How can a youth remain young, and how can a young man remain youthful for long?

A disheveled man, Yao Xianzhi. A woman with a sabre, Yao Lingzhi.

Their first meeting: one, a vibrant young man with a radiant smile; the other, an intrepid young woman radiating sharpness.

Yao Xianzhi seemed a bit shy, his lips moving slightly, unable to find the right words. Empty pleasantries he was unwilling to utter, heartfelt words he wanted to say too many, yet knew not where to begin, so he remained silent.

Yao Lingzhi, daughter of the innkeeper Jiu Niang of Fox Cub Town. She remained remarkably frank, as if the years of hardship had failed to smooth her rough edges. She looked directly at the man, nodding and smiling, “Young Master Chen, indeed it has been a long time.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Could you take me to see General Yao?”

Yao Xianzhi nodded.

Yao Lingzhi noticed the unusual atmosphere around the Yao Manor. Chen Ping’an’s arrival seemed to have caused quite a stir. It was understandable; the current Yao Manor was no longer the prestigious Ministry of Rites residence of old. And with His Majesty the Emperor absent from Mirage City, the unannounced entry of someone here…

Chen Ping’an apologized, “I came rather hastily. I’m afraid I’ll need your help to explain the situation, just say we have a guest visiting the Yao Manor, so Mirage City doesn’t need to be alarmed. As for who I am, there’s no need to mention that.”

Without hesitation, Yao Lingzhi personally went to handle the matter, allowing her brother, Yao Xianzhi, to lead Chen Ping’an to visit their grandfather.

Yao Xianzhi walked with a limp and an empty sleeve. The man tried to conceal it somewhat, but in vain.

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “It sounded like you were arguing with your sister earlier? What about?”

Yao Xianzhi whispered, “My sister gets more long-winded as she gets older. She keeps pushing me to find a wife, acting as a matchmaker all day long, pulling people together randomly. She’s become addicted. It puts those women in a difficult position. She knows what kind of state I’m in now, and even if a woman agreed to such a marriage, what would she be hoping for? I’m not stupid. It can’t be because I’m young and promising, or handsome, right? Mr. Chen, wouldn’t you agree?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “It’s human nature, it’s normal to advise, and it’s normal to be annoyed. Unless you meet a girl you truly like yourself, and then marry her. Until then, you should just honestly endure the annoyance. There’s no solution.”

Yao Xianzhi smiled, “Mr. Chen, I look much older than you now.”

Chen Ping’an lightly slapped Yao Xianzhi on the head, “Besides looking old, you’re also famous, and you have quite a temper. You even dared to fight a White Dragon Cave registrar immortal in the marketplace.”

Yao Xianzhi laughed after being slapped. It was rare for the current “Yao Lord” to laugh without drinking.

In a secluded courtyard, two painted door gods, as tall as a man, were pasted on the courtyard gate. They had already manifested their golden bodies, guarding the entrance.

This was no ordinary landscape “manifestation.” The two golden-bodied door gods before them carried the martial and civil fortunes of the entire Great Spring Kingdom. It could be considered a form of personal gain disguised as public service by the Emperor, but in this case, it was both reasonable and appropriate. Because the one who helped “gild” the door gods was an Imperial Astronomer holding an Imperial brush bestowed by the Emperor, every stroke within the rules. And the one who “dotted the eyes” of the two door gods, Chen Ping’an could tell at a glance, was a personal stroke from a Mountain Master of the Academy, a Sage of the Confucian school pointing out the direction. It was evident that the Confucian school had a high regard for the Yao clan of Great Spring, from the Temple of Literature to the academies of the continent.

From then on, these two door gods manifesting on the main road of the courtyard would be linked to the national fortune of Great Spring, enjoying the incense offerings of the human world for hundreds, even thousands of years, a common form of gilding on the path of divinity.

Chen Ping’an had already sensed the unusual nature of the place and could determine that Old General Yao Zhen was recuperating here. The reason he didn’t land directly here was firstly because it would have been too reckless. He worried that his own sword qi and fist intent hadn’t fully subsided, and being too “vigorous” would violate the landscape taboos and accidentally disrupt the Old General’s fate. Secondly, Chen Ping’an also wanted to ease his own state of mind with the siblings first.

The two door gods stared intently at the figure in green robes, and then almost simultaneously clasped their fists in salute, their expressions respectful, taking the initiative to make way for Chen Ping’an.

Yao Xianzhi was stunned. He originally thought he would have to explain a few more times before Mr. Chen could pass through the gate restriction.

Chen Ping’an returned the salute and followed Yao Xianzhi into a room. Inside, on a table, there was an immortal incense burner, purple qi rising, the fragrance pleasant.

An elderly man with snow-white hair lay on the sickbed, his breathing extremely faint.

Yao Xianzhi moved very gently, helping Chen Ping’an move a chair to the bedside. He himself sat in the distance.

Before sitting down, Chen Ping’an plucked several golden talismans from his sleeve, and pasted them one by one on the door and windows. These were several superior talismans recorded in the *Jade Script True Traces*, one of which was called the “Ferry Talisman,” which could stabilize the mind and soul, reducing the effects of the passage of time. However, this talisman consumed a great deal of talisman paper. More importantly, refining this talisman consumed even more of the cultivator’s mind than drawing an offensive talisman. In addition to the Ferry Talisman, a nearly extinct “Ox and Horse Respite Talisman” was also pasted on the door. It couldn’t stop oxen and horses from entering, but it could allow the netherworld bailiffs to see the divine talisman from afar and pause for a moment, as a kind of mysterious and ancient respect. These kinds of landscape rules were definitely not recorded in the immortal books secretly kept by general sects.

Yin and Yang traveled different paths, just like birds had their paths and mice had their roads. If a cultivator didn’t open their Heavenly Eye or reach the Upper Five Realms, it was not unusual to encounter a City God or a Land God. It was even an unwritten rule for cultivators to ask the local Land God as a god descending to the mortal realm. But it was extremely difficult to encounter those netherworld officials who were different from the Night Wandering God. It was as rare as a secular scholar running into a ghost. Moreover, even if they did encounter one by chance, cultivators would not regard it as a good thing.

According to the obscure records of the Summer Retreat Palace, humans, regardless of whether they cultivated or not, and the netherworld bailiffs of Fengdu, walked on opposite banks of the same river of time. Both sides had their own Grand Daos, and the well water did not interfere with the river water. Therefore, Chen Ping’an traveled extensively, and except for the blessings of Zhong Kui, which increased his knowledge outside the Burial River Shrine, he had never seen any Fengdu bailiffs. Moreover, that non-compliant encounter was due to Chen Ping’an’s habituation to the stagnation of the river of time that allowed him to witness the rare true appearance of the Fengdu official. Otherwise, even if they were close, they would still pass by each other.
After years of wandering, drawing talismans and giving them away, Chen Ping’an had used up all of his treasured golden talisman paper. These few rare sheets for drawing talismans were borrowed from Cui Dongshan on the cloud-carriage ferry back then.

Drawing Light-Shade Ferry talismans would deplete a cultivator’s mind. Drawing Ox-Horse Reprieve talismans would diminish one’s karmic merit.

These taboos were clearly written in the *True Traces of the Scarlet Tome*. Li Xisheng had even specially annotated the Ox-Horse talisman with four words: “Use with Caution.”

Yao Xianzhi sat in his chair, simply watching Chen Ping’an paste the golden talismans one by one. Although he was full of curiosity, he didn’t ask any questions.

Mixed with his curiosity, the burly man felt inexplicably at ease.

It was as if Chen Ping’an had finally arrived, and so he, the now-useless Prince of Daquan, could slack off, not just in his work, but even in his mental efforts. He could just let Chen Ping’an worry about everything.

Back in the day, among the three young Yaos at the Daquan border, Yao Xianzhi was the most admiring of that young Sword Immortal with the bearing of a grandmaster. That young man had been single-mindedly trying to become a disciple of the unparalleled martial artist Chen Ping’an, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. At the time, he thought there would be plenty of opportunities in the future, so there was no need to rush. Even though the years on the mountain had little to do with the changing seasons of the mortal realm, even if they didn’t see each other for three or five years, they would surely meet again in ten. He never expected that two decades would pass in the blink of an eye, and now Yao Xianzhi had lost all interest in practicing martial arts.

Yao Xianzhi wasn’t a Qi Refiner, but he could see the priceless value of those golden talismans.

The enshrined immortals of the Daquan Dynasty looked as if they were being flayed alive every time they used talisman paper of this kind of material for the country, so that the imperial court would know of their utter devotion.

After pasting the talismans, Chen Ping’an quietly walked to the table, reached out to the incense burner, gently brushed it, and sniffed the fragrance. He nodded, worthy of a master’s touch; the dosage was just right.

After doing these things, Chen Ping’an sat on the chair near the sickbed.

Apart from the Ferry Talisman and the Ox-Horse Talisman, the other talismans were relatively ordinary, all used to help the old General Yao settle his Qi, and slightly slow down the weariness of his mind and the decay of his body. For example, a Dew-Earth Junction Talisman used a wisp of water and earth Qi to quietly nourish the old man’s body. It was only a temporary measure and couldn’t cure the root cause, but that was all that could be done. Now, even for an immortal like Cui Dongshan, any profound art or divine power would be a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Yao Xianzhi had no doubts from beginning to end.

He believed that even if His Majesty the Emperor were here, it would be the same.

The Yao family rarely trusted outsiders so much, and that was even more so now, but Chen Ping’an was the only exception.

The burly man simply quietly watched this “somewhat late” Chen Ping’an.

Because the reason why Grandpa was stubbornly holding on was something that no one had heard directly, but the younger generation of the three Yaos – His Majesty Yao Jinzhi, Martial Arts Grandmaster Yao Lingzhi, and Yao Xianzhi – all knew why.

Grandpa hoped that in his lifetime, he could see that young benefactor, that friend despite the age difference, one more time.

Apart from that, Grandpa had nothing else that he couldn’t let go of.

The Daquan Dynasty was preserved, and even the Mirage City was intact. Every winter, the capital was still a beautiful scene of glazed paradise.

Of the vast and fragmented Tongye Continent, Daquan was the only one so fortunate.

After Chen Ping’an sat down, he gently rubbed his palms together, and then reached out a hand to gently grasp the old man’s withered hand.

Rubbing his hands to warm his palms was actually unnecessary for a martial artist at the peak of their art, who could minutely control the temperature of their hands.

But this was just a subconscious action of Chen Ping’an.

A moment later.

The old man moved his eyelids, but didn’t open them. He said hoarsely, “You’ve come? Is it true? Could it be that Jinzhi, that little girl, is deliberately deceiving me? Who exactly are you?”

“It’s me, Chen Ping’an.”

Chen Ping’an leaned forward, grasped General Yao’s hand with both of his own, and bent over to say softly, “So many years have passed, and I still often think about walking with Grandpa Yao by the banks of the Buried River back then, when we came across that old farmer who occasionally worked as a corpse scavenger. The old man said that his son had salvaged someone he shouldn’t have, so after only a few days, his son was gone. The old man said in the end, ‘He should have been stopped.’ I’ve always wondered if the old man wasn’t so sad because so much time had passed, and he was talking to outsiders about this, or if there was some other reason that convinced the old man to not be so sad. Or is it that when ordinary people live their lives, some heart-wrenching things happen and they fall into the potholes of the world? When people fall, they have to get up and keep moving forward. If sad things fall and can’t get up, or even if people survive, then the thing is over.”

According to the customs of Chen Ping’an’s hometown, when talking to old people who were old but not sick, it was actually not necessary to avoid talking about life and death.

The old man murmured, “So it really is little Ping’an who has come. If it weren’t you, you wouldn’t be able to say these old things. If it weren’t you, you wouldn’t think about these things.”

Chen Ping’an said softly, “I’ve made Grandpa Yao wait so long, but to be honest, it wasn’t easy for me to get here. Some things come without waiting for me to be ready. It’s as if they hit me head-on without asking, leaving me no choice but to endure it. At the same time, some things want to leave, and no matter how much I try to stop them, I can’t. I can only endure it. There’s no way to tell anyone how I feel. If I don’t say anything, I feel suffocated. If I say too much, it’s just being pretentious. So I wanted to find an elder to confide in, and that’s why I rushed here from Jinhuang Prefecture to see Grandpa Yao. I have to listen to a few more words. Back then, I was single-mindedly rushing to get home, and I was in a hurry. This time, I don’t have to rush to get home.”

The old man tried his best to open his eyes. His vision was blurry, but he could vaguely see a man who was no longer a boy, still wearing a jade hairpin. After coughing a few times, the old man’s face actually showed a bit more vitality. “That’s right, a true Buddha only speaks ordinary words. You’re still the Chen Ping’an I know, but you’ve grown up a lot. When you were young, if you suffered, you would either shout loudly, wishing everyone in the world could hear, or you would like to keep everything bottled up inside, always thinking that after a few more days, a few more years, it wouldn’t be a big deal anymore. But where is there such a good thing? Now you know that life in this world isn’t always satisfactory, right?”

Chen Ping’an nodded.
The old man raised a hand and gently patted the young man’s hand, “The Yao family is facing some difficulties now. It’s not about whether the times are good or bad, but about what is right, which is more troubling. Mine, what is closest to me, are all knots in my heart. Whether you come or not, whether you can solve the trouble now, it doesn’t matter. For example, change a path, let Yao Zhen, this old codger, become even older and immortal, become a mountain and water deity or something, it can be done, but it shouldn’t be done. Little Ping’an?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “I understand.”

The Great Spring was able to support Zheng Su as the Mountain Lord of Jinhuang Prefecture, and Liu Yourong as the Water God of Pine Needle Lake. Zheng Su’s divine position was second only to the Five Peaks of the Great Spring, and Liu Yourong was also a second-class River God, second only to the Buried River Water God of Biyou Palace. This is the so-called ‘when a man attains the Dao, all his dogs and chickens rise to heaven’.

And that man, of course, is Yao Jinzhi, the Empress of the Great Spring.

Then, allowing the old General Yao, whose merits are convincing and who is beloved by the people, to become not just the City God of the capital, but even one of the Five Peaks Mountain Lords of the Yao family of the Great Spring, would not be difficult.

It’s just that in this vast world, there have been women who claimed the throne, but they are few and far between, and their reigns are often not long-lasting.

In times of chaos, who sits on the dragon throne and wears the dragon robe is a matter of responsibility, and being able to sit firmly is a matter of ability. But once peace and prosperity arrive, a woman ascending the throne, how could it be smooth sailing?

Apart from the previous emperor losing the hearts of the people, the Liu family of the Great Spring has had wise emperors for over two hundred years since its founding. There has been hardly a single foolish ruler, which means that the Liu family, whether in the court or on the mountains, in the Jianghu or among the common people, is still the national surname of the Great Spring.

So, the old General Yao’s choice, whether or not to become a mountain and water spirit guarding one side, is actually a choice in the old man’s heart, whether or not to change the national surname of the Great Spring from “Liu” to “Yao”. Obviously, the old man hopes to return the Great Spring to the Liu family. And on this matter, it is very likely that the old General Yao Zhen and his granddaughter, Her Majesty the current Empress Yao Jinzhi, will have some kind of disagreement, even it could be said the old general’s thoughts run counter to the hopes of the entire Yao family, especially the youngest generation.

Yao Xianzhi didn’t know if he should be happy or sad.

Grandfather was in high spirits today, exceptionally so, to the extent that he had the energy and mindset to say so much, more than he had said in the past half year combined.

Chen Ping’an suddenly turned to Yao Xianzhi and said, “Go and call your elder sister over, both of your elder sisters.”

Yao Xianzhi had a bitter look on his face, “Her Majesty the Empress is not in Mirage City now, she has gone to the Yao family’s old residence on the southern border.”

Chen Ping’an was stunned.

Supported by Chen Ping’an, the old man slowly sat up, with a hint of a smile, teasing, “Didn’t discuss it with you either, huh? That’s life.”

Just sitting up had already exhausted the old general, and he could only move his fingers slightly, as if to wave his hand to signal Chen Ping’an not to overthink it, “The arrangements for the aftermath have long been made. The Yao family’s children are all used to life and death, no need for anyone to be overly sentimental. So many young men die on the battlefield, there’s no reason why someone who has lived to my age should cause a house full of people to crowd around, making a mess, crying, which I’d find annoying, and not crying would seem disrespectful. What kind of nonsense is that?”

Chen Ping’an asked, “What can I do?”

The old man smiled, “No need to do anything, just don’t disappear without a trace again, even if you’re across a continent, we can still communicate by flying sword. Interfere less with the Yao family’s affairs, the Great Spring’s national affairs. Do you really think you’re our Yao family’s son-in-law? Where were you back then? If you hadn’t pretended to be so stupid back then, and were willing to take a step or two further, maybe… never mind.”

Yao Xianzhi secretly grinned.

If this matter were to spread, it would cause the entire court to frantically investigate to get to the bottom of it. Those repeatedly banned, privately printed books, the endless unofficial histories and scandalous palace tales, would probably make even more money. And these books, which were extremely harmful to the foundation of the court and the reputation of the Yao family, were fueled by those reclusive, disillusioned scholars. Before his sister Yao Jinzhi claimed the throne, these books with indecent content had already swept through the court and the countryside. After ascending the throne, it could only be said that they were slightly restrained, but they still sprung up like weeds in the spring breeze. The government would ban one batch, and another would emerge. Now, even many high-ranking officials and local officials would secretly collect a few copies.

It’s just that Her Majesty the Empress is temporarily unable to attend to such matters. The military and national affairs are numerous and complex, and all need to be reorganized. Just reforming the military system, setting up a total of eighty-six generals in various routes within the country, has already caused a storm, with much criticism. As for the selection of twenty-four “founding” meritorious officials, the resistance is even greater. Civil and military officials with enough military achievements to be selected are vying for higher rankings, those who could be selected or not must strive for a seat, and those who are not qualified inevitably harbor resentment and hope that Her Majesty the Empress can change the twenty-four generals to thirty-six generals, and even those who cannot be selected even with the expansion to thirty-six are scheming. The civil officials are thinking about the court being able to establish a few more dukes, and the military generals are switching their minds, to be picky about the eighty-six garrisons, each wanting to be a general on the border with the Northern Jin and Southern Qi, control greater military power, and hold more soldiers. The six generals of the Fox Path in the Southern Border, where war is likely to break out again, and the five generals of the Buried River Path, who are destined to be able to manage both canal and water transport, are all first-class plums.

Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress seems to have been hesitating whether to use an iron fist to govern those unofficial histories, because if she is not careful, she will be labeled as a harsh new emperor who starts a literary inquisition.

Chen Ping’an was indeed good at pretending to be stupid, and only said, “I plan to establish a lower sect in Tongye Continent, possibly a bit more to the north, but in the future, being on the same continent as the Yao family of the Great Spring, we will definitely have frequent interactions.”

The old man asked doubtfully, “You’ve already established a sect? Why didn’t you choose in your hometown, Baoping Continent? Are you unable to gain a foothold there? That’s not right, since it’s already a sect, there’s no reason why you need to move to another continent to take root. Could it be that your sect’s military achievements are enough, but your relationship with the Dali Song Dynasty court is not very good?”

In the eyes of the old general, the fact that the young Chen Ping’an was able to create a celestial mansion with the title of “sect” was already an amazing feat, no less than his granddaughter Jinzhi’s successful ascension to the throne. As for the saying “lower sect”, the old general just assumed that he was old and senile, and had misheard.

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Grandpa Yao, it’s the lower sect that’s choosing a location in Tongye Continent, the mountain in my hometown will be the upper sect, there’s no need to move.”
The old man was beaming, his weariness vanished, replaced by immense relief. However, he playfully chided, “You rascal, getting older, but your boasting grows ever louder. What’s this, trying to fool me with nonsense? Now that Jinzhi is the Emperor, you want to swoop in? Back then, you looked down on a Yao family girl from a mere Ministry official’s household. Now you finally find a female Emperor worthy? Good, good, that would save me some worry. Jinzhi has always been discerning, and you’re one of the few your age who’ve caught her eye. But times have changed, that girl Jinzhi is even more ambitious than before, and she’s seen many extraordinary people and land immortals. It’ll be much harder for you to succeed than it was in the past. Just that annoying young courtier, he won’t let you have an easy time. Xianzhi, what’s his name again?”

“Shao Yuanran of Golden Peak Temple, one of the most promising candidates in the Tongye Continent to ascend to the Upper Five Realms, a Land Immortal,” Yao Xianzhi replied with a smile. “But in my opinion, he’s hardly a formidable rival for Master Chen.”

Chen Ping’an felt a headache coming on and simply shut his mouth.

The old man had indeed spoken a great deal today. He had to close his eyes to rest. After a long silence, he opened them again and slowly said, “Our Yao family has never been good at dealing with scholars, especially those in officialdom. They have too many twisted thoughts. One person can argue both sides of an issue and still claim to be right, which makes things difficult for Jinzhi. If it weren’t for those martial men like Xu Qingzhou, who are allowed to carry swords in court, and the old Duke Shen, who can still say a few words for Jinzhi, the Yao residence might be under house arrest instead of being guarded by door gods and imperial courtiers.”

All the officials and scholars who lost their reputation and honor in that war, but who were lucky enough to survive, had fled to the capital to seek refuge. Now that they failed to rise to positions of power, they naturally vehemently opposed the Yao clan’s rule. They wanted to seize the moral high ground and return the Imperial Family name to Liu. A woman ruling the country was outrageous.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Xu Qingzhou?”

Yao Xianzhi nodded. “I know you have a deep-seated grudge against him, Master Chen, but I must say in fairness that he has shown some responsibility in the court these past years.”

Xu Qingzhou, a venerable general nearing seventy, wields the saber “Great Dexterity.” He is now a top-ranking General with the “Conquest” title of the Great Quan Dynasty, renowned for his military exploits. Xu Qingzhou had led all of his direct troops to the border, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Yao family’s iron cavalry, advancing and retreating together, and ultimately defending Mirage City. His gamble paid off handsomely. He became one of the pillars of the Great Quan military after the old General Yao.

Back then, Xu Qingzhou was just a young general who had bet everything on the Eldest Prince. Together with the Confucian scholar Wang Qi, Xu Tong of the Herbal Hermitage, and Duke Shen Gao Shi, they had all participated in the perilous hunt to eliminate Chen Ping’an. However, Xu Qingzhou’s choice was decisive. He did not hesitate to turn against the Eldest Prince, decisively withdrawing from that gamble. As a result, his family suffered years of neglect in the officialdom.

Chen Ping’an laughed. “The grudge is significant, but my impression of Xu Qingzhou and Duke Shen is still acceptable.”

Back then, Chen Ping’an had forged mortal feuds with both princes of Great Quan, first the Third Prince Liu Mao, and then the Eldest Prince Liu Cong. Liu Cong was the eldest son of the old Emperor Liu Zhen, born of a concubine. Despite the seniority and distinction between legitimate and illegitimate sons, Emperor Liu Zhen ultimately chose his legitimate son, who had a good reputation among the civil officials, to succeed him. As for the Third Prince Liu Mao, he had long since turned to cultivation, seeking immortality. He did not even appear during the previous war, but instead secluded himself in a small Taoist temple, diligently studying ceremonial texts.

However, Prince Liu Cong, who temporarily oversaw the country during the chaos, ultimately failed to preserve the Liu clan’s empire. After the Tongye Continent war ended, Liu Cong launched a coup in the rain, attempting to seize the Imperial Seal from Empress Yao Jinzhi. However, a secret courtier nicknamed the “Knife Sharpener,” along with a petite woman who was squatting behind a corridor pillar eating a late-night snack, stopped Liu Cong, and his efforts were thwarted.

It was said that after the disheveled Prince was dragged out of the palace by guards, he was extremely disheartened. Then he laughed wildly at the rain and cursed with strange words, “I knew I should have waited for the rain to stop before acting. I never learn. Just you wait, Great Quan will soon be surnamed Chen.”

Chen Ping’an had been carefully observing the old general’s energy flow. It was better than he expected. Although it had previously been a final burst of vitality, it seemed that there had been subtle changes in Great Quan’s national fortune. Chen Ping’an roughly deduced that either there was something like a life-essence lamp in the Imperial Palace, or the Department of Astronomy had secretly used methods that violated the rules of the Confucian Temple, adding oil to the lamp. Any immortal master or mountain deity would covet to obtain such oil, for it was the ethereal Great Quan national fortune. Could it be that Yao Jinzhi had taken measures in the Yao family’s old territory on the border that would extend the empire’s fortune? Perhaps she had once again successfully expanded Great Quan’s borders, finally reaching an agreement with Northern Jin on the ownership of Pine Needle Lake, incorporating the entire Pine Needle Lake into Great Quan’s territory.

The sword-wielding woman gently pushed open the door.

The old man said, “I’m a little tired. I’ll take a nap. But I think I can wake up, unlike before, when I didn’t have the confidence to open my eyes after closing them.”

Yao Lingzhi carefully helped her grandfather lie down to rest.

Chen Ping’an did not leave the room immediately. Instead, Yao Xianzhi pulled his sister away first.

The siblings stood outside the corridor, speaking in low voices. Yao Lingzhi said, “My master is acting strangely. He asked me directly if the visitor’s name was Chen. Could it be that he’s an old acquaintance of Chen Gongzi?”

Yao Lingzhi’s martial arts master was none other than Great Quan’s chief courtier, Liu Zong, the Knife Sharpener from Lotus Root Paradise. However, the Knife Sharpener had not revealed his identity or origins, even to his direct disciple Yao Lingzhi.

Yao Xianzhi was somewhat absent-minded and suddenly asked a question, “The Emperor is not a cultivator, so why has her appearance changed so little over the years? Master Chen is a Sword Immortal, yet his changes are so great.”

Yao Lingzhi suppressed her anger. “The Emperor, the Emperor! Anywhere else is fine, but can’t you be less distant at home? Do you know how heartbroken Jinzhi-jiejie is every time you’re so deliberately formal, calling her ‘Your Majesty’ over and over?”

Yao Xianzhi’s expression was indifferent. “Now that she’s the Emperor, what does a little heartbreak matter?”
Yao Lingzhi lowered her voice, her face contorted with anger, and huffed, “Isn’t it just that brawl outside the palace gates during the morning assembly all those years ago? How long are you going to resent your sister before you can let it go?! You’re a member of the Yao family! Can you consider the grand scheme of the imperial court a little? Do you know how difficult it is to ‘treat everyone fairly’? If your sister were truly to act impartially, without the slightest favoritism, others would only see it as her favoring the Yao family, affecting everything. Do you think being the Emperor is so easy? Believe me, if Jinzhi were merely the Empress, let alone you, even your comrades would be heavily favored by the court. Besides, Jinzhi has subtly hinted to you countless times, telling you to be patient and endure some grievances for now because many present disadvantages will be compensated for in the long run. Think about it carefully. To carefully balance the factions in the officialdom, how many meritorious direct descendants of the Yao family and allies in the court were excluded from those twenty-four meritorious officials? Is it only you, Yao Xianz, who feels wronged?”

Yao Xianzhi crossed his arms. “Even an upright official finds it hard to judge family matters, let alone when we’re an imperial family. I understand the principle. If I didn’t consider the big picture, I would’ve quit long ago and rolled out of the capital, not obstructing anyone’s view. Otherwise, do you think I’d care about this title of a Junwang, let alone the position of the Prefect of the Capital?”

According to the Great Spring Law, a Junwang and a Duke are both of the first rank.

Now, besides the Shen Duke’s mansion, which once stood alone in Great Spring, there are eight more dukes, encompassing both civil and military ministers. General Xu Qingzhou is one of them.

Yao Xianzhi, annoyed, punched his younger sister on the shoulder. “You’re just a blockhead who only cares about your own mood and doesn’t listen to reason!”

The punch made Yao Xianzhi stagger slightly, causing a sleeve to flutter gently. Yao Lingzhi’s eyes reddened at the sight. She wanted to say something comforting to her brother, but she was afraid that if she did, Yao Xianzhi would become even more willful. Overwhelmed with emotion, the woman who once dared to draw her blade against a feudal lord could only turn her head away and wipe her tears.

A figure in a blue robe opened the door gently, closed it gently, and walked into the corridor.

Yao Lingzhi quickly composed herself and said to Chen Ping’an, “Master Chen, no one in the capital will recklessly pry into your identity. Today, we’ll act as if nothing happened. However, someone will secretly send a flying sword message to the south. I can’t stop that.”

Chen Ping’an thanked her and then smiled at Yao Xianzhi. “You should just roll off to the border and drink the northwest wind. You’re really not suitable to be the smooth-talking Prefect of the Capital.”

Yao Xianzhi’s eyes lit up. “Master Chen, could you mention it to Grandpa? Your words carry the most weight. I don’t even need to be a military general commanding an army. I don’t have that ability anyway. Just give me a captain of scouts, a sixth-rank military officer, and that’s enough to satisfy me.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “No problem. Of course, I can help, but only if you truly understand the reasoning your sister just told you. Only then can I let you go to the border to feed the horses. Otherwise, if anything happens in the capital, even the slightest breeze, you’ll only act impulsively. You think you’re just a captain of scouts, but what will others see? I bet a few inflammatory words in your ear, or another comrade feeling wronged in the officialdom, and you’d dare to lead a few hundred elite cavalry all the way to Mirage City, right? If I were the Emperor, I’d just let you be a peaceful Junwang behind closed doors, regardless of whether you can still fight for those comrades who retired from the battlefield. The court brawl outside the palace gates? How many civil officials did you kick over? Tell me. Tsk tsk, you think you’re an invincible peak martial artist below the mountain, or a transcendent fifth-stage Immortal cultivator above the mountain?”

“Young and ignorant, impulsive, wasn’t I? Isn’t that all learned from Master Chen? When encountering injustice, regardless of what’s what, strike first and ask questions later.”

Yao Xianzhi initially sounded disappointed, but the more he listened, the happier he became. He chuckled and said, “Master Chen, you didn’t see the scene. That bunch of civil officials who couldn’t even truss a chicken, if it weren’t for Xu Qingzhou stopping me at the time, I could have overturned them all by myself. There’s no such opportunity now. Don’t even mention a Vice Minister; even a low-ranking clerk in the Ministry of Revenue can’t be scolded or beaten. They’re too precious. If I had known, I would have taken advantage of the darkness to kick a few more.”

Yao Lingzhi listened helplessly but breathed a sigh of relief.

At least with Master Chen around, this brother wouldn’t say those sarcastic words that only hurt those close to him.

Chen Ping’an reached out and shook the empty sleeve of the disabled man. Instead of offering comforting words, he teased, “It’s a good thing you’re the Prefect of the Capital and didn’t venture into the pugilistic world alone. Otherwise, the dignified fifth-stage grandmaster of martial arts would inevitably earn the nickname ‘One-Armed Divine Fist’. What happened? Was it cut off by a great demon from the upper five realms? If not, then don’t bother telling me. There’s nothing to talk about.”

Yao Lingzhi cautiously glanced at her brother.

Unexpectedly, Yao Xianzhi didn’t feel sad at all. Instead, he said proudly, “On the battlefield, it was a near-death experience. It was a demon beast in the Earth Immortal realm! Hiding and dodging, it launched a sneak attack. A sword light flashed, and good heavens, I didn’t even feel the pain at first.”

Chen Ping’an looked at the woman with the saber.

Yao Lingzhi smiled and said, “Don’t listen to his boasting. In the chaos of battle, I don’t know how he lost an arm. But at the time, there was indeed a demon sword immortal near Xianzhi, whose swordsmanship was fierce, with many sword lights flashing back and forth.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Then we’ll assume it was cut off by a sword immortal; otherwise, there won’t be any bragging rights at the dinner table.”

Yao Xianzhi looked expectant and asked softly, “Master Chen, in your hometown, the battles are even fiercer, so terrible, I heard the fighting stretched all the way from Old Dragon City to the secondary capital in the central part of Great Li. On the battlefield, did you encounter any genuine great demons?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and replied with a smile, “I’ve encountered some. Some I fought, and some I just barely crossed paths with.”

Yao Xianzhi continued, “Master Chen, I’m talking about great demons, the kind in the upper five realms! How many? Are there five? If not, my admiration for Master Chen will be reduced by half.”

Chen Ping’an reached out and patted the man’s shoulder, smiling. “Don’t talk to people like that in the future.”

The man with the full beard laughed heartily.

Unknowingly, Yao Xianzhi began to limp, no longer trying to hide it, letting his sleeve flutter freely.
Yao Xianzhi chuckled along, having not witnessed such a bright and cheerful smile on his younger brother’s face in years, not since the days before the war.

Some truths, Yao Xianzhi genuinely grasped, yet he was loath to acknowledge them. It was as if by remaining ignorant, he could still take action. Becoming aware meant becoming powerless.

Hence, regardless of whether it was the current Emperor Yao Jinzhi speaking to him, or Yao Lingzhi, whom he still regarded as his elder sister, Yao Xianzhi turned a deaf ear. Otherwise, the anguish in his heart would only intensify.

The trio exited the courtyard, returning to Yao Xianzhi’s residence.

Yao Lingzhi hesitated before addressing Chen Ping’an, “Young Master Chen, I have a master, a martial arts grandmaster who has served as a royal protector in Great Spring Capital for many years. He seemed to have caught a glimpse of your figure earlier and immediately inquired if the guest in the Yao residence was named Chen. I did not confirm, but it’s likely he discerned something. He requested I convey a message, stating that he knows Master Zhong and that he once joined forces with Master Zhong to confront a Sword Immortal surnamed Yu.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Indeed, I am acquainted with Yao Lingzhi’s master. If there are no reservations on the residence’s part, I can be so bold as to invite him to pay a visit to the Yao residence for a reunion.”

Yao Lingzhi responded, “Then I shall go fetch my master immediately.”

Chen Ping’an then inquired, “That River Burial Water Goddess, is she currently residing in the Azure Billow Palace?”

Yao Xianzhi laughed, “Not at all. Our Water Goddess had her divine form shattered, claiming she was too ashamed to continue as a Water Goddess. She stubbornly refuses to go to the Azure Billow Palace, spending her days in the Sword Chamber of the Directorate of Astronomy, awaiting a reply from the Confucian Temple. She claims to know the Confucian Sage, and that she’s even met the Left Great Sword Immortal and a junior disciple of the Confucian Sage. Therefore, she desires to send a letter to that esteemed, erudite, approachable, and amiable Confucian Sage, hoping for assistance in procuring a better life-saving water pill for General Yao from the celestial beings. Because she knows that the elixirs from her own Azure Billow Palace are ineffective and cannot aid His Majesty the Emperor and my grandfather.”

Yao Xianzhi hastily added, “Those extravagant praises for the Confucian Sage were not my words. It was after drinking with her that the Water Goddess, with a belch after each sip, recited them with utmost seriousness. I, however, am skeptical. I doubt the Water Goddess has ever met any of those three from the Confucian lineage. She was just bragging after getting drunk. Although the Left Great Sword Immortal was indeed once in the Tongye Continent, there’s no reason why he would actively visit the Azure Billow Palace to meet our Water Goddess.”

Chen Ping’an rose and informed Yao Lingzhi, who had not gone far, “Please also convey a message to the Water Goddess, simply stating that I am Chen Ping’an.”

Yao Lingzhi departed to deliver the messages.

Chen Ping’an then inquired with Yao Xianzhi about details of the Great Spring War.

Soon after, Liu Zong arrived, the old man likely never having ventured far from the Yao residence.

Chen Ping’an stood and cupped his fist in greeting, “Senior Liu.”

Yao Xianzhi also rose and lightly tapped his chest with a fist, “Greetings, Protector Liu.”

The whetstone grinder, Liu Zong, nodded towards the unkempt man, then stroked his chin, staring intently at Chen Ping’an, and sighed, “Young Master Chen grows more handsome and celestial by the day, easily bringing back memories of my own youth.”

Yao Xianzhi was perplexed. Was it possible that Master Chen and Protector Liu were on extremely good terms?

The three took their seats.

Before they could exchange more than a few words, a diminutive woman swiftly arrived on the wind, landing in the courtyard. Her eyes widened, and after confirming Chen Ping’an’s identity, she stamped her foot, “The water lily wine and eel noodles are all gone! What now?!”
“Sword come!”