Chapter 46: Yayi Knife

Not long after the straw sandal-wearing youth left the house, the girl in green stamped her foot, about to follow. However, the middle-aged man, formerly known as Craftsman Ruan but now addressed as Master Ruan, stopped her, his expression serious. "Xiuxiu! If you interfere now, you'll only be a hindrance, harming Chen Ping'an. Then it would truly be an irredeemable situation."

Ruan Xiu didn't turn around, but abruptly whipped her head, her black, shiny ponytail arcing beautifully in the air. Her eyes were sharp, her tone almost accusatory, "Father, you didn't interfere with Liu Xianyang's matter, and what was the result?"

The man hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately refraining from revealing the secrets of Heaven. He said in a low voice, "Trust Father, the biggest help you can be to that boy right now is to tell him as much as possible about the secrets and rules of this little grotto-heaven. Urge him to act within those confines, so that he can leverage the best possible timing, terrain, and support."

Ruan Xiu seemed to understand but was still hesitant. The man waved his hand, patiently instructing, "One move affects the whole body. You are Ruan Qiong's daughter. The stone that boy from Mud Bottle Alley throws into the pond, no matter how big, will only cause limited ripples, not disturbing the old turtle at the bottom. This means everything can be managed. But you, Ruan Xiu, are different. Remember, remain calm when facing great events! I keep telling you to read more, but you never listen! Your temperament isn't even as good as that of a boy from a poor alley. And you call yourself a cultivator!"

The man regretted those last words as soon as they left his mouth. He couldn't help but add a jab when it came to his own daughter. Fortunately, this time the girl didn't seem to feel wronged at all. She quickly ran out of the house, leaving behind a man with complicated feelings.

The man, whose full name was Ruan Qiong, pulled up a stool and sat down. He grasped the tall youth's wrist, his pulse a tangled mess, in terrible condition. The already disgruntled man's face grew even darker, and he grumbled, "That Qi Jingchun is really something. Orthodox Sun Mountain is acting so opportunistically. Even if he can't expel them according to the rules, he should at least give them a lesson, kill the chicken to scare the monkey. Even if he can't kill them, what's wrong with giving them a few smacks? Otherwise, more and more newcomers will flood into this realm, becoming even more of a mixed bag. Isn't it going to become a mess? What, is he thinking of just leaving me a broken mess since he's about to step down anyway? What happened to the responsibility of a scholar…"

The mediocre old doctor sat to the side, minding his own business, determined not to interrupt lest he invite disaster. The old man only dared to complain inwardly, *What happened to staying calm when facing great events?*

After venting, Ruan Qiong finally sighed, "It can't be helped that you, Qi Jingchun, are so restrained. You can treat what I said before as the wind in your ears, but don't miss this sentence."

The old shopkeeper of the Yang family's store had been eavesdropping all along. Upon hearing this, he immediately bowed in admiration, thinking, *As expected of the next sage to sit in the grotto-heaven, his face is thick enough to block a flying sword.*

Ruan Qiong suddenly looked at the old man and asked, "I've only heard of a married daughter being like spilled water. But she's not even married yet, and she's already taking sides?"

The old man had been holding back for so long that he couldn't help but say a few words of conscience, or he would be betraying his unyielding integrity. So, he mustered his courage and said, "Master Ruan, could it be that my old eyes are failing me? It just seems like that young man doesn't seem to like your Xiuxiu that much either."

Ruan Qiong looked at the old man with a pitying gaze, and said with certainty, "Don't doubt it, your old eyes are just failing you!"

The old man also looked at the man with a pitying gaze.

Both were speechless.

Over by the well, Ruan Xiu caught up with Chen Ping'an, not saying anything, as if unsure how to start.

Chen Ping'an smiled at her, remembering the first time they met near the Azure Ox Ridge. He had thought she was mute, or that she didn't speak the local dialect. Now he knew she just didn't like to talk.

She followed the straw sandal-wearing youth towards the covered bridge. The girl in green finally mustered her courage and said, "Chen Ping'an, my name is Ruan Xiu, my father is Ruan Qiong, and he's a sword-forger. I've been forging swords with my father since I was little. My father said we came to your town because he was entrusted by the sect and because the soil and water here are best suited for building a sword furnace. But I know in my heart that my father wants to find an opportunity for me. My father is just too proud. Just like your friend Liu Xianyang, my father really wanted to take him as a disciple. You might not know, but if my father chooses to establish a sect here in the future, the choice of the first disciple is very important, so he wasn't just standing by. Don't blame him…"

Chen Ping'an shook his head and said, "I don't blame your father."

At this point, the straw sandal-wearing youth paused, raised the back of his hand to wipe his chin, and said bitterly, "I know I shouldn't blame others, but I'm actually very angry, very angry that your father didn't take Liu Xianyang as a disciple sooner, angry that no one stopped it when Liu Xianyang had an accident. Even though I know it's wrong, I'm still very angry."

Ruan Xiu nodded, "That's only natural."

Chen Ping'an didn't want to waste any more time here and asked, "Miss Ruan, is there something you need?"

Ruan Xiu asked carefully, "You're not going to take revenge on the people from Orthodox Sun Mountain, are you?"

Chen Ping'an didn't speak, neither denying nor admitting it.

The girl wasn't good with words to begin with, so she simply said what came to mind, "Don't be so reckless. Orthodox Sun Mountain is already a famous sect in our Eastern Treasure Bottle Continent. That old ape's status is no different from the Orthodox Sun Mountain's patriarch. Even if the old ape can't use spells and divine powers here, dealing with you would be very simple! Furthermore, after he seriously injured Liu Xianyang, Mister Qi will definitely punish him, so at least you don't have to worry that this matter will be treated as if nothing happened…"

Chen Ping'an interrupted the girl and said, "Miss Ruan, is the punishment you're talking about going to be that the murderer will be expelled from the town?"

Ruan Xiu was speechless.

Chen Ping'an smiled and turned to comfort the girl, his eyes sincere, as clear as a stream of water, "Miss Ruan, I appreciate your kindness. Of course, I won't be foolish enough to rush up and fight those immortals."

Ruan Xiu was relieved and habitually patted her chest. Perhaps feeling that her actions were childish, not elegant enough, not like a proper young lady, the ponytail girl smiled a little embarrassedly.

Chen Ping'an also laughed and said, "I only gave you three fish last time, I was too stingy."Ruan Xiu blushed slightly, then quickly asked worriedly, "Your left hand?"

Chen Ping'an raised his heavily bandaged left hand. "It's nothing serious. It's already fine."

Ruan Xiu gathered her thoughts and said slowly, "Chen Ping'an, don't be impulsive. Master Qi of the school is in a difficult situation right now. And when Master Qi hands over to my father, the town will likely face earth-shattering changes. Whether it's good or bad, it's hard to say right now, so it's better to remain still than to act rashly."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Alright."

Ruan Xiu felt inexplicably anxious.

Ultimately, it was because she herself was very restless. According to her nature, she should be charging towards that old ape from Zheng Yang Mountain right now. But now she had to patiently persuade the boy not to take risks, which went against her true feelings. But the problem was, as she herself had said, the overall situation dictated that it was better to remain still than to act rashly. This was also her intuition.

If she, Ruan Xiu, recklessly went to demand answers, even if she caused a sky-high trouble, her father would definitely take care of it, and most likely be able to suppress it.

But this Chen Ping'an in front of her could only bear the consequences of his actions himself.

Chen Ping'an bid farewell to Ruan Xiu and ran alone towards the covered bridge.

He had just parted with one girl, and now he met another.

On the stone steps at the south end of the bridge sat a girl with a sword and saber laid beside her, her face solemn.

She wore a dark green robe, with long, narrow eyebrows and tightly pursed lips, with two exquisitely woven gold silk pouches placed beside her.

Chen Ping'an hurried towards the covered bridge. Just as he reached the bottom of the steps, the girl, Ning Yao, tossed down the two pouches of copper coins and said calmly, "Here's your money back."

Chen Ping'an stood at the bottom of the steps, catching the two pouches with both hands, unsure what to say for a moment.

Ning Yao said with a straight face, "I promised to ensure Liu Xianyang's safety, and now I haven't done it. I, Ning Yao, have failed you, Chen Ping'an, and Liu Xianyang!"

The girl knew very well that in this town, a boy with an ordinary physique, whose chest was smashed by a celestial being, could not be saved by anyone. Furthermore, if Liu Xianyang could be saved, even if there was only a glimmer of hope, given Chen Ping'an's kind-hearted nature, he probably would not leave even half a step from the blacksmith shop, even if he was beheaded there.

Chen Ping'an walked up the steps, squatted not far from her, handed the two pouches of money back to the girl, and said softly, "Miss Ning, you can keep the money. Take all of it, including the pouch hidden in my house in Mud Bottle Alley. I don't need it anymore. In the future, if possible, please use the money to hire people to look after our two houses, mine and Liu Xianyang's."

The girl didn't take the pouches, and laughed in anger. "Then do you want me to help you paste Spring Festival couplets and door gods every year?"

Chen Ping'an said with a serious expression, "If possible, that would be the best."

The girl almost exploded with anger, scolding, "Were you kicked in the face by a cow's tail when you were little? Is that why you can do stupid things with justification? You're infuriating me! In short, don't interfere with this matter, Chen Ping'an. Do you think your little bit of skill can deal with a Zheng Yang Mountain ape that can move mountains? As for Liu Xianyang's broken house, you can take care of it yourself from now on. And you can buy your own Spring Festival couplets and door gods! I, Ning Yao, won't serve you!"

Chen Ping'an looked at the girl and said, "Miss Ning, although I haven't known you for long, I can be sure of one thing. If you had the confidence to avenge Liu Xianyang, you wouldn't have returned the two pouches of money to me, at least not at this time."

Chen Ping'an placed the money on the steps between them. "Miss Ning, what time is it now? Do you think I'm in the mood to be polite with you? You, me, and Liu Xianyang were just doing a business deal. You weren't trying to trick us on purpose. It's just that we encountered this natural disaster. No one could have predicted it. There's no reason for you to risk your life. Believe me, not only I, Chen Ping'an, don't want to see this, but Liu Xianyang, that fool, doesn't want it either. If he could speak, he would only say, 'This is a man's business, women shouldn't interfere...'"

The boy suddenly grinned and said, "Of course, I wouldn't dare to say that to Miss Ning."

Ning Yao placed both hands on the white-sheathed long sword, squinting her eyes. "I only said half of what I wanted to say earlier. Half of it was guilt, and the other half is that since I left home, I, Ning Yao, have never encountered an obstacle that I circumvented!"

The girl extended her thumb and pointed to her heart. "It's here too!"

Chen Ping'an thought for a moment. "Miss Ning, before you do anything, can you let me find three people first? After that, we'll each do our own thing!"

Ning Yao asked, "How long will it take?"

Chen Ping'an said without hesitation, "Half a day at most!"

Ning Yao asked again, "Besides Qi Jingchun, who are the other two?"

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Miss Ning, please don't ask."

Ning Yao frowned. "The Pottery Oversight Office can't handle this. Do you really think this is a minor matter like stealing chickens or dogs, or street brawls?"

Chen Ping'an was about to stand up when Ning Yao said in a deep voice, "Take the money!"

Chen Ping'an had no choice but to put it away first.

"Chen Ping'an! Wait a moment, turn around first."

After making Chen Ping'an turn around, Ning Yao suddenly bent down, lifted her robe, took off a simple short knife tied to her calf, stood up, and handed it to the boy, her tone extremely solemn. "This is a 'skirt-pressing knife' unique to my hometown. Every woman has one. In an emergency, we must act according to the situation, so I won't bother with the customs of my hometown. But don't forget, this knife is lent to you, not given to you!"

Chen Ping'an was somewhat bewildered, but he reached out a hand to take the short knife.

The girl said angrily, "Use both hands! Do you know any manners?!"

The boy quickly raised his other hand, but he was still puzzled.

Ning Yao said exasperatedly, "Do you think you can kill that mountain-moving ape with just a few shards of porcelain? Cai Jinjian is just a character who hasn't gone far on the path of cultivation. Moreover, that old beast from Zheng Yang Mountain has a natural anomaly, and its skin is the toughest. Not to mention porcelain shards, even ordinary celestial weapons can't hurt the old beast at all. At most, they'll only create one or two wounds. What's the point? It's completely useless!"

The boy, who had taken the knife with both hands but didn't know where to put it, now had a strange expression on his face.

Ning Yao glared. "You're about to use a knife to slash people, and you're not allowed to swear a few times?!"

Chen Ping'an was speechless. For some reason, the boy sat back down in his place, on the steps, and looked up at the sky to the south.

The girl stood beside the boy.

Chen Ping'an persuaded one last time, "People will really die."The girl crossed her arms, a sword hanging at one side of her waist, a sabre at the other. Her face was indifferent. "I've seen more dead men than you've seen living ones."

Then, she said in a deliberately casual tone, "That little knife you keep tucked in your skirt, you can bind it to your forearm later, concealed within your sleeve."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Alright."

Chen Ping'an slapped his knee hard, stood up, and suddenly said, "Knowing you both, I'm truly glad."

The girl whirled around abruptly, taking the lead on the covered bridge.

A spirited and captivating young woman, a longsword in a snow-white scabbard, a narrow sabre in a pale green sheath.

Her figure at this moment...

Was the most beautiful sight the young man had ever beheld in his life, without exception.

In this instant, the young man felt that even if he were to leave his small town, he would never see a scene more captivating than this.

This life would be worth it.

And so, the young man, who had become somewhat fearful of death after the Daoist Lu's words, once again became unafraid, just as he had been before.

Death be damned.