Unsheathed

Chen Ping’an flew to his private residence in the summer palace after leaving the city wall, starting to rest and recuperate in peace and quiet.

Just two days later, Chen Ping’an freely visited the winter palace, holding a jade tablet and not even needing to expend a single Land-Shortening Talisman.

He chose a quiet location out of the way to watch Grandma Bai teaching the children fist techniques. Right now, she was teaching them the meaning of the entire body being a single fist, describing the intent of this principle, how to learn it, and how to practice it.

Among the pupils was a child whom Chen Ping’an was familiar with, the tomboy called Yuan Zaohua. He had gifted her two folding fans, and she was the only person at the Sword Qi Great Wall who had managed to scam the second shopkeeper using her genuine skills.

In reality, Chen Ping’an was familiar with all of the children present because they were martial arts talents meticulously hand-picked by him and the lineage of the Hidden Official. One of the children had already been taken to the Middle Earth Divine Continent by Yu Juanfu, while the rest remained here. These children weren’t too old to embark on the path of martial arts.

There was a huge number of sword cultivators at the Sword Qi Great Wall, but there was only a tiny number of pure martial artists.

That being the case, what should they do if the Sword Qi Great Wall were breached and turned on its head, becoming a territory of the Savage World? Would they truly leave all of the martial fortune for the Savage World?

This naturally wouldn’t do.

However, Chen Ping’an also knew that making a last-ditch attempt and training these children to fight for the title of ”strongest” was largely an exercise in futility. In addition, there existed a natural atmosphere of suppression at the Sword Qi Great Wall, one that specifically targeted the Great Dao of martial arts. Chen Ping’an hadn’t understood this before, and he had only come to a slight understanding after the old great sword immortal revealed the two secrets on the city wall just then.

The Middle Earth Divine Continent’s Martial Goddess Pei Bei had most likely come prepared, and as for Cao Ci, he had never relied on martial fortune with how pure his fist techniques were. Chen Ping’an conceded that he was far inferior to Cao Ci in this regard. If martial fortune were willing to come his way now, Chen Ping’an would feel a strong urge to invite the rest of the martial fortune’s so-called friends and family over. His doors would be wide open, and the more martial fortune that came, the better.

It wouldn’t necessarily matter much even if the hasty training of these children didn’t reap any martial fortune, especially since a solid martial arts foundation would allow them to survive regardless of where they went in the future. More precisely, they would enjoy a greater chance of staying alive. Indeed, when the world was engulfed in chaos and tumult, one’s status wouldn’t always be enough to grant one a safe place to stay.

Over at the training ground, Grandma Bai threw an extremely short punch. Her fist only traveled half the length of her forearm, but the fist intent it possessed was innately simple and naturally powerful.

After reaching the seventh tier of martial arts and beyond, so-called fist techniques were nothing more than a comparison of fist intent. This was something akin to a rudimentary manifestation of the Great Dao.

Grandma Bai’s fist flew toward a clumsy boy standing beside her. However, the little boy remained unmoving, with his expression challenging the old woman to pummel him to death.

He was Taixiang Street’s Jiang Yun, and he possessed outstanding aptitude compared to most of the other children present.

The little boy didn’t know when Grandma Bai retracted her fist. He was completely unafraid, but even so, his back was already drenched in sweat.

This was a rare innate talent.

Grandma Bai threw another punch, with her fist stopping a hair away from a little girl’s forehead. The little girl from Ritual Baton Street performed marginally worse than Jiang Yun, flinching slightly even though she didn’t step back.

The ten or so children stood in a row, and Grandma Bai walked along and threw punches at each of them. Some children retreated, while others gritted their teeth and held their ground.

Not a single punch from Grandma Bai connected.

However, Chen Ping’an could tell that Grandma Bai’s fist intent did reach the children even though her fists hadn’t made any physical contact. It was a pity that only one other child displayed strong instincts, choosing to retreat immediately after Grandma Bai’s fist intent fluctuated slightly. Hazy Dusk Alley’s Xu Gong had reacted in a completely different manner from Jiang Yun, but both of them could be regarded as impressive talents who could develop fist intent earlier.

Meanwhile, Tomboy Yuan Zaohua appeared as if she were facing a formidable enemy. Her body was extremely tense, and she failed to detect the subtle release of Grandma Bai’s fist intent.

Chen Ping’an felt like this was nothing much. Aptitude and talent were indeed very important for martial arts as well, but the requirements were nowhere near as stringent as they were for Qi refiners, and even less so compared to the life-and-death gambles taken by sword cultivators. One couldn’t become a sword cultivator through hard work alone, but one could slowly accumulate skills if one possessed decent aptitude, gradually seeing the fruits of one’s labor ripen.

Of course, the third tier of martial arts was still a significant barrier, but it definitely wouldn’t pose a difficulty for the children gathered here to train. The only difference would be how early or how late they overcame this barrier.

Chen Ping’an leaned against a column in the corridor, holding his hands inside his opposite sleeves as he observed the young children. Those who trained diligently were mostly from impoverished families in Yanchi Alley and Hazy Dusk Alley, while those who were reluctant to learn were often from large and wealthy clans, such as Jiang Yun.

The children started to practice standing meditation again, and Grandma Bai would occasionally step forward to adjust their stances, twisting their bones and tendons. This would cause the children to roll on the ground and wail in agony.

Initially feeling peaceful and tranquil, Chen Ping’an immediately started to chuckle at the children’s misfortune.

However, he felt a slight sense of melancholy when the young tomboy and another child from an impoverished background fell to the floor in agony.

Grandma Bai shot Chen Ping’an a glance, her expression kind and her eyes carrying a hint of inquiry, asking for his opinion.

Chen Ping’an hurriedly waved a hand in response, gesturing that he was only here to take a look.

Unexpectedly, however, Grandma Bai smiled and said, ”Lord Hidden Official, some of the children here are saying that they want to learn fist techniques from you, complaining that my fist techniques are too feminine. So, how about you teach them?”

Chen Ping’an was just about to politely refuse, but Jiang Yun crossed his arms and shouted at the top of his lungs, ”Show yourself, Hidden Official!”

This fuckin’ little runt... Which of us is the Hidden Official here?

Chen Ping’an glanced at Tomboy Yuan Zaohua, who had sat up straight. She silently raised a shaking hand, using it to wipe away the dust and sweat on her face.

There was a faint smile on Grandma Bai’s face.

Chen Ping’an had no option but to briskly walk to the training ground.

He didn’t do anything extra, and he simply explained his insights into the six-step walking meditation in a clear and concise manner. All it took was a few short sentences.

Jiang Yun thought this was just the preface, but the young Hidden Official quickly shut up and stopped speaking. He couldn’t help but ask, ”That’s all?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and replied, ”Fist principles are concise to begin with, and this follows the same notion as thinner books containing more profound knowledge.”

He only spoke half the truth.

Casting one’s gaze over the knowledge expounded by the Three Teachings and the Hundred Schools of Thought, the closer to the fundamental tenets the knowledge was, the more future generations would annotate and expand on this knowledge, causing it to eventually grow into lush forests of explanations and comprehensions.

However, the more complicated the explanations to the children were, the more they would feel confused and at a complete loss.

Grandma Bai smiled and said, ”Lord Hidden Official, if you’re not in a hurry to return to the summer palace, then you can teach these children the walking meditation of the Mountain Shaking Fist. They’ve coincidentally just finished practicing standing meditation for the day.”

She naturally couldn’t refer to Chen Ping’an as ”son-in-law” with so many outsiders present.

Chen Ping’an pondered for a moment, thinking that it definitely wouldn’t be a problem to stay here for one hour. Thus, he nodded and replied with a smile, ”This walking meditation originates from the Mountain Shaking Fist.”

Jiang Yun interjected again and said, ”Wait a minute, the name of this fist technique isn’t impressive at all. Mountain shaking? Which sword cultivator at the Sword Qi Great Wall can’t flatten a mountain with a single sword strike?”

Chen Ping’an smiled faintly and replied, ”Then how about you teach me fist techniques?”

Jiang Yun furrowed his brows and snapped, ”Fix your attitude and speak some reason!”

Chen Ping’an smiled knowingly and continued, ”Perhaps the name of the fist technique is only so-so. If that’s the case, then let me say a few extra words.”

He roughly explained the situation of martial artists in the Majestic World, saying that ordinary martial artists who didn’t hail from renowned forces often had weak and chaotic fist techniques. In fact, those who could shatter large rocks with their fists and feet were already regarded as decently powerful martial artists. As such, the description of mountain shaking was already very lofty.

As he spoke, Chen Ping’an also wove in some of his own experiences, allowing him to grab the attention of the children. In any case, who didn’t like to slack off? They could escape getting beaten up as they practiced the boring standing meditation and walking meditation.

After explaining everything, Chen Ping’an demonstrated walking meditation several times, after which he observed the children and pointed out some of their mistakes. They took a break after fifteen minutes, and Chen Ping’an talked about the pinnacle scenery for ninth and tenth tier martial artists, having already talked about ordinary martial artists in the martial world just then.

The children enjoyed listening to these stories, especially since the winter palace was essentially a prison that they couldn’t escape. Jiang Yun had once persuaded the little girl from Ritual Baton Street to flee together, yet they were immediately caught and dragged back inside while climbing the wall at midnight. They were punished to perform standing meditation, and the little girl fainted two times during this punishment. Meanwhile, Jiang Yun had directly fallen asleep while still standing.

While Jiang Yun and the little girl were being punished, two other children were also practicing standing meditation of their own volition. However, Grandma Bai had quickly shooed them inside to rest.

Being stubborn and rigid were big taboos when it came to practicing fist techniques.

Those who were poor pursued the scholarly path, while those who were rich pursued the martial path. Those who chose the latter needed knowledgeable teachers to guide them along the right path, and tempering their bones and tendons would further require a huge sum of money.

Otherwise, it was very easy to stray down the wrong path, eventually causing injury to oneself and draining one’s vital energy. Rather than developing fist intent, straying down the wrong path would instead make it appear as if they had invited a ghost into their body. This was the biggest challenge and pain point for martial artists who failed to find a good teacher.

Chen Ping’an kept a close eye on the time and bid farewell after one hour.

Grandma Bai continued to teach fist techniques to the children.

”I’m super disappointed after meeting him in the flesh,” Jiang Yun muttered in a quiet voice.

”You’ll understand the meaning of utter despair when you feel like you have the right to challenge the Hidden Official to a fist duel,” Grandma Bai said with a smile.

Jiang Yun shook his head and replied, ”Forget about it. The second shopkeeper is extremely cunning, and once my cultivation base catches up to his, the second shopkeeper will definitely ask me many questions to gauge my strength. I won’t fight him if he agrees to my challenge.”

Grandma Bai shook her head upon hearing this. The Jiang Clan was fairly honest and responsible, so how had they raised such a little bastard with a loose tongue?

Jiang Yun glanced at the old woman, and the little boy felt even more confused. How had his grandpa been attracted to this old woman in the past?

Chen Ping’an returned to the summer palace before making his way to Stalactite Mountain’s Spring Banner Inn with Sword Immortal Chou Miao. He also visited the Plum Blossom Garden along the way, and he had brought two additional minimization treasures with him this time, seeing that the book delivered to the summer palace by Lady Tuo Yan wasn’t thin. He had borrowed these minimization treasures from Yan Ming and Nalan Caihuan.

Standing in the empty Plum Blossom Garden and looking at the glimmering eyes of the Hidden Official as he moved things back and forth, Sword Immortal Chou Miao couldn’t help but ask, ”Do you act the same way in the secret chamber of the Ning Residence?”

Chen Ping’an couldn’t be bothered to speak nonsense with him.

Were these matters the same?

Chen Ping’an carefully went over the account books after arriving at the Spring Banner Inn, and Wei Wenlong explained some of the finer details to him in a quiet voice. Sword Immortal Mi Yu almost fell asleep as he listened to this.

The outcome that Chou Miao and Lin Junbi were the most worried about hadn’t materialized yet.

The intercontinental ships from the eight continents were still able to travel freely and arrive at Stalactite Mountain without a hitch.

On the way here, Chou Miao had suggested that they could appropriately raise the price for some items. Chen Ping’an felt like this was plausible, so he had discussed some of the finer details of this matter with Yan Ming and Nalan Caihuan.

The prices of some critical items would remain unchanged, or else the finances of the Sword Qi Great Wall would become too stretched. It would be under huge pressure even with help from the extremely wealthy Spring Banner Inn and Plum Blossom Garden. However, they could charge a bit more for some second-rate miscellaneous items. They could take these things one step at a time.

After returning to the Sword Qi Great Wall, this was Chen Ping’an’s first time making his way near Mirage Market to the north of the city. He didn’t enter Mirage Market, and he simply looked at it from afar.

Sword Immortal Chou Miao glanced up at the sky and said using his mind’s lake, ”Disregarding the destructive power of sword strikes and only focusing on the fundamental aspects of the matter, can you reach the same level as the old great sword immortal?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and responded, ”That will be very difficult to achieve.”

————

Over at the Sword Qi Great Wall, Ning Yao and the others flew on their swords and returned to the city wall first.

They were all carrying wounds, with Die Zhang’s wounds being the most severe.

Chen Qingdu walked out from his thatched cottage.

Chen Sanqiu greeted his old ancestor, and Chen Qingdu acknowledged this with a nod.

That was all.

If outsiders came across the drinking Chen Sanqiu, it would be very difficult for them to imagine that this young and carefree drunkard’s old ancestor was actually Chen Qingdu.

Old Sword Immortal Chen Xi, who had managed to engrave the character ”Chen” on the great wall, had once asked Old Ancestor Chen Qingdu in private whether Chen Sanqiu could leave with a Confucian sage to seek knowledge in the Majestic World.

Chen Qingdu had simply replied with a question of his own.

Did Chen Sanqiu want to keep the surname ”Chen” in the future?

In the end, Chen Xi had left the city wall in a dejected manner.

Chen Sanqiu respectfully bid farewell before taking the lead and flying away on his sword.

The descendants of the Chen Clan had always been like this.

They had an old ancestor whose sword skills were genuinely transcendent above the heavens, yet his presence in the clan could essentially be viewed as negligible. In fact, it could be said that they were better off without his existence.

Dong Huafu, Yan Zhuo, and the others also left, returning to the city to rest and recuperate for a few days. Die Zhang would need to nurse her wounds for even longer.

Only Ning Yao remained.

Chen Ping’an flew to the city wall on his sword.

He sat on the parapet with Ning Yao, lightly swinging his legs as he did so.

”You’ve been staying at the summer palace for the past year and a bit. Are you hiding something and don’t dare to see me?” Ning Yao asked.

Chen Ping’an wanted to say something, but he couldn’t help but hesitate.

”Apart from liking someone else, you can feel free to tell me anything,” Ning Yao continued.

Chen Ping’an chuckled in speechlessness, and he fell silent for a moment before replying, ”I didn’t want to say this to begin with, but I suddenly realized that what I view as the best course of action might sometimes lead to the worst possible outcome. This is a matter between couples, so it genuinely isn’t something for me to decide alone. I’ll explain the matter to you, and you’re allowed to hit me after listening. However, you’re not allowed to get angry.”

Ning Yao nodded in response.

Chen Ping’an explained the matter to her, one that could be regarded as an agreement between him and the old great sword immortal.

Ning Yao didn’t say anything.

”You’re not angry?” Chen Ping’an asked in a quiet voice.

”Will things change if I’m angry?” Ning Yao asked in retort.

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, and it seemed like she was right.

However, he didn’t dare to say this.

Ning Yao raised an eyebrow.

This was enough, no?

Ning Yao didn’t say anything else.

The heel of Chen Ping’an’s foot gently tapped against the city wall.

Being together with Ning Yao, and the process of getting here — from meeting her to liking her, making his way over to visit her, traversing mountains and rivers as he traveled around the world, practicing fist techniques and whatnot — would perhaps leave Chen Ping’an feeling a little tired. However, his heart would never grow tired.

”You can tell me directly if you have such major matters weighing on your mind in the future. Even if I get angry, I’ll let you know straight away,” Ning Yao said.

Chen Ping’an gently held her hand, and the two of them quietly gazed into the distance.

Chen Qingdu was strolling along the city wall, and he wouldn’t walk too far each time. He would walk slowly before turning around and making his way back to the thatched cottage.

He glanced at the young couple in the distance.

A smile tugged at his lips as he recalled a minor but extremely interesting matter.

His impression of Chen Ping’an had been quite good during their first encounter in the past, and this was completely unrelated to anything else.

It was unrelated to Chen Ping’an’s three duels with Cao Ci, where he had dared to throw punches and been able to admit defeat.

It was also unrelated to his ability to travel all the way to the Sword Qi Great Wall by himself, all to deliver a sword to the girl he loved.

In fact, it was even unrelated to Chen Ping’an’s relationship with that senior.

Looking at the young boy, who initially had the aptitude to become an earth immortal but whose bridge of immortality had been destroyed — and especially looking at his eyes and his vitality — Chen Qingdu had felt like...he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

This was in stark contrast to how many elders in the martial world and seniors in the mountains viewed Chen Ping’an. Perhaps Chen Qingdu was the only person who saw no trace of gloomy lifelessness on Chen Ping’an. Rather, the young man was brimming with energy and vitality.

Still a young boy back then, it had appeared as if Chen Ping’an were silently questioning heaven and earth, glowing with health and vigor as he did so.

Can I truly become a great sword immortal? Can I win the love of the girl whom I love, and can I have her love me forever? Can I protect her in the future? Will I manage not to disappoint that person in the future? I can definitely achieve all of these things, can’t I?!

Chen Qingdu felt like this was very good.

It was no wonder that the old scholar had shamelessly questioned him before leaving, asking, ”How is my closing disciple? Are you envious? You’re extremely envious of how outstanding he is, aren’t you? Ah... It’s a pity that envy won’t help you at all. If I were you, Old Brother Chen, I would have fucking charged over and punched my face already. Otherwise, how can I quash the jealousy and anger in my heart?”