Smoke curled beneath the eaves, worldly affairs hazy as flowers seen through mist.
Fan Junmao asked, "Do you know which enshrined sage will preside over Zitong Mountain's canonization ceremony?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Hard to say. For now, only Piyun Mountain and Chezi Mountain have been confirmed. Great Teacher and Zhou Guo respectively. There are comparatively more sword cultivators in the territory of the Old Zhu Ying Dynasty."
Fan Junmao said, "If you get the chance to have a drink with Fan Er, talk some sense into him. He's not getting any younger, yet he's still a bachelor. What a disgrace. Is making money really that interesting? He never has a moment of leisure all year round. Even when he does, he runs off to mingle with accountants and craftsmen. What exactly is he after, fiddling with an abacus and grinning foolishly at account books every day?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Some people are simply born to enjoy making money. It is a pure pursuit, much like a Martial Cultivator learning fists or a sword cultivator practicing swordsmanship. They find their own joy in it. Don't worry, Mountain Lord Fan. I'll definitely take the initiative to drink with Fan Er."
Fan Junmao rose with a smile. "Should I call Cao Yong out? You ruined his good thing. Don't let him be left with a Heart Knot. Mountain and Water Spirits hold grudges for a long time."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Just tell him I'd like to ask him out for a few words."
Wei Bo stood up and dusted off his robe. "I'll come along."
It would not have suited Chen Ping'an to go back and then pull Earl of Linli away for a private chat. That would have left too obvious a trace. Every person attending today's discussion was an