In Dragon Spring Prefecture, within the Xie family of a small town, a long-browed youth, clutching several books, hurried into the courtyard, joyfully exclaiming, “Grand Ancestor, today I learned a new sword art from my master!”

Celestial Sovereign Xie Shi nodded, setting down the book in his hands.

Even when addressing a junior as many generations removed as this youth, Xie Shi maintained a solemn demeanor, never glancing aside or appearing distracted.

The youth, as yet unaware of the significance of this composure, was more preoccupied with his grand ancestor’s Taoist title, the ambitious return to his ancestral home from the south, and the immense joy of the Xie family’s inevitable rise. Such subtleties, typical of youth, were lost on him.

Xie Shi accepted the books, placing them on the stone table, and gestured for the youth to sit.

Seating himself gently, the youth inquired, “Grand Ancestor, does it meet with your approval?”

Xie Shi lightly patted the books, chuckling, “How could it not? If I were to take the imperial examinations, even qualifying for the metropolitan exam would be doubtful.”

Though Xie Shi possessed a rustic appearance, resembling a local farmer, he was in truth widely read, versed in the teachings of the three doctrines. During his stay at the Xie family’s old residence, he spent his days reading in the small courtyard. Every day, after forging iron and crafting swords at the Ruan family’s workshop, the long-browed youth would bring back a few books purchased from the newly opened bookstore in town. Xie Shi had long instructed the youth not to limit himself to Taoist scriptures but to buy any books that caught his interest.

Suddenly, Xie Shi rose to his feet, and the long-browed youth naturally followed suit. They stood there in silence for about half an incense stick’s time.

Only then did the youth realize with astonishment that his mother, with a beaming smile, was leading a “young Taoist” into the courtyard.

As the woman departed, Xie Shi was about to speak when the lotus-crowned Taoist who had come to call gestured for him to sit.

Lu Chen plopped down on the stone stool, using his hand as a fan to gently stir the breeze, chatting with Xie Shi as if they were old friends. “Once the matters of Treasure Bottle Continent are settled, and you return to Julu Continent, keep an eye on He Xiaoliang for sixty years. You don’t need to help her much, just ensure she doesn’t die. Once she’s established herself and founded her sect, then you can add icing to the cake, be it people, money, or magical treasures, the more the better. You two will have formed a karmic bond.”

Xie Shi rose again, cupping his hands in salute, “I respectfully obey the Sect Master’s decree!”

“You and your stubbornness. Truly unlikable,” Lu Chen quipped, turning to the youth with a beaming smile. “Long-brows, come, come, I have a farewell gift for you.”

The long-browed youth was both thrilled and apprehensive, quickly looking towards his ancestor Xie Shi.

Xie Shi nodded, signaling that he could accept the reward without worry.

Jade Purity Realm cultivators of the Upper Five Realms did not dare to casually bestow blessings upon others.

However, Sect Master Lu Chen’s gifts, whether good or bad, were predetermined and infallible.

Could anything given to the long-browed youth in Xie Shi’s presence be anything other than beneficial?

It was destined to be an unparalleled stroke of fortune!

This was a great blessing for the youth.

With a flick of his wrist, a exquisite seven-colored pagoda appeared in Lu Chen’s palm, its light ever shifting, indescribably wondrous.

Upon closer inspection, one could discern that the small pagoda, only half a foot tall, was adorned with as many as thirty-six plaques.

Xie Shi, who had just sat down, abruptly rose again, sternly commanding the youth, “Do you not kneel and give thanks for the kindness!”

This time, Lu Chen did not insist otherwise, allowing the youth, who was now bewilderedly holding the small pagoda, to kneel and knock his head against the ground three times with a resounding thud.

Lu Chen smiled, “Knowing you have a gentle nature, I’m not worried about you bullying others. This small pagoda can suppress all demonic and nether entities below the Upper Five Realms. It can barely be considered a pseudo-immortal artifact. Just remember one thing, the visible evil spirits and ghosts aren’t necessarily the worst. In the slightest disturbance of the heart, inner demons are more likely to arise.”

The youth, his face flushed, declared loudly, “This junior will certainly remember it!”

Lu Chen, still in his languid pose, chuckled, “Later, when your sword practice with Ruan Qiong is complete, and since you are a swordsman, you will surely travel far and wide. When that time comes, observe people’s hearts more. The reason I’m giving you this pagoda is so you don’t have to worry too much about external matters, and think more about your own affairs. There’s a saying in Buddhism, ‘self-liberated one,’ which is quite interesting. Oh, right, Xie Shi, remember to find a good spatial treasure for this child. It’s good to avoid forced growth, but it’s also not good for elders to be too stingy.”

Xie Shi was about to rise and obey.

Lu Chen glared at him, amused. “Do you want me to smack you dead? Are you never going to stop!”

Xie Shi had no choice but to sit obediently.

Lu Chen pondered for a moment, then stood up, his smile gone, and said solemnly, “From now on, remember to protect Li Xisheng well. If anything happens to him, even if I break the rules of both sides, I will return to this Grand World from Jade Capital. And Xie Shi, I will hold only you accountable!”

Having already been reprimanded, Xie Shi didn’t know whether to sit or stand.

Lu Chen slapped his forehead. “With uncomprehending disciples and grand-disciples like you, no wonder my lineage’s Taoist legacy isn’t thriving.”

Lu Chen raised his head, raised his arm, and lightly flicked the lotus crown on his head. With a smile, he softly called out, “Hey, Seventy, are you there? If so, please open the door and see our guest out!”

Xie Shi’s expression changed slightly. Following the Sect Master’s gaze, he hurriedly looked up.

With all his vast Taoist power as a continent lord, he could only barely see some ripples through the layers of clouds, finally catching sight of the sky above.

Lu Chen vanished in a flash.

The “small door” that had opened in the sky above instantly closed.

Lu Chen, the third disciple of the Taoist Ancestor, had silently left the Grand World and returned to the Azure Heavens.

Lu Chen’s departure from the Grand World was virtually silent, but the commotion caused by the lotus-crowned Sect Master in the Azure Heavens was truly immense.

Again, in the sky above, but now in the Azure Heavens, where Taoism reigned supreme, a golden cloud cave as large as a mountain was torn open, and a golden rainbow as thick as a mountain peak crashed down, landing squarely on the peak of a tower ten thousand feet tall.

An elderly scholar, carrying a bamboo staff and a book case on his back, walked through the sprawling mountains of the Azure Heavens. Beside him walked a recently accepted young student. The frail old man shaded his brow with his hand, looking up and smiling, “Looks like Qi Jingchun has angered him quite a bit.”
The youth asked curiously, “Sir, who is Qi Jingchun?”

The thin old man smiled, “He’s a scholar from my hometown, not too old, but with profound learning.”

The youth’s next question was filled with childlike innocence, “How profound?”

The thin old man pondered for a moment, then answered seemingly perfunctorily, “Isn’t there a saying in your hometown, ‘A flood can’t cover a duck’s back’?”

The youth muttered, “Sounds like not very profound.”

The old man laughed heartily, “A scholar’s true skill isn’t just about seeking high and far-reaching knowledge. What one learns must be able to help the common people traverse mountains and rivers. A scholar must not only find peace for himself but also provide a place for the common people to settle. Otherwise, no matter how profound one’s learning, how beautiful one’s writing, it’s only beneficial to oneself and serves no purpose.”

The youth said helplessly, “Sir, your reasoning sounds very lofty to me.”

The thin old man reached out and flicked the youth’s forehead, then sighed to himself.

The youth, bored and with nothing to do, simply sighed along with the old man.

The old man was thinking of his hometown, where the earth should be covered in yellow flowers at this time of year.

Xie Shi, after the Sect Master Lu Chen left this world, had to admit that although he felt very lost, his state of mind was significantly lighter.

Before, with Lu Chen in the small town, Xie Shi was actually very uneasy, fearing that he might do something wrong and be seen and remembered by that Sect Master.

Xie Shi exhaled softly, his aura changing completely. Standing in the courtyard, he looked towards Wutong Mountain Ferry in the western mountains. Soon, a huge ferryboat, the best in the Northern Ju Lu Continent, would appear there, with several prominent figures from the continent aboard. This time, the strike against the Da Jiao Mountain Kun vessel in the central part of Treasure Bottle Continent had caused all the ancestral masters of Da Jiao Mountain to come out in full force, along with several major powers heading south. Officially, they were jointly investigating the shipwreck incident here, but as for the truth, besides Da Jiao Mountain, the smallest power, being kept in the dark from beginning to end, Xie Shi knew, the Great Li National Preceptor Cui Chan knew, and the two big shots on the new ferryboat were also well aware.

The Sword Urn Master was the most critical chess piece, a suicide soldier.

Even in the Northern Ju Lu Continent, only a very few people knew that the rogue cultivator’s sable hat was actually the magical treasure “Sword Urn.” While helping people warm up their flying swords, it also nurtured countless strands of sword energy. Accumulated over hundreds of years, the sword energy inside the Sword Urn had long gathered densely. Therefore, the Sword Urn Master’s full-force strike, at the cost of completely destroying the magical artifact “Sword Urn,” was almost equivalent to the full strike of a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator.

It was enough to sink that Da Jiao Mountain Kun vessel.

All of this was to allow Xie Shi to take the second step in a logical way, allowing this Daoist Celestial Sovereign of the Northern Ju Lu Continent to personally go to the area north of the Guanhai Academy, sit there, and completely cut off the connection between the north and south of Treasure Bottle Continent, preventing any accidents from occurring in the “grand trend” of the Great Li annexing the entire northern part of Treasure Bottle Continent.

Xie Shi patted the youth’s shoulder, “Accompany me to a place.”

The long-browed youth followed his ancestor to Yang’s shop. When he came out, he had an item, a so-called “咫尺物” (something that can hold items), and a promise from that old man Yang.

What was paid was also a promise from the Celestial Sovereign Xie Shi.

Back in the small courtyard, Xie Shi told the youth about the general outline of the Kun vessel incident.

Seeing the solemn expression on his ancestor’s face, the youth asked curiously, “Ancestor, since our Treasure Bottle Continent is the smallest continent in the vast world, and you are the Dao Lord of such a large continent as the Northern Ju Lu Continent, what do we still need to worry about?”

Xie Shi shook his head and smiled, “You think of world affairs too simply. In the future, countless people are destined to shout that Ju Lu Continent is bullying our Treasure Bottle Continent because we have no one?! Most of these people will only wave the flag and shout, watching the fire from across the river. A small number will be eager to move, and among that small number, there will be a group of people who, for various reasons and intentions, will rush over from all directions. Hidden among this group of people will be true experts, such as… some people similar to Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple, and there will be more and more of these people in the end. But for now, you only need to wait and see. In short, no matter how this matter develops in the future, don’t interfere until you become an Upper Five Realm Qi Refiner. Focus on cultivating the way of the sword with Ruan Qiong.”

The long-browed youth was troubled. Xie Shi smiled wryly, “Even if the worst outcome occurs, it won’t happen in a year or two. What are you worrying about?”

The youth was sullen and turned to walk towards the courtyard gate, “Ancestor, I’m going to practice swordsmanship.”

Xie Shi sat alone by the stone table, closed his eyes, and silently calculated and deduced the grand trend of Treasure Bottle Continent.

Not long after Xie Shi and the youth left Yang’s shop, Cao Xi found the pharmacy. The shop assistants didn’t take it seriously. The small town was prosperous now, and they had seen many wealthy people. They didn’t care about this fat man.

Cao Xi smiled and asked if Senior Yang lived in the backyard. A young assistant was weighing medicinal herbs at the medicine cabinet. He glanced at the obese wealthy man, raised his chin towards the back door of the hall with the bamboo curtain hanging, and was too lazy to say anything more. Cao Xi thanked him and walked slowly towards that side, lifted the curtain, and saw a square courtyard with four corridors under the eaves. Compared to the Cao family’s ancestral home, it was slightly more impressive.

In the corridor opposite the main house in the backyard, there was a long bench, as if specially prepared for visitors like Cao Xi.

Outside the main house opposite, the old man Yang was sitting on a stool smoking a dry pipe. The bamboo pipe had long been worn yellow and old. Through the smoke, the old man looked at the Sword Immortal who had crossed the sea from Southern Saha Continent. Of course, the two knew each other. Cao Xi was already old when he left the small town, but Cao Xi’s memory of this old man Yang, who hid behind the pharmacy and sat in a well watching the sky year after year, was extremely faint. However, he believed that old man Yang was definitely familiar with him, Cao Xi. Perhaps the old man had arranged behind the scenes for him to successfully leave the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven back then.

Cao Xi was here, of course, not to repay a debt of gratitude. He had never been the kind of person who repaid a drop of water with a gushing spring. Even if old man Yang came to his door, Cao Xi might not be willing to pay attention. In Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, or rather, Longquan County, everyone had to give old man Yang some face, but after Cao Xi finished this one-off deal, he was going back to Saha Continent to shamelessly ask the Old Ancestor of the Yingyin Chen family for a reward. No matter how mysterious old man Yang’s identity was, no matter how awesome he was in Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent in the future, it had nothing to do with Cao Xi.
As for the Cao family, the Pillar State General remaining in the Great Li Dynasty, their future fortune is their own making. Cao Xi will, at most, offer some symbolic assistance before departing. Whether the Great Li’s Song Emperor appreciates it or not is of little consequence. Cao Xi has countless descendants, and moreover, the pursuit of the Dao is never solely for a lineage filled with children and pets ascending to heaven; such things are merely additional rewards.

Cao Xi’s first question was: “Senior Yang, in these millennia, which figure, emerging from under your very nose in this blessed earthly cave, specifically the minuscule Lízhū Grotto-Heaven, achieved the greatest heights?”

Old Yang retorted, “Who do you think you are?”

Cao Xi raised his wrist, revealing a section of pale, plump flesh adorned with a verdant rope. He chuckled, “Turns out there really *is* a green onion here.” (Note: This is a play on words, “green onion” can be used to describe someone insignificant)

Old Yang said impatiently, “Spit it out.”

Cao Xi lowered his arm, immediately adopting a different demeanor, rubbing his hands together obsequiously. “Senior Yang, this junior has heard of your profound abilities. Do you happen to know the whereabouts of my late mother’s soul? Did it dissipate into the heavens near her grave, or was she reincarnated? Or perhaps…did you secretly collect it, Senior, to be sold at a later date?!”

Old Yang ignored the subtle threat veiled in the Land Sword Immortal’s words, stating plainly, “So, Cao Xi, you want to purchase it? As long as you can afford the price, not just your mother, but your father’s too, are available.”

Cao Xi laughed heartily, pointing a finger at the smoke-wreathed old man. “Senior Yang is indeed a straightforward individual, excellent! This trip has not been in vain! Hehe, I just wonder how much *your* life is worth?”

Old Yang’s tone remained even. “Business is welcome. If you’ve come to the door but are unwilling to pay, be gone.”

Upon hearing this, Cao Xi narrowed his eyes, gently rubbing his thumb and forefinger together on both hands, an absurdly comical gesture.

Murderous intent was revealed.

Old Yang remained utterly unmoved.

Suddenly, Cao Xi erupted in laughter. “Business can be done. I, Cao Xi, am most fond of doing business with others, but I hope Senior’s price isn’t too high, for I won’t pay it. Senior might not know what kind of person I am. For the sake of cultivation, I would sell my own sons and grandsons for coin. It’s just that I’ve become wealthy now, prosperous, returned in glory, and a touch of nostalgia has taken root.”

Old Yang slowly said, “There’s a girl named Li Liu, who went north to Juluzhou with her parents. Your parents’ souls are currently within her. If you’re willing to conduct fair trade, I’ll do business with you, guaranteeing there are no flaws, and deliver them to you complete and whole. Of course, if you choose to renege and seize them by force, you can turn around and leave now. But whatever happens afterward, the consequences are your own.”

Cao Xi wore a pained expression. “Complete and whole…Senior Yang, your words are most unpleasant. Very well, you may name your price.”

Old Yang pointed his pipe at Cao Xi’s wrist.

Cao Xi exploded with rage. “What?! You want me to give this Natal Flying Sword to Li Liu?! Old Yang, have you lost your mind?”

Old Yang glanced sideways at him and continued, “The flying sword you had before refining this great river, you’ve kept it, haven’t you? You can take it out and gift it to Li Liu, and remember to teach her your Swordplay Arts along with it.”

Cao Xi’s face was a mask of shifting emotions.

Old Yang sneered, “Don’t feel like you’re losing out. You’ve never had a good disciple in your life. I’m practically helping you find one for free. Perhaps in the future, everyone who mentions your name, Cao Xi, will say, ‘Cao Xi? Oh, that’s Li Liu’s master.'”

Cao Xi’s interest was piqued. He rubbed his hands together and clicked his tongue. “That girl is that exceptional?”

Old Yang twitched the corner of his mouth. “You should go find her yourself. When you hand over that flying sword, I believe you’ll be more than willing.”

“This deal, I’ll take it! If we’re going to gamble, let’s gamble big, that befits my status as the great Sword Immortal Cao!”

Cao Xi slapped his thigh and lowered his voice slightly. “Anything else? Is there any other business we can do?”

Old Yang’s tone was indifferent. “Your father’s soul.”

Cao Xi was stunned, then rolled his eyes. “No deal, no deal. I wouldn’t even take it if you gave it to me for free.”

Old Yang began to puff smoke. “Suit yourself. Then let’s change it. Go find Ma Ku Xuan of True Martial Mountain, and become his Dao Protector. In the next twenty years, you don’t need to watch him every moment. You, Cao Xi, only need to accumulate ten years’ worth of guarding him.”

Cao Xi forced a smile. “A Sword Immortal with the potential to reach the Twelfth Realm, to be a Dao Protector for a child?! I, Cao Xi, am not particularly concerned with face; I am indeed known for my shamelessness in that Pōsuo Continent. But I still need *some* semblance of dignity!”

Old Yang said sternly, “Let Cao Jun join the army of the Great Li, tempering his shattered Sword Heart on the battlefield. I can have someone secretly protect him for twenty years, until his Sword Heart is completely repaired.”

Cao Xi’s expression became grave.

Old Yang chuckled. “Stop trying to get a better deal after already benefiting. Which is worth more, your face or another Land Sword Immortal in your family?”

Cao Xi looked troubled. “That kid Cao Jun looks like he’ll bite the hand that feeds him. If he becomes a Land Sword Immortal, won’t he rebel? The Cao family will be powerful then, two Sword Immortals in one family. They can stand tall and proud anywhere…no, they’d be gods. But I, the patriarch, might be repaid with vengeance later…”

Old Yang didn’t pursue that line of thought. He simply stated, “After Cao Jun becomes a Land Sword Immortal, he must agree to do one thing for me. Rest assured, I won’t ask him to die. For Cao Jun at that time, it won’t be too difficult.”

Cao Xi was somewhat dubious, asking, “Senior Yang, why don’t you just go directly to Cao Jun? Is there some scheme involved? You and I are practically half-countrymen. Old friends should look out for each other, but you can’t harm your own people, can you?”

Old Yang stated bluntly, “Cao Jun is not qualified to negotiate with me right now. You, Cao Xi, are.”

Cao Xi was speechless for a long moment.

Finally, as he was leaving the Yang family’s shop, Cao Xi stood on the street, gazing back at the apothecary, muttering to himself, “Could it be that even these matters have been calculated by that old fox Chen Chun’an?”

Mud Bottle Alley.

Late at night, a brocade-clad youth, radiating wealth and privilege, sat in the courtyard, lost in thought.
That Grandmaster of Yin-Yang arts, before being slain in the capital by Imperial Uncle Song Changjing, had secretly sought him out, sharing some earth-shattering pronouncements.

The old man even confessed his grand conspiracy against the current Emperor of Great Li, revealing that the Emperor had defied the rules set by Confucian sages, secretly cultivating his way into the Middle Five Realms while still holding the imperial throne, and even reaching the Tenth Realm with unstoppable momentum.

The Emperor sought to personally witness the annexation of a continent by the Great Li Dynasty, while the Yin-Yang Grandmaster aimed to turn the Emperor, Song Jixin’s father, into a puppet. For when the Emperor formally entered secluded cultivation to break through the Upper Five Realms barrier, he would completely lose his mind and become a mere puppet.

A Liang’s arrival shattered the Emperor’s Bridge of Longevity. As the bridge crumbled, the Emperor might have caught glimpses of the hidden mechanisms and planted schemes within its structure. Though the Emperor had masked his reactions well on the plaza outside the White Jade Tower, he hadn’t anticipated that he had also tampered with Song Jixin.

Regardless, A Liang’s punch had completely disrupted the Yin-Yang lineage’s deep-laid plan, painstakingly crafted over decades.

However, all of this was far from over.

At this moment, Song Jixin recalled those words, his heart weighed down.

The maidservant, Zhigui, emerged with a cloak and asked, “Young Master, is something troubling you?”

Song Jixin turned his head and smiled, “Just can’t sleep.”

Zhigui hummed in response, pulling up a small stool to sit beside Song Jixin.

Song Jixin suddenly suggested, “The moon and stars are sparse, the scenery is beautiful. How about we take a stroll?”

Zhigui lazily replied, “Alright, I’m at your service, Young Master.”

Still master and servant, the two walked through the alleys of the small town, passing by the old school where Teacher Qi taught, the stone table in the backyard where they played chess. Song Jixin reached out to stroke the cold surface. He always sat on the north side, and Zhao Yao on the south. He hadn’t known the reason for this arrangement back then, but now the truth was revealed. Song Jixin smiled and said, “I wonder how Zhao Yao is doing.”

Here, Zhigui became somewhat taciturn.

Afterwards, the two continued their aimless, carefree stroll.

The Iron Lock Well, the iron chain had been taken away by an outlander. This was a fortunate encounter for a cultivator.

The black cat in Apricot Blossom Lane seemed to have left the town with the taciturn idiot, Ma Kuxuan.

The stone arch bridge, its original form restored after the demolition of the covered bridge, was missing the old sword strip from underneath.

Rumor had it that Saint Ruan Qiong was about to establish a sect on some great mountain, an event destined to be a grand affair. The Great Li Ministry of Rites had designated it as the top priority for late spring and was meticulously preparing for it.

The Yaosui Shop and the Caotou Shop, neighboring each other in Riding Dragon Lane, both now belonged to the Chen family. This was a rare occurrence, as almost all of the Chen family members in the town were servants of the four prominent clans and ten major families.

The newly built Civil and Military Temples at Immortal Grave and Old Porcelain Mountain had been completed, enshrining the ancestors of the Yuan and Cao families, the two pillars of the Great Li restoration. They had finally returned to their roots.

Couplets from masters of calligraphy adorned the buildings. Even renowned literary figures from the distant Southern Creek Nation had sent handwritten couplets, the strokes bold and unyielding.

Song Jixin tugged at the corner of his mouth outside the temple dedicated to the Sage, “Ha, unyielding spirit.”

Finally, this scion of the Great Li Song family turned to gaze towards the distant western mountains, seemingly towards the direction of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

There, stood a dilapidated mountain god temple with hardly any incense offerings.

The young man, gazing at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, looked forlorn and somewhat lost.

Aside from the “grand temple” of the Northern Peak Deity of Pi Yun Mountain, there were other ordinary mountain god temples in the western mountains. The most prosperous one was on the northernmost Cold Wind Mountain, due to its proximity to Dragon Spring Prefecture. The divine path leading to it had been widened and leveled, making it easy to access. Tea houses, taverns, and inns of all sizes, offering rest to pious men and women, had sprung up like bamboo shoots after the rain.

A market had sprung up at the foot of the mountain, selling all kinds of tea, wine, noodles, flowers, birds, fish, and insects. So much so, that many children in the town were overjoyed whenever they heard their parents were going to burn incense there, almost as much as during the New Year. Because there were fragrant, freshly baked meat pies for sale, and old men who molded dough figurines. Many children, after receiving their New Year’s lucky money, would secretly venture there together, enjoying themselves immensely, only to be severely scolded by their parents upon their return.

A young man named Dong Shuiing had a stall there, selling only wontons.

The shrimp, bamboo shoots, and dried tofu were all incredibly flavorful, topped with a handful of chopped scallions and a small dish of the young man’s homemade chili sauce, creating a truly exquisite taste.

The young man had originally studied at the new school established by the Chen family at Dragon Tail Creek, but for some reason, even though it was free, he had dropped out. He sold one of the two old houses in the town and bought a brand new mansion in the new prefectural city, only ten or so miles away from Cold Wind Mountain.

The wonton stall was open from early morning until dusk, with no fixed hours. As long as there were customers, the young man would wait for them to finish their meal, no matter how late it was, before packing up his stall and pushing his cart back home. The prefectural city no longer enforced a curfew and was bustling with activity, dust flying everywhere. If one were to look down at the prefectural city from the summit of Cold Wind Mountain at night, it would look like a large lantern placed on the ground.

On this particular night, the tall young man, Dong Shuiing, had begun packing up his wonton stall, preparing to head home.

Unexpectedly, a strange man approached from afar, carrying a sword horizontally behind his back instead of wearing it at his side. He walked up to the stall and asked with a smile, “Shopkeeper, are you still selling wontons?”

Dong Shuiing grinned and replied, “Yes! Why wouldn’t I be? I just need to boil some water, so the customer will have to wait a moment.”

The man chuckled and sat down at the table. It was wiped clean, without a trace of greasy stains. On the table was a homemade bamboo tube, filled with slender green bamboo chopsticks. It seemed he was also a dexterous little proprietor.

The man waited for a large bowl of steaming wontons, the scallions floating on the red broth looking very tempting. Dong Shuiing asked him if he could handle spicy food, and the man replied that the spicier the better. The young man handed him a full dish of chili sauce. The man picked up a pair of chopsticks, but didn’t rush to eat. He lowered his head, closed his eyes, and inhaled the aroma, exclaiming, “This smells right!”

The man casually asked, “Do you know of the Mohists?”
Dong ShuiJing, seated not far away, nodded. “Of course. Master once said that the Mohist school was one of the four prominent schools of thought. Their teachings were extraordinary, but knowing was easy, doing was hard. It tested the disciple’s temperament and they were prone to getting stuck in a rut. Master said they were rather… endearing.”

Speaking of this, Dong ShuiJing scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. “That’s what my master said.”

The man, chewing on a wonton, nodded vigorously. “Well said.”

He then asked, “Have you ever heard of the Credit-Knife Men amongst the Mohist wanderers? Credit, as in owing, and knife as in sword.”

Dong ShuiJing looked blank, shaking his head gently.

Master Qi had never mentioned that.

The man put down his chopsticks, patted his stomach, and let out a satisfied sigh. Then he smiled and said, “So, would you like to become a Credit-Knife Man?”

Dong ShuiJing’s eyes flickered, quickly returning to normal. He smiled and shook his head. “Selling wontons is good. It makes money and is stable.”

Back then, he, Li BaoPing, Lin ShouYi, Li Huai, and Shi ChunJia, the five students of the private school, had completely fooled the coachman, who was actually a Da Li death soldier. Although Li BaoPing and Lin ShouYi were the masterminds and filled in the gaps, the truth was that any one of them, if they had revealed the slightest weakness, would have ruined everything. Therefore, none of the five children who eventually became the direct disciples of Qi JingChun were pushovers.

Like Dong ShuiJing, who at such a young age knew to find Miss Ruan Xiu and have her sell the old house in the small town for a sky-high price, and then quickly buy a large house in the prefecture city – not just one, but an entire street!

Windfall gains have their own way of being spent, and money can generate more money.

Small money for making a living should also have its own way of being earned, and not spending is equal to earning. The two don’t conflict.

“No need to rush to answer me.”

The man waved his hand and smiled. “As for why I chose you, Dong ShuiJing, I’ve been observing you for quite a while. In all aspects, you’re not the best, but there are no major problems. That’s enough.”

Dong ShuiJing asked helplessly, “Who are you?”

The man didn’t hide anything, and went straight to the point, “My name is Xu Ruo, a Mohist disciple, from the Central Earth Continent. I’m not a Credit-Knife Man, of course. But I had a very good friend, and before he died, he wanted me to promise him to choose a suitable disciple to inherit his legacy. He was the grandmaster of the previous generation of Credit-Knife Men, a very powerful fellow. He drank with A Liang many times, and he always paid for the drinks. When A Liang traveled in the Central Earth Continent, he ran up a mountain of debt, which he helped clear.”

“Who’s A Liang?”

“Your master’s master’s nemesis’s son.”

“What?!”

Dong ShuiJing was dumbfounded. What was all this?

The man stood up. “I’ll come again next time. Think it over carefully.”

Dong ShuiJing suddenly shouted, “Wait!”

The man smiled. “The money for this bowl of wontons will be on credit for now. Maybe you’ll agree to be a Credit-Knife Man in the future…”

Dong ShuiJing insisted, “That won’t do. In business, brothers must settle accounts clearly.”

The man nodded, took out a few copper coins. “Haha, that’s just like the style of a Credit-Knife Man.”

As the sun set, Xu Ruo strode away.

Dong ShuiJing sat there, watching the Mohist wanderer leave, and raised his arm to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

The reason he bravely asked for those few copper coins was not because Dong ShuiJing was stubborn or an ignorant fool, but a test of people’s hearts full of worldly wisdom.

Dong ShuiJing sat silently at the table, staring blankly, without any ecstatic feeling of hitting the jackpot, but rather a little lost.

The young man didn’t really like this feeling.

His ambition wasn’t that big. He just wanted to make money in the future, to have no worries about food and clothing, and in the house where he lived, to have a well that could draw water, with a willow tree planted next to it. Every spring, it would sprout new buds, and when the wind blew, the willow branches would sway. Very… endearing.