The night deepened. After weathering the most drowsy hours, Sui Jingcheng found herself wide awake. She mused that she was a night owl, just like those in the tales.

The breathing techniques recorded in that little booklet were all meant to be practiced at noon, with slight variations in the timing depending on the solar term. At the end of the scroll were four words that stirred her heart: Ascend in Broad Daylight.

Earlier, during their farewell at the official road, the retired Vice Minister had taken off his bamboo-woven robe, as thin as a cicada’s wing, and returned it to his daughter, Sui Jingcheng. With tearful reluctance, he privately warned her that she was now fortunate enough to follow a Sword Immortal and cultivate the Daoist arts on the mountain. It was the blessing of the Sui family’s ancestors, so she must maintain a proper attitude and abandon any airs of a noble lady. Otherwise, she would be squandering the virtue accumulated by her forebears.

The man was still practicing those tedious and dull fist stances.

Sui Jingcheng got up and gathered more dry branches from around the area. Mimicking his actions, she first roasted them by the bonfire to dispel the moisture before tossing them into the flames.

Over the years, her cultivation had been fraught with stumbles and setbacks. Without a guiding master, and with the contents of that little booklet being more akin to a foundational Daoist text, overly concise and detached, she found herself unable to grasp its essence. Except for the practical skill of manipulating the golden hairpins like flying swords, which she had mastered to about seventy or eighty percent, the rest of the text felt like abstract principles, impossible to grasp. As the man had casually remarked, “Principles are inevitably lofty.” Without anyone to help her reflect and unravel the mysteries, even though she had been studying the booklet since she first learned to read, Sui Jingcheng still felt like she was missing something crucial. So, even at the age of thirty-something, she was still stuck at the bottleneck of the second realm, a Qi Refining cultivator.

Sui Jingcheng was actually hesitant about whether or not to proactively offer the bamboo robe, golden hairpins, and booklet, these three items of Immortal make. If the powerful Sword Immortal senior took a liking to them, she wouldn’t mind. But she feared that the man would misunderstand her as trying to show off, and her clumsy attempts had backfired more than once.

Chen Ping’an stopped his fist stances, returned to the bonfire, and held out his hand, saying, “I’ll save you the trouble of worrying about it. Hand them over.”

Sui Jingcheng carefully took out three golden hairpins and a small booklet, as bright as new, without the slightest sign of wear and tear, from her sleeve. The ancient seal script title read: “Collection of Supreme Mysteries.”

Sui Jingcheng said softly, “Senior, the hairpins are a bit strange. They’ve been connected to me since I was little. Anyone else who holds them will be burned. Years ago, a maid tried to steal the golden hairpins, and her entire palm was burned through. She writhed in pain on the ground, quickly alerting others in the manor. Later, even after the injuries on her hand healed, she seemed to suffer from a loss of her soul, sometimes lucid, sometimes foolish. I don’t know why.”

“It’s alright.”

Chen Ping’an took the booklet with one hand and extended the other. Sui Jingcheng released her grip lightly, and the three golden hairpins, radiating brilliant light and iridescent colors, landed in Chen Ping’an’s palm. The golden hairpins trembled slightly, but Chen Ping’an’s palm was unharmed. Chen Ping’an examined them for a moment and said slowly, “The golden hairpins are your Natal Artifacts. There are three levels of refining objects in the world. Lesser Refining empties the form, barely allowing it to be stored in a cultivator’s Qi repositories, but anyone can steal it. Middle Refining can unlock the various wonders of a celestial treasure, like… this nameless mountain peak, with a Mountain God and temple to guard it. Greater Refining is a Natal Artifact. The otherworldly expert who gifted you these three opportunities is a true master, whose Daoist magic must be said to be extremely profound, at least an Earth Immortal, perhaps even a nascent soul cultivator. As for why this person gave you the chance to ascend, yet abandoned you for thirty or forty years…”

Sui Jingcheng, who had been listening intently, said softly, “Only thirty-two years.”

The man laughed, “Are you going to quibble over a few months too?”

Sui Jingcheng’s expression was awkward.

Chen Ping’an first placed the booklet on his lap, pinched one of the golden hairpins with two fingers, and gently tapped it against another in his palm. A crisp, metallic sound rang out, and with each tap, a ripple of light spread outwards. Chen Ping’an looked up and said, “These three golden hairpins are a complete set of magical treasures. They seem identical, but they are not. They are respectively named ‘Spiritual Simplicity and Subtle Mystery,’ ‘Literary Excellence and Divine Firmament,’ and ‘Grand Radiance and Subjugation of Spirits.’ They are mostly related to the Law of Thunder, the chief of all Laws.”

Sui Jingcheng was incredulous, sincerely praising, “Senior is truly knowledgeable and all-knowing!”

These were her heartfelt words.

The three golden hairpins, which looked identical in every way, even had their names revealed with such ease?

Chen Ping’an glanced at her, “The golden hairpins have inscriptions, the characters are extremely small, your cultivation is too low, so naturally you can’t see them.”

Sui Jingcheng’s face stiffened.

Chen Ping’an gently tossed the three golden hairpins back to Sui Jingcheng and began to flip through the strange little booklet. He frowned, and after only flipping through two pages, he immediately closed it.

The text on the pages of this “Collection of Supreme Mysteries” flashed with a treasure light when he opened it. Even with Chen Ping’an’s eyesight and memory, he couldn’t remember the gist of even one page. It was like a well-ordered battlefield formation that instantly scattered and became chaotic. Without a doubt, this was another one of Sui Jingcheng’s Natal Artifacts. It was very likely that not only could Sui Jingcheng see the true text when she opened it, but even if Chen Ping’an had her hold the book and turn the pages, what the two of them saw would still be vastly different.

Chen Ping’an beckoned Sui Jingcheng to sit beside him and had her flip through the book. Sui Jingcheng was dazed and confused, but she simply followed his instructions. Chen Ping’an quickly had her put away the booklet, saying, “This Immortal magic technique is of considerable rank, but it is incomplete. The person who gave you the book back then must have had extremely high expectations of you, but was unable to be both your teacher and your protector, so he left for more than thirty years.”

Sui Jingcheng clutched the golden hairpins in one hand and the book in the other, her face full of smiles and joy, much stronger than when she learned that she was some kind of “Jade Beauty of the Sui Family.”

Chen Ping’an began to close his eyes to rest, gently supporting the golden thunder whip that had been refined into the form of a small green bamboo.

There were no words on the “Green Bamboo,” only dense carvings.

Sui Jingcheng suddenly asked, “Would Senior like to see the bamboo robe?”

Chen Ping’an opened his eyes, his expression strange. Seeing that she looked sincere and eager to try, Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “There’s no need to look at it. It must be a decent celestial treasure. Robes have always been valuable. In mountain cultivation, there are many battles. Generally speaking, Qi Refining cultivators will have two Natal Artifacts, one mainly for attack and one mainly for defense. Since that master gave you three golden hairpins, the bamboo robe is likely of similar quality.”

Sui Jingcheng realized something belatedly, her face slightly red. She said nothing more.
After a moment of silence, the man ceased his boxing stances and footwork, instead entering a state of meditative stillness like a true cultivator, his breath long and subtle. Sui Jingcheng faintly perceived layers of luminous energy swirling around him, one as bright as lamplight, the other as gentle as moonlight. Sui Jingcheng naively believed this sword immortal senior to be an enlightened being, possessing boundless aura, of which even her meager cultivation could detect traces. In truth, Sui Jingcheng was a naturally gifted cultivator, unable to see the inscription on the golden hairpin only due to limited vision. Her ability to perceive Chen Ping’an’s extraordinary presence stemmed from her innate talent, her perception of heaven and earth’s spiritual energy far surpassing ordinary cultivators below the fifth realm.

A thought suddenly struck Sui Jingcheng, and after much hesitation, deeming the matter significant, she asked, “Senior, Cao Fu and Xiao Shuye’s circuitous and secretive actions, aside from avoiding the attention of the Great Zhuan Dynasty and a certain emperor of a northern kingdom, is it also because they are wary of the esteemed master who bestowed me with my initial fortune? Perhaps Cao Fu’s master, that Golden Core Earth Immortal, and the Grand Ancestor of the Golden Scale Palace, are unwilling to reveal themselves for a similar reason – just as Cao Fu had that knife-wielding martial artist of the Jianghu step forward first, to test whether the Sword Immortal Senior was lurking nearby?”

Chen Ping’an opened his eyes again, smiling without a word.

This Sui Jingcheng truly possessed an extraordinary disposition.

Chen Ping’an patiently explained, “Once cultivators of the mountains become enemies, it is easy to be entangled for centuries. Hence, the mountains have their rules, and the Jianghu has its own. Cao Fu and Xiao Shuye despise the Jianghu from the bottom of their hearts, thinking that by stepping on it from above, they can reach its very bottom, finding only small fish and shrimp. However, they are ignorant of the complexities and taboos of mountain cultivation. Their mastermind, however, would be well aware, hence this whole charade. They are currently wary of me. Cao Fu only fears my flying sword, but the mastermind has an additional concern: the wandering master you mentioned. If your guide were merely a wandering Earth Immortal, they would not mind engaging in a larger scheme. But if this guide were a Golden Core Sword Cultivator sent to protect you, the mastermind would have to weigh their own strength and resources, to see if they could withstand the joint retaliation of two ‘Nascent Soul’ cultivators.”

Sui Jingcheng’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

His words were straightforward and easy to understand, yet “concealing a hidden threat.” Sui Jingcheng, a clever and discerning woman, gained more understanding with each consideration, and felt that the magnificent painting of the mountain realm in her mind was finally beginning to reveal itself.

Sui Jingcheng asked in a manner uncharacteristic of her, “Senior, you truly don’t want any of the three immortal treasures?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Take only what is rightfully yours.”

Sui Jingcheng smiled knowingly.

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “Do you have no further thoughts?”

Sui Jingcheng was taken aback, thought for a moment, and shook her head. “No.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Cao Fu first used Xiao Shuye to lure me away, mistakenly believing he had you cornered, and then intercepted you on the small road, telling you directly what would happen to you if you went up the mountain with him. You don’t find that terrifying?”

Sui Jingcheng was indeed still frightened. Being refined into a living cauldron by Cao Fu’s master, being taught cultivation methods, and then engaging in dual cultivation with the Golden Scale Palace’s Grand Ancestor…

Although Sui Jingcheng was devoted to the Dao, she did not want to become such a helpless puppet.

Chen Ping’an sighed. “Then have you considered the intentions of the esteemed master who granted you your opportunity? Have you considered the possibility that this person’s cultivation is even higher than Cao Fu’s mastermind, their intentions even more sinister, and their schemes even more far-reaching? Why did he dare to give you three precious treasures, granting you an immense opportunity for cultivation, yet also placing you in danger? Why didn’t he directly take you to his own immortal sect? Why didn’t he place a protector by your side? Why was he so certain that you could become a cultivator on your own? What mysteries lie behind the strange event of your mother dreaming of a divine being embracing a baby girl?”

Sui Jingcheng reached out to wipe the sweat from her forehead, then pressed the back of her hand against her forehead, shaking her head. “I can’t figure it out.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Most things in this world are like that. You can’t figure them out no matter how much you think about them, and figuring them out might not even be a good thing.”

Sui Jingcheng looked bewildered.

These past few days had been filled with hardship and wandering like a stray dog, with unexpected turns and ups and downs. Tonight’s events, coupled with this man’s few words, had caused her emotions to fluctuate greatly.

Chen Ping’an said, “I am only telling you these things after you have decided to go to Treasure Bottle Continent, so that you can make another choice in your heart, about how to treat that wandering master who might never appear in this lifetime, or might appear tonight. Assuming that esteemed master harbors good intentions towards you, and was simply too protective of you at the beginning of your cultivation, so as not to force growth, and is simply unaware of the events of the Five Ling Kingdom and the Sui family, since cultivators, the higher their realm, the less they are aware of the passing of time in the mortal world when they go into seclusion, then you can temporarily go to Treasure Bottle Continent, but you must not hastily become Cui Dongshan’s disciple. If that person has been harboring ill intentions towards you from the start, then there is no need for such concerns. But after all, neither of us can be certain of the truth of the matter. What to do?”

Sui Jingcheng asked in a daze, “What to do?”

Chen Ping’an smiled in exasperation. “What do you mean, what to do?”

Sui Jingcheng wiped her face and suddenly laughed. “If I hadn’t met Senior, or if someone else had saved me, I wouldn’t care about anything, and I would run as far as I could, even if I felt indebted to the wandering master who was so kind to me, and I would try not to think too much about it. But now I think the Sword Immortal Senior is right. The scholars of the world seek self-preservation in times of trouble, but they should still have a little compassion. Similarly, the cultivators of the mountain realms flee in times of trouble, but they should still retain a sense of gratitude. So, whether it’s Sword Immortal Senior or that Cui Dongshan Senior, even if I am fortunate enough to become a disciple of one of you, I will only be a registered disciple until I meet that wandering master again in this lifetime. Even if his realm is not as high as yours, I will beseech both of you to allow me to change my master and become a disciple of that wandering master!”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “That’s reasonable.”

What was even more commendable was that Chen Ping’an could actually see the sincerity, or lack thereof, in Sui Jingcheng’s words.

Some words need to be seen rather than heard.

This is the benefit of mountain cultivation.
Therefore, Chen Ping’an sighed, “I hope my previous speculation was just me being overly suspicious. I still hope that wandering sage can become your mentor in the future, ascending mountains hand in hand, enjoying the beautiful scenery.”

Sui Jingcheng chuckled secretly, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him.

Chen Ping’an immediately understood the unspoken words in her eyes, and glared at her. “You and I simply see the world in a similar way, but our temperaments are vastly different.”

Sui Jingcheng couldn’t help but laugh, displaying a rare childlike innocence as she began to look around. “Master, where are you?”

Who knew if it would be like that green-robed swordsman senior carrying a bamboo box back then, possibly far away at the edge of the heavens, or perhaps right before their eyes?

Chen Ping’an laughed along with her.

Of course, Sui Jingcheng’s “Master” did not appear.

After that, the two of them didn’t intentionally conceal their whereabouts. However, since Sui Jingcheng needed to cultivate at fixed times during the day, Chen Ping’an bought a carriage on their way to the capital of Wu Ling Kingdom and became the driver himself. Sui Jingcheng proactively spoke about some of the cultivation keys in that “Supreme Mysterious Collection,” describing various phenomena that would occur during breathing exercises, such as eyes becoming moist and radiant like steam, itchy and tingling eyes with the sensation of electric currents, subtle vibrating sounds within the internal organs, and sudden bursts of sound. Chen Ping’an couldn’t really offer any advice. Furthermore, Sui Jingcheng, a complete novice, had been cultivating on her own for nearly thirty years without any signs of illness, and instead had delicate skin and clear eyes, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.

The journey was steady and peaceful, continuing day and night.

Just like when he escorted Li Huai and the others to the Great Sui Academy, there were not only bumps and harmonious moments, but also more mundane and trivial everyday occurrences.

It was like how Li Huai was only brave enough to go to the latrine with Chen Ping’an, especially late at night. Even if Yu Lu was on guard during the second half of the night, Chen Ping’an, who was guarding the first half and already sound asleep, would still be shaken awake by Li Huai. Then, with sleepy eyes, Chen Ping’an would accompany that fellow, who was either holding his crotch or clutching his buttocks, and walk far away together. That’s how it had always been. Chen Ping’an had never said anything to Li Huai, and Li Huai had never uttered a word of gratitude.

However, rural children were indeed not accustomed to saying “thank you.” Just like how scholars were indeed unwilling to say “I was wrong.”

But ultimately, Li Huai took it to heart, so everyone could see that among the group back then, Li Huai cared the most about Chen Ping’an. Even after so many years, after studying at the academy for many years and making his own friends, Li Huai still had the same cowardly and bullying-within-the-family attitude towards Chen Ping’an. When he truly encountered a problem, the first person he thought of was Chen Ping’an, even before his parents and sister who were far away in another continent. However, one was dependence, and the other was longing – different emotions, but equally profound.

And Sui Jingcheng, although she was only a half-baked cultivator, had still not achieved a state of non-eating, and she was also a woman, so the troubles were no less.

So, when Chen Ping’an had previously bought a carriage in a prosperous county town, he deliberately lingered for an extra day, staying at an inn. Sui Jingcheng, who felt relieved from the wind and dew, and thinking she weighed one hundred and sixty pounds, borrowed some silver from Chen Ping’an, saying she was going to buy some items. Then, she changed into a newly purchased dress and even bought a veil to cover her face.

It wasn’t intentionally taking care of Sui Jingcheng, but Chen Ping’an himself wasn’t in a hurry to travel. He already had a general route in mind and wouldn’t be late to reach Green Oriole Country by autumn.

So one evening, by a turbulent river with rocky cliffs, Chen Ping’an took out a fishing rod and cast his line. The mud and sand shifted, but the large rocks remained unmoved. Unexpectedly, he caught a snail carp weighing over ten pounds. While the two were drinking fish soup, Chen Ping’an said that there was a lake in the mountains of Tongye Continent where the snail carp were the most miraculous. As long as they lived for over a hundred years, they would contain a small piece of green stone in their mouths, extremely pure. After being crushed and sun-dried using secret techniques, it was a dream painting material for talisman masters.

Sui Jingcheng listened in surprise and disbelief.

The two would also occasionally play chess. Sui Jingcheng finally confirmed that this swordsman senior was truly a terrible chess player. The opening moves were powerful and flawless, but then the playing became worse and worse.

The first time they played chess, Sui Jingcheng was very serious because she felt that the senior must have been hiding his skills during the chess game at the pavilion.

Later, Sui Jingcheng accepted her fate.

This senior had truly only memorized some opening formulas.

Fortunately, the senior didn’t feel ashamed. He lost every game, ten out of ten. Each time during the review, he would humbly ask Sui Jingcheng for advice on certain clever moves. Sui Jingcheng naturally didn’t dare to hold anything back. Finally, while browsing a bookstore in a county city, she picked out two chess manuals, one on endgames, focusing on life and death problems, and one specifically recording standard openings. The senior had given her some gold and silver in the county town, telling her to keep it for herself, so buying the chess manuals still left her with some money.

One night, while traveling on a deserted road, passing by a desolate graveyard, the senior suddenly stopped the carriage and told Sui Jingcheng to step out of the carriage. Then, he gently tapped her forehead with two fingers, telling her to concentrate and look in one direction. Sui Jingcheng lifted the veil, revealing that atop a grave, there was a white fox carrying a skeleton on its back, worshipping the moon. She asked why this was, and the senior said he didn’t know either. He had seen many fox spirits transforming into beautiful women to seduce traveling scholars, but this was the first time he had seen one carrying bones and worshipping the moon.

The carriage continued on its way.

Hearing the noise, the white fox carrying the white bones disappeared in a flash. A moment later, a graceful woman stood by the roadside, striking alluring poses. Chen Ping’an ignored her. Sui Jingcheng, sitting outside the carriage, felt annoyed. She removed her veil, revealing her true face. The woman seemed to have been struck by lightning, muttering and cursing, and turned to leave. Sui Jingcheng raised an eyebrow, put on her veil, and gently swung her legs outside the carriage.

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Why are you getting angry with a fox spirit?”

Sui Jingcheng said, “Transforming into women to seduce men, no wonder people in the marketplace like to use the term ‘slutty fox spirit’ when cursing others. In the future, when I cultivate immortal techniques, I must teach them a good lesson.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Not all fox spirits are like that.”
She was a bit mischievous, but kind-hearted. I also heard that in the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion of the Central Divine Continent, there is a celestial fox enshrined. To repay the Old Celestial Master for stamping the Celestial Master’s Seal upon her fox pelt, helping her evade the great tribulation of ascending to the Fifth Realm, she has since protected the disciples of the Celestial Master’s Mansion and even helps them temper their Dao hearts.”

Sui Jingcheng silently noted this matter, stranger than any tale of the supernatural, in her heart. Her last thought was that the fox spirit might not even be as beautiful as she was.

One evening at dusk, they passed an ancient local shrine. Legend had it that the river had been perpetually turbulent, preventing the people from crossing even with boats. Then, an ancient immortal drew a talisman on paper, and a stone rhinoceros leaped from the paper, plunged into the water, and suppressed the water monster, bringing peace and tranquility ever since. Sui Jingcheng and Chen Ping’an entered the temple together to burn incense. The incense shop at the temple entrance was run by a young couple. Later, at the ferry crossing, Sui Jingcheng noticed that the young couple had followed the carriage and, for some reason, began to prostrate themselves before them, begging the immortals to give them a ride across the river.

Chen Ping’an nodded in agreement. Finally, Chen Ping’an, Sui Jingcheng, and the couple boarded a huge ferryboat, carriage and all, to cross the river. After landing and the carriage had traveled several miles, the young couple asked to get off. Sui Jingcheng, sitting in the carriage with the young couple, found it rather cramped and noticed more strange things. When the carriage and ferry were crossing the river, the couple were drenched in sweat, seemingly about to capsize and perish in the river at any moment. They clung to each other, hand in hand, with a look of resignation. This made Sui Jingcheng deeply worried, mistakenly believing that there were river demons causing trouble, ready to overturn the ferryboat at any time. However, remembering that the Sword Immortal senior was sitting outside, she felt much more at ease.

After the young couple got off the carriage, they prostrated themselves again, performing the grand kowtow of three kneelings and nine prostrations.

Sui Jingcheng saw that the senior said nothing, merely standing there and accepting the reverence. After the tearful young couple rose, the senior softly said, “Demons and spirits, doing good and accumulating virtue, the Dao is impartial and will naturally protect them.”

Sui Jingcheng felt that strange things were happening one after another. Upon hearing these words, the young couple seemed to have received a great pardon, as if enlightened, and were about to kneel down again in devout gratitude.

However, this time, the senior reached out to support the young man, “Go now, the mountains and rivers are long, and the Dao is arduous. Take care.”

The young couple did not walk on the official road but stepped off the path. In the distance, the young woman stopped and turned around, one bowing with hands clasped, the other performing a curtsy.

Then, as the carriage entered a small path, Sui Jingcheng suddenly widened her eyes. She saw ripples in the air, and a golden-armored divine warrior wielding an iron spear stood on the road.

Chen Ping’an stopped the carriage, landed on the ground, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and then asked, “We acted without permission. Did we cause any trouble for the River God?”

The solemn golden-armored divine warrior shook his head and smiled, “In the past, I was bound by rules, and my duty was to not act in my personal interest. That couple was destined for this fortune. Protected by your merit, they waited for a hundred years to cross this river.”

The golden-armored divine warrior stepped aside, allowing passage, his iron spear gently tapping the ground, “This humble god respectfully sees you off on your journey.”

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands again, smiled in farewell, returned to the carriage, and slowly drove past the golden-armored deity guarding the river.

Sui Jingcheng was silent for a long time, then softly asked, “Senior, is this what it means to achieve success in cultivation? To be able to have a golden-armored deity, timeless in his existence, actively clear the path and see you off?”

Chen Ping’an answered a question with a statement, slowly saying, “You must know that on the mountains, there are not only the likes of Cao Fu, and in the Jianghu, there are not only the likes of Xiao Shuye. Some things, no matter how much I tell you, are not as good as experiencing them yourself.”

That night, the carriage stopped in a quiet, uninhabited place. The Sword Immortal senior spent a little extra effort and time to stew a large pot of bamboo shoots with salted pork.

Sui Jingcheng was too lazy to wonder why those bamboo shoots were still so fresh in the middle of summer and why they weren’t taken out of the bamboo box.

However, Sui Jingcheng simply felt that after the river crossing, this young-looking senior was in a good mood.

Regarding the Sword Immortal senior’s age, Sui Jingcheng had asked this question before. At first, the senior ignored it. Later, she couldn’t resist her curiosity and asked indirectly twice. He finally said that he was probably around three hundred years old.

Sui Jingcheng became even more determined to pursue the Dao.

One day, they passed a bustling county town near the Saoshan Manor and happened to encounter a temple fair.

Every so often, there would be similar stalls, filled with clay dolls and small porcelain figures. For one copper coin, one could exchange for a small bamboo ring with the stall owner, or two copper coins for a large willow branch ring. The area was crowded with people, and adults would help children throw the bamboo or willow rings. Whenever an adult managed to ring one of the clay or porcelain figures, the children would cheer and dance with joy.

Chen Ping’an laughed at the time, “Are there so few Jianghu people in your Five Ridges Kingdom?”

Sui Jingcheng didn’t know why he asked this at first, simply saying, “Our Five Ridges Kingdom is more inclined towards literary pursuits. So after the appearance of Senior Wang Dun, the imperial court and even my father, a civil official, felt honored and hoped to get to know Senior Wang Dun through Hu Xinfeng.”

Only after the carriage had driven some distance did Sui Jingcheng understand the reason for the senior’s question.

If there were more martial artists, stalls like those at the temple fair might still exist, but there would definitely not be so many, because if one was unlucky, it would be clearly a money-losing business. Unlike the current businessmen at the temple fair, everyone was making money, earning more or less.

Sui Jingcheng sighed with emotion.

Perhaps this was one of the hidden veins of the world.

If she hadn’t met this senior, she might never have thought about these things in her life.

Not thinking about it wouldn’t result in any loss, and life would continue as usual. Thinking about it might not have any immediate effects or benefits.

No wonder the senior had also said that thinking about veins, explaining principles, and pondering worldly affairs was never an easy task.

Once, when passing by a melon field, the carriage stopped, and Chen Ping’an squatted beside the field ridge, staring blankly at the cute, green watermelons.

He recalled the town back then, under the old locust tree, where many families would draw water from the iron-locked well, the old people telling old stories, and the children eating cool watermelons, the locust shade cool and their hearts also cool.
Sui Jingcheng hopped down from the carriage, curiously asking, “Senior, even mountain immortals like you would want to eat watermelon?”

Chen Pingan remained silent for a long while, finally saying, “If one day I can do as I please, able to steal a watermelon and run away, then I’ll have truly cultivated my heart to completion. Only then will the influence of that candied hawthorn skewer on my state of mind be completely erased.”

Sui Jingcheng found this to be an even stranger statement than most oddities, utterly perplexing her.

They encountered a band of highway robbers on a treacherous mountain path near the capital. Sui Jingcheng couldn’t help but feel that these boastful fellows had the best of luck…

Chen Pingan told Sui Jingcheng to casually display her skills. A single golden hairpin, like a flying sword, sent them scattering in terror.

Later, the senior led Sui Jingcheng to sneak near the mountain stronghold. They saw the simple huts, the sounds of chickens and dogs, and wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys. A thin, young child was flying a tattered kite. One of the bandits squatted nearby, grinning. Beside him stood a frail, elderly man in patched green robes, scolding the bandit for being useless. If they didn’t get some income soon, the village wouldn’t be able to make ends meet. The children inside couldn’t even properly study, their stomachs rumbling louder than their recitations. The bandit scratched his head, saying that woman was formidable, probably a celestial being described in books. If they hadn’t run fast today, they wouldn’t be starving, but beaten to death.

Chen Pingan quietly led Sui Jingcheng away, returning to the carriage and continuing their journey.

In the night, Sui Jingcheng couldn’t sleep. She sat outside the carriage, leaning against the side, gazing at the forest beside the road.

Sui Jingcheng murmured to herself, “After seeing them robbing, I wanted to kill them all. Senior, if I had really done that, would I have been wrong?”

Chen Pingan shook his head. “No, you wouldn’t have been wrong.”

Sui Jingcheng asked again, “But if I had seen their lives, and then encountered them again on the road, and given them a bag of gold and silver, would I have been wrong?”

Chen Pingan smiled. “Not wrong, but not entirely right either.”

Sui Jingcheng suddenly felt a little guilty.

Chen Pingan said, “We agreed beforehand, I’m just borrowing your gold and silver. I won’t interfere with what you do. So you can secretly stay outside the village, don’t worry about me questioning you.”

Chen Pingan concluded, “The world is complex, not something easily explained. The matter of ‘patterns’ I spoke of, seeing the patterns of the human heart, once you achieve a little success, what seems complex becomes simple. But the matter of ‘sequence,’ while seemingly simple, is actually more complex, because it involves not only right and wrong, but also the good and evil of the human heart. So I speak of patterns everywhere, but ultimately it’s to lead to sequence. But how exactly to proceed, no one can teach me. I’ve only temporarily understood the sword of the heart’s methods of cutting and defining. I’ve roughly explained all this to you. Since you have nothing else to do, you can use these three aspects to properly sort out what you saw today.”

The day had started with a blazing sun and intense heat, even though Sui Jingcheng was wearing bamboo fiber robes, she still felt restless inside the carriage. Unexpectedly, dark clouds quickly gathered, followed by a torrential downpour, making the mountain path muddy and difficult to travel.

Fortunately, there was a residence built among the mountains by refined scholars, offering shelter from the rain.

Sui Jingcheng knew the owner of this residence, because he had some connection with the Sui family in his early years. Like her father, he was a grandmaster of chess. However, he didn’t rise high in officialdom, retiring as a Vice Minister of War. But his descendants were talented, including a chess player who surpassed him and became a court chess official, and two young scholars who passed the imperial examinations and were now officials. So this originally unremarkable mountain became known as a place where spirits dwell, even though it was in a remote wilderness. The residence was frequently visited by guests and carriages.

The gatekeeper of the family, hearing that the veiled woman was from a branch of the Sui family, married off to a distant land, and was now returning home to visit her family, was very polite. Hearing that she didn’t need accommodation, he was somewhat disappointed. After all, the old Vice Minister Sui was a pillar of integrity in the Wuling Kingdom, and a chess immortal like his master, so the woman’s Sui family identity was not comparable to the family members of ordinary high-ranking officials.

Chen Pingan and Sui Jingcheng were offered tea by the servants while they waited for the rain to stop, even though Sui Jingcheng didn’t remove her veil.

Whether it was a maid who leaked the news or not, a handsome young man quickly arrived, exchanged some pleasantries, and asked if the woman was proficient in chess. Sui Jingcheng responded flawlessly. The young man was also patient, even though they had nothing to talk about, he could still find topics, not feeling embarrassed at all. He even chatted with the young coachman in green robes, and when he heard that he was a family nephew delivering letters for the lady, he was very enthusiastic, showing no airs of a noble son.

After the rain stopped, the noble son personally escorted the two to the entrance of the residence, watched them leave, and smiled, “She must be a peerless beauty, a hidden orchid in the mountains. It’s a pity I couldn’t see her face.”

The old gatekeeper seemed familiar with the young man’s temperament, joking, “Why didn’t the Second Young Master personally escort them further?”

The young man shook his head and walked back to the residence, to play chess with a beautiful maid.

On the road, Sui Jingcheng sat beside the carriage curtain, removed her veil, gently lifted it, and asked, “Senior, if the other party was tempted by my beauty and caused trouble, would I be wrong? Would there be a little bit of fault on my part, since my beauty was seen first, and then the desire to possess me came after?”

Chen Pingan sighed. This was the trouble with the matter of “patterns” and “sequence.” At first, it could easily lead people into a state of confusion, as if everyone was a bad person, everyone had bad intentions, but the evil deeds and evil people seemed to have some reason.

If Chen Pingan were truly her mentor and protector, he wouldn’t directly reveal the answer, letting her think deeply about it herself. But since he wasn’t, and she was already intelligent, there was no such worry. He directly said, “The sequence isn’t how you describe it. Between heaven and earth, many rights and wrongs, especially after a continent or a country has established customs, are all fixed. Being tempted by wealth and committing robbery, being tempted by beauty and bullying with power, are all undoubtedly wrong. It’s not that you have money…
It’s wrong, but it’s not the woman’s fault for being beautiful. Only after understanding these things can one discuss the order of events, and the magnitude of right and wrong. Otherwise, even if a common woman flaunts herself in the streets, it’s not a reason to forcibly abduct her. The saying “a child carrying gold through the market invites robbery” or “to possess jade is to invite trouble,” do you really think it’s the child’s fault? Is it the fault of the one possessing the treasure? It is not so. It is merely the way of the world, hence these helpless adages, only meant to warn good people and the weak to be extra cautious.”

Chen Pingan turned his head, smiling, and asked, “The world is thus, always has been, is it then right? I think not.”

Sui Jingcheng’s eyes shone brightly, “Senior is insightful!”

Chen Pingan turned his head and chuckled, “This counts as insightful? If the principles of the sages in books could come to life, I reckon countless scholars in the world would have countless little men in their bellies either dying of anger or desperately trying to punch their way out, growing legs and running back into the books.”

Sui Jingcheng cautiously asked, “Senior, do you have a prejudice against scholars?”

Chen Pingan shook his head, “Not all who fill their bellies with poetry are scholars, and not all who are illiterate are not scholars.”

Sui Jingcheng was about to exclaim something.

Chen Pingan had already said, “Spare me the flattery.”

Sui Jingcheng couldn’t help but say with embarrassment, “Senior is truly prescient.”

Chen Pingan turned his head.

Sui Jingcheng blinked her eyes, silently lowered the carriage curtain, and sat upright. After enduring for a while, she couldn’t help but let a slight smile spread across her face.

Subsequently, after entering the capital region of the Wuling Kingdom, the senior would stop the carriage to look at various scenic spots and historical sites, occasionally carving inscriptions from plaques, couplets, and steles onto bamboo slips.

Along the way, they also encountered young heroes and heroines traveling the pugilistic world, two riders galloping past, brushing against the carriage.

The sleeves of the man and woman and the manes of the steeds fluttered in the wind together.

They also passed through rural villages, where groups of children played and frolicked, jumping over a stream one after another. Even some weaker girls would take a few steps back before rushing across.

One child stood swaggeringly by the stream, not running to leap over, but waving his arms, trying to jump across from the spot, and then clumsily fell into the ditch.

At that time, the carriage was parked not far away. Sui Jingcheng saw the senior’s profile; after witnessing that scene, he narrowed his eyes, a hint of amusement in them.

The carriage bypassed the capital city of the Wuling Kingdom, heading north.

It went directly to the Sweeping Mountain Villa of Wang Dun, the number one figure in the Wuling Kingdom’s pugilistic world.

Along this road, because they didn’t deliberately avoid counties and cities, they often ventured into them, so they heard some news of the pugilistic world that had already spread throughout the court and countryside.

Wang Dun had entered the ranks of the new Top Ten list. Although he was at the bottom of the ten, the Wuling Kingdom still felt like the whole country was celebrating.

Because the Great Zhuan Dynasty alone had five people, and it was said that this still concealed several elderly grandmasters who hadn’t shown their faces for a long time. The Qingci Kingdom only had Xiao Shuye ranked ninth. The Jinfei Kingdom, known for its fierce customs and strong military, had no one on the list. The Lanfang Kingdom didn’t even dare to think about it. Therefore, even if he was at the bottom of the list, this was a great honor for Wang Dun in his old age, and it made everyone in the “weak in culture and lacking heroes” Wuling Kingdom proud.

The Emperor of the Wuling Kingdom specially dispatched envoys from the capital to send a plaque.

So Sui Jingcheng guessed that the Sweeping Mountain Villa must be filled with guests, with people congratulating him endlessly.

But she didn’t know if Old Senior Wang Dun had an audience with the Great Zhuan Zhou Clan Emperor, and then returned from the Great Zhuan Capital City on a celestial ferry.

As for the news about Sui Jingcheng, the fanfare was no less lively than Wang Dun’s ranking on the list. It was very noisy, especially when people in the pugilistic world mentioned it, everyone spat out saliva, while the women venturing into the pugilistic world mostly looked displeased.

Sui Jingcheng would secretly glance at him every time, either silently drinking wine and eating in the tavern, or drinking the poor-quality tea that quenched thirst but not heat at the tea stall.

This made her feel somewhat lost.

They also encountered a group of drinking literati in the scenic mountains and rivers.

Someone raised a cup and shouted “In the forest, I am a giant tree, out of the mountain, I am a small grass,” with tears streaming down his face, and everyone present felt the same way. Someone else stood up and danced with a sword, which was probably also considered impassioned.

The carriage passed by slowly.

Sui Jingcheng smiled and said, “If it’s a gathering of famous scholars, with winding streams and floating cups, does Senior know which two types of people are most indispensable?”

Chen Pingan shook his head with a smile, “I’ve never participated, tell me about it.”

Sui Jingcheng smiled and said, “These literary gatherings must have someone who can write popular poems, and preferably someone who can paint portraits of everyone with superb skill. Having one is enough to be recorded in history, having both is a grand and beautiful event that will be passed down for a thousand years.”

Chen Pingan nodded, “That makes a lot of sense. I must tell these words to a friend in the future; perhaps he will write it in his travel notes.”

Sui Jingcheng, wearing a veil, covered her mouth and smiled, turned sideways, sat outside the carriage, and swayed her legs.

They were already approaching Sweeping Mountain Villa. In a county town, Chen Pingan sold the carriage at a discount.

He booked two rooms at an inn. Near the county town, there were obviously more people from the pugilistic world, presumably all going to the mountain villa to offer congratulations.

It had to be admitted that the bonds of the pugilistic world could be formed by running around, just like many friendships could be forged over a drinking table.

Those who could become old seniors in the pugilistic world either had extremely high martial arts skills, and it didn’t matter how bad their temper was, they were still heroic figures, or they were those with mediocre martial arts but were first-rate sly foxes and old scoundrels, and their reputation was still very good. As for those younger generations who also understood the ways of the pugilistic world, they relied on enduring the days, waiting until the second-rate seniors died one after another, and when the chairs were emptied one by one, they would naturally become the old seniors sitting in the chairs, but this kind of success was somewhat lacking. Therefore, those young people with sharp edges were never liked by the old men of the pugilistic world.

However, according to Sui Jingcheng’s account, Old Senior Wang Dun was truly virtuous and respected.

Chen Pingan stood by the window, watching the bustling street for a while.

Chen Pingan went next door, knocked on the door, and said he was going to sit in the county town’s tavern and planned to buy a few pots of wine.

Sui Jingcheng put on her veil again and stepped out of the threshold.