A chess piece, she suddenly stood up, facing away from the cliff, performed a deep bow, and then asked, “Zhou Shenqing? Immortal Master Zhou?!”

Jiang Shangzhen was about to retort with, “Why call him Immortal Master Zhou? Just call him Brother Zhou,” but he received a nudge from Chen Ping’an’s elbow. He reluctantly tossed another “Minor Heat” coin and changed his words to, “Brother Zhou had some matters to attend to today, we’ll chat another time.”

Chen Ping’an frowned slightly, and questioned, “If the ‘Mirrored Flowers, Water Moon’ (鏡花水月) communication network on this mountain were a bit more relaxed, wouldn’t it be a kind of mountain and river bulletin?”

Jiang Shangzhen chuckled, “The Great Li Dynasty (大驪朝廷) pioneered this. Initially, both the ‘Mountain and River Bulletins’ (山水邸報) and ‘Mirrored Flowers, Water Moon’ of the vast world were prohibited. But here in Treasure Bottle洲 (宝瓶洲), ignoring the regulations of the Confucian Temple (文廟), they took the lead in restarting the ‘Mirrored Flowers, Water Moon,’ but adopted a compromise. They are not allowed to discuss that war. Otherwise, they will be recorded by the Ministry of Rites (禮部) of various countries and then targeted by Great Li cultivators. No one can bear such consequences, since the great war has ended, there is no reason to suffer this crime. Of course, there are some stubborn mountain immortals who don’t take it seriously, thinking that the Great Li Dynasty, with its halved territory and further shrinking boundaries, would definitely be unable to manage it. As for their final fate, it was not surprising. The Song Clan (宋氏) of Great Li was truly sinister, secretly dealt with a large batch of immortal factions that didn’t abide by the rules, deliberately delaying the announcement to the continent until fifty families had been dealt with, then finally released the news. The Confucian Temple in the Central Earth (中土) not only didn’t question Great Li, but simply followed suit.”

Two terms flashed in Chen Ping’an’s mind: “Adhesive Pole” (粘桿), and “Fishing” (釣魚), suggestive of covert operations and entrapment.

Jiang Shangzhen sighed, “It is said on Treasure Bottle洲 that this was the tactic of Liu Qingfeng (柳清風), the old Minister of Rites in the Great Li’s secondary capital. This fellow doesn’t leave himself any room for retreat. But according to behind-the-scenes information from True Realm Sect (真境宗), it was actually the idea of Zhao Yao (趙繇), the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice (刑部) in the Great Li capital. Young people who walk out of the Carp Pearl Grotto-Heaven (驪珠洞天), especially scholars, are truly ruthless. But this further highlights Liu Qingfeng’s iron will.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “I’ve known Liu Qingfeng for a long time. He’s extremely pragmatic and very capable. He follows the path of ‘Inner Sage, Outer King’ combined with overbearing dominance, completely lacking scholarly airs. Most of the time, he doesn’t even resemble a Confucian disciple. If Liu Qingfeng were a cultivator, Zhao Yao wouldn’t have much chance to become a National Preceptor (國師). Actually, many scholars’ ideas are too abstract, lacking a gradual process, and they have nothing to support their whims. Liu Qingfeng is completely different, he is very good at building momentum, not even borrowing it. When I was able to leave the Summer Retreat Palace (避暑行宮) to go to Spring Banner House (春幡齋) on Upside-Down Mountain (倒懸山) back then, I paid special attention to Liu Qingfeng’s official career.”

Jiang Shangzhen sighed, “A scholar who can be praised by you like this is certainly formidable.”

The chess game in the pavilion continued. The young female Daoist of Green Plum Temple (青梅觀) and the female cultivator of Green Sesame Sect (青芝派) spoke telepathically while playing chess, discussing the “Zhou Shenqing” who spent a fortune, and his ties to Green Plum Temple. The latter was shaken to the core. Could there be such a Grand Cultivator in the world who spends Immortal Coins (神仙錢) as if they were silver? Could he be a terrestrial immortal (陸地神仙) whose realm reaches the clouds?

Chen Ping’an and his party then left Green Sesame Sect’s mountain. Before descending, Chen Ping’an took out ten Snowflake Coins (雪花錢) and bought two pieces of Green Jade Lingzhi (青玉靈芝), giving them to Xu Yuanxia (徐遠霞) at the foot of the mountain.

Xu Yuanxia laughed, “What would I do with these things? The little savings of the martial arts gym (武館) are not even enough for two viewings of ‘Mirrored Flowers, Water Moon’.”

Chen Ping’an explained, “If there’s really an emergency, sending a letter is too slow. Just go to Green Sesame Sect’s mountain and activate ‘Mirrored Flowers, Water Moon.’ I’ll come as soon as possible.”

Xu Yuanxia scoffed, “Don’t tell me you’ll be guarding Green Sesame Sect’s ‘Mirrored Flowers, Water Moon’ every day while you’re on Fallen Phoenix Mountain (落魄山)? Aren’t you ashamed as a Mountain Lord (山主)?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Of course I won’t be personally watching it every day. Someone will be keeping an eye out. After all, I’m a Mountain Lord, and I have a few enshrined guest retainers (客卿).”

Xu Yuanxia asked, “So you’re hoping that something happens to me?”

Chen Ping’an thought about it, and realized that it was indeed inauspicious, so he had to take back the Green Jade Lingzhi. After thinking for a moment, he casually tossed it to Jiang Shangzhen, “You like this stuff, it’s yours.”

Jiang Shangzhen put it in his sleeve without any ceremony.

The martial arts gym also had a镖局(Biaoju) delivery service to earn money. Everyone mounted a few dwarf horses. Bai Xuan (白玄) probably felt that the horse’s back was too hot, so he stood up, put his hands behind his back, and stood on the horse behind Jiang Shangzhen. Before Master Cao (曹師傅) could speak, Bai Xuan said that as long as he met someone on the road, he would obediently sit down. Bai Xuan suddenly reached out and slapped Jiang Shangzhen’s head, “Old Brother Zhou, gallop for me! Four legs are moving so slowly, it’s slower than me walking on two legs!”