Unsheathed

Chen Ping’an disembarked from the immortal ship mid-journey to travel to the rather reclusive Sweet Wormwood Nation.

He chose to stick exclusively to secluded mountain paths over the journey of several hundred kilometers, traveling day and night as fast as the wind.

It didn’t take him long to find the provincial city, and he had only just made his way onto Cave Immortal Street when the doors of a house were opened, following which a young man emerged from within, waving at him with a smile.

Chen Ping’an was momentarily dazed at the sight of the young man, but then quickly collected himself and strode over to the house.

Li Xisheng made his way down the steps, and Chen Ping’an extended a respectful bow as he greeted, “Mr. Li.”

Li Xisheng smiled and responded in kind.

Cui Ci was standing inside the entrance of the residence, watching the reunion between the two young men, and he was very happy to see the bright smile that had appeared on his teacher’s face.

Ever since they arrived on the Northern Complete Reed Continent, it felt to him like his teacher had been constantly contemplating things with his brows furrowed. Even when his brows were unfurrowed, it felt like there were still many things on his mind, but at this moment, it looked like he wasn’t thinking about anything other than purely basking in the joy of the moment.

Li Xisheng led Chen Ping’an into his residence, then turned around with a smile as he remarked, “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“I feel like that’s what I’ll be thinking when I see Little Baoping at the academy next time,” Chen Ping’an said with a chuckle.

They entered Li Xisheng’s study, which wasn’t very large, and there weren’t many books inside, either, nor were there extra writing utensils or artwork and calligraphy pieces.

Li Xisheng told Cui Ci to go read on his own, then sat down behind his desk across from Chen Ping’an.

“Very good,” Li Xisheng remarked with a nod. “You seem more steadfast and focused.”

Chen Ping’an scratched his head.

“There are some things that I didn’t see fit to tell you in the past, but it’s about time we had those conversations now,” Li Xisheng continued with a smile.

Chen Ping’an immediately sat up even straighter as he prompted, “Please enlighten me, Mr. Li.”

“I’ve always been someone who hasn’t ever had a very clear grasp on myself,” Li Xisheng said.

Chen Ping’an hesitated momentarily, then replied, “I’m the same.”

“No, we’re not quite the same,” Li Xisheng disagreed with a smile and a shake of his head. “Do you still recall how I once wanted to give you a peach wood talisman?”

Chen Ping’an nodded lightly in response.

“Before that, I fought against the swordsman, Cao Jun, on Clay Vase Alley, right?” Li Xisheng recalled.

“You really had that Cao Jun very frustrated,” Chen Ping’an said with an amused smile.

“It’s very difficult for Qi refiners to cultivate in the Jewel Small World, yet I was able to progress through the tiers very quickly,” Li Xisheng said. “So quickly that even the likes of Ma Kuxuan couldn’t really compare with me.”

Chen Ping’an remained silent, waiting for Li Xisheng to continue, and continue he did.

“It’s only after the event that I was able to uncover the underlying reason behind my rapid progression through extensive contemplation,” Li Xisheng revealed. “I discovered that the fortune, or, in other words, the Great Dao fated opportunity, that belonged to you actually ended up befalling me.

“Just like you, I’ve always felt like there’s an equilibrium to everything under the heavens. If someone gains, then someone else stands to lose, and vice versa. Nothing simply increases or disappears without an equal and opposite effect.”

Chen Ping’an opened his mouth to speak, but Li Xisheng raised a hand to stop him as he urged, “Let me finish. The ways that we think and act are quite similar. If we find out something, then we have to do something about it, and only then will we feel at ease. In the past, I didn’t know that I had taken your fortune, but as my cultivation base and powers increased, I was able to retrace everything step by step to uncover the truth.

“Now that the truth has been revealed to me, I can’t just accept this outcome without giving anything in exchange. Even now, try as I might, I am still unable to glean the secrets of that peach wood talisman, but what’s clear to me is that the talisman is most definitely very important to me, and that’s precisely why I wanted to give it to you.

“I have taken something very significant of yours, and I must reciprocate with something equal in value in order to restore equilibrium and make my heart feel at ease. Just because my cultivation base was superior to yours at the time and the peach wood talisman was very important to me doesn’t mean that those two things were not equal in value, and it does not mean that I should give something else to you instead.

“I took the foundation of your Great Dao, so it’s only right that I give the foundation of my Great Dao to you. Only then will it be a fair exchange. However, you refused to accept the peach wood talisman at the time, so I could only back down. I was speaking of this to Senior Li Er of Lion Peak the other time.

“I told him that if you came to me with gratitude in your heart, whether it be for the talismans that I gave you or the runes that I inscribed upon the bamboo building, then it would only be a bother for both of us, and in that case, I would rather not see you at all.”

Chen Ping’an nodded in response with a tranquil expression.

Li Xisheng smiled as he continued, “As for the Authentic Death-Avoiding Book and those pieces of talisman paper, those things do not factor into my compensation to you. Instead, they are my gifts to you as a gesture of gratitude for escorting Little Baoping all the way to the Great Sui Nation.”

Chen Ping’an nodded once again.

All of a sudden, a hint of dejection appeared on Li Xisheng’s face as he asked, “Are you not curious about why both Li Baoping and my brother, Li Baozhen, have the ‘bao’ character in their names, yet I alone do not?”

Li Xisheng, Li Baozhen, Li Baoping.

“I’ve never thought about it,” Chen Ping’an replied with a shake of his head.

During their journey to the Great Sui Nation, Li Baoping had kept no secrets from her beloved junior uncle, and she had told Chen Ping’an that her mother seemed to have a preference for Li Baozhen over her eldest son, Li Xisheng. However, this was a private matter of the Li Clan, so Chen Ping’an didn’t pry for further details.

Li Xisheng rose to his feet, then strode over to the window and cast his gaze into the distance.

During every Spring Festival, there was an unofficial tradition at the Li Clan, which involved Li Xisheng’s mother asking the servants and maidservants of the manor to recite some idioms and poetry that included the “li” character. Even when one of the children inadvertently recited an idiom that had slightly negative connotations, their mother wasn’t displeased, and she still gave them their New Year’s money.

However, the smile instantly vanished from her face at the mention of the idiom “a peach for a plum,”[1] and her reaction to the subsequently recited idiom of “the peach tree withers in the place of the plum tree”[2] was one of downright fury, an emotion that had never been seen in the benevolent and friendly woman up to that point.

At the time, Li Xisheng had only been a young boy, and he just so happened to have witnessed this scene from a nearby corridor.

He had been quite perplexed by his mother’s reaction, but he suppressed his curiosity as he didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask questions. Initially, he didn’t think much of this, but the memory stayed with him, tinged by a subtle hint of unease.

Li Xisheng turned to Chen Ping’an and revealed, “Living across from me is a family with the Chen surname. One of its members is a Confucian scholar, a few years older than Li Baozhen. His name is Chen Baozhou, and if you meet him, you’ll come to understand why I was able to claim the fortune that rightfully belonged to you.”

There was no need for Chen Ping’an to go and meet this Chen Baozhou. He already understood everything from Li Xisheng’s story.

“I’m fine,” Li Xisheng suddenly assured with a smile.

Northern Complete Reed Continent, Cave Immortal Street, Chen Xisheng.

Eastern Treasured Vial Continent, Jewel Small World, Li Baozhou.

That was how it should’ve been.

This also explained why a model tree, which symbolized wisdom and morality, had grown out of the Chen Clan ancestral grave deep in that mountain.

It was because Mr. Li should’ve been Mr. Chen instead.

“There are many things that I still can’t figure out,” Li Xisheng sighed. “It’s just like how there are countless illusions and obstacles in life, ones that can only be overcome once a sufficient cultivation base is reached.”

Chen Ping’an rose to his feet and said, “I agree that you should be sad, but I don’t think it’s justified for you to be this sad.”

Li Xisheng smiled as he turned to Chen Ping’an with a pair of bright and clear eyes and said, “I have truly been consoled by your words.”

Chen Ping’an also smiled in response, and from there, Li Xisheng suggested that the two of them play a game of Go.

They chatted casually with one another during the game, and as usual, Chen Ping’an played very slowly, only contributing a sentence or two to the conversation each time after he set down a stone.

“Before coming to the Northern Complete Reed Continent, I was actually quite afraid. I had heard that there were many swordsmen here, and that everyone in both the cultivation world and the martial arts world acted in a very reckless and unrestrained fashion.

“I thought a free and lawless place like this would be perfect to put me in a better mental state, only to discover that so long as my mental hurdle wasn’t overcome, I would continue to be stuck in the mud.

“I was also afraid that I would go from one extreme to the other, so I gave myself the alias of Chen Haoren. It wasn’t a joke; it was a constant reminder to myself that even though I’ve come to a renowned place of lawlessness, I mustn’t allow myself to truly throw caution to the wind and act without regard for consequences.

“At the same time, I felt like the name also represented a subconscious yearning of mine, a desire to truly be a good person.”

“You are someone who recognizes that you possess evil and selfish thoughts, yet are still able to do good deeds,” Li Xisheng said. “Do you know what this entails, Chen Ping’an?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head in response.

Li Xisheng picked up a Go stone, then gently set it down onto the board as he continued, “This is the self-awareness and self-restraint that us Confucians constantly champion and strive to achieve.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, feeling unworthy of such high praise.

Li Xisheng didn’t speak any further on the subject, returning his attention to the game at hand as he continued, “Having said that, your play is still as terrible as ever.”

“I’ll admit that I don’t have much talent when it comes to Go,” Chen Ping’an conceded.

“Is that truly the case?” Li Xisheng asked with a smile.

Chen Ping’an nodded as he replied, “It’s because I don’t have an eye for the bigger picture. I can never bring myself to sacrifice any territory for the so-called greater good.”

“Everyone is playing their own game of Go in life,” Li Xisheng said. “There are many smart people who see many steps ahead and constantly have an eye on the bigger picture, so there’s no need for you to strive to see the bigger picture if that’s not your strong suit.”

“I have truly been consoled by your words, Mr. Li,” Chen Ping’an said with a smile.

“My words come straight from the heart, while your words come from a place of flattery,” Li Xisheng said with a shake of his head.

“Not at all!” Chen Ping’an denied. “Everyone from our Downtrodden Mountain values sincerity above all else!”

Li Xisheng chuckled. “I’m sure you do.”

However, Chen Ping’an’s smile had suddenly become a little forced.

Li Xisheng heaved an internal sigh, knowing that Chen Ping’an’s thoughts had most likely wandered to the bamboo building on Downtrodden Mountain.

Even though he was still present, it was as if his mind had drifted away on a long journey.

***

The immortal ship traveled from north to south, passing through the Great Seal Script Empire, the Golden Gate Nation, and the Orchid Residence Nation in that order before reaching the Talisman Water Ferry Station of the Spring Dew Garden.

By then, it was already autumn, and Chen Ping’an had missed yet another annual Spring Farewell Banquet. Compared with last time, the Talisman Water Ferry Station was much quieter.

Spring was when the Spring Dew Garden was most busy and bustling.

As Chen Ping’an disembarked from the ship, his whole get-up was just about identical to the previous year, except the bamboo bookcase had taken the place of Sword Immortal on his back.

He traveled straight to Old Locust Street, which was much busier and livelier than the ferry station. A faint smile appeared on his face as his Pi Fu Shop came into view, and he removed his conical bamboo hat before making his way inside.

There were no customers in the shop, and that left him feeling a little concerned. The young cultivator from the Nightglow Grass Hall, who was serving as a stand-in shopkeeper, had already emerged from behind the counter with a smile on his face. After identifying Chen Ping’an, the smile on his face widened even further, and he hurriedly cupped his fist in a salute as he bowed and greeted, “Wang Tingfang pays his respects to the shop owner.”

It came as a bit of a surprise to him that Chen Ping’an had returned so soon. After all, it was very common for cultivators to embark on journeys spanning decades at a time.

Chen Ping’an cupped his fist to return the salute as he said, “Thank you for your hard work, Shopkeeper Wang.”

“Should I bring you the account books?” Wang Tingfang asked.

For businessmen, talking business was always preferable to any small talk.

Chen Ping’an nodded in response, and the two of them made their way behind the counter together. Chen Ping’an removed the bamboo bookcase from his back, then set his conical bamboo hat down onto his hiking pole.

Wang Tingfang pulled out two account books, and Chen Ping’an’s concern abated slightly upon seeing this. If business really was that terrible, then surely there wouldn’t have been enough transactions to warrant two account books, right?

Chen Ping’an had already glanced through the shelves in the shop, so he had a rough idea of what had been sold. As he flipped through the account books, one particular transaction caught his attention, and he exclaimed, “Someone actually paid such an exorbitant price to purchase that pair of immortal treasure crowns?”

After looking at the date of sale, a peculiar look appeared on Chen Ping’an’s face as he asked, “Were they purchased by a young woman with a Five Mountain Nation accent, accompanied by a sword-carrying servant?”

“How did you know?” Wang Tingfang exclaimed in astonishment.

Chen Ping’an heaved a resigned sigh, and he didn’t reveal to Wang Tingfang that those two were Sui Jingcheng and the Nascent Tier swordsman of Duckweed Sword Lake, Rong Chang.

Instead, he merely shook his head as he lamented, “If it was those two, then you could’ve sold the crowns for a bit more.”

An uneasy look appeared on Wang Tingfang’s face upon hearing this.

“It’s fine, you already did very well, Shopkeeper Wang,” Chen Ping’an said with a smile as he continued flipping through the pages of the account books. “Don’t mind me, I was just spouting nonsense because I’m relatively familiar with those two, but I wouldn’t have actually charged them so much just because I know them. There’s no way I would’ve been able to sell the crowns for the price that you did if I had been personally overseeing the sale.”

While reading through the account books, Chen Ping’an chatted casually with Wang Tingfang about the recent events that had transpired in the Spring Dew Garden and the Nightglow Grass Hall.

“It was only thanks to the shop’s connection to you that I was able to sell the pair of crowns, and that made last year’s figures look very good, but it didn’t have much to do with me,” Wang Tingfang said with a smile. “I implore you not to reveal the truth to my master.

“Otherwise, I’m going to be sent packing from the Pi Fu Shop for sure. My master has been keeping a very close eye on the business in this shop, and at the end of every season, he personally summons me to report to him about the shop’s earnings.”

Chen Ping’an nodded as he replied, “I’ve brought some tea leaves from the Rainbow Sparrow Residence with me this time, and I’ll be personally visiting Immortal Tang to express my gratitude. The shop has been run far better than I imagined, and if I have your blessings to do so, I would like to offer up some glowing praise about you to your master.”

Wang Tingfang took two steps back, then extended a deep bow of gratitude as he said, “I am forever indebted to you, shop owner. I will be sure to continue working diligently to earn even more money for the Pi Fu Shop.”

Chen Ping’an closed the first account book, and he didn’t even bother to flip through the second one. Wang Tingfang had just told him that the Nightglow Grass Hall was overseeing the earnings of the shop, so if he were to continue meticulously inspecting the accounts books, then that would be a rather insulting gesture, implying that he didn’t trust the Nightglow Grass Hall’s work.

He slid the pair of account books toward Wang Tingfang with a smile as he said, “I can see that the records in these account books are very accurate, clear, and detailed. You’ve done a great job. From here onward, there’s no need to try to strive excessively to make the shop’s annual figures look good. I’m happy as long as we can turn a steady and consistent profit over time.

“It doesn’t have to be anything spectacular. After I leave the Spring Dew Garden on this occasion, the shop will most likely have to fall under your care for many more years, so please continue to look after it well.”

Wang Tingfang smiled and assured Chen Ping’an that he would do just that, then carefully put the account books away, locking them into a drawer.

Chen Ping’an turned around and pulled out two items from his bamboo bookcase, namely the jade bracelet that displayed the fire in water phenomenon and a bronze antique mirror, the replica mirror that bore the valuable inscription of “Made by the Gong Clan.” Both of these items had been given to him by the martial artist, Huang Shi, along with the tree gall pot and the abstinence plaque.

“Thinking back to that adventurous foray into the immortal abode, he and Huang Shi had started off on less than friendly terms, but by the time they parted ways, things had certainly become much more cordial between them.

The tree gall pot wasn’t particularly precious, but Spiritual Master Huan Yun had explicitly stated that it could aid a Qi refiner in absorbing wood-attribute spiritual energy, thereby making it an extremely valuable asset for Chen Ping’an, who was currently in the process of refining his third wood-attribute bonded item.

Over the course of his southbound journey, he had used the Refining Three Mountains mantra imparted upon him by Spiritual Master Fire Dragon to refine the pot into an auxiliary treasure in the major acupoint that served as the home to his wood residence.

As for the abstinence plaque, Chen Ping’an was planning to refine that into his wood residence as well. However, the refinement of treasures was a very time-consuming process. Every day, he had to spend twelve hours refining the water fortune in the bricks he had taken from the Daoist temple, and it was already a testament to his work ethic that he was still able to successfully complete standard refinement of the tree gall pot outside of that.

Over the course of his past few journeys by immortal ship, he had spent virtually all of his free time on artifact refinement.

Chen Ping’an set the jade bracelet and antique mirror down onto the table, then gave Wang Tingfang a brief explanation of their origins and properties.

“Seeing as the two crowns have been sold, our shop is now missing the two standout treasures that once served as its main attraction, so these two treasures can take their place. However, make sure you don’t actually sell them. If anyone tries to purchase them, just state an absurd price that no one would reasonably pay for them.

“Essentially, they’re only going to serve as display items to attract earth immortals to our shop. We already don’t have the biggest shop, so we need some premium items to serve as attractions and draw in customers.”

Wang Tingfang smiled and nodded in agreement, then carefully stowed the two items away as he said, “I’m going to purchase two of the finest wooden display boxes the Spring Dew Garden has to offer. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing justice to these two precious treasures.”

“There’s no need to report to me on such minor decisions, Shopkeeper Wang,” Chen Ping’an said with a smile. “I trust the business acumen of the Nightglow Grass Hall, and I have faith in your integrity as well.”

Wang Tingfang extended another bow of gratitude.

1. The character for the Li surname (李) translates to plum, while the idiom “a peach for a plum” essentially means to reciprocate, i.e., if someone gives you a gift, then you should reciprocate with something similar in value. ☜

2. This is an idiom that means for someone to serve as a scapegoat for someone else, bearing the punishment for the perpetrator’s transgressions in their stead. ☜