Chapter 81: The Imperial Advisor

Gazing at the smiling youth, Chen Pingan felt a surge of unease, his body tensing involuntarily.

In the past, during his life-or-death struggles with Cai Jinjian and Fu Nanhua, Chen Pingan found himself strangely calm as he neared his opponents. Even when entangled with the mountain-moving ape from Zheng Yang Mountain and subsequently hunted, Chen Pingan likely resigned himself to death from the beginning. Though hindsight brought trepidation, during the clashes, regardless of the precariousness of his situation, he felt no fear, or perhaps he simply had no time for it.

His sole, vividly remembered bout of nervousness stemmed from his evenly matched fight with Ma Kuxuan, his peer from Apricot Blossom Lane, at the Immortal Graveyard, where his palms were slick with sweat.

Chen Pingan's almost instinctive, keen intuition seemed to hold no surprise for Cui Chan.

If Cui Chan dared to provoke the unfathomable Old Yang at Old Porcelain Mountain, it was no mere charade, or the eleventh-floor military strategist Ruan Qiong wouldn't have been so wary of him.

He deliberately ignored the undisguisable tension of the straw sandal boy, diverting his gaze towards the Scholar's Ward, a place with a significant history for the Great Li capital. Extending a finger, he remained enthusiastic and attentive, explaining, "The Confucian ideal of righteous action, the Daoist embrace of natural silence, the Buddhist quest for inner truth, the military spirit that pierces the heavens - four plaques, twelve words, filled with the profound spirit of the one who inscribed them. And the four sages from the three faiths who established the rules here deliberately left behind a portion of their destiny. See the objects in the hands of that Vice Minister? They're specifically for rubbing inscriptions. The aim is to peel away the essence and spirit of those characters layer by layer. The first rubbing will certainly be the most similar to the 'original,' resembling it in form and spirit. The further you go, the more the distance from the original appearance increases, and the value naturally decreases. I reckon apart from the four words 'Seek Not Outward,' which can barely endure six rubbings, the other three plaques probably won't last four. Especially the military's 'Spirit Piercing the Heavens,' it seems two of the characters died not long ago, so the work can stop after two attempts."

Chen Pingan was somewhat shocked. He hadn't realized there was so much to it. Characters weren't just arranged in books, written on spring couplets hung on walls, or engraved on tombstones to mark the names of the deceased.

For no reason, Chen Pingan recalled the characters from the seals Mr. Qi had gifted him and the young Daoist Lu's prescription.

Cui Chan continued, "The paper used for rubbing is extremely precious. Each sheet is as thick as a piece of wood, a unique treasure of the Zhengao sect of Daoism from another continent, called Wind-Thunder Parchment. When writing on it, the tip of the brush creates a sound like wind and thunder as it rubs against the paper. Even His Majesty the Emperor doesn't have much of it in his imperial stores and is unwilling to use it usually, occasionally taking it out to reward meritorious ministers or granting it to a department within the Six Ministries at the end of the year. So this time, the Ministry of Rites is determined to obtain those characters. Our promising young Lord Wu is too ambitious, wanting to grasp everything firmly. I estimate he'll face setbacks everywhere after leaving the town. The ruinous magistrates and family-destroying county officials elsewhere pale in comparison to his perceived achievements."

Chen Pingan felt like he was listening to a celestial script.

Although the youth beside him spoke with great confidence, Chen Pingan didn't think he was spouting nonsense.

The youth with the cinnabar dot between his eyebrows said he wasn't an official of the Great Li, and it didn't seem like a lie, but when he appeared at the blacksmith's shop, he was following the construction supervisor, Wu Yuan. Ruan Xiu suggested he might be Lord Wu's study companion, the one who carries the book bag alongside the young master when he travels for study. But Chen Pingan was now certain that this refined youth, who called himself the Embroidered Tiger, was no simpleton. His conversation, knowledge, and refined air were no less than that of Chen Songfeng, the eldest grandson of Dragon Tail County, or Fu Nanhua, the young master of Old Dragon City.

In Chen Pingan's memory, a small group of people he knew were particularly special. For example, Old Yao from the kiln always remained silent, only scolding people when he occasionally spoke, but every time Old Yao returned from the mountains, his spirit was exceptionally good, giving people the illusion that he was more robust than a young man. Then there was Old Yang from the Yang family's pharmacy, who was fair and just. No matter how bad your relationship was with him, he wouldn't treat you badly, but no matter how good your relationship was, he wouldn't deliberately give you anything extra. There was also Miss Ning Yao, whom he had only recently met, who carried a heroic air. And Ma Kuxuan from Apricot Blossom Lane, once he revealed his true self, was full of sharpness and violence.

This Cui Chan, nicknamed the Embroidered Tiger, was like them.

He seemed to be on a higher plane than the sons of gods like Fu Nanhua and Cai Jinjian. Chen Pingan even felt that even if the Intercepting River True Lord stood before him, Cui Chan's gaze and expression would remain just as nonchalant.

Of course, only Liu Baqiao from Wind-Thunder Garden could match the youth's talkativeness.

The youth suddenly smiled and asked, "Chen Pingan, can you take me to Song Jixin's courtyard?"

Chen Pingan's heart tightened. He casually asked, "But the parade here hasn't dispersed yet."

When that youth smiled, his eyes narrowed, like a harmlessly beautiful fox spirit. "I know you're worried that I have ulterior motives. I'll tell you the truth. I'm very familiar with Song Jixin's younger brother. He's curious about how his brother has been living in the town for the past ten years and entrusted me to see it with my own eyes so I can tell him about it when I return to the capital."

Chen Pingan asked, "Since he's Song Jixin's own brother, can't he just ask him himself?"

The youth snapped his fingers, praising, "Chen Pingan, you're quite smart! You found the loophole so quickly."

Chen Pingan couldn't quite keep up with this guy's train of thought.

The youth rubbed his brow, saying helplessly, "He and his never-before-seen brother, Song Jixin, have a very bad relationship because of their parents, so the squabbles in wealthy families are as numerous as the petty things in Mud Bottle Lane and Apricot Blossom Lane. So you have to be understanding."

Chen Pingan smiled and asked, "If I don't agree, will you make trouble for me?"

The youth looked puzzled, then pointed at his nose, feigning grievance, "Do I look like a heinous person? Look at me, look closely with wide eyes! Do I look like the kind of person who would kill your whole family at the slightest disagreement?"

Chen Pingan honestly replied, "You don't look like it."

The youth gasped, "That doesn't sound like a compliment at all!"

He crossed his arms, coldly harrumphing, "If you don't want to take me, I'll ask for directions myself."Chen Ping'an asked, "You don't have the key. You can't even get into the courtyard. What are you going to see?"

The youth's face revealed a "You, Chen Ping'an, are too young" kind of irritating expression, smiling without a word.

Chen Ping'an was all too familiar with this kind of smile. Liu Xianyang and Gu Can often had it.

Chen Ping'an sighed, "Then I'll take you to Mud Bottle Alley. Don't climb over the wall into the courtyard. I can only take you to the entrance."

The youth slapped Chen Ping'an heavily on the shoulder. "Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

The youth turned and strode away, far from the crowded memorial archway.

He suddenly stopped and looked back. Chen Ping'an, with a basket on his back, was walking in the opposite direction on the street.

Slightly flustered, the youth quickly jogged to catch up.

After entering Mud Bottle Alley, the youth looked around, clicking his tongue. "So this is the legendary Mud Bottle Alley. Hidden dragons and crouching tigers, producing talent, producing talent! In the next hundred years, besides Apricot Blossom Alley, I estimate that Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Alley combined won't compare to this place."

The youth spoke these mystical words without seeming the least bit out of place.

As they walked along, the youth would occasionally hop around, peering at the courtyards behind the low walls.

Chen Ping'an led him to the entrance of Song Jixin's courtyard. "This is it."

Standing in the alley, the youth quickly noticed the Spring Festival couplets written by Song Jixin himself. His eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "So this is the residence of Song Jixin and that maid, Zhi Gui? Hmm, the calligraphy is quite good, much more insightful than his brother's. The more I look at it, the more I like it."

As he spoke, the youth stepped forward and, after standing on tiptoe, was about to tear down the couplets.

Chen Ping'an grew anxious and quickly stopped the youth. "What are you doing?"

The youth looked innocent and naive. "Song Jixin will never return here in this lifetime. Instead of letting these Spring Festival couplets be weathered by the wind and sun, gradually disappearing, I might as well keep them and take them to the capital."

Chen Ping'an insisted, shaking his head. "No, before the new year arrives and we replace the couplets ourselves, the ones that are pasted up cannot be torn down, otherwise it will easily bring bad luck to the family."

The youth said "Oh" in a disappointed tone. "Small towns have this custom."

Chen Ping'an asked, "Do you want to come to my courtyard and sit for a while?"

The youth waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. Such a small place, I probably couldn't even get a cup of tea. I'm leaving, I'm leaving. By the way, this alley isn't a dead end, right? If I keep walking forward, can I get out?"

Chen Ping'an laughed. "You can get out."

The youth strode away, not forgetting to raise his hand behind him, waving it at Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an watched the strange youth leave, then returned to his own courtyard. Seeing that the locust branch was still at the base of the wall, he put down the basket and carried out a bench from the house to sit down.

Chen Ping'an suddenly got up and quickly ran into Mud Bottle Alley. Sure enough, a sneaky figure was running away at top speed.

Chen Ping'an came to the entrance of Song Jixin's house and saw that the Spring Festival couplets had been stolen.

Chen Ping'an stood there, looking at the bare walls on both sides of the courtyard gate, feeling somewhat speechless. He forced a bitter smile. "What kind of person is this? So unkind."

Chen Ping'an sighed and walked back to his own courtyard, only to find that Old Man Yang had somehow sat down on that bench, puffing out large clouds of smoke.

The old man slowly said, "Why are you sighing and complaining at such a young age? It's a waste of the little vitality you've managed to accumulate. This is especially true for those who practice martial arts."

Chen Ping'an was startled and said in a low voice, "I will remember that."

The old man asked, "Why did that little girl surnamed Ning suddenly leave? I lost out on a bag of New Year's lucky money."

Chen Ping'an squatted down beside the old man, shaking his head. "I don't know either. I only know that Miss Ning has some connection with a place called Upside-Down Mountain."

Old Man Yang nodded and smiled. "Upside-Down Mountain, a godforsaken place where even birds won't shit. It's the border between two realms. To prevent people from randomly crossing over, one of the three disciples of the Dao Ancestor, a great sect leader, used the divine power of reversing heaven and earth to deter the foreign tribes. In the end, Upside-Down Mountain is actually a world-class mountain seal. A truly domineering move."

The old man's words contained both mockery and sorrow. Chen Ping'an, of course, did not know the reason for this.

Old Man Yang asked, "Are you planning to buy a mountain?"

Chen Ping'an never beat around the bush in front of this old man, honestly answering, "I plan to buy five mountains: Precious Talisman Mountain, Colorful Cloud Peak, and Immortal Herb Mountain, near Master Ruan's three mountains, as well as Fallen Phoenix Mountain and True Pearl Mountain..."

The old man interrupted the youth's words, frowning. "Why would you buy Fallen Phoenix Mountain? Who hinted at it? Ruan Qiong? That shouldn't be. He clearly doesn't want to get too involved with you."

Chen Ping'an asked in confusion, "Is Fallen Phoenix Mountain strange?"

The old man hesitated, then exhaled a large smoke ring, nodding. "Besides Cloud-Veiling Mountain and Incense-Fire Mountain, this Fallen Phoenix Mountain is the most intriguing. But so far, I'm afraid even the Great Li Astronomical Bureau's geomancer can't see it, so the price won't be too high. You've gotten a great bargain."

The old man's eyes were sharp, unconsciously emphasizing his tone. "You still haven't said why you want to buy it!"

Chen Ping'an said awkwardly, "When I was looking at the map, a pile of bird droppings fell on my head, landing right on the three words 'Fallen Phoenix Mountain'. Old Man Yao always said that there are unseen spirits between the mountains and rivers. I thought it was quite a fate, and I really didn't know what mountain to buy at the time, so I randomly decided to buy it."

After hearing "Old Man Yao," the old man's eyes behind the misty smoke grew somewhat complex. He nodded. "If that's the case, it's barely explainable."

Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "Master Ruan has already agreed to help me buy those five mountains. So did I get a good deal?"

Old Man Yang hummed in agreement, saying softly, "You got a good deal."

The old man was somewhat puzzled. Was it truly because the restrictions of the Lihuo Pearl Paradise were gone that Chen Ping'an's luck had begun to turn around?

Chen Ping'an suddenly remembered something. "That youth with a mole between his eyebrows said his surname was Cui, his nickname was Embroidered Tiger, and that I could call him Senior Uncle."

Old Man Yang did not speak.

So that was the case.

Cui Chan, the Great Li National Preceptor, although without official rank, was the nominal leader of all Qi Refiners in the Great Li Dynasty. It was said that he was also one of the few Go masters in Eastern Treasure Continent.

But the matter of Senior Uncle…where did that come from?The old man rose, reminding him, "Cherish the four seals Mr. Qi gifted you, especially the one bearing the character 'Tranquility'. Safeguard it well. Whether it's this Cui Chan or anyone you encounter afterward, you need not fear them, but avoid needless provocation. Simply remember this: after successfully purchasing the five mountain peaks, stillness is paramount. Even if it means living with your tail between your legs, you won't go wrong."

Chen Ping'an pondered this carefully and nodded emphatically. "I understand!"