Having departed the Chill Sect of the Northern Pure Continent, Lu Chen did not hasten back to Jade Capital. Instead, he made a detour to the verdant realm of Qinghao, seeking out a scholar named Chen, though rumor held his true lineage to be Li. From there, with stealth worthy of a shadow, he retraced his steps to the Treasure Bottle Continent, intent on meeting an old friend whose station, though far removed from his own, demanded respect.

Crossing the seas south from the Northern Pure Continent, he soared above the landmass of the Treasure Bottle Continent. As expected, the sage of the Literary Temple, a familiar face watching over the celestial tapestry, greeted him with a few words.

Lu Chen felt this brief reunion, heavy with unspoken sentiment, was most agreeable. As for the sage’s own thoughts, he could not presume to know.

In the Hong Prefecture of Yuzhang, a new office was established: the Timber Harvesting Bureau.

Its inaugural chief was a man named Lin Zhengcheng, hailing from the capital.

It was said he had served in the Ministry of War, second in command of the Rapid Reports Division. Though not young, he had somehow secured this plum assignment.

This Lord Lin neither unleashed a fiery torrent of new policies, nor did he luxuriate in indolence. He acted with measured care, following the established procedures. He donned his official robes, led his officers to the local temples of Literature, War, and the City God, to offer incense. As the Bureau was newly formed, there were no past matters to inherit, which eased the burden considerably.

One night, as darkness enveloped the land, a young Daoist, adorned with a lotus crown, entered without knocking. He seated himself on a stool by the fire pit, held out his hands to the warmth, shivered, and with a grin asked, “Has the mastermind behind the assassin who attacked Ning Yao still not been found?”

Lin Zhengcheng set down his book, raised an eyebrow, and remained seated. He ignored the question from the Third Patriarch of the Jade Capital, simply clasping his hands in a polite greeting. “Greetings, Patriarch Lu.”

Lu Chen brushed his sleeves. “Between you and I, such formality is unnecessary.”

For over a decade, they had both plied their trades in the same town, each knowing the other well.

Yet, like Cao Gengxin of the Pottery Bureau, the one person he most needed to keep an eye on, the young lord of Fallen Mountain, had never crossed paths with him in conversation.

So it was with Lu Chen and Lin Zhengcheng.

Lin Zhengcheng was a native of the Bead Grotto, personally chosen by Embroidered Tiger as the second Watcher of the Grotto.

Otherwise, why would the Grand Li’s State Preceptor bother to help a mere official’s son choose a name?

As for the previous Watcher, his term of sixty years had elapsed, and though he had neither excelled nor failed, Cui Chan was not satisfied.

Before him, there was a wandering sword immortal who held the post of Watcher for the longest time, and bore a hidden identity: Sacrificial Officer.

This secret was revealed to Lin Zhengcheng during his final meeting with State Preceptor Cui. This swordsman who had quietly left his homeland, traversed the Inverted Mountain to reach the vastness of the world, was the last Sacrificial Officer in the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

In truth, Old Yang had once let slip a secret to Ning Yao when she first explored the Bead Grotto. He spoke cryptically of a wandering swordsman who had perished near the town. Before his death, this swordsman had compiled his travels into a book, a volume of mountain and river tales that he occasionally perused.

Ning Yao had been skeptical and gave it little thought. Old Yang shifted the topic, asking her what she truly desired.

In an instant, the maiden experienced enlightenment, entering a state akin to Buddhist meditation or Daoist tranquility.

Lin Zhengcheng suspected this swordsman, one of the three officers of the Sword Qi Great Wall, had sought the old sword beneath the stone arch bridge. Unable to obtain the answer he sought, he remained in the Bead Grotto, becoming the Watcher. This was before Cui Chan became State Preceptor, and the Li Song family remained ignorant of their deep connection to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

This Sacrificial Officer, in addition to being a swordsman, held another secret identity: a martial arts grandmaster who had reached the pinnacle of skill, with no path left to tread.

In the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall, there were but a handful of martial artists who reached such heights.

The last was Bai Lian Shuang, and she was a woman.

This defied reason. Even with the Sword Qi suppressing martial arts, there should have been more pure martial artists at the ninth or tenth level.

Alas, there was only one.

For someone had claimed all the martial luck for themselves.

Zhang Tiaoxia, known as “Long Bo,” the foremost martial artist in the land. In his youth, before his spirit had waned, Zhang Tiaoxia was at the height of his power. He regarded the martial gods beyond the pinnacle of skill as his for the taking, displaying an unparalleled ambition.

But upon the sea, he once engaged in a test of martial skill with an unknown pure martial artist.

Zhang Tiaoxia neither won nor lost.

But thereafter, he turned to cultivation and became the longest-lived martial artist at the pinnacle of skill in the land’s history.

Zhang Tiaoxia never acknowledged the accolades bestowed upon him, such as the title of “Foremost Martial Artist”. He simply ignored them, offering no comment.

Lu Chen knew of this encounter thanks to his unacknowledged disciple, the old boatman Xian Cha.

Xian Cha was the sole witness to that martial battle.

The speed of the figures was like lightning, faster than a swordsman’s flying blade. The sea within a thousand leagues collapsed, revealing its depths.

Lu Chen even suspected that Sacrificial Officer held a place on a certain mountain.

Alas, that strange mountain was forbidden to a Daoist like himself.

“When the world is still, the Treasure Bottle stirs; when the world is in chaos, the Treasure Bottle is still.”

As if discerning Lin Zhengcheng’s thoughts, Lu Chen gazed into the fire, rubbed his hands, and smiled faintly. “I stumbled upon this prophecy during my travels through the river of time in that town. It helped me deduce a few clues. It seems that Sacrificial Officer was quite adept at divination.”

Lin Zhengcheng saw that Lu Chen had produced a few sweet potatoes from his sleeves and placed them in the fire pit, showing no sign of leaving. He had no choice but to ask, “What brings Patriarch Lu here tonight?”

Lu Chen raised his head and asked with a smile, “Do you know what you’ve done that was superfluous, and what you’ve done that was beneficial?”

Lin Zhengcheng replied calmly, “Since it’s all in the past, knowing is worse than not knowing.”

Lu Chen held out one hand, radiant with shimmering light, gathering into a miniature likeness of the old Bead Grotto. Some stars shone brightly, others dimly, some were gentle, others piercing. Each varied in size, strength, and hue. Slowly, Lu Chen twisted his wrist, and the once still realm began to turn, slowly at first, then gaining momentum.

Lu Chen raised his other hand, pinching his fingers as if holding chess pieces. He plucked two points of light, one dim, one bright. To ensure Lin Zhengcheng could see them clearly, the faces of Li Er, carrying a fishing basket, and Chen Ping’an, a lean, dark-skinned boy in straw sandals, appeared within his fingers.

Lu Chen plucked two more lights, those of the Sui prince Gao Xuan, and an old retainer. With a gentle push, they moved away, distancing themselves from Li Er and Chen Ping’an. He placed the lights back, then sped up the rotation of his hand. The land turned with the urgency of a man running, night and day. The dim light representing Chen Ping’an gradually brightened. Then, in a flash, it collided with something, as if a hammer struck a sword blank, sending sparks flying.

But it was a fleeting moment. The light dimmed again, dispersing to the town and its people.

“See? Old Yang scolded him; Li Er brought it on himself.”

“That’s what they call good intentions gone awry.”

“You’re the same. Don’t believe me? I’ll give you an example. The snake gallstones you deliberately threw into the Dragon Whisker River were of considerable quality. They were meant for your son, Lin Shouyi, to cultivate with later, weren’t they?”

“It seemed like a great help, increasing the mud-lane boy’s harvest by seventy or eighty percent. But do you know that the snake gallstone Ma Kuxuan easily obtained should have been in Chen Ping’an’s basket? Think about it, Lin Zhengcheng. Did Chen Ping’an gain, or lose? If you ask me, he definitely lost big.”

Lin Zhengcheng remained unmoved. “I don’t care about these twists and turns. Isn’t Chen Ping’an the one causing you the most headaches now?”

Lu Chen did not deny it. He nodded, but quickly asked with a smile, “What if I were to suggest that Lin Shouyi lost an opportunity because of your favoritism? What if the thing I gave to Xie Ling was meant for Lin Shouyi? What if Lin Shouyi lost even more good fortune? Good fortune comes in strings, as does ill fortune. These gains and losses cannot be ignored. I gave you hints when I was setting up my stall and telling fortunes.”

Lin Zhengcheng remained serene and scoffed. “It’s none of your business whether my son succeeds or fails. Are you a Lin? I don’t think there’s a Lin Chen in our family tree.”

Lu Chen was speechless. He let the miniature realm hover and spin, and poked at the sweet potatoes in the fire. He sighed, “You’re such a pain.”

No wonder Cui Chan had chosen him to be the Watcher. His cultivation might not be high, but he was stubborn and unyielding.

And what was it about this town’s simple folk? They all spoke with such sharp tongues.

Lin Zhengcheng stood up, walked around the desk, sat by the fire, picked up a roasted sweet potato, dusted it off, and began to eat.

Lu Chen smiled and warned, “Eat slowly, be careful it’s hot.”

Lin Zhengcheng glanced at the hovering realm.

Some lights barely moved.

These were like the Proprietress Feng in the highest wine shop, Lu Wei the Yin Yang cultivator, and the old coachman from the old Heavenly Court’s Thunder Department.

Some lights shone like distant stars, such as Ruan Xiu and Li Liu.

Then there was the effeminate kiln worker, the Rain God incarnate, Su Han.

And the maiden Zhi Gui, who had escaped from the Iron Chain Well.

Threads of fate connected and broke apart, constantly linking and separating everyone in the town.

The cultivators were few, but their threads were thick. The common scholars had more threads, but they were thin.

Only Yang’s apothecary was obscured by mist.

Lu Chen ate his sweet potato, and suddenly huffed, “Chen Ping’an is too vindictive. I haven’t done anything to him. ‘Vengeance has its due, debts have their proper owner.’ Why does he hold such resentment against me? Is it because I’m good-tempered that he thinks he can bully me? I’ve been wronged!”

Lin Zhengcheng reminded him, “It *seems* like you haven’t done anything.”

*Seems* like it. *Really*.

Lu Chen continued, “Besides, when the calamity befell the town, it wasn’t just us Jade Capital immortals who showed up. The sages of the Three Teachings appeared.”

“It’s true, my irritable colleague from the Purple Qi Tower was the first to act. But I’m different. I never fought with Qi Jingchun, nor did I utter a harsh word. I was perfectly amiable.”

“Why doesn’t Chen Ping’an seek revenge on the Vice Preceptor of the Literary Temple, or argue with the Buddhist sect? Why single me out? Is it because I’m easy to pick on? I’ve been unjustly accused.”

Lin Zhengcheng made a strange face, squeezing out a smile that did not reach his eyes, then quickly masking it.

It was as if he had heard a joke, offered polite applause, and was waiting for Patriarch Lu to tell another one.

Lu Chen pointed at him with his sleeve. “You scholars. We’re all scholars. No wonder Lin Shouyi wasn’t close to you when he was young.”

*The sage embraces the One to become a model for the world, knowing honor but holding on to shame to become the valley of the world.*

Cui Chan had named Lin Zhengcheng’s son “Shouyi” – “Guard the One.” He even thought of a style name for Lin Shouyi upon his coming of age.

*Lin Shouyi, style name Rixin – Daily Renewal -* urging vigilance at all times.

Seeing that the Third Patriarch of Jade Capital was still feigning ignorance, Lin Zhengcheng raised his hand, miming the act of holding and shaking a book.

Lu Chen sighed.

Too much intelligence was a hindrance. It made conversation difficult.

Lin Zhengcheng’s meaning was clear: they were both readers of the town’s tales. They had read the stories and knew all the clues, connections, entanglements, and trends. There was no need for pretense.

Lu Chen sighed, “If the Emperor could sway you, you could persuade Chen Ping’an to become the Grand Li’s new State Preceptor.”

Lin Zhengcheng remained silent.

The essence of life was simple: understand who you are.

If you knew who you were, you would do what you must and not do what you must not.

Like the time Lin Shouyi came home from the school, tears in his eyes.

Lin Zhengcheng asked what was wrong. Lin Shouyi said he had reported a classmate for cheating, and no one would speak to him.

“Do you think you were wrong?”

“No!”

“Does doing the right thing always bring good rewards?”

“Isn’t that what they say? Good people get good rewards.”

“Not necessarily.”

“Why not?”

“What do you read books for?”

“Dad, Mr. Qi talked to me, too, and said something similar, but I think Mr. Qi said it better. He said I had to believe that good people get good rewards. That’s not what you’re saying. Dad, did you ever get beaten up in an alley when you went to school?”

“Go read your books.”

“Okay.”

“By the way, who beat you up?”

“Fat Ma from Two-Lane Alley.”

“Just him?”

“Yes.”

“Go!”

It was no wonder his son feared his father. They were never close. Whenever Lin Zhengcheng caught the young Lin Shouyi being mischievous, like playing before finishing his homework, Lin Zhengcheng would use his belt on him. Lin Shouyi would run and hide under the bed.

Lin Zhengcheng disapproved of the school founded by the Chen family of Dragon Tail Creek. The teachers were too polite to the children. They spoke of the sages and their principles, but they rarely disciplined the children. The rulers and feather dusters were merely decorations. Especially the older teachers, who fancied themselves scholars and men of letters, and advocated for the gentleman to use his words rather than his hands. Eventually, Lin Zhengcheng could not bear it any longer and sent a secret report to the court. Soon, a group of younger teachers were transferred to the school. Compared to the elders invited by the Chen family, the newcomers had less learning, but they were licentiates eager to make their mark. They taught the toddlers with enthusiasm. This relieved some of the burden on the Chen family. After all, which of those old men didn’t prefer to retire to their hometown, enjoy their grandchildren, or teach at a local academy to nurture new scholars?

Lu Chen glanced at Lin Zhengcheng, not disturbing his rare moment of fatherly affection. After a moment, Lin Zhengcheng regained his composure. Lu Chen changed the subject. “Gao Xuan will be a good emperor. Your Grand Li court needs to be careful. If Embroidered Tiger were still alive, or even if Song Jixin were emperor, Gao Xuan would never have succeeded in becoming the Sui emperor.”

The Sui prince, Gao Xuan, was among the five greatest opportunities in the Bead Grotto. He was later held as a hostage as part of the alliance between the Sui and Li Song families, studying at the Linlu Academy in the Cloud-Covered Mountain. When Gao Xuan returned to the Sui, he inherited a crumbling state, its people disheartened.

The Sui had surrendered without a fight, ceding several vassal states, including the Yellow Court Kingdom, to the Li Song family. The Sui court saw it as a humiliation.

When the Li Song family had unified one kingdom into one continent, it was another crushing blow to the Sui court. What little spirit remained was crushed by the Li cavalry.

In this situation, Prince Gao Xuan relinquished the golden carp, abandoning the path to immortality. He fell from the Golden Core realm to the lower realms, shortening his lifespan. This ensured that he did not violate the Literary Temple’s rites, allowing him to inherit the throne.

Lu Chen smiled. “Thirty years as emperor. Thirty years is long enough to accomplish much. Furthermore, fate is not fixed. There has never been a truly predetermined fate, because fate itself is predetermined. I have high hopes for this Sui emperor. He may be a great restorer of the Sui dynasty.”

Lu Chen clapped his hands and stood up. He went to the desk, upon which was a steelyard, an old object. It was a gift from Old Yang to Lin Zhengcheng when he became the Watcher.

A steelyard. Sixteen ounces in a pound.

It was a gift with great meaning, for the sixteen stars represented the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper, the Six Stars of the Southern Dipper, and the Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity.

The ancestors warned their descendants not to deceive Heaven or Earth. If one ounce was missing, fortune would be lost; if two ounces were missing, prosperity would be lost; if three ounces were missing, longevity would be forfeited. Merchants feared shortchanging their customers. Heaven was watching.

Lu Chen picked up the steelyard, twirled it between his fingers, and sighed, “It’s repeated warnings, but they are without voice.”

He placed the steelyard down and turned to lean against the desk, caressing the surface made of local Yuzhang wood. He breathed on it lightly, and dispelled the sphere of light above the fire, scattering it like fireflies. He watched the scene and said with a smile, “The sea is the dragon’s world, the sky is the crane’s home. The great fish bursts out of the great net!”

Lin Zhengcheng said coldly, “It was Mr. Qi who accomplished that, not you, Lu Chen.”

The situation had not ended in complete destruction only because someone had torn open the net, entangling himself, his true form shattering like porcelain, allowing the fish, large and small, to escape.

Lu Chen laughed. “At least you didn’t call me a meddler. You’re holding back.”

Lin Zhengcheng sneered, “That’s because you mentioned Mr. Qi.”

Lu Chen paid it no mind. “That’s just how our Lin is. I’m used to it. He neither flatters superiors nor bullies inferiors. He treats everyone the same.”

“Zhao Yao admired Song Jixin the most, feeling that he was far inferior to his classmate in both chess and academics. But Song Jixin looked down on Zhao Yao. They never truly connected. Thus, Zhao Yao was unable to ‘dot the eye of the dragon’ for him, and Song Mu could only become a feudal lord, not an emperor.”

“Zhao Yao also made a mistake. After leaving his hometown by ox cart, he encountered Embroidered Tiger, who blocked his path. The boy handed over the seal given to him by his teacher. There was nothing wrong with it, but now the distant Yao, and Zhou, have become swaying Yao and serving Yao.”

“When Chen Ping’an, the do-gooder, spoke up to save the child in the mud lane, it came from a good place, but he brought trouble upon himself. Their fates were not complementary, but conflicting. Thus, there were later hardships. Liu Xiyang nearly died at the hands of the Mountain-Moving Great Saint from our Righteous Yang Mountain. Liu Xiyang, Righteous Yang Mountain, and Chen Ping’an born on the fifth day of the fifth month. Once the three parties parted, only Righteous Yang Mountain remained in place. The other two friends wandered far from home, only to return later to seek swordsmanship at Righteous Yang Mountain. Such gains and losses were consequences of their own actions.”

“If not for the stout heart of that effeminate kiln worker, who had a flash of inspiration that night in the mud lane, only burying the rouge box outside the door instead of where Chen Ping’an could easily see it, it would not have been a reward, but a kindness that caused harm.”

“Old Chai, who ran the happiness shop, wisely warned his grandson Hu Feng not to approach Chen Ping’an.”

Lu Chen sighed, “The phoenix in the wrong place, the orchids in the weeds, and the tares in the field.”

The phoenix out of place, and the orchids growing in the wrong soil, were easily corrupted and had to be removed. What about the unremarkable, unwanted weeds?

Zhao Yao, the current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, whose name “Yao” could mean labor, songs, distance, the universe and the lushness of grass.

Song Jixin, who gathered the dragon qi; Zhao Yao, who was supposed to “dot the eyes of the dragon”; Chen Ping’an, born on the fifth day of the fifth month; and Liu Xiyang, from the ancient dragon-raising lineage; and Hu Feng from the happiness shop.

Mountains and clear waters, lush vegetation, gathering wood to make fire, using the highest ancient rites to worship the gods on the day with the most yang energy, refining the sun-catching mirror from earth, rivers, and lakes, to repay Heaven and Lord Sun, matched with the moon. Taking fire from Heaven, a great fire lights the sky, smoke rises like a dragon, fire shines straight to Heaven. And forming a river of light and time, this was a new path to Heaven, requiring no ascension platform.

This was fate.

It was nearly predetermined.

Lu Chen said, “So the one who persuaded Chen Ping’an’s father to break the natal porcelain, was not merely revealing the fact. He foresaw this day.”

“Breaking the natal porcelain meant diverging from the old path. It may not have been avoided, but it created a chance of survival. Looking back, that’s what happened.”

“Good intentions can lead to bad results, bad intentions can lead to good results. This world is full of strange people and strange things.”

Lin Zhengcheng’s expression darkened. “It was *you*?!”

When Lin Zhengcheng left the Bead Grotto for the Ministry of War in the capital, State Preceptor Cui Chan had waited for him at a post station.

During a review of events, Cui Chan had commented on the Third Patriarch of Jade Capital.

Even separated by a realm, even with the Great Dao of the vast world suppressing him, it could not stop Lu Chen from returning to the peak of the fourteenth realm.

Nor could it stop the entire Jade Capital from crossing realms and descending from the sky, above the Bead Grotto.

Lin Zhengcheng had asked a question, “Just to target Qi Jingchun? Is it worth it?”

Cui Chan replied with a smile, “Lu Chen has no Great Dao conflict with Qi Jingchun, but he would do anything for his Senior Brother.”

“On one hand, the Great Patriarch of Jade Capital is whom Lu Chen respects most. But there’s a larger reason, driven by his own selfish desires. Lu Chen believes he can find an answer to a certain mystery with his Senior Brother, provided the Daoist Ancestor’s first disciple actually accomplishes something.”

When Lu Chen had no desire, no one could defeat him.

When Lu Chen had a desire, no one could defeat him.

Lu Chen’s presence did not mean Qi Jingchun had no other choices.

But it narrowed his choices.

Like a game of chess, reaching the endgame, with one side in the lead.

Winning was winning, but the winning side had only one or two paths to victory.

You win your inner game, I win my outer game.

For example, if Liu Xiyang was carrying valuable porcelain to Chen Ping’an in the mud lane.

No matter how he traveled through the town, changing his route, he could only travel by two routes. Pass by Gu Can’s house or not.

Lu Chen was like a rascal who didn’t get along with Liu Xiyang. He blocked the alley corner near Gu Can’s house, ready to fight anyone who came by.

Liu Xiyang could beat him, but it wasn’t worth it. He was carrying porcelain to Chen Ping’an, so he had to take the long way around.

Lu Chen feigned shock, slamming his hand on the desk. “What are you talking about? When did I come to town? I was only there for a few years. What could I have done? You know that, Lin Zhengcheng! Are you trying to smear me?! Even if you have no conscience, you need evidence for your accusations!”

Lin Zhengcheng frowned. “Was it Zou Zi?”

Lu Chen wiped his face. “Acting is tiring.” He shook his head. “If it’s most likely, then it’s not. Zou Zi likes to stop before being excessive. He wouldn’t personally get involved like that. A moment of carelessness would shatter his Dao heart. It would be lucky if he only lost a realm.”

Lu Chen patted his Daoist crown and raised his hand. “Heaven is watching from three feet above! I believe in that.”

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, counting on his fingers. Suddenly, he laughed. “Poor Tian Wan. She thought she could hide the cicada shell grotto inside the Bead Grotto, deceiving herself and Heaven. How could she be so naive? Only Old Chai kept his promise and didn’t covet the golden cicada shell. Even Old Chai didn’t expect his grandson to gain that fortune after so many twists and turns. It’s true, ‘Don’t seek what’s beyond your fate, for it may come to you if you don’t seek it.’ ”

“But no one cherishes their juniors as much as Old Yang cherishes Li Huai. Stupid people really do get lucky. I need to choose a less clever disciple next time.”

Lu Chen looked at Lin Zhengcheng. “You can tell Chen Ping’an about the cicada shell grotto. It’s no problem. I promise I won’t interfere.”

Lin Zhengcheng twitched his lips, with no intention of doing so.

There were many funeral shops in the town, but only one happiness shop, run by Hu Feng’s grandfather, Chai Daohuang, who used his true name on his tombstone after his death.

That was why Lu Chen called him Old Chai.

The old man was the head of all matchmaking shops in the ancient world, the original Moon God. His Daoist place was called “Coupling Mountain.”

He oversaw the Book of Fate, the red threads of fate, and all the words of matchmakers.

And his grandson was Hu Feng. The “Ancient Moon” Hu.

Hu Feng, like the maiden from the Scale River of Tongye Continent, was a descendant of the ancient Heavenly Craftsman of the Moon Palace. Hu Feng’s bloodline was purer.

Lu Chen hurried back to the fire and sat down. He was afraid Lin Zhengcheng would eat all the sweet potatoes. He picked up the last one, dusted it off, blew on it, and asked with a grin, “Lin, I’m a Third Patriarch of Jade Capital. I can do anything in the Azure Underworld. Who would dare to breathe loudly in my presence? Why are you so rude to me? You have no backing anymore.”

Lin Zhengcheng said calmly, “I have nothing to be ashamed of. I fear nothing in the night.”

Lu Chen complained, “Meeting a fellow countryman in a foreign land should bring tears to your eyes. Why are you insulting me?”

Lin Zhengcheng said without sincerity, “Oh. If you hadn’t said anything, I’d have forgotten.”

Lu Chen said angrily, “Everyone else might not know, but you, the Watcher, should know. I risked my life to travel to the barbarian world with Chen Ping’an, accomplishing great deeds that caught the world’s attention!”

Lin Zhengcheng nodded. “Because I know that, I’m willing to chat so much nonsense with you tonight. Otherwise, I would have kicked you out long ago.”

Lu Chen raised his hands, took a deep breath, and muttered, “Don’t be angry. Don’t be angry. It’s not worth it.”

Lin Zhengcheng hesitated, clasped his fist and said in a low voice, “Just on this matter, you didn’t act like yourself. I admire you. You’re a real man.”

Was he still insulting him?

But Lu Chen smiled instantly. “Why didn’t you say such heartwarming things earlier? I might have been willing to protect Lin Shouyi! Advancing from Nascent Soul to Jade Purity is nothing.”

“If Patriarch Lu is willing to change his surname, I can add your name to our family tree during the next revision. I can even put it on the first page. We burn nine incense sticks at the ancestral shrine anyway.”

“Lin, if you talk like that, it’s no fun. I have a temper. When I get angry, I don’t recognize my own relatives.”

“Should I change my surname?”

“Lin, please be mindful of yourself!”

Seeing that Lin was pretending to be mute, Lu Chen said, “It’ll be just a few days. The Literary Temple kicked me out long before you did. I have to leave by the end of the year. Once spring arrives, the door will be closed to me. In the end, they can’t bear to let me leave. I can’t think of any other reason.”

Lin Zhengcheng said, “I heard the Second Patriarch took in a disciple.”

Lu Chen was surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

Alas, Senior Brother Yu, what was going on? He didn’t even say hello to me.

Let me count. Oh, it’s a Yang, surnamed Yang, known as Little Heavenly Sovereign. He’s one of us! Good job, Senior Brother! Is he following in our master’s footsteps, taking in an outsider?

But the problem is, how could this Yang Ningxing from the Northern Pure Continent compare to me?

It was fortunate that he wasn’t Senior Brother Yu’s closed-door disciple. Otherwise, I would have stopped him.

Lu Chen stood up and dusted off his sleeves. “Once everything is revealed, it’s meaningless.”

Just like when Chen Ping’an had borrowed his Daoist powers. He couldn’t help feeling that the higher the realm, the smaller the world.

That was the feeling shared by all ascension realm cultivators.

The ways of the world and the hearts of men all seemed the same.

Lu Chen dared not return to the Western Buddhist Kingdom. He could not go to the barbarian world for now. Besides Bai Ze, who had returned to the barbarian world, there was another being who was as old as the barbarian realm.

It was named “Jun.” Born in the barbarian lands, in the great wilderness.

It was similar to the little girl in the Five Colored World. Her age was proportional to the years of the Jiachun Era.

It had the same foundation as the old fisherman who had refused to ferry the Sage’s company across the river.

The founders of the Three Teachings would each meet with their “Daoist friends” before scattering their essence.

Dare to ask of the Heart of Stillness? Only the Way gathers emptiness. Bathe the spirit, remove filth and accumulation, and emptiness in your heart will cause the Dao to gather in your bosom.

Seek not outward, but seek good fortune within.

Heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, the gentleman strengthens himself unceasingly; Earth’s condition is receptive, the gentleman carries the world with virtue. Therefore, the gentleman is careful in solitude and reveres the spirits.

Lin Zhengcheng stood up. “I won’t see you off.”

Lu Chen smiled. “More insignificant than the broken porcelain of Old Porcelain Mountain, are the saggars.”

The saggars.

They were like the preachers of those exquisite porcelain, or the protectors who quietly departed after escorting the Dao.

In Lu Chen’s view, the true saggars were the parents of all children.

Lin Zhengcheng suddenly asked, “The locust wood sword that Chen Ping’an took from town, he gave to the Great Sword Immortal on his first journey to the Sword Qi Great Wall, but it was never returned. Does it have anything to do with the Sacrificial Officer?”

Lu Chen curled his lip. “I wasn’t in town then. This was Qi Jingchun’s doing. How am I supposed to guess?”

Lu Chen asked a question, “Is the couplet outside the pottery workshop still changed every year as usual?”

Lin Zhengcheng shook his head. “It hasn’t been changed in years. It was the State Preceptor’s decision.”

In the past, there was a heavily guarded warehouse in the pottery workshop that housed the various imperial porcelain. After inspection, it was secretly transported to the capital.

Lu Chen had sneaked there a few times during his years as a street vendor.

It was filled with porcelain, a feast for the eyes.

But Lu Chen had not gone there for aesthetic pleasure. Every time he went, he pulled out a small bench, sat down, closed his eyes, and listened.

He listened to the subtle cracking sounds of the crackle-glazed porcelain, like wind chimes. The masters called it a “startling wind,” tinkling like heavenly music.

On the door of the warehouse was a couplet, written by a sitting sage to welcome the new year. If it was a Daoist sage, he would use peach wood from Peach Leaf Lane for the couplet.

Lu Chen remembered the last time he went to the warehouse. A couplet was hung on the outside.

*In the sound of reading, the wind and rain are timely, and everything brings blessings.*

*On the path of peace, the country is prosperous, and we welcome the New Year every year.*

Lu Chen flashed away, leaving the Hong Prefecture Timber Harvesting Bureau. In an instant, he arrived at the stone arch bridge of his former town. Under the night sky, the young Daoist strolled along the river, coming to the green cliff, alone. He looked up at the sky.

*In the countryside, we see the Milky Way; on the snail’s horn, we contend for the Dao.*

The old friend should laugh at me, dreaming within a dream, seeing a body outside the body.