Shi Rou abruptly stood, gazing upward. The barefooted old man on the second floor held Chen Ping’an by the scruff of his neck, lightly lifting him over the railing, then casually tossed him down. Shi Rou, in a flurry, caught him.

The old man said, “This lad thinks too much and sleeps too little. Let him sleep his fill first. Don’t let anyone disturb him during this time.”

Shi Rou quickly placed Chen Ping’an on the bed on the first floor, quietly retreating and closing the door. Obediently, she sat on the bamboo chair at the doorway, acting as a door guardian.

The old man descended from the bamboo house and walked to the cliff’s edge. Today, the clouds and mists were thick, obscuring the view, creating a magnificent panorama, like a celestial wind shaking the ocean tide. Standing at the high point of Luopo Mountain was like being in a waterlogged kingdom. Slightly to the left, a mountain peak adjacent to Luopo Mountain stood alone above the sea of clouds, like an immortal on stilts. With a casual wave of his sleeve, the old man easily dispersed the entire sea of clouds, revealing the mountains and rivers as if opening a door.

This scene made Shi Rou’s eyelids twitch slightly. She quickly lowered her gaze.

If that sleeve brushed against her immortal remains, she truly didn’t know if her soul would be completely extinguished.

Previously, Cui Dongshan, the one she feared the most, had visited Luopo Mountain. He was on the second floor. Shi Rou had never seen Cui Dongshan so dejected. The old man sat inside the house, not coming out, while Cui Dongshan sat in the corridor outside the door, also not entering, but addressing the old man as “Grandpa.”

From that moment on, Shi Rou knew how to deal with the old man: very simply, try not to appear in the sight of the old Cui.

The old man paused, looking into the distance.

A huge black serpent with golden threads in its belly and four claws, came swiftly up the mountain from the mountain gate along the wide mountain path. Upon approaching the bamboo house, the black serpent dared not get any closer. Pei Qian, knowing it was obeying the rules, didn’t make things difficult for it, and descended, bowing as she ran forward. The pink-skirted girl followed behind, like fluttering pink butterflies, exceedingly adorable. The blue-robed boy appeared rather listless, sliding down the black serpent’s tail, slowly trailing behind the two. About to see Chen Ping’an, the blue-robed boy was still somewhat apprehensive for some reason.

When Pei Qian arrived at the bamboo house, Shi Rou quickly repeated the old man’s words. Pei Qian was both disappointed and worried. She walked lightly to the door of the bamboo house, trying to peer into the room through the gaps in the green bamboo, but of course, she saw nothing. Still unwilling to give up, she walked around the bamboo house a full circle, finally plopping down on Shi Rou’s bamboo chair, arms crossed, sulking. After the Master returned home, she wasn’t the first to see him. She, the first disciple who shouldered heavy responsibilities, wasn’t being treated well, not being treated properly.

Pei Qian secretly gave the pink-skirted girl a look.

The pink-skirted girl immediately understood and ran to the barefooted old man, softly asking, “Grandpa Cui, is my Master alright?”

The old man nodded, “There are some troubles, but it’s not to the point where there’s no solution. After Chen Ping’an has slept his fill, and we feed him some fists, he can turn it around.”

The pink-skirted girl’s face turned pale.

Feed him some fists?

She knew what Master’s situation was back then, truly deserving of the word “tragic.”

The blue-robed boy, who had been pricking up his ears to eavesdrop on the conversation, also looked worried. Poor Master, as soon as he returned home, he jumped into a pit of fire. No wonder he wandered for five years before daring to return. If it were him, he might not dare to return for fifty years.

Chen Ping’an slept for two days and one night before waking up. After opening his eyes, he sat up in a carp leap, walked out of the house, and found Pei Qian and Zhu Lian guarding the door. Each had a small bamboo chair. Pei Qian leaned against the back of her chair, legs stretched out, already fast asleep, drooling. For the black charcoal girl, this was probably a case of the spirit being willing but the flesh being weak, the helplessness of life. Chen Ping’an lightened his footsteps, squatted down, and looked at Pei Qian. After a moment, she raised her arm, wiping her saliva haphazardly, and continued to sleep, mumbling softly, indistinctly.

Chen Ping’an stood up, signaling Zhu Lian to follow him. The two came to the cliff’s edge together, where a stone table engraved with a chessboard and four simple stone stools engraved with cloud patterns had been placed.

Zhu Lian lowered his voice and chuckled softly, “If Pei Qian saw the young master in this state, she would be heartbroken.”

Chen Ping’an sighed, “It’s already very good. I had prepared for the worst, thinking I wouldn’t be able to escape Shujian Lake within seven or eight years.”

Zhu Lian nodded, “Although I don’t know the specific reason, some correspondence, this old servant dared not inquire on paper, but to make the young master live like years, it must be a huge difficulty.”

Chen Ping’an took out two jars of Shujian Lake’s Black Crow Wine, and he and Zhu Lian each took a jar, gently clinking them together. Chen Ping’an leaned against the stone table, one arm resting on it, took a sip of wine, and sighed with emotion, “It’s a long story.”

“What is integrity but the ability to endure the grind of heaven?”

Zhu Lian turned his head to gaze at Chen Ping’an’s profile, took a sip of wine, and softly advised, “Although the young master looks haggard now, this old servant is a seasoned lover, knows that the young master now is the most likely to arouse the pity of women. In the future, when you go down the mountain to the town or county city, the young master should wear a bamboo hat to cover up a bit, otherwise, be careful to repeat the mistake of Ziyang Mansion, just being glanced at a few more times by the women on the street, and for no reason, provoking a few romantic debts, powder debts.”

The long-lost flattery.

Chen Ping’an reached out and rubbed his cheeks, laughing, “Are you taking me for a fool, or are you taking those women for blind?”

Zhu Lian sighed, “Not listening to the old man will lead to regrets. Young master, just wait and see. Once you’re outside the mountain, you’ll sooner or later be…”

Chen Ping’an quickly waved his hand, “Stop, stop, drink your wine.”

Zhu Lian said with heartache, “Faithful words are unpleasant to the ear!”

Chen Ping’an smiled without speaking, squinting into the distance, bathed in the pure moonlight that had fallen on the world.

Although he was currently looking south, Chen Ping’an’s new business was north of Luopo Mountain.

Besides Niujiao Mountain, where Baofuzhai had originally “set up camp,” there were also the immortal forces, including the Xu clan of Qingfeng City, who had seen the situation was bad and planned to jump off the “sinking ship” of Great Li, and had chosen Zhusha Mountain. In addition, there were Ao Fish Ridge, Sword Worship Terrace, Weixia Peak, and Haimeng Mountain, etc. Except for Sword Worship Terrace, which was located in the far west, isolated and with a small mountain, the rest were mostly in the southern part of the western mountains, conveniently located not far from Luopo Mountain, especially Haimeng Mountain, which covered a vast area. The previous immortal force had already invested heavily, plus a large number of diligent and hardworking Lu clan remnants, had already built continuous stretches of immortal residences, like a fairyland on earth, and finally, it was like a half-sale, half-gift, giving it to the Great Li Dynasty. One wonders what they think now, they should regret it to the point their intestines are green.
The gold essence coins that the Great Li Song Clan had racked up in debts at Old Dragon City were used by Chen Ping’an to buy mountains, thanks to Wei Bo’s mediation, thereby settling the accounts cleanly.

Especially the Horned Mountain, which was being developed into a celestial ferry, was soon to be acquired by Chen Ping’an. However, it had to be temporarily registered under Wei Bo’s name. Otherwise, the name would not be justified, and the benefits would be too great, attracting envy and jealousy from the Great Li dignitaries. But in secret, this source of wealth, flowing with immortal money, would be split equally between Chen Ping’an and Wei Bo.

He recalled helping Gu Can’s family fight for water in the fields countless times. He never imagined that he could now guard such a remarkably productive “fertile land.”

Chen Ping’an collected his thoughts and asked, “Zhu Lian, haven’t you been sparring with Senior Cui often?”

Zhu Lian smiled and shook his head. “The old senior’s fists are extremely tough. He has already reached the pinnacle of martial arts that we martial artists dream of. Who wouldn’t admire him? However, I don’t want to disturb his peaceful cultivation.”

Zhu Lian leaned back and looked towards the bamboo building. “Senior won’t mind me saying this, right?”

Silence reigned, with no response.

Zhu Lian chuckled, “Apart from occasionally wandering the mountains with his walking stick and exchanging knowledge with the old scholars of Linlu Academy on Mount Piyi, the old senior generally doesn’t like to show his face. He’s like a wandering cloud and wild crane, nothing more.”

Zhu Lian remembered something and said, “In the prefecture city, I unintentionally found a good seed. She’s the daughter of a wealthy family who moved to Dragon Spring from the Great Li capital. She’s young, thirteen years old, about the same age as our money-losing apprentice. Although she’s only starting to learn martial arts now, it’s a bit late, but it’s still barely in time. I’ve already explained it to her elders. Now, I’m just waiting for your nod, Young Master, and I’ll bring her to the Fallen Mountain. The Fallen Mountain now has several newly built residences. Besides our own living quarters, they’re more than enough for receiving guests. Moreover, they were all paid for by the Great Li, so we didn’t have to spend a single copper coin.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. Now that there were more people on the Fallen Mountain, it was indeed necessary to build these dwellings. However, once the contract with the Great Li Ministry of Rites was officially signed and those mountains were bought, even after deducting the mountains leased to Ruan Qiong, it seemed like each person could occupy a mountain without any problem. They were truly wealthy and influential. At that time, Chen Ping’an would become the second largest landowner in Longquan County, only after Ruan Qiong, occupying 30% of the western mountains. Apart from the small and exquisite Pearl Mountain, the spiritual energy of any other mountain was abundant enough for a Golden Core Earth Immortal to cultivate.

Chen Ping’an curiously asked, “If you’re willing to lead her up the mountain, of course you can. But under what capacity will she stay on Fallen Mountain? As your personal disciple?”

If this was Zhu Lian’s first disciple in the Vast World, Chen Ping’an would really look forward to her martial arts journey.

Among the four from Lotus Flower Blessed Land, Zhu Lian now had the highest realm, a genuine Far-Travel Realm martial artist. Although he had taken a shortcut, deep down, Chen Ping’an felt that Zhu Lian’s choice, seemingly eager for quick success, was actually the most correct.

Zhu Lian shook his head and said, “This old servant has no interest in being a master. Let her be a nominal disciple of Fallen Mountain first. Whoever takes a fancy to her talent and aptitude can just take her away. All I’m doing is preventing the good fortune from flowing to outsiders, hoping to add some life to Young Master’s Fallen Mountain. Otherwise, it’s all gods, monsters, and demons, which doesn’t seem right. It feels bad for the feng shui. Speaking of which, in Lotus Flower Blessed Land, a disciple with a talent like that girl’s would be like something I picked up on the roadside when I went to a bookstore. But back in my hometown, I reckon a basketful of Jianghu grandmasters would fight over her, brains splattering everywhere. Very Jianghu.”

Zhu Lian crossed his legs, pinched the celestial brewing wine pot with two fingers, and gently shook it, sighing, “As expected of the Vast World, a land of outstanding talents, which is incomparable to Lotus Flower Blessed Land.”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “How did you persuade the girl’s family? Poor people study literature, rich people study martial arts, which is not a joke.”

Zhu Lian chuckled and said, “It’s not complicated. The reason that family moved to Longquan County was that they couldn’t survive in the capital. It was a beauty causing trouble. The girl has a stubborn nature, and her parents and elders are also tough, unwilling to bow their heads. So they offended some powerful forces they shouldn’t have. This old servant helped settle those river-crossing dragons who came after them. The girl cares deeply for her family. There are already two scholars in her family, so they don’t need her to support the family. Now that she’s implicated her older brother and younger brother, she feels very guilty. When she thought that she could rely on a celestial force in Longquan County, she agreed without saying a word. Actually, she doesn’t know anything about what learning martial arts entails, how much suffering she has to endure. She’s a silly girl. But since I’ve taken a liking to her, she naturally won’t lack spirit. Young Master will know it when you see her. Similar to Sui Youbian, but not quite the same.”

Chen Ping’an hmm’d.

Zhu Lian was still reliable in his actions.

Zhu Lian suddenly turned his head and shouted, “Money-losing apprentice, your master is going on a long trip again, still sleeping?!”

Pei Qian fell off the bamboo chair together with the chair. In a daze, she saw that familiar figure, rushing over. As a result, as soon as she saw Chen Ping’an’s appearance, tears fell like raindrops, her dark face wrinkled, her mouth turned down, unable to speak. How did Master become like this? So dark and thin, why is he imitating her? Chen Ping’an sat up straight and smiled, “Why haven’t you grown taller after staying on Fallen Mountain for three years? What, not getting enough to eat? Only thinking about playing? Have you forgotten to copy books?”

Pei Qian hugged Chen Ping’an tightly, crying loudly, extremely sad.

She should have stubbornly followed Master back then. With her taking care of Master’s food and daily life, even if she was clumsy, at least there would be someone to talk to Master and relieve his boredom in the Shujian Lake area.

Chen Ping’an glared at Zhu Lian, who was gloating on the side.

Zhu Lian picked up the wine pot and took a big gulp of penalty wine himself. Then, taking advantage of the time when Chen Ping’an was softly comforting Pei Qian, Zhu Lian picked up the small pot with half a pot of Uttering Crow Wine left and left.

It seemed like he wanted to leave the moonlight and time to the reunited master and apprentice.

Pei Qian finally managed to sit on a stone stool on the side, sobbing.

She had grown a little taller, but not noticeably. An ordinary thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl should be as slender as a willow branch by now, and her face should also be maturing.

But Pei Qian seemed to still be that dark-skinned girl from the time they separated in Red Candle Town.
She chattered away, recounting to her master the “glorious achievements” she had accomplished in Longquan County over the years. Every so often, she would descend the mountain to manage the ancestral home in Mud Bottle Lane. She made sure to visit the graves every New Year and Qingming Festival. She also kept an eye on the two shops in Riding Dragon Lane. Besides copying books, she would wield her walking stick and ride her black serpent, diligently patrolling the grounds of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, preventing thieves from sneaking into the bamboo building. She also practiced the six-step stance her master had taught her, the eighteen stops of Sword Qi, the White Ape Sword-Carrying technique and the Dragging Blade method taught by the Daoist nun. Not to mention, she was perfecting that Mad Demon Swordplay that was only a hair’s breadth away from reaching its peak… In short, she was busy and hadn’t been fooling around at all, nor neglecting her duties. Heaven and earth could attest to that!

As for minor matters like chasing dogs, fighting geese, and playing shuttlecock, she felt there was no need to bother her master with them. As her master’s first disciple, these heroic feats and accomplishments were within her purview and didn’t need to be flaunted.

Chen Ping’an patiently listened to Pei Qian’s embellished account and asked with a smile, “Didn’t Senior Cui teach you anything?”

Pei Qian’s eyes darted around, and she shook her head vigorously, looking pitiful. “The old gentleman has high standards and looks down on me. Master, you don’t know, that old gentleman has the air of a sage, even more otherworldly than the cultivators on the mountain. I really admire him. Alas, I failed to catch the old gentleman’s eye and couldn’t get him to give me some pointers on my Mad Demon Swordplay. In Fallen Phoenix Mountain, this is the only thing I feel I’ve let Master down on.”

Perhaps afraid that Chen Ping’an wouldn’t believe her, Pei Qian, who had already been flattering on both sides, clapped her fist into her palm with a crisp sound, looking very annoyed. “I’ve brought shame to Master!”

Chen Ping’an bent down and flicked Pei Qian’s forehead, causing her to clutch her head in pain and gasp for air.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “If you can’t bear the hardship, just say so honestly. What ‘high standards’? Who are you trying to fool?”

Pei Qian rubbed her slightly red forehead, her eyes widening in astonishment. “Master, did you learn some kind of divine mind-reading technique on this trip? Master, what’s up with you? How can you learn such incredible skills wherever you go! How is that supposed to let me, your senior disciple, ever catch up to you? Am I destined to eat your dust forever?”

Chen Ping’an grabbed the ear of the little flatterer. “Oh, keep making things up. I want to see how far you can go.”

Pei Qian grinned, but as soon as she saw her master’s face, tears welled up in her eyes, and she lost all desire to joke with him, hanging her head.

Chen Ping’an sighed, patted her little head, and smiled. “I’ll tell you some good news. Soon, Gray Haze Mountain, Vermilion Sand Mountain, and Crabback Ridge will all belong to your master. And Oxhorn Mountain’s immortal ferry crossing, your master will own half of it. In the future, you can collect tolls from all kinds of people who come and go.”

Pei Qian was unenthusiastic and just said, “Oh.”

Chen Ping’an folded his hands in his sleeves and continued to gaze at the night scenery south of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. He heard that on clear days, if you had good eyesight, you could even see the outlines of Red Candle Town and Embroidery River.

Pei Qian lay on the stone table, gently tracing the lines of the chessboard with her finger, staring intently at her master.

They were both silent.

Having received Zhu Lian’s message, the boy in blue robes and the girl in the pink dress came together from the new mansion. Chen Ping’an turned around, smiled, and waved for them to sit down. With Pei Qian, they made a table of four.

The girl in the pink dress ran over quickly and bowed respectfully to Chen Ping’an, “Master.”

The boy in blue robes also bowed in a passable imitation. When he looked up, his face was radiant. “Master, you finally deigned to return. But I don’t see any beautiful junior mistresses by your side?”

The girl in the pink dress glared at him. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

The boy in blue robes picked his nose and plopped down on the stone stool opposite Chen Ping’an, lying on the table like Pei Qian, his face full of suspicion. “Master, are you wearing a human skin mask while traveling the world? It’s late at night, and I’m a bit timid. You look scary. Hurry up and take it off.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Is that your way of saying you don’t want a red envelope?”

The boy in blue robes raised his head, looking left and right. “After taking a closer look, Master, you’ve become even more manly.”

Chen Ping’an scratched his head. Fallen Phoenix Mountain? It should be renamed Flattery Mountain.

Chen Ping’an then took out three items from his sleeve: a Nine Palaces Treasure Box given by that old cultivator at the Thousand Ravines Nation ferry crossing, a piece of Old Dragon City Rainmaking Jade that the Fu family had compensated, and the last remaining fox skin beauty talisman he had kept. He gave them to Pei Qian, the boy in blue robes, and the girl in the pink dress, respectively.

When Pei Qian opened it and saw the dazzling array of trinkets, exquisite and delicate, the key was that there were so many of them.

The boy in blue robes hesitated for a moment before accepting the priceless Old Dragon Rainmaking Jade.

The girl in the pink dress caressed the fox skin talisman, unable to put it down.

Chen Ping’an smiled and explained to her, “You won’t have to do all the cleaning alone in the future. After infusing it with spiritual energy, you can have a talisman puppet help you. Its intelligence is no different from that of an ordinary girl, and it can even chat with you.”

The girl in the pink dress rose again to bow to Chen Ping’an in thanks, meticulous as always.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t stop her.

The boy in blue robes suddenly said, “Isn’t this a bit too valuable?”

Chen Ping’an joked, “Has the sun risen in the west?”

The boy in blue robes sighed and thought for a moment. “I can’t accept it. I happened to have heard of the rarity of this kind of Old Dragon City jade. It’s not like snake gallstones that are related to the Great Dao. Even if you gave me more, I wouldn’t refuse…”

The boy in blue robes placed the jade on the table.

Seeing his determined expression, Chen Ping’an didn’t insist that he accept the gift, nor did he put it back in his sleeve. He picked up the Crow Cry wine and took a sip. “I heard that your River Overseeing Water God brother came to our Longquan County?”

The boy in blue robes hung his head. “He did.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Don’t feel like you’re stupid. It’s just that your Water God brother isn’t smart enough. If he comes again in the future, just treat him as usual. If you don’t want to see him, just say you’re in seclusion somewhere and have Pei Qian stop him for you. If you still want to see him, then continue to treat him well with good wine. If you don’t have money to buy wine, whether it’s money or wine, you can borrow it from me.”

The boy in blue robes’ expression was a bit strange. “I thought you would advise me not to see him.”
Chen Ping’an smiled faintly, “Several centuries of camaraderie, scattered just like that, is a little regrettable. But the friendship can continue. If there’s something you can’t help with, just tell them directly. If they’re true friends, they’ll understand.”

The green-robed boy muttered, “Wandering the pugilistic world, admitting to your brothers that you’re incapable, how unheroic is that?”

As soon as the green-robed boy finished speaking, he felt even more guilty.

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Alright then, as long as it’s about money, even if you still want to puff yourself up in front of your Water God brothers, pretending to be capable when you’re not, it doesn’t matter. You can still come to me to borrow money. I guarantee you’ll still be that generous and flamboyant second-in-command of the Imperial River.”

The green-robed boy was completely dumbfounded, forgetting to address him as “Master,” he directly called out his name, “Chen Ping’an, did you get your head knocked on this trip? ”

Chen Ping’an sat there quietly, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, the gentle breeze caressing his face, “Someday, when you finally understand, brothers are no longer brothers, even friends can’t be anymore, at least you can have a clear conscience, knowing you never wronged them. We’re not starving in Luopo Mountain, so what does money matter to a pugilist in the world, as long as there’s still wine to drink? If you don’t have it, I do. If you don’t have much, I have plenty.”

The green-robed boy grabbed the Old Dragon’s Rain-Making Pendant, wiped his face, said nothing, and ran off.

Pei Qian and the pink-skirted girl looked at each other blankly.

Chen Ping’an actually had some things he didn’t say to the green-robed boy.

Regardless, Chen Ping’an didn’t want the green-robed boy to be too disappointed in the pugilistic world he held so dear.

Wei Bo suddenly appeared on the edge of the cliff, clearing his throat lightly, “Chen Ping’an, I have some news to tell you.”

Chen Ping’an stood up, “How so?”

Wei Bo pointed towards the mountain gate, “A fair maiden is paying Luopo Mountain a visit in the dark of night.”