The old scholar strolled through Huaihuang County with Liu Shiliu. Since Liu Shiliu had never visited Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven before, he didn’t experience the feeling of things being different.

The big fellow only felt a sense of melancholy.

This place was where Little Qi, though far from home, had found solace.

True scholars are easily lost in contemplation, finding it most difficult to discover a “home” where they can truly settle their hearts on the boundless path of learning.

Liu Shiliu regretted his “return to the mountains” journey. He should have waited longer. Even if he couldn’t change the final outcome of Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, he could at least have let Little Qi know that, during his solitary journey, there was still a fellow disciple watching him from afar.

He wouldn’t have been so alone, seemingly at odds with the entire world. How could he not be lonely, even pitiable, a laughingstock, misunderstood?

The old scholar softly said, “Silly oaf, don’t be too sad. We scholars, when poring over books, seek understanding with our hearts, befriending sages of the past. When we put down the sacred texts, we must embrace our duty and say, ‘If not me, then who?'”

The old scholar repeated, “If not me, then who?”

Liu Shiliu nodded, though his spirits remained low. Restraining his inherent nature and true heart was indeed something he excelled at.

Time flowed on, accumulating years. If measured by actual age, not even the fellow disciples, nor even the master, nor his close friend Bai Ye, were as “old” as he. Not even close.

It was simply a matter of the order in which they had heard the Way.

That’s why the short, thin old scholar beside Liu Shiliu was addressed as “old” scholar.

Huaihuang County was now a top-tier county of the Great Li Dynasty.

The most lucrative work for the townspeople used to be firing porcelain. Relying on the mountains for sustenance, and the water for resources. Now, almost all the locals had left the town and the dragon kilns, selling their ancestral homes and moving to the state capital to enjoy a better life. The largest, and only, official of the town used to be the supervisor of the kilns. Now, officials and clerks of all sizes could be seen everywhere. The peach blossoms bloomed on schedule every year, but gone were the old porcelain mountain and the Immortal’s Tomb. In their place were the incense offerings of the civil and military temples. Atop the mountains and beside the rivers, shrines and temples bustled with pilgrims.

The old town didn’t have a county yamen, but it had an ancient locust tree that shaded acres of land. Under the tree, every evening, elders would gather to tell old tales, while children, tired of the stories, would play on their own. During the sweltering heat, the children would run to the Iron Chain Well, eagerly waiting for their elders to lift the basket from the well, slicing into the naturally chilled fruits. Even though the weather was hot, their hearts were hot, and their clothes were hot, the water was cool, the fruits were cool, the knife was cool, and even their eyes seemed cool.

The old scholar arrived at the Iron Chain Well site. The well, without its iron chain, still remained, but its inner mysteries were gone. The yamen had lifted the restrictions, but fewer and fewer households from the county town came to draw water. Now, the small county town was a melting pot, teeming with cultivators, all drawn by the dragon aura, spiritual energy, immortal essence, and the mountain and water geomancy. Therefore, the current town lacked the air of common life, and was not as filled with smoke from cooking fires and the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking as the northern state capital.

The old scholar suddenly laughed, “Your junior brother used to be a kiln apprentice, with excellent skills. However, he left on a journey when he was young, and because he didn’t consider himself fully trained, he never easily put his skills on display. So, if you ever see your junior brother, you can have him make some scholarly accoutrements for you, like the Four Treasures of the Study, the Little Nine Gentlemen, anything you fancy. Just tell your junior brother directly, no need to be shy. Your junior brother is never stingy.”

Liu Shiliu hummed in agreement.

Since reuniting with the master after so long, the master’s words had constantly revolved around the junior brother. Liu Shiliu heard it all and kept it in his heart, without feeling a shred of jealousy, only happiness, because the master’s state of mind had rarely been so lighthearted.

Of course, the old scholar’s words had a hidden meaning, but after waiting for so long, the silly oaf still hadn’t caught on. He kicked Liu Shiliu in the shin.

The master felt a great deal of guilt towards the little disciple, and was too embarrassed to ask for items himself. Didn’t the other students know to share the master’s burden? The silly oaf was indeed not as intelligent as the junior brother, not even close.

Liu Shiliu immediately understood, and said, “The student will also ask for a few items for the master.”

The old scholar pretended to be troubled, wringing his hands, “What kind of behavior is this, what kind of behavior?”

Liu Shiliu said, “The master didn’t say anything. Junior brother is so clever, he will naturally understand.”

The old scholar immediately changed his expression, stroking his beard and smiling, “Of course, your junior brother is most capable of drawing inferences, especially talented in the words ‘ten thousand’ and ‘one.’ The master didn’t even teach him much, yet the disciple was able to learn so well on his own. Now, it’s all people saying how skilled I am at accepting disciples, unparalleled in the world, but the master is quite embarrassed.”

In fact, regarding the matter of accepting Chen Ping’an as his closed-door disciple, the Sui Mountain Deity didn’t say anything about the old scholar. Neither did the pure scholar Chen Chun’an, Bai Ze, nor later, Bai Ye, agree with the statement.

So, who exactly was the “everyone” the old scholar was referring to? Heaven only knew.

Liu Shiliu nodded, “Just from hearing some rumors from Bai Ye and the master, I am certain that junior brother is an extremely intelligent person.”

The old scholar laughed heartily.

It had been a long time since he felt so refreshed.

The silly oaf was praising three at once, the master had good eyes, the junior brother was intelligent, and the senior brother was definitely convinced.

Good, good, very good.

In terms of worldly wisdom and interpersonal skills, among the four direct disciples back then, Cui Chan was of course number one. In fact, the silly oaf could be ranked second, but he just didn’t like to talk and pretended to be a mute. When he was willing to speak, he was often stubborn, like when he used to chase after A Liang to fight. Among the four disciples, there was no question of closeness or distance. Speaking only of the amount of time spent together, Little Qi and Zuo You, though they had constant disputes, were actually closer to each other. Cui Chan and Liu Shiliu had a decent relationship. One thought too much, and the other spoke too little, so they actually got along the best.

As Liu Shiliu walked through the town, besides strolling with the master, he also paid attention to many details: whether the door gods pasted on each household radiated spiritual light, the size of the incense offering in the civil and military temples, whether the mountain and water geomancy of the county and state flowed stably and orderly… All of these were the increasingly perfected matters of practical knowledge of his senior brother Cui Chan, an intangible “manifestation of the Great Dao” in the Great Li Dynasty.

It should be known that “The human heart is precarious, the heart of the Dao is subtle” are the first eight words of the sixteen-word “heart transmission” of the Confucian lineage.

In Liu Shiliu’s eyes, Cui Chan’s meticulous cultivation in the Great Li and Baoping Continent for over a hundred years could be described as both making the heavy seem light, and making the light seem heavy.
Back when Cui Chan was not yet the Grand Preceptor of Great Li, merely the Embroidered Tiger of the Literary Sage’s lineage, he had countless words he wished to share with the world. However, as Cui Chan’s knowledge deepened and his innate temperament grew ever more proud, it seemed that only Liu Sixteen remained willing to lend an ear. Only this taciturn junior brother was worthy of Cui Chan’s willingness to speak.

Liu Sixteen said, “Earlier, when the remnants of that ancient fiend were shattered, I intended to gift them to the Northern Mountain territory as a reciprocal gesture to Mount Pīyún’s Lord Wei. Never did I expect that a peculiar being in Riding Dragon Lane could wield divine powers to gather all the golden fragments. Judging by Lord Wei’s reaction, he seemed unsurprised and without any resentment.”

The Old Scholar nodded, “That Long-lived Fellow in Riding Dragon Lane has an extraordinary origin. She is the embodiment of the Primordial Golden Copper Coin. She is currently a temporary, unlisted devotee of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Her gathering of the golden fragments is naturally effortless due to her affinity with the Great Dao. Aside from Lord Wei, the cultivators of the Northern Mountain territory would only be perplexed. Lord Wei is accustomed to shouldering blame for Fallen Phoenix Mountain; he’s not bothered by more debt. So, when you encounter Lord Wei in the future, be extra courteous. Look at him, so generous, hosting night banquets one after another without batting an eye.”

Liu Sixteen responded, “Then I will seek out Senior Brother Zuo later and shatter a few more golden bodies of those remnants coveting the Northern Mountain’s land. I will also inform the Long-lived Fellow in advance to remember to share 50% with Mount Pīyún.”

The Old Scholar nodded in satisfaction, smiling, “Helping others helps oneself, indeed a good habit.”

Zuo You, that simpleton, shouldn’t cause any major problems for now.

Even if something unexpected were to happen, he, as their teacher, was not one to sit idly by.

Furthermore, Liu Sixteen’s words held little weight with his senior brother Zuo You.

Zuo You, since childhood, had a penchant for acting like a senior brother, all awkward and restrained back at the Sword Qi Great Wall’s tavern, quite unbecoming.

In the past, whenever the Old Scholar craved more wine or wanted a special treat for his stomach, he would urge the simpleton to negotiate with Zuo You, who controlled the purse strings. The idea was to spend the money today and borrow more tomorrow if needed, but it never worked. Little Qi was more thoughtful, knowing to set up a stall in his spare time, writing letters and couplets for people, earning his own pocket money. He never let it pass through Senior Brother Zuo You’s hands. Then, the teacher and students would secretly leave Zuo You behind, stuffing themselves and drinking their fill outside the house before entering, beyond Zuo You’s control.

Liu Sixteen asked, “On the way here, Bai Ye mentioned that the former Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, Xiao Xun, seems to have merged with the wilderness of the Savage Desolation.”

The Old Scholar said, “Xiao Xun is a sword cultivator and has merged with the world, so she is not to be underestimated. However, if Zuo You is pushed to the brink, he could ascend to the Fourteenth Realm without merging with the heavens…”

At this point, the Old Scholar grew worried, shaking his head, “It’s best to avoid that. No Fourteenth Realm cultivator is truly free. Moreover, your Senior Brother Zuo You is the most taboo of all, a sword cultivator. The immense trouble that would bring, you are well aware. Once Zuo You becomes stubborn, even I, as his teacher, have little influence. Back then, I was reluctant to have Zuo You pursue the path of the sword.”

Liu Sixteen said, “Senior Brother Zuo You began practicing the sword very late, yet he turned the ‘Sword Immortal Seed’ into a laughingstock. Even Bai Ye believes that Zuo You’s Great Dao is vast, and his swordsmanship will be high.”

The Old Scholar sighed, “The principle of waxing and waning must not be ignored.”

As they strolled along the street, many passersby noticed the burly Liu Sixteen, but fortunately, the people of Dragon Province were accustomed to the comings and goings of mountain immortals and did not find the large man particularly frightening.

As recompense for his closed disciple Chen Pingan severing ties with the infant spirit of Mud Bottle Alley, the Great Li Dynasty left only a “facade” of an ancient well that resembled a small paradise, while moving the “truth” behind it to the pond behind the bamboo building on Fallen Phoenix Mountain. The Great Li Song clan, though discerning and aware of the well’s many secret uses, was always unable to independently develop the small paradise within. Treasure Bottle Continent simply lacked enough sword immortals; otherwise, the small paradise within the well, though not vast, would be a remarkable place for cultivation, especially suitable for dragons and water spirits. Of course, it was also possible that Cui Dongshan was deliberately hiding it, having long regarded the well as his own possession.

The Old Scholar sat by the well for a while, pondering how to connect the blessed land and grotto-heaven, linking the Lotus Root blessed land to the small paradise. After much thought, he realized that it would be good to have someone lend a hand, since the Old Scholar had accumulated some goodwill in the Great World, but alas, money was too difficult to borrow. Therefore, he could only lament, “A single coin can stump a hero, worrying a poor scholar to death.” Liu Sixteen then said he could borrow money from Bai Ye. The Old Scholar shook his head, saying that borrowing money from friends and not repaying it would damage their friendship. Then the old man looked up at the simpleton, and Liu Sixteen thought for a moment, and then said that they would not consider it borrowing money from Bai Ye.

Legend has it that the first time Bai Ye escorted Jun Qian back to the mountain, he drunkenly wrote the words “Magnificent View,” and deliberately added an extra stroke to the character “Magnificent.”

It implied that his friend Jun Qian’s spirit and courage were more than just a little magnificent, and he had witnessed thousands of years of human landscapes.

Thinking back to those years, that scholar hailed as the most successful in the world, capable of writing such words and possessing such spirit, was indeed not at all despondent.

After sending his friend back to the mountain, Bai Ye descended alone, carrying his sword in the world, splitting open the Yellow River Grotto-Heaven with a single stroke. The scholar, with his own strength, resisted the will of heaven, ensuring that Central Divine Continent would never again suffer from severe drought.

Moreover, he single-handedly increased the water transportation of the Great World by 10%.

How spirited and confident.

Therefore, Wei Bo, who originated from the old gods of the Divine Water Kingdom, naturally held Bai Ye in high esteem.

And the only one who could be so casual and unreserved with Bai Ye was probably this “Brother Jun Qian,” who had once visited immortals with Bai Ye.

Only then did the Old Scholar beam with joy, stand up, and vigorously pat the simpleton’s arm, praising, “Sixteen, you’ve made progress.”

What kind of senior brother wouldn’t care for his junior brother? At least, that was certainly the case within the Literary Sage’s lineage.

It wasn’t that the Old Scholar had no way to obtain some money himself. By harmonizing with the three continents of the Great World, even the most deeply hidden natural treasures couldn’t escape his gaze. However, there were things one could do and things one couldn’t. He still needed to adhere to the principle of obtaining wealth through proper means. Especially since the Great Dao had its order in the shadows; what one gained improperly today, one might lose unexpectedly tomorrow, which wasn’t worth it. As a teacher, he wouldn’t add to the troubles of his youngest and increasingly capable disciple.
Taking Liu Shiliu, the old scholar went to the Scholar Fang, commonly known as Crab Workshop. He stopped and said, “This is the Ascension Platform guarded by Azure Child Celestial Sovereign, but it has been refined into this form.”

The old scholar placed one hand behind his back and pointed to the sky with the other. “Once, a heavenly general was responsible for receiving Earth Immortals ascending. Of course, back then, the so-called Earth Immortals, those who truly understood the human realm, were considered ‘true’ and were highly valued, especially compared to ‘Celestial Immortals’. Living forever, roaming the land freely, they were called Terrestrial Immortals. As for today’s Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators, although they are also called Earth Immortals, they are not comparable at all. The ‘seeking truth’ of the Immortal Realm is essentially seeking this ‘truth’, comprehending the Heavenly Dao, liberating oneself from burdens, and ultimately ascending. In that earth-shattering, generous battle, this heavenly general, clad in ‘Great Frost’ armor, was the only one who chose to fight to the death, and was nailed to the gate by a certain senior… no, by a not-so-old senior, that so-and-so, with a single sword.”

There’s a good reason why the last True Dragon in the world would go through so much hardship to flee here. If Azure Child Celestial Sovereign is willing to reopen the Ascension Platform, it would have a sliver of life. If even the heavens are gone, ascension is out of the question. However, escaping to a secret realm with shattered mountains and rivers is not difficult. At that time, it would truly be a case of the sky being high and the earth being wide. However, Azure Child Celestial Sovereign, as one of the greatest convicts between heaven and earth, is in a difficult situation, like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river. Even if self-preservation is not difficult, it seems that he needs to hold incense over his head with both hands every day to prevent the incense from being cut off. Naturally, he is unwilling to break the great rules with those three fifteenth-realm cultivators for the sake of a small True Dragon.

The old Yang, with a series of interlocking truths, covered up the superficial illusion visible to the world of Li Zhu Cavern. In fact, it was to hide the greatest truth of all. This is the real sleight of hand.

The old scholar stopped at the archway for a long time, looking up at one of the plaques.

Liu Shiliu asked, “This time, when the Savage Lands entered the Great Harmony World, the guy who went by the name Zhou Mi has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Does Master know who he is?”

Because of his identity, Liu Shiliu has never been very interested in world affairs.

The old scholar’s expression became solemn, and he slowly said, “His surname is Jia, I won’t say his full name, lest I attract his prying eyes. He was once a proper disciple of our Confucian school, so let’s call him Jia Sheng.”

Liu Shiliu immediately understood, “It’s him.”

Upon further thought, he felt that it was unexpected, yet also logical.

Historically, many scholars “after Jia Sheng’s death” have spoken up for him, even saying that ‘a great Confucian was only Jia Sheng’. The person who said this was no ordinary person.

The so-called great Confucian praises Jia Sheng’s great talent, great boldness, and grand writing style. Obviously, within the Confucian tradition, there is no complete agreement with the current rules. The Western Buddhist Kingdom and the Azure Heavens do not have the same contention of a hundred schools of thought.

Liu Shiliu asked, “In Master’s opinion, what about Jia Sheng’s Twelve Strategies for Peace?”

“A strong medicine, it can truly bring about peace.”

The old scholar smiled, “Unfortunately, there is a problem. Jia Sheng only focused on curing the disease. Even if he saved people, the medicine was too strong. For example, in the market towns around us, no matter how good the medicine is, after several or ten years, most people will become medicine pots. How can people not worry? These are only superficial problems. There is also a real, major issue: Jia Sheng’s learning has a fundamental disagreement with Confucian orthodoxy.”

Liu Shiliu softly asked, “So, Master, that’s why you resolutely denied Senior Brother’s learning of statecraft back then?”

The old scholar hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, “The learning of statecraft is better than Jia Sheng’s, because it doesn’t involve tearing everything down, rebuilding the house, and nailing the windows shut, leaving only one door. Your senior brother’s learning of statecraft is not as extreme as Jia Sheng’s.”

The old scholar pointed to the plaques that had lost their luster, and asked, “Plaques are hung high, and couplets are often placed wide. Why?”

Liu Shiliu followed his master’s finger and replied, “Walking along wide roads allows one to walk steadily and reach higher places.”

The old scholar nodded, indicating his approval, then led Liu Shiliu around the archway, and spoke some inside information to his disciple in a mental voice.

The four plaques: “Do not yield in the face of benevolence”, “Sparse words are natural”, “Do not seek outward”, and “A spirit reaching the Dipper and Ox constellations.”

After circling around, they returned to the “Do not yield in the face of benevolence” plaque.

The old scholar emphasized the affairs of the Daoist school.

The “Sparse words are natural” on this Daoist plaque praises the Dao Ancestor’s first disciple, the Grand Master of White Jade Capital. He ultimately split his qi into three purities. Li Xisheng, the scholar who was replaced in Fortune Street of Li Zhu Cavern, is a member of the Confucian school. The one in the Divine Proclamation Sect is in the Daoist school, and there is still one remaining, even the old scholar does not know for sure, but he must be a Buddhist disciple.

The battle of the three religions is within me alone.

I debate the Dao with myself, but in the world, I am non-contentious. It is as if an empty boat comes to bump into my boat, and even those with prejudice do not get angry.

This is the greatness of the Dao of the Daoist leader, which must be acknowledged.

Compared to the mixed reviews of the other two Grand Masters of White Jade Capital, this Dao Ancestor’s first disciple has an excellent reputation in the several worlds outside of the Azure Heavens.

Moreover, Daoist Second and Lu Chen were both accepted as disciples on behalf of the master. Only the Dao Ancestor’s closed-door disciple was changed to Lu Chen accepting disciples on behalf of the master.

Liu Shiliu frowned slightly.

The old scholar patted his arm, “Don’t think too much. Although in Li Zhu Cavern, Li Xisheng, one of the three, is a latecomer, in the Great Harmony World, Little Qi arrived later. Moreover, the Daoist leader himself has no animosity towards Little Qi. It is more the means of the other two branches of White Jade Capital. Li Xisheng was always involuntarily involved back then. If Lu Chen hadn’t come here to plot, the Dao competition between Little Qi and Li Xisheng would have been like a water column striking against a reef, causing waves of ten thousand feet high, and their spirit would shake mountains and rivers. No matter the outcome, there would have been no meanness at all. Perhaps…”

Even though the old scholar was speaking in a mental voice, he still didn’t reveal his true thoughts to his disciple at this point.

The old scholar was originally going to say, “Fellow Daoists, establishing a religion and calling oneself an ancestor, one as the leader and one as the deputy, their great Dao benefiting each other.”

Whether it was Li Xisheng or the Daoist leader, or even Little Qi, once the two sides truly began to debate the Dao, they would have this kind of mind.

It’s just that they didn’t reach that point.

The matter has come to this, the overall situation has been decided, and there is no use in saying more.

Just because the old scholar is unwilling to say too much about it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care.
The old scholar never advocated repaying malice with kindness without reservation; that was not magnanimity, but ignorance.

Liu Shiliu turned his head, still having to lower it to see the side of the master’s face.

The master looked up at the four characters, equally sentimental.

It was just that the master was too lonely. Not many people could drink heartily with him, or allow him to speak his mind freely.

The inscription on the plaque read, “Not Yielding in the Face of Benevolence.”

The old scholar gazed at it for a long time, unmoving.

If not me, then who?

From my lineage of the Literary Sage, Qi Jingchun of the Li Zhu Grotto Heaven, Cui Chan of the Baoping Continent, Zuo You of the Tongye Continent, and Chen Pingan of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Now there was Liu Shiliu, who had returned to the vast world of Haoran.

A gentle breeze caressed his face, the old scholar looked around, smiled, and scratched his head, murmuring, “The spring breeze knows my heart, sending dreams back to those years. The world is full of inappropriate people and unfair things, but they can never extinguish the beauty in my heart.”

Liu Shiliu then softly recited,

“The past is past, the future is yet to come. Every moment is the past, every instant holds the future. The past was once the future, the future will become the past.”

As a result, he received a kick from the master, who scolded him with a smile, “Enough, enough. The lineage of the Literary Sage is fortunate to have a junior brother like you; otherwise, we would be laughed at as a Buddhist monastery.”

Liu Shiliu grinned, imitating the master by scratching his head, fortunately still having plenty of hair.

However, seeing the master’s thin frame, if he hadn’t merged with the world, did he even weigh ninety catties? Liu Shiliu was heartbroken and about to shed tears again.

Liu Shiliu looked up, why hadn’t they arrived yet? Why was there no movement in the sky? Feeling displeased, he could forget his worries by throwing a punch to meet the enemy.

The old scholar laughed in exasperation, “Silly oaf, hope for the best. Fighting and killing are too unscholarly.”

Afterward, the old scholar took Liu Shiliu to the old school, old and deserted, yet without a hint of decay. Everything was clean and tidy, objects neatly arranged.

He heard that the little girl, Nuan Shu, would come down the mountain regularly to clean the school and the ancestral home in Mud Bottle Lane.

Then they went to the new school established by the Chen family in Dragon Tail Stream, where the sound of reading filled the air.

The old scholar especially enjoyed watching the young children swaying their heads, some memorizing fluently, some stumbling over their recitations, but all of it was good.

While touring the school, the old scholar also observed the teaching methods of the teachers, their expressions, and their tones.

The true Buddha only speaks ordinary words.

In officialdom, official jargon is unavoidable, but one cannot only speak official jargon; remember that all official language comes from human language.

When one becomes an immortal on the mountain, one cannot only possess the celestial aura of flowing sleeves; one must also have a bit of humanity.

After reading many books of sages and worthies, people differ, and principles vary, but one must ultimately hope for the betterment of the world. Otherwise, constant complaints and despairing words, dragging others into disappointment and hopelessness, are not benevolent.

After leaving the school, the old scholar walked in Apricot Blossom Lane and said to Liu Shiliu for no reason, “Back then, Little Qi accompanied Zuo You on a tour of the mountains and rivers, while you visited White Emperor City with Cui Chan.”

Liu Shiliu nodded and said, “After Senior Brother Cui played a game of colorful chess with the City Lord of White Emperor City, he wrote a cursive script for Zheng Juzhong, ‘Unprecedented, unparalleled, Zheng sits in the middle.'”

The old scholar smiled and said, “Is there such a thing?”

Liu Shiliu said, “After all, he lost the chess game, and Senior Brother Cui was too embarrassed to say much.”

Zheng, a homophone for the word “in the middle.”

See, which disciple of the Literary Sage does not treat others with sincerity?

Afterward, on the road, they encountered a handsome young drunkard, Cao Gengxin, the Supervisor, and Yuan Zhengding, the Prefect, both descendants of the Shangzhu Kingdom surname of Great Li.

Supervisor Cao was drunk, with a wine pot full of wine hanging from his waist, the man and the wine pot swaying together toward the yamen to clock in.

Sometimes, at the tavern, Supervisor Cao was too drunk to move, so he would give a handful of copper coins to a familiar young waiter, or a child called from the roadside, as a running fee, to help him take the wine pot to the Supervisor’s office, put it on the table, and that would count as clocking in for him.

The old scholar smiled and looked at the young man.

Supervisor Cao also noticed the short old man in Confucian robes, sizing himself up. Supervisor Cao did not greet him, nor did he want to ignore him, so he burped, then stepped aside, walking sideways on the street, and bowed with a smile to the old gentleman he had never met.

The old scholar nodded in acknowledgment.

Not all officials and scholars in the world can be so romantic and unrestrained, but at the same time, there absolutely need to be a few.

As for Prefect Yuan Zhengding, the more the better.

In the old scholar’s eyes, there was no difference in their stature; both were outstanding young men.

After strolling through the streets and alleys of the small town, and walking through the somewhat desolate Mud Bottle Lane, they returned to Riding Dragon Lane. Friend Changming, dressed in a snow-white robe, had been waiting on the steps for a long time, and bowed to the old scholar without saying a word.

The old scholar smiled from ear to ear, and Friend Changming took them into the Auspicious Age Shop. The old scholar sponged off a few pastries, and Liu Shiliu also tasted them, of course not daring to eat his fill. The previous shopkeeper, Shi Rou, was startled and was about to perform a great salute to “the old master of the Literary Sage who walked out of the portrait,” but the old scholar waved his hand with a smile, saying, “No need, no need.” Liu Shiliu told Friend Changming about the matter, and of course she had no objections. If another one or two golden rains were to fall in the North Mountain region, the vacant seats of mountain and water deities in the Lotus Root Blessed Land could emerge like mushrooms after rain. Moreover, as the Lotus Root Blessed Land, which had only recently been promoted to a middle blessed land, the number of deities and city gods, as well as the quality of their golden bodies, could match those of the top middle blessed lands in the world.

Money falling from the sky is already a rare thing; for the money to fall into one person’s pocket is even rarer.

With Friend Changming sitting on the mountain of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, wealth flows in, unstoppable.

Therefore, before and after entering the door, the old scholar thanked Friend Changming twice with a smile.

The first time, Changming only said it was her duty; the second time, she habitually smiled and accepted it.

Leaving Riding Dragon Lane, the old scholar said, “Since your junior brother is not here, let’s go meet your junior brother’s close friend. He is one of the most protective people of Chen Pingan.”

At the blacksmith shop on the Dragon Beard River, Liu Shiliu met Liu Xianyang, who was sitting on a bamboo chair, sunbathing and dozing off.
After Liu Shiliu announced his name, Liu Xianyang hurriedly invited the venerable old scholar to sit down, while rubbing the old scholar’s shoulders with his elbow, asking if the pressure was too light or too heavy. At the same time, he said to Liu Shiliu, “Then I am of the same clan as Senior, the same clan indeed!”

The old scholar couldn’t help but smile, without explicitly stating what kind of clan relationship they shared.

Liu Shiliu also found it amusing, and similarly didn’t reveal the truth, accepting the young man’s claim of kinship.

The old scholar narrowed his eyes in enjoyment, telling the young man that the pressure was just right, very comfortable. Then, the old man imitated a schoolboy reciting a book, leisurely shaking his head, and recited, “Human pearls and jade are not worth taking, how can they compare to the soil at the stream head of Yangxian?”

Liu Xianyang exclaimed in surprise, “The poetry we just spent money to buy from the local county gazetteer, sir, you already know it? It seems your scholarship is so vast that even a vast world cannot contain it, it must be at least five worlds!”

Since he was Chen Ping An’s teacher, then he was half of Liu Xianyang’s teacher.

The flattery was over the top.

Liu Shiliu, with his burly frame, could only sit on the steps, his fists lightly resting on his knees, staring straight ahead, as if he hadn’t heard anything.

Only the teacher took it seriously, “Such words, just say them among family, don’t spread them around, don’t spread them around, or it will easily attract envy and jealousy.”

Liu Xianyang sat on a bamboo chair beside him, righteously declaring, “Sir is naturally pure and upright, but we, as students and disciples, must seize any opportunity to speak a few fair words for sir, it is our duty, there is no such thing as too many good words!”

Liu Shiliu couldn’t help but glance at Liu Xianyang’s sincere face. This Confucian disciple, who the teacher said had studied at the Chunru Chen Clan in Southern Saha World for many years, made Liu Shiliu recall the scenes on Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Wei Shanjun, that sword immortal, the pink-skirted girl Chen Nuanshu, the black-clothed little girl Zhou Mili, all seemed very knowledgeable and reasonable, so he was relieved. As long as the little junior brother didn’t learn Liu Xianyang’s way of speaking, everything would be fine.

The old scholar chatted with Liu Xianyang about some proper bookish knowledge.

Question and answer, the old scholar was very satisfied. The depth of reading, after enough effort, indeed depends on the level of talent, but whether one is sincere or not, does not depend on talent.

Afterwards, the old scholar allowed Liu Xianyang to ask questions, again a session of question and answer.

From beginning to end, Liu Xianyang had become upright and solemn.

The old scholar finally said to the young man, “Xianyang, just consider this a lesson left for you, think carefully about how to harmoniously combine the foundation of your character and the way to navigate the world.”

After Liu Xianyang nodded, he stood up and took a few steps back, as a Confucian disciple, respectfully bowing to the literary saint before him.

The old scholar stood up, smiling and nodding, “I won’t imitate those later generations of Dao scholars, and return the bow, because I have a question, and you have not yet answered. After you gain something, it won’t be too late for me to return the courtesy.”

As if stepping out of a small world of literary heritage, Liu Xianyang immediately revealed his true self, straightening his back and laughing, “Sir, you are too kind to your disciple.”

Liu Shiliu understood even better than Liu Xianyang.

The teacher’s question was a profound one.

In fact, the tenets of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism have many similarities at a high level and in general principles.

For example, the “Transmission of the Lamp” once had a monk ask a scholar, “What is it when one has no ground to stand on?” The master replied, “Where do you establish your life?”

The old scholar said, “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Liu Shiliu quickly got up and bowed, “Junqian bids farewell to teacher.”

The old scholar said, “The emperor loves the eldest son, and the people love the youngest child. As a teacher, I inevitably favor the last disciple a little. Junqian, don’t overthink it. After all, Chen Ping An is different from you few. He spent the least amount of time with his teacher, relied on himself the most, and is also the youngest, still too young…”

Speaking to this point.

The old scholar stopped talking, because the old man suddenly realized that even his last disciple, turned out, turned out to be not young anymore.

The young man with clear eyes, who didn’t even know how to drink, and walked through thousands of mountains and rivers wearing straw sandals, had actually passed forty and was approaching fifty.

The old scholar sighed, stamped his foot, and his figure disappeared.

Liu Xianyang then offered a handful of melon seeds, but Liu Shiliu, sitting back on the steps, shook his head.

Liu Xianyang took the initiative to say a few words, Liu Shiliu either nodded, or concisely spoke a few words. Finally, the two “clansmen” who had just met, fell into silence, each thinking about their own things, but neither felt awkward in the slightest.

Finally, Liu Shiliu asked, “Earlier, when you were dozing off, judging by the traces of your sword intent flowing through your body, were you practicing swordsmanship in your dreams?”

Liu Xianyang nodded, casually saying, “There’s an ancestral sword manual, the method of practicing swordsmanship is rather strange, but unfortunately it’s not suitable for Chen Ping An.”

Liu Shiliu said, “I am also friends with Bai Ye, his swordsmanship is not bad. In the future, if you encounter a major bottleneck in your cultivation path, you can go to him for guidance. Although Bai Ye is aloof, he is actually warm-hearted. When he meets a junior like you, he will definitely be impressed.”

Liu Xianyang turned his head, smiling and cupping his fist, “Alright, even if the cultivation bottleneck isn’t that big, as long as Master Bai is willing to teach, this junior is willing to learn!”

Liu Shiliu nodded, the young man was not petty, but open-minded. He didn’t feel like he was condescendingly bestowing favor, which was very good.

No wonder he was friends with little junior brother.

Just like himself and Bai Ye?

Liu Shiliu stood up and bid farewell to Liu Xianyang, he was someone who didn’t like to talk, especially polite words.

Liu Shiliu asked Wei Shanjun to help conceal his tracks, returning to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

He planned to stay here for a few more days, waiting for the sky to open again, so he could entertain guests.

Having stayed on Fallen Phoenix Mountain for a long time, he became familiar with Wei Bo, and Mi Yu who came from the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Liu Shiliu inquired about the hidden official deeds of his little junior brother from the sword immortal Mi Yu.

He was very pleased.

Liu Shiliu now had a relatively thorough understanding of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Although his little junior brother often traveled far away, spending more time abroad than at home.

But he still accumulated a considerable fortune, which was indeed not easy.

Now, the wealth of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, in addition to the incense relationship with Wei Shanjun of Pi Yun Mountain, simply relying on the business commission from the Ox Horn Mountain ferry, generated a considerable income.

Unfortunately, Liu Shiliu didn’t get to see Zhu Lian, nicknamed the Old Chef.

Moreover, the teacher said that the little junior brother’s first disciple, that Pei Qian, would sooner or later amaze the entire world, so Liu Shiliu was quite curious.

The sword immortal Mi Yu, who went by the alias Yu Mi, had not yet offered incense in the Patriarch Hall on Jise Peak, but in Treasure Bottle Continent, a jade purity realm sword cultivator from the Sword Qi Great Wall, actually carried significant weight.

It was just that this sword cultivator, was indeed too lazy.
It was said that, through their own ink-black ferry, someone had purchased many mountain artifacts for observing reflections of flowers in mirrors and the moon in water—white bowls, painted scrolls, inkstones, and calligraphy, amassing over twenty items for Mi Yu. The spending was like water flowing away, and when Zhou Mi Li spoke of this to Liu Shiliu, the little girl felt sorry for Yu Mi, saying that this posture clearly aimed to remain a bachelor.

Zheng Dafeng, who guarded the main gate, was purely martial in origin and had gone to the fifth highest Heaven.

Cen Yuanji hailed from the Fallen Peak Sect’s ancestral hall, and was also an unofficial disciple of Zhu Lian. The little girl practiced her boxing with utmost sincerity, walking back and forth along the mountain path, performing stances every day.

Liu Shiliu, observing this, planned to find an opportunity to instruct her in boxing techniques and principles, in accordance with the mountain’s rules.

Yuan Bao and Yuan Lai, siblings, were the direct disciples of Lu Baixiang, and had apparently left Fallen Peak Sect not long ago. Therefore, Fallen Peak Sect was now even more desolate.

At the Sword Worship Terrace, Cui Wei, who was bottlenecked at the Golden Core realm, had become a Qi Refiner, walking the path of talismans.

Huan Yun, an old Real Person from the Northern Gobi, who was wandering and arrived here, had stayed at Fallen Peak Sect for a year solely for Cui Wei, imparting talisman arts to him.

Because Cui Wei was not yet a direct descendant of Fallen Peak Sect’s ancestral hall, there were not many taboos regarding teaching him. The two did not have the title of master and disciple, but shared the reality.

Furthermore, Zhang Jiazhen, who was of the same age, did not become discouraged by his lack of cultivation talent. Instead, he chose to follow Wei Wenlong from the Spring Banner Lodge of Upside-Down Mountain, the great accountant who never showed his face, to learn the art of financial calculation.

In the Lucky Money Shop on Riding Dragon Lane, the female ghost Shi Rou wore the molted skin of a great cultivator in the Ascension Realm.

As for that Fellow Daoist Longevity, even more so.

At the Thatched Shop, the blind Daoist Jia Sheng, Zhao Denggao, and Tian Jiu’er were a master and two apprentices, and the Jiu’er little girl had naturally occurring “Talisman Spring” blood. It was fortunate that she had joined Fallen Peak Sect, otherwise her fate would not have been good, and she would easily become a money tree for some immortal mountain sect.

A black snake, originally from Chessboard Mound, that had migrated from Fallen Peak Sect to cultivate at Grey Haze Mountain, was now in the Dragon Gate Realm. After transforming into human form, he was a young man in black robes, his face pale, wearing a “Raven Green” robe, which was refined from snake skin. He went by the name Yun Zi, but his true name was De Zhang.

Regarding the matter of the “true name,” which was equivalent to half of one’s life, Zhou Mi Li said that it was by the “edict” of the Great White Goose, which Yun Zi dared not disobey.

Fortunately, in addition to bestowing a name, Cui Dongshan had also bestowed a celestial treasure suitable for the cultivation of Jiaolong-class beings.

As a mountain spirit and water monster, whose cultivation was not easy, Yun Zi’s rapid breakthroughs were related to his own aptitude, but not much; it was still due to the snake gall stone gifted by Chen Lingjun.

As for the great python of Yellow Lake Mountain, deeply hidden and unfathomable, it was already at the bottleneck of the Golden Core Realm, but the great python itself had never been willing to venture into the rivers.

Great Mountain Lord Wei Bo had leaked heavenly secrets to Liu Shiliu, saying that it had originally hoped to compete with a certain “little loach” for the great Dao opportunity of the Five Elements Water, but regrettably failed and ultimately could not leave Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven.

The great python’s cultivation aptitude was naturally not poor. It had long been able to transform into human form, but it rarely appeared, and when it did, it showed its true form, preferring to lie dormant at the bottom of the great lake, silently opening up an aquatic grotto.

The former owner of Yellow Lake Mountain, who had bought the mountain with golden copper coins, only knew that a lake monster was entrenched at the bottom of his lake, because the great python had never come ashore in human form. He did not know its cultivation level, nor did he know of this great Dao fate involving the flow of Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven’s luck; otherwise, he would never have half-sold and half-given Yellow Lake Mountain to Fallen Peak Sect.

The great python now went by the name Huang Shan Nu (Yellow Shirt Woman), and her true name was also bestowed by Cui Dongshan, registered in the genealogy as “Fo Song” (Buddha Pine). She only occasionally left the water to come ashore and meet Zhou Mi Li.

Zhou Mi Li still dared not go down the mountain alone, and relied on bags of melon seeds to trade with Mountain Lord Wei, dropping her off by the Yellow Lake Mountain waterside once a month.

Huang Shan Nu had eyes as clear as autumn waters, and when she came ashore, her whole body was filled with a faint and natural misty aura.

Beside the lake stood an old pine tree, also hiding mystery, its atmosphere restrained, and had not yet triggered any mountain and water anomalies.

What a prostrate python, unmoved for a thousand years, old pine, when will you cease meditation?

Completely different from Yun Zi, whose aura was naturally domineering, Huang Shan Nu, whose true form was a python, preferred stillness to movement. The latter’s lair was called Green Mud Slope, located on Grey Haze Mountain, with the implication of “poisonous mist causes soaring kites to fall, a giant python’s stench fills the wind.”

The white-robed youth had once traveled Yellow Lake Mountain with the Left Guardian of Riding Dragon Lane. When nearing the water, he smiled and said, “Leave it to slay the flood dragon below the depths, do not test it on the street dog.”

Hearing this, the great python hiding at the bottom of the lake lowered its true form’s head and pressed it against the mud, while the earth dog behind the white-robed youth shivered and lay prostrate on the ground.

The affiliated Yellow Court Kingdom, as well as Old God Water Country, including Red Candle Town and Chessboard Mountain, had historically been part of the ancient Shu region. Legend had it that the Jiaolong-Tuotuo lairs were endless, attracting Sword Immortals who roamed the clouds and waters, their sword light striking straight down, slaying Jiaolongs.

However, Liu Shiliu did not plan to meet Yun Zi and Huang Shan Nu, not wanting to disturb their cultivation, or, more precisely, not wanting to disturb their Dao hearts.

After all, for the water spirits of the world, meeting Liu Shiliu was generally not a good thing.

Only Zhou Mi Li, who carried a golden shoulder pole and a green bamboo staff every day, patrolling the mountains morning and evening without complaint, even though she was with Liu Shiliu every day, was completely unaffected.

Firstly, this “Dumb Lake Great Water Monster’s” realm was too low, and secondly, Zhou Mi Li’s Dao heart was clear and pure, and so nothing happened.

In addition, some of the ancestral hall figures of Fallen Peak Sect were also not on the mountain.

After becoming familiar with Fallen Peak Sect, Liu Shiliu discovered that it seemed like everyone, from the young Sect Master to the students and disciples, to the ancestral hall descendants and the venerated elders, was often traveling far away.

The atmosphere was strange.

Ordinary mountain sects would not be like this.

Martial artists, sword cultivators, scholars, Daoist Qi Refiners, all kinds of mountain spirits and water monsters, female ghosts.

And also that Fellow Daoist Longevity with a special background.

Yet they got along harmoniously.

Also strange.

Today, Zhou Mi Li pulled the big fellow to sit on the mountain peak, accompanying her to watch the simple and honest Sister Cen practice boxing down the mountain, her figure becoming smaller and smaller like a grain of rice, making Zhou Mi Li so happy that she covered her mouth with both hands, laughing heartily.
After Zhou Mili’s laughter subsided, and without Pei Qian reminding her to be more ladylike, she grew a little sad. Wanting to say something cheerful, she turned to Liu Shiliu and asked in a hushed voice, “Half-a-mountain-master Shixiong, shall we play a riddle game? I know a whole basketful of riddles! Not even Warm Tree can compare, and Pei Qian always gets so anxious, spinning around in circles when she can’t figure out the answers.”

Liu Shiliu smiled. “Ask away.”

Zhou Mili cleared her throat and began, “There’s a drum in the sky, hidden deep within the clouds. One strike, a rumbling boom, another strike, a crashing boom. What could it be? Do you know?”

Liu Shiliu answered, “Thunder.”

Liu Shiliu glanced at the sky. The ancient god he had previously stripped of his golden body was not from the Thunder Department, but perhaps the next one would be.

Zhou Mili gave him a thumbs-up, then the little girl began to ponder.

Oh ho, she’s met a master.

Originally planning to give the big guy a hint, Zhou Mili instead asked, “On the mountain grows a grass, with many pearls aplenty. I go but can’t take them, you go, and you’ll run into futility…”

Liu Shiliu chuckled. “Dewdrops, right?”

Books contained verses like, “As fleeting as morning dew, the days of suffering are many.”

And phrases like, “Fortunately safe and sound, to see the sun once more, what crime did the others commit, to perish like morning dew?”

Zhou Mili crossed her arms, furrowing her brow, and came up with a more challenging riddle. “Many, many chess pieces, a vast, vast chessboard. We can only watch, yet we cannot play. I ask you, what are these chess pieces?”

Liu Shiliu smiled and shook his head.

He had once traveled far beyond the heavens, personally witnessing the Dharma Image of the Rite Sage, pinching those “chess pieces” to obstruct those ancient beings.

Zhou Mili shook her head, smiling slyly. “Tricky, isn’t it? It’s okay if you don’t know. Just lift your head at night, and you’ll know the answer!”

Then the little girl looked at the big guy, who seemed a little dejected, so she said, “Small stone tablets, row upon row, stand at the entrance in two lines.” She opened her mouth slightly, giggling.

Liu Shiliu smiled and ruffled the little girl’s hair. “I know.”

“Tall in stature, close to the heavens, how envious.”

Zhou Mili rested her cheek on her hand, gazing into the distance, her sadness small, yet genuinely sorrowful. “Half-a-mountain-master Shixiong, I’ll tell you a secret. I don’t really enjoy patrolling the mountain that much, but I’m on the mountain every day, doing nothing but cracking melon seeds, and I can’t help with anything. Doesn’t that make you worry? So every time I patrol, I run super, super fast! I’m secretly slacking off.”

Liu Shiliu nodded. “I’ll keep it a secret for you.”

Zhou Mili leaned closer, whispering, “Then I’ll tell you a huge secret. When I and Good Person Mountain Master were traveling together in Northern Ju Luzhou…”

The little girl placed her green bamboo cane and golden carrying pole beside her, then stood up before saying, “I was standing inside a big carrying basket, hitting Shifu Pei Qian’s head as hard as I could. Chen Haoren said one snowflake coin for every chestnut, and I didn’t even blink!”

Liu Shiliu chuckled. “Then you’re truly amazing.”

The originally radiant Zhou Mili suddenly looked crestfallen. “Those riddles, he taught them all to me. If he doesn’t come home soon, I’ll forget them all.”