Pei Qian was not truly sleepy, but merely shooed away to bed by Chen Ping’an. As Chen Ping’an passed Cen Yuanji’s residence, he could still hear the muffled sounds of fist strikes and clothes rustling within the courtyard. Zhu Lian stood by the gate, a gentle smile gracing his face as he watched Chen Ping’an approach.

The two walked side-by-side, their heights a stark contrast. Men from the northern lands of Bao Ping Continent were naturally tall, and the young men of Great Li were renowned throughout the continent for their imposing stature and exceptional strength. The Great Li’s standardized armor and war blades, modeled after the “Cao Family Style” and “Yuan Family Style” respectively, were notoriously heavy, wearable only by the elite soldiers of the north.

Chen Ping’an, now slender and well-proportioned, was dwarfed by Zhu Lian’s habitually stooped posture, making them appear as if one belonged to the heavens and the other to the earth when viewed from behind.

Chen Ping’an intended to send Zhu Lian to Shujian Lake, to deliver the substantial sum of Gu Yu money for the construction of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly and the Zhou Tian Grand Offering to Gu Can and Zeng Ye. Zhu Lian raised no objections. Dong Shui Jing would accompany him on this journey, stopping at Chishui City to secretly meet Guan Yiran, the direct descendant of the Pillar State Guan family. Both Zhu Lian and Dong Shui Jing were individuals Chen Ping’an implicitly trusted, and he felt no need to offer explicit instructions for their joint mission.

Chen Ping’an did not conceal the grand schemes of the world from Zhu Lian. Upon hearing them, Zhu Lian showed no particular sentiment, only commenting that his actions in Lotus Flower Paradise had been but a trifle within a snail shell. Now, in the vastness of the Great World, he would not concern himself with such sweeping matters, content to merely sweep the snow from his own doorstep and the frost from his own roof.

Reaching the ground floor of the bamboo lodge, Chen Ping’an invited Zhu Lian to sit while he began to pack. The day after tomorrow, he would depart from Niujiao Mountain Pier, boarding a transcontinental ferry sailing between Old Dragon City and the Northern Ju Lu Continent, destined for a renowned “strategic location.” Its fame was such that Chen Ping’an had encountered it even in the upside-down mountain immortal tome, described in considerable detail. It was called Skull Shoal, the site of an ancient battlefield in the southern region of the Northern Ju Lu Continent. The immortal sect presiding over this place was called the Hemp Robe Sect, a subordinate branch of a major sect from the Central Earth Continent. Within its walls, it nurtured a hundred thousand Yin soldiers and Yin generals. Despite their dealings with Yin spirits and specters, the Hemp Robe Sect possessed an exceptionally good reputation. The trials of its disciples involved collecting vengeful ghosts and malevolent spirits that plagued the mortal realm. Moreover, the sect’s founding master, who had migrated from the Central Earth Continent to Skull Shoal with sixteen fellow disciples, established an ironclad rule during the founding of the sect: disciples sent down the mountain to exorcise gods, condemn ghosts, suppress demons, and vanquish monsters were forbidden from demanding any reward from those they aided, be they dignitaries or common folk, under penalty of having their bridge to immortality shattered and expulsion from the sect.

Thus, the cultivators of the Hemp Robe Sect at Skull Shoal were also known as “Little Celestial Masters” of the Northern Ju Lu Continent.

For a thousand miles around the Hemp Robe Sect, many righteous ghost cultivators resided and congregated. Chen Ping’an wished to spend several days exploring after arriving at Skull Shoal, for establishing a sect suitable for the cultivation of ghosts on an island in Shujian Lake had long been a cherished but unrealized ambition.

Zhu Lian noticed Chen Ping’an retrieving the neatly folded Dharma Robe Jin Li and hesitated for a moment, seemingly wanting to put it away, preventing it from being taken to the Northern Ju Lu Continent.

Zhu Lian glanced at the folding fan that Chen Ping’an had placed on the table, a gift from Cui Dongshan. Zhu Lian knew with certainty that it was a magical treasure. He chuckled, “Young Master, Jin Li paired with a folding fan is like a peerless beauty in the prime of her youth, reflected in a flawless mirror. A perfect match.”

Chen Ping’an sat behind his desk, meticulously counting his immortal coins, a bit annoyed. “I’m going to the Northern Ju Lu Continent to practice swordsmanship, not to enjoy the scenery. Besides, they say that in the Northern Ju Lu Continent, they fight at the slightest offense. If I dared to strut around like that, wouldn’t I be like Pei Qian with a talisman on her forehead, labeled ‘Please Hit Me’?”

Zhu Lian smiled gently, “Young Master, even in the most chaotic of Jianghu, there is more than just fighting and killing. Even Shujian Lake has its share of artistic pursuits. Keep Jin Li with you, just in case. It doesn’t take up much space anyway.”

Zhu Lian had a flash of inspiration and said, “What, has Young Master already decided who to ‘lend’ it to?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “I want to find an opportunity to send it to Liu Xianyang of the Chunru Chen Clan in Southern Saha Continent, entrusting it to someone.”

Zhu Lian asked, “Through the Longwei Stream Chen Clan that runs the academy in the small town?”

Chen Ping’an gently twirled a Little Heat coin between his fingers, a yellow jade coin with inscriptions on both sides. It was no longer the “Removing Plum Rains, Entering Fu Heat” and “Thunder Rumbles the Heavens” inscription from the dilapidated ancient temple and the ghost Wei Wei who sought to avert disaster with it, but instead “Nine Dragons Spitting Water” and “Eight Divisions of Divine Light” engraved on its opposite sides. The inscriptions on Little Heat coins varied greatly, unlike the Snow Flower coin, which was uniform throughout the world. This was, of course, due to the prowess of the Liu Family, the God of Wealth from Ai Ai Continent. As for the source of Little Heat coins, they were scattered in all directions, so the exchange rate between each widely circulated Little Heat coin and Snow Flower coins fluctuated slightly.

Chen Ping’an said, “Back then, when the Chunru Chen Clan came to the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven to examine the person with the clerical script on their grave, his name was Chen Dui. Although his temper wasn’t the best and his tone was sharp, his nature was good. And Chen Songfeng, the scholar from the Longwei Stream Chen Clan of the Great Yong Dynasty who contacted Chen Dui back then, has a very good relationship with my friend Liu Baqiao. Although Chen Songfeng’s temper is a bit weak and he lacked confidence in the face of a direct descendant of a prominent family from Saha Continent, Chen Songfeng is a refined and elegant man, incapable of deception. I believe that a thousand years of reputation from a noble family is worth more than a semi-immortal weapon.”

Zhu Lian did not find anything inappropriate about Chen Ping’an gifting or temporarily lending the Dharma Robe Jin Li to Liu Xianyang, but the timing was wrong. He rarely insisted on his own opinion with Chen Ping’an, but now he said, “Young Master, although you are now a sixth-realm martial artist, just one step away from becoming a true master, Dharma Robe Jin Li would become a burden. But how can you dismiss this ‘one step away’? The trip to the Northern Ju Lu Continent will surely be fraught with both danger and opportunity. To put it bluntly, if you really encounter a powerful swordsman, whose attacks are immense, it would be a good thing if Young Master wore the Dharma Robe Jin Li, using it as a soldier’s sweet dew armor to block a few more swords. When Young Master returns to Fallen Mountain next time, whether it’s in three years, five years, or even ten years, it won’t be too late to send it to Liu Xianyang. After all, as long as you are not a pure martial artist, let alone earth immortals in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms, even an Jade Purity cultivator would not dare to say that wearing the current Dharma Robe Jin Li would diminish their status.”

Chen Ping’an hummed in agreement, storing the Dharma Robe Jin Li into his miniature world, the flying sword Fifteen.
Zhu Lian said, “Since Cui Dongshan said we have another fifty years to steadily manage things, and Young Master himself agreed with that viewpoint, why did you change your mind when the time came? This doesn’t seem like you, Young Master.”

Chen Ping’an gazed at the lamp on the table, then suddenly laughed, “Zhu Lian, how about we have some wine and a chat?”

Zhu Lian lowered his head, rubbed his hands together, and said, “That would be wonderful.”

Chen Ping’an took out two jars of his treasured Osmanthus Wine, moved some items on the table, and sat opposite Zhu Lian across the desk.

Chen Ping’an then recounted the matter of rebuilding the Longevity Bridge, the mental obstacles and gains and losses he experienced, to Zhu Lian in detail. No detail was spared, from the shattering of his Natal Porcelain when he was young, to the tug-of-war with Sect Leader Lu Chen, to accompanying the old Taoist in browsing the three-hundred-year River of Time in the Lotus Root Paradise. Even the mental “holes” left by the two sword strikes from Wei Jin at the Wind and Snow Temple and Zuo You at the Flood Dragon Ditch were shared with Zhu Lian. He also spoke of his attempts to reason, the head-splitting collisions he suffered at Shujian Lake, why he shattered his Golden Body Literary Courage which already showed signs of possessing “morality,” those gentle knocks and farewells from outside his heart, and the ghostly wails from even further beyond…

This was essentially the foundation of a person’s Great Dao, something extremely taboo, something that should only be known to Heaven, Earth, and oneself, and then no one else. Many immortal couples on the mountains might not even be willing to reveal this to each other.

However, Chen Ping’an spoke with a light and airy tone, and Zhu Lian was equally unreserved, simply listening attentively, occasionally taking a slow sip of wine.

Chen Ping’an bent down, took out a small clay jar from a drawer, and gently poured out a small pile of broken porcelain shards. Instead of pouring them directly onto the table, he placed them in his palm first, then gently set them down on the table.

“These are the fragments of my Natal Porcelain, personally shattered by my father back then. Soon after that, my mother passed away. When I got them back then, I was completely dazed and didn’t think much about why they were able to eventually fall into my hands. I was only focused on being sad.”

Chen Ping’an pinched one of the shards with two fingers, his eyes dim, and softly said, “Before leaving the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, I relied on it to ambush Cai Jinjian of the Cloud Glow Mountain in the alley. If I had failed, none of what we have today would exist. Everything before, everything after, is actually a gamble. Before becoming an apprentice at the Dragon Kiln, I was figuring out how to survive. After learning to fire porcelain from Old Man Yao, I at least didn’t have to worry about starving or freezing to death, so I started thinking about how to live my life. I didn’t expect that I would eventually need to leave the town, and then I started thinking about how to survive again. After leaving the Lotus Root Paradise of the Taoist temple, I looked back and thought about how to live well, what was right…”

Chen Ping’an lowered his head, gazing at the grain of the desk illuminated by the lamp. “My life has had many forks in the road, I’ve taken detours and long paths, but being ignorant has its benefits.”

Chen Ping’an raised his head. “That is, when I encounter people I sincerely respect in my life, I know where they stand. I become very curious about why they were able to reach that place. Then it becomes simple. I recognize the general direction, and I just focus on doing things diligently, acting with a clear conscience, and thinking more about my parents, Mr. Qi, and Aliang. If they encountered the same situation, how would they think, how would they act? Later on, I was actually always learning. I wanted to turn everything I thought was good in others into my own. I’m like a little thief. Because I’m afraid of being poor, so afraid. I want to keep everything I cherish. It’s not that I don’t care about money at all, it’s not that I, Chen Ping’an, was born as a dispenser of wealth. It’s just that for me, bare walls, empty pockets, hardship, these are all too common. I’m not afraid at all. Even if my Fallen Mountain is gone today, and I’m reduced to my original state, with only the ancestral home in Mud Lane left, I’m still not afraid.”

“I’ve stolen a lot from you, and learned a lot. Besides you, Zhu Lian, there’s also Senior Song from Sword Water Villa, Fan Er from Old Dragon City, Liu Youzhou from Ape-Riding Prefecture, Cao Ci and Lu Tai, who practice boxing at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, even National Preceptor Zhong Qiu from Lotus Root Paradise, Zhou Fei from Spring Tide Palace, Zhong Kui, the Gentleman from Peace Mountain, and my life-and-death enemies from Shujian Lake, Liu Laocheng, Liu Zhimao, Zhang Ye, and so on. I’ve been silently watching all of you. I envy the most outstanding aspects of everyone.”

Chen Ping’an sighed. “So, Senior Cui saw the crux of the problem. There’s no such thing as only taking advantage, no matter how good or bad the actions and means are, there will always be consequences.”

Chen Ping’an folded his hands in his sleeves. “Being a person is not like practicing boxing. With diligent study and hard practice, the true meaning of boxing can be embodied. In being a person, taking a little here and touching a little there, it’s easy to become superficially similar but spiritually different. My heart, after my Natal Porcelain shattered, was already scattered. As a result, it has now degenerated into a state of divided rule, like local warlords. If I hadn’t managed to distinguish the primary from the secondary, the problem would only be greater. If I weren’t foolishly dreaming of cultivating into a great sword immortal, it would actually be fine. A pure martial artist ascends step by step, without paying attention to these things. But once you learn from those Qi Refiners, entering the Middle Five Levels is one hurdle, forming the Golden Core is another, and breaking through to the Nascent Soul is an even greater ordeal. This isn’t like the annual difficulties faced by ordinary people, which can be endured somehow. Cultivating the mind is a matter where one imperfection can lead to disaster.”

Chen Ping’an emphasized, “I never thought I was overthinking this. I still firmly believe that temporary victory lies in strength, this is the path to ascend. Eternal victory lies in reason, this is the foundation for standing in the world. The two are indispensable. There’s never been a cheap deal where I can wait until I’ve lived a good life before reasoning things out. Achieving great success through unreasonableness often leads to even more unreasonableness in the future. In Lotus Root Paradise, the old Abbot was deeply scheming, and I watched silently all along. In fact, I hoped to see the outcome of three things. In the end, I couldn’t accomplish it. Two things were skipped, and the last thing was cut off. After leaving the banks of the River of Time and returning to the mortal realm of Lotus Root Paradise, that thing was about a scholar in the history of Pine Creek Country. He was extremely intelligent, a Jinshi graduate, and had great ambitions. But he stumbled and struggled in officialdom, suffering immense hardship. So, he decided to first suppress his own nature, learn the rules of officialdom, and adapt to local customs. He thought that when he reached the central government, he would then save the world and its people. I really wanted to know if this scholar succeeded, or if he gave up.”
Chen Pingan unconsciously rose to his feet, holding the barely touched flagon of wine in his hand. He paced in circles behind the desk, in the confined space, muttering to himself, “Many principles, I understand them well. Many rights and wrongs, I see them clearly. Even if I only look at the results, everything I’ve done isn’t bad. But in the process, only I know the joys and sorrows, a chaotic mix of emotions. To give an example, back in Shujian Lake, should I have killed Gu Can? Should I have become an ally with Liu Zhimao, who was already a sworn enemy? Should I have played along with Liu Lao of Gongliu Island? After learning a whole host of skills, how should I settle accounts with my enemies? Should I do it as I decided back then, head on, without a care? Or should I think carefully, take a step back, and make some changes? If I change things, they might be right, align with reason, but deep down, would Chen Pingan truly be happy?”

Chen Pingan stopped, shook his head, his eyes firm, his tone resolute, “I wouldn’t be truly happy.”

A moment of silence.

Chen Pingan looked up, took a large gulp of wine, and wiped his mouth, “What should I do? At first, I thought that as long as I went to the Northern Ju Lu Continent, I would be free. But Senior Cui pierced through that with a single sentence, saying that it would be useful, but not very useful. A temporary solution, not a fundamental cure. This makes me very… hesitant. I’m not afraid of danger, hardship, or grievance, but I’m most afraid of that… feeling of being lost. ”

Chen Pingan’s eyes were filled with sorrow, “The world is vast, I’m all alone, with no relatives, looking around, praised by no one when I’m right, scolded by no one when I’m wrong. That terrible feeling from my childhood has always lingered around me. Whenever I think of it, I feel despair. I know this mindset is not good, and I’ve been slowly changing it over the years, but I haven’t done enough. That’s why I can’t wait to give away everything I have to Gu Can, Liu Xianyang, and everyone I consider a friend. Am I truly a bodhisattva? Of course not. I’ve just always assumed that I can’t keep anything. But as long as they keep it, and I can just take a look at it, knowing it’s still there, then I haven’t lost out. Money or possessions, it’s all the same. Like this robe of golden nectar, do I not like it? I do, I like it very much. We’ve been through thick and thin together for so long, how could I not have feelings for it? What kind of person is Chen Pingan? I even brought the skinny horse, Qu Huang, that I relied on for more than two years, back to Luo Po Mountain from Shujian Lake. But I’m just afraid that one day I’ll die on my travels, and all my belongings will be taken away, or perhaps become some so-called immortal opportunity, ‘bestowed’ upon someone I don’t even know? Then, of course, it’s better to give it to Liu Xianyang early on.”

Zhu Lian put down his wine pot, no longer drinking, and said slowly, “Young Master’s worries are not just his own affairs, but the eternal dilemma of all under heaven.”

Zhu Lian gently caressed the armrest of the chair, “It’s not just Young Master who has it, I, Zhu Lian, had it in Lotus Flower Paradise, Ding Ying has it, and the scholars of the vast world will have it now. Sages, virtuous men, and all sentient beings who have awakened in this world all have it. The foundations of the three religions and the hundred schools of thought are actually wrestling with ‘human heart’. The Confucian ideals of self-restraint and returning to propriety, a gentleman being cautious when alone, the Taoist ideal of tranquility and inaction, not avoiding an empty boat, the Buddhist ideals of subduing the mind-monkey and taming the will-horse… However, the teachings are all excellent teachings, but when put into practice, the threshold is still high, like the chicken dung and dog droppings in Mud Bottle Lane, it’s hard to take care of everything. The meritocratic teachings of Cui Chan and Cui Dongshan are valuable because they can manage even the trivial matters of the alleys outside the gates. The drawback is that too much effort is spent on trivial matters, everything is quantified, and people’s hearts easily sink downwards. They are too pragmatic, unwilling to be ethereal, and it’s difficult to seek higher things.”

Zhu Lian stood up, extended a finger, gently pressed against the table, tapped it, and grinned, “Next, allow this old servant to make an exception and address Young Master by his given name, without regard for status.”

Zhu Lian continued, “Being stuck and unable to move forward, what does this mean? It means that the way you, Chen Pingan, view this world is wrestling and at odds with your true heart. And these heart knots, which seem as small as mustard seeds, will become more and more obvious with your martial arts level and your cultivation realm. When you, Chen Pingan, become more and more powerful, a punch that once shattered bricks and walls will now shatter the city walls of a secular dynasty. A sword thrust that once helped you escape danger and deter enemies may now shatter rivers and destroy the ancestral hall of a mountain immortal family. How can you avoid making mistakes? If you were Ma Ku Xuan, a very annoying person, or even Liu Xianyang, your best friend, you wouldn’t need to be like this. But precisely because of this, Chen Pingan is the Chen Pingan he is now.”

Zhu Lian pointed at Chen Pingan, “You are you.”

Zhu Lian drew a circle on the desk and smiled, “In Shujian Lake, you only achieved how to make your knowledge and principles get along harmoniously with this world, so that you could solve problems, live a solid life, and barely feel at peace without seeking external help. But this upcoming trial of the heart is for you to ask yourself, who exactly is Chen Pingan. Since you have chosen this path, then whether it’s right or wrong, you must first know, be clear, see clearly, so that you have the possibility to correct the wrong and perfect the good. Otherwise, all is lost.”

Zhu Lian once again reached out his hand towards Chen Pingan, but raised it slightly, pointing to the top of Chen Pingan’s head, “Earlier you said that Wei Bo’s words were very enlightening, that there must be the sun and moon in one’s heart.”

Zhu Lian’s finger slowly moved downwards, pointing behind Chen Pingan, “You also said that the national preceptor Cui Chan said that a person’s heart should be bright and radiant, like grass and trees facing the sun, and should also look at the shadows behind them.”

Zhu Lian asked, “What did these two sentences say?”

Zhu Lian answered himself, “One is the future, and one is the past, so I have another question: how is the present, and who do you consider yourself to be? There is a commonplace principle, but it is one that I, Zhu Lian, value the most. It just so happens that I can take it out and air it now… This lamp light and moonlight, ‘Knowing others is wisdom; knowing oneself is enlightenment.’ What is enlightenment? What does this word mean? It is both a state of mind that is bright and flawless, and the sun and moon being present together, which is enlightenment.”

Chen Pingan sat back in his seat, drinking his wine, seeming to understand something, yet also feeling relieved.
Zhu Lian finally smiled and said, “Some things, trying to understand them is futile. Fear not, simply move forward, but do so with measured steps. Correct your mistakes, strive for better when there are none, and aim for the best when you are right. All skills, all knowledge, ultimately boil down to a single word: action. You can visit Inverted Peak, Tongye Continent, Lotus Bliss Land, and the Book Brief Lake. Isn’t the Northern Entirety Continent, a land renowned for its heroes since ancient times, precisely the place where Chen Ping’an should hone his swordsmanship? Take plenty of wine with you, clad in a blue robe, wielding your sword, and venture north with unyielding spirit. When you return south, perhaps you will have already earned the title of Sword Immortal, making the martial world remember the name Chen Ping’an for a hundred years, a thousand years!”

Chen Ping’an deeply agreed with the earlier part of Zhu Lian’s words, but upon hearing the latter part, he couldn’t help but laugh and cry a little. This wasn’t something he would usually consider himself.

Zhu Lian said in a serious tone, “The martial world is full of infatuated beauties, young master, you must be careful.”

Chen Ping’an was helpless. This Zhu Lian, saying such things, seemed more familiar.

Zhu Lian raised his wine pot, “Tonight I had a delightful conversation with the young master, and this old servant feels enlightened. May I be so bold as to finish the wine in my pot with you before departing?”

This kind of Zhu Lian was even more familiar.

Chen Ping’an smiled, picked up his own wine pot, and drank the osmanthus wine with Zhu Lian.

After Zhu Lian left, carrying his empty wine pot and closing the door behind him, Chen Ping’an resumed packing his luggage.

The Immortal coins were all stored in the jade token spatial artifact that Zheng Dafeng had given him in Old Dragon City. He had retrieved thirty Valley Rain coins from Wei Bo, who was helping him “manage the money.” Under normal circumstances, he would absolutely not use them. Only when it came to opportunities to refine the three natal treasures related to the Five Elements, would he touch this money, buying a chance encounter with a magical treasure that he liked and suited him.

In addition, he would bring fifty Lesser Heat coins and one thousand Snowflake coins.

His Sword Immortal Inheritance and sword-nourishing gourd would naturally be carried with him.

He wore the azure robe magical artifact named Spring Grass, and as Zhu Lian suggested, he would also take the robe essence, Golden Dew, with him, in case of emergencies.

The walnut carved bracelet given by Wu Yi of the Purple Sun Prefecture, each walnut carving equivalent to a blow from an Earth Immortal, was an extremely suitable offensive magical treasure for him.

The Night-Wandering Deity True Form talisman was already fundamentally damaged. He heard that Li Bao Ping’s elder brother was currently sharpening his learning in the Northern Entirety Continent. He would see if it could be repaired. After that, whether the Li family would take back the talisman or Chen Ping’an would keep it would depend on Li Xi Sheng’s decision. Although Cui Dong Shan had subtly reminded him to draw a line between himself and the Li family of Fortune Street, other than Little Bao Ping, Chen Ping’an was still willing to be close to Li Xi Sheng.

There were also three meticulously crafted facial skins made by Zhu Lian, representing the faces of a youth, a middle-aged man, and an old man. Although they couldn’t fool Earth Immortal cultivators, they were more than enough for traveling the martial world.

Li Er and his wife, as well as Li Huai’s elder sister, Li Liu, the woman Lin Shou Yi and Dong Shui Jing both liked, was probably cultivating on Lion Peak in the Northern Entirety Continent. He should also pay a visit to this family of three.

Then, he would personally survey the route of the great river that flowed into the sea. This was an exchange he had made with the Daoist Headmaster Lu Chen in the past, although Lu Chen hadn’t consulted Chen Ping’an at all. But no matter what, this was a calculated move, and Chen Ping’an would never shirk it. In the future, the opportunity for the blue-clad boy Chen Lingjun to attain enlightenment would depend on how smoothly this route went.

The journey of dragons and the like, pythons, and fish spirits along the river was never a simple matter. The yellow eel river demon on Tongye Continent had its path blocked by the River Water Goddess, preventing it from reaching the Golden Core realm for a long time.

Of course, there were people and things he wanted to see, and there were also people he didn’t want to see, such as He Xiaoliang, the fairy of the Divine Edict Sect from the past.

Just thinking about this Daoist nun who once had the greatest good fortune in the Treasure Bottle Continent made Chen Ping’an feel even more of a headache than Yao Jinzhi of Tongye Continent, Xiao Luan, the River Water Goddess of the White Egret River, and Liu Chongrun of Pearl Hairpin Island combined.

He only hoped that he wouldn’t encounter her, not even by a million chances.

Chen Ping’an roughly finished packing his luggage for this northern journey and let out a long breath.

For no reason, he thought of the Zhu Lian who had become serious.

Exceptionally graceful and talented.

It was unimaginable what kind of exiled immortal Zhu Lian was in Lotus Bliss Land in his youth.

Zhu Lian strolled over to the residence and found that Cen Yuanji, that silly girl, was still practicing her fists, but her fist intent was unstable. She was stubbornly holding on, putting in clumsy effort, which wasn’t pleasing.

He tapped his toes and leaped over the wall, landing in the courtyard. He said, “Too much is as bad as too little. You only know how to release your strength when practicing your fists, but not how to retract it. This is very troublesome. Practicing fists is like cultivating the heart. It’s good to be able to endure hardship, but if you don’t know how to grasp the heat and measure, your fists will become more and more rigid, making you stupid. If you do this day after day and accidentally injure the foundation of your body, how can you achieve great things?”

These words were not very polite, and they were similar to what Chen Ping’an had said when he was drunk, that Cen Yuanji’s “fists were no good.”

Cen Yuanji was one way with the young Mountain Master of the Fallen Mountain, and another way with the Old Immortal Zhu. Not only was she sincerely convinced, but she also immediately began to admit her mistakes and reflect.

Zhu Lian nodded, “Having said that, it’s already not bad that you can endure hardship yourself. But since you are a named disciple of our Fallen Mountain, you must think highly of yourself. You may as well go to the top of Fallen Mountain to practice your fists from time to time, look at the magnificent scenery around you, and constantly tell yourself, who says a woman’s heart can’t hold beautiful rivers and mountains? Who says a woman can’t reach the pinnacle of martial arts and look down on all the heroes of the martial world?”

Cen Yuanji’s heart wavered, and she was even a little tearful. After all, she was still a young girl who missed her family. On Fallen Mountain, it was no wonder that she respected this Old Immortal Zhu the most. Not only had he saved her from fire and water, but he had also given her such a martial arts future for nothing. Since then, he had treated her like a kind elder. How could Cen Yuanji not be moved? She wiped away her tears and said in a trembling voice, “I will remember every word you said.”

Zhu Lian gave her some pointers and was about to leave when Cen Yuanji hesitated for a moment and couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you endure hardship and humiliation on Fallen Mountain, senior?”

Zhu Lian laughed, “How is it enduring hardship and humiliation?”

Cen Yuanji twisted and turned, too embarrassed to say those words in her heart. It wasn’t that she was too afraid of that young Mountain Master, but she was afraid that her careless words would hurt the face of Old Immortal Zhu.

Zhu Lian pointed his finger at Cen Yuanji, “A fool has a fool’s luck. Let it be like this, it’s very good, don’t change it, um, it’s best not to change it, keep it up, the longer the better. Our Fallen Mountain should always have someone like you.”

Cen Yuanji smiled slightly.

Not to mention saying a few words to her, even if Old Immortal Zhu beat and scolded her, it would be out of good intentions.
Cen Yuanji inquired, “Senior, are you accustomed to living here?”

Zhu Lian nodded, “A rustic fellow is used to living in the mountains. I am just a lazybones, quite accustomed to it. Couldn’t be more comfortable and content.”

Cen Yuanji sincerely praised, “Senior is truly a wandering cloud, a transcendent being!”

Zhu Lian rubbed his chin, “The feng shui of this Fallen Phoenix Mountain is a bit peculiar.”

This time, Zhu Lian didn’t leap over the courtyard wall; he opened the door and departed.

After bolting the door, Cen Yuanji gently clenched her fist and murmured, “Cen Yuanji, you must not fail Senior Zhu’s high expectations! Practice your fist with diligence, put your heart into it, and be more flexible!”

Zhu Lian didn’t return directly to his residence. Instead, he went to the peak of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, sat on the top of the stone steps, and shook his empty wine gourd, only to realize it was empty. No matter, he would wait for the sunrise here.

Suddenly, Zhu Lian looked up and saw an unexpected person.

It was Cui Cheng, the bare-footed old man, who rarely left his bamboo hut.

Zhu Lian stood up and greeted him with a smile.

Cui Cheng slowly ascended the steps, gesturing for Zhu Lian to remain seated.

Zhu Lian casually plopped down.

Cui Cheng sat down beside Zhu Lian. He had brought two jars of wine with him, and tossed one to Zhu Lian.

Zhu Lian uncorked the jar, took a hearty swig, and chuckled, “If Young Master knew Senior had secretly dug out two jars of wine, he wouldn’t dare to complain about Senior, but he would grumble at me for dereliction of duty.”

Cui Cheng said expressionlessly, “If Chen Ping’an dislikes someone, he won’t even utter a word. He considers even a single syllable to be excessive.”

Zhu Lian hummed in agreement, “That’s true enough.”

Cui Cheng gazed into the distance and casually asked, “Zhu Lian, now that the bottleneck of the Lotus Flower Blessed Land is gone, why are you still deliberately progressing so slowly?”

Zhu Lian put down the two wine jars, one on each side, leaned back, propped himself up on his elbows, and said lazily, “This is the most comfortable way to live.”

Cui Cheng asked again, “Chen Ping’an is certainly a fine fellow, but is he worthy of such devotion from you, Zhu Lian?”

Facing the inquiry from a Tenth Realm martial artist, Zhu Lian still appeared nonchalant, “I am willing, I am happy to do so.”

Cui Cheng was not annoyed. He would simply return to the bamboo hut and practice his boxing, bestowing a few extra punches.

Cui Cheng smiled, “Are you always showing yourself in this guise? Even hiding it from your young master?”

Zhu Lian chuckled, “Back in my hometown, I, Zhu Lian, relied on my face for a living. I’m stuffed with it now. Let’s forget about that now. I’m getting old, I must accept it. What would people think if I caused a bunch of young ladies to become infatuated and melancholy?”

Cui Cheng shook his head and departed.

There was no point in talking to this fellow.

If it weren’t for what Zhu Lian had said on the first floor of the bamboo hut, Cui Cheng wouldn’t have made this trip to deliver this jar of wine.

After Cui Cheng left.

Zhu Lian simply leaned back, lay on the ground, rested his head on his hands, and closed his eyes to rest.

As the sun was about to rise, Zhu Lian slowly sat up. Seeing that he was alone, he reached out with two fingers, pressed them against his temples, and gently peeled off a mask, revealing his true face.

Wei Bo appeared silently beside Zhu Lian, glanced down at him, and sighed, “I am ashamed of my own appearance.”

Zhu Lian covered his face, feigning the shyness of a young maiden, and imitated Pei Qian’s tone, “How embarrassing!”

Wei Bo, after struggling for a moment, simply left, only uttering the words “Disgusting!”

Zhu Lian laughed heartily, stood up, straightened his back, and clasped his hands behind him.

The great sun rose from the Eastern Sea, illuminating Zhu Lian with radiant energy, as if he were a god among gods.

Zhu Lian quickly replaced the mask that concealed his true face, meticulously smoothing it out. Then, carrying the two wine jars, he walked down the mountain. Cen Yuanji was practicing her fist techniques while ascending.

Upon seeing the hunched figure of the old senior, she almost lost her focus and nearly stopped her stance to greet him. However, remembering their conversation last night, Cen Yuanji forced herself to take a deep breath, maintaining her unwavering intent and continuing her punches.

Zhu Lian nodded and brushed past her.

After reaching the summit, Cen Yuanji stopped her stance and turned to look. She could faintly see the small, rice-grain-sized, slender figure. The girl thought to herself, a man like Senior Zhu, even if he wasn’t handsome when he was younger, must have had many women who loved him?

Zhu Lian arrived at the residence of Pei Qian and Chen Ruchu. The pink-skirted girl was already busy.

Pei Qian was undoubtedly still sleeping in, saying, as she did, that the best friends in the world were the bedding at night, and the most difficult opponent to defeat was the bedding in the morning. Fortunately, she was clear about her affections and grudges.

Zhu Lian greeted Chen Ruchu with a smile, then vigorously knocked on the door. Pei Qian sleepily woke up and asked, “Who is it?”

Zhu Lian said with a beaming smile, “Young Master has already left Fallen Phoenix Mountain.”

Pei Qian’s heart tightened, and she suddenly said angrily, “Old Zhu the cook, Master is leaving on the transcontinental ferry tomorrow! Who are you trying to fool?!”

Zhu Lian casually said, “Oh, then you go back to sleep.”

Pei Qian sat blankly on the bed, then angrily shouted, “Old Zhu the cook, don’t run! If you have the guts, let me use both hands and feet, and you aren’t allowed to blink, and take my whole set of Mad Demon Swordplay!”

“I don’t have the guts.” Zhu Lian walked away with his head held high.

Pei Qian couldn’t decide whether to sleep or not, so she tossed and turned on the bed, hitting the bedding.

That day, Chen Ping’an left Fallen Phoenix Mountain at noon, accompanied by Pei Qian. They chatted with Zheng Dafeng at the mountain gate for a while. As a result, they were chased away by Zheng Dafeng, who was busy finishing the construction of the mountain gate. Zheng Dafeng got under Pei Qian’s skin.

Afterward, Chen Ping’an took Pei Qian to the small town, first visiting his parents’ graves. Then, that night, they stayed at the old residence in Mud Bottle Alley, as if keeping watch.

At dawn, without letting Pei Qian follow, he went directly to the immortal ferry at Ox Horn Mountain. Wei Bo accompanied him and boarded the Bone Beach transcontinental ferry. He told him through his heart, “Someone might want to see you on the way. They are considered highly respected in our Great Li.”

Chen Ping’an understood, but was still somewhat doubtful. He looked at Wei Bo, who gently nodded.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Don’t worry, I can handle it.”

Wei Bo said, “Of course, I’m not worried, since it’s in the Northern Mountain’s territory.”

After Wei Bo’s figure vanished, Chen Ping’an ignored the complex gazes around him and went to the cabins on the top floor.

Chen Ping’an arrived at the room and went to the railing of the observation deck. The ferry slowly ascended, and Chen Ping’an, wearing a green robe, carrying a sword sheath on his back, and a gourd of nourished swords at his waist, overlooked the landscape and rivers of the former territory of the Azure Billow Paradise. Mountains and peaks, rivers and streams, everything was within his sight.

He was leaving his hometown again, thousands of miles away.

On a cliff shrouded in clouds and mist, the four characters “Heaven Opens Divine Beauty” were carved from top to bottom.
A young woman in verdant robes, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail, sat shoulder-to-shoulder with a small, sun-kissed boy upon the first horizontal stroke of the character “Heaven” carved into the mountainside.

Pei Qian vigorously swung his legs, which dangled precariously over the cliff’s edge, and beamed, seeking praise. “Sister Xiu Xiu, these sesame twists are delicious, right? So flaky and crisp! Master bought them from a place very, very far away.”

Ruan Xiu’s eyes crinkled into a smile as she nodded. “Delicious indeed.”

(End of Chapter)