Unsheathed

Liu Zhimao suddenly chuckled in anger and said, “It was Liu Laocheng before and it’s Mr. Chen now, so by the looks of it, it’s truly unsuitable for me to stay at Bamboo Scroll Lake. It’s time for me to move out, what with people thriving on change and all that. If Mr. Chen can truly obtain a Peace and Safety Tablet for me, then I’ll definitely repay the favor handsomely!”

Chen Ping’an paid no heed to this promise. Perhaps Liu Zhimao was sincere in his offer, but the intentions of the speaker were of little importance. Most importantly, the listener couldn’t take these offers too seriously. Worldly matters were unpredictable, and the sincere offers of today might crumble due to the events of tomorrow.

Even an innately good person like Zeng Ye could go astray and mistakenly think that Chen Ping’an could be fully relied on simply because he was a good person. Afterward, he had started to daydream about the bright and beautiful future: gaining a Dao guardian, becoming master and disciple, advancing to the Middle Five Tiers, attaining the Great Dao, and most certainly visiting Thatch Moon Island again to visit his master as well as that evil-hearted ancestor…

Perhaps Zeng Ye would never find out that this subtle change in his mindset had surprisingly astounded Chen Ping’an, the bookkeeper next door and the “powerful cultivator” who was able to remain unfazed even in front of Liu Laocheng. Chen Ping’an had suddenly felt a pang of terror.

Because of this, Zeng Ye’s life which could have indeed gone on an upward trend had almost started to tumble onto a downward slope again.

Chen Ping’an was even able to predict that if things truly played out like that, then Zeng Ye would be extremely justified when he blamed the heavens and other people on the day that Chen Ping’an finally came to a realization.

There was only one thing that he didn’t know. Zeng Ye was already backed into a corner where he no longer had any choices, yet he couldn’t even pass the test pertaining to Chen Ping’an that he had to face. Since this was the case, could he truly pass other challenges even if he were given alternative opportunities?

Would he rely on luck? Or would he rely on fate? Or perhaps he would rely on the unexplainable favor of some mighty figure?

Chen Ping’an had never thought that his manner of interacting with the world and its people was definitely the most suitable for Zeng Ye.

However, almost every single person in the world would face the same kind of challenge, a challenge called “having no other choice.”

Chen Ping’an was no exception.

In his hometown, the medicinal herbs in the Yang Family’s medicine shop had been his only choice. Even so, his mother had still passed away in the end.

In Clay Vase Alley where curling smoke rose from the houses, only a single woman had been willing to open her door and invite him inside. During that time of extreme hardship for Chen Ping’an, entering her house had been his best choice. Now, however, it had become his worst choice.

The Mountain Shaking Guide had also been the sole choice for the young boy in straw sandals all those years ago.

Fortunately, even until today, Chen Ping’an still viewed this as one of his best choices.

Life was often like this. There were many times where there were no options to choose from — there was no fork road that offered a choice between correct and incorrect, good and bad. The heavens would simply place its hand on one’s head and force one to walk forward.

During these time, people could only do one thing: consider how they would walk down this solitary path.

Only after walking down this solitary path would one have the opportunity to arrive in front of a fork road. Only then would the small paths and single-log bridges potentially transform into wide roads.

When observing the path of Zeng Ye and seeing the fluctuations in his mind, Chen Ping’an had once again felt a sense of helplessness and even exhaustion.

The ability to identify mistakes and make positive changes was a great virtue.

As it turned out, the most difficult part wasn’t making positive changes, but identifying the mistakes in the first place.

This applied to Gu Can, and it also applied to Zeng Ye whose personality was on the opposite extreme to Gu Can. Zeng Ye would also make mistakes.

The only difference was that Zeng Ye was still very weak and immature right now, both in terms of his cultivation and his character. As such, there was still an opportunity for him to gradually refine and perfect himself.

Chen Ping’an wouldn’t expound his own principles and reasons to Zeng Ye, and he instead chose to teach him the fundamental manner to view the world. As long as Zeng Ye continued to learn, then it would be as if he were holding an umbrella in his hand, one that could protect him from the wind and rain.

If, on the other hand, Chen Ping’an only expounded his principles and reasons to Zeng Ye, leaving him completely clueless about the complex nature of the world, then he would merely be weaving a basket and telling Zeng Ye to carry it. Afterward, Chen Ping’an’s teachings would be forcefully stuffed into the basket, not only failing to make the path forward smoother for Zeng Ye, but even inhibiting him and making it increasingly difficult to advance.

A price had to be paid regardless of whether Chen Ping’an expounded his principles or not.

Filling a basket with knowledge wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

The characters in the world contained power, while knowledge formed from the combination of characters possessed weight.

This was similar to the True Qi Eight Tael Talisman that Old Man Yang had drawn on Chen Ping’an’s legs back then. While the talismans made it more difficult for Chen Ping’an to walk, they also allowed him to temper his martial arts cultivation.

Chen Ping’an had only mulled over things and obtained this knowledge after the fifth path pertaining to Zeng Ye had appeared.

This wasn’t to say that Chen Ping’an had no understanding of these matters before, but rather that he hadn’t understood these matters thoroughly.

If he walked too fast, then the young boy wouldn’t have enough time to follow.

As it turned out, it was most terrifying to have a bucket half full of knowledge. The bucket would sway back and forth as one walked, naturally making things extremely difficult for the person carrying the bucket.

Liu Zhimao suddenly smiled and uttered an earth-shattering question, asking, “Mr. Chen, could it be that you’re observing Dao and integrating with Dao?”

Chen Ping’an sipped some wine and jokingly replied, “So True Lord truly is a like-minded person.”

Liu Zhimao solemnly set down his bowl of wine, cupping his fists and replying, “The Great Dao of you and I are different, and we were even mortal enemies in the past. However, Mr. Chen’s ability to achieve the feat of earth immortals as a Lower Five Tier cultivator is well deserving of my respect.”

“I’ll also be extremely grateful if True Lord can tell me about his life journey and help me observe more Dao,” Chen Ping’an said in an amused voice.

Liu Zhimao hurriedly waved his hand and replied, “Like-minded people can be either friends or enemies — there’s no distinction between them. Right now, we’re at most not enemies with each other. At least not for the near future. If we come into conflict with each other again in the future, then we’ll each rely on our own abilities at that time.

“Since we’re not friends, why should I help Mr. Chen? If I remember correctly, Mr. Chen owes the secret storage chamber of Cyan Gorge Island many immortal coins. If Mr. Chen is willing to give the jade tablet to me — or even just lend it to me for one hundred years — I can indeed tell my story openly and truthfully. I’ll answer all of Mr. Chen’s questions, and I’ll reveal everything even if Mr. Chen doesn’t have any questions. I’ll recount everything regardless of whether I should reveal them or not.”

The original owner of the jade tablet was one of the seventy-two saints of the Middle Earth Divine Continent’s scholarly temple. They belonged to the Second Sage’s scholarly lineage, and they were also the great sage stationed above the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent and overseeing the situation there.

Liu Zhimao naturally understood what was important and what wasn’t.

He felt both apprehensive and tempted.

As for whether Liu Zhimao could obtain what he wanted, this was simply dependent on whether Chen Ping’an dared to give the item away.

Indeed, Liu Zhimao didn’t fully understand the true rules and regulations of the Confucian Sect, whereas Chen Ping’an understood far more than him.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Don’t even think about it.”

Liu Zhimao hadn’t been hopeful to begin with, so he naturally wasn’t disappointed with this response.

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “If I hold the jade tablet and absorb spiritual energy and water fortune from Bamboo Scroll Lake without restraint, snatching it all for myself until the lake dries up, will you, Liu Laocheng, or the Great Li Empire stop me? Will any of you dare to stop me?”

Liu Zhimao’s expression immediately froze.

Chen Ping’an smiled faintly and added, “Rest assured, this is reasonable, but it’s of course not according to etiquette. So even if none of you dare to stop me, I still won’t dare to do something like this. Of course, if I’m forced into a corner with no other choice, then I’ll give it a shot and see whether I can advance to become an earth immortal in a single step.”

Liu Zhimao cupped his fists again, saying, “Mr. Chen, I beseech you not to engage in actions that will severely harm both sides. Such action will completely drain Bamboo Scroll Lake, and it will also cause you to lose your life-saving treasure once and for all.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and replied, “My actions will only follow the actions of Bamboo Scroll Lake. This notion of order can’t be ignored.”

After saying this, Chen Ping’an stood up and continued, “Let’s go, I’ll invite True Lord to the Spring Courtyard Mansion with me. Let’s enjoy some winter solstice dumplings from my hometown together.”

Liu Zhimao also stood up, stealing a glance at the extremely pitiful small catfish as he did so.

A pseudo-celestial tool, two bonded flying swords, and three Lock Slashing Talismans.

These were all extremely effective reasons in Bamboo Scroll Lake.

They were as effective as could be.

Chen Ping’an didn’t so much as glance at Tan Xue as he requested, “While we’re heading over, I’ll have to trouble True Lord with teaching me how to remove the skin of flood dragons. I’ll listen to its final words when I return. After all, what if its reasons manage to win me over?”

Liu Zhimao laughed heartily in response.

The two of them left the room together.

After arriving at the Spring Courtyard Mansion, they were greeted by Gu Can who was as pale as a sheet as well as his mother who couldn’t conceal her panic.

Chen Ping’an simply said, “Tan Xue is over at my place. I wanted to speak some reason with it, so it won’t be coming over to eat dumplings tonight.”

After finishing the dumplings, Chen Ping’an put down his chopsticks and said that he was full, thanking Gu Can’s mother for the meal.

Liu Zhimao also put down his chopsticks before taking his leave together with Chen Ping’an.

The two of them parted ways after they left.

Liu Zhimao returned to his Hengbo Residence first, after which he secretly made his way back to the Spring Courtyard Mansion.

Meanwhile, Chen Ping’an returned to his residence alone.

Night had settled in, and he walked back through the wind and snow.

The tip of Sword Immortal was still poking through the door.

Chen Ping’an opened the door and walked inside, and Tan Xue’s first comment to him was, “I don’t want to die.”

Chen Ping’an closed the door and asked, “Is this the entirety of your reason?”

He didn’t pay any more heed to Tan Xue as he lit two lamps, one on his study desk and one on the table. He then retrieved the Hall of the Underworld from his bamboo case and placed it on the table.

Afterward, he continued to busy himself with the task that he had been completing for the past few weeks.

Tan Xue was still impaled to the door just like that.

It was already past midnight.

The exhausted Chen Ping’an drank some wine to refresh himself, after which he put the wooden Hall of the Underworld back into his bamboo case.

He grabbed the charcoal basket and walked over to the window, gazing at Bamboo Scroll Lake that lay outside. The heavy snow had finally stopped.

Chen Ping’an looked at the cold and desolate scenes of a snow-capped island, saying softly, “Of the thirty-two individuals recorded on the four pages, there was surprisingly not a single ghost or yin entity who dared to ask me to exact revenge and kill you. So, I feel like you deserve to die. I’m planning to change my mind, and I’m no longer prepared to make a deal with the imperial preceptor of the Great Li Empire. I ate a large bowl of dumplings at the Spring Courtyard Mansion, yet not a single person came to plead for you during that time.

“Just like you said, my golden scholarly core shattered by itself not long ago. Gu Can didn’t dare to ask about it, and tonight was no different. He still didn’t dare to ask about it. Liu Zhimao is probably at the Spring Courtyard Mansion right now, helping to remove the restrictions that were placed on Gu Can’s mother. She’ll most likely view him as an incredibly kind-hearted benefactor. As for me? I’ll probably become the most ungrateful wretch in the eyes of the Spring Courtyard Mansion starting from tonight.”

Chen Ping’an held the charcoal basket in one hand as he walked to Tan Xue’s side, using his other hand to grab the hilt of Sword Immortal.

Tears streamed down Tan Xue’s face, and the small catfish’s Dao Heart was on the verge of collapse as it murmured again and again, “Chen Ping’an, I was wrong. I’ve genuinely seen the errors in my way.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “No, you simply know that you’re about to die.”

On this windy and snowy night, another visitor arrived outside Chen Ping’an’s door.

A young boy in dark green official garb sprinted over and kneeled down on the snowy ground outside the door.

Chen Ping’an swept his sword sideways, cutting Tan Xue into two.

The golden tip of Sword Immortal moved horizontally across the outside of the door, yet the wielder of the sword didn’t immediately withdraw the blade.

The door swung open.

Chen Ping’an stood in the doorway and said, “Gu Can, I thought you would say that you would also commit suicide in front of me if I killed Tan Xue. Before I opened the door, I was still thinking whether this would be your own thought or something that your mother taught you to say.”

Gu Can looked up, sobbing silently as he did so.

After leaving his hometown and living in Bamboo Scroll Lake for several years, this was the first time that Gu Can was once again crying like the snotty little kid from Clay Vase Alley.