Chapter 1213: Vitality Emerges
The great sun had already set, and the lingering red glow on the horizon resembled a smear of rouge carelessly applied by a beauty, who was reluctant to wipe it clean, wanting to gaze upon the mortal world a while longer.
Inside the waterside pavilion, seeing that the young girl was no longer so restrained, Rongyu stood up, glanced at the gradually darkening sky, and awaited the appearance of the National Master.
Han Yi remained sitting upright and proper, while Wei Shuan was thoroughly uncomfortable. The fat man had no choice but to chat with that outlander girl named Chen Xi about interesting tales from the capital, making conversation for the sake of conversation—that was the innkeeper's specialty.
The Five Marchmount Deities and the Great River Water Gods had already withdrawn their grand formations, and their golden bodies had all returned to their respective doyangs. From start to finish, it was difficult to see clearly, like looking at flowers through a mist.
Bottle Gourd Prefecture welcomed a faint nightfall, and soft lamps gradually began to glow. Beneath the lamplight, there might be drinking parties with cups clinking, or books exuding the fragrance of ink. The light illuminated surroundings that could be the somber palace halls of an emperor, the carved beams and painted rafters of generals and ministers, or the curling smoke from the kitchens of common folk.
If an immortal in the clouds were observing from above, the night veil of Parasol Leaf Prefecture would no longer seem so lifeless; it had gained some vitality. Especially along the banks of the newly formed great river that had not yet fully merged, there was nonstop large-scale construction, both the rising and falling of immortal techniques—opening mountains and diverting currents—and the continued labor of millions of able-bodied men. They were paid by the hour; if they slept a little later, then in the crude but clean huts not far away, the women, elderly, and children who helped with odd jobs during the day could sleep a little more soundly. A bit farther off, there were newly built schools. If the children were willing to go there to study, they wouldn't need to spend money to be considered beginners. It was said that many of the teaching masters were once extremely famous and learned scholars. Their patience and temperaments might vary, but the knowledge they taught was always genuinely good... Thus, this long line of lamplights winding across the land of Parasol Leaf Prefecture shone brilliantly, seemingly even brighter than the Qi Crossing in Bottle Gourd Prefecture to the north and the Ji River in North Ju Cocoa Prefecture.
On the battlefield, Chen Ping'an put away his dharma form and two narrow blades, landing like a fallen leaf near Zhou Haijing, and said with a smile, "Hard work."
Zhou Haijing shook her head, grinning widely as she said, "Getting paid for doing work is only natural. The Great Li court has good eyesight for choosing me; they definitely won't lose out."
She loosened her fingers; the iron spear still stood planted in the ground, but Zhou Haijing fell backward directly onto the ground, lying flat, complaining, "It hurts like hell."
Zhou Haijing stared blankly at the sky, as if her field of vision was still filled with the sight of squirming green threads. She was still shaken, and asked, "Chen Ping'an, if you didn't have that identity, and hadn't prepaid me martial fortune, would I not have been able to hold out until Yan opened that doyang and would have lost?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "The current real combat strength of the Earth Branch is roughly between weak and strong Flying Ascension, depending on the opponent. Against Xian, you definitely wouldn't have been enough. Don't get discouraged."
Zhou Haijing nodded, understanding. If the opponent was a Flying Ascension with good killing power, then they of the Earth Branch were weak Flying Ascension; if the opponent's killing power was insufficient, then they were truly strong Flying Ascension.
She was a Martial Artist at the bottleneck of the Mountain Summit Realm, artificially boosted directly to the Divine Layer of the Ultimate Realm. And as the key node of the Earth Branch's grand formation, according to what that drunkard Cao said, the realm ascents of the other eleven, mastering more divine abilities, refining a few more treasures—these were all just addition. Only for her, what was it? Something in numerology... multiplication?
Zhou Haijing glanced at the iron spear and asked, "Is it really that Patrol Inspector Su's battlefield relic?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "So don't disgrace it."
Zhou Haijing said, "I'll try."
Chen Ping'an said, "The reason Xian deliberately played with you all for a while longer was due to two personal motives. First, through the second-grade authentic trace 'Xian' that Kushou imitated using the Water-Stopping Mirror, or the traces of techniques and divine abilities I kept picking up, they are all strands of Great Way inheritance. Maybe she wanted to leave something behind in the mortal world as a pure Dao-seeker. This isn't certain; it's just my guess."
Zhou Haijing put her hands behind her head, crossed her legs, and said, "I've never been able to figure out what you cultivators are always thinking about, so you don't need to explain 'second' to me. I'm going to sleep my fill! Sleep until I naturally wake up, then eat and drink heavily, lots of meat and wine..."
As she spoke, Zhou Haijing suddenly perked up, struggled to her feet, and asked, "Is there any profit? Can we get dividends? After this fight, any extra benefits?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "At least you'll get a rating of 'Excellent.'"
Zhou Haijing rolled her eyes. "That's it?"
Chen Ping'an said, "According to regulations, you can exchange your battle merits for various treasures from the Great Li Secret Vault. But let me remind you: the battle merits of the twelve people of the Earth Branch are all the same. Just because you're the strongest fighter doesn't mean you get half a point more than the others."
Zhou Haijing nodded. "Alright. This rule is pretty good. Don't worry, even though I love money and like earning it, I'm not greedy. I won't be too disappointed."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Good that you're not disappointed."
Far away in their respective doyangs, Yuan Huajing and Gai Yan both felt some regret. The split they had agreed upon earlier had come to nothing, like drawing water with a bamboo basket.
But when Yuan Huajing turned his head and looked at that clever new "puppet," he felt satisfied.
The physical body of a ninth-realm demonic martial artist was exceptionally tough. Inside this human body's microcosm, he could make big moves without worrying about accidentally ruining this shell. If Yuan Huajing had stuffed the soul of an ordinary cultivator inside, the result would have been "the Way is as blue as the sky, but I alone cannot tread it"—the tougher the body, the harder it was for the soul to fuse, and "person" and "body" would only treat each other with distant respect. But Cai Yushan had been an Immortal realm cultivator before his fall; even after falling, he was still Jade Pu. The key was that "Scholar Cai" had a particularly pure true spirit. Coupled with "Scholar Cai's" intelligence and cleverness, if Yuan Huajing and his servant worked together, and then selected a batch of suitable natal objects from the Great Li Treasury for major refinement, perhaps they could use Chen the National Master as a ready-made construction model, making this puppet practice both techniques and martial arts?
Gai Yan clicked her tongue in wonder, envious. She craned her neck, eyeing the scene near the cave abode with longing. "Oh my, Sword Immortal Yuan has struck it rich. Comparing people really does drive you crazy."
After this battle, Yuan Huajing's Dao heart had become even clearer. He cupped his hands from afar and laughed, "Just average. When we return to the capital, I'll treat you to a drink."
Gai Yan spat, "I'm rich! Think I need you to treat me to a drink?"
Han Zhoujin put away Dao Mountain, which was still in the form of a talisman paper. He wasn't in a hurry to "unfold" it; instead, he examined it carefully. Truly marvelous.
The little novice monk, whose dharma name was Houjue, was anxious. He needed to hurry and go to the temple to donate oil money before it closed at dark.
By the General's Platform, Yu Yu had already quietly retrieved the arrow she had shot, carefully tucked it into her sleeve to treasure. Hmph, this was the first time Granny had achieved a "cut down by decree" through words becoming law.
Lu Hui and Sui Lin were busy copying the traces of the battlefield. After all, this was where a fourteenth-realm cultivator had scattered the Dao and fallen; every small detail contained great learning.
Chen Ping'an suddenly gathered the two narrow blades in one hand and handed them to Zhou Haijing, smiling, "Temporary loan."
Zhou Haijing was greatly surprised and hesitated, afraid to casually accept these relics of ancient gods. "This is...?"
Chen Ping'an didn't explain anything. Seeing her not take them, he began to withdraw his hand. Zhou Haijing immediately snatched them, holding both blades in her hands, exclaiming in awe, "Such a perfect fit!"
Ge Ling explained via heart voice: "The tangled web of cause and effect has all been borne by the National Master alone. You fought a one-on-one duel with 'Xian,' and she ultimately chose to scatter the Dao. In a certain sense, this aligns with the saying that there is a will of heaven in the unseen. So Xian acknowledged 'Zhou Haijing.' Coupled with the essence of her Dao root, Xian entrusted these two blades with certain... unspeakable aspirations. Zhou Haijing, if you take these two blades on loan, you may have to take on the duty of an executioner. If you can't fulfill it, they'll be useless. If you can, there will be extraordinary powers."
The young Daoist paused for a moment, then said, "These are all just my guesses. You decide for yourself."
Zhou Haijing laughed heartily, "I trust your reasoning, and I trust my own intuition more! Put it this way, Mr. Chen wouldn't deliberately set up one of his own meritorious officers, right?"
Gai Yan put away the "Romantic Canopy," rubbed her calves, and muttered, "Oh, so only Zhou Haijing is meritorious? Who isn't a meritorious officer here?"
Song Xu put away his flying swords "Post Road" and "Ballad," examining them with his divine sense one after another. Post Road was fine; it just needed money for repairs. But the second flying sword made Song Xu pause in surprise.
Chen Ping'an glanced at each of them and said with a smile, "Still, I say again: each of you must cultivate diligently. Believe that the future of Bottle Gourd Prefecture is yours."
The solitary "youth" Yin Ji still stood by the isolated high platform. His greatest support, Xian, had already died and scattered the Dao; the Heavenly Punishment of the Great Way was temporarily sealed; Yin Miao had already dispersed with his one soul and one spirit. Since Bottle Gourd Prefecture hadn't been Daoized, the fate of the Great Shou Yin Clan was already sealed.
When Chen Ping'an came to his side, Yin Ji remained as composed as ever, hands behind his back, gazing into the distance at the azure waves of the sea, and laughed, "A successful ambush, slaying a fourteenth-realm cultivator—worthy of being called a 'heroic feat.' This solitary one is fortunate to have witnessed it."
The cultivators of the Earth Branch had all gathered around Zhou Haijing. They felt that the Great Shou Emperor on this high platform must be furious to the point of madness; otherwise, it made no sense.
Yin Ji made a strange motion, raising one hand high, and after a long silence, muttered to himself, "I urge you to raise high the hand that props up heaven."
Chen Ping'an said slowly, "I know you are Pang Ding of the Spirit Treasure City. But of course, no evidence will be left behind."
——
Exactly how to conclude things—everyone was waiting for the National Master Chen to return to Old Oriole Lake. Even Song Jixin, who was the second most powerful prince of Great Li, naturally wouldn't meddle. He glanced at Gao Shi, who had a green-sheathed waist knife at his side, and walked toward him. The Crown Prince of the Great Source Dynasty, Lu Jun, and the new National Master Yang Houjue, whose Dao name was Tuanni, were both chatting with Gao Shi. Also, the Crown Prince of the Great Duan Dynasty, Cao Mao, had turned back and was once again standing by the wall.
Gao Shi, that weathercock who had opportunistically shifted loyalties with the young Hidden Officer, wasn't particularly daunted by this King Luo, Song Mu. His expression was calm, his breathing long, and he rubbed the hilt of his knife, saying with full confidence, "Border Army Gao Shi, paying respects to King Luo."
Song Jixin laughed. "No wonder you're a bottleneck grandmaster of the ninth realm; you know how to read the situation and adapt quickly."
Gao Shi said calmly, "It depends on the person."
Xi Man, who served as Song Jixin's personal bodyguard, immediately shot an encouraging look toward the wall, silently urging Gao Shi to be bolder and speak more forcefully.
Gao Shi was annoyed with this fellow, so he sent a sound thread to him in secret: "Since we're in the same line of work, when this business is done, how about finding an opportunity to spar?"
Xi Man laughed. "You have a good knife, a rare divine weapon. I'd be too disadvantaged. Unless you don't use that knife, and add a little wager, betting that knife, then I'll play with you."
Gao Shi scoffed, "Why not just say you want to cut a chicken head and burn yellow paper, swear brotherhood with me, then directly ask me for this 'Green Waist'? Wouldn't that save trouble?"
Unexpectedly, Xi Man immediately seized the opening: "If you're willing, I'll acknowledge you as big brother right now. I'll bow down in submission, and you'll quickly help me up. We'll stand up and laugh at each other, with big brother's heroic spirit, asking, 'I have a knife to give you, what do you think, second brother?' I'll decline repeatedly, but you'll insist on giving it, so I'll have no choice but to accept. Then we'll become a beautiful tale of brotherhood in the martial world."
Gao Shi said doubtfully, "With such a gift for conversation, why don't you learn boxing or martial arts? Go tell stories under a bridge to earn money. A few days of that, and you'd have enough to buy this Green Waist from me."
Xi Man found it familiar and asked, "Learning to talk nonsense from our National Master Chen?"
Gao Shi was momentarily speechless, his momentum suddenly dropping.
Lu Jun was polite and proper, cupping his hands: "Lu Jun pays respects to King Luo."
Song Jixin nodded, his expression gentle as he said, "We're family, no need for formalities."
Lu Jun smiled. "My father has always held King Luo in high regard. He always says that the Great Li Song clan having a King Luo is truly worthy of the title 'bulwark of the state.'"
Yang Houjue coughed lightly, a reminder for the Crown Prince not to continue.
It turned out that whenever Lu Huan and Lu Jun, who were both sovereign and father-son, discussed the vassal king Song Mu, Lu Jun would always ask if he had any long-lost twin brothers being secretly raised outside. If so, there was no need to hide it; no need to worry about brothers turning against each other. They should be brought back to the palace immediately, and they would embrace and cry together, then work as one, united, and recommend that Emperor Lu Huan hire the best teachers to teach him a few military texts hailed as "a match for ten thousand." Then he, the crown prince, could relax completely and sleep soundly on the dragon throne.
Song Jixin smiled. "I wouldn't dare. Thank the Great Source Emperor for his excessive praise."
The reason he felt somewhat close to this Great Source Crown Prince was that Song Jixin felt the young man before him was very much like his younger self.
Lu Jun asked curiously, "I heard that King Luo and National Master Chen were neighbors when they were young?"
Song Jixin nodded. "We both lived in Mud Vase Alley, next-door neighbors."
Lu Jun asked tentatively, "Since we're free anyway, how about we walk along the shore of Old Oriole Lake and chat? Would King Luo be willing to tell me some stories about our hometown?"
Song Jixin laughed. "Why not? It'll be like a stroll to clear the mind."
The two groups began walking along the lakeshore. Song Jixin talked about some hometown stories, and Lu Jun exclaimed in surprise with each new detail, savoring the aftertaste. So the originally sharp-tongued chatterbox King Luo Song Mu had his patience and good temper ground out to some extent by his master. When he learned that the master had been a kiln apprentice for many years, Lu Jun asked if he had ever become a formal disciple and produced any porcelain pieces of his own. Song Jixin said Chen Ping'an had never formally apprenticed, so becoming a disciple was out of the question. Lu Jun felt a bit regretful; if he could ask the master for a study ornament fired by his own hands, that would be wonderful. He could temporarily lend it to his father to show off to his emperor friends. If anyone dared laugh at him as the bottom of the heap in the Bright World, the Great Source Emperor could directly pull out that treasure and boast, "Do you have one?" Or he could make a rubbing of it and send it along in reply letters.
Cao Mao had a thick skin; he actually tagged along at the tail end of the group.
Gao Shi walked side by side with Xi Man. Xi Man lightly elbowed Gao Shi. "Big Brother Gao, little brother will soon be a personal guard of the Luo Prince's mansion. I imagine the rank won't be too low; I should at least have a seventh-rank official position. You, on the other hand, will be joining the army in some border province, starting as a common soldier. Most likely, it will be in territory under the jurisdiction of the secondary capital. If we two brothers meet in the border army ranks, how should we address each other?"
Gao Shi elbowed him back. "Who's 'us two brothers' with you?"
Xi Man immediately returned another elbow. Gao Shi increased the force, and Xi Man responded in kind. Gao Shi got angry; he elbowed obliquely toward Xi Man's neck, then reached down to press his knife handle. "Let's spar, then!"
Cao Mao, bringing up the rear, had to remind them: "At this moment, any disturbance at Old Oriole Lake will be reported in the small court session of the Great Li Imperial Palace's Imperial Study."
Xi Man, who had deliberately taken an elbow, shook his neck and said casually, "Itchy. It seems Big Brother's bold spirit relies mostly on this Green Waist. This knife is the true ninth-realm bottleneck for Gao Shi."
Gao Shi was somewhat surprised and speechless. When he thought about it carefully, it really seemed to be true?
In fact, Gao Shi's inner self was not unaware, but having the window paper poked through made him lose face.
Xi Man spoke with hidden meaning, a profound statement for Gao Shi: "Abandon sageliness and discard wisdom, and great robbers will cease. A martial artist who is possessed by objects is ultimately not pure."
Gao Shi smiled bitterly. "Not to fight over treasures when without them—that's not 'not fighting,' but having nothing to fight over. Xi Man, if you were the owner of this Green Waist knife, you wouldn't speak so lightly."
Xi Man sent a secret message: "Awu, it's not working."
Gong Yan's heart-voice laughed: "Might as well give it a shot even if it's a long shot. Besides, this method of mine is a tactic learned from books. If it doesn't work, that's normal. If it did work, that would mean Gao Shi had a screw loose."
Gao Shi cupped his hands in thanks. "Brother Xi Man, I appreciate the good intentions."
Xi Man scratched his head. He actually felt a bit of a desire to become sworn brothers with Gao Shi. After all, he himself was being insincere while the other was genuine; Xi Man felt somewhat guilty.
Cao Mao laughed. "Indeed, a precious knife should be given to a hero. A pure martial artist shouldn't be possessed by objects, which hinders their spirit. Without giving up Green Waist, how can Gao Shi reach the Ultimate Realm?"
Gao Shi turned his head and asked with a smile, "When did Mr. Cao become so close to Xi Man?"
"The hero I'm talking about is myself," Cao Mao said with a smile. "How about a three-way sworn brotherhood at Old Oriole Lake? Count Cao Lue in?"
Yang Houjue felt that if this Great Duan Crown Prince wasn't in a hurry to return to Central Earth Divine Continent, "Cao Lue" could travel with "Lu Jun"—the two wandering knights exploring Northern Ju Cocoa together.
Earlier, more than ten figures had suddenly appeared by the wall. The young girl Xu Mi seemed to have spotted an acquaintance—more precisely, an elder of her clan.
When Xu Mi was little, she loved flipping through the family genealogy, often held in her grandfather's arms. She would open a book, point at random names, and ask him to tell their stories. Some were exciting, full of ups and downs; some were ordinary. Some were recorded in Great Li historical annals, even with separate biographies, but her grandfather said little about them. Others were obscure in officialdom, even with no mention within the clan, yet her grandfather would talk about them at length.
Xu Mi had once seen a name in the genealogy: Yuan Huajing.
Her grandfather said he was a Dao cultivator, a Sword Immortal pursuing the path of longevity.
But even immortals had their lack of freedom; it had been many years since he had any contact with the clan.
In the Yuan clan's ancestral hall, many ancestral portraits hung on the walls: high officials, low officials, people considered good or bad by commoners.
There was also a shrine for martyrs that only direct descendants could offer incense at, enshrining the spirit tablets of those Yuan clan ancestors. Some names Xu Mi couldn't find even after searching through the entire genealogy.
Her grandfather said that if it weren't for them standing up in history, the founding pillar Yuan clan would have long lost its incense and wouldn't have been able to keep the ancestral home on Yi Chi Alley.
Grandfather also told a story. When he was a snot-nosed kid in open-crotch pants, and Yuan Huajing was still a graceful young man, a crazy eccentric passed by their doorstep. He read their faces, saying one was suited for the court as a minister serving the country and the people, wearing yellow and purple; the other was suited for the mountains as an immortal for himself.
If it really was him? Xu Mi breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Xu Mi thought it over. Her grandfather had controlled the Censorate for nearly thirty years. Although he was suspected of being mediocre and idle, he was at least an honest official. As the head of the founding pillar Yuan clan, he had been strict in restraining clan members. For instance, during the Great River trade affair, he forbade anyone surnamed Yuan from reaching out. As for those not surnamed Yuan but related by marriage, she couldn't say for sure they hadn't been involved, having long studied in the mountains.
Her father was an obscure illegitimate son of the Yuan clan, while her mother was a legitimate daughter of the Breeze Wind City. Their union produced twins. Xu Mi's brother, Yuan Cheng, had been a prodigy for scholarship since childhood, extremely diligent in his studies, with no interest in immortal affairs. Xu Mi herself was lively by nature, so her grandfather Yuan Chong entrusted her to his friend Hong Chongben to take up the mountain and settle her heart.
Hong Chongben, whose students and former subordinates were spread across Great Li's officialdom, looked at his youngest and most accomplished student. The reason old friend Yuan Chong was willing to send Xu Mi to study in the mountains, voluntarily giving up the joy of playing with grandchildren after court, was rooted in a deep secret. When Yuan Cheng and Xu Mi were still young, that eccentric who had read the fortunes of Yuan Huajing and Yuan Chong happened to pass by again. He said Xu Mi's nobility was beyond words—the female fate of official seal and mutual life, marrying upward—and the Yuan clan of Yi Chi Alley could lie back and enjoy the blessings.
Then he looked at Yuan Cheng and said his fate was also good, extremely "pure and noble," an unprecedented case in Bottle Gourd Prefecture. But for the incense fortune of the founding pillar Yuan clan, it might not be such a good thing.
Old Yuan and others were both surprised and worried. Hong Chongben, as the Yuan clan's retainer, was present but couldn't speak on such matters. Yuan Chong wanted to beg for clarification, but the eccentric laughed and left, tapping a green bamboo clapper and leaving behind some vague words resembling a divination explanation.
The gist was that only one of the siblings could emerge; separate, they would both be fine; together, they would easily clash in fate.
Hong Chongben had lived in seclusion in the mountains for many years, spending his time writing books and cultivating longevity. He had also calculated Xu Mi's fate pattern, once every three years. Fewer would be inaccurate; more would thin her fate, harming her fortune instead.
After learning that the Fox Kingdom of the Breeze Wind City Xu clan had mysteriously disappeared, Hong Chongben cast a divination. This Mr. Yu Lu had a family secret method of fortune-telling, drawing lots from two bamboo cylinders, combining fortune-telling with lot interpretation. The result was still shrouded in clouds: two lot lines interwoven and merged: "Green grass covers the hero's tomb everywhere; no wealth seen, no poverty found. Why bother? Full of brambles and a single mound; turning the head, mist rises from another peak. Stop while you're ahead!"
Only then did Hong Chongben take Xu Mi out of the mountains and come to the Great Li capital, using the opportunity of witnessing the Great Li National Master's celebration.
As for the Breeze Wind City Xu clan's long-term secret accumulation of literary and martial fortune through the Fox Kingdom, Hong Chongben was fully aware. In his early years, the old man had personally visited the Fox Kingdom.
Hong Chongben asked via heart voice, "What does Yuan Cheng think of the theft of the Fox Kingdom?"
Xu Mi said, "My brother said, 'A blessing in disguise.' Whether that's his true feelings, I can't tell. My brother has always kept his thoughts to himself since he was little. I can't learn that."
Hong Chongben smiled. "You don't need to learn that either."
——
At the White Funeral Crossing outside the capital, Liu Tui put away his "Palm Viewing Mountains and Rivers" technique. The Old Oriole Lake garden in the outer city seemed to have deliberately opened a gap for outsiders to observe that shocking upheaval. The Great Li Song clan and the Great Shou Yin clan were both behemoths. Among the Bright World's ten great dynasties, one ranked third, one fourth. The two great powers weren't on the same continent, or otherwise, with such a bloody result, both sides would probably start amassing troops at the borders and borrowing passage to attack. As for the ensuing development, Liu Tui couldn't predict. He would stay far away and watch from the other shore.
As Liu Tui had expected, a peaceful world had not truly arrived; the prelude to a great contention era had already begun.
If, in the meantime, he could do something sneakily without drawing fire to himself, like stealthily stabbing the Great Shou Yin clan a few times, Liu Tui had no Dao-heart obstacles. His thoughts flowed smoothly.
Liu Laocheng said, "Liu Tui, I'm not going to Letter Bamboo Lake anymore. It's just a winter crucian; I can take my chopsticks to it anytime. I'll go directly to Flowing Haze Prefecture and force my way into White Porcelain Cave Heaven."
Liu Tui seemed unsurprised by Liu Laocheng's last-minute decision, just asking with a smile, "Since you've resigned and broken with the Jade Gui Sect, won't you write a resignation letter to the Divine Seal Peak Ancestral Hall?"
Liu Laocheng thought for a moment; it seemed only proper. But then he suddenly shuddered, understanding dawning. Liu Laocheng looked at Liu Tui, who seemed to be testing him, and laughed freely, "Write a damn letter. Since I've decided to become a wild cultivator again, if I don't ransack the True Mirror Sect's treasury, that's me giving Wei Ying a big enough face... Forget it, I'll still make a detour to Letter Bamboo Lake. A mere mortal climbing a mountain needs to prepare provisions. I can't go to that White Porcelain Cave Heaven empty-handed. After I occupy the cave heaven and 'seal the mountain,' until Liu Laocheng proves the Way and ascends, I don't know how many years I'll have to spend. I need more resources when entering the mountain. After all these years of serving as the True Mirror Sect's headmaster, the Jade Gui Sect ought to cut off some meat. Liu Tui, no more nonsense. Farewell!"
As he said, he left. Liu Laocheng used a secret escape technique to vanish, heading straight for the True Mirror Sect's secret treasury at Letter Bamboo Lake to grab a big haul.
Embezzling? How was this different from a family head at the foot of the mountain sneaking away at night with gold and silver wrapped up? Liu Laocheng truly lived up to being a wild cultivator who had stood firm at Letter Bamboo Lake.
As for how much the next True Mirror Sect headmaster would have left, it was hard to say. Even if Jiang Shangzhen might take over the sect, Liu Laocheng couldn't afford to worry about incurring enmity. Gao Mian was right: as long as your realm was high, most problems ceased to be issues.
Liu Tui began to ponder which dynasties on Supporting Shake Isle had deep ties with Central Earth Divine Continent. When he returned home, he would have some straightforward words with those clever enough to understand.
That parcel merchant who had just earned nearly a Minor Summer Coin, taking advantage of his good fortune, finally decided to seek wealth amidst danger. He went to the Ape Trampled Boardwalk to find the Green Mystery Cave. After asking around and going up and down along the ridges, he finally found that cave dwelling with the plaque "Green Mystery" along a side path branching off the main road, overgrown with weeds. Outside the cave was a small open space, and sure enough, the young cultivator saw a middle-aged Daoist with an immortal air, handsome features, holding a whisk.
This was most likely that fellow named Yellow Flower God, whose Dao name was Chinese Tallow.
Beside him was an average-looking woman in yellow clothes, but the young cultivator swallowed. It was because she had an extremely slender waist and very plump buttocks. What did her face matter?
With a personal maid like that, who would go out? Who would get out of bed? He quickly restrained his stray thoughts. "Are you the Yellow Flower God? Earlier at White Funeral Crossing, there was an immortal master with a youthful appearance, accompanied by a Qi refiner who claimed to be Liu Laocheng of Letter Bamboo Lake. The immortal master was kind-hearted, perhaps seeing that my aptitude was passable and pitying my firm resolve to seek the Way, so he told me to come to the Green Mystery Cave to find you, Yellow Flower God, and take me to see the immortal scenery halfway up the mountain. This is extremely presumptuous, and I hope you, Yellow Flower God..."
Yellow Flower God squinted at him, nodded, said, "Alright, you can follow me up the mountain to cultivate from now on."
The young cultivator was caught off guard. Just like that? No inspection of documents, no test of his Dao heart or aptitude?
Yellow Flower God waved his whisk, pointed at Tian Hujun, and said bluntly, "She is the island master of Plain Scale Island on Letter Bamboo Lake, surnamed Tian, given name Hujun, a Golden Core Earth Immortal."
"You can temporarily acknowledge her as your master. If you want to become Dao partners with her in the future, don't become her disciple. If you're just fooling around as a pair of wild mandarin ducks, that's fine too."
Yellow Flower God stared at the parcel merchant Liu Tui had shoved onto him, urging him, "Decide quickly."
Tian Hujun was dumbfounded.
The young cultivator wasn't much better. How did this Yellow Flower God sound like the unscrupulous style of a wild cultivator from Letter Bamboo Lake? Tian Hujun's name had been heard; she was said to be the senior disciple of that River-Cutting True Lord Liu Zhimao, the elder martial sister of that demon king Gu Can. Just thinking of this bastard Gu Can, the young cultivator felt resentful. Truly, the good die young while the wicked live long. How could such an indiscriminate killer have walked out of Letter Bamboo Lake alive and even become a personal disciple of that City Lord Zheng of White Emperor City? If only it were me!
The young cultivator looked around and immediately felt his courage shrink. No matter how he looked at it, this place seemed perfect for murder, robbery, and disposing of bodies...
Yellow Flower God sneered, "Now that death is at hand, you finally know how to be afraid?"
Without hesitation, the young cultivator took out that Minor Summer Coin from his sleeve and tossed it to the murderous-looking Yellow Flower God. "This is all I have. You don't need to kill me for it. If the Great Li court investigates afterward, your divine abilities may be great, but it's still a trouble."
Yellow Flower God used his whisk to sweep the Minor Summer Coin to Tian Hujun. "Consider it your initiation gift to Island Master Tian. Forgot to ask, brother, what is your name?"
The young cultivator braced himself and said, "Yuan Chengfu."
Yellow Flower God nodded. "An unusual name."
Tian Hujun, though deeply disgusted, still caught the Minor Summer Coin.
Yellow Flower God teased, "But with such a weak body bearing such a great name, aren't you afraid of dying halfway, friend?"
Yuan Chengfu said, "I'll gamble."
Yellow Flower God's eyes showed approval. "Good! Then dare you gamble once more?"
Yuan Chengfu asked curiously, "How?"
Yellow Flower God pointed at Tian Hujun. "Gamble on whether I'll cast a binding spell, letting you take her into the Green Mystery Cave, enjoy the pleasures of clouds and rain, and still come out alive to continue up the mountain?"
Yuan Chengfu was stunned. Were all you bastards from Letter Bamboo Lake so wild?
Tian Hujun's face turned pale.
Just then, a young man in Confucian robes with a jade-like face walked out of the Green Mystery Cave. Yuan Chengfu felt inferior next to him. Could this unfamiliar friend be the owner of the Green Mystery Cave?
After a moment of shock, Yellow Flower God wordlessly used his most secret escape technique, instantaneously fleeing hundreds of miles from the Ape Trampled Boardwalk. But the Confucian-robed young man reached out, grabbed his soul from afar, and made a light pulling motion with his hand, peeling the soul from Yellow Flower God's body. Yellow Flower God, still amid the clouds, immediately lost his wits. Enduring the pain, Yellow Flower God thought it over, grudgingly flew back, whisk in hand, and bowed deeply. "Student Yellow Flower God pays respects to the master."
Tian Hujun was relieved. At least with him present, Yellow Flower God wouldn't dare do anything rash.
Gu Can reached out, grabbed the whisk, and took control. As Yellow Flower God's soul returned to its body, Gu Can swung the whisk, looping it around the latter's neck, and twisted his wrist, severing Yellow Flower God's head. Fortunately, Yellow Flower God had diverse side techniques; he quickly formed a hand seal, raised his arms, and caught his own head.
Yuan Chengfu was almost scared into wetting his pants.
Gu Can said calmly, "Yellow Flower God, have you forgotten my instructions? I allow you to commit evil. If you can hide it from me, that's your skill. Then whatever consequences arise from your actions, we share as master and disciple. But if I catch you in the act even once, I'll make your life worse than death."
Yellow Flower God's head, held in his hands, moved his lips slightly, a fierce expression appearing on his face. "Student admits defeat. Do as you will."
Gu Can's expression was unchanged. He flicked his sleeve, and a large bronze tripod appeared on the open ground outside the cave, filled with boiling water. He swung the whisk, tossing Yellow Flower God into it. Then he set up restrictions with secret methods, trapping him in the boiling pot. Soon, heart-wrenching screams echoed, but after a moment, they turned into desperate pleas for mercy.
Yuan Chengfu collapsed to the ground. Only now did he believe that the old man was Liu Laocheng, the woman was Tian Hujun, and the young man in Confucian robes was Gu Can! The demon Gu Can!
Gu Can looked at this young parcel merchant and smiled. "It's fine. From now on, follow Tian Hujun to Plain Scale Island to cultivate. Whether you can reach the mountainside in the future will probably depend on whether this Yellow Flower God can endure this ordeal. Senior Sister Tian, will you take him back to Letter Bamboo Lake?"
Tian Hujun said nervously, "No problem at all."
Gu Can gently tossed the whisk to the sitting Yuan Chengfu. "I'll give it to you. Using someone else's generosity—no need to thank me. As for becoming a personal disciple of Zheng Juzhong, I can't give that to you, and you couldn't handle it anyway."
Yuan Chengfu saw the whisk being thrown; instead of reaching out to catch it, he rolled away quickly, afraid of a trick.
Gu Can was expressionless. Tian Hujun found it amusing but suppressed her laughter. Suddenly, Gu Can's gaze fell on her, and Tian Hujun immediately composed herself, a chill running down her spine.
Gu Can said, "Take Yuan Chengfu and the whisk and return to Letter Bamboo Lake immediately."
Tian Hujun didn't dare hesitate. Using water magic, she condensed a cyan cloud, swept the whisk and the young wild cultivator onto it, then floated onto the cloud, cast an illusion to conceal their trail, and headed for Letter Bamboo Lake.
With nothing else to do, Gu Can picked up some dry branches, crouched down, tossed them under the large tripod, rubbed his fingers together, and lit them.
Actually, the boiling water in the tripod was a section of the "River-Cutting True Scripture" secret technique. The firewood and flame were just for show.
Gu Can suddenly stood up, puzzled. "Why are you here?"
Zheng Juzhong smiled. "To see the result."
Gu Can asked curiously, "What result?"
Zheng Juzhong said, "To closely observe Daoist Bai Jing's choice."
Gu Can grew even more bewildered. "That Xie Gou wants to stab the ghost with a sword? Eat it as nourishment for the Great Way, a ladder to reach the fourteenth realm? No, that doesn't seem right. What she's doing now looks like scattering the Dao."
Zheng Juzhong answered indirectly, "I'm just saying: for the vulgar desire of the palate, would a person who has eaten their fill feel hungry?"
Gu Can said, "Of course not."
Zheng Juzhong looked toward the Great Li capital. "So after choosing to scatter the Dao, that is when Bai Jing suddenly feels the pangs of hunger."
Gu Can said, "Then eat. After all, it's a fourteenth-realm ghost; enough for several big meals."
Zheng Juzhong smiled.
Gu Can suddenly flew into a rage, veins bulging on his forehead, and burst into curses: "Zheng Juzhong, you son of a bitch!"
Zheng Juzhong was unfazed. "You guessed right. At that time, I actually gave Bai Jing two suggestions, pointed out two extremely high paths of Dao fusion. The path I placed in plain sight was indeed too ethereal—Bai Jing couldn't achieve the so-called 'slaying all human sword cultivators'... But eating a 'half-One' that remained in the mortal realm and had no origin was clearly simpler. The key was immediate Dao benefit."
Gu Can's eyes were bloodshot. "Didn't you promise Cui Chan to protect his path for a stretch?!"
Zheng Juzhong smiled. "Gu Can, I ask you: how is this not protecting his path? Cui Chan built him a Letter Bamboo Lake—that was protecting his path."
Gu Can calmed down instantly. Stopping Zheng Juzhong was a pipe dream. But how to warn him? Calling his name by heart voice was useless; trying to contact Liu Xianyang was also fruitless...
Zheng Juzhong, hands clasped in sleeves, smiled. "So if I give him a hand, let him thoroughly recognize his own heart—whether he's a hypocrite, a true villain, or... a good person? Wouldn't that be even more legitimate protection of his path?"
Gu Can asked, "Zheng Juzhong, what exactly do you intend to achieve?"
Zheng Juzhong was never one to play tricks. Every thing he did, the final result would be harsher than his harshest words.
Zheng Juzhong said, "Words are empty; seeing is believing. Wait and see."
Gu Can ground his teeth, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.
Zheng Juzhong asked calmly, "If your death could make him have no more knots, Gu Can, would you die? Answer now. There might still be a chance for a turn."
Gu Can lowered his head, silent, trembling all over.
Zheng Juzhong smiled. "Humanity."
——
Outside Compound B of Old Oriole Lake, the few attendants of the Great Shou Dynasty were as anxious as ants on a hot pan. They didn't dare say anything, nor show any indignation. No one from the Great Li side had spoken to them from start to finish, so they just stood there. They weren't as lucky as Gao Shi; their saving grace was that they were still alive and hadn't "died for the country" along with the emperor. Even if the two nations were at war, there was still the principle of not harming envoys, right?
The city patrol cavalry officers had already cleaned up the ground. The corpse of the Great Shou Emperor Yin Ji was just rolled in a bamboo mat and temporarily thrown in a corner.
The Yongtai County Magistrate Wang Yongjin and the group of yamen clerks he had brought were all silent with fear, not knowing if they would spend the night at the Ministry of Punishments or the Northern Court.
The chief of the Northern Court, Hong Ji, rode alone, carrying a halberd toward the gate of the Old Oriole Lake garden. The brats had done well, blocking two groups of civil officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial.
Hearing the slow and steady sound of hooves, and then seeing Hong Ji ride over the threshold, the two Northern Court lieutenants yielded the center position, holding whips and cupping their hands. "Commander Hong."
Hong Ji nodded, laying the long halberd horizontally across his horse's back, and said cheerfully to the civil officials outside, "You can all disperse. The National Master is personally handling this matter. His Majesty has already made a decision. You may return and await sentencing."
Situ Dianwu was dumbfounded. It was this big? The National Master Chen had already arrived at Old Oriole Lake?
Qin Biao frowned deeply, immediately understanding something. From Commander Hong's tone, the National Master Chen reached Old Oriole Lake first, and then the palace's news reached this garden?
But Qin Biao was a bit worried. Commander Hong's words put His Majesty after the National Master. Might this become a handle, exploited by someone with ulterior motives?
Hong Ji was sharp-eyed; besides, with Qin Biao's temperament, he could tell what he was thinking just by the way he puckered his ass.
Hong Ji chuckled. "Captain Qin, what are you thinking about with such a sour face? Been too long since you drew your knife and killed people on the battlefield? Having an easy time in our Northern Court, you've started pondering officialdom tricks?"
Qin Biao's expression remained unchanged. "Commander Hong, I'm just doing as the Romans do. If I remember correctly, you were the one who taught me that?"
Hong Ji sneered, lifted his halberd, and gently poked Qin Biao's heart-protecting mirror on his armor. "I know your little thoughts. Get out of the Northern Court soon. I won't hold back your promotion and fortune. Whether you go sightseeing or revisit your homeland, let's part on good terms. I'll skip the farewell dinner at the Changpu River—too expensive. My salary can't afford it. If I ever go to the southern border one day, I'll let you treat me properly. By then, you won't have the face to cry poverty to your brothers."
Qin Biao's expression flickered.
Situ Dianwu forced a smile and quickly smoothed things over. "Chief Hong, you've been drinking on the sly in the garden, taking advantage of your position? Too familiar with your own brothers. The bigger the officer, the more bullheaded. When are you going to the border to lead troops and get promoted? Give Qin Biao the top seat in the Northern Court. His wife and kids are all here. I'm still a bachelor, so I'll humbly follow you to the border to drink horse piss, how about that?"
Hong Ji shook his head. "The Northern Court can't do without me."
Situ Dianwu pointed inside the garden with his horsewhip and lowered his voice: "Old Hong, tell me honestly: how are the talks going? Did the National Master see the Great Shou Emperor? Where did they meet, at the wine table in Compound A?"
Hong Ji rubbed his face and sighed. "They met long ago. Didn't go to the table for drinks. Stirred up a mess."
Captain Qin Biao looked straight ahead, a cold smile on his lips. The National Master "Embroidery Tiger" had betrayed the Literary Saint lineage back then; indeed, it wasn't without reason.
Situ Dianwu stood stunned, silent for a long time, then suddenly waved his horsewhip and sighed heavily.
Hong Ji looked ahead and said, "The head of that servant girl Cui Ji who started the fight is already in Old Oriole Lake. I just had it fished out."
Situ Dianwu was silent. He wasn't an ordinary person; he was a general's son from the Chi'er Street. He understood the logic: loud thunder with little rain. The thunder was for the common folk to hear.
Qin Biao shook his head almost imperceptibly, his eyes growing more disappointed.
Hong Ji continued, "That glib Grand Secretary Cai Yushan is dead. He was a cultivator, reportedly at the Immortal realm. The National Master gave him a big slap in the face as soon as they met—his entire mouth was shattered. Later, the National Master gave him another chance to speak properly. Scholar Cai was remarkable in his integrity, so he died on the spot. Loyalty to his country, he got what he wanted. Even though he served a different court, he was a real man."
The officials of the Ministry of Rites and Court of State Ceremonial looked at each other. Was this a complete break with the Great Shou court?
Situ Dianwu glanced at Qin Biao, who looked slightly surprised, his eyes brightening. They dared to kill this one? They could? Wouldn't Yin Ji and Yin Miao fly into a rage?
Situ Dianwu asked tentatively, "That malicious Prince Yin Miao, did he get a big slap in the face, or did he go swimming in Old Oriole Lake like Young Master Wei?"
Qin Biao wanted to say something but stopped, using his horsewhip to rub his cheek.
Hong Ji burst into laughter. "That's it? Guess again! Broaden your mind, guess bigger!"
Situ Dianwu said quietly, "Surely he wasn't swatted to death by the National Master?"
Hong Ji shook his head. "No."
Situ Dianwu's eyes burned with intensity. "Old Hong, don't keep us in suspense. Do you think you're a storyteller at an inn slamming the gavel? Out with it!"
Hong Ji lightly patted his halberd and smiled. "With a crack, the National Master twisted his neck off."
Qin Biao was shocked. "He really twisted that little bastard's neck off?!"
Hong Ji sneered. "What's Yin Miao's little brat compared to that? What realm is our National Master? Don't you have any idea? If the National Master were a good-tempered person, could he have taught an Ultimate Realm grandmaster like 'Zheng Qian' as his eldest disciple? Could he have been the last Hidden Officer of the most exclusive Sword Qi Wall? If you ask me, you bastards still have shallow eyes. After mixing with me in the Northern Court for so long, you haven't learned a single real skill."
The Northern Court cavalrymen guarding the gate burst into laughter.
Commander Hong's tall tales at the wine table were unmatched. But this time, Hong wasn't drunk; he was clearly sober.
Situ Dianwu pursed his fingers to his mouth and gave a sharp whistle.
A young official from the Court of State Ceremonial in the back row pounded his fist into his palm. That was right!
Qin Biao's eyes sparkled, but after a long pause, he only squeezed out two words: "So satisfying!"
Hong Ji clicked his tongue, squinting. "Captain Qin, not moving anymore? The Northern Court is a small temple; the biggest hat is my rank of Deputy Third Grade. As long as I don't budge another day, I'll keep delaying your and Situ Dianwu's promotions and fortune for another day. Isn't that stifling?"
Qin Biao's face flushed red. He yelled, "Chief Hong, you're a grown man always prying into others' family affairs. Aren't you ashamed? Do you think I'm your live-in son-in-law..."
Hong Ji said seriously, "Qin Biao, come into the garden with me. When the National Master returns here, I'll ask him on behalf of Patrol Captain Qin Biao of the City Patrol Department for a dirty job that's not too tiring. Oh, I almost forgot to ask: do you dare do it?"
Qin Biao laughed. "Nonsense!"
Hong Ji turned his horse's head. "Go collect the corpse of the Great Shou Emperor Yin Ji."
Qin Biao was taken aback for a moment, then quickly spurred his horse to follow, grinning fiercely. "It wasn't a wasted trip!"
He meant both that he hadn't wasted his visit to Old Oriole Lake, and that he hadn't wasted his time coming to the Great Li Dynasty.
——
Next to the Fallen Mountain Sect, on one side was Supporting Shake Slope, opened as the sect master's private doyang, and on the other was Sky Capital Peak, which had been Lu Shen's doyang for many years.
Lu Shen walked out of the cliffside house, leaned on the railing, and looked at the Dao confrontation on the Sacred Stairway of Gathering Spirit Peak of Fallen Mountain between the mountain-top sword cultivators and the mountain-base Daoists.
A soft knock sounded. From the footsteps and voice in the corridor, it was a Mid-Fifth Realm cultivator. But Lu Shen immediately activated a divine power: an invisible mountain range extended from the viewing platform toward the door, trapping the low-realm mountain Daoist within the "mountain range."
Sure enough, that Daoist "walked out" of the mountain range, came directly to the viewing platform, stood beside Lu Shen, and asked, "Lu Shen, you have seen it with your own eyes."
Lu Shen knew what this fellow meant.
Zouzi was asking Lu Shen: So, this is a pure sword cultivator? The fourteenth realm is already like this; what about the fifteenth realm?
Does it have anything to do with good and evil? Are right and wrong useful? Can heaven, earth, and the human realm truly bear that burden?
Lu Shen, the head of the Lu clan, who had been at the pinnacle of the Flying Ascension Realm for three thousand years, still spoke with difficulty: "Why must it come to this?"
Zouzi asked, "Should it not be so?"
Lu Shen was deeply moved, somewhat sorrowful, and murmured, "Heaven and earth also wanted to see some new faces. Now there are some, so why must you kill them? The human realm is the human realm of all humans, not yours, Zouzi, nor mine. Perhaps what you do is right, truly correct, but I just feel irrationally that... the Great Way has no feelings, no humanity."
——
On the high platform.
To Chen Ping'an's assertion that he was Pang Ding, Yin Ji ignored it, still raising one hand high, speaking to himself: "I'm not trying to persuade you either."
"For so many years, more of an ally than any ally, I have been helping you solidly behind the scenes, and doing good deeds without leaving a name. Didn't expect that, did you, Sect Master Chen?"
"How will you thank me?"
Listening to Yin Ji's seemingly delirious nonsense, Chen Ping'an said nothing. He walked to the edge of the high platform, sat down, hands in his sleeves. He thought for a moment, then took out the Sword-Nurturing Gourd that had accompanied him over thousands of mountains and rivers. He said nothing, took a drink.
Yin Ji came and sat beside him, clasped his hands behind his head, looking lazy, and smiled. "Sect Master Chen, why put yourself in such a difficult position? I have a method to resolve doubts. How about listening? Simple, very simple: just pretend you don't know. It's hard to deceive everyone in the world, but deceiving yourself and letting yourself off—how hard can that be?"
Chen Ping'an raised his right hand and waved it, the left still holding the gourd.
Yin Ji actually stopped his seductive words. Perhaps he felt that going too far would spoil the effect, making it meaningless.
Yin Ji turned his head and looked at the still-young man. Hair tied with a wooden hairpin, blue robe and long coat, two swords at his waist... The more identities, the higher the so-called Dao achievements, the more pitiable he was. Very pitiable.
He seemed to mutter something to himself. Then Yin Ji smiled contentedly, nodded, and said, "Why not?"
The young man put down the gourd. A leaf appeared in his hand. He began to play a clear, melodious folk tune. Maybe he had learned it in his hometown, maybe he had heard it as a wanderer.
Yin Ji sat beside him, gently tapping his knees.
Just now, Chen Ping'an had said, "Let me look at the mortal world a little longer."