(Ten Thousand Word Chapter)

Zheng Dafeng stared blankly for a long time, seemingly unable to reconcile the young man before him with the dark-skinned boy who used to squat beside him on the tree stump. Finally, he wiped his face and blurted out, “If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you spitting all over my face?”

But Zheng Dafeng still accepted the bottle of Stillness Pills. If Chen Pingan wasn’t exaggerating, two pills would be enough to suppress his injuries. As for completely curing the root of the illness, it would still be difficult. It wasn’t something that could be solved by simply taking a few more spiritual pills.

Pei Qian had already been peeking around the doorway, lifting her mountain-traveling staff, furious. “You, why can’t you tell good from bad? If you keep talking like that, be careful I get angry…”

Zheng Dafeng pocketed the porcelain bottle, turned his head, and said with a grin, “You scared me! Which family does this peerless young heroine belong to?”

Pei Qian cleared her throat, stood up straight, and thumped the ground heavily with her mountain-traveling staff. “Listen up! My name is Pei Qian, a princess in exile among the commoners. Chen Pingan is my… Master! I am the founding disciple of our lineage!”

She would never mention “my dad” in front of Chen Pingan.

Zheng Dafeng swallowed hard, turning to look at Chen Pingan, probably wondering where this blockhead had found such a little rascal.

Chen Pingan said, “Let’s go inside and talk business.”

Zheng Dafeng was puzzled. “Didn’t we already finish talking?”

Chen Pingan laughed in exasperation. “I’m willing to get involved in this matter, but that doesn’t mean I’m courting death! What forces are in the enemy camp? How many Golden Core and Nascent Soul Earth Immortals do they each possess? Which forces are sitting on the sidelines, watching the tigers fight? Which Earth Immortals will join the fray? Will there be Upper Five Realm cultivators lurking behind them? I need to understand all of this! I need to know about Old Dragon City’s terrain and the routes around Dragon Ascending Platform! I need to hear about your three encounters with the Fu, Fang, and Ding families!”

Zheng Dafeng felt a headache coming on. He took out the porcelain bottle. “Take it back, take it back! We’re really not on the same path, we can’t piss in the same pot!”

Chen Pingan ignored Zheng Dafeng and stepped over the threshold.

The Zhao surname Yin Spirit had already appeared inside the shop, smiling. “I can explain everything to you in detail.”

Zheng Dafeng sighed mournfully, habitually reaching for his crotch, and carried the bench back into the medicine shop, following Chen Pingan back to the backyard. In Zheng Dafeng’s main room, Chen Pingan and the Zhao surname Yin Spirit sat facing each other. Pei Qian didn’t dare sit in the main seat facing north, but sat on the long bench facing the door, leaving the main seat for Zheng Dafeng. Chen Pingan also had Wei Xian, Lu Baixiang, and the other two bring their own chairs and stools to sit in the main room and listen.

Before sitting down, Zheng Dafeng finally acted a bit like a host, grabbing a large handful of melon seeds in a small dish and placing them in front of Pei Qian. She glanced at Chen Pingan and reluctantly thanked Zheng Dafeng.

Then, Zheng Dafeng took two large plates of salted peanuts and soy-sauce beef jerky for himself.

Pei Qian looked at the melon seeds in her small dish, then at Zheng Dafeng’s, realizing that even the plates were bigger than hers! This was a bit too much, wasn’t it?

Pei Qian raised her thumb. “I admire your hospitality!”

Zheng Dafeng waved his hand dismissively. “Keep it in your heart, don’t say it out loud.”

Pei Qian sat cross-legged on the stool, cracking melon seeds fiercely.

Chen Pingan took off the Sword Nourishing Gourd and placed it on the table, asking, “Can I have a little?”

Zheng Dafeng peeled a salted peanut and shook his head. “I don’t drink alcohol, I can’t drink lately.”

The Zhao surname Yin Spirit slowly said, “Six days from now, the Great Cold solar term, Zheng Dafeng will have a deathmatch with Fu Qi on the Fu family’s Dragon Ascending Platform. In other words, only one person can walk away alive. If Zheng Dafeng dies, it’s simple, we just go up and help collect his corpse, there’s no danger. Since the Fu family has already killed a Ninth Realm martial artist, they’ve earned enough face and are happy to be generous, they won’t bother with a dusty shop anymore.”

Seeing Chen Pingan look at him, the Yin Spirit smiled wryly. “Naturally, I can’t just watch Zheng Dafeng die on the Dragon Ascending Platform. If he dies, I can’t even be a Yin Spirit, let alone protect my descendants. So even if the Dragon Ascending Platform is full of magical restrictions by then, I still have a way to break into it. However, doing so will only delay Zheng Dafeng’s death for a moment. Then, if you, Chen Pingan, choose to insist on helping, it will be a chaotic battle. Not to mention Golden Cores and Nascent Souls, I’m afraid that as long as they are Middle Five Realm cultivators, except for the Fan family, all five major surnames of Old Dragon City will come to step on you.”

Chen Pingan nodded. “This is the worst-case scenario, I already know that. Now tell me about the best-case scenario.”

The Yin Spirit was slightly surprised. Chen Pingan seemed to have changed a lot after this trip to Upside Down Mountain. However, the Yin Spirit’s image was already ethereal and its face was blurred, so it continued, “After Zheng Dafeng knocked down Chu Yang, the number one Golden Core cultivator in Old Dragon City, with three punches, he fought a battle with the Fu family’s Nascent Soul old ancestor, who wielded a Demi-Immortal Weapon. The Fu family has been operating Old Dragon City for so long, the mansion area has long been transformed into a small blessed land, similar to academies and Taoist temples, so the fight wasn’t easy.”

Zheng Dafeng scoffed. “Feigning weakness! The one I wanted to take down from the beginning was Old Dragon City Lord Fu Qi! If I hadn’t deliberately suppressed my realm, that old guy waving a broken iron spear would have been knocked down long ago, and I would have spat on his old face!”

Chen Pingan didn’t quite believe Zheng Dafeng’s words, but the Yin Spirit nodded with a smile. “What Zheng Dafeng said isn’t too far-fetched, he really didn’t want to reveal his true realm too early back then.”

Chen Pingan understood in his heart, this was in line with Zheng Dafeng’s personality.

If it were Li Huai’s father, Li Er, he probably wouldn’t have been so secretive.

In fact, in the former Hidden Domain of the Luminous Pearl, apart from Mr. Qi and Old Man Yang, as well as Li Baoping’s brother Li Xisheng, this old bachelor gatekeeper was probably the most learned person. The more one knows, the higher one’s demands, and one’s fist intent becomes less pure than Li Er’s. After all, with more desires, the heart narrows. That was why Zheng Dafeng’s breakthrough back then was so difficult. To the extent that he needed Chen Pingan and the *Sincerity Chapter* to be his Dao instructors.

Chen Pingan asked, “So it was the Ding family’s son-in-law, that direct disciple of the Paulownia Leaf Sect who brought his wife back to her maiden family, who injured Zheng Dafeng so badly? Why did the negotiations break down, leading to a big fight?”

Zheng Dafeng’s face was gloomy as he just tore a piece of soy-sauce beef and threw it into his mouth.
The Yin spirit surnamed Zhao chuckled, “Well, well, quite the pedigree. The moment he stepped into Dust Apothecary, he launched into a long spiel, basically boiling down to two points. One, his name is Du Yan, the direct grandson of the revitalizing patriarch of the Tongye Sect. Two, back when Du Yan was concealing his identity and roaming around Old Dragon City, the ancestor of that young man surnamed Fang was his little lackey. Now, that young man is the only descendant left, so he hopes Zheng Dafeng will give him some face and not let the family line be extinguished. If Zheng Dafeng agrees, he promises the Tongye Sect will stand by Dust Apothecary’s side.”

The Yin spirit glanced at Zheng Dafeng, who kept stealing glances at the sword-nurturing gourd, and sneered, “A mere Ninth Realm martial artist, thinking he’s invincible under heaven. Knowing full well that Du Yan has a Jade Pure Realm cultivator by his side, yet he still doesn’t take it seriously, daring to mock those Upper Five Realms cultivators who are willing to be lackeys. Zheng Dafeng, how about it now? Want a drink? Just drink up! You’re invincible anyway. What’s a Tenth Realm Nascent Soul peak cultivator, plus at least one immortal weapon, and the advantageous terrain of the Ascending Dragon Platform in Fuchi’s hands? Still not a problem for our Master Zheng to knock them down with a single punch?”

Zheng Dafeng rolled his eyes, one foot propped up on a bench, slouching his shoulders, not taking it to heart at all. It’s just that not being able to drink was truly unbearable. The key was that Chen Ping’an was being unkind. He clearly stated he was teetotal, and Chen Ping’an also wasn’t drinking, so he should just put it away and not flaunt it on his waist. What was with him taking the cork off the gourd?

Chen Ping’an nodded and asked curiously, “Fan Er only told me that Zheng Dafeng went to the Fang family before and left a word for that young man. What was it?”

Zheng Dafeng tossed the peanut shells in his hand onto the ground, his eyes indifferent. “To make that guy wish he were dead. Old Zhao knows some wicked taboo techniques, that kid will have a good time.”

Only at this moment did Chen Ping’an turn his head and smile at Wei Xian and the other three behind him, “Forgot to introduce, this guy is called Zheng Dafeng, he’s from my hometown, a Ninth Realm martial artist. A doorman, but back then, I did a few copper coins’ worth of business with him, and I still remember his kindness.”

Zheng Dafeng smiled and cupped his fist at the four of them, “Just the Ninth Realm, nothing to see here.”

Chen Ping’an continued, “That flying sword Fifteen of mine, its original owner was his master. In these few decades, his master seems to have only taken two disciples. Zheng Dafeng is in the Ninth Realm, and his senior brother smoothly advanced to the Tenth Realm, as easily as eating and drinking.”

Pei Qian’s eyes lit up. This path was suitable for her! Reaching the Tenth Realm of Martial Dao as easily as eating and drinking? She was reading and copying books every day. If she secretly drank some wine, who knew what might happen?!

Zheng Dafeng reached out and wiped his face, grumbling, “You damned…”

Inside the house, the four figures in the painting had different thoughts.

After Zhao, the Yin spirit, mocked Zheng Dafeng a few times, he continued, “The best outcome is for Zheng Dafeng to win against Fuchi, who has every advantage of timing and location. Next, we’ll see how we can bring Zheng Dafeng back here alive, from the Ascending Dragon Platform outside the city, back to this Dust Apothecary in the inner city! Precarious, it depends on fate. But looking back, the existence of the Yunlin Jiang family is both the greatest danger, and the accumulated prestige of the ‘Grand Scribes’ of the Yunlin Jiang family’s ancestors is also a glimmer of hope for us. After all, on the surface, if Zheng Dafeng is lucky enough to walk down the Ascending Dragon Platform alive, no one will dare to add insult to injury and stand up for the Yunlin Jiang family or the Fu family. Even the Fu family wouldn’t dare to openly break the agreement. As for the secret undercurrents, that is, on the road between the Ascending Dragon Platform and the apothecary…”

The Yin spirit, Zhao, stopped here and asked inexplicably, “That person really doesn’t want to help?”

After all, that person was the biggest reason why he and Zheng Dafeng left the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven and settled in Old Dragon City.

Zheng Dafeng curled his lip, “That guy from the Fan family made it clear before I made my move, at most they won’t stab me in the back, and the Fu family won’t be able to control the cloud sea above Old Dragon City. Other than that, if I, Zheng Dafeng, want to seek death, she’ll just watch me die.”

Zheng Dafeng slightly altered the words of that young woman in green robes. Fan Junmao, who had ascended to the Nascent Soul Realm after drinking wine in the apothecary before, the Fan family woman who threw a sword out of the cloud sea and directly destroyed a top-grade Daoist robe of the Jiang family’s Nascent Soul offering from the Jade Tablet Sect, the full speech she said to Zheng Dafeng was, “After so many years, you still have this useless mud-that-can’t-be-plastered-on-the-wall demeanor. Then I’ll just watch you get nailed to death again.”

Of course, Zheng Dafeng wouldn’t tell Chen Ping’an the exact words, too unlucky, and too embarrassing.

In fact, even the Yin spirit, Zhao, couldn’t hear these words at the time. Fan Junmao’s ascension to the current Nascent Soul Realm was extremely bizarre.

In the entire Old Dragon City, I’m afraid that apart from the city lord Fu Chi, everyone else would rack their brains and couldn’t figure out why the Fu family would go against the trend, and why they didn’t directly submit to the Fu family?

In the Fan family, someone’s words were more effective than Fan Er’s father, and even louder than the voices of everyone in the Fan family’s ancestral hall combined. Not some reclusive Nascent Soul patriarch, although she was in the Nascent Soul Realm, she couldn’t be considered an ancestor. She was Fan Er’s half-sister, that unremarkable noble lady Fan Junmao, but she didn’t stand on Zheng Dafeng’s side. She frankly said that she would only watch the show this time, and not wade into the muddy water, letting Zheng Dafeng go to his death generously.

Zheng Dafeng knew she wasn’t joking.

Zhao, the Yin spirit, then introduced in detail the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Earth Immortals of the five major families in Old Dragon City, apart from the Fan family, as well as their approximate divine abilities and magical treasures.

Compared to what Fan Er said in the carriage, there were only three more people, and no Nascent Soul cultivators popped out of the stones at random, which was a piece of good news.

The Yin spirit smiled, “I can get the map of Old Dragon City and the Ascending Dragon Platform tonight.”

Of course, Chen Ping’an wouldn’t refuse.

The Yin spirit glanced at Zheng Dafeng and cursed for the first time, “Damn it, it would be so much better to protect Chen Ping’an! Even if there’s a great battle, I wouldn’t have to clean up his messes all the time. A life-and-death battle would be more satisfying, why do I have to think of ways to patch things up and worry all the time?!”

Zheng Dafeng squinted, “Oh, you forgot the comfortable days of basking in the sun with me every day?”

The Yin spirit snorted coldly.

Chen Ping’an asked again, “Are there any Jade Pure Realm great cultivators hiding behind the scenes? If so, how many?”

Zheng Dafeng smiled, “Are there many Jade Pure Realm cultivators in our Treasure Bottle Continent? Let me count on my fingers for you?”
Zheng Dafeng began counting on his fingers, “In our Lizhu Paradise, there’s Ruan Qiong. The Song clan of Great Li is arrogant, having annexed nearly half of Bao Ping Continent, yet they treat that blacksmith like a Bodhisattva, right? Then there’s the ancestor of the Gao clan of Great Sui, who enjoys being a storyteller. He counts as one. Even facing my senior brother, Li Er, he didn’t dare to exchange a single punch. The Fengxue Temple has Wei Jin, a sword cultivator genius who appears once in a millennium. Zhenwu Mountain definitely has one, but he never shows his face. The Sect Master of the Shentao Sect just entered the Immortal Realm and gained the title of Heavenly Sovereign. The Mountain Master of Guanhai Academy is not necessarily in the Upper Five Realms. Count them, how many Jade Purity Realms are there in a continent? Of course, there’s Xie Shi, the Heavenly Sovereign of the Northern Ju Lu Continent, and Cao Xi, the Sword Immortal of the Southern Posuo Continent, and Xu Ruo, the wandering knight-errant of the Mo family. But these don’t count, because they aren’t cultivators from our Bao Ping Continent.”

Chen Pingan chuckled, “Why don’t Heavenly Sovereign Xie Shi and Sword Immortal Cao Xi count? They both came from our Lizhu Paradise. It’s just that the flowers bloom more fragrant outside the wall. They cultivated their power and fame in other continents, but their roots are still in our hometown. Especially that Cao Xi, his ancestral home is on the same alley as mine. Last time, I ran into this old Sword Immortal in Niping Lane. Cao Xi wasn’t very ethical and tampered with my door gods, but Li Baoping’s elder brother saw through the trick and casually broke it.”

Zheng Dafeng couldn’t refute him, so he just tore apart a piece of dried beef and chewed it fiercely.

The four people in the painting were trying their best to maintain composure, but they were about to lose it.

Was Chen Pingan’s “hometown” a bit too bizarre?

The doorman was a Rank 9 martial artist? And he had a Rank 10 martial artist as a senior brother? Niping Lane had a Sword Immortal named Cao Xi, and a little further away was the “place of rise” of a Daoist Heavenly Sovereign?

Zheng Dafeng wanted to regain some ground, saying, “But how many Rank 10 martial artists are there in Bao Ping Continent? Only two, Li Er and Song Changjing. Next, it’ll be my turn, right? The one who taught you boxing, isn’t he also Rank 10, by any chance?”

Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment, then honestly replied, “The one staying at my place should also be Rank 10.”

Zheng Dafeng rubbed his face, “I almost went straight from the peak of Rank 8 to Rank 10 back then, okay!”

Chen Pingan smiled and asked, “Then why don’t you run a few steps for me and show me Rank 10 right now? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? I wouldn’t even need to go to the Denglong Terrace. I’ll just stay at the Gray Dust Apothecary and cook a grand celebration feast for you, Zheng Dafeng, how about it?”

Zheng Dafeng was stumped.

If reaching Rank 10 was easy, why would Li Er leave Lizhu Paradise?

The difference between Rank 9 and 10 for a pure martial artist was somewhat similar to the difference between Rank 12 and 13 for a sword cultivator.

As for the legendary Rank 11 of martial arts, and Rank 14 of sword cultivation, just thinking about them was enough.

These two thresholds were even more unimaginable than the chasms between Rank 5 and 6, and Rank 10 and 11 for ordinary Qi Refiners.

Zheng Dafeng, who considered himself ambitious, didn’t dare to hope for the ethereal realm of the Martial God.

The dead-end path, what did “dead-end” mean?

Having followed Old Yang, the “Divine Lord” whom even the past Sages of Lizhu Paradise had to pay respects to, for so many years, Zheng Dafeng knew some inside information.

The Zhao surname Yin God was in a great mood. As expected, it took Chen Pingan, the preacher, to make Zheng Dafeng suffer.

Chen Pingan looked at the opposite Yin God and asked, “According to your words, Senior, this Gray Dust Apothecary has some mysteries?”

The Yin God smiled, “Of course. The Divine Lord asked me to choose this place as a foothold, not just a random place that Zheng Dafeng asked from the Fan family. Once the formation is activated, I can exert the cultivation of the Jade Purity Realm here.”

Zheng Dafeng sighed, “That’s just a lower-class method of boosting your realm at the cost of damaging your Yin virtue. It won’t last long.”

The Yin God’s expression remained unchanged. “Did you really think I came with you to Old Dragon City just to bask in the sun and watch the moon every day, waiting for some fairy to fly over your head? As long as we can hold on for a month, the situation might change.”

“Understood.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “Then let’s calculate our strength now.”

Zheng Dafeng ate salted peanuts, “What strength are you talking about? Isn’t it all in this room?”

Pei Qian pointed at herself and happily smiled, “Do I count? But I’m still one ‘tomorrow’ away from mastering peerless swordsmanship.”

The dark little girl was rarely a bit embarrassed.

Zheng Dafeng said seriously, “Little female hero Pei, you are actually our pillar and backbone. Don’t underestimate yourself!”

Pei Qian accepted it with pleasure and pushed the empty plate, “More melon seeds.”

Zheng Dafeng actually got up and grabbed a large handful of melon seeds from the side room, putting them into the small plate in front of Pei Qian. Because the plate wasn’t big, the handful of melon seeds looked very substantial and sincere.

Pei Qian found this guy a little more pleasing to the eye.

Chen Pingan finally drank his first sip of wine. After putting down the Sword Nourishing Gourd, the flying sword Fifteen shot out. Then, Chen Pingan took out the zhi chi jade talisman that Zheng Dafeng had given him and smiled, “Don’t many people in Old Dragon City think that having money is all that matters? I don’t have much money now, but I’ve saved up some possessions. This robe I’m wearing is called Golden Dew. It’s an ancient immortal’s relic. Zheng Dafeng, can you wear it? And there’s a demon-binding rope made from the beard of an old Jiao dragon in the Nascent Soul Realm. Can you use it?”

Zheng Dafeng shook his head, “Once you reach the Refining Spirit Realm of martial arts, you’ll know that these so-called immortal objects only restrict you. You can wear them to save your life, but if I wear them, I’ll only die faster.”

Chen Pingan nodded and took out a large stack of drawn talismans, “We shouldn’t need the Yang Qi Lighting Talisman. Since Denglong Terrace is similar to a blessed land created by the Fu family, the Barrier-Breaking Talisman might have a chance. There’s also this Treasure Pagoda Demon Suppressing Talisman… and a Lock-Breaking Talisman, for the Jiao dragon lineage. As for this Sword Suppressing Talisman personally written by a friend of mine, it’s of extremely high quality. It can even suppress a Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator’s natal flying sword for a moment…”

Chen Pingan had only taken out the stack of talismans, and the Zhao surname Yin God on the opposite side already felt a slight sense of oppression. Especially the green Sword Suppressing Talisman, although it was specifically designed for Earth Immortal Sword Cultivators, it still made him feel uneasy.

Zheng Dafeng was shocked, “Chen Pingan, were you just busy robbing houses every day on this trip to Upside Down Mountain?”
Chen Ping’an ignored Zheng Dafeng and continued to take out one item after another, including three porcelain bottles. “An immature Golden Core from a water demon buried in the He River of Tongye Continent, the Nascent Soul Golden Core of the old Jiaolong from Jiaolong Gully, and one… a Golden Core of a Twelfth Realm Great Demon!”

Zheng Dafeng turned to look at the Zhao-surnamed Yin God, pointed to the last half-arm-high porcelain bottle, and asked, “Do you believe it?”

The Zhao-surnamed Yin God shook his head and then nodded. “I wouldn’t believe it from an ordinary person, but since Chen Ping’an said it, I’ll believe… half of it.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “What items can provide immediate help?”

Zheng Dafeng said, “Let me think for a moment,” and fell into contemplation.

The Zhao-surnamed Yin God asked, “If I had known you had so much wealth, I shouldn’t have let you, Chen Ping’an, into this house. What was the point?”

The Yin God actually repeated the question, “What was the point?!”

Chen Ping’an said calmly, “You can consider it a big deal I’m making with the apothecary’s Divine Lord Yang. Either I lose everything, or I gain so much I can barely handle it.”

The Yin God just shook his head, obviously not believing that kind of explanation.

Chen Ping’an turned his head apologetically and asked, “What do you all say?”

Wei Xian said indifferently, “There’s no way, what else can we do?”

Sui Youbian held his sword across his lap, his eyes shining, “Besides the Qinghu Palace Seated-in-Forgetfulness Pill, I also want a pair of Fire Dragon Pills and Rain-Summoning Pills.”

Zhu Lian chuckled, “Killing those mountain immortals, how delightful!”

“If my words mattered, I would naturally hope to leave Old Dragon City immediately, but since we’ve already decided to stay,”

Lu Baixiang was the most practical, “Then I also want two Fire Dragon Pills and Rain-Summoning Pills. After getting the map of Old Dragon City’s terrain, I can help plan a specific route.”

Chen Ping’an clasped his fist towards the four, “Thank you!”

Turning his head, he asked Zheng Dafeng, “Do you think their martial cultivation levels can be improved in a short time, besides taking the pills?”

Zheng Dafeng nodded. “One is a Seventh Realm Golden Body Realm, three are Sixth Realm Peak. Everyone is a true, pure martial artist. I don’t even know where you recruited these fellows. Stabilizing the Golden Body Realm isn’t difficult. As for the other three, breaking through in these few days will be very difficult, but with some hard work, they can definitely raise their Sixth Realm Peak a bit higher. As long as they survive this time, it will be greatly beneficial to their future martial arts practice. After all, peak is only ‘flawless’; it’s still far from being able to contend for the title of ‘strongest.’ These two days, I can feed them punches. How much of my Ninth Realm martial artist’s fist intent they can absorb depends on their own abilities.”

The four in the painting remained expressionless.

Zheng Dafeng raised an eyebrow. These four retainers of Chen Ping’an sure had a big ego.

However, the four’s respective auras were truly extraordinary.

Pure martial artists, each with their own unique and unadulterated methods.

Wei Xian was an enemy of ten thousand on the battlefield, deeply entrenched in the enemy formation, surrounded by iron armor, just needing to break through.

Lu Baixiang was a genius of exceptional talent. Besides martial arts, he aimed to be the best in the world in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Sui Youbian was wholeheartedly pursuing the ultimate in swordsmanship, aiming to achieve an unprecedented ascension to immortality.

Beneath Zhu Lian’s amiable exterior hid a complete madman. All the martial artists in the world combined wouldn’t be a match for Zhu Lian’s two fists alone.

Zheng Dafeng was looking forward to his upcoming fist feeding.

Chen Ping’an’s expression became solemn as he asked, “I want to refine a Natal Treasure. Can I find someone to buy the materials here at Dust Apothecary right now? And it must be guaranteed that they won’t tamper with the natural treasures. If it succeeds, it’s like having an extra life.”

The Zhao-surnamed Yin God turned to look at Zheng Dafeng.

Zheng Dafeng thought for a moment, “I need to ask someone. If she agrees, it can be done.”

Zheng Dafeng suddenly asked with a smile, “I trust her. Do you trust me?”

Chen Ping’an replied, “I trust your master.”

Zheng Dafeng was once again left speechless.

The Yin God stood up and laughed. “I’ll go find a few more maps.”

Chen Ping’an turned to Pei Qian and said, “You share a room with Sui Youbian, and Wei Xian and the others can squeeze together. I can sleep on the floor in the front apothecary, but if the materials can be gathered…”

Before Chen Ping’an could finish speaking, Pei Qian said righteously, “Then I’ll go sleep on the floor with the Immortal Sister!”

Sui Youbian and the others had no objections.

These trivial matters were, after all, minor issues compared to the imminent battle.

As night fell, Chen Ping’an carried a long bench, and Sui Youbian and the three others, after taking the pills from their respective rooms, walked into the courtyard.

Zheng Dafeng stood with one hand behind his back and the other on his abdomen, smiling. “Against cultivators of the same realm, a pure martial artist should aim for one punch within ten zhang. As for you four, although I don’t know your background or origins, I can temporarily treat you as four Seventh Realm Qi Practitioners, at the very least. Just come at me together. Let’s save time.”

No one took a step forward.

Zheng Dafeng said helplessly, “What, you don’t see this Ninth Realm martial artist as anything? You think it’s beneath you to gang up on one person?”

Pei Qian carried a small stool and sat beside Chen Ping’an’s feet.

Zheng Dafeng turned to look at Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an extended a palm, signaling Zheng Dafeng to feel free to throw punches.

“Since you’re all so polite, then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Zheng Dafeng twisted his foot, and his figure disappeared.

A muffled thud resounded.

Four fists were delivered almost simultaneously.

Sui Youbian, Wei Xian, Lu Baixiang, and Zhu Lian, standing on the steps under the eaves on both sides, retreated one to three steps respectively.

Zheng Dafeng tutted. “You’ve built a good foundation. Chen Ping’an, where did you find these retainers and maids? I want a few too, especially someone like this sister here…”

Sui Youbian was the first to draw his sword.

Zhu Lian, with his hunched posture, leaped forward.

Wei Xian and Lu Baixiang moved to the sides almost simultaneously, ready to support Sui Youbian and Zhu Lian in the courtyard at any moment.

No words were needed; their minds were already connected.

This was the level expected of the four best in the world from Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

Chen Ping’an said softly, “If you’re interested, you can take a closer look.”

Pei Qian raised her hand, filled with melon seeds. Chen Ping’an shook his head, and she withdrew her hand, cracking melon seeds and shaking her head. “I’m not interested, you’re far better than… Master.”

Calling him Father in private but Master in front of Chen Ping’an, Pei Qian felt that she had finally understood the importance of studying. A teacher for a day is a father for life, after all.
Chen Pingan said, “You’re wrong. If we’re just comparing the height of martial arts realms, I’m actually not as good as those four for now. I’m only at the fifth realm, but after several major battles, bitter struggles, and life-or-death fights, the foundation of my fifth realm has been laid… very well. So I can break through the sixth realm bottleneck at any time.”

For Chen Pingan to feel that he has done well in something is probably no less impressive than when the old man surnamed Cui said that Chen Pingan’s martial arts foundation in a certain realm was “not bad”.

Pei Qian raised her head, her face beaming, and said, “Master, you’re the most amazing anyway.”

The four in the courtyard were suffering under Zheng Dafeng’s hands.

This was still because Zheng Dafeng deliberately suppressed his realm to the eighth realm, the Distant Excursion Realm.

Otherwise, there would be no way to fight.

Giving pointers would become bullying.

Martial arts cultivation is unlike the realm of Qi refiners; a difference of one realm is like heaven and earth. Of course, there are exceptions. For example, the old man surnamed Cui who taught Chen Pingan boxing, the only tenth-realm peak pure martial artist in Precious Bottle Continent, easily killed a sixth-realm martial artist who wanted to become his disciple outside the bamboo building with his fifth-realm fists.

But such exceptions, even if they’re not unique, are close to it.

Chen Pingan thought of Cao Ci, the white-clothed youth in Sword Qi Great Wall who walked the stakes on the wall, his boxing intent forcibly suppressing the sword intent near the city head.

Chen Pingan wondered if, now that they were both in the fifth realm, he would still lose to Cao Ci three times without any suspense.

Chen Pingan gently dismissed the distracting thoughts, his eyes fixed on the battle in the courtyard, but he said to Pei Qian, “Before entering the Qingjing Mountain boundary last time, when we passed through that prefecture city, I actually forgot to say sorry to you.”

Pei Qian, munching on melon seeds, looked up, puzzled, “Are you talking about the sesame cake incident? Why are you apologizing to me?”

At that time, Pei Qian had dragged Wei Xian, a half-friend, to buy food. Chen Pingan and Lu Baixiang were browsing in a bookstore. When Chen Pingan found Pei Qian, he discovered that the girl was gobbling down a sesame cake, while a richly dressed woman was pointing and scolding the little black girl, saying things like the wild girl had no upbringing and her parents didn’t care about her.

Chen Pingan’s first impression was that Pei Qian had caused trouble again, so he walked over with a stern face.

He was very afraid that Pei Qian, by his side, would not only fail to learn the principles in the books but would instead be tainted with a tyrannical aura from spending too much time with him and Zhu Lian and the others.

So when he walked to Pei Qian’s side, his tone was very heavy, although he didn’t directly scold her, he was somewhat biased toward the woman and the child.

Pei Qian was extremely afraid of Chen Pingan and handed the remaining half of the cake to the woman without saying a word, saying that she didn’t want it and would give it to the child.

The woman was furious, even more angry, feeling humiliated, and treated Chen Pingan as an elder of Pei Qian’s family, scolding him along with her. Seeing that Chen Pingan’s clothes and appearance suggested that he was a wealthy young man from a well-to-do family, the woman restrained herself slightly and scolded him more subtly.

Chen Pingan waited until Wei Xian said a few words before understanding the reason. It turned out that Pei Qian had bought the last sesame cake in the shop. A child came along, craving it, and asked Pei Qian to give him the cake.

Pei Qian refused, shaking her head and gobbling it up, deliberately shouting, “Oh, it’s delicious, so delicious!” The child immediately cried, and the woman started scolding. But Pei Qian didn’t care at all, just happily eating the cake. The more the woman scolded, the happier Pei Qian became, while Wei Xian watched from the side, not intervening as long as the woman didn’t lay a hand on her.

After Chen Pingan learned the truth, he took Pei Qian’s hand and asked the woman to apologize to Pei Qian.

The woman was furious, yelling that she wouldn’t let Chen Pingan leave the prefecture city.

Chen Pingan told her to try it.

After the woman made her threat, she told Chen Pingan to wait and see, then stormed off with the child.

As a result, there was no follow-up. After waiting for a while, Chen Pingan saw that nothing happened and left the prefecture city with his group.

Chen Pingan patted Pei Qian’s head. “I should have said sorry to you.”

Pei Qian found it strange and stopped eating melon seeds. She sat on the long bench next to Chen Pingan from her small stool, anxiously saying, “Old Wei said that the last meal before execution is the most delicious. Dad, you’re not thinking of abandoning me again, are you? So you’re trying to trick me with these words first?”

For a moment, she directly called him “Dad.” Pei Qian became even more flustered, dropping the melon seeds and grabbing Chen Pingan’s sleeve tightly.

Chen Pingan flicked her forehead, and Pei Qian immediately burst into tears and then smiled.

Okay, nothing’s wrong.

Pei Qian let go of his sleeve, supporting herself on the long bench with her hands, her feet swinging back and forth, “Such a small matter, Master, and you’re apologizing to me, it really scared me. In Old Wei’s hometown dialect, it’s a trivial matter, just a drizzle, not even enough to wash your hair with.”

Chen Pingan also supported himself on the long bench with his hands and smiled, “Do you remember the last time we climbed to the top of Tianque Peak? Did you think I was strange?”

Pei Qian nodded vigorously, “I remember it very clearly. You did something strange at the time, standing straight as a ramrod and adjusting the jade hairpin on your head. Wasn’t that what the books call ‘correcting your attire’? You don’t know those Qinghu Palace guys, and they’re not any big shots. Why did you do that? I thought about it for a long time and couldn’t figure it out, so I stopped thinking about it.”

Chen Pingan’s eyes blurred as he looked into the distance, softly saying, “Years ago, at the entrance of my hometown town, I met the deities from other places for the first time, big and small, old and young. I was standing next to Zheng Dafeng at the time, separated by a wooden fence gate. I’ve always had good eyesight and a good memory since I was little, so I still remember it very clearly. The way those people looked at me, their expressions…”

Chen Pingan paused for a long time, softly smiling, “So after I started practicing boxing, I always thought that if I myself became a mountain person in the future, I must not become like those people. I can’t look at others with that kind of gaze, I can’t be high and mighty, looking at this mortal world as if we were ants.”

This was probably the first time Chen Pingan had spoken so seriously to the little black girl in front of him about principles outside of books, principles that belonged to Chen Pingan himself.
Chen Ping’an crouched down, gathering the scattered melon seeds into his palm. He sat back upright, casually offering a handful to Pei Qian, saying, “Our posture, our words, the principles we uphold… how should I put it? It’s as if we’re telling the world how many books we’ve read, how much we understand, how much suffering we’ve endured, and how many silent teachings from our parents we’ve remembered. So, I wouldn’t want others to see me and think that Chen Ping’an’s parents, and those he deeply admired, only managed to raise someone like this.”

Chen Ping’an smiled at Pei Qian, “It’s alright if you don’t understand now, you’re still young. I thought that at your age…”

Chen Ping’an trailed off, finding himself unable to continue.

He chuckled, placing all the remaining melon seeds into Pei Qian’s hands. Musing to himself, he said, “Master Qi’s master was right. A young age should be full of vitality. I can’t do it, I’m past that age now. So, I hope you can. Little Treasure Bottle of the Cliff Academy, Cao Qinglang of Lotus Blossom Paradise, they can all do it. One carries the weeping willows on their shoulders, one carries the flourishing grasses and soaring orioles on their shoulders, one carries… how wonderful. Just thinking of this clear breeze and bright moon makes me so happy.”

Pei Qian exclaimed in awe, then giggled, “Father, someone as good as you… If I ever go out alone in the future, where will I find someone like you?”

The little girl then started to fret, “Not long ago, on the ferry, I was just staring blankly, unable to go play near the docks. I secretly had an idea. I thought that one day when I grow up, after mastering incredible swordsmanship, I would ask you, ‘Father, can you give me a horse? I want to venture out into the martial world!’ But then I thought, maybe horses are too expensive, and you might not want to give me one. Then a donkey or a mule would be fine! The outside world is waiting for me! Waiting for me with open arms!”

The little girl sighed, “But now I don’t want to play in the martial world anymore. It’s no fun, full of bad people, or people who aren’t very good.”

Chen Ping’an also swayed his legs, smiling, “But isn’t it in the martial world that you met me? Right?”

The two, one big and one small, swayed their legs together. After thinking for a long time, Pei Qian softly said, “But I don’t want to meet anyone else.”