Amidst the swirling snow, beyond the plank road and valley, and eschewing the Wildland Pass, Chen Ping’an and his companions encountered a squadron of elite cavalry from the Great Li Dynasty.

The blizzard raged, creating a tense standoff.

Most of the seasoned soldiers of the Great Li border force had already begun to turn their mounts, yet suddenly, one rider broke ranks, galloping towards Chen Ping’an. The rider bore a youthful, resolute face, etched with vigilance and scrutiny, a glint of unwavering determination lurking deep within his eyes, a resolve Chen Ping’an couldn’t quite fathom at that moment.

As this lone rider surged forth, his comrades, gritting their teeth, followed suit, sending flurries of snow spraying in all directions.

Chen Ping’an, speaking in the official dialect of the Great Li, announced, “We hail from Longquan County, returning from the Kingdom of Yellow Court, entering the realm through Ox Pen Barrier.”

Simultaneously, Chen Ping’an retrieved the travel document issued by the Longquan County yamen from his bosom. This document, a testament to his thousands of miles of travels, was stamped with the official seals of various nations, regions, and passes. Seeing the rider about to dismount, Chen Ping’an hastened forward, extending the document high. The rider tensed further, the entire squadron shrinking their pupils, as if facing a formidable foe.

The rider bent down to accept the document, scrutinizing it closely. Abruptly, a radiant smile bloomed on his face. The hand that had been gripping the hilt of his saber loosened, discreetly signaling a gesture of safety to his comrades. The rider insisted on dismounting to return the document. After Chen Ping’an carefully stowed it away, the young rider chuckled, “In such dreadful weather, should you encounter any trouble, you are welcome to take refuge at our beacon tower. We have provisions prepared, and you may resume your journey when the blizzard subsides.”

Sensing the sincerity emanating from the rider, Chen Ping’an clasped his fist in salute, replying with a smile, “It is no matter, I am merely taking this opportunity to practice my boxing stances. It is arduous, but I can endure.”

The Great Li esteemed martial prowess, its people renowned for their valor throughout the continent.

The hemp-sandaled youth’s tenacity quickly won the favor of the elite scouts. Even the somber, taciturn old squad leader of the border patrol couldn’t help but smile.

With that, they parted ways, the scouts continuing their reconnaissance southward, and Chen Ping’an resuming his journey northward, towards his homeland.

The border patrol squad leader glanced back at the trio’s departing figures, his smile fading. Turning to his subordinate, he reprimanded, “What heroism were you attempting? Do you value your life so little?! Regardless of the young man’s depth, the two attendants at his side, scantily clad, are clearly cultivators of considerable skill. Otherwise, how could they withstand the rigors of this weather? Did you not perceive their vigor when we were in close proximity?”

“If they were truly spies from an enemy nation, your rash interrogation would not only lead to our demise but also delay the transmission of vital intelligence!”

The young rider stammered, still somewhat unconvinced, “Squad leader, we are Grade B scouts of the border army, and this is still within the territory of the Great Li. Even rogue cultivators, regardless of their origin, must respect the regulations of our border guards, no? If they dare kill us, an investigation will surely ensue, and they will suffer unbearable consequences. Moreover, we have the Prince in charge; I refuse to believe anyone is capable of contending with the Prince.”

The old squad leader, having spent half his life in the military, was infuriated, lashing out with his whip. However, it landed just beyond the young rider’s shoulder, a mere feint. He retorted with a mix of amusement and anger, “Back when I first enlisted, such behavior would be seen as provoking cultivator overlords! Do you understand? You wouldn’t even know how you died! If you encountered a benevolent and righteous general, he might, at best, secure a few dozen taels of silver as compensation for your family. If he were unkind, he wouldn’t care about your fate!”

To become a Grade B scout in the Great Li border army was undoubtedly to be among the elite of the nation’s military. Thus, few among them were fools. The young rider hastily attempted to rectify his error, “Calm your anger, old squad leader. Once we conquer the old lair of the Great Sui Gao clan, I’ll use my meritorious service to secure a delicate, pampered woman from a wealthy family for you, to soothe your temper…”

The old squad leader scoffed, “Get lost! Your meager military merits wouldn’t even fill my teeth! Enough chatter, continue the patrol! The superiors have issued orders, be wary of the Kingdom of Yellow Court making a desperate move. We must be especially vigilant in such weather. It’s not that we fear them blindly rushing in to their deaths, but we have spent years trampling over other people’s lands. We absolutely cannot allow others to encroach upon our own.”

The young rider grinned impishly, “Understood, understood! I shall proceed ahead, ensuring not even a fly can enter the Spine of the Ox valley.”

The young rider took a deep breath, tugged at his slightly stiff fur hat, shaking off some ice shards, and slowly set off.

A middle-aged scout couldn’t help but ask, “Squad leader, there was quite the commotion on the border between the two nations recently. I heard that the Kingdom of Yellow Court suffered a cataclysm, with many deaths. We, on the other hand, suffered no losses. Is there any inside story to this? Squad leader, you have many confidential sources. Many of our old comrades are now centurions. I know you previously sought someone out for drinks. Is there anything you can share?”

The old squad leader, with a solemn expression, did not divulge any heavenly secrets. He merely grinned, his eyes blazing, and his tone ominous, “There’s nothing to share, just that we will soon have meat to eat. A good thing!”

Meanwhile, Chen Ping’an, forging ahead against the blizzard, mused, “I previously witnessed the Sui cavalry escorting us from the border to the capital. Compared to our Great Li cavalry, I sensed something different… though I cannot quite articulate it.”

The blue-robed boy nonchalantly remarked, “Master, it is a simple matter. The Sui cavalry are like pampered watchdogs kept within deep courtyards. They may appear formidable, but their combat capabilities are probably passable at best. But the Great Li cavalry, especially the border troops, are a pack of wild dogs, biting indiscriminately. Their teeth have long been sharpened. Were these Yellow Court border soldiers, they would have fled at the sight of us, how would they have the courage to approach and interrogate?”

The blue-robed boy yawned, casually adding, “I once overheard my River God brother recounting a secret matter near the Imperial River. More than a decade ago, a Great Sui border army clashed with a group of mountain cultivators. The commanding general, in a fit of rage, mobilized six thousand elite troops, including himself, his subordinate military secretary, and auxiliary cultivators borrowed from his comrades’ ranks. They pursued the cultivators for over eight hundred li, ultimately slaying three of the four assailants.”

The pink-skirted girl exclaimed in surprise, “In the Kingdom of Yellow Court, neither local militias nor the martial artists of the mundane world would dare offend the cultivators of the mountains. The Zhilan Cao clan spared no effort in cultivating their youngest son, hoping for his ascension and the subsequent elevation of the entire clan, so they would no longer need to be subservient to the whims of others.”
“The Hong Clan of Huang Ting Kingdom is rotten to the core, from top to bottom. How could they possibly be a match for the barbarians of Great Li in a war?”

The azure-clad boy, utterly bored, stretched out his hands, repeatedly forming crystal-clear snowballs, only to hurl them into the distance, again and again. “The Great Li border armies have also suffered heavy losses, especially the martial secretaries, most of whom have perished in battle. In any case, it caused quite a stir. His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Li, was greatly angered and summoned that high-ranking martial general of the third rank back to the capital, demoting him to a lowly soldier in one fell swoop. Only then did the sects behind those four Qi Refinement cultivators cease their anger. But I heard that not many years later, that martial man who guarded the northern pass reappeared at the Savage Field Pass in the south, and quickly regained his original position. The border army he was previously in was even awarded the honorary title of one of Great Li’s newly established ‘Iron Cavalry.’ The border army not only quickly replenished its ranks, but also added many top-grade warhorses and elite soldiers. They are quite the spectacle now.”

Chen Ping An, recalling the Cliffside Academy of Great Sui, muttered to himself, “Please, let there be no war.”

The azure-clad boy launched a snowball high into the air, then shot a second snowball to intercept it. The two shattered with a bang. “The arrow is on the string, and it has to be fired. I don’t think this war of annihilation can be avoided. The key is whether Great Sui can live up to expectations. But if Great Li’s White Jade City is as powerful as the rumors say, I think most of the superior forces on the mountains of Great Sui will choose to preserve themselves. After all, no one wants to be instantly killed within their array-protected cave by a flying sword launched from White Jade City. That would truly be a death without peace. Who wants to test the killing power of White Jade City’s flying swords? The higher the realm, the more the Qi Refinement cultivators cherish their lives and fear death. Anyway, my River God brother said that as long as the White Jade City’s flying swords have even half the rumored power, he will surrender proactively. Given the style of the Great Li court, they might even retain his position as the River God of the Imperial River.”

The pink-skirted girl looked blank. “What is White Jade City? And it can launch flying swords?”

The azure-clad boy laughed heartily and flicked his finger, sending a small snowball to strike the pink-skirted girl’s forehead. “Whoosh, a flying sword will launch from White Jade City in the Great Li capital. With the sword control speed of a Fifth Realm land immortal, it will fly across thousands of mountains and rivers in an instant and pierce through your silly girl’s head. Fun, isn’t it?”

The pink-skirted girl covered her forehead with her hands, thoroughly frightened.

The azure-clad boy sneered, “With your meager cultivation, do you even need a White Jade City flying sword to kill you? You may be a silly girl, but the Great Li court isn’t stupid. The dozens of flying swords in White Jade City are now targeting the old turtle bastards hiding under the water in Great Sui. I bet some of those Great Sui Qi Refinement cultivators who qualify to be on the list have already quietly left the Great Sui territory to avoid the brunt of the attack.”

Although Chen Ping An hadn’t interjected, he felt that most of the Imperial River Serpent’s arguments and speculations were well-reasoned, so he silently listened and kept them in mind. This made Chen Ping An even more confused. How could such a clever fellow, who saw things so clearly, willingly take the blame for that insidious River God in his hometown?

Could it be a case of being blind to what’s under one’s nose?

Chen Ping An didn’t ask. This was, after all, the azure-clad boy’s own business.

Chen Ping An began to practice his stances silently, facing the wind and snow, again and again.

Walking stances with the Mountain-Shaking Fist manual in knee-deep snow had to be extremely slow. Chen Ping An spent so much energy and spirit walking from the cliffside plank road to here. The longer it went on, the more it was ten times, a hundred times more difficult than usual.

From the outside to the inside, Chen Ping An was almost frozen into a block of ice. To the point that, in the later stages, Chen Ping An didn’t even need to deliberately circulate the Eighteen Stops Sword Qi. That mysterious aura, like a fiery dragon patrolling the passes, would automatically travel rapidly, invisibly helping Chen Ping An barely maintain a breath of true qi.

Every breath, every exhalation, was an agonizing torment.

The lazy azure-clad boy was annoyed and found it incomprehensible. Couldn’t he just accept his fate with his poor talent? While others were advancing rapidly on the path of cultivation, Chen Ping An was wasting his time and getting half the results every day. How embarrassing.

The pink-skirted girl was heartbroken.

Half a month passed, and the wind and snow gradually subsided, making the journey less arduous.

During that time, the three detoured around two passes and a dozen or so large and small towering beacon towers.

Chen Ping An still sought suffering, actively sparring with the azure-clad boy every day in addition to practicing his fist stances, often being sent flying by the latter’s fist and disappearing into the deep snow.

But the Second Realm was still pitifully the Second Realm. Chen Ping An’s martial arts progress was truly unshakeable.

The azure-clad boy didn’t know whether to pity his misfortune or be angry at his lack of ambition. A few times, he hit too hard, sending his own single-minded master flying like a kite with a broken string, struggling for a long time to stand up. The pink-skirted girl, who was watching the fight, would turn her head away, unable to bear to watch anymore.

In this monotonous journey back home, this year’s first snow came to an end, and the three finally reached a town marked on the map as Wind Grace County. Because Chen Ping An had chosen a return route to his hometown of West Mountain, he wouldn’t pass through the route of Embroidered River, Red Candle Town, and Chess Mound Mountain.

Chen Ping An wanted to travel through more unfamiliar places.

Read a few books, learn a thousand characters, travel ten thousand miles, and practice a million fists. This was Chen Ping An’s current wish. In any case, it all needed to be achieved step by step. Chen Ping An’s journey back home was fulfilling, though he suffered no shortage of hardships. Compared to the journey to Great Sui Academy, he could free up more time to temper his body through practicing his fists, and refine his soul through circulating qi. Dripping water wore away stone, swallows carried mud, adding a little bit at a time.

The azure-clad boy felt that he was wasting his time, but Chen Ping An could clearly sense the accumulation of small benefits. This feeling was like the kiln boy in Mud Bottle Alley, who worked hard every day, equivalent to earning a few more copper coins, quietly increasing his wealth. Outsiders found it boring, but Chen Ping An felt great!

As the end of the year approached, entering the bustling county market, Wind Grace Town was different from other cities on the border of Great Li, with a stronger literary atmosphere, as there were clearly many more bookstores. Of course, one couldn’t expect rare or exquisite books, mostly crude and cheap private editions with many typos and omissions. Both the azure-clad boy and the pink-skirted girl had high standards. One had a wealthy background and was used to good things, and the other had been dealing with the books of sages since childhood.
Thus, only Chen Ping’an was browsing the bookshop with earnestness, utterly captivated by the complete set of twelve volumes of “Jade Mountain Burning Snow Tales” lined up on the bookshelf. Alas, his backpack didn’t have enough space to accommodate such a bulky collection, and the price was too steep. Reluctantly, he settled for a copy of “The Iron Sword Lightly Plucked,” penned by Cheng Shuidong.

The aged shopkeeper heartily praised the young master’s discerning eye, explaining that acquiring the works of this Senior Vice Minister of the Yellow Court Kingdom was a surefire investment. Rumor had it that the man would soon be returning to public service, invited to serve as the Deputy Mountain Chief of a new academy in the Great Li.

As night fell, the laden Chen Ping’an chose a humble inn, requesting two adjacent rooms, the pink-skirted girl to sleep in one by herself.

The azure-clad boy followed Chen Ping’an across the threshold, immediately wrinkling his nose in distaste, waving his hand vigorously before his nose to dispel the lingering musty odor. As expected of a water snake who had cultivated into a spirit, the pervasive smells, no matter how hard they were scrubbed away, were banished to the window by the azure-clad boy in successive waves.

After Chen Ping’an closed the door, he unfurled the map of the southern prefectures of the Great Li on the table. Such secret geographical maps were typically the sole domain of the government, and private possession was a serious offense. Chen Ping’an observed the distance between Fengya County and Dragon Spring County, no more than six hundred li, half of it a paved road facilitating merchant travel, the other half the relatively difficult rapids of the Chongdan River. Compared to the long journey back and forth, six hundred li could be considered practically next door.

After eating his meal, Chen Ping’an began practicing the Sword Furnace stance.

From time to time, he heard the scolding of a woman and the innkeeper’s pleas for mercy.

How similar it was to the scenes back in his hometown, the Apricot Blossom Lane in the Mud Bottle Alley.

Except back then, Gu Can’s mother was still alive, the venomous Granny Ma had not yet passed away, and the sounds of the schoolhouse lessons would drift over to the Iron Lock Well.

When he returned this time, the old locust tree would be gone, the gatekeeper would be no more, and on New Year’s Eve, no fresh, auspicious couplets would be pasted on the doors of the neighbors’ houses in the Mud Bottle Alley.

Chen Ping’an sighed, put away the Sword Furnace training post, walked to the window, and took out the silver sword embryo from the small pocket he had specially sewn into his sleeve, gently holding it in his palm and stroking it slowly.

The azure-clad boy suddenly shouted in anger, “Seeking death!”

Hearing the voice, Chen Ping’an turned his head to look, only to see the azure-clad boy pinching a wisp of ethereal gray mist with two fingers, squeezing it tightly, emitting a faint crackling sound. The gray mist gradually dissipated, with a faint wail and screech in the midst.

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s questioning face, the azure-clad boy happily sought credit, “Master, this ignorant little spirit has been crushed by me! Daring to run wild in Master’s territory, it’s truly tired of living!”

The azure-clad boy pointed to the scattered mist, “It’s called a Pillowside Wraith, without a corporeal form. The little breeze it brings wherever it goes is one of the world’s many evil winds, and it loves to chase after those vicious, foul-mouthed scolding women. Whenever they are engaged in malicious gossip, this spirit will secretly appear, collecting that wind. It is most capable of sowing discord among relatives, especially couples. The so-called ‘pillow talk’ in the marketplace is their specialty.”

Chen Ping’an sighed and smiled, “In the future, if you encounter this kind of spirit, just chase it away, no need for fighting and killing.”

The azure-clad boy said “Oh,” tilted his head, and asked, “Master, aren’t you a Bodhisattva at heart? Why aren’t you acting on behalf of heaven when you encounter such evil spirits?”

Chen Ping’an laughed and said, “What acting on behalf of heaven, I don’t have such great abilities…”

Chen Ping’an quickly stopped, not saying anything more.

The azure-clad boy felt a sense of loss for no reason.

Because he couldn’t hear the do-gooder Master’s grand principles.

He used to find them boring and annoying, but after the Martial Saint Temple, Chen Ping’an never said them again, and he actually found it even more boring.

The azure-clad boy lay on the table for a while, feeling like he was seriously ill, and simply climbed onto the table, then lay flat with his limbs spread out, staring lifelessly at the ceiling. He saw a small spider web that no longer had a spider in residence, and after watching it for a long time, the azure-clad boy began to toss and turn on the table.

The pink-skirted girl had finished tidying up the bedding and mattress and came over to help her Master clean up, not forgetting to carefully carry Cui Dongshan’s book box. Throughout this journey of weathering the elements, she had protected the book box at all times, which showed how much psychological trauma the white-robed youth’s display of supernatural powers in the Zhilan Cao Clan’s library had caused her.

Chen Ping’an put away the “silver ingot” again, walked to the table, and the azure-clad boy quickly sat back on the stool. Chen Ping’an took out the “Iron Sword Lightly Plucked,” which still had a strong scent of ink, from his backpack. The azure-clad boy quickly came with the oil lamp, enthusiastically lighting the wick. The three masters and servants sat on three sides.

The azure-clad boy dared not disturb Chen Ping’an’s reading, and smiled at the pink-skirted girl sitting opposite, asking, “You’ll soon be able to eat a serpent’s gallstone and ascend to the Middle Five Realms, aren’t you happy?”

With Chen Ping’an by her side, the pink-skirted girl was much bolder, “Don’t you dare think about my serpent’s gallstone.”

The azure-clad boy chuckled, “Master told me in private that serpent’s gallstones come in different sizes and grades. Silly girl, you haven’t done any meritorious service or hard work along the way, you’re the most useless, so he’s only giving you the smallest and worst one. I’ve accompanied Master in feeding punches so many times, so the two I got are the biggest and best, one is ten times as big as yours!”

The pink-skirted girl immediately turned to look at Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an turned a page and smiled, “Don’t listen to his nonsense.”

The pink-skirted girl glared at the azure-clad boy who had falsely reported military intelligence.

The azure-clad boy slammed the table, “Rebellion?!”

The pink-skirted girl sat closer to Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an was used to this and did not deliberately say anything, remaining quiet and reading.

By the dim light of the oil lamp, Chen Ping’an turned the pages of the book of notes, occasionally taking out a piece of the remaining bamboo slip from Chessboard Pier and the small carving knife given by the owner of the jade hairpin shop. When he read certain good sentences that caught his eye, he carefully carved them on the bamboo slip.

The azure-clad boy rested his cheek on the table, turning his eyeballs by himself, acting like a ghost.

The pink-skirted girl dared not look him in the eye, so she huddled beside her Master, watching Chen Ping’an read or carve.

Chen Ping’an suddenly frowned, hesitated for a moment, and asked, “The book says that after becoming rich and successful, you should build roads and bridges, not build luxurious mansions and grand tombs.”
The boy in green scoffed at this idea, but remained silent, maintaining his listless posture.

The girl in the pink dress nodded and softly said, “Master, some scholars do have this custom, hoping to accumulate merit and benefit their hometown after becoming wealthy.”

Chen Ping’an felt a bit helpless. Originally, he planned to, upon returning home, immediately spend money before the end of the year to build a grand tomb for his parents, so they wouldn’t even lack a decent gravestone.

The boy in green couldn’t help but interject, “Master, you aren’t a scholar now, why bother with such customs? Besides, if you’re truly worried about something, you can simply build roads and bridges as well. I’ll personally help then. Not only will we spend the money, but we’ll also put in our own effort. Heaven will surely have nothing to say.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly understood, and the knot in his heart quickly unraveled. He turned to look at the boy in green, gave him a thumbs up, and happily said, “Well done! You’re right!”

The girl in the pink dress followed her master in becoming happy.

The boy in green was stunned for a moment, then quickly lowered his head, tears almost falling.

As they walked along the official road and waterway, the one adult and two children, in a harmonious atmosphere, finally saw the somewhat lonely outline of a tall mountain.

Chen Ping’an stopped, reached out and patted the heads of the boy in green and the girl in the pink dress, then pointed towards the mountain. He smiled, unreservedly, at the mountain known as Forsaken Mountain, “We’re home! My home!”

End of Volume Two, “The Mountain and Water Wanderer.”