Seeing the out-of-town scholar in azure robes seemingly moved, and on the verge of following the young man to another city, the maiden immediately flared with anger at the youth, exclaiming, “Are you even aware of the concept of ‘first come, first served’?”

Unexpectedly, the young man possessed a fiery temper, retorting with a stinging rebuke, “Qin Zidu, you artful hussy! How dare you address me in such a manner? Quickly slap yourself three times across the face as punishment!”

The maiden, taken aback at hearing her full name uttered so directly, and further humiliated by being publicly branded a “hussy,” appeared to shrink. Perhaps intimidated by the young man’s status, she offered no retort. Her eyes lowered, brimming with unshed tears, she produced an embroidered handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes.

The young man, now emboldened, continued his persuasive effort towards Chen Pingan, urging him to leave Item City. “Esteemed Chen, the presence of so much powder and rouge is excessively cloying, hardly refined. Our City Lord is well aware that you have never favored such gatherings of alluring women and fluttering moths, where the scented breezes assault one like a drawn sword – a most unseemly state. Thus, esteemed Chen, it would be wise to depart with me at once. Our City Lord has prepared a grand feast to welcome you and cleanse the dust of travel, and furthermore, has prepared a lavish gift as recompense for completing your transformation.”

Chen Pingan smiled faintly. “You ought not speak of Miss Biyu in such a manner.”

The reason for not immediately accepting the young man’s invitation was because Chen Pingan still desired to explore Item City further. He also needed to express his gratitude to the bearded stranger, and there was the matter of the weapons shop owner. The burly man had been loitering at his doorway, seemingly paying close attention to the “Night Wanderer” slung across his back. Coupled with the presence of Tongling Ginger and Tangshan Lotus root, two local delicacies, Chen Pingan was beginning to suspect the shopkeeper’s true identity. It was highly probable that he was none other than Mr. Wu Song, whom Bai Ye had encountered during his early mountain pilgrimages. Thus, Chen Pingan planned to request a painting of an Ox from this “Scholar Du,” whether he succeeded or not, it was worth a try. The beginning of any endeavor is always the most difficult, but once a single thread is pulled, the rest becomes much easier.

Upon hearing Chen Pingan address Qin Zidu as “Biyu,” thus knowing her pet name, the young man visibly started, then broke into a hearty laugh. “Never did I imagine that esteemed Chen was already aware of this lowly wench’s origins! This being the case, I am sure you have perused ‘The Unofficial Records of Crimson Radiance Pavilion,’ ‘Annals of Rouge,’ and that ‘Compendium of Fragrant Adventures’ as well! Young Sword Immortals are often men of passion and true temperament. Truly, we are kindred spirits! No wonder our City Lord holds you in such high regard, singling you out with his esteemed gaze. Li Shilang has clearly misjudged esteemed Chen, mistaking you for one of those rigid and pedantic dullards.”

Chen Pingan quickly interjected with a smile, “You flatter me. I merely overheard others mentioning it in passing. I have not actually read any of those three books.”

At the mention of the last book by the youth, Chen Pingan instantaneously formed a sword incantation with his fingers, simultaneously using his sword aura to disperse and mute the young man’s voice, lest Pei Qian and Little Rice Grain should overhear. That old cook’s reckless habit of buying books was truly a curse.

Now that the Duke and the fortune-telling stall were gone, and Shao Baojuan had departed, Pei Qian allowed Little Rice Grain to remain in the basket. She put away her long staff, picked up her walking stick, and carried the basket on her back once more, standing quietly at Chen Pingan’s side. Pei Qian’s gaze lingered on the maiden named Qin Zidu. This girl had clearly put a great deal of thought into her appearance before venturing out. She wore a purple dress, her hair adorned with a purple flower, and a small purple sachet embroidered with the characters “Rouge Goddess Mansion” hung from her belt. Her makeup was particularly exquisite, with golden touches, musky undertones, and a luminous complexion. What was especially rare was that she had applied white makeup along both of her temples, immediately making her slightly round face appear longer and more refined.

Pei Qian stared, dumbfounded. If the maiden made similar preparations every time she went out, how much time would she have to spend in her room? Didn’t she find it bothersome?

Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment, ultimately refraining from stopping the inevitable clash. He instead took a few steps away from the loose-lipped youth, lest he be caught in the crossfire.

As expected, the maiden abruptly raised her head, quickly closed the distance, and grabbed the young man’s ear, yanking it with considerable force. The youth yelped and winced. With her other hand, the maiden proceeded to rake at the young man’s face, cursing, “I’ll show you ‘wench’! I’ll show you ‘hussy’!” The young man, unwilling to be at a disadvantage, and without a shred of chivalry, retaliated by grabbing the maiden’s hair. The pair, appearing to be of similar age, soon became entangled, clawing and striking at each other. They even resorted to elbows and knees. It was a chaotic mess.

The scene was eye-opening for Little Rice Grain. These locals were all so fierce and short-tempered, resorting to scratching and clawing at the slightest provocation.

Pei Qian glanced at her master, and Chen Pingan gently shook his head, signaling her not to intervene. The squabbling pair, having fought from a standing position, fell to the ground. Finally, the young man kicked the maiden in the face, and the maiden returned the favor, kicking the young man in the chest and groin. In the end, both slid backward. Fortunately, neither seemed to possess any martial arts skills, and they did not cause too much commotion. The maiden staggered to her feet, brushing the dust from her clothes. The young man, one hand covering his face and the other pressing against his chest, winced and wobbled, forced to bend at the waist.

Pei Qian saw that the maiden had plucked and redrawn her eyebrows. Now, one eyebrow had been kicked off by the young man. Her earlier peach-blossom-hued, delicate makeup was a mess. Her face was a canvas of smeared colors, and the purple flower that had adorned her hair was now crushed and scattered on the ground. The maiden standing on the street looked somewhat comical.

The small embroidered sachet bearing the words “Rouge Goddess Mansion” had come untied during the scuffle, and a bronze-green beetle, as large as an elm pod, had escaped. Earlier, the young man had seized the opportunity, as he stood up, to quietly stomp the beetle beneath his boot. The maiden, named Biyu, quickly realized that she had lost one of her “green gold cicadas,” used to cultivate charm. She was frantic, pointing at the young man and threatening, “Long Bin, give me back my green gold cicada!”

Chen Pingan sighed softly. It seemed that a potential opportunity had slipped through his fingers.
On太平 Mountain in Tongye Continent, Dai Yuan, a cultivator employed by the Yu Dynasty, once offered Chen Ping’an an apology gift: an inkstone called “Moonlit Pine Taoist Ink.” Chen Ping’an passed it on to someone else. It was said that beneath the moonlight, a tiny Taoist would appear, flitting about like a fly, claiming to be the envoy of the Black Pine, a servant of the ink essence. Later, Chen Ping’an learned from Cui Dongshan that the little Taoist spirit, known as “Longbin,” didn’t gain enlightenment from the inkstone itself. He simply happened to be passing by, drawn by his habit of using rare and ancient inkstones as his “immortal ferry crossings.” His movements were unpredictable and elusive. Without good fortune, even immortals seeking ink would struggle to find him. He was an embodiment of concentrated literary fortune, akin to incense-fed imps or silver “grasshopper” insects in their path to enlightenment. Each inkstone Longbin frequented would be imbued with literary essence, which even Cui Dongshan found regrettable. Chen Ping’an, of course, felt even more pained, as it would have been the perfect gift for Xiao Nuan Shu.

On the ferry, opportunities abounded, but so did traps.

“Worthless junk, who wants it? Here, take it.” The youth scoffed, using his toe to flick the green-gold cicada towards the girl. She caught it with both hands, carefully placing it in a brocade pouch and tightening the drawstring.

The girl asked, “What did the Sword Immortal say? Will he write the ‘Discourse on the Badness of Human Nature’ without error and be politely escorted away, or will we consider each other mortal enemies from today onward?”

Chen Ping’an replied, “I won’t write anything. I only hope to wander around here for a few days. If your city lord wants to expel me, so be it. Li Shilang can act rashly and see me as an enemy if he wishes, but I don’t view Item-Mark City that way.”

The girl frowned. “An uninvited guest, lacking gratitude, annoying and bothersome.”

She suddenly smiled. “Young and impetuous, but a Sword Immortal with a generous spirit nonetheless.”

As if receiving an order, she cocked her head, listening intently. Then, she said, “The Deputy City Lord just heard of the Sword Immortal’s arrival. He wants me to tell you that you’re welcome to explore Item-Mark City, but only for three days. After that, if you can’t find a way to another city, Item-Mark City can’t be blamed for following protocol.”

The youth was about to speak when she stamped her foot and snapped, “Longbin, this is the decision of our City Lord and Deputy City Lord. I advise you not to interfere! Otherwise, you’ll cause a rift between the cities, and you might even lose your remaining title of ‘State Chancellor’!”

Chen Ping’an, not wanting the youth to be put in a difficult position, chuckled, “Let’s meet here again in four days.”

The youth nodded in agreement, his face still marked with visible scratches. He glared at Qin Zidu, who hailed from the Rouge Divine Mansion, and sneered, “Just you wait. One day, I’ll assemble a great army and march straight to your Rouge Den, your Bone Mound.”

The gorgeously adorned woman, with her red sleeves emitting fragrance, delicately ground ink – a literary pastime beyond reproach. However, for Longbin, the appointed Envoy of Soot and Governor of Xuanxiang, it held a hint of a great dao conflict.

Qin Zidu spat. “Spouting nonsense, defiling literature, you shameless thing!”

The youth, disinclined to argue with the short-sighted woman, was about to leave Item-Mark City when Chen Ping’an suddenly grabbed his arm and smiled, “I forgot to ask you, Your Excellency State Chancellor, which city are you from? If something delays Your Excellency in four days, I’ll take the liberty of visiting.”

The youth cried out in distress, “Ouch, ouch, ouch! Why are you pulling me, Mr. Chen? Just ask!”

Chen Ping’an replied honestly with a grin, “To absorb some literary qi.”

The youth glanced down at his sleeve, where Chen Ping’an had grasped his arm. A vibrant, multicolored aura was flowing like rivers into the sea, gradually coalescing. He wore a mournful expression. “I already don’t have much left! And now Mr. Chen has plundered some more! At this rate, I’ll be worse off each year, like Wang Xiaoer during the New Year!”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Once I leave the ferry, I’ll be sure to thank Your Excellency State Chancellor from afar.”

The youth’s eyes lit up, and he no longer restrained the mystical aura on his sleeve. “Really?!”

Before the youth could further discuss matters with Chen Ping’an, he staggered backward, his form dissolving as he departed for another city. He could only hurriedly say one sentence to Chen Ping’an, sounding almost like a prophecy: “The rooster crows in the sky, the dog barks in the clouds.”

Rooster-Dog City? Isn’t that a rather unrefined name? Wouldn’t “Enlightenment City” sound better? Perhaps the name was too grand, not suitable?

Chen Ping’an shook his sleeve, and a bead of multicolored light condensed at the tip of his right finger. The literary qi was dense, like a flower blooming from his fingertip. Finally, Chen Ping’an stored it in his sleeve.

Qin Zidu didn’t pay much attention to it. Within Item-Mark City, passersby earned opportunities based on their abilities, which was nothing unusual. However, she gazed at Pei Qian, the girl with the clean forehead and the bun hairstyle, with a complicated expression. Finally, she couldn’t help but advise, “Little girl, a scholar dies for his confidant, a woman adorns herself for her beloved. If you were to properly primp yourself, you’d be quite a pretty girl. Why are you so careless? This Sword Immortal, since he knows my nickname, must be familiar with boudoir matters. Why doesn’t he teach you? Don’t you resent him?”

Pei Qian, accustomed to dressing practically and never wearing makeup on her travels, her hair always simply styled, replied expressionlessly, “No need. It’s more practical this way, not a bother.”

Qin Zidu exclaimed, heartbroken, “Not a bother? How can it not be a bother? The love of beauty is inherent in everyone. Isn’t it only right for a woman to enhance her appearance?”

Pei Qian looked at the tragically made-up girl before her, stifled a laugh, shook her head, and said nothing more.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “The ancients said that the pure and auspicious qi of heaven and earth gather in a woman’s boudoir. When women have leisure, they should indeed wear light makeup. Lady Biyu just said that a woman adorns herself for her beloved. Since heaven and earth are the greatest talents, then whether a woman wears heavy or light makeup, as long as it’s appropriate, it will be most fitting for them.”

Half of his words were Chen Ping’an’s sincere thoughts. If Pei Qian herself wanted to use rouge and powder, and it wasn’t an overly gaudy look, then light makeup would be fine. After all, at Pei Qian’s age, she was no longer the little charcoal girl, and it was time for her to take care of herself. Of course, if Pei Qian wasn’t interested and preferred to go without makeup, that was also perfectly acceptable. As for the other half of his words, they were merely Chen Ping’an’s polite words to Qin Niangniang of the Rouge Divine Mansion.
Qin Zidu was astonished, her previous aloof and detached demeanor completely vanished. She performed a Wanfu bow to Chen Ping’an, addressing him differently for the first time, her voice lilting with a smile, “Master Chen’s words are truly eloquent and insightful, transporting one beyond the mundane. Then, may this humble servant wish Master Chen a successful and rewarding experience in the next three days.”

Chen Ping’an clasped his fist in a gesture of thanks.

Qin Zidu inquired, “Does Master Chen happen to carry any rouge or face powder?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “I do not.”

Clearly, he had missed another opportunity.

She nodded with a smile, a hint of regret in her eyes. Then, her form began to blur, transforming into seven colors, filling the entire street with fragrance. The seven colors rose like an immortal ascending, then instantly dispersed in all directions, leaving no trace for Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Perhaps we can find some stinky tofu when we change locations in four days.”

Pei Qian smiled knowingly, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. Cosmetics and makeup were too cumbersome, something Pei Qian felt would hinder her fist. However, Sister Shi Rou from Riding Dragon Lane greatly favored these things. She wondered if there would be a chance to bring some back from this Eye-of-the-List City within the next three days.

Little Rice Grain, sitting in the basket, immediately drooled upon hearing about stinky tofu, quickly wiping her mouth. She didn’t understand or remember anything else, only the stinky tofu occupied the little black-clad girl’s thoughts.

Chen Ping’an shifted slightly, approaching the cotton cloth stall, squatting down, his gaze darting around, selecting objects he fancied. Finally, he settled on a palm-sized miniature bow, and asked the bearded merchant, who looked like a general commanding ten thousand troops, “How much for this bow?”

The gilded small water vat that was originally on the stall had already been acquired by Shao Baojuan in exchange for answering the Blue Ox Taoist’s question.

On the cotton cloth, there remained a small bundle of withered plum branches, a small porcelain pot with daffodils.

There was a scroll, tied with a small label with elegant writing, “Teach all women under Heaven to adorn themselves.”

There was an iron flower holder shaped like three monkeys trying to scoop the moon from water. A piece of ebony paperweight, inscribed with, “Unwilling to sway with the wind, profound silence reigns. The virtuous guide themselves uprightly, using stillness to anchor.” The signature read, “Shuye.”

Finally, there was the small bow placed in the corner, with an archaic and delicate design, resembling a child’s toy. Tiny, almost imperceptible inscriptions read, “Cloud Dream, Tall Pine.”

The bearded merchant, seeing that this person had picked and chosen, and only settled on this small bow, shook his head with a helpless expression, “I’ll sell it, I’ll sell it, but it won’t be easy for you to buy. You need to collect a few books first, at least three. After I’ve read them, you can use one of them to trade for the bow. As for anything else, I won’t say any more.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, an idea forming in his mind, then turned his gaze to the painting, asking, “How much for this painting? Or is it also a barter trade?”

The bearded merchant nodded and smiled, “Young master is wise. My stall indeed operates on a barter system, but the items I require are not within the Eye-of-the-List City. The journey is long, and the security is tight. If you are truly unwilling to give up, go find a place, on the north slope of Mount Li, with the Tianbao Era engravings. If you can reach that cool and refreshing realm, beside the Green Jade Pond, and bring back a statue of a beautiful woman, you can exchange it for the painting. At that time, a karmic opportunity will naturally come to you.”

Chen Ping’an inquired, “So, this painting and the cool and refreshing realm of the Tianbao Era are both illusory, and the next karmic opportunity is the real prize?”

Today, within the Eye-of-the-List City, besides Shao Baojuan and Shen Xiaokan, although they were all living immortals, they were still graded into different levels, depending on the degree of their “self-awareness.” People like the bearded man before him, the previous Blue Ox Taoist, and the Scholar Du from the nearby weapon shop, who missed his hometown’s Tongling ginger and Chuzhou sour plum soup, were clearly more “alive and vivid,” and their actions were accordingly more “free-spirited.”

The bearded man grinned, answering indirectly, “If you are ruthless enough, and your skills in visiting immortals and exploring the mysterious are sufficient, and you can move all those jade statues of concubines and palace maids out of the cool and refreshing realm, then your luck with women will be truly considerable.”

Pei Qian suddenly transmitted her voice in a line, “Master, I seem to have seen something about this in a book. If the records are true, the north slope of Mount Li is easy to find, but the Tianbao Era engravings are hard to locate. However, we only need to find a local woodcutter or shepherd, and they can help us lead the way. When someone writes the two characters ‘Summer Retreat’ by hand, the stone door of the cave will open on its own. It is said that inside there is a bath, the water depicted by jade, shimmering like living water. It’s just that the scene of jade figures inside is too… sensual and enchanting. Master, you should enter alone, and I will wait outside with Little Rice Grain.”

Chen Ping’an scolded with a laugh, “You even know about this? What kind of miscellaneous book did you read these secrets and anecdotes from?”

Pei Qian blinked her eyes, “Sister Zai Xi told me. Back in Golden Armor Continent, after every battle, she liked to tell me these stories of gods and monsters the most. I just listened casually. At that time, I asked Sister Zai Xi how big the pond was, and how much immortal money could be sold with so much jade. Sister Zai Xi even scolded me for being a money grubber.”

The merchant, seeing that Chen Ping’an was staring at the ebony paperweight, proactively said, “Young master, bring a complete collection of qin scores to exchange.”

Chen Ping’an understood, it was undoubtedly the “Guangling Zhibi” (Guangling Respite). He clasped his fist and said, “Thank you for your conversation with Lord Feng earlier, senior. This junior will go into the city to find a book.”

The bearded merchant only nodded in acknowledgement, smiling, “Young master has accepted a good disciple.”

Chen Ping’an led Pei Qian and Little Rice Grain away from the stall, first going to the weapon shop. The shopkeeper sat behind the counter, chewing on tender lotus root with white ginger. Seeing Chen Ping’an return, the merchant was neither surprised nor did he ask anything.

Chen Ping’an bowed, “Greetings, Mr. Wusong.”

The merchant asked, “Do you have any scholarly titles?”

Chen Ping’an stood up and respectfully replied, “This junior has no imperial examination titles, but I have a student, who is a ‘Bangyan’ (second place in the Imperial Exam).”

The merchant showed some semblance of a smile, proactively asking, “Do you want the flower-scented sticker that City Lord Shao completed earlier?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “Mr. Wusong definitely has use for the flower-scented sticker. This junior simply wants to shamelessly ask Mr. Wusong for a painting of a water buffalo.”
The ferryman was slightly surprised, “Making a living on the ferry boat, rules are rules, there are no exceptions. Since you know I am that Du scholar, and know that I can paint, then are you at least somewhat familiar with the verses of the literary master of Five Pine Mountain, whose new works are praised throughout the land? What is meant by ‘new verses’? Forget it, this might be a little difficult for you. Just casually mention a title of a poem I wrote in my life. Since you were able to obtain a fragment of the Tai Bai Immortal Sword’s tip from Bai Ye, I believe knowing this shouldn’t be too hard.”

Chen Pingan looked embarrassed.

The Tai Bai Sword tip was obtained inexplicably in Sword Qi Great Wall. Chen Pingan only knew the name and general background of this Five Pine Mountain master, who could exchange poems with Bai Ye. He didn’t know any of his poems at all. In fact, the main reason Chen Pingan knew about the Five Pine Mountain master was because of this Du scholar’s identity as a “Refiner.” In short, Chen Pingan could remember the poem Bai Ye wrote, but he didn’t know a single word of what this Five Pine Mountain master had ever written.

Little Rice Grain, who was diligently pecking at the rice in the basket to help the good person Mountain Master, was even more embarrassed, and could only scratch her face.

The Du scholar smiled, “Since the longsword was just here, but happens to be absent this time, then you don’t have the destiny to get the Water Buffalo Picture.”

The ferryman sighed. Bai Ye’s lone journey to Fyao Continent with his sword was indeed touching. Once departed, the peach blossoms and spring waters would be deep.

Chen Pingan felt a little regretful and didn’t dare to force the destiny. He cupped his fists and bid farewell, remembering something, and asked, “Can Five Pine Mountain Master drink alcohol?”

The ferryman smiled without speaking.

Chen Pingan took out two pots of immortal wine from his miniature world, placed them on the counter, cupped his fists again, and smiled brightly, “Outside Five Pine Mountain, meeting you, Master, I dare to offer wine as a token of respect, it is my honor.”

The ferryman watched the back of the young man in the green shirt cross the threshold, reached out and took a pot of wine, and nodded. He was a youngster who could broaden his path in the world. So, he called out, “Young man, if you’re not busy, you might as well take the initiative to visit Master Bu Weng.”

Chen Pingan immediately turned around, quickly walked back to the shop, and took out two more pots of wine.

The Du scholar was stunned, “What are you doing?”

Chen Pingan asked softly, “May I ask, is the ‘Epitaph for a Crane,’ the ancestor of large-character calligraphy, really from the hand of Master Bu Weng?”

The Du scholar reached out his hands, pressed down on the two new pots of wine, and smiled without saying a word.

Chen Pingan had no choice but to leave again, going to browse the various bookstores in Item City. Finally, in the Zi Department Bookstore, the Taoist Scripture Store, and the Other Records Pavilion, he found “Family Sayings,” “Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals,” and “Notes from Yunqi,” respectively. Among them, Chen Pingan followed scattered memories to find a Classics Department Bookstore first, asking without success. The shopkeeper only said that there was no such book. He went to the Counterfeit Book Shop, also without success. Finally, he bought this book in the Zi Department Bookstore and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there was a record of that bow inside. It turned out that, according to the historical records of Item City, the status of this book had been lowered from the “Classics Department” to the “Zi Department,” but it was not regarded as a counterfeit book like in Vast Heaven. As for “Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals,” it was not sold in the Miscellaneous Scholars Bookstore, causing Chen Pingan to make an extra trip in vain.

However, when it came time to pay the bill, Chen Pingan realized that the prices of books in Item City were indeed not expensive, but immortal money was completely useless. Not to mention Snowflake Coins, even Grain Rain Coins were meaningless. They had to use the gold, silver, and copper coins that mountain cultivators regarded as burdens. Fortunately, Pei Qian and Little Rice Grain each carried a money jar. Little Rice Grain even volunteered, stopped Pei Qian, and took the lead in paying the bill. The little girl, who had made a great contribution, smiled happily, shaking her head and wagging her tail, extremely happy. She hurriedly took out a large gold ingot from her private money and handed it to the good person Mountain Master, saying heroically that it didn’t need to be returned. Small money, just a drizzle.

Standing in the basket, she coughed softly in the end. Pei Qian nodded with a smile, indicating that she would record it in the Book of Merits.

Buying three books for less than two taels of silver was enough for Chen Pingan to exchange for the small bow from the bearded man. Just casually giving one of them could exchange for a chance.

However, Chen Pingan continued to look for other bookstores, eventually crossing the threshold of a Logicians shop. The rule of Item City’s bookstores was that if you asked about a book, they must answer, but if the shop didn’t have the book, there would be no answer and you would be glared at. In this Logicians shop, Chen Pingan failed to buy that book, but he still spent some “unnecessary money,” a total of three taels of silver, to buy several ancient books with fresh ink, mostly about the Logicians’ ten theses and twenty-one debates. However, some books contained more detailed and profound records than those in Vast Heaven. Although none of these books could be taken away on the ferry, even just flipping through and reading the books on this journey would provide true knowledge. Chen Pingan had long been paying attention to Logician’s debate and Buddhist dialectics, and had studied them extensively.

At that time, the shopkeeper of the Logicians bookstore was a young man with a refined appearance, elegant and refreshing, with a very immortal air. He first looked at Pei Qian, then turned to Chen Pingan and asked with a smile, “Young man, would you like to establish a city of your own and become its lord? Just exchange one thing, and I can help you open up a new city without breaking the rules. From then on, many benefits will not be less than Shao Baojuan’s.”

Chen Pingan bowed to this person and apologized, “I appreciate your kindness, Master, but the Hao Liang Sword-Nourishing Gourd is a relic of a deceased friend from my homeland, and I really cannot trade it with you. Otherwise, not to mention business dealings, since I have received much kindness from Logicians teachings, I would have directly gifted it to you if it was permissible.”

A Hao Liang token was given to Chen Pingan by the Sword Immortal Mi Hu. Chen Pingan didn’t accept it at first, still hoping that Mi Yu, who was leaving Sword Qi Great Wall, could keep this item. However, Mi Yu was unwilling, so Chen Pingan had to give it to Pei Qian for safekeeping.

The young shopkeeper looked at Chen Pingan and suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, “What’s so difficult about obtaining broad and diverse knowledge? It’s not difficult at all. The only difficulty lies in the word ‘sincerity.’ Today, receiving such sincere words from a younger generation is already a great comfort to my heart. Therefore, I will not accept money and will give you a few words of advice. The book you are looking for is actually not even considered a book. It’s just a few words. It’s not here, but in the History Department Bookstore, the first one on the street, in the ‘Bibliographical Records’, under the Taoist section, the ‘Treatise on Guarding the White’. Remember, it’s the History Department, because it contains more content than the Taoist Scripture Department.”
Chen Pingan thanked him and departed. As expected, he bought the gazetteer containing the “Treatise on Guarding Simplicity” in the first shop after entering the city. However, Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment and still wandered around, wasting money before returning to the Daoist scripture shop and buying another book.

On the way, Zhou Mili held up her palm to her mouth and whispered to Pei Qian, “A shop that can hold so many books, and any shopkeeper can just pull out a book that we need. It’s so strange!”

Pei Qian smiled and said, “It’s a small world, driven by intention.”

Zhou Mili suddenly understood, “I knew it!”

While Chen Pingan was searching for books, Du Xiucai walked out of the shop and came to the side of the bearded man, sighing, “Involving the choices among the teachings of the three religions and hundreds of schools in a cultivator’s heart, this kid’s actions are very dangerous. If he wasn’t from a certain Confucian lineage, it wouldn’t matter. He could choose whatever he wants, anyway, it wouldn’t hurt his Dao heart at all. Even if it did, he could just read a few more books afterward and patch it up.”

The burly man nodded and said, “That’s why I didn’t want to sell this bow to him at first. It would be too unethical to deliberately induce someone to make a purchase. But that kid has sharp eyes and is extremely knowledgeable. He squatted there earlier, deliberately looking around, but he had already set his sights on this bow. I can’t break the rules and tell him that this bow is too hot to handle.”

Du Xiucai laughed and said, “But if this deal really goes through, you’ll be able to completely shed your shackles and no longer have to rely on those ten thousand armored soldiers to behead that person in order to break free. Ultimately, it’s a good thing. We’re all drawing circles around ourselves, waiting here bitterly for hundreds or thousands of years, repeating the same scenes day after day, year after year. It’s really tiring to watch.”

The burly man grinned, “If I had wine to drink, I guarantee I wouldn’t spill a drop.”

Du Xiucai smiled and tossed him a pot of wine. The bearded man caught it, sniffed the aroma, and was intoxicated, then became sad and murmured, “In the past, when I roamed the world with a sword on my back and a bow in hand, riding a donkey, I only liked to drink heartily. Now, I can’t even bear to take a sip.”

Over at the Famous Scholars Shop, the young shopkeeper was flipping through a book, as if flipping through mountains and rivers, having a complete overview of Chen Pingan’s movements in the city. He nodded with a smile, talking to himself, “The mountain of books is never empty. There are no wasted journeys. When travelers descend the mountain, they never come down empty-handed. The more they wander and detour, the more they benefit in life. Shen Xiaokan ah, Shen Xiaokan, how can you claim to know nothing? In the ‘Night Voyage Boat,’ to know what you know, and to not know what you don’t know, that is true knowledge.”

He then became somewhat puzzled, shook his head, and sighed, “Does this City Lord Shao have a feud with you, kid? He’s so sure that you’ll take a fancy to that bow? So he’s determined to have you dismantle a pillar of the three religions yourself. In that case, it might damage some of your Daoist opportunities in the future.”

Because before Chen Pingan came to this Famous Scholars Shop to buy books, Shao Baojuan had come here first and spent money to buy all the books related to that famous story in one go, all of them, hundreds of them. So Chen Pingan’s initial choice to come here to buy books was actually correct, but he was one step behind Shao Baojuan, who had pretended to leave Tiaomu City.

The young shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then took the rare step of walking out of the shop, looked up at the sky, and smiled, “Fellow Daoist Lu, haven’t I implicated you, adding unnecessary detail? This kid seems to be drifting further and further away from the Daoist sect, causing you to be struck by ‘a sword’ for no reason again?”

The young out-of-towner who had just boarded the ship needed to be both a rigorous Confucian scholar and a wandering swordsman. So whether he was handed a Confucian gazetteer or a book from a Daoist scripture shop today, there was quite a difference between the two. Otherwise, if Shao Baojuan hadn’t interfered, handing over a book from the Famous Scholars Shop wouldn’t have been a big deal. But this young shopkeeper, who had only asked for the words “Haoliang” earlier, and not a gourd for nurturing swords, was now standing outside the shop, speaking apologetic words, but with a hint of a smile on his face.

Chen Pingan and his group returned to the bearded man’s stall. He squatted down, kept one of the books, and took out the other four. He placed three of them on the cloth mat, holding one in his hand. All four books contained a story about the “gain and loss of a bow.” Chen Pingan then gave the last Daoist “Treatise on Guarding Simplicity,” which recorded the least about the story, to the stall owner. Chen Pingan was clearly choosing this Daoist book as a form of exchange.

As for the shopkeeper of the Famous Scholars Shop, he couldn’t really be considered as plotting against Chen Pingan. It was more like giving a gentle push. Which pier to stop at still depended on the boatman’s own choice. Besides, if it weren’t for the shopkeeper’s reminder, Chen Pingan would have had to run all over half of Tiaomu City to find the answer. And intentionally or unintentionally, Chen Pingan didn’t take out the Confucian gazetteer.

Earlier, after seeing Chen Pingan take out four books, the burly man was initially pleased. But when Chen Pingan handed over the Daoist scripture, the burly man glanced at the title of the book and was stunned on the spot, hesitating. He wasn’t in a hurry to take the book, his face full of doubt as he asked, “Did you not go to the Famous Scholars Shop, young master?”

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “I went, but I couldn’t buy the book. It doesn’t matter. And I have to thank someone, otherwise, it would be embarrassing to have me sell a book from the Famous Scholars Shop. Maybe I would even feel a little sorry for that esteemed shopkeeper whom I’ve long admired.”

Not far away, in the weapons shop, Du Xiucai was leisurely drinking wine behind the counter, his smile strange. Which Confucian lineage did this kid come from? To be so eloquent at such a young age?

At least, the old man Fu Sheng, who had made two special visits to Chicken and Dog City and traveled through Tiaomu City, certainly couldn’t have taught such a student.

Only then did the burly man nod, reassured, and take the book. Even though he was no longer in the martial world, he still had to have some sense of honor. The burly man then looked at the remaining three books on the ground and smiled, “Then let me tell you three small things that don’t break the rules. First, there was the Jingman guarding the beacon, then the treasure bow of Chu was obtained by me. So in this Tiaomu City, I’m going by the name of Jingchu. You can actually call me Zhang San. This small bow on the ground is of no small rank. Let me congratulate you here, young master.”
Hearing this, Pei Qian’s eyes lit up. She had read about the “Bearded Hero Zhang San” in those historical romances with Sister Bao Ping and Li Huai. This senior martial artist even had a donkey to ride! However, those books were mere popular fiction, and the three of them had assumed that the Bearded Hero was a fictional character.

The strong man, of course, had no idea what the little girl was thinking. He continued, “The Madam of Mount Kongtong, who was originally a low-born servant in Benmo City, is tied to a deputy city lord whom I have a long-standing feud with. The feudal lord previously claimed that the Madam of Mount Kongtong was from Dianjing City, which was clearly a lie. The feudal lord most likely has a secret agreement with that City Lord Shao.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I already learned about this during my recent reunion with Immortal Feng on Bird-Raising Mountain. City Lord Shao probably fears that I will immediately rush to Benmo City and ruin his plans, preventing him from obtaining the opportunity from the Madam of Mount Kongtong.”

In reality, once Chen Ping’an found Shao Baojuan, it wouldn’t be a matter of opportunity anymore. As for why Shao Baojuan, as the lord of a city, seemed so fearless within Tiaomu City, yet was so worried about Chen Ping’an taking action in Benmo City, Chen Ping’an couldn’t figure it out. Benmo City, putting the cart before the horse? Abandoning the fundamental for the trivial? Furthermore, scholars would speak in riddles, discussing metaphysics and matters of the heart, offering countless interpretations of “fundamental” and “trivial,” a confusing jumble to Chen Ping’an. The foundation of Benmo City was far more strange and eccentric than that of Tiaomu City, where righteousness was clear at a glance and truth could be verified with a few trips to the bookstore. So what did it all mean? Heaven only knows.

The strong man continued, “Each of the twelve cities has a nickname. For example, Benmo City is also known as Absurd City. The people and events within are even more preposterous than the gatherings of emperors and rulers of past dynasties in Chuigong City.”

Having spoken three matters, the strong man no longer needed to ask Chen Ping’an about the bow. Chen Ping’an offering the books was itself a choice, an answer.

Unexpectedly, Chen Ping’an took out another book, but instead of placing it on top of the three books stacked on the cotton cloth, he placed it separately to the side.

Zhang San glanced down at the book, then looked up at the little girl in black standing in the basket. He immediately smiled, “Then let me add one more thing. If you truly go to Benmo City, young master, you must be cautious, yet you can also rest assured.”

Chen Ping’an was too late to stop him. He had originally intended to ask which city Shao Baojuan was the lord of, or at least ask how to get to Benmo City, so that he could ignore Li Shilang’s expulsion order. Benmo City was so eager to drive people away, yet they didn’t tell them how to leave. This was very inhospitable, not a proper way to treat guests.

The strong man picked up the small bow, while Chen Ping’an took the four books from the cotton cloth, storing them in his sleeve dimension. He then accepted the ancient bow, said to have once shot dragons and unicorns in the Yunmeng Hunting Grounds, storing it in his sleeve, but without concealing it within any other dimension.

The strong man didn’t mind this caution, in fact, he seemed to appreciate it. In the martial world, one could never be too careful. He squatted down, grabbed two corners of the cotton cloth, casually wrapped everything up, and carried it in his hand. He then took out a booklet and handed it to Chen Ping’an, smiling, “My wish has been fulfilled, and my cage has been broken. These items, you can either keep them all, young master, or hand them over to Tiaomu City. What do you say? If you keep them, this booklet will be useful. It contains clues about each item I sold at the stall.”

Chen Ping’an accepted the booklet and the package with practiced ease, slinging the cotton-wrapped bundle across his body.

The Bearded Hero clasped his hands in farewell, “Farewell!”

Chen Ping’an returned the gesture. Pei Qian and the little Mi Li in the basket did the same.