Chapter 15: The Wedding
At the ancestral mountain of the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect, Old Immortal Jia's momentum in handling the wedding banquet was so formidable that he was like a "Pre-Rain" Fourteen Realm cultivator sitting in his own dojo.
Zhu Lian assisted him flawlessly. Huailu, the female mountain lord of Luan Mountain, initially suspected that this Dragon Gate Realm Daoist, no matter how well-versed in folk marriage customs and familiar with the rules of mountains and rivers, might make the wedding of a mountain couple a bit too rustic, or else too celestial, lacking in human warmth. But soon, Huailu was deeply impressed. This Old Immortal Jia from the Fallen Mountain had real learning!
However, although Ruan Qiong trusted them a great deal, since this was almost like marrying off a daughter, he probably felt he needed to do something. So he occasionally couldn't help but offer clumsy suggestions. Huailu naturally wouldn't say anything explicit, and Zhu Lian considered himself just the head chef. Old Daoist Jia was usually tolerant and easy to negotiate with. After explaining patiently to Ruan Qiong once or twice, the Old Immortal finally lost his temper. Of course, it was that kind of imposing aura that inspires awe without anger, as if to say, "Saint Ruan, if you keep being a hindrance, you'll be touching this poor Daoist's reverse scale. Go away!"
Ruan Qiong, known throughout Vase Bottle Continent for his stubborn temper, actually responded to this. After sincerely apologizing to Old Daoist Jia, he silently watched from the side, looking on eagerly, no longer wasting words, helping with small tasks when he could. Old Daoist Jia neither abandoned the work nor drove him away, right?
This stunned Xu Xiaoqiao, who had come to check on the progress. When Old Immortal Jia saw this Sword Immortal Xu, who was missing her right thumb, he immediately changed his expression to one of kindness. The old Daoist hurried over to the desk, rolled up his sleeves, dipped the brush in ink, and wrote a detailed list of tasks to be done. One, two, three, four, five... The list was clear, the numbers precise. There were annotations in fine regular script explaining which taboos needed attention and why. In short, he respectfully asked Sword Immortal Xu and the other female cultivators to follow the instructions. Xu Xiaoqiao was also completely won over. "With an elder in the house, it's like having a treasure" — the ancients did not deceive me! She rarely felt so bold and glanced at her master, signaling him not to be a hindrance.
All written work related to the wedding was handled by Zhu Lian. He even specially wrote a cookbook for the banquet. Although Zhu Lian had brought dozens of different ingredients in varying amounts using his portable storage artifact, some wild mountain delicacies and immortal foods still needed to be procured by the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect. For example, for pickled eggplant, it needed to be soaked in spring water overnight, using three taels and a half of salt per catty, and two catties of pickling mash. There was a marginal note: spring water from the Changchun Palace's Spiritual Autumn or similar is best, but ordinary mountain spring water will also do... Indeed, they spared no effort in refining their cuisine. Xu Xiaoqiao was, of course, very willing to lead her junior brothers and sisters in handling these duties. Master Zhu and Old Daoist Jia were still considered half-outsiders, yet they were already so dedicated. How could the registered disciples of the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect not strive for perfection?
In a moment of leisure, Old Immortal Jia casually flipped through the cookbook, stroked his beard, and praised, "Master Zhu's running script is superb. The level of attainment is such that even the mountain lord's regular script pales in comparison. I can't bring myself to say the hypocritical words 'each has its own merits.'"
The fiery clouds on the horizon looked like a tenant farmer who had worked hard all day, having a small cup of wine, his face flushed red, ready to rest for the night.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Why not also hold a banquet in the town?"
According to their hometown customs, weddings were held twice, once at the groom's home and once at the bride's home. Even if the two houses were next-door neighbors, the rules couldn't be broken.
Liu Xianyang chuckled, "Then how would we get those familiar friends to come here to broaden their horizons and eat some rare immortal cuisine?"
After all, the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect was currently the "leading seat" among sword dao sects in Vase Bottle Continent. Although it didn't have as many sword immortals as Bright Sun Mountain, mountain duels didn't depend on numbers.
Besides, Blacksmith Ruan had the title of Great Li Chief Supplicant, which he had tried to resign three times but failed. That title carried considerable weight, with an annual salary from the court. Senior Brother Dong, as the accountant, had it easy — he just needed to count the money.
Gu Can said, "If we really did hold a wedding feast in the town, it would be a big deal. Ruan Qiong is considered Sheyue's elder from her family. With you, the newly appointed National Teacher, as the best man, and Sheyue having Ning Yao as a bridesmaid, it would just become a round of socializing from both the mountain and official circles. Let's just say that Wei Bo and Piyun Mountain would definitely have to show up. If Night Wanderer Wei, the god of the Five Sacred Mountains, appears, shouldn't the other four gods also express themselves? If the Iron Talisman River Water God's residence comes to offer congratulations, shouldn't the Three Rivers Water God of Red Candle Town also follow suit? That's just the mountain side. On the official side, hah, the entire Locust Yellow County town would be filled with carriages, right? Who wouldn't want to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get familiar with the new National Teacher? Besides, according to custom, the bowls and chopsticks for the wedding feast must be borrowed, not newly bought. Now that the old neighbors have all moved to the prefectural city, the groom Liu Xianyang would have to climb over walls and steal from every household overnight, hoping to find some old cabinets that haven't been taken away, with some bowls and chopsticks left behind."
Liu Xianyang laughed heartily, and Chen Ping'an also found it amusing.
Chen Ping'an remembered something and asked softly, "What about their gift money?"
Gu Can rolled his eyes. This guy was always concerned about such things for his whole life.
Liu Xianyang said, "It's already been agreed. We'll follow the same standards as when we were colleagues at the dragon kiln attending wedding feasts. Not a single copper coin less. I'll open the red envelopes on the spot. Anyone who tries to be clever and play games with me, I'll get angry with them immediately."
If it were an ordinary person, they would probably say not to give a single copper coin more. Liu Xianyang, of course, was not an ordinary person.
Gu Can asked, "Who was it that added that the gift should follow the rate for a kiln master's wedding?"
Liu Xianyang said matter-of-factly, "My skill in firing porcelain is the only one that truly inherited Old Man Yao's legacy. Can they compare? When Chen Ping'an was still foolishly practicing pulling clay, I was already teaching others the jump-cut technique. Of course, we should follow the standards for a master of the great dragon kiln marrying off a daughter or taking in a daughter-in-law. If it weren't for that incident back then, I would have been a kiln master by now, with a bunch of apprentices, and maybe even grand-apprentices..."
Gu Can clicked his tongue, "And then you'd work yourself to death firing a batch of imperial porcelain. The kiln supervisor would carefully inspect it and send it to the Great Li capital. If you're lucky, the emperor would pick out a few pieces and give them to the National Teacher. Then the National Teacher, when drinking tea in his leisure time, would pick one up and look at it, exclaiming, 'Oh my, this is a piece fired by my fellow townsman Liu Xianyang. He's made something of himself...' That's roughly the process, right?"
Liu Xianyang was momentarily at a loss for words.
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "In the years since you returned to your hometown, have any old kiln workers from the dragon kiln come up the mountain to see you?"
Liu Xianyang grinned, "A few times. Some were genuinely in trouble and couldn't get through it on their own, so they had me help settle things. Others came ostensibly to reminisce, but after going down the mountain back to the prefectural city, they'd boast to their new friends, or get some subtle favoritism from yamen officials on trivial matters, or gain some face or benefits at the banquets of wealthy gentry in the city. And then there were those entrusted by others to ask me to evaluate some youths' aptitudes for becoming immortals on the mountain. I heard that the person who commissioned them paid at least five hundred taels of silver for a meal to discuss this matter. Regardless of whether the matter succeeded or not, whether those children could come up the mountain to cultivate the Dao, the fee was still given in full."
Gu Can sneered, "That sounds annoying."
Liu Xianyang shook his head, "No, that's just how life is. Do you think everyone is like you, hiding in White Emperor City or lying low in Whole Pepper Mountain, and everything is peaceful? I'm not trying to jinx you, but just you wait. One day, some old acquaintances will find their way to your place. Whether it's 'five hundred taels of silver' or something else, you'll have to repay some karmic debts of gratitude."
Gu Can said, "Even if similar things happen, see if I care."
Liu Xianyang smiled, "Don't be too full of yourself. I advise you to care."
Just as Gu Can was about to retort, Liu Xianyang played his trump card, "Stop your noise, Sect Leader Gu. Be careful, or I'll release Chen Ping'an to shut you in and beat you."
The colors of day and night were like passing through the "Exit General" and "Enter Minister" curtains hanging on the stage, making their grand entrance, and then returning to remove their makeup.
At the summit of Boiling Sea Peak, there was a nameless palace, the only building in the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect that matched the style of an immortal dojo. It had double eaves and a hip-and-gable roof, covered in turquoise glazed tiles, with carved beams and painted rafters, extremely ornate. It was an excellent place to view the sea of clouds. Often, mist and clouds would drift over the peak, making the palace look like a green snail in a white jade plate. This building was enchanted with a secret technique, making it shine like a newly polished mirror. Every day at sunset, it would gleam brilliantly, with fiery red Dao aura and precious light rising slowly. This place was also where the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect transmitted and studied the Dao.
It stood at the same height as the blacksmith's forge on the ancestral mountain, which often sparked with flames. Together, they formed a pair of "dragon eyes."
At this moment, on the white jade square outside the nameless palace, sword energy crisscrossed and flowed with radiance. A few diligent second-generation disciples were practicing sword techniques there.
Liu Xianyang raised his wine jug and pointed vaguely at the martial arts field on Boiling Sea Peak where sword light leaped. He said smugly, "See that? Those two young girls have pretty good sword skills, right? Our Dragon Fountain Sword Sect does have some promising seedlings. In another thirty or fifty years, hah, I'll be called the Supreme Ancestral Master."
Chen Ping'an smiled, "When it comes to taking disciples, you all should learn from me."
In order of seniority, he had taken Cui Dongshan, Pei Qian, Cao Qinglang, Zhao Shuxia, Guo Zhujiu, Ning Ji, Deng Jianping, and Yuan Huang.
Liu Xianyang waved his hand, "Neither Sect Leader Gu nor I have the habit of being fond of teaching others."
Gu Can didn't say anything either. His disciple, who was full of rebelliousness, was as good as having none.
Ruan Qiong had taken a few direct disciples. Over the years, they had been forging swords with him. Although they were all sword cultivators, their aptitudes were mediocre, far inferior to those talented sword cultivators like Yu Lin and Liu Yu, whom Ruan Qiong had "courteously sent down the mountain" back in the day. Among them were two descendants of Lu's death-row prisoners, sharing the same background as Yu Lu and Xie Xie. Ruan Qiong was famously eccentric. For example, these direct disciples had not yet been entered into the ancestral hall's registry, not because he looked down on their low cultivation levels, but because Ruan Qiong felt they had not yet completed their training and were not steady enough.
Fortunately, this group of sword cultivators, now in their thirties, had similar personalities to Ruan Qiong. They didn't find anything wrong with it and had no complaints.
Nowadays, the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect also had about a dozen third-generation disciples. Dong Gu, the first disciple who opened the Henglance Peak, had taken three, all of whom were born from mountain and lake spirits. They were honest and steady, didn't like going down the mountain for training, and just stayed on the mountain cultivating diligently. Apart from their own sect and the Great Li Ministry of Rites, probably no one knew they were Saint Ruan's grand-disciples.
Some of Ruan Qiong's direct disciples also took apprentices. Later, they discovered that although their master was strict with them, he was kind and gentle with the grand-disciples. This even improved his attitude towards his own disciples. Since this method worked, the other direct disciples eagerly started taking apprentices. For example, Liu Ai and Lu Zhao, among others, had come up the mountain this way. Actually, their ages were no more than ten years different from their master.
These grand-disciples genuinely admired their master's master.
A big reason was that Xu Xiaoqiao occasionally told them stories from earlier years. For instance, how Sect Leader Liu had worked as a kiln worker for many years, and how someone had once worked as a temporary blacksmith by the Dragon Beard River... More recent stories always revolved around the Ritual Questioning at Bright Sun Mountain, the Night Feast at Piyun Mountain that had made it famous across the continent, and the sword talismans their own sect had forged and distributed. Before the relocation, any cultivator had to wear a sword talisman to ride the wind, or else they would be punished and wouldn't dare to seek justice. The third-generation disciples especially loved hearing these legendary tales of sword immortals. After all, other mountain sects in Vase Bottle Continent only heard about them, but these disciples had the chance to see the real thing. Even when they talked about the cloud-shrouded Fallen Mountain, they were more curious and in awe than fearful.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Xie Ling has already reached the Jade Purity Realm?"
Liu Xianyang nodded, "Xie Ling, the Long-Browed One, has a top-notch family background, aptitude, and fortune. Becoming a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator was only natural and inevitable."
Gu Can asked, "Lu Chen bestowed a exquisite pagoda of extremely high rank. That treasure itself is a Dao lineage. Doesn't Xie Ling have any thoughts of establishing his own mountain and creating his own Dao vein?"
Liu Xianyang shook his head, "No matter how talented and ambitious Xie Ling is, after spending enough time with me, his senior brother sect leader, he understands the meaning of 'there is always a mountain beyond a mountain.' That would make anyone lose heart."
Gu Can said with exasperation, "National Teacher, you should quickly establish a new law for Great Li — boasting is a crime."
Chen Ping'an laughed, "In this matter, he's not really boasting. Xie Ling is the kind of stubborn person who would rather be second than first. The day he feels his sword dao has indeed surpassed Liu Xianyang, he'll have the idea of starting a new sect. Consider him the second White Shang of our Vase Bottle Continent."
On Boiling Sea Peak, Xu Xiaoqiao had only one disciple named Li Shenyuan. Neither Liu Xianyang nor Xie Ling had any direct disciples yet. One was lazy, the other had high standards and couldn't find suitable candidates. Xie Ling had always wanted to find a senior disciple with better aptitude for cultivation than himself.
But the problem was that Xie Ling himself was already one of the Top Ten Young Cultivators in Vase Bottle Continent, and ranked highly. Finding someone with even better talent than him?
Chen Ping'an took out two jade slips from his sleeve and handed one each to Liu Xianyang and Gu Can.
The content recorded on these two jade slips wasn't strictly Daoist scriptures. It was the "Three Lectures" given by Gao Gu, the number one alchemist in the Azure Sky World, before he descended from the mountain to seek the Dao at the Jade Capital Palace, in the Huayang Palace of Difei Mountain.
Long ago, the Old Temple Master had given a jade slip to Xie Gou. The "Three Lectures" did not involve any lineage secrets, so any cultivator could widely distribute them. Chen Ping'an had personally engraved several copies.
Liu Xianyang glanced at the content and felt it wasn't very useful for his sword forging. He planned to give it to Xie Ling to pass on to all third-generation disciples.
Gu Can, however, intended to study it carefully himself and in the future only bestow it upon direct disciples of the ancestral hall.
At the martial arts field on Boiling Sea Peak, there was a sparring match between fellow disciples that was limited to light touches. A tall, slender girl with a cool expression sheathed her sword and said with a cupped fist salute, "Senior Sister Ai, thank you for yielding."
The girl was wearing a neat, green silk arrow-sleeved round-collar robe. Her thick, pure-black hair was tied into two buns, shaped like the character "ya."
With a twist of her wrist, she threw the long sword back to the sword rack standing at the edge of the square. The sword traced an arc through the air and clanged back into its sheath.
The woman who had been sparring with her was named Liu Ai. She was a few years older than her junior sister Lu Zhao. Liu Ai wore a golden, coiled-chi shaped neck ring, and her clothes were all scented with flower incense. She clearly came from a wealthy and powerful noble family down the mountain. Although they had learned the same sword technique from the same master, the girl's sword style was grand and dominant, while Liu Ai's waist was supple, and her sleeves danced like whirling snow.
Watching nearby were two men, both around twenty years old. Their attire was extremely plain. Their teaching masters were different from those of Liu Ai and Lu Zhao.
They had all chanced upon this spot after dinner for a walk. The girl had a sudden urge to practice swordsmanship, and Liu Ai had to accompany her, not wanting to dampen her junior sister's enthusiasm for the sword.
If it were their usual cultivation practice, they wouldn't be dressed like this. If their most rule-abiding grandmaster found out, wouldn't he be furious and scold their master like a quail?
Liu Ai and the others only knew that the round-faced girl about to marry Sect Leader Liu was named Yu Qianyue. She was a gentle older sister who spoke softly to everyone. As for her cultivation level, they couldn't gauge it. Since she could become the sect leader's Dao partner, she must not be an ordinary hand.
They didn't know that she was none other than Sheyue of the Barren Wastes, one of the Top Ten Young Cultivators across several worlds in previous years.
Lu Zhao looked towards Youyi Peak. With her current insufficient cultivation, her eyesight was limited. She asked softly, "Will that person attend our grandmaster's wedding?"
As soon as the girl said this, Liu Ai and the other senior brothers and sisters didn't need to guess who "that person" was. They all smiled knowingly but didn't know what to say.
Lu Zhao was simple-minded and puzzled, "Senior Sister Ai, why does Master repeatedly warn us not to casually mention his name?"
Liu Ai said gently, "Since Sect Leader Gu is already here, I believe that no matter how busy that person is, he will definitely show up at the wedding banquet tomorrow. As for why Master asks us not to mention his name directly or discuss him casually, I suppose it's because we, as the younger generation, should always respect our elders."
Gu Can, Zheng Juzhong's youngest disciple from White Emperor City, was already a figure who had established his own sect in Fuyao Prefecture. Moreover, he owned the entire Golden Emerald City, which had moved from the Barren Wastes to the Hao Ran World. It was obvious to everyone that Gu Can and Fuyao Sect were determined to compete with Tianyao Township for the title of prefectural Dao master.
A white-robed youth with a face like jade and two long eyebrows, holding a fly-whisk, slowly walked out of this Wuhua Palace, whose name was not publicly known. Beside him was a young boy named Li Shenyuan.
The four third-generation disciples, including Liu Ai, immediately cupped their fists and addressed him as "Master Xie."
This person was Xie Ling. With a relaxed expression, he pointed out a few flaws in their swordsmanship.
Although Li Shenyuan was the direct disciple of Xu Xiaoqiao of Boiling Sea Peak, when it came to teaching and transmitting the Dao, Xie Ling was indeed the most attentive and skilled in the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect.
Moreover, Xie Ling's learning was extensive and he was proficient in many things. Besides the several sword dao lineages of the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect itself, he also had his own unique take on talismans, spirit-summoning techniques like the planchette method, and so on.
Liu Xianyang said, "Xie Ling regards you as his imaginary rival on the path of cultivation."
Chen Ping'an laughed it off.
Gu Can sneered, "Then he's picked the right person."
Chen Ping'an said, "Don't tell him I sent that jade slip. Just say it's a secret treasure you obtained from a blessed land. Later, when he reaches the Immortal realm or ascends in the future, you can explain the situation to him."
Gu Can could fully imagine the look on the proud Long-Browed One's face, like he had just eaten shit.
Liu Xianyang laughed, "Good plan."
Gu Can suddenly asked, "Is Liu Cha reliable? Don't let him cause any trouble and stab you in the back."
Chen Ping'an said, "That won't happen. If he were born in the Hao Ran World, he would be a renowned knight-errant swordsman."
Gu Can nodded, slightly reassured.
Liu Xianyang said, "Cultivators' temperaments are generally more fixed than mortals. Even if they change, it only happens when they face life and death and find their true selves."
"Look at the three of us. Setting aside our identities and realms, our personalities aren't that different from back then."
"By the way, Chen, why didn't you let Xiaomili leave Chuzhou a bit later? At least let her attend Liu Keshui's wedding before heading south to travel."
Chen Ping'an smiled but didn't say anything.
Just then, a young man with a bitter-looking face arrived. He was handsome, with a tall and sturdy build, and seemed to have a naturally worried expression. Beside him was a female cultivator in a colorful skirt with a high bun, beautiful, wearing a gold step-swaying hairpin, and a multicolored palace sash tied at her waist. It was clear she was nervous, but she pretended to be calm. Their registered surnames in the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect were both Lu. It was fortunate that their master was Ruan Qiong. If it were any other dojo, they would probably be advised not to show their identity as remnants of a lost kingdom so obviously. If they were just wandering knights-errant in the wild, it might be fine, but for cultivators seeking immortality, would they want to do something about it if they achieved success in the Dao?
Liu Xianyang shook his head at him.
Junior Brother Lu, it's not that now is an inappropriate time to bring this up; it's that no time is appropriate.
Gu Can nodded. Although Liu Xianyang seemed carefree and never bothered with trivial matters, he was indeed someone who could see clearly on important issues.
But Chen Ping'an stood up with a smile and said he would chat with them alone for a bit about cultivation matters.
Chen Ping'an, of course, knew their backgrounds well. Lu Xiting came from the old Lu Dynasty's noble families. The female cultivator Lu Langhuan was similar to Xie Xie, having come up the mountain to cultivate immortal arts as a child.
They walked a short distance to a spot near a waterfall brightly lit by moonlight. By the roadside were more than a dozen vats of orchids, as large as winnowing baskets, giving off a pleasant fragrance.
Lu Xiting stopped, his eyes red, and made a deep bow, "Lu remnants are fortunate to pay respects to National Teacher Chen."
Lu Langhuan followed with a curtsy. Her memory of her homeland was actually very faint. When the kingdom was destroyed, she was still a clueless child. When she followed her teachers in reciting Daoist scriptures back then, her speech was not yet fluent.
Chen Ping'an kept his hands in his sleeves and said calmly, "Lu Xiting, do you know that the Great Li Ministry of Punishment has records of your several secret contacts with the Lu remnants and old noble princes? What you talked about, what you wanted to do, what you ate, how your expressions and tones changed—all of it is recorded clearly, because two of those people were spies from the Great Li Ministry of Punishment. You were lucky to have entered the Dragon Fountain Sword Sect. If you were in the Divine Proclamation Sect, the Spring and Autumn Palace, the Wind and Snow Temple, or places like that, it would have been troublesome, easily harming yourself and others."
Lu Xiting raised his head, clearly shocked. Chen Ping'an smiled, "I don't need to scare you, a Lake Viewing Realm sword cultivator, right?"
Lu Langhuan pursed her lips. This young National Teacher wasn't as scary as she had imagined. Coming here with Lu Xiting to see him had been a life-risking decision.
Chen Ping'an said kindly, "The Lu remnants are bent on restoring the kingdom. I understand your feelings, but the phrase 'wishes come true' is always seen in two parts."
"If I say it's not possible, you might think it's because of my current position. Then go ask Wang Yifu and see what he thinks. If he says it's possible, that proves you haven't been wasting your time these thirty years. Under the guise of a literary society, you often met, boated on the lake, composed poems, and used a host of famous courtesans and singing girls to cover your tracks. But if even Wang Yifu says it's not possible, you should seriously reflect on yourselves."
"Over the years, Wang Yifu has served as an attendant to both Empress Dowager Nan Zan and the accompanying capital minister Liu Qingfeng. He has traveled around and has a deep understanding of Great Li's court politics. He now lives in seclusion in the accompanying capital Luojing. It's not hard to find. Later, you can bring a Ministry of Punishment clearance tablet to Luojing and have a good talk with Wang Yifu."
Lu Xiting said awkwardly, "National Teacher Chen, we actually no longer have ambitions to restore the kingdom. We just want to negotiate with the Great Li court to improve the status of the Lu remnants as much as possible."
For example, officials from Lu remnants had never been appointed to the third rank or above, nor had any territorial officials been produced. Another example was allowing the old Lu cultivators to restore their Dao lineage, reclaim those several dojos, and reopen their cave dwellings. Also, reducing the taxes on the two prefectures... To be honest, Lu Xiting didn't even dare to think about restoring the kingdom. The blades of the Great Li soldiers had cut off all kinds of heads.
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Is this not harder than restoring the kingdom?"
Lu Xiting was puzzled, "I beseech the National Teacher to enlighten me."
Chen Ping'an said, "Restoring the kingdom is just a matter of a dozen or so old noble remnants finding a young man with royal blood, raising a flag, gathering a few scattered troops, and then being suppressed by Great Li in a day or two. Even if it's a flash in the pan, it can be recorded in history. One day of restoration counts as restoration."
"But if it's not restoration, but rather seeking benefits for the native people of the old Lu Dynasty in all aspects—what you call 'status'—like the official positions of the Lu old noble families, reclaiming the dojos and rekindling the incense of the old Dao lineage—how do you plan to petition for that?"
"Let me state a fact you may find hard to accept: the officials from old Lu families who could have risen to prominence in the Great Li court and become territorial officials—civil and military—have almost all died in battle. What remains for the Great Li court are these noble scions who have been masters of 'being officials' for generations. If it weren't for the fact that the Great Li court had to allocate some quotas to them as compensation for their 'good sense and understanding of the times' back then, in my opinion, the two unwritten rules set by Cui Chan and Minister Guan of the Ministry of Civil Affairs—forbidding old Lu officials from entering the Ministry of Revenue and forbidding them from serving as prefectural or county officials above the fourth rank—were still too lenient."
Lu Langhuan listened with sparkling eyes. Many questions she hadn't been able to figure out before, and that Lu Xiting and the others couldn't explain clearly, suddenly became clear. The young National Teacher's cold, almost cruel words contained several lively truths. For example, she was hearing for the first time that the Great Li court and the Brocade Tiger Cui Chan had actually made such a shady deal with the Lu noble families. But then Cui Chan had stabbed them in the back with the Great Li Ministry of Civil Affairs. Especially the phrase "forbidden from entering the Ministry of Revenue as officials." Hmm, that was something to chew on!
Lu Xiting said softly, "National Teacher Chen, if that's not possible, what about the heavy taxes on the people of the two prefectures? They are too harsh. Two years ago, under the pretext of training down the mountain, I traveled through those areas. It wasn't about poetry societies under the moonlight or grand banquets. I really walked through many county towns and villages. The common people's lives are indeed bitter."
Chen Ping'an said, "The heavy taxation on the two prefectures for fifty years was also a rule personally set by Cui Chan. The Great Li court only guarantees that the people of the two prefectures can survive, and that their lives are no worse than those of the old Lu people. Above this baseline, the deep-rooted old Lu noble families can do as they please. If they earn money through legitimate means—whether it's business in the Great Li capital, the accompanying capital, or south of the Great River—that's their skill. If they get caught doing shady things, they lose their hands. It's that simple."
Probably because the National Teacher had put it in the most straightforward terms, Lu Langhuan understood it perfectly. Allocate benefits among themselves, let the dogs fight. Those families that could establish themselves through legitimate business were actively integrating into the Great Li dynasty. Those who were uncomfortable were definitely those who were resentful and unwilling, and who wanted to restore the kingdom more. Once they decided to restore the kingdom, wouldn't they be caught in a net by the Great Li troops who had been sharpening their knives in the dark? Then the foundation of the old Lu territory would be completely clean, and the Great Li court would reduce the taxes on the two prefectures?
Lu Langhuan sighed softly. No wonder when Sect Leader Liu sent them down the mountain for training, he had cheerfully said something seemingly incoherent: "The true face of a mountain is obtained outside the mountain."
Chen Ping'an said, "Lu Xiting, you are from the Lu remnants, but you must always remember one thing. Constantly ask yourself this question: besides yourself, whom can you represent? Only by understanding this can you possibly accomplish something. For example, I have been the Hidden Officer of the Sword Qi Great Wall, but can Chen Ping'an claim to be the Sword Qi Great Wall? Of course not. Even Ning Yao can't, and not even the Great Sword Immortal can."
Lu Xiting's mood was extremely complex. He was both grateful to the young National Teacher for speaking these honest, albeit cruel, words from the heart, and regretful that he couldn't help the people of the two prefectures.
Regardless, Lu Xiting still had to thank his own sect's generosity and that senior brother sect leader. If not for these two connections, why would Chen Ping'an bother with him? How could he even have the chance to meet him?
Just then, Chen Ping'an smiled, "My senior brother Cui Chan's rules are not everlasting ironclad decrees. For example, the fifty years of heavy taxation, I think the time limit is a bit too long. Thirty years would be enough."
Lu Xiting's eyes lit up, full of shock. Thirty years? Isn't that already... from the day of the Lu Dynasty's fall?
Lu Langhuan, however, had a strange expression. Such words could only be spoken by you, the Hidden Officer and National Teacher.
Chen Ping'an extended his hand and gently turned it over, "Senior brother excels at planning and setting grand strategies. I cannot compare to him; I can only follow the rules and do some small things. Since they are small things, they are of course easy."
In that moment, Lu Xiting truly understood what the "National Teacher" of the Great Li dynasty meant. What seemed like an insurmountable problem to them was, to Chen, a simple matter to be solved easily.
Chen Ping'an withdrew his hand and said with a smile, "Lu Xiting, Lu Langhuan, after you have achieved success in sword cultivation on the mountain, you will also need to go to the two prefectures to serve as accompanying military cultivators for the regional inspectors and generals."
Lu Xiting and Lu Langhuan exchanged glances, both seeing the eagerness in each other's eyes.
By the cliffside, Liu Xianyang raised his hand to his ear, eavesdropping on the conversation, "Damn, this guy is showing off again! Stealing my thunder on my turf! That's too much!"
Gu Can sneered, "You have the nerve to say that? Even being a best man for you turns into something. How can you whine? If it were at my place, you'd see who dares to come near to talk."
Liu Xianyang lay back on the ground, propping his legs up, "Who made him have us two as friends? It's his karma... ptooey, it must be a good affinity."
Gu Can muttered to himself, "Barren Wastes and Azure Sky, we can't make mistakes again."
Liu Xianyang nodded, "You're the kind of small fry who cheers from the sidelines. I'm the main general. I can charge forward or hold the rear."
Gu Can clenched his fists on his knees, eyes blazing, "Ascension, ascension!"
Liu Xianyang looked at the bright moon in the sky, thinking of the girl in his heart. According to hometown customs, the eldest brother marries first, then the second brother marries. As for the third, whatever.
Chen Ping'an returned and sat down again, asking, "Is there a melon patch on the mountain? Gu Can, go grab a couple of melons for us to snack on?"
Liu Xianyang laughed, "What's so good about melons from our own field? Let Gu Can run a bit farther and steal three."
Gu Can, of course, didn't feel like running. Unexpectedly, Chen Ping'an stood up and left Youyi Peak. Gu Can had to follow. When they came back, Chen Ping'an had two watermelons tucked under his arm. He said with a smile that he almost got a pitchfork stuck up Gu Can's rear by a felt-hatted boy guarding the melon patch. Gu Can, however, said it was a rosy-cheeked girl guarding the melon patch, and he had bought the watermelons from her with money.
Liu Xianyang took one watermelon, steadied his breath, and split it open with a palm strike. As per the old rule, he gave the largest piece to Gu Can. They each gnawed on their watermelons, chatting about stories from their hometown, like how the three of them used to swim in the river near Green Ox Back on summer nights. Gu Can, naked, hands on his hips, would swing his little bird and jump into the water. Gu Can's face darkened, but he didn't refute anything.
The new chess game of the Great Li dynasty had finally settled the first move.
The candidate for the Song clan's crown prince, the candidate for the next National Teacher, candidates for several reserve ministers, the early attention and investigation of the next batch of civil and military pillars of the Great Li court, the rearrangement of the capital, accompanying capital, and local regions, the new pattern of the mountain and secular worlds, the secret plans south of the Great River... all the pieces on the chessboard had been placed. The Vase Bottle Continent was settled. Before the world was in chaos, Vase Bottle Continent had already stirred; before the world was settled, Vase Bottle Continent had already been stabilized.
The true conclusion of that "Heaven and Earth Connection" was a bet and wager between Chen Ping'an and Zhou Mi.
Both sides could act as they pleased, either giving what they liked or suppressing what they disliked. Of course, they could also give what the other disliked or suppress what the other liked.
Like one of the Dragon Boat Festival customs, the "grass fight."
Gu Can asked curiously, "What did you choose, and what did Zhou Mi choose?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "I have forgotten my own choice, and I can't guess what Zhou Mi chose."
For those who attained the Dao, not sleeping for a night was nothing. The three of them talked until dawn, only then realizing that their hometown town had so many people and things to talk about. They felt they hadn't even covered half of them.
Old Immortal Jia and Zhu Lian had already arrived at Youyi Peak, each busy with their own tasks. The old cook entered the kitchen. Lu Xiting and Lu Langhuan, along with a few second-generation disciples, came to help.
During this time, Xie Ling visited Youyi Peak and chatted for a bit. Gu Can had a forced smile, and Xie Ling pretended not to see it, simply asking Sword Immortal Chen about the customs and local conditions of North Juzhou Prefecture.
The sky was lightening.
It was time to pick up the bride.
Chen Ping'an and Gu Can each symbolically washed and dressed. Liu Xianyang was already in his groom's attire. The three looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
Liu Xianyang waved his hand grandly. Let's go. Old Immortal Jia stroked his beard and smiled. If he had a bit more time, he could have added more embellishments.
On the mountain path of Youyi Peak, in front of a festive sedan chair, besides the groom on horseback, there were two best men. Near the sedan chair were Ning Yao and Ziwu Dream as bridesmaids.
Earlier, the best men were put through their paces by the bridesmaids. They had to compose poems, perform martial arts routines, and so on. Chen Ping'an and Gu Can were completely overwhelmed, much to the amusement of Huailu and the others.
With such a bridal procession, the young cultivators from the Wind and Snow Temple who had been waiting near the mountaintop early on were dumbfounded. They felt they didn't dare to cause trouble.
But suddenly, three figures jumped out in front of the mountain path. The leader was a youth in blue robes, hands on his hips, laughing heartily, "Bride snatching!"
A little girl holding a green bamboo staff and carrying a slanted bundle shouted loudly, "Bride snatching! Bride snatching!"
And a lazy-looking man carrying a large backpack, along with a man who had appeared out of nowhere with a golden earring in his ear, said in unison, "Congratulations, congratulations! Hand over the red packets!"
Sheyue wanted to lift the curtain to see the commotion outside. Ning Yao, who was lightly made up, immediately reminded her that she couldn't. Ziwu Dream covered her mouth and giggled. Getting married was so much fun.
The best man surnamed Chen had a bright smile. He strode forward, pulling out a stack of red packets he had prepared long ago from his sleeve, and distributed them. He patted Xiaomili on the head.
After receiving the red packets, Xiaomili, Chen Lingjun, and others clasped their hands and said auspicious words to the groom and the bride in the sedan chair: "May you be united in love," "May you have a child soon," "May you grow old together"...
Just as they passed this hurdle, unexpectedly, a white-robed youth and a scholar in a Confucian robe jumped out, shouting "Bride snatching!" while admiring, "What a handsome groom! He puts us to shame!" They said they had to see the bride to know if she was truly a beauty of the realm, and they wouldn't let them pass unless they saw her... Later, Zheng Dafeng, Guo Zhujiu, Pei Qian, along with a girl in a sable hat, a young man in yellow shoes with a yellow hat, a white-haired child, Cao Qinglang, and others all noisily joined in, complaining that one red packet was not enough, they needed a pair for good luck.
On the mountain path bathed in golden sunlight, each hurdle they passed brought a gentle warmth.