On the journey back north.

Chen Ping’an halted his steed atop an unnamed, towering peak, intending to find a nearby immortal ferry crossing to return to the Longquan County of Great Li. He seized this last opportunity with the sun high in the sky to air out the bamboo slips he hadn’t touched in ages. Some were crafted from the bamboo of Chessboard Mountain and Green God Mountain, descendants of the ancient bamboo, while others were made from common mountain green bamboo and the purple bamboo of the island in the Shujian Lake.

The surrounding mountains rose and fell, and a Tea Horse Road used by merchants snaked through the mountains. After entering the mountain, one could vaguely see merchants hurrying to and fro.

Chen Ping’an deliberately chose a fork in the road, walking along the mountain ridge for several miles to reach this summit to sun the bamboo slips.

After spreading out all the slips, Chen Ping’an squatted beside them, lost in thought.

The thought of all the debts he owed made his head ache.

Chen Ping’an took a swig of wine, constantly reassuring himself that once he returned to Longquan County, with Wei Bo’s help, he would be a veritable landowner. He needed to show some magnanimity; a few petty debts were nothing.

Chen Ping’an rubbed his cheeks, feeling that he was right. Wealth was but external possessions, and a gentleman acquired it with integrity… Chen Ping’an slapped himself on the cheek, wondering if he truly thought himself a dispenser of wealth?

Then Chen Ping’an turned his head and saw an old Confucian scholar he had encountered on the road earlier, panting and standing in the distance. Upon seeing him, he seemed afraid of encountering a madman and was about to turn around and descend the mountain.

Chen Ping’an had ridden past the old scholar and his young attendant. Judging from their pace and breathing, they were ordinary people. Of course, if the other party was an accomplished expert concealing their true abilities, Chen Ping’an would not intentionally probe them.

The young attendant, carrying a shoulder pole, had not followed the old scholar. Perhaps the old scholar wanted to climb to a high place alone to compose poetry and express his feelings before immediately returning to continue his journey.

Or perhaps he was a deeply hidden grand cultivator, wearing the guise of a Confucian scholar, and regarded Chen Ping’an as a plump sheep, intending to kill him and seize his belongings?

Chen Ping’an didn’t care either way.

The old scholar seemed to have engaged in a fierce internal struggle before finally making up his mind to approach Chen Ping’an, stopping a dozen steps away. He bent over to look at the bamboo slips. After a moment, he seemed relieved, turned his head, and asked with a smile, “Young man, are you traveling far to study alone?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and nodded with a smile, “You could say that. I want to see more of the world.”

“Hmm, good, good. Travel ten thousand miles, read ten thousand books. Young people these days find it easier and easier to buy and read books, but they can’t endure hardship.”

The old scholar nodded first and then asked, “Do you mind if I walk around and take a closer look at these precious bamboo slips of yours?”

Chen Ping’an said with a smile, “Old sir, please feel free to look.”

Soon, Chen Ping’an regretted his words. The old man didn’t just look at the bamboo slips; he flipped through them, picked them up, and liked to ask this and that. Moreover, he asked many questions. Where did this word or sentence come from? Sometimes, when Chen Ping’an mentioned the book’s name and the author of the quote, the old man became even more interested, asking Chen Ping’an if he knew the roots and foundations and the core principles of that person’s and that book’s scholarship. Chen Ping’an had some difficulty answering. The old scholar’s words were not very polite. Regarding some knowledge that Chen Ping’an was unfamiliar with but the old man was intimately familiar with, the latter would give Chen Ping’an a good lecture about his half-baked understanding, forcing Chen Ping’an to nod frequently and humbly accept the old man’s comments.

The old scholar was truly unafraid of trouble. The young attendant called out twice from afar, but the old man refused both times. In the end, the attendant simply put down his carrying pole and sat there, sighing to himself.

After a full hour, the old man finally finished looking at the bamboo slips and asking his questions.

The old man suddenly asked with a smile, “Young man, I especially like twenty of these bamboo slips. Could you part with them and give them to me?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head decisively, “No way.”

He wasn’t familiar with this old man.

Chen Ping’an had just resolved to not play the dispenser of wealth anytime soon.

The old man became somewhat agitated. “You, having read so many books and understood so many principles, how can you be so petty? All scholars under heaven are one family. What’s the big deal about giving away a few bamboo slips?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Unfortunately, old sir, you are a learned scholar, but I am not yet considered one. Besides, ‘Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire’ is also a principle from the books. Old sir, please don’t force others to do what they don’t want to do, or that wouldn’t be very kind.”

The old man pointed a finger at Chen Ping’an. “Good kid, you only read twisted logic! Fine, fine. Since you’re using such a great principle like ‘Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire’ to pressure me, I have no choice but to pinch my nose and say, ‘A gentleman does not take what others cherish,’ to console myself.”

Chen Ping’an smiled without saying a word.

The old man was clearly unwilling to give up. Seeing that Chen Ping’an wasn’t playing along at all, he had no choice but to shamelessly ask again, “Really won’t give them to me? If twenty bamboo slips are too many, then twelve will do.”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Old sir, I really can’t give them to you. These bamboo slips and the content on them are of great significance to me. I want to take them home and cherish them. Each bamboo slip represents a state of mind at a particular time and place. Every time I take them out to air them, it’s a moment of reflection.”

The old man said angrily, “That just proves you’re reading books in a dead way! If you truly internalize the principles, you wouldn’t need to look at the bamboo slips at all!”

Chen Ping’an was amused. *Damn it,* this old man sure knew how to spout principles one after another. In the final analysis, didn’t he just want to take twenty-four bamboo slips for free and put them in his pocket? Chen Ping’an had long discovered that among those forty-five bamboo slips that the old man seemed to love, most of them were the immortal bamboo from Green God Mountain and the purple bamboo from Purple Bamboo Island. If Chen Ping’an nodded in agreement, the old man would directly take the bamboo slips that were imbued with spiritual energy. If he genuinely appreciated the content on them, that would be fine, but if he was a cultivator with a little insight who coveted the spiritual bamboo itself, would Chen Ping’an have to turn hostile and snatch the bamboo slips back?

Seeing that Chen Ping’an’s attitude was firm, the old man had no choice but to give up, muttering and complaining incessantly.

Chen Ping’an began to pack up the bamboo slips, which made the old man look as if silver ingots were slipping through his fingers, his face full of heartache.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. Twenty-four bamboo slips were out of the question, and twelve wouldn’t do either. How about giving away six bamboo slips, just to show a little something? Otherwise, the old man had spent an hour here. Chen Ping’an was feeling a little tired, and he figured this old man wasn’t doing much better. Even if he wasn’t tired of coveting the bamboo slips, he was still getting on in years. Squatting and talking for half a day was tiring.

Moreover, the old man’s stomach full of knowledge, in his speech, could not be faked. He was just a little greedy; in this respect, he was a fellow traveler with Chen Ping’an.
The old man had exhausted every trick he knew, “kindly” urging Chen Ping’an: “Young man, the sun is so strong, don’t rush to pack them up! Take advantage of the good weather and let them bask a little longer. These bamboo slips are most afraid of insects and water damage… If you’re worried about the sun setting before you can finish, I can help! This way, you’ll be letting down these bamboo slips and all the beautiful words on them!”

Chen Ping’an was somewhat impressed and stopped what he was doing, asking with a smile, “Old sir, may I ask a somewhat presumptuous question?”

The old man shook his head, tentatively asking, “Then perhaps you shouldn’t? We scholars care about our reputation.”

Chen Ping’an inquired, “So, old sir, do you still want to give away some of these bamboo slips or not?”

The old man stated unequivocally, “Ask away!”

Chen Ping’an wiped his face, feeling like he had fallen into a trap.

The old man stealthily took a green bamboo slip from the ground beside him, murmuring, “Accumulating earth forms a mountain, and wind and rain arise. What fine words… It’s just that the carving is a little lacking, forceful but lacking spirit, an eyesore. Why treasure it, better to give it away and carve a new one…”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Old sir, I have keen ears, I can hear you.”

The old man looked astonished, “I didn’t say anything, how could you hear me? Young man, are you perhaps a celestial from the mountains, able to hear my thoughts?”

Chen Ping’an looked at the old man’s expressions and the look in his eyes.

Truly genuine.

Chen Ping’an was somewhat puzzled, could he truly just be a passing old Confucian scholar?

But it wouldn’t be strange, compared to the rogue cultivators and mountain immortals around Shujian Lake, Confucian academy cultivators were indeed few and far between.

Moreover, to not reveal the slightest hint for over an hour, even a gentleman from the academy might not be able to do that. Chen Ping’an didn’t believe the Sage of Guanhai Academy had the leisure to joke around with him.

The old man said with a regretful expression, “Whether the world is warm or cold, I care not, but to not touch books, I loathe myself.”

Chen Ping’an pretended not to hear.

The old man raged, “Young man, where’s that keen hearing from earlier?!”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, then looked up at the sky, “Old sir, I concede. Pick out the bamboo slips yourself, I’m in a hurry to travel. Just remember, whichever slips you choose, don’t tell me, I’m afraid I’ll change my mind.”

The old Confucian scholar asked, “Twenty-four slips?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Less is fine, but no more.”

The old Confucian scholar hummed in approval, saying with grandfatherly satisfaction, “That’s right, young man, one should be magnanimous. You should have done this earlier. An ounce of time is worth more than an ounce of gold. Look, how much time have we wasted here, more valuable than a few bamboo slips?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Yes, yes, old sir is right.”

Aside from the bamboo slip in his hand, the old man started to get up and pick out the other bamboo slips he wanted, deliberately dragging his feet.

Chen Ping’an suddenly coughed.

The old man pretended to be deaf.

Chen Ping’an could only smile wryly, “Old sir, including the bamboo slip in your hand, that’s almost thirty. Since you are a scholar, can you be a little trustworthy?”

The old man had a sudden realization, putting the last bamboo slip into his sleeve. The old man was standing quite far from Chen Ping’an, exchanging a few polite words before leaving.

Once he reached the young servant, the old Confucian scholar quickly urged, “Go, go, go! Hurry up!”

The old man and the young boy ran off as fast as their feet could carry them.

Chen Ping’an could now roughly confirm that he had truly encountered a “master”.

Chen Ping’an smiled and silently collected all the remaining bamboo slips. Then, he led his horse down the mountain peak, reaching the ancient tea route and continuing to ride slowly. He never encountered the old man again, who was probably hiding somewhere, secretly rejoicing.

Chen Ping’an dozed off on horseback.

Completely unaware.

An old man was leading his horse for him.

The old man asked with a smile, “Chen Ping’an, building bridges across rivers and paving roads over mountains on one’s own journey is a very good thing. Is it possible to allow future generations to follow those bridges and roads to overcome their own life’s difficulties?”

Chen Ping’an remained oblivious, yet he slowly opened his mouth with his inner voice, “Old sir, I am just a meticulous accountant, not a teacher. I would never dare to think of such a thing.”

After that, there was a question and an answer.

“Have you admitted defeat in this test of your heart?”

“Of course, I lost.”

“So, are you disappointed?”

“I am a little disappointed in myself, I didn’t do well enough, but I am not so disappointed in the world.”

“Is that so.”

After that, there was some “small talk”.

The old man spoke somewhat distantly, saying whatever came to mind.

The “Chen Ping’an” on horseback listened.

“The doctrines of Daoism, especially the words of the Dao Ancestor, ha, can only be promoted and have hope of truly becoming the main vein of all the world’s knowledge in two extreme eras: when the people are unenlightened or when the people are greatly enlightened. So, Daoism’s knowledge is high, and the Dao Ancestor’s Dao methods must be unreasonably high, but alas, the threshold is too high.”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

What was said was…

Forget it, just take it as the old scholar’s own reasoning. Listening to it wasn’t a bad thing. Don’t talk back, don’t say anything negative.

Chen Ping’an didn’t want to argue with anyone.

He simply didn’t have that spirit right now.

If he had eaten the four cheap and delicious meat buns from Green Tong City, he might have tried.

“The figures of the sages of the past are getting further and further away. As a descendant, just following behind them and looking at them from a distance, what would you, Chen Ping’an, feel?”

“I only feel like looking up at a high mountain. If there is a real chance in the future to walk on the same path as them, even if it’s just looking at the backs of the gentlemen from afar, I should feel… very honored.”

“Good!”

The old man released the reins, and the young scholar boy carrying the load behind him was glowing with a shimmering, ethereal light.

Chen Ping’an on horseback continued to ride slowly in his “dream”, going further and further along the ancient tea route.

The old man stood still on the road, also with a hazy form, like clouds and smoke.

When Chen Ping’an shivered on horseback, suddenly realizing it was already late at night, he and his horse had already walked out of the mountains and arrived beside a river.

The Dali Dynasty, the twelfth year of Yongjia, the time of the vernal equinox.
As spring unfolded, the third contingent of the Great Li iron cavalry, in addition to Su Gaoshan’s and Cao Ping’s forces, entered the battlefield. The Zhu Ying Dynasty began to suffer defeats on multiple fronts. Its capital was besieged, and the Zhu Ying monarch’s imperial jade seal and the ancestral tablets in the imperial ancestral temple were on the verge of being defiled, hanging by a thread.

However, Prince Song Changjing did not enter the territory of the Zhu Ying Dynasty. On this spring day, the grand and imposing Mo family’s mechanical behemoths sailed across the skies above the Zhu Ying Dynasty, continuing southward.

Song Changjing stood at the prow of the flagship, towering above, surveying the land. Sporadic sword cultivators, unwilling to live in subjugation, soared into the air on their swords, launching attacks against this colossal “fleet,” unprecedented in the history of Precious Bottle Continent. Inevitably, they all perished, their deaths like belated firecrackers heralding spring in a secluded alley, or the mournful cry of a crane atop a mountain, piercing the sky, filling every Zhu Ying subject who witnessed the scene or heard the sorrowful sound with grief.

Song Changjing still wore his old fox fur coat. When Xu Ruo’s branch of the Mo family chose to wager on Great Li, they essentially did two things. One was to collaborate with the Yin Yang school to construct that exceedingly presumptuous imitation of the Jade Capital. Besides, all the wealth Great Li seized from annexing the Lu Dynasty, especially the “toll” from the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, along with the spoils from various national treasuries captured on the southward march, were used to build these south-bound flying vessels. The mighty Great Li, despite its supposed prosperity in recent years, had actually been spending more than it earned annually. Even so, it still owed the Mo family a great deal, especially after the Mo family’s main branch chose Great Li. The spending became a torrent of water, not the babbling of a small stream, but like the deep, silent flow of a great river, so profound that it might not even make a sound, yet the national treasury would be emptied.

For Great Li, especially the Ministry of Revenue, this demonstrated both courage and capability. Why did National Preceptor Cui hold the Minister of Revenue in such high regard? Even Song Changjing and the entire military were willing to show respect to the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, and the root of that reverence lay there. Of course, when the various iron cavalry units went to the Ministry of Revenue to demand their military pay, none held back. They wept and wailed, each acting more impoverished than the last. Song Changjing observed this and didn’t see any problem with it. Among the Great Li’s civil and military officials, amidst their bickering and clashes, and with the younger generation of scholars abandoning their pens for swords and borderland youths entering officialdom, the lines between the civil and military factions at the Song court blurred, which was a good thing.

As for the Ministry of Works, which had the closest relationship with the Mo family’s foreign cultivators, it was an indispensable behind-the-scenes contributor.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, which originally held the highest positions, would find themselves in an awkward situation when it came to rewarding merit in the future. That was why the officials of the Ministry of Rites were so keen to step into the limelight regarding the establishment of the New Northern Mountain in Great Li, as well as the alliance with and missions to Great Sui. There was no way around it. In the Great Li court of the next century, the further an agency was from the battlefield, the more inevitably it would lose its influence, its voice growing weaker, and it might even be swallowed up or infiltrated by the other six ministries.

After all, the Great Li Ministry of Justice had still made achievements in intelligence gathering and co-opting cultivators, which couldn’t be underestimated.

Therefore, the Ministry of Rites was now making some small moves, fearing that while everyone else was expanding the territory, it would be the only one of the former six most esteemed ministries of Great Li to fall behind, sink into the dust, and become a sinecure, filled with nothing but cold benches. How would it then be able to bring in fresh blood and maintain its position as the most prestigious and powerful of the Great Li ministries, and how would it be able to present a new look every year?

Only the Ministry of Personnel remained in a state of noisy debate, because old man Guan was there to preside. No matter how much the people within squabbled behind closed doors, they would still behave respectfully when dealing with outsiders.

Even when the Ministry of Rites vehemently demanded that the responsibility for the “Peace Amulets,” from recommendation and verification to issuance, record-keeping, and evaluation, should be entirely taken over by the Ministry of Rites, leaving the Ministry of Justice, which had originally been responsible for about half of the work, to completely relinquish its authority, old Mr. Guan simply muddled through, making no pronouncements and dragging things out. In the end, he even resorted to such clumsy tactics as claiming to be ill and requesting leave. Damn it, he was an old codger who ate meat and drank wine every day, and his constitution was sturdier than that of many of the younger and stronger officials of the Ministry of Rites. Could he really have caught a cold and fallen so ill? The old fox’s hide was getting thicker with age. The Minister of Rites, who was a generation younger than old Mr. Guan, and supposedly even a half-disciple of Guan, was said to have complained in the imperial palace guardhouse, saying that the old man was being too condescending.

The Great Li officialdom was lively and busy, and various government offices were actually making a lot of jokes.

Yichi Lane and Chier Street in the capital had been visiting each other frequently during this year’s first month, exchanging New Year’s greetings.

Song Changjing was not too concerned about these “spring herald” officialdom matters. Under the grand scheme of things, they were all human nature. As long as things did not go too far or cross too many boundaries, he would not interfere. In fact, it was not necessary for a military man like him to worry about these messy affairs.

Because Song Changjing had to admit that the Great Li Iron Cavalry was able to smoothly advance south and steadily consolidate its position, thanks largely to the embroidered tiger.

A faint rainbow light exploded on the ground again. A young sword cultivator, hidden among the mountains, seemed to have set his sights on Song Changjing, a Great Li barbarian who looked like a “big official.” The sword light was like a white line, arcing toward him, directly stabbing at Song Changjing, his flying sword filled with a desperate, mournful spirit.

Song Changjing waved his hand, signaling the accompanying cultivators who had attained the Earth Immortal realm not to interfere. Would a sixth-realm sword cultivator’s weak flying sword even tickle a tenth-realm pure martial artist?

Song Changjing casually threw a punch, knocking the natal sword back to the ground, landing right beside the young sword cultivator. The sword cultivator, his face pale, swayed unsteadily, still struggling to stand firm, looking at the man at the bow of the ship, whose strength was beyond imagination.

The flying vessel soared across the sky, and the young sword cultivator no longer had the strength to draw his sword, collapsing to the ground.

After that, the Mo family flying vessels, like a swarm of locusts, deliberately flew over the southern peak of the Zhu Ying Dynasty.

Thousands of sword cultivators, resolved to die, and the revered Southern Mountain Deity, all greeted the enemy.

More than a dozen sword vessels within the flying ships unleashed a rain of flying swords upon the earth.

In the sky and on the ground, two waves of flying swords connected like a rain curtain, the Mo family’s sword vessels and flying swords, built with countless immortal coins, were destroyed together with the natal swords of the cultivators, a tragic fate.

Occasionally, a natal sword would slip through the net, only to be intercepted and shattered one by one by the Nascent Soul and Earth Immortal cultivators, both local and recruited, of the Great Li, who successively unleashed their magical treasures. The sky above the Southern Mountain presented a dazzling, multicolored, glazed appearance, resembling the legendary celestial realm of the heavens.
The Mountain God’s golden avatar, wielding a colossal sword of pure sword energy forged with the Zhu Ying Dynasty’s unique imperial secret art, cleaved towards the ferry where Song Changjing stood. Yet, Song Changjing shattered it with a single punch, and with another, he pulverized the Southern Mountain True God’s golden form. In the end, Song Changjing stood upon the roof ridge of the Southern Mountain Shrine. The True God, temporarily bereft of his golden avatar, was about to use millennia of incense offerings to rebuild his form and battle this man once more.

Song Changjing spoke, “That’s about enough. Dali has no intention of exterminating you. All sword cultivators below the Earth Immortal realm, descend the mountain, and all will be forgiven. Earth Immortal cultivators, those willing to yield may follow this king south. Those unwilling to surrender should remain obediently on Southern Mountain. I can guarantee that even if there is some reckoning later, there will be no indiscriminate slaughter. Everyone will have the chance to avert disaster with wealth, and the foundations of your Earth Immortal sword cultivation will be ensured. As for worldly possessions, most will be requisitioned as Dali military funds.”

Silence reigned on the summit of Southern Mountain.

Song Changjing soared away, collapsing a large portion of the main hall of the Southern Mountain with a thunderous crash. He shattered an Earth Immortal sword cultivator, who was attempting to rally other great swordsmen to resist the Dali barbarians to the death, his body and golden core pulverized by a single punch, leaving only his fading Yin spirit and primal infant.

If a cultivator were to look up from the foot of the mountain, they would see a celestial abode near the summit of the towering Southern Mountain reduced to ruins, raising dust like a large cloud of yellow mist swirling around the peak.

Song Changjing returned to the mountain peak shrine and nodded towards the Southern Mountain True God standing in the plaza, indicating that he understood the shrine’s discretion.

Song Changjing rose from the ground and returned to the ferry.

The god of the Zhu Ying Dynasty looked on with complex emotions. Finally, he bowed towards the invincible Dali Prince. Only then did many young sword cultivators realize in horror that the mountain’s array had never been activated from beginning to end.

It was because this god feared death and the severing of his Great Dao, and also feared the tragic deaths of the entire Southern Mountain and its thousands of sword cultivators if they stubbornly resisted. The ambush was naturally intended for the sword cultivators to bravely sacrifice themselves, willing to die for their country. However, there were also many plans driven by personal interests. For example, the Southern Mountain True God agreed to let the sword cultivators ascend the mountain, hoping to give an account to both his former and new masters, so that he would not be endlessly cursed and his incense offerings wither after losing the Southern Mountain title in the conquered land. Instead, this battle could earn him some popular praise and save Dali some trouble, while striving to retain the future position of a top-tier mountain god in Dali after the abolition of the Five Mountain True Gods.

In the chaotic era of Treasure Bottle Continent, the Zhu Ying Dynasty was clearly doomed. He had to secure a path for himself.

Song Changjing returned to the bow of the ship, placing his hand on the railing where spiritual energy flowed slowly. The Dali reign title was about to change.

Shujian Lake, within the Fan family residence in Chisui City.

A guest paid a visit, submitting a red name card, requesting to see General Guan Yiran.

The gatekeeper dared not neglect them.

Among the four Dali officials of equal rank and authority stationed in the four garrison cities, Guan Yiran of Chisui City had gradually risen in status over the past year, vaguely becoming the leading figure. The other three often needed to come to Chisui City for meetings, while Guan Yiran never needed to leave. These subtle signs were enough to explain everything.

Even rumors had spread that Guan Yiran was the son-in-law of Su Gaoshan, and they seemed to have credible details.

In addition, the gatekeeper felt that one of the youths among the visitors looked familiar, but he was wearing a gray cotton robe and looked thin, so he couldn’t recognize him.

Soon, the gatekeeper led the three to see General Guan, whose office was set up in the Fan family residence.

All three guests carried large bamboo boxes on their backs.

Guan Yiran, who had removed his armor as a cultivator in the army, stood under the eaves outside a row of simple government houses, looking somewhat surprised.

He had waited a long time for some wine, but instead, he was met with a fellow he didn’t particularly like, Gu Can.

Guan Yiran naturally disliked Gu Can’s actions in Shujian Lake, both due to his personal temperament and the subtle influence of the Guan family. Life in this world was all about the officialdom. Gu Can, a reckless youth who took pleasure in breaking the rules, had miraculously survived to this day amidst the chaos. However, since he was that person’s friend, Guan Yiran wouldn’t refuse to see him. A friend’s friend was not necessarily a friend, but Guan Yiran would still give him this face.

Now that the main force of the Dali Iron Cavalry had withdrawn from Shujian Lake, the young Guan Yiran was, in effect, a true river and lake monarch with absolute authority. He held the power of life and death over tens of thousands of rogue cultivators, even more so than Liu Zhimao of Green Gorge Island in those days.

Gu Can, with a calm expression, Zeng Ye, trembling with fear, and Ma Duyi, equally apprehensive, bowed to Guan Yiran.

The two sides stepped forward almost simultaneously, standing in the courtyard. Guan Yiran smiled and said, “You must be Gu Can. What brings you here?”

Gu Can smiled, took out a pot of wine, Osmanthus wine from Old Dragon City, and handed it to Guan Yiran, saying, “Chen Pingan asked me to bring a pot of wine to General Guan, saying he owed it to you.”

Guan Yiran didn’t refuse, accepting the pot of wine, but laughed in exasperation, “The wine has arrived, but the person hasn’t. What’s the meaning of this?”

Guan Yiran then mocked himself, “Compared to the person arriving but the wine not, it seems this is still better?”

Guan Yiran laughed to himself.

Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this young and promising Dali general had a genuinely good relationship with Mr. Chen.

Guan Yiran suddenly asked, “Gu Can, do you know why Chen Pingan asked you to deliver this wine?”

Gu Can nodded, “I know. He wants me to get acquainted with General Guan, so that even if you can’t take care of me, as long as General Guan accepts the wine, then my return trip to Green Gorge Island will be less troublesome.”

Guan Yiran smiled, “You’re not stupid after all. Why were you so arrogant and reckless before, only thinking about the front and not the back?”

Gu Can frankly said, “I didn’t understand before. I always thought everyone was a fool. Now I don’t dare anymore.”

Guan Yiran nodded, “Alright, that’s it then. In the future, for small matters, you can seek my help. For big matters…”