Chapter 1053: Someone Once Said
When the old minister uttered that form of address, the Great Li Emperor said nothing, and Chen Ping'an also said nothing.
Was Baoping Continent about to undergo another change of power?
Song He smiled and reminded, "Mountain Lord Fan?"
When that empty chair was finally taken by someone in a blue robe, the emperor who had previously been nursing a headache now found someone else to share the burden. Fortunes change; one needn't wait thirty years, for it can happen in an instant.
Under the watchful eyes of all present, Fan Junmao, however reluctant, had no choice but to reach out and wipe her hand through the air. The female mountain lord manifested her innate divine ability, gathering the moisture in the room into a sheet of rice paper. She then exhaled a light breath, and the mist coalesced into a mass of golden ink. Dipping her finger in it, a furious Fan Junmao was about to "write on the paper" when she noticed the several mountain and river spirits across from her, including Wei Bo, glance in her direction. Her anger found a ready scapegoat, and though she couldn't bring herself to speak harshly to the young Hidden Official who had been instrumental in the matter of her divine title, she had no such qualms with the others. "What are you looking at? Would you like to write it yourselves?!"
Wei Bo simply couldn't be bothered to argue with Fan Junmao. The other mountain and river spirits in the room, who had also been caught glancing and then scolded, were unwilling to provoke this newly titled "Jade-green" Southern Peak Mountain Lord.
After all, in a certain sense, Zitong Mountain was not within Great Li's territory. Henceforth, Fan Junmao would be the arbiter of the vast southern lands of Baoping Continent. Moreover, since there was no Confucian academy in the south at present, it seemed that the only entity that could govern Fan Junmao and Zitong Mountain was the Confucian Temple.
It was Tong Wenchang, who was rather respectful towards Fan Junmao, who spoke up: "Please, Mountain Lord Fan, attend to the matter at hand. We are all waiting in this room."
Lord Tong always focused on the matter, not the person.
Fan Junmao was incensed. "Tong, is this any business of yours? You have time to go outside and smoke your pipe, but not time to wait for me to draw up a list?"
Tong Wenchang still spoke in his unhurried tone, replying slowly, "If Mountain Lord Fan were to be writing names for a long time, I would go outside to smoke my pipe."
Fan Junmao was momentarily speechless.
Jiang Shangzhen, who was sitting by the doorway like a guardian deity, smiled knowingly. It had a bit of the flavor of a Divine Talisman Peak Ancestral Hall discussion.
Regarding the matter of removing the stone tablets, the mountain dynasties and vassal states that were reviving or establishing their kingdoms wanted to completely eliminate the last vestiges of Great Li's influence. The various mountain immortal abodes and sect dojos that were gradually recovering their strength or had been newly established in recent years sought to return to the pre-war state of affairs, continuing their existence as immortals above the mountains, unbound by any mortal laws. But with those stone tablets on each mountain peak, the imperial courts and governments that were powerless to stand on equal footing with the mountain immortals, especially the common people below the mountains, could rely on them when faced with problems. It was like having a law to follow, a principle to adhere to. They could use the tablets to file complaints with the academies. Hence, every stone tablet was a constraint on the cultivators of the mountains. Whether registered itinerant cultivators or wild recluses, none wished for the stone tablets to remain on the mountains forever. It was best if they became a thing of the past, a chapter turned, eventually gathering dust, forgotten by all.
The deities present were all well aware of this.
At the root of it all, the imperial courts of the various nations and the immortal masters of the mountains all sought a form of pure freedom.
If a mountain Qi refiner violated a taboo, for instance, even if it led to a death outside the mountain, they only needed to shut their doors and negotiate with the local court and government. At most, they would pay a sum to settle the matter, or even not spend a single coin, with the court paying compensation on their behalf. Thus, major issues could be minimized, and minor issues could be resolved entirely.
No one wanted this kind of "immortal life," ungoverned by heaven or earth, to vanish forever.
Even though Confucian academies would meddle in more affairs in the future, it was an inevitable trend. But you, the Song clan of Great Li, had already retreated north of the Great River. There was no justification for continuing to rule and meddle, brazenly interfering in the internal affairs of other nations.
Fan Junmao quickly wrote out the list, her handwriting sloppy. She then gently pushed it towards the direction of that chair.
Without any visible movement or ripple of Qi from Chen Ping'an, the sheet of paper imperceptibly changed its path and drifted over to the desk. Emperor Song He glanced over it first, nodded, then picked up the paper, raised his hand, and smiled, looking towards Chen Ping'an.
Only then did Chen Ping'an reach out and take the sheet of paper. He said, "I will certainly not make things difficult for Mountain Lord Fan. Every matter, big or small, can be discussed and negotiated. If they make a trip to the Great Li capital in the future, they might even be able to negotiate many mutually beneficial mountain-side transactions with us. Therefore, I request Mountain Lord Fan to convey Great Li's sincerity to the Southern Peak domain. We must avoid misunderstandings that could lead to unnecessary complications, turning nothing into something, and good things into bad things."
Fan Junmao nodded stiffly.
Today, you are the host. When you're under someone's roof, you have to lower your head. So for now, I'll let you throw your weight around. But just you wait, Chen Ping'an. The next time you go to Zitong Mountain or Caizhi Mountain, if you don't get shut out a few times, I'll change my surname to yours!
"Mountain Lord Fan, it seems you've omitted a few names?"
Chen Ping'an looked down at the list, then raised his head, gently shaking the paper in his hand, and smiled, "Their weight is too light."
They were all small fry. The most powerful nation on the list, the Longhong Dynasty, was probably on par with the Huangting Kingdom.
The largest immortal abode, Fengjiao Mountain, had a Nascent Soul stage sect leader. During the war, not a single immortal master from the Fengjiao Sect was seen; the entire sect had gone into hiding. After the war, they returned to their old domain, basking in glory. Besides restoring their ancestral hall's spirit tablets, they also bought up seven or eight pieces of unclaimed feng shui treasure lands at extremely low prices, pocketing them all. Now, their ancestral hall members, not to mention their guest elders, included five or six immortal masters holding titles like National Master, Nation-Protecting True Person, and Chief Imperial Supplicant. They sat securely, amassing wealth, taking all the benefits, and raking in a mountain of gold.
If Chen Ping'an remembered correctly, there was a recent mountain-side storm related to Fengjiao Mountain that had caused quite a stir. It started because a sect's original site had been usurped by Fengjiao Mountain. When they went to the new emperor of their country to seek justice, they found that in a discussion that the emperor should have impartially judged, from the newly appointed Nation-Protecting True Person to the Chief and Second Supplicants, all were immortal masters of Fengjiao Mountain.
Sure enough, the emperor could only play the role of a muddler, a peacemaker. On one hand, he urged them to calm down and not make a scene, to make peace and prosper, and not to give outsiders a laugh. On the other hand, he sided with Fengjiao Mountain. The furious Golden Core stage sect leader immediately declared he would take all his registered itinerant cultivators and relocate north of the Great River to pledge allegiance to the Song clan of Great Li. The court paid him no mind, didn't take it seriously. The emperor only said a few light, polite words, clearly too lazy to even dissuade him. If you want to leave, just leave. Times are different now. The court couldn't care less about a small, insignificant sect like yours with a shattered dojo and a dwindling lineage.
A father's kindness leads to a son's filial piety; a straight upper beam makes the lower beam straight. If the father is unkind, filial piety is hard to come by; if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be askew. This is common sense.
If the source is muddy, the flow cannot be clear; if one's actions are faithless, their reputation will surely suffer. Hence, there is a need to rectify the source and clarify the origin. When the foundation is established, the path is born; the sea is calm and the river is clear.
She had already offered a list, yet Chen Ping'an was still not satisfied. What else was this but taking an inch after being given a yard?
Fan Junmao had made up her mind to resolutely refuse to add the remaining few names. At the same time, she would never again participate in any Great Li capital discussions. She sneered, "Besides the various nations' courts and mountain sects, Chen Nation Master, don't forget the powerful clans and magnates in this matter. They all feel that the Song clan of Great Li's intransigence is an act of aggression, unreasonable. Especially among the officials of the government and private academies, there are numerous indignant scholars clamoring to seek an explanation from Guanhu Academy. Many literati renowned both in court and in the literary world want the academy to invite one of your Ministry of Rites officials for a face-to-face confrontation with the Great Li court."
Since we both love to take on burdens, Fan Junmao might as well bear the blame. After the headache passes, it will be your turn, Chen Ping'an, and the Great Li dynasty, to face the difficulty.
Zhao Duanjin, the Minister of Rites, maintained a expressionless face.
Face-to-face confrontation? You idle, complacent fellows, are you specifically requesting Wei Li, the new Minister of Rites in the Great Li secondary capital Luojing, to debate with you? Or do you think the position isn't prestigious enough, and are directly requesting me, the Minister of Rites in the Great Li main capital, to visit Guanhu Academy myself?
"All understood."
Chen Ping'an gently folded the sheet of paper and tucked it into his sleeve. He nodded and smiled, "I do not accept."
Old Minister Shen Chen, after Chen Ping'an took his seat, had stopped dozing. The old man, holding his crutch with both hands, had been smiling all along.
I like hearing that.
Feeling delighted, the old minister's words were quite different. He chuckled, "Public opinion can melt metal, accumulated slander can dissolve bones. Rumors are truly terrible. But don't let this case reach Guanhu Academy. If you're not careful, it might even alarm the Confucian Temple in the Central Plains. What would you do then?"
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly, "Then they would have come to the right person."
The old man feigned surprise, muttering to himself, "What if the Confucian Temple then sends Vice Director Mao from the School of Rites to our Baoping Continent to uphold justice and mediate the dispute? If it comes to that, now *that* would be interesting."
Of the seventy-two academies, the Linlu Academy was built on Piyun Mountain. Surely, no one would be so self-defeating as to invite trouble there.
But if complaining to Guanhu Academy is useless, they would have to seek justice from the Confucian Temple. And the one who comes would be Vice Director Mao, a disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage.
Now *that* would be... very distressing.
Jin Shan, the Mountain Lord of Chezi Mountain, spoke a word of fairness: "On the Sword Qi Great Wall, a single punch would fell the Second Manager. Upon returning to Haoran, the saying has changed to 'Chen the Sword Immortal, single-handedly'."
Fu Dechong, the Mountain God of Pu Mountain, coughed lightly, reminding his mountain lord not to speak so carelessly.
Wan Shugui, the female mountain god of Yulin Mountain, one of the Central Peak's subordinate mountains, heard this and smiled brightly. Indeed, their own mountain lord was the most magnanimous, able to joke to his face and dare to speak out for justice.
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room became incredibly strange.
Why didn't you just say it directly: 'Chen the Mountain Lord, without any background'?
This saying seemed to have originated from a mountain and river gazette published by the Shanhai Sect in the Central Plains.
Many tidbits about Chen Ping'an were first mentioned by the Shanhai Sect and then 'copied' and cited by other mountain and river gazettes.
Later, it seemed the Confucian Temple warned the Shanhai Sect once, after which they showed some restraint.
Chen Ping'an maintained a faint smile, seemingly unconcerned. "A Nascent Soul stage cultivator doesn't deserve the title of Sword Immortal. Besides, even if I hadn't fallen in realm, being called a Sword Immortal on the Sword Qi Great Wall wasn't considered a compliment for a Jade Pure stage swordsman."
He had been traveling since his youth and had spent the longest time 'over there'. So the Sword Qi Great Wall could be considered Chen Ping'an's second home.
Besides the Confucian Temple in the Central Plains, Chen Ping'an had several close neighbors in Baoping Continent. The East Sea Water Monarch, Wang Zhu, was his neighbor, in the literal sense of the word.
To the north, Beiju Luzhou had sent more people to the Sword Qi Great Wall than any other continent—more than even the Central Plains Shenzhou. Its continent was full of sword cultivators, proud and unruly; they only recognized the Sword Qi Great Wall from outside their own continent.
To the south, on Tongye Continent, the Qingping Sword Sect, a subordinate sect of the Declining Mountain, was presiding over the excavation of the Great River, subtly replacing the old position of the Yugui Sect.
Besides, weren't they just sitting by the door—the Declining Mountain's Chief Supplicant, Jiang Shangzhen, using the pseudonym Zhou Fei?
In the nine continents of Haoran, the higher the divine position, the more interaction with the 'outside world' was necessary. For example, the two Marquises and Earls of the Great River would inevitably have dealings with the East Sea Water Monarch's mansion in the future.
Chen Ping'an took out a small booklet he had prepared in advance. "This is the list of registered members of our Declining Mountain's Jiling Peak Ancestral Hall, along with our income situation in recent years and a rough overview of our main partners. The content is relatively brief, just to give everyone a preliminary impression of our mountain. I came in a hurry, so I didn't include the Qingping Sword Sect, our subordinate sect located in Tongye Continent. If anyone is interested, Chief Supplicant Zhou can provide a detailed explanation later."
This was to prevent outsiders from mistakenly believing that Chen Ping'an, having become the Great Li Nation Master, would use his public office for private gain. Previously, Declining Mountain had announced its closure for twenty years. Once it reopened, transformed, some would inevitably suspect that the mountain relied on its connection to Great Li to line its pockets, creating this new, prosperous image.
Emperor Song He smiled. "Please, everyone, feel free to pass the booklet around. I, the sovereign, will be the last to see it. Chen Nation Master, could the court keep this booklet for archival purposes?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Of course."
In the booklet, some registered members had parentheses. For example, the Declining Mountain's Chief Supplicant Zhou Fei had his true name, Jiang Shangzhen, former sect leader of the Yugui Sect, and current Patriarch of the Jiang clan in the Cloud Cavern Blessed Land.
Also, 'Mosheng', a nominal supplicant, with the Dao name 'Xizhu', former dojo located at 'Haocai', one of the three moons of the Barren Wastes, a sword cultivator.
Another example was 'Xiegou', a candidate supplicant not yet formally registered. Her parentheses were longer: former pseudonym 'Baijing', former Dao names 'Chaohui', 'Waijing', 'Yaoling', etc.—a long string of nearly ten. Her former dojo was within the great sun of the Barren Wastes. She was a candidate for the Declining Mountain's second-ranking supplicant. Also a sword cultivator.
At the end of the booklet was an imprinted seal: 'Declining Mountain, Chen Ping'an'.
It was believed that the Song clan of Great Li would soon need to engrave an official seal for Chen Ping'an, the inscription being 'Great Li Nation Master'. The Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory would need to carefully select an auspicious day. The specific time for the emperor's ceremonial writing, the material of the seal, and the blessings from the Five Peaks, the Great Rivers, the Capital City God Temple, and the Literary and Martial Temples would all be meticulously considered.
Old Minister Shen Chen looked at the contents of the booklet, clicking his tongue in wonder.
Actually, the small booklet was only two pages long. The first page listed the registered members of Declining Mountain, omitting the guest elders, which better reflected the mountain's ritual connections.
The second page described the current state of commerce. It seemed like a supplement to the 'guest elder' item. Just within Beiju Luzhou, among the 'sect' level partners, were the Pima Sect of Haigutan, the Floating Sword Lake of female sword immortal Li Cai, the Taihui Sword Sect of Liu Jinglong, in addition to a long list of mountain-side business allies including the Shuilong Sect and the Chongxuan Office of the Dayuan Dynasty. Within their own Baoping Continent, a few names also had interesting implications, such as the Chezi Mountain of the Central Peak, Pu Mountain, Yong River, as well as the Northern Peak's Shenchan Mountain and the Southern Peak's Caizhi Mountain.
This was all thanks to the 'meticulousness' and 'major issues overlooked while minor ones scrutinized' approach of Cao Gengxin, the former overseer of the Longquan Kiln Bureau.
And also to the information withheld by Piyun Mountain. Mountain Lord Wei and Overseer Cao seemed to have a tacit understanding, their combined efforts keeping the true foundation of the mist-shrouded Declining Mountain a matter of guesswork for outsiders.
The one exception was the spectacular ceremony at Zhengyang Mountain. Unfortunately, during that sword challenge, besides Mountain Lord Chen, the other members of the Jiling Peak Ancestral Hall hadn't truly made a move.
Actually, saying the Great Li court 'knew very little' about Declining Mountain's real wealth was a bit too harsh. To use a slightly more euphemistic official term, it would be 'not well-informed'.
Wei Bo read it extremely carefully, even flipping back a page after finishing to review the content.
You, this Night Wandering God, are putting on airs. Who are you trying to fool? Mountain Lord Wei probably knew down to the last tree how many registered members Declining Mountain had.
This was a misunderstanding of Mountain Lord Wei from outsiders. In fact, it should be said that Declining Mountain knew exactly how many bamboo plants were in that small bamboo grove on Piyun Mountain.
The booklet circulated. During this time, Tong Wenchang just scanned it briefly. Some deities looked it over very seriously, unwilling to miss a single character.
Just looking at Mosheng and Xiegou, two Barren Wastes sword cultivators—one nominal, one candidate—neither had their cultivation level mentioned.
But simply based on their respective former dojo addresses, everyone present could gauge their significance. Mosheng and Xiegou were undoubtedly both at the Ascension stage!
Almost all deities felt a bit uneasy when they saw this.
Right next door, in the corridor outside, stood two Ascension stage cultivators whose Dao age might stretch for ten thousand years. Moreover, they were ancient sword cultivators from the Barren Wastes.
Earlier, Jiang Shangzhen had carried a chair and sat at the door, which seemed a bit comical. But now, looking at Chief Supplicant Zhou blocking the doorway, seemingly separating the inside from the outside, it suddenly seemed quite fitting.
Those two Barren Wastes sword cultivators outside, who were qualified to hold 'old thrones' in their homeland, now having Jiang Shangzhen as a barrier, at least wouldn't come charging in for a fight without warning, right?
Actually, Jiang Shangzhen had once asked Chen Ping'an about it, if this Lady Xie, who had opened a Fire Essence Palace as her residence within the Sun, was an incarnation of a fire spirit from an ancient heavenly court divine being?
It matched Chen Ping'an's initial guess perfectly.
But Qingtong had given the answer, gleaned indirectly from Yangzhi: Baijing was a genuine member of the Yao race, not a reincarnated deity in the mortal realm.
Moreover, Yangzhi had leaked another piece of information: the Feifei, who had taken over Yeluoh River, if classified by Dao lineage, was very likely Baijing's disciple's disciple.
Song He was the last to look at the booklet. After reading it, he gently closed it, covering it with his palm, and asked with a smile, "Chen Nation Master, the Ministry of Rites has an idea. Could our Chunshan Academy seek a candidate status for the Confucian Temple's Seventy-Two Academies?"
During the last Confucian Temple discussion, the seventy-two Confucian academies were just newly confirmed. As for 'candidate status,' it meant being included in the Confucian Temple's list for consideration. But when a vacancy for an academy would occur was uncertain, and the competition was extremely fierce, with nearly all the ten great dynasties of Haoran having several official academies that had already become candidates. Once a vacancy opened up for an academy, over thirty dynastic academies would simultaneously vie for this single bridge. Chunshan Academy also had another problem: it was too close to Linlu Academy. Furthermore, the number of great Confucian scholars within Chunshan Academy who were renowned throughout the world was too small. Crucially, the academy currently had not a single headmaster, principal lecturer, or instructor holding a Confucian gentleman title.
Minister of Rites Zhao Duanjin spoke up: "This matter is indeed quite difficult."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I don't have much say in whether Chunshan Academy can become a candidate. Mountain Lord Wei might need to step in. Let's see if we can invite that Great Master who presided over the Piyun Mountain sealing ceremony to give a lecture at the academy soon."
Wei Bo said, "I can only say I will brazenly convey this matter to the Great Master. I cannot make any guarantees here whether the Great Master will be willing to go to Chunshan Academy to lecture."
Jin Shan, Fan Junmao, and Meng Long exchanged glances. Even Tong Wenchang raised his head to look at Mountain Lord Wei.
Good heavens! We, the mountain lords, before today's discussion, didn't even know if our self-proposed divine titles would be approved, and we were all quite anxious inside.
But you, Wei Bo, have already met and talked with that Great Master? And you even knew long ago that the Great Master would preside over the Piyun Mountain sealing ceremony?
With such great ability, why don't you, Mountain Lord Wei, just go straight to the Confucian Temple in the Central Plains and take a seat at their deliberations?
Several mountain lords felt a pang of jealousy. On this matter, in fact, Chen Ping'an was also quite aggrieved.
I tried my best to persuade you to use 'Night Wandering' as your self-proclaimed divine title, even invoking my Master and Sect Leader Lu. At the time, not only did you not appreciate it, but you got angry with me.
Then, when that Great Master, whom you met for the first time, said the title Night Wandering was good, you immediately changed your tune. So, you're saying the reasoning from family members doesn't count as reasoning, right?
Heh, in the end, my words, Chen Ping'an's, just don't carry much weight.
Wei Bo looked completely composed, pretending not to notice the exchange of glances in the room.
Chen Ping'an continued, "I will serve as a temporary instructor at Chunshan Academy, specifically giving lectures on the history of offensive and defensive battles on the Sword Qi Great Wall. Of course, this matter still needs to be reviewed and approved by His Majesty, the Ministry of Rites, and Chunshan Academy together."
Wei Bo said, "Earlier, at Declining Mountain, the Great Master personally recommended Chen Nation Master to be a Confucian gentleman of the academy."
Zhao Duanjin smiled. "Two good things come at once."
Shen Chen suddenly spoke up: "Since it involves teaching the art of war and military strategy, Chen Nation Master serving as a temporary instructor at Chunshan Academy is naturally a good thing. However, if he went to our Songsnow Lecture Hall, which was newly established in Mianzhou a few years ago, it would be even more legitimate. There wouldn't be any need to wait for discussion results. I am already the nominal head of the lecture hall, and it is an organization directly under the Ministry of War. We can finalize this right now. After the discussion ends, I will take Chen Nation Master to Nanxun Ward in Qianbu Corridor. At the Ministry of War office, I can write up an appointment document on the spot. Don't bother with a lowly temporary instructor position. Chen Nation Master can choose to be the assistant lecturer or the hall master of Songsnow Lecture Hall."
Chen Ping'an shook his head and smiled. "Let's discuss that again."
The old minister looked puzzled. "What's there to discuss again? Either agree or refuse. Why beat around the bush, Chen Nation Master? That's not straightforward."
Chen Ping'an said, "Then I will give you a definite answer: in the near future, I will only serve as a temporary instructor at Chunshan Academy."
The old man was stunned, wanting to say something but holding back.
Zhao Duanjin suppressed a smile. Let you act like a senior and try to poach talents from my Ministry of Rites.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Old Minister, don't call me an 'outsider.' I remember that Lizhu Cave Heaven was always considered part of the old Great Li core territory."
The old minister was left speechless.
Back then, Nation Master Cui himself didn't mind. Why are you, the junior disciple of Embroidery Tiger, bringing up old scores and holding grudges?
Chen Ping'an had already changed the subject. "Yunxia Mountain, Changchun Palace, Huangzhu Sword Sect, Old Dragon City. We should try to help these candidate sects, within the bounds of Confucian Temple regulations, to smoothly ascend to full sect status. Of course, steel must be sharpened on the grindstone; they themselves need to be good enough. Then we can add luster to their success. The more sects a continent has, and if they get along well with all of you here, the mountain and river Qi can be more stable. The principle behind all these mountain-side strategies is one: be prepared for the worst on a tactical level, and plan for the worst on a strategic level, assuming there will be a second great war."
This last sentence—few in all of Haoran dared to think or say it.
Just mentioning that great war brought chills to everyone's spine.
However, the inclusion of the Huangzhu Sword Sect on Chen Ping'an's list surprised quite a few high-ranking deities.
When they first saw Chen Ping'an take his seat, their first thought was that Zhengyang Mountain was in for a lot of trouble.
Could it be that, having become the new Nation Master, he was now prioritizing the overall situation and repaying evil with good?
Hearing this, Fan Junmao became even more incensed. You can be so lenient with Zhengyang Mountain, but you haggle with me over every trifle?
Only Wei Bo remained calm and composed.
Inside the room was a huge screen depicting the topography of the continent, with the names of all countries marked in cinnabar and the names of sects and factions written in black ink.
South of Qi Ford in Baoping Continent: Shengao Sect, Zhenwu Mountain, Yunlin Jiang clan—all old, established powers.
Also, a Buddhist temple and a Daoist temple, both newly established sects in Baoping Continent. Add to that the Shanya Academy within the Sui Dynasty and the Linlu Academy built on Piyun Mountain, all of which had entered the ranks of the seventy-two Confucian academies, jointly stabilizing the continent's Qi.
Among them, the Guangfu Zen Temple had recently held an enthronement ceremony, and Declining Mountain had sent a couplet.
The Xianling Temple, with its dojo on Yulei Mountain, had always been obscure. Apart from being worshipped by local natives, it wasn't highly valued even by the courts of nearby countries. Its situation was similar to that of the Ganzhou Mountains before they were included in the continent's formal mountain hierarchy—hidden and unknown. It wasn't until it was included in the orthodox sacrificial rites of the Song clan of Great Li that it became known to the outside world. So when Xianling Temple attained sect status, both the mountain and the mortal worlds were bewildered. They simply didn't know when Baoping Continent had acquired this True Lord of Daoism.
This True Lord of the Daoist school, who had established his temple at the meeting point of mountain and water, was quite rare. He had two Dao names: 'Qingyuan' and 'Soushan' (Mountain Search).
Legend had it that his day of enlightenment was the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.
As more and more itinerant cultivators from other lands visited that place, they said that on the great river at the foot of the mountain, perpetually shrouded in a blue mist, one could see a golden-armored deity with a face like jade, riding a white horse and wielding a long blade, leading a group back from a hunting expedition, cracking his whip as he galloped across the waves. His chariot procession was magnificent, his majesty unparalleled.
In terms of appearance and spirit, he was no less impressive than Mountain Lord Wei of Piyun Mountain.
What was most striking was this deity's wide-ranging jurisdiction, not being under the control of the Great Peak's mountain lord.
Also, within the territory of the former Baishuang Dynasty, the Lingfei Temple, which was the dojo of Daoist Heavenly Lord Cao Rong, was elevated from a temple to a palace due to its merits, thus achieving sect status. The first palace master of Lingfei Palace was Xiangjun, with the Dao name Dongting.
Nowadays, the number of sects in Baoping Continent, even compared to some other large continents, was not insignificant.
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "I have a somewhat immature suggestion. Let's just talk about the territory within the Great Li borders, the entire northern part of Baoping Continent. The promotion and demotion of sect immortal abodes and mountain/river deities should follow the same principle. Becoming a 'sect' doesn't mean you can rest on your laurels. If the prohibitions are seriously violated, the sect title can be revoked."
"For example, Great Li could help the Huangzhu Sword Sect, a subordinate sect of Zhengyang Mountain, be promoted to a full sect, provided they accumulate enough merits to be recorded in the Confucian Temple's Merit Book."
"At the same time, Zhengyang Mountain itself, as the superior sect, could have its sect status taken away."
Silence once again descended upon the imperial study.
Chen Nation Master had given a good example...
It was just a pity that no sword immortals from Zhengyang Mountain had attended today's discussion.
"This matter is of great importance. I, the sovereign, together with Chen Nation Master, the heads of the Six Ministries, and the Nine Chief Ministers, will discuss its feasibility in a dedicated session. Later, we may also need to consult with Linlu Academy and Guanhu Academy."
Song He smiled. "Next, let us discuss the vacancy for the Qiantang Chief. Besides the candidate recommended by the Great Li Ministry of Rites, the Marquis of Changchun and the Earl of Linli each have their favored subordinate officials. Minister Zhao, please pass around the three files for everyone to review. Let's see who is more suitable to be the Qiantang Chief. After reviewing the files, Minister Zhao and the two lords will introduce them. Then everyone can speak freely. If anyone is already familiar with a candidate, they may recommend them without fear of favoritism."
The Minister of Rites produced three files. Among them, Cen Wenqian's resume received more attention and scrutiny from those present. Because his temple's golden statue occupied the lowest divine position and had the least fame, some deities only knew of Tiaobo River and weren't aware that its river god was Cen Wenqian.
This time, the candidate nominated by the Marquis of Changchun's mansion was Cen Wenqian. If he were to succeed, it would be a feat of jumping three major steps in the mountain and river officialdom.
Therefore, Yang Hua had no hopes for this.
In contrast, the nomination by fellow official Earl of Linli, Cao Yong, clearly had a better chance of passing the Great Li court's review, at least enough to compete with the candidate recommended by the Ministry of Rites.
Firstly, Cao Yong was himself a former Qiantang Chief. The Great Li court had to consider this.
Furthermore, this kind of internal, step-by-step promotion was more in line with the usual practices of mountain and river officialdom.
According to the files, Cen Wenqian, the first Lord of the Old Fish Lake, had served during his lifetime as the Education Commissioner for several prefectures under a Great Li vassal state. Later, because he was skilled in economic and general affairs, he was transferred to be a Commissioner for Transport, once overseeing the dredging and opening of canal systems and the construction of granaries for a nation. He was then put in charge of the entire process of trimming redundant staff and officials. He rose through the ranks from Vice Minister of Works to Vice Minister of Personnel, and finally became Minister of Rites. However, only a few days after taking office, he quickly retired and returned home. After his death, the court posthumously bestowed upon him the title Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, with the posthumous name 'Wenduan'—a truly sorrowful yet extremely glorious end. But after the deeply beloved Cen Wenqian passed away, the people of his hometown took the initiative to raise funds to establish a temple for him, honoring him. As an honored spirit protecting the land, he should have logically been promoted to a prefectural city god, or even the capital city god. Yet, the court only sent a Secretary from the Ministry of Rites to preside over his enshrinement as the humble river god of that Tiaobo River, and he was never promoted thereafter.
Seeing this, all the deities present understood clearly.
Cen Wenqian's official career map was actually quite clear. The ruler of that small state deliberately pushed Cen Wenqian to be the 'villain', specifically for the matter of trimming officials. Thus, once Cen Wenqian incurred the public wrath in the bureaucracy, the emperor naturally 'followed public sentiment', crossing the bridge after crossing it, killing the donkey after its job was done. Letting Cen Wenqian serve as Minister of Rites for a few days was to increase his post-retirement official benefits by one level. In this way, it was considered a somewhat decent treatment for Cen Wenqian, who had worked hard even without outstanding merit. And for his political enemies in the court, it was a satisfying outcome for everyone.
The only unexpected part might have been that Cen Wenqian could become a local uncanny spirit. The contemporaneous ministers and nobles, or their disciples and former subordinates who had replaced them in key official positions, naturally did not want Cen Wenqian to rise through the ranks of the mountain and river officialdom. God Cen was destined to remain forever God Cen.
For the rest of his resume, Cen Wenqian's official career seemed smoother. Tiaobo River and Dieyun Ridge were geographically connected, both previously within the jurisdiction of the Marquis of Changchun at Qidu. Because Tiaobo River changed course, becoming the Old Fish Lake, Cen Wenqian was transferred to be its Lord, a jump of two ranks from a river god to a divine position of the seventh rank. Afterwards, recommended by Yang Hua, the Marquis of Changchun, Cen Wenqian served in the Ministry of Works of the Great Li secondary capital. Finally, as a Lake Lord of the first rank, he was concurrently appointed an additional Secretary in the Water Department of the secondary capital. However, Cen Wenqian still had to report for duty each month at the Ministry of Works office in Luojing. When he could return to his Lake Lord mansion depended on the handover process of specific Ministry of Works affairs.
Wasn't it a bit of a pipe dream for a seventh-rank Lake Lord, who had only been exceptionally promoted a few days ago, to fill a vacancy for a third-rank Qiantang Chief?
Regardless, being discussed in the Great Li imperial study meant that Cen Wenqian was already in the emperor's favor.
It seemed that Yang Hua, the Marquis of Changchun, placed extraordinary importance on this subordinate from the Water Mansion.
This was exactly the meaning of 'the superior's rank crushes the inferior; having support in the court makes it easy to be an official'.
Afterwards, Zhao Duanjin, Yang Hua, and Cao Yong each provided supplementary information, introducing the three candidates.
During this time, the Marquis of Changchun spoke the least, finishing her brief account of Cen Wenqian's situation in just a few sentences.
Meng Rong was the first to speak: "The Qiantang Chief is a crucial position. The third-rank divine positions are few and far between on a continent. The Zhe River, with its winding course and rich literary heritage, has been a land of outstanding people and flourishing culture since ancient times. The current Zhe River Water God, Wu Yun, is already a fourth-rank official on the Confucian Temple's Gold and Jade Registry. Directly jumping to be the third-rank Qiantang Chief isn't too outrageous."
Tong Wenchang spoke up: "I disagree with Lord Meng. I recommend Cen Wenqian."
Wei Bo laughed. "I'm not familiar with any of them. Just judging from the paperwork, I can't distinguish between them; each has their merits."
She said nothing, which amounted to saying nothing.
Fan Junmao said, "Even Mountain Lord Wei isn't familiar with them, so I'm completely at a loss."
Jin Shan said, "The Zhe River Water God, Wu Yun, has a strong personality and has served as the Qiantang Chief's assistant for a long time. The two rivers share the same source, their water natures are naturally connected. He is quite suitable to fill the vacancy."
The old Minister of War smiled. "That's why, historically, there was a need to build high pagodas to suppress the tidal bore."
Cao Yong's face showed a hint of embarrassment.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Minister Zhao, does the Great Li Ministry of Works here in the capital have Cen Wenqian's performance records from the secondary capital's Ministry of Works? If so, we could use them as a reference today."
Zhao Duanjin replied, "Yes, we do. I can have them brought over immediately."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Then I'll trouble Minister Zhao to send someone to fetch them for our review."
Fan Junmao leaned back in her chair and let out a soft 'ha'. It was slightly better than a blatant sneer, but not by much.
You, Chen Nation Master, have already made your point like this. We're not fools here. What's the point of us wasting our breath discussing anything else? Just go ahead and make Cen Wenqian the Qiantang Chief.
If the location weren't inappropriate, Jiang Shangzhen, sitting at the door, would have given this female mountain lord a thumbs up.
Zhao Duanjin rubbed a jade token at his waist and flicked his sleeve. Before him materialized a 'miniature architectural model' of the various government offices in Nanxun Ward, Kejia Lane, and along the Qianbu Corridor. The Minister of Rites, who was not a Qi refiner, moved with practiced ease, the scene changing continuously. From an archive room in his own 'Ministry of Rites office', he seemingly retrieved from a distance, plucking the records concerning Cen Wenqian’s performance in the secondary capital Ministry of Works from a pile of files. Zhao Duanjin tapped his jade token once, and the scene dissipated, leaving only the file in the Minister's hand.
It was then that Chen Ping'an realized that the small court discussions in the imperial study could be conducted in such an efficient manner.
The file was again circulated among those present. Previously, the deities only knew that Cen Wenqian had achieved tangible results in the secondary capital's Ministry of Works, but what exactly those achievements were, and how he accomplished them, wasn't clear. But in this file that Zhao Duanjin had just 'sourced', it was laid out clearly, recording in detail every suggestion Cen Wenqian had made in his capacity as an additional Secretary of the Water Department: how to dredge rivers, widen tributaries or change river courses, where to execute 'river closures' and 'sealing of breaches'... It also included the results of inspections and performance evaluations by various officials in the Water Department.
Chen Ping'an spoke slowly: "From now on, in Great Li's mountain and river officialdom, for divine positions of the fifth rank and below, including various mountain gods, water gods, city god temples, and literary/martial temples, the rule of local promotion will remain unchanged, largely adhering to the principle of proximity. However, for promotions to divine positions above the fifth rank, except for special cases, candidates will generally be selected and transferred from outside the local area. Apart from the taboo of conflicting mountain and water natures—where mountain and water deities should not exchange roles—city god temples at all levels, including those in the capital, prefectures, and counties, as well as literary and martial temples, may be transferred to serve as mountain gods or water gods in other places. Conversely, the latter can also fill vacancies for the former."
"This is to avoid two extreme situations: either everyone being overly harmonious, building their own separate power bases, reporting only good news while suppressing bad news, with each local office solely focused on its own interests; or, conversely, constant internal strife, with all energy spent on power struggles, mutual suppression and exclusion, leading to those who do more being blamed more, and secret reports and accusations directed at the Ministry of Personnel and the Five Peaks Mountain Lord Mansions running rampant."
"The current keeps moving, and the door hinge never gets worm-eaten. Within the mountain and river officialdom, for positions above the fifth rank, we must also adhere to the established rule that officials cannot serve in their home provinces. Every exception must be documented in the archives of both the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel. The recommender, those who seconded the recommendation, and those who held objections must all be clearly recorded, making it convenient for future audits."
"If someone's recommendation proves meritorious, there will be no reward. This is merely fulfilling one's duty in their position. However, if a recommendation is erroneous, a penalty must be imposed, as it constitutes dereliction of duty. Some say the easiest thing in the world is to be an official. Outsiders may think what they like, but since it's said that all pursuits pale in comparison to scholarship, and that the best scholars become officials as it has been since ancient times, I want to see for myself just how 'easy' being an official is. For example, today the Marquis of Changchun recommended Cen Wenqian for the post of Qiantang Chief. Assuming this appointment is approved, everyone here today who voted in favor, myself included, will be equally responsible. If Cen Wenqian later commits embezzlement, neglects his duties, or uses his office for private gain, all of us who voted for him will have to face the consequences, precisely according to the old regulations of the Ministry of Personnel set down by Nation Master Cui. Let's see how the addition and subtraction adds up."
"Furthermore, any accusation in the mountain and river officialdom must be made under one's real name. At the same time, the receiving authorities—including the Five Peaks Mountain Lord Mansions, the Great River Marquis and Earl Mansions, and the prefectural level city god temples, which are the supervisory and disciplinary bodies—must investigate any case thoroughly. Do not fear digging into old accounts, even if it goes back a thousand years. If the archives exist, they must be checked. From today onwards, there is no such thing as 'letting bygones be bygones' in government. Looking ahead at least a hundred years, if a mountain or river deity who has been reported by a subordinate or colleague dares to retaliate or find subtle ways to make life difficult for the accuser, and is found out, and they cannot prove their own innocence, their punishment will be increased, and they will be dealt with severely. The Great Li's Ministries of Rites, Personnel, and Justice will jointly establish a new body. Each of the three ministries must have at least one Vice Minister concurrently overseeing this matter. The Five Peaks and Great Rivers, along with the Capital City God Temple, should have a department head come to this capital office on schedule for discussions, jointly responsible for periodically reviewing the relevant files."
Cao Yong hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't raise any objections. Since it was official business, he found it inappropriate to plead for his old friend Wu Yun's case.
Moreover, this was Chen Ping'an's first time participating in a discussion as Great Li Nation Master. Cao Yong was well-versed in the ways of officialdom; it was certainly not the right time to raise a rebuttal.
Besides, Chen Ping'an was discussing the matter on its merits, not just concerning the vacancy of the Qiantang Chief, but the entire new rules for Great Li's mountain and river officialdom.
This simple phrase 'the current keeps moving, and the door hinge never gets worm-eaten' today would spell joy for some and sorrow for many, for hundreds and thousands of years to come, across the entire Great Li mountain and river officialdom.
As for the other agenda items, Cao Yong dared not even involve himself.
Besides Cao Yong, almost all the deities present felt a headache coming on.
Once the Great Li dynasty added this new, yet unnamed, agency, it meant the court's reach would extend even further.
However, Chen Ping'an's simultaneous proposal for the transfer and circulation of various deities was, in itself, quite favorable news for the entire mountain and river officialdom.
Tong Wenchang suddenly asked a question: "Chen Nation Master, if someone lacks insight and appoints the wrong person, then all of us here share joint responsibility. But what about His Majesty, the Emperor? Should he always remain above the fray?"
Fan Junmao let out a snicker.
This old farmer with a troubled face really knew how to speak, unlike some blue-robed scholar wearing a jade hairpin.
Chen Ping'an said calmly, "The court also has established precedents to follow."
Song He smiled. "If mistakes accumulate enough, there can be no offsetting of merits against demerits. I, the sovereign, would have to issue a self-accusation edict."
Tong Wenchang nodded. "Then I have no further questions."
Lord Tong instinctively felt for the pipe at his waist.
In the past hundred years, all mountain-side affairs, following the usual practice of the Great Li imperial study, had been almost entirely decided by Nation Master Cui Chan.
From the previous Great Li Emperor to the current Emperor Song He, they were merely informed in advance, and *only* informed.
For example, all the proposals laid on the table today had already been discussed by Chen Ping'an with Emperor Song He back in the village school in Sui'an County. They had talked it over in detail while taking walks together. Chen Ping'an would explain the reasoning behind each proposal, the respective pros and cons, the short-term advantages and long-term hidden concerns, the corresponding contingency plans, and how to identify and fill gaps, how to adjust policies at different stages—all of which Chen Ping'an had elaborated upon.
Chen Ping'an didn't know exactly how his senior brother Cui Chan had acted as Nation Master or how he had interacted with successive Great Li emperors.
He just treated others with sincerity.
"The difficulty lies in the fact that success and failure breed each other, and principles are not perpetually favorable. But there is no solution that cannot be found. Simply put, it's constantly correcting errors. In other words, it's as difficult as reaching the heavens. If any nation, court, ruler, or minister could solve any problem that arises when it arises, how would there ever be the end of a dynasty or a change of regime? So, it's not that the rules established by Senior Brother Cui cannot be changed."
"When a certain policy becomes outdated, when merely adjusting the details or fixing the framework can no longer resolve a critical bottleneck, there is no other choice but to tear it down and rebuild. This is also a form of error correction, just with a greater force."
"Any significant reform that needs to be repeatedly debated in a small court discussion is like taking medicine. But the measures to correct errors, big or small, are like the daily nutrition of three meals a day."
Once the emperor himself acknowledged Cen Wenqian, the matter of appointing the Qiantang Chief was settled.
The Marquis of Changchun, who had been almost invisible during the day's discussion, breathed a sigh of relief.
Yang Hua glanced at the man in the blue robe with the corner of her eye.
Jiang Shangzhen silently noted this, planning to tell Mi Li about this detail when he returned to Declining Mountain. He would absolutely not embellish it.
The emperor looked at Wei Bo and asked, "Does Mountain Lord Wei have any proposals?"
Wei Bo nodded and said, "Within my Northern Peak jurisdiction, the Water God of Yu Ye River, Ye Qingzhu, has always wanted to change her riverbed dojo. She is willing to accept a horizontal transfer, and can even lower herself by half a rank."
This small matter was one of the proposals Wei Bo had previously written on that bamboo slip.
Mountain Lord Wei was simply looking for trouble.
Minister of Rites Zhao Duanjin, receiving a signal from the emperor, stood up, walked to the blank wall opposite the desk, raised his arm, and slashed downwards. A landscape painting was 'opened'. Zhao Duanjin picked up a long pointer, tapped a few spots on the painting—these were the locations of the river god temples whose divine positions were currently vacant. As the bamboo pole in Zhao Duanjin's hand moved, these spots 'drifted' into the empty space between the two rows of chairs. Annotations, miniature structures, and the outlines of winding rivers hovered in the air. The minister then began to explain the water natures, sources, and overviews of various tributaries of these rivers, speaking eloquently, as if recounting his own possessions.
The emperor smiled knowingly, because he saw the newly appointed Nation Master had already begun to close his eyes and rest.
It was rare for this Mr. Chen, whose true form was still teaching at the village school, to have a matter that wasn't his concern.
Old Minister Shen Chen had also started to doze off.
Outside the room, Xie Gou leaned against the wall, yawning. She covered her mouth with her hand, then, remembering something, couldn't help but ask through spiritual voice: "Xiao Mo, why did our mountain lord change his mind so suddenly?"
Xiao Mo replied, "Young Master said it's called 'matters piling up'. When the time is ripe, things naturally fall into place."
According to the young master's initial plan, he intended to finish three personal matters before deciding whether to make a trip to the Great Li capital.
First, finish matters in the capital of Yuxuan Kingdom, then go to the Longquan Sword Sect to be a groomsman, then travel through the six continents of Haoran with friends.
Xiao Mo didn't go out of his way to hide such things from Xie Gou.
Xie Gou asked again, "Now that our mountain lord has come out of retirement to become the Great Li Nation Master, don't Song Changjing and that King of Luo, Song Mu—oh, Song Banchai from Niping Lane—don't they have any objections?"
Xiao Mo smiled. "I'm not too sure. The young master didn't say."
Xie Gou said, "If the mountain lord doesn't say anything, won't you ask?"
Xiao Mo replied, "I'm not interested in these matters."
Xie Gou grinned. "Becoming the second-ranking supplicant, such a big deal, and our mountain lord didn't even bother to inform me in advance. That's too familiar."
Xiao Mo smiled faintly. "This was a suggestion I made recently. The young master thought it was feasible and took it seriously. Because Chief Supplicant Zhou had just returned to Declining Mountain, the young master was planning to hold an Ancestral Hall discussion soon and bring it up then to hear everyone's opinions."
Xie Gou rolled her eyes. "Why bother with all that? Hasn't our Declining Mountain always been a one-man show? Everyone just doesn't say it, but they know it clearly in their hearts!"
Xiao Mo shook his head. "That's not the case."
Xie Gou's face showed disagreement.
Xiao Mo explained, "It's not surprising that you think that way. If Zhu the Elder hadn't enlightened me, I would have misunderstood the young master as well. According to Zhu the Elder, it's because the young master has his own calculations. For matters that he has already decided on and then discusses openly with us, he has long considered everyone's thoughts. So at first glance, there seem to be no objections. In fact, for matters where there might be objections, or anything that would cause someone difficulty, the young master simply doesn't bring it up at all."
Xie Gou sighed. "Being a mountain lord is this tiring. If he becomes a nation master, how much worse will it be?"
Xiao Mo smiled. "I'm not sure how he'll feel as nation master. But just in terms of being mountain lord, the young master doesn't find it tiring at all. On the contrary, he feels very happy."
Xie Gou asked, "Did he tell you that himself again?"
Xiao Mo shook his head. "We don't need the young master to say it; we can all tell. Don't you think so?"
Xie Gou quickly nodded. "That must be it! It's such a simple fact, we can all see it!"
Inside the room, after selecting a new temple site for the Water God of Yu Ye River, Song He smiled and said, "Let's suspend the discussion. Everyone can rest for a quarter of an hour."
Waiting for these words, Tong Wenchang felt for his pipe, glanced at Chen Ping'an, who nodded in understanding. Lord Tong then looked at Fu Dechong, who also nodded.
The three of them stood up almost simultaneously, walked out of the study, and came to the corridor under the eaves. These three 'kindred spirits,' who were previously not at all familiar with each other, two first and one following, began to squat down and smoke their pipes.
Fu Dechong, the Mountain God of Pu Mountain, was not yet aware that by following these two's example, just squatting there, he had created a habit for his future visits to the Great Li imperial study for discussions. A few times would make it a habit, and over time, it would become a tradition.
There weren't many who came out of the room for fresh air. More preferred to stay inside, taking the opportunity to chat with the emperor.
Seeing no one take the initiative to greet him and make small talk, Jiang Shangzhen got up somewhat sullenly, crossed the threshold, and came to the corridor. He smiled, "Mr. Xiao Mo, Miss Xie Gou."
Xiao Mo was always dressed in a yellow hat and green shoes. The girl in the sable hat with red cheeks, on the other hand, wore a pair of snow-white 'Flying Cloud' shoes, which supposedly produced clouds underfoot, symbolizing ascension.
Xiao Mo smiled. "Chief Supplicant Zhou, you've worked hard."
Xie Gou grinned. "As expected of Chief Supplicant Zhou, quite the imposing manner."
Jiang Shangzhen grinned back. "I had to put on a stern face and hold it together. Outside the mountain, I have to uphold the golden signboard of Declining Mountain's Chief Supplicant. I'm not usually like this; I'm easy to talk to."
Xiao Mo smiled faintly. "Jingqing said Chief Supplicant Zhou has a good capacity for liquor. Zhu the Elder and Mi Li both said Chief Supplicant Zhou has an even better character when drinking."
Jiang Shangzhen beamed. "Actually, my liquor capacity and character are both average. I just drink until I throw up, then drink again, then throw up again."
Xie Gou said, "Zheng Dafeng said that the immortal wine on our mountain is all bought at great expense by Chief Supplicant Zhou. He's very generous. Others buy a few jars at a time, but Chief Supplicant Zhou buys whole cellars at a time!"
Jiang Shangzhen began to curse himself: "More money than sense."
When the Chief Supplicant chatted like this, Xie Gou felt a bit out of her depth.
Xiao Mo said, "Chief Supplicant Zhou is someone who can both make money and spend it, never worrying about money, and money never worrying him. Cultivation should be like this, whether at the banquet table or away from it, on the mountain or off it."
Jiang Shangzhen hurriedly reminded himself to restrain his impulse. He had almost blurted out, 'Xiao Mo, we're all brothers, no need to differentiate between you and me. Why don't you just take the title of Chief Supplicant!'
Fan Junmao was practically dragged out of the study by Wei Bo. Judging by her posture, she had come to confront Mountain Lord Chen.
It seemed Chen the Sword Immortal was chatting idly with Lord Tong, saying something like, 'A mountain's eminence is not in its height, but in the immortals living there.' And 'The higher the force, the greater the danger; the higher the path, the greater the safety.'
Hearing this assessment, Tong Wenchang managed a rare smile.
This made Fan Junmao even angrier.
Chen Ping'an looked up, waved away some of the smoke, and took the initiative to smile. "Mountain Lord Fan, why hold a grudge? You're not someone who cares about face."
Fan Junmao almost turned around and left.
Not caring about face and having no face—how could they be the same thing?
This female mountain lord, about to receive the divine title 'Cuimei', was about to step away when she heard Chen Ping'an's voice in her mind, smiling: "Inside the room, it wouldn't do to break the rules. I'll congratulate Mountain Lord Fan here instead. Zitong Mountain is a bit different from the other four peaks. The Confucian Temple will additionally give the Southern Peak a plaque inscribed with 'All Mountains Under Heaven'. Where you hang it—at the mountain gate, on the mansion's main gate, or in your study—is up to your personal preference."
'Cuimei' was itself another name for a mountain. Using it as a mountain lord's divine title was, to say the least, a miracle in the mountain and river officialdom.
In the history of Beiju Luzhou, there had been a sect as vast as a colossus, a leading immortal mansion in the southern part of the continent. It was called Qingde Sect, and its Daoists were hailed by outsiders as 'Hidden Immortals'. The name of its ancestral hall was 'Cuimei'. After the Qingde Sect became a thing of the past, titles related to 'Cuimei' for mountain sect names or cultivator Dao names had remained perpetually vacant at the Confucian Temple. Any application was flatly rejected, and the reason for this remained unknown. Additionally, in the Central Plains Shenzhou, there was the Cuimei Chu clan, a millenary magnate. A Golden Core stage Qi refiner, Chu Yang, who had once built a thatched hut and cultivated on the Ascension Terrace of Old Dragon City, came from this family. However, this 'Cuimei' was a place name.
Therefore, Fan Junmao self-proposing the divine title 'Cuimei' and having it pass the Confucian Temple's review could be considered picking up a huge bargain.
Not expecting to also receive a free plaque inscribed with 'All Mountains Under Heaven', Fan Junmao's eyes widened. "Really?!"
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Would I joke about such a thing?"
A plaque with such a grand meaning—first of all, no one would dare to write it casually. Even if there were some reckless scholar, Fan Junmao wouldn't dare to just hang it. Do you think I'm stupid just because you are?
Confirming that Chen Ping'an wasn't joking, Fan Junmao couldn't hide her delight. "Although I know this is the tactic of giving a person a date after dealing them a blow..."
At this point, Fan Junmao even laughed out loud. She rubbed her cheeks. "Never mind! I accept it! This tactic can be used a few more times for all I care."
Wei Bo teased from the side, "The tactic of giving someone candy after slapping them? I like that kind of slap too. Who's afraid of a little face pain? Just afraid the opponent's hand might swell from slapping and they won't want to do it anymore."
Fan Junmao plopped down on the step.
Chen Ping'an stopped using spiritual voice and said aloud with a laugh, "Mountain Lord Fan, are you no longer bothered by the smoke and fog now?"
Fan Junmao flicked her sleeve. "Not when Mountain Lord Wei is here."
Returning kindness for kindness, favor for favor, Fan Junmao was about to tell Chen Ping'an about the forces instigating things from the shadows.
But Chen Ping'an immediately guessed her intention and waved his hand. Returning to spiritual voice, he said, "I said I wouldn't put you in a difficult position. That was no empty pleasantry. Otherwise, why would I have deliberately added fuel to the fire by saying you left out a few names on the list? I could see you were angry, and I was sure you wouldn't follow my lead and say more. If you had actually agreed readily and completed the list, I would have made an exception and reminded you through spiritual voice, so we could put on a show together. The current situation is perfect. Let the Song clan of Great Li show face to Zitong Mountain. Then, Mountain Lord Fan, you can give some face to those 'fish that slipped through the net'. Each party gets a graceful way out. The result is still the same, but the relationships won't become too strained. If they understand the principle of 'not letting it happen again,' that's best. If they mistakenly think the Great Li court is afraid of them and then become even more pushy, then they blame Great Li for showing no mercy."
Fan Junmao was speechless for a long time. After a moment of silence, she said somewhat irritably, "Chen Ping'an, just tell me, am I just born to be an official, or am I just born unsuited to be one?"
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "The real skill is to be an official who doesn't seem like an official, to not be transferred to some idle sinecure, and still be able to rise higher and higher."
Fan Junmao shrugged with indifference. "Sounds good in theory, but I'll just listen."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Fan Junmao, since it's just for listening, how about I tell you another truth someone once said?"
Fan Junmao raised an eyebrow, flicked her ear. "For the sake of that plaque, go ahead. I'll listen."
At worst, it goes in one ear and out the other.
Chen Ping'an took a long drag on his pipe, slowly blew out the smoke, but remained silent for a long time, just staring into the distance, a place neither far nor near.
Fan Junmao said, "Hey!" to remind Chen Ping'an not to zone out.
Wei Bo sat beside her.
This female mountain lord had once stayed alone on that lonely Zitong Mountain, facing the tide of Barren Wastes demon armies surging from all directions. She seemed to have silently declared to the whole world: Let the mountain peak shatter, let my golden body crack, I, this old lady, will not leave!
Chen Ping'an snapped back to reality, smiled, and apologized to her. Then, he truly began with "Someone once said."
"Don't pretend to be close to this world, nor pretend to be distant from it. What matters is balance and a normal heart. Neither too thick nor too thin. We are still us, and we are just us."