Unsheathed

Chapter 445 (1): Charcoal Basket Chilling People’s Heart

After arriving at someplace on the lake, Chen Ping’an stopped the boat and put down the bamboo pole, retrieving some dry rations from his minimization treasure to fill his belly.

Liu Laocheng suddenly smiled and asked Chen Ping’an whether or not he liked to fish, saying that Bamboo Scroll Lake had three types of famous fish that were regarded as delicacies in the banquets held by influential and wealthy individuals in the Luminous Vermilion Empire.

One type of fish was called winter carp, and the best time to catch it was during the winter. The heavier the snow and the colder the weather, the more delicious the fish would be. Liu Laocheng pointed at the lake and said that winter carp existed in this area. Before he could say anything else, Chen Ping’an had already retrieved a fishing rod that he hadn’t been able to use at Purple Bamboo Island. At the same time, he also retrieved a small tin of distiller’s grain.

Liu Laocheng did the same, with his actions as adept as could be. However, his bait was slightly different, and his fishing rod was made from unique and verdant green bamboo brimming with spiritual energy.

In the end, Liu Laocheng caught three palm-sized winter carp while Chen Ping’an caught two. They put away their fishing rods at almost exactly the same time, and they both started to show their wares as they retrieved chopping boards, stoves, clay pots, firewood, seasoning, and so on. They had everything they needed.

One cooked at the bow of the boat, and one cooked at the stern.

Steam wafted through the air as the two of them sat cross-legged, one holding a pair of chopsticks and one holding a pot of wine.

Chen Ping’an and Liu Laocheng exchanged a smile, chatting casually as they enjoyed the fish.

There were clashing schemes and murderous intents, but at this moment, they had all transformed into temporary chatter and smiles.

After enjoying their meal and chat, they had just cleaned up and put away the pots and utensils when Chen Ping’an patted his Sword Nurturing Gourd and summoned Fifteenth, saying in front of Liu Laocheng, “Go and tell Cyan Gorge Island’s Liu Zhimao that I’m with Palace Willow Island’s Liu Laocheng, and that Liu Laocheng wants him to activate his island protection formation. I’m also going to enter the island by myself.”

“You’re only going to issue a command? You’re not going to make up any excuses? Won’t this make Liu Zhimao feel extremely suspicious?” Liu Laocheng asked.

“Saying too much will be counterproductive and make him reluctant to activate the formation,” Chen Ping’an replied.

Liu Laocheng nodded and concurred, “Being direct is a good way to deal with people like Liu Zhimao. Either make them feel apprehensive or directly do away with all pretenses of geniality. We can’t give them any freedom to maneuver around.”

Chen Ping’an’s eyes lit up.

“Oh, what’s this? You managed to gain something from my casual remark?” Liu Laocheng asked with a smile.

Chen Ping’an nodded and replied, “In the beginning, I was only roughly aware of what to do, but my understanding wasn’t as clear as what Island Master Liu said just now. Mhm, it’s as if Island Master Liu has placed a ruler in front of me. When I dealt with people and matters in the past, I always aimed to not act in the extremes. However, Island Master Liu has taught me to do the complete opposite when I’m dealing with people like Liu Zhimao. I should continually push them toward one of the two extremes.”

Liu Laocheng nodded in acknowledgment, but he said at the same time, “One should only speak seventy to eighty percent of their mind when conversing with others. One shouldn’t reveal all of their thoughts. In any case, you and I are still enemies, so since when did we become so candid with each other? Are you perhaps misunderstanding something?”

Chen Ping’an rowed the boat and replied, “These are two different matters. If we insist on dueling to the death and nothing else, then I wouldn’t have needed to visit Palace Willow Island at all. At the end of the day, I hope that we can achieve a win-win situation where everyone is happy. You can still obtain those huge benefits, while I can put my mind at ease. I won’t fight Island Master for those benefits.”

Liu Laocheng slowly sipped his wine, not offering any comment on Chen Ping’an’s proposal.

Chen Ping’an smiled faintly and said, “I indeed don’t have any talent in terms of playing Go, and I’m a slow learner no matter what the subject is. Even when it comes to formation setups that have already been comprehensively analyzed and understood, I still need to mull over them for a long time. Even so, I still fail to fully comprehend their essence. It’s because of this that I like to let my mind run wild, thinking about whether there’s a Go board where all of the players can win. The only difference is how many benefits each person wins.”

Liu Laocheng shook his head and replied, “Don’t talk to me about Go, it gives me a headache. I’ve never liked Go before, and a person’s skill in Go has nothing to do with their ability to complete other matters.”

Chen Ping’an was just about to say something, most likely wanting to debate this point with Liu Laocheng. In any case, Liu Laocheng had just said that when one has spare time, one is like the owner of all scenery and joy in the world. Chen Ping’an was insisting on rowing back to Cyan Gorge Island slowly because he wanted to better understand Liu Laocheng’s disposition and thoughts. This was the case even though the success or failure of his plans would be largely dependent on loftier matters.

Liu Laocheng raised a hand and instructed, “Keep your mouth shut and don’t push your luck. Don’t try to act like a teacher at school. You’re at most a bookkeeper who’s slightly better at planning and plotting. The boat is only so big, so I’ll be forced to listen to your waffling even if I don’t want to. If I want some peace and quiet, then I’ll have no option but to push you into the lake with a palm strike.

“However, your body is already too weak to withstand the cold lake water. You’re relying on a single bonded acupoint to just barely keep everything together, so if this acupoint shatters, I surmise that your bridge of immortality will shatter a second time. Oh, that’s right, how was your bridge of immortality shattered the first time? I’m quite curious.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and replied, “It was shattered by a female immortal from the mountains in a small alley in my hometown. However, she was most likely affected by Liu Zhimao’s schemes. That was a fairly dangerous and frightening encounter, and Liu Zhimao even tampered with my mind at the time. If it weren’t for our good luck, the female immortal and I would have failed to understand the true reason behind our muddle-headed battle all the way until our deaths. Apart from being extremely powerful, immortals from the mountains also like to kill people in cunning and hard-to-detect manners.”

This was the first time Chen Ping’an was discussing his personal matters with Liu Laocheng.

This was also a show of sincerity.

Otherwise, Chen Ping’an was truly worried that he would anger the unpredictable Liu Laocheng before they even arrived at Cyan Gorge Island.

Liu Laocheng was seemingly stirred by Chen Ping’an’s remark, and he explained, “Cultivators from the mountains are extremely afraid of getting tangled with the mortal world, and I probably have the most right to say this out of everyone at Bamboo Scroll Lake. This is also why Militarian cultivators are the envy of all other cultivators. They don’t need to worry about being entangled by karmic fate no matter how many people they kill. As a result, Militarian cultivators have a stronger preference to cultivate outside the mountains compared to Legalists, Diplomatists, and Agrarian cultivators. Sword cultivators, one of the four most troublesome types of cultivators in the mountains, also live comfortably with few restraints.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “I’ve come across both Legalists and saber-lending cultivators from the Daoist Saber Room before. Now I just need to meet a Mohist saber-lending cultivator to complete the trio.”

Liu Laocheng sniggered and suggested, “I suggest you don’t try to provoke saber-lending cultivators. They’re the most troublesome of the troublesome, and they’re essentially small ghosts guarding the gate of the underworld.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

No matter how great the distance, a journey would eventually come to an end.

After passing a few vassal islands including White Fish Island, the small boat eventually arrived at Cyan Gorge Island where sure enough, Liu Zhimao had already activated the island protection formation.

In Liu Zhimao’s eyes, doing something like this would naturally draw Liu Laocheng’s ire. However, he was already in the same boat as Chen Ping’an, so if he chose to turn down Chen Ping’an’s request, he would definitely have to face the corresponding consequences. Taking this into consideration, he could only choose the lesser of the two evils.

Moreover, even though Liu Zhimao couldn’t figure out why Liu Laocheng was willing to accompany Chen Ping’an back to Cyan Gorge Island no matter how he wracked his brains, he continued to tell himself that Chen Ping’an was someone who liked to abide by principles and uphold reason when he did things. No matter what Liu Laocheng wanted to do, it was Chen Ping’an who had brought him over, after all, so Chen Ping’an would definitely help Cyan Gorge Island work through all potential issues even if he couldn’t resolve everything. He most definitely wouldn’t clap his hands and walk away.

This was the formless influence brought about by a so-called good person. It was as if he were the spring breeze silently nurturing all matter at night.

Even someone who was full of evil like Liu Zhimao had to admit this.

Liu Laocheng upheld his promise and flew into the sky, coming to a hovering stop above the lake in front of the dock.

Chen Ping’an moored the boat and went to his residence. A short while later, the jade tablet stopped absorbing spiritual energy from Bamboo Scroll Lake.

With this done, Chen Ping’an visited the Vermilion Chord Residence, but he didn’t bring Hong Su with him when he returned. Instead, he returned to the dock alone.

Liu Laocheng frowned upon seeing this.

“I don’t want to see Hong Su die beside me, yet I’m powerless to do anything. This is the possibility that I’m most afraid of,” Chen Ping’an revealed.

Liu Laocheng laughed heartily and raised a thumb at Chen Ping’an before soaring into the sky and transforming into a brilliant streak of light that flew back to Palace Willow Island. As if there were winter thunderstorms, a loud rumbling was left in his wake.

Chen Ping’an stood at the dock for a long time, and only when Liu Laocheng vanished into the distance did he finally raise a hand in relief, wiping away the sweat on his forehead.

Liu Zhimao walked to the dock and asked with a bitter smile, “Mr. Chen, can you truthfully tell me what in the world is going on?”

“I chatted with Liu Laocheng on the way here, and both of us were feeling each other out. I drew one conclusion from our interaction, and that’s the fact that Liu Laocheng has seemingly not met with the Great Li Empire’s General Su Gaoshan yet,” Chen Ping’an replied.

Liu Zhimao’s expression immediately changed slightly.

He and Chen Ping’an were both smart people, so he was easily able to understand the implications of Chen Ping’an’s words.

General Su Gaoshan had already charged to the capital of the Stone Brush Nation with his heavy cavalry, and he was like a towering mountain that Millet Grain Island’s Tan Yuanyi was unable to climb. During the alliance-forming meeting between Chen Ping’an, Liu Zhimao, and Tan Yuanyi at Hengbo Residence, all of them had thought that Liu Laocheng had already made contact with Su Gaoshan, and it was due to this that he found it unworthy to discuss important matters with Tan Yuanyi, a head spy of the Green Ripple Pavilion.

They had mistakenly assumed that Palace Willow Island had directly communicated via Su Gaoshan and received some kind of answer from the imperial court of the Great Li Empire, thus enabling it to act in such a domineering manner, completely ignoring the proposals made by Liu Zhimao and Tan Yuanyi. If their assumptions were true, then Liu Laocheng would be enjoying a status similar to that of Su Gaoshan right now.

However, it was now clear that all three of them had guessed incorrectly. They had still underestimated the Upper Five Tier cultivator, with Liu Laocheng not even taking General Su Gaoshan seriously. It was without a doubt that Liu Laocheng had more powerful and more secretive contacts. Perhaps he could directly communicate with the Imperial Song Clan or even Imperial Preceptor Cui Chan.

Liu Zhimao’s smile became even more bitter as he asked, “Mr. Chen won’t look at the current situation and decide to abandon Cyan Gorge Island to ally with Palace Willow Island, right?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and replied, “If I truly wanted to do that, then I wouldn’t have revealed any of this information to you. In any case, Island Master Liu is extremely good at discerning things, so you definitely noticed that my relationship with Liu Laocheng is only amiable on the surface. In reality, however, it’s nowhere near as amiable as the vagrant cultivators in Bamboo Scroll Lake think. There was no feeling like old friends at first sight, and there was no regret at not meeting earlier. In fact, if it weren’t for the jade tablet causing Liu Laocheng to feel apprehensive, there was every chance that Palace Willow Island would have become my burial ground.”

“That puts to bed my worries. Otherwise, if Mr. Chen chose to ally with Liu Laocheng, even growing an extra pair of legs might not have been enough to help me flee from Bamboo Scroll Lake,” Liu Zhimao chuckled.

Chen Ping’an said in a joking manner, “When spring arrives after the New Year, I might leave Cyan Gorge Island more frequently and I might even venture out of Bamboo Scroll Lake. Island Master Liu doesn’t need to worry about me being secretive and scheming with Tan Yuanyi behind your back. However, it’s indeed possible that I might run across Su Gaoshan somewhere, but Island Master Liu doesn’t need to feel suspicious about such an encounter either. I most likely value the alliance we formed at Hengbo Residence more than you and Tan Yuanyi.

“However, let me say this first. If either of you suddenly change your mind and decide to withdraw from the alliance, then simply notify me and we can still discuss the matter. If either of you betrays your promises, however, then I’ll be sure to make you regret it no matter your reason.”

Liu Zhimao smiled bitterly and replied, “I only dare to guarantee that I’ll definitely notify Mr. Chen if I back out of the alliance. As for Tan Yuanyi, I’ll deliver this message word for word to Millet Grain Island.”

Chen Ping’an nodded in response.

Liu Zhimao didn’t deny the fact that after Liu Laocheng accompanied Chen Ping’an to Cyan Gorge Island, the more direct and frank Chen Ping’an was about the matter and the more he distanced himself from Palace Willow Island, the more Liu Zhimao would feel unsettled and anxious.

He was afraid of the so-called possibility.

What if Chen Ping’an relied on his courage and abilities to create an extra choice for himself? What if Chen Ping’an decided to renege on his promises? What if Chen Ping’an was even more ruthless than him and Tan Yuanyi?

One had to realize that Liu Zhimao was well aware of how the arrogant small catfish had jumped into a firepit and sealed its own doom. He was well aware of how Chen Ping’an had dealt with the matter.

Liu Zhimao suddenly felt a slight sense of regret. Perhaps he should have refused to entertain Chen Ping’an’s so-called principles and reasons? Would there eventually come a day when he finally came to the realization that he had actually walked down the same wretched path as the small catfish?

Holding his hands inside opposite sleeves, Chen Ping’an gazed at the lake and mountains in the distance and said with a faint smile, “Island Master Liu, you already have no other choice, so don’t get distracted. Otherwise, you’ll only be asking for more annoyance and headaches, not something that a Nascent Tier cultivator should be doing.”

Liu Zhimao sighed with emotion and remarked, “You’ve jolted me awake with this single statement. I’ve been humbly educated by you again.”

“You flatter me. I’m no educator or teacher, and I’m nothing more than a dejected bookkeeper who’s living under someone else’s whim on Cyan Gorge Island. I still need Island Master Liu to look after me and treat me kindly,” Chen Ping’an said in amusement.

“I occasionally get extremely sinister thoughts as well, imagining a day when Mr. Chen is mysteriously punched to death by someone. Would that perhaps make things better?” Liu Zhimao jokingly replied.

“Likewise, likewise,” Chen Ping’an said with a faint smile.

Chen Ping’an returned to his room after Liu Zhimao bade farewell, and he unstrapped Sword Immortal from his back and hung it on the wall, after which he took off Golden Sweet Wine and only kept on his thick cotton robe to just barely fight back the cold. He tossed some charcoal into the small charcoal basket, setting it alight and holding it up to create some warmth as he walked around his room.

Zeng Ye ran over to knock on the door and greet Chen Ping’an, and Chen Ping’an opened the door and asked Zeng Ye for a detailed report on his cultivation progression. Chen Ping’an was quite satisfied with Zeng Ye’s reply, and he surmised that Zeng Ye could likely use his body to host the souls of yin entities and allow them to freely wander around the living world by the end of the year.

At that time, Zeng Ye could perhaps rely on this high-grade secret technique and his unique physique to temper himself and advance his cultivation, potentially allowing his cultivation speed to become extremely quick. Perhaps his cultivation speed would be even quicker than the sinister heretical methods used by those on Thatch Moon Island to prematurely hasten their advance, meaning he could accelerate his advance to the Middle Five Tiers and break through the first major cultivation barrier to become an Abode Tier cultivator.

Zeng Ye continued to dawdle around, seemingly not wanting to leave.

“Do you want to ask me why I was fighting to the death with Liu Laocheng before, yet we’re suddenly like best friends who are traveling around Bamboo Scroll Lake?” Chen Ping’an asked.

Zeng Ye nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression.

Even though he clearly remembered Chen Ping’an’s warning to observe more, think more, and speak less at Cyan Gorge Island, he was genuinely very curious about the sudden change in dynamics between Chen Ping’an and Liu Laocheng, so his curiosity eventually got the better of him.

Chen Ping’an smiled and replied, “It’s quite complicated, and it’s not really worthy of a conversation or being explained as an interesting story.”

Zeng Ye hurriedly stood up and said, “Mr. Chen, I’ll take my leave and get back to cultivation now.”

“When the day comes that I can talk about this, treat me to some wine and I’ll explain the events to you,” Chen Ping’an replied.

Zeng Ye gently closed the door, a beaming smile on his face as he peeked through the closing crack and happily said, “It’s a promise, Mr. Chen!”