Unsheathed

Chen Ping’an felt slightly unconscionable as he drank wine and looked at the busy shopkeeper. He swirled the wine pot around, estimating that there were still two bowls of wine remaining. The wine bowls at the shop indeed weren’t very big.

Chen Ping’an raised a hand and beckoned Die Zhang over to drink together, pouring her a bowl of wine after she walked over and sat down. He smiled and said, “I don’t come to the wine shop often, so I’ll take the opportunity today to say a few things to you. Fan Dache is only a friend of a friend, and what he wanted to hear today wasn’t actually principles or reason. He feels far too depressed, and he needed an outlet to vent his emotions.

“However, Chen Sanqiu and the others didn’t know what to say specifically because they’re Fan Dache’s friends. When buried for a long time, the sweetness and mellowness of aged wine are most intoxicating when suddenly opened. There’s a big chance that Fan Dache will die the next time he travels south to fight, and he’ll most likely think that he can live in her heart forever this way. Of course, this is only my speculation, and I always like to think of the worst-case scenario.

“In any case, I was scolded severely by Fan Dache for no reason, and he even shattered a bowl of our wine shop — I need to have Chen Sanqiu pay up for this in the future. You’re different, Die Zhang, and not only are you Ning Yao’s friend, but you’re my friend as well. So, I’m not going to hold back too much regarding what I say next.”

“Rest assured, I’m not Fan Dache, so I won’t go on a drunken rampage. I can’t bear to shatter a wine bowl and lose money either,” Die Zhang replied in a joking manner.

“How do you feel about sword immortals?” Chen Ping’an asked directly. “Some unleash sword strikes in the distance, while some visit this shop to drink wine. Do you feel the same way about them? Or?”

Die Zhang thought for a moment before replying, “I feel respect toward them.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding, “This all comes down to fear. I suffered at the hands of some low-level sword cultivators when I was young, and to put things simply, those were very miserable experiences. At that time, those low-level sword cultivators already appeared like lofty immortals in my eyes. You might find this comical, but I couldn’t help but shake and go pale whenever I walked past them when I was little. This only improved slightly after I became acquainted with A’Liang.

“I naturally want to become a sword immortal, and I won’t regret it if I die on the path to becoming a sword immortal. Rest assured, from becoming a Nascent Tier cultivator to becoming a sword immortal, I’ve already considered what I need to do at each cultivation base. At the very least, I can purchase a large residence many years earlier than planned. This is thanks to you.”

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl and drank with Die Zhang, after which he smiled and said, “Okay, I feel like the issue isn’t big. You admire the strong, but you can also sympathize with the weak, allowing you to walk a middle path. Not only were Ning Yao and I worried, but Chen Sanqiu and the others were also worried about you fighting too ferociously in the large-scale battles, caring too little about your own life.

“There was a misunderstanding between you and Fatty Yan in the past, so he doesn’t dare to say too much. As for the others, they’re also afraid of saying too much, similar to the situation with Chen Sanqiu and Fan Dache. Speaking truthfully, however, don’t trivialize the matter of life and death. Don’t die if you can avoid it.

“Forget about it, these types of things are often out of our control. I’ve gone through the same troubles, so I don’t have the right to lecture you. In any case, I’ll do the same thing as Fatty Yan and the others the next time we leave the city wall, and I’ll strive to take a few extra glances at your back. Come, let’s raise a toast to your back, shopkeeper.”

Die Zhang raised her wine bowl and lightly touched it with Chen Ping’an’s before downing its contents.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “My next question might be asking for a beating, so you need to promise me this first: I’ll still be the second shopkeeper afterward, and we’ll still be friends afterward.”

Die Zhang smiled and replied, “Just ask your question first. Promises are useless, and women reneging on promises is even quicker than men downing wine.”

Chen Ping’an felt slightly exasperated as he asked, “You like the Confucian noble scholar who took with him the sword, Righteous Aura, but do you only like his character, or did you somewhat like his status as a virtuous scholar as well? Do you hope that he can one day bring you out of the Sword Qi Great Wall and take you to Stalactite Mountain and the Majestic World?”

Die Zhang blushed slightly, and she nodded in response before replying in a low voice, “I liked both aspects of him. I liked his character and demeanor, and I especially liked his bookish aura. He was a virtuous scholar! Just how impressive is that? And he’s even become a noble scholar now, so I naturally care about this a lot! In any case, I’ve always wanted to travel to the Majestic World ever since meeting A’Liang and Ning Yao, and it would obviously be best if I could do so together with him!”

Die Zhang was in high spirits as she continued, “If there truly comes a day when he reciprocates my feelings, then I’ll travel to the Majestic World only when I become a sword immortal! Otherwise, I won’t leave the Sword Qi Great Wall even if he begs me to.”

Chen Ping’an clicked his tongue in wonder and remarked, “It’s difficult to say whether he likes you or not, yet you’re already thinking this far ahead?”

Die Zhang took a large swig of wine, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand before replying in exuberance, “Is it illegal to simply think about this?!”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment before saying, “Let me tell you a story. This isn’t hearsay, nor is it something I personally witnessed. You can treat this as a story from some book, and after listening to it, you can, at the very least, avoid the worst-case scenario. It isn’t very useful for much else, and many aspects of this story aren’t necessarily relevant to you and that noble scholar.”

This was a story about a lovestruck scholar and a female ghost wearing a wedding dress.

Those who had strong emotions would often be weighed down by pain, and those who were lovestruck would often be hit with disappointment.

Naturally, Chen Ping’an didn’t hope that Die Zhang and the noble scholar would suffer such a fate, and he hoped that all of the lovers in the world could ultimately hold hands and enjoy life together.

There was a condition to this, of course, that being one didn’t blindly fall in love with the wrong person. This blindness didn’t just pertain to whether the other person was worthy of one’s romantic feelings, but it actually pertained more to one’s own understanding. The most pitiful people were those who failed to understand from the beginning to the end why the person whom they loved reciprocated the love in the beginning, yet didn’t love them anymore in the end.

This was the reason behind Chen Ping’an’s question to Fan Dache, subtly asking him whether Yu Qia knew about his borrowing money from his friends to buy presents for her. Was Fan Dache aware of her thoughts and mindset? Would he still accept her attitude if he were fully aware? If he did, and if he were able to properly deal with the troublesome branches on this path, then that would be a reflection of his abilities.

If Fan Dache were truly unaware and muddleheaded from the beginning to the end, then he definitely wouldn’t have become so embarrassed and angry at the wine shop. Indeed, it was abundantly clear that Fan Dache was aware of Yu Qia’s knowledge of him borrowing money from Chen Sanqiu, whether he had realized it from the beginning or only realized it much later.

Even so, Yu Qia had chosen to accept Fan Dache’s effort and sacrifice, continuing to ask him for more. Did Fan Dache truly understand what this signified? Clearly not. Perhaps he had a vague feeling that her actions were wrong and hurtful, but he was ultimately unable to come up with a proper solution.

Fan Dache only knew that the two of them would grow further and further apart following their breakup. He drank wine to wash away his sorrows, feeling like he should dig his heart out to show Yu Qiao his true feelings.

Was it wrong for Fan Dache to unreservedly love a person in this manner? Of course not. How could it be wrong for a man to sincerely love a woman, willing to completely open himself up to her? Delving deeper, however, was it possible for there to truly be no wrong? Being so deeply in love with someone, should a person not, first and foremost, understand who they were in love with?

Chen Ping’an was an outsider, but he had immediately seen through Yu Qia’s strong ambitions after seeing her from afar two times, also noticing how she subtly separated Fan Dache’s friends into different categories. She was filled with fighting spirit and lofty ambitions, and simply guaranteeing food and shelter with a wealthy descendant like Fan Dache was far from enough.

Yu Qia hoped that she could one day be invited on her own merit to those wine tables that were filled with sword immortals. Not only that, but she definitely wouldn’t be satisfied with being a mere accompanying guest at the end of the table. Rather, people definitely needed to voluntarily walk over to respectfully raise a toast to her after she sat down! She would sit up straight and wait for other people to pay respects to her!

Chen Ping’an didn’t like this type of woman, but he definitely didn’t detest them either. He simply understood them and respected their choice among the many different paths in the world.

Did Fan Dache understand these things? No, he didn’t understand them at all.

His relationship had fallen apart, but he could perhaps try his luck and find a suitable and like-minded partner in the future, becoming immortal Dao partners with her. If he were unlucky, however, then he would only suffer the same disappointment again.

Die Zhang felt righteous indignation when she heard the story’s conclusion, and she asked, “Was the scholar simply yearning to become a noble scholar of Lake View Academy and yearning to legitimately marry that female ghost and carry her on an eight-person sedan chair?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and replied, “That was always his unwavering ambition, and it was because of this that he was forced to jump into the lake and commit suicide. However, the female ghost mistakenly thought that the scholar had betrayed her deep feelings the entire time.”

The rims of Die Zhang’s eyes surprisingly became red as she murmured, “How could the ending be like this? His companions at the Confucian academy were also scholars, so how could they be so wicked?”

“Scholars never use swords to attack their foes,” Chen Ping’an said. “The reason I told you this story is that I want you to think more. The Majestic World is vast, and the number of scholars is great, so is it possible for every single one of them to be a good person who lives up to the standards of the sagely scriptures? If that’s the case, then would the Sword Qi Great Wall be in this current state?”

Die Zhang looked up at Chen Ping’an with a strange expression.

“I try my best to understand these matters and think more about everything. I observe more, think more, and contemplate more, not for the sake of becoming them, but quite the contrary, for the sake of never becoming like them,” Chen Ping’an continued with a smile.

He raised his wine bowl and said, “If there truly comes a day when the romantic feelings between you and that noble scholar are mutual, and you’re also a sword immortal at that time and decide to travel to the Majestic World, then you definitely need to invite Ning Yao and me over. I’ll help you stay guarded against those scholars who are no better than dogs.

“No matter if it’s that noble scholar’s so-called friends, companions, seniors, or teachers, it’s naturally best if these people are reasonable to deal with. I also trust that the people around him are mainly good. Those who are alike tend to gather together, after all.

“However, it’s inevitable for some bad people to slip through the cracks, and I know what kind of repulsive principles they’ll spew once they open their mouths. I’m the Scholarly Sage’s final disciple, so when it comes to arguing with other people, I was at least able to learn some of the fundamental essence.

“What do friends mean? It means that some unpleasant words and mood-killing words have to be said, just like some difficult tasks have to be undertaken. I’m actually praising myself by saying this. Come on, let’s drink some wine!”

It was rare for Die Zhang to smile so brightly, but her expression quickly became downcast just as she was about to raise her bowl to drink some wine. She shot a glance at her missing arm.

“These things won’t matter if the feelings between the two of you are genuine. Otherwise, it won’t make a difference even if you gain two extra arms,” Chen Ping’an said.

Die Zhang chuckled in irritation and huffed, “Is it a good thing to have three arms?”

“You have a point. My shortcoming is not being very good at speaking reason,” Chen Ping’an replied with a smile.

Die Zhang’s mood improved again, and she was just about to touch her wine bowl with Chen Ping’an’s. However, Chen Ping’an suddenly killed the atmosphere again, saying, “In any case, there’s no relationship between you and that noble scholar to speak of right now, so don’t get too ahead of yourself and daydream about a perfect future.

“Otherwise, you’ll only be setting yourself up for disappointment in the future. At that time, this wine shop will earn boatloads of money from you as you drink to wash away your sorrows, and as the second shopkeeper, this won’t sit right with me.”

Die Zhang’s expression immediately became dark.

Chen Ping’an sighed with emotion and remarked, “The truth often hurts, and it’s difficult to be friends.”

Die Zhang suddenly smiled and said, “You’ve already described both the best-case scenario and the worst-case scenario. Thank you for this.”

She grabbed the wine pot, and she quickly discovered that there was only a single bowl of wine remaining.

Chen Ping’an waved his hand and said, “I won’t drink any more. Ning Yao is quite strict about these things.”

Die Zhang didn’t hold back, pouring herself the remaining wine and starting to drink slowly.

If a customer hollered for more wine, Die Zhang would tell them to grab wine or grab food by themselves. This was the good thing about regular customers — there was no need to be too polite with them after becoming familiar.

Die Zhang had been worried about providing insufficient service at the beginning, so she had personally attended to all aspects of the wine shop. It was only after seeing Chen Ping’an act like this — chatting and bantering with customers and even asking them to help grab wine and food, yet still managing to keep them happy — that she had emulated him and started to do the same.

She looked at Chen Ping’an, and she noticed that he was gazing toward the corner of the alley. In the past, he would always spend the majority of his time sitting over there and playing the role of a storyteller.

Today, however, the children no longer gathered around the small stool.

Die Zhang knew that Chen Ping’an would inevitably feel downcast.

Even so, she still didn’t fully understand why Chen Ping’an cared so much about these matters. Perhaps it was because he had come from an impoverished alley in that small town in the Jewel Small World? Even though he was already an immortal in the eyes of many people, he still had a soft spot for impoverished alleys?

However, sword cultivators who grew up in the impoverished alleys of the Sword Qi Great Wall all dreamed about becoming neighbors with those powerful families and wealthy clans, no longer needing to return to the small alleys where roosters crowed and dogs barked. Die Zhang also had the same mindset.

Chen Ping’an said he wouldn’t drink anymore, but looking at Die Zhang leisurely drinking by herself, he couldn’t help but glance at the pot of wine on the table that he planned to give to Senior Nalan. A battle took place in his mind, and Die Zhang pretended that she couldn’t see anything. To say nothing of the customers finding it extremely difficult to get any benefits from the second shopkeeper, even she, the shopkeeper, found it extremely difficult.

Just when Die Zhang thought that Chen Ping’an would definitely pay up today, he thought of a brilliant solution and stood up, giddily shuffling over to another table with his wine bowl. After making some small talk with the sword cultivators there, he was able to get himself a bowl of free wine, which he promptly finished drinking. When he returned to Die Zhang’s table, he surprisingly had half a bowl of wine again.

After sitting down, Chen Ping’an sighed with emotion and remarked, “They’re far too enthusiastic and kind. I couldn’t turn down their goodwill, and they wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Chen Ping’an, you’re actually a successful disciple of Commercialism, aren’t you?” Die Zhang asked in an exasperated voice.

“There are countless people in the world, and who isn’t a business person?” Chen Ping’an replied with a smile.

Die Zhang glanced at Chen Ping’an drinking and said in amusement, “You said just then that Ning Yao is quite strict about these things?”

Chen Ping’an had already enjoyed quite a few bowls of wine today, and he replied with a chuckle, “Am I a lofty fourth tier Qi refiner for nothing? A burst of spiritual energy dissipates the alcohol and astonishes the world.”

Die Zhang chuckled in response, deciding that she would definitely tattle on him to Ning Yao.

Chen Ping’an looked down the street, thinking to himself that business at the other restaurants and wine shops was truly quite mediocre.

When seeing the booming business of the new wine shop before, the owners and attendants of these businesses had all stood outside their front doors to loudly and enthusiastically advertise themselves and attract customers. Yet, they couldn’t keep this up, could they? Meanwhile, he hadn’t even used one hundred percent of his power yet.

Die Zhang continued to serve the guests after drinking wine. She ultimately couldn’t bring herself to act as shamelessly as the second shopkeeper.

Chen Ping’an slowly sipped his half a bowl of wine.

Seeing this, Die Zhang directly gave him a pair of chopsticks and a plate of picked vegetables.

Chen Ping’an sat cross-legged and slowly chipped away at the wine and food.

More and more customers arrived, so Chen Ping’an returned the table and squatted down on the side of the street. Of course, he didn’t forget to take the pot of unopened wine with him.

Die Zhang glanced at the wine bowl that was almost empty, yet still unfinished after such a long time, and she said with an angry chuckle, “Can you tell me straight if you want me to treat you to some wine?”

She couldn’t help but feel a little perplexed. He was genuinely willing to offer two celestial tools as a marriage gift, yet he was also miserly to such an extreme degree?

Ning Yao’s eyebrows had been slender and attractive when privately telling Die Zhang about this, almost causing Die Zhang’s heart to flutter as well.

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “You’re truly mistaken about my intentions.”

And thus, he walked over to another table to get half a bowl of wine for free, not forgetting to raise it in front of Die Zhang to prove his innocence.

Die Zhang busily served the customers for a long while, and she discovered that Chen Ping’an was still squatting on the side of the street.

She couldn’t help but walk over and ask, “Is something on your mind?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, but he nodded afterward and gazed into the distance, replying, “There are things on my mind, and they’re all good things. I always feel like I’m dreaming, and this was especially the case when I saw Fan Dache.”

Chen Ping’an ate some pickled vegetables and drank a sip of wine, smiling widely as he did so.

Die Zhang carried a stool over and sat beside him.

“Second Shopkeeper, don’t you dare have any impure thoughts about Miss Die Zhang. Although it’s not a big deal if you do, and you simply need to treat me to a pot of wine — the five snowflake coin variant — as hush money,” one customer chuckled and said.

Chen Ping’an raised a middle finger high into the air.

Die Zhang didn’t care about this at all. Indeed, people at the Sword Qi Great Wall genuinely didn’t have any reservations about these matters. Die Zhang wouldn’t feel embarrassed or awkward regardless of how sensitive she was, and feeling these ways would only prove that she had something to hide.

Moreover, she had never come across someone more measured than Chen Ping’an among those in the same generation.

In reality, everyone could see the strong feelings between Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao, regardless of whether they were friend or foe. Chen Ping’an had traveled a great distance to come here from the Majestic World, and this was his second time doing so. Not only that, but he also planned to leave the city wall and fight alongside Ning Yao in the next large-scale battle. Perhaps some people would gossip and spread rumors behind their backs, purposely putting a negative spin on things. However, the large majority of people were clearly aware of the reality.

Chen Ping’an genuinely drank quite a lot of wine today.

“If we’re conceited and oblivious to the people, the matters, and the world around us, then we’ll often find it difficult to help ourselves, liberate ourselves, and cherish things when it comes to the joys, sorrows, reunions, and partings around us.

“Those who are young can learn, and they don’t need to be afraid of making mistakes. They can right their wrongs, and they can strive to make the good better. What is there to be afraid of? What’s scary is that people like Fan Dache become completely stupefied after a blow to their heart, after which they start to blame the heavens and complain about other people.

“Do you know why Fan Dache insisted on inviting me over to drink with him? And insisted on asking for my opinion? Why didn’t he ask for the opinions of Chen Sanqiu and the others? That’s because he can live with not coming to this wine shop to drink in the future, but he can’t live with losing true friends like Chen Sanqiu and the others.”

Upon hearing this, Die Zhang asked, “Do you have a terrible impression of Fan Dache?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and replied, “You have it the wrong way around. Judging by how sincere his love for that young woman was, Fan Dache won’t draw hate from other people. It’s precisely because of this that I was willing to play the role of the villain and speak the unpleasant truth. Otherwise, would I not know what to say to comfort him? Was I so bored that I provoked him on purpose?

“Meticulously examining a person’s heart is no comfortable matter. The more meticulous we are, the tougher things will become.

“However, if this initial discomfort can allow those around us to live better and more peaceful lives, then we’ll eventually become more comfortable and relaxed in the end as well. Knowing this, it’s very important for us to take responsibility for ourselves first. In this way, treating our opponents with respect and seriousness is also one aspect of taking responsibility for ourselves.”

Die Zhang wholeheartedly agreed with this, but she still said, “Alright, I get it. I’ll treat you to some wine!”

Chen Ping’an chuckled in speechlessness, putting his chopsticks down beside the plate and walking away with the unopened pot of wine.

As he walked, he suddenly turned his gaze toward the city wall, but the strange feeling disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. Chen Ping’an didn’t think too much about this.

————

Chen Qingdu’s brows were knitted in a deep frown as he slowly walked out of his thatched cottage and forcefully stomped his foot, unleashing even more power than when the Scholarly Sage had visited the Sword Qi Great Wall just then.

A figure in white swayed elusively above the city wall.

This was an extremely tall woman standing with her back to the north and her face to the south, a sword in one hand.

Looking at her wavering figure, Chen Qingdu knew that she couldn’t remain here for too long. This allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.

However, an uncharacteristic expression of seriousness and reminiscence appeared on the face of the old great sword immortal who had already guarded this city wall for ten thousand years.

He slowly walked over to the parapet where she was standing and asked in curiosity, “Why have you come here?”

“I’ve come here to visit my master,” she replied in a calm voice.

Chen Qingdu was stunned into silence for a long time before exclaiming in disbelief, “What?!”

She then continued, “So you can piss off further, Chen Qingdu.”