The spring sun kissed the trees, coaxing blossoms forth like embroidered tapestries. In the mountains, a chorus of golden orioles erupted, their flight a dizzying dance of ascent and descent.

Lü Yan, the Pure Yang Daoist, smiled faintly. “For a sect, Fallen Mountain is rather… sparsely populated with registered disciples.”

Indeed, with over a dozen vassal peaks under its sway, it was an oddity: so much land, so few to till it. He recalled the Fire Dragon True Man’s Crumbling Peak in the North Entirely Luxuriant Continent, a sect considered small even amongst the numerous branches of the Verdant Vastness. Yet, even they boasted four distinct lineages. The Li Yu lineage of Grand Radiance, masters of exorcism and spirit binding, delved deepest into worldly affairs. The Peach Mountain disciples wielded thunder magic with unmatched skill. Those of White Cloud excelled in the arts of talismans and formations. And from the Yuan Spirit Hall, the Pointing Mystic lineage guarded the ancient ways of Daoist swordsmanship. Combined, these four paths certainly numbered over a hundred registered cultivators. Fallen Mountain, in stark contrast, had never seen such widespread flourishing. Perhaps the founding elders each held the bar for disciples exceptionally high.

Chen Ping’an chuckled. “Cui Dongshan’s Azure Reed Sword Sect will likely multiply its numbers tenfold in the coming years. He throws out the net whether there’s fish to catch or not! Our Sect Master has grand ambitions, vowing that at every upper sect ceremony, our pilgrimage will eclipse Fallen Mountain in sheer numbers. We shall overwhelm them with righteous zeal!”

Lü Yan then offered to pay his respects at the ancestral hall atop Emerald Peak, a proposal Chen Ping’an, despite his surprise, heartily welcomed. Lü Yan explained with a smile that during his wanderings in the Azure Darkness Realm, he had witnessed a few tri-doctrine debates, most of which lulled him to sleep. However, the one graced by the Scribe Saint was the most brilliant, a truly invigorating experience.

But as they turned to leave, a white-haired boy bearing a scroll and a chicken-claw pen, and a sword token from the Dragon Spring Sword Sect at his waist, arrived in a flurry of wind.

The former Hermit Ancestor had permitted this humble servant to compile the sect’s annals, a task befitting the “scribe.” A title, of course, self-bestowed, much like the little water sprite of the Black and White Twins and his grand “patrol envoy” title. From Riding Dragon Lane, this otherworldly fiend had sensed the unusual energies emanating from Fallen Mountain’s secondary peak, and it had given him quite the fright.

The white-haired boy stumbled to the top of the Riding Dragon Lane steps, eyes wide as saucers, staring towards Fallen Mountain.

It was as if the sun itself had fallen to earth.

Casting a secret viewing spell of the Expel Year Palace, he saw layers upon layers of crimson light shimmering. Even from Riding Dragon Lane, the sight plunged the boy into a furnace of fire dragons coiling and thrashing. After an inner struggle, he steeled his resolve and hastened to Fallen Mountain. To be a proper annalist, he would risk it all! Such fire in a newly appointed official!

Lü Yan glanced at the white-haired boy, surprised. A sky-soaring fiend hidden within the confines of Juniper County?

Did the Temple of Culture not object? But Lü Yan quickly reasoned that they likely knew, choosing to turn a blind eye.

Besides, with a senior like Cui Chan protecting his path, and Old Scholar restoring his statue in the Temple of Culture, no amount of meddling could stir up trouble.

Chen Ping’an conveyed his thoughts: “A long story.”

Lü Yan nodded. Every family had its own burdens. He would not pry.

The Temple of Culture likely tolerated this fiend due to its origins: the Wall of Swords.

The three leaders of Confucianism, the Headmaster of the Academy, and the honored sages of the Temple of Culture, might ignore a young Hermit, but they would not disrespect the Eldest Sword Immortal.

The white-haired boy, upon seeing the Pure Yang Daoist, grew even more flustered, like a soul tossed into a celestial alchemical furnace, regretting his brashness. He should never have come! Never!

This Daoist, through some secret cultivation, possessed a natural power to suppress otherworldly fiends.

Lü Yan discreetly gathered his Daoist energies, compressing them into a single point of purest Yang, nestled within a vital acupoint. An almost imperceptible ripple passed over his Daoist robe.

The white-haired boy sighed in relief, forcing himself to thank the True Man.

Chen Ping’an introduced them with a smile. “This is True Man Lü, Daoist Pure Yang, a native cultivator of Jewel Bottle Continent. Senior Lü, this is Konghou. She hasn’t joined the registry of Emerald Peak yet. She helps out in Riding Dragon Lane and is currently tasked with compiling the mountain’s annals.”

Fallen Mountain’s primary peak was Gathering Spirit Peak, while the ancestral hall rested upon the secondary Emerald Peak. Chen Ping’an led Lü Yan there, and after they had offered incense, Chen Ping’an emerged to find Little Mo, her hand firmly planted on the head of the sable-hatted girl, along with the Immortal Guard and the white-haired boy, had gathered outside the hall. Chen Ping’an locked the door, tucking the key into his sleeve, and the white-haired boy explained with a giggle that this auspicious occasion warranted commemoration. His annals would need to be distinct from those of other sects. Chen Ping’an, bewildered, didn’t immediately agree, wondering what mischief the boy was planning. The white-haired boy continued, revealing that he was a landscape painter in disguise, and since everyone had gathered at Emerald Peak, why not use the ancestral hall as a backdrop for a group portrait, a tradition akin to the Gathering of the Literati, to enliven the annals? He could record it as, “In the X year of X month on X day, Mountain Master and Distinguished Guest True Man Pure Yang, along with Attendant Little Mo, Gatekeeper Immortal Guard, et al., gathered within a landscape scroll!”

Chen Ping’an forced a smile. “Annals with illustrations, even color illustrations? Is that what makes it different?”

He was already regretting letting this one handle the annals. He would have to consult with Zhu Lian, Warmtree, and Little Millet before the next meeting of the ancestral hall.

“You nominated him yourself. You were the only one in favour, everyone else opposed you, but he was still appointed!”

Xie Gou, giving up on teasing Little Mo, straightened her sable hat, patted her cheeks, and shouted in agreement, “Yes! Excellent idea! I’m going to stand next to Little Mo!”

To his surprise, Lü Yan stroked his beard and chuckled. “A memorial painting before an ancestral hall, to be included in the annals… a novel experience indeed. I think it is quite wonderful.”

The white-haired boy was moved to tears, sniffling, finally finding a kindred spirit!

“Pure Yang Daoist is truly a good person. No wonder his Daoist cultivation is so high, he will reach the fourteenth realm, then become the honorary Deputy Mountain Master of Emerald Peak!”

Chen Ping’an yielded to Konghou’s wishes, but he would not let her, the ringleader, escape scot-free.

The white-haired boy ordered the five of them to form a line, then skipped to the other side, chanting and swaying in an arcane dance that made Chen Ping’an scowl. “Are you performing a ritual?” Seeing the Hermit Ancestor’s displeasure, the white-haired boy immediately composed himself, drew in a deep breath, then with a twist of the wrist, conjured a hazy, faceless female figure. With a wave of her hand, the figure unfurled a scroll of pure white, raised her sleeve, and took up a brush shimmering with five-colored light, ready to paint. Chen Ping’an watched, expressionless. “He has a way about him.”

Mountain Master Chen Ping’an and Guest Lü Yan stood in the center, flanked by Little Mo and Xie Gou, the Immortal Guard, and Konghou.

Before setting brush to paper, the woman with the brush carefully studied the group, her voice clear and light as a bell. “Mountain Master, don’t look so grim! A little smile, please. Hmm, not sincere enough. It has to come from the heart! Oh, putting your hands in your sleeves makes you look lazy, but clasping them behind your back is too haughty. Perhaps just let your arms hang naturally? Never mind, never mind! Please don’t get angry, Hermit Ancestor…”

“Look at Pure Yang Daoist beside you! He’s so serene, holding his whisk and sword. Truly an immortal air about him.”

“Immortal Guard Daoist, are you too tense? Quickly, wipe the sweat from your brow! It won’t be plastered all over Juniper County, don’t be so stiff! Deep breaths. Ah, that’s much better.”

“Oh, my dear Konghou, don’t smile so unladylike! Close your mouth a little, are you going to eat someone?”

“Xie Gou! No tiptoeing! Keep your head straight, stop angling towards Little Mo! Arms crossed is fine, but lower your head a little, you’re practically showing your nostrils!”

“Little Mo, you don’t have to press so close to Xie Gou, but you don’t have to shove her away either!”

This day was the 22nd day of the first month in the 6th year of Great Li, Chunping.

Fallen Mountain, Emerald Peak, Ancestral Hall Plaza.

Mountain Master Chen Ping’an, hair adorned with a white jade pin, in blue shirt, long coat, and cloth shoes.

Fallen Mountain Gatekeeper, Daoist Nian Jing, in a cotton Daoist robe and cloud-treading shoes, Daoist name “Immortal Guard.”

Wandering Immortal Lü Yan, Daoist name Pure Yang.

Attendant Little Mo, yellow hat, green shoes, and green bamboo staff, alias Mo Sheng, Daoist name Joy Candle.

Sable-hatted girl, now alias Xie Gou, formerly called Bai Jing, Zhao Yun, Wai Jing, Yao Ling, and others.

White-haired boy, an otherworldly fiend, alias Konghou, true name Tian Ran.

Six in total: one Boundary martial artist, four Sky-soaring realms, and a fake Daoist below the fifth realm.

Once the white-haired boy merged back with the “woman” who had held the colored brush, Chen Ping’an and Lü Yan descended the mountain, Little Mo silently following behind.

The sable-hatted girl approached the white-haired boy, signaling with a look.

The white-haired boy narrowed his eyes, “Whatcha want?”

Xie Gou held out her hand. “Don’t play dumb. Chop chop, hurry and cut it off, the painting only needs me and Little Mo. Give me one to remember this by.”

The white-haired boy crossed his arms, sneering. “With your realm, you can paint whatever you want. Why ask me?”

Xie Gou’s gaze turned cold, staring at the white-haired dwarf for a moment. Konghou tilted her head, craning her neck, daring her to strike.

“With the Hermit Ancestor here, I’m not afraid of you! Sky-soaring sword cultivator at the peak, how impressive, aw, it’s just so scary, hahaha, and I’m not even human!”

The sable-hatted girl suddenly smiled, a rare display of flattery, rubbing her hands together. “How can it be the same? We’re good sisters, there’s nothing we can’t discuss. You want money? Name your price, how many snowflakes?”

The white-haired boy clutched his chest, feigning terror, his words even more presumptuous, “I wonder who was trying to kill someone with their eyes just now.”

Xie Gou’s lips twitched, but she laughed. “You’re generous and forgiving, the patience of a prime minister to tolerate a small lass like me.”

The white-haired boy was about to say more.

Xie Gou pointedly glanced back, muttering to herself, “They’re getting a little far.”

The white-haired boy’s smile immediately became even more fawning, his face blooming like a flower. He pulled a trimmed painting from his sleeve, an exquisite piece with meticulous brushwork, imbued with the spirit of the imperial academy. It depicted only Xie Gou and Little Mo standing shoulder to shoulder, and to some unknown time, the painting had gained new calligraphy, signatures. The white-haired boy held out the scroll, gazing up with earnest eyes. “Sister Xie, should I arrange for a mount for you?”

Holding the scroll, Xie Gou clapped the white-haired boy heavily on the shoulder, radiant. “Konghou, consider me owing you one. I’ll help you kill people!”

On the way down the mountain, Chen Ping’an asked, “Senior Lü, in the Azure Darkness Realm, are there more or fewer oddballs and eccentrics than in the Verdant Vastness?”

Lü Yan smiled. “Oddballs and eccentrics? How do you define them? It’s hard to say. But if you’re just talking about realm, the number of peak cultivators in both realms is about the same, for now. As for a change in the heavens, after this rain of law falls, things will be chaotic for the next hundred years. Some Sky-soaring realms will gain great opportunities to ascend to the fourteenth realm, while older and newer fourteenth realm cultivators will freely slaughter Sky-soaring realms. As for taking advantage of the unsettled times, settling old grudges between Sky-soaring realms, or fighting over new feuds, there will certainly be more.”

“The Barren Wilds, once the most revered and pure land of freedom, may be the most stable, thanks to the appearance of Bai Ze. I’ve heard that in the Western Buddhist Kingdom, the monks who advocate for the power of thoughts are on the verge of open warfare with the strict law monks. And add in the esoteric and meditative sects, and there is great disagreement in assigning ancestral heritage of prominent monks, so everyone is editing their own ancestral books, wanting to put them into the own family’s ancestral bloodlines. After all, this directly relates to where each lineage should sit.”

“In the Azure Darkness Realm, which I have been wandering for so many years, a certain saying is finally becoming spoken – ‘The world has long suffered Yu Dou’ . From a thought in the heart, it has become a saying that is beginning to circulate among the fourteen Daoist officers. The Jade Capital does not seem to be deliberately suppressing this discussion, it already has the momentum of a prairie fire. You must know that it is not Leader Lu who is sitting in the White Jade Capital right now, it is Yu Dou himself.”

“Don’t worry, no matter what, there are only a few of me, whether you are looking three thousand years into the past, or three thousand years into the future.”

Reaching the foot of the mountain, Lü Yan said, “Mountain Master Chen need not accompany me further.”

Chen Ping’an stopped.

Lü Yan smiled. “The flowing water changes a thousand ways, so the mountains change ten thousand ways. Once you visit the temple, you must cultivate on your own once you leave.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “The world below is fleeting, but the people’s hearts are eternal, cultivators often live for a thousand years, cultivating the mind is the only thing.”

Lü Yan asked, “You haven’t received an invitation?”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Even if I was invited, I wouldn’t dare go. No amount of convincing will work.”

Lü Yan said, “That’s because you haven’t truly convinced yourself, so too much reasoning is not good. The White Bone True Man once had an analogy: like a group brawl, raising poisonous creatures.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment. “A good analogy.”

Lü Yan bowed and said, “Next time we meet, I will trouble Mountain Master Chen to protect me for a bit.”

Chen Ping’an returned the bow. “I will do my best, I will not let the Senior down.”

Lü Yan pointed to the top of the mountain with his whisk. “Konghou just said via thought that she wanted to invite me to be the Deputy Mountain Master of Fallen Mountain, and she insisted that it was all her own idea, and had absolutely nothing to do with the Mountain Master. Does this count as taking a shot in the dark?”

Chen Ping’an smiled awkwardly and had to bow again. “I apologize for Konghou’s behavior.”

Lü Yan waved his hand. “You get used to it.”

Chen Ping’an asked via thought, “May I ask, Senior, what is the quality of Lin Jiangxian’s boxing in the Azure Darkness Realm?”

Lü Yan smiled. “This Teacher Lin’s fist skills are extremely high, and sword skills are even higher.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t ask any more questions.

Lü Yan said, “Giving out a fire talisman can be considered the end to me and Chen Nuanshu’s destinies, I hope it was the right thing to do. As for what will happen to the destinies in the future, it will depend on fate.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Lü Yan put away the whisk and looked around, saying, “There must be a hundred flowers blooming on a mountain, don’t be like a cicada in winter, or everyone will try to be each other. It is better to have the grass in a garden bloom, than to be the only tree to reach the heavens.”

Little Mo said, “Pure Yang Daoist, I don’t dare to say much, but you are wasting your breath here. My lord has already done this very well.”

Lü Yan nodded with a smile. “I am used to being in the marketplace, before I leave, if I don’t say some immortal words, it feels like something is wrong. Forgive me for that.”

Little Mo said with a smile, “Then I will invite Pure Yang Daoist to be the Deputy Mountain Master of Fallen Mountain, with sincerity.”

Lü Yan said in amazement, “Fallen Mountain is really amazing, I’m afraid that my Pure Yang Daoism can’t hold on.”

Chen Ping’an said with shame, “It’s my fault for being a slacker for too many years, I don’t have enough authority, everyone is too unrestrained.”

According to an unwritten rule on the mountain, when visiting and entering the mountain gate, Lü Yan came to the foot of the mountain, then used his spatial magic, crossing half of Jewel Bottle Continent in one step, coming to a celestial ferry at the northernmost end. Looking north to the North Entirely Luxuriant Continent, there were three points of light separated around where Bai Shang closed up, it looked like He Xiaoliang would not take action for the time being. Lü Yan used spatial magic again, instantly coming to the sea, taking a look, he waved the whisk, casually cutting open the sea, setting off a hundred-zhang wave. The Daoist disappeared in a flash, going to an undersea Dragon Palace that had not yet been discovered by the True Dragon King Zhu. The many protections were the same as nothing, the Pure Yang Daoist strolled in the courtyard.

On the way up the mountain, Little Mo warned via thought, “My lord, Xie Gou’s character is unpredictable, if she stays at Fallen Mountain, she may do something bad at any time, I should find a way?”

For a pure sword cultivator, especially a Barren Wilds monster, the way they see the world is very simple, considering their own strength. When looking at cultivators, how many swords should she use? In Bai Jing’s eyes, even an abstruse hidden person like the Pure Yang True Man, she was not worried about at all, if this was the Barren Wilds, Bai Jing may have already started a fight.

Chen Ping’an said playfully, “A way? What way, marry her off? Little Mo, are you even worse than a willing martyr? You even have to sell yourself?”

Little Mo was hesitant.

Chen Ping’an said, “I know what you’re thinking, set some sort of rules, tell her that if she steps out of line, you will use your natal flying sword. You are serious, Bai Jing will believe that you are serious, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Forget it, stop worrying about it, since I agreed to let her return to the mountain, just relax and practice the sword. Bai Jing said before that you have less aptitude than her, made a lot of noise, and pissed me off half to death, and you probably heard it, Little Mo, you have to cultivate properly.”

Little Mo said helplessly, “Since I came with my lord, I have never stopped practicing.”

Otherwise, it would be impossible to find a way to reach the fourteenth realm.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “The Dao Ancestor asked me about my views on cultivating, and I replied with a poem by Su Shi, ‘Danzhou clouds and Qiantang tides, before visiting, I’m so desperate! Upon visiting, it’s nothing special, Danzhou clouds and Qiantang tides.'”

Little Mo said with a knowing smile. “Su Shi is known as the master of poetry, but this poem has a lot of Zen meaning, a scholar chatting about this with the Dao Ancestor is only something you can do, my lord.”

Chen Ping’an sighed like his teacher, complaining, “Stop talking nonsense, you’re thinking too much, I don’t have any thought of competing.”

Chen Ping’an explained, “This is to tell you that love is the same way, the Danzhou clouds and Qiantang tides are just in your heart, what you wanted, after finally getting them, they are the same as before, but the heart is different, ‘Is the wind moving? Or the flag moving? It’s the heart moving.'”

“I’m not worried about what Xie Gou will do, I’m only worried about you actually liking her, then things will be flipped, you said that Bai Jing’s character is unpredictable, what if her love fades, and you have to pay her back? I don’t want to see you drowning your sorrows in alcohol every day, like a bum.”

“As for why I am more tolerant of Xie Gou, of course it is because I think it is amazing to love someone after ten thousand years, and in order to be reunited, she is willing to cross two heavens to find this person.”

Little Mo was silent.

Chen Ping’an said, “Little Mo, to take a step back, even if you don’t like her, you have to be aware, don’t just feel disgusted, at least be a little more patient when you talk to her.”

Little Mo nodded, then suddenly said, “My lord’s reasoning does sound reasonable, but it doesn’t sound convincing from you. My lord and Miss Ning, from meeting to loving each other, you never changed your heart.”

Chen Ping’an blinked and looked away.

Little Mo was puzzled.

Chen Ping’an didn’t explain, just patted Little Mo on the shoulder, and slowly climbed the mountain.

Little Mo, there is a reason why you and Xie Gou are a couple, high realm, few thoughts, simply put, you are pure, and easy to fool.

This is to say one thing, it will never be correct. With Bai Jing’s stubbornness, she would not want to get angry with me, maybe you will like her again, then she would like Little Mo more than you?

The sable-hatted girl and the white-haired boy, who had just become friends, squatted together on the white jade railing on the edge of the square, necks stretched, ears listening.

The white-haired boy asked curiously, “Sister Xie, what did the Hermit Ancestor chat with your man about?”

Xie Gou rubbed the sable hat. “Words from the heart between two men, mostly scolding me, but it sounds honest and touching.”

The white-haired boy was very curious. “What did you talk about, tell me.”

Xie Gou suddenly said, “If you squat, you look like you are shitting.”

The white-haired boy laughed.

Xie Gou had a sudden idea. “Konghou, let’s form a little gang, and pull in the left protector. The ranks are all up to us.”

The white-haired boy frowned. “There is no real value in that, and it is difficult to convince people. If I had agreed to the Hermit Ancestor to fool some new people on Tongye Continent.”

Xie Gou nodded. “Then don’t worry, great people must think for a long time, let’s take our time.”

The white-haired boy said, “We have read so many books, I have a lot of them, don’t be scholars starting a rebellion for ten years.”

Xie Gou rubbed her chin, then clapped his hands. “This is called stealing leisure to learn to be a teenager, a gentleman lives at ease to wait for fate.”

The white-haired boy nodded. “There’s some knowledge in this, Zhou Millet’s gang and our small mountain are not worth comparing!”

“Why are you so close to Chen Pingan?”

“It is difficult to pretend something is not when it is. For example, Chen Pingan, who cried at a story he heard about Gongliudao Liu Laocheng, who had compassion for me, but does not show it, I am thankful for that.”

“Yes, I did not know sorrow, but I fear the kindness.”

The white-haired boy rolled his eyes, if Zhu Lian had not said this, I would eat shit.

“If Zhu Lian was willing to show the truth, and hold a few events, I am sure that a hundred female cultivators would be willing to switch and cultivate at Fallen Mountain.”

Xie Gou agreed, nodding. “If we only talk about appearances, my Little Mo and Mr. Zhu are about a hundred Chen Pingan’s better.”

The white-haired boy turned his face. “Friendship is friendship, but I do not allow you to look down on the Hermit Ancestor!”

“Then just ten?”

“Now it is better.”

A natal flying sword quietly left.

Xie Gou grinned, thinking that the flying sword was hiding in the Dao from that Daoist, I would guess you, Chen Shanzhu’s, means.

Xie Gou took out a jar of wine, from the town. After taking a drink, he spoke, “If I was not free, would I resent it?”

The white-haired boy shook, he was calm. “The grass, the trees, they have their own lives, can they do anything?”

Xie Gou drinks, “Is not free, free?”

The white-haired boy was silent, and rose his fist, shouting, “I understand now!”

Xie Gou spoke, “Stop shouting.”

The white-haired boy whispered, “Sister Xie, to take over the others, we need a key.”

Xie Gou asked, “Mr. Zhu?”

The white-haired boy shook his head. “Guo Zhujiu!”

Little Mo noticed that Chen Pingan held his gourd and looked sad.

Chen Pingan spoke, “Little Mo, what if in the future, one or two hundred years later, if Fallen Mountain has hundreds or thousands of people, will we find it different?”

Little Mo smiled, “Maybe, maybe not.”

Chen Pingan asked, “The lazy don’t hurt.”

Little Mo went to practice, while Chen Pingan sat at the bamboo house, thinking about how to write the preface to his new martial arts text.

With the “Shake Mountain Manual” before him, Chen Pingan knew that Cao Yin and Cao Ang were very talented. Zhao Shuxia was a disciple of Fallen Mountain, so he would try even harder to do it correctly.

So Chen Pingan allowed Zhao Shuxia to go to the Fallen Mountain from Riding Dragon Lane.

In the end, the teaching ground would be the second floor.

Since giving the tea, and making Zhao Shuxia a disciple, Chen Pingan has been thinking about how to teach martial arts.

Writing a new martial arts book was just one step.

What boxing should he teach? Should he continue with the Shake Mountain Fist? Or the forms he learned from Zhong Qiu? Or Zhu Lian’s stance? Or Huang Ting’s White Ape Back Sword? Should he take the six forms gifted by Kong Hou, and allow Zhao Shuxia to combine them all? When he reaches the fifth realm, and trains his body in the sixth realm, should he directly teach Zhao Shuxia, like he did with Liu Zong? Or pick a mountain and teach there? Or should he stay on the second floor? Should he use the methods of Senior Cui Cheng? These were all questions that Chen Pingan had to face.

Today, before the sun rose, Chen Pingan sat on the stone table, and Nuanshu, Little Millet arrived. They had bundles.

Chen Pingan stood, asking, “What are you doing?”

Little Millet laughed, “Sister Nuanshu said that he would be staying here for a long time, so we decided to work here!”

Chen Pingan teased, “Is this the old cook’s work?”

Little Millet closed her mouth.

Nuanshu nodded, “Mr. Zhu helped.”

Little Millet said, “Together, together!”

Nuanshu explained. “Mr. Zhu said that we needed to host, you need to always dress up nicely! Mr. Zhu said that he would make you a golden crown, and let Little Mo make you shoes.”

Chen Pingan stayed silent.

The old cook wanted to have fun.

Nuanshu and Little Millet placed trinkets.

Hanging bells, vases, and plum blossoms.

Chen Pingan laughed, “Easy to get rich, hard to get poor.”

Nuanshu smiled, “You need not worry about that.”

Chen Pingan, bored, told Little Millet to help with letters.

Most were from the Jewel Bottle and North Entirely Luxuriant Continent. There were also letters from other places, like a woman from the Floating Clouds Continent.

Cui Dongshan was expanding quickly, creating the Azure Reed Sword Sect. Yao’s dynasty agreed that they would recommend any sword geniuses to him. Hong Chou did not gamble well, so he decided to work for Yuan Ying.

Cui Dongshan was asking about Zhao Luan.

Chen Pingan would ask Zhao Luan if she wanted to go.

“I bet that Luan won’t want to go to the Azure Reed Sword Sect to cultivate, but she always listens to you, sir. If you suggest that she go over there, I think Luan will agree. Furthermore, I’m happy that she’s so valued by Sect Master Cui. ”

Zhao Luan was a Dragon Gate cultivator, she easily broke through, in contrast, Zhao Shuxia was still in the fourth realm.

Chen Pingan spoke, “Time passes quickly, Shuxia, you’ll be thirty years old after the new year, right?”

He was still a skinny boy when they first met.

Zhao Shuxia said, “Sir did not make a mistake, I am thirty-six.”

Chen Pingan teased. “You never met the girl you liked, right? You did not think about this?”

Zhao Shuxia shook his head. “I don’t think about that.”

Chen Pingan said, “This is not a good thing to bring up.”

Chen Pingan had five students: Cui Dongshan, Pei Qian, Cao Qinglang, Zhao Shuxia, and Guo Zhujiu.

Cui Dongshan was a Sect Master, Pei Qian was a warrior.

Cao Qinglang was a scholar, with a golden core.

Guo Zhujiu was from the Wall of Swords.

Zhao Shuxia was just one of the members, and it would only get worse.

Zhao Shuxia had already envisioned that in twenty or thirty years, he would be just in the Sixth Realm.

When Fallen Mountain became a sect, Chen Pingan made him a direct disciple.

Mr. Zhu had helped Zhao Shuxia train when Chen Pingan was away.

Zhao Shuxia always felt he would never reach peak.

In Zhao Shuxia’s house, there was a plaque which read ‘The Search for Truth’

That was what Chen Pingan wanted Zhao Shuxia to become.

Chen Pingan led Zhao Shuxia to the second floor.

Chen Pingan walked slowly, speaking, “Shuxia, I feel that one has two gifts, one can see and one cannot see, talent is what can be seen, and hard work cannot. Zhao Luan is the former, while you are the latter, it is not like Zhao Luan does not try, nor do you have no talent, it is good enough that you are in the Fourth realm, others cannot even get there. But you cannot think small of yourself, Pei Qian is Pei Qian, while Zhao Shuxia is Zhao Shuxia.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Being with teachers and seniors who are too good is a burden?”

Zhao Shuxia said, “Yes.”

Indeed a truthful man.

Arriving at the second floor, Chen Pingan didn’t rush in.

“If we put in effort, then it can be seen. Zhao Luan can be thought of in this way.”

“I always felt that if you have not worked hard, then you are not talented.

Standing at the door, Chen Pingan curled his sleeves, “Senior Cui was at the peak of the Tenth Realm. I am unsure when Pei Qian will reach that, but the Ninth realm isn’t far, I want to reach the realm, but it is not impossible.”

Chen Pingan held out four fingers, “The third time is always hard. To say that I do not expect much from you, is a lie. I will let Zhao Shuxia become the fourth in the bamboo house to reach the boundary realm!”

Chen Pingan turned to Zhao Shuxia, smiling, “So the only problem is you.”

Zhao Shuxia straightened his back, his body tense.

Chen Pingan asked, “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t dare to think that.”

Zhao Shuxia nodded, ashamed.

“Zhao Shuxia, you need to dare to!”

Chen Pingan spoke, “That is the first fist that you will learn, after today, if we want to go to the room.”

Chen Pingan stood up. “You won’t even think about it, so you have to dare to, remember to be honest, don’t give up. You have to reach the state where you will break through the wall. You must always remember to give it your all! Live life without regrets!””

“Enter!”

Chen Pingan stepped through the door. “Now close the door!”

Zhao Shuxia went and shut the door.

If it was not for the words that Mr. Zhu and Zhou Milian had said, he would not understand why he had to shut the door.

Now, Zhao Shuxia was his disciple!

Chen Pingan stood at the door.

Zhao Shuxia stood opposite him, where Chen Pingan and Pei Qian had stood before.

Chen Pingan smiled, “With the door closed, I will now say those words.”

“I want the world to know that Fallen Mountain must honor the ancestral hall!”

There were three of them, Zhao Shuxia!

Chen Pingan knew Cao Ci, and so did Lin Jiangxian.

Zhao Shuxia said, “Mr. Zhu said a prediction, he said if I hadn’t met you, I would be three realms below Pei Senior. I think that is the truth.”

If you never came to this place, you may have become a warrior, but not a strong one. After meeting the mountain lord, your future will become very bright. If you become his disciple, then you will be able to reach the Mountain, but not in the heavens.

Chen Pingan said, “The old cook is not always right.”

An old man walked and coughed, then retreated, because he didn’t want to be near.

Zhao Shuxia felt embarrassed, he revered Zhu Lian.

Chen Pingan continued, “After I lay down a good basis for you here, I will go to Yuan County, in a place called Sui An County, where I will be a teacher at a study hall. You will follow me there, and I will guide your cultivation.”

As for the Black River, the god there was Gao Liang, a scholar, he had a talent that not many others had. The rivers were placed under the governance of the White River and the Li.

Chen Pingan pulled out the keys and opened the door.

Zhao Shuxia followed and did the same.

Chen Pingan began to curl his sleeves.

Zhao Shuxia followed him and did the same.

Chen Pingan spoke, “Long ago, Choi was at the top of his power, and he entered the eleventh realm. As for you, there is just the problem of wanting to get better. ”

Chen Pingan raised his hands. “Some can fail, some cannot. “Then it would be a lie to say that I don’t expect much from you.” I am hoping that the next Zhao Shuxia will become one of the top martial artists, standing next to Senior Choi, me, and Pei Chian. ”

Chen Pingan asked, “You are now the only problem.”

Zhao Shuxia stood straight, his body tense.

Chen Pingan asked, “Is this something you are afraid to think about?”