On Parrot Isle, as the green-robed figure and the red-clad woman vanished without a trace, the Young Daoist and Liu Chicheng exchanged a knowing glance. Chen Ping’an’s move was far from simple.

Li Huai, however, was preoccupied with picking meat from his teeth, seemingly oblivious. Things he didn’t understand were best left unpondered.

Liu Chicheng, on the other hand, was quite astonished, and curiously asked, “Young Daoist, when did Chen Ping’an gain the ability to create worlds at will?”

As for the strange phenomenon triggered by Li Baoping’s casual words, Liu Chicheng had not the slightest interest.

The Young Daoist, stuffing a large chopstickful of food into his mouth, cheeks bulging, bluntly revealed the secret, “It’s not some immortal art based on cultivation level, but rather the innate divine ability of one of the brat’s flying swords. There were all sorts of bizarre flying swords on the Great Wall of Sword Qi, and Chen Ping’an was the Hidden Officer there. No need to be so surprised, Liu Daoist.”

The Young Daoist picked up his chopsticks again, casually tossing them out. The chopsticks moved like swift flying swords in the courtyard, darting about. After a moment, the Young Daoist caught them, frowning slightly as he poked at the remaining half of the braised carp. Originally, he had intended to locate the boundary of the small world, so he could say to Liu Chicheng, “See that? That’s a barrier of sword qi. I can break it with a flick of the wrist.” But unexpectedly, the young Hidden Officer’s small world was unusually strange, as if it had completely bypassed the river of time. It wasn’t that the Young Daoist couldn’t find a trace, but that would be tantamount to initiating a sword duel, which would be a losing proposition. The Young Daoist decided in his heart that once Chen Ping’an reached the Ascension realm, he would stay far, far away. The promised percentage of profits, the ledgers… to hell with them all. Let Fallen Mountain owe him a favor forever.

Liu Chicheng had no idea what the Young Daoist was up to with his swordplay, and asked, “Young Daoist, what’s this?”

The Young Daoist laughed, “Just protecting the Hidden Officer a bit, to prevent some shameless old rogue of the Ascension realm from trying to peek at this place with some palm-sized-world trick.”

Liu Chicheng was skeptical. Among the Ascension realm grand cultivators near the Confucian Temple, especially those not qualified to participate in the council, Nan Guangzhao and Jing Hao were half-dead, Feng Xuetao had been dragged by Ah Liang to another world, and the rest had lost all courage, slinking around with their tails between their legs. Who knew if after one “Young Daoist” stopped, another “Old Daoist” might appear? Anyway, Ah Liang had already made a move. Would Qi Tingji, Lu Zhi, and the other sword cultivators follow suit and join the fun?

The scripture scholar Xi Ping, who guarded the gates of the Confucian Temple, hadn’t intervened at all from beginning to end, letting these mountain-peak cultivators settle their own scores.

Therefore, the various ferries were currently shrouded in a heavy mist, and many grand cultivators were belatedly realizing that the Confucian Temple was different.

Ripples appeared on the table, and Chen Ping’an and Li Baoping reappeared.

Chen Ping’an acted as if nothing had happened and started clearing the table.

Li Baoping was lost in thought, seemingly pondering something.

Li Huai glanced at Li Baoping, accustomed to her ways. She had always been like this, with endless questions and unsolvable problems. Perhaps this was what they meant by a “seed of learning.”

However, Li Huai thought Li Baoping was cuter when she was younger. She would often sprain her ankle for some unknown reason, her leg in a cast, hobbling into the schoolhouse on crutches. After class, however, Li Baoping was always the fastest to leave, could you believe it?

Liu Chicheng felt that playing dumb seemed ineffective with Chen Ping’an, so he tentatively said, “Chen Ping’an, such profound methods are best used as trump cards, so you must be careful when using them and never reveal them easily. Rest assured, I won’t mention a word of it to anyone except my Senior Brother. And I promise that unless Senior Brother asks first, I will absolutely not say anything.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

For Liu Chicheng to say this showed great sincerity.

The Young Daoist began to act like a senior on the path of cultivation, saying, “Liu Daoist’s golden words are bitter medicine, Chen Ping’an. You must listen and not take them lightly.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “A storm reveals the strength of the grass. I know Liu Daoist’s character well.”

The Young Daoist suddenly asked, “What are your plans for the future? If you’re going to the Wildlands, the three of us can travel together.”

Chen Ping’an said, “I’ll take it one step at a time, no long-term plans. I don’t plan to return to the Great Wall of Sword Qi for now. You and Liu Chicheng be careful.”

For example, he would first travel to the Northern Culmination Continent, then to the Tongye Continent, then to the Central Earth Continent, and finally to the Ascension City of the Five Colored Continent. He would visit the Azure Abyss Continent, the Year-End Palace, the Grand Profound Capital Temple, and the White Jade Capital… all things to be done one step at a time.

Leafing through the maps of the Five Peaks and thinking you know the mountains is not as good as one footstep of a woodcutter.

Mountain dwellers don’t believe that fish can be as big as trees, and sea dwellers don’t believe that trees can be as big as fish. But if you see it with your own eyes, you’ll believe it.

Chen Ping’an finished clearing the table and asked with a smile, “Would you like some tea?”

He had learned a hand of ethereal tea-brewing skills from his friend Liu Zhiqing at the Jade Cliff in Spring Dew Garden.

Liu Chicheng nodded, “Let’s give it a try.”

The Young Daoist took out a pot of wine, “I’ll pass.”

Chen Ping’an took out a set of tea utensils from his miniature world and began brewing tea, drawing symbols on the table with his fingers to boil the tea with two talisman fire dragons.

The matters before him, the matters at hand, and the matters in his heart were all waiting for Chen Ping’an to solve them one by one. Some things could be handled quickly, with a few punches and a few sword strikes. Troubles that were once earth-shattering were gradually ceasing to be troubles. Other things required more thought and a slower pace.

Chen Ping’an handed each of the three a cup of tea and suddenly asked Liu Chicheng, “Is it difficult to build a mountain-crossing ferry?”

Liu Chicheng nodded, “Building a ship isn’t difficult. You can find a few Mohist or Artisan Qi Refiners who aren’t scammers and have them cobble one together. The difficult part is actually making money. There’s a lot to learn, and the waters are even deeper. As for intercontinental ferries, the barrier to entry is even higher. There are only a dozen immortal mountain peaks in the Vast World that make a living from this, who can build such ferries. Chen Ping’an, I’m not trying to dampen your spirits, but I advise you not to wade into these muddy waters. It costs too much immortal money. It’s better to just buy one from someone else. I can help you make connections, which will save you worry, effort, and money.”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Like today’s knock on the door? No thanks for that kind of convenience.”

Chen Ping’an did need to find some new sources of income for Fallen Mountain. Once they established a branch sect in another continent, having their own intercontinental ferry would become an urgent need.
Liu Chicheng grumbled, “Are you looking down on me? Have you forgotten that I also hold the position of Pavilion Master in Baidi City? Before my misfortune in Bao Ping Continent, the transactions of the mountain were extremely frequent, and I personally handled all the comings and goings.”

Saying this, seeing that Chen Pingan was still unmoved, Liu Chicheng suddenly became smug. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers and smiled slyly, “Chen Pingan, let me tell you a secret from the mountain peak. A few years ago, Fire Dragon True Man sold me quite a few glazed tiles he had scavenged from who knows where. The quality was excellent, enough to rank among the first-class treasures of the Glazed Tile Pavilion. A full hundred pieces, a hundred pieces of verdant glazed tiles! Fire Dragon True Man actually only asked for fifteen hundred Grain Rain coins. Now, my Glazed Tile Pavilion, with this opportunity, has finally refined a flawless immortal weapon. Every time after the rain clears, it will open up with seven colors, and the treasure light will be radiant and beautiful. In the future, in the selection of the Ten Scenic Wonders of Haoran, the Glazed Tile Pavilion, which has been repeatedly unsuccessful, will definitely be able to secure a place. Even an old immortal like Fire Dragon True Man wants to do business with me, so what about other sect cultivators?”

Chen Pingan’s expression was strange.

Liu Chicheng complacently said, “It’s not that I’m boasting, but my senior brother hasn’t set foot in the Glazed Tile Pavilion for two thousand years. Before my senior brother went to Fuyao Continent, he specifically ascended the Glazed Tile Pavilion to admire the scenery.”

Chen Pingan politely declined, “Forget it, I won’t bother you with the intercontinental ferry issue. I’ll find my own way.”

He remembered that back then, he had given a discount and sold the hundred and twenty verdant glazed tiles, which he had painstakingly obtained, to Fire Dragon True Man in the Dragon Palace Grotto, receiving six hundred Grain Rain coins.

Well, the old True Man resold them and pocketed fifteen hundred coins. The key was that the old True Man seemed to have kept twenty pieces of glazed tiles?

The young Daoist praised, “To be able to take advantage of Fire Dragon True Man, Fellow Daoist Liu is truly a rare business genius. I think Brother Liu can completely be a god of wealth in Luo Po Mountain, and Chen Pingan wouldn’t have to go to such lengths to seek help from others for a broken ferry. It’s unbearable for an outsider like me to watch.”

Liu Chicheng glanced at Chen Pingan, eager to try. It would be okay to be a nominal accountant in Luo Po Mountain, even if it was a waste of talent.

Chen Pingan twitched the corner of his mouth and didn’t respond.

Li Huai casually said, “So many big shots came to the Literary Temple this time. Chen Pingan, you have such good relationships with your elders, and you’re fair in business. Pei Qian said that those who partner with you in business have all made money. How could you lack an intercontinental ferry? I don’t think so.”

Chen Pingan smiled without replying.

Looking at Chen Pingan, who had grown fond of drinking and had also learned to brew tea,

Liu Chicheng sighed with emotion for no reason.

He had known Chen Pingan very early.

It seemed like a trance, and in an instant, he was no longer a boy.

A guest came to visit, an old man who looked like a wealthy merchant, Yu Pan-shui, accompanied by a young man in brocade robes, Emperor Yuan Zhou of the Xuan Mi Dynasty.

In fact, both groups of people were only guests of this residence.

Chen Pingan immediately went to the door, opened it, and bowed, “Greetings, Mr. Yu. I should have come to visit you.”

Li Baoping smiled and called out, “Grandpa Yu.”

Li Huai hesitated for a moment and still addressed him as Mr. Yu, following Chen Pingan. In fact, he didn’t know who he was. The only famous person named Yu he knew was Yu Panshui, who seemed to be the retired emperor of the Xuan Mi Dynasty. He was said to be very skilled, hiding needles in cotton and having a smiling face. As for his appearance, he had only heard that he was a refined old scholar with an elegant demeanor, especially when he was young, he was “handsome and graceful.” This didn’t match the plump old gentleman in front of him.

Yu Panshui nodded to each of them, smiling so much that his eyes disappeared. Finally, he looked at Chen Pingan, nodding his head, like a kind and amiable elder in the family, seeing a talented member of the family who had returned from a long journey, pleased with the young man’s success, but also complaining about the junior’s unfamiliarity, saying, “Why are you being so polite with me? Being so distant is simply heartbreaking.”

In fact, the two parties had never met before, but they were already as close as members of the same clan.

After the two groups were seated, Yu Panshui asked with a smile, “Do you know how to play chess? Why don’t we have a game while we chat?”

Chen Pingan shook his head, “I’m a layman in the art of chess.”

Yu Panshui was full of regret and didn’t force it.

The young emperor widened his eyes, feeling that the blue-shirted sword immortal he was seeing at this moment was a fake Hidden Official.

How could he be so gentle and refined, a gentleman?

Sitting opposite the fat Yu, he was respectful, treating himself as a junior.

Playing chess? He should just summon those flying swords, stop them on the head of the old chess bum, Yu, and teach him how to play chess. He should make the fat Yu put the chess piece wherever he wanted.

Outsiders might not know, but how could he not know? Every time the old Yu won a chess game, it was in collusion with the maid who was the “Wood Fox” to cheat.

Yu Panshui pointed to Yuan Zhou beside him and said with a smile, “This time, it’s mainly His Majesty who wanted to see you.”

Chen Pingan smiled and cupped his fist, shaking it slightly, “A commoner has seen His Majesty.”

Yuan Zhou finally didn’t continue to be disappointed. If the young Hidden Official had stood up and bowed, he wouldn’t have been interested in speaking. The young man cupped his fist with a radiant expression, “Hidden Official, my name is Yuan Zhou. I hope to invite the Hidden Official to be a guest in our country, to walk around and see if there are any geomantic treasures to build a sect, and to take in disciples if you see any good cultivation seedlings. The Xuan Mi Dynasty, from the court to the mountains, will open the door to convenience for the Hidden Official. If the Hidden Official is willing to be the national preceptor, even better. No matter what you do, it will be justified.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “Thank you for His Majesty’s kindness, but everyone has their own expertise. Using swords to carve wood is not as good as using axes. The Xuan Mi Dynasty’s national power is thriving, and the court is full of talented people, both civil and military, so why would it need a foreign sword cultivator like me to point fingers? It’s too inappropriate, and I don’t have the face to embarrass myself. However, if I travel to Middle Earth Divine Continent in the future, I will definitely stay in the Xuan Mi Dynasty for a longer time.”

Yuan Zhou was very disappointed and still unwilling to give up, tentatively asking, “Hidden Official, is there anything I can help you with?”

Chen Pingan handed him a cup of tea and said, “In the future, when I arrive in the Xuan Mi Dynasty, I believe there will definitely be things that will trouble Your Majesty.”

Yuan Zhou was about to speak, but Yu Panshui said with a smile, “Don’t act like a woman when you are the supreme ruler of the nation.”

Yuan Zhou was not annoyed, sighed, took the tea from Chen Pingan, and drank it in one gulp. As a result, it was so hot that he stood up, yelling. Finally, he assumed a horse stance, his face flushed, and his Qi sank into his dantian.
Li Huai, standing to the side, was utterly astonished. Could this young man truly be the Emperor of one of the Ten Great Dynasties of Haoran? Seemed quite promising, indeed.

Yu Panxiu chuckled and inquired, “Within our Xuanmi Armory, there lies an idle ferry, gathering dust. I wonder if Mount Luopo might have need of it?”

Yuan Zhou mumbled, his words somewhat indistinct, “If it is needed, then gift it to the Hidden Official. In any case, that ferry is registered under my personal holdings; no one can interfere. Should those old fogeys from the Imperial Clan Court dare to object, I’ll have Grandpa Yu settle accounts with them.”

Yu Panxiu nodded with a smile. “His Majesty speaks truly. Chen Ping’an, what is your opinion on this matter?”

Chen Pingan replied, “I would not presume to accept a gift without offering something in return. Mount Luopo can purchase it. How many Grain Rain coins would it cost?”

Yu Panxiu held up two fingers. “Not many, just this number of Grain Rain coins. Let me be clear beforehand: this intercontinental ferry, named ‘Wind Kite,’ is quite old. If you wish to travel far across the continents, to weather storms and withstand the reckless attacks of sword immortals, it may require some patching up. This would amount to no small sum of Grain Rain coins.”

Chen Pingan’s eyelids twitched.

Purchasing the Wind Kite intercontinental ferry was within the realm of possibility. Wei Wenlong, who managed Mount Luopo’s treasury, had accumulated some savings. However, if all of that were used to buy the vessel, the establishment of a lower sect would be severely hampered, especially with the repairs. Even Yu Panxiu had described it as a “not small” sum of immortal coins. Chen Pingan simply lacked the confidence.

Yu Panxiu was amused by his hesitation. “Still being so high-minded? If it were that Embroidered Tiger, he wouldn’t have bothered with the idea of not accepting gifts in the first place. He’d have taken anything offered without hesitation.”

Chen Pingan placed his teacup down and smiled. “Then let’s begin our discussion again from where Mister Yu said, ‘His Majesty speaks truly.'”

Following this, Chen Pingan said earnestly, “Mount Luopo needs this ferry. As for the repair expenses, we will have to borrow from the Xuanmi Dynasty for now.”

Yu Panxiu was momentarily rendered speechless.

The young emperor felt that *this* was the Hidden Official he knew.

Over at White Egret Ferry, Tian Wan persisted in refusing to form a red-string bond with Jiang Shangzhen. She was only willing to offer a blessed grotto-heaven realm, containing enough resources to support a cultivator in reaching the Ascension realm.

Cui Dongshan was in no rush, and Jiang Shangzhen even sat next to Tian Wan, retrieving a piece of painted paper depicting flowers and birds that could conjure illusions. As mist rose, a landscape painting appeared on the table.

Tian Wan stated, “My bottom line is protecting my own Great Dao. I have toiled for millennia; I cannot let it all go to waste. That would be no different than death. Besides that, you may take any worldly possessions I have. I only hope you do not become insatiable, forcing me to do things against my will. I do not believe that you two came all this way just for amusement, only to realize your toils were nothing more than a fruitless endeavor of scooping water with a bamboo basket.”

Cui Dongshan chuckled. “What if we truly are just looking for amusement?”

Tian Wan shook her head. “My mind is made up. Kill me, slice me up, do as you please.”

Cui Dongshan flicked his sleeve, extracting Tian Wan’s soul and spirit separately from his snow-white sleeves. He twisted them with his fingers, forming a wick for a lamp.

Even at such close proximity, Tian Wan dared not attempt to snatch them back. Instead, she focused her mind, enduring the pain that caused her body to tremble, yet she remained tight-lipped and silent.

Jiang Shangzhen was single-mindedly focused on the painting. Cui Dongshan glanced at the illusion and exclaimed in shock, “Chief Zhou, your tastes are a bit heavy!”

Within the painting was a heavily made-up, plump woman, her hair adorned with a plethora of ornaments, striking alluring poses.

Jiang Shangzhen sighed. “Brother Cui, this is where you are inferior to Old Chef.”

The woman seemed oblivious, beginning to dance gracefully, lifting her orchid fingers and twirling, suddenly turning her head back with a coy smile.

Someone tossed down immortal coins, beginning to curse loudly.

Jiang Shangzhen threw down a Lesser Heat coin, skillfully changing his voice, and shouted, “Sister Golden Lotus, you look exceptionally beautiful today!”

The woman chuckled and scolded, “You little devil, you ungrateful thing, it’s been so long since you last visited your sister.”

Following this, the woman began to speak about Sword Immortal Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple, her words overflowing with adoration. Many men began to curse and grumble once more.

Several of the usually silent fairies began to argue vehemently with those men, hurling insults. They were all female cultivators from the mountain of the Great Sword Immortal Wei.

While Jiang Shangzhen helped the sisters to curse the men, he also retrieved an inkstone, opening another illusion.

Within the painting, a robust man sat upright on a chair, laughing boisterously. “Everyone, that Jiang thief has been successfully usurped by Wei Ying. Not only could he not become the Jade Decree Sect Master, but he also couldn’t even keep his True Manifestation Sect of the Lower Sect. His prospects are certainly in decline. A joyous occasion! Shall we all share a bowl?”

Cheers erupted continuously, interspersed with loud slurping sounds as they drank. Those who could speak were undoubtedly those who spent money, clearly not lacking in wealth.

Among them was Jiang Shangzhen.

Someone threw down money, asking the man in confusion, “Sect Master, how could that Jiang lecher, who was only an Immortal back then, be able to wander around Tongye Continent like that without being killed? What exactly is going on?”

Jiang Shangzhen immediately followed suit, throwing down money while shouting at the top of his voice, “How unreasonable! Utterly collapsing, utterly collapsing! This enrages me!”

“Good, good, good! True Sovereign is also collapsing!”

“Deputy Zhou, long time no see! A pleasure to meet you.”

Jiang Shangzhen continued to throw money, exchanging words with those like-minded individuals.

Someone asked, “Collapsing True Sovereign, your son must be a deeply hidden Barbarian rebel. The Primal Arbor, Crimson Concubine, and those other Great Throne Demons must have deliberately given him leeway. Is that not the case?”

Jiang Shangzhen scoffed. “Once the Mountain and Rivers Gazette is unsealed, we can say a few fair words, hoping to correct the old Jiang Sect Master’s mistakes if he has any, and encourage him to improve if not. As the father of the Jiang thief, I will certainly uphold righteousness and eradicate my own kin!”

Someone sighed with emotion. “Collapsing True Sovereign is truly benevolent.”

Collapsing True Sovereign? Deputy Jiang? Jiang Shangzhen’s father?

Even Cui Dongshan was bewildered.

Jiang Shangzhen said with a straight face, “This mountain is called the Down-with-Jiang Sect, gathering heroes and champions from all corners of the world. Cultivators from Tongye, Jade Bottle, and Northern Culmination Continents are all present. I spent money and effort, rising through the ranks, spending nearly thirty years to finally become a Deputy Offering. In the beginning, I was misunderstood due to my surname Jiang, but I finally managed to clarify things.”

Someone suddenly cursed, “Damn it! When I previously traveled to Tongye Continent, it wasn’t even a grotto-heaven blessed land of that Jiang thief; it was just a vassal mountain peak of the Jade Decree Sect. I only cursed that Jiang thief as a good-for-nothing, a spendthrift, and some guy jumped out and started arguing with me…”
Someone inquired, “Did they fight?”

“They did, I got beat. And they hold a grudge, forbidding this old man from ever using those ferry crossings again.”

Jiang Shangzhen immediately tossed out money, “Magnificent! They were many, brother, this counts as a glorious defeat.”

“Second Seat Jiang is always so forthright.”

“The cultivators of the Jade Decree Sect are all rotten to the core, corrupt from top to bottom, bullying others by virtue of their power, utterly useless. If they had any real ability, why didn’t they just take out Chief Yuan back then?”

“It’s all that damned Jiang Thief’s doing! For Chief Yuan, a true monarch, to fail in killing that ant who had fallen from grace, is truly hateful, utterly hateful!”

“That Jiang Thief is actually incompetent. It was only because the old Sect Master Xun was senile that he chose him as Sect Master. He’s merely benefiting from the shelter of the Jade Decree Sect’s great tree, allowing the Cloud Cave Blessed Land to have its meager success today.”

Jiang Shangzhen immediately egged on the heroes, “Brothers, who among you is skilled in illusion or escape techniques? Why not take a trip to the Cloud Cave Blessed Land and quietly cause a little trouble?”

A clamor of debate erupted, strategizing and scheming.

Unexpectedly, that Sect Master waved his hand dismissively, “We heroes, we curse and we brawl, but we don’t engage in such base acts.”

Jiang Shangzhen tossed down a Minor Heat Coin, “The Sect Master is truly righteous!”

Tian Wan was dumbfounded, speechless.

Were these people truly so steadfast, or were they just playing around?

Cui Dongshan cradled his head in his hands, gently rocking his bamboo chair, and chuckled, “It’s better than that bookstore I used to frequent with the Old Scholar.”

Jiang Shangzhen nodded. He’d heard that story, back at the Taiping Mountain ruins, when Chen Ping’an had casually mentioned it.

Some basked in the midday sun, protected by a halo of clouds.

Some were consumed by petty schemes.

Some opened their eyes to the world with each sunrise, calming their hearts with each moonrise.

Some only cared about digging for scraps.

Some only hated that their reading and writing didn’t reach the heights of the ancients.

Some struggled to survive, not daring to dream of a place of peace, only seeking a foothold.

A good person might do wrong one day, and a bad person might do right.

Perhaps the most diligent scholar in the village school would achieve great success, become a high-ranking official, and never return home.

Perhaps the most mischievous boy in the village school would roam the streets, terrorize the countryside, and one day, in a dilapidated alley, respectfully make way for his former teacher.

Life has many certainties, but just as many accidents, all potential possibilities, large and small, like stars hanging in the sky, their brightness uncertain.

The one who basked in the midday sun might one day suddenly fall into the mud, covered in the footprints of passersby.

The one who engaged in petty schemes might still shelter those around them from the harsh elements.

The one whose eyes were wide open to the world might suddenly become disillusioned and begin a downward spiral.

The one who dug for scraps might occasionally look up, find hope in life, and journey far away to greater heights.

Some feel that life has no meaning, no zest, and only needs to be interesting.

Some feel that life has no interest, is bitter, but must have meaning.

Some young people are prematurely world-weary, while some old people are still full of youthful spirit.

Some live a grand dream, never waking. Some suffer immensely, unable to find solace in a single drink.

Some believe that only the sages in books can speak the truth, some believe that the hard work of farmers is the truth, and a lonely old woman can live her life with serenity.

Some feel that they understand all the principles, but still can’t live well, and blame the principles themselves.

If they never live well, they grind their teeth, blame heaven and earth. A wasted journey.

Some feel that they understand nothing, and can’t live well because they don’t understand enough.

If they still never live well, they tell themselves, “So be it.” At least they journeyed.

Some never experienced the swaying willows or the warbling birds of a meadow. Yet they paved roads and built bridges throughout their lives, planting willows along the way.

Some open their eyes wide, straining to find the shadows of this world. They sleep soundly until night falls, and rise again when the sun is high in the sky.

Bright moon on the mountaintop, brambles in the forest, green pools of water, spring tides and peach blossoms. A single grain of rice nourishes a hundred different people. On different paths of life, in the dreams of last night, flowers and moon were in the spring breeze.

Meanwhile, that other Chen Ping’an, after bidding farewell to Zheng Juzhong and leaving Wenjin Ferry, found a martial artist from the Great End Dynasty and requested to test his fist.

The man was puzzled, “Why?”

Chen Ping’an said, “For no reason.”