Chen Ping'an smiled as he picked up the book from the ground and dusted it off.
Just then, Cen Yuanyi came down the mountain while practicing her stance-walking. Zhu Lian and Wei Bo also arrived at the mountain gate archway with Nuan Shu and Little Millet in tow. Chen Lingjun was even moved to tears, throwing back his head and shouting, "Brother Dafeng!"
Chen Ping'an immediately tossed the book to Zheng Dafeng. Zheng Dafeng pushed it away with both hands and slapped it toward Immortal Master Wei. As though he had caught a scalding taro, Immortal Wei hurriedly tossed it to the old cook, like passing a flower in a drumbeat game.
Zhu Lian was utterly baffled at first. Judging solely by the title on the cover, it was a proper book. Yet the old cook did not even need to inspect its contents. One look at how worn it was, especially at the countless dog-eared pages, and he knew something was amiss. Keeping a straight face, he pushed away Chen Lingjun's head as it leaned closer, then quietly slipped the book into his robes.
The group sat around the table. Nuan Shu served tea and water, while Little Millet handed out sunflower seeds. She also gave Zheng Dafeng an extra packet of dried fish, treating it as a welcoming feast to wash away the dust of his journey.
Even Cen Yuanyi made an exception and paused her fist training, sitting alongside the two little girls. No matter what, Zheng Dafeng had been Luopo Mountain's first gatekeeper. Though his gaze was improper, he had never been handsy. Now that the man had returned after years away from home, propriety and sentiment alike dictated that she should stop and take a seat.
Chen Lingjun sat beside Zheng Dafeng on a long