Wei Bo looked up at the firmament, the full moon hanging high.

Only after becoming the Mountain Deity of Divine Water Kingdom did he learn that in another world, there existed a wondrous sight of three moons vying for splendor. To this day, Wei Bo could not imagine how the celestial mechanics of that world, with two extra moons, would give rise to Daoist laws vastly different from the Great Hao Heaven.

Chen Ping An took down the Gourd of Nurturing Swords, drinking wine as he contemplated burying many of his treasured spirits, stored within his miniature realms, in a place on Fallen Phoenix Mountain with deep mountain roots and abundant water veins. Upon reflection, he realized the variety of wines was considerable.

There was the Osmanthus Wine, personally brewed by Madam Gui of Old Dragon City; the Immortal Wine from the Bee Tail Ferry well; the Crow’s Cry Wine from Book Brief Lake; the Azure Touring Mansion’s Water Bloom Wine, gifted by the River Deity Maiden of Buried River, still more than half a jar remaining, though now it should be the Azure Touring Water Deity Palace. Wu Yi of Purple Sun Prefecture gifted the Old Flood Dragon’s Drool Wine, and the Yellow Vine Wine, also known as Sustenance Wine, from Red Crisp Island, his hometown in Green Gorge Island. Chen Ping An had tasted it – mellow, soft, and easy to drink. Thinking of Pei Qian and the pink-skirted girl back home, he had purchased a batch of aged spirits during his travels, thinking they could have a couple of cups during festivals. It was, after all, common fare and not expensive.

Wandering the world, accompanied by books, sword, and wine, one would never be lonely.

The journey to the Northern Ju Continent, delayed for three years, could not be postponed any longer. He would strive to visit Painted Garment Country and Comb Water Country by the end of the year, to see some old friends and then board an intercontinental ferry to that renowned continent of sword cultivators, where reason was spoken with fists.

Wei Bo withdrew his gaze, passing over Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Chess Mound Mountain, and looking towards Red Candle Town to the south. As a Mountain Deity, surveying his domain was a simple matter; the distance was easily visible. If he so desired, the Water Deity Temple of Red Candle Town, even every pedestrian on the street, could be seen in perfect detail. With the prosperity of Dragon Spring County, Red Candle Town, as the confluence of the Embroidered Flower River, Jade Nectar River, and Tranquil Ripple River, was becoming an increasingly vital waterway hub.

“When young, I did not know the moon, calling it a plate of white jade.

Immortals hang down two feet, the osmanthus tree, how round and full.”

This was a remnant of poetry passed down from the ancient Shu Kingdom, later becoming a folk song sung by every boat girl in Red Candle Town, young and old.

Although he was now a Proper Deity of the Northern Mountain of Great Li, the “baseborn” status of all boatmen from the Floating Water Bay of Red Candle Town remained unchanged. Except for that woman who had already found a path in the Evergreen Palace, generation after generation, for so many years, the descendants of the five clans of the former Divine Water Kingdom had been unable to shake off their baseborn status, nailed to the Floating Water Bay by the iron rule of “no landing.”

Wei Bo had watched over the five great clans of Floating Water Bay for so many years, but after rising to prominence, he had never even thought to plead with Great Li.

After becoming the Proper Mountain Deity of Great Li, Wei Bo had accomplished many great deeds. Changing the boatmen’s registers of Floating Water Bay, whether it would ultimately succeed or not, was merely a small matter of informing the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Music Academy in the capital. The outcome depended on whether the Minister of Rites and National Preceptor Cui Chan would nod in agreement. Yet, Wei Bo had refrained from making the request.

Wei Bo was silent for a long time, then smiled, “Chen Ping An, now that we’ve exchanged pleasantries, shouldn’t we discuss some mundane matters?”

Earlier, when Wei Bo went to the gates of Fallen Phoenix Mountain to greet Chen Ping An, their casual conversation while ascending the mountain was exactly that. Fallen Phoenix Mountain, with its Mountain Deity Temple, was clearly a nail of the Great Li Dynasty, and the Song Clan of Great Li made no attempt to conceal it. This was a tacit statement. If Wei Bo were to isolate a small world, it would inevitably appear suspicious. With the upright character of Song the Mountain Deity, atop the mountain, born a loyal minister and dying a heroic spirit, he would surely record this and send word to the Ministry of Rites.

It was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Chen Ping An was already prepared for this, asking, “If the land deed with the Great Li Dynasty is successful, which mountain should be the ancestral mountain for the Ancestral Hall? Fallen Phoenix Mountain has the best foundation, but it’s too remote, located in the southernmost region. Moreover, I am quite ignorant about geomancy. I currently have two formations, of quite high caliber… One is a sword formation, suitable for attacking and repelling enemies, and the other is a mountain defense formation, suitable for protection. Once rooted on the mountain, they are extremely difficult to move. Should I place both protective formations on the same mountain from the start, or should they echo each other from the north and south, and be built separately? However, there is another problem: for both large formations, I currently have the formation diagrams and enough divine money, but I am still lacking two major core components. So, even if they can be built in the near future, they will be empty shells.”

Wei Bo was not reserved with Chen Ping An, asking directly and without hesitation, “How high is the caliber? Is there a specific designation?”

Chen Ping An smiled, “In addition to the jade pendant miniature realm that Zheng Dafeng gave me, I also have a paulownia leaf from the Paulownia Leaf Sect, which is also a miniature realm. However, I was warned when I received it, so I have never opened it over the years. Inside, besides a large sum of Grain Rain coins from the Paulownia Leaf Sect, the most important thing is that it contains the precious formation diagrams for two mountain protection formations: one is a sword formation modeled after the attack formation of Peaceful Ascension Mountain in Paulownia Leaf Continent, and the other is a mountain defense formation modeled after the Divining Writing Sect. The Grain Rain coins are enough to cover the cost of building both formations, and can also maintain their operation for a hundred years.”

Chen Ping An smiled wryly, “It’s just that the core components to support the operation of the two large formations – nine superior sword artifacts and five golden body golems – I need to find them myself through chance encounters, or buy them with divine money. I estimate that even if I am lucky enough to find someone selling these two types, they will be astronomically priced. The Grain Rain coins in the paulownia leaf might be emptied. Even if I build two complete mountain protection formations, I won’t be able to operate them. I might have to sell everything I have, rob Peter to pay Paul, just to avoid leaving the formations idle. Just thinking about it makes my heart ache. It really forces me to seek opportunities in those broken grotto-heavens, or to risk exploring dangerous places like those wild mountain cultivators.”

After speaking, Chen Ping An looked at Wei Bo.

Wei Bo nodded, “There will be no prying.”

Only then did Chen Ping An take out the yellowed paulownia leaf. It appeared ordinary, but if a cultivator were to examine it closely, they would discover that the small paulownia leaf was actually full of mysteries and countless wonders.
Chen Pingan handed the item to Wei Bo, whispering, “The reason I dared not open it is because inside are hidden two fragments of Du Mao’s shattered golden body after his failed ascension, both pieces falling into the Tongye Sect. One is as small as a thumb, the other the size of a child’s fist. Compared to the other golden body fragments scattered across Tongye and Treasure Bottle Continents, these are considered small. Once opened, it would be akin to revealing a celestial secret, possibly attracting the covetous gazes of cultivators above the fifth realm.”

Wei Bo pinched the paulownia leaf with two fingers, lifting it high and squinting as he examined it. He sighed, “Fortunately, you didn’t open it. The golden body fragments of an ascension realm cultivator are truly priceless. Even I am tempted, not to mention others. The aura is so rich that even the veins of this paulownia leaf, soaked for only a few years, have already begun to exude a golden jade luster from the inside out. What if it were opened? You should know that many Yin-Yang cultivators rely on deduced celestial secrets to sell to great cultivators, earning Valley Rain coins. So, you endured the temptation and didn’t look, avoiding countless unforeseen troubles.”

Wei Bo admired the paulownia leaf for a moment before returning it to Chen Pingan, explaining, “This paulownia leaf is most likely a fallen leaf from the fundamental tree of Tongye Continent. It is said that a large tree attracts wind, but that ancient paulownia tree, whose location is unknown to anyone, almost never sheds its leaves. It is evergreen for ten thousand years, gathering the fortune of a continent. Therefore, every fallen leaf, every broken branch, is incredibly precious. Every time a branch or leaf lands, it is a great opportunity for the cultivator on the continent who catches it. In the dark, they can obtain the protection of Tongye Continent. What people call good fortune and hidden merit is nothing more than this. Back in Qidun Mountain, you saw the small bamboo garden I carefully cultivated, remember?”

Chen Pingan nodded and smiled.

Of course, he remembered. Now, Chen Pingan still yearned to ask Wei Bo for another bamboo stalk to make bamboo knives for himself and Pei Qian, master and disciple, one large and one small. If the bamboo was large enough, he could also make a bamboo sword for Pei Qian.

Chen Pingan had no reservations with Wei Bo.

Wei Bo’s bamboo forest in Qidun Mountain was actually just the descendant of the ancestral bamboo of the “Ten Virtues Bamboo,” one of the ten immortal bamboos renowned throughout the Nine Continents, the “Courageous Bamboo.”

Ah Liang had chopped off countless pieces back then. Besides being made into bamboo boxes and carved into bamboo slips by Chen Pingan, the main bulk was used to build the bamboo building in Fallen Mountain. However, the appearance of the latter was Wei Bo’s own wish. The Courageous Bamboo perfectly matched the military strategist’s prophecy, “The military might has been shaken, like splitting bamboo, after a few knots, it will be solved easily.” Building a tower with this bamboo was most beneficial for pure martial artists and military cultivators. Later, Li Xisheng covered the outside of the bamboo building with talismans, and the barefoot old man stayed on the second floor of the bamboo building almost all year round, meditating and cultivating, which was not surprising.

Looking back, Wei Bo had made a very profitable deal, earning himself the position of the Northern Mountain God of Great Li.

It was only after Chen Pingan passed through Shujian Lake that he realized that being able to conduct business with sincerity and naturalness, without any trace of mercantilism or the smell of copper, and turning business into a friendship between gentlemen, was the true skill and mastery of dealing with people.

Wei Bo had no idea that he was about to be fleeced again; this was probably called guarding against family thieves.

This Great Li righteous god was still there, telling Chen Pingan why the paulownia leaf was so rare, “Be sure to keep it safe. For example, when you travel in Great Li, whether a middle-fifth realm cultivator has a Peace Talisman makes a world of difference. When you return to Tongye Continent in the future and travel around, whether you have this paulownia leaf on you is also like the difference between clouds and mud. If I didn’t know that you had made up your mind and that there were deadly enemies on Tongye Continent, I would have advised you to bypass the Tongye Sect and try your luck in the southern part of Tongye Continent.”

“I won’t be going to Tongye Continent for the time being. As for the reason, it’s not just Du Mao and the Tongye Sect.”

Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment, but still told Wei Bo in detail about Sui Youbian’s trip to the Jade Regulations Sect to transform from a pure martial artist into a sword cultivator, and Li Fuchu’s pursuit.

It was now common knowledge that the Jade Regulations Sect’s lower sect in Tongye Continent was located on Shujian Lake in Treasure Bottle Continent.

However, this was the first time Chen Pingan had revealed his relationship with the old man surnamed Xun and Jiang Shangzhen, after all, Chen Pingan didn’t trust the flying sword messages that came and went between Piyun Mountain and Qingxia Island before.

After Wei Bo heard this, he was stunned for a moment, thought for a while, and frowned, “The Jade Regulations Sect should be using this opportunity to show goodwill to the Central Earth Confucian Temple, but they are unwilling to tear themselves apart from the Wen Sheng lineage, so they let the great cultivator who defected from the Tongye Sect to the Jade Regulations Sect be the pawn who crossed the river to explore the way, instead of letting Jiang Shangzhen, his own man, rush to Shujian Lake immediately. If they killed you, there would be a scapegoat. If they didn’t kill you, this action would also be an explanation to the Holy Companion of the Asian Saint lineage, and it would not be in vain for supporting the Jade Regulations Sect in establishing a lower sect. And the great cultivator of the Tongye Sect’s Ancestral Hall is not stupid either. He didn’t want to be used as a knife to kill people, and secretly launched the Nascent Soul cultivator Li Fuchu. Although Li Fuchu’s realm is not as good as the former, he is not stupid either. After following you all the way, he decided to show up and put on a show with you in the Mei You Kingdom.”

Wei Bo also told Chen Pingan about many of the internal rules between the upper and lower sects.

Chen Pingan finally understood.

Why the Jade Regulations Sect would be fickle, from the old man surnamed Xun who appeared in the Old Dragon City, to Jiang Shangzhen, and finally to Gongliu Island, without any thought of “friendship.”

It turned out that it involved the sect’s eternal cause.

Chen Pingan shook the Sword Nourishing Gourd, sighing, losing the desire to drink.

He didn’t know what roles the old man surnamed Xun and Jiang Shangzhen played in this plan.

Now, the one who knew the details of the mountains west of Longquan County best was definitely Wei Bo. Transferring mountain and river fortune was not difficult, but returning to Chen Pingan’s original question, where to build the two mountain-protecting formations and when to break ground, Wei Bo’s expression was not easy. He slowly said, “The two great formations are of extremely high grade and cost an astonishing amount. Since you are currently lacking key items, if you are not in a hurry, I suggest you make a decision later. The mountain-protecting formation is the top priority for all cultivators to create sects. When you are truly foolproof, it is best to build the formation in one go, and it is best not to do it intermittently.”

Wei Bo smiled and said, “Anyway, now that I am in Longquan County, you don’t have to worry about those mountains for the time being. If that doesn’t work, add a Saint Ruan.”

Chen Pingan was in a daze.
Having joked around, Wei Bo continued with the serious matter: “Finding Mo family experts skilled in formations and mechanisms is difficult in other parts of the Azure Bottle Continent, but we Great Li happen to have quite a few. This matter can be prepared earlier, so we won’t be caught in a rush later. Ordinary Mo family cultivators wouldn’t dare to take on these two grand formations. We must finalize the selection of people early and then coordinate the time, instead of setting a date and then looking for people. So, you can find an opportunity to contact that chivalrous hero, Xu Ruo. He holds significant sway behind the scenes in Great Li, and I can’t even fathom his depths. You don’t need to worry about this matter; I’ll step in to say hello for you, otherwise, you might not be able to find Xu Ruo.”

Wei Bo was probably worried that Chen Ping An would be too hasty and insist on building the grand formation before heading to the Northern Ju Lu Continent, so he patiently reminded, “On the path of cultivation, the Grand Dao is long. Many opportunities need to be fought for, and some good things are meant to be waited for. Don’t think that just because the Book Brief Lake journey was extremely agonizing and made the days seem like years, that all the world’s time is so… slow.”

Chen Ping An nodded, “I understand this principle.”

Wei Bo smiled, “Good, I thought I would have to do a lot of persuading to convince you.”

Chen Ping An said helplessly, “To be honest, I really want to have a respectable mountain, lavish and grand. Whether I’m on the mountain or thousands of miles away, I can feel at ease. That’s a… very happy thing to think about. But since you’ve said so, I can only restrain myself and take my time.”

Chen Ping An suddenly laughed, fastening the Sword Nurturing Gourd to his waist, “Great Mountain God Wei, I wonder if you have any extra Valiant Bamboo? Just one stalk will do.”

Wei Bo asked with a smile, “Would you consider this extortion?”

Chen Ping An said awkwardly, “Whatever the price in immortal coins, I’ll owe it to Azure Cloud Mountain at the market rate. I’m just thinking that I haven’t been back for long and will soon be leaving Dragon Spring County. I feel a little bad for Pei Qian, so I want to make him two bamboo knives and swords as a farewell gift, so he won’t cry.”

Wei Bo held up a thumb, “Helping you contact Xu Ruo, that’s one thing.”

Then he held up an index finger, “Shamelessly asking for a stalk of Valiant Bamboo, that’s the second thing.”

Wei Bo finally held up his middle finger, “Speak, let’s make it a grand slam.”

“There really is something.”

Chen Ping An chuckled, “I only have a bag of Golden Essence Copper Coins left, which I must keep for the four people in the painting. My Dharma Robe, Golden Nectar, can have its rank improved if I throw in Golden Essence Copper Coins. Someone said that it’s best to eat your way to a Semi-Immortal Weapon rank in one go, which is definitely not a loss. Even if I become a Golden Body Realm martial artist in the future and wearing it becomes a burden, I can just sell it for a sky-high price. But according to the current Great Li rules, all the debts of Golden Essence Copper Coins will be canceled after selling those mountains to me. So I’m thinking that Great Mountain God Wei is capable and hardworking, so please mediate a little more to squeeze out a few more bags of Golden Essence Copper Coins for me. If that really doesn’t work, just consider it my debt to the Great Li court.”

Wei Bo smiled brightly and asked, “May I ask this young hero, did you accidentally lose your face somewhere in the pugilistic world? Did you forget to pick it up and bring it back to Dragon Spring County?”

Chen Ping An said with a righteous face, “Look at what you’re saying, it hurts my feelings, but more importantly, it doesn’t have the slightest bit of immortal demeanor, which is unacceptable.”

Wei Bo rubbed his brow, “Chen Ping An, you’re actually Zhu Xi’s and Pei Qian’s bootlicking master, aren’t you?”

Chen Ping An waited for what he would say next.

Wei Bo thought for a while, “A stalk of bamboo is easy, I’ll give it to you as a gift for that little girl. But asking Great Li for a few more bags of Golden Essence Copper Coins, the matter itself is not big, but temporarily raising the price violates business rules after all, so I have to think carefully about how to bring it up.”

Chen Ping An cupped his fist and smiled.

Wei Bo said solemnly, “Chen Ping An, don’t think I’m making a fuss over nothing. Whether it’s mountain and water deities or mountain cultivators, some rules, the smaller and more basic they seem, the more you should respect them, even if it seems like trampling on them has no consequences.”

Chen Ping An nodded, “When I was a bookkeeper at Book Brief Lake, I also thought about this. Later, when I traveled around, I gained some insights on this matter.”

Wei Bo then returned to his normal expression, complaining, “What a hardworking and capable one.”

Wei Bo looked towards Fallen Phoenix Mountain and smiled, “Fallen Phoenix Mountain has visitors again.”

Chen Ping An, having been bitten by a snake once, was afraid of wells for ten years, so he felt nervous, fearing that Ruan Qiong was still angry and directly attacking the mountain.

Wei Bo grabbed Chen Ping An’s shoulder and laughed, “You’ll know when you see them.”

Chen Ping An suddenly said, “Wait a moment.”

Wei Bo stopped his movements, looking distressed, “There’s still something else? Chen Ping An, that’s too much, isn’t it?”

Chen Ping An joked, “It’s easy to invite a god, but hard to send one away.”

Wei Bo rubbed his cheeks, “Come on, let’s make it a grand feast.”

Chen Ping An took out the paulownia leaf again, then took out the jade pendant of the enshrined sage from his inch pouch, “I am good at nurturing the magnificent aura.”

Wei Bo glanced at the jade pendant and clicked his tongue, “This thing is not easy to handle.”

Chen Ping An first handed over the jade pendant and smiled, “I’m lending it to you for a hundred years, consider it the price I’m paying you for that stalk of Valiant Bamboo.”

Wei Bo took the jade pendant without hesitation and laughed, “This is great. Ever since you returned to Dragon Spring County, I’ve been waiting for you to say this. With this jade pendant, my position as the righteous god of the Northern Mountain of Great Li will be completely secure. Even if you gave me half of the Azure Bottle Continent, I can guarantee the stability of the mountains and rivers within my jurisdiction. It definitely won’t burst my stomach, Wei Bo.”

Chen Ping An then placed the paulownia leaf in Wei Bo’s hand, “The larger piece of glazed golden body fragment inside is a gift for you. I don’t feel safe carrying the paulownia leaf with me, so it’s better to leave it on Azure Cloud Mountain. Anyway, there’s no rush to build the two grand formations now.”

This truly surprised Wei Bo. A piece of glazed golden body fragment as big as a child’s fist, given to him?

This was a worldly treasure that even cultivators above the Fifth Realm would fight to the death for.

This was something Wei Bo dared not even dream of.

Even more so because these flawless golden body fragments were most beneficial to mountain and water deities, even more than cultivators.

Wei Bo hesitated for a long time and asked, “Good things come in pairs, why not give me the remaining small fragment as well?”

Chen Ping An held up a middle finger.

Wei Bo was relieved, “It seems like it’s a well-considered decision, and you won’t regret it.”
Wei Bo carefully put away the phoenix tree leaf and praised, “Chen Ping’an is truly a generous benefactor!”

Chen Ping’an said smugly, “This is called, ‘If you want the horse to run, you have to give it grass.'”

Wei Bo glanced at Chen Ping’an askance, “You really don’t regret it?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, looking somewhat lost as he gazed into the distance, his hands tucked into his sleeves, looking weary. “The trip to Shujian Lake, all alone, stretching out an arm or taking a step, I had to be constantly vigilant. I don’t want a day to come when, in my own hometown, I also have to rely on myself for everything. I also want to slack off a little.”

Wei Bo was silent for a moment, then asked with a smile, “That shard of colored glass, you originally intended to give it to the Mountain God of Luopo Mountain, right? After all, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative. It’s never a bad thing to foster good relations.”

Chen Ping’an hummed in agreement, “It seems I can save it now.”

Wei Bo said, “That’s not very generous-benefactor-like.”

Chen Ping’an said, annoyed, “I was never one to begin with!”

Wei Bo smiled and didn’t pursue the matter.

Chen Ping’an recalled something and asked, “By the way, is there a ferry at Niujiao Mountain that goes to the Caiyi Kingdom area?”

Wei Bo nodded, “The North Mountain God has that much face.” (The North Mountain God has the influence to arrange for it).

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Next time, I want to start climbing from the foot of Piyun Mountain and walk the entire mountain properly.”

Wei Bo said, “You can also visit Linlu Academy. You have a friend studying there.”

It was the Sui Dynasty prince, Gao Xuan.

Chen Ping’an had a good impression of this person.

Wei Bo sighed, “The accumulation of soil makes a mountain, and wind and rain arise. Chen Ping’an, you can indeed look forward to the future. Within this mountain, Luopo Mountain, Haimeng Mountain, Baijian Terrace, and many other places, will have Old Mister Cui, Cui Dongshan, Pei Qian, Zhu Lian, and many other cultivators. Within Dali, I, Wei Bo, Xu Ruo, Zheng Dafeng, Gao Xuan, and many other allies.”

Chen Ping’an smiled knowingly.

After overcoming many hardships in life, there is often light at the end of the tunnel.

Wei Bo once again pressed down on Chen Ping’an’s shoulder, “Don’t keep your guests waiting.”

With a gentle push, Chen Ping’an disappeared from Piyun Mountain.

Wei Bo remained alone on the mountain peak. Piyun Mountain was extremely high, the sea of clouds surging, as if it were as tall as the sky and on par with the moon.

Looking around, the scenery was magnificent.

The moon was like a flying mirror in the sky, and the clouds formed a pavilion on the sea.

Chen Ping’an staggered, taking a step as if he were in a crystal-clear fairyland. Feeling slightly dizzy, he looked closely and found himself at the foot of Luopo Mountain.

Chen Ping’an was already used to this. Back in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, this was a common occurrence.

It was one of the ways of “wading through water,” the water being the river of time.

The Instantaneous Movement of Earthly Immortals or Mountain and Water Gods, this competition with the river of time, was the most subtle kind.

And the Instantaneous Movement of Earth in the current era, it is said that it is far inferior to the Immortals and Gods of ancient times who moved mountains and crossed seas. Ancient relics once said, “Instantaneous Movement from the Yellow Springs, Ascension to the Celestial Palace,” how carefree that was. These were all unintentional words from Cui Dongshan in his early years. As for Cui Chan’s so-called moving the Three Mountains and crossing the Four Seas, Chen Ping’an didn’t think too much about it at the time. Later, after buying that immortal book from Upside-Down Mountain, he realized that the Vast World didn’t even have the Three Mountains and Four Seas. Later, when he reunited with Cui Dongshan in the southeast of Treasure Bottle Continent, the two were playing chess, and Chen Ping’an casually asked about it. Cui Dongshan chuckled and only said that it was all old news, and didn’t continue the conversation.

Chen Ping’an saw a hunched man, chewing on a dog-tail grass.

That guy also saw Chen Ping’an. The man tsked, “Not bad, moving mountains and shrinking the earth. What, you think that golden head is an eyesore, so you’re coming to be the Mountain God of Luopo Mountain yourself?”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “It’s Wei Bo’s divine ability, I don’t have that kind of ability.”

Chen Ping’an loosened his posture naturally, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, “Take a walk?”

Zheng Dafeng glanced at Chen Ping’an. He hadn’t seen him for several years, and he had probably lost over ten or twenty pounds.

He should have grown taller, but now, with his slumped back and shoulders, he didn’t appear tall.

Zheng Dafeng exclaimed, “It seems that Sui Youbian’s skill has greatly increased since leaving Old Dragon City.”

Chen Ping’an was confused, “What do you mean by that?”

Zheng Dafeng said earnestly, “Young people just don’t know moderation. If you injure your vitality somewhere, your qi and blood will inevitably be insufficient, and your marrow will be depleted. Your waist will hurt and you won’t be able to bend over. I’m sure you haven’t been able to practice boxing recently, right? When you go back to the old man’s medicine shop, grab a few prescriptions to nourish your body. If that doesn’t work, ask Wei Bo for a Dual Cultivation technique. It’s not embarrassing to lose to a woman when you’re just starting out. Men are often not a match for women.”

Chen Ping’an finally understood Zheng Dafeng’s implied meaning. With Zheng Dafeng’s temper, the more he argued, the more energetic he would become. If Sui Youbian were here, Zheng Dafeng would probably get a sword through him.

Chen Ping’an inexplicably recalled a saint’s words from a Daoist “canonical” text and said with a smile, “The Great Dao is pure and empty, how could such a thing exist?”

Zheng Dafeng scoffed at this.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Your master has taken in two more disciples. I’ve met them. That woman, like you and Li Er, is a pure martial artist, but why doesn’t that Taoye Lane boy seem to be on the path of martial arts?”

Zheng Dafeng shook his head, “No one knows what the old man is thinking. I don’t even know how many senior brothers and sisters I have scattered around, besides Li Er, can you believe that? The old man never likes to talk about it.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “What are your plans now?”

Zheng Dafeng said with a look of course, “Isn’t that obvious? Keep my eyes peeled and find a wife. I wish I could carry a lantern on the street at night and pick up a woman to take home. You think being single is fun? The night is long, and all you can hear are roosters crowing and dogs barking, and the sound of you farting. You even have to cover it up in the blanket, afraid of letting it escape. If it were you, wouldn’t you feel sorry for yourself?”

Chen Ping’an wiped his face and said nothing.

Zheng Dafeng asked with a smile, “Let me discuss something with you.”

Chen Ping’an asked curiously, “Go ahead.”

Zheng Dafeng pointed to the foot of Luopo Mountain behind him, “I plan to go back to my old job, guarding the gate, freeloading off you. How about it?”

Chen Ping’an stopped, “Are you kidding?”

Zheng Dafeng was angry, “I traveled all night, just to come to Luopo Mountain and joke with you?”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Sure, I’ll have Zhu Lian build a house by the mountain gate later.”
Zheng Dafeng rolled his eyes, “There has to be one on the mountain too, or people will laugh behind my back and I’ll never find a wife.”

Chen Pingan looked around, then leaned in close to Zheng Dafeng, whispering in his ear.

After hearing him out, Zheng Dafeng quickly wiped his mouth, grinning like a sly fox, “Isn’t that a little inappropriate? It wouldn’t be good for my reputation, would it? I’m still unmarried, you know. Besides, you already gifted it to that little girl in the pink dress. It’s not fitting to ask a young girl to return it.”

Chen Pingan said, “You said it yourself. Don’t go getting jealous later, neglecting the mountain and wandering around instead.”

Zheng Dafeng grabbed Chen Pingan’s arm, “Hey, now, don’t I get to be a little bashful? I’m a thin-skinned fellow, you know that. How have you been traveling the world for so long and still have no discernment?”

Chen Pingan rubbed his chin, “Forget it, I won’t bother asking the pink-clad girl for the fox-hide talisman paper. I’ll find someone, have them buy another one for you in Qingfeng City.”

Zheng Dafeng nodded vigorously, suddenly catching on to something. He tentatively asked, “Wait a minute, what do you mean? You’re not paying for the talisman paper?”

Chen Pingan smiled, “I’m paying, of course. Just consider it an advance on your salary for guarding the mountain gate.”

Zheng Dafeng started to get agitated.

Chen Pingan adopted a serious tone, abandoning his playful demeanor, “If you truly want a quiet place to settle down, there are plenty of other mountains besides Luopo Mountain: Greymist Mountain, Aoyu Ridge, Sword-Worship Platform. Take your pick.”

Zheng Dafeng shook his head, “There’s no shame in being a gatekeeper. If I truly felt like I was a failure and wanted to hide from the world, I could go anywhere. Why would I come to Longquan County?

Zheng Dafeng patted Chen Pingan on the shoulder, walking slowly. He looked up at the summit of Luopo Mountain, “This place has a human touch. I like it. The old town had it too, back then, but after a small blessed land was demoted from a minor celestial domain, the restrictions were gone. Thousands of miles of rivers and mountains took root, people came and went, good and bad mixed together. It looked lively, but it lacked heart.”

Chen Pingan felt the same way when he passed through the old town on his return to Longquan County, but his thoughts weren’t as direct as Zheng Dafeng’s words.

Zheng Dafeng said, “If I ever think Luopo Mountain is like that too, I’ll move away. Don’t blame me for not saying goodbye.”

Chen Pingan thought for a moment, “How about you at least say goodbye before you leave?”

Zheng Dafeng remained noncommittal, then suddenly reached out and patted Chen Pingan’s back, “Stop hunching over on purpose. Aren’t you tired? So what if I, Zheng Dafeng, am a hunchback? I’m still handsome.”

Chen Pingan forced a smile.

Zheng Dafeng stayed that night in Zhu Lian’s courtyard. Give those two kindred spirits a couple jugs of wine and some snacks, and they could probably chat all night.

Thinking about Zhu Lian, Chen Pingan felt much more at ease about Zheng Dafeng’s volunteering to guard Luopo Mountain.

Zhu Lian would probably be heading down the mountain often. Once those two started drinking and shooting the breeze, Zheng Dafeng could probably boast about being a celestial gatekeeper from the Heavenly Court.

Chen Pingan returned to the bamboo building, where the old man surnamed Cui stood on the second floor. He twitched his lips, then turned and went inside.

Chen Pingan’s scalp tingled.

He still went up to the second floor.

The old man was sitting cross-legged inside, teasing, “Not thanking me for giving you a ride and letting you see such a beautiful moonlit scene?”

Chen Pingan sat opposite him, keeping a straight face, “I really couldn’t bring myself to say something so against my conscience.”

The old man nodded, “Understandable. It’s been a few years since I gave you a beating; you’re getting cocky.”

Chen Pingan knew things were about to get ugly.

The old man sneered, “Still running? Are you not afraid of me punching you straight to Mount Shenxiu, and then having Ruan Qiong hammer you back to Luopo Mountain with a single strike?”

Sweat beaded on Chen Pingan’s forehead.

The old man took a letter from his sleeve and tossed it to Chen Pingan, “Your student left this for you.”

Chen Pingan reached out and caught the envelope. The old man’s fist arrived, even though Chen Pingan’s senses were sharp, he was still caught off guard. With a loud bang, he flew backward, crashing into the wall.

The old man scoffed, “How strange. A fifth-realm martial artist is less agile than a third-realm martial artist from back in the day? No wonder you can only eat dust behind other people’s tails.”

Chen Pingan put the letter into his “inch pouch”, took off his Sword Immortal cloak and boots, hunched over, and adopted a seemingly loose fist stance, concealing his martial intent. In reality, his tendons and bones were suddenly stretched, joints cracking like firecrackers, causing the green shirt on his body to vibrate, scattering dust all around.

If Zhu Lian were here, he would be shocked, then would begin bootlicking and say something like, “The student has surpassed the master.”

Because the only boxing stance that Chen Pingan had “unconsciously” practiced over the years was Zhu Lian’s unique “Ape Form,” the essence of which was only in “When the Heavenly Gate opens, spring thunder erupts”.

Chen Pingan had not yet achieved perfection, but he was already extremely similar to Zhu Lian, who had honed it for decades.

Then, with the martial intent of the Ape Form, Chen Pingan adopted the “Training Dragon” stance he had learned from the National Preceptor Zhong Qiu of Lotus Flower Blessed Land, except his fist style was the Iron Cavalry Charge formation. “Come! If you have the guts, kill me with only the fifth realm!”

The barefooted old man slowly stood up.

The bamboo building shook, and the dense spiritual energy around it was scattered. A green-clad figure suddenly arrived, a knee strike aimed at the head of the old man, who was still straightening up.

The old man casually stretched out a hand, holding Chen Pingan’s knee, and tossed Chen Pingan away with a flick. The old man continued to stand up slowly. The speed did not increase by a fraction, not reduced by a hair, just standing straight, calm.

Chen Pingan wasn’t discomfited by being thrown, but rather tapped his toes lightly on the bamboo building’s wall, landing gracefully, frowning. “Sixth realm?”

The old man obviously disdained to answer such a naive question.

After considering it, the old man, like Chen Pingan, supported his spirit with the intent of the Ape Form, and used the Training Dragon Stance to spread his body, and finally the Iron Cavalry Charge to open the way, smiling, “Ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. I’ll teach you a thing or two.”

Chen Pingan squatted slightly, retreated one foot, and drew arcs with both hands like flowing clouds, finally changing from palms to fists, adopting a strange stance the old man had never seen. “As long as it’s the fifth realm, am I afraid of you?”

The old man said “Oh”.

A fist was delivered.

Chen Pingan fainted on the spot, only managing to utter half a curse word.

Because the old man’s fist was clearly not in the fifth realm, not to mention the sixth realm, perhaps it was even in the seventh.
The old man, with one hand clasped behind his back, chuckled, “Apologies, I failed to restrain my fist.”

This wasn’t the old man intentionally teasing Chen Ping’an.

It was the absolute truth.

These past few years within this bamboo building, covered in talismans, he had been gently nurturing his inherently fierce and mighty fist intent. Tonight, provoked ever so slightly by this little brat’s own fist intent, the old man’s strike held a touch of unburdening within it. Even with utmost control, he could only suppress it to the seventh realm.

The old man sighed inwardly and walked onto the outer corridor.

Although returning to the last stage of the tenth realm, the third sub-realm, was only a matter of time, the eleventh realm of martial arts, once deemed within his grasp, was now a distant, unattainable dream.

It was he himself who, facing Sect Master Lu Chen, relinquished that sliver of opportunity to reach the eleventh realm, trading it for the safety of two young people. Though he didn’t regret it, how could there be no lingering regret?

The old man glanced back at the young man inside the house. Retracting his gaze, he pondered for a moment, then strode over and kicked Chen Ping’an, rousing him from his stupor. Before Chen Ping’an could utter a word, the old man kicked him on the forehead again, rendering the poor fellow unconscious once more. The old man muttered, “If you lack the ability to ascend to the eleventh realm in the future, see if I don’t beat you to death.”

The old man returned to the corridor, feeling refreshed, as if transported back to the days when he locked his grandson in the study’s small attic, removing the ladder. Whenever that grandson made progress in his studies, the old man would feel secretly gratified, yet never utter a word of praise. Some of the most heartfelt sentiments, such as utter disappointment or boundless joy, especially the latter, a senior would rarely express to a junior upon whom they held high hopes. Like an aged wine placed in a coffin, once the old man departed, that wine would never have the chance to see the light of day again.

How did the old man truly feel towards Chen Ping’an?

Pei Qian might not fully understand, nor might the green-robed boy and the pink-skirted girl. Only Zhu Lian knew.

That was why Zhu Lian would never entertain the thought of seeking instruction in fist techniques from the old man.

With a perfect jade already present…

Atop the mountain peaks, an old man and a young man, teaching and learning fist techniques, was enough.