After the recent turmoil, the sycophantic owner of the large boat hastily approached, claiming to have reserved the finest private room on the second floor for his esteemed guests. He even said it would be no trouble at all to bring along the donkey, insisting that their presence was what truly lent glory to his humble vessel. A few wealthy individuals, drawn by reputation alone, also came forward. Many bore sabers instead of swords—a clear sign of those seeking to curry favor.
Chen Ping'an, unskilled in social maneuvering, left the task of polite refusal to Lin Shouyi. Raised in the supervisory office, the young man's speech and conduct were flawless. Even when turning people down, he did so with such tact that the dismissed guests still departed with smiles on their faces.
The swordsman known as "White Whale," as addressed by the elderly man, was a moderately renowned rogue cultivator from southern Great Li. His sword, Lingxu, was an authentic magical artifact and a formidable weapon from the Daoist talismanic tradition. Legend had it that it was the legacy of a reclusive master who had perished during his spiritual cultivation in a remote wilderness, and by sheer chance, the white-robed swordsman inherited it. With already impressive swordsmanship, he grasped the essence of the sword path and gained fame thereafter. Yet, due to his disdain for authority, he refused to be recruited by the imperial court or border army, preferring instead to roam the martial world. In the treacherous rivers and lakes of Great Li—where dragons lurked and masters abounded—simply being remembered by name was no small feat.
But now, he had not even drawn his blade and had been toyed with from start to finish, suffering a humiliation so grave that even his sword-heart might be clouded, and his sword-intent tarnished. One could begin to speculate on the true depths of this straw-sandaled youth's party—surely not ordinary. The boat was filled with worldly scholars, merchants, and seasoned martial heroes; regardless of moral leaning, fools were scarce among them.
Seeing that no one else came to exchange pleasantries, Lin Shouyi rubbed his temples in mild exasperation. If not for the brief moments of rest during which he could watch the emerald bookcase gradually take shape in Chen Ping'an's hands, his naturally aloof temperament might have led him to lash out in frustration.
Chen Ping'an, seeing this, offered quietly, "Don't worry. I promise this bookcase will meet your satisfaction."
Lin Shouyi sat cross-legged, his face weary, and for once, spoke candidly in a low voice. "I long to find a tranquil mountain, a place of pristine streams and lush greenery, and retreat into solitary cultivation. Let the world pass for a thousand years while I endure a single cycle of sixty years in the mountains. But Ah Liang once told me that this kind of spiritual path is known as the 'withered tomb.' It's viable, but only suitable for cultivators who've reached a certain level of mastery. I've only just begun. If I force this route now, I'll fall into deviation and unknowingly stray into heretical paths."
Chen Ping'an nodded solemnly. "Then you must indeed be cautious."
Li Huai, squatting nearby with his cheeks in his palms, chuckled. "Lin Shouyi, maybe Ah Liang was just scaring you. I think Qidun Mountain would suit you just fine to play immortal. When you're bored, you can chat and banter with that Earth God named Wei Bo, ride a giant turtle, or perhaps a black serpent or white python—talk about majestic! But if you're really not coming with us to Great Sui, why don't you just leave that bookcase to me? I can't carry it now, but a few years from now, when I'm taller and stronger, I can upgrade from a small bookcase to a big one. I'll remember your kindness. Once I return from my scholarly journey in Great Sui, I'll even give it back to you."
Lin Shouyi shot him a sidelong glance and sneered. "Even if I stay at Qidun Mountain to pursue immortality, I would never give that bookcase to you."
"Oh," Li Huai muttered. "Then you'd better just come with us to Great Sui."
Lin Shouyi massaged his brow again. It seemed only Ah Liang could handle Li Huai. No, Li Baoping could. And perhaps even Chen Ping'an. Was he the only one with no way to deal with Li Huai? With a heavy heart, Lin Shouyi stared at Li Huai, sending chills down the boy's spine.
In a flurry of nervous loyalty, Li Huai exclaimed, "What's with that look, Lin Shouyi? I want you to come to Great Sui with me! Sure, I might be eyeing your bookcase a bit—it's clearly better than mine, I won't deny that—but if you really decide to turn back and stay on the mountain, I'll be super upset. Think about it! Out of the four of us, you're the one who looks most dignified but hides the most mischief. If we ever run into a truly wicked person—someone who doesn't show it on their face—you'd be the only one who could see through them, right? Isn't that true, Chen Ping'an? Li Baoping?"
He looked around for support. Chen Ping'an focused intently on crafting the bookcase, utterly unresponsive. Li Baoping was lost in her own strange musings, her mind adrift.
Lin Shouyi, his mood increasingly grim, said, "Do you think this journey to Great Sui will be easy? Besides the treacherous terrain, we're bound to face all sorts of unforeseen troubles."
Li Huai blinked, confused.
Lin Shouyi continued slowly, "Our Great Li stands on martial might. The influence of the jianghu cannot be underestimated. Few scholars gain fame. Before Mr. Qi founded Cliffside Academy, the whole Eastern Bottle Continent scorned our land as barbaric."
Li Huai nodded. "I know that. Teacher Qi never shied away from saying so. He's mentioned our country's rough road more than once."
Lin Shouyi sighed. "I remember when I was young, Supervisor Song told a story. Years ago, a rare scholar from Great Li earned his place at the prestigious Lakeview Academy. But once there, he was met with relentless humiliation—not just verbal abuse. According to Song, scholars from the Gao and Lu dynasties set a vicious trap. The mental strain shattered our scholar's state of mind, driving him to madness. Years later, once his sanity returned, he was deeply wounded in a romantic entanglement and eventually drowned himself in grief.
"Outraged by this, our entire court erupted, and that's what led to our all-out war with the Lu dynasty—a battle where we staked the nation's fate. Before that, we had always chosen tolerance over confrontation with them.
"Now, things have changed. More of our people are pursuing scholarship, and cultivators are descending from the mountains to serve the court and fight bravely at the borders. A new order is forming—Great Li's scholars are becoming increasingly proud. Those who pass the imperial examinations often carry an air of superiority. Take that so-called magistrate of Wanping County—he's likely a capital bureaucrat sent to the provinces. A legitimate product of the examination halls. I worry that after he disembarks at Wanping's pier, he may, out of scholarly pride or political ambition, choose to strike against us."
Here, Lin Shouyi finally smiled. "But thankfully, he's a scholar-official. And among us, there's one who has yet to show themselves—a cultivator from the mountains. They may yet prove a sufficient deterrent. No matter how precious scholars are in Great Li, they still pale in comparison to cultivators. The real fear is if this magistrate is too ignorant, or worse—despite being from the capital—has never truly witnessed the might of a cultivator. That could bring us a whole new mess."
Li Huai, full of worry, turned to the reclining white donkey and slapped its side. "You troublemaker! Acting all coy just because someone patted you? Do you think you're some delicate maiden?"
Suddenly, Li Baoping interjected, "Right now, that old man is probably a guest of honor with the county magistrate, sharing grievances. The more distinguished he is, the more formidable that swordsman must be. Which means the magistrate will be less likely to confront us openly. My brother once said, even when scholars rebel, it takes them three years to get anywhere. As for secret tricks—we're not afraid. As long as he doesn't wield imperial power against us, we'll meet soldiers with generals, and water with earth. What are you afraid of, Lin Shouyi? Don't lose your composure."
Lin Shouyi pondered her words carefully, then nodded. "You're probably right."
Li Baoping's eyes grew serious. "Right, Little Uncle?"
Chen Ping'an smiled wryly. "How would I know anything about the twists and turns of officials and scholars…"