Farewell

Outside a house in Mud Bottle Alley, a naughty child with two streams of snot hanging from his nose was viciously kicking the door, cursing and spitting everywhere. "Chen Ping'an! If you don't get your ass out here, I'll find someone to chop you to death and smash all the junk in your house! I know you're home. What are you busy with? Don't tell me you're doing that thing with Song Jixin's little wife, with Zhi Gui? Broad daylight, and you don't even spare a thought for Song Jixin's feelings? Fine, fine, you won't come out, is that it? I'm leaving! I really am leaving, you hear? Once I leave, you can forget about ever seeing me again in this lifetime! I was planning to leave all my treasures to you, Chen Ping'an! Get out here!"

For some reason, by the end of his tirade, the child's voice had taken on a sobbing note. He fiercely snorted the two streams of snot back into their old home.

Gu Can suddenly felt a sharp pain in his skull. He hurriedly turned around, and upon seeing that familiar face, the child burst into curses. "Chen Ping'an! Your uncle—"

The straw-sandaled youth's expression did not look good, so Gu Can swiftly changed course with the wind and added, "Are you feeling well?"

The transition flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water, utterly without stiffness.

Used to this little bastard's heartless ways, Chen Ping'an, carrying a new earthen jar, said irritably, "Whether I'm well or not, don't you know?"

Remembering that he had important business, Gu Can hurriedly dragged Chen Ping'an to the courtyard gate. He stuffed two exquisitely embroidered pouches into Chen Ping'an's hands in one go, then lowered his voice and asked, "Do you remember that little loach I asked you for last year?"

Chen Ping'an was thoroughly baffled. Holding the heavy pouches, he found their contents far from unfamiliar. Back then, the richly dressed youth who had forcibly bought that golden carp had specially sent him a pouch of copper coins afterward. Chen Ping'an looked around. There were no pedestrians at either end of Mud Bottle Alley, but he still hurriedly opened the door and brought Gu Can into the courtyard. After setting the earthen jar aside, he asked bluntly, "An Outsider wants to buy that loach from you, right?! Gu Can, I'm warning you, never sell it! Don't sell it even if they beat you to death. Don't you want your mother to live a good life someday? You have to keep that loach, understand?!"

Gu Can let out a wail and began crying. Clutching Chen Ping'an's sleeves with both hands, he choked out, "I wanted to give the loach back to you, but Mother wouldn't let me. She even slapped me. Mother has never hit me from the day I was born until now. And that storyteller, I don't know if he's an immortal or some ghostly monster, but he was terrifying. First, he took me into a white bowl, then that loach suddenly became huge, huge—much thicker than the big water vat in my house..."

Chen Ping'an clapped a hand over the child's mouth and glared sternly. "I gave the loach to you, so it's yours! Gu Can, do you still want your mother to have a good life someday? To eat meat every day, to use rouge and face powder, to buy those silk clothes that feel so smooth to the touch?"

Gu Can sniffled and nodded hard.

Chen Ping'an released him, crouched down, and asked, "What's with these two pouches of money? Did you steal them?"

Gu Can's eyes darted as he was just about to lie. But Chen Ping'an knew him far too well—when this little bastard stuck out his ass, Chen Ping'an knew exactly what sort of shit he was about to take. Chen Ping'an directly gave Gu Can another knock on the head and snapped, "Take them back!"

Gu Can's stubborn temper flared as well. "I won't!"

Chen Ping'an's face turned livid with anger. He raised his hand, intending to deliver a genuine, solid knock on the head, but when he saw the child's utterly stubborn expression, his heart softened. Easing his tone, he thought for a moment and asked, "What exactly happened? Tell me."

Gu Can recounted everything exactly as it had happened. This child usually made people grit their teeth in hatred, but he truly was clever and precocious. From the Old Scholar Tree to the Iron Lock Well, then to the courtyard in Mud Bottle Alley, he clearly explained to Chen Ping'an his strange encounter with the storyteller, who wanted to take him as a disciple. At this moment, Chen Ping'an roughly understood. Gu Can was most likely one of those in town who had received a Sophora Leaf blessed by ancestral favor. Whether it was smoke rising green from his ancestral graves or, as Mr. Qi and Daoist Master Lu had said, a matter of opportunity and fortune, Gu Can would likely be taken away from town by that storyteller. But whenever Chen Ping'an thought of River-Cutting True Lord Liu Zhimao, the strings of his heart drew tight. According to Mr. Qi, this man's character was truly vile. He wanted even more to get rid of Chen Ping'an as quickly as possible, going so far as to use immortal family methods to frame him and Cai Jinjian. Was Gu Can taking such a man as his master truly a good thing? But stepping back, since the man was willing to accept Gu Can as a disciple rather than swindle him or force a purchase, did that mean Gu Can was at least not in danger of losing his life for now?

The crafty child's eyes spun rapidly. Taking advantage of Chen Ping'an's contemplation, he suddenly snatched the two money pouches from Chen Ping'an's hands and hurled them into the house, then turned and ran.

The result was that Chen Ping'an grabbed him by the back of his collar and dragged him back where he had been.

Gu Can clasped both hands over his head, looking pitiful and miserable.

Although Chen Ping'an had forcibly pulled the child back, he hesitated over how to deal with the matter. It involved too much, and Chen Ping'an feared making the wrong choice and bringing disaster upon Gu Can and his mother.

If it had only been his own affairs, this straw-sandaled youth with no one to rely on would probably have acted far more decisively.

At some point, the black-clothed girl had gotten out of bed and was standing behind the threshold. "My mother once said that everyone has their own fate. This child looks like the sort of scourge who will live for a thousand years. He won't lack dogshit luck in the future either."

Gu Can's eyes lit up. He hurriedly wiped away his two streams of snot, grinned to reveal his gap-toothed mouth, and said with a fawning smile, "Big Sister, you're so pretty. You look exactly like my second sister! This place is small. Why don't you come sit at my house?"

Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "When did your mother remarry your father?"

Caught out, the child immediately rolled his eyes. Changing his expression and tone, he clicked his tongue. "Chen Ping'an, not bad! You've got prospects now. When did you trick a wife home? Holding a wedding night celebration? Too bad I won't make it in time, otherwise I'd definitely squat by the base of the wall and listen to you two immortals fighting on the bed..."

Chen Ping'an pressed a palm onto Gu Can's head and apologetically told the black-clothed girl, "He's just like this. Don't be angry."

The girl glanced at the child. "What a bear cub!"

Gu Can was about to put his inherited talents on display when he noticed that the hand on his head had quietly increased its force. He immediately became sickly and weak, saying listlessly, "Big Sister, you're so fresh and lovely. Everything you say is right."

The black-clothed girl ignored him. She turned to Chen Ping'an and said meaningfully, "You'd best accept those two pouches of copper coins, lest you turn against each other in the future. And once this child succeeds in cultivation, if you don't let him lessen his guilt today, it may very well cause his Dao heart to become unstable, allowing externalized heavenly demons to slip in through the cracks."

Gu Can liked those words. He gave that big sister a thumbs-up. "Long hair, long wisdom. Sure enough, you're more reliable than some little bitches next door!"

The black-clothed girl raised an eyebrow and actually accepted the compliment with pleasure.

From farther down Mud Bottle Alley came an urgent, frantic roar. "Gu Can!"

The child's face went pale. "I'm going, I'm going! Chen Ping'an, I'm leaving!"

Though he said he was leaving, even the child himself did not realize that the fingers clutching Chen Ping'an's hand were tightening ever harder.

Perhaps deep in his heart, Gu Can had long regarded Chen Ping'an as his only family besides his mother.

Chen Ping'an led the child out of the courtyard, crouched down, and quietly said, "Gu Can, remember to be careful around your master. And take good care of your mother. You're a man now. Your mother will only be able to depend on you in the future, so don't always make her worry."

Gu Can gave an affirmative hum.

Chen Ping'an continued, "Once you get outside, do more and speak less. Keep that mouth of yours under control. If you have to suffer a little loss, then suffer it. Don't always think of winning back an advantage with your words. People outside aren't like us. They hold grudges deeply."

The child's eyes reddened. Contradicting him, he said, "People here hold grudges deeply too. You're the only one who doesn't."

Chen Ping'an did not know whether to laugh or cry, and for a moment, he had no reply.

Chen Ping'an suddenly came to his senses and asked gravely, "Gu Can, did you get a Sophora Leaf?"

If not, then Chen Ping'an did not believe Gu Can had received an immortal family opportunity. The storyteller's arrival might instead be a death warrant.

The moment the child heard that, he became angry. With a swish, he pulled a whole handful from his pocket and habitually cursed someone's mother. "I don't know which bastard deserving a thousand cuts secretly stuffed so many worthless leaves into my pocket! I only discovered them just now when I sneaked out of the house and hid those two pouches of money. If it wasn't Fatty Zhao, then it was that little brat Liu Mei! If my mother sees them while washing my clothes, won't she scold me again for making her worry? Good thing I'm leaving now. Otherwise, watch me secretly throw rocks into their latrines..."

As the child cursed with growing enthusiasm, Chen Ping'an was first dumbfounded, then greatly relieved. Seeing the boy about to throw them hard onto the ground, he hurriedly stopped him, his expression incomparably solemn. "Gu Can, put them away! You must keep them safe! If possible, don't even let your mother see these sophora leaves. It may very well be for her own good."

The child was confused, but he still nodded. "All right."

Chen Ping'an let out a long breath and muttered to himself, "Now I'm truly at ease."

Gu Can suddenly leaned forward and forcefully knocked his forehead against Chen Ping'an's head. Sobbing, he said, "I'm sorry!"

Chen Ping'an rubbed the child's little head and scolded him with a smile, "Silly thing!"

Gu Can suddenly whispered something into his ear.

Chen Ping'an froze where he stood.

The child turned and ran off. Jogging away, he looked back and waved. "That old man said he's taking my mother and me to a place called Qingxia Island at Book Scroll Lake. If you can't even afford to marry a wife in the future, come find me. I'm not bragging—ugly wives like that Zhi Gui next door, I'll give you seventeen or eighteen at a time!"

Chen Ping'an stood where he was and nodded.

He also felt somewhat sad.

After all, Gu Can was like his younger brother, so Chen Ping'an was willing to yield to him in everything.

The straw-sandaled youth stared blankly at the child's gradually receding figure.

His life had always been like this. The people he truly cared about seemed impossible to keep, no matter what he did.

The youth in Mud Bottle Alley grinned.

Heaven was rather stingy.

The neighboring courtyard gate gently opened, and the maidservant Zhi Gui emerged. She stood graceful and elegant, like a lotus in a pond.

Chen Ping'an asked, "You heard Gu Can badmouthing you earlier?"

She blinked those Autumn Water Long Eyes and said, "I'll pretend I didn't. Besides, I can't win an argument against that mother and son anyway."

Chen Ping'an felt a little awkward, so he could only put in a good word for that little bastard Gu Can and smooth things over. "Actually, he isn't bad at heart. He just talks unpleasantly."

Zhi Gui tugged at the corner of her mouth without expression. "I don't know whether Gu Can's heart is good or bad, but that widowed mother of his isn't someone to be trifled with. Of that, I'm certain."

Chen Ping'an did not know how to answer, so he copied her method on the spot and pretended he had heard nothing.

She suddenly asked a baffling question. "Chen Ping'an, do you really not regret it?"

Chen Ping'an was stunned. "What?"

Seeing that he did not seem to be playing dumb, Zhi Gui sighed, turned around, returned to the courtyard, and closed the wooden gate.

With his excellent eyesight, Chen Ping'an remained standing in the alley until he finally saw the gate of Gu Can's home open in the distance. Three people emerged. The mother and son each carried luggage of different sizes on their backs as they slowly walked toward the other end of Mud Bottle Alley.

Chen Ping'an could even clearly see that the storyteller turned his head, glanced at him, and smiled with a teasing look.

After the three figures disappeared at the end of the alley, Chen Ping'an returned to his own courtyard and found that the black-clothed girl could already sit on the threshold by herself.

Was her body made of iron?

Chen Ping'an first placed the Jade Hairpin Mr. Qi had given him and the two pouches of copper coins Gu Can had brought onto the table. Then he began boiling water, gathering medicine, and decocting it. He moved with practiced familiarity, less like a potter and more like an assistant who had spent many years in a pharmacy.

The black-clothed girl was somewhat puzzled, but she did not ask. Bored out of her mind, she got up and walked to the table. After thinking for a moment, she took out the money pouch Chen Ping'an had hidden inside the belly of a jar.

After sitting down, she had three pouches of money and a jade hairpin laid out on the table, as well as a sentient longsword wisely "turtling" itself into a corner.

Chen Ping'an did not stop her from taking the money, but he turned and reminded her, "Mr. Qi gave me that jade hairpin. Miss Ning, be careful with it."

Perhaps afraid that the girl would not take it seriously, Chen Ping'an bashfully reminded her again, "You really need to be careful."

The girl rolled her eyes.

Three pouches of Golden Essence copper coins: Spring Welcoming Coin, Offering Coin, and Suppression Charm Coin. By coincidence, the set was now complete.

Resting her cheek on one hand, the girl used the fingers of her other hand to fiddle with the three copper coins. She casually asked, "How did your matter turn out? Can you tell me about it?"

Chen Ping'an crouched by the wall beneath the window, carefully watching the heat. From time to time, he checked the three prescriptions. Hearing her question, he asked, "Is it appropriate to tell you?"

The girl frowned. "You've already ended up in such a miserable state, yet you're worried that after hearing your secrets, I'll be murdered to silence me? Chen Ping'an, it's not that I want to criticize you, but a hopelessly nice person like you should never leave this town for the rest of your life. Otherwise, you won't even know how you died."

She truly pitied his misfortune and raged at his refusal to strive.

A youth with such an old-fashioned temperament, even if he were a powerful sword immortal possessing both an Arhat Golden Body and Heavenly Monarch Dao arts, would certainly die within a year if thrown into her hometown—and not even his bones would remain.

The straw-sandaled youth said cheerfully, "Then I'll tell you?"

The girl pressed the three copper coins under three fingers and rubbed them back and forth across the tabletop. "Tell me or don't. I don't care."

So Chen Ping'an told the girl everything that had happened before Mr. Qi appeared. As for what came afterward, he only selectively recounted some parts.

After hearing him out, the girl said calmly, "That River-Cutting True Lord Liu Zhimao is clearly the chief culprit, but Cai Jinjian and Fu Nanhua are no good either. If Mr. Qi hadn't stepped in to muddy the waters, then even if you fled to the ends of the earth, you still couldn't escape the joint pursuit and slaughter of those three forces. To put it bluntly, killing you would be very easy. If this weren't town, forget Liu Zhimao—even that woman from Cloud Mist Mountain could crush you until your soul scattered with a single finger."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "I know."

The girl snapped angrily, "You know my ass!"

Chen Ping'an did not argue and continued decocting the medicine.

She asked, "This calamity of yours came entirely because of that loach. Why didn't you tell the child the truth?"

This time, Chen Ping'an did not remain silent, nor did he turn around. Sitting on his little stool, he lowered his head to look at the bluish-red flames and softly said, "That would be wrong."

The girl seemed about to speak, but stopped herself. At last, looking at that thin back, she sighed. "Do you know that if your fists aren't hard enough, no one will care whether you're right or wrong?"

The youth shook his head. "Whether others listen or not, reason is still reason."

He seemed somewhat uncertain, so he turned around and asked with a smile, "Right?"

The girl glared at him. "Right, my big-headed ghost!"

The youth sheepishly turned back around and continued brewing the medicine.

The black-clothed girl, that Outsider girl named Ning Yao, picked up the Jade Hairpin and examined it intently. She discovered a line of tiny engraved characters.

She glanced at the youth called Chen Ping'an.

There were eight characters on the hairpin. Even a girl who only barely understood writing found them deeply moving.

Thinking of the gentleman, his warmth was like jade.