Not long after the straw-sandaled boy left the house, the girl in green stamped her foot, about to follow. The middle-aged man, transformed from Teacher Ruan into Master Ruan, stopped her, his face serious. “Xiuxiu! If you interfere now, you’ll only be a hindrance, harming Chen Ping’an. That would truly be a fate worse than death.”

Ruan Xiu didn’t turn around, but abruptly turned her head. Her shiny black ponytail drew a beautiful arc in the air. The girl’s eyes were sharp, her tone almost scolding. “Father, you didn’t interfere with Liu Xianyang’s matter either, and what was the result?”

The man hesitated, but in the end, he refrained from revealing the secrets of heaven, and said in a deep voice, “Trust Father. Right now, the greatest help you can give that boy is to tell him as much as possible about the secrets and rules of this small blessed land, and urge him to act within the framework. The timing, location, and people – he should try to gain as much of those as possible.”

Ruan Xiu seemed to understand, yet remained hesitant. The man waved his hand, patiently instructing her, “Pulling one hair can affect the whole body. You are Ruan Qiong’s daughter. That stone the boy from Mud Bottle Lane threw into the pond, no matter how big, can only create limited ripples, and won’t disturb the old turtles at the bottom of the water. This means there’s room for maneuver. But you, Ruan Xiu, are different. Remember, remain calm during major events! I tell you to read more books, read more books, but you never listen! Your temperament can’t even compare to a boy from a slum, and you’re supposed to be a cultivator.”

The man regretted saying that last sentence as soon as it left his mouth. But what could he do? When it came to his own daughter, he couldn’t help but add a deconstructive remark at the end. Fortunately, this time the girl didn’t seem to feel wronged at all. She quickly ran out of the house, leaving behind a man with complex emotions.

The man, whose real name was Ruan Qiong, pulled up a stool and sat down. He grasped the tall boy’s wrist, and found the pulse a tangled mess, terribly bad. The man, already in a bad mood, grew even more sullen. He grumbled, “Qi Jingchun is really something. Zhengyang Mountain is acting so opportunistically, even if you can’t follow the rules and expel them from the country, you should at least give them a lesson, kill the chicken to scare the monkey! Even if you can’t kill them, what’s wrong with a few slaps? Otherwise, as more and more new people pour into this world, it will become even more chaotic! What, are you thinking that since you’re going to step down in a few days anyway, you might as well leave me a completely messed-up situation? Where’s the responsibility of a scholar…”

The clumsy old doctor sat beside him, eyes lowered, mind focused. He absolutely wouldn’t interrupt, lest he bring trouble upon himself. The old man dared only to complain silently in his heart, where was that calmness in the face of great events he was talking about?

After venting, Ruan Qiong finally sighed. “It’s understandable that you, Qi Jingchun, are acting so cautiously. You can treat what I said before as wind in your ears, but don’t miss this sentence.”

The old shopkeeper of the Yang family’s shop had actually been eavesdropping the whole time. Hearing this, he immediately paid his respects in his heart. *As expected of the next saint to sit in the blessed land. That face can block flying swords!*

Ruan Qiong suddenly looked at the old man and asked, “I’ve only heard that a married daughter is like spilled water. How is it that she’s not even married yet, and she’s already siding with outsiders?”

The old man had been holding back for a long time, and couldn’t help but say a few words of conscience. Otherwise, he would be letting down his own unyielding integrity. So he plucked up his courage and said, “Master Ruan, is it because I’m old and my eyes are failing? I just feel that the boy doesn’t seem to like your Xiuxiu that much.”

Ruan Qiong looked at the old man with a pitying gaze, and said definitively, “Don’t doubt it, your eyes are just failing!”

The old man also looked at the man with a pitiful gaze.

Both were silent.

At the well, Ruan Xiu caught up with Chen Ping’an. She didn’t say anything, as if she didn’t know how to start.

Chen Ping’an smiled at her. He remembered the first time they met by the green ox, he thought she was mute, or that she didn’t speak the local dialect of the town. Now he knew that she just didn’t like to talk.

She followed the straw-sandaled boy’s footsteps towards the covered bridge. The girl in green finally mustered her courage and said, “Chen Ping’an, my name is Ruan Xiu, my father’s name is Ruan Qiong, and he’s a swordsmith. I’ve been forging swords with my father since I was little. This time, we came to your town because my father said it was due to the entrustment of his sect, plus the soil and water here are most suitable for building a sword furnace, so we came here to wade through the muddy waters. But I know in my heart that my father wants to find an opportunity for me. My father is just stubborn, like your friend Liu Xianyang. My father really wanted to take him as a disciple. You may not know this, but if my father chooses to establish a sect here in the future, the choice of the first disciple is very important. So he didn’t just stand by and watch, don’t blame him…”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “I don’t blame your father.”

Speaking of this, the straw-sandaled boy paused, raised the back of his hand and rubbed his chin, and said bitterly, “I know I shouldn’t blame others, but I’m actually very angry, very angry that your father didn’t take Liu Xianyang as a disciple earlier, angry that no one stopped Liu Xianyang when he was in trouble. Even though I know it’s wrong, I’m still very angry.”

Ruan Xiu nodded and said, “That’s human nature.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t want to waste any more time here, and asked, “Miss Ruan, do you have something you want to tell me?”

Ruan Xiu asked cautiously, “You’re not going to seek revenge on the people of Zhengyang Mountain, are you?”

Chen Ping’an didn’t say anything, neither denying nor admitting it.

The girl wasn’t good at words to begin with, so she simply said whatever came to her mind. “Don’t be so reckless. Zhengyang Mountain is originally a famous sect in our Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent. The identity of that old ape is actually no different from the ancestor of Zhengyang Mountain. Even if the old ape can’t use spells and supernatural powers here, it’s very easy to deal with you! Besides, after he seriously injured Liu Xianyang, Mr. Qi will definitely punish him, so at least you don’t have to worry about this matter being treated as if nothing happened…”

Chen Ping’an interrupted the girl and said, “Miss Ruan, is the punishment you’re talking about that the murderer will be kicked out of town?”

Ruan Xiu was speechless.

Chen Ping’an smiled and comforted the girl in return, his eyes sincere and clear like a flowing stream. “Miss Ruan, I appreciate your kindness. Of course, I won’t be stupid enough to rush up and fight that kind of god.”

Ruan Xiu was relieved. She habitually patted her chest, but perhaps feeling that her actions were a bit childish, not elegant enough, not like a refined lady, the ponytail girl smiled a little embarrassedly.

Chen Ping’an also smiled and said, “Last time, I only gave you three fish, I was too stingy.”

Ruan Xiu was a little embarrassed, and soon asked worriedly, “Your left hand?”

Chen Ping’an raised his tightly bandaged left hand, “It’s alright, it’s already fine.”

Ruan Xiu organized her thoughts and said slowly, “Chen Ping’an, don’t be impulsive. Right now, Mr. Qi’s situation at the school is difficult, and when Mr. Qi hands over to my father, it’s very likely that the town will usher in a new, earth-shattering situation. Whether it’s good or bad, it’s hard to say at the moment, so it’s better to be static than active.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “Okay.”

Ruan Xiu was inexplicably anxious.

Ultimately, it was because she herself was very anxious. According to her personality, she should have charged towards that old ape of Zhengyang Mountain by now, but now she had to turn around and painstakingly persuade the boy not to take risks. This went against her true nature. But the problem was, as she herself said, the general trend dictated that it was indeed better to be static than active. This was also her intuition.

If she, Ruan Xiu, acted rashly and sought justice, even if she caused a sky-breaking trouble, her father would definitely take care of it, and most likely suppress it.

But the Chen Ping’an in front of her could only bear the consequences of his actions himself.

Chen Ping’an and Ruan Xiu bid farewell and left, heading towards the covered bridge alone.

He had just parted with one girl, and now he saw another.

On the stone steps at the southern end of the covered bridge sat a girl with swords stacked beside her, her face solemn.

She was wearing a dark green robe, with long, narrow eyebrows, and her lips were tightly pursed. Next to her were two beautifully woven gold-threaded embroidered pouches.

Chen Ping’an ran quickly towards the covered bridge. As soon as he reached the bottom of the steps, the girl, Ning Yao, threw down the two bags of copper coins and said indifferently, “Returning them to you.”

Chen Ping’an stood at the bottom of the steps, caught the two bags of money with both hands, and didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Ning Yao said with a straight face, “I promised to ensure Liu Xianyang’s safety, but now I haven’t done it. I, Ning Yao, am sorry to you, Chen Ping’an, and Liu Xianyang!”

The girl knew very well that in this town, a boy whose body and physique were still ordinary, whose chest was smashed by a fist from a celestial figure, couldn’t be saved by anyone. Furthermore, if Liu Xianyang could be saved, even if there was only a glimmer of hope, with Chen Ping’an’s do-gooder personality, he probably wouldn’t leave the blacksmith shop even if he was going to be beheaded, and definitely wouldn’t leave half a step without permission.

Chen Ping’an walked up the steps, squatted down not far from her, handed the two bags of money back to the girl, and said softly, “Miss Ning, you should keep the money. Add it to the bag hidden in my house in Mud Bottle Lane, and take it all. I don’t need it anymore. In the future, if possible, please help hire people to take care of the houses of me and Liu Xianyang’s families.”

The girl didn’t take the money bag, and laughed angrily. “Then do you want me to help you paste spring couplets and door gods every year during the Spring Festival?”

Chen Ping’an said with a serious face, “If possible, that would be best.”

The girl was almost so angry that smoke came out of her seven orifices, and she scolded, “Were you hit in the face by a cow’s tail when you were a child?! Does that give you the right to do stupid things openly?! You’re making me angry! In short, Chen Ping’an, don’t interfere in this matter. Do you think that with your little bit of skill, you can deal with a Zhengyang Mountain moving ape? Liu Xianyang’s broken house, you can take care of it yourself in the future. Your spring couplets and door gods, you can buy them yourself! I, Ning Yao, won’t serve you!”

Chen Ping’an looked at the girl and said, “Miss Ning, although I haven’t known you for long, I can be sure of one thing. If you had the confidence to avenge Liu Xianyang, you definitely wouldn’t return the two bags of money to me, at least not at this time.”

Chen Ping’an put the money on the steps between the two of them. “Miss Ning, what time is it now? Do you think I’m in the mood to be polite to you? You, me, and Liu Xianyang are just doing a business deal, you didn’t sincerely try to trick us, it’s just that we encountered such a natural disaster, no one could have imagined it. What’s the point of letting you lose your life? Believe me, not only do I, Chen Ping’an, not want to see that, Liu Xianyang that fool doesn’t want to either. If he could speak, he would only say that this is a matter for men, and women shouldn’t interfere…”

The boy suddenly grinned and said, “Of course, I wouldn’t dare to say that to Miss Ning.”

Ning Yao pressed her hands on the white-sheathed long sword and narrowed her eyes. “I only said half of what I wanted to say before. Half of it is guilt, and the other half is that since I, Ning Yao, left home and traveled the world, I’ve never encountered an obstacle that I just bypassed!”

The girl stuck out her thumb and pointed to her heart, “Here too!”

Chen Ping’an thought for a while and said, “Miss Ning, before you do anything, can you let me find three people first? After that, we’ll each do our own thing!”

Ning Yao asked, “How long will it take?”

Chen Ping’an said without hesitation, “Half a day at most!”

Ning Yao asked again, “Besides Qi Jingchun, who are the other two?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “Miss Ning, please don’t ask.”

Ning Yao frowned and said, “The kiln supervision and manufacturing office can’t manage this. Do you really think it’s a trivial matter like stealing chickens and dogs, or street fights?”

Chen Ping’an was about to stand up when Ning Yao said in a deep voice, “Take the money away!”

Chen Ping’an had no choice but to put it away first.

“Chen Ping’an! Wait a minute, turn around first.”

After telling Chen Ping’an to turn around, Ning Yao suddenly bent down, lifted her robe, took off an ancient short knife tied to her calf, stood up and handed it to the boy, and said in an extremely solemn tone, “This is a unique skirt-pressing knife from our hometown. Every woman has one. When things are urgent, act expediently. I won’t pay attention to the customs of my hometown. But don’t forget, this knife is lent to you, not given to you!”

Chen Ping’an was a little dazed, but reached out one hand to take the short knife.

The girl said angrily, “Use both hands! Do you know a little bit of etiquette?!”

The boy quickly raised his other hand, but was still puzzled.

Ning Yao said unhappily, “Do you think you can kill that moving ape with just a few pieces of broken porcelain? Cai Jinjian is just a character who hasn’t gone far on the road of cultivation, let alone that the old beast from Zhengyang Mountain has a natural anomaly, and is the most thick-skinned. Don’t mention porcelain shards, even ordinary celestial weapons can’t hurt the old beast at all. At most, it can only create one or two scars. What’s the point? It’s useless!”

The boy, who took the knife with both hands and didn’t know how to place it, now had a strange expression on his face.

Ning Yao glared and said, “You’re about to take a knife to kill someone, and you’re not allowed to curse a few times?!”

Chen Ping’an was speechless. For some reason, the boy sat back down, sat on the steps, and looked up at the southern sky.

The girl stood beside the boy.

Chen Ping’an said his last words of persuasion, “People will really die.”

The girl crossed her arms, with a sword on one side and a knife on the other, her face indifferent. “I’ve seen more dead people than you’ve seen living people.”

Then she said deliberately in a nonchalant tone, “You can tie that skirt-pressing knife on your arm and hide it in your sleeve later.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “Okay.”

Chen Ping’an slapped his knee hard, stood up, and suddenly said, “I’m very happy to know you.”

The girl suddenly turned around and walked in the covered bridge first.

A heroic and moving girl, a long sword with a snow-white sheath, and a narrow knife with a light green sheath.

Her figure at this moment.

Was the most beautiful scene the boy had ever seen in his life, without exception.

At this moment, the boy felt that even if he could leave the town, he would not see a more exciting scene than this.

This life was not a loss.

So the boy, who had become a little afraid of death because of Lu Daoren’s words, was once again not afraid of death at all, like before.

Let death come, if it must.