Leaving Yue City, they passed through several prosperous areas before gradually reaching desolation.

Pavilions and terraces collapsed, ponds and platforms were covered in dust, and flying eaves crumbled into the mud.

After passing through treacherous terrain and exiting the mountain pass, they reached the outer territories of the Southern Dynasty, where the wilderness was even more bleak and desolate, with no people to be seen for a hundred miles.

Occasionally, there were skinny wild dogs by the roadside, gnawing tirelessly on bare white bones they had dug up from somewhere, sitting by the roots of withered trees.

Further north, there was an abandoned city with a grand layout, but unfortunately the moat had long dried up, and the traces of fire had blackened the houses, with scattered human bones by the roadside.

Chen Weichen put down the Nanhua Sutra in his hand, looked at the scenery outside the carriage window, and showed off his knowledge to his servant: "This should be Shangjin City. At the height of the imperial dynasty, its prosperity could rival that of Yue City, but unfortunately it was burned down in the war. The ancients said, 'White bones pile up like mountains, forgetting surnames - none other than young masters and beauties.' A year from now, I, a young master, will descend to the Yellow Springs to accompany these gentlemen. When the body is gone, no one will recognize anyone. How wonderful, how wonderful."

Wen Hui waved his hand, indicating that he didn't want to respond to his crazy talk. He quietly leaned close to his ear and changed the subject: "Young Master, they say immortals slay demons and eliminate evil, carrying out the will of Heaven. But in our human world, the suffering from war and chaos is even worse than the difficulties caused by demons. Why do they ignore it?"

As he spoke, he also quietly glanced at Xie Lang, who was intently playing with the cat, and Ye Jiuya, who was slowly wiping his sword.

Chen Weichen slowly praised, "You asked a very good question. You haven't listened to Sir Zhou's storytelling for more than ten years in vain."

His voice was neither loud nor soft, echoing in the carriage: "Pitying the common people is the way of sages, not immortals. In the eyes of immortals, there are no living beings, only the Dao of Heaven. What do you think of this statement?"

Xie Lang looked at the white bones and crows outside, and stroked the kitten in his arms: "Heaven and earth are ultimately heartless."

Chen Weichen then continued, "Slaying demons and eliminating evil is for the sake of the cosmic fortune, and not interfering in human affairs is also for the sake of the cosmic fortune. Sir Zhou loved to talk about how Emperor Yan used a sword to hold up the Milky Way back in the day, guarding the barrier between the immortal and demonic realms, and saving the living beings of the world. But if we examine the reason, it was still for self-preservation, to keep the turbid energy of demons and monsters in their proper place and not pollute the pure energy of the immortals. This shows that even if he was the emperor of immortals, placed in the human world, he wouldn't be a good person either."

"The way of immortals and the human world are ultimately different," Xie Lang seriously debated with him. "We cultivators seek the Dao of Heaven and Earth and pursue longevity in order to attain enlightenment. How can we be judged by the principles of mortals?"

The two of them then engaged in a battle of wits, each making reasonable arguments back and forth. Chen Weichen, who had been confined at home with nothing to do, had read quite a few strange theories from scholars, and with the Nanhua Sutra, which was considered the foundation of Daoism, in his hands, he had a thorough understanding of his opponent and still had the upper hand.

When the last sentence was spoken and there was nothing left to debate, Xie Lang held the whisk in his arms and said, "Sir Chen, putting aside the matter of wisdom, I roughly understand why you are not suitable for cultivation."

Chen Weichen also opened his fan, only smiling without speaking, and continued to look out the window.

From Shangjin City to the north, there were even fewer ruins. By the time the sun was setting and dusk was falling, they finally reached a village with people.

The smoke from cooking fires drifted and dispersed, and there were women's voices calling their children to come home, adding a touch of human warmth to the desolate wilderness at dusk.

Chen Weichen went up and knocked on a door to ask if they could stay the night. The man who opened the door saw outsiders and had a face full of tense wariness. He waved his hand and said, "At the north end of the village, there's a place where a scholar teaches. There are empty rooms there."

So they were sent away and went to the north end.

"In this chaotic world, it's really strange that there are still people teaching," Chen Weichen muttered as he approached the house.

Passing through the vegetable garden and looking through the drafty window, he saw a scholar with a gentle face but shabby clothes, teaching a few children about "benevolence means universal love, righteousness means doing what is appropriate, and the Dao means following this" and so on.

The three or four thin and sallow children, after he finished today's sage books, scattered in a hurry, dragging their snot and running towards the meager porridge in their family's pot.

The scholar sighed, closed the scroll in his hand, and unexpectedly made eye contact with Chen Weichen outside the window.

He was slightly startled, and then asked, "This young master, you are..."

Upon learning that the few people who came to stay were from the Southern Dynasty, a longing rose in the scholar's eyes: "When spring comes, I will go to the southern capital to seek an official position. Now, with wolves surrounding us, it is precisely the time when the court needs us scholars."

Chen Weichen did not speak.

In the courtyard, smoke also rose from a place that should be the kitchen. A woman half-pushed open the wooden door, saw the outside guests, and for a moment did not know whether to come out or avoid them.

"Ah Shu." The scholar called her over, not being particularly restrained.

"Strange," Xie Lang said softly beside Chen Weichen, "My sister Qingyuan has been a bit disobedient since she saw him. I took a look at this person's fortune - it's extremely prosperous, but also carries a bit of a bloody aura."

During the conversation at the dinner table, they learned that the scholar's name was Zhuang Baihan. His family was originally wealthy, and when he was young, he studied at an academy in the city and married the daughter of his teacher. Unfortunately, he encountered the chaos of war and drifted to this place.

Facing the few people who he knew were extraordinary at first glance, he was truly neither servile nor overbearing, and his manner of speech and bearing were outstanding. He was a man with great ambitions.

After dinner, it was time to arrange the rooms for the night - two empty rooms, quite subtle. Chen Weichen sent Wen Hui to share a room with Xie Lang and the cat, while he leisurely went to share a room with Ye Jiuya.

"I just debated with Xie Lang about the difference between immortals and mortals, and now I've encountered a scholar who wholeheartedly wants to be a sage. It's really a coincidence," Chen Weichen said excitedly, not caring whether Ye Jiuya paid attention to him or not. "It's just that the Southern Dynasty is indulging in wine and lust, not thinking about restoration. If he goes, he will inevitably be disappointed."

Before he finished speaking, a sword sheath crossed his neck, trapping him in a corner with its cold aura.

"Chen Weichen," Ye Jiuya spoke his name, his eyes filled with a deep chill. "Who are you?"

The young master who had just been talking boldly immediately became timid in the face of the threat to his life.

"Swordmaster Ye, please calm down," he said with an embarrassed smile.

The sword sheath came even closer to his neck.

"I'll talk, I'll talk," he said with an honest look. "Chen Weichen, from Yue City, my father is the prefectural governor, my mother is the eldest daughter of the wealthy merchant Zhao Quan of Yue City, I'm nineteen years old this year, not yet married, and no engagement either..."

He looked up and met Ye Jiuya's cold gaze, continuing to smile embarrassedly. "That's all. If you don't believe me, there's a census register at the governor's office, in black and white, clear as day!"

"Why cultivate?"

His eyes were ambiguous, evasive. "It just so happens that I have a little preference for cut sleeves. I was captivated by Swordmaster Ye's unparalleled elegance and lost my mind for a moment, just wanting to have a taste of your flowery fragrance... Ah!"

In an instant, the sword left its sheath, its sharp edge pressed against his throat.

He lowered his slightly playful expression, bowed his head slightly, and laughed.

"I am just a man about to die, Swordmaster Ye need not be so concerned. Being able to discuss the Dao with the Marquis Langran is merely because I have read some unorthodox books and like to let my imagination run wild." His voice was light, with a hint of desolation. "In the end, I bear no ill will towards the Swordmaster at all."

The house was simple and crude, and voices easily penetrated the walls.

In the other room, Wen Hui covered his face, sighing in admiration at his young master's thick skin. Xie Lang was so angry he almost jumped up, "Tasting the flowery fragrance - tasting the flowery fragrance! Swordmaster Ye is no ordinary person, how could your young master be so frivolous with him!"

Wen Hui pulled him back, "It's just nonsense, nonsense, don't take it to heart."

Ye Jiuya stared at him for a few moments, sheathed his sword, and went over to the bed.

Chen Weichen immediately followed, heedless of life and death, making the bed and inquiring about the cold, until after suffering quite a bit of cold treatment, he finally went to arrange his own sleeping area.

Of course, it was on the floor.

He couldn't help but use a little trick, placing his bedding by the door, far from the bed, but being far also had its advantages - when the moonlight shone through the window, he could turn his head and see the situation on the bed.

The man had a sword by his pillow, with the sword's name engraved on it.

It was the two characters "Jiuya", engraved in iron with silver lines, cold and fierce.