Simultaneous travel: I am rampant in the domestic area

Now that the direction had been chosen, Russell began to plan Chen Ping'an's path of cultivation.

According to Chen Ping'an's own ideas, he wanted to focus on medicine and use swordsmanship as a secondary pursuit, and Russell naturally wouldn't object.

In this life, if possible, we should try to choose the path we are willing to follow, rather than going with the flow.

The next morning, Russell brought Xiao Ping'an to Ping'an Shop.

Xiao Ping An has two main tasks.

In the morning, he read and practiced calligraphy; in the afternoon, he practiced the breathing techniques taught by Bertrand Russell while copying the wooden sculpture of the sword immortal that Russell had chosen.

Reading and writing can enlighten one's mind and distinguish between good and evil. It wouldn't be good for a disciple of the dignified Sword Immortal Luo to be illiterate.

The breathing method is the foundation of all spiritual practice. No matter what path you take, you need to rely on the breathing method to generate the initial sensation of Qi, and then gradually strengthen it.

Copying wood carvings allows him to feel their spirit and firmly engrave that sword intent in his heart.

Once Xiao Ping'an fully comprehends this sword intent, he will be invincible below the twelfth realm.

The day he eradicated that sword intent from his heart was the day he broke through to the Ascension Realm.

The morning light shone through the courtyard onto the rice paper, casting long shadows of the two figures.

The boy's breathing gradually became steady, and although his handwriting was still immature, it showed more focus.

Qi Jingchun, who was passing by, felt a little relieved upon seeing this scene.

As the sage who was in charge of the town, he naturally knew what had happened to Chen Ping'an.

Now that I see him having this opportunity, I feel genuinely happy for him.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly. Russell took out the wooden sculpture of the sword immortal and placed it on the table. The sculpture was pure white, depicting a sword cultivator standing with a box on his back, his body seemingly surrounded by flowing light. It was the very sculpture that Chen Ping'an had chosen yesterday.

"Copy it carefully, and never stop practicing the breathing technique." Russell handed over paper and pen, and touched the boy's brow with his fingertip, letting a warm breath flow into his body: "Remember the path of this breath's flow."

Chen Ping'an nodded and obediently sat down, slowly breathing according to the method taught by Russell while intently observing the wood carving.

It was alright at first; even though the drawing wasn't very good, Xiao Ping'an was still satisfied.

But soon after, crisp footsteps came from the shop entrance.

Russell, who was on the recliner, and Chen Ping'an, who was at the table, both looked up. Ruan Xiu, who looked like a rag doll, was peeking in. When she saw Chen Ping'an writing and drawing on the table, her eyes lit up and she hopped in like a little sparrow.

"Mr. Luo." Ruan Xiu greeted Russell, then moved closer to Chen Ping'an, pushing him half a body length into the room, and asked curiously, "What are you drawing?"

Chen Ping'an was startled, his breath caught in his throat, and his cheeks flushed red as he hid the drawing paper in his clothes, pointing at the wood carving and saying, "This is it."

Russell watched this unfold, clicking his tongue and shaking his head.

The little guy needs to work on his skin more; he's only gone a short distance and his face is already as red as a monkey's bottom.

That won't do. If someone as shameless as Russell were to raise a pure-hearted disciple, who knows how he would be ridiculed by the other versions of himself in all the heavens and myriad worlds.

"Would you like to learn?" Seeing that Ruan Xiu was interested in wood carving, or more accurately, Chen Ping'an who was currently painting wood carvings, Luo Su took the initiative to say, "If you want to learn, you can sit down and learn together."

"Really?" Ruan Xiu asked in surprise.

“Of course.” Russell said, taking out a new wood carving from the cabinet behind him: “But this one isn’t quite right for you, Xiao Ping’an. You can try this one.”

Ruan Xiu looked closely and saw a handsome young man carrying a giant ruler that was taller than a person, surrounded by fiery lotus flowers.

With just one glance, her breathing became heavier.

"Thank you, Mr. Luo!" Ruan Xiu cheered as she took the wood carving, carefully placed it on the table, and began to sketch it, imitating Chen Ping'an's style.

The two little ones sat side by side, sunlight streaming through the window onto them. Russell leisurely went to the backyard, leaving them the space.

Chen Ping'an studied the drawing carefully, stroke by stroke. Occasionally, he would steal a glance at Ruan Xiu's drawing paper and see that she seemed to be doodling casually. He couldn't help but scratch his head.

Ruan Xiu, however, was completely unaware of this look.

She is now completely focused on the wood carving.

She seemed to see twenty-two flames, and her intuition told her that if she could draw all of them, she would receive some incredible fortune.

As the sun began to set, Chen Ping'an finally finished his lessons for the day and stretched, a rare occurrence for him.

"What are you drawing?" Ruan Xiu looked at the stack of drawing paper on Chen Ping'an's table and found it hard to imagine what this lump of paper had to do with that heroic wooden carving.

Chen Ping'an coughed awkwardly. It was fine when he drew it himself, but now that there was someone next to him to compare it to, the hurt was quite great.

only……

Chen Ping'an looked at Ruan Xiu's painting, which was a fire lotus. Although it was beautifully painted, it didn't seem to have anything to do with wood carving.

"I don't know either." Although Chen Ping'an didn't say a word, Ruan Xiu knew what he meant. She scratched her head and said, "I draw whatever I see."

is it?

Chen Ping'an couldn't quite understand Ruan Xiu's meaning. Just as he was about to go to the backyard to call Luo Su to go home together, he heard heavy footsteps coming from the shop entrance again.

"Hello, what do you need?"

Following the words of the shopkeeper he had encountered before, Chen Ping'an quickly turned around. He thought it was a customer who wanted to buy wood carvings, but what he saw was Ruan Qiong with wide eyes.

He stared at me as if I were some kind of monstrous villain, looking as if he wanted to devour me alive.

"Father? What brings you here?"

When Ruan Xiu met Ruan Qiong, she excitedly showed him the results of her afternoon's work.

Why did I come all this way? It's because I was worried that some random pig would steal your delicate little cabbage...

Ruan Qiong muttered something, and was about to leave with Ruan Xiu when his gaze fell on the painting in Ruan Xiu's hand and the wood carving on the table.

This!
In an instant, he seemed to have entered a chaotic world, and then a crack appeared in this world.

A brilliant flame seeped out from the crack.

Swaying and trembling in the boundless void.

Then one, two... numerous different flames of heaven and earth bloomed in the void like stars surrounding the moon.

In the void, brilliant golden clouds filled the sky, and a majestic figure stood amidst the auspicious clouds, his aura profound and imposing. Surging and violent spiritual energy emanated from him, almost visible to the naked eye, transforming into flowing liquid that slowly descended.

Who is this?
A question suddenly popped into Ruan Qiong's mind.

He certainly knew his daughter's identity.

The reincarnation of the God of Fire, one of the five supreme gods of Heaven.

But what about this person in front of me?

His low level of understanding does not mean he has poor judgment.

Where did this fiery emperor come from?

“No need to worry.” Ruan Qiong was lost in thought when a voice behind him startled him. He turned around and saw Russell standing behind him. “It’s just an illusion.”

“I see…” Ruan Qiong’s expression relaxed for a moment.

That's the only explanation.

After all, Ruan Xiu was only reincarnated; she had not yet perished.

The path of fire will not fall into the hands of others.

After a moment's thought, Ruan Qiong continued, "I wish to buy this wood carving. Mr. Luo, please make an offer."

It concerns his daughter's future, and even if it means emptying his savings, he will buy this treasure for her.

“This is not for sale.” Russell shook his head and said, “If Xiuxiu is willing, she can come and spend time with Xiaoping every afternoon.”

"Okay, okay!" Ruan Xiu happily agreed before Ruan Qiong could even speak.

From a young age, she could see through the good and evil in people's hearts and perceive cause and effect and destiny. In her eyes, the world was full of vibrant colors.

But Chen Ping'an was different. She couldn't see through him, or rather, he was too pure. In the entire murky and chaotic Lizhu Cave Heaven, it was as if he was the only one who remained spotless, which aroused her intense interest in him. No good! No good!

The old father stood to the side with a bitter expression.

It feels like my little cabbage is running into the pigsty by itself...

"Wouldn't it be too much trouble for Mr. Luo? Xiuxiu is too young and likes to make a fuss; she might disturb Mr. Luo's rest." Ruan Qiong still wanted to make one last attempt.

“No trouble at all. I’m fast asleep anyway, so I won’t hear anything if they make a fuss,” Russell said with a smile.

I don't believe you for a second...

Ruan Qiong hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

A dignified great sword immortal, yet he feels so profound? Do you even believe it yourself?

Russell responded very seriously, "I believe it."

He can even perform a feat of falling asleep the moment his head touches the pillow, without fail.

“Mr. Ruan, let Miss Ruan stay. I will keep an eye on her,” Chen Ping’an said at this moment.

Three votes to one vote.

As expected, the old father left with his daughter, filled with grief and indignation, only saying that he would bring her back on time the next afternoon.

"How was it?" After Ruan Qiong left, Russell winked smugly at him, "Was my teaching generous enough?"

"Huh?" Chen Ping'an didn't quite understand what his boss meant.

He spoke up simply because he felt that Miss Ruan really wanted to stay, and that her painting skills were very impressive. If possible, he would like to learn from her.

Why are the boss and Mr. Ruan reacting so strongly?

The adult world is so strange...

And so began Chen Ping'an and Ruan Xiu's long journey of studying together.

Spring passed and winter came, and the days were as calm as a bowl of clear water, without any feuds, cultivation, or even the slightest ripple.

Such days were extremely rare for Russell.

He has been cultivating all these years without ever stopping, always either slaying demons or on the path of eliminating evil.

In a daze, he felt a kind of calming in his heart, as if his whole heart had been washed by clear water, becoming more rounded.

As time went by, Chen Ping'an's skills improved, and he not only went from copying to carving himself, but his wood carvings became increasingly lifelike.

Although not many have been sold so far, the owner's wood carvings are the most popular.

They are often extremely rare and hard to find, with prices but no market.

But Russell didn't seem to care.

Chen Ping'an always found this strange, feeling that his boss was too indifferent to the business.

Fortunately, he has finished learning all the characters in the book in the last three years, which allows him to spend half a day figuring out ways to improve his skills and boost his performance.

In fact, quite a few things have happened in these three years.

First, he made a new friend named Liu Xianyang.

The first time I met him, he was cornered and kicked by the children of the town's big shots. He happened to be on his way to buy timber when he bumped into them and they came to his rescue.

Coincidentally, he also became the first patient he had ever treated since he began practicing medicine.

After that, they became friends.

The second thing was that a kiln worker named Su Han died in the town. He was an effeminate man.

He was his second patient.

He was caught and beaten half to death by other kiln workers for causing the fire in the dragon kiln to go out because he was watching the rain. It was he who stepped in to save and take care of him.

Unfortunately, he later committed suicide.

When it comes to the drought in Su, Chen Ping'an truly feels it's a pity.

He wasn't a bad person; it was just that his daughter's soul had mistakenly entered into a man's body, which led to this calamity.

If he had known this would happen, he might have accepted the rouge box, allowing him to leave without regrets.

"Little Ping An, it's time to close the door and go home."

"Understood, sir."

A sound came from the backyard. Chen Ping'an put down the carving knife in his hand, looked at Russell who was walking in after lifting the curtain, and stood up.

He is seven years old this year, and he has become much stronger and more handsome.

As the two left the shop, snowflakes were falling gently from the sky.

"Sir, I would like to ask for the day off tomorrow," Chen Ping'an said.

Russell nodded.

This isn't the first time in the past three years.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of Chen Ping'an's father's death, and he and his mother will go to offer incense to his father.

Fortunately, they arrived early enough to save one person.

Russell thought so.

Actually, it wouldn't have made any difference if he had arrived earlier.

Chen Ping'an's father had already fallen into the trap, and was no longer someone Chen Ping'an could protect at the time.

It is already quite remarkable that they have been able to achieve what they have today.

It's late at night.

The heavy snow fell silently, covering the mottled earthen walls and slippery stone slabs of Mud Bottle Alley, enveloping the entire town in a heavy, silvery-white stillness. There was no sound of people in the alley, only the wind swirling the snowflakes, making a low, mournful sound in the narrow alley.

Russell sat in his house in his small courtyard, a solitary lamp casting his silhouette on the window paper.

Under the lamp, he was carefully polishing a four-foot-long piece of boxwood. The carving knife moved swiftly, and wood shavings rustled as the outline of a wooden sword began to take shape.

This is the birthday gift he prepared for Xiao Ping'an.

Just then, the carving knife in his hand suddenly stopped, he raised his head and looked to the side, his deep eyes instantly piercing through the earthen walls and roof tiles, falling towards the west.

There is a well there called Locking Dragon.

With a thought, he silently stood on the edge of the well platform of the Dragon Locking Well, which was covered with a thick layer of snow.

A small figure was huddled on the cold snow beside the well.

She was a girl who looked no more than five or six years old.

Her clothes were extremely thin and simple, as if they were haphazardly woven from some kind of dark golden seaweed, barely covering her body. Her exposed skin was blue from the cold wind and snow, and her bare little feet, equally red from the cold, were deeply embedded in the icy snow.

At this moment, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength. Her small body trembled slightly, and she hugged herself tightly, as if drawing out the last bit of warmth.

It seems you need your help.

Russell crouched down and reached out his hand to the girl.

The girl, who had her back to him, bared her fangs and showed deep wariness on her face. She turned around abruptly, and what she saw was a pair of golden vertical pupils, equally noble and supremely beautiful.

His pale golden pupils suddenly contracted, then burst forth with an indescribable, pure light of surprise.

The next moment, she gripped Russell's hand tightly. (End of Chapter)