“A fine ‘I go my own way’.”

Indeed, the conduct of a sword cultivator, unrestrained by heaven and earth.

Just as Chen Ping’an was about to leave the pavilion, Lu Chen smiled and said, “I heard that your Qingping Sword Sect has a mountain called Chou Mou Mountain.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “Immortal Capital Mountain is the main peak, with Chou Mou and Yun Zheng Mountains as support, forming the three-mountain configuration. Since Cui Dongshan is the sect master of the subordinate sect, he naturally has his own plans.”

According to Cui Dongshan, since the world is about to change, one should prepare and plan ahead.

Lu Chen also nodded, “Previously, I didn’t manage to land on Tongye Continent. I only glanced at it from afar at sea. On the mountaintop stood a stele inscribed with ‘We Won’t Emerge’ and ‘Heaven and Earth Purple Qi.’ The handwriting on the stele is clearly by Sect Master Cui, but it no longer resembles Embroidery Tiger’s script, yet retains some of its essence, breaking free from the mold. According to the saying on the mountain, it is a kind of immortal transformation.”

Lu Chen turned his head and laughed, “I’m here to offer early congratulations to your prized student, Cao Qinglang, for successfully completing his closed-door cultivation. His golden core is between the first and second grade, which is very good. He doesn’t need to be overly dazzling, yet he retains countless possibilities.”

Chen Ping’an breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, “It is indeed good.”

The legendary first-grade golden core is a universally acknowledged qualification for ascension, exceedingly rare. Second grade is the qualification for the upper five realms. However, many of the current peak cultivators of Vast Expanse World had second-grade golden cores in their early years.

Lu Chen asked, “Regarding me, Qi Jingchun, Cui Chan, and that Cui Dongshan, have they all said something to you, such as reminding you of some ways to interact with me?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Mr. Qi only said one sentence, ‘A gentleman can be deceived with righteousness.’ It’s not specifically targeting you, but rather aimed at that matter.”

The implication was that Lu Chen, or rather, the Third Sect Leader of Jade White Capital at that time, wasn’t important enough for Mr. Qi to give special instructions to the Mud Bottle Alley youth.

Moreover, the greatest intention, or rather, Mr. Qi’s hope, was to prevent Chen Ping’an from dwelling on it and feeling too much guilt after learning the truth in the future.

Lu Chen muttered, “If Qi Jingchun doesn’t care, why should you, Chen Ping’an, fuss about it? If you weren’t so hostile towards Jade White Capital, with your actions on the Sword Qi Great Wall, you would be a welcomed guest anywhere in Azure Billow Heaven. To put it mildly, as long as you don’t go against my Senior Brother Yu, even if you just fight to the death with Jiang Zhaomo and Pang Ding, you would still be a distinguished guest of the other four cities and eleven towers when you travel around Jade White Capital in the future. You don’t know how many fairy sisters in Jade White Capital are curious and admire ‘Hidden Official Chen Eleven,’ the youngest person to carve words on the city wall in its ten-thousand-year history.”

Chen Ping’an turned a deaf ear, simply saying to himself, “Cui Dongshan said, if Teacher truly wants to oppose Jade White Capital in the future, he must learn from the old cook when selecting vegetables, and pick out a Lu Chen.”

Obviously, Cui Dongshan’s meaning was simple. If Teacher wanted to challenge Jade White Capital with his sword, it would be best to bypass Lu Chen, separating the Third Sect Leader of Jade White Capital from the entire Jade White Capital.

Only by taking such a preemptive step could he have a chance to win.

“Hidden Official, you can’t omit the most crucial person.”

Lu Chen smiled and said, “Qi Jingchun is a righteous gentleman. No matter how high his Daoist arts or how vast his knowledge, he simply cannot act like a petty person. Your Senior Brother, Cui Chan, is different.”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Besides the Three Sect Ancestors, is there anyone Lu Chen is wary of? To the point where you need to worry about what this person has said?”

Lu Chen’s expression was serious, and he nodded. “If Cui Chan weren’t distracted by worldly affairs, and he were to focus solely on someone, then even Zheng Juzhong would suffer, at least be each other’s nemesis. Because Cui Chan’s actions are similar to my nature.”

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes and smiled, clasping his hands and gently shaking them, “I implore Hidden Official to enlighten me, otherwise, I fear I will be unable to eat or sleep upon returning to Jade White Capital.”

Chen Ping’an said, “You’ve already guessed it, why should I waste my breath?”

“Cui Chan is ruthless enough!”

Lu Chen touched the lotus crown on his head. “Chen Ping’an, you are far behind Cui Chan.”

Cui Chan’s plan was the trip to the barbaric hinterlands led by the young Hidden Official. After its success, such as after Chen Ping’an split open the Moon-Bearing Mountain with his sword, before moving a round of bright moon radiance into Azure Billow Heaven.

Chen Ping’an suddenly joined forces with Ning Yao, Qi Tingji, Executioner Hao Su, and Lu Zhi!

To take down Lu Chen together!

Adding Lu Zhi’s natal flying sword, just in terms of attacking power, it could be considered a flying ascent sword cultivator.

Then it would be Chen Ping’an plus four ascendants, sword cultivators!

Outside of Azure Billow Heaven and Jade White Capital, they would encircle and suppress a Fourteenth Realm Lu Chen.

Lu Chen sighed, “Was it the last time Cui Chan appeared on the Sword Qi Great Wall that he told you about this plan? Moreover, with your realm at the time, it would have been difficult to deceive the heavens. Cui Chan must have used some unique secret method to first tell you about this, then make you forget, and finally allow you to remember it at a certain moment, so that you could turn against me in an instant, cross the river and tear down the bridge, and suddenly attack.”

Even disregarding Chen Ping’an after returning his realm, just the joint siege of four ascendant sword cultivators, especially one being an old sword immortal who carved words on the city wall, and another being the master of a brand-new world… and adding Lu Zhi’s natal flying sword “Big Dipper,” Executioner Hao Su’s disregard for life and death when challenging others with his sword. And at certain critical moments, Chen Ping’an’s two natal flying swords might be the key to victory or defeat.

Who could withstand that?

Chen Ping’an remained silent, not denying, which was essentially an admission.

As for why Chen Ping’an decided not to do this, it was because there had been a probing attempt, and unexpectedly, Chen Ping’an obtained a certain result.

At the time, Chen Ping’an said one sentence.

“On this trip to the barbaric hinterlands, the protector accompanying Hidden Official Chen Ping’an is Hao Ran’s Lu Chen.”

And Lu Chen, unusually with a solemn expression, sincerely replied with a sentence.

“Hao Ran’s Lu Chen is honored to accompany you.”

At that moment, in the depths of his heart, Chen Ping’an was utterly certain that Lu Chen was not feigning in the slightest. A Third Sect Leader who had served in Jade White Capital for thousands of years truly recognized his “Vast Expanse” identity and was willing to regard Vast Expanse World as his true home.

Lu Chen glanced at Chen Ping’an.

Good, good, good, this guy is more like Qi Jingchun, his imitation of Cui Chan isn’t quite there yet.
Ultimately, the practical studies of the Confucian Sage lineage, as proposed by Cui Chan, were merely a “lesser learning” compared to the fundamental teachings passed down by the Old Master. Cui Chan could delve into this learning to its utmost depths, while Chen Ping An had only managed to grasp a superficial understanding, lacking half the disposition of Cui Chan. That remaining half, Chen Ping An simply could not master, no matter how hard he tried.

Since the Hidden Official treats me with such sincerity, this poor Daoist can hardly keep things concealed.

Lu Chen raised a sleeve, his fingers forming a sword gesture. Two women, tiny as mustard seeds, appeared, gracefully moving as if circling a beam.

One woman wore a chignon resembling morning clouds, her bearing elegant and refined. The other wore an ivory silk blouse and a verdant skirt, her feet adorned with embroidered shoes.

These were the two incense-burning women who had emerged from the moon gate of the Fen River Shrine. When Lu Chen had “first” encountered them “afterward,” he had silently mused, “Is it pear blossom, or is it apricot blossom? Neither…”

This meant that Chen Ping An’s elaborate scheme to lure Lu Chen into a trap was both true and false, depending solely on Lu Chen’s whim to reveal the truth or not.

Because Chen Ping An, who was first waiting by the pond and then trying to catch a turtle in a jar, was actually the caged bird in Lu Chen’s sleeve. What seemed like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, was in reality a slingshot below.

However, Chen Ping An seemed to have anticipated this, his Daoist heart undisturbed, like an ancient well.

Lu Chen asked, “Did Qi Tingji secretly hint at the time that he was willing to offer assistance?”

With Cui Chan’s methods, he certainly had sufficient reason to persuade Qi Tingji early on, convincing this old Sword Immortal to willingly offer up that “Disintegration of Arms” sword, sending Lu Chen on his way.

Chen Ping An remained silent.

Lu Chen leaned against the veranda post of the pavilion. “Chen Ping An, speaking honestly, tell me, should this poor Daoist fear that embroidered tiger?”

Chen Ping An was silent for a long time before finally speaking. “I have always heard that you possess Five Dreams and Seven Heart Aspects, each born from the manifestation of a great Dao, profound and mysterious. Legend says the Seven Heart Aspects are the Wooden Rooster, the Tree of Heaven, the Mole Rat, the Kun Peng, the Yellow Bird, the Mandarin Duck, and the Butterfly.”

Lu Chen chuckled, his hands tucked into his sleeves. “Such closely guarded secrets cannot be easily revealed. Before, in a moment of youthful exuberance, getting carried away, forgetting the bigger picture, I lent you a bit of Daoist magic. But of course, this poor Daoist must ‘close the mountain gate’ a bit. If a fellow like you, who likes to overthink things, were to catch a flaw, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

At this point, Lu Chen said tentatively, “This talk of ‘overthinking things’ is a double entendre, you can understand that, right?”

Lu Chen was referring to the purple Qi coming from the East, Daoist magic residing in the East, the Western Buddhist Kingdom, Buddhist magic residing in the West. You, Chen Ping An, are a Confucian scholar, your learning right in the middle.

Chen Ping An glanced askance at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen sighed, “There’s nothing I can do. Chatting with those fools Qing Tong and Nen Dao Ren for too long has made me feel like if I don’t spell things out completely, it’s as good as not saying anything at all. It’s true that chatting with you is effortless.”

Chen Ping An smiled. “I heard that Daoist Sun has a wonderful evaluation of you.”

Lu Chen put his hands behind his head, languidly asking, “Is it the seemingly repetitive ‘Lu Chen can’t beat anyone, Lu Chen can’t beat anyone’?”

If it were changed to “Lu Chen can’t beat anyone, nobody can beat Lu Chen,” the meaning would be much simpler.

Chen Ping An said slowly, “Dream Confucian Zheng Huan, greedy for the merits of heaven, thinking them his own strength, ultimately chose suicide. Dreaming of resting his head on a skull, he disdained the joys of ruling from the South. Dreaming of the living oak, dreaming of the dying spirit turtle, dreaming of transforming into a butterfly, unaware of who is who. These Five Dreams each have a manifestation of a great Dao, among which the White Bone Immortal who walks the Azure Underworld is the most obvious. But at first, according to the historical records of the Summer Retreat Palace and the Literary Temple Merit Forest, it seems that the entire Azure Underworld did not know that, in addition to your Seven Heart Aspects, you had these more mysterious Five Dreams.”

“In order to avoid having to fight, I had to reveal a bit of strength, so that the other party would back down when they realized it was too difficult, so as to avoid hurting harmony.”

Lu Chen chuckled, raising his hand and flexing his elbow a few times. “Many unnecessary disputes, what are they most afraid of? They are most afraid of one side already feeling like they’ve completely broken off relations, their minds filled with the notion of ‘might as well go all the way’, but the other side truly doesn’t feel that way. But no one believes it. Is there any greater grievance in the world than this?”

In the earliest days, the three Masters of the Azure Underworld rotated governing the Jade White Capital for one hundred years.

Lu Chen seemed to be the most idle of the three, but after all, he was the “shared lord” who nominally governed an entire world for a hundred years. The undercurrents at play can be imagined.

Moreover, according to the rules of the Jade White Capital, once a fellow disciple “governed the world,” the other two were absolutely not allowed to interfere in any affairs. It was rumored that this was a rule personally established by the Dao Ancestor.

This meant that if Lu Chen, who liked to leave the Jade White Capital and travel far and wide on his own, were to be killed on the road, completely dying and disappearing, then the entire Azure Underworld would be in a state of “headless dragons, a world without a master.” And the other two Masters would still be unable to act. No matter how chaotic the world became, they would have to wait for the appointed time before taking over the Jade White Capital and cleaning up the mess.

Chen Ping An asked, “Dream Confucian Zheng Huan, greedy for the merits of heaven, thinking them his own strength, ultimately chose to kill himself, only able to entrust his dreams to the pine and cypress trees in his grave. Is your Lu Clan ancestor alluding to Zou Yan, who was fiercely opposed to the Lu Clan of the Yin-Yang School?”

Lu Tai came from the Lu Clan of the Yin-Yang School. One of his two teachers, besides the swordsman Pei Min, was Zou Yan, who “spoke of all heavenly matters.”

Zou Yan spoke of heaven, the Lu Clan spoke of earth, which was universally acknowledged in the Vast World. Furthermore, it was a common understanding among the Immortals that Zou Yan was praised for occupying half the Yin-Yang School.

Zou Yan held Lu Tai in extremely high regard, otherwise there would not have been that swordsman Liu Cai. However, after Lu Tai met Chen Ping An, it was as if a great Dao divergence had occurred between Lu Tai and his teacher Zou Yan, and this matter was somewhat similar to that of Zheng Huan, one of Lu Chen’s Five Dreams, and his younger brother, who eventually separated into Confucianism and Mohism.

“It is true that my Dao is different from Zou Yan’s.”

Lu Chen quickly waved his hand, trying to distance himself. “It’s just that this poor Daoist doesn’t have the ability to accurately predict that in the future, there would be a most unfilial descendant in the family, Lu Tai, and then you.”

Chen Ping An said, “I have answered three of your questions.”

Lu Chen blinked. “Wasn’t it one question?”

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment. “Before setting up a stall in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, I retrieved ‘two dreams’ and one Heart Aspect from the Azure Underworld. Before entering the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven in the Vast World, I retrieved another Heart Aspect.”
“The latter, you should have already guessed, otherwise you wouldn’t have asked this humble Daoist about the origin of that ‘West Mountain’ component of the Eight Divine Figurines Dew-Collecting Armor that belonged to one of our Founding Ancestors. This mind-image of mine is precisely that of the ‘Yuan-chu’ bird. Moreover, it is indeed related to that golden elixir Dharma Robe and the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion. To be honest, the longer I stay in the White Jade Capital, the more amusing I find the saying, ‘Where there are demons causing trouble, there are sure to be Dragon Tiger Mountain Daoists.’ I hoped to use this to unravel the fundamental meaning of the character ‘Immortal,’ such as whether a cultivator with relatively ordinary talent attains enlightenment faster in the ‘mountains’ (representing secluded cultivation), but with limited heights, or among ‘people’ (representing worldly affairs), slower but with higher potential for achieving the Great Dao. So, I wanted to experience this firsthand as a noble with both Yellow and Purple Qi, and ultimately, that person ‘passed away’ in a stone cave on an island near Dragon Flood River, achieving liberation.”

“Yet, even if I were to retract two dreams and one mind-image in one fell swoop, even if I had given enough importance to that Jade Pearl Grotto Heaven through deduction and divination.”

Lu Chen revealed a hint of melancholy, sighing, “As it turns out, this humble Daoist was still arrogant and underestimated Qi Jingchun. If I had known, I should have also taken back that Bone Immortal who tried to ‘usurp the host’s position,’ he was the most rebellious. Rebellion, rebellion, you might as well go be the Emperor! This fellow, after three thousand years of cultivation, diligently sought only one thing, to rebel against himself! No wonder he was flirting with our elegant Prime Minister Yao Qingmei.”

“Sect Leader Lu can speak of the second one now.”

“Before going to the Sword Qi Great Wall to find you, to avoid being caught off guard and turning a good thing into a bad one, I cautiously retracted another dream and one mind-image. They were the Confucian scholar Zheng Huan from the dream, and Yu Zhenyi, the ‘dumb as a chicken’ one from Lotus Flower Paradise. By the way, I met Lu Tai and had a pleasant conversation, we chatted very well.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “It seems I have to heed my student’s reminder.”

Lu Chen asked, “For the third answer, do you want to ask which ones I will retract after returning to the Azure Underworld, or do you want to ask what the fate of these ‘retracted’ dreams and mind-images of mine will be?”

“The latter.”

“They will obtain a kind of freedom, no longer being puppets. Who is who, is who, and definitely not me, Lu Chen.”

In truth, there is another saying about Lu Chen from the Profound Capital Temple, but compared to Grandmaster Sun’s golden words proclaimed to the world, it seems relatively less well-known.

Lu Chen, this person, is not genuine. What you see is not reality.

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked a shocking question, “That Mr. Zheng of White Emperor City? Surely he’s not one of your Five Dreams and Seven Mind-Images, is he?”

Lu Chen was stunned into silence. Only someone with their head caught in a door could ask such a question! Lu Chen felt like he had been struck by five thunderbolts. He quickly put his hands together, raised them high, and chanted a mantra. Then, with resentful eyes, he said, “Chen Ping’an, can we at least consider this a gentleman’s contest? You’re a Confucian disciple with a lineage of orthodoxy, and a martial artist who values rules, can you show some honor of the martial world?! Even if there’s a bit of resentment or personal feud between us, you can’t use such dirty tricks to frame me, can you?!”

That Zheng Juzhong must be out of his mind! If he thinks, besides “Am I the Dao Ancestor,” Zheng Juzhong can’t do anything about my master. But if he gets it into his head to think, “Am I Lu Chen,” what am I supposed to do? Have you guys considered my feelings?!

Chen Ping’an smiled.

His mood improved a bit.

Lu Chen turned to look at the beautiful scenery outside the pavilion, sighing for no reason, “The mountains and rivers are magnificent, easily captivating. If one is not careful, they will seize one’s soul. It is like the wind moves the banner, and the heart moves as well. But nowadays, when one cultivates on the mountain, there are thousands upon thousands of Daoist techniques and spells. Only in this matter, it is perhaps too commonplace, so few people pay attention to it. Few remind the juniors that cultivators, unlike ordinary scholars, need to concentrate and not be blinded by the splendor, not be robbed of a single shred of their heart by the mountains, rivers, flowers, trees, and beauties within the many scenic spots. Instead, they must turn the tables, taking them for their own use, swallowing mountains and rivers, I am the host.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “It is the supreme Dharma.”

“I am not helping to make excuses, but speaking the truth, my Senior Brother Yu has never had the slightest selfishness in his actions.”

“It’s simple, Senior Brother Yu’s talent for cultivation is too good, his Daoist magic is too broad, and his swordsmanship is too high. For Senior Brother Yu himself, there will never be any personal feuds. Of course, his impartiality does not mean that he will not create personal feuds. For example, the junior brother of Grandmaster Sun of the Profound Capital Temple, and Wu Shuangjiang’s Daoist partner of the Year-End Palace, and of course, your Senior Brother Qi, Chen Ping’an. It seems that each of you wants to settle the score with Yu Dou, the Second Sect Leader of the White Jade Capital.”

“The situation with the Profound Capital Temple is easier to handle, after all, Senior Brother personally went out, wearing a feather robe and carrying a celestial sword, broke into the Profound Capital Temple, and personally killed Grandmaster Sun’s junior brother. It is understandable that Grandmaster Sun finds it difficult to let go.”

“But as for Wu Shuangjiang, his Daoist partner only died within the Daoist rules set by Senior Brother Yu of the White Jade Capital.”

“As for your side, it cannot be denied that Jiang Zhaomo and Pang Ding beat Qi Jingchun to death. Under the watchful eyes of the public, the two respected celestial beings of the White Jade Capital, relying on their status and Daoist magic, were not afraid of being avenged. And you, as the junior brother, pieced together the truth through guesswork and saw that scene with your own eyes, so you want to demand an explanation from them, which is also reasonable. But Senior Brother Yu neither truly took action, nor was it him who forced Qi Jingchun into that dead end, it was me! I find it strange, why do you harbor such hatred towards Senior Brother Yu?”

Lu Chen was indeed curious about this.

Logically speaking, there was no way for Chen Ping’an to deduce that conversation between himself and Senior Brother Yu.

At most, he would think of the step that Eunuch Lin Zhengcheng thought of, that Lu Chen, the Third Sect Leader of the White Jade Capital, wielding a White Jade Capital that could cross the heavens to reach Treasure Bottle Continent at any time, forced Qi Jingchun to take a detour.

If possible, Lu Chen still hoped to take all the blame upon himself.

After all, if one is not careful, the first life-and-death fight between Fourteenth Realm cultivators after the three Daoist Ancestors dispersed their Dao will happen in the Azure Underworld, within the White Jade Capital!

Otherwise, Senior Brother “One of” Li Xisheng would never have reminded himself so early at the Clear Cool Sect in North Club Reed Continent. Those were heavy words!
Adding to the conclusion Lu Chen had just reached, this wasn’t just a duel between two Fourteenth Realm great cultivators.

It was three!

Senior Brother Yu Dou, Abbot Sun Huaizhong of Xuandu Temple, and Palace Master Wu Shuangjiang of the Sui Chu Palace!

“Discussing matters down the mountain, seeking the heart on the mountain. Is it hard to guess? Not at all. Every cultivator on the mountain spends their entire life explaining and verifying a certain principle.”

Chen Ping’an said calmly, “I believe that the Grand Master of White Jade Capital, who hasn’t yet achieved ‘One Qi Transforming into Three Purities’, is willing to bear the consequences of losing a Dao contention. This is the Dao Heart of Grand Master Kou Ming. Therefore, there’s no need for Mister Li from Fulu Street, or the Daoist Zhou Li from the Shengao Sect, to explain anything to anyone. It’s a foregone conclusion. Our Ritual Saint of Haoran Heaven is also like this. The former Little Master, the later Ritual Saint of the Confucian Temple, he stands wherever propriety is.”

“Lu Chen, you respect your Eldest Senior Brother, but you are Lu Chen, and you would never be as obsessive as Yu Dou. That’s why your actions in the Lizhu Cave Heaven appeared to be doing nothing at all. Of course, only ‘appeared’. However, I also believe that during those years of setting up stalls, you must have thought of many ‘compromises’. The reason you couldn’t do it was firstly, you didn’t dare to add unnecessary details, interfering too much in the Grand Master’s process of Dao integration; secondly, even if Lu Chen was willing to step back and make way, it was impossible.”

“Because Yu Dou is the true mastermind, the Second Master of White Jade Capital who is wholeheartedly trying to eliminate all rivals in the Great Dao for his Senior Brother. Yu Dou will never allow Qingming Heaven to lose another Senior Brother after his Master’s passing, the only Daoist who can ascend to the Fifteenth Realm can only be his Senior Brother who taught and imparted knowledge to him. If I’m not mistaken, Yu Dou must have threatened you with words before you returned to Haoran and entered the Lizhu Cave Heaven, just like I threatened the Tender Daoist earlier. What, Sect Leader Lu didn’t understand my hidden meaning, or are you pretending to be stupid?”

Lu Chen rubbed his face with both hands. This old Daoist still prefers chatting with Fellow Daoist Qing or the Tender Daoist.

In truth, both sides knew perfectly well, but were simply too lazy to spell out one thing.

As long as Chen Ping’an challenges White Jade Capital with his sword in the future, no matter the reason, Yu Dou, as the Second Master of White Jade Capital, will never stand idly by.

Chen Ping’an narrowed his eyes and said, “I understand.”

Lu Chen looked surprised and said, “Huh?”

Why imitate this old Daoist’s speech?

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “No wonder you said so much superfluous words.”

So Qingming Heaven is already riddled with internal troubles.

Otherwise, someone like himself, who isn’t even a top five realm swordsman, wouldn’t need to make someone who claims to “understand,” like Lu Chen, exert so much effort.

It goes far beyond that.

The difficulty of challenging White Jade Capital with a sword is many, many times greater than challenging Mount Tuoyue.

Then it’s highly likely that Abbot Sun has already quietly entered the Fourteenth Realm, and is a pure swordsman?

Wu Shuangjiang on the Night Sailing Ship is also akin to entrusting his orphaned children, even starting to reclaim certain identities.

And Palace Master Wu Shuangjiang of the Sui Chu Palace not only has the identity of a Daoist official in Qingming Heaven who is conforming to local customs, but don’t forget, Palace Master Wu is also a military strategist from Haoran Heaven who can be enshrined in the Martial Temple!

On that battlefield, will they talk about “benevolence and righteousness”?

As for Xuandu Temple, when it comes to mountain disputes, they are known for “we fight you one-on-one, you fight us all”.

Then Abbot Sun and Wu Shuangjiang joining hands to challenge White Jade Capital with their swords, accurately speaking, is actually challenging Yu Dou alone?

Chen Ping’an asked, “After returning to White Jade Capital, will you dispel all the dreams that can be dispelled, and gather all the wandering mind-images that can be gathered?”

Lu Chen said helplessly, “There’s no way around it. This old Daoist is still the disciple that Master cares about the most.”

Chen Ping’an laughed and said, “Then I won’t say any polite words like ‘bon voyage’.”

Lu Chen said for no apparent reason, “Today’s world, thanks to this old Daoist’s Master, the term ‘Daoist’ has been exclusively enjoyed by Taoism for ten thousand years.”

Chen Ping’an frowned slightly and said, “Even ten thousand years later, taking a step back, even if there are no more cultivators, your Daoist teachings shouldn’t be too weak. Perhaps there will even be a saying of ‘the foundation of literary teachings’. In any case, just the phrase ‘governing by non-action’ will surely be highly praised by anyone, especially emperors and generals.”

Lu Chen kept a straight face.

Chen Ping’an rolled his eyes and said, “Laugh if you want to laugh. How can my rudimentary knowledge of deduction and numerology be compared with you masters?”

Lu Chen burst into laughter, and only managed to stop smiling with great difficulty. “In today’s world, the term ‘jianghu’ has also changed greatly. ‘Forgetting each other in the jianghu’ has also changed along with it. But will the jianghu waters dry up in ten thousand years, like fish stranded on land, only able to moisten each other?”

Lu Chen was talking about the arrival of the end of Dharma Era, only saying one thing: the people of the world will no longer be able to cultivate, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth will be exhausted like the sea drying up, and all sentient beings will be like swimming fish stranded on land.

“So today’s Confucianism is close, Buddhism is widespread, and Taoism is high. What will happen in ten thousand years? The life and death, honor and disgrace of a Daoist can be seen through, but the direction and destination of the Daoist teachings are difficult to see through.”

Regarding this matter, not only Lu Chen, but also Senior Brother Kou Ming, and even Master, have all made deductions. However, Lu Chen is unwilling to worry about the sky, so he calculates relatively shallowly, only using it to pass the time. Senior Brother, however, wants to find a concrete solution. As for what Master is really thinking, it is estimated to be a deeper, better, and higher level than Senior Brother.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Are you worried about the awkward situation of being ‘neither high nor low’, high still high, but just missing a layer in the middle?”

Lu Chen sat up straight and flicked his sleeves. “The old saying goes that planning is up to people, success is up to heaven. It’s really discouraging. Since cultivating the Dao begins with knowing that it cannot be taken by force, it’s thirty percent human effort and seventy percent heaven’s will. What’s the point of thinking so much?”

Lu Chen suddenly said, “Chen Ping’an, if you see the Most Sage Master Confucius later, he will most likely ask you a question.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “What do you mean?”

Lu Chen smiled and said, “For example, asking you how you view the ‘Three-Four Controversy’.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “It’s possible.”

Lu Chen asked, “The Most Sage Master wouldn’t have already asked you, would he?”

Chen Ping’an said, “What do you think I should answer?”

Lu Chen said, “Difficult.”
To elevate the lineage of the Literary Sage while slightly belittling that of the Sub-Sage – personally and emotionally, there’s no issue. But publicly and rationally, that presents a significant problem.

Yet, to say that Chen Ping’an wouldn’t speak up for his own lineage of literary teachings or would outright reject the Sub-Sage’s school would be even more wrong.

If the answer was some vague, middle-of-the-road, “both are good” kind of response, wouldn’t the Most Sage Teacher find it a complete joke?

Lu Chen chuckled, “How about we bypass the conflict between the ‘third’ and ‘fourth’ disciples, yet without truly avoiding the teachings of the Literary Sage and Sub-Sage?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “That makes some sense.”

Lu Chen sighed, “Where’s the sincerity?! What happened to the Fallen Mountain’s consistent tradition of treating people with utmost sincerity? Tell me, what is your answer!”

Chen Ping’an stated, “Confucius said…”

Lu Chen immediately responded, “Education for all, regardless of background?”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Lu Chen gave a thumbs-up, marveling, “Without disparaging the Sub-Sage’s lineage, while infinitely elevating the Most Sage Teacher, and subtly edging the Literary Sage’s teachings over the Sub-Sage’s, even your Senior Brother Jun Qian would only offer a knowing smile, immensely pleased, feeling that the very foundation of his Great Dao possessed such profound utility?!”

Chen Ping’an said, “If I didn’t genuinely believe it, would I dare say it so openly?”

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, then nodded reluctantly, “True enough.”

Had he known this, he, the Daoist Priest, should have hardened his heart back then and knocked this kid unconscious, stuffed him in a sack, and dragged him back to White Jade Capital to be his junior disciple. It would have saved so much worry and effort, unlike all this trouble now.

Lu Chen looked up at the sky. “It’s going to rain.”

Chen Ping’an took the lead, stepping out of the pavilion.

Before the straw sandal boy from Mud Bottle Lane left his hometown, left the small town…

Old Man Yang from the apothecary had reminded him to take the umbrella from the backyard and give it to the schoolteacher.

One big, one small, together they walked in the rain, sharing the umbrella.