Outside a residence in Mud Bottle Alley, a snot-nosed, unruly child was fiercely kicking the door, cursing loudly as saliva flew with every word."Chen Ping'an! If you don't get out here right now, I'll get someone to kill you and smash all that worthless junk in your house! I know you're home—what the hell are you doing, fooling around with Song Jixin's little wife? With Zhi Gui? In broad daylight no less? Have you no shame? Not even a shred of respect for Song Jixin? Fine, fine, you won't come out? I'm leaving, I'm really leaving this time! And once I'm gone, don't you dream of ever seeing me again. All the treasures I meant to leave you? Gone! Chen Ping'an, get your ass out here!"
Strangely, by the end of his tirade, the boy's voice had taken on a sobbing tone, and with a harsh sniff, he sucked the twin trails of snot back into his nose.
Suddenly, Gu Can felt a sharp pain in his head. He turned quickly—and the moment he saw that familiar face, he burst into another string of profanities."Chen Ping'an! Damn you—!"
The straw-sandaled boy looked far from pleased. Gu Can instantly changed tack, his voice shifting with practiced smoothness."How's your health?"
Fluent as flowing water, the transition was effortless.
Chen Ping'an, used to this brat's shameless antics, muttered with irritation as he carried a new clay jar,"Health? Don't you already know how I am?"
Remembering his real purpose, Gu Can quickly dragged Chen Ping'an to the gate and stuffed two exquisitely embroidered pouches into his hands. In a hushed voice, he asked,"Remember that little loach I asked you for last year?"
Chen Ping'an was puzzled. The heavy pouches were familiar—he recalled that noble youth who had forced him to sell the golden carp. Later, that same youth had delivered a sack of copper coins in return.
Looking around, Chen Ping'an saw no one at either end of the alley. He opened the door and ushered Gu Can into the courtyard. After setting the clay jar aside, he asked bluntly,"Someone from out of town wants to buy the loach, right? Gu Can, I'm warning you—don't sell it! I don't care what they offer. If you want your mother to live a better life in the future, you have to hold onto it. Do you understand?"
Gu Can suddenly burst into tears, clutching Chen Ping'an's sleeve and choking out,"I wanted to give it back to you, but my mother wouldn't let me. She even slapped me! She's never hit me before. And then that storyteller... I don't know if he's a deity or a ghost—he's terrifying. First, he brought me into a white porcelain bowl, and then the loach suddenly grew huge—way bigger than our water tank..."
Chen Ping'an quickly covered the child's mouth, his expression grave."I gave it to you. That means it's yours, understand? Gu Can, don't you still want your mother to live well? To eat meat every day, to wear fine silks, and use fragrant powders like the wealthy women do?"
Gu Can sniffled and nodded vigorously.
Chen Ping'an let go, crouched down, and asked,"What's with the two money pouches? Did you steal them?"
Gu Can's eyes darted. Just as he was about to lie, Chen Ping'an—who knew him too well—gave him a hard knock on the head and snapped,"Take them back!"
But Gu Can's stubbornness flared up."No!"
Chen Ping'an's face turned livid with fury. He raised his hand for another knock, but when he saw the child's defiant expression, his anger softened. After a pause, he sighed and asked,"Tell me what's going on."
So Gu Can recounted everything from start to finish. Despite being the kind of brat who could drive people to madness, he was undeniably clever and precocious. From the old locust tree to the iron-well lock, and then to the courtyard of Mud Bottle Alley, he told Chen Ping'an about how the storyteller wanted to take him as a disciple.
At that moment, Chen Ping'an had a vague idea. Gu Can was likely one of those destined souls in the town—someone who had inherited the blessing of ancestral fortune. Whether it was good luck or a heaven-sent opportunity, it seemed he was fated to leave the town with that storyteller.
But when Chen Ping'an thought of Liu Zhimao, the so-called True Lord of River Severance, his heart tightened. According to Mr. Qi, Liu Zhimao was utterly vile and wanted Chen Ping'an dead, even using immortal arts to frame both him and Cai Jin Jian. If Gu Can were to acknowledge this man as his master—was that really a good thing?
Then again, if the man truly intended to take Gu Can as his disciple, and not to deceive or coerce him, perhaps the boy wouldn't be in immediate danger. At least, not for now.
While Chen Ping'an was deep in thought, Gu Can, eyes sparkling with mischief, seized the moment to fling the two pouches into the house and turned to flee—only to be yanked back by the collar.
With both arms covering his head, he looked pitiful. Though Chen Ping'an dragged him back, he couldn't decide what to do. The stakes were too high. One misstep could bring harm to both Gu Can and his mother. If it were only about himself, this lone straw-sandaled youth would have acted much more decisively.
At some point, the black-clad girl had silently emerged and now stood at the threshold.
"My mother once said that everyone has their own fate. And this child, he's clearly a little scoundrel destined to survive for ages. The kind that always stumbles into fortune."
Gu Can's eyes lit up. He hastily wiped his nose and beamed with a missing-tooth grin."Big Sis, you're so pretty! You look just like my second sister! This place is too small—why don't we go to my house?"
Chen Ping'an sighed,"When did your mother remarry your father?"
Caught in the lie, Gu Can rolled his eyes and changed his tone again, clicking his tongue,"Well, well, Chen Ping'an! Look at you, bringing home a woman! Planning to share a bridal chamber, huh? Too bad I won't be around to eavesdrop at the window while you two fight like immortals on the bed..."
Chen Ping'an smacked him on the head and turned to the girl, apologetic."He's always like this. Please don't mind him."
She shot the child a look."What a rascal."
Gu Can was about to retort with a witty comeback, but he felt the hand on his head press down slightly harder. Instantly, he wilted and mumbled weakly,"Sis, you're so pretty. Whatever you say is right."
The girl ignored him and turned to Chen Ping'an with meaning in her eyes."You'd better accept those pouches of coins. Otherwise, you may become enemies one day. And if this child truly cultivates the Dao in the future, leaving him with unresolved guilt may cause his Dao heart to falter—an opening that external demons would exploit."
Gu Can liked the sound of that. He gave her a thumbs-up."Long hair, long vision! Way better than that nosy little lady next door!"
The girl raised an eyebrow but accepted the compliment with a hint of pride.
Suddenly, a furious voice echoed from the distance down the alley."Gu Can!"
The boy's face paled."Gotta go! Chen Ping'an, I'm off!"
Though he said he was leaving, his grip on Chen Ping'an's hand only tightened. Perhaps, deep down, he already saw Chen Ping'an as the only family he had, apart from his mother.
Chen Ping'an led him out, crouched down, and whispered,"Gu Can, be careful of your master. And take care of your mother. You're the man of the house now—she'll have no one else to rely on. Don't keep making her worry."
Gu Can nodded.
Chen Ping'an added,"Out there in the world, do more, speak less. Mind your tongue. Take a few losses if you must—don't always try to win with words. People out there aren't like us. They hold grudges."
The boy's eyes were red as he muttered in defiance,"People here hold grudges too. You're the only one who doesn't."
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head, momentarily at a loss for words.
And then—Chen Ping'an awoke with a start…