Chen Pingan softly exhaled, patted his cheeks, and stood up, returning to the cottage by the mountain gate.

From afar, the lamplight on the table shone through the window.

Chen Pingan subconsciously quickened his pace, then suddenly slowed down, breaking into a self-deprecating smile.

Since he was four years old, there had never been a “homecoming” where the old house in Mud Jar Lane had a light waiting. After he became a teenager, he broke his vow and became an apprentice in the Dragon Kiln, earning some coppers. But whenever he went out, how could he not extinguish the light, letting the lamp oil dwindle? Today, however, when he went out, he had forgotten to extinguish the lamp. What could he do by rushing back to the cottage now? Extinguish it? But he wasn’t sleepy at all, destined to read late into the night, and then relight the lamp? Then, what was the point of extinguishing and lighting it?

Chen Pingan simply walked slowly, entered the cottage, closed the door, and sat behind the desk, continuing to peruse the incense hall files and the ancestral records of the various islands, checking for omissions and filling in gaps.

If his heart was not calm, he shouldn’t practice boxing. As for the Qi refining of cultivators, he didn’t even want to think about it.

Chen Pingan knew from his time in Lotus Root Blessed Land that when his heart was in turmoil, any amount of boxing practice was meaningless. That’s why he often went to the small temple near Zhuangyuan Lane to chat with the old monk who didn’t like to talk about Buddhist teachings.

What’s more, now Chen Pingan couldn’t muster any energy, which was even more complicated than a restless heart. His spirit and vigor were like fallen into a well, bound by huge stones. How could he lift them up?

However, this state of mind could also be considered a kind of tranquility in another sense.

Chen Pingan closed the poorly preserved yellowed files, picked up the ordinary small carving knife that the shopkeeper had given him as a gift when he bought the jade hairpin in the Great Sui capital, and lightly drew a dotted line on the table with the knife handle.

After thinking for a while, Chen Pingan took out a piece of Xuan paper that he had trimmed to the size of a book cover, picked up a brush and drew a straight line, writing “Gu Can’s Great Mistake” and “Gu Can Turns Good” at the two ends, in larger characters. Then, between “Mistake” and “Good,” he wrote “Local Customs of Shujian Lake” in tiny characters. Just when Chen Pingan was about to write “National Laws,” he erased the previous seven characters. Not only that, but Chen Pingan also erased “Gu Can Turns Good.” In the middle of the line, with a slight gap, he wrote the words “Knowing Wrong” and “Correcting Wrong,” which Chen Pingan quickly crossed out again.

Finally, Chen Pingan crumpled the paper into a ball, but did not throw it into the bamboo basket, instead storing it in his dimensional space.

Chen Pingan folded his hands in his sleeves, leaned back in his chair, extinguished the lamp, and closed his eyes, half-asleep. The next time he opened his eyes, it was already dawn.

“Often half the night occupied by thoughts of a thousand years, only fearing one morning turns into a hundred.”

Chen Pingan stood up, without stretching his limbs, his muscles and bones loosened on their own, emitting a series of cracking sounds. Chen Pingan walked out of the cottage, intending to take a walk around Green Gorge Island. Green Gorge Island was one of the largest islands in Shujian Lake, and it was estimated that it would take half a day to walk around it. Now, a young female cultivator from Green Gorge Island was responsible for his food, clothing, shelter, and transportation near the cottage. Chen Pingan went to greet an old cultivator who lived nearby and guarded the mountain gate, and told the young female cultivator not to send the food box over today.

The old man was a Cave Realm cultivator, and quickly agreed.

Chen Pingan suddenly smiled and said, “I reckon she’ll still prepare it. If I’m not here, she wouldn’t dare to enter the cottage without authorization. In that case, have her send today’s three meals to you, so that Senior Zhang can enjoy a good meal. Just eat your fill. Senior Zhang told me a lot about the old days of Green Gorge Island, so consider it a reward.”

The old cultivator said uneasily, “Mr. Chen, I won’t lose my life because of gluttony, will I?”

Chen Pingan shook his head and said, “No, you won’t.”

The old cultivator was still not very comfortable. He had seen too many treacherous ups and downs on Green Gorge Island, which made him timid as a mouse. “Mr. Chen, don’t tease me. I know that Mr. Chen is kind-hearted, seeing that this old man is living a poor life, and wants to help me improve my meals. But those delicacies are all specially supplied from the Spring Court Mansion. If Mr. Chen leaves Green Gorge Island in a few days, some bad seeds hiding in the dark who are jealous will give me a hard time.”

Chen Pingan said, “Then just leave the Spring Court food boxes here with Senior Zhang, and I’ll come back to get them later.”

The old cultivator smiled and said, “That’s still more stable.”

After Chen Pingan left, the old cultivator complained that this young man didn’t know how to deal with people. If he really wanted to pity him, wouldn’t he just say hello to the Spring Court, and then who would dare to give him a hard time? This accountant, with his hypocritical ways, was making a fuss in that cottage every day. In Shujian Lake, the old cultivator had seen too many of these tricks of pretending to be ghosts and gaining fame. They wouldn’t live long.

The old cultivator’s complaints were like a flood breaking the dam. He began to complain that after that fellow moved in at the mountain gate, he had lost a lot of extra income. He no longer dared to make things difficult for some of the cultivators below the fifth realm, secretly pocketing one or two snowflake silvers. When he encountered some graceful junior female cultivators, he no longer dared to indulge in verbal and manual harassment as he used to. After saying obscene words, he would secretly pinch their buttocks.

He had thought that he could get close to this accountant and become familiar with him, and maybe he could benefit from misfortune and get on the line with the Spring Court from then on. He didn’t dare to say that he would rise to prominence, but wouldn’t it be good to get a lucrative position in Green Gorge Island? He never expected that the accountant was a tough nut to crack, no matter how many tricks he used and how much he tried to please him. Either he was a naive Jianghu newbie who didn’t understand the hidden meanings, or he was pretending to be stupid. His heart was sinister, and he probably only looked up to the favored sons of heaven like Lu Caisang, who were friends with the Demon Gu, and looked down on him from the bottom of his heart as a Cave Realm cultivator with no future. It was truly hateful.

Chen Pingan walked slowly, during which he detoured to climb the mountains, walking to the gates of the immortal abodes of those Green Gorge Island enshrined cultivators, and then returned the same way. By the time he returned to the main mountain gate of Green Gorge Island, it was already dusk.

Chen Pingan saw from afar that the young female cultivator from the Spring Court Mansion, said to be Gu Can’s mother’s personal maid, was standing gracefully at the door of the cottage, holding a delicate food box in her hands. The old cultivator who guarded the door was bowing and scraping, as if apologizing with a smile.

Chen Pingan walked over quickly, took the food box from the young female cultivator’s hands, and thanked her. The Spring Court girl, with her fair skin and oval face, gave a slight bow to this Mr. Chen, and left without saying anything more.

Chen Pingan returned to the cottage, opened the food box, placed all the dishes on the table, along with two large bowls of rice, picked up his chopsticks, and chewed slowly.
Finally, he carefully packed away the dishes, placing each item back in the food container and closing the lid.

Matters of life and death, right and wrong, should not be acted upon with mere excuses. Only when Gu Can could internally convince himself of his actions, could he erase them like words on paper, with a single stroke.

It was precisely Gu Can’s refusal to admit fault, his unwavering belief that he was not wrong, that formed a death knot in Chen Ping’an’s heart.

Since he couldn’t abandon Gu Can, yet refused to deny the fundamental principles of right and wrong he held dear, principles as humble as the alleyways of Mud Bottle Lane, principles that couldn’t be lowered any further, Chen Ping’an needed to take the first step towards correction and atonement. He had to retreat a step himself, admitting his own “imperfection”. Leaving aside all grand theories, he would try a different path, refining his thoughts along the way. Ultimately, he still hoped Gu Can would recognize his mistakes.

Even if one retreats ten thousand steps, there is no sky one cannot ascend, for the sky is eternal. There is no mountain one cannot overcome, for mountains are the many heartbreaks of the mortal realm.

Chen Ping’an wanted to face these heartbreaks head-on—his own, those of the deceased, and those of the living who cared for the departed. These were the earthly tribulations destined to wear down the eternal sword in his heart.

Committing a mistake leads to two outcomes: either persisting in error to the end, or correcting each mistake step by step. The former offers temporary ease and pleasure, perhaps even a lifetime of enjoyment. At worst, one can simply declare “Death is but death, no regrets!” before dying, with some rogue even boasting, “A hero will rise again in eighteen years!” The latter, however, requires immense mental and physical effort, and may not even be appreciated.

Ten men plant a willow, one man uproots it, and even a willow that could have lived will perish.

Chen Ping’an wanted to first try and verify both sides of this saying. As for right or wrong, regardless of the final result, he would set aside the bookish theories.

In the meantime.

All Chen Ping’an could do for now was to restrain Gu Can slightly, preventing him from continuing his unrestrained killing spree.

He had spoken so much to Gu Can, feeling as though he had imparted a lifetime’s worth of wisdom. Fortunately, although Gu Can was unwilling to admit fault, Chen Ping’an was no ordinary person in his eyes. Therefore, he was willing to curb his arrogance somewhat, not daring to stray too far down the path of “I simply enjoy killing”. After all, if Gu Can wished to invite Chen Ping’an to their new home in the Spring Courtyard Residence every now and then, to dine at the same table with his mother and Little Loach, he needed to offer something in return. This kind of transactional rule was very practical and understandable in Shujian Lake, even said to be unimpeded.

So, Chen Ping’an asked Tian Hu Jun for a Blue Cliff Isle honorary badge and hung it on his waist. The next day, he began wandering around Blue Cliff Isle, chatting with people.

On the day the heroes of Palace Willow Isle gathered to elect a “King of the Jianghu”, Chen Ping’an even borrowed a ferry from Blue Cliff Isle, donned his Golden Dew Dharma Robe once more, and shouldered his Sword Immortal sword. He began traveling alone, as an honorary member of Blue Cliff Isle, and a home cultivator who professed a love for writing landscape travelogues—a comical identity that had never existed in the history of Shujian Lake—touring the many islands beyond the law.

Following the map of the Jianghu situation that Tian Hu Jun had given him, he began by visiting the dozen or so affiliated islands of Blue Cliff Isle, including Eyebrow Immortal Isle, where Tian Hu Jun had rightfully established his residence after forming his Golden Core, and White Scale Isle, where the mountain ridges resembled snow-white fish scales under the moonlight.

By the time Chen Ping’an had traveled through these islands day and night, three days had passed, and he had noted down some names not found in the incense registry.

The bickering on Palace Willow Isle in Shujian Lake continued unabated, vaguely divided into three factions. There were the many island forces supporting Liu Zhimao of Blue Cliff Isle as the new Lord of the Jianghu. There was a group of island lords who vehemently insisted that the Intercepting River True Monarch was “unworthy of his position”. These island lords and affiliated forces were steadfast in their stance, refusing to recognize Liu Zhimao even if he were to sit on the Lord of the Jianghu’s throne. They dared him to continue his slaughter island by island. Finally, there was a faction of island lords watching from the sidelines, possibly fair-weather friends or perhaps secretly allied, temporarily unwilling to reveal their positions.

Interestingly, those island lords who opposed Liu Zhimao seemed to have agreed beforehand to sarcastically say, “Although the Intercepting River True Monarch is of high virtue and esteem…”

In Shujian Lake, “high virtue and esteem” seemed to be more grating and hurtful than any curse.

On this day, Chen Ping’an sailed his ferry to an island called Jeweled Hairpin Isle, located far from Blue Cliff Isle. The island was small, and the number of sect cultivators was sparse. Therefore, the island lord, who was on the fence about attending the Palace Willow Isle gathering, did not squeeze his way into Palace Willow Isle like many other small island lords eager to secure a place. Instead, he chose to stay on the island, not interfering in this grand event that could potentially determine the future of Shujian Lake for a century.

Chen Ping’an docked his boat, and a plump woman with a high bun and revealing attire was already standing at the dock. She had a robust figure, a square forehead, and a broad face.

Chen Ping’an had already guessed the identity of this Dragon Gate Realm female cultivator. Legend had it that this woman, whose real name was Liu Chongrun, was a member of the royal family of a fallen dynasty in the central part of Treasure Bottle Continent. She was the one who had carried the last young emperor, whom she called her aunt, to the dragon throne. Historical gossip from Poolside City said that the young emperor was naive at the time and patted the huge dragon chair under his bottom, asking his aunt to sit with him. Then, this woman actually sat down on it and held the young emperor in her arms. All the court officials were silent, and no one dared to question it.

Tian Hu Jun had once casually mentioned this Lord of Jeweled Hairpin Isle, praising her “having the spirit of a great man.”

Liu Chongrun smiled and said, “Are you the accountant who lives at the foot of the mountain gate of Blue Cliff Isle?”

Chen Ping’an was stunned. No one on Blue Cliff Isle would call him an accountant to his face.

Chen Ping’an said, “I suppose so.”

Liu Chongrun asked straightforwardly, “Could it be that Blue Cliff Isle finds Jeweled Hairpin Isle an eyesore and is taking advantage of the fact that the nearby island lords have gone to Palace Willow Isle to do something?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “I am only visiting Jeweled Hairpin Isle alone. I apologize for the intrusion. I wanted to ask Lady Liu about the local customs of Shujian Lake. If Lady Liu doesn’t want me on the island, I will go elsewhere.”
Liu Chongrun narrowed her extremely long and slender phoenix eyes, “What if I say that Zhuchai Island doesn’t welcome accountants? On my island, there are only women, and their cultivation levels are not high. If someone catches your eye and is taken to Qingxia Island to serve as a ‘welcome maiden’, should I release them or not?”

Chen Pingan’s expression remained unchanged, and he cupped his fist in farewell before turning to board the ferry, genuinely heading elsewhere.

Liu Chongrun stood there, now truly puzzled.

In fact, she had already prepared a young female cultivator disciple with outstanding looks, just as a way to spend money to avoid disaster.

Chen Pingan received the same cold shoulder at the next nearby Feicui Island. The island lord was absent, and the person in charge dared not allow a Qingxia Island “offering” to disembark. If the Qingxia Island cultivators, who disregarded all rules, were to completely take over, who could he cry to? If he were alone, he wouldn’t dare to refuse like this, but his whole family depended on him. He truly dared not take it lightly. However, not giving the young Qingxia Island offering any face at all made the old cultivator uneasy, so he saw him off with apologies, wishing he could kneel down and kowtow to Chen Pingan. Chen Pingan didn’t offer any consolation or reassurance, but simply left quickly and sailed away.

At the third island, Huaping Island, the Golden Core Earth Immortal island lord was away, having gone to Gongliu Island to discuss important matters. He was also one of the most enthusiastic allies of the Cutting River True Monarch. A young island lord was left to guard the old nest. Upon hearing that Grand Devil Gu’s guest, the youngest offering from Qingxia Island, was coming to visit, he hastily jumped up from his fragrant den of pleasure, hurriedly dressed, and headed straight for the dock, personally appearing to greet the man with a smiling face.

When he actually saw the young offering that Qingxia Island had been hiding away, the young island lord was somewhat disappointed. He didn’t look like a master skilled in combat, but rather like a village school teacher. Nowadays, the surrounding islands near Qingxia Island were secretly discussing this matter, but Qingxia Island was tight-lipped, and no useful information had leaked out. It was only heard that he was a ruthless person who had slapped Grand Devil Gu twice in public in Chisui City, and Gu Can hadn’t fought back, but had treated him with courtesy, receiving him at the Spring Courtyard residence of Qingxia Island. Now, the young island lord and his gang of cronies were betting on how many days this person could live. Everyone knew that Grand Devil Gu Can was notoriously capricious, killing people on a whim. The Qi Refinement cultivators who had been eaten by that great loach in Shujian Lake weren’t all enemies, but included a good number of honored guests and feasting friends of Qingxia Island.

Chen Pingan drank some wine on Huaping Island, though he drank little. The other party, however, drank heartily as if meeting a kindred spirit, revealing much of the young island lord’s “drunken truth”.

Back on the ferry, Chen Pingan, while steering the boat, considered the subtlety of those words and knew that there were no easy targets in Shujian Lake. Leaving Huaping Island, he stopped the boat in the heart of the lake. Chen Pingan took out a brush and paper and wrote down some people and events.

After that, he traveled in this way every day, stopping and going, seeing different scenery and people on each island. Like Zhuchai Island, many others closed their doors and politely refused Chen Pingan’s request to visit.

On the Shujian Lake map in Chen Pingan’s arms, islands were constantly circled.

Every day, he left Qingxia Island before dawn and returned to the house on Qingxia Island only after nightfall.

Shujian Lake not only gathered mountain and wild cultivators from all over Treasure Bottle Continent, but also possessed a strong atmosphere of witchcraft and demonic practices, with various unheard-of unorthodox and evil techniques emerging endlessly.

There were also places like Huaping Island, where cultivators liked to indulge in extravagance and live a life of drunken revelry. On the roads, gold was used to carve lotus flowers, and flowers were attached to the ground.

There was another island called Yecheng, where the island lord had established a beast-fighting arena. Anyone who dared to throw a pebble at a ferocious beast committed the capital crime of “offending the beast” and was punished with extreme cruelty. Every day, cultivators from other islands threw disciples who had made mistakes or captured enemies into the most famous beast-fighting arena cages in Yecheng. Yecheng provided fine wine and beautiful women to serve cultivators from all over who came to enjoy themselves, watching the bloody actions of the island’s ferocious beasts.

There was also the island lord of Yiguan Island, who was said to have been a great Confucian scholar from a southwestern country of Treasure Bottle Continent, but now liked to collect the hats of Confucian scholars from all over and use them as chamber pots.

One day, Chen Pingan left an island called Yunyu Island, where there were two immortal cave schools, both skilled in the art of dual cultivation within chambers.

Upon seeing Chen Pingan, the women of one school, regardless of age, had gazes like hungry and thirsty jackals and tigers, but the Qingxia Island offering jade pendant hanging from the young man’s waist kept them from going too far.

When Chen Pingan went down the mountain to board the boat, he gently shook his robe, and the fragrance of powder and rouge that lingered around the golden brocade was completely dissipated.

On the way to the next island, Chen Pingan finally encountered a group of assassins lurking in the lake, three in total.

Chu Yi and Shiwu each ruined an assassin’s lifebound item in their Qi palace, causing them to be seriously injured and fall into the water.

One military strategist cultivator took the opportunity to close in, but just when he thought he had victory within his grasp, he was sent flying into the lake by a punch from that listless, seemingly sickly young man.

Chen Pingan steered the boat and used a bamboo pole to pull the three of them onto the boat. He asked them some questions. One of the assassins took advantage of Chen Pingan’s contemplation and launched a desperate sneak attack, but was casually killed by a punch.

Chen Pingan then sent the two living people and the cold corpse to the shore near Yunlou City in Shujian Lake. After one person carried the corpse and the other staggered ashore, Chen Pingan turned the boat around and slowly returned.

Half an hour later, dozens of Qi Refinement cultivators swarmed out of Yunlou City.

Led by a seventh-realm sword cultivator.

They surrounded Chen Pingan and the ferry.

Chen Pingan asked the sword cultivator, do you know who I am, what my name is? Are you fighting out of loyalty to friends, or do you have a long-standing feud with Qingxia Island?

The sword cultivator declared boldly that he didn’t even know those two people well, they were just friends of friends, but you Qingxia Island cultivators, everyone in Shujian Lake has the right to kill you.

Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment, but didn’t use the Sword Immortal behind him.

Instead, he pinched out a talisman with two fingers.

Night-and-Day Wandering God True Body Talisman.

He killed the seventh-realm sword cultivator and several “righteous men” from Yunlou City who were rushing in the front on the spot, and then used the flying sword Chu Yi to kill one of the original assassins who had survived the ordeal.
Ignoring the fleeing cultivators of Cloud Tower City, the increasingly despondent Chen Ping’an did not head straight for Azure Gorge Island. Instead, with two heads severed and dangling from his waist, he once again docked his boat. Securing the ferry, he entered Cloud Tower City and made his way to a grand mansion, claiming to seek someone he’d recently met near Cloud Rain Isle in the Book Brief Lake – an acquaintance.

Unimpeded, Chen Ping’an crossed the threshold and found the assassin who had carried a corpse ashore, within a courtyard. Hovering beside him was the flying sword Fifteen, which had stealthily followed him into the city.

Chen Ping’an turned his gaze toward a certain spot and softly called, “Coal-Snow.”

A young girl materialized on the wall.

Chen Ping’an said, “Don’t follow me anymore. Protect Gu Can. And tell him to stay out of these matters. No grudges against Cloud Tower City.”

The little mud loach nodded vigorously, as if granted a great pardon, and swiftly darted away.

Chen Ping’an placed the two heads on the stone table in the courtyard, sat down beside it, and looked at the assassin who dared not move, asking, “Anything you want to say?”

Knowing that death was inevitable and any remaining hope was shattered, the man suddenly grew bold, laughing maniacally. “I’ll be waiting for you in the depths of hell!”

Chen Ping’an inquired, “What if I change my mind and slaughter everyone in Cloud Tower City who knows you?”

The man stared intently at Chen Ping’an. “I’m about to die. Why would I care about that?”

Chen Ping’an glanced at the group standing by the courtyard entrance, then turned back, stood up, and said, “I’ll come back to see you in a few days.”

Chen Ping’an tapped his toes, stepped onto the wall, as if to depart Cloud Tower City.

However, as he left, the flying sword Fifteen, in one fell swoop, shattered the assassin’s remaining life-source apertures.

In truth, Chen Ping’an secretly returned to the mansion afterward.

And witnessed a farce.

It turned out that the assassin was not a member of the household but a celestial being with close ties to the previous family head, a survivor from a sect almost exterminated in the Book Brief Lake. Previously, he hadn’t been hiding in Cloud Tower City, where he could be easily exposed, but in a border city of Stone Bristle Kingdom, over three hundred miles from the Book Brief Lake. Chen Ping’an’s action had brought him here for recuperation. It just so happened that the other assassin had influence and popularity in Cloud Tower City, so they gathered so many cultivators to chase after the Azure Gorge Island youth. Besides the feud with Azure Gorge Island, they also intended to use this opportunity to undermine Liu Zhimao, who was currently rising to prominence in Willow Palace Isle. If successful, the forces in Book Brief Lake hostile to Azure Gorge Island might even protect them, allowing them to rise again. So, after the two men discussed it in the mansion, they thought the plan was feasible – a high-risk, high-reward gamble, an opportunity to make a name for themselves and kill a very powerful cultivator from Azure Gorge Island. What could be better?

This “old” celestial being, a Seer of the Sea Realm once revered by everyone in the mansion, was immediately restrained by two fourth-realm retainers and a pure martial artist of the fifth realm. They dawdled for a long time, afraid that the man lying in the pool of blood still had a trump card. It was with much difficulty that they finally dared to act, arresting him, each of them drenched in sweat. The current family head then began to berate the man for his ingratitude, nearly dragging the hundred or so people in the mansion to their deaths. The family head’s face was contorted as he swore that he would dig three feet into the ground to find the assassin’s beautiful daughter, who had visited the mansion a few years ago. He would then make the assassin watch a live spring palace painting of her every day and night.

The assassin, tied up tightly, finally began to struggle desperately, his skin tearing and his flesh blurring.

The family head felt an extreme sense of relief and, with bloodshot eyes, spoke the most devastating words: Don’t think your daughter, born to you in your old age, is hard to find. Others may not know your background, but I do. Isn’t she hiding in those border fortresses and cities of Stone Bristle Kingdom? I heard she’s a useless wretch without any cultivation talent, but she happens to be beautiful. With enough silver, it won’t be too hard to find a young woman of that caliber. If all else fails, we’ll spread the word there that you’re about to die in Cloud Tower City. I refuse to believe your daughter will keep hiding and not show herself!

Three days later.

In a fortress city of Stone Bristle Kingdom, a middle-aged man had been waiting there even before the group from Cloud Tower City entered the city.

The group endured wind and rain to rush on their journey, complaining endlessly.

A fourth-realm cultivator and a fifth-realm martial artist led the team, never realizing that someone was watching their words and actions, even silently recording them on paper.

After failing to find anyone in the fortress city, the group immediately rushed to a nearby county city in Stone Bristle Kingdom.

Finally, in an alley in the county city, they found a family where an old woman and a young girl depended on each other for survival. They weren’t wealthy but had a solid and respectable household.

The group didn’t rush in to seize the girl. After all, this was a county city in Stone Bristle Kingdom, not Book Brief Lake, let alone Cloud Tower City. What if the old woman was a mid-fifth realm cultivator in disguise? Wouldn’t they be capsized in the gutter?

They racked their brains and came up with a plan. They sent the most honest-looking family guard to deliver the news to the girl when the old woman went out. They would tell her that her father had been severely injured by a cultivator from Azure Gorge Island in the Cloud Tower City mansion and was on the verge of death. He had completely lost the ability to speak but refused to die. The family head leaned down and could only hear him repeatedly muttering the name of the county city and the word “daughter.” That’s why they had painstakingly searched for her here. If she didn’t go to Cloud Tower City soon, it would be too late to see her father one last time.

At first, the girl didn’t open the door. But after hearing the dire news brought by the guard from the Cloud Tower City mansion, she opened the gate with a tearful face, crying and wailing, her figure as frail as a delicate willow. The guard’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, watching the scene from the sidelines.

After packing her things, the girl suddenly thought of the old woman who had been living and taking care of her day and night. She told the guard, who was eagerly urging her to leave the county city, that she absolutely had to tell her grandmother. The old woman’s health was too poor. If she couldn’t find her, she would definitely worry and grieve. Perhaps she would pass away before she even reached Cloud Tower City. Wouldn’t she then be without a single relative in the world?
The bodyguard, upon hearing this, weighed it in his mind. A useless old maternal aunt? Gazing at the captivating woman with a face full of innocence, around seventeen or eighteen years old, not to mention mountain abodes, even in the bustling city, she couldn’t be considered a young maiden anymore. He figured that allowing her to inform a soon-to-be-deceased old granny couldn’t possibly lead to any mistakes. Being too rigid might arouse her suspicions.

Thus, he changed his mind, accompanying the tragically beautiful woman as they waited for the old woman’s arrival.

As a result, the moment the old crone entered, basket in hand, his smile froze on his face. A dagger pierced through his back. The burly man turned his head to see the woman quickly covering his mouth, gently pushing him, causing him to fall in the courtyard.

The old nanny remained unmoved upon witnessing this scene.

The woman, suppressing the sorrow and worry in her heart, recounted the upheaval in Cloud Tower City. The old crone nodded, saying it was likely that family was adding insult to injury, or perhaps offering a certificate of allegiance to their enemies on Azure Gorge Island.

The woman begged the old nanny to make a trip to Cloud Tower City, even if it meant death. Even if she couldn’t see her father’s face one last time, she had to go to Cloud Tower City.

The old crone sighed, saying that the peaceful days had come to an end. Looking around, she took flight like a bird spreading its wings, going directly to the residence of a cultivator who had been watching them for a long time. After a bloody battle, she returned to the courtyard, clutching a near-fatal wound, and told the woman that she had eliminated the hidden threat. The nanny certainly couldn’t go to Cloud Tower City. She told the woman to be careful, handing her a pill, which would ensure instant death if bitten when the time came.

Truly feeling the uncertainty of fate, the woman forced a smile, wiped away her tears, packed her luggage, and left the county town alone, heading towards the uncertain fate of Cloud Tower City in the Book Scroll Lake.

After the woman hired a carriage and drove out of the county town gate, she had no idea that a middle-aged man carrying a long sword had knocked out all the remaining people from Cloud Tower City at an inn. Then, he went to the old crone’s courtyard, where she was coughing blood and decocting medicine. The old crone, seeing the man who had appeared silently, had already resigned herself to death. Unexpectedly, the ordinary-looking, seemingly wandering swordsman threw her a pill. Then, he squatted down in the corner and helped to brew the medicine, watching the heat, while asking about the background of the deceased cultivator. The old crone scrutinized the fragrant, emerald green pill, while carefully answering the questions. She said that the cultivator was a lecherous evil cultivator from Book Scroll Lake who coveted her young miss’s beauty. He was skilled and good at hiding. Her master had been gone for a long time, and the evil cultivator had only recently revealed his whereabouts. He most likely came from Cloud Rain Island or Gilded Gold Island and wanted to abduct the young miss to offer her as a tribute to a great cultivator in his sect. She had originally wanted to wait for the master to return before dealing with him, but she never expected that her master, who possessed celestial techniques, had met with a tragic accident in Cloud Tower City.

The old crone felt increasingly puzzled.

It turned out that the middle-aged man had even taken out paper and pen to record his observations while brewing the medicine.

After helping to brew the medicine, the middle-aged man stood up. Before leaving, he pointed to the corpse that had not been hidden in time and asked, “Do you think this person deserved to die?”

The old crone hesitated for a moment and chose to be honest. “If he didn’t die, my young miss would suffer. When she arrived at Cloud Tower City, she would only live a life worse than death. Perhaps this person would be among those who would make her life worse than death.”

The middle-aged man remained noncommittal and left the courtyard.

Several days later, late at night, a graceful figure leaped over the wall of the mansion in Cloud Tower City. Although she had only stayed in this mansion for a few days, her memory was excellent. With the strength of only a Third Realm martial artist, she was able to move as if there was no one there. Of course, this was also because the three guardians of the mansion were now on their way back to Cloud Tower City.

But when she quietly landed in a courtyard, the entire mansion suddenly lit up, and lanterns were lit and hung high.

The woman who had sneaked into the mansion was confronted by a temporarily hired guardian, a Sixth Realm swordsman, who deliberately held his natal flying sword against her chest, rather than her brow or neck. Then, he used a drawn long sword, lightly placed on the masked woman’s shoulder, and gently waved his fingers, tearing away the veil that concealed the woman’s face. The “young” swordsman, whose face resembled that of an elderly man, was greatly amazed. He smiled and said, “Not bad, not bad. Even without being a cultivator, you possess such skin. Truly a natural beauty. I heard that you are just a martial artist. After some training, your bedchamber skills will surely be even more anticipated.”

The swordsman turned to the master of the mansion and smiled. “I didn’t lie. As agreed, you don’t need to pay the remaining half of the immortal money.”

The woman only said that she wanted to see her father’s face one last time. After that, she would be at their disposal.

The swordsman sheathed his sword and nodded, but then struck like lightning, tapping the woman’s neck with two fingers, then flicking it several times. He forced a pill from the woman’s mouth, held it in his hand, brought it close to his nose, and inhaled deeply, with a look of intoxication. Then, he casually threw it on the ground and crushed it with the tip of his toe. “Such a beautiful young lady, how could you seek death? Do you know how much silver my half of the immortal money for buying your life is worth? Two hundred thousand taels of silver!”

For some reason, the woman, whose body was numb and weak, couldn’t even bite her tongue to commit suicide. She could only be held down by the swordsman, who tore her to a side room in this courtyard and kicked open the door. She saw the man covered in blood, eyes wide open.

The woman cried out.

The Sixth Realm swordsman said triumphantly, “After the father and daughter reunite, it’s time for…”

At this moment, the swordsman’s body instantly tensed. The natal flying sword had just left the vital Qi point when it let out a tremor. It turned out that it had directly collided with the tip of another natal flying sword.

Not only did a small section of the sword tip shatter instantly, but the swordsman’s flying sword was also caught between two fingers.

The swordsman turned his head stiffly and immediately clasped his fists and said, “Junior Du Shehu of Cloud Tower City pays respects to the Azure Gorge Island Sword Immortal senior!”

It turned out that a young man with a pale face, carrying a sword and a gourd, was standing beside the Sixth Realm swordsman.

The man released his fingers and handed the swordsman two Minor Heat coins.

The Sixth Realm swordsman, Du Shehu, tremblingly accepted the two Minor Heat coins. Without saying a word, he left the mansion directly.

The sword tip of his natal flying sword had been shattered. How could the four Minor Heat coins of this reward compensate for it? But how could the immortal money to repair his natal flying sword be more valuable than his own life?
Alas, that tender and fair maiden was destined to be deprived of pleasure.

That night, a carriage slowly departed Cloud Tower City, heading towards the city gates of Stone Millet Kingdom. By the break of dawn, it had traveled far from Cloud Tower City. Chen Ping’an halted the carriage, jumped down, and prepared to return to the ferry crossing outside Cloud Tower City, hoping that the ferry boat tied to the shore hadn’t been stolen. Otherwise, he would face some minor troubles.

The woman lifted the curtain and sat in the coachman’s seat. Her father was already fast asleep in the back of the carriage, his life spared, although it would be difficult for him to ever return to the Upper Five Realms. She gazed at the young man’s retreating figure, suppressing her tears, and said in a deep voice, “One day, I will seek vengeance against you!”

However, the young man completely ignored her, not even sparing her a glance, which only fueled the woman’s sorrow and resentment.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.

Because that man had stopped and turned around.

Chen Ping’an said, “I will probably be staying in Jade Tablet Lake for at least two or three years. If that’s too short a time for you and you’re not confident in getting revenge, you can find me in Great Li’s Azure Coiling County in the future.”

The woman was stunned.

Chen Ping’an said to her, “You can bring a friend along to help you collect your corpse, because when the time comes, I will only kill you.”

The woman stared blankly as the man gradually walked away.

Inside the carriage, her father seemed to have been awakened and coughed, “Don’t think about seeking revenge against him.”

She wiped away her tears and turned her head to ask, “Father, I couldn’t ask you before when he was here. How exactly did we incur his enmity?”

Inside the carriage, the man was speechless.

Circling around Cloud Tower City, he arrived at the ferry crossing. Not only was the ferry boat still there, but there were also two cultivators he didn’t recognize from Cloud Tower City, specifically guarding it, presumably to prevent short-sighted thieves from coveting wealth and recklessly endangering the entire Cloud Tower City, incurring the wrath of the Azure Gorge Island’s esteemed guardian.

Chen Ping’an thanked the two cultivators, pushed the boat away from the shore.

As he sailed further and further away, Chen Ping’an’s thoughts drifted. After snapping back to reality, he freed a hand and drew a circle in the air.

The water route to Azure Gorge Island was long and arduous.

Chen Ping’an didn’t intend to go to the nearby Jade Tablet Lake islands just yet. However, halfway there, he encountered the enormous floating ship that had come to pick him up. Chen Ping’an gracefully leapt onto the bow of the ship. Gu Can and Little Loach stood shoulder to shoulder. Gu Can scratched his head and said, “Chen Ping’an, how is it that you’ve lost weight again after only a few days?”

Chen Ping’an asked, “How is the situation at Jade Willow Island?”

Gu Can rolled his eyes and folded his arms, “It’s utterly boring, slamming tables and glaring eyes, arguing all day long. But it’s not surprising. In the history of Jade Tablet Lake, the most recent attempts to elect a Jianghu Overlord, the longest one lasted for a full half a year. They were practically building huts or laying down mats in the council hall. The shortest one only lasted a month or so, because the constant arguing annoyed someone to no end. That fellow slaughtered over twenty island lords at the time, and the very same day, there was a new Jianghu Overlord, who was that person’s paramour, also the only female cultivator in Jade Tablet Lake’s history to sit on the throne of Jianghu Overlord.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Gu Can curiously asked, “Did anything interesting happen on the shore during this trip away from Jade Tablet Lake?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and said, “I saw a line.”

Gu Can and Little Loach exchanged confused glances.

Gu Can didn’t want to court trouble and changed the subject, smiling, “Azure Gorge Island has already received the first flying sword transmission, which came from Cloud Reaching Mountain, closest to our hometown. That flying sword has already been ordered to be enshrined as an ancestor in the sword chamber. No one will dare to open the secret letter without permission.”

Chen Ping’an turned his head to look at Gu Can, nodded, forced a smile, and reminded, “The calmer things seem at Jade Willow Island, the more cautious you and Little Loach need to be. I suspect Great Li and Vermilion Radiance Dynasty will be secretly contending in Jade Tablet Lake. If you encounter such a situation, as long as either side gets involved, you should back down and not rush to act. Whether Liu Zhimao of Azure Gorge Island can become the Jianghu Overlord is no longer something you and Little Loach can decide by defeating one or two Golden Core Earth Immortals.”

Gu Can gave a nod, “Understood! I know what’s important. I’ll think carefully before making a move, knowing roughly who can be killed and which forces cannot be provoked.”

Little Loach rubbed his belly, feeling somewhat hungry.

Then, Chen Ping’an retracted his gaze and continued to gaze at the lake scenery.

He didn’t know if he would have the chance in this lifetime to look back and behold such radiant beauty.