A Liang no longer drank, fastening the silver gourd at his side. Yet he remained with one leg crossed over the other, the newly forged bamboo sword of the Earth Deity of Qidun Mountain resting horizontally across the knees of the man in the bamboo hat. A Liang gently tapped the hilt and the top of the scabbard in a rhythmic motion, up and down, and spoke:
"Throughout this journey, I have been testing you repeatedly. Your choices will determine how far I escort you. Simply put, how many hurdles you overcome will dictate how much of the path I can accompany you on."
Chen Ping'an nodded thoughtfully, "Toward the end, I began to understand somewhat, but I always felt that you, A Liang, harbor many thoughts that remain inscrutable to me."
A Liang showed no surprise, candidly saying, "The first time was by the Longxu Creek. Had I seen you then as an inexperienced brat, a reckless idealist with naive goodwill, I might have only given you a donkey and walked away without a second glance. Whether you survived the trials at Fengxue Temple or not was none of my concern—death is inevitable, sooner or later, and it's a waste of my feelings."
As A Liang reminisced, his voice calm and steady, Chen Ping'an listened, astonished by the subtlety of his thoughts and unable to fathom how many strange trials had once tested his life.
"The third from last was the battle on the stone terrace of Qidun Mountain. Had I not deliberately provoked it, the Earth Deity Wei Bo and the two snake pythons wouldn't have acted so rashly. I intended..."
"The penultimate time was to lure you back to the bamboo grove, to chop a few more bamboo stalks."
"This time, barring any unforeseen events, will be the last. Originally, I planned to escort you to Yefu Pass before departing, but unexpected circumstances force me to leave prematurely."
A Liang smiled with a carefree air. "Some tests are intentional, some happen by circumstance. During this time, some of your actions displeased me—so rigid and inflexible—while others pleased me greatly. That is the right path. This is not the scholarly imperial examination system like Qi Jingchun or Cui Yan's kind, but one that values authenticity above all."
He watched Chen Ping'an closely, continuing: "I put these trials in place and observed your every word and deed with cold eyes. It's akin to how certain sect elders accept disciples at their gates—emphasizing character over innate talent."
A Liang chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Do you think I, A Liang, am some idler with malicious intent? A schemer full of dark plots?"
But before Chen Ping'an could reply, he answered himself: "I hardly have that luxury. I am a man of consequence, very busy, thank you very much."
Chen Ping'an lazily propped his legs on the bench, sitting cross-legged, resting his chin on his palms, and asked, "A Liang, is it because I know Master Qi that you care so much about me?"
A Liang's playful expression vanished, replaced by solemnity. "The path of cultivation is fraught with temptations. Li Huai's 'Broken Water Cliff' and Lin Shouyi's innate talent are both commodities that could be sold, stepping stones for you, Chen Ping'an. Qi Jingchun's disciples ought not to suffer so miserably. Especially Li Baoping—a fine young girl. Just thinking of how her trusted junior uncle broke her heart shatters mine."
A Liang's solemnity was short-lived as he grinned slyly, "Ah, we old men can endure the fall of kingdoms and the sinking of lands, but it's these small beauties that break us most."
Chen Ping'an picked up an untouched candied hawthorn from beside him, slowly chewing, and mumbled, "A Liang, what do you think of me now? If you think I'm not up to the task, why not find someone else to escort Baoping and the others to Great Sui? It's not that I fear hardship—I'm honest with you—I'm just afraid of disappointing Master Qi and failing to protect Baoping and the others."
A Liang laughed and teased, "You little brat, don't think about running off. This job suits you best. Qi Jingchun may have his faults, but his judgment is impeccable. Unless the old man himself takes them on a study tour... Not to mention, that old coward is stingy and tight-fisted, full of bottled-up rage."
He adjusted his bamboo hat, looked up, and clicked his tongue. "Well, the Da Li emperor is quite the character. Fierce and formidable. While we still have time, let me share some trivial matters, and explain why I'm willing to invest so much time in you."
A Liang folded his legs to mirror Chen Ping'an's cross-legged posture, resting the sword across his knees, and spoke slowly:
"Whether martial or spiritual, the path of cultivation abhors hesitation. To live and act in accordance with one's true heart is a shortcut, but the difficulty lies in overthinking the reasons why. Martial cultivators don't 'step back and ponder.' Most warriors believe struggling against the current means charging forward with unrelenting courage and strength. Taoists like self-reflection, Buddhists contemplate past and future lives, Confucians emphasize rules and frameworks, Mohists—curiously—advocate universal care and chivalry but shun immortality. Novelists are dreamers, hoping to craft a world on paper far grander than reality."
"Human nature is fragile as glass, unable to withstand scrutiny. Qi Jingchun is a stubborn and prideful gentleman. If he won't test you, I shall do it in his stead. The legacy of literature and tradition is no trivial matter. If you, Chen Ping'an, are a mere embroidered pillow or a weak-willed man easily swayed by temptation, what then? Should Qi Jingchun perish, I remain alive. If his absence leaves my mind uneasy, wouldn't that disgust me? Endurance and resisting temptation are two very different virtues."
A Liang sighed, "Perhaps this is a case of the emperor being calm while the eunuch frets."
Chen Ping'an earnestly replied, "Rest assured, A Liang. Though I cherish wealth, I only desire the fruits earned by my own hands. I would never pocket others' riches, even if they fell at my feet—I'd seek out their rightful owners."
A Liang smiled, "Not wrong, but if you genuinely find yourself in dire need, take what you must to quell the immediate crisis. Keep the account in your heart, and when able, repay more to everyone's satisfaction. That is the true mark of a good person. Otherwise, will you starve yourself clutching that money?"
Chen Ping'an asked, "How then do you judge if I'm in urgent need?"
A Liang pointed to his chest and then to his head. "When both are clear, the funds may be used."
Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up, nodding vigorously, "Though you never studied, you've traveled many paths. Your words make perfect sense."
A Liang rubbed his nose. "Feels almost worse than Li Huai's flattery."
Leaning on the railing, A Liang gazed at the bright moonlit night beyond the corridor and mused, "You know, what you call stubbornness is called integrity by scholars like Qi Jingchun. Yes, true integrity—the harmony of heart and deed, the uprightness of a gentleman, the straight path walked."
He laughed heartily, pointing at the bewildered youth, "Ha! You know this yourself, you muddy-country, petty miser. But precisely because of this, you resemble the old man in his youth. Qi Jingchun was irritable at your age, yet he was a late bloomer, heavy-hearted like you, gentle like a mud-carved Bodhisattva, born to sit upon a pedestal."
His voice deepened then suddenly lifted, "Of course, I, A Liang, live by whim, not fond of your style. Once, for this very reason, I refused a young man's request—he was about your age. I often wonder if taking him along on the road would have changed things. I told him, trust me, you'll find greater success in books. The world of martial arts is small; I alone am enough. But the boundless sea of knowledge? Why trail behind A Liang and eat dust?"
The man in the bamboo hat grinned, "So this trip to Da Li, I intend to chat with some folks. To tell them that what Qi Jingchun dismisses, someone still cares about."
A Liang flicked his fingers casually. In a bookshop down the alley of Guan Shui Street, the young gentleman claiming to be Li Jin of Chongdan River was struck with such force on the forehead he flew backward, crashing through the book wall and into the neighboring shop, startling the drowsy clerk into silence.
A Liang muttered, "Immortals battling—best to watch quietly. That little carp thinks he's seen all the rivers and waves? The rivers and seas I've witnessed outnumber the grains of rice Li Huai's eaten. Think I'm boasting? I've never known how to boast."
He then caught in midair a small azure fish-like spirit struggling fiercely beyond the courtyard wall. Severed from its master's divine intent, it should have been dying, yet now it brimmed with vitality, swimming leisurely in his palm.
A Liang explained, "I'll have Li Huai keep it in that 'Broken Water Cliff' book… Huh? This little bastard seems to have endless luck. Does Li Huai never wipe his shoe soles in town?"
A youthful voice rang out, "A Liang, you're the one always stepping in dog poo!"
Chen Ping'an glanced at A Liang, who chuckled softly, "No worries, those three only arrived recently, unaware of
my long service."
The two laughed as the moon rose high. A Liang looked up and whispered, "Tomorrow, the road grows perilous. You'd best rest."
Chen Ping'an nodded in understanding, feeling the weight of their shared journey.