This time, when Guo Zhujiu returned home, she wasn’t aimlessly wandering the streets alone, nor was she a stray cat perched atop the walls of neighboring mansions on Jade Scepter Lane. With her Shifu by her side, she was exceptionally well-behaved.

A familiar young man leaned over a wall, grinning. “Green Bean, what’s this? No ‘overcoming obstacles’ today? My swordsmanship has improved dramatically these last few days. I’ll hold the gate for sure, making you obediently take a detour!”

Guo Zhujiu tilted her head, a blank expression on her face. “Who are you?”

Seeing Guo Zhujiu secretly winking at him, the young man quickly disappeared.

This was also Chen Ping’an’s first visit to the Guo residence on Jade Scepter Lane. Sword Immortal Guo Jia personally greeted him at the entrance. Chen Ping’an merely escorted Guo Zhujiu to the door, politely declining Guo Jia’s invitation to come inside. After all, Sword Immortal Luo Shan from the Hidden Official lineage was still watching him. The Ning residence didn’t care about such things, but Sword Immortal Guo Jia and his family needed to be mindful, at least putting on a show of caring.

Guo Jia pulled Guo Zhujiu inside, casually asking, “What were you chatting about with your tiny senior sister?”

Guo Zhujiu replied, “Dad, even if you torture me, I won’t breathe a word! Who is Guo Zhujiu? I’m the daughter of the great Sword Immortal Guo Jia! I won’t say a single word that I shouldn’t!”

Guo Jia lowered his head, looking at his smiling daughter. He patted her little head. “No wonder they say daughters can’t be kept at home forever. Breaks a father’s heart.”

Guo Zhujiu questioned, “But Mom isn’t like that. She married Dad, but she’s always protecting her own family, isn’t she? And you, Dad, every time you feel wronged by Mom’s family, you don’t go to your own Shifu to complain, nor do you seek out familiar sword immortal friends for a drink. Instead, you go to your in-laws’ house to play the pitiful one. Mom is so annoyed with you, didn’t you know? My grandfather has even spoken to me in private, asking me to persuade you to stop going there, saying it’s as if my grandfather is begging his son-in-law. Take pity on him, otherwise the one who suffers the most in the end is him, not even you, his son-in-law.”

Guo Jia had long been accustomed to his daughter’s piercing words. Get used to it, just get used to it. Therefore, his old father-in-law should also be used to it. They were family; no need to be polite.

Guo Jia’s originally gloomy mood cleared up a bit, like the moon emerging from behind the clouds. Zuo You had sought him out earlier. It was a good thing; they came to reason with him, not to fight. He was much luckier than that Great Sword Immortal Yue Qing. Of course, there was no sword fight, but Zuo You still wore his sword. Guo Jia was, in fact, deeply grateful to this pinnacle of human swordsmanship who visited with his sword. The disciples of the Literary Sage lineage all seemed to excel at conveying truths beyond words, and were sharing them with people outside of Guo Jia and his family.

Guo Jia had always hoped that his daughter, Green Bean, could visit Upside-Down Mountain, learn from that Ning Yao, and see more distant places, returning later.

But despite his daughter’s love for lively gatherings, she had never thought of secretly sneaking off to Upside-Down Mountain. Guo Jia had his wife subtly suggest it to their daughter, but she offered a reasoning that left them speechless.

Guo Zhujiu said that when she was little, she struggled greatly to climb onto their rooftop, where she saw the moon resting on the wall of the Sword Qi Great Wall. She wanted to touch it someday. But when she grew up and reached the top of the wall on her own, she realized it wasn’t like that at all. The moon was far, far away from the top of the wall, beyond her reach. So she didn’t want to travel far. The top of the Sword Qi Great Wall was already so high, and she jumped and stretched her arms with all her might, yet couldn’t touch the moon. Going to Upside-Down Mountain would only make it even further out of reach, which was no fun.

This time, Zuo You’s visit was to formally ask Guo Zhujiu to become a disciple of his junior brother, Chen Ping’an. As long as Guo Jia agreed, the implication was that Guo Zhujiu would naturally need to follow her fellow disciples to the Ancestral Hall of Fallen Phoenix Mountain in Treasure Bottle Continent, to pay respects to the founder. After that, she could stay at Fallen Phoenix Mountain or travel elsewhere. If the little girl missed home, she could return to Sword Qi Great Wall later.

Guo Jia thought it was acceptable.

Since Zuo You, bearing his sword, had made the request, how could Guo Jia, a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator, refuse? No other sword immortals could find fault with it. If they could, they could go and speak with Zuo You.

However, Guo Zhujiu suddenly said, “Dad, on the way here, Shifu asked me if I wanted to go to his hometown and accompany senior sister to the Grand Azure World. I defied his orders at the risk of my life and refused! Aren’t I courageous and heroic?”

Guo Jia sighed inwardly, smiling as he asked, “Why didn’t you agree? The rules for becoming a disciple are much stricter in the Grand Azure World. It’s not like here, where the person transmitting the Dao needs to nod in agreement. You don’t even need to kowtow; you just offer a cup of wine. You have to go to the Ancestral Hall to worship the portraits and burn incense. There are so many rituals. If you want to truly become a direct disciple of Chen Ping’an, you must do as the locals do.”

Guo Zhujiu shook her head. “I’ll go with Shifu when he returns to his hometown. If I leave, who will take care of Dad’s flower garden?”

Guo Jia strained to keep a straight face, patiently advising, “Next time you’re swatting those mosquitoes and flies, be more careful with your swordsmanship. Don’t chop the flowers along with them.”

Guo Zhujiu lamented, “It’s a pity that senior sister’s walking staff isn’t willing to be gifted to me, or else I could guarantee that not even a mosquito could enter the entire Guo mansion, not to mention just Dad’s flower garden. Dad, you can take it out on me. Cut off my dog head.”

After Guo Jia separated from his daughter, he went to check on the flower garden. Since his daughter had become a disciple, she had been running to the Ning residence all day, and hadn’t been tending to the flower garden as diligently. As a result, the flowers and plants were especially lush. Guo Jia stood alone in a flower-filled pavilion, looking at the harmonious and orderly scenery of the flower garden, but he couldn’t feel happy. If the flowers were good, the moon was full, and everything was perfect, how could people live long lives?

Therefore, Guo Jia actually preferred a flower garden with imperfections over perfect reunions.

At the Ning residence, Ning Yao was still in seclusion.

Pei Qian was seeking guidance on fist techniques from Granny Bai.

Zhong Qiu was practicing footwork, using the abundant sword intent of the world to sharpen his fist intent.

Cao Qinglang was cultivating.

Cui Dongshan was drinking with old brother Nalan.
After leaving Guo Jia and Jade Tablet Street, Chen Ping’an went to the ever-expanding wine shop. As always, the shopkeeper didn’t compete with customers for space, simply squatting by the roadside drinking. Unfortunately, Fan Dache was unkind, having drunk all the surplus wine money from the Lesser Heat coin in one go. Chen Ping’an had to settle the bill with the young Jiang Qu himself. Jiang Qu mustered his courage and said that he had recently drawn an advance on his salary with Sister Diezhang and could treat Mr. Chen to a pot of Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven wine. Chen Ping’an declined, saying it wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but that he dared not, lest it tarnish his excellent reputation in the Sword Qi Great Wall. As a scholar, how could he not cherish his reputation?

Jiang Qu continued to serve customers, thinking to himself, “Mr. Chen, a scholar who doesn’t cherish his reputation like you… doesn’t seem right either.”

Chen Ping’an leisurely finished his wine, bummed two bowls of wine from a fellow Daoist beside him, and then got up to go to the new two walls, examining all the “No Worries” plaques and their inscriptions.

Then, Chen Ping’an picked up his small stool and went to the corner of the street, vigorously waving the verdant bamboo branch, like a storyteller under a bridge in the marketplace, and began to hawk his wares.

Feng Kangle was the first to rush over, not even bothering to pick up his increasingly heavy pottery jar. The child whispered something in the Second Shopkeeper’s ear, roughly explaining his predicament, telling the Second Shopkeeper to be sensible and not say the wrong thing. Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded, and as a reward, asked Feng Kangle to go door-to-door to attract an audience. Receiving this promise and the assurance that the Second Shopkeeper wouldn’t expose him, Feng Kangle heavily patted the Second Shopkeeper on the shoulder, gave him a thumbs up, and said, “Good brother, loyal and righteous!”

Chen Ping’an glanced at Feng Kangle, and the child immediately lightly patted the Second Shopkeeper on the shoulder. Then, Feng Kangle ran while shouting, saying that the scholar’s story of beating the drum to appeal for justice at the City God Pavilion was finally about to begin!

The storyteller waited until he was surrounded by people, helped himself to some melon seeds from the little girl beside him, and then began to narrate the story of a mountain god bullying men and forcibly taking a beautiful woman as his bride, and a scholar who, after many trials and tribulations, finally achieved a happy ending.

But when he got to the part where the mountain god was tyrannical and powerful, and the City God hesitated after hearing the scholar’s plea, the children were unhappy and began to clamor in revolt.

“What were you doing earlier?” Just rattling on about the Night and Day Patrol Gods, the Civil and Military Judges, the Iron Chain Generals – their names, their merits in life, why they were able to become City Gods after death, what was written on the plaques and couplets, how majestic the City God’s official robes were – the Second Shopkeeper talked about all that for so long! In the end, you, the Second Shopkeeper, came to this conclusion, saying that the City God, with his cloud-like ghost soldiers and powerful army, was unwilling to seek justice for the poor scholar?

Chen Ping’an realized he had finished his melon seeds and was about to turn to ask the little girl for more, but unexpectedly, the little girl turned away and, for the first time, didn’t give him any melon seeds.

Feng Kangle didn’t care if the Second Shopkeeper exposed his past, saying that he hadn’t even dared to knock on the door to see the person, and punched Chen Ping’an, angrily saying, “No, no! Either you tell us the ending directly, or just tell a new, more exciting story! Otherwise, I won’t come anymore, and you can just sit here and drink the northwest wind!”

The other children all nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, those wine-drinking sword immortals have good eyes,” the Second Shopkeeper’s heart is truly black.

Such a frustrating and depressing mountain and water story is not worth listening to.

Then, the Second Shopkeeper raised the bamboo branch in one hand and made a sword flourish with two fingers of the other, shaking it a few times, and asked, “The last time we mentioned the City God Temple, does anyone remember the couplet on the main gate that was only half-said?”

A young boy said, “It was ‘Seek a conscience to govern me, be a virtuous person, in the daytime, heaven and earth are vast, walk upright and the body is at peace, at night, a bed, the soul is settled and the dream is stable.'”

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded.

The boy asked, “I asked you before why you didn’t say the other half, and you just said that the secrets of heaven cannot be revealed. Surely you won’t keep us in suspense this time, right?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Let me keep you in suspense a little longer. Don’t be impatient, allow me to continue telling the far from finished story. In the City God Temple, all was silent. The City God stroked his beard and dared not speak, the Civil and Military Judges and the Day and Night Patrol Gods were all speechless. Just then, dark clouds suddenly covered the moon, and no one in the human world could afford to light a lamp. The moon in the sky was no longer bright. The scholar looked around, completely despairing, feeling as if the sky and earth were collapsing, and he was destined to be unable to save his beloved woman. It was better to die than to live, and he would rather bash his head against something and die than look at the filth of the human world any longer.”

Feng Kangle and the other children were all listening with sinking hearts.

What exactly is going on over in the Boundless World?

Now there are so many people listening to the story, more and more. You, Second Shopkeeper, are only interested in making me, Feng Kangle, lose face. How am I going to make my way in the world in the future? You, Second Shopkeeper, said it yourself, the world is actually divided into large and small. First, walk the small world next to your own home well, and practice your skills well before you can walk the larger world.

Chen Ping’an slapped his knee, “At that critical moment, unexpectedly, just then, at that moment when the scholar’s life was hanging by a thread, a light suddenly appeared outside the City God Temple, a very small light. The City God suddenly raised his head, laughed heartily, and said loudly, ‘My friend has arrived! This matter is not difficult!’ The City God, with a beaming smile, went around the desk, strode down the steps, and got up to greet the newcomer. When he passed the scholar, he whispered a sentence. The scholar was dubious, but followed the City God out of the City God Pavilion’s main hall. Everyone, do you know who came? Could it be the mountain god, who was the local tyrant, coming to question the scholar? Or was it someone else, arriving with great pomp and circumstance, resulting in a situation where the darkest clouds part to reveal a glimmer of hope? To know what happened next, please listen…”

The little girl suddenly hurriedly reached out and handed a handful of melon seeds to the storyteller, “Don’t say ‘to be continued next time’, tell us today, tell us today! I have plenty of melon seeds, there are still many more!”

The boy who said half of the City God Temple’s main gate couplet angrily said, “Don’t beg him, tell it or don’t, after listening to this story, I’m definitely not coming back again!”
The storyteller accepted the melon seeds from the little girl and vigorously brushed his bamboo stick. “Upon closer inspection, in the blink of an eye, that tiny speck of light grew larger and larger. Not only that, but soon more lights appeared, one by one, gathering together like a nascent moon. These rays pierced the night sky, parting the sea of clouds like the path of immortals, higher than even the Five Peaks. On the earth below, the wild dragons and snakes cultivating the Dao, the common folk in the marketplaces and lanes, all awoke from their dreams. They opened their doors and windows, and looked up. And what they saw was truly extraordinary!”

At this point, the storyteller quickly cracked open some melon seeds. “Don’t rush me, don’t rush me. Let me crack a few seeds first.”

After eating the melon seeds, Chen Pingan continued, “The closer the scholar got to the City God Temple, the louder the thunder roared, as if deities were beating drums incessantly overhead. He worried that the City God and the Mountain God were in league with the snakes and rats, yet a glimmer of hope arose in his heart, hoping that in all the vastness of the world, there would be someone willing to help him seek justice. Even if he couldn’t ultimately obtain justice, he would be content. The roads of this world are not always muddy, and the hearts of others can still bring solace.”

Around the small stools, everyone held their breath and listened intently.

“The scholar couldn’t help but raise a hand to shield his eyes, for the light had become so blinding that a mere mortal like him could no longer bear to look at it even for a moment. Not only the scholar, but even the City God and his attendant officials were the same, unable to gaze directly at that great light of heaven and earth. The light was so vast, how vast do you think? It illuminated the hundred-mile radius around the City God Temple, as if the great sun hung in the sky during the day! How could a minor mountain god’s journey produce such a spectacle?!”

Feng Kangle tentatively asked, “Could it be a passing Sword Immortal?”

The little girl sitting to Feng Kangle’s left and right nodded vigorously. “Of course! Master Chen has spoken of those Sword Immortals, their hearts pure as crystal, their swords emitting light.”

Chen Pingan said, “Indeed, it is a Sword Immortal descending the mountain to travel the lands! But it’s not just one. Leading the way was a young Sword Immortal in white robes, who first arrived at the City God Temple on his sword. He sheathed his flying sword and stood gracefully. By chance, this person’s name was Feng Kangle, a rising star among the world’s Sword Immortals, known for his love of chivalry, roaming the world with his sword, a small pottery jar tied to his waist, clanging as he moved, though it’s unknown what was inside. And even more coincidentally, next to this Sword Immortal stood a beautiful female Sword Immortal, named Shu Xin. Every time she descended the mountain, she liked to carry melon seeds in her sleeves. It turned out that every time she encountered an injustice, she would right the wrong and then eat some melon seeds. If someone was moved to tears of gratitude, this female Sword Immortal would not ask for silver, only some melon seeds in return.”

Feng Kangle was stunned. Regaining his senses, he straightened his back, almost bursting into tears, excitedly saying, “This story is too wonderful!”

The little girl named Shu Xin felt a little embarrassed, her face flushed red, and also a little guilty, as she had brought too few melon seeds today.

The storyteller continued, “Swish, swish, swish, more and more Sword Immortals landed, each with elegant bearing. The men were either as handsome as jade or possessed astonishing presence. The women were either as beautiful as flowers or full of heroic spirit. So the City God, who had some understanding but not enough, was a little frightened. The other assisting officials and ghost soldiers were even more stirred, saluting one by one, not daring to look up. They were shocked, why… why could they see so many Sword Immortals at once? Among those famous Sword Immortals, besides Feng Kangle and Shu Xin, there was also Zhou Shui Ting, Zhao Yu San, Ma Xiang Er…”

He recited a long list of names. During this, the storyteller looked at an unnamed child, who eagerly shouted, “My name is Shi Tan.”

So the storyteller added a Sword Immortal named Shi Tan.

And the young man Zhao Yu San, who heard his name, grinned, but quickly straightened his face.

If the storyteller’s next story also had a Sword Immortal Zhao Yu San, then he would listen. If not, he would not.

How would the boy Zhao Yu San know if there was a Sword Immortal with the same name and surname? Of course, he had to listen to the next story first.

In truth, the stories that followed were still full of twists and turns, and the children still picked and chose, listening to what they liked and wanted to hear.

In any case, no one left the stools or the surrounding area. They listened to the complete mountain and water tale. The scholar and his beloved finally became husband and wife. All the Sword Immortals came to congratulate them. The scholar and his beloved, after enduring hardships and difficulties, finally held their wedding ceremony. From then on, they lived happily ever after. The story ended.

Moreover, unlike usual when the story ended, the children and young people did not immediately leave this time. This was a rare occurrence.

But this time, the storyteller did not say anything beyond the story. He just looked at them and smiled, “Stories are just stories, and the stories in books are not just stories on paper. You all have your own stories, and that will be even more true as you grow older. I will no longer be a storyteller here. I hope that in the future, if there is a chance, you can be the storytellers, and I will listen to you.”

Chen Pingan picked up his small stool and stood up.

A child timidly asked, “Master Chen, are you going back to your hometown?”

Chen Pingan shook his head and smiled, “No, I will stay here. But I am not just a storytelling charlatan, nor am I a bookkeeper who makes money selling wine, so I have many things of my own to do.”

Chen Pingan left. After walking a distance, he suddenly turned his head and smiled, “To know what happens next?”

Many of the children who had already stood up burst into laughter, with only sparse echoes, but their voices were not small at all, “Listen to the next installment!”

Chen Pingan smiled and muttered to himself, “Leave it for later, leave it for now.”

Pei Qian practiced her fist diligently, just like in the Bamboo House of Fallen Mountain in the past, fearing that her master would suddenly want to send her away one day. Fallen Mountain was very good, but without her master, it was not good enough.

Today, Granny Bai taught her boxing with less effort than usual, probably because she hadn’t eaten enough.

But Pei Qian didn’t mind, because she felt that she was about to break through the fourth realm bottleneck! This made Pei Qian overjoyed, smiling from ear to ear, and she spoke many words to Granny Bai.
Knowing she could finally stay in the Great Wall of Sword Qi for a few more days, Pei Qian hadn’t even had time to share the good news with her master when he, along with Cui Dongshan, descended from the Dragon-Slaying Platform’s pavilion to the training grounds, declaring it was time to return home, immediately.

Pei Qian glanced at the White Goose, who shook its head helplessly. There was no way around it; the master’s mind was made up, and the junior brother couldn’t sway him.

Pei Qian didn’t throw a tantrum, not daring to or wanting to. She silently followed her master to her residence to pack her belongings, shouldering her little book box and taking up her travel staff.

“Why is the sun so bright in the dead of winter? A heavy rain would be much better, allowing me to delay leaving Ning Mansion, even if it’s just to take shelter from the rain at the gate for a while,” she thought.

Cao Qinglang, also holding a travel staff and a slung package, appeared at the residence gate with Old Master Zhong.

Chen Ping’an led them away from Ning Mansion, walking until they reached the gate guarded by the aging female Daoist and the old Sword Immortal.

However, Cui Dongshan had gone elsewhere, saying he would meet them at the Stork Inn on Upside-Down Mountain.

Chen Ping’an stopped. “I won’t see you off. Be careful on the road.”

Pei Qian lowered her head.

Cao Qinglang presented his master with a seal he had carved, which Chen Ping’an accepted with a smile.

Pei Qian looked up and softly said, “Master, I left some things on Master’s Wife’s table. Remember to tell her when she comes out of seclusion.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I won’t forget. When you return to the Fallen Mountain, tell Nuanshu and Mili about the Great Wall of Sword Qi. Don’t just show off and spout nonsense; tell them everything as it is.”

Pei Qian, eyes reddening, nodded. “I will listen to Master in all things.”

It was strange. Before, she had always been the one left behind, seeing her master off on journeys. This time, it was her master staying behind, seeing her off.

It only made her feel even more sorrowful.

“Should I even leave the Fallen Mountain alone again to roam the world? Leaving Master alone at the Fallen Mountain is so pitiful,” she wondered.

Chen Ping’an turned back to see a little girl running toward them.

Pei Qian felt a bit happier, thinking that if this little junior sister dared not to come to see her on her own initiative, she would suffer a great loss.

Guo Zhujiu suddenly stopped, then leaped and landed beside Pei Qian, her face beaming. “Little Small Senior Sister, leaving with Master? Cry, quickly cry for me! After you cry, you can feel more at ease. I’ll be by Master’s side to take care of him, after all!”

Pei Qian couldn’t even bring herself to cry. She took off her little book box, which was actually empty, and handed it to Guo Zhujiu. “It’s agreed, this is Senior Sister lending it to you, not giving it to you. Next time we meet, you can’t return a tattered little bamboo box to me, not a single bit of damage allowed. If you don’t agree, I won’t even lend it to you.”

Guo Zhujiu grabbed the little bamboo box and immediately slung it over her shoulder, nodding vigorously. “Senior Sister, you can set your heart at ease a thousand times, ten thousand times! The little book box looks even better on me. If the little bamboo box could talk, it would be laughing its head off right now. It wouldn’t even be able to speak, just too busy being happy.”

Pei Qian reached out her hand. “Return the book box.”

Guo Zhujiu ignored her and instead asked, “Senior Sister, lend me your travel staff too, okay? The little book box and the travel staff are a perfect match! I’ll definitely carry the little book box and hold the travel staff every day, tapping away at the bluestone and muddy ground of every street and alleyway until I’ve walked them all!”

Pei Qian looked aggrieved. She had only lent her the little bamboo box, yet she wanted to go even further. What kind of junior sister was this? So, she immediately turned to look at her master.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “You can let Guo Zhujiu return your little book box next time you meet, and then lend her the travel staff.”

Pei Qian raised an eyebrow at Guo Zhujiu.

Guo Zhujiu nodded. “That works too, I guess.”

Then, Guo Zhujiu pulled Pei Qian aside, and the two little girls whispered to each other. Guo Zhujiu gave Pei Qian a small wooden box, saying it was a gift from the junior sister to the senior sister, a gift to pay respect upon first meeting at the mountain. Pei Qian didn’t dare accept things without permission and turned to look at her master, who smiled and nodded.

Chen Ping’an said to Zhong Qiu, “Master Zhong, after returning to the Vast World, there’s no need to rush back to the Jade Bottle Continent. You can take them to travel around the Southern娑婆洲 for a while. I have a friend named Liu Xianyang, who is currently studying at the Chen clan of Confucian scholars. However, Cui Dongshan probably won’t be traveling with you. He has many matters to attend to in his hometown, so borrow more celestial coins from him at Upside-Down Mountain. Traveling is wonderful, but seeing only the scenery is not enough.”

Zhong Qiu smiled. “I’ve already borrowed money from him once; borrowing again is nothing.”

Chen Ping’an said, “During this journey, at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, I didn’t give much consideration to Master Zhong’s martial arts cultivation. I apologize.”

Zhong Qiu shook his head. “Speak less of such polite, ridiculous words in my presence from now on.”

Chen Ping’an stopped with the polite talk.

Zhong Qiu finally said, “Even the best reasoning can be wrong sometimes. It’s not that the reasoning itself is flawed, but that people have too many difficulties and unexpected events. Although the same rice feeds a hundred different people, in the end, how many people like that bowl of rice, and how many people have truly considered what that bowl of rice tastes like?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I will think about it more.”

Zhong Qiu hesitated, wanting to say some comforting words to ease his mind, but looking at the young man in green robes, he felt it wasn’t necessary and remained silent.

Pei Qian softly called out, “Master,” and then couldn’t speak any further.

Guo Zhujiu, carrying the little bamboo box, began to count on her fingers, probably counting in her mind to see when Senior Sister would start crying.

Pei Qian noticed Guo Zhujiu’s actions out of the corner of her eye and forgot her sadness. This little girl was truly annoying.

Cao Qinglang bowed to his teacher to say farewell.

Chen Ping’an gently waved his hand and then clasped his hands in his sleeves.

After seeing them off, Chen Ping’an escorted Guo Zhujiu to the city gate and then rode his talisman boat to the city wall.

On the city wall, Zuo You asked, “They’ve all left?”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Zuo You frowned. “Speak plainly if you have something to say.”

Chen Ping’an somewhat missed the days when Pei Qian and Cao Qinglang were around. The Eldest Senior Brother would be more polite to him then.

Chen Ping’an softly said, “If I had hoped that Eldest Senior Brother would agree to let Master leave the Great Wall of Sword Qi, I shouldn’t have rejected the Old Sword Immortal. I should have agreed to light the natal lamp at the Fallen Mountain’s Ancestral Hall. That way, at least Eldest Senior Brother wouldn’t have to stay here because of me, adding another layer of worry.”
“Saying only half a sentence? Who taught you that, our Teacher?! Eldest Brother Sword Immortal has already told me everything. Your speed of drawing a sword, you’re not even a sword cultivator, you couldn’t fathom it even if your head were broken open. Who gave you the audacity to ponder these nonsensical things? How did you say that phrase to Yu Juanfu? Does reason only apply to others? The principle within the heart, so difficult to attain, can it be abandoned so readily, those store wines, seals, and folding fans, sold off to make money? Such dog farts of reasoning, it’s better not to learn them at all!”

Chen Ping’an was momentarily speechless.

Eldest Brother often didn’t say much to him, so for him to say this much today, he must be truly infuriated.

It’s fine.

Chen Ping’an had a plan to deal with it. “Even if Teacher is busy, now that Pei Qian and Cao Qinglang are at the Fallen Mountain, he will surely visit often. How Eldest Brother teaches the sword, I believe Eldest Brother’s grand-disciples will tell our Teacher everything, in detail. Teacher will surely be pleased to hear it.”

This time, it was Zuo You’s turn to be speechless.

Chen Ping’an changed the subject, asking, “Are there many people in the savage lands who haven’t forgotten the Sword Qi Great Wall?”

Zuo You nodded, “Naturally. But it is still of little use.”

Chen Ping’an asked again, “The Confucian and Buddhist Saints are stationed at both ends of the city wall, with the Daoist Saint stationed in the celestial canopy, all to maintain the Sword Qi Great Wall as much as possible, preventing it from being invaded and transformed by the savage lands’ fortune?”

Zuo You said, “For the three Sage Sects, this is not an easy task. That Confucian Saint who came from Buddhism, defeated in debate by Teacher, went to the lineage of the Second Sage, his learning profound, so don’t think the Second Sage lineage is worthless. We scholars fear nothing more than losing personal gain, then we scratch our hearts and lungs, resenting everything. Don’t assume that because the Rite Saint lineage has a gentleman like Wang Zai, all Confucian disciples of the Rite Saint lineage are gentlemen and virtuous men.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “I won’t be so blind to the mountain for a single leaf.”

Zhong Kui, the gentleman of Tongye Continent, came from the Second Sage lineage.

Zuo You asked, “What did Cui Dongshan say before leaving?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “Only trivial matters.”

Zuo You was silent for a long while, then slowly said, “Besides Teacher, no one saw Cui Chan as a boy. We saw him when he was a young man, about the same age as you are now.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly said, “I still believe that this world will get better and better.”

Zuo You smiled, “It must be so.”

Chen Ping’an turned his head and said, “Eldest Brother, if you could smile more often, you would be more handsome than Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple.”

Zuo You retorted, “Isn’t it the same even without smiling?”

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly, “I think so, but I don’t know what Wei Jin thinks.”

Zuo You hummed, “I’ll ask him later.”

Chen Ping’an added, “You also need to see if Wei Jin’s answer is sincere or not.”

Zuo You nodded, “That makes sense.”

The two brothers simply gazed into the distance together.

People they knew, each went their separate ways.

Just like today, Chen Ping’an was like that.

And not long ago, Qi Jinglong took Bai Shou and some young sword cultivators from the Taiwei Sword Sect and left the Sword Qi Great Wall.

So it is for commoners below the mountains, and immortals above are no exception.

Another year secretly slipped away at the Sword Qi Great Wall, and another year of spring warmth and blossoming flowers came again.

This time, Ning Yao’s seclusion was long and seemed to forget the cold and heat, but this is the most common way of cultivation.

Fan Dache still hadn’t broken through, but the foundation of the Dragon Gate Realm was getting better and better, and he had become thoroughly familiar with the Ning and Yan families.

Yan Zhuo’s swordsmanship had improved a lot with the full guidance of the family’s chief consecrator.

Chen Sanqiu was still that wandering young master who, after drinking, always felt that the wall needed his support.

Dong Huafu still didn’t have to pay for anything she bought, no matter where she went.

The business at Diezhang Wine Shop was still very good, and more and more “Nothing to Do” plaques were hung on the wall.

It was said that Qi Shou had gone into seclusion, and the hope of becoming a nascent soul sword cultivator in one fell swoop upon exiting was extremely high.

Pang Yuanji often went to Diezhang Wine Shop to buy wine, because the shop had launched a new wine, extremely strong, like a burning knife, but the price was expensive, three snowflake coins for a pot, so the sales of Bamboo Sea Paradise wine, which cost one snowflake coin, did not decrease, but rather increased. However, Pang Yuanji was not short of money, and his sword immortal friend Gao Kui also liked it, so Pang Yuanji always felt that he alone supported half of the shop’s burning knife wine business. It was a pity that the chief shopkeeper, Diezhang girl, had learned the second shopkeeper’s secret, and was becoming more and more stingy, unwilling to offer even one snowflake coin discount no matter how much wine he bought at once, and would even complain that Pang Yuanji was buying so much, what about the other sword immortals? She was willing to sell wine, but Pang Yuanji owed her a favor.

Pang Yuanji was very worried. He could drink any kind of wine, but now Gao Kui was addicted to alcohol, but had no money. Gao Kui was nurturing his natal flying sword, and had reached a critical juncture, and suddenly changed from a seemingly wealthy man to a pauper who couldn’t afford to open the pot. This was the most common thing at the Sword Qi Great Wall. When you have money, you really have a lot of spare money in your pocket, but when you have no money, you won’t even have a single copper coin left, and you have to scrape together money to borrow and buy on credit.

However, Pang Yuanji was now most interested in when the stinky tofu would open for sale.

The helpers in the shop, for some reason, were no longer the two teenagers from Lingxi Lane and Suoli Lane, but had been replaced by three people, a boy, a girl, and a dark-skinned child, all neighbors of the chief shopkeeper Diezhang. However, the youngest one was the most nimble. Drunkards and gamblers liked to tease this little guy when they had nothing to do, because although the child was young, he had a big temper. He didn’t care if you were a sword immortal or not, if you dared to buy on credit, no way. If you dared to take more pickles or ask for more Yangchun noodles, you would be glared at. The pickles would still be brought to the table or sent to the roadside, but the child wouldn’t have a good face.

From last winter to the beginning of spring this year, the second shopkeeper had been living in seclusion, rarely showing her face. Only Guo Zhujiu was diligent in visiting, and could occasionally see her master. When they met, she would ask why Eldest Sister hadn’t returned yet. She had now developed feelings for the small bamboo box on her body. The next time she saw Eldest Sister, the bookcase would definitely speak and say that she was fickle and didn’t go home.
Within the Ning Manor, Nalan Yexing felt uneasy. He proactively inquired of Bai Lianxiang’s old nanny, wondering if the young master-in-law’s method of practicing swordsmanship was too hasty and reckless, if there were truly no issues. Even he, Nalan Yexing, couldn’t bear to draw his sword.

Granny Bai was also anxious, but with the young mistress in seclusion, who could she turn to? So she instructed Nalan Yexing to seek out the young master-in-law’s senior apprentice-brother at the city walls.

Nalan Yexing thought it made sense and went. But the senior apprentice-brother was even more ruthless, saying, “If Senior Nalan feels that Junior Brother’s sparring is hindering your return to the Immortal Realm, then let Junior Brother come to the city walls to practice swordsmanship instead.”

Nalan Yexing left the city walls with a dark face. Granny Bai was waiting by the doorway, and upon hearing the infuriating words, she nearly lost her composure and stormed towards the city walls. It took Nalan Yexing’s persuasion to restrain her.

After calming her down, Nalan Yexing secretly rejoiced. Being addressed as “Senior Nalan” by that fellow felt invigorating. “Time for some wine!” he thought. “Tomorrow, if the young master-in-law seeks him out for sword practice again, he shouldn’t blame this old Nalan for being ruthless. After drinking too much, his strikes might become unpredictable, and he couldn’t guarantee the strength of his flying sword!”

After several spring rains, both large and small, the land began to feel the rising heat of summer.

On this day, Chen Ping’an sat alone in the pavilion, hands tucked into his sleeves, leaning against a pillar, enjoying the cool breeze and dozing off.

On the city walls, Zuo You opened his eyes and rose, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, squinting into the distance.

South of the city walls, ten thousand miles of yellow sand surged forth, blotting out the sky and sun.

The rolling sand grains rose above the Sword Qi Great Wall, like a tidal wave crashing against the shore, heading straight for the city walls.

The robed monks and Confucian scholars at either end of the Sword Qi Great Wall simultaneously extended their palms, gently pressing down on the white mist.

A Taoist sage, holding a snow-white horsetail whisk, sat cross-legged at an immense height. As the old Daoist gazed into the distance, the sea of clouds parted layer by layer beneath his feet.

A little girl with pigtails resembling ram’s horns, who had been yawning and listlessly staring at an unopened jar of wine on the city wall, suddenly became excited. She did several rolls, jumped up, and her eyes shone with light, as she childishly shouted, “All below Jade Pure Realm, leave the city walls! Those from the north with sufficient cultivation, come fill the ranks!”

Chen Qingdu slowly walked out of his thatched hut, his hands clasped behind his back. He approached Zuo You, lightly leaped onto the wall, and asked with a smile, “Saving up the sword qi for a meal, are we?”

Zuo You remained silent, but did not draw his sword. He simply stopped restraining his sword qi and walked forward.

Beyond the Sword Qi Great Wall, the yellow sand crashed against an invisible wall and instantly turned to dust, unable to approach the city walls even an inch.

Not only that, the invisible wall of sword qi continued to advance southward, and the rolling yellow sand retreated dozens of miles.

Finally, the world regained clarity, the view was unobstructed, and everything was visible at a glance.

From the cities to the north, streaks of brilliant sword light soared, and they sheathed their swords and landed on the southern city walls.

Finally, atop the Sword Qi Great Wall:

Sword Immortals as numerous as the clouds.

Chen Qingdu, Zuo You.

Dong Sangeng, the Hidden Official, Chen Xi, Qi Tingji, Nalan Shaowei, Old Deaf, Lu Zhi.

Yue Qing, Ning Lianyun, Wu Chengpei, Zhou Cheng, Mi Hu, Mi Yu, Sun Juyuan, Gao Kui, Tao Wen, the Yan family’s enshrined immortal swordsman Li Tuimi…

Han Huaizi from Beiju Luzhou, Wei Jin from Bao Pingzhou, Yuan Qingshu from Nan Pozhou, Li Cai from Floating Reed Sword Lake, Ku Xia from the Shao Yuan Dynasty…

Chen Qingdu looked into the distance and chuckled, “Now that that old immortal is backing us, we’ve got a lot more courage, eh? Quite a few new faces. Hmm, quite a few have come, those with seats in the rat holes are almost all here.”