Unsheathed

Li Baoping didn’t like to speak when she was eating.

Pei Qian didn’t dare to speak.

Thus, it was mainly Li Huai making noise and showing off. Little Baoping glared at him several times. He was explaining many things about the academy, so how could she repeat these things to her junior uncle again in the future?

Li Huai bobbed his head around and continued to impudently provoke Li Baoping. This was called being resigned to one’s fate and going all out. After all, he knew that he would definitely be punished by Li Baoping in the future.

Chen Ping’an didn’t speak much, and he ate slowly as always. He spent more of his time putting food in the three children’s bowls.

“Chen Ping’an, why have you suddenly changed your get-up?” Li Huai suddenly asked. “Where are your straw sandals? You need to be careful as it’s difficult to transition from extravagance to frugality…”

However, Li Huai immediately bent over and howled in agony before he could even finish speaking.

Li Baoping and Pei Qian had both rewarded him with a kick under the table.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Truth be told, I did think about this before, and I did consider changing into my old clothes and straw sandals while I was making my way to the academy. However, I was afraid of embarrassing you guys. Moreover, I’m dressed like this because one needs to be very careful when traveling around the cultivation world. This Dao robe, Golden Sweet Wine, can also aid my cultivation, so I’ve already become accustomed to wearing it. However, I won’t find my clothes from before uncomfortable either.”

Li Huai bared his teeth and said, “Chen Ping’an, I could barely recognize you outside the classroom just then. You’ve grown a lot taller, and you’re nowhere near as tanned as before either. I’m not accustomed to this.”

“On the other hand, you haven’t changed much at all, Li Huai. You still feel tired and fall asleep when reading, don’t you?” Chen Ping’an asked in amusement.

Li Huai sighed in grief and replied, “Chen Ping’an, you don’t understand how difficult and tiring it is for me to study. It’s even more tiring than when we walked from our hometown to Mountain Cliff Academy. This is especially the case when I’m holding in my piss in class. It feels like I’m going to stifle myself to death.”

Li Baoping tapped the table with her fingers, signaling to Li Huai that he needed to be more careful with his words.

Li Huai was extremely annoyed, and he grumbled, “How annoying, you have even more rules than the teachers.”

They were almost finished eating, and there was little food left on the table.

“I still need to visit Mountain Master Mao and discuss some matters in a moment,” Chen Ping’an said. “After that, I’ll look for Lin Shouyi, Yu Lu, and Xie Xie. You guys can wander around by yourselves, but remember not to disobey the academy’s night curfew.”

“Chen Ping’an, how many years are you going to stay in the academy for?” Li Huai asked.

Li Baoping surprisingly smiled at Li Huai’s words.

There was a bitter expression on Pei Qian’s face as she trembled in fear.

Chen Ping’an chuckled in mock anger and replied, “I won’t stay for too long, but I’ll definitely stay for more than just a few days.”

Li Huai nodded in understanding. While Li Baoping and Pei Qian were cleaning up the table, he asked, “Chen Ping’an, why don’t you stay in the academy to study? That way, we can also return to the Dragon Spring Prefecture together in the future. How good will that be? What’s wrong? Have you become wildly ambitious after wandering around the outside world?

“But even if you don’t care about Li Baoping anymore, there’s still me, Li Huai, in the academy! We’re good brothers who went through thick and thin together, and I might even end up calling you brother-in-law one day. Can you really bring yourself to abandon me and leave me in the academy? You’re also aware that A’Liang was crying and begging me to become his brother-in-law in the past, but I didn’t agree to his request no matter how much he begged me!”

“Make sure not to say these things in front of Lin Shouyi and Dong Shuijing,” Chen Ping’an warned in slight exasperation.

Li Huai heaved a heavy sigh and replied, “Those two people? One is a quiet person who doesn’t understand the concept of speaking his mind, while the other is a blockhead who can’t seem to get any smarter. In my opinion, neither of them really have a chance. My big sister most probably won’t become attracted to people like them. As for my parents, my mom likes Lin Shouyi a bit more while my dad likes Dong Shuijing a bit more. However, what’s the situation in my family? My words hold the most sway, and even my big sister listens to me. So, why don’t we make a deal, Chen Ping’an? You only need to accompany me for one year in the academy — alright, half a year — and I’ll let you become my brother-in-law! You don’t even need to give a betrothal gift or whatnot!”

“Piss off!” Chen Ping’an scolded with a smile.

Li Huai slammed the table and exclaimed, “Chen Ping’an, watch how you speak to your brother-in-law! Don’t say that I haven’t warned you!”

Li Baoping also slammed the table, causing Li Huai to instantly shrink back and fall quiet like a deflating balloon.

Seizing the opportunity when Li Baoping and Pei Qian were carrying some bowls and utensils to the kitchen outside the guest rooms, Li Huai shuffled to Chen Ping’an’s side and rested his arms and chin on the table, whispering, “Chen Ping’an, my big sister is truly very beautiful now. I’m not lying to you.”

Chen Ping’an tousled his hair and replied, “I genuinely don’t need you to find a partner for me; there’s already a girl that I like.”

Li Huai became slightly dejected.

“I might not be your brother-in-law, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not your friend anymore,” Chen Ping’an said quietly.

Li Huai appeared listless as he lamented, “But I’m scared. You went away for three entire years this time, so what about next time? Will you leave for another three or five years? What kind of friend does this? You weren’t even here when I was getting bullied by other people in the academy.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t know how to respond.

If he followed the plan in his mind, he might genuinely be gone for more than three to five years.

He planned to return to Dragon Spring Prefecture before visiting Bamboo Scroll Lake, the Colorful Garment Nation, and the Water Combing Nation. Afterward, he would travel north, even further north than the Great Li Empire which was located at the northernmost tip of the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent.

Li Huai sniffled before looking up and saying with a smile, “So be it, we’re all adults, so it doesn’t make sense for us to mope like this. We’ll take everything in our strides!”

Chen Ping’an patted Li Huai’s head and said, “Pei Qian seems slightly afraid of Baoping, so you can accompany Pei Qian more for the next while.”

Li Huai immediately giggled and replied, “That tanned girl? No problem. It’s not embarrassing to be afraid of Li Baoping, and I’m afraid of her too. Those who are afraid of her are all gallant heroes!”

To say something so shameful in such a proud and confident manner… Perhaps only Li Huai could do something like this.

Afterward, Chen Ping’an paid another visit to Mao Xiaodong’s study.

They started to discuss the refinement of Chen Ping’an’s second bonded item.

Mao Xiaodong had already received Cui Dongshan’s secret letter, and he had surprisingly come up with an even more refined plan than Chen Ping’an.

Moreover, Mao Xiaodong had already purchased the large majority of natural treasures needed to refine the golden scholarly core, although some were still yet to be delivered to the academy. Even so, they would definitely receive all of the necessary materials before autumn came around.

Chen Ping’an said that he might have to go into debt and repay Mao Xiaodong later.

Mao Xiaodong didn’t act overly polite, and he said that they would calculate the price of everything based on the current market value. Moreover, Chen Ping’an should strive to repay everything within a twenty-year timeframe.

Because Chen Ping’an was refining an extremely unique golden scholarly core as one of his bonded items of the Five Elements, Mao Xiaodong had done more than just carefully examine the scholarly core that Chen Ping’an had retrieved from his pocket treasure. Before doing this, he had actually studied the history of the Colorful Garment Nation as well as the local county chronicles of the area corresponding to the city god pavilion in great detail.

In the end, Mao Xiaodong had concluded that Shen Wen — a scholarly official who had become a city god after death — had used pure incense essence and auras of righteousness to nurture the golden scholarly core. It was extremely likely that the scholarly core had also been nurtured by the seal and accompanying lightning technique personally crafted by the Great Heavenly Master. As a result, the golden scholarly core ended up becoming very extraordinary.

With this in mind, Mao Xiaodong planned to privately bring Chen Ping’an to the scholarly temple and other places in the capital of the Great Sui Nation.

However, the location for refining the golden scholarly core would definitely be Mountain Cliff Academy where he could oversee things and control the flow of fortune.

The two of them continued to refine the details.

Mao Xiaodong became increasingly relieved and satisfied.

Even though this was something that pertained to the cultivation foundation that would determine Chen Ping’an’s future potential, he still remained calm and composed and didn’t show any signs of anxiety. This made Mao Xiaodong feel very satisfied.

During many seemingly casual conversations, Chen Ping’an’s replies as well as his questions regarding things from the sagely texts that he was unsure about didn’t astonish Mao Xiaodong at all. Instead, they made Mao Xiaodong feel a sense of ease and confidence. Indeed, Chen Ping’an’s words were subtly hinting at his unwavering resolve.

This was already more than enough!

Moreover, Chen Ping’an glanced at the night sky and said that he needed to take his leave and visit Lin Shouyi, Yu Lu, and Xie Xie first. He didn’t attempt to go over all of the proper matters in a single meeting with Mao Xiaodong. Mountain Master Mao smiled and bade farewell to Chen Ping’an.

After Chen Ping’an apologized and left…

…The tall and burly old man who always appeared stubborn and pedantic to other people sat by himself in his study and couldn’t contain his emotions any longer. Tears flowed down his face, yet his laughter was filled with joy and satisfaction.

In Mao Xiaodong’s eyes, even ten supremely talented Cui Chans couldn’t compare to a single Chen Ping’an!

————

Li Baoping was no longer by Pei Qian’s side.

This caused the tanned young girl to revert to her spirited and unrestrained nature.

After she went to Li Huai’s dorm, not only was Li Huai stunned, but even Liu Guan and Ma Lian became wide-eyed with shock. They exchanged astonished looks with each other.

Pei Qian was already sitting there with her bamboo sword and saber by her waist, looking down at the three boys who were sitting in a row.

She was telling them about her adventures in the cultivation world.

Her introduction alone had been intimidating enough. “As you can probably see, I, Pei Qian, am a very cold-blooded and ruthless member of the cultivation world! As Master’s disciple, I’ve killed and subdued countless monsters and spirits in the mountains and rivers.”

She had killed a gadfly using her Deranged Demon Sword Technique, she had launched a kick and sent a toad flying along the mountain path, she had held a dog down by the head, and she had caught a wild hare… However, she had added her imagination to these events and transformed all of her foes into powerful beings who were destined to become formidable demons and spirits in the future.

The slightly skeptical Liu Guan poured some tea for her.

While Gallant Heroine Pei Qian was drinking tea, Ma Lian hurriedly seized the opportunity to retrieve some roasted seeds and desserts.

Meanwhile, Li Huai was holding his painted wooden puppet and pretending to smile stupidly. In his mind, however, he remarked that a book couldn’t be judged by its cover. This tanned young girl was even better at boasting than him and A’Liang! He had finally met his match!

————

After leaving Mao Xiaodong’s residence, Chen Ping’an saw Li Baoping standing at the entrance and waiting for him. She was even carrying her small bamboo bookcase.

This wasn’t strange at all.

Chen Ping’an’s first time leaving his hometown in the Jewel Small World and venturing into the outside world was naturally when he had accompanied Li Baoping to the Great Sui Nation to seek knowledge at Mountain Cliff Academy.

At the same time, however, was that not a case of the young girl accompanying her junior uncle through the cultivation world?

In the very beginning, it had only been the two of them traversing the green mountains and crossing the glistening rivers. And now, those mountains and rivers appeared especially adorable in their minds.

Chen Ping’an wasn’t in a hurry, so he squatted down and asked with a smile, “Baoping, has anyone in the academy bullied you these past few years?”

Li Baoping carefully mulled over this for a moment before shaking her head and replying, “No, I don’t recall that ever happening, Junior Uncle.”

Chen Ping’an scratched his head and surprisingly felt a slight sense of disappointment.

Mao Xiaodong’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind’s lake.

Chen Ping’an’s expression didn’t change, and after listening to Mao Xiaodong’s words, he stood up and held Little Baoping’s hand, also gazing into the distance at the night view of the capital beyond East Mountain.

Chen Ping’an and Li Baoping started to walk down the mountain.

“Junior Uncle, I already separated my transcriptions into five piles and placed them in my small bookcase. I handed them to my five teachers just then, but that was only enough to skip one month of classes. However, I have a lot more transcriptions sitting in my room, so Junior Uncle doesn’t need to worry.”

“Your teachers didn’t get angry?” Chen Ping’an asked.

“No, my teachers didn’t get angry because they’re already accustomed to this. They only told me to run slower when carrying the transcriptions.”

“Then your teachers are quite understanding and nice.”

“Mhm, they are quite nice. However, none of them are as knowledgeable as Mr. Qi.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Mr. Qi is the most knowledgeable person, and Junior Uncle is the best person. There’s no need to ask why.”

“Haha, that makes sense.”