For a time, the only sound in the room was the rustling of pages. The ship owners, adept at business and accounting, were in their element, showcasing their expertise.

With the tacit approval of the Hidden Officer, most of the sword immortals had departed.

Li Cai, Ku Xia, Yuan Qingshu, Xie Zhi, Song Pin, and Pu He had all returned to the Great Wall of Swords.

Mi Yu and Gao Kui, however, remained.

Shao Yunyan continued to sit near the doorway.

Xie Songhua had to personally “escort” an inter-continental ferry from the Azure Continent away from Upside-down Mountain, so naturally she wouldn’t leave Spring Banner Lodge.

Yan Ming and Nalan Caihuan, of course, also needed to stay. The specific commercial dealings in the future would still require these two, together with Shao Yunyan, to manage business with the Eight Continent ferries at Spring Banner Lodge.

Tonight’s transaction at Spring Banner Lodge was truly significant.

The map of the Eight Continents under the heavens, with its hundreds of dynasties, mountain sects, and aristocratic families, would be affected by tonight’s conversation in the days to come.

Chen Pingan sat in the master’s seat, drinking the wine brought by Mi Yu, without urging any of the ship owners.

One hand held the wine pot, while the other alternately clenched and unclenched into a fist.

Perhaps Nalan Caihuan was the one in the room who harbored the deepest resentment towards Chen Pingan.

Gao Kui’s sole purpose for this trip was to kill her, Nalan Caihuan!

When resentment is abundant, yet one can do nothing, fear often outweighs hatred.

Nalan Caihuan’s greater fear lay in the young Hidden Officer’s words to her in private, “I can stomach doing business with these outsiders, but can’t tolerate a trusted member of the family with real power? That’s absurd. Nalan Caihuan, I assure you, the Nalan family won’t suffer too much financially. If luck is on our side, there might even be a profit. However, I make no promises about luck.”

Nalan Caihuan also made some promises. She felt that she had truly reached an agreement with the young Hidden Officer, opening her heart and sharing her true feelings.

However, this not only failed to change her current predicament but also brought about her greatest fear: Gao Kui still had not left Spring Banner Lodge and was still quietly drinking nearby, not the immortal wine of Spring Banner Lodge but the wine from Bamboo Sea Grotto-Heaven.

Nalan Caihuan calmed herself and began to analyze every detail of tonight’s discussion, trying to understand the young man better.

She had never truly interacted with Chen Pingan or the Second Manager before; it was only after he became the Hidden Officer that they had a conversation, which wasn’t very pleasant.

Nalan Caihuan recalled the young Hidden Officer’s concluding remarks, akin to a final judgment.

Scholars’ pedantry is truly terrifying.

According to the customs of the world, it should have been “move them with emotion, persuade them with reason,” but Chen Pingan insisted on saying “persuade them with emotion, move them with reason.”

The “emotion” was the sentiment of goodwill. The old ties that the Nine Continent ferry merchants had forgotten, but which the Great Wall of Swords still remembered.

The “reason” was even simpler: the sword immortals and sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Swords would claim heads with their flying swords.

After that came the most vulgar and materialistic lure of wealth, where everyone could sit down, talk properly, and do business properly.

But before all this, Chen Pingan’s most ruthless threat was not the sword immortals’ constant readiness to kill, but a division of interests, directly targeting the personal interests of certain ship owners.

Setting aside any morality, business rules, or sect operations, Chen Pingan chose to directly confront his opponents, such as Wu Qiu’s and Tang Feiqian’s private residences near Sharpening Mountain in the Northern Entirety Continent, as well as the reputations of the two Upper Fifth Tier cultivators.

A fate worse than death.

Of course, there were also the lives of Jiang Gaotai of the “Southern Dipper” and Liu Shen, the manager of the “Rainbow Skirt” ferry.

Death upon uttering the words.

Don’t talk to me about sect foundations or the consequences of overturning the table and ceasing trade. As long as someone stood up from their seat, the Great Wall of Swords would subsequently target, with precise measures, only the individual in front of the young Hidden Officer.

Talking about these things with many of the proper immortal masters and direct disciples of ancestral halls, especially the proud and arrogant sons of aristocratic families, might not only lead to disagreement but also a complete breakdown of relations.

But discussing this with the merchants present, who were no longer purely cultivators, was the most effective.

The real watershed moment, of course, was the ledgers that Mi Yu produced.

Without that, no matter how much Chen Pingan schemed, once the dozens of ship owners left Spring Banner Lodge and Upside-down Mountain, Chen Pingan would gain nothing except to incite hatred against the entire Great Wall of Swords. Perhaps he could continue to be the Hidden Officer, but the financial power of the Great Wall of Swords would once again fall into her and Yan Ming’s hands.

Nalan Caihuan regained some of her composure, feeling that she finally knew how to get along with the young Hidden Officer.

Speaking only of her appearance and demeanor, Nalan Caihuan was indeed a great beauty.

So Mi Yu glanced at her.

Then Mi Yu shook his head, his eyes showing some pity and disdain, before turning away from Nalan Caihuan and closing his eyes to rest.

If Nalan Caihuan was the kind of woman who could stir a man’s heart with her looks alone, then Mi Yu was the kind of man whose mere appearance could please a woman’s eyes.

The Nascent Soul woman, filled with resentment and bitterness, “unintentionally” witnessed this scene, and the gloom in her heart lessened slightly.

This unfaithful man who deserved to be drawn and quartered, after saying those damnable words that should be punished by the heavens, had never looked at her again, his gaze repeatedly avoiding her as he looked towards the opposite seats.

If Mi Yu didn’t have her in his heart, why would he be so deliberate?

Moreover, wasn’t it said that Nalan Caihuan had once been fond of Mi Yu, but still failed to get close and become a pair of immortal partners from the Great Wall of Swords?

Thinking this way, the woman felt that she had won against Nalan Caihuan.

Looking at Mi Yu again, his expression was desolate and somewhat lonely as he turned his head to look at the beautiful snow scene outside the door, speechless and lost in thought.

It was completely different from his previous obsequious behavior of bringing wine to the young Hidden Officer, pretending to be carefree.

She inexplicably felt a pang of sadness. Now that he was an Upper Fifth Tier sword immortal, Mi Yu was still technically in his hometown, but he had to endure such humiliation.

Chen Pingan had been resting his chin on his hand, observing all the subtle clues of human emotions. After noticing Mi Yu’s subtle changes, he couldn’t help but admire him. Ordinary lovestruck people only move others with their infatuation. Mi Yu, with his astonishing talent and faithlessness, could probably reach the Ascension Realm if he cultivated only matters of the heart. He and Jiang Shangzhen could probably spar and compare their Dao techniques.
Chen Ping’an planned to find an opportunity to vent some anger for these infatuated women, to beat up Mi Yu, in a way where the Sword Immortal couldn’t retaliate.

Xie Songhua was troubled. She didn’t want to miss the “Nanji” ferry of Jiang Gaotai, nor the “Taigeng” ferry of Dai Hao. This female Sword Immortal’s gaze wandered incessantly, the ripples caused by the sword intent within the bamboo box on her back never ceasing for a moment. The affairs of the Spring Banner House were over, but these personal grudges she now possessed were not! These fellows from Aiai Continent, the first to speak up and stand out, yet in the end, the most eager to die were also from Aiai Continent. This was a double slap in her face. Look at Wei Jin and Yuan Qingshu, and the cultivators from Bao Ping Continent and Nan Po Suo Continent opposite them. Weren’t they all giving the two men face?

Why, just because I’m a woman, does that mean I’m not a Sword Immortal?!

Dai Hao was terrified, and had no choice but to proactively inquire in his mind, cautiously asking the young man who was slowly drinking wine, “Hidden Official, what about Sword Immortal Xie’s side?”

Dai Hao didn’t dare raise his head to look towards the main seat. Courtesies be damned, he really had no choice, he couldn’t care about that for the moment. Otherwise, if he just raised his head, how could he hide the slightest hint from a terrifying Sword Immortal like Xie Songhua, who could kill even jade purity realm demon sword cultivators as easily as slaughtering chickens?

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Remember what Sword Immortal Xie said to you and your fellow countrymen after she first arrived tonight? Recall it carefully.”

Among all the ferries of Aiai Continent, whichever was the most in need of money, Xie Songhua would personally escort it. If the escort went badly, she could be blamed.

Dai Hao breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank you for the Hidden Official’s guidance.”

Wei Jin intentionally or unintentionally did not travel with Li Cai and the others, but was the last one to choose to leave alone.

Chen Ping’an stood up, “I’ll see off Sword Immortal Wei first. Mi Yu, you’re responsible for answering the guests’ questions. Whether you reach an agreement or not, record it all first. I still say the same thing from the bottom of my heart, once you’re seated, everyone is a businessman. Follow local customs, earn more or less, each according to their own abilities. I’m no exception. Tonight, within this Spring Banner House hall, the rules for making money will be even greater than the Hidden Official title.”

Chen Ping’an looked towards Liu Shen, the owner of the “Rainbow Skirt” ferry, and then Liu Yu, the owner of the “Floating Bell” ferry from Flowing Glow Continent, and after naming them, laughed, “I’ll trouble the two ferry owners to help record the contents of the discussions between both sides.”

Chen Ping’an escorted this Wind and Snow Temple Sword Immortal all the way to the entrance of the Spring Banner House.

Wei Jin said, “I don’t like to meddle in other people’s business, but I have some doubts, can I ask?”

“There’s nothing you can’t ask, and nothing I can’t say.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “I’m very happy to have encountered a Sword Immortal from my hometown of Bao Ping Continent in the Great Wall of Swords, and one who is in no way inferior to the other senior Sword Immortals.”

Chen Ping’an said, “That’s the truth, guaranteed, believe it or not.”

Wei Jin laughed, “If you hadn’t said that unnecessary sentence, I would have really believed it.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Just ask.”

Wei Jin then asked, “Xie Zhi and all the other foreign Sword Immortals don’t want to gain anything extra because of tonight’s affair. Why did you insist on doing business before even arriving at the Spring Banner House? Isn’t that… superfluous? Never mind, it shouldn’t be. You’re good at accounting, so I’ll change my question. You only said that you wouldn’t let any Sword Immortal make a trip to Upside Down Mountain for nothing, or act as a villain in the Spring Banner House for nothing, but you didn’t say what the specific reward would be, yet you dared to say that you definitely wouldn’t disappoint the Sword Immortals. What exactly is this so-called reward of yours?”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, “From the heart, I want to ensure that good people are rewarded. In terms of affairs, I just don’t want to owe the Great Wall of Swords any more favors. It’s better to be clear-cut, to do a business that is fair and square with these foreign Sword Immortals. As for the reward you asked about, it will vary from person to person, and I won’t say more to you specifically, as it involves the privacy of the various Sword Immortals.”

In addition, Chen Ping’an didn’t beat around the bush, “However, there’s one bottom line that I can state directly, and that is that in the future, every foreign Sword Immortal who still has the chance to return to their hometown can take at least one lower five realm Sword Immortal seed from the Great Wall of Swords. Those who don’t want to take anyone away will receive another reward at that time. Those who are willing to take one or two more, as long as the Great Wall of Swords has such good lower five realm seedlings, they can take them away.”

Wei Jin shook his head with a wry smile.

What kind of brain is that.

Foreign Sword Immortals, intercontinental ferries, Sword Immortal seeds of the Great Wall of Swords that have yet to mature, the past, the present, the future, all have been calculated into the mix.

And what kind of scene would it be if these young, juvenile innate Sword Seeds, who truly have the opportunity to “blossom inside the wall and spread fragrance outside,” could flourish in the various continents of the Vast World?

And those foreign Sword Immortals who serve as teachers, regardless of their individual temperaments, are all Sword Immortals who dare to come to the Great Wall of Swords and dare to die on the city walls. How could they not wholeheartedly teach and favor these direct disciples?

Once these children grow up and eventually rise up in various continents, how could they not band together? And those returned Sword Immortals who have already left the Great Wall of Swords, how could they not band together with them?

To put it mildly, even if the Great Wall of Swords is gone in the future, wouldn’t the meeting place of these future Sword Immortals be considered a different kind of Great Wall of Swords?

Wei Jin smiled.

He was looking forward to that scene.

This was Wei Jin looking into the future, but if he looked back.

Thinking back to the past, the first time they met, in Wei Jin’s impression, the young man beside him was just a foolish, timid peasant boy.

And back then, that boy’s eyes were still very clear and bright.

Wei Jin stopped, sighed, and turned to look at Chen Ping’an, who was habitually rubbing his hands for warmth, “You’re a foreigner, do you really need to think so much and so far ahead for the Great Wall of Swords?”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “I have a wife here, you don’t. How can you compare to me?”

Wei Jin shook his head, wanting to drink again, not wanting to talk about this.

Regarding his future destination, Chen Ping’an had openly and honestly discussed it with him, and the old Great Sword Immortal was also present at the time.

Wei Jin didn’t plan to refuse.

He only hoped that he could be no less inferior than Xie Songhua of Aiai Continent, and first establish a military exploit worthy of “Immortal Platform” in the Great Wall of Swords before going to Floating Glow Continent to do that thing.

Wei Jin didn’t have much sentimentality towards the Wind and Snow Temple. He had long since seen through it after his master left, but since his master had passed “Immortal Platform” into his hands, he had to do something.
These old cultivators, like my master, value face above all else. As his disciple, Wei Jin must strive to earn him honor. Only then, when offering wine at his grave, will I have something worthwhile to accompany the libation, and the silence won’t be so deafening.

Chen Ping’an said, “Shall I share with you something I’ve never told another soul?”

Wei Jin replied, “As long as there’s no hidden scheme, I’m all ears.”

Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple, who cleaves the night with his sword, his blade arriving before his person.

That was the very essence of a Sword Immortal’s bearing.

Song Yushao of Combing Stream Nation, alone on horseback, facing an entire army. One man against a nation.

That was the true spirit of a martial artist.

Ding Ying, the demonic overlord of Lotus Root Blessed Land, who sought to exchange blows with the very Dao itself.

That was the ultimate ambition, to strive for victory against the Heavens.

These were the battles, in Chen Ping’an’s eyes, that left the most lingering flavor.

After listening to Chen Ping’an’s rough explanation, Wei Jin smiled. “It seems that the level of cultivation isn’t the most important factor.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Indeed, it is not.”

Wei Jin departed from Spring Banner Lodge.

Chen Ping’an turned around and headed back the way he came.

Halfway there, he crouched down by a courtyard well, scooped up some accumulated snow, and roughly wiped his face. Taking a deep breath, he packed the snow into a solid ball.

Shao Yunyan stood behind the young Hidden Official, chuckling softly. “Sword Immortals kill without drawing blood. Your Excellency’s actions tonight are similar in their effect.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, smiling. “Not quite so impressive. It’s like a family with a deep foundation, where the younger generation borrows their influence to accomplish something. Their own skill is there, but it’s not as great as it seems. If it were Yan Ming or Nalan Caihuan in my position, they could have done the same. What they lack compared to me isn’t the effort or the cunning, but simply this jade token.” He lifted the golden cord holding the jade token at his waist.

Shao Yunyan shook his head. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

Chen Ping’an laughed. “If everyone were like Master Shao, able to distinguish sincerity from politeness, to hear the meaning behind words, it would save so much trouble.”

Shao Yunyan said, “If there truly is a matter of compensation, there’s Sun Juyuan and Mi Yu. As for who fronts the money, whether it’s Yan Ming, then Nalan Caihuan, then Spring Banner Lodge, or some other order, it doesn’t make much difference. The only thing Your Excellency needs to consider is how much you’ll need to front. Is it a matter of emptying your coffers for good, or will the three parties each contribute half?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Let’s start with half. If, at that point, the financial situation doesn’t improve, or something unexpected happens that dooms the Yan and Nalan families to a loss, then Master Shao will have to sell Spring Banner Lodge off cheaply.”

Shao Yunyan smiled. “Agreed. I’m not afraid of the unexpected, only of acting without a plan.”

Chen Ping’an said, “If we want those ship owners to be unable to band together even after they leave Spring Banner Lodge, to prevent another youngster like the Water Grotto Ancestor from emerging to disrupt things and twist hearts into a single rope, we need to make them lose heart themselves. We need to shatter their trust in their former allies, to make them appear united but be divided in spirit. My previous veiled and half-true words are not yet set in stone. Many of those old foxes won’t shed a tear until they see the coffin. They won’t know the sweetness of a date until they taste the bitterness of a beating. So, I will do some dirty work next, and much of it may require Master Shao to take action on my behalf. During this time, if I need to call upon any Sword Immortal for assistance, just say the word.”

Shao Yunyan asked with a smile, “Your Excellency, putting aside hearts and minds, putting aside visions, does your style of doing things truly deserve the attention and high hopes of the Grand Sword Immortal?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, lifting his head to ask. “Master Shao, must you be so blunt?”

Shao Yunyan laughed. “Friends speak freely.”

Chen Ping’an scooped up more snow like water, gently clapping his hands together, scattering snowflakes, and slowly said, “Doing things, and wanting to do them well, is always harder than lecturing and being a good person.”

To outsiders, someone who is utterly unreasonable often has many reasons to support their “unreasonableness”. Someone who likes making money and succeeds in making it has often paid many prices they don’t recognize as sacrifices.

Ah? There are people like that?

Oh. So, that’s the kind of person they are.

Within sight, the world is dark, and you hit walls everywhere, with nothing but to resign to fate.

With clear sight, the world is bright, and you see many things that are not beautiful.

One is suffering.

The other is troubling.

Shao Yunyan said, “To deny all the kindness of the world based on one’s own suffering. To deny everyone else’s joys and sorrows based on a grand vision. Neither is good, indeed.”

Chen Ping’an stood up, smiling. “Insight into the human heart, true wisdom, Master Shao is indeed a high-level person.”

Shao Yunyan laughed. “Not as much as Your Excellency.”

“Not at all, not at all.”

“You’re too kind, you’re too kind.”

Meeting like old friends, linking arms and speaking with joy.

“Brother Shao, is it true that not a single gourd vine, not a single sword-nurturing gourd, was left in Spring Banner Lodge? Just one look, just to broaden my horizons, Brother Shao doesn’t need to watch me like a thief.”

“Indeed, not a single sword-nurturing gourd was left behind. Little girl Lu Sui took them all to the Northern Reaches. If Your Excellency doesn’t believe me, feel free to search. If you find one, I’ll give you another one as a bonus.”

“Very well, please trouble Brother Shao to send me a map of Spring Banner Lodge’s layout. I may often come here as a guest in the future. The estate is too large, so I don’t want to get lost.”

“I don’t see any need for that, do I?”

“If Brother Shao continues to be so unforthcoming, we’ll truly become the laughingstock of the world, paper-thin brothers.”

“Not at all, not at all.”

The supervisor of the ferry to the Northern Reaches had no objections to the detailed pricing of all materials in that booklet.

In fact, unlike the other supervisors and ship owners, who scrutinized every word, the old cultivators of the Northern Reaches skipped through the pages, either drinking wine or sipping tea, relaxed and casual.

Originally not very profitable, now with the opportunity to earn more, what else could they ask for?

There were minor objections from the ferry to the Southern Seas.

The two ship owners from the Fu and Ding families of Old Dragon City on Treasure Continent also raised minor objections.

None of the ship owners from Central Earth Divine Continent, Snowy Continent, and Soaring Continent had spoken yet.

Flowing Rosy Continent and Golden Armor Continent were neighboring continents with generally good relations, and much of the materials and minerals transported to Upside-down Mountain were exchanged between them. So, they were already communicating via Heart Speech.

They planned to see what Wu Qiu, Tang Fei Qian, Jiang Gao Tai, and Bai Xi had to say before speaking up.
That thick tome was compiled through the joint effort of all Sword Cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage, under the general direction of Chen Ping’an. Lin Junbi and other foreign Sword Cultivators contributed greatly. Many old records of the Hidden Official lineage could not keep up with the changes in the current world, but Mi Yu had meticulously copied and summarized them. Though he couldn’t claim to know everything by heart, it was more than enough for him to discuss matters with those carefully-worded shipowners in the main hall.

Liu Yu and Liu Shen received an extra minor task, helping to record the contents of the discussions between the two sides. Before Shao Yunyan left the main hall to find Chen Ping’an, he had already prepared desks, ink, and brushes for the two shipowners.

There were only two ways to make money in the world: increase income and reduce expenditure.

The young man had said that the products of the eight continents each had their own strengths. Therefore, how to develop sources of wealth and reduce the cost of intercontinental ferries was a great learning.

Among them, in the sections on local customs and ferries, there were small prefaces with words clarifying the purpose, hoping that the eight continents’ ferries and their respective sects and factions behind them could make suggestions.

Therefore, the discussion tonight was not simply a matter of intercontinental ferries and the Sword Qi Great Wall haggling over prices.

It was far more complex and far-reaching, involving all intercontinental ferries and existing trade channels, requiring renegotiation of goods, prices, and returns.

In the words of the young man, they could all have a good talk, openly or privately.

Nalan Caihuan had been observing with a cold eye, but the more she pondered, the more she felt that there were many subtleties, which, once connected, revealed clear and above-board calculations.

If threatening the shipowners’ self-interests was a kind of barbarous strike on the business field by the Sword Qi Great Wall, a “release,” then the young Hidden Official’s many hints, reminding the merchants to consider their own cultivation paths and personal gains, which the Sword Qi Great Wall not only did not reject, but was happy to see and even help with, was the Sword Qi Great Wall’s strike that returned to its sheath, a “collect.”

It guaranteed that all ferries would make no less profit in future business, at most adding icing to the cake.

But if all shipowners could take the money into their own pockets, turning the “family’s” general business into a real “own” business, it would be like sending charcoal in the snow.

Between this collect and release, people’s hearts would no longer be the same as before.

However, whether all of this planning would come to fruition depended on whether it could withstand the test of time and the impact of future storms and accidents.

Approaching the main hall of the Chunfan House, Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “Are there any exceptionally talented accounting talents?”

Shao Yunyan lamented, “I used to have a direct disciple who was a master in this field. He managed all the business of Chunfan House without any mistakes, possessing the ability to ‘create something out of nothing.'”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Is there any chance to call him back to work for Chunfan House?”

Shao Yunyan asked with a smile, “Do you trust my judgment of people?”

Chen Ping’an said, “People’s hearts are difficult to predict, not in how they were in the past or are now, but in how they will be in the future. So I dare not trust completely, but I have great faith in the Sword Qi Great Wall’s ability to correct mistakes.”

Shao Yunyan nodded and said, “Then I’ll try to recall him. He has an excellent talent in arithmetic. He has a natural intuition for tedious and boring numbers, and enjoys it. I originally gave him a secret letter to join a large merchant sect in Ai’ai Continent. If he can first gain experience in the new Chunfan House, I estimate that my secret letter will not be needed as a stepping stone.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Tie him back to the Upside-Down Mountain even if you have to.”

Entering the main hall, a long and drawn-out haggling began.

Nalan Caihuan was greatly surprised again.

Because the young Hidden Official seemed to be deliberately forcing everyone to grind over the details and prices, as if he didn’t care about rewriting a book at all.

Even the North Ju Luzhou ferry manager, who had decided not to speak, was smilingly pulled to the business table by Chen Ping’an, who meticulously inquired whether North Ju Luzhou had anything similar or replaceable to the materials in the book.

After a while, the old cultivators became annoyed. Since the Hidden Official was clearly going to talk business, they would not be polite. Once they opened their mouths, it was just a matter of a few words.

Even the North Ju Luzhou shipowner, who was on the same side as the Sword Qi Great Wall, was like this, and the South Posuo Continent was even more impolite. Even the two ferries of the Baoping Continent, who had the smallest voices, dared to say more.

Some of the new prices that were agreed upon were directly erased from the old text pricing by Mi Yu, who rewrote them on the side.

Wu Qiu and Tang Feiqian were slightly relieved and then spoke.

Some raised the prices, and some accidentally lowered the prices. In short, there was give and take between the two sides.

Yan Ming stopped being silent, and even Nalan Caihuan didn’t continue to be a mute.

More and more ship managers did not hide their mental calculations in their seats.

Previously, more than a dozen Sword Immortals were seated, killing each other, and the young Hidden Official in the main seat had the final say.

Now, in this old business of accounting, with the abacus beads rolling up and down, who wins and who loses is hard to say.

On the Ai’ai Continent shipowner’s side, the Jade Purity Realm Jiang Gaotai spoke more often, and gradually became the leader of the Ai’ai Continent ferries.

The other shipowners had some admiration for Jiang Gaotai, who had walked through the gates of hell before, but unexpectedly was still so fearless now.

Jiang Gaotai looked calm, showing the demeanor of an Upper Five Realms Immortal, but in his heart, he was cursing. He was being forced by the Hidden Official to cut prices fiercely. Did he really think he was so blind, carrying his head on his shoulders like a hero with a bowl-sized scar?

Chen Ping’an looked up at the door.

Unconsciously, it was dawn.

In the ledger, there was no one-shot deal. Often, many clauses were changed again and again, and both sides obviously had a long way to go.

The key was that as time went on, disputes began to appear between the continents and the ferries. At first, they would restrain themselves, but later they couldn’t care about face. Some even slammed the table and glared at each other. Anyway, the young Hidden Official didn’t care about these things. Instead, he smiled, played favorites, said a few provocative words, used reconciliation as an excuse to lower prices, took a sip of wine, and clearly started to be shameless again.

All the people present were cultivators and not tired. As for whether they were mentally exhausted, that was another matter.
However, everyone knew in their hearts that once tonight’s events became a final decision, then any minute profit that anyone present had managed to gain for their ferry company in the account books, even a slight deviation of one or two snowflakes in price, would become a huge benefit in the future.

Thinking like this, they felt both mentally weary and exhilarated.

At noon, the Hidden Official suggested that everyone could return to their previous courtyards and that the stewards of each continent could discuss matters behind closed doors again.

If anyone wanted to visit and discuss matters, Chunfanzhai would not obstruct them in any way.

The crowd in the hall immediately dispersed.

Jiang Gaotai got up a bit later than others, glancing imperceptibly at the young Hidden Official, who nodded with a smile.

Yan Ming and Nalan Caihuan were also going to discuss matters.

Chen Ping’an first found Gao Kui and said, “Thank you for your trouble. Sword Immortal Gao can return to the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Gao Kui said indifferently, “It was nothing more than getting up, glaring at a few women, and drinking a pot of Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven wine for free. What’s there to thank?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Pleasantries are still necessary.”

Mi Yu said with a chuckle, “Gao Kui, speak more politely to the Hidden Official.”

Gao Kui, towards this Jade Purity Realm known in the Sword Qi Great Wall for being nothing but a pretty face, would not even give a second look, or say a word to Mi Yu, who always thought about how to get into women’s dresses.

After last night, his impression of Mi Yu hadn’t changed much, but he was willing to say a few words, although not kind ones. “Mi Yu, don’t just waste your days like this. If your brother Mi Hu hadn’t been held back by you, he would have become an Immortal Realm cultivator long ago. You should know that in the beginning, Yue Qing’s aptitude was publicly acknowledged as inferior to Mi Hu’s.”

After Gao Kui finished speaking, he strode away.

Mi Yu said helplessly, “Gao Kui deserves to be a lifelong bachelor. I love women with all my heart, and women love me sincerely. Exchanging true feelings for real intentions, what’s wrong with that?”

Chen Ping’an said, “With your bird-like appearance, you should be thanking Great Sword Immortal Mi Hu for saving you from being hacked to death by the bachelor sword immortals.”

Mi Yu turned his head to look at the Aiai Continent female sword immortal who was still sitting there, looking bored. He had just called out “Sword Immortal Xie” when Xie Songhua smiled and said, “Please die further away.”

Mi Yu sighed and walked out of the hall, crossing the threshold to go build a snowman, going to a secluded corner to build a snowman that resembled a beautiful maiden, though not quite in spirit.

Great Sword Immortal Mi chose a flower garden in Chunfanzhai, where the flowers and plants were still resplendent even in the midst of the heavy winter snow.

That woman Nalan Caihuan would definitely not come to this place, as pretty as she was, she was too focused on making money. But that maiden from Middle Earth Continent would most likely come here, and she would definitely like this immortal peony that still bloomed under the snow. Coming to the flower garden, seeing this flower, she would then see the snowman secretly standing under the flower leaves, and at that time, she would know his devoted heart.

When an out-of-town sword immortal left the Sword Qi Great Wall, the local sword immortals often treated them to a farewell drink.

Just like when Huang Tong of the Taiwei Sword Sect was about to return home, the old sword immortal Dong Sangeng personally saw him off.

Naturally, someone needed to see Xie Songhua off as well.

In fact, Chen Ping’an was only going to see her off to the entrance of Chunfanzhai.

Xie Songhua was a little unhappy.

She felt that she shouldn’t leave Upside-Down Mountain just like that.

Chen Ping’an then said that she could wait at the Jiao Dragon Trench, and if she was really bored, she could also take a stroll around the Rain Dragon Sect to relax.

Xie Songhua immediately became interested and asked, “So, you’ve chosen that Jiang Gaotai? What about that Dai Hao? How about we take care of them both? The favor I owe you, you’re such an accountant, you should make the most of it. They’re all heading north anyway, and sword cultivators flying on their swords are extremely fast.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Wait for my message then.”

Xie Songhua complained, “So indecisive. If I didn’t owe you such a real favor, I wouldn’t bother talking to you. Don’t come looking for me to reminisce in Aiai Continent in the future, there won’t be any wine to drink.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “The two little girls at the Guanque Inn, I’ll leave them to Sword Immortal Xie to protect from now on.”

When Xie Songhua thought of this matter, she felt much better. “They’re both good seedlings, I’ll nurture them well. It might be a little difficult to become a sword immortal like their master, but Earth Immortal sword cultivators are within reach. Chen Ping’an, I should thank you for this matter, but it doesn’t count as owing you a favor. Saying thank you is enough.”

Chen Ping’an gave her a series of detailed instructions, such as how the two little girls were both from the Sword Qi Great Wall’s city streets, how they were too young, and had never seen the world outside. Teaching them the sword and passing on knowledge was very important, but how to allow them to live freely in the Vast World, while not forgetting their roots, would all require Sword Immortal Xie to put in extra effort. Especially before they could protect themselves, they should never mention that they came from the Sword Qi Great Wall, and they should never act rashly when outsiders mentioned gossip about the Sword Qi Great Wall during their cultivation journey. No matter how harsh the words were, they should endure it, taking it as cultivating their hearts outside of learning the sword…

Xie Songhua listened with a headache and just said she understood, she understood.

The two of them approached the entrance of Chunfanzhai.

Chen Ping’an finally stopped his nagging and asked a strange question, “Sword Immortal Xie, do you personally brew wine?”

Xie Songhua was a little puzzled. “Of course not.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “I have a friend who once said that his greatest wish in this life was, ‘What is there to do in the mountains? Pine flowers brewing wine, spring water boiling tea.'”

Xie Songhua asked directly, “Chen Ping’an, have you been spending too much time with that Mi Yu? Like those who stay near vermilion get stained red; are you trying to flirt with me?”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

Chen Ping’an felt that he had never been good at dealing with women, far inferior to Sword Immortal Mi Yu, and even more inferior to Jiang Shangzhen, who had gone from enemy to friend. To be honest, he wasn’t even as good as his good friend Qi Jinglong.

Xie Songhua laughed heartily and said, “Sure enough, you’re still a virgin. No matter how clever your mind is usually, you still can’t take a joke.”

Chen Ping’an breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Songhua clasped her fists and said, “Hidden Official, stop here. Don’t see me off, I don’t have the habit of strolling with men.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and clasped his fists in return. “I can’t imagine what kind of man can win the heart of Sword Immortal Xie. If we meet again in the future, I hope Sword Immortal Xie can let me meet him.”

Xie Songhua said coldly, “A playboy? Playing the hell out of him. If he dares to play around after finding me, I’ll chop him to death.”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Sword Immortal Xie, this playboy is not that playboy.”

Xie Songhua laughed loudly, “Still young. Do you really think I don’t even know this little bit of knowledge? Being able to embarrass the Hidden Official twice makes me feel great. I’m leaving, I’m leaving, I’ll quit while I’m ahead!”
Xie Songhua, with brisk steps, strode away from the Spring Pennant Shop, walking dozens of paces before raising a hand and waving, speaking without turning back.

Her words were distinctly Xie Songhua’s.

“Your backside ain’t much, your waist ain’t slim either, what’s there to gawk at? Go stare at Nalan Caihuan a bit more, that Liu Shen isn’t bad either, practically crushing the tabletop.”

Chen Ping’an wore a wry smile as he turned and entered the residence.

He tapped his fingers as he walked slowly.

His eldest martial brother, Zuo You, was heading to the southeastern Tongye Continent, first to find the Old Celestial Sovereign of Mount Taiping, and the Mountain Master, Song Mao.

Wei Jin was going to the Southern Suopo Continent.

Shao Yunyan and a yet-to-be-determined great Sword Immortal would go to the Fufeng Continent.

Shao Yunyan’s journey to the southwestern Fufeng Continent was a matter of priority, after all, Shao Yunyan was limited by his current cultivation. A Jade Pure Realm sword cultivator alone couldn’t shoulder that burden. So Chen Ping’an had been agonizing over the choice of the third Sword Immortal, who had to be a local Sword Immortal, and had to be at least an Immortal Realm cultivator.

Chen Ping’an had considered Lu Zhi, and also Chen Xi or Qi Tingji, who would naturally depart later than his eldest brother Zuo You and Fengxuemiao’s Wei Jin.

But moving one piece affected the whole board, and this choice would involve many hidden connections, which was extremely troublesome. One wrong move, and it would be a disaster, so he had to observe and wait.

In fact, on the city wall back then, Chen Ping’an truly didn’t trust the old deaf man, who was a great demon but rigidly adhered to the rules; he trusted the peak Great Sword Immortal Lu Zhi even less.

This wasn’t to say that Lu Zhi was an inside agent of the Wildlands, not at all, but that Lu Zhi would absolutely not be willing to die on the city wall, belonging to the type who would “see that the overall situation is set, and then she would sheath her sword and leave.”

Chen Qingdu didn’t mind Lu Zhi making this choice, and Chen Ping’an wouldn’t have any contempt or neglect for Lu Zhi because of it.

And Chen Qingdu’s choice to have Lu Zhi protect the Hidden Official lineage was actually a kind of hint.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t figure it out, it didn’t matter, it wouldn’t change the outcome. If he understood it, then as the new Hidden Official of the Great Wall of Sword Qi, he would do what a Hidden Official should do.

For example, making Lu Zhi leave the Great Wall of Sword Qi with a clearer conscience.

As long as she didn’t betray the Great Wall of Sword Qi during the war, turning her sword against her own people, cutting off heads to claim credit in the Wildlands.

This was the only bottom line of the old Great Sword Immortal, Chen Qingdu.

In the ten thousand years of history of the Great Wall of Sword Qi, not counting those who were willing to die, how many Sword Immortals who didn’t want to die were there, who, in reason and emotion, could have actually lived, but all died.

The root cause of everything was that Chen Qingdu wanted them to die.

Putting oneself in his shoes, becoming that old Great Sword Immortal, what would one think?

Not for three or five years, not for a hundred or a thousand years, but for a full ten thousand years.

Was the original intention important?

Chen Ping’an only felt that if it were him, his Daoist heart would have collapsed beyond repair, the fragments of his state of mind, he wouldn’t even be able to pick up. Either he would go mad, using it as an escape, or he would completely move towards another extreme.

These things couldn’t be avoided, but thinking too much was useless.

Chen Ping’an went to think about the words of his eldest brother, Zuo You, at the time of their parting. Originally, Chen Ping’an thought that Zuo You wouldn’t give him any pleasant expression.

But surprisingly, before his eldest brother, Zuo You, left, he even had a smile, and his words were extremely peaceful, even joking, saying to his little martial brother with a smile, “Before learning to write, you learned the sword, after using the sword, you study again, your eldest brother is so useless, as the little brother, don’t learn this from your eldest brother.”

Sword Immortal Shao Yunyan was already standing in the study.

After sitting down at the desk, he wrote a sentence of心得, lightly putting down the brush, Shao Yunyan was very satisfied.

“Fulfilling the small makes the big, being careful of the subtle leads to the obvious, with daily and monthly progress, learning has a light of brightness.”

Chen Ping’an walked all the way back to the main hall, sitting in the main seat, just temporarily having nothing to do, he reached out and pressed on the surface of the Four Immortal Table, the originally tightly connected mortise and tenon joints loosened, shaking slightly.

When Chen Ping’an raised his hand, the table quickly returned to stillness.

Chen Ping’an stood up, took a few steps and turned around, squatting on the ground, looking at the table.

Looking at it standing stolid for ten thousand years.