Chapter 90: Torrential Rain

Even though Chen Ping'an still harbored suspicions towards Ah Liang, he couldn't deny that Ah Liang was a fascinating person.

He had a donkey he never rode, bickered endlessly with the little brat Li Huai, and constantly schemed to trick Lin Shouyi into drinking, claiming the best things in the world were nothing more than fine wine and beautiful women. He would circle Chen Ping'an while the boy practiced his stances, saying that once this fist technique was mastered, it would be overwhelmingly powerful, just a flurry of punches. But, he'd add, a true wanderer of the Jianghu knows to never hit a man in the face, as it's rude and reflects poorly. One should strive, like him, to subdue others with virtue and conquer with appearance.

He also boasted to Zhu He about his unparalleled swordsmanship, saying that once he grasped a sword, it was a terrifying thing, even to himself, let alone his opponent. Zhu He would nod and agree with a smile, but the young Zhu Lu didn't believe a word of it. She insisted Ah Liang demonstrate with his bamboo sword. She didn't even need him to unleash some earth-shattering technique; just cutting a tree the size of a bowl would be enough for her to concede defeat. Ah Liang would then declare that today was not an auspicious day for swordsmanship. Although he had long reached the Earth Immortal realm where anything could be a sword, drawing a sword required the right mood. A master without eccentricities was no master at all. Only on days of great wind, snow, or rain would he feel the urge. For instance, in a torrential downpour, his sword would be so swift that not a single drop would touch him.

Zhu Lu would spit on the ground and run off. Ah Liang wouldn't be bothered, only smiling and saying to Zhu He, "Little Zhu, your daughter has quite a temper. Of course, if she really can't find a husband in the future, don't worry. I, Ah Liang, can offer you a great deal. I'll even call you 'Father-in-law.'"

After that, Zhu He stopped trying to cozy up to Ah Liang. A bit forlorn, Ah Liang could only drink his sorrows alone.

As luck would have it, a few days later, as they approached the Iron Talisman River, a light drizzle began to fall. It wasn't much, but it was raining nonetheless.

Zhu Lu immediately stopped Ah Liang, who was leading his donkey with his head down. The latter looked bewildered and asked, "Girl, what are you doing? Oh, oh, you mean the thing about practicing swordsmanship in the rain? Haha, I remember, I remember. Little girl, can you please not look at me like I'm a charlatan? You're too young to understand the many rules of a reclusive master, you know? The rain's too light. Even if I only used a blade of grass as my sword, I would feel I am disrespecting that blade of grass or rather disrespecting my superb swordsmanship. So, when the rain gets heavier, I'll make my move. I guarantee I'll cleave the Iron Talisman River in two! By then, even if you cry and beg me to take you as a disciple, I might not agree."

Without another word, Zhu He dragged his daughter away.

The light rain didn't hinder their progress. Ah Liang adjusted his bamboo hat and sighed, looking somewhat lonely as he led the white donkey at the front.

To compound matters, two days later, the heavens seemed to open up, unleashing a torrential downpour.

As a result, Ah Liang roared, "What are you looking at? Do I have flowers on my face? Aren't you going to find shelter? What if my Precious Bottle gets sick? You can watch me draw my sword anytime! Do you have no compassion, no sympathy?! Can't you see our Precious Bottle is freezing to death?!"

Finally, as everyone huddled under the massive trees to take shelter from the rain, they all glared at Ah Liang.

Li Huai forced a smile, imitating his mother's tone, and said with earnest concern, "Ah Liang, it's a good thing there's no thunder today, or else the first bolt would strike the Sword Immortal like yourself."

Zhu Lu simply sneered repeatedly.

Even the usually reserved Lin Shouyi couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Zhu He had completely given up on trying to engage with this so-called big shot from Wind and Snow Temple. He chewed on his dried rations, and after several subtle and covert probes along the way, Zhu He concluded that even if this bizarre Ah Liang was indeed a cultivator from the Military Strategist ancestral hall, he was definitely not some Earth Immortal swordsman. If he was, Zhu He wouldn't mind Ah Liang calling him "Father-in-law". He might just offer the title himself!

As they traveled, Li Bao Ping spoke much less than when she had first left the blacksmith's shop. She simply followed quietly beside her Little Martial Uncle, Chen Ping'an, and refused to let Zhu He or Zhu Lu carry her little backpack.

Chen Ping'an, meanwhile, continued to practice the Sword Furnace fist stance, something the others had long become accustomed to seeing.

Ah Liang felt uncomfortable under Li Huai's scrutiny. He turned his back to them, took out his silver gourd from his belt, and took sip after sip.

As the heavy rain gradually subsided, Ah Liang suddenly stood up and declared that he was going to find a suitable branch, determined to show them a thing or two about superior swordsmanship. However, as everyone exchanged puzzled glances, Ah Liang added that if he couldn't find one, then there was nothing he could do. A sword immortal finding a suitable weapon was like an ordinary man finding a wife – not an easy thing.

Everyone looked at Ah Liang, whose bamboo hat was slightly askew, but no one was willing to say a word.

Ah Liang walked towards the hillside alone. The ground was slippery from the rain, and he almost stumbled and fell. He quickly struck a few poses, as if warming up for a sword draw.

As soon as Ah Liang's figure disappeared from sight, the rain suddenly intensified without warning, catching everyone off guard.

Chen Ping'an opened his eyes and saw the donkey not far from under the tree. After thinking for a moment, he stood up and said, "I'll go find Ah Liang."

Zhu He stood up as well. "I'll go with you. The weather can be dangerous."

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "No need. I've encountered this kind of weather many times when I was burning charcoal and gathering herbs in the mountains. Don't worry. Besides, I need Uncle Zhu to look after things here so I can have peace of mind."

Zhu He pondered for a moment and nodded. "Chen Ping'an, be careful."

Chen Ping'an ruffled Li Bao Ping's hair and said softly, "I'll be right back."

The local magistrate, Wu Yuan, was working to the bone on the construction of the yamen in the east of the town and the selection of sites for the Wenchang Pavilion and Martial Saint Temple. The Four Great Families and Ten Clans had been reduced to eight after six relocated. Dong Hu, the Vice Minister of Rites, had stolen the spotlight from Wu Yuan by showcasing the stele rubbing of the memorial arch. The local snakes were laughing at him in Fulu Street and Taoye Lane. Wu Yuan had no choice but to visit the families in person one by one. When he returned to the yamen, he collapsed on his chair, loosened his collar, stared blankly at the carvings on the beams, and his face was grim.The literary secretary, hailing from a prominent clan, stood beside Wu Yuan. Today, he had accompanied Wu Yuan on visits to various clan heads, encountering numerous veiled rejections. They shifted responsibility, one saying whether the Wenchang Pavilion could be built on Old Porcelain Mountain depended on the Liu family patriarch's decision, another claiming the Immortal's Graveyard was mostly occupied by the Wei family, and only the Wei family patriarch's agreement would allow discussion. Then, the Liu and Wei families argued that such crucial matters involving ancestral legacies required collective deliberation, lest they face criticism from the community.

This secretary, too, felt a surge of frustration. Yet, having been immersed in officialdom since childhood, he was well-versed in its intricacies, understanding the difficulties of governance, especially for a regional magistrate. Thus, he refrained from explosive outbursts, gently shaking his head at the approaching colleagues, signaling them to avoid adding fuel to the fire, allowing Wu Yuan some peace.

Wu Yuan suddenly chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I just crave some of our capital's wines."

The scion of the noble family finally took a seat, regretting, "It's a shame the Li family has relocated to the capital. Otherwise, we could have had their patriarch, Li Hong, mediate. Some matters are more easily resolved privately. My family has decent ties with the Li family in the capital. A word from them would surely make the Li clan here in this town give face."

Wu Yuan glared and scolded, "Are you daft? Your family's accumulated connections don't equate to yours. Each time you use them, you diminish your standing within the family. This isn't as simple as asking for a calligraphic signboard. So, don't meddle."

The scion smiled, "I was just worried you were getting bogged down, Wu-daren."

Wu Yuan scoffed, "If I were one to get bogged down, I'd have broken that old Upper Pillar State's legs already and eloped with his precious daughter."

Silence filled the hall.

The scion stifled a laugh, whispering, "You can brag like that here, Wu-daren."

Wu Yuan leaned back comfortably, showing no embarrassment at being exposed, but rather smiling, "Of course. If the old man truly graced us with his presence, I'd be bowing and scraping, serving tea and water, asking if Upper Pillar State is tired and offering a shoulder rub."

Laughter erupted in the magistrate's hall.

Even the two martial secretaries, with their embroidered golden sabers, exchanged knowing smiles at the entrance.

As Wu Yuan sat up straight, everyone in the hall instinctively held their breath. Wu Yuan spoke calmly, "The Li clan has already moved, the Lu family is determined to play possum, ignoring everything. The Zhao clan claims their ancestor is unwell, and everything must await her recovery. The Song clan in this town is the deepest water. These four prominent families of Fortune Street, combined, own ten large dragon kilns. The two kilns under the Li name have been transferred to the Wei and Liu families in Peach Leaf Lane."

"Today, you all gather all the loose documents in the yamen and compile them into a map of the relationships of the four families and ten clans. I want to see just how murky this small pond is. Even if we can't deal with the leading families, we can find the next-tier families. Besides the bottom-ranked ones of the ten clans, there's the wealthy Ma family, which has always adhered to ancestral teachings and refused to move to Peach Leaf Lane on Fortune Street. They own two kilns. Since I'm also the kiln construction supervisor, I can decide the scale of these kilns, can't I? We'll win over and support these families. At the same time, I'll pour money into it, emptying the yamen's savings, without regret. I refuse to believe you can hold onto Old Porcelain Mountain. But the Immortal's Graveyard is such a large area. Once the spoils are unevenly divided, how long can you protect it?"

"Many turtles in shallow water, strong winds in small temples. When the pond is drained and the temple collapses, I'll see how these old foxes apologize and make amends."

The county magistrate should have been invigorated, but he sighed, slumping back, "This life is unbearable. When will it end?! Teacher, what about the promised beauty on my lap? The yamen is full of old women and children, with not a single maiden. What about the promised outstanding people and beautiful women here?"

Just then, a refined young man with a mole between his eyebrows was stopped at the door by two escorts. The young man smiled, "Wu-daren, how about I write a letter to Pillar State Yuan in the capital? Ask him to send you two adorable maids?"

Wu Yuan immediately stood up, looking embarrassed, not wanting to reveal his teacher's identity as the State Preceptor, and lacking the nerve and courage. To cover up, he reprimanded his teacher loudly.

Wu Yuan was filled with doubt, wondering why his teacher would visit the yamen and, seemingly, not mind revealing his identity.

Cui Chan was too lazy to bother with the literary and martial secretaries, turning around and saying, "Follow me."

Wu Yuan pressed his hands down twice, signaling everyone in the room to remain silent, and hurried out the door alone. When the two martial secretaries, with their battlefield experience, wanted to follow closely, Wu Yuan still waved them away.

Walking along the quiet, deserted stone path, Cui Chan asked, "Have the Lu clan's convicts entered the mountain?"

Wu Yuan shook his head, "Six hundred convicts remain, not yet reaching the entrance of Lord God Mountain in the far north. This group is the most esteemed, mostly descendants of the Lu Dynasty's meritorious clans, not very old, between fourteen or fifteen and twenty years old."

Wu Yuan asked, puzzled, "Wasn't this arranged by you, Teacher, beforehand?"

Cui Chan said impatiently, "The weather is unpredictable, and your teacher here is like a dragon stranded in shallow waters, so I have to confirm it with you again. Don't worry about anything else. Quickly travel to the entrance of God Mountain, find a convict boy named Xia Yu Lu, and arrange for him to go to the capital."

Wu Yuan cautiously asked, "This time, it's Song Chang Jing's trusted confidants escorting them to Dragon Spring County. If I just go and demand someone, will those unfeeling soldiers obediently release him?"

Cui Chan waved his hand, impatiently saying, "I have my own backup plan. You just need to show your face."

Wu Yuan worried, "Teacher, what about your side?"

Cui Chan coldly snorted, "I won't die!"

Wu Yuan no longer hesitated, immediately calling out to the two martial secretaries and riding out together.

The teacher moves his mouth, the student breaks his legs.After Wu Yuan left, Cui Chan walked alone on the path within the government compound, his face gloomy. "A single misstep leads to utter defeat... It's not a complete loss yet, but the overall situation has indeed crumbled. It's fine, as long as there's a sliver of hope. I'll endure it, treat it as self-cultivation. If the worst comes to worst, I'll just change the board and start again."

"Didn't I outlive my teacher first, and then Qi Jingchun?"

"Huh? Why does it feel like I'm turning into a tortoise the more I talk?"

Cui Chan finally sighed, "Her luck is really always so good. She couldn't have come sooner or later, but she just had to stumble in at this moment. I can only try my best to salvage a few pieces from this endgame, lest she take them all. It's infuriating!"

Later, as a government servant passed by at a distance, he heard a delicate-looking youth muttering loudly, "I'm not angry, it's not worth it... I'm not angry, it's not worth it... Damn it, not worth it my ass! It's driving me crazy!"

At the blacksmith's shop, three brand new bamboo chairs sat under the eaves, a vibrant, inviting green.

The girl in green had already stormed off in anger, leaving only a man with a normal expression and a bewitching woman with an unchanged smile.

In the distance, by the stream, stood a sword-bearing woman, an elderly man in large sleeves, and a burly man.

The woman sitting on the small bamboo chair withdrew her gaze from the departing ponytail girl. She had just used a small trick to deliberately provoke the girl into leaving. Only then did the woman get straight to the point, asking, "Did Master Ruan have an agreement with Mister Qi? Is that why martial artists from the Li family are following Chen Ping'an?"

Ruan Qiong stated bluntly, "No."

The woman then asked, "So, Master Ruan agreed to protect Chen Ping'an because of those three mountains?"

Ruan Qiong nodded. "Yes, I promised him I would ensure nothing major happened to them before they left Dali."

The woman looked up at the overcast sky, heavy with the impending rain, and said, "Master Ruan, I will have someone buy the four mountains surrounding Shenxiu Mountain and gift them to you as a greeting gift from Dali. How does that sound?"

Ruan Qiong scoffed, "Do you need to spend money to buy them? Those bags of gold and copper coins are just a matter of the Dali Emperor moving them from his left hand to his right. Why bother?"

The woman shook her head and smiled. "Rules are rules. It's not that I particularly like following them, but the rules of Master Ruan or the Emperor in the capital are more important than my status, so I have to abide by them. I may not be a good person, but I always act within my means."

Ruan Qiong remained noncommittal, asking, "Why are you so determined to kill that boy? And why are you willing to pay such a high price to kill him so urgently? To the point that waiting until he leaves the Dali border is not an option?"

The woman's tone was calm, but her eyes were extraordinarily firm. "He must die. If he dies, even if that baldy's Buddhist karma is real, the matter of killing his father and helping my Mu'er gain more opportunities will all stop with me..."

Ruan Qiong said indifferently, "Is it because you have some unorthodox supernatural powers that can sever karma?"

The woman smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

Ruan Qiong shook his head. "But that's not a reason to kill someone so hastily."

"My Mu'er is about to enter the Dali capital. A great opportunity will soon descend. To avoid any complications, I must eradicate the problem as soon as possible."

Seeing the man's unmoved, cold expression, the woman had no choice but to reveal her true intentions and choose to speak frankly with this sage of military strategy, explaining in detail, "Mu'er's inner demon, if it were placed on an ordinary cultivator, wouldn't be a big deal. The Great Dao is long, and even if he can't get rid of it himself before breaking through the Middle Five Realms, Dali has plenty of methods to forcibly remove it. At worst, it would leave behind a Heavenly Demon Heart of unpredictable size, making the ascension to the Upper Five Realms extremely dangerous. But now, the opportunity in the capital doesn't wait for anyone, so there's no room for error. Plus, that useless Cui Chan, the so-called all-knowing strategist, actually lost! Clearly, in the end, he failed to corrupt the boy's pure heart. I had no choice but to settle for second best, using Chen Ping'an's head to forcibly twist Mu'er's state of mind."

The woman sighed, "It's not that I didn't consider deceiving Mu'er, telling him that Chen Ping'an had become a vulgar commoner during Cui Chan's grand test. I could even weave a flawless story, presenting every detail to him. But I can't bear that risk. If Mu'er ever learns the truth in the future, with his current talent, once he obtains that opportunity, it would become a great hidden danger, and his Dao heart could collapse in an instant."

At this moment, heavy rain was about to fall.

The rain curtain was like iron.

Ruan Qiong ignored the torrential rain outside and asked, "What inner demon is so troublesome?"

"That old undead Yao tricked me and told the boy the truth. His parents couldn't possibly be harmed by Yang energy just because he was born on the fifth day of the fifth month, so they couldn't be reincarnated. So, the boy, who had broken his mother's oath, was dumbfounded. He ran madly from the dragon kiln back to the town. Then, the grief-stricken, murderous boy, Master Ruan, do you know what he did? He neither went to find Mu'er nor went home. Instead, he waited outside Mud Bottle Alley, waiting for an opportunity when Mu'er was wandering alone. He blocked him, chased after him, and finally pinned my Mu'er against the wall in Mud Bottle Alley, nearly strangling him to death. Of course, he didn't kill him in the end, and even if he really wanted to kill, he would be the one to die. It's hateful that those hidden assassins and spies are sticking to His Majesty's rules. As long as Mu'er doesn't die, they absolutely can't intervene. Useless! They all deserve to die."

After saying this secret in as light a tone as possible, the woman felt unusually tired and helpless for the first time. "How could there be such a weird bastard in this world? His actions became Mu'er's greatest inner demon, almost a fatal knot. He has awakened from nightmares countless times over the years, because Mu'er can't understand: 'Chen Ping'an, why didn't you kill me? Why did you have to pick a time when Zhi Gui wasn't around? If I were Song Jixin, I would hack you, Chen Ping'an, into a million pieces and still not be satisfied. It would be best to do it in front of your closest loved ones.' In the end, it was my own doing."

The heavy rain lashed down on the earth like soybeans, like the tears of two children back then.

One sat limply on the ground, covering his neck with both hands, crying in fear.A barefoot, impoverished child walked towards the entrance of Mud Bottle Lane, shielding his face with his arm.

Like a mirror, the brighter and more flawless it is, the more it reveals the flaws of the one looking into it.

After a long silence, the woman withdrew her thoughts, hesitated, and asked, "Master Ruan should have some idea about the craftsmanship of that covered bridge, right?"

Ruan Qiong looked disgusted. "If I had known, I wouldn't have come here."

The woman raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "So before Mu'er leaves this town, he must go there to offer incense, because everything he has today is thanks to the death of one golden branch and jade leaf and royal relative after another in the Great Li Dynasty! The four characters on the covered bridge plaque, 'Feng Sheng Shui Qi' (good fortune arising), have as many strokes as people who died. His achievements were bought with their lives!"

Master Ruan's expression was gloomy, as if he had no intention of speaking.

The woman slowly stood up, radiating confidence, and looked down at Ruan Qiong. Her voice was low, alluring, and gradual. "Master Ruan, if you feel that the four mountain peaks are still not enough to fulfill your promise to that young man, feel free to name your price. As long as you are willing to speak, everything is negotiable. For example, regarding the Great Li side, after I return to the capital, I can convince His Majesty to greatly facilitate your daughter's path to ascension. Although I don't know what it is, I can promise Master Ruan on behalf of His Majesty that the Great Li Dynasty will definitely provide all its strength to help! Besides myself, Imperial Preceptor Cui Chan, and even Song Changjing, can lend a hand in your daughter Ruan Xiu's chance for ascension!"

Ruan Qiong said calmly, "In the future, do not enter within a thousand miles of Dragon Spring County. If you are discovered, don't blame me for striking a woman."

The woman sighed. "Fine, fine. At worst, I'll wait until the border of Great Li."

As she walked down the steps, Ruan Qiong said, "That bamboo chair was made by Chen Ping'an himself."

The woman paused, deliberately misinterpreting Ruan Qiong's true meaning, and smiled flirtatiously, "What, is Master Ruan saying that the young man named Chen Ping'an indirectly touched my bottom?"

The woman laughed and left, walking straight into the rain, allowing the downpour to soak her whole body.

Her figure was graceful, her curves exposed.

Ruan Qiong did not look at her, his expression blank.

Another heavy rain fell.

Chen Ping'an, now a young man, reached the mountaintop and saw a man in a bamboo hat standing on the back slope, slowly sheathing his bamboo blade. He turned his head and smiled brightly. "Before coming here, I met a young hero who was much more interesting than you. He often recited a poem. It's really good. You might as well listen to it too: 'A rustic man, enraged by injustice, grinds the ancient blade in his heart.'"

A Liang, who claimed to be a swordsman, slowly walked towards the young man, pointed a finger at the top of the young man's head. "But I'm not some hero. I just think that this poem is very suitable to recite after killing someone in this kind of weather. The real reason I came here to find you is to collect sword-nourishing gourds along the way, and the second is that hairpin on your head. The latter is a hundred times more important than the former."

On the hillside behind the man with the sheathed bamboo blade, lay two corpses in peaceful repose.

Both were martial artists and cultivators of the highest caliber in Great Li.

Chen Ping'an asked, "Who exactly are you?"

The man walked slowly, his palm against the hilt of his blade, stopped in front of Chen Ping'an, raised his bamboo hat, and smiled. "My name is A Liang, Liang of kindness."