(Sorry for the wait.)

The men and women blocking the entrance of the inn and cursing numbered about twenty. The robust men were filled with fury, the women stood akimbo, scolding, while a group of children were carefree, either tilting their heads to lick candied hawthorns or secretly using slingshots to hit the wine sign.

Chen Pingan stood in the crowd for a while but couldn’t understand the reason because they were speaking the local dialect of Fox Town. However, seeing Pei Qian’s flustered look after seeing him on the second floor, Chen Pingan understood. Pei Qian had been squatting by the second-floor railing, either picking her nose or digging her ears, not taking things seriously at all, deliberately putting on airs to disgust people. The more fiercely they cursed outside, the happier Pei Qian laughed.

Fortunately, the men and women of Fox Town didn’t dare to enter the inn. The little cripple seemed to find the noise annoying and silently cleaned up the leftover food and wine on the tables. The old hunchback sat in the distance, smoking his pipe. Nine Madam didn’t mind the trouble and sat behind the counter, cracking melon seeds. The down-on-his-luck scholar who served as the part-time accountant originally wanted to mediate, but he was pushed back by a strong man and stumbled back into the inn, sheepishly returning to the women’s side and pretending to pick up the snow-white account book, earning him a glare from Nine Madam.

When Chen Pingan crossed the threshold with a stern face, Pei Qian wanted to slip back into her room, but Chen Pingan stopped her and told her to come downstairs.

Pei Qian timidly went down the stairs. Before Chen Pingan could ask, she confessed everything like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube. According to her, she had gone to Fox Town to find a pharmacy to buy some medicinal herbs for Chen Pingan. Then, the local children bullied her for being an outsider, ganging up on her. At first, they snatched her candied hawthorns, which she had originally planned to save for Chen Pingan. She tolerated it, saying she had learned many principles from reading and understood the importance of harmony. However, those people still liked to follow her and say nasty things, ganging up and throwing pebbles at her. She ignored them. Later, after she bought a dragonfly kite, someone became jealous and snatched it away, letting it go. With a swoosh, the kite floated out of Fox Town and disappeared completely. She couldn’t hold back her anger and fought with them. Five or six people couldn’t beat her, and they cried and went home to call their parents and elders to beat her. She wasn’t stupid, so she ran away quickly. Besides, the dragonfly kite cost twenty coins, and now it was gone. She was heartbroken, and she searched for it outside Fox Town for a long time…

Although Pei Qian didn’t have much confidence herself, she kept an eye on Chen Pingan’s expression while lying, ready to be beaten at any time. She just needed to protect her head. It didn’t matter if Chen Pingan kicked or pinched her a few times on her stomach or arms. She would be a good person again after a good meal.

But Chen Pingan simply listened quietly to Pei Qian’s explanation before saying, “After you’ve finished lying, tell me the truth again. If you don’t want to, you can stay here at the inn from now on. You won’t starve to death.”

Pei Qian didn’t say anything.

Chen Pingan went to the counter. Nine Madam glanced at the skinny little girl at the top of the stairs and said with a soft laugh, “Young Master Chen, how did you teach such a little devil? She almost turned Fox Town upside down. First, she tricked the children out of their food, scaring the little ones playing with mud so much that they believed she was a princess from Great Spring Capital, just fallen among the people, and would return to live in the palace sooner or later. After getting familiar, she took those children to play crazily all day long, becoming their king. Later, they fell out over a kite and fought fiercely. It seems that in the end, she was hit twice by an adult who rushed over. If it were an ordinary person, they would have learned their lesson and come back, but your little one is different. She claimed to be a distant relative of mine and used this to hire some local ruffians from Fox Town to beat the man with a club in the dark. After that, she became even more lawless. The children were mostly neighbors in the same alley. Ghostly noises at night scared not only the children but even the adults so much that they didn’t dare to turn off the lights at night. Young Master Chen, you know that Fox Town is really haunted now. Because of this, several constables guarded the town all night to find the little girl who was pretending to be a ghost. And guess what? She actually intimidated the constables. I don’t know what she said, but they politely sent her back. You have to admit, a group of constables in official uniforms escorting a little girl into the inn really looked like a princess.”

Chen Pingan felt a headache coming on. He turned to look at Pei Qian but couldn’t see her. He saw a pair of legs, so she must be sitting on the stairs.

Nine Madam covered her mouth and laughed. “Spending money to avoid trouble is no big deal, a small sum, at most ten taels of silver. Don’t get involved in this matter, leave it to me. With your good temper, those people will become more aggressive and turn a trivial matter into a tragic event that reaches the sky.”

Chen Pingan helplessly said, “Put it on the bill and settle it with the room charges later.”

Nine Madam restrained her laughter and said seriously, “Young Master Chen, you have done the Yao family a great service by allowing our entire clan to continue the family name. Are you still going to haggle over these trivial matters? I, Nine Madam, would be ashamed of myself!”

Chen Pingan shook his head and said, “It’s not the same thing.”

Nine Madam was about to say something, but Chen Pingan had already said, “Please trouble you with today’s matter, Madam.”

Nine Madam agreed and walked gracefully out of the counter, elbowing away the accountant, and took out some loose silver from the drawer to settle the trouble at the entrance of the inn.

Located on the border, Fox Town was a mixed bag of people. Their skills might not all be high, but their vision was definitely not narrow. They had heard all kinds of new things coming and going, and they still had some aspirations. Moreover, there might be reclusive experts in disguise, such as Nine Madam and Third Master of the Yao family.

Previously, the inn had caused such a big commotion, especially the back-and-forth between Wei Xian and those Qi refiners, which was quite eye-catching, truly a scene of gods fighting. From afar in Fox Town, in addition to the excitement, there was of course awe. Later, a group of powerful riders detoured north, and various rumors spread. Some said that Nine Madam, the fox spirit of the inn who liked to seduce men, was a real fox spirit. Those who held this view were mostly the wives and women of Fox Town. Others said it more obscurely, saying that Fox Town had been so uneasy in recent years because demons were entrenched there. This time, a true dragon passed through, and the demonic aura and dragon energy clashed, leading to the exorcism.

Nine Madam swayed her waist and stood at the entrance, and the external momentum immediately dropped.

Scholar Zhong Kui asked with a smile, “When did the Tongye Continent have such a large Jianghu sect? A Jianghu sect equivalent to a clan-level immortal family?”
Having said this, the scholar chuckled to himself, seemingly finding his own words novel and amusing.

A stalwart warrior guarding a pass, a bloodthirsty and cruel hunchbacked old man, a swordsman using the Grand Spring martial general Xu Qingzhou as a sparring partner, and a breathtakingly beautiful woman suppressing the immortal master Xu Tong with her mastery of the sword.

Most importantly, these four individuals were all growing in momentum and cultivation during the fierce battles.

Of course, there was also that young master who, despite not being a Qi cultivator, could control a flying sword. He was just a bit too handsome, stealing the spotlight from him with Ninth Sister. Otherwise, he would have loved to clasp arms with the man and become sworn brothers.

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, then chose to be frank, “We are not from the Tongye Continent.”

Zhong Kui hummed in acknowledgement, “From the Posa Continent then?”

The Posa Continent was extremely famous. Even though the Tongye Continent liked to hold its head high and look down upon heroes from other places, it was still impressed by the Posa Continent, which was closest to the Upside-Down Mountain. After all, there was the Chen clan of Yingyin there, and Chen Chun’an, who almost single-handedly dominated the title of “Pure Scholar.”

Zhong Kui had long admired the Posa Continent, but due to his status as a scholar and the teachings of his mentor, he had never been able to set off on a journey.

Besides the Chen clan of Yingyin, the Posa Continent also had many places of historical significance that Zhong Kui longed to visit. The Tongye Continent was too stifling; neither the common people nor the mountain cultivators liked to travel.

Chen Ping’an pointed north.

Zhong Kui’s eyes lit up. “Do you know Mr. Qi of Cliff Academy?”

Chen Ping’an was taken aback, unsure how to answer.

Zhong Kui laughed heartily, “You probably know Mr. Qi, but Mr. Qi doesn’t know you, right? It’s alright, it’s the same for me.”

As for their closest northern neighbor, the Treasure Bottle Continent, Zhong Kui didn’t think much of it. Perhaps only a pair of master and disciple were worthy of mention: Qi Jingchun of Cliff Academy and Cui Chan, the national preceptor of the Great Li. However, he had heard that the Jade Dew Grotto-Heaven had shattered and fallen, and that Mr. Qi had died as well. Even Zhong Kui’s mentor deeply regretted it, saying in private to Zhong Kui that if Qi Jingchun had been in the Tongye Continent, he would never have suffered such humiliation, and at the very least, would not have ended up alone, an enemy to the world.

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “Shall we chat over drinks?”

Just for the sake of the “Mr. Qi” that Zhong Kui had mentioned, Chen Ping’an was willing to share a jug of wine with him.

Zhong Kui glanced at the woman who was gesticulating and holding court at the entrance, and whispered, “Drinking is fine, but if Ninth Sister complains, you’ll have to put in a good word for me.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Of course.”

Zhong Kui grabbed two jugs of plum wine and, acting like a clerk, ordered the lame boy to bring them some dishes to go with the drinks.

Zhong Kui sat cross-legged on the long bench, without a care in the world.

Chen Ping’an asked, “I heard that you are from the Great Fu Academy?”

Zhong Kui didn’t take it seriously and casually said, “That’s right. A gentleman too, can you believe it?”

Chen Ping’an raised a bowl of wine.

A toast to the word “gentleman.”

Zhong Kui quickly reached out to stop him, but Chen Ping’an had already drained his bowl. The wandering scholar sighed, “Is that really worth a drink? I think you just wanted to drink, didn’t you?”

Chen Ping’an recalled the scholar-sage he had met in the Combing Water Kingdom, Zhou Ju, who was very different from the man before him. At Sword Water Manor, Zhou Ju could determine life and death with his spoken words, truly possessing the mandate of Heaven.

Scholars, having read different books, would naturally have different styles.

Zhong Kui suddenly remembered something, “That warrior who blocked the Qi cultivator outside the door that night, the Ambrosia Armor he was wearing, if I’m not mistaken, it should be the ‘Western Peak’ mentioned in ancient military texts, one of the eight ancestral armors of the Ambrosia Armor. Is it a family heirloom?”

Chen Ping’an’s heart skipped a beat, and he shook his head, “It was purchased from Lingzhi House on the Upside-Down Mountain.”

Zhong Kui asked, “How many Grain Rain coins did you spend?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “I only spent some Minor Heat coins, it wasn’t expensive. I plan to give it away as a gift later.”

Zhong Kui laughed, “Lingzhi House doesn’t know its own treasures. You got a great deal. But that’s normal. The Western Peak has a restriction set by a master. If I hadn’t happened to have that nearly shattered secret tome in the academy, and coincidentally been familiar with the inner workings of these armored spheres, and hadn’t stared at it for a long time that night, I wouldn’t have recognized it either. I advise you to keep it. It’s so valuable, and it has so many stories. It’s a pity to give it away so easily.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t say whether he would give it away or not, and curiously asked, “Eight ancestral armors?”

Zhong Kui picked up a peanut and threw it into his mouth, “The full name of the Ambrosia Armor is Divine Being Dew-Receiving Armor. I ask you, what divine being? What dew does it receive?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, not knowing.

Zhong Kui smiled, “Besides the Western Peak, the other seven earliest Ambrosia Armors are: the Buddha Kingdom, the Flower Bud, the Mountain Spirit, the Water Immortal, the Rosy Clouds, the Rainbow Robe, and the Sea of Clouds. Most of them were destroyed in battles and are completely gone. Not many remain. The only ones with verifiable records are the Mountain Spirit and the Rainbow Robe. Don’t look down on your tattered Western Peak. Compared to those two that barely survived, it’s already in good condition. If you meet someone who knows his stuff, feel free to overcharge him. You’re guaranteed to make a fortune. But these ancestral armors have lost their essence after all. The power to protect their owners is less than ten percent of what it used to be, which is truly regrettable. For this, we must have a drink.”

Zhong Kui raised his wine bowl and drained it in one gulp.

Chen Ping’an had no choice but to drink a bowl as well.

Zhong Kui took the initiative to talk about that incident, “Those two princes are not good people. If you stay in Great Spring, be careful. The mortal world has its own rules, and there are many experts in the mortal world. For example, that Third Prince ran into you, proving there are mountains beyond mountains, which is why he got a bucket of dog blood dumped on him.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “That’s the principle.”

Zhong Kui suddenly laughed, “Thinking about your fight with the Great Spring’s guardian locust tree that night, and then seeing you agreeing with me so much at the table today, it’s a bit unsettling. What, did you suffer at the hands of the academy back home, so you’re wary of this gentleman title?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled.

Zhong Kui continued, “What you said that day, that everyone’s reasoning is reasoning, I think that was well said. As for asking that young duke to search his conscience, although it sounds more domineering and reasonable, there’s actually some… impropriety.”

Chen Ping’an took a sip of wine, “It couldn’t be helped.”

Zhong Kui nodded, “Indeed, that’s how the world is. When you’re stuck in a latrine, you think eating shit is a matter of course. When someone serves you a dish, they don’t even want to eat it.”
Chen Ping’an was dumbfounded.

Was this the kind of “reason” a Confucian gentleman would speak?

Zhong Kui sighed, “Even if this world is rotten into a latrine, it’s no reason for us to eat shit.”

At that moment, Chen Ping’an pinched a snack with one hand and held the wine bowl with the other, feeling a bit awkward.

Zhong Kui noticed Chen Ping’an’s strangeness and quickly reassured him, “What we’re eating and drinking isn’t shit and piss, but good wine and dishes, eat without worry.”

Chen Ping’an ate and drank in silence.

Chatting with this fellow was a bit hard to keep up with.

For a moment, Chen Ping’an missed Little Treasure Bottle a little.

At the doorway, Ninth Sister took action and quickly resolved the trouble.

Now, in the eyes of the people of Fox Ridge Town, the inn was mysterious and spooky, so they didn’t even have the courage to barge in and shout.

Chen Ping’an thanked the woman and went to the stairwell, where Pei Qian was still sitting and doodling. Chen Ping’an told her to follow him, and she obediently followed behind, looking dejected and remorseful, but Chen Ping’an knew that the little girl was secretly rejoicing. He could even imagine the next time Pei Qian went to Fox Ridge Town, how proud and arrogant she would be.

When they reached the room, Chen Ping’an sat down, and Pei Qian didn’t dare to sit, closing the door and standing across the table.

Chen Ping’an cut to the chase, “From now on, you’ll stay here, and I’ll give the inn a sum of money.”

Pei Qian suddenly raised her head, looking angry, about to speak, but when she saw Chen Ping’an’s cold expression, she lowered her head again, “I know I was wrong, I won’t do it again. I’ll go back to Fox Ridge Town and return Little Mei a butt-wiper, and buy her one worth forty copper coins, a big butterfly, colorful and gaudy, much prettier than a dragonfly. Little Mei and the others have been craving it for a long time, but those poor wretches who treat eating candied haws like it’s New Year’s can’t afford it, so she’ll get a bargain this time.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Where did you get the money?”

Pei Qian raised her head, blinking her eyes, “Borrowed it from Ninth Sister, not much, just two taels of silver in total.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “How are you going to pay it back?”

Pei Qian said timidly, “I’ll put it on the account first, and then I’ll work like a dog for you and pay it back little by little.”

Chen Ping’an said, “You can just stay here, this money, you can work in the inn and slowly pay Ninth Sister back.”

Pei Qian wrinkled her little face, on the verge of tears.

Chen Ping’an pointed to the door, calmly saying, “Get out.”

Pei Qian wiped her eyes fiercely and said loudly, “I know! You’ve always only liked that little bookworm called Cao Qinglang! You’ve been worried about him all along. If you could, you definitely wouldn’t want me, you’d only keep Cao Qinglang by your side. If he made a mistake, you wouldn’t be like this, you’d just reason with him properly, and you’d tell him not to become someone like me in the future! Chen Ping’an, you’ve been wanting to get rid of me all along!”

Pei Qian turned and ran away, slamming the door shut, returning to her room.

Chen Ping’an began to consider the upcoming journey north to Tongye Continent. After all, the immortal ferry leading to Old Dragon City in Treasure Bottle Continent was located in the northern borders of Great Spring. If he detoured, he would have to travel two or three thousand *li* more. Now, he was at odds with the Third Prince of the Great Spring’s Liu Clan, almost an irreconcilable feud. If his party swaggered straight north, if he were that Third Prince, he wouldn’t be able to bear it. Even if he was scared off by himself and that gentleman from the Great Cultivation Academy this time, a Prince who could lead an army on a long march, deep into enemy territory, and kill another country’s prefect and water god temple, even if he wouldn’t go all out, he would probably create a lot of trouble for himself.

If all else failed, he would have to detour.

On the same floor, not mentioning the “closed-door cultivation” Pei Qian, Wei Xian was reading a miscellaneous book bought from Fox Ridge Town. This founding emperor hadn’t mistreated himself, there was wine and meat on the table, and the military strategist’s armored pellet was placed on the table. After the great battle, after pondering for a long time, Wei Xian had to marvel at the immortal methods of the Qi refiners in the vast world, and the natural treasures of this world, which were unbelievable.

Further on was the room of the martial madman, Zhu Lian, who was pacing around the table with his hands behind his back.

Lu Baixiang stood at his window, looking into the distance, the narrow-bladed *Tingxue* sword hanging at his waist, temporarily kept by him. It was said to be an immortal relic of a Nascent Soul Earth Immortal, and it was indeed not comparable to those so-called divine weapons in his hometown.

Sui Youbian sat cross-legged on the bed, breathing and exhaling, the *Chixin* Sword placed on the table.

Chen Ping’an took out a blank scroll, recalling the flash of killing intent that night, and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

It is wise not to harbor intentions to harm others, and essential to be vigilant.

In the twilight of that day, Chen Ping’an went downstairs to eat dinner. Of the four figures in the painting upstairs, only Zhu Lian arrived punctually and sat down with Chen Ping’an, helping to pour wine. Lu Baixiang and the other two did not come out. As for Pei Qian, she stayed in her room, without a sound. Chen Ping’an went out alone, walking slowly along the official road leading to Fox Ridge Town.

Walking on the uneven yellow mud road, Chen Ping’an turned to look west before returning to the inn.

He and a group of people arrived at the inn almost at the same time. It was the injured Yao Clan Patriarch, General Yao Zhen, with the young man who had been trapped in danger with him, as well as the martial arts genius Yao Lingzhi, who had personally experienced the inn turmoil, and a young woman with a veil over her head. Behind these people were five or six riders, no longer the Yao family’s border cavalry, but military cultivators who did not need to wear armor intentionally. These mountain people who joined the army would be called Military Secretaries in Great Li.

Seeing Chen Ping’an in a green robe, the old general, looking haggard, still insisted on going to the inn himself, immediately dismounted and walked quickly to Chen Ping’an, cupping his fist and said, “Righteous man, you have saved us twice, the Yao family is immensely grateful! We are visiting our benefactor tonight, please accept Yao Zhen’s bow!”

The old man said and was about to bow deeply to Chen Ping’an, but Chen Ping’an had to stop the old man’s arm, saving him the grand gesture.

While Yao Zhen was stopped, the rest of the Yao family members and the military cultivators aligned with the Yao family bowed in unison.

The old man’s face was pale. He was a forthright man forged on the battlefield, and he asked directly, “I wonder how the Yao family should repay this kindness?”

Seeing Chen Ping’an remain silent, the old man smiled, “It’s not that I underestimate your chivalrous heart, but if the Yao family turns a blind eye to such great kindness, the Yao character on the Yao family’s border army banner will have no face to be displayed.”
Chen Ping’an didn’t stand on ceremony and asked, “General, do you have a way for me to avoid the Imperial Court’s eyes and ears and reach Tian Que Peak on the northern border?”

Yao Zhen inquired, “How many people are in your party, benefactor?”

Chen Ping’an initially intended to say six, but the words caught in his throat, and he immediately changed it to, “Five.”

Yao Zhen pondered briefly and nodded, “It can be done! If benefactor trusts the Yao family, please wait here for a few days. Afterwards, I will ensure that your party of five arrives at Tian Que Peak in the northern territories safely.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Will it cause you any trouble?”

Yao Zhen laughed heartily, “We’ve weathered storms far greater than this. Nothing can truly be considered trouble anymore.”

When the old general spoke those words, he seemed lighthearted, even though his injuries were severe, worsened by the bumpy ride. His words conveyed a sense of relief.

However, the faces of those behind Yao Zhen were heavy with unease and a hint of resentment.

Yao Zhen didn’t seem inclined to enter the inn. He suggested taking a walk with Chen Ping’an along the official road. Chen Ping’an had no objections. The two of them distanced themselves from the others by a dozen paces. Yao Zhen then divulged a secret, saying softly, “I dare not deceive you, benefactor. I’ve spent my entire life in battle. This time, His Majesty has shown me grace, allowing me to retire in the capital and assume the post of Minister of War. I can bring my family and a hundred or so retainers. So, benefactor, you can blend in. I’ll need a few days to arrange suitable identities for you in the army. To be frank, the Imperial Court will scrutinize these hundred or so people closely, one by one. So, benefactor, you’ll have to endure some hardship.”

The old man sounded somewhat apologetic.

Chen Ping’an thought it over and agreed.

Protecting the old man of the Yao family on their journey to the capital would also put Chen Ping’an’s mind at ease.

The old man’s first statement was, in fact, not in accordance with officialdom etiquette. Taking up the post of Minister of War in the capital was a promotion, certainly not a demotion. The Minister of War of the Great Quan Dynasty held a truly vital position in the court, a seat coveted by many great generals. However, for Yao Zhen, the day he laid down his armor would be the day he retired.

Furthermore, having to leave the southern border, where the Yao family had been rooted for generations, and go to the capital, Mirage City, was akin to leaving his homeland. Considering Yao Zhen’s age and his status as the linchpin of the south for the Great Quan Dynasty, Emperor Liu Zhen’s actions prompted much speculation in the court and among the people.

However, one thing was certain: the Imperial Court was preparing to protect the Yao family, or rather, His Majesty had already decided to remove the Yao family from the whirlpool, granting Yao Zhen a good ending, one of self-preservation and peaceful retirement.

Although the competition among the princes of the Great Quan Liu family had become unusually fierce in this generation, all three princes, even the eldest prince who was stationed in the north at a young age, valued their reputation in the court and among the people. To put it bluntly, it would not be surprising if Yao Zhen died in bed, on the battlefield, or mysteriously in the borderlands, but it was impossible for him to die in Mirage City, under the Emperor’s nose.

Because, according to rumors, a highly respected gentleman from the Great Fu Academy had left the academy and taught in Mirage City for many years.

Yao Zhen didn’t want Chen Ping’an to think that their joint journey to Mirage City meant that Chen Ping’an’s party was escorting the Yao family north. He carefully explained the workings of the Great Quan court to Chen Ping’an, detailing the current situation of the Yao family and why they had already escaped danger. This was thanks to the efforts of the academy gentleman in the capital and the intangible deterrence of the young gentleman in the inn.

Chen Ping’an mostly listened to the old general’s explanation, rarely speaking.

He only asked once, about the Third Prince’s escorting of prisoners.

Yao Zhen was originally a rigid person, even more particular about the concepts of ruler and subject, father and son, than the most pedantic scholar. However, this disaster had completely broken his heart, and his style of conduct had changed greatly. Many of the Great Quan Dynasty’s secrets, which he would have never revealed to others in the past, were now spoken of lightly. It seemed that, besides being heartbroken, the old man was also relieved, finally able to relax and retire.

In the conflict between the Golden Glare Viceroy of the Northern Jin and the Water God of Pine Needle Lake, both sides suffered heavy losses, damaging the very foundation of the Northern Jin’s national fortune. Among the dozen or so prison carriages, was the First Mountain God beneath the Five Sacred Mountains of the Northern Jin. The Third Prince had been plotting this for seven or eight years, using a large number of secret forces of the Great Quan Dynasty. As long as he successfully escorted the Mountain God Viceroy back, it would be a monumental achievement in the eyes of Mirage City, equivalent to a military general expanding the territory by thousands of miles. Unfortunately, it all fell apart in a small border town inn. Li Li of the Imperial Horse Bureau died, and the only son of the Duke of Shen died as well. After ten years of hard work, all he gained was face, but he suffered a loss in reality.

In the darkness of night, the two walked on the official road. Yao Zhen chatted casually, treating Chen Ping’an as a benefactor, not feeling awkward because of Chen Ping’an’s age.

While Chen Ping’an and the old general were chatting outside.

The atmosphere inside the inn was strange.

Ninth Sister leaned against the doorway. The hunchbacked old man was drinking wine for once. The scholar Zhong Kui sat on the threshold, looking up at the woman’s profile.

There was only one table of guests in the entire inn: a sword-bearing beauty, an imposing man with a saber, and a lean man who claimed to have a huge alcohol capacity. None of them were drinking. They ordered three dishes from the inn. The little cripple was also hungry. Seeing an empty seat, he sat down at the same table with the three of them, not picking at the dishes, just eating the white rice in his bowl.

The little cripple would occasionally steal glances at the woman opposite him.

She was so much more beautiful than the landlady. How could there be such a beautiful woman in the world?

She was carrying a sword, so she must be a female warrior.

He wondered if she would pass by the inn again in the future. By then, he should be able to become a chef, no longer having to sweep the floor, wipe tables, or serve tea and wine.

Thinking of this, the young man felt that the rice in his bowl was no different from the so-called delicacies of the mountains and seas that the Zhong scholar spoke of.

When Chen Ping’an returned to the inn, it was already closed. Only Zhong Kui was waiting to close the door on the first floor.

After closing the door, Zhong Kui took the initiative to invite Chen Ping’an for a drink, but they didn’t chat much, each drinking their own. After finishing, Zhong Kui made a makeshift bed near the counter. Chen Ping’an went to rest on the second floor. In the end, Zhong Kui said with a smile that the wine bill would be added to the tab. Chen Ping’an was somewhat helpless at the time, not understanding why a Confucian gentleman with such profound cultivation had to live as a dependent, so humble. Chen Ping’an had seen and heard a lot along the way, meeting many so-called experts, but none of them were so unrefined. Even the deeply hidden Madam Gui, the sword-holding man guarding the gate of Hanging Mountain, and the Golden Core old sword cultivator who had served as a coachman for him and Fan Er were not so approachable.
In the end, Zhong Kui left behind a saying, “Wandering the Jianghu, earning money is hard, and even sh*t is difficult to swallow. As long as you’re not spending money to buy sh*t to eat, then life is good.”

On the official road, the Yao family moved further and further away from the inn.

A lone rider kept pace with Yao Zhen, it was the woman wearing a veiled hat. She now lifted the veil, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face, naturally alluring. It was likely the source of trouble for the Yao family that Zhong Kui had mentioned. Although her appearance was charming, her temperament was aloof. Her peach blossom eyes seemed to carry the carefree and amorous air of springtime throughout the year.

The old man, due to his injuries, did not spur his horse to gallop. This old general, who had spent his life on the battlefield, was increasingly accepting his age.

The young woman softly asked, “Grandfather, why didn’t you go in to see Ninth Aunt? So many years have passed, and we are heading to the capital this time. Are you not even going to meet her once?”

Yao Zhen shook his head, “Let it be.”

The young woman turned her head to look at the saber-wearing girl and the silent youth, “Lingzhi and Xianzhi are not feeling well in their hearts right now.”

Yao Zhen laughed, “It’s good for them to not always think they’re the best in the world. When they get to Mirage City, they’ll still have setbacks.”

The young woman hesitated.

The old man was silent for a moment, “This is fine.”

She couldn’t help but ask, “Grandfather, do you not blame Little Aunt and Little Aunt’s husband at all in your heart?”

The old man did not answer.

In the night, the old man suddenly laughed, “I remember you once said that deep and profound, intelligent and eloquent, and upright and heroic, were qualities of which tiers?”

Although the young woman was puzzled, not knowing why her grandfather would mention this, she still answered, “They are first, third, and second tiers, respectively.”

The old man smiled and asked, “Then what tier do you think that benefactor is?”

The woman shook her head, “I dare not speak lightly of a benefactor.”

The old man nodded, turning his head, “Jinzhi, you shouldn’t follow us to Mirage City, won’t you reconsider? There’s still time to regret it now.”

She, named Yao Jinzhi, smiled, “Since the fortune teller said…”

Before she could finish, Yao Zhen glared, “Don’t say it! Especially don’t say it when we get to the capital!”

Yao Jinzhi gave a charming smile, and once again lowered the veiled hat, concealing her face.

In the next two days, both the inn and Foxer Town were peaceful.

The little girl, Pei Qian, rarely went out. Even when she went out to find food, she would deliberately avoid Chen Ping An.

During this time, Chen Ping An accompanied Zhong Kui, sitting on the doorstep drinking wine. The scholar said he needed to keep an eye on Foxer Town, but that wasn’t the most important thing. He hoped to see Ninth Sister every day.

Chen Ping An asked him why he liked Ninth Sister so much. Zhong Kui thought for a long time, only able to explain it as being bewitched.

Chen Ping An jokingly asked how much he liked her. Zhong Kui sighed, saying it was just so-so, not liked very much, so he always felt sorry for Ninth Sister in his heart.

Chen Ping An was speechless.

A strange person.

Before the Yao family’s team entered the capital arrived at the inn, Sui Youbian knocked on Chen Ping An’s door, saying she wanted to deliver a few words.

The two sat facing each other. Sui Youbian slowly said, “After the Reconstructed Bridge of Longevity, if you want to reach the Upper Five Realms, you need to refine five magical treasures, each corresponding to the five elements. The higher the quality of the refined objects, the higher the achievement in cultivation.”

Chen Ping An asked, “For example?”

Sui Youbian seemed to have expected it, or rather, the person who asked her to deliver the message was all-knowing and resourceful. She almost answered Chen Ping An word for word: “For example, the metal of the five elements could be that bag of gold refined copper coins, or that golden literary courage. For the wood of the five elements, it could be the locust wood of the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, or the green bamboo of Green Mountain, the water of the five elements could be that Water Character Seal, the earth of the five elements could be the Dragon Slaying Platform, or the soil of the Five Peaks of the Great Li Dynasty, the fire of the five elements could be some snake gallstones, or even a fire dragon on your wrist.”

Finally, Sui Youbian said, “This is just ‘for example’. You need to decide for yourself what to refine, how to refine it, and when to refine it.”

After Chen Ping An sent Sui Youbian out of the room, he began to practice the Sword Furnace Pile Stance.

That night, he fell asleep soundly with the Thousand Autumn Sleeping Pile Stance. Chen Ping An had a strange dream. In the dream, someone stood in front of him, arms already broken, covered in blood. This person hunched over, facing away from Chen Ping An, using his mouth to bite the hilt of the blade, a kind of unimaginable horizontal blade posture.

Chen Ping An woke up, opened his eyes, and tried hard to remember the dream, but only remembered the vague silhouette.

While Chen Ping An was lying in bed, feeling confused, far away outside the inn, one big and one small were building a small mound. Zhong Kui watched squatting there, while Pei Qian added soil after soil, building a small grave-like mound, and even specially found a wide and thin stone slab, inserting it in front of the “grave”. After the completion, the little girl, her face covered in mud, turned to Zhong Kui solemnly and said, “This is Chen Ping An’s grave. Every year on this day, the two of us have to come and pay our respects!”

Zhong Kui wondered, “What kind of nonsense is this?”

Pei Qian sat down on the ground with a thump, arms crossed, gnashing her teeth and saying, “In my heart, Chen Ping An is already dead!”

Zhong Kui oh-ed, “So, this small mound can be called a cenotaph.”

Pei Qian frowned, “What does that mean?”

Zhong Kui rested his chin on his arm, staring blankly at the small grave and the small tombstone, actually looking at Pei Qian’s bright eyes out of the corner of his eye.

The scholar was thoughtful, seemingly enlightened.