A fresh face, a young man, entered the humble wine shop, requesting the cheapest vintage available. The shop was unusually quiet today, a rare occurrence.

Thus, the white-robed youth, fair as an immortal banished to the mortal realm, was in luck, finding a vacant table. However, his complexion was pale, as if he were unwell.

Zhang Jiazhen, the shopkeeper, brought over the wine pot, a bowl, and a dish of pickled vegetables, telling the customer to wait a moment before returning with a bowl of complimentary plain noodles.

The guest uncorked the wine pot, inhaling deeply. He then examined the bowl, glanced at the pickles, and looked up, speaking in the pure dialect of the Sword Qi Great Wall: “Such a large wine bowl, such fragrant immortal brew, and free pickles and noodles?! And all for a single Snowflake coin, not even a Lesser Heat coin?! Is this truly how business is done? Let me warn you, young fellow, my cultivation is high, and my backing is even greater. If you’re trying to set me up with some sort of trap, you’ve come to the wrong person.”

Zhang Jiazhen had heard countless complaints from drunkards. This was the first time someone had complained about the wine being too cheap. He must be a foreigner from the Vast Sky World. In his homeland, even sword immortals or the scions of prestigious families from Taihang Street and Xuanhu Street only ever complained about the price or the taste. Zhang Jiazhen smiled and said, “Rest assured, customer. It truly is only one Snowflake coin.”

The white-robed youth pushed the wine pot away, crossed his arms, and shook his head. “I dare not drink this wine. It’s too cheap. There must be a trick!”

An old sword cultivator from the neighboring table, taking advantage of the sparsely populated surroundings, carried his empty bowl and sat beside the white-robed youth, saying with a chuckle, “You’re a foreign lad. Even if you speak our tongue, you’re clearly unfamiliar with the area. If you won’t drink it, I’ll buy the pot.”

Hearing this, the youth grabbed the wine pot. “Just because you want to buy it, you can? Do I look like I’m short on coin?”

The old sword cultivator was somewhat exasperated. The Second Manager was always shrewd and ruthless. How could he have chosen such a naive pawn who couldn’t discern good from bad? The old cultivator asked telepathically, “Young friend, you’re one of us, right? Sigh, you’re being counterproductive. Your words are too obvious. Was this your own idea? I doubt the Second Manager would have told you to say these things.”

As expected, an old drunkard and gambler who preferred to drink on the roadside rather than at a table scoffed, “Where did that heartless Second Manager find this rookie accomplice? Is this the first time you’ve done something so immoral? Didn’t the Second Manager give you instructions? Oh, right, now that he’s earning mountains of immortal money, he’s probably hiding in some corner, gleefully counting it, and doesn’t have time to cultivate ‘wine shills’ anymore. I find it strange. Our Sword Qi Great Wall has only ever had gambling shills. Good heavens, the Second Manager is breaking new ground! Why not just start his own sect…”

At this point, the old gambler, who had lost a large sum of money that day, turned and laughed. “Diezhang, I’m not talking about you. If you weren’t the First Manager, even if Grandpa Liu was so poor he could only drink water, he still wouldn’t want to drink here.”

Diezhang smiled, unconcerned. In Chen Pingan’s words, customers could curse the Second Manager as much as they wanted. Cursing too much wasted saliva and made them drink more. But those who cursed once and never returned were just using a single Snowflake coin to vent their anger. He would ask the First Manager to remember their names or appearances so that the Second Manager could find a way to make amends in the future and reconcile with them amicably.

Soon, a customer at another table shook his head. “I think our Second Manager might be immoral, but he’s not so foolish. I reckon this is a shill from another restaurant, deliberately trying to disgust the Second Manager. Come, come, I’ll offer you a bowl of wine. Although your methods are clumsy, you’re very brave for your young age, daring to clash with the Second Manager. You’re a hero and deserve this bowl of wine.”

The First Manager, Diezhang, happened to be passing that table and tapped the tabletop lightly with her finger.

The customer reluctantly put down his wine bowl and forced a smile. “Miss Diezhang, we truly have no animosity towards you. We just regret that the First Manager has placed her trust in the wrong person. Forget it, I’ll punish myself with a bowl.”

This customer drank the bowl of wine. He had been wrongly accused by Miss Diezhang! This man felt both aggrieved and wronged. He had received personal instruction from the Second Manager and had secretly obtained the Second Manager’s “secret plan,” focusing on the immortal formula of “excessive whiteness becomes blackness, excessive blackness becomes whiteness, and the transition between black and white is unfathomable to even the gods.” He was a genuine member of the Second Manager’s circle!

But upon further reflection, the man thought, “Forget it. Anyway, the Second Manager always earns a lot when he secretly runs the betting pool, and he secretly divides the spoils afterward, giving out money… no, I mean giving out bonuses. As for how much money he ultimately gives, the rules are strange. The Second Manager decides everything himself. ‘Fellow Daoists’ like me just accept the money. The Second Manager made it clear from the start that if he gives more, there’s no need to thank him, just spend more money drinking at the shop. If he gives less, don’t complain. Sharing the money is a kindness, not an obligation. Anyone who’s unreasonable should be careful when walking at night. In the dark, with blurry eyes, who can avoid bumps and bruises?”

Now, drinking at this small wine shop, one must cultivate one’s mind.

However, over time, one would glean some insights from drinking, and it would actually become quite interesting. For example, people drinking at the shop these days liked to look at each other, searching for subtle clues, trying to identify who was a friend and who was an enemy.

This man felt that he was one of the most senior, highly cultivated, and insightful of the Second Manager’s many wine shills. Otherwise, the Second Manager wouldn’t have hinted that, in the future, he would let trustworthy “fellow Daoists” run the betting pool, specifically wagering on who was a shill and who wasn’t. There was no reason for outsiders to earn that money. As for the truth and falsehood within, he would ensure that those “fellow Daoists” who had to temporarily “stop working” wouldn’t lose money. They could receive a large sum of “compensation” after their identities were exposed, while allowing some “fellow Daoists” to remain hidden even deeper. As for how the person running the betting pool would earn money, it was actually very simple. He would temporarily consult with some sword immortal seniors who weren’t “fellow Daoists,” using his genuine connections and reputation to ask them to help him create a smokescreen. In short, he would never ruin the reputation and gambling ethics of the person running the betting pool. The principle was simple: all one-time transactions were not good transactions. We cultivators, confirmed sword immortals, have a long lifespan. How could we not have strong character?
Apart from the second-in-command’s final words, the burly man was too ashamed to agree at the time, but he deeply resonated with everything that preceded it.

The man drank his wine, basking in the sunlight. He initially thought the wine was simply affordable, but now he genuinely appreciated the flavor of the Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven brew.

Cui Dongshan took out a snowflake coin and gently placed it on the table before taking a sip of wine.

When it came to probing the subtleties of the human heart, not even his esteemed teacher, Chen Ping’an, could claim to rival his student, Cui Dongshan, let alone the drunken gamblers present.

Over time, the world’s hearts are only ever self-satisfied, never able to be truly nourished by another.

In Cui Dongshan’s eyes, everything his teacher had done in the Sword Qi Great Wall over the past year or so, seemingly disorganized, was actually quite simple and free from any emotional baggage.

It all boiled down to two things: borrowing objects and leveraging power.

This was a different man from the teacher he knew back at Shujian Lake.

Borrowing Objects.

The wine shop, the wine, the pickled vegetables, the plain noodles, the couplets and horizontal scrolls, the wall of nameless plaques, the Hundred Swords Immortal Seal Compendium, the Bicentennial Swords Immortal Seal Compendium, the folding and round fans.

Leveraging Power.

The four gatekeepers, including Qi Shou and Pang Yuanji, the scions of noble families like Chen Sanqiu and Yan Zhuo, the entire Ning Manor, the title of Wen Sheng’s disciple, Senior Brother Zuo You, all the sword immortals who came to drink and inscribe on the nameless plaques, the countless other sword cultivators, the wealthy maiden from the Central Earth Divine Continent, Yu Juanfu, and all those who spent money to buy seals and fans from the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Having accomplished these two things, he could do more than just protect himself.

Self-preservation, protecting one’s life and limb, and even more so, guarding one’s true heart. Whether one is willing to consider whether one’s words and actions are harmless to the world, regardless of whether it can ultimately be achieved, simply the willingness to do so sets people apart like clouds and mud. Not thinking about these things may not necessarily harm others, but simply being willing to think about them will naturally make one better.

However, in Cui Dongshan’s view, his teacher was still stuck on the level of “good begets good, evil begets evil,” going in circles, seemingly trapped in a dead end, enduring his own worries and anxieties, which was a good thing.

As for the possibility of good begetting evil and evil begetting good, his teacher hadn’t yet given it much thought. Why, back at the ancestral residence in Niping Lane, did he, his student, mention the story of the wedding dress ghost, deliberately complicating a simple matter, making it overgrown with weeds and unexpected twists, causing trouble for his teacher? He, Cui Dongshan, wasn’t just doing it for fun. Naturally, he had his reasons. His teacher certainly knew his intentions were not malicious, but he was only temporarily unaware of the deeper meaning.

But it didn’t matter. As long as his teacher walked steadily, what did it matter if he was a little slower? Raising his hand and lifting his foot would naturally bring a gentle breeze to his sleeves and a bright moon to his shoulders.

Benefiting others cannot simply be giving to them. There must be no hint of charity, otherwise, what good is it if you give it away for nothing? Others may not be able to keep it, and it will only needlessly increase karma.

Benefiting the world, in the Sword Qi Great Wall, depends only on fate, or rather, whether the savage world agrees.

Not going against one’s true heart, knowing the limits, proceeding gradually, thinking without omissions, doing one’s best, knowing when to take and when to release, being adept and comfortable.

At first glance.

It was very chewy.

Was his teacher, Chen Ping’an, more like Qi Jingchun, or more like Cui Chan?

Why did that old bastard, Cui Chan, later create the Shujian Lake Inquiry, attempting to engage in a tug-of-war with Qi Jingchun again to determine the true winner?

Wasn’t it because he saw that his teacher, Cui Dongshan, seemed to be becoming a true kindred spirit with him, Cui Chan? Wasn’t this the most interesting thing in the world? So Cui Chan planned to prevent the deceased Qi Jingchun from admitting defeat, but in Cui Chan’s heart, he could openly win back a game. Could Qi Jingchun have imagined before his death that after thinking for sixty years in Lizhu Cave Heaven, the person he thought could “save himself and others” was not Qi Jingchun himself, but another “Senior Brother Cui Chan”?

At that time, Cui Chan could mock Qi Jingchun for thinking for sixty years in Lizhu Cave Heaven, and the person he thought could “save himself and others” was actually someone like him, Cui Chan. Who wins and who loses is clear at a glance.

Why did the old scholar previously separate Cui Lao Wang Ba Dan’s “Chan” from his, Cui Dongshan’s, soul? Wasn’t it also using his own methods to treat him in his own way? To let Cui Chan know that what he thought was still not entirely correct?

This was probably the unique chess skill that the lousy chess player, the old scholar, had been hiding and keeping secret his whole life.

And that Pei Qian, who came from Lotus Root Paradise, was of course also the old scholar’s unreasonable move.

Cui Dongshan drank a bowl of wine and picked up a chopstick of pickled vegetables. They were indeed a bit too salty. His teacher was still too honest in business, wasting salt.

The View of the Dao.

The Dao of the View.

Did the old scholar hope that his closed-door disciple would only observe the good and evil of people’s hearts?

Far from it.

Knowing the good and evil of people’s hearts, so what? His teacher, Cui Dongshan, had long been on the path of being his own enemy. Knowing it was just knowing it. The benefit would certainly not be small, but it was still not big enough.

The old scholar’s true good intentions also hoped to see more of the speed of people’s hearts, extending into thousands of possibilities. The good and bad of these possibilities actually involved more complex and profound, seemingly more unreasonable, “good begets evil, evil begets good.”

This involved an old story from long ago.

Back then, Qi Jingchun was no longer willing to play chess with his senior brother, Cui Chan, so he went to ask the teacher if there was a kind of chess game in the world where both sides could win.

At that time, the old scholar was drinking alone, having just secretly lowered one leg from the bench, just striking the pose of a teacher, when he heard this question, he laughed loudly, choking several times, unsure whether it was out of happiness or from the spiciness of the wine, almost shedding tears.

At that time, a silly big man was coveting the wine on the teacher’s table and casually said, “If you don’t play chess, you won’t lose. Not losing is winning. It’s the same principle as not spending money is making money.”

Zuo You was guarding against the silly big man stealing wine and his answer was, “If the chess skills are high enough, I win the chess game, but I can lose the chess game in such a way that gods and ghosts won’t know. That’s all considered winning.”

Cui Chan sat on the threshold, leaning against the door, smiling, “Without breaking the rules, this is only possible if the chessboard is infinitely large, otherwise, don’t even think about it.”

At that time, the only green-shirted youth standing in the room only looked at his teacher.

The old scholar then smiled, “This question is a bit big. I, your teacher, need to think a little more to answer it well.”
Qi Jingchun then nodded and said, “I implore you, sir, to finish your wine quickly.”

The implication being, once the Master had finished his wine, he should have an answer.

The old scholar nodded with a smile, appearing confident. However, as soon as he finished drinking, he began to sway, forcing a red face, feigning drunkenness, and went for a midday nap.

Cui Dongshan put down his chopsticks, looked at the table, as square as a chessboard, and at the wine pot and cups on the table. He sighed softly, got up, and left.

Reaching the Ning Mansion’s gate, the white-robed youth, holding a common green bamboo walking stick, gently knocked on the door.

Nalan Yexing opened it.

The youth smiled, “Grandpa Nalan, the Master must often speak of me. I am Dongshan.”

Nalan Yexing only knew that this person was his son-in-law’s student, but he truly didn’t know that he was so handsome yet perhaps not of the sharpest intellect. A pity.

The two disciples/students whom his son-in-law had previously led in seemed quite promising.

After Nalan Yexing closed the door, Cui Dongshan looked puzzled and muttered, “Grandpa Nalan clearly has the aptitude of a Ascension Realm sword cultivator. How is he only in the Jade Purity Realm? Could it be that the old monster, who appears only once every ten thousand years, ambushed him, personally and severely injuring Grandpa Nalan? Why is this tale not known throughout the Vast World?”

Nalan Yexing chuckled, not wishing to engage with a madman.

Cui Dongshan flicked his sleeves and took out a round, yellowish, antique pearl, handing it to Nalan Yexing. “By chance, I have a pill that I picked up by the roadside. It would be difficult to help Grandpa Nalan return to the Immortal Realm, but mending the Jade Purity Realm might be possible.”

Nalan Yexing glanced at the pill, unable to discern its profundity. If the gift was too extravagant, there was no reason to accept it. If it was too paltry, there was even less need for politeness. So he smiled and said, “I appreciate the thought. Take it back.”

Cui Dongshan did not retract his hand, adding with a smile, “It was picked up on Rainbow Cloud Road in White Emperor City.”

With lightning speed, Nalan Yexing snatched the pill from the white-robed youth’s hand and hid it in his sleeve. After a moment’s thought, he decided to put it in his bosom. The old man grumbled, “Dongshan, you are really something. Why would you give Grandpa Nalan gifts? It’s so impersonal.”

Cui Dongshan looked surprised and reached out his hand. “Impersonal? Has the junior added unnecessary embellishments? Then return it to me.”

Nalan Yexing gently pushed away the youth’s hand, saying earnestly, “Dongshan, look, wouldn’t that be even more impersonal?”

The youth seemed to be persuaded by the old man. He turned and ran towards the Ning Mansion’s gate, opened the door himself, stepped over the threshold, then turned and held out his hand. “Give it back.”

Nalan Yexing gasped inwardly. Good heavens, no doubt about it. This truly was the son-in-law’s prized student, perhaps even the one who had received all of his true teachings.

Nalan Yexing feigned deafness and blindness and turned to leave. Enter or not, close the door or not, it was all the same.

Cui Dongshan entered the door, closed it, and quickly caught up with Nalan Yexing, whispering, “Grandpa Nalan, do you know who I am now?”

Nalan Yexing smiled gently. “Dongshan, are you the most accomplished student that the son-in-law has?”

Cui Dongshan said with regret, “I only regret that I only picked up one on Rainbow Cloud Road in White Emperor City.”

In an instant.

Cui Dongshan extended two fingers, blocking the side of his head.

Nalan Yexing smiled. “In that case, I will accept it with peace of mind.”

Cui Dongshan retracted his hand and said softly, “Please do not reveal that I am a Ascention Realm cultivator, Grandpa Nalan, lest the sword immortals disdain my low level and cause the Master to lose face.”

Nalan Yexing felt somewhat weary. It wasn’t even about the pill itself, but about Cui Dongshan’s words and actions since they had met. He hadn’t guessed a single one of them correctly.

Just consider when he had unleashed his flying sword to frighten the youth. Since the other party’s realm was so high, he could have completely ignored it or tried his best to resist the flying sword.

But this fellow had to block it with his hand and deliberately lagged a bit, his fingers touching the flying sword, not the blade or the body of the sword, but only the hilt.

Nalan Yexing was filled with anxiety.

Cui Dongshan walked alongside the old man, looking around and saying casually with a playful smile, “Since I am the Master’s student, is Grandpa Nalan worried that I am too wicked, or worried that my Master is not good enough? Do you believe that Cui Dongshan is not clever enough, or do you believe that my son-in-law has made no mistakes in his consideration? Are you worried about the obscure ways of this outsider, or are you worried that the Ning Mansion’s foundation and the sword immortals’ flying swords within and without are not enough to break through the sea of clouds? Should a fallen Upper Five Realms sword cultivator believe in the killing power of his flying sword, or believe in the purity of his sword heart? Is it that after I say this, you no longer believe what you believed?”

Nalan Yexing’s expression was grave.

Cui Dongshan sighed in admiration. “Those with great strength always feel that they can save time and effort in their dealings with the world. This is not good.”

Nalan Yexing frowned deeply.

Cui Dongshan glanced at Dragon Slaying Cliff not far away. “With the Master here, there is nothing to worry about, Brother Nalan. Let us cherish this.”

Nalan Yexing remained silent all the way.

When they arrived at the son-in-law’s residence, Pei Qian and Cao Qinglang were also there. Cui Dongshan bowed and expressed his thanks, addressing him as Grandpa Nalan.

Nalan Yexing nodded with a smile and said to Chen Pingan, who had stood up inside the house, “Dongshan and I became friends at first sight and almost recognized me as his sworn brother.”

Chen Pingan nodded with a smile. “Alright, Grandpa Nalan, I understand.”

Pei Qian secretly gave the big white goose at the door a thumbs up.

Cui Dongshan looked bewildered. “Grandpa Nalan, I never said that.”

Nalan Yexing smiled. “Does your Master believe me, Old Man Nalan, or does he believe you, Brother Cui?”

Cui Dongshan covered his forehead with one hand and swayed. “I drank too much at the shop just now. What did I say? Where am I? Who am I…”

Pei Qian, who had just lowered his thumb, raised it again, and this time, both thumbs were up.

Nalan Yexing left, feeling very cheerful.

Chen Pingan glared at Cui Dongshan.

Cui Dongshan sat on the threshold. “Master, allow me to sit here and enjoy the cool breeze to sober up.”

Chen Pingan sat back in his seat and continued to inscribe the fan, with Cao Qinglang helping.

Pei Qian wanted to help, but Master wouldn’t allow it.

So she sat alone at the table next door, facing the gate and the big white goose, winking at it and pointing to the two items previously given by the Mistress on the table.
Pei Qian, showing no false modesty with her Shiniang, generously selected two gifts: a string of prayer beads of unknown material, engraved with one hundred and eight figures, possessing an ancient charm; and a pair of Go bowls. Upon opening the lid, the bowl containing the white stones emanated a vibrant aura of rosy clouds, while the bowl holding the black stones was shrouded in dark clouds, hinting at an old dragon conjuring rain.

With more beads in the prayer string and even more stones within the Go bowls, their quality was irrelevant. Pei Qian had always believed that her possessions should be measured by quantity.

“Next time I compete with Li Huai, how can he possibly win?”

Cui Dongshan nodded with a smile, raising a hand and gently mimicking a clapping gesture. Pei Qian, already attuned to his intentions, raised her own hand for a distant high-five.

Pei Qian sat cross-legged on the long bench, swaying her head and shoulders.

Chen Ping’an, with his back to Pei Qian, said, “Sit properly, have you forgotten?”

Pei Qian immediately froze, as if struck by a spell.

Cui Dongshan leaned against the doorframe, smiling as he looked at the three inside.

Pei Qian was amusing herself.

Nowadays, whenever she encountered a temple, she would bow to the Bodhisattva.

It was said that she frequented the Heart Image Temple in the capital of Nanyuan Kingdom, but for some reason, when she pressed her palms together, they weren’t tightly sealed, as if carefully cradling something.

She had also heard from Zhong Qiu that she now had a first friend who was no longer a friend. This wasn’t Chen Nuan Shu or Zhou Mi Li, who were still her good friends, nor was it Old Chef Wei Xiaobai, but a girl born and raised in the capital of Nanyuan Kingdom who had married a few years ago. Before leaving Lotus Root Blessed Land, she had sought her out to apologize, but the girl didn’t seem to accept or reject Pei Qian’s apology. Clearly recognizing Pei Qian, whose appearance and height hadn’t changed much, the girl from the wealthy family merely pretended not to know her, because she was afraid. After Pei Qian left, she secretly sought out Zhong Qiu, carrying Cao Qinglang, and asked Master Zhong to help her with something. Zhong Qiu agreed, and Pei Qian asked if doing so was right. Zhong Qiu said that it wasn’t wrong, but didn’t say it was good, nor did he say whether it could truly atone for her mistakes. He only told her to ask her Shifu. At the time, Pei Qian said she didn’t dare to say it yet, waiting until she was braver and until Shifu liked her more, before daring to speak.

Cao Qinglang was writing diligently.

He resembled someone very much.

Always serious in everything he did.

Therefore, someone needed to teach him what things he could take less seriously and to avoid getting stuck in a rut.

But it was unknown if Cao Qinglang knew why his teacher was so dedicated to his wandering life as the “Bundle Shopkeeper”, and how much of that dedication stemmed from guilt towards Cao Qinglang, even though his life’s hardships weren’t his teacher’s fault.

Cui Dongshan wouldn’t say much about many things. With a teacher imparting knowledge and resolving doubts, the students and disciples could learn simply by watching and listening.

As for the teacher, was he thinking about how to make money?

The three in the room.

Were very similar in one aspect.

That was when their parents left for distant lands and never returned, they were all still children.

The teacher’s parents left the earliest. Then Pei Qian, and then Cao Qinglang.

The three in the room must have once not wanted to grow up, but had to.

So Cui Dongshan didn’t enter the room, only wanting to sit on the threshold, placing his walking stick across his lap, taking a rare moment to steal some leisure and daydream.

Chen Ping’an slammed the table, startling both Cao Qinglang and Pei Qian. Then they heard their teacher, Shifu, laughingly say, “The one with the best handwriting is the laziest?!”

Cao Qinglang nodded in sudden understanding, “That makes sense.”

Pei Qian slammed the table, “Utterly outrageous!”

Cui Dongshan quickly stood up, holding his walking stick, and stepped over the threshold, “Alright!”

Chen Ping’an stood up, sat next to Pei Qian, and smiled, “Shifu will teach you Go.”

Pei Qian nodded vigorously, starting to open the Go bowls, stretching out her hands and gently shaking them, “Alright! Big White Goose… what is it, it’s Little Shixiong! Little Shixiong taught me Go, I learn it so slowly, he has to give me ten stones to win.”

Chen Ping’an’s smile didn’t change, but he stood up as soon as he sat down, “Then we’ll play later, Shifu will go write. What are you spacing out for? Hurry and bring over the small book box, it’s time to copy books!”

Pei Qian said “Oh” and ran out.

She quickly returned with the small bamboo box on her back.

But she found her Shifu standing at the door, looking at her.

Pei Qian suddenly stopped at the door, tilting her head in confusion, “Shifu is waiting for me?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Remember when someone carried buckets to fetch water? She wasn’t this fast.”

Pei Qian looked flustered.

Chen Ping’an reached out and rubbed her head, smiling, “Shifu and Cao Qinglang could wait for you to come home back then, of course we can wait now.”

Cui Dongshan raised his head, lamenting, “I’m the one who met the teacher earliest!”

Pei Qian immediately laughed happily, “I was earlier than Cao Qinglang!”

Cao Qinglang turned to look at the door, only smiling.

Pei Qian immediately said to Big White Goose, “Is there any point in arguing about this? Huh?!”

Cui Dongshan raised both hands, “Senior Apprentice Sister is right.”

Chen Ping’an patted Pei Qian’s head, “Go copy books.”

In the end, Chen Ping’an sat on the threshold, took out the sword-nourishing gourd, and started drinking.

The three inside looked at the figure at the door, then went back to their own tasks.

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “Cao Qinglang, I’ll make a walking stick for you later too.”

Cao Qinglang replied, “Teacher, I already have one.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t turn his head, smiling, “But that wasn’t given by the teacher. If you don’t mind, you can take the one in the opposite wing first.”

Cao Qinglang thought for a moment, “As long as it’s not straw sandals, it’s fine.”

Cui Dongshan rolled his eyes, muttering, “Comparing people is infuriating.”

Pei Qian finished writing a sentence, and in between strokes, secretly made a face, muttering, “It’s maddening me, maddening me.”

Then Pei Qian glanced at the small bamboo box on the table, feeling much better, since she was the only one who had the small book box anyway.

Chen Ping’an, with his back to the three, smiled and narrowed his eyes, looking up at the sky through the courtyard, the bamboo sea cave heaven wine was still delicious today. Such fine wine, how could he take it on credit?

Chen Ping’an took a sip of wine, holding the wine pot in one hand and gently tapping his knee with the other, muttering to himself, “A pearl in a poor man’s garment, is inherently perfectly round and bright.”
Cui Dongshan smiled, as if speaking to himself, “He seeks not within himself, yet counts another’s treasures. Counting another’s treasures brings naught but emptiness. Pray heed my words.”

Cao Qinglang smiled knowingly, softly continuing the passage, “Defilement cannot tarnish it, its own light shines forth. No Dharma springs but from the heart within, words spoken become a lion’s roar.”

Pei Qian stopped writing, pricking up her ears. She was almost aggrieved to tears; she had no idea what her teacher and the others were talking about. Surely it wasn’t in any of her books, otherwise she would definitely remember it.

Pei Qian sighed mournfully, “Then maybe stinky tofu is delicious?”

Chen Ping’an’s eyes lit up, and he slapped his knee with force, laughing heartily, “Plain noodles can be free, but this stinky tofu must be paid for!”