After the last incident, Chen Ping’an came to the tavern again for a drink, a little over ten days had passed. Approaching the end of the year, Sword Qi Great Wall did not have the same strong festive atmosphere as Vast Ocean World.

The tavern’s head manager, Diezhang, had become increasingly famous, thanks to the second manager. Diezhang also learned a lot of business acumen from Chen Ping’an, becoming more skilled at welcoming guests. In short, he was now willing to put himself out there.

If someone asked, “Head Manager, are you treating today? You’ve earned so many immortal coins from us, you should treat us once!”

Diezhang would reply, “You sword immortals spend money on drinks and kill demons with your swords. Why do you need others to do it for you?”

All the tables would boo, but Diezhang didn’t care anymore.

After greeting Diezhang and some familiar patrons, Chen Ping’an moved a small stool to the corner of the street. However, today no one was listening to the storyteller recount tales of mountains and rivers. Many young men and women, after hesitating, chose to take a detour when they saw the figure in blue.

Except for that little kid clutching a ceramic pot, who was kept at home by his parents, and Zhang Jiazhen, who had to work as a hired hand elsewhere to earn money, the others were too afraid to come.

It wasn’t necessarily that they thought Chen Ping’an was a bad person, but that person had, after all, killed someone in the tavern, and some children or their elders had witnessed it firsthand.

This was human nature, and Chen Ping’an wasn’t surprised or disappointed. He sat for a while, basking in the warm sun of late winter, cracking melon seeds, and then picked up his stool and returned to the tavern. He didn’t help out, but instead sat at the counter, using an abacus to check the accounts. Diezhang, while busy serving drinks to customers, came to the counter, hesitated, and said, “Business hasn’t been bad.”

Chen Ping’an closed the account book, spread out his palm, lightly brushed it across the abacus, and looked up with a smile. “Have you been wanting to ask me all along whether that person was a demonic spy? Regardless of the truth, you, Diezhang, as a friend of Ning Yao and Chen Ping’an, want me to give you a clear answer?”

Diezhang didn’t hesitate and shook his head. “I don’t want to ask that. I already have an answer in my heart.”

Chen Ping’an skillfully tapped the abacus and slowly said, “If the strengths are too different, or the opponent’s scheme is too deep, you’ll accept the loss. You might not admit it, but you’ll know it in your heart. I’ve lost like that before, more than once, and it was terrible, but I learned a lot from it afterward. What’s frightening are those means that you can see through at a glance, but can still disgust you thoroughly. The other party isn’t even trying to gain much, they’re just playing around.”

Chen Ping’an hadn’t finished his sentence, because the Desolate World was about to launch a full-scale attack on the city. Even if it wasn’t the next battle, it wouldn’t be too far off. So, some insignificant pawns in this city could be squandered at will.

This was also a warning to some key pieces hidden deeper.

Chen Ping’an glanced at the tavern door. “Someone is building momentum behind the scenes. If I let my guard down like this, thinking that the conspiracies of Sword Qi Great Wall are not even in the same league as those of Vast Ocean World, then I’m destined to be injured or killed, and I’ll implicate those around me. The schemer hiding behind the scenes is prescribing the right medicine, seeing that I like to act without mistakes, so they deliberately let me win small victories every step of the way.”

Diezhang laughed. “Small victories? Pang Yuanji and Qi Shou would jump up and curse. Forget about Qi Shou, Pang Yuanji definitely won’t come here for drinks again. He wouldn’t even buy the cheapest wine.”

Chen Ping’an laughed. “Then that’s a small victory. Pang Yuanji and Qi Shou know it, the watching sword immortals know it, everyone who should know knows it. Because I’m not a true sword cultivator, and I’m not a native of Sword Qi Great Wall. What that person said before, although it was deliberately disgusting, many of the words did hit the mark. It’s just a pity that all words, without the unexpected, are difficult to use to defeat me. The previous fights with Qi Shou and Pang Yuanji, I won because I had more ‘unexpected’ factors.”

Diezhang sighed. “Chen Ping’an, do you know how terrifying you are?”

It was like two people playing chess, one side always guessed where the other side would move. How would the other side feel?

Some things had already happened, but some things even Chen Sanqiu and Yan Pangzi didn’t know. For example, when Chen Ping’an was writing and asked Diezhang to help him get paper, Chen Ping’an laughed and said that his stakeout this time was aimed at someone who was definitely young, not of high cultivation, but had definitely been to the southern battlefield, so he could allow many ordinary sword cultivators of Sword Qi Great Wall to “empathize” and feel compassion, as well as arouse a sense of shared hatred. Perhaps this person in his hometown market of Sword Qi Great Wall was a “good person” with an excellent reputation, who often helped the elderly, women, and children in the neighborhood. After this person died, the mastermind wouldn’t even need to fuel the flames, just stand by and watch. Otherwise, they would be underestimating the patrolling sword immortals of Sword Qi Great Wall too much. Naturally, a grassroots public opinion would form, starting from the alleys, taverns, and shops, gradually spreading to wealthy residences and the ears of many sword immortals. Some people would ignore it, others would silently remember it. However, Chen Ping’an also said at the time that this was just the worst-case scenario, not necessarily true. Besides, the situation wouldn’t get too bad. After all, it was just a small game for the mastermind to test the waters.

At this moment, Diezhang was originally worried that Chen Ping’an would be angry, but he didn’t expect Chen Ping’an to still be smiling, and not forcedly, as if this sentence was also within his expectations.

This was the second time Chen Ping’an had heard a similar statement.

“Being able to say this to my face means you really consider me a friend.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Those who oppose me should feel this way.”

Diezhang said, “With you by Ning Yao’s side, I feel more at ease.”

Chen Ping’an laughed. “If you’re still willing to say this after the next great battle in the south, I’ll feel a lot more at ease too.”

Diezhang suddenly looked solemn.

Chen Ping’an nodded and said softly, “Right, this is also what the person behind the scenes intentionally wants to test. First, to determine if Chen Ping’an, the disciple of the Sage of Writing and Ning Mansion’s son-in-law, will really climb the city walls and fight alongside the sword cultivators. Second, whether he dares to go out of the city to the southern battlefield and fight demons. Third, after leaving the city walls, what choice he will make between protecting his life and fighting with all his might. Will he try to survive first and then talk about other things, or will he seek glory, for himself and for Ning Mansion, even at the cost of his life, to prove himself. Of course, the best result is that Chen Ping’an dies heroically on the southern battlefield. If the mastermind is in a good mood, they might ask someone to say a few good words for me afterward.”
Chen Ping’an jested, “The chair your teacher sat on was treated as a family heirloom, treasured in the wing of your humble abode. Do you think the small stools on either side of the Literary Sage are for just anyone to casually sit on?”

Diezhang’s mood was heavy. He picked up a jar of wine, broke the seal, poured two bowls, and took a large gulp himself, speaking nothing, filled with gloom.

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl, took a sip, and laughed, “Drink less. Although we’re both managers, we still have to pay for our drinks.”

Diezhang held his wine bowl, hesitant to speak.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Still have questions? Just ask.”

Diezhang softly asked, “The first person to stand up with a bowl… was he a shill?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled heartily, waving his hand, “No.”

Then Chen Ping’an pointed at Diezhang, “Grand Manager, just focus on being a businessman. You’re really not suited for these schemes to manipulate people’s hearts. If I did that, wouldn’t I be treating all the sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Sword Intent, especially those Sword Immortals watching from the sidelines, as fools who only know how to practice swordsmanship and know nothing of human nature? Some things, seemingly perfect, yielding the greatest benefit, are actually absolutely forbidden. Being too deliberate ruins the beauty. For example, my initial plan was only to avoid losing. Beating that person to death was already a net win. Any further greed would be gilding the lily, earning only contempt.”

Diezhang sighed heavily, his expression complex. He raised his wine bowl, imitating Chen Ping’an, “Drink down all the filth of the world!”

Chen Ping’an smiled and raised his bowl, clinking it against Diezhang’s, “Thank you, Grand Manager, for the wine.”

West of the city, there was a Winter Retreat Palace of the Hidden Official. To the east, there was also a Summer Avoidance Palace, both small, but costing a fortune to build.

Today, in the Winter Retreat Palace, in the main hall, the Hidden Official was standing on an exquisitely crafted grandmaster’s chair, a celestial artifact from the Flowing Cloud Continent of the Vast World, made of red wood with water-like patterns, flowing with clouds and mist.

In the hall were also two local Sword Immortals assisting the Hidden Official’s lineage. The man was named Zhu’an, and the woman was named Luo Shan, both aged Jade Purity Realm cultivators.

Besides them, there was also a Nascent Soul cultivator in charge of intelligence gathering, reporting in detail the entire sequence of events of the wine shop incident, tracing the young Sea Gazing Realm sword cultivator Huang Zhou’s ancestors back eighteen generations. His lineage, relatives and friends, familiar Earth Immortal elders, and so on were all recounted in detail to Sword Immortal Zhu’an. As for the Hidden Official, he had never been interested in these things.

In addition, there was Pang Yuanji, and a Confucian gentleman listening in. The gentleman was named Wang Zai, and had some connection to the previous Confucian Sage who had sat guard over the Great Wall of Sword Intent.

The Hidden Official was pacing back and forth on the chair with his eyes closed, swaying, tugging on his two pigtails, as if sleepwalking.

Sword Immortal Zhu’an listened to his subordinate’s report while reading the intelligence report in his hand. For the sake of thoroughness, naturally there was much to read, so the Hidden Official never touched these.

The female Sword Immortal Luo Shan wore a round-necked brocade robe, with extremely red flowers adorning her hair, strikingly conspicuous.

In the matter of intelligence, the gentleman Wang Zai was similar to a censor in the imperial court of the Vast World, not qualified to participate in specific affairs, but had the right to offer advice.

In the Hidden Official’s words, it was necessary to give these outsiders holding imperial swords a little chance to speak. As for whether or not one listened to what they said, it depended on one’s mood.

After listening to the intelligence explanation, Wang Zai asked, “The facts prove that there is no conclusive evidence to prove that Huang Zhou was a demonic spy. Could it be that Chen Ping’an is guilty of indiscriminate killing? To take a step back, even if he were a demonic spy, he should be handed over to us for disposal. If he wasn’t, and it was just a dispute between young people, wouldn’t that be treating human life as if it were grass?”

Pang Yuanji frowned, saying nothing, only drinking his wine.

As the Hidden Official’s only direct disciple, Pang Yuanji’s words were often more effective than those of the two senior Sword Immortals, Zhu’an and Luo Shan, but Pang Yuanji did not like to get involved in these murky matters, and always focused on his cultivation.

Luo Shan said indifferently, “Evil people should be ground down by evil people, ground down until they regret their evil deeds. Here at the Great Wall of Sword Intent, we really don’t need to worry about anything. Lower Five Realms sword cultivators can scold Dong Sangeng without problem, as long as Dong Sangeng doesn’t mind. But if Dong Sangeng takes action, then naturally death is death for nothing. That Chen Ping’an is obviously waiting for others to come looking for trouble. If Huang Zhou were sensible, he should have stopped when he saw the first piece of paper. Is whether he’s a demonic spy or not important? If he’s stupid enough to die, don’t blame the other party for acting too harshly. As for Chen Ping’an, does he really think he’s a sword cultivator of the Great Wall of Sword Intent? How presumptuous! In the next major battle in the south, I will have someone specifically record Chen Ping’an’s demon-slaying record.”

Zhu’an said with a stern face, “In this matter, you, Luo Shan, should say less.”

The female Sword Immortal Luo Shan had some connection with the Ning family couple, and there were some unpleasant events in the early years.

As for Luo Shan’s remarks, they didn’t count as speaking up for Chen Ping’an. At best, it was giving each side fifty lashes, except half the lashes landed on a dead corpse.

Wang Zai had been at the Great Wall of Sword Intent for seven or eight years, participating in one major battle, but he had not engaged in any fighting. He served more as a supervisor and record keeper of the war. The Hidden Official said that since he was a gentleman, he must be well-read, and have delicate skin and tender flesh, so he shouldn’t go fighting and killing. At the time, Wang Zai was quite angry about this and spoke of it to the Confucian Sage, but to no avail.

Luo Shan sneered, “What is Sword Immortal Zhu’an’s opinion? Should we summon Chen Ping’an and ask him about it? The Literary Sage’s disciple also has a sword art master as an elder brother, watching from the city wall.”

Zhu’an’s face was gloomy.

According to the rules, of course, one had to ask.

But that young man was too skilled at handling people, his words and actions impeccable, and moreover, his backer was too great.

Wang Zai said, “The Literary Sage is no longer the Literary Sage. Moreover, Chen Ping’an is a Confucian disciple, and his actions should be more in line with the rules, and he shouldn’t kill as he pleases. Even if that old gentleman who no longer has a divine position in the Confucian Temple were present, I would still say this directly. If the two Sword Immortals are not suitable to come forward, you can let the younger generation question Chen Ping’an.”

Zhu’an asked, “Where will the questioning take place, here or at the Ning residence?”

Wang Zai understood the unspoken meaning of this Sword Immortal, and retreated to the second-best option, saying, “I can pay a visit to avoid making Chen Ping’an feel too embarrassed.”

Luo Shan twitched the corner of her mouth, “That’s good, otherwise I’m afraid that Chen Ping’an would arrive at the palace, and Left Sword Immortal would arrive right after.”
Vast Expanse Pond sighed, retrieving his wine flask with a gentle smile, “Whether Huang Zhou is a pawn planted by the demon race, ordinary swordsmen might only suspect, but do you think we are blind?”

Wang Zai countered, “I am merely stating facts. Huang Zhou has a sterling reputation in the Great Yu Mountain Alley of the Sword Qi Great Wall. I have meticulously reviewed his battle records, and he deserves the evaluation of ‘giving his all.’ Forgive my bluntness, but swordsmen like Huang Zhou, though not high in cultivation or prolific in kills, are the foundation of the Sword Qi Great Wall. If this matter is glossed over without even a pretense of investigation, I dare say it will dishearten many ordinary swordsmen. Clear rewards and punishments are the iron rule of the Sword Qi Great Wall. Does being a disciple of a Sage, a junior brother of a Great Sword Immortal, exempt him from scrutiny?”

Reaching this point, Wang Zai’s expression was resolute. The Confucian gentleman possessed a heroic spirit of “I shall go, though ten thousand oppose me.”

The Hidden Official opened her eyes, teetering on the edge of her chair like a tumbler doll. She didn’t even glance at the scholar, languidly stating, “If there were ten thousand of Huang Zhou’s kind in the city, I’d execute nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine of them. The Grand Sword Immortal would scold me for dereliction of duty and punish me with years of abstaining from wine.”

As soon as she spoke.

Both Sword Immortals, Zhu’an and Luo Shan, immediately stood up.

The Nascent Soul sword cultivator even looked solemn, listening as if receiving a sacred decree.

The Hidden Official stretched out a hand, yawning, “Are your brains not functioning properly after several major battles? Then eat more, drink more water, stop solely focusing on sword practice. It’s easy to damage your brains. You’re still alright, but some people, like that scholar, have ruined their minds with too much reading. I can’t save them.”

Gentleman Wang Zai’s face remained unchanged.

The Hidden Official nodded to herself, “Although I’ve never liked that Chen Ping’an, by comparison, he seems much more pleasing to the eye at the moment. Alas, why is that? Why?”

She pointed to Luo Shan, “You tell me.”

Luo Shan chuckled, “The moonlight is splendid tonight.”

The Hidden Official nodded, “That makes sense.”

Wang Zai stood unmoving.

The Hidden Official was somewhat impressed by the thick skin of these scholars. She gave Zhu’an a look, who immediately found a pretext to lead Wang Zai out of the meeting hall.

Luo Shan also led the Nascent Soul sword cultivator away.

Only the master and disciple remained.

Vast Expanse Pond chuckled, “Master, is the lineage of the Second Sage so unwelcoming to the lineage of the Literary Sage?”

The Hidden Official beckoned, and Vast Expanse Pond walked to the Grand Preceptor’s chair. As a result, the Hidden Official grabbed him and twisted his cheek, “Vast Expanse, you’ve damaged your brain the most with sword practice!”

Vast Expanse Pond didn’t stand on ceremony with his master, freeing himself from the Hidden Official’s small hand and rubbing his cheek, helplessly saying, “Master, please enlighten me.”

The Hidden Official rolled her eyes, “How did I end up with such a foolish disciple? Do you really think Wang Zai is targeting Chen Ping’an? He’s trying to tie us together, to prove Chen Ping’an’s innocence. Can’t you see such a simple thing? I just won’t let him have his way. Anyway, that Chen Ping’an is a shrewd character and doesn’t care about these things.”

Vast Expanse Pond pondered carefully and nodded, but also felt some anger. This Wang Zai dared to plot against his master?

The Hidden Official waved her hand, “What’s so strange about that? Wang Zai is openly suspecting the Dong family, and he also suspects our side. Or rather, apart from Chen Qingdu and the three Sages stationed here, Wang Zai suspects all major families, including me, the Hidden Official. What kind of pushover do you think the Confucian Sage, who lost to me, is? Would he send a fool to the Sword Qi Great Wall after his embarrassing departure, just to lose face again?”

Vast Expanse Pond bitterly smiled, “I’m not good at these things.”

The Hidden Official formed sword seals with both hands, waving them randomly, and said, “What’s the use of being good at these things? You are the certain successor to the position of Hidden Official. As long as you can draw your sword swiftly and kill people, that’s enough.”

Vast Expanse Pond said, “Isn’t Master very good at it?”

She said, “I am your master.”

Vast Expanse Pond nodded, “That makes sense.”

The Hidden Official jumped and said, “Shameless! Copying my words? Give me money! Wine will do as payment for your debt!”

Vast Expanse Pond tossed over a flask of Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven wine, which the Hidden Official stored in her sleeve universe, secretly accumulating it like an ant moving its hoard. She couldn’t drink now, but she could store it!

As the year drew to a close, Ning Yao asked Chen Ping’an why he wasn’t preparing Spring Festival couplets and door gods. Back in the Little Town Grotto Heaven, Ning Yao had gone door to door, finding it quite festive, and she missed it a little.

Chen Ping’an jokingly asked if the Sword Qi Great Wall even sold such things. Ning Yao said he could write and draw them himself.

Chen Ping’an, however, said that when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and there was no need to deliberately pursue those customs.

Ning Yao was a little annoyed, asking why they should care about what others thought.

Chen Ping’an said that they should.

Ning Yao became genuinely angry, so Chen Ping’an carefully explained his reasons, finally saying that there was no need to rush this matter. He would be staying at the Sword Qi Great Wall for a long time, and perhaps he would have a chance to make a business out of Spring Festival couplets and door gods, just like how all the large and small restaurants in the city had grown accustomed to hanging楹聯 (楹聯: couplets hung on pillars or door frames).

Only then did Ning Yao let him have his way.

After recovering from his injuries, Chen Ping’an went to the city wall again to practice swordsmanship with his senior brother, Zuo You.

This time he had learned his lesson and brought a porcelain bottle of ointment, intending to treat his injuries on the city wall so as not to look too frightening, especially since it was the Lunar New Year. But man proposes, and Heaven disposes. Late at night, Ning Yao finished her cultivation at the Dragon-Slaying Platform gazebo and still waited in vain for him. She went to the city wall and discovered Chen Ping’an lying ten paces away from Zuo You, bandaging himself. He must have been seriously injured before that, otherwise, with Chen Ping’an’s habit of pushing his physical body to the brink of death, he would have been fine and already riding the talisman vessel back to the Ning residence.

Ning Yao sat beside Chen Ping’an, turning her head to glare at Zuo You, complaining, “It’s the Lunar New Year!”

Zuo You stammered for a long time before nodding, “I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Chen Ping’an secretly rejoiced.

Zuo You finally said, “A sage once posed questions to Heaven by the riverbank, leaving one hundred and seventy-three questions for posterity. Later, a scholar in his study composed answers to Heaven, answering the sage’s one hundred and seventy-three questions. You can look into that matter.”

Chen Ping’an agreed. He could ask Chen Sanqiu to help him buy the book, as that fellow himself enjoyed collecting books.

Chen Ping’an took out the talisman vessel, and Ning Yao piloted it, returning to the Ning residence together.
Within the Sword Qi Great Wall, not every household enjoyed lavish feasts, but at the Ning estate, Chen Ping’an personally donned his apron, granting White Granny a respite, and prepared a sumptuous dinner.

Even the closest of friends have their own circles.

While Dong Huafu tended to be reclusive, lacking companions of his age, Yan Zhuo cultivated his own coterie, and Chen Sanqiu, known for his affable nature, had an even wider network.

In the first month of the lunar year, Chen Sanqiu brought three of his closest friends to the Diezhang workshop for drinks.

The four shared a table, one of whom, Fan Dache, a scion of a prominent family, was hopelessly drunk, his eyes glazed over, tears and mucus mingling as he lamented. Chen Sanqiu could only sigh helplessly, while the other two, a young couple of similar background, were equally at a loss. Being a pair of Daoist cultivators, they were hesitant to intervene too much, for Fan Dache was heartbroken over a woman whose status didn’t match his own. Despite Fan Dache’s enviable lineage, the woman had spurned him, choosing another young master from a great family, with talks of marriage already underway. Chen Sanqiu and his friends had been caught off guard, unable to fathom why Yu Qia, a cultivator of the Viewing Sea Realm, would abandon Fan Dache for another.

Fan Dache himself was even more bewildered, so he drowned his sorrows in wine, his words slurring as he spilled his anguish.

Upon seeing Chen Ping’an, Fan Dache bellowed, “Oh, isn’t this our esteemed Second Shopkeeper? A rare sight indeed! Come, join us for a drink, a drink!”

Chen Ping’an had come alone to audit the accounts with Diezhang. He glanced at Chen Sanqiu, who subtly gestured for help in defusing the situation. Chen Ping’an, feeling reluctant, having only met Fan Dache and Yu Qia a couple of times and barely exchanged any words, wondered what he could possibly say. Nevertheless, he sat down on the bench next to Chen Sanqiu, picked up two jars of wine, opened one himself, and began to drink in silence. Fan Dache, thoroughly intoxicated, wallowed in his misery, his blurry eyes brimming with tears, a testament to his profound heartache.

The most pitiable were those who, despite drinking so much, couldn’t find oblivion and forget their sorrows.

Sometimes, drinking to ease pain only pours salt on the wound. The more it hurts, the more one drinks, hoping for numbness, welcoming the pain until it breaks them.

Chen Sanqiu didn’t truly expect Chen Ping’an to say anything profound; he simply wanted another person to share the burden of drinking.

As Chen Ping’an listened, he gleaned the gist of the situation. However, their relationship was too shallow for him to offer any meaningful advice.

The woman, Yu Qia, who had driven Fan Dache to such despair, even after copious amounts of wine, and whom he couldn’t bring himself to speak ill of, had caught Chen Ping’an’s attention before. She was a woman who never seemed to get drunk, possessed an exceptional aura, and though not of high birth, she had an air of learned refinement rare among the women of the Sword Qi Great Wall, yet also a hint of boldness. Chen Ping’an remembered a particular action of hers. On an occasion when Chen Sanqiu, Fan Dache, and their companions were seated around a table, they happened to encounter a Sword Immortal. Yu Qia, recognizing him, rose to offer a toast. As she did so, she naturally and subtly steadied the Sword Immortal’s arm. The gesture was so artful that even Chen Ping’an didn’t find it inappropriate, and the Sword Immortal certainly didn’t read anything into it. Yet, Chen Ping’an remembered it clearly. He had seen similar women at countless tables throughout the Vast World, women of refined grace and articulate speech, who easily garnered admiration. It wasn’t to say that Yu Qia was frivolous; on the contrary, it was a display of carefully measured social grace.

Whether Chen Ping’an approved or not, he understood. Life itself was a path of cultivation, and everyone had their own methods of securing their place in the world.

Many actions, many efforts unseen by others, were the invisible amulets that some individuals quietly acquired for their own protection.

Fan Dache, however, clearly didn’t understand, perhaps never even cared to. He probably believed that his beloved woman was naturally so considerate and understanding.

Ultimately, Fan Dache loved her, undoubtedly, but he might not have truly understood her preferences or the challenges she faced.

Moreover, from Fan Dache’s words, after hearing that Yu Qia wanted to leave him, he had been utterly bewildered, asking if he had done something wrong and promising to change.

But Yu Qia was resolute, simply saying that they were incompatible. Hence, among Fan Dache’s drunken ramblings was the lament, “How are we incompatible? Why only realize it now?”

Suddenly, Fan Dache shouted, “Chen Ping’an, you’re not allowed to think Yu Qia is a bad woman! Absolutely not!”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Alright.”

Fan Dache raised his white bowl and drank half of it, leaving the other half. Staring at Chen Ping’an, seated beside Chen Sanqiu, his eyes were vacant as he asked in a trembling voice, “Tell me, where did I go wrong? Why did Yu Qia suddenly decide to marry someone else? Is it true that in matters of love, the nice guy always loses? Is it because that bastard is better at sweet-talking? Better at pleasing women? I gave her my heart, why wasn’t that enough? My family is strict, and I don’t have much celestial money, but whenever she liked something, I’d always borrow money from Sanqiu, even if I didn’t have enough myself, just to buy it for her!”

Fan Dache paused for a moment. “Chen Ping’an, you’re an outsider, you have a clear perspective. Tell me, where did I go wrong?”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Did she know you borrowed money from Chen Sanqiu?”

Fan Dache was taken aback, then retorted angrily, “How the hell would I know if she knew! If I knew, Yu Qia would be sitting here with me right now! What does it matter if she knew or not? Yu Qia should be here, drinking with me, drinking with me…”

His voice trailed off, leaving only the sorrow of a young man.

Chen Ping’an took a sip of wine, put down the bowl, and quietly asked, “Does it truly not matter if she knew?”

Fan Dache’s voice rose sharply. “Chen Ping’an, don’t give me that detached nonsense! It’s easy for you to say, standing there without a care! You love Ning Yao, and Ning Yao loves you! You’re both like immortals, you know nothing about the mundane struggles of life!”

Chen Sanqiu was about to warn Fan Dache to watch his tongue, but Chen Ping’an gently pressed his arm down, shaking his head to indicate that it was alright.

Chen Ping’an didn’t say anything more, simply continued to drink in silence.

But Fan Dache seemed to have finally found a way to vent his frustrations, targeting Chen Ping’an with increasingly outrageous words, fortunately confined to the subject of love and relationships.

Chen Sanqiu’s face darkened, and even Diezhang frowned, contemplating whether to knock him unconscious with a single blow.
Chen Ping’an remained calm throughout, waiting for Fan Dache to finish his indignant words, which even he knew were unreasonable, before bursting into a wail.

Only then did Chen Ping’an speak, “If you can’t keep someone, don’t make excuses for yourself. Don’t blame yourself for being a ‘good person,’ as if genuinely liking a woman is wrong. Stop saying that gentle treatment is inferior to others’ sweet-talking flattery. Admit that your judgment is flawed. Many people, when they like someone, also like themselves, reveling in it, loving to the point of obsession, tears and snot flowing, putting on a show for themselves. They don’t even know what the person they blindly or luckily liked is truly thinking, or if they’re worth such devotion. They just want to move themselves first.”

Fan Dache slammed the table, “Shut your trap!”

Chen Ping’an said calmly, “When the hurt comes afterward, you drink, giving yourself more reasons, like a good man’s sincerity is worthless. You, Fan Dache, are unlucky, but at least you have a foundation. Otherwise, you’d have even more excuses, more heartache, as if failing to keep a woman is solely due to lack of money. As for whether one should be responsible for oneself first in a romantic relationship before being truly responsible for the woman, does that even need to be considered? I don’t think so. ‘I’m already heartbroken, why would I think about my own faults? How else can I move myself?'”

Fan Dache swayed as he stood, his face contorted, eyes bloodshot, “Hey, Chen… want to fight?!”

Chen Ping’an waved his hand, “No fighting. I’m only saying these unpleasant words because you’re Chen Sanqiu’s friend.”

Chen Ping’an drained his bowl of wine in one gulp, poured another, and finished it as well, “I’ve said too much. Just take it as drunken ramblings. Apologize for it.”

Fan Dache laughed wildly, “I can’t afford your apology, Chen Ping’an!”

Fan Dache’s other two friends also glared at Chen Ping’an with resentment.

What kind of consolation is this? It’s like adding fuel to the fire!

Fan Dache stared intently at Chen Ping’an, “How much have you even experienced to be spouting such grand principles?”

Chen Sanqiu said to Fan Dache, “Enough! Stop being drunk!”

Fan Dache looked forlorn, staggered, and barely steadied himself against the table, choking with emotion, “Sanqiu…”

Chen Sanqiu sighed and stood up, “Alright, let’s settle the bill.”

Chen Ping’an looked at Chen Sanqiu apologetically, and Chen Sanqiu smiled and nodded.

Chen Ping’an left the table and walked towards Diezhang.

Suddenly, Fan Dache picked up a wine bowl and hurled it towards Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an slowed his pace but didn’t turn around. Chen Sanqiu had already rounded the table, grabbed Fan Dache, and roared, “Fan Dache! Did you drink away your brain?!”

Diezhang was about to act, but Chen Ping’an, with his back to the table, shook his head.

Regardless of whether the sorrow is justified, the sorrow of a person down on their luck is still sorrow.

Fan Dache struggled fiercely, shouting at the receding blue-robed figure, “Chen Ping’an! You’re nothing! You don’t understand Yu Qia at all! How dare you say such things about her? I’m not done with you!”

Chen Ping’an turned his head and said, “We’ll talk again when you’re sober.”

Fan Dache accidentally elbowed Chen Sanqiu in the chest, broke free, clenched his fists, his eyes red-rimmed, and gasped for breath, “You can say whatever you want about me, but don’t say anything bad about Yu Qia!”

Chen Ping’an turned around, “I’m speaking to you calmly, not because you, Fan Dache, are so right, but because I have upbringing.”

Diezhang gazed at Chen Ping’an’s back.

In that moment, she felt a sense of awe, like she usually felt when seeing those lofty sword immortals.

A Liang had once said that those sword cultivator seniors who wore their authority on their faces were not to be feared. The ones to truly revere were those who were usually easy to talk to.

Because so-called strong personality wasn’t like a small pebble in your shoe, constantly grating and making every step painful. It was like a smooth river stone, seemingly easy to pick up, but biting down on it would truly break your teeth.

Chen Sanqiu was also furious. He shoved Fan Dache on the shoulder, pushing him forward a few steps, “Go, fight! Fight hard! Go beat yourself to death or cripple yourself! I’ll just consider myself unlucky for having a friend like you, and still carry you home!”

Fan Dache suddenly stopped, as if sobered by a gust of wind. Sweat broke out on his forehead.

Unexpectedly, Chen Ping’an laughed, “Don’t worry about it. Everyone has a drunken outburst now and then. Just remember to pay the bill.”

Chen Sanqiu regretted it deeply. He shouldn’t have let Fan Dache insist on having Chen Ping’an sit down and drink with them. Now he had to drag Fan Dache home.

If Ning Yao found out about this, he’d be finished. Whether he could even visit the Ning residence in the future was questionable.

Diezhang came to Chen Ping’an’s side and asked, “Aren’t you angry?”

Chen Ping’an squatted down, picking up the shards of the white bowl, and smiled, “What good would being angry do? If it were like this every time…”

Diezhang also squatted down, helping to clean up the mess, but noticed that he didn’t finish his sentence. She turned to look, curious.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “As long as the person speaking means well, there’s no such thing as unpleasant words in the world. If there are, it means my own cultivation isn’t enough.”

Diezhang suppressed a smile, “What about the guy you killed with one punch earlier?”

Chen Ping’an looked at her with a matter-of-fact expression, “Not to mention that that person was already harboring malicious intentions, and besides, I never said my own cultivation was enough.”

After cleaning up the shards on the ground, Chen Ping’an continued to clean up the leftovers on the table. Aside from the half-drunk jar of wine, the other jar he had brought, still sealed, remained untouched. But Chen Sanqiu and the others had already paid the bill together, which was quite generous.

Chen Ping’an was in a great mood. He poured himself a bowl of wine. He planned to take the remaining jar to the Ning residence and give it to Senior Nalan.

Manager Diezhang also pretended not to notice.

Chen Ping’an sat alone at the table, drinking his wine. Another year had passed, and another year was coming.

Year after year, year after year, may all be peaceful and safe.