The Yang family shop, Li Er, Zheng Dafeng, Su’s Inn, Stone Spirit Mountain… these disciples had all gradually embarked on their journeys. Old Man Yang was happy to have some peace and quiet, guarding the shop out front. Yang Shu, however, was like talking to a brick wall, so Old Man Yang didn’t bother wasting his breath. Of course, Yang Shu didn’t want anything to do with the grumpy old coot either. Like an old tortoise in its shell, acting like he was somebody important. If it weren’t for the Yang family’s old-fashioned loyalty, how much money could this desolate shop make in a year? If he, Yang Shu, were in charge, he would have crunched the numbers a long time ago.

Wei Bo and Ruan Qiong arrived almost simultaneously.

One, the Mountain Lord of the Northern Peak; the other, a Sage enshrined in the world. Both arrived quietly.

Ruan Qiong was rather casual, sitting on the long bench under the eaves, drinking wine. Xiu Xiu had brought back some good wine during her last visit home, which he usually wasn’t willing to drink.

Wei Bo stood beside the bench, his expression solemn.

Many Sages had sat on this very bench.

Old Man Yang sat on the steps outside the main room, a sea of white mist surrounding him.

Ruan Qiong put away his wine gourd and cut straight to the chase: “If Xiu Xiu hadn’t gone to the academy, I wouldn’t be here.”

Old Man Yang chuckled, “I can’t control her. Ruan Qiong, you only have yourself to blame.”

Ruan Qiong nodded. Having this answer was enough, as long as Old Man Yang wasn’t behind it.

Wei Bo felt even heavier-hearted. Without Ruan Qiong as a natural ally, the pressure on him, a mere Mountain Lord, was immense.

To be honest, dealing with this old senior was never easy for anyone.

Old Man Yang tapped his dry tobacco pipe on the steps and said, “The City Lord of White Emperor City is in the Dali capital, watching this place closely. He might pay a visit here in the blink of an eye.”

Ruan Qiong frowned.

Wei Bo asked, “What about the Grand Tutor?”

Old Man Yang smiled, “Even if you guess what that embroidered tiger is thinking, do you think things will be easier for you as Mountain Lord? I doubt it. So why think so much?”

When the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven shattered, opportunities scattered in all directions, following individuals.

It was like a porcelain vase falling from a table and smashing on the ground, the shards scattering everywhere.

The five greatest fortunes were: the fire dragon bracelet on the wrist of Ruan Xiu, the only daughter of the Sage Ruan Qiong;

The little mud loach that Gu Can had gotten from Chen Ping An, raised in his water tank. Liu Zhimao took it away from the town. The mud loach ate heartily in Shujian Lake, transformed into a human form, and was named Tan Xue;

The four-legged snake with horns on its head, beside Song Jixin and his maid, Zhi Gui;

The Dali prince Gao Xuan, who bought the golden carp from Li Er, with a high-quality Dragon King basket thrown in as a bonus;

And Zhao Yao, Qi Jingchun’s book boy, who had left town early in an ox cart. Besides the wooden dragon, the boy had also secretly taken a *chun* character seal from his master, a farewell gift.

On the surface, only Zhao Yao was not at home.

However, Cui Chan’s plan would not have such omissions.

The mountain alliance signed between the Gao family of the Sui Dynasty and the Song family of the Dali Dynasty was a chess game. Gao Xuan, as a hostage, had been studying at the Linlu Academy in Piyun Mountain for many years, protected by the Gao family’s old ancestor. The golden carp had been raised in the mountain streams all these years, and the Dali court had clearly instructed Longxuhe, Tiefujiang, and the three mountain gods including Song Yuzhang not to reveal this matter to the outside world.

Shujian Lake was another game. Gu Can was in the game, Ruan Xiu followed the Dali secret agent to hunt down a young man with great martial luck who had been taken away from Dali. Ruan Xiu almost entered the game as well. After the Shujian Lake incident, Gu Can’s mother was frightened and chose to move back to her hometown, finally settling down in the state city and living a life of luxury again. There were three reasons: Chen Ping An’s suggestion, Gu Can’s agreement, and the woman herself was still scared and tired of the customs of Shujian Lake. Second, Gu Can’s father became a god after his death, first accumulating merit in the mansion of the vengeful female ghost, and later promoted to a prominent mountain god of the old mountains and rivers of Dali, and once he returned to his hometown, he would be much more stable. Third, Gu Can hoped that his mother would stay away from trouble. From the bottom of his heart, Gu Can didn’t trust his master Liu Zhimao, the chief worshipper of the True Realm Sect.

As for Song Jixin, from beginning to end, when did he ever leave the chessboard, and when wasn’t he a pawn?

And how could Zhao Yao be an exception, truly escape Cui Chan’s calculations?

Ruan Qiong left.

Wei Bo was still unwilling to return to Piyun Mountain just like that.

This gathering was too abrupt and strange. Now that the young Mountain Master was traveling far away to the Sword Qi Great Wall, and Zheng Dafeng was not at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Wei Bo feared that Zheng Dafeng would change his mind and not go to the Lotus Root Blessed Land. It was all deliberately arranged by this old senior. Now, the backbone of Fallen Phoenix Mountain was actually only Zhu Lian. He, Wei Bo, was ultimately just a guest in the Ancestral Hall of Jise Peak, without a seat.

Old Man Yang smiled, “Mountain Lord Wei, why go to such lengths to repay that early favor?”

Wei Bo smiled wryly, “Please, Senior, tell me honestly, if this matter is not aimed at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, then I will never bother you again.”

Old Man Yang thought for a moment, “There is some involvement, but it is not directly aimed at Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Cui Chan has no need to do that. Besides, if you don’t trust Cui Chan, you should trust Cui Dongshan.”

Wei Bo looked helpless. He really didn’t trust that white-clothed youth with his strange words and actions.

Old Man Yang finally said, “Then you should trust the three portraits hanging in the Ancestral Hall of Jise Peak.”

Wei Bo seemed to have suddenly taken a reassuring pill, and his mind became clear. He bowed in thanks.

Old Man Yang said, “Living in the mountains and waters, among white clouds, seems like a carefree immortal, but in reality, the clouds and waters are all illusions. Mountain Lord Wei must be vigilant.”

Wei Bo cupped his fist again and smiled, “The beauty of the world is both an illusion and a feast for the eyes. Why not take advantage and then complain?”

Old Man Yang smiled, “Mountain Lord Wei has a good temperament, so easygoing.”

Wei Bo felt a little more at ease and took his leave.

Old Man Yang muttered to himself, “A good ‘lend and return makes borrowing again easier.'”

Everything, Cui Chan’s plan, was to help Zhi Gui obtain a complete true dragon fortune in a “righteous” way, without overstepping the bounds. He had to ensure that the Sages of the three religions and other factions couldn’t find fault with it.

Song Jixin had deep feelings for this maid who depended on him for life. Song Jixin would definitely be willing to give up the opportunity of a four-legged snake, and might even think he was giving too little.

Ruan Xiu wouldn’t care about the loss of a fire dragon at all. If she could do something for the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, Ruan Xiu would not hesitate.
After Gu Can rapidly matured in Shujian Lake, he understood the true power of rules and regulations, naturally learning the art of trade. Furthermore, the life and death of his parents in the future remained Gu Can’s biggest weakness.

Prince Gao Xuan, having studied at the Grand Li’s Linlu Academy for many years, would, even with a bleeding heart, relinquish a golden carp for the sake of the Gao clan’s dominion, seeing it as his duty.

As for Zhao Yao, having failed to protect even the “Spring” character seal back then, how could he possibly safeguard the wooden dragon now? It was a difficult task.

Among the younger generation in the small town, the only one who had truly distanced himself from the chessboard was, in fact, Chen Ping’an, and it wasn’t simply because he was far away at the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

However, Cui Chan was equally capable of pulling Chen Ping’an back into the game, provided Chen Ping’an had the chance to return to his hometown.

But who knows, when that time comes, will Chen Ping’an be a chess piece, or a player?

Or, perhaps, will he simply replace Cui Chan himself?

In front of the apothecary, Yang Shu saw an old Confucian scholar step over the threshold. Yang Shu asked with a smile, “Venerable sir, are you here for treatment, or to purchase some herbs? Have you brought a prescription with you?”

With such a way of speaking, how could the Yang family’s shop possibly have good business?

The old man didn’t seem to mind, and laughed, “One who is ill can often heal themselves, I’m just looking around.”

Yang Shu became a bit displeased, casually saying, “Herbs are precious to begin with, and gathering them from the mountains is becoming increasingly difficult these days. Guest, please look but don’t touch, and don’t mess things up.”

The old Confucian nodded.

The old Confucian looked around, then started towards the backyard.

Yang Shu became anxious, thinking, ‘This old fellow really doesn’t stand on ceremony.’

Before he knew it, the old Confucian lifted the curtain and had already entered the backyard. Yang Shu hesitated for a moment, muttering to himself, ‘It would be good if he started fighting with that old man Yang. Two old geezers, one who doesn’t know how to earn money, and one who doesn’t want to spend it. They’ll be lucky if they don’t break a bone and have to stay in bed for a hundred days.’

Old Man Yang said with a smile, “A rare guest.”

Cui Chan stood near the long bench, not sitting down, and smiled, “Since I’m intruding, the least I can do is avoid coming here to be an eyesore.”

Old Man Yang said, “So you’re certain that Chen Ping’an can’t return to the Treasure Bottle Continent for the time being, and can’t breathe life into that woman’s dragon drawing, so the Grand Li has to settle for second best, and play their backup plan?”

Cui Chan nodded, saying, “This is a minor matter.”

The contract that Wang Zhu signed with Chen Ping’an back then was very unstable. If Chen Ping’an’s luck ran out and he died prematurely, Wang Zhu, although freed from her restraints, could transfer and re-sign the contract with Song Jixin, but in the interim, she would lose a great deal of fortune. Therefore, in those years, before Wang Zhu’s intelligence had fully awakened, she was contradictory in her attitude towards Chen Ping’an’s life and death. For the sake of the bigger picture, she hoped that Chen Ping’an would grow strong, the master and servant benefiting together. However, in the Mud Bottle Lane, as neighbors, living in close proximity, her Jiaolong nature led her to also wish for Chen Ping’an’s early demise, so that she could make a decision early on, and focus on seizing the Grand Li’s Dragon Vein and the Song clan’s national fortune.

She spent many years in this awkward state, not daring to act rashly, and break the rules by killing Chen Ping’an, fearing the suppression of the sage, but also unwilling to waste time with a poor wretch whose natal porcelain was already shattered. Furthermore, she didn’t want to beg for heaven’s pity. The relationship between Song Jixin and Chen Ping’an, two people of the same age, became a tangled mess, intertwined and unclear. From the moment Chen Ping’an’s Long Life Bridge was broken, Wang Zhu had already conceived murderous intentions. Therefore, the deal between Song Jixin and Fu Nanhua was fraught with hidden dangers.

However, the events that followed, with the momentum of the great tides, caused Wang Zhu to immediately restrain herself a great deal, no longer daring to act rashly.

To make a true dragon compassionate and sympathetic to others is like forcing the Grand Li Emperor to become a paragon of virtue.

However, both Ruan Qiong and Wei Bo, who visited this place earlier, did not see or think so far ahead.

The great tide has arrived, an opportunity lost will never return. Cui Chan must allow Wang Zhu to condense true dragon fortune in advance, and restore her to her peak as much as possible.

However, Cui Chan’s arrangement for everyone to gather at the small town school was by no means limited to this.

Old Man Yang laughed, “As a guest, one should be mindful of etiquette. As a host, one should be generous to guests. Such neighbors are indeed always welcome.”

Cui Chan said, “According to the agreement, as long as I am alive, I will not allow the conflict between water and fire to repeat itself in the Vast Sky World.”

Old Man Yang asked, “What if you die? Does Cui Dongshan count as you? Will our agreement still stand?”

Cui Chan laughed, “The senior will have to ask him.”

Old Man Yang tutted, “When scholars wholeheartedly engage in trade, they become more cunning than anyone else.”

Cui Chan said, “I hope the senior will also honor the agreement.”

Old Man Yang nodded, “Of course, fair trade has always been the foundation of my existence.”

Ruan Xiu was born in the Wind and Snow Temple, but followed her father to practice in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven.

Li Liu was born in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, but followed her parents to the Lion Peak of the Northern Ju Lu Continent.

The two sides occasionally met, but would never be neighbors for long.

Around Ruan Xiu.

There was Li Baoping, who clicked with her at first sight, and Pei Qian, the first disciple of Fallen Mountain. Liu Xianyang, the direct disciple of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, and Gu Can of Mud Bottle Lane, who had few friends left in the world. Yu Lu, the crown prince of the Lu Dynasty, whose five elements were fire, and who carried the martial fortune of a fallen kingdom, and Xie Xie, who carried a great deal of fortune from the mountain.

Beside Li Liu.

There was her younger brother, Li Huai. The true dragon, Zhi Gui, was naturally born with an affinity for the Great Dao of Water, so Song Jixin’s choice of camp was very obvious. Ma Kuxuan, one because he himself was willing to follow Zhi Gui, and secondly, his grandmother had been promoted from River Wife of the Dragon’s Beard River to River God. Shelin Shouyi, and the knife-wielding Dong Shui Jing, both liked Li Liu.

Once major issues were involved, in the two camps, which were still in their nascent stages, everyone had their own concerns. If minor matters accumulated, who could remain uninvolved in the end?

Therefore, there needed to be someone between the two sides who was willing to reason and could command respect.

Chen Ping’an.

Cui Chan’s moves on the chessboard were not to treat those chess pieces as mere puppets in his hands. Cui Chan never believed that the lives and deaths of the world were in his hands, and that manipulating their fate was a great skill or a satisfying thing. Instead, he needed to quietly pave the way for those chess pieces, so that their Dao trajectory might be winding, but in the end, they would still be able to appear in the position of that crucial move at some point.

If he coveted the Great Dao of Longevity, Cui Chan would not have betrayed the lineage of the Literary Sage.

If he liked authority, the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy, and the Vice-Master of the Central Earth Literary Temple, were within reach, and what difficulty would there be in taking them into Cui Chan’s pocket?
Old Yang puffed out a cloud of smoke, enveloping the medicine shop, and asked, “How fares that matter?”

Cui Chan, rarely showing a hint of helplessness, replied, “I cannot trust others, and they are not worthy of this task. Thus, I had to separate my soul. I quietly observe Cui Dongshan; within a single day, he harbors at least two thoughts, and at most seventy thousand. Were Cui Dongshan to observe me, I would have no less than three thoughts, and at most eighty thousand. We each have our strengths and weaknesses.”

Old Yang inquired, “Have those fundamental connections been smoothed out?”

Cui Chan shook his head, “The disputes are considerable. The conversion of three levels of three different numeral systems has led to a fundamental divergence between us, almost a complete reversal of order. It is quite troublesome.”

Old Yang chuckled and asked, “Why have you intentionally avoided seeking my counsel?”

Cui Chan smiled faintly, “In terms of age and cultivation, you are a senior, and I am a junior. But when discussing matters of calculation, we are peers.”

Old Yang shook his head, “No need for such humility. You are the senior.”

Cui Chan cupped his fist in a bow and laughed, “I dare not accept such praise; I am overwhelmed by it.”

Polite words, a hallmark of the lineage of the Literary Sage, from master to disciple, to their own disciples, they all seem to be adept at it.

Old Yang chuckled silently, then sighed after a moment of contemplation, “Old Master Xiu had a good eye for disciples. The first disciple orchestrates, a constellation of brilliance. Zuo You’s swordsmanship is like a waxing moon hanging in the sky. Qi Jingchun’s knowledge is the highest, yet he has always kept his feet firmly on the ground, guarding the mortal realm.”

The True Realm Sect of Book-Scroll Lake is intertwined with the Jade Decree Sect of Tongye Continent.

The intercontinental ferries of the Hemp-Clad Sect of the Bone-Heap Beach conduct a brisk trade.

The Grand Master of the Mo family, the Ancestor of the Merchants, and many others still hidden behind the scenes have all been invited to the gambling table by Cui Chan. Now, even the White Emperor City Lord has graced Treasure Bottle Continent with his presence.

Cui Chan sat on a long bench, his hands gently resting on his knees, and said with a self-deprecating smile, “It’s just that their outcomes haven’t been very favorable.”

Old Yang laughed, “Cultivating immortality values a long life, while essays and scholarship are cursed by an ambitious fate.”

Cui Chan smiled faintly, “Your words are most comforting to my heart, Senior.”

Liu Chicheng, along with Old Longbo, went with Gu Can to the state capital.

Huihuang County is now a crossroads, with many roads, both large and small.

As the young students from the academy dispersed, going their separate ways home, the overwhelming pressure on Chai Bofu’s heart suddenly lessened, inexplicably.

Liu Chicheng, keenly aware of the change in Chai Bofu’s state of mind, patted the white-haired youth on the shoulder, “Old Longbo, who knew you possessed such wisdom? The Great Dao is within reach!”

Chai Bofu replied in a measured tone, “Thank you for your auspicious words, Senior.”

Shi Chunjia boarded the carriage, returning to the Great Li capital with her husband, Bian Wenmao. Li Baoping said she would find a horse to ride and would soon catch up with the carriage.

Li Huai and Lin Shouyi, on the other hand, would follow Mao Xiaodong back to the Great Sui Academy.

Cao Gengxin and Dong Shuijing arranged to drink at Huang Erniang’s tavern.

Prefect Yuan Zhengding, accompanied by Song Jixin and the maid Zhi Gui, found an excuse to visit the Wen Temple on Old Porcelain Mountain to pay their respects.

Ma Kuxuan took Shuxian to visit the Martial Temple in the Immortal’s Graveyard.

Liu Xianyang followed Ruan Xiu to the Dragon Spring Sword Sect mountain peak. Not yet a direct disciple, he naturally didn’t need to burn incense and pay respects to the ancestral hall; it was merely a casual stroll. However, Liu Xianyang said he wanted to visit Fallen Phoenix Mountain first. Ruan Xiu seemed to have been waiting for those words, but she suggested that they could go to Dragon Spring Sword Sect first and then to Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Liu Xianyang thought it made sense.

Then, soaring through the air, they saw Li Baoping walking towards the mountains on foot.

Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu, foreign youths from the Sword Qi Great Wall, secretly escorted by the swordsman Cui Wei, ascended Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

The head steward Zhu Lian had previously mentioned that he planned to have them help out at the New Year’s money shop in Riding Dragon Lane. Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu, after discussing it, felt they should come here first to ask Elder Zhu about some important details.

Cui Wei also had his own considerations, which required Zhu Lian’s approval.

Pei Qian, just returning to Fallen Phoenix Mountain from the Lotus Root Blessed Land with Xiao Mili, was quite happy to see Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu.

At least, seeing the sack of melon seeds that Chen Nuanshu had bought, she wouldn’t nag her and Xiao Mili. She had to entertain the two youths, who were now considered part of the family.

Xiao Mili was cunning. Earlier, Nuanshu had complained about buying too many melon seeds, and the price wasn’t reasonable. Xiao Mili didn’t complain, but pretended to be righteous and kept silent, constantly glancing at Pei Qian. What did that mean?

Yuan Lai had interacted with Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu before and had a good relationship with them. They ascended the mountain together.

As for the simple-minded Yuanbao, he was probably sparring with the foolish Cen Yuanji on the mountaintop.

Li Baoping came to Fallen Phoenix Mountain to borrow the horse that her Little Uncle had brought back from Book-Scroll Lake. It had been raised on Fallen Phoenix Mountain all these years.

Little Uncle was always so sentimental.

As soon as Pei Qian heard that Sister Baoping had arrived at the mountain gate, she immediately rushed over with Xiao Mili, rubbing her ears.

Across a hundred or so steps, Pei Qian leaped high into the air and landed gracefully in front of Li Baoping.

Zhou Mili, carrying a small golden carrying pole on his shoulder and holding a mountain-climbing staff, tried to imitate her. He suddenly stopped and squatted slightly, letting out a soft cry. He didn’t expect to use too much force, and as a result, he swayed in the air and crashed towards the mountain gate at the foot of the mountain.

Pei Qian reached out and grabbed him, pulling him back.

The little girl in black steadied herself, laughing heartily.

Seeing the quickly growing Pei Qian, Li Baoping pinched the girl’s cheeks, then bent down and patted Xiao Mili’s face, gently twisting it. The little girl’s sparse, light yellow eyebrows instantly became uneven, making her look very comical.

Led by Yuan Lai, Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu visited the Mountain God Shrine, a small temple with almost no incense offerings.

Cen Yuanji and Yuanbao, as Pei Qian had guessed, were practicing their martial arts in the plaza.

The three youths sat side by side on the railing in the distance.

Zhang Jiazhen glanced at the two graceful sisters who were ending their sparring session and then looked away.

Turning his head, he gazed at the layers upon layers of mountains and rivers outside Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Coincidentally, a large flock of birds flew by, like a suspended river of snow-white water, swaying and flowing slowly.

When Zhang Jiazhen was working as a shop assistant in the Sword Qi Great Wall, he had secretly asked Mister Chen a question.

Mister Chen’s knowledge is so vast. Was Mister Chen’s knowledge initially taught by the Literary Sage himself?
The storyteller, having finished his tales of mountains and rivers, carrying his stool and bamboo branch, walked shoulder to shoulder with the youth in the alleyway, shaking his head with a smile. “It wasn’t quite like that. Long ago, in my hometown, there was a village school. The teacher’s name was Qi. Teacher Qi said principles resided in books, but character was forged outside them. If you ever have the chance to visit my hometown, you can take a look at that school. If you truly wish to study, there’s a newer school as well, where the master’s scholarship is not to be underestimated.”

At that time, Zhang Jiazhen pondered over those words about principles and books.

Master Chen gently raised his hand, pointing into the distance, and smiled. “For a child who hasn’t read a single book, hearing those words is like… suddenly seeing a mountain of gold and silver appear before him. The road might be long, but it’s visible. Grab your firewood knife, shoulder your hoe, carry your basket, and go earn a fortune! All at once, it gives a person hope, as if finally there’s a chance, a day of worry-free living.”

In truth, the youth silently memorized many of Master Chen’s words, even those unrelated to principles.

In the Vast World, there were many impoverished families. What they called “living a good life” was merely being able to paste new door gods and Spring Festival couplets every year. What they called “a solid foundation” was having spare money to buy a lot of door gods and Spring Festival couplets, but there were only so many places to paste them on their houses, not because they didn’t have the money, but because they simply couldn’t afford it.

When the youth finally arrived at Master Chen’s hometown, Master Chen was still far away in the youth’s hometown.

On the second floor of the bamboo house.

Li Baoping, along with the young girl Pei Qian, and the two little girls, Chen Nuanshu and Zhou Mili, were all leaning on the railing, admiring the scenery.

The taller ones didn’t need to stand on tiptoe.

The shortest, Zhou Mili, was dangling from the railing.

It seemed that any moment, they might suddenly see a returning traveler, holding a walking stick and carrying a bamboo box.

Then, he would look up and wave to them with a smile.

Pei Qian softly asked, “Tonight the moon hangs in the river, tomorrow the stars drape the plains, so will Shifu come home the day after tomorrow?”

Li Baoping said, “Little Shishu seems to be constantly toiling for others, never stopping since the day he left home. Staying in the Sword Qi Great Wall for a while is also good, just think of it as a break.”

Chen Nuanshu smiled and said, “I heard there are also wine shops there, melon seeds, and big bowls of Yangchun noodles.”

Zhou Mili swung her dangling feet and nodded vigorously, “Yangchun noodles are delicious, the bigger the bowl, the better.”

In the Sword Qi Great Wall’s wine shop, Chen Ping’an, having left the city walls for battle a second time and returned again, had changed into clean clothes. He was currently sitting at a table, having ordered a pot of wine and eating a bowl of Yangchun noodles alone. Although he had told the child to remind his father not to put scallions, in the end, a small handful of scallions was still added.

The Second Shopkeeper rarely came here these days, so the shop’s bowls weren’t large, but the portion of Yangchun noodles was generous, and the scallions were added more generously.

Feng Kangle and Tao Ban, two children, were sitting at the next table, watching the Second Shopkeeper lower his head and eat his noodles.

Chen Ping’an turned his head, raised his empty bowl, and smiled. “Another bowl, please, remember no scallions, they are not needed anymore.”