Chen Ping'an underwent a sudden transformation, becoming a temporary apprentice at the blacksmith's workshop. According to Master Ruan, someone had to take over Liu Xianyang's duties—digging wells, building houses, digging canals—every task required manpower; it was unreasonable to support Old Liu for nothing. Thus, Chen Ping'an became the busiest person in the shop. For all the heavy labor, the straw-shod youth truly rivaled any robust man. During breaks, Chen Ping'an would visit Liu Xianyang's room. The tall youth, who had recently escaped death's door, seemed either haunted by lingering fear or drained by the Mountain-Moving Ape's punch, becoming taciturn and weak. He often lay in bed staring blankly at the ceiling. Apart from Chen Ping'an, no one else could engage him in conversation. Even Chen Ping'an felt powerless in this regard. Fortunately, though Liu Xianyang's injuries were severe, the wounds on his chest healed far faster than the injuries on Chen Ping'an's left hand.
Ning Yao still resided in the old house on Niping Alley. The man she called Master Ruan surprisingly agreed to forge her sword. Even more unexpectedly, Master Ruan said that if luck favored, the sword could be completed within six months; if not, it might take ten years or more. Ning Yao remained unfazed, smiling and claiming her fortune had always been good—six months was enough. Though Ning Yao lived daily at Chen Ping'an's ancestral home, her medicines and paraphernalia were all moved to the workshop to spare Chen Ping'an from constant running back and forth. Chen Ping'an stayed at Liu Xianyang's house mainly out of concern for burglary.
One midnight, Chen Ping'an went to the stream to search for stones but returned empty-handed. Even the deep pit near the Blue Ox's back yielded no snake gallstones. According to Ning Yao, snake gallstones, much like humans, must possess spirit and vitality—without these, they are mere ornamental objects akin to a scholar's inkstone. But imbued with spirit, they are akin to donning a dragon robe. The difference between the two was as vast as heaven and earth. This thought made Chen Ping'an sigh each time he walked by the stream.
Ning Yao brought back a set of old keys she found in the yard. After testing, they indeed belonged to the next-door neighbor, Song Jixin's family; they could open the gate, house door, and even the inner rooms. Chen Ping'an could not fathom what Song Jixin intended. Given his careless and extravagant nature, he was unlikely to want Chen Ping'an to clean his house. Knowing Song Jixin's temperament, he wouldn't allow outsiders into his territory even if his house collapsed. Chen Ping'an knew Song Jixin better than anyone.
Song Jixin was generous—willing to spend all ten copper coins in his pocket for himself or even the young maid Zhihua. Yet, he was also stingy—unwilling to share even a crumb of what he wished to monopolize. In brief, Song Jixin would lavish gifts to whomever he chose, but never voluntarily grant favors when asked. When in a good mood, he would embellish others, but regardless of mood, he never extended help in hardship. Could it have been Zhihua who deliberately lost the keys at his house? Chen Ping'an doubted it.
During the moment Ning Yao mentioned unlocking the door with the keys, Chen Ping'an was dumbfounded, hesitating to speak. Ning Yao narrowed her eyes; her sharp, slender brows exuded an imposing aura as she stared intently at him. Nearby, Ruan Xiu quietly watched this scene, secretly nibbling on snacks Chen Ping'an had bought from the town.
Finally, Ning Yao turned and left without asking Chen Ping'an to prepare her medicine that day. Carrying a clay jar, she busied herself in the empty yard behind the blacksmith shop. After much effort, the girl ended up with a soot-streaked face and a huge pot of charcoal-black medicine. A young girl in a green robe with a ponytail passed by, crunching sunflower seeds with evident enjoyment. Ning Yao crouched, glaring fiercely at the pot of herbs, feeling brewing medicine was far harder than sword or saber practice. Her face flushed with indignation—was there really anything Ning Yao could not master? Clearly, such medicinal concoctions should not exist!
Chen Ping'an silently joined her, expertly restarting the brewing process. Ning Yao's lips moved but offered no resistance, though she wiped her face discreetly when Chen Ping'an wasn't looking. The youth crouched beside the pot, attentively watching the fire, hands folded on his knees, chin resting on his arms. Ning Yao snorted coldly, "If you want to laugh, just laugh!"
Chen Ping'an refrained from mocking her, his gaze fixed on the gentle flicker of green flames, whispering, "It's not that I suspect you, Miss Ning, of any mischief. But the keys ultimately belong to others. No matter why they ended up in our yard, it's improper to use them to open doors. Even if Song Jixin and Zhihua never return to the town, the neighboring yard still belongs to them—we remain outsiders."
Ning Yao curled her lips, "Good-for-nothing, stubborn, fussbudget, nag nag nag!"
Chen Ping'an and Ning Yao turned simultaneously, spotting a young man of slender build and refined demeanor—clearly a stranger and a scholar. Chen Ping'an noted the strange look in his eyes: unlike the Mountain-Moving Ape or Fu Nanhua from Old Dragon City, neither arrogant nor aloof like Lu Daoist or Miss Ning, his gaze was complicated, mingling pity, admiration, and a hint of disdain. The young man chose silence and departed.
Ning Yao frowned, "He came here for you. What's going on?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head, puzzled, "I have no idea."
The awkward intrusion dissolved any tension or slight rift between the youth and maiden. Soon, the stranger returned with a tall young woman and unexpectedly, Ruan Xiu. Ruan Xiu explained, "They don't speak the town's dialect, so I'm helping. Chen Ping'an, this is the sister who saved Liu Xianyang. She's also a Chen, but not from our Dongbaoping Continent. The lady beside her is Chen Songfeng, the legitimate eldest grandson of the Chen clan from Longwei County. Chen sister said Chen Songfeng and your Chen clan are distant relatives from centuries ago. As for her, even tracing back a thousand or two years, there's no relation. She's here to perform ancestral rites, but no one around the town—from the supervising official's office to the great families on Fulu Street and Taoye Lane—knows where her ancestral grave is. Liu Xianyang said you're the most familiar with the surrounding mountains and rivers, so seeking your help is sure to succeed. Chen sister said if you help, she can pay—one sack of refined copper coins. I think you should agree..." At this, the green-robed girl slyly tapped her fingers at her waist, mouthing "two sacks," a subtle hint to Chen Ping'an that although the demand was high, the opportunity might not come again.
After careful thought, Chen Ping'an smiled, "I have a place in mind that might be what she seeks. As for the payment, forget it—it's just a short walk."
Ruan Xiu seemed anxious. Ning Yao stepped forward, speaking in the formal Dongbaoping dialect, "It's fine for Chen Ping'an to lead you to the grave for the rites, but you must pay two sacks of refined copper coins, no negotiation! He's severely injured, not fit for a long trek. You know how Master Qi ordered everyone to leave town quickly; Chen Ping'an is just an ordinary man, yet must hasten the journey. One sack isn't enough."
Upon first sight of the maiden, Chen Dui and Chen Songfeng were both captivated, as if beholding an orchid flourishing amid a barren field—graceful and elegant. Chen Dui openly admired her green robe, sword and dagger at her side—truly a delight to the eyes. His gloomy mood lightened, he smiled, "If we find my family grave, two sacks it is. But a fair warning—if we don't, I won't pay a single coin. Deal?"
Ning Yao's voice turned firm, "Agreed!"
From beginning to end, it was as if Chen Ping'an's affairs didn't exist. Ning Yao fixed him with a gaze full of unspoken threat: "Don't start nagging me, or I really will chop someone down." Chen Ping'an stifled a smile, then seriously said to Ruan Xiu, "Please tell them I must finish brewing Miss Ning's medicine—about half an hour—then I'll talk to Liu Xianyang. Lastly, I'll ask Miss Ruan to inform Master Ruan that I'll catch up on what I missed tomorrow."
Upon hearing the delay, Chen Dui's expression darkened. She looked at the ungrateful straw-shod youth with a volatile face. Chen Ping'an did not flinch. Ning Yao folded her arms, her smile icy. Chen Dui swallowed her displeasure, murmuring, "Xiu Xiu, tell him we'll wait by the covered bridge for half an hour. If he doesn't show, he'll face the consequences."
Ruan Xiu responded nonchalantly. Chen Dui and Chen Songfeng departed together. Ruan Xiu said, "I'll inform my father."
After brewing the medicine for Ning Yao, Chen Ping'an went to find Liu Xianyang. The injured youth, after long sleep, opened his eyes but still did not speak much. Chen Ping'an asked cautiously about the grave location, but Liu only shook his head weakly.