Emperor Song He spoke directly, but Chen Ping’an seemed to have no intention of speaking at all. After a moment, Song He clearly had no intention of turning back. He glanced at the dishes and utensils on the table, moved a chair next to him, shifted its position slightly, leaning towards Chen Ping’an, and asked, “Mr. Chen, shall we sit down and talk?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, then moved his chair as well, tugged at his jacket, and sat down, crossing his legs.

This revealed a pair of cloth shoes with white soles and black tops.

Song He said, “Mr. Chen, please consider it carefully. I can wait.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “Is this the Empress Dowager’s intention?”

Song He shook his head, “This is my own idea.”

Song He didn’t expect that the other party would immediately agree to serve as the Grand Tutor of Great Li just because he asked.

Three groups of people, three tables of celebratory banquet, not adjacent to each other.

The Emperor and Chen Ping’an were at a separate table, naturally to discuss important matters. Both parties were now seated.

One was a monarch of the mortal realm, the other a sect master of the mountains, both of the same age.

Neither sat opposite each other, nor did they face the leftovers on the table.

Empress Yu Mian stood next to another banquet table.

This time, Emperor Song He was naturally traveling incognito. Besides Empress Yu Mian, he only brought three attendants: an old eunuch from the Directorate of Palace Attendants dressed as a wealthy merchant, a Song family retainer who rarely appeared in the Great Li court, and a keeper of the Song family imperial tombs. The last attendant was currently guarding the carriage on the street outside the Bian family’s gate.

Yu Mian, as the Empress of Great Li, and with Grand Tutor Cui Chan in the Great Li Song Dynasty for nearly a century, never worried about interference in politics by the harem, nobles, or eunuchs. Therefore, Yu Mian had seen many enlightened individuals from the mountains, such as the elegant and romantic Mountain Lord of the Northern Peak, Wei Bo, the immortal master of the Wind and Snow Temple who looked like a child, and the majestic long beard of the old Patriarch of the Jiang Clan of Yunlin, who appeared like immortals.

In addition, there were a few exceptions that made Yu Mian even more impressed, such as the Sword Saint Ruan Qiong of Dragon Spring Sword Sect, the Chief Retainer of the Great Li Dynasty. It couldn’t be said that he was unkempt, but he was taciturn. Every time he entered the palace to meet the Emperor, Master Ruan didn’t have much to say. The Emperor almost always asked the questions, and Master Ruan’s answers were always extremely “concise,” as if… he was in a hurry to return to the mountains to forge swords. There was also the Mountain Lord of the Western Peak, Tong Wenchang, who looked like an old farmer, dressed in coarse linen and liked to go barefoot all year round. Not to mention standing with Wei Bo, even standing side by side with Jin Qing, the Mountain Lord of the Central Peak, to be honest, even if Yu Mian didn’t judge people by appearance, she would sincerely feel that Mountain Lord Tong was indeed a bit shabby.

When Mountain Lord Tong sat there, Yu Mian was worried that he would pick his feet at any moment.

As for the young swordsman from Fallen Mountain in front of her, he would certainly leave a clear impression on Yu Mian.

Yu Mian was an extremely meticulous woman. She had noticed the intricately stitched cloth shoes at a glance.

The last table, of course, was for the two families whose children had just been happily married. Both families were officials in the Great Li capital, not holding high positions, but both were from the orthodox path of the imperial examination, and now only one of them, Bian Wenmao, was qualified to participate in the early court.

Everyone held their breath, and no one dared to whisper.

The newlywed couple were flushed with excitement, feeling like they were in a dream.

Lin Shouyi, as the only outsider, sat next to his classmate, Shi Jiachun.

Earlier, Empress Yu Mian turned her head and smiled at them, gesturing with her hand for everyone to sit down.

After everyone sat down, Bian Wenmao realized that the Empress was still standing there. He wanted to stand up, but as soon as he lifted his buttocks, he felt it was even more inappropriate, so he silently sat back down.

Emperor Song He opened his mouth and said, “I have always had a question that I wanted to ask Mr. Chen.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Just ask.”

Song He asked, “It seems that Mr. Chen’s perception of the Great Li court is not bad, even after those experiences in the past?”

For example, according to Great Li intelligence, Chen Ping’an had become a close friend with the martial artist Song Yushao in the Shuishui Kingdom in the central part of Baoping Continent during his second journey. Facing the overwhelming force of a ten-thousand-strong cavalry army, the young man holding the locust wood sword had declared his name in the formation, publicly stating, “Chen Ping’an of Great Li is here!”

Chen Ping’an twisted his wrist, and a vermilion wine gourd appeared. He took a sip of wine and then gently placed the sword-nurturing gourd on his lap. “My first journey was with Lin Shouyi and the others to Cliff Academy in Great Sui. We crossed the border from Yefu Pass and entered Huangting Kingdom, which was then a vassal state of the Gao Clan of Great Sui. On the way back, we also entered the country from Huangting Kingdom, but we took a plank road and entered the pass from Niuzhalan. At that time, there was heavy snow, and we encountered a team of border scouts in the distance. One of the riders stood out, a young cavalryman, probably only in his early twenties. Back then, I didn’t understand why that cavalryman had such a resolute look in his eyes when he rode towards us. I later realized that this elite cavalry initially mistook me for a spy from an enemy country, and possibly a Qi cultivator. Therefore, the most correct course of action at that time was to immediately notify the accompanying cultivators of the Great Li iron cavalry nearby, and it was very likely that life and death would be decided in that chance encounter in the vast snow. After I reported my identity and handed over the travel document issued by the Longquan County government, and the identity was verified, the cavalryman sitting on the horse did not throw the pass to me casually. Instead, he dismounted, and after handing back the pass, he smiled and said a few words to me, roughly meaning that the weather was terrible, the snow was blocking the road, and if I was worried about encountering trouble, I could go to their beacon tower to rest and recuperate, prepare food, and then continue on my way when the snow lessened.”

A traveler who had already traveled thousands of mountains and rivers recounted this incident that had occurred more than twenty years ago.

Emperor Song He was very patient, listening to every word, but after listening, he couldn’t help but feel a little doubtful.

Just such a small matter?

Chen Ping’an asked, “Does Your Majesty think that the matter is too small to believe?”

Song He nodded, “Indeed, I would find it unbelievable.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Is it really a small matter?”

Shaking his head, Chen Ping’an answered himself, “I don’t think so. As Great Li iron cavalry, they are fearless in the face of mountain immortals. As border scouts, they are very concerned about the people of Great Li.”
This gave the young lad from Huaihuang County, Longquan Prefecture, who was just beginning to practice martial arts, the kiln apprentice from Niping Lane who worried about dirtying the bluestone slabs of Peach Leaf Lane in Fulu Street with his straw sandals, his first relatively clear impression of the ethereal “Great Li Dynasty.”

Chen Ping’an tapped his knee with the gourd he used to nurture his sword, “In my view, there are three forces that are propping up the Heavens for the Great Harmony: the sword light of the Sword Qi Great Wall, the chivalry of the Northern Ju Continent, and the iron hooves of the Great Li cavalry.”

Such words, even if they were the truth, would still seem… inappropriate and presumptuous coming from anyone else.

But from Chen Ping’an’s mouth, they carried immense weight and were perfectly fitting.

Before, everyone might have felt that Qi Jingchun’s choice of an unremarkable youth from Niping Lane as a disciple on behalf of his master was too whimsical. People would inevitably ask why.

But now, everyone would feel that Qi Jingchun’s acceptance of such a worthy successor for the literary sage’s lineage in the Liyue Cave Heaven was an act of exceptional foresight.

Empress Yu Mian, understanding and considerate, personally brought over a pot of wine and a cup, handing them to Emperor Song He.

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded to her.

The Empress bowed slightly in response.

The woman before him was kind, gentle, and virtuous.

A daughter-in-law of the Song family, disliked by the Empress Dowager Nan Zan, was sure to be a fine Empress of Great Li.

As Yu Mian returned to her previous table,

Song He smiled and said, “Yu Mian has always felt that Mr. Chen is a virtuous gentleman, cultivated within and benevolent without.”

Chen Ping’an almost thought the Emperor was possessed by Xiao Mo, asking, “What makes you say that?”

Song He replied, “There is a table at the entrance of Fallen Phoenix Mountain that provides tea for passersby.”

Chen Ping’an smiled noncommittally. I just mentioned a small matter, and you, Your Majesty, are already imitating it? If that were the case, it would be no better than Immortal Wei’s trickery to swindle money.

“Moreover, the woodcutters in the mountains and the kiln workers seeking earth in Huaihuang County all dare to sit down and drink tea.”

Song He continued, “In Yu Mian’s words, it’s seeing the great in the small, seeing the family virtues of Mr. Chen and the Fallen Phoenix Mountain sect from the minutiae. Wealthy families often have poor relatives visiting, never leaving empty-handed, which indicates a loyal and honest household. When passing by grand mansions, the common people do not avoid them as if they were disasters, deliberately quickening their pace, which indicates a household that accumulates good deeds.”

Chen Ping’an was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, “Your Majesty has a virtuous consort.”

Shi Jiachun craned her neck and peeked at Chen Ping’an.

Just standing up and sitting down again, it was as if that Chen Ping’an had completely transformed into a different person.

With a white jade hairpin adorning his hair, a blue robe, and cloth shoes.

A serene smile on his face, an ethereal aura about him, perhaps that was the immortal dao aura of someone who had lived in the mountains for a long time?

In short, he was no longer the dark-skinned, bright-eyed straw-sandaled youth of yesteryear.

Shi Jiachun withdrew her gaze, glanced at her husband, and then at Lin Shouyi.

Her husband, Bian Wenmao, was already a man with temples touched by frost.

But Lin Shouyi, who was about the same age, still had the appearance of a young man.

Bian Wenmao’s understanding of Lin Shouyi was based on his wife’s description: Lin Mutou was a taciturn but warm-hearted person whose father used to be a minor official in the local kiln affairs supervisory office and later went to the capital, holding a small position in some desolate department. In the locality, it might be considered bringing honor to the family, but in Nanxun Fang, which was said to be teeming with officials, it was far from sufficient.

Lin Shouyi jokingly said softly, “Remember to identify the chair that His Majesty is sitting on and keep it safe, it can be used as an heirloom.”

Shi Jiachun glared at him, wanting to retort, but Bian Wenmao hurriedly reached out and pressed her arm, looking flustered. Shi Jiachun put a finger to her lips, reminding Lin Shouyi not to speak.

Lin Shouyi smiled and nodded, casting an apologetic glance at Bian Wenmao, whose forehead was covered in sweat. Bian Wenmao responded with a wry smile, he was simply too nervous.

Yu Mian looked at Lin Shouyi, who had served as a temple keeper at Qi Du Temple, a Nascent Soul cultivator in his forties.

One must know that the Supreme Elder of Changchun Palace was also only in the Nascent Soul realm.

The chief protector of the Great Li Dynasty, the military sage Ruan Qiong, was only in the Jade Purity realm.

In many small vassal states to the south, a Golden Core Earth Immortal could serve as the chief protector or even the state preceptor.

His Majesty the Emperor actually favored this person greatly, even intending to let Lin Shouyi take charge of the Ministry of Rites’ Ancestral Sacrifices Department, gaining seven or eight years of experience in the capital’s officialdom before being promoted again to Vice Minister of Rites.

Perhaps because the younger generation of the old Liyue Cave Heaven was simply too brilliant, shining with dazzling light.

It was only because of this that Lin Shouyi did not appear so conspicuous.

Because there was Chen Ping’an of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, there was the sword immortal Liu Xianyang, who had studied at the Chunru Chen Clan in Southern Posuo Continent for ten years, there was Ma Kuxuan, who had amazed everyone in Zhenwu Mountain, and there was Zhao Yao of the Great Li Ministry of Justice, who had been to the Five Colors World, and there was also Gu Can, the “madman” who became a direct disciple of Zheng Juzhong in White Emperor City…

It seemed that this Lin Shouyi, who had always been traveling back and forth in Bao Ping Continent, had been overlooked. He had no high-ranking mountain masters, no astonishing mountain duels, only years of devoted study and silent cultivation. Therefore, Lin Shouyi’s so-called “fame in both capitals” was actually greatly underestimated, because the people on and off the mountain now only regarded Lin Shouyi as a Golden Core Earth Immortal, misled by the “Nascent Soul in a Hundred Years” prophecy of Yuan Tianfeng, the Grand Astrologer of the Great Li capital.

Shi Jiachun was really curious. She leaned over, raised her hand to her mouth, lowered her voice, and whispered to Lin Shouyi, “What are His Majesty and Chen Ping’an talking about?”

Lin Shouyi said, “I can’t hear it either.”

That mausoleum keeper who cultivated in the Great Li imperial mausoleum had set up a mountain and river restriction that isolated the world.

Shi Jiachun clicked her tongue, “Chen Ping’an is really bold, chatting with His Majesty so casually, wouldn’t that be considered witty banter?”

Lin Shouyi smiled and nodded.

If he didn’t have the courage, he wouldn’t be able to become the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Besides, if Chen Ping’an had been timid back then, would he have dared to like Ning Yao?

Shi Jiachun hesitated.

Lin Shouyi said telepathically, “Don’t worry, no matter whether the negotiations succeed or fail, it will be good for you. Chen Ping’an has always been prudent in his actions.”

With Chen Ping’an’s temper, if Emperor Song He dared to vent his anger on the Bian family, the consequences would be more serious than falling out with Chen Ping’an on the spot. He might even run to the palace and overturn the table.

However, I believe that with the current Emperor’s magnanimity, he would not be so petty.
Lin Shouyi at this moment was still unaware that Chen Ping’an had already overturned the table with the Grand Empress Dowager Nan Zan of the Great Li Dynasty.

Shi Jiachun nodded. Whether it was Lin Shouyi, the schoolmate she had studied with for many years in their hometown, or Chen Ping’an, who later became Li Baoping’s little martial uncle, she felt they were both trustworthy.

This was a woman’s intuition.

Xiao Mo and Xian Wei did not attend the Bian family’s wedding banquet. They found an alley nearby.

Xiao Mo leaned against the wall, while Xian Wei squatted beside him, holding a flask of wine he had bought himself. He couldn’t afford the wedding gift money, so he couldn’t freeload on the wedding wine, and could only rely on his own efforts.

It didn’t matter. Soon he would be an ethereal cultivator, with immortal money in his pockets. Gold and silver, those mundane things from the mortal realm, were too vulgar and would tarnish his immortal aura.

Xian Wei looked at the bustling scene outside the Bian family’s gate, clicking his tongue. “Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, that’s no small office, especially since he’s a capital official of your Great Li Dynasty. According to the current rules of Treasure Bottle洲, native officials of the Great Li rank one grade higher than the military and civil officials of tributary states, and capital officials rank one grade higher than that. If this were in those small tributary states to the south, he’d have to be the head of one of the Nine Ministries, at the very least a Vice Minister of one of the Six Ministries. Master Cao truly deserves to be a mountain immortal; the friends he knows are either rich or noble, with no commoners among them.”

Xiao Mo watched Xian Wei, who was drinking like a cow, and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you like drinking that much?”

Xian Wei put down the wine flask, belched, patted his stomach, and wiped his mouth. “It’s not that I like it that much.”

Then Xian Wei raised the wine flask in his hand, grinned, and said, “Am I drinking wine? I’m drinking money!”

These years of wandering and destitution had been filled with hunger and cold. He ate well one day and starved for three. More importantly, he had to earn money by swindling and deception, otherwise, he would have truly become a beggar. Every time he acted, he had to be anxious and fearful, after all, prison food was not tasty. Now, following Master Cao, he had a place to sleep, and could eat biscuits when hungry and drink wine when thirsty, which made Xian Wei feel close to tears of happiness.

Xian Wei thought of something. “Xiao Mo, tell me the truth, why does that old True Man from the Daoist Registry in the capital call Master Cao ‘Mountain Lord Chen’?”

Xiao Mo said, “Cao Mo is just a pseudonym that my young master uses when traveling the world.”

“Xiao Mo.”

Xian Wei took a sip of wine, imitating Cao Mo’s tone, “I want to ask you, what’s the meaning of this ‘Mountain Lord’?”

Was it a sacred mountain, an immortal cave dwelling, with dragons coiling and immortal birds singing? Were there exotic flowers and herbs all over the mountains, and rare treasures everywhere?

Since Cao Mo was a cultivator who knew immortal magic, and could freely enter and exit the Daoist Registry and the Bureau of Translation in the capital, and was also a “Mountain Lord,” he couldn’t be too bad.

He had to weigh it carefully, how thick was the thigh he had grabbed? How high was the backer he had found through his own abilities?

Xiao Mo lowered his head and glanced at Xian Wei. Because he could keenly sense the other’s thoughts, what was going on in this guy’s mind, always so whimsical.

Xiao Mo explained, “My young master bought a few mountain peaks in his hometown.”

Xian Wei asked, “Mountain peaks? How big?”

Xiao Mo said, “I have never been to my young master’s hometown. You will soon see the mountains with your own eyes when we leave the capital this time.”

Xian Wei said “Oh.”

Xiao Mo asked, “After following my young master up the mountain and cultivating the Dao, what do you want to do?”

“Of course, there must be something, how could there be nothing.”

Xian Wei said decisively, “I must capture fox spirits and catch seductive ghosts, and have goddesses enter my dreams, to roam the immortal realm together…”

Xiao Mo regretted asking this question. Listening to Xian Wei’s rambling, he had actually summarized “Thirty Things to Accomplish After Cultivating the Dao and Becoming an Immortal.” Xiao Mo couldn’t bear to listen anymore and couldn’t help but remind him, “Xian Wei, have you heard of ‘A wise man speaks slowly’? Flowers that seem to understand words are often troublesome, but stones that cannot speak are most lovable.”

Xian Wei stopped talking sheepishly, suddenly his expression changed, and he said worriedly, “It doesn’t matter where Master Cao’s mountain is, it’s best not to be near Mount Pīyún!”

Xiao Mo asked, “Why is that?”

“Noble and upright Mount Pīyún, incorruptible Mountain God Wei!”

Xian Wei heavily clapped his palm with the wine flask, exclaiming, “Xiao Mo, haven’t you heard of that? Even I have heard of the great name of that Mountain God Wei of Mount Pīyún. It is said that he holds several night banquets a year, causing all the mountain immortals, city gods, and mountain and water gods in the Northern Peak area to sell their possessions and tighten their belts, living a miserable life. It is even said that even a rooster has to lay two eggs before it can pass by Mount Pīyún…”

Xian Wei’s hard journey to the north these years had nothing to do with the mountains, he had never been to an immortal ferry, let alone those cloud-shrouded mountain dwellings. Xian Wei only dealt with poor mountains and bad waters, which meant that his remarks could only come from rumors in the mortal world. Then, the “great fame and good reputation” of Wei Bo and Mount Pīyún can be imagined.

Xiao Mo was quite surprised to hear this. Even if Xian Wei’s hearsay was somewhat exaggerated and had a lot of embellishment, even if it was halved… So Xiao Mo thought for a while, and for safety’s sake, it seemed that he had to prepare gifts early, lest he get a “stingy” evaluation from Mountain God Wei.

It was truly embarrassing for his young master to have such a neighbor who was not an easy person to deal with.

Xian Wei looked at a certain place on the street and said, “Xiao Mo, look at that coachman, he looks like an experienced martial artist in his prime. Look at the bulging muscles on his arms, I reckon he could punch through a table with one punch, and if he hit someone, they would have to… spit out a flask full of blood? Xiao Mo, although you are a half-way immortal, you are not as experienced in the mortal world as I am. In the future, when you encounter this kind of person, you must be careful and avoid them.”

Next to a carriage, stood an old coachman, arms crossed and dozing off. Noticing the gaze from the alley, the old coachman opened his eyes. The guy squatting and drinking wine was just a Body Tempering Realm Qi Refiner, but the cultivator in the yellow hat and blue shoes seemed to be a retainer of Fallen Mountain, who had just been registered at the Ministry of Justice as a third-class retainer of the Great Li, with the Daoist name Xizhu, and his name was Mo Sheng? Anyway, it was a new face, who had previously accompanied someone on a trip to the palace, causing quite a stir there, his realm should not be too low.

The old coachman planned to use the Way of Qi Observation to find out, to see if he could identify the other’s approximate origin and depth of cultivation.

I’m just taking a look, what’s it to you?
If you don’t want to be noticed, then don’t step outside.

Xiao Mo smiled inwardly, saying, “Senior’s presumptuous probing of others’ aura is hardly in accordance with the rules, is it?”

In the ancient Heavenly Court, the various departments of the Thunder Ministry were quite powerful. They were responsible for driving the seas and moving mountains, shifting the seasons, raising and lowering yin and yang, holding the balance of all things, and overseeing life and death. In particular, the Thunder Ministry’s Execution Division, which was responsible for implementing punishments, would first sever the divine essence of the punished, whether it be a negligent deity, a violating earth immortal, or a rebellious dragon spirit. Then, they would examine its form, causing its shape to decay and bones to crumble, ultimately shattering its primordial spirit.

The old coachman was slightly surprised, thinking, “Indeed, not an easy character to deal with.”

Since the other party was already on guard, the old coachman ceased operating his innate divine ability, simply asking casually, “A swordsman? Where do you hail from? One of the Dao Protectors assigned to Chen Ping’an by the Middle Earth Literary Shrine? Or perhaps from the Sword Qi Great Wall, a member of the obscure Executioner lineage?”

“I am indeed a swordsman. As for my origins, since we are not yet acquainted, and are certainly not friends, I see no need to lay bare my heart. I shall say no more.”

Xiao Mo still wore a smile, “I simply ask that Senior show some respect to my young master, and refrain from calling him by his given name. Calling him Mr. Chen, or Mountain Lord Chen, would be perfectly acceptable.”

The old coachman was amused. “Speaking so affectedly, who did you learn that bad habit from? Even that little brat named Chen doesn’t talk so pretentiously when chatting with me.”

Besides, since when has a swordsman above the Fifth Realm stooped so low? Of all things to do, running off to be a lackey for a youngster barely forty years old?

However, the old coachman was much more cautious in his words and actions these days, tentatively asking, “Was that calculating fellow from the Lu Clan the one you injured?”

Xiao Mo countered, “Judging by Senior’s words, do you perhaps wish to become familiar with me?”

To become familiar and connect with a swordsman, of course, one must either ask for a duel or receive their guidance.

The old coachman nearly lost control of his temper.

That fellow with the yellow hat and blue shoes, with his unhurried and gentle demeanor… for some reason, he felt that this person was even more deserving of a beating than Chen Ping’an.

But remembering the lesson he had just received from the Old Scholar at the Flower Shrine, the old coachman took a deep breath, fell silent, and closed his eyes once more to rest.

Xiao Mo inquired with a smile, “When did Senior’s temper become so mild?”

The old coachman remained deaf to his words.

Xiao Mo reached out and adjusted the yellow hat on his head, smiling faintly. “In the past, the Jade Pivot Court’s Execution Division, with its clashing lightning and booming thunder, possessed such imposing grandeur, deafening and terrifying all who beheld it.”

The old coachman suddenly opened his eyes, staring intently at the “young” cultivator who was flipping through the old almanac, internally rebuking him with a voice like rolling thunder, “Speak! What sacred entity are you?!”

Xiao Mo chuckled. “Just an insignificant nobody.”

Merely someone who had once exchanged swords with the chief deities of the Thunder Ministry, one府 and two院.

The Immortal Guard, with a nimble movement, stood up and hurried into the alley, not forgetting to turn back and remind Xiao Mo, “Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, that elderly coachman seems to be glaring at you. Don’t start a fight! Harmony brings wealth when traveling abroad.”

The old coachman sighed and closed his eyes again.

He couldn’t even bring himself to flip through the old almanac.

Over at the Bian family wedding banquet hall, Chen Ping’an felt somewhat helpless. He seemed to have been forced into becoming the host for the day, seeing off the most esteemed couple in the Great Li Dynasty outside the hall.

However, Chen Ping’an stopped as soon as he crossed the threshold, feeling it unnecessary to see them all the way to the street outside the mansion gates.

Yu Mian asked with a smile, “May I ask, Mr. Chen, were these cloth shoes hand-sewn by Sword Immortal Ning?”

Chen Ping’an smiled amiably and shook his head. “An old granny gave them to me.”

Although he had over twenty pairs of cloth shoes, he still had to wear them sparingly. The only minor flaw was that he was even more reluctant to wear them on rainy days.

Afterward, the men and women, young and old, of both the Bian and other families, of course, had to follow along.

Emperor Song He chatted idly with Temple Secretary Bian of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, while Empress Yu Mian, with a gentle expression, was offering congratulations to the newlywed couple.

Lin Shiyi stood at the doorway, accompanying Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Still the same as always? No words to say when you meet your father?”

Lin Shiyi nodded slightly. “I’m used to it.”

Every family has its own set of problems.

Father and son rarely exchanged more than three sentences each time they met.

There was only one exception, when Lin Shiyi was about to take on the role of Grand Canal Temple Priest. His father, who had spent most of his life in government service, had spoken a few more words.

Chen Ping’an had always admired Lin Shiyi.

Even after seeing many truly deserving cultivation geniuses, he still felt that Lin Shiyi’s clarity of Dao heart was second to none.

In those years when the group traveled far and wide in search of knowledge, Chen Ping’an wore straw sandals and carried a woodcutter’s knife at his waist, responsible for clearing the way and keeping watch at night.

Little Bao Ping was innocent, naive, and full of fanciful ideas.

At that time, Cui Dongshan was bizarre and outlandish.

Lin Shiyi was earnest, Yu Lu was carefree, and Xie Xie was persistent.

As for Li Huai… he was just easygoing, skilled at being a bully within his own circle.

Zhu He was steady and dependable, Zhu Lu was headstrong and willful.

And of course, there was also Ah Liang, whom Chen Ping’an had once been curious about, wondering if he could “defeat Zhu He.”

This was Chen Ping’an’s first journey far from home.

When he returned to his hometown, he had a pink-skirted girl and a blue-clad boy by his side. And on that snowy plank road, he had also encountered Bai Ze and the fox spirit Qing Ying.

Shi Jiachun was the first to return from that journey. She lifted her skirt and ran all the way back, tiptoeing and giving Chen Ping’an’s shoulder a hearty slap. “You’re doing well, huh? Making a big splash!”

Although she didn’t know what exactly Emperor Song had discussed with Chen Ping’an today, Shi Jiachun had been clever since she was a child. Even before she went to school, she would help with calculations at her family’s shop.

A mountain cultivator who could make the Emperor bow and pay respects.

Someone who sat beside the Emperor of Great Li and dared to cross his legs.

This was an unimaginable thing.

Among the peers in the small town, Lin Shiyi and Ma Kuxuan from Apricot Blossom Lane were very impressive as mountain immortals.

The most successful in officialdom was, of course, Zhao Yao, who was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

As for doing business, it had to be Dong Shui’jing. Otherwise, how could he do business with and befriend the descendants of pillars of the nation like Cao Gengxin and Yuan Zhengding?

Previously, Shi Jiachun had only regarded Chen Ping’an as a local tycoon on the mountain, at most like Dong Shui’jing.

But since they were friends, of course, the more successful he was, the better.

Bian Wenmao was frightened by his wife’s disrespectful gesture, his face turning slightly pale.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “It’s alright, I suppose.”
Lin Shoushen burst the bubble, “Fine? How am I supposed to face Mountain Lord Chen?”

Shi Jiachun said nonchalantly, “Had I known this would happen, the price of those two shops in Dragon Riding Lane back then should have at least doubled. I truly sold them too cheaply.”

Bian Wenmao tugged at his wife’s sleeve.

One should not be so impolite in Master Chen’s presence.

Chen Ping’an looked at Bian Wenmao and explained with a smile, “Secretary Bian, the last time Shi Jiachun returned to his hometown, I happened to be traveling and wasn’t at home, so we missed each other. This is also my first time traveling to the capital in so many years, so I only met him today. Please don’t take offense. Back then, I bought the New Year’s shops and Grass Head shops from the Shi family at a low price. That favor was a great one.”

Today, Chen Ping’an’s gift money was two Minor Heat Coins, which, according to the mountain’s market price, translates to two hundred thousand taels of silver, perhaps with an additional twenty thousand taels of silver as premium.

Of course, Chen Ping’an could afford two Grain Rain Coins, but it wasn’t appropriate.

Bian Wenmao hurriedly said with a smile, “I’ve often heard Jiachun mention Master Chen these past years. Meeting you today, I see that your reputation is well-deserved.”

Currently, Bian Wenmao serves in the Guanglu Temple of the Lesser Nine Ministries, holding the position of Guanglu Vice Minister. His official rank isn’t high, but he’s in charge of affairs and wields real power.

Bian Wenmao was a second-class graduate in the imperial examination early in his career. After leaving the Hanlin Academy, he rotated through various government offices in the capital. First, he went to the Imperial Academy as an assistant professor of law, then gradually rose to the positions of Registrar and Lecturer of the Imperial Academy. Before entering the Guanglu Temple, he also served as a Ritual Officer of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Bian Wenmao’s promotion in the officialdom wasn’t fast, but it was steady. The only problem is that he hasn’t served in the Six Ministries. Bian Wenmao has some confidence in becoming a Vice Minister of Guanglu in this lifetime, but he doesn’t dare to dream of one day leading the Guanglu Temple.

Li Huai had mentioned this Bian Wenmao to Chen Ping’an, saying that he was a capital official with his eyes on the top of his head, looking down on them bumpkins from small towns. He’s aloof to everyone, but he treats Shi Jiachun relatively well.

Shi Jiachun smiled brightly, secretly extending a hand and gently waving it, signaling to Chen Ping’an that there was no such thing, and that he should just listen to his husband’s polite words.

Chen Ping’an and Lin Shoushen left the Bian residence. Lin Shoushen asked, “Want to visit my place? My dad also came from a pottery-making background, and you have a good rapport with elders. I reckon you’d have something to talk about with him.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said earnestly, “Shoushen, you’re not young anymore. Don’t look at your dad’s lack of smiles towards you. Once you get married, it doesn’t matter if it’s a son or daughter, the phenomenon of grandparents loving their grandchildren knows no reason. The smiles your dad shows in a day will be more than he shows you in a year. If you don’t believe me, we can make a bet. A small gamble for amusement, let’s bet two Minor Heat Coins.”

Lin Shoushen smiled slightly, his lips moving slightly. Silence speaks louder than words. He gave Chen Ping’an a “get lost.”

Chen Ping’an took out a booklet from his sleeve and said mentally, “It’s the Thunder Formation deduced by Master Qi. It differs somewhat from the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion. I learned a bit of the basics by chance and compiled a booklet. You have good aptitude, so after reading it, see if you can take it to the next level.”

Lin Shoushen put it into his sleeve and said jokingly, “If you want to give a gift, just give it. Don’t make it sound like I’m receiving one.”

Chen Ping’an tutted, “You have the nerve to say that to me? You’re the one receiving the gift, but you act like you’re giving it.”

Lin Shoushen asked, “Are you heading back now?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “I’m leaving the capital soon, either today or tomorrow. Then I need to immediately rush to Tongye Continent for the founding ceremony of the lower sect. The specific time hasn’t been set yet, but it’s roughly at the end of this winter or the beginning of next spring. Anyway, go if you have time, and don’t if you don’t.”

Lin Shoushen said, “If I can’t go to Tongye Continent, have Dong Shuijing include my share of the congratulatory gift money. Anyway, he has a lot of money in his pockets, a mountain of gold and silver that he can’t spend in several lifetimes. That money-grubbing bastard only likes to make money and has no other skills. He deserves to be single forever…”

Chen Ping’an suppressed a smile.

Lin Shoushen usually doesn’t act like this.

Dong Shuijing is the exception. The reason is simple. The two were former classmates and both had a crush on Li Liu when they were young. They were each other’s rivals in love, but in the end, both of them failed. Before Li Liu got married, the two disliked each other. Now that Li Liu has married an outsider, Lin Shoushen and Dong Shuijing view each other with a different kind of dislike each time they meet. Perhaps they both have a label stuck on their foreheads by the other, with the two big words, “Waste…”

Lin Shoushen was about to say goodbye and leave when he exchanged a glance with Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an said mentally to Xiao Mo, asking him to take Xian Wei and follow him to Spring Mountain Academy.

In the carriage, Yu Mian asked, “What did Master Chen say?”

Emperor Song He rubbed his brow, “He said he’ll give a definite answer next time he passes by the capital.”

Yu Mian pinched the Emperor’s sleeve with two fingers, squinted and smiled, saying charmingly, “Don’t sulk.”

Song He chuckled and held her hand in return.

Only envy mandarin ducks, not immortals.

Yu Mian smiled as usual, lowered herself, and pressed her cheek against the back of the Emperor’s hand.

She pretended not to know that the Emperor’s palms were sweaty.

Obviously, after she sent the wine pot and cups, the conversation between the two was not very light.

Spring Mountain Academy.

The old scholar was waiting for his disciple Chen Ping’an, and his disciple’s disciple Lin Shoushen.

Lin Shoushen is good, but the fact that he’s still single is not good.

The old scholar had a good impression of this academy. Just last time, he recognized a distant nephew named Zhou Jiagu here without spending any money.

The old scholar was waiting at the gate of Spring Mountain Academy.

He would soon return to the Central Earth Literary Temple.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the academy’s plaque.

Spring Mountain.

The characters are well-written, and the name is well-chosen.

Qi Jingchun’s Spring, Cui Dongshan’s Mountain.

Chen Ping’an and Lin Shoushen landed and saluted respectively.

The old scholar turned around and asked with a smile, “Ping’an, Shoushen, tell me, what is your favorite of my essays?”

Chen Ping’an’s answer was “Exhortation to Learning.”

Lin Shoushen’s reply was “Treatise on Heaven.”

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled, “Both are excellent.”

The three of them walked into the academy together. The old scholar said slowly, “The gentleman says, learning cannot be stopped. To understand the distinction between Heaven and Man is to be a perfect man.”
“The constellations wheel in their courses, the sun and moon take turns shining, the four seasons follow their order, Yin and Yang undergo great transformations, wind and rain bestow their bounty. Heaven reveals its brilliance, Earth reveals its light, and the virtuous man values his purity and completeness.”

“The changes of Heaven and Earth, the transformations of Yin and Yang, are rare occurrences in the world. It is permissible to marvel at them, but not to fear them. Therefore, the virtuous man chooses his dwelling place carefully and seeks the company of scholars when he travels.”

“Shouyi, regarding the ‘Treatise on Heaven,’ are there any doubts or unresolved questions?”

“There are a few.”

“Excellent, reading without questions is like letting fine wine and meat pass through the gut unappreciated. We shall walk and talk, you ask and I answer.”

“By the way, Shouyi, if you encounter similar scholarly difficulties in the future, you can send letters to the Merit Grove. As for matters of cultivation, if you encounter any bottlenecks or obstacles, for the Confucian aspect of cultivation, directly consult the classicist Xiping. For Taoist arts, I can forward your questions to either the talisman expert Yu Xuan or Celestial Master Zhao, but they are both quite occupied at the moment, so it may take a while for them to reply. But if you encounter even greater difficulties…”

Chen Pingan interjected with a smile, “Whenever you’re short on money, come to me. I definitely won’t charge interest. Pay me back whenever you can, I certainly won’t chase after debts.”

The old scholar smiled knowingly.

Look at that, listen to that.

What is a prized disciple?

Lin Shouyi stretched out his hand. “Give it to me.”

Chen Pingan was taken aback. “What?”

Lin Shouyi said, “To break through the Nascent Soul bottleneck, I need some rare and precious natural treasures. I’ve estimated it will cost around a hundred ‘Valley Rain Coins,’ which is indeed a problem. My trip to the capital was originally to raise funds.”

Chen Pingan leaned forward, looking at his teacher.

The old scholar coughed and looked ahead. The scenery of Spring Mountain Academy was exceptionally beautiful.

Chen Pingan slapped Lin Shouyi’s hand away. “Wait a few days, until I return to Fallen Mountain and ask the steward, Wei Wenlong, for money. It definitely won’t delay your important business.”

Lin Shouyi withdrew his hand and asked with a smile, “Doesn’t the esteemed Mountain Lord have any personal savings?”

Chen Pingan said with righteous indignation, “What need does a man have for personal savings?”

The old scholar immediately understood why, among all of his lineage of Literary Saints, only this closed-door disciple had managed to find a wife.

That enlightenment, truly commendable.

Lin Shouyi asked a few scholarly questions. Although there weren’t many, the old scholar, who by seniority was practically an ancestor, explained them in great detail, taking up the better part of an hour. Afterwards, Lin Shouyi bid farewell to leave the academy, saying he was going home for a while.

Chen Pingan said in a mental voice, “Shouyi, before you go into secluded cultivation to break through to a higher realm, if you need someone to protect you, remember to let me know. As long as I’m not in another continent at the time, I’ll be there to guard you. How’s that?”

Lin Shouyi rarely made a joke. “Why would I stand on ceremony with my junior martial uncle? It’s settled then.”

Chen Pingan reminded him, “One thing is one thing. After you reach the Upper Five Realms, you’ll still have to repay the principal of a hundred Valley Rain Coins, right? I’ll make an exception and give you a 20% discount, eighty will do.”

Lin Shouyi just smiled and said nothing.

Chen Pingan felt that the matter was hopeless.

Returning along the same path towards the mountain gate, Lin Shouyi rode the wind back to the capital.

During that time, he encountered a young man in a yellow hat and blue shoes, and a young Taoist priest looking around with curiosity.

The old scholar took out a brocade pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Pingan.

Chen Pingan took the pouch in bewilderment. Opening it, he was greatly surprised to find Feng Yi’s colorful knot.

It was refined from the lifelines of the hundred flower goddesses of Hundred Flowers Blessed Land.

The old scholar smiled. “It’s better to resolve enmities than to prolong them. Senior Feng Yi wants you to give this to the Flower Mistress of Hundred Flowers Blessed Land. The only requirement is that the twelve Flower Goddesses of the blessed land come here and sincerely apologize to her.”

“Feng Yi’s meaning is that this item is rare, so you can’t make a trip for nothing. You have to ask the blessed land for the title of Supreme Guest Elder. If they don’t give it, don’t deliver it.”

Hundred Flowers Blessed Land has many flower goddesses, with the twelve Flower Goddesses of the months holding the highest position. Among them, the Flower Mistress of the blessed land is the head, followed by the four life-governing flower goddesses who oversee the blossoming of the four seasons, and then the seven flower goddesses who preside over the months.

Each of the twelve Flower Goddesses has their own appointed Guest Elder. This position is definitely not vacant. In addition, there will be Supreme Guest Elders of even higher status, but these are mostly the wishful thinking of the flower goddesses. For example, Bai Ye is the Supreme Guest Elder of the peony, but Bai Ye would not travel to Hundred Flowers Blessed Land as a guest because of it.

As for the Supreme Guest Elder of the entire Hundred Flowers Blessed Land, after the blessed land’s great calamity of “fierce winds raging, myriad apertures roaring, and hundreds of flowers withering,” it has been vacant for thousands of years.

They were waiting for someone to retrieve this colorful knot from the hands of “the Feng family’s maidservant.”

Chen Pingan said, “Teacher, I know what kind of speaking style Senior Feng Yi has. I can help deliver things and pass on messages, but even if Hundred Flowers Blessed Land actively gives me the title of Supreme Guest Elder of the entire blessed land, I won’t accept it.”

The old scholar chuckled, not trying to persuade him for the time being. “If you can’t reach an agreement and the flower goddesses of the blessed land are unwilling to come here to admit their mistake, you have to agree to one thing for Feng Yi: protect the flower thieves on the mountain from being completely wiped out.”

He would send a letter to the Flower Mistress, personally imparting a clever plan. For example, have them accept the colorful knot first, and then suddenly change their minds, saying that if Master Chen isn’t willing to be the Supreme Guest Elder, they won’t go to Treasure Bottle Continent to apologize to Feng Yi.

Chen Pingan hesitated.

The old scholar said softly, “Don’t worry too much about A-Liang and Left Idiot.”

“Because Li Huai, while wandering around with the young Taoist, said a thoughtless remark, saying, ‘My brother A-Liang is not one to remain a bachelor, and as for my swordplay master Left, who is unparalleled in swordplay, he’ll have to teach me some of his secret sword techniques later.'”

Chen Pingan’s expression was awkward. “Teacher, that works too?”

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled. “Just wait and see.”

Chen Pingan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The old scholar turned back and waved his hand vigorously, shouting, “Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, over here, over here.”

Hearing this, Xiao Mo told the Immortal Guard to wander around on his own, and came to the old Literary Saint’s side alone.

For some reason, when he saw this Literary Saint who wasn’t actually that old, Xiao Mo always felt like he was interacting with an elder.

Was it because the Literary Saint’s knowledge was vast, and he looked old?

The old scholar said, “Brother Xiao Mo, I’m about to return to the Literary Temple, so I’m entrusting this closed-door disciple to your care.”

Xiao Mo nodded. “Master Wensheng, I can’t guarantee that there will be no accidents, but I can guarantee that if anything unforeseen happens, Xiao Mo will definitely stand by the young master’s side, and my sword will definitely be drawn quickly.”

“Excellent! Those words are exceptionally domineering!”
The old scholar’s face lit up with joy as he listened, giving a thumbs-up. “As expected of my Little Mo brother, with whom I instantly connected and felt a kinship. In the future, I’ll introduce you to Bai Ye, Reverend Sun, and Celestial Master Zhao. They are all my bosom buddies. Alas, I don’t have many friends, and among those with decent swordsmanship, there are only a few like them.”

Little Mo bowed in gratitude.

The old scholar hastily supported Little Mo’s arm, “This time, when I return to the Central Continent of the Divine Continent, I will inform those old fuddy-duddies at the Confucian Temple in advance. In the future, when Little Mo brother travels across the continents of the Vast Expanse, there will be no need to report to the Confucian Temple.”

Little Mo pondered for a moment but still politely declined, “I appreciate Mister Wen Sheng’s kindness, but I believe it’s best to follow the established rules. Little Mo shouldn’t put Mister Wen Sheng and the Young Master in a difficult position over such matters.”

The old scholar gently patted Little Mo’s shoulder, and helped him adjust his collar, just like an elder seeing off a young junior about to embark on a long journey far from home.

The old man smiled softly, muttering, “Understanding of kindness, people understanding kindness, kind people understand meaning, people’s intention is well understood, Little Mo is very virtuous.”

Little Mo smiled shyly, uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “When sages and heroes meet, the sentiment of brotherhood stirs, and the sword yearns to sing.”