Unsheathed

Chapter 620 (2): We’re All Scholars

Chen Ping’an gloomily took a swig of wine.

”You’ve been mulling over these things all these years?” Liu Xianyang asked in amusement.

”I didn’t slack off with either fist practice or cultivation, and I would use much of my free time to mull over these matters,” Chen Ping’an replied with a huff.

Liu Xianyang pointed at Chen Ping’an’s wine bowl and asked, ”Aren’t you thirsty after saying so much?”

Chen Ping’an simply put his hands inside his opposite sleeves, no longer wanting to drink wine.

Liu Xianyang smiled and asked, ”Do you truly understand why Sun Scorch Mountain and Light Breeze City are behaving like this?”

”What do you mean?” Chen Ping’an asked with a puzzled expression.

”Why are they harming others for their own gain? Why aren’t they acting in a way to benefit others? Or even if they do act in a way to temporarily benefit others, why is this nothing more than an exquisitely disguised way to benefit themselves in the long run?” Liu Xianyang elaborated his question and asked.

”On the other hand, why are some people willing to benefit themselves but also benefit other people?” Liu Xianyang continued.

He answered his own question, explaining, ”Because these are two completely different types of people. One type of person resents the world, while the other type of person feels a close bond with the world. The former covets fame and riches, chasing after all types of tangible benefits in a pragmatic manner. Even though the items of their pursuit are seemingly unreachable in the eyes of mortal people, the tangible nature of their ambitions actually renders these ambitions fairly low-level. However, it’s precisely because these ambitions are low-level and consistent with innate human nature that they’re firm and unwavering.

“The latter type of person is willing to benefit other people while striving toward their own goals, but their idealistic visions are genuinely lofty and relatively intangible. They have a connate sense of closeness with the world, and they’re willing to forego tangible items and benefits for the sake of an internal sense of ease and comfort. Of course, they also strive to feel a deeper sense of belonging in the world.

”However, it’s because of the lofty and intangible nature of their ambitions that they’re very prone to feeling disappointed. Indeed, a fight between the intangible and tangible will often leave the former bruised and bloodied. Fundamentally speaking, the former type of person staunchly believes that the world is far from ideal, so they need to fight for their own benefits to enjoy a better life. Conversely, the latter type of person believes that the world can become a better place.

”So, the answer is actually very simple. The Qi refiners at Sun Scorch Mountain and Light Breeze City might look like cultivators, but in reality, what they pursue isn’t the Great Dao. Rather, they’re simply pursuing benefits, tangible benefits that are loftier than those pursued by rulers, officials, and subordinates. In the minds of these people, they have a clear monetary value attached to each item, understanding how many immortal coins each cultivation base, each natural treasure, or each person can bring them.”

After explaining this, Liu Xianyang said in conclusion, ”I dare say that you definitely felt a sense of confusion regarding scholars and cultivators in the outside world after you left the Jewel Small World. At the same time, you would have also experienced a period of self-doubt. And in the end, you felt a certain level of rejection toward the two major notions of scholars and cultivators.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and admitted, ”Yes, that’s true.”

He benefited a lot from Liu Xianyang’s explanation.

This was as expected of a scholar who had studied for many years in the Pure Confucian Chen Clan.

Liu Xianyang took a sip of wine before putting down his wine bowl and grumbling, ”No, this won’t do. I can’t keep up this pretense anymore!”

Chen Ping’an was perplexed.

Liu Xianyang revealed using his mind’s lake, ”Someone asked me to deliver this message to you — I naturally wouldn’t have thought about all these things by myself. That person said your mind would feel more at ease after hearing this, and you would also feel a little more hope for the world, having better understood these two types of people.

”As for who spoke these words, Mr. Chen didn’t tell me, nor did he ask me to reveal this to you. Rather, he told me to pretend that this was a level of understanding gained from my studies. I surmise that the person who wants to help you and can also ask Mr. Chen to help him deliver a message is most probably the Scholarly Sage.

”This old scholar is also an interesting character, and when visiting the Pure Confucian Chen Clan one time, he secretly met me and purposely introduced himself as an outsider who had come to admire the ancestral hall of the Chen Clan. Afterward, he chatted with me atop the rock cliff beside the river for more than two hours. I call this a chat, but it was actually him rambling on the entire time.

”Apart from some trivial small talk, he sat there and complained for more than one hour, grumbling about how Mr. Chen’s knowledge wasn’t lofty enough and how the teachings of the Second Sage’s lineage weren’t good enough. His spittle flew everywhere, and he was truly as spirited as could be. He even persuaded me to change lineages and join the Etiquette Sage’s lineage instead, and I almost felt the urge to reply with a punch.”

Upon saying this, Liu Xianyang raised a fist before using his other hand to lightly push it down. He smiled and continued, ”I enjoyed a hearty conversation with the Scholarly Sage, and he chuckled and pushed my hand down after seeing me raise a fist. He said, and I quote, ’Don’t be like this. Let’s discuss things in a civilized manner. We’re all scholars, so why don’t you give me some face.’”

Chen Ping’an pinched his glabella.

His master could genuinely do something like this.

When the sword cultivators of the Northern Complete Reed Continent had challenged the Pure White Continent back then, his master had most likely acted in a similar manner to subdue them.

Fortunately, the disciples belonging to the Scholarly lineage — Senior Brother Zuo You, Mr. Qi, and even Imperial Preceptor Cui Chan — didn’t inherit this habit.

Chen Ping’an was naturally reminded of his own disciple, Cui Dongshan.

Chen Chun’an had personally accompanied the descendants and disciples of the Pure Confucian Chen Clan and made his way to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Chen Ping’an was convinced that Cui Dongshan had definitely contributed to this decision in one way or another.

There was no need for Liu Xianyang to say anything extra regarding these matters.

In fact, Chen Ping’an was already delighted to reunite with Liu Xianyang in a foreign land.

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl and proposed, ”A toast?”

”I’m done,” Liu Xianyang replied with a shake of his head.

He glanced up at the sky and said, ”The others and I are all staying at Sword Immortal Sun Juyuan’s residence, and I quickly put down my luggage before hurriedly going to the Ning Residence to look for you. However, I was greeted by that kind old grandma, and she told me I would most likely find you drinking at this wine shop. Ning Yao probably came over after being informed by that old grandma.”

Liu Xianyang stood up and said with a chuckle, ”In any case, I’m likely going to become a frequent visitor to the Ning Residence in the future, and I’ll frequently drag you over here to drink wine. This is because none of my friends believe me when I tell them that I’m friends with you, not even Chen Shi. They claim I’m boasting and speaking from my ass. How infuriating! I seriously don’t understand... How has being friends with Chen Ping’an become such an impressive feat? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Was it not Chen Ping’an’s greatest fortune to become friends with Liu Xianyang?”

Chen Ping’an stood up and replied with a smile, ”I can even squat beside the street to drink and chat with you as long as you help the wine shop attract customers in the future.”

One of them was returning to the residence of Sword Immortal Sun, and one of them was returning to the Ning Residence, but they would travel the same way for a while, so the two of them left the wine shop together. Before leaving, Liu Xianyang didn’t forget to pick up the broken shards of the wine bowl on the ground, quietly saying, ”Shattered bowl, lasting peace.”[1]

Liu Xianyang wrapped his arm around Chen Ping’an’s neck as they walked along the empty street, almost putting him in a headlock as he laughed loudly and said, ”You can open your eyes wide and look clearly the next time we travel to the foot of Sun Scorch Mountain. At that time, you can witness just how domineering my sword skills are.”

Tao Ban and the two other young shop attendants looked over at the two young men.

The second shopkeeper was being ruthlessly bullied today and was unable to fight back, but he somehow appeared quite happy despite this...?

————

At Stalactite Mountain, the Northern Complete Reed Continent’s Sword Immortal Shao Yunyan stood inside a garden, where the gourd vine had surprisingly disappeared already.

This was because Shao Yunyan had handed this paramount treasure to Water Scripture Mountain’s Lu Sui when she and the Great Emblem Sword Sect’s Liu Jinglong had returned from the Sword Qi Great Wall and come here to bid farewell. In fact, Shao Yunyan had even asked the young sword immortal, Liu Jinglong, for assistance. Apart from asking Lu Sui to deliver the almost-ripe Sword Nurturing Gourds outside Water Scripture Mountain, informing her of who the corresponding buyers were, Shao Yunyan also asked Liu Jinglong to help escort the delivery of these Sword Nurturing Gourds.

Lu Sui naturally refused this request. Even though her master had an incredibly close relationship with Shao Yunyan despite not being Dao partners, they were ultimately from different immortal forces, and Lu Sui was also a junior. As such, she didn’t dare to make such a critical decision alone and accept such a paramount treasure. However, Shao Yunyan was extremely stubborn, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

In the end, Lu Sui could only tremble with unease and agree to this request. If it weren’t for the accompaniment of Liu Jinglong, Lu Sui didn’t believe she could return to the Northern Complete Reed Continent alive after agreeing to Shao Yunyan’s request. This paramount immortal treasure had far too many ties to divine destiny and fate, things that were as mystical as could be. Even as one of the top ten young cultivators in the Northern Complete Reed Continent, Lu Sui didn’t believe for a second that she could firmly grasp this fated Dao opportunity.

Before parting ways, Shao Yunyan had smiled and said to Lu Sui, ”Help me deliver a message to your master. Tell him that I’ve missed him a lot these past few years.”

Shao Yunyan surprisingly left her residence today, making her way around the various scenic spots of Stalactite Mountain.

Her direct disciples had already taken the remaining valuable treasures and belongings of the Spring Banner Inn and secretly left Stalactite Mountain.

One of her disciples perhaps felt like they were free and could act as they pleased, so they attempted to join forces with some outsiders to hunt down Lu Sui and Liu Jinglong.

Shao Yunyan didn’t try to stop this disciple, instead allowing this immoral individual to pursue their urge to kill. Was it the case that fortune and calamity were summoned by the actions of people, or was it the case that they were predestined by the heavens? None of this mattered anymore.

Like the Spring Banner Inn, the Plum Blossom Garden was also one of the four major private residences of Stalactite Mountain.

Bian Jing didn’t travel to the Southern Whirl Continent with Yan Lü, Jiang Guancheng, and the other young sword cultivators, and he instead stayed behind at the Plum Blossom Garden by himself.

There was a woman with plum blossom makeup on her glabella, with her skin pale and her lips red and supple. She was wearing an exquisitely woven dress, and her beauty was beyond description.

She was the true owner of the Plum Blossom Garden, but she largely lived in seclusion and seldom ever appeared in front of others.

Bian Jing referred to her as Lady Tuo Yan, and this was a beautiful name that was a perfect fit for this beautiful woman.

Even though Bian Jing had no interest in romantic relationships, he still had to admit that Lady Tuo Yan was a very beautiful sight to behold.

Including the Bamboo Sea Small World’s Lady Zhu and the Plum Blossom Garden’s Lady Tuo Yan, there were ten renowned women in the Majestic World who were so stunningly beautiful that even immortals in the mountains would daydream about them and fall head over heels for them.

There was another peculiar fact about these women, that being that they were all deities, spirits, or ghosts.

Lady Tuo Yan and Bian Jing sat opposite each other in a waterside pavilion, with the former playing around with an imitation bamboo sea that the Plum Blossom Garden had just given her. The piece was exquisitely crafted using bamboo inlaying techniques, depicting a scene of many thin and well-spaced bamboo. Moreover, the inlaid bamboo was all sourced from the Bamboo Sea Small World, meaning that this piece was worth a fortune.

”Are you that afraid of death?” Lady Tuo Yan asked.

Bian Jing nodded and replied, ”I’m actually doing okay, and I really want to visit the city wall with Lin Junbi and the others. However, the other person likes to act mysteriously, and they insist that I conceal myself and remain hidden, saying that they’ve performed divinations and that it’s very easy for me to lose everything and suffer a miserable fate if I’m not careful.”

He then asked, ”Who was the first to suggest creating that new gate? And what does the Great Heavenly Lord in Stalactite Mountain think about this?”

”You don’t need to worry about these things,” Lady Tuo Yan replied. ”Even if the entire Stalactite Mountain ceases to exist, the old and new gates will still remain standing.”

”There are actually sword immortals acting as inside assistants and willing to help us guard the gates?” Bian Jing asked in puzzlement.

Lady Tuo Yan glanced at the young man and replied, ”Is that very strange? One side has suffered deaths for ten thousand years, while the other side has enjoyed peace and prosperity the entire time, even going as far as to laugh about the dead people on the other side. How would you feel if you were in their shoes? Perhaps you can endure this for one or two years, but can you endure this for tens upon hundreds of years? Can people with good tempers become sword immortals?”

Bian Jing nodded and said, ”If it were me, I would repay the favor several times over.”

The young owner of the Stork Inn had lived here his entire life, just like all of his ancestors. Right now, he was squatting outside the entrance of his inn and playing with a passing dog.

The sun was warm and gentle, causing the lazy people to become even lazier. Today was another boring day of peace and prosperity.

————

Beyond Stalactite Mountain.

It naturally wasn’t the case that there was nothing left at the Flood Dragon Trench apart from some small fry, and in reality, it was still a forbidden land that was extremely difficult to cross even for earth immortal cultivators. They could only take a detour and stay well away from the trench.

Further away, there was the Rain Dragon Sect, where the towering statues of the rain god and the divine general faced off against each other. Stalactite Mountain’s Water Essence Palace was a private residence owned by this immortal force.

Apart from the formidable Rain Dragon Sect, there were several other immortal forces of various sizes located on the islands of the vast sea, each with their own fates and vicissitudes.

Along the route of Osmanthus Island, an intercontinental ship, the fourth scene in the sea was slowly sailing past the opening between the feet of the Rain Dragon Sect’s two towering golden deity statues, which each measured more than three hundred meters in height.

According to legends, the golden divine general, who was resting his hands on the hilt of his sword, had previously been a primordial deity responsible for guarding the southern gate of the Heavenly Court. Opposite him, the deity statue with a blurry appearance and a five-colored ribbon was the first formal rain god, the predecessor of the many that existed in the skies today.

This rain god was said to have controlled all of the True Dragons responsible for summoning clouds and rain, and after having its Dao Manifestation reconstructed by the old ancestor of the Rain Dragon Sect, it almost appeared as if this rain god still controlled a portion of water fortune in the southern region of the sea.

The Rain Dragon Sect, where two deity statues were eternally facing off against each other, had an ancient tradition with an extremely long history. When choosing immortal Dao partners, the female cultivators of the sect would completely rely on tossing down the embroidered balls specially crafted by the sect.

Upper Five Tier cultivators could naturally obtain these embroidered balls if they used force, and earth immortal cultivators most certainly wouldn’t be able to resist, not even if they used immortal techniques to fight for them. However, an Upper Five Tier cultivator getting involved would be an act of challenging the entire Rain Dragon Sect.

Approximately ten years ago, a young Qi refiner with abundant fortune had traveled past the two deity statues on Osmanthus Island. A celestial maiden from the Rain Dragon Sect had coincidentally thrown out an embroidered ball, and the young cultivator had been in just the right place to catch it. As if ascending to the heavens, the embroidered ball and the colorful ribbon attached to it had then dragged him up toward the Rain Dragon Sect in a graceful manner.

Not only that, but the young man had also enjoyed further cultivation fortune, surprisingly becoming immortal Dao partners with yet another celestial maiden. This was a paramount fated opportunity and blessed romantic destiny, so immense that even the distant Old Dragon City in the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent had heard about it.

The young man called Fu Ke was indeed a fated individual at the Rain Dragon Sect. He had initially been a measly no-name cultivator, but after cultivating the Rain Dragon Sect’s immortal technique, he had unexpectedly progressed by leaps and bounds. Not only did he have beautiful Dao partners, but he even advanced to the Golden Core Tier and became the fastest-advancing earth immortal in the history of the sect.

Moreover, the young man had toiled outside the mountains for many years, so after reaching the peak, his manner of interacting with people and matters was far different from that of the other cultivators in the sect. This resulted in the Rain Dragon Sect viewing him in even higher regard.

Today, Fu Ke arrived at the feet of a deity statue and gazed into the distance, a bright glimmer in his eyes. In just a dozen or so years, he had transformed from an impoverished young cultivator into an esteemed cultivator even among other immortals.

Cultivators with whom he had overcome difficulties together had heard of his feats and come here to visit, and Fu Ke would personally head down to meet them and arrange accommodation for them with the nearby vassal forces, since the Rain Dragon Sect didn’t allow outsiders to enter the island. Fu Ke would give them a healthy sum of money when they left, but if they were unwilling to leave, Fu Ke would help them find a job or position in the nearby immortal forces.

There were senior brothers in the Rain Dragon Sect who wanted to travel to the Sword Qi Great Wall to train, yet they would all be blocked by the elders of the sect. Fu Ke would accompany them when they gloomily drank wine, and he wouldn’t say much as he simply sat there and drank.

Fu Ke had enjoyed unlimited success and glory these past few years, and he would occasionally pause and feel like he was dreaming. Thinking back to his pitiful past and thinking of the fellow passengers on Osmanthus Island back then, it was ultimately he alone who had risen above the others and ascended to the peak.

However, there was a small knot in the depths of Fu Ke’s heart. He had heard many years ago that following his departure from the intercontinental ship, another young boy from the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent had unexpectedly used some mystical ability at the Flood Dragon Trench and actually managed to leave alive, earning fame and glory as a result.

Not only that, but the person with the surname Chen was shockingly enjoying even better fortune than him, with news of his many feats traveling to the Rain Dragon Sect through the Sword Qi Great Wall and Stalactite Mountain’s Water Essence Palace. Fu Ke smiled and appeared composed on the surface, even putting in a few good words for the young man and the Scholarly lineage. In his heart, however, he thought to himself that it would be good if Chen Ping’an died at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

There were naturally no grudges between Fu Ke and Chen Ping’an.

If Chen Ping’an died, the world would still continue on the same trajectory as always, no?

Fu Ke smiled faintly, with his mood improving greatly. He turned around and left, continuing to cultivate in earnest. If he advanced even further and became a Nascent Tier cultivator, he would be one step closer to becoming the future sect leader of the Rain Dragon Sect. At that time, perhaps he would even have the opportunity to become Dao partners with a female sword immortal from the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Little did he know, the path of the Great Dao was an unpredictable one.

When the water grass was lush, countless fish would swim around, and there might even appear flood dragons.

When the heavenly fortunes changed, the seas would dry, and all the flood dragons would die under the blazing sun.

1. In Chinese, the term for shattered (碎碎) is homophonic with the term for lasting (碎碎), hence people say breakage brings peace (碎碎平安) when they accidentally break something. ☜