last moment, the great allure of ascending the cultivation path and attaining immortality overcame his personal aversion. He stopped his fingers, giving the youth a reprieve.

Panting, Song Jixin’s eyes burned with fervor as he smiled hoarsely.

Fu Nanhua was baffled. There seemed to be no hatred in the youth’s eyes, which Fu Nanhua didn’t find surprising. The cultivation path was filled with strange events and unique people. He asked, puzzled, “What are you smiling at?”

Song Jixin’s breathing grew steadier. He slumped back in his chair, wiping sweat from his forehead, his eyes gleaming. “I’m happy when I think that one day, I will have the same skill as you, and can kill someone with a flick of a finger.”

Fu Nanhua smiled dismissively, taking him as a kindred spirit with his great ambitions.

This sort of person was the easiest to deal with, as long as you were in a higher position, or the hardest, if he ever climbed over you.

However, the Young City Lord of Old Dragon City didn’t think that once he got this luck, he could be compared to a kid that no one wanted to take him from this town before nine.

Song Jixin glanced at the small pot and the half-pouch of coins on the table. He looked up and said, “Fu Nanhua, I have two conditions. If you agree, I’ll sell you the mountain demon pot and offer you an old item no less valuable.”

Fu Nanhua suppressed his excitement, keeping his tone as even as possible. “Speak.”

Song Jixin didn’t beat around the bush, dropping a bombshell. “First, I want three pouches of gold essence coins, not two!”

Fu Nanhua agreed without hesitation. “Agreed!”

Song Jixin stared intently into the other’s eyes.

Fu Nanhua smiled. “Believe it or not. At the same time, you must produce the item worth two pouches of gold essence before I leave today, so I can personally examine it.”

Song Jixin nodded. “Of course!”

Fu Nanhua asked, “And the second condition?”

Song Jixin said slowly, “Kill someone for me.”

Fu Nanhua shook his head. “Since you know how many coins are in a pouch, you should also know that we ‘outsiders’ can’t kill people here at will. If we do, we’ll be immediately expelled from the town. We might even have a portion of our root cut off, our luck stripped away by a sage using immortal arts, a truly wretched fate, and our families would lose all chance of luck here.”

Song Jixin’s lips curled upward. “Don’t be so quick to refuse. Why don’t you wait and see?”

Fu Nanhua smiled. “I’m curious. Who do you want to kill?”

Song Jixin replied half-seriously, “I’m still thinking about it.”

Fu Nanhua picked up the small pot again, feeling its smooth texture. Casually, he said, “Then I’ll wait and see.”

Across the table, the youth subconsciously rubbed his neck, his face looking terrible.

—

Earlier, Zhi Gui had escorted Cai Jinjian to the entrance of the Gu family’s courtyard. Song Jixin’s maid had wandered off to explore the town. As Cai Jinjian pushed open the gate, she was struck dumb, rooted to the spot, staring at the old man sitting on a long bench. She trembled as she asked, “Senior, are you the River Interception True Monarch who cultivates in the Book Scroll Lake?”

The old man asked, “How do you recognize me?”

Cai Jinjian replied respectfully, “Junior Cai Jinjian of Cloud Glow Mountain once followed my father to Book Scroll Lake ten years ago to witness the spectacle of the old turtle carrying the inscription tablet out of the water. I was fortunate enough to glimpse your presence from afar. The memory is vivid, unforgettable.”

The old man nodded. “I see.”

Cai Jinjian’s mood turned somber. “True Monarch, I wish to…”

The “storyteller” with the title “River Interception True Monarch” glanced at her, saying calmly, “Out of respect for the old ancestor of Pine Glow, I won’t hold your uninvited visit against you. But don’t let it happen again. Close the gate when you leave the courtyard.”

Cai Jinjian was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Junior takes her leave.”

She actually left, remembering to close the gate carefully, her movements gentle and unobtrusive.

Inside the courtyard, the woman looked toward the gate, worriedly asking, “Immortal Master, she doesn’t seem like someone who will give up. Will there be trouble?”

The old man with the title of “True Monarch” scoffed. “Entering the town, even breathing or farting can cause trouble. Should we give up on our luck because of that?”

The woman was speechless.

The old man smiled. “Let me ask you, Gu. If you could choose, would you rather have Gu Can cultivate at Cloud Glow Mountain or follow me to Book Scroll Lake?”

“Don’t be hasty in answering.”

The old man waved his hand, telling the woman not to rush. Slowly, he said, “Cloud Glow Mountain is a bottom-tier second-rate sect in our Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent. But if you think Cloud Glow Mountain is insignificant, you’d be sorely mistaken. The cloud root stone produced by Cloud Glow Mountain is a true treasure of heaven and earth. Not just in Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent, but in the entire world, they are unique. Therefore, Cloud Glow Mountain’s status is extraordinary, and everyone is willing to show them respect, especially the alchemists of Daoism, who have maintained a close relationship with Cloud Glow Mountain for thousands of years. As for me, I’m just one of the cultivators in Book Scroll Lake, occupying a single island in the lake, with only a handful of disciples and fewer than a hundred servants.”

The woman, Gu, smiled, a charming woman in middle age. “The difference between me and that woman from Cloud Glow Mountain is like the difference between her and you, Immortal Master. How could I let Gu Can leave a blessed land to follow that woman toiling in the fields?”

The old man laughed heartily, then suddenly remembered something. He said sternly, “What is the boy’s background? Gu, tell me the details, just in case.”

The woman was taken aback. She smoothed her hair and said softly, “That poor child is called Chen Pingan. His parents both grew up in the town. His mother was close to me, with ordinary looks but a gentle nature. I don’t think I ever saw her get angry. His father was unremarkable, not worthy of her, but he was a good potter. If he hadn’t died early, he might have become the kiln master of the Great Dragon Kiln in twenty years. As for how he died, some say he rushed out in a rainstorm to keep the kiln fires burning and accidentally fell into the creek. Others say he went to chop wood and charcoal, seeking a small profit by entering a mountain forbidden by the court and was dragged into the forest by wild beasts. In any case, his body was never found. That man was a quiet, taciturn person, but good to his child. Every time he returned to town, he would bring back small gifts, little drums, sugar figurines, old broken porcelain. Overall, before the man died, the family of three was peaceful enough.”

“After Chen Pingan’s father died, his mother seemed to have a mental illness. Her spirit quickly crumbled, and her already weak body collapsed. In less than a year, she fell ill, becoming skin and bones, alarming the old neighbors, who couldn’t recognize the beautiful woman she once was. At that time, the child, Chen Pingan, took care of her. Such a small child bought medicine, brewed it, cooked, and did everything. Because he was so short, he had to stand on a bench to cook. To save money for his mother’s medicine, he searched the mountains for common herbs and sold them to the pharmacy.”

“I guess one time he ate the wrong herb. When he returned to Mud Bottle Alley with his basket, he suddenly fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth, rolling around. We were scared, thinking the entire family of three was gone. My mother-in-law was still alive then and said it would be better if the whole family left, so no one would have to suffer. If they all left, they could have a family reunion in the underworld. Later, the child somehow recovered, surviving that illness, but his mother couldn’t make it through that winter. Oh right, Immortal Master, Chen Pingan was born on the fifth day of the fifth month. The old neighbors in our alley say that’s the most unlucky day of the year, easily attracting evil spirits and harming the family. So after his parents died, he didn’t have a single coin left. He even traded the little things his father had given him to other children in town for food…”

The woman stopped there. The old man finally spoke. “Fifth day of the fifth month? Interesting. Let me calculate.”

His fingers made a series of gestures.

Seeing the woman staring blankly, the old man smiled. “Continue.”

The woman said, “Considering our years of being neighbors, we people living in Mud Bottle Alley, although we didn’t dare bring Chen Pingan into our homes, would occasionally help him out, giving him a few bowls of rice. We could do that little thing. Everyone has a heart. To be honest, if it weren’t for the child’s birthday, which was truly frightening, no one would not feel sorry for that sensible child. Of course, to be fair, some neighbors were unkind. Some people who can’t stand to see others doing well like to deliberately humiliate the child, forcing him to become a kiln apprentice. You know, his mother told him before she died that even if he became a beggar, he could not work at the Dragon Kiln. To make such an obedient child break his vow, it must be a difficult thing.”

The old man asked, “Do you know the names and birth dates of the boy’s parents?”

The woman said she only knew the names, and no one knew the birth dates. The old man said it didn’t matter. After a moment, he sneered, “Trivial skills, demonic tricks!”

The woman was confused.

The old man explained, “The man died unnaturally, probably because he accidentally learned a secret of the town. Unfortunately, his luck was far worse than your family’s, and his family’s ancestry was not as great. In the end, the man secretly broke the porcelain pot with which he was born, for the safety of his son, causing a certain sect outside the town to lose out. That’s a big investment. A small kiln worker couldn’t afford to pay, so he had to pay with his life. One life wasn’t enough, so his wife’s was added. Ironically, the kiln worker’s death was too easy for some people, so they didn’t bother to waste extra effort. Therefore, the concealment technique used to deceive the heavens was so simple, they didn’t take it seriously.”

The woman’s face darkened.

The old man saw through her thoughts and smiled. “What, do you feel guilty and regret it?”

The woman smiled bitterly. “Yes, I feel guilty. After all, he’s a child I watched grow up. Of course I feel guilty. But regret? Absolutely not!”

The old man nodded. “I can see that.”

The woman muttered to herself, “If Chen Pingan’s mother were in my position now, I believe she would do the same thing.”

The old man shook his head. “Not necessarily.”

The woman raised her voice for no reason. “She definitely would!”

The old man wasn’t angry at her rudeness. He sighed, “A parent’s heart is universal.”

—

The straw sandal boy sat on the threshold. “Miss Ning, can I ask you some questions?”

The black-clad girl sat cross-legged, her back against the wall, her green-sheathed sword laid across her knees. “Of course. But if it involves secrets or privacy, I won’t answer.”

Chen Pingan asked, “How long do you usually stay here before leaving?”

The girl frowned. “It’s hard to say. Some people are lucky and might return the same day. Some people are unlucky and spend their entire lives here. If you want me to guess, I can, but it might not be accurate. It’s up to you. For example, in our group of eight, two parties are filthy rich but simple-minded. They don’t seem like they’ll be able to leave quickly, and will probably stay in the town for a few days. That young lord with the high crown and jade pendant will probably be relatively smooth. There’s a big, clumsy guy who’s focused on that well. Whether he succeeds depends on whether the heavens favor him.”

Chen Pingan pressed, “What about the other person?”

“Who?”

“The tall woman, not too old.”

“You like her?”

Chen Pingan smiled, taking the comment lightly.

The black-clad girl realized she had made an unfunny joke and became serious. “I overheard your conversation with Daoist Lu. You have a grudge with her, so you want to… take revenge?”

She sighed. “Let me give you some advice. To those at the mountaintop, you people halfway up the mountain are no different from those at the foot. It’s not just that they look down on you, it’s that they’re entitled to. After arriving in this ‘end of the road,’ not to mention the woman from Cloud Glow Mountain, even that little child in the red robe can punch you in the chest and make you vomit a bowlful of blood. Conversely, if you hit him as hard as you can, it won’t tickle him, but at most make him feel a bit stuffy. It won’t hurt his organs at all. It’s hard to explain the reason. I’m not good at that.”

Chen Pingan faced away from the house, looking at the doorway. “I want to know why she wants to kill me. We’ve only just met.”

The girl hesitated before saying, “She might not be the type to kill innocent people indiscriminately. How should I put it? On the cultivation path, we cross mountains and rivers, some wide, some narrow, some on bright roads, some on narrow bridges. If we walk too fast, we might accidentally step on ants. When we’re hungry, we catch fish from the river. With a little progress in Daoist arts, we might accidentally kill birds and snakes. I’m not explaining it well. Do you understand what I mean?”

Chen Pingan hmmmed. “I roughly understand.”

Then the youth grew silent, staring at the courtyard entrance.

He didn’t understand at all why those people could be so indifferent to other people’s lives.

After a long while, Chen Pingan turned back and smiled. “If you don’t mind, you can stay here. Tell me what you need.”

“What about you?”

“I know someone. I’ll go stay with him for a few days. Don’t worry. His name is Liu Xianyang. He’s my… friend. A good friend!”

The girl looked at the frail figure on the threshold and smiled. “Thank you!”

The youth grinned, scratching his head, and didn’t say anything polite. He hesitated, and finally mustered the courage to turn around again. “Miss Ning, if I don’t come back one day, give my pouch of golden coins to Liu Xianyang. Have him take care of this house for me in the future. He doesn’t need to clean it. Just occasionally fix it, add some new tiles, so it doesn’t leak. Also, don’t let the walls collapse, and don’t let the gate get too broken. It would be best if he could put up door gods and spring couplets for New Year’s Eve! If that’s too much trouble, it doesn’t matter.”

The girl saw the unusual glint in Chen Pingan’s eyes as he spoke of door gods and spring couplets.

The orphan of Mud Bottle Alley clearly wanted to have door gods on his door and spring characters on his lintel at New Year’s, something he had wanted for many, many years.

As many years as he was after his parents died.

So when the youth, free from worries and grievances, lightly exhaled and patted his knees, slowly standing up.

The flying sword in its sheath on the table inside the house suddenly hissed.