(A couple of things. Firstly, the first issue of the journal is out. Those who enjoy “Snowy Swordplay” should definitely check it out. Secondly, I’m quite busy this month, and can only aim for around 120,000 words of updates. There are always unavoidable circumstances in life, even when one exhausts all efforts. However, since starting this book, one saying has resonated deeply with me: “Just focus on the tilling, don’t worry about the harvest.” I share this with everyone.)

Miss Huan Shu, the esteemed daughter of Flying Eagle Fortress, has a certain…interest in Lu Tai. Chen Ping’an isn’t blind; he can see it.

As for the lingering unease that shadows the siblings’ courteous warmth, Chen Ping’an notices that too.

It seems this place is plagued by malevolent spirits, brazenly harassing the local populace, causing great concern and trouble for Flying Eagle Fortress.

Even powerful clans in the mundane world are often helpless against such things.

The group headed towards the main building of Flying Eagle Fortress. The structure was imposing and grand, with plaques and couplets penned by renowned calligraphers, towering painted door gods, and jade-white crouching lions on either side, all displaying the past glory and deep foundations of the Huan clan.

The banquet hall was brilliantly lit, with red candles as thick as infants’ arms. There were also many old artifacts on display, large landscape paintings, and decorative screens depicting scenes of immortals. Fortress Lord Huan Yang and his wife, the old butler He Ya, and several Huan clan elders stood at the entrance of the hall, respectfully welcoming the two young men who were visiting Flying Eagle Fortress for the first time.

Behind them stood many talented members of the family and branch lineages, all filled with curiosity about Lu Tai and Chen Ping’an. After all, such a grand reception was rare.

Lu Tai telepathically informed Chen Ping’an, “One doesn’t strike a smiling face. Believe it or not, if the Huan clan of Flying Eagle Fortress is smart enough, they’ll proactively ask for our forgiveness after a few rounds of drinks.”

Lu Tai quickly reverted to his usual frivolous self, looking around and saying into Chen Ping’an’s mind, “They’ve got quite a few antiques. The Huan family of Flying Eagle Fortress must have been quite wealthy in the past. Down in the mortal realm of Tongye Continent, they’d be considered quite well-off. If they hadn’t suffered a misfortune, forcing them to retreat here, they probably wouldn’t need us to show up at all. They would have already invited celestial masters from Incense Sink or nearby to deal with those shadowy entities.”

Lu Tai had previously mentioned the saying of “old money” and “new money” amongst merchant families in the Great Wide World.

Money houses and banks are divided into old and new. Some venerable establishments have stood for hundreds or even thousands of years, while others are new powers that have risen with the times. Naturally, the silver notes issued and circulated by them have differences in vintage.

Before taking his seat, Chen Ping’an keenly noticed the abnormality of the Fortress Lord’s wife. Her entire aura seemed veiled in a cloud of mist, and a dark, ominous one at that. It was clear she was tainted by foul energies. Although the woman appeared beautiful and well-maintained, in reality, her vitality was exhausted, and she was nearing the end of her life.

Lu Tai didn’t even glance at her.

The dinner wasn’t lavish with delicacies. It consisted of wild game, river fish, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Huan Yang didn’t put on any airs from beginning to end, keeping his demeanor very humble. Even Chen Ping’an could clearly sense the unease of the Huan clan members. Their toasts and their picking at the food were perfunctory. They only made a show of it when the Fortress Lord proposed a toast.

However, Lu Tai was mistaken. Even as the banquet neared its end, Fortress Lord Huan Yang didn’t mention the strange alleyway where they were staying. He only said that Flying Eagle Fortress was a remote and impoverished place, and apologized for the inadequate hospitality, hoping the two young gentlemen would forgive them and visit Flying Eagle Fortress more often. He promised to welcome them warmly next time. However, after the last drink was finished, the outsiders all got up to leave, and Huan Yang and his wife personally led Chen Ping’an and Lu Tai to tour the main building. After ascending to a terrace on the top floor, as everyone gazed into the distance together, Huan Chang and Huan Shu each brought a gift, both contained in wooden boxes. Huan Yang said they were old antiques passed down through the Flying Eagle Fortress, not worth much, but still quite rare, a small token of greeting. He hoped the two gentlemen would visit Flying Eagle Fortress more often in the future and promised them the warmest of welcomes.

Lu Tai handled the social niceties flawlessly.

He touched the railing, murmuring, “A good place.”

And so, the host and guests parted on amicable terms. Huan Shu wanted to escort the two to the alley, but Huan Chang found an excuse to stop her. Although Huan Shu was dissatisfied, she ultimately didn’t insist on leaving the main building. She watched the two walking side by side down the wide street. Huan Chang whispered, “Xieyang suffered such serious injuries, why don’t you go visit him?”

Huan Shu frowned. “Father and Grandpa He both told him not to act rashly. Yet, he’s still so impulsive. If a celestial master wasn’t arriving at Flying Eagle Fortress tonight, how would we clean up the mess? Tao Xieyang is a grown man, overseeing half of Flying Eagle Fortress’s affairs, how can he still be so impetuous? He’s only spent a few days in the mundane world, and already doesn’t know the immensity of the heavens…”

Huan Chang angrily said, “No matter what, Xieyang was seriously injured for the sake of our Flying Eagle Fortress! Don’t say such callous things! If Xieyang hears this, he might leave Flying Eagle Fortress in a fit of pique, and no one would have the face to stop him! Don’t you know how many prestigious sects have taken a liking to Xieyang’s martial talent and economic acumen over the years?”

Huan Shu curled her lips. “Then perhaps Flying Eagle Fortress is too small to contain such a great bodhisattva. What else can Flying Eagle Fortress do? Cry and beg Tao Xieyang to stay?”

Huan Chang turned his head, sternly rebuking, “Huan Shu, how can you say such preposterous things! Has your conscience been eaten by a dog?! Xieyang is family, he grew up with you as childhood sweethearts, and he’s an even better brother to me…”

Huan Shu’s eyes were red, feeling somewhat wronged. It was the first time she’d seen her brother so angry. She trembled, saying, “But I don’t want to marry him! He likes me, but I just don’t like him, what can I do?”

Huan Chang sighed. Every family has its own problems, and this matter was difficult to resolve.

Just like Huan Chang couldn’t understand why such an outstanding immortal maiden in the martial world would fall in love at first sight with Tao Xieyang, but Tao Xieyang didn’t like her in return.

Why Tao Xieyang had liked his younger sister for so many years, a match that should have naturally blossomed into a happy marriage, yet his sister couldn’t bring herself to like him.

As for whether Tao Xieyang marrying his sister, with the subtle support of the old butler, and after so many years of traveling far and wide, with everyone in Flying Eagle Fortress respecting and admiring Tao Xieyang, whether the Flying Eagle Fortress would change its surname one day, Huan Chang didn’t think much about it, or rather, he didn’t want to think about it deeply.

The autumn night was cool, and the Milky Way was brilliant, with stars scattered like human sorrows.

That night, before Chen Ping’an and Lu Tai even reached that alleyway, a celestial person with an otherworldly air arrived on the road outside Flying Eagle Fortress’s gate.

Only Fortress Lord Huan Yang and the old butler He Ya came out to welcome him, standing respectfully with folded hands. The atmosphere wasn’t lively, but it was clearly more sincere than the banquet to welcome the two young men.

The person walking towards them was a tall man with shining eyes, leading a snow-white steed. He looked to be around forty years old, holding a horsetail whisk, and wearing a peach wood talisman around his waist. He arrived in a graceful manner.

Two bundles of pine and cypress branches were strangely hung on either side of the saddle.

The horsetail whisk was engraved with the words “Dispelling Sorrow.”

Fortress Lord Huan Yang and the old man He Ya hurriedly bowed. “Welcome, Celestial Master of Peaceful Mountain.”

The middle-aged man smiled and nodded. “No need to be polite. Descending the mountain to subdue demons and eliminate evil is the duty of us mountain folk.”

Before Huan Yang could speak, the man leading the horse raised his head and looked towards the sky above the fortress. “The aura of Yin is indeed very strong. If I’m not mistaken, Flying Eagle Fortress should have just had a heavy rain. You must understand, that was no ordinary autumn rain, but rather the evil spirits and demons entrenched here casting a spell, wanting to make Flying Eagle Fortress childless and without descendants.”

Huan Yang and the old butler exchanged glances. Huan Yang cupped his fist in salute. “As long as the Celestial Master can save the lives of the five hundred-odd people of Flying Eagle Fortress, Flying Eagle Fortress is willing to build a shrine for the Celestial Master, hand over the treasured saber ‘Stopping Snow’ that our ancestor acquired by chance, and have the Huan clan descendants offer sacrifices to Peaceful Mountain and the Celestial Master for at least a hundred years, doing everything we can to repay the Celestial Master!”

The man laughed freely and waved his horsetail whisk. “Let’s talk about saving them first. Otherwise, a good karmic connection would become a merchant’s transaction, wouldn’t that be vulgar.”

Huan Yang was extremely excited, choking with emotion. “Celestial Master is noble! Huan Yang was impolite…”

The man ignored him, leading the horse forward, displaying his divine demeanor to the fullest.

That night, a disheveled old man covered in dust also visited Flying Eagle Fortress. He was almost denied entry. Later, Tao Xieyang’s friend, the young Daoist Huang Shang, came upon hearing the news and brought the old man into Flying Eagle Fortress, letting him stay in a random alleyway. Huang Shang was full of guilt, but the old man didn’t mind. He walked around and looked around late into the night, even leaning over the wellhead, smelling the water in several wells.

After the old man settled in, he exclaimed in surprise. He tapped his toes and leaped from the courtyard onto the roof, raising his eyes to look at a place, carefully examining it for a moment. After returning to the courtyard, he asked, “Does Flying Eagle Fortress already have an expert stationed here?”

The young Daoist was stunned. “Whether they’re experts, this disciple doesn’t know. I only know that two young gentlemen came to Flying Eagle Fortress the day before yesterday. One is handsome and refined, with truly good looks. The other carries a long sword and doesn’t like to talk much.”

The old man asked, “You and Tao Xieyang encountered danger earlier. Did those two not offer assistance?”

Huang Shang bitterly smiled. “It was the old butler who saved us. Those two didn’t appear.”

The old man nodded. “He Ya does know a little bit of Daoist skin-deep techniques, but compared to the talisman that those two pasted on the door, it’s far inferior.”

The young Daoist was stunned on the spot. “Those two are about the same age as me. Could it be that they’re already celestial masters with profound Daoist arts, like my master?”

The old man scoffed. “What’s wrong with being young? Being able to move mountains and overturn seas at a young age, that’s what you call a true celestial master. Someone like your master, relying on the meager Daoist skill cultivated through a lifetime, isn’t even considered a fellow Daoist in the eyes of true mountain immortals.”

Huang Shang still didn’t quite believe it, always feeling that his master was a high-minded and principled person, a truly detached and unambitious recluse who didn’t like to brag about his divine immortal cultivation.

The old man didn’t say anything more. Compared to those immortals who rode clouds and traveled through the wind, he might as well have lived his whole life in vain. It wasn’t a pleasant thing after all.

Over there, Chen Ping’an pasted another pagoda-suppressing talisman outside the courtyard gate.

Neither of them felt sleepy, so they chatted idly in the courtyard.

Chen Ping’an looked serious, while Lu Tai still sat on the chair, smiling as he fanned himself.

Chen Ping’an was about to speak when Lu Tai raised his hand to stop Chen Ping’an from speaking. “Saying it will make it not work.”

Lu Tai changed the subject, teasingly saying, “A golden jade robe, two flying swords in the sword-nurturing gourd, and a demon-binding rope of magical treasure grade. What will happen when you become a seventh-realm martial artist one day?”

Chen Ping’an smiled knowingly and said with a cheerful expression, “The hardships within are difficult for outsiders to understand.”

Lu Tai sighed and said, “Aren’t you curious why I never feel like I’m a sword cultivator?”

Chen Ping’an said unhappily, “What’s so strange about that? Isn’t it just because you’re afraid of heights? You took the Osmanthus Island from Old Dragon City to Upside Down Mountain, and the Treasure-Swallowing Whale from Upside Down Mountain to Tongye Continent. Have you ever been on a Kun ship?”

Lu Tai’s face turned red, and he threw the bamboo fan in his hand at Chen Ping’an. Chen Ping’an extended his joined fingers, gently spinning the fan. The bamboo fan seemed to have a silk thread pulling it, spinning around and flying around Chen Ping’an once before returning to Lu Tai’s side. Lu Tai caught the bamboo fan and clicked his tongue. “Applying what you’ve learned, you’re fast.”

Swordmaster’s sword control technique may be very mysterious in the martial world, but for Chen Ping’an, who has reached the fourth realm of martial arts…

Understanding one principle leads to understanding of all principles.