Chen Ping’an chuckled, then cupped his fist and said, “Old Mister Hong, we meet again.”

The old man was as vigorous as he had been years ago. For a cultivator, a few years passed in the blink of an eye, and his appearance hadn’t aged much.

Seeing the green-shirted swordsman who had removed his bamboo hat, the old man from Qingfu Workshop, named Hong Yangbo, was increasingly puzzled. Qingfu Workshop’s business at the Dilong Mountain immortal ferry was exceptionally good. The flow of people was constant, which was normal. However, immortal money was mostly circulated on the first floor. Few customers went up to the second floor, and even fewer sat down to do business. If he had handled any distinguished guests, he should remember them. However, looking at the young man in front of him dressed as a wandering knight, he seemed unfamiliar, so why was he acting so familiar?

Nevertheless, the visitor was a guest, and he had addressed him as “Old Mister,” so Hong Yangbo sat down, returned the fist salute, and gestured for Chen Ping’an to take a seat. He asked with a smile, “Does the guest wish to buy or sell?”

Chen Ping’an moved a quaint jujube-red chair to sit down. These tasks were supposed to be handled by the guiding ladies of Qingfu Workshop. Of course, they wouldn’t work for nothing by serving tea and water and facilitating deals. They would receive a commission after a successful transaction. Especially if they turned a guest into a regular customer, Qingfu Workshop would offer an additional bonus. Chen Ping’an remembered that the woman from back then was named Cuiying. However, Chen Ping’an didn’t intend to buy or sell anything this time. Otherwise, he would have asked about Cuiying downstairs. Meeting was fate, and besides, looking back, the three of them had a mutually beneficial transaction with Qingfu Workshop, a truly auspicious start. He considered it a karmic connection. Cultivators believed in such things.

Chen Ping’an was about to sit down when he thought of closing the door, but the old man waved his hand and said, “No need to close the door.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, then followed the old man’s instructions and sat back down, smiling, “I came to Dilong Mountain Ferry this time just to visit Old Mister Hong. The old mister might not remember, but back then, I, along with a bearded fellow and a young Daoist, sold a few things in this shop…”

The old man slapped the table and laughed, “I remember now! It was you who sold me those bamboo chopsticks! Good heavens, you fulfilled an old wish of mine from years ago. I take them out to play with when I have nothing to do, and touching those bamboo chopsticks feels like touching the green hair of Madam Zhu of Qingshen Mountain…”

The old man didn’t continue, probably feeling he was being too forward.

Zhang Shanfeng had sold a pair of bamboo chopsticks from Qingshen Mountain here, and the old man had purchased them at a high price, due to his fondness for them, which caused some premium.

The old man was overjoyed and, remembering something, stood up and called out, “Qingcai, hurry and serve some good tea!”

Soon, a woman in a beautifully colored palace brocade long skirt came gracefully from the corridor paved with moss from Colorful Kingdom, delivering a cup of steaming tea to the two of them. The lithe woman left the room but didn’t go far, waiting at the door.

The old man was an elder of Qingfu Workshop, having spent half his life here. If he encountered a guest he didn’t like, he would often give them a cold face, neither caring if they bought nor sold. But to those he favored, he was generous and enthusiastically familiar. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chatted with Xu Yuanxia until they made a small bet.

The old man asked with a smile, “Where is that bearded fellow with the discerning eye? Why didn’t he come? I lost the bet back then. Buying that Five Peaks Bowl from Ancient Yu Kingdom caused Qingfu Workshop to lose some money, but that’s not important. Doing business inevitably has its ups and downs. Besides, I’m skilled at appraising bronzes, paintings, and fine wood, but I occasionally make mistakes in other categories. It’s nothing to worry about. But I owe that fellow a drink, and I can’t keep owing it, can I? When will it end? I don’t like owing people, it’s a small worry in my heart. How about I invite you to a good place outside Qingfu Workshop for a drink? Just consider it paid off?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and smiled, “This drink, let’s wait until my friend comes to ask Old Mister Hong for it himself.”

The old man was somewhat helpless, then his eyes suddenly lit up, “Last time you were in this shop, you only sold things. Actually, I have some rare, top-quality items that I don’t usually show to people. Would you like to feast your eyes on them? You don’t have to buy them. I’m not that kind of person. It’s just rare to meet an acquaintance I’m willing to deal with. I’ll take them out to show off and let the treasures breathe. It’s not like I’m hiding them away, afraid of people seeing them.”

Before Chen Ping’an could say anything, the old man had already stood up and started rummaging around, soon placing three brocade boxes of different sizes on the table.

The old man carefully opened them, revealing a royal-made Songyan inkstick, a clay figurine of a woman wearing a *mili* hat, and a cursive calligraphy scroll.

The old man’s face was filled with pride, “These three items are rare even on the second floor of Qingfu Workshop. They are filled with spiritual energy. Not to mention the clay figurine, the other two items have a strong scholarly aura. You wouldn’t feel like the gift is too light even if you gave them to a learned official in the secular dynasty or a Confucian scholar from Guanhai Academy!”

The old man pointed to the Songyan inkstick, “This imperial-made Songyan inkstick from the Divine Water Kingdom is not only made from a thousand-year-old pine tree, but it also has a great history. The imperial court bestowed it the title of ‘Master Wood,’ and the ancient pine was also known as the ‘Unintoxicated Pine.’ There’s a famous story about it. A great scholar, drunk in the mountains, encountered someone blocking his way, so he pushed the pine tree and said he wasn’t drunk. Unfortunately, after the Divine Water Kingdom was destroyed, the ancient pine was also ruined. Therefore, this Songyan inkstick is likely the only one of its kind in existence.”

The old man pointed to the clay figurine, his eyes even more fervent, “I bought this from a down-on-his-luck wild cultivator years ago. It was a great find. I only spent two hundred snowflake coins at the time. But after an expert on the third floor appraised it, I learned that this clay figurine was part of a set of twelve, made by a talented immortal of the Upper Five Realms from White Emperor City in the Central Earth Continent. It was later known as the ‘Twelve Exquisite Immortal Maiden Figurines.’ The wonder lies in that *mili* hat, which is itself a delicate magical artifact. Only by triggering the mechanism can you see the true face. Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out how to break the code yet, so I can’t fully verify the identity of the clay figurine. Otherwise, this item could become the most prized possession of the entire Qingfu Workshop, truly worthy of being a treasure! You must know that in the world of collecting, the most difficult thing to find is a complete set, and therefore people most like to find complete sets.”
Finally, the old man pointed to the calligraphy scroll, lamenting, “Compared to the previous two items, this is not as valuable. It’s the calligraphy of a local sword immortal from the ancient Shu region before he cultivated the Dao. Although it’s a copy, it’s like a cicada shedding its skin, almost indistinguishable from the original. It’s called ‘Lamentations on Swordsmanship,’ taken from the scroll’s opening line, which laments a negligence in swordsmanship. The calligraphy is exquisite, and the content is excellent, but alas, it has suffered the ravages of time and poor preservation, causing its spiritual energy to dissipate greatly, like a hero in his twilight years, a flickering candle. The opening line of the scroll aptly describes its current state. Alas, a lamentable thing indeed.”

Chen Ping’an was only mildly interested in the Shenshui Kingdom’s Imperial Pine Soot Ink and the Mud Doll, merely giving them a glance. However, he scrutinized the copied cursive script carefully. Chen Ping’an has always been passionate about writing and calligraphy, yet his own handwriting, much like his chess playing, lacked spirit and was stiff and conventional. However, despite his poor handwriting, he possessed a discerning eye for appreciating the work of others. This was thanks to the seal characters of Mr. Qi’s three seals, the numerous calligraphic works casually penned by Cui Dongshan, and the ancient seal manual he bought during his travels. Later, in the Lotus Blossom Paradise, he witnessed the calligraphy of many masters from the imperial court. Though each encounter was fleeting, Chen Ping’an retained a profound impression of their essence.

Therefore, Chen Ping’an, who had no intention of spending money at the Azure Money Shop, felt a stir in his heart. According to Old Man Hong, the Imperial Pine Soot Ink and the Mud Doll, brimming with spiritual energy, would undoubtedly be expensive, while this scroll should be relatively affordable.

Chen Ping’an inquired about the price. The old man raised a hand, palm facing outward, and shook it.

Five Lesser Heat Coins.

The pair of Azure God Mountain bamboo chopsticks had cost the same.

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “I can’t afford it.”

It wasn’t a lack of liking, but a reluctance to part with five Lesser Heat Coins, equivalent to five hundred thousand taels of silver in the secular world!

Back in the Meiyu Kingdom, he had bought a stack of cursive calligraphy scrolls from the mad, drunken county magistrate for only five jars of immortal wine, not even worth one Lesser Heat Coin.

In business, comparison is the thief of joy!

Had he not had the experience of bartering wine for calligraphy with the down-on-his-luck magistrate, Chen Ping’an might have gritted his teeth and bought the scroll, just as he had with the bamboo chopsticks.

The old man did not press him, understanding that the price was the obstacle. Nevertheless, he was pleased that this swordsman genuinely appreciated the cursive script, making it worthwhile to have shown him the scroll.

Just then, the colorfully dressed woman outside the door gently said, “Old Man Hong, why don’t you bring out the most treasured item in this room?”

The old man chuckled, “Qingcai, you didn’t bring him here. Even if I sell something in this room, you won’t get a single copper coin. What are you fussing about!”

The woman clearly had a good relationship with the old man, playfully retorting, “It’s good to take advantage of the guest and have a few more glimpses of the treasures.”

She turned to Chen Ping’an with a smile, “Young master, having come to this room, you must see Old Man Hong’s prized possession. It’s not every day you get to see such things.”

Chen Ping’an had no such intention, but Hong Yangbo smiled, pointing a finger at her, “Always taking the side of outsiders. Hurry up and find a man to marry, so you won’t be bored all day, trying to fleece us old men at the Azure Money Shop. Alright, you’ve already seen three good things. One more prized possession won’t hurt.”

In the end, the old man retrieved a square brocade box adorned with golden silk. Opening it, a wave of cool, refreshing air washed over them, devoid of any ominous aura, like a pure, righteous snowfall in midwinter.

Chen Ping’an fixed his gaze and saw four identical Heavenly Master Demon-Slaying Coins lying inside.

The old man turned each of the large coins over, one by one, smiling as he said, “These depict the Thunder God, Lightning Goddess, Rain Master, and Fire Lord, each vanquishing demons and subduing evil. This is a set of rare magical treasures for suppressing misfortune, beautiful and practical. Once, a member of the Zhu Ying Dynasty’s imperial family wanted to buy them, but his offer was slightly below my expectations. I might have sold them, but that fellow was too arrogant. Even though he was secretly overjoyed to see my treasured item, he put on a false air of composure. I found it annoying. That little trick might work in the marketplace, but to pull it in front of me is an embarrassment to the Zhu Ying Dynasty. So, I found an excuse and refused to sell.”

The old man chuckled, “Even if you don’t buy them, you can handle them. They’re not fragile porcelain, they won’t break.”

Chen Ping’an picked up one of the coins, carefully examining both sides, and asked after setting it down, “How much are they?”

The old man replied, “A set of four, not sold separately.”

The old man once again raised a hand, palm facing outward, and shook it.

Of course, it wasn’t five Lesser Heat Coins, but five Grain Rain Coins.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Is there no room for negotiation?”

The old man shook his head. “Absolutely no bargaining, otherwise, I would be disrespecting these precious coins that originated from the Blanched Continent.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Did that member of the Zhu Ying Dynasty try to haggle down to four Grain Rain Coins?”

The old man nodded, smiling.

Chen Ping’an wore a pained expression. “Then I seem to be no different from him.”

He also wanted to bargain down to four Grain Rain Coins, and he desperately wanted to acquire them.

Money is inanimate, people are alive.

After handing the Catalpa Leaf Miniature Item to Wei Bo, before leaving the mountain, Chen Ping’an had Wei Bo take out two sums of Grain Rain Coins. One sum of five, which Chen Ping’an carried with him, thinking it would be enough to handle any unforeseen circumstances during his travels. The other sum was sent to Book-Depot Lake, entrusted to Gu Can to organize two Grand Ceremonies for Universal Salvation and Land and Water Rituals.

If he encountered something like Lu Yong’s Five-Colored Gilt Stove, costing fifty Grain Rain Coins, as long as it didn’t involve the fundamental principles of the Great Dao, Chen Ping’an would consider it to be something he was not fated to possess.

After all, it was all spending and no earning. Apart from the two shops on Riding Dragon Lane, which could earn a few dozen taels of silver each month, none of the peaks on Fallen Phoenix Mountain were currently generating any immortal coins.

He really couldn’t afford to just spend money and not make any anymore.

The old man laughed heartily, “There is still some difference. I find you much more pleasing to the eye, young man. You can feel free to haggle, but I won’t agree to it anyway.”

In that instant, Chen Ping’an felt a spark of understanding and tentatively asked, “May I ask, what is the annual stipend that the Azure Money Shop pays to Old Man Hong?”
The Baofu Zhai of Niujiao Mountain in Longquan County was gone, but the buildings and shops built with huge sums of money were still there. Moreover, as Niujiao Mountain possessed a celestial ferry, this was the only one of its kind, indeed suitable for doing business.

The woman at the door covered her mouth and smiled, laughter still escaping, showing how comical Chen Ping’an’s question was.

If he had bought the four magic treasure-grade ghost-slaying coins, it would have been understandable, but he couldn’t afford them and dared to undermine Dilong Mountain’s Qingfu Workshop? Did he know that Qingfu Workshop, as the local bully of the Dilong Mountain celestial ferry, had been passed down for more than ten generations? Baofu Zhai had even run into obstacles here and ultimately didn’t choose to open a shop.

Hong Yangbo was also amused, waving his hand, “Let’s not talk about this.”

The old man was about to put away the spirit artifact brocade box, which was wrapped with gold thread to shield the coins from the cold, when Chen Ping’an turned his wrist and placed five Guyu coins on the table, “Senior Hong, I’ll buy them.”

The old man was surprised, “Really going to buy them? No regrets? Once you leave Qingfu Workshop, it’s a clean transaction, no returns allowed.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

The old man extended a palm, with one finger just touching a Guyu coin, immediately releasing it. It was indeed a genuine Guyu coin from the mountains, full of spiritual energy and flowing in an orderly manner, impossible to fake.

The old man asked again, “Are you sure?”

Chen Ping’an glanced at the remaining three boxes that hadn’t been put away and asked with a smile, “Could I get a little something extra?”

The woman at the door couldn’t help but chuckle and quickly turned her head away.

The old man said half-jokingly, “If you could help me pay back that wine debt, you could, how about it?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “That won’t do. Business is business.”

The old man shook his head, “Then forget it, business is business, fair price, no bonus.”

“Alright, no bonus is no bonus, slow and steady, we’ll talk about it later.”

Chen Ping’an moved slightly, his back blocking the view from the doorway, and put the silk-wrapped brocade box into his personal storage space.

Finally, the old man personally escorted Chen Ping’an to the doorway, not because he couldn’t take him to the first-floor gate of Qingfu Workshop, but because it was taboo and easily attracted unnecessary speculation and prying eyes.

The old man suddenly asked, “If you had agreed to drink earlier, which item would you have chosen as a bonus? The ‘What a Pity’ Calligraphy?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “The veiled clay figurine.”

The old man smiled, “Good eye, but not the best. The most valuable is actually that Shenshui Kingdom Imperial Song inkstick, with a market price of nine Xiaoshu coins. By that calculation, if you had just agreed to drink, it would have been like I discounted the entire set of magic treasure coins to four Guyu coins, and I would have only made half a Guyu coin at most. Now, it’s one and a half Guyu coins. Even after deducting Qingfu Workshop’s commission, I won’t have to worry about drinks for the rest of my life.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Then next time my friend comes to Qingfu Workshop, Senior Hong, remember to treat him to a good drink, the more expensive the better.”

The old man nodded, “Certainly.”

After Chen Ping’an stepped over the threshold, he told the woman that she didn’t need to see him off and then cupped his fist in farewell, “Senior Hong, until we meet again.”

The old man nodded in acknowledgement, “I won’t see you off. I hope we can do business often, slow and steady.”

Chen Ping’an then went downstairs and left, walking slowly with his horse on the street outside Qingfu Workshop.

The reason he bought the set of coins was to give them to Zhong Kui of Taiping Mountain.

Making money couldn’t be rushed; it wasn’t his fault.

However, Chen Ping’an quickly turned his head and saw the woman in the colorful dress walking quickly towards him, holding a brocade box.

After Chen Ping’an stopped, the woman named Qingcai handed him the brocade box and smiled, “Senior Hong ultimately felt bad and reluctantly parted with this clay figurine to give to you, young master. You don’t know, when I took the box, I pulled for a long time before I could pull it from the old man’s hands.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said that it was too embarrassing, but his hands didn’t hesitate at all. He took the box, but the woman didn’t let go immediately. Chen Ping’an pulled gently, and then he finally got it.

The woman looked at his back, raised both hands, and they were empty.

She smiled and shook her head, returning to Qingfu Workshop. The women on the first floor bowed their heads when they saw her.

When she reached Hong Yangbo’s room on the second floor, the old man stood respectfully at the door, smiling wryly, “Owner, I was startled when I saw you personally bringing tea earlier.”

The woman smiled calmly and said, “You were even more startled when that guest wanted to poach me, right?”

The old man smiled bitterly.

The woman walked into the room, bent down, and extended a finger, teasing the green-clothed little people standing on the ancient cypress branches. Hong Yangbo stood aside, puzzled, “I don’t know why Owner wanted me to give away that veiled clay figurine?”

The woman played with the endearing green-clothed children, “This person is most likely the young swordsman who appeared in the Sword Water Mountain Villa.”

The old man looked incredulous, “Impossible, right? Even if he could take out five Guyu coins in one go to buy that set of ghost-slaying coins that have been gathering dust for a hundred years, I met this person back then. At that time, he was at most a Third Realm pure martial artist…”

The woman said indifferently, “Baoping Continent is so big, is there only one Ma Kuxuan of Zhenwu Mountain?”

The old man was still skeptical, not believing that the young man was the azure-robed swordsman who made Su Lang of Songxi Kingdom suffer defeat.

The woman suddenly said, “Don’t forget, I am also a sword cultivator.”

The old man smiled, “Owner is a genius, who obtained the four-word prophecy of the earth immortal sword cultivator when she was young. The art of business is just a minor path.”

The woman straightened up, clapped her hands, “Just now, when this person came to the second floor of Qingfu Workshop, I happened to be wiping an ancient sword in the cold room on the third floor. My sword heart showed a trace of instability, although fleeting, it was definitely there.”

The woman casually opened a brocade box on the table, spread out the cursive calligraphy, and traced the ink marks with her fingers, turning uncertainly, and slowly said, “I guess that person actually saw that I wasn’t some Qingfu Workshop maid. That’s why he bothered to hide the fact that he was carrying personal storage or other magical storage devices. Not only that, just now at the parting on the street, I deliberately looked at the long sword behind him. At that time…”

The woman looked up, put her hands behind her back, “How should I put it, at that moment, he was as firm as a clay bodhisattva on a shrine. For such a person, Qingfu Workshop giving away a clay figurine worth a few Xiaoshu coins is nothing. If he is willing to accept it and acknowledge my goodwill, Qingfu Workshop should burn incense to celebrate.”
Speaking of this, the woman gently drew a line downwards with a finger, musing on how that person treated her and Hong Yangbo, truly as different as night and day.

The old man wiped the sweat from his brow, realizing he almost missed a tremendous opportunity back then, foolishly insisting on a drink before granting a small favor.

The woman suddenly asked, “Do you think his refusal to drink with you stems from being a celestial swordsman atop the mountain, disdaining to share a table with the likes of Hong Yangbo? Or does he genuinely wish for his friend to drink with you personally?”

Without hesitation, the old man declared, “Naturally, the former.”

The woman chuckled, “Then Qingfu Workshop will waive the commission on those ghost-slaying charms. Hong Yangbo, next time you offer someone a drink, make it expensive, the more extravagant, the better.”

The old man grinned, “That suits me perfectly!”

Chen Ping’an led his horse forward. After paying the fee, with an hour or two before the ferry’s departure, he patiently waited at the docks, looking up at the bustling ferries, constantly arriving and departing.

This ferry crossing seemed even more prosperous than before. If Niujiao Mountain could achieve even half this level of activity, it would surely become a gold mine.

Whether it be worldly gold and silver or the currency of immortals, the greatest fear is stagnation. Wealth, from ancient times, has always favored movement over stillness.

This was a casual remark from Cui Dongshan back in the day. It held no weight then, but now Chen Ping’an savored its profound meaning, finding it endlessly fascinating.

After leaving behind a letter and meeting his grandfather Cui Cheng, Cui Dongshan had vanished without a trace, like a clay ox entering the sea.

Aside from the flattering words, which could be disregarded, the letter outlined three significant matters. One concerned the overall situation in Bao Ping Continent, including the matter of refining new mountain earth of five colors as a natal treasure.

Another concerned Li Xisheng and the Li family of Fulu Street. Cui Dongshan hoped that Chen Ping’an, his teacher, would continue to care for Xiao Bao Ping, but need not feel overly indebted to the Li family. It was best to maintain a cordial but distant relationship, avoiding excessive favors.

The final matter was vague and quickly brushed over, simply telling his teacher to wait patiently, for to shake the great and crush the strong required a gradual approach.

Chen Ping’an understood what Cui Dongshan was referring to.

It was about his Natal Porcelain.

Chen Ping’an’s thoughts drifted away, as autumn neared its end, a mournful wind rustled through the trees, and heaven and earth seemed desolate.

Suddenly, someone hurried up from behind, nearly bumping into Chen Ping’an. Chen Ping’an subtly sidestepped to avoid them. The person seemed caught off guard, paused briefly, then rushed forward without looking back.

Chen Ping’an didn’t bother to pursue it. It was likely someone who had been gifted a brocade box by that woman in front of everyone after leaving Qingfu Workshop, attracting the envy of others.

Wandering cultivators seeking wealth often disregard any semblance of chivalry.

Chen Ping’an had slain so many mid-tier rogue cultivators and ghost cultivators in the mountains south of Shujian Lake that he’d lost count. He had even exchanged blows with a Golden Core rogue cultivator, resulting in mutual injuries. After that, they had left each other alone, with Chen Ping’an not seeking revenge and the other party not relentlessly pursuing him, relying on geographical advantages to attempt an ambush.

Chen Ping’an turned to look and saw two dusty, malnourished children, a boy and a girl, standing timidly not far away, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. Each held an open wooden box, peddling small mountain trinkets like porcelain bottles, small bronze statues, and prints. They possessed no spiritual energy to speak of, but could be considered decent literary curios if acquired by wealthy families. They cost about one or two snowflake coins, which was quite expensive compared to the prices in city shops. This was probably the smallest “Bao Fu Studio” in the world, though these children were often backed by local forces, and the children were just trying to make a living.

Chen Ping’an carefully selected a few small items, haggled for a while, and finally bought three items for twelve snowflake coins: a “Forever Receiving Blessings” roof tile inkstone, a pair of old Huangdong jade seals with a pleasing vermilion color, and a red glaze shallow bowl with a smooth, translucent color. He planned to give them to Pei Qian when he returned to Luopo Mountain, as that girl didn’t care much about the price of things, just wanted more and more.

Chen Ping’an took the snowflake coins from his sleeve and placed the three items inside.

The two children thanked him and ran off, probably afraid that this easy mark would change his mind.

Their steps were light and joyful. Once they were far away, they slowed down and whispered to each other.

Watching the children’s tender faces from afar, filled with hope, Chen Ping’an smiled knowingly.

Back in Lizhu Grotto-Heaven, each extra trip to deliver a letter earned him an extra copper coin from Zheng Dafeng. He imagined that his steps in Fulu Street and Tao Ye Lane were even more hurried than these children’s.

Checking the sky, Chen Ping’an went to a tavern near the docks and ordered a pot of Dragon Tendon Wine. He didn’t go inside, but sat by the roadside. It was inferior to Old Dragon City’s Osmanthus Wine and Shujian Lake’s Crow’s Call Wine, but of course, it was cheaper. It was said that the brewing water came from a famous spring on the hillside of Earth Dragon Mountain. The spiritual energy of the entire mountain was said to originate from a section of dragon tendon that a great swordsman cut off from a true dragon after it emerged from the earth, following an underground dragon vein. The tendon merged with the mountain, causing spiritual energy to gush forth like a spring.

Chen Ping’an sipped the wine, enjoying the rare leisure. His trip south to revisit old places had been spent mostly on the road, and he was already counting the days until his return journey. He rarely had such a relaxed state of mind.

Even without reins, the horse stayed obediently in place, occasionally tapping the stone slabs with its hooves.

Chen Ping’an was always watching it, ensuring it wouldn’t cause any trouble.

He would take it back to Luopo Mountain to keep his own horse, named Qu Huang, company.

Besides cultivators, the travelers at the docks were usually wealthy or noble. Chen Ping’an drank his wine, silently observing their behavior, letting his gaze pass over them lightly.

Time passed leisurely.

Chen Ping’an put down his wine bowl, led his horse to the docks.

After boarding the ship and settling the horse, Chen Ping’an began practicing the Six-Step Walking Stance in the cabin. He couldn’t lose to Zhao Shuxia, whom he had taught the boxing moves.

It seemed that every time he rode a ferry, he was practicing boxing.
In the still of a deep night, Chen Pingan made his way to the prow of the ferry, settling on the railing beneath the luminous gaze of a full moon. The books spoke of the moon being brightest in one’s hometown, yet none from the vast world of Haoran seemed to mention the strange spectacle of three moons hanging in the sky above another land. A sight once witnessed, forever etched in the memory of any outsider.

Not far off, a young couple adorned in exquisite silks and brocades strolled by, whispering sweet nothings.

Chen Pingan uncorked his gourd of sword qi, taking a swig. These days, the act of drinking lacked the profound sensations of his early days. He could drink in sorrow or joy, yet no longer felt any real addiction. It was now as natural as drinking water in his youth.

The young lovers, easily embarrassed, hadn’t expected such a large lantern to be hung near the railing so late at night. They were forced to detour, seeking a more secluded spot to pour out their hearts. The young man’s hands were restless, while the maiden blushed, her face flushed with shyness. She occasionally glanced at the bothersome lantern, and only when its owner seemed oblivious did she relax, allowing her lover to have his way. After all, this journey down the mountain with their sect was a rare chance for them to share a room, and they had secretly agreed on this clandestine rendezvous.

Chen Pingan simply leaned back, legs crossed, cradling his gourd.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a forlorn young man standing at a distance, his features unremarkable, certainly less handsome than the man currently whispering sweet words to the maiden.

Chen Pingan didn’t dwell on it.

Soon after the dejected man departed, an irate old woman stormed onto the deck, instantly separating the lovebirds.

The previously bold young man retreated a step, lowering his head. The shy maiden, however, stepped forward, meeting the gaze of her sect elder.

The old woman delivered a stern reprimand before flinging her sleeves and departing.

The girl covered her face and wept, while the young man offered comforting words.

From the old woman’s terse words, Chen Pingan gathered that this group of immortal cultivators from Songxi Kingdom were on their way to Yunxia Mountain to witness a ceremony where someone was about to ascend and become a Golden Core Earth Immortal. The old woman, an elder from the sect’s ancestral hall, in a fit of anger, forbade the girl from ascending the mountain, allowing her to only wait at the foot of Yunxia Mountain. Her words betrayed her bias toward the young man. Had there not been an outsider present, the old woman likely wouldn’t have stopped at calling her a “seductress.”

With the old woman gone, the young man, skilled with words, quickly coaxed a smile from the girl, her tear-stained face blooming like a clear sky after rain, a sight most deeply moving.

Chen Pingan sighed softly, never shifting his gaze from the starry expanse above.

After the couple returned to their respective rooms, another figure approached the railing, looking lost and dejected. He had secretly informed on the couple to his sect elders, and now, whether out of guilt or shame, he leaned against the railing, staring blankly at the night sky.

Suddenly, the man turned his head. “I advise you to keep your mouth shut.”

The river of time flowed endlessly, a constant stream of passersby.

Chen Pingan completely ignored the young immortal cultivator’s threat.

The man flew into a rage. “Are you deaf?!”

Chen Pingan nodded gently. “Indeed, I am deaf.”

The man was taken aback before snarling. “Are you looking to die?!”

Chen Pingan slowly replied. “Are you foolish enough to converse with a deaf man?”

The man was enraged, nearly choking on his own fury. He strode forward, but only made it halfway before abruptly stopping. He recalled the teachings of his sect and the rumors of the world, and in the end, the young man abandoned his rash impulse.

However, this only made him appear all the more cowardly. The young cultivator was torn, unsure whether to continue the verbal provocation or to simply leave, ridding himself of the aggravation.

Chen Pingan inquired. “If you truly succeed in breaking up this pair of lovebirds, do you believe you can win the beauty’s heart? Or do you think even taking second place, comforting her in her sadness, is enough?”

The young cultivator remained silent.

Chen Pingan sat up, turning to smile. “She is your senior sister, isn’t she? Then the man your senior sister loves, and the man who loves her, neither seems to be a good person. Wouldn’t you say such a woman is pitiable? Or perhaps you are willing to wait, waiting for the day your senior sister is betrayed, her heart shattered, so that you can seize the opportunity? And then, once you have her, cast her aside as if she were worthless, as your revenge?”

The young cultivator’s fists clenched tightly, veins bulging.

Chen Pingan smiled gently. “Human hearts, upon closer examination, are truly uninteresting. No wonder you cultivators often ask yourselves, ‘If your heart is not cultivated with righteousness, it will only be filled with weeds.'”

The young cultivator’s eyes flickered slightly.

Judging by his tone, this person was not a cultivator?

Then was he simply a wandering swordsman?

Then he only glanced once at the man, in an instant, like a bucket of ice water being poured over him. Bizarre to the extreme.

The young cultivator fled in a panic, no longer caring about saving face. After all, this was likely their last meeting.

Chen Pingan took a deep breath. The solution he had conceived after Shujian Lake was still of limited use. At the time, Cui Cheng had revealed the key: the heart-demon of man does not differentiate between good and evil, which is the most terrifying aspect. And even more terrifying, as Cui Cheng said, was that Chen Pingan’s memory was too good, too used to scrutinizing details. The greater the advantage he gained in the past, the greater the suffering he would endure in the future.

Water is better channeled than blocked.

He truly needed to go to Northern Ju Continent sooner rather than later.