Amidst the perilous winds and swirling snow, the three riders journeyed towards the heart of the Stone Millet Kingdom.

Many strategically important cities, once coveted by strategists, now lay in ruins, ravaged by war. Conversely, the rural countryside had mostly managed to escape the ravages of conflict. However, refugees fled in all directions, abandoning their homes, only to be met with three consecutive snowstorms since the onset of winter. Along the official roads, gaunt corpses of those who had frozen to death were a common sight, including both strong adults and vulnerable women and children.

Ma Duyi was kind-hearted, and Zeng Ye possessed a simple honesty. Neither seemed like true cultivators of the Book Brief Lake, whether among humans or spirits. Thus, when Chen Ping’an, passing through a prefecture city, offered to pay locals to set up porridge kitchens and pharmacies to help those in need, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye were overjoyed when this task was completed before they resumed their journey.

Chen Ping’an then retrieved the Qingxia Island’s offering jade token and hung it on the opposite side of his waist from his sabers and swords. He sought out the local government. Ma Duyi wore a veiled hat to conceal her beauty and had unnecessarily donned a thick cotton coat, concealing even the alluring curves of the fox-skin beauty.

Before this, they had passed through many prefectures and counties. The closer they got to the central part of the Stone Millet Kingdom, the further north they traveled, the more dead bodies they saw. More troops were also visible. Some were remnants of the Stone Millet Kingdom’s army, retreating in defeat southward, while others were soldiers in newly gleaming armor, appearing organized and disciplined at first glance. Zeng Ye believed that these Stone Millet Kingdom soldiers heading to the northern battlefields might stand a chance against the Great Li Iron Cavalry.

However, Chen Ping’an knew very well that once war broke out, these soldiers, adorned in armor freshly taken from armories throughout the land and wielding long-untouched weapons that still seemed new, would die quickly. Only a few fortunate ones would have the chance to transform from fresh recruits who “didn’t even know how they died” into veteran soldiers who “knew how to survive.”

In the river of time within the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, Chen Ping’an had personally witnessed many fierce battles that determined the fate of the four nations.

In the vast world, Chen Ping’an had also witnessed the military bearing of the Great Li’s southern border scouts. By observing small details, one would understand why the Great Li border army was known as “strong warriors of the mounds,” battle-hardened veterans who had survived on the hills of corpses. Perhaps in the Great Li Kingdom, a young border soldier of twenty years had fought in more battles and seen more deaths than a Stone Millet Kingdom general of forty or fifty with real power.

Chen Ping’an was actually thinking even further ahead. The Stone Millet Kingdom, as a vassal of the Vermilion Canopy Dynasty, not to mention the likes of Huang He and Han Jingling, dared to fight even its own imperial prince Han Jingxin who dared to personally engage in combat with Great Li scouts who had two accompanying cultivators. The Yin spirit General Wei, originating from the northern border army, had been completely wiped out. Yet, the Stone Millet Kingdom’s emperor was still desperately drawing troops from all border passes, stubbornly blocking the Great Li’s advance southward. Even now, with the capital under siege, they were still holding out to the very end.

Why was the Stone Millet Kingdom willing to act in this way? Why were they willing to use so many lives as roadblocks to slow down Su Gaoshan’s Great Li Iron Cavalry, even if only slightly?

Scholars wrote in books that winter was suitable for dense snow, with the sound of jade breaking.

Chen Ping’an gazed into the distance. The road was covered in snow, the mountains were covered in snow, as if the heavens were pressing a heavy burden upon the world.

Chen Ping’an sighed, but upon recalling the clanging of armor in the Spirit Official Temple that night, he felt somewhat relieved.

Throughout their northward journey, Ma Duyi was coping relatively well. She had been a registered immortal cultivator and also a genuine rogue cultivator of Book Brief Lake. Grief was naturally inevitable, but not to the point of being overly shocked. However, after witnessing scenes resembling hell on earth day after day, even Zeng Ye, who initially often wept silently, had become somewhat numb.

During this time, Zeng Ye was repeatedly possessed by male Yin spirits. Some fulfilled their last wishes, while others were left with only regrets. Their homeland and native places had long been transformed beyond recognition.

The female Yin spirits residing in the fox-skin talisman beauty, one by one, departed from the mortal realm, such as Su Xinzai. New female Yin spirits would constantly rely on the talisman paper to walk the earth. Each talisman paper was like an inn, like a ferry, with reunions of both joy and sorrow, with farewells separating the living and the dead. According to their own choices, there was truth and concealment in their words.

On this day, Chen Ping’an brought Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye to visit the prefectural governor’s residence, encountering no obstacles.

The local prefectural governor was an obese old man whose eyes were almost invisible. In officialdom, he liked to smile at people he met, and when he smiled, his eyes became even harder to see.

The old man’s days had been restless this past year. Amidst the chaos of war, besides paying a hefty sum to a nearby immortal cave dwelling to hire an immortal master to descend the mountain to protect him, he had also, in desperation, recruited two cultivators of unknown origin. To put it bluntly, they were rogue cultivators of the lower five realms, whom he had previously looked down upon. The registered immortal cultivator, also of the lower five realms, was so angered that he almost immediately returned to his mountain. The prefectural governor pleaded with him, and also increased his monthly salary by three snowflakes coins, finally managing to retain the mountain immortal who was unwilling to associate with rogue cultivators. The prefectural governor felt both pained and sorry, but as soon as Chen Ping’an arrived, he immediately felt that the extra expense of three snowflake coins per month was worth it. The registered immortal cultivator was, after all, a true immortal that rogue cultivators could not compare with. He immediately recognized the invaluable object at first glance, recognizing it to be genuine. He identified the Qingxia Island’s first-class offering jade token, trembling and nearly kneeling to kowtow to the young immortal from Book Brief Lake.

From then on, things became easier. The offering lord, who claimed to be surnamed Chen, said that he wanted to set up porridge kitchens and pharmacies in the city to help the people, and that he would pay for it. However, he needed the local government to provide manpower and resources, and the cost would still need to be calculated. At that time, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye finally saw the old prefectural governor’s eyes, wide and round. It should have felt inconceivable. A great philanthropist from Book Brief Lake? Wasn’t that similar to a great demon opening a mansion and calling himself an immortal master?

On the other hand, the two seemingly respectful and timid rogue cultivators exchanged a glance, but remained silent.
Afterward, everyone felt even more bewildered. The young Honorary Guest, surnamed Chen, had requested the old Prefect to summon a group of officials and clerks from the government office who were skilled in household registration, taxation, commerce, and arithmetic. They all sat down together and began to carefully discuss the details, such as the current rice and medicine prices in the market, the amount of grain stored in the government granary, the approximate number of impoverished locals and displaced people, the selection of locations for porridge kitchens and pharmacies, and how many idle personnel the Prefectural City Office could spare without disrupting official duties. Each aspect was carefully considered, making the experienced officials and clerks feel like they were facing a formidable enemy.

After the meeting, the Prefectural Office began working busily that very night, with officials and clerks scattering in all directions.

Chen Ping’an and his two companions stayed in the backyard of the Prefectural Office. As a result, late at night, two rogue cultivators from the mountains and marshes secretly came to the door, showing no fear of the “Top Honorary Guest of Azure Gorge Island,” in stark contrast to their obedience and caution during the day. One of the rogue cultivators rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, smiling as he inquired whether Chen Ping’an should offer some hush money. As for what “Honorary Guest Chen” was plotting in this Prefectural City, whether it was people, money, or magical treasures, they wouldn’t interfere.

At the time, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye were still in Chen Ping’an’s room, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

Even someone as slow-witted as Zeng Ye was starting to wonder, Chen Ping’an was clearly doing what he wanted step by step. Although there would be setbacks and imperfections, and repeated failures, even small unfulfilled wishes, there were still several Yin creatures and ghosts appearing in Stone Millet Country that, like the girl Su, were able to depart with less regret.

Logically speaking, Chen Ping’an’s state of mind should be becoming lighter and lighter.

But that was not the case.

So Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye would sit with him, without disturbing Chen Ping’an’s thoughts. Mostly, she and Zeng Ye would chat idly, and Chen Ping’an never seemed to mind. He just didn’t like to talk much, but occasionally, when he heard them arguing over trivial matters or just rambling to pass the time, Chen Ping’an would smile. Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye often felt inexplicably confused. They didn’t understand why Chen Ping’an didn’t react to their amusing remarks, but would laugh at some that weren’t funny at all.

At this moment, the ghost and the human, warming their feet by the small stove under the table and munching on melon seeds, found the two rogue cultivators’ presumptuousness especially amusing.

Ma Duyi’s eyes gleamed mischievously, curious about how the accountant would respond.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Then how many Snowflake Coins do you think would be a fair price for hush money?”

One of the rogue cultivators had already prepared his answer, “Young Brother was able to forge an Honorary Guest jade token from Azure Gorge Island, and even deceive a registered immortal master. It’s clearly a big undertaking. Tonight, just opening the porridge kitchens and pharmacies has cost a lot of real money, so this hush money should be at least… forty or fifty Snowflake Coins? I wonder what Young Brother thinks? Are you willing to spend a little money to make a lot of money safely?”

Chen Ping’an reached out and pressed down on the shoulders of the two rogue cultivators. “Since you two seniors have seen through me, then I’ll have to silence you. Why bother with hush money? What if you take the money and then decide to ask for more? Going back and forth would not only be troublesome but might also ruin my plans. It’s better to do something decisive. What do you two think?”

The two rogue cultivators were shocked. Being pressed on the shoulders like that had caused their Qi reservoirs to vibrate and their spiritual energy to stagnate.

Before they could beg for mercy, Chen Ping’an said with a stern face, “My plan is very big, and you two might be able to help a little. But if you want to leave this Prefectural City alive, you’ll have to come up with some life-buying money first. Although you’re just cultivators in the lower five realms, you should have at least… forty-five Snowflake Coins?”

The two rogue cultivators, who were not wealthy to begin with, were grief-stricken. They scraped together thirty-two Snowflake Coins, claiming that was all they had.

Chen Ping’an took the immortal money and waved his hand. “After you go back, behave yourselves and wait for my news. As long as you’re sensible, when things are done, I’ll share some scraps with you. If you dare to have any crooked thoughts, I’ll tear out your vital lifebound objects from your key Qi reservoirs. Then you’ll regret coming to the Prefectural Office.”

The two rogue cultivators, relieved to be alive, were pleasantly surprised. Could this be a blessing in disguise? After discussing it, they still felt uneasy, but they didn’t dare to run away, and they also felt sorry for the thirty-odd coins they had worked so hard to save. They were caught between hope and fear, sighing repeatedly.

Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye laughed heartily.

Chen Ping’an sat at the table. “We’ll return the Snowflake Coins to them when we leave the Prefectural City.”

Then Chen Ping’an turned to Zeng Ye. “In the more northern states and cities, there may be more porridge kitchens and pharmacies to set up. But we’ll only do one at a time, depending on the timing and circumstances. I have my own plans, so you don’t need to worry about that. But if there are more porridge kitchen and pharmacy matters, Zeng Ye, you’ll be the one to handle them, dealing with officials and people from all sides of the government. During the process, don’t worry about making mistakes or spending money unnecessarily. Those aren’t major issues. Besides, although I won’t interfere directly, I’ll be watching and helping you from the side.”

Zeng Ye nodded vigorously at first, then hesitated.

Chen Ping’an said, “Everything is difficult at the beginning, but you have to start somewhere, right?”

Zeng Ye didn’t say anything more, feeling both nervous and excited.

It seemed that this was even more comforting to the young man than cultivation.

Chen Ping’an added, “Remember, if you ever feel tired or bored, don’t be embarrassed to tell me directly. After all, your focus now is still on physical cultivation.”

Zeng Ye nodded like a chick pecking at rice. “Don’t worry, Mr. Chen, I definitely won’t neglect my cultivation.”

Chen Ping’an smiled knowingly.

In fact, the young man would probably only become more diligent and attentive.

Afterward, the porridge kitchens and pharmacies that had been properly selected in the Prefectural City were quickly and methodically established. This was due to the familiarity of the government with such matters, and even more so to the Prefect’s personal supervision. As for the identity of the young man in the cotton robe, the old Prefect spoke vaguely, not revealing anything to anyone, which made people feel a sense of awe.
Three days later, Chen Ping’an had Ma Duyi discreetly place the thirty-two snowflake coins in the rooms of the two wild cultivators.

Then, the three rode their horses to a porridge shop near the city gate, dismounting at a distance. Chen Ping’an troubled the registrar immortal who had accompanied them to keep an eye on the horses for a moment.

At the porridge shop, Ma Duyi refused to act as a “beggar,” and Zeng Ye didn’t think he needed to drink a bowl of thin rice porridge. Chen Ping’an patiently waited in line alone, obtaining a bowl of porridge that was somewhat “thick” and two steamed buns. He squatted by the roadside outside the queue, eating the buns with the porridge. He could occasionally hear the shouts of the clerks, who loudly informed the local poor and the refugees the rules: no greed, porridge only distributed per person, and no rushing while eating or drinking, as haste would only lead to mistakes.

Chen Ping’an watched the long queues, noticing many sturdy local men dressed warmly, some even holding their children’s hands and eating candied haws.

Not far from Chen Ping’an, a group of local men were gathered together, not looking malnourished, eating and drinking while complaining that the porridge was worse than pig swill.

Chen Ping’an silently chewed and swallowed, his heart undisturbed. He knew that things were often this way; things obtained without cost were rarely cherished. If one spent money, even on the same porridge and buns, they might taste better, or at least there would be less grumbling and complaining.

Returning the bowl, Chen Ping’an walked towards Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye, saying, “Let’s go.”

The three rode out of the city.

Ma Duyi was meticulous. In recent days, accompanying Zeng Ye to porridge shops and apothecaries, she had noticed some discrepancies. After leaving the city, she finally couldn’t help but complain, “Mr. Chen, at least thirty percent of the money we’ve put in has gone into the pockets of those slippery officials. I saw it clearly. How could you not see it, Mr. Chen? Why didn’t you scold that old prefect?”

Chen Ping’an simply said, “Is that so?”

Ma Duyi was furious.

Zeng Ye was shocked.

The boy was truly unaware; how could he see through the intricacies of officialdom?

Seeing that the accountant had nothing more to say, Ma Duyi grew increasingly indignant. “Mr. Chen! If you keep this up, I won’t help next time! Just let this idiot Zeng Ye handle it himself and see if he helps or hinders you!”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, offering an explanation that wasn’t really an explanation. He slowly said, “Since we’re doing good deeds, and the matter is mostly accomplished, even if it’s not perfect, there’s no need to be overly demanding. I was prepared for the embezzlement of thirty percent of the silver. In fact, my bottom line was even lower. I could accept the officials handling this matter embezzling forty percent. Thirty percent or forty percent, it can be considered their reward for doing genuinely good deeds.”

Ma Duyi never expected such an answer. She wanted to be angry, but she couldn’t, so she simply stopped talking.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “If you feel unhappy, as long as you’re willing to help Zeng Ye, my bottom line can change from forty percent to twenty percent. How about that?”

Ma Duyi was finally satisfied. She spurred her horse closer to Zeng Ye, patiently explaining her insights and tricks to the blockhead of a boy.

Chen Ping’an suddenly slowed his horse slightly, taking out a long, small wooden box from his sleeve. The ancient seal script indicated it was a small item given by Tan Yuanyi of Grain Millet Isle, a token of their alliance, quite rare—a miniature Sword Mound of decent quality. Only a finger’s length, extremely small and portable, it was used to store message-carrying flying swords. It wasn’t as versatile as a large Sword Chamber, being rigid and only able to send and receive one flying sword at a time. The consumption of spiritual energy to nurture the flying sword was far greater than with a Sword Chamber, but even so, Chen Ping’an could easily sell it for a Grain Rain coin if he wanted to. So, Chen Ping’an naturally wouldn’t refuse Tan Yuanyi’s kindness.

Opening the slightly vibrating small wooden box, Chen Ping’an retrieved a message-carrying flying sword from Green Gorge Isle. The secret message said that Liu Laocheng of Willow Palace Isle, having learned that he was already in Stone Mill Country, sent a message to Green Gorge Isle: “Tell him to come back to my Willow Palace Isle to discuss the price in detail.”

Chen Ping’an gripped a snowflake coin, dripping spiritual energy into one of the sword grooves in the wooden box. Pressing a clever mechanism, the Green Gorge Isle flying sword shot out of the groove and disappeared in a flash, returning to Book Brief Lake.

Zeng Ye watched intently.

He had even worked odd jobs in the simple Sword Chamber on Reed Catkin Isle, but this miniature Sword Mound, only heard of but never seen, was the first time he had witnessed it in person—truly marvelous.

Ma Duyi was no better.

Chen Ping’an put the wooden box back into his sleeve, breathing on his hands. It was great news.

As he had told Zeng Ye, everything in the world was difficult, and starting was the hardest part. Whether one could take the first step and stand firmly was crucial.

Chen Ping’an had formed an alliance with Liu Zhimao, who should have been his enemy, and Tan Yuanyi, the inexplicable Great Li spy from Grain Millet Isle.

He was also going to Willow Palace Isle, risking himself to deal with Liu Laocheng.

And taking advantage of this opportunity to come to Stone Mill Country to “correct past mistakes,” he wanted to learn more about the country’s situation.

Naturally, he had something he wanted.

Chen Ping’an had a conversation with Gu Can’s mother in the house near the Green Gorge Isle mountain gate, but the woman might not have been able to take it in at the time. Many of Chen Ping’an’s seemingly casual words, she probably wouldn’t think deeply about, and might not even take them seriously. Her nature was not complex; for her and Gu Can, in the suddenly changing Book Brief Lake, she hoped that Chen Ping’an could ensure their safety, and hoped that the accountant could remember their past kindness and not fail the name “Ping’an” (Peace).

Among them were a few sentences that involved “the future Book Brief Lake might be different.”

The woman might not delve into it.

But Chen Ping’an was already doing it.

Chen Ping’an wanted to proceed cautiously, echoing Liu Laocheng’s half-joking words on the ferry, “Using every means possible.” “Such great ambition.”

Because Liu Laocheng had already noticed something and guessed that Chen Ping’an wanted to truly change the rules of Book Brief Lake from the root.

Using external resources and momentum, doing his best.
Chen Ping’an wasn’t concerned with the inherent goodness or evil of people. He was engaged in a task, treating everyone as chess pieces, striving to carve out a larger domain of influence for himself – progressing from individual pieces to a complete formation, and ultimately, to a commanding position.

His hope was to participate in the shaping of the future rules of the Shujian Lake, or at the very least, to have a voice in their creation.

This was precisely why Liu Laocheng had asked Chen Ping’an if he had learned his chess strategies from Qi, the gentleman of the Lizhu Grotto-Heaven.

This was the crux of the matter.

Their exchanges were a constant tug-of-war, a silent battle of wills.

Beneath the surface lay a treacherous current of machinations and subtle power plays. Each was seeking the other’s weakness, making unsound moves to test defenses, and occasionally, executing brilliant strokes of strategy – all according to their own calculated plans.

Whether facing Liu Laocheng, the Fifth Realm cultivator from Gongliu Island, or even the Yuanying cultivator Liu Zhimao, Chen Ping’an knew that relying on brute force was suicide, especially if it meant encroaching upon the Dao path of another. Given the vast difference in their cultivation realms, reasoning was useless, and force would be fatal. Chen Ping’an, however, had his own ambitions. What could he do? He could only dedicate himself to the art of “cultivating the mind,” meticulously assessing the weight and influence of every potential player, understanding their individual demands, bottom lines, temperaments, and rules.

If possible, he intended to broker deals with Prince Han Jingling, the fleeing imperial scion, Huang He, the son of the border general, and even Su Gaoshan, the Dali military commander who wielded considerable power.

The difficulty lay in the fact that, unlike his efforts to right wrongs and fulfill the wishes of ghosts and spirits, this secret scheme of Chen Ping’an’s was far more arduous. This was his first attempt to build a chessboard as a player himself, and he couldn’t afford a single misstep. One wrong move could lead to utter defeat, making him look foolish and incompetent.

As for the former, guiding the unrepentant Gu Can back to the right path, and then correcting his mistakes himself, Chen Ping’an risked only expending effort, energy, and money. It didn’t carry the same sense of walking on thin ice.

But why was it that Chen Ping’an, who was usually so skilled at concealing his emotions, had allowed even Zeng Ye to perceive the subtle shifts in his state of mind?

It was because, after seeing Su Xinzai and the others off, an even greater, seemingly insurmountable despair had taken root in his heart, refusing to dissipate.

It wasn’t like the feeling he had in the dimly lit house on Qingxia Island, before summoning all the wandering souls, when a single glance at the Underworld Yama Hall on the table would conjure images of countless wronged spirits howling and cursing outside his heart’s door, desperately seeking justice.

After each farewell, Chen Ping’an’s despair stemmed from a sudden realization: among all the names of the unjustly deceased in his ledgers, those he truly felt most indebted to, like Su Xinzai, who never forgot Huangli Mountain and her benefactor, had surprisingly let go of their attachments and chosen to leave the mortal realm entirely. Conversely, many names and restless spirits for whom Chen Ping’an initially felt less guilt – spirits who had more demands, extravagant wishes, and the common yearning of both humans and ghosts – resided in that Underworld Yama Hall, a replica of the Glazed Pavilion.

In truth, after making his decision, Chen Ping’an no longer felt much guilt. But Su Xinzai and the others had reignited that guilt, making it even greater and heavier than before.

The feeling was the same – it lingered outside his heart’s door. But these spirits, having resolved to leave the world, harbored no resentment, uttered no curses. Instead, after gently knocking on the door, as if afraid of disturbing the one inside, they simply said the same parting words, “Mr. Chen, I’m leaving now.”

At this moment…

Chen Ping’an suddenly spurred his horse, accelerating forward and leaving the muddy official road, taking a detour towards a small hill.

Riding up the hill, the path was uneven.

Chen Ping’an reined in his horse at the summit.

He looked around in a daze.

He had the Sword Nurturing Gourd and the paired swords at his waist, and he could still ride through the winds and snow of the world.

But in reality…

He was alone, without any support.

Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye waited at the foot of the hill for a long time, but Chen Ping’an showed no sign of turning his horse around.

Ma Duyi, who had previously stopped Zeng Ye from going up, grew anxious. Zeng Ye, on the other hand, remained patient and unhurried.

Ma Duyi couldn’t stand Zeng Ye’s “fool’s luck” and “unawareness of his blessings.” She chuckled and said, “You heartless fool, you’re carefree as long as you’re fed and watered.”

Zeng Ye was just a timid and tongue-tied young man, so he didn’t dare to retort. Besides, he didn’t think Miss Ma was wrong.

Ma Duyi was about to speak when…

Chen Ping’an rode down the slope. In Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye’s eyes, Master Chen seemed different.

No longer burdened with worries, the gloom had dissipated, and he even looked somewhat happy.

Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye exchanged glances.

Chen Ping’an took a sip of wine from his Sword Nurturing Gourd and smiled. “Let’s continue our journey.”

The three riders continued north along the winding path.

The snow was deep and slow to melt, and the mountains and rivers were almost entirely devoid of green. But at last, there was a hint of warm sunshine.

Zeng Ye witnessed many things along the way. He saw the legendary Dali border scouts, clad in old armor and wielding bows and sabers. Each rider displayed neither arrogance nor bloodlust, like an underground river, flowing silently. The Dali scouts merely glanced at the three of them before galloping past, causing the nervous young man to hold his breath until they were dozens of paces away.

They also saw caravans of wealthy families fleeing south in droves, stretching as far as the eye could see. From the escorts to the drivers, and even the faces that occasionally peeked out from behind the curtains, everyone was on edge.
Zeng Ye noticed that Mister Chen had stopped his horse by the roadside, waiting for the caravan to pass before continuing his journey. He then saw a small chest lying on the ground, abandoned by its owner in their haste. Chen Pingan dismounted, opened the chest, and found it filled with ancient books. He casually flipped through one, noting several collector’s seals, each from a different dynasty, in varying calligraphic styles, each belonging to a different scholar. Chen Pingan, carrying the chest, looked back, pondered for a moment, and decided against returning the abandoned chest of books. He temporarily stored it in his “inch-perfect storage” and remounted his horse.

Ma Duyi, seeking conversation, teased, “Oh, I didn’t realize you were this kind of person, just taking what you find?”

Zeng Ye, unusually bold, spoke up in defense, “It’s something unwanted, and books at that. Should it just be left to rot in the mud?”

Chen Pingan shook his head. “They’re fleeing for their lives. Even delaying them for a moment could have unforeseen consequences.”

Zeng Ye glanced at Ma Duyi.

Ma Duyi rolled her eyes.

Later, a female yin spirit dwelling within a fox-skin charm, found herself in a small county town untouched by war. Using a slightly clumsy local accent, she inquired about a grand mansion. After locating it, she and the traveling companions settled into an inn. That night, Chen Pingan first put away the charm, quietly infiltrated the mansion, then retrieved it, allowing the spirit to manifest. She finally saw the handsome scholar who had left their hometown to take the imperial exams. The scholar, now an aging scholar of nearly fifty, held a drowsy young son in his arms, and was toasting with several official colleagues, his face beaming. His friends repeatedly congratulated him, celebrating his good fortune in befriending a Great Li military officer, which had led to his promotion to the third-highest position in the county. His friends joked about him not forgetting old friends after becoming wealthy. The scholar, who was not wearing a brand-new official uniform, laughed heartily.

The fox-skin female spirit looked downcast, seemingly unable to recognize the scholar who had been her childhood sweetheart, perhaps due to the passage of time.

After leaving the mansion, the fox-skin beauty spirit walked with Mister Chen on the quiet street.

Chen Pingan suddenly said, “That child, he resembles his father more, don’t you think?”

The woman hummed in agreement, then suddenly became cheerful. “It seems like it!”

Thereafter, they left the small county town that the Great Li Iron Cavalry barely noticed, and the three continued north.

In a small county town where they needed to stop to buy supplies, Chen Pingan passed a relatively large gold and silver shop. He had already walked past, but hesitated, turned around, and stepped inside.

Inside were two old men and two young men, all shop assistants, each busy with their tasks.

Chen Pingan took out a gold ingot stamped with a Shihao Kingdom official seal and exchanged it for official silver and a pile of copper coins.

The two master craftsmen in the shop didn’t interfere, letting their respective young apprentices handle the transaction. A master leads the way, but the cultivation is up to the individual. In the marketplace, parents hope that their sons will eventually be able to support them in their old age, and masters, of course, should train diligent disciples who can help them. The two young men, who were about the same age, one tongue-tied and dull, like Zeng Ye, and the other with bright eyes and cleverness, had sized up the guest from head to toe several times as soon as Chen Pingan crossed the threshold.

Chen Pingan gave the gold ingot, and based on the current Shihao Kingdom exchange rate, took the slightly overpriced official silver and copper coins. During the transaction, he first spoke in the official language of the Zhuying Dynasty. The two young men looked confused. Chen Pingan then spoke in a somewhat unfamiliar Shihao Kingdom dialect, which allowed the transaction to proceed smoothly, and Chen Pingan then left the shop.

Inside the shop, after the man in the cotton robe left the shop.

The dull-witted young man was still immersed in the joy of earning money for the shop, then he was kicked by his good friend, who had grown up with him. Following the latter’s gaze, the dull-witted young man realized that his master and his friend’s master, who were almost always bickering and arguing, were sitting together for the first time, seriously discussing something.

Chen Pingan returned to Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye, and Ma Duyi asked with a smile, “A small county town, this tiny shop, and yet there are two Qi Refining cultivators?”

Chen Pingan nodded. “They should be choosing disciples, each has taken a liking to one of the young men.”

Ma Duyi curled her lip. “Two old cultivators who are at best in the Cavern Dwelling Realm, what great talent could they find?”

Chen Pingan laughed. “That’s something I would say, isn’t it?”

Ma Duyi snorted coldly.

Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment and said, “If I’m not mistaken, one of the two old men should be a Tide Viewing Realm cultivator, and the other might even be a Dragon Gate Realm cultivator. However, the two old men noticed you early on, so they quickly concealed their qi, deliberately making you think they were in the Cavern Dwelling Realm. As for why they didn’t simply pretend to be ordinary old men, it’s probably because they felt that in such a remote place with thin spiritual qi, two Cavern Dwelling Realm cultivators were enough to deter us ‘river-crossing dragons’, without being too shocking. So, they are all old hands.”

Ma Duyi’s eyes lit up. “Mister Chen, what if they think we’re after them? Like wanting to poach their disciples? Mister Chen, I think it was inappropriate for you to go into the shop in the first place.”

Chen Pingan smiled. “That’s why we outsiders buy our supplies and leave immediately. Also, let’s agree beforehand, when we leave the county town gate, remember not to look around, just keep your heads down and travel, so that they don’t become suspicious.”

Ma Duyi was somewhat puzzled, because she still didn’t understand why Chen Pingan had to go into that shop. This wasn’t the usual style of this accountant.

Chen Pingan had Zeng Ye go to a shop alone to buy items, while he and Ma Duyi held the horses outside the street, and explained softly, “What if the two old men aren’t trying to take in disciples? Not only are they not catalogued immortals, but they might even be practitioners of unorthodox paths among the mountain and swamp wilderness? So I went into the shop and took a few more glances. They don’t seem like sinister or demonic cultivators with ulterior motives. As for anything more, since I can’t see it, I won’t interfere.”

Ma Duyi sighed, her eyes smiling, complaining, “Mister Chen, don’t you get tired of thinking about so many things every day? I get tired just listening.”

Chen Pingan smiled. “Thinking about these things doesn’t tire me. But thinking about how you shamelessly refuse to return to the charm every day, and I have to count how many snowflake coins I’ve spent, that tires me.”

Ma Duyi said, embarrassed and annoyed, “You’re such a bore!”

Chen Pingan folded his arms, smiling without speaking.
Now, this “scarred” northern city has fallen into the hands of the Iron Cavalry of Great Li. However, Great Li did not leave many troops to garrison the city, only a hundred or so riders, not enough to guard a single gate, let alone the entire city. Besides them, there were only a group of accompanying civil officials holding the position of Literary Secretary, and Martial Secretaries serving as guards. After entering the city, they walked through almost half of it before finally finding a small inn to stay.

The reason was simple. Firstly, the war had ended with heavy casualties, and there had been incidents of assassins attacking Great Li’s civil officials. Secondly, the day after tomorrow was Lunar New Year’s Eve. With the people impoverished and business already bleak, coupled with the holiday, Chen Ping’an and his companions were lucky to find this inn.

The next day, Zeng Ye was possessed by a malevolent spirit and led Chen Ping’an to a Jianghu sect whose roots were in the state city. In the entire Stone Millet Kingdom’s Jianghu, it was only considered a third-rate power, but to the locals, it was still an unshakeable behemoth. That malevolent spirit was once one of the locals. His sister, whom he depended on for life, was targeted by the direct son of the sect leader, a local tyrant. She and her fiancé, an impoverished schoolteacher without a title, were both drowned in the river one day. The woman’s clothes were disheveled, but with the body soaking in the water, who dared to look at it more? The man’s death was even more tragic; it was as if his legs had been broken before he “fell into the river.”

A youth spent all the family’s savings to bury his sister and the man he had long considered his brother-in-law together. He quietly left the state city, traveled to the Book Scroll Lake region, and became a servant in a divine immortal’s residence. He lacked the talent for cultivation and even martial arts. Then, he died like his sister and brother-in-law.

“Zeng Ye” stood outside a gate that had already been replaced with a new plaque.

On the way here, this malevolent spirit had already been in despair. Now, his expression was even more wooden.

The grudges of the past were from thirty years ago.

And that wasn’t all. Before leaving the inn, they asked the innkeeper for directions. The old man sighed and said that the men of that family, and all the people in the sect who wielded spears and staffs, were upright heroes. But good people never have good lives, and they all died. A Jianghu sect, more than a hundred men, swore to protect one of the state city’s gates to the death. After they were all dead, there were almost no men left in the family except for the children.

“Zeng Ye” was filled with pain. He squatted on the ground, hugged his head, and muttered, “How could this be? How could this be…”

Chen Ping’an squatted beside him. Even though “Zeng Ye’s” face became more and more twisted and his eyes more and more sinister, Chen Ping’an remained quiet, taking small sips of his wine.

After a while, “Zeng Ye’s” eyes gradually regained clarity, and he began to sob. Finally, he supported himself on the ground with his hands, lowered his head, and gasped for breath, unable to cry anymore.

Only then did Chen Ping’an speak, “When I felt the most miserable, I was about the same as you, feeling like a dog, even worse than a dog. But in the end, we are still human.”

Chen Ping’an smiled sadly, “Of course, I pulled through. Although I don’t eat shit, I’ve had a lot of lucky breaks, much better than you.”

“Zeng Ye” took deep breaths, then sat down on the ground and reached out, “Mr. Chen, can you lend me a few sips of wine? I’ve never had wine in my life.”

Chen Ping’an handed over the sword-nourishing gourd, “There’s plenty of wine, I’m just afraid you can’t hold your liquor.”

“Zeng Ye” looked up and took a large gulp of wine, coughing uncontrollably and trembling all over. He was about to hand it back to the accountant.

But the man had already folded his hands in his sleeves and squatted there, like those ordinary village teachers basking in the sun on a warm winter day.

He shook his head and said, “Take another drink, maybe after a few more sips, you’ll get used to it and know the goodness of drinking.”

“Zeng Ye” indeed took another sip of wine, but frowned and wiped his mouth, shaking his head, “I still think it’s awful.”

Only then did Chen Ping’an take the sword-nourishing gourd, take a sip of wine himself, and then gently hung it on his waist.

“Zeng Ye” sat on the ground and looked at the residence, his face again filled with pain. He tried to speak several times, but swallowed the words back down and covered his face with his hands.

Chen Ping’an turned his head and asked, “What, do you want me to help you write down the names of that family, so that when I hold the Grand Ritual of the Heavens and the Water and Land Assembly, I’ll write them down as well?”

Chen Ping’an gently shook his head, “I won’t agree. I’ll write your name, the names of your sister and brother-in-law, but I won’t write any of those people’s names. Because I don’t know them, but I know you.”

“Zeng Ye” choked, “Am I very stupid?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Stupid indeed.”

“Zeng Ye” wiped his face, his eyes determined, “How can a good-for-nothing like me have the face to visit my sister and brother-in-law’s grave? Mr. Chen, can you help me burn incense and offer wine later? Anyway, I’ve already told Mr. Chen the exact location of the grave… I won’t go.”

Chen Ping’an softly asked, “Have you really thought it through? You know there’s no chance to regret it in this life.”

“Zeng Ye” nodded, “I’ve thought it through.”

Chen Ping’an nodded once.

“Zeng Ye” suddenly said, “Mr. Chen, when you go to the grave, can you tell my sister and brother-in-law that you are my friend?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “No problem.”

Finally, “Zeng Ye” insisted that the accountant kowtow.

Chen Ping’an did not agree.

But “Zeng Ye” insisted on doing so, saying that otherwise, he would not be able to leave in peace.

Chen Ping’an looked at him, whose real name was “Zhou Guonian,” speechless.

Lunar New Year’s Eve.

On a small hillside a dozen miles outside the state city.

Someone was burning incense and offering wine in front of a small grave.

That young man from out of town, wearing a green cotton robe, told the truth of the matter, even telling how “Zeng Ye” wanted him to pretend to be his friend.

Finally, Chen Ping’an looked at the small grave mound and said softly, “To have a younger brother like this, to have a brother-in-law like this, and for me, Chen Ping’an, to have a friend like Zhou Guonian, is a remarkable thing.”

Inside the state city inn, the night was deep.

Lunar New Year’s Eve.

The three guests did not spend money to have a big meal prepared, and the innkeeper was somewhat disappointed.
Chen Ping’an merely requested a brazier and a sack of charcoal from the innkeeper. Ma Duyi and the dispirited Zeng Ye kept him company, sitting together until around midnight.

There was no fireside chat, nor did they speak of anything significant.

Afterward, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye returned to their own rooms.

Chen Ping’an, alone in this foreign land, kept vigil until the dawn.

And so, another year had passed.