The study fell into a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Chen Pingan pondered the two questions, his hand instinctively reaching for the sword-nourishing gourd filled with alleyway rice wine, but he quickly withdrew.

Cui Dongshan did not press him.

Mao Xiaodong’s fingers traced the surface of the disciplinary ruler.

Chen Pingan finally spoke, “I don’t have the answers yet. I need to think.”

Cui Dongshan nodded, his face breaking into a radiant smile. “This isn’t urgent. I, your student, am simply asking, and you, my teacher, are free to answer at your leisure.”

Chen Pingan rose to take his leave. Cui Dongshan said he would stay to discuss the current situation in the Great Sui capital with Mao Xiaodong, remaining in the study.

As Chen Pingan reached the doorway, he turned back, pointing at Cui Dongshan’s forehead. “Aren’t you going to wipe that off?”

Cui Dongshan feigned realization, hastily wiping away the vermillion ink of the seal, a hint of embarrassment on his face. “I’ve been away from the academy for a while, and my relationship with Xiao Bao Ping has become a little strained. It wasn’t like this before. Xiao Bao Ping used to be so amiable whenever he saw me.”

Chen Pingan closed the door, his footsteps fading into the distance along the corridor.

Cui Dongshan tiptoed to the door, pressing his ear against it, then suddenly burst into laughter.

Standing up straight, he spread his arms wide, shaking them vigorously, his large sleeves billowing like waves, ecstatic. “I don’t have to be scolded or beaten anymore!”

Mao Xiaodong watched the carefree fellow, puzzled. “You weren’t like this at all when you were under Teacher’s tutelage. When I was at Great Li, Qi Jingchun told me about the first time he met you; it sounded like you were quite solemn back then, liked to put on airs?”

Cui Dongshan leaped, hanging high in the air, then leaned forward, striking a dog-paddle pose, swimming through Mao Xiaodong’s solemn study, muttering, “I was tricked into Old Scholar’s door when I was already in my early twenties. If I remember correctly, it took me three years just to sneak away from my hometown in Bao Ping Continent and travel to Old Scholar’s humble alley in the Central Earth Divine Continent. It was a rough journey, and I suffered a lot. I never expected that after three years, instead of things getting better and achieving enlightenment, I’d fall into the biggest pit of all, constantly worried, half-starved, and afraid that the two of us would starve to death one day. How could my state of mind compare to now? Can you imagine Old Scholar and I, carrying two small benches, sitting in the sun, our stomachs rumbling, counting the days until the Cui family sent money? Can you imagine us digging for earthworms and fishing by the river because the ferry had problems, and Old Scholar came up with that famous line that all the earthworms in the world are grateful for?”

“So, Old Scholar’s knowledge came from hunger. It’s like the saying, ‘Poverty breeds great writing’. Look how many good articles Old Scholar wrote after he became famous! Good ones, of course, but in terms of quantity and intention, they were generally not as good as before he was famous. He was too busy later, you know? Participating in the Three Teachings debate, the Grand Master of the Academy inviting him, the Mountain Master of the academy begging him to preach and teach, even shattering the golden statue of a mountain deity with his natal character, then running to the celestial canopy to act shamelessly with Dao the Second, begging him to be killed, and retrieving those shattered blessed lands and paradises from the bottom of the River of Time. Those were the big things; the small things were countless, visiting old friends’ taverns for drinks and chats, corresponding with people, arguing on paper. Where would he find the time to write?”

Mao Xiaodong snorted coldly. “Stop showing off old calendars here. You’re a disciple who betrays his teacher, yet you still have the nerve to reminisce about your past studies.”

Cui Dongshan, suspended in the air, circled Mao Xiaodong’s upright chair, leisurely drifting around. “Xiao Dong, your heart is in the right place, afraid that Old Bastard and I would collude to plot against my teacher, so you’re busy seeking a way to resolve the situation with the Mind Lake by suggesting it’s better to guide than suppress. However, your foundation of knowledge is ultimately a bit thin. Still, I have to thank you. I, Cui Dongshan, am not the kind of scholar who has honeyed words and swords in his belly. I’ll repay your kindness by actually slaying that Nascent Soul sword cultivator. The academy buildings weren’t even damaged much. Could you have done that if you were in charge of the academy? Could you have ensured that Donghua Mountain’s literary fortune wouldn’t be seriously damaged?”

Mao Xiaodong chuckled. “Then I should thank your parents for giving birth to such a great philanthropist?”

Cui Dongshan flipped over, assuming a backstroke position, huffing. “If you want to argue, just argue. If you want to curse, just curse. What’s the point of dragging in my parents and ancestors?”

Mao Xiaodong clicked his tongue. “After you, Cui Dongshan, betrayed your school, you traveled alone through the Central Earth Divine Continent. What kind of shady deeds did you do? What kind of foul language did you use? Don’t you know it yourself? I’m just learning a little bit of your superficial skills.”

Cui Dongshan landed on the ground, smiling. “Xiao Dong, you’re not my disciple. Why learn from me? If you’re willing to pay to learn, I don’t mind teaching you. Otherwise, I’m telling you, scholars who steal knowledge are also thieves!”

Mao Xiaodong suddenly stood up, walked to the window, his brow furrowed. A hint of something flashed across his face. Cui Dongshan vanished with him.

The two stood on the large tree atop Donghua Mountain. Mao Xiaodong asked, “I can only vaguely sense a fleeting trace through the Great Sui’s literary fortune, but it’s difficult to truly pinpoint them. Do you know who’s behind this? Can you name names?”

Cui Dongshan sat on a high branch, taking out the human skin mask crafted by a Mohist mechanist and refined with Yin-Yang techniques, admiring it immensely. It was truly a top-tier treasure for mountain bandits to kill and loot, definitely worth a fortune. Regarding Mao Xiaodong’s question, Cui Dongshan scoffed. “I advise you not to go to unnecessary lengths. They’re already being very polite by not deliberately targeting anyone. You, Mao Xiaodong, aren’t the Great Sui Emperor. The Cliff Academy no longer has the title of One of the Seventy-Two. What if you encounter a Grand Dao expert from one of the top branches of the Hundred Schools of Thought, acting according to their sect’s principles? You’ll be courting death. The Central Earth Academy won’t help you cry foul. There have been such tragedies in history.”

Mao Xiaodong sneered. “The Strategists are naturally among the top branches, but the Merchants aren’t even among the top hundred. If it weren’t for the Sage of Rites’ intervention back then, they would have been removed from the Hundred Schools by the Asage’s school.”

Cui Dongshan sighed. “You only see the surface, not the essence. Have you ever wondered why the Sage of Rites, who almost never shows his face, made an exception? Do you think the Sage of Rites coveted the Merchants’ offerings and money?”

Mao Xiaodong exploded with anger. “Cui Dongshan, you’re not allowed to insult the Sage of Merit!”
It was rare for Cui Dongshan to be addressed by his full name by Mao Xiaodong, yet he remained composed. “You, since you inwardly revere the Sage of Rites so much, why didn’t you simply switch allegiances when old Xiucai fell from grace? The Sage of Rites’ lineage must have approached you. Why follow Qi Jingchun to Dali and establish an academy under my very nose? Isn’t this mutual torment? What’s the point? Had you changed your literary lineage, you, Mao Xiaodong, would already be a genuine Jade Purity cultivator. Rumor has it that old Xiucai, in order to persuade you to take a position at the Rites Academy, rushed to secure a spot there, saying that if he failed, he could at least beg for a meal from you. Even he said such things, and you still refused? And what’s the result? Within the Confucian school, you, Mao Xiaodong, are merely a Sage title, and on the path of cultivation, you haven’t progressed an inch, wasting a century of time.”

Mao Xiaodong muttered, “For a cultivator, is the height of one’s realm so important?”

Mao Xiaodong answered himself, “Of course it’s important. But for me, Mao Xiaodong, it’s not the *most* important. So making the choice wasn’t difficult at all.”

Cui Dongshan sighed, “Fool.”

Mao Xiaodong’s expression turned unpleasant, “You little rascal, say that again?!”

Cui Dongshan weighed his options, deciding that if they truly fought, he would surely be pinned to the ground and have his jade token seized by Mao Xiaodong, who possessed treasures and formations within his small world that were particularly effective against Qi Refiners.

So Cui Dongshan changed the subject with a grin, “Do you really think there are no hidden secrets among the Dali envoys attending the Great Sui Emperor’s banquet for the elderly?”

Mao Xiaodong asked, “What do you mean?”

Cui Dongshan produced a folding fan with writing on both sides and gently waved it, creating a refreshing breeze. “To completely shatter the hopes of the Geyang Gao clan, and teach Great Sui to abide by the alliance, content to remain cooped up for a century.”

Mao Xiaodong was puzzled. “If the mastermind behind this scheme is truly as formidable as you say, would they be willing to sit down and talk properly? Even Xie Shi, the Daoist Celestial Lord from Beiju Luzhou, might not have such influence.”

Mao Xiaodong quickly nodded. “The Hero Xu Ruo… To be able to persuade the main branch of the Mohists to set aside their past grievances with his own branch, and to fully invest in Dali, this Xu Ruo is indeed no simple character.”

Cui Dongshan fanned himself with the folding fan. “Xiaodong, I’m not exaggerating, you’re becoming increasingly clever. It must be because you’ve been around me for so long; like being in a room full of orchids, you naturally become fragrant.”

Mao Xiaodong glanced at Cui Dongshan and saw the four large characters “To Subdue with Virtue” written on his side of the fan.

Cui Dongshan also glanced at Mao Xiaodong. “Unconvinced?”

Mao Xiaodong smiled. “If I’m unconvinced, what would you do? Explain it to me.”

Cui Dongshan twisted his fingers and flipped the fan to the other side. There were four more characters on that side, which probably answered the question. Mao Xiaodong smiled when he saw them: “Beat to Death If Unconvinced.”

Mao Xiaodong swept his sleeve, sending the little rascal Cui Dongshan from the tree branch on the mountain peak crashing towards the lake halfway down the mountain.

Cui Dongshan, deliberately not dodging, did not plunge into the lake in his white robes. Instead, he spun around and around, drawing circles that grew larger and larger until the entire lake surface transformed into a snow-white scene, as if a heavy snowfall had blanketed the water.

Cui Dongshan floated out of the lake and stood by the shore, admiring the summer scenery that now resembled a winter wonderland. He nodded in self-satisfaction. “Well done! I’m convinced!”

Chen Ping’an arrived at Cui Dongshan’s courtyard.

Zhu Lian had already bandaged his wounds. Other than emitting a faint scent of blood, Zhu Lian was composed and cheerful, sitting on the steps and recounting the thrilling and soul-stirring battle to the two children, Li Huai and Pei Qian.

Lin Shuyi was calming his mind and energy, which was quite challenging. Repeatedly entering and exiting the river of time was greatly beneficial for any cultivator, as long as it didn’t leave behind any lingering problems. It was particularly helpful for breaking through to the Golden Core Earth Immortal realm in the future.

Xie Xi looked pale and was seriously injured, mainly because her spirit had been tossed about with the fluctuations of the small world and the river of time. However, she was not sitting on the green bamboo corridor to heal, but rather sitting not far from Pei Qian, occasionally gazing towards the courtyard entrance.

Shi Rou had been pulled out of the shattered floorboards by Yu Lu and was lying flat on the corridor. She was already conscious, but a Nascent Soul sword cultivator’s Li Fire flying sword was “living” inside her abdomen, wreaking havoc and causing her excruciating pain. She was eagerly waiting for Cui Dongshan to return and rescue her from her suffering.

Li Baoping was squatting next to “Du Mao,” curiously asking, “Pei Qian said I should call you Sister Shi Rou, why is that?”

Shi Rou was about to speak when Li Baoping thoughtfully said, “Let’s chat after the flying sword in your belly runs out.”

Shi Rou nodded with a wry smile.

Yu Lu was sweeping the courtyard with a broom, and his injured hand had also been bandaged.

Chen Ping’an breathed a sigh of relief.

On the way here, he had seen the white deer belonging to the old scholar Zhao Shi, still lying stiffly on the ground after being hit by the mastermind’s secret technique restriction.

Chen Ping’an didn’t dare to move it recklessly, so he could only leave it for Cui Dongshan to handle.

Chen Ping’an stopped next to Yu Lu, raised his hand. He had grasped the sword hilt of the sword immortal behind him, leaving his flesh bloody. He applied hemostatic herbs gathered from the mountains and immortal family’s muscle-growth ointment, and bandaged it skillfully. He shook it at Yu Lu and smiled, “Brothers in misfortune?”

Yu Lu asked with a smile, “How did you get injured?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “It’s embarrassing to say, so let’s forget about it.”

Chen Ping’an turned to look at Li Baoping and Pei Qian. “Keep playing, it should be fine now. But you still need to stay here for the time being. When staying at someone else’s house, remember not to be too informal.”

Li Huai said, “Chen Ping’an, what are you saying? I’m close to Cui Dongshan. My friend, Li Huai, is your friend, Chen Ping’an. And your friend is Pei Qian’s friend. Since we’re all friends, being informal is the right thing to do.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Try saying that nonsense to someone else.”

Li Huai suddenly turned to Pei Qian and said, “Pei Qian, do you think my logic makes sense?”

Pei Qian resolutely said, “What my master says is right, it’s nonsense!”

Li Huai was heartbroken. “Pei Qian, I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person. What about Jianghu morality? Didn’t we agree to roam the Jianghu together and dig for treasures everywhere? We haven’t even started our Jianghu adventures and making big money, and we’re already breaking up?”

Pei Qian chuckled, “Let’s have a farewell dinner, then we can team up again later.”
Li Huai stroked his chin, “Seems to make some sense too.”

Chen Ping’an sat down beside Lin Shouyi and asked softly, “How goes it?”

Lin Shouyi sighed, self-deprecatingly saying, “When deities clash, mortals suffer.”

Chen Ping’an remained silent.

Lin Shouyi smiled slightly, “When Cui Dongshan returns, tell him that I will still come here often in the future. Remember to phrase it carefully, that it’s your intention, and Cui Dongshan’s orders are difficult to disobey, which is why I’m coming.”

Chen Ping’an resisted the urge to reveal the truth that Cui Dongshan had invited Lin Shouyi here to cultivate, especially with Xie Xie present. He said, “If you just ask, it wouldn’t be a problem either.”

Lin Shouyi lowered his voice, “Debts owed to Cui Dongshan, they will be repaid eventually, and he will be the one to decide. It’s better to owe you a favor, which also needs repaying, but at least I can decide how to do it myself.”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Are you bullying the weak and fearing the strong?”

Lin Shouyi shook his head and said, “I call it bullying the kind, not the wicked.”

Chen Ping’an uncorked his sword-nourishing gourd and drank the mellow rice wine within.

Lin Shouyi asked, “The academy’s library is quite good. I know it well. If you’re going there to look for books, I can help guide you.”

Chen Ping’an said, “I probably won’t go. I can’t digest so much knowledge.”

Lin Shouyi said, amused and annoyed, “You could at least nod and agree out of courtesy, let me repay a small favor first. Why are you so unversed in social graces?”

Chen Ping’an coughed a few times, wiped the corner of his mouth, and turned his head. “Lin Shouyi, did you enter a fake Cliff Academy and read fake books of sages for several years?”

Lin Shouyi burst into laughter.

Pei Qian nudged Li Huai with her elbow and whispered, “Are Master and Lin Shouyi really that close?”

Li Huai didn’t even look up, busy with his painted wooden puppets, casually saying, “Nah, Chen Ping’an is only closest to me. He’s not close to anyone else.”

Li Baoping silently came behind Li Huai and kicked him, sending him sprawling.

Li Huai sat up, his face crestfallen. “Li Baoping, if you keep doing this, I’m going to split off with Pei Qian and start our own sect! I won’t acknowledge you as the martial arts alliance leader anymore!”

Li Baoping curled her lip, looking disdainful.

Currently, Li Huai and Pei Qian, the former had snagged the position of sub-helmsman of the East Flower Mountain Branch under the Dragon Spring County Main Branch, and minor leader of a certain study hall. He had been expelled before, but later when Chen Ping’an came to the academy, coupled with Li Huai’s shamelessness, guaranteeing that his academic performance wouldn’t be at the bottom next time, Li Baoping showed mercy and reinstated Li Huai’s Jianghu status.

As for Pei Qian, Li Baoping said that public and private matters should be kept separate. Pei Qian’s qualifications were still shallow, so she could only temporarily hang her name at the lowest-level study hall sub-branch, a mere disciple in name only. Pei Qian thought it was pretty good. Li Huai thought it was even better, holding a higher official rank than even Princess Pei Qian, who was exiled among the commoners. As a result, Liu Guan and Ma Lian, Li Huai’s two classmates, had also become disciples under the martial arts alliance leader Li Baoping. However, the two classmates had ulterior motives. The shrewd Liu Guan was aiming for Pei Qian’s status as a royal descendant, while Ma Lian, who came from a top clan in the Great Sui Dynasty, would blush and be unable to speak clearly whenever he saw Li Baoping.

Cui Dongshan swaggered into the courtyard, dragging one leg of that pitiful white deer in his hand, and casually tossed it into the courtyard.

The white deer seemed to have had its restraints broken by Cui Dongshan, restoring its true nature as a spirit beast, but its vitality hadn’t recovered yet, looking slightly listless. It slid a distance in the courtyard, letting out a mournful cry.

There was none of the beauty of the “gentle deer bleating” described in books.

Li Huai’s eyes widened, looking incredulous. “Is that the white deer by Old Master Zhao’s side? Cui Dongshan, how did you steal or snatch it? Are we eating this for our split-up meal tonight? That’s not really appropriate, is it?”

Pei Qian almost drooled, wiped her mouth, and quickly winked at Li Huai.

Li Huai coughed a few times. “Eating roasted venison isn’t bad either. I’ve never had it before.”

Li Huai turned to Chen Ping’an and shouted loudly, “Chen Ping’an, you brought the oil and salt, right?!”

Chen Ping’an scolded with a laugh, “Eat venison? Do you want the academy instructors to make you eat a whole year’s worth of paddling and rulers?”

Li Huai blinked. “Cui Dongshan stole it, Chef Zhu killed it, and you, Chen Ping’an, roast it. I just couldn’t resist my appetite, and Lin Shouyi encouraged me, so I just ate a few bites of venison. Is that against the rules?”

Cui Dongshan suddenly made a sound of surprise, squatted down, and looked at the white deer, finding it staring at Li Huai.

Li Huai also noticed this situation, feeling that the white deer’s gaze was too much like a living person’s, and became a little guilty.

The white deer stood up shakily and slowly walked towards Li Huai.

Li Huai was so frightened that he scrambled on all fours towards the main house, climbing quickly.

The white deer made a light leap and went onto the green bamboo corridor, following Li Huai into the house.

Chen Ping’an looked at Cui Dongshan in confusion.

Cui Dongshan smiled slightly, “Master, don’t worry. It’s just that this kid Li Huai has innate luck, and good fortune falls from the sky even when he’s sitting at home. This spiritual white deer feels a kinship with Li Huai. When Zhao Shi is found by the Great Sui, I’ll talk to that fellow about this matter. I believe Cliff Academy will have another white deer in the future.”

Chen Ping’an rubbed his forehead.

As expected of Li Huai.

A moment later, Li Huai, riding on the white deer, laughed loudly as he left the main house, showing off to Li Baoping and Pei Qian, “Am I impressive or not?”

Li Baoping was too lazy to pay attention to him, sitting next to her Little Martial Uncle.

Pei Qian nodded, a little envious, then turned to Chen Ping’an, looking pitiful. “Master, when will I have a little donkey?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Later, when we get to Dragon Spring County, I’ll help you look for a suitable one.”

Pei Qian beamed with joy.

Cui Dongshan walked to Shi Rou’s side. Shi Rou was already sitting in the corridor, leaning against the wall. Getting up was still difficult. Facing Cui Dongshan, she was very fearful, not even daring to meet his eyes.

Cui Dongshan squatted down, moved a bit, making sure his back was facing Chen Ping’an.

He was just about to say some comforting words, and then do some little things to make Shi Rou wish she was dead without being able to make a sound.

Shi Rou was horrified to find that she was unable to move, seeing Cui Dongshan’s sinister face with a cold smile.

Fortunately, Chen Ping’an said something in the distance that fell into Shi Rou’s ears, words that were like heavenly music, “Take the sword and just take the sword. Don’t have any extra movements.”

Cui Dongshan frowned and sighed.
Chen Ping’an sat there, slowly sipping his wine, observing the somewhat cramped courtyard. Compared to his days traveling and studying in the Great Sui Dynasty, this time there were Zhu Lian, Pei Qian, and Shi Rou, only missing that sword-wielding swordsman with a bamboo hat and a saber.

Chen Ping’an gathered his thoughts and abruptly gazed at Cui Dongshan’s back, saying, “I need to consider it further.”

Cui Dongshan was wholly focused on subduing the Li Fire Flying Sword, which had begun to hide and dart about within the immortal’s remains, seemingly not hearing those words.