Lu Sui stood up, perhaps well-aware of her friend’s disposition, and immediately grasped Ren Longcong’s hand, not allowing her any opportunity to feign deafness and remain seated.

Lu Sui smiled gently, “Greetings, Young Master Chen.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Fairy Lu can simply call me Second Shopkeeper.”

Lu Sui returned a subtle smile, seemingly with unspoken words lingering in her eyes.

Chen Ping’an replied with a smile, “Then I shall call you Miss Lu.”

Zhang Jiazhen, who assisted at the wine shop, had already rushed over, bringing wine bowls but no wine.

Lu Sui assisted Chen Ping’an in filling a bowl with wine. Both raised their bowls, not clinking them together, but each draining their portion.

Ren Longcong also took a small sip, nothing more, and then rejoined Lu Sui on the long bench.

Bai Shou, with chopsticks in both hands, stirred a large mound of plain noodles, but didn’t eat. He clicked his tongue in wonder, then glanced askance at the Liu fellow, as if saying “Did you learn anything? This is my brother’s capability, filled with profound knowledge.” Of course, Fairy Lu was also extremely clever and refined. Bai Shou even felt that if Lu Sui liked this Chen Goodfellow, they would be a perfect match. But liking that Liu fellow, was akin to a celestial flower being cast into a vegetable garden, a valley orchid being moved next to a pigsty, how could it be suitable? But as soon as this thought crossed his mind, Bai Shou dropped his chopsticks, clasped his hands together, and with a solemn face, chanted inwardly, “Sister Ning, I was wrong, I was wrong, Lu Sui is not worthy of Chen Ping’an, not worthy of Chen Ping’an.”

Ren Longcong had previously watched the fight at the end of the street with Lu Sui, and then encountered Qi Jinglong and Bai Shou. Both had carefully observed Chen Ping’an’s exchange with Yu Juanfu. If Chen Ping’an hadn’t spoken those words “Heavy words require great boxing intent” at the end, Ren Longcong wouldn’t have even come to the shop to drink.

Ren Longcong actually favored cultivators like Qi Jinglong, people of the Dao. As for Chen Ping’an, now sitting at the same table, her impression was very ordinary. It wasn’t that she looked down on Chen Ping’an selling wine, seals, and folding fans. In fact, Ren Longcong once descended the mountain for training, encountering perilous situations. Her accompanying elders and peers all perished, and she drifted alone in the mundane world, her days filled with hardship. These old tables and benches in the wine shop, not only did she not dislike them, but she even felt a sense of nostalgia for the trials and tribulations of those difficult years. But there was always something about Chen Ping’an that Ren Longcong found awkward, an indescribable feeling. Perhaps it was because Chen Ping’an was too much like the people of Sword Qi Great Wall, lacking the aura of a cultivator from the Vast World. Perhaps it was because so many sword cultivators from different camps and with different realms were so impolite to this Second Shopkeeper, and that impoliteness was something that Ren Longcong herself, and many of her teachers, could not imagine. It might even have been a strange atmosphere of knowing that she couldn’t attain something she desired.

It could only be said that Ren Longcong had no opinion of Chen Ping’an, but she didn’t want to become his friend.

After all, the Chen Ping’an she initially imagined, the young man whom the land dragon Liu Jinglong regarded as a close friend, should also be graceful and refined, with an aura of immortal qi all about him.

Unfortunately, this Second Shopkeeper before her, except for his clothing which somewhat matched her expectations, his words and actions were too disappointing for Ren Longcong.

As for how Chen Ping’an viewed her, Ren Longcong, she didn’t care at all.

Actually, there was enough space at the table, but Lu Sui and Ren Longcong still sat together, as if close female friends always did. Qi Jinglong didn’t think much about it. Chen Ping’an couldn’t understand it. Bai Shou thought it was great, every time he went out, he could have the chance to see one or two more beautiful sisters.

Lu Sui discussed some topics about Yu Juanfu, all of which were favorable things about the female martial artist.

Chen Ping’an listened carefully, not taking it lightly.

First, Lu Sui’s words, even if they reached the city walls, would not offend Yu Juanfu and the Bitter Summer Sword Immortal.

Second, the better Yu Juanfu’s martial arts talent, and the better her character, the better Chen Ping’an, who had won the first match without throwing a single punch, would naturally be.

Third, Lu Sui’s words contained some intentional or unintentional heavenly secrets. The Spring Banner House’s news, of course, would not be fabricated or based on hearsay. It was obvious that, as Qi Jinglong’s friends, Lu Sui was more inclined for Chen Ping’an to win the second match.

Ren Longcong didn’t like listening to these things, and focused more on the sword cultivators drinking. This was the Sword Qi Great Wall’s wine shop, so she couldn’t distinguish who was of a higher realm.

But in her hometown of the Vast World, even in the Northern Ju Reed Continent, which had customs closest to the Sword Qi Great Wall, one could immediately tell the status and realm of those present, whether they were drinking together or gathering for discussions.

But here in this shop, business was too good, there weren’t enough tables and benches, and there were even people willing to squat by the roadside to drink. But Ren Longcong noticed that among the sword cultivators squatting and chomping on plain noodles, someone had greeted them earlier, making a few jokes, so he was clearly a Nascent Soul sword cultivator! Were Nascent Soul sword cultivators common, even in the Northern Ju Reed Continent, which was full of sword cultivators?! And yet he was squatting by the roadside without even a small stool, like a starving ghost reincarnated?

In any worldly dynasty of the Vast World, Nascent Soul sword cultivators were honored guests of emperors and monarchs, who would want to offer them the legendary dragon liver and phoenix marrow?

The key was that this old sword cultivator, when he saw that Chen Ping’an, cursed and complained, saying that he had finished scamming his wife’s dowry, which he had painstakingly saved for many years, and was now scamming his coffin money?

Then, the Second Shopkeeper, who was chatting with Lu Sui, apologized to Lu Sui, stretched his neck, and shouted the word “Scram!” to the old sword cultivator. Then, he gave a cold snort and winked. As a result, the dignified Nascent Soul sword cultivator caught sight of the back of a man who was already eating and drinking by the roadside, cried out in alarm, and said that it was a misunderstanding, that he only blamed himself for his poor gambling skills, and that the Second Shopkeeper was the most conscientious, wouldn’t cheat anyone out of half a copper, and only sold the most affordable immortal wine in the world. Then the old man took his wine, paid the money, and ran away, spitting on the ground as he ran, saying that the Second Shopkeeper’s conscience had fallen on the ground, and he should pick it up quickly, lest a dog steal it. The people in the wine shop cheered loudly, feeling happy for him. Someone, on impulse, ordered another pot of wine.

Ren Longcong felt that the sword cultivators here were all strange, shameless, with absurd and incomprehensible words and actions.

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly and looked around. Everyone was suspicious, and once someone spoke up, they became less so, or at least their suspicion decreased significantly.

“Do you understand my tactics?”
However, the thought of having to write another poem for that old turtle gave him a headache, so he smiled at the fellow opposite him and sincerely asked, “Jinglong, have you had any poetic inspirations recently? We could exchange ideas.”

As for whether those ideas end up with that old sword cultivator, engraved on a seal, or written on a fan, is none of your business, Qi Jinglong.

Qi Jinglong smiled. “I’m no poet, have no inspiration. My knowledge is shallow, but I’m wise enough to keep it to myself.”

Chen Pingan said to Baishou, “Advise your master to read more in the future.”

Baishou retorted, “Do you take me for a fool?”

The old man surnamed Liu already reads enough! Does he need to read even more? With his temper, wouldn’t I have to keep him company while he reads? Pianran Peak is Baishou’s sword-training ground. It’s destined to be famous because of that, so why read? Baishou feels that even if he just flips through the books in that old man’s hut, he won’t finish them in this lifetime.

Chen Pingan nodded. “Or what?”

Baishou picked up his chopsticks and stabbed them towards Chen Pingan, threatening, “Beware my sword immortal art, where anything can become a flying sword!”

Qi Jinglong smiled knowingly, but chided his disciple, “Don’t act like some people at the dinner table.”

Baishou happily ate his Yangchun noodles. The taste wasn’t great, just passable, but since it was free, he was going to eat several bowls.

Lu Sui narrowed her eyes with a smile.

She was particularly fond of Qi Jinglong at this moment.

Chen Pingan chuckled, “Each of you gets one free bowl of Yangchun noodles at my shop, anything else, you’ll have to pay. Aren’t you happy, Sword Immortal Baishou?”

Baishou raised his head, speaking unclearly, “Aren’t you the Second Shopkeeper?”

Chen Pingan nodded. “I make the rules.”

Baishou wasn’t annoyed, but instead felt sorry for his brother. Thinking about how Chen Pingan lived in such a small house in the vast Ning Estate, he asked softly, “Are you working so hard to earn money because you can’t afford a betrothal gift? If it’s really impossible, I’ll bite the bullet and plead with Sister Ning to marry you first. If you don’t have a betrothal gift, then the bride price won’t be given to you either. And I don’t think Sister Ning is the kind of person who cares about betrothal gifts, you’re just overthinking it. It’s true that it’s not right for a man to want to marry a woman without any money, but Sister Ning carelessly chose you. To be honest, if we weren’t brothers, and I had met Sister Ning first, I would have tried to dissuade her. Alas, never mind. I rarely drink alcohol. In any case, my feelings are all in this bowl. You do as you please, I’ll finish it.”

He looked at the young man shivering after taking a sip of wine, then silently placed the wine bowl on the table.

Chen Pingan scratched his head. He couldn’t really wring the young man’s dog head off, so he missed his first disciple a little.

Sword Immortal Tao Wen squatted by the roadside eating Yangchun noodles, still with that melancholic look he’d had since birth. Earlier, a sword cultivator at the table wanted to give this sword immortal senior a seat, but Tao Wen waved his hand, picked up a pot of the cheapest Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven wine and a dish of pickles, and squatted down. Not long after, just as he was thinking that the pickles might be a bit too salty, a young man brought him a bowl of hot Yangchun noodles. The few green scallions looked so lovely that Tao Wen couldn’t bear to eat them. Every time he twirled the noodles with his chopsticks, he would deliberately move the scallions aside, letting them stay in the small bowl, smaller than his wine bowl, for a little longer.

This time, he earned a lot of money. Just his share after the split was about seven or eight Millet Rain Coins.

Because almost no one expected the Second Shopkeeper to defeat his opponent with a single punch.

At first, Tao Wen didn’t believe it either. After all, the opponent was Yu Juanfu, not some fancy pillow. In a pure martial artist’s exchange of fists, they’d be fighting to the death, and it wouldn’t be over in just a few dozen or a hundred punches. It wasn’t like a sword cultivator’s sword duel, where victory could be decided in an instant. But the Second Shopkeeper was so certain, guaranteeing that if he couldn’t win with a single punch, his wine shop would repay all of Sword Immortal Tao’s gambling debts from this event with wine. Tao Wen wasn’t stupid. He just continued to eat his noodles, not interested in taking the risk. The Second Shopkeeper then compromised, saying he could repay with money, but the agreed-upon 50/50 split would become 70/30 in Tao Wen’s favor. Tao Wen thought it was feasible and didn’t even bother to bargain. If Chen Pingan could really knock down Yu Juanfu with a single punch, as long as he opened a large enough gambling pool, he wouldn’t earn any less. Unexpectedly, the Second Shopkeeper had excellent character, saying that doing business with Sword Immortal Tao should earn an extra 10% just for being a sword immortal, so it was still a 60/40 split. Tao Wen agreed, saying that if he lost money, he would just smash those broken wine tables and wouldn’t draw his sword.

A young gambler squatted next to Tao Wen, sighing. He had bet everything this time and lost it all. It wasn’t that his judgment was bad, he was already brave enough to bet that the Second Shopkeeper would win the first round within ten punches. But who would have thought that Yu Juanfu would take the initiative with the first punch and then immediately admit defeat? So today, the young sword cultivator didn’t buy any wine, but just shared a bowl of wine with a friend who had lost less money, and ate two free dishes of pickles and a bowl of Yangchun noodles from the wine shop to make up for it.

Tao Wen said, “Cheng Quan, gamble less in the future. Once you’re at the gambling table, you’ll never win against the house. Even if you have to gamble, don’t think about making big money from it.”

The young man had known the sword immortal since he was a child. They were neighbors from nearby alleys, and Tao Wen could be said to have watched Cheng Quan grow up. And Tao Wen was a very strange sword immortal. He never relied on wealthy clans and always lived alone. Except on the battlefield, where he would fight alongside other sword immortals, sparing no effort, he would return to the city and guard his not-too-big ancestral home. Although Sword Immortal Tao was still a bachelor, he was actually worse off than a bachelor who had never married. His wife had been mad for many years, year after year, exhausting him both physically and mentally. When she passed away, not even the gods could save her. Tao Wen didn’t seem too sad. He still drank the same small amount of wine and never got drunk.

Cheng Quan said helplessly, “Uncle Tao, I don’t want to gamble either, but flying swords are hard to maintain. I’ve reached a crucial bottleneck, and even though it won’t help me improve my realm, breaking through the bottleneck is too important. I’m short on immortal money. Uncle Tao, look at how few times I’ve drunk alcohol and visited the Mirage Sea in these years. I really don’t like these things, but I can’t help it.”
Here, Cheng Quan raised his head, gazing towards the southern city walls, and said with a tinge of sadness, “Who knows when the next battle will erupt? My aptitude is mediocre, but my Natal Flying Sword is of decent quality, yet my low cultivation realm hinders me. Each time, I can only defend the city walls; how many demons can I slay, how much money can I earn? If my Flying Sword could break through the bottleneck, I could substantially increase its long-range offensive capabilities, at least by three or four *li*. Even on the city walls, I could slay demons more swiftly. More demons, more money, and then there’s a chance to become a Golden Core Swordsman. Furthermore, relying solely on my meager savings, the deficit is too vast. I have no choice but to gamble.”

Tao Wen inquired, “Why not try borrowing?”

Cheng Quan smiled wryly, “My friends are equally penniless. Even those with some savings need to nourish their own Flying Swords. The Immortal Coins consumed daily are not a small sum. I can’t bring myself to ask.”

Tao Wen devoured a large mouthful of Yangchun Noodles, picked up a chopstick of pickled vegetables, chewed thoughtfully, and asked, “After your aunt passed away, I remember telling you once that if you encountered any trouble in the future, big or small, I would help you once. Why didn’t you speak up?”

Cheng Quan grinned, “I was thinking that in the future, when I could fight off the city walls, I could have Uncle Tao save my life. Now, it’s just a lack of money. Although it’s worrying, it’s still a minor matter, better than losing my life.”

At this point, Cheng Quan’s face turned pale, filled with guilt, anxiety, and regret, wishing he could slap himself.

Tao Wen remained composed, nodding, “It’s good that you think this way.”

Cheng Quan’s mood also lightened, “Besides, Uncle Tao never had any money before.”

Tao Wen chuckled, “True.”

Tao Wen said with his inner voice, “I can introduce you to a job and pre-pay you one Grain Rain Coin. Are you willing? This isn’t my idea; it’s the Second Shopkeeper’s thought. He says you have a good countenance, looking like a sincere and honest man, so you’re quite suitable.”

Upon hearing the ripple of inner voice, Cheng Quan asked in puzzlement, “What do you mean? Does the wine shop need to hire a long-term worker? I don’t think so. There’s Die Zhang and Zhang Jiazhen; the shop isn’t large enough. Besides, even if I’m willing to help, when will I be able to gather enough money?”

Tao Wen said helplessly, “The Second Shopkeeper indeed saw you clearly.”

A Sword Immortal eating Yangchun Noodles in small bites, a Sea Gazing Realm swordsman drinking in small sips, after a secretive conversation, Cheng Quan fiercely rubbed his face, took a large gulp of wine, and nodded vigorously. This deal was done!

Tao Wen recalled something, remembering what the Second Shopkeeper had said before, and repeated it, reminding Cheng Quan, “There are rules for being a croupier, and there are rules for the gambling table. If you confuse friendship with righteousness, there will be no opportunity for cooperation in the future.”

Cheng Quan nodded.

Not long after Cheng Quan left, Qi Jinglong and the others also departed from the wine shop towards Chen Ping An’s residence. The Second Shopkeeper brought a wine bowl and came to Tao Wen’s side, smiling, “Tao Sword Immortal, earning hundreds or thousands of Grain Rain Coins, and still drinking this kind of wine? Today, everyone’s drinks are on you, Tao Sword Immortal.”

Tao Wen considered it, a trivial matter, and was about to nod in agreement, but the Second Shopkeeper hurriedly said with his inner voice, “Don’t directly shout about settling the bill. Just say that everyone present, no matter how much wine they drink today, you, Tao Wen, will pay for half of it. Only half. Otherwise, I would have sought you out for nothing. Even novice gamblers know that we two are collaborating to swindle people. But if I deliberately pretend not to know you, that won’t work either. It’s necessary to make them dare not fully believe or fully doubt, half-believing and half-doubting is just right. Only then can we continue to be croupiers in the future. What we want are these stingy bastards who still quibble about drinking wine, each thinking they are clever.”

Tao Wen cursed in his heart, “What is all this? What are you thinking about, whether you’re right in the head or not? If you were willing to focus on practicing the sword, you would have been a Sword Immortal long ago.”

However, Tao Wen still sternly said to everyone, today’s wine, within five jugs, he, Tao Wen, would pay for half, just as thanks for supporting his gambling den. But the cost of the wine beyond five jugs had nothing to do with him, Tao Wen. Go away, if you have money, buy your own wine; if you don’t have money, go home to drink urine and eat milk.

Chen Ping An, listening to Tao Wen’s words, felt that he was indeed a genuine Sword Immortal, possessing excellent qualifications to be a croupier! But in the end, he still had a good eye for people.

Chen Ping An sipped his wine and asked with his inner voice, “Did Cheng Quan agree?”

Tao Wen put down his bowl and chopsticks, beckoned, and asked the young man for another jug of wine, saying, “You should know why I’m not deliberately helping Cheng Quan, right?”

Chen Ping An said, “I know. Actually, I’m unwilling for him to leave the city walls so early. Perhaps I even hope he’ll always be in this awkward, middling realm. Whether he’s a gambler or a gambling addict, with his nature, he can’t be that bad. Now, having daily worries, big and small, is ultimately better than being dead. As for the matter of Uncle Tao’s family, even if I’ve covered my ears this whole year, I should have heard about it. Sword Qi Great Wall has one good and one bad thing: no taboo in speech. Even the greatest Sword Immortals can’t hide anything.”

Tao Wen waved his hand, “Let’s not talk about that, let’s drink.”

Tao Wen suddenly asked, “Why not simply bet on yourself to lose? Many gambling dens actually have this option. If you were ruthless, you could probably earn at least dozens of Grain Rain Coins, making many Sword Immortals who are losing money curse in anger.”

Chen Ping An said unhappily, “Ning Yao already told me not to lose. Do you think I dare to lose? For a few dozen Grain Rain Coins, losing half my life, and then being away from home for a year and a half, sleeping on the floor here at the shop, is it worth it?”

Tao Wen laughed heartily for the first time and patted the young man’s shoulder, “Being afraid of your wife isn’t shameful. It’s good, keep it up.”

Chen Ping An smiled, clinking wine bowls with Tao Wen.

Tao Wen softly sighed, “Chen Ping An, being too empathetic towards the joys and sorrows of others is not a good thing.”

Chen Ping An smiled, “People who can say such words should talk to themselves, ask themselves, and suffer on their own.”

Tao Wen was stunned, then nodded with a smile, only changing the topic, “Regarding the matter of gambling table rules, I also frankly told Cheng Quan.”
Chen Ping’an swirled his wine bowl and said, “It’s a good thing to consistently adhere to business principles. If Cheng Quan, who always sticks to the rules, is ever willing to break them for a friend, that will prove that Cheng Quan is truly worth befriending. When that time comes, if Uncle Tao isn’t willing to lend him money or aid his cultivation, I will. To be honest, before I was known as ‘Second Shopkeeper,’ I had two nicknames that resonated throughout the vast world, even more befitting than that title: ‘Chen, the Kind-Hearted’ and ‘The Benevolent Child of Wealth!'”

Tao Wen pointed at the wine bowl in Chen Ping’an’s hand, “Look down and see if you have a face.”

Chen Ping’an lowered his head and was taken aback. “Who is this handsome young man who shaved his beard?”

Inside the study of the Yan family patriarch.

Yan, the portly one, stood trembling at the door of the study.

Earlier, upon hearing about the fist fight outside the Ning residence, his father had given Yan Zhuo a Grain Rain Coin to bet on Chen Ping’an winning with a single strike.

Even though Yan Zhuo had great confidence in Chen Ping’an, he still thought the Grain Rain Coin was as good as gone. But his father, Yan Ming, had said it didn’t matter if he bet wrong. So Yan Zhuo, after getting the coin, wanting to be a little more secure, had taken it upon himself to secretly bet, on behalf of his father, that the fight would be decided after three punches but within ten. Besides that Grain Rain Coin, he’d even put down two Minor Heat Coins of his own savings, betting that Chen Ping’an would knock down that woman of a prestigious Middle Earth clan, Yu Juanfu, within a hundred punches. But who could have imagined that Chen Ping’an and Yu Juanfu would propose such a disadvantageous sparring method, and that Yu Juanfu would be so dense that she’d concede defeat after just one punch? She should have taken a few more blows! Chen Ping’an was in the Golden Body Realm, and Yu Juanfu was also a Golden Body Realm cultivator with an exceptionally strong foundation!

Yan, the portly one, didn’t want to come to his father’s study, but he had to. The reason was simple: Yan Zhuo had emptied his own coffers, and even if he borrowed some from his mother, he still couldn’t afford to compensate for the pile of Grain Rain Coins that his father’s Grain Rain Coin should have earned. So he could only come here to be scolded, and even a beating wouldn’t be surprising.

Yan Ming didn’t even raise his head and asked, “You bet wrong?”

Yan Zhuo grunted in affirmation.

Yan Ming said, “In this fist fight, will Chen Ping’an lose? Will he not profit from the betting?”

Yan Zhuo said, “Absolutely not. Chen Ping’an doesn’t care about winning or losing in cultivator battles, but he has an extremely deep obsession with the martial arts. Even if Yu Juanfu is in the same Golden Body Realm, even if he’s facing a Distant Wanderer Realm martial artist, Chen Ping’an wouldn’t be willing to lose.”

Yan Ming asked, “Chen Ping’an’s right next to the Ning residence, and the Ning girl is there. In this fist fight, assuming Yu Juanfu is filled with the determination to win and the desire to temper herself, then what’s the point of winning for Chen Ping’an?”

Yan Zhuo shook his head. “I wasn’t sure before. But after seeing the conversation between Chen Ping’an and Yu Juanfu, I knew that Chen Ping’an didn’t think the sparring would benefit him in any way.”

Yan Ming raised his head and continued to ask, “Then how can Yu Juanfu be discouraged from lingering? Have you figured out why Chen Ping’an made that suggestion? If not, then my Grain Rain Coin is truly gone. All the losses resulting from that Grain Rain Coin, you record them on your account and slowly pay them back later. Yan Zhuo, do you really think Chen Ping’an deliberately conceded the first move? Do you really think that Yu Juanfu’s punch and subsequent concession were impulsive? Do you believe that if Yu Juanfu had given up her own martial arts advantages and stood still like Chen Ping’an, taking a punch from him, Yu Juanfu wouldn’t have lost face and immediately called off the next two rounds? Do you really think that Bai Lianchuan of the Ning residence, a former Tenth Realm martial artist, and Nalan Yexing, a former Immortal Realm sword cultivator, are just there to guard the door or clean the rooms every day? Whatever they can teach, they will teach to their son-in-law, and whatever Chen Ping’an can learn, he will learn, and learn extremely well and extremely quickly. Not to mention the City Wall, where Zuo You help him practice swordsmanship every now and then. In the past year, your year, Yan Zhuo, hasn’t been wasted, but it’s as if he’s lived three or five years.”

Yan Zhuo said in aggrieved tones, “I also want to spar with a sword immortal, but our Yan family’s chief offering has an ego bigger than the heavens. He’s disliked me since I was little, and he still refuses to teach me swordsmanship. I’ve shamelessly begged him many times, but the old geezer doesn’t even bother to acknowledge me.”

Yan Ming’s expression was calm, “Why didn’t you come and ask me to make him teach you swordsmanship obediently? Who’s word in the Yan family carries the most weight? Patriarch Yan Ming, has he reached the point where he can’t even control a small sword immortal offering?”

Yan Zhuo’s eyes suddenly turned red, and he choked, “I dare not! I’m afraid you’ll scold me again for being useless, only knowing how to rely on the family to freeload. That I’m just some Yan family young master, a fattened pig waiting to be butchered by the Southern demons… That kind of disgusting talk was spread by our own Yan family members, but you never cared back then… Why would I come here to be scolded…”

Yan Ming’s expression remained unchanged, and he didn’t speak.

Yan Zhuo finished all his complaints in one breath, then turned his head and wiped away his tears.

The Yan family patriarch, whose sleeves were empty, finally spoke, “Go tell him to teach you swordsmanship, impart everything he knows, and hold nothing back.”

Yan Zhuo grunted and ran out of the study.

In the corner of the study, ripples appeared, and an old man emerged out of thin air, smiling, “You had to make me play the villain?”

Yan Ming smiled, “You’re an offering who receives a huge amount of immortal coins from me every year. If you don’t play the villain, do you expect me, a father, to be the villain in my son’s eyes?”

The old man intended to immediately return to his place of cultivation within the Yan residence, after all, that little fatty had received the decree and was currently running away with all his might. But the old man smiled, “Earlier, the patriarch’s so-called ‘small sword immortal offering’, the word ‘small’ was not appropriate.”

Yan Ming gently waved his hand. The little spirit who was helping him turn the pages understood and squatted down slightly, then jumped into a pen holder on the desk, took out two Grain Rain Coins from it, and threw them at the old man.

The old man put the two Grain Rain Coins into his sleeve, smiling, “It’s very appropriate now.”

Yan Ming thought for a while, his expression awkward, and said, “Remember to keep the pain light with the same level of training.”

The old man vanished in a flash.

Yan Ming actually had some things that he hadn’t said explicitly to Yan Zhuo.

For example, the Yan family hoped that a certain sword immortal with a daughter nicknamed “Green Onion” could become the new offering.

That girl, who originally had a great future on the path of the Great Dao, had left the City Wall and died in the Southern battlefield, dying a gruesome death. Her father was a sword immortal, and the battlefield was fiercely fought at the time. In the end, this man, despite being seriously injured, rushed to her side, but it was still too late to save her.
Later, the maiden’s mother went mad, endlessly repeating, day and night, a single question to her husband: “You are a Sword Immortal, why didn’t you protect our daughter?”

The man returned to a home that was utterly empty without her. Earlier, he had asked for three extra bowls of plain noodles from the shop, concealing them within his sleeve universe. Now, he placed them one by one on the table, setting out three pairs of chopsticks. Then, he buried his head and ate his own bowl.

One of the bowls of noodles on the table had extra scallions.

In the twilight, Chen Ping’an sat on the threshold, sleeves drawn in, leaning against the door pivot, watching his own flourishing shop, and the more distant, desolate taverns and restaurants.

It was said that the Sword Immortal who drew his sword against the Upper Five Realms strategist after that grand clan woman from the Central Continent strode out of the Mirage City was named Tao Wen.

Later, these were all merely stories of other people’s joys and sorrows. Normally, one would listen and then move on. After a few jugs of wine and a few bowls of plain noodles, it would be forgotten. But in Chen Ping’an’s heart, they stubbornly lingered, always making the young man, so far from home, inexplicably think of the Mud Bottle Lane back home. Later, the thought became so painful that he asked Ning Yao that question.

Every sword cultivator on the Great Wall of Sword Qi, young or old, was simply waiting to die, having already died in waves, until no one bothered to remember anyone for long.

And then these bastards of the Grand Bright World came here to preach their flimsy benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, and rules?

Why not observe the Great Wall of Sword Qi completely before commenting on its merits and flaws? No one is asking you to bravely die on the ramparts, it’s not you who are dying. Is it really so difficult to just look a little longer, to think a little more?

Young Zhang Jiazhen, stealing a moment from his busy work, wiped the sweat from his brow and inadvertently saw that Mr. Chen, head leaning against the door pivot, staring blankly ahead, with a never-before-seen look of distraction.

Mr. Chen seemed somewhat saddened, somewhat disappointed.