At the Ji Ditch ferry stood a memorial archway inscribed "Cave Heaven Beneath the Water." The Grand River was especially broad here, stretching an astonishing three hundred li across. The last time Chen Ping'an came, he had worn green robes, carried a sword on his back, and hung a vermilion Wine Gourd at his waist, much as he did now. Only the sword on his back had changed to Night Roamer, and the Green Bamboo Hiking Staff was no longer in his hand.
At the Water Dragon Sect's Munu Ferry, its founding Patriarch had planted more than a thousand immortal-family orange trees. Before departing this world through Liberation by Violence, he had laughed and said his cultivation had amounted to little in this life. Only his thousand orange trees remained as a legacy for his disciples.
For no particular reason, Chen Ping'an thought of Xun Yuan, the old Patriarch of Jade Guizong. Jiang Shangzhen had told him that Old Man Xun's true last words had been three words murmured to himself: "My family is poor."
It seemed every mountain sect with an orderly succession and incense offerings that endured had a penny-pincher in its highest seat.
Chen Ping'an said apologetically to Ning Yao, "I spent a few more days at the Suo Yun Sect than I expected, so I won't accompany you around the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven and Fushui Island. I need to head straight to the Great Origin Dynasty's Chongxuan Bureau to discuss something with the Lu Clan Emperor and National Teacher Yang Qingkong. After that, I need to meet Sun Jie and Shao Jingzhi of the Water Dragon Sect's northern and southern branches to discuss renting or buying Fushui Island. Wait for me on the island. The scenery inside the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven is beautiful; you