Chapter 48: Suddenly a Flower Blooms First
Last night, the Qingqiu Fox Lord, who had adopted the alias "Xu Niang," arrived leisurely in this human world that Zhu Lian had described as half-old and half-new.
Mountain flowers drifted silently from the branches. The bright moonlight and murmuring streams together carried the fallen blossoms through the wilderness, to the edges of the fields, beneath the stone bridges, and beside the temples.
Zhao Tianlai asked with a smile, "After ten thousand years, meeting an intact Fox Kingdom in a foreign land, Fellow Daoist Qingqiu, what are your thoughts?"
The Qingqiu Fox Lord replied, "A heart that had been hanging in suspense has finally settled."
Earlier, when she had personally seen the Fox Kingdom, she had been ecstatic. Only her profound Dao power allowed her to conceal her emotions, and the fact that Zhu Lian was accompanying her. Otherwise, she might have broken down and wept freely. Although this cultivation site could not be considered prosperous—let alone an 'Earth Immortal,' even the kingdom's ruler, Pei Xiang, was only at the bottleneck of the Nascent Soul realm—still, the Dao lineage had survived. That was enough, more than enough. One must understand that in ancient times, the continuation of incense offerings at great and small cultivation sites had always been in a precarious state, like a thread hanging by a breath. That was the norm.
The Qingqiu Fox Lord sighed emotionally, "I suppose, as Elder Zhu said, it can truly be described as... 'a mixture of sorrow and joy.'"
Moreover, Fallen Mountain had not treated the Fox Kingdom like a shop, nor regarded the fox descendants as goods with a clear price tag. Whether Chen Ping'an was constrained by his literary lineage identity, or simply seeking fame and pretending for show, she would still be grateful.
Since there was something she had to be grateful for, there were also things she held grudges about. The Xu clan of Breeze City—sooner or later, she would settle old scores with them.
The Qingqiu Fox Lord, still shaken, murmured to herself, "Earlier, in that unimaginable place, I almost drove myself mad. I was afraid that the fox clan in the human world would be incredibly prosperous, completely forgetting their old ancestor, so that when we met one day, I would be just a dispensable name on the genealogy. I was also afraid they had become the kind of Daoists that the Qingqiu cultivation site hated most ten thousand years ago. Even more, I feared they had endured hardships, never knowing peace from one day to the next. But what I feared most, of course, was revisiting the old place only to find myself utterly alone."
Zhao Tianlai was surprised by the Qingqiu Fox Lord's obsession with the Dao lineage. One must know that after the Heaven-Climbing War, most cultivated individuals on the earth had developed a habit of emphasizing the greater 'self' over the collective 'us.' Of course, there were some great cultivators dedicated to opening cultivation sites and valuing the incense and Dao lineages, but those like Fellow Daoist Qingqiu, who regarded the transmission of the Dharma as precious as their own Dao and life, were extremely rare.
"In a world of ice and cold, one must huddle together for warmth, otherwise our clan would not survive." She smiled gracefully. "When a dream comes true, one fears waking up. It's easy to become anxious about gains and losses, feeling unlike oneself."
Zhao Tianlai asked, "Has Fellow Daoist considered how to arrange this Fox Kingdom?"
The Qingqiu Fox Lord spoke frankly, "I've thought of two ways. One is like pawning it—consider it as 'redeeming' the Fox Kingdom from Fallen Mountain with money. But placing the Fox Kingdom, choosing where to settle—now that I've just arrived in Haoran World, it's no easy task."
Zhao Tianlai nodded. "The Fox Kingdom is not an ordinary cultivation site. It needs to be quiet for cultivation, yet not completely cut off from worldly affairs, not entirely separated from the mundane world."
What was even more critical was the Qingqiu Fox Lord's identity and realm, which were too special. It was likely that any continent's lord, or any local power-holder with a sect leader title, would have misgivings and would need to weigh things carefully. This could lead to big continents not wanting her and small continents not daring to accept her. After all, having an extra perfected Flying Ascension realm—or more precisely, a candidate for the fourteenth realm—suddenly appear on their continent, at a critical juncture where immortals seek ascension and ascendants seek union with the Dao, every mountain-top cultivator was striving to cross a major step. To put it bluntly, it was a 'you have, I have not' situation. So letting the Fox Kingdom settle on their continent was not simply a matter of carving out a piece of territory.
The Qingqiu Fox Lord said softly, "To be honest, if I were to learn from that Bai Jing and become a nominal offering elder at Fallen Mountain, it wouldn't be impossible."
As for the customs and human affairs of Haoran World, the specifics were hard to say yet. But the 'family teachings and style' of Fallen Mountain, she was familiar with.
The pair of jade-like youths, Cao Yin and Cao Yang, inexplicably found themselves on an easy and pleasant journey following the beautiful woman who called herself "Xu Niang."
The Qingqiu Fox Lord turned to look at them and smiled, "If you truly love each other but are hindered by certain prejudices and invisible resistance from your families, I can help fulfill your wishes and act as a matchmaker for you two. For instance, I could take Cao Yang as my direct disciple. I imagine that no matter how high the threshold of a human noble family, it can't be so high that a direct disciple of a Flying Ascension realm cultivator can't step over it."
Cao Yin sincerely thanked her, while Cao Yang's pretty face flushed slightly. The girl was puzzled, wondering why the woman treated her so generously.
The Qingqiu Fox Lord pointed at the girl and teased, "Little girl, you still don't know what it means to be taught boxing by him."
Zhao Tianlai smiled knowingly. It seemed that Fellow Daoist Qingqiu was also unaware for now that she, who had been trapped by the worldly Dao ten thousand years ago and had a somewhat stagnant Dao heart, had, in this new human world after ten thousand years, mysteriously formed a prototype of harmony with the Dao. Perhaps this was what was meant by 'the ancient people were simple and honest.'
People entering the mountains parted the clouds to seek the ancient path. Water leaving the mountains moistened the fields via streams.
Far away on the ridge, an old farmer was watching over the water late into the night. Probably to pass the time, he was smoking a dry pipe, with tiny sparks glowing.
Zhao Tianlai softly recited, "In heaven it forms an image, on earth it forms a shape; where there is shape, there must be spirit. Qi divides into yin and yang, transforming into the five elements; all things with form have qi, and all things with qi have a master. The Dao is diminished by practice, learning is increased by study. In increase and decrease, let the external self be willful; in learning the Dao, focus the inner self wholeheartedly."
The Qingqiu Fox Lord was lost in thought.
This journey was not in vain.
Their group leisurely passed by Chess Mound Mountain. The local mountain god, Song Yuzhang, sensing the arrival of the Heavenly Master Zhao, let his golden body float out from the painted statue, stood at the boundary marker, and bowed with clasped hands. Zhao Tianlai returned the gesture with a Daoist salute. When they walked to Red Candle Town, a bustling place where three rivers converged, the river god Li Jin, similar to Song Yuzhang, manifested his true form from the temple and proactively paid respects to this Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master who had achieved perfect merit.
Having met Zhao Tianlai was also a wish fulfilled. Li Jin was in a good mood. He walked through the streets and alleys, returning to that closed market bookstore. He planned to open it and read a few books, but unexpectedly saw Wei Bo, Lord Wei, who had likewise 'traveled by night' to this place. Li Jin quickly bowed, after all, he was his direct superior.
Wei Bo did not go to see the Heavenly Master. Instead, he took Li Jin for a stroll around Red Candle Town, arriving at a quiet cove where only a few painted pleasure boats were moored. There were still many flower boats on the water, but the women who flaunted themselves and solicited customers had quickly become outsiders. Their accents were mixed. Merchants and wealthy profligates were still happy to spend lavishly in these 'money pits' and 'rouge traps.' The reason for this change was a certain official document.
In the past, these 'lowborn' people who lived their entire lives on boats, seemingly never touching the soil of the shore even in life or death, had now been removed from the lowborn registry. Able-bodied men could go ashore to work, women could serve as embroiderers, the elderly who died of old age could finally be buried in the earth, and children could go to village schools and even take the imperial exams in the future... This was thanks to a document issued not long ago by the Ministry of Rites, which even specifically deleted the Great Li law that required three generations of clean family background to take the imperial exams for these boat-dwelling households.
For the vast Great Li dynasty, this document from the Ministry of Rites was as inconspicuous as a small wave in the tide.
Li Jin sighed, "Lord Wei, congratulations and well done. Those children no longer have to kneel at the bow of the boat to listen to lessons."
Beside him stood a handsome man with golden rings in his ears. He remained silent, merely nodding. Those children, who were originally destined to be barefoot for life, had finally put on boots. If life was a drama performed on a stage, then the 'earth of the human world' they stepped on, year after year, had once only been the deck of a boat.
About twenty years ago, there was a school built intentionally or unintentionally by the waterside. Day after day, the sound of reading books was clear. Every day, several boats would moor nearby, listening to the children reciting texts and the teacher lecturing. The children who were barefoot back then had now put on shoes and walked ashore, and their own children had also gone to school. Whether it was the county magistrate who had passed the word or what, if any classmate mocked their origins, they would get a beating from the teachers. The force was not light, and they would cry out in pain. If the fathers of these mischievous children complained that the teachers were making a fuss and couldn't stand seeing their children's red and swollen palms, some would rely on their status and complain to familiar officials. The complaints eventually reached the prefectural office, and it was said that even Bian Wenmao, the Provincial Education Commissioner of Chuzhou, was alarmed. He was a 'pure stream' official and a noble scion, rumored to have come from the capital. He flew into a rage and directly found the governor, Wu Yuan... As a result, all the education officials in the counties and prefectures, including Red Candle Town, were severely scolded by Lord Wu that very day. And the esteemed Education Commissioner even specially went to the village school to sit in on a lesson, sitting right next to several young children.
Li Jin smiled. "This Education Commissioner Bian is not bad."
Wei Bo said indifferently, "A scholar's writing is easy to obtain, but a scholar's knowledge is hard to find."
Li Jin nodded. "It always takes time to see a person's true heart."
Wei Bo laughed. "In the mountain there is flowing water; if asked, I know not its name."
Li Jin was puzzled. What was Lord Wei sighing about?
Wei Bo slowly said, "When one flower suddenly changes, all the flowers will later emit fragrance."
Li Jin suddenly understood. He was talking about the countless obscure people in the world, as well as those with great names who pioneered achievements.
In fact, after the Qingqiu Fox Lord left the National Teacher's Residence, Xie Gou had already used heart-to-heart communication to advise Chen Ping'an. She said that this fox seductress, aside from other things, was almost obsessive about the Dao lineage. Among their group of ancient Daoists, she might not be unique, but she was definitely at the top. Since Fallen Mountain held a Fox Kingdom... this matter, it had potential.
Indeed, with the Qingqiu Fox Lord's innate divine ability, taking down an ordinary Flying Ascension realm cultivator, male or female, would be child's play, right?
But Chen Ping'an did not nod in agreement. Xie Gou scratched her marten hat, not surprised, but she didn't understand. "You're not seeking merit."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Seeking merit is for a better world. The world should not be left with only merit-seeking."
Seeing Xie Gou's bewildered look, Chen Ping'an put it in simpler terms: "Working hard to earn money is for spending it correctly. A household's circumstances, whether frugal or lavish, should not constrain the body and mind."
Xie Gou, being extremely intelligent, understood instantly. She gave a thumbs up, looked around, and nodded. "I feel the National Teacher's Residence has become more spacious."
Chen Ping'an smiled knowingly. "Right and wrong, merit and fault, success and failure—these will probably only be determined a hundred years from now."
Xie Gou laughed heartily. "A hundred years? That's just a snap of the fingers, a blink of an eye."
But what Chen Ping'an was thinking at that moment was a small matter unrelated to the overall situation.
If he had the opportunity, it would be very amusing for Xie Gou and Bai Ye to stand together, wearing their marten hat and tiger-head hat respectively.
After leaving the National Teacher's Residence, Xie Gou followed Yuan Huajing to a snail-shell cultivation site in an inn and chatted about this and that. But her main focus was still on the 'youth' who called himself the Dharma Lord of the Three Academies. He was currently standing behind Yuan Huajing, no different from a mountain-guarding attendant. This kid Yuan Huajing had indeed struck it lucky; it was like having a Flying Ascension realm bodyguard by his side. Not only was it loyal, but occasionally it could also serve as a teacher.
Previously, it had been dealt with by Fellow Daoist Bixiao, ending up with only a cicada shell of a Dao body. Fortunately, Fellow Daoist Bixiao had shown mercy, not only restoring its physical body but even granting it a sliver of true spirit. Only then did its Dao life, which should have been severed, have a glimmer of hope. Yuan Huajing kept his promise, dared not treat it as a puppet. After obtaining its consent, he registered it in the Ministry of Justice under the name Yuan Shan, with the Dao name "Mountain Range."
Xie Gou asked curiously, "Fellow Daoist Yuan Shan, after plotting and hiding for so many years, to finally emerge and get knocked out at the foot of the mountain—do you feel regret and sorrow?"
It had once possessed three ancient Dao lineages simultaneously: the Jade Pivot Courtyard's Execution and Investigation Department, the Nine Heavens Cloud Academy's True Words Office, and the Pestilence Department's Plague Academy. It was no weak hand; moreover, it had once reached the fourteenth realm. With a Dao age of over ten thousand years, to end up as a wedding dress for others—if it were her, Xie Gou, she would already be dead.
The youth's eyes were clear, and he smiled. "Fellow Daoist Bai Jing's question is unnecessary. Without a heart, how could I feel sorrow?"
Xie Gou realized. "I see."
Yuan Huajing said, "Under normal circumstances, Fellow Daoist Yuan Shan will not leave the capital for a moment, unless a plague breaks out somewhere in Great Li. Then he will be invited to go there to eliminate the calamity. Merit will be recorded in the books according to the specific situation. As for what meaning it holds, it seems to be useless for Fellow Daoist Yuan Shan."
Xie Gou, however, had a different view. She shook her head. "A turn of the body also requires a turn of the mind. Accumulating good deeds is always a good thing. Who knows who will be who in three to five hundred years?"
The youth was surprised. "Is this something Fellow Daoist Bai Jing would say?"
Xie Gou put her hands on her hips and frowned, scolding, "Can't tell good from bad? Can you speak like a human?!"
The youth said self-deprecatingly, "Human speech?"
Xie Gou pointed at him. "You see, you still haven't got it. For now, you can't understand or speak 'human speech.'"
Remembering something, Xie Gou asked, "Yuan Huajing, is the Wei family in Yichi Lane far from your house?"
Yuan Huajing was puzzled. How far could two families on the same street be? What did Senior Bai Jing intend by asking this?
But he honestly gave the specific address. The Wei family mansion was easy to find, just next door to the Cao family... Xie Gou looked at Yuan Jucai with a pitiful expression. It was like a newcomer to Bottle Gourd Continent asking where Fallen Mountain was, and being told it was next to Piyun Mountain, then asking where Piyun Mountain was, and being told it was on the border of Huaihuang County and Tie Fu River... Yuan Huajing knew he had misspoken. For a capital official, Yichi Lane was of course easy to find. But just then, his 'attendant' Yuan Shan reported that a member of the Yuan clan had come to visit and was on his way to this snail-shell cultivation site. This person carried a message, hoping Yuan Huajing would attend a family council.
Yuan Huajing was relieved. He was about to personally lead Senior Bai Jing to Yichi Lane, since it was on the way.
But Xie Gou suddenly changed her mind, saying she would go knock on the Wei family's door later. She had originally intended to visit the Wei family and ask that merchant Wei, the Jianghu lad she had taken a liking to at first sight, about the family offering and salary—had he discussed it with his elders? Was there any progress? Oh well, haste makes waste. She would take it slowly, lest the Wei family misunderstand her intentions and worry unnecessarily, which wouldn't be good.
Yuan Huajing didn't understand but dared not ask further. Xie Gou used the Earth Shrinking technique to leave the inn, and he led Yuan Shan back to his family.
Xie Gou had her two sleeves stuffed with self-made counterfeit 'Three Mountain Talismans,' and she 'hopped' between the capital and Fallen Mountain, marveling. Her travelogue about mountains and waters, soon to be published, and her increasingly adept social skills—one was gradually improving, the other was becoming perfect.
Xiao Mo was so lucky. Marrying her was like finding a treasure.
Arriving at her home county, Xie Gou put her marten hat back on and went straight to the Great Li Longquan Prefecture Kiln Supervision Office. The government office was brightly lit late at night; presumably they were busy firing the Flower God cups.
The previous supervisor, Cao Gengxin, had become a high official qualified to attend small court sessions.
The current supervisor, Jian Feng, was a talented and learned noble scion. He was inevitably proud and arrogant. Unfortunately, the tricks of the capital's officialdom didn't work here at all, so he had been hitting walls everywhere. In recent years, he had become increasingly dispirited. A man who never drank had started to like drinking, though not to the point of alcoholism.
After all, this supervisor's hat was similar to the earlier capital official in charge of the Haidai Gate—not just any official could wear it.
In fact, not long ago, Jian Feng had even thought of resigning. It wasn't really about whether being an official was enjoyable; he genuinely felt he was not up to the task. Rather than wait to be reprimanded by the court and removed, it would be better to be sensible and resign voluntarily. As for where to go, sitting on cold benches in the National Academy, a 'clear water government office,' would be fine. When idle, he could read more books and do more scholarly work.
A gatekeeper was yawning when he saw the girl in the marten hat outside. He immediately jolted awake, no longer sleepy.
Xie Gou patted the trouble-free token hanging at her waist and passed unimpeded. She reminded the gatekeeper, "Don't write my official title on the register. Just write Xie Gou, a registered cultivator of Fallen Mountain."
The gatekeeper nodded in bewilderment and agreed. He would just follow orders.
The firing of the Flower God cups was an order from the National Teacher's Residence, and also his duty. Jian Feng dared not be careless. He had long since called in the assistant officials and several master craftsmen, along with several Flower God Ladies who were on official duty, to discuss the specifics together. Jian Feng had the kitchen prepare a small feast. The Flower God Ladies didn't need to eat, but the colleagues and master craftsmen needed to fill their stomachs.
The Kiln Supervision Office, a fourth-rank institution, naturally had dedicated martial secretary-surveillance officials watching. When Jian Feng learned that "Xie Gou" had arrived—rumored to be Fallen Mountain's new chief offering elder—if it had been when he first arrived, he might have put on airs as a Great Li court official and chief supervisor. But tonight, he asked the Long Kiln master craftsmen to excuse him for a moment, quickly finished the last of the green pepper and shredded pork noodles in his bowl, put down his chopsticks, stood up, wiped his mouth casually, and walked out of the kitchen alone. His heart was uneasy, fearing that her coming might not be for good. To his surprise, the girl in the marten hat grinned and cupped her hands. "Greetings, Supervisor Jian, Lord Jian."
Jian Feng was somewhat flattered and returned the salute. "Greetings, Sword Immortal Xie."
Xie Gou smiled. "Lord Jian, I'm here to find Wu Cai. Is it convenient to have a word? I want to take her for a stroll. Will it delay official business?"
Jian Feng smiled. "Convenient. The designs for several Flower God cups have already been discussed. It won't cause any trouble."
Even if it was just polite talk, Fallen Mountain was being quite considerate.
After all, the gatekeeper to a prime minister is a third-rank official. How much more so someone like "Xie Gou"?
Take the civilian secretaries of the National Teacher's Residence—when they occasionally appeared in public on official business, who dared to underestimate them?
Xie Gou said seriously, "If there really is any difficulty, please tell me directly, Lord Jian."
Jian Feng said, "There really isn't. I'll take Sword Immortal Xie to see the Flower God Lady now."
Xie Gou cupped her hands in thanks. After walking a few steps, she said softly, "Lord Jian doesn't seem like the rumors say."
Wasn't he pretty flexible?
Jian Feng said self-deprecatingly, "They say I'm like a stone in a latrine—hard and stinky? Too serious, overly critical, no tact in words and deeds?"
Xie Gou laughed heartily and said nothing.
Jian Feng chuckled along. "Probably it's because of Sword Immortal Xie's esteemed status that I can't help but be a bit obsequious. Facing others, 'Supervisor Jian' would probably show a completely different, domineering face."
Since he was going to pack up and leave soon anyway, Jian Feng was happy to speak some frank thoughts. For example, he had prepared a document that he would soon submit to Governor Wu Yuan's office. It wasn't anything earth-shattering; it was simply a suggestion to raise the salaries of official kiln craftsmen. Moreover, he wanted to give the master craftsmen some additional things, like a reputation granted by the court, or a mention in local gazetteers... One must know the prices the private kilns in Baoxi Prefecture were offering these days. If this continued, the Supervision Office wouldn't be able to retain people.
When he was young, he always thought that 'in officialdom, being good at handling people is more important than being good at handling affairs' was a completely derogatory statement. During his years of experience in the Supervision Office, he had also learned that 'following the right person is even more crucial than being good at handling people.' Coming to a local post, from initial high hopes to the current constant setbacks, this had made the once extremely proud Jian Feng suffer intense inner torment. He felt like a piece of porcelain being fired in a Long Kiln.
Chatting as they walked, they arrived at the official hall. Xie Gou found Wu Cai and invited her for a night tour of the county town.
Jian Feng and the Supervision Office had no problem, and the Flower God Lady, one of the Twelve Flower Gods, had no objection either, so Wu Cai followed Xie Gou out of the Supervision Office. Xie Gou had taken the opportunity to glance at the pile of design drawings on the table. They looked like the most exquisite fine-line paintings. This made Xie Gou quite envious. Her own travelogue needed illustrations, otherwise, no matter how good the words, it would feel imperfect.
Arriving at the main street, which had no night curfew, Xie Gou took Wu Cai along the main street and even made a detour to the famous Mud Bottle Alley.
Over the years, outsiders who had come to practice in Huaihuang County and the western mountains had all gained something. After they returned to their hometowns and their own immortal sect academies, they found an unexpected surprise waiting for them. Just having a topic of conversation helped them get extra jars of immortal wine from old friends, or gain seats at banquets they otherwise wouldn't have qualified for, and meet unexpected big shots from the mountains.
And the most frequently asked questions were always two: Have you been to Mud Bottle Alley? Have you seen the former Impartial Bureau Chief Chen, back before he made his fortune?
Those with thin skin would tell the truth: Chen Impartial Bureau Chief had left his hometown early and traveled far, rarely appearing in Mud Bottle Alley, so they had never met him.
Those with slightly thicker skin would embellish slightly, saying they had met him on the road, just nodded in passing, and hadn't really chatted.
Those with no shame at all would spin wild tales, stopping just short of claiming to be regular visitors to Chen Ping'an's ancestral home, or that they had personally witnessed Chen Ping'an's fight with the Mountain-Moving Ape, during which they had cheered and spoken some righteous words... Even if the listeners were skeptical, it was hard to verify the truth. After all, Ascension City, which held the summer retreat palace, was across an entire world. Was Fallen Mountain, which had long been sealed off, easy to visit? Or was the threshold of the Great Li National Teacher's Residence low?
These drunken boasts on the dining table happened to complement and confirm some earlier rumors. Indeed, what the owners and stewards of those intercontinental ferries had said was not false: the Impartial Bureau Chief was indeed elegant in speech and as handsome as a jade tree in the wind!
Surely the young Chen Ping'an must have been a beautiful boy.
Yes, yes. Otherwise, how could he have captured Ning Yao's heart at first sight?
Since they had already toured the town, Xie Gou decided to take Wu Cai to Fallen Mountain to broaden her horizons. The girl in the marten hat raised the green bamboo walking stick in her hand and pointed at a small hill by the roadside. "See this? This unremarkable True Pearl Mountain is where the last true dragon in the world's navel pearl landed."
Wu Cai was startled. She quickly cupped her hands and bowed, muttering something. Feeling perhaps her sincerity was insufficient, the flower god lady pressed her palms together and bowed three times to the small hill.
Xie Gou was triumphant. She explained the inside story. "Back then, to supplement military funds, the Great Li court implemented a 'sell mountains' policy. My mountain master had an eye for value and took a liking to this True Pearl Mountain early on. Guess how many gold essence copper coins it cost him?"
Wu Cai tentatively guessed, "A small pouch, a dozen or so?"
Xie Gou sighed. "This is the gap in skill between you and my mountain master in doing business. It can't be measured in miles. He only spent one gold essence copper coin to acquire True Pearl Mountain."
Wu Cai's eyes widened. "Just one?!"
That's not even a bargain; it's more like a robbery, right?
Xie Gou was pleased with her friend's astonishment. "I joined the mountain relatively late, so I once humbly asked the mountain master. At that time, he wasn't even a cultivator skilled in observing qi. How could he have such a sharp eye and pull off this deal that would have been lost if delayed?"
"The mountain master was modest. He just said that buying a whole mountain for one gold essence copper coin was a very good deal."
"At that time, the mountain master was all smiles. He said, 'One coin for one mountain—only a fool wouldn't buy it.'"
Hearing this as if listening to a fairy tale, Wu Cai couldn't help but timidly venture an opinion, "Gouzi, if I only had enough money to buy one mountain, I might also buy this one. It's the closest to the town, after all. Plus, everyone has to pass by it when entering or leaving the mountains. That way, the neighbors who used to look down on me would know that I've become a wealthy 'landlord' now."
Xie Gou's eyes lit up. She patted Wu Cai's head and nodded. "Good idea. When I get back, I'll go verify with the mountain master to see if he had that thought back then."
Wu Cai panicked. "No, no, it's just my childish idea. Such nonsense, Gouzi, don't tell Mr. Chen..."
Xie Gou nodded. "Don't worry, I'll say it's my guess, nothing to do with you."
Wu Cai was relieved, but soon became anxious again. "Will I get scolded?"
Xie Gou tapped her own shoulder with the walking stick. "Hah, the mountain master is gentle. He never scolds people."
Afterwards, Xie Gou put on a full display of being a 'local yokel,' introducing the local customs to Wu Cai.
For example, the secrets of how the Long Kilns were arranged, the origins of Old Porcelain Mountain and the history of the Immortal Graves, the secrets of the peach trees on Peach Leaf Lane... There were also two inconspicuous 'dragon whiskers' in the town. One of them, the earliest Dragon Tail Creek, was renamed Dragon Whisker River, and later became Tie Fu River. Unfortunately, the snake gall stones that used to be scattered in the water could no longer be found.
Whenever Xie Gou went down the mountain, she would feel in the river for stones. She searched and searched, but only found already faded snake gall stones. She had wanted to surprise Xiao Mili with one or two bowl-sized ones, but it seemed she would never fulfill that wish.
The other dragon whisker was a main street in the town. It had an inn founded by Aunt Feng, a Crab Alley where the Ministry of Rites had later erected a stele, an old locust tree that had long since fallen, an iron-locked well sealed by the government office, and the East Gate that no longer had a gatekeeper...
Perhaps enticed by Xie Gou's descriptions, Wu Cai said, "Let's not go to Fallen Mountain yet. Let's walk around the outskirts of Huaihuang County."
Jian Feng was in the middle of writing that official document when a subordinate official excitedly came to knock on the door and tremblingly reported something.
It turned out that a martial offering elder from the Ministry of Justice had secretly arrived, ordering Supervisor Jian Feng to travel overnight to Ox Horn Ferry and take a military ferry to the capital, because Jian Feng needed to temporarily participate in a council tomorrow. The time: just after dawn. The place: the National Teacher's Residence.
Jian Feng was completely bewildered. After thinking it over, he could only guess that National Teacher Chen was going to personally inquire about the firing of the Flower God cups?
Supervisor Jian appeared calm on the surface, but inside, his emotions were churning like a stormy sea. He didn't know whether this trip to the capital would bring good fortune or disaster.
Returning to his desk, Jian Feng picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and continued writing his document. His tumultuous mood gradually calmed down.
In a small eatery near Riding Dragon Alley, the two 'girls,' tired from their stroll, ordered a late-night snack and a few home-style dishes, along with some glutinous rice wine. Wu Cai, who was sitting with her back to the door, noticed that the Gouzi across from her seemed to have changed completely. She stopped eagerly sucking on snails, stopped putting one leg up on the bench, stopped pulling Wu Cai into singing boxing drills—her eating posture and sitting posture became incredibly ladylike... Wu Cai instantly came to her senses. She turned around and saw a handsome young man standing at the entrance. He wore a yellow hat, green shoes, and carried a green bamboo staff. His expression was gentle. Although his eyes were looking at Wu Cai at that moment, his heart was clearly with Xie Gou.
—
The same moonlight shines on all nine provinces; some families are joyful, some are sad. Recently, in Yichi Lane and Chier Street, among the generals, ministers, and high officials, some had become laughingstocks. There were also those who initially went to watch the fun, only to quickly become the fun themselves. Those who had fallen into misfortune were running around everywhere, trying to use connections to plead for leniency from Hong Ji and the Northern Court, or at least to get a message through to the National Teacher's Residence... But who dared to get involved?
Only those who had always been honest officials had an unexpected, if minor, pleasant surprise—at least they could sleep peacefully.
The Yuan family of Yichi Lane was one of the most prominent noble families of the Great Li dynasty. The reason for saying 'one of' was that the street also housed the Cao family, the Pillar of State. Civil and military officials came and went, but the Yuan and Cao surnames were fixtures.
The family head, Yuan Chong, had led the Censorate for many years. Simply put, half of the 'pure stream' nests within and outside the court among Great Li's remonstrance officials bore the surname Yuan.
It was only because the Censorate was not as prominent as Minister Guan's Ministry of Personnel, and because Yuan Chong had been deliberately reticent for so many years, that the Censorate, once seen as a den of tigers and dragons, seemed to have become insignificant.
Tonight, in the old man's simple study, a small family council was being held.
The reason was simple: tomorrow, the National Teacher's Residence would hold two councils, and within the Yuan family, exactly two people needed to attend each respectively.
These two councils were extremely secretive, and almost no news had leaked out. From the National Teacher's Residence, not only were the specific topics unclear, but even why they had summoned these two groups required guesswork. It was like an exam paper; you only knew the questions once you entered the examination hall.
But any first-class noble family that had maintained wealth for generations was best at guessing and predicting the questions.
Yuan Chong said, "There's no need to wait for Yuan Huajing. He's a mountain cultivator and may not be willing to wade into this murky water. Tell me your thoughts."
Yuan Ji frowned and was the first to speak. "Is it about a large-scale exchange of officials between the two capitals and the local regions?"
Yuan Ji, with refined features and a solemn demeanor, was the Director of Studies at the National Academy. He was Yuan Chong's legitimate eldest son, proficient in exegesis, and had written voluminous works. Before the age of fifty, he was already a titan in the fields of philology, epigraphy, and bibliography in the Great Li dynasty, standing shoulder to shoulder with Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Rites as the literary leaders of the court. Even the Yuan family's most important guest scholar, Mr. Yulu, a great erudite, regularly corresponded with the younger Yuan Ji to consult on the origins of obscure passages.
The current governor of Hongzhou, Yuan Zhengding, along with Patrol Envoy Pei Mao, important ministers in the auxiliary capital Wei Li and Wei Liang, had all attended that morning court.
There were also two excellent sons-in-law who had become regional governors: Wu Yuan, the governor of Chuzhou, and Cao Wu, the general of Yuzhou. Both had married legitimate daughters of the Yuan family.
Wu Yuan turned and smiled. "Cao Wu, tomorrow you'll be meeting National Teacher Chen. Nervous?"
Cao Wu, whose original name was Xu Mao, was a powerful military official with scarred hands. He seemed unmoved by his brother-in-law's teasing.
Unlike Cao Wu, who would attend the National Teacher's Residence council at the hour of Si Zheng Er Ke (around 10:30 AM), Wu Yuan was not invited.
And Yuan Zhengding's council was even earlier, scheduled for just after dawn.
Wu Yuan, having made a pointless remark, peeled a fairy citrus for himself and ate it slowly.
The youngest people in the room were a brother and sister: Yuan Cheng, courtesy name Zimei. His grandfather had named him 'Cheng,' indicating high hopes. His sister, Xu Mi, had been studying in a mountain study with Mr. Yulu for years. She had been a spectator during the Old Oriole Lake incident. Both were children of Yuan clan concubines, but their father was the legitimate son of the Xu couple from Breeze City.
Yuan Cheng was determined to pass the imperial examinations with flying colors, and he was confident of success. Last winter, scholars from all over the country had begun gathering in the capital for the spring triennial metropolitan examination. But at the end of last year, the Great Li emperor issued a decree postponing the next year's metropolitan examination to roughly the same time as the autumn provincial examination.
At the time, there was much discussion at court and among the people; no one knew why the court had done this. Fortunately, the court was considerate to the scholars and allocated a special fund to the Ministry of Rites, which was distributed to the scholars under various pretexts. Those from well-off families didn't mind staying in the capital for an extra half year. But the impoverished scholars were relieved. After careful calculation, they were pleasantly surprised to find they even had a little surplus, enough to buy a few more rare books. As for miscellaneous books not concerned with collating or editions, several bookstores in the capital were currently selling '90% off and 80% discount books,' so one could buy a whole trunk full.
Because of his talent and family background, Yuan Cheng was almost universally acknowledged by the Great Li literary world as one of the top three candidates. It seemed that his participation in the metropolitan and palace examinations was just a formality. In fact, Yuan Cheng was troubled by this. He feared that these favorable comments might one day reach the ears of a certain someone in the National Teacher's Residence—after all, that 'someone' was the confirmed chief examiner for this session's metropolitan examination. So whether Yuan Cheng would ultimately qualify as a 'student of the Son of Heaven' depended on passing this test. Yuan Cheng was half a native of Breeze City, and everyone in the continent knew the relationship of that 'someone' with Zhengyang Mountain and Breeze City.
Xu Mi had personally witnessed the Old Oriole Lake incident. She used to take some pride in the fact that the Cao family, their old neighbors, besides having produced a Patrol Envoy Cao Ping—which made the Yuan family feel inferior—were inferior to the Yuan family in every other aspect. The two families had been competing and wrangling in the court and local regions for years.
Before her teacher Hong Chongben returned to his mountain study, she had asked an outrageous question: "With the family glory burning like a raging fire, aren't you afraid?"
Hong Chongben had a sum of money borrowed from the Yuan family to buy a mountain. Hearing his student's question, the old man felt helpless. He didn't utter any high-sounding words, only told Xu Mi to be herself and strive to balance studies and cultivation.
Recently, both streets had become extremely tense. Young people from the respective families were severely restricted: no going out to socialize, no private banquets, and especially no staying out overnight. Of course, there were some who had been pampered for twenty or thirty years and couldn't grasp the gravity of the situation. Reasoning didn't work, scolding was useless, but a good beating made them obedient. So these young people, already ruined by their families, were almost all forcibly dragged home.
Yuan Zhengding was silent for a long time, rubbing his brow. "The most critical thing is National Teacher Chen's overall view of both sides—whether it's good or bad."
At Yuan Zhengding's age and position, if he wanted to rise further, it seemed he could still rely on strategy, courage, strength, and ruthlessness. But what it really came down to was 'fate.'
And as the family head and elder, Yuan Chong was a bit different. The old man had nothing left to seek except a posthumous title and his reputation after death, so he could only look downward, at the prospects of the younger generation.
Yuan Zhengding was naturally one of the most outstanding figures among the younger generation of Yichi Lane. When he was sent to local posts, he first served as the magistrate of Huaihuang County, then was promoted to governor of Qingci Prefecture, and then became the governor of Hongzhou. Step by step, his career was smooth, following the most orthodox promotion path. In contrast, Cao Gengxin's role as the supervisor of the Longquan Kiln was rather unusual. Also, Guan Yiran had just become the governor of Juzhou, which could be considered 'accumulating steadily.' And then there was Liu Xunmei from Chier Street. This group of 'young people' had been compared to each other by their elders since childhood.
Cao Wu glanced at Yuan Zhengding. He had to admit that the sons of the Yuan family were truly elegant and handsome men. Hongzhou was undoubtedly a major prefecture of Great Li, and the Empress Dowager was from Yuzhang Prefecture. Recently, the court had established the Yuzhang Prefecture Logging Institute, and the seat of Hongzhou's government was right there in Yuzhang Prefecture.
Wu Yuan finished his citrus and picked up a piece of preserved fruit. As the first magistrate in the history of the Pearl Dragon Cave Heaven, he was not only the son-in-law of the Pillar of State Yuan family but also a student of National Teacher Cui Chan. This dual identity was like having two official talismans. And yet, during his tenure in Huaihuang County, he had become a laughingstock in officialdom and had to slink away. He was later 'promoted' to a small prefecture in the Zhongyue region—on the surface a promotion, but in reality, he sat on the bench for many years.
So when Yuan Zhengding succeeded him as county magistrate, there was talk in official circles that it was to clean up his mess.
Of course, Wu Yuan had ultimately returned to Chuzhou and become the governor, a very beautiful comeback.
Cao Wu remained silent. This trip to the capital, he had only brought a few local specialties from Yuzhou.
In fact, during the last meeting at the Piyun Mountain Ritual System Office, Cao Wu had used official business as a pretext to share a cup of tea with Chen Shan Lord, who was not yet the Great Li National Teacher. It could be considered a reunion.
The atmosphere in the room was somewhat heavy, but no one felt it was appropriate to say something light-hearted.
Finally, Yuan Chong asked slowly, "You all tell me, what kind of person is the National Teacher, really?"
When Yuan Zhengding heard this question, his scalp immediately tingled. His father was a man of strong opinions and foresight. And he was the one who had interacted the most with National Teacher Chen!
Yuan Zhengding steadied his nerves. "He plans before acting, and his calculations never miss."
Wu Yuan carefully chose his words. "On major matters, he has extreme composure. He's very good at handling messy situations. To use a chess analogy, even if Chen Ping'an is weaker than his opponent, he can lose by a small margin. But if he is stronger than his opponent, he will never lose."
Cao Wu's opinion was the most concise—just one word: "Ruthless."
Yuan Ji said self-deprecatingly, "Maybe it's because I don't seem like an official. My impression of National Teacher Chen is different from all of you. I think his actions contain a certain selfishness. He doesn't care at all how Great Li officials view him. He only cares about how the Great Li commoners view two specific people in the past, and how those two people view him today."
For example, the two prefectures that belonged to the old Lu clan originally had extremely heavy taxes, but those were suddenly adjusted, reduced from fifty years to thirty. Even earlier, the inspection period for mountain and river spirits was extended from ten years to thirty. Similar policies were implemented extremely smoothly... This was the advantage of having two National Teachers who were from the same literary lineage—master and disciple—who had succeeded each other. It seemed there was no suspicion of a new official overturning the policies of his predecessor.
Unbeknownst to many, even though the Central Earth Confucian Temple, or even the Wen Sheng lineage itself, had said nothing,
Simply because Chen Ping'an had become the Great Li National Teacher, Xiu Hu Cui Chan had naturally reclaimed his identity as the senior disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage. It was a matter of course, natural, and unquestionable.
Yuan Huajing stood at the door for a moment, looked at Yuan Ji, whom he had previously rather looked down upon, and nodded, echoing, "My view is pretty much what Yuan Ji said. As for tomorrow—whether it brings honor or disgrace to all the great clans and high officials of Yichi Lane, including the Yuan family—it won't depend on what you talked about with him tomorrow at the National Teacher's Residence. It's like at the end of the month, the accountant calls all the permanent and temporary workers together around a table. Those who owe money pay up; those who have worked get paid. It's just 'settling accounts.'"
—
Dong Hu, the Vice Minister of Rites, had been 'deliberately making things difficult' for the cultivators of the Changchun Palace recently. He was discussing how to retain those agricultural cultivators who were 'eager to return home' but were stranded within Great Li's borders. Some were from other continents, some from the south of Bottle Gourd Continent. This kind of business should have been the responsibility of the Great Li Ministry of Revenue, but since it was a task assigned by National Teacher Chen, Dong Hu didn't mind showing the Ministry of Revenue his expertise in economics... At the crack of dawn, Dong Hu, who had been busy until midnight, woke up on time. After dressing and washing, the old man hurried out. When his steward reminded him, he remembered that the emperor was not in the capital recently, so there was no court session today. Oh well, he'd go back for a second sleep.
At the entrance of the alley, there was a stranger with a young face. Zhao Duanming immediately removed the concealment spell and asked, "Please stop."
It was a young man carrying a pack on his back, dressed simply, like a traveling peddler.
The man smiled and introduced himself, "My name is Zhang Zhi. I'm a bundle-carrying itinerant merchant. I've come to find Mr. Chen to discuss something."
Zhao Duanming pretended not to understand who the man meant by 'Mr. Chen.' He said, "I'm only responsible for stopping irrelevant people from entering the alley. I'm not a gatekeeper, and I won't make announcements. It's your freedom to see whomever you want, but you'll have to wait patiently. Whether you get to see him or not, I have no say."
Zhang Zhi nodded with a smile. "Understood."
Zhao Duanming was inwardly anxious. His master, who was both daring and capable of handling matters, was not around. The young man was uneasy, afraid of blocking the wrong kind of people—either the 'above' or the 'beyond.'
'The above' referred to the statues or portraits on the walls of the Confucian Temple. 'The beyond' referred to the great cultivators on the mountain peaks who were 'beyond the sky' and normally had no interaction with their master and disciple.
Seeing that the young man who called himself a bundle-carrying itinerant merchant had a gentle demeanor, not like some reckless criminal, but rather like those pure-stream civil officials who would submit their name cards at the family gate each year and wait for an audience—if they got in, they were calm and not nervous; if they didn't, they didn't lose heart. Zhao Duanming, having nothing to do, and also having heard of the 'bundle-carrying itinerant merchants,' chatted with Zhang Zhi about some inside stories. The man was frank and humorous. Zhao Duanming almost couldn't help asking what the requirements were to become a bundle-carrying itinerant merchant.
Suddenly, following Zhang Zhi's gaze, Zhao Duanming immediately turned and saw the figure of the National Teacher walking in the alley.
Chen Ping'an walked unhurriedly to the alley entrance and teased, "If you chat any longer, Zhang Zhi is going to get all your secrets out."
Zhao Duanming scratched his head. He felt he hadn't said much.
Chen Ping'an looked at Zhang Zhi and asked with a smile, "Senior, are you waiting here for a rabbit to collide with a tree stump? Why didn't you just go directly to the National Teacher's Residence to block the door?"
Zhang Zhi, the founding patriarch of the bundle-carrying itinerant merchants. He had once bought an IOU from Chen Ping'an at an astronomical price for someone on the mountains.
Zhang Zhi didn't beat around the bush. He smiled. "I've come about the Grand Canal matter. I just need to chat with Mr. Chen for a few words before I leave."
At this moment, Chen Ping'an was standing with his hands in his sleeves beside the young man. He said doubtfully, "I don't seem to be in charge of that matter. Cui Dongshan and the Green Duckweed Sword Sect have always been responsible for it."
Zhang Zhi said, "A few words from National Teacher Chen are more effective than a hundred Ancestral Hall councils held by the Cloudy State of Tongye Continent. After much deliberation, I mustered the courage to cross continents and come to the Great Li capital to meet Mr. Chen. Perhaps it will also save National Teacher Chen some mental effort and a bit more manpower and resources."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Indeed, a 'perhaps.'"
Zhang Zhi was not intimidated by this unfriendly remark. He said, "Let me first state my idea. National Teacher Chen might as well listen."
Zhao Duanming couldn't help but be surprised. Why did it feel like Mr. Chen was a bit unfamiliar? He was being quite... blunt. Not just compared to his master, but even with himself, Mr. Chen had always been polite. Was it because their relationship was still somewhat unfamiliar?
Chen Ping'an said, "Let's walk and talk."
Zhang Zhi naturally had no objection, nor did he have the qualifications to object.
Since they were both straightforward people, Chen Ping'an went straight to the point. "When you took Wu Shou to Green Shirt Ferry, to put it nicely, you brought the most appropriate door-opening brick. To put it bluntly, wasn't that malevolent?"
Zhang Zhi did not deny it at all. He nodded. "Who I took to the Green Duckweed Sword Sect, I thought long and hard about beforehand. On the surface, the couple in charge of the Tongye Continent bundle-carrying itinerant merchant affairs would have been the best choice. Their hearts admired the Impartial Bureau Chief deeply, so at Green Shirt Ferry, even if they didn't speak—or rather, it would have been best if they didn't speak—they would have easily won the favor of intelligent people like Mi Yu. But I felt they didn't have enough weight, not enough intensity. The mess Wu Shou caused in Bottle Gourd Continent shouldn't be mended by them in Tongye Continent. That wouldn't have much significance. Mr. Chen would still harbor a grudge in his heart, and might even feel disgusted with Zhang Zhi, thinking that the entire bundle-carrying itinerant merchant operation was always about taking shortcuts and not walking the straight path."
Chen Ping'an said, "Continue."
Zhang Zhi took a deep breath. "If Wu Shou hadn't made a mistake, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to correct it on the spot. Without doing this, it would have been difficult for Mr. Chen to change his view of the bundle-carrying itinerant merchants."
Chen Ping'an smiled meaningfully. "Zhang Zhi's bundle-carrying itinerant merchants have a snob like Wu Shou, who has considerable skill in making money—that is the price Zhang Zhi must bear. And Wu Shou, having you as such a deep-thinking boss, nearly being struck down by a sword at Green Shirt Ferry—should that also be the price Wu Shou must pay?"
Before Zhang Zhi could say anything, Chen Ping'an nodded to himself. "A risky move."
Hearing this evaluation, Zhang Zhi's expression changed slightly.
One must know that not long ago, Zheng Juzhong, Wu Shuangjiang, and Chen Ping'an had together accomplished a great feat.
Ten thousand years later, they had once again jointly slain the Martial Ancestor, even announcing it to the world, and all cultivators at the mountain peaks knew.
This dashed the hopes and plans of countless people, and also disappointed countless others who had brought their little stools to watch the show.
Chen Ping'an turned to look at Zhang Zhi. "I only ask you one thing: if Mi Yu had drawn his sword against Wu Shou, and I certainly wouldn't have stopped him, what would you have done?"
Zhang Zhi said, "I would have had to save him. Treat it as spending money to avoid disaster. The bundle-carrying itinerant merchants would spare no expense."
"Although it's still a deal concerning people's hearts," Chen Ping'an said with a smile, "Zhang Zhi has still treated me with honesty after all."
Zhang Zhi hesitated, then asked, "If I hadn't come to find Mr. Chen today, what would have happened to the bundle-carrying itinerant merchants?"
Chen Ping'an laughed involuntarily. "Since it's a matter settled at the table, doing business together is simple: if it works out, we split the money; if it doesn't, we go our separate ways. What 'fate' could the bundle-carrying itinerant merchants have? I've merely taken on the additional identity of the Great Li National Teacher, but even in this smallest Bottle Gourd Continent, I can only manage affairs on half its territory."
Zhang Zhi opened his mouth several times but hesitated, ultimately not daring to speak frankly.
Chen Ping'an said, "For the final matters of digging the Grand Canal in Tongye Continent, and the new chapter after its successful completion, if you don't trust Cui Dongshan, go find my other student. His name is Cao Qinglang. He just resigned from office today and plans to take a ferry to Yunzhou. He's going to be a teacher at a village school. You can go to the Gaosu Ferry on the outskirts of the capital to find him and talk. If you go now to intercept him, you'll definitely catch him."
Seeing Zhang Zhi's troubled expression, Chen Ping'an said, "Cao Qinglang's opinion is my opinion. To put it even more bluntly, Cao Qinglang's decision is my verdict."
Zhang Zhi nodded. "Understood."
Chen Ping'an used heart-to-heart communication to ask, "Has the bundle-carrying itinerant merchant network secretly spread to the Green Bane World?"
Zhang Zhi shook his head. "I would like to, but I lack the strength and the will."
Afraid that Chen Ping'an might think he was hiding something, he had to explain, "My own realm is insufficient. I cannot leave my homeland. And some Flying Ascension realm cultivators might not welcome a bundle-carrying itinerant merchant reeking of money."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment. "If you have the opportunity, you can approach Nalan Caihuan of the Rain Dragon Sect, and also Dong Bude, who recently arrived from Ascension City."
Zhang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. "No problem."
At least it hadn't backfired.
Passing by a shop that had not yet opened, Chen Ping'an turned his head to look, then slowly averted his gaze.
Just as Zhang Zhi was about to take his leave, Chen Ping'an stopped and suddenly asked an earth-shattering question that caught Zhang Zhi off guard.
"If, and I'm saying hypothetically, the entire human world entered an age of declining Dharma where there was no more spiritual energy circulating, and cultivating for immortality became a mirage, a mere talk on paper—
Zhang Zhi, suppose you were placed in such a situation, with your status, identity, and fortune unchanged. What do you think 'money' could do and could not do? What inevitable deviations would arise between your understanding and the facts?"
Zhang Zhi pondered for a moment, then smiled bitterly. "Mr. Chen, to be honest, I can't give you an answer."
Chen Ping'an said, "It's not that you can't give an answer, it's that you dare not. You dare not give the answer that someone who has just walked out of the 'Following the Crowd Building' wants."
Waving his hand, Chen Ping'an smiled. "Forget it, it's only human. I won't make things difficult for you."
Zhang Zhi said, "My vagueness today is the truth. Please, National Teacher Chen, also be patient enough to listen when I am ready to speak freely another day."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "It's a deal."
Zhang Zhi was a mountain cultivator who loved to hike; he would never fly on clouds if he could walk.
After walking some distance down the street, Zhang Zhi turned his head, a little puzzled. The young National Teacher was still standing by the roadside, lost in thought.
Chen Ping'an knew that Zeng Ye had come to the capital once, but whether he had seen 'her,' and what they had talked about when they met, he didn't know. In fact, Chen Ping'an didn't want to know either. It was like a scroll painting Cui Chan had left him; he had seen the beginning and the process, but he dared not look at the ending.
It was like reading a book that repeatedly spoke of suffering, afraid that the ending would be even greater suffering. Or like reading a book that spoke of many beautiful things, afraid that the ending wouldn't be so beautiful.
Zeng Ye, who had come to the Great Li capital once and had resolved his inner conflict, eventually returned alone to his cultivation site at Letter Bamboo Lake.
Before leaving again, Zeng Ye had made a special trip to chat with her. Fortunately, she didn't mistake him for a philanderer.
"'Mr. Chen the accountant in that book—as time passes, will he still remember Miss Su?'"
Zeng Ye nodded. "Definitely."
She asked again, "Will he look for her?"
Zeng Ye said, "He will."
She curiously inquired further, "When they meet, what can they say?"
Zeng Ye opened his mouth to speak, then shook his head. "I don't know."
The girl sighed.
Zeng Ye smiled. "Mr. Chen said you shouldn't always sigh."
The girl said, "Oh," but she was puzzled. Was this plot written in the book? She had memorized that travelogue perfectly. Why didn't she remember this?
Zeng Ye finally smiled and said, "Mr. Chen also said that the person who turns the pages should not be trapped by one book."
The young man Zhao Duanming was bored and missed his master, who had gone away on a long journey.
These were the unintentional words of Liu Jia from long ago, and an unexpected gift from Cui Chan.
It was the old deaf man on the rain-washed road, handing over an oil-paper umbrella.
It was Fatty Wei at the door, reluctantly standing in front of the girl. It was the Qingqiu Fox Lord, on a whim, playing matchmaker.
It was the little girl in black handing out handfuls of melon seeds. It was the first thing Mi Yu saw when he broke through to a new realm and exited seclusion—a certain house on a distant mountain. The second thing he saw was the little girl in black hopping on the hopscotch grid nearby.
It was the new Ancestral Hall of the Jade Gui Sect, where the few surviving elders, whenever they held a council, looked at the empty chair with mixed feelings. They didn't know whether they regretted scolding too much back then, or not enough.
It was the schoolteacher at the old village school who said to the poor boy, "The principles are in the books; being a good person is outside the books."
It was the later teacher at the village school who walked the mountain path to a student's home for a meal and got dead drunk on local spirits.
It was the Ultimate Sage's comment, "Good family upbringing."
It was different people in different places, in different times, doing different things and saying different words—collectively called 'tenderness.'
Chen Ping'an stood still for a long time.
The young man, as if possessed, looked out towards the alley and recalled a beautiful phrase from a book.
"Looking from afar, he appears dignified; approaching him, he seems warm; his words are stern."
He saw Mr. Chen standing there all along, his figure bathed in sunlight. From afar, he looked like a divine being.